The Teng family village buzzed with festivity. First, the entire community rebuilt the main gate, and that same evening, the clan held a celebratory feast in the training grounds. In the preceding days, the Iron Mountain Gang had extorted tributes from numerous villages, leaving the Teng clan members constantly apprehensive... What dreadful consequences would the arrival of the Iron Mountain Gang bring? The unknown was the most terrifying thing. Yet, today’s outcome was a universal joy: the entire affair was settled with just two hundred taels of silver. Not a single member of the clan had perished—was this not a great blessing?

"Hahaha... Qingshan." Teng Yunlong raised his wine cup, "My heart has been lodged in my throat all day. But this is wonderful; two hundred taels solved everything. With the threat of both the Iron Mountain Gang and the White Horse Gang gone, my Teng clan can finally live well in Yicheng." In this era, for villagers like those of the Teng family to have enough to eat and clothes to wear was already considered a good life.

"Today is all thanks to Qingshan." Teng Yongxiang, standing nearby, also raised his cup with a smile, "Qingshan, come, your uncle toasts you. You saved my life!" Teng Qingshan rose to meet the toast.

The core leaders of the Teng family sat at one table. After three rounds of drinks and several courses of food, Teng Yunlong spoke, "As you can all see, this region cannot tolerate two tigers. The Iron Mountain Gang and the White Horse Gang will certainly continue to fight. The days ahead in Yicheng will likely be chaotic."

"Mmm," Teng Yongfan nodded. "The Iron Mountain Gang left today, but everyone must intensify their training and also bolster our defenses."

"Yes, Qingshan, you should practice diligently in the Great Yan Mountain during the day. Practice hard; go early in the morning, perhaps for an hour or two, and return. Or go in the evening." Teng Yunlong advised. Teng Qingshan nodded, "Understood, Grandfather."

Teng Qingshan knew that it would take at least two hours for bandits and brigands to reach the Teng family village. Furthermore, the bandits had to return to their stronghold before dark. This was because, in ancient times without electricity, true darkness descended once the sun set. Unless the moon was full that night, hundreds or thousands of men advancing in the pitch black would suffer terribly. This was why Teng Yunlong had said what he said. After all, Teng Qingshan was the clan's foremost master. If it hadn't been for Teng Qingshan today, the Teng family village would likely have been extorted for ten thousand taels of silver.

... Time slipped by silently. Everything unfolded as Teng Yunlong predicted. With the White Horse Gang and the Iron Mountain Gang operating in Yicheng, peace was impossible. Clash after clash, killing after killing, both gangs suffered heavy losses. The White Horse Gang possessed numerous men and vast financial reserves. But the three leaders of the Iron Mountain Gang were all formidable experts. The First Leader, 'Wang Tieshan,' beneath his broad-bladed saber, countless experts had fallen. The Second Leader, 'Wang Tiefeng,' wielded two red-copper hammers; some said those hammers were stained red with blood. The Third Leader, 'Wang Tiehai,' carried an iron spear and was rumored to possess the finest spear technique in Yicheng. These three brothers dared to establish a gang in Yicheng despite knowing the formidable reputation of Fourth Master Hong of the White Horse Gang. How could they dare without considerable skill? Especially since they had also recruited internal strength martial artists from various regions. While the strength of these internal strength practitioners was average, they were quite effective against horse bandits and brigands. The Iron Mountain Gang attacked fiercely and showed extreme ruthlessness. And the White Horse Gang? Fourth Master Hong was already over seventy. Though at the peak of Houtian realm, his physical functions had naturally declined; youth always had the edge in a fight. Fourth Master Hong was confident against one of the Wang brothers. But facing all three at once was impossible. Although the White Horse Gang also had three leaders, the other two were significantly weaker than Fourth Master Hong. While they were also internal strength masters, they were still slightly inferior to the notorious Wang brothers. However, even a starving camel is larger than a horse. The eight thousand heroes of the White Horse Gang were not to be trifled with. Moreover, Fourth Master Hong had a late-born son, the Young Master, now over thirty and in his physical prime, reputed to be the White Horse Gang's second strongest, second only to Fourth Master Hong himself.

... Leaving aside the years of intense fighting between these two major gangs, the Teng family village enjoyed a period of secure living. In the blink of an eye, more than a year passed, with only a few days left until the annual sacrifice.

At Teng Qingshan's home.

