"Giddy up!"
At this moment, Zhao Kun couldn't even bother about the person fleeing. He had to get A Jiu to a safe place, then ride back at full speed to inform his uncle and aunt. His other brothers were currently on duty defending the city.
"I have to go back to the city, otherwise my parents won't be at ease," A Jiu shouted, the horse galloping swiftly, like an arrow released from a bow.
"I will definitely go back and inform them, please rest assured, Miss."
The horse's hooves didn't stop for a moment.
"Then leave me here and hurry back to inform my parents. It's very safe here."
A Jiu was already a hundred li away from the battlefield. King Qi's forces were surrounding the city. Even if they found her, she wasn't a soldier.
"No, subordinates are under General Tuoba's orders to ensure your safety."
In such an urgent situation, military orders were paramount. A Jiu couldn't refuse. "Then you must be quick."
A Jiu felt like she had a bone to pick with horses these past two days, the jolting making her feel like her intestines were about to be vomited out.
A few hours later, A Jiu quickly called out to stop, "I can walk from here, you should hurry back."
This was already the territory of Nanzhou County. Zhao Kun didn't insist this time. He tightened the reins, stopped the horse, dismounted, and handed the horse in his hand to A Jiu.
"Miss Jiu, take care." He turned, mounted his black horse that had been following all along, and disappeared into the darkness.
A Jiu was filled with unease. Nanming City had now become a battlefield. Would her parents and grandmother be able to get out of the city? A Jiu looked back towards Nanzhou County and saw that both sides of the road were filled with people resting for the night. Some couldn't sleep and were looking around. Others were weeping, covering their faces.
"Old Liu?" A Jiu was startled. Isn't this Old Liu who used to sell steamed buns opposite her place? He was sitting among the crowd, sighing dejectedly, with two children lying beside him.
"Who are you?" Old Liu squinted, unable to recognize A Jiu in the darkness. But A Jiu saw him clearly, even the tears at the corners of his eyes. She squatted down and said, "I'm A Jiu from across the street."
"Oh, Miss Jiu, you... why are you alone? When I left, your family members were still here. Something must have happened." Old Liu dared not speak loudly, patting the children beside him from time to time, afraid of disturbing them.
"I wasn't in the city when the war started. But Old Liu, why are you all gathered here? Why didn't you go to the county town?"
"We are all old neighbors. We heard that the public morgue in the county town is full of dead people, alas... we dare not go."
Old Liu's words made A Jiu want to laugh and cry. "Old Liu, you don't know, Nanzhou County has indeed lost quite a few people, but half of them have also recovered. Think about it, with so many people dead, there must be empty houses. At least there's a place to shelter from the wind." A Jiu had observed this on her previous visit; many of the houses were empty.
"Really?" Old Liu looked at the two pathetic children exposed to the elements. Hearing this, his eyes lit up. "Really, I went to the public morgue last time. Those dead people are all in the morgue. How could the streets be filled with them?" A Jiu stood up and kindly reminded him, "It's fine for the children to sleep, but once they wake up, Old Liu, you should hurry everyone to the county town. The post station there is also quite empty." As she spoke of emptiness, A Jiu's heart also felt empty.
"Then we can't wait any longer. What if we're late and there's no place to stay?" Old Liu said, calling his wife and son to get up. One child in each arm, his wife carrying a bundle, they followed A Jiu towards the county town. Those who were sleeping soundly were quickly woken up. Old Liu didn't forget to kindly remind everyone. Once the situation was explained, everyone hurriedly packed their bedding and followed. A Jiu didn't even know how many people were following behind her.
"Miss Jiu, don't blame Old Liu for his talkativeness. Your sister-in-law drove away with a carriage and took your brother, and we didn't see your parents. Alas... now there's a severe drought, and people who followed say Nanming City is burning."
"All burned?" A Jiu's mind buzzed. Just then, with a crackling sound, a thunderous lightning bolt exploded in the sky. All the refugees stopped in their tracks.
"My goodness, the direction of Nanming City."
"Yes, just like last time it rained. Look..."