Chapter 575 - Today is not a day to be happy (1/2)

Ren Xiaosu ran out first while Zhou Yingxue followed closely.

But when it was Li Ran and the others’ turn to escape, it did not seem to go so smoothly anymore. As a large number of escapees crowded the hole in the wall, Li Ran and the others were stuck there for a while.

Someone started cursing after the crowd started squeezing together at the hole, “Can’t you all give way to others and pass through in an orderly manner?”

But actually, he was also trying his best to squeeze to the front. At this moment, it was useless to say anything. Would being polite and orderly be more important than their own survival?

Because of this stupidity, hardly anyone managed to get out of the hole in the wall after Ren Xiaosu and Zhou Yingxue, with all of them stuck at the exit.

There were still a large number of escapees waiting to get out of the stronghold through the hole. But since it was blocked, no one could get out!

Ren Xiaosu did not have time to worry about them. If these people died over such a stupid thing, he felt they deserved it.

Fortunately, the people behind those at the front had a very strong desire to live. They forcefully kicked the people who were stuck in the exit to the other side before the crowd started streaming out like water again.

Ren Xiaosu looked behind him. He had thought the exit would get blocked again, but he realized the people were suddenly moving in a much more orderly manner.

He took another look in disbelief and was surprised to see Old Li and Qin Sheng standing guard at the exit. They were organizing the escapees as they evacuated the stronghold.

The two of them had only caught up by following the crowd and heading to the north of the stronghold. Even so, they did not prioritize their own escape. Instead, they stood next to the exit to provide cover for the fleeing crowd.

Following that, they even faced the pursuing Experimentals head on. Fortunately, not too many Experimentals had come in pursuit of the escapees, so Old Li and Qin Sheng were more than enough to handle them.

The Experimentals that invaded the stronghold probably numbered in the 5,000s, but they were scattered all across the huge stronghold. If a smaller group of Experimentals were to encounter the two Riders, they would surely be doomed.

Ren Xiaosu shook his head. He had already done what he was supposed to do. As for the rest, it was every man for himself. Thinking of this, Ren Xiaosu started fleeing into the wilderness. As they ran crazily for their lives, Li Ran fell down due to the uneven path and cried out in pain.

Fang Zhi and the plainclothes guards all stopped in their steps. They were going to carry Li Ran and continue making their escape.

Ren Xiaosu felt that this group of people were not that heartless after all. It was not in vain for Li Ran to have them as acquaintances since they were still willing to help her at a time like this.

However, even soldiers would find it quite unbearable to have a load of 50 kilograms on their backs while running in the wilderness.

Everyone had good intentions, but they just couldn’t help wanting to abandon Li Ran as they ran.

It was just like how a lot of people were really filial to their parents. At the beginning, they might be able to take care of their sickly parents and clean up after them. But after a prolonged period, they would start feeling that old people were a burden.

That was because the suffering accumulated over time was capable of bringing down a person.

After they got out of the stronghold, Fang Zhi counted the number of people from the tour group that had escaped. It saddened him that only half of the staff who had traveled with them were left. As for the other half, no one knew whether they had made it out of the stronghold alive.

The plainclothes guards who were taking turns to carry Li Ran were totally exhausted after running for two hours. By the time they started taking the mountain path, their knees could barely stand the heavy load anymore.

The mountain path was treacherous to travel on.

Ren Xiaosu took a break when they reached a small hill, while the people following him also stopped.

Ren Xiaosu crested the hill and looked back at Stronghold 74 in the distance. He could still see the outline of the stronghold from this position, but he was no longer sure of what was going on in the stronghold.

Old Li and Qin Sheng had caught up to them and were injured all over. Ren Xiaosu handed them a vial of black medicine. “This is very effective. Just apply it onto your wounds, and they’ll heal very quickly.”

The two Riders expressed their thanks. They had lost a lot of stamina due to fighting the Experimentals.

Ren Xiaosu asked, “How many escapees made it out of the stronghold in the end?”

“Quite a few.” Old Li panted and said, “But I’m afraid those who didn’t manage to escape are doomed.”