Inside the mule cart, Xi Weilan sat down quietly and began to eat her meal, soon eating until grease ran down her chin.
Xi Qingyue refused to put herself through hardship; anyway, inside the cart no one could see what they were eating, and with so many people dead nearby, no one who wanted to stay alive would come near their mule cart.
On the small table were braised chicken with potatoes, steamed fish, red-braised pork, and spicy sour cabbage, plus mung bean soup to cool off in the heat.
Xi Weilan ate two large bowls of rice and drank a bowl of soup before setting down her bowl and patting her belly. “Big Sister, I’m full.”
Xi Qingyue nodded gently. “Mm, I’ll take you to the room to rest. Just call for me when you want to come out.”
“Big Sister, what about you? You can’t rest if you’re alone. What if more bad people show up?” Xi Weilan shook her head; she had to stay in the cart and take turns resting with her sister.
Xi Qingyue touched her head and said softly, “It’s fine. I’m not sleepy. I’ll rest a little. You have to trust your Big Sister—even if bad guys come, they can’t beat me.”
“Alright, but if you can’t handle them, remember to call me.”
Seeing her nod, Xi Qingyue sent her straight to the bed in the space to rest.
She herself lay down in the cart to doze, keeping her eyes closed. If anyone outside tried to launch a surprise attack, they’d have to get past Step Wind first—an angry mule could be deadly.
Outside the mule cart, more people gradually arrived to rest nearby. These newcomers didn’t know about her killings because the white-clad woman’s subordinates had thrown the bodies into the mountains for disposal; the weather was too hot to leave corpses lying around.
Xi Qingyue didn’t yet know the white-clad woman’s identity, but she realized she must be from an aristocratic family—perhaps even more noble than that.
She had no interest in prying into others’ secrets and didn’t want to get involved.
She rested only half an hour before continuing on her way. To her surprise, the white-clad woman and her group also stayed put.
The mule cart ambled along, moving about as fast as the oxcarts ahead. It probably wouldn’t travel far in a day, and they definitely couldn’t reach Liang City by tonight.
On the road, refugees trudged along with bundles on their backs, supporting the elderly and pulling children; from time to time, children’s crying drifted through the air.
Suddenly, a commotion came from ahead—chatter and a woman’s sobbing.
“I won’t sell, I can eat less! Just don’t sell the child—I can manage with just one meal a day.”
The woman clung stubbornly to the child in her arms, refusing to let go, while a scruffy-bearded man cursed her loudly. Beside them, another man urged impatiently, “Are you selling or not? If not, I’m leaving.”
Finally, the bearded man snapped back grumpily, “Not selling.”
“If you weren’t, you should’ve said so sooner. What a waste of my time.” The man cursed and walked off without pressing further.
Though the bearded man had wanted to sell the child, he still felt some reluctance. For now, he still had food, so he dropped the idea.
The woman sighed in relief, while the child in her arms still clung tightly to her neck, afraid the man might change his mind.
Watching this, Xi Qingyue felt a pang of sorrow. They wouldn’t sell this time, but what about next time? Once that thought takes root, it’s hard to stifle—it’s only a matter of time.
As she observed others, someone was also eyeing her mule cart. A small group huddled together, whispering about stealing her cart that night and tying her up to sell her for food.
Xi Qingyue sat at the front of the cart, her face darkening. Was she the only one with a cart? Why were they singling her out for trouble? Did she have “easy target” written on her face?
Up ahead, she spotted a convoy of horse-drawn carts that looked like a merchant’s caravan, yet she heard no one plotting to rob them. They were just bullying her for being young.
Just as her rage was boiling over, she heard Xi Weilan’s voice from inside the space: “Big Sister, I want to come out.”
She focused her mind, and Xi Weilan appeared inside the carriage. The next moment, Xi Weilan grabbed a water skin, lifted the curtain, and poked out her little head. “Big Sister, have some water.”
It was water from the spirit spring she had just filled—perfect for quenching thirst.
Xi Qingyue took it and drank. After finishing, she handed the water skin back.
Drinking the spirit spring water refreshed her instantly, sweeping away her earlier irritability. She stopped being angry—after all, she could just kill a few more troublemakers.
“Big Sister, why don’t you come in and rest a while? I’ll drive the cart,” Xi Weilan said cheerfully, feeling full of energy. She didn’t go out on her own but sought her sister’s permission.
Xi Qingyue smiled slightly. “Alright, come on out.”
Her driving was just for show anyway. Step Wind knew the way; when someone blocked the road ahead, it stopped on its own, full of intuition.
Since they’d be watched regardless of whether Xi Weilan showed herself, it didn’t matter. Anyone with wrong ideas or murderous intent—she’d just kill as many as came.
Hearing this, Xi Weilan happily left the carriage and sat down beside her. Xi Qingyue returned inside the carriage.
She took out a small chilled watermelon, cut it in half, scooped up one half with a spoon, and ate it—the cool, sweet refreshment lifted her spirits.
Outside the mule cart, Xi Weilan drove with an air of competence, surprising many bystanders again.
Her round, chubby face and neat, clean pink dress set her apart from the refugees on the road—even the clothes of those in the merchant convoy ahead weren’t so spotless.
People walking along were bored anyway, tired but still able to talk, and soon they were chattering all at once.
“A two- or three-year-old baby driving a cart? Whose kid is this?”
“Look at that little face—this doesn’t look like a refugee fleeing famine. It’s more like some young lady out slumming.”
“How is that possible? Don’t you see there’s no one else around? Young ladies always have guards.”
The white-clad woman walking ahead heard the chatter too. She glanced back and realized they were talking about Xi Weilan.
She wondered inwardly: it was already bold enough letting an eight-year-old drive, but now a three-year-old? What was going on?
“Mistress, do you think they’re just switching off because they’re tired from driving?” Luo Ling, walking beside the white-clad woman, guessed.
The woman shook her head. “I don’t know. Let them be. If those two children were ordinary people, you could chop my head off and I’d accept it.”
“Mistress, you’re joking. Your head is far too precious for that.”
At this, the woman gave a self-mocking smile. “Precious? Abandoned by my father, threatened by my elder brother, betrayed by my younger brother, and hunted all along the way. If this is precious, then I’d rather not have it.”
“I’m sorry, Mistress. I didn’t mean it.” Luo Ling realized she had misspoken and inwardly cursed her loose tongue.
The woman shook her head gently. “Don’t blame yourself. I was just rambling. I’m not even as free and easy as those two children.”
With that, she looked at Xi Weilan, who was joyfully driving the cart, and suddenly felt a twinge of envy.
Inside the mule cart, Xi Qingyue was leisurely eating watermelon. Though she was inside, she used her abilities to eavesdrop on conversations along the road. Her original intent was to find out who wanted to harm her and her sister, but instead she overheard the mistress and servant’s exchange.
This is really some juicy gossip—quite fitting for the moment.
