Chapter Two: The Nest is Completely Destroyed

At that moment, a female voice was heard from behind the curtain saying, "A Rui, are you playing tricks on people again?" The young lady Mei responded, "Senior sister, how could I dare? This time, A Rui really was careless!" As she spoke, she began to laugh again.

Early the next morning, Tang Guangting kicked Mo Gaotian awake. The young man was a heavy sleeper; he had only fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning after a night of revelry. In a daze, he gradually realized where he was. Upon focusing his eyes, he noticed that it was still dark outside. Just as Tang Guangting was about to grumble, he heard Mo Gaotian say: "Quickly wake up Miss Lin; we need to set off. If we get up late and run into fishermen, it will lead to endless complications!"

After an unknown duration of travel, they finally found a fishing dock by the river. Although the air was faintly permeated with the smell of fish, it at least provided a shelter from the wind and rain. The three of them found a spot to sit on the ground. Mo Gaotian then got up again to look for some stools and items like oars. With a casual tug, everything he touched cracked in response. He lit a fire, using the pieces as firewood. Exhausted, they huddled around the fire. Mo Gaotian sat in meditation, while Tang and Lin took their respective rests.

The three of them stumbled along the pebbles by the river in the dark, constantly tripping and falling. Moreover, Tang Guangting and Lin Lanping were both wet and cold, making their situation utterly miserable

Lin Renzhao was tall and robust, with a tattoo of a fierce white tiger on his chest, earning him the nickname "Lin Huzi." He was truly formidable. During the invasion of Huainan by the Later Zhou, he fought valiantly with reinforcements, not only successfully recapturing Shouzhou but also seizing Haozhou in quick succession. He led a death squad to set fire to Zhengyang Bridge, achieving remarkable military accomplishments. Known for his bravery and skill in battle, he was regarded as the foremost general among the commanders of Jiangnan. Emperor Taizu of Song had also heard of his ferocity, which deterred him from taking rash actions.

Tang Guangting was greatly pleased upon seeing this, thinking to himself: "I have long wanted to come down the mountain alone to see the world, but my father and mother have always disallowed it. Now, this is wonderful; not only do I have a girl to accompany me on the journey, but no matter how long I play outside, I won't be scolded when I return. As long as I can go home, they will be overjoyed, so why would they care how long I take to come back?" However, the thought of returning home made his mood sink again, and he pondered: "Can I really return safely? That old man intends to use me to exchange for that young master; he shouldn't do anything to me, right?" He thought this way, yet he had no certainty at all.

Lin Lanping grew up in a wealthy family, indulged and spoiled, with a peculiar temperament. No man had ever dared to take advantage of her in front of her. At just fourteen years old, she had only a vague understanding of matters between men and women. Seeing this annoying little brat taking the opportunity to take advantage of her, she thought of kicking him over. However, she quickly remembered that she needed something from him, so it was not appropriate to lose her temper. She could only scold lightly, "Not good! Not good!"

He repeatedly said "not bad" twice, and indeed felt that he was quite impressive. Standing up, he walked around Tang Guangting, recalling the scene from last night when Tang Guangting dealt with the Lin siblings barehanded. He then thought: "His father, the Soul-Claiming Yama Tang Guangcheng, is not well-known in the martial world, and what he could teach him is mostly external martial arts. However, being able to take on two opponents and engage in five or six hundred exchanges with a disciple of the Xuanmen orthodox school clearly shows his remarkable comprehension. Furthermore, he recalled that when he launched his attacks yesterday, he did not particularly adhere to fixed techniques; often, between moves, he displayed his own creative adaptations. Thus, the Lin siblings were at best using him as a target to practice their sword techniques, while he was using his intellect to seek victory in danger.

Before long, they crossed a dirt embankment, and a dark, turbulent river lay before them. The water, swollen from the heavy rain, surged violently like a stampede of thousands of horses. Coupled with the dim moonlight, visibility was poor; all that could be heard was the thunderous roar of the water, while the surroundings remained obscured, instilling a sense of dread. Tang Guangting silently prayed, hoping that Mo Gaotian would not find a boat.

As I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard the woman in yellow open the door and stand at the entrance, beckoning, "Everyone, please come in."

It turns out that the father of this Lin Lan bottle is Lin Renzhao, the garrison commander of Jiangdu and the governor of Nanchang.

Tang Guangting was held under Mo Gaotian's armpit, and with a pressure point struck, he found himself unable to move. After being jostled for several miles, every limb and joint ached with soreness. He opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but no sound escaped. Suddenly, as Mo Gaotian made several abrupt movements, he was so frightened that he tightly shut his eyes, his heart feeling as if it might leap from his mouth. A few raindrops, the size of soybeans, struck his face, feeling like small stones hitting him, causing a sharp, stinging pain. He thus decided to keep his eyes closed, allowing Mo Gaotian to manipulate him at will.

Thinking of Lin Lanping, all the sleepiness of Tang Guangting was awakened. He saw Lin Lanping curled up in the corner, her beautiful hair cascading down to the ground, soundly asleep. Tang Guangting truly did not want to wake her, but he slowly approached her side, cautiously reaching out to gently shake her shoulder, softly saying: "Miss Lin! Miss Lin!" After a while, there was no response from Lin Lanping. He applied a bit more force and continued: "Miss Lin! Miss Lin!" Mo Gaotian, who was watching from the side, sneered: "With such a light touch, it seems you are afraid of waking her up too harshly!"

Mogao then briefly explained Lin Lanping's identity and background, adding at the end: "His father is an official, while your father is a bandit. The officials catch bandits, much like a cat catching a mouse; one is in the sky, the other on the ground, separated by vast distances, you are likely wasting your thoughts on this matter!"

The man sighed and said, "It is a pity that my junior disciples are not here; otherwise, they would surely protect the Lin family, ensuring the safety of everyone from top to bottom!" However, Lin Yanlong had already made up his mind, and whether that man's junior disciples came or not made no difference to him. He said, "Yan Chun and I are determined to stay behind, sacrificing our lives to uphold the reputation of the Lin family. We only hope that you can ensure the safe departure of Mr. Pan, Yan Xiu, and Ping'er. In this way, both the ancestral reputation and the continuation of our bloodline can be preserved. If my late father were aware, he would surely be grateful for your great virtue!" After saying this, he knelt down deeply. The man hurriedly reached out to support him, repeatedly saying, "Young Master Lin, there is no need for this. As long as I, Song Zhenshan, have breath in me, I will absolutely not fail your trust."

