The Meng clan members were inherently cowardly and fearful of death. Hearing Jiang Tou'er's words by the river, they suddenly felt much better.
When the fifth elder of the clan bellowed again, everyone became even more alert.
However, they were now thirsty and hungry, their heads were muddled, and their legs were weak and shaky. Even though they were scared pale by the two men's words, their legs felt as if they were filled with lead. It was difficult to even lift them, making any progress impossible.
Even more pitiable were those with young children at home. Suffering from both hunger and thirst, the adults could bear it, but the little ones couldn't. They cried hoarsely, until finally, they could no longer make a sound, only whimpering like little beasts.
The women holding their children were so anxious their mouths were parched, but they were helpless. They could only hold their children and weep silently.
Jiang Tou'er knew the nature of the Meng clan and didn't expect them to change overnight.
But today, he was determined. "Listen to me, everyone. You must reach the next relay station before sunset."
Hearing Grandpa Jiang's words, Fu Xin Ci felt like laughing. It was pitch dark, and the sun hadn't even risen yet.
Jiang Tou'er didn't know what the young girl was thinking. He then ordered his constables to chain all the adult males of the Meng clan together. The women reported their household population, and only when no one was missing did he shout, "Move out."
Meng Qing Ping, just like yesterday, held the torch and led the procession with his grandchildren and Qi He at the very front.
Seeing Fu Xin Ci's frail little body following Meng Qing Ping with spirit, Jiang Tou'er couldn't help but ask, "Brother Meng the Second, is little Ci'er feeling better?"
"Yes. She might have had heatstroke yesterday, but she's fine after a night's sleep."
"Little Ci'er is a blessed child." Thinking of the girl's condition yesterday, everyone thought she wouldn't make it. Who would have thought that in just a few hours, the little girl would be lively and energetic again?
"Yes, our Ci'er is blessed," Meng Qing Ping thought that his granddaughter meeting a divine being from a thousand years later, he firmly believed his granddaughter would have a future of blessings.
Fu Xin Ci listened to their conversation silently, her lips slightly pursed. Habitually, she reached up to tuck her slightly messy hair.
Her hair was a tangled mess. Under the bright torchlight, even with a comb in her spatial dimension, she dared not take it out.
Fu Xin Ci pondered for a moment, then used her ten fingers as a comb, moving them up and down her hair. In no time, her long hair was twisted into a beautiful braid.
Girls loved beauty, and Fu Xin Ci was no exception. She deliberately made the braid a little fluffy, which looked better.
Actually, she found wearing a ponytail more convenient. But in this era, high ponytails seemed to be the exclusive style for men.
Fu Xin Ci searched her memory and sighed silently. This aspect of ancient times was quite inconvenient. Women's actions were very restricted. In other words, women couldn't do many things, or it would be considered improper.
To think that she had to worry about such matters at such a young age made her want to roll her eyes.
Alas, before she could sigh, the crying from the children behind her grew louder. Without even looking back, she could easily discern from the sounds that there were at least five or six very young children in this exiled group.
Some children were just learning to speak and had no idea about the family's predicament. Now, thirsty and hungry, they cried at the top of their lungs.
Young women held their children helplessly, unable to do anything about the crying. With no one to help them, they could only cry along with their children.
Those around them were annoyed by their crying, and shouts of reprimand kept coming, growing louder and louder.
It was Jiang Tou'er who couldn't stand it anymore and roared, "Shut up, all of you! It's early in the morning, are you mourning?"
His roar startled the wild birds sleeping in the nearby fields, causing them to flutter in the air like headless flies.
The Meng clan members were also scared into silence. The few little ones who had been crying moments before puckered their lips, tears welling up in their eyes, but they dared not cry out loud anymore.
It was finally quiet behind them. Fu Xin Ci's gaze fell on Yu'er.
Yu'er was in good spirits, holding his grandfather's hand and striding forward. Qi He was equally energetic.
Meng Qing Ping was also in good spirits. For the first time since setting out on the road to Liaodong, a smile appeared on his face. Holding his grandson's hand, he spoke with more confidence than usual.
"Yu'er, can you walk? Do you want Grandpa to carry you?"
"Grandpa, I have strength. I can walk by myself."
Yu'er thought that since he had drunk his fill and eaten so many delicious snacks, he could walk a little further.
Qi He's thoughts were similar to Yu'er's. Having eaten and drunk their fill, they should hurry on their way.
No one knew how eager he was. He was already ten years old and had never met his father. He wished he could see his father one day, and one day sooner.
The Meng clan members behind them did not share their good mood. They all had grim faces. Even though they knew that if they couldn't reach the next relay station by evening, some of the elderly, weak, women, and children among them might die.
But their bodies were enduring. Thirsty, hungry, and tired, their muddled minds could only command their bodies to move forward mechanically.
Fu Xin Ci heard the heavy panting from the group behind her and couldn't help but shake her head secretly. With their physiques, it was hard to say when they would reach Liaodong on foot.
Meng Qing Ping's eyes were always on the two children. Seeing Yu'er's steps slow down, he immediately handed the torch to Qi He and then crouched down to pick Yu'er up.
"Grandpa, I can walk by myself." Yu'er struggled to get down. He couldn't always let Grandpa carry him. Grandpa was old and his body couldn't take it.
"Yu'er, be good. You can't move anymore, or both of us will fall."
"Okay, I won't move." Hearing his grandfather's words, the sensible Yu'er dared not move anymore, fearing that his grandfather would fall.
Qi He looked at Yu'er, who had a conflicted expression, and smiled. "It's okay. When Grandpa Meng gets tired, Brother Qi will carry you."
"Thank you, Brother Qi," the childish voice added a touch of liveliness to the desolate ancient road.
Even the despairing and suffocating exile group seemed to have gained a bit of vitality.
They had walked for another half an hour when the eastern sky finally turned a pale white. Qi He immediately extinguished the torch in his hand.
Someone behind them said, "The sky is finally bright."
Immediately after, an even older voice trembled, "It's good that the sky is bright. With the daylight, we have hope."
With those words, everyone seemed to have gained hope, and their steps became a little lighter.