69: Chapter 69 Returning to Pick Up People

A meager number.

Compared to his previous military merit rewards in the Inner City defense zone, killing a mid-grade bronze ferocious beast alone granted a base of 50 merit points. With regional defense assistance and other coefficient bonuses, it could reach over 70 points. That was double this mission's reward.

...

However, Qin Ce couldn't concern himself with that now.

He pulled up the map, confirmed the direction, and then patted the neck of Qingluan.

Pointing towards the North with one hand, he shouted excitedly:

"Let's go, back to Yuntai Town."

Qingluan let out a long cry, its wings suddenly spread, turning into a streak of azure light as it sped towards the North.

There, he had a home he had been away from for several months.

There was his mother, and his little sister.

There were the people he would give everything to protect.

Sunlight spilled onto his face, and the wind whistled in his ears.

Qin Ce watched the horizon becoming clearer and clearer ahead, his heart beating faster uncontrollably.

Almost there.

Almost there.

Once this beast tide passed, after graduation, and after obtaining the first-place privilege... he would be able to bring his mother and little sister into Fengling City, into the Inner City, so they would never have to hide in bunkers in a panic upon hearing the alarm like today.

He wanted to give them a true, solid shelter that would not be shaken by any storm.

For this goal—

He clenched his fists, a burning light igniting in his eyes.

"Wait for me, Mom, Xiao Jian."

"I'm back."

...

Yuntai Town, East District, the Qin family's small courtyard.

The courtyard was not large; three brick-tiled rooms surrounded a small yard. In the corner, a few hardy thorn trees were planted, and coarse cloth clothes washed the previous night still hung on the clothesline.

His mother, Su Wan, was struggling to push a heavy wooden cabinet toward the cellar entrance in the corner of the yard. Her frail figure appeared somewhat unsteady, her forehead was covered in sweat, and a few strands of hair were stuck to her pale cheeks.

His little sister, Qin Jian, though young, was holding a bundle of coarse hemp rope, trying hard to help her mother secure the cabinet. Her little face was flushed red, and she was holding back tears of panic in her eyes.

"Xiao Jian, go move two more bags of grain to the cellar!" Su Wan shouted, panting. "In case we have to hide for a long time..."

"Oh... I'll go get them!" Qin Jian replied, putting down the hemp rope and running toward the grain jar behind the house.

They were doing what most civilian families in the town were doing—using every method they could think of to reinforce this small home. Even though everyone knew that if the beast tide really reached here, these wooden cabinets, hemp ropes, and even the cellar would likely be meaningless.

But this was the only thing they could do.

"Mom, when will Brother be back?" Qin Jian asked softly, holding a grain bag.

Su Wan's hand paused for a moment, then she forced a smile: "Your brother is training in the city; he can only return after he graduates. When this period of danger passes, Mom will take you to the city to see him..."

Before she could finish, a clear and long bird cry suddenly came from overhead.

Both of them looked up instinctively.

In the morning light, a cyan shadow swooped down like a meteor. The wind pressure from its unfolding wings sent dust flying in the courtyard. The giant bird landed steadily in the center of the yard, and the youth on its back vaulted down—

"Mom! Xiao Jian!"

Qin Ce's voice was a bit hoarse, and his eyes were slightly red.

The wooden beam in Su Wan's hand dropped to the ground with a "clatter."

The grain bag in Qin Jian's arms slipped, and wheat grains scattered all over the ground.

"Brother... Brother?!" Qin Jian was the first to react, screaming as she lunged forward, crashing into Qin Ce's arms like a little beast. "You really came back! Are you here to take us to the city?!"

Qin Ce hugged his sister tightly, feeling the trembling of that thin, small body in his arms, his throat feeling as if it were clogged by something.

He looked up, looking at his mother who was still frozen in place.

Su Wan's eyes turned red instantly. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but just walked over quickly, reached out to touch Qin Ce's face, pinched his arm, and finally patted his shoulder gently.

"You've lost weight," she said hoarsely, "but you've gotten stronger."

Just those three words.

Yet they made Qin Ce's nose ache.

"Mom," he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, "there isn't much time, you need to listen to me."

He quickly explained the situation regarding the beast tide, then took out the dark gold ID card that Jiang Ruowei had given him: "This is the highest-level safe house qualification; it can grant access to the military base's safe house. I know a place, three kilometers from here; we need to go there now."

"Military base?" Su Wan was stunned, "That kind of place... can they let us in?"

"Yes," Qin Ce said firmly, "I have the authority, and my teacher's friend is over there."

He didn't explain further and directly ordered Qingluan: "Qingluan, lie down."

Qingluan obediently lowered its body. Qin Ce helped his mother and little sister onto the bird's back, telling them to hold onto the feathers on Qingluan's neck.

"Brother, what about you?" Qin Jian asked worriedly.

"I'll run alongside you," Qin Ce patted her head, "Qingluan is already struggling to carry two people; it can't take me too. Don't worry, I can keep up."

Just as he finished speaking—

Woo—woo—

The air defense alarm of Yuntai Town wailed shrilly!

"Roar—!!!"

From the distant western horizon came a dull, thunder-like beast roar!

Immediately following were a second and a third... the roars merged into one, approaching from afar like a tidal wave!

Qin Ce's expression changed drastically. Wind-type energy erupted under his feet, and he shot into the sky like a cannonball, instantly leaping over the town's seven-meter-high wall.

He hovered in the air and looked to the west.

On the horizon, a black mass of beasts, like spilled ink, was spreading at an astonishing speed! In the sky, dense swarms of flying ferocious beasts formed a moving dark cloud, obscuring the newly risen morning sun!

Even more terrifying—in the vanguard of that beast tide, Qin Ce saw several massive auras!

Silver Rank... no, at least the aura of Gold Rank ferocious beasts!

The beast tide had really come!

And the scale... was far beyond his imagination!

"Go quickly!!" Qin Ce dropped from the sky, his wind-type energy cushioning his landing, and then he ordered Qingluan to take his mother and little sister out of the town!

Qingluan also realized the danger. With a flap of its wings, it took off with Su Wan and Qin Jian on its back, staying only three meters off the ground and flying out of the wall in the fastest low-altitude flight posture.

The Yuntai Town garrison stood on the wall, staring dumbfounded as the cyan shadow carried two people out of the town, while the youth ran wildly on the ground like a cheetah, then cyan wind-type energy surged, and he vaulted over the wall directly to chase after them.

"Is, is that the Qin family kid?!"

"Isn't he at the Fengling City Battle Academy? Why is he back?"

"His Pet Beast has grown so big... that bird looks so powerful!"

"But, is he crazy? Going out of the town at this time?!"

Amidst the discussions, Qin Ce's figure had already disappeared behind the hills outside the town.

Qin Ce was running at full speed below. Wind-type energy wrapped around his legs, and every step carried him several meters, his speed so fast that it left an afterimage behind him.

But he dared not sprint at full throttle—he had to stay below Qingluan, ready to deal with any danger that might strike from the ground at any moment.