Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 85

The small island didn’t usually have many tourists, and the paths often felt spacious and empty. But now, crowds were surging toward a single entrance, instantly clogging the narrow mountain trail.

In the face of life and death, people shoved and jostled, abandoning all courtesy. Arguments had already broken out at the entrance, some even escalating into fights. A child was knocked to the ground, screaming, while those nearby ignored them. The child’s mother desperately shielded her from the stampede.

“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”

As they ran ahead, someone cursed and bumped into them from behind. Under normal circumstances, Jiang Wenxiao would have snapped back, but now she stayed silent.

She clung tightly to Shen Jiayu, afraid that if she let go, she’d lose her in the chaos. The crowd had swelled far beyond normal capacity. Jiang Wenxiao fumbled for her phone with her free hand, intending to call Pei Yujiang, she knew Pei and Yu Zhiwan were somewhere on the mountain but wasn’t sure exactly where.

Before she could dial, her phone was knocked out of her hand by someone rushing past. A burly man barreled through, shoving both her and Shen Jiayu aside.

Jiang Wenxiao swore inwardly.

The situation was too chaotic to retrieve the phone. Giving up on the call, she abandoned it and led Shen Jiayu toward the forest. She remembered a steep path leading uphill, if they didn’t take it now, the growing crowd would soon block their chance.

She could no longer keep track of her classmates behind her; all she could do was hold onto Shen Jiayu. Sweat slicked their clasped hands, uncomfortable in the heat, but Jiang Wenxiao refused to loosen her grip. She could feel Shen Jiayu trembling and squeezed tighter, trying to steady her.

“It’s okay. My sister’s amazing, didn’t I tell you? She saved people from the tower, then cracked that trafficking case. She’s a real hero…”

Jiang Wenxiao panted between words as they ran. Pei Yujiang would have laughed if she knew how grandly her sister saw her.

Pushing through dense foliage, they finally glimpsed the uphill path. Jiang Wenxuo wiped her brow. The sun blazed mercilessly, and the exertion, combined with the suffocating press of bodies, left her exhausted. The air reeked of sweat.

Others were also heading up the trail. As an Alpha, Jiang Wenxiao had decent stamina, but Shen Jiayu, who rarely exercised and suffered from painful periods couldn’t compare.

Jiang Wenxiao was debating whether to slow down and support Shen Jiayu when she spotted people stumbling back down the path in panic. Even without sharp instincts, she knew something was wrong.

“What’s going on?”

Jiang Wenxiu wanted to grab someone to ask, but the person’s face was ashen and completely ignored her. After waiting for several more people to pass by, she finally lunged at a woman, forcibly grabbing her arm and shouting:

“What’s ahead?”

It couldn’t possibly be sharks coming up the mountain, could it!

The woman’s lips were pale, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. After a moment, she managed to utter a single word:

“Snakes…”

Jiang Wenxiu’s expression changed.

Her mind raced at this critical moment. Snakes in the mountains were actually quite normal, and if there were only one or two, people wouldn’t be this terrified. This area had been developed, but walking through this forest was technically off-limits, so encountering snakes wasn’t unusual.

But seeing so many people frightened out of their wits, Jiang Wenxiu wasn’t naive enough to think this was normal.

More and more people were running downhill, their faces filled with panic, accompanied by occasional piercing screams. The more Jiang Wenxiu saw, the more unsettled she became.

What on earth was happening?

“Oh no, that forest area over there is an undeveloped restricted zone. Why would anyone run there?”

The mountain was bathed in sunlight, but watching the frantic figures scrambling about, Pei Yujiang frowned. The unknown danger was causing panic. Everyone was using the AG network, a built-in signal on every phone so calls to the outside were flooding in, creating a chaotic cacophony of voices.

But if the danger was coming from the lake outside and the water became unsafe, the only rescue option would be by helicopter. Pei Yujiang immediately called the local authorities for help. The officials found the report unbelievable at first, but Pei Yujiang’s calm tone convinced them she wasn’t joking.

Even after receiving confirmation that helicopters would be prioritized, Pei Yujiang still couldn’t relax completely.

She messaged Jiang Wenxiu to ask her location, but the message went unanswered, so she called.

The latest model phone had been trampled into a crevice between rocks. Despite its shattered screen, it stubbornly continued ringing until a panicked foot stomped down, abruptly silencing it.

