Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 451 - 442: Reunion

"Little Brother Xiao, Little Brother Xiao, how are you?"

The Rhino rushed over to help Cheng Xiaoxiao, asking with concern.

"I’m okay, oh, it’s Brother Sixteen, no wonder I heard someone calling me."

Cheng Xiaoxiao patted the dust off her pants and replied calmly.

"By the way, why are you here? Are the others in our team okay? Where’s the captain?"

She quickly took control of the conversation, asking about the team.

"Many brothers are injured, resting in a hidden cave. By the way, what happened when you were collecting firewood? Did you get lost? I looked for you for a long time but couldn’t find you. They said you chickened out and ran away, but I didn’t believe it. Now I’m so glad to see you."

The Rhino’s face was full of disdain for the others, believing only he was wise and trustworthy.

Cheng Xiaoxiao touched her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She did try to run... just didn’t succeed.

She felt inexplicably guilty for the big guy’s trust.

She laughed awkwardly, finding a random excuse.

"I saw a gray-black little animal leap by and thought I could catch it for a snack. Who knew I ran quite far and didn’t catch it, and then I couldn’t find my way back. It’s my recklessness, I hope Brother Sixteen will speak kindly to Senior Brother for me, I really didn’t mean to leave the team on purpose."

She lowered her posture, looking guilty at him.

The Rhino waved his hand, "Don’t mind those sour remarks from others. They don’t know your character. I do. You’re not that kind of person. Don’t worry, I’ll speak to Senior Brother, I won’t let you be punished."

"Thank you, Brother Sixteen. By the way, a lot has happened since I was gone. I want to report to Senior Brother."

"Okay, I’ll take you there now."

"Just now Brother Sixteen said not to go that way, are there more herds of fierce beasts?"

"Yes, it’s very dangerous."

The Rhino took Cheng Xiaoxiao to the hideout, greeted the other two team members, and then headed to the cave.

On the way, they exchanged a lot of information they each had.

The cave was under a protruding low cliff, with brambles around the entrance, making it hard to notice just passing by.

"All the teammates are inside. The only exit on the mountain peak is occupied by fierce beasts, we can’t get out. We’ve been stuck here for days, and everyone’s running low on food and water. If this continues, we’ll have to take a desperate chance."

The Rhino’s eyes darkened. They were trapped, unable to hunt solitary fierce beasts or gather Immortal Condensing Grass to prevent disease, unable to escape. It was terrible.

At this moment, in the darkest part of the cave.

On a pile of messy straw lay a bloodstained cloak, with an unconscious man on it, frowning in pain.

"What should we do, Senior Brother’s wound is infected, and he’s got a fever."

A female disciple dabbing his sweat spoke anxiously.

Their healing elixirs were gone, and they couldn’t find any herbs for external injuries nearby. Seeing Senior Brother’s condition worsen, immediate treatment was needed. They were trapped here with no hope of returning, and thinking about this, her tears fell, silently weeping.

A group of young fellows surrounded them, not knowing what to do, how to comfort the teary Senior Sister.

"What’s with those fierce beasts? They haven’t moved for days, what do they want?"

Someone clenched his fist and punched the cave wall hard, shaking down gravel and dust.

Full of resentment and helplessness, with nowhere to vent.

"Senior Brother’s injury can’t be delayed, and several others are severely injured. We can’t just sit and wait for death anymore. We might as well charge out, maybe there’s a slim chance."

A skinny junior brother suddenly stood up, looking ready to risk it all.

The older Brother Little Moustache sneered, "Charge out to feed the beasts? We have so few people here, most injured. Do you think a ragtag bunch can get through thousands of fierce beasts, like you’re invincible?"

Brother Little Moustache harshly retorted, speaking to everyone’s hearts.

If there were a chance for escape, who would want to stay here waiting to die?

The herd of fierce beasts was too large, beyond what their little group’s combat power could oppose. Previous attempts to lure some away and break through resulted in heavy casualties, forcing them back.

Everyone drooped their heads, what could they do now?

Even with a thirty percent chance, they’d try, but the success rate was less than ten percent.

"Are we just going to watch Senior Brother die, watch those severely injured juniors die?"

The speaking disciple was on the verge of breaking down.

He crouched, covering his face and started to cry.

"Now we don’t even have the courage to face death?" Zhong Yong leaned weakly against the wall.

Stuffiness, sadness, powerlessness, pain, all kinds of complex emotions surrounded everyone.

Everyone felt a heavy stone weighing on their hearts, unbearably.

The sorrowful, heavy atmosphere was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps.

One pale face after another, reflected in the flickering firelight, appeared even more weary and disheartened, somber and sad.

Cheng Xiaoxiao walked in to see such a scene.

"Are you Little Junior Brother?"

The two senior brothers from Cheng Xiaoxiao’s group recognized him.

"Brother Luo, Brother Lin."

"Is it really you? Am I seeing things?"

Brother Lin got a slap on the back of his head from the Rhino.

"Of course, it’s the real Little Junior Brother. You got bad eyesight, go stand aside."

The Rhino pulled Brother Lin aside and said to everyone, "I told you Junior Brother Xiao would come back! You said I was crazy, now open your ox eyes and see clearly."

Everyone sighed, amazed that the one who supposedly ran away came back, oh right, he didn’t run away, just got lost.

But this doesn’t hide the fact of leaving the team without permission.

"What good is coming back now? Everyone’s here waiting to die, can he alone really get us out of this?"

Someone said disdainfully.

"Twenty-three, what nonsense are you spouting? This predicament wasn’t caused by Junior Brother Xiao, is it fair to take it out on him as a senior?"

The Rhino looked angrily at them.

"I’m speaking the truth, just one more person to send to death, what’s the difference?"

"How is it not different? In this difficult time, Junior Brother Xiao came back to the team, proving he’s not a deserter, courageous in facing danger, willing to share our fate. His sincerity should make you proud to have such a junior brother."

The Rhino spoke indignantly, but was met with a contemptuous eye roll.

"Childish!"

"Who are you calling childish?"

The Rhino roared, ready to argue.

"I’m talking about you."

"Looking for a fight, huh."

Seeing the two about to start a fight, others mediated, holding their hands and feet to prevent a real brawl.

"Enough, can’t you be quiet for a while?"