Beneath the moon's glow, a narrow dirt road stretched ahead. Five carriages formed a long line, their wheels rumbling swiftly, stirring up clouds of dust.
"Brother Mu, we're near the main road—it's safe!" Si Hu, sitting on the lead carriage, shouted back.
To his surprise, Xu Mu's cold voice came from behind: "Si Hu, turn onto the side path."
The side path back to Wangzhou was not only rough but also added over ten li, yet it was the safest option now. The main road? There were no patrols there anymore.
"Master, we're ambushed!" Just as the five carriages were about to turn onto the side path, they found the 岔路口 blocked by stacked logs, at least half a man's height. Moreover, without warning, flickering firelight appeared ahead, accompanied by faint, frantic shouts.
"Master, it's refugees! How did they know we'd return to Wangzhou? They've blocked the road!" Chen Sheng's voice trembled.
"Put out the lanterns." Xu Mu gritted his teeth, scanning the surroundings quickly. "Head for the woods on the right."
At Xu Mu's order, the carriages immediately extinguished their lanterns, inching forward through the forest path by the dim moonlight. Normally, refugees would never be this desperate—weak from hunger, they could barely walk, let alone chase carriages. At most, they'd run a short distance before giving up.
But now, the refugees behind were 疯狂,swarming like ants scalded by hot oil under the moon, emerging from all directions, lunging wildly.
"Heaven doesn't care, officials don't care—what happens to us poor wretches when we starve? We eat bark, horses, men! Either way, we die, but we won't die hungry!" A highly incendiary voice shouted from behind, followed by rising choruses of agreement.
"Master, these people are insane!" Chen Sheng whipped the horses frantically, his tone terrified.
"Hurry!"
"Back cart—slash the grain bags, throw two sacks of rice and wheat!"
The rear coachman acted at once, tearing open two bags and tossing them down. Instantly, grains scattered into the air. The advancing refugees hesitated, then dived onto the ground, shoveling dirt-mixed raw grains into their mouths, swallowing hungrily despite the filth.
At least this widened the gap a little. Xu Mu managed a brief breath, but danger lingered—drawn by the grain's scent, more refugees followed. Several madmen ran barefoot, fast, nearly grabbing the carriages.
"Raise your cudgels!" The last coachman grabbed his stick, jabbing sideways repeatedly until the madmen fell back, wailing and tearing their matted hair.
"Master, we're off course." Chen Sheng ground his teeth.
"Doesn't matter—lose the refugees first." Xu Mu rubbed his tired forehead. If surrounded, they'd likely die. He was certain someone had set this up, trying to ambush him.
"Master, there's noise behind... they're following again!" The rear coachman cried in terror.
Xu Mu's face hardened. After a quick think, he ordered: "Chen Sheng, fetch all lanterns! Si Hu, get down and pick up thick branches."
When they returned, Xu Mu jumped down, tying branches with rope at carriage length, hanging lanterns on them. Then he jabbed his cudgel hard into the old horse's flank. The horse reared, galloping forward with branches and lanterns swinging.
"Quick, get in!" Xu Mu urged, leaping onto a carriage with Chen Sheng as they raced in another direction.
The lantern-lit carriage fared poorly. Within half an incense stick's time, its lights went out. Distantly, Xu Mu heard the poor horse's 凄厉 cry.
"Poor horse... it'll be eaten alive!" Si Hu muttered.
Xu Mu fell silent. Yet sacrificing one carriage for safe passage back to Wangzhou was a small price.
"Lads, back to the side path."
Though they still met scattered refugees, the remaining four carriages sped on, soon spotting Wangzhou's outline.
"Master, the gate's closed." Even by day, it stayed half-open to block refugees—let alone midnight.
"Don't worry." Xu Mu stayed calm. He'd have perished long ago in this cutthroat world without preparations.
Si Hu jumped down, slipping a small bag of silver through the gate crack. Soon, the half-gate creaked open.
"Next time you're later, you'll pay more." A sleepy guard grumbled, clutching the silver.
Xu Mu bowed slightly, guiding the four carriages into Wangzhou.
"Brother Mu, your servant wife's here to meet you." Just inside the gate, Si Hu said.
Following his gaze, Xu Mu looked up to see Jiang Caiwei, weary and thin, standing shivering against a wall. Spotting the 车队,she rushed over joyfully.
Xu Mu's chest tightened. He jumped down, hesitating.
"X-Xu Lang."
"I told you to stay home. It's midnight—what are you doing out?"
"I was worried about Xu Lang." She hung her head, voice faint. "There are so many thugs and drunkards—"
Clang! An old woodcutter's knife fell from her body with a clear ring. Xu Mu froze, as did Si Hu and the others. Jiang Caiwei blushed, hurrying to pick up the rusty, blunt blade, hugging it to her chest.
A sharper ache filled Xu Mu's chest. Terrified as she was, fragile as she seemed, she'd waited with that old knife for his return.