Guarding the Pure Land

"Tianhua, why are you back?" Alie asked excitedly.

"It's a long story. Let's tidy up first, and I'll tell you everything during dinner," Tianhua replied.

"Alright," Alie agreed.

After processing their catch, the old man prepared the meal, and the three of them sat down to eat.

Tianhua recounted the day's events, and Alie asked, "Those damn town leaders, do they have any trouble now?"

"They just finished eating and are resting," Tianhua replied.

The three continued discussing the day's events. After dinner, Alie and Tianhua sat in the courtyard.

"Tianhua, from what happened today, it's clear that the outside world is chaotic. Why don't you stay here and not venture out?" Alie suggested.

"Thank you, Alie. But..." Tianhua smiled.

"I forgot your purpose for coming here!" Alie laughed.

Although Tianhua had only been away for a short time, Alie seemed to have endless things to say when he saw Tianhua at this moment...

In the distant town, people were already asleep, but some couldn't find peace.

In the luxurious palace, a fat man sat on an ornate and spacious chair. He looked a bit old, squinting at the humble person standing in front of him. He was the town lord of Mountain City, Mu Xiong. The person standing before him was the leader Tianhua encountered during the day, Old Zhou.

"Old Zhou, you've been with me for so long, and I've always trusted you. What happened today?" Mu Xiong asked.

"Lord, I... Originally, my subordinates had captured Mr. and Mrs. Lu Yunshan and were bringing them back. However, on the way, we were intercepted by a young man who took them away!" Old Zhou said cautiously.

"You mean to say that the six of you couldn't handle a young man?" Mu Xiong said indifferently.

"Lord, forgive me! We tried our best, but that young man has innate strength and is very mysterious!" Old Zhou explained anxiously.

"Mysterious?" Mu Xiong asked in confusion.

Old Zhou then detailed the events of the day, and Mu Xiong, leaning back in his chair, looked at Old Zhou. Old Zhou stood there, feeling uneasy.

"How old is this young man?" Mu Xiong asked.

"Judging by his appearance, he's only in his twenties," Old Zhou said.

"Oh, I see," Mu Xiong muttered to himself.

"Alright, Old Zhou, you've worked hard today. Go back and rest. Tomorrow noon, go and invite Mr. Chang for me, then both of you come here together," Mu Xiong said.

After hearing this, Old Zhou's heart skipped a beat. Chang Qing, a mysterious old man. In recent years, the town lord wouldn't invite him unless it was absolutely necessary! He composed himself and said, "Yes, Lord, I'll take my leave!"

Watching Old Zhou leave, Mu Xiong smiled slightly. "Ah...ancient legends!"

Dawn approached. Tianhua and Alie got up to prepare breakfast. After preparing the meal, Tianhua said, "Alie, go call Grandpa for breakfast. I'll check if they've woken up!"

Saying this, Tianhua walked towards the house. As he was about to push the door, it opened by itself. The two had already woken up! Tianhua saw them and said with a smile, "I was just about to call you for breakfast! Who knew you'd already gotten up. Come, let's have breakfast together!"

The three of them walked together. Tianhua introduced himself, Alie, and the old man, but he didn't ask about their backgrounds. This surprised the man.

The five sat at the table for breakfast. Three of them watched the other two slowly eat without speaking.

"Thanks for saving our lives!" the man suddenly said.

"Why did the town lord want to capture you?" Tianhua asked.

"I am Lu Yunshan, and this is my wife, Ling Yan. We come from a wealthy family in Mountain City. We used to live carefree and happy lives there. One day, the town lord sent people to say that, for better development of Mountain City, families like ours had to raise money. Everyone knew it was just an excuse to extort money. We thought, as long as we paid, everything would be fine. But one day, he saw Ling Yan and developed evil intentions. When we found out, we decided to escape. The town lord found out and sent people to capture us!" Lu Yunshan explained.

"That town lord is despicable!" Alie said indignantly.

"What do you plan to do next?" the old man asked.

"We... don't know. We can only take it step by step," Lu Yunshan said.

"If you have nowhere to go, then stay here!" Alie suggested.

The old man coughed a few times, and Lu Yunshan looked at him before saying, "Thank you for your kindness, but I think we can't stay here."

