Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 77: Running Away from Home

The decisive Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t bother to argue with Leng Qi and turned around to leave, looking quite irritated.

Leng Qi felt relieved, thinking she didn’t understand his good intentions. The Pavilion Master was doing this for her own good, but she didn’t appreciate it—truly an ungrateful girl.

Cheng Xiaoxiao leisurely finished her breakfast and took advantage of everyone’s busyness to pack her bundle. Even though she stored the important things in the warehouse, she still wanted to put on a show.

She left a letter saying she had a prophetic dream that Manager Huang and Doctor Xue in the town were in mortal danger and she was going with Coach Leng to rescue them. Then she quietly slipped out the door.

Arriving at the landslide site, she looked at the broken mountainside, where rocks and branches occasionally rolled down, and quickly averted her gaze. My goodness! It’s so high, what if I accidentally fall...

She snapped back to reality and looked at the dense slope on her left. Hmm, she’d better head up the mountain now, otherwise, standing in the middle of the road, she’d easily be spotted by the villagers clearing the paths.

With determination, she took out the dagger gifted by Yanlan. The dagger sliced through iron like mud, exuding a cold gleam. It easily cut through the branches blocking her way.

After a clumsy, stumbling climb, she finally reached the top of the mountain and cautiously moved forward to where the landslide was worst, increasingly steep and narrow.

Realizing the danger, Cheng Xiaoxiao backed up a distance, pulled out a mat, sat cross-legged, and opened the System Mall. She spent 20 coins to buy a crisp little watermelon weighing about a pound, eating while waiting for Leng Qi.

So sweet and crispy, such a delicious treat. Cheng Xiaoxiao looked content as a gentle breeze swept over the mountain, cool and comfortable. It seemed like the only thing missing from the three great things of summer was WiFi. Ah! She suddenly missed the modernization of her past life, but going back was impossible.

On the flip side, living in Qingshan Village wasn’t so bad.

She no longer minded being a little farm girl, so why wouldn’t fate give her a break?

Meanwhile, Erya found the letter Cheng Xiaoxiao left and was extremely anxious, immediately heading next door to find her second brother. Cheng Hao was initially shocked upon seeing the letter, then pondered for a while, calming down.

Cheng Jia, practicing his writing, was stunned, put down his pen, and ran to the door, "Second sister, what did you say? Sister ran away from home?"

"Not running away, she said she went to save people."

Cheng Hao told Erya, "Take the letter to the martial arts field and give it to Coach Leng."

Erya smacked her forehead, "Right! Sister said she went with Coach Leng to save people, but Coach Leng is still at the martial arts field!" She grabbed the letter and dashed off like the wind.

Cheng Jia, anxious, wanted to follow, but Cheng Hao quickly grabbed him by the back of his collar, "What are you doing? Go back and keep practicing your writing."

Cheng Jia struggled and shouted, "No way, my sister is missing, I’m going to find her. She’s in danger alone."

Cheng Ran also furrowed his little brows and said, "Second brother, is Sister Xiaoxiao really in danger?"

Even Cheng Liangmu, Cheng Liangsen, and Cheng Xiaoquan—the whole group of kids—showed concerned expressions.

The newly joined Cheng Sicheng wanted to sneak off at the back, but as soon as he stepped out, Cheng Hao noticed him.

Cheng Hao originally didn’t want to explain, but looking at the worried kids, he figured they wouldn’t let it go without a clear explanation, so he patiently said, "Do you know what your Sister Xiaoxiao meant by leaving a letter?"

The little ones all shook their heads in unison!

Cheng Jia: "Sister was afraid the family would worry."

Everyone looked curiously at Cheng Hao, who shook his head, waiting for answers.

Cheng Hao didn’t answer directly but asked, "Why did Xiaoxiao emphasize going with Coach Leng while Coach Leng is at the martial arts field?"

The calm Cheng Sicheng: "Maybe Coach Leng didn’t agree with Xiaoxiao leaving, so Xiaoxiao acted first and notified later."

Cheng Hao watched Cheng Sicheng join them and noted how he transformed from being timid and clueless to rising earlier and sleeping later than others, diligently practicing both literature and martial arts, surpassing the other kids. Cheng Hao admired Cheng Sicheng’s perseverance and boldness, but sometimes found his gaze too deep and dark.

He didn’t know if Xiaoxiao was aware that this person was a double-edged sword, with the potential to harm her if not careful. Cheng Hao wasn’t at ease with such a person being around Cheng Xiaoxiao for three years.

Despite his young age, his thinking was sharper than others, quickly grasping key points.

Cheng Hao withdrew his gaze from Cheng Sicheng and said, "So, there’s no need to worry. Xiaoxiao’s letter was partly to reassure us and partly because she was certain Coach Leng would find her after reading it. With Coach Leng’s outstanding martial arts and first-class Qinggong, everyone can rest easy."

The little ones nodded in agreement.

Cheng Jia exclaimed joyfully, "So Sister played a trick on Coach Leng?"

Cheng Hao raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, your sister is a sly one. It’s enough that she doesn’t harm others, yet you’re worried she will suffer losses." He said, playfully flicking Cheng Jia’s forehead.

Cheng Jia rubbed his flicked forehead and giggled.

Everyone else laughed along!

Meanwhile, Leng Qi received the letter and found Cheng Xiaoxiao as quickly as possible. Cheng Xiaoxiao had just finished her watermelon, conveniently disposing of any evidence, and turned to see Leng Qi hurrying over.

She cheerfully greeted him, "Hello, Coach Leng!"

The gloomy Leng Qi remained silent.

"Even if you keep staring at me, no holes will appear. Let’s go!"

Cheng Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, stood up, packed away the mat, and walked forward, completely ignoring the chilly Leng Qi trailing behind.

She treaded carefully, testing each step forward.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, she slipped and almost fell down the slope, but Leng Qi quickly grabbed her arm.

Helplessly, since Cheng Xiaoxiao was moving too slowly to retreat, Leng Qi reluctantly pulled her along, starting to pick up speed.

"Damn!"

Completely unprepared, Cheng Xiaoxiao was dragged quite a distance. Wanting to shout a few curses, she saw branches coming toward her and had to raise her arm to shield her face. If she got a scratch, Leng Qi wouldn’t hear the end of it.

Once they reached a safe spot, Cheng Xiaoxiao, gasping for air, started cursing, "Leng Qi, you reckless idiot, can’t you say something? Once or twice like this, even a pig would learn, but not you. Do you not know how to cherish delicate ones?"

While venting, she caught her breath, "I must have used up all my bad luck from eight generations back to have you as my escort."

Seeing Cheng Xiaoxiao’s disheveled hair, wrinkled clothes, and a few tears, Leng Qi awkwardly rubbed his nose, feeling he might have overdone it this time. He had never taken a girl through the woods before!

How was he supposed to know this would happen!

Resting on a big rock for a while, Cheng Xiaoxiao finally recovered, took a big gulp of water from her bag, and began to move forward without acknowledging Leng Qi, who was trailing behind her.

Peeved as she was, bitterness quickly faded as the landscape grew more desolate with each step. The large and small trees were stripped of bark and leaves, leaving only barren stumps.

The system continually reported in Cheng Xiaoxiao’s mind, "Host, there are approximately twenty displaced people gathered in a mountain hollow about 600 meters ahead of you to the left."