Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

Li Si nodded in agreement, his eyes sparkling with excitement: "Indeed, this experience has made me deeply appreciate the power of teamwork. Every collaboration has taught me a great deal."

Ziya and Ying Zheng were talking in the back, discussing every detail of the battle and where they could improve. Ziya flicked his whip, making a loud crack, and said excitedly, "Ying Zheng, your swordsmanship is becoming more and more formidable, especially that last strike, which was absolutely perfect."

Ying Zheng replied with a touch of humility, "Thanks to your timely support, my attack was able to achieve its maximum effect. Next time, I hope to be able to control the situation more independently."

As they emerged from the cave, sunlight shone on their tired yet content faces. Yang Ling stopped, turned to look at his teammates, his eyes filled with trust and approval: "We have all grown, not only as cultivators but also as guardians. The road ahead is long; we must remain vigilant and continue to learn and improve."

Everyone nodded, and then headed towards the village together. Along the way, Yang Ling meticulously explained to them the power sealed within the crystal ball, its potential risks, and the necessary follow-up measures. His words conveyed a deep sense of responsibility, and everyone listened attentively, occasionally asking questions about details.

Upon arriving at the village, the villagers had already begun to resume their daily lives, and they were overjoyed to see them return safely. An elderly man stepped forward, his face covered in wrinkles, but his eyes shone with wisdom: "You are truly our heroes. Thank you for protecting our home."

Yang Ling smiled and shook his head: "Old sir, we only did what we should do. The peace of the village is the common wish of all of us."

The village children ran around them, curiously looking at their equipment and weapons. Ziya squatted down, stretched out his whip to beckon the children closer, and said gently, "Would you like to learn a few moves? Although you are still young now, you can all become warriors who protect the village in the future."

The children nodded excitedly, their eyes filled with awe and anticipation. Ying Zheng also joined the lesson, demonstrating the correct way to hold a sword and basic sword techniques. The village was filled with laughter and joy—a warm and harmonious scene.

As dusk approached, Yang Ling suggested lingering in the village to give everyone a chance to recover. The group shared dinner at the village chief's house. The food was simple yet flavorful, and everyone sat together, enjoying the long-lost tranquility and warmth.

After dinner, Yang Ling sat down with the village chief and several elders to discuss how to further strengthen the village's defenses in case of potential future threats. Li Si and Xu Fu took notes on every suggestion and plan, ensuring that all details were considered.

As night deepened, Yang Ling, the village chief, and several village elders remained seated around the long wooden table in the village chief's house, discussing how to strengthen the village's defenses. Several flickering oil lamps on the table illuminated their focused expressions.

“We need to set up more warning talismans around the village.” Yang Ling’s tone was calm and resolute, his eyes revealing an unwavering determination. He held a wooden pen, occasionally sketching out the shapes of talismans on paper.

The village chief nodded in agreement, his face etched with the marks of time, each wrinkle seemingly telling a story. "Brother Yang Ling, your suggestion is excellent. We older folks are no longer up to the task; we still need to rely on you younger generation."

Xu Fu was carefully inspecting and organizing his talismans nearby. His technique was very skillful; he gently stroked each talisman, as if he could sense the energy contained within them. "We still need to prepare some spare talismans, just in case. I will teach some basic talisman-making techniques to the young people in the village."

Li Si, on the other hand, focused more on how to use ancient runes to enhance defense. "These ancient runes can not only provide protection, but also automatically trigger alarms when enemies approach. I think we can set some up on key paths."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling's eyes flashed with approval. "Li Si, this plan is very thorough. We can begin implementing it around the village tomorrow." The atmosphere in the village gradually shifted from tense and wary to relaxed and expectant. Ziya and Ying Zheng, who had been observing from the side, also joined the discussion. Together with the other young villagers, they began to discuss how to make the on-site arrangements.

“We need to organize several teams, each responsible for a specific area,” Ying Zheng proposed, his voice full of confidence. His sword leaned against the side, occasionally reflecting the dim light of an oil lamp.

Ziya then picked up his whip and gently swung it, making a crisp sound. "I can lead a team to ensure that no corner is missed."

As the village chief listened to their discussion, a smile gradually appeared on his face. "It seems that with young people like you joining us, our village will be safer."

After dinner, the group didn't disperse immediately. Village children gathered around Ziya, curiously gazing at the whip in his hand. "Uncle Ziya, your whip is so impressive! Can you teach me how to use it?" a little boy asked shyly.

Ziya smiled, squatted down, and handed the whip to the children for a closer look. "This whip is not only a weapon, but also a tool to protect us. Every time you swing it, you must be extra careful."

The children eagerly touched the whip, feeling its weight and texture. Ziya slowly demonstrated a few basic movements, and the children's eyes were filled with anticipation and excitement.

Meanwhile, Ying Zheng discussed swordsmanship with some other young men. They lit torches in an open space in the village, and Ying Zheng demonstrated concise sword techniques. His movements were elegant and powerful, each swing of the sword accompanied by the flickering light of the torches.

"Watch closely. This move is called 'Dragon Soars Across the Seas.' You need to pay attention to the guidance of your strength and your body's balance," Ying Zheng instructed, his sword lightly slicing through the air, creating a gust of wind.

The young villagers followed suit, and although their movements were still a bit clumsy, everyone showed great enthusiasm and focus.

The village night was filled with noise and laughter from these activities, but Yang Ling knew that this was only a temporary peace. He stood at the village entrance, gazing at the starry sky, silently pondering his plans for tomorrow.

Xu Fu walked over and gently patted Yang Ling's shoulder, "Tomorrow will be a busy day, so you should get some rest."

Yang Ling nodded, taking a deep breath of the cool night air. "Yes, we will be even busier tomorrow. But seeing the atmosphere in the village, all the hard work is worth it."

The two returned to the village chief's house, and the whole village gradually returned to peace, with only a few barks of dogs coming from afar and the rustling of leaves in the night wind.

Yang Ling and Xu Fu began their journey at the break of dawn. A thin mist hung over the village like a soft veil, obscuring the distant mountain outlines. As they walked towards the area where the talismans were to be set up, Xu Fu took out an ancient scroll of parchment covered with intricate runes and incantations. (End of Chapter)