The cliffs became too difficult to ride on. We left the horses tied up by a tree under the shade.
I made sure to tie mine loose enough so that Yam could escape if I did not return.
I followed behind the three men who were climbing at a rapid pace, the steep ascent making me gasp for air.
Random patches of grass covered the earthy floor. The Lieutenant moved the quickest, climbing nimbly upwards without breaking a sweat. It didn't take long for my lungs to feel constricted.
We reached a junction. "Th - there -" Yang He panted as he pointed westward, through a thicket of trees that seemed to hide a cave entrance.
Lieutenant Fan ignored him, moving northwards. The three of us looked at each other, realising that there were two possibilities - he was leading us to the real base, or we were possibly being led to death.
To trust or not to trust?
"Lieutenant!" Yang He exclaimed. "General Liao led us this way!"