"Why?" Alie asked.

"Although this place is secluded, if the town lord really sends people to hunt us down, it won't be safe here! At that time, you might also be in danger!" Lu Yunshan explained.

"If the town lord's people really come here, I can deal with them!" Alie said excitedly.

The old man looked at Alie, and Lu Yunshan said, "Thank you for your kindness, but we can't stay here."

"Why?" Alie asked.

"This place, although hidden, won't be safe if the town lord sends people on a large scale. You might be in danger then. So, the question now is not whether you leave or stay but how we can all stay hidden!" Tianhua said.

Tianhua finished speaking and looked at the old man, who remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

"Yes, Tianhua is right!" Alie agreed.

"Do we all have to leave here?" the old man asked.

"Grandpa, there's no need. There's a solution to this right now," Tianhua said with a smile.

"What solution?" Alie and the old man asked.

"I'll go out alone, go to the town, and they'll target me. I'll make some moves to completely divert their attention! This way, you'll be safe!" Tianhua said with a smile.

"No, that's too dangerous for you alone!" Alie strongly objected.

"I don't agree either! Tianhua, it's too risky for you to go alone into the town!" the old man said.

"Tianhua, I also think it's not appropriate! Yesterday, you saved us from their hands, and we're already grateful enough. Now, to let you take such risks alone, how can we live with ourselves?" Lu Yunshan said passionately.

"It's fine. You're all worrying too much. Alie, you know me. Those people can't harm me," Tianhua said.

"But you're still just one person! Even if you're formidable, you can't deal with all the town guards in Mountain City! I think it's better for all of us to leave and find another place to settle!" Alie suggested.

"I agree with Alie!" the old man said.

"Alie, I came here for a reason—to explore. So, even if you all want to leave, I won't go with you! I still want to go to the town and see for myself!" Tianhua said with a smile.

Hearing Tianhua's decision, Lu Yunshan looked at him with curiosity.

"Even so, you still have to consider your own safety!" Alie said.

"Let's not discuss my safety now! This method is the best for all of us. So, tomorrow, I'll go out, and you all just live here in peace!" Tianhua said.

Lu Yunshan looked at Tianhua, smiling slightly. This young man was truly extraordinary.

Seeing that Tianhua had made up his mind, Alie said, "Tianhua, since you've decided, we'll follow your plan!"

As midday approached, Mu Xiong sat in the house, waiting for Chang Qing and Old Zhou to arrive!

The door was pushed open, an old man in front, followed by Old Zhou. They entered, and Mu Xiong looked at the old man, a smile on his face.

"Mr. Chang, please have a seat!" Mu Xiong said, personally offering a chair.

The old man naturally sat down without uttering a word of thanks. Mu Xiong, unfazed, continued to smile at him.

He glanced at Old Zhou and calmly asked, "Please share the reason for summoning me, Mr. Chang."

"It's like this, Old Zhou encountered a young man with peculiar behavior yesterday while he was out. Therefore, I invited you to take a look," Mu Xiong said with a smile.

"Tell me about it," the old man said.

"Old Zhou, recount yesterday's events to Mr. Chang," Mu Xiong instructed.

Old Zhou narrated the incident in detail. When he finished, he noticed Mu Xiong smiling at Mr. Chang, who remained silent, calmly observing his own hands.

"Old Zhou, you're excused. You can leave now," Mu Xiong suddenly declared.

Old Zhou stood up and left.

The room fell silent, with Mu Xiong smiling at Mr. Chang, waiting for him to speak. However, Mr. Chang seemed uninterested in conversation, merely gazing at his own hands.

The silence continued...

"Mr. Chang, what are your thoughts?" Mu Xiong couldn't resist breaking the silence.

"I haven't given it much thought," Mr. Chang replied indifferently.

"Mr. Chang, didn't you find anything familiar in Old Zhou's account?" Mu Xiong asked in surprise.

"Perhaps your subordinates are incompetent, exaggerating the situation," Mr. Chang said.

"Well, Mr. Chang, what if our speculation is accurate? What then?" Mu Xiong worriedly inquired.

"Then let Zou Ming handle it," Mr. Chang said.

