Commoner Hero

In the main hall of the Lingbei County Office, Fang Jingzhi and Advisor Liu emerged with a group of officials.

Fang Jingzhi spoke softly, "Advisor Liu, share your thoughts. What's your take on Marquis Xie's actions?"

"My lord, I believe Marquis Xie made the right decision. Even if Su Qi'an is a man of great talent, inviting him could lead to much attention, and knowing the Marquis' temperament, he would naturally dislike such an occasion."

"Moreover, the upcoming county exams, just a month away, provide the perfect opportunity to measure Su Gongzi's abilities. All we need to do is avoid excessive flattery while offering appropriate support."

"Hmm, as expected, Advisor Liu, you think things through thoroughly. I'll leave this matter in your hands. In short, whether dealing with Marquis Xie or Su Gongzi, ensure they are treated with due respect."

"Rest assured, my lord. I'll handle it carefully."

Satisfied, Fang Jingzhi nodded. His gaze shifted to the constable Wang standing behind them. "I heard you caused some trouble for Mr. Su at the county gate earlier?"

Constable Wang's expression changed drastically. He immediately dropped to his knees, trembling with fear.

"It was my fault, my lord! I was blinded by my own foolishness. Please give me another chance!"

Fang Jingzhi didn't respond, exchanging a few more words with Advisor Liu before leaving.

Constable Wang remained kneeling, his face pale and dripping with sweat, clearly shaken.

Advisor Liu approached, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat. "Wang, consider yourself lucky this time. Remember, if you encounter Su Gongzi during the county exam next month, you should know how to behave."

"Yes, yes, I understand! Thank you for saving my life, Advisor Liu. From now on, my life is yours—I'll climb mountains or walk through fire for you..."

Before he could finish, he looked up, only to realize Advisor Liu had already disappeared.

Meanwhile, Su Qi'an and his group of five, having received their reward money, wasted no time and headed straight back to Dongshan Village.

Strangely enough, their journey back was uneventful, much smoother than anticipated. They even arrived half an hour earlier than they had on their way to the county.

By the time they reached the village, the sun was setting. At the entrance, a large crowd had gathered, waiting anxiously. It was clear they had been there for quite some time.

Seeing the five return safely, the villagers collectively sighed in relief.

The village chief, Li, quickly stepped forward, patting Su Qi'an on the shoulder. "Xiao'an, was your journey smooth?"

"Uncle, rest assured," Li Hu interjected confidently, puffing out his chest. "With us four around, everything went smoothly."

The village chief didn't hold back, smacking Li Hu on the head. "With your reckless nature, I'd hardly feel reassured without Xiao'an!"

"Uncle, there are so many people here—can't you give me some face?" Li Hu grumbled.

The villagers burst into laughter, their worries momentarily forgotten.

When the laughter subsided, Su Qi'an got straight to business, handing the prepared funds to the village chief.

Holding the money, the village chief was visibly moved and was about to speak when Su Qi'an stopped him.

"Chief, there's no need for pleasantries. We're all part of the same village. Since everyone trusts me, I'll do my best. I just hope the village continues to prosper, and everyone can live in peace."

The chief nodded. "Xiao'an is right. My old mind must've wandered. Alright, everyone, go back to your homes. We've delayed long enough—I'm sure Xiao Yin is waiting anxiously."

One of the villagers chimed in with a laugh, "That's true. If we keep blocking the way, Xiao Yin might think something's happened. We can't stand in the way of Su Gongzi reuniting with his wife!"

"After all," another teased, "what's that saying? 'A day apart feels like… something autumn?'"

"It's 'A day apart feels like three autumns!' Hey, Auntie, if you don't know the line, don't embarrass yourself!"

"Well, we housewives can't compare to Su Gongzi. But don't laugh at me, Auntie Wu. Tonight, make your husband teach you properly!"

The village women's playful banter drew more laughter from the crowd.

Even with his modern upbringing, Su Qi'an found himself blushing at their teasing. After exchanging a few words with the chief and Li Hu, he quickly made his escape, speeding away from the crowd.

