Injured bodies stretched across the soft soil.
In the heat of the raging flame, their pale skin was lit with a warm hue, casting fluttering shadows across the ground.
Dawn stood above the people, the scent of iron assailing her nose.
There were over a dozen who suffered minor wounds, and another two dozen who suffered burn wounds.
With close to forty injured, the white bedding which they lay upon was dyed red.
A few mortal Medical Experts were moving between the injured. Cleaning their injuries, replacing soaked bandages with clean ones.
Dawn sighed as she looked over this grim site.
It was a familiar sight, but it did not carry the same undertones of 'giving up' or 'hopelessness' as the memory she reminisced upon.
'We have greater strength than before. We don't have to leave these people behind... like before.'
Looking around, Dawn saw a convoy of horse-drawn and oxen-drawn carriages.
There were some even drawn by tigers or bears.
This scene reminded her of the other beasts Iron Mount Quarry Settlement tried to herd and contain.
Their plan to relocate the sane beasts of the Third Tide was ruined.
Due to the Demonic Cultivator's sudden attack and the abrupt decision to evacuate the people, the beasts held in the artificial habitats are essentially being sacrificed.
'Despite how gruesome it is to think like that, it is very... helpful... in our situation.'
It was yet another familiar idea, one that Selene had proposed to her.
Sacrificing the injured to buy the capable more time to flee.
That is what it could be summed up to.
However, in this case, beasts with no ability to flee are being sacrificed. Beasts trapped in artificial habitats can draw the beasts of the Third Tide's attention.
Of course, that did not leave any better taste in Dawn's mouth.
It was not a matter of weighing lives against one another, but a matter of taking away that choice from others.
With those thoughts, she tilts her head back to look up at Night's sky. Dawn quietly exclaimed to the air...
"How cruel..."
But she couldn't dwell on those solemn thoughts for too long.
Shaking her head clear of unnecessary thoughts, Dawn sighed as she turned to an approaching carriage.
A man jumped off and hurriedly greeted Dawn.
"Lady Dawn! We have brought a carriage over for the injured. This one can only hold five people comfortably, but we have more soon to arrive."
"Understood. Make sure to secure the largest carriages for these injured. Do not worry if there are not enough carriages to accommodate the injured; we crowd the rest in with each other."
With a curt nod, the man took off.
Their exchange was short, not out of rudeness, but the slight panic caused by this situation.
This man was only one of the many people who were similarly panicked.
Hurriedly running around to prepare the people and the convoy to move.
Dawn also did not hesitate to move, either.
She and the other Medical Experts began to prepare the carriages.
First, they packed the interior of the carriage with clean, white bedding, then Dawn placed a Dao Art Medium inside to keep and air clean.
This way, the stench of blood won't permeate through the convoy and draw ill intent.
It was also for the comfort of the injured.
After the interior was prepared, Dawn and the Medical Experts began to move the injured into the carriage.
There was enough space for five, but they could stuff an extra two or three if needed.
After the first carriage was fully prepared, the second carriage came soon after, and the process was repeated.
...
After roughly half an hour, a total of six carriages were prepared, which was short of housing every injured person comfortably, but still enough to stuff every injured person into a carriage.
Every other carriage was occupied.
Some were loaded with people. Of course, luxury could not be afforded, so these carriages were similarly cramped.
Dawn herself was sharing a carriage with Heart Tethering Maiden and a few other female Cultivators.
Silver Extreme was the only one who occupied a carriage alone, but was supposed to be guarded by Cultivators and Mortal Warriors.
But not everyone had a carriage.
Most Cultivators and Mortal Warriors would follow the convoy on foot, periodically rotating shifts with one another.
In total, this convoy had eighteen carriages, enough to accommodate the injured and the denizens of Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement, as well as other resources.
Dawn breathed out turbid air as she surveyed the surroundings.
It was at this moment when Heart Tethering Maiden had approached Dawn.
"Maiden, is the discussion with Senior Silver finished?"
"Yes. We have decided to proceed to Union Settlement to meet with the other subsidiary Mortal Settlements of Union."
"Is that so? Then what of our path?"
"We are taking the safest route, albeit it is the longest route. The journey will span over eleven nights, and our only concerns will be the environments. However, with Silver's guidance, we will surely be okay."
"That is reassuring to hear. What about Senior Silver's condition? Will he be recovering along the way?"
"Yes, he will dedicate himself to recovering his Qi Core that he detonated. Also..."
There was a subtle emotion in the Maiden's eyes as she looked at Dawn.
"He wished to meet with you sometime throughout the journey... alone. But I advised him to spend this time recovering, so do not expect his invitation for some time."
"I understand...?"
Heart Tethering Maiden's eyes fluttered shut for a moment as she sighed, then turned to face the small encampment of tents, which were being packed and stored away.
"We intend to depart in an hour; do be ready to depart by then, too."
"Of course, do you have other matters to tend to, Maiden?"
"Few. I must ensure that our Convoy is battle-ready."
Saying so, she spared Dawn a curt bow before leaving.
This one laced with different emotions than panic.
Dawn simply overlooked this.
...