**** I’m sorry, the correct order should be: after the chapter titled “The Wish of Song Im,” it should continue with “A Lesson to Remember” and “First Impression,” before the chapter “Yu Bao’s Promises.”***After giving it some thought, Xiao Chen finally accepted Yu Bao’s offer.That night, while Song Im and his two younger brothers were sound asleep, Yu Bao, Xiao Chen, and Xiao Ji sat together in the living room, engaged in a quiet yet meaningful conversation.From Xiao Chen’s observation, Yu Bao was, by all appearances, a fair and wise village chief. But there was something that puzzled him—if Yu Bao truly was such a just and capable leader, why did he need to hire mercenaries to guard his house? For a man of wisdom and integrity, authority should come not from fear or force, but from the respect of his people.It was this very oddity that Xiao Chen chose to address.“About the hired guards outside,” he beg

The Demon Saber BanditsXiao Chen’s eyes gleamed sharply as he surveyed the bandits ransacking the villagers’ homes. He only needed to confirm whether the guards hired by the village head were truly what he had suspected all along.“Why are you just standing there instead of helping the villagers?” asked Xiao Ji, puzzled by Xiao Chen’s stillness.“My suspicions were right,” Xiao Chen replied, his gaze fixed on one of the bandits—a man he recognized as one of the guards from the local tavern. “The men hired by Yu Bao are actually the Demon Saber bandits.”Xiao Ji nodded, silently admitting that Xiao Chen’s instincts were keener than his own.Xiao Chen’s focus then shifted toward a burly man standing in the middle of the village road, a massive black saber hanging from his hand. From his stance and demeanor, Xiao Chen deduced that this bearded man, short but powerfully built, was likely the bandits’ leader.All the stolen valuables had been piled up near that very man.“Let’s help the v

Both warriors shook their heads in disbelief. They had exchanged dozens of blows, yet not a single strike had found its mark. Among them, Tian Feng—the more experienced one by age and years of battle—was the first to realize that it was no wonder his disciple had died at the hands of the young swordsman before him.If one judged purely by speed, Xiao Chen was clearly faster, but Tian Feng’s combat experience was far greater. It was that experience which allowed the old master to compensate for his lack of swiftness. He seemed to predict the flow of Xiao Chen’s movements before they even began.“I must admit, you’re quite remarkable, young man,” Tian Feng said with a deep breath, trying to steady his lungs. “Why don’t we end this meaningless fight? As for Yu Lian’s death—I can understand it. Death is a risk every warrior accepts once he steps into the martial world.”Xiao Chen smirked, his tone mocking. “You don’t have to flatter me just to beg for mercy, o

Xiao Ji couldn’t help but feel that the situation unfolding before him bore a haunting resemblance to that day in the palace of Hyunan. The tension in the air, the trembling silence before violence — it was all too familiar. Yet even now, he couldn’t quite grasp what Xiao Chen was planning.His gaze never left his companion. Every subtle shift in Xiao Chen’s stance, every flicker of his eyes, Xiao Ji observed with razor-sharp focus. When Xiao Chen suddenly lowered his head and gave a faint smile, Xiao Ji followed his line of sight toward the ground and noticed a small rock—barely the size of a thumb—resting just before his friend’s feet.“We must distract that old man, make him drop his guard,” whispered Xiao Ji to Yu Bao, his tone sharp with urgency. “Only then will Xiao Chen have his chance to strike.”“I understand,” Yu Bao replied, his eyes narrowing in acknowledgment.The man known as Tian Feng had by now closed the distance to his fallen sword. With deliberate care, he crouched