“Behind us.”

“How far away can you tell they are?” Michael Bolton asked anxiously.

Caleb was at a loss, his vacant gaze drifting into the dense night behind them. Suddenly, he distinguished the sound of hooves mixed with dull thuds, as if striking stone, and his heart stirred. He said, “They’re crossing the stone bridge.”

Adam Carter and Michael Bolton both turned pale with fright. Since nightfall, this group of refugees had trudged barely more than twenty li, and by now were utterly exhausted. Hearing that the ghost riders of Qingzhou would arrive at any moment, the timid felt their legs go weak, and even taking a single step was a struggle, let alone outrunning swift horses. How could this group possibly escape with their lives? Adam Carter couldn’t help but grow anxious.

Adam Carter said, “Let’s turn into the mountains and wait for them to pass, then make for Bayang City. I doubt those defeated soldiers would dare linger in Bayang.”

“It seems that’s our only option. Let’s hope they’re even more desperate to flee than we are, and have no mind to bother with us.”

Hearing their discussion, Caleb suddenly recalled a trick he used to hide while playing, and hurriedly shared it: “Why don’t we have the wagon follow behind the group and cover our tracks with branches?”

“Excellent. Let’s walk along the road for a while, then turn into the mountains. Even if the Qingzhou ghost riders come searching, they’ll only look in the mountains where our tracks disappear. How could they know there’s someone as clever as Gengsu among us?” Hearing this, Caleb was delighted, though his face flushed bright red. Michael Bolton laughed heartily, stood at the front of the wagon, and explained the plan to everyone, instructing them to act accordingly. Seeing that Michael Bolton’s voice was calm and unhurried, the group’s nerves settled somewhat, and they found a sudden burst of energy for their escape, moving even faster than before. Caleb sat at the front of the wagon, constantly listening for the Qingzhou ghost riders, not daring to relax for a moment. Michael Bolton would ask for updates every so often. The children in the wagon would occasionally poke their heads out to check the situation, only to be scolded back inside by Michael Bolton. Hearing this, Caleb felt proud that everyone was relying on him, and the earlier discomfort in the wagon was forgotten.

After traveling another four or five li, Caleb heard the hoofbeats as if right beside his ear, and guessed the Qingzhou ghost riders were very close. He quickly informed his father and Michael. Michael Bolton instructed everyone to cover their mouths and quietly head into the mountains to the left. The wagon followed, and Adam Carter leaned out from the back, using a large branch wrapped in clothing to sweep away the messy tracks. The faint traces left behind were soon covered by the falling snow. The refugees fled into the mountains, and before long, they could faintly hear the urgent hoofbeats arriving on the main road. Listening closely, the hurried hoofbeats sounded panicked and anxious. Michael Bolton told everyone to stop moving, lest the Qingzhou ghost riders pick up on any clues. Before long, the oppressive sound of hooves faded into the distance, and only then did everyone realize they were drenched in cold sweat, shivering in the wind.

Adam Carter brushed the snow from his clothes and told Caleb in the wagon to share the remaining strong liquor with everyone to ward off the cold.

Michael objected, “No, you and your son have already done so much for us. How can we take the last of Gengsu’s liquor, which he needs to fight off the chill?”

“We’ll reach Bayang City in a day or so. You can buy more then. Caleb will be fine for now.”

“Uncle Michael, I can handle it. Please give the liquor to everyone.”

If it were daylight, Michael would have noticed that Caleb’s lips were already bruised and bleeding. Caleb had been fleeing with the group, constantly on edge since hearing the hoofbeats, listening for the Qingzhou ghost riders, and hadn’t taken a single sip of liquor to keep warm. Now that he relaxed, the true cold of the Danfu’s Yin Art surged like a rolling snowball, and in an instant, his Danfu felt as if it were filled with stabbing ice. Though the stray cold that seeped into his limbs would melt instantly upon meeting the Yang Art’s true fire, the chill in his Danfu was the most real and intense, growing ever purer and sapping his vitality. Caleb thought to himself, a man must keep his word, and he would not let his father take back his promise in front of everyone. He also thought, if you help others, you should go all the way, and not keep any for yourself. So he took out all the liquor and let his father share it among the group. Adam Carter had no idea what Caleb was thinking, assuming he had kept some for himself, and together with Michael Bolton, urged everyone to finish the two jars of liquor before returning to the main road to continue their escape toward Bayang City.

Chapter Two: The Qingzhou Ghost Riders

By the time the group reached Xiao Qingshan, dawn had broken.

In the distance, they could see the city’s flagpoles rising on the eastern horizon, and half their worries were eased. The excitement that followed spurred everyone to quicken their pace, hoping to reach the city, have a bowl of hot noodle soup, and then sleep soundly in a sunny corner by some wall.

As they drew closer, they could see the withered wild grass atop the city walls, the sparse treetops peeking from within, and the orange-red morning sun shining above the branches.

Caleb, chilled all night, hadn’t been able to sleep as soundly as the other five children in the wagon, and was now utterly exhausted. He carefully avoided the sleeping children and moved to the front of the wagon.

Before him: snow blanketed the mountains and rivers, a world of silver and jade, trees and flowers sparkling like crystal. The sight lifted his spirits. But the refugees had no heart to admire the scenery, each one trudging along with heads bowed, shivering and struggling. Caleb was suddenly overcome with sorrow, tears falling silently as he cried out, “How bitter this is.”