Chapter 7: The Hero Saves the Beauty

  The sword dance finished, Tian Hao took a deep breath and stood in the center. Before people could react, Tian Hao had already left... It was only then that everyone realized they should applaud. Old Master Zhou Shiming was sitting on a chair, he didn't know when he sat down, nodding his head in approval as he watched. The master of the Zhou house called his son into the room, he had wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with him for some time now, but there had been too many things going on at home and he hadn't had the chance yet.

  "It seems that after this period of study, his son has indeed made significant progress!" Old Man Zhou said with a heavy heart.

  "My son just made a fool of himself." Tianhao was very modest.

  "It's been a while since you came back, and due to many things at home, my son and I haven't had the chance to have a heart-to-heart talk. Now that things at home are basically settled, you should return to school as soon as possible and continue your studies."

  "The child thinks so too."

  "When is my son planning to leave?"

  "I'm preparing to set off tomorrow."

  "Alright, Father hopes that while you're making progress in martial arts, you can also make a big leap forward in your studies. Actually, sometimes knowledge is more important than martial arts. Learning is wisdom; an emperor with great martial arts skills but no idea how to manage the country or control people will not bring long-term peace and prosperity, let alone wealth and power. A good son should have ambitions that reach far and wide, don't be overly attached to the warmth of family. Your youth is the golden period for learning knowledge and skills, I hope my son can seize this precious time tightly and become a pillar of talent in the future..."

  "My son, remember your father's words! I'll go and make preparations with Shu Tong Ah Gui right away. We'll set off at dawn tomorrow."

  "Then hurry up and get going."

  Tianhao came out of his father's house and found Aqui, telling him the news that they would leave tomorrow. The two went back to their rooms to pack their luggage, preparing for departure tomorrow.

  The next morning, the two bid farewell to their families, mounted their horses and left the city of Mingwu County, heading towards Longtan City where they would be studying. Longtan City was several hundred miles away from Mingwu County, and even walking normally it would take three or four days. Tianhao and Aqui galloped forward one after another, covering over 50 miles before their horses' pace gradually slowed down.

  "Master, master... let's take a break, no need to mention the horse, even the person riding it can't stand running so far!" Ah Gui said while chasing after Tian Hao, panting heavily.

  "Alright!" Tianhao turned around and looked at Aqui, who was desperately chasing after him. He smiled and pointed to a small forest ahead, "There's a small forest up front, and next to it is a small river. We can take a break there."

  "Great!" Aqui's spirits lifted at the mention of rest, "Giddyup, giddyup..." He whipped the tired horse a few times, and it surged forward, suddenly increasing its speed, almost throwing him off.

  The two of them arrived at a small river, tied the two horses to two rocks by the river, and let the horses drink some water and eat some grass. The two men found a shaded area by a small grove of trees and sat down to rest. Tian Hao took out his own provisions and water bottle, took a sip himself, then handed the water bottle and a piece of dried rations to A Kui. A Kui took the water bottle and "gulp gulp" drank most of it. Tian Hao saw this and quickly patted him on the back, "Slow down, don't choke, you little scamp, leave some for me too!"

  "And that's enough for you to drink!" Akui said, handing the water bottle back to Tianhao.

  "Hey, young master, this time the old master's fifth wife is really beautiful!" Ah Gui said with envy, leaning in towards Tian Hao.

  "Alright, alright... Don't casually discuss your seniors' matters." Tianhao immediately stopped him.

  "Tell me, what kind of wife are you planning to marry in the future?" Ah Gui seemed hesitant...

  "I don't know, that's for later, let's just go with the flow......" Tianhao also seemed to have entered a state of infinite daydreaming...

  "Help! Help..." The two women's cries for help interrupted the conversation between the two people, and they both looked in the direction of the sound at the same time. They saw several blurry figures moving around in the depths of a small forest... The sound was coming from there. Tian Hao whispered to Aqui, "Let's go take a look..." He pulled Aqui into the small forest.

  As the two approached, they saw on a small path in the woods three mountain bandit-like men leading a horse, slowly moving forward. On the horse's back was a bundle, and something inside it was constantly stirring..."Help!" The cry for help came again. This time, the two were certain that the cry came from within the bundle. One of the mountain bandit-like men said, "Little beauty, stop shouting! There is no one to save you in this desolate mountain wilderness, so shouting is useless."

