The 17th Return: The Young Hero Cuts Down the Bandits

  After lunch, Lu Zhenren and Gong Sunsheng bid farewell to Ximen Qing and left. Under Ximen's repeated persuasion, Gong Sunsheng promised to come back and visit in five years before the two of them departed.

  At this time, Ximen Qing was staying in the elegant room of Ju Xian Ju, taking care of the little beggar whose body had basically recovered.

  In the room, a beggar boy was wolfing down the seafood on the table, his manner as if he could swallow the entire table.

  "Don't be surprised, little brother. I've been hungry for many days and can't hold it in anymore. And this is the best meal I've had in three years, I'm a bit excited, hehe..." The beggar boy said while devouring his food.

  The beggar boy was very easy-going and cheerful, without any shy or fearful expression. From this, it can also be seen that the beggar boy had some background and wasn't always a beggar. Because no beggar could make him so confident and cheerful!

  Ximen Qing smiled and nodded, then used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of beef and offer it to the beggar boy. He asked: "If you like it, why don't you stay with me? Although my Ximen family doesn't have much power, we do have money. If you stay here and help me, I can provide you with plenty of food every day!"

  Ximen Qing also saw that the young beggar was unusual and had the intention of making friends with him.

  Upon hearing Ximen Qing's words, the beggar youth was taken aback for a moment before putting down his chopsticks and standing up. He then bowed deeply to Ximen Qing and said: "Benefactor, I will repay your life-saving kindness with my own life. But I have important matters to attend to, which cannot be avoided, so I must take my leave. If in the future I have the opportunity, I will certainly repay you with my life. If I speak falsely, may heaven strike me down and I shall not die a good death!"

  Swallow Qing? Rogue Swallow Qing? It can't be such a coincidence!

  Ximen Qing's eyes lit up at once, and he took a good look at Yanqing again.

  Although his clothes are tattered, his eyes shine brightly like stars. His body is dirty, but he stands upright with a straight back. There's a deep scar on his chest that makes him look extraordinary, not an ordinary person. Moreover, his arms are thick and long, at first glance, it can be seen that he has extraordinary strength, otherwise, he wouldn't have such a powerful sumo technique.

  Ximen Qing found Yanqing more and more pleasing to the eye, and in his heart he couldn't help but want to tie him up and keep him by his side.

  But Ximen Qing also knew that Yan Qing was so determined to leave, there must be a big deal to do, so even if he didn't want to let him go in his heart, Ximen Qing couldn't stop him.

  Understood, Ximen Qing hastily helped Yan Qing up and nodded: "Brother Yan Qing, although I hope you can stay and help me, I also know that you have important matters to attend to, so I won't keep you here. In the future, if Brother Yan Qing has any difficulties, please come find me, I will definitely rush to your aid, no matter what dangers or difficulties!"

  Yan Qing's eyes moistened.

  Yan Qing nodded vigorously and said, "Don't worry, little brother. I'll definitely come find you in the future, I will!"

  Ximen Qing smiled and said, "As long as you don't forget, big brother. But may I ask, where are you going? The Great Song is not safe now, with bandits roaming around everywhere. I'm afraid it's not very safe for you to go out alone. Why don't I arrange for you to travel with the merchant group? That way, we can look out for each other!"

  At this time, the Song Dynasty had become a mess, with the emperor being incompetent and not caring about the lives of his people. Many people had banded together to commit murder and robbery. Qinghe County was still relatively peaceful, without any bandits roaming around, but other areas were not so lucky. Those bandits were cruel by nature, capturing men who were either killed or enslaved. Women suffered an even more tragic fate, being given to the bandits' underlings, living in darkness every day, and even thinking of suicide was not easy.

  Yan Qing went out alone like this, and Ximen Qing was really worried.

  Yan Qing smiled and wiped away the tears that had welled up in his eyes, saying: "Little brother, there's no need to say more. Although traveling with a merchant caravan is safe, it's too slow. Since you want to know where I'm going, I'll tell you. This time, I'm heading to Beijing City to find someone. When my parents were alive, they received kindness from someone and vowed to repay them with their lives. Now that they're dead, I have to take on the debt of gratitude myself. I've heard that this person's family is in trouble, so I must hurry to find them and see if I can help. Although I don't have any special skills, at least I still have my life..."

  When Ximen Qing heard Yan Qing say this, his heart was calmed. It is said that people in ancient times valued loyalty and righteousness. In the past, Ximen Qing had some doubts about this, but now he firmly believed it. Yan Qing could have stayed here, living a happy and carefree life, but for the sake of fulfilling his father's vow, he was willing to travel far and wide to find his benefactor and planned to repay him with his own life. Such a person of loyalty and righteousness, how could Ximen Qing not be shocked and admire?

  "Alright, since that's how it is, I won't stop Big Brother Yanqing then. Just be careful and pay attention to your safety, be extra cautious!"

  Yan Qing chuckled and said, "Don't worry, little brother. I still owe you a life, how can I die so easily? I have to repay your kindness, so I won't die, I'll live well!"

  Ximen Qing frowned and said, "Older brother, how can you say such a thing? We two brothers still have affection for each other. No one owes the other their life. Older brother, please don't say such things again in the future. If you do, I'll get angry..."

  "Alright, alright, I won't say anything!" Yan Qing nodded repeatedly, but in his heart, he secretly warned himself to repay the kindness he owed with his life!

