At midnight.
As usual, Chen Jing led Black Whirlwind out the door.
But instead of heading for Black Mountain, he changed direction.
The moment Black Whirlwind saw this, the horse knew Chen Jing was going to do something bad and excitedly snorted several times.
Man and horse picked up Sha Lifeng, already changed into nightclothes, outside the market town.
Then they galloped beneath the moonlight toward the snow-white dunes.
Golden River Oasis lay several dozen li west of Sanhe Town, a small oasis often used by traveling merchants as a resting place.
The bright moon hung overhead, spilling silver like mercury.
The Golden River shimmered with rippling silver waves.
At this moment, the Golden Family Escort, having departed from Sanhe Town, was camped by the riverbank.
Two large tents had been pitched around a bonfire, keeping out the biting wind.
Four Golden Halberd Guards in standard yellow-brown fitted uniforms and rattan armor were keeping watch beside the fire.
The Wisdom King Protectors of the Fire-Worship Sect and the remaining Golden Halberd Guards were resting in the two tents.
The two large escort chests were likewise stacked inside the tents, guarded beneath the watchful eyes of the five Wisdom King Protectors.
Inside them was the Moon-Condensing Grass Chen Jing had been yearning for day and night.
Around ten o'clock at night.
It was the hour when one's spirit grew weary and one's thoughts ran dry.
Though the Golden Halberd Guards were all sturdy and capable men, they were escorting the cargo alongside the Fire-Worship Sect's esteemed masters.
Beyond the exhaustion of traveling while guarding the cargo, they also had to wait hand and foot on them, bearing no small amount of mental strain.
Now, the night was deep and silent.
The four men's tightly wound nerves inevitably loosened a little.
After