Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Chapter 3

"Young Master, why insist on traveling in the dead of night? It's so exhausting," Zhao Cai yawned mightily.

Xiao Bao kicked him, "And to think you've been trained in martial arts since you were young, yet you're tired already?" Kicking the dog-slave's sturdy ass was amusing; he couldn't help but give a couple more kicks.

Zhao Cai hastily moved aside, "Young Master, this is unjust. While you're comfortably lying in the carriage, warm and cozy, we've been freezing out here for hours. Look, my hands are driving, they've turned purple from the cold."

Xiao Bao glanced over, feeling a bit guilty, "That's why I'm letting you guys rest inside for a bit, am I not? Only you would make a fuss. Look, Jin Bao didn't make a peep."

Before he finished speaking, Jin Bao's satisfied snoring could be heard from behind.

Xiao Bao's face darkened. He glared at Zhao Cai fiercely.

"Feeding you two useless fucks, you learn nothing good, only how to be lazy and gluttonous. Alright, alright, go to sleep. We'll continue the journey after you've woken up."

Zhao Cai offered a flattering smile, "The Young Master is considerate of his servants, truly generous and magnanimous..."

"Shut up, go to sleep," he said, wrapping himself in a blanket, preparing to go back to sleep.

The carriage was spacious; he had left with only these two servants and three large boxes of gifts. There was more than enough room for three people to sleep inside.

Late into the night, he was suddenly shaken awake forcefully. Instinctively about to curse, his mouth was covered.

Struggling to open his eyes, Xiao Bao saw Zhao Cai and Jin Bao crouching, their expressions grave. Zhao Cai whispered in his ear, "Young Master, don't make a sound."

Xiao Bao nodded, and Zhao Cai let go of his hand, moving to the window. He cautiously lifted the curtain, then quickly dropped it.

Xiao Bao shivered with fear. He could already hear the sounds of fighting outside, accompanied by people's screams. In the dead of night, it was terrifyingly eerie. "What's happening?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Could it be they've encountered robbers?

This imperial road had always been so peaceful, which is why they felt safe enough to pull the carriage over to the side of the road and sleep. They never expected to encounter something like this.

"It might be a vendetta, definitely not a robbery."

"Let's not make any moves. It's best if they settle their own grudges and leave. Let's not get dragged into this," Jinbao whispered, exchanging a glance with Zhaocai.

Xiao Bao felt much more awake now, and thus, less nervous. First off, the two fiery figures weren't targeting them. Furthermore, his two attendants, despite usually acting like servile puppies, were actually top-notch experts in the martial world, specially trained from a young age by his father for his protection. He had been getting into fights and causing trouble with sons of other families all his life, never once at a disadvantage, all thanks to these two "servants."

Feeling considerably reassured, he shifted his buttocks closer to the window, cautiously pinched a corner of the curtain, and slowly lifted it, stealthily peeking outside.

The narrow imperial road offered a full view of the horrific scene outside. Xiao Bao trembled as he saw over a dozen bodies strewn about, nearly screaming out loud.

Fuck, he had never witnessed such a bloody scene in his life; it was terrifying.

Scared, he closed his eyes, but curiosity got the better of him, and he opened them again.