Chapter 28: The Qingfeng Gorge

The man raised a hand and called, “Slow down.”

The sound of wheels gradually slowed. Several guards tightened their grips on their weapons and watched the road ahead warily.

Yan Li and Xuan Shiyan had traveled a long way. Dust clung to their clothes, the mountain wind had left their hair somewhat disheveled, and with a child in their arms, they looked like a family of three on the road.

The caravan stopped several yards away. The man sat on horseback, his gaze moving back and forth over the two.

Yan Li turned slightly, lowered his eyes, and hid most of his face behind Xuan Shiyan. His fingers patted Yan Shu’s back lightly, now and then.

The little one was cooperative enough, staying quiet in his arms without a sound.

Xuan Shiyan stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute toward the lead man on horseback. “Brother, sorry to trouble you.”

“We are a family of three heading to Tianque City. Along the way, we heard that the area around Qingfeng Gorge is unsafe, and we are a little uneasy.”

“If it is convenient, could we travel with your caravan for a stretch? We won’t impose for free. We will pay our share, not a coin less.”

Hearing this, the man studied them again. “Just the two of you?”

“Yes.”

“Traveling this road with a child?”

Xuan Shiyan smiled bitterly. “Something happened at home. We thought the official road would be safer, and planned to hire a carriage once we reached the next town. But along the way, we met several people who had turned back, all saying there are bandits around here. We happened to run into your caravan, so I swallowed my pride and came to ask for help.”

The lead man was about to speak when the curtain of a carriage behind him was suddenly lifted.

“Lao Zhao, what’s going on?” A middle-aged man with a short beard leaned halfway out.

“Shopkeeper, these two say they want to travel with us to Tianque City.”

The shopkeeper looked the dusty pair up and down, raising an eyebrow. “Traveling through Qingfeng Gorge with a child? You’ve got some nerve.”

He jumped down from the carriage and glanced at the child in Yan Li’s arms.

The little one was gnawing on her fingers. Seeing someone look at her, she blinked twice.

The shopkeeper was silent for a moment. “You’re going to Tianque City?”

“Yes.” Xuan Shiyan answered with a cupped-hand salute.

“Where are you from?”

Xuan Shiyan gave the name of a small town by the official road. The shopkeeper had some impression of the place and knew it was indeed in this direction, so he could find no fault with it.

He looked at the two a few more times. If they were bandit accomplices, they would be far too conspicuous. Besides, they had no trace of cultivator aura at all, so they did not seem like trouble.

After a moment of thought, the shopkeeper waved a hand. “Fine, follow behind us. Let me make this clear now: if something really happens, we won’t be able to look after you.”

Xuan Shiyan quickly cupped his hands in thanks. “Of course. We are already grateful to be allowed to travel with you. We wouldn’t dare cause trouble for your caravan.”

The shopkeeper said no more. He tilted his chin toward Lao Zhao. “Arrange it.”

Lao Zhao still had doubts, but since the shopkeeper had spoken, he said nothing more and only replied, “Follow me.”

He pointed to the cargo cart behind. “You can sit there.”

“Thank you.” Xuan Shiyan cupped his hands, and he and Yan Li walked toward the cart.

The cart bed was much higher than the ground. Yan Li was still holding Yan Shu, and just as he was about to step up, a hand was offered to him. “Let me help you.”

Yan Li glanced at the hand. A vein at his temple twitched slightly, but in the end he said nothing and used the help to step onto the cart.

Xuan Shiyan withdrew his hand and climbed up after him.

The two sat down on the cart bed, which was covered with a thick layer of dry grass. It was not exactly comfortable, but they had managed to blend in smoothly.

The caravan started moving again.

The cart swayed forward, its wheels rolling over dirt with a dull rumble.

Xuan Shiyan sat beside Yan Li, less than two fists’ width between them.

They had not gone far when the cart lurched sharply. Yan Li held Yan Shu with one arm, and just as his other hand reached for the cart bed, a hand beside him steadily caught his waist first.

“Careful.”

The warmth of the palm came through the fabric. Yan Li stiffened, turned his head, and shot Xuan Shiyan a glare, but in the end he held back from kicking him off the cart.

Xuan Shiyan waited until he was seated steadily before letting go as if nothing had happened.

The jolt made Yan Shu’s little face scrunch up. Her mouth had just begun to pucker when Yan Li quickly brought the prepared spirit milk to her lips. The little one latched on at once and sucked quietly.

In the carriage, the shopkeeper leaned against a soft cushion, eyes closed in rest.

Lao Zhao rode closer to the carriage window and could not help lowering his voice. “Shopkeeper, do you really trust those two?”

The shopkeeper did not open his eyes. After a long while, he spoke lightly. “Trust is another matter. At least they don’t look like bandits.”

Lao Zhao was startled.

The shopkeeper continued, “Those two may be of unknown origin, but their clothes are neat, and their behavior is steady. Especially the young man. He speaks reasonably and doesn’t look like someone in a deadly trade. As for the woman…” He paused. “She holds the child quite skillfully. That can’t be faked.”

Lao Zhao instinctively looked back.

He happened to see the cart roll over a stone, and the cart bed lurched sharply.

The young woman swayed, and the young man beside her reached out to steady her waist. The woman turned her head and glared at him. The young man did not take offense and only smiled.

To Lao Zhao, it looked like a young couple bickering. He scratched the back of his head, and the last bit of his suspicion faded with the scene.

The shopkeeper added with his eyes still closed, “Even if there is something strange, two young people with a child can’t stir up much trouble. If they just want some protection, there’s no harm in doing them a favor.”

Lao Zhao thought it over. The reasoning made sense, so he stopped worrying. He glanced back once more at the two on the cart, then urged his horse forward and returned to the front of the group.

Around noon, the caravan entered Qingfeng Gorge.

The gorge was even more perilous than they had imagined.

Cliffs rose straight up on both sides as if cut by knives and axes. The sky overhead was squeezed into a narrow slit, and gray-white mist rose from the bottom of the gorge.

The mountain road twisted and turned. At its narrowest, only a single carriage could pass by hugging the cliff wall. Wheels rolled over loose stones, and the dull sound echoed between the cliffs on both sides.

Yan Li lowered his eyes, looking as if he were dozing off while holding the child.

Until a very faint ripple swept over the caravan from above, passing silently over the entire group.

Yan Li’s eyelashes flickered. ‘So there is a restriction after all.’

As they had discovered earlier, this restriction would not block an ordinary caravan from entering, but if anyone tried to force their way in, it would immediately trigger a warning.

He raised his eyes without any change in expression and briefly met Xuan Shiyan’s gaze. Xuan Shiyan gave an almost imperceptible nod. Both of them understood.

Wind poured out from deep within the gorge, making the caravan’s banners flap loudly.

The deeper they went, the quieter it became.

Lao Zhao pressed his lips tightly. One hand gripped the reins, and the other rested lightly on the saber at his waist.

The guards also shed their earlier casual air, keeping their hands near their weapons.

No one spoke or coughed. Even their breathing was hushed.

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