Bandit Soldiers Cross the Border?

Half a month later.

By the gate of Yuanning City, a disheveled, dirt-covered figure gradually approached. It was Qiu Yan, returning from the mountains.

He headed toward the city gate, but before he reached it, the gate guards stopped him.

"Halt!" One soldier came forward with a long staff in hand. "Refugees fleeing bandits are not allowed into the city. Go report your name at the refugee sheds to the south, and you can receive a bowl of porridge."

"Refugees fleeing bandits?" Qiu Yan froze, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. Straightening, he bowed. "Brother Soldier, I am a scholar returning from my travels. I encountered highway robbers on the road, and all my possessions were taken. Only after many twists and turns did I manage to return."

"A returning scholar?" The soldier looked astonished. "You're not from one of the villages south of here?"

At the words "villages south of here," Qiu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and shook his head. "No."

The soldier sized him up from head to toe. Though Qiu Yan wore tattered cloth and his face was covered in dust, a closer look revealed clear eyes and an upright bearing. The soldier believed him somewhat, but still asked according to protocol, "Do you have proof?"

"I do." Qiu Yan nodded. "My uncle serves as a steward for Pan Yuanwai's household in the city. Send someone to ask, and you will know."

"A steward from Pan Yuanwai's household?" At this, the soldier drew a sharp breath, then said pleasantly, "If it is Pan Yuanwai's household, then it cannot be false. I'll have someone escort you there, Young Master." With that, he turned and called out. A man soon came over, listened to the soldier's instructions, and led Qiu Yan into the city.

The instant he entered the city, the bundle of green robes in Qiu Yan's hand trembled faintly, and a strange expression crossed his face.

The man leading the way was a city hooligan, skilled above all else at reading faces. He chatted and joked along the road as though he and Qiu Yan had been old friends for years, and soon they arrived before a large residence.

High walls and spacious grounds, vermilion-lacquered gates, and above them a plaque bearing two large characters—

Pan Household.

"We're here. Please call out the steward, Young Master, so I can return and make my report."

Qiu Yan nodded. He knew this man was an informant. The gate soldier could not leave his post, so he had sent someone over. He called it an escort, but it was truly surveillance, meant to prevent deception.

Just then, voices came from the road to one side. Hearing them, Qiu Yan's face immediately lit up. He turned and said, "Cousin, what a coincidence. I happened to run into you."

A man of about thirty approached, dressed in a long robe, slightly bent at the waist, with a deferential expression. He was speaking with a youth of fifteen or sixteen beside him.

Before the man could respond to Qiu Yan's words, the youth frowned at the two people blocking the entrance, displeasure on his face. "Who are you people, standing in front of my home?" He glanced at Qiu Yan, his face filling with disgust. "Go beg somewhere else! If you block this place and dirty the stone steps, watch your dog legs!"

This youth has quite the arrogant mouth!

Qiu Yan's eyelids twitched. The other's lofty tone truly displeased him. Whether in his previous life or this one, he had rarely been rebuked to his face like this. But when he considered his present appearance, his heart gradually calmed.

He is not old, yet he carries such overbearing arrogance. He must have been spoiled into it.

The hooligan leading the way clasped his hands and bowed, saying with a fawning smile, "Third Young Master Pan, this lowly one is Wang Qiao'er. Greetings, Young Master. We came this time to bring this young master here. He says he is related to one of the household stewards..."

"Which steward?" Third Young Master Pan's expression eased slightly when he saw Wang Qiao'er bow. He glanced at Qiu Yan again. "There are so many stewards in this household..."

At that moment, the man beside him stepped forward and asked uncertainly, "Could this be my cousin Qiu Yan?"

As soon as those words left his mouth, Wang Qiao'er's eyes rolled, committing the name to memory.

Third Young Master Pan turned and shot him a glance. "Liu Yue, you know this man?"

Liu Yue carefully examined Qiu Yan for several moments. The more he looked, the more familiar Qiu Yan seemed. Just as he was about to speak, Qiu Yan had already stepped forward to greet him.

"So he really is your relative? How did he end up looking like this?" Seeing this, Third Young Master Pan grew even more displeased. He waved a hand. "Enough. Hurry and take him back to your home. Don't block this place. If people see it, it will drag down the reputation of my Pan Household!"

"Yes, yes! We're leaving, we're leaving. I hope Young Master will not take offense. My cousin has had some changes in his family recently..." He was about to explain, but Third Young Master Pan had no interest in listening and urged Liu Yue to take the man away.

