Li Xian's killing intent was pure, and he swore to sever the head. The blade was unmatched in ferocity. However, a sudden change occurred; the blade descended swiftly, slashing through stones and tiles, scattering dust and debris everywhere, but no blood was shed.

Cao Kai had been rescued, and in an instant, was suspended from a high place beside the street. He was still unconscious, looking disheveled. The arrogance of the Cao family's offspring was completely absent; his pants were wet, mixed with a foul stench.

Li Xian reacted swiftly and immediately shot out three darts.

Yet, there was a sudden "swish" sound, and a stone came flying from an unknown direction, first knocking down one dart, then rebounding to knock down the other two. The skill was extraordinary. Li Xian, seeing this situation, realized that there was another formidable enemy, making it difficult to kill Cao Kai.

"Elder of the Eight Clans!"

Cao Nuwu knelt down and kowtowed. The other Cao soldiers followed suit, laying down their weapons respectfully. Before the crowd, an elder had appeared.

He had gray hair, a hunched figure, a square face and small eyes, commanding respect without anger. Leaning on a Dragon Jade Staff, he stood there, imposing on all directions.

This man was Cao Yuan, elder of the Cao family's Eight Clans.

It's truly coincidental.

The matter in Qingning County had fallen on Cao Kai. Raised by the family since childhood, dealing with the countryside ruffians should have been easy for him. The family certainly would not send an elder to remove obstacles, lest they waste family resources on a trivial matter.

Cao Kai was not a prodigy of the family. By what merit and capability could he receive such an honor?

Thus... this family elder was coincidentally passing by. He had another matter requiring him to head southeast and participate in something. But coincidentally, he passed through Qingning County and witnessed today's scene.

Belonging to the same Cao family, he casually rescued him.

Cao Yuan nodded lightly and looked at Li Xian, noticing his unusual face and young age, already at the peak of martial arts. Though Cao Kai was useless, he was right in saying: This child could be taken as a slave.

He said, "Are you willing to be my slave?"

Cao Nuwu stepped forward and whispered a reminder, "Elder of the Eight Clans, this person... this person opposes the Cao family, killed Cao Yun, nearly killed Cao Kai, and caused the loss of dozens of Cao soldiers, how can we grant him such favor?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yuan furrowed his brows, then relaxed them, and calmly said, "Is what he said true?"

Li Xian slowly reached for the Longsword, knowing that this enemy was formidable, fighting to survive, thinking to himself, "I only have five zhang of Inner Qi left. If I fight, I must immediately use the Setting Sun Bloodsword. I'll stall with words to recover strength."

Despite facing a formidable enemy, he forced himself to remain calm and said, "And if it's true?"

"A young man with arrogance, mistakes can be corrected; turning back is the shore." Cao Yuan said indifferently, "Since it is so, then become my slave, bear the Thorn Armor for ten years to repay your sins."

The Cao family's "Thorn Armor," used for punishing rebellious thugs. Smooth and solid outside, resistant to knives and spears. The inside is full of dense thorns. Once worn, the thorns pierce the body, creating a bloody mess, difficult to remove.

Furthermore, the thorns are poisonous, causing unbearable itching. Without the Cao family's secret medicine, the itch and pain are hard to suppress, with nowhere to scratch. People are driven mad, crazed, wanting to die.

Cao Yuan didn't ask Li Xian's opinion and asked Cao Nuwu, "Is there a Thorn Armor here?"

Cao Nuwu said, "There is... there is." A Cao family soldier stepped out, undressing, revealing the inner armor.

Cao Yuan said, "Henceforth, you need not wear this armor anymore; take it off."

The soldier received absolution, knelt and kowtowed multiple times, his head bleeding, his eyes shedding hot tears, overwhelmed with gratitude, and then he took off his clothes.

The Thorn Armor encased chest, abdomen, and back, tightly adhered to the skin. Four other Cao soldiers received orders and stepped forward, standing at the four corners northeast, southwest around the soldier.

The four had eight hands, reaching for eight places on the Thorn Armor, fingers grasping eight hidden clasps.

They exchanged glances and silently counted three times, simultaneously releasing the eight hidden clasps. The armor mechanism unravelled, and could finally be removed. The Thorn Armor leaving the body, the soldier wailed repeatedly, in utmost misery.

Blood spilled all over the ground.

The Thorn Armor's thorns were both thin and long, dense and pliable.

Deeply embedded in the flesh, like taking root and sprouting. At this moment, forcibly removed, the thorns tugged at the flesh, like pulling grass where roots inevitably clump with dirt.

