Chapter 5, Selfish Desires

Lin Bin filled the water bag to the brim and squatted by the stream to do some mental calculations. They had been fleeing northeast for over ten miles, and there were still nearly a hundred miles to go to the Dai County mentioned by Gongsun Hong. They did not dare to continue their journey during the day and, relying on Gongsun Hong's familiarity with the terrain in this area, found a patch of wilderness to hide in.

At this moment, Lu Wu Zuo Mu let out a cold laugh, "Not to mention that Lin Zhuangshi would not believe it, who in the border town would believe that you, Gongsun the Wanderer, have such a kind heart?"

Lin Bin approached Gongsun Hong and asked in a low voice, "What shall we do now"

"Do nothing," Lin Bin said as he crawled towards Dou Shiyan. After checking Dou Shiyan's breath, he found it very weak. He wanted to pull out the arrow still lodged in his left arm, but there was not enough light, so he had to give up. "Either carry Lu Wu and Zuo Mu to escape together, or you go by yourself," he said, already cradling Dou Shiyan in his arms, waiting for Gongsun Hong to make a choice before leaving.

The Xiongnu have consistently used the He-shuo region as a forward supply base for their attacks against our Han state. This time, the primary target of the Xiongnu's assault is the imperial capital of the Great Han, Chang'an, while Yanmen Commandery and other counties are merely collateral damage. Unlike Yanmen Commandery, this time Your Majesty has mobilized the garrison of Yanmen but has not recalled the garrison of Dai Commandery. In my judgment, Dai Commandery possesses sufficient military strength, and the Xiongnu will not launch an assault on Dai Commandery as fiercely as they do on Yanmen Commandery. Therefore, it is certain that most areas of Dai Commandery remain under the control of our Great Han state

In the darkness, Gongsun Hong could not understand what Lin Bin was doing. When he heard the sound of water, he thought Lin Bin was drinking, and he couldn't help but move his throat up and down. In that moment, however, he realized it was not the case: "How can you waste such precious water www.hetushu.com.com!"

At this moment, Lu Wu Zuo Mu finally spoke, "I only wish to travel alongside Hero Lin"

The strange atmosphere persisted until Dou Shiyan let out a moan, which finally broke the tension. Lin Bin, hearing the moan, suddenly stood up and approached Dou Shiyan, bringing the water pouch to her lips. Dou Shiyan felt the moisture near her mouth and instinctively drank, but perhaps due to her eagerness, she choked on the water and coughed.

That is not the case; it is just that this time over ten thousand Han people have fled. Such an event has not occurred in the past three years. The Xiongnu are very likely to set fire to the forest out of anger. It is not the fear of ten thousand, but the fear of one in ten thousand. If you do not leave, I will go with Lu Wu and Zuo Mu.

Gongsun Hong's expression stiffened once again, "Alright, give me the curved knife for self-defense on the way"

The further they advanced towards Dai County, the more the scenery changed. The original desert was replaced by a stretch of grassland, and the terrain was no longer a flat plain; this area was characterized by hills, with thickets typically found at the foot of the slopes. Occasionally, they could also find streams, which allowed them to quench their thirst. Along the way, Lu Wu and Zuo Mu also woke up, but Dou Shi Yan remained in a deep coma.

Why do you believe that arriving in Dai County will ensure safety

It is not long before the Xiongnu have retreated. For safety's sake, we should not linger here. We will leave when it gets dark; otherwise, if a large group of Xiongnu passes through here, they may set fire to the forest, which would be dangerous.

Gongsun Hong was very curious about Lin Bin. He always saw Lin Bin pulling out some strange little items from that peculiar piece of clothing, such as very white gauze and a small elongated bottle. He could not understand how that small bundle of items could produce such a long piece of white cloth, and the structure of that cloth was quite unique, seemingly mesh-like, and very easy to tear. He was even more curious about the bottle that could spray a mist-like liquid. He did not know that Lin Bin had sighed countless times after checking the items on his person.

Lin Bin did not respond immediately; he needed to clean his wound. The wound on his left rib was filled with sand and was causing intermittent pain. If he did not clean it quickly, it would surely worsen. He took out a small first aid kit from his front pocket and retrieved a bundle of gauze, placing it on his thigh. He removed his shirt and, relying on touch, examined the wound. He also unfastened the water pouch attached to his tactical belt and, gritting his teeth, began to clean the wound.

Gongsun Hong's expression stiffened, and his lips trembled twice. "Very well, I will go alone. But I ask that Lin... Lin the Hero grant me one request." He paused for a moment, "Please give me the water pouch, and also some meat from the Xiongnu to stave off hunger on the way. If I find someone, I will surely bring them back to assist you all." After saying this, he looked at Lin Bin with an expectant expression.

They advanced deep into the wilderness, and throughout their journey, Lin Bin's presence ensured they left no obvious traces. Eventually, they found a clearing of a few square meters, and by this time, the sky was already bright. Lin Bin assisted Dou Shiyan in removing the arrow from her left arm, cleaned the wound, performed a simple disinfection, and then bandaged it. Of course, with the light available, he would also definitely re-examine the wound on his left rib.

Lin Bin silently took out the stolen meat from the Xiongnu, opened the coarse cloth, and divided it into several pieces of dark meat. "I can give you the meat. It is useful for the unconscious Dou Shiyan with the *illustrated* water bag, but I cannot give it to you."

