The cavalry surrounded the carriages, leaving only one opening. A bonfire burned in the middle, with a soup pot and barbecue grill set up over it.
The accompanying First People went out hunting and quickly brought back plenty of prey. Wild mountain goats here had been a common food hunted by their ancestors. By the river, they skinned and singed the goats, cleaned out the entrails, sliced the meat, and threaded it onto skewers.
The One-Eyed Elder personally took charge of the grilling. The First People's barbecue was renowned, and they had their own secret spices, flavors rarely found elsewhere.
Gao Ming sat on a wooden stool, watching the sparks dance as he removed his glasses and wiped them with a soft cloth. He said to Chen Chuan, "cousin, the document handover in the central continent went very smoothly this time, but it was too smooth. It feels as if someone is deliberately looking after us."
He put his glasses back on, the lenses reflecting the flickering bonfire. "Even with local Great Shun companies helping us, the procedures couldn't possibly have gone this fast. I estimated five days, but it was done in two."
Gui Zihan sat quietly to one side with his sword in his arms.
Chen Chuan was not surprised. Smiling, he said, "Someone wants us to find the item smoothly so they can take over afterward. They have long regarded what we're looking for as their own, so naturally they're making things convenient for us."
The One-Eyed Elder could not understand their words, but something in Chen Chuan's tone inexplicably reassured him. Once the meat was cooked, he immediately stood and respectfully presented the first skewer to Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan thanked him and took it. The barbecue tasted good—tender without being mushy, infused with a rich