"Everyone gather together"
Su Xiao opened her eyes and stretched at the voice of the ballifs gathering people together. The children were still fast asleep and showing no signs of waking up. She couldn't help feeling amused at how relaxed they were despite the noises.
She looked at the spot Mu Wei was sitting and noticed he was already out. Probably to make plans with the chief on how to prepare for the night. She took this opportunity to observe their surroundings and make a plan. The forest was dense and quiet with nothing but trees in sight. She reckoned that there must be treasures in those forest.
When she found a safe spot for them to stay, she would sneak into those forest to hunt for forest treasures. She walked to the other cart and knocked. Soon Bai Ling opened the curtains looking drowsy. Seeing her, she became sober instantly,
"Xiao'er, do you need something?"
"Sister Bai, could you help me stay with kids. I need to go to the outhouse?"
"Sure. You can go do your thing, I will surely take care of them. My man went out with Boss Wei so I can just go into the cart"
"Alright. Thank you sister Bai"
"You're being too formal with me"
With the assurance, she went into the bush to do her thing. After looking around and spotting no one, she flashed into her space. They dried goods were neatly arranged by the corner. She walked to the stocked supplies and took two bottles of water to quench her thirst. After that, she took out some cooked rice and roasted duck with an egg and ate. With an apple juice to wash it down, she burped satisfied.
She rested for some minutes before coming out. She walked a little further from her position into the forest. At first it was all trees and leaves and she felt disappointed. Since there was nothing in sight, she turned to leave planning to explore other places later. Getting back to their cart, she noticed everyone was gathered at the spot and ready to move. She walked to the spot and listened to what was being said.
"We have to begin moving. I know everyone is still recovering from what happened but we should be happy too. Luckily, we were able to come out unscathed so we need to move on. We will find a place to stay before night fall to avoid being food for wild animals"
Everyone grumbled. With no choice, they could only start packing all their salvaged belongings and start moving. The thought of escaping death to enter another trouble filled them with despair and the were all listless. Lu Dan instructed the junior ballifs to count the remaining people and he found it to be only hundred which was a significant loss.
You should know they were three hundred people when he began escorting them. But now they had decreased to a staggering amount of hundred despite not reaching their destination. Mu Wei came back after exchanging words briefly with the chief. He walked to their cart,
"We can start moving now"
"Is everything clear?"
"Yes. We need to find a cave to stay before nightfall"
"The mist surrounds here at night?
"Yes"
"Then let's start moving"
Everyone got on the cart and began moving along with the other exiles. Since they were tired, they moved more slowly. It was already one in the afternoon but the forest remained humid and silent. The eerie environment gave them chills and they felt like they were been stared at by a hungry wolf. A little boy huddled closer to his mother and whispered,
"Mother, I'm scared"
"Mother is here. I will protect you"
The woman hugged her son tighter and continued walking. Their conversation drifted into Su Xiao's ears and she remembered memories of her childhood. Her parents had divorced early, shoving her to her grandparents. She grew up with her grandparents who taught her everything she knew about medicine and martial arts. Her parents never once visited her after their divorce and lived their lives happily.
She remembered seeing them with their kids at amusement parks and shopping malls smiling happily and she would always feel jealous. As she grew she no longer felt anything and didn't expect anything. Her grandmother had died of an illness and that was when her mother had visited last but couldn't even recognize her. She still remembered her asking her grandfather,
"Who is she father?
"Your daughter"
Her grandfather had crudely replied and she felt embarrassed. After the burial, she had flown out immediately. Then her grandfather died leaving all his properties with her. Luckily she was able to cremate him before the apocalypse descended, she sold the properties except their house and stocked up supplies which saves her till death. Now, she had become a mother and understood how far a mother's love could go.
She was ready to risk everything for them because they were her children and she loved them. Putting aside her thoughts, she opened the curtains and jumped down from the cart and walked. She reached the Coachman seat where Mu Wei was seated and whispered to him,
"I need to check something ahead, I will be back"
"Okay. Be careful and come back early"
"Hm"
She swagged to the front and passed the ballifs and soon her figure disappeared into the forest. Su Xiao observed the terrain as she walked, there were steep holes along the road and she narrowly escaped falling down. She continued walking, clearing her path with the machete she took out from her space. She walked for a while before spotting a cave which was covered in vines and weeds. She immediately began clearing the entrance with her machete.
She also cleared the path around it before going in. She walked inside and noticed it was cold and large. It looked more like a maze inside with different turns. As she walked further she noticed a hidden mechanism and her gaze turned serious. This was certainly no ordinary cave. She took out a flashlight and touched the mechanism and a secret door appeared. She hasn't even noticed the door which showed how meticulous the builders were.
She entered the door and looked around and was instantly stunned. It was actually a tomb. She couldn't believe how she managed to stumble on a tomb just by looking for a cave. She walked to the tomb and read the inscription on it. It read
'IN MEMORY OF GENERAL WEI'
General Wei? Wasn't that Mu Wei's name? And why would a general be buried in an abandoned forest with no history of him? Everything seemed suspicious so she didn't touch the tomb and walked away. Just as she was about to leave the room, she accidentally stepped on another mechanism on the floor and hidden arrows shot out nearly injuring her. Without thinking, she immediately hid in her space and waited.
After 20 minutes she came out. Arrows were lying on the floor. She picked one and inspected it. To her surprise, it was coated with deadly poison which could kill someone within a minute. She picked five and stored it in her space planning to study it later. She walked further inside and noticed another door and cautiously opened it. The sight inside left her dumbfounded.