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"What...what happened?" Xiaoyou covered her mouth, shocked but even more worried.
"Don't worry, it must be that hero's doing." Zhao De smiled confidently, even though he didn't know exactly what had happened, he felt inexplicably at ease.
As the aftershocks of the explosion subsided, the leader of the men in black staggered backward, staring at the mysterious man in disbelief. The mysterious man, however, was unharmed, surrounded by a faint light, as if a war god had been reborn.
"How is this possible... Your power has surpassed the realm of humanity!" The leader of the men in black gasped, his whip falling limply to the ground.
The mysterious man chuckled, said nothing more, and slowly approached. He reached out his hand, and a gentle force enveloped the leader of the men in black, instantly rendering him unconscious.
"Alright, the obstacle is cleared. You can leave now." The mysterious man turned around, nodded to Zhao De, and his gaze was deep and warm.
Zhao De clenched his fists, his heart overflowing with indescribable gratitude: "Thank you, we owe you a debt of gratitude."
The mysterious man smiled slightly: "Everything in this world has a cause and effect, and perhaps our meeting was also destined. But now, what you need to do is to get everyone home safely."
The villagers, surrounding Zhao De and A Jie, headed towards their homes along the pre-planned route. As night fell, the first rays of dawn pierced the sky, bringing this extraordinary night to a close.
"Brother Zhao De, who is that hero? Why is he willing to help us?" Xiao You asked curiously, her eyes filled with a desire to explore the unknown.
Zhao De looked down into Xiao You's innocent and curious eyes and gently replied, "In this world, there are always some people who walk between light and darkness, protecting those souls in need. That hero, perhaps, is one of them."
Chapter 263 Immortal Arts
Chapter 263 Immortal Arts
"But he's so amazing! He seems even more incredible than the ancient heroes the village storyteller tells about!" a child interjected, his eyes filled with admiration.
Zhao De smiled and gently patted the child's head: "Yes, he is indeed very capable. But each of us has the potential to become our own hero, as long as we uphold justice and bravely face difficulties."
As the group passed through a dense forest, a huge wild beast suddenly leaped out of the trees, baring its teeth and claws as it approached the group. Its sharp roar echoed through the forest, causing a wave of panic.
"Everyone, don't panic, keep formation!" Zhao De reacted quickly, standing in front of the crowd, with A-Jie following closely behind, ready to fight.
Just then, a familiar figure descended from the sky—it was the mysterious man. He landed lightly, his eyes calm and sharp, staring directly at the beast before him.
"You all step back, I'll deal with it." The mysterious man's voice was calm and powerful, as if any difficulty was insignificant in front of him.
The villagers obeyed and retreated, watching with a mixture of tension and anticipation. The mysterious figure slowly stepped forward, gently clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and concentrated, as if performing some kind of ritual. A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes, thrusting outwards with both palms. An invisible wave of energy emanated from him, directly striking the beast.
The once ferocious beast collapsed to the ground the instant it came into contact with the energy ripples, losing its ability to fight. A hush fell over the surroundings; everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events.
"Is this... is this magic? Or... a divine art?" a young woman murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with disbelief.
“I don’t know who he is, but I believe he must have been sent by God to protect us.” Zhao De looked at the mysterious man’s back, his heart filled with unprecedented determination and respect.
After dealing with the wild beast, the mysterious man turned around and smiled slightly at Zhao De and the villagers: "Continue on your way. I will secretly escort you until you are safe."
Just as Zhao De was about to express his gratitude, the mysterious man had already drifted away, leaving only a lonely and tall figure that gradually blurred in the morning light.
"Who...who exactly is he?" A-Jie murmured, his eyes filled with both awe and confusion.
Zhao De shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "No matter who he is, at least we know that there are people like him in this world, silently protecting the weak."
The villagers continued their journey home, but the atmosphere was vastly different from before. An unprecedented sense of unity had emerged among them; each person seemed inspired by the mysterious figure's power, their steps revealing an unwavering determination.
"Brother Zhao De, do you think we can become that strong in the future?" Xiao You asked, holding Zhao De's hand with hopeful eyes.
Zhao De squatted down to be at Xiao You's eye level. "Of course we can. As long as we have good intentions and forge ahead, everyone can become their own hero."
Their conversation resonated with those around them. An elderly villager remarked, "Yes, Zhao De is right. Although we are ordinary people, each of us is an indispensable warrior on the road to protecting our homeland."
As the sun rose higher, the group finally returned to their long-missed village. The warmth of home brought bright smiles to everyone's faces, but some began to worry.
"Zhao De, is that hero in any danger? He fought those men in black all by himself..." a young hunter asked worriedly.
Chapter 264 The Hard-Won Peace
Chapter 264 The Hard-Won Peace
Zhao De looked up into the distance, his eyes flashing with determination. "I believe he can take care of himself. And if I have the chance, I hope to learn from him personally, become stronger, and protect all of us."
The villagers nodded in agreement and began to work hard to rebuild their homes, but a seed was planted in everyone's heart—a desire to become stronger and protect this hard-won peace.
Several days passed, and the village returned to its former tranquility. One evening, Zhao De sat alone under the old locust tree at the village entrance, holding a carved wooden sword in his hand. It was a work he had made to commemorate the mysterious man, hoping it would remind him to keep moving forward.
"Hey, Zhao De, I heard you were looking for me?" A familiar voice sounded from behind.
Zhao De turned around abruptly, and there stood the mysterious man before him. This time, however, he was not masked, revealing a young and handsome face, with a warm smile still in his eyes.
"It's you! What are you doing here?" Zhao De was overjoyed and stood up.
The mysterious man smiled slightly. "I'm here to fulfill a promise. Remember what I said? Everyone has the potential to become a hero. If you're willing, I can teach you something."
