Nearby, squadrons of cavalry were rushing past, not harassing the common folk, their faces etched with anxiety. Unlike the fleeing civilians heading east, they were moving west to reinforce the front lines.
These were their own people, not enemy territory, so they hadn't resorted to looting.
The faces of the displaced villagers were marked with sorrow. Elders and children sat on carts. Those with means could afford to hire a horse or a donkey to pull them. The less fortunate, or those too slow to buy horses as they were snapped up, had their carts pulled by the strong laborers in their families.
The war had barely begun, yet the stream of people fleeing their homes and enduring hardship was endless.
Their side fared worse than the enemy's border region.
People in the border regions of the enemy did not have their homes destroyed; they were merely worried about their own lives. They could always return once the fighting was over.
These people would only be able to return to rebuild their homes after the war concluded. As for who would win or lose, they were indifferent. Even if the enemy won, all that would change overhead was the ruler. They would still pay taxes and perform corvée labor; nothing would be less.
Of course, it wasn't as if the enemy's border region was guaranteed safety. What if the Buzhihuo family gained the upper hand and counterattacked?
The common people had no understanding of strategy or tactics, nor did they know which side was stronger or weaker, nor could they predict who would ultimately win.
Facing war, the only choice they had was to vote with their feet.
"Esteemed young master, I beg your pardon for disturbing you. My old father's legs are not good, and I wish to buy your donkey with coin. I implore you to grant me this favor. Your great kindness will be remembered forever."
A gaunt man, carrying an elderly, frail old man on his back, spoke with earnestness, but his voice was punctuated by coughs. He looked like a sickly individual.
"I'm truly sorry, but my legs are also not good, and I cannot travel far. This donkey is my lifeline, truly I am sorry."
The old man refused without a second thought, taking two hobbling steps while leading the donkey.
If Wan Lei hadn't seen the old man carry the donkey and run faster than a flying beast, he might have believed him.
The old man was reluctant to sell the donkey; this donkey, named Lu Zi, had been with him for many years.
Wan Lei was also reluctant to sell the donkey; he was saving it for donkey meat shaobing.
"Is that so? Then I have disturbed you. My apologies."
Disappointment flickered across the man's face, but he remained polite.
"Wait a moment."
Fang Xiaoyu called out to the man who was turning to leave.
"Esteemed young lady..."
"Take these two pills. They will help you and your father feel better."
Fang Xiaoyu produced two pills.
These were the lowest-grade pills. For mortals, they would merely strengthen the body and cure illnesses.
It wasn't that Fang Xiaoyu was unwilling to offer better pills. It was just that the medicinal effects of those pills were too potent; these two mortals would not be able to withstand them and would instantly explode.
"This... Thank you, young lady. You are martial heroes, aren't you? This humble one is grateful... Uh, I have some silver for you."
The man fumbled in his clothes, his hand trembling as he pulled out a piece of silver and a few copper coins. For someone like him, who also had to care for his elderly father, this was likely all he possessed.
Life was not easy, carrying burdens forward, yet they knew not when they would finally collapse.
"No need, we aren't short of money. Take them quickly."
Fang Xiaoyu placed the pills in the man's hand.
"Thank you, heroes."
The man made to kowtow, but Fang Xiaoyu steadied him with a surge of spiritual energy.
After the father and son took the pills, the effects were immediate. The man's coughing ceased, his posture straightened considerably, and his father's eyes regained their spirit.
"Weren't you two always shouting that the prosperity of the world has nothing to do with us? How is it that you've developed compassion? Tsk, tsk, tsk."
The three of them resumed their journey. Recalling the earlier incident, the old man couldn't help but smack his lips.
"When in a good mood, we help out. This person was very sensible and didn't resort to moral coercion. We just found him pleasing to the eye," Fang Xiaoyu replied without looking up.
"How is that not moral coercion? Didn't you see that I needed a donkey? You immediately started talking about how miserable you were and even carried your old man, all while appearing sickly. Wasn't that just trying to evoke pity and sympathy?
Out of so many people, why didn't you try to buy someone's horse, but instead came to us? You probably saw that we were dressed well and looked young, appearing easy to deceive!"
"It's different. If, after we refused him, he had pestered us, lamenting his plight and even begging for charity, then it would indeed be moral coercion.
But after learning that we weren't selling, he immediately apologized and left. This shows that he truly needed it and genuinely wanted to buy. If he couldn't, he didn't force the issue.
This isn't moral coercion; it's merely the weak seeking help from the strong.
Since they were polite, we wouldn't give them a cold shoulder."
To put it plainly, these two acted entirely on a whim and had the privilege to do so.
"Tsk, you two are becoming quite worldly. That's right, aren't we wandering around like this essentially traveling the jianghu?
In the jianghu..."
"Old man, if you dare say you have no control over yourself, I'll punch you."
"Uh... What I mean is, in the jianghu, aren't we just seeking freedom, ease, and the ability to do as we please? Hahaha."
The three of them and a donkey strolled along leisurely, stopping and going as they pleased, enjoying themselves thoroughly.
They were not moving quickly, and the offensive from the Xiren family was not swift either. Over the past half month, after a brief period of panic and confusion, the Buzhihuo family had quickly stabilized their position. They dispatched the family's second-strongest expert, Buzhihuo Qingwu, to the front lines to defend against the enemy's advance.
"Old man, how much further is it to Xinglin Village?"
"Twenty li ahead."
"Oh."
Actually, Wan Lei didn't need to ask; he knew they weren't far from their next destination, Xinglin Village.
After all, they had already entered a forest.
A forest of apricot trees.
The area around Xinglin Village was entirely covered by apricot orchards, spanning several hundred mu.
It was spring, and the apricot trees were sprouting green leaves. The flower buds had just begun to form, and while it was a bit early to call them on the verge of blooming, they already exuded a faint fragrance.
When the apricot blossoms opened, the villagers of Xinglin Village would harvest some of the blossoms to make wine.
Of course, this village did not solely rely on winemaking for its livelihood. Such a destructive practice as harvesting all the apricot blossoms was out of the question; some would be left to mature into apricots in the autumn, yielding another harvest.
Apricot blossom wine and apricots were the two pillar industries of Xinglin Village.
Wan Lei and the other two were strolling through the forest. Not far from them, on a forest path, a dark blue sedan chair was making its way towards Xinglin Village.