SDIWD - Chapter 79
Chapter 79
All sorts of omens hinted at the tsunami's arrival. The moment the tide receded, alarm bells went off in Bai Zhen's mind.
The area around Nils was indeed a region with frequent tectonic activity; small earthquakes occurred almost every month. But these quakes were low in intensity and far from the mainland, their danger not even as great as a tropical storm, so they were often overlooked.
But this time was completely different. Just by watching the speed of the receding tide, Bai Zhen could sense the terror of the coming disaster. A relatively large-scale earthquake must have occurred somewhere on the seabed, causing it to collapse and the ocean water to pour in.
"B-Bai Zhen, what's happening?"
After Bai Zhen set her down, Hua Mu ignored her own discomfort and wasted no time in asking.
"Miss, it's a tsunami. It could arrive in an hour at most, or as little as ten-odd minutes. Please follow my arrangements from now on. Pardon the imposition."
A tsunami!
Even if Hua Mu had never experienced one, she had learned a great deal about them from news and films. The impact of such a natural disaster was almost always devastating.
"Th-th-then, what do we do? Can we escape in time?"
Although the island wasn't small, it was situated in the middle of the ocean. The two of them had nowhere to run.
Bai Zhen quickly tossed important items onto the canvas they used for bedding. "We're going to the mountain," she said. "I will protect you. Please, only bring what's essential."
Only what's essential?
Hua Mu, who had been reveling in their bountiful harvest just a moment ago, was now caught in a dilemma. They had just gathered so much food; did they have to abandon it all now? And the base they had worked so hard to build—would any of it survive the tsunami?
To her, every single thing here was important.
"Miss?"
The Sentinel moved swiftly. In just a few minutes, she had gathered all the important supplies they had brought to the island, wrapped them in the canvas, and tossed the bundle into a bamboo basket. As for food, she only took a jar of honey, a jar of dried breadfruit, and some cured meat and fish—enough to last her, with her appetite, for maybe two days.
Hua Mu sat motionless for a while. She only snapped out of it when Bai Zhen called her name, hurriedly placing a few of her treasured jars of sauce into the basket.
"Miss, that's enough. Let's go."
The food Bai Zhen had packed wasn't for herself. As long as they had shelter, she was confident she could endure. In their current situation, they simply didn't have the luxury of carrying too many supplies. This was the limit.
"Wait, I-I'll just grab a few more things!"
If she could, Hua Mu wouldn't have abandoned a single thing, but she knew the situation didn't allow for it. The sense of crisis left no time for sentimentality. She quickly selected four earthenware jars containing herbs, seasonings, tuna, and squid.
The basket was instantly overflowing. Bai Zhen said nothing, quickly shouldering the basket and lifting Hua Mu into her arms.
Hua Mu felt a knot of complicated emotions, but ultimately, she didn't resist. In the face of life-threatening danger, instinct was enough to make her swallow her pride and submit.
The Sentinel pushed her body to its limits, moving through the jungle at a speed Hua Mu had never experienced before. She could clearly feel that Hati had merged with Bai Zhen. Suddenly remembering the use of her own spirit animal, she immediately summoned Luna.
The black unicorn was now over two meters tall. It beat its wings and soared high above the jungle, surveying the entire island with an elegant grace.
Hua Mu couldn't merge with Luna for too long, but through the unicorn's eyes, she still managed to spot something.
"Bai Zhen, lots of animals are running! They're running towards the mountain!"
Animals were always thought to be more sensitive to natural disasters than ordinary humans. The jungle animals had actually been restless before this, but the two of them hadn't paid close enough attention.
"Miss, please hold on tight."
The basket on her back hindered Bai Zhen's movements somewhat. More than ten minutes had passed, but they still hadn't reached the foot of the mountain.
The two had never explored the island's mountain, originally to avoid potential dangers. Unexpectedly, that caution had now become an obstacle that made their progress difficult.
Hua Mu clung tightly to Bai Zhen's neck, her heart filled with immense anxiety.
If… if they couldn't escape this time, what would they do?
Bai Zhen chose the path leading to the breadfruit tree. The cliffs on the west coast were part of the mountain itself, making this path a shortcut to quickly gain altitude. By the time they finally reached the high slope where the breadfruit tree stood, the first wave had reached the deserted island.
Most tropical plants were tall; the average coconut and palm trees were at least ten meters high. Yet the wall of water formed by the massive wave far exceeded that height, lunging toward the island with unstoppable momentum.
An island of over a hundred square kilometers was by no means small, but before such a monstrous wave, it seemed as if the entire thing was about to be devoured.
"Bai Zhen!"
Witnessing this apocalyptic scene through Luna's eyes, Hua Mu couldn't help but feel a sliver of despair.
Even without looking back, Bai Zhen knew exactly what was happening. But she didn't stop for a second, running past the breadfruit tree and toward the higher mountain ridge.
