The journey home is long

Shen Xiao's squad joined the convoy and stood beside the escort vehicle. The atmosphere inside the vehicle eased slightly.

A giant wolf named Frostblade, pure white with icy blue eyes, calmly followed behind the group. It was the twin brother of Snow Wolf Lan Ying, who remained in Cold Pool Valley; both were mountain spirit beasts. The culinary skills of Little Bull Mountain had won over its heart and stomach, making it willingly leave its homeland and brothers to protect this warmth.

Little Stone sat by the window, his fingertips caressing the pebbles, his gaze occasionally following the birds flying in the sky, his lips moving slightly as he communicated silently. He used the birds as his eyes and ears, sensing the path ahead.

Peace and tranquility are fleeting.

Two days later, they arrived at "Black Stone Gorge".

As its name suggests, the place is flanked by steep black cliffs and has a narrow road.

"Waaaaah—!"

Suddenly, a piercing whistle tore through the air!

A huge boulder crashed down from the right cliff top onto the prison cart guards!

"Enemy attack!" Shen Xiao roared and drew his sword! The Asura Guards parried and protected the vehicle!

Smoke and dust filled the air! A ghostly black figure seized the opportunity to slide down the left cliff face, its ten fingers like hooks tearing through the defenses!

"Crack!" The iron lock on the prison cart broke!

The masked woman grabbed one of the snow hawk captives: "Go!"

Immediately, the figure vanished like smoke into the shadows of the cliff!

"Awooo—!"

Frostblade charged forward with a fierce howl, its icy blue eyes locking onto the prisoner-breaker. Its fangs bared, its massive body already blocking the side of the bull-drawn carriage, its low growl intimidating and unwavering in its protection!

"Stay!" Shen Xiao spurred his horse to block the boulder, his long sword slashing through the air!

The woman flicked her wrist, unleashing a silver flash—a sharp, swift motion that seemed to shake the very edge of a knife! She then used the opportunity to climb the cliff and disappear!

"Don't run!" Shen Xiao wanted to give chase, but he was worried that the robbers might be rescued.

"Xiao'er," Ling Zhan's cold voice rang out.

She stood beside the car, her gaze piercing through the dust and smoke. "Go after this person. I'll handle things here."

Shen Xiao instantly understood, his fighting spirit ignited: "Yes! Mother!" He shouted to his deputy: "Protect the master and madam! I'll go after them!" He abandoned his horse, leaped onto the cliff, and chased after them, disappearing in an instant.

The chaos subsided. The remaining prisoner was placed under strict control. Frostblade's blue eyes swept across the area sharply, like a mobile sentry post.

Shen Yan leaned on her cane and walked to Ling Zhan's side: "A-Zhan, that woman..."

"It's alright. We can leave it to Xiao'er." Ling Zhan said confidently.

The convoy restarts. Less Shen Xiao, more Shuang Ren accompany and protect them.

The little bull called out from the window, "Frostblade..." The giant wolf's icy eyes softened slightly, and it responded with a low growl.

Shen Yan gazed at the cliff in deep thought, while Ling Zhan closed his eyes.

The wheels rumbled. Little Bull broke the silence in a low voice: "Dad... what's for dinner? I brought some dried meat and fried noodles..." trying to comfort him with food.

Shen Yan chuckled, "Alright! Dad's hungry, I'll try your cooking later!"

Little Bull's eyes lit up: "Hmm! Let's find a water source to cook noodles, mix some wild vegetables... Frostblade's favorite is big chunks of roasted venison jerky!"

Little Stone looked at the black dot on the horizon: "Dad, there are wild onions in the woods. There's a puddle two miles to the east; the birds say it's safe there."

"Good lad!" Shen Yan ruffled his hair.

Ling Zhan opened his eyes: "According to Xiao Shitou, there's a puddle on the east side, sheltered from the wind, about two miles ahead."

The setting sun casts a golden glow as we set up camp by the stream.

The young bull deftly set up the pot and started the fire, tearing the meat and chopping the scallions.

The aroma of meat filled the air. He first offered the large, charred piece of dried venison to Frostblade.

The giant wolf elegantly snatched it away and devoured it with great satisfaction.

"Dinner's ready!" A bowl of hot soup noodles was served.

Shen Yan held the bowl and sighed, "Delicious! Even if I opened a noodle shop in the capital, it would definitely be a hit!"

After hearing his father's praise, the little bull blushed and started to blush.

Ling Zhan drank a few more sips of soup, and his eyebrows and eyes relaxed and softened considerably.

Frosty Blade finished his dinner, his white fur reflected in the firelight.

After the meal, Little Stone drew on the ground while listening to the birds. Little Bull washed the dishes. Chen Yan gazed at the fire. Ling Zhan handed over a water bag.

"Foot injury?"

"It's alright. But the capital... we might as well set up camp here and let the children rest as well."

"We'll meet force with force." Ling Zhan's eyes were icy. "Protect the child." Shen Yan nodded.

