From the beginning of Swordsman, he created a legend in the martial arts world.

"Father!"

Shaluo stepped forward, bowed despite the pain, and then quickly recounted her ordeal of being attacked and rescued by Meng Fei.

In his words, he emphasized how Meng Fei's amazing sword strike forced back the powerful enemy Shi Yan, expressing his high regard for Meng Fei's swordsmanship.

After listening to his son's account, the chieftain, Sha Xiong, fixed his sharp gaze on Meng Fei and scrutinized him carefully, especially lingering on the Azure Blood Sword in his hand and his ashen face.

He then put on a sincere smile, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying, "I am Sha Xiong, the chieftain of Black Stone Village. Young Hero Meng, you have acted righteously and saved my son. The entire Black Stone Village will remember this kindness! Young Hero seems to be injured. Please come inside, and I will arrange for someone to treat you immediately."

Meng Fei responded politely, his voice still weak: "Chief, you are too kind. I am Meng Fei, a junior. I just happened to pass by and met you. I dare not take credit for it. As for my old injuries... well, I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"Hey, Young Master Meng, what are you saying? You saved Shaluo, so you are Black Stone Stronghold's most honored guest! Please!"

Sha Xiong warmly invited him to the side, adopting a very humble posture.

The welcoming banquet was held in the spacious main hall of the main building. Although time was short, the dishes were very plentiful. Sha Xiong personally accompanied Meng Fei and frequently toasted him, his gratitude evident in his words.

After receiving initial treatment from the village doctor and taking the antidote, Shaluo's complexion improved considerably, and he eagerly offered her a drink.

During the meal, Sha Xiong and the others casually inquired about Meng Fei's background and lineage. Meng Fei only vaguely said that he was a swordsman traveling in the Central Plains who accidentally entered Miao territory and was injured and poisoned. He glossed over the rest by saying that "his sect has rules that make it inconvenient to reveal them."

Sha Xiong and the others were all worldly-wise people. Seeing that he was unwilling to talk more, they did not force him. Instead, they changed the subject to the local customs of Miao territory, some of the "industries" of Black Stone Village, and... the recent selection of the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect, and the undercurrent of conflict among the villages.

"Ah, to be honest, Young Master Meng..."

Sha Xiong sighed, put down his wine glass, and showed a just-right mix of worry and indignation on his face.

"My Black Stone Village has always been peaceful and content with its heritage, only wanting to preserve our ancestral property and let our people live in peace and prosperity. But alas, the tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease! The Shi family of Green Scorpion Village, relying on their close relationship with the elders of the sect, has become increasingly arrogant and domineering in recent years."

"If they dare to lay such a cruel hand on Shaluo today, they will dare to provoke my Black Stone Village tomorrow! All they care about is the power and resources behind the position of Holy Maiden."

An elderly man nearby chimed in, "Exactly! The position of Holy Maiden is crucial to the allocation of resources and even the power of discourse within the sect over the next five years. If the Green Scorpion Stronghold succeeds, my Black Stone Stronghold will likely face endless turmoil, and may even be forced to relocate or submit!"

Shaluo glanced at Meng Fei, her eyes filled with anticipation: "If it weren't for Brother Meng's divine swordsmanship, I would probably have already met my demise. This shows how important martial prowess is these days!"

"Brother Meng, your swordsmanship is so superb, and you have saved my life. We in Black Stone Village are all deeply grateful. We wonder...we wonder if, after you recover from your injuries, you could stay in the village for a while? Firstly, so that we can repay you properly, and secondly..." Shaluo glanced at his father.

Sha Xiong quickly picked up the conversation, his tone even more sincere, even carrying a hint of pleading: "Secondly, if Young Hero Meng's injuries permit, could you... lend a hand when Black Stone Village faces a challenge?"

"Of course, this is by no means putting you in danger. You only need to display a little sword prowess as a guest elder when necessary to deter any villains. Black Stone Stronghold will do its utmost to assist you in the future!"

