The night, dark as ink.
Walking nine hundred miles in the northwest direction of Fulong Ridge, Aiku Mountain looms, shrouded in miasma and teeming with countless snakes, insects, rodents, and ants.
In a mountain hollow, several bonfires rise, flickering on the weary faces of the company, with a strong hundred men in number.
The crackling of firecrackers echoes, extinguishing the chill of the mountains.
These are the reinforcements from Guang'an Prefecture supporting the Ninth Mountain, currently in the midst of retreat.
Following the command of the Ninth Mountain, over two thousand troops disperse and escape, trailing toward the Prefecture, seeking refuge.
Treading on pins and needles for several days, having journeyed over two thousand miles without encountering the anticipated demons, everyone's mood has relaxed considerably.