"Abandoning the unconscious Dou Shiyan and Lu Wuzuo, we will continue to flee towards the northeast. Once we reach the Zangshui River near Daijun, we will be safe," Gongsun Hong suggested without hesitation.

You may walk alone, but you must leave the water behind! Lin Bin said decisively, as he certainly knew that one could not linger here.

The wandering knights were the chivalrous figures of the Han dynasty, yet they were generally regarded by commoners as street thugs and ruffians. They scorned the law and committed offenses with their martial skills, often lacking a good reputation. In certain regions, powerful wandering knights dominated the area, commanding a following with a mere call.

After Lin Bin inexplicably arrived here, he had lost most of his belongings, leaving only a large first aid kit in the inner pocket of his jacket; a small first aid kit in the right chest pocket, a few oral disinfectant tablets, and a bottle of skin disinfectant (calcium hypochlorite tablets, used for cleaning skin surfaces contaminated by chemical weapons); a military dagger; and of course, the military boots on his feet and the camouflage uniform he was wearing. Apart from these, he had nothing left.

Did the Xiongnu always set fire to the forests when passing through them?

Lin Bin hesitated for a moment, yet he still did not want to give up on Dou Shiyan, who was in a coma. Since arriving here, apart from the old man, Dou Shiyan had spoken to him the most. Surviving in a completely unfamiliar environment without companions was absolutely unfeasible. Among this group, Gongsun Hong pursued personal interests and was rather gloomy, making him a poor partner. Lin Bin was also not familiar with Lu Wuzuomu; only Dou Shiyan, with her straightforward personality, was the most ideal companion.

The calamity of the fish pond... it is precisely this calamity of the fish pond that has claimed so many lives. Lin Bin's expression was extremely somber, "How long do we need to hide here?"

Indeed, it is the compassion of a woman! Gongsun Hong did not return the water pouch to Lin Bin, but held it tightly in his hand. Living on the frontier, no one is unaware of the preciousness of water sources. "Then what do you suggest we do? Soon, the Xiongnu will surely return along the same route. Are we to wait here for death?"

Sighing is of no use now; Lin Bin still feels somewhat lost. What he has always wanted to know is what kind of world this unfamiliar place is. In his conversation with Gongsun Hong, he finally understands that it is now the third year of Emperor Jing (Liu Qi). However, this information is of little use to him. The most useful information is that the northern frontier of the Han state in this era is a very unsafe place. Every year, the Xiongnu invade southward to plunder, with the Yanmen area being the first to suffer. This reminds Lin Bin of everything that has happened in the past half month, with the most profound impression being the large-scale massacre of Han people after the Xiongnu breached the Yanmen Pass.

Gongsun Hong understood that Lin Bin only cared about Dou Shiyan, and was indifferent to the lives of others. He intended to snatch back the water bag but lacked the confidence to do so. He knew that without water in the wilderness, death was certain. In desperation, he could only laboriously carry Lu Wu Zuo Mu and follow Lin Bin.

He often thinks how great it would be if the backpack and individual combat equipment were still there, as it contained the most advanced semi-automatic sniper rifle of the Republic and nearly one hundred rounds of ammunition, not to mention the lethal grenades; the supplies in the backpack would also be sufficient for him to survive for a month in the harshest of environments

Lin Bin turned to look at the unconscious Dou Shiyan, then glanced at the silent Lu Wuzuo Mu beside him, feeling a bit hesitant. Dou Shiyan was currently very weak, and undertaking another long journey could very likely result in death.

He brought the water bag to his lips and took a few sips, then handed the water bag to Gongsun Hong, who was still complaining. "You are right, the best plan is to abandon them and escape alone. However, I cannot do that. Since they have entrusted their lives to me, I have the responsibility to take them to a safe place. What happens after that... is beyond my control."

In fact, he does not particularly like Gongsun Hong, as he always feels that Gongsun Hong's gaze is somewhat gloomy. However, Gongsun Hong is now the only person awake with whom he can converse. He is unfamiliar with this place and unable to make accurate judgments.

Lin Bin shook his head firmly

Gongsun Hong instinctively tightened his grip on the water bag, pondering what to say. Before he could react, he was tackled down, feeling a sharp pain in his wrist as the water bag was snatched away. In the darkness, a pair of piercing eyes fixed intently on him, "What are you doing?"

This journey lasted the entire night without pause, during which several groups of Xiongnu cavalry were encountered, yet Huansheng narrowly evaded them. It was not until dawn that there were no pursuers.

When Lu Wu interrupted, the atmosphere became strange. The sunlight filtering through the treetops illuminated Gongsun Hong's face, making it appear extremely fierce, while Lin Bin nonchalantly stroked the wound on his left rib, seemingly lost in thought.

Gongsun Hong said again, "What use is hiding here with weapons? I intend to go out and seek help for you all!" His voice and expression were very sincere, making it easy for people to believe what he said

Lin Bin still did not respond, muttering to himself: "Without light to use disinfectants, I hope the wound won't become infected." However, he believed the chances of that were low; under the current conditions, it was impossible to completely clean the dirt from the wound. In the hot and humid weather, it was only a matter of time before an untreated wound became infected.