Physical immortality begins with Bajiquan

The night Qin Tianbao was crippled, the camp was quiet.

The Huang family didn't ask any questions or make a fuss. They simply dispatched a few private soldiers to ride horses and send Qin Tianbao and the Huang family's guest back to Heyang City for treatment overnight.

There wasn't a single word of negotiation or questioning throughout the entire process, as if they had only come to take away two assets belonging to the Huang family, which might be repaired and reused.

The following morning, Deputy Garrison Commander Cheng Lie summoned Qin Heng for a private audience. He made no mention of what had happened the previous night, but offered some words of encouragement and reassigned Qin Heng as the captain of the second team of martial arts students. The matter was then temporarily put aside.

For the next two days, the bandit suppression operation continued as planned.

Including the previous thirteen days, this is the fifteenth day.

After fifteen days, the entire army only managed to capture nineteen old, weak, sick, and disabled bandits. Forget about the thousand taels of silver and the eighth-rank military position, they didn't even earn back the money for the few kilograms of dry rations each person consumed every day.

The resentment in the camp had long since reached its peak.

They cursed while eating, they cursed while traveling, and even at night, lying in their tents, their complaints could be heard everywhere. The martial arts scholars who had once been eager to make a name for themselves were now all dejected, hoping only that this damned and arduous task would end soon so they could return to Heyang.

Qin Heng had been observing coldly. He knew very well that Cheng Yang and his group were not acting without reason, but he couldn't guess what they were up to yet.

However, it is 99% related to the struggle between the top forces in Heyang County. The power struggle between these big shots has made things difficult for us "insiders" who are kept in the dark.

On the morning of the sixteenth day, Commander Cheng suddenly issued an order to divide the troops.

On this day, Cheng Yang stood on the makeshift command platform, his voice cold and hard as iron: "According to scouts' intelligence, remnants of bandits are scattered around Duanlong Valley, and may try to escape through the mountain passes. I hereby order the private armies of the Cui, Zhang, and Xu families to immediately proceed to the three mountain passes to the east, west, and north to guard and blockade them, strictly preventing the bandits from escaping. No one is to leave without orders!"

The heads of the three major families all looked dissatisfied and harbored resentment, but none dared to openly disobey military orders or confront Cheng Yang. They could only leave dejectedly with their respective groups. They had no idea what awaited them. The only thing that brought them some relief was that the Cui, Zhang, and Xu families were ultimately traveling together and could look after each other.

"The rest of you, follow me straight to the Black Wind Saliva Bandit's lair!"

As soon as Cheng Yang finished speaking, the troops immediately adjusted their formation. One hundred and fifty men from the river defense battalion and one hundred and fifty men from the city defense battalion lined up on the left and right, with one hundred and twenty private soldiers from the Huang family bringing up the rear, and two hundred and ten private soldiers from the Ming family and twenty-four martial arts scholars sandwiched in the middle, heading towards Black Wind Pass.

Qin Heng walked in the middle of the group, side by side with Fang Yu, and he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

The anti-bandit army was like headless flies, with its detachments scattered among the mountains and lakes near the tributaries of the Canglan River, searching for more than ten days, but only encountering scattered bandits and finding no trace of the main bandit stronghold.

Why is it that suddenly there is a clear target? The army immediately gathered its various units, combined their forces, and rushed straight towards the target.

All the martial arts scholars, including Fang Yu, were greatly encouraged and eager to fight. Their days of toil and hard work without any results had left them restless and impatient. Now, they finally had their chance to earn military merit and receive a hefty reward. Everyone was burning with determination, just waiting to step forward and make their mark!

An hour later, the group arrived at Black Wind Pass.

This is a secluded place surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one narrow entrance. The valley is overgrown with weeds and littered with rocks; there wasn't a single bandit, let alone a wild rabbit, in sight.

Ming Ruochuan's eye twitched, his right eyelid twitching wildly. He immediately sensed something was wrong and was about to question him when Cheng Yang suddenly pulled on the reins and raised his hand sharply.

