Liang Shixian practically burned with shame. Borrowing weapons from the Li Family every time bandits struck was downright embarrassing, leaving this county magistrate no place to salvage his dignity.

Yet with bandits potentially descending any moment, pride was utterly worthless—best discarded outright, trampled underfoot if needed. And if necessary, even licking it off the ground afterward wouldn’t be beneath him.

Thirty-Two smiled. “Since Magistrate Liang personally requests it, our Li Family won’t be stingy. We shall lend you those five hundred bows once more.”

Liang Shixian beamed. “Truly, the Li Family is a kind-hearted family.”

As the two engaged in strained small talk, the newly appointed Patrol Officer Fang Wushang scanned left and right, his gaze ceaselessly roving around.

The immense fortress before him fascinated him profoundly—the thirty-foot walls, the watchtowers at each corner… Much like Mr. Bai’s first awestruck reaction to the Hakka roundhouse, he was deeply shaken.

Fang Wushang had originally planned to sponge off the wealthy in Gaojia Village while awaiting the bandit army. But this particular “wealthy” household was so formidable he dared not freeload, fearing powerful backers might impeach him. Getting his head chopped off for mooching wasn’t worth it.

Fang Wushang interjected, “Steward Thirty-Two, have you heard about the bandit troubles in Heyang County?”

Thirty-Two nodded. “We have, sighed. Heyang County lies far too close to us, unsettling everyone deeply. We’re already organizing militia local gentry to fight these scoundrels.”

Fang Wushang had already glimpsed Gaojia Village’s militia: over a hundred able-bodied men sitting on a distant clearing, listening intently to a solemnly dressed, stern-faced young woman.

Not a single militiaman showed the slightest disrespect as she spoke, clearly marking her as someone of significance.

Patrol Officer Fang sneered inwardly: They let a woman lead the militia? Instead of proper drills, she just lectures! Could such troops ever be useful? What a farce.

Just then, Gao Yiye finished her political thought lesson and walked toward the main fortress.

The second she departed, discipline among the militia dissolved.

Ground Rabbit leapt up instantly, laughing boisterously. “Hahaha! Finally, you’ll teach me boxing techniques, right? Hurry! Where’s Instructor He? He was just here a moment ago!”

He searched left and right. No instructor in sight; no one left to rein him in; the Saint Lady had gone.

Instantly reverting to his troublemaker nature, Ground Rabbit yanked his rusty sword from his waist, cackling. “Watch closely, everyone! I’ll perform my ultimate secret move—The Celestial Rabbit Sword!”

The group jeered, “Oh, spare us!”

Ground Rabbit retorted, “This was hard-earned training! Observe!”

With an exaggerated leap, he swung his sword wildly, bellowing each syllable: “Heaven! Rabbit! Break! Dominance! Sword!”

Watching this clumsy strike from afar—utterly chaotic equipment, devoid of power and riddled with openings—Fang Wushang shook his head. “Just as expected from a woman-led rabble. This militia is completely worthless.”

Meanwhile, Liang Shixian continued the awkward exchange: “Steward Thirty-Two, I brought Patrol Officer Fang to formally introduce you. He’ll be leading troops to shield Chengcheng from the bandit army. Given their overwhelming numbers and his limited forces, your militia may need to support him in battle.”

Thirty-Two hesitated, uncertain how to politely decline.

But Fang Wushang cut in sharply, “Unnecessary!”

Liang Shixian blinked. “Pardon?”

Fang Wushang declared, “I’ve seen the state of their forces. Militia like this would only hinder my operations and weigh me down. Our trip here was wasted.”

Thirty-Two fell silent.

Fang Wushang added, “I shall exterminate the bandits myself.”

Without another word, he turned and marched away.

Thirty-Two stared after him, speechless.

Slightly embarrassed, Liang Shixian coughed. “Ah… Steward Thirty-Two, forgive his manner. Military men are rough-edged and discourteous by nature.”

Thirty-Two secretly rejoiced in his heart: No blame! No blame! Of course I don’t blame it! It was actually good that he didn’t want our help. Half of our soldiers now had armor, and for the other half without armor, they had sewn armor patches on key positions of their cotton-padded clothes. Such equipment couldn’t be easily seen by you. If we acted together, it would have been troublesome for us anyway.

He turned his head and looked over at the militia from a distance, saw Ground Rabbit still making a fool of himself there, waving his rusty sword like an idiot, and secretly felt happy: Great! This idiot did a great service. I’ll give him a bonus later.

Ground Rabbit hadn’t yet realized he had performed a great service. Still holding a rusty sword and swinging it left and right, he suddenly saw a tall man wearing General armor walking over quickly.

Ground Rabbit: “???”

That man was naturally Fang Wushang. He suddenly took a big stride and rushed in front of Ground Rabbit. This movement was extremely frightening. Ground Rabbit cried out in surprise with an Aiyo! The sword in his hand involuntarily swung at Fang Wushang.

Fang Wushang sidestepped and tripped him with his foot. Ground Rabbit fell with a PLUNK, face planting into the dirt.

Fang Wushang: “Hmph! Useless!”

With that, he strode off.

Ground Rabbit climbed up from the ground, looking aggrieved: “Damn it, I knew none of the officials are good people! Mr. Rabbit didn’t provoke him at all, so why did he suddenly come to hit me?”

The people around all spread their hands and shrugged their shoulders.

Zheng Daniu said: “Don’t talk about him. Actually, I really want to hit you too.”

Another man nearby raised his hand: “I want to hit too!”

“Actually, I want too!”

In the blink of an eye, in the militia of over a hundred people, except for Gao Chuwu, everyone else raised their hands.

Ground Rabbit was greatly startled. Seeing Gao Chuwu hadn’t raised his hand, like he had grabbed a lifesaver, he darted to hide behind Gao Chuwu and urgently cried out: “Brother Chuwu, it’s still you who treat me well. Only you won’t hit me.”

Gao Chuwu: “Sigh! I actually hit Miss Xing while she was injured. I’m really not a man.”

Everyone: “……”

Ground Rabbit sweated: “Brother Chuwu, didn’t you hear what just happened?”

Gao Chuwu: “Ah? What just happened?”

Ground Rabbit: “They all said they wanted to hit me.”

Gao Chuwu: “Ah? Is that so? That’s great! I’ve wanted to hit you for a long time too. Since everyone thinks so, let’s do it.”

Ground Rabbit: “AHHHHH!”

A group of people instantly tripped Ground Rabbit to the ground. They grasped his limbs and lifted him up, aligned his crotch with a big tree nearby, bumped him against it… rubbed it… rubbed it… like a devil’s steps…

Ground Rabbit: “AAAAAAH! Stop! Mr. Rabbit will be childless! Stop!”

The women in the village saw this scene, couldn’t help but cover their faces and turn away, and angrily cursed: “Men are really nonsensical! Always doing foolish things.”