The people in the hall had long since noticed the small cat lurking in the shadows, yet no one paid it any mind. Though they strove to keep their expressions placid, the anxiety in their eyes was impossible to conceal.
Suddenly, a set of footsteps echoed from outside, and six more individuals stepped into the room in quick succession.
The kitten, upon spotting one of the newcomers, shot forward as if released from a spring, leaping directly into He Yitian’s arms.
He Yiming’s eyes widened, his gaze growing slightly unfocused. He looked at his elder brother in sheer surprise; when had he taken up keeping a cat?
He Yitian offered a slightly awkward smile, murmuring softly, “This is your sister-in-law’s most treasured companion.”
He Yiming instantly understood—so it had been brought over from the Cheng family.
Yet, the status of the Eldest Sister-in-law within the household was truly extraordinary. This wasn't solely because she was the eldest son’s and the first grandson’s wife, but more importantly, her maternal family was the Cheng lineage. The dowry she brought was so substantial that even the elders of the family felt compelled to regard her with exceptional respect.
Thus, it was not just keeping a mere cat for amusement; even if they kept a tiger, the family would likely turn a blind eye and pretend not to notice.
Three people had been in the hall initially, aside from an elderly steward, a long-time servant of the estate. The other two figures were travel-worn and dusty. One was around forty or fifty years old, the other quite young, perhaps matching He Yitian’s age, barely twenty-five.
The moment He Wude entered the hall, the middle-aged man immediately rose, moving swiftly to stand before him. His knees buckled, and he performed a deep, formal bow, intoning, “Your young nephew sincerely greets Uncle He.”
He Wude was momentarily stunned; clearly, he hadn't expected such a grand gesture upon their first meeting. However, his reaction was lightning-fast. He extended one hand, applying a gentle lift, immediately pulling the man up from the floor. “Nephew Yuan, you have traveled far. There is no need for such formality.”
Yuan Chengzhi had intended to kowtow several times, but the moment He Wude’s palm made contact, he found himself unable to complete the gesture.
Yet, he was filled with mixed feelings of surprise and joy. This elder was indeed a master of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength, just as his father had claimed. However, since the old man refused to accept his full ceremonial greeting, he feared their plea for aid might not succeed after all.
Rising, Yuan Chengzhi beckoned, “Li Ling, hurry and come pay your respects to Grandpa He and all the uncles and elder brothers.”
The younger man stepped forward quickly. After only a moment's hesitation, he followed his father’s example, bowing deeply and knocking his head to the floor.
This time, He Wude did not intervene, but squarely accepted the full homage. After receiving the bow, however, he too extended a hand. “Yitian, Yiming, you two also come and greet Uncle Yuan.”
He Yiming cursed his bad luck inwardly but dared not disobey. He and his elder brother stepped forward and knelt, bowing their heads.
Yuan Chengzhi’s expression shifted slightly. He immediately declared they dared not accept such courtesy and moved to help them up, but He Wude gripped his arm, rendering him immobile. He too was forced to accept the reciprocal gesture, though the smile on his face looked decidedly strained.
After the initial exchange of courtesies, He Wude cut straight to the chase. “Chengzhi, I have read your father, Brother Yuan’s, letter. Our two families have cooperated for many years. Now that an outsider is causing trouble, this old man cannot stand idly by.”
The gloom on Yuan Chengzhi’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of intense, joyful surprise. He had clearly never expected Old Master He to agree so readily.
In truth, He Wude also felt a wave of complex emotions. Had this been three years earlier, before He Yiming’s rise, and before He Quanxin broke through to the Tenth Layer after consuming the Golden Elixir, he might not have intervened so easily, even if the Yuan family’s gifts had been doubled.
After all, the opposing side possessed a master of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength. Confronting someone of that caliber carried the risk of instant death should one misstep. And the He family still relied on his old bones to anchor the estate.
But in just three years, things had changed dramatically.
