At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

It was early morning, and the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The campfire had burned out, leaving only a pile of grayish-white embers, trembling slightly in the morning breeze, with a few sparks occasionally drifting up.

The birdsong in the forest was crisp and melodious, coming from all directions, as if welcoming the arrival of a new day.

Su Mu opened his eyes, stretched his stiff neck, then stood up, dusted himself off, walked to the Akhal-Teke horse, untied the reins, and began to adjust the saddle.

Xiaoyouchuan also woke up.

He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and then sprang to his feet with a nimble and energetic movement.

As he stretched his limbs, he looked around and his gaze suddenly fell on the Ferghana horse.

My eyes lit up immediately.

He didn't notice the horse last night.

This horse is pure white, with long limbs, smooth muscle lines, and lively eyes. It exudes an air of arrogance.

A long sword hung on the side of the saddle, its scabbard black. Although mostly wrapped in cloth, the exposed blade gleamed with a blinding coldness in the morning light.

Xiaoyouchuan's eyes widened suddenly.

"Grandpa Su, your horse... it's amazing!"

He circled the Akhal-Teke horse twice, marveling at it.

He then looked at the knife hanging on the saddle, his gaze becoming even more intense.

"And this knife, with its narrow, straight blade and a point as thin as a cicada's wing, this isn't an ordinary broadsword, this is... this is a treasured sword! Grandpa Su, are you also a martial artist?"

Su Mu was adjusting the saddle when he heard Xiao Youchuan's question. He smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Yes, I practiced some martial arts and swordsmanship when I was young. Now that I'm old, I carry a sword with me when I'm traveling to scare people."

"These are turbulent times. An elderly person living alone needs something to protect themselves."

Xiaoyouchuan scratched his head, feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

BMW, precious sword, and even at the age of 100, he can still ride a horse on his own.

This Grandpa Su is probably no ordinary old man.

"Grandpa Su, I'm also going to the capital. Why don't we travel together? It'll be good to have company on the road, talk to each other, and keep us company!"

Xiao Youchuan looked at Su Mu with anticipation.

Su Mu thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I haven't been to the Central Plains of the Great Qian Dynasty for decades, and I'm not familiar with many of the roads. You can show me the way, so I don't wander around like a headless fly."

Xiao Youchuan patted his chest and said, "Grandpa Su, don't worry! I've thoroughly explored the roads of the Central Plains of the Great Qian Dynasty over the past six months! Follow me, and I guarantee you'll reach the capital quickly and safely!"

After getting ready, the two mounted their horses and rode off one after the other towards the capital.

……

This departure lasted for another two days.

On this day, Su Mu and Xiao Youchuan rode side by side through the woods, chatting and laughing.

"Grandpa Su, after we pass this maple forest, it'll be another half hour to reach the capital!"

Xiaoyouchuan pointed ahead, his face full of excitement.

"You'll be able to see your granddaughter soon, a family reunion! I'm so happy for you!"

Su Mu politely cupped his hands in greeting.

"Thanks to Xiao Chuan for leading the way, otherwise I don't know how many more days I would have wandered around."

"The roads in the Central Plains of the Great Qian Dynasty are quite different from those I traveled when I was young; many places have changed."

Xiaoyouchuan chuckled and waved his hand.

"No problem at all! It's fate that we met. Grandpa Su and I are old friends despite our age difference! When we get to the city, I'll treat you to a drink! I know an old tavern on East Street. Their wine is exceptional, supposedly from a century-old cellar, and it's incredibly fragrant!"

Su Mu laughed: "Alright, this old man is just waiting to drink your wine."

As the two were talking, a shrill cry for help suddenly came from ahead, sharp and urgent, particularly jarring in the silent maple forest.

"Help! Help!"

Su Mu frowned slightly, and Xiao Youchuan's expression changed instantly.

"Someone is shouting for help!"

Xiaoyou slapped the horse hard with his long whip, and the horse neighed loudly and charged in the direction from which the sound came.

Su Mu followed closely behind.

In the maple forest, a dozen people were forming a circle, trapping two people in the middle.

The people surrounded were a man and a woman. The man was in his forties, dressed in coarse gray clothes, and his face was weathered, like a farmer.

The girl was seventeen or eighteen years old, with messy hair but delicate features. She was a pretty girl with tear stains on her face, and she was huddled behind the middle-aged man, trembling all over.

Surrounding them was a group of burly men dressed as servants, each with a long knife at their waist, looking fierce and menacing.

The leader was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in fine clothes. He was fair-skinned but had a fierce face and rode a chestnut horse.

The middle-aged man knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead was bleeding profusely.

"Young Master Lin, Young Master Lin! Please, please spare my daughter and me! My daughter is still young and doesn't understand. Please, have mercy..."

