Chapter 45: Three Forks Ridge

The next day, before dawn, at the fifth watch.

Behind the Guan family pharmacy.

“Xia Zhi, Yong Xue, goodbye!”

Xiao Yu wanted to pull out a few pieces of gold and silver jewelry to express her gratitude for the two women’s attentive service these past days.

Unfortunately, this “Miss Yu” had only been in her position for a few days and owned no valuable items.

In fact, right now, with her black hair and plain face, she looked far less adorned than the two maids, who were decked in pearls and jade.

“Miss, please take care of yourself!” The two maids’ expressions of farewell held at least a trace of genuine emotion.

Though Miss Yu came from a rough background, she merely ate more than most; her temper was never bad. She didn’t treat them exceptionally well, but being around her felt comfortable—no pressure or discomfort from status differences.

Yet if asked whether they truly couldn’t bear to part with Miss Yu or wished to follow her as personal attendants...

The two maids were genuinely afraid Miss Yu or Guan Zhong might make such a request.

Their entire family had lived their whole lives in Hengsha Pass; they had no desire to leave for the distant southern lands of Shu, chasing some imaginary “great future” (becoming a senior maid in the Guan household), even though they knew Luodu was far more prosperous.

“Let’s go!”

Xiang Huchen felt no sense of parting; his face grim, he mounted Chiyan Ju and rode ahead onto the main street.

Xiao Yu waved goodbye to the two maids once more, leapt onto Taohua Ma, and dashed out of the back alley like a streak of wind.

Now back in Hengsha Pass, Xiang Huchen naturally refused to let her ride Chiyan Ju again.

In truth, Xiao Yu didn’t want to ride Chiyan Ju either—unless Xiang Huchen gave it to her.

Right now, Xiang Huchen’s forehead was dark, his fate cursed by malevolent stars; any moment, three Renxian from Lu State might leap out and drown him and Chiyan Ju in immortal magic.

The closer she stayed to Xiang Huchen, the greater the risk; better to ride alone, free and unburdened.

Besides, the “Taohua Ma” Xiang Huchen had prepared for her was no slouch.

Its coat gleamed like brocade, speckled with crimson dots against a pale white base—beautiful.

Xiao Yu understood the principle that “a handsome horse draws attention to its rider,” yet another truth held: the healthier and more agile the steed, the more striking its appearance—and the more conspicuous it became.

To flee quickly, you needed a good horse; the more robust and swift, the more eye-catching it looked.

As for those lean, unimpressive horses that could still cover a thousand li a day—Xiao Yu could only imagine them; they might exist, but were rarer than Chi Tu, the legendary steed.

Arriving at Hengsha Pass’s north-south main road, Xiao Yu and Xiang Huchen waited a short while.

Waiting for Xiang Huchen’s old comrades—the Luye Wei Iron Cavalry.

Traveling far in ancient times was a hassle.

Not only did you have to rise before dawn, but you also had to prepare food, clothing, and supplies for the entire journey.

The Iron Cavalry weren’t lazy; they’d risen at the third watch.

Yet military movements were far more complicated than those of individuals like Xiao Yu or Guan Zhong.

Just the messengers carrying fire tokens had run back and forth between Xiang Huchen and the Prefect’s office five or six times.

Exit permits, fire tokens for the Southern City Garrison commander, grain requisition orders—all had to be fully prepared.

As the eastern sky turned pale as a fish’s belly, their group of over five hundred rode on cobblestones, “clip-clop, clip-clop,” exiting the southern pass.

“General, are we to keep marching with that group of border troops?”

After about half an hour, Xiang Huchen’s deputy, Song Changqing, dismounted and trotted over to Chiyan Ju, whispering.

His warhorse dared not approach Chiyan Ju too closely—too near would anger the “divine beast.”

Chiyan Ju spat fire from its nostrils to burn any nearby steeds, and Xiang Huchen, though able to stop it, always let it be.

“You didn’t notify the Iron Cavalry to merge with another unit... Is it necessary to have them follow us?”

Song Changqing’s tone was hesitant, yet he spoke up anyway.

“The Western Sand Garrison is among Shu’s few elite forces—what’s wrong with them?” Xiang Huchen replied coolly.

From Song Changqing’s term—“border troops”—he guessed the Iron Cavalry resented the Western Sand Garrison, seeing them as a drag.

He had no choice.

Knowing his forehead was dark and his fate cursed, how could he not gather as many protectors as possible?

These three hundred Western Sand Garrison troops were already pulled from the Prefect under the pretense of “welcoming the Rising Sun Marquis”; once the Rising Sun Marquis passed Feixian Ferry, they’d return to Hengsha Pass.

Of course, according to the “tribulation method” Xiang Huchen and Guan Zhong had discussed yesterday, if he could safely meet the Rising Sun Marquis, the calamity would largely pass.

Yes, the core of Xiang Huchen’s tribulation method was the Rising Sun Marquis.

With the Rising Sun Marquis present, even Renxian wouldn’t dare easily storm the camp.

Even the last remnants still causing trouble in the Thirty-Six States merely struck and retreated.

Wherever the Rising Sun Marquis went, they avoided.

So if Xiang Huchen faced a great calamity, it would most likely occur on the way to meet the Rising Sun Marquis.

To ensure safety on the journey, two hundred Iron Cavalry weren’t enough.

“General, the brothers don’t disdain the Western Sand Garrison—only our supply of Immortal Nourishment Pills is nearly exhausted. And...”

Song Changqing hesitated, glancing back.

There, on Taohua Ma, Xiao Yu watched them curiously; the Western Sand Garrison was still far behind.

“And the Western Sand Garrison seems newly formed—no telling about the men, but their warhorses certainly haven’t been cultivated with spirit herbs. Unlike our Iron Cavalry, who, with sufficient rations, can gallop thousands of li without collapsing.”

