The battle in the valley ended with startling speed, so fast that the echoes of gunfire had barely faded before everything was already settled.
After suffering casualties of roughly ten percent, the Chuǎng army collapsed completely, not in heroic resistance, nor in a last desperate stand, but in a sudden, overwhelming loss of will. The remaining ninety percent of the soldiers dropped their weapons where they stood, knelt on the blood-soaked ground, and surrendered en masse, their faces pale, their bodies trembling, the fierce momentum they had once boasted dissolving like mist under the morning sun.
The Tongguan garrison descended from the hillside in disciplined formation, boots crunching over gravel and trampled grass, and quickly combed through the mass of surrendered men. Before long, they found Huang Long, shaking uncontrollably, as well as the Chuǎng Wang himself, Gao Yingxiang, lying amid the crowd, grievously wounded and already unconscious.
One of the military school cadets could not help blurting out in excitement, his voice rising despite himself, "Damn, we've captured the Chuǎng Wang. What do we do with him now?"
Another cadet answered without hesitation, his tone calm and almost textbook-like. "Why even ask? If he had been killed outright in battle, that would be one thing. But once an enemy is captured or wounded, we are absolutely forbidden from harming him further. He must be brought back, put on trial, and only then can his fate be decided."
The first cadet rolled his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "This man has committed crimes as numerous as the stars. After the trial, he's almost certainly going to be executed anyway, right? Wouldn't it be simpler to just kill him here and now?"
The second cadet shook his head firmly. "Killing without trial is strictly prohibited. Once you allow that kind of convenience, legal principles will erode bit by bit. A world where everyone decides life and death on impulse is not justice, it's chaos, a lawless place where the strong devour the weak. Didn't they teach you that in ideology class?"
"Holy hell," the first cadet muttered. "Your ideology class was definitely better than mine."
It was precisely because the ones who captured Gao Yingxiang were these new-era intellectuals, young men who had studied the Heavenly Books, that he was still breathing. Had Old Nanfeng been present instead, Gao Yingxiang would already have gone to meet the King of Hell. Falling into the hands of these cadets, however, left him with a narrow but very real chance at survival.
Watching this scene unfold, Li Daoxuan felt a subtle ache rise in his chest.
These youngsters truly had learned well. Yet he also knew that one day, they too would face moments where kinship, friendship, and the cold demands of law collided head-on. When that day arrived, he could only hope they would prove stronger and more resolute than he himself had once been.
The military school cadets carefully lifted the severely wounded Gao Yingxiang onto a stretcher. They even performed basic first aid on him, extracting the lead bullet from his shoulder, stopping the bleeding with practiced movements, before carrying him away to Sun Chuanting.
Sun Chuanting then announced loudly that the mountain warfare exercise had concluded in perfect fashion, and that all units were to return at once, without delay.
Their destination was Gao Family Village, the main village.
A large train chugged its way into the East Train Station of Gao Family Village, steam billowing and wheels screeching as it slowed to a halt.
The original forty-two villagers, led by Gao Yiye, had already gathered at the platform, waiting impatiently, all of them present once more, their expressions tense and restless.
The train doors slid open. A group of militia soldiers jumped down first, surrounding a stretcher as they disembarked. Lying atop it was Gao Yiye's uncle, Gao Yingxiang. His shoulder was wrapped tightly in white cloth, but fresh blood had already seeped through, staining it a dark, unsettling red.
The forty-two villagers immediately crowded around, instinctively closing the distance, their gazes fixed on the man before them, each pair of eyes filled with emotions too complex to name.
Gao Yingxiang looked back at them, his own eyes equally tangled with confusion, shock, and something that resembled regret.
Only now did he finally understand. That so-called "mysterious firearm unit" that had relentlessly humiliated the bandits, crushing their morale again and again, had come from Gao Family Village itself.
As his gaze drifted over the village beyond the station, taking in its bustle, its prosperity, its almost absurd abundance, realization struck him like another bullet. In the years since he had left home, Gao Family Village had transformed into something he could never have imagined.
He let out a weak sigh. "So that's how it is… I truly never thought Gao Family Village would become like this."
"Uncle…" Gao Yiye stood by the stretcher, her face heavy with sorrow. "Your injuries…"
"Heh," Gao Yingxiang chuckled faintly, wincing as he did so. "Good injuries. Excellent injuries. If not for these, how would I ever have come back? And if I hadn't come back, how would I have known Gao Family Village had become this way? Why didn't you tell me back at Gubai Ferry?"
