A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

Inside the simple thatched hut.

A dim candlelight emitted a faint glow.

Sun Xingyou's face was sallow in the candlelight, and his calm yet questioning expression made him look even more ferocious!

The hunter brothers were only thinking about taking their parents and fleeing down the mountain overnight to live a better life in Boling County!

Who would have thought?

Sun Xingyou had already discovered that they had secretly slipped down the mountain.

Furthermore, Sun Xingyou even sat in their house waiting for them to return!

The hunter brothers were filled with fear and uncertainty, their minds buzzing.

Even though it's winter, my clothes were instantly soaked with sweat!

Just then.

Sun Xingyou rebuked in a deep voice.

"I'm asking you a question!"

The two brothers shuddered.

They exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with fear and confusion.

And a touch of ruthlessness!

Since they've already been discovered, if they surrender and are tied up by Sun Xingyou...

The inevitable outcome was that he would be made an example of, killed in front of all the villagers, as a warning to others not to go down the mountain.

Rather than die.

Let's fight to the death!

Unbeknownst to him, the second hunter silently gripped the sickle on his back.

The hunter was still struggling and did not want to kill Sun Xingyou.

after all.

When his family fell on hard times, they were fortunate to be rescued by Sun Xingyou, which allowed them to settle down on Wolf Mountain.

But if we don't act now, our whole family will die!

Just as the two brothers were gritting their teeth, torn between their inner thoughts and their own conscience.

An elderly couple carrying soup dumplings entered the house from the backyard.

The old woman smiled when she saw the hunter brothers standing frozen at the door.

"Ah Da and Ah Shui are back! You two are really something, going hunting in this freezing weather."

"Deputy Commander Sun saw that you hadn't returned all day and was worried something might have happened to you, so he stayed at home waiting for you!"

The old man placed the soup noodles on the table and said with a smile.

"Vice Commander Sun, I'm sorry to have troubled you. Eat the soup noodles while they're hot."

Sun Xingyou smiled kindly and got up to help the old woman.

"Thank you both. I still have some things to discuss with Ah Da and Ah Shui. Please go and rest early."

Done.

Sun Xingyou helped the elderly couple back to their inner room to sleep.

When he returned to the front room, he saw Ah Da and Ah Shui still standing blankly at the door, and Sun Xingyou sighed.

He pointed to two bowls of steaming hot soup noodles and said.

"Come sit down, eat while it's hot."

Ah Da and Ah Shui looked at each other and silently released their sickles and machetes.

The two sat down and ate their soup dumplings in silence.

Ah Da opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

Sun Xingyou spoke first.

"I know where you went."

Ah Shui was startled and immediately tried to grab the sickle behind his back.

Ah Da quickly stopped him!

He gave a wry smile, first throwing his own wood-chopping knife on the ground, then pulling out his second brother's sickle.

"Brother Sun, my brother and I are sorry for what we did."

Sun Xingyou waved his hand.

"It's not your fault. If you don't come down the mountain, someone else will. You can't stop them."

I've come only to ask you one question.

Ah Da solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Just ask, Brother Sun, and I'll tell you the truth."

A flicker of struggle crossed Sun Xingyou's eyes as he asked.

"Is Li Rui's Boling County really as Wang Yuan described?"

Ah Da quickly spoke up and recounted everything he had seen and heard at the foot of the mountain.

Ah Shui also joined the conversation, occasionally adding a few words.

The three of them talked in the thatched hut for almost half the night.

Sun Xingyou only left after Ah Da and Ah Shui were too tired to stay any longer, braving the wind and snow.

He looked down the mountain in the cold wind, feeling very cold.

But a warm feeling welled up inside me.

Sun Xingyou could tell from Ah Da and Ah Shui's words.

The people of Boling County are enjoying a rare period of prosperity amidst the chaos of war!

If the villagers are allowed to leave the mountain, they too can live that kind of life.

Food can fill the stomach, and clothing can keep out the cold.

Li Rui, who enabled tens of thousands of people in Boling County to live such a life, must be a capable and benevolent official.

It would be a good thing to bring all the villagers to join him.

