The biting cold wind made the night trek arduous. Several of the guards realized that, after walking for an hour, even they were so cold that they felt dizzy. The convicts kept collapsing from exhaustion, but the Lu family remained steady, walking without issue.

“The Lu family is really something strange!” one guard muttered.

“Yeah, no kidding…” another agreed.

At the beginning, the guards had thought that few members of the Lu family would make it to the northern territories, especially the old man, Lu Qing. He was already frail, a survivor of the imperial prison no less. They had all assumed he would collapse after a few days.

But here they were, over half a month later, having survived even a bandit attack that claimed the lives of many. Yet, the entire Lu family remained unharmed, looking even more energetic than the young, strong convicts.

The Lu family… was truly resilient.

Gu Xingzhao, listening in from the side, was curious to see what the guards thought of the Lu family. Hearing them now, she felt she had a clearer understanding.

She was about to find Lu Qing when she noticed a few guards eyeing the Lu family with suspicion, whispering to each other. One of the guards rubbed his hands together and walked quickly to find Du Hangwu at the front of the group.

Sensing something was up, Gu Xingzhao followed him.

The guard, glancing back at the Lu family, whispered to Du Hangwu, “Boss, don’t you think it’s strange how the Lu family is holding up? They’re all so tough.”

Du Hangwu turned to look at Lu Qing and the others. “Maybe they’re just strong.”

The guard wasn’t convinced. “Yesterday, we were each given only one cotton coat, and we’re freezing with two layers on. How can the Lu family, even if they’re strong, resist the cold better than us?”

“Boss, I think the Lu family has been trading with villagers along the way, and they might have some kind of treasure to keep warm.”

Hearing this, Gu Xingzhao’s expression darkened. This guard clearly had greedy intentions.

Du Hangwu, however, knew better. The Lu family must have some divine protection, which is why they were unaffected by the cold.

Gu Xingzhao watched closely, curious to see how Du Hangwu would react. If he too had greedy thoughts… well, she wouldn’t mind showing her “divine power” again tonight. A couple more strikes of lightning would certainly help her meet her quota for the day.

The guard, looking around, leaned closer to Du Hangwu and whispered, “Boss, just give the order. Li Si and the others are ready to search the Lu family’s belongings and take whatever they have.”

It was then that Du Hangwu noticed that seven or eight guards, led by Li Si, were also eyeing the Lu family with obvious greed. Their shifty eyes gleamed with the intent to strip the Lu family of their possessions.

Du Hangwu’s expression darkened. “Go tell them, if they dare cause any trouble, I won’t spare a single one of them.”

The guard was stunned. “Boss, everyone’s freezing out here. What’s the harm in borrowing from the Lu family?”

Du Hangwu glared at the guard coldly. “Borrow? Have you forgotten what happened when lightning struck and killed the bandits? Think your life’s too long?”

The guard winced at the memory. Those bandits, real flesh-and-blood men, had been struck down by lightning in an instant. And just today, that dying man Yu Heng had been miraculously healed.

How could anyone doubt such divine intervention?

Li Si and the others were fellow villagers of Du Hangwu, men he had brought with him when he became an official. He had thought it safer to travel with trusted men, hoping to ensure they all made it back to the capital safely, where they could enjoy a good future.

But along the way, they had done nothing but steal food and clothes from the convicts. Now they wanted to rob the Lu family?

Du Hangwu was fed up. Li Si and the others hadn’t witnessed the bandits being struck by lightning, so they didn’t believe in the divine protection of the Lu family. But they didn’t understand that taking from the Lu family might cost them their lives.

He wasn’t about to be struck down because of their greed.

With a heavy tone, Du Hangwu reprimanded the guard, sending him back dejected and ashamed.

When the guard returned, Li Si and the others eagerly asked, “Well? What did he say?”

The guard shook his head, glancing at Du Hangwu. “The boss says the Lu family is under divine protection. We can’t mess with them.”

Li Si’s face turned black with anger. “Just because there was some thunder and lightning, and some cowardly fools claim the Lu family has divine protection, he actually believes it?”

He scoffed, “If Du Hangwu doesn’t dare, I’ll go myself!”

He was freezing to death; what did he care about a little lightning?

“Shh! Keep your voice down! The boss said if we cause any trouble, none of us will get away with it…”

“To hell with that!” Li Si spat on the ground. “That bastard owes us! We helped him climb the ranks, and now he’s dragged us out here to freeze to death, pretending like he doesn’t know us anymore?”

“Shh!”

“Shut up!” Li Si growled. “I swear, I’m going to kill him one day!”

Gu Xingzhao made a mental note of Li Si and his group. Worried she might forget, she pulled out her phone and discreetly took pictures of each of them, just to be sure she wouldn’t strike the wrong people later.

Satisfied that Du Hangwu wasn’t as bad as she feared, she sighed in relief. She had judged him correctly. Du Hangwu came from humble beginnings and had clawed his way up through the ranks. Now, as a minor official in charge of this important escort mission, he was both cautious and bold, knowing when to take risks and when to play it safe.

Dragging her supplies behind her, Gu Xingzhao approached Lu Qing and the others. She didn’t know how much longer they would keep walking tonight, but she needed to wait until they stopped to distribute the warm clothing she had brought.

Because his cane had broken, Lu Qing was being supported by Lu Zhou and Lu Xingyao, clearly struggling.

“Lu Qing, are you cold?”

Hearing the familiar voice of the ancestor, Lu Qing was momentarily dazed, wondering if he was imagining things after walking for so long in the freezing wind.

Lu Qing responded respectfully in his mind: Ancestor, this junior is fine. With the warm clothes you gifted, I can withstand the cold. But why have you come at this hour?

Over the past half-month, Gu Xingzhao had never appeared at this time of night.

Looking at Lu Qing in his current state, Gu Xingzhao felt a pang of sympathy. She had seen how dignified he used to be, with every hair neatly combed. Now, he was ragged, his clothes tattered, his hair and beard unkempt. It was truly heartbreaking.

She sighed. “Hold out your hand.”

Though confused, Lu Qing obeyed, extending his trembling hand into the cold air.

Lu Zhou, thinking his father needed more support, immediately offered, “Father, I’m not tired. I’ll keep holding you up.”

It was pitch dark, and if the old man fell at his age, it could be fatal.

But the next moment, by the faint moonlight, Lu Zhou saw a long, thin stick suddenly appear in his father’s outstretched hand!

His eyes widened in shock. “This… this? This!”

The ancestor had appeared!