Ghost Town (finale)

The group of people started panicking when they heard Zhu Huiqing’s grim determination. They started exclaiming that Zhu Huiqing and Meng Weiyuan had to protect them, they’re cultivators for heaven's sake!

“Guard Zhu I just became a father—”

“Young Master I can’t leave my wife—”

“My children—”

“My mother—”

“My brother passed last year I can’t—”

“Quiet!” Meng Weiyuan called, his voice echoing throughout the clearing. Everyone immediately shut up in order to hear what he had to say.

“Guard Zhu and I will do everything in our power to make sure you all arrive back home to your families. But we can only protect you as long as you shut up and listen to everything we say!” Meng Weiyuan announced as he pulled Meng Mei closer to his side.

“First thing we’re going to do is follow the water upstream until we find the edge of the forest. After that we’re going to find the nearest village so we can find shelter.” Meng Weiyuan’s face hardened, “We will make absolutely no stops as we follow the water upstream. We have to find the nearest village as soon as possible so we will not be wasting any time.”

Everyone muttered their understanding. Meng Weiyuan surveyed the group once more before nodding.

“As long as you listen to either me or guard Zhu every one of you will make it out of this alive.” He promised, “Now, let’s go!”

Meng Mei Looked back and watched and guard Zhu silently slipped backwards until he was at the very back of the group. When she realized that he had a plan she looked for Lai Huang next. When she discovered that the boy had been pushed away from her she reached out to grab his hand.

He saw her reaching for him and wordlessly reached across the people to grab her hand. Meng Mei laced their fingers together and pulled him to her side.

“Don’t get lost.” She whispered to him as Meng Weiyuan tugged her forward. Lai Huang nodded in understanding.

The group made their trek in dead silence, their eyes always on a swivel. Whenever they heard a twig break in the distance they would all tense and keep their eyes on the spot.

A few times they passed corpses and beasts. They were just stumbling along the riverbank, in search of anything alive. Unconsciously the group all held their breath as they passed, as if that made any difference. Thanks to the stream the corpses and beasts took no notice of the large group of people.

At one point the middle of the stream got so deep Meng Me was having trouble keeping her head above water. Lai Huang was even shorter than her so most of his face was submerged. Meng Weiyuan took notice. With that same grim determination he’d had all night he grabbed the both of them by their collars and lifted them up high enough to where they weren’t struggling. He kept them afloat like this until the stream wasn’t as deep.

True to Meng Weiyuan’s word, they stopped for nothing.

They trudged upstream through the water for an unknown amount of time. But the further they went, the more the sky lightened up and the less they spotted any beasts or corpses.

This was the only thing that continued to motivate the group. They just kept reassuring themselves that the longer they walked, the closer they were to safety.

Meng Mei didn’t say a word though. She knew that until the moment they reached Libaogong, she wouldn’t be safe. Meng Guoyao and Madam Meirong had made the decision to leave her and Mng Weiyuan behind with the knowledge that if anything were to happen, Meng Weiyuan would protect her.

She couldn’t even imagine what Lai Huang was feeling. Was he wondering if his father had left him to die? Could it possibly be true? Meng Mei knew that there was no love lost between the father and son pair but she couldn’t imagine Zhong Shoushan leaving him to die at the hands of beasts and corpses.

But isn’t that technically what happened? Meng Guoyao made the call to let the non-cultivators fend for themselves. Did he understand the real truth or repercussions of those words?

[System error]

Meng Mei was brought out of her head at the system’s message. She felt her stomach drop again. What else could happen?

[Side quest two forcibly changed]

[Updating…]

[Main quest one forcibly changed]

[Updating…]

[A-Mei is unable to complete either of her open quests. This system will update the parameters.]

Meng Mei watched with a large amount of apprehension as the system updated both of her quests. There was absolutely no way this was going to end well.

[A-Mei’s current objective is: Survive and find shelter]

That was the last message the system sent before disappearing. Meng mei fought down the bile that threatened to raise up her throat and she focused on putting on foot in front of the other. As long as she followed Meng Weiyuan’s instructions she would be fine.

Another length of time passed. It had been so long now that night was starting to set in. Meng Weiyuan called out his assurances to the group but Meng Mei saw how his face became grimmer and grimmer.

She had no choice but to believe in his words however.

Finally, after hours of walking they saw the break in the tree line. The group of people started getting rowdy as they realized that the end was near. Meng Weiyuan didn’t share their enthusiasm though.

When they finally reached the clearing they did find a town. Most of the group broke off into a run when they saw the buildings but Meng Weiyuan kept his reservations. He waited for Zhu Huiqing to catch up with them before advancing.

When they got close enough Meng Mei finally realized what was wrong.

All of the houses had been abandoned. There wasn’t a single living soul in this town that wasn’t from their group.

“Yuan-ge.” Meng Mei tugged on his sleeve again, “....Now what do we do?”

Meng Weiyuan stared at her for a long moment before shaking his head.

“I don’t know.” He admitted softly.