A Floating Speck Sees the Blue Sky

By the time he stepped out of the courtyard, it was already the Hour of the Rooster.

Winter days were short; the sun already hung low atop distant Dayin Mountain, dim and heavy.

At some point, goose-feather snow had begun to fall, thick and dense, filling the sky.

Qiulan stood at the gate, her face pale from the cold, rubbing her hands together for warmth and puffing white mist into her palms. When she saw Chen Mo emerge, she quickly smiled and greeted him.

"Young Master, is everything settled?"

Chen Mo wasn't in high spirits. He just grunted an "Mm."

As Qiulan led the way out, she asked curiously, "Did you find out how Young Master Xie Dong died?"

Seeing her mix of curiosity and fear, Chen Mo didn't want to frighten her. "Just an ordinary case of being possessed by evil. Let's go. We'll head back early."

Since Chen Mo wasn't saying more, Qiulan didn't press. She obediently led the way.

As they walked through the imposing Xie Manor, Chen Mo saw many weeping members of the Xie family. From the direction of the mourning hall, sobs rose and fell without pause.

It reminded Chen Mo of when he himself had been ill.

Back then, his own parents had sobbed just like that.

Every family had its own hardships.

Parting by life and death—the dead found release. It was the living who suffered and grieved.

Once outside the Xie Manor, Chen Mo climbed into the carriage. Qiulan sat on the driver's board outside, urging the horses forward as they rattled through the streets toward the Chen Mansion.

Chen Mo's spirits were low. He lifted the curtain and watched the people coming and going on both sides of the street, listened to the peddlers and hawkers crying out their wares in waves. The county town seemed unchanged, forever bustling and lively.

But Chen Mo's thoughts had already flown far away.

Old Master Li was a living corpse?

So this world not only had ghosts, but fucking zombies too?

And Li Hongxi had really crawled out of the ancient well?

That didn't make sense.

Back in the haunted ground, Li Hongxi clearly couldn't get out. She'd tried to trick him into prying off the red candle at the well's mouth.

Later, Granny Li had made two attempts to seize him, both times trying to abduct him. So she still wanted him to remove that red candle from the well in the haunted ground, to let her daughter out?

But here was the thing—if he could pry off that red candle, why couldn't Granny Li or Old Master Li do it themselves?

And Granny Li had failed twice. He hadn't been taken.

So how did Li Hongxi get out?

Had Granny Li found another way?

But Li Hongxi had been dead for twenty years. If Granny Li had another method, she'd have used it long ago. Why wait until now to try abducting him?

No...

Something was off...

"There must be some detail I've overlooked."

Chen Mo rubbed his temples, forcing himself to recall the details of the two abduction attempts.

The first time, Granny Li had stuck a paper figure on his back and sent Zhu San and Zhu Liu to snatch him.

The second time, she'd stuck a paper figure on Liu Mazi and sent him to do the job.

Why were the paper figures placed differently each time?

Wait...

When Liu Mazi came to the door the second time, he'd cut Chen Mo's chest with his soft sword.

Injury!

That was the only difference Chen Mo could think of.

In that instant, a wild idea surged into his mind: Could this have been Granny Li's goal all along? She just needed him to be wounded, and then used his blood to release Li Hongxi?

If Li Hongxi had come out back then and gone to the Li residence today... the timing would line up.

But the problem was, he'd burned Liu Mazi's corpse. Liu Mazi hadn't taken his blood...

Chen Mo was baffled. The more he thought, the more uneasy he grew.

Even though he didn't know how Granny Li had done it, one thing was certain—the Li family was terrifying.

Even now that he'd stepped into the realm of Internal Martial Master, Chen Mo still felt unsettled.

Entering the Chen Mansion, he got off the carriage and instructed Qiulan, "Gather half the large carts and horses from the estate, find a few reliable people, and send them to Third Master Xie."

Qiulan didn't know the reason, but she nodded. "I'll arrange it right away."

Chen Mo hurried toward the Central Courtyard.

Now that he knew Xie Dong had died from possession by evil and understood the Li family's strangeness, he wanted to get to Black Mountain Stronghold as soon as possible to learn the art of exorcism. He wondered if his father had brought news of Li Yuanlong.

Just as he reached the entrance of the Central Courtyard, he saw Chen Yu'er, dressed in a red padded jacket, squatting by a flower bed, her little bottom sticking up as she dug into the snow.

