After a brief moment of thought, Bo Xi nodded.
"You may follow the caravan," she said calmly. "You will sit near the driver. Do not wander."
The old man's eyes immediately reddened with gratitude. He pressed his forehead to the ground. "Thank you, Miss! Thank you! We will not cause trouble."
Bo Xi raised a hand slightly, signaling the soldiers to handle the rest.
Caution came first.
Even pity had its limits in times like these.
She ordered the physician to examine both the old man and the child thoroughly. In an era where diseases could spread silently and wipe out entire groups, she would not take risks.
After confirming they were healthy, the two were allowed to wash. Clean water was provided, along with a spare set of simple clothes. When they returned, they looked like entirely different people. Though still thin and worn, the dirt and despair that had clung to them seemed lighter.
The old man, understanding his position clearly, behaved with utmost care.
He did not speak unnecessarily. He did not approach anyone without permission.
After eating, he immediately began to make himself useful cleaning the carriage, organizing small items, even adjusting the seating to make it more comfortable. Every movement was cautious, almost reverent, as if afraid that a single mistake would cost him this chance at survival.
Bo Xi noticed, but said nothing.
Competence was always more convincing than words.
The caravan rested for several hours under the shade.
The heat was suffocating.
Even sitting still, sweat trickled down the back. The air itself seemed to ripple, distorting the horizon. Horses stood with lowered heads, occasionally snorting as they were fed and given water.
The soldiers took turns fanning themselves, some removing parts of their armor while others remained alert.
Bo Xi sat slightly apart, a detailed map spread across her lap.
Her brows were faintly furrowed.
Beside her, Han Fei sat quietly, holding a small book. His lips moved slightly as he read, slow but steady. From time to time, he paused, pointing at a word.
"What is this?" he asked softly.
Bo Xi leaned closer, her tone gentle. "That word means 'harvest.'"
Han Fei nodded, repeating it under his breath, committing it to memory.
Despite the harsh conditions, a small sense of peace lingered between them.
Not far away, Han Wei watched the scene.
A trace of envy flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with something softer. Relief. Gratitude.
At least… his younger brother was living well.
He lowered his gaze to the child in his arms.
The baby, who once looked like he could fade away at any moment, now had a faint hint of life in his cheeks.
Han Wei carefully fanned him, wiping away the sweat forming on his tiny forehead.
"I'll make sure we will live well.," he murmured under his breath.
After sufficient rest, the group prepared to move again.
The formation was reorganized.
Outer guards fully armored. Inner guards in lighter gear, rotating every hour to avoid exhaustion.
Bo Xi mounted her horse once more, taking position at the front.
The road ahead stretched long and uncertain.
They moved at a slow, steady pace under the relentless sun.
Only when the sun began to descend would they increase their speed.
The horses huffed with each step, their breathing heavy.
As Bo Xi looked ahead, her expression remained calm, but her thoughts were sharp.
The old man's information lingered in her mind.
A massive wave of refugees… heading toward the very city they had just left.
If their paths crossed…
Trouble would be inevitable.
Her grip on the reins tightened slightly.
The disasters were no longer isolated events.
They were beginning to connect—like threads weaving into something far more dangerous.
War at the borders.
Drought spreading inland.
Refugees moving in waves.
Bandits lurking where order weakened.
Bo Xi exhaled slowly.
The road ahead would not be easy.
But she had already made her choice.
No matter what came—
She would get them through it.
The days stretched longer under the relentless summer sky.
They traveled until the sun dipped low, when the heat finally loosened its grip. Only then did the caravan come to a halt.
The soldiers moved with practiced efficiency. Fires were lit in small clusters, carefully positioned to avoid drawing too much attention. Since a river flowed nearby, groups of two or three were assigned to fetch water and gather firewood.
Despite exhaustion, no one complained.
Soon, simple meals were prepared—porridge, coarse grain cakes, and a bit of salted vegetables. The smell of smoke and food drifted through the camp, blending with the faint scent of the river.
Bo Xi sat near one of the fires, quietly chewing on dried meat. Her expression remained calm, but her eyes were alert, occasionally scanning the surroundings.
Not far from her, a separate pot simmered.
She had personally prepared something extra.
A small portion of meat, fresh vegetables, and a few fruits, carefully set aside for Han Fei and Han Wei.
When the food was ready, Han Wei stared at the spread in front of him, clearly uneasy.
"Sister-in-law… we… I can't eat this," he said hesitantly, his fingers tightening slightly around his bowl.
The contrast was too obvious.
While everyone else ate plain, barely satisfying meals, theirs looked almost indulgent.
Bo Xi didn't even look up. "It is fine, elder brother. Please eat."
Her tone was calm, leaving little room for argument.
"But—" Han Wei started, guilt evident in his voice.
Before he could continue, Han Fei gently interrupted him.
"Brother, eat now," Han Fei said softly. "We can only get fresh vegetables at times like this. Later, there might not be any."
His voice wasn't forceful, but it carried quiet reasoning.
Han Wei hesitated… then slowly lowered his gaze.
Han Fei picked up some vegetables and meat, then placed them carefully into a bowl before turning toward Bo Xi.
"Wife, eat some," he said, holding it out to her.
Bo Xi glanced at the bowl, then at him. "It is for you."
"No," Han Fei replied, moving closer and pressing the bowl into her hands. "You've been working the hardest."
For a brief moment, Bo Xi didn't move.
Then, a faint smile appeared.
She took a small bite.
"Happy?" she asked lightly.
Han Fei nodded immediately, a soft smile forming on his lips. "Yes."
Only then did he continue eating.
Han Wei ate the food in small bite. He knew the reason he was able to eat these are due to his brother.
Han Wei didn't know why but he was always abit afraid of his sister in law who seem honest and hardworking.
The fire crackled softly as night settled in.
Around them, the soldiers ate in silence, some already lying down to rest, others keeping watch.
Bo Xi sat by the fire, slowly chewing her food as her gaze lingered on the flickering flames.
Even after sunset, the heat refused to fade. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating. Around her, people fanned themselves with whatever they could find—cloth, hands, even broken pieces of wood.
No one spoke much.
They were all conserving energy.
Bo Xi's thoughts drifted to the road ahead, the drought, the unrest, the growing waves of refugees. Each problem alone was manageable. Together… they were something else entirely.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the piece of dried meat before she exhaled and forced herself to stop thinking further.
Worry wouldn't change anything.
Preparation would.
After the meal, she returned to the carriage.
With practiced efficiency, she placed wooden boards across the interior, forming a stable base. On top of it, she laid soft mattresses and blankets, creating a makeshift bed.
Not luxurious—but far better than the ground.
Nearby, the male guards were doing the same for Han Wei and his child, carefully arranging space inside another carriage.
The rest of the group set up simple tents. Some lay down immediately, too exhausted to care about comfort, while others remained on guard duty, occasionally adding wood to the fire to keep it alive through the night.
Bo Xi climbed into the carriage.
Han Fei was already there.
As soon as she lay down, he instinctively moved closer, wrapping his arms around hers, his breathing steady and calm.
Perhaps his body was slowly adapting to the harsh conditions… or perhaps exhaustion had finally claimed him.
Either way, he slept deeply.
Bo Xi, on the other hand, remained lightly asleep her senses sharp, her mind half-aware of every movement, every sound beyond the thin carriage walls.
The night passed quietly.