The fact that someone could still carry a 24-ribbed oil-paper umbrella at this time shows that they were no ordinary person.

"May I ask which one of you is Boss Xie?" The woman's expression was somewhat arrogant, revealing a sense of superiority ingrained by her privileged upbringing.

Xie Xiao remained calm and composed. "I am who I am. I will not change my name or surname. My surname is Xie and my given name is Xiao."

Li Ruo: ...This sentence sounds familiar, friend.

The woman gave a slight curtsy, saying, "I am the Princess of Yongjia, personally bestowed by His Majesty. My grandfather was the late and renowned Duke of Qing, my father inherited the title, and my elder brother serves as an official in the court—"

"Achoo!" Li Ruo sneezed accidentally. "Sorry, I didn't mean to, please continue."

If it weren't for the refugees blocking her way, she would have loved to go ahead first.

Xie Xiao frowned slightly and looked at the Princess of Yongjia with impatience, "Just say what you want to do. I'm tired of standing and want to go back and lie down."

The magistrate of Yongjia County stiffened: "What I mean is that our Shen family has influence in the court, even before His Majesty. If your Black Wind Stronghold invites us in and treats us as honored guests, I will have my father and brothers petition His Majesty to make your Black Wind Stronghold a regular army of the court, and give you honor and salary."

Xie Xiao: ...

Brothers: ...

It's an honor.

Salary.

Who wouldn't want that?

Yongjia became even more emboldened, "Do you want to be bandits who are always on the run, misunderstood by the world, instead of living with dignity?"

Of course I want to!

The eldest brother and mother of the Xie family would definitely agree wholeheartedly with this statement.

“We can also petition His Majesty to make Xie Xiao a true general of the Great Yin.”

General, how beautiful that sounds.

The Xie family's ancestral graves are practically emitting wisps of smoke.

The brothers of Black Wind Stronghold looked at each other, then at their leader.

Xie Xiao laughed. "That's a really good suggestion."

"Boss—" Sun Ergou said anxiously.

Isn't the eldest brother supposed to be incorruptible by wealth and power, unmoved by poverty and hardship, and determined to stick to one path to the end?

Xie Xiao flicked his bangs and said, "Brothers, kick this woman out of here."

Princess Yongjia, who had been holding her head high, was taken aback by what she heard. "What did you say? Xie Xiao, don't be ungrateful."

"Look at yourselves before you say that," Xie Xiao said with a sneer. "You're treating me like an honored guest? Should I bring you water to wash your feet?"

Sun Ergou: "Do you even deserve to look in the mirror?"

Princess Yongjia's face flushed red, then turned pale, then pale.

In her eighteen years of life, no one had ever been so rude to her.

But her father and brother are still in the capital and have not yet returned to Yuzhou. As the eldest daughter in the family, she must endure humiliation and bear the burden.

"Xie Xiao, if you don't think about yourself, don't you think about the other brothers? Have you asked them if they're willing to join you as bandits?"

Sun Ergou and his brothers shouted in unison, "Sorry, we're willing!"

Xie Xiao grinned, "Did you hear that? We'll earn our own honors, so there's no need for you to bother."

The Lady of Yongjia County could no longer tolerate it. "Don't regret it. We can find other powerful families to cooperate with and forge our own path. Don't say I didn't give you a chance then."

"I wish you well, and I won't see you off."

"You!" Yongjia turned and left, and perhaps in his haste, he almost tripped and fell.

Xie Xiao dropped his grin and looked at the stunned disaster victims.

"Listen up, everyone. It's not impossible for Black Wind Stronghold to help you, but it has to be done according to the rules of Black Wind Stronghold. I haven't thought of the specifics yet, so please wait for two days."

Two days? No way, we'd starve to death in two days.

The refugees wanted to rush forward.

Xie Xiao said, "Swords have no eyes. Anyone who wants to show off their skills in front of Black Wind Stronghold, come on!"

His voice was loud, and his eyes were fierce, completely different from his usual carefree self; he was very intimidating.

A gust of wind blew by, lifting a section of his shirt and revealing a faint white bow tie underneath.

The refugees thought they were seeing things.

But the more they acted this way, the less they dared to move.

They watched helplessly as Xie Xiao led his men up the mountain, while the boats rowed away to the waters behind.

Xie Ying said, "But brother, I think some orphans and widows are quite pitiful."

Li Ruo glanced at her. She had been abducted as a child and suffered a lot, yet she still retained a kind heart, which was rare. It reminded her of a certain Taoist priest.

“Who isn’t pitiful?” Xie Xiao smiled. “But have you noticed that those who receive help are never the most pitiful ones? Without concrete solutions, the outcome might be even worse.”

He looked at Li Ruo and asked, "Hey friend, what suggestions do you have?"

Li Ruo turned her gaze away from the refugees: "Sorry, friend, no."

Of course, this can't go on forever.

Before Xie Xiao could say anything, a brother from Black Wind Stronghold rushed over.

"Boss, there's been a bit of a dispute among the brothers from Zixia Mountain during the resettlement process. Uncle Luo wants you to go back and handle it. Also, those guys that Uncle Zhong from Zixia Mountain rescued without permission accidentally let the pigs out of the pigpen. The Fourth Boss is arguing with them about it. Both sides need you to go and mediate."

Xie Xiao frowned. "So you can't live without me, right? People just can't be too important to you."

Li Ruo laughed and said, "That's why they say a group without a leader is like a dragon without a head. You should go back now."

Maybe your soulmate is inside.

There seems to be a scene where the female lead helps a pig give birth? But she can't quite remember it.

"Why don't you come with me—" Xie Xiao hadn't finished speaking.

At this moment, Chen He, one of Li Ruo's guards, also came down. "Miss Li, Boss, you're back!"

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