Patrol Captain

Jiazi Lane.

As night fell over the tall archway that had been erected at the alley entrance, the bluestone pavement still retained the warmth of the sun.

An old man selling tofu carried his empty buckets home, swaying as he went. The copper rings on the empty wooden buckets jingled softly.

A young boy, laughing and joking, ran out of the side house, followed by the roar of a woman from the east bank of the river.

"You son of a bitch, it's already dark in the Shu Road Mountains, and you're running around like that? Aren't you afraid of being captured by monsters?"

"Don't lie to children. I heard from the teacher that there used to be a very powerful patrol captain here. No monsters dared to come here." The boy turned around and threw a bunch of wild punches, then pulled down his eyelids with two fingers and made a silly "nee-nee-nee" gesture at the woman.

The woman easily subdued the boy and dragged him home by the ear.

To the side, a dark-skinned man dressed in coarse cloth and carrying a carrying pole with some rice and flour hanging from it chuckled a few times towards the boy's house. Then, seeing a young woman in an apron and a traditional Chinese dress standing at her door in the distance, his smile brightened with happiness, and he quickened his pace.
"Little sister, it's quite cold now, so you don't need to wait for me outside. This is the money I earned today."

"My husband is so clever, the food in the pot is still warm, let's go home."

The young couple entered the door chatting and laughing.

As dusk falls and people return home, these scenes create a vibrant urban atmosphere. In the dim light, candlelight gradually shines through the windows of each house, mingling with intermittent laughter and playful chatter, weaving a warm and cozy net in the chilly spring twilight, enveloping the entire alleyway completely.

Among the passersby heading home, an old man and a young man walked together, heading deeper into Jiazi Alley.

People along the alley would occasionally glance at the two of them, but no one's gaze lingered.

"Why don't these people recognize the adult?" The older man among the two was Old Wu, who was somewhat puzzled.

The residents of Jiazi Lane had seen Chen Yuan for a long time, so it was strange that no one recognized him since he wasn't hiding his face or disguising himself.

Have the people here forgotten their elders so quickly?

But even after he returned for a while, the praise and adulation of the adults in Qingshan County never stopped; people kept mentioning it.

"Old Wu, do you want me to be recognized and looked at like a monkey?"

"From now on, everyone will only remember that a patrol captain surnamed Chen came from this place, and they will soon forget everything else."

"This courtyard too!"

Chen Yuan walked to the corner of the alley and stopped.

Looking at the courtyard, which originally had green tiles and white walls, now covered with red ribbons, sachets, and marriage fortune sticks, I felt a mix of helplessness and amusement.

The people of Qingshan County regard his old house as a place for praying for blessings.

Praying for a child, a good marriage, abundant wealth, or martial arts skills.
Okay.

Have everything.

However, that won't last long. The people of Qingshan County will soon forget about this place, and he doesn't want so many people to be thinking about his old house.

As for the means, he had already used the Star Shifting Technique to conceal the secrets about himself and erase his traces in the hearts of the people of Qingshan County within the range of the spell.

It's like altering memories, just like when Helian Shan infiltrated his troops.

Of course, this also involves cause and effect, and those who are deeply involved with him are less affected.

Just like Lao Wu!

Old Wu was no longer bothered by Chen Yuan's words. His wrinkled face was full of kindness as he looked at the wooden door.

"Sir, please don't stand there, come inside!"

"The little guy is over six months old, and he's very cute."

"He can call out now."

"That's really clever."

Old Wu smiled kindly and urged Chen Yuan to go inside.

It turns out that he wasn't the only one who was sent back.

A soft light shone in Chen Yuan's eyes. He walked to the wooden door, touched it, and a string of silvery light immediately appeared on it.

This light barrier may seem gentle, but if it is forcibly broken, those under the dragon and tiger will immediately suffer a terrifying backlash and be reduced to ashes in an instant.

Because it contains the aura of a true dragon!

Chen Yuan smiled, as if he had met an old friend.

The aura above is exactly that of the North Sea Dragon Maiden!

The other party did not appear again before or after the upheaval in the heavens and man because he came to Qingshan County and, at Chen Yuan's request, escorted his wife, daughters, and Lao Wu back.

Golden light appeared at his fingertips, which he lightly swept across the light screen before gently pushing open the wooden door.

"squeak"

The wooden door opened, revealing lush green bamboo groves. The night was serene, and a warm, pale yellow light shone from the inner room.

This subtle movement seemed to have alerted the people inside.

"Who?"

A chilling female voice rang out.

But soon, the voice changed, becoming clear and melodious, with a hint of resentment mixed in.

"Who do I think I am? You've come all this way without even a greeting."

"That's not appropriate."

"Alright, I won't disturb your family reunion any longer."