The area beyond the breadfruit tree was one they rarely explored, so there was no path. The jungle, damp from the rain, was muddy everywhere. Lichen, moss, and fungi made the already difficult ground even more slippery. Bai Zhen moved through the gaps with a speed and balance unattainable by ordinary people, not even sparing a thought for the branches that might scratch Hua Mu—compared to their lives, such things were nothing.
The tall, dense jungle was a natural barrier. They were already five or six kilometers from the coastline; their chances of survival were not zero. The island's peak was over a hundred meters high. As long as they could climb to a sufficient altitude, the tsunami would no longer be a threat to them.
She hadn't given up.
"Miss, I will protect you."
Bai Zhen didn't say anything else, only repeating the vow she had never broken.
Hua Mu hugged her tightly and suddenly didn't feel so afraid anymore.
"Mm…"
The roaring waves seemed to fall from the sky, rapidly covering a large swath of the rainforest and knocking the towering trees askew.
Tropical trees might grow tall, but their roots didn't run particularly deep. The ring of jungle closest to the coastline fell with almost no resistance.
Seawater surged rapidly into the island's interior, turning the foot of the mountain into a vast ocean.
Fortunately, the natural barrier still played a significant role, and the force of the water had slowed by the time it reached the mountain's base.
Hua Mu watched the water chasing right behind them, so tense she could barely breathe. But she didn't close her eyes. Instead, she forced herself to use her own eyes and Luna's to continuously monitor the situation behind them, relaying the latest updates to Bai Zhen.
Their altitude was constantly increasing, but the second wave followed immediately after, giving them no chance to catch their breath. One wave had yet to subside when another rose. Finally, Bai Zhen ran out of road—they had come to a steep cliff face.
The cliff was covered in parasitic plants and vines. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be difficult to climb. But now, with the situation so urgent and Bai Zhen holding Hua Mu, there was no way for her to scale it quickly.
"Miss, have Luna come down. You can ride her up!"
Bai Zhen made a swift decision, putting Hua Mu down and summoning the ice wolf.
"What about you?"
A spirit animal could only have true "physical" contact with its host; any sensation of contact with others was not real. The white wolf could carry Bai Zhen, but not Hua Mu. The same was true for Luna and Hua Mu.
This was known as the "Inviolable Treaty" or the "Non-Interference Treaty" between individuals.
"I'll climb up myself. Don't worry."
The white wolf couldn't fly. Although its jumping ability was extremely powerful, it was helpless before such a high cliff.
"No, I don't want to go by myself! I'll stay with you!"
Hua Mu grabbed Bai Zhen's arm and shook her head violently. But Bai Zhen didn't argue with her. Taking the basket from her back, she said to Hua Mu, "Miss, please wait for me at the top."
The white wolf let out a long howl at the sky, and Luna, who had been flying high above, immediately swooped down.
Normally, only the host could command their spirit animal. But Luna had spent so much time with Hati that she saw him as her mentor and had grown accustomed to obeying his commands. Furthermore, given the dangerous situation Hua Mu was in, she quickly understood her task.
"I don't want to, I don't want to…"
Separating from Bai Zhen under these circumstances… Hua Mu had no idea what would happen. If Bai Zhen didn't make it up in time, they might not even find her body.
It would be better to die together!
"Pardon me." Every second counted now; there was no time for arguments or explanations. Bai Zhen picked Hua Mu up, a bit roughly, and placed her on the unicorn's back.
"Bai Zhen, let me go! You bastard! I don't want to go! I don't want to go alone!!!"
Hua Mu struggled, trying to get off the unicorn's back, but Bai Zhen hung the basket on her and pressed down on her body, forcing her to lie flat against Luna's spine.
"Bai Zhen!"
Hua Mu couldn't fight the Sentinel's strength. She could only cry and shake her head ceaselessly.
"Miss, I'll be fine. Please wait for me at the top."
"You're lying! You're lying to me!" The Sentinel's track record made it impossible for Hua Mu to believe her.
What was going through the Young Lady's mind? She didn't believe Bai Zhen could escape, yet she insisted on staying.
Looking at Hua Mu's wretched, tear-streaked face, something stirred in Bai Zhen's heart. She suddenly leaned down and kissed her tear-stained lips.
The kiss was as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water, but it was enough to leave Hua Mu completely stunned.
"Please, be good." Bai Zhen quickly caressed her cheek and said in a low voice, "I have never once deceived you. Please, wait for me."
After she spoke, she took advantage of Hua Mu's daze, patting Luna on the rump to make her take flight.
"Bai Zhen!" By the time Hua Mu came to her senses, she was already on Luna's back with no way down. All she could do was cling tightly to the unicorn's neck and scream.
Bai Zhen had kissed her! So commanding, yet so swoon-worthy! Under normal circumstances, she would have been ecstatic, but why did it have to be in a situation like this?
She was afraid of heights! Aaaaaah!
And just as Luna took off and the giant wolf transformed into a streak of green light to merge with Bai Zhen again, the second wave finally brought the sea crashing down on the spot where they had just been.
Bai Zhen's figure vanished instantly into the waves.
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