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On this bright day, although it was deep autumn, the warmth felt like spring. Lin Ning, Hu Xueyan, Cong Rong, and Qin Lan arrived at Fengyue Pavilion by the sea. The stone inscribed with "The Setting Sun and the Solitary Wild Goose Fly Together" and "Autumn Waters Share the Same Color as the Long Sky" seemed to witness the love between Lin and Hu. Despite countless waves crashing against it, the stone stood firm on the vast shore.
Suddenly, the four of them spotted a massive warship appearing on the horizon, followed by over ten more warships densely surrounding it. These ships drew closer to the shore, each flying a flag with white sides and a black center. On each deck stood hundreds of soldiers armed with swords and knives, dressed in loose black robes cinched at the waist. Each soldier sported a specific hairstyle—a short topknot wrapped in white cloth.
Lin Ning turned to Hu Xueyan and Cong Rong, saying, "This is bad; those soldiers are Japanese. I saw pictures of them in books about Japan when I was young in Jinling." Hu Xueyan, Cong Rong, and Qin Lan were shocked by Lin Ning's words. He continued, "These Japanese must be pirates; they come with ill intent. You two go inform Uncle Hu and Aunt Yun immediately. I'll stay here to figure out how to stall them and see what they want."
Hu Xueyan replied, "You must be careful!" Suddenly, Lin Ning recalled that the narrow passage in the Fallen Icicle Cave on Yun Xue Mountain could accommodate around ten thousand people. In this critical moment, if these Japanese pirates wreaked havoc on Yunshan Island, it would be disastrous. He shared this secret with the three of them. Hu Xueyan said, "There's no time to lose! Rong Mei, you go notify my father and Aunt Yun right away. Xiaolan, send a message to Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin immediately. I'll gather the islanders to hide in the passage of the Fallen Icicle Cave."
In no time, over ten pirate ships docked at the shore, and thousands of fully armed warriors jumped down from the ships, surrounding Lin Ning completely. One warrior began speaking rapidly in a language Lin Ning couldn't understand. He shook his head and said, "Why have you Japanese come to our Ming Dynasty's land so recklessly?"
Suddenly, a masked figure in black spoke fluent Chinese, saying, "I am a descendant of the Toyotomi Clan from Japan. I have come from east to west in search of my family." Lin Ning recognized that this voice belonged to a woman. Since she claimed to be from the Toyotomi Clan, she was undoubtedly Japanese. However, he couldn't fathom how she spoke such fluent Chinese.
He replied to her, "If you are Japanese, you should return to Japan to find your family! Why have you come to our Great Ming's territory?" The masked figure responded, "My husband is from the Ming Dynasty. After we married in Japan, we had a daughter. Seventeen years ago, he took our daughter away from Japan and has been missing ever since. I have come to find them."
Lin Ning felt his head spin as if it would explode; cold sweat broke out all over him. He clearly remembered Hu Xueyan had once told him she was born in Japan and that she had been brought away by Hu Chuanmao seventeen years ago to Yunshan Island. Could this masked figure be looking for Uncle Hu and Xue Yin's sister? His mind raced with confusion until he thought: No way! It can't be! Xue Yin's sister said her mother was a girl from Diaoyu Island and passed away shortly after giving birth to her.
Feeling slightly relieved at this thought, he told the masked figure, "I've lived on Yunshan Island for five or six years and have never heard of anyone marrying a Japanese girl here. There’s no one you’re looking for; you should just go back!" The masked figure glanced at the stone inscribed with "The Setting Sun and the Solitary Wild Goose Fly Together" and "Autumn Waters Share the Same Color as the Long Sky," saying, "My husband once read these lines to me; I must search this island."
Seeing that she was determined to invade Yunshan Island, Lin Ning drew his Sunlight Blade and declared, "Then let’s see if my blade agrees!" He charged toward her with his weapon drawn. The masked figure did not wish to engage him directly; instead, she signaled her warriors on either side to block his path while she used her lightness skill to flee toward Yihua Garden.
