With a clatter!
Two burly men from the group behind the young man immediately stepped forward to shield him, while the rest drew their bows, arrows aimed squarely at Jin Feng.
The village chief hurriedly ran to the middle, anxiously explaining:
"Jin Feng, Little Tiger saw someone riding into the village and shouted 'bandits.' Grandma Zhou thought it was true and sounded the gong."
The village chief pointed to the side, where a five or six-year-old child was being spanked by his father, pants pulled down. An elderly woman with graying hair stood awkwardly nearby, holding a gong.
Thankfully, it was a false alarm.
Jin Feng stowed his crossbow on his belt and bowed respectfully to the young man in the green robe: "Greetings, young master!"
When he noticed the constable accompanying the young man, Jin Feng immediately guessed his identity.
There was no escaping it after all.
But from the looks of it, this marquis didn't seem to be a tyrant and appeared to be quite courteous.
The young man waved his hand, and the burly men immediately dispersed.
He pointed at Jin Feng's crossbow and smiled, "I've always heard that when bandits raid a village, the villagers cower in fear. This is the first time I've seen anyone dare to fight back."
Jin Feng glanced back and saw that the villagers were indeed empty-handed, with only himself and Mancang holding crossbows.
But Jin Feng didn't look down on the villagers. He had seen the men running back from the brick kiln with weapons, which were now surely hidden in the grass nearby.
This was a village tradition, born from countless sacrifices and bloodshed—a survival tactic.
If the bandits only demanded money and grain without going too far, the villagers would endure it.
After all, the bandits were numerous, and most of the village's able-bodied men had joined the army. Those left behind truly stood no chance against the bandits.
Money and grain were important, but not as important as the lives of their families.
However, if the bandits started killing indiscriminately, the villagers would fight to the death.
The bandits knew this too, so when they came each year to collect their "tribute," they didn't push too hard.
Both sides maintained a delicate balance.
It was rare for someone like Jin Feng to openly confront them with a crossbow.
"Young master might not know this, but bandits usually come after the harvest to collect their tribute. If they come in late spring, it's likely a new group trying to establish their authority, and they might kill indiscriminately to do so.
As the 'Tiger-Slaying Hero,' the tougher I appear, the more the bandits will hesitate, and they might abandon their plans to assert dominance."
Jin Feng's mind worked quickly. Realizing the misunderstanding, he immediately came up with an explanation.
"Aren't you afraid the bandits might get angry and kill you?"
"If that happens, I'd rather die fighting than kneel and be slaughtered!"
Jin Feng straightened his chest, declaring proudly, "As a scholar, I would rather die standing than live on my knees. Besides, I'm no pushover. Killing one would be breaking even; killing two would be a profit!"
Life is like a play, and it's all about acting.
Regardless of the internal struggle Jin Feng had gone through before charging out, the determination he displayed now was truly heroic.
From the reactions of the guards and the scars on their armor, Jin Feng had already deduced that this young man was no ordinary noble—he was likely a military man.
And what kind of person would such a man admire? None other than a fearless warrior, of course.
Sure enough, upon hearing Jin Feng's words, the young man and his guards erupted in applause!
"Well said! This is the spirit a warrior of Dakang should have!"
The young man dismounted from his horse: "Constable Zhang told me you were both a scholar and a warrior, and now I see it's true. No wonder you could single-handedly slay a tiger!"
Jin Feng was about to respond when he saw Guan Xiaorou and Tang Dongdong rushing out from the path, followed by the others.
Each of them carried a crossbow identical to Jin Feng's.
Even little Xiao'e was among them.
"Brother-in-law, we're here to help you fight the bandits!" Xiao'e shouted from a distance.
Clatter!
The armored guards immediately tensed up, forming a protective circle around the young man again.
"Xiaorou, it's a misunderstanding. They're not bandits. Lower your bows, quickly."
Jin Feng finally understood how the village chief must have felt earlier and quickly stepped into the middle of the road.
He noticed that the women's crossbows were already loaded. If any of them got too excited and pulled the trigger, things could get out of hand.
Once the women lowered their crossbows, Jin Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead and apologized, "My apologies, young master. My wife and family were only trying to protect me. I hope you won't hold it against them."
In the rigid hierarchy of feudal society, the distinction between superior and inferior was strictly observed.
For commoners to point arrows at a noble was a crime punishable by death.
Jin Feng had already done it once and barely managed to smooth things over. Now, his family had done the same...
If the young man took offense, it would be disastrous.
This man was far more dangerous than any bandit.
"Hahaha! It's fine."
The young man not only didn't get angry but laughed heartily. "They say birds of a feather flock together, and it's true! You're the Tiger-Slaying Hero, and even the women and children in your family are extraordinary!"
"You flatter me, young master."
Jin Feng replied with neither humility nor arrogance, then asked, "What brings you to this remote village?"
"I heard there was a warrior here who single-handedly killed a tiger, and I was eager to meet him."
The young man said, "Qing Huai has come uninvited. I hope the warrior won't take offense."
Whether it was genuine respect or mere showmanship, Qing Huai's demeanor was impeccable.
With a marquis personally seeking him out, Jin Feng knew there was no way to avoid this encounter. He gestured politely:
"Would you honor me by visiting my humble home?"
"Thank you for the invitation."
Qing Huai nodded and, without mounting his horse, followed Jin Feng into the village.
The villagers, eager to witness the spectacle, were shooed away by the village chief.
Along the way, Qing Huai noticed Xiao'e still holding her crossbow and couldn't help but chuckle:
"Little girl, do you know how to use that bow?"
"Of course!"
Guan Xiao'e puffed out her chest proudly.
"See that bird's nest in the tree? If you can hit it, this is yours."
Qing Huai smiled and pulled a jade pendant from his waist.
The pendant was pure white and smooth, clearly a precious item.
"I don't want a rock. I want something tasty."
Xiao'e glanced at the pendant and shook her head.
In her innocence, she had never seen jade before and didn't realize that this small pendant could buy her a lifetime of treats.
"No problem."
Qing Huai waved his hand, and a guard immediately retrieved a smoked lamb leg from the saddlebag.
The lamb leg was glistening and looked incredibly appetizing.
"Don't go back on your word!"
Xiao'e swallowed her saliva and raised her crossbow.
The bird's nest was perched on a branch about ten meters away. With Xiao'e's skill, her chances of hitting it were about fifty-fifty.
But perhaps spurred on by the promise of the lamb leg, she succeeded on her first try.
The arrow pierced through the nest and flew nearly a hundred meters into the air before beginning its descent.
A glint of admiration flashed in Qing Huai's eyes as he handed the lamb leg to Xiao'e: "Little girl, may I take a look at your crossbow?"