Chapter 582: Never Come Out

Only to see, the already short main street has now turned into a chaotic mess.

Abdu, not knowing where he had snatched a horse, was scrambling up it in a panic.

His left arm still hung before his chest, only one hand could exert force; after kicking for a while, he barely managed to swing onto the horse's back.

The shopkeeper ran ahead, out of breath, seeing Abdu about to escape, a flash of killing intent in his eyes, he suddenly drew something from his waist.

A flash of cold light shot through the air.

"Pu—"

Abdu shuddered all over and let out a miserable cry.

Everyone looked closely and saw a dagger plunged into his already wounded left arm; blood immediately gushed out, dripping down.

The shopkeeper shouted: "He's injured! He won't get far!"

"Everyone chase! Don't let him get away!"

No sooner had his words fallen than he had already taken the lead around the street corner.

The others also followed in a rush, disappearing in an instant at the end of the main street.

Hoofbeats, shouts, and running sounds blended together, fading farther away.

Xiao Ningyuan crouched on the roof, smacking his lips: "The shopkeeper's not bad—this hand-thrown dagger shows he's practiced."

Xiao Ningxun couldn't hold back the smile at the corner of his mouth: "Now it's even livelier."

Xue Tong laughed and slapped his thigh: "Good! Good! That's exactly how it should be! Let them fight like dogs—mouth full of hair!"

Kang An stared at the empty street and laughed "kekeke".

Lu Qi patted his head: "Feeling relieved?"

Kang An nodded vigorously: "Relieved! Fun!"

Tuan Tuan lay in his brother's arms, straining his little neck: "They're running so fast!"

Sa Dike asked: "Who do you think can catch up to that Abdu?"

Xiao Er snorted: "What does it matter who can catch up? No matter who catches him, they'll have to keep fighting!"

Hearing this, everyone burst out laughing.

"Let's go." Having said that, Xiao Ningxun hugged Tuan Tuan and led the way back to the courtyard.

The others also leapt back one after another.

Everyone looked at the pile of gold and silver items on the ground, and Xiao Ningyuan asked: "What should we do with these?"

Tuan Tuan replied: "Take them! After all, they were swindled from them."

Xiao Ningxun laughed: "Good! Pack them into boxes and take them away!"

A guard pointed at the chicken coop and sheep: "Young master, should we also take these...?"

Xiao Ningyuan was quite excited: "Take them, take them!"

Xiao Ningxun: "......"

The guards hurriedly gathered the gold and silver from the ground and hung them on either side of the camels.

The chicken coop and sheep were tied at the rear of the camel caravan.

Sa Dike was completely convinced this time: "Miss, you're really something! Those swindlers meeting you have truly met their nemesis."

"They tried to cheat you but didn't succeed; instead you cleaned them out completely."

"That's right!" Xiao Ningyuan gave a proud smile, "You don't even look—whose sister is he!"

"Exactly!" Xue Tong laughed loudly, "You don't even look—whose disciple is she!"

Kang An wore a look of shared pride: "Tuan Tuan! Awesome!"

Sa Dike still couldn't forget about that treasure map: "But, miss, if they really found the treasure, wouldn't you be giving them a big gift?"

Tuan Tuan blinked: "Found it? No way, that map isn't real!"

Sa Dike: "......"

Xiao Ningxun smiled: "Pack up, we leave immediately!"

"Yes!"

The carriage slowly moved forward, the group left Wenshou City and continued toward the capital.

Sa Dike hesitated and said: "We've been delayed on the road; I want to take a mountain shortcut. If we travel day and night, we can still arrive before the Grand Sacrifice Festival."

"That will inconvenience a few of us; we might have to spend a night in the mountains."

He paused, then spoke very politely: "Of course, you decide, you decide."

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "All right."

Only then did Sa Dike shout "Giddyap!" and drive the carriage into the mountains.

The mountain road grew deeper, the slopes on either side gradually steepening; on the ochre stone walls, occasional clumps of camel thorn poked from the cracks, dotted with pale green.

Far off, the mountain peaks were a sheet of snow-white, especially striking against the blue sky.

Tuan Tuan leaned against the carriage window, raised a hand and pointed: "Third Brother, look! What is that white on the mountain peak?"

"That's the Snow Mountain." Xiao Ningxun steadied her small frame, "Snow on the Western Regions' Snow Mountain never melts year-round, hence it's white."

Tuan Tuan let out a "wow" and stared at the Snow Mountain with relish.

As the sky gradually darkened, everyone found a sheltered mountain hollow and stopped.

The guards quickly lit a bonfire; the flames leapt, casting the surrounding stone walls in alternating light and shadow.

Everyone gathered around the fire, chatting and laughing, eating some flatbread and dried meat, as drowsiness slowly welled up.

Xiao Ningxun held Tuan Tuan and put her into the carriage: "Sleep; we still have to rush tomorrow morning."

"Hmm," Tuan Tuan gave a little yawn, "Xiao An'an, aren't you sleepy? Come up and sleep quickly."

Kang An responded with a sound and also crawled into the carriage.

Space on the cart was limited; besides the two little ones, only Xue Tong also slept inside the cart.

The others all sat around the campfire, leaning against the cart wheels and trees, with their eyes closed.

No one knew how long had passed.

"Shhh…" a strange sound sounded low.

Xiao Er snapped his eyes open, cocked his ear to listen, but the sound had already vanished.

Lu Qi opened his eyes and looked around: "Go to sleep, it's probably just a nearby wild beast; we've lit a fire, so they won't dare approach."

Xiao Er nodded, about to close his eyes, when his gaze swept over the edge of the mountain hollow.

He sprang up instantly, quickly drew his waist sword, and shouted: "Brother Lu!"

Lu Qi flipped over and stood up, following his gaze, and his whole body stiffened in an instant.

A huge black humanoid shadow stood there silently.

But that shadow was simply too large.

It stood nearly three zhang tall; though it was a human shape, it resembled more a small humanoid hill.

Moonlight shone from behind it, wrapping its body in a thin layer of white light, making it look even more eerie.

"Damn it…" Lu Qi squeezed out a few words through his teeth: "Is this even human?"

He quietly slipped an Iron Lotus Seed from his bosom and gripped it in his hand.

The guards all startled awake, drawing their swords and standing to either side of the two.

They all turned as one to look at that "person," their faces paling, the hands gripping their swords trembling uncontrollably.

"What… what… what is this?"

"It looks like a person."

"Get lost! Have you ever seen someone this tall?"

Xiao Ningyuan rubbed his eyes, still thinking he was dreaming.

Xiao Ningxun drew his waist sword, stood before the cart, and guarded its entrance.

The three inside the cart heard the commotion and sat up.

Tuan Tuan lifted the curtain on the cart window: "Third Brother, what's happening?"

"It's fine." Xiao Ningxun tried to keep his voice calm: "Stay put, and whatever you do, don't come out."

Just as he spoke, that huge humanoid shadow actually moved!

Its movements were similar to a person's yet different, more like some kind of beast that had risen to stand.

It stepped forward, one step, then another, slowly walking toward the crowd.

"Thud, thud, thud."

The ground gave a faint tremor, then another.

Everyone's hearts throbbed in sync, and they all crowded toward the cart.

The horses kicked up dirt in fright, the white camels snorted loudly, and their feet kept stepping back.