However, after passing two streets, Cui Jiuyang keenly sensed something amiss.
He had just spotted an old man selling candied hawthorn at a street corner. That was nothing unusual; what was strange was his appearance-advanced in years, with graying hair and beard, yet wearing a bright red Tiger-Head Hat meant for children.
Wrinkles bunched together beneath the hat as he stretched out his cries at the top of his voice: "Candied hawthorn! Crisp and swee-e-et!" His sales pitch was half shouted, half sung, with a peculiar inflection. Coupled with his rather comical appearance, it drew glances from passersby.
Amused, Cui Jiuyang turned back for another few looks.
As he did, he caught two familiar figures flashing past the intersection they had just crossed out of the corner of his eye.
They were none other than those two Queue Army soldiers! They had just raised their heads to glance toward Cui Jiuyang.
How are these two still keeping up with us? Is it coincidence, or have they seen through the Illusion Technique on Su Su? Suspicion arose in Cui Jiuyang's mind. Keeping his guard up, he walked another street without betraying anything.
Then he looked back again. Sure enough, in the distance, the two Queue Army soldiers were still hiding behind the crowd, sticking to them like taffy, following at a steady distance.
I underestimated these two. They can actually see through my Illusion Technique? Cui Jiuyang frowned slightly. But why didn't they see through the Invisibility Spell I cast on the train last night?
His thoughts raced as he told the rickshaw puller, "Take the back lanes. Find somewhere quiet with no one around."
Naturally, the pullers followed their passenger's instructions. They were living maps who knew the local streets inside out. After several turns, taking only narrow alleys and