“There’s hardly any defensible spot on the road,” Xiang Xian said. “Fleeing like this, we can only seek aid from Gaochang.”
“The south side of the Tianshan is still Gaochang territory,” Xiao Kun said. “Bila Ge must act. He won’t abandon so many commoners.”
They camped on high ground north of Bohu Lake. Xiao Kun thought and said, “Hulü Guang, can you make a trip ahead to Gaochang?”
“As you command, Lord Xiao.” Hulü Guang replied.
Xiao Kun wrote a letter and handed it to him. “Deliver this to the Gaochang King. Ask him to prepare in advance. With Sweat-Blood Treasure Horses, day and night travel should get you there in a day and night.”
Sweat-Blood Horses at full gallop covered eight hundred li a day. Hulü Guang mounted immediately and rode through the night to Gaochang.
“I hope Mr. Liu doesn’t catch the stragglers at the rear,” Xiang Xian said.
Xiao Kun: “Let’s find a high spot and look.”
At the end of the Tianshan range, peaks towered. The night was clear with broad visibility. Xiao Kun leaped on foot to scout from the highest peak.
“If your dragon were still usable…” Xiang Xian kept slipping on the cliff. The terrain grew rugged and perilous higher up; one misstep meant a plunge into a myriad-zhang abyss. Both had True Qi to protect them and superhuman agility, so they wouldn’t be smashed to pulp, but falling would mean starting over.
Xiao Kun reached out and grabbed Xiang Xian’s wrist. “Only the Heart Lamp can purify it. Given Hulü Guang’s current state, it might not be solvable anytime soon…”
“Watch out!” Xiang Xian said. “That rock is loose!”
They nearly fell together. Xiang Xian whistled, summoning A Huang, who briefly unfurled flame wings to find footing.
“Can’t you fly?” Xiao Kun said.
“In resonance with A Huang’s Magical Power,” Xiang Xian explained. “For a short time, it grants me flight off the ground—like borrowing his Innate Power. But I must release True Fire in combat, or holding it in feels awful.”
As Xiang Xian spoke, his breath carried Blazing Flame essence. He finally stood firm and dispelled the spell.
Xiao Kun reached the summit first, then pulled Xiang Xian up.
In the night, distant Korla was faintly visible on the earth, its winding refugee train heading toward their camp. Black fire shot skyward from Korla city.
“Up to their evil arts again.” Xiao Kun said.
Xiang Xian: “This isn’t good.”
Occasional birds arrived, far fewer than daytime, a sparse few streaking by. A Huang flew up, conversed briefly, and said: “Good news: the Ba Army isn’t rushing. They’re regrouping in Korla.
“Bad news: Mr. Liu dug up more dry corpses from Yanqi’s ancient tombs.”
“How many exactly?” Xiang Xian said.
“Sixty thousand,” A Huang said.
“First fifty to eighty thousand, then seventy, now sixty,” Xiang Xian fumed. “How many is it really!”
Enemy numbers mattered greatly; he needed to know how many Ba they faced.
A Huang stayed calm: “It’s dark; hard to see. Why obsess over the exact tens of thousands?”
Xiang Xian rubbed his forehead.
“At least a hundred thousand by now,” Xiao Kun said. “No telling how long they’ll regroup in Korla. Xiang Xian?”
Xiang Xian had lost his temper.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking how we’re getting down.”
“…”
The next day before dawn, Xiao Kun ordered departure again. They skirted the easternmost Tianshan along the incoming path, heading north to Gaochang. Gaochang lay in a basin ringed by canyons—a fine strategic point. If they could withdraw the whole force safely, bolstered by the Gaochang King’s troops guarding the canyon mouth, they might battle Mr. Liu.
That night after camping, Hulü Guang returned.
“His Majesty the King says ‘Come by all means.'” Hulü Guang brought only those three words from Bila Ge. Xiao Kun finally relaxed. That night, Xiang Xian slept soundly but woke at midnight to find Xiao Kun gone.
“Xiao Kun? Where are you?” Xiang Xian activated the Echoing Voice Insect.
Xiao Kun’s voice came from outside: “I’m checking on the people here. Many of them only arrived at the camp in the middle of the night. This kind of forced march is too exhausting for them, and some have even fallen ill. Chaosheng is treating them right now.”
By Xiang Xian’s usual temperament, he shouldn’t have been distracted at a time like this. He needed to conserve his energy and spirit for the great battle ahead, since they were the main fighting force. If the Ba Army caught up, all their efforts along the way would have been for nothing.
But since Xiao Kun had gone, Xiang Xian could only stretch his neck, get up with a yawn, and go accompany him.
“No need,” Xiao Kun said. “I’ll be back soon.”
Chaosheng was already exhausted beyond measure but still persisted. Wu Yingzong stayed by his side, gathering all their medicines. Chaosheng’s mind had grown a bit muddled. After treating a patient, he subconsciously reached out to hug Wu Yingzong’s neck. Wu Yingzong froze for a moment, then hugged him back.
“His Highness is already very tired,” Wu Yingzong said to the people. “Come back tomorrow.”
“It’s fine,” Chaosheng forced himself to rally and said. “There aren’t many left, and they’ve been waiting all night too.”
“I’ll stay with him,” Xiao Kun sat down and said. “Old Wu, you go rest.”
Wu Yingzong hurriedly replied, “This is my duty.”
Xiao Kun was still quite energetic and said, “Then go ask Gemu Wen if there are any medicinal herbs.”
Wu Yingzong got up and left. Though Xiao Kun wasn’t proficient in medicine, he had learned a little. He stayed by Chaosheng’s side to keep him company.
“Chaosheng, Big Brother and the others have been too busy lately and haven’t taken care of you. I’m really sorry.” Xiao Kun chatted idly with Chaosheng to ward off his sleepiness.
“It’s fine!” As soon as Chaosheng had something to say, his drowsiness receded a bit.
Xiao Kun always felt that the atmosphere among his companions was a little off, but he never suspected Wu Yingzong.
