They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 316: Unforgiving River Torrent

“River Torrent? That’s not one of the commercial lines to Truns. There’s nothing docked there.”

“Then prep one!” the guard screamed, watching helplessly as the fugitives grew smaller and smaller down the winding current.

“That’ll take at least thirty minutes!” came the reply.

“We’ll lose them by then DAMN IT!”

At the riverside, boots kicked the earth, curses filled the air. The squad stationed there had been sparse, placed more for surveillance than combat.

All the muscle, all the boats, all the focus had been sent to River Dunk, the busy trade artery that was the logical escape route.

And that is exactly why Ruth chose otherwise.

Back in the boat, Abuchi turned to Nnenna, breathing hard but smiling.

“They’re not following.”

“Because they can’t.” she replied, not breaking her rhythm. “This river’s not for business, it’s wild. Too unpredictable for trade.”

Karen, gripping her paddle, smirked. “That’s why they never thought we would pick it. Smart play.”

John wiped water from his brow, eyes scanning the narrowing walls of foliage that bordered the river.

“Let’s just hope it gets us all the way to Truns.”

The boat continued to glide, a narrow arrow splitting through the torrent’s rage. Around them, the sounds of pursuit faded into the rustling of wind and the thunder of water.

instinct, misdirection, and the underestimated fury of

now, they

of five gripped their paddles tightly, their hands blistering from the effort as they rowed in unison. The boat surged forward, each stroke a desperate push against the powerful current of

the river was relentless. Waves slammed against the wooden sides of their handcrafted boat, soaking them repeatedly. The water churned like an angry

it steady!” Abuchi shouted, struggling to

had her eyes locked ahead, analyzing every bend and swell of the river like she had

earlier confidence in boat building seemed almost prophetic now, without her, they wouldn’t have made

focused and determined, letting the rhythm of survival

river

wave rose like a wall before them. “Brace!” Nnenna screamed, but

The boat flipped.

a storm. For a terrifying moment, it was unclear who was above

between gulps of water.

The current, though harsh, carried them in the right direction. The

muddy shore, collapsing in a

supply they carried was drenched,

one said a word at first. The only sounds were heavy breaths and

and flopped onto her back. “Everything’s

wiping water from his eyes. “We can’t stay out here.

all knew what he meant. The guards could still be on their trail. It was not safe to rest too long, not out

to Jupe as soon as possible,” Abuchi

travel now. It’s night,” Karen reminded him, her

will be monitored.

with a nod. “First, we find

with a grunt. “Let’s go, before