Seeing with his own eyes those villagers who were originally pale, breathing weakly, and seemed to be at the end of their lives gradually recovering their vitality under Zhang Laoer's meticulous treatment, Long Yi's heart was filled with complex emotions.

Out of strong curiosity, Long Yi once tried to inquire about the origin of Zhang Laoer's medical skills. Zhang Laoer just smiled faintly and responded lightly that when he was young, he met a traveling doctor by chance and learned some basic knowledge from him. As for the deeper story, he was not willing to talk about it.

Seeing this, Long Yi knew that he shouldn't force the matter any further.

About two hours later, the exhausted and sweaty county magistrate finally reached the top of the mountain, surrounded by a group of equally breathless officials.

They first escorted the wounded bandits down the mountain one by one and brought them back to the government office, while the others who were tied up by the villagers and had no ability to resist were temporarily placed in the village, planning to interrogate them one by one later.

Faced with this sudden major case, the county magistrate was both excited and a little nervous.

Just when he was sleeping soundly at home, a hurried knock on the door and the arrival of a messenger broke the tranquility of the night, informing him that bandits had suddenly appeared in Black Dragon Mountain and the county magistrate had personally led the troops to fight against them!

At that moment, the county magistrate almost felt suffocated. Fortunately, the officer hurriedly added that the expedition had ended successfully and the county magistrate was safe and sound, and his heart calmed down a little.

After a brief moment of shock, the county magistrate quickly realized that this was a great opportunity to demonstrate his abilities!

As long as this incident is handled properly and reported to the court in the future, it is very likely that the county magistrate will win an outstanding political performance evaluation, paving the way for his future career. Perhaps he will stand out in next year's official assessment and even get a good opportunity for promotion to another place.

For the county magistrate himself, this also means a possibility of promotion. He may have the opportunity to succeed Long Yi and become the new local official of Chengguan County.

With this careful plan in mind, the county magistrate devoted himself to the task, determined to complete it flawlessly and without regrets.

When he learned in depth that the villagers of Zhangjia Village were actually the backbone of this bandit-killing operation, an idea emerged in his mind. He took the initiative to propose to the county magistrate that these heroic villagers should be publicly commended to inspire people.

On the other hand, the villagers of Zhangjia Village were completely unaware of the honor they were about to receive from the county government.

Bathed in the bright moonlight, they followed the respected Xu Liyun closely and set out on the road back to the village with firm steps.

The cool night breeze brushes across everyone's cheeks, but it cannot blow away the eager anticipation deeply rooted in their hearts.

At this moment, every household in Zhangjia Village seemed to be fighting against the night, with their doors wide open and lights as bright as day.

Whether it was the brave warriors who personally participated in the suppression of the bandits, or the women, children, and the elderly who stayed at home to wait, everyone stood in front of their own door, with their clenched fists revealing their inner uneasiness and anxiety.

Their heartbeats quickened every time they looked toward the village entrance. They hoped that the familiar figure would return safely, but they were also afraid of the bandits and criminals that might appear there.

Time seemed to be the cruelest torturer. With every passing second, the villagers' faces looked more worried.

The elders of the village spontaneously gathered at the village chief's house and sat in a circle in silence. Only the occasional glances revealed their silent support and comfort for each other.

In their minds, the success or failure of this operation not only concerns the reputation and future of Zhangjia Village, but also is a verdict on the contest between greed and justice.

If successful, Zhangjia Village will become a model for the surrounding areas, and its prestige will prevent people from other villages from provoke it easily; if unfortunately it fails, this night will be drowned in tears and wailing, becoming a tragic history, warning future generations of the dangers of greed.

Far away from the village, in the gentle embrace of Daxiu Mountain, the young Xiao Youniang sat alone on the doorstep, yawning again and again. Her round eyes were almost narrowed into a line because of sleepiness, but even so, the young girl still persisted, unwilling to give up every moment of waiting for her parents to return.

Faced with repeated persuasions from her brothers Zhang Sanwa and Zhang Siwa, she just shook her head stubbornly, with a determination in her eyes that was not in line with her age.

"My parents are in danger, and my brothers and sisters are worried about them. As a member of the family, how can I not wait with them?"

These innocent yet extremely sincere words deeply touched the hearts of the two brothers, and in the end they chose to stay with their sister silently.

Time passed quietly, the eastern sky had quietly turned pale, and the sobbing sounds that came from the village from time to time were an ominous sign.

All the villagers felt a sense of despair in their hearts, thinking that the life-and-death operation to subdue the bandits had failed. Fear and sadness enveloped the entire Zhangjia Village.

However, just when this heavy atmosphere reached its climax, a clear and hurried sound of footsteps came from afar, breaking the silence before dawn and approaching directly in the direction of Zhangjia Village.

A dozen strong men stationed at the entrance of the village raised their farm tools almost at the same time, with determination and hope flashing in their eyes, and looked in the direction where the sound came from.

They had already made preparations and vowed to become the first line of defense to protect their homes. Even at the cost of their flesh and blood, they would buy time for the women and children in the village to escape to the refuge in Daxiu Mountain.

Just when the strong men were about to suffocate with nervousness, a figure gradually emerged from the hazy morning light, making the huge stones in their hearts suddenly fall to the ground.

It was none other than the familiar Xu Liyun, her face filled with a smile of victory. Following behind her were the warriors from Zhangjia Village who had participated in the operation. They returned with a full load, and the bandits had been defeated!

The cheers of the village guards quickly spread throughout the village. Every door was opened almost at the same time, revealing faces filled with surprise and excitement.

Especially those families whose members participated in the suppression of the bandits, they could not wait to rush out of the door, running towards the group of returning heroes at lightning speed.

When they saw their family members standing in front of them unharmed, many people could not help but rush forward, their cries expressing both the relief of surviving the disaster and the infinite gratitude for the reunion.

In this land full of warmth, the people of Zhangjia Village have written a legend with their courage and unity.

There are also some families who have been wandering around the village for a long time but still can't find their sons and daughters-in-law, and they can't help but feel an indescribable anxiety in their hearts.

Their eyes were red and tears were lingering in the corners of their eyes. They staggered towards Xu Liyun while sobbing, eager to get some news about their loved ones from her.

In their hearts, the cruel reality that their family members have not returned weighs heavily on their minds, suggesting that their loved ones may have left their last breath in the dangerous and unpredictable Black Dragon Mountain.

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