Black Mountain Stronghold

This sudden scene was truly too shocking.

It had happened so fast that the Chen family members hadn't yet recovered. Every face was pale with terror, drained of blood.

"Ah! Brother Mo killed someone!" Five-year-old Chen Yu'er shrieked in fright, the candied hawthorn stick slipping from her hand and falling to the ground. She didn't bother to pick it up, instead scurrying behind Chen Wu to hide, poking only her little head out as she stared fearfully at Chen Mo.

Chen Wu didn't scream or retreat.

Though only thirteen, he had been strictly raised by Zhang Ru since childhood, forging a resolute character.

Still, this was his first time witnessing a killing, and he was deeply shaken.

Zhang Ru, as a woman of the household, instinctively stepped back a few paces. The way she looked at Chen Mo had changed from before—now tinged with fear. She truly felt this Second Young Master carried even more authority than the Master.

Lin Yu Lan, however, spoke up in surprise, "Why did you kill Steward Liu?"

Chen Mo was about to answer when Chen Yin Fu asked, "Was Steward Liu the one who caused your danger this time?"

Chen Mo's heart tightened. He thought to himself, Father is perceptive.

"I can't hide anything from you, Father. Please take a look." Chen Mo produced the booklet, handed it to Chen Yin Fu, and then recounted the entire sequence of events in detail—including how he had escaped.

Of course, Chen Mo concealed the fact that Granny Li was the mastermind behind it all.

He didn't mention her because he didn't want his family to worry too much. Especially his mother—if she knew there was still a hidden threat, she probably wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

The whole family gathered around, listening in stunned silence, shuddering with lingering fear.

Chen Yin Fu let out a long sigh. "That was truly a close call. Thank goodness you were sharp and quick-witted, or you'd have lost your life. Steward Liu deserved this fate. Even a thousand cuts wouldn't be enough—killing him was the right call."

Zhang Ru also looked at Chen Mo with newfound respect.

Though she was a woman of the household with little experience of violence, the details Chen Mo described filled her with admiration. Anyone else in his place would likely have fallen to the bandits' hands.

Still, Zhang Ru found it hard to believe. How had that former wastrel suddenly become so formidable?

Chen Yin Fu had Qiulan summon a few servants. They wrapped Steward Liu's corpse in a straw mat, carried it out, and buried it. He also had the bloodstains cleaned up.

Once that was done, Chen Yin Fu gave Chen Mo a firm pat on the shoulder. "Go wash up first, get that blood off you. Then come back, and we'll have a family reunion meal together."

Lin Yu Lan agreed cheerfully. "Hurry and wash off all that blood."

Chen Mo nodded in acknowledgment, went to the East Courtyard to bathe, and then returned to the central hall to share the reunion meal with his family.

During the meal, everyone looked at Chen Mo with fresh eyes. Their words carried a new note of reverence; they no longer treated him like a child.

And Chen Mo enjoyed this atmosphere.

Before this, Chen Mo hadn't really had much of a concept of "family" in this world, nor any sense of belonging. But after this ordeal, he felt deeply... in this chaotic age, when danger struck, only family would go all out to help him without hesitation.

Outsiders couldn't be relied on.

Especially when he learned that Chen Yin Fu had spent five thousand taels of silver to seek help from the Red Lantern Society—that moved him deeply.

Family...

He turned his head to look at Chen Yu'er. Seeing that she was too short to reach the dishes far away, she took off her shoes, stood on the stool, and reached for food. She stuffed big mouthfuls of braised pork into her mouth, chewing with greasy lips, her eyes squinting into slits, brimming with pure satisfaction.

Suddenly, Chen Yu'er grabbed a piece of braised pork with her hand and shoved it into Chen Mo's bowl. "Brother Mo, you eat," she called out.

Chen Mo was delighted. He asked, "I just killed someone—aren't you afraid of me anymore?"

Chen Yu'er tilted her head and said, "If you killed people for no reason, I'd be a little scared. But you killed to protect our family, so I'm not scared."

Chen Mo burst out laughing and couldn't help pinching Chen Yu'er's cute cheek.

Soon, the whole family joined in the laughter.

Only Chen Wu ate in silence, adhering to the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping.

Chen Mo could tell that Chen Wu had good potential for martial arts training, but he had been strictly raised by his mother for years, his nature stifled. Always afraid of offending Lin Yu Lan or himself, he held back at every turn—it was a pity.

As for Zhang Ru, she was cautious by nature, always staying within her bounds as a concubine, never overstepping.

Suddenly, Chen Mo felt that having a family like this... was actually quite nice.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the maidservants brought out lotus seed soup, pastries, and fruit.

Zhang Ru only took a couple of bites before hurriedly pulling Chen Wu to leave. "Let's eat in our room. Don't disturb the mistress and her family catching up."

Chen Wu was clearly reluctant, but couldn't defy his mother's scolding, so he grabbed a piece of fruit and followed.

Before leaving, Chen Wu politely bowed to Chen Yin Fu and Lin Yu Lan. "Father, Mother, I take my leave."

