UCTOOT CH81

On the vast road, Shi Shu ran all the way to the Chou Army camp’s gate, presented his waist tablet to the guards, and entered.

He couldn’t help but think—did Xie Wuchi enjoy it? If he did, according to his wishes, didn’t his plan to climb into his bed count as partially realized?

As Shi Shu thought this, he walked into the spacious grounds. Song Sinan was organizing refugees of all ages and shouting: “Don’t fight!” “Don’t hit each other!” “Watch your children, don’t lose them!” “Hey over there! Where are you running to! Believe it or not, I’ll have you beaten with batons if you sneak into someone else’s camp!”

Shi Shu entered the gate, his thoughts still somewhat dazed. He caught a ride on a carriage heading toward the farming colony. His head was covered in sweat, wet black hair clinging to his fair earlobes, lips red, teeth white.

Song Sinan seemed to be saying something by his ear. After a moment, Shi Shu heard clearly: “What are you spacing out for?”

Shi Shu: “…Thinking.”

Du Zihan: “Wow, even our little Schoolbag has worries now. Growing up.”

I’m not just growing up; I’m growing perverted.

Shi Shu gave him a look and gritted his teeth. The road ahead was congested, the official route full of potholes. Shi Shu jumped down from the carriage, laying straw and wooden boards on the ground so the wheels could pass normally without sinking into mud.

Shi Shu kept an eye on the road. If the carriage wheels sank, not only might it overturn, but the grain would spill too, requiring great effort to push out.

As Shi Shu walked, he looked back at the endless stream of people on the road, journeying toward their new homeland.

This time Shi Shu was heading to the farming colony at a place called Donggou, at the frontier river. Here, separated from the Northern Min army across a wide river gorge, the ice-melted water had already flowed away, the river surface thin, some river beds nearly dry. Today’s resettled refugees were the families of the Chou Army soldiers from last night. As expected of those who had enlisted from their families, these refugees were much bolder, chattering and laughing the whole way. Resettling them in the desolate, abandoned farming colony—this place had been inhabited before, so there were grass huts, soil houses, crisscrossing fields, irrigated and dry fields. Only the houses were somewhat damaged and needed repair.

The colony was called Baijia Colony, with city walls built nearby to protect the entire settlement. The Donggou frontier river flowed gently under the city wall, clear water sliding over stone surfaces. After refugees moved here, houses were distributed, and able-bodied youths worked on repairs and farming, beginning the livelihood of displaced people.

When Shi Shu arrived, he immediately helped the refugees repair their houses, terrified of having even a moment of free time to overthink things. He squatted on someone’s roof, passing roof tiles to the professional workers. Song Sinan stood below watching for a while, then walked over to Du Zihan: “Second Young Master today is really full of vigor, working like an ox without a moment’s rest.”

Du Zihan: “Probably in a bad mood.”

Song Sinan: “Why?”

Du Zihan: “Sleepwalking, kissed his own brother. How could his mood be good?”

“True.”

Their understanding was still stuck at the first night.

Shi Shu’s palms were worn by roof tiles, a small cut on his fingertip. After handing the rest to the master, he held the ladder to descend. He picked up a stick, tested its thickness, then threw it with a “swoosh.”

A nearby woman handed him a cloth. Shi Shu accepted and wiped his sweat: “Thanks, sister.”

This house was occupied by several widows whose husbands had died in battle, all with children, and no one to help them. Shi Shu decided to help them repair the house first, to prevent leaks during rain. When Shi Shu left, many women watched him from their doorways.

Shi Shu had the looks that mother-fans adored most—handsome and clean, without the coarseness typical of teenage boys, well-defined features but soft lines. Especially when he saw girls, his face would flush. His smile could make hearts melt—the epitome of a pure school prince.

Song Sinan asked on their behalf: “Probably checking if you’re married, some aunt wants to play matchmaker with their niece.”

“Forget it,” Shi Shu said with feeling. “Once people get involved in love, their lives are finished.”

“…”

The houses were nearly complete when they turned a corner past a wall and found several men standing and peering inside, their expressions lecherous. Song Sinan immediately frowned: “What are you looking at!”

