The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

Qin An received basic treatment for his wound at the clinic. Although the crossbow bolt wound on his shoulder looked frightening, fortunately, it had not broken any bones.

The doctor washed the wound with strong liquor, sprinkled on a special wound medicine, and then wrapped it tightly with clean strips of cloth, instructing him not to engage in strenuous activity for several days to prevent the wound from reopening.

Han Quan's injuries were slightly more serious; his left arm was broken, and he had several deep knife wounds that exposed the bone.

The doctor was setting his bones and applying medicine, and he was in so much pain that cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Seeing that Qin An had finished getting ready, Han Quan endured the pain and said, "Qin An, your injury is nothing serious. Go back and rest for three to five days, then come to the county office to report for duty. I'll introduce you to a position as a constable then."

Qin An nodded: "Then Brother Han, please take good care of yourself. I'll head back now."

"Go on, be careful on the road." Han Quan waved his hand, then gasped in pain as the doctor applied the medicine.

As Qin An walked out of the clinic, the afternoon sun was a bit too bright, and he subconsciously squinted.

The wound on my shoulder throbbed faintly, but this pain was nothing compared to the anxiety in my heart.

He was eager to return home, wishing he could fly back to Baishan Village immediately and be with Yang Yuyan and his two daughters.

The thought that they might still be worried about him made Qin An quicken his pace.

The journey from the county town to Baishan Village, which normally takes about an hour, was being rushed by Qin An at almost the fastest speed.

In less than half an hour, the old locust tree at the entrance of the village came into view in the distance.

Just then, he stopped in his tracks.

Under the old locust tree stood three familiar figures: Yang Yuyan, Cai Yan, and Cai Zhen.

Yang Yuyan was dressed in a plain cloth dress, her hair simply tied back, and she was clutching a handkerchief in her hand. Her eyes kept looking towards the county town, and her face was full of anxiety.

Cai Yan stood beside her, her posture upright, her brows slightly furrowed, her gaze also fixed on the distance, but with a quieter worry than her mother's. Cai Zhen, on the other hand, was less settled, occasionally tiptoeing to peek out, her small hands tightly gripping Yang Yuyan's clothes, her little face filled with anticipation.

They had clearly been waiting here for a long time. The sunlight stretched their shadows long, and from a distance, they looked like three reeds swaying gently in the wind, thin yet stubborn.

Qin An's heart clenched suddenly, and a warm current mixed with bitterness surged into his heart.

He knew that for the past two days, they must have been unable to eat or sleep, and every minute and every second must have been filled with torment.

He took a deep breath and strode quickly toward them.

Perhaps startled them by the sound of footsteps, or perhaps it was some unseen premonition, but Yang Yuyan was the first to turn around. When her gaze fell upon Qin An, she froze, her eyes widening instantly.

Then, tears welled up without warning.

"Father!" Cai Zhen, with her sharpest eyes, was the first to recognize Qin An.

A clear, tearful cry rang out as she flew towards Qin An like a little swallow.

Cai Yan also realized what was happening, grabbed Yang Yuyan's hand, and quickly went to meet her.

Even though she was usually calm and composed, her eyes were now red, and her lips were moving, but she couldn't say anything for a moment.

Yang Yuyan was being pulled along by Cai Yan, her steps faltering slightly. She stared intently at Qin An, as if afraid that everything before her was just an illusion.

Only when Qin An approached did she speak, her voice trembling with disbelief, joy, and excitement: "Husband...husband? You...you're back?"

"I'm back." Qin An opened his arms and hugged Cai Zhen tightly as she rushed over.

Looking at his wife and daughter, whose faces were streaked with tears, he said in a low voice, "I'm sorry to have worried you."

Cai Zhen cried uncontrollably in his arms, her little fists pounding his back: "Father, why did you take so long to come back? Mother, sister, and I were so worried! We thought...we thought you didn't want us anymore..."

"Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about?" Qin An stroked her head and said gently, "Father promised you that he would definitely come back, how could he break his promise?"

Yang Yuyan walked up to him and looked him over carefully. When she saw the bloodstains on his body and the bandage on his shoulder, her face turned pale.

She reached out to touch him, but fearing she might hurt him, her hand froze in mid-air, and tears streamed down her face even more fiercely: "Are you hurt? How serious is it? Does it hurt?"

"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious, it's already been treated." Qin An held her slightly cool hand and gently patted it. "Don't cry, I'm back safe and sound, aren't I?"

Cai Yan also stepped forward, looking at Qin An's pale but smiling face, and said softly, "It's good that you're back."

These three simple words contain so much concern and peace of mind.

Qin An looked at the mother and her two daughters in front of him, and his heart softened.

This is his home, his Achilles' heel, and the reason he will do everything in his power to return no matter when or where.

"Okay, let's go home."

Qin An held Yang Yuyan's hand with one hand and Cai Zhen in his arms with the other, while Cai Yan followed obediently beside him.

The family walked towards the village. The sunlight shone on them, dispelling all their worries and gloom, leaving only the warmth and peace of having regained what they had lost.

When I got home and opened the gate, a familiar scent greeted me.

Cai Yan and Cai Zhen exchanged a glance and said sensibly, "Father, Mother, let's boil some water so Father can have a good wash."

After saying that, he dashed off to the kitchen to get busy.

Only Qin An and Yang Yuyan remained in the courtyard.

Yang Yuyan could no longer hold back. She pulled Qin An to sit down on the stone bench under the eaves, carefully untied the strip of cloth on his shoulder, and checked his wound.

When she saw the gruesome arrow wound, tears welled up in her eyes again, her heart aching terribly: "How did you get hurt like this? Those Baiji spies...were they very dangerous?"

Qin An pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back to comfort her: "It's all over now. See, I'm fine, aren't I?"

Yang Yuyan leaned against him, smelling the faint scent of blood and sweat on his body, yet felt incredibly at ease.

She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears: "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened these past two days?"

Qin An then told her everything he had encountered after entering the mountains.

From encountering the ambush, to joining forces with Han Quan to launch a surprise attack, to the subsequent pursuit and counterattack, and finally the county magistrate's reward and the appointment of him as a constable, nothing was concealed.

When Yang Yuyan heard Han Quan promise to help her join the army, her body stiffened slightly, and a trace of worry flashed in her eyes.

She knew that Qin An was capable and ambitious.

But the battlefield was so dangerous, and swords had no eyes; she really couldn't bear to let him go on such a risk.

Now that her family has finally achieved a more stable life and everything is moving in a positive direction, she really doesn't want this good life to be disrupted!