"No," Han Fei said softly, but the sweat on his forehead told a different story.
Bo Xi didn't argue.
She simply gestured to one of the men nearby. "Fan him."
The guard immediately stepped forward, using a wide cloth to move the heavy air around Han Fei. Only then did the tightness in Bo Xi's expression ease slightly.
Around them, the camp settled quickly.
Tents were raised with practiced speed, fires crackled to life, and the smell of cooking food slowly spread through the air. The refugee women who had approached earlier had already returned to their group, their figures blending back into the shadows of the night.
Some distance away, the other refugee groups whispered among themselves, their eyes occasionally flicking toward the well-organized caravan. They ate sparingly, clutching their food as if afraid it might be taken away.
The river still flowed nearby, its soft sound almost soothing.
For now, water was not a problem.
But no one was foolish enough to feel at ease.
No one knew how long it would last.
—
Bo Xi sat quietly, her thoughts deeper than her calm expression showed.
Over the past days, whenever they passed rivers or lakes, she had been quietly storing water in her space along with grains, dried food, and anything else she could preserve.
Enough to last years.
Inside that hidden space, crops grew steadily. Fruits, vegetables, and even qi-infused plants thrive in a controlled environment untouched by the chaos outside.
She had prepared.
Not just for this journey,
But for what came after.
Because this… this was only the beginning.
If the summer continued like this, the rains might come in overwhelming floods.
And winter?
It could be far harsher than before.
A cycle of disasters.
Bo Xi's eyes darkened slightly.
She had seen enough signs.
—
Her thoughts shifted to something else.
The guards are escorting her.
They were not ordinary hired protection.
They were part of an army, one that had once belonged to her mother.
A mother she had never even met.
Five thousand soldiers.
And now, that power was being placed into her hands.
A temporary barracks had already been established in the south.
More troops would likely join.
Bo Xi's fingers tapped lightly against her knee.
Her aunt's intentions were becoming clearer.
This was not simple protection.
It was preparation.
Preparation for war.
Otherwise… why give her command?
—
Dinner ended quickly.
No one lingered.
The guards rotated shifts, some resting while others took their positions, eyes scanning the dark beyond the firelight.
Bo Xi returned to the carriage.
She pulled the curtains shut, blocking out the flickering glow of the fires outside. The enclosed space felt slightly cooler, quieter.
As soon as she lay down, Han Fei moved closer, wrapping his arms around her instinctively.
Bo Xi smiled faintly, placing a hand over his.
"What's the matter?" she asked gently.
Han Fei didn't answer immediately.
For a moment, he just held onto her a little tighter.
"…Nothing," he said at last, though his voice was softer than usual.
But Bo Xi could feel it.
The unease.
The fear he didn't voice.
Bo Xi's hand moved slowly, resting against his back as she gently rubbed it.
"I'm here," she said quietly.
No promises.
No grand words.
Just something simple.
But enough.
Han Fei felt that ever since becoming pregnant, his heart had softened more and more.
As he looked at the refuge before him, memories of the past surfaced in his mind. Once, he had been just like those people, desperate, exhausted, and struggling to survive day by day.
To him, Bo Xi had been like a lifeline pulled out in the middle of a storm.
Han Fei lowered his eyes slightly, an unfamiliar insecurity rising within him.
Only when he was holding Bo Xi did he feel a little calmer, as if the uneasiness inside his chest could finally settle.
When he had first been reborn, he truly believed he would not care if Bo Xi took concubines or even found other men. At that time, he thought none of it would matter to him.
But now, merely imagining such a scene made his heart ache painfully.
The thought alone was enough to make him feel as if he could go mad.
Bo Xi seemed to sense that something was wrong. However, he did not push Han Fei to explain what was troubling him. Instead, he simply wrapped his arms around him and held him quietly.
The summer heat was unbearable, making the air heavy and suffocating. Yet Bo Xi, who cultivated Qi, subtly used a small portion of his power to cool the area around them.
A gentle breeze seemed to surround the two of them, easing the oppressive heat.
Han Fei relaxed little by little in Bo Xi's embrace. Listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat, the anxiety in his chest gradually faded.
Before long, both of them fell asleep in each other's arms.
In the village—
The situation had become increasingly chaotic.
Mother Han was filled with regret day and night. If only she had not hesitated back then. If only she had agreed sooner.
Perhaps things would not have turned out like this.
Father Han remained mostly silent, but the exhaustion on his face grew more obvious with each passing day.
More and more refugees had begun arriving near the village. They came in ragged groups, carrying children and broken belongings, their faces thin from hunger and thirst. Some had even attempted to snatch food from the villagers out of desperation.
A few villagers had already been attacked.
Fortunately, the village chief reacted quickly and gathered the stronger villagers to drive the refugees away before things worsened further.
Still, everyone understood that this peace would not last long.
Han Village had already decided to merge with Li Village within the next few days. After that, the combined villagers planned to move elsewhere in search of safer land and water.
The situation had deteriorated far too quickly.
The water in the wells was decreasing day by day, and the once-green crops were drying beneath the scorching heat. Large patches of farmland had already withered completely, leaving the villagers anxious and restless.
Nowadays, whenever the villagers looked at the Han Family, their gazes carried faint mockery and ridicule.
After all, everyone knew that the Han Family had once had the chance to leave with their capable daughter-in-law and Han Fei. Yet they had refused.
Now, they could only remain behind and suffer alongside everyone else.
Father Han merely let out a tired sigh as he packed their belongings together with Han Bei.
The atmosphere inside the house felt heavy and oppressive.
Meanwhile, Han Li slept soundly in the corner without a care in the world, completely unaware of the tension surrounding the family.
Looking at him, Father Han felt both helpless and frustrated.
For some reason, he had long felt that after getting married, Han Fei had slowly distanced himself from them. At first, he believed it was only because Han Fei was adapting to married life.
But now, thinking carefully about it, perhaps his son's heart had already drifted away long ago.
If only they had chosen to leave with them back then.
Father Han clenched his jaw slightly, unable to suppress the regret in his heart any longer.
"Look at us now," he muttered bitterly. "If only we had gone with our daughter-in-law. They had escorts and connections. Life would have been much easier for us."
Mother Han didn't say anything.
She just took out her pipe and started smoking.
Their situation was slightly better as Bo Xi had left some food, water, and silver.
The silvers had been exchanged for food. The food price has been raised crazily.
The ox was sold. They couldn't afford to look richer.
Now, they just have two egg-laying hens.