The men chuckled and scattered like ducks.

Du Zihan: “Boring.”

Shi Shu: “Why are men like this?”

Du Zihan: “Huh?”

Shi Shu: “You’ve understood it by my age.”

Du Zihan: “Little Schoolbag, you—”

They were staying at the farming colony for several days. After settling the refugees, the soldiers were also assigned places to sleep. Shi Shu and Song Sinan stayed where the troops were garrisoned. That night, as soon as Shi Shu’s head touched the pillow, that incident entered his mind again.

Along with it came the war at Yunzhou. It had been three days already. A war would last several months—he didn’t know how things were now.

Had Xie Wuchi gotten through to people? Secretly instructed that general? Feng Chongshan’s military discipline was lax. Once Yunzhou’s gates opened, it would certainly be a slaughter, blood flowing like rivers.

The death of one Feng Chongshan meant nothing, but so many people dying—beings manipulated by fate, not even knowing why they were dying—it filled him with anger and helplessness.

As for Xie Wuchi… why had he, in a moment of passion, just grabbed him like that? The system had shown Xie Wuchi’s extremely high affinity value, mercilessly treating human lives as stepping stones. The anger boiled to his head—didn’t Xie Wuchi like physical contact? Didn’t he like doing it? Climbing into his bed probably felt great for him, maybe his affinity value would keep rising. If he could go home, Shi Shu might really become an evil person.

Toward him, Shi Shu had no psychological burden. Maybe it was because Xie Wuchi had taught him well that entire year. Toward him, a rush of blood and he was on him.

What was Xie Wuchi thinking? Shi Shu wasn’t good at helping someone masturbate. He’d been too angry at the time, just gripped him, and with resentment—a malice rising from nowhere—held on tight.

Shi Shu was a boy, roughly knowing it probably didn’t feel very good, yet Xie Wuchi had actually come.

Pain only stimulates his desire.

“Do you want to control me?” Was this another projection of his inner self?

Have I gone too far?

Shi Shu kept thinking, couldn’t sleep, and simply got out of bed.

The farming colony was at the edge of the frontier river. The village had a watchtower set on its highest point, visible from a distance. Shi Shu climbed up to the watchtower, a tall building with deep interior spaces that could hold many people during battle for archers to shoot and scout.

Song Sinan was on night watch, and it was cold on an early summer night: “What are you doing here?”

There was a table in the tower with a chair beside it where sleeping soldiers stood watch. Song Sinan should have been able to rest, at least be more comfortable, but he didn’t move his eyes from the tower’s edge for a moment.

Shi Shu went to the front: “Can’t sleep, came to look around.”

Song Sinan: “I’m telling you, you’re really suffering when there’s no need to. What fortune can’t you enjoy following your brother? Fine delicacies, silks and satins, servants everywhere, yet you have to mix with us soldiers.”

“My brother…”

Shi Shu showed a smile, changing the subject: “Speak clearly, what does that mean! Are you chasing me out?”

Song Sinan: “No, no, sit, sit. Who said anything about you?”

“I won’t sit.”

Shi Shu stood at the tower’s front. Because of the height, the night wind was particularly strong, making Shi Shu shiver: “It’s this cold?”

Song Sinan: “It’s still summer. Winter, you’ll understand.”

Shi Shu looked down, surveying from the heights. From here he could see the watchtower across the frontier river on Northern Min’s side, and some hovels and military supplies the enemy had set up by the river. Generally, they were built where bridges connected. River banks without bridges were clean and empty. But now with less water flow, many rivers revealed their beds, showing white stones in the moonlight.

Shi Shu stopped overthinking, focusing on what was before him: “Isn’t it possible to walk directly to the other shore from here?”

Song Sinan: “Yeah, but who goes? Won’t they get killed by the enemy army?”

“…”

Shi Shu looked carefully and after a moment said: “Why are there people by the river?”

“Huh?” Song Sinan craned his neck to look below, and sure enough, on this shore of the frontier river, there were indeed people walking through the woods in groups. Under moonlight, groups of three or five. They scattered when they reached the riverbank, each doing their own thing.

