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墨書 Inktalez
The fishing boat had been sailing east for a day and a night, finally arriving at the East China Sea, the boundary between China and Japan. However, the vast sea was empty except for this boat carrying a group of heroes, creating an unsettling feeling in the air. Time passed slowly as everyone anxiously waited. Suddenly, a warship appeared on the horizon, its black and white flag becoming clearer and more glaring. Surrounding the ship were Japanese warriors. When the warship was still over a hundred meters away from the fishing boat, Lin Ning could no longer contain himself and leaped onto the warship.
Toyotomi Yoshimi emerged from the ship's hold. Lin Ning focused his gaze; although Toyotomi Yoshimi was now middle-aged, it was evident that she must have been a great beauty in her youth. Her features bore some resemblance to Hu Xueyan, but the passage of time had etched lines of hardship on her face, with crow's feet creeping up to her eyes and gray hair giving her an aged appearance. Seeing Lin Ning, Toyotomi Yoshimi nodded slightly and said, "You came as promised."
Lin Ning did not see Hu Xueyan anywhere and anxiously asked, "Where is Xue Yin's sister? Where is she now? How is she?" Toyotomi Yoshimi noticed Lin Ning's concern for Hu Xueyan and nodded in satisfaction before suddenly saying sternly, "I asked you to bring Hu Chuanmao and Cheng Yun to see me. Where are they? Tell them to come to me at once!" As soon as she finished speaking, Hu Chuanmao and Cheng Yun simultaneously replied, "We are here!" The two jumped onto the deck of the warship.
It had been seventeen years since Toyotomi Yoshimi last saw Hu Chuanmao and Cheng Yun. Now, seeing Hu Chuanmao in middle age, he had not changed much; he remained handsome but carried a deeper gravitas. Cheng Yun still looked youthful with smooth skin, delicate features, bright eyes that commanded respect without anger, exuding both strength and tenderness as if untouched by time. Looking at herself now, Toyotomi Yoshimi felt a surge of jealousy; her longing for Hu Chuanmao's father-daughter bond had robbed her of her youthful charm.
With a cold laugh, Toyotomi Yoshimi said, "Hu Chuanmao, when you abandoned me to secretly leave Japan with that woman Cheng Yun, did you ever feel even a hint of guilt?" Hu Chuanmao retorted angrily, "Toyotomi Yoshimi, you pirates invaded my territory without reason, destroyed my home, and threatened me with the lives of Diaoyu Island's people to marry you! I only agreed out of fear for my people; I never loved you nor considered you my wife. In my heart, Cheng Yun is my one true love." Hearing Hu Chuanmao's heartfelt confession filled Cheng Yun with joy.
Toyotomi Yoshimi felt bitter; she knew that no matter how hard she tried, she could never win Hu Chuanmao's heart. Despair filled her as unrequited love turned into hatred. She glared at Cheng Yun and bitterly said, "You can never forget this woman; you'd rather elope with her than stay in Japan and even took my daughter Yinzi away from me! You are truly heartless!"
Cheng Yun recalled the tragic scene of her father Cheng Haifeng's death at Toyotomi Yoshimi's hands and shouted angrily at her, "Toyotomi Yoshimi! Your Japanese people invaded Diaoyu Island and killed my father! I Cheng Yun have an irreconcilable blood feud with you thieves! Today one of us will die!"
Toyotomi Yoshimi sneered back, "Cheng Yun, you have occupied my husband and daughter for seventeen years; it's time we settled this debt!"
Both women drew their swords simultaneously; it was a fierce confrontation fueled by hatred. The crowd jumped from the fishing boat onto the warship to witness their duel. Lin Ning observed that while both wielded long swords, their styles were entirely different. Toyotomi Yoshimi's swordplay resembled Beichen Yidao's knife techniques—fast and fierce—while Cheng Yun’s movements were fluid like flowing water.
As Lin Ning watched Cheng Yun fight with grace and agility, he couldn't shake off the feeling that she resembled his mother-in-law; aside from their voices being slightly different, they were nearly identical in every other way. He didn't have time to ponder whether Cheng Yun was indeed his mother-in-law as he scanned the warship for any sign of Hu Xueyan but found none. Although he knew Hu Xueyan was Toyotomi Yoshimi’s biological daughter and unlikely to be harmed easily by her mother, his worry for her safety remained.
Gripping his Sunlight Blade tightly, Lin Ning cut down two warriors guarding the cabin before breaking down the door. He rushed inside to find Hu Xueyan slumped on the cabin floor; it was clear that her acupoints had not yet been released. He helped her up and unblocked her Tian Shu acupoint. Hu Xueyan’s face was pale and desolate; tears streamed down her cheeks as she weakly grasped Lin Ning’s arm and asked sorrowfully, "Brother Ning, tell me what they said outside is not true?"
Seeing Hu Xueyan’s devastated expression broke Lin Ning’s heart; he knew that no comforting words would ease her pain at this moment. He helplessly nodded in response to her question. Overwhelmed by despair, Hu Xueyan let go of his arm and sank to the ground.
Lin Ning said painfully, " Xue Yin's sister, don’t say that! No matter what we’ve been through, there will always be a way to resolve this."
Hu Xueyan shook her head in confusion: "I can’t go back; I can never return to my past life! Why? Why has heaven treated me this way?" She swayed as if trying to stand but stumbled forward; Lin Ning quickly reached out to steady her. Weakly she said, "I need to ask Toyotomi Yoshimi and my father what happened between them."
Lin Ning understood that no words could express the pain she was enduring right now; he silently followed her out of the cabin.
