They ambled and dawdled their way to Sun Bridge, where they encountered the colleagues lying in ambush. None had seen anyone suspicious, nor had they received glad tidings of Company Commander Chu’s victory, so Fu Xi Yan’s group could only continue onward.
Fu Xi Yan looked at the sky and requested that they stay the night before leaving, but Zhang Da Shan disagreed. “Speed is the essence of warfare. We should cross the bridge before resting.”
Fu Xi Yan asked unhappily, “Why do you have so many opinions?”
Zhang Da Shan glanced sideways at him. “I’m a Squad Commander.”
Fu Xi Yan: “…”
One rank higher was enough to crush a man to death. Fu Xi Yan could only gnaw on a steamed bun and continue traveling.
After they finally crossed Sun Bridge, Zhang Da Shan at last agreed to find somewhere to rest. He was also preparing to release a pigeon and ask for news when Fu Xi Yan suddenly said, “Let’s split into two groups.”
Zhang Da Shan asked warily, “What are you trying to do now?”
Fu Xi Yan said sincerely, “Peijie Town is only around three hours from here. We’re already quite close. I’m afraid that if others see you traveling with us, our identities will be exposed.”
Zhang Da Shan laughed in anger. “I would expose your identities?”
Fu Xi Yan pointed at the pigeon cage.
Zhang Da Shan’s smile stiffened.
Fu Xi Yan said, “How about this? We’ll travel one behind the other. You go in front and attract everyone’s suspicious gazes. We’ll follow behind and join everyone else in suspecting you. That way, no one will suspect us.” It was the classic wolf-on-wolf bus strategy.
Zhang Da Shan had never before encountered anyone who could sell out a teammate with such righteous confidence. Yet he could find no words to refute him and could only say gruffly, “Don’t fall too far behind.”
Fu Xi Yan nodded cheerfully. “Let’s find somewhere to stay first.”
Zhang Da Shan frowned. “We’re staying at an inn?” In his opinion, they should make do in the wilderness for one night and resume traveling early the following morning.
Fu Xi Yan declared righteously, “I’m a patient traveling to Peijie Town for treatment. How could I sleep outdoors? What if I catch a chill? Wouldn’t that merely create more trouble for the physician? Your identity is already suspicious anyway, so do as you please.” With that, he led Zhong Xin and Geng Geng at a gallop toward a nearby inhabited village.
Even their retreating backs radiated happiness.
…Hadn’t they agreed that Zhang Da Shan would travel in front?
He had no time to sulk and hurried after them.
Thanks to the village’s proximity to the Yellow River and Sun Bridge, its residents also offered lodging to travelers. Fu Xi Yan and the others were exhausted, hungry, and sleepy, so they stopped at the first house near the village entrance. Zhang Da Shan took lodgings next door.
The night was as cool as water, refreshing to the senses.
Fu Xi Yan lay on his side upon the bed and watched the Zhou brothers, Zhong Xin and Geng Geng, spread bedding across the floor. He could not help saying, “The floor grows cold at night. Why don’t you come up here and squeeze in with me?”
Zhong Xin and Geng Geng glanced at the vast body whose breadth could not be concealed even while lying on its side, then hurriedly shook their heads.
The floor might not be large, but at least there was room to sleep.
Fu Xi Yan had only offered out of politeness anyway. He knew when to stop. “Very well. Once we reach Peijie Town, we can rest properly. Actually…”
Zhou Zhong Xin’s gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked vigilantly toward the window. Fu Xi Yan heard the note and understood the melody. He immediately changed direction and said with a smile, “If we find the princess before anyone else, Chu Shao Yang won’t get the chance to flaunt his glory.”
The three of them absentmindedly “imagined” how impressive they would look after earning merit. Only after half an incense stick had passed did Zhou Zhong Xin breathe out.
Zhou Geng Geng muttered unhappily, “What is wrong with Chu Guang’s men?” After traveling all day, instead of sleeping, the man had come eavesdropping in the middle of the night. Fortunately, the three of them were not young women, or that wicked man might have taken advantage of them.
Zhou Geng Geng angrily pulled up his blanket and wrapped it tightly around himself.
With a solemn expression, Fu Xi Yan raised a finger to his lips. The room fell silent again, and soon afterward, snores arose.
The sun rose in the east, and spring light spread across the land.
After breakfast, Fu Xi Yan and the others smilingly bade farewell to their hosts and stepped outside.
Zhang Da Shan stood beside the road like a black mountain beneath gathering storm clouds, his expression gloomy. When they emerged, he gave a cold snort, mounted his horse, and waited for them to do the same before furiously urging his horse into a gallop.
The two parties traveled one ahead of the other, maintaining a distance of several dozen paces.
The number of travelers on the road gradually increased.
As they approached Peijie Town, Fu Xi Yan deliberately slowed his horse. When they reached the town entrance, he saw Zhang Da Shan standing before a flatbread stall, slowly and carefully chewing a flatbread. His expression was so bitter and resentful that the stallholder clutched his rolling pin tightly, ready to defend himself at any moment.
The instant Zhang Da Shan saw them appear, he viciously threw away the flatbread he had eaten until he wanted to vomit. With heavy steps, he marched toward the Lu Family Inn beside the stall.
Fu Xi Yan pointed at his retreating back from afar. “That man is so strange. Why is he carrying a pigeon cage while riding a horse?”
Their group of three had already attracted some attention, but after he said this, everyone’s gazes naturally shifted toward Zhang Da Shan. Zhang Da Shan turned and glared furiously at him. This was not him cooperating with Fu Xi Yan’s performance—he was genuinely enraged.
