Bang!Steel rang against steel. Men screamed and blood began to stain the valley floor. But even in the initial moments, the difference in quality was obvious.Spiritrock soldiers fought as units, covering each other's weaknesses. The bandits fought as individuals, every man for himself.Zhao Mazi recognized the disaster unfolding. "Commanders! To me! We take their leader, we win this!"Two other mounted bandits converged on his position. One was a heavyset man with a battle axe. The other was a lean figure with an eye patch and a sword similar to Yun Kai's blade."There!" Zhao Mazi pointed at Yun Kai. "The blind one! That's their lord! Kill him and this is over!"The three commanders spurred their horses forward, driving toward Yun Kai through the melee.Jiang Hao intercepted immediately. "My lord! Let me—""Handle the first and second commanders," Yun Kai said. "I'll take the third.""My lord, you don't need to—""I need the practice," Yun Kai interrupted. "And the men need to see m

The battlefield cleanup took hours. Bodies were searched and identified. Weapons and armor were collected — a substantial haul of equipment even if most was low quality. The three horses belonging to the commanders were secured and examined. All three were excellent animals, worth small fortunes.By late afternoon, the immediate vicinity of Spiritrock Village was secure. Time to address the source — White Dragon Village itself.Yun Kai led a force of fifty soldiers deeper into the mountains, following the route the bandits had used. After an hour's march, they reached the stronghold.White Dragon Village was larger than expected. It occupied a natural valley similar to Spiritrock's location, though less defensible. Buildings sprawled across the space — barracks, storage structures, workshops, and living quarters. Smoke rose from cooking fires. People moved about, though their movements seemed anxious rather than purposeful."My lord," one scout reported. "The garrison is small. Maybe

They spent the next hour carefully preparing. The selected farmers were brought in separately, sworn to secrecy under threat of death, and given basic instructions. The planting site was chosen in a ravine that couldn't be seen from the village proper.Yun Kai provided additional details he remembered from general knowledge. Sweet potatoes propagated through vine cuttings — you didn't even need the tubers to grow more. Each plant could be cut and replanted multiple times. The growth cycle was roughly three to four months from planting to harvest.If these six tubers produced healthy plants, and those plants were cut into propagation material, the exponential growth would be staggering. Six became sixty. Sixty became six hundred. Within a year, they could have enough to plant dozens of acres. Within two years, hundreds of acres.And all of it secret. A hidden food reserve that no one knew existed. When other settlements faced grain shortages, when armies struggled with supply lines, Sp

After crossing the Wanhe River by ferry, Master Qiao directed his small party toward Spiritrock Village following the directions Yun Kai had provided during their previous meeting.But as they traveled deeper into the mountains, doubt began creeping into his mind. Could such a remote location truly house the ideal settlement his daughter had described? Big Qiao was intelligent but young, possibly easily impressed by novelty. Perhaps her enthusiasm had exaggerated reality.The mountain path was rough and poorly maintained. Master Qiao, despite his scholarly dignity, had to accept assistance from his attendants multiple times to navigate steep sections and loose stones. His legs ached and his robes collected dust. This was decidedly undignified for a man of his standing."Are we certain this is the correct route?" one attendant asked nervously."The village chief's directions were clear," Master Qiao replied, though he was beginning to wonder himself.Finally, after cresting a small rid

"I don't know if Village Chief Yun is married?"Master Qiao's question came suddenly, catching Yun Kai completely off-guard. The teacup froze halfway to his lips."I'm only fourteen," Yun Kai said carefully, recovering his composure. "Just past the age of the capping ceremony. I haven't married yet. My ambitions aren't fulfilled, my career isn't established, and the world remains uncertain. I dare not speak of marriage at such a time."It was a polite refusal wrapped in traditional language. In this era, fourteen was technically marriageable age for men — engagements were often arranged even younger. But Yun Kai's response emphasized that his priorities lay elsewhere.Master Qiao's expression didn't show disappointment. Instead, his interest seemed to deepen. He looked at Yun Kai with even greater approval."A man who puts duty before personal pleasure. Who recognizes that marriage requires a stable foundation. That's wisdom beyond your years." Master Qiao sipped his tea thoughtfully.