Although Wufu persuaded Ah Jiu, he refused to let her exhaust herself on the journey. Despite Wufu’s advice, he insisted Yuan Ye and the others go to the town to buy a carriage, padding the interior thickly, and also buy a Small Red Furnace and small pot, so that Jadeite could daily make some nourishing soup for Wufu.

Unable to refuse, Wufu could only ask Chi Wu to drive the carriage faster, to shorten the time as much as possible. After traveling for several more days, the two Gu insects inside Ah Jiu began to consume each other. Ah Jiu quickly became weak, his body weary and fatigued, and his heart occasionally throbbed with pain.

Seeing him like this, Wufu felt heartbroken, yet was helpless herself. She was not doing well either, though her blood could regenerate, the speed couldn’t match the rate of loss, and Wufu quickly became thin and frail.

Both masters had turned into weaklings, which pained the followers. No one spoke loudly or joked, only keeping their heads down and hurrying along. After two more days, Wufu realized it was not sustainable, deciding to abandon the carriage, and have Yuan Ye and others take turns carrying her and Ah Jiu, to reach Miaojiang sooner, where they could get good rest.

Two flowers bloom, each representing its own branch.

While Wufu hurried towards Miaojiang, others arrived outside Changan City.

A group of three raggedly dressed, with cracked lips, wearing thin clothes, shivering as they glanced at the towering city walls.

"Mother, we’ve finally reached, right?" The young girl carried a small bundle on her arm, looking at the towering city walls and the people coming and going, a hint of fervor in her eyes.

The woman called "Mother" licked her cracked lips, staring at the two large copper-painted words Changan above the city gate, and replied hoarsely, "We have indeed arrived."

"Mother, let’s hurry inside then." The young girl impatiently said, "My legs are about to break from this journey."

"Yes, we should go in, your father and the others can’t wait." The woman wiped her nose with the back of her hand, casually wiping it on her grimy, dirty skirt.

"Mother, I’m hungry." The little boy beside the woman stared at a pancake stall outside the city, licking his lips and swallowing.

"Hang on a little longer, when we see your aunt, we’ll eat well and drink something spicy, not this." The woman slapped his hand and reluctantly turned her gaze from the fragrant sesame pancakes, patting her stomach.

It’s not that she wouldn’t buy some for the child, but they didn’t have a single Copper Coin left from the journey, having been hungry for nearly two days.

"Mother, will Aunt take care of us?" The girl frowned and asked, "What if she’s rich and successful, and doesn’t care about us anymore?"

"She has to care!" The woman’s eyes widened, "If she doesn’t, we’ll hang ourselves on a rope in front of her; anyway, your father and brother are waiting for life-saving help. We have no way out, if she doesn’t help, it’s completely cutting off our way to live, we might as well die as a family!"

The woman’s gaunt, emaciated face twisted into a grimace, appearing somewhat fierce and vicious.

The young girl thought her mother was only venting, believing she wouldn’t really want to die, nor would the girl herself. Changan looked so nice, people dressed neatly and were spirited.

Wow, see that man riding a tall horse, so handsome, compared to the young men from Huaan, simply like heavenly gods.

"Come on, into the city, let’s ask someone where your uncle’s family lives, then go find them!" The woman grabbed the little boy’s hand and strode towards the city.

Indeed, this mother and her two children coming to seek relatives were Madam Lu and her kin, Zhou Xuennian’s family.