The pace of the caravan was slow allowing Cui Xi to enjoy the scenery coming down from the mountain and out into the northwest of the kingdom. The landscape here was made of stunning contrasts: breathtaking forests could turn into sparkling rivers with shale banks and then into hot and dusty sand valleys of red rock, expanding out into the shores of wide salty lakes. Cui Xi had never seen such magnificent colours. She’d been terribly sheltered in her previous life and had not seen much of the world; to have a chance to travel now filled her heart with satisfaction.

Jingling camels, heavily laden wagons, and fine carriages carrying wealthy merchants made a train of riotous noise as they made their way toward the capital. The caravan was about ten vehicles in total and a myriad of men, women, and even children travelled with them. Cui Xi and Xiao Yu often found themselves walking alongside, chatting aimlessly with the other women and children.

Yang Ming Xi had cautioned them that only the caravan leader knew that they were his daughter and foster daughter, so Cui Xi and Xiao Yu agreed that they would act as mistress and maid while they travelled. Not wanting to attract attention, Cui Xi also wore a white veil over the lower half of her face, which ended up having the opposite effect as curious children would gather to ask about it, calling her Bai Jie Jie, or White Elder Sister. It was at this time that she came up with the excuse that she had been scarred by fire.

“Miss? Water?” asked a young man, startling Cui Xi out of her reverie as she stared at the fiery sunset. He held out a hollowed half gourd full of water.

Xiao Yu appeared out of nowhere and took it, very discreetly poking a silver needle in before handing it to Cui Xi

“Mistress,” she smiled with her eyes indicating that the water was fine.

Although there was really no reason to doubt the young man who worked under the caravan leader, Cui Xi did not mind Xiao Yu’s vigilance.

“Thank you,” she nodded to the young man, who grinned. She turned away, raising the veil, and noticing that the young man tried to peak at her face. Hmmph! So, this is an excuse to see what I look like!

He filled it again when she handed it back to him and then passed it to Xiao Yu who glanced at him over the gourd, taking on a slightly unfriendly look.

“We will camp here by the river,” he informed them without any excess conversation. Then he bowed slightly and left.

Cui Xi nodded and turned back to the stunning orange and reds staining the open terrain with a molten glow. She sighed with pleasure.

“Xiao Yu, I know you miss home, but is this not beautiful?”

“Very beautiful,” Xiao Yu agreed, smiling gently. “Don’t worry about me, Mistress. I miss Da, but it’s better to avoid trouble. At some point, he will come to the capital himself.” She did not bother to explain that this was already the plan.

“Look!” Cui Xi suddenly pointed.

A small group of horsemen had come down to the opposite bank of the river. As they were at a narrower part of the river, Cui Xi could make out the faces across the way and her eyes met those of a youth. His hair was pulled back into a rather austere bun revealing a face that had not quite discarded its boyishness. He was not adorned except for a bit of leather with a plain wooden pin thrust through his hair. Cui Xi could tell that he was probably only a year or two older than her, maybe eighteen or nineteen? He looked curiously at her, his hands lazy on the reins of his horse, causing it to wander along the bank. As the animal moved too far away, he had to twist around to continue looking only to flush with embarrassment when he heard the snorts and hoots of laughter from the older men in his party. 

Cui Xi was glad that her face was covered so he could not see her own half-way embarrassed smirk.

Yet seized by impulse, Cui Xi raised a hand and waved. After a pause, the young man’s startled face broke into a smile and he waved back with equal disregard for etiquette.

The young man who’d carried their water to them, frowned at them in dismay.

“Mistress!” Xiao Yu grabbed her hand and pulled it down. “That’s not appropriate! And we don’t know who they are…they could be bandits.”

Cui Xi shook her head.

“Bandits wouldn’t show themselves so openly. They’re travellers, like us. In fact, I think they might be going the same way. Maybe some young master from jianghu?”

Xiao Yu shivered.

“Let’s go, Mistress.”

Cui Xi reluctantly allowed herself to be drawn away.

Later that evening, after the fires had been banked, she wandered down to the river side to wash her hands and face, so she was at the far end of the camp when the commotion began. 