Song Sinan clicked his tongue: “Those people again. They like cleanliness. The water channels in the colony haven’t been dug yet, so these people did a full day of dirty work and want to go wash in the river. I’ve told them to stay away for now but they insist on going anyway. I can’t be bothered.”

Shi Shu: “Will something happen?”

“As long as they don’t cross to the other shore, nothing serious should happen. I’ll tell them tomorrow—don’t go too far.”

Shi Shu saw that some men directly undressed to bathe, some turned behind stones to wash clothes, and even some bold women brought clothes to wash together, some with small children, washing the children too.

Shi Shu watched this group to prevent any problems. As the night grew deep, they all returned, scattered figures slowly heading back to the colony.

Shi Shu stood for over an hour, got tired standing, and fell asleep in another chair.

Life at Baijia Colony was like this for now. Several early mornings, Shi Shu woke to the clear sound of bird calls, rubbing his eyes. He’d been here for three days, which had diluted the chaos with Xie Wuchi that day. But as soon as he got up this morning, he heard Song Sinan’s voice downstairs: “Quick, quick! Received urgent news—the Commander-in-Chief will inspect today. Keep your eyes open! Stand properly!”

Shi Shu limped downstairs: “He’s coming to inspect?”

Song Sinan: “Inspecting the farming colonies—happens all the time. The court can’t support that much grain, and we only have the confidence to support troops if grain backs us up. Don’t think war is just two armies facing off. It’s a battle of supplies and resources. Once the farming colonies are developed, we have grain, the refugees won’t cause trouble, and we can stabilize the realm.”

Shi Shu: “Little Song-brother, you really know a lot.”

Song Sinan coughed: “Not bad.”

They walked together to the bottom of the tower, where the messenger was discussing excitedly: “The Commander-in-Chief inspects the farming colonies and finds military officials who haven’t properly cultivated or maintained water systems, letting things slide—he personally flogs them! With his own hands, the beatings leave people bloody and rolling on the ground. Tsk tsk tsk tsk!”

“He probably arrives today. Everyone prepare well, work hard, keep the village clean and neat for the lord to inspect!”

Song Sinan jumped in fright: “Then I need to get working right away.”

A living demon king. Xie Wuchi this living demon king. Kills wherever he goes.

Shi Shu collected the morning steamed buns, his mind conjuring Xie Wuchi’s manner when training people—that height and eyes that disdained everything, intimidating to others, tapping his wrist with a horsewhip every moment, showing no mercy to those who made mistakes, after all, few people deserved his attention.

Shi Shu shoved the bun in his mouth and took several bites. Whipping as training and punishment—he seemed always to be this way, high above all.

Shi Shu bit at the bun, turned, and continued working.

Received news of Xie Wuchi’s inspection in the morning. Before sunset, the ceremonial procession arrived at the gate of the Baijia Colony settlement.

“The Commander-in-Chief has arrived!”

Several people ran in first. Then through clouds of dust, a steed trotted through the gate under flags, guards leading the way, flags fluttering, people in the crowd leading horses and holding stirrups. Xie Wuchi, dressed entirely in black martial outfit, dismounted in the twilight. With his clean, cold demeanor, he lowered his head and handed the whip to a guard, surveying the colony.

Shi Shu glanced at him and returned inside.

Xie Wuchi inspected the colony. After waiting an afternoon, prepared food was quickly placed on the table. A guard came: “Second Young Master, time for a meal.”

Shi Shu had eaten dinner earlier and entered alongside. He guessed Xie Wuchi had come for him.

Inside, Xie Wuchi was sitting by the tea table, leafing through urgently delivered letters, checking for any military matters, folding the envelope neatly and handing it to someone nearby: “We’ll discuss it when I return. You may go.”

A package lay beside the table. Xie Wuchi said: “You left in a hurry, didn’t take your things. I brought some clean clothes for you.”

Shi Shu didn’t expect that. His first words upon seeing each other would be this. He took the clothes and said: “Perfect. I’ve had a really inconvenient time bathing these past few days. Thanks, though I didn’t expect you’d come inspect the farming colonies.”

