[Current Original Understanding Essence: 0] [Current Recognition Count: 0]
Looking at the two big eggs on the panel, Chen Mo felt a little disappointed.
Looks like I need to obtain the method for Blood Infusion to Qi Transformation before I can cultivate it... Otherwise, I was just imagining things.
Putting the matter aside, Chen Mo began to consider what to do next:
Lei Peng had been killed by Liu Mazi. There was no telling whether Liu Mazi would come after the Chen Family.
Although the Chen Family doesn't fear Liu Mazi, I should still ask Uncle Zhou to make some preparations, just in case.
Time flowed on, and the seasons passed like a stream.
A month flew by in the blink of an eye.
The Twelfth Month had arrived, and the weather had grown even colder. The towering, three-thousand-li Dayin Mountain stretched across Honghe County's southeast, blocking the warm winds blowing in from the South Sea. As a result, the snow covering Honghe County never melted.
At dusk, Chen Mo was practicing his saber in the courtyard as usual.
By now, his saber style no longer followed any clear sequence of moves. His swings flowed as naturally as if formed by heaven itself, and he could combine his moves at will, each flowing as smoothly as a swimming dragon.
If Zhou Liang had been there, he would have recognized it as a sign that Chen Mo's martial arts had reached great mastery and were beginning to return to their natural simplicity.
He had already stepped into the peak of the Five Passes: Blood Infusion Realm!
The thirty Qi and Blood Pills he had bought earlier were all gone. He had lost count of how much Cold Night Grass he had used, too. The expenses from the estate's stores alone had reached several thousand taels.
With his cheat to clear the way, Chen Mo hardly found it surprising that he had broken through to the Blood Rush Realm.
"Young Master, today is the Laba Festival. Madam made Laba porridge herself and asked you to come eat." Just then, Qiulan came in, smiling as she spoke.
"Got it."
Chen Mo put away his saber and quickly tidied himself up, then led Qiulan to the Central Courtyard. As soon as he entered, he saw Lin Yu Lan waiting beneath the eaves, smiling warmly.
"Come in quickly. The wind and snow are fierce outside."
A warm feeling spread through Chen Mo. "Are Wu and Yu'er here, too?"
Lin Yu Lan smiled. "After what you said last time, how could I leave them out? They're inside, waiting for you so we can start eating."
When he entered the sitting room, he saw the whole family gathered around the dining table.
Chen Yin Fu sat at the head of the table. Second Mother Zhang Ru sat on the left with Chen Wu, while five-year-old Chen Yu'er leaned over the table, gazing longingly at all the dishes and meat. She was practically drooling. She had reached for a duck leg several times, only for Zhang Ru to glare her back into submission. Now she was pouting pitifully, looking terribly aggrieved.
Chen Mo was delighted by the sight. As soon as he sat down, he pulled off a duck leg and put it in Chen Yu'er's bowl. Chen Yu'er immediately brightened. "Brother Mo is still the best to me. Unlike Second Mother, who's so fierce and won't let me eat."
Chen Mo burst out laughing. "I wouldn't let anyone else suffer, but I won't let my little Yu'er go hungry. Go on, eat."
"Mm-hmm!"
Chen Yu'er nodded hard, then grabbed the duck leg and started gnawing. Grease ran down her mouth, and she didn't care a bit about her appearance. Zhang Ru scolded her for minding her manners.
People in ancient times had strict rules and placed great importance on family tradition. The elders came first: the younger generation couldn't touch their chopsticks until the elders had begun eating. Break the rule, and you had to stand at attention and take a beating.
Zhang Ru was a concubine and cared deeply about proper conduct. She was afraid of displeasing Chen Yin Fu and Lin Yu Lan.
"Second Mother, Yu'er's still young. There's no need to be so strict about the rules."
As he spoke, Chen Mo pulled off a chicken leg and placed it in Zhang Ru's bowl. "You've had a hard time taking care of Yu'er, Second Mother. You even look a little thinner."
Zhang Ru was stunned, then deeply moved. But she was also afraid Chen Yin Fu would punish her, so she glanced at him, seeking his approval.
Chen Yin Fu waved a broad hand. "We're family. There's no need to be so formal. Eat."
Chen Yu'er was overjoyed. She ate her meat with her eyes squinting into crescents.
Outside, the wind and snow raged. Inside the sitting room, the family was full of warmth and laughter.
Just then, a servant came hurrying in to report.
"Master, Madam, something terrible has happened! A gang of fierce, masked bandits has stormed into the courtyard. They're demanding to see the Second Young Master."
Lin Yu Lan shot to her feet, her face paling as her whole body began to tremble.
At the news, Zhang Ru also went deathly pale and started shaking, terrified. Chen Yu'er looked up in shock, forgetting to swallow her Laba porridge. The thin porridge ran down the corner of her mouth.
Chen Wu, however, sprang to his feet and bolted for the door. "I'll go get a saber!"
