Chapter 23: Fleeing for One's Life

Yu Qing and the others knew full well that they stood no chance against such a vast swarm of mutants; they had no choice but to flee with the crowd. They were perfectly aware of their own limitations.

Panic gripped the fleeing masses. No one dared look back to see how close the mutants were, fearing the pressure would only hasten their own collapse.

"Ah! Help me..."

"Yu Qing, aren't you Awakened? Hold the mutants back and buy us some time to escape!"

Some, noticing that these Awakened were running just like everyone else, could not help but feel resentful. It was clear that these individuals were far more powerful than ordinary people; yet, instead of staying behind to slay the monsters, they were running alongside the rest. Wouldn't that just make it easier for the mutants to catch up to them?

"Exactly! Why are you running? Didn't you say you would protect us?"

Some even reached out to grab at the Awakened as they passed, desperate to drag them to a halt. They could not bear to watch these powerful beings abandon them; if they left, there would truly be no one left to protect them.

"What are you doing?"

"You cannot leave."

Seizing the moment before the mutants caught up, a man shoved Yu Qing backward. "Go and hold them off! That is what you Awakened are supposed to do." If not for that, why would Awakened exist? Weren't they created just to kill mutants?

"Are you people even capable of reason?"

"Whatever, you promised to protect us! We need you now, so don't even think about abandoning us."

What time was it to be talking about reason?

"We don't have time to argue with you. If you don't want to run, then stay here and die." Yu Tian kicked the person blocking his path, grabbed Yu Qing, and continued to flee. The time these people wasted here was enough for them to have escaped the range of the mutants.

The swarm behind them grew ever closer. Those who were slower had already perished in the jaws of the monsters, which seemed to have no intention of letting anyone go, hunting them relentlessly.

"Ah! You—"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

As the crowd surged, someone who was about to be caught by a mutant suddenly shoved the person behind him into its path.

The mutant, having secured its meal, paused briefly to finish it off. Taking advantage of this fleeting moment, the man who had pushed his companion sprinted away. He had never intended to sacrifice a companion to save his own life, but in a moment of panic, his mind had simply snapped. Yet, after the regret, he felt a strange sense of relief. Compared to death, he preferred to survive at any cost.

Seeing this, others began to follow suit. In their desperation to live, they became unscrupulous, feeling not a shred of guilt for sacrificing the lives of others. The situation had devolved into a nightmare where they had to guard not only against the mutants behind them but also against the treachery of those beside them.

"How could they do this?"

"To survive, they'll really do anything."

"But who doesn't want to live?"

The arrival of the mutants had destroyed human homes and sought to extinguish humanity itself. In such times, how many could truly remain sane? The slaughter continued, and all they could do was flee the area as quickly as possible.

"Are we really not going to do anything?"

"What could we possibly do? We don't have the power. If we go back now, we'll just throw our own lives away." They had awakened innate abilities, not the mantle of a savior. The prerequisite for saving others was staying alive oneself. This was not a choice they could make; only one path lay before them.

***

By the time Jiang Yu arrived, the mutants were gone. The ground was littered with blood and severed human limbs. Looking at the horrific scene, she had not expected the battle to be so brutal.

"System, which way did they flee?"

[Just ahead, not far. You might still be able to save the remaining survivors if you hurry.]

Jiang Yu cursed the idiot system under her breath as she pressed forward. It had a mission like this but didn't release it until everyone was nearly dead.

"No, don't come any closer!"

"Damn you monsters, go to hell!"

"Nuannuan, run!"

When Jiang Yu caught up, she saw the survivors still fighting back. They didn't want to die, yet they were desperate to buy time for those they cared about. However, the strength of ordinary humans posed no threat to these mutants; it only accelerated their own demise.

Without hesitation, Jiang Yu stepped forward to dispatch the mutants. The survivors, seeing someone suddenly appear to battle the beasts, felt a glimmer of hope, especially as they watched monster after monster fall by her hand.

"We're saved."

They retreated to a distance, watching with hope as Jiang Yu wiped out the remaining mutants.

"Isn't that the person who helped us before?"

"Yes, she has saved us twice now."

"If only she could escort us to the safe zone, we would surely make it."

"Indeed. If she had come sooner, it wouldn't have come to this..."

A heavy silence fell over the group. The memory of being hunted was still fresh, and many had lost friends and family. If she had arrived earlier, they would certainly still be alive. If she had been with their group from the beginning, they wouldn't have been forced into indirect murder.

"The dead cannot return; it is in the past. At least we are still alive, aren't we?" someone said, breaking the somber mood.

"True. We cannot ask for too much." They were lucky to have survived thanks to her intervention. They could not blame their savior for things that were already beyond repair.

Only when the last mutant fell did the system notification sound.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the rescue mission. 18 people saved. Reward: 1800 points.]

Jiang Yu harvested her spoils before walking over to the group. "The mutants have been cleared. You are safe for now."

"Thank you."

"What about afterward? Would you be willing to escort us to the safe zone? I am willing to pay."

"I... I am also willing to pay for your services. Please, take us with you."

"Just consider it a favor as you head in the same direction. We promise not to be a burden." Having heard her speak to the previous group of Awakened, he knew she was also heading to the safe zone. As for why she hadn't wanted to join them earlier, he assumed she simply didn't want the trouble.

"Very well."

Jiang Yu looked at the seven people before her. As long as they didn't cause any trouble along the way, she could ensure they reached the safe zone safely.