"Oh dear daughter, should we run further up the mountain?"
Hu Lanfang quietly asked Gu Qingcheng, her voice filled with worry.
"Mother, it's alright, don't worry. Sister's boat is very good, it's big, wide, and stable. We didn't feel anything even when we encountered waves on the way,"
Mi Guo stood beside Hu Lanfang and, upon hearing this, quickly whispered to comfort her.
Only then did Hu Lanfang feel a little more at ease.
Seeing the water rise so quickly, with its tongue lapping white foam and swirling at the steps, the brothers Dapeng and Xiaopeng exclaimed in fear,
"Even though we grew up by the water, we've rarely seen such fierce flooding. It's like a tsunami. Young Master Gu, do you really have a big boat? A regular small boat probably won't do."
Xiaopeng added, "If not, with our skills, we can each take an adult. We should hurry and tie small rafts with planks. We still have time."
Gu Qingcheng saw that the two brothers were quite kind. She smiled but said nothing, only turning to Hu Lanfang,
"Mother, I'm going back to my room to get something."
Hu Lanfang was puzzled about what her daughter needed to fetch, as everything had already been packed. But seeing Gu Qingcheng's signal, Hu Lanfang knew she was going to handle something important and nodded in agreement.
Gu Qingcheng returned after a while.
By then, the water had risen to more than half the height of the steps, and its force had become even more ferocious. Waves crashed against the stone steps they could reach, looking menacing, as if ready to devour everything.
After waiting for another half hour, the water had risen to the same level as the steps.
Gu Qingcheng said to the brothers Dapeng and Xiaopeng,
"Go to the backyard and check. We built a boat there for emergencies. See if you can steer it. If you can, board it and follow our boat. The boat is fully stocked with provisions; feel free to use them as you need, and don't be polite."
Dapeng and Xiaopeng were stunned. They never imagined the Gu family would have a boat in their backyard.
Half believing, half doubting, the rapidly rising water was already wetting their shoes. Without time to think, they hurried towards the backyard.
To their surprise, a large boat capable of carrying thirty to forty people was indeed there.
The two assumed it was a boat the Gu family had built on the mountain and were impressed by the Gu family's immense wealth. They quickly boarded.
Soaked, they walked around the boat and found everything they needed: food, drinks, and firewood. These survival supplies were enough for them to last a month without disembarking and were stored in the hold.
"Wow, the Gu family is too generous, giving us such a big boat?" Dapeng said, moved.
"Brother, we're so lucky," Xiaopeng also said with relief.
"There are clothes. Let's change into dry ones quickly, and then meet up with Young Master Gu and the others," Dapeng said.
Meanwhile, outside the house on Cliff Mountain, Gu Qingcheng released her luxury yacht and called her parents and Mi Guo to board.
"Wow, Qingcheng, this boat is too luxurious! It's almost as grand as the interiors of the royal cruises I've attended," Hu Lanfang exclaimed.
"Father, Mother, we've reserved the best suite for you," Mi Guo quickly added.
"Yes, Mi Guo, take Father and Mother to tour it and get familiar with it. I have some things to attend to here."
After speaking, Gu Qingcheng used her mind to command the boat to ignite its coal and set sail.
By this time, the water had already flooded to the top of the slope and reached the stone steps of the house.
They had chosen the perfect moment to board, not even getting their feet wet.
The brothers Dapeng and Xiaopeng had already boarded the large boat in the backyard. They unfurled the sails and were heading towards them.
As they approached, Gu Qingcheng waved to them, indicating not to rush off. She needed to explore the surrounding area a bit more. Their boat could proceed independently, and when they needed to rendezvous, she would fire signal flares, and they should meet in the direction indicated by the flares.
Dapeng and Xiaopeng were immensely grateful to the Gu family. Being entrusted with a well-equipped large boat at a time like this was an immeasurable kindness, and they readily agreed.
The two brothers said they wanted to head into the city to see if they could help rescue anyone.
Gu Qingcheng said it was their freedom to do as they pleased, and then she steered her boat away.
Her departure speed was astonishingly fast. In no time, the brothers Dapeng and Xiaopeng could only see the faint silhouette of her boat.
In Jinsha City, the water had risen above the original high city walls, submerging all the houses. Only the tips of some towers and flagpoles were visible, making it impossible to tell that this had once been a bustling city.
In just one night, Jinsha City had become history.
As Gu Qingcheng's boat passed Jinsha City, she suddenly spotted three to forty majestic large ships on the distant water.
"Those are Prince Xia's ships," Gu Chaobei said after a glance.
"Huh? How do you know?" Gu Qingzhi asked.
"Look, Prince Xia's banner is flying from the prow. However, the person at the prow seems to be the Crown Prince, not Prince Xia himself. I wonder if he managed to escape,"
Gu Chaobei sighed.
He owed his life to Prince Xia, which had allowed him to live peacefully in Jinsha City.
Although Prince Xia had treated him with respect, in the end, he was a noble on high, and they could not truly be friends.
Gu Chaobei was not overly worried about Prince Xia. Looking at these large ships, he knew that the powerful and wealthy were indeed extraordinary, possessing exceptional capabilities to deal with natural disasters and always having contingency plans.
"Alas, if Prince Xia couldn't escape, the Princess Consort will suffer," Hu Lanfang sighed.
The private affairs and secrets of royalty and nobility were, after all, not something common folk like them could meddle in.
"Let's keep our distance from them, don't go closer. Never see them again,"
Gu Chaobei said to his daughter.
Gu Qingcheng understood and steered the yacht further away.
As they sailed far from Jinsha City, they could still see the banners on Prince Xia's ships fluttering in the distance.
Unbeknownst to Gu Qingcheng and her family, the people on the large ships opposite them had also spotted Gu Chaobei's family.
"Your Highness, the boat approaching is Doctor Gu's family. Shall we try to get closer to them?"
A guard, holding a spyglass, looked towards the large boat carrying Gu Chaobei's family.
Xia Hui, Prince Xia's eldest son, sat at the prow with a grim expression, showing no satisfaction at being in charge.
"Doctor Gu? Quickly, invite him aboard. Hurry and bring him over,"
Xia Hui's face lit up with surprise upon hearing they had encountered Doctor Gu, and he quickly said.
"Your Highness, I fear we may not be able to invite Doctor Gu," the subordinate suddenly said.
"Why?" Xia Hui's face darkened.
"Their boat's propulsion seems different. It's moving incredibly fast on the water. In a blink, it was just a small black dot. Our ships definitely can't catch up."
"What?" Xia Hui angrily slapped the table beside him and said, "Chase them! Send people to chase them! We must bring Doctor Gu back! Our entire family depends on him..."
As he spoke, Xia Hui seemed to become hesitant about something and abruptly closed his mouth.
The subordinates stood in silent fear, not daring to speak loudly. They immediately dispatched personnel and ships to pursue the direction in which Doctor Gu's boat had departed.