Chapter Nine: Miss Xue’s Plea

A reckless and absurd wedding raid had plunged the entire mountain stronghold into crisis. As a result, Li Yun, who had served as chieftain for several years, saw his position shaken and was dragged into the main hall by the other leaders for a council meeting. But now, Li Yun had stepped forward to shoulder responsibility, bringing only two companions, and repelled the government troops with flair. This victory invigorated everyone in the stronghold, and his previously unstable authority was reaffirmed.

After resting on the ground for quite some time, Zhang Hu finally got up and walked over to Li Yun, his face flushed from excitement. "Second Brother, you’re incredible! How did you know they would retreat?"

During the entire skirmish, including those wounded by traps, only about a dozen government soldiers lost their fighting ability, while dozens—perhaps more than a hundred—remained. If they had pressed forward together and been determined to eradicate the stronghold, even if Cangshan Stronghold survived, the casualties would have been dreadful.

"Because..." Li Yun patted Zhang Hu’s shoulder and let out a long breath. "They’re afraid of dying."

Just a couple of days ago, when he descended the mountain, he had seen firsthand what the constables were like, and realized that this two-hundred-year-old dynasty had decayed to its very core. In such an environment, the border troops and central armies might retain some fighting power, but the local forces were surely rotten to the bone. That was Li Yun’s greatest reason for daring to take risks.

After saying this, Li Yun stood up and turned his gaze to the three sets of armor they had brought back. Though not exquisite, nor made of iron, they were indeed complete suits. Without ceremony, Chieftain Li tossed one set to Zhang Hu, then took the other two and headed toward his residence.

"Baldie, get me some meat," he called out. "I need to rest for a day or two."

His loyal follower, Baldie, nodded hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare food for Li Yun.

As Chieftain Li walked away, his voice echoed from afar. "The government troops may not have truly left. Patrols at every pass must remain vigilant. Remember, without my permission, no one may descend the mountain, and no one is to work outside."

By the time he finished speaking, Li Yun was already near his quarters.

The third leader, Zhou Liang, watched Li Yun depart, lost in thought. The second leader, Yuan Zhengming, quietly walked beside him, also watching Li Yun, speaking in a calm tone, "Doesn’t it seem like the boy we watched grow up has become a different person?"

Zhou Liang glanced at Yuan Zhengming. "His temperament is still the same, but... he’s grown much wiser."

"Must be the age—he’s finally figured things out," Yuan Zhengming said, hands behind his back as he turned to leave. "Now only Er Leng remains a fool in the stronghold."

Zhou Liang looked up at him and sighed, "The chieftain’s temper is no joke."

The second leader didn’t look back but clutched his stomach and grumbled, "I know, I know—my stomach still hurts like hell!"

---

When Li Yun returned to his residence, dusk had already fallen. He had been busy outside all day—his constitution kept him from feeling much physical fatigue, but his mind was drained.

Entering his room, he tossed the two sets of armor behind the door, didn’t bother checking on Xue Yun’er, removed his own armor and hung it on the wall, then drew water for a cold bath.

After washing, Li Yun lay on his bed, hands cradling his head, staring at the beams in a daze.

He had been constantly busy these past few days, playing his part as chieftain well, but now that all was quiet, he returned to simply being Li Yun.

What sort of era was this? Why had he, inexplicably, been brought to life in this age? And what was he meant to do here?

As he pondered, a timid knock sounded at the door.

It was timid—so much so that if the night hadn’t been so silent, Li Yun might not have heard it at all.

He got up, dressed, and opened the door.

At the threshold, Xue Yun’er instinctively stepped back, shrinking from Li Yun’s gaze. She opened her mouth but struggled to speak. "You..."

"I..." She stammered, unable to get the words out.

Li Yun looked her over, amused, and decided to tease her. Smiling, he said, "It’s already dark and you’re knocking on the chieftain’s door. What is it, Miss Xue? Have you made up your mind to serve me tonight?"

"Bah!" Though timid, Xue Yun’er had a streak of stubbornness. She quickly ran several steps away, then turned back, her face bright red. "I thought you’d become a good person—you!"

Seeing her reaction, Li Yun scratched his head, realizing he’d taken the joke too far. Girls of this era were thin-skinned and not used to teasing.

He cleared his throat, chuckling, "You want to ask about those who came up the mountain today?"

Xue Yun’er nodded carefully.

"Did you... did you kill them all?"

Since the night she’d secretly watched Li Yun practice martial arts, the chieftain in her mind had grown larger than life. She had never seen someone so strong, and on her wedding day, she’d witnessed him slash down a man with one stroke.

He seemed a figure of myth and terror to her.

Gathering her courage, she continued, "My father... my father..."

At that, she finally broke down, sobbing, "Did my father come? He wasn’t killed by you, was he?"

Li Yun, watching the weeping girl, was at a loss.

Am I some kind of deranged murderer?

---

Seeing her so distraught, Li Yun shook his head helplessly and waited for her to calm down before speaking. "There were government troops on the mountain today, and I drove them off."

He paused, then explained, "Since your father is the magistrate, he would not come personally. I imagine he wasn’t hurt, let alone killed by me."

"And..." Li Yun added with resignation, "I hardly killed anyone..."

Of the ones who fought today, the man he struck with an arrow was probably beyond saving, but the rest had merely lost the ability to fight—he hadn’t dealt fatal blows.

First, there was no need.

Second, striking too hard could bring endless retaliation.

Xue Yun’er wiped her tears and looked at Li Yun. "Could you find me pen and paper? I’d like to write a letter to my father..."

Li Yun looked up at the night sky and nodded. "That’s possible, but it’s already dark—I can’t get you pen and paper right now. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow. And..."

He paused, "I can deliver the letter for you, but I must read it first."

She wiped her tears and agreed.

Looking at Li Yun, she said, "You can read letters—you’re literate. And you speak so differently from the other bandits."

"You act crude with them on purpose, don’t you?"

Li Yun laughed, "Why not say that when I speak so elegantly with you, it’s just an act?"

Xue Yun’er shook her head. "An educated man can pretend to be uncouth, but one who’s never studied can’t pretend otherwise..."

She didn’t pursue the topic further, but instead looked at Li Yun and gathered her courage. "Did you... did you just bathe?"

Li Yun nodded, "Why?"

"I... I’d like..."

She lowered her head, cheeks flushing, "I’d like to bathe as well..."

"Is that all right?"

She hadn’t bathed since coming up the mountain.

Li Yun scratched his head. "I used cold water just now. You probably wouldn’t stand it—you’ll have to wait a bit."

With that, he strode out.

Though night had fallen, the moon was bright and the courtyard was clear.

Li Yun quickly set up the iron pot, lit a fire, drew water from the large jar, and poured it into the pot to heat.

Xue Yun’er leaned against the doorframe, watching Li Yun busy in the yard, then looked up at the moon, thinking of her family and feeling sorrowful once more.

"Father..."