I walk sideways in the game world

The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows across the mountain path, casting a trail of shadows across the triumphant troops. Ren Xiaoyao rode a majestic horse in the lead, followed by the dashing Xia Lin and the loyal guard Zhao. The mighty procession, filled with the joy of victory, marched towards the mountain stronghold.

From a distance, they saw a crowd of people at the entrance of the village, and cheers and the sound of gongs and drums resounded throughout the valley.

"Brother Xiaoyao, look!" Xia Lin pointed ahead, a joyful smile on her face, "Everyone is welcoming us!"

Ren Xiaoyao nodded, reined in his horse, and when the team came closer, he dismounted and walked in front of the crowd.

"Fellow villagers!" he shouted, "We are back!"

"He's back! He's back!" Thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd, mixed with cries of joy, and the joy of surviving the disaster spread among the crowd.

"Mr. Ren, you are finally back! We thought..." An old man was so excited that he couldn't speak, tears streaming down his face.

Ren Xiaoyao patted the old man's shoulder and comforted him, "Old man, I'm sorry to have worried you. We are back safely now, aren't we? Believe me, no one will dare to bully us again!"

Warm cheers broke out in the crowd again. They surrounded Ren Xiaoyao and others and walked towards the mountain village.

Inside the mountain stronghold, traces of war can be seen everywhere, with collapsed houses, barren fields, and a desolate scene.

"Brother Xiaoyao, what should we do next?" Xia Lin frowned slightly as she looked at the scene in front of her.

"Rebuild our home!" Ren Xiaoyao said firmly, "We want to make this place better than before!"

"I've drawn up a detailed plan." Xia Lin pulled out a roll of blueprints and unfolded them before everyone. "First, we need to repair the houses so everyone has a place to live. Second, we need to reclaim the farmland and resume production. Finally, and most importantly, we need to rebuild the defenses and strengthen the security just in case."

Ren Xiaoyao nodded and looked at Guard Zhao and Lieutenant General Li standing in the crowd, "Guard Zhao, Lieutenant General Li!"

"My subordinates are here!" they both responded in unison.

"I order you two to..." Ren Xiaoyao paused, his eyes swept over the crowd, his tone calm and firm, "..." "...Guard Zhao, you lead a team to repair the houses and ensure that all the villagers can live in warm houses. Deputy General Li, you lead another team to reclaim farmland and resume production as soon as possible so that we can be self-sufficient. " Ren Xiaoyao's voice echoed over the mountain stronghold, and every word was full of strength and hope.

"Yes, sir!" Guard Zhao and Lieutenant General Li took the order and left. They quickly organized manpower, divided the work and cooperated with each other, and started the reconstruction work in full swing.

In the days that followed, the entire village was immersed in a bustling and fulfilling atmosphere. The men toiled profusely, carrying wood and rocks to repair the shattered walls. The women gathered together to mend clothes and care for the wounded, contributing in their own ways to the reconstruction effort. Children ran and played among the ruins, their clear laughter bringing a long-lost vitality to this ravaged land.

Ren Xiaoyao was also not idle, he personally participated in the reconstruction work, carrying wood and clearing the rubble with everyone. While cleaning a collapsed house, he accidentally found a loose stone slab.

"What is this?" He moved the stone slab curiously, revealing a pitch-black passage.

"Brother Xiaoyao, be careful!" Seeing this, Xia Lin hurried forward to check.

Ren Xiaoyao lit a torch and walked in first, followed closely by Xia Lin. The passage wound its way deep into the mountain behind the village. After walking for about an incense stick of time, they suddenly saw a spacious underground chamber.

The secret room was filled with boxes and some weapon racks, on which were placed various swords, spears, swords and halberds. Although they were rusty, it was still possible to see how sharp and extraordinary they once were.

"It seems that this should be the secret room left by the previous village chief." Xia Lin looked around and said thoughtfully.

Ren Xiaoyao opened a box, which contained some books and scrolls. He flipped through them carefully and found that the books recorded some long-lost martial arts secrets, while the scrolls recorded some experiences and prospects for the future of the previous village chief.

Suddenly, his eyes fell on one of the scrolls. On the cover of the scroll were written some powerful characters: "Dragon and Tiger Body Tempering Art".

"Dragon-Tiger Body Tempering Technique?" Xia Lin leaned over, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "That name sounds so familiar..." She flipped through other scrolls and books, as if searching for something. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she pulled a yellowed thread-bound book from the pile. "I found it! Brother Xiaoyao, look!"

