Chapter 7

When the silver was returned, Li Da and his wife both showed looks of pleasant surprise. Li Da's wife, ignoring the pain on her face, quickly put the silver bag in her bosom.

The three ruffians looked at each other in amazement, all showing expressions of admiration. That was no small amount of silver, enough to indulge in for a good while, and yet it was so easily thrown on the ground. Looking at Li Qingshan's back, if they had only felt fear before, now there was a faint sense of respect. Such a clear-cut good man, they had thought only existed in storytellers' tales, but to see one with their own eyes, and at such a young age, he was bound to be a great person in the future. The initial disdain due to his young age was now completely gone.

Li Qingshan strode ahead, the sun setting behind the mountains, the green hills silent. He felt an unprecedented sense of ease and relief, as if an invisible burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and he felt a surge of energy, even his fatigue had vanished. He vaguely felt that if he were to practice the *Niumo Great Strength Fist* now, it would be much smoother than during the day.

This was not just his imagination. Whether it was the Daoist powers or secular martial arts, they all required a harmony with the practitioner's mindset. The *Niumo Great Strength Fist* was a grand and expansive technique, requiring a clear and unobstructed mind, and a spirit of vigorous advancement.

Li Qingshan had resolved this matter of gratitude and resentment, leaving no lingering resentment in his heart, naturally aligning with the essence of the technique.

Back in the thatched hut, Li Qingshan looked at the three ruffians with bright eyes: "I must thank you for your help just now." If not for these three ruffians backing him up, his brother and sister-in-law would not have given in so easily. If they had started swinging wooden poles and cleavers, he would have been at a loss, and might even have suffered a loss.

He had a sudden idea and acted accordingly, not expecting things to go so smoothly. He also understood the benefits of having a large group. Even the Bull Demon King needed six sworn brothers, let alone him! Of course, these three ruffians were not worthy to be his brothers.

The three ruffians hurriedly said, "Big Brother, what are you talking about? You are magnanimous and do not hold grudges against us. We are grateful, and Liu Laizi got what he deserved. We have offended you many times in the past..."

Li Qingshan waved his hand to interrupt, "The past is the past."

The three ruffians, reassured by his words, felt a sense of relief. Their thoughts became more active, and they began to flatter him. At the emotional moments, they almost wanted to swear brotherhood with him by plucking grass and burning it as incense.

Li Qingshan had never been flattered like this in his life, even though it was from three ruffians he despised, he could not help but feel pleased and proud. However, swearing brotherhood was out of the question. He casually fobbed them off and sent them away.

The blue ox, lying on the side, said, "Why didn't you agree? If they are willing to follow you and form a gang, you will be safer in this village, and you will have people to inform you of any news."

In the small village, it was all about manpower. Often, the families with more brothers and sons were not easily bullied, and could even bully others.

Li Qingshan said proudly, "The people I want to associate with are either heroes who can traverse the world or men of iron will and deep emotion. How can I associate with such people?"

His voice was loud, and several crows were startled into flight, circling the treetops.

The blue ox fell silent, looking at Li Qingshan's spirited appearance, lost in thought.

Li Qingshan felt embarrassed, scratching the back of his head, "Brother Ox, you must think I'm talking big. But that's what I really think, and I'm only saying it to you."

The blue ox produced a gourd of wine from somewhere and tossed it to Li Qingshan, "If you can't even talk big, you might as well go back to farming. What other big talk do you have? Tell me."

Li Qingshan skillfully pulled out the stopper, tilted his head back, and gulped down a few mouthfuls of wine. He wiped his mouth and grinned, "I want to traverse the five lakes and four seas, the nine provinces of the world, taste all the delicacies, drink all the fine wines, cultivate the mightiest powers, fight the strongest enemies, and bed the most beautiful women. Only then will I feel that my life has not been in vain! Brother Ox, do you think I can achieve this dream?"

"Definitely!"

"Great, I'll take your good words!"

The young man's grand dreams echoed in the small courtyard. Perhaps at that moment, even he did not truly believe it, but a spark had fallen into his heart, ready to ignite a raging fire.

Li Qingshan, fueled by the wine, practiced the three moves of the *Niumo Great Strength Fist* again. Half drunk and half sober, he did not know if his movements were correct, just moving his fists and feet as he pleased, while the blue ox drank wine on the side, saying nothing.

Li Qingshan fell drunk to the ground.

The next day, the news of Li Qingshan returning the land money to his brother and sister-in-law, spread quickly through the village via the three ruffians. Some people admired his decision, praising his noble spirit. Others mocked him, saying he would have nothing to eat without the land and would end up working for Liu the overseer, and then see what kind of spirit he would have.

But they did not dare to say it openly. Li Er's name had already begun to establish itself in Woniu Village.

Liu the overseer was both pleased and worried. He was pleased that Li Er would no longer come to dispute the land, but worried that Li Er was so clear-cut in his sense of right and wrong. He might be harboring resentment and waiting for an opportunity to take revenge, especially since Liu Laizi had been under his command at the time.

If Li Er were to come and confront him now, it would be better, as he had many ways to deal with it. But he could not be on guard day and night. Indeed, "It is better to bully an old man than a poor young man."

Liu the overseer pondered in the hall. A hunched old man, supported by a young man, approached the gatehouse and was stopped by the guard.

Liu the overseer immediately went out to meet them, his fat face smiling, "Village Chief Li, what wind has brought you here?"

Village Chief Li had a stern face, "I didn't know you had guards here. What are you trying to prevent?"

Liu the overseer laughed awkwardly. Although his family was a landlord, it was just a small village in the mountains, and the entrance could not be as deep as the mansions in the city. There was only an old gatekeeper, and no one usually guarded the door.

Although he had used all means to annex the village's land, most of it was through legitimate transactions. Even when he bullied people, it was those who could not fight back, and he did not have many enemies. Now, he naturally had to be wary of Li Qingshan. This boy, who he originally thought could not fight back, had a reaction that was completely unexpected.

The two went into the house to talk. Village Chief Li did not beat around the bush and said, "Overseer Liu, you are a man of the world. Tell me, how do we deal with this Li Er?"

His eyes were bloodshot. The villagers were afraid of Li Qingshan, and he was afraid too. The older one gets, the more afraid of death. Last night, he lay in bed, tossing and turning, waking up at every sound, fearing that Li Qingshan would sneak in and take his life. He hardly slept at all.

He got up early in the morning, determined to get rid of this heartache. If he did not, he could not live a normal life, so he came to Liu the overseer.

Liu the overseer spread his hands, "How to deal with him? The villagers all respect him as a good man, and there is no evidence that Liu Laizi was killed by him."

"Of course it was him, it's written all over his face," the young man beside Village Chief Li said. He was Village Chief Li's son, Li Hu, also a bully in the village, but now his authority had been weakened by Li Qingshan, and he was very unhappy.

"Even if it's written on his face, you wouldn't recognize it," Liu the overseer glared at him. "You brat, don't act tough in front of me." He looked at Village Chief Li and softened his tone, "Do you know what he did last night?"

"Of course I know. Everyone thinks he is a good man, which makes it even harder for me to control the people. That's why I came to you." As the most powerful person in the village, Village Chief Li was used to having his word be law. Suddenly, a young man had challenged his authority, and he felt very angry and hurt, determined to regain his face, completely ignoring who had first disregarded right and wrong and twisted the truth.