Situ Feng: "I see. Xiaoyue, you are still as kind as ever. I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful."
Li Xi: "Big brother is too modest, let's go."
"Did you run into any trouble?"
"No, those were just a rabble. It's just that someone took Li Tianba away. Will Godfather be angry?"
"No, all Godfather wanted were those supplies. Those bandits are gone now."
Situ Feng knew that his godfather was just using those bandits to create momentum.
After they finished speaking, the two left.
Unaware that someone was following them, Qin Xiaolin was momentarily stunned when he saw Li Xi dressed as a woman.
It turns out that it was indeed the Red Lotus Sect who took her away, but why did Xiaoxi lose her memory?
The next day, news of the Red Lotus Sect's annihilation of Tiger Stronghold spread throughout Sichuan, drawing unanimous praise from the people.
"Have you heard? Those tyrants of Weihu Village, who used to bully the people and commit all sorts of evil deeds, were wiped out by the Red Lotus Sect last night!" An old man stroked his beard as he vividly recounted the story to the villagers sitting in a circle.
"Yes, I've also heard that the leader of the Red Lotus Sect is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also compassionate and determined to eradicate injustice in the world and bring peace to us ordinary people!" A young woman chimed in, her eyes sparkling with hope.
"Are you out of your minds? How dare you speak up for the Red Lotus Sect?" a middle-aged man said in a low voice.
His brows were furrowed, clearly indicating a deeper concern for the current situation. "However, on the other hand, the actions of the Red Lotus Sect are indeed gratifying. How many families have been ruined by the people of Tiger Stronghold, and how many innocent people have been bullied by them? Now they have finally been brought to justice, which is a just punishment from heaven."
“That being said, the Red Lotus Sect has always acted in a mysterious and unpredictable manner, and the imperial court is quite wary of them. This move will likely cause another uproar.” A young man who looked like a scholar shook his head worriedly.
"So what if there's trouble? It's better than letting those bullies continue to run rampant and oppress the people!" A young man stood up indignantly. "If the Red Lotus Sect can truly bring peace to the world, I'll be the first to support them!"
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, but some also looked worried.
Because of the evil deeds committed by Weihu Village, merchants in Sichuan were afraid of being robbed, so they dared not travel out to trade.
It's winter now, a time of scarcity. If we don't hurry up and start trading, we risk losing our goods.
So they had no choice but to brave the bitter cold and set off on their way to other towns with their goods.
Li Xi and Situ Feng followed behind them and asked, "Brother, are you going to Pengle Town? Could you hitch a ride with us?"
The caravan leader was a middle-aged man with rough skin but resolute eyes.
He stopped and looked back at Li Xi and Situ Feng, two young men whose clothes, though not fancy, were neat and tidy, and secretly made a plan in his mind.
The winter wind howled around them, as if even the air itself had frozen into icy blades, but the two young men remained calm and composed, their eyes sparkling with anticipation for the unknown journey ahead.
"Young men, judging from your attire, you don't seem like ordinary travelers." The leader's voice was deep and powerful, revealing a hint of wariness.
Li Xi smiled slightly, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Brother, you have a good eye. To be honest, we are two travelers who have been wandering far and wide. We heard that Pengle Town is a place of great culture and learning, so we came here to search for ancient books and broaden our horizons. However, the roads are slippery in winter, making it difficult to walk. Therefore, we would like to hitch a ride with you, so that we can exchange ideas about local customs and culture along the way. Would that be convenient for you?"
Situ Feng nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, the team leader felt somewhat relieved.
The two men spoke politely and behaved properly; they did not seem like bad people.
Furthermore, having two more people means more support, and in this chaotic world, mutual assistance is always safer than traveling alone.
So he nodded and said, "In that case, you two young men will come with us. However, there will be many inconveniences along the way, so please bear with us."
"Thank you very much, brother! We will do our best to help and will not cause any trouble for the caravan." Li Xi and Situ Feng thanked each other at the same time.
With the leader's command, the caravan set off again.
The wheels crunched on the snow, making a creaking sound that contrasted sharply with the silence of the distant mountains and forests.
Li Xi had been dressed as a woman since she woke up, but she had changed into men's clothing to deal with the merchants. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity with this attire.
She and Situ Feng sat on a wagon at the back of the caravan, enjoying the snowy scenery along the way while chatting with the other members of the caravan.
But ever since the Weihu Village bandits were wiped out, other bandits in Sichuan seemed to have disappeared overnight, and the previously rampant looting incidents also decreased significantly.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats broke the silence, approaching from afar and shattering the momentary peace and tranquility.
Li Xi and Situ Feng exchanged a glance, both seeing wariness in each other's eyes.
The caravan members stopped what they were doing and looked in the direction from which the sound came, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Leave your goods and money, and we'll spare your lives!" With a rough shout, a group of bandits dressed in shabby clothes rushed out from the woods.
They were skilled horsemen, armed with long swords and bows and arrows, and were clearly well-prepared.
"I've been waiting for you all," Li Xi said, unable to contain herself any longer.
Seeing those arrogant bandits reignited her bloodlust.
"Please spare my life, sir! These are just some small tools, not worth much." The leader trembled as he pulled out a bag of silver from his pocket. "This is my humble offering to you gentlemen."
He originally thought that after the people of Weihu Village were wiped out, the remaining bandits would become more restrained.
They were hoping to make some money by trading before the New Year, but they were unlucky enough to run into this mess. What should they do?
The team leader broke out in a cold sweat; these goods had cost him most of his savings.
The bandit leader remained unmoved: "I want both the money and the goods! I advise you to leave obediently, or don't blame me for being impolite if I hurt you."
Upon hearing this, Li Xi's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Hmph, you petty thief, how dare you act so arrogantly here!" Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Upon seeing this, the accompanying guards straightened their backs, gripped their weapons tightly, and prepared to fight at any moment.
Upon seeing this, the bandit leader's expression changed slightly, but he immediately sneered, "Hmph, a mere few caravan guards dare to oppose our Black Wind Stronghold? Brothers, charge! Leave no one alive!"
At his command, the bandits charged toward the caravan with shouts.
Long swords were brandished, arrows were fired in unison, and the air was thick with the stench of blood and tension.
However, Li Xi moved through the battlefield with the agility of a cheetah.
Her swordsmanship was both fast and accurate; each swing of her sword was accompanied by the fall of a bandit.
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