Currently, the estate boasted three masters of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength, and they had seven Limit Golden Elixirs available for use. Therefore, since the Yuan family offered ten thousand taels of gold and one-tenth of the profits, He Wude readily agreed.
Yuan Chengzhi drew a deep breath, recalling his father’s words just before he departed. Because the He and Yuan families were geographically distant yet mutually supportive, they were the most likely to offer assistance. It seemed his father’s foresight was indeed profound.
A faint sheen appeared in his eyes as he said gravely, “Uncle He, our Yuan family will never forget this kindness.”
Their Yuan family had sent out numerous appeals for help regarding this matter. Despite their heritage lacking a master of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength, their connections meant they were on friendly terms with several clans, each possessing at least one master at that level. However, since sending out the letters, not a single family had given a formal reply.
So, when He Wude agreed so readily, the excitement flooding Yuan Chengzhi can be imagined.
He Wude smiled faintly. “Nephew, no need for ceremony. You must be exhausted from your long journey. Why not rest here for the night? Tomorrow, I will have Quanxin, Yitian, and Yiming accompany you to Jinlin.”
Yuan Chengzhi quickly countered, “Uncle He, saving lives is like fighting a fire. If it’s convenient, we can leave right now…” He paused abruptly. “Uncle He, what did you say? You are sending Brother Quanxin and the two worthy nephews with me?”
He Wude nodded slowly. “That is correct. Their presence should be sufficient.”
Yuan Chengzhi’s expression immediately darkened without any attempt to conceal it. His lips trembled a few times, and he finally let out a long sigh. “Uncle He, I have one favor to ask, which I hope you will grant.”
“Speak,” He Wude inquired calmly.
Yuan Chengzhi pulled Yuan Li Ling closer to him. “This is my son, Li Ling, the legitimate eldest grandson of the third generation of the Yuan family. I wish to ask you to take him in. If our Yuan family should suffer disaster, I beg you, for the sake of our past friendship, to grant him a morsel of food so that a single bloodline of the Yuan family may survive. Our family would be eternally grateful.”
He Quanxin and the others exchanged glances. His pessimism sounded as if the Yuan family was already ruined and scattered.
He Wude snorted lightly. “Nephew Chengzhi, if you wish Li Ling to remain here, our He family will naturally care for him properly. But how could your Yuan family so easily meet with ruin?”
Yuan Chengzhi sighed hopelessly. “Uncle He, the current head of the Fan family in Jinlin is a peak master of the Tenth Layer of Houtian Inner Strength. If you do not intervene, I fear no one can match him.”
Yuan Li Ling, who had been silently pressing his lips together, suddenly stepped forward. “Father, I must return with you. I will not stay here.”
His voice was not loud, nor did it carry intense emotion, but it was firm, carrying the weight of a mountain’s resolve. Anyone hearing it knew these were his heartfelt words, a decision already made and impossible to reverse.
A flush rose on Yuan Chengzhi’s face. He forcibly suppressed the volcanic rage boiling within him, merely stating coldly, “Li Ling, you are the legitimate eldest grandson of the Yuan family; you have your own responsibilities. If you cannot bear this responsibility, then our Yuan family has no need for a wayward descendant like you.”
The muscles in Yuan Li Ling’s face twitched slightly, but he offered no defense. Instead, he abruptly knelt before He Wude and, with extreme speed, struck his head heavily against the floor.
With only two strikes, his forehead was already bright red. It was evident he was not using his Inner Strength but pleading with genuine sincerity.
He Wude quickly reached out and pulled him up, sighing, “Good child. Since you have come to the He family, we will not let you leave disappointed.”
A glimmer of hope rekindled in the eyes of both Yuan Chengzhi and his son. Could the old master be willing to go himself?
He Wude pointed to He Quanxin. “This is my eldest son, Quanxin. You two probably haven’t met before. Sending him might not mean failing to stand against the Fan family master, so rest assured.”
