"I've heard that some intelligent creatures are more humane and less wild," Huang Lei thought for a moment and then said, "My grandfather told me a story. When he was young, he saved a small turtle and released it into the lake.

The turtle had a black shell with a white spot in the center, which left a deep impression.

Later, forty years passed. One night, he fell into that lake, thinking he was doomed, but was saved by a giant turtle that carried him to the shore. This giant turtle was larger than a person, with the same white mark in the center of its shell.

He told me the giant turtle had come to repay him, and I always thought it was just a story."

"Come to think of it, this Black Bear Spirit hasn't harmed anyone yet," another bandit added.

Everyone thought about it and realized it was true.

The Black Bear Spirit often sneaks into the inner depot to steal food.

But with its strength, if it really wanted food, it wouldn't need to steal; it could just take it by force.

Hearing the others' words, Lou Yi also lost the desire to kill the Black Bear Spirit.

As the saying goes, a gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions; intelligent creatures are no different.

If it hasn't harmed anyone or tried to, why should it be killed?

"Let's go, let's go, just don't come stealing anymore," Lou Yi waved his hand, signaling that the Black Bear Spirit could leave.

The Black Bear Spirit seemed to really understand human speech and immediately bowed several times upon hearing this.

It was large and muscular, bowing with such force that the ground thumped, sending the leaves on the ground flying.

Then, it slowly turned and walked away.

However, it looked back every few steps, eyes wide as if afraid Lou Yi might break his word and come after it.

"Get lost already!" Lou Yi exclaimed irritably.

The Black Bear Spirit turned again to bow before leaving without looking back, disappearing into the dense forest in an instant.

"Let's go hunting." Since the issue with the Black Bear Spirit wasn't resolved, Lou Yi wasn't planning to return empty-handed.

The slingshot in his hand whirled with a 'whoosh,' and each stone thrown meant a bird or beast fell, picked up by the bandits to become future supplies.

'Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!'

Huang Lei's archery was incredible, the best in Sunset Mountain; every shot was a hit, his hunting efficiency was on par with Lou Yi.

Everyone hunted until dusk, and everyone had several rabbits or birds in hand, ready to return to the mountain stronghold.

At this moment, there was a rustling sound from behind the woods, making everyone wary.

However, when a large black figure shot out from behind the trees, everyone froze.

It was the Black Bear Spirit again, and it had returned.

However, this time, it had a large beehive, three to four feet wide, hanging from its paw, looking at Lou Yi with a human-like pleasing expression, presenting the beehive to him.

"Is this for me?" Lou Yi accepted the beehive, noting that the Black Bear Spirit had no intention of leaving, triggering a thought in his heart, "Do you want to follow me?"

The Black Bear Spirit bowed repeatedly and then lay down to kowtow.

Seeing this, all the bandits were dumbfounded, and Lou Yi fell into contemplation.

...

Tai City, Extreme Fist Sect, Martial Arts Arena.

There was only one day left before the Heavy Sword Sect's final ultimatum.

Within the Extreme Fist Sect, besides the inner and outer disciples, most who could leave had already done so.

Even some residential houses near the sect, fearing involvement, temporarily evacuated many people.

"Second Young Master, the master asked me to call you back." A guard with the surname Pan came to Zhan Weida, trying to persuade him to leave.

But Zhan Weida shook his head, "Uncle Pan, you'd better go first. Tell my father, though I am the young master of the Zhan Family, I am also an inner disciple of the Extreme Fist Sect."

Upon hearing this, the guard Pan's face changed as he wanted to forcibly take Zhan Weida away.

But with so many experts within the Extreme Fist Sect, he dared not act rashly, leaving reluctantly instead.

"Hmph, you have a bit of backbone, which surprised me." Nearby, Zhou Yang came over with a cane, then sneered, "But where's your good brother Liu Yi?

Wasn't he bragged about loudly, with so-called innate divine power and surpassing genius? Why is it that now, with the sect in great peril, he is nowhere to be seen?"

Hearing Zhou Yang's questioning, the other disciples couldn't help but cast curious glances.

Many of them didn't want to leave; after all, who doesn't want to live?