The night was suddenly split by screams and the clash of weapons.

“Bandits! Bandits!” someone shouted. “Run!” 

No! Really?

Cui Xi froze.

Xiao Yu! The children! she thought and stumbled in her haste, scratching her hand on the rocks as she turned to run back toward the caravan camp.

Cui Xi immediately saw that someone had cut the horses loose, creating terrible confusion as they streaked fearfully through the camp, driven to foaming frenzy by the smell of blood and fire. Cui Xi clapped her hands around her face, overwhelmed by the hot metal smell of blood, the smoke in her eyes, the sound of clanging swords, and the screams of women. She felt sick and panicked.

Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

“Xiao Yu!” she shouted, ducking away from a horse. It was so dark that she could only vaguely see what was going on. “Xiao Yu!!”

“Jie Jie!” a small hand grabbed her dress and tugged.

Looking down, she recognized a tearful young boy who normally formed part of the group of children she had befriended on the journey and she hastily picked him up.

“Good boy! Don’t cry now. We’re going to be ok,” she comforted, swiftly looking around for a place to hide. The problem was that things were beginning to catch fire. Even if she hid him in one of the wagons that had not been overturned, there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t be burnt to death.

Dammit!

Gritting her teeth, she hugged him tight to her, and then ran towards the woods. She ran until the shouts seemed far away and then set the boy down next to a tree.

“Little brother stay here, and don’t move, ok? If anyone comes that isn’t me, hide behind that bush, understand?”

“Ennn!” He agreed and rubbed a grubby hand across his face, smearing snot everywhere, but smiling bravely.

“Good! Don’t move, ok? Jie Jie, will come back!”  

Heading back, she only paused to rip a strip of fabric from her skirt to tie it to a low branch, marking where she had entered the wood so that she could retrieve the boy later…if there was a later. At this point, the sounds of fighting were too close, and she didn’t dare leave the heavy foliage. Staying crouched, she carefully peaked out to see what was happening.

After watching for a moment, she saw that there seemed to be something strange about the fighting. One group of people, all dressed in black, appeared very intent on killing another group of people…who did not appear to be part of the caravan. She moved back a little, as the fighting spilled out right in front of where she was hidden. 

She had no idea how, but her brain had surprisingly calmed while dealing with the boy, allowing her to more critically analyse what she observed now. 

Although it was night and it made sense to dress in black, it was a bit much that all the bandits would be dressed in black. For common bandits it would likely have been enough that they had the element of surprise. 

Also, they did not appear to be trying to capture the woman or the children, some of whom were still running about in panic. They were killing them outright…This didn’t make any sense. The most profitable merchandise (besides the goods) would have been anyone who could be sold as a slave. This looked like they were trying to eliminate witnesses.

Not good!

She also finally realized that the ‘bandits’ appeared to be targeting the group that they had seen earlier on the river, including the boy to whom she had waved.

How had they become mixed up with the caravan? She watched the boy stumbling away, two men protecting his back as they retreated. He looked heavily wounded. Had a separate conflict simply spilled over into the caravan camp? Was this just bad luck? 

Anger boiled in the bottom of her belly as she thought of all the innocent people who had been caught up in someone else’s conflict.

Her next thoughts were driven clean out of her head as a man abruptly crashed into the bushes where she was hiding and was then promptly stabbed by the man chasing him. As the sword was ripped back out, blood sprayed all over her. Unable to hold it in, she screamed in fright, scrambling up.

“What a beautiful girl…” the man remarked, flicking blood off his sword and advancing on her. She touched her face, realizing that the veil had fallen off. Before she could react, he reached out to grab her and she screamed again, but then there was a horrific crunch as someone behind him crushed his head in with a metal club. 

There wasn’t even a grunt as the bandit’s eyes took on a curiously blank look while he fell sideways. Standing in front of her, holding the club, was the young caravan man who had offered her water hours earlier. With his expression set, he held out a dirty hand that was covered in blood.

Trembling, she took it, but looking at the mess of smashed bone bits and brain next to her, she immediately turned and threw up.