From now on, this place is under my management.

The night was slightly cold, unknown insects chirped from time to time, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky. Yet, Phuc Trach Village was filled with a cacophony of sounds, illuminated by large patches of firelight.

Within this noisy clamor, there was joy and panic.

"Mother, quickly pack things and come with me, if we're slow, it'll be too late!"

"Brother Phuc Sinh, you... why are you back?"

"Don't talk, quickly pack your things! Where's the little girl?"

"What happened? Why are there so many people?"

"Quickly pack your things, we'll talk when we get to the mountains."

"..."

Household after household in Phuc Trach Village frantically packed.

At Truong Ha's house, Tran Mac and Truong Ha climbed out from the secret tunnel. Truong Ha proactively covered the cellar entrance well. Listening to the commotion outside, he asked doubtfully, "Brother Mac, it doesn't sound like government soldiers, does it?"

Tran Mac's five senses were even more sensitive. This indeed didn't sound like government soldiers; rather, it was like family reunions...

Truong Ha stealthily went out of the room to investigate, then ran back, saying, "Brother Mac, it seems like Phuc Sinh and the others are back."

"I heard."

Tran Mac, holding his Tang saber, walked directly outside.

Truong Ha was startled: "Brother Mac, there are so many of them, are we just... going out like this?"

"If it's not government soldiers, what's there to fear? I'm confident. You follow behind me..."

Tran Mac took a deep breath and directly walked out of Truong Ha's house.

There were quite a few people outside. Tran Mac and Truong Ha walked out so openly and brazenly that they were quickly spotted by the villagers.

"Isn't that Brother Mac and Brother Thuy? Why are they here?"

"It really is Brother Mac! Why did he come out of Brother Thuy's house?"

"Brother Mac is holding a saber..."

"..."

Thanks to the deterrent power Tran Mac had accumulated in the village, no one dared to approach.

From a distance, Tran Mac saw a crowd gathered outside his courtyard, holding torches. Many of them were not from this village. He frowned, asked Truong Ha to go over and inquire, then walked directly towards his house.

After Truong Ha found out the details, he quickly caught up: "Brother Mac, it's Sister-in-law Han's Third Uncle who led people into our village. That bastard Luu Thu showed them the way and even said your family, Brother Mac, has meat and fish every day and doesn't lack grain. According to Phuc Sinh, Han Tam Lang wants to 'borrow' grain from you, Brother Mac."

"'Borrow' grain? More like rob grain," Tran Mac sneered. What borrowing grain? Such high-sounding hypocrisy.

"Good, I was just worried I couldn't find someone to make an example of to establish my authority..."

...

The Tran Residence.

"Crash..."

The three rooms were ransacked, tables overturned.

The rice jar was empty.

The wardrobe was empty.

Han Tam Lang couldn't find a single strand of hair.

"Third Brother Han, we've searched everywhere. Didn't find anything. I reckon this family has already moved away," a villager from Dai Han Village said, walking out of a room.

"Damn it!" Han Tam kicked the door frame fiercely, saying, "Find someone from the village and ask where they've gone."

As he spoke, an uproar came from outside the room.

Luu Thu ran in panickedly, came before Han Tam Lang, and said in a trembling voice, "Third Brother Han, Brother Mac is back!"

"He's back?"

Han Tam Lang doubtfully walked out of the room, the people from Dai Han Village following behind him.

"Is he Tran Mac?"

"That's right, that's him."

"He doesn't look like much, does he? Could this be a martial artist master?"

People from other villages, seeing Tran Mac walk straight over, because they hadn't personally witnessed the scene of Tran Mac fighting a dozen men or carrying a bear back, all had very calm expressions, some even showing a hint of "contempt."

Only the people from Phuc Trach Village quickly retreated a couple of steps, clearing the way.

And the people from the other villages, seeing that Tran Mac was Han Tam Lang's relative, also let him pass.

Tran Mac and Truong Ha very smoothly entered the inner courtyard.

Truong Ha gripped his Tang saber tightly, a faint unease in his heart. He understood Brother Mac's character. Given Brother Mac's ruthless methods, there might be a fight later.

Truong Ha's gaze swept across the several hundred people here, and a layer of cold sweat couldn't help but break out on his back.

He looked towards Brother Mac.

He only saw Tran Mac's eyes fixed on the interior of the house. Seeing the mess inside, his eyes narrowed.

"Are you my niece's husband's younger brother?" Han Tam Lang strode out from the house, his right hand holding a saber resting on his shoulder. The ten or twenty men beside him were all wearing armor and carrying weapons, sturdy fellows.

"Are you Han Tam?"

Tran Mac didn't answer Han Tam Lang, his gaze cold as he looked at him.

Han Tam Lang frowned, lowered his saber, and said, "I am Han Tam, your sister-in-law's Third Uncle, I..."

"Then that's correct."

"Hmm?"

Clang——

The sound of a saber being drawn.

Han Tam Lang sensed something was wrong, but as an ordinary person, how could his speed compare to a martial artist's?

Thwack!

The people around didn't even see clearly how Tran Mac struck. They only saw a head fly high into the air, then fall to the ground. A gush of fresh blood immediately spurted from the severed neck.

"Hiss!"

The surrounding people were all shocked, their faces filled with terror.

Luu Thu, who had just walked out of the room, was so scared he ducked back in.

"Third Brother Han..." Those one or two dozen men from Dai Han Village, seeing Han Tam Lang beheaded in front of everyone before he even finished speaking, were also terrified and, for a moment, dared not act rashly.

Conversely, the surrounding people, after reacting, immediately scattered in all directions.

Seeing this, Tran Mac shouted loudly, and with another swing of his saber, the courtyard gate that had just been repaired a short while ago instantly "Bang!" shattered into pieces, wood splinters flying everywhere: "Who dares to flee?"

This loud shout was like thunder exploding by everyone's ears. Combined with the murderous aura from the killing and the shattered courtyard gate, one man actually managed to cow these three or four hundred people.

Seeing the terrified expressions on these villagers' faces, Tran Mac didn't think further and said loudly, "I know you are not with this Han Tam, but were coerced by him, forced into it. I do not blame you. Therefore, I will say three things. After I'm done, whether you leave or stay, I will not stop you."

"First, Phuc Trach Village, from this moment on, is under my management."

"Second, I know you are all deserters, have killed officials, fled, and committed capital crimes that will also implicate your families. Coincidentally, I am like you. So, if you are willing to follow me, I can shelter you, and your families."

Hearing this, these three or four hundred people were all stunned. Even some from other villages who were standing at the very edge, preparing to quietly flee, couldn't help but stop.

Previously on the mountain, they understood that they had already committed capital crimes and could only flee with their families.

But now, Tran Mac was actually willing to shelter them and their families. From the god-like strength he had just displayed, it gave them an inexplicable sense of "peace of mind."

"Can... can your words be trusted?"

From within the crowd, a timid voice sounded.

Tran Mac said loudly, "You can ask around in the village. I, Tran Mac, have always kept my word."

Although his former self was "weak and easily bullied" in the eyes of the villagers, his credibility was not to be trifled with. Moreover, he was a scholar, worthy of people's trust.

For a moment, joyful expressions appeared on the faces of the crowd...