Young Master Lin snorted coldly, his face full of impatience and anger.

"You old man, you really don't know what's good for you! That I, this young master, have taken a liking to your daughter is a blessing your family has accumulated over a hundred lifetimes! Who am I? The eldest son of the Minister of Revenue! You should be burning incense with gratitude for having taken a liking to a farmer's daughter! And you actually dare to secretly run away with your daughter?"

He paused, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

"I was originally planning to have a good talk with you, offer you a good price, and buy your daughter to be my concubine."

"I won't give you a single penny now, but I'll still take your daughter back! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!"

The servants around burst into loud, shrill laughter.

"Hahaha! Young master is right! This old man doesn't know what's good for him!"

"His daughter being able to marry into the Lin family is a blessing she earned in her past life!"

"Serves you right for refusing a polite toast only to have to drink a penalty cup!"

The middle-aged man was so frightened that he trembled all over and kowtowed desperately, his voice trembling with sobs.

"Young Master Lin, Young Master Lin, I beg you... my daughter... she's already engaged..."

"You've promised yourself to someone?"

"Rejected! Who dares to compete with me for the person I want?"

He waved his hand and said to the servants behind him, "Men, pull this old man away and take his daughter away! This young master is going to consummate our marriage tonight!"

"yes!"

Several servants rolled up their sleeves and pounced on the father and daughter.

The middle-aged man desperately protected his daughter, but was kicked to the ground by a servant and coughed up blood.

The girl screamed in terror, crying out "Daddy, Daddy!" in a shrill, heart-wrenching voice.

Upon seeing this scene, Xiao Youchuan's face turned ashen, his fists clenched, and his eyes filled with rage.

"In broad daylight, right under the emperor's nose, how dare someone forcibly abduct a woman? Is there no law? Is there no justice?"

"stop!"

Xiaoyouchuan spurred his horse to the front of the crowd, reined in it, and the horse reared up high.

He drew his long sword from his waist, pointing the tip directly at Young Master Lin, and shouted a rebuke.

"Let go of that woman!"

Everyone turned to look at this arrogant young man.

Young Master Lin's face darkened, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

"Where did this brat come from, daring to interfere in my business? Are you tired of living?"

A servant stepped forward, pointed at Xiaoyouchuan, and shouted arrogantly, "Boy, do you know who my young master is? You'll be shocked if I tell you!"

"My young master is Lin Wenyuan, the eldest son of the Minister of Revenue in the capital! How about that, scared now?"

He put his hands on his hips and held his chin high.

"I advise you to leave obediently and not get involved in this matter, or you'll suffer the consequences! If you offend a high-ranking official, your whole family will die!"

Xiaoyouchuan sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

"A mere Minister of Revenue has raised such an arrogant and domineering son. I think his position as Minister of Revenue is doomed."

Lin Wenyuan's face immediately darkened.

"You're asking for trouble! You're asking for it!"

"Guards! Chop this reckless brat to pieces!"

"yes!"

A dozen servants responded in unison, drew their long swords, and rushed towards Xiaoyouchuan.

The blades flashed, and a murderous aura filled the air.

These servants were all thugs employed by the Lin family. They were all strong and ruthless, showing no mercy.

Undeterred, Xiaoyouchuan dismounted, longsword in hand, and charged forward.

His swordsmanship was elegant and agile; with a single thrust, he forced back a servant who had charged at him.

With a backhand slash, he deflected another person's longsword.

His figure weaved through the crowd, darting left and right, his sword flashing fiercely.

"Clang clang clang!"

Xiao Youchuan knocked down three servants in succession, but the enemy outnumbered him and attacked ruthlessly, targeting his vital points with every move.

Although his swordsmanship was agile, he lacked practical combat experience and gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

A servant attacked him from behind, slashing at his back with a knife.

Xiao Youchuan sensed danger and suddenly turned to the side. The blade grazed his clothes, leaving a gash.

He broke out in a cold sweat and quickly parried with his sword.

Su Mu sat on his horse, quietly observing the battle.

He quickly realized that Xiaoyouchuan had talent in swordsmanship and his moves were beautiful, but the person who taught him was not skilled enough, so his swordsmanship was all show and no real killing power.

Although those servants were not skilled in martial arts, their moves were ruthless, aimed directly at vital points, and they fought with their lives on the line.

Xiaoyouchuan has managed to hold on until now because of his youth and quick reflexes, but if he continues like this, he will suffer sooner or later.

Just then, an arrow shot from the side, heading straight for Xiaoyouchuan's back.

This arrow was fired by Lin Wenyuan.

While Xiaoyouchuan was entangled by his servants, he secretly fired a cold arrow.

The situation was critical, and Su Mu stepped in.

He would not allow such an outstanding junior to die at the hands of a despicable man like Lin Wenyuan.