At this moment, those thorns carried flesh and blood! Calling this removing armor, it's actually slicing meat!

After removing the Thorn Armor, the soldier had become a bloodied figure, a terrifying sight indeed. The skin and flesh on his chest and abdomen were brought out by the fine thorns. His ribs, fascia, and lungs were visible.

But this Thorn Armor, in its cruelty, was extremely sophisticated. Avoiding fascia, bones, and blood organs, although this soldier's injuries were severe, with visible organs, as long as the bleeding stopped, he still had life.

The sight was utterly astounding.

"Very good, very good." Cao Yuan said to Li Xian: "Come before me, kneel and wear this armor, become my slave, serve ten years, wash away your sins, then you may change your surname to Cao, acquiring the name Slave Three."

Li Xian regarded him coldly, relying on the Perfect Sunset Bloodsword, Heavy Pupils, fighting with all his strength, possibly not unable to contend. Having life-saving Yang Qi and Jade Water Pearl at hand, being near a lake... Li Xian calmly analyzed and had already calculated his course of action.

At this moment, he suddenly smiled, seemingly ready, and said, "Old man, do you think you're so impressive?"

Cao Yuan replied calmly, "You have just started Food Essence, haven't left this barren place, like a frog at the bottom of the well peeking at the sky. Someday, when you reach the Martial Arts Second Realm, leave this poor county, if fortune allows, can stand firm in the Prefecture City. Only then will you know my vastness, only then will you know the vastness of the world, only then will you know today's opportunity is precious."

Li Xian laughed, "Then may I boldly ask, dear elder, how does your grand power compare to Lady Zhe Jian?"

He took a step back, precisely retreating behind the lady.

Just then, the lady transmitted sound through Qi Condensation, and upon hearing her voice, he knew Cao Yuan was doomed.

Cao Yuan's pupils shrank, fixing his gaze, as if encountering a ghost. Only then did he notice Madam Wen's presence. Previously, relying on profound cultivation, steady as Mount Tai, pressing in all directions.

With a calm expression, deciding others' fates. Now amid calmness, finally moved. There was even panic.

Madam Wen walked slowly, her beauty peerless, her demeanor cold, "When you see me, are you the frog at the bottom of the well peeking at the sky, or the ant beholding heaven?"

Cao Yuan took half a step back, gripping the scepter tightly. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and he no longer appeared calm. Madam Wen, in her flowing white dress, her long skirt trailing on the ground, was spotless as she circled around Li Xian, her fingers twining around his neck.

Without looking at Cao Yuan, she asked, "Li Xian, what do you think?"

Li Xian replied respectfully, "I dare not speak recklessly."

"I insist you speak recklessly." Madam Wen glanced coldly at Cao Yuan, "This man just bullied you. Now tell me... how do you wish to vent? Would you kill him with a sword, or cut off his limbs?"

"You shameless woman, you're far too presumptuous!" Cao Yuan could not bear the humiliation, thinking this person moves unpredictably, mastering advanced light skills, perhaps I am not her match. But it doesn't mean I'm like fish on the chopping board at her mercy.

Madam Wen sneered. She unsheathed her sword, a soft sword extending like a white snake. It abruptly lengthened, binding around Cao Yuan's neck instantly. Cao Yuan was greatly alarmed, unable to use any martial arts. Blood trickled from his neck as the blade pricked it.

With a slight exertion, Madam Wen could sever his neck. The disparity in their strengths was like an ant gazing up at the sky.

"Li Xian, decide his fate," Madam Wen said softly.

Li Xian swallowed a gulp of saliva, thinking, "I rallied the Nursing Home to fight privately in the city. Initially, it was to be a swift battle followed by an apology to Madam. I didn't expect to encounter the old man Cao Yuan. With Madam's disposition, her voice is gentle now; she will surely blame me. I'll be in trouble."

After pondering for a moment, he said, "I'll heed Madam's word."

"This time, I want to hear yours," Madam Wen replied.

"Then… shall we kill him?" Li Xian asked.

"Not enough," Madam Wen said, "Killing him like this is too easy."

"How about… breaking his limbs and sending him back to the Cao Mansion by messenger, how about that?"

Li Xian said, "Alright!" As soon as the words were spoken, terror filled Cao Yuan's eyes, and he mouthed the word "No", attempting to beg. But blood splattered everywhere, and his hands and feet were severed. No one saw Madam Wen's move.

