THE GOD'S OF CHOSEN WARRIOR

Saved by An Old Man

Some villagers, provoked by the shout, also started running after Li Jie. They joined in the shouting, attracting the attention of other villagers.

More than twenty people ran after Li Jie, their spirits blazing with the desire to beat the young man accused of being a thief.

Eventually, he was cornered after mistakenly running into a dead-end alley.

“Damn! I’m dead!”

His body inevitably became a living punching bag for the villagers' anger. Punches and kicks rained down on him without pause. Li Jie’s body, already covered in wounds and bleeding, resigned itself to his fate. He was certain his life would not be spared that day.

However, without anyone realizing it, a white figure suddenly darted swiftly and snatched Li Jie’s helpless body, carrying him away from the scene.

The people who had been attacking Li Jie were left looking around in confusion, searching for the handsome young man.

“Who saved that thief? Let’s search every corner of this village for him!” shouted the stall owner in a loud voice.

The more than twenty villagers then spread out, scouring the village in search of Li Jie and his mysterious savior.

In a secluded place, the figure who had saved Li Jie had taken him to a small hut located within the forest, not far from the village.

Li Jie could only sit in silence, staring at the old man in white robes with long white hair who had rescued him. He never expected that someone would still care about his life.

“Stay here for a moment,” the old man said with a warm smile.

Without waiting for a response from Li Jie, the old man quickly stepped out of the small hut.

Li Jie watched him leave while trying to endure the stinging pain all over his body.

His thoughts drifted back to the words of the stall owner, who had accused his parents of being thieves.

“Could it be true? Were my parents really thieves?” Li Jie thought in disbelief.

He remembered that when his parents were executed by the villagers, he was only five years old—too young to understand the truth behind the accusations against them.

“I have to find out the truth,” he muttered with determination.

“What truth are you searching for, Li Jie?” a voice asked from the doorway of the hut.

Li Jie turned toward the door and saw the old man stepping inside. He was surprised that the man knew his name.

“Thank you for saving me, Grandfather. But how do you know my name?” Li Jie asked softly.

The old man smiled kindly at him.

“I will explain that to you later. But first, tell me—what is the truth you seek?”

“Is it true that my parents were thieves, Grandfather?”

The old man let out a long sigh. He closed his eyes for a moment before asking, “Do you believe the accusation?”

Li Jie slowly shook his head. He couldn’t be certain if the accusation was true or false. But what he did remember was that his parents had lived very simply—in fact, they were extremely poor. Often, they ate only once a day because there was simply no food. If the accusations were true, how could they have lived in such hardship?

“Clear your mind and answer me—do you believe the accusation?” the old man asked again.

“I don’t believe it, Grandfather,” Li Jie replied firmly.

The old man smiled once more. “Now, eat this banana and get some rest. I will prepare a remedy for your wounds.”

Li Jie accepted the bananas the old man handed him. He was lucky—his stomach had been empty for almost two days. He eagerly ate several bananas before lying down.

Not long after, the old man handed Li Jie a small cup containing a medicinal brew.

“Drink this remedy, then rest. It will help your body heal properly.”

Li Jie took the small cup hesitantly, staring at the liquid inside for a long moment before finally drinking it.

“Li Jie, if the accusations against your parents were false, would you want to clear their names? Or would you seek revenge?” the old man asked again.

Li Jie looked at him in confusion. How could he seek revenge when he had no strength or means to do so?

“The desire is there, Grandfather. But I know my own limitations. If they find out I’ve returned, they’ll tear me apart,” he answered weakly. The pain in his body grew even stronger, but he made no sound of complaint—pain had always been a part of his life.

“Don’t worry about that. I will teach you some martial arts. Even though the village chief has his own martial school, I believe you will be able to handle it,” the old man assured him.

The twenty-year-old young man brightened at those words. But at the same time, he was filled with questions—how did this old man know so much about his life? He suspected the man knew the truth behind the accusations against his parents.

Seeing the doubt in Li Jie’s eyes, the old man smiled once again.

“There are things I need to tell you, Li Jie. But first, drink the remedy. Your internal organs have suffered damage from all the beatings, and it will make training difficult if you don’t heal properly.”

Li Jie nodded and quickly downed the bitter liquid. Then, he lay down to rest, allowing the medicine to work its effects.

Moments after drinking the remedy, he felt a warm sensation spreading throughout his body.

Soon, the warmth intensified into an unbearable heat, making him writhe in agony. Sweat poured from every pore, drenching his clothes. Eventually, unable to withstand the overwhelming heat, he lost consciousness.

Time passed quickly.

The next morning, Li Jie finally woke up. The first thing he noticed was that the pain in his body had completely disappeared. His breathing felt lighter, and his entire body seemed much stronger. He was amazed by the effectiveness of the remedy.

“So, you’re finally awake,” the old man said as he entered the hut, carrying a set of clothes.

“Now, go and clean yourself. There’s a small river behind the hut. As I promised, I have something to tell you.”

Li Jie stepped out of the hut after taking the clothes.

Not long after, he returned, his body clean from dust and blood.

“Sit here,” the old man instructed.

Li Jie nodded and sat on the floor, which was covered with a woven mat. In front of him, a steaming sweet potato was ready to be eaten.

“While you eat, there is something I need to tell you,” the old man said.

“Who are you, Grandfather? And why did you save me?”

“My name is Song Rui, Li Jie. And the reason I saved you is because I was actually your father’s teacher—Li Hao's master.”

Li Jie was stunned. He never expected that the old man before him had been his father’s mentor. But now, questions flooded his mind.

“If my father was your student, why didn’t he fight back when the villagers executed my parents?”

“To protect you, Li Jie. Your father didn’t want you to be caught up in something he never did.”

Li Jie’s brow furrowed deeply. “So, my parents weren’t thieves?”

Song Rui shook his head with a small smile. “I knew your father and mother well. They would never do something so disgraceful. They would rather live in poverty than steal.”

Li Jie clenched his fists. A burning anger and the desire for revenge ignited within him.

“Someone framed my parents and got them executed,” Dong Rui continued.

“Who was it, Grandfather? I must clear my parents’ names. And anyone involved in this wicked scheme—I will kill them!”

Song Rui smiled, seeing the unwavering resolve in Li Jie’s eyes. He could tell that, unlike his calm and composed father, Li Jie had a fiercer spirit.