Chapter 110: Where Did Ji Huan Go?

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Where Did Ji Huan Go?

Ji Huan’s lips parted, but she didn’t know what to say.

This was a gamble. They wouldn’t just be facing a rigorous search and brutal punishment if caught. They would also have to deal with pursuit by hounds, starvation from lack of food and water, and the harsh, unpredictable weather in the mountains.

The odds were just too slim. Besides...

"But it just snowed."

"Snow itself isn’t the problem. It’s not cold when it snows, but when it melts. We’ll just have to dress warmly and find a cave to hole up in... We’ll be fine." Hu Liang’s face relaxed a little, though it was unclear if he was comforting Ji Huan or himself.

While they were talking, Widow Xie had already finished packing everything.

She slung two bulging bundles onto Hu Liang’s and Hu Dacheng’s backs. "These are steamed buns and flatbreads. Eat them sparingly. If you get thirsty, drink melted snow."

After giving her instructions, she handed them the tied-up bedrolls.

Hu Dacheng had already changed his clothes. He wore a large fur hat and had put on both of his only two sets of cotton-padded clothes. Over it all, he had draped a grimy sheepskin.

Hu Liang also went inside to change.

Widow Xie pointed to an extra bundle and bedroll. "This is for Dabao. He’ll go up the mountain with Liangzi in a bit."

Her words nearly gave Ji Huan a heart attack.

She stammered, "N-no, Dabao doesn’t have to go, does he, Aunt Xie...? How old is he? He’s only five! A child this young..."

’Conscription, press-ganging... as the name implies, they’re supposed to take able-bodied men, right? Taking ten-year-olds is already unbelievable, but they won’t even spare a five-year-old?’

’What can a five-year-old tyke even do for them? Wouldn’t he just be a waste of food?’

Hu Liang came out, having changed his clothes. He was dressed almost identically to Hu Dacheng.

Hearing her, he said, "They didn’t used to take kids Dabao’s age, but ever since General Nie started..."

Hu Dacheng nodded along. "Right, right! That year, they took a whole bunch of little kids..."

The hair on Ji Huan’s arms stood on end. She was dumbfounded. "B-but what could they possibly want with children?"

"Who knows? Too many people have died, and there aren’t enough able-bodied men. The children of the poor learn to be resourceful early. A five or six-year-old can help with simple chores, like chopping fodder to feed the horses..."

Hearing them speak with such certainty, Ji Huan finally lost her composure.

You truly don’t know how much it hurts until it happens to you. The mere thought of Dabao being taken... She would rather go to the battlefield herself than let them take Dabao!

A RUSH of footsteps hurried past the door, their frantic pace audible even through the wood.

Hu Liang opened a crack in the door and peeked out. Everyone was running into the distance, carrying bundles and bedrolls on their backs.

Seeing this, Widow Xie urged them anxiously, "What are you still standing around for? Go, quickly!"

Hu Liang told Hu Dacheng to help carry Dabao’s things, while he himself picked up his own bedroll with one hand and swept Dabao up with the other.

Perhaps it was the tense, oppressive atmosphere, or maybe he sensed Ji Huan’s anxiety, but Dabao had been on edge for a while.

Now, being picked up and carried off at a run by someone he barely knew, he completely lost it.

He twisted and struggled in Hu Liang’s arms, scratching, biting, kicking, and thrashing wildly.

Hu Liang winced in pain but didn’t slow his pace. He couldn’t afford any delays.

A look of panic and resentment filled Dabao’s eyes. He looked back over Hu Liang’s shoulder at Ji Huan, who stood frozen in place, and let out a series of frantic cries while desperately reaching for her.

Ji Huan couldn’t take it anymore. She bolted after them, caught up to Hu Liang, and snatched Dabao back into her own arms.

Dabao clung tightly to her neck, burying his face deep in her shoulder, his small body trembling.

Hu Liang had to stop, and so did Dacheng.

Widow Xie caught up to them as well. Seeing the situation, she tried to persuade Ji Huan, "Just talk to Dabao, tell him it’s only for a couple of days... You can’t bear to part with him now, but if he really gets taken, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!"

Ji Huan had never felt so lost and helpless.

In that short time, many more people ran past them. They were all male, young and old, and there were indeed quite a few children Dabao’s age among them.

