After the joy of surviving the catastrophe had passed, Bai Sasa’s sanity gradually returned.
She glanced at Xiao Shan lying on the riverbank and sighed, "I have no idea how Old Uncle Qiu and the others are doing."
As she spoke, Bai Junjun’s heart tightened again.
Thinking of the perilous bridge and Madam Liu’s fall into the water, Bai Junjun clenched her fists.
She regretted her hesitations; if only she had crossed the bridge directly yesterday. At least, before the Xuanwei Army arrived, perhaps Madam Liu would have stayed alive.
Bai Sasa looked at Bai Junjun, whose eyes grew increasingly dim, and suddenly understood her feelings.
Bai Junjun took her hand with earnest conviction, "Eldest sister, don’t shoulder all the blame yourself; it’s not your fault.
The Ninth Guard had sealed off the North-South Bridge, and the situation ahead was not clear. Even I knew that, let alone others; didn’t the Seven-Person Team also choose to give up on the bridge and take the water route instead?
So, if you decided to lead us over the bridge, you would have certainly taken the time to observe and ensure it was utterly safe.
Therefore, this isn’t your fault. Your plan was a success; we just lacked a bit of luck..."
Bai Sasa was young, but she saw the issue clearly.
Bai Junjun stared at her blankly.
Just then, the clear skies suddenly darkened with clouds, and a light rain began to fall without warning.
All of them were already drenched, and the rain made them even more bedraggled.
Bai Junjun, putting aside her troubled and congested heart, picked up Xiao Shan to leave.
Suddenly, the two sisters standing up paused at the same time.
"..." said Bai Junjun.
The two sisters had laid bare their hearts by the river for half a day and only realized when they were leaving that aside from the three of them, there was no one else around; Bai Lingyu was not with them.
Ignoring the fine rain, the two sisters began to search back and forth along the riverbank.
However, the environment was eerily empty; there was nothing around.
The rain intensified, and Xiao Shan in Bai Junjun’s arms became hotter and hotter.
Bai Junjun’s heart tormented for a while, but she eventually stopped.
Bai Sasa, who had been anxiously sprinting ahead, felt her elder sister stop and couldn’t help but look back, "Eldest sister... what’s wrong?"
"We should find shelter from the rain for Xiao Shan first," responded Bai Junjun, regaining her usual indifference.
Bai Sasa’s eyes trembled slightly, "But... what about Xiao Yu?"
"He will be fine," Bai Junjun replied, furrowing her brow with a firm assurance.
It was as if she was reassuring Bai Sasa and herself at the same time.
Before losing consciousness, she had wrapped them all with water grass. Since the three of them were fine, Bai Lingyu must also be safe.
Now, with Xiao Shan’s high fever not abating, delay could worsen his condition into meningitis. Whether Xiao Shan died from the illness or became mentally incapacitated, she would not be able to fulfill Madam Liu’s entrustment.
So, they could no longer wander aimlessly like headless flies. The immediate priority was to find a place to shelter from the rain.
Bai Sasa glanced at Xiao Shan in Bai Junjun’s arms, remembering the scene of Madam Liu falling into the water, and her eyes reddened.
As much as she was worried about her younger brother, she had no choice but to listen to her elder sister and seek shelter from the rain first.
They did not recognize this part of the valley. The trees were towering, with frighteningly large trunks, but the canopy and leaves were sparse, offering little shelter.
Apart from this cluster of giant trees, the surrounding area was filled with small, spindly needle-leaf trees. Perhaps their nutrients were taken by the giant trees; they were far too thin to provide any cover from the rain.
Bai Junjun looked at the massive forest and had a plan in mind.