The way these Japanese warriors wielded their swords was distinctly different from martial artists in Zhongyuan; they preferred holding their weapons with both hands for powerful strikes. However, in Lin Ning's eyes, their techniques were child's play. The only advantage these Japanese warriors had was their numbers. With his Sunlight Blade swinging left and right, he fought fiercely against them. In an instant, blades flashed as blood flew; cries of pain echoed all around…
The masked figure arrived at Yihua Garden where it was eerily quiet as if only air remained. She searched Lin Ning's residence at Book Immortal Pavilion but found nothing unusual. Then she crossed a long corridor westward into Qingdai Building. Upon seeing Hu Xueyan's portrait hanging inside, she trembled all over.
She approached the painting closely for a moment before rolling it up and tucking it into her belt. Leaving Qingdai Building behind her, she lingered briefly at Azure Blue Pavilion and Canghai Tower before heading toward Yunyu Mountain.
On her way halfway there, she spotted two young girls running eastward—Hu Xueyan and Cong Rong. When she saw Hu Xueyan's face clearly, her expression turned suspicious as she trembled uncontrollably again. It turned out that after helping Hu Chuanmao and Cheng Yun arrange for the islanders to hide in Fallen Icicle's passageway, both girls were worried about Lin Ning’s safety and rushed down the mountain looking for him.
As they crossed paths unexpectedly with the masked figure, Hu Xueyan noticed that only her eyes were visible through her mask; those eyes were fixed intently on her which made her heart race with fear. She slowed down cautiously and asked bravely, "Who are you? Why are you here on my Yunshan Island?"
The masked figure did not answer but instead asked loudly in return: "What is your name? Are you called Hu Xueyan?" Cong Rong looked at the masked figure's complex gaze with fear rising within her; she whispered to Hu Xueyan: "Sister Xueing, I'm scared..."
Hearing Cong Rong call Hu Xueyan 'Sister Xueing,' the masked figure murmured softly: "Yes! You are Xueing! You are my beloved Yinzi..."
Hu Xueyan was astonished that this masked figure knew her name; without time for further thought she angrily retorted: "Who is this crazy woman rambling here? What do you want? Are you working with those robbers?"
The masked figure still did not respond but suddenly lunged toward Hu Xueyan; as she attempted to draw her Lady's Sword in defense, before she could even unsheathe it fully, the masked figure swiftly struck her acupoint rendering her unable to move before seizing her under her arm and sprinting toward the sea.
Cong Rong gasped in shock and hurriedly used her lightness skill to chase after them; however, the masked figure was remarkably swift—within moments Cong Rong found herself left behind by several meters.
The masked figure called back distantly: "Girl! Tell Hu Chuanmao that I've taken his daughter! If he wants her back he should come find me in Japan!"
Cong Rong shouted anxiously behind: "Stop! You thief! Where are you taking my Sister Xueing?" In her panic, Cong Rong lost her breath as she realized how quickly they were pulling away from each other.
Finally, the masked figure vanished from Cong Rong's sight altogether. Standing there gasping for breath without knowing whether to continue searching for Lin Ning or return to Fallen Icicle Cave to inform Hu Chuanmao and Cheng Yun about what had happened—she stood still contemplating.
After a moment’s thought realizing that even if she found Lin Ning and Hu Xueyan again she wouldn't be able to save them alone—she decided it would be best first to inform Hu Chuanmao and Cheng Yun about their perilous situation before figuring out how to rescue them later.
With that resolve made clear in her mind, Cong Rong turned around sprinting toward Yun Xue Mountain.
Lin Ning understood that since Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s era there had been ambitions among Japanese pirates to invade Great Ming territory; thus he showed no mercy against these invaders. Over an hour after the masked figure had left him alone with his thoughts—he had already slain over a hundred pirates.
Just as he was caught up in battle excitement he caught sight of the masked figure carrying a girl dressed in light green clothing onto one of their ships—he immediately recognized that it was Hu Xueyan which sent him into panic mode as he no longer wished to engage further with any pirates.
With an agile flip like a swallow he broke free from their encirclement leaping directly before the masked figure who commanded all pirates aboard their warship shouting orders back towards Japan.
