I have a martial arts panel.

At that moment, Xu Lian was hanging clothes to dry in the yard when she suddenly heard Xu Ning's voice.

Then Xu Ning pushed open the door and entered, carrying a wine jar in his arms and a large knife on his back, looking travel-worn.

"You're back."

A smile appeared on Xu Lian's face.

She quickly put the laundry basin she was carrying on the ground and came to greet her.

This was Xu Ning's first time escorting a truck, and although she was with Tao Yungang, she was still a little worried.

Seeing Xu Ning return unharmed, Xu Lian's worries finally subsided.

"This is wine I bought for my brother-in-law."

Xu Ning handed the wine jar to Xu Lian.

In fact, when Xu Ning left Kangyun County, he bought two jars of wine for his brother-in-law Tao Yunchuan.

However, during the ensuing fight, one of the jars of wine was broken, so they only managed to retrieve one jar.

"He's wasting money again."

Xu Lian took the wine jar and, as was her habit, said something to her younger brother.

However, compared to before, there was less blame in her tone.

Now that the family has savings and her younger brother has become a martial artist, Xu Lian no longer worries about the cost of living.

"I'll go take a shower and change my clothes first."

Xu Ning felt sticky all over.

"Put your clothes in the basin, I'll wash them for you."

Xu Lian said.

"Okay, sis."

Xu Ning didn't stand on ceremony and responded.

But after taking only two steps, Xu Lian suddenly called Xu Ning back.

She first noticed the bloodstains on the blade behind Xu Ning, and then noticed the dried dark red stains on Xu Ning's body.

"Is this blood on you?"

Xu Lian frowned slightly.

Xu Ning paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, we encountered a group of petty thieves on the road, fought them off, and chased them away."

Xu Ning did not hide anything, but he concealed the extent of the danger of the situation.

He didn't want his sister to worry.

However, although Xu Ning spoke casually, Xu Lian's expression still changed slightly.

Are you hurt?

Xu Lian leaned closer and took a good look at Xu Ning's body.

Seeing this, Xu Ning shook his head: "You're not injured, look..."

As she spoke, Xu Ning spun around in place and then jumped around twice, her movements appearing very fluid.

Xu Lian was relieved: "That's good..."

Afterwards, Xu Ning took off her clothes, washed them, and changed into the clean clothes that Xu Lian had brought.

After a period of rest, both physical and mental fatigue vanished within a short time after returning home.

Xu Ning felt refreshed and invigorated.

"Is that my uncle back?"

Xu Ning had just dried her hair inside the house when she heard Tao Tao enter.

The little girl had just come home after playing wildly with her friends outside.

Soon, Tao Tao jogged over and pushed open Xu Ning's door.

"Uncle!"

When Tao Tao saw Xu Ning return, she grinned and rushed to him, hugging his waist.

Seeing Tao Tao's happy expression, Xu Ning couldn't help but smile.

But he still grabbed Tao Tao's braid and pulled her off him.

"Peach, stay away from me. You're covered in dirt, and I just washed myself clean."

Tao Tao didn't mind Xu Ning's disdain.

"come over."

After pulling Tao Tao away, Xu Ning called her to the table.

Tao Tao leaned closer, stood on tiptoe, and peeked half her head out from under the table.

"Look, do you like it?"

As she spoke, Xu Ning took out a wooden hairpin from the package.

The wooden hairpin is entirely blue with simple patterns, giving it an exquisite and beautiful appearance.

"Is this for me?"

Tao Tao tilted her head to look at Xu Ning, her mouth wide open, with an exaggerated expression typical of a child.

"For you."

As Xu Ning spoke, she placed the hairpin in Tao Tao's hand.

Tao Tao took the blue wooden hairpin, holding it in both hands as if it were some rare treasure.

She stared intently at the wooden hairpin, her eyes seemingly shining.

After a long while, Tao Tao finally burst out laughing.

She turned and ran out, shouting as she ran, "Mom, look! My uncle brought me a gift!"

"This silly child..."

Xu Ning was amused by Tao Tao and laughed too.

Previously, her family was quite poor. The only wooden hairpin Xu Lian owned was a gift from Tao Yunchuan, who saved up money to give her when they got married.

Xu Lian always treasured it. When Tao Tao wanted to take a look at it, Xu Lian wouldn't let her, so Tao Tao always regarded the wooden hairpin as a very precious thing.

Now, Xu Ning gave her an even prettier wooden hairpin, which made Tao Tao feel incredibly happy.

Afterwards, Xu Ning also gave another wooden hairpin to Xu Lian.

