Chapter 5

Liu Family Village was very quiet at night, with only the occasional bark of a dog breaking the silence.

In a wooden house, a thin and gaunt old man was sitting inside, leisurely eating a dish of stir-fried soybeans. Suddenly, he became alert and looked out, "Who's there?"

"It's me."

"Gu Xiazi?"

Hearing this familiar voice, the old man got up to open the door while asking curiously, "Didn't you already leave?"

The person who arrived was indeed Gu Yang. He had rushed back to Liu Family Village during the night while the caravan was resting.

With his current strength, the rugged mountain paths were as easy to traverse as flat ground.

It took him less than an hour to return to Liu Family Village.

Gu Yang said solemnly, "Old Liu, I need to talk to you."

This old man was the village chief, named Old Liu. In his youth, he had traveled far and wide, making him the most knowledgeable person in the village. He was also the only one who could read and write.

Over the past two years, Gu Yang had spent the most time with him in Liu Family Village, mainly to learn how to read and write.

Old Liu picked up two stir-fried soybeans and threw them into his mouth, chewing them with a crunch, and said, "Looks like it's a serious matter."

Gu Yang said, "A group of bandits is heading towards Liu Family Village. These people are ruthless. It's best if you lead the villagers to evacuate to the mountains for safety."

Old Liu's somewhat cloudy old eyes stared at Gu Yang for a while, then he grabbed the last handful of stir-fried soybeans and threw them into his mouth. He stood up, took an old gong from the corner, and went outside to bang it hard.

Gu Yang had thought it would be very difficult to convince him, after all, to evacuate the entire village to the mountains based on his word alone was not an easy decision to make.

But to his surprise, Old Liu didn't say a single word of objection.

This trust moved him deeply.

...

Gu Yang returned to the caravan's resting place just before dawn.

Lao Gao and the others all knew he wasn't there last night, but no one dared to ask where he had gone.

To them, it was already good enough that this master had returned.

When the caravan was preparing to set off, Gu Yang finally had the chance to open the system.

【Do you want to use the Life Simulator? Using it once will cost 50 gold.】

It had gone up in price again!

"Seems like the cost of using the simulator is related to my realm. The higher the realm, the more gold it costs," Gu Yang thought.

The last price increase was after he broke through to the Ninth Rank.

Now that he had broken through to the Eighth Rank, the price had increased again.

He took a deep breath and clicked "Yes!"

【At the age of 22, you became an Eighth Rank Warrior and left Liu Family Village with the caravan. On the way, you encountered a group of bandits. You dealt with them and changed your route, no longer heading to Wang Family Gorge.】

【A month later, you went to Phoenix City and gained the favor of the County Magistrate, becoming his personal attendant.】

【At the age of 25, you returned to Liu Family Village to visit and found that the village had been razed to the ground. The villagers had all been killed three years ago. You vowed to find the culprit and avenge them.】

【At the age of 30, you discovered that the culprit was a member of the Liu family. One day, the County Magistrate hosted an important figure from the Liu family, who noticed the hidden murderous intent in your heart. The next day, you were poisoned to death by the County Magistrate. End of this life.】

After reading this simulation, Gu Yang felt a heavy weight in his heart.

This time, he had neither provoked the Liu family's hunting team nor let the villagers of Liu Family Village evacuate in advance, yet he still couldn't escape his fate.

Why did the Liu family have to attack Liu Family Village?

If possible, he really didn't want to provoke the massive Liu family.

But it seemed he couldn't avoid it.

In so many simulations, he had always died at the hands of the Liu family. It was like a fated enemy.

【Simulation ended. You can retain one of the following.】

【1. Martial realm at the age of 30.】

【2. Martial experience at the age of 30.】

【3. Life wisdom at the age of 30.】

Gu Yang didn't hesitate and chose the second option.

As long as his realm didn't improve, choosing martial experience was the most cost-effective.

Immediately, his mind was filled with countless martial techniques, sword skills, fist techniques, and body movements. All of them were incredibly proficient, as if they were second nature to him.

This was the result of eight years of hard training in this simulated life.

Only then did he truly possess the strength of an Eighth Rank Warrior.

Gu Yang glanced at his remaining balance, which was only 15 taels. He didn't have enough money.

He still didn't know if he could defeat the Liu family's hunting team with his current strength.

To be safe, he needed to run a few more simulations.

But what could he do? He didn't have enough money.

He looked at Lao Gao and the others, considering asking them for a loan.

Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching and shouted, "Who's there?"

Lao Gao and the other merchants and their assistants reacted quickly, drawing their weapons and looking around warily.

"Over here."

Soon, one of the assistants found the person's hiding place and approached with a weapon, "Come out."

"Don't attack, I have no ill intentions."

A ragged youth raised his hands and emerged from the bushes, shouting, "I came to warn you, ouch!"

Before he could finish speaking, several assistants rushed forward, grabbed his hands, and tied him up tightly.

"It hurts, it hurts... easy... easy..."

In no time, the youth was brought to Gu Yang and forced to kneel on the ground.

Everyone could see that the youth was weak.

Lao Gao, however, didn't dare to be careless and shouted, "Speak, who are you, and why were you lurking around here?"

"Let me go!"

The youth's face turned red as he struggled, "I came to warn you out of kindness, why are you repaying me with enmity?"

Lao Gao said coldly, "If you don't speak, have someone cut off his hand and see if he talks."

"Wait."

At this moment, Gu Yang spoke.

Lao Gao stepped back and remained silent.

Gu Yang said, "Untie him."

The two assistants behind the youth looked at Lao Gao for permission and then untied him.

Gu Yang said, "Tell me, you said you came to warn us, what's going on?"

The youth stood up, rubbing his shoulders, and said angrily, "You've been targeted by the Mountain Wind. If you don't want to die, run away quickly. If you wait any longer, you'll all die here."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces changed dramatically.

Even Gu Yang, who had never left Liu Family Village, had heard of the "Mountain Wind."

They were a group of bandits active south of the Lian Mountains, robbing and plundering passing merchants. Their methods were extremely cruel, not only robbing but also killing.

Those who encountered the "Mountain Wind" were all killed, with no one surviving.

This was the origin of their name, "Mountain Wind," a highly toxic venom that was fatal once bitten. The bandits were as ruthless as venomous snakes.

Lao Gao said excitedly, "Impossible, the Mountain Wind always operates in the Xiang Prefecture area. Why would they come to Ba Prefecture?"

The youth snorted, "If you don't believe me, feel free to stay here and die. I don't want to die here."

Lao Gao shouted, "Stop, you can't leave without explaining clearly."

At that moment, a sharp arrow flew out from the side, piercing the neck of one of the assistants. He clutched his neck and fell to the ground in pain.

This sudden change made everyone realize that they had indeed encountered bandits.