Hua Yuanshi's hands shook as she took the pills from the masked man, the bitter taste immediately stinging her tongue. She quickly handed one to Hua Yuexi, who swallowed it with a grimace before rubbing her mouth. "Ugh… I hate these things," Yuexi muttered, though her voice carried more fear than annoyance.
Yuanshi didn't have time to dwell on it. She dropped to her knees and scooped Ergu up from the floor. The boy stirred slightly, his small body limp against her chest, and she ran her fingers through his hair, checking him for injuries. His breathing was steady, thankfully. She pressed him closer, feeling the tension leave her shoulders just slightly.
Yuexi got up slowly, blood smeared at the corner of her mouth. She wiped it on her sleeve and let out a bitter laugh. "I told you, Yuanshi… every action has consequences. Now we've angered a big shot, and we're in deep trouble," she said, voice heavy with defeat.
Yuanshi gently laid Ergu on the bed and sank to the floor beside him. "I'm sorry, Yuexi," she said, her voice low but earnest. "I should have listened more. I… I underestimated them, the cultivators. I put you and Ergu in danger."
Yuexi exhaled sharply, running her fingers through her tangled hair. "I can't really blame you. You had our best interests at heart. But… what do we do now? Do we really spend the rest of our lives paying off a debt to someone that powerful?"
Yuanshi's hands clenched into fists. "No," she said firmly, her eyes hardening. "I promise we won't. I'll make sure we earn enough to repay them, but for now, we need to move. We're not safe here, not for another moment."
Yuexi hissed, a shiver running down her spine. "I just… I need this day to end," she said.
Yuanshi rubbed her temples, a headache already blossoming. "We'll make it through. Just keep moving," she muttered, lifting Ergu once more, his tiny arms draping over her shoulders as she carried him. Yuexi fell in step behind her, scanning the dim streets warily as the sisters made their way out of the inn and back toward the market.
By the time they reached the loading terminal, the cart was fully packed and the driver was pacing impatiently. "Finally! You women said you'd be on time! We were about to leave!" he barked, glancing at the dirt-streaked trio.
Yuanshi swallowed, setting Ergu gently onto her hip. "There was an emergency," she said, keeping her voice calm but tense.
The driver looked at them, Yuanshi's disheveled coat, Yuexi's bloodied mouth, Ergu's malnourished frame, and his expression softened. "And where's the fare?" he asked, pointing to the small pile of coins on the cart.
Yuexi reached into her robes, pulling out a single silver tael. Her hands trembled as she handed it to him. The driver took it eagerly, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, then, hop on. Stack yourselves on the hay. Mind the bumps," he warned as the sisters climbed aboard. For the first time that day, Yuanshi allowed herself a breath of relief.
The cart lurched forward, the wheels rattling over uneven cobblestones. Ergu nestled into her shoulder, eyes fluttering closed as the sisters swayed with the movement. Gradually, fatigue overtook them, and sleep crept in.
The cart rattled steadily along the dark road, the wooden wheels creaking as they rolled over uneven stones. Yuanshi had just begun to drift into an exhausted sleep when a sudden shout outside shattered the quiet.
"Stop the cart!"
The driver cursed loudly and yanked the reins. The horse snorted as the cart jerked to a halt.
Yuanshi's eyes snapped open.
Ergu stirred weakly against her chest.
Outside, the sound of boots approached quickly. Several men surrounded the cart, their footsteps light yet deliberate. Even before seeing them, Yuanshi felt the difference.
Cultivators.
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
A calm but authoritative voice spoke from outside.
"We are from the City Lord's residence. We are searching for the lady of the flying sword sect, Feng Min and her companion. Driver, open the cart."
The driver immediately climbed down, his voice nervous. "Honored sirs, this is only a food cart headed toward Yanjing City. There are no important people here."
"Open it," the voice repeated.
A moment later the wooden doors at the back of the cart were pulled open with a heavy creak.
Cold night air rushed in.
Yuanshi felt her breath catch as two men stood outside, their silhouettes framed by torchlight. Their robes were neat and their posture straight, the faint pressure of cultivation radiating from them like an invisible weight.
One of the men stepped forward and looked inside.
His gaze swept over the sacks of grain… the bundles of vegetables…
…and finally landed on the three figures sitting in the hay.
Yuanshi forced herself to lower her eyes immediately.
Her arms tightened around Ergu as she hunched her shoulders slightly, making herself appear smaller.
The man frowned slightly.
"You three," he said.
His voice was not loud, but it carried a natural authority.
"Who are you?"
Yuanshi slowly lifted her head, her expression nervous and tired. Dirt smudged her face and her clothes were wrinkled and plain. Yuexi sat beside her with her head lowered, one hand clutching the edge of her robe.
"We… we are just poor travelers, sir," Yuanshi said softly.
The cultivator's gaze sharpened.
"Travelers?"
His eyes moved over her clothing again, then to the small child in her arms.
"Where are you going?"
Yuanshi swallowed.
"I… I'm a widow, sir. My husband died last winter. There is nothing left for us in the village, so I'm taking my son to Yanjing City to look for work."
Ergu stirred weakly as if on cue.
Yuanshi gently pressed his head against her shoulder, her movements protective and careful.
Yuexi quickly lowered her head further.
"I'm her sister-in-law, sir," she added quietly.
"We could not afford the normal passenger carts… so the driver kindly allowed us to ride with the cargo."
The cultivator stared at them silently.
The torchlight flickered across his face.
Behind him, another man spoke.
"These do not look like cultivators."
"Mm," the first man replied.
But he did not leave.
Instead, he stepped slightly closer to the cart.
Yuanshi's heart began pounding harder.
She could feel the man's gaze examining everything.
Her clothes.
Her hands.
Her breathing.
Cultivators could sometimes sense spiritual energy.
If he sensed anything unusual—
But Yuanshi had none.
Only fear.
After a long moment, the man's gaze shifted toward Ergu again.
The child's thin arms clung weakly to Yuanshi's robe.
His small face looked pale from exhaustion.
The cultivator's expression finally softened slightly.
"…Just common people," he said.
He turned and waved his hand casually.
"Let them go."
The other men immediately stepped away from the cart.
Yuanshi nearly collapsed from relief but forced herself to stay still.
The cart doors were pushed closed again.
Outside, the driver hurried back onto his seat.
"Sorry about that, honored sirs! Sorry!"
The reins snapped and the cart began moving again.
Only when the sounds of the cultivators faded into the distance did Yuexi finally exhale shakily.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"…I thought we were finished."
Yuanshi's hands were still trembling.
She stroked Ergu's hair slowly, trying to calm her own racing heart.
"So did I."
The cart rattled forward through the darkness.
Behind them, the lights of the city slowly disappeared.
For the first time that night, Yuanshi allowed herself to breathe.
They had escaped.
But the memory of those cultivators' eyes lingered heavily in her mind.
They had been searching for someone.
And if they had looked just a little closer…
Tonight might have ended very differently.