Chapter 88: The Fleeing Group

Living long and having connections meant having many prominent families among one's acquaintances. At her age, it was impossible for her to go out to listen to opera; she would usually invite a troupe into her home to set up a stage and perform. It would be dull for the old madam to enjoy it alone; it would only be lively if she invited three, five, or even ten families of female relatives. The same applied to garden parties. These wealthy, elderly women with time on their hands practically lived for socializing, having long grown tired of seeing the same faces at home.

So, whenever she got hold of fresh and interesting gossip, how could she bear not to share it with her old sisters?

He Lingchuan shook his head. His father had sent many people to the capital, so Madam He wouldn't be the only one spreading the news. Second Brother's deduction was correct; his father was doing his best to spread rumors among the populace, leaving the royal court no chance to deny the He family's contributions.

On his way to eat, two flashes of lightning suddenly rolled across the sky.

After only two clear days, the dull rumble of thunder returned with a heavy rain.

The torrential rain made it almost impossible to open one's eyes. He Lingchuan wiped the water from his face. In just a dozen breaths, his underwear and socks were completely soaked, sticking uncomfortably to his body.

He had just gone to the latrine after dinner; how could the scenery have completely changed the moment he stepped out?

It was pitch black all around. The He family's windproof lanterns were gone. Only the occasional flashes of lightning in the sky provided any light.

Although it was too dark to see clearly, He Lingchuan was very certain this was not the He manor, because the dense weeds in front of him were already man-high. If the gardeners at the He manor dared to be so lazy, Madam Ying would have long since driven them out.

The ground was muddy, sandy, wet, and full of roots. He stumbled along; there was no path ahead, so he had to push through the weeds.

He Lingchuan glanced back and saw a giant rock behind him. The steep and smooth basalt rock had hardly any calamus growing on it.

There was no way back, only forward.

The young man groped his way forward, walking about a dozen zhang, when suddenly his foot found no ground!

He had been fully focused, only shifting his weight after his foot was firmly planted. So when his left foot suddenly stepped into empty space, he didn't panic. He leaned back and retreated.

Pushing aside the weeds, He Lingchuan realized it was a dead end.

Below him was a cliff, with a drop of seven or eight zhang (over twenty meters).

If he had stepped into the void and fallen, he might not have lost his life, but he would have been at least half-dead.

He Lingchuan sighed, wiping the grass seeds and rainwater from his face. How had he appeared in this desolate wilderness? Having had a similar experience before, he wasn't overly surprised.

Any time there was such a bizarre scene change coupled with disjointed memories, it was usually the Broken Blade playing tricks again.

But if this thing dragged him into a dream, couldn't it at least conveniently hand him a knife? Even if it was just to clear a path through the weeds.

Now, where was he supposed to go?

Two successive flashes of blue-white lightning lit up the sky, instantly illuminating He Lingchuan's vision.

Only then did he realize that below the cliff was a vast plain, with only a few small hillocks scattered across it. From where he stood, he could already overlook all the surrounding hills.

Most importantly, there were people on the plain!

It was a long procession, passing almost directly beneath the low cliff where He Lingchuan stood, less than fifteen zhang away from him. From his vantage point, he couldn't see the end of the line.

It wasn't an army.

The procession consisted of men and women, mostly commoners judging by their attire. The wealthy could ride in carriages, but ordinary people had to brave the wind and rain, supporting each other as they moved forward.

Most people carried belongings on their shoulders and in their hands, and donkeys and oxen were also laden with household items. Dogs scurried around at their feet. He Lingchuan also saw a girl of eleven or twelve, clutching her mother's hand tightly while hugging a small cat to her chest.

Her small face was pale from the rain, making her eyes appear large and round, filled with confusion and helplessness.

Was this a refugee column?

Cavalry riders frequently patrolled back and forth, much like soldier ants constantly busy themselves around a moving ant colony.

He Lingchuan was very familiar with the light armor of these cavalrymen; he recognized them as the Grand Wind Army at a glance.

The Grand Wind Army appeared quite early this time.

He Lingchuan considered for a dozen breaths and then decided to blend into the procession. Otherwise, where else could he go in this desolate wilderness?

If he followed the Grand Wind Army, the group would at least have a destination, right?

Most importantly, he had already seen a cavalryman hand his horse to a comrade, then rush to the cliff edge and begin climbing up using both hands and feet.

It was so dark, and the grass was so tall, that He Lingchuan felt it was unlikely he'd be discovered. So, there was only one reason for this cavalryman to climb the mountain in the rain:

He was a scout, and climbing to the highest point to reconnoiter and keep watch for the group was part of his duty.

This also indirectly indicated that there were pursuers behind the group.

He Lingchuan didn't think twice, quietly descending the mountain from another side, clinging to firm rocks.

The torrential rain masked most sounds. Everyone had to look down at the path in the pitch-black night. Furthermore, many people in the group were quietly slipping behind small hills to relieve themselves and would return. Thus, he easily blended into the procession without any trouble.

In a refugee column, who would know whom?

Even the Grand Wind Army cavalrymen who occasionally rode past him paid him no mind.

Last time, he was discovered immediately upon entering the scene because he was a stranger in a strange land, easily spotted by the locals. Now, hidden within the ocean of people, appearing as docile as any commoner, how could the cavalry have time to spare him a glance?

In this way, He Lingchuan quietly followed the procession for over an hour. Along the way, he helped people carry things, received a few words of thanks, and used the opportunity to subtly gather information.

The rain on the plain seemed endless; if one opened their mouth, cold rainwater would pour in. But out of gratitude for his help, the family explained that they lived near a winery in Sui Town, Weicheng.

The head of the household, surnamed Liu, worked daily brewing wine in the winery. And because he was the third among his peers in the clan, people simply called him Liu Sanjiu (Liu Three Wines). He was fleeing with his wife and two children because the Baling Army's offensive this time was particularly fierce; Weicheng couldn't be held, so everyone had to pack up and flee overnight, without even having time to gather many valuables.

Fortunately, after only a few hours of walking, the Grand Wind Army arrived to escort them, which greatly reassured everyone.

So, where were they going?

Liu Sanjiu said that if they could reach Sandan Pass by heading east, they would be safe, as that was the territory of Panlong City.

How much further?

On this plain with no landmarks, no one knew for sure.

After following the procession for so long, He Lingchuan felt a little heavy-hearted. He knew that this scene had likely occurred in history.

Although Panlong Wasteland was named a wasteland, it was far more fertile than the desert it later became and could sustain many cities. He remembered that Weicheng was located several hundred li west of Panlong City, well-supplied with troops and provisions, and had held out against enemy attacks for nearly twenty years.

What he saw today was probably the scene just before Weicheng was breached, making him a witness to history.

The most pitiful thing was that some commoners were not leaving their homes for the first time.