But constrained by sect rules and worldly morals, they dared not do so.

No one could guarantee that if they committed this act of betrayal, the elders of the sect wouldn't immediately execute them to serve as an example.

"Hmph! Lou Yi took leave early to meet some friends from outside the city to keep them from being affected by the beast tide," Zhan Weida explained.

"Really? Why does it happen to be at this time?" Zhou Yang had a mocking smile on his face, "Or did he just dare not show up after hearing about the situation?"

"Shut your mouth! Stop slandering!" Zhan Weida, hearing this, burst into a rage.

He knew Lou Yi's character well, knowing he would never do such a despicable thing.

But the others in the sect didn't know.

Many showed suspicion and even disdain in their eyes.

"Lou Yi is not that kind of person!" Jin Feng, Niu Peng, and He Yu, a few former classmates, also defended him.

"I remember, when Lou Yi asked for leave, the Sect Leader of Heavy Sword Sect hadn't made a breakthrough. There's no way he could foresee the future." Chen Muju also stood up to speak a fair word for Lou Yi.

With this, the questioning subsided somewhat.

However, the fear of the Heavy Sword Sect, the worries about their future, and various negative emotions still lingered in the hearts of the Extreme Fist Sect disciples, refusing to dissipate.

"It's not good, the Heavy Sword Sect has blocked the road!" Someone came running in hastily, bringing this ominous news.

"What?"

"Isn't there still one day left?"

Everyone felt as if they had been hit, rushing out to see.

They found that the several main roads surrounding the Extreme Fist Sect had at least seven or eight martial artists each.

All donned red cloaks, wearing deerskin high boots, with wide broadswords strapped to their backs, wider than usual swords by more than double.

This is… an open declaration!

Such realization dawned on everyone's hearts.

"What do you intend to do? Do you want to rebel?" Elder Zhou stepped out at this point, angrily scolding the Heavy Sword Sect members.

"We gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. It's too late to leave now." Two elderly men with similar appearances appeared at the road entrance, sneering with their eyes full of unconcealed killing intent.

The two appeared to be in their seventies or eighties, with graying hair, but their faces were rosy and almost wrinkle-free.

Their qi-blood was so strong that even from afar, one could feel their amazing heat, like two human-shaped furnaces.

It was the infamous Mou Elder duo of the Heavy Sword Sect, known Full Cycle Martial Artists.

"Hmph, does your Heavy Sword Sect really see itself as the court, deciding others' life and death?" Elder Zhang came from another road entrance, followed by a man in a green official robe, a helper he had brought along.

"It's Captain Wang!"

Upon seeing this person, the Extreme Fist Sect members showed ecstatic expressions.

The intervention of the City Lord's Mansion meant they were safe!

In these extraordinary times, with the beast tide looming, the City Lord's Mansion would not want to see any strength wasted.

In the face of the big picture, any deep hatred must give way!

Captain Wang's clear voice rang out: "Elder Mou, the City Lord previously ordered that before the beast tide arrives, no one is to cause trouble, focus on the bigger picture! Retreat at once!"

However, the Heavy Sword Sect members seemed not to hear, standing like puppets, motionless.

"What do you want to do?" Captain Wang yelled angrily.

"Oh, Wang, others decide their own grudges, the City Lord's Mansion can't exert pressure by authority.

If the City Lord knows, you're intervening under his name, what do you think he'll do?"

A man in a scarlet official robe emerged from behind the Mou Elder duo.

His clothing was richly embroidered, evidently of a higher rank than Captain Wang.

"Colonel Gao?" Captain Wang heard this, his face showing some uncertainty, "What do you intend to do?"

But then, the man in the scarlet robe produced a black Tiger Pattern Token in his hand.

"The City Lord said before he left, all affairs in the mansion are temporarily under my charge.

Dare you disobey orders? Retreat at once!"

Captain Wang's face showed changing emotions, giving a bow to Elder Zhang, showing a look of guilt, and then left without looking back.

"The big picture, I'll tell you what the big picture is. If you have the strength of Martial Artists, you are the big picture!" The Mou Elder duo said smugly.

Seeing this, all members of the Extreme Fist Sect felt like they had fallen into an ice cave!

...

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