AEDBE CHAPTER 6

A Eunuch’s Dream of Being Emperor by Li Ximin

CHAPTER 6

After daybreak, Zhang Faqiang and his search party returned to Tang Town without Li Hongtang. Li Cilin had also dispatched Li Saogu and his men to comb the area, but they too came back empty-handed. Meanwhile, Dongzi had fallen into a high fever by dawn, babbling incoherently in bed as he frantically called out for his older sister and mother. Summoned by the household, the veteran herbalist Master Zheng examined the boy and calmly reassured Li Cilin: "Dongzi has simply suffered a chill combined with severe shock. It's nothing critical; administer three doses of herbal decoction and he will recover."

After collecting the prescription at the old apothecary, Li Cilin returned home to find Li Saogu’s wife, Wang Haihua, already tending to Dongzi. She had laid a damp cloth across the boy’s burning forehead and was using a strip of cloth dipped in water to dab gently at his chapped, blistering lips. Li Cilin instructed her to brew the medicine, feed it to Dongzi, and bundle him up beneath heavy quilts so he could sweat out the fever. Haihua murmured softly, "I understand. You go tend to your affairs without worry." Before departing, Li Cilin added, "Haihua, I'm leaving Dongzi in your hands. I'm truly grateful!" The sallow, gaunt woman smiled faintly. "Hurry along now. Among family, we don't speak of favors."

Li Cilin hurried off with an urgent, hurried air. Wang Haihua had no inkling of his destination, knowing only that he operated in the shadows alongside her husband, Li Saogu. She had questioned her husband about it once, only to be met with a brutal beating, after which she never dared ask again. Like most women in Tang Town, she resigned herself to her fate, enduring hardship with uncomplaining endurance.

Shortly after Li Cilin’s departure, Zhang Faqiang arrived accompanied by Abao to check on Dongzi.

Gazing down at Dongzi, who lay delirious with fever, Zhang Faqiang sighed softly, "Poor little mite!"

Abao gripped Dongzi’s scorching hand in silence, his eyes welling with unshed tears.

Turning to Wang Haihua, Zhang Faqiang asked, "Why isn't Li Cilin here looking after Dongzi?"

Shaking her head, Wang Haihua replied, "I haven't the foggiest."

Sighing deeply, Zhang Faqiang grumbled, "That man spends his days running around God-knows-what shady errands, entirely abandoning his own household. Look at this—You Sidi vanished, Hongtang is missing without a trace, and now Dongzi has fallen deathly ill. Does he bear no responsibility at all? Not a single inquiry, not a single glance back. How is a man like that supposed to head a family? I can't wrap my head around it. What on earth could possibly take precedence over one's own flesh and blood?"

Wang Haihua offered a bitter, humorless smile. "It's the children who bear the suffering."

Reaching out to test Dongzi's forehead, Zhang Faqiang fretted, "He's still burning up. If we don't break this fever soon, frying his brain is going to be the least of our worries."

"The medicine is brewing right now," Haihua reassured him. "Once he drinks the broth and breaks into a sweat, the fever should snap."

Turning to Abao, Zhang Faqiang instructed, "Run back home and fetch what's left of that brown sugar. Herbal broth is bitter; adding a spoonful will make it go down easier."

Nodding in agreement and wiping his eyes, Abao hurried down the stairs.

If You Sidi’s disappearance on that fog-shrouded morning had failed to trigger seismic shockwaves among the residents of Tang Town, Li Hongtang’s unannounced vanishing certainly ignited a tempest. The narrow streets buzzed with speculation as wild rumors ran rampant. Some claimed Hongtang had successfully located You Sidi and chosen to stay with her, abandoning her old life. Others whispered that she had ventured into the mountains alone and fallen prey to a ravenous man-eating tiger in the West Mountains, leaving behind not a scrap of bone. Yet another camp insisted that having blossomed into marriageable age, she had eloped with an out-of-towner and would never set foot in Tang Town again.

Gossip also swirled around Li Cilin, with townsfolk accusing him of taking up with a mistress elsewhere and washing his hands of his family entirely... Hearing these whispers reach his shop, Shangguan Qingqiu paused his water pipe and scoffed, "You'd better watch your loose jaw, or you might find Li Cilin splitting you in half with a broadsword!"

The heckler retorted, "He wouldn't dare! Has the rule of law completely vanished?"

A cryptic smile touched Shangguan Qingqiu's lips. "Feel free to test your theory right to his face, then. Go on, try it and see if my words hold weight! What law are you even talking about?"

Unable to decipher the old blacksmith's cryptic warning, the man shook his head and walked away.

Drawing a gurgling puff from his pipe, Shangguan Qingqiu muttered to himself, "The skies over Tang Town are about to change color..."

