After showing her household registration book and paying ten taels she was allowed Inside.The city was a bustling frontier city before the exile border with merchants and their wares spread around. People moved on with their day and children ran around. Time was limited so she had to hurry up. She stopped by a cloth shop and bought a pair of neat clothes before stepping outside and beginning a shopping spree.
She made her way to the blacksmith shop and ordered iron hardware, bulk nails, hinges, axes, saw, brackets for building a house. A total of 30 taels was spent. Next was to buy a carriage. She ducked into an alley and brought out the cart she had hidden and drove to a cart shop and sold it for fifty taels. With the money on hand, she continued on her way. A new carriage was needed. A two horse team bred for cold with a solid enclosed wooden carriage and enforced iron axles to handle the rocky, unpaved roads. And a thick linen to block harsh winds and avoid the kids getting cold inside the carriage.
Choosing a satisfactory one, she bought a brazier for the cold and paid. It was all a total of seventy tales. The merchant wore a blooming smile as he ushered her off. With her male clothes as disguise, no one could tell her real gender. She pulled her mask higher and rode off. Next was cotton clothes. Thick padded cotton robes and durable wolf fur cloaks were bought, enough for everyone. Bai Ling couldn't finish the clothes quickly, so she brought already made clothes for everyone to wear till the clothes were done. Adding knitting materials and some fancy yarns for embroidery, it was a total of 30 tales after bargaining with the boss who gave her a discount.
Next was the grain store. She bought three sacks of coarse flour as a decoy, dried corn, and some pickled vegetables with some cheap liquor on the carriage. The real food was to be stored in the space. Eggs, chicks, vegetable seeds, some coarse salt as decoy, brown sugar, and beeswax for oil. Then smokeless high grade charcoal were bought. Next was medicine. Herbs were bought in bulk as well as different medicinal seed.
She moved to the butcher shop and bought all the meats he had for 25 taels. Loading everything in the carriage which was then transferred to her space leaving only a handful of things which would serve as a decoy if she wanted to take out things. Then vegetables from cabbage and winter melons were added. After making sure nothing was forgotten, she went back to the blacksmith shop and took her orders after paying. While looking around, she saw a beautiful and magnificent sword on the shelf. Her first thought was, 'this would best fit Mu Wei'.
After inquiring the price, she took the sword and a crossbow and some arrows. Thinking of the other men with them, she bought a dagger and a twin blades for them. Spending a total of 100 taels. Before leaving, the blacksmith gave her a butcher knife as a gift and she happily left. She made her way to an alley and hid the carriage, successfully making her way out of the city. After finding a deserted area, she took out the carriage and rode back to the group.
Even though it was flashy, it was the only way to avoid suspicion if it suddenly appears at the Northern wilderness. The kids excitedly ran to her touching the carriage and chattering about. She responded with a smile and answered their questions gently and patiently. After getting them into the carriage, she threw the sheathed sword to Mu Wei who caught it. He unsheathed the sword and was stunned to see the magnificent sword.
"I knew it would suit you"
Unable to contain himself, he hugged her tightly to express his gratitude. With a weapon, he felt more assured protecting his family. The past few days of being unable to help made him anxious like an ant on a hot pan. After releasing her, she gave the dagger to Shi Dong. The twin blades were then handed to the twins who gratefully accepted them. Su Xiao smiled and patted their shoulders,
"No need to thank me. Protect my kids and yourselves for me and that's enough for me"
Understanding the underlying meaning, their expression turned somber and they nodded solemnly. After waiting for thirty minutes, everyone finally gathered. The group continued on their way. Three hours later, they reached the Northern Pass where they checked in. Just as they were walking, a wave arrow rained down on them. Reacting immediately, they took cover and shielded the kids in the carriage.
Mu Wei deflected those coming at them with the sword. Those who doesn't react quickly fall to the ground and panic ensured. Wails and screams rang out as people scrambled for their lives. Lu Tui and Lu Dan immediately face the assassin from their side and a battle begins. Mu Wei took three guards down immediately and rushed into their formation, disarming it. Shi Dong shielded the carriage to avoid anyone getting close the the kids.
Su Xiao leaped on a nearby tree and notches her arrows. With her knowledge of wind resistance and trajectory, she aims like a sniper. Three arrows fired simultaneously hits three assassins on a roof in their head, throat and eye and the drop dead. Within minutes, pile of dead bodies were piling on the ground till she took out those with arrows. The brothers were covered in blood and various cuts. Mu Wei was surrounded by five assassins, seeing that he was still holding his ground she couldn't help but remember his title before the exile.
'Indeed a warlord'
She leaped down and joined the fight. She heard scream from sister Bai and saw Shi Dong slashed on the shoulder. Swiftly turning to them, she goes full close combat mode. Redirecting his knife aimed at her, she brutally used a devastating elbow strike and shatters his jaw before driving the knife into his throat. Examining the would on Shi Dong's shoulder, she was relieved it wasn't poisoned.
"It's a bit deep. Can you hold on till we're out of here?"
"Yes ma'am"
With his assurance she threw herself back into the battle acting as an assistant for anyone overwhelmed. With her help and cooperation, the assassin were wiped out. Looking at the bodies, it was obvious it was almost seventy assassin.
"They really hold you in high regard, husband"
Mu Wei couldn't help his mouth from twitching despite the serious situation. He looked at her as she calmly retrieves her reusable arrows from the dead bodies with a mix of intense pride and awe.