Perched on the roof of the Li Family Stockaded Village, Ning Ji had been watching the monkey show for half a day.

Rewind to that morning. After dealing with the six Li family lackeys who had come to do evil, Ning Ji was filled with a mixture of anger and righteous indignation.

The anger, of course, stemmed from the series of evil deeds he had encountered in Tongshan County: Wang Jiang and his daughter Wang Xiuniang, who had not provoked anyone, were treated so unjustly; Sister Xiuniang was beaten and almost raped; Uncle Wang Jiang was still unconscious. And after these events were exposed, the evil Li family couple showed no remorse, not only driving them out of Tongshan County overnight but even sending assassins in the early hours to kill everyone. This kind of disregard for human life and indifference to right and wrong had crossed Ning Ji's bottom line.

On the other hand, his planned chivalrous journey through the Jianghu had turned into a boring trip with a bunch of clumsy scholars and silly women, which Ning Ji had long felt was off. If his father and others hadn't instilled in him the life philosophy of "observe more, think more, act less" when he was a child, and if the clumsy scholars hadn't been so generous with sharing food, he probably would have left the group and gone off on his own.

This sudden event felt like a sign from fate—he hadn't been familiar with the outside world before, but in the past two months, he had begun to understand things. Heaven was sending a signal, and he was indeed fed up with the life of pretending to be a pig to scam snacks. Next, the sky was the limit, the dragon returned to the sea, the sea… whatever those messy idioms were, the Dragon Soaring Over Heavens was going to kill people!

He devoured a hearty breakfast at the small market below the Li Family Stockaded Village, mentally rehearsing the details of his revenge.

Making the decision was easy, but when it came to the details, things became more complicated.

Who to seek revenge on, what specific steps to take, whether everyone had to be killed, who to kill first, who to kill later—all these things had to be carefully considered. For example, the six Li family lackeys had said that Steward Wu, who had driven them out of the inn, usually stayed at the Li Family Stockaded Village, while the couple Li Xiaoqing and Xu Dong lived in the county town because Xu Dong was the chief constable of Tongshan County. Which group to go after first, and whether it would alert the enemy, was a problem.

On the other hand, he was skilled in martial arts and could run away even if he couldn't win, but the clumsy scholars and Wang Jiang and his daughter had only just left. If he made a big commotion, would they be caught and suffer even more? This was another thing to consider carefully.

At the same time, he also needed to consider the possibility that the entire Li family was evil. To what extent should he uphold justice? Should he just stay in Tongshan County and kill everyone? By then, the Jiangning Convention would have been over for two hundred years. Would he ever return home, and would he still kill He Wen?

In the past, Ning Ji had always operated with the most elite troops and had been tempered on the battlefield, killing many enemies. But when it came to action planning, he realized that he really had no experience. Just like with that little rascal, he had discovered the bad guys early on and waited in ambush for a month, but in the end, he had only managed to join in the fun because of luck. At this moment, while stuffing a pile of buns and pancakes into his stomach, he also propped up his chin and realized with some helplessness: he probably needed a strategist like Aunt Gua by his side.

That little rascal has read a lot of books, maybe he could handle it…

For some reason, this strange thought arose in his mind, and Ning Ji shook his head and dismissed the unreliable idea.

That little rascal is weak and probably died somewhere… To deal with such things, the Huaxia Army team is the most reliable. If Uncle Zheng Qi was leading the team… then it wouldn't have to be so formal. Even if someone else came, like Yao Shubin, that big mouth, he could probably come up with a suitable plan…

Otherwise, the little partners who stayed in Zhang Village would be fine… Or the disciples of Aunt Ti Zi and Aunt Gua. If it was Sister Hei Niu… Forget it, that bitch Hei Niu would give him a good beating and drag him back to the southwest like a dead dog, and he would never get out again. Serves her right for not being able to marry…

The ideal companions would be Big Brother and Sister Chu Yi. Big Brother is scheming and wicked, looks serious but actually loves to join in the fun. And with Sister Chu Yi's swordsmanship, how great would it be if the three of them could travel the Jianghu together? Sister Chu Yi could also help make food and mend clothes…

He ate breakfast and, in his mind, idly filtered through these potential "strategists," lamenting that none of them were around when the Dragon Soaring Over Heavens was about to make his move. He initially calmed down, realizing that even for the sake of the clumsy scholars and Sister Xiuniang who hadn't gone far, he had to delay his actions—but not too late, otherwise the six cripples would be discovered, and he would somewhat alert the enemy.

On the way to the Li Family Stockaded Village, he discovered some new developments. The Li family was hanging colored silk on the flagpoles outside the village in an extremely extravagant manner, indicating that some important figures were coming to visit.

