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Yun Xiao Yi suddenly recalled an extreme scheme proposed by Zhu Ji, which involved digging up others' graves for revenge. He quickly clarified, "Bones are acceptable, but they must not belong to others."
Zhao An solemnly nodded, "I understand."
Afterward, he led his clan and livestock away from the grand mansion, traversing a vast and desolate land. A horse-drawn carriage pulled by two horses sped across the earth. However, the road ahead was becoming increasingly treacherous: crops had withered, weeds struggled to survive, and the bark of trees had been stripped away for sustenance. Even a small patch of soil required some moisture to barely support life. Occasionally, skeletal remains appeared along the roadside—bones of once-living beings stripped of flesh, a grim testament to a year that forced people into cannibalism for survival.
Dian Wei sat in the carriage and asked, "How's the road ahead? The sun is no longer high in the sky; it seems to be moving westward."
The driver, Chu Yan, turned back to respond, "Brother, the horses are starting to tire. I think we should find a place to stop and rest for the night."
Dian Wei leaned out of the carriage, his imposing figure nodding in agreement. "That sounds good."
Night had fallen, and traveling in darkness posed significant risks. Their planned journey was only about two hundred miles. Even a legendary steed could typically cover around three hundred ten miles in daylight; the notion of a horse traveling a thousand miles in a day was exaggerated—equivalent to about one hundred miles by modern standards.
This inflated perception of equine speed stemmed from historical changes in measurement units. The concept of a thousand miles first appeared during the Zhou Dynasty when distances were measured in "li." According to later conversion standards, one "li" is approximately one-third of a mile; thus, under Zhou standards, a horse capable of traveling a thousand "li" could only cover three miles in a day.
In later times, unit lengths increased to about five hundred meters; however, the romanticized idea of the thousand-mile horse persisted. Over time, this misconception became ingrained.
In reality, an ordinary horse like those from the Chu Family could manage about one hundred thirty "li" continuously while pulling heavy loads. Moreover, while horses could sprint great distances in short bursts, they required extended recovery periods afterward; without adequate rest, they risked severe exhaustion.
In contrast, while humans have limited running endurance at any given moment, they can quickly regain energy through brief rests and continue on their way. When considering sustained effort over time, human durability can approach or exceed that of horses by nearly double.
Thus, while horses clearly excelled in terms of load capacity and endurance—able to maintain a steady pace even while carrying two people—humans could achieve remarkable feats by merely carrying another's weight over long distances.
Taking Chu Yan's suggestion into account, Dian Wei nodded in agreement. "Let's do that. We can also ask those we encounter along the way about the road conditions ahead."
Chu Yan replied affirmatively, "Alright."
Although he wasn't an expert on local terrain, he had traveled this route before; asking others would undoubtedly help reduce mistakes and prevent delays in safely returning his brother home.
With that thought in mind, he gradually slowed down the carriage's pace as they searched for a suitable campsite.
Chu Yan scanned the surroundings, searching for a safe place to rest for the night while also looking for any survivors. Dian Wei followed closely, sitting beside him as they began their search.
As they gazed into the distance, a group of refugees appeared on the horizon, stumbling forward like lost souls.
"People!"
Chu Yan and Dian Wei exchanged a glance, and then urged their horses into a gallop, hastening toward the refugees.
As they drew near, they noticed that this group, seemingly consumed by despair, suddenly revealed a flicker of life. The young and strong quickly gathered around the elderly, children, and women, their eyes filled with wariness.
Chu Yan and Dian Wei looked at each other again, astonishment evident in their expressions.
After their long journey, they had witnessed too many tragic scenes where humanity had been stripped away by extreme circumstances. Most people had completely abandoned moral boundaries in such dire situations, let alone protect the weak. Even those who were considered "good" merely refrained from harming one another.
Often, the elderly, sick, and frail became targets for others to covet, waiting for the moment they would fall so that those around them could turn into beasts, tearing them apart and feasting on their flesh and marrow.
Faced with such a sight, even Dian Wei and Chu Yan couldn't help but question: were these still the familiar humans they once knew? Or had they become beasts in human guise?
Despite numerous attempts to disperse these beast-like crowds, their efforts had yielded little success. The so-called "beasts" would retreat momentarily out of fear of strength but would always return to surround the vulnerable.
Having experienced this scene countless times, they had gradually adapted and grown numb to it. Therefore, at this moment, witnessing refugees who still clung to certain principles and maintained basic ethical order despite extreme hunger left both men feeling astonished.
Chu Yan tightly held onto Ma Zhao as the carriage slowly came to a stop on the side of the crowd. The two of them nimbly jumped down from the carriage and looked for a stone to secure their horses.
In contrast to Dian Wei's fierce and intimidating appearance, which was enough to instill fear in anyone who laid eyes on him, Chu Yan's face, while not exceptionally handsome, appeared much more approachable.
If one could hear the judgments in people's hearts, Dian Wei would surely feel a deep sense of grievance. The image of a chivalrous hero had been misinterpreted as that of an ominous figure! This was nothing short of slander against him!
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