It was the voice of the North Sea Dragon Girl.

Chen Yuan's divine secrets were concealed, and even though the North Sea Dragon Girl was so close, she didn't sense him, which startled the Dragon Girl.

Chen Yuan looked up at a patch of empty space above the courtyard, smiled, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. "Thank you, Dragon Princess. I will apologize to Your Highness tomorrow!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a streak of silver light shot out from above the courtyard and quickly disappeared into the night.

Chen Yuan couldn't help but smile. This cold-hearted North Sea Dragon Girl rarely showed a hint of temper.

It seems I'll have to bleed a lot.

Just as he was thinking this, a slender figure appeared through the window of the inner room.

Then, the door, which was lit up, opened.

Then, a cute, childlike voice floated out as the door opened.

"Father, Father"

When the gate appeared before him, Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment, followed by a feeling of being overwhelmed by a huge surprise.

That little one can actually greet people now!

"An An!"

The next day, as dawn broke, the chill of spring gradually dissipated.

Jiazi Lane, this once bustling alleyway, has come alive.

People going out to work, food vendors going from street to street, and women doing needlework while chatting at their doorsteps.
"Have you heard?"

"A new family moved in at the other end of the street."

"A handsome young man, a beautiful young woman, and a lovely little girl." A woman dressed in a blue cotton skirt and with a headscarf tied around her head spoke, holding a needle and thread in her hand.

"Which one?" another woman quickly asked.

"It's that courtyard that's been empty for over ten years," the woman said, pointing to a white wall at the end of the alley.

The red cloth that covered the walls had disappeared at some point.

In their eyes, the courtyard that was once the pride of their alley has become a courtyard that has been uninhabited for a long time, and now people have moved in.

"Oh, that house is actually inhabited. I heard that the previous owner moved to the city and didn't sell it. People who want to buy it can't. I guess it's the descendants of the original owner."

"How handsome is that young man? Tell me, your eyes are practically sparkling, or your man will beat you up."

"."

In everyone's memory, that courtyard had indeed been empty for over a decade, uninhabited, which sparked their interest in chatting about the newly arrived family. Meanwhile, the women in the alley were enjoying this rare moment of lively local life, discussing the "newly arrived" family.

The dew on the bluestone road had not yet dried, but the shouts along the street were already extremely lively.

An old woman selling soy milk set up a low table, her rough porcelain bowls neatly stacked in a bamboo basket, and called out with a smile on her face.

White steam was rising from the noodle stall next door. The old man selling noodles had a white cloth draped over his shoulder. He was wielding a rolling pin, making a loud thud on the cutting board. The dough spun in his hands and was transformed into a thin sheet of dough in the blink of an eye. He would cut it, stretch it, and drop it into the boiling water.

The early morning market was bustling with people, a lively scene indeed.

In the crowd, a man and a woman stood out, their extraordinary demeanor drawing the attention of passersby who unconsciously made way for them.

The man was handsome with striking features and an imposing presence. He wore a blue robe, his hair casually tied into a bun with a wooden hairpin, and a smile always played on his lips. The woman beside him was tall and slender, dressed in a simple white dress and wearing a white veil on her head. She had no extra makeup, yet she was exceptionally beautiful, especially her pair of light blue eyes.

On the man's chest, a baby girl in swaddling clothes was draped in a cloth embroidered with simple lotus patterns, covering half of the baby's face, revealing a pair of bright, blinking eyes and making tender "ee-ee-ya-ya" sounds, looking extremely happy.

Clearly, this is a family of three, the envy of many.

"What, are you not used to having so many people?"

At this moment, Chen Yuan, holding the woman's hand, turned his head and smiled.

He could sense that the woman was a little nervous and unnatural, and he assumed that she was nervous because she was being stared at by passersby.

An Ge's cheeks flushed slightly. "No, it's the first time this has happened between me and the General."

She was, after all, a princess of a country, so naturally she wasn't afraid of being in public.

They had never done this before, walking hand in hand on a bustling street.

As a woman, An Ge had also fantasized about this, but Chen Yuan's identity meant they rarely saw each other. Now, things felt especially unreal to her.

Chen Yuan then realized what was happening, and squeezed An Ge's hand tightly. He had been working tirelessly for everyone, and knew he owed the mother and daughter far too much.

"Then try it more often in the future."

An Ge hummed in agreement, her voice tinged with a mixture of shyness and delight.

At this moment, Chen Yuan saw a decoration stall by the roadside and walked over with An Ge.

Seeing the potential business, the stall owner immediately became enthusiastic. Upon seeing An Ge's face, he was astonished, thinking, "When did our Qingshan County produce such a woman?" and couldn't help but praise her.

