Chapter 48: Chapter 48: My CPU Is About to Overheat

The old ladies who originally wanted to go out to call back the soul of the kids didn’t dare to move around and instead ran back to the mountain cave, shouting as they ran, “Ghost fire! There’s ghost fire!”

The people inside the cave exploded at the news, all got up, and held their children tightly, crying without regard to age.

Yi Meng was initially flustered, but soon realized something was off.

Even though she wasn’t great at chemistry in school, she knew that what was called ghost fire was actually a chemical reaction of phosphorus or something in human bones, and had nothing to do with ghosts.

Could it be from the bones of the animals they ate tonight?

Thinking it over, she found it unlikely.

The time was too short, it shouldn’t be enough to cause a chemical reaction!

Yi Meng couldn’t quite fathom the specifics, but was concerned about her husband outside and wanted to take a look.

Just then Mrs. Qi came in, saw Yi Meng getting up, and hurried over, “Fourth daughter-in-law, hold Manbao tight, don’t get hit by those wandering ghosts!”

“Mom, I…”

Yi Meng wanted to say she wanted to check on Brother Jin.

But with her daughter asleep in her arms, she couldn’t bear to drag the child into trouble.

“What do you mean, if you’re scared, give me the child and stay by my side!”

Mrs. Qi truly feared Yi Meng might injure Qi Manman in a panic and, without a word, reached over to grab the child from her.

With her daughter out of her arms, Yi Meng was even more eager to go out, she took a step but was pulled back by Mrs. Qi who held onto her sleeve, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going out to check on Brother Jin.”

Yi Meng glanced at the people around her.

Everyone was busy retreating into the cave; no one noticed the two of them.

Yi Meng lowered her voice and said, “Mom, just now Manbao was talking in her sleep, saying not to bite her dad or something, I’m afraid…”

Yi Meng couldn’t bring herself to say the rest.

She feared jinxing with her words.

Mrs. Qi’s face changed, her heart jumping to her throat, “Then, then you stay with the child, I’ll go!”

“Mom, let me go! You stay to be the backbone, otherwise my sisters-in-law will be even more panicked.”

Yi Meng patted the old lady’s hand, then turned and left.

Mrs. Qi opened her mouth, wanting to call back her fourth daughter-in-law, but ultimately held back.

The path to the cave entrance was not wide to begin with, and now with everyone squeezing in to hide, it was even harder to go against the flow.

Seizing the chance that no one was paying attention, Yi Meng pulled out a blanket from her space and held it against her like a shield as she edged her way out.

She was slim, hugging the blanket and sticking close to one side of the rock, not blocking others coming in.

Plus, there was no light in the cave passage, so everyone knew someone was going out but not who.

Outside the cave, Qi Quanjin had already identified the green glowing spots and quickly shouted, “Don’t panic! Those aren’t ghost fires, it’s a wolf pack!”

It would have been better if he hadn’t spoken; mentioning it was a wolf pack made everyone more afraid.

People feared ghosts, but having never really seen one, they thought strength in numbers would deter them.

But a wolf pack was different.

They were man-eating beasts, not hiding in the cave would mean waiting for them to wipe them out entirely!

Occasionally, a cry of pain was heard, quickly followed by someone helping and running further into the cave.

As Yi Meng reached the entrance, she caught Qi Quanjin’s shout.

Hearing it was a wolf pack, Yi Meng felt a sudden sense of “as expected.”

“Brother Jin!”

Yi Meng called out.

Qi Quanjin, wielding a sickle and retreating slowly, was startled by his wife’s voice.

Turning around, he indeed saw his wife standing at the entrance with a bundle.

“Meng Niang? Why are you out? Get back inside! There are wolves!”

Qi Quanjin was desperate.

This foolish woman, why run out amidst chaos?

Yi Meng not only didn’t go back but hurried to Qi Quanjin, also glancing at the green shining spots in the woods.

“Brother Jin, wolves fear fire, get the bonfire lit quickly!”

No longer concerned about hiding her knowledge, Yi Meng feared they might all perish otherwise.

Qi Quanjin suddenly had a revelation, his eyes lit up, and quickly called the Qi Brothers to light fires.

The other villagers remaining did the same, gathering wood and starting fires.

Many family’s bonfires had gone out.

But some closer to the cave still had small flames unaffected by the mountain wind.

Throwing dried leaves on, the fire blazed up instantly.

Soon, a semicircle about two meters in radius surrounded them.

“Light fires between the bonfires! With smaller gaps, they won’t dare rush in!”

Yi Meng commanded urgently.

Fortunately, everyone had gathered a lot of wood for drying and fire-making.

Qi Quanjin, with Qi Dafu and Qi Sangui, had pushed all the wooden carts from near the entrance over.

Not distinguishing whose carts they were, as long as they were wood, they planned to break them down for firewood once gathered supplies were used up.

The cave was packed with people, cries from women and children echoed, even men had reddened eyes, shaking.

“They’re charging!”

Yi Meng kept watch on the wolf pack’s movement.

Seeing the green eyes moving quickly, closing in, she nearly shouted hoarse.

Everyone at the entrance gripped their weapons tightly.

Due to their force, veins bulged on many arms.

Yi Meng regretted not studying harder in school, not spending more time in the university library.

Though she couldn’t learn to make explosives or glass, perhaps understanding animal habits would help!

Facing an almost fifty-strong wolf pack, were they to rely only on fire?

Wolves were famously patient, but how much fuel did they have?

When the carts burned away, then what?

Burn bedding, clothes, food?

Even if this would hold off the wolves, what of their future without necessities, wasn’t it a slow death?

Yi Meng felt her brain was about to burn out but still couldn’t think of a solution.

The men stared intently at the approaching eyes, their hearts drumming.

Yet as they awaited an inevitable deadly battle, the wolves suddenly halted.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep