Immortality begins with exchanging talent attributes.

The temporary headquarters of the Black-Clad Guards.

When Zhou Yan arrived, many of the Black-Clad Guards were cleaning up the corpses on the ground.

Seeing Zhou Yan approach, many of the guards in black robes nodded to him.

Several other people took the initiative to greet them.

"Brother Zhou is here."

Zhou Yan responded with a fist and palm salute to each of them.

The battle at Qingzhou, in which he carried Lu Qingshuang on his back, held up a table, and fought his way through the long street, had left a deep impression on these Xuanyi Guards.

Li Kun then carried out the corpse of a member of the Wusheng Sect.

Upon seeing Zhou Yan, he tossed the corpse aside, clapped his hands, and walked over, saying:

"They're here. How are the arrangements?"

"I've finished speaking."

Zhou Yan nodded and looked around.

"How did you all recover so quickly?"

Previously, these black-clad guards were all depleted of their vital energy and blood, and were almost drained dry.

It hasn't been long, and he's already able to get up and work.

Li Kun twitched the corner of his mouth.

"We are so grateful to Senior Mo for giving each of us a Qi and Blood Pill, which helped us regain some of our strength."

  

After saying that, he pointed inside.

"Commander Lu has also woken up. She just told me to wait for you to arrive and then go inside to find her."

"Okay, I'll go in first."

Zhou Yandao.

"Go."

Li Kun patted him on the shoulder.

Zhou Yan entered the courtyard.

The bodies inside had been mostly removed, leaving only some broken bricks and tiles and shattered weapons.

Because of the heavy rain earlier, there wasn't much blood left on the ground.

As he walked through the courtyard, several passing guards in black uniforms nodded to him.

Zhou Yan returned the greeting politely.

As soon as I entered the lobby.

What came into view was a corpse covered with a white cloth; judging from its size, it should be Commander Ma.

Lu Qingshuang was sitting weakly on a chair to the side, lost in thought.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Zhou Yan, whose cold expression softened slightly.

She spoke slowly, her voice a little hoarse.

"You're here. How are you? Are you hurt?"

Zhou Yan clasped his hands in a salute and said:

"Greetings, Lord Lu. I am unharmed."

Lu Qingshuang stood up, her steps unsteady as she walked over and took his arm, saying:

"No need for formalities in the future. I survived this time thanks to you."

"Lord Lu, you flatter me."

Zhou Yan said politely.

"I am a few years older than you. When we are alone, we can address each other as brother and sister."

Lu Qingshuang's tone revealed a hint of intimacy.

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan was taken aback.

He slightly raised his head and, seeing that the other person didn't seem to be joking, clasped his hands in greeting and said:

"Yes, I've met you, Sister Lu."

Lu Qingshuang's lips twitched slightly, as if she were smiling.

"it is good."

She sat back down in her chair, took a breath, and continued:

"Qingzhou City has been reduced to a ghost town after this disaster and is no longer fit to live. I have sent the Black-Clad Guards out to find the surviving people. Let's set off together for the prefectural city."

"understood."

Zhou Yan nodded, then suddenly asked:

"Where is Senior Mo?"

"After I woke up, Senior Mo left, but he said he would stay on Qingzhou for a while and leave after he resolved the blood poison here."

She gave him a strange look as she spoke.

He also told you not to go to him.

Zhou Yan twitched the corner of his mouth but didn't say anything.

......

Five carriages were already prepared at the entrance of the temporary residence of the Black-Clad Guards.

One of the vehicles was carrying the body of Commander Ma.

The remaining carts were piled with grain, medicine, and some simple supplies.

There weren't many items.

Most of the Black-Clad Guards had been sent out to search for surviving civilians, leaving only a limited number of people to stay behind. They could only gather up anything usable nearby.

Moreover, after the Wusheng Sect entered the city, they had already turned the pharmacies, banks, and wealthy people's residences upside down.

The truly valuable items have already been snatched up by them.

What remains are mostly inconspicuous things.

Normally, no one would give it a second glance, but now, it's good enough if it's even there.

It wasn't until nearly evening that the Black-Clad Guards began to return one after another, carrying large and small bundles of people. Zhou Yan and Zhu Asan's family were among them.

Lu Qingshuang walked out of the main gate.

A guard in black robes came over, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"According to the report, there are fewer than a thousand surviving people in the entire city, and none of the refugees outside the city survived."

Although he was mentally prepared, hearing the number still gave Zhou Yan a huge sense of absurdity.

No matter how small Qingzhou City is, it is still a county town, with a permanent population of over ten thousand each year.

Now there are less than a thousand people left?

Look at the surviving people.

Almost everyone's face was filled with numbness and sadness.

Some people can't even cry anymore.

Lu Qingshuang's face paled even more.

She forced herself to stand up straight, channeled her inner energy, and her voice carried to everyone's ears.

"Qingzhou City is no longer habitable. The imperial court will send people to rebuild and investigate it. After leaving the city, those who are willing can come with us to the prefectural city, and those who are unwilling can leave on their own."

