Bandits Arrive (Extra update, seeking readership)

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Staring at the two big zeros on the panel, Chen Mo felt a twinge of disappointment.

"Looks like I need the Blood Infusion to Qi Transformation method to actually train this... otherwise, I was just overthinking it."

Putting those thoughts aside, Chen Mo began considering what came next:

Lei Peng had been killed by Liu Mazi, and there was no guarantee Liu Mazi wouldn't come knocking at the Chen Mansion.

"Though the Chen Family isn't afraid of Liu Mazi, just in case, I still need to find Uncle Zhou and set up some precautions."

Time waits for no one, and seasons flow like a stream.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

With the Laba Festival upon them, the weather had grown even colder. The towering, cloud-scraping Dayin Mountain, stretching three thousand li, stood southeast of Honghe County, blocking the warm winds from the South Sea, so the snow within the county never melted.

At dusk, Chen Mo practiced his blade in the courtyard as usual.

By now, his swordsmanship had no obvious sequence of moves. His swings were natural and seamless, combining techniques on the fly, flowing like a swimming dragon with unmatched smoothness.

If Zhou Liang had been there, he would have recognized this as a sign of martial arts reaching great mastery, beginning to return to simplicity.

He had already stepped into the Five Passes: Blood Infusion Realm... at its peak!

The thirty Qi and Blood Pills he'd bought earlier were all gone. He had no idea how much Cold Night Grass had been consumed either. Just the mansion's expenses alone had run into thousands of silver taels.

With the cheat code clearing the way, breaking through the Blood Infusion Realm didn't seem like anything special to Chen Mo.

"Young Master, today's the Laba Festival. The Madam personally made Laba porridge and called for you to come eat." Qiulan entered the courtyard at that moment, speaking with a smile.

"Got it."

Chen Mo sheathed his blade, tidied up briefly, and led Qiulan toward the central courtyard. As soon as he stepped through the gate, he saw Lin Yu Lan standing under the eaves waiting, smiling warmly.

"Come in quick, the wind and snow are heavy outside."

A wave of warmth washed over Chen Mo. "Did Xiaowu and Yu'er both arrive?"

Lin Yu Lan chuckled. "After what you said last time, how could I leave them out? They're all inside, just waiting for you to start the meal."

Entering the living room, he saw the whole family gathered around the dining table.

Chen Yin Fu sat at the head, Second Mother Zhang Ru with Chen Wu on the left, while five-year-old Chen Yu'er was sprawled by the table, staring longingly at the spread of dishes and meats, drool dripping down. She reached for a duck leg several times, only to be glared back by Zhang Ru, then pouted pitifully with a look of utter grievance.

Chen Mo's heart warmed at the sight. After sitting down, he immediately pulled off a duck leg and dropped it into Chen Yu'er's bowl. She lit up at once. "Brother Mo is the best to me. Not like Second Mother, all grumpy, won't let me eat."

Chen Mo laughed heartily. "I'd never let my little Yu'er suffer. Eat up."

"Mm-hmm."

Chen Yu'er nodded vigorously, then grabbed the duck leg and started gnawing, grease smeared all over her face, utterly without decorum. Zhang Ru scolded her to mind her manners.

Ancient people had strict rules, placing great importance on family conduct. The principle was that elders came first—if the elder hadn't picked up their chopsticks, the younger ones couldn't. Otherwise, they'd stand and take a beating.

Zhang Ru was a concubine, and she was most particular about rules, always afraid of provoking displeasure from Chen Yin Fu and Lin Yu Lan.

Chen Mo said, "Second Mother, little Yu'er is still young. No need to be so strict about the rules."

With that, Chen Mo also pulled off a chicken leg for Zhang Ru. "Second Mother, taking care of little Yu'er hasn't been easy. You look a bit thinner."

Zhang Ru was stunned, deeply moved. But fearing Chen Yin Fu's reprimand, she cast a questioning glance his way.

Chen Yin Fu waved a hand. "We're family, no need to be so stiff. Eat."

Chen Yu'er was overjoyed, her eyes squinting into slits as she chewed on the meat.

Outside, the wind and snow raged, but inside the living room, all was warmth and harmony.

Just then, a servant rushed in to report.

"Master, Madam, something terrible has happened. A group of masked, vicious bandits burst into the courtyard, demanding to see the Second Young Master."

Lin Yu Lan shot to her feet in shock, her face pale, her body trembling.

Zhang Ru beside her also turned ashen, shaking with fear. Chen Yu'er looked up in alarm, forgetting to swallow her Laba porridge, letting the thin gruel dribble down her chin.