Xie Wuchi’s voice was calm: “The farming colonies are very important. Combining people with land solves the instability of refugees, rebinds them to the land, while also producing abundant grain, expanding our rear. If the colonies succeed, the future looks very good.”

Shi Shu listened to Xie Wuchi’s explanation, humming in agreement.

The two of them actually didn’t mention that day at all. Shi Shu didn’t know with what emotion to bring it up. Since Xie Wuchi didn’t mention it, could it be he was afraid of embarrassing him?

With his back to Xie Wuchi, Shi Shu really didn’t know how to face him. He said: “I’m tired after a day. I’ll go wash up first.”

“Shi Shu…”

A soft call came from behind.

Shi Shu was already holding the clothes and ran out the door like escaping. It was evening now, a crescent moon in the sky, with dark clouds occasionally passing.

Shi Shu called for Du Zihan to head to the streams by the frontier river. The weather was gradually heating up; sure enough, many people were washing clothes and bathing. He walked far downstream to an area with fewer people and took a proper bath. At the same time, he was thinking about what attitude would be best for facing Xie Wuchi.

Shi Shu was lost in thought when Du Zihan said: “What’s really going on with you recently?”

Shi Shu stepped through the water, already dressed: “Really nothing.”

“Ever since you met Xie Wuchi, your emotions have been very volatile. What’s with you two? Are you reconciling?”

Shi Shu: “Feels like we’re not reconciling. Let’s go back.”

Shi Shu’s dirty clothes were also cleaned in the river water. Carrying them upstream, but in a spot hidden by branches, he saw a group gathered together, looking anxious. Song Sinan led a crowd running frantically down a slope.

Shi Shu asked: “What happened?”

The gentle stream had exposed the river bed. Several wooden basins floated on top, clothes scattered everywhere, but the people were nowhere to be seen. The lecherous man from before said anxiously: “These women were washing clothes with their children, when suddenly several people rushed over from across the river, carried the women and children away!”

“So scary! Those people crossed from the other shore and kidnapped them!”

“What do we do?! A bunch of tigers and wolves!”

Shi Shu’s mind reeled: “This kind of thing happens?!”

“Damn!” Song Sinan’s eyes flashed fierce light. “Border region, just a river’s breadth away—these dogs love to cross over and loot. This time they actually dare snatch our women and children! Come on!”

“Yes!”

Behind Song Sinan stood quite a group of his Chou Army soldiers, suddenly pulling sharp knives from their backs.

Song Sinan: “How long ago?!”

The man said: “Not long, maybe an incense stick’s worth of time.”

Song Sinan said: “No one is to make noise. The Commander-in-Chief just went to sleep. Bring a few brothers with me. We cross the border and rescue the women and children!”

Some hesitated, too timid to speak.

Song Sinan angrily: “Anyone else? We need more hands.”

There was wolf-like bloodlust in his eyes. As soldiers protecting the homeland, he couldn’t sit by watching women and children being kidnapped by the enemy. Shi Shu’s heartbeat accelerated. He raised his hand: “I’ll go.”

Song Sinan: “You? We kill people. If you’re brave enough to kill, I’ll take you.”

Shi Shu: “I know. I can go. It seems no one runs faster than me.”

Song Sinan laughed loudly twice, handed him a knife and said: “Alright, you’ve got guts. Let’s go!”

Song Sinan led these seven or eight brothers. Seeing the clouds block the moonlight, the surroundings pitch black, he wrapped black cloth around their faces: “Run.”

The group started forward. Shi Shu gripped the knife handle, following behind them. His adrenaline began spiking. This was crossing the border… crossing the border… the other side was all enemies, watchtowers positioned all around, patrols everywhere. One careless move and being discovered by the enemy army would be unthinkable!

Watchtowers were spaced apart. Both shores of the frontier river were overgrown with weeds and trees. Shi Shu followed Song Sinan and the seven or eight others, his feet stepping on shallow water. The river bed’s stones were full of potholes. When his hands touched them, his palms scraped painfully.

