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墨書 Inktalez
To an outsider, it might seem that the two were locked in an intense battle. However, in the eyes of a seasoned expert, the truth was clear: the gap in strength between him and Dian Wei was immense. Nevertheless, he did not voice this concern. He continued to endure the pain and persist in his efforts. Was this not an opportunity to hone his skills? Dian Wei was also happy to offer guidance amidst their sparring.
After more than fifty exchanges, Dian Wei felt he had a good grasp of his opponent's capabilities. He ceased his movements and stepped aside. "Brother Gao Shun, your martial arts are truly impressive."
Gao Shun took a moment to catch his breath and quickly replied, "Your skills far surpass mine, brother. If you hadn't held back, I doubt I could have lasted this long against you."
Dian Wei waved his hand dismissively. "There’s no need for false modesty. You’re only fifteen; I have many more years of experience than you. If I can’t defeat you, then I’ve truly wasted my time over the years."
Gao Shun smiled slightly, appearing a bit shy. This was what true friendship looked like. Just a few rounds of practice had brought Gao Shun and Dian Wei much closer.
As the night deepened, the two lay side by side, gazing at the stars and discussing their dreams and aspirations.
"Dian Wei, is there something going on with your family in Chen Liu?" Gao Shun asked.
Dian Wei pondered for a moment before responding, "My family in Chen Liu is doing well. During my travels across the seas, I was fortunate enough to meet a Shen Ren who took a liking to me. He promised he could bring my mother from her hometown to live with me."
Gao Shun perked up immediately upon hearing this. "A Shen Ren? While there are legends about such beings, how could one encounter them so easily? Could it be a trickster? But seeing Dian Wei's serious expression made Gao Shun hesitate to voice his doubts. He knew that no amount of words would change Dian Wei's mind. Moreover, with Dian Wei's imposing stature and strength, he could take care of himself even if he did encounter a fraud.
Thinking of this, Gao Shun lay back down. Dian Wei, seeing this, did not press further. After all, it was difficult for anyone who had not personally experienced meeting Shen Ren to believe it. In the past, when Emperor Qin and Han Wudi sought immortals in vain, how could ordinary people easily encounter deities? Therefore, Dian Wei's encounter with the immortal was a stroke of luck; others disbelieved simply because they lacked such fortune.
The two lay quietly resting, yet they could not sleep. Their eyes were wide open like bells, observing their surroundings. Just then, a slight tremor from the ground startled them.
“Brother Dian Wei, did you feel that? The earth seems to be shaking,” Gao Shun asked as he sat up.
Dian Wei nodded in agreement and speculated, “Do you feel the same? It might be...”
In ancient times, people believed that hidden within the earth were giant dragons, and when these dragons turned over underground, it would cause tremors. However, Gao Shun furrowed his brow and listened intently to the ground. After a while, he slowly shook his head.
“It’s not the dragon turning over; it should be the sound of hooves from afar, as if someone is passing by with a troop.”
Dian Wei and Gao Shun relaxed a little. This was the core area of Ji Province, where outside forces found it difficult to intrude. If it wasn’t an external power, then the only ones bold enough to ride through such an area at night would likely be officials.
They didn’t believe their situation warranted the official military gathering troops specifically for them. Therefore, the arrival of the military should be purely coincidental.
Their camp was not far away, but at this late hour, it was indeed puzzling that the court's troops were still on their way. Out of caution, Gao Shun and Dian Wei decided to heighten their vigilance and sit up again, preparing to respond to any potential developments.
Soon, the sound of hooves became more pronounced.
Most crucially, this sound was not fading into the distance; instead, it was drawing closer.
This was abnormal. Considering their camp was a good two roads away from the main path, even if a cavalry passed by, the noise shouldn't be this clear and near.
It seemed that the target might be them!
Gao Shun and Dian Wei made a swift decision, calling out loudly to their companions to wake up quickly—there was danger! They hurriedly roused those who were still asleep.
At this hour, when sleep was at its heaviest, most people were still groggy when Gao Shun and Dian Wei woke them. Chu Yan stumbled out of the carriage, asking, "Dian Wei, what's happening?"
Before Dian Wei could respond, Gao Shun spoke rapidly, "There's a group approaching us not far ahead."
A group approaching us? Confusion spread across Chu Yan's face. Did they really warrant the attention of soldiers? They were merely a bunch of destitute refugees, with nothing but a few bags of food and two ordinary travelers among them. Even the most valuable items—a cart and two draft horses—were just common livestock, hardly anything precious.
Just as he pondered this, a cloud of dust rose in the distance. The sounds of warhorses mingled with the dust, and instead of slowing down, the approaching group sped toward them.
"The Gao Family Youths are preparing to meet the enemy!" shouted an elder.
The members of the Gao Family, who had been lost in dreams, suddenly snapped awake and immediately grabbed whatever makeshift weapons they could find for defense. However, since this was a migration, their weapons were extremely limited, and only a few among them had reliable arms to use.
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