There are many wild beasts in the mountain forest.
There were no spirits encountered, but they did come across a pack of wolves.
It was the first time for Liou Yuan to see wolves in this world.
These wolves were much larger than those in his previous life's memory. Standing up, they were taller than a human, and their front paws could rest on a person's shoulders, with mouths wide enough to swallow a human head.
Unfortunately for them, they encountered Liou Yuan, who was a Qi Cultivation Second Layer Spirit Body Dual Cultivator.
Liou Yuan cut them down with a few swings of his sword.
He gave the wolf meat to the medicine gatherers.
In this world, meat is a rare commodity, especially wolf meat. The gatherers were all visibly pleased, expressing their gratitude repeatedly.
There was even an older man who looked heartbroken at the ruined wolf pelts, mumbling that it was a pity as they could have fetched a good price if they weren't so torn.
Liou Yuan carried a big chunk of wolf meat at the forefront of the group, intending to take it home to make soup.
Even though the old man's voice was low, it couldn't escape Liou Yuan's ears. Looking towards the distant Yanhe City, he sighed, "All are people with a hard life."
Times are tough, and ordinary people live difficult lives.
Coming out of Kuiyin Gully, they were about ten miles from Yanhe City.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!
Liou Yuan's ears twitched as he heard a series of rapid hoofbeats from afar.
He looked towards the direction of the sound and saw a group of people and horses riding out from Yanhe City.
The person in the lead wore a black tight suit, with eyes like a hawk, riding a galloping red horse.
There were over ten riders following behind.
Although Liou Yuan didn't recognize the man in black, he spotted an old acquaintance among the group.
A burly, bald man holding the reins with just one hand—Dai Yao.
After the Xuanhu Clinic eradicated the Star Evil, Dai Yao was grateful for Liou Yuan's saving grace and often sought him out for drinks. The two were quite familiar with each other.
The group happened to be taking the same path as Liou Yuan's medicine gathering team.
As they passed by, Dai Yao recognized Liou Yuan in the crowd.
His face first showed surprise, then he pulled on the reins to stop his horse.
Dai Yao glanced at the gatherers' baskets and asked, "You've been out gathering medicine, Mr. Liou!"
Ever since that incident, he called Liou Yuan his brother.
"Yes, just coming back from Kuiyin Gully." Liou Yuan nodded and then looked towards the group accompanying Dai Yao.
Up close, Liou Yuan noticed that the dozen or so people all had clear Spiritual Power auras around them.
This prompted a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Accompanying Dai Yao and possessing spiritual auras, these people undoubtedly belonged to the Qinghe Division.
"All of these people, is the entire Qinghe Division mobilized?"
"What are they up to?"
Liou Yuan sensed something unusual.
The group didn't halt for Dai Yao; the man in black leading them cast a long glance at Liou Yuan, then waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue moving forward.
Before leaving, he reminded Dai Yao, "Don't linger too long."
The oppressive sensation the man in black gave Liou Yuan was many times stronger than that from Dai Yao.
As deep and unfathomable as a deep pool.
"That's Mr. Wei, the leader of our Qinghe Division," Dai Yao explained to Liou Yuan.
"I see!" Liou Yuan immediately understood.
The leader of the Qinghe Division must be among the top cultivators in Yanhe City.
"And you all are…" Liou Yuan pointed his mouth in the direction the group was heading, implying the question.
Dai Yao was silent for a moment, looking at the group in the distance before leaning down from his horse to whisper near Liou Yuan's ear: "Brother, don't ask too many questions; Mr. Wei can hear everything."
"I can only tell you this operation pertains to the plague in the city."
"Also, stay away from Kuiyin Gully in the future; that place is… unclean."
Having said that, Dai Yao patted Liou Yuan's shoulder, pulled on the reins, and chased after the group.
This left Liou Yuan behind, frowning as he pondered Dai Yao's warnings.
"A plague?"
"I knew this plague was unusual, there must be something behind it. The entire Qinghe Division must be going out to address the source of the plague."
Also hinted by Dai Yao, it's highly likely that the source of the plague is located at Kuiyin Gully.
Under circumstances where Mr. Wei could overhear, Dai Yao provided Liou Yuan with so much information, which was already quite considerate.
Doing so could already entail the risk of punishment.
"It seems I should never go to Kuiyin Gully again." Liou Yuan watched the group's leaving silhouettes solemnly.
With his current low cultivation level, he shouldn't meddle in things that are out of his depth.
Having figured out the main point, he didn't have the inclination to delve further.
With a wave of his hand, he signaled the team to continue moving forward.
Elsewhere, Dai Yao rejoined the team and was called to the front by Mr. Wei.
"Is that Liou Zhen's brother?"
As Dai Yao mentioned, Mr. Wei heard the whole conversation with Liou Yuan.
Yet he didn't question Dai Yao about it; he just confirmed Liou Yuan's identity.
Dai Yao bowed his head and respectfully responded, "Yes, that's him."
"Hmm, rejoin the team," Mr. Wei nodded, saying no more.
This was also why Dai Yao dared to tell Liou Yuan so much.
It was all because of the special standing of the Liou Family in Yanhe City.
Night fell, silent and calm.
After delivering the harvested Haiyin Grass to Xuanhu Clinic with the gathering team, Bai Xin unusually did not linger at the clinic and returned home early.
Liou Yuan, because he encountered the scene of the entire Qinghe Division mobilizing during the day, felt a sense of caution rising in his heart and also unusually didn't go out of the city to cultivate at Virgo Peak.
Liou Yuan paid close attention to Dai Yao's words, and after having dinner with Bai Xin, he leaned on the side of his bed, gazing at the city outskirts towards the direction where the Qinghe Division had left, his brows deeply furrowed.
"Today's situation is not ordinary, even Mr. Wei personally went outside the city."
While Liou Yuan dared not ask too much during the day, it didn't mean he didn't care.
On the contrary, because he cared too much, he dared not touch it lightly.
"In any case, with the moat of Yanhe City, no major mishaps should occur."
Liou Yuan could only console himself this way.
As the time approached, just when Liou Yuan was about to climb to the rooftop for his usual cultivation session.
Knock knock knock! The door to the room was rapped, and Bai Xin's voice sounded.
"I know you're awake, open the door."
"Why would mother come to me so late at night? Could it be about the marriage with the Kong Family again?" Liou Yuan felt a headache whenever he heard Bai Xin's voice, but he couldn't leave her outside the door, so he had to brace himself and answer.
"Coming!"
Creak! The door opened.
Outside stood Bai Xin holding an oil lamp.
She looked at Liou Yuan with her gentle eyes, then slowly walked in, placing the lamp on the central table in Liou Yuan's room.
Liou Yuan followed carefully behind her, with a face full of apologetic smiles, still explaining, "Mother, it was my fault during the day. The Kong Family has been kind to us; they did not despise us in our downfall, and even generously helped…"
"I'm not here because of your marriage with Kong Yi." Bai Xin waved her hand, interrupting Liou Yuan.
Then she took a letter out from her sleeve and placed it on the small round table in Liou Yuan's room.
"It's a letter from your brother, mentioning you. Do you want to have a look?"
"A letter from big brother?" The fake smile on Liou Yuan's face turned genuinely sincere.
Though his memories of his elder brother were mostly before he turned seven,
Liou Zhen was undeniably kind to family.
Especially with the three-year promise to Liou Yuan, naturally, he was very concerned.
"The letter now should be about that promise."