Li Village had truly blossomed. The irrigation systems ran flawlessly, and the surrounding fields flourished with vibrant crops. Children played by the crystal-clear streams, and the village square buzzed with activity. New structures dotted the landscape—ornate homes and well-built roads, symbols of the village's growth. It was a place where peace and prosperity ruled, and to an outsider, it seemed nothing short of a paradise.
Li Wei walked through the village, enjoying the serenity. Life was good here, but his peace was quickly disturbed by a familiar flutter of wings. A pigeon landed on his arm, carrying a letter. As he untied the message and read, his calm expression shifted.
The letter was brief but clear. Four peak 2nd-rate warriors had arrived from the provincial capital on a secret mission. Their objective? To recover something precious stolen by the bandits—the very same bandits whose hideout Li Wei had barely escaped from with his life. He still remembered the close call, the brush with death as he narrowly evaded the ruthless criminals.
Li Wei wasted no time and made his way to the nearby town. His destination: a secret meeting arranged by the provincial warriors. As he approached the town square, he spotted them immediately—four individuals whose presence was impossible to ignore. Each of them stood apart, but their collective aura was overpowering.
The first was Huang Tian, tall and imposing with a razor-sharp gaze that seemed to cut through any façade. His long, tied-back hair and stern face gave him a commanding presence, one of a man who made calculated moves, always three steps ahead.
Beside him was Yan Fei, a slender, foxlike man with quick, darting eyes and an almost playful grin. His movements were fluid, and even at rest, he seemed to be constantly in motion, as if waiting for an opportunity to strike or slip away.
Zhao Ming was hard to miss—a burly, muscular man with a thick beard and a booming laugh that seemed out of place for someone of his rank. But the casual air was misleading; Zhao Ming could crush bones with ease and took pleasure in the chaos of battle.
Finally, there was Lin Mei, the only woman among them. She moved with the grace of a dancer, but her eyes were cold and calculating. Her reputation as a strategist was well-known, and she was the kind of person who could outmaneuver opponents with both mind and body.
The four greeted Li Wei with nods before heading to the secret meeting room where the local high-level officials were waiting. Maps of the region were spread across the table, marking potential hideouts and points of interest.
The town's mayor began the briefing. "These aren't just common thieves. These bandits are cold-blooded criminals—psychopaths who've terrorized anyone who gets in their way. We need to eliminate them and retrieve the treasure they've stolen."
The room was tense. Everyone knew what was at stake, but none more than Li Wei. He had been to their hideout, nearly losing his life in the process. When the moment was right, he spoke up.
"The hideout you've marked on the map is a decoy," Li Wei said, his voice calm but resolute. "The real lair is hidden further, in a series of caves along the cliffside. That's where the bandits are holed up."
The warriors and officials turned to face him, the air thick with anticipation. Huang Tian narrowed his eyes. "You're certain?"
Li Wei nodded. "I was there. Barely made it out alive. I checked them out later after surviving. The real base is heavily fortified."
Yan Fei smirked. "Clever. These bandits aren't your average thugs. But now that we know where they are, should we strike immediately?"
Zhao Ming, always eager for action, slammed his fist on the table. "We have eight 2nd-rate warriors! What are we waiting for? There can't be more than two second-rate fighters in their ranks. We should hit them now before they get wind of us."
Lin Mei, ever the tactician, shook her head. "Rushing in blindly is how you get killed. We need to gather more intel. These caves could be rigged with traps or worse. We can't afford to underestimate them."
A heated discussion ensued. Zhao Ming argued for immediate action, while Huang Tian and Lin Mei urged caution. After several minutes, the group reached a compromise.
"We'll gather intel, but only for a short time," Huang Tian declared. "We don't want to lose the element of surprise, but we also can't afford to walk into a trap. And no one outside this room can know."
Everyone nodded in agreement, the weight of the mission settling in. Before they left, the mayor gave one last reminder. "The treasure the bandits stole is of the utmost importance. Failing to retrieve it is not an option."
After the serious meeting, Li Wei made his way to Master Ren Shiming's dojo. He had a personal task to complete—upgrading Xu Zhan's membership to premium. Master Ren, the dojo master and a friend of Li Wei's, greeted him with a wide grin the moment he walked in.
"Li Wei!" Ren Shiming boomed, slapping Li Wei on the back. "What brings you here? Looking to train? Or maybe it's finally time to unlock that hidden potential of yours?"
Li Wei smiled but shook his head. "No training today. I'm here to upgrade Xu Zhan's membership."
Ren raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Xu Zhan? That kid? Why are you paying for his premium membership?"
Li Wei leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You've seen him. He's practically a walking main character—fate practically shines down on him. It's a good investment to stay on his good side."
Ren let out a loud laugh. "So you've got your eye on him, eh? Smart move!"
Ren dramatically flipped through some papers, scribbling here and there. "Done! Xu Zhan is now officially part of the dojo elite! Maybe next he'll awaken some hidden power or get wrapped up in some grand adventure."
Li Wei shook his head, though a small smile played on his lips. "Yeah, maybe."
Ren slapped Li Wei on the back again, his grin wide. "Good man. Xu Zhan doesn't know how lucky he is to have someone like you around."
Li Wei nodded, taking the receipt for the upgrade. "He'll figure it out eventually. By the way, uncle Zhao has called you to his office."
"Why?" Ren asked curiously.
"No clue!" Li Wei replied.