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In a state of confusion and drowsiness, Lin Ning suddenly felt a bucket of cold water poured over him, instantly jolting him awake. He opened his eyes and attempted to move, only to realize he was trapped in an iron cage. His hands were shackled to two iron pillars at the top of the cage, while his feet were bound together with chains on the iron floor below. A disciple of the Sun Moon Gang had splashed him with cold water, and in the dim candlelight, Lin Ning saw Yang Yan and the Princess of Yue Ming County standing before the cage.
Yang Yan said, "The Princess truly has foresight. By pretending to rob the Ming army's weapons, she easily lured Lin Ning into the Sun Moon Gang. What a brilliant move! Absolutely brilliant!"
The Princess of Yue Ming County replied proudly, "I must thank you for your Tian Bamboo trees. Your contribution is the greatest in capturing Lin Ning this time. When I return to Shengjing, I will report to my father and ensure you are richly rewarded."
It turned out that the trees adjacent to the drunken peach blossom sea were called Tian Bamboo trees. Their leaves resembled bamboo leaves, and in late autumn, the ripe fruits emitted a gas that could induce unconsciousness. When Lin Ning had previously visited the Sun Moon Gang with the Princess during summer, the Tian Bamboo trees had just begun to bear fruit, which was minimally toxic; unripe fruits did not release any gas that could cause fainting. Now, however, it was late autumn, and the fully ripened fruits released their most potent fragrance capable of causing unconsciousness. The antidotes that Lin Ning and Hu Xueyan carried could only counteract the poison from Drunken Peach Blossom but were ineffective against the toxic gas from the Tian Bamboo fruits. This was how Lin Ning fell into Yang Yan and the Princess's trap.
The Princess gazed at Lin Ning with intoxicated eyes and declared, "This time, I will not let my prey escape again. Let's go outside for a drink to celebrate. After tonight, I will take him back to Shengjing tomorrow morning!"
As Yang Yan and the Princess left the secret chamber, Lin Ning felt a surge of anxiety. He knew that if Hu Xueyan and Lin Xiu did not see him by tomorrow morning, they would surely storm into the Sun Moon Gang. At that point, they would fall victim to Yang Yan and the Princess just as he had. Observing that each iron pillar of his cage was over two inches in diameter, he realized that even if his hands and feet were freed, he could not open the cage without his black gold short knife. It seemed there was no way for him to escape; his best option was to ensure Hu Xueyan and Lin Xiu left as quickly as possible.
Several hours later, the iron door of the secret chamber swung open as Yang Yan and the Princess entered, followed by a dozen disciples from the Sun Moon Gang. Yang Yan ordered them, "Lift the cage and take it outside to the carriage."
Lin Ning shouted angrily, "What do you intend to do?"
The Princess laughed and said, "Of course we are taking you back to Shengjing with us."
Lin Ning replied, "Wait! I have a request. If you help me with it, I will go with you to Shengjing; otherwise, I will bite my tongue and end my life right now."
The Princess responded, "Fine. As long as it doesn’t involve letting you go free, I can agree to anything."
Lin Ning continued, "Hu Xueyan and Lin Xiu came with me to the Sun Moon Gang. If they find out I've been captured by you two, they will definitely cause trouble here. You must make them leave immediately."
The Princess said, "If they can't see you, how would they leave?"
Lin Ning proposed, "You can have someone impersonate me and ride away on horseback while your disciples pretend to chase after them. They will think I've left this place and won't come looking for trouble at the Sun Moon Gang."
The Princess considered this idea and said, "That's a good plan; we will do as you suggest."
Yang Yan found a disciple with a physique similar to Lin Ning and had him change into Lin Ning's clothes. Then, he ordered this disciple to ride a fast horse and charge out of the Sun Moon Gang's gates, followed closely by over a hundred Sun Moon Gang disciples on horseback. As they chased, they shouted, "Catch Lin Ning, don't let him escape!" Hu Xueyan and Lin Xiu saw Lin Ning riding a white horse galloping eastward from a distance. With no time to think, they quickly mounted their horses and pursued him.
