Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Camping in the Mountains

After a while, Rachie gradually stopped her tears, wiped away the tear stains, and suddenly became a little shy. Feeling embarrassed for losing composure in front of her friend, she asked Lolan Hill not to tell others about what happened today, to which Lolan Hill smiled and agreed.

Everyone has embarrassing pasts; when young, one often has extraordinary thoughts and impulses, and that isn’t necessarily bad. However, some people abandon their dreams and jump into the big dye vat of society, then mock those chasing their dreams with an air of superiority, claiming they’ve seen through the essence of society.

In both her past life and this one, Lolan Hill detested such people.

“Il n’y a qu’un hérosme au monde : c’est de voir le monde tel qu’il est et de l’aimer.” – Romain Rolland.

There is only one true heroism in the world, which is to see life as it truly is and still love it.

—

Two days later, in front of the Kempel Manor.

“Not staying a few more days, Lacy?” Rachie looked at the Cariates Guild caravan loading goods and luggage in an orderly manner, preparing to set off. She was reluctant to see her friend go, even though they had only known each other for a few days, it felt like finding a kindred spirit.

Among her peers, her brothers were always busy with business or other matters outside, and most girls of her social circle in Kempel City cared only about dressing up, perfumes, and clothes. Occasionally, a few knew how to play musical instruments, which was considered remarkable.

After all, the atmosphere in the Vergha Commercial Alliance was like that; the entire nation prioritized profit, everything revolved around money, and cultural entertainment industries existed only in a few large coastal cities. Even these were mostly for pretentious sophistication, used to embellish one’s status.

Speaking of literature and drama, the most prosperous was the Verdant Empire, followed by the Holy Land nation, whose religious operas were famous across the continent.

“Sorry, Rachie. This time I have to go to Hope Lane, there are many things to do. We’ll meet again next time. This is for you.” Lolan Hill handed Rachie a velvet box, telling her to open it after returning home.

“Well, see you next time.”

Lolan Hill stood in front of the carriage, wearing a light-colored dress. Sunlight filtered through the dense tree shade, sparsely illuminating her hair. With the summer breeze blowing down the street, she held her sun hat to prevent it from being blown away, her long hair fluttering in the wind as she waved goodbye to her friend.

After two days of rest and replenishment, the members of the Cariates Guild had also gotten good rest, and today they were setting off again.

As the whip cracked, the caravan began to slowly move forward, eventually disappearing beyond the city gates.

Rachie stood in front of the manor, watching Lolan Hill’s carriage travel far away before turning back.

Jalynk watched his daughter’s reluctant expression, feeling somewhat complex. Would the next generation of Cariates and Yagdilin continue the friendship of the past? Was this new friend his daughter met good or bad?

Everything would depend on Miss Lacy’s performance in Hope Lane.

On the carriage, Lolan Hill gazed out the window at the receding scenery and asked,

“How much cargo did we purchase from the Yagdilin family this time?”

“According to your previous instructions, we mainly procured some portable pearls and jewelry this time, and the rest are just food and supplies needed for the journey,” Chelsea began reporting the quantity of goods carried this time.

“Hmm, try to travel light. Since they dared to attack Angus near the border, they might also attack us domestically.”

“Although I don’t know exactly what they want, we’ll just do what they don’t want us to do. They want Cariates to fall, but we won’t let that happen. After stopping this attempt, they will likely make another move. In time, we will figure out what they’re after.”

Thus, the Cariates Guild caravan smoothly passed several days, getting closer and closer to Hope Lane.

More than ten carriages moved along the road on the mountain slope. The sound of the wind echoed through the mountains, and some leaves were swept up by the wind, flying on the road.

Lolan Hill looked at the overcast sky, predicting that it might rain heavily tonight. When no one was paying attention, her pupils faintly glowed as her Extraordinary Sequence shifted from Demon Sequence to Nature Sequence. Then she closed her eyes and began listening to the information of nearby nature.

Soon, she opened her eyes, revealing a worried look. After pondering for a moment, she tapped the partition in front of her.

“Is there any order, Young Lady?” came the voice of Butler Seres from the front.

“Let the caravan stop at the bend ahead. That area is relatively flat, and we’ll camp here for the night.”

“Are we not continuing forward? After passing three more hills, we’ll reach Yellow Leaf Town, which is safer, and the accommodation conditions are much better.”

“No, we’ll stop here.”

