Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"You're finally awake. This is Huo Family Village. My father found you unconscious by the stream while hunting, and that's how he brought you back to life."

As he spoke, the young man poured Shen Lang a glass of water and handed it to him.

“You were really badly injured back then. Fortunately, my father asked the village doctor to reapply the medicine to you, and the bleeding stopped. But you really can sleep. It took you two days and two nights to wake up.”

Shen Lang took a sip of water to moisten his throat, then got up to get out of bed.

"Young friend, don't move around."

At this moment, the hunter spoke.

"Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, you should rest and rest."

"I am fine."

Even so, the moment Shen Lang's feet touched the ground, he felt a wave of dizziness.

"Get rid of the disease!"

The hunter quickly gave the boy a wink.

The young man immediately stepped forward to help Shen Lang back onto the bed.

The woman who had been waiting at the door spoke up: "Young friend, it's not advisable for you to move around right now. You should rest for a few more days."

"You look hungry. Wait a moment, I'll go back to the kitchen and make you something to eat."

The woman was very simple and honest, and without any unnecessary words of concern, she turned and went to the kitchen after speaking.

The hunter offered a few more words of comfort and then said to the young man, "Qubing, you stay with him. I'll go find the village doctor to take a look."

After saying that, he patted his head and left the house.

"Brother, lie down first."

Huo Qubing quickly made the bed and folded it behind Shen Lang.

Shen Lang was also helpless. Jiang Mengxuan's sword was a top-grade spiritual sword, containing an extremely cold and frost-like aura.

If I had known, I would have stabbed him a little off-center, and I wouldn't be in such a sorry state.

However, if it's not realistic, how can the hidden forces be brought to the surface?

"What's your name?"

After composing himself, Shen Lang looked at the boy and asked.

“My surname is Huo. My father said I was weak and sickly since I was a child, so he named me Qubing (meaning ‘to cure illness’). My father’s name is Huo Gang, and my mother’s surname is Tang, and her name is Tang Ling.”

Shen Lang was taken aback upon hearing this.

Huo Qubing?

However, after encountering bandits with the same names as Qu Yi, Lü Meng, and Meng Gong, he was no longer as shocked as he had been when he first heard about them.

"Huo Qubing, what a good name. By the way, which county government governs Huo Family Village?"

Shen Lang now urgently needs to know his geographical location.

But Huo Qubing said, "Our Huo Family Village is not under the jurisdiction of the government, but is managed by the local sect called the Green Robe Sect."

"Qingyi Sect?"

Upon hearing this name, Shen Lang immediately thought of the fifteen disciples he had killed outside the Jinling Secret Realm, who also seemed to be called the Green Robe Sect.

The reason why sects are not subject to the constraints of the imperial court is that they also have their own territories. The Heavenly Dao Sect is an example of this.

These sects operate outside the law and have the right to set taxes and laws for their jurisdictions, which the government dares not interfere with.

This rule has been in place since the birth of sentient beings on this continent.

Even though martial arts have declined in popularity, this regulation is still prevalent throughout the dynasty.

After chatting for a while, Shen Lang learned that he was currently in Liuzhou, a place a hundred miles away from the capital, and that it was governed by three sects.

These are the previously mentioned Qingyi Sect, followed by the Tianxuan Sect and the Refining Sect.

There was a prefectural government office in between, but it was only in name and had no real power to restrain the local sects.

Furthermore, they may even have close ties with the sect.

"time to eat."

At this moment, Tang Ling placed a plate of freshly cooked food next to Shen Lang.

A plate of green vegetables, a plate of scrambled eggs, and a bowl of thin porridge.

The dishes are simple and straightforward.

Seeing Shen Lang staring at the dishes in a daze, Tang Ling quickly said, "It's just simple food, nothing special to offer, please don't mind."

Shen Lang smiled and shook his head: "Auntie, you're too kind. Such light food is exactly what I need right now. Thank you for your hospitality."

After saying that, Shen Lang picked up the bowl and started eating heartily.

When it comes to food, Shen Lang is not picky. He can eat delicacies from land and sea as well as simple meals.