Zhao De was stunned for a moment, then nodded excitedly, "I'm willing! I must become stronger so that I can protect everyone like you."
“Very good.” The mysterious man nodded in satisfaction. “Remember, true power is not just external force, but also the belief and perseverance in your heart. From today onwards, you will embark on a completely new path.”
The villagers quickly noticed Zhao De's conversation with the mysterious man. They stopped what they were doing, gathered around, and whispered among themselves.
"Look, isn't that the hero who saved us that day? He's really back!"
"Zhao De is so lucky to receive his personal guidance."
"Now our village is much safer, and Zhao De will definitely become our guardian angel in the future!"
Xiao You squeezed into the crowd, looking up at Zhao De and the mysterious man with eyes full of admiration: "Brother Zhao De, are you really going to become a great hero? That's so cool!"
The mysterious figure surveyed his surroundings, a gentle smile masking an undeniable air of authority: "Hello everyone, my name is Feng Xing, a wandering cultivator. Zhao De possesses extraordinary potential and a kind heart, and I am willing to help him grow. However, the path of cultivation is fraught with hardship, requiring courage and perseverance. I hope you can offer him your support and encouragement."
"Don't worry, Master Fengxing!" the villagers said in unison, their eyes filled with anticipation and hope for the future.
From that day on, Zhao De's life underwent a dramatic change. Every day, whether it was sunrise or nightfall, his figure could always be seen diligently practicing under the old locust tree at the village entrance. Feng Xing patiently taught him his unique martial arts and internal energy cultivation methods, while also instructing Zhao De on how to maintain inner purity and steadfastness.
"Breathe in harmony with nature, feel the power beneath every inch of your skin..." Feng Xing gently guided him, and Zhao De followed his instructions. Gradually, his movements became more fluid, as if he had created a subtle resonance with the surrounding air.
A month later, the changes were obvious. Zhao De was more robust, and his eyes radiated composure and confidence. The villagers, while marveling at his progress, also cheered him on.
"Zhao De, your progress is truly astounding!" the old hunter exclaimed in amazement.
Chapter 265 Admitting Defeat
Chapter 265 Admitting Defeat
"Yes, if this continues, even the legendary swordsman Fengxing might have to admit defeat," the young blacksmith said half-jokingly.
Zhao De smiled modestly: "It's all thanks to Teacher Fengxing's excellent teaching. I still have a long way to go."
However, just as everyone was basking in the joy of progress, a sudden crisis shattered the village's tranquility.
It was a stormy night when a rapid knock on the door shattered the silence. Zhao De and Feng Xing rushed to the door and saw a ragged traveler stumble in, barely breathing.
“Black...Black Wind Stronghold, they...they’re back again...more powerful than ever before…” The traveler uttered a few words before collapsing to the ground.
The villagers arrived upon hearing the news, their faces grave. Feng Xing frowned, looking at Zhao De: "It seems it's time to test our efforts over this period."
"I'm ready," Zhao De replied firmly, his eyes burning with the flames of battle.
Feng Xing gently patted Zhao De on the shoulder, his tone full of trust: "Remember, a real battle is not only a clash of strength, but also a contest of wisdom and strategy. Let's go and find out the situation and make a plan."
The villagers surrounded the two, discussing the matter with a mixture of worry and anticipation in their eyes.
"Those thugs from Black Wind Stronghold have probably really bitten off more than they can chew this time."
"With Zhao De and the Wind-Riding Hero together, there will definitely be no problem!"
Xiao You clung tightly to Zhao De's clothes, her little face filled with worry: "Brother Zhao De, you must be careful!"
Zhao De bent down and patted Xiao You's head, smiling gently, "Don't worry, I will protect everyone."
As the rain subsided, Zhao De and Feng Xing quietly left the village under the cover of night to investigate Black Wind Stronghold. On their way, they encountered several villagers fleeing in panic.
"It's Young Hero Zhao De! Are you also going to Black Wind Stronghold?" a villager exclaimed.
Feng Xing nodded, his gaze sharp: "Exactly, we need to address the root cause. Do you know anything about it?"
"Sigh, those bandits have recently acquired a lot of weapons from somewhere, and it's said that a powerful expert has joined them. The whole mountain stronghold has become arrogant..." another villager said with a worried look.
Upon hearing this, Zhao De frowned slightly, looked at Feng Xing, and said with determination in his eyes: "No matter how strong the opponent is, we cannot back down."
Feng Xing nodded approvingly, and the two continued on their way, finally reaching the outskirts of Black Wind Stronghold. Under the cover of night, they approached stealthily, finding the stronghold heavily guarded and more difficult to infiltrate than before.
"It seems we have to outsmart them," Feng Xing said in a low voice.
Using the terrain, they skillfully evaded the patrolling guards and infiltrated the heart of Black Wind Stronghold. In a secluded corner, they unexpectedly overheard a conversation between the stronghold chief and the newly arrived expert.
"With these weapons and your strength, the nearby villages will be at our mercy!" the chieftain laughed arrogantly.
The expert coldly replied, "Remember, I'm only helping you for revenge. Don't disappoint me."
Zhao De and Feng Xing exchanged a glance, already having a plan in mind. They decided to split up; Zhao De would draw attention to the enemy, while Feng Xing would take the opportunity to sabotage the armory and weaken their fighting capacity.
The plan was put into action. Zhao De strode into the center of the stronghold and shouted, "You scoundrels of Black Wind Stronghold, come out and face your deaths!"
Chapter 266 Tacit Understanding
Chapter 266 Tacit Understanding
Immediately, the village erupted in an uproar. The villagers were shocked by Zhao De's audacity, while the bandits were enraged and rushed out, ready to teach this arrogant young man a lesson.
"This guy's gone mad!"