Chapter 46: Heavy Rainfall 2
Lin Xu stepped out of the tent, the cool mountain breeze brushing against her face.
At a distance, she saw Chief Yan standing at the edge of the cliff, his back straight, hands clasped behind him as he looked down at the vast view of the village below. The fog was slowly lifting, revealing the little houses, the farmlands, and the people moving about like tiny dots.
She walked quietly towards him and stood by his side, not speaking. For a while, there was only the sound of the wind and the faint cries of birds echoing through the valley.
Chief Yan finally broke the silence. His voice was low and thoughtful.
"Do you think they are really going to listen?"
Lin Xu’s eyes followed his gaze down the mountain. She let out a slow breath.
"I don’t know," she admitted softly. "But I hope they do."
He turned his head to study her, his expression serious.
"Lin Xu... if you are right about this, then many villagers will owe you their lives."
Lin Xu gave a small smile, though her voice carried a quiet firmness.
"And if I’m wrong, then you’ll have to kick me out of the village. That’s the rule. I know it... but I can take the gamble."
’After all, the system was never wrong.’ Lin Xu thought.
Her words carried confidence, but her heart still beat a little faster.
Chief Yan gave a short sigh, his brows tightening. "You’re a brave woman, Lin Xu. Brave... or perhaps foolish. But in times like these, both are needed."
Before Lin Xu could answer, a sudden loud voice broke through the calm.
"Lin Xu! People are coming!"
It was Yan Mei, waving both hands excitedly from near the tent. Lin Xu and Chief Yan immediately turned, watching as a large group of people slowly made their way up the mountain path. The sound of footsteps, tired breaths, and children crying filled the air.
Soon, almost fifty villagers appeared, each carrying bundles, leading their children by the hand, or carrying them on their backs. Their faces were tired and worried, but also determined.
Lin Xu’s heart lifted at the sight, and a smile spread across her face. She and Chief Yan walked forward to meet them.
One of the older men in the group stepped out, his voice rough from the climb.
"Lin Xu... Chief Yan... we thought about it long and hard. Whether you’re telling the truth or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. We don’t have much to lose. If the rain comes the way you say it will, then at least we’ll be safe here. And if it doesn’t, then... at least we tried."
Another woman with a child clinging to her skirt added quickly, "We can’t gamble with our children’s lives. Better to climb a mountain now than regret it later."
A few others nodded and muttered their agreement.
"You spoke sense, Lin Xu. Even if we don’t understand how you know, we’ll trust your word."
"Yes. We’d rather be cautious than foolish."
Lin Xu bowed her head slightly, her smile warm and filled with relief. "Thank you. You’ve made the right choice."
Chief Yan stepped forward, his voice strong.
"Everyone, find places quickly and set yourselves before the rain starts. Some caves are nearby, use them for shelter. Work together, and don’t wander off."
The villagers nodded and began moving towards the rocky caves scattered around the mountain top.
Just then, Mo Ying and Fuhan returned from setting traps. They both froze in surprise at the sight of the crowd. Mo Ying’s eyes swept over the villagers, then turned to Lin Xu. A rare smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Looks like they listened, huh?"
Lin Xu nodded, but her smile soon faded. Her gaze dropped to the village far below. "But... there are still many who didn’t listen."
Mo Ying walked closer, his expression softening slightly. "They’ll be fine," he said in his usual calm tone. Then, seeing the worry in her eyes, he added, "If you want, I can go down the mountain and warn them again."
He turned as if ready to leave, but before he could take a step, Lin Xu’s hand shot out and grabbed his sleeve tightly. Her grip trembled, and when she spoke, her voice was the softest he had ever heard from her.
"No... you can’t go. We need you here."
Mo Ying froze, the quiet desperation in her tone stopping him cold. For a moment, he wasn’t sure if it was his heart that had skipped or the wind that had gone still. Slowly, almost without thinking, his hand lifted and cupped her face, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek.
"Don’t worry," he murmured, his deep voice steady. "I won’t leave. I’ll be here."
Lin Xu’s eyes met his, wide and glistening, and she gave the smallest nod. Their gazes locked, the noise of the villagers fading into the background. For that brief moment, it was as if only the two of them existed.
The calm moment between Lin Xu and Mo Ying was cut short when a sudden whoooosh
of heavy wind swept across the mountaintop. Dust and loose leaves scattered into the air, making the children cry out in fear.The air turned cold, biting against their skin as the trees bent and swayed under the pressure.
"The wind is picking up, everyone, move faster into the shelters!" Chief Yan’s voice rang out, strong and commanding.
Immediately, the villagers who had just arrived hurried toward the caves and the large tent Lin Xu had set up. Mothers clutched their children tightly, fathers carried bundles on their backs, and even the elderly pushed themselves to move quickly.
Mo Ying and Fuhan moved swiftly, guiding people to safe spots, steadying anyone who stumbled, and making sure no one was left behind. Lin Xu helped gather the smaller children, pulling them close to her as the wind whipped around, tugging at clothes and hair.
"Quickly! Stay together, don’t scatter!" Mo Ying barked, his sharp voice cutting through the storm.
Within minutes, most of the group had settled inside. The tent held firm under the howling wind, the poles anchored deep as Lin Xu had promised. Inside the caves, the villagers huddled together, their eyes wide with both fear and relief.
Up on the mountain, though the wind was fierce, there was order. People listened, and with Lin Xu and Mo Ying guiding them, things moved smoothly.
But down in the village, it was chaos.
At the marketplace, stalls collapsed as the strong winds tore through, sending baskets of grain and fruits rolling across the dirt. The flimsy roofs of vendors’ shops were ripped away, flying into the air like giant kites. Shoes, clothes, even cooking pots clattered and rolled across the square.
Children screamed as they were nearly knocked over by the sudden gusts, mothers shouting frantically as they tried to hold onto them. Men scrambled to save what they could, but the winds were too strong.
"My roof!" one man wailed as he tried to chase after the wooden planks that had been ripped off his house.
"Where’s Xiaoya?! Has anyone seen my daughter?!" a woman cried desperately, her voice breaking as she searched through the crowd.
The panic only grew worse when a loud crack echoed from the distance. A tall tree near the far edge of the square split in half, crashing down onto the path, making people scatter in fear.
And then, as if the heavens themselves had been waiting, the first heavy drops of rain began to fall, thick, cold, and merciless.
Within moments, it turned into a downpour. The sound of water pelting against the ground was deafening. The villagers ran in all directions, some searching for shelter, others clutching their children close as the streets began to flood.
Those who had mocked Lin Xu’s warning now felt their hearts sink with regret. Her words echoed in their minds: "The flood will come."
Up on the mountain, Lin Xu stood at the entrance of the tent, her face pale as she looked down at the storm swallowing the village below. She gripped the cloth tightly, whispering under her breath, "Please... let them be safe."
Mo Ying came to her side as he pulled her towards him as Fuhan stood up to close the tent.
His arms wrapped around her waist, he said softly, "Stay close."
Lin Xu felt warm immediately as she nodded faintly. At least the people here, the ones who had chosen to listen were safe.