The innkeeper's expression darkened, and he said with great seriousness: "I have heard that strange creatures have appeared in that place!" Although Lin Lanping was ill, she couldn't help but widen her eyes upon hearing this. Tang Guangting asked: "Strange creatures?" The innkeeper replied: "This is what my cousin said, and it cannot be wrong. He told me that many incidents have occurred in the past few months. At first, wild animals in the forest suddenly died one after another for unknown reasons. My cousin initially wondered if some fierce beast had come to the forest, as it concerned his future safety, so he carefully examined the wounds on those animal corpses. Upon closer inspection, he found it strange; there were no wounds on their bodies at all. Moreover, although the corpses were already cold, they were still soft, as if their bones had been broken."

Tang Guangting certainly knew that this was his doing, but after sitting still for a long time, maintaining his original posture without moving, his courage grew. He quickly walked up to Lin Lanping's side, fully aware that she could not move, and regardless of whether she was willing or not, he grabbed her arm and urged her deliberately: "That old thief is injured and is currently using his energy to heal. Why not take this opportunity to leave quickly?"

In order to ease Lin Lanping's embarrassment, Tang Guangting took a few steps forward and asked the woman in yellow, "Senior sister, this place is truly beautiful. If I could live here every day, I can't even imagine how happy I would be. There are so many different kinds of flowers and plants, and it seems like each one is unique. But I wonder how many varieties there are?"

The official left as commanded, chattering all the way to Pan You about the situation. Upon hearing this, Pan You was greatly alarmed and hurried to the main hall. When Lin Yanlong saw Pan You arrive, he came out to kneel and pay his respects, saying: "Sir Pan, your sudden visit at this late hour must indicate that you have a premonition. You have always served in the palace, and my father has been summoned to the palace today. Has something happened there? I hope you can inform me of a few details."

The girl named A Rui, standing nearby, saw his demeanor and felt both disgusted and amused, unable to help but chuckle softly. The young woman naturally understood what A Rui was laughing at, but among the men she had encountered so far, although each looked at her with different expressions, they were all essentially the same, so she did not take it to heart. With a blank expression, she said, "Alright, A Rui. This is not your concern, you may leave now!" A Rui replied awkwardly, "Yes!" She set down the tray and walked away. The young woman naturally understood what A Rui was laughing at, but among the men she had encountered so far, although each looked at her with different expressions, they were all essentially the same, so she did not take it to heart. With a blank expression, she said, "Alright, A Rui. This is not your concern, you may leave now!" A Rui replied awkwardly, "Yes!" She set down the tray and walked away. Mo Gao Tian thought to himself, "So this person before me is indeed the disciple of Wan Hui Chun, the Mei Shijie they mentioned."

Lin Yanlong felt as if he had swallowed a calming pill upon hearing Song Zhanshan's words. He repeatedly said, "Good, good, good!" At that moment, the central door had opened, and Huangfu Jidong led the Divine Guard troops in, with the sound of urging to receive the imperial edict continuously ringing out. Although Lin Yanlong was reluctant, he had no choice. After taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "Lord Pan, the Lin family's grievances will require your assistance in seeking redress in the future!" Pan You could only bow in tears, unable to speak. Lin Yanlong waved his hand and said, "Hurry and go!" After saying this, he turned and walked away. After taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "Lord Pan, the Lin family's grievances will require your assistance in seeking redress in the future!" Pan You could only bow in tears, unable to speak. Lin Yanlong waved his hand and said, "Hurry and go!" After saying this, he turned and walked away.

Gradually, the sound of rushing water grew louder. At this moment, Lin Lanping turned her head to look at Tang Guangting, her eyes filled with uncertainty and suspicion. Tang Guangting felt displeased and thought, "What good does it do for you to look at me now?" He wanted to take this opportunity to display his heroic demeanor in front of Lin Lanping, gritting his teeth to feign calmness, yet his teeth betrayed him and began to tremble uncontrollably. Tang Guangting felt displeased and thought, "What good does it do for you to look at me now?" He wanted to take this opportunity to display his heroic demeanor in front of Lin Lanping, gritting his teeth to feign calmness, yet his teeth betrayed him and began to tremble uncontrollably.

In terms of being an emperor, Li Yu's talents do not even amount to one ten-thousandth of his abilities in poetry, prose, and painting. From the very beginning, he never intended to seize the Central Plains; what he prepared for was to be a vassal state of the Song Dynasty. He almost paid tribute every year, with the highest record being four times in one year. He presented gifts on the birthday of the founding emperor, and even upon the completion of tall buildings, he had to offer congratulatory gifts. Silks and satins, along with gold and silver, were transported in the tens of thousands from the Southern Tang, until the national treasury was depleted. Later, due to a lack of resources and in order to save expenses, he even devised a way to use iron instead of copper for minting coins, which was the raw material for copper coins.

Tang Guangting, feeling amused, then said: "If you can't carry it, then why not just hold it!" Lin Lanping, upon hearing this, responded even more resolutely: "No!" Tang Guangting pretended to be angry and said: "You can't accept this, and you don't want that either. What exactly do you want? Why don't you just stay here by yourself!" After saying this, he turned around and pretended to leave.

On the road, Tang Guangting could no longer hold back and asked, "Senior Mo, we have been unable to find anyone who knows about this place along the way. Firstly, it seems this place is remote, and secondly, it is likely that most of those who know about it have already passed away, right?" Mo Gaotian thought for a moment and found this reasoning plausible, so he nodded. Tang Guangting continued, "As for the tales of monsters and demons, it is likely that these rural villagers are embellishing the truth and exaggerating the stories. However, with so many people having died, there must be something amiss. ... ... Senior Mo visited that place twenty years ago; do you know the reason behind it?"

Tang Guangting smiled wryly and said, "Didn’t you just say, Senior, that if you are happy, you will naturally let me go? If you are unwilling, even if I kneel on the ground to beg you, it would be in vain." Mo Gaotian laughed heartily and replied, "This little brat is clever and quick-witted, drawing inferences from one instance, which is very much to my liking! Not bad, not bad!

Pan You was a civil official who had never witnessed such lethal skills, and he was so frightened that his hands and feet went weak. Song Zhenshan did not pay much attention; he only felt a sinking sensation in his hand and immediately reached back to grab Pan You's waistband. Strangely enough, although Song Zhenshan was not much taller than Pan You, this action lifted him half a foot off the ground. Then, with his right hand, he sheathed his sword, extended his arm, and caught Lin Yanxiu, shouting, "Hurry!" Song Zhenshan then held Pan You with his left hand and pulled Lin Yanxiu with his right, while Lin Yanxiu held onto Lin Lanping with her right hand. The four of them rushed out as if they had wheels of wind and fire under their feet.

Mogao shot him a glare and said, "She is suffering from psychological trauma due to an unexpected family incident. Coupled with the fatigue from the journey, she is utterly exhausted, which has led to a strain on her heart. I am not a doctor; my internal energy can only sustain her life for a while. If you truly wish to cure her illness, you must consult a physician." He thought to himself, "Using my internal energy and knowledge from books to treat her is certainly feasible, but the force from the punch I received yesterday has not yet fully dissipated within me. Although Song Zhanshan was also injured, I fear his followers are nearby. The more internal energy I expend, the greater the danger I face; this is a crucial point that cannot be overlooked." He then continued, "You are quite amusing, only concerned about the young lady while neglecting your own safety."

Lin Lanping forcefully tightened her left arm around his neck, choking him, and angrily said, "If you say another word of nonsense, just watch me strangle you to death!" In fact, Lin Lanping's tightening was meant as a warning and was not very forceful. Instead, Tang Guangting took advantage of her action to pull her waist closer with his right hand, simultaneously shouting, "Ouch, you're going to strangle me to death! You're going to strangle me to death!" Lin Lanping had never encountered such a rogue; when her body was embraced tightly, she could only scream in panic. The two of them were playfully wrestling, completely forgetting that someone named Mo Gaotian was nearby.

The intruder said: "Young Master, there is a large crowd outside, holding torches that illuminate this place as bright as day, shouting loudly. What on earth has happened?" Lin Yanlong then recounted the entire incident in general terms. The man, upon hearing this, was greatly alarmed and exclaimed: "General Lin is so loyal; I never expected he would meet such an end. Those people outside must have ill intentions! Just now, when I was about to enter, several individuals pointed their guns to block my way. I had no time to deal with them, so I simply climbed over the wall. Those people initially wanted to stop me, but I vaguely heard someone say: 'Let him go; the general has ordered that we manage the exit but not the entrance. If he wants to go in, let him in!'" Lin Yanlong sighed and said: "With tyrants and sycophants in power, it is not just the Lin family that faces such calamity; the common people of Jiangnan will likely find it difficult to escape the disaster of upheaval and displacement from now on." As he spoke, he recounted the results of his recent discussion with Lin Yanchun in detail.

Around each of the thatched cottages, plots have been dug out to form nurseries. A few green leaves have sprouted new buds, and several men and women, regardless of age, are dressed in yellow attire. Some are drawing water for irrigation, while others are hoeing and turning the soil, busily moving in and out of the nurseries, completely unaware of the arrival of outsiders

After a moment, Pan Youcai slowly said, "Your Majesty received news last night that the general had previously received a secret edict from Zhao Kuangyin, plotting a rebellion..." Lin Renzhao's second son, Lin Yanchun, who had a hot temper, could not help but exclaim, "How can this be! Nonsense! Nonsense!" Lin Yanlong quickly intervened, saying, "Second brother, please calm down. Lord Pan is merely presenting this matter to us." He turned to Pan You and said, "My younger brother has an impulsive nature; please do not take offense, Lord Pan!" Pan You replied, "Indeed!" He cleared his throat and continued, "The ministers in court have learned of this news. Some advocate for the immediate arrest of your father, while others suggest a thorough investigation." Knowing Pan You to be generous and upright, Lin Yanlong said, "Lord Pan is not afraid of power and stands against the majority. I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of my late father to Lord Pan for this." After saying this, he performed a deep bow as a gesture of respect.

Faintly, he heard what seemed to be the sound of flowing water. A thought suddenly flashed through Tang Guangting's mind: "Oh no, this old man is going to take us on a boat and travel by water. If we really hurry, we could cover a hundred miles in one night. He is definitely planning to take me away, and what does he mean by changing people?" At this moment, he truly began to feel afraid. Fortunately, he was wet and cold, trembling uncontrollably; even if someone saw him, he wouldn't feel embarrassed. If we really hurry, we could cover a hundred miles in one night. He is definitely planning to take me away, and what does he mean by changing people?" At this moment, he truly began to feel afraid. Fortunately, he was wet and cold, trembling uncontrollably; even if someone saw him, he wouldn't feel embarrassed.

Tang Guangting and Lin Lanping asked in unison, "Where are we going?" Mo Gaotian replied, "The route has been clarified, why are you not hurrying to leave!" The two did not dare to disobey and quickly filled their stomachs before setting off.

The Privy Councillor Chen Qiao, who had a good relationship with Lin Renzhao, secretly informed Lin Renzhao to be cautious after learning about this matter. Lin Renzhao, having never received an imperial edict from the Song, paid no attention to such rumors and dismissively said, "I, Lin, have a clear conscience; who should I fear?" He treated Chen Qiao's words as mere noise. When Li Yu indeed summoned him for questioning, he naturally replied, "No!" Li Yu merely thought he was deliberately concealing something and did not say much more, only instructing to host a banquet for Lin Renzhao while secretly ordering poison to be placed in his wine. Lin Renzhao, suspecting nothing, left after eating and drinking to his fill, and not long after, he succumbed to the poison at home.

Pan You bowed deeply in return and continued: "This matter is of great importance; the Emperor has decided to summon the General to the palace for questioning. When General Lin heard such news in the presence of the Emperor, he appeared extremely agitated and vehemently denied it. The crowd began to chatter in confusion. I observed that the Emperor remained noncommittal and then issued an edict to host a banquet, believing that although the Emperor would not let the matter rest so easily, he at least felt that a thorough investigation was necessary, which is why he arranged the banquet to soothe General Lin's emotions. During the feast, he even bestowed a cup of wine..." Lin Yanchun shouted: "Could it be that this useless Emperor actually poisoned my father!" Lin Yanlong reprimanded: "Second brother, do not speak recklessly!" Pan You's eyes brimmed with tears, and I saw that the Emperor remained noncommittal and then issued an edict to host a banquet, believing that although the Emperor would not let the matter rest so easily, he at least felt that a thorough investigation was necessary, which is why he arranged the banquet to soothe General Lin's emotions. During the feast, he even bestowed a cup of wine..." Lin Yanchun shouted: "Could it be that this useless Emperor actually poisoned my father!" Lin Yanlong reprimanded: "Second brother, do not speak recklessly!" Pan You, with tears in his eyes, choked out: "At the banquet, I sat shoulder to shoulder with your esteemed father; aside from this imperial wine, the food we consumed was no different!"

At that moment, Tang Guangting was so engrossed in his thoughts that he was completely unaware of the tea spilling onto him. When he finally realized, the scalding liquid had already caused him to jump up from his chair. If it weren't for the two beautiful women beside him, he would have already exclaimed, "Oh my God!" to maintain his composure.