Marching with them, within two days, some riders will fall behind.

The longer we go, the more horses we’ll lose—then how will we help them?”

Xiang Huchen replied coolly: “We’ve entered the pass now; towns and relay stations line the route—we won’t lack supplies, and we can replace warhorses.”

We may not even need the Immortal Nourishment Pills.

As for the Western Sand Garrison...”

He paused, his expression slightly resigned. “They’re clearly newly formed—the unit isn’t even at full strength.”

The original eight thousand Western Sand Garrison troops were all slaughtered by the Thirty-Six States’ rebels.”

Yet their combat strength isn’t weak.

They’ve lived for generations on the Western Sand frontier, familiar with the terrain, better able to handle unexpected situations than we are.”

Song Changqing asked, puzzled: “Now that we’re inside the pass, what unexpected situations could still arise?”

“If I could predict them, what would they be called ‘unexpected’?” Xiang Huchen snapped.

Song Changqing silently slowed his pace, waited for his horse to catch up, then mounted and rejoined the cavalry column.

Within half a day, Xiao Yu fully understood Song Changqing’s concerns.

Around noon, a piercing scream suddenly echoed from behind.

Then chaos and commotion spread like ripples across a lake.

Xiao Yu saw Guan Zhong beside her shudder violently.

Xiang Huchen at the front was also tense, his right hand gripping his saber’s hilt.

“Who’s making noise? What happened in the rear?” He stood in his saddle, twisting to shout back.

Soon, a Western Sand Garrison captain rode up. “Report, General Guan—one of my men broke his leg.”

“How could someone break his leg while riding?” Xiang Huchen asked, then paused, realizing: “Did the horse stumble?”

“Yes—the horse grew exhausted, twisted its hoof, and slipped into a deep ditch by the roadside.”

The captain explained, wiped sweat from his brow, and added with a hint of complaint: “General Guan, we set out at the fourth watch and have marched over three hours—nearly eighty li. The men can still grit their teeth, but the horses truly can’t go on!”

“Only eighty li? I planned to reach Feixian Ferry tonight...”

Xiang Huchen was frustrated and anxious, but a quick glance backward revealed the Western Sand Garrison troops looked exhausted, wiping sweat constantly; many had dismounted to lead their panting horses on foot.

A mere five hundred men stretched over two or three li along the twenty-step-wide road.

“General Guan, Feixian Ferry is still three hundred li from here!” the Western Sand captain cried out.

And eighty li? How could you say that so casually!

Had it not been for the two hundred Iron Cavalry standing like iron statues on either side, disciplined and silent, he’d have suspected “Great Shu’s Divine-Eyed Tiger” was a clueless general.

“No excuses! Even if you lead your horses by hand, keep moving forward. It’s not that I’m harsh—welcoming the Rising Sun Marquis is our duty.”

We must wait for the Rising Sun Marquis—never let him wait even a moment!”

Don’t let the great lords of Zhonghua make light of our Western Sand Shu people!”

Xiang Huchen’s voice rang out loud enough for the Western Sand Garrison to hear.

Hearing “Rising Sun Marquis,” the captain had no choice but to turn his horse and shout: “Brothers, keep marching! Don’t let the lords of Zhonghua look down on us!”

The “Zhonghua” pep talk worked better than Xiao Yu expected.

The Luye Wei Iron Cavalry were monsters—no surprise there.

But even those “old soldier” Western Sand Garrison troops stopped complaining; their faces caked in dust, sweat carving deep grooves, their skin hidden beneath grime—yet beneath that mask of dirt, their eyes still burned with unyielding resolve.

“Song Changqing, come here.” After much hesitation, Xiang Huchen called his deputy. “Give each man two Immortal Nourishment Pills—one for the man, one for the horse—and make sure they drink plenty of water.”

Song Changqing hesitated: “Captain Zhang said there’s a relay station ahead, less than ten li away.”

Xiang Huchen’s face tightened. “There’s a station, yes—but once we arrive, men and horses will eat, rest, and sleep until tomorrow morning. I can wait—but can we make the Rising Sun Marquis wait?”

Song Changqing wanted to suggest: Let the Iron Cavalry go ahead; let the Western Sand Garrison crawl along.

But he remembered Xiang Huchen’s “unexpected events,” and swallowed the words.

The Immortal Nourishment Pills truly were “soldier’s divine pills.”

From dawn until noon, they ate nothing, rested only half an hour at a relay station to swap some horses, and by sunset had marched over two hundred and fifty li.

“So the Luye Wei Iron Cavalry’s thousand-li raids aren’t normal. These Western Sand Garrison troops are still ordinary people...”

Watching soldiers below the mountain chopping trees and setting up camp, bustling with energy, Xiao Yu realized she’d spoken too soon.

Even the Western Sand Garrison, compared to elite troops of her past life, were still minor superhumans.

Who ever heard of a normal person marching all day, skipping a proper lunch, yet still having boundless energy by evening, running up a mountain hundreds of meters high to chop wood, then sprinting off with logs as thick as a thigh and over ten meters long?

Xiao Yu, lost in thought, listened as Xiang Huchen discussed with the Commandant of the Xisha Garrison the setup of the camp and night defenses.

The stability of the camp directly affected his life, so Xiang Huchen was exceptionally serious.

As the commanding general asked earnestly, Captain Zhang replied earnestly, “General Guan, I know this place well—the locals call it ‘San Chai Ridge.’ Look, our camp sits at the foot of the mountain, with a hillock on each side.”

“From afar, these three ridges resemble a steel trident, rising far higher than the surrounding terrain—there’s no need to fear enemy ambushes...”

“San Chai Ridge...” Xiao Yu’s expression grew distant; the name felt strangely familiar to her.