Chapter 3, The Mechanism of Connection

However, he underestimated Li Yan's enthusiasm for complaining and the softness of the little girl's body

In the ancestral hall of the old fish general, everything was rearranged once again. Seeing it in order, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and turned back to smile at Li Jinrong, saying: "Since it is just a rumor, why pay it any mind?"

A few torches lit up immediately in the mountains, and Zhou Fei noticed that the hemp rope was tied quite securely, so she let go of her hand and crouched down behind a large rock. Her slender frame curled up into a small ball, small enough to fit into a dog hole.

The girl appeared to be unremarkable in her movements, yet surprisingly nimble and decisive. She casually held a narrow-bladed long knife in her hand, and from a distance, she and the knife formed a perfect "horizontal and vertical" alignment, both slender and elongated. Xie Yun noticed her long braid hanging behind her, its tips swaying gently in the moisture-laden breeze. In the darkness of the night, her features were indistinguishable, and with his exceptional eyesight, he could only make out the silhouette of her delicate neck and small chin, resembling some ethereal creature emerging from the water.

Li Sheng paused for a moment, then without raising his head, he neatly wrapped his belongings again and slung them over his back. In his not-so-large bundle, there were not only daily change of clothes but also travel money, medicinal supplies, and a travelogue with missing pages. Zhou Fei, not lacking in insight, immediately realized that Li Sheng had come to challenge the Ximo River at night, not out of boredom or mischief, but because he genuinely wanted to leave the Forty-Eight Villages and had been planning this for a long time.

Zhou Fei heard a rustling sound beside her. Turning her head, she saw Li Cheng taking a bag from his waist. First, he pulled out a bundle of hemp rope, then he took out an iron claw that was convenient for climbing up and down, clearly well-prepared. Zhou Fei inadvertently glanced into his bag and was suddenly taken aback, asking without thinking, "Why did you bring a change of clothes?"

Little did she know that on the night of the fifteenth, she would realize she had not understood the strange tacit understanding between her adversarial elder brother and cousin. It was only when Li Yan saw Li Sheng packing his belongings that she learned he not only intended to leave but also planned to depart from the Forty-Eight Village at the same time.

The power of the "fine line" that surged upward was unimaginable. Zhou Fei felt the veins on the back of her hand bulging as she pressed against the knife. After merely holding on for a moment, she had the sensation of being pushed out. Immediately, she used the long knife as a pivot, suddenly leaping into the air, performing a somersault in midair, and swiftly releasing her grip. The sinister fine line brushed past her, vanishing like a specter into the mist.

Without him saying anything, Zhou Fei could no longer hold on. After just a moment of persistence, her tiger-like grip seemed as if it would split apart. Zhou Fei took half a step back, bending backward while withdrawing her strength, her waist nearly folding in half. The tightly stretched string-like tension in the water plucked once, producing a "hum" sound that sent ripples cascading upward, sweeping past her. A figure in black suddenly appeared several feet away from her, moving so swiftly that it was hard to discern its approach. The person raised a hand, holding a luminous pearl that illuminated the surrounding threads of connection.

His heart skipped a beat before it began to race wildly. When he turned around, he saw that the thin line was actually being held up by Zhou Fei with a narrow-backed knife.

Xie Yun's gaze swept over the enormous tethering machine in the river, and he leaped down from the edge of the cliff, entering the array of tethering machines like a gentle breeze: "Water... cough, that little girl, let go quickly, this thing cannot be supported by human strength!"

Li Yan initially thought that Li Sheng's so-called "Night Exploration of Ximo River" was merely a verbal provocation. Seeing that Zhou Fei did not respond, she assumed that there was no issue.

Zhou Fei urged him to retreat, but Li Sheng instinctively advanced instead. Just then, he heard a buzzing sound behind him, causing every hair on his body to stand on end. He originally had a pair of short swords, but lost one while descending the river, leaving him with only one. He barely had time to bend down and position the short sword behind him.