Then he bowed to Chen Mo as well. "Brother Mo, I'm going now."

Chen Yu'er, who had no mother of her own, was still fixated on the braised pork and refused to leave. In the end, Zhang Ru had to drag her away. Ever since Chen Yu'er's mother had died of illness, she had been living with Zhang Ru.

The large room was left with only Lin Yu Lan and her family of three.

Chen Yin Fu said, "Yu Lan, go to the wine cellar and fetch a jar of aged Peach Blossom Brew. Today, my son and I will have a drink or two."

Lin Yu Lan was in a good mood and replied with a smile, "Shall I prepare some fried peanuts and cooked beef for you two as well?"

Chen Yin Fu laughed. "That would be perfect."

Before long, the wine and snacks were served.

Father and son drank together, while Lin Yu Lan sat by, watching and listening, occasionally chiming in. The family was warm and harmonious.

Chen Yin Fu personally poured a bowl of wine for Chen Mo. "Today's affair truly sent a cold sweat down your father's back. That you escaped danger was entirely due to your own quick wits. I've come to realize now that your earlier choice to practice martial arts was not wrong. Living in chaotic times, one must ultimately train in martial arts to have the means to protect oneself. Come, your father toasts you—my son has grown up and can stand on his own."

It wasn't just Chen Yin Fu; Chen Mo himself had broken out in a cold sweat.

Chen Mo raised his large bowl and clinked it with Chen Yin Fu's.

After drinking, Chen Yin Fu grew much more spirited. "Though your father doesn't practice martial arts, I do know something of the martial world in the county. Our family doesn't lack silver, and since you have the heart to train, you must find a good teacher."

Chen Mo nodded in agreement, leaning forward attentively.

He had no memories of his original body and truly knew little about martial matters in Honghe County.

Chen Yin Fu continued, "The most formidable in Honghe County is naturally the Red Lantern Society. Even the County Magistrate goes to pay respects and make offerings every year. But the Red Lantern Society has always been mysterious and aloof, looking down on our Chen Family and the paltry silver I send. Even a Blood Rush Realm expert like your Uncle Zhou isn't worth a glance in their eyes. For you to go there and learn martial arts is clearly unrealistic."

"Aside from the Red Lantern Society, there's the county's Martial Arts Hall and the Three Great Martial Arts Schools. These are places you can enter by spending silver. But to learn their inner secret techniques is hardly possible."

Chen Mo silently noted this. "Among these Three Great Martial Arts Schools and the Martial Arts Hall, are there martial artists stronger than Uncle Zhou?"

Chen Yin Fu said, "Naturally. The Three Great Martial Arts Schools and the Martial Arts Hall all have Internal Martial Masters stationed there. Your Uncle Zhou is still one step away from being an Internal Martial Master. That step is a chasm—cross it, and you're through in an instant. Fail to cross it, and you might never do so in a lifetime."

Chen Mo listened, feeling both joy and melancholy.

An Internal Martial Master was an expert who had refined Internal True Qi.

Martial artists with True Qi were said to have their blood and qi externalized, possessing all sorts of unfathomable divine might. That was naturally a realm Chen Mo yearned for deeply.

His mind began to calculate which place would be more suitable.

At this point, Chen Yin Fu said, "Though these Internal Martial Masters are powerful, they still can't match up to Evil Spirits and ghostly beings. I've seen you plagued by ghosts and evil entities many times, so learning ordinary martial arts won't quench your thirst."

These words struck a chord with Chen Mo. "Father, do you have a solution?"

Chen Yin Fu replied, "Besides the Three Great Martial Arts Schools and the Martial Arts Hall within the city, there's another force outside—the Black Mountain Stronghold. It's said this stronghold has mysterious origins, and even the Three Great Martial Arts Schools and the Martial Arts Hall dare not offend them. They possess some methods for resisting ghosts and evil entities. If you could learn some skills from the Black Mountain Stronghold, it wouldn't be a bad option."

Chen Mo's heart leaped with joy. "How can I go to the Black Mountain Stronghold to learn skills?"

Chen Yin Fu seemed hesitant for a moment, then said, "The Daoist Priest Li Yuanlong who performed the ritual for you earlier is a member of the Black Mountain Stronghold. However, the stronghold is extremely exclusive, so don't approach them lightly. When Daoist Priest Li's birthday comes around, I'll bring heavy gifts to visit him again and ask about your apprenticeship."

Chen Mo recalled the scene of that yellow-robed old Daoist performing the ritual and felt even more that the Black Mountain Stronghold was extraordinary.

Perhaps he could truly learn a method to suppress the Mad Demon Disease from them.

The Blazing Palm was, after all, a crude technique. As Lei Peng had said, it was barely enough to handle ordinary ghosts, but useless against powerful ones.

For instance, against the Nightmare Suppression Technique encountered today, the Blazing Palm was completely ineffective.

This left Chen Mo feeling very insecure.

And the Black Mountain Stronghold, where Li Yuanlong belonged, might indeed possess formidable methods.

With this thought, Chen Mo stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I ask Father to make the arrangements for me."