HNYWEF -Chapter 124 Misjudging the Weather

Outside the tent, it started to rain.

Not a light drizzle—but a heavy downpour.

Raindrops hammered onto the tent fabric, crackling like beans being scattered overhead.

The wind picked up as well, forcing itself through the gaps in the curtain, making the candle flame sway violently.

Zhou Xiong sat by a low table, a bowl of wine in his hands. He hadn’t drunk it.

He had been sitting like that for a long while.

Li Shimin sat across from him, already having finished half his bowl.

He looked at Zhou Xiong for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Brother Xiong, what’s wrong?”

Zhou Xiong didn’t answer.

He set the bowl down, stood up, and walked to the tent flap. He lifted it slightly and looked outside.

He stood there, motionless.

Li Shimin also stood and came beside him, glancing out.

This rain… was putting Zhou Xiong on edge.

“Hard rain,” Li Shimin said.

Still no response.

Zhou Xiong’s brows were tightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about something. But his hand gripping the curtain was tight—Li Shimin noticed that.

Li Shimin glanced at him but didn’t press further. They both just stood there, listening to the rain outside.

The sound was loud.

So loud it drowned out everything else.

But suddenly, Zhou Xiong heard something.

Not heard—felt.

He couldn’t explain it. Only that his heart suddenly tightened.

A nameless unease.

His grip on the curtain tightened again.

Li Shimin noticed.

“Brother Xiong?”

Zhou Xiong didn’t respond.

He stared into the pitch-black rain outside, unmoving.

Then footsteps came from within the rain.

Someone was running.

Fast. Boots splashing through mud—slap, slap—not one person, but several.

Chaotic footsteps, mixed with the rain, impossible to count.

Zhou Xiong’s body tensed.

The curtain was thrown open, and a soaked man rushed in, gasping for breath—a personal guard under Li Shimin.

Two others followed behind him, also drenched, stopping at the entrance without coming in.

Li Shimin turned around.

“What happened?”

The guard wiped rainwater off his face, his voice ragged.

“Second Young Master, something’s happened! The rain is too heavy—the convoy transporting the families was halfway when the mountain collapsed!”

Li Shimin’s expression changed.

“What?”

The guard continued urgently, “The rain caused a landslide. Mud and rock from the mountain blocked the road. The carriages at the back didn’t escape in time and were buried. They’re digging them out now, but the rain is too heavy—we can’t see how many are trapped…”

Zhou Xiong moved suddenly.

He rushed out of the tent and into the rain.

Li Shimin froze for a moment.

“Brother Xiong!”

But Zhou Xiong didn’t look back.

He was already gone—his figure swallowed instantly by the rain curtain.

The rain was too heavy. Beyond three steps, nothing could be seen.

Only the sound of rain—an overwhelming, deafening roar.

Li Shimin stood at the tent entrance, letting the rain soak him as he stared in that direction.

He only hesitated for a moment.

Then he turned and shouted at the guards.

“Go! Wake everyone who can fight! Bring weapons—follow me!”

The guards responded and ran off, footsteps splashing quickly into the rain.

Li Shimin strode toward another tent. The rain drenched him instantly, soaking through his clothes until they clung heavily to his body.

He didn’t stop. Didn’t hesitate.

Inside the tent, several men were drinking. When they saw him, they froze.

“Second Young Master?”

Li Shimin panted, his voice sharp and urgent.

“Get up! Gather your men, bring tools, and follow me! The convoy has been hit!”

They hesitated for only a moment—then threw down their cups and rushed out.

One tent after another.

In the rain, torches were lit—then immediately extinguished by the downpour.

People shouted, cursed, ran in all directions. Chaos erupted.

But more and more people began rushing toward the mountains.

Li Shimin led from the front.

Rain struck his face like needles, blurring his vision. His horse struggled through the mud, stumbling deep with every step.

At one point, he was thrown off—but he got up and kept running.

Only one thought remained in his mind—

Zhou Xiong was ahead.

He had to catch up.

The rain kept falling.

Harder and harder.

“Nice weather today. Perfect for traveling.”