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

Li Yuan stood beside him, and soon a milky white gas shot out from the old Taoist's body, eventually merging into the three-colored bead.

For some reason, Li Yuan felt a sense of familiarity with the two wisps of milky white gas on the three-colored bead, but this was not the time to investigate further. Li Yuan then used his spiritual energy to search the old Taoist's body.

Soon, Li Yuan pulled out a purple-gold Qiankun bag. Looking at the bag in his hand, Li Yuan's face lit up with joy, and he couldn't help but think to himself:

"Not bad, I didn't expect this person to be quite wealthy. This Qiankun bag is quite valuable; it's not something an ordinary rogue cultivator can afford."

After placing the Qiankun bag on his person, Li Yuan carried the old Taoist's body and walked towards the riverbank in the distance. As for the old Taoist who had almost killed him, Li Yuan decided to cook him and feed him to the fish. Burning him to ashes was a treatment reserved for those who died of old age.

At the same time, Li Yuan's expression gradually darkened. The old Taoist had said that he was entrusted with something, so Li Yuan could only tell his father and ask him to inquire first to see if he could find any clues.

This kind of hatred is no different from annihilation of a clan; if I were to discover it, I would naturally be treated the same way, exterminating my entire clan.

After sending the body into the river, Li Yuan returned to the bamboo forest. Seeing that the white snake was alright, Li Yuan took out two of the six spirit stones he had obtained and handed them to the white snake.

The white snake took the spirit stone from Li Yuan's hand with its mouth and crawled to the side. Then, Li Yuan looked at the corpses of poisonous snakes and insects on the mountain and could only go down the mountain to inform his father to find someone to clean them up. This matter could only be carried out at night, since the murderer had not been found.

After explaining the situation to Li Daqiang after descending the mountain, Li Daqiang looked grave. He took his horse-slaying knife and went to Zhushan with Li Yuan. On the way, they also called Wang Tiezhu. The three of them finally managed to collect the corpses scattered all over the ground in sacks the next day.

Ordinary people should not touch these poisonous insects. Only after burning the insects did Li Daqiang begin to discuss the matter with Li Yuan.

Considering the current situation, Li Daqiang decided to send two members of the bandit-extermination team to guard the area every day, doing nothing else but patrolling day and night.

Li Daqiang treated the bandit-slaying team members well, especially since there was extra money involved this time, so they were all eager to do it.

Considering the terrain, Li Daqiang ultimately chose Niu Da and Niu Er to patrol, protecting the safety of the area while also inspecting the entire small fishing village. If any suspicious persons entered the village, they would immediately notify the Li family.

As for Wang Tiezhu, Li Daqiang arranged for him to inquire around the village to see if it was someone from the village who hired someone to do it. Although he said he was inquiring, Li Daqiang only told him to pay attention to the Wang family.

After all, the rest of the villagers had been living better and better lives ever since Li Daqiang became the bandit-suppression captain. Although the villagers were ruthless, they wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot.

Three days later, at the Wang family's place.

At this time, besides the village chief's three sons, there was another person present at the village chief's house. This person was the three sons' second uncle, who was also the village chief's younger brother, Wang Daoyuan.

Because Wang Daoyuan was born later, he looks a little older than Wang Youcai and the others, but he still looks like a middle-aged man.

Wang Youwen anxiously spoke to his second uncle:

"Second Uncle, is this old Taoist priest reliable or not? I went to Li Family Bamboo Mountain today to take a look, and found everyone working hard, as if nothing had happened."

Upon hearing this, Wang Daoyuan's face turned ugly.

"Hmph, this person is a true master. If I hadn't saved his life back then, even if I offered him all the wealth of my Wang family, he wouldn't have given a second glance."

Upon hearing this, the old village chief roared angrily.

"Such arrogance! Are you really as powerful as you say? So what's the result now? Why is the Li family completely unscathed?"

These words left Wang Daoyuan speechless.