Seeing Hu Xueyan and Lin Xiu chasing after the disciple impersonating him, Lin Ning felt a sense of relief. More than ten Sun Moon Gang disciples lifted a nearly one-thousand-pound iron cage and placed it onto a cart. Yang Yan ordered someone to open the cage, jumped onto the cart, and crawled into the cage next to Lin Ning. He used heavy-handed techniques to strike Lin Ning's vital points: Mingmen, Baihui, Guanyuan, Qihai, Tianshu, Yangling, Fengchi, and Zhongwan. These eight acupoints are the most important in the human meridian system. Once any of these points are struck, the person becomes immobile like a useless being; let alone being struck at all eight points simultaneously. Yang Yan said to the Princess of Yue Ming County, "Now this kid is trapped with no way to escape; he can only obediently follow the princess back to Shengjing." The Princess of Yue Ming County was delighted and mounted her horse, shouting, "Set off immediately to return with this princess to Shengjing."
The journey from Nanchang to Shengjing is four thousand miles long. Excluding the time spent resting at inns overnight, it would take at least eight days to reach Shengjing at the fastest pace. Lin Ning thought to himself that in eight days, his Silkworm Poison would flare up. Without the cold ice from the Fallen icicle cave and the Madonna lily from Yunwu Mountain, he could only die in agony. What use is it for you, Princess of the County, to bring back someone who is about to die? The Princess of Yue Ming County came from Shengjing to Sun Moon Gang this time with only one maid and two guards accompanying her, just like her previous trip south. Yang Yan feared that an accident might occur on the road for the Princess of Yue Ming County and thus dispatched twenty disciples from Sun Moon Gang to escort her back to Shengjing. Lin Ning noticed that among these twenty disciples was Zhang Lei, who had set fire to the horse stable at the Tianjin inn a few days ago.
After a day's journey north, Princess of Yue Ming County led everyone to rest at an inn for the night. Zhang Lei seized the opportunity to signal Lin Ning with a glance. Lin Ning understood that he was trying to help, but he was currently immobilized except for his eyes. He blinked at Zhang Lei in response. Twenty Sun Moon Gang disciples took turns guarding Lin Ning in the iron cage, with four on duty at a time. The rest slept in the guest rooms. Lin Ning knew that his priority was to release the eight acupoints on his body. He attempted to use his internal energy to impact the Qihai acupoint, but the energy was repelled each time. After numerous failed attempts, Lin Ning felt exhausted and fell into a deep sleep in the iron cage.
When Lin Ning woke up, it was already bright outside. Princess of Yue Ming County continued the journey north with the group, and Lin Ning began repeatedly trying to impact the Qihai acupoint, which is a crucial point in the Ren Mai meridian. If he could release this acupoint, the others would be easier to break through. Despite six days of effort, Lin Ning still couldn't release the Qihai acupoint. On the seventh day, the group arrived near Shanhaiguan, and Princess of Yue Ming County suddenly changed the route to avoid Xiong Yanbi and his forces. The rough mountain roads near Xifengkou made the journey difficult, and during the bumpy ride, the carriage almost overturned. Lin Ning was trying to impact the Qihai acupoint when the jolt from the carriage helped him release it. Afterward, he successfully released the other seven acupoints.
That night, the group rested at an inn in Mongolia. One of the four guards was Zhang Lei, who, under the cover of night, used a sleeping powder to incapacitate the other guards and free Lin Ning. He then urged Lin Ning to leave, but Lin Ning insisted that it would be better for Zhang Lei to accompany him. However, Zhang Lei chose to stay with the Sun Moon Gang and asked Lin Ning to knock them out before leaving. Lin Ning complied and then found weapons before escaping into the night.
In the darkness, Lin Ning did not know which direction to go. With just over a day left, his Silkworm Poison would soon take effect. He was currently in Southern Mongolia, over two thousand miles away from Yunshan Island, and he feared that he might not even cover a tenth of the distance before the poison struck. If he went to Jinzhou to see Xiong Yanbi one last time, perhaps he could reach Jinzhou before the poison took hold. However, he did not want Uncle Xiong to witness the pain on his face as the poison took effect. After pondering for a moment, Lin Ning unexpectedly headed southwest into the desolate desert. He did not want anyone to see his tragic state before he died; he simply wanted to leave this world quietly and alone.