On deck outside the cabin, Cheng Yun was locked in a fierce battle with Toyotomi Yoshimi while Hu Xueyan cried out desperately, "Stop! Both of you stop!" Hearing her voice made both women retreat a few steps as all eyes turned toward Hu Xueyan.
In anguish she asked them both, "I heard everything you just said—are those words true?" Cheng Yun was momentarily speechless; she didn’t know how to respond. Toyotomi Yoshimi replied coldly: "Good girl! You are my daughter Toyotomi Yoshimi; your Japanese name is Toyotomi Yinzi—you are a descendant of the Toyotomi Clan."
Hu Xueyan shook her head repeatedly: "You’re lying! You must be mistaken—I am not your daughter nor a descendant of your clan! My surname is Hu; my name is Hu Xueyan! I refuse to be part of your evil nation!"
Toyotomi Yoshimi’s face darkened at Hu Xueyan’s words: "After seventeen years of longing for you all I get is such heartless talk?"
Hu Xueyan retorted with a cold laugh: "Speaking of heartlessness—what nation can compare with yours? You wolves in sheep's clothing invaded our Great Ming territory and harmed our people! This blood feud is etched into every patriotic Chinese heart." The crowd erupted in applause for Hu Xueyan’s passionate speech.
Toyotomi Yoshimi felt despair as she realized that not only could she not win over Hu Chuanmao’s heart but also that her daughter hated her even more than he did. A malicious thought began to fester within her: “If I cannot win your hearts then I will take your lives.” She directed all her resentment towards Cheng Yun thinking that if it weren't for this woman perhaps Hu Chuanmao would never have left her.
With that thought in mind Toyotomi Yoshimi lunged at Cheng Yun again with her sword drawn. Anticipating this move, Cheng Yun swiftly countered with a technique called “Xizi Holding Heart,” easily deflecting Toyotomi Yoshimi’s blade back.
The more Lin Ning observed Cheng Yun’s moves—the more he felt she resembled his mother-in-law—her every action seemed instinctual against Toyotomi Yoshimi’s attacks as if she knew exactly how to counter each strike effortlessly.
After over a hundred exchanges where Toyotomi Yoshimi began losing ground under pressure from Cheng Yun who showed no mercy or hesitation—forcing Toyotomi Yoshimi back towards the cabin entrance—Cheng Yun swept low with her sword but hesitated when realizing Hu Xueyan stood behind Toyotomi Yoshimi.
Seizing this opportunity Toyotomi Yoshimi placed her sword against Hu Xueyan's neck causing Cheng Yun to halt instantly out of fear for Hu Xueyan’s safety while everyone else stood frozen in shock.
Hu Chuanmao shouted angrily: “Toyotomi Yoshimi! What do you want?”
With a cold laugh Toyotomi Yoshimi replied: “Hu Chuanmao! You betrayed me by eloping with that woman Cheng Yun—I could let that slide—but today I will take my daughter away or none of you will leave here alive!”
Lin Ning interjected: “Toyotomi Yoshimi! You are utterly shameless!”
Turning towards him Toyotomi Yoshimi asked: “You boy—let me ask you one last time: Will you go back to Japan with Yinzi? If you agree then everyone else can leave safely—otherwise they will all die here today!”
Lin Ning felt torn apart inside—caught in an unprecedented dilemma—if he refused to go to Japan he would never see Hu Xueyan again while everyone present would meet their demise—but if he went then he might never see his parents again either.
No matter which choice he made it would break his heart. In distress he stammered: “I... I... don’t force me.” He struggled to finish his sentence before falling silent again.
Lin Enzhe observed Lin Ning’s pained expression hesitating briefly before resolutely calling him over: “Ning’er come here—I have something important to tell you.”
Lin Ning complied walking over beside Lin Enzhe who spoke gravely: “Ning’er—I intended to wait several years before telling you this but given today’s sudden events your mother and I feel it necessary for you to know so you can decide whether or not to go back to Japan.”
Feeling increasingly restless Lin Ning sensed something significant was about to unfold. Lin Enzhe continued: “Ning’er—you are not actually named Lin Ning—you should be called Yu Ning—you are not our biological child; your father is my senior brother Yu Jiangong while your mother is the heroine Han Ying!”
The revelation struck Lin Ning like lightning leaving him dazed as confusion clouded his mind while stars danced before his eyes from shock.
After enduring consecutive blows recently pushing him close to breaking point hearing such news about being Yu Jiangong's son was almost too much for him despite having admired Yu Jiangong greatly.
His mind went blank as Lin Enzhe continued: “Your parents were great heroes guarding our Great Ming territory at Borderlands but were betrayed by treacherous men leading them into an ambush where they ultimately perished!”
At this point Lin Ning involuntarily moved slightly coming out from his previous daze asking coolly: “Is what you’re saying true?”
Miao Shuyan had already shed tears saying softly: “My poor child—your father did not lie—you truly are Yu Shixiong and Han Ying jiejie’s child.”
Lin Ning pressed on asking: “What was the name of those who killed my biological parents?”
Lin Enzhe replied: “Yu Shixiong’s deputy Chen Tao surrendered to Nurhaci—it was he who misled Yu Shixiong causing him and his wife to fall into enemy hands ultimately leading them both sacrificing themselves for their country.”
Gritting his teeth Lin Ning declared fiercely: “I will capture Chen Tao alive—I will make him pay!”
Pausing briefly he added: “Father—Mother—I understand what you mean—you’re worried about my decision so you revealed my origins first so no matter what choice I make there will be no regrets.”
Miao Shuyan nodded affirmatively saying: “Yes child—you’ve grown up now knowing your origins—it’s time for you decide your own path!”
After contemplating briefly Lin Ning resolved firmly: “I know what I must do.”
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