Everyone was awakened, and they watched in fear and unease as this tragedy, which had nothing to do with them, unfolded.
In the darkness, a boy who looked to be just over ten years old was running rapidly toward Lin Yinan, with two men wielding knives chasing after him.
Afraid that he would bump into her stomach, Lin Yinan slightly turned to the side to avoid it.
Lin Yinan stood with her sword in hand. The boy, panting heavily, hid behind her in terror, crying, "Save me! They're going to kill me!"
Lin Yiheng and Lin Shuo, both holding swords, watched the commotion outside.
The two men caught up in the blink of an eye. Seeing the situation at the Lin family's house, they exchanged a glance, turned around and left, no longer pursuing the boy hiding behind them.
Only after they left did the boy come out, staring fiercely at their retreating figures, without crying or making a fuss.
After a long while, the boy glanced around angrily, then walked to the fire and sat down.
His eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving violently, and he stared unblinkingly at the fire.
They all possessed swords and martial arts skills, yet they stood by and watched helplessly as the family was robbed and killed by refugees.
Heaven is so unfair!
Lin Shuo asked him several times, but he ignored her.
"Never mind, Uncle, you go and rest first. Afu and I will keep an eye on things." Lin Yiheng glanced at the boy and said to Lin Shuo.
Lin Yinan glanced at the boy, didn't speak to him, and didn't go up to comfort him. She turned around and went back to lie down.
There are too many tragic events and changes happening in this world every day. She is not a saint; she cannot save or comfort everyone.
When Grandma Zhao woke up the next morning, she found a child by the campfire at her campsite. After hearing Lin Fu's account of what happened the night before, she pursed her wrinkled lips tightly.
When it was time for breakfast, she still softened and gave the boy a bowl.
The boy remained silent, took the food, and began to eat it in large mouthfuls.
Li Shulan glanced at him several times, and the boy looked displeased, giving her a fierce sidelong look.
Li Shulan's heart tightened, and she hurriedly went to find Lin Yinan, followed by Lu Changqing.
Under her care, Lu Changqing understood that Lin Yinan was very busy every day, and he would only stick to Lin Yinan when he stopped or ate.
Lin Yinan and Lin Shuo were feeding the horses when she quietly took out a small bag of bran and had Lin Yiheng mix it with hay to feed the horses.
Horses pull such heavy loads every day, so they need to eat well to avoid losing weight.
Upon seeing Lin Yinan, Li Shulan immediately went up to complain.
"Anan, that child is acting strangely."
"What's wrong?" Lin Yinan hadn't even gone to see him yet, as he had come to feed the horses as soon as he woke up.
Li Shulan quickly lowered her voice and said, "His gaze is unsettling."
"Okay, I will keep an eye out. It's always good to be wary of others. Mother, you need to keep a close eye on Changqing and the younger children, such as An'er and Yu'er."
Lu Changqing obediently took her hand and placed it on his head.
Lin Yinan rubbed the two fluffy little tufts on his head, quietly put a candy in his mouth, and said softly, "Our Changqing is still the best-behaved."
When it was time to set off, the boy followed them silently, ignoring everyone who asked him a question.
Soon, Lin Yinan noticed that he kept glancing at the swords and knives in their hands.
He can come along, but he'd better behave himself and not try anything funny.
Lin Yinan led her horse and walked with the group. She was in good spirits early in the morning, and the horseback ride was too bumpy, so she would only ride a horse when she was tired from walking.
The refugees on the road gradually got up and continued their journey, and the number of people gradually increased.
People were crying and shouting by the roadside from time to time. Many people woke up to find that either their belongings were missing or their children were gone.
"Sister, sister!" A shifty-eyed figure darted to Lin Yinan's side and called out to her in a low voice.
Lin Yinan turned around and saw the thief she had caught before.
She stared at him suspiciously, while the thief wore a fawning smile. "Sister, I have some news. Do you want to hear it?"
"Oh? What news?"
The thief glanced at the boy walking with the group. "Last night, a family in your camp was killed. Bandits dragged their bodies into the mountains and ate them."
She heard about this from the Yun family's secret guards. The family that was killed last night, except for the surviving boy, had all their bodies and supplies gone, leaving only a dark red bloodstain on the ground.
Lin Yinan glanced at him. "You're in cahoots with them. You ate too?"
The thief hurriedly waved his hands and protested, "Sister, I'm not that kind of person. I'd rather starve to death than eat people."
What's your name?
The thief paused for a moment, then chuckled and said, "My surname is Hu, the Hu of 'acting recklessly,' Hu Shao."
As soon as he finished speaking, his stomach rumbled loudly at an inopportune moment. Lin Yinan took out a pancake from her sleeve and handed it to him.
Hu Shao took it, took a bite, and then he froze.
"Sister, this..."
Lin Yinan rolled her eyes at him, "I don't eat my own kind."
Hu Shao hid the pancake in his sleeve and savored the taste in his mouth. The long-lost flavor spread in his mouth, and tears welled up in his eyes at the same time.
Afraid that the smell of the meat pie would waft out, Hu Shao didn't have time to savor it properly. Under the guise of wiping away his tears with his sleeve, he wolfed down the pie, choking so badly that his eyes rolled back in his head.
Perhaps because he swallowed it too quickly, the pancake scratched his throat, and Hu Shao asked in a hoarse voice, "Sister, do you know what kind of people those bandits are?"
"What's their background?"
Hu Shao looked around warily, then leaned closer and whispered, "That bandit leader is said to have escaped from the battlefield. He's very powerful, and he's recruited quite a few people under his command recently."
"What is he trying to do, recruiting so many people?"
Lin Yinan wondered, "Could it be that they're trying to steal them?"
Hu Shao glanced pityingly at the homeless people who had lost their children by the roadside and continued, "Most of the lost children were stolen by them."
As for what they stole it for, everyone knows the answer.
When Hu Shao was about to leave, Lin Yinan secretly slipped him two more pancakes as a reward.
After traveling for two days, losing children and being robbed had become commonplace. Everyone had to hide their food when eating a pancake, because someone could snatch it away if they weren't careful.
Taking away food is a small matter; what I fear most is losing my life.
After discussing it, the Yun brothers decided to adjust the formation of the team, and to send fifty guards to the rear of the team to prevent the bandits from taking the opportunity to rob and injure people.
The villagers of Linjia Village witnessed all sorts of joys and sorrows along the way, helping and looking after each other. Those who used to quarrel and bicker were now all friendly and harmonious because they were in a hurry to get to their destination.
The villagers were even more cautious. They knew that if they separated, not only would they not be able to reach the south safely, but they would also certainly lose the little food they had.
After walking for several days, following the boy from Lin Yinan's family, he would eat whenever he was given food, walk whenever he set off, and would not get into the carriage when he was tired, all without making a sound.
They had just stopped to rest at noon that day.
Hu Shao, who had been missing for two days, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, looking as if he had been rolling around in the mud.
He appeared before Lin Yinan reeking of a foul odor, almost causing her to faint.
"It stinks! Did you fall into a latrine?"
Hu Shao brought some earth-shattering news.
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