In the distance, over a hundred riders were charging forward. Leading them was a man in his thirties with a beard, dressed in a white robe. His eyes were like stars, and he stood eight feet tall, riding a tall horse, holding a long spear, dashing forward with remarkable presence!

"Wind tight, pull away!"

The bandit leader, seeing the newcomer, changed his expression dramatically, shouted a command, and was the first to turn and leap off the official road, fleeing towards the boundless snow ridge on both sides.

The other bandits, seeing this, dared not linger, turned and fled.

The white-robed man gave a light shout, lightly tapped the horse's belly with his feet, speeding up both man and horse, reaching in the blink of an eye!

Bang!

A bandit had just leapt off a carriage, only to be met head-on by the white-robed man's full gallop!

The bandit's entire body flew several yards away, his bones shattered, and even in midair, blood was spewing from his mouth.

By the time he hit the snowy ground, he was already a corpse.

This collision also brought the white-robed man to a stop. He pulled back on the reins with one hand!

The steed beneath him reared its forelegs high, and the white-robed man remained steadfast on horseback, extending a long arm, thrusting and lifting the spear.

Poof!

A bandit's chest was pierced by the spear, and he was lifted into the air, falling heavily to the ground, already dead.

Only then did the over a hundred riders behind the white-robed man rush forward, each wielding long knives, hacking down from above.

After the charge, the bandits who hadn't escaped the official road were all cut down!

Yet many bandits had left the official road early and were fleeing into the depths of the snowy mountain.

This light cavalry moved like the wind on the official road but found the snowy terrain on both sides varied in depth and was too complex for charging.

The white-robed man raised his arm, gestured, and shouted, "Arrows!"

All the men sheathed their swords, took down the bows and arrows from their backs, and shot at the fleeing bandits.

A round of arrows was fired, and another dozen bandits were shot down.

Truly, less than half of them escaped to a distance.

"Leave a few alive."

The white-robed man instructed.

The attendants responded loudly, stepped off the official road, and began taking any surviving bandits who had been shot.

"Thank you for saving our lives, my lord!"

"My lord, you descended like a deity, just in time. A moment later, we might all have perished here."

"May I know your name, my lord? Today's grace will surely be remembered deeply."

The survivors near the convoy stepped forward one after another to express their gratitude, moved to tears.

Mei Nianzhi also breathed a sigh of relief.

By great fortune, this group arrived just in time.

It was also fortunate that Chen Tang intervened, shooting a few arrows in rapid succession, helping to resolve the crisis for him.

Otherwise, he might have perished here.

Mei Nianzhi clasped his hands in respect to Chen Tang and nodded, saying, "Thank you, Nephew Chen, for your earlier help."

Chen Tang nodded without saying much.

Some wealthy gentry who had fled earlier, upon seeing this scene, turned back.

Mei Nianzhi watched these people and couldn't help but shake his head secretly.

In danger, these people abandoned their wives and children, only caring about their own escape.

Though Chen Tang was still young, he disregarded danger and acted chivalrously. Comparatively, the difference is immense.

"Thank you, brave men, for saving our lives."

After expressing his gratitude to Chen Tang, Mei Nianzhi also bowed to the white-robed man and his companions.

The white-robed man nodded slightly and asked, "Where are you coming from, and where are you going?"

Mei Nianzhi clasped his hands in respect: "I am Mei Nianzhi, head of the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall in Changze County. This journey is mainly to take some disciples from the hall to Wu'an County for evaluation."

"Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall, I've heard of it."

The white-robed man nodded, saying, "In recent years, your hall has produced some entry level martial artists."

"Indeed."

Mei Nianzhi immediately felt somewhat flattered and asked, "May I know your esteemed name, my lord, and where you serve?"

He observed that although the man was not very old, he was poised and composed, clearly of extraordinary background.

However, this unit of light cavalry wore ordinary clothing, with no indication of official uniforms.

The white-robed man said, "I am Li Boxiong, not a court official, just a guard of a private residence."

The wealthy gentry relaxed at these words, standing straighter.

It turns out he's not from the government office.

Chen Tang slightly raised an eyebrow.

This group was well-trained, disciplined, and aside from lacking armor, their configuration was almost indistinguishable from the regular army.

Moreover, this was a small unit of light cavalry!

In ancient times, cavalry had extremely high combat power, moving swiftly and strategically.

Warhorses were extraordinarily precious, so cavalry were relatively rare, holding significant esteem even in the military.

What kind of private residence could possess a unit of light cavalry?

Li Boxiong...

Chen Tang felt a stir, vaguely suspecting something.

Li Boxiong rode to Chen Tang's side and said with a smile, "What is your name, young brother?"

"I am Chen Tang."

Chen Tang slightly cupped his hands.

"Oh?"

Li Boxiong's eyes flashed with a strange light, reassessing Chen Tang from head to toe, and said, "Brother Chen, you have a fine archery skill. Would you care to visit my residence as a guest?"

"This man of valor."

A woman, pulling her child, came up and said, "That Chen Tang is lowly born, his father is a hunter, he only knows archery. My child is about to go to Wu'an County for evaluation, surely his overall capability is better than Chen Tang's."

Though Li Boxiong was not a court official, he seemed to hail from a prestigious family, a notable noble family.

If given the chance to join such a family, their whole family could gain some benefit.

"Indeed."

Another person said, "Chen Tang suffered a severe injury before, all his tendons were severed, even if he is healed now, his future achievements will be limited. Brave man, look at how my child is, he's obedient, clever, insightful, and sensible."

These two families had been previously reprimanded by Chen Tang and bore resentment against him.

Now, seizing the opportunity to meet someone influential, seeing wealth ahead, they naturally aimed to step on Chen Tang to climb up.

Moreover, what they said wasn't entirely false.

Some noble families also consider background when recruiting. If someone is too humble or of low status, they surely can't catch these nobles' eyes.

Mei Nianzhi, however, frowned slightly.

The wording Li Boxiong used earlier was somewhat peculiar.

He extended an invitation for Chen Tang to be a guest, not to work for him.

A single word makes a significant difference.

Only, these women who were just frightened and experienced this change did not notice these details, fueled by animosity towards Chen Tang.

Li Boxiong heard these accusations and laughed coldly, saying, "You look down on his background, dismiss his archery, but this Brother Chen just saved your lives with his archery skill."

"Is this how you treat your savior?"

"Even if your children haven't been evaluated, and even if they succeed, I wouldn't take them. Who knows if they'd act ungratefully, betraying their benefactor!"

The words were heavy.

The faces of several women changed, stammering, unable to speak.

"Women understanding nothing, only causing trouble!"

One wealthy man shouted, pulling the woman back.

Another wealthy man laughed awkwardly and said, "You are truly our savior; Chen Tang, he... hehe."

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

"Chen Tang wasn't saving people; he was killing amid chaos!"

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