Beating the Foolish Villagers

Early the next morning, Lu Shaolin opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.

After stretching, he got up, dressed, picked up the Black Iron Spear, and walked out of the bedroom.

When he arrived in the courtyard, Dong Jia was already making breakfast in the kitchen.

With a flick of his long spear, Lu Shaolin began practicing his spear techniques in the courtyard.

No, it was staff techniques!

The whistling sound of the weapon cutting through the air echoed throughout the courtyard, and the fierce wind even swept up the dust from the ground!

After practicing for a while, Lu Shaolin withdrew his spear. His warm-up was complete.

Watching Lu Shaolin from the kitchen doorway, Dong Jia saw that he had finished practicing and said softly, "Young master, breakfast is ready."

Lu Shaolin nodded. After washing up, he sat down in the main room.

After breakfast, Lu Shaolin mounted his horse and headed straight for the docks.

He had already arranged with Li Cai yesterday to take him to the Blackwater Gang headquarters to complete his admission into the gang.

When he arrived at the docks, he saw Li Cai sitting in a tea stall, looking around as he waited for him.

Lu Shaolin rode over. "Brother Li, sorry to keep you waiting!"

"Brother Lu."

Li Cai cupped his hands in greeting.

"Let's go now. Follow behind me."

Lu Shaolin said with a smile.

Li Cai nodded and followed behind Lu Shaolin.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the two arrived at the entrance to the Water Fortress.

Lu Shaolin showed his token and led Li Cai into the Water Fortress.

When they reached the External Affairs Hall, Zhao Anguo happened to be there. After Lu Shaolin explained the matter, Zhao Anguo readily agreed.

He had the dark-faced man handle Li Cai's admission procedures.

Then he pulled Lu Shaolin aside. "Brother Lu, did you offend someone?"

"What do you mean?"

Lu Shaolin asked.

"The hall specifically issued orders for you to be transferred to Chen Family Ravine. It's a village on the edge of the county seat, next to both the Blackwater River and deep mountains and old forests. There are plenty of matters to handle there."

Zhao Anguo said in a low voice.

"Is it far from the county seat?"

Lu Shaolin asked with a frown.

"It takes three hours on horseback!"

Zhao Anguo replied.

Damn it! There was no need to think about it. This had to be Ouyang Sheng's doing.

A flash of killing intent crossed Lu Shaolin's eyes.

"You needn't worry, Brother Lu. After some time, I'll transfer you back. After all, I'm in charge of transfer assignments."

Seeing that Lu Shaolin remained silent, Zhao Anguo reassured him.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Zhao."

Lu Shaolin said with a smile, cupping his hands.

After Li Cai finished the procedures, Lu Shaolin took him to the Martial Arts Pavilion and had him collect a cultivation manual himself.

After he collected the manual, Lu Shaolin took him to the warehouse to receive his clothes and horse.

Li Cai could not ride either. Once they reached the main road, Lu Shaolin taught him for an hour before Li Cai could barely manage to trot on horseback.

Afterward, Lu Shaolin told Li Cai to go home and practice more. They would meet at the docks early the day after tomorrow!

On the morning of the third day, seven riders galloped down the main road.

They were Lu Shaolin and his group.

Ma San carried Li Cai with him, since Li Cai's riding skills were still not good enough for him to control a horse at a gallop.

Three hours later, the group arrived at Chen Family Ravine.

Chen Family Ravine was surrounded by mountains on three sides and bordered by a river on the fourth. Only a narrow path connected it to the main road.

The entire Chen Family Ravine had only fifty households.

When Lu Shaolin's group of seven entered the village, the villagers they encountered merely watched from afar. They showed none of the warmth found in other villages, and something about them seemed strange.

"Boss, should we find the village chief first?"

Li Cai asked quietly. He had changed the way he addressed Lu Shaolin as well, now calling him boss.

"Let's go to the outpost first. There's something wrong with this village."

Lu Shaolin waved a hand.

The seven rode at a trot and arrived at the outpost.

The outpost was not large, with only three rooms.

