Year 18xx

In a faraway country called Da Cheng.

Jiang Mingyue panted as she ran downhill. Her legs were getting tired from running down the hill. Something went past her. Her eyes widened when she saw an arrow stuck on the tree. "They're shooting at us!" She glanced at the man beside her angrily when she heard his merry laugh.

"We stole something valuable from them," Jiang Xiao Liang said, "Of course, they're angry."

Mingyue sneered. "Third brother! This wouldn't happen if you were more cautious. Now we are forced to leave this place without even getting our hand on those herbs."

"We'll come back again." Xiao Liang said. "We'll be more prepared."

"So will they. They will be guarding the herbs tightly after this." She glanced at their pursuers.

Xiao Liang laughed again. "Keep running and stop talking."

Jiang Mingyue gritted her teeth as she complied. Then, she noticed that something was missing. "Have you seen Xiao Mi?"

Her third brother raised a brow. "That black cat? Don't worry about him. He'll be safe. He's just a cat."

"We need to split up," Xiao Liang said after a few more arrow went passed them. "I'll meet you up at the foothill." With that, he ran to his right and disappeared behind the trees.

Mingyue grunted as she sensed that half of their pursuer went after Xiao Liang. She heard a sound coming from behind them and moved slightly to her left, but her movement was a bit too late.

An arrow struck to her right arms. She clenched her teeth and held the weapon to stop it from moving around as she increased her speed.

It was in autumn. The weather was too hot, and the leaves have started to fall. Whenever they stepped on the fallen leaves, they would make a rustling sound, causing it hard for her to hide her presence from their pursuer.

She glanced behind to take a look around and once she was sure that the people who were left behind, only then she sneaked behind a tree.

She broke the arrow tail and held a hand on her chest, wanting to calm down. She can't be safe until she gets out from the hill. Only then will she be able to remove the arrow.

Just as she hid, she saw a shadow flew towards her direction. "Xiao Mi! You're here!" she hissed through her teeth.

The shadow flew towards her, and a cat landed on her arm with his nails gripping on her cloth.

In the cat's mouth was a small pouch.

Her eyes twinkled as she saw it. She peeked into the bag and smiled. It was the pouch she dropped while they ran away.

"You got them! Good job, Xiao Mi!" Her voice was hushed. She patted the cat on its head and pulled out a bag of treat from her pocket as a reward.