"Finally arrived in Pei County," Cao Yi muttered to himself, riding in the chilly spring breeze under the fading twilight.

Before him lay a city steeped in ancient atmosphere. The walls, made of rammed earth, stood about thirty-five feet high, stretching a mile long at the front, flanked by two five-story watchtowers on either side of the gate, with a large archway in the center.

The streets bustled with people: a dark-skinned farmer carrying two baskets of cabbage, aiming to sell them in the city; a group of thieves, tied together by a rope and escorted by soldiers in black armor; and numerous tightly covered carts and carriages.

"Daoist Priest, what about the verification documents for me and Brother Yu?" Yixiaochuan, with one leg resting on the cart's axle, leaned forward, worry etched on his face.

"It should be fine," Cao Yi replied casually, glancing at Yixiaochuan.

The "verification" was made from wooden planks, acting as identification in the Qin dynasty, listing one's hometown, name, family order, identity, and height. The "documents" were made from willow wood, serving as proof of one's place of origin, issued by local officials.

Since Xiang Yu and Yixiaochuan were wanted criminals, they faced travel difficulties. Before setting off, Xiang Liang managed to acquire fake documents for both. However, they had been traveling through the wilderness and hadn't needed them until now, making Yixiaochuan uneasy.

"But—" Yixiaochuan started to say more when a voice from behind urged them on.

"Hurry up, but don't block the way!"

"Yeah, it's getting late."

"Pass," Cao Yi moved ahead.

Unlike Xiang Yu and Yixiaochuan, who were wanted, Cao Yi had no criminal record and easily passed through with his forged documents.

Next was the Lü family, known in the area; Lü Gong breezed through without showing his documents, simply relying on his face.

Finally, Xiang Yu and Yixiaochuan were questioned briefly before being allowed through, demonstrating Xiang Liang's capabilities.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Walking through a long, chilly passage, a vibrant ancient residential city unfolded before them.

What caught the eye was the clean streets; after walking several hundred meters, not a piece of litter was in sight, giving the impression of a higher standard of civility than modern times.

Having reviewed related materials, Cao Yi knew this was merely superficial; most of the lower-class Qin people were illiterate and maintained hygiene due to strict legal punishments. Imagine if someone littered in modern times; they would immediately be caught and punished.

"Sir, ahead is the humble abode of the old man," Lü Gong announced.

Cao Yi looked up.

This was called a humble abode?

The entrance featured a series of steps made from blue stones, with a tightly shut vermillion door, adorned by a grand plaque above. The walls on either side rose to about ten feet, constructed from standard Qin bricks, sturdy and neatly made.

With a creak, the doors swung open, revealing a young servant who peeked outside. His face lit up, and he shouted back, "The master has returned!"

This call stirred the quiet courtyard into a flurry, with a group of people rushing out, dressed in coarse cloth, alongside elegantly dressed young women.

"Lü Gong, who are these women?" Cao Yi asked, puzzled, glancing at Lü Gong.

At his age, he shouldn't still be this vigorous, right?

"Some are concubines, some are maids; they all arrived a day earlier than me," Lü Gong replied, looking suddenly rejuvenated.

Seeing Lü Gong and the lively women, Cao Yi thought of a saying—"Age is just a number."

"Home at last, get down," Lü Gong said, giving the cart a hearty knock before jumping down lightly.

Such an action, inconsistent with his age, made one wonder if he was intentionally showcasing his vitality in front of the concubines.

A hand lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing a clean, natural face. Upon seeing the outside scene, two adorable dimples appeared on her cheeks as she elegantly stepped out of the cart.

This was none other than Lü Su, the girl Cao Yi had rescued three times.

Following her was Lü Zhi.

"Sir, Xiang Zhuang, Yixiaochuan, please," Lü Gong gestured for them to enter.

Just as Cao Yi was about to go in, Yixiaochuan's voice sounded from behind.

"I'll pass for now; I caught a whiff of dog meat on the way."

What a foodie!

Wait! Wasn't it when he was eating dog meat that he encountered Liu Bang?

"Brother Yu is going too," Yixiaochuan added.

Another foodie!

"Father, I want to go too," a lively voice piped up.

Uh-oh, it was Lü Zhi—definitely a fake foodie.

The intent was obvious.

"What are you going for? There's plenty to tidy up at home, and many tasks to arrange. While it's still light, lend your father a hand," Lü Gong replied, changing his tone toward Lü Zhi, showing a side that suggested she was not his biological daughter.

"Okay," Lü Zhi said, feeling wronged; after all, they were both daughters, yet their father treated her with less warmth than her younger sister.