The alcohol seeped into his sorrows, emboldening his courage, yet muddling his thoughts. Pang Long said, "When Madam asked about Zheng Xuezhang, I couldn't avoid speaking, nor did I dare to refuse."

Li Xian responded, "What's the matter?"

"What's the matter…" Pang Long took a sip of wine. Though rough in appearance, his alcohol tolerance was poor. After only a few sips, he felt somewhat tipsy. "You need to be prepared."

"I've visited the Black Water Gang, a gang known in the Jianghu for their ruthless methods. Yesterday, when I went to collect debt from the Black Water Gang, I saw the 'Human Sail'. Thousands of cries and screams moved even me."

Li Xian asked, "Did Madam hand me over to the Black Water Gang?" Before the words left his mouth, he knew it was impossible—not because Madam protected him, but because there was no profit in it.

Pang Long shook his head, "Of course not. Zheng Xuezhang is gravely injured, how could he bring this up? That night he injured several of my men and broke the main gates, so he was required to compensate with nine hundred taels of silver. He dared not refuse."

"But…"

Pang Long sighed, "To Madam, we are nothing more than little specks of dust. It's the same whether it's you or me."

"I used to think that when you shone during the winter hunt, Madam might remember your name. Perhaps she would be inclined to nurture you a bit."

Li Xian thought, "Even though Commander Pang is older than me, he's much more naive."

Pang Long's words seemed more like self-mockery. Putting down his wine bowl, he said seriously:

"Madam said she wants to assign you to guard… Black River Village."

"I see." Understanding dawned upon Li Xian, and he felt somewhat relieved.

Black River Village is a downstream settlement from the Black River.

Due to water source issues, it's had numerous conflicts with the Black Water Gang. Guarding this place is extremely dangerous.

Li Xian holds enmity with Zheng Xuezhang over his son's death.

Going to guard Black River Village means being closer to the Black Water Gang, without the protection of the estate. The dangers are obvious.

Black River Village has been without guards for a long time. Villagers are bullied, the water supply is insufficient, and the thousands of acres of land have always had poor yields.

What virtue or capability does Zheng Xuezhang have to make Madam hand over a person? How could he dare to expect Madam to hand over a person?

Madam sees that Li Xian has a grudge against the Black Water Gang and that this affair started because of him. Assigning him to guard Black River Village serves as both a punishment and ensures he will do his utmost to deal with the Black Water Gang.

This is in her interest.

Nothing more than that.

As for Li Xian's fate, she obviously hadn't considered it much.

"This matter is settled. Tomorrow, you should start guarding Black River Village."

"Be careful."

Pang Long shook his head repeatedly. Pitying a young assistant, once parted, there's no knowing if they'll meet again.

"Alright! I will be careful." Li Xian took a sip of strong wine. As the dust settled, he felt unusually calm.

...

...

On the day of departure from the estate.

Li Xian carried a traveling bag on his back, with a long saber at his waist and a large bow shouldered.

"This journey is very arduous."

"But…"

"It's also more free!"

Danger implies freedom; freedom implies danger.

Guarding Black River Village… only Li Xian alone, with no one to control him, naturally free.

However, that place is the most chaotic. Mountain Wind Stronghold, Black Water Gang are all there, a mix of various factions with countless dangers.

"There, with high mountains and long rivers, if one can't fight, slipping away quietly is even more convenient."

Li Xian was not inflexible.

Black River Village is about eighty miles west of the estate. He needed to cross four large mountains, a place of tall mountains and long rivers.

Midday.

Reaching halfway up a mountain. Li Xian looked afar, seeing a winding great river. Because its depth is a hundred feet, it appears black, hence the name "Black River."

The Black Water Gang was established beside the river, with developed water transport, known for setting up great formations to capture reputable martial artists on the river.

"Black River Village is downstream of Black River."

"But not near the river, rather it lies in the mountains."

Li Xian held a simple map. The map crudely depicted the Black River, mountains, and the location of Black River Village.

He could roughly determine the direction.

After traveling a dozen more miles.

Li Xian turned right onto a hidden path. Entering the path, surrounded by trees, he was deep in the secret forest.

"The direction should be correct."

Li Xian muttered to himself.

Heard a sudden shout.

"Help… help!"

"Tiger… it's a tiger!"

A roar of a tiger echoed through the mountains.

Li Xian looked in the direction of the sound, indeed seeing a tiger pursuing three or five men. With a bloody mouth and large body, its speed through the forest was remarkably swift.

Just as the men were about to be devoured by the tiger.

Li Xian swiftly drew his bow and shot an arrow through the tiger's mouth, pinning the beast to a tree.

"Are you alright?" Li Xian walked over quickly.

"N-no…"

One of them had wet his pants. But seeing Li Xian's attire, his knee buckled, dropping into a bow: "Guardian… Guardian Master, you've finally arrived."

"Oh?" Li Xian was surprised.

"We… we are from Black River Village. The last master was eaten by a big tiger." That man said.

"Are there many tigers here?" Li Xian asked.

"Not just many, it's almost a calamity." The man counted on his fingers, "Big tigers, big bears, leopards, deer… they appear frequently. Isn't it odd, we people can hardly find food."

"You see these beasts, each plump and robust, but we can only look at them, can't eat them. If not careful, we get eaten instead."

"Alright, where is your village, quickly take me there."

Li Xian pulled out his bow and arrows, using his inner qi to shoulder the big tiger. Though he hadn't reached the village yet, he had a hunch that despite numerous external threats, this place…

Suited him better.

Before even reaching the village, he had already captured a mountain tiger.

Though lacking the estate's elixirs and resources… but this mountain tiger, skinned, its meat boiled, could strengthen his body greatly.

Selling it would earn a hefty profit!

"Master, incredible! Incredible!"

The few men were full of envy seeing Li Xian shoulder the big tiger.

"Lead the way."

Li Xian took a strong step, carrying the tiger sideways, its paw as large as a human head. A light swipe could easily peel the skin and flesh.

"Alright, Master, follow me."

The man led the way ahead.

After circling through the forest for over ten miles, deep in the mountains, he saw the true face of "Black River Village."

"It should be called Black Mountain Village."

Li Xian murmured to himself.

No trace of river channels seen, but mountains and forests were endless.

"Master, there used to be a river passing through here. But someone dug a channel and stole it."

"Now if we want water, we have to go to the mountains to find a stream."

"But… this water is enough for cooking and boiling, but far from enough for irrigating fields."

"We have to take a hoe and fight the neighboring village for it."

"But the neighboring village is sheltered by the Black Water Gang, and our guardians haven't come for so long that we can't outfight them. Only after they finish using it can we use the leftovers."

The man said.

Contests for water are common among rural farmers—fierce fights often lead to deaths.

"Currently, in mid-November, a winter period, there's temporarily no urgency in fighting for water."

Li Xian patted the tiger's body.

While on the way, he had also seen signs of wild boars and Bear Beasts.

This place is rich with beasts.

As a Martial Artist, time for eating, training, and soaking isn't an issue with ample beasts here.

[Four Directions Fist], [Clear Wind Leg], [Jade Palm], [Daluo Saber] all have room for improvement.

More freely than at the estate!

Fortune and misfortune indeed coexist!

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