Unable to reach Jiang Wenxiu, Pei Yujiang tried contacting Jinduo instead. Fortunately, she had also exchanged contact details with the younger girl, who was still reachable.

The usually cheerful Jinduo’s voice trembled as she answered the call. She was hiding in a narrow gap between two large boulders, barely able to squeeze aside to let others pass. The entire island’s population seemed to be fleeing uphill in a frenzy, tourists, locals, and vendors alike, some even dragging their goods behind them…

Jinduo was on the verge of tears but forced herself to stay composed:

“Yujiang-jie, don’t come down! It’s packed here. Someone just got trampled, their face was covered in footprints.”

The memory of locking eyes with that person made Jinduo shudder. She closed her eyes, trying desperately not to dwell on the horror, and briefly explained her situation to Pei Yujiang before adding that her classmates had all been separated.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhiwan signaled for Pei Yujiang to check on others while taking the phone herself:

“The mountain path is jammed. Stay where you are don’t come up or go near the undeveloped areas. If you’re safe for now, just stay put. Don’t check your phone; call directly if it’s urgent. Keep your line open, and we’ll find you later.”

Pei Yujiang had no time to look for anyone now. After finally helping the security guards maintain order and pulling people back from the undeveloped forest, amidst a chorus of complaints, she suddenly heard someone scream hysterically:

“What was that sound?”

The man’s shout drew many irritated responses, with people cursing him for being a lunatic and overreacting. The man did seem genuinely neurotic, muttering to himself as he retreated.

“Ah!” Not far from him, a woman holding a child screamed until her voice gave out. Those around saw her features twist into a grotesque mask of terror as she staggered backward. After a long pause, she tremblingly spat out a word: “Snake!”

Everyone’s faces instantly paled.

Qianshui Island was rich in natural resources, its forests teeming with fruit that nurtured many small animals including numerous snakes in the mountains. Startled by the crowd’s movement, snakes slithered out from the grass, wandering aimlessly.

Pei Yujiang saw a brightly colored serpent dart from the undergrowth, sending nearby people into panic. Screams erupted as the not-too-long snake, its mottled skin providing perfect camouflage, revealed glassy eyes that gleamed with cold lethality in the sunlight.

Many vendors had laboriously hauled their goods up the mountain, joining those already stationed there. A massive sunshade toppled under the surging crowd. A little girl separated from her mother stood frozen, legs trembling, staring at the snake that seemed to be slithering toward her, her mind numb, her body paralyzed.

When she finally reacted, a shrill scream tore from her throat as she turned to flee!

“Don’t move!” Pei Yujiang shouted when she noticed, but it was too late.

Driven by primal fear, the girl’s survival instincts kicked in, but how could a child’s legs outpace the serpent? Seeing no time left, Pei Yujiang grabbed a watermelon knife from a nearby stall. With a flick of her wrist, the sharp blade arced through the air. Using those split seconds to anticipate the snake’s path, she embedded the knife into its body with a decisive “thunk.”

The patterned snake was still a meter or two from the girl, an ideal striking distance. One lunge would sink its fangs into tender flesh, its venom ensuring the child never woke again.

“Stay completely still, it can’t see you!” Pei Yujiang bellowed.

With poor eyesight, the snake would struggle to locate motionless prey. But the blade’s sting had enraged it. Had the girl kept running, the consequences would have been dire. Fortunately, Pei Yujiang’s thunderous command froze her in place, while the commotion and Pei Yujiang’s swift action redirected the snake’s attention.

By the time the snake reacted, baring its sharp fangs at her, Pei Yujiang was already prepared. She swiftly sidestepped and closed the distance in the blink of an eye, decisively grabbing the snake’s head and firmly gripping its vital spot, letting the slippery creature struggle in her grasp. The venomous snake thrashed with tremendous strength, its tail lashing faster and faster as if trying to dizzy its prey.

Pei Yujiang pulled out the fruit knife embedded in the snake’s body, now loosened from its violent thrashing and cleanly ended its life with practiced ease.

But the danger was far from over. Snakes continued to emerge from all directions. While she could handle one, the sheer numbers made it impossible to fend them all off. She shouted for the security guards to evacuate everyone, urging them to leave the mountain area.

“But where else can we go if not the mountain? What if seawater floods the lake and causes a disaster here?” someone questioned.

Pei Yujiang ignored them. Even if flooding were a possibility later, staying here now was undeniably unsafe. There was no point in worrying about hypothetical dangers while ignoring the immediate threat.

