Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Lin Ning thought to himself that there was no better way to escape. He and the Princess of Yue Ming County each took half of the sedative powder and poked a small hole in the windows of every room, spraying the powder inside. After finishing this, the Princess smiled at Lin Ning and said, "This princess will also pretend to be poisoned and return to my room to rest. If Ama asks about me tomorrow, I will tell her that it was you who stole my sedative powder." Lin Ning clasped his hands together in gratitude and replied, "I cannot express my thanks enough. We shall part ways here, and may we meet again in the future."
Lin Ning returned to Lin Enzhe's room and woke both Lin Enzhe and Lin Cheng. He then called Xiong Yanbi, Miao Shuyan, Lin Xiu, Su Dongliang, and the others. Lin Ning briefly recounted the events of the day but chose not to disclose the treasure location he had discovered from Ye Haodong's poem addressed to Nurhaci. Time was pressing, and the treasure's location was a secret; he decided he would only reveal it later to Lin Enzhe, Miao Shuyan, and Xiong Yanbi when the opportunity arose. The group understood from Lin Ning's account that if Hao Ge returned to Hetuala to mobilize troops, he would arrive in Shengjing by dawn at the earliest. Everyone knew that even if Hao Ge did not cause trouble, Min had no intention of letting them leave Shengjing, so it was wise to leave as soon as possible.
The group led their horses out of the stable and galloped southwest toward Jinzhou. By dawn, they finally arrived at Jinzhou. Zu Dashow ordered his men to open the city gates, and Xiong Yanbi and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. After a day and night of turmoil, Lin Ning could not afford to rest; he informed Xiong Yanbi and Lin Enzhe about Nurhaci's plans to attack Shengjing and Liaoyang. He then read them the poem written by Ye He Dongge addressed to Nurhaci and shared his analysis regarding the treasure's location.
Xiong Yanbi sighed and said, "Now that the court has removed me from my position overseeing Liaodong, even though I know Shengjing and Liaoyang are in imminent danger, I am powerless." Lin Ning replied, "Uncle Xiong, do not worry. Once we find the treasures hidden by Nurhaci, we can use them to help the court recruit soldiers. Perhaps we can turn the current situation around." In truth, Lin Ning knew he was merely trying to comfort Xiong Yanbi; first of all, he could not be certain that the treasure was indeed located within the Aisin Gioro family's tomb in Hetuala—it was all just speculation. Secondly, even if the treasure were there, he had no idea how to find its entrance. Lastly, even if he did locate it, figuring out how to deal with the thousands of soldiers stationed there would be another formidable challenge.
While the four were talking, they heard a report from the soldiers outside that an imperial edict had arrived from the court, summoning Xiong Yanbi to immediately leave the city to receive the edict. Xiong Yanbi did not dare to delay, so he quickly put on his official attire, opened the city gate, and knelt to receive the edict. The eunuch holding the edict opened it and read aloud:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Since Xiong Yanbi has been in charge of Liaodong, he has shown no ambition, missed opportunities, and caused the loss of many cities including Kaiyuan and Tieling. Due to my concerns, it is clear that he has his own agenda. I have decided to dismiss Xiong Yanbi from his position as the Right Vice Minister of War and concurrently the Right Deputy Censor of the Imperial Academy. He is to return to the capital immediately to face the imperial presence, and there should be no delay."
"Your Majesty's decree!"
Xiong Yanbi was taken aback, his hands trembling as he received the imperial edict. He bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude, "I accept the decree, thank you for your grace, long live the Emperor!" Rising to his feet, he addressed the supervising eunuch, "Please wait a moment, allow me to change into common clothes so I can accompany you back to the capital to meet His Majesty."
Upon returning to Jinzhou City, Xiong Yanbi conveyed the contents of the edict to Lin Enzhe and the others. With a heavy sigh, he lamented, "I am powerless; I cannot ensure Master Lin's safety any longer. I must return with the eunuch to meet the Emperor. You all should hurry back to Jiangnan!"
