Chapter 166 Bullying the Weak? My Wife Helps Me (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Li Xian's killing intent was pure, vowing to behead him; his blade was incomparably sharp. But suddenly, an unexpected change occurred; the blade fell fiercely, shattering rocks and tiles, sending sand and dust flying, leaving a mess, yet no blood was splattered.
Cao Kai had been rescued and, in the blink of an eye, was hanging high up in a roadside restaurant. He was still unconscious and looked disheveled. He was completely devoid of the arrogance of a member of the Cao family; his trousers were wet and reeked of a foul odor.
Li Xian reacted quickly and immediately threw three darts.
Suddenly, a "whoosh" sounded, and from somewhere, a pebble flew in, first knocking down one dart, then, using its trajectory, knocking down two more. The skill was truly miraculous. Seeing this, Li Xian knew that another formidable enemy had appeared, and killing Cao Kai would no longer be easy.
"Eighth Elder!"
Cao Nu knelt and kowtowed five times. The Cao soldiers followed closely behind, putting down their weapons and respectfully kowtowing. At the front of the crowd, an elderly man had appeared.
His hair was white, his body hunched, his face square and his eyes narrow, exuding an imposing aura even without anger. Leaning on a jade staff with a coiled dragon, he stood there, his presence commanding respect from all directions.
This person is Cao Yuan, an elder of the eighth clan of the Cao family.
It was quite a coincidence.
The affairs of Qingning County have fallen on Cao Kai's shoulders. Having been nurtured by his clan since childhood, Cao Kai should find dealing with the unruly villagers extremely easy. The clan, under no circumstances, would send an elder to protect him; that would be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, wasting clan resources.
Cao Kai was not a prodigy in his clan. What merit or ability did he possess to receive such an honor?
Therefore… this elder of the Cao family was indeed just passing by. He originally had other matters to attend to, needing to head southeast to participate in some event. But he happened to pass through Qingning County and witnessed today's scene.
Since they were both from the Cao family, he readily helped them.
Cao Yuan nodded slightly, looking at Li Xian. He saw that Li Xian had an impressive appearance and, despite his young age, already possessed unparalleled martial arts skills. Although Cao Kai was useless, he was right about one thing: this boy could be taken as a slave.
He said, "Would you be willing to be my servant?"
Cao Nuwu stepped forward and whispered a reminder: "Eighth Elder, this person... this person is an enemy of the Cao family. He killed Cao Yun and almost killed Cao Kai, causing the loss of dozens of Cao soldiers. How can we grant him this favor?"
Upon hearing this, Cao Yuan frowned, then relaxed, and calmly asked, "Is what he said true?"
Li Xian slowly reached for his longsword, knowing that this enemy was formidable and that he had no choice but to fight to the death to survive. He thought to himself, "I only have five zhang of internal energy left. If a fight breaks out, I need to immediately use the Remnant Sun and Decaying Blood Sword. I should first use words to restrain him and recover my strength."
Despite facing a formidable enemy, he forced himself to remain calm and said, "So what if it's true?"
“You are young and unruly, but mistakes can be corrected and you can turn back to the right path.” Cao Yuan said calmly, “Since that is the case, you will become my servant and bear the burden of thorns for ten years to atone for your sins.”
The Cao family's "thorn armor" was used to punish rebellious and wicked individuals. The outer side was smooth and rounded, sturdy and unbreakable, capable of withstanding knives and spears. The inner side was entirely covered in fine thorns. Once worn, the thorns would pierce the body, causing a bloody mess, making it extremely difficult to remove.
Moreover, the thorns are poisonous and cause unbearable itching. Without Cao's secret medicine, the itching and pain are unbearable, and there is nowhere to scratch. It drives people to the brink of madness, despair, and death.
Without consulting Li Xian, Cao Yuan asked Cao Nuwu, "Is there any thorn armor here?"
Cao Nuwu said, "Yes...yes." A soldier from the Cao family stepped forward, took off his clothes, and revealed his inner armor.
Cao Yuan said, "From now on, you no longer need to wear this armor. Take it off."
The soldier felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He knelt down and kowtowed more than a dozen times, his head bleeding and tears streaming down his face. He was so grateful that he took off all his clothes.
The thorn armor covered his chest, abdomen, and back, clinging tightly to his skin. The other four Cao soldiers, upon receiving the order, each stepped forward and stood in the four cardinal directions.
The four men then had eight hands, each reaching out to touch eight different parts of the armor, their fingers hooking onto the eight hidden clasps.
They exchanged a glance, silently recited three times, and simultaneously unlocked eight hidden clasps. The thorn armor mechanism was broken, and they could finally remove it. As soon as the thorn armor was slightly removed from their bodies, the Cao soldier wailed in agony.
Blood was spilled all over the ground.
