Chapter 26: The Sudden Appearance of a Corpse

A team of twenty traveled lightly, with two mules carrying most of their luggage and three horses to rotate among the riders, dramatically improving their mobility. At the forefront rode Wang Keyue, disguised as a young man atop a black horse, looking spirited and full of vigor.

Everyone in the group had adopted disguises; aside from three older women, the rest were dressed as men or youths. Nearly every person carried a weapon, making the group appear formidable and not easily provoked—at least, it would deter much unnecessary trouble.

After a full day’s journey, with the sun sinking in the west, Wang Keyue decided to have everyone find a safe place nearby to spend the night.

“Chengyi, take some people and check the surroundings for a suitable spot to camp,” Wang Keyue instructed, and Chengyi immediately set off.

They had been traveling relentlessly for almost the entire day, covering an estimated eighty li. Now, everyone was nearing their limit.

Along the way, the desolation of the borderlands weighed heavily on Wang Keyue’s heart. She hadn’t expected the frontier of the Great Qin Dynasty to be so harsh. In over eighty li, not a single living soul was seen—not even bones or remains—revealing just how barren this area was.

Soon, Cheng’er returned, anxiety written all over her face. “Young master, there’s something ahead.”

Wang Keyue, now in full youth attire, had instructed everyone before departure to change her address to avoid exposing her identity in public.

“What’s going on?” Wang Keyue asked.

“There’s... a lot...” Cheng’er said, her expression growing more grim by the moment.

Wang Keyue decided to have everyone camp right where they were; there was little point in searching for a more comfortable site—this wasteland likely held no better places. She moved forward carefully with Cheng’er, and an unpleasant stench permeated the air, causing Wang Keyue to frown. It was the sharp odor of blood and the putrid smell of corpses.

Not far ahead, she saw Chengyi and Chengsan crouched low to the ground.

Wang Keyue followed Cheng’er, crawling forward cautiously. Looking up, she peered over a pile of rocks and saw, not far away, a broad, low depression littered with bodies sprawled haphazardly across the ground.

“These are... soldiers...” She noted the uniforms on the corpses—some still wore armor.

Weapons were scattered everywhere: spears, broad swords, ring-handled blades, all manner of arms. Not far off, two battered flags stood crookedly planted in the earth.

One was red, the other yellow; the distance made it impossible to discern the embroidered patterns, but from the colors alone, Wang Keyue guessed the yellow flag belonged to the Great Qin army.

The other flag made her frown as she searched the original owner’s memories, but found no clue.

Such a bloody battlefield was not a place to linger—who knew if reinforcements might arrive at any moment. Wang Keyue was about to lead everyone away.

Wait... what’s that? As she surveyed the scene, a small white glimmer caught her eye, momentarily distracting her.

Then, a familiar scene flashed in her mind. “Hey! Isn’t that the pouch I licked before?”

“Host, the equipment from your random reward is about to expire. I suggest you collect it quickly!” The voice of the 9538 system chimed in.

‘Fortune favors the bold! Let’s do it!’ Wang Keyue clenched her teeth and made her decision. It was just a walk among corpses—what was there to fear? She’d seen worse horrors in the apocalypse.

“Chengyi, Cheng’er, come with me to take a look. Chengsan, stay on guard,” Wang Keyue ordered.

Chengyi and Cheng’er froze for a moment, eyes wide as they looked at each other, as if confirming whether they’d heard correctly.

Chengyi was strong enough, but Cheng’er, originally a third-class maid runner, had some stamina and speed—though only within the confines of the household.

Both had learned a little basic martial arts in the past few days with their young mistress, but their courage still lagged behind. Hearing her command and seeing the field of corpses ahead, their terror increased.

“Follow me if you don’t want to die!” Wang Keyue’s voice was low and commanding as she leapt out first.