Xu Lian appeared much calmer than Tao Tao, but after receiving the gift, her eyes remained curved in a smile, unable to conceal her radiant joy.

"Why hasn't my dad come back yet?"

At the dinner table, the three waited for Tao Yunchuan to return.

Tao Tao was still holding the wooden hairpin in her hand. Xu Lian told her to put it down, but she refused.

"It should be soon."

Xu Lian glanced outside the door.

Just then, Tao Yunchuan pushed open the door and entered.

He moved very quickly; although he had difficulty walking, he clearly looked very rushed.

"Xu Ning, is Xu Ning back?"

Before even entering the house, Tao Yunchuan raised his voice and asked, his tone full of concern.

"Brother-in-law, I'm back."

Xu Ning quickly got up from the table, went out to help Tao Yunchuan, and brought him into the house.

"You're back, it's good that you're back..."

Tao Yunchuan was panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat.

Seeing this, Xu Lian took a towel and wiped Tao Yunchuan's sweat, asking, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I was just worried about Xu Ning!"

Tao Yunchuan coughed and explained, "On my way back, I heard that Brother Tao Yungang had an accident while escorting the carriage. They were robbed by bandits on the way, and some people were seriously injured and three died! I was terrified when I heard that, so I rushed back because I was afraid something had happened to Xu Ning."

"Has it already spread...?"

Xu Ning was surprised that less than half an hour had passed and the news of Tao Yungang's attack on the carriage had already spread throughout Tao Family Village.

"Three people died?"

Xu Lian was taken aback and looked at Xu Ning.

Xu Ning didn't mention this at all.

Seeing this, Xu Ning knew that she could no longer hide it, so she told Tao Yunchuan and Xu Lian what had happened.

"It was so dangerous..."

Upon hearing what had happened, Xu Lian's smile vanished, replaced by a look of lingering fear as she stared at her younger brother.

Although Tao Tao was young, she vaguely understood that the wooden hairpin in her hand was brought to her by her uncle after he had gone through danger.

"You're not allowed to accompany them on the escort anymore."

Xu Lian immediately spoke up, her face serious and her tone leaving Xu Ning no room for negotiation.

Tao Yunchuan also stared at Xu Ning without saying a word, clearly agreeing with his wife's words.

Xu Ning knew he couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he agreed, "Okay, okay... I won't be a driver anymore."

With my current strength, I can still earn a considerable income by entering the Yunze Mountains to acquire resources and then selling them. There's no need for me to do anything that would worry my sister and brother-in-law.

Seeing that Xu Ning agreed, Tao Yunchuan and Xu Lian's expressions softened considerably.

"Alright, let's eat."

Tao Yunchuan waved his hand, and the family began to eat dinner.

……

Xu Ning planned to rest for two days before heading back into the mountains.

The next morning, Xu Ning first went to the village to fetch a few buckets of water, and then went outside the village to cut some firewood in the woods.

During his time walking through the village, Xu Ning clearly felt that the villagers were much more welcoming to him.

People who are not familiar with you will take the initiative to come up and greet you, while those who know you before will stop you to talk and praise your heroic act of risking your life to rescue Tao Yungang and others yesterday.

In just half a day, the story of Xu Ning, an outsider, risking his life to save people from a powerful bandit leader had spread throughout Tao Family Village.

"Xu Ning!"

Xu Ning was carrying firewood on his back when he heard someone calling him before he even got home.

A young girl holding a long spear walked towards him.

"Tao Ye?"

Xu Ning recognized the person.

It was Tao Ye, the granddaughter of Tao Jingxing, the patriarch of the Tao clan, who had previously received the reward for the Spring Breeze Internal Skill with him.

"Brother Ning, you're really something."

Tao Ye walked over and, in a very manly manner, punched Xu Ning in the chest.

Xu Ning felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"To dare to launch a sneak attack on a martial artist at the Inner Fullness Realm after mastering the Gale Blade Technique is truly formidable."

Tao Ye had always thought that Xu Ning had only mastered the Gale Blade Technique to a minor level, until yesterday's events spread and she learned that Xu Ning had already mastered it when he received the reward that day.

A minor mastery of external martial arts at seventeen is nothing to boast about, but a major mastery of external martial arts at seventeen certainly qualifies one as a talented individual.

With such good comprehension in external martial arts, one's internal martial arts skills must be quite good as well.

"Everyone's praise for me is too much..." Xu Ning said modestly. "The enemy was killed by Uncle Gang. I just helped to draw some attention, that's all."