By the afternoon and evening, Tian Fu and the others had visibly improved, putting everyone at ease.
Judging by their progress, if they didn’t develop a fever again by the next day, they could set off a little later.
After supper, Ji Taoyu was dragged back to the tent early by Huo Shu.
He had only napped for less than an hour after lunch, and even combined with the previous night, it still wasn’t enough to match his usual full rest.
Lying on the bedding, Ji Taoyu said to Huo Shu, "I feel this trip hasn’t been in vain. Though problems keep arising, facing so many challenges has actually made me more resilient than before."
"Look at me, I didn’t sleep at all last night, yet I don’t feel tired now. Aside from some fatigue when I first woke up, I’m perfectly fine now."
Huo Shu glanced down at the ger in his arms. What he said wasn’t wrong.
Compared to before, when they were at home, his stamina had indeed improved. The relentless travel and constant troubles along the way had tempered him somewhat.
"Don’t let your guard down. If nothing happens tomorrow, we’ll be back on the road. You need proper rest tonight."
Ji Taoyu nodded.
Resting his head on Huo Shu’s arm, he stopped him from pulling up the blanket. "Wait, there’s something else I need to tell you."
"Hm?"
Ji Taoyu said seriously, "I heard from Brother Ge that people in nearby villages are suffering from this illness. What makes epidemics so terrifying is their high contagion. If left untreated, people will die one after another, and the more it spreads, the worse it gets. It’s no exaggeration to say it could empty a city."
"Since we’ve already developed an effective prescription—one that has reduced Tian Fu’s fever, I think before we leave tomorrow, we should share it with the nearby villagers."
Their own medicine wouldn’t be enough to treat an entire village, but the prescription itself could be left behind. The villagers could then find a way to gather the ingredients themselves, giving them a chance at survival.
Huo Shu gave a single nod. "Alright."
After all, an epidemic spreading was bad for both locals and travelers.
Unrest on the road only harmed merchants like them.
Ji Taoyu blinked. "Then I’ll draft the prescription now~"
"A single copy won’t be enough. If someone hoards it to exploit others, it’d do more harm than good. I’ll write several copies and distribute them freely, not just hand them to one person."
Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly. "You’ve thought this through well."
"Should I write it now?"
Huo Shu couldn’t refuse him. Just as he was about to get up to accompany him, Ji Taoyu pushed him back down.
"I’ll finish quickly. You sleep, you only napped for a bit this afternoon."
"I’m used to keeping watch. Going two nights without sleep is nothing."
As Huo Shu reached for a robe to wrap around him, his expression suddenly sharpened. He froze, pressing closer to the tent entrance in alert.
Ji Taoyu’s eyes widened. "What’s wrong?"
Huo Shu raised a finger to his lips. A moment later, he drew his long blade from beneath the tent. "Stay inside and don’t make a sound."
With that, Huo Shu stepped out, sword in hand, and ordered the night watch to rouse everyone in the tents.
"What’s happening? What’s happening?!"
The group had only just fallen asleep. With the fever now treatable, they had relaxed, and most were already on the verge of snoring within moments of lying down.
Being woken so abruptly, they stumbled out of their tents, seeing nothing amiss. Slurring with sleep, they asked what was going on.
Assuming the three patients had relapsed, they were surprised to see Tian Fu and the others emerge as well—now able to stand on their own, their energy clearly much improved.
"Quiet! Horsemen are approaching!"
Ge Liang fetched a bucket of water from the river and doused the campfire.
Instantly, the campsite plunged into darkness.
In the darkness, no one could make out each other’s expressions.
An eerie silence enveloped the area, broken only by the wind carrying the mournful cries of ill-omened birds—enough to make one's blood run cold in the midnight darkness.
But beyond that, there was nothing.
"Wh-where’s this supposed threat?"
Huo Shu didn’t answer, only motioned for everyone to stay alert.
Though doubtful, the group obeyed, keeping watch carefully.
Sure enough, within less than a quarter-hour, the rapid drumming of hooves reached their ears.
The dull rumble of numerous cart wheels grinding against the road was unnaturally loud in the night—like the death knell of the underworld.
[The death knell of the underworld: symbolizing an ominous warning, impending doom, or an irreversible fate—often used in literature or rhetoric to evoke a sense of inescapable judgment or catastrophe.]
The hairs on everyone's bodies stood on end, and they instinctively fell silent. Judging by the noise, the number of people passing by was certainly not small.
Everyone subconsciously reached for their weapons, placing them in the most accessible positions.
With another group passing by at this moment, no one could be sure who they were.
If their presence was exposed, it might very well invite disaster.
Moreover, given the commotion, the other side undoubtedly outnumbered them. If a conflict arose, the consequences would be dire.
The best outcome would be for these unknown travelers to continue down the main road without stopping.
The people in the camp tensed up, their backs breaking out in cold sweat. Yet, to their horror, a cluster of torchlight began moving toward the woods.
Soon after, shouts rang out: "Boss, there are people camped over here!"
In no time, a group of men on horseback, brandishing torches, galloped over.
The torchlight formed a sea of flames in the woods, illuminating the entire camp as brightly as a sky filled with red clouds.
The leader, a burly man with a thick, unruly beard, exuded an aura no less imposing than Huo Shu’s from atop his horse.
With a disdainful sweep of his gaze, a man beside him barked sharply: "You’ve got fifteen minutes to pack up and clear out. This spot’s ours now."
Huo Shu recognized their kind at a glance. To ensure everyone’s safety, he refrained from acting impulsively.
Since the other side wasn’t outright hostile—just overbearing, relocating their camp wasn’t a big deal.
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