Chapter Fourteen: The Iron Wing General

  Where the wolf pack passes, wild boars, wild goats, mountain hares and deer in the deep mountains and dense forests are swept away. Even tigers, leopards, and brown bears have to flee far away. Hunters dare not leave the village, woodcutters cannot go up the mountain to cut firewood, farmers cannot harvest summer crops. Before winter arrives, many families in Longyang City already have no firewood to burn or rice to cook. Even in small towns like Wan'an and Hengshui, many families have stopped cooking due to lack of firewood.

  The village of Hanshuiquan, although less than a hundred households, had more than half of its residents as hunters. They were experienced in hunting and killing ferocious wolves. Not only did they set up checkpoints at the two exits leading out of the village, but also laid traps and pitfalls both inside and outside the village. After several battles between humans and wolves, only three villagers unfortunately died under the wolf's claws, while over a hundred ferocious wolves ended up filling the villagers' stomachs.

  Zhou Jinping, although nominally the son-in-law of the Luo family through marriage, was in fact a disciple taken in by Old Man Luo during his travels around the world. He had received the true transmission of the Bagua Longwang Palm and was highly skilled in martial arts. His wife, Luo Xiuying, was also exceptional with her bow and arrow skills. With the couple stationed in Hanshui Village, the villagers were able to live a better life compared to those in nearby villages. Even farmers who worked in the fields would take time out to harvest their rice from the creek banks, bringing it back home.

  Encountering a large pack of wolves attacking several nearby villages, the couple, while defending themselves, often led village hunters to help defend. Over several months, hundreds of ferocious wolves were killed by the couple's skilled hunting and archery, making them famous throughout the region, even receiving an invitation from the Black Iron Army to join forces in eliminating wolf packs in several complex forests outside Hengshui Town.

  The wolf plague has become a disaster, and the four people, Dà Niú, Shuǐ Shēng, Xiǎo Juān, and Wáng Lóng, are locked in the courtyard by the adults every day, studying literature and martial arts, not allowed to go out. Although they feel suffocated, there is nothing they can do about it.

  The city of Longyang was on the verge of collapse, with no firewood to burn and no rice to cook. The 30,000-strong Black Iron Army stationed in the city had to send out half of its troops to hunt down wolves in the countryside. As winter arrived, the starving wolf packs emerged from the deep mountains and dense forests in search of food, inadvertently providing a convenient target for the Black Iron Army. One battle after another, the woods and fields were filled with the corpses and blood of wolves.

  The ferocious wolves were also born to parents, and with each death, there was one less. As the New Year approached, the raging wolf disaster was finally extinguished, and the remaining scattered wolves retreated into the deep mountains and forests, never daring to come out again to harm people. After persisting for half a year, the wolf disaster that had taken tens of thousands of lives was finally overcome with difficulty. The dozens of small towns under Longyang City gradually returned to normal life, and everywhere were the busy figures of woodcutters. The aroma of roasted wolf meat wafted through the air above each village.

  That winter, in Longyang City, the streets were filled with hawkers selling wolf skin coats and jackets.

  The wolf disaster was successfully passed, and the big stone that had been pressing on the hearts of the common people was finally removed. However, the big stone that was pressing on the heart of Iron Wing General, the guardian of Longyang City, was getting heavier and heavier. Only he and a few trusted confidants knew that this wolf disaster originated from human evil and had a great connection with the gradually approaching Di tribe. Nevertheless, despite such a huge commotion, the Jade Cauldron Sect did not come forward to intervene in any way, nor were any of the mountain guardian beasts from the Jade Cauldron Sect seen, which was also a very strange thing.

  On the second summer day, two horse-drawn carriages drove up to Longyang City, one in front of the other. In the first carriage sat Zhou Jinping, Wang Long and a forty-year-old scholar in white clothes, who was none other than Wang Long's father, Wang Mengfan. In the second carriage were Luo Xiuying, Da Niu, Shui Sheng and Xiao Juan.

  All the way, the three siblings squeezed against the car window with the open curtain, chattering non-stop. Every village and every river could make the curious trio argue for a while. Although Luo Xiuying was helpless and had heard too much, she didn't bother to manage them.

  In comparison, the three people in the first car were much quieter. Wang Long was also very curious about the scenery outside and would often lean against the window to look out. When he heard the loud noise coming from the back seat, he felt itchy and wanted to run to the back seat to play with his little friends, but there were two adults beside him, so he didn't dare to speak or laugh freely, nor did he dare to open his mouth to his father.

  After nearly a year of daily interactions, Wang Long and Luo Jia siblings' relationship had become quite harmonious.

  Before long, the tall city walls, wide moat and rows of brightly armored guards once again excited the three siblings. The carriage passed through the magnificent gate tower and walked on the stone road for more than half a time, stopping in front of a majestic mansion.

  The carriage had just come to a stop when three little boys jumped out of it with great impatience.

  Send the car away. Seeing the three siblings looking around outside the mansion, pointing and gesturing, about to start arguing again, Luo Xiuying scolded in a low voice: "This is Longyang City, not a place where you can do whatever you want. You must pay attention to etiquette, be quiet, don't look around, don't run around everywhere. If you encounter something you don't understand, ask the adults first, got it?"