Several days later, we finally set foot on the official road leading to the capital. The afternoon was sweltering.

Little Stone watched the sparrows on the cart shaft, then suddenly frowned. The sparrows, startled, flew into the woods.

He turned sharply to Ling Zhan: "Mother, two hundred paces from Zuo Lin, there's a rusty, fishy smell. The birds say they're hiding malice!"

Ling Zhan's eyes flashed like lightning! The coachman reined in his horse: "Be on guard!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!" Before the words were even finished, the dark blue crossbow bolts shot towards the carriage like venomous snakes!

"Get down!" Ling Zhan darted forward, his sleeves billowing in a fierce wind! Arrows rained down, crashing against the wall and flying away!

"Form ranks!" A formidable defensive formation protects the chariot!

The Asura Guards quickly formed ranks!

Frostblade roared and pounced on the side of the car window! Its massive body became a shield, protecting the little bull.

Several arrows pierced its shoulder blade with a "thud"! It groaned in pain and fury, its claws digging into the ground, refusing to retreat an inch!

"You're asking for death!" Ling Zhan's afterimage disappeared into the forest!

"Frostblade!" Little Bull cried out in alarm, his heart aching! Shen Yan shielded Little Stone, his hand on his sword, his face ashen.

A brief but fierce battle ensued in the forest! A dozen or so breaths later, Ling Zhan returned carrying a man who looked like a dead dog.

"Assassin, the poison sac has been removed. Ask." She glanced at the wound on Frostblade's head, a hint of approval in her eyes.

The Asura Guard immediately began interrogation.

Shen Yan glanced at the arrow wound on the frost-covered blade, and angrily cursed, "Despicable!"

Ling Zhan looked ahead at the colossal shadow of the capital city lurking beneath the dark clouds and quickly removed the arrow from Frostblade and applied medicine to it.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was tense. The wheels rolled over the scorching stones on the official road, kicking up dry dust.

The outline of Beijing in the height of summer becomes clearer and heavier in the sweltering heat, like a lurking beast.

The little bull carefully used a handkerchief soaked in cool water to gently wipe the edges of the bandaged wound on Frostblade's shoulder. The giant wolf let out a low whimper, its icy blue eyes half-closed, its massive body still pressed tightly against the side of the carriage, like a moving fortress, its vigilance never wavering.

"It's all my fault..."

The little bull's voice was thick with nasal congestion, and his eyes were slightly red. He held a small piece of specially made jerky mixed with hemostatic herbs to the giant wolf's mouth. "Frostblade, eat it. It will help you recover faster... From now on, I will definitely protect you!"

Frostblade sniffed, then stuck out its tongue to snatch the jerky. Its rough tongue gently licked the back of Little Bull's hand as a form of comfort.

Little Stone leaned quietly against the corner, his fingertips twirling a smooth pebble. His gaze was fixed on the swifts circling in the sky outside the window, his lips moving silently. After a moment, he turned to Ling Zhan, who was resting with his eyes closed: "Mother, the birds said... the checks at the city gate are very strict. There are unfamiliar faces, like... people from the palace. Their waist tags are different."

His voice was soft, yet clear.

Ling Zhan didn't lift his eyelids, only giving a faint "hmm," as if everything was expected.

Chen Yan leaned against the carriage wall, her fingertips unconsciously tapping on her knees.

His gaze fell heavily on the imperial city walls outside the window, which loomed ever closer, like a colossal beast.

Twenty years ago... on a similarly sweltering afternoon—?

The air was thick with the stench of blood mixed with the smell of burning.

The deafening shouts of battle, the piercing cries of agony, the ear-piercing clang of clashing weapons... the world was in chaos, and the end of the world had arrived.

He was held tightly in a broad but violently trembling embrace—by the loyal and devoted Attendant Shen. 'Your Highness…don't be afraid…look for that…dog hole…'

The old priest's hoarse voice rang in their ears, carrying the warm, metallic scent of blood. They rushed toward a hole half-covered by debris at the base of the city wall.

"Search the surroundings! Don't let any of the rebellious princes escape!" A sharp shout accompanied by a piercing whistle! "Thud! Thud!" The sound of sharp arrows piercing flesh was dull and terrifying! The tall body of the Imperial Envoy shuddered violently! A tremendous force pressed him even tighter into his arms, and then, warm liquid instantly soaked through his back.

'Run...Your Highness...Run!'

With his last bit of strength, the old man pushed him forward, then collapsed to the ground, using his body to block the pursuers' view and arrows!

He fell to the ground, scrambling towards the stench-filled dog hole. The opening was small, and he desperately squeezed through. Several ragged beggars begging on the street were stunned by the sudden killing and stood frozen in place. The pursuers' blades were already close!

'Hey kid! Hurry up and crawl in!'

A little beggar, not much older than him and with a face covered in filth, suddenly lunged at him. His thin body was like a wall, blocking the entrance to the cave and the pursuers' view of him! Then came the dull thud of a blade piercing flesh and the child's short, pitiful cry! He turned around in horror, only to see those mud-covered eyes, in the shadow of excruciating pain and death… smirk at him—a twisted, ugly smile, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet etched vividly into his eyes… as if saying: Run! And then that smile froze forever on that innocent face.

