Chapter 2065: No Need to Worry About Food

In the early morning, Ye Chen left the small garden early.

Before he even reached the main street, he heard waves of cursing and complaints. This was because new notices had appeared all over the streets and alleys, all related to grain conscription. Those without grain had to contribute money; those without money had to provide able-bodied men; and those without able-bodied men had to hand over their womenfolk to reward the troops.

The people of Zhu Xian Zhen were filled with resentment, cursing Qi Wang for his cruelty and disregard for the lives of the common folk.

Even Ye Chen, upon hearing this, couldn't help but furrow his brow. As the new ruler of this land, this so-called Qi Wang was even worse than the former Yan Wang.

As he spoke, he had already set up his fortune-telling stall.

"This place is bound to be unsettled."

The first to arrive was Yang Xuan, sighing heavily as he held a notice in his hand, which he had torn down from somewhere and casually tossed onto Ye Chen's table.

"That Qi Wang is truly unscrupulous in his ways." Yang Xuan said.

"A regional lord, and you expect him to play fair?" Shangguan Jiu arrived soon after, shaking his head in dismay.

"Ever since Yan Wang's defeat, the warlords' power has grown, especially Qi Wang's. With fifty thousand troops under his command, how could he not act arrogantly?"

"This matter probably isn't Qi Wang's idea." Ling Feng also showed up.

"I've met Qi Wang before; he's not a cruel or oppressive person. With Yan Wang's downfall as a lesson, he knows the importance of public sentiment and wouldn't issue such notices. If anyone did, it's most likely Qi Wang Shizi. Zhu Xian Zhen falls within his jurisdiction, and compared to Qi Wang, Qi Wang Shizi's nature is far more tyrannical."

"Who cares who it is? It's still someone from the Qi family."

"Anyone who messes with me, I'll tear down their royal residence."

Yang Xuan and Shangguan Jiu grumbled incessantly, their tempers flaring more than the other's.

Ye Chen, however, remained calm—or perhaps distracted, still pondering the events of the previous night. Whoever had dreamed their way to his location must possess immense supernatural abilities.

"Make way! Make way!"

As he pondered, a noisy shout rang out.

Looking up, he saw a troop of horses charging forward, numbering about a thousand soldiers, all fierce and menacing. Leading them was a bald, burly man with a long sword at his waist, acting with utter arrogance as he rampaged through the streets. Judging by the color of their armor, they were Qi Wang's men, here in Zhu Xian Zhen to collect grain—those conscription notices weren't posted for nothing.

The main street of Zhu Xian Zhen descended into chaos in an instant, with many people knocked down.

The thousand soldiers halted at a raised platform, and the county official of Zhu Xian Zhen approached tremblingly, handing over the town's household registry as he stammered, "General, the harvest has been poor these past two years. Could you perhaps consider..."

"Get lost!"

The bald strongman roared, kicking the official to the ground and sending the people of Zhu Xian Zhen scrambling back in panic, their faces full of fear. If he dared strike the county official, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

"Line up and hand over your grain one by one. No grain? Then hand over money. No money? Then hand over able-bodied men. And if no able-bodied men... well, hand over the womenfolk."

The bald strongman's voice was gruff, and when he mentioned the womenfolk, his lewd grin was unmistakable, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with malice.

"We only have a hundred shi; there's no way we have that much grain." An elderly man spoke up defiantly, trying to suppress his anger, while the others dared not voice their outrage.

"No grain? That's easy to handle."

The bald strongman sneered mockingly, slowly advancing with his blood-red eyes radiating terror. Before he even reached the old man, he suddenly drew his sword and thrust it into the elder's chest. The spurting blood was strikingly vivid, and the already agitated people of Zhu Xian Zhen screamed and fled in all directions.

"Come on, collect the grain."

The bald strongman chuckled darkly, stretching his neck contentedly.

At his command, the thousand soldiers sprang into action, some in groups of three, others in groups of five, rushing to each household. They didn't even bother knocking; they kicked the doors open and ransacked everything in sight, seizing grain, money, and whatever else they could find. Many women were dragged out of their homes.

The once peaceful Zhu Xian Zhen was now filled with cries and pleas for mercy. These so-called soldiers protecting the realm were nothing but a band of robbers.

"How entertaining."

The bald strongman lounged back in his chair, a smirk on his lips as he watched the chaotic scene unfold, reveling in its bloody brutality.

No sooner had he spoken than a shadowy figure appeared behind him.

"Who's there?"

