"Yes, we finally have a chance to wear Hanfu," Yang Xinjie said, adjusting her pale green gauze skirt.
Xiao Ai also struck a flying pose, and Xu Ruyi was not to be outdone, raising her long legs for a side kick. Suddenly remembering her attire, she quickly changed it to Chang'e soaring to the moon.
The captain said, "I was wondering why something felt off just now, but you all changed into ancient costumes in such a short time."
"Of course. Don't I look like a hero?" Xu Jiacan clasped his hands. The moon-white, arrow-sleeved robe accentuated his handsome figure.
"As if I don't," the captain muttered under his breath, but quickened his pace.
When the captain caught up, the first thing he asked was, "Did you tell Uncle Xu and Uncle Sun?"
"Yes, Uncle Xu said he and Uncle Sun will be patrolling with the younger ones these few days."
"That's good." The captain, seeing that everything at home was arranged, turned to Fu Xinci and said, "Xinci, how do we go now?"
"Just follow this small path. Qi He and I blazed it on previous trips."
"Hmm, this path is good. I'll clear the way ahead," Xu Jiacan volunteered to lead.
The companions all agreed in unison and immediately followed one by one.
Only Pang Dun'er, walking at the back, felt miserable.
The captain looked back, "Pang Dun'er, keep up."
"Captain, I'm trying my best, it's just that the path is a bit narrow."
"I told you to lose weight, and you wouldn't listen." The captain saw Pang Dun'er struggling and stopped to console him, "Pang Dun'er, we haven't gone far. How about you go back?"
Hearing the captain's words, Pang Dun'er almost cried. "Captain, you can't look down on me like this. I can do it. I can definitely keep up with everyone's pace."
Xu Jiacan, who was clearing the path ahead, glanced back at them. He said nothing, but he doubled the width of the original narrow path.
The sky gradually darkened, making the mountain path even more difficult to navigate.
"How about..."
Apart from her, the companions were not wood-element ability users. Seeing her companions struggling, Fu Xinci wanted to pull them into her space.
The captain directly picked up her words, "Walking like this is good. At least everyone will remember this path."
"Yes, if they remember this path, it will be convenient for everyone to visit you in the future."
"That's right."
The companions chatted lively, and the rugged mountain path seemed to shorten.
By the time they descended the slope, it was already near midnight. Listening to the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs in the fields, Pang Dun'er felt a sense of familiarity. His first words were, "I just want to lie down and sleep right now."
"Heh heh, it's not just you who wants to sleep, I do too." Xu Jiacan, who had been clearing the path, was also a bit weary.
"We're almost at my house. We can rest when we get there." Fu Xinci finished speaking and summoned several fine horses from her space.
In the dark night, illuminated by torches, the magnificent horses, even the usually composed captain, showed rare longing in his eyes.
"What fine horses!" Pang Dun'er forgot his fatigue and reached out his bear-like fat hand to stroke the strongest black horse, saying, "Brother Horse, it must have been hard for you to carry me."
"Pfft."
The companions couldn't help but chuckle and then flocked forward to choose the horses they liked best.
After everyone had chosen, the captain glanced at Fu Xinci, as if asking: can that black horse carry Pang Dun'er?
Fu Xinci gave the captain a "no problem" look.
"That's good then." The captain was truly afraid that Pang Dun'er would injure the horse's kidneys.
Meng's father and son, along with Qi Yuanshan, had not rested. The three of them sat quietly in the main hall, without the inclination to talk.
If not for fear of mosquitoes and insects in the courtyard, they would have been waiting there all along.
Hearing the distant beat of the watch drum, Grandpa Meng said, "It's past midnight."
"Yes." Fu Yu's heart was also filled with anxiety. It was already this late, and his daughter hadn't returned yet. He was truly worried.
"Uncle, listen, is that the sound of hooves?" Qi Yuanshan's voice trembled. He got up and rushed out of the house towards the main gate.
"Ai." Grandpa Meng was old and his legs were not as agile. If not for his son's support, he might have fallen.
Fu Xinci, riding a white horse, led the way and pointed to the lights in the distance in the night, saying to her companions, "That's my home. My grandfather, my father, and Uncle Qi should be waiting for us."
Indeed, from afar, they could see figures moving under the big red lanterns.
"Xinci."
"Ci'er."
"Ci'er."
"Uncle Qi, Grandfather, Father."
"Ai."
Qi Yuanshan stared at the group approaching from the darkness. At a single glance, they brought him a sense of awe.
Especially the young man leading the group, with eyes like stars, a tall and upright posture, and an extraordinary demeanor. He seemed to walk towards you casually through the darkness, yet every step he took exuded an aura of control.
The young man behind him was tall and slender, with a handsome bearing.
And then—
Qi Yuanshan's gaze dared not linger on the three young women following behind them, but directly fell on the stout youth bringing up the rear.
My heavens! With such a large build, setting aside fighting, just sitting down would shift the opponent's internal organs, or at the very least, cause internal injuries.
Meng's father and son were also appraising the children. "Good, very good." Grandpa Meng praised them directly for the first time.
Fu Yu also nodded, with only four words echoing in his mind: extraordinary talents.
Fu Xinci saw the admiration in the adults' eyes and brought her companions to be introduced.
The captain took the lead in greeting, "Junior Long Teng pays his respects to Grandpa Meng, Uncle Fu, and Uncle Qi."
"You may rise."
Truth be told, although the captain was aware, seeing Qi Yuanshan and Fu Yu still made him feel like he had lost out significantly.
Alas, there was no other way. He could only be on equal footing with Xinci.
With the captain leading the greetings, the companions felt no pressure.
"Junior Qi Ai pays her respects to Grandpa Meng, Uncle Fu, and Uncle Qi."
"You may rise."
Hearing Xiao Ai introduce herself, Grandpa Meng and the others were a bit puzzled. Why would the Qi family elders give their daughter such a name.
Xiao Ai: She had asked countless times, but her parents would only smile and say nothing.
After all the children had paid their respects, Grandpa Meng had his son and granddaughter take a few children inside to rest respectively.
"Grandpa Meng, aren't we in a hurry to save someone?"
"Yes, but you need to rest as well. We'll depart after daylight. I'll use this time to write up your household registration and travel permits."
"Yes, go and rest quickly. After Uncle Meng finishes writing, I'll have to take them back to the thousand-household office to get them stamped."
The companions hadn't expected that proving their identities would be so troublesome.