However, the sound of the falling weapons still startled the nearby soldiers, and two squads of troops shouted as they surrounded from both flanks, scattering into the alleys to pursue. Although it appeared that Song Zhanshan was leading three people alone, Lin Yanxiu and his sister had trained for several years and were not slow on their feet, gradually allowing only the mounted soldiers to catch up with them. As the number of pursuers decreased, Song Zhanshan's fear began to dissipate. Upon reaching the location where his disciple was waiting, he instead joined forces to bring down the pursuing soldiers. Although it appeared that Song Zhanshan was leading three people alone, Lin Yanxiu and his sister had trained for several years and were not slow on their feet, gradually allowing only the mounted soldiers to catch up with them. As the number of pursuers decreased, Song Zhanshan's fear began to dissipate. Upon reaching the location where his disciple was waiting, he instead joined forces to bring down the pursuing soldiers.

Tang Guangting hurriedly said, "I didn't mean it that way..." Mo Gaotian interrupted him, saying, "I don't care what you mean. In any case, in this world, if I want to do something, I will do it. If I don't want to do something, even if someone puts a knife to my throat, I would still ask him to chop it off quickly." Tang Guangting was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and could only say, "Yes, yes! However, you have kidnapped Miss Lin, and look at her, she is so ill that she has lost half her life. Capturing someone who is half dead is probably not very glorious for you. At the very least, you should treat her and make her well, just like you did just now!"

Tang Guangting noticed that Mo Gaotian's expression was unusual, as he kept scrutinizing him with both eyes, which made him feel a chill run down his spine. He quickly spoke up, saying: "Old senior, since you cannot save Miss Lin, we should leave quickly and find a doctor elsewhere!" Only then did Mo Gaotian come back to his senses and replied: "Indeed!" He thought to himself: "Taking on a disciple is not something to be taken lightly; there are still important matters at hand. I can observe him further along the way, and I must not repeat the mistakes of my senior brother." He then continued, "Alright, let's board the ship!"

It is said that enemies meet on a narrow road, and when foes encounter each other, their animosity is particularly intense. Although Xiong Yifei is a rough man, he is also thin-skinned and cannot withstand ridicule. Hearing Mo Gaotian mock him in such a manner, he raised his axe and charged forward. However, his shoulder injury had not yet healed, and his strength and speed were far from what they used to be. Mo Gaotian, seeing his actions akin to striking a stone with an egg, couldn't help but find it amusing. He then stepped aside and, with a swift motion of his right palm, prepared to accommodate him.

Mei Yingxue did not look up at her, her eyes fixed on the few words written on the paper, and said: "I remember now, the pine nut and lotus seed cake you made yesterday, the pine nuts must have been roasted first before being ground into powder, right!" While speaking, she began to write again. Ah Rui replied: "Yes, didn't you say I made it too sweet? If you want to eat it now, there isn't any left. I saw you take a bite yesterday, and the expression on your face clearly indicated that you wanted me to throw it away! I looked around and felt it was a waste, so at night I made an appointment with Ginkgo to finish it off."

The emperor and his ministers had a lengthy discussion, after which the founding emperor feigned illness and left the court early. Li Congshan and a group of court officials exited, and since it was still early in the day, the ministers, both intentionally and unintentionally, guided Li Congshan to a separate room where a portrait of Lin Renzhao was hanging. Upon entering the room, Li Congshan immediately spotted the portrait of Lin Renzhao. The court officials noticed his unusual expression and, knowing he recognized the subject of the painting, pretended to ask, "Do you recognize this person, my lord?" Li Congshan, filled with doubts, was about to seek clarification when he saw his colleague asking him, so he took the opportunity to inquire, "Isn't this the portrait of General Lin Renzhao, the governor of our country? How... how could his portrait be here?" One of the attendants replied, "General Lin is a fierce general from Jiangnan and has never been to Jiangbei in his lifetime. We have long heard of his name but have never had the chance to see him in person, so how could we possibly have his likeness? This portrait was personally submitted by General Lin through an intermediary."

The young girl first approached Tang Guangting and said with concern, "I apologize, my sister A-Rui is quite mischievous and meant no harm. I hope you can forgive her. May I ask if you were burned?"

Generally speaking, those who serve as teachers have the greatest desire to cultivate the talents of the world. Practitioners of martial arts often share this flaw; when they encounter rare and exceptional materials, it is akin to a sculptor discovering Hetian jade or a painter obtaining Tinggui ink. Not only do they wish to possess these treasures, but they are also eager to showcase their skills on them, using all their abilities to validate their extraordinary talents

She had not yet arrived in the hall, but she could already hear the chaos within. Lin Lanping's heart began to race uncontrollably. In a moment, she hurriedly rushed into the hall, only to find the family members had gathered together, crying in a heap. She forcefully pushed through the crowd and squeezed her way in, only to see her father lying on the ground, blood continuously flowing from his mouth, eyes, and ears. It appeared he had been dead for some time.

Mogao Tian said, "Hmph, are you trying to say that I bully the weak with my strength? Let me tell you, I, Mogao Tian, will not do anything I do not wish to do, not even for the Heavenly King himself. What is the Emperor to me? I do not regard him at all! Who is good and who is evil, who is loyal and who is treacherous, I have my own eyes to see; do I still need you, you little brat, to teach me?"

Tang Guangting noticed that Mei Yingxue was unexpectedly discussing unrelated matters in the middle of her consultation, which he found somewhat perplexing. He could only hear A Rui talking incessantly about how she meticulously removed the cores from the lotus seeds, how she steamed and sun-dried them, ground the rice, and wrapped them in batter, all of which involved intricate water grinding techniques. He couldn't help but think that A Rui must be exceedingly bored in her daily life to come up with such fanciful ideas for making these pastries. Turning to glance at Mo Gaotian, he saw him standing up and moving closer to the window to gaze outside. He couldn't help but think that A Rui must be exceedingly bored in her daily life to come up with such fanciful ideas for making these pastries. Turning to glance at Mo Gaotian, he saw him standing up and moving closer to the window to gaze outside.

Pan You suddenly struck the palm of his left hand with a fist and exclaimed, "Oh no!" He grabbed Lin Yanlong's hand and hurriedly said, "Just now, as I was leaving the palace, I accidentally saw Huangfu Jidong mustering troops in the training ground." Lin Yanlong asked, "What does that mean?" Pan You replied, "The Emperor has poisoned General Lin, which shows his deep suspicion. Huangfu Jidong is the Commander of the Divine Guard Army; what is he doing mustering troops in the dead of night? Moreover, Huangfu Jidong has always been at odds with your father!"

