Chapter 162: Not Alone

They did not slow down, if anything their pace sharpened. Urgency threaded through every movement as the path narrowed into a rough descent scattered with loose stone that threatened to slide underhoof with every step.

Lieyin didn’t bother hiding her impatience anymore. "We’re losing time."

"We’ll make it," Yexue said, though her voice sounded less certain than before. She wasn’t even sure if she was trying to reassure Lieyin or herself.

"It doesn’t make any difference if Qingyue’s actually injured." Lieyin wished the horse could move faster. Each second that passed, the image of Qingyue injured and all alone flashed in her head.

She wasn’t the type to overthink, but she’d also never really spent more than a day away from Qinyue.

"No," Han Shuying said, "but knowing that you did your best will make you feel better."

Lieyin scoffed. "Why do you always have something to say?" Like she wasn’t angry enough.

"I prefer that to saying nothing when it truly matters." Han Shuying kept her eyes ahead.

"Could have fooled me. We both know helping Qingyue does not matter to you at all. You wouldn’t be here if there was nothing in it for you." Lieyin looked at Ru Yi briefly. "Tell me, what did Ru Yi promise you in return?"

Han Shuying felt Ru Yi stiffen against her. "Nothing that is any concern of yours. We’ll get there faster if you stop putting your nose where it doesn’t belong."

"That only makes you more suspicious," Lieyin snapped. She tapped Yexue with her free hand. "Are you not worried about what your woman is doing behind your back?"

"Stop it," Yexue mumbled.

"Have you given up on her already?" Lieyin pressed on. "You almost had Qingyue’s head when they slept together but you won’t even bat an eye when it comes to Han Shuying?"

"Lieyin!" Yexue could feel her patience fading.

"What? I’m just pointing out that you and your former lover might have the same taste in women." Lieyin immediately felt pain when Yexue’s elbow slammed into her ribs. "Hey! What was that for?"

"Quit talking if you don’t know what to say," Yexue finally snapped.

Lieyin winced but managed to keep her balance. "Deny it all you want but the truth is right in front of you."

Yexue did not respond but she looked at Ru Yi. Of course she wasn’t stupid enough to think Han Shuying simply agreed to help them.

The woman was too conniving for her own good. That was the main reason they’d split in the past, added to the fact that there was pure darkness where Han Shuying should’ve had a heart.

Ru Yi was keeping the truth from her, but Yexue didn’t mind. She’d wait until they got to Qingyue before getting to spill the truth.

"Hate to break up the fight, but I think we’ve got something else." Han Shuying stopped her horse and Lieyin groaned.

"What now?" she dismounted. "Don’t tell me this is just another stop."

"It’s not." Han Shuying patted Ru Yi’s leg. "Stay on the horse."

Han Shuying walked over to where she’d seen the mark. She crouched low, one hand hovering above the ground before pressing down on it. "Footprints."

"Do you think they’re from Qingyue?" Yexue asked, stopping beside her.

Han Shuying scanned the ground. "I don’t think so. There’s more than one set."

"Are you sure?" Yexue asked as she leaned in to take a closer look.

"Yes. But there’s no other sign to show they’d been traveling on a horse before." Han Shuying stood up. "And there’s no sign of any struggle."

They weren’t alone on this trail. They hadn’t been for a while.

"How far ahead till we get to the foot of the mountain?" It was Lieyin that asked this time.

"We’ll be there tomorrow. We need to find where to spend the night first." Han Shuying paced a few steps around the footprints. "You said she was traveling with someone?"

Yexue nodded. "Yes, a guide."

Han Shuying walked farther away from the group. "I think there was a struggle here." Her gaze followed where there were multiple footprints. "If the first set of footprints belong to Qingyue and the guide, then I think they ran into some trouble."

The sisters ran over to where Han Shuying stood.

"It’s probably bandits, they’re very common on this route."

"The guide was going to show us secret routes that would be safe," Lieyin said. "I don’t think they would’ve traveled on a major road like this."

"You were so sure it was Qingyue when we came across the broken branch." All the amusement and teasing was gone from Shuying’s gaze. "Why are you changing your mind now?"

"Because it’s easier for us to believe that Qingyue is unharmed," Yexue replied. "Is that enough for you? Or do we look weak in your eyes?"

"There’s nothing wrong with worrying about your sister," Han Shuying said with a shrug. "But you need to always prepare your mind for the worst." Her eyes drifted to where Ru Yi still sat on the horse.

"Lets keep going," Lieyin called out. "Standing around here is not helping anyone."

"We still have to be careful," Han Shuying said, walking back to her horse. "If there was an attack here, then trouble won’t be so far away."

Yexue was about to join them when she saw a dark smear cut across the ground, just beyond the footprints.

Her entire body froze. "No..."

"What is it now?" Lieyin asked in an annoyed voice.

Yexue stumbled back. "There’s blood on the floor."

"What?" Han Shuying went back to where the footprints were. "How did I miss it?" Her eyes narrowed on the blood smear. She took in the details.

The color was no longer fresh, but was darkened to a dull dried brown. The edges were uneven where it had seeped deep into the soil and settled there.

"I think the blood has been here for over a day." A certain darkness fell over her face. "We can only hope it belongs to the guide and not Qingyue."