At this moment, Wang Youcai spoke up:

"Alright, Father and Second Uncle, stop arguing. This old Taoist priest must have taken the benefits from the Wang family and run away. If I find out, I will make sure he suffers a terrible death."

"Let's think of other ways. The Li family doesn't take us seriously at all, so we can't let them live so comfortably."

Wang Daoyuan didn't believe the old man would just take the benefits and leave. This old Taoist was his backer. The only possibility was that the Li family had detained the old man or even killed him. Thinking of this, Wang Daoyuan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

He then looked at the group of people who were contemplating how to take revenge.

"Since the Li family has no grudge against us, it's best not to do anything malicious."

Upon hearing this, Wang Youcai stood up immediately, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"The Li family has shown such disrespect to the Wang family, and even took over the land that rightfully belongs to the Wang family in public. My second uncle can swallow this insult, but I, Wang Youcai, cannot."

"Also, don't forget how much silver your father has given you over the years, and where that silver came from."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade them, Wang Daoyuan stood up and said to the crowd:

"I will no longer get involved in this matter. If you can understand what I'm saying, remember to preserve the Wang family bloodline. This matter is not so simple. The old master will definitely not take the benefits and leave."

After saying that, Wang Daoyuan left the Wang family without looking back.

At this point, Li Yuan had already guessed the general outline of the matter. Originally, Li Yuan was somewhat unsure whether it was the work of the Wang family, but when he realized that Wang Youcai had secretly come to Zhushan, Li Yuan understood.

Even if the Wang family wasn't directly responsible for this, they must have been involved. Just as Li Yuan and Wang Daqiang were pondering this, Niu Da barged in.

"Captain, Captain, we've spotted a suspicious person at the village entrance. Niu Er is currently dealing with him. Should we go check it out?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan and Li Daqiang quickly got up and followed Niu Da towards the village entrance.

Upon arriving at the village entrance, Li Yuan saw Niu Da leading a rather elderly man in his fifties, who was none other than Wang Daoyuan, who came from the Wang family.

When Wang Daoyuan saw that someone else was coming, he assumed they were just passing by and tried to shout loudly to get Niu Er to make way.

However, Niu Er wasn't buying it. Seeing Li Daqiang and Li Yuan arrive, he immediately said:

"Captain, this is the man. When I was patrolling at the village entrance, I saw him acting suspiciously. I wanted to go up and ask him a few questions, but he wouldn't say a word and even pushed me."

Upon hearing this, Li Daqiang stepped forward.

"Brother, I am Li Daqiang, the bandit suppression captain of Luoshan County. You look unfamiliar, may I ask where you are from?"

When Li Yuan saw this person, he used his divine sense to observe him. When the person raised his eyebrows when he heard the name Li, Li Yuan immediately realized the problem.

"I am Wang Daoyuan, the younger brother of Village Chief Wang. I am not the bandit or spy you claim. Please let me pass, Lord Li."

Upon hearing that he had mentioned the Wang family, Li Daqiang was not going to give him a friendly look. He immediately spoke with a mocking expression:

How do I know if you are a member of the Wang family?

After saying that, Li Daqiang looked at Niu Dadao:

"Take this man back and lock him in my yard. I'll go to the village chief's house to confirm. If you're a member of the Wang family, I'll let you go." Without waiting for his consent, Niu Da and Niu Er tried to grab the man.

Seeing this, Wang Daoyuan was also furious, but considering that the old senior might still be in the hands of the Wang family, Wang Daoyuan suppressed his temper.

Just as they were about to take him back, Li Yuan walked over and said to Li Daqiang:

"Father, release this man. He is indeed Village Chief Wang's younger brother; I know him."

Upon hearing this, Li Daqiang glanced at them with a puzzled expression, then addressed the crowd:

"Alright, since someone is here to testify for you, you can leave now."

Upon hearing this, Wang Daoyuan couldn't help but think to himself:

"What kind of act is this again?" But since they're letting me go, why shouldn't I go?