Chapter 5: The Thief Soldiers Breach the Boundary

At this time, Qiu Yan had already arrived at Liu Yue's home

A man, approximately thirty years old, dressed in a long gown, slightly hunched over, with a respectful expression, was conversing with a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old beside him

Upon seeing this, Wang Qiao'er also inquired after Young Master Pan San's well-being and then took her leave

Upon arrival, please summon the steward so that I may return and report back.

Fortunately, preparations were made in advance, and some divine power was allocated. As for erasing memories, with my current abilities, that is absolutely impossible. However, muddling shallow memories and rendering them incomplete is not a difficult task

At that moment, the man beside him stepped forward and asked uncertainly, "Could it be that you are Qiu Yan's cousin?"

A voice was heard, and soon after, an elderly man in his fifties stepped into the room

As soon as he entered the room and saw Qiu Yan who was eating, he headed straight over

Half a month later

After a simple rinse, Qiu Yanxian changed into a coarse cloth garment and carefully took hold of the bundle of blue garments, which still bore the essence of his true self.

"Is this really a relative of yours? How did it end up like this?" Young Master Pan San, seeing this, became increasingly displeased. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, hurry up and take them back to your home. Don't block the way here; if others see this, it will tarnish the reputation of my Pan family"

While eating, Qiu Yan's gaze fell upon the bundle of blue garments at the edge of the table

The soldier scrutinized him up and down a few times. Although Qiu Yan was draped in tattered cloth and covered in dust, upon closer inspection, his clear brows and bright eyes, along with his upright posture, inspired some degree of trust. Nevertheless, he still asked as usual, "Do you have any proof?"

However, no one noticed that a faint white light was gradually dissipating within his left ear

Stop! The soldier, holding a long staff, called out, "Refugees cannot enter the city; go to the refugee tents in the south to report your names, and you will receive a bowl of porridge."

This young man has quite an arrogant tone

At that moment, a voice came from the side of the road. Upon hearing it, Qiu Yan's face immediately lit up with joy, and he turned around to say: "Cousin, what a coincidence, I just happened to run into you"

Upon hearing the term "Southern Village," Qiu Yan slightly squinted and shook his head, saying: "No."

The returning scholar? The soldier was taken aback upon hearing this, "Isn't he from the southern village?"

"Are you able to remain calm?" The old man turned his head and scolded, "I heard that the bandits have crossed the border, and several villages in the south have been slaughtered. I thought Yan'er had also fallen into the hands of the bandits. Now that you have returned safely, how can you be so composed?"

What is it? What is it actually called? The soldier with the surname Li became impatient.

Although Liu Yue was not a servant of the Pan family, he had signed a long-term contract, and his father also worked in the manor. The entire family relied on the Pan family for their livelihood, and they did not dare to disobey orders, obediently leading Qiu Yan away.

... ...

After tidying up, Qiu Yan's aunt and sister-in-law had prepared a simple meal and invited Qiu Yan to sit down

This person is not very old, yet possesses an air of arrogance that is quite imposing, likely a result of being overly pampered

The guide, with a mischievous demeanor, clasped his hands in greeting and smiled, saying: "Hello, Young Master Pan San, I am Wang Qiao'er, and I send my regards to you. We have come this time to accompany this young gentleman. He mentioned that he has a connection with the steward at your residence..."

High walls and a large courtyard, a red-painted gate, with a plaque hanging on the door, inscribed with two large characters

"Which steward is in charge?" Young Master Pan San, upon seeing Wang Qiao'er bow, had a slightly clearer expression on his face. He then glanced at Qiu Yan and said, "There are so many stewards in the residence..."

To address the current situation, it is essential to first enhance our strength, and additionally, to ascertain the foundation of the Tongshan King. To strengthen our capabilities, aside from discovering the methods of sexual and life cultivation mentioned by the Crow Demon, the simplest approach is through divine pathways

However, this is merely a temporary measure; the sentinels are actually intercepting refugees, and it seems to be specifically targeting the southern villages. As I suspected, it is likely that...

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Qiao'er, who was beside Qiu Yan, rolled her eyes and committed the name to memory

In the crisp sound, Wang Qiaoer repeatedly pleaded for mercy: "Lord Li, do not be angry, Lord Li, do not be angry!" As he spoke, he retreated, while some rascals gathered in the distance, all called over by the soldiers for assistance, and upon seeing this, they each burst into laughter

Without further ado, Lord Li interrupted, saying: "Just go ahead and state the name."

"Thieving soldiers invading the territory? Clearly, it is monsters slaughtering villages and devouring people. How did it come to this, where it is labeled as thieving soldiers invading the territory? Where did these thieving soldiers come from?"

Yaner has truly returned? The heavens have eyes...