In a matter of moments, the food on the plate was completely devoured.

With a baby in his belly, Shen Lang felt his strength return, and once again, ignoring Tang Ling and Huo Qubing's attempts to stop him, he got up and got out of bed.

"Qubing, take me outside for a walk."

"Brother, what about your health?"

"It's nothing serious. If I lie down any longer, I'll feel like I'm falling apart."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ling looked at Huo Qubing and said, "Qubing, why don't you take him out for a walk? The weather is nice today; it would be good for him to get some sunshine."

"I'll come find you when your father brings the doctor back, but please don't go too far."

"I know mother."

After receiving his mother's permission, Huo Qubing accompanied Shen Lang out of the courtyard.

Even in the south, the weather in November is somewhat chilly...

Watching the villagers load carts with grain and carry them to the village square, Shen Lang asked, "How is this year's grain harvest?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Qubing gave a bitter smile and said indignantly, "What's the use of a good harvest? There are countless exorbitant taxes and levies. If even 10% of the grain can be saved, that's already considered good."

Shen Lang frowned: "If I remember correctly, didn't the imperial court already issue a decree?"

Owner-farmers only received 10% of their harvest in kind, and even tenant farmers on manors could not pay more than 40%.

"Ugh--"

Huo Qubing sighed.

“Brother, as you said yourself, that’s government tax revenue. The sect’s rules don’t allow us to calculate it based on government tax revenue.”

He paused, then continued, "The tax rate for the more than twenty manors under the jurisdiction of the Green Robe Sect is five percent every ten."

In addition, whenever there is a major event to be held within the sect, extra taxes must be collected.

"There are dozens of taxes, such as the mountain gate opening ceremony tax, resettlement and protection tax, grand ceremony tax, stone ridge renovation tax, mountain gate repair tax, etc."

If a year's harvest yields even 10% of the land enough for two meals of dry food, it's considered a bumper year.

More often than not, the villagers would owe Qingyi Gate a large sum of money within a year, making it difficult to make ends meet. They could then borrow money from Qingyi Tower.

But the interest rate is high enough to drive a person to suicide, and once a person actually dies...

Those debts will then be spread among the other farmers; alas, life is hard.”

Shen Lang: "If that's the case, why don't you go and join the imperial court?"

The imperial court has long since abolished its exorbitant taxes and levies, and even corvée labor is being gradually phased out. This is certainly better than following a sect now, isn't it?

Huo Qubing shook his head: "Brother, you're thinking too simply. The imperial court's recent series of major actions have already made all the sects tremble with fear."

They strictly restricted the entry and exit of farmers from the various estates under their jurisdiction. If we really wanted to leave, we would have left long ago, but the problem is we simply didn't dare to run away.

Shen Lang frowned: "You mean to say that the Qingyi Sect is dissatisfied with the imperial court?"

Huo Qubing looked around to make sure no one was around before whispering, "Yes, brother, do you know the current emperor, the Duke of Zhenguo?"

His newly created army threw these sect disciples, who considered themselves superior in martial arts, into a panic, especially after the government troops were equipped with the new firearms.

I felt extremely threatened. Yesterday I heard that the Zixia Sect had recently been thoroughly subdued by the imperial army.

This is a time when everyone in the sect is in danger, and they're all thinking of using our lives to force the imperial court to compromise.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang fell into deep thought.

"Go away the illness! That's great, I've finally found you!"

At this moment, a peasant boy, about the same age as Huo Qubing, ran towards the two of them shouting.

"What's wrong, Er Gou? What do you want with me?"

The boy named Big Dog ran to Huo Qubing's side and said, "You should go and see! The Green Robe Sect has kidnapped your sister and said she's going to be the sect leader's sixteenth concubine. Your father argued with them and got beaten up."

"What?! No wonder I haven't seen my sister for several hours!"

Huo Qubing was greatly alarmed upon hearing this.

"How dare you touch my sister! Let's go! I'll wipe him out!"

After saying this, Huo Qubing left Shen Lang behind and ran towards the square with the big dog.

Shen Lang remained silent and quietly followed behind the two children.