“Alright, following your arrangements.” Then Seres called over a few riders beside him, instructing them to tell the front part of the convoy to stop here.

A few armored riders broke ranks and trotted on the mountain road. As the front part of the convoy received the orders, the entire caravan gradually stopped, and the carriages were pulled to the side of the road to begin setting up camp.

Some people went into the nearby forest to gather firewood, while others started pitching tents.

Lolan Hill also got off the carriage and observed the surroundings. This place was a relatively flat area on the mountain slope, with a road on one side and the bottom of the mountain on the other.

After inspecting for a while, she ordered her subordinates to pull the carriages onto this empty space, arranging them in two rows to block the road and the open area. Then she instructed them to prepare some thick logs, tying them with ropes to form wooden barriers, placed at the front and back of the road, sealing off the passage.

“Miss, what are you doing?” Chelsea looked puzzled, setting up layers of checkpoints—was she preparing for enemies? But how did Miss Lacy know that enemies would come?

“Hmm, I don’t know if they will act tonight, but it’s better to be prepared.” Lolan Hill looked up at the darkening sky, where the wind carried cool, moist air, indicating the impending storm.

Then she summoned the various squad leaders of the guild’s riders, dividing them into two groups to take turns resting tonight. And even when sleeping, they should wear their armor and keep their weapons close.

Thinking for a while, she still felt uneasy, so she took out two boxes of [Circulation Elixir] she carried with her, giving each captain three vials, ordering them to be extra cautious tonight. If any member was injured, they should drink one vial. As long as it wasn’t a fatal wound, they could basically save a life.

“Thank you, Miss Lacy!”

After receiving the elixir, the captains loudly expressed their gratitude, then carefully put them away in their personal bags. Having traveled extensively, they naturally understood the value of extraordinary elixirs. In an era without hospitals and poor treatment conditions, one vial of elixir could mean one life. This was not an exaggeration but a precious experience gained from the edge of death.

Though they worked for anyone who paid, the actions of this young lady were like a warm current flowing through their hearts. The concern revealed in her clear eyes moved these riders. In this profit-driven and cold-hearted nation, such genuine care was particularly precious.

After making all the arrangements, the sky had completely darkened, and a large pile of bonfires rose. A group of people began cooking food. Dried meat and potatoes boiled into a thick soup, dry bread dipped in the soup or torn directly into the soup to soften, served as the dinner for the riders. As the wood crackled, waves of aroma spread around the campfire.

“Miss, your dinner is ready.”

Just as Lolan Hill was still contemplating what else could be prepared and planned, Chelsea’s voice came from beside her, informing her that dinner was ready and placed on the carriage.

“No need for so much trouble, just bring it over.”

“This isn’t appropriate, there are too many people here…”

Chelsea, though not a maid from a high noble family, still knew many rules and etiquettes. It was very unsuitable for an unmarried noble young lady to dine in front of a large group of men.

Sitting by the campfire, Lolan Hill looked up and observed the scene around her. Riders were scattered in small groups, using iron cans to boil soup, squatting on the ground eating bread, reminiscent of construction sites from her previous life.

“Alright, leave the bread for me, and share the fruits and roasted meat with everyone.”

Chelsea was still somewhat unwilling, as this seemed to violate her principles as a maid.

“There’s no need to be so formal, Sister Chelsea. Do as I say.”

“Alright…”

Then Chelsea cut the fruits and roasted meat from Lolan Hill’s plate and distributed them to these riders who braved the wind and dew, while the young lady sat by the campfire slowly eating the leftover bread. Actually, if she didn’t eat for a few days, it wouldn’t matter much. An extraordinary being’s endurance and physical strength weren’t comparable to ordinary people, especially hers, which was exceptionally special.

Nothing unusual happened after dinner. The mountain road remained quiet, with no travelers passing by, perhaps because of the impending rain, everyone had stopped traveling. Thus, the riders rested in shifts as arranged beforehand.

Deep into the night, seven or eight guards kept watch by the campfire, while snoring sounds came from the nearby tents. At this moment, large raindrops began falling from the sky, and soon the heavy rain poured down like a flood.

The campfire was quickly extinguished, plunging the surroundings into darkness, with only the sound of rain hitting the leaves audible.

At this moment, Lolan Hill suddenly opened her eyes inside the tent, “Finally, they’ve come.”

An urgent sound of galloping hooves approached from afar on the mountain road, but under the cover of the mountain rain, it was extremely hidden and eerie.