Stockpiling for an Exiled General Through My Store's Back Door

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Sweeping Away Everything

”Qianjun, what’s wrong?” Ling Qianfan carried their luggage and walked to Ling Qianjun’s side, watching his movements tensely.

”The door won’t open. I’m going to try and bust it down.” Ling Qianjun waved his hand, signaling Ling Qianfan to step back.

Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge weren’t idle either. Xu Panqing hurried to the window and threw it wide open to let the thick smoke escape, while Ling Yunge looked outside and shouted, ”The inn is on fire! Help! Somebody help!”

Hearing her screams, the people still fast asleep in the inn jolted awake.

The government officers immediately led the exiled prisoners on the first floor out of the inn through the flames. The inn’s Shopkeeper and the attendants also ran out, covered in soot and clutching the most valuable belongings they could salvage.

However, the people on the second floor were trapped at the staircase. The stairs had caught fire, and the steps leading from the first floor to the second were completely engulfed in roaring flames, making it impossible for anyone to cross. Desperate to survive, some tried to jump from the second floor down to the first.

But in the blink of an eye, a beam fell from the ceiling.

CRASH!

It landed with a deafening thud, sending up a shower of sparks. After that, no one upstairs dared to jump. They were terrified that the moment they leapt, they would be crushed to a pulp by falling beams, meeting an instant death.

Meanwhile, with a loud BANG, Ling Qianjun smashed the room’s door down and led his family out into the corridor. The exertion tore his wounds open again, and blood began to seep through his freshly washed clothes, but he had no time to worry about that.

COUGH COUGH!

The moment they stepped out, they couldn’t stop coughing, their eyes watering from the thick smoke. Everyone on the second floor had gathered in the hallway, frantic and pacing like caged animals. The sounds of arguments, crying, and screaming echoed endlessly. Some even started blaming each other and got into a physical scuffle.

Seeing so many people still trapped inside the inn, the government officers immediately organized a rescue effort. The street was chaotic as bucket after bucket of water was splashed onto the blazing structure.

But the night wind howled continuously. Far from dying down, the gale grew fiercer. The flames that had just been doused were fanned back to life by the wind, burning even brighter than before. Seeing this, the people standing outside stopped what they were doing and stared blankly at the roaring inferno consuming the inn.

”It’s no use! Why is the fire getting bigger? It doesn’t matter how much water we pour on it!”

”There are still people inside! Are we just going to watch them burn to death?!”

”Well, why don’t you rush in and save them then? Hah.”

”This is just fate!”

Amidst the frantic discussions, the wails of the Shopkeeper rang out. ”My inn! My inn! It’s going to burn to the ground! Oh, heavens, why are you doing this?! It’s all over! I’ve lost everything!”

The government officers also paused their efforts and quickly held a discussion.

”Captain, what do we do? There are still quite a few people on the second floor. If they all die, we won’t be able to report back to our superiors!”

”The doors are blocked, but what about the windows? Can we get them to jump from there? We’ll pad the ground with something. Keeping them alive is our top priority.

”What are you waiting for?! Hurry up and get everything ready!”

”Yes, Captain!”

Having made up their minds, the government officers rushed with their men to the windows on the other side of the building. But to their surprise, as soon as they hurried over, they saw a cloud of vast white mist billowing out from the second floor.

Then, instantly, the flames were snuffed out!

WHOOSH!

Ling Qianjun and Ling Qianfan each held a fire extinguisher, their gazes resolute as they swept the nozzles across the inferno.

Wherever the mist passed, not a single spark survived!