By the time the sun began to go down, the chaos had finally come to an end.
The forest, which had been filled with screams and panic not long ago, slowly returned to a quiet and steady calm as the last group of villagers made it out safely.
No one was left behind.
Some were injured, some were shaken, and many were still afraid, but they were alive.
That was enough.
The sky turned orange as the evening light spread through the trees, and one by one, people began to settle down in an open area not far from the river but at a safe distance.
Small fires were lit across the space, their flames rising gently as people gathered around them to rest.
Some sat quietly, holding their children close.
Some lay on the ground, too tired to move.
Others spoke in low voices, still trying to process everything that had happened.
Not far from the center, Liu Muyan was already busy.
She moved from one person to another, checking wounds and treating injuries with the herbs she had gathered from the forest along the way.
Her hands were steady, and her voice was calm as she spoke to each person.
"Sit still," she said gently as she cleaned a wound on a man's arm. "This will sting a little."
The man nodded, gritting his teeth but not complaining.
Nearby, Aunt Han helped by holding a child still while Liu Muyan applied crushed herbs to a small bite.
"It will reduce the swelling," Liu Muyan explained softly. "Do not scratch it."
The child sniffed but nodded obediently.
Han Jun brought more water, while Han Mei helped tear clean cloth into strips for bandages.
Even Han Li, though still quiet, stayed close and passed things when needed without saying much.
Everyone was doing something.
Everyone was helping.
The fear from earlier had not disappeared completely, but it had changed into something else.
I stood a short distance away, watching everything quietly.
The fires flickered in front of me, and the sound of low voices filled the air.
For the first time since everything began—
No one was shouting or panicking.
They were calm.
Behind me, footsteps approached.
"Master."
It was Zhang Lei.
I did not turn immediately.
"They're all safe," he continued. "No deaths."
I gave a small nod.
"Good."
Chen Guo walked over as well.
"Some injuries, but nothing too serious," he added. "If we rest tonight, most of them will recover."
Wang Bao let out a breath as he sat down nearby.
"I really thought we were finished back there," he said, shaking his head.
Li Shan stood quietly, his arms crossed, but his eyes moved across the crowd as if still on guard.
"They trust you now," he said after a moment.
His voice was calm.
I said nothing.
Not far away, I could hear voices rising again, but this time, they were not filled with fear.
"They saved us…"
"If she didn't come back…"
"We would have died there…"
The words spread quietly from one group to another.
I ignored them.
Praise meant nothing.
Survival was what mattered.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed a familiar figure.
Yan Mo.
He stood not too far away, speaking with an elderly man while helping him sit down properly.
His movements were calm, and his voice was steady as he reassured the man.
After a moment, he lifted his head slightly.
Our eyes met briefly.
This time—
He did not look away.
There was something different in his gaze.
I held his gaze for a second.
Then I looked away.
It did not matter.
What mattered was that everyone was alive.. and I was alive as well.
Damn.. the system is brutal.
I could still remember the pain clearly.
The way it pressed into my body, the way it made it hard to breathe, the way it forced me to stop no matter how stubborn I tried to be.
It was not a warning.
It was control.
I lowered my gaze slightly.
So this is how it works…
If I don't follow… it will force me to.
My lips pressed together faintly.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
Just then, the familiar blue screen appeared in front of me again.
It flickered once before the words formed clearly.
[ Mission Progress Updated ]
I stared at it quietly.
[ Current Objective: Lead Wu villagers to the east of San Forest ]
[ Progress: Ongoing ]
[ Survival Rate: 92% ]
My eyes paused slightly.
92%.
So… we made it.
A new line appeared.
[ Host has successfully prevented mass casualty event ]
[ Reward Granted: Basic Supply Pack ]
I raised a brow slightly.
Finally.
Something useful.
The screen flickered again.
[ Reward will be distributed when safe zone is established ]
Safe zone?
I leaned back slightly.
So I still have work to do.
Before I could think further, the screen disappeared.
The night returned to normal.
I let out a slow breath and lifted my head slightly, looking around.
People were still resting.. some had already fallen asleep while some were keeping watch.
Others sat quietly, holding their loved ones as if afraid they might disappear if they let go.
Not far from me, Liu Muyan was still working.
Even after treating so many people, she had not stopped.
I watched her for a moment.
Then I stood up.
My body still felt a little weak, but it was manageable.
I walked toward her.
"You should rest," I said.
She looked up, slightly surprised, then shook her head gently.
"There are still a few more," she replied softly. "I'll rest after this."
I frowned slightly.
"You won't be able to stand tomorrow if you keep this up."
She smiled faintly.
"I'll be fine."
I stared at her for a second.
Stubborn.
Then I crouched down beside her.
"Give me that," I said, reaching for the herbs.
She blinked.
"You…?"
"Just show me," I replied simply.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then slowly, she nodded.
"This one is for swelling," she said, pointing. "Crush it first, then apply it gently."
I followed her instructions.
My movements were not as smooth as hers, but they were steady.
The injured man in front of us looked surprised, but he said nothing.
We worked quietly.
Not far away, Liu Ruyan watched us with a strange expression, but she did not interrupt.
After a while, footsteps approached again.
This time—
It was Yan Mo.
He stopped a short distance away.
"Let me help," he said.
His voice was calm.
I did not look at him.
"There's water over there," I said. "Bring it."
He paused for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
He turned and did as I said.
I noticed it.
But I said nothing.
What was he playing at now?