Lin Ning didn’t understand what she was saying but saw all pirates boarding their ship preparing to leave shore—he quickly realized they intended on taking Hu Xueyan away from Yunshan Island.
Furious he shouted: “What do you thieves want? Let go of my Xue Yin's sister!” In desperation he unleashed his ultimate technique “Reappearance of Light” aimed directly at the masked figure—a move capable of delivering lethal damage upon impact.
However just before executing his strike—the masked figure dropped Hu Xueyan using her as a shield saying: “Kid! If you don’t care about her life then come at me!”
Using Hu Xueyan as a human shield proved effective; knowing full well that she represented Lin Ning’s greatest vulnerability—he hesitated retracting his Sunlight Blade just as fear gripped him anew—the masked figure seized upon this moment kicking him squarely in his chest sending him tumbling off into sea below.
As Lin Ning fell into water he pulled out his black gold dagger digging into wooden planks beneath causing water flooding through creating rapid descent towards sinking ship—grabbing hold of iron pillars securing boards he leaped back onto deck just before vessel sank completely beneath waves.
Seeing another ship nearby—the masked figure quickly took hold of Hu Xueyan jumping onto its deck while Lin Ning followed suit leaping aboard after them.
Fearing this new ship might also meet its fate under his blade—the masked figure warned him: “If you dare puncture this warship again I’ll kill this girl!”
Lin Ning hastily replied: “Don’t do anything rash—I won’t puncture your warship! But where are you taking Xue Yin's sister?”
With a cold laugh she replied: “Of course I’m taking her back home—to Japan!”
Lin Ning shot back: “She isn’t your daughter! Why take her back?”
“Why does it concern you?” came her retort.
“Of course it concerns me! She is my future wife—I won’t allow my wife leave me for some damned Japan!”
Upon hearing this declaration—the masked woman laughed uproariously saying: “Who would’ve thought Yinzi has someone who cares for her? Kid—is what you said true? Do you really love her? Would you do anything for her?”
Uncertain why she referred to Hu Xueyan as Yinzi—he didn’t have time think further replying firmly: “Of course I mean every word—let her go now or else don’t blame me!”
The black-clad woman pulled out a small black pill stating sharply: “Let me tell you something—this pill is called Japanese Heartbreak Pill—a highly toxic poison! If someone ingests it—they will suffer excruciating pain until death three days later! Now eat this pill immediately or I’ll kill your beloved!”
With sword pressed against Hu Xueyan’s neck—the urgency rose within Lin Ning fearing for her life prompting him urgently plead: “Please don’t kill her—I’ll do whatever you say!”
Taking hold of pill from hand—without hesitation he swallowed it whole.
At that moment unbeknownst even though his body had become immune—it didn’t matter because during such perilous times he’d forgotten entirely about immunity—and even if not immune—to save Hu Xueyan’s life he would’ve swallowed anything without hesitation.
Hu Xueyan watched tearfully moved seeing how far Lin Ning would go risking himself for hers while satisfaction crossed over face of black-clad woman witnessing such devotion unfold before eyes—she nodded approvingly then produced another red pill breaking it into two halves handing one half over while keeping other tucked away safely within garments.
Confused by actions—Lin Ning gazed questioningly at black-clad woman who explained: “This red pill is antidote against Japanese Heartbreak Pill—I’m dividing it into two halves—you must consume one half now which will ensure your safety for seven days after which I’ll expect you at sea between Japan & China where I’ll provide remaining half antidote otherwise three days later poison will take effect.”
She added sternly: “Remember—you must bring along both those scoundrels Hu Chuanmao & Cheng Yun when meeting me.” With sword pressed firmly against neck once more—she demanded loudly: “You’d better hurry up or else I’ll kill her!”
Lin Ning glanced back towards Hu Xueyan seeing how pale & tearful face appeared causing sharp pangs within heart prompting him loudly reassure: “ Xue Yin's sister don’t worry—I’ll rush back gather Uncle Hu Aunt Yun along with my parents—we’ll come rescue you!”
Unable speak due acupoint struck—she could only nod gently affirmatively (End of Chapter Thirteen).
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