c4 - Are Women a Burden on the Escape from Famine? Give Them to Me

### Chapter 4: No Fools The night was pitch-black, with only an obscure outline discernible within the darkness. Chen Qi leaned against the dim shadow of the pit, whispering to Er Lai, who remained silent beside him. They were waiting to ambush. "Hey, Chen Qi," came a call from the pit, his companions asking, "Did you capture it?" "Yeah, it's handled," Chen Qi replied ambiguously. The two exchanged glances, their faces bruised and weary, before gradually disappearing into the void. Lu Wei dashed up, making tiny noises as he ran quickly to avoid being detected. Being a fugitive meant practicing caution. Silence was their best answer to the perils that loomed. Every decision mattered; even a slight misstep could prove fatal. "Whoo~" Exhaling deeply, Lu Wei relaxed against the pit, catching his breath from the run. Although uncertain of his injuries, Lu Wei felt lucky they weren’t too severe. They would just need time to recover, enough to stay on their feet. Luck was part of the system, they assumed, as life managed to flip unexpectedly often. **In another realm, far from this peril,** a wealthy caravan trailed a luxurious carriage, a splendid sight all its own. The carriage was like a moving palace, crafted from ornate woodwork adorned with silk threads and precious gems. Inside, amid a soft couch and warm incense burners, a stunningly beautiful woman lay leisurely perusing accounts. Her ethereal form was graceful, her allure was captivating—draped in thin, enticing fabrics that sparked the imagination. The lady possessed skin like jade and an innocent face, yet she exuded the allure akin to a seductive poppy. Her slender hands leafed through accounts, a slight frown on her brows as if lost in pondering. "My lady, it is getting late. Perhaps you should rest," said a voice. A maid, gentle and pure, cautioned her. The enchanting figure lifted her eyes deliberately, her dark hair cascading freely like a waterfall, her eyes shimmering like stars. "What hour is it?" she asked, her voice elegant but hinting at youth. "It's just past the hour of the boar," Bai He, her maid, promptly replied. The lady closed the ledger gently, handing it over to Bai He. She inquired thoughtfully, "What news of the venture, then?" Bai He responded with a smile, "All is well. Lin's team reported smooth progress; we're expected to reach Yunzhou soon." The lady pondered for a moment before nodding slightly, her gaze deepening as she collected her thoughts. "Convey to the guards," she ordered with a serene smile. "Upon reaching Yunzhou, they’ll receive a reward of five taels." Bai He praised her, bowing graciously and declaring, "My lady's benevolence is unmatched, surely the guards will be inspired by your generosity." "Very well, you may retire," the lady dismissed softly. Bai He excused herself gracefully, retreating quietly. The lady watched Bai He’s departing figure, her mind swirling with complex thoughts. At last, she sighed softly to herself, whispering a lament, "The cycle of fate, relentless and unyielding." ... Elsewhere, Lu Wei rested with his sister, Lu Xiao Xiao. Taking the opportunity while she slept, he stripped the clothes off Er Lai’s lifeless body, dragging it through the snow until it lay hidden within a concealed plot. He covered the body as best he could to prevent scavenging beasts from uncovering it, knowing that to attempt a dangerous venture for food was necessary but risky. Deciding against leaving to track or hunt animals capable of ripping him apart, Lu Wei instead sought sustenance amongst what nature had left bare. The frozen terrain was nearly barren of even tree bark or roots; the seasons' harshness had stripped it clean. Venturing into the forest meant risking encounter with not just beasts but also mythical creatures. Lu Wei considered the odds, deemed them too unfavorable, and decided stealth was paramount over imprudence. Yet, trying to fish from beneath layers of ice half a meter thick exhausted too much energy for negligible gain. After pondering, Lu Wei found a slight bulge under the snow. His thoughts aligned on survival yet again as he devised ways to feed both himself and his sister. Light streamed as the days passed, nudging Lu Xiao Xiao awake within Lu Wei's embrace, her recognition of the reality reaffirmed by hunger's familiar ache. Today might bring sustenance enough to deviate from mere survival, as their hopes flickered like the sparse fire they managed to maintain for warmth. Her eyes wide in innocent wonder, Lu Wei tended to her comfort, all while considering how long their supplies could stretch. Their world was cold, limited by the snow that covered it like an unforgiving blanket, and the survival instincts honed under pressure had made Lu Wei cautious but relentless in ensuring they saw another sunrise. The breaths between were pervaded with gratitude they were still alive, their struggle equating to shared moments of harmony, proving that despite the adversities, bonds held warmth like no other. There was a determination in Lu Wei's eyes, a resolve set firm to unfold this truth to his sister—a cascading cycle where kindness and struggle abide as constant companions.