Yuan Chengzhi and his son paused, then their eyes grew even brighter. Yuan Chengzhi stammered, “Brother He, have you… have you already broken through to the Peak Tenth Layer?”
He Quanxin laughed heartily. “Brother Yuan, it was just a stroke of luck.”
Yuan Chengzhi and his son were overcome with genuine delight, yet they also felt an awe bordering on reverence for the He family’s strength.
A family possessing one master of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength was already a force few dared to provoke. But two such masters—that family’s reputation would undoubtedly spread far, making even thousand-year-old powerful clans hesitant to engage lightly.
In terms of sheer scale, the He family of Taicang County was smaller than the Yuan family, but in terms of peak martial power, the gap between them was now utterly incomparable.
His gaze flickered toward He Yitian and He Yiming standing behind He Quanxin. These two juniors were likely going along to gain experience.
Despite his vast experience, he could never have guessed that He Yiming possessed an even greater strength than He Quanxin.
Two hours later, eight swift horses thundered out of the He Estate in a hurry.
Among these eight, excluding He Yiming’s Red Silk horse, the other seven were the best colts in the He Estate. While nowhere near comparable to Red Silk, they were far superior to human speed over long distances.
During these two hours, Yuan Chengzhi had eaten, washed, and taken a short nap. Though he was a master of the Eighth Layer of Inner Strength, the relentless travel had left him utterly exhausted. If not for the pressing worry in his heart, he would surely have rested for several days.
Meanwhile, He Quanxin and the others quickly said their farewells to their respective families. Although Cheng Yanli and Lin Wenyu had voiced some minor objections to them leaving during the New Year period, they ultimately did not obstruct them.
As for He Quanxin, he was the undisputed head of the household; once he made a decision, no one except He Wude could overrule it.
Thus, in just two hours, they had departed the He Estate and set off on the road toward Jinlin.
Two days later, eight fast horses galloped along a desolate official road.
Seeing a small river ahead, it was remarkable that in the dead of winter, it was covered only by a thin sheet of ice, through which the gurgling sound of flowing water could faintly be heard.
One rider gently pulled his reins, and the group of horses gradually slowed to a halt.
He Quanxin surveyed the surroundings. “Brother Yuan, we’ve been riding hard for half a day. Shall we rest for a moment?”
Yuan Chengzhi’s face was etched with fatigue. Though his heart was still anxious, he agreed without hesitation. “That would be best.”
The reason four men brought eight fine horses was so they could rotate riders. Yet, even so, under this intense pace, not all the mounts could handle the strain indefinitely.
After breaking the thin ice at the riverbank and taking a moment to clean up, the men felt significantly refreshed.
Yuan Chengzhi’s gaze fell upon the Red Silk horse beside He Yiming. He sighed softly. “Nephew Yiming, where did you acquire your mount? Truly a magnificent steed.”
Of all eight horses, the Red Silk carried a far greater load than the others. The great Guan Dao, weighing three hundred and sixty jin, was a burden none of the other horses could manage.
Furthermore, He Yiming had ridden it continuously, never once swapping out. Even so, among the eight horses now, Red Silk appeared the most spirited, practically eager to move, as if several days of travel had not been enough to satisfy it.
Such a fine animal—any connoisseur would regard it with envy.
He Yiming smiled slightly, gently stroking the Red Silk horse with affection. “Uncle Yuan, this was a gift presented to me.”
“A gift?” Yuan Chengzhi stiffened internally. The value of this horse was virtually priceless; he could not fathom who would gift such a fine steed to He Yiming.
He Quanxin was also quite covetous of the horse, but knowing a little of He Yiming’s background, he did not doubt the claim.
Suddenly, the sound of rapidly approaching hooves echoed from the distance. A group of riders came tearing down the official road like a whirlwind.
It was a contingent of over thirty horsemen. The man at the head suddenly reined in his horse, and a moment later, the entire group converged toward the small river.
Stopping dozens of yards away, these men also broke the ice to draw water, and many of them plunged their heads directly into the icy river, seemingly unconcerned by the cold.
