Li Rongzhou and Li Pingfu listened carefully to the whole story, their hearts growing heavy.

Peach Leaf Village was upstream from Peach Blossom Village. Though they could be considered competitors in selling fresh peaches, they had always kept to themselves without interfering with each other.

Who would have thought such dirty tactics would emerge at the first sign of drought?

Without the stream water to irrigate the orchards, the four newly purchased acres of peach trees would surely wither and die. Forget breaking even—they'd suffer total losses!

Cutting off their water supply was an unforgivable offense that threatened the entire Peach Blossom Village's collective interests.

"We must go see the village chief!"

Li Rongzhou's mind raced, realizing this might escalate into armed conflict. He glanced at his eldest son, hesitation flickering across his face.

Noticing his father's gaze, Li Pingfu stepped forward resolutely. "Father, I'm coming with you."

He was both worried for his father's safety and secretly thrilled at the prospect of real combat.

"Very well. A martial artist must have courage. But remember—blades have no eyes. Stay close to me."

At home:

"Father and eldest brother rushing off like this is too dangerous, especially with night falling."

Even skilled martial artists could be at a disadvantage in darkness and chaos.

But as members of the village, they couldn't possibly stay behind—they'd face consequences later!

"I can't let them go alone."

Li Pingcan couldn't shake his worries.

He didn't plan to fight on the frontlines—just provide support if his father and brother were in danger. Yet Lady Qin vehemently opposed even this idea.

She'd rather go herself than let her youngest son take risks, and moved to confine Li Pingcan.

"Mother, let us go."

Li Ping'an stood protectively before his younger brother, speaking earnestly: "If anything happens to Father and Eldest Brother, little brother and I would regret it our whole lives—living would be worse than death.

Can has extraordinary talents. He can secretly command the Purple-Gold Blood Centipede to protect Father and Eldest Brother. We'll follow from behind, never engaging directly.

Mother, we must go. This is a trial our whole family needs to face together!"

Lady Qin's beautiful face turned frosty. Without a word, she turned and grabbed an axe.

"Let's go! If anyone dares touch my husband or children, I'll fight them to the death!"

Under the old village chief's leadership, the enraged villagers of Peach Blossom Village marched toward Peach Leaf Village with torches and hoes, their numbers making an imposing sight.

Peach Leaf Village wasn't foolish—they'd posted guards who now sounded the alarm. Soon their own chief and able-bodied men formed ranks, creating a tense standoff.

"Old Man Li, what do you think you're doing with this mob?"

The Peach Leaf Village chief's tone was hostile.

The old chief subtly retreated half a step, positioning the younger men protectively in front. At his age, charging forward would be suicidal.

Facing the accusation, he responded calmly: "Need I remind you of your village's despicable acts? Release the stream water now, stop hogging it for yourselves, and we can forget this matter!"

"Bullshit! The stream runs through our land—it's ours!"

Chief Fang showed no remorse for his actions.

With this year's drought, sharing the water would doom over half their peach trees to death—a loss worth fighting for.

After hundreds of insults were exchanged, someone from Peach Leaf Village suddenly raised a hand—a threatening gesture that snapped everyone's strained nerves.

"Those shameless Peach Leaf bastards are making their move! Get them!"

The shout exploded like gunpowder.

A hoe descended, splashing bright red blood before everyone's eyes—and madness took over.

The old chief, protected by Zhou Enxian, trembled as he fled in the opposite direction. After ensuring his safety, Zhou returned to the fray, seeking Peach Leaf Village's martial artists.

"Pingfu, stay close. We fight side by side—no reckless charges. Your mother and brothers are counting on us."

Gripping the short spear his wife had brought, Li Rongzhou whispered instructions.

What set him apart from other villagers was his priorities—he'd risk himself, but never sacrifice family for profit.

Peach trees could die, but his wife and children must remain unharmed.

Having loved ones meant having caution, making him more careful in battle.

Li Pingfu nodded firmly, wiping sweat from his palms.

With his father beside him, his first-combat jitters faded, replaced by excitement as he focused ahead.

"Bam!"

"Thud!"

"Crack!"

"Aaaah!"

The cacophony of clashing hoes and axes was endless. Li Rongzhou remained hyper-aware, kicking down a screaming youth who charged at him before immediately repositioning to maintain distance even from fellow villagers—in this bloodlust, even allies might strike blindly.

Li Pingfu moved with the Black Tiger Technique's agile ferocity. When some fool thought the younger fighter easy prey, one punch left them seeing stars.

'Actual combat isn't as hard as I imagined.'

Though encouraged, Li Pingfu stayed vigilant—yet still underestimated human malice when a hunter's arrow silently aimed at him from afar!

"Whoosh!"

In the chaotic melee, the distant arrow's trajectory was nearly invisible—until the gray-feathered shaft loomed large in Li Pingfu's vision, leaving him frozen!

"Pingfu!" Li Rongzhou leaped, arm raised to block the arrow.

"Whoosh!"

A sudden violent gust made the speeding arrow wobble off course, barely grazing Li Rongzhou's arm.

"That almost killed me!"

Li Pingfu's heart pounded—that split-second had felt like eternity, paralyzing him.

This was real battle—triumph one moment, ambush the next!

Drenched in cold sweat yet strangely energized, Li Pingfu whipped out his slingshot, squinting toward the arrow's origin before launching a stone!

"Arrogant brat! At this range, a slingshot can't possibly—"

The hunter scoffed, though puzzled by that strange wind earlier. His experience let him adjust shots for wind resistance—yet he'd still missed!

Before he could process this, the slingshot stone—as if wind-propelled—found its mark!

Blood blossomed at his throat!

How?!

This defied reason!

Two hundred paces—his deer-tendon bow missed, yet a slingshot hit?!

The old hunter clutched his throat, toppling with disbelief etched on his face.

Witnessing this, Li Pingfu stood stunned.

Nearly dying had unleashed his fury—that random shot wasn't supposed to connect!

"I killed someone!"

His first kill brought overwhelming nausea, reminiscent of survival horrors from their refugee days.

Gulping, his gaze hardened.

"I wasn't wrong!"

"His death or mine—that was the choice!"

"I killed someone."

Li Pingcan withdrew the swirling wind currents of [Dance of the Wind], his mind eerily calm.

First, as mere support, the impact and guilt affected him less than his brother.

Second, he held one conviction:

"If the hunter lived, my brother would die."

"Anyone threatening my family deserves death."