Mo Gao Tian stood hesitantly by the riverbank and then proceeded north along the shore. As he walked, he suddenly felt a stumble beneath his feet, causing him to lurch forward. He let out a loud "Oh no!" as his forehead struck a stone by the riverbank, instantly swelling into a bump

In the midst of his wild thoughts, Miss Mei had already placed the tea in front of him. Tang Guangting reached out to take it and casually said, "Thank you, Miss Mei!" This was merely a common expression of politeness, but as he spoke, he stared at her with a somewhat frivolous demeanor. Upon noticing this, Miss Mei felt a secret joy at the fact that her appearance could cause a man to lose his composure. However, she still found his gaze disrespectful. With a swift motion, she tilted her hands and poured half of the hot tea onto Tang Guangting's body. Although she felt a secret joy at the effect her beauty had on him, she still disliked his impolite stare and, with a quick movement, poured half of the hot tea onto him.

Mo Gaotian adjusted the hem of his long robe, clasped his fists, and said in a loud voice: "Could you please inform your master that Mo Gaotian requests an audience." Upon hearing the voice, everyone looked up. Among the crowd, an older woman in yellow said: "Sir, your timing is quite unfortunate; the sect leader left the valley several months ago, and we currently do not know his whereabouts."

Unexpectedly, just as he took a step, a small stone flew from behind and struck precisely at the "Heyang Point" on Lin Lanping's left calf. Lin Lanping exclaimed "Oh!" and bent down, falling to the ground. After struggling a few times, she was unable to get back up. Tang Guangting followed the trajectory of the small stone and saw Mo Gaotian sitting cross-legged on the ground, his eyes tightly closed, completely motionless.

Tang Guangting noticed his focused expression and couldn't help but pay attention. Meanwhile, he heard Mei Yingxue say, "A Rui, you first have the little servant prepare the medicine according to this prescription and have this young lady take it." It turned out that the two had already finished discussing the candy and pastries and returned to the matter at hand. Tang Guangting no longer paid attention to Mo Gaotian and saw A Rui take the prescription from Mei Yingxue's hand, saying, "Should we arrange for this young lady to rest in a guest room?" Mei Yingxue replied, "Yes, please help her over there."

Lin Lanping, upon hearing this, burst into another fit of wailing. Amidst the chaos, the doorkeeper suddenly reported that Lord Pan You from the palace was requesting an audience. Lin Renhao's eldest son, Lin Yanlong, abruptly stood up and said: "Quickly invite him in; we happen to have matters to consult him about!"

Mo Gao Tian continued: "It is of no consequence. However, you should know that this nickname was not given to him by the old man. At that time, though, everyone in the martial world knew it well. Fortunately, your master's character is quite different from that of your grandmaster. I do not appreciate your grandfather's profit-driven approach, but considering that you were not yet born at that time, even if you had been, this matter would not fall upon you."

Tang Guangting and Lin Lanping exchanged glances, each calling for some pancakes to satisfy their hunger. After Mogao Tiancao hastily filled his stomach, he urged, "Hurry up and eat, we need to leave!"

However, Mo Gao Tian had no time to pay attention to them. He had passed through this place in the morning and had clearly surveyed an abandoned shrine in preparation for unforeseen circumstances. But now it was already midnight, and the surroundings were pitch black; nothing could be discerned in terms of terrain or features, so how could he possibly find the shrine he had seen during the day

The more Mogao Tian thought about it, the more his heart stirred, and he couldn't help but ponder: "With his talent combined with my guidance, in twenty years, he should be able to compete with the heroes of the world. Even Song Zhenshan would probably not be much different!" Reflecting on his own reputation that intimidated the martial world, he realized that there were very few who were qualified to be compared with him. However, the fact that no one could inherit his skills was undeniably a regret.

Li Congshan was naturally taken aback upon hearing this and hurriedly pressed for details. The attendant deliberately hesitated for a while before finally stammering, "Since you are already an official in the court, we are all subjects of the same dynasty, so I shall speak frankly. The Emperor has long admired General Lin and recently issued a decree summoning him. He has expressed his willingness to return, but is waiting for the right moment. Fearing that mere words may lack credibility, he has sent this portrait as a token of sincerity." After saying this, he led Li Congshan to a grand mansion near the palace and pointed out, "I have heard that the Emperor intends to bestow this residence upon General Lin. As long as he truly submits to the decree, with the Emperor's grace, is there any doubt that he could secure a position as a regional governor?"

Mo Gaotian let out a disappointed "Oh," and then said, "That is of no concern. I have a good relationship with your master. I have come to visit this time with a request, but it cannot be done without your master’s involvement. May I ask if your master has any disciples present?" The woman in yellow replied, "Is Mr. Mo here to seek medical treatment?" Mo Gaotian responded, "Indeed!" The woman in yellow said, "In that case, please follow me."

Lin Lanping was taken aback. Her father was a military officer; if he were to die in battle today, it would certainly be sorrowful, but there is a saying: "A broken jar does not stray far from the well; a general is bound to perish in the battlefield." She had long been mentally prepared for such a possibility. However, to die tragically at home was something she could not accept under any circumstances. Lin Lanping wept uncontrollably, rushing over to embrace her father's corpse, crying out, "How could this happen? How could this happen?" At that moment, Lin Yanxiu was also nearby, merely saying, "Father went to the palace this afternoon and just returned a moment ago. My elder brother and I waited for a long time. After father entered, he spoke with us for a while. Who would have thought that as soon as I turned around, he suddenly spat blood and collapsed..." Lin Lanping wept uncontrollably, rushing over to embrace her father's corpse, crying out, "How could this happen? How could this happen?" At that moment, Lin Yanxiu was also nearby, merely saying, "Father went to the palace this afternoon and just returned a moment ago. My elder brother and I waited for a long time. After father entered, he spoke with us for a while. Who would have thought that as soon as I turned around, he suddenly spat blood and collapsed..." At this point, his voice choked, and he could say no more.

It turned out that Song Zhanshan had a calculation in mind. If he were to send the siblings back to Changjianmen for settlement, they would be safe, but this would openly put him at odds with the court, which would greatly contradict the original intention of Changjianmen in forming a friendship with the Lin family. Therefore, he decided to distance Changjianmen from this matter and secretly instructed his disciple to return and report to the sect leader, asking him to feign ignorance of the situation, especially to avoid sending any support. However, neglecting the Lin siblings would go against the principles of the martial world. Fortunately, he had a wide circle of friends, and along the way, he sought the help of his sworn brothers: Shen Fengming and Xiong Yifei. He thought to himself: "Since the Lin family cannot be settled in Jiangnan, why not simply take them to Jiangbei? After all, Li Congjia is already suspicious that they are colluding with the Song soldiers, and I cannot follow them for a lifetime. If the siblings' whereabouts are discovered by the Southern Tang in the future, they will only conclude that the Lin family indeed has dealings with the Song court, and will not suspect Changjianmen at all!"