Lin Enzhe and the others were shocked that just as they had reached a safe place, they were faced with such a sudden turn of events. They were now equally concerned for Xiong Yanbi's safety.
Xiong Yanbi reassured them, "Whether this is a blessing or a curse, it cannot be avoided. There is no need for you to worry about me. You must set off for Jiangnan immediately, but do not take the route through Ningyuan to the Borderlands. Although that area is still under imperial control, there are many spies placed by Nurhaci and Min in Ningyuan. These spies often disguise themselves as ordinary citizens, making them hard to identify. I suggest you head west swiftly into Mongolia and then south into Zhili. Once you cross the Xifengkou Great Wall, you will be completely safe."
Xiong Yanbi took off his official robes and changed into coarse cloth garments before heading outside Jinzhou City. Lin Enzhe and the others mounted their horses and followed Xiong Yanbi out of the city, bidding him a tearful farewell.
As Lin Enzhe and the others watched Xiong Yanbi ride southward until he was out of sight, they quickly turned their gazes away. Not daring to delay for even a moment, they spurred their horses westward. In less than half a day, they crossed into Mongolia. They did not stop in Mongolia but continued northward toward the Xifengkou section of the Great Wall. By evening, they finally passed through Xifengkou and found an inn to rest for the night. The next day, worried about Xiong Yanbi's safety, Lin Enzhe sent his eldest disciple, Su Dongliang, to the capital to gather news about Xiong Yanbi while the others returned with Lin Enzhe to Jinling Enzhe Gang.
More than ten days later, Su Dongliang returned from the capital to Jinling with troubling news: Xiong Yanbi had been imprisoned by Emperor Mingxi. Some malicious members of the Eunuch Faction and Eastern Lin Party took this opportunity to accuse him, and Emperor Mingxi believed the slanderous words of the Eunuch Faction's sycophants and intended to punish Xiong Yanbi. Upon hearing this, Lin Enzhe was filled with anxiety but felt helpless due to his limited abilities and lack of options.
On March 12 of the first year of the Tianqi era, Nurhaci led an army of forty thousand from Later Jin to attack Shengjing. Inside Shengjing, there were more than fifty thousand troops from the Ming Dynasty stationed. Emperor Mingxi also dispatched ten thousand troops from Sichuan and three thousand from Zhejiang to support Shengjing. The addition of these two forces made the Ming Dynasty believe that Shengjing was well-defended. However, the overall commander defending Shengjing, He Shixian, was a reckless man with bravery but no strategy. He was shot dead by archers after being lured into an encirclement by Nurhaci's troops. With the defenders in disarray, Nurhaci's forces systematically defeated them one by one. Ultimately, Shengjing fell. Following this victory, Nurhaci marched on Liaoyang, sending troops to destroy the bridges on the left flank of the Ming army, cutting off their water supply and retreat route. After intense street fighting, the city’s commander, Yuan Yingtai, committed suicide. From the attack on Shengjing to the fall of Liaoyang, Nurhaci took only nine days.
When news reached the capital, it shocked the entire court and society. Emperor Mingxi recognized his mistakes and released Xiong Yanbi from prison, reappointing him as the commander of Liaodong. Lin Enzhe received news of Xiong Yanbi's safety, and his long-suspended heart gradually found peace. However, with Nurhaci capturing two cities in such a short time, Guangning and Jinzhou were in imminent danger. Now, in a state of helplessness, the court handed this mess over to Xiong Yanbi. Enze lamented Xiong Yanbi's patriotic spirit, saying he would "respond to the emperor's command and generously leave the gates." He bore no resentment towards the emperor's fickle decisions. Although Xiong Yanbi temporarily avoided imprisonment, the situation in Borderlands was complex and ever-changing; Lin Enzhe was very aware that Xiong Yanbi's situation remained perilous.