"Sister Alan, your Qingshan will come of age in a few days, and he can start looking for a wife." A woman said, smiling as she held the hand of Qingshan's mother, Yuan Lan. "My niece, Xiaoyuan, from my old village, is the flower of Great Li Village. She just turned fifteen, recently coming of age too. She and your Qingshan would be a match made in heaven." Men officially came of age at sixteen, and women at fourteen; generally, a man could seek a wife once he reached adulthood.

"I haven't met that child Xiaoyuan. What is she like?" Yuan Lan sounded interested.

"What else could she be like? Ask around. Xiaoyuan is definitely a proper, good child. She will surely honor her in-laws and is capable of handling any household chore," the woman asserted.

A beautiful young girl listening nearby wrinkled her nose and snorted, "Second Aunt, my brother isn't going to marry just anyone. He must pass my inspection at the very least. These past few days, matchmakers have nearly worn a path to our doorstep. My brother needs to choose carefully."

"Qingyu, that's right," the woman laughed. "Qingshan is one of the few fine heroes in Yicheng; which young lady wouldn't want to marry such a man?"

"That's right," Qingyu boasted, lifting her chin proudly.

"However, speaking of which, in the last two years, any man from the Teng family village who comes of age attracts many young women from outside villages wanting to marry in," the woman chuckled too. "My second boy has had quite a few matchmakers come calling, let alone your Qingshan. After all, Qingshan is the foremost hero of our Teng family village."

Because of the fighting between the White Horse Gang and the Iron Mountain Gang, especially the extortions by the Iron Mountain Gang, life in many villages became difficult. In comparison, the Teng family village, which had always lived well, appeared even better off. Girls from many surrounding villages wished to marry into the Teng family. As for Teng Qingshan, the village's foremost hero, his fame spread—tales of his ten thousand jin of strength, of killing a pack of wolves at age ten, and other legends made many outside girls dream wildly. After all, in this age, people admired brave and martial men the most.

Suddenly— The courtyard gate creaked open, and a young man holding an iron spear strode in.

"Brother!" Qingyu immediately jumped up and ran out.

"Qingshan is back," the woman rose enthusiastically to greet him.

"Second Aunt," Teng Qingshan smiled, "It's already noon. Second Aunt, please stay for lunch."

"No, no," the woman said, seeing Teng Qingshan seeming slightly constrained. She laughed, "Lunch is nearly ready at my place too, so I'll head back now. Sister Alan... what I told you, you must consider carefully. My niece Xiaoyuan is truly a wonderful girl, absolutely perfect."

Mother Yuan Lan also smiled and escorted Second Aunt out.

"Another matchmaker," Teng Qingshan sighed with resignation.

"Brother, you seem very happy today. Is there some great news?" Qingyu, being Teng Qingshan's sister, easily noticed his unusually cheerful mood.

"You noticed that," Qingshan laughed.

"Of course, look who I am. I'm the sister of the Teng family village's foremost hero," Teng Qingyu teased.

"Mmm, there is good news. But you wouldn't understand even if I told you. Oh, Father is back, let's eat lunch." Teng Qingshan was in high spirits today. For the last two years, he had been entering the mountains to practice hard when it was still dark, before dawn broke, running through the mountains carrying massive stones. He would return an hour and a half later for breakfast. During the day, Teng Qingshan stayed within the clan, practicing Xing Yi Quan or spear techniques. And just today, he had finally broken through the final barrier.

"I didn't expect that the stronger the physical constitution, the harder it becomes to open the meridians. But finally, the last collateral channel is clear... Starting today, all my body's meridians are completely unobstructed." Teng Qingshan felt elation. His training over the past two years had made him significantly stronger than two years prior. All aspects of his physical condition had improved, though the rate of increase was not as dramatic as the four years under the 'Strongest Plan.'

"My current strength is about thirty percent better than two years ago, yet I still can't reach the bottom of the Bihan Pool," Teng Qingshan mused inwardly. "Today, my meridians are finally fully clear. Starting tomorrow, I will begin practicing the ultimate skill of my Xing Yi Quan, the 'Tiger Form Spirit Communication Technique'! Once my strength improves significantly again, I will explore the Bihan Pool once more."

"Qingshan," Father Teng Yongfan sat down, preparing for lunch, "I saw your Second Aunt on the road just now."

"Brother Fan, you saw her too?" Mother Yuan Lan placed the rice bowls on the table while smiling, "She was here to arrange a match for her niece. Our Qingshan will come of age in a few days, and so many girls want to marry him; they are all beautiful as blooming flowers."

"Qingshan, what are your thoughts? When do you plan to marry?" Teng Yongfan picked up his chopsticks and inquired.