Soon after, the thirty-odd men began shouting and roaring with boisterous laughter, which caused He Yiming and the others to frown slightly.
“Bandits,” Yuan Chengzhi murmured under his breath.
He Yiming paused, asking, “Uncle Yuan, how can you tell?”
Yuan Chengzhi pointed casually. “This is the border between Tianluo and Jinlin; it has always been a haven for horse bandits. Their movements and the decorations on their clothing confirm it.”
He Yiming glanced at their attire and indeed noticed that nearly every man wore a red kerchief tied around his head or neck.
His heart stirred. “The Red Scarf Bandits?”
Yuan Chengzhi expressed surprise. “Nephew actually knows of the Red Scarf Bandits?”
He Yiming nodded slightly. Having dealt with them before, it was natural that he knew them.
“Aren’t the Red Scarf Bandits usually in Tai’a County?” He Quanxin frowned, asking. “Why are they all the way here?”
Yuan Chengzhi let out an amused chuckle. “Brother He, they are bandits. Wherever the law is lax, they will venture.”
He Quanxin’s old face flushed slightly. Although his martial prowess was high, his practical experience was indeed lacking compared to the others.
“Let’s move on,” Yuan Chengzhi said, rising softly. “We don’t seek trouble, but we don’t wish to invite it either.”
He Yiming hesitated, then asked, “Uncle Yuan, since they are bandits, why haven’t they tried to rob us?”
Yuan Chengzhi smiled proudly. “There must be some sharp-eyed individuals among these bandits. Even if they wish to rob, they must assess their target.”
He Yiming glanced at his group and suddenly understood.
The four of them openly kept their weapons secured on their saddles, and moreover, whether it was their uncle, Yuan Chengzhi, or even Elder Brother Yitian, they all possessed an aura of composure befitting at least the Seventh Layer of Inner Strength masters. Their every glance and movement carried an innate, steady dignity.
Furthermore, looking at the thirty-plus riders opposite them, rough-looking men, they remained unmoved, showing not a trace of panic. If it were He Yiming in their position, he might also hesitate to attack these people whose capabilities he couldn't gauge.
The four tidied up slightly, each leading their horses toward the main road, not sparing the thirty-odd men a single glance.
Reaching the main road, He Yiming vaulted onto the Red Silk horse. The spirited steed seemed to understand they were setting off, raising its neck high and letting out a resonant neigh.
Dozens of yards away, two of the thirty-plus bandits had been silently monitoring their activity. Just as Yuan Chengzhi suspected, they could not discern the depth of He Quanxin and the others’ power, so they dared not act rashly.
However, when the Red Silk horse neighed, at least half of the thirty bandits turned their heads. They were men who spent their lives around horses and instantly recognized a superb mount by the sound. The Red Silk horse had blended in when mixed with the others, but once it called out, it became the focus of attention.
“Halt…”
A sharp shout rang out from the bandit group. A burly man with a thick, bushy beard stepped forward, his eyes fixed greedily on the Red Silk horse.
“What is your intention, sir?”
Yuan Chengzhi’s face hardened. He was incredibly annoyed. To press on with their urgent journey, he truly did not wish for complications, but these men were clearly asking for death.
However, his gaze also fell upon the Red Silk horse, and he sighed inwardly. If he hadn’t known the identities of He Yiming and the others, he likely would have exhausted every means to claim that priceless treasure for himself.
P.S.: Today we have three chapters totaling fifteen thousand characters; tomorrow, ten thousand. Dear readers, please don't forget your recommendation votes! ^_^
Also: Recommending a book. Rebirth Chronicle Book ID 1461641 (Reads the same forwards or backward) An ordinary youth, through a twist of fate, stumbles upon a notebook recorded by a reborn soul, and thus… This book is good; at least White Crane is following it. Alas, why doesn't White Crane ever find such a book? Even a USB drive would suffice! ^_^