William Harris's delicate face flashed with a hint of green. He planted his feet firmly, and as the yellow ox charged at him, he suddenly shifted his body to the side, raised his arms to hug the ox's neck, then used the strength of his waist, let out a loud shout, and actually managed to throw the yellow ox down by the stream.

Bulging veins stood out on his forehead.

William Harris held the yellow ox's neck, pressing it firmly to the ground, his arms continuously increasing in strength.

The several-hundred-jin yellow ox flailed its limbs wildly, struggling desperately, letting out loud moos. But no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't break free from William Harris's grip. Its cries grew weaker and weaker, and its struggles gradually lessened...

Seeing that the yellow ox had stopped struggling, William Harris slowly released his arms and stood up.

The yellow ox lay on the ground for a moment, then with a kick of its legs, suddenly stood up. William Harris instinctively took a step back, watching the ox warily. The ox shook its head, mooed twice, and then stretched its huge head over to rub against William Harris's body, as if admitting its mistake to William Harris.

Only then did a smile appear on William Harris's face.

He patted the yellow ox's big head, then glanced at the two still-frightened children behind him.

"It's getting late, hurry home so your parents don't worry."

With that, he pursed his lips and whistled. The yellow ox standing by the stream slowly walked over to him. William Harris swung himself onto the back of the subdued ox, patted its head, and the ox leisurely started up the mountain path.

Not until both oxen had climbed the mountain road, stepping into the afterglow of the setting sun and disappearing around the bend, did the two children react. Standing by the stream, they burst into loud, wailing cries, their sobs echoing mournfully through the valley.

"What a fierce little fellow! He looks thin and weak, but who would've thought he had such strength?"

The whole thing happened so suddenly—from William Harris rushing over to save the two children, to subduing the ox and leaving—barely more than a dozen breaths had passed. The knight had intended to shoot the ox, but never expected this outcome, and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

He suddenly jumped off his horse, tossed the reins to the knight behind him, and strode quickly to the roadside.

"Kids, who was that young man just now?"

A few mischievous children still lingering by the roadside, still a bit shaken, turned to look at him and replied, "Who are you? Why should I tell you?"

This was Changping, bordering Juyong Pass, where Han and Hu people lived together.

And Tiger Valley Mountain was not far from Juyong Pass. Children who grew up here naturally had a wild streak, so they weren't afraid of the knight.

The knight laughed!

But the black veil hanging from his hat hid his smile.

He wasn't angry. Instead, he took a short sword from the leather pouch at his waist and handed it to the mischievous child.

"If you tell me, this short sword is yours."

The short sword was just over a foot long, with a green sharkskin scabbard and a beautiful brass hilt.

A Tang dynasty foot is about thirty-one centimeters in modern times. Just by looking at the exquisitely crafted scabbard, one could tell this short sword was valuable.

Mountain children, especially boys, loved things like this.

The mischievous child's eyes lit up. After a moment's thought, he snatched the short sword and said, "You mean Annie Harris?"

Before he finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his leg.

It turned out that the child next to him, hearing his words, immediately kicked him hard in the leg and angrily said, "Don't you call Alice brother... Sam, you always brag, but you ran the fastest just now. If it weren't for Alice brother, Little Stone and the others would be dead! I'm telling you, if you dare call Alice brother 'Annie Harris' again, we won't play with you anymore. And no one is allowed to sing that song again, got it?"

Children's minds are simple, without much scheming.

The mischievous child Sam was clearly a bit afraid of the other child, quickly lowered his head, and muttered, "But he really is Annie... My mom says he must've been a bad person in his past life, otherwise, how could a good person get struck by lightning?"

"You still dare say that?"

"Alright, I won't say it anymore."

The mischievous child shut his mouth, while the other child snatched the short sword, looked at the knight, and eyed him warily.

"Why are you asking about Alice brother?"

The knight hadn't expected things to change so quickly.

He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Don't worry, little one. I was just amazed by that young man's strength and got curious, so I came to ask."

"Hmph, I'm telling you, don't even think about bullying Alice brother.

His father is Deputy Harris. If you dare bully him, I'll have my dad tell Deputy Harris to have you arrested."

"Oh, so he's the county constable's son."

The knight pretended to be afraid, which immediately made the child let down his guard.

"Alice brother lives alone at the foot of the mountain. He's a bit silly, but he's a good person.

No matter how we bullied him before, he never got angry, always played with us, and gave us treats... But a while ago, he was struck by lightning. Since then, he doesn't play with us much anymore, always wandering around alone.

My mom and dad won't let me play with him, but I know Alice brother is a good person."