Green Creek Village, nestled at the foot of the desolate mountains on the border of the Great Yan Dynasty, was a dilapidated settlement with sparse cooking smoke rising from its chimneys.

In these chaotic times plagued by demons and monsters, mere survival was the villagers' greatest luxury.

Outside a low, shabby mud-brick house at the eastern end of the village, a crowd of onlookers gathered, their faces filled with fear, hesitant to approach yet unable to turn away.

Inside the courtyard, cries of pleading and harsh reprimands intertwined, showcasing the despair of the common folk in these troubled times.

"Master Qian, please, grant us a little more time!"

Li Dahai, his body hunched and face etched with deep wrinkles, fell to his knees with a thud, clutching the legs of the rotund landlord before him, tears streaming down his weathered face.

"We borrowed two taels of silver from you back then to survive the famine and avoid starvation. This year, we've scrimped and saved, repaying what we could, but we simply can't gather the five taels with the accumulating interest!"

Li's mother sat slumped on the ground, tightly shielding her two daughters behind her, her cries heart-wrenching.

Eldest daughter Li Xiu was pale, biting her lip hard, her body trembling.

The youngest, twelve-year-old Li Linger, was so frightened she hid in her mother's embrace, her small body shaking uncontrollably, tears brimming in her eyes, yet she dared not make a sound.

The man whose legs were being clutched was the infamous Landlord Qian, known far and wide.

With a thousand acres of fertile land and a habit of lending at high interest, he thrived in these chaotic times by exploiting the villagers, living in comfort while employing several fierce henchmen. Ordinary villagers dared not speak against him.

Landlord Qian, his belly round and face full of fat, looked impatient as he kicked Li Dahai away.

"More time? When you borrowed the money, it was clearly written in black and white: interest upon interest, repay on time. In Green Creek Village, I've never granted anyone an extension."

"Your family of old, weak, sick, and disabled can't even pay the taxes from your harvest. You'll never repay this debt in your lifetime."

His beady eyes fixated on Li Linger, the young and delicate girl behind Li's mother, a glint of greed and malice flashing in them. With a wave of his hand, he barked orders to his henchmen.

"If you can't repay the money, then take the girl as collateral. Bring her to the city to serve as a maid in a wealthy household to settle the debt."

The henchmen, fierce and menacing, rushed forward to forcibly take her away.

Li Linger's face turned deathly pale, her body trembling.

"No! Let go of my daughter."

Li's mother lunged forward desperately, trying to protect Li Linger.

She knew that if Li Linger fell into Landlord Qian's hands, her fate would be unimaginably tragic.

"Sigh! The Li family is doomed."

"The only son of the Li family was taken for military service two years ago and hasn't been heard from since. He's probably dead by now. With no pillar of support at home, they're left to be bullied."

"Another family destroyed by Landlord Qian."

Seeing the Li family's plight, the villagers felt sympathy but dared not step forward.

They could barely protect themselves and wouldn't dare offend Landlord Qian.

"Get away."

Li's father and mother were shoved to the ground by the henchmen, their foreheads striking the stone slabs, blood seeping out instantly.

Eldest sister Li Xiu rushed forward to intervene, only to be roughly pushed aside by the henchmen, falling in a heap.

"Father, Mother, Sister!"

Li Linger cried out, her small body tightly held by the henchmen, struggling desperately but unable to break free.

"Please, spare my daughter. I'll do anything for you, just please let her go!"

Li's father crawled forward, only to be pinned down by a henchman's foot, unable to move, his face covered in dirt and tears.

In this world overrun by demons, commoners were as insignificant as grass. Faced with a tyrant like Landlord Qian, these powerless mortals had no right to resist and could only be at the mercy of others.

The surrounding villagers shook their heads and sighed, faces full of sympathy, but no one dared to speak up, fearing to bring trouble upon themselves.

Everyone knew that Landlord Qian was ruthless, and offending him meant certain death in these chaotic times.

"Take her away!"

Landlord Qian's face was lecherous, his turtle-like eyes roving over Li Linger, his expression openly lascivious.

Debt must be repaid; it was only right. Even if the Li family reported to the authorities, he had every justification to take Li Linger away.

"Linger..."

Li's father and the others let out heart-wrenching cries, struggling to stand but held down by the henchmen, forced to watch helplessly as Li Linger was taken away.

Just then, a sound of orderly footsteps came from the direction of the village entrance.

Several people dressed in the blue uniforms of government constables, holding batons and exuding authority, approached quickly.

Leading them was the head constable, his expression stern and commanding.

"Stop! In broad daylight, seizing a girl and oppressing the good people, who gave you the courage?"

The head constable's voice was loud and commanding, instantly silencing everyone.

Landlord Qian and his henchmen were taken aback, turning to see the government officials, their expressions changing slightly, yet still confident.

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He had greased palms throughout Qingyang County, and the officials usually turned a blind eye to his actions.

"What's going on? Why are the constables here?"

Landlord Qian and the villagers were surprised, not knowing why the constables had suddenly arrived.

Everyone hurriedly made way, afraid of angering the constables.

Since ancient times, commoners did not fight officials. Even if the constables beat them to death, it would be in vain.

Facing constables was like mice encountering cats; they avoided them if they could.

Landlord Qian's face, greasy with wealth, broke into a flattering smile as he approached the constables, a stark contrast to his previous arrogance.

Though he was wealthy, he was still a commoner and had to bow to the constables.

"Officer, this is a private matter between me and the Li family. They owe me money and haven't repaid it, so I'm taking the girl as collateral. It's only right."

Landlord Qian explained, cupping his hands to the constables.

"Private matter?"

The head constable sneered, his gaze sweeping over the desperate and helpless Li family, then turning to Landlord Qian, his voice stern.

"In the Great Yan Dynasty, the law prevails. How dare you act so wantonly? Do you even know who this family is?"

Landlord Qian frowned, sensing something amiss.

He had done this many times before, and the officials usually turned a blind eye. Why were they so persistent this time?

Though puzzled, he didn't dwell on it, casting a disdainful glance at the Li family still on the ground.

"Just a bunch of lowly commoners, what background could they possibly have?"

"Lowly commoners?" The head constable's voice rang out clearly, echoing throughout the courtyard, heard by all the villagers.

"I am a constable under the County Deputy Magistrate of Qingyang County, here today in Green Creek Village to deliver a military order from the county yamen."

"The son of the Li family, Li Xuancang, enlisted for border defense two years ago. Now, he fights valiantly at the frontier, slaying barbarians, and has officially been registered in the Great Yan Dynasty's regular army status, becoming a combat soldier recognized by the Imperial Court."