At first Shi Shu was somewhat bewildered, gradually adapting to the situation. He didn’t dare breathe heavily. After the water receded, they were suspended above it. Shi Shu identified the stones underfoot in the darkness, jumping over them, a sense of lightheadedness washing over him.

“Song-brother…” someone started to speak.

Song Sinan pressed his knife: “Don’t talk. Listen to my commands.”

Shi Shu sealed his lips tight. With his good balance, when he first jumped onto the ground crossing the river, he stepped in a pothole but didn’t fall. He crouched, learned from them to hide in low scrub, and hurried forward.

On Northern Min territory, the path was pitch black, with flatland, forests, and hills. Leading the way at the front was an old military household from 白Baijia Colony. He said: “There’s an abandoned garrison ahead. These Northern Min soldiers kidnapped the women and children—it violates military discipline. If inspected, they’ll suffer, so they’ll definitely hide in the garrison’s buildings. I know where it is.”

Song Sinan held his knife hilt: “Then we search the garrison for people.”

Shi Shu’s back was sweating. Not long after, they encountered a Northern Min patrol unit on night rounds. Several of them lay in a ditch without a sound, smelling earth, hearing military boots on the ground.

When Shi Shu volunteered to come, he vaguely guessed the danger. But truly coming made him understand the taut feeling of hanging by a thread. It was impossible not to be nervous. He breathed heavily, trying to steady his racing blood and heartbeat, his whole body in an acute stress state, carefully noting the route they traveled.

Shi Shu’s mind kept repeating: Be brave…

Shi Shu kept up with these hardened soldiers without falling behind. People led the way, using the dimness of night to identify direction. Everyone was brave, moving within layers of enemy patrol defenses, holding their breath, proceeding cautiously.

Shi Shu followed behind them, seemingly crossing several ridges, circling hillsides, passing through villages. Like walking on a directionless ocean, his heart continuously rose and fell. He didn’t know how long they’d been walking when finally they saw the abandoned garrison—

—a small village with a grass hut at the front. Faintly hearing the cries of children and women.

Song Sinan cursed “Damn!” and pulled out his knife.

Cold light flashed.

Shi Shu also drew his knife, following closely. Under the moonlit night, a small room with dim lamp oil, incomprehensible Min language chattering, probably five or six Min soldiers. This group hadn’t even closed the door, laughing wildly.

Song Sinan bit his teeth and charged in, one knife blow on that man’s head. His neck instantly sprayed a large amount of blood. Shi Shu’s pupils dilated, staring at this group of people. The cold hard knife handle rubbed against his palm, also scraped against his heart.

Several people clashed with knives, blades flashing. Someone tried to cry out but was immediately silenced, throat slit. Song Sinan went to pull the women on the ground. Behind him, a Min soldier drew his knife toward him. Shi Shu’s mind reacted for a second—his knife swung like a baseball bat. With a scraping sound, it hit bone.

The man collapsed to the ground, blood spattering on Song Sinan’s face. He turned to Shi Shu and laughed: “Thanks!”

Shi Shu managed a smile, his inner defenses crumbling at the edge. Like a curse, he kept repeating those two words. After these Chou Army junior officers killed the Min soldiers, they vented by frantically stabbing the bodies with their knives. Shi Shu turned his face away. Silver moonlight.

After a moment, Song Sinan arranged them to look like they’d killed each other. The group carried the women and children on their backs and rushed out the door: “Let’s go, head back!”

Shi Shu wanted to help, but Song Sinan said: “You’re on your first mission with us. Just keep up!”

Shi Shu understood: “Then I’ll guard the rear.”

Following this group, he started heading back. Shi Shu breathed out, running in big strides. The moonlight was still pale, occasionally blocked by clouds. They passed a patrol unit on the plains and quickly crouched down, holding their breath. Everyone was silent, the opposite side carrying torches like ghosts. Shi Shu was terrified they’d be spotted.

Once the patrol passed, Song Sinan whispered: “We need to move faster! They probably will soon discover those Min dogs’ bodies!”

“Yes!”

Everyone accelerated their running pace. Shi Shu ran behind them. This seemed like an endlessly long road, without an end in sight. Shi Shu observed the surrounding mountains and forests, trying to be useful in any way possible. He memorized the route, watching as they ran.