Let's come back after Qingzhou City is rebuilt.

After glancing once more at the silent commoners, Lu Qingshuang turned to the black-clad guards beside her and said:

"Set off!"

"yes!"

The guard in black clasped his hands in a fist salute, then turned around and shouted loudly:

"Set off!"

Lu Qingshuang boarded the first carriage, driven by Li Kun.

Her injuries were too severe. Although Mo Yunfeng had saved her, she was still extremely weak and needed to recover some of her strength as soon as possible to deal with the potential risks on the road.

Looking at the horses pulling the carts, Zhou Yan couldn't help but feel a little amused.

Almost everyone in the city is dead, but these beasts are unharmed. Could we say that humans are worse than beasts?

Shaking his head and chuckling, he held Zhu Zhu in his arms, glanced at Zhu Asan, and seeing that the other was also looking at him, nodded and followed the group.

The gates of Qingzhou City receded into the distance behind us.

Zhou Yan looked back.

Under the setting sun, the once bustling county town is now eerily quiet.

A thought suddenly popped into his mind.

When I first came into this world, I was in the Qingzhou County prison, thinking about how I would live.

How much time has passed?

The green boat is gone.

This damned world really doesn't make any sense.

......

Qingzhou County is about 300 li away from the prefectural city, and it would take two to three days even if one rode at full speed.

With so many people traveling together, it will take at least five or six days to get there.

That night, the group rested in an open space beside the official road.

The Black-Clad Guards deployed on the outer perimeter.

The people sat down around the bonfire in twos and threes.

It was very quiet.

Zhou Yan, holding Zhu Zhu in one arm and carrying a package in the other, sat down next to Zhu Asan's family.

The little girl nestled in his arms, her eyelids drooping with sleep, but she still refused to fall asleep.

Zhou Yan asked in a low voice:

"Third Brother, have you ever been to the prefectural city?"

Zhu Asan pondered for a moment, seemingly recalling something.

"I've been there several times, but all many years ago."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan perked up and asked:

"Oh? Third Brother has relatives in the prefectural city?"

Zhu Asan touched his nose, coughed lightly, and said:

"Your sister-in-law's family is in the prefectural city."

"What?"

Zhou Yan looked at Sister-in-law Zhu in surprise.

"So your sister-in-law is from the prefectural city? How did you two meet?"

Aunt Zhu's face was still a little pale, but she still managed a forced smile upon hearing this.

Zhu Asan was also a little embarrassed.

"When I was young, I ran a business with my grandfather and often went to the prefectural city. Later, I did some business with your sister-in-law's family a few times."

"That's how we got to know each other."

Zhou Yan glanced at Zhu Asan, then at Zhu Sao, and grinned at the corners of his slightly chapped mouth.

"Third Brother, you're quite something, keeping your abilities hidden."

Just as he was about to ask more about the situation in the prefectural city, a guard in black robes rode up on horseback and found Zhou Yan.

"Brother Zhou, you've found Commander Lu."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Black-Clad Guards.

"Thank you for your help. I'll be there right away."

He turned around and said a few words to Zhu Asan, then handed the package in his hand to Zhu Zhu.

They followed the guards in black robes and walked towards the front of the column.

When they reached Lu Qingshuang's carriage, Lu Qingshuang had already gotten off, while Li Kun was starting a fire.

When she saw him arrive, Lu Qingshuang waved to him.

"Lord Lu."

Zhou Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"sit."

Lu Qingshuang pointed to a small wooden stool on the side, gesturing for Zhou Yan to sit down.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Qingshuang looked at Zhou Yan and said:

"After returning to the prefectural city, you probably won't have anywhere to go. I happen to have a house in the outer city; you can stay there with your relatives for now."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Thank you, Commander!"

This is no small favor.

A residence in the prefectural city.

Regardless of size, they are all real, tangible footholds.

What he lacks most right now is a place to settle down.

Lu Qingshuang raised her hand.

"Sit down and talk."

Zhou Yan sat back down on the small wooden stool.

Lu Qingshuang then said:

"Given the achievements you've made this time, it's not entirely impossible for you to be promoted to deputy centurion."

Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Deputy centurion?

Isn't this rise a bit too fast?

He didn't even know which way the gate of the Xuanyi Guard in the prefectural city faced, yet he was directly promoted to deputy centurion?

Lu Qingshuang seemed to have seen through his thoughts and said calmly:

"But you are still young and inexperienced, so the chances are slim. Even if you do get promoted, you won't be able to control people."

So, I'm giving you two choices.

Hearing what the other person said, Zhou Yan raised his head slightly and looked at her with some suspicion.

Two choices again?

This tactic sounds familiar...

"First, I will go back and do my best to help you get promoted to the deputy commander of the Black-Clad Guard. But I will not help you after that. Whether you can gain a foothold depends on yourself."

Second, you will be promoted to captain, and I will help you convert your remaining merits into medals.

Sure enough, this wasn't a choice he could make.

……