Pa Qing shook his head: "Although I am stationed here, I don’t know much more about the Flame Sect than anyone else. Even though some followers appear here often and have quite a few businesses, as long as there’s no trouble, the Governor’s Office can’t just arrest people at will, right?"

"Businesses?" Qi Jingyi slightly raised an eyebrow, "Tell me, what kind of businesses do they have?"

Pa Qing chuckled: "On the street, any shop with the Flame symbol is a business of the Flame Sect."

Gu Qingheng frowned. When he entered the city today, he noticed that three out of every ten shops on the street had that symbol.

"However, those shops aren’t operated by Flame Sect members; they’re rented out to the locals to run. They only come by regularly to collect rent," Pa Qing added.

"So, you’re saying the operators of these shops might not even know the Flame?"

Pa Qing nodded: "For so many years, no one has genuinely seen the Flame, though some have seen the Young Master, but unfortunately, all were wearing masks, and no one knows their true appearance."

Qi Jingyun slowly drank his wine without saying a word. He had seen the Flame before, but the person was so thoroughly wrapped up that aside from height, it was impossible to discern whether they were fat or thin.

Everyone fell silent, their moods somewhat heavy.

These days, the Flame Sect had remained quiet, not only refraining from sending troops to fight, but even setting aside the matter of the Rescue of Yun King.

But silence does not mean there is no intent.

Gu Qingheng always felt this was the calm before the storm.

However, the Flame Sect people were hidden deep in the mountains of Miaojiang, making it impossible to find them. Without finding them, extermination was out of the question.

Half a month later, the Imperial decree arrived, commending the soldiers’ efforts and bestowing rewards, especially to Gu Qingheng, who not only drove back the Nanzhao army but also rescued the Yun King, earning him the title of Loyal Warrior General, promoted to the rank of fourth tier.

However, due to Princess Ayang of Miaojiang’s request, Emperor Xuanjing did not allow the troops to return to the capital but rather tasked them with exterminating the Flame Sect.

Gu Qingheng had to temporarily set aside his intention to return home to visit his wife.

However, Dao Xuzi and some others couldn’t stay put: "We’ll head off first. If we calculate the time right, we can make it back in time for Xinxin’s childbirth. We have to be there to feel at ease."

Gu Qingheng nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, seniors."

Dao Xuzi and the others waved their hands and left directly, but the disciples of the Cloud Sect still remained in the military, serving, as their medical skills far surpassed those of the military doctors. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Qingheng." Zhou Jiang found Gu Qingheng standing alone in the courtyard, lost in thought, and promptly approached, "Feeling homesick?" Unless it was official business, he always called him by his first name.

"Doesn’t Uncle Zhou miss Dabao and Xiaobao?"

"Of course I do." Zhou Jiang said, carefully taking out a piece of paper from his pocket, "Look, this is a drawing Little Yingying made for me, pretty isn’t it?"

Gu Qingheng glanced at it and then nodded.

Actually, that was a sketch Zhou Ying had learned from Yu Qingge. Unfortunately, the little girl had just learned a little before she started doodling, claiming it was a portrait of her father, when in fact it was just a bunch of lines, barely recognizable as a human face.

"Over the years, I haven’t been by their side, not even seeing my wife for the last time when she passed away. I owe them so much," Zhou Jiang sighed. "After exterminating the Flame Sect this time, I’m planning to hang up my armor and return to the fields, to spend time with the children."

Gu Qingheng said nothing. How could he not also owe Xinxin?