  "It's true, our two masters have taken a liking to you, and it's also your good fortune." The mountain bandit walking in front leading the horse said as he walked.

  "We've been watching you for several days, and we're exhausted. In the future, when you become the mistress of the mountain stronghold, don't treat us brothers unfairly..." The bandits behind him said, holding their large knives and stuttering as they walked.

  "Get to the front and block the road, don't let them lead the horses away," Tianhao whispered to Aqui, "I'll take care of those few..."

  "Those three, can you beat them?" Aqui was a bit worried.

  "Don't worry, go quickly!" Tianhao instructed Aqui, then took a big step forward and shouted at the horse's side, "This road was opened by me, this tree was planted by me. If you want to pass through here, leave some toll money... Gentlemen, today I won't make things difficult for you either, leave the things on the horse behind and run for your lives!"

  A few people were walking along when suddenly a person jumped out, giving them a fright. The three of them took a closer look and saw that it was a pale-faced scholar, and immediately became spirited. "It's really the King of Hell meeting a ghost! In our territory you still dare to be so arrogant? Brothers, he's had enough, let's finish him off..."

  A few people shouted and wielded their broadswords, while others punched the sky and charged forward...

  Tian Hao stood still, not moving a muscle. When the three men were about to approach him, he lightly tapped his foot on the ground and slightly crouched down, then suddenly sprang up with a "whoosh" sound... The three men couldn't stop their feet in time, and their bodies and heads collided with each other, "Ah!" "Clang!" They fell to the ground, and the big knife was also thrown far away.

  "You guys are blind, why don't you take a step back?" One of them complained to the other two.

  "You're one to talk! You're being so harsh on your own kind..." another person retorted.

  "Never mind, where's that kid...?" The three of them came to their senses, got back up, and pounced on Tianhao again... The mountain bandit with the knife swung his blade at Tianhao, but Tianhao dodged it easily. Before he could even turn around, Tianhao's foot landed on him, kicking him heavily in the buttocks with a "thud". The kid let out a series of "thuds" and fell to the ground with a "thump"... Before he could even get back up, a precious sword was pressed against his neck...

  "Don't move, or I'll kill you!" Tianhao shouted. The other two people saw the situation and dared not to come forward, trembling with fear.

  "You three bandits' martial arts skills are still far from mine, you need to practice for a few more years." Tian Hao commanded, "Quickly leave the things on the horse behind, otherwise don't think about leaving this forest today!"

  One of the horse thieves took a few steps back, pulled up the reins of his horse and galloped forward. Tian Hao didn't chase after him either. Just as he ran to the intersection of the small path ahead, Ah Gui hid in the shadows and stretched out her leg lightly. The little thief did a front flip and rolled out several meters away. He quickly got up and ran towards the outside of the forest without looking back...

  Tian Hao sheathed his treasured sword and sternly said to the other two, "Today I won't make things difficult for you, but if you dare do such despicable things again in the future, I will not show mercy!" The two scrambled up and fled swiftly...

  A mule carrying a pack walked up from the front. Tian Hao ordered, "Don't hurry to let the person inside out?"

  "Alright, alright, alright..." Ah Gui replied, quickly stopping the horse and untying the bundle on its back. He and Tian Hao placed the bundle on the ground together.

  "Hey, don't move inside, I'll cut open the sack with a knife, you might get hurt if you move..." Aqui warned the person inside the package. Seeing that the sack was no longer moving, he quickly used his knife to pry it open and let the person out. Tianhao saw that the person's hands were still tied up and their face was covered, so he stepped forward to untie the ropes and remove the mask. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a girl.

  She was only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a tall and slender figure, wearing a silver-threaded bamboo shoulder-padded jacket, a snow-white skirt that reached the ground, and a butterfly-patterned cloud-soft cloak draped over her shoulders. Her waist was as narrow as if it had been carved out, her skin as smooth as congealed fat, and her aura as delicate as a hidden orchid. Although her hair was somewhat disheveled, her clothes were somewhat untidy, and her face showed some fatigue, yet her cheeks were flushed with a healthy glow, her complexion pale and smooth, and her eyes shone brightly like crystals, her features clear and elegant, and her demeanor refined and noble.