I planted the spiritual roots for my people, and they bestowed upon me a body inscribed with incense

At this moment, on a snow-covered slope a dozen miles away from the small fishing village, a burly man dressed in black was lying prone on the ground, with another man holding a whistle standing behind him, also prone.

"This village should feed the brothers for a month, and the houses are relatively scattered, making it easier to start."

Seeing this, the other person immediately spoke up.

"Okay, I'll go back and inform the boss. You stay here and keep watch." After saying that, the other person left.

Seeing this, the person who had been lying down waited until the other person had walked away before speaking:

"I'm always the one who gets cold. If the Second Chieftain weren't your cousin, I would have killed you countless times over."

After muttering to himself, the big man didn't forget to spit in the spot where the creature had disappeared.

Night fell quickly.

At this time, besides the four members of the Li family, there were also three members of the Wang family sitting in the Li family's house: Wang Tiezhu, his son Gou Dan, and Wang Tiezhu's wife.

A table full of farm-style dishes was laid out on the table. Li Daqiang gave Wang Gou Dan a name with the surname Li, which became Li Chang. After the meal, the family sat down together to eat.

Not long after, Li Yuan, who was eating, suddenly heard a noise in the courtyard. He assumed it was caused by snow falling from the roof and didn't think much of it.

However, Li Yuan, who had just finished eating, heard a noise again. Upon closer listening, the sound was faint and fragmented, like someone stepping on the snow.

Seeing this, Li Yuan quickly got up. Just as he reached the door, he sensed something was wrong and immediately signaled to the people who were eating.

The group was eating and hadn't realized what was happening until Li Daqiang and Wang Tiezhu reacted first. They quickly signaled to their wives to take the two children into the inner room.

At the same time, the two stood up and were about to get their weapons.

Li Yuan observed the three people acting suspiciously outside and, seeing the machetes they were holding, instantly identified them.

"Mountain bandits." I had heard that mountain bandits had appeared in other villages in the winter before, but I never expected that they would come to our small fishing village this time.

However, after confirming that there were only three people, Li Yuan smiled contemptuously. He waited for them to open the door before killing one of them. As for the remaining two, he captured them. He had heard that the imperial court had offered a high reward for bandits, and Li Yuan wanted to see just how high it was.

The three of them groped their way and soon approached the gift. One of them took the lead and kicked off with one leg, preparing to force his way through the door.

Seeing this, Li Yuan took the initiative to open the door and greet the person who had come to visit.

The bandit lost his footing and pounced on Li Yuan. Li Yuan smiled but didn't hesitate to strike.

He stepped forward and twisted the man's thigh into a spiral shape. A scream of agony immediately echoed through the courtyard.

Seeing this, one of the two behind him, perhaps not having clearly seen the tragic state of the person in front, angrily spoke up.

"How dare you! You dare to lay a hand on my Black Wind Mountain elder!" As he spoke, he swung his broadsword at Li Yuan.

Seeing this, Li Yuan didn't dodge; instead, he kicked the man away, sending him crashing into the courtyard wall.

Seeing this, the other person didn't think twice and took off running, saying as he ran:

"Brothers, there's a master!"

As they were talking, they quickly attracted the attention of several robbers nearby.

As for Li Yuan, he didn't even intend to stop it; otherwise, he might have been killed on the spot before he could even utter a word.

"Liu Lao Er, you've been having too many affairs, haven't you? You couldn't even handle this family with three men?" The speaker was the leader of the group of robbers who had arrived.

As soon as Li Yuan stepped out of the courtyard, he saw several people approaching. After confirming that they posed no threat, Li Yuan addressed them:

"Whoever is speaking, step forward." The crowd burst into laughter, but the one who had run away looked serious and seemed ready to flee at any moment.

One of the burly men, wearing a black cloth covering his head, was the one who had spoken earlier and stepped forward.

"Kid, are you stupid? Are you choosing who you want to die at your hands?"

"So, you're their boss?"

"So you can get a reward for killing him?"

Upon hearing this, the burly man laughed, then turned around.

"Damn it, a fool scared you like this," he said, kicking the man who had just run away.