The old man Yu casually remarked: "I see that the people in the village come and go in an orderly manner, and everyone is performing their duties. It is evident that your household is indeed doing quite well"

Zhou Fei has always believed that Young Master Li is the "pearl in the palm" of the Forty-Eighth Village. The old village chief died due to a conspiracy by the false dynasty, and the young leader took on the heavy responsibility of the Forty-Eighth Village at the age of seventeen. At that time, there were external threats from wolves and tigers, and internally, there were forty-eight old village chiefs each with their own schemes. In her early years, she single-handedly managed the boiling pots of the village, which over time honed her ruthless decisiveness. Coupled with her naturally irritable temperament, she became increasingly difficult to get along with. Many of the elders in the village could not help but feel intimidated in her presence. If one were to turn Li Jinrong upside down and squeeze her, one might extract two drops of gentleness and patience, one drop for Zhou Yitang and the remaining drop for the Li siblings.

As he descended, Li Sheng realized that they had all underestimated the cliffs on both sides of the Ximojian River, especially the initial stretch of the path, which had been polished to such a smoothness that it seemed coated with a layer of ice, leaving almost no place to gain traction. Suddenly, Li Sheng's foot slipped, and he collided against the stone wall, causing his short sword at his waist to fall, producing a series of metallic clinks. This abrupt noise startled both of them; on the cliff, Zhou Fei and Li Sheng, suspended in mid-air, simultaneously gripped the hanging hemp rope tightly.

This person is the renowned Fish Elder from the Ximo River, whose reputation has spread far and wide.

In Li Sheng's view, Zhou Fei is the biological child of Li Jinrong, and the beatings and scoldings she receives carry the weight of a biological relationship. Li Jinrong treats Zhou Fei as if she were a young tree that requires strict pruning; whenever she shows even the slightest inclination, Li Jinrong does not hesitate to cut it off, hoping to shape her into something useful. But what about herself

Li Jinrong suddenly changed color and turned to leave

Li Sheng fell silent for a moment and uttered a soft "hm"

"Do not touch the control line," someone whispered, "follow me."

Having fallen off the cliff, Li Sheng did not see the legendary fish elder; instead, he discovered such a bizarre object underwater, which made him feel uneasy. He had originally prepared to turn back at any moment, but unexpectedly, Zhou Fei suddenly said something "kind-hearted" to him. According to custom, Li Sheng was supposed to treat it as a trivial matter.

As Li Jinrong turned around, she saw an object, resembling a mountain cannon, hurtling towards her and plunging directly into her embrace

The two individuals on the river were startled at the same time. Zhou Fei awkwardly crouched down to avoid a thin line that was about to sever her in half, and a portion of her hair was cut off. She shouted, "Who is it!"

The old man replied with a beaming smile: "The big catfish spirit."

At this moment, Zhou Fei was no longer afraid of being discovered by Old Fish. She took out a fire stick, and just as she lit it, her expression suddenly changed. She hurriedly held her long knife in front of her—within the gradually brightening firelight, she saw an extremely thin "line" blocked half a foot away by the narrow-backed knife. The "thin line" was obscured by water mist at both ends, making it impossible to discern its length or where it connected. However, if this thing were to sweep past her, her calf would likely be severed from her body. She saw an extremely thin "line" blocked half a foot away by the narrow-backed knife. The "thin line" was obscured by water mist at both ends, making it impossible to discern its length or where it connected. However, if this thing were to sweep past her, her calf would likely be severed from her body.

Li Yan wiped away a tear: "Aunt, they all say that the fish in the river is actually a catfish spirit that has lived for a thousand years. If it gets caught, will it be cooked in a hot pot?"

Li Jinrong was so angered by those two unfortunate children that she felt a pain in her chest. She then heard Yu Lao speak seriously: "Jinrong, do not rush to anger. You should send more people to quickly find those two children. Tonight, I will go ashore, and there will be no one guarding the Ximo River. The 'Qianji' in the middle of the river is open."

Li Jinrong could only stand by with her hands tucked into her sleeves, watching the old man busily arrange the incense table, even adjusting the distance of the memorial tablet, completely absorbed in his work. She asked, "Has Master Uncle's injury improved?"