But there is only one problem.

The two Sun brothers will probably have to wait a long time before they can enjoy their wealth and luxury.

Choose your own wealth and status, or choose the lives of the villagers?

Sun Xingyou took a deep breath.

I had already made up my mind.

……

Several days later.

Sun Fangjian caught a villager trying to sneak down the mountain and immediately flew into a rage!

This door must not be opened!

Once it opened, all the villagers ran away!

Without the villagers, there are no soldiers.

Without soldiers, where will his status come from? Where will his wealth and honor come from?

Sun Fangjian was furious and hanged the captured villagers alive at the village gate!

This atrocity left the people of Langshan speechless with shock.

Ah Da and Ah Shui witnessed the corpse with their own eyes, and a chill instantly ran from head to toe!

After meeting Sun Xingyou that day, they were afraid of being arrested if they took any action, so they stayed at home obediently.

But today I witnessed Sun Fangjian's brutality.

The two brothers made a decision immediately.

Let's leave tonight!

We have to go!

however.

Just as they were packing their things, taking their parents with them, and preparing to go into the mountains.

Sun Xingyou was already waiting at the door.

Before Ah Da and Ah Shui could speak, Sun Xingyou said in a deep voice.

"Take him down the mountain with you, but don't take the cliff path. I will order a shift change, deliberately leaving a half-minute gap."

"Take this opportunity and use ropes to lower yourself down from the stockade wall."

Upon hearing this, the hunter brothers were stunned!

They were also worried that their elderly parents wouldn't be able to make it across the cliffside path.

Taking the main road is naturally the best option now.

The two men glanced at the people beside Sun Xingyou and immediately recognized them.

Isn't this fair-skinned scholar General Li's messenger?

Without a word, the hunter brothers immediately supported the weakened Wang Yuan and made their way to the village gate in the dead of night.

It was late at night.

Sun Xingyou indeed ordered a change of guard, and the garrison went back to rest, but the replacements were late in arriving.

The hunter brothers used bamboo baskets and ropes to lower everyone down, and under the cover of night, they completely disappeared into Wolf Mountain.

Four o'clock in the morning.

Li Rui was awakened on the fragrant couch with the jade flute.

Chen Xiaoniu rushed over from the northern military camp overnight to report that Wang Yuan had returned and brought important military intelligence.

Under Yu Xiao's slightly resentful gaze, Li Rui quickly put on his clothes.

Just as I was about to leave.

Seeing Yu Xiao's bare shoulders, she leaned against the bedside, quietly gazing at him.

Li Rui strode forward, bit Yu Xiao's soft lips, and reached his large hand into the bedding.

After a brief moment of intimacy, Li Rui used his fragrant hands to lower the bed curtains.

"I'm leaving."

The sound of the jade flute carried a spring-like quality, soft and gentle.

"Remember to wear a scarf."

Li Rui nodded, tied on the scarf that Yu Xiao had knitted by hand, and left amidst the swirling snow.

In the northern military camp.

Wang Yuan wolfed down his food, complaining as he ate.

"That guy surnamed Sun is a real monster! He only lets us eat one meal a day, and we're not even allowed to leave the house to pee or poop; we have to relieve ourselves where we sleep!"

Zhao Pu's lips twitched upon hearing this, and he quickly reminded him.

"Brother Ziping, be mindful of the dignity of a scholar."

Wang Yuan's eyes widened in surprise!

During his imprisonment this time, he had long since lost all his scholarly air.

"What dignity! Have you ever slept in the stench of urine and feces? I'm fucking dying, what dignity are you talking about?"

Zhao Pu was speechless and could only order the soldiers to bring another serving of mutton soup.

Finally, after eating and drinking my fill and taking a good, refreshing shower.

Li Rui arrived at the military camp.

Wang Yuan quickly paid his respects and got straight to the point.

"Brother-in-law, Sun Xingyou intends to lead his men to surrender, but he also said that Sun Fangjian will never surrender!"

Therefore, Sun Xingyou wanted to make an agreement with his brother-in-law that he would open the village gate five days later and welcome him into the village!