Then he turned around and said:

"Go ahead, what, you stupid idiot? Do you expect me to do it myself?" As soon as he said this, several people behind him rushed forward and surrounded Li Yuan.

One of them had just used the same move to slash at Li Yuan.

Seeing this, Li Yuan stepped forward and finished off the man with a single punch. Before the remaining men could even make a move, Li Yuan's fist had already landed on their faces.

In just a few breaths, only the person who had spoken remained; those who had run out of the house were already far away.

Li Yuan glanced calmly at the leader and then said:

"Can you answer my question now?"

Li Yuanlu's move had completely stunned her. Knowing she was no match for him, Shui Lingling knelt down before Li Yuanlu when he spoke.

"Sir, I only did this because I had no other choice. Please spare my life."

Upon seeing this, Li Yuan immediately stepped forward and slapped him.

"Answer my question: Does the imperial court have an arrest warrant for you?"

"No, no, in Black Wind Mountain, only the chief and the second chief have wanted posters."

"Only the second-in-command came this time; the first-in-command is still in Black Wind Mountain," the burly man said, his voice trembling.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan immediately said sternly:

"Tell me everything about your second-in-command's strength, and how many men you brought this time!"

"More than fifty brothers have arrived. Our second-in-command has now reached the third-rate level."

Okay, since that's the case, everything's fine.

Seeing this, the burly man assumed Li Yuan was going to let him go, and immediately said...

"Thank you, sir," the man said, getting up to leave. But before he could even stand up, Li Yuan struck him on the temple, killing him instantly.

"I'll let you go, in your next life."

After saying that, Li Yuan walked into the house. As for the person who was still alive inside, he had already been killed by Li Daqiang.

After tossing the long-handled broadsword in his hand to Li Yuan, Li Daqiang said:

"Go out and kill them all, you beasts!"

Li Yuan waved his hand in response.

"No need. I just let one go, and their second-in-command might have already come looking for him."

"Father, aren't you aiming to break through to the second-rate level? Their second-in-command is only third-rate, so Father, use him to practice. I'll back you up."

Li Daqiang heard this

"You brat, do you think your father is just a figurehead? Even if your right hand is crippled, you can still kill a few people with your horse-slaying sword."

Seeing this, Li Yuan immediately said, "Alright, then the child will just watch from the side?"

Li Daqiang shook his head, then said

"Let's get this sorted out quickly. We have more important things to do."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan was immediately puzzled.

"What is it?"

Seeing this, Li Daqiang immediately said:

"Before I came to the village, your mother's family had more than ten acres of land forcibly seized. At that time, only your Uncle Tiezhu's family stood up and spoke up for your mother's family."

"And these fields have already been transferred to their own names by these people through various means. I was going to tell you about it after some time had passed."

"Now, hasn't the opportunity arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan instantly understood what Li Daqiang was thinking. No wonder his father gave Uncle Tiezhu so much grain, and the two families had such a good relationship.

"Yes, Father."

As soon as Li Yuan finished speaking, he heard a noise outside the house.

Seeing this, Li Daqiang quickly stepped out of the courtyard, followed by Li Yuan and Wang Tiezhu, all three of them carrying weapons.

"I am Luo Batian, the second-in-command of Black Wind Mountain. I heard from my brother that there are experts here, so I have come to pay my respects..."

As soon as the three stepped out, a voice reached their ears, and what came into their view was a burly man who seemed honest and kind, with about twenty people standing behind him.

Seeing this, Li Yuan stepped forward and said:

"The second-in-command of Black Wind Mountain, a third-rate fighter, is on the imperial court's wanted list?"

Upon hearing this, the leader smiled.

"Indeed, I do not yet know your name, brother?"

"No, no, no, don't misunderstand. I'm not addressing you by name. I'm just checking if your head is worth anything."

Upon hearing this, Luo Batian flew into a rage, strode forward, and wielded his axe with ferocious speed.

Seeing this, Li Yuan stepped aside, while Li Daqiang stepped forward.

The two exchanged only one blow before Luo Batian's giant axe was cleaved in two. Upon seeing this, Luo Batian quickly retreated, watching Li Daqiang warily.