I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

“Have you all collected the ‘Huazi’ we gave you?”

The leading cultivator asked with a smile.

“We have, we have.”

The villagers replied obsequiously, completely powerless to resist the might of these young elites, and were left as fish on the chopping board, to be slaughtered at will.

“Then how will you thank us?”

The leading cultivator continued to ask.

“As long as you noble saviors are willing to spare us, we will thank you in any way you want!”

The villagers knelt and pleaded, some even crying loudly.

“Thank us in any way we want? Good, separate the men to one side and bring the women over!”

“Let them watch closely!”

The leading cultivator revealed a sinister smile and said coldly, then he lifted the chin of a young female cultivator beside him, “Do you know why we gave you ‘Huazi’?”

“The saviors are kind to us.”

The female cultivator trembled like a sieve, her face pale as she spoke, her eyes filled with fear.

“Heh heh, not kind enough!”

“Hurry up, don’t be idle, one for each person, get them all properly sorted!”

The smile hidden beneath the leading cultivator’s mask grew malicious as they forcefully enacted a spectacle within this village.

“Beasts!”

“We originally thought our saviors were upright gentlemen, who wanted to lead us on a prosperous path. We never expected such actions to be committed!”

“Our village will not share the sky with you, and this matter will certainly be reported to the Punishment Hall, making you pay a bloody price!”

The villagers’ faces twisted to the extreme, wishing they could rush forward and tear the depraved cultivators to pieces right then and there. Unfortunately, under the suppression of those in the Divinity Transformation Stage, they were unable to move, and could only watch as their wives and daughters were violated.

“Heh, the Punishment Hall?”

“What is the Punishment Hall? Go ahead and report us, but don’t say Li Xiaobai didn’t give you a chance!”

“Behind Li Xiaobai stands one of the three great ancient families of Aolai Country, not something these poor and pedantic civilians could ever touch.”

“Don’t flatter yourselves. Today, the fact that we chose to honor your wives and daughters is your village’s fortune.”

Hearing the villagers’ screams, a hint of ecstasy flashed in the eyes of the young elites. Young Master Situ’s strategy was correct; these people had completely identified them as being part of Li Xiaobai’s group.

Filing a lawsuit at the Punishment Hall against their crimes was exactly what they desired. Once the Punishment Hall got involved, whether it was Li Xiaobai or the three great families behind him, all would suffer!

This time, they were eager to see how many more days this guy would enjoy his freedom.

The same scenario unfolded in many remote areas of Aolai Country, where a group of masked cultivators, with the speed of a destructive storm, burned, killed, and looted, coming quickly and departing just as fast.

By the time the cultivators from the Punishment Hall arrived, it was already a scene of desolation.

Looking at the devastation on the ground, the Elder in charge flickered a dangerous light in his eyes.

The Punishment Hall answers directly to the Great Family Head, and every cultivator within this division is a loyal subject of Aolai Country, having undergone numerous tests before bearing fruit and successfully joining the Punishment Hall.

Therefore, they had some understanding of the Third Family Head’s plans and knew that several Family Heads were collaboratively laying out a grand strategy.

That’s why, of late, they willingly stayed out of sight of the other cultivators. Within the country, even if there were private brawls, as long as the incidents were not too serious, they would not show up to intervene.

The modus operandi presented numerous rising great families with opportunities; those who offered bribes in private were not few, hooking in no small amount of big fish.

But this time, it was very serious.

Within one day, dozens of villages had been bullied. The resources of the villages were plundered, the women all taken, and there were even murders with several cultivators dead.

The severity of the circumstances meant that even the most extreme punishment would not be an overreaction.

And all the victimized villagers gave shockingly consistent accounts, all pointing to a group of masked cultivators who emitted a Huazi fragrance as the culprits.

Moreover, some villagers claimed that this was the handiwork of Li Xiaobai!

This gave the Elders at the Punishment Hall a considerable headache. They were aware that Li Xiaobai had been ordered to throw Aolai Country into chaos, but whether this was an instruction from the Third Family Head, they could not tell.

To go ahead with arrest operations, they would have to consider the Third Family Head’s wishes.

“Great Elder, what should we do, should we make a move to apprehend him?”

One of the Elders asked.

“Don’t rush it just yet, there might be something fishy about this affair, perhaps there are hidden factors at play. Let us report truthfully for now and let the Third Family Head decide on this troublesome matter,”

the leading Great Elder said in a deep voice.

Li Xiaobai did indeed possess some skill; ever since his arrival in Aolai Country, there had never been a moment of peace.

One incident followed another, sprouting up like bamboo shoots after rain.

“Agreed!”

…

One day later.

Inside the Water Curtain Cave, within the Secret Realm, two women, one in red and one in blue, sat facing each other, both frowning as they reviewed the report in their hands.

“How is it, third sister, do you think Young Master Li is responsible for this?”

Great Family Head Huahuo asked with furrowed brows; the letter from Punishment Hall detailed such shocking events. Could those masked people really be so bold as to think Aolai Country’s laws are mere paper tigers?

“Big sister, the situation is quite clear now. Young Master Li has done very well as an agitator. As for what the letter alleges, it is likely the work of certain families. These parasites have become restless.”

Third Family Head Master Rong replied with a light smile, confident about the situation in Aolai Country.

“So, are you saying those families have started to make their move?”

Huahuo’s expression became icy. She could hardly wait to take action against those who dared to oppress her people.

“Indeed, the shops opened by the three big families have started affecting their interests. With Tangneng First-class and high-quality stores emerging, even the best herb shops and elixir stores are facing closure. Coupled with the promotion by a few overseas cultivators, the reputation of the shops has only grown, posing a threat to the deeply rooted old guard.”

“This incident is a signal and also a probe, aiming to gauge our reaction,”

Master Rong mentioned.

“Then how should we respond?”

Huahuo inquired.

“Big sister, at times like this, we cannot come forward, otherwise we might scare off the big fish. Since this matter arose because of Li Xiaobai, it should also be resolved by him.”

“Tomorrow, sister will pay a visit to Li Mansion, and offer him a chance to prove his innocence,”

Master Rong spoke with indifferent eyes and a chill tone.

If Li Xiaobai managed to expose the nefarious schemes of the many families, it would be a significant blow to those clans. If he failed, he would just have to be a scapegoat.

Everything must be done for the greater good; personal gain or loss was not a concern.

If he performed well, he would be a friend; if not, then just a pawn.