Chapter 306 Heading North

The carriage traveled day and night, heading north.

The further north you go, the more monotonous and desolate the colors of the world become. The official road is gradually replaced by dirt road, and the villages and towns along the way become more and more dilapidated. A burnt smell permeates the air.

Jiang Huan sat in the carriage, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked out.

Outside the window, one could see scattered, emaciated refugees, dressed in rags, dragging their families along, trudging southwards.

Modern people are used to a peaceful life.

The cruelty of war was displayed before her eyes for the first time in such a direct way.

She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her chest aching with a dull ache.

Just as I was about to take a deep breath and calm down, I realized that the carriage had slowly come to a stop.

The guard captain Sun Zheng shouted, and the convoy had arrived near an abandoned post station.

He methodically directed his men to guard the surroundings, preparing for them to rest and cook.

Jiang Huan also wanted some fresh air, so she got off the carriage and stretched her stiff limbs.

Not far away, several thin, bony children timidly peered in this direction, their eyes filled with longing for food.

That look in their eyes was so pitiful, so humble.

Jiang Huan could hardly bear to look at it a second time, but she also knew very well that if she rashly distributed the food to them, it would only cause a riot.

At that time, all the refugees in the vicinity will gather, either begging or forcing them, and they will be robbed clean.

She has no time left.

"well......"

With a deep sigh, Jiang Huan pondered for a moment before beckoning Sun Zheng over.

"Captain Sun, could you please pretend to have forgotten this bag when we set off? Put it with the leftovers, and once we're far away, those kids will probably come and try their luck."

As she spoke, she took out a bag of spare dry food from the car. The amount was small, but in these chaotic times, it was more than enough.

Sun Zheng accepted it with both hands, and a hint of softening appeared on his weathered face: "Madam has the well-being of the people in her heart and is very thoughtful. How could I not obey?"

Jiang Huan smiled faintly, but felt a bitter taste in her mouth: "Thank you, go ahead and do your work. I want to take a walk by myself."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the wall.

Her mind is in turmoil, and she becomes uncontrollably anxious whenever she has free time.

But as soon as she got closer, a nauseating, strange smell of meat wafted into her nostrils.

Jiang Huan frowned and subconsciously looked in the direction of the smell.

In the shadows, several refugees were gathered around a broken earthenware pot, inside which something seemed to be cooking meat, and the aroma of meat was wafting from it.

A woman looked up at the noise and her eyes met Jiang Huan's.

Her eyes were vacant, her face was covered in ash, and a trace of grease remained at the corner of her mouth.

Upon seeing Jiang Huan, the woman flinched, then abruptly covered the earthenware pot with her hand, like a wild animal guarding its food.

Jiang Huan's gaze unconsciously fell on the ground beside the earthenware pot, where a small piece of clothing lay, along with some unprocessed scraps of leather, their shape and texture...

She instantly understood what kind of meat it was and why the woman had reacted that way!

"Ugh—" She suddenly covered her mouth, forcefully suppressing the acid in her throat, her face turning deathly pale.

That's not animal meat, that's...that's...

Jiang Huan dared not think any further. The cruelty of war, in an extremely ferocious and terrifying way, brutally entered her field of vision.

Sun Zheng keenly noticed her unusual behavior and immediately rushed over to stand in front of her.

The refugees were terrified by the murderous look in his eyes. They hurriedly picked up their earthenware pots and staggered away.

"Madam, are you alright?" Sun Zheng asked in a deep voice, his tone filled with concern.

Jiang Huan shook her head vigorously, unable to speak, her fingers were icy cold, and she was tightly gripping her clothes.

She closed her eyes, but the image and smell were etched into her mind as if branded.

Is Huo Lin... Huo Lin fighting in this hellish place?

Has he seen or even experienced something more terrifying?

The thought of him possibly being surrounded, injured and bleeding, or even... that nightmarish scene resurfaced.

No! Absolutely not!

An unprecedented determination overcame her fear and nausea; she had to find Huo Lin quickly and take him away from this hell.

Jiang Huan opened her eyes, her gaze becoming unusually firm.

"I'm fine, Captain Sun." Her voice was still a little hoarse. "Let's keep going and get to the Northern Camp as soon as possible."

Sun Zheng was somewhat surprised by her courage and rationality, but did not ask any further questions.

"yes!"

The convoy set off again, this time at a slightly faster pace.

After traveling for several more days, they were getting closer and closer to the main camp in the North, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense, with a faint smell of blood permeating the air.

That afternoon, the convoy was traveling on a road lined with dense forests on both sides.

Sun Zheng suddenly raised his hand, signaling the convoy to slow down.

"Everyone be careful, this place is easy to set an ambush," he warned in a low voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, a chaotic shouting suddenly rang out from both sides.

Dozens of ragged men, armed with wooden sticks, rushed out from behind the woods and surrounded the convoy.

They outnumbered the guards by far, and although their weapons were rudimentary, their ruthlessness as desperate criminals was terrifying.

"Hand over the food, and leave the carriage behind!" a burly man at the head of the group roared hoarsely, brandishing a rusty woodcutter's knife.

The guards instantly tightened their formation, protecting Jiang Huan's carriage in the center, their swords drawn, gleaming coldly.

The refugees were intimidated by the guards' murderous aura and dared not approach for a moment, but hunger and despair drove them to stay.

Sun Zheng's expression was stern. He gripped the hilt of his knife tightly and said in a low voice, "Madam, stay in the carriage and don't come out. These people are starving and capable of anything."

Conflict is imminent.

Jiang Huan's heart was in her throat. Through the gap in the carriage curtain, she saw that the refugees were all emaciated and had sunken eyes.

She had only one thought: she absolutely could not see blood.

Even the most elite guards cannot withstand the tearing and fighting of the surging crowd.

Once the scene becomes chaotic, the horses will inevitably be frightened, and if time is delayed any further, the battle situation will only become more unpredictable.

In a flash, Jiang Huan took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

She suddenly pushed open the car door and stood on the carriage shaft.

"Madam!" Sun Zheng exclaimed in surprise, trying to stop her.

"Stop!" Jiang Huan's clear voice instantly drowned out the commotion at the scene.

All eyes were drawn to the woman who had suddenly appeared, dressed simply yet possessing an extraordinary air.

Jiang Huan glanced at the bewildered refugees and quickly ordered Sun Zheng, "Captain Sun, put away your weapons and do not attack first."

Then she turned to the refugees and raised her voice: "Don't you want food? I can give you some!"

The refugees were stunned, looking at each other in disbelief.

The burly man in the lead stared at her suspiciously: "Are you serious? You're willing to share your food with us?"

“Yes,” Jiang Huan replied calmly, and quickly ordered, “Captain Sun, divide some of our personal rations and put them in the open space in front. Be quick.”

Sun Zheng frowned, clearly disapproving: "Madam, this..."

"Do as I say!"

After saying this, Jiang Huan continued in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Don't give them too much food. Desperados who didn't get anything will only be envious of their accomplices who did. Let's take this opportunity and run!"