"I trust Zou Ming, of course, but if..." Mu Xiong expressed concern.

"Even if our speculation is true, given his age, full control over that power is impossible. So, even if he encounters it, Zou Ming can handle it without any problems," Mr. Chang assured.

"Alright, let's proceed as Mr. Chang suggests!" Mu Xiong agreed.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Mr. Chang said.

"I'll have someone escort you, Mr. Chang!" Mu Xiong summoned a person and instructed, "Arrange a sedan to take Mr. Chang home!"

The person acknowledged and left. The sedan arrived shortly, and Mu Xiong escorted Mr. Chang out. Watching as the sedan moved away, Mu Xiong then called a subordinate and said, "Go, fetch Zou Ming for me!"

The subordinate acknowledged and left. Mu Xiong returned to the room, sitting down. He chuckled to himself, thinking, "Let's see how you escape from my grasp this time!" He then burst into laughter.

As night fell, after dinner, Tianhua, Alie, and Lu Yunshan sat in the courtyard chatting.

"Tiānhuà, can I ask you a question?" Lu Yunshan said.

"What?" Tianhua asked curiously.

"I find you quite extraordinary. Yesterday, when you fought with them, although I was weak and couldn't see clearly, in that short time, I can affirm that you're not ordinary!" Lu Yunshan said.

"Oh, having a bit more strength is nothing unusual!" Tianhua chuckled.

"Looking at you, having that much strength is already surprising. Moreover, after we left, someone was tracking us, and you knocked out that person and sent him back. Such power, I believe not many people in this world can achieve – or maybe none at all now. It's almost legendary!" Lu Yunshan remarked.

Upon hearing this, Tianhua was surprised: "He wasn't asleep when we returned yesterday! It seems like he knows about our tribe. How is that possible with his young age? What's going on?"

Alie, after hearing the conversation, also looked at Tianhua, showing an expression of astonishment.

"What's the legend you're talking about?" Tianhua asked.

Legend has it that a mysterious tribe existed a hundred years ago. Though small, each member possessed unbelievable powers. They could manipulate everything around them at will, using available objects, even materializing them as if manipulating puppets. One person among them was exceptional; he could control multiple objects and, most notably, make them fly. Despite their few numbers, their combat prowess was terrifying. Other tribes desperately sought to recruit them for protection and assistance," Lu Yunshan explained.

Lu Yunshan paused and looked at Tianhua. Alie also gazed at him with curiosity.

"How do you know all this?" Tianhua asked.

"I read it in a book," Lu Yunshan replied.

"Can't you find that book again?" Tianhua inquired.

"I treated it as a story at the time. After finishing it, I tossed it aside, and now I don't remember where it is. Even if I know where it is, I doubt I can retrieve it. However, I remember the contents vividly," Lu Yunshan said.

"Tell me what the book said!" Tianhua requested.

"Sure, if you're interested, I'll tell you!" Lu Yunshan agreed.

Tianhua gazed at the moon above, then looked at the dark woods in front of the courtyard. He calmly said, "Since you're here, come and sit for a while."

After Tianhua spoke, the two were stunned for a moment. Alie, surprised, asked, "Tianhua, what are you talking about?"

Lu Yunshan pondered for a moment, frowned, and didn't speak. He followed Tianhua's gaze, looking into the dark woods: the woods were pitch black, without any signs of life. He stared nervously at that direction.

Curious about their behavior, Alie asked, "Tianhua, what are you two looking at?"

"People," Tianhua said.

"What people?" Alie asked with curiosity.

"A person coming to capture someone," Tianhua said.

"What? Who?" Alie asked.

"One formidable character has arrived," Tianhua replied.

In the darkness, the person was somewhat surprised: "Impressive! I've just arrived nearby, and you already discovered me!"

The person in the darkness was also somewhat astonished: "I've appeared countless times in the dark of night, usually making my presence known only at the moment of the target's death. But today, I was so easily discovered! If I've been found, it's time to reveal myself!"

He slowly walked from the courtyard gate toward the yard. Alie, seeing him, asked loudly, "Who are you?"

"Just as this young man said, I am someone who came to capture people!" The man said indifferently.