  The three of them said in unison, "Got it, mom!" Luo Xiuying's face had just cracked a smile when Xiaojuan whispered from behind, "You've told us over a hundred times already, how could we not know?"

  Seeing Zhou Jinping bring Wang Long over, Luo Xiuying instructed again: "You three listen to me, when your parents are not around, Wang Long is your elder brother, you must consult with Wang Long on matters, do you understand?".

  Wang Long smiled awkwardly and said, "Xiu Ying, how can I be their big brother? Ask them, which one of them is willing to listen to me?" Unexpectedly, the three of them chimed in unison, "Who said that? Who said that? We all listen to you!"

  Wang Long suddenly felt a "buzzing" sound, and his head instantly grew much bigger.

  Zhou Jinping saw that the three of them were going to continue arguing, so he changed his expression and said: "Alright, stop quarreling. With you people never having a moment's peace, how can you cultivate immortality?" Only then did the three of them shut their mouths.

  Wang Mengfan straightened his clothes, walked up with big strides, whispered a few words to the black-clad house servant guarding the mansion gate, handed over the visiting card, and casually handed over five taels of silver. The servant's face suddenly lit up with joy, turned around and rushed into the mansion quickly.

  Before long, a loud male voice echoed in the mansion: "Brother Meng Fan has come from afar, Tie certain has failed to welcome him from afar, sorry!" Along with the sound, a black-robed man with a majestic appearance walked over with big strides.

  This man is over one zhang tall, with thick black eyebrows raised high, a pair of eagle eyes that even when smiling have a sharp cold light, a straight nose and wide mouth, with five willow-like whiskers growing under his chin. The bulging muscles are faintly visible under the loose robe, and as he walks, there is an inexplicable aura of majesty.

  Wang Mengfan hastily stepped forward two steps, clasped his fists and bowed, saying: "Mountain village husband Wang Mengfan has met General Tieyi, my father often mentions that the general is a hero of the current era. Mengfan has long been fascinated by the general's reputation. Today, I am fortunate to meet the general, it is a great honor, how dare I allow the general to personally come out and welcome me?"

  The tall, dark-robed man burst out laughing and said: "Younger brother, you're being too polite. I've had the privilege of receiving guidance from your esteemed father in the past, which is why I'm where I am today. I often remember this in my heart and have long wanted to meet you. From now on, let's just call each other brothers and drop the formalities, what do you say?"

  As they spoke, the black-robed man had already arrived in front of everyone. His gaze swept over Zhou Jinping and his wife, then fell on the four children, nodding slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

  Perhaps the majestic aura of the black-robed giant had intimidated the four little children, who suddenly became much quieter, staring at the giant with unblinking eyes, their small minds secretly pondering why this man was called a "general" and what a "general" would do.

  Zhou Jinping and his wife did not expect General Tieyi to come out in person, seeing that although this man looked stern, he didn't put on an air of superiority like a high-ranking official, and inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

  Wang Mengfan smiled faintly and cupped his hands, saying: "Since brother has ordered it, younger brother will naturally follow." He stretched out his hand to point at Zhou Jinping and his wife, as well as the four little children, introducing them one by one.

  Zhou Jinping and his wife each made a fist and saluted General Iron Wing.

  General Iron Wing heard the name Zhou Jinping and was slightly stunned, also saluting with his fist, then stretched out his hand to tap his forehead lightly, as if thinking about something. After a moment, his eyes lit up and he said: "Could it be that you two are the couple Zhou Yishi who made a name for themselves in Hengshui Town during the wolf disaster last year?"

  The couple exchanged a glance, Zhou Jinping smiled and said: "General is busy with official duties every day in Longyang City, I didn't expect that he also knew the humble name of a mountain villager!"

  General Iron Wing waved his hand and said, "Zhou Zhuang Shi is too polite. It's my duty to protect the border and ensure the people's safety. But you, sir, are different. You don't accept any money or blessings from the government, yet you risk your life to uphold justice when wolves are rampant. I admire that! Now that you and your wife have arrived in Longyan City, I'll make sure to treat you to a few cups of wine."

  Having said that, he led the crowd towards the government office.

  Four children who had seen big houses before were no more than the Wang family's courtyard, with walls as high as ten feet and dozens of rooms that already made people feel very luxurious. At this time, when they arrived at Tie Fu, it was like entering a completely different world. Pavilions, towers, artificial hills, small bridges, green trees and flowers whose names they couldn't call out, room after room, hall after hall, servant after servant dressed in clean clothes, all made the four children's eyes dazzle, for a time they couldn't even speak.

  The servants and underlings saw the old master personally go out to welcome the guests, and naturally knew that these few guests who were dressed like country bumpkins were not ordinary people. Seeing several people walking from a distance, they stopped respectfully and waited for them to pass before daring to lift their heads and leave. The four young boys following behind the adults saw this scene and couldn't help but feel puzzled in their hearts.

  They arrived at a spacious living room, and the four children were amazed again. The area of this living room was ten times that of their own home's living room. The wide screen, elegant furniture, and clean floor made them feel uncomfortable. Seeing their parents chatting with General Iron Wing, they didn't dare to disturb them casually.

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