Cheng Hao lifted the curtain and frowned at the road conditions. He ordered everyone to be careful and instructed his men to quickly make masks.
He also forbade them from touching anything outside, fearing they might contract the disease.
The sight of so many corpses on the roadside, their condition unknown, some clearly showing signs of being gnawed, was truly horrific.
The weather was still cold, but if it warmed up, an epidemic was inevitable.
Therefore, they no longer delayed on the road.
They quickly moved away from such places, finding the sight of dead fellow humans unbearable.
Everyone found it difficult to maintain a calm demeanor.
They all felt deeply uncomfortable, a mixture of fear and disgust.
Cheng Hao could only tell them to try not to look too much and to leave the area quickly.
As they continued their journey.
Ahead, they finally encountered people, who became startled and terrified.
Hearing the approach of the convoy from afar.
They all panicked and scrambled to find places to hide, either running up the hillsides or disappearing into the woods, clearly wanting no interaction with them.
Thus.
They could not ask any questions.
Seeing the chaotic situation, everyone understood that while they had lived in comfort, the people outside were truly suffering and living miserably.
Ji Bo, outside, could not help but sigh, "This world is truly heartbreaking..."
The old man kept sighing.
Lai Fu also felt a tightness in his chest. Looking at the emaciated figures lying by the roadside, he dared not look further, nor could he do anything to help.
Until he saw a child, about two or three years old, sitting beside an adult and crying loudly in the distance. The adult had already fallen by the roadside, their clothes completely wrapped around the child, leaving only a tender little face wailing.
The convoy suddenly stopped.
Li Datou returned to ask if they should help the child. He remembered not to act rashly and rode his horse over immediately to inquire.
Ji Bo could not bear it.
He also asked Cheng Hao if they should intervene.
Su Miaomiao then lifted the curtain of the carriage door, poked her head out, and looked over. She immediately said, "This child is already sick. His complexion is too abnormal. He won't live, and he cannot be saved."
As if sensing someone approaching, the child seemed to have a brief surge of strength. He cried out with all his might twice, then fell silent, slumping onto his relative's body, motionless.
Everyone else's hearts tightened.
Su Miaomiao, her face grave, called out to everyone, "We must stay alert on the rest of the journey. Put away your kind hearts. Blind acts of kindness are also evil! Do not endanger ourselves!"
She was kind-hearted.
But she had principles.
The young girl's words made everyone suddenly sober up, and they nodded profusely.
Those who had been sighing and pitying the child fell silent.
They also felt a sense of dread.
Indeed.
If they were to bring this child back out of pity, and he was carrying a disease, it could easily infect everyone.
They could not act recklessly.
This incident made everyone remain completely vigilant, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
The vehicles continued their journey.
Su Miaomiao returned to the carriage, her heart filled with unspeakable heaviness.
Cheng Hao extended his hand to her.
He offered a reassuring smile.
Su Miaomiao, lost in thought, pouted and sat in his arms.
Hugging her childhood sweetheart's neck, straddling his lap, and nuzzling his face, feeling his warm body, her troubled heart began to calm down. "This Wugu Temple truly is a paradise, but we must eventually leave. We cannot stay here forever."
Cheng Hao patted her back, comforting her like a child. As childhood sweethearts, he naturally understood her thoughts. "It's alright, you didn't do anything wrong, and neither did I. As you said, Wugu Temple is not enough for us to fully establish ourselves. Staying there is too dangerous."
So don't feel guilty.
Although the outside world is in turmoil, at least you can find the latest information and make quick judgments. It's better than being trapped there like a turtle in a jar.
Su Miaomiao nodded. She couldn't help but recall the fallen child and the adult's clothes wrapped around him, and she closed her eyes.
She sighed, "His mother must have loved him very much to wrap her only jacket around him."
Cheng Hao rested his head against Su Miaomiao's little head, trying to tease her to shift her attention. "Weren't you very imposing earlier? So calm and decisive. What's wrong now? Or do you just want to act spoiled with me?"
Su Miaomiao immediately glared at him with wide eyes, and her discomfort vanished.
Cheng Hao smiled and gently stroked her head.
Su Miaomiao's brief moment of sadness was successfully overcome.
It was indeed sad.
But the convoy of so many people followed her and Cheng Hao's lead. She could not choose to endanger the entire convoy out of pity for this child, and the child truly could not be saved. There were no miracles in this world.
She felt it was best to let him be with his relatives, which was also a form of solace.
Su Miaomiao believed that if she and Cheng Hao could experience the miracle of time travel, then others would surely have their own encounters, and she wouldn't feel so bad anymore.
After composing herself.
Su Miaomiao tried to climb out of Cheng Hao's embrace, but he pulled her back.
"Using me and then running away? What do you take me for? Stay here for a while and be my hug pillow."
Cheng Hao said this as he held her tightly. She was soft and small, and in the cold weather, holding her was quite comfortable, and it made him feel secure.
Her waist was also very slender.
He could easily encircle it with one arm.
Hearing him say this, Su Miaomiao, who had been worried about his leg going numb, no longer cared. She sat firmly on his lap, enjoying being in his embrace.
In the past, Cheng Hao also liked to hold her when he was studying, saying it made him feel secure.
The two of them became even more affectionate.
They continued to travel at a fast pace for a while longer, and finally caught up with the main group.
The crowds began to grow.
And became more congested.
Their convoy was forced to slow down. Wang Daming was negotiating at the front.
Li Datou was responsible for relaying the messages.
"Young Master! Those people say they are also traveling now that the snow has stopped!"
"They say this winter arrived too early, taking up more than half of autumn and being much colder than in previous years. Many villagers fleeing along the way have frozen to death!"
"Young Master and Madam! Guess what? There are even two wealthy families over there who came from the new official road. The official road there is completely blocked, and people even started fighting, leading to a chaotic battle with countless casualties..."
It was fortunate that these two families were clever and stayed further back, so they took a detour at the last minute.
Ultimately.
It was true that there's always a way when you reach the mountain. They also followed the example of the Jin family and wandered around, and indeed, they found their way to the old official road and saved their lives.
Wang Daming relayed what he had learned to the Cheng family head. Li Datou also informed Cheng Hao of every word, and Wang Daming, who was originally a subordinate of the Cheng family head, did not stop Li Datou from reporting to Cheng Hao.
Clearly, he also acknowledged him.