As Mogao Tian muttered to himself, Tang Guangting was left utterly bewildered. However, upon hearing him mention her family, Lin Lanping felt as if a fuse had been ignited in her mind, not only reminding her of her family's recent misfortunes but also bringing to mind her current predicament. Now, the only remaining relative in this world had also been separated from her the night before, with their fate uncertain. The thought of this made her eyes redden, and tears began to flow uncontrollably. Now, the only remaining relative in this world had also been separated from her the night before, with their fate uncertain. The thought of this made her eyes redden, and tears began to flow uncontrollably

Mogao laughed heartily and said, "What is there to admire about the old man's face? Yet, Wan Huichun, who is quite advanced in age, has unexpectedly taken on such a clever and beautiful girl as his disciple. It truly makes one envious." The implication was a questioning of Wan Huichun's intentions in accepting her as a disciple.

It is said that after the Chenqiao mutiny, Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, had already successively pacified Jingxiang, defeated Western Shu, and subdued Southern Han. With the pacification of Southern Han, the neighboring Southern Tang naturally felt the tremors throughout the nation. The ruler of Southern Tang, Li Yu, had no intention of contending with Song for supremacy; he hastily dispatched his brother, Li Congshan, as an envoy, referring to himself as "a humble minister" in his memorial to Emperor Taizu of Song. The entire text was filled with humility and flattery, expressing not only his willingness to change the national title but also to alter the inscription on the imperial seal to read "Lord of Jiangnan," while requesting Emperor Taizu to bestow a decree to call his name. However, how could one allow others to sleep soundly beside them? At that time, Emperor Taizu had already reached an agreement with his brother Zhao Guangyi and Prime Minister Zhao Pu on the policy of "first the south, then the north," making the conquest of Jiangnan a matter of necessity, yet he still consented to Li Yu's requests. The primary reason for this was Lin Renzhao.

Everyone then rode their own horse. Song Zhenshan instructed his disciple to escort Pan You back to the palace, and returned to Changjianmen to report the news, while he personally led the Lin siblings northward.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Tang Guangting felt as if he had been running on flat ground, and the rain gradually ceased. Only then did he open his eyes. Before him, the moonlight gently illuminated the grass, and when he looked up, he saw an endless expanse of darkness surrounding him. Straining his eyes, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a shadowy mountain in the distance, slowly receding behind him. The thought of that inexplicable old man, who was taking him step by step away from the home he had known since childhood, inevitably filled his heart with a wave of unease. Straining his eyes, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a shadowy mountain in the distance, slowly receding behind him. The thought of that inexplicable old man, who was taking him step by step away from the home he had known since childhood, inevitably filled his heart with a wave of unease.

Seeing this, Tang Guangting interjected, "Where are you taking her?" Mei Yingxue replied, "In the prescription for this young lady, besides some dangshen, cooked earth, and white peony to nourish the blood and benefit the marrow, I also included some yuan zhi and ginseng to calm the spirit. Therefore, after taking the medicine, it is best for her to lie down and rest well, as this will help her recover more quickly"

As Tang Guangting thought of his earlier embarrassing behavior, which the young lady had witnessed, he couldn't help but feel his face flush with shame. He was originally quite eloquent and wanted to say something to smooth over the situation, but even though he opened his mouth, his mind was in a turmoil, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Tang Guangting was momentarily taken aback, but soon realized that Mo Gaotian was mocking him. His face turned crimson as he replied, "At least it's better than 'Arrogant Old Man,' which sounds terrible and can only be used by old men. Didn't you have a nickname when you were young?" Mo Gaotian snorted but did not respond. However, Tang's words did make him feel a bit puzzled.

Tang Guangting supported Lin Lanping and found a stool to sit down, but Mo Gao Tian did not take a seat. With his hands clasped behind his back, he paced back and forth in a square. Tang Guangting, feeling bored, also stood up and walked out of the pavilion. Looking up, he saw the lush greenery all around, with light smoke curling, red flowers and colorful butterflies, white clouds and flying birds. Faintly, the sounds of laughter and conversation could be heard, creating a scene of peace and happiness, reminiscent of a celestial paradise.

Mei Yingxue looked up and said, "Who asked you that? I want to know how you make your lotus seeds." A Rui smiled proudly and replied, "This is my unique secret! But it doesn't matter if I tell you..." As she spoke, she began to discuss the process of making this pine cone lotus seed cake.

Seeing her anxious demeanor, Tang Guangting felt a surge of joy and said, "Since your foot is inconvenient, even if I support you, we won't be able to walk quickly. I think it would be better this way! I will carry you instead!" With that, he squatted down in front of her, making it clear that she should lean on him.

Last night, although Mogao Tian faced a formidable enemy, the internal cultivation method he practiced had recently reached a new level. Not only was his energy abundant, but his senses were also sharper than before. Therefore, every move of Tang Guangting and the Lin siblings, even if only perceived in his peripheral vision, now came back to him vividly.

Tang Guangting hurriedly got up, rubbing his forehead with his right hand, and said in a fit of anger: "You old fool, why did you throw me?" As soon as he spoke, he realized he could already make sounds, and then he moved his hands and feet, finding that his limbs could also regain movement. Tang Guangting was overjoyed, only to see Mo Gaotian's entire upper body bent down, his right hand releasing Lin Lan's bottle, while he was caressing his left side, his shoulder shaking violently as if he were enduring immense pain

As the woman in the yellow dress walked away, Mo Gao Tian suddenly remarked, "It has been twenty years since I last came here, and everything has changed completely!" No sooner had he finished speaking than a young girl emerged from behind the curtain. She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a light green satin top and a bright red floral skirt. She held a tray in her hands, which contained four plates of fruit, a teapot, and four teacups, and she walked out with a cheerful smile. Tang Guangting found her appearance charming and her welcoming smile evoked a genuine fondness in him. Suddenly, he thought, "In terms of looks, this Miss Mei and Miss Lin each have their own merits, but when it comes to being likable, Miss Lin is certainly far behind!" As he pondered this, he turned to glance at Lin Lanping, only to see her face devoid of color, resembling the delicate appearance she had on the night they first met, which stirred his feelings of affection once more.

Tang Guangting thought to himself that this was indeed the best outcome. Seeing that Mogao Tian did not express any objections, he helped lift the curtain, allowing A Rui to support Lin Lanping as they made their way out to the corridor at the back.

