33: A Qiu

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Li Feng also furrowed his brows.

"Elder Li is usually gentle and generous, most loved by the clan members, but after that incident in the Sect last time, his temperament seems to have become a bit impatient..."

Han Yi knew what he was referring to; it was the matter of the Crimson Flame Sect investigating the Black Wind Stronghold bandit spy within the Sect not long ago.

It was said that the spy was an executive in the Outer Affairs Hall. This executive had followed Elder Li for many years and had sought out Elder Li multiple times before the incident, causing Elder Li to also be taken for investigation and questioning for a long time.

"Perhaps Elder is valuing you, isn't that a good thing?" Li Feng patted Han Yi's shoulder and said with a smile.

The two parted ways at the inner city gate. Li Feng naturally returned to the Li Residence to Cultivate behind closed doors, while Han Yi walked along the main street towards Yuqing Ward.

"Don't run, go on, hit him!"

"Spare me, Dog Lord, spare me... I won't dare next time..."

"Steal, I'll teach you to steal..."

In broad daylight, people came and went around them, but they all seemed to turn a blind eye, still busy with their own livelihoods.

Within the city, where there is sunlight, there are naturally also places where shadows breed.

Changning Ward, the ungoverned area within An Yan City. To the east of here is the territory of the Qianye Sect, and to the west is the area of the Crimson Flame Sect.

To get back to Yuqing Ward from the inner city, if you want to take a shortcut, you have to pass through Changning Ward.

Changning, Changning, long-lasting peace. Although the meaning is good, here it only feels ironic.

Fighting, killing, swindling, and deceiving are just commonplace in Changning Ward. Every day, several small Gangs are born and die here, filled with bloodshed, violence, and poverty.

Even standing by the ward gate, Han Yi could see the refuse casually piled up on the roadside within Changning Ward and could even faintly smell the stench of filth mixed with the putrid fermentation of decaying things.

If Heyue Ward is the rich area of An Yan City, and Yuqing Ward is the living area for ordinary people in An Yan City, then Changning Ward is the slum of An Yan City.

Perhaps after standing for a long time, a sallow-faced, skinny man walked out from behind the person called Dog Lord.

Although thin, he walked towards Han Yi with a fierce expression, seemingly wanting to scold him away.

As he got closer, the man saw clearly that Han Yi was wearing the black combat attire issued by the Crimson Flame Sect. In an instant, his face suddenly became extremely unsightly.

"This, this Lord, we are from the Mad Dog Gang..." The man squeezed out a smile through his teeth, "The Crimson Flame Sect told us that they won't interfere with things that happen in Changning Ward."

Han Yi casually glanced at these few people. The values floating above their heads were mostly between '1~3'. Clearly, this so-called Mad Dog Gang was just a few ordinary people.

"Lord, don't look at him as just a child, he, he's a habitual thief!" Seeing that Han Yi didn't speak, he mustered a bit of courage and said.

Han Yi didn't pay attention to him. Since there were rules here, he didn't want to say anything. As a newcomer, it was better to keep a low profile. He turned and left.

"Putting on airs, he's just an Outer Sect Disciple, someone who does the dirty and tiring work..." The man muttered, "Does he really think he can fool me? He should take a piss and look at himself..."

Since breaking through to the Mid Bone Refinement Stage, Han Yi's five senses had become much sharper. He could hear the buzzing of mosquitoes within ten meters clearly, let alone these few sentences.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh

He casually threw out three dark darts.

"Ah, my hand..."

"Run!"

The hand of this man, along with 'Dog Brother' who was punching and kicking nearby, was instantly pierced by the hidden darts.

The few people from the Mad Dog Gang screamed frantically and fled in a sorry state, scrambling and crawling.

The surrounding people were silent as cicadas in winter and scattered in a rush.

However, the half-grown boy lying on the ground was extremely agile and scrambled up in one go.

"My name is A Qiu, Big Brother, let me follow you!"

Before Han Yi could walk away, the child hurriedly ran in front of him.

Han Yi narrowed his eyes slightly. This A Qiu looked only eleven or twelve years old, his body was skin and bones. Although his eyes were very small, they couldn't hide the cunning in them.

He laughed exasperatedly, "You're just a little thief, are you going to help me steal things?"

"I was just extremely hungry... I only stole his family's cured meat..." A Qiu said aggrievedly.

"Let me tell you, there's nothing in An Yan City that I don't know!"

After hearing him speak with such a boastful tone, Han Yi couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Then tell me, what major events are about to happen in An Yan City? If it's useful to me..."

He took out twenty or thirty copper coins and weighed them in his hand.

A Qiu looked at the copper coins in Han Yi's hand, his eyes instantly lit up, and his eyes rolled around, seemingly thinking about something.

"Big Brother, I see you're from the Crimson Flame Sect," A Qiu said mysteriously in a low voice, "I heard that the Crimson Flame Sect is going to attack the Black Wind Stronghold soon!"

In an instant, Han Yi's eyes narrowed, and the fingers rubbing the copper coins stopped immediately.

"Didn't Li Feng say that the matter of attacking the Black Wind Stronghold was only circulating among the Sect's higher-ups, and even he only vaguely heard about this plan from Elder Li? But now, how can even a habitual thief say it with such certainty...?"

"Could it be that the spy is still in the higher ranks?" A stronger thought flashed through Han Yi's mind, "It seems this is the only explanation..."

"Where did you hear about this?" he asked A Qiu.

"I also heard someone talking about it one time when I went to get something," A Qiu scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Those few people looked unfamiliar, not like they were from within Changning Ward."

Han Yi instantly understood. This A Qiu must have overheard this matter while stealing.

Suddenly, he thought of something, his tone turned cold and sharp, and he abruptly asked A Qiu, "Have you told anyone else about this?"

"N-no, I just heard it a few days ago. I haven't told anyone except you!" A Qiu was startled and said stutteringly.

Seeing that Han Yi was slow to reply, A Qiu said anxiously, "Give me the money. If anything like this happens again in the future, I'll only tell you."

Han Yi glanced at A Qiu, who was scratching his ears and cheeks anxiously on the side, and thought to himself, "Peddlers and porters, people from all walks of life, have always been the most well-informed group. I don't have any sources of information in An Yan City, so this A Qiu can be somewhat useful as my eyes and ears."

Thinking of this, Han Yi casually handed the money to A Qiu and said, "Yuqing Ward, Qiuzhu Alley, the second house on the left side of the entrance. Let me know promptly if you have any news in the future, and you won't be short of benefits."

A Qiu repeatedly agreed and left with a smiling face.

After the small interlude, Han Yi continued walking towards Yuqing Ward.

However, the matter of the Crimson Flame Sect's higher-ups having a spy was just his conjecture. He didn't plan to tell anyone, after all, the words of a habitual thief were not enough to be trusted!