Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

"He Wen? What did he want you to come here for?"

Qi Feng narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.

"I... I don't know. He Wen just told me to come and keep an eye on you, and that I had to report anything to him immediately, even about eavesdropping..."

Qi Feng stared coldly at Zhao Dazhuang. "What else did he say? You'd better tell me everything!"

After saying that, Qi Feng tightened his grip, and Zhao Dazhuang felt his neck tighten, a suffocating sensation shooting straight to the top of his head, so frightened that he urinated a few drops.

"Cough cough! Cough cough! I'll talk!"

Zhao Dazhuang slapped Qi Feng's arm hard, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Qi Feng slightly loosened his grip. "If you dare to conceal anything again, I will kill you! Think carefully about whether your life is more important, or the matter He Wen instructed you to do!"

Having witnessed Qi Feng's methods again, Zhao Dazhuang was genuinely afraid of him and naturally dared not hide anything anymore, so he quickly told him everything he knew.

"He Wen said he had a way to deal with you, and told me to keep an eye on you. Then he said he would send someone to kill you when you went into the mountains..."

"That's all I know, nothing else! Wait! He Wen also seemed to say something about... handing over your body and claiming you were a spy sent by the Great Rong..."

Upon hearing this, Qi Feng narrowed his eyes. He hadn't even dealt with He Wen yet, but He Wen was already preparing to deal with him, and even planned to kill him directly!

This forced Qi Feng to start thinking about how to strike first and gain the upper hand!

"What else did you hear? They're planning to make their move when I go into the mountains. If I don't go into the mountains, will they just keep waiting?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dazhuang paused for a moment, "This... I don't know... Brother Qi, Brother Qi, you see, I had no choice. Please be magnanimous and let me go!"

Qi Feng narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. "Let you go? How can I trust you won't tell He Wen what happened today? You know, only the dead can keep secrets!"

Zhao Dazhuang almost burst into tears upon hearing this.

"Brother! Father! Grandfather! I'll call you Grandfather, okay?! I'm just a local ruffian, how dare I go against you! I saw the pomp and circumstance you made when you came back today, even the county constables had to personally escort you back!"

"He Wen's family is powerful and influential; I can't afford to offend either of you! Grandpa, please let me go! I promise I won't tell anyone about what happened today! I want to live a few more days!"

Seeing Zhao Dazhuang's terrified expression, Qi Feng had an idea.

"I can let you go. Just pretend this never happened. From now on, you should report everything truthfully to He Wen, understand?"

Zhao Dazhuang was taken aback at first, but quickly realized what was happening and nodded hurriedly.

"Understood! Understood! I'll report back immediately if He Wen makes any moves!"

However, Qi Feng shook his head and sneered.

"No need. Do you think he can take care of me by sending some low-level soldiers?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dazhuang recalled that day in Qijia Village, when Qi Feng had dealt with six strong men with his bare hands in a matter of moments.

If Qi Feng wasn't unarmed, but instead equipped with a hunting bow...

Zhao Dazhuang couldn't help but shudder, no longer daring to think any further.

"Get out of here now! You can tell He Wen everything that happened today, but what's the price...?"

Qi Feng didn't continue, but Zhao Dazhuang got the answer from Qi Feng's eyes and nodded quickly.

"I...I understand..."

Watching Zhao Dazhuang's retreating figure, Qi Feng slowly stood up, his brows gradually furrowing.

"Hezhuangfang... If we want to take down Hezhuangfang, we'll need to leverage some external forces..."

"Besides, He Wen and Ma Su have probably already figured out how to deal with me, so I need to be careful..."

Back home, Yu Yourong had already prepared a meal. After the two finished eating, they thoroughly tidied up the house.

Compared to the previous thatched hut, the house now looks quite decent.

Especially that straw bed, now covered with a thick quilt, so the two of them no longer feel uncomfortable when sleeping at night.

"You Rong, look, it's getting late. Why don't we get some rest? We can also try out the new bed."

Yu Yourong blushed and lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

"This concubine...will obey my husband's every command..."

Upon hearing this, Qi Feng picked up Yu Yourong and threw her onto the bed.

The new bed really made a difference; Yu Yourong's voice, which she usually kept quiet about, was now much louder...

Duma Village.

Ma Shuo looked at Ma Su in front of him with a cold face and spoke in an icy tone.

"You mean, that bastard Zhao Tongchuan locked up my man? And he's going to prosecute him under military law?"

Ma Su nodded. "I was eating at Ye Family Restaurant today when Zhao Tongchuan came up and, without any regard for our past relationship, had Liu, the head constable, arrested."

Ma Shuo looked coldly at Ma Su and said:

"If Liu Daye hadn't caused trouble, Zhao Tongchuan wouldn't have arrested him for no reason. What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Ma Su paused upon hearing this, but finally said, "My son... has taken a fancy to a few women..."

"Hmph! I've told you before not to be so arrogant and domineering! Otherwise you'll attract attention! It's just a few women; if you really wanted to, why didn't you just have them tied up at night? Why did you have to do it in broad daylight in front of so many people! Idiot!"

Hearing his father's angry scolding, Ma Su couldn't help but clench his fists.

Seeing Ma Su's appearance, Ma Shuo sighed.

He only has one son, and he is indeed a bit spoiled by him.

"Never mind, I'll find a way to resolve this."

Upon hearing this, Ma Su recounted his encounter with Zhong Shao that day.

Ma Shuo was taken aback when he heard that Zhao Tongchuan was actually following the orders of a young man.

"Oh? So that's how it is. Then this matter isn't so simple... It seems someone is trying to get back at me..."

Seeing his father's head bowed in deep thought, Ma Su recalled the scheme He Wen had told him earlier that day. He took a deep breath and slowly said:

"Father, Zhao Tongchuan wants to deal with us, which is why he ordered the arrest of Liu Dutou and his group. But their reason for arresting them was simply that Liu Dutou tied someone up in the street. If we make a fuss about that..."

Ma Shuo raised his head, his gaze towards Ma Su revealing a hint of surprise.

"Go on."

"I do find one of them rather suspicious."

"Who?"

"A hunter named Qi Feng."

Immediately afterwards, Ma Su recounted to Ma Shuo in detail how he had clashed with Qi Feng at the Ye Family Restaurant, and added at the end:

"That Qi Feng could transform from a mere gambler into such a skilled hunter; he's probably not the same Qi Feng anymore! I believe he must be a spy sent by the Great Rong!"

"Then those three women must also be connected to Qi Feng. If that's the case, then Chief Liu was arresting spies from the Great Rong, so why was he imprisoned?"

"So as long as we identify that hunter named Qi Feng as a spy for the Great Rong, all these problems will naturally be solved!"

"Father, what do you think?"