Chapter 67 Triumphant Return Down the Mountain

  Xiao Ziyang finished speaking, Zhang Xingling applauded and exclaimed: "Wu Daolong is indeed a divine person! Hundreds of evil bandits in Cangshan, surrounded by government troops for several years without any solution. Now Wu Daolong single-handedly beheaded them all, just like the ancient war gods!"

  "Not bad, with Wu Dao Chang's martial arts skills, if he enters the military, within a few years, I'm sure Western Liang will produce a great general who has won hundreds of battles." Captain Liang also followed with praise.

  "I dare not, I dare not. They were just a few bandits, and it was only because of the speed of my horse that I could barely keep up with them. Today, I happened to kill them, how could I deserve such exaggerated praise from both of you?" Xiao Ziyang hurriedly bowed his hands in modest decline.

  The master of the Du Manor stepped forward and bowed to the ground, "My Du family's manor has been repeatedly harassed by this group of wicked thieves, with many deaths and injuries. Now that this group of wicked thieves has been eliminated by the Taoist priest, it is indeed a great relief for my Du family's manor. I am unable to repay you, so I can only prepare a humble gift." As he spoke, the master of the Du Manor waved his hand, and a strong man holding a tray walked forward, with a large red silk cloth covering the tray. The master of the Du Manor lifted the cloth, revealing a large string of silver ingots tied together with red strings on the tray. "My Du family's manor has been poor for a long time, this humble gift of three hundred silver ingots is just a token of our appreciation, it's not enough to show our respect, I hope the Taoist priest will accept it."

  Under the persuasion of many people, Xiao Ziyang could not refuse and had to accept it. Du Zhuang saw that Xiao Ziyang accepted the silver and was very happy. In fact, one of the women rescued by Xiao Ziyang last night was Du Zhuang's own granddaughter. The Western Liang State attaches great importance to female chastity, so although he was extremely grateful to Xiao Ziyang for saving his granddaughter, he did not mention it at all.

  Zhang Xingling stretched out his hand and pulled, saying to Xiao Ziyang: "County Magistrate Chen has prepared a banquet in the county government office and invited local dignitaries to attend. He wants to celebrate Wu Daolong's success, and Wu Daolong is inviting you."

  The crowd headed towards the county town. Du Zhuangzhuren turned back to instruct the villagers, "Take all these bandits' war horses to Laojun Temple, these are all Daozhang's spoils of war, not one can be missing."

  Xiao Ziyang smiled at Du Zhuangzhu and said, "Since the place is small and there are not many people to take care of them, why don't we let Du's village raise these horses? I'll pay five copper coins per horse per day for fodder."

  Du Zhuang's face sank, and he said angrily: "Is the Taoist priest looking down on us villagers? Although we villagers have no knowledge, we still know how to repay kindness. We can raise horses for the Taoist priest, and we are delighted to do so. How can we accept money? Don't worry, our Du family village will definitely raise the Taoist priest's horse to be strong and healthy."

  He turned his head and ordered Zhuang Ding: "Director Wu thinks highly of our Du Family Village, and will stable his horse in our village. We'll distribute the horses to each household; I'm speaking bluntly, Director Wu is a great benefactor of our Du Family Village. Whoever slacks off on taking care of Director Wu's horses, don't blame me for using family law." The villagers hastily responded.

  Arriving at the county yamen, Lyu Zhubu led over a dozen local gentry who had been waiting for some time. From afar, he bowed his hands in greeting: "Magistrate Chen, Magistrate Li has already been waiting inside the yamen for some time. Magistrate Zhang invites you, and Wu Daolang invites you."

  Under the leadership of Lü Zhūbù, everyone passed through the ear gate and walked towards the main hall of the mansion. Along the way, the villagers praised and flattered Wu Daozhang's bravery in killing the bandits, as if they had seen it with their own eyes.

  County Magistrate Chen and Colonel Li, who were waiting at the main hall entrance, saw the crowd approaching and stepped down from the stairs to greet them.

  County Magistrate Chen was around forty years old, and his body had become somewhat thin under his official uniform.

  Li Bing wore a suit of light armor, with a silver helmet on his head and a waist knife inlaid with gold and jade at his waist. He was around thirty years old, with a rather stout build.

  Everyone exchanged greetings and entered the grand hall.

  The wine table had been eating for more than an hour. Xiao Ziyang's alcohol capacity was originally very good, and after cultivating the "Purple Jade Smoke", his physique changed, and he became immune to intoxication long ago. At the wine table, Xiao Ziyang came and went without refusal, cup after cup, drinking seven or eight jars of wine without showing any signs of drunkenness, causing everyone to marvel in amazement.

  After the banquet, three adults stayed behind Xiao Ziyang; after the four people sat down as host and guest, County Magistrate Chen said: "Wu Daozhang's martial arts are strong, now that he has eliminated the Mount Cang thieves, it is actually a great help to our county. Come on, bring out the reward silver for eliminating the Mount Cang thieves."

  As County Magistrate Chen summoned, a tall and sturdy yamen runner, dressed in a dark green uniform, walked in carrying a red lacquer tray. On the tray was covered with a piece of red satin. County Magistrate Chen waved his hand, and the yamen runner placed the tray on the table beside Xiao Ziyang, lifting the satin to reveal a string of gold sycee tied together with red silk cord.

  The county magistrate pointed to the tray and said, "This is the reward of 500 gold coins for capturing the thief of Cangshan, which should be given to Daozhang. Please accept it."

  Xiao Ziyang looked at the tray with 500 gold coins, thinking of the treasure worth over a million taels in the mountain stronghold, and secretly despised it. On the surface, he still made a very grateful appearance, "The Cangshan bandits are killing innocent people, we martial artists see injustice on the road and help each other with our swords, it is what should be done. The three of you have orders for me in the future, I will definitely do my best to assist."

  Li Bing said: "The bandits in Nanba County are rampant, and from now on we will have to rely more on Wu Daolong."

  "It's too kind of you, it's too kind of you."

  Xiao Ziyang saw County Magistrate Chen raise his teacup, and bid farewell: "The three gentlemen are busy with a million things, I have disturbed you too much, so I will take my leave." When he took the reward money, he left half of it behind. This made County Magistrate Chen and the others extremely satisfied.

  Xiao Ziyang left the county government office and saw that the sun was already westward, so he rode his horse to Hui Sheng Tang, which was not far from the county government office. According to An Yuxuan's prescription, he prepared the medicine and then returned to Lao Jun Guan.

  Xiao Zi called the two pillars into the house and instructed: "I have something to do outside tonight, take care of the Taoist temple and Shanzi, lock the mountain gate after dark."

  "Got it, Master."

  Xiao Ziyang took in several orphans as his disciples four months ago and taught them some basic martial arts skills.

  These children, except for Da Huai being still young, all have good qualifications and are particularly hardworking. Er Zhu has an excellent understanding, although his body is weak, but his meridians are tough, and he is calm in nature, making him very suitable for practicing internal family kung fu. Shan Zi's bones are sturdy, muscles solid, and training in external family kung fu will be twice as effective with half the effort.

  A month ago, Xiao Ziyang taught the two of them the Wuhu Duanmen Knife. The performance of the two made Xiao Ziyang very satisfied.

  When the moon was high in the sky, Xiao Ziyang rode his crimson horse, carrying medicine, and galloped towards Cangshan Village.

  Back at the mountain stronghold, An Jia sisters had been waiting for him. Xiao Ziyang took off the medicine and handed it over to An Yuxuan.

  An Yuxuan divided the medicine, and then called two women to hand over the medicine to them, and carefully instructed them on the methods of grinding and decocting.