Hu Xiaotian nodded. The suspension bridge swayed even when people walked across it, let alone horses. Its deck was made of wooden planks strung together, with gaps about a foot wide between them. If they forced the horses across, the animals would almost certainly panic. Should a hoof get caught in a gap, the consequences would be unthinkable. The most sensible course was to leave the horses behind, but in this mountain wilderness, abandoning them would surely make them food for tigers and wolves. They were only animals, yet riding them all this way had fostered some affection.
Hu Xiaotian made a swift decision. "Hu Fo, Li Jinhao, take the horses back!" He had intended all along to send these household servants back to Capital City once they had escorted him to Azure Cloud. Now that they were already within Western Sichuan, most of their mission was complete. He had chosen these two because Hu Fo was the oldest, while Li Jinhao had a child still in swaddling clothes and thus had the most weighing on his mind. Hu Xiaotian was very considerate in how he handled things.
Hu Fo said, "Young Master, the Master ordered us to escort you to Azure Cloud." Inwardly, however, Hu Xiaotian's decision filled him with delighted surprise.
Hu Xiaotian waved a hand. "No need. With Constable Murong along, we can handle anything. You wouldn't be much help even if you stayed." He was speaking the truth.
Liang Dazhuang and Shao Yijiao were green with envy. Why couldn't they leave too? They truly had no desire to cross this trembling chain bridge. Hu Xiaotian had not kept them because he valued their abilities; there was simply too much luggage. If he sent all the servants away, wouldn't he have to do everything himself? Liang Dazhuang