Curious, he went to the nearby market to inquire and eavesdrop, and found that it wasn't much of a secret—the Li family was decorating and thought it was a matter of face, so they weren't shy about it. But the people chatting and spreading the word were just commoners, so their words were fragmented and vague. After listening for a long time, Ning Ji pieced together a rough idea:

It was said that the heroes of Yan Family Fortress, known for their Tan Gong Sword, were coming to visit the Li family heroes. And a young lady from Yan Family Fortress, a heroine nicknamed Cloud Water Swordswoman, was likely to go to Jiangning to marry Shi Bao Bao, a peerless hero of the Fair Party. When that happened, Yan Family Fortress would soar to the top and become one of the leading families in the world…

What's a Tan Gong Sword? Does it shoot swords with a slingshot? Is it that amazing?

And who is Shi Bao Bao? What kind of person in the Fair Party has such a name? What were his parents thinking? What courage does he have to live until now?

If my name was Shi Bao Bao, I… I would kill my dad and then commit suicide.

Ning Ji sat by the roadside, propped his chin, and thought about it for a long time with a troubled expression.

He ate a hearty lunch again.

In the afternoon, the Yan family's caravan arrived, and Ning Ji understood things a little better. He followed them, watching the two sides meet and exchange greetings in a very orderly manner. The solemn scene did have the aura of a martial arts drama, and he was slightly satisfied, thinking, "This is what a group of big bad guys should feel like."

As for the Water Swordswoman who was going to marry Shi Bao Bao, he saw her too. She wasn't very old, had no expression on her face, and seemed a bit silly. In terms of looks, she couldn't compare to that little rascal. She kept her hands near the two short swords on her back, which showed that she had a good sense of vigilance. But he didn't see a slingshot.

He followed into the Li Family Stockaded Village with great interest, climbed over the wall, and hid on the roof of the main hall, spying on the entire situation. He saw them demonstrating boxing techniques and thought it was a bit interesting. But when they started sparring, Ning Ji felt weak all over.

Are these monkeys playing? Why are you bowing so seriously? Why are you laughing so loudly?

He even saw a monk laugh loudly and step down, holding his hands and hitting wood and stones on the field. The stones did crack, but why did he have to raise his right hand to his shoulder before attacking? Was he scaring the stones by telling them he was going to strike? Don't do that!

The defenses of the Li Family Stockaded Village weren't strict, but there weren't many places to hide on the roof. Ning Ji cowered in that corner watching the competition, his face twisted with embarrassment. Especially when these people laughed loudly on the field, he gasped in disbelief, remembering that he had practiced laughing like that in Chengdu, and he wanted to jump down and beat everyone up.

For him, the "Jianghu" he was seeing at this moment was simply torture.

In the midst of the embarrassment, he thought of many plans.

Since Shi Bao Bao of the Fair Party has a lot of power and is probably a bad guy who colludes with He Wen, but the Li family is afraid of him, why don't I just do something ruthless and frame them? Kill this slingshot swordswoman, then throw her on the bed in Li Family Manor, and make Shi Bao Bao wear a green hat that he can never take off. Let them fight each other…

This plan is good, but the only problem is that I am a good person and can't bring myself to do that to such an ugly woman. And that little rascal… no, this has nothing to do with that little rascal. Anyway, I can't do this kind of thing. Or should I give her and Steward Wu of the Li Family Manor some aphrodisiacs? That's too cheap for that Wu guy…

Just kill her. This Yan Family Manor is colluding with Li Family Manor and is going to marry Shi Bao Bao of the Fair Party, which means she's probably a bad person too. Just kill her and be done with it… But after killing her, Shi Bao Bao will come to seek revenge, which will take a long time, and there's no evidence that the Li family did it, so this disaster might not fall on the Li family. In the end, I still have to consider framing them…

He racked his brains, trying to think of a good solution for half the afternoon, but couldn't come up with one.

As the sun set, these monkeys had laughed enough and played enough in the training field. They went to the hillside outside the village to enjoy the scenery, pointing out the rivers and mountains and expressing their ambitions. That Steward Wu was strutting around, occasionally stopping people: "Hey, you… don't block the way…" Ning Ji sighed, dragged his bench over.

Forget it, I'm not thinking anymore, it's annoying.

"Hey, Steward Wu!"

He shouted.

"Who is it?"

The Steward Wu who liked to kick benches replied.

Ning Ji walked over, raised the long bench in his hand, and smashed it down on the left knee of the other party!

*************

Sunset.

On the hillside outside the Li Family Stockaded Village, Yan Tiehe, Yan Yunzhi, and the other guests who had just arrived today watched the sudden change in the distance with stunned expressions.

In just one exchange, Wu Cheng, the "Lightning Whip" known for his leg skills, had his left knee smashed by the suddenly approaching young man. He fell to the ground and howled like a beast in great pain. The second strike of the long bench in the young man's hand smashed down, obviously breaking his right palm. The sound of bones shattering could be heard in the evening air. Then the third strike slammed down on his head. The scream was smashed back into his throat, blood spurting out…

"I told you to kick benches! You kick benches…"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang…

While beating him, the young man muttered something. The people here couldn't hear clearly. The Li family disciple closest to Wu Cheng and the young man seemed to have sensed the fierceness of the young man's attack. For a moment, he didn't dare to step forward, and just watched Wu Cheng being beaten and rolling on the ground. He tried to get up with his broken leg exposing white bones, but then he was knocked down again. The ground was covered with dust, broken grass, and blood…

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

Monk Cixin roared, raised his right palm to his shoulder, like a Luohan holding a bowl, and rushed towards that side.

