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墨書 Inktalez
The biting wind howled, and the sound of hooves echoed in the air. A caravan of over a hundred people was slowly making its way along the official road. Amidst the snow and wind, Xu Yuan turned his horse to glance back, only to see Liu Ying peering out from the carriage, lifting the curtain to gaze into the distance. A Fu huddled by the yoke, shivering uncontrollably, having never experienced such frigid weather before.
"The ferry is just ahead," Xu Yuan said as he reined in his horse closer to the carriage. "Once we cross this river, we will truly enter the Northern Frontier."
Liu Ying smiled and nodded but suddenly sneezed. Xu Yuan quickly dismounted and retrieved a fox fur cloak from his pack. "I told you to sit in the warm sedan chair, but you insisted on riding in the carriage to enjoy the scenery. Now look at you—catching a chill."
"Miss, let me help." A Fu hurriedly stood up to take the cloak and carefully draped it over Liu Ying.
"It’s nothing," Liu Ying said as she wrapped herself tightly in the cloak, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Throughout our journey, I’ve already noted down over a dozen suitable locations for building an observatory. Once we reach the Northern Frontier, selecting a site will be my first priority."
"Miss, you should prioritize your health," A Fu said with concern. "You haven’t rested properly during this trip; you’ve been too focused on those mountain peaks."
Xu Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle. "I don’t know if it’s your obsession with astronomy or my greater obsession with you. Come, I’ll have someone prepare a warm stove for you."
"My lord!" Li Hu rode up swiftly, urgency in his voice. "Scouts ahead report that the ice at the ferry is unstable; we need to detour thirty miles to the stone bridge."
"That means we’ll be delayed by at least a day," Xu Yuan frowned.
"Not just that," Li Hu lowered his voice. "They also reported suspicious tracks of men and horses ahead—likely border patrols. There are flickering torches seen among the mountains; it’s estimated there are no fewer than a hundred of them."
Liu Ying immediately straightened up. "Could they be remnants of the Zhou Party fleeing south?"
"Most likely," Xu Yuan's eyes glinted coldly. "They’ve calculated well, knowing we’re heading to the Northern Frontier and attempting to set an ambush along our route."
"Miss!" A Fu suddenly pointed into the distance. "Look! There’s smoke rising from the eastern mountain!"
Everyone looked up to see a wisp of black smoke curling up from a distant peak. Soon after, another mountain also began to emit smoke signals.
"Hmph, they’re trying to catch us like fish in a barrel," Xu Yuan sneered. "Send word down the line for everyone to continue forward as if nothing is amiss."
Suddenly, Liu Ying pulled out a bronze mirror from inside the carriage. "Wait! Look at this!"
The mirror shimmered oddly in the snowstorm, revealing a faint engraving that pointed northwest.
"What is this…" Xu Yuan leaned in for a closer look.
"I remember Mr. Yu Ming mentioning that this mirror not only conceals mechanisms but can also indicate a path during emergencies," Liu Ying explained. "See this mark? Doesn’t it resemble a mountain trail?"
Xu Yuan's eyes lit up. "Yes! There’s a hunter’s path in that northwest direction that can bypass the main road directly to the stone bridge. I traveled that route during my explorations along the border years ago; however, it’s quite steep…"
"I will go with you," Liu Ying declared firmly.
"No!" Xu Yuan rejected her outright. "It’s too dangerous."
"Miss!" A Fu exclaimed, stamping his feet in anxiety. "You can't go! The mountain road is too dangerous!"
"This mirror is our talisman," Liu Ying insisted stubbornly. "Besides, those people may not be targeting Master Xu alone. If I stay with the main group, won't that allow them to act in two places?"
Xu Yuan looked at her determined eyes and then at the ancient mirror in his hand, finally nodding. "Very well. Li Hu, take a team of elite soldiers with us. Wang Tie, you lead the main group forward. Make sure to protect Lady Liu's attendants."
"Understood!"
"Miss!" A Fu tugged at Liu Ying's sleeve, nearly in tears. "Let me follow you!"
"A Fu, it's safer for you to stay with the main group," Liu Ying gently patted his hand. "Once we cross the stone bridge, we will reunite."
The sound of hooves thundered as more than ten riders galloped through the wind and snow toward the northwest. Liu Ying held Xu Yuan tightly around the waist, listening to the distant sounds of shouting and fighting behind them. She looked up at the sky, where dark clouds loomed, obscuring even a single star.
Just then, the sound of hooves came to an abrupt halt. The mountain path ahead suddenly narrowed, revealing jagged rocks beneath the snow.
"Ambush!" Li Hu shouted.
An arrow whistled through the air, aimed directly at Xu Yuan's throat!
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