  ·······

  Three days later, Yan Qing bid farewell to Ximen Qing and set foot on the road to Beijing. Ximen Qing saw him off for dozens of miles before they parted ways, and the reluctant look of departure was even more heart-wrenching than Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying in "The West Chamber".

  After three days of getting along, Ximen Qing and Yan Qing's friendship became deeper and deeper, and they even became sworn brothers. Naturally, when Yan Qing was about to leave, Ximen Qing felt reluctant to part with him.

  After Yan Qing left, Ximen Qing returned to his usual calmness, every day following Zhang Tian Shi to practice, or accompanying Ximen Chui Xue and Zhang Shi, or staying in the Ju Xian residence.

  Time is like this, simple as flowing water, gurgling, before you know it, two years have already passed.

  On a mountain path leading to Qinghe County, a tall and slender young man was walking leisurely. The young man had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with a handsome face and a robust physique. His steps were light and airy, as if he were flying through the snow, leaving no trace behind. He wore a black brocade robe, with a waist knife hanging from his waist, a sharp knife on his chest, and a wooden knife on his back. On his shoulder, he carried a war spear that was over 1.8 meters long, its silver surface gleaming with a cold light in the sunlight, exuding an aura of murder. What's even more frightening was that at this moment, there were three human heads hanging from the spear! The three heads were those of robust men, their eyes wide open in death, with an expression as if they had died without closing their eyes.

  A brave young man, with a square heaven painting halberd, tied up the mountain bandit's head.

  This scene, combined with the reflection of the winding mountain road beside it, has a unique charm.

  The young man was none other than Ximen Qing himself!

  At this time, Ximen Qing had just returned from Zei Duan Mountain, and the head hanging on Fang Tianhua's halberd was none other than the mountain bandit chief of Zei Duan Mountain, Wang Er, Wang San!

  These three men, along with their gang of thieves, committed atrocities on Bald Mountain, engaging in arson, murder, and plunder every day. The number of innocent civilians who died at their hands is countless. A righteous outlaw would only rob the rich to help the poor, and even when committing robbery, they would leave enough for people to return home. However, Wang Yi and his gang were ruthless, killing all the men, taking women back to their lair as slaves or sex slaves, and not sparing even children. Their crimes are so heinous that it's difficult to put into words. At the same time, this gang of thieves on Bald Mountain severely affected the lives of people in Qinghe County, causing merchants and travelers to rarely venture out. Even when they did go out, they had to gather together and hire bodyguards for protection.

  One year ago, Ximen Qing went out to temper himself with Zhang Tian Shi and only returned to Qinghe County yesterday. After returning to Qinghe County and hearing about the mountain bandits of Zei Tuo Mountain, Ximen Qing didn't stop and today single-handedly killed his way up the mountain.

  Although it is said that there are over a hundred bandits on Zei Mountain, only the three Wang brothers can rival Ximen Qing. The Wang brothers were originally martial artists of a certain sect and had also practiced some low-level internal skills; over the years, they had reached the pinnacle of martial arts. Together, the three of them could almost match up to a mid-ranking martial artist. However, when they encountered Ximen Qing, it was their bad luck.

  Although Ximen Qing had only been practicing for two years, his extraordinary talent combined with Zhang Tian Shi's full-force cultivation made him a mid-level martial artist in just two years. He was one step away from becoming a top-level martial artist. Moreover, with the help of Zhang Tian Shi's personally transmitted "Overlord Halberd" and "War God Spear Method", as well as his footwork "Treading Snow Without A Trace", his attack power increased several times over, making it almost effortless to deal with Wang Yi and the other three people. In less than half a cup of tea time, Ximen Qing had cleaned up Wang Yi and the others, then killed the rest of their accomplices before leisurely heading down the mountain towards Qinghe County.

  In just two years, he went from being clueless to becoming a mid-tier martial artist. This kind of cultivation speed is absolutely against the heavens. And on top of that, he also has mastery over the powerful and domineering Fang Tian Hua Halberd as well as the Traceless Footwork, all of which add another stroke to Xi Men Qing's against-the-heavens behavior!

  To temper Ximen Qing, Zhang Tian Shi did not only teach him internal skills or pass on his spear techniques. Instead, he let Ximen Qing hone himself through battle. Otherwise, Zhang Tian Shi would not have taken him on a journey to gain experience.

  It's worth mentioning that the two major spear techniques Zhang Tian Shi taught Ximen Qing, "Overlord Spear Technique" and "War God Spear Technique", were created by Xiang Yu and Lü Bu respectively. The Overlord Spear Technique emphasizes strength, with grand movements that possess the power to sweep everything aside. It includes five powerful techniques: Attack, War, Overlord, Kill, and Break.

  The War God Spear Technique focuses on intricate moves, not just grand ones. Techniques like Lock, Defend, Flick, Return, and Thrust make the spear technique seem almost supernatural.

  Ximen Qing combined these two spear techniques and after two years of practice, he had reached a small accomplishment. Adding to that the constant killing of mountain bandits as practice, Ximen Qing's spear skills were now very experienced.

  Unconsciously, Ximen Qing had already walked onto the official road of Qinghe County and entered the county town. As soon as he entered the county town, Ximen Qing's appearance immediately caused a sensation!

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