Everyone in this group was in their twenties, rare times venturing deep into enemy territory. Everyone was somewhat nervous, just focusing on running forward.

Shi Shu identified landmarks in the pitch blackness. Perhaps because his nerves were too taut, suddenly his vision caught a half-high small child, standing like a ghost not far away in the darkness.

“Damn!”

Shi Shu’s heart suddenly clenched. He started: “Song—”

At the same time, another patrol unit walked past on the main road. Shi Shu hid in a ditch, covering his mouth, and looked back. That small child was gone.

A ghost? Now really isn’t the time to see ghosts!

How is there a child in this place!

Shi Shu poked his head out again and saw the child’s head, hair messy, peeking out and hiding in the trench.

A person! Not a ghost!

Shi Shu didn’t dare make a sound. The child saw them, hiding and frequently peeking to observe. These few seconds Shi Shu looked back, when he turned again, Song Sinan’s group had already gotten far ahead.

“Brother…”Shi Shu heard a voice.

He suddenly ran back, grabbed that child. Finally he could see clearly—it was a little girl with messy hair. Maybe only ten years old. Shi Shu wiped her hair, feeling terrified: “Who are you!”

What are you doing out here in the middle of the night!

The little girl said: “Help me… help me…”

Northern Min children wouldn’t speak the Great Jing language, yet this person was in Min territory. Shi Shu understood—likely a southern-fleeing refugee! Shi Shu scooped her up and ran: “Let’s go!”

The little girl struggled violently: “My mother, my mother, and my little sister and brother…”

“You’re not alone?!”

Looking back, Song Sinan and the others had already nimbly crossed the hillside, disappearing into the forest. Shi Shu suddenly felt a sense of helplessness from being separated from the group, especially in this extremely terrifying environment. He looked at the little girl: “What did you say?”

The little girl started crying as she spoke: “We fled down from Xixi County. My mother stepped on a soldier’s trap, her leg broke. My little brother and sister are hiding in a cave. I came looking for help.”

Shi Shu: “You’re really smart. Where’s your family?”

The little girl pointed in a completely opposite direction from Song Sinan: “Over there.”

“…………”

His back went ice cold.

That was a pitch-black, unfamiliar path, completely opposite from Song Sinan. They were already out of sight, it was too dark. They almost didn’t notice anyone falling back. If Shi Shu didn’t catch up soon, he’d be completely cut off, trapped alone.

Shi Shu’s forehead was sweating, his Adam’s apple rolling. Why? Why did things turn out like this? Could this little girl really be trusted? In the middle of the night, could it not really be a ghost? Why was he held back by these words?

What to do? Take the girl, or go back to rescue her mother and siblings together? Shi Shu wiped the sweat from his face, revealing his handsome young features in the moonlight. Fear, fear clung to him like a demon.

“…”

Shi Shu identified the girl before him by the faint moonlight. Black hair and eyes—distinctly Great Jing person features. He questioned her thoroughly, confirmed she was definitely a refugee. Father joined a volunteer army, died in battle. Mother brought children fleeing south.

Shi Shu’s hands were trembling. His calf muscles cramped. His mind was in fierce internal struggle. After a moment he said: “Come, take me to find your mother.”

After saying these words, all the weight lifted from his body. He hid in a deep ditch, turned with the girl toward the direction taking him farther and farther from Great Jing. The farther from Great Jing, the closer to danger. Shi Shu felt rather defenseless, sweat falling into his eyes making them wet. Repeating over and over—be brave! Be brave!—he ran frantically through grass ditches with the little girl.

This girl was truly brave. She was so young. Shi Shu didn’t know how long he followed her before encountering a patrol and hiding. His whole body was covered in mud and water, his steps unsteady.

Where was it? Why hadn’t they arrived? On this bottomless pitch-black road, walking endlessly, Shi Shu suddenly thought of finishing evening self-study when his parents would pick him up at the school gate. He had to be home by nine every night, with midnight the latest—and that was only on New Year’s Eve. Now Shi Shu was walking on this strange, vast wilderness. Once captured by Min soldiers, he’d be stabbed to death just as easily as the Great Jing soldiers had killed them. Shi Shu felt a strange sense of disorientation: Was this the road to the underworld, or the gate to hell? Why was it so quiet, not even ghosts?

