The Thief Prince

After the meal, neither Li Zheng nor Yan Yun spoke again.

It was really exhausting, especially for Li Zheng.

Ever since I transmigrated here, I've either been hanging myself or being kidnapped; I'm really unlucky.

Once you're in a relatively safe environment, fatigue sets in, and you fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow.

Li Zheng slept for an entire afternoon and night, and when he woke up, he felt refreshed.

He sat up and stretched out his arm, a cracking sound coming from his bones, and he let out a soft exclamation.

Li Zheng felt a long-lost power.

I had been in a weak state for a while, but I didn't feel it very clearly.

Now it seems that the actual condition of this body is better than I expected.

The original owner of this body had practiced martial arts, and was personally taught by a Yu Hou named Zhao Qianshan.

Zhao Qianshan is very brave and strong. Some people's strength can be seen at a glance, and Zhao Qianshan is such a person.

He had honed the original owner's foundation very well, both in terms of strength and flexibility.

In his previous life, Li Zheng was the company's combat specialist. Combined with the original owner's physical attributes and muscle memory, their combined combat strength wouldn't be too weak.

As for the specific extent to which it can be utilized, we'll have to see how it performs in actual matches.

Hearing the noise inside, Yan Yun walked in and happened to see Li Zheng stretching his body.

He couldn't help but ask, "Brother, you've even studied martial arts?"

Li Zheng was slightly taken aback: "How did you figure that out?"

"I learned martial arts from my father. My brother has a wasp waist and a monkey back, and his posture is like a crane and a mantis. You can tell he has worked hard."

Li Zheng became interested upon hearing this: "You haven't told me about your family situation yet?"

"My family has some wealth. My father served in the army in the north and became a village head after retiring from the military."

"North?" Li Zheng asked. "How north?"

"Hebei, Baigou River."

Li Zheng was somewhat surprised: "The Zhou-Liao border? Your family is from the Liao Kingdom..."

Yan Yun nodded: "Yes, my family were originally Han Chinese from Youyun. My grandfather's generation fled back from the north."

Li Zheng was filled with awe.

Nearly two hundred years after the fall of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, most of the local Han people did not recognize the Great Zhou as their homeland, but instead identified themselves as Liao people.

At such a time, those who dare to go against the tide and risk their lives to return to the Great Zhou can be called loyal and righteous men.

However, after the Treaty of Chanyuan, the two countries began to treat each other well, and the people on the border were probably the happiest.

Both sides will try to win over each other because they can benefit from the policy dividends of both countries.

No wonder his father had some wealth and could afford to support Yan Yun's martial arts training.

Thinking about this, Li Zheng asked curiously, "You're skilled in martial arts, how did you get caught by those two kidnappers?"

Yan Yun gritted her teeth: "Those two drugged me."

Li Zheng chuckled to himself. It was really not easy to make a living in ancient times. You had to master physical attacks and then you still had to guard against chemical attacks.

"Take good care of yourself today, I'll be right back."

Li Zheng got up, dressed neatly, and said to Yan Yun.

Yan Yun's face turned serious: "Is Brother going to offer his pledge of allegiance?"

Li Zheng nodded: "This matter should be done sooner rather than later. If we keep resting and not going, they'll think I'm scared."

"I'll go with my brother!"

Li Zheng shook his head: "This trip is dangerous, you stay here."

"My elder brother went alone without anyone to look after him. Although I am young and weak, I still dare to kill!"

Li Zheng felt a warmth in his heart, but still disagreed: "If we both go, what will happen to the girl? You should stay here and take care of her."

Yan Yun shook his head: "If something happens to you, brother, how can the two of us survive in this den of thieves? We'll both die then. The important thing is to prove our loyalty and gain a foothold."

The maid beside her nodded obediently, indicating that the two of them did not need to worry about her.

Li Zheng didn't expect this kid to be so decisive. After hesitating for a moment, he stuffed the dagger into his hand.

"Hold the dagger tight and keep watch for me. Don't act impulsively."

Yan Yun carefully put away his weapons, and the two of them walked out of the house one after the other.

As soon as he stepped outside, he heard Ma San's voice: "Brother, have you rested well?"