Though Liu Yue was not a household slave of the Pan Household, he had signed on as a long-term laborer, and his father also worked in the household. His entire family depended on the Pan Household, so he did not dare disobey. He meekly led Qiu Yan away.

Seeing this, Wang Qiao'er offered Third Young Master Pan another greeting before leaving as well.

He hurried all the way back and returned to the city gate in less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea. When the gate soldier saw him, he smiled. "Looking at you, that kid probably wasn't lying. But just in case, we still need to report his name and check the household registry, so we can learn where he has been lately."

Beside him, a gray-clad clerk held paper and brush at the ready.

"Master Li is right. But that kid was slippery. I probed around the whole way, yet he never revealed his name. Fortunately, I found a flaw in the end..."

"Cut the nonsense," Master Li interrupted. "Just give me the name."

"Yes, that man was called... called... Hiss..." Wang Qiao'er had been smiling broadly, but once he opened his mouth, he could not say the name no matter what. At last, he wore a miserable expression, as though struggling desperately to remember.

"What is it? What was he called?" The soldier surnamed Li grew impatient.

"This..." Wang Qiao'er gave a bitter smile. "This lowly one actually forgot!"

"You forgot after only that short while? Useless trash!" The soldier surnamed Li raised his hand and slapped Wang Qiao'er across the face.

Amid the crisp sound, Wang Qiao'er repeatedly begged for mercy. "Master Li, do not be angry! Master Li, do not be angry!" As he spoke, he retreated. Some hooligans had also gathered in the distance, all helpers summoned by the soldiers. Seeing this, they each burst into laughter.

Wang Qiao'er retreated several steps, lowered his head, and said nothing, venom flashing in his eyes.

Yet no one noticed that a speck of white light within his left ear was gradually fading away.

Fortunately, I prepared beforehand and sent over a thread of divine power. With my current abilities, it is absolutely impossible to erase memories. But muddling shallow memories and leaving them incomplete is not difficult.

Qiu Yan had already arrived at Liu Yue's home.

Liu Yue's home was a courtyard: one gate and houses on three sides, enclosing a single yard. Qiu Yan held a small basin and washed himself at a corner. Though half a month of travel had not tired him after his sinews and bones improved, he could not avoid becoming weather-worn and dusty, his body covered in grime. After washing, he felt thoroughly refreshed.

After a simple wash, he changed into coarse clothes and carefully put away the bundle of green robes. His true self was still attached to them.

But this is only a temporary measure. The gate soldiers are actually stopping refugees, and they seem to be targeting only the southern villages. If my guess is correct, then I fear...

After he put away his things, Qiu Yan's aunt and cousin's wife had already prepared a simple meal and called him over to sit.

For now, I must first increase my strength, and also uncover Mountain-Passing Great King's foundations. To increase my strength, aside from finding the methods of Nature Cultivation and Life Cultivation mentioned by the Crow Demon, the simplest route is the Divine Path.

As he ate, Qiu Yan's gaze fell upon the bundle of green robes beside the table.

The Divine Path may seem mysterious, but I was a mountain god for decades and have some understanding of it. What I lack is nothing more than Incense and Fire Prayer Power. I cannot return to Mingyuan Mountain for the time being. Even if I could, that ruined mountain god position could not gather much divine power. It would not even be enough for self-preservation, much less increasing my strength. I must find a way to open a new situation. When I entered the city just now, I clearly sensed...

As Qiu Yan pondered, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside.

"Yan'er has truly returned? Heaven has eyes..."

The voice arrived, followed by an elderly man past fifty stepping into the room.

The old man wore a dark blue long robe, its hem slightly turned up, likely from his haste.

The moment he entered and saw Qiu Yan eating, he strode straight over.

Seeing this, Qiu Yan rose and was about to bow, but before he had fully stood, the old man had already reached him and firmly patted his shoulder. The old man carefully looked Qiu Yan over, nodding repeatedly. "It truly is Yan'er, it truly is Yan'er!"

"Father, I already told you Cousin was fine..." Liu Yue stepped over the threshold from outside, complaint in his voice.

"You can keep your composure?" The old man turned and reprimanded him. "I heard bandit soldiers crossed the border, and several southern villages were entirely slaughtered. I thought Yan'er had also died at the bandits' hands. Now that he has returned safely, how can I remain calm?"

This old man was Liu Huai, the uncle of Qiu Yan's former self.

Meanwhile, Qiu Yan caught a crucial piece of information from his words—

Bandit soldiers crossing the border? Clearly, demons slaughtered the villages and ate people. How did it become bandit soldiers crossing the border here? Where did these bandit soldiers come from?