Every step forward deepened his despair, and he even started doubting if the girl before him was actually a bad person. Shi Shu had thoughts of returning but ultimately didn’t turn back, cold through and through as he followed her.

Finally, a forest appeared before them.

It was a rabbit burrow, dug quite deep. The little girl said they’d been in this cave for three days already. If they weren’t close to starving, she wouldn’t have dared come out.

Shi Shu saw her mother. Her foot had stepped into a hunter’s trap placed by soldiers. Sharp steel teeth had viciously clamped her small leg—this was a beast trap, yet the Min people used it to torture humans for fun. At first the mother tried to keep walking, but she couldn’t hold on. Now she was very weak. Beside her were two children, five or six years old. This journey of escape had made them well-behaved; they didn’t make a sound, their faces rigid like clay dolls.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll take you across the river to Great Jing.”

Shi Shu carried the woman on his back, had the little girl hold her siblings’ hands, and headed back.

He’d arrived at eleven o’clock. By now, Shi Shu guessed it was close to two or three in the morning. Between villages were scattered outposts. Between towns were large outposts. As long as someone discovered intruding aliens, they’d ride horses or send signals by beacon fires, organizing armies to connect.

Shi Shu carefully avoided villages. Once he disturbed a dog. Its barking woke a soldier. Shi Shu was so scared his legs stiffened, but the soldier only cursed at the dog and went back to sleep.

No one said a word the whole time. Keeping silent now meant life or death. Shi Shu carefully memorized the route the whole way, but in the pitch blackness he couldn’t see anything. Taking a wrong turn meant returning to square one, then going forward again. He didn’t know how long they’d been getting turned around, like being cursed to circle the same path endlessly.

Sometimes Shi Shu felt dawn was breaking. Once dawn came, he and this family would surely die. But the world didn’t have that many rabbit burrows, and dawn didn’t break. Shi Shu kept running forward. The woman on his shoulder shed tears, her tears wetting his collar.

“We might as well die… wherever you found this young man, don’t drag him to his death with us.”

Shi Shu carried the person, no words stopping his wild running. Never stopping, forever never stopping.

Be brave. Mom, dad, and Xie Wuchi all said it—be brave…

Shi Shu panted heavily, gazing at the pale moonlight, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, identifying landmarks, stumbling through the ditch, absolutely refusing to stop running forward.

On the other side of the frontier river, in the city fortress of Baijia Colony in Great Jing.

Song Sinan put down the people behind him. The small children were also set down. Pushing through the crowds, he asked the earlier witness: “Were they kidnapped? Anyone else?”

The witness said: “Yes, yes, yes, them! They’re all back!”

“Little general, you’re like a god descended from heaven!”

“Take them back to rest and comfort them properly.” Song Sinan was indeed proud. They’d not only rescued the people but killed several enemy soldiers. Perhaps in this pride and exhilaration, Song Sinan was actually dulled. He casually counted the people with him: “One, two, three… everyone’s here, right?”

Everyone had just been through high-intensity tension and all nodded: “Here.”

Du Zihan squeezed through the crowd, didn’t see Shi Shu, and let out an “eh?” Asked Song Sinan: “Where’s Shi Shu?”

Song Sinan scanned around: “Probably went back? Or went to bathe.”

Du Zihan hurried to look, heading downstream by the river, still holding Shi Shu’s clean clothes. Du Zihan stumbled along as he searched: “Shi Shu, Shi Shu, where are you?”

The night was too dark, night obscures people’s willingness. Du Zihan walked down, taking sometimes deep, sometimes shallow steps. He even fell: “Shi Shu…”

He came to where he and Shi Shu had bathed, but there was no one, just the gurgling stream. Du Zihan headed back, planning to look in the house but still didn’t find anyone.

“Could he be in the outhouse?” Du Zihan went to knock on the door.

No one.

Could he have gone to Xie Wuchi’s bedroom?

