Chapter Forty-Seven: Overturn the World!

Shidai County was in chaos, and leaving the city was not particularly difficult.

Under the cover of night, Li Yun led the group of children away from Shidai, heading toward the direction of Cang Mountain. Cang Mountain lay at the border between Qingyang and Shidai; otherwise, Miss Xue would not have passed near it on her way to marry.

While it was still dark, Li Yun took them along the main road, but as dawn began to break, he switched to the smaller paths, avoiding the larger roads.

By the evening of the following day, they finally reached a safe place. As everyone stopped to rest, Li Yun sat beneath a tree and beckoned to Meng Hai. "Come here."

Meng Hai was somewhat afraid of Li Yun, but still walked over.

The chieftain handed him some of his rations and asked, "Can you tell me what happened in your Hexi Village?"

Meng Hai sat opposite Li Yun, took the food, and after a single bite, his eyes grew red.

"That day, the village head came to collect taxes."

"In addition to the annual land tax, there had already been an extra levy earlier in the year. Some families simply couldn’t pay. The village head brought people, going door to door, demanding payment. They beat people, and even wanted to sell Uncle Jiu’s daughter to the city to cover the tax."

"Uncle Jiu was furious and fought with the village head. The next day, the officials arrived."

As he spoke, Meng Hai’s voice trembled.

"Uncle Jiu… Uncle Jiu’s family was tied up, to be taken away. My father and the others stepped forward, forbidding the officials from binding anyone. The officials drew their blades..."

At this point, the boy was already in tears, collapsing to the ground, unable to continue.

Li Yun patted his shoulder, sighed, and asked no more.

He already knew the rest.

During that conflict, the officials drew their blades. Whether it was because the situation was urgent or because of their usual arrogance, they killed and wounded many people from Hexi Village.

This sparked widespread outrage.

Five officials—three were killed, two severely injured.

Thinking of this, Li Yun patted Meng Hai’s shoulder, his voice heavy. "I understand now."

"Li… Chieftain Li, what will happen to my family?"

"It depends on whether they can escape."

Li Yun spoke quietly. "Don’t dwell on these things. Thinking about them does no good."

Meng Hai hung his head, silent for a long time. After chewing another bite of his rations, he pursed his lips and looked at Li Yun. "Could you… could you teach me?"

The chieftain’s expression was calm. "Teach you what?"

"Martial… martial arts. What you use, it must be martial arts, right?"

Li Yun considered for a moment, then shook his head. "I’m not sure it counts. I was born with a bit more strength than others."

When he was young, someone had taught him breathing techniques, but as for fighting, or methods of combat, Li Mazzi had developed them himself over the years, bit by bit, through practice.

"If you want to learn, I can teach you when I have time."

Meng Hai had just opened his mouth to speak when a sudden, urgent whistle sounded from the forest.

Li Yun, unhurried, took out a whistle from his pocket and blew a few notes in a particular rhythm. Moments later, Liu Bo arrived, jogging with several bandits in tow. He bowed his head. "Second Brother!"

The others bowed with fists clasped, addressing him as chieftain.

Li Yun stood, looked over his brothers, and patted Liu Bo’s shoulder. "Old Ninth, take these children back to the stronghold, give them something to eat and settle them in."

He paused briefly, then continued, "If there isn’t enough space, let them stay in my courtyard."

Liu Bo scratched his head. "Second Brother, there’s enough room. Who are they…?"

"Our fathers were driven to banditry by the authorities back then," Li Yun said calmly. "These children are no different."

Liu Bo nodded silently. "Understood."

He looked up at Li Yun and asked, "Second Brother, aren’t you coming up the mountain with us?"

Li Yun shook his head. "I still have matters to attend to. Huzi and Skinny Monkey are waiting for me. When I finish my business in a few days, I’ll return to the stronghold to arrange things."

Liu Bo didn’t waste words. He turned to the group. "Follow me!"

The Hexi youths, bewildered, stood and followed Liu Bo.

A few bandits led the way, Liu Bo brought up the rear, glancing back at Li Yun. "Second Brother, be careful!"

Li Yun grinned. "Don’t worry, I’m safe enough."

……

Leaving the vicinity of Cang Mountain, Li Yun returned to the main road, striding toward Dahe Town.

Though he had no mount, his tall, robust frame and stamina made his pace faster than most donkeys or mules. From dusk until noon the following day, he finally reached the outskirts of Hexi Village.

Meanwhile, Li Zheng, Zhang Hu, and a group of constables, having dawdled along the way, had only arrived about half a day earlier.

At the entrance to Hexi Village, he saw no one else. Only Chen Da stood guard. Upon seeing Li Yun, Chen Da hurried forward, bowed his head, and said, "Chief, where have you been these past two days? The brothers were worried you’d been caught by those rebels…"

Li Yun smiled. "The trouble broke out suddenly that night. I couldn’t risk you all, so I went to check things myself. I reached the Shidai county office and saw the rebels were formidable, so I left. I’m unfamiliar with Shidai’s roads, so I just arrived."

He patted Chen Da’s shoulder and whispered, "Don’t mention this. Just say I’ve been with you all along."

Chen Da thumped his chest and laughed. "Chief, when have you ever left us?"

Li Yun nodded in satisfaction. "What’s the situation now?"

"The rebels were fierce that night," Chen Da lowered his voice. "Shidai’s magistrate, Du, was killed by them."

"This has made a huge stir. The commander from the prefecture is rushing to Hexi Village, and it’s said the governor himself will come..."

"The Shidai assistant magistrate has ordered us to guard all exits, forbidding anyone from Hexi Village to leave."

"The brothers are stationed around the village. I was assigned to the entrance."

Li Yun looked ahead, seeing a village not far away, already surrounded by officials—many of them his subordinates from Qingyang.

The chief patted Chen Da’s shoulder. "Stay here. I’ll look around."

Chen Da quickly nodded. "Yes."

Li Yun circled the outskirts of Hexi Village, finally locating Zhang Hu and Li Zheng. Upon seeing Li Yun, Li Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

"Second Brother, you’re finally here. Huzi and I were worried sick!"

"No need to worry." Li Yun smiled. "Your second brother doesn’t wish to die—it’s not easy for me to die."

Li Zheng glanced around and whispered, "Second Brother, what happened that night?"

"I took some people into the stronghold," Li Yun said calmly. "Let Old Ninth settle them."

Li Zheng sighed. "I know you want more people in the stronghold. If these Hexi rebels were just causing trouble, bringing them up the mountain wouldn’t matter. Now they…"

"They’ve revolted."

"This may cause trouble for the stronghold."

Li Yun shook his head. "No trouble. I’ve been careful enough. Besides…"

"They’re rebels, but aren’t we bandits?"

Li Yun looked up at the sky and muttered, "I just can’t stand it. If I can’t stand it, then I must intervene!"

He took a deep breath, calming his inner anger, and said in a low voice, "Those children will become our best helpers."

The "Hexi youths" would now bear the label of rebels, and aside from the Cang Mountain stronghold, they had nowhere else to turn.

For Li Yun, they were the ideal candidates to expand his bandit clan—loyalty was no concern.

Because these youths had no other path left.

And they were only the first step in expanding the Cang Mountain stronghold!

Li Yun looked to the sky and cursed.

"What a damned world!"

With that, the great chieftain sneered coldly, saying no more.

In his heart, he had already given his verdict on this world—or rather, on the Great Zhou.

Sooner or later, someone would overturn it!