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They did some research before leaving; they couldn't just wander around like headless flies.

They first inquired with the innkeeper about all the inns in Ping'an County.

The owner was a kind-hearted man. Seeing that the two men had decent appearances, he carefully counted them: there were three on the east street, two on the south street, four on the west street, only one on the north street, and two more near the main street, one called "Laifu Inn" and the other called "Ping'an Inn," both of which were long-established businesses.

After listening, Xiao Yi thanked the boss very gratefully.

He and Qingfeng agreed to meet at the pastry shop on the main street an hour later.

As night deepened, the number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreased.

Xiao Yi walked on the bluestone pavement of East Street. Most of the shops on both sides had already closed, with only a few inns still having lanterns hanging in front of them, their dim yellow light swaying in the night wind.

He pushed open the door of the first inn, where the waiter, who was dozing behind the counter, was startled awake and came to greet him, rubbing his eyes.

"Sir, would you like to stay at the inn?"

"I'm asking about someone." Xiao Yi took out a portrait from his sleeve. The paper depicted a girl of about fifteen years old with delicate features. "Have you seen this girl before?"

He was about this tall, thin, and dressed in a blue cloth robe.

The waiter leaned closer to take a look and shook his head: "Never seen it before."

"Sir, who is this person to you?"

"My own sister has gone missing." Xiao Yi put away the portrait, his voice calm.

The waiter sighed, "Poor thing. Sir, please ask around, we really haven't seen this here."

Xiao Yi nodded, turned around and went out.

The second, the third, the fourth.

He would repeat the same words every time he opened a door.

Some shop assistants are very helpful and will ask a few more questions.

Some people, however, were indifferent, glancing lazily at the portrait before shaking their heads.

Xiao Yi was not annoyed. He simply put away the portrait silently and continued to the next house.

The night breeze was a little chilly, but it didn't bother the martial arts practitioners.

He walked steadily down the empty street, but his thoughts drifted far away.

Ayan is his elder brother's flesh and blood, and he must protect him.

Although Tao'er is not a member of the Xiao family, she is now no different from one.

Neither of them can be harmed.

He was genuinely worried about their safety.

Now, Ayan and that little girl Tao'er, two half-grown children, have traveled thousands of miles to Jiangnan to seek refuge with the Chen family.

Xiao Yi dared not think about what would happen if something unexpected happened on the way; how would he explain it to his mother, elder brother, and sister-in-law?

So he had to find them.

He had to see Ayan arrive safely in Jiangnan with his own eyes.

Xiao Yi pushed open the door of another inn, asked the same question, and shook his head again.

Xiao Yi accepted the portrait, thanked him, and turned to walk into the night.

An hour later, in front of a pastry shop on the main street.

Xiao Yi saw Qingfeng's figure from afar.

The pastry shop had already closed, only the lanterns on the signboard were still lit. Qingfeng stood under the dim light, his expression inscrutable.

Xiao Yi approached, and the two exchanged a glance. Without even saying a word, they both knew that they hadn't found any clues.

Qingfeng finally spoke, his voice muffled: "Master, I have not been able to find out any news about Miss Tao'er and the others."

And you?

Xiao Yi shook his head and smiled wryly, "I haven't found it either. Everyone says they've never seen it."

Silence spread between the two.

Qingfeng remained silent for a moment, then couldn't help but voice his guess: "Could it be that neither Tao'er nor the young master has ever been to Ping'an County?"

Xiao Yi shook his head, his tone certain: "It's impossible that he didn't come."

Ping'an County is a necessary stop on the way to Yunnan. They may have come, but then left; we may have missed them.

"Then let's leave first thing tomorrow morning," Qingfeng suggested. "Otherwise, we'll be even less likely to catch up."

Xiao Yi shook his head again: "No, let's find another day tomorrow."

I'm afraid I'll miss out.

If we still haven't found them, it means Tao'er and the others have already left Ping'an County, so we'll continue our journey towards Yunnan.

The breeze fell silent.

After a moment, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Master, what are you thinking?"

Are you planning to settle down in Jiangnan with the young master and the others?

In that case, your identity will likely be exposed sooner or later.

Most importantly, the Heart-Eating Poison in your body won't last more than six months, so we must get the antidote as soon as possible.

Elder Li said we must find the Tian Shan snow lotus and the thousand-year-old ginseng as soon as possible.

His voice was filled with barely suppressed urgency.

Xiao Yi looked at him calmly.

"Qingfeng, I understand your thoughts."

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a reassuring power.

"Don't worry, the injustice done to our Xiao family has not yet been cleared, and I will not stay in Yunnan for long."

I'm just worried about Ayan and Tao'er.

The journey was long and arduous, and I was truly worried about the two of them.

Ayan is my elder brother's flesh and blood; I cannot allow anything to happen to him.

Once we reached Jiangnan and saw that they were safe, we returned to the capital to continue our investigation.

He paused, looked up at the night sky, where the moonlight was hidden behind the clouds, only revealing a faint halo.

"Unfortunately, the crown prince has been deposed and has now been sent to the north to be king."

Otherwise, his presence in the capital would still be of some help in clearing the name of our Xiao family.

Qingfeng's brows furrowed deeply, his eyes filled with worry. "Master, the Crown Prince is in dire straits himself, and the journey ahead is far from safe, especially with Prince Cheng..."

It seems unlikely that he can help resolve the Xiao family's grievances.

But right now, the most important thing is dealing with the poison in your body; you still have six months.

"You're not worried at all, but Elder Li is so anxious that his hair and beard have turned completely white."

He's now posting notices everywhere, announcing his purchase of Tian Shan snow lotus and thousand-year-old ginseng at exorbitant prices.

Xiao Yi looked at his anxious expression and suddenly smiled.

He patted Qingfeng on the shoulder, the force was light, but it immediately calmed Qingfeng down.

"Qingfeng, life and death are preordained, wealth and honor are determined by fate; everything is predestined, and nothing is up to us."

His voice sounded exceptionally calm in the night.

"Although Elder Li has developed the antidote, how can we find the thousand-year-old ginseng and snow lotus from Tianshan?"

"There are probably only a handful in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, right?"

Qingfeng opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Because what the master said was true.

He had followed Xiao Yi for many years and knew his master's temperament.

Once a decision is made, nothing can change it.

But he still couldn't help worrying and getting anxious.

The poison was in Xiao Yi's body, but it was everyone else's heart that ached.

Xiao Yi looked up at the night sky.

Fortunately, there are still six months left.

His voice was low, as if he were talking to himself.

"Only if we can clear the Xiao family's name within these six months can our Xiao family be safe."

The most important thing now is to get Ayan to a safe place.

I wonder what the Chen family in Jiangnan is like...

Qingfeng, it's past midnight, let's go back to the inn!

Let's look for it again tomorrow!

As he spoke, he turned and walked towards the inn.

Qingfeng stood still, watching his master's back.

His back was straight, his steps were steady, as if he didn't care about anything.

But he knew that his master never truly cared about him.

A night breeze blew by, and the lanterns of the pastry shop swayed.

Qingfeng took a deep breath and quickly followed.

Inside the inn, Dongkui lay in the darkness, her eyes open, listening to the faint footsteps outside the window.

The footsteps approached from afar, stopping at the entrance of the inn, followed by the soft sound of the door opening and closing.

They are back.

She heard Xiao Yi say something in a low voice, but she couldn't make out what it said, though his tone was calm.

Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly. She turned over and looked at the moonlight outside the window.

Little Peach Girl, where are you?

As night deepened, Ping'an County gradually drifted into slumber.