Reincarnated into a Female-Dominated World to Build Infrastructure (Translated)

Chapter 15 Trapped

Trapped

The inn had long been flooded due to the continuous rain, with water gradually rising past their feet. The rain outside beat down like beads, pattering on the eaves and splashing onto the ground.

Seeing the situation worsening, Jing Sa immediately instructed Xing Zhu to use lightfoot (martial arts technique) and go to Mo Yan's room, as well as to Lan Yun's husband's room, to bring them over.

Inside the room, Mo Yan noticed water seeping in from the door and realized something was wrong. He quickly found a chair to stand on, but as the water rose above the chair, he sought higher ground. By the time Xing Zhu found him, Mo Yan had already climbed onto the wardrobe.

"Come with me, quickly," Xing Zhu said, grabbing Mo Yan's hand to take him away. Mo Yan hesitated, worried that the Crown Princess (Tai Nü) would not be able to find him if he left. "Hurry, don't dawdle!" Xing Zhu, frustrated by Mo Yan's delay, hoisted him up and used his lightfoot technique to bring him back to Jing Sa's room.

"But wait, there are still the Crown Princess's belongings in my room! I need to protect them," Mo Yan struggled, wanting to return. Not only were Feng Xiran's personal items in his room, but also the food she had instructed him to prepare—it was too important to leave behind.

Frowning, Xing Zhu thought this man was simply too slow. Ignoring him, he carried Mo Yan back to Jing Sa's room.

Meanwhile, Feng Zhu had also been sent by Feng Xiran to find Ji Ming. The husbands of the local governor saw the water rising and panicked, crying out and begging, "Please, save us!"

Jing Sa furrowed his brow, looking at the rain that continued to pour down. If they ventured outside now, it would be certain death. He asked Mo Yan if Feng Xiran had instructed him to prepare food in advance.

"Yes, yes, it's hidden next to the wardrobe where I was hiding, along with the Crown Princess's personal belongings," Mo Yan replied hastily.

Nodding, Jing Sa asked Ji Ming the same question and, after receiving confirmation, instructed Xing Zhu and Feng Zhu to go back to retrieve the food. Seeing the hopeful looks in Mo Yan and Ji Ming's eyes, Jing Sa initially only intended to bring back Feng Xiran's belongings but decided to also have them retrieve Lan Yun and Feng Xiran's personal items as well.

Mo Yan was finally relieved.

Jing Sa then had the governor's husbands lay the chairs flat, piling up the beds as high as possible so they could stand on them if necessary.

The husbands' clothes were soaked through, their bodies slick with cold sweat from fear. The wet fabric clung to their skin, and when a gust of wind blew through, they shivered even more.

Xing Zhu and Feng Zhu gathered the items and joined in the task. They had also collected some high-standing objects from other rooms and, upon entering, shut the door behind them.

Listening to the thunder and lightning outside and watching the water rise higher, everyone was filled with extreme fear and cold.

Mo Yan, however, wasn't that scared; he was more worried about Feng Xiran. "I wonder how the Crown Princess is doing."

Jing Sa gave him a surprised look—this man was constantly concerned about Feng Xiran!

"You should worry about yourself! Fei Shuang and the others are with her," Feng Zhu, who never got along with Mo Yan, couldn't resist mocking him. A mere servant with no formal title, yet always talking about the Crown Princess—anyone unaware might mistake him for her rightful husband.

Mo Yan was used to Feng Zhu's taunts, so he didn't care and simply looked out the window.

"Lord, when do you think this rain will stop?" Ji Ming anxiously asked, looking at the tightly sealed window. "My wife has such a frail body, I hope she hasn't been caught in the rain."

The rainwater continued to rise, forcing them to climb higher and higher.

Once the rain stopped, they had already consumed all the food from the previous day. Xing Zhu tried to push the door open, but the water resistance made it impossible.

"Try checking the window," Jing Sa instructed.

By now, the water had risen to the base of the window, but fortunately, they could still open it from the inside.

"It looks like we can't get out. We'll have to wait for Feng Xiran and the others to come and rescue us."

Xing Zhu and Feng Zhu had not eaten for days to conserve food, and now they were too weak to use their lightning  techniques.

Feng Xiran, hearing Lan Yun express concern for her husband, comforted her: "Don't worry, Jing Sa and the others know martial arts and will protect your husband."

Though Feng Xiran didn't have much of an opinion on Jing Sa, she didn't think he was the type to abandon someone in need.

"Ding, congratulations to the host for completing 70% of the flood relief mission. The next step is to ensure the post-disaster reconstruction goes well, and the host will complete this task."

"Please remember to check your health points and rewards!" After the electronic voice finished speaking, Feng Xiran waited for it to say more, but it fell silent again.

"What a useless system! Would it die if it said a few more words?" Feng Xiran couldn't help but curse silently, though she secretly felt a bit of anticipation. As expected, the health bar in her mind slowly increased, and the tattered piece of paper she had seen before gradually became clearer.

"This looks like a map. What kind of map is it?" she asked the system curiously.

"This is your reward. You'll need it for your next mission. Pretty generous, huh?" The system's electronic voice sounded a little smug.

Feng Xiran was speechless. After all this time, the system gave her nothing but an incomplete map. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a little delighted. Could this be a treasure map?

She looked over the map roughly, but it didn't seem to show much. There were no real landmarks, just a few small circles. Could those circles be where the treasure was hidden?

The more she looked, the more excited she became. Was she about to have her own treasure trove before even ascending to the throne?

"No way, I've got to hide this!"

"Hide what, Your Highness?" Yao Xiang suddenly spoke, startling Feng Xiran. "What are you hiding, Your Highness? What's with your expression? You're practically drooling."

Seeing Yao Xiang approaching, Feng Xiran quickly regained her composure and put on a serious face, asking sternly, "What did you just hear?"

Yao Xiang shook her head. This crown princess sure is strange.

Relieved that Yao Xiang hadn't overheard her, Feng Xiran instructed Fei Shuang to find Jing Sa and the others.

"There are quite a few people on Jing Sa's side. Bring a couple more rafts with you."

Feng Xiran, meanwhile, began discussing the next steps with Lan Yun and the local magistrate.

Feng Xiran asked with concern, "I wonder when the disaster relief grain will arrive?"

At the same time, Ling Shuang's group was struggling immensely. One by one, the soldiers were collapsing, and the journey that should have taken only a few days kept getting delayed. At this rate, who knew when the grain would finally be delivered?

"General, there's trouble ahead."

At these words, Ling Shuang's instincts flared. She suspected that someone might not want her to deliver the grain.

"Be on high alert! Protect the grain!" She drew her sword and immediately gave the order.

Her soldiers, already weakened from days of diarrhea and exhaustion, were now even more powerless.

Seeing a large crowd rushing toward them from the front, Ling Shuang glanced back at her sickly soldiers, feeling more anxious than ever. Could today really be the day they all fell here?

A general, not dying in battle but being sabotaged while delivering grain?

"Prepare to defend. If anyone tries to take the grain, kill them without mercy."