Not long after Shangguan Jin left, Ouyang Feng, Ouyang Wan, and Yin Shihuai came to bid farewell to Song Xia.

“Master’s wife…” Ouyang Wan hugged her, standing up for her, “Master is too domineering and too heartless.”

"It's nothing. I just don't want to have a conflict with him right now. He can't control me."

"No matter what, he doesn't even give you, Master's wife, the slightest bit of face. This position of Valley Master was passed down to him by your father!"

"Alright, don't say things like that in the future. After all, he is your master. If outsiders hear this, it will not be good for your reputation."

“But we’ll have to turn against Master sooner or later, won’t we?” Yin Shihuai said directly. “Master’s temperament will not change, and he will never let you, Master’s wife, take the lead. And you, Master’s wife, will not allow him to harm the disciples in the valley, so what’s so important about reputation?”

"Shihuai, after all, he was the one who saved you from the Yin family back then. You especially cannot openly oppose him. As for the matter of turning against him, just leave it to your master's wife. At that time, you will both be disciples who have no other choice and are caught in a dilemma."

“Master’s wife…” Ouyang Feng frowned in disapproval, “This is not fair to you at all.”

"Whether it's fair or not, time will tell. He and I are of the same generation, so it's not that serious. By the way, Feng'er, how are your injuries?"

"After taking the medicine, I'm much better now."

"That's good. Your safety is my greatest wish. On this trip, learn more, observe more, and speak and act less, understand?"

"I know, Master's wife, don't worry!"

“Although Shi Huai is the junior brother, I am the least worried about him. You are resourceful and not easily swayed. Whenever you discover something, you can communicate with your senior brother and junior sister and teach them how to judge people.”

Compared to when he first arrived, Yin Shihuai was much more cheerful and showed great trust and obedience to Song Xia: "Yes, disciple understands."

Song Xia continued, "Feng'er, you are the eldest brother. Among the three of you, you have the highest martial arts skills. So no matter what happens, don't leave your junior sister and junior brother casually. Also, although you are calm and composed, you have not seen the dangers of the world. Therefore, when you encounter something outside, think twice before acting and discuss it with your junior brother."

Ouyang Feng nodded seriously, clearly having taken it to heart.

Ouyang Wan asked impatiently, "Master's wife, what about me? What instructions did you give me?"

Song Xia smiled slightly and tapped her nose: "You, you mustn't be spoiled. Listen to your senior brother and junior brother more. Although you are a girl, you were also taught by me, Song Xia, so you can't just rely on your senior brother and junior brother when things happen, understand?"

Ouyang Wan wrinkled her nose: "Master's wife, you underestimate me too much."

“Your master’s wife is not looking down on you. It’s just that being away from home is not the same as being in the valley. Ouyang Zhen is not a very considerate person, so there must be many things you are not used to. Your master’s wife is just worried about you.”

Ouyang Wan said earnestly, "Master's wife, no matter how hard it is, I will not complain. There are many women in the world who have it harder than me. I am more fortunate than them. With your guidance, Master's wife, what more could I ask for? If I can't even endure this little bit of hardship, how will I help you in the future?"

Song Xia sighed, "Judging by your ages, the three of you are still children, but the world forces you to grow up. Go on, your master's wife will wait for you to return safely."

The three of them clasped their hands in greeting: "Master's wife, please take care."

Song Ling was very efficient. The manpower and supplies that Ouyang Zhen needed were prepared for him in just one day. He didn't even think about why it went so smoothly.

You should know that although Linghe Valley is strong, it is still just a Jianghu force. How could it have been so efficient in the past?

He may have been in the position of Valley Master for too long, and he was too determined to obtain the title of Martial Arts Alliance Leader, so he felt that whatever his request was, it was reasonable for his subordinates to do it for him.

He mounted his horse with great enthusiasm and rode away at full speed.

As soon as he left, Song Xia came out of the courtyard, and none of the disciples in the valley dared to say a word.

They sped along the road. At first, Ouyang Wan and the others were very excited, but gradually the happy expressions on their faces disappeared, replaced by worry and fear.

The people outside Linghe City were completely different from those they usually saw. Their faces were numb and desolate. Although they were still alive, they seemed to be dead, on the verge of death, with no hope for the future.

That night, they stopped to rest at the deserted temple, the three of them huddled around a small fire: "Senior Brother, Junior Brother, did you see what happened during the day?"

“I saw it.” Ouyang Feng’s expression was also very heavy. “I saw it with my own eyes, and it’s more serious than my master’s wife said.”

Yin Shihuai's voice was hoarse: "When I was first brought back to Linghe Valley, the outside world wasn't this bad, yet it deteriorated so rapidly."

"Aren't there any martial arts forces in charge of this area?"

“My master’s wife said long ago that there are very few martial arts forces like our Linghe Valley that care about the people in the city, and there are only a handful of major sects in the martial arts world.”

"What about the imperial court? Without the interference of martial arts forces, wouldn't the imperial court be able to govern it perfectly?"

"The current imperial court only knows how to exploit, not how to manage. Moreover, not all martial artists protect ordinary people like our Linghe Valley. Even if the imperial court does its job and governs this place well, the land is far away and there will be martial artists with ill intentions who will covet this fertile land."

"How could martial arts practitioners be so despicable? Instead of doing chivalrous deeds, they bully the common people?"

"Otherwise, how could cults exist? Some people think that because they have learned martial arts, they are superior to ordinary people."

Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Wan's values ​​were rebuilt once again, and both of them gripped their sword hilts tightly.

"Rest early and don't think too much. We still have a long journey ahead tomorrow. The further we go from the righteous sects of the martial arts world, the more difficult the lives of the people will be. Thinking about it is useless. We just need to follow in Master's wife's footsteps in the future."

"Junior brother, you're right."

"What are you three talking about?" Ouyang Zhen suddenly called out to them, and the three of them tensed up.

Ouyang Feng stood up and said, "It's nothing, Master. We just wanted to chat about what we've seen and heard along the way."

Ouyang Zhen's aloof expression remained unchanged: "Tell me your thoughts?"

"I felt that the common people were suffering terribly and the world was in chaos."

"Yes, it's rare that you can enjoy yourselves in Linghe Valley and still think about the people of the world. It is precisely because the world is in chaos that we need someone like your teacher to run for the leader of the martial arts alliance and save the people in the future."

Not only Ouyang Feng and his two companions, but also the other fifty disciples were speechless. How dare you speak so boldly! You haven't made any other preparations. Do you think that just by sitting on the position of martial arts alliance leader, you can achieve great success? If it were that easy, the evil cult would be comparable to the righteous sects united. Why don't they take over the world?