Watching him flee, the women laughed even harder.

Finally free from the lively crowd, Su Qi'an walked a few more miles before reaching his home.

From a distance, his modest thatched cottage glowed warmly under the light of several oil lamps.

Looking at the scene, Su Qi'an sighed. "I'll need to find time to build us a proper house someday."

By now, Su Qi'an had spent some time in Daliang. With a beautiful wife at home, he felt a growing sense of responsibility to provide a good life for her.

This recent tiger hunt had been fruitful, providing enough funds to start building a house.

As he pondered, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Is that you, my husband?"

Looking up, Su Qi'an saw Qin Ziyin standing at the door with an oil lamp in hand, scanning the surroundings.

He quickly approached, taking the lamp from her hands with a gentle smile. "Yes, it's me. I'm sorry for making you wait so long."

"I'm just glad you're home safely. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Come, let's go inside for dinner."

Su Qi'an nodded and followed her inside. The flickering candlelight illuminated a table full of dishes, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere that Su Qi'an deeply cherished.

"You're so good to me, Ziyin. Our better days are just around the corner," he said with a smile.

Qin Ziyin smiled in return, taking his words as a lighthearted jest.

She wasn't skeptical of Su Qi'an's capabilities. In fact, ever since rescuing him, his actions had continually moved her, giving her a deep sense of trust and reliance.

As she cleared the table, Su Qi'an suddenly embraced her from behind, his warm chest pressing against her back. Qin Ziyin's cheeks turned red, but she didn't resist.

"Husband, blow out the candle," she whispered shyly.

A gust of wind extinguished the flame, and soon, the room was enveloped in a gentle spring-like warmth…

Later that night, as the moon hung high in the sky, Su Qi'an quietly dressed and left the house.

Taking his longbow, he ventured into the crisp winter night.

He wasn't going hunting—he wanted to test his newly improved bow.

In an open field two or three miles from his home, Su Qi'an began his practice. The bright moonlight illuminated the surroundings, allowing him to see clearly despite the darkness.

Taking a deep breath, Su Qi'an steadied himself, blending seamlessly into the quiet landscape.

Suddenly, the stillness was broken by the sharp whistle of arrows cutting through the air.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Three arrows struck their mark on a sturdy tree, their precision flawless even from seventy paces away.

Su Qi'an's body, once weak, was steadily recovering. His archery skills had returned to about 80% of their peak from his previous life.

After firing a dozen arrows, increasing the distance to 90 paces, Su Qi'an suddenly stopped.

Drawing his bow, he aimed at a dark corner of the field. His eyes sharpened, and his voice was icy. "Friend, you've been watching for a while. Care to show yourself?"

The response was silence.

Without hesitation, Su Qi'an released three more arrows, their speed and sharpness far exceeding the earlier ones.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed through the darkness, followed by a shadow darting into the open.

The moonlight revealed a tall figure clad in black, their face obscured by a mask. A long blade glinted in their hand, radiating a chilling killing intent.

Su Qi'an frowned. Judging by the man's attire and aura, he wasn't a mere bandit. The cold, disciplined aura suggested a seasoned soldier.

The only ones capable of commanding such men were likely government officials.

Su Qi'an's thoughts raced. He hadn't offended any officials—or so he thought.

Even if his earlier conflict with the Lingbei county office had escalated, someone like Advisor Liu would've acted long before now.

The only explanation was that Su Qi'an had unknowingly crossed someone more powerful than the county magistrate himself.

Recalling his earlier interactions with Advisor Liu, Su Qi'an had already sensed something was amiss. While he hadn't shared his suspicions with his companions to avoid alarming them, his instincts had been right.

Facing the masked assailant, Su Qi'an's expression grew resolute. Yielding was not an option.

Reaching for his quiver, he prepared to unleash his most precise and lethal shot.

The black-clad soldier chuckled darkly. "Heh, I didn't expect to find such a skilled marksman—and a scholar, no less—in a small village. How interesting."

[--------------------------------------------]

Enjoyed the chapter?

If you want early access to +10 Advance chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you!

Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy