Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Jiang Jinhuang stood beneath the large tree, watching wolves in the distance carrying something toward her. The forest was too dark for her to see clearly. Her back was soaked with sweat, and her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles whitening from the effort.

She saw the rope thrown down from the tree and quickly pulled it toward her. Jiang Jinhuang swiftly wrapped it around her waist twice, then tugged on it with both hands.

Ye Qing knelt on a thick branch, feeling the rope’s pull, knowing Jiang Jinhuang had tied it. She didn’t dare set the little one down, fearing she might fall. So, with the little one on her back, Ye Qing knelt and pulled the rope with all her strength.

Fortunately, Ye Qing was strong. She yanked the coarse rope desperately, her hands aching but refusing to let go.

As Ye Qing pulled, Jiang Jinhuang’s body rose bit by bit.

The distance from the ground to the tree was significant. She couldn’t see Ye Qing’s expression, only holding the rope, feeling herself being pulled up slowly.

If it were just her and Yangyang, what could she do in this situation? She had no ability to protect Yangyang or climb a tree. She’d likely just wait to die.

Jiang Jinhuang shook her head, trying to stay calm. Looking down, she saw the wolves approaching the fire, their mouths holding not just anything but human corpses.

Hanging in midair, already unwell, Jiang Jinhuang saw the wolves tear out the corpses’ innards. The bloody scene made her tremble, her eyes reddening.

Only experiencing this firsthand showed how terrifying it was. She didn’t dare look again, turning her gaze back to the tree.

Ye Qing was sweating heavily, her veins bulging, her face red from exertion. The little dumpling, behind Ye Qing, secretly wiped tears. Sister Ye seemed to be struggling, but she was too small to help, and her sister wasn’t up yet.

The little dumpling was anxious but didn’t want to trouble her sisters, so she cried quietly.

Ye Qing, too focused to notice, felt the rough rope rubbing her palms painfully. She gritted her teeth and endured.

Glancing into the distance, she could vaguely see the wolves devouring corpses, bl00d and guts scattered on the ground.

Nervous, her hand slipped, and the rope dropped a bit.

Jiang Jinhuang’s heart sank as her body jolted downward. Her heart pounded as if it would leap from her chest, tears falling unnoticed.

She didn’t blame Ye Qing. On the contrary, she was grateful Ye Qing didn’t abandon her and Yangyang in such danger. She just felt her own helplessness, unable to protect her sister alone.

After a brief pause, Ye Qing clenched her teeth, pulling the rope again. Jiang Jinhuang’s body rose once more. Thankfully, the wolves, busy eating, seemed uninterested in attacking them.

But they were beasts, and Ye Qing wouldn’t bet her life on them, nor let wolves decide her fate.

Ignoring the burning pain in her palms, she pulled Jiang Jinhuang up in one go.

When Jiang Jinhuang’s feet touched the trunk, Ye Qing collapsed, exhausted, her cotton clothes soaked.

Jiang Jinhuang’s legs gave out, and she crouched on the trunk.

The tree’s tangled roots provided a wide platform, enough for the three to rest.

Ye Qing sat, panting, taking a while to catch her breath. She began untying the rope, her palms still burning, likely scraped raw.

She untied the little dumpling and held her close, leaning against the trunk to rest.

Looking down, she saw the wolves eating eagerly. They seemed to notice people in the tree but didn’t attack.

Still, Ye Qing stayed cautious. As time passed, the fire below dwindled, and they could barely see the ground.

Jiang Jinhuang held the little dumpling tightly. Ye Qing gathered the rope with the hook and the one used to pull Jiang Jinhuang up.

Ye Qing stayed awake all night, watching below. At dawn, she scanned the area from the tree. No wolves remained, only broken bones and bloody flesh scattered ten meters from the fire, suggesting the wolves ate their fill last night.

Ye Qing didn’t let her guard down. She observed longer, confirming no wolves were nearby.

Jiang Jinhuang woke, having held the little dumpling all night. The winter cold, combined with their fear, meant she only slept an hour or two, waking several times.

“What’s it like? Are the wolves still there?” Jiang Jinhuang whispered.

Ye Qing shook her head. “They’re probably gone, but to be safe, let’s not go down yet.”

When Jiang Jinhuang looked at Ye Qing, she noticed her hands and asked, “Your hands?”

Ye Qing glanced down. Her palms were torn, some areas scabbed over from the night.

“It’s fine, just small injuries.”

Jiang Jinhuang frowned, knowing Ye Qing’s injuries were because of her. She sighed guiltily, feeling like a burden, unable to help Ye Qing.

“Yangyang and I dragged you down again. Without us, you’d handle this easily.”

“Don’t overthink it. I said I’d get you both safely south, and I will.” Ye Qing sat to regain strength. They needed to leave soon.

Wolves were smart. They didn’t attack yesterday because they were full, but today, knowing people were here, they might return. Ye Qing planned to leave early.

Her space’s secret might be exposed. The single-wheeled cart needed someone to hold it, too cumbersome. They had no time to waste, so Ye Qing considered exchanging for a four-wheeled cart from the system.

She scanned the panel. Items refreshed daily, and she found a four-wheeled cart in the last column, costing 10 favorability points.

Ye Qing gritted her teeth and clicked exchange. The system’s voice sounded, “Congratulations, dear, for spending 10 favorability points on a four-wheeled cart. Remaining points: 28.”

Ye Qing grimaced; the cart was pricey, but it was a necessity.

She scanned the shop again, spotting something useful in the third row: a crossbow with a bucket of iron arrows.

Her eyes lit up. Its range was sufficient, it could fire repeatedly, and it was easy to use—just aim and pull the trigger.

“How many arrows in the bucket?” Ye Qing asked the system in her mind.

“Crossbow and one hundred arrows, 10 favorability points. Want to exchange, dear?” System 09’s mechanical voice replied.

Ye Qing clicked exchange. The next second, the system announced, “Congratulations, dear, for spending 10 favorability points. Current points: 18.”

Though Ye Qing felt the loss, these items gave her confidence. The crossbow allowed ranged attacks, making crowded situations manageable.

She scanned the panel again, hoping for outdoor fingerless gloves, but found none. She’d wait for a refresh.

Done, Ye Qing tied yesterday’s rope to a thick branch and turned to Jiang Jinhuang. “Jinhuang, help me tie Yangyang to my back. We need to leave while the wolves are full and get back to the main road. Wolves avoid crowded places.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jinhuang lifted the little one onto Ye Qing’s back.

The little dumpling obediently hugged Ye Qing, and Jiang Jinhuang securely tied her to Ye Qing’s back.

Ye Qing looked at Jiang Jinhuang. “I’ll lower you first.”

“But your hands are injured,” Jiang Jinhuang said, worried, looking at Ye Qing’s hands. She wasn’t heartless; Ye Qing’s injuries were from saving them.

“It’s fine, just small wounds. We’ll heal later. We need to go now, no delays.” Ye Qing tied one end of the rope to Jiang Jinhuang’s waist, instructing, “Don’t move around when I lower you. Just go down naturally.”

“Okay, I got it,” Jiang Jinhuang nodded quickly.

Ye Qing took a deep breath, holding one end of the rope. “Face the tree and go down slowly. Don’t be scared, I’ve got you.”

Jiang Jinhuang, still on the trunk, made it hard for Ye Qing to leverage.

She nodded to Ye Qing, cautiously facing the trunk, letting her body hang.

Ye Qing, holding the rope, said, “Let go. I’ll lower you slowly.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jinhuang obeyed, letting go. Ye Qing, gritting her teeth, lowered the rope bit by bit, and Jiang Jinhuang descended steadily.

Soon, Jiang Jinhuang reached the ground and called up, “Ye Qing, I’m down.”

“Good, untie the rope from your waist and wait for us.”

Jiang Jinhuang quickly untied the rope and stepped aside, her eyes fixed on Ye Qing above.

Ye Qing tested the rope tied to the branch, ensuring it was secure. Holding it with both hands, she faced the trunk and swung down quickly, saving effort. In less than a minute, she and Yangyang reached the ground safely.

Jiang Jinhuang was overjoyed but found it incredible. What seemed impossible to her was so easy for Ye Qing. Was Ye Qing really just a thug from Linzhou City?

Ye Qing untied the rope, one end still tied to the tree, unable to be retrieved. She felt it was a pity but now wasn’t the time to care.

As she untied the rope, Jiang Jinhuang approached, lifting Ye Qing’s hand. The scabbed wounds from yesterday were reopened by the coarse rope, some still bleeding.

“It’s worse now,” Jiang Jinhuang said, frowning with concern.

Ye Qing didn’t care. In the apocalypse, she’d had worse injuries. “It’s fine, it’ll heal in a few days. We need to go. Help me untie Yangyang.”

Jiang Jinhuang hurried behind Ye Qing, untying the little dumpling from her back.