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

Chapter 139: Chapter 139: If You Can’t Figure It Out, Stop Thinking About It

Over the next three days, the water-searching squad led by Ling Qianjun and Ling Qianfan dispatched ten teams in total, comprising twenty people. Those who went out to search were allocated three mouthfuls of water a day, while the rest received a ration of only two mouthfuls. However, since everyone’s survival was at stake, the members of the water-searching squad took their task very seriously.

Ling Qianjun wasn’t worried about Ling Yunge and Xu Panqing. Their water skins were full, hidden safely out of sight inside their bundles. They would only drink together at night; during the day, they sipped their two mouthfuls of water just like the rest of the prisoners. Right now, they appeared no different from the other exiles. However, because they secretly ate and drank at night, their footsteps were actually much steadier than the rest. Deprived of food and water, the other prisoners walked with weak, floating steps, relying on one another for support just to keep moving forward.

Ling Qianjun and Ling Qianfan set out alongside the other water-searchers, fanning out in different directions as they forged ahead. Once the others were out of sight, the two brothers headed in their own direction. After walking for about ten minutes, they stopped behind the cover of a rocky hill.

Ling Qianjun set down the shovel and other tools, turning to instruct Ling Qianfan. ”Qianfan, dig a pit right here. Just like last night, dig as deep as you can. I’m going over to Buwan’s place now to get the water.”

”Got it! I know what to do, Qianjun. Don’t worry.” Ling Qianfan naturally knew what was at stake and absolutely wouldn’t fool around at a critical juncture like this.

”Good. I’m heading over.” Taking two steps forward, Ling Qianjun opened the Any Door and crossed directly over to Hua Buwan.

He gave her a brief update on their progress, grabbed the water, and left. Terrified that someone might stumble upon Ling Qianfan alone and catch him off guard, Ling Qianjun didn’t dare delay for even a second. As before, he carried two bags of water, emptied one into the wooden bucket, and hurried back to find his brother.

Ling Qianfan shouted out to alert the group from the front, while Ling Qianjun followed closely behind, carrying the bucket of water.

The government officers immediately sent men over to check. Having learned their lesson from last time, they didn’t even bother digging. Instead, they scrambled to scoop up the remaining water in the mud pit with bowls. They absolutely couldn’t afford to waste a single drop. Only after the pit was completely dry did they stubbornly resume digging further down.

Seeing that Ling Qianjun and his brother had found another bucket of water, everyone felt a renewed glimmer of hope for survival.

Luo and the others were deeply puzzled by the nature of these water sources. Why did they produce such a meager amount? But their confusion led to no answers, and no one suspected Ling Qianjun. The Ling family had barely any belongings; it was simply impossible for them to carry an entire bucket of water on their persons. Furthermore, they couldn’t possibly be receiving outside help. This was a desolate wasteland no ordinary person would ever visit, save for exiles like themselves who were forced to march toward Lingnan.

Moreover, throughout their entire journey, aside from the rocky hills that had appeared over the last two days, the landscape was mostly barren wasteland. One could see clear to the horizon, and it was obvious no one was following them. What they did find on the road, however, were numerous corpses with swollen bellies—people who had died from eating kaolin clay to stave off starvation. There were also bodies baked dry by the sun, their eyes sunken deep into their skulls from dying of thirst.

Ling Qianjun handed the bucket of water over to Luo, his tone remaining calm. ”We’ll go look a little further ahead.”

By now, Luo looked at the two brothers from the Ling family as if they were lucky charms, pinning all his hopes on them. ”Alright. If anything happens, turn back immediately and find us. We’ll keep moving and catch up to you as soon as possible.”

”Got it,” Ling Qianjun replied, before leading Ling Qianfan further into the distance.