Old Mother Wang trudged along while weeping, continuously wailing, “Oh dear, my legs are going numb from all this walking!”
“Auntie, we’ve only just started…”
“Oh heavens, I wish I could carry my legs on my shoulders,” Old Wang cried as if mourning the dead.
An escort immediately whipped her, “Old woman, you seem quite energetic with all that wailing. Do you want me to loosen up your old bones?”
Old Wang promptly shut her mouth, and the others also wound up like clockwork, burying their heads in walking, only daring to let out intermittent sobs.
Heading north from the post station, they completely left the capital’s territory.
The capital would henceforth be a place they could never return to, even in their dreams. They would walk farther and farther, into increasingly desolate lands, eventually reaching the barren extreme north. Wailing at the thought.
At this realization, everyone felt profound sorrow, unable to suppress soft weeping, the sound of crying stifled yet pervasive.
Xie Ninglan found it somewhat headache-inducing and quietly complained to her daughter, “These ancients really lack mental fortitude. It’s already the second day, and they still haven’t adjusted? What’s the use of crying? Better to face reality early and save energy for the journey.”
Xin Nian lowered her head and chuckled, “Aside from those bandits and ruffians, most of them are officials’ family members. When have they ever suffered like this, walking every day?”
Unlike their family, who were used to frequent large-scale migrations before the apocalypse, accustomed to desperately seeking oases…
“Your dad used to complain, saying we moved bases every now and then to avoid natural disasters, just like ancient exiles being banished. Well, now we’re experiencing it firsthand, aren’t we? He’s quiet now. Let’s see if he dares to spout nonsense in the future.”
Xin Nian nearly burst out laughing.
She secretly held her mother’s hand, transferring a wave of healing energy, “Mom, stop complaining. They say the morning hour is worth gold in the day. Since we’re already out at three in the morning, we should make good use of this early time. Let’s practice our supernatural power, bathed in the essence of the sun and moon—the natural energy must be abundant.”
Xie Ninglan nodded, stopped talking, and focused on walking while silently circulating the energy within her body.
The mother and daughter spent the entire morning recovering their supernatural power, feeling quite good overall. At least with the aid of their power, today’s journey wasn’t as exhausting as yesterday’s.
Walking more was also beneficial; her delicate body urgently needed to toughen up.
Otherwise, the close combat skills she learned in her previous life would be less than thirty percent effective.
“Sir, how much longer until we reach Huai Shu Slope? This old woman can’t hold it in much longer!”
“If you can’t hold it, then do it in your pants,” the escort replied coldly and heartlessly.
Old Mother Wang wailed, “Doing it in my pants would stink up everyone!”
The others wanted to laugh but lacked the energy, merely twitching their facial muscles slightly.
Wang Bangyan was somewhat embarrassed by his troublesome mother and could only try to persuade her, “Mother, please try to endure a little.”
“Endure, endure, endure! You unfilial son, are bowel movements, urination, and farting things that can be endured?”
Wang Bangyan felt like crying but had no tears, repeatedly cupping his hands toward the escort, “Brother officer, may I ask how much longer until we reach Huai Shu Slope?”
“Soon, soon!” The several officers were also annoyed by the old woman and waved impatiently, “It’s right ahead.”
“How soon is soon? This old woman is about to burst! You’re mistreating exiles! I’ll go to the capital and file a complaint against you with the emperor!”
“Auntie, we brothers support you!”
“Officer, this is truly inhumane. You control the heavens and the earth, but can you even control when people need to relieve themselves? How long has it been now? Nearly four hours, and you still won’t let anyone catch their breath? You really intend to torture us to death on this journey, don’t you?”
A few discordant, mocking voices rose in response.
Liang Guang’s thick brows furrowed as his gaze swept over the group. “Sha Laoda, Pi Laoer, I see you lot are itching for a beating, aren’t you?”
Those named, like the rest of the Dragon-Tiger Stronghold members, were dragging heavy leg irons and handcuffs—clearly serious criminals.
“These are the bandits who’ve been robbing travelers on the official roads near the capital recently.”
“Why are we being transported alongside these bandits?” someone couldn’t help but complain.
The escorts showed no leniency—anyone daring to speak up was met with a few lashes of the whip.
Whether the blows landed or not, the mere sight of the whip was enough to silence everyone.
Xin Nian and his family of three paid no mind to the commotion, focusing intently on their own struggles.
Yu Shi was particularly weak today and had been carried by Zhao Xun the entire way.
Third Miss Xin Ruoyu had her wounds cleaned and medicated again last night, along with acupressure treatment. Her fever had mostly subsided, but her legs remained weak.
Fortunately, Lu Momo came to care for her, supporting her so she could manage to keep walking.
For the exiled convicts, the morning passed in excruciating agony.
They marched from three in the morning until eleven—a full eight hours—finally reaching Locust Tree Slope just before everyone collapsed from exhaustion.
Originally, there were to be no stops along the way, but after Old Wang’s protest, the officers reluctantly granted a quarter-hour break for toilet needs.
Going eight hours without access to sanitation was indeed brutally cruel and utterly inhuman.
A four-hour interval for relief was barely tolerable.
Everyone collapsed at Locust Tree Slope waiting for meal distribution, their heads drooping like eggplants battered by a storm, groaning weakly.
Yu Shi leaned against a tree, panting and wheezing as if half her life had already entered the coffin.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her unreliable younger son sneak over furtively and slip a leaf-wrapped package into her hand. “Mother, your midday meal. Just one portion—only enough for you.”
“From now on, you’ll get one portion for lunch and dinner each—whatever we eat, you’ll eat. But if you share it with others and end up hungry yourself, don’t come complaining to me. I’m relying on my wife to support me now, and this portion for you is taken from my own rations!”
The Old Madam nearly fainted from fury…
This wretched son of hers—ever since he woke up from his fainting spell, he hadn’t fought with the Nie family anymore, but his behavior was becoming increasingly unreliable.
Just as she gathered her breath to scold him, someone seated at the periphery exclaimed, “A horse is coming!”
Xin Nian and the others were opening a small jar of pickles to spread on their flatbread when they looked up and saw a woman in red leap gracefully from her horse and stride briskly toward the main family’s group.
“Eldest Sister?” Xin Ruoyu stared in shock, nearly dropping the half-piece of coarse rice cake in her hand.
The Old Madam gaped in astonishment. “Wanqing? What are you doing here?”
Xin Wanqing, carrying a bundle on her back, hurried to Yu Shi and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Grandmother, Mother.”
Madam Nie wept openly at the sight of her eldest daughter arriving travel-worn, her heart sinking with growing dread. “Child, why have you come?”
Xin Wenan exploded in rage. “Why even ask? It must be that the Pingyang Marquis’s Residence has shown its true colors and driven Qing’er out!”
Nie Shi covered her mouth with her fist and immediately burst into tears, “My poor child.”
Old Madam trembled with agitation, “Wanqing, tell your grandmother what exactly has happened.”