Time flew by quickly, and soon it was mid-June. The martial arts community of Zhongyuan was about to hold its bi-decade competition for the position of martial arts leader on June 15 in Jinling. With only a few days left until the event began, many sects had already arrived in Jinling. The last martial arts conference had also taken place in Jinling twenty years ago, where top experts from various sects used all their skills to compete for the title of martial arts leader. After five days and nights of fierce competition, the position was ultimately claimed by Yuan Qingtian, the leader of the Sun Moon Gang. Yuan Qingtian was highly skilled and had mastered his unique martial art "The Art of Sun and Moon" to perfection; thus, his ascension to martial arts leader was well-deserved. Young and ambitious, Yuan Qingtian and his wife Shen Chen fought for justice and helped the poor. Whenever people spoke of this couple in the martial arts world, they did so with great respect; however, for reasons unknown, they suddenly disappeared thirteen years ago, leaving no trace behind. After Yang Yan succeeded Yuan Qingtian as leader of the Sun Moon Gang, he ordered his disciples to search for any news about Yuan Qingtian and Shen Chen, but over the years there had been no word about them at all.
Twenty years pass in the blink of an eye, and now it is once again time to elect the leader of the martial arts world. Lin Enzhe wishes fervently that Yuan Qingtian and his wife could suddenly appear in Jinling, for in his heart, Yuan Qingtian is a true hero with a chivalrous spirit and unwavering integrity. His martial arts skills and character have reached an extraordinary level, making him the ideal leader for the martial arts community in Zhongyuan—a blessing for the people.
With only three days left until the martial arts conference, Lin Enzhe stood in the clearing before the bamboo grove of the Enze Gang, teaching a few of his children and disciples the Tai Chi sword technique as he had done many times before. Holding the Xuan Yu sword, he demonstrated and explained the moves from "Tai Chi Mysteries." Lin Enzhe said, "Tai Chi is a profound martial art. Its highest realm is one of selflessness, where one forgets both oneself and the external world. The essence of Tai Chi is akin to a state of Zen—introspective practice, mental focus, still as a maiden yet ready to spring into action..."
At that moment, a chilling laugh echoed from the dense bamboo forest: "What a stillness like a maiden, poised to strike! Let me experience Master Lin's Tai Chi sword technique." As he spoke, the bamboo leaves rustled, and a figure emerged—none other than Bai Songpeng, the leader of the Penghe Gang.
Lin Enzhe clasped his fists in greeting and said, "It is an honor to have you visit our humble gang, Chief Bai. What brings you here?"
Bai Songpeng replied, "In three days, it will be the martial arts conference. I have come to Jinling early to stay at Master Lin's residence for a few days. What do you think?"
Lin Enzhe responded, "Our gang offers only simple accommodations and modest meals. If you do not mind being put out, please feel free to stay with us."
Bai Songpeng laughed heartily: "My deputy leader White Jade Peak and my second brother Bai Songhe have also come along!"
As soon as Bai Songpeng's voice fell, two figures sprang out from the bamboo forest, moving with incredible speed until they reached the group in an instant. Alongside the annoying Bai Songhe, there was now a young man in white with an exceptional demeanor. Lin Ning observed the young man, noting his delicate and handsome features, his complexion as pale as jade, a straight and attractive nose, and an air of nobility and nonchalance about him. His bright eyes exuded elegance and pride, while a faint smile at the corner of his lips revealed a free-spirited and rebellious nature. In his hand, he held a golden flute identical to the one Bai Songpeng and Bai Songhe possessed, further accentuating his noble elegance and graceful charm. Lin Xiu couldn't help but marvel inwardly, "I can't believe such a striking young man exists in this world; today I truly have witnessed something remarkable."
White Jade Peak clasped his hands together in greeting to Lin Enzhe and Miao Shuyan, saying, "Nephew White Jade Peak pays respects to Uncle Lin and Aunt Miao." Lin Enzhe and Miao Shuyan noticed that White Jade Peak had striking features, with an undeniable air of rebelliousness in his eyes and a playful smile on his lips, as if he held dominion over all things in the world. Dressed in embroidered robes, he stood there like an unsheathed sword, concealing immense power that would strike without hesitation at the slightest disturbance.