But Chen Wu—he sprang up and bolted for the door. "I'll get my blade!"

Everyone was taken aback by Chen Wu's reaction.

Chen Mo was startled too.

He hadn't expected Chen Wu to respond so quickly, and he couldn't help but look at this younger brother with newfound respect.

Chen Yin Fu spoke up then. "You get back here. When trouble comes, it's not your place to step forward."

Chen Wu didn't dare defy him, so he hung his head and trudged back.

"Everyone else stays here. Xiaomo, you come with me to take a look."

Having made his decision, Chen Yin Fu hurried out the door with Chen Mo.

Chen Wu looked around, grabbed a wooden club, and gripped it tightly. Then he stood at the main entrance, staring fixedly outside, his still-youthful face set with unusual resolve.

"First Mother, Second Mother, don't be afraid. I'll shield you with my life."

Lin Yu Lan stared blankly at Chen Wu, watching the thirteen-year-old boy stand in front like a hardened iron-blooded man, and felt deeply moved.

Until now, Lin Yu Lan had held some prejudice against Chen Wu.

In wealthy households with multiple wives, jealousy and infighting were common. All anyone sought was to elevate their own standing and secure a better future for their sons.

But seeing Chen Wu's actions today, Lin Yu Lan's view shifted dramatically. She suddenly felt Chen Wu was a good kid after all. The Chen Mansion's estate was no small matter—if external disaster struck, they'd need to unite as one.

Chen Mo and Chen Yin Fu were hurrying toward the Training Ground.

Chen Yin Fu wasn't like The Woman, easily frightened; he'd clearly seen big scenes before. Seizing the moment as they walked, he asked, "Do you know why those bandits are after you?"

Chen Mo said, "I do... the one coming should be Lu Wei's older brother, Liu Mazi. A Five Passes: Blood Infusion Realm expert. This was my oversight..."

Chen Yin Fu said, "Don't blame yourself now. Lei Peng was too eager for his son and lost his composure. I just didn't expect Liu Mazi to dare openly invade the Chen Mansion. For now, we need a plan. Is Lu Wei still alive?"

Chen Mo said, "Locked in my courtyard. Still alive. Unharmed."

As he answered, Chen Mo's mind raced.

Clearly, Liu Mazi showing up meant he knew Lu Wei was in the mansion.

Had Lei Peng let something slip when he died?

But why did Liu Mazi wait until today to act?

Chen Mo voiced his doubts.

Chen Yin Fu offered an explanation: "Perhaps because today is the Laba Festival, and both the County Office and Guard Station are on leave. City defenses are lax—a rare chance for bandits to enter. Even if they kill someone in the city, the constables won't come immediately. Liu Mazi didn't come early or late, but chose this time, meaning he's prepared to leave no one in the Chen Mansion alive."

Chen Mo was startled, silently admiring his father's meticulous thinking.

But Chen Mo still felt something was off...

A band of outlaws raiding a prominent family in the city? It didn't fit common logic.

Soon, they passed a corridor and saw the scene at the distant Training Ground:

Over thirty guards wielding broadswords, led by Zhou Liang, faced off against a dozen horse bandits.

Zhou Liang's robes were torn in places—he'd clearly already fought.

Chen Yin Fu stopped at the corridor's corner and pulled Chen Mo back. "Look at the bandits' formation—they might even outmatch your Uncle Zhou. If we both go out and something happens, the Chen family is finished."

He paused, then made a decision. "I'll go out and stall for time. You rush to the Guard Station and find Hundred Household Officer Liu Hao. He and I are close friends. Have him bring troops. That's the only way to save the Chen family."

Chen Mo turned to look at his father, whose temples were graying, feeling both admiration and gratitude.

Chen Mo wasn't foolish. He knew his father was giving him the safest task, intending to preserve a root for the Chen family if the worst happened.

Soon, Chen Mo made up his mind. "I've already reached the peak of the Blood Infusion Realm, just one step away from refining Internal True Qi. Liu Mazi shouldn't be a match for me. I can handle this!"

Having lived two lives, Chen Mo wasn't one to seek the spotlight.

But with his father insisting on sending him away, Chen Mo had to speak up.

Chen Yin Fu looked incredulous. "Don't lie to your father."

Chen Mo said, "This concerns the Chen family's survival. I wouldn't overstate it."

Chen Yin Fu thought it over, believing him seventy or eighty percent, but still uneasy. "But we have five Five Viscera Realm guards and your Uncle Zhou, and they still can't suppress Liu Mazi's group. They outnumber us after all..."

Chen Mo's eyes flickered with cold light as he considered. "I have a plan. I'll need your cooperation..."