The thorns of the thorn armor are thin, long, dense, and tough.
Deeply embedded in the flesh, as if taking root and sprouting. To forcibly remove it now is like pulling weeds, where the roots inevitably carry soil with them.
At this moment, the thorns were mixed with flesh and blood! It was said to be removing armor, but in reality, it was slicing flesh!
The Cao soldier removed his thorn armor, revealing himself to be covered in blood, a horrifying sight. Fine thorns had torn through the flesh of his chest and abdomen, exposing his ribs, fascia, and lungs.
However, this thorn armor, while cruel, is also extremely ingenious. It avoids tendons, bones, blood vessels, and internal organs. Although this Cao soldier's injuries are severe, his internal organs are still visible. As long as the bleeding is stopped, he can still live.
Everyone was horrified by this scene.
“Very good, very good.” Cao Yuan said to Li Xian, “Come before me, kneel down and put on this armor. From now on, you will be my servant for ten years. After you have cleansed your sins, you may change your surname to Cao and be named Nu San.”
Li Xian remained calm and collected. With the Perfected Sunset Blood Sword and his double pupils, he could fight with all his might and might be able to hold his own. Moreover, he had life-saving yang energy, the Azure Water Pearl beside him, and was near a lake... Li Xian calmly analyzed the situation and had already calculated his route.
Just then, he suddenly smiled, seemingly unimportant, and said, "Old fool, are you that powerful?"
Cao Yuan calmly said, "You have just entered the realm of food essence and have not yet left this barren land. You are like a frog in a well looking at the sky. In the future, when you reach the second realm of martial arts and leave this poor county, if you have even a sliver of opportunity, you will be able to gain a foothold in the prefectural city. Only then will you know the vastness of my power, the immensity of the world, and how rare today's opportunity is."
Li Xian smiled and said, "Then may I ask, senior, how does your immense power compare to that of Lady Broken Sword?"
He took a step back, positioning himself directly behind the lady.
Just now, the lady used her Qi to transmit her voice, and when he heard her voice, he knew that Cao Yuan was going to be in trouble.
Cao Yuan's pupils contracted, and he stared intently, as if encountering a ghost. Only now did he realize the figure of Madam Wen. Previously, he had been confident in his profound cultivation, his aura as imposing as Mount Tai, dominating all directions.
With a calm expression, he made life-or-death decisions. At this moment, that calm face finally showed emotion. There was even a hint of panic.
Madam Wen walked slowly, her beauty unparalleled, her expression aloof. "If I were to see you, would I be like a frog in a well peering at the sky, or an ant trying to see the heavens?"
Cao Yuan took a half step back, gripping his scepter tightly. Sweat beaded on his forehead; he had lost all composure. Lady Wen, dressed in flowing white robes that trailed on the ground, was spotless. She circled Li Xian, her fingers entwining around his neck.
Without glancing at Cao Yuan, she asked, "Li Xian, what do you think?"
Li Xian respectfully replied, "I dare not speak presumptuously."
"I'll show you what you're got." Lady Wen glanced coldly at Cao Yuan. "This man just bullied you. Tell me... how do you want to vent your anger? Do you want to kill him with a single sword stroke, or sever his limbs?"
"You shameless woman, you're far too arrogant!" Cao Yuan couldn't bear this insult. He thought to himself that this person was unpredictable and likely possessed advanced lightness skills, and he was probably no match for him. But he didn't want to be a fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of this person.
Lady Wen sneered. With a flick of her sleeve, she drew her sword, a soft blade that shot out like a white snake. It unexpectedly extended, instantly tightening around Cao Yuan's neck. Cao Yuan was terrified; all his martial arts skills were rendered useless. Blood flowed from his neck, pierced by the sword's edge.
With a slight effort, Madam Wen could have snapped his neck. The difference in their strength was truly like an ant trying to see the sky.
"Li Xian, tell me what to do with him," Madam Wen said softly.
Li Xian swallowed hard, thinking, "I summoned the guards from the manor to have a private duel in the city. My original intention was to finish the fight quickly and then apologize to Madam. I didn't expect to run into that old man Cao Yuan. Knowing Madam's temperament, she's speaking gently right now, she'll definitely blame me. I'm in for a lot of trouble."
After a moment's thought, he said, "I will listen to my wife."
“I will listen to you on this matter,” said Madam Wen.
"Then...then kill him?" Li Xian asked.
“Not enough,” said Madam Wen. “Killing them like this is too easy.”
"How about... cutting off his hands and feet, and sending him back to the Cao residence? What do you think?"
Li Xian said, "Alright!" The moment the words left her lips, Cao Yuan's eyes widened in terror, and he uttered a "No!" as if to beg. But blood splattered everywhere, and his limbs were severed. No one saw Lady Wen's attack.