Lin Enzhe praised him, "Nephew truly is a remarkable talent!" Bai Songpeng laughed heartily in response, "The Penghe Gang and Enze Gang are two renowned factions in the martial world; naturally, the next generation we raise will surpass us! Today's gathering is indeed a great opportunity for friendship through martial arts; how about we spar a little? Let Peak witness Master Lin's superior skills."
Lin Enzhe smiled and replied, "Let us settle our scores at the martial arts competition instead. Why not have the young second Brother neration test their skills? We can provide some guidance along the way." Bai Songpeng agreed, saying, "Master Lin's suggestion is excellent. In that case, how about having Peak compete against Lin Cheng?" It turned out that Bai Songpeng thought Lin Cheng was older than Lin Ning and Lin Xiu by a few years and surely had superior skills among the three siblings. If White Jade Peak were to defeat Lin Cheng, then there would be no need for Lin Ning and Lin Xiu to compete.
Without waiting for Lin Enzhe to respond, Lin Cheng said, "Nephew Lin Cheng is eager to learn from Mr. Bai's martial arts." Lin Cheng thought to himself that his parents always believed he was inferior to his younger brother in everything, and now he had the perfect opportunity to turn the tables. In Lin Cheng's eyes, White Jade Peak was merely a handsome playboy with no real substance.
White Jade Peak clasped his hands together and said, "Brother Lin, please!" With that, he moved gracefully, his white garments billowing in the wind. The golden flute in his hand glinted in the sunlight like a streak of lightning slicing through the sky. Lin Cheng showed no fear; he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and lunged toward White Jade Peak.
White Jade Peak swiftly dodged Lin Cheng's attack, moving behind him and thrusting the golden flute directly at Lin Cheng's heart point. Lin Cheng had no time to turn around; he raised his sword high above his head, using the blade to block the flute from behind. Then, he quickly spun 360 degrees to face his opponent. With both hands gripping the sword tightly and his teeth clenched, he exerted all his strength to push back against the pressure of the flute.
A slight smile appeared at the corner of White Jade Peak's mouth as he forcefully thrust his arms forward. Lin Cheng lost his balance and stumbled backward several steps.
Seeing White Jade Peak's calm demeanor and nonchalant attitude, along with his arrogant yet charming aura and fluid movements, Lin Xiu couldn't help but be amazed. Deep down, she found herself hoping that Lin Cheng would not win this match. The victor of this duel should belong to this elegant young man who seemed to have stepped out of a painting.
As soon as the two began to spar, White Jade Peak gained the upper hand. Lin Cheng, however, believed that White Jade Peak had won by sneaking up behind him for a surprise attack. He swung his sword in a flourish, aiming a diagonal strike at White Jade Peak. In response, White Jade Peak stepped back to the left, evading Lin Cheng's blade while simultaneously thrusting his golden flute toward Lin Cheng's abdomen, targeting the Tian Shu acupoint. Lin Cheng hurriedly tightened his stomach but was ultimately a moment too slow. He felt a numbness in his abdomen, and his entire body went limp. Attempting to prop himself up with his sword, he found that White Jade Peak did not give him the chance; with a flick of his left hand, he struck Lin Cheng's right arm at the Zhong Ji acupoint. The sword clattered to the ground as Lin Cheng collapsed completely.
The outcome of the match between Lin Cheng and White Jade Peak was decided after just two or three exchanges, which greatly surprised everyone present. Bai Songpeng laughed heartily, his voice booming like thunder: "Master Lin's martial arts are unparalleled; who would have thought that his son would be so ordinary?" Miao Shuyan stepped forward to release the acupoints on Lin Cheng, who stood up with a flushed face, feeling embarrassed.
