Early morning, just after seven.
In Funan County town, Ren Ye, Fenglin, Ai Fei, and Old Liu were hiding in an abandoned house.
After leaving the dry well, they had fled in the opposite direction, searching for a long time before finding this relatively secluded place to stay.
Sitting in a corner and eating dry rations, Old Liu could not help sighing. "Ah, I've spent a whole quarter following Prince Huai around. Not only have I earned nothing, I was forced to invest the last two lousy coins in my pocket, too... We've been chased and hacked at all the way from Qingliang Prefecture to Immortality Mountain, sleeping in remote forests and eating rock-hard bricks... Fuck me, this is right up there with the pilgrimage to fetch the Buddhist scriptures."
"So what? Everyone who followed Tripitaka ended up becoming a Buddha." Imitating Old Liu's northern accent, Ren Ye raised his eyebrows. "Today's hardships are tomorrow's bragging rights. Get it, little brother?"
"I get it. You sure know how to brainwash people." At a loss for a comeback, Old Liu shook his head. "If I had your fucking silver tongue, I'd have enough kids for a reinforced battalion by now."
"Less complaining, more optimism." Ren Ye offered perfunctory comfort. "There'll be bread, and there'll be children. But whether they'll be yours or Li Yan's is a very big question..."
Tap, tap!
While the two were trading their usual barbs, footsteps sounded outside.
"Your Highness, it's me." Er Leng's voice followed from outside.
Everyone rose to greet them and saw Xu Bangzi and Leng Leng running back together, disguised as ordinary townspeople.
"What's the situation outside?" Ren Ye immediately asked.
Er Leng shook his head. "Loushan Pass has shut its gates. Here in town, apart from the gate leading toward the pass,