The atmosphere at the banquet seemed even more lively, but Meng Fei could feel that all the "enthusiastic" gazes were focused on him, waiting for his answer.

The promise of healing and detoxification was bait, the invitation to become a guest was a rope, and the real purpose behind it was clearly the upcoming struggle for the title of Holy Maiden, which was of great importance to the interests of the people.

Meng Fei knew in his heart that the hospitality from Black Stone Village was not innocent from the beginning.

Shaluo's "repayment of kindness" and Shaxiong's "pleading" are essentially a transaction, or rather, a scheme to bind him to the Black Stone Village's war chariot in exchange for healing.

He needs their healing resources, and they need his sword.

He then slowly set down the wine cup he had barely touched, a weary yet polite smile appearing on his pale face. His voice, though still low, was clear and distinct: "I am grateful for the hospitality of the chieftain and young chieftain. I thank you for your concern regarding my healing. As for matters concerning the village… I am severely injured and weak, and being from outside the mountains, I fear I am ill-equipped to shoulder such a heavy responsibility. Let us discuss this matter once my injuries have healed somewhat, shall we?"

Meng Fei neither immediately refused nor agreed, leaving room for maneuver in his words.

Sha Xiong and Sha Luo exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of expectation in each other's eyes—this outsider was not someone easy to control, but... since he needed to heal and was in the village, there was still a chance.

"Haha, Young Master Meng is absolutely right. I was too hasty. Healing is the priority, healing is the priority!"

Sha Xiong laughed and smoothed things over.

"Young hero, you must be tired from your journey and injured. Please rest early today. I have already ordered the bamboo house to be prepared, and I will send the best doctor in the village to treat you later."

The banquet ended in a seemingly pleasant atmosphere, and Meng Fei was led to a relatively secluded but exquisite stilted house in the village to stay in.

An old Miao doctor, taciturn but with exceptionally sharp eyes, accompanied by a young apprentice, carefully examined Meng Fei's injuries and pulse. He showed particular interest in the mixed poison. After leaving behind a prescription and a dose of ointment, he left the stilted building with a solemn expression.

Inside the bamboo house, Meng Fei leaned against the bamboo couch, feeling the slight coolness brought by the newly applied ointment, but there was no sleepiness in his eyes.

Meanwhile, in a secret chamber deep within the main building of Black Stone Village, Sha Xiong and Sha Luo sat facing each other.

"Luo'er, are you sure Meng Fei's swordsmanship is really as astonishing as you say? That he forced Shi Yan back with a single sword strike?"

Sha Xiong tapped his knuckles lightly on the armrest of the bamboo chair, his brow furrowed.

"It's not that I don't believe you, but as you saw, Meng Fei himself was on the verge of death, poisoned to the core. How could he still unleash such astonishing swordsmanship?"

Sharo's right arm had been re-bandaged, and after taking the secret antidote pill, the black aura had faded considerably, but his face was still somewhat pale.

Meeting his father's scrutinizing gaze, he said urgently, "Father, it is precisely because of this that his swordsmanship is so terrifying! Just think, even when he was critically injured and on the verge of death, his hasty sword strike still possessed such astonishing power. If the poison in his body were neutralized and his injuries were healed, how fierce and incomparable would that sword light be?"

"You are also aware of Shi Yan's poison skills and agility; even ordinary masters find it difficult to get close, yet he almost pierced their ribs with a single sword strike! I witnessed it with my own eyes; that ferocious sword intent is something no ordinary swordsman could possess!"

Seeing her father still lost in thought, Shaluo stepped forward and lowered her voice: "Father, the competition for the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect is imminent, and the Green Scorpion Stronghold is being aggressive. Although we are prepared, our top-tier martial arts are still our weakness. If we can obtain such a strong ally, using them as our spearhead, we will surely be able to intimidate the other strongholds and greatly increase my chances of winning the Holy Maiden position!"