Saying this, he reached the three people. In the dim light, they saw that the middle-aged man had a pale face and a very thin figure. Compared to that figure, his clothes seemed somewhat loose.

"Are you Zou Ming?" Lu Yunshan asked.

"So, the knowledgeable Mr. Lu knows even an insignificant figure like me!" Zou Ming said indifferently.

"Shadowless Zou Ming, invisible and silent in the darkness, killing without a trace. One of the strongest assassins in the world!" Lu Yunshan exclaimed.

Zou Ming's face showed an expression of dissatisfaction: "Mr. Lu, such an impressive description! If I didn't know better, I might be afraid of myself!"

"Are you really Zou Ming?" Lu Yunshan asked again.

"Why? Do you want to ask for an autograph?" Zou Ming responded with sarcasm.

The three looked at him in silence. After a moment, Alie said, "Since you're Zou Ming, then are you here to capture us?"

"Yes, I came to capture you!" Zou Ming replied.

"Why?" Alie asked.

"I heard that a person with mysterious powers appeared here. As a person who specializes in killing those with unusual powers, naturally, I came to capture you!" Zou Ming said indifferently.

"I don't have such mysterious powers. I'm just an ordinary person!" Alie declared.

"I don't care if you're ordinary or extraordinary. I just do my job," Zou Ming said coldly.

"Even if you capture us, you won't be able to leave!" Tianhua calmly stated.

"I've never failed to complete a mission. As long as I complete the mission, whether I can leave or not is not my concern," Zou Ming responded.

"Alright, let's not talk about that first. Since you've come, have a seat and let's have a chat," Tianhua invited.

Zou Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Fine."

The four of them sat in the courtyard. The atmosphere was a bit strange: the three of them and Zou Ming sitting there, facing each other. Lu Yunshan and Alie had worried expressions, while Tianhua seemed calm and composed.

After a while, Zou Ming spoke, "Mr. Tianhua, Mr. Alie, Mr. Lu, do you have any last words?"

"You talk as if you're about to kill us," Alie said with a frown.

"That's my job. I don't distinguish between killing and capturing; both are the same to me," Zou Ming replied coldly.

"But why? Why kill us?" Lu Yunshan asked.

"I don't need a reason. I only need to complete the task assigned to me," Zou Ming said.

"You don't need a reason to kill? Isn't that too ruthless?" Alie said.

"Life and death are common in this world. I'm just a tool used by others. The person who pays me is the one who decides who lives and who dies," Zou Ming explained.

"So, you don't have a say in it?" Alie asked.

Zou Ming shook his head: "I don't need a say. I only need money."

"What if we offer you more money to spare us?" Lu Yunshan suggested.

"I don't care about money. I only care about completing the mission," Zou Ming said.

Hearing this, Lu Yunshan's face sank: "You're really ruthless."

"I don't need to be ruthless; I only need to be efficient," Zou Ming replied.

At this moment, Tianhua spoke, "Zou Ming, if you don't have a reason to kill, then I have a reason for you not to kill us."

"What reason?" Zou Ming asked.

"If you kill us, you'll never find out the truth about your identity," Tianhua stated.

Zou Ming's expression changed slightly, showing a hint of curiosity: "Identity? What do you mean?"

"You don't remember your own past, do you?" Tianhua asked.

Zou Ming was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't remember."

"Then, how about this? If you spare our lives, we'll help you uncover the truth about your identity," Tianhua proposed.

Zou Ming pondered for a moment. If there was a chance to uncover the mystery of his identity, it would indeed be a tempting offer.

"Tell me, who am I?" Zou Ming asked.

"We don't know yet, but we can find out together," Tianhua said.

Zou Ming fell into silence, his eyes showing a trace of hesitation. Lu Yunshan and Alie looked at Tianhua, unsure of what he was planning.

After a while, Zou Ming spoke, "Fine, I'll spare your lives for now. But if you deceive me, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Thank you, Zou Ming!" Tianhua expressed gratitude.

"Let's go find out the truth together," Tianhua suggested.

Zou Ming nodded, and the atmosphere in the courtyard became even more peculiar. The four of them sat there, each harboring their own secrets and mysteries, waiting for the unfolding of the unknown future.