Along with those words came a figure walking slowly out of the courtyard. His clothes were plain and simple, no different from those of an ordinary servant, yet on him they immediately took on an entirely different bearing.
"You are Qiu Learning's Protector, Qiu An!" Qu Ziyi's expression changed when he saw the man emerge from the gate, recognizing his identity at once. "You did not leave immediately and instead remained here. Did you foresee that Liu Chan and the others would act today?"
The man was indeed Qiu An, but his appearance greatly surprised everyone present. Those lying in ambush here had all spent considerable time learning about this courtyard and the movements of the people connected to it.
That was only natural. This was the Imperial City, a place of great importance, and it involved no small powers. If they wished to gain anything, they had no choice but to proceed with utmost caution.
Take Liu Chan's group, for instance. They had come to the city with Qiu Yan as their target, but they could not simply go knocking on his door. They could only gather information through roundabout methods, such as rumors among the common folk and careful inquiries.
Even so, the risks were not small. They had encountered many difficulties along the way and still found few opportunities.
In the end, as their information accumulated, they discovered one opening—the news of Knowledge and Action Academy's establishment. Under such circumstances, even if Liu Chan and the others wished to draw near, they did not dare act too openly. Even the two words "Nine Palaces," which they now regarded as a vital resource, were only learned of afterward; they had not been present when Qiu Yan wrote them.
By studying and observing the surrounding circumstances, Liu Chan's group