Delivering the Message

As the first ray of sunlight struck the jujube forest on Stone Man Peak, Zhang Xiaohua's eyes also opened. Something flickered in his dark pupils, gone in an instant.

Zhang Xiaohua didn't get up immediately as usual. Instead, he lay on the kang, closing his eyes again. His cheek, swollen from being beaten, no longer stung as fiercely as it had last night. His split lip barely hurt unless he deliberately moved it. His physical wounds would heal over time, but what about the wounds in his heart?

Zhang Xiaohua's mind replayed the events of yesterday afternoon like a revolving lantern. Father's decision to hold Eldest Brother back was not wrong. Father had spoken the truth: one shouldn't meddle in matters beyond their capabilities; impulsive bravery could lead to death. Eldest Brother stepping forward to intervene was also not wrong. Although Miss Liu was only an acquaintance, they had helped each other. Even if she were a stranger, seeing a young woman being dragged away and defiled by wicked people, if they hadn't acted then, it might have become a thorn in their hearts, impossible to remove for a lifetime.

He thought of the onlookers, so many people, their indifferent, curious, and sympathetic faces. Did they not want to step forward and intervene?

He then thought of the two short, fat men and the group of house servants, acting like vicious dogs, arrogantly and domineeringly committing evil deeds in front of so many people.

He thought of Father and his two brothers being trampled underfoot, subjected to punches and kicks. Perhaps those wicked servants hadn't intended to kill them, only to amuse themselves, using their bodies as tools for pleasure, their blood igniting their excitement. But what if those wicked servants had wanted their lives? Could they have escaped?

He then thought of Wen Wenhai and his Junior Sister descending from the sky, effortlessly defeating the group of wicked servants. The two of them hadn't even revealed their names to that Zhao Wansheng. With just a few moves of martial arts and a token, the two arrogant bullies were captured and readily apologized.

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning: Martial Arts!

I need strength. I need martial arts.

This time, it was because they encountered Senior Brother Wen Wenhai and his Junior Sister, who acted righteously to save them. If they hadn't intervened, his own family would have been beaten at best, or their lives would have been in danger at worst. Relying on others was unreliable. They had to rely on themselves. Only when they had strength could they protect themselves and their loved ones, and even have the capacity to help others.

Zhang Xiaohua's chest suddenly felt open. The gloom that had weighed on him since yesterday instantly cleared. Like clearing virgin land, with a goal, everything became manageable. What he lacked wasn't perseverance or a fear of hardship, but direction. With direction, they could strive to achieve it.

Having decided on his path of struggle, Zhang Xiaohua could no longer stay in bed. He nimbly got up from the kang and walked out of his grandmother's small house, facing the sun.

The excited Zhang Xiaohua didn't know that martial arts couldn't possibly be cultivated so easily. Inheritance, talent, perseverance, opportunity – without any one of them, it wouldn't work. But what young man doesn't have his own dreams? What young man isn't full of youthful vigor and ambition? Regardless of success or failure, the impulses of youth are all the same. It's just that everyone's path is different; only by walking it can one know right from wrong.

Our Zhang Xiaohua is no different!

Zhang Xiaohua walked out of the small house and saw his grandmother sitting at the doorway. He approached and said, "Grandmother, it's still early, and the wind outside is cool. Please go back inside. You can come out to sunbathe closer to noon."

Hearing her grandson's voice, his grandmother said affectionately, "Xiaohua, your grandmother wants to breathe in the outside air a little more. Grandmother lives one day at a time and doesn't want to stay cooped up in the small house every day. As for you, does your body still hurt? You should rest in bed a bit longer."

Zhang Xiaohua said cheerfully, "Grandmother, I'm all better. You can feel my face; it's not swollen anymore."

Zhang Xiaohua took his grandmother's rough hand and placed it on his face. His grandmother carefully felt it and smiled, saying, "Good, good, it's good that you're better." After speaking, she wiped her moist eyes with her sleeve, clearly still doting on her youngest grandson.

In the courtyard, Guo Sufi was busy at the stove under the makeshift shed outside. Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue were also helping nearby. The two of them looked very happy, though Liu Qian still seemed a little shy. That's right, Zhang Xiaohua wiped his eyes and looked closely. Indeed, Liu Qian's face was still flushed. Strange, what was going on?

Zhang Xiaohua had no idea that Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue had woken up before dawn. Not being accustomed to staying at someone else's home, they couldn't fall back asleep. Fearing they would disturb Guo Sufi, they whispered to each other, talking about yesterday's events and feeling fortunate to have escaped disaster. Liu Qian felt particularly grateful to Zhang Xiaolong. If he hadn't rushed forward to intervene in time, it would have been terrible if the two bullies had dragged them into the alley. Moreover, Zhang Xiaolong was unarmed, using his own body to protect two weak women. Although he was severely injured, his face was still filled with a determined expression, deeply imprinted in her heart.

