The city gate no longer bristled with drawn swords and readied crossbows; each border army soldier had swapped faces, cheerily saying, "So sorry for the offense, hurry into the city and escape the cold."
Chen Ji bowed to the field officer, then finally mounted his horse. He pulled up a scarf to cover his mouth and nose and rode back to the end of the camel caravan to rejoin Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia.
Wang Gui knelt beside the camel, allowing Chen Liqin to step on his back to climb up again.
As Chen Liqin set one foot on Wang Gui's back, he couldn't help but turn his head and look at the silhouette of his bastard son.
Amid the swirling sands, Chen Ji's scarf around his neck was whipped about by the wind, a long red scarf fluttering with it.
Chen Liqin felt as if he had come to know this bastard son all over again today.
Wang Gui knelt on the ground without daring to urge him, until after a long while, Chen Liqin came back to his senses and climbed onto the camel.