Old Yu rolled up his sleeves and cleared his throat beside him

In the Forty-Eight Villages, there are many winding mountain streams and small rivers, where local children have played in the water, and falling into the river does not lead to drowning. Li Sheng, having lost all his weapons, found himself in quite a predicament, and at this moment, he could no longer care about his appearance or cleanliness; his first instinct was to walk underwater. However, before he could take any action, a strange male voice suddenly came from the mountainside, saying: "Do not enter the water"

"Isn't it just perfect that Cao Zhongkun is dead?" Old Yu said, "I still remember when you were young, leading a group to storm the Northern Capital. Three thousand Imperial Guards couldn't stop you; you almost had that Cao scoundrel at your mercy. The old man was so scared he nearly wet his pants. If it weren't for his seven dogs, that Cao scoundrel would have long been a ghost under the knife. Why are you panicking now that you've heard he's about to kick the bucket?"

Xie Yun did not want to disturb even a single ant in the camp, so he immediately sat quietly on a stone, hoping that these two little brats would finish their mischief and leave soon

Although Xie Yun, this thief, wanted very much to pretend to be a stone and sneak into the stronghold without any danger, he could not bear to watch these two young boys die here. He steeled his heart and thought: The theory of fortune truly does not deceive me; I am indeed lacking in virtue in all five elements. Forget it, if someone catches me, so be it.

The old fish lifted its eyelids and glanced at her: "Afraid of trouble?"

Li Jinrong's eyelids twitched a few times, and she hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Let me do it."

Xie Yun's self-assessment is quite humble; he believes that his lightness skill is "out of the ordinary, but not yet transcendent," indicating that he is still a bit short of soaring through the clouds. Therefore, it is understandable that he nearly lost his footing near the riverbank—swept by the cold river wind, his leg cramped up.

The monster in the river did not give Xie Yun the opportunity to showcase his extensive knowledge and experience. Soon, a series of buzzing sounds filled the air, forcing the two half-grown children in the river to jump around like performers. At this moment, it was too late to retreat, as the stones beneath their feet began to shift

After the detested elder brother left, Li Yan began to twist and turn in place, managing to wriggle herself out of the outermost circle of ropes. Unable to remove the ropes on her body and the objects stuffed in her mouth, she maintained this cocoon-like appearance and bounced her way out. After bouncing for a while, she grew tired and simply lay down on the ground to roll. The patrolling disciple thought a wild boar was charging at him, and he drew his sword, ready to strike. To his surprise, he saw the 'wild boar' stop at his feet, revealing a bright persimmon-red hem of a skirt, prompting him to hurriedly rescue her.

"Ayan?" Li Jinyong was taken aback, "How did you do this?"

Since Li Yan is impervious to threats and does not yield to coercion, as a precaution, before leaving, Li Sheng captured her and bound her in her own room. After all, when dawn arrives and she is not found, someone will naturally come looking for her. However, Li Sheng is her elder brother, and fearing that she might move around and the hemp rope would chafe her skin, he used two ropes—first, he tightly bound her with a fine, soft rope, and then wrapped a slightly thicker hemp rope around the soft rope, securing her to the bedpost.

The half-reclined copper coin is indeed an omen of an unfavorable start.

Xie Yun squinted slightly at the rocky mountain across from him, and only then did he see clearly that the visitor was actually a girl of about the same age. He clicked his tongue in his heart, speculating that these two were likely young disciples from the village, sneaking out at night to cause mischief.

A thin line sprang up from the water, heading straight towards him. With no place to gain leverage in the air and without a weapon in hand, he was on the verge of being split in two. Li Sheng's pupils contracted to their utmost. Just then, the thin line suddenly froze in mid-air, allowing Li Sheng to narrowly brush past it and land safely on another massive rock.

That object nearly grazed his back, and with a "clang," it struck his short sword. The force that followed almost toppled him into the water. Li Sheng had no choice but to let go, and the last short sword on him flew out horizontally. With a sound of tearing fabric from behind, his backpack, which he carried on his back, bizarrely split in two, causing the items inside to tumble into the water. Even his outer robe suffered a small tear, narrowly avoiding injuring his skin. Li Sheng had no choice but to let go, and the last short sword on him flew out horizontally. With a sound of tearing fabric from behind, his backpack, which he carried on his back, bizarrely split in two, causing the items inside to tumble into the water. Even his outer robe suffered a small tear, narrowly avoiding injuring his skin.