Du Zihan wasn’t sure, hesitantly ran toward Xie Wuchi’s sleeping quarters.

Just thinking of Xie Wuchi made his whole body numb, his legs shaking. But now wanting to know Shi Shu’s whereabouts, he gathered his courage and ran. The guards outside the door were on watch. Seeing Du Zihan, they blocked him: “Can’t barge in!”

Du Zihan: “Is Second Young Master inside?”

“Second Young Master?” the guard said, “He’s not here.”

Du Zihan: “Thanks, I’ll look elsewhere.”

Du Zihan turned to leave, but a hand lifted the door curtain and Xie Wuchi walked out. Wearing his nighttime plain white inner robe, long black hair hanging over his shoulders, his presence carried an aloof, indifferent aura. His face showed no emotion: “Looking for Shi Shu for what?”

Du Zihan’s eyes went black. He backed away: “Looking for… for him… to check if he came back.”

Xie Wuchi: “What happened?”

Du Zihan hesitated, unsure if he should say, but ultimately turned and ran wildly. Xie Wuchi put on his shoes. Many townspeople came back from the village entrance, chattering: “These young people are so amazing!” “They actually went across the frontier river and got our people back!” “Incredible!”

Xie Wuchi’s eyes darkened. He asked someone what happened. After a moment the guard returned saying: “Some women were washing clothes by the river. They were kidnapped by Northern Min across the shore but were just rescued back.”

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes. His plain white clothes were draped in a layer of pale light in the moonlight, walking through the courtyard. At this hour, everything was silent. Song Sinan and the young heroes had returned to their quarters to celebrate.

Du Zihan searched everywhere for Shi Shu. No one suspected Shi Shu would fall back. First, Shi Shu ran too fast—no one in the army could outrun him in races. Second, they were too young, immersed in the joy of just having been warriors, almost unable to care about anyone but themselves.

Xie Wuchi walked through this village.

Du Zihan was still searching for Shi Shu. After searching for an hour or two, when Du became exhausted and sat down in the colony, his whole body began to chill.

Dawn was almost breaking!

Du Zihan knew something was wrong. He hurried to find Song Sinan, meeting Xie Wuchi in the central courtyard.

Xie Wuchi: “Found him?”

Du Zihan didn’t dare speak. He was afraid Song Sinan would be finished, hesitated for a long time, then ran again.

Xie Wuchi guessed it. His face went pale. He walked down from the hill, came to the riverside, stood looking at the white stones in the moonlight reflecting the water flow.

Song Sinan and his group scrambled down, only then discovering Shi Shu hadn’t come back. They ran to the river shore, beginning to frantically piece together: “When did he fall back? None of you noticed?! Speak!”

Several people woke from sleep, bewildered. The river water gently flowed. Xie Wuchi’s pitch-black eyes turned, looking at these young Chou Army soldiers. Logically speaking, it wasn’t their fault. When you move forward, you must be prepared not to return. Blaming companions is misplaced anger.

Xie Wuchi stayed silent, saying nothing. Du Zihan had a premonition that if Shi Shu didn’t appear soon, Xie Wuchi would have people sweep through every inch of this land.

Everyone didn’t dare speak, staring ahead. The atmosphere was like torture.

—Suddenly, a small figure jumped from the river ahead!

Xie Wuchi’s eyelids raised slightly.

Shi Shu was carrying that woman, wading through the water like a forest spirit. His steps were slow; his strength had long been exhausted. He first placed her on the dry stone embankment, then went back, cradling three small children and crossing the rapids. Shi Shu was completely soaked in sweat. After crossing the river, his movements became slow and mechanical as he lifted the people again onto his back.

His face was ashen, his whole body wet with sweat, his steps constantly wavering.

But from start to finish, Shi Shu didn’t stop.

Shi Shu stepped on slippery stone and stumbled, his knee scraping the rock. He said: “Sorry.”

Shi Shu moved forward. Hearing someone speak, he raised his head. Behind him suddenly felt light. Song Sinan and the others quickly took the weight off him.

“I’m back…”

Shi Shu wanted to smile, but his head spun, lightheaded, and he collapsed.

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