At that exact instant, his wife, Zhu Luniang, burst into the shop panting heavily, panic etched across her features. "Wenqing is gone!"

Eyes widening, Shangguan Qingqiu barked, "What did you say?"

With tears spilling down her cheeks, Zhu Luniang sobbed, "Wenqing is missing! He didn't come home for meals all day yesterday, and he never returned through the night."

Residing permanently inside the smithy rather than the family home, Shangguan Qingqiu deliberately avoided his dwarfed son. The mere sight of Shangguan Wenqing stirred a dark, volcanic rage within his chest—a visceral disgust that made his blood boil. Hearing that his grotesque son had finally vanished, he let out a dry, indifferent chuckle: "Good riddance, let him run off!"

Unlike her husband, Zhu Luniang harbored a fierce, protective maternal devotion; regardless of his deformities, the boy was flesh of her flesh. How could she not lose her mind with grief when he went missing? Trembling with anguish, she spat, "You cold-hearted old brute! He's your flesh and blood all the same, yet you treat him with such venomous cruelty. Do you have any idea how miserable his life is? Let me make this crystal clear to you: if Wenqing meets a sticky end, I have no desire to go on living either. You can drag my corpse straight out of Maiden's Pool!"

Dropping the declaration with absolute finality, Zhu Luniang turned on her heel and stormed off without looking back.

Gritting his teeth, Shangguan Qingqiu muttered, "Old serpent, trying to threaten me!"

Yet a lingering thread of compassion tugged at his conscience. Turning to his two apprentices working the forge, he ordered, "Drop what you're doing. Hurry up and catch up with your mother-in-law to help search for Wenqing!"

Obediently discarding their tools, the two apprentices bolted out the door in pursuit of the distraught Zhu Luniang.

Gritting his teeth once more, Shangguan Qingqiu muttered to himself, "Where on earth could that cursed monstrosity have wandered off to? I must have run up a massive karmic debt in a past life! He was clearly born just to hound me to my grave!"

Li Hongtang was lost.

Unbeknownst to her, she had stumbled straight into the dreaded Black Forest. Just how many mortal perils lurked within its shadowed depths? She had no way of knowing. Yet across a radius of dozens of miles, the mere mention of the Black Forest struck terror into every villager's heart—no one had ever dared cross its borders willingly. When she first crossed the threshold, she had been utterly oblivious that this gloomy, oppressive expanse was the legendary Black Forest; only later did the suffocating aura of death dawn upon her. She had simply taken a wrong turn while attempting to navigate back to Tang Town. Once trapped inside, every path dissolved, and the encroaching night quickly sealed off her exit.

Countless ghoulish legends concerning the Black Forest flooded Hongtang’s mind as darkness descended. According to folklore, when ancestral pioneers first arrived to carve out a settlement in Tang Town, they locked in a bitter, uncompromising struggle with the indigenous tribes, slaughtering one another across years of brutal, merciless warfare where only one side could survive. Wielding razor-sharp blades, the pioneers systematically decimated the natives, ultimately driving the pitiful remnants into the Black Forest. Even prior to that era, the indigenous peoples had feared entering the cursed woods; in their eyes, the Black Forest bore a demonic hex guaranteeing that anyone who entered might never return—or if they did, they emerged broken, raving lunatics. Even the apex predators of the surrounding mountains refused to venture inside, as the forest devoured beasts just as readily as men. Legend held that only serpents moved through the Black Forest unhindered, and every viper that slithered out carried venom potent enough to ensure instant death. Having sealed the natives inside, the pioneers ringed the forest perimeter with armed guards, shooting down anyone attempting to break out. During those harrowing days of siege, piercing shrieks and agonizing wails echoed from the woods day and night. The pioneers never learned what apocalyptic horrors befell the trapped tribesmen, knowing only that the rare survivors who managed to crawl out were covered in festering, weeping ulcers beyond human recognition; upon being executed, the blood pouring from their bodies ran ink-black and ghastly to behold... Down through the decades, piercing, spectral cries continued to echo from the forest depths during the dead of night, curdling the blood of all who heard them.

Lost in the enveloping dark, Li Hongtang floundered blindly.

Terror gripped her as the horrific legends replayed in her mind; her voice grew hoarse, choking off any chance of crying for help.

Winter's early grip had settled over the Black Forest, sending biting gales sweeping through the canopy alongside chilling night mists.

Trembling violently, Hongtang curled into a fetal position like a frozen, withered fruit clinging to a dying bough.

At first, an absolute, tomb-like silence reigned.

Huddled beneath the sprawling roots of a colossal pine, Hongtang kept her eyes squeezed wide open, yet utter blindness surrounded her—she wouldn't have spotted an entity standing inches from her face. In the grip of blinding panic, a sudden, agonizing thought struck her: Could