Cao Yuan tried to scream in pain, but there was breath yet no sound. His throat had been slit, rendering him mute. At this moment, Cao Kai awoke, seeing the utter distress of the dignified family elder, and fainted again in terror.

Madam Wen said, "Dress him in Thorn Armor, and carve the words 'Li Xian's grand gift, accepted by Cao Family' on his face."

Terror filled Cao Yuan's eyes; he prided himself on his cruelty, manipulating power with a heart as cold as iron. Yet compared to Madam Wen, he was far inferior. Madam Wen's casual manner truly sent chills to the bones, like a plunge into an icy cave.

Li Xian thought, "Cao Yuan holds a high status and strong power. Yet he is easily manipulated by Madam. In cruelty, Cao Yuan is inferior, in strength, too, he is inferior. Forcing me to humiliate Cao Family's elder like this, Madam wants me and Cao Family at irreconcilable odds."

At the moment, he had no choice but to obey. He took the Thorn Armor, pulling away Cao Yuan's shirt, and dressed him in the armor. Cao Yuan made "uh" "uh" sounds, muffled in pain.

Soon, the Thorn Armor was fully worn. Li Xian stepped back to Madam Wen's side. Madam Wen nodded, and said gently to the Cao soldiers, "You may send him back to the Cao Mansion."

Cao Nuwu nodded blankly, somewhat dazed. Amidst the absurdity, he seemed infatuated with this snake-hearted woman, feelings complicated. Li Xian said, "Madam, there is still one more I wish to kill." Madam Wen asked, "Who?"

"Cao Kai," Li Xian said.

"A mere ant, decide on your own." Madam Wen dismissed with a wave of her sleeve, turned around, and disappeared after a few steps, her melodious voice drifting from elsewhere, "Return to the Manor tonight."

Cao Kai woke again, seeing Li Xian with knife ready to kill him. Despite desperate pleas for mercy, he could not escape the fate of beheading. Beheaded with one strike, blood splashing the restaurant.

Having gone through this, how could the Cao soldiers, government troops dare to fight again? All abandoned their weapons and awaited their fate.

In accordance with Madam's wishes, Li Xian did not further trouble the Cao soldiers, government troops, allowing them to take Cao Yuan back to the Cao Mansion.

The Cao soldiers dared not linger, they procured a horse carriage to place Cao Yuan inside. Overnight, they rushed back to the Prefecture City.

And so, for today's matters, it's temporarily settled. The three halls and two sects scattered, restless, deeply fearing Li Xian's retribution in autumn.

Luo Xia approached, frowning, and said, "Who was that woman just now?"

"She's my Madam," Li Xian replied respectfully, fearing Madam still lingered.

"She is very dangerous, far more so than the Cao Family," Luo Xia warned, "Staying by her side is not a long-term plan, take care of yourself."

Li Xian smiled bitterly; he naturally understood. When it comes to feelings, he feels no gratitude to Madam. But regarding deeds, his entanglement with Madam runs deep. Today's events were indeed a life-saving grace. He returns favors, so Li Xian does not avoid it.

Unwilling to delve deeper, he changed the subject. Today's fierce battle, from the East City Gate to the Government Office, covered about ten miles. Several skirmishes saw more injured than dead.

Li Xian tallied the casualties, trying to compensate and reward them. But financial resources were really stretched thin, truly penny-less. A clever idea came; he wrote several letters, sending them to the three halls and two sects.

He asked them for funds to console families. If they showed sincerity, they may be forgiven. These three halls and two sects, fence-sitters by nature, gladly agreed.

Order in Qingning County was gradually restored.

The wicked county was eliminated; constables saved from prison. Upon learning of Cao Kai and Cao Yuan's outcomes, they felt great relief, satisfaction.

By evening.

The setting sun appeared like blood, Qingning County regained its bustle. Li Xian took off his armor, visiting households to apologize, full of sincerity. It was as if the day's battles had never occurred.

"Luo Xia." Li Xian rode out of the city, about to return to the manor. Luo Xia escorted him, reaching outside the city gate.

Luo Xia asked, "What's the matter?"

Li Xian said, "After today, I need to stay in the manor more. I'm afraid I cannot attend to matters of the Martial Captain Hall. Are you interested in taking the position of Vice Martial Captain? The monthly salary is… one tael of silver."

"Only one tael of silver?" Luo Xia laughed and asked.

"Truly no money, if we prosper in future, consider raising it." Li Xian laughed.

"Alright." Luo Xia nodded.

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