We agreed on a famine year, so how come your family has enough rice and wheat flour?

Black Wind Village, Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

The leader, Sun Li, stared at the dismembered body of the third leader on the ground, his face ashen.

A bandit clasped his hands in a fist and reported, "Boss, the brothers we sent out only found the body of the third leader. All the other brothers were beaten to a pulp, and we couldn't even piece together a complete corpse."

"Furthermore, the merchants who traded with us met the same fate; we don't know who did it."

"As for the goods... all the intact ones were taken, leaving only the damaged ones."

After a long silence, Sun Li spoke in a chilling tone, "Our Black Wind Stronghold has lost over twenty more brothers in vain. How many brothers are left now?"

"Back to the headmaster, there are less than fifty people."

"Alright, go down the mountain and capture more men to replenish our forces. Anyone who dares to resist, behead them on the spot. If an entire village resists, then massacre the whole village!"

"yes!"

"..."

Lin Feng brought Song Shun back to the village, only to find a scene that resembled a living hell.

The houses on both sides of the village road were set on fire, and the headless male corpses lay in pools of blood in front of their doors.

The two of them were both stunned for a moment.

Lin Feng suddenly remembered something and ran home as fast as he could!

Song Shun hurriedly went to ask the surviving villagers what had happened.

A villager cried out, "Shunzi, you're so lucky! You only just got back to the village. A band of bandits just came down the mountain to conscript men!"

"Many people tried to resist, but they were all beheaded!"

"I only managed to hide in time to avoid being caught and taken to the mountain."

"The village head's family also suffered heavy losses. Several servants were forcibly taken to the mountain, and the village head himself almost lost his life. However, his first wife, Mei Yan, was kidnapped, and the other concubines who did not have time to hide committed suicide by jumping into a well to prove their innocence."

Song Shunxin was shocked.

Without saying a word, he quickly ran towards Lin Feng's house.

When Lin Feng returned home, he saw that the house had been burned down and only a frame remained.

"My wife!" Lin Feng cried out anxiously.

"Husband, we're alright." A trembling voice came from the tunnel.

A moment later, Liu Yu and Liu Mei appeared, supporting each other.

"My lord, these bandits are terrifying! So many villagers have died under their blades!"

Liu Yu held Lin Feng's body, her peach blossom eyes reddening, and cried.

"Those damned bandits!" Lin Feng's eyes turned bloodshot as he clenched his fists.

"Brother Feng, everything that happened in the village was done by Black Wind Stronghold. They came down the mountain to arrest people, as if they were replenishing their troops."

Song Shun rushed over and was relieved to see that his sister-in-law was alright.

I briefly told Lin Feng the information I had gathered from the villagers.

Then he pulled Lin Feng aside.

"Brother Feng, could it be that we robbed Black Wind Stronghold's goods and killed their people, so they're retaliating against the village down the mountain..."

Song Shun was depressed and felt extremely guilty.

Lin Feng patted Song Shun on the shoulder, "There's no need to blame yourself. We were acting on behalf of Heaven. The villagers' deaths were entirely caused by the bandits."

"What we need to do now is kill all these inhuman bandits!"

Song Shun's eyes were resolute. "Brother Feng, you're right. We're going to kill them all!"

At this moment, Chen Youtian, dressed in a wide-sleeved robe, arrived at Lin Feng's house with a bruised and swollen face.

"Lin Feng, my mistress has been taken away by the Black Wind Stronghold! You must help me rescue her!"

Chen Youtian turned pale and asked Lin Feng for help.

"If you help me rescue this person, I'm willing to give you one hundred taels of silver."

Mei Yan was the daughter of Magistrate Mei of Qingyang County. If she were to be violated or even killed by bandits, she would be in serious danger.

Chen Youtian will be in deep trouble, and it's too late to report it to the authorities now.

He could only turn to Lin Feng, who had left an indelible mark on his heart.

Only Lin Feng can help him rescue Mei Yan!

"One hundred taels... and you want me to go to Black Wind Stronghold to rescue a woman? Chen Lizheng, you're giving me too much credit, aren't you?"

Lin Feng sneered, staring at Chen Youtian.

"Then how much do you want?" Chen Youtian asked through gritted teeth.

Seeing that his house had been burned down to its frame, Lin Feng thought for a moment and said:

"In addition to one hundred taels, there will be one hundred acres of paddy fields and a brand new house."

Upon hearing Lin Feng's words, Chen Youtian's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. This was taking advantage of someone's misfortune!

"Lin Feng, you've gone too far! I can't fulfill your request!"

"Then you can find someone else... or report it to the authorities." After saying that, Lin Feng turned to soothe Liu Yu's emotions.

Seeing this, Chen Youtian hesitated for a moment, then looked at Lin Feng with a pained expression and said:

"50 taels of silver, 50 mu of paddy fields, and a new house to build for you. If you agree, sign and put your fingerprint on it now."

"Okay, sure." Lin Feng nodded.

Even if Chen Youtian didn't ask him for help, he would still go to Black Wind Stronghold now.

Carry out the decapitation strike!

After signing and sealing the document, Chen Youtian looked pained and gave Lin Feng fifty taels of silver and a land deed for fifty mu of paddy fields.

"Lin Feng, I hope you can rescue him today."

"Husband, are you really going to Black Wind Stronghold?"

Liu Yu's eyes were red and glistening with tears.

"It's alright, your husband will definitely come back safely."

Lin Feng kissed Liu Yu, and then took Liu Yu and Liu Mei up the mountain.

When the bandits entered the village, Liu Yu released the old horse and the black horse, letting them escape on their own.

Fortunately, the two horses hadn't run far when they encountered them and led them together to the secret cave.

Upon hearing what had happened in the village, Song Qing flew into a rage!

Upon hearing that Lin Feng was going to Black Wind Stronghold, he strongly expressed his desire to go with him.

Lin Feng pulled Song Qing aside to speak, "Uncle Song, you stay here and protect my wife."

"I'll take Shunzi with me, the two of us can go."

"If I don't return by noon tomorrow, you must immediately take my wife to the city."

"But..." Song Qing wanted to say something.

Lin Feng interrupted, "Uncle Song, the time is not right yet. Our strength is not enough to wipe out these bandits all at once."

"Alright, if you don't come back by noon tomorrow, I'll immediately help you settle Liu Yu and Liu Mei. After that, my sons and I will definitely avenge you!"

Afterwards, Lin Feng put the remaining gunpowder pellets into four earthenware jars and left the cave with Song Shun.

Arrive at the outskirts of Black Wind Village.

"Shunzi, I'll go in alone later. You stay outside and throw thunderbolts to blow up their gate and attract the bandits' attention," Lin Feng instructed.

"Brother Feng, how can I let you go in alone?" Song Shun looked at Lin Feng excitedly.

"Stop talking nonsense. You know my skills. Entering Black Wind Stronghold is like coming home for me. I can come and go as I please. If you come with me, you'll be a big target and easily exposed. If we're discovered, I'll have to take care of you!"

"All right."

"Remember, in fifteen minutes, throw the thunderbolt at their gate."

"..."