The shopkeeper shook his head, "I really haven’t heard of such a person. Could it be that the young master has got the name wrong?"

As he was speaking, the shopkeeper pointed at the two people entering through the door and said, "Look, these are Captain Liu and Captain Zhu from the Defense Department. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them."

Qi Er respectfully bowed to the two, "Uncles, I would like to inquire about someone."

The two captains saw that Qi Er was talented and had an extraordinary demeanor, and was also polite and courteous, so they replied politely, "Please go ahead, young master."

Qi Er said earnestly, "I am here to look for my father."

"My father’s surname is Lin, he is thirty-eight years old this year, and he somewhat resembles me, but he is slightly taller than me. He was transferred from Xiang City over three years ago."

After listening to Qi Er, the two captains laughed, "Three or four years ago? No such thing. Our Captain Xu has been at Yu Hall for seven or eight years now, and there haven’t been any personnel changes during these years."

"Besides, why would officers from Xiang City be willing to come here? If they really had to come, it would mean they were demoted."

"And as you said, taller than you, there isn’t a single person in our entire Defense Department, soldiers included, who is taller than you!"

The soldiers in the southern border are mostly locals, this place is barren, and it’s difficult to be full, so the locals are generally not tall.

Captain Zhu kindly said, "Young master, have you perhaps mistaken the place?"

"Given such an outstanding talent as yourself, your father mustn’t be wrong, we don’t have such a person in this desolate place."

Qi Er carefully considered Captain Zhu’s words. Indeed, a person like his father would stand out wherever he went. If he’d been here for three or four years, he would at least be a captain by now, even if he started as a soldier.

This means the people sent by General Wu didn’t lie to him; his father isn’t here.

Qi Er understood these reasons, and endless grievance surged in his heart. He pressed his lips tightly, holding back from crying.

Traveling two thousand miles, only to find it all in vain.

And in this vast world, where exactly is his father?

Is he still alive?

Why didn’t he say goodbye when he left?

Why didn’t he just take him along?

Also, why didn’t Aunt Gu tell him the truth?

You Er, watching his brother’s distress, sat beside him, silently pouring him a cup of water.

Qi Er held the warm tea in his hands, lowering his head, not saying a word.

The group finished their meal in silence and returned to their room. Qi Er still looked dejected. You Er intentionally diverted his thoughts, "Brother, are we returning to Xiang City now, or are we going to see our uncle?"

Qi Er then lifted his head, "Let’s go see our uncle."

"Luan City isn’t too far from here, just a few hundred miles and we’ll be there in a few days."

When Qi Er was young and naïve, he mistook Yun Jiao as his mother and Gu Chuan as his uncle.

Gu Chuan also cherished him. Whether it was buying food or bringing gifts from outside, whatever You Er had, Qi Er also had his share.

You Er nodded, "Then let’s head to Luan City."

"But tomorrow, we still have to pass by Niu Tou Mountain."

Qi Er said, "I think, the people of Niu Tou Mountain might not trouble us again."

At that moment, an escort master knocked on the door, entered, and repeatedly cupped his hands towards Qi Er and You Er, "Young masters, I truly apologize. This is the first time our Fuwei Escort Agency has encountered such an issue. Once you return, the agency will refund your escort silver."

This is not because their Fuwei Escort Agency is particularly trustworthy, but because he overheard Duan Mu Lei’s words in the canyon, realizing these two have an extraordinary identity, which the agency cannot afford to offend.

Qi Er and You Er did not say they didn’t want the silver. Had they known it would be like this, they wouldn’t have sought the escort agency, wasting a whole day for nothing.