Unable to find anyone, Qiu Yan had no choice but to go downstairs and ask Jiang Cai'er and the other two.

Do you know where Master Vera went?

Jiang Nian'er: "I don't know, he went out early this morning."

Jiang Cai'er: "Don't worry, Master Vera isn't from the Central Plains, she won't be captured."

Not knowing Vera's whereabouts, Qiu Yan stopped searching for her.

After all, everyone has their own things to do.

She looked at Qin Susu:

"Susu, you and Mayi stay at the inn. Ling Ba and I are going out for a bit. You can have lunch on your own at noon."

As Qiu Yan spoke, she gave Qin Susu some coins minted in the Western Regions.

She's going to the mining area.

Qin Susu took the copper coins and nodded in agreement.

Accompanied by Ling Ba, Qiu Yan purchased a lot of bottles and jars, as well as some cooking ingredients.

Then, they went to the mining area.

In the mining area, Captain Yuan seemed somewhat distracted.

He had also heard about how King Lu had sent men to indiscriminately capture people from the Central Plains within the city of Lu.

Upon not seeing Qiu Yan and the other two, Captain Yuan naturally harbored doubts.

Moreover, a troop of Lu soldiers had appeared all around them, eyeing them menacingly.

Those people didn't come over openly, but instead observed their every move from the shadows.

The Yuan captains were outnumbered and dared not make any rash moves.

Only after hearing from his sentry that Qiu Yan and Ling Ba had arrived at the mining area did Captain Yuan dispel his suspicions and finally feel relieved.

The mine was stiflingly hot. When Captain Yuan emerged from the mine, he was shirtless and wearing only a single pair of trousers.

Upon seeing Qiu Yan, he quickly put on his outer garment.

Upon arriving, Qiu Yan went straight to their tiny earthen kiln.

During the time they were away, it was Captain Yuan who took care of them.

The charcoal inside is now ready.

Due to the hot weather, mold has already grown in just two days.

"Xiaoyan, where did you learn how to make this charcoal?" Ling Ba looked at the charcoal in the earthen kiln in disbelief, gaining a deeper understanding of Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan: "I figured it out myself. Don't forget, I come from a farming family and have been dealing with firewood since I was a child." It's a shame, she had no choice but to steal someone else's work again.

Ling Ba thought to himself, "Xiao Yan has so many strange and wonderful things in her head, she can never use them all."

"Haha, Miss Qiu is indeed intelligent." Captain Yuan said loudly, his voice preceding his arrival.

Thank goodness, they finally arrived.

"Commander Yuan, you flatter me. It's just some everyday farm life."

As Qiu Yan spoke, she observed the mold that was growing quite well.

"Miss Qiu is too modest. This method of yours is not something that ordinary farm girls would know."

Only then did Captain Yuan realize that Miss Qiu came from a farming family.

He couldn't help but feel doubtful.

Isn't she a cousin of the Eighth Deputy General?

Qiu Yan smiled and shook her head slightly:

“These past two days, has Lu Shijun made things difficult for you?”

"There's no difficulty, but they've been monitoring us for the past two days."

As he spoke, Commandant Yuan glanced at the Lu army troops moving around in the distance.

He's not stupid, of course he won't pay any attention.

In a head-on confrontation, they are at a disadvantage.

Qiu Yan followed Captain Yuan's gaze and looked over.

Lu Shijun's figure appeared and disappeared.

After Commandant Yuan finished speaking, he looked at Ling Ba.

"Eighth Lieutenant, may we begin working on the gunpowder?"

He certainly knew why Qiu Yan and Ling Ba were buying sulfur and making charcoal.

They need to defend themselves when they are outnumbered.

"Let's start now." There's no time to lose, which is one of the reasons why Ling Ba and Qiu Yan rushed over.