During my escape from famine, I survived by eavesdropping on the whispers of food.

Lu Jun looked around and, as expected, did not see any sign of her younger brother.

Not only that, Zhou also stepped forward and, seeing that her son hadn't come along, looked around anxiously. She said to Qin Shuangshuang, "He was just with me a moment ago. He said he was going to the outhouse, but why hasn't he come back yet?"

Qin Shuangshuang felt a sense of unease. Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in tattered clothes dragged his broken leg into the room and said anxiously to Qin Shuangshuang, "Shuangshuang, something terrible has happened! I just saw your brother being carried away by something!"

It's pitch black; how could we possibly see what carried him away? It looks like a wild animal from nearby. What should we do?

The man's words startled everyone present.

Qin Shuangshuang clenched her fists, and when she turned around again, she found that her mother had already lost her footing.

She rushed over to support her and said, "Mother, don't worry, take a few deep breaths. Don't worry, I'll go and bring my brother back right now!"

Zhou held Qin Shuangshuang's hand and said to her, "Good child, it's my fault. I'm too weak to go find your brother. Promise me you'll take good care of yourself. You're my precious two children. If anything happens to either of you, I'll feel terrible."

Qin Shuangshuang said earnestly to her, "Mother, don't worry, I will take good care of myself."

At this moment, Qin Shuangshuang turned around and saw Lu Jun standing there in a daze. She stepped to his side and said, "It's not really my job to go alone. You should come with me."

Lu Jun remained calm, a slight smirk playing on his lips, and said to her, "Fine, what I owe you, I will eventually have to repay."

He appeared reluctant, but his steps were quick.

The two then set off, one after the other.

Seeing this, Uncle Li quickly picked up the bow from the wooden shelf and said to Qin Shuangshuang, "I'll go with you."

The three looked at each other in bewilderment, and then left together.

Just as they left the county government office, Qin Shuangshuang and her group heard several wolf howls, which sounded frightening enough.

She thought that although there were still a few strong men inside, there were also some wild animals besides the refugees. If those wild animals smelled the aroma of the leftover meat in the middle of the night, they might come over here.

Qin Shuangshuang felt that it might not be safe to take away her most reliable Uncle Li now.

She said to him, "Uncle Li, they probably still need you inside. You should go back. Lu Jun and I will bring my brother back soon, don't worry."

Uncle Li's brow furrowed with worry for a long time as he said to her, "I'm still a little worried about you two young people going."

"Let me go with you."

Lu Jun stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, I will protect her."

His silhouette seemed unusually taller.

Seeing Lu Jun's stubbornness, Uncle Li nodded silently, watched the two of them, and left under the cover of darkness.

Qin Shuangshuang and Lu Jun carried a lantern, a tattered one they found on the cliff. Lu Jun had tinkered with it by hand that afternoon, making it barely usable.

The two followed a small path that had been trodden nearby and went straight up the back mountain. Although the path to this place still looked overgrown with weeds, all the edible plants in the vicinity had long been picked clean.

Now, Lu Jun and Qin Shuangshuang could even see several pairs of eyes in the bushes, heading in their direction, and he could feel the heavy killing intent around them.

There are still many refugees here, some of whom are digging for wild vegetables. Qin Shuangshuang and Lu Jun are standing close together.

Lu Jun said to her, "Don't be afraid, just stay close to me."

Qin Shuangshuang smiled slightly and said to him, "That's not necessary. Just take care of yourself. After all, I've managed to escape with my life from a pile of dead bodies."

Qin Shuangshuang's face inexplicably turned cold. Lu Jun looked at the emptiness and helplessness in her eyes and knew that she had been bullied a lot at home.

Lu Jun didn't know that he really felt her grievances, and even felt a sense of empathy for her.

The higher you go, the fewer eyes you see around you; now you can't see anything at all.

He could only sense things moving around him from time to time. Before long, Lu Jun suddenly felt a murderous intent emanating from the surroundings.

Lu Jun glanced at the nearby pile of weeds, and soon after, a pig's squeal rang out, breaking the silence and making Qin Shuangshuang alert.

Soon, Qin Shuangshuang's gaze fell upon the movement within the pile of weeds.

Qin Shuangshuang quickly said to him, "Look! Isn't my brother inside?"

Lu Jun stared intently inside. His eyesight was excellent, and he could see traces of people inside. He could vaguely make out the face of a little child among the weeds.

Now his face is covered in dust.

Lu Jun said to her, "Yes, that's the place."

Just as Qin Shuangshuang was about to step forward, Lu Jun pulled her down and said to her, "Don't rush. Let's wait here and observe the situation carefully."

Qin Shuangshuang thought it made sense.

She then squatted down next to him.

Lu Jun said calmly, "Now, I think there should be wild boars over there. But judging from the squeals just now, they must be quite loud. Maybe we can have a good meal."

Qin Shuangshuang said to her, "Forget about having a big meal, look at my brother."

Qin Shuangshuang raised the lantern in her hand a little higher, and then looked at the small smiling face in it. The face looked pale, and there was a cold sweat on the forehead.

I suspect he has a fever.

Qin Shuangshuang became increasingly distressed as she thought about it, and said to him, "No, if this continues, I can't wait any longer."

She had been full of energy, but then she felt that if she rushed out now, all the time they had spent waiting here would have been wasted.

Then, Qin Shuangshuang squatted down next to him and said, "No, we need to see the situation clearly first."

Not long after, the gray-furred, thin wild boar sniffed at Qin Hao twice, just as it was about to open its teeth and bite his face.

However, Qin Hao suddenly twitched his body, and the wild boar licked its lips, instantly revealing its ferocious side.

Then, just as it was about to open its mouth and bite down, Qin Shuangshuang was extremely nervous. Just as she was about to go out, Lu Jun had already pulled out the dagger from his pocket and directly attacked the wild boar.

Before long, the wild boar let out a loud squeal, which startled many birds and beasts around it.

Qin Shuangshuang and Lu Jun exchanged a glance, and then the two of them rushed forward.

One hugged his younger brother, while the other held the wild boar's ears tightly in his hand.