Before long, Guo Sufi also woke up. She listened to the two girls talking without interrupting. Seeing that it was getting light, she coughed a few times and sat up. The two girls quickly got up as well. Last night, Guo Sufi was anxious about her family's injuries, and the lighting was poor, so she hadn't examined the two girls closely. Now that it was light and her family's injuries had stabilized, she had the chance to size them up. Both girls were very beautiful and had good figures. Although their heights differed, they each had their own unique charm, like plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums. It was only natural, after all, if they didn't have some beauty, how could they be molested on the street? Then, Zhang Xiaolong's mother began to inquire about the girls' backgrounds. She learned that Liu Qian's family consisted of only three people: her father and brother. Her mother had passed away from illness several years ago. Liu Qian's father was a teacher, and her brother was also a frail scholar. They didn't own much land and relied on teaching for a living, enjoying a respectable reputation in the village. Liu Yueyue was Liu Qian's cousin. Her father was a butcher and Liu Qian's father's younger brother. They lived in the same village. Liu Yueyue's parents were both alive, and she was their only daughter. Yesterday, Liu Qian's family had visitors, so her father and brother were entertaining them. Liu Yueyue's father was busy with his business, so no one accompanied the two sisters to the market, which led to yesterday's situation. The three women shared many intimate conversations. Guo Sufi even asked if the two girls were engaged. Both replied no. Liu Yueyue didn't seem to mind, but Liu Qian's face turned completely red. Seeing Liu Qian's shy expression, Guo Sufi couldn't help but feel delighted.

As dawn broke, Guo Sufi got up to prepare breakfast, and the two young women also lent a hand. After some busy work, Liu Qian's blush hadn't completely faded, and Zhang Xiaohua finally noticed a hint of it.

Zhang Xiaohua walked to the stove and said, "Good morning to both of you, sisters."

It was a very ordinary greeting, but Liu Qian heard the sensitive word "sisters" and felt as if her thoughts had been discovered by this younger brother. Her blush deepened. Liu Yueyue happily replied, "Good morning, little brother."

Zhang Xiaohua asked about his father and brother. Guo Sufi said they had been checked and there was no change. Their external injuries had lightened, and they hadn't fully recovered their strength yet. They would likely get up soon.

As they were speaking, Zhang Cai came out of the house, holding a wooden stick as a crutch, limping as if his right leg was uncomfortable. Guo Sufi and Zhang Xiaohua went to meet him. Zhang Xiaohua fetched a chair for his father and placed it in the courtyard, helping Zhang Cai to sit down. He stretched, his back aching, and grimaced.

Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue stepped forward to pay their respects. Zhang Cai repeatedly told them not to bother. Then he said, "The two young ladies didn't return last night; your families must be worried. We men are all injured, and Xiaohua alone cannot escort you back. I think it would be best to have Xiaohua and someone from the village deliver a message to your homes to have them pick you up. What do you think?"

Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue looked at each other and both agreed.

Afterward, Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohua went into the village to find a grown man. The two of them then went to Baligou to deliver the message to Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue's homes.

Baligou was located southwest of Guo Village, quite a distance away. By the time Zhang Xiaohua and the others arrived at Baligou, it was nearly noon. Baligou was a village built between two large mountains. From the outside, its scale was considerable, about four to five times that of Guo Village. The village was also densely populated and quite lively. As Zhang Xiaohua approached the village entrance, someone saw him and asked who he was looking for. Zhang Xiaohua said he was looking for Mr. Liu, the teacher. The person looked wary but, seeing Zhang Xiaohua's even more humble attire and the honest farmer following behind him, asked, "Where are you from? What's the matter with looking for Mr. Liu?"

Zhang Xiaohua replied, "We are from Guo Village, bringing news of Sister Liu Qian and Sister Liu Yueyue to Mr. Liu."

Upon hearing this, the person rejoiced and said, "Is that so? Good, follow me quickly."

With that, he led Zhang Xiaohua and the others at a brisk pace to a neat small courtyard. Before they even reached the entrance, he shouted loudly, "Mr. Liu, Butcher Liu, there's news about your daughters!"

From inside the courtyard, a loud voice rang out, "Ah, a letter from the bandits? Let me see which rascal did this!" Following the voice, a burly man, two heads taller than Zhang Xiaohua, jumped out of the courtyard and grabbed Zhang Xiaohua by the neck, saying, "Which bandits are you from? Speak, speak." Zhang Xiaohua, unable to breathe, his face turning red, how could he speak? The man who accompanied Zhang Xiaohua and the guide were about to intervene when someone else came out of the courtyard and said, "Second brother, can't you be less impulsive? Look at this kid, his demeanor, his clothes, does he look like a bandit? Even if he were a bandit, you should let him speak."

The burly man chuckled and released his grip, saying, "Big brother, aren't I worried about my daughter's safety? Aren't you worried?"

Zhang Xiaohua took several deep breaths, and his complexion slowly returned to normal. Looking at the two men, he knew that the one who spoke unhurriedly was Liu Qian's father, Mr. Liu, and the one who had grabbed him just now was likely Liu Yueyue's father, Butcher Liu.