She turned around and said calmly and politely to the general guarding the border, "General, Lord Lin and I are going to split up and investigate some things."
If necessary, we will send someone back to camp to deliver the message at any time.
The general returned the salute with clasped hands and replied with concern, "Your Highness Prince Zhao, please be careful in all matters. If you need any support, please do not hesitate to ask. The troops in the camp are ready to be deployed at any time."
Qin Qianluo nodded slightly in thanks, then turned and strode out of the General's Mansion with Yaoguang.
As soon as she stepped out of the mansion, a gust of cold wind carrying sand and dust howled in, and Qin Qian instinctively wrapped her thick cloak tighter around herself.
Yao Guang quickly drew the short knife from her waist, her eyes warily scanning her surroundings, her steps closely following Qin Qianluo.
Their destination was that thatched cottage that they had glimpsed briefly on the screen.
Along the way, the streets and alleys crisscrossed, and the paths were intricate and complex.
Qin Qianluo and Yao Guang sometimes turned into narrow, cramped alleys with moss-covered walls. The alleys were filled with a damp atmosphere, and occasionally a rat would dart past from a corner.
Sometimes we would walk past the bustling, noisy market with its numerous stalls, where the cries of vendors rose and fell.
"Candied hawthorns!" "Freshly baked sesame cakes, fragrant and crispy!" The aroma of steaming food wafted through the air.
But Qin Qianluo and Yao Guang had no intention of lingering and hurried along. They moved nimbly through the crowd, their agile movements attracting the attention of passersby.
After many twists and turns, they finally found the place.
Qin Qianluo stood in front of the thatched hut, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes sharp as she carefully examined everything before her.
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary dwelling, with mud walls that have been eroded by time and weathered by wind and rain.
In many places, the clay has peeled away, revealing the rough adobe bricks inside, with handprints left by the original craftsmen still visible on them.
The thatched roof was messy and disorganized, with several thatches sticking up in the wind and shivering in the cold, exuding a sense of decay and desolation.
Looking around, broken walls and ruins were scattered everywhere, and waist-high weeds grew in the corners.
The withered yellow grass rustled in the cold wind, a scene of desolation and ruin, clearly indicating that the people here had moved away long ago.
The two did not give up and began a meticulous search of the surrounding area.
Qin Qianlu squatted down, parted the dense and chilly grass with her hands, and stared intently at the ground.
Do not overlook any corner that may hold clues, even a strangely shaped pebble or a crushed dead leaf.
Yao Guang then moved aside the broken bricks and tiles one by one, each movement swift and decisive, her sharp eyes searching for any secrets hidden between the bricks and under the tiles.
They started from the left side of the thatched hut and searched inch by inch, taking each step carefully, circling the entire hut without missing a single corner.
However, after all that effort, all he got was hands covered in dust and scratches from the grass.
Finally, they returned to the thatched hut, stood side by side, and stared at the closed door with great curiosity.
The door hinges creaked in the cold wind, as if telling a secret or mocking their futile search.
Yao Guang's expression was complicated. She pursed her lips, her brows furrowed, and her gaze shifted back and forth between the dilapidated thatched hut and Qin Qianluo, full of confusion and bewilderment.
Although puzzled, Master was deep in thought and steady in his actions. Every decision he made was carefully considered, and he would never stop in front of this inconspicuous thatched hut without a reason.
Although Yao Guang couldn't hear Qin Qianluo's inner thoughts like others, years of getting along with her made her trust in her master as firm as a rock.
The thatched hut in front of me had mud walls that were peeling off, revealing rough adobe bricks underneath. The walls were uneven and pitted, like mottled scars left by time.
The thatched roof was sparse and disheveled by the north wind, and sunlight streamed through the gaps, casting beams of light that carried dust flying everywhere.
The room was filled with an old and decaying smell; every breath of air exuded a sense of decay, and there was nothing noteworthy about it.
She looked up at Qin Qianluo and saw her master's long robe swaying gently in the wind, his brows slightly furrowed.
His eyes were full of searching and contemplation, as if he saw unknown clues beneath the dilapidated appearance.
Those eyes were like the brightest stars in the night sky, deep and bright, as if they could see through all illusions.
Yao Guang hesitated for a moment, gently bit her lower lip, and asked in a low voice, "Master, shall we go in and take a look?"
The voice, though soft, carried a hint of anticipation and curiosity in the quiet surroundings.
The sound was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating several barely perceptible ripples.
Qin Qianluo nodded slightly without saying anything, but signaled to Yaoguang with her eyes to be careful.
The concern and trust in those eyes warmed Yao Guang's heart and strengthened her resolve to protect her master.
Yao Guang immediately understood and swiftly drew the gleaming short knife from her waist. The blade reflected a cold light in the sunlight, as if telling of its sharpness and ruthlessness.
She moved nimbly, like a nimble cheetah, and gently pushed open the rickety wooden door first.
The door hinges creaked loudly, the sound echoing in the silent air, like a helpless sigh from the dilapidated thatched hut.
The room was dimly lit and filled with a pungent, musty smell that made one want to frown.
Yao Guang scanned her surroundings warily, her short knife ready to deal with any potential danger. Her eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, leaving no corner unchecked.
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