This posture with one hand raised was the key to his palm strike. He visualized the Dharma body of a Buddhist Luohan holding a bowl, and once he accumulated power and struck, his inner force would gather in the palm, with great destructive power. Ordinary flesh and blood bodies could not resist it. He quickly rushed to the two, pushed out a palm, and the young man raised the long bench and smashed it on Wu Cheng's head, then jumped up and kicked. Monk Cixin's palm strike missed.

"I told you to kick benches…" he muttered.

Monk Cixin roared "Ah—" again, and another palm, then two more palms whistled out. The young man jumped, kicked, and smashed, hitting Wu Cheng so that he rolled and twitched on the ground. Monk Cixin's palm winds stirred, and the two figures intertwined, but not one palm hit him.

"I told you to kick benches…"

"I told you to kick benches…"

……

Monk Cixin chased and struck like this for a while, and the Li family disciples also surrounded him at Li Ruoyao's signal. At one moment, Monk Cixin struck out another palm, and the young man framed with both hands, and his entire body shot straight out several feet away. At this time, Wu Cheng was lying on the ground twitching, the ground covered with blood flowing from his body. The young man's sudden breakout caused everyone to shout, "Not good."

Someone said, "Don't let him escape."

The young man flew in the direction of the rugged hillside with no road next to it. "Miao Blade" Shi Shuifang, seeing that the other party was about to leave, finally made his move and chased after him from the side. The young man turned around and jumped down the rocky, weed-filled hillside. Although the terrain here was not as steep as the stone mountains in Guangxi and Yunnan, it was extremely difficult for ordinary people to walk on the pathless hillside. After Shi Shuifang had lived in the Miao area for many years, he was extremely familiar with the desolate mountains here. Apart from Li Yanfeng and others who were temporarily absent, only he could keep up.

The young man's figure ran and leaped among the rubble and weeds. Shi Shuifang quickly pounced.

The numerous villagers on this hillside had also stirred up and roared. Some people dragged out horses, but when they ran to the hillside and saw the terrain, they knew that they couldn't catch up, and could only shout loudly from above. Some people tried to outflank him on the road below. Wu Cheng had been beaten to the point of being on his last breath on the ground. When Monk Cixin followed to the hillside, everyone couldn't help but ask, "Who is that person?"

"What was he saying just now…"

Monk Cixin was somewhat speechless and couldn't believe it himself: "He just said… he seemed to be saying…" He seemed a little embarrassed to say what he had heard.

"Fortunately, Hero Shi can catch up with him…"

"He can't escape."

The crowd was noisy, and people were talking.

The clearing on this hillside had a wide view, and everyone could see the two figures chasing and fleeing, running a long distance, but the young man never really got rid of him. Running and jumping on such a rugged hillside was really dangerous, and everyone watched with trepidation. Some people praised, "Hero Shi's lightness skill is truly exquisite."

At this time, the two figures had run very far, and only a shout came from the wind: "What kind of hero are you, hiding your head and showing your tail? I am 'Miao Blade' Shi Shuifang, who is the perpetrator? Have the guts to leave your name!" These words were bold and heroic, and impressed people.

The young man running in front also opened his mouth: "Alright, I am… You're called Shi Shuifang?"

The first five words of the words were very high, the inner force vibrated, and even the hillside could hear it clearly, but before he could report his name, the young man didn't know why he asked back a sentence, and it became a bit vague.

……

"……Are you the one who ran away after killing people in the Lan Huan Dong of Miao Territory back then?"

……

"That's right, a real man doesn't change his name or surname, I am…… uh…… shit……"

Amidst a patch of weeds and rocks, Shi Shuifang, who didn't plan to continue chasing, was saying heroic words, and suddenly froze.

The running teenager stopped in front.

He turned around, looked at Shi Shuifang, clasped his hands together, and pinched the palm of his left hand with his right hand.

"It's you..."

Shi Shuifang had no idea why he had stopped. He glanced at his surroundings. The hillside behind was very far away, and countless people were cheering and encouraging him, but not a single companion who chased down was around.

The young man spread his hands. At this moment, the air was full of fierce aura. From beating Wu Cheng, dodging so many attacks from Monk Cixin, taking a palm from Monk Cixin, and running such a long distance, at this moment, Shi Shuifang realized that the breath between the other person's mouth and nose had not been disturbed in the slightest, just like a young man who had just taken a walk.

The shouts and cheers on the hillside continued. They saw the teenager suddenly stop, and Shi Shuifang also stopped. Half a breath later, the teenager pounced on Shi Shuifang like a fierce beast, and Shi Shuifang drew his Miao Blade.

In the midst of weeds and rocks, the two figures closed the distance—

Collision.

Bang—

A sky full of wormwood.