Lin Enzhe and Miao Shuyan felt their faces burn with shame; they had not expected Lin Cheng to be so easily defeated. Lin Enzhe sighed, "My dear nephew is truly a young hero, with exceptional skills and remarkable bravery. Brother Bai, I truly admire your ability to raise such a fine son." Bai Songpeng chuckled in response, "Oh no, it’s nothing really. In truth, Feng is merely slightly more talented in martial arts than your son." Everyone could tell that Bai Songpeng's words were superficially humble but were actually a veiled mockery of Lin Cheng's lack of talent.
After the duel at White Jade Peak, Lin Enzhe arranged for Bai Songpeng and his two sons to rest in their rooms. In the evening, two unexpected guests arrived at Enze Gang, namely the Dunhuang Double Slayers, Chen Zhaohui and Xiao Tianquan. Chen Zhaohui, with his small eyes rolling up and down, asked, "Why did Master Lin leave without saying goodbye last month at Amin Beile's residence in Jinling?"
Lin Enzhe replied, "I only had a fleeting encounter with Amin Beile; it was truly inappropriate for me to disturb him, hence my departure without notice."
Xiao Tianquan snorted coldly and said, "Last time at Amin Beile's estate, we Dunhuang Double Slayers did not determine a victor against Master Lin. In a few days, during the martial arts tournament for the position of leader of the martial world, my brother and I will not hold back!"
Lin Enzhe smiled and said, "I will be ready to face you both and look forward to experiencing your skills."
The next morning, with only two days left until the tournament, Zhuan Mao, Cheng Yun, and Hu Xueyan also arrived at Enze Gang. The three siblings of the Lin family were overjoyed to see Hu Xueyan, whom they had missed dearly. Lin Xiu took Hu Xueyan's hands and examined her closely for a while before saying, "It’s been a few months since I last saw you, sister. You’ve become even more beautiful! No wonder our elder brother and second Brother often mention you; they must be going crazy missing you!"
Seeing Hu Xueyan's shy demeanor made Lin Ning feel even more tender towards her. She softly asked, "Sister, have you been waking up from sweet dreams every day on Yunshan Island?"
Hu Xueyan pouted playfully and said, "You siblings are not acting like proper older brothers and sisters; are you intentionally teasing me? If you come to Yunshan Island again in the future, each of you will have to drink three cups as punishment!"
Lin Cheng said, "We all miss the carefree days on Yunshan Island. Back home in Jinling, we practice literature and martial arts every day; it’s exhausting!"
Lin Xiu added, "Yes! The tournament is the day after tomorrow. Father and Mother have been urging us to practice our skills daily; it’s simply boring!"
Lin Cheng exclaimed, "Oh no! It’s time for training now; let’s hurry up before we get scolded by Father again."
Hu Xueyan laughed and said, "Alright! I’ll come supervise later to see if your skills have improved." The three siblings of the Lin family and Hu Xueyan went to the bamboo grove to practice their martial arts. Lin Xiu demonstrated a move from the Tai Chi Mysteries called "Sleeve Secrets," while Lin Cheng, Lin Ning, Hu Xueyan, and Su Dongliang provided pointers. "Sleeve Secrets" is a fierce technique used when launching hidden weapons. Suddenly, an Iron Rhombus shot out from Lin Xiu's sleeve towards a bamboo stalk; it struck the joint but fell to the ground due to insufficient force.
Suddenly, two cold laughs echoed from the bamboo grove: "Big Brother, I think Enze Gang's Tai Chi Mysteries are nothing special!" The speaker was none other than Xiao Tianquan from the Dunhuang Double Slayers. Seeing him belittle Tai Chi Mysteries infuriated Lin Xiu. She retorted sharply, "Our Enze Gang is a reputable sect that practices righteous martial arts—not like some who specialize in evil and sinister techniques."
Xiao Tianquan was enraged by Lin Xiu's words: "Little girl, today I’ll let you experience the power of sinister martial arts." With that, he swung his spear towards Lin Xiu like he was cutting chives.
