When pushed to the limit, people find hidden strength. Zhu Yanyi was like this. She could be soft-hearted or lazy, but right now, her potential surfaced.
"Going through the jungle is actually safer for us."
She didn't explain why. But since Zhu Yanyi said so, Old Yang and Zhang Hua didn't argue. For them, the jungle was better anyway. It was twenty kilometers shorter than the mountain road.
"Let's go."
Once the plan was set, Old Yang led the way into the jungle. She went first, Zhu Yanyi stayed in the middle, and Zhang Hua covered the rear. As they entered the trees, Zhu Yanyi paused. She sprinkled some powder on the ground, then hurried to catch up with the others.
"Comrade Xiao Zhu, what powder did you just sprinkle?" Zhang Hua asked curiously.
"Poison. Real poison." Zhu Yanyi sighed, her expression slightly bitter. "I don't want anyone to catch us, so I have to use poison. I hope no one follows. Otherwise, these hands of mine will have truly killed someone."
She didn't want to kill, but she had to. A sense of helplessness lingered in her heart. But at this point, surviving was all that mattered.
"Everyone has to start somewhere," Zhang Hua said softly. No one liked this, but they had to accept it.
"Never mind. Let's not think about it. Being careful and reaching our destination safely is what matters most."
Although her heart felt bitter, Zhu Yanyi knew she had to let go. Things had come to this; worrying wouldn't help. She had to stay calm.
This was a strength of Zhu Yanyi’s character. No matter how hard things got, she could comfort herself. Perhaps this was why her past life had shaped her into a gentle, Buddhist-like person. She was calm, peaceful, and rarely angry. This calmness helped her avoid danger more easily.
"Be careful. There’s movement ahead."
Old Yang held up a hand to stop them. Zhu Yanyi quietly gathered the children close, telling them to hide well, before looking forward.
She didn’t need to look closely. The plants around her had already told her everything. There was a group of people ahead. By their clothes, they were mercenaries. She didn’t know which country they were from, but that made them more dangerous. Mercenaries could be good or bad. If they were a group of thugs, they would be in great danger.
"I’ll go check first." Zhang Hua was a former scout, so he was the best choice.
"Be careful," Old Yang warned. "We can hide a bit longer if needed."
With seven children behind them, they couldn’t risk their own safety, but they had to protect the kids. Even a short retreat was acceptable.
"Understood." Zhang Hua nodded seriously. He knew what Old Yang meant. After making sure everyone was safe, Zhang Hua carefully slipped into the jungle to investigate.
Zhu Yanyi already knew the situation, but she couldn’t reveal her ability. Fortunately, Zhang Hua was very careful. She didn’t make a scene or alert anyone. From the messages sent by the nearby flowers and trees, she knew she was safe.