On Xiao Hai's side—
The number of people fleeing toward the town kept increasing, a chaotic stream of adventurers and mercenaries sprinting through dust and panic. Yet, strangely, no casualties had occurred so far.
It was true—they couldn't escape in a short time.
But it was equally true that the beast tide couldn't catch up with them immediately either.
Heavy footsteps thundered behind them, the distant roars of magical beasts echoing like a death knell.
"Captain," Lao San said while running close behind, his breath ragged but his eyes clear. "The number of adventurers has increased… but so has the number of magical beasts. We might escape their pursuit for now, but once that happens, those beasts will surely attack Qingshan Town."
The captain shot him an irritated glance. "So?" he snapped. "What do you want us to do?"
"We slow them down," Lao San replied without hesitation. "If we do that, we'll still have enough strength left to join the reinforcements and suppress the beast tide."
The captain's eyes widened. "Are you insane?" he shouted. "Stop a beast tide with just us?"
His outburst caught everyone's attention. Several mercenaries glanced over, their expressions tense as they struggled to keep pace.
"No," Lao San answered calmly, fearlessly meeting his gaze. "I'm not mad, Captain. And we don't need to face the beast tide head-on. We only need to block their path—delay them. And we won't be alone. There are other mercenary groups here. If we act together, it's possible."
The captain fell silent.
He knew Lao San was right. They could escape—for now.
But escape meant leading disaster straight into the town.
Qingshan Town… filled with civilians, families, children.
Running away would only postpone death.
Finally, after a long moment, the captain clenched his fist. "Alright."
He raised his voice, forcing it through the chaos.
"Everyone, listen to me!"
"I am the scout captain sent by the Imperial Army to assess the Magical Beast Tide."
The running crowd gradually turned their attention to him.
"I know we all want to escape," he continued, his voice firm and commanding. "But even if we do, where will we go? Into the town? If we run, the beast tide will follow—and Qingshan Town will become their next target."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"So, I propose this," the captain said loudly. "Instead of running blindly, we block their path. Slow them down. Buy time. If we do that, we can escape their pursuit and give reinforcements enough time to arrive."
"Scout Captain…" one mercenary asked between gasps, panic clear in his eyes. "You mean… we fight them?"
"No," the captain replied sharply. "We delay them."
His gaze swept over the exhausted yet determined faces around him.
"And if we don't do this now—then we might as well be the ones who led the beast tide straight to our own people."
Hearing the captain's proposal, most people hesitated, the danger flashing clearly in their eyes. Blocking a beast tide was no small matter—one mistake could mean death.
But Xiao Hai did not hesitate.
From the very beginning, this was exactly what he had been thinking.
Without wasting a single breath, he abruptly stopped.
The sudden halt made his steps skid across the dirt. Before anyone could react, he twisted his body sideways and thrust his palm forward. A deep, thunderous impact rang out—
Crack!
The tree beside the path split apart under the force of his strike and crashed down heavily, blocking the route of the advancing beast tide.
For a brief moment, everyone froze.
Then, as they witnessed Xiao Hai's decisive action, the doubts in their hearts vanished instantly. At that moment, they understood exactly what needed to be done.
"Everyone!" the captain shouted, already drawing his blade as he came to a halt. "Do as this young man did! Create obstacles along the path—slow the beast tide down! But don't linger too long, or you'll be swallowed by them!"
As he spoke, his blade flashed, and another tree fell with a deafening crash.
"Haha! No need to remind us, Captain!" several mercenaries laughed loudly.
"We know this terrain better than anyone!"
With renewed determination, they sprang into action.
Some hacked down trees, letting thick trunks crash across the path. Others dragged massive stone boulders into chokepoints. A few reckless ones even dug deep pits with frightening speed, turning the ground itself into a trap.
Watching this unfold, Xiao Hai was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected such coordination to form in such a short time. But soon, he understood—this wasn't teamwork born from trust, but from survival. At the edge of death, past grudges meant nothing.
Lives mattered more than enmity.
And so, the groups moved like a flowing current of their own.
They would stop.
Create obstacles.
Then run again.
Step by step, they carved a temporary barrier against the unstoppable beast tide.
"Hah… hah… I'm exhausted."
One of the mercenaries collapsed beneath the shade of a tree, gasping heavily for breath.
No one mocked him. No one replied.
Those who had stopped to rest were no better off. Their clothes were soaked with sweat, arms trembling from fatigue. Although they had successfully left the beast tide behind by creating countless obstacles and were now waiting for reinforcements, the price they had paid was written clearly on their bodies.
They were utterly drained.
Xiao Hai sat alone beneath another tree, silent and still. His gaze swept across the resting figures—people on the verge of collapse, yet with eyes that still burned brightly.
He understood.
This was the resolve of human beings.
The instinct to protect oneself… and the determination to safeguard those they loved.
The courage to face disaster head-on rather than wait helplessly for salvation.
Perhaps that was why humanity stood at the peak of the Dou Qi Continent.
And not only here.
Even on Earth, it had always been the same.
Lost in thought, he failed to notice someone approaching until a voice broke the silence.
"Hey, brother—what are you thinking about?"
The voice was relaxed, even cheerful.
Xiao Hai turned his head. A soldier stood before him, holding a small bundle of dry rations, a friendly smile on his dust-streaked face.
It was Lao San.
"Nothing," Xiao Hai replied flatly.
His face remained hidden beneath a black robe and mask, revealing nothing. No one could recognize him—and he intended to keep it that way.
"Oh… is that so?" Lao San scratched the back of his head awkwardly, a hint of embarrassment crossing his expression.
He then extended the rations toward Xiao Hai.
"Here. Eat something," he said with a slight smile. "And… thanks. You worked hard."
The simple words carried more weight than any praise.
Xiao Hai glanced at the dry rations for a brief moment, then took them and began eating quietly.
In truth, his storage ring—given to him by Jia Xingtian—was filled with far better provisions. But he couldn't take them out here.
These people might appear to be allies now, united by survival, but the moment they discovered something of such value, their blades would turn without hesitation.
Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.
Seeing that Xiao Hai accepted the food without a word, Lao San was slightly stunned. He hesitated, as if wanting to say something more, but in the end, he simply smiled and returned to the others.
After the brief rest, everyone slowly rose to their feet, preparing to head back toward the town.
Then—
The ground suddenly began to tremble.
Dull, heavy vibrations rolled through the earth, growing stronger by the second.
Panic instantly erupted.
"Damn it! How did they catch up so fast?!" someone shouted, fear creeping into his voice.
But Xiao Hai's eyes narrowed.
No… something's off.
"This doesn't sound like a beast tide," he thought calmly. "There are no roars… no chaotic howls. This rhythm is different."
Almost as if confirming his thoughts, the captain stepped forward and raised his hand.
"Everyone, stay calm!" he shouted. "This isn't the beast tide—it's the reinforcements we've been waiting for!"
For a moment, there was stunned silence.
"Reinforcements…?" one mercenary muttered in disbelief. "Does that mean… we're saved?"
The realization spread like wildfire.
"We're saved!"
"Reinforcements have arrived!"
Cheers erupted instantly. Some laughed loudly, others slumped to the ground, tears streaming down their faces. Relief, joy, and exhaustion intertwined as the shadow of death finally lifted.
For a brief moment, amid laughter and sobs, the battlefield felt… peaceful.