Chen Mo found it amusing. "Xiaoyuer, what are you digging for?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Xiaoyuer stopped her bent-over search and slowly straightened up. Pointing at the flower bed with a sad look, she said, "Brother Mo, come see. A sparrow was hopping lively on the eaves just now, then suddenly fell down and died."

Chen Mo glanced at the frozen little sparrow. It didn't bother him much at first, but seeing Xiaoyuer's sorrowful face, he offered a consolation. "Maybe it was old. Couldn't take the cold and froze to death. Speaking of which, why are you out in this weather? Have Father and Mother returned?"

Still lost in her grief, Xiaoyuer shook her head. "No."

"The snow's getting heavier. I'll take you back." Chen Mo scooped up Chen Yu'er and hurried toward the North Courtyard.

As they reached the entrance, warm laughter drifted out from inside. In the distance, Chen Wu was demonstrating his recent training progress to Zhang Ru. Watching her son improve rapidly, Zhang Ru beamed with joy. "Don't forget your Second Brother's kindness," she said.

Chen Wu swung his saber as he replied, "Don't worry, Mother. I remember. Since Second Brother has expectations of me, I dare not slack off for a moment. Once I've mastered my skills, I'll definitely make him see me in a new light—maybe even surpass him."

With his keen senses, Chen Mo caught every word from afar. Impressing me is possible, but surpassing me in martial arts... not in this lifetime.

He didn't call it out. Carrying Chen Yu'er, he stepped through the North Courtyard gate. "Second Mother, the snow's getting worse. Don't let Xiaoyuer run around too much, or she'll catch a chill."

Seeing Chen Mo, Zhang Ru hurried over to take Chen Yu'er, scolded her lightly, then said to Chen Mo, "Second Young Master is thoughtful."

"Second Mother, no need to be so formal. By the way, how's Chen Wu's training going?" Since he was here, he might as well show some concern for his younger brother's progress.

As expected, hearing his Second Brother ask about his studies, Chen Wu lit up with excitement. "Teacher Wei Heng taught me the Wind-Breaking Saber. Let me demonstrate it for your guidance, Second Brother."

"Alright."

Chen Mo sat down under the eaves, and Second Mother quickly served tea. Chen Yu'er handed him a stick of candied hawthorn, cooing, "Brother Mo, have some."

Chen Mo took the treat and bit into it heartily, watching Chen Wu practice the Wind-Breaking Saber. Though young, Chen Wu was fairly tall, and his saber strikes were solid—clearly the result of hard work.

When the demonstration ended, Chen Wu looked at Chen Mo expectantly, waiting for a critique.

Chen Mo put on a serious face, building the tension, then spoke. "My brother is a martial prodigy—quite impressive. Your saber technique is solid, and your transitions are smooth. It's clear you've put in real effort. With time, you'll surely achieve great things."

Hearing this, Chen Wu's scalp tingled with excitement, his face flushing red. He was more thrilled than when he received New Year's money from his mother.

Buoyed by the praise, Chen Wu's confidence soared. "Second Brother, could you demonstrate the Wind-Breaking Saber for me as an example?"

Seeing through his brother's intent, Chen Mo smiled. "Sure."

He had never practiced the Wind-Breaking Saber, but as an internal martial artist with a foundation in the Fuyang Saber Technique, he could handle it with ease.

Taking Chen Wu's saber, Chen Mo walked step by step into the snow. Suddenly, he slashed down at the ground. A thunderous boom erupted, and the entire courtyard shook violently.

Snow flew into the air as the bluestone-paved ground split open with a massive crack over ten feet long.

Chen Wu and the others stared in shock. Chen Wu, in particular, felt his worldview shattered.

Chen Mo tossed the saber at Chen Wu's feet. Half the blade embedded itself in the ground, while the remaining half quivered in the air, emitting a piercing hum.

"Martial arts aren't fancy moves—they're for killing. If one strike can finish your opponent, don't use a second."

Chen Wu felt as if struck by lightning, a sudden clarity dawning on him. He bowed deeply. "I'll remember Second Brother's teachings."

Just moments ago, Chen Wu had been brimming with pride over his progress. Now, witnessing his Second Brother's skill, he realized: Second Brother was the sky over the Chen Family.

Compared to him, he was but a speck of dust gazing up at the heavens.

Just then, Haitang hurried over. "Second Young Master, the Master and Madam have returned. They're calling for you."