Hauling Cargo

South City had quieted after the night's clamor, while North City had yet to begin its daytime bustle. The autumn moon hung high overhead, and it seemed that even after the sun rose, it would not be in a hurry to set.

Shangguan Fei glanced back at the dim city before dawn and made a prophetic remark. "Today, all of Jade City will be thrown into chaos."

Old Man Mu raised his sword and rapped Shangguan Fei on the head. "Have you been possessed by a rat spirit? What kind of ominous thing is that to say? Are you trying to hand Jade City over to Moonlight Hall? From now on, you're not allowed to say the word 'chaos.'"

Shangguan Fei had spent the past few days living beside his mother, and had only just regained a little of the feeling of the old days. He glared at Old Man Mu, then promptly lost all his fire. Rubbing his forehead, he said with a grin, "I mean, once word gets out that the Meng Family was robbed... I guarantee that even if Golden Peng Fortress falls today, it won't get half as much attention. People in Jade City are always more interested in money."

"That's still an ill omen. If the news gets out today, we'll be in trouble. Second Meng has to hold out for at least five or six days."

"Right, right. I misspoke." Shangguan Fei's enthusiasm ebbed. Once I become the Unrivaled King... But then he remembered that the future Unrivaled King would be nothing but an empty shell, perhaps never able to recover his former glory. His mood turned listless. "We don't need five or six days. Four will do. By then, the Dragon King will take over."

A long caravan wound out through Jade City's