Li Jinrong forced a smile and said: "Times have changed; what we have now is merely a rumor. The morale in the village is already wavering, and this news may not even be true. I am afraid..."

Xie Yun drew a thunderfire bomb from his sleeve, flicked his sleeve to send it soaring into the sky. The small device exploded in midair, creating a dazzling display of lights that, while not overly blinding, could be seen for miles, surely enough to alert the people in the stronghold. At the same time, the burst of light allowed Zhou Fei and Li Cheng to see the underwater scene—between those massive stones, countless fine threads were entangled, forming a treacherous and silent net beneath the water. If someone were to enter the water, they would likely be shredded into pieces by that giant net in an instant. The burst of light also allowed Zhou Fei and Li Cheng to see the underwater scene—between those massive stones, countless fine threads were entangled, forming a treacherous and silent net beneath the water. If someone were to enter the water, they would likely be shredded into pieces by that giant net in an instant.

Such wild thoughts are better left unthought; once they arise, they instantly complete the process from breaking ground to taking root, and then to growing. Zhou Fei stood up, gently flicked the hemp rope that Li Cheng had laid down, felt that there was emptiness beneath the rope, and casually pulled out a strip of cloth, tying her long hair back. With one hand, she grasped the hemp rope and nimbly leaped.

Just as the two mischievous children were planning to run away from home, Li Jinrong hurriedly walked into the ancestral hall

Li Sheng furrowed his brows hesitantly beside her, as he was inherently cautious and conservative. If asked to go first, it was likely he would still be waiting until next year. Zhou Fei glanced at him, leaped down from the hemp rope, and jumped to the spot where the iron lotus seed had just fallen into the water. Li Sheng was initially taken aback, but in the next moment, he discovered that she was standing steadily on the surface of the water.

With a disheveled appearance, Li Yan finally saw her relative Li Jinrong. She took a deep breath and shouted out the grievance she had been holding in all night with clear enunciation: "That big rascal Li Sheng instigated A Fei to go wash the ink river! He wants to run away from home, and when I said I would tell Auntie, he tied me up!"

The elderly man waved his hand at her to indicate no need for formalities, glanced around, and displayed an expression akin to "having a piece of vegetable stuck in his teeth that he just can't get out." He huffed and puffed as he arranged the cushions scattered around the ancestral hall, then rolled up his sleeves, preparing to clean the layer of incense ash that had accumulated on the table.

Having learned from Li Sheng's previous experience, Zhou Fei did not touch the smooth stone wall at all. She was much lighter than Li Sheng and slid down the rope with great agility, like a willow catkin spinning in the wind. When she had descended about halfway, the sound of water had become overwhelmingly loud. Li Sheng stood on a stone on the cliff that could only accommodate one person, frowning as he surveyed the surging river before him

It is said that there exists a form of lightness skill in the world, leaping like a gentle breeze, moving stealthily like flowing water. It is formless and traceless, capable of reaching any destination. Unfortunately, the person possessing this extraordinary skill is currently engaged in thievery; no matter how dazzling the technique, it is akin to "a brocade-clad figure walking at night," going unappreciated.

The old fish was quite displeased to hear the word "old," letting out a grunt of dissatisfaction, causing even his whiskers to twitch. However, before he had the chance to speak, he heard a disciple patrolling the mountains calling out from outside: "Chief!"

Zhou Fei patiently waited alone at the edge of the cliff for a while, and for the first time, the thought of wanting to go out and take a look surfaced in her mind

"It is still manageable," Li Jinyong said, yet there was little joy on her face. "Have you heard the rumors outside?"

Between those massive stones, countless fine threads are entangled, forming a treacherous and silent net beneath the water. Once a person enters the water, they are likely to be torn into pieces by that giant net in an instant

Xie Yun, who was watching from the sidelines, became serious and murmured, "It turns out to be the Qianji."

They were quite fortunate, having chosen a good location. The night patrol had circled nearby and found no abnormalities. After a while, Zhou Fei finally emerged from her hiding place. Looking down, she saw that Li Cheng had descended several dozen zhang along the hemp rope, swaying gently in the river breeze, like a fallen leaf that harbored the essence of mountains and rivers.