He scrambled out, leaving behind the screams of more innocent children... The image, a mixture of blood, dust, despair, and that final smile, burned deep into his young soul like a red-hot iron.

Nearly twenty years have passed, and now, seeing this familiar place again, the city gate remains the same. The biting cold, the piercing guilt, and that blood-stained smile are still vivid in his mind, as clear as yesterday, making his fingertips feel cold.

He turned his head and looked at his wife beside him, whose demeanor was as calm and composed as a deep pool.

The stifling heat of the train carriage and the perilous journey made his longing for "home" and his need for reassurance of "the rear" all the more urgent.

"Ah Zhan!"

Chen Yan's voice was low and hoarse from a long journey, yet it carried a strange sense of security. "The 'home' in the capital... Su Wan and Su Su, are they all settled?" This was not a question, but a confirmation, a search for a solid support from behind, a confirmation of a safe haven before the storm.

Ling Zhan finally opened her eyes. Her icy gaze swept over the weariness and hidden sharpness in Shen Yan's eyes, then over the little bull's concern for Shuangren and the little stone's wariness. Her gaze finally settled on Shen Yan's face, less scrutinizing than it had been in the study in Linzhou, and more of an unspoken understanding.

"Um."

Ling Zhan's voice remained clear and cold, yet it flowed like a cool stream into the stuffy carriage. "The three shops on Zhuque Street have been combined. Su Wan's letter says 'Xia Ying Xiao' is in high demand and short supply, and the Jiangnan line is stable. Su Su's 'Yunshang Ji' is in Jinxiufang, and the signboard, which you wrote, is up. Uncle Yang is still overseeing the main branch in Linzhou, and Zhou Wenqing has come to Beijing to assist."

She succinctly reported the key points, providing accurate information.

Shen Yan's tense lips relaxed, his body leaned forward slightly, and his elbows rested naturally on the cushion between them. They were so close that they could feel the faint scent of dust mixed with a hint of cold herbs emanating from the other person. His eyes revealed undisguised admiration: "Good! Uncle Yang's youngest son... it's good that he... isn't coming to the capital for the time being. My eldest daughter and the shopkeeper! Letting them make their way in the world was definitely the right decision."

The pride in his tone stemmed not only from his satisfaction with the decision but also from his reassurance that the rear was secure.

Ling Zhan's eyes lit up instantly when he saw his gloomy face. He didn't respond to his boasting, but simply pushed a small ceramic pot wrapped in cotton cloth in front of him.

"Herbal tea".

Shen Yan's eyes brightened even more. Without any hesitation, he picked it up, uncorked it, and took a big gulp. The cool, slightly bitter taste instantly slid down his throat, dispelling the heat in his internal organs. "So refreshing!" he sighed, handing the pottery pot back to Ling Zhan. "You should have some too, this awful weather."

Ling Zhan didn't answer, her sharp gaze sweeping over the approaching city gate and the figures of those soldiers who were clearly different from ordinary city guards: "You drink." Her attention was completely focused on the external environment.

Shen Yan didn't force herself and happily took another sip.

He followed her gaze, the languid smile fading from his face, replaced by the shrewdness of a merchant and the composure of someone who considered himself the head of the household. He shook the pottery pot, his voice lower and colder: "The tail of Black Stone Gorge has barely been shaken off, and the spies in the capital are already eager to show their faces... It seems that this 'home' will not be easy to enter."

"It's alright." Ling Zhan's voice was calm and unwavering, carrying a resolute tone. "No matter how many come, we'll clear them all out."

This powerful, almost indifferent confidence is like a stabilizing force.

Shen Yan turned his head and gazed at her cool and hard profile. Years of getting along had finally settled into a deep trust. He reached out his finger and very naturally and gently brushed away a strand of slightly damp hair that clung to her temple due to sweat.

"With my wife here, I'm just waiting to see this 'opening show in the capital'."

He chuckled softly, his tone intimate yet resolute, carrying the tacit understanding and trust that came from years of working together.

Ling Zhan's body paused almost imperceptibly, without flinching. Yet, in the scorching summer air, the lines of his profile, as smooth as a frozen lake, seemed to soften with a subtle, almost imperceptible curve. She didn't look at him, her gaze still fixed on the city gate, only uttering a barely audible response from her nose: "Mmm."

The wheels rumbled, rolling over the stone bridge over the moat.

The shadow cast by the massive city gate, like the maw of a giant beast, instantly enveloped the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the little bull nestled close to the uninjured side of Frostblade, its tiny hand gently stroking its neck.

Little Stone held his breath, the pebble on his fingertip gleaming slightly, trying to catch the last message the bird was trying to convey.

Shen Yan and Ling Zhan sat side by side, one languid yet sharp, the other calm and composed, poised to strike.

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