Chapter Two

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Night had fallen. Though there was no snow, the cold was biting. The sky, devoid of a moon, was an abyss of endless darkness.

Tonight, Mu Family Village was descended upon by uninvited guests. They were imposing and formidable, riding fierce steeds and carrying torches, their stature dwarfing most of the village’s mud-brick houses. They went door to door, pounding on entries and ransacking every household. The night air of the village was thick with the sounds of weeping, screaming, and misery. However, the villagers had long since buried their money and food in the earth; the officials found nothing but bodies to beat.

"These crafty villagers are truly difficult to deal with," a short official remarked from his horse. "They’d rather starve themselves tonight than dig up their treasures."

The official riding beside him replied, "When dealing with peasants, you have to change your perspective. Even pigs and oxen know to offer tribute when they are fed, so you must adjust your approach."

The short man sighed, "Ah, these days..."

The pair arrived at a house with a courtyard—the home of Mu Xiangming’s aunt. The short official shone his torch on the door, where two paintings of Guan Gong were pasted.

The short man immediately teased those around him, "Hey! Look at this! This family lives quite well! Not only do they have a courtyard gate, but they’ve even pasted an image of Guan Gong on it! And two of them at that!"

The soldiers roared with laughter, but the short man grew furious, for his own home only displayed a single image of Guan Gong. How dare a mere peasant family display two?

He dismounted in a rage and hammered at the door, snarling, "I won't stop until I’ve turned this household upside down!"

Mu Xiangming’s aunt was already huddled behind the door, her body curled into a ball like a hedgehog, trembling with terror as she listened to the officials. She clutched a bag of copper coins tightly in her hand. Mu Xiangming had long ago told her aunt to tear down the paintings on the courtyard gate, but she had refused to listen.

Seeing no response, the short official ordered his men to kick the heavy gate open. One man, possessing some martial skill, kicked the heavy double doors until they collapsed, hinges and all. The aunt screamed as the doors crushed her, wailing for help. Only when the man lifted the heavy wood could she crawl out, sobbing in agony.

The short official snarled, "Who gave you permission to paste Guan Gong on your door?!"

Guan Gong was a symbol of status and power; the villagers dared not even display the God of Wealth, yet she had dared to put up Guan Gong. She was so terrified that her lips trembled, leaving her unable to speak.

The short official noticed the money bag in her hand and snatched it away. She dared not resist. The official shook the bag, his face showing shock. "So much! Even if we scraped the whole village clean, we wouldn’t find this much! Where did it come from?"

She reacted immediately. "It was my niece! It was my niece who gave it to me!" she cried out.

The short official frowned and pressed her, "Where does your niece live?"

"High Tree Forest!" she replied, trembling violently. "The High Tree Forest up ahead! Just cross the rice paddies! That’s where she married into!"

The short official climbed back onto his horse and commanded, "Before we leave, burn that gate down. Who do they think they are, posting the same thing as me?"

Midnight. The forest was deathly silent. Aside from the white snow, there were only the bald, skeletal tree roots—lifeless and stagnant. A flurry of urgent knocking shattered the stillness.

Lin Zhongcheng opened the door. The knocker was an official, short and bloated in his tight uniform, wearing a long braid. The courtyard was already filled with soldiers. Lin Zhongcheng’s heart tightened, but he quickly steadied himself.

The short official spoke: "By order of the imperial court, we are here to collect tax arrears." He narrowed his eyes. "Do you dare produce your tax receipts for us to see?"

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Lin Zhongcheng finally eased his mind; it was only a tax inspection. He immediately smiled warmly. "Yes, yes! Official, please wait a moment, I shall fetch them at once!"

As Lin Zhongcheng headed toward the inner room, Lin He walked out holding a candle, having been awakened by the commotion. His father quickly blocked him, gesturing for him to return to his room in a whisper. Lin He was worried about what was happening, but seeing the intense nervousness on his father’s face, he realized the gravity of the situation and retreated.

Once Lin He was back in his room, Lin Zhongcheng went to the cabinet and pulled out a bag of silver—all the money the family possessed. He looked toward his sleeping wife and prayed silently that nothing would go wrong; she was at her weakest, and could not withstand any further shocks.

Lin Zhongcheng took the money outside, avoiding the gazes of others, and secretly slipped it to the short official. The short official felt the weight of the bag, his pupils dilating. After confirming it was silver, he looked at Lin Zhongcheng with utter astonishment.

He slipped the bag into his robes with a practiced movement. Such a massive amount of silver—more than he could find in his own home!

Lin Zhongcheng bowed and smiled, "Official, I believe this should suffice. It is so late; perhaps you can return for another inspection next time."

The short official’s eyes darted around, thinking: *Given his subservient manner, he cannot be anyone of importance. If he can produce so much silver, perhaps there is even more treasure to be found!*

The official immediately shouted, "Men! Seal this house! Take everyone into custody!"