The bald strongman snorted coldly and jumped to his feet, but a sword was already pressed against his shoulder—a single flash could end his life.

Still, this man was no stranger to danger and kept his composure, laughing as he said, "Which hero is this? Mind introducing yourself?"

"Ye Chen." The calm voice came from behind.

"So the rumors are true—the martial arts legend is hiding in Zhu Xian Zhen."

The bald strongman chuckled knowingly. He was aware of Ye Chen's reputation but showed no fear, not believing Ye Chen would dare touch him. After all, crossing him meant defying Qi Wang, and even the greatest fighter couldn't stand against an army of thousands. Even a martial arts legend had to think twice.

"I suggest you give the order to call back your soldiers." Ye Chen said flatly.

"So, you're picking a fight with Qi Wang?" The bald strongman sneered.

Ye Chen said nothing, simply swinging his sword and severing the strongman's arm in one swift motion.

A scream erupted as the strongman collapsed to his knees with a thud, blood gushing uncontrollably from his shoulder. He never expected Ye Chen to actually attack, and in such an unpredictable way.

"The next swing will take your head." Ye Chen's sword was now at the strongman's other shoulder.

"Stop! Stop right now!" The bald strongman bellowed hoarsely, coughing up blood. He knew disobedience would send him straight to the underworld.

His command was effective; the soldiers who had been looting and pillaging hurried back. Seeing their leader with one arm missing, they drew their weapons and surrounded the platform tightly.

"Go back and tell your master that if they disturb the peace here again, I won't hesitate to wipe out their entire clan."

Ye Chen's words were as calm as ever, yet chillingly cold. With that, he kicked the strongman off the platform.

"Very well, very well indeed."

The bald strongman laughed through his rage but said no more, clutching his bleeding arm as he stumbled away. He was pragmatic enough to recognize the terror of the martial arts legend and didn't dare resist. Otherwise, his thousand men wouldn't last a moment against Ye Chen alone. His only regret was not realizing sooner that the legend was right there in Zhu Xian Zhen.

The disturbance ended temporarily with their retreat.

Zhu Xian Zhen was left in ruins, with many women clutching their disheveled clothes and weeping. It was fortunate Ye Chen had acted quickly; otherwise, their virtue would have been lost.

Sadly, the elderly man from earlier could not be saved.

The townspeople's faces were ashen. Ye Chen had rescued them for now, but it was only temporary. It wouldn't be long before the army surrounded Zhu Xian Zhen, and none of them would escape. Qi Wang commanded fifty thousand troops—flattening the town would take no time at all.

Ye Chen remained silent and returned to his seat. He hadn't wanted to get involved, but in the end, he couldn't stand by. He cherished the rare peace and didn't want it shattered, which was why he had stepped in.

"Can you handle Qi Wang with his fifty thousand troops?" Yang Xuan and Shangguan Jiu both coughed awkwardly. Ye Chen's earlier display had been impressively dominant—threatening to exterminate Qi Wang's entire family was something only he would dare say in the martial world. But words were one thing; the consequences were another.

Ye Chen didn't respond, showing no concern. As long as his opponents were mere mortals, whether they came with fifty thousand or a hundred thousand, it made no difference. If he wished, unifying the realm would be child's play.

Night fell quickly, but the atmosphere in the land grew oppressively tense.

Soon, the sound of galloping horses shook the ground.

From above, the horizon was a sea of dark figures, a force of at least a hundred thousand, radiating killing intent.

"Surround Zhu Xian Zhen for me."

A mocking laugh echoed from a lavish war chariot, where a young man in purple robes lounged comfortably on a couch, one arm around a beautiful woman feeding him wine, another offering grapes—it was the picture of ease.

This purple-robed youth was no ordinary figure; he was Qi Wang Shizi, appointed by Qi Wang to command a hundred thousand troops and guard Tong Guan, overseeing a domain of three hundred li. He was, in essence, a local emperor.

His purpose in coming was clear: to capture the martial arts legend. How dare anyone touch his people? For this, he had mobilized a hundred thousand soldiers, eager to see if the legendary figure was truly as formidable as claimed.

"My lord, it's best not to provoke him." A accompanying general rode up, advising once more.

"As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge an open spear but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. Messing with someone from the martial world is bad enough, let alone the greatest of them all."

"General Xiao, why are you being so cautious today?" Qi Wang Shizi sneered, glancing at the general.

"I've brought a hundred thousand troops for him. I'll make sure he dies without a burial ground and show the world the bloody price of crossing the Qi family."