Hardship

Long'er's mother shouted, her eyes brimming with tears, "Everyone, hurry! Go!" She kept turning to look back at the group of old women behind them.

The old women kept waving, urging them to flee for their lives. The old woman at their head watched the convoy gradually recede into the distance.

Only then did she raise the broadsword in her hand and say, "Sisters, all the men of our households are dead. Now it is our turn to protect the younger generation a little farther along their way. Sisters, are you afraid to die?"

"No! No! Our old men are gone. Even if we die, we'll protect the younger generation along this stretch!" Their blood ran hot, and the old women shouted their answer, facing death as though it were a homecoming.

Their leader was deeply satisfied. She gazed at the broadsword in her hand. "Children, we're coming. We'll have to count on Long'er and the others to avenge us and wash away this hatred when they grow up."

With that, she looked toward the departing convoy, tears filling her eyes. She slowly turned around and could already see figures in black racing toward them.

She raised her broadsword again. "Sisters, kill one and we break even. Kill another and we're ahead!" She burst into hearty laughter, and the old women laughed along with her.

The convoy of ox carts hurried onward for more than half a day. When everyone was too exhausted to continue, Long'er's mother finally told them to stop and rest.

Long'er's mother called Shitou's mother over. "It looks like we won't get much farther. They'll catch up soon. Keep your wits about you and take the ox carts straight down the main road. Once you're far enough away, let the oxen wander on with the carts, and find somewhere to hide."

Shitou's mother nodded in agreement. Long'er's mother added, "Everyone, take the wounded men off the carts. The pregnant women must get down too. Shitou's mother, take a dagger with you. Do you understand?"

"I understand. If they catch up, I'll kill myself at once," Shitou's mother said with assurance. Long'er's mother nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good."

Shitou's mother drove the ox carts down a separate road, waving farewell to the members of their Lineage. Whether she would return alive was unknown.

Her son, Shitou, cried out through his tears, "Mother!" His mother did not dare look back. "Wait for me to return."

Her voice caught slightly as she urged the ox carts forward faster. Watching her brave, sorrowful figure recede, Long'er's mother did not dare delay either.

"Sisters, carry the wounded. Children, help the pregnant women walk." With that, she took the lead in helping lift the injured men.

They veered into the mountain forest. The mountain paths were difficult to travel, making their progress even more arduous. Only when Long'er's mother saw that everyone truly could not take another step did she call a halt again, and they stopped once more to rest.

Long'er's mother instructed them, "Sisters, eat sparingly. There are so many of us that the dry rations won't be enough. We lost most of our food. Everyone, remember to make it last."

Beside her, Long'er volunteered. "Mother, I'll take the other children to gather some wild fruit nearby. I'm afraid the dry rations won't last long."

Long'er's mother nodded. "Don't go far. Come back quickly." She was utterly exhausted herself and sank onto the ground to rest.

The children searched nearby for wild fruit, weaving through the mountain forest as their eyes eagerly scanned for it.

Suddenly, one of the children pointed at a large tree and shouted, "Look! There are so many fruits over there!" Everyone ran over excitedly, only to discover some strange footprints beside the fruit tree.

The children were a little frightened, but Long'er mustered his courage and said, "Whatever happens, let's pick the fruit and leave."

He quickly finished picking the fruit, then led them back to where the group was resting.

In fact, Long'er recognized this fruit. Wasn't this wild guava?

As for the wild boar tracks, the animals had probably been unable to reach the fruit on the tree and had left them while scurrying about beneath it. But he no longer had the heart to explain.

When Long'er's mother saw that all the children had returned, she did not even look at what they had brought back. She hurriedly told everyone to get moving while they still had time.

If anyone caught up with them, they would all be finished, without even a chance to take revenge.

The men on the stretchers could not move. The remaining children and women would have nothing before them but a road to death.

They would only be somewhat safer farther away from here. She could not spare a thought for how exhausted everyone already was. Escaping with their lives mattered most.

The decisions that would determine whether the Lineage survived or perished now rested on her shoulders. She alone directed everyone's movements, and she knew just how heavy that burden was.

If they moved too slowly, perhaps the entire Lineage would be plunged into eternal ruin.

Only the children and women could still walk. The constant strain of fleeing for their lives had left them utterly spent.

To stay alive, it no longer mattered how exhausted they were or how much they suffered. Even if not for themselves, they had to do it for all those children. They could only struggle onward.