I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

When the old man came out of the back room, he was carrying a cloth bag and a water pouch.

The bag wasn't big, and it contained a stack of dried biscuits. The edges were a bit hard, indicating that it had been there for a few days, but it hadn't gone moldy yet.

He placed the cloth bag and water pouch on the counter with a light touch, as if the goods had been there for a long time and someone had finally come to collect them: "Dried biscuits and water, enough for five people for three days. That's all."

Qin Mu took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve and placed it on the counter.

The old man glanced at the piece of silver, but didn't immediately reach for it. His gaze lingered on the silver for a moment before shifting away: "Too much."

Qin Mu said, "There's too much, let's exchange some information."

The old man's gaze returned to Qin Mu's face, as if he were re-evaluating the traveler standing hurriedly in front of the dimly lit counter. After a moment, he spoke: "What do you want to ask?"

Qin Mu asked, "Have there been any unusual movements of the cavalry on the Northern Barbarian border recently?"

The old man didn't answer immediately. He reached out and picked up the piece of silver, weighed it in his palm, and then put it in his pocket, his movements unhurried, as if he had already weighed the options in his mind: "You've come at the right time. Half a month ago, the border guards in Northern Mang were replaced. The new ones are more vigilant than before, and their checks are more thorough."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "However, their patrol route is very fixed. They set off an hour before dawn, patrol along the border, and then return. Every day it's the same route, without any change."

Qin Mu didn't press for the specific route, but simply nodded and asked, "Are there any people from the Northern Barbarians in this town?"

The old man said, "It happens occasionally. Not often, and they don't stay long. They buy their things and leave, and don't talk to people much."

After he finished speaking, he pushed the cloth bag and water pouch an inch towards the counter: "This should last you for a few days. Further ahead, there won't be any decent supplies."

Qin Mu took the cloth bag and water pouch, and tied them up: "Thank you."

The old man didn't reply, but simply sat down again, picked up the copper kettle, and continued wiping it with the old cloth, as if the conversation had never happened.

When Qin Mu lifted the curtain and stepped out, the clouds on the horizon had already begun to turn red.

The horses at the town entrance remained in the same spot, heads down, occasionally flicking their tails.

Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside her horse, tucking the map into her sleeve. Seeing Qin Mu emerge, she slightly raised her eyes and asked, "Are there any other people in town?"

Qin Mu said, "Not many. Most of them have their doors closed."

He hung the cloth bag on the water bag next to the saddle and fastened it with a simple and efficient movement.

Yunluan then walked back from the other end of the street.

She walked slowly, but each step was firm. Her gaze swept over the tightly closed doors and windows on both sides. When she reached Qin Mu's side, she lowered her voice: "There's a gap in the earthen wall at the end of the town. There are fresh hoof prints outside the wall, probably left in the last few days. They're heading north, towards the border."

Qin Mu didn't respond much after hearing this, but simply mounted his horse and said, "Rest for the night, and set off before dawn tomorrow."

The wind was stronger outside the town than inside, and the swirling sand and gravel hit the earthen walls, making a soft, rustling sound.

They rested under a low wall sheltered from the wind outside the town. They didn't go into the town or light a fire; they just sat against the wall and stayed quietly in the twilight.

Jiang Zhaoyue leaned against the wall, holding the empty water pouch in her hand, her gaze fixed on the darkening horizon in the distance: "The old folks in Shamen Town say that Northern Mang has replaced its scouts with a new batch, and they are more vigilant than before."

Qin Mu said, "Yes. The patrol route is fixed; we set off an hour before dawn."

He didn't look up when he said that, as if he was confirming something, or as if he was waiting for the night to get deeper.

The wind blew in from the wasteland, carrying the dry, dusty smell, and took away the last ray of sunlight.

Qin Mu stood up, took a few steps towards the outside of the wall, stood in the twilight, looked at the wilderness to the north that was being swallowed by darkness, watched for a while, then turned around and walked back to the base of the wall, sat down against the earthen wall, and closed his eyes: "I'll look at it when we get over there."

Night had completely fallen.