Ordinarily, a group laden with so many bags and bundles would have attracted a lot of stares.

But now, no one gave them a second glance.

Everyone was in the same boat, fleeing like frightened ghosts. They were too busy trying to save their own skins to pay attention to anyone else.

Ji Huan wavered. Going to the mountains was a gamble, and so was staying. She couldn’t bear the consequences of Dabao being captured, so she had to choose the option with the slimmest chance of survival and bet on it.

"Okay..."

She had only managed to get one word out when Dabao suddenly turned his head and bit down hard on the side of her neck.

"HISS!" Ji Huan sucked in a sharp breath of cold air from the pain.

This wasn’t the first time Dabao had bitten someone, but it was the first time he had hurt her.

Ji Huan’s hand flew up reflexively, wanting to smack Dabao’s bottom to make him let go, but then she lowered it.

’He’s scared, isn’t he? Scared that I’ll abandon him again.’

Instead, her hand landed on Dabao’s back, patting him gently.

"Dabao, I told you I wouldn’t leave you, and I never will. I’ll go to the mountains with you. I’ll go wherever you go, okay?"

Dabao’s body stiffened for a moment, then his clenched teeth slowly released their grip.

Ji Huan touched her neck. ’That little brat,’ she cursed inwardly. ’He actually drew blood.’

Widow Xie disagreed. "It’s all men running up there, what business do you have going? Aren’t you confident Liangzi can look after Dabao? You just wait at home with me!"

"I’m not worried that Liangzi can’t take good care of him. You just saw what happened. Dabao can’t be without me. If there’s a real search party in the mountains and he has a meltdown, I’m afraid he’ll get everyone caught."

"Well..." Widow Xie hesitated.

Dabao’s emotional state was unstable the moment he was separated from Ji Huan. It was indeed a huge risk.

Hu Liang thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let Wan come with us. I won’t leave their side for a moment. Nothing will happen."

It was the only way.

Widow Xie sighed and told Ji Huan to wait. She went back home and returned with her own and Ximei’s padded jackets, wrapping one around Ji Huan and the other around Dabao. She then prepared another bundle for her.

"Y-you all have to be careful!"

They all nodded grimly.

They had already been delayed for some time. The good hiding spots were probably all taken by now.

Hu Liang pointed in a certain direction. "The nearby mountains will be crowded. Let’s run farther out, to Chicken Crown Mountain in the east."

Neither Ji Huan nor Hu Dacheng had any objections.

The snow was too deep, CRUNCHING with every step. The others were already having a hard time walking, but for Ji Huan, who was carrying Dabao, it was impossible to run.

Hu Liang offered to carry him for her. After Ji Huan’s earlier reassurance and some more patient explaining, Dabao finally let Hu Liang hold him, but his eyes remained firmly fixed on Ji Huan the entire time.

To get to Chicken Crown Mountain, they had to cross a stream. Its surface was covered in a thick layer of ice, so they didn’t have to take the long way around, which saved a lot of time.

Only after entering the mountains did they realize there were quite a few people here as well. However, no one was running in a tight group; everyone instinctively split up to hide, which would prevent them from all being caught in one go.

Hu Liang had been carrying Dabao for the whole way and was nearly out of strength, so Ji Huan took the boy back into her arms.

The two brothers led the way, telling Ji Huan to follow them.

Just then, another group of people ran over. There were many unfamiliar faces, likely from other villages.

Someone bumped into Ji Huan—she didn’t know who—right next to a slope. Ji Huan lost her balance and fell to the ground. Before she could even cry out, she was tumbling down the incline.

Hu Liang and Hu Dacheng were panting as they walked. Their pace wasn’t fast, mainly because they were afraid Ji Huan would fall behind.

They could hear footsteps following them the whole time, so they just kept their heads down and pushed forward, reassured.

After walking a bit further, Hu Liang caught his breath and called out.

"Are you tired, Wan? Want me to carry him again?"

There was no response.

"Why aren’t you saying..." Hu Liang turned around, and the rest of his words caught in his throat.

There was indeed someone behind them, but it wasn’t Ji Huan and Dabao.

Hu Dacheng’s face went pale with fear. "Where did Sister Wan and Dabao go?!"