Most shared this sentiment, and after witnessing Pei Yujiang’s fearless hand-to-hand combat with the venomous snake, many now regarded her words with credibility. She gathered the security guards to maintain order, while some even climbed onto rocks to film her on their short-video apps.

“Where’s the realgar powder?” Pei Yujiang demanded.

With mountains came snakes, it was only logical to keep realgar powder or similar deterrents on hand. The guards hurried off to retrieve it, and murmurs rippled through the crowd at the mention of the powder.

Would there be enough to go around?

Pei Yujiang could see the conflicting thoughts in their eyes. Suppressing her irritation, she grabbed a megaphone and spoke rapidly:

“Apply the realgar powder to the children first. Their delicate skin makes them more attractive to snakes. Not all of these snakes are venomous, but if a child gets bitten, their cries will only draw more snakes and slow everyone down. Parents carrying children coated in realgar powder will be safer, snakes won’t dare approach.”

“Are we really going to let a few snakes defeat us when we stand united?”

In truth, a child’s soft skin had nothing to do with attracting snakes, but Pei Yujiang’s fabricated reasoning helped calm the crowd slightly. Those who had earlier complained about children being burdens now had no grounds to argue.

There wasn’t enough realgar powder for everyone. Some was scattered along the perimeter by the guards, forcing a retreat from some snakes. But the area was vast, filled with dense grass and rocks, completely driving them away was impossible. At best, their aggression was temporarily suppressed.

These snakes had been preparing to stockpile food for winter, only to be disturbed by the commotion. Some even had their eggs crushed underfoot. Snakes were vengeful creatures, and now their hostility toward the intruders was inevitable.

After shouting, Pei Yujiang anxiously jumped down from the large rock. She watched as people frantically applied realgar powder to the children. Some parents, feeling their kids got less than others or noticing some children hadn’t received any yet, began yelling in panic.

As a new round of arguments was about to erupt, Pei Yujiang had already made her way to Yu Zhiwan’s side, catching her breath when the Omega tugged at her sleeve.

Yu Zhiwan looked up at her, speaking loud enough for nearby people to hear: “I have snake repellent powder. I’m quite afraid of snakes, so I bought some before coming.”

With that, she pulled out several packets from her belongings.

They had taken the cable car up today, so Yu Zhiwan had been carrying her backpack without much effort. Pei Yujiang hadn’t noticed what exactly was inside until now. As she took the packets, she quickly glanced and saw what appeared to be various medicinal preparations.

While other women might bring cosmetics for photos during outings, only Yu Zhiwan would carry such practical items that proved crucial in emergencies. Recognizing her companion’s constant preparedness, Pei Yujiang felt a surge of admiration and secretly gave her a thumbs-up.

People nearby heard the commotion and crowded forward, hands outstretched. Pei Yujiang pushed away the overeager hands, directing parents whose children hadn’t received realgar powder to form an orderly line for the snake repellent, while Yu Zhiwan kept track of distribution.

Yu Zhiwan had an exceptional memory for faces, recognizing people at a glance, making miscounts impossible. When someone tried sneaking back for extra packets, she caught them immediately, sending the offender away shamefaced.

Soon after distributing all their herbal packets, more shouts rang out. Security guards and staff worked hard to maintain order, directing everyone down an alternate mountain path toward the sturdy villas for shelter.

With children coated in realgar powder that proved somewhat effective, adults instinctively clustered near them for protection, though careful not to jostle the youngsters. Despite continuous screams and occasional fainting spells from snake fright, no major incidents occurred as guards promptly assisted those who fell.

Neither Yu Zhiwan nor Pei Yujiang feared snakes. Keeping one repellent packet for themselves, Yu Zhiwan decided against following the slow-moving crowd. Patting Pei Yujiang’s back, she said: “Let’s take a shortcut to help others.”

“On it!”

Pei Yujiang responded instantly, moving swiftly after informing the head guard before carrying Yu Zhiwan away without hesitation. Trusting the staff to manage the evacuation, she remembered those still trapped below whose condition remained unknown.

The forest teemed with snakes, but Yu Zhiwan’s specially formulated repellent worked remarkably well not a single snake or insect dared approach. Such effective products undoubtedly came from research institutes, making Pei Yujiang somewhat envious. Growing slightly winded from running, she panted while calling her companion by nickname: “Zhiwan.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re like Doraemon,” Pei Yujiang remarked as they ran. “Have you seen Doraemon? It’s a blue cat with a round head and a pocket on its belly, it can pull out anything its friends want from that pocket…”

Yu Zhiwan listened to the description and asked in confusion:

“How am I like that?”