Lin Zhongcheng was struck with horror. Just as he was about to speak, the official shoved him aside. At that very moment, with Lin Zhongcheng no longer blocking the way, a silver needle silently pierced the official’s vital pressure point.

He Yuyun had struck! It was the "Thousand Threads of Tenderness" from the "Nine Heavens of Desire" technique!

The short official froze, unable to move, only his eyes able to dart about. The officials outside, unaware of what had happened, saw three others approach the house, only for three more silver needles to strike their pressure points as well.

Finally, someone recognized the technique. "It’s the Nine Heavens of Desire!"

The group fled on horseback. It was said that the "Nine Heavens of Desire" was a divine opportunity granted to Deng Yangfeng in his youth during his travels. In the present world, only He Yuyun and Deng Yangfeng were known to possess it.

He Yuyun stood up slowly. Lin Zhongcheng immediately draped his outer robe over her and supported her.

"Yu’er, lie down quickly. Don't catch a cold with the doors open!"

Seeing that the others had fled, she finally felt at ease and leaned on her husband to return to the bed.

She trembled slightly, "We... cannot let... them see... Lin He..."

Lin Zhongcheng laid her down gently and covered her with a quilt. Having been exposed to the cold and then using the "Nine Heavens of Desire," her face was as pale as paper, and her lips had begun to turn a dark purple.

Lin Zhongcheng bowed his head, their foreheads touching. He produced a pill and placed it in her mouth, taking a deep breath. "Yu’er, this is the Spirit Sun Dragon-Phoenix Pellet. After taking it, you will have half a day of peak strength." The "Spirit Sun Dragon-Phoenix Pellet," crafted by the Poisonous Crone, was known as the "Death Immunity Token" granted by the King of Hell. As He Yuyun swallowed it, color returned to her face.

He Yuyun looked toward the door and said to her husband, "Place them under the trees in the distance and strike their lower pressure points; they will be immobilized for a short time." She paused before adding, "Entrust He’er to Master Tao; he will know what to do." Lin Zhongcheng looked at his wife, knowing this day was fated. They had to wait for it; as long as Lin He could live without being affected by their past, everything was worth it. After a moment of internal agony, he caressed his wife’s delicate face.

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Seeing her husband remain silent, she forced a smile. "Call Xiangming over; I have things to tell her."

Just then, a voice came from inside the room.

"Mother!"

He Yuyun’s heart jolted; it was Lin He’s voice.

"Mother..."

Lin He had just stepped out, but his eyes went dark, and he collapsed, losing consciousness.

Lin Zhongcheng caught him. "He’er had been hiding there listening for a long time; that is why I didn't speak earlier!" He Yuyun’s lips fluttered as she smiled faintly. "Hurry, He’er has a strong consciousness; I fear he will not stay unconscious for long!"

Mu Xiangming woke up and saw the immobilized officials in the house; she understood instantly. But she was filled with disbelief that this day had arrived without any warning.

Lin Zhongcheng retrieved the money from the official’s clothes and pressed it into Mu Xiangming’s hands. He then carried the short official out and closed the door.

Mu Xiangming looked at the bag of silver, then at her aunt. Neither of them had been prepared to face this outcome. Mu Xiangming walked to the bedside, wanting to speak but finding the words stuck in her throat.

"Aunt..."

As He Yuyun tried to sit up, Mu Xiangming reached out to stop her, but He Yuyun gently pushed her hand aside and sat up.

She recounted the plan she and her husband had made to Mu Xiangming.

"I told you, Emperor Zhong Tai has two sons. Whether I killed him or not, they would never let me go. Finding me was only a matter of time. Master Tao is a close friend of my master, so I can rest easy entrusting you two to him..."

Mu Xiangming covered her mouth, tears already soaking her face as she choked out, "Aunt... Xiangming doesn't want to leave..."

He Yuyun held back her own tears.

"Xiangming, before you see Deng Yangfeng, do not let them discover He’er. This is my final wish. Protect He’er; with you by his side, he will be much safer." She then produced a brocade pouch and a letter, placing them in her hands.

"The letter is for He’er. He has a stubborn and fiery temperament. If he insists on finding us, you will not be able to stop him. Give him the letter, and he will naturally calm down. The pouch contains seventy-three silver needles. Your mastery of the Nine Heavens of Desire is already stronger than mine. Soon, insert one into He’er’s pressure point so he sleeps a little longer, and take him to the teacher..."

Having said this, He Yuyun finally finished. She seemed to feel a sense of relief—a lightness she had never known before. She had placed all her hopes in Lin He. All these years, she had refused to teach him martial arts to prevent him from becoming as willful as she had been. She couldn't guarantee how skilled she could make him, but she knew the teacher could!

Lin Zhongcheng returned. It was cold outside—so cold that he couldn't remember the last time the country had experienced such a chill.