Chapter 89: The Hardships of Leaving One's Homeland

Liu Sanjiu told him that he was originally from Tusu City. Eleven years ago, on the eve of Tusu City's fall, he fled to Wei City. Just as he had finally settled down, only a few years passed before he had to embark on the path of exile once again.

His father, now seventy-two, was considered remarkably old in the current Panlong Wilderness. Hearing that the Baling army had returned, the old man firmly refused to leave this time. He clung tightly to a pillar, determined to perish with the city. Liu Sanjiu and his wife tried desperately to pull him away, but to no avail. In the end, they could only bid farewell to their father with tears in their eyes, taking their children and retreating eastward.

As Liu Sanjiu spoke, his eyes were red, his face wet with what could have been tears or rain. He understood clearly that his father knew he couldn't walk fast and didn't want to burden his son's family during their escape.

Tragedies of separation like this were common among the refugees. Pick any family, and they would have a litany of hardships and bitter experiences to share.

At that moment, Liu Sanjiu's son, tired from walking, called out for his father to carry him.

The boy was only ten, and walking for several hours across the plains in the rain had already exhausted him.

Liu Sanjiu was already carrying his daughter, and their small donkey was stooped under the weight of their luggage. Adding another child would surely collapse the animal.

He Lingchuan couldn't bear to watch. "Let me help you..." He had intended to carry the child, but then he thought better of it. Instead, he took a large pack of luggage from the donkey's back into his hands. "...I'll carry these, and you can put the child on the donkey."

Being too enthusiastic could make him seem like a human trafficker. In refugee groups like this, it was not uncommon for children to get lost or be abducted.

The luggage he carried contained only bedding and clothes, which were bulky and took up space but held little value. Because of this, Liu Sanjiu immediately cast a more grateful look his way.

To encounter kindness during such a flight was truly a blessing.

People frequently hurried from behind, passing Liu Sanjiu's family and pressing forward. Fleeing from disaster was much like escaping a tiger: as long as you could outrun your companions, your chances of survival significantly increased.

There was nothing commoners like Liu Sanjiu could do about this; their current pace was already their limit.

Small groups of cavalry often rode in from the east, moving against the flow of the refugees.

The sight of the Great Wind Army brought a measure of comfort to everyone.

Liu Sanjiu pointed to them and told his young daughter, "These uncles will protect us. As long as we walk towards them, we'll be safe!"

Just then, a cry of alarm came from ahead.

He Lingchuan looked up and saw an old man, over sixty, slumped on the ground. He swayed twice before collapsing. His wife, who had been riding on a mule, hastily dismounted. Their son tried to help his father up, but the old man had already fainted.

The son, in his early forties, was emaciated and jaundiced, barely able to walk himself. He tried to carry his father on his back, but after only two steps, he stumbled and fell, splashing himself with mud.

Other refugees watched silently, then walked past them without looking back.

Everyone in the procession was struggling to care for themselves; where would they find the extra strength to do good deeds?

Liu Sanjiu and his wife exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and led their donkey past.

At that moment, three cavalrymen rode closer. The one in the lead reined in his horse and asked, "What's going on?"

"Officer, my father can't walk anymore!" the man pleaded, tears in his eyes. "Please, for goodness sake, help us!"

He Lingchuan looked up and was immediately surprised.

With thin eyebrows, long eyes, and an indifferent expression—wasn't this an old acquaintance?

Wasn't this the Great Wind Army commander who had attacked the Blackwater City army in Panlong Desert City, and who had been ordered by the Black Dragon to escort them out of the desert?

However, back then, he was a heroic spirit, fierce but unable to speak or communicate with He Lingchuan at all. This time, he was a living person, and it was He Lingchuan's first time hearing him speak.

He Lingchuan quickly lowered his head, as the commander's sharp gaze immediately swept over them.

Although they hadn't exchanged words, He Lingchuan vividly remembered this fellow's habit of impaling people with his spear without a sound.

Fortunately, at that moment, the other refugees also gathered around, eager to see how the Great Wind Army would handle the situation.

The commander withdrew his gaze, remained silent for a moment, then said, "Throw away your belongings and help your father onto the mule."

The mule was already carrying an old woman and the family's possessions. The man's face paled. "Officer, my mule has a limp and can't carry two people. Could you spare a horse?"

The commander replied, "Then throw away your valuables, help your father onto the mule, and you carry your mother."

The old woman stepped forward, clutching the horse's reins and weeping. "My husband can't walk anymore, please have mercy! You don't lack a horse, but he has only one life!"

Her sparse white hair, soaked by the rain, clung to her face in strands, making her appear utterly pathetic.

The commander's gaze swept over her face, then to the unconscious old man on the ground, and finally to the man whose eyes were full of pleading. His Adam's apple bobbed.

Everyone could see that he was hesitating.

The man immediately knelt and kowtowed several times. "Please have mercy, lend us a horse!" He repeated this plea four or five times.

The commander let out a long breath.

Just as He Lingchuan thought he would compromise, the commander pointed to a small hill nearby. "There are caves on the mountain where you can shelter from the rain. I can send someone to help your father there to rest, and we'll pick him up in a day or two."

The man was stunned. "My father goes to the mountain? That's a dead end! What if the enemy army pursues us there?"

The old woman wept louder, and her son couldn't help but yell, "Mother, stop crying!"

"You can only take a gamble, make your decision now!" the commander said coldly. "If the enemy retreats in a day or two, I will certainly send people to patrol the area."

He waited for a few breaths, seeing that the man was still undecided. He then shook his reins, preparing to leave.

"Wait, wait!" The man gritted his teeth. "I've decided. Just... just send my father to the mountain, please help us!"

The commander nodded slightly to his subordinate, who immediately helped the old man onto the front of the saddle. The woman suddenly said, "Take me with him! I'll go with my old man!"

Her stance was exceptionally firm, and the man mumbled a couple of words without contradicting her.

So the cavalryman took the elderly couple and rode towards the small hill about seventy paces away.

The commander continued forward, no longer lingering.

The man stood watching for a while, his face full of dejection, then led his mule forward.

Now, of the family of three, only he remained.

Liu Sanjiu's wife whispered, "That man is truly pitiful, and the commander has such a hard heart. I thought the Great Wind Army was good to us common people."

Liu Sanjiu replied dully, "They can't be good to everyone. Who here doesn't need help?"

If the commander had helped that elderly couple, other commoners would surely have swarmed him, pleading for aid:

"Why help them and not us? Aren't we all refugees?"

These soldiers' duty was not rescue but to provide cover and defend against the enemy. If they were held up here and couldn't go to reinforce the rear, they would only create trouble for their comrades bringing up the rear.

His wife was displeased. "You're still siding with them!"

"Now, who else can we side with?" Liu Sanjiu said with a bitter smile. "At least the Great Wind Army is coming to our aid. We're not people of Panlong City, after all."