Xie Yun did not use a long rope, nor did he carry iron claws with him. He seemed to transform into a thin sheet of paper, sliding down the mountain wall at a steady pace. Dressed in a deep gray, almost black, night suit, he blended perfectly with the color of the stone wall, resembling an ordinary rock, seamlessly adhering to the dark mountain face. On the smooth rock surface, even the slightest protrusion allowed him to pause and adjust his posture before continuing his descent. Dressed in a deep gray, almost black, night suit, he blended perfectly with the color of the stone wall, resembling an ordinary rock, seamlessly adhering to the dark mountain face. On the smooth rock surface, even the slightest protrusion allowed him to pause and adjust his posture before continuing his descent.

The river flows gently, and when looking down through the water's surface, it seems as if the creature beneath the water is also in motion

The stone he was hiding behind was roughly one foot square. Xie Yun lay back on the ground, half dead and half alive, grimacing as he relaxed his painfully tense muscles and bones. Suddenly, he heard a faint sound of "clang" coming from the river, and he quickly raised his head, noticing that a gentle breeze had cleared the thin mist on the river's surface. On the opposite side of the Ximo River, there were two people!

I am different from you. Li Sheng was unwilling to speak much with her, so he found a secluded spot and busied himself tying the rope. He lowered it down the cliff, the end of the rope disappearing into the dim light of the Ximo River, soon vanishing from sight

Subsequently, Zhou Fei cast a provocative glance at him, then suddenly left her original position, skimming lightly over the surface of the river like a dragonfly, and in the blink of an eye, she had already reached the center of the river

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Sheng had already stepped into thin air.

The qualifications are not particularly outstanding, but that is of no consequence; taking it slow is all that matters. This statement sounds forgiving to the point of being gentle, yet upon closer reflection, has Li Dazhang ever been lenient towards anyone? To utter such words clearly indicates a lack of expectation towards him. Upon reaching this thought, Li Sheng gritted his teeth, secured the iron claw to his wrist, and resolutely descended the stone wall first

He is trapped in this small space surrounded by mountains, where everyone calls him "Young Master Li". The elders even feel the need to add, "He has the legacy of his father," ... He bears the mark of the prematurely deceased Master Li Er, serving as a form of "inheritance" while living under someone else's roof ... It is likely a rather mediocre and undesirable legacy.

"It's nothing, being on land for a while won't kill you," said the old man. "Isn't today the 15th of March? I came to see your father."

In the Forty-Eight Villages, there are often people who come seeking refuge to escape calamities, all discussing matters from the outside world, some are heart-stopping, some are too tragic to bear, some are filled with lingering sorrow, and others are heart-wrenching—what could the outside world be like

Zhou Fei and Li Sheng walked towards the Ximo River, one in front and the other behind. They grew up together in the Forty-Eight Villages, each with their own mischievous ways, and both had their methods of avoiding the mountain patrols. Zhou Fei sometimes could not discern whether she was truly out of place or if she had inherited an unlikable disposition from Li Jinrong. She and Li Sheng were of similar age, grew up together, and trained in martial arts under Li Jinrong. Although they could not be considered childhood sweethearts, they were indeed like bamboo shoots growing side by side. However, Li Sheng was clearly charming and adept at winning over the disciples from various peaks of the Forty-Eight Villages, yet he seemed to have an inexplicable aversion towards her. Aside from the veiled pleasantries and the sharp exchanges filled with hidden barbs, it seemed they had nothing else to say to each other. Even when their peers encountered bottlenecks in their training, they did not engage in mutual sparring; they only exchanged techniques in front of Li Jinrong, learning separately in private without any communication between them.

The water monster in the river resembled a gigantic puppet, awakened by two unwelcome guests who were oblivious to the dangers around them. Sharp, thread-like lines surged and danced across the water's surface and beneath it, causing the stone steps beneath their feet to rise and fall. The firecracker in Zhou Fei's hand swept across their path before extinguishing, and she was horrified to discover a dense array of reflections— their way back was blocked, and they were like insects trapped in a spider's web

Li Jinrong was a bit confused: "What?"

Li Sheng shouted loudly at the book: "Get in the water!"

