The brave villagers
Li Qi stood at the edge of the square, watching the female villagers training in the square and near the bamboo grove.
He noticed their greatest weakness: although they were in excellent physical condition, the kung fu they practiced, or rather the martial arts movements they trained in, were highly impractical and felt like flashy moves with little substance.
They looked like killing techniques, yet required real effort and grueling practice to master.
Seeing this, Li Qi reflected that the village was isolated, after all, with little contact with the outside world. Everything was passed down through a single lineage, to the point that they had lost their ability to compete and boldly strive for improvement. Things needed to change.
That would require Xu Wenwu to train these isolated female villagers and forge close ties between the Ten Rings and Ta Lo Village. Only then could Ta Lo Village improve its combat strength more effectively, and they would need modern weapons as well.
At that thought, Li Qi could not help silently giving himself a thumbs-up for his excellent idea.
Looking back, he saw Xu Wenwu and his daughter following a short distance behind. Li Qi waved Xu Wenwu over and told him his idea.
As Li Qi's loyal puppet, Xu Wenwu naturally nodded in agreement. Once the evil creatures had been dealt with, a small squad from the Ten Rings would be stationed here temporarily to teach the villagers genuine killing techniques and kung fu.
Li Qi had seen the Ten Rings' combat squads before. Almost all of their members had a strong foundation in kung fu and rarely used modern firearms.
When the people training in the square saw the new village chief arrive, they trained even harder and more diligently.
After the two mature young women at his side accompanied their master as he watched for a while, Li Qi returned to the village chief's residence. Once he entered the courtyard's small gate, Xu Wenwu and Xu Xialing naturally took their positions at the entrance again, acting as guards and bodyguards.
Li Qi brought Ying Li and Ying Nan back to the bedroom and sat down on the bamboo bed.
A short while later, looking through the window at the distant dragon-scale seal and sensing the evil energy seeping from the seal on the other side, Li Qi knew that although it would still be some time before it truly broke open, the best approach was to attack. He would deal with this hidden threat that afternoon.
Having made up his mind, Li Qi sent the sisters to the rear kitchen to prepare lunch. The two women put on their clothes and naturally obeyed their master's command.
Li Qi also had Yue Ying Li call in the father and daughter at the gate so he could discuss the afternoon's arrangements with Xu Wenwu: the two of them, along with seven suits of powered armor, would bravely battle the evil creatures from another world, each with their own assigned duties.
The three women went to the kitchen and soon prepared an exquisite lunch. Li Qi discussed matters with Xu Wenwu and the artificial intelligence JARVIS. There was no particularly significant plan, just one word: kill. They would charge in, wipe out the evil creatures, and reinforce the seal. It was simple and straightforward.
At their master's gesture, everyone sat down on either side of the table, and lunch was soon polished off. The sisters were fairly good cooks. Within this enclosed, mysterious space, the waters held delicious fish, and fine rice, corn, and other crops were grown. They were just like ordinary crops in the outside world, except that, nourished by the special energy here, they naturally tasted exceptionally delicious.
After lunch, Li Qi had the three women stay in the residence. He and Xu Wenwu were in the air, with seven suits of armor in yellow, white, and gold controlled by JARVIS following behind their master.
The group pushed open the residence's main gate and headed outside. The three women, naturally, did not obey their master's order to remain in the residence, instead staying close to his side as they reached the street.
The villagers coming and going soon noticed the new village chief's movements. Ying Nan told them that the chief was going to deal with the hidden threat at the sealed mountain opposite them.
The villagers naturally took up weapons of their own accord, changed back into fitted outfits and short tunics suited for combat, and carried wooden staffs fitted with dragon scales and bows and arrows as they followed behind the village chief in a great procession.
By the time they reached the edge of the village, almost all the villagers had gathered, numbering a full two or three thousand. Spirits ran exceptionally high, and excitement filled the scene.
Li Qi stopped, his expression serious, and turned to look at the villagers around him, their faces delicate, beautiful, or mature. He addressed them loudly.
"Villagers, you have stood guard here for tens of thousands of long years. Your mission is now complete. As the new village chief, I will shoulder this responsibility. I will now deal with the evil creatures behind the seal. Once the seal has been reinforced, Ta Lo Village will surely become more peaceful, harmonious, and powerful. Now, all of you, go back!"
Li Qi took on the responsibility and likewise earned the respect and support of all the villagers.
The villagers looked at Chief Li Qi with eager, respectful eyes. Although the chief had ordered them to go back, almost no one stopped, continuing toward the lake not far from the village.
Across the lake lay rolling ridges and high mountains, with the towering dragon-scale seal standing in their midst.
Originally bright red, the dragon-scale seal had turned dark red after being worn down by the long years. Wisps of black smoke drifted from it from time to time. The encroaching dark power had already left it in a precarious state, and the dragon-scale seal could be breached at any moment. This was also the problem that had troubled the villagers of Ta Lo Village and occupied their research for the past several decades.
Li Qi repeatedly tried to persuade the villagers, not wanting them to take part in this battle, but they continued to follow closely behind him without the slightest retreat or hesitation.
The villagers knew that guarding the seal had been their duty for generations. Now that the seal was about to be destroyed, they certainly would not leave.
Sensing the villagers' simple sincerity and firm resolve, Li Qi said no more. He quietly ordered JARVIS to make protecting the villagers' lives the armor's primary objective and eliminating the evil creatures its secondary objective. The villagers' safety had to be ensured.
Looking at these female villagers, Li Qi felt a heartfelt fondness for their quiet, unassuming nature. JARVIS naturally obeyed his master's wishes, and the suits of armor had already spread out, some flying through the sky and others assuming offensive stances on the ground.
Seeing such advanced combat armor, all the female villagers could not help feeling admiration and respect for their new village chief.
Everyone held dragon-scale wooden staffs and dragon-scale bows and arrows as they advanced slowly, approaching the long river and lake not far in front of the village.
Li Qi waved a hand, telling everyone to stop beside the lake for now. The divine dragon that guarded the village had yet to emerge from the depths. Li Qi was somewhat curious; the guardian dragon should have leaped out of the water to fight alongside them by now. He also wanted to experience what it felt like to ride on the divine dragon's back as a divine dragon warrior.