"Oh dear, sir, look at this."

"Sir, you are truly blessed. Your wife is so beautiful that everyone envies her. Why not buy some small decorations? Your wife will surely like them."

Chen Yuan picked out a jade hairpin from the stall. It had no fancy decorations and the jade quality was only average, but it looked pleasing to the eye and suited his mood at the moment.

He inserted the plug for An Ge, looked her over, and finally nodded with a smile.

"Well, not bad."

This was the first time An Ge had experienced this feeling; she felt happy and smiled gently.

"This is it!" Chen Yuan then asked the price.

"how much is it?"

The stall owner snapped out of his daze and quickly chuckled, "Sir, this item costs one tael of silver. Your wife looks absolutely stunning in it; it's the perfect choice."

Chen Yuan was pleased to hear this and gave him the money.

"Thank you, sir!"

As Chen Yuan was about to leave, the baby girl in his arms babbled and her tiny body in the cloth bag seemed to be trying to get more.

“Our An’an isn’t a grown-up girl yet, she can’t use it. Dad will buy it for you later.” Chen Yuan said, both amused and exasperated.

Unexpectedly, this adorable little guy was really unhappy and started crying loudly.

The little one, almost seven months old, has developed his own temper.

Chen Yuan sat down, quickly scanned the morning market, and his eyes lit up.

A moment later, he had a rattle drum in his hand, which he rubbed between his fingers and teased in front of his chest.

"Thump thump thump"

"An'an, look what Daddy bought for you!"

An'an's pouty lips immediately broke into a sweet smile, her big eyes blinking rapidly, and even her two slender white hands emerged from the cloth bag.

"Father..."

The little one called out in a childish, indistinct voice, stretching out his hand as if wanting something.

Chen Yuan laughed and spun around nonstop.

Her mother was also beside her, smiling gently and indulgently, thinking to herself, "How wonderful."

She was very happy when the general told her that he had resigned from his post.

If only life could stay this peaceful forever.

An Ge thought to herself.

Next, Chen Yuan and his family of three strolled through the morning market and even bought rice, flour, and seasonings for cooking, heading towards their daily lives.

When he returned to the courtyard, some neighbors in Jiazi Lane craned their necks to look at him, curiously observing this "new member" of the lane, but did not dare to disturb him.

This young couple has an extraordinary air about them.

With curiosity.

Their perception of Chen Yuan has been distorted; in their eyes, Chen Yuan is a complete stranger.

At that moment, the door to the small courtyard next to Chen Yuan's opened.

A red dress!
So heroic!

"Brother!"

"Have you been waiting a while? Your sister-in-law and I took the kids out for a walk, so we're a little late. Come on in!"

Chen Yuan looked at the newcomer, who was carrying an iron pot in one hand, a bag of rice in the other, and a baby in his arms. He smiled, looking like a friendly older brother next door.

Lian Ni Chang stared in astonishment at her renowned brother's appearance, unable to process what she was seeing.

He learned of his brother's extraordinary feat through a secret letter from the prefectural government; the contrast seemed rather stark.

Then they obediently went into the courtyard.

After Chen Yuan finished packing, An Ge was in the inner room putting the baby to sleep, while Lian Ni Chang was sitting in the pavilion by the pond in the courtyard.

Chen Yuan made a pot of tea, went outside, and took two cups with him.

Lian Ni Chang quickly got up.

"Brother!"

"How did you know I was back?" Chen Yuan asked, gesturing with his hand as he poured tea and pushed a cup towards him.

The tea has a wonderful aroma and is full of energy, which can invigorate the mind.

"It was Senior Dragon Maiden who told me. She stayed at my mountain residence last night," Lian Ni Chang replied truthfully.

"You get along quite well with this person, not bad." Chen Yuan joked, took a sip of tea, then glanced at the empty courtyard next door and asked:
"Where aren't Sister Hua and her son from next door?"

When he arrived yesterday, he noticed that the room next door was empty.

I asked Lao Wu, but he didn't know.

“My brother gave that tiger cub a great opportunity last time, changing his constitution. Later, he was met by a master who took him in as a disciple. He left his hometown to cultivate, and his mother followed him to take care of him, since he was her only son.”

"I only found out afterward."

At that time, Chen Yuan was fighting the Ten Fiends outside Qingshan County and got trapped in the Ten Thousand Mountains. Lian Ni Chang was forced to take over the rest of the matter. She escorted a large number of demon corpses and traveled eight thousand miles to Chengdu. Later, she was appointed as a general and led troops to the front line to participate in the rescue of her brother.

"Well, I hope this little guy will achieve something!" Chen Yuan smiled when he heard about the mother and son's unexpected turn of events.

"Who else is there?" (End of Chapter)