Everyone was taken aback by Chen Wu's reaction.
Chen Mo was surprised, too.
He hadn't expected Chen Wu to react that way first. He couldn't help but look at his younger brother in a new light.
Chen Yin Fu spoke up. "Get back here. You're not the one who needs to step forward when trouble comes."
Chen Wu didn't dare disobey. He lowered his head and trudged back, dejected.
"Everyone else, stay here. Xiao Mo, come with me and let's see what's going on."
After making his decision, Chen Yin Fu hurried out with Chen Mo.
Chen Wu glanced around, quickly found a wooden stick, and clutched it tightly. Then he stood at the entrance, staring intently outside. His still-boyish face looked especially resolute.
"First Mother, Second Mother, don't be afraid. I'll protect you, even if it costs me my life."
Lin Yu Lan stared blankly at Chen Wu. Seeing the thirteen-year-old boy standing in front of them like an iron-blooded warrior stirred something deep in her heart.
Before this, Lin Yu Lan had been somewhat biased against Chen Wu.
In wealthy households, men taking multiple wives and concubines, who then fought among themselves for favor, was commonplace. All they wanted was to raise their own standing and secure a better future for their sons.
But after seeing Chen Wu's conduct today, Lin Yu Lan's opinion changed completely. She realized that Chen Wu was a good child, too. The Chen Family's estate was substantial, and if disaster struck, they would need to stand together and fight as one.
Chen Mo was hurrying to the Training Ground with Chen Yin Fu.
Unlike women, Chen Yin Fu wasn't easily frightened. Clearly, he had seen plenty in his time. As they hurried along, he asked, "Do you know why those bandits are looking for you?"
"I do... The one who came should be Liu Mazi, Lu Wei's elder brother. He's a master of the Five Passes: Blood Infusion Realm. I didn't think things through carefully enough..."
"This isn't your fault. Lei Peng was desperate to save his son and lost his composure. I just didn't expect Liu Mazi would dare invade the Chen Mansion in broad daylight. We need to figure out how to deal with this. Is Lu Wei still alive?"
"I locked him up in the courtyard. He's alive and unharmed."
As he replied, Chen Mo's thoughts raced.
Clearly, Liu Mazi had come because he knew Lu Wei was at the estate.
Could Lei Peng have let something slip as he was dying?
But why had Liu Mazi waited until today to make his move?
Chen Mo voiced his doubts.
Chen Yin Fu offered an explanation. "Perhaps because today is the Laba Festival, and both the County Office and the Guard Station are closed for the holiday. The city's defenses are lax. It's a rare opportunity for bandits to enter the city. Even if bandits kill someone here, the constables won't come running straightaway. Liu Mazi didn't come earlier or later, but chose this exact moment. That tells me he intends to leave no one alive at the Chen Mansion."
Chen Mo was startled, and secretly admired his father's meticulous, far-reaching judgment.
But Chen Mo still felt there was more to it...
A gang of bandits entering the city to plunder a prominent family? It just didn't fit the usual pattern.
Before long, they passed through a covered walkway and saw the scene at the distant Training Ground:
More than thirty retainers armed with broad sabers were confronting a dozen horse bandits under Zhou Liang's leadership.
Zhou Liang's robe was torn in places. Clearly, he had already fought them.
Chen Yin Fu stopped at the corner of the covered walkway and grabbed Chen Mo. "Judging by the bandits' numbers, they may even have the upper hand over your Uncle Zhou. If you and I both go out there and anything happens to us, the Chen Family will be finished."
After a pause, Chen Yin Fu made his decision. "I'll go out and stall them. You hurry to the Guard Station and find Hundred Household Officer Liu Hao. He and I are good friends. Tell him to bring his men. That's the only way to resolve the Chen Family's predicament."
Chen Mo turned to look at his father, whose hair was graying at the temples. Admiration and emotion welled up in him.
Chen Mo wasn't stupid. He knew his father had assigned him the safest task because, if something unexpected happened, at least one member of the Chen Family would survive.
Soon, Chen Mo had made up his mind. "I've already reached the peak of the Blood Rush Realm. I'm just one step away from tempering Internal True Qi. Liu Mazi shouldn't be my match. I can handle him!"
Chen Mo had lived two lives and wasn't the kind of person who liked to show off.
But since his father insisted on protecting him and sending him away, Chen Mo had no choice but to speak up.
Chen Yin Fu looked utterly incredulous. "You're not lying to your father, are you?"
"This concerns the Chen Family's survival. I would never overestimate myself."
Chen Yin Fu thought it over and believed him seven or eight times out of ten, but he still wasn't at ease. "But we have five retainers at the Five Viscera Realm, as well as your Uncle Zhou, and they still can't hold Liu Mazi and his men back. The other side has the numbers..."
Chen Mo thought it over briefly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "I have a plan, but I'll need your help, Father..."
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