The Village Chief leaned in from the side, poking his head forward. "If we had told you that Gao Family Village was wealthy and aiming to save the world, would you have agreed to come back?"
Gao Yingxiang thought seriously for a full three seconds, then shook his head. "I wouldn't have believed it."
The Village Chief snorted. "Exactly."
Gao Yingxiang released a long, weary sigh.
"I was planning to give you twenty fierce blows after capturing you," the Village Chief continued bluntly, "but seeing you in such a miserable state, I'll spare you. Just wait for Dao Xuan Tianzun's judgment."
"Dao Xuan Tianzun?" Gao Yingxiang asked, bewilderment flickering across his face. "Is that the revered figure who transformed Gao Family Village into this?"
"No," Gao Yiye said quietly. "Dao Xuan Tianzun is an immortal deity."
Gao Yingxiang fell silent, words failing him entirely.
By this point, countless villagers had gathered near the train station, drawn by curiosity and whispers, but the militia soldiers immediately spread out, forming a tight cordon and preventing anyone from approaching too closely.
Gao Yingxiang was the chief of the bandits. If too many people learned of his connection to Gao Family Village, the consequences could be catastrophic, even leading to extermination by association. The last time his image had appeared on the television screen, news had nearly leaked. Fortunately, everyone present at that time had been interviewed immediately and sternly warned not to speak a word of it, lest they destroy the hard-won peace and prosperity of their own lives.
That matter had barely been suppressed.
This time, the secrecy needed to be even stricter.
The onlookers only knew that the militia had captured someone important. They did not know who it was. They only saw soldiers surrounding the stretcher so tightly that no one could glimpse the captive, before escorting him straight into the main fort of Gao Family Village.
The gates of the main fort slammed shut soon after. Aside from the original forty-two villagers and a handful of core leaders who rushed in upon hearing the news, no one else was allowed entry.
Gao Yingxiang was carried all the way up to the third floor of the watchtower and placed on the balcony.
This was the closest place to Dao Xuan Tianzun.
Gao Yiye turned toward the silicone effigy of Dao Xuan Tianzun seated quietly in the corner and called out softly, "Dao Xuan Tianzun, Dao Xuan Tianzun, are you there? We wish to ask for your decision regarding how to handle my uncle's matter."
Li Daoxuan was indeed present, but he chose not to speak.
If he spoke now, he knew he would inevitably show favoritism, bending rules for the sake of the forty-two villagers. That could not be allowed. It was better for him not to appear at all, to let Gao Family Village face and resolve this issue on its own.
Gao Yiye turned back, her voice tinged with surprise. "Dao Xuan Tianzun isn't here."
Gao Yiyi suggested, "Then let's ring the bell. It's been a long time since we last rang it to summon Dao Xuan Tianzun."
Gao Yiye hesitated, unease written plainly on her face. "Is it really appropriate to trouble Dao Xuan Tianzun over Uncle's matter? Dao Xuan Tianzun only intervenes in great human suffering. This is just our village's affair. I'm a little afraid."
Gao Chuwu scratched his head and spoke up. "Well… that's true, but if Dao Xuan Tianzun doesn't decide, how are we supposed to make such an important decision ourselves? I'm an idiot. I don't understand these things."
The Village Chief shook his head slowly. "Don't call Dao Xuan Tianzun. This small matter will be handled by us."
After speaking, he turned to the silent villagers of Gao Family Village seated nearby, as well as the core leadership who had rushed in upon hearing the news, and cupped his fists solemnly. "Everyone, I'm an uneducated man, lacking culture and learning compared to all of you. All I know is that this boy, Yingxiang, has committed countless wrongs. We gave him a chance to surrender, and he refused it. Now, if any of you wish to sentence him to death, we old villagers of Gao Family Village will bear no resentment. Please speak freely and say what you truly think."
Silence followed, deep and unsettling, stretching on far longer than anyone expected.
Finally, Tan Liwen cleared his throat and broke it. "Ahem. In my opinion, although Gao Yingxiang held the title of Chuǎng Wang, he did not personally commit any truly major atrocities. Most of the key decisions of the bandit army were made by the Dashing General and had little to do with him. His punishment could be reduced accordingly. I think… a life sentence of Labor Reform would be sufficient."