Cao Yuan tried to cry out in pain, but no sound came out. His throat had been cut off, and he could no longer speak. Cao Kai awoke at this moment and, seeing the dignified elder of the clan in such a miserable state, fainted again in shock.
Madam Wen said, "Put on the thorn armor for him, and carve the words on his face: 'Li Xian Da Ji, Cao family accepts the eight characters.'"
Cao Yuan was filled with terror. He prided himself on being ruthless, wielding power, and possessing a heart as cold as iron. Yet, compared to Lady Wen, he was far inferior. Lady Wen spoke casually, but her words sent chills down one's spine, as if plunging into an ice cave.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Cao Yuan holds a prestigious position and possesses immense strength. Yet, he was easily manipulated by Madam. In terms of ruthlessness, Cao Yuan is no match; in terms of strength, Cao Yuan is even less capable. Madam's order for me to humiliate the Cao family elders in this way is a declaration that I must fight the Cao family to the death."
They had no choice but to obey. They took the thorn armor, pulled aside Cao Yuan's upper garment, and slipped the armor onto his body. Cao Yuan made a series of muffled "Eh" sounds, his pain dull and persistent.
Soon, the armor was donned. Li Xian returned to his wife's side, and Lady Wen nodded, gently saying to the Cao soldiers, "You may take him back to the Cao residence."
Cao Nuwu nodded blankly, then seemed somewhat lost in thought. In this absurd situation… he appeared captivated by this venomous woman, his mind a jumble of complex emotions. Li Xian said, “Madam, I also wish to kill one more person.” Madam Wen asked, “Who?”
“Cao Kai,” Li Xian said.
"You're nothing but ants; decide for yourselves." Madam Wen flicked her sleeve, turned and left. After a few steps, she was gone without a trace, and her melodious voice drifted back from elsewhere: "Return to the manor tonight."
Cao Kai awoke again and saw Li Xian wielding a knife to kill him. He begged for mercy with all his might, but could not escape his fate of being beheaded. He was cut down with a single stroke, his blood splattering across the tavern.
Having experienced this incident, how could the soldiers of Cao and Fu dare to fight again? They all abandoned their weapons and waited for their fate.
Li Xian obeyed his wife's wishes and did not make things difficult for Cao's soldiers and the manor's soldiers, allowing them to take Cao Yuan back to Cao's manor.
The soldiers dared not linger, and asked for a carriage to put Cao Yuan in. They then hurried back to the prefectural city that very night.
Thus, today's matter is temporarily settled. The three schools and two factions scattered in all directions, restless and uneasy, fearing that Li Xian would seek revenge later.
Luo Xia approached, frowning, and asked, "Who was that woman just now?"
“This is my wife.” Li Xian said respectfully, fearing that his wife might still be there.
"She is dangerous, several times more dangerous than the Cao family," Luo Xia warned. "Staying by her side is not a long-term solution. You'd better be careful."
Li Xian smiled bitterly; he knew perfectly well what was going on. If it came down to sentiment, Li Xian was absolutely not grateful to the lady. But if it came down to actions, his entanglement with her was deep. Today's events were indeed a matter of saving his life. He would repay such a debt without hesitation.
He didn't want to talk about it further, so he changed the subject. Today's fierce battle stretched for about ten miles from the east gate to the government office. Several waves of fighting ensued, with more wounded than killed.
Li Xian tallied the casualties and sought ways to compensate and reward them. However, his finances were severely strained, and he was truly penniless. A sudden inspiration struck him, and he wrote several letters, delivering them to the three institutions and two factions respectively.
Let them pay compensation; if they are sincere, the past can be forgiven. The three halls and two factions, being opportunists, would naturally be happy to do so.
Order is gradually being restored in Qingning County.
The wicked county magistrate was executed, and the constables rescued him from prison. Upon hearing of the fates of Cao Kai and Cao Yuan, they felt a great sense of relief and satisfaction.
It was evening.
The setting sun cast a blood-red glow, and Qingning County returned to its bustling state. Li Xian removed his armor and went door-to-door to apologize, his sincerity evident. The daytime battle seemed to have never occurred.
"Luo Xia." Li Xian rode out of the city, about to return to his manor. Luo Xia saw him off, arriving at the city gate.
Luo Xia asked, "What is it?"
Li Xian said, "From today onwards, I will need to stay in the manor more. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend to the affairs of the Martial Commandant's Hall. Are you interested in taking over the position of Deputy Martial Commandant? The monthly salary is... one tael of silver."
"Only one or two taels of silver?" Luo Xia asked with a smile.
"I really don't have the money. I'll consider bringing it up again when I'm successful in the future," Li Xian said with a smile.
"Okay," Luo Xia nodded.
(End of this chapter)
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