Four days later, at Qi Mountain.
A rumbling sound came from far along the imperial road. The rabbits by the roadside looked around before darting into the grass with a whoosh. Three swift horses galloped past, startling flocks of birds from the forest.
Suddenly, one horse foamed at the mouth, its legs going weak as it collapsed. The girl riding it could not help screaming. Fortunately, her companion immediately reached out and caught her by the collar, preventing a disaster in which both horse and rider might have died.
"Th-thank you, Young Miss." Shi Dong was still shaken. Sitting behind Yaoshi Yuan, she hugged her waist tightly.
"Miss, why don't we rest too? We've already come far enough," Wu Qiu said. "Sa Lu Zi can barely hold on either."
"No. We can't stop until the moment we reach Shu Road Mountain!" Yaoshi Yuan said decisively. "Even if Sa Lu Zi dies from exhaustion, so be it!"
Wu Qiu stroked the yellow-maned horse beneath her and found its muscles trembling, its eyes bloodshot and purple, and its nostrils flaring. It had clearly reached its limit. She made up her mind. "This horse won't last much longer. Shi Dong, take good care of Miss from now on. I'll help Miss draw off the pursuers."
"No!" Yaoshi Yuan's eyes were bloodshot as she shouted angrily. "I said we would escape together, so not one of us can be left behind! Don't make decisions on your own. If I wanted to run, I would have done so long ago. If you dare abandon me, I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life!"
"Miss..." Wu Qiu's eyes filled with tears, her heart moved and ashamed at once. "We're holding you back..."
"Bullshit! If anyone is holding anyone back, it's the Yao Shi Family