Chapter 189: The People are Our Parents
Zui Mochou turned her head and said, "Kids, quickly get them up! We'll talk about the memory later."
Yi Qingxue hurriedly stepped forward and helped Ji Xuan up, saying, "General, please rise!"
Ji Xuan nodded: "Thank you, young master!" He then stood up.
Yi Qingxue's gaze swept over the soldiers, and she said in a crisp voice, "All soldiers, please rise!"
"Thank you, young master!" The shouts echoed throughout the village.
Ji Xuan glanced at Yi Qingxue a few times and asked with concern, "Young Master, why have you lost your memory?"
Yi Qingxue said with distress, "This... I don't know where to begin. I woke up in this farmhouse next door, and I can't remember anything." She thought to herself: It seems my family is indeed not an ordinary family, but... my father...
Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan also frowned, as if he had lost his memory. After a long silence, he looked around at the people of Golden Knife Stronghold and saw that their horses were laden with bulging sacks, bolts of cloth, and some even had things hanging around their necks—garlic and other supplies…
His expression immediately changed, his brows furrowed slightly, and he stretched out his arm to shield the dazed Yi Qingxue behind him, shouting loudly, "Surround them!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the cold glint of swords flashed, and the bows and arrows were nocked again, making the atmosphere tense once more.
“Huh?…” The people from Golden Knife Village looked increasingly nervous.
Yi Qingxue recovered her senses, and Ji Xuan said softly, "Young Master! These people are probably not good people; they are likely bandits. Please stand on my side!"
Seeing how much Ji Xuan cared about her, Yi Qingxue's tense nerves finally relaxed, and a sense of security welled up in her heart. She hummed in agreement and followed beside Ji Xuan.
Seeing this, Zui Mochou pinched his nose and said, "You're quite shrewd and reasonable! But tonight, I'm on their side! As the saying goes, no one is perfect. They were instigated and misled, and made a mistake for a moment. They're not really evil, so don't do anything rash!"
Ji Xuan sneered: "Your words make sense! However, the things they carried on their horses and shoulders were probably the life-saving food for ordinary people! They ruthlessly robbed them, causing innocent people to starve to death. What did the people do wrong? Did they deserve to suffer such a calamity?"
Upon hearing this, the members of Golden Knife Stronghold were immediately filled with shame and lowered their heads. You Tuotu glanced at the two bags of wheat flour on his chest, then looked at Ji Xuan, his eyes also showing regret.
Zui Mochou was helpless. How could he not know the wrong he had done by oppressing the people? But things had already come to this. He pinched his nose and said, "I understand that you are speaking out for your fellow villagers. But I have already killed three of the culprits here! If you still refuse to let them go and insist on fighting, your few hundred men may not be enough to defeat me, an old beggar! Do you really want to fight to the death?!"
Ji Xuan said loudly, "We are paid by the people and fed by the people! The people are our providers! If someone robs our parents, will you allow it?" He suddenly raised his voice and asked sharply at the last sentence.
"No!" the two or three hundred soldiers responded loudly in unison.
Ji Xuan continued, "We also have parents, wives, children, brothers, and sisters! Would you be willing to let them be bullied by bandits?"
"I refuse!" Another loud shout echoed through the village.
"Fight to the death to protect them! Are you afraid?!" Ji Xuan asked three times.
"Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid!" The shouts were overwhelming and stirred people's hearts.
The men of Golden Knife Stronghold felt even more ashamed and all hung their heads. Yi Qingxue looked at the excited soldiers and felt her blood boil as well.
"Sigh, fine! Let's do it! I, Zui Mochou, am determined to handle this matter today!" With a flick of his wine gourd at his waist, Zui Mochou exuded an imposing aura.
Ji Xuan raised an eyebrow and smiled as he cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Senior... so you are the Wine Immortal! I was blind to your greatness, please forgive me!"
"Wait!" Zui Mochou raised his hand and pressed down on his clasped hands, saying calmly, "It's not a matter of blaming them, but if you don't let them go today, we'll inevitably have to fight."
Ji Xuan immediately replied, "Senior has dedicated his life to speaking out for the people, traversing the land to uphold justice and punish evil! Since you are willing to forgive me, how dare I say more!"
Zui Mochou stopped: "Hmm! That was great! I, Old Beggar, thank you on their behalf! Don't worry, I've already chosen a new chieftain for them. If there's any more burning, killing, or looting in the future, I, Old Beggar, will be the first to not let them off the hook!"
“…Clatter clatter clatter…Giddy up…Look over there…” Just then, another group of people carrying torches galloped closer.
The three groups of men, holding torches, stared at each other. Ji Xuan's close guards shouted, "Who are you?"
Chen Qingyun's son, Chen Youliang, looked up and saw Yi Qingxue beside Ji Xuan. His eyes lit up immediately. He quickly dismounted and ran, calling out, "Miss! Uncle Ji!"
Upon seeing that the visitor was Chen Youliang, Ji Xuan took two steps forward to greet him: "Youliang! What brings you here?"
"Uncle Ji! I've come to find Miss!" Chen Youliang looked at Yi Qingxue, his face beaming with joy. "Thank goodness Miss is safe and sound, otherwise we would be guilty of a thousand deaths!"
Ji Xuan sighed, pulled Chen Youliang aside, and whispered, "The old city lord has passed away, and many changes have occurred in Longyang City. We should have raised an army to avenge him. However, the city lord had strictly ordered that the people's livelihood be the priority. The fact that the 100,000 people of Nanling can live in peace today is entirely due to this order. Go back and tell Brother Chengyuan that if he gives any orders, I, Ji Xuan, will immediately lead 6,000 elite troops to his aid, ready to be dispatched at any time!"
Chen Youliang took a step back and bowed solemnly: "Thank you, General Ji, for trusting my father." He then leaned closer and whispered: "Uncle Ji, rest assured, my father has been planning in secret, but the time is not yet ripe."
He looked around and lowered his voice even further: "Although Ouyang Longyuan is dead, Xiyu Manor is still eyeing Longyang City covetously! They are trying to seize our territory! Father even suspects that Ouyang Longyuan was just a pawn, and that Ling Beixiao of Xiyu Manor is the real mastermind!"
Ji Xuan frowned, his eyes gleaming: "Cheng Yuan (Chen Qingyun's courtesy name) means... Ling Beixiao faked his death?!"
Chen Youliang nodded emphatically. Ji Xuan took a deep breath, nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Since Brother Chengyuan has a plan, I won't ask any more questions. There is only one thing: the old city lord's daughter must be protected!" His gaze was fixed intently on Chen Youliang.
"Alas!" Chen Youliang sighed, "Speaking of Miss, we have failed the old city lord... This time, she jumped off a cliff!"
"Jump off a cliff!!" Ji Xuan was startled. Fortunately, Yi Qingxue was unharmed; otherwise, he wouldn't have known what to do. "What exactly happened?"
Chen Youliang glanced at Yi Qingxue: "It seems that she couldn't bear the blow of the eldest young master's death, which is why..."
“Yi Mingjian also…” Ji Xuan pondered, “The situation in Longyang City is treacherous. If you cannot guarantee the safety of the young master, it would be better if I took her with me.” After saying that, he also looked at Yi Qingxue.
Chen Youliang immediately replied, "I'm afraid that's not advisable! Now that the eldest young master is dead and the second young master is nowhere to be found, if Miss also leaves the city, I'm afraid Longyang City will truly change hands!"
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