Lin Xiu was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she stumbled backward. Unfortunately, her heel caught on a tree root protruding from the ground, causing her to lose her balance and fall. Xiao Tianquan swung his spear down towards Lin Xiu's body, and the crowd gasped in horror. In that critical moment, a figure darted out quickly, scooping up Lin Xiu from the ground and rolling to the side. The rescuer was none other than Lin Ning.
Xiao Tianquan, enraged by his missed attack, directed all his fury at Lin Ning. "You brat, let me show you your grandfather's might!" he shouted, shaking his spear with a buzzing sound. Lin Ning had witnessed the martial arts of Chen Zhaohui and Xiao Tianquan at the Min residence. He knew that while Silkworm Poison's techniques were vicious, Xiao Tianquan was a hot-headed and impatient brute. The principles of Wudang Tai Chi emphasized overcoming hardness with softness, using stillness to counter movement, striking first while responding later, blending strength with gentleness. This approach was perfect for dealing with someone as impulsive as Xiao Tianquan.
As expected, after exchanging seventy or eighty moves, not only did Xiao Tianquan fail to gain the upper hand against Lin Ning, but he also found himself flustered by Lin Ning's Xuanning Sword technique. Desperate, he called out to Chen Zhaohui, who had been watching from the sidelines. "Boss, why don't you come help? Let's take this kid down together!"
Chen Zhaohui thought to himself that it would be quite embarrassing for two grown men to gang up on a mere boy. However, if he didn’t intervene, it would be extremely difficult for Xiao Tianquan to defeat Lin Ning alone. A sense of dread crept into Chen Zhaohui's heart; Lin Ning was remarkably skilled at such a young age. He feared that Lin Enzhe's abilities had reached an even more formidable level. It seemed that in a few days' time during the martial arts alliance competition, his brother and he would have no chance of winning. With that thought in mind, a malicious idea began to take root in Chen Zhaohui's mind…
Chen Zhaohui joined Xiao Tianquan's camp, wielding an iron halberd. The two masters exchanged positions in their offense and defense as if flipping a chessboard, surrounding Lin Ning under the shimmering light of the halberd and the shadows of weapons. The tense atmosphere of the duel left Lin Xiu and others breathless, while Hu Xueyan was so nervous that she held her breath, not daring to move. All she could hear was her heart pounding violently, as if it might shatter. Blinding white light dazzled everyone, and suddenly they heard Lin Ning let out a cry of "Ah!" Hu Xueyan's heart sank as she saw the white light dissipate, revealing a long gash on Lin Ning's back made by Chen Zhaohui's iron halberd, blood slowly seeping through Lin Ning's clothes. Lin Ning felt as if his back was being burned by fire, an unbearable searing pain. This burning sensation quickly spread throughout his body, causing him to weaken and collapse to the ground. Hu Xueyan and Lin Xiu cried out and rushed to Lin Ning's side. Hu Xueyan anxiously shouted, "Brother Ning, what's wrong?" Su Dongliang realized the situation was dire and turned to run and notify Lin Enzhe and Miao Shuyan.
A few minutes later, Lin Ning felt the burning pain intensifying; every inch of his skin felt as if it were being roasted, with millions of ants gnawing at every part of him. His vision blurred, and he gradually lost consciousness.
When Lin Enzhe, Miao Shuyan, and the Bai family arrived after hearing the news, Lin Ning had already fainted. Miao Shuyan held Lin Ning in her arms, crying uncontrollably. Lin Enzhe saw that although the wound on Lin Ning's back was not deep, the area around it had turned black, clearly indicating that he had been poisoned by the Dunhuang Double Slayers' Silkworm Poison. A person affected by Silkworm Poison would have the venom spread throughout their body within minutes, leading to excruciating pain until death within twelve hours. Filled with rage, Lin Enzhe shouted at Chen Zhaohui and Xiao Tianquan, "Bring the antidote!"
Chen Zhaohui coldly replied, "Doesn't Master Lin know that there is no cure for our Dunhuang Double Slayers' Silkworm Poison?" (End of Chapter Four)
Comment 0 Comment Count