From a humble farmer to a great martial arts master

73, Suppressing Bandits

The caravans transporting porcelain moved extremely slowly.

By the third day, they had completed more than half of their journey and arrived at a dangerous area frequented by bandits.

A large river flows between two mountains, its current swift and its course long, making escape easy but capture difficult.

It's a prime location, practically a haven for robbers and thieves.

The carriage contained many paintings and calligraphy, and the owner, worried about damage from the waterway, made it clear that he wanted to travel by land... This was also the reason why Jiang Shi'an chose this escort mission as part of the bandit suppression.

Land routes are more prone to robbery.

And three chalcedony.

He even felt a little anticipation for the inconspicuous bandit to arrive soon, his greatsword at his waist already itching to be used.

but……

Things often don't go as planned.

After crossing the mountain and reaching the town behind it, not a single bandit showed up, leaving Jiang Shi'an both amused and exasperated.

After all, bandits are after money, not risking their lives.

It seems that the news of his Jade Marrow Realm martial artist status has already leaked.

But it didn't matter, there was a follow-up plan—Fang Yanping and Ren Qingshan quietly left the team and went back into the mountains.

Looking for someone destined to meet me.

……

"There are two bandit groups here. One is in the mountains on the left, called 'A Gust of Wind,' and the other is called 'Ghost Blowing Waves.' They are both as swift as the wind."

As night fell, two people appeared on a large tree. Fang Yanping stood on a branch, watching the movements in the distance.

"Are they all from the Qian family?"

Ren Qingshan asked.

"Even if not, there must have been some filial piety gifts. The Qian family may have intended to use Xiaoting's death to deter the two bandit groups and prevent others from following suit."

"As for the battle with Qian Duanli, if he wins, he will have gained another advantage. If he loses, the Qian family may have intended to push him out to appease my anger... After all, it is the life of a martial arts genius."

Fang Yanping's expression was calm and composed, like still water.

In wealthy and powerful families, those who are not the eldest sons are practically considered family resources to be wasted.

This is precisely the biggest highlight of the Edict of Grace—no one wants to be a waste. If a son born out of wedlock were to gain the same power as a son born out of wedlock, even if it were just a hint, powerful families in various regions would surely fall into internal strife!

Compared to this major event, the immediate task of suppressing bandits is no longer important.

But since we're already here...

"Go! Storm into the bandits' lair and finish them off quickly!"

A fire was burning in Fang Yanping's heart. The two things, granting favors and relocating the wealthy, could, at the very least, extend the reign of the Great Zhou Dynasty by a hundred years!

Ren Qingshan didn't know why he was suddenly so excited. He nodded and smiled, and the two figures quickly ran into the depths of the forest.

……

The bandits won because of their advantageous location.

This ruthless gang, known as "A Gust of Wind," lived in the high mountains and dense forests, using cliffside iron chains as natural entrances. Their familiarity with the terrain made them easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Moreover, he is quick-witted and has many spies at the foot of the mountain.

Once the imperial army comes to attack, they immediately scatter like birds and beasts, breaking into smaller groups, and then rise up again once the storm has passed.

With filial piety above and a solid foundation below, they truly treated this as a business.

Hmm... this world's extortion park.

Ren Qingshan, hidden in the shadows, moved like the wind, covering the mouth of a bandit on night watch, and his dagger instantly severed the bandit's throat.

On the other side, Fang Yanping, who was not carrying any weapons, also covered his mouth and released his true energy, shattering the heart meridian of another bandit sentry.

They gently laid the body down and looked at the iron chain bridge not far away.

Two people stood in front of the bridge and behind it, each carrying a sword and a bow.

"I'll kill those in front of the bridge, then cross the bridge, and you shoot those behind the bridge."

Fang Yanping took the initiative to take on the most dangerous "first-mover" task, looked at Ren Qingshan, entrusted his back and life to him, his eyes shining brightly in the darkness.

"good!"

The two men crept to their closest possible distance, and Fang Yanping immediately shot out, unleashing two streams of true energy towards the two guards in front of the bridge. At the same time, Ren Qingshan launched two arrows, hurtling towards the two men behind the bridge.

A gust of wind accompanied it.

In the blink of an eye, all four of them perished.

Fang Yanping circulated his true energy to its limit, stepped on the iron chain bridge and sped across, covering several meters in the blink of an eye, and took over the back of the bridge.

Ren Qingshan immediately followed.

What is an insurmountable barrier for ordinary people is not particularly difficult for high-level martial artists.

However, fighting is not like playing chess; accidents can happen at any time, so Ren Qingshan was extremely vigilant.

We crossed the bridge.

They glanced at the deep cave, exchanged a look, and saw the worry in each other's eyes.

This cave is long and narrow, with no end in sight. If there is an ambush inside, that's one thing, but if it collapses, even the jade marrow will perish.

"I'll go first!"

"You cover our retreat!"

Fang Yanping gritted his teeth and slipped inside.

Ren Qingshan felt a warmth in his heart and quickly entered the cave, his five senses heightened to the extreme, and his true energy circulated throughout his body.

Caught off guard, the bandits passed through the nearly one-mile-long cave unharmed. Torches were lit inside, and there were four branching paths, but the two remained focused and continued straight ahead.

It was initially extremely narrow, but later became wide enough for people to pass through, containing a universe within... and it was still a famous instrument.

Ren Qingshan felt inexplicably excited.

Upon exiting the cave, they found themselves in a valley with a campfire burning. A dozen or so bandits were drinking and roasting meat. The two bandits guarding the cave entrance noticed someone emerging and were about to speak when two arrows pierced their hearts.

"Kill them all!"

Fang Yanping picked up a knife from the ground, leaped forward, and shouted sharply, revealing his ruthless side.

Evil must be eradicated completely!

Ren Qingshan immediately followed and wreaked havoc on all sides.

Less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, the field was littered with corpses, and blood and flesh were flying everywhere.

The sheep roasting over the campfire was not yet burnt.

The two Jade Marrow Warriors joined forces, a veritable descent of death. The two Silver Blood Warriors, the most powerful members of the bandits, were utterly powerless against them and were all slaughtered without a single survivor.

Ren Qingshan listened intently to all directions and heard no more breathing sounds from the living. He casually took out a dagger, and with a flash of cold light, quickly cut off two lamb legs, handing one to Fang Yanping.

I'm so hungry.

"These bandits are actually quite nice. Knowing we were coming, they even roasted a lamb to treat us."

Fang Yanping chuckled, politely took a bite of the lamb leg, chewed slowly, swallowed it, and said with a smile, "Qingshan, do you know what nickname the people in the county gave you after you killed that bandit gang led by Yixiandao?"

"Huh? What?"

"Some call you 'The Barber,' others call you 'The Wind on the Neck,' saying that your blade is fierce and sharp, not only killing people but also beheading them, like a gust of wind, before the enemy can even react, their head has already been taken away."

Ren Qingshan laughed heartily: "You were the one who shouted 'Kill them all' just now. Do you have a nickname?"

"In my early years, when I was traveling around, I had a nickname: the Jade-Faced Gentleman."

Fang Yanping's eyes also held a hint of heroic spirit as he deliberately joked.

"Ugh! You stole my nickname! How dare you, you were born ten years too early!"

Laughter from the two echoed through the valley.

They exchanged a glance. Although the battle hadn't been particularly dangerous, they had developed a bond akin to that of comrades-in-arms.

The two of them each finished a leg of lamb, then cut off some more meat to eat, and took a few sips of the unopened jar of wine. Only then did Ren Qingshan get to the part he most wanted to see—

Loot the corpse!

……

……