Fu Xi Yan pretended to be frightened and muttered, “Why is he glaring at me? Did I accidentally expose what he was thinking? Ah, he wouldn’t be waiting for a chance to retaliate against me, would he? I’d better stay at another inn.” After completing his one-man performance, he changed direction and entered another inn three shops away.
The inns of Peijie Town were like flower shops near modern hospitals: they were all roughly the same in quality. However, after Fu Xi Yan handed over a silver ingot, the service visibly improved.
Fu Xi Yan knew that the attendant had just been watching the excitement from the doorway, so he said, “Keep a close eye on that man with the pigeon cage. If he comes here or asks about me, you must tell me immediately.”
The attendant repeatedly agreed.
Fu Xi Yan muttered, “I’m a person of considerable importance!” As he casually raised his hand, he exposed the Brocade Guard identification token hanging at his waist.
The attendant immediately became even more respectful.
Once they entered their room and closed the door, Zhou Geng Geng could not resist asking, “Weren’t we told to conceal our identities and act in secret?” The attendant might not recognize the Brocade Guard token, but the princess certainly would. Wouldn’t that risk alerting her?
Fu Xi Yan asked, “Who told us to conceal our identities and act in secret?”
“Commander… Chu?”
Fu Xi Yan nodded. “Opposing the villain means helping the good people. We’re currently on the side of good.”
Zhou Geng Geng was still digesting this statement when Zhou Zhong Xin grasped the deeper implication. “Is the young master worried that Chu Guang has ulterior motives?”
“Even the Third Prince thinks his behavior is strange, so something must be wrong with him.” Fu Xi Yan shared the theory he had pondered throughout their journey. “I simply don’t know whether I’m the problem he intends to eliminate, or the problem preventing him from eliminating another problem.” There was no chance Chu Guang would devote attention to driving an insignificant character out of camp while the princess remained missing.
Zhou Zhong Xin immediately grew tense. “We’re close to Pingyang Prefecture. Why don’t we go there and await further instructions from Commander Fu?”
Fu Xi Yan shook his head. “Zhang Da Shan is watching us. The moment we leave Peijie Town, we’ll be accused of disobeying military orders and abandoning our post without permission.”
Zhou Geng Geng finally caught on. “Then why don’t we deal with Zhang Da Shan…” He made a chopping motion—raise the hand, lower the blade.
Fu Xi Yan pressed his hand down. “There’s no need. If he dies, we’ll have even less chance of escaping.”
Zhou Zhong Xin said, “Then all we can do now is wait and observe?”
Fu Xi Yan said, “Zhang Da Shan is alone. If he attacks openly, we won’t suffer a loss. We only need to fear that he’ll resort to underhanded methods. In any case, we should remain vigilant over the next few days.”
The three put away their luggage and went downstairs for a lavish meal. Zhou Zhong Xin asked about the local clinics, and the attendant sold him a simple map marking all the renowned medical establishments in town.
Fu Xi Yan glanced over it. “Why isn’t the young miracle physician Yan Xie from back then listed here?”
The attendant shook his head, indicating that he had never heard the name.
“Yan Xie was the physician who treated the young master back then?” Zhou Geng Geng shook his head. “It seems his title as a ‘young miracle physician’ was undeserved.”
The innkeeper happened to be passing and said unhappily, “You’re too young to know what happened back then! The young miracle physician was the personal disciple of the Divine Physician Yan Ke. At a young age, he had already mastered medical skills capable of reviving the dead and restoring flesh to bare bones. As long as he agreed to treat someone, there was no person in this world he could not cure.”
An older attendant at the inn nodded in agreement and listed several examples of people who had been on the verge of death before the young miracle physician used his marvelous skills to save them.
Fu Xi Yan: “…” He might have met a counterfeit young miracle physician back then!
Zhou Zhong Xin asked, “Then why isn’t he on the map?”
The innkeeper said as though it were obvious, “The young miracle physician holds the entire world in his heart. How could he remain in one place forever? Back then, Manor Lord Tang personally invited him, which was why he stayed for two years.”
“When did he leave?”
“Perhaps six or seven years ago.”
Fu Xi Yan: “…” Judging by the dates, that should have been shortly after the Fu family invited him over. Had the young miracle physician failed to cure Fu Xi Yan and become so ashamed that he withdrew from society? What a sin. What a sin.
After eating, the three followed the markings on the map and prepared to visit each clinic in turn.
Zhou Zhong Xin asked, “Should we go to Willowwood Manor first?”
Fu Xi Yan had never intended to exert himself wholeheartedly. He casually found an excuse and said, “The Commander instructed us to act discreetly.”
Zhong Xin and Geng Geng immediately understood.
The first place they visited was the Yu Family Rejuvenation Hall.
The queue was extremely long. Fu Xi Yan paid a scalper five taels for a place in line and was soon admitted.
The elderly physician asked, “Where do you feel unwell?”
Fu Xi Yan answered, “I’m too fat.”
The elderly physician nodded. “You should have come sooner.”
He took Fu Xi Yan’s pulse, questioned him, and then immediately looked puzzled… Fu Xi Yan had seen that expression on imperial physicians’ faces many times. Considering his restrained eating habits, his fatness truly defied all laws of nature.
After pondering for a moment, the elderly physician said, “I’ll prescribe you a formula. Take it for seven days and observe the results.”
“Oh, right. I have a younger sister who ran away from home…”
“Mm. Then I’ll prescribe some Free-and-Easy Pills as well. Try not to dwell on it.”
“…Of course.” Fu Xi Yan accepted the prescription but did not purchase the medicine. He immediately took Zhong Xin and Geng Geng and hurried to the next clinic.
Futile Devices Scans 
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