The sky was just beginning to brighten when Moss silently came out of her cultivation.
She braced herself with both hands and stood up, then lowered her head to glance at the bearded man, who still had not woken up.
This fellow might still be useful in the future, so Moss had no intention of letting him die just yet.
Moss grabbed the bearded man, jumped down from the carriage, and walked toward the children sitting quietly around the campfire.
The campfire had mostly gone out by then, but scattered points of light still shone through the pitch-black embers, illuminating the children's young, dazed faces.
They had spent the entire night sitting there in a stupor.
No one knew what they had been thinking—whether they regretted their earlier choice or were considering how they should live out the road ahead.
Moss, however, had no interest in any of that.
They would have no further involvement with her from now on.
Moss came to the children and said blandly:
"It's daybreak. We should go."
It was nearly noon at the northern gate of Hill City.
The gate was still bustling today, with carriages jammed up as they entered and left the city.
The soldiers guarding the gate shouted loudly, constantly driving back the people blocking the entrance.
Every so often, a carriage could be seen stopped outside the city and barred from entering.
The level of martial law seemed to be higher today. Even the soldier captain who had taken money yesterday looked much more serious.
But no matter how serious they were, they had failed to notice that Moss had just silently entered the city with a group of children.
"This is where we part ways. You're free now."
Moss revealed herself in a small alley beside the city