Qiao Xin was always true to her word.

After seeing off their guests, she wasted no time.

Once Qiao Yunxin and his brother hastily finished their breakfast and fed the horses, they immediately set off on their journey, noticeably picking up the pace.

When passing through villages and towns, she no longer allowed anyone to stop and rest.

Instead, she sent two people in to quickly purchase food and fodder before immediately continuing on.

After some consideration, the Fan family ultimately decided to travel with Qiao Xin and her group.

Whenever Qiao Xin made a move, the Fan family would follow suit, mimicking her actions.

The journey remained relatively smooth.

By the third day, they were still over 600 miles away from Weizhou. That was when fine white snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

The temperature dropped sharply, and winter arrived overnight.

The continuous travel took its toll, and finally, some members of the group fell ill.

Fan Boqing, along with three to five members of his clan, personally approached Qiao Xin to discuss their next steps.

Their attitude was noticeably more respectful than before.

“There’s a large town not far ahead. Madam, would you consider stopping for the night?” one of them suggested.

Qiao Xin’s expression was grim. Without wasting words, she refused outright. “No. Change the horses, and keep moving!”

Everyone around her was in disbelief.

They had been traveling for four or five days without a proper rest.

Both people and horses were exhausted, with many barely holding on through sheer willpower.

Most believed there was no need to push forward so relentlessly.

Someone complained, “There are already elderly and children falling sick in the carriages. If we don’t rest soon, they might not even survive the journey!”

Another added, “We can swap horses, sure, but people need to rest too!”

Murmurs of discontent spread, but notably, neither the Qiao family nor Fan Boqing and his brothers voiced any objections.

Suppressing her irritation, Qiao Xin patiently explained, “I am not forcing anyone to follow me. But my family must go.”

Fan Boqing, knowing that Qiao Xin was not one to act recklessly, put aside his pride and humbly asked, “Madam, please enlighten us—why is this so urgent? It’s only a light snowfall right now.”

Qiao Xin extended her hand, catching the needle-like snowflakes, feeling the damp coldness in the air.

She said, “When white needle snow falls in winter, it signals an even greater snowstorm ahead. Sleet, freezing rain, extreme cold, icy roads, and heavy snowfall sealing the path—all these could happen simultaneously. If we get trapped on the road…”

Her gaze turned sharp. “At that point, the land will be a vast stretch of white. Birds will vanish from the sky, and all paths will be erased. If we’re stranded, there will be no one to hear our cries for help, and nowhere to turn. It won’t just be a matter of sickness—nine out of ten of us will freeze to death.”

She continued, “At this stage, you’d best stop clinging to old customs. Work together—combine carriages for the elderly and children, let the young take turns driving. There’s always a way to overcome hardship. It just depends on whether you value rules or your lives.”

Fan Boqing recalled how, days ago, Qiao Xin had warned him about an impending weather change.

When he relayed her words to his clan, apart from his father and younger brother, most dismissed it as nonsense.

It was only thanks to his father’s insistence that they continued following Qiao Xin.

Now, with the sudden drop in temperature and snowfall beginning, those who had scoffed at her warnings were silent.

And now she spoke of even greater disasters ahead.

Fan Boqing had no choice but to take her words seriously.

After thanking Qiao Xin, Fan Boqing immediately gathered his clan for an emergency meeting, relaying her prediction.

Some members still wanted to argue, but Fan Boqing silenced them.

“No one is being forced to come with us. There will be no more threats to our lives from others. If you wish to stay and rest, I will find you an inn at the next town and leave you with enough supplies. But my family must continue traveling with them.”

His words put an end to any further objections.

For those who refused to listen, Fan Boqing no longer wasted his breath.

Ever since he had submitted his father’s petition, the assassination attempts on their clan had mysteriously ceased.

It seemed their enemies had already figured out which side they had chosen.

Those who initially opposed the idea no longer dared to resist.

They feared that Fan Boqing might truly leave them behind.

Fan Huairen, a scholar, had always been considerate toward his clan members, treating them with warmth and patience, willing to listen to their grievances.

However, the next clan leader, Fan Boqing, had transitioned from a scholar to a warrior.

He was swift and decisive in his actions, showing no hesitation in making tough decisions.

During their time in exile, such a leader had preserved much of their strength.

But now that they were returning to their ancestral home, some of the old stubborn elders were bound to resist his authority, arguing even when they had no valid reason.

Unfortunately for them, Fan Boqing was not one to tolerate such behavior, making certain members of the clan both fearful and resentful of him.

“It’s better to believe it than not. We should all stay vigilant. There’s only a short journey left—just endure it a little longer. If we really encounter a snowstorm, us old folks might not survive it,” Fan Huairen spoke up, helping his son smooth things over and calming the people down.

Once everyone had left, Fan Huairen turned to his eldest son and advised, “You need to restrain your temper. Weizhou Prefecture is not the borderlands—be more mindful.”

Fan Boqing remained silent, but the tight line of his lips revealed his displeasure.

“Hmph, some people are just asking for trouble. How can they blame Big Brother for not stopping them?” Fan Jihuai spoke up in defense of his older brother.

Throughout this journey, the two brothers had provided food and drink while also keeping a watchful eye for enemies.

They were already exhausted, yet some people still failed to appreciate their efforts.

Fan Jihuai had been holding back his frustration for a while. In his opinion, some people had simply been sheltered for too long.

To Fan Boqing, the clan’s petty disputes were trivial. What truly mattered to him was his plan regarding Qiao Xin’s family.

He said, “Father, her words have already proven true once. This time, I have to take them seriously. Based on the old lady’s abilities, this family is worth befriending.”

“When we arrive in Weizhou Prefecture, we should offer them more help and observe them carefully. If they prove to be good people, I am considering taking on another apprentice.”

“You mean Qiao Yunqing? Father, do you think highly of him?”

“Yes. The boy is remarkably intelligent. But when I interact with him, it doesn’t feel like a conversation between elder and junior—it’s more like working alongside a colleague. I can’t quite see through him yet. Let’s observe him further before making a decision.”

Unaware of the Fan family’s discussion, the Qiao family continued on their journey as Qiao Xin had planned.

They kept changing horses and carriages, never pausing for even a moment.

Finally, when they were fifty miles from Weizhou Prefecture, the land suddenly froze solid.

Various forms of precipitation fell from the sky, and the roads became treacherously slippery and hard.

Half of the elderly and children in the carriages had fallen ill, but thanks to the diluted special medicine provided by Qiao Xin, they managed to hold on.

However, the final stretch of the journey was still incredibly difficult.

People and horses stumbled frequently, and food supplies dwindled at an alarming rate.

If not for the large amount of provisions Qiao Xin had purchased in advance, they would have run out long ago.

At last, as night fell, they caught sight of Weizhou’s city walls. Overcome with emotion, everyone burst into tears.

Fan Huairen, supported by an old servant who had braved the snow to greet them, shivered as he slowly walked along the official road into the city.

Gazing at the familiar walls and the trees in the distance, he wept with joy. “We have finally arrived… I never thought I would live to see my homeland again!”

Qiao Xin, unwilling to linger in sentimentality, rubbed her frozen fingers together, flicked the reins, and called out to Fan Huairen, who was still standing there crying, “Take your time, old man! We’re heading into the city to find an inn!”

Fan Huairen: “……”