A few times, the ground rose sharply, forcing Han Yu to brace his weight behind the animal, pushing it forward as its hooves dug into the earth. By midday, he was breathing a bit heavier than normal.
"Qing Luan's gift might not last long at this rate," he muttered while giving the horse a reassuring pat on its neck. The animal snorted in response.
He considered abandoning it. The Harrow Mountains were not friendly to mortals, even strong ones like this horse. But the thought of discarding her gift so casually did not sit well with him. She had given it with genuine gratitude. Leaving the horse behind would feel disrespectful.
"So be it," Han Yu decided. "We will walk together until it can no longer keep up."
Not long after, another pack of Frost Hill Wolves ambushed him from a ridge. Their growls carried on the wind before their bodies appeared, leaping between rocks.