Lin Ning walked southwest for about four or five hours. The dawn light began to reveal a pale glow in the east. It was already November, and most of the wild grass on the vast grasslands of Southern Mongolia had turned yellow and withered, quietly stretching between heaven and earth. The silence and desolation resembled a barren land that had been asleep for millennia, extending endlessly into the distance. The yellowing sea of grass swayed in the wind, creating lonely waves as if calling out to Lin Ning, the wandering soul from afar.
Lin Ning lost track of how long he had been walking. The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and the grassland under its rays had become dry and yellow, resembling a scene of death. Suddenly, a wild rabbit darted past Lin Ning with a swift motion, followed closely by a chestnut-colored steed galloping by. On its back sat a girl of about ten years old, dressed in a red martial outfit and holding a small toy bow and arrow. The girl supported the bow with her left arm while her right arm bent to grasp the arrow's tail as she aimed at the direction where the rabbit had run off. With a swift motion, she shot an arrow that struck the rabbit's hind leg; it stumbled forward two steps before collapsing in the grass. The girl was overjoyed; she jumped off her horse and ran to pick up the fallen rabbit.
Seeing that she was the only one hunting in the vast grassland, Lin Ning asked, "Little sister, why are you hunting here all alone? Where are your family?" The girl glanced at Lin Ning and replied, "I came out hunting with my father. I wanted to chase this rabbit and got separated from him." Lin Ning asked, "Can you find your way home by yourself after running so far?" The girl pointed north with her hand and said, "Of course! My home is just north of here." Lin Ning said, "Then you should hurry back home; your parents will be worried if they can't find you." The girl took hold of the rabbit and walked over to her chestnut horse, preparing to mount and leave.
Suddenly, a piercing wolf howl echoed from afar, startling both of them. Although the young girl was still quite small, she had grown up on the grasslands and knew that hungry wolves could quickly catch up to a running horse. Lin Ning, who lived in the south and was unaware of how fierce the wolves on the grasslands could be, recognized the seriousness of the situation from the girl's panicked expression. He reassured her, "Don't be afraid, little sister. I'll help you drive away the wolves."
Lin Ning picked up the girl and mounted his horse, galloping northward. The wolf pack responded to the sound, racing toward them like a gust of wind. He instructed the girl to hold onto the reins to guide the horse's direction while he rode backward on its back. With his left hand gripping a black-gold dagger and his right hand wielding the Xuanning Sword, he prepared for battle.
Before long, the wolves had flanked them on both sides. One ravenous wolf leaped up with its jaws wide open, aiming for the girl's right leg. Lin Ning swiftly slashed at the wolf's neck with his dagger, causing it to crash to the ground mid-air and die instantly. Two more wolves attacking from the left side were dispatched by Lin Ning's Xuanning Sword. The bloodthirsty pack continued their relentless assault without any sign of stopping. Lin Ning's weapons danced in a deadly rhythm, wreaking havoc among the wolves as blood and flesh flew everywhere.
Suddenly, an arrow shot forth from ahead, striking one wolf squarely in the head. Following that, a hail of arrows rained down upon the pack, halting their advance immediately. Realizing their peril, the wolves turned and fled in the opposite direction. At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed in noble Mongolian attire appeared before them, leading a group of men. The young girl leaped off her horse in delight and rushed into his arms, calling out sweetly, "Father!"
The middle-aged man was named Borjigin Buhe, a prince of the Kereit tribe in Mongolia. The girl he had just rescued was his daughter, Borjigin Bumubutai, affectionately nicknamed Dayuer. (Bumubutai would later assist in ensuring that both Emperor Shunzhi and Emperor Kangxi ascended to their thrones during the early Qing dynasty—a clever strategist who played a crucial role in shaping Qing history—most notably as Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. In the sequel to "The Tears of Guanyin," titled "Yunshan: Chronicles of Wind and Cloud," there will be a poignant love-hate entanglement between Xiaozhuang's daughter and Lin Ning's son; but that is another story.)