Tang Guangting, seeing that he did not respond, continued: "Old senior, with your exceptional martial arts skills and a nickname that could frighten Song Zhanshan half to death, how can you willingly become a slave to the court? Not to mention that her father is a great and loyal general, but to use your status to make things difficult for such a young girl—if this were to accidentally leak out and be known by others, wouldn’t that be somewhat... well, you know..."

Lin Yanlong said, "What do you think we should do, Mr. Yi?" Pan You replied, "There is no time to lose; we should leave quickly! The farther we go, the better!" Lin Yanlong replied sternly, "No, if we do that, how is it any different from admitting to treason?" Lin Yanchun echoed, "I share the same opinion as my brother." Pan You urged, "The difference here is vast..." Just as he was about to explain further, a series of loud banging sounds came from outside the door, accompanied by someone shouting, "The imperial decree has arrived! Lin Renzhao, the magistrate of Nanchang and the garrison commander of Jiangdu, is to receive the decree!" Before the sentence was even finished, the entire door was nearly about to collapse from the incessant banging. Pan You, with a pale face, murmured, "Everyone, stop arguing! It’s already too late..."

The bare-chested man, disregarding the obstruction of the woman in yellow, barged in. At this moment, he heard the woman in yellow reporting to the young girl before him, her tone and demeanor suggesting that the girl was her superior. Although he found it hard to believe that such a delicate young girl could possess remarkable medical skills, he still politely clasped his hands and said: "Miss, please do not take offense! It is truly because my brother is gravely injured, and ordinary medicine cannot help him. We rely solely on external application of internal energy every hour to keep him alive. However, just now, no matter how much internal energy I infused, it was as if it sank into the sea. I fear he cannot last another moment, which is why I acted rudely. If you can truly save my brother, the one surnamed Xiong will bow to you!"

Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper quickly said: "Ah, esteemed guest, you have not yet eaten your noodles! I truly apologize; it is just my habit to talk too much. In any case, that place is plagued by demons and monsters, and all the remaining survivors have moved out recently. Therefore, it would be best for you not to go there if you have nothing to do."

In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, he suddenly caught sight of a fierce yet charming woman right within his reach. She appeared pale, her eyes tightly shut, displaying a look of great fear. Tang Guangting had grown up in a mountain village and had never seen a girl of similar age. Especially Lin Lanping, with her well-defined and beautiful features, her face a rosy white, was exceedingly pleasing to the eye. As Tang Guangting gazed at her, he became entranced, completely forgetting the perilous situation he was in

Thus, Song Zhanshan took the lead, pulling Pan You along, while Lin Yanxiu followed closely with Lin Lanping, climbing over the wall from the place where Song Zhanshan had just come. The soldiers, who were responsible for entry but not exit, saw a shadow flash overhead and shouted, "Who is it?" Their long spears and halberds thrust forward. Song Zhanshan knew it was not wise to linger here; if they were to be entangled by someone, and thousands of troops converged, even if one possessed the greatest martial arts in the world, it would be impossible to ensure anyone else could escape. Therefore, without further ado, he thrust out his long sword as a killer move. The sound of long spears and broadswords clattering to the ground echoed, and the few soldiers did not even let out a groan, all meeting their end. Song Zhanshan knew it was not wise to linger here; if they were to be entangled by someone, and thousands of troops converged, even if one possessed the greatest martial arts in the world, it would be impossible to ensure anyone else could escape. Therefore, without further ado, he thrust out his long sword as a killer move. The sound of long spears and broadswords clattering to the ground echoed, and the few soldiers did not even let out a groan, all meeting their end.

Lin Lanping felt the fingers resting on her wrist were even colder than her own wrist, unable to help but glance up at Mei Yingxue.

Li Congshan responded vaguely with a few words and then hurriedly took his leave. Upon returning to his residence, he quickly wrote a letter and sent someone to rush back to the Southern Tang at night to inform his elder brother, Li Yu. Lin Renzhao had become a target due to his prominence, and Zhu Quanbin and Huangfu Ji, who held military power in the court, had long harbored resentment against him because of his exceptional bravery. Upon learning this news, they seized the opportunity to slander Lin Renzhao to Li Yu, claiming that he was secretly in contact with the Song court, amassing troops for self-importance, and intending to establish himself as king.

The relationship between the Changjian Sect and Lin Renzhao is well-known among the people of Nanchang Prefecture. Today, the Emperor issued an edict to confiscate their property, yet two individuals managed to escape, injuring several members of the Divine Guard in the process. If this matter is pursued, it is likely that the Changjian Sect will be implicated, and the Lin siblings will become a hot potato. However, as long as they are sent across the river, the court will find no evidence. Even if there are suspicions, they cannot be held accountable. After all, one Nanchang Prefect has died, but another will eventually take their place. In time, with various connections and efforts to seek favor, the court will naturally forget the matter.

Miss Mei pretended to be surprised and said, "I truly apologize! I accidentally let the cup slip; did it burn you?" Saying this, she quickly set down the tray, took out a handkerchief, and began to wipe at Tang Guangting's clothes. This time, however, Tang Guangting felt embarrassed and repeatedly said, "It's fine, it's fine, no need, I can do it myself." But Miss Mei insisted, determined to help him clean his attire. Tang Guangting kept insisting, "No need, no need, really, it's not necessary." Meanwhile, his hands were not idle either. Once again, Tang Guangting felt embarrassed and said, "It's fine, it's fine, no need, I can do it myself." Yet Miss Mei remained persistent, adamant about assisting him. The two of them, with four hands, pushed and pulled at each other. After a while, Miss Mei suddenly let out a laugh, "Puh!" Tang Guangting was left stunned, not knowing what to make of it.

Mo Gao Tian let out a "humph" and did not respond, instead looking around with wide eyes, murmuring, "I remember there is a shrine nearby..." Suddenly turning his head, he said to Tang Guang Ting, "Hey, you brat named Tang, seeing you so lively and energetic, your spirit is quite good. Just support Miss Lin and follow me step by step." Tang Guang Ting thought to himself, "This old thief has such high martial arts skills; if he wants to kill me, even if I had ten lives, it wouldn't be enough. Anyway, I can't escape tonight. As long as he doesn't resort to lethal means, I should be able to find a chance to escape." Resolving in his heart, moreover, he was eager to support this charming young lady, which was exactly what he desired. Yet, he still pretended to be unyielding and said, "Supporting is supporting, what's the big deal!" As he approached Lin Lan Ping, he reached out to put his arm under her armpit. Lin Lan Ping elbowed back, hitting Tang Guang Ting squarely in the chest, and shouted, "What are you doing?"

