Chapter 32: A Stop On The Way
The morning sun crested smoothly over the rolling hills, casting a warm, golden hue across the dirt trade road that stretched endlessly toward Crimson Vale City.
The heavy, suffocating tension that had gripped the transport convoy the previous night began to lift entirely with the morning light. There were no hidden assassins waiting in the dense brush, no sudden ambush cries, and no blood-soaked skirmishes to interrupt their pace.
For hours, the journey was remarkably peaceful. The wooden wheels of the carriages rolled smoothly over the packed earth, kicking up small clouds of dust that drifted away harmlessly on the gentle morning breeze.
Inside their carriage, the atmosphere was vastly different from the chaos of the night before. Han Lin sat quietly near the window, watching the scenic landscape pass by, while Lu Feng rested his eyes in the corner, quietly letting the Primordial Chaos Bead circulate a steady, cooling current of energy through his weary limbs.
Around midday, the lead caravan guard raised his hand and blew a sharp, double-toned blast on his horn, signaling for the convoy to pull over to the side of the road near a wide, grassy clearing.
It was time for a much-needed break. The horses desperately needed water and rest, and the passengers needed to stretch their stiff, cramped legs after hours of confinement inside the rolling wooden boxes.
As the carriages came to a halt, the heavy doors swung open, and people poured out into the fresh air with loud groans of relief, stretching their arms toward the sky.
Several of the larger transport carriages were severely overcrowded, holding well over fifteen passengers packed tightly together like stacked timber. There was simply no physical way everyone could sleep or rest inside those confined spaces when night fell, let alone during a long daytime halt.
Working together, the travelers immediately set to work to manage the space.
"Watch out with that wooden stake, Uncle Dave, you are about to hit my foot!" a young traveler laughed, holding up a large sheet of thick canvas.
"Hold the canvas steady against this gust, will you? The wind always picks up near these open fields," an older man replied, hammering a wooden peg firmly into the damp soil with a heavy mallet.
Within a short time, a neat cluster of temporary canvas tents had been erected just outside the perimeter of the carriages, creating a small, makeshift camp for the passengers to rest and sleep in comfortably.
Smoke began to rise from several newly lit stone hearths as people gathered around in small groups to prepare their meals. Some of the women unpacked dried meats, root vegetables, and small sacks of grain, tossing them into bubbling iron pots hung over crackling open fires.
"Does anyone have extra salt?" a woman near the central fire asked, stirring a thick stew with a wooden ladle.
"Here, take some of mine," Han Lin offered, stepping forward with a small pouch in her hand. "We have plenty to spare in our pack."
"Thank you, dear. It looks like it is going to be a long, peaceful evening," the woman smiled warmly, taking the pouch. "You look tired. Make sure you get some food in you."
"I will, thank you," Han Lin replied with a gentle nod.
While the food cooked, others took short, leisurely walks around the perimeter of the clearing to work the stiffness entirely out of their joints. Children ran about, laughing and chasing one another through the tall grass, completely oblivious to the dangers that had haunted these very border roads just hours prior.
Fortunately, nature provided an added luxury for the exhausted travelers. Just a short distance down a sloping dirt path behind the camp lay a pristine, crystal-clear lake.
The water shimmered brilliantly under the afternoon sun, reflecting the bright blue sky and the surrounding trees above.
"I am going down to the water to wash this road dust off," Han Lin announced, grabbing a clean towel and a small bar of scented soap from her traveling pack.
"Be careful and do not wander too far into the deep end," Lu Feng advised quietly, opening his eyes from his seated position against a smooth rock near the carriage.
"I will be fine. Do you want me to bring back some fresh water for you?" Han Lin asked with a soft smile.
"No, I am alright," Lu Feng shook his head gently.
Han Lin nodded and joined a small group of women heading down the sloping path toward the shoreline.
At the lake, the cool water offered instant rejuvenation. Those who needed to wash up stripped away the grime of travel, scrubbing their faces, hands, and clothing in the refreshing shallows.
"The water is surprisingly warm today," Han Lin noted, dipping her hands into the clear ripples.
"It is such a relief to finally wash off all that dust," her companion agreed, splashing a handful of water over her face.
The crisp, clean air mixed with the scent of pine and wet earth, making the temporary stop feel less like a grueling journey and more like a peaceful afternoon retreat.
Time slipped by quietly as the camp settled into a relaxed rhythm of eating, resting, and quiet conversation.
Six hours later, as the sun began its slow descent toward the western horizon, casting long, dramatic shadows across the grass, the sharp blast of the guard’s horn echoed through the camp once again.
"Break down the tents! We are moving out!" shouted the head guard, his voice carrying clearly over the clearing.
Instantly, the lazy atmosphere vanished as everyone sprang back into action.
The tents were quickly dismantled, rolled up, and strapped securely back onto the roofs of the carriages. The cooking fires were thoroughly doused with buckets of water, leaving behind only patches of blackened earth and drifting curls of white smoke.
The passengers packed their belongings and filed back toward the vehicles.
Han Lin returned from the lake looking fully refreshed, her hair neatly tied back, and hurried back to the carriage where Lu Feng was already waiting by the door.
"Everyone ready?" the loan shark called out, checking his ledger as he climbed onto the driver’s box of the lead vehicle.
"All set!" came the collective reply from the travelers.
With a series of sharp cracks from the drivers’ whips and the heavy thud of hooves hitting the dirt road, the wheels began to turn once more.
Six hours after their peaceful halt, they all boarded their carriages, and the long journey toward Crimson Vale City officially continued into the fading evening light.