Several guards immediately escorted three bandits, who were beaten bloody and covered in bruises, out from the back of the column and threw them in front of everyone with a thud.

Cheng Yang's voice suddenly rose, carrying a chilling edge: "Speak! Who is behind this? Who provided you with supplies and weapons? Speak up, and I, the garrison commander, will spare your lives!"

The three bandits scrambled to their feet, raising their bloodied and mangled faces, pointing their fingers sharply at Ming Ruochuan, and screaming in unison, "It's him! It's him! Ming Ruochuan! He's our boss! He gave us everything!"

Before he finished speaking, Cheng Yang had already pulled out a crimson bandit suppression order from his robes and held it high. Sunlight shone on the armor, reflecting a cold light.

"By order of the county government to suppress bandits!" His voice echoed throughout the valley, "The Ming family's collusion with bandits is confirmed; they are the mastermind behind the bandits of Broken Dragon Valley! Encircle and annihilate them immediately, kill them without mercy!"

The entire process took only a dozen or so breaths, yet the situation had suddenly reversed, and the winds of change had shifted dramatically.

The Ming family was given no chance to defend themselves, and no evidence was presented. One moment they were companions walking side-by-side, the next they were bandits who had to be killed!

The moment the order to suppress the bandits was issued, Cheng Yang, the garrison commander, and Huang Ting, the head of the Huang family, moved in unison, rushing straight towards Ming Ruochuan, the head of the Ming family. Huang Yuan, the eldest son of the Huang family, together with Qu Yaoyang, joined forces, attacking Ming Lou, the eldest son of the Ming family, from the left and right.

In Wu Xiucai's formation, four others also made a bold move, leaping towards the unsuspecting Ming family private army.

The four martial arts experts, with their hidden strength, were like tigers among sheep. In an instant, they threw the unsuspecting Ming family private army into chaos, with muffled groans and screams echoing as their fists and feet struck.

Just as the situation was spiraling out of control, Deputy Garrison Commander Cheng Lie's sharp gaze swept over the remaining martial arts scholars. His voice, like thunder, echoed through the valley, each word carrying a threatening force: "The Ming family's collusion with bandits is now established; they are bandits who wreak havoc in this region! Any martial arts scholar who participates in the encirclement and suppression will be rewarded with fifteen taels of silver! Killing one person will be rewarded with ten taels of silver, killing the bandit leader Ming Lou will be rewarded with one thousand taels of silver, and killing the bandit leader Ming Ruochuan will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver! Those who hesitate will be treated as accomplices of the Ming family, and their entire families will be implicated!"

The remaining seventeen martial arts scholars stood frozen in place, their faces ashen, their minds in turmoil.

No one qualified to stand here is stupid; everyone can see that this is a blatant frame-up!

Over the years, the Ming family has worked diligently in Heyang County, protecting the peace of the area. Their merchant ships have been robbed many times and suffered heavy losses. How could they possibly collude with river bandits and wreak havoc on the villagers?

Cheng Lie's words were like a knife to their throats. Everyone knew that although he didn't dare to actually make a move, otherwise it would be equivalent to making enemies of all the prominent families in Heyang County and the eight major martial arts schools in the inner city at the same time.

However, thinking about how they had been traveling back and forth with the army through mountains and rivers for days, enduring wind and sun for more than ten days, without catching any bandits or gaining any merit, everyone felt a bellyful of frustration and anger that had nowhere to be vented.

On one hand, there is the conscience of knowing that the Ming family has been wronged; on the other hand, there is the reality of not wanting to ruin one's future; and there is also the pent-up resentment that has been building up for many days. These feelings are constantly being pulled and struggled in everyone's hearts.

The stalemate didn't last long before someone lowered their standards, covering their face and no longer dwelling on right and wrong.

The first martial arts scholar gritted his teeth and rushed forward.

Then came the second, and the third.

More and more martial arts scholars joined the ranks of those who were tasked with suppressing the enemy.

No one questioned whether the Ming family was innocent.

When everyone raises their swords, innocence becomes the greatest sin.