It turned out that the place Mokao Tian wanted to go was quite secretive. He asked more than ten people in a row, all of whom replied that they did not know. Among them, a vegetable vendor responded, "This brother, I have lived in this village for three generations and have never heard of the place you mentioned. Could it be that you are mistaken?" Tang Guangting couldn't help but feel suspicious. Just then, he caught a glimpse of Mokao Tian, who immediately gestured for him to be quiet and said, "Alright, no need to speak. I know what you want to ask. There is indeed such a place; I visited it twenty years ago, and I am certain of it!" Seeing Mokao Tian's serious demeanor, Tang Guangting secretly made a face but did not dare to express any opinion.

Lin Lanping thought, "This girl is usually very afraid of herself; now that it's so late, she dares to barge into the room, something must have happened." She asked, "Where is my father now?" The maid replied, "In the hall... he... he..." Lin Lanping was too lazy to listen to her further and quickly put on an outer garment, saying, "I'll go take a look!"

Lin Yanchun noticed that Pan You's expression had changed dramatically, as if his soul had left his body. He said, "Lord Pan, please rest assured, my brothers and I will ensure your safe departure from this place." Although he spoke these words, Lin Yanchun felt that he could hardly ensure his own safety, let alone guarantee Pan's escape. He then heard Pan You sadly say, "With the state in such a condition, and loyal ministers being slaughtered, if I die today, at least I will know I died here. But if the country falls in the future, I won't even know where I will die." He had no intention of fleeing.

Tang Guangting chose to ignore him, yet Lin Lanping remained unresponsive. Unable to resist, he boldly reached out to shake her shoulder. Lin Lanping turned over completely, her face flushed, resembling someone who had drunk too much. Tang Guangting, unable to contain his curiosity, secretly pinched her cheek, only to find it burning hot, and he let out a startled "Ah".

Although Lin Yanchun is a reckless man, his thoughts are quicker than those of his elder brother. He angrily said, "If he dares to come, I will make sure he cannot leave!" Lin Yanlong felt that his younger brother's words were somewhat inappropriate, yet he did not know what to say in response. Then Pan You remarked, "If we confront Huangfu Ji with weapons, it would be an outright rebellion, and the situation would only worsen." Lin Yanchun bitterly replied, "When the emperor decided to poison my father, he had already determined that our Lin family was plotting rebellion. What advantage or disadvantage is there to speak of?" Pan You responded, "The emperor was momentarily deceived by treacherous individuals and mistakenly killed loyal subjects; that can still be considered a grievance. However, if the Lin family rises in arms against the imperial officials, it would be tantamount to admitting to collusion with the enemy and treason, leading to an irreversible catastrophe."

After a whole afternoon of searching, they still could not find the way. That evening, the three of them took shelter at a farmhouse in the village. Early the next morning, Mo Gaotian, still unwilling to give up, stopped people to ask for directions. Just past noon, the three of them, feeling dispirited, found a noodle shop to have a meal. As soon as the waiter approached, Mo Gaotian immediately grabbed him and inquired. After hearing his description, the waiter surprisingly said, "That place is quite remote, and there isn't much scenery to see. If you enjoy sightseeing in the mountains and rivers, I do have a place that..." Mo Gaotian perked up at this and quickly replied, "No need, we love to go there, please do tell us how to get there." The waiter was taken aback and said, "Yes, yes!" He then carefully described the route in detail. In the end, he did not forget to add, "If you enjoy sightseeing in the mountains and rivers, I truly have a place that is a hundred times better..."

When Tang Guangting saw the two men enter, he felt they looked familiar. Upon hearing the sound of one of them speaking, he thought to himself, "Ah, it's him!" The bare-chested man turned his head and also saw him, suddenly letting out a loud "Ah!" Then, upon seeing Mo Gaotian, without saying a word, he reached behind him with both hands and drew out two gleaming hatchets.

Tang Guangting asked, "Are we boarding the ship?" He had spent the entire night worrying that Mo Gaotian intended to take them away by boat, for once they boarded, it would truly mean leaving home, with no knowledge of when they might return. Remembering the time on the mountain, he had argued with his father every day about wanting to go down the mountain alone to see the world. Now that he was truly descending, an inexplicable sense of fear rose from within him. When he spoke, his lips trembled slightly as he said, "Aren't you planning to take me back to exchange for Young Master Lin? Where are we going on the ship?" Mo Gaotian replied, "Don't you want to save Miss Lin? I know there is a skilled doctor living near the other side of the Yangtze River. How can we cross the river without boarding the ship?"

Thus, the three of them, taking advantage of the dim light before dawn and relying on Mo Gao's strong physical strength, rowed across the wide surface of the Yangtze River, one stroke at a time

As Tang Guangting opened his eyes and saw Lin Lanping, he immediately wore a fierce expression, muttering something under his breath, though it was inaudible. He soon realized that she was experiencing the same situation as himself, and couldn't help but break into a grin. Upon seeing his malicious smile, Lin Lanping felt disgusted and turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Lin Yanlong continued, "Listen, this Huangfu Jidong is being excessively oppressive! If we all leave like this, how will the Lin family establish itself in the martial world in the future?" Lin Yanxiu's tears fell continuously as she choked out, "We just want to live our own lives, what does it have to do with others?" Lin Yanlong replied with a smile, "That is the talk of a child. Moreover, since the Emperor has sent Huangfu Jidong to confiscate our property, how could he not have made thorough preparations? If I go to receive the imperial decree, it can also divert his attention and buy us some time." Moreover, since the Emperor has sent Huangfu Jidong to confiscate our property, how could he not have made thorough preparations? If I go to receive the imperial decree, it can also divert his attention and buy us some time.

The gatekeeper hurriedly reported that there were a multitude of people outside, each wielding knives and spears, making a loud commotion, and insisting on breaking in. The faces of the crowd changed dramatically. Lin Yanchun angrily said, "Father has already been harmed by them; how can he rise to receive the imperial decree? This dog emperor is clearly sending people to investigate whether father is dead, and by the way, to raid our Lin family!" Lin Yanlong said, "Brother, do not panic. The Lin family cannot escape this calamity today; death is the only outcome. However, Lord Pan is a guest of the Lin family, and he has come with good intentions to deliver the news, yet he has been unwittingly drawn into this disaster. Regardless, we must ensure Lord Pan's safe departure from this place."

Mo Gao Tian shook his head and said, "This time you guessed wrong; I truly do not know, which is precisely why I must go and see for myself." In fact, Tang Guang Ting was not concerned about the cause of these people's deaths. The reason he deliberately asked these questions was merely to confirm whether that place was indeed the true destination of this journey, rather than Mo Gao Tian having mistakenly remembered the location due to his old age.