Chapter 50 - 49: Prisoner Rescue

Xinxiang, a secluded street, the teahouse "Gathering Heroes Lodge".

"Did you hear? Lou Yi was finally captured two days ago!"

"What? How was he caught?"

"He surrendered himself!"

"Surrendering, isn’t that a dead end?"

"Hey, the government office arrested all the villagers of Erhe Village, forced them to go up the mountain to find him, without food or rest.

If Lou Yi didn’t surrender, his fellow villagers might have just worked themselves to death!"

"Damn soldiers!"

"This is what a true hero is!"

Two men with bare arms and disheveled clothes sat at the table, passionately discussing, fearing the surrounding tea guests would not hear them.

The crowd instantly united in indignation, voicing their discontent.

"This Inspector is corrupt, truly despicable!"

"Wangjiang County is isolated and backward, the laws are outdated, the government office has absolute power! I hear the Central Plains are much better!"

"What can be done, the Hundred Beasts Mountain Range is in the way, even the Central Plains can’t reach here."

"What a pity for Lou the Scholar’s son, if born in chaotic times, he would be a hero!"

The people spoke of rebellious sentiments, not fearing others might overhear.

After all, this teahouse was full of regulars, faces seen day after day, no one would be bored enough to inform the authorities.

South wall of the teahouse.

A semicircular archway embedded within, covered with black cloth, hidden behind was a spacious courtyard.

In the courtyard sat a richly dressed, one-eyed old man over fifty on a grand chair.

His face was dark, with arms naturally hanging, his single eye shut, but his ears constantly twitched, clearly absorbing the commotion from the teahouse.

A moment later.

The two who spread the news of Lou Yi’s capture ignored the servant’s obstruction, directly lifted the black cloth, swiftly crossed the archway, and came before the old man.

These two.

One was tall and strong, with intimidating snake tattoos on his arms.

The other had a frivolous face, disheveled hair, mismatched sandals, clothes pulled up revealing a large white belly.

If Lou Yi were here, he would recognize their identities.

They were the ruffians Wu Biao and Yang Er, whom he had once subdued.

The old man opened his single eye, the eye dark yellow with a hint of fierce aggression, causing Wu Biao and Yang Er to avert their gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Your plans, old man sees through them, don’t beat around the bush, speak up!

Old man’s eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice!"

"Old Yan, didn’t you always admire heroes? Lou Yi shouldn’t die!"

"Oh, there are countless heroes in the world, should old man save each one?"

"Lou Yi is Lou the Scholar’s son, Lou the Scholar was gracious to you in the past!"

"Humph! I introduced this brat to wood chopping long ago, the debt is settled.

Moreover, Cao Tianlin clearly wants to execute him to make an example, getting involved would drown me."

Hearing Old Yan’s words, Wu Biao and Yang Er exchanged looks, seeing the helplessness in each other’s eyes.

A moment later, Yang Er seemed to make up his mind, took a deep breath, and then whispered, "Old Yan, don’t you want revenge?"

As soon as he spoke, Old Yan’s eye flashed, glaring at the two, making their bodies tremble involuntarily.

"Old Yan, you founded Qing Bang back then, almost unified Xinxiang, if not for Inspector Cao’s interference...

This Lou Yi, taught martial arts by a master, with extraordinary talent. If he escapes this time, he will surely return for revenge, Inspector Cao won’t escape death!"

After speaking, the two nervously watched Old Yan, not daring to miss any expression on his face.

Old Yan couldn’t help but touch his blind eye, deliberating silently.

...

’Clang!’

’Clang!’

’Bang!’

’Bang!’

"Move quicker, hurry up!"

Lou Yi, shackled and chained, stepped down from the prisoner cart, trudging forward with difficulty, whipped and cursed by the soldiers behind.

After several days of delays, finally heading toward the Xinxiang Inspection Bureau.

The archers, famished, randomly picked a tavern by the roadside, each settling down to feast.

Lou Yi naturally had no seat but couldn’t leave their sight, standing in the middle, watching the archers eat.

"Officer, what would you like?" greeted the enthusiastic shopkeeper with a black mole on his nose.

"Cooked beef, yellow wine, peanuts, bring up the best!" Man Slaughter Shen Fang nonchalantly dropped his massive Wolf Fang Club, creating a ’bang,’ shouting loudly.

This whole journey, his mouth was tasteless.

The archers were forbidden from drinking during the mission, but with Shen Fang leading, others indulged without worry, feasting recklessly.

Lou Yi stood silently in the center, coldly observing the officers.

The journey naturally had much physical torment, but he endured it unflinchingly.

There were benefits, his mind and will were thoroughly tempered.

Distant from the once peaceful 21st-century young man.

He glanced at the Attribute Panel.

The name section showed half red, half green, indicating his dire condition.

Yet Lou Yi wasn’t worried.

With the Attribute Panel and stored energy, recovering to his peak was a matter of minutes.

These wooden shackles couldn’t trap ordinary martial artists, let alone him.

The key was how to avoid repeating the mistake, to prevent Gou Wa and his companions from falling into danger again.

Can’t afford to be threatened again?

’Must find a way to eliminate future threats.’ Lou Yi already had a rough plan.

Just as this thought flashed through his mind, there was a ’bang’.

Someone’s head hit the table with force.

"Haha, this one drank too much!" laughed a nearby man.

But he didn’t last long either, plunking face down into his bowl, soaking in the wine unaware.

Soon, over ten archers guarding Lou Yi fell asleep like dumped dumplings, oblivious.

Only Man Slaughter still struggled, roaring: "You bastards, drugged me!"

He tried picking up his Wolf Fang Club but his limbs were too weak, only for the shopkeeper to rush forward and kick him down.

"Seems you haven’t drunk enough yet."

With a faint smile, the shopkeeper with a black mole on his nose poured wine freely over Man Slaughter’s face, embarrassing him.

"Damn, I’ll kill you!"

Two men pressed down the struggling Man Slaughter while another forced his mouth open, pouring wine into him nonstop.

Even as a martial artist, Man Slaughter couldn’t escape the knockout drug’s punishment, his strained eyelids gradually shut, finally collapsing on the ground, unconscious.

"Hurry and release the hero!" the shopkeeper commanded.

As soon as he spoke, several people rushed from the kitchen.

"Brother Lou Yi!"

Looking up, Lou Yi saw the ruffians Yang Er and Wu Biao.

Feeling a rush of joy: "Why are you here?"

"Brother Lou, all thanks to these two petitioning Old Yan, we’re just following orders," explained the shopkeeper.

"Even Gou Wa’s mother pleaded with us, we’ll do our best," Yang Er sheepishly scratched his head.

"Everyone, words can’t convey my gratitude!" Lou Yi shackled, unable to bow, could only slightly bend to express thanks.

"Brother Lou, don’t rush." Among the group, a middle-aged man in his forties, pulled out a slightly curved special silver needle from somewhere, smiling: "No matter how tough the locks, meeting my ancestral silver needle can only submit."

Then, he inserted the silver needle into the lock’s hole on Lou Yi’s shackles.

With no visible action.

With a ’crack’, the iron-plated shackles were unlocked, freeing Lou Yi’s neck.

...