After entering the courtyard and leading their horses into the stable, the seven began cleaning up the rooms.

Naturally, Lu Shaolin had a bedroom to himself. The remaining six split into two rooms, three to a room. It would be cramped, but livable.

Once they had finished cleaning, they gathered in the courtyard, sat down, and chatted casually.

Even by lunchtime, the village chief had yet to appear.

Lu Shaolin frowned and looked at Feng Tie. "Go see what's going on."

"Yes, boss!"

Feng Tie rose to his feet and left upon receiving the order.

It was quite a while before Feng Tie returned.

"Where is he?"

Lu Shaolin asked.

"Boss, I asked several villagers, but no one answered my questions. Then I went to the largest residence, but no one responded when I knocked either."

Feng Tie said with a strange expression.

He truly could not understand it. Since when would no one pay attention to people from the Blackwater Gang who had come to protect a village? Everywhere else, they were treated like honored guests.

"Interesting!"

Lu Shaolin grinned.

Just as he was about to continue speaking, a burst of commotion came from outside the courtyard.

Ma San glanced at Lu Shaolin, then turned and went to investigate.

The moment he opened the courtyard gate, a crowd of villagers carrying hoes and clubs surged inside.

A middle-aged man in his forties led them.

Seeing their formation, Lu Shaolin found it even more interesting. He picked up the Black Iron Spear and walked over to face the villagers.

Ma San, Feng Tie, and the other four stood on either side of him with sabers in hand.

"You're the leader?"

The middle-aged man at the front asked.

"That's right. Are you planning to attack the Blackwater Gang?"

Lu Shaolin asked with a grin.

Hearing the name Blackwater Gang and seeing Lu Shaolin's powerful build, the middle-aged man clearly became wary, his momentum immediately suppressed.

"We're not here to attack you. We merely ask that you leave. Chen Family Ravine does not need your protection. We can protect our village ourselves."

The middle-aged man said with his head raised, his voice somewhat hysterical.

"That's right, leave at once!"

"We can protect the village ourselves!"

"Go! Go!"

The villagers behind the man all began shouting.

"Boss, someone has clearly incited these villagers. Why don't we leave for now and investigate in secret before deciding what to do?"

Feng Tie leaned close to Lu Shaolin and whispered.

"Heh. Investigate what? We can just ask him directly!"

Lu Shaolin gave a cold laugh, suddenly stepped forward, grabbed the middle-aged man by the throat, and carried him back to where he had been standing.

"Let him go!"

The villagers roared angrily and surged forward.

Ma San, Feng Tie, and the others immediately became flustered.

"Why are you panicking? Beat them!"

Lu Shaolin roared.

Hearing Lu Shaolin's command, the six charged forward, sabers and scabbards alike in hand.

How could ordinary villagers possibly be their opponents? Apart from Li Cai, whose skills were poor, the other five all knew martial arts, and Feng Tie had even reached Early Skin Tempering.

For a time, the six beat the villagers until they scattered in panic, covering their heads like rats.

Lu Shaolin chuckled and looked at the man dangling from his hand.

The man's face had turned purple by now, his feet kicking wildly. He was not far from passing out.

Lu Shaolin loosened his fingers. With a bang, the man fell to the ground, clutching his throat and coughing incessantly.

"I'll ask, and you'll answer. My patience is limited, so tell me the truth."

Lu Shaolin sat back down on the stone chair and stared at the man.

"Cough, cough... cough..."

The man looked at Lu Shaolin in terror. Remembering the suffocating feeling from earlier, he hurriedly nodded, no longer showing his previous hysterics.

"Who sent you here?"

Lu Shaolin asked calmly.

"It... it was Yellow Immortal. He said you would bring disaster, so we came of our own accord."

The man hurriedly replied.

"Yellow Immortal? Who is Yellow Immortal? A fortune-teller?"

Lu Shaolin asked in confusion.

Could he be one of Ouyang Sheng's lackeys?

"He... he isn't human! He's an immortal!"

The man replied.

Not human? Then he was some kind of demon or evil spirit!