His entire family perished in battle; he rose from the ashes to conquer the world.

Li Tai is suspicious by nature and loves to test people in various ways, so Mu Yuan can't figure out what he's up to.

Given that this was Black Cloud Stronghold, they were powerless to resist. Besides, it wasn't a matter of life and death yet. After thinking for a moment, he led Qin Hongxiu and the others back to their previous seats.

"Black Cloud Stronghold is missing people like you who have courage and know how to behave. Today's tests were done out of necessity," Li Tai explained.

He looked sincere, but Mu Yuan saw only hypocrisy in his sincerity.

When a suspicious person appears sincere on the outside, it means that they are definitely plotting something behind the scenes.

"I acknowledge your courage, but I wonder how skilled you all are!" Li Tai looked at Mu Yuan and the others with great interest.

The voice just fell.

Then Zhou Bao, the second-in-command, stood up and pointed directly at Mu Yuan:

"Get up now and fight me, let me hone my skills!"

Zhou Bao rubbed his hands together, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

Mu Yuan is still taking the "Heart-Changing and Bone-Corroding Pill". Although his body is getting stronger every day, it will still be more than half a month before he is completely transformed in the 49 days.

The chances of winning against Zhou Bao now are slim.

Secondly, he didn't know whether his opponent was genuinely having a simple spar or had ulterior motives.

After pondering for a moment, Mu Yuan sneered, "You're not qualified to compete with me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bao, the second-in-command, widened his eyes and flew into a rage, smashing the tea table next to him to pieces with a powerful punch.

"A mere child spouting such arrogant words!"

At this moment, Lin Xueshang stood up and said, "If you want to fight him, you'll have to get past me first!"

"You? Just a woman!" Zhou Bao said with a look of contempt, completely disregarding Lin Xueshang.

Despite Zhou Bao's disdain, Lin Xueshang slowly walked up to him and coldly said, "Who's stronger will be revealed in our hands. If you beat me, it's not too late to duel with Mu Yun. But if you lose to me, I'll make you call me 'Grandma' three times!"

"What arrogance!" Zhou Bao glared angrily, puffing out his beard. "Fine, I agree!"

After saying that, Zhou Bao immediately attacked Lin Xueshang.

Zhou Bao was physically imposing, and his moves were wide-ranging, powerful, and domineering.

In contrast, Lin Xueshang appeared much smaller than Zhou Bao, but with her agile movements, she was able to dodge Zhou Bao's attacks every time.

Under repeated and continuous consumption.

Zhou Bao was panting heavily from exhaustion.

At that moment, Lin Xueshang seized the opportunity, leaped forward, and landed on Zhou Bao's shoulders with both feet.

He suddenly exerted force with his feet.

Zhou Bao felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on his shoulders, making it hard for him to breathe. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and finally, he collapsed to his knees due to exhaustion.

Lin Xueshang nimbly flipped over and jumped off Zhou Bao.

"That doesn't count!" Zhou Bao retorted, unwilling to accept defeat. "This was clearly a duel, yet you dodged and weaved; your victory was dishonorable!"

"A loss is a loss!"

At this moment, Li Tai stood up, reprimanded Zhou Bao, then glanced at Lin Xueshang, and finally fixed his gaze on Mu Yuan:

"Mu Yun, your men are exceptionally skilled, exactly the kind of talent my Black Cloud Stronghold has been looking for. Now, I formally invite you to join Black Cloud Stronghold. What do you say?"

Mu Yuan deliberately feigned hesitation, then spoke in a questioning tone:

"Boss, I don't have time to be tested by you. Joining Black Cloud Stronghold is out of the question! Let us leave immediately!"

Mu Yuan chose to retreat in order to advance.

After all, being tested by Li Tai in various ways and even being imprisoned, no normal person would agree to it.

Even a clay Buddha has a temper, let alone one that has been tested multiple times.

If Mu Yuan still readily agrees.

Given Li Tai's suspicious nature, he would inevitably become suspicious.

As expected, after seeing Mu Yuan refuse, Li Tai smiled with satisfaction, as if Mu Yuan's behavior was exactly what he had expected.

"Young friend Mu Yun, as you know, we Black Cloud Stronghold members are all mountain bandits, and we do things that will cost us our heads. If we're not careful, and you happen to be an official, and I let you join Black Cloud Stronghold, then Black Cloud Stronghold will be doomed!"

"I understand that the leader is cautious!" Mu Yuan nodded, then changed the subject: "But your repeated probing is clearly a game with me. It's better not to join Black Cloud Stronghold!"

The more he refuses, the greater the chance that Li Tai will accept him.

Seeing Mu Yuan's repeated refusals, Zhou Bao angrily shouted, "Kid! My brother sincerely invited you, don't be ungrateful!"

Mu Yuan showed no sign of servility towards Zhou Bao just because he was the second-in-command of Black Cloud Stronghold. Instead, he publicly mocked him, saying, "You can't even beat my men. What right do you, a mere defeated opponent, have to bark and howl in front of me?"

When Mu Yuan's actions were observed by Li Tai, he was not angry at all; on the contrary, he admired Mu Yuan even more.

After all, capable people are often proud.

Zhou Bao was furious after being defeated by Lin Xueshang, and now he was being mocked by Mu Yuan. He was so angry that he wanted to rush up and tear Mu Yuan to pieces on the spot.

However, just as he was about to do so, Li Tai glared at him and stopped him.

"Don't rush to refuse. I'll give you one night to think it over, and you can give me your answer first thing tomorrow morning, okay?"

Mu Yuan remained silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Someone, take them to the guest rooms and settle them in. Also, prepare some good wine and food." Seeing that Mu Yuan agreed, Li Tai immediately ordered the Black Cloud Village henchmen beside him to take Mu Yuan and the others to the guest rooms.

After Mu Yuan and the others left.

Zhou Bao said with some concern, "Brother, these people have unknown origins. Aren't you afraid they might be government officials if we just let them join Black Cloud Stronghold like this?"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Li Tai sneered. "Besides, my probing isn't over yet!"

the other side.

Mu Yuan and the others were taken to a courtyard and settled down.

in the room.

Mu Yuan and the others sat at the dining table, facing a table full of fine wine and food, but none of them touched their chopsticks.

I am in Black Cloud Village.

We must be careful in everything we do.

No one knows whether drugs were added to the food.

However, Mu Yuan and the others were still just mortals, and after looking at the table full of delicious food for a while, their stomachs started to rumble.

"Take this first."

Faced with an overwhelming feeling of hunger, Mu Yuan took out a few pills and distributed them to the group.

These pills can cure all poisons. Mu Yuan got them from his second sister-in-law, Su Wanqing, before he set off. Last time, when Wang Mazi used the sleeping potion, Mu Yuan relied on these pills to stay awake.

Everyone took the pills.

Only then did they pick up their chopsticks and enjoy the delicious food to fill their stomachs.

After eating and drinking to one's heart's content.

Qin Hongxiu spoke first, her face filled with worry: "I wonder if Tong Shan has escaped. We need to call for reinforcements!"

Mu Yuan was quite optimistic about this.

"If he's captured, how could Li Tai possibly let us go? Secondly, Black Cloud Stronghold is eerily quiet, which means reinforcements haven't arrived, or perhaps Tong Shan has already delivered the message that reinforcements have withdrawn from the vicinity of Black Cloud Stronghold!"

After listening to Mu Yuan's analysis, everyone felt it made sense, and the gloom in their hearts was swept away.