Return to the Town, Shocking Discovery

"Uncle Zhang, you are too kind. I cannot accept your favor for nothing; it is my duty to help. The Mountain-Weight Saber has greatly improved my abilities, and your refusal to accept payment is like charcoal in the snow." Zhou Qiming cupped his hands in a bow.

"If you have nowhere to go when you reach the county town, you can seek out Old Man Mo at the Weapon Forging Workshop. Just mention my name," Zhang Tie advised with a smile before departing.

"Alright, I'll remember that."

Zhou Qiming couldn't persuade him further and could only offer a few blessings before heading to the county town with the Cheng siblings.

The Luoshan Army, being an official organization, wouldn't be as unscrupulous as the Jinsha Gang or King Chaotian. For ordinary people like Xu Hailai, who lacked combat power, it served as a good protective umbrella. Zhou Qiming respected their choices and knew he couldn't be their nanny forever.

"Qiming, we really owe this to you. Once our Cheng family establishes our business in the county town, we will repay you handsomely!" Cheng Yu expressed her gratitude with clasped hands.

Cheng Yan, having survived the ordeal, also smiled. "If you encounter any difficulties, you can consider becoming a Blade Catcher. My Master can introduce you to the County Lieutenant."

"Thank you, I appreciate it," Zhou Qiming nodded.

After traveling for an hour, Zhou Qiming parted ways with the Cheng family, letting them proceed to the county town first.

"Qiming, are you going back to take a look?" Cheng Yan asked with concern.

"I suddenly remembered I left some medicinal herbs at home," Zhou Qiming gave a casual excuse and turned back towards the town.

The Cheng siblings shook their heads, watching his receding figure.

"Qiming is probably overthinking. With the Luoshan Army stationed here, even the Sky Shaker Bandits wouldn't dare to provoke them. Boss Xu and the others should be fine."

Cheng Yu didn't dwell on it further and led the group towards the county town. As night fell, the mountain roads became more dangerous.

Zhou Qiming's movement technique was extremely fast, and he soon approached Jinshui Town.

"I killed the Jinsha Gang. Why should the Luoshan Army get all the benefits!"

He had turned back because he felt a sense of injustice. These people were like the detectives in the hero movies of his previous life, always arriving after the villains were already dead.

Regardless, Sha Heihu's savings shouldn't be handed over to others for nothing.

"What is this!"

However, the next moment, he stopped in his tracks, discovering a shocking scene.

Flares lit up the sky above the town, and the sounds of shouting and clashing blades filled the air.

"Could it be the Sky Shaker Bandits? Oh no, Uncle Xu might be in danger."

Zhou Qiming accelerated his movement, racing against time. He hadn't expected to witness such a scene upon his return.

Logically, after Sha Heihu's death, Jinshui Town should have returned to its peaceful state under the guard of the Luoshan Army, but it seemed things had gone awry.

Most importantly, the people from the blacksmith shop and the restaurant had returned to their old professions. Now, they were likely dead in the town.

"Damn Sky Shaker Bandits."

Zhou Qiming clenched his fists. In the blink of an eye, he arrived outside the town, gazing at the familiar streets.

But an even more shocking and infuriating scene appeared before him, one he couldn't believe for a long time.

"What, these are the neighbors! Why are they all hanging from the town walls!"

Zhou Qiming stared intently, a furious guess forming in his heart.

A sweep of his eyes revealed that the villagers and neighbors, who were usually honest and hardworking, were all marked with grass brands and seared with brands, their bodies severed and hanging from flagpoles.

Even when the Jinsha Gang attacked, it wasn't this tragic.

And these corpses were all labeled with the Sky Shaker Bandit army's tags. The youngest was even a child of thirteen or fourteen, around Zhou Qiming's age.

"Damn it, is this the true face of the world? Humans are more terrifying than jackals and demons."

Zhou Qiming gritted his teeth, his rage surging.

He hadn't expected that Jinshui Town would not receive reinforcements from the garrison, but rather a darker and bloodier butcher's blade.

Killing the innocent to claim merit. All the young and strong people in town had become achievements, with no survivors left.

"This is troublesome. I hope Uncle Xu and the others are alright."

Zhou Qiming suppressed his immense anger. His Earth Fiend Legs technique moved like a ghostly phantom as he rushed towards the town's garrison camp, wanting to gather more information.

The soldiers along the way didn't notice him. His speed was too great, like an afterimage, disappearing into the shadows of the street.

"Officer, don't kill me! I'll give you all my money!"

Shouts of killing and begging echoed through the streets. These people had escaped Sha Heihu's butcher knife, but still couldn't endure the cruelty of the times.

"Rest assured, I will take good care of your wife and daughters for you."

"Damn you, you are more brutal than the Sky Shaker Bandits! I won't let you go even as a ghost."

Zhou Qiming shook his head, ignoring these tragic scenes. Even if he could save a few people for a moment, he couldn't protect them for a lifetime. Only by reaching the pinnacle of martial arts could he pacify this chaotic world filled with demons.

Along the way, he also overheard some useful information. The soldiers' discussions couldn't escape his keen senses.

"Haha, I didn't expect the Jinsha Gang to be so easily defeated. Myriad Commander Jiang didn't even make a move, and the enemy fled at the mere sight of us."

"What a shame. Those were all heads of living people for merit. They can only use these villagers as scapegoats. Weakness is the original sin. Who told them to harbor a force like the Jinsha Gang that colluded with bandits?"

"It's a place that harbors filth; it's no longer clean."

"With this strong merit from suppressing the bandits, Lord Jiang will likely be promoted by one rank. He will definitely be highly valued by the County Lieutenant and the Garrison General."

The armored soldiers searched properties along the street, laughing and discussing loudly. Once the Myriad Commander was promoted, they, his confidants and common soldiers, would naturally rise with him.

But suddenly, a massive black shadow was cast down, as if the sky had darkened, causing the men to stop in their tracks, stunned.

"Who's there!"

"Damn it, there are still remnants of the Sky Shaker Bandits here."

"Quick, go inform Lord Jiang."

The men quickly entered a state of alert, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Zhou Qiming, dressed in black with a black face and bloodshot eyes, resembled a demon from hell. His two large, iron-clawed hands shot out, crushing the heads of two of the men.

Killing intent surged like a tide, an Asura claiming lives.

He coldly looked at the remaining two, asking hoarsely, "Where are the people from the Blacksmith Shop and Haolai Restaurant? Who killed them?"

"My lord, spare us! Are you asking about Zhang Tie and Xu Hailai and those old men? They aren't dead. Lord Jiang sent them to the front-line garrison. The blacksmith and the cook are of great use to the Luoshan Army."

These two armored soldiers were so terrified they wet themselves, their legs trembling uncontrollably. Their Iron Ges clattered to the ground in their shock.

"What? In the end, they couldn't escape their fate. Is this the life of ordinary people?"

Upon receiving the news, Zhou Qiming shook his head in resignation. He had no intention of going to their rescue.

The convoy escorted by the Luoshan Army had already departed. Recklessly pursuing them might lead to unforeseen dangers, such as an ambush by the Sky Shaker Bandits, or getting caught in the conflict between two colossal powers.

Moreover, Zhou Qiming could see that forces like the restaurant and the blacksmith shop were like fat meat in this terrible era, destined to work for the army. He couldn't protect them from the shadows forever.

"Let it be. The Luoshan Army is, after all, a Regular Organization, and not everyone is as wicked as Jiang Baichuan."