Qiu Yan nodded slightly, knowing that this person was an informant. The soldier had duties to fulfill and could not leave his post, which was why someone was sent over, claiming to be a guard and a librarian, but in reality, it was to monitor and prevent forgery

At this moment, a man named Liu Yue scrutinized Qiu Yan closely; the more he looked, the more he resembled someone. Just as he was about to speak, Qiu Yan stepped forward to greet him

The guide was a rogue from the city, adept at reading people's expressions. He chatted and laughed all the way, as if he were an old friend of Qiu Yanru for many years, and soon they arrived at a large residence

Father, I have already said that my cousin is fine... Outside the door, Liu Yue stepped in, complaining.

Encountering bandit refugees? Qiu Yan was taken aback, a look of contemplation flashing in his eyes. He straightened up and bowed, saying, "This soldier, I am a student returning from abroad. On my journey, I encountered highway robbers, and all my belongings were taken. After much effort, I finally managed to return."

Pan Mansion

He hurried along, and in the time it takes to brew half a cup of tea, he returned to the city gate. The soldiers guarding the city, upon seeing him, laughed and said: "Given your appearance, that young man should not have been lying. However, just to be safe, we still need to report the name and check the household registration to ascertain recent movements."

This old man is Liu Huai, the uncle of Qiu Yan.

Young Master Pan San turned his head and glanced at Liu Yue, asking, "Do you know this person?"

Indeed. Qiu Yan nodded and said, "My uncle is managing affairs at the residence of Master Pan in the city. One can easily find out by inquiring with the servants."

On the other side, Qiu Yan also captured a crucial piece of information from the other party's words

Beside him, a clerk in gray attire held a paper and raised his pen

The steward of Mr. Pan's household? Upon hearing this, the soldier took a breath and then said with a pleasant demeanor, "Since it is Mr. Pan's household, it cannot be taken lightly. I will send someone to escort the young master over." After saying this, he turned and called out, and a man came over. After listening to the soldier's instructions, he led Qiu Yan into the city

"Have you forgotten in just this short amount of time? Useless!" A soldier with the surname Li raised his hand and slapped Wang Qiao'er across the face

What Master Li said is true, but that fellow is quite slippery. The little man hinted at it all the way, yet he did not reveal his name. Fortunately, in the end, I still managed to find a flaw

At the moment of entering the city, the roll of green fabric in Qiu Yan's hand trembled slightly, and an unusual expression flashed across his face

Qiu Yanzheng was deep in thought when suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard from outside the door

"This ... ..." Wang Qiao'er let out a bitter laugh, "I actually forgot about it!"

Yes, that person is called... and... hissing... Wang Qiaoer originally had a beaming smile, but when she opened her mouth, she couldn't utter the name no matter what. In the end, she wore a worried expression, looking as if she was straining to recall.

Qiu Yan felt a twitch in his eyelid; the condescending tone of the other party truly displeased him. Rarely, in either his past life or this life, had he been openly reprimanded like this. However, thinking of his current appearance, he gradually calmed down.

By the city gate of Yuanning, a disheveled figure gradually approached, which was Qiu Yan arriving from Lishan.

"It is! It is! Let us leave now, I hope the young master will not take offense. My cousin has recently encountered some family changes..." Just as he was about to explain, Young Master Pan San, however, was not in the mood to listen and urged Liu Yue to take the people away.

Hearing Qiu Yan's words, the man had yet to respond, while the young boy frowned at the two blocking the doorway, his expression showing displeasure: "Who are you, standing in front of my house?" As he spoke, he glanced at Qiu Yan with a look of disdain, "Go beg elsewhere! Standing here is dirtying the stone steps in front of the door; be careful of your dog legs!"

Upon seeing this, Qiu Yan stood up, just about to perform a bow, but before he could steady himself, the old man had already approached him, giving his shoulder a firm pat. The other party scrutinized Qiu Yan carefully, nodding repeatedly: "Indeed, it is Yan Er, indeed, it is Yan Er!"

The old man is dressed in a dark blue robe, the hem slightly turned up, likely due to his hurried pace, with his feet adorned.

Wang Qiao'er took a few steps back, lowered her head in silence, and a look of resentment and malice appeared in her eyes

Liu Yue's home is a courtyard, with one door and three sides of buildings forming an enclosed yard. Qiu Yan is rinsing a small basin at the corner. After a journey of half a month, although his muscles and bones feel invigorated and show no signs of fatigue, he cannot avoid being dusty and dirty. After rinsing, he naturally feels a refreshing sensation.

The way of the gods appears to be profound, yet having served as the mountain deity for decades, I have gained some insights, lacking only in the offerings and the will of the people. It is impossible to return to Minyuan Mountain for the time being; even if I could, with that dilapidated position as a mountain deity, it would be difficult to accumulate much divine power. It is barely sufficient for self-preservation, let alone enhancing my strength. I must find a way to open up a new situation. Just now, upon entering the city, I distinctly felt...

He walked towards the city gate, but before he could reach it, he was stopped by the soldiers guarding the city.