After a moment, Niu Qingyang furrowed his brows and said, “Child, there is something you do not know. Zhao Fenghu and those bandits are not merely numerous and powerful; every one of them also possesses extremely high cultivation and is insidious and deceitful. With only Clearwind Manor, we would inevitably be too weak. If we rashly enter the mountains to exterminate the bandits and fall into an ambush, everything will be lost.”
After a pause, he continued, “This will do. I will immediately write letters to contact our fellow martial artists. At most, we can gather enough people within three to five days. When the time comes, even if we cannot kill all those bandits, we will certainly drive them out of Qingshui County!”
His gaze fell toward the west, and he sighed. “Actually, if Songyun Temple were willing to join forces with Clearwind Manor, we could certainly wipe out the bandits. Unfortunately, the Abbot of Songyun Temple is devoted entirely to seeking the Dao and pays no attention to worldly affairs. Besides…”
As for what else there was, he did not continue.
Li Qingshi knew that Songyun Temple was a Daoist temple located four or five li southwest of Qingshui City. Its incense offerings flourished, and its reputation was no smaller than that of Clearwind Manor—in fact, it was even greater.
Songyun Temple’s reputation was mainly upheld by its Abbot, Hongyang Zhenren. It was said that Hongyang Zhenren had only just reached the age of forty, yet his cultivation was already above Niu Qingyang’s. However, he was devoted entirely to the Dao, rarely appeared in public, and never meddled in worldly affairs.
Li Qingshi thought, “Forget three to five days. Zhao Fenghu will probably come to massacre the village tonight. How could Baitou Village afford to wait?”
After hesitating for a moment, he shamelessly said, “Old Immortal, Yuan Jia is your disciple. Could the people from our village come to your manor to take refuge?”
Niu Qingyang looked troubled.
Wang Yuanjia had intended to agree, but upon seeing his Master’s expression, he immediately fell silent.
The disciple who had delivered the news observed their expressions and understood his Master’s predicament. He said, “Junior Brother Wang, and this little brother, it is not that our Clearwind Manor is heartless. Eight or nine out of every ten disciples in the manor are from Qingshui County. If each of them brought their parents and fellow villagers here for refuge, Clearwind Manor could not accommodate so many people. Tell me, whom should we accept and whom should we refuse?”
At that point, Li Qingshi understood that Baitou Village could not seek shelter with Clearwind Manor. He did not delay any longer. After giving Wang Yuanjia one last look, he bade farewell and left with Li Gouzi.
Before long, many Manor disciples heard the news and gathered around Niu Qingyang.
Looking at his worried disciples, Niu Qingyang pondered for a moment before saying, “Pass this down. Any disciple of my manor may bring their parents and family here to take refuge.”
Wang Yuanjia was overjoyed, and the other disciples also beamed with delight.
Niu Qingyang gave another order. “Starting today, close all entrances to the manor and increase patrols. Especially at night, tell everyone to stay alert.”
One disciple frowned and said, “How would Zhao Fenghu dare to cause trouble at Clearwind Manor? Could his cultivation possibly surpass yours, Elder?”
Niu Qingyang shook his head. “I do not know. But if the rumors are true, then his cultivation is at least no lower than mine, and perhaps even higher. Besides, he has a group of subordinates whose cultivation is likewise extraordinary. It is never wrong to be cautious.”
The disciples were horrified upon hearing this.
Niu Qingyang sighed and said, “The officials supported by the Imperial Court are becoming increasingly useless. All day long, they only know how to form factions and fight for power and profit. Few are willing to concern themselves with natural disasters and human calamities anymore. In the past, behavior like Zhao Fenghu’s, practically an act of rebellion, would have been suppressed by the Imperial Court long ago. If this continues, the world will fall into chaos sooner or later!”
He swept his gaze over the disciples and said, “Therefore, you must hasten your cultivation. In troubled times, unless one is extremely wealthy or influential enough to have masters under one’s command, the only way to establish oneself and survive is to master martial arts.”
After teaching his disciples, he strode away to write letters and contact his fellow martial artists. He thought that if they entered the mountains to exterminate the bandits even one moment sooner, perhaps many common people could be spared.
