"How could this be...?"
The third night since leaving Thin Stream Valley had already passed by, but the convoy had yet to reach Blue Grass Mountain within the planned time frame.
Assault after assault... throughout the land between Thin Stream Valley and Blue Grass Mountain, the countless beast groups they encountered all bore their fangs.
Whether they be as small as rabbits or as large as bears, each group relentlessly chased and attacked the convoy.
There were also numerous landslides and minor natural disasters. Some were the cause of the weather, others were the cause of beasts.
This odd cunningness demanded both Warrior of Spring and Call of Winter's attentions, having finally sensed the oddities of their situation.
It was only at this point that the situation was finally quelled, now that the two State Cultivators took action.
"Move the casualties to the backmost carriages, make sure to keep them separated from the resources, bring those who are injured to the middlemost carriages and those who are incapable of walking long distances to the front..."
"Warriors and Cultivators, as well as those who are capable, will all need to travel alongside the convoy on foot, spare room for those in need..."
With a sigh, Warrior of Spring spread his tense message through everyone's minds.
The Settlement Lord looked over his people solemnly.
"If it comes down to it... We may have no choice but to leave the corpses..."
"You would say such a thing, Lord?!"
Warrior of Spring was not so much enraged or distraught, but shocked at the bluntness.
"I have learned long ago that there is no point in upholding such sentimentalities, especially regarding such a dire situation, where everyone's lives are on the line."
"I understand... But, is that truly fine?"
"If we can make it to Blue Grass Mountain, then I'd like to bury them somewhere on the slope... lest we are forced to leave them behind on the way there..."
"Then... if that is your wish, and the people's, too, I will see that these people can receive a proper burial at Blue Grass Mountain."
A thankful smile curved Corpse Mountain's Settlement Lord's lips.
"Brother, Lord."
Gliding in their direction from behind was Call of Winter.
She landed upon the ground with grace, but her expression carried a hint of seriousness and tension.
"Sister Winter, what is the matter? You will only ruin your brow should you keep it furrowed like that."
"Hah... quit it with the jokes. You understand why I am here, correct?"
"Well, it is undoubtedly about the casualties, right? Specifically, the violent situation that caused this situation, correct?"
"Indeed. Not only have the beasts been showing odd behaviour, even scheming in some instances, but this behaviour only stopped when we started to take action."
"Yes... yes... I noticed that, too. You understand what this implies?"
"We are being watched, followed by a Demonic Cultivator, and attacked while our guards are down."
The tension in the air thickened as Call of Winter quietly explained.
Violent beasts with no regard for hierarchy or self-preservation. Repeated natural disasters, some caused by the scheming of beasts.
This behaviour was not natural in beasts, unless a lifeform of high intelligence governed them.
The Settlement Lord listened and posed his own concerns.
"I can not say why they attack at random... if they were a Demonic Cultivator with bad intentions, why do they attack us so... timidly?"
"What do you mean, Lord?"
"If they wield these countless beasts, why have they not attacked with all their beasts at once?"
"Considering who they are insulting, Brother Spring and I will not remain idle as we had before. Such situations were beneath us... to put it bluntly... but with our suspicions aroused, we only decided to take action now."
Call of Winter posed her own reasonable argument, which the Settlement Lord caught on to.
"Ah... I see. They did not want to extract your attention so early on... but why would they try to pick off only a small number of my people? What is the purpose behind that?"
"We can not say anything with certainty. We can only anticipate the worst and stay vigilant."
Nodding sternly, Corpse Mountain's Settlement Lord turned to look at his people.
He could not discern why the fiend behind these relentless assaults was picking on his people.
Animosity was heavy in his eyes, but with nowhere—and no one—to direct it to, he simply closed his eyes and sighed.
...
Sun was helping the convoy relocate the wares and resources.
Corpses were stored in the backmost carriages, moving the crops and resources towards the middle, behind the injured people.
During the relocation process, he couldn't help but spare a few guilty glances towards those backmost carriages.
The heavy, sullen atmosphere that hung between families, the carriages' shaded embrace swallowing the people who had died during the assaults and disasters.
'If only I had been stronger.'
'If only I could fight off those beast groups.'
'If only I were able to prevent those disasters from striking.'
These kinds of thoughts were heavy on his mind, as were the bundle of bones in his hands.
They felt like a reminder of the weight of his failures.
Considering who he was supposed to be, the responsibility he held felt heavier and heavier.
He couldn't help but blame himself.
"Sun!"
Turning his head to the voice calling his name, Sun found Shade of Autumn waving at him from a distance.
He put his bundle of bones in a carriage of similar resources before making his way to Shade of Autumn.
"Autumn, what is the matter?"
"Nothing. I was wondering if you wanted to try using your new Dao Art—Height of Blossom—on the injured people of the convoy."
"Oh... I guess... I do not mind. What about my other matters?"
He gestured to the carriages in the back, which were being prepared for the accommodation of the corpses.
"We can delegate those matters to another. Also..."
Looking towards the front of the carriage, Call of Winter glided over to Sun and Shade of Autumn's position.
"I will be monitoring the rear of the convoy. Now that certain matters have arisen, I am appointing you and Sister Autumn to the middlemost of the convoy."