With a flick of his long sleeve, an invisible force surged from within, deflecting the arrow.

With a "crack," the arrow broke in two and fell to the ground.

Lin Wenyuan was stunned, not yet realizing what was going on.

Su Mu didn't give him a chance to react.

He raised his right hand, a faint golden light flashing in his palm, and thrust it out.

"Bang!"

The palm strikes whistled through the air, like a raging storm.

The dozen or so servants were struck by the palm strike, as if they had been hit by a charging rhinoceros. Their bodies flew backward uncontrollably, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting blood and screaming in agony.

Some people's knives were knocked away, some people's arms were dislocated, and some people had several broken ribs, lying on the ground unable to get up.

one move.

More than a dozen people all collapsed to the ground.

Lin Wenyuan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his face turned deathly pale.

He looked at the wailing servants on the ground, then at the white-haired, hunched old man on horseback, and his legs went weak.

"You...you..."

Su Mu didn't show his face, nor did he look at Lin Wenyuan. He simply waved his hand and said hoarsely, "Get lost."

Lin Wenyuan felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He turned his horse around and ran away, not even caring about the servants.

The servants scrambled to their feet, some clutching their arms, others limping, and ran after Lin Wenyuan.

The maple forest fell silent.

Xiaoyouchuan stood there, still holding his long sword, his mouth agape and his eyes wide open.

He looked at the bloodstains left by the servants on the ground, then at Su Mu, his mind blank.

"Grandpa Su...you..."

"You knocked down more than a dozen people with a single palm strike? This... what kind of martial art is this?"

Su Mu smiled but did not answer.

"Put the sword away and go settle the father and daughter down first."

Xiao Youchuan then came to his senses, quickly sheathed his sword, and walked up to the father and daughter.

The middle-aged man was still kneeling on the ground, trembling all over, his face covered with tears and blood.

The girl huddled behind her father, sobbing softly.

Xiaoyouchuan bent down, reached out and helped the middle-aged man up, his voice gentle.

"Uncle, don't be afraid, the bad guys have been driven away, you're safe now."

The middle-aged man looked up at Xiaoyouchuan's young face, tears streaming down his face.

"Thank you so much, my benefactor... thank you so much for saving my life..." He pulled his daughter along, "Quickly, quickly kowtow to our benefactor!"

The two of them knelt down with a thud.

Xiao Youchuan quickly helped them up, his face turning red.

"No, no, no, uncle, please don't do this! It's only right to help those in need! Besides..." He scratched his head sheepishly and glanced in Su Mu's direction, "The one who really saved you was Grandpa Su. He chased away those bad guys with a single palm strike. I just used my sword and didn't help much."

The father and daughter then turned to Su Mu and kowtowed to express their gratitude.

Su Mu said, "Get up, it's getting late. You should leave here quickly. Although Young Master Lin has run away, he might come back. Find a safe place to hide and don't let them find you again."

Xiao Youchuan took out a silver ingot from his pocket and stuffed it into the middle-aged man's hand.

"Uncle, take this money and find a place to settle down."

"Don't worry, I will see this matter through to the end. I will make that young master Lin pay the price, and he will never dare to cause you any more trouble in the future."

The middle-aged man held the silver, tears streaming down his face again. He thanked her profusely and left with his daughter, turning back to look at her every step of the way.

Xiaoyouchuan watched them leave, then turned around, walked up to Su Mu, and bowed deeply.

"Grandpa Su, I was blind to your greatness! All along the way, I was boasting about my swordsmanship and talking about chivalry in front of you... Now that I think about it, it was truly like showing off my limited skills before an expert, so embarrassing!"

He looked up, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at Su Mu with adoration.

"Grandpa Su, your martial arts are amazing! You knocked down more than a dozen people with one palm strike. What kind of divine skill is that? Could you teach this junior?"

Su Mu smiled and said tactfully:

"We can talk about this later when we have time. Let's go into the city, it's getting dark."

Xiaoyouchuan nodded repeatedly and mounted his horse.

Su Mu rode on his horse, gazing at the increasingly close outline of the capital city ahead, his eyes reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Xiao Chuan," he suddenly said.

"This matter isn't over yet. That young master Lin's father is the Minister of Revenue. He's lost face so badly; he'll definitely retaliate. Have you thought about how to deal with it?"

Xiao Youchuan's lips curled up slightly, his eyes full of confidence.

"Grandpa Su, don't worry, I will handle this matter and make sure that young master of the Lin family receives the punishment he deserves."

His tone was confident and composed, not like he was boasting.

Su Mu glanced at him, pondering to himself.

This young man showed no fear in front of the son of the Minister of Revenue, and did not even put high-ranking officials in the court in his eyes.

His identity is probably not simple.

"Let's go into town!"

……