Ren Xiaoyao took the book and saw the words "Continental Strange Stories" written on the cover. Xia Lin flipped open a page, pointed to a paragraph, and said, "Look here. Legend has it that there was once a martial arts prodigy in Longhu Mountain who created a set of exercises called the 'Dragon and Tiger Body Tempering Technique.' Practicing this technique not only strengthens the body but also significantly increases one's explosive power and endurance, making them incredibly brave on the battlefield, capable of defeating a hundred enemies alone!"

"Is there really such a miraculous technique?" Ren Xiaoyao looked at the scroll containing the "Dragon-Tiger Body Tempering Technique" in his hand, and a surge of excitement welled up in his heart. If he could truly master this technique, the village's defenses would be greatly enhanced, and they would no longer have to fear any enemy threats!

"Brother Xiaoyao, although this set of skills is powerful, it is also very demanding to practice. It requires special herbs and training methods." Xia Lin pointed at the contents recorded in the book and said, "But I believe that as long as we study it carefully, we will definitely find a way to crack it!"

Over the next few days, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin plunged into the secret room, studying the "Dragon and Tiger Body Tempering Technique" and the "Records of Continental Strange Stories" without sleep or food. With Xia Lin's extraordinary wisdom and Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts talent, they finally found the key to practicing this set of skills.

"Without further delay, let's start preparing now!" Ren Xiaoyao couldn't hide his excitement. He immediately summoned all the young and middle-aged men in the village and told everyone his plan to practice the "Dragon and Tiger Body Tempering Technique".

At first, people were skeptical, but after seeing Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin demonstrate the technique themselves, they were impressed by its power and expressed their willingness to join the training. Thus, under Ren Xiaoyao's leadership, a wave of enthusiasm for martial arts practice swept across the village.

Day by day, the atmosphere in the village grew increasingly high, and the people's spirits were refreshed. After training in the "Dragon and Tiger Body Tempering Technique," everyone's physical strength had been greatly improved, and their fighting power was incomparable. Looking at this energetic and combative team before him, Ren Xiaoyao's heart was filled with hope. He knew that they were ready to face any challenge.

However, just when everything seemed to be on track, a letter from wealthy businessman Wang shattered the peace of the village. In the letter, Wang's tone was arrogant and full of threats, implying that he had not given up his covetousness for the village, and even mentioned the words "new grudges and old grudges will be settled together."

After reading the letter, Ren Xiaoyao's face darkened, and he crumpled the paper in his hands. He knew a new storm was coming... He suddenly looked up at Guard Zhao and Lieutenant General Li, a gleam in his eyes. "Pass the order down, call an emergency meeting..."

The blazing bonfire illuminated the night sky of the village with exceptional brightness, and people gathered together to celebrate their hard-earned victory. However, amidst the joyous atmosphere, Ren Xiaoyao's face showed no sign of relaxation. The threat from wealthy businessman Wang hung heavy on his heart like a dark cloud.

"Brother Xiaoyao, what are you thinking about?" Xia Lin keenly noticed Ren Xiaoyao's abnormality and asked softly.

"Mr. Wang won't let this go," Ren Xiaoyao handed the letter to Xia Lin. "This letter is the best proof."

Xia Lin took the letter and read it carefully, frowning slightly. "It seems that a new battle is inevitable."

"Instead of just sitting there and waiting for death, we should take the initiative and attack," Ren Xiaoyao said with a cold glint in his eyes. "We must find out the details of Mr. Wang before we can formulate an effective response strategy."

"Brother Xiaoyao is right," Xia Lin nodded in agreement. "Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win every battle."

"Guard Zhao, Lieutenant General Li!" Ren Xiaoyao called over two capable assistants.

"I order the two of you to secretly go to Qingfeng City and inquire about the whereabouts of wealthy businessman Wang," Ren Xiaoyao said in a serious tone, "Remember, be extremely cautious and don't alert the enemy."

"Yes!" Guard Zhao and Lieutenant General Li took the order and quickly disappeared into the night.

Watching the two depart, Ren Xiaoyao was filled with worry. Qingfeng City was the territory of wealthy businessman Wang, and going there was extremely dangerous. But for the safety of the village, he had no choice but to take the risk.

"Brother Xiaoyao, you don't have to worry too much," Xia Lin comforted him. "Guard Zhao and Lieutenant General Li are both experienced warriors. They will definitely complete the mission with flying colors."

Ren Xiaoyao nodded, knowing now was not the time to let his guard down. He turned and looked toward the brightly lit village, a surge of responsibility welling up in his heart. To protect this hard-earned pure land, he had to become even stronger.

"Someone come here!" Ren Xiaoyao shouted loudly.

"What are your orders, leader?" a bandit stepped forward and asked.

"Pass the order and gather all members of the stronghold. Gather at the square at noon tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

As the night deepened, the noise in the village gradually died down, but a tense atmosphere of impending storm was quietly spreading.