…
After descending the mountain, Li Qingshi and Li Gouzi ran at full speed. Li Gouzi’s face was pale as he said, “Brother Stone, do you think we might be too late getting back?”
Li Qingshi said, “No. They have only just arrived. Even if they intend to kill and plunder, they will first have to learn about the situation here. At the earliest, they will probably not act until tonight. When we get back, go find the village chief and report the news first. Don’t worry—we still have time.”
When they passed through Qingshui City, the city gate was already closed. The city had clearly received the news as well, and the government constables stationed on the walls were facing the situation as though confronting a great enemy.
Li Qingshi thought, “Should I ask the County Magistrate to let the villagers take refuge in the city? …No. Qingshui City has no stationed army, so it might not be able to hold. Hiding in the city would be less safe than hiding in the mountains.”
After walking for a while longer, they passed a roadside wine stall, and Li Qingshi stopped.
The stall owner had only recently heard the news and was packing up. Li Qingshi bought several jin of Pig’s Head Meat and a large jar of wine.
Li Gouzi said, “At a time like this, you still have the leisure to buy these things?”
Li Qingshi said, “We are not short of a little time. I promised Old Liu I would buy wine and meat for him on the way back.”
About half an hour later, the two returned to Baitou Village. It was nearly noon. At the village entrance, they encountered a villager returning from plowing the fields, who greeted them with a smile. “Shitou, Gouzi, did you go into the city to have fun again?”
The mountain villagers were ignorant and feudal, so Li Qingshi’s status as an illegitimate son had often drawn people’s pointing and whispering. In secret, they called him Bastard.
The mountain villagers were also simple and kind. Setting aside their habit of gossiping about such family matters, they had actually treated this Bastard quite well. Otherwise, after losing all support at the age of five, never mind whether he could have survived—the two mu of farmland at home would at least have ceased to belong to him long ago.
Li Gouzi said urgently, “Uncle Dashan, hurry home and pack your things. We heard that Zhao Fenghu’s group has entered Guidang Mountain. Our village will probably have to leave and take refuge elsewhere.”
The villager froze for a moment. Then his face turned deathly pale, and he dashed toward home. “Heavens above! Heavens above! Why has Zhao Fenghu come here? What sin have we committed…”
Li Gouzi went to the village chief’s house to report the news. Before long, the entire village was in chaos. Some households even began to weep, as though the sky itself had collapsed.
As he walked, Li Qingshi pondered. Guidang Mountain lay to the south, so he estimated that the village chief would lead everyone to hide in the great mountain range to the north. Once they entered the deep mountains, finding them would be like searching for a needle in the ocean, and Zhao Fenghu probably would not expend that much effort. At most, he would thoroughly loot the now-empty Baitou Village. But if he set it on fire, then for the already impoverished villagers, it would be no different from the sky collapsing.
The village was in complete turmoil when Wang Yuanjia returned.
The villagers slapped their thighs in regret. How could they have forgotten this young ancestor? Yuan Jia was Old Immortal Niu’s disciple. With that connection, they could seek refuge at Clearwind Manor! No matter how formidable Zhao Fenghu was, would he dare cause trouble at Clearwind Manor?
Wang Yuanjia looked at the eager faces of the surrounding elders, fellow villagers, and childhood companions. He felt somewhat guilty. Seeing that Li Qingshi and Li Gouzi were not there, he said, “After hearing the news, I had already pleaded with my Master for quite some time. But my Master said the manor has limited space and cannot accommodate so many people. He is truly sorry…”
The eager expressions on the villagers’ faces turned to disappointment, but they still surrounded him and refused to leave, begging him to think of a solution.
Wang Yuanjia reassured everyone. “Don’t worry. After arranging accommodations for the relatives of the Manor disciples, if there is still room, I will certainly plead with my Master again. My Master thinks highly of me, so he will definitely agree. When that time comes, I will return to bring you all over.”
Hope appeared in the villagers’ eyes once more. They went home to pack their things. Clearwind Manor was huge; how difficult could it be to squeeze in a few hundred more people? They were saved!
Wang Yuanjia thought, I certainly will not plead with my Master. What if he really agrees? Wouldn’t I have to come back here again? And what if I ran into those Brutal Bandits? Where would I find a life to spare?