“Sigh, at best we can find a place to grab a hot bite to eat, but we’ll still have to travel through the night. We don’t have much time left, and we must ensure we arrive within three days.
“The inter-county competition is in three days, and if we're late, we'll take the blame. I’d love an easier journey too, but alas.”
Head Constable Liu shook his head and sighed.
Riding behind him, Wu Yong and the other two sighed repeatedly. Recalling what had happened the last time they escorted a prisoner, Wu Yong said, “Since we’re on horseback this time, we shouldn't have to cross the mountain forest at night, right? After that incident, the thought of heading to the prefecture capital still gives me the chills.”
“All right, we're taking a shortcut this time. We won't stop along the way, and the five of us will keep a steady pace on horseback so no one falls behind. Nothing should go wrong. Stop chatting and ride with all your might. We'll do our best to cross the mountain paths by day and reach the official road by nightfall.”
“Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!” Flicking their riding crops and tightening their grips on the reins, the horses shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow.
...
“Damn it all, what rotten luck! The rain from the past two days caused a mudslide down the mountain that blocked the road ahead. We still have to cut through the mountain forest after all. If we take the long way around, there's no way we'll make it in three days.”
Taking a swig of water, Zhao Si cursed under his breath. He had thought they could reach the prefecture capital safely this time, but now they were forced onto mountain paths again—and at night, no less. It would be a wonder if he were in good spirits.
Sitting beneath a roadside shed, Head Constable Liu ate his meal expressionlessly. “All right, stop whining. Tell the proprietor to give the horses extra feed. None of us will be sleeping tonight, so keep your wits sharp. I'll lead the vanguard, and Qingyun will bring up the rear. We'll ride swiftly through the mountain forest.”
Gu Qingyun chewed on her steamed bun and nodded; she had no objections.
Zhao Si, however, felt she was still young and voiced his disapproval. “Boss, Qingyun is still a kid. Putting her at the rear isn't a good idea.”
Head Constable Liu glared at him. “I don't want her at the rear either, but if I put you there, can you handle it? As if you don't know your own capabilities. She's the strongest among the five of us.”
Head Constable Liu glanced at Gu Qingyun. This girl was truly humble; she had hoisted a horse weighing over five hundred jin with ease—was that something an ordinary constable could do?
He thought highly of her. She was composed, never tried to steal credit, and never bragged about herself outside. There was no telling how far she would go in the future.
Put in his place, Zhao Si hung his head, having lost face after being scolded in front of a youngster.
Gu Qingyun spread some chili sauce over a steamed bun and handed it to Zhao Si. “Eat up, Uncle Zhao, or I'll end up devouring it all.”
Taking the bun and seeing Gu Qingyun's carefree demeanor, Zhao Si took a bite. Ah well, even if she had formidable martial prowess, she was still just a child. He would just keep a closer eye on her during the journey, and all should be well.
At the neighboring table, an elderly man who looked like a steward listened thoughtfully to their conversation.
A moment later, the proprietor brought over a large bowl of mutton and chicken. Gu Qingyun and the others were dumbfounded, and Head Constable Liu frowned. “Proprietor, we didn't order this.”
“Honored guests, the gentleman over at that table ordered this and asked me to serve it to you,” the proprietor said, gesturing toward the elderly man at the other table.
The constables turned to look at the elder, who smiled at them before standing up and walking over.
“Officers, this humble old man had these two dishes prepared, though I do not know if they suit your palates. If you fancy anything else, please order as you please—the bill is on me.”
Head Constable Liu cupped his hands. “One should not accept a reward without merit. May I ask what business you have with us, sir?”
Hearing this, the elder stroked his beard and smiled. “I just overheard that you gentlemen plan to travel through the night and cut straight across the mountain. This old man would like to travel with you alongside my young master. Would that be acceptable?”
Head Constable Liu thought for a moment and shook his head. “Elder, we are on official business, and riding through the night is an unavoidable necessity. Furthermore, we are on horseback and moving quite swiftly. Even if we agreed to travel together, your party would not be able to keep pace with us.”
The elder smiled. “Please rest assured, officers. My carriage is drawn by four horses, so its pace is by no means sluggish. I am confident we can keep up with you. How about this: my carriage will travel in the middle of your group, and I will cover all your meals and lodging for these three days. Additionally, I shall offer each of you twenty taels of silver as a protection fee. What say you?”
Gu Qingyun inhaled sharply upon hearing this. Twenty taels right off the bat! What a fat sheep—no, what a wealthy family!
Head Constable Liu’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of silver. He cleared his throat lightly. “Elder, please wait a moment. I must consult with my brothers first.”
“Of course. Please discuss among yourselves; I shall return to my table and finish eating.”
Once the elder walked away, Head Constable Liu huddled with the group and whispered, “What do you all think?”
“No objections here! Head Constable, accept it! It's twenty taels! With that, we won't have to worry about expenses for the New Year,” Wu Yong spoke up immediately.
“Still, don't you think there might be something fishy? Just traveling together for a couple of days, yet offering us so much silver... Could it be that the road won't be safe tonight?” Zhao Si wavered.
“Men die for wealth just as birds die for food. Head Constable, let's take the job!” The one speaking was Zhang San. His martial skills were decent, but he was blunt to a fault—or, colloquially speaking, completely brainless.
Head Constable Liu smacked him upside the head. “Can’t you speak properly? Bringing up such ominous nonsense! Say another word like that, and I'll beat you black and blue.”
Having dealt out the hit, Head Constable Liu turned to look at Gu Qingyun. “Qingyun, what do you think? Can we take this job?”
His eyes shone brightly as he looked at her, ready to decline the offer if she said no.
Gu Qingyun pondered for a moment before nodding. “Uncle Liu, if they can keep up, let's take it. It’s on the way anyway, and I wouldn't mind earning this silver either.”
“Splendid. I'll go over and tell him right now.”
...
On the other side, having received a definitive answer, the elder settled the bill for the food, gathered his things, and waited for them by the entrance. Just then, a crisp, childish voice piped up:
“Grandpa Butler, why are you spending a hundred taels of silver to hire those constables?”
Hearing this, the elder chuckled merrily. “Young Master, problems that can be solved with money are not real problems. Besides, I have inquired around, and the mountain forests here haven't been peaceful lately. Coming from Qiongzhou along this route, although this old man possesses decent martial arts, spending a little silver to hire several people is far safer. They are traveling this path as well, and with a generous monetary incentive, there was a ninety-percent chance they would accept.”
Inside the carriage sat a young boy with ruby lips and pearly teeth. Although he was dressed plainly, a closer inspection revealed that his bearing was not something an ordinary family could ever cultivate.
“Grandpa Butler is always so thorough. You can make the call.”
...
The winter weather was exceedingly cold, especially at night. In the daytime, when the sun showed itself, a trace of warmth could still be felt. But once night fell, the freezing wind howled, and with the horses galloping at full tilt, the noses of Wu Yong and the others turned bright red. Even wrapped tightly in their cloaks, the biting chill still seeped through.
At this hour, the mountain forest was dead silent, save for the thudding hooves of the horses and the crunching sound of carriage wheels crushing dry fallen leaves. Gu Qingyun and the others simply rode in silence, pressing onward.
At some point, a heavy fog rolled into the mountains, shrouding the stars in mist. Forget the stars—not even the howling of beasts or the rustling of crawling critters could be heard. Everything was eerily quiet, as though they were the only travelers in this desolate expanse.
“Halt.”
Gu Qingyun’s voice drifted from the very rear. Though not loud, it sounded as if it were spoken right beside everyone’s ears.
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