Li Zheng looked at him with some surprise: "Ma San, what are you still doing here?"

Ma San laughed and said, "I just came back from patrolling the mountain. I was thinking that you were going to collect your pledge of loyalty today, so I came to wait for you."

"The three leaders have instructed that I will take care of you here for the next few days. Please feel free to ask me anything if you need anything."

That's a clever person.

Li Zheng didn't dislike him and said frankly, "Alright, I was just about to go down the mountain, I'll trouble you to lead the way."

Ma San was overjoyed and quickly said, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all."

"By the way, I don't have any weapons on hand, but are there any spare weapons in the stronghold?"

"This is easy, brother, come with me."

Ma San led Li Zheng and the other man to a small warehouse built against the side of the main village.

There were two rows of weapon racks in the warehouse, displaying all kinds of weapons, which were in good condition.

Li Zheng glanced at them and saw that they were mostly easy-to-obtain weapons like broadswords and clubs.

Seeing his hesitation, Ma San tentatively asked, "Brother, do you have any suitable tools?"

Li Zheng thought to himself that he rarely had the chance to make a move in the years after he joined the company, and he really didn't have any weapons he was used to.

The only weapon I ever used was a fire axe.

He also has a special skill: he can use an axe to scrape a centimeter off the scalp and land it on the wall behind the customer.

Although it's not a practical axe technique, it requires extremely high levels of control.

"Do you have an axe?"

Ma San's eyes widened, and he stood there respectfully: "An axe...an axe?"

There aren't many people who can use an axe as a weapon, and those who can are all formidable individuals.

Because that thing is an armor-piercing weapon, used against fully armored soldiers.

They were nothing but bandits and outlaws; why would they need an axe when they were robbing and looting?

"We don't have a long-handled axe, but we do have a wood-chopping axe, brother, look..."

"It's alright, just take it."

Ma San didn't dare to delay and quickly ran over to get it.

Li Zheng took it; it was indeed an ordinary wood-chopping axe, its length and center of gravity were well-matched, and it was barely usable.

He tucked the axe into his waistband, picked out a decent-quality broadsword, and walked out of the storeroom.

They hadn't gone far when they saw Zhang Yin carrying a bow coming straight at them.

Seeing Li Zheng's attire, he raised an eyebrow: "Brother Li, are you preparing to offer your pledge of loyalty?"

Li Zheng replied, "Exactly."

"Brother, you are a scholar, so you probably don't know much about the rules of the outlaws. Let me tell you."

Li Zheng, not having figured out his methods, didn't hesitate to be polite: "Please enlighten me, brother."

Zhang Yin spoke eloquently: "The question of whose head is used as the pledge of allegiance is quite intriguing."

"When I went up the mountain, I shot and killed a petty official who was a tyrant in the village, and took his head as a pledge of loyalty."

"Brother Tang Meng is even more amazing. He single-handedly scattered a group of bandits and cut off the leader's head to climb the mountain."

Zhang Yin glanced at Li Zheng as he spoke: "We made a significant pledge of allegiance, which is why we were able to gain the respect of the people and secure our positions."

"I am but a scholar, and I fear that you might kill a country bumpkin or a peddler at will. Although it would be in accordance with the rules, it would still put us in a difficult position."

"If we're going to just muddle through like this, we might as well go down the mountain now to avoid looking bad later."

Before Li Zheng could say anything, the sound of a knife being drawn came from beside him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yan Yun staring at Zhang Yin with a frosty expression, his hand already at his waist.

Li Zheng silently pressed Yan Yun's hand down, and said to Zhang Yin with a smile, "Thank you for reminding me, brother. I understand now."

Zhang Yin glanced at Yan Yun with a half-smile, then led his henchmen over.

Li Zheng noticed that the henchmen behind Zhang Yin seemed to be carrying bows, and he seemed to be deep in thought.

It seems that only Zhang Yin and his group in this mountain stronghold carry bows and arrows.

After everyone had walked away, Li Zheng looked at Yan Yun beside him and asked, "What were you doing just now?"

Yan Yun gritted his teeth and said, "This scoundrel disrespects my elder brother; I intend to kill him with my own hands!"