Dayuer pointed at Lin Ning and said, "Father, this big brother just saved me!" Borjigin Buhe looked kindly at Lin Ning and said, "Young man, what is your name? Thank you for saving my daughter; please tell me what reward you desire, and I will surely grant it."
Lin Ning replied calmly, "I am Lin Ning. Saving lives is simply my nature; Your Highness need not concern yourself with this matter." Buhe felt a surge of admiration for Lin Ning upon seeing him refuse any reward after saving his daughter. Noticing that Lin Ning was traveling alone through the desolate grasslands, he added, "The southwest direction is hundreds of miles of barren desert; it would be difficult for you to cross it alone on foot. I will give you a swift horse to aid your journey; if all goes well, you should be able to exit the desert in two days."
Lin Ning thought to himself that as someone who was about to die, he did not want to burden a horse with following him to his grave in this desert. He clasped his hands together in gratitude toward Buhe and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I do not need a horse. We shall part ways here; perhaps we will meet again." With that, Lin Ning turned and walked southwest.
Buhe and Dayuer watched as Lin Ning's figure gradually disappeared into the distance. Dayuer called out loudly toward him as he departed, "Brother Lin Ning, Dayuer will always remember you!" A bitter smile crossed Lin Ning's face as he thought: Who could possibly save my life when I am already destined to die?
Lin Ning walked on, and the withered yellow grass slowly disappeared, revealing a lifeless expanse of yellow sand. Under the scorching sun, the sand radiated waves of heat, and the yellow grains shimmered with a desperate light, creating an especially desolate scene. The vast and empty desert intensified Lin Ning's feeling of loneliness, as if he were the only person left in the world. He climbed over one sand dune after another until the sun set behind the hills, and moonlight spilled over the undulating dunes. The desert turned silver like snow, and the light reflected by the moon blended seamlessly with the color of the desert, making it hard to distinguish where the sky ended and the desert began. Lin Ning lay back on the quiet and desolate sands, and slowly his heart became as calm as water. Having endured too many hardships, Lin Ning had long since come to terms with life's separations and deaths; he decided to let this boundless desert accompany him on his final journey.
Lin Ning dozed off in a daze, and in his dream, he seemed to see Hu Xueyan walking slowly towards him. She smiled gently at Lin Ning and said, "Brother Ning, don't stay here alone; let's go to the seaside together." Hu Xueyan took Lin Ning's hand and ran towards the beach. Lin Ning was overjoyed to see the endless ocean and dove into the cool waters, eagerly drinking in the sea. Suddenly, a surging giant wave crashed over him, instantly swallowing him into the ocean... Lin Ning couldn't help but shout, "No!" He suddenly sat up from the sand dune; everything that had just happened was merely a dream. Feeling both hungry and thirsty, Lin Ning stood up from the dune and aimlessly walked into the distance.
Time passed second by second under the relentless sun beating down on the desert, as rolling waves of heat seemed ready to consume Lin Ning. He licked his dry lips with his tongue and gritted his teeth, deciding to keep walking until he could no longer stand. Lin Ning climbed over several more dunes and spotted a blackish-brown dead tree trunk standing out prominently atop a dune. He exerted himself to walk toward it and finally reached its side with what little strength remained in his body. From the shape of this dead tree trunk, Lin Ning deduced that it was a Paulownia tree; it stood over ten feet tall and was as thick as two adults could embrace. Lin Ning wondered why there was a Paulownia tree in this vast desert. He used his black gold short knife to carve several holes into the trunk before slowly climbing up. When he reached the top of the dead tree trunk and looked down, he saw nothing but darkness deep within the hollow; it was pitch black. At that moment, Lin Ning suddenly felt a resurgence of unbearable heat and pain within his body. His vision went dark, and he instantly fell into the hollow of the tree.
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