Li Yan then realized that there was someone beside her. She looked up at the short-statured old man and, feeling quite embarrassed, wriggled out from Li Jinrong's embrace. She greeted him politely, saying: "Hello, old gentleman, who are you?"

"How strange, I, a mere addition picked up from a grave, haven't even thought about running away from home yet, and you are already prepared to go," Zhou Fei remarked with a hint of sarcasm. "Have you queued up?"

In the ancestral hall, an elderly man with white hair and beard was holding incense with both hands, standing beneath the tablet inscribed with "In Memory of the Honorable Li, whose given name is Peilin." Li Jinrong, upon seeing this, quietly stood to the side and waited for the old man to finish offering incense before stepping forward to greet him, saying, "Master Uncle"

He felt a chill in his heart and thought: Is it the one who guards the river that has returned?

Li Jinrong paused for a moment, neither confirming nor denying, but simply smiled ambiguously and said, "Perhaps I am getting old."

Li Sheng said in horror: "What is that?"

Xie Yun pondered for a while and came to a conclusion in his heart: Water Grass Spirit

Xie Yun, who had been lazily observing from the sidelines, suddenly sat up straight. He realized that he might have chosen the wrong moment; it was precisely when the guards of the river were absent that the situation in the Ink Wash River became most perilous—when the people left, the ferocious beasts in the river were instead unleashed!

The one causing the commotion was Zhou Fei. She hung for a moment on the hemp rope, and suddenly seemed to sense something. She took out an iron lotus seed from her bosom, raised her hand, and threw it out. The iron lotus seed, propelled with force, entered the water with a soft sound and then bounced back up high. Zhou Fei's eyes brightened—she had just felt that the shape of the waves in the water was quite strange, as if there were something beneath the surface.

Li Sheng holds a transcendent position among the Forty-Eight Villages, and he is adept at socializing, always surrounded by followers wherever he goes. Zhou Fei is suspicious; even if he were to transform into a giant centipede with a hundred or eighty stinky feet, it would not be enough to stop those sycophants from eagerly supporting him. What exactly is troubling this young master that he feels the need to sneak away from home at night?

Li Sheng felt a chill in his hands and feet, as if all his hot blood had turned into ice lumps. He was momentarily stunned, but then he heard a voice that could be heard but not seen say: "Little brother, you are one of the focal points of the formation, hurry and leave."

Fortunately, the area by the river was not as bright as above. Xie Yun timely grabbed hold of a rock, using both hands and feet to pull himself up, managing to avoid falling headfirst into the river and becoming a catfish.

Zhou Fei: "Sigh..."

Zhou Fei let the rope drop to the bottom, wrapping it around her wrist. She did not step down, instead suspending herself over the river with one arm, thinking: Is this really necessary to swim across?

She couldn't help but stand up slightly, surprised, and said: "Do you want to leave?"

Li Jinrong lowered her voice and said: "There are rumors that Cao Zhongkun is seriously ill, and he may not survive."

"Get away, get away," the old man pushed her aside, "You all have a messy habit, don't make things difficult for me."

Zhou Fei stared at the stone formation for a while, feeling an inexplicable chill in her heart. She had no time to think it through and immediately turned back, urging the already caught-up Li Cheng, "Something is not right, retreat!"

Li Yan : `` ... ... ''

At this moment, Zhou Fei, who was in the heart of the river, finally saw the enormous object lurking beneath the water—an arrangement of stones, quietly lying in the pitch-black water, like a dormant water monster, ominously poised to emerge. In the center of the river, there was a small pavilion, almost concealed within the rising and falling mist of the water, perfectly positioned atop this "great water monster".

As soon as the voice fell, Li Sheng felt the stone beneath his feet tremble, as if it were sinking into the water. In his fright, without a second thought, he darted towards Zhou Fei, only to hear the stranger exclaim, "Be careful!"

As Zhou Fei lost herself in thought, she had already arrived at the banks of the Ximo River. The gloomy night sky was just beginning to be pried open a small gap by the night wind, and the moonlight that leaked through could hardly fill half a bowl. When sprinkled onto the Ximo River, it resembled scattered gold, quickly floating away in an instant. When one looked down from the cliff, there was a slight feeling of dizziness.