“Why wouldn’t you be?”

Yu Zhiwan answered with complete seriousness:

“Doraemon gives its friends whatever they want, but I only do that for my girlfriend.”

Her heartbeat involuntarily quickened. Pei Yujiang’s thoughts began to race, Yu Zhiwan’s voice had been gentle when she said that, the faint upward lilt at the end carrying a hint of laughter. Was she actually flirting with her?

Avoiding a dry branch underfoot, Pei Yujiang asked Yu Zhiwan:

“So if we went back to how we were before, wouldn’t you help me?”

“Why don’t you try and see?”

Yu Zhiwan had always been good at masking her emotions, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger. Naturally, Pei Yujiang wasn’t foolish enough to push her luck.

Having a proper girlfriend was way better anyway!

The woods were chaotic, filled mostly with animals venting their frustration after being disturbed by humans while gathering food. Pei Yujiang could even sense malicious eyes watching them from the shadows. But thanks to the medicinal sachets Yu Zhiwan had prepared, their journey remained relatively smooth.

Pei Yujiang found Jiang Wenxiu and Shen Jiayu first. The two were hiding under a tree, their clothes torn and tattered. It was only then that Pei Yujiang realized they had already endured an attack from snakes.

Jiang Wenxiu, her eyes red, had bravely shielded Shen Jiayu. Summoning her courage, she used a tree branch as a weapon, wedging it against a snake’s neck. After a prolonged struggle, the two of them finally managed to kill it. The snake now lay at their feet like a frayed rope, its sight enough to make one’s scalp crawl. Yet they dared not move it, afraid another snake might come seeking revenge, though at least they could use the dead one as a makeshift barrier.

Upon seeing the two of them, Jiang Wenxiu’s legs nearly gave way. Her voice trembled as she called out, “Sister…”

Pei Yujiang could tell that this time, Jiang Wenxiu’s address carried far more sincerity than ever before. She helped her up from the ground and sprinkled some of the remaining medicinal powder on them.

Yu Zhiwan had mentioned that the sachets shouldn’t be used too liberally, or it would cause a stinging sensation on the skin.

After supporting each other for a while, they found Jin Duo and a few other survivors trapped in the crevices of a rocky outcrop halfway up the mountain. Some had been bitten by venomous snakes and died on the spot, while others bore deep, uneven bite marks from non-venomous ones, a gruesome sight.

Jin Duo was bandaging a little girl’s wound using a makeshift hemostatic method. Despite her usually loud and brash demeanor, her hemostatic skills were surprisingly adept. Pei Yujiang hadn’t expected her to have this ability and complimented her sincerely.

Thanks to Pei Yujiang’s earlier phone call, the local authorities had dispatched rescue helicopters by the time the survivors regrouped. The aircraft landed on a clearing below as the floodwaters began creeping upward. With professional rescue teams now handling the situation, things improved significantly.

Cries and shouts filled the air as people called out for friends and family. Few traveled to this tourist spot alone, most came with loved ones.

Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan were also arranged to board a plane. Seeing the situation under control, she didn’t stay but decided to return. Before boarding, she took a moment to inform Pei Jinhuai of her safety.

Unconvinced, Pei Jinhuai immediately video-called after asking if it was convenient. Only upon seeing Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan unharmed did she relax. To ease her mother’s worries, Pei Yujiang deliberately made a request:

“Mom, I’ll buy a ticket back soon and be home in a few hours. I’d like some udon noodles, could you ask the housekeeper to prepare some?”

Pei Jinhuai agreed. Just as Pei Yujiang hung up, a burly man behind her sneered. Noticing her glance, he loudly accused:

“How can you chat leisurely when things are like this here? Next, you’ll probably livestream for clout, huh? Can you even take responsibility for hindering rescue efforts. ”

His words flew with spittle, but his insinuation about Pei Yujiang’s influencer identity drew stares. Before she could pocket her phone, a sharp slap rang out.

“Smack!”

Yu Zhiwan mercilessly struck his face with a resounding slap, her palm stinging from the force. The man, caught off guard, saw stars. Then, the seemingly delicate woman spoke.

“Maybe you should just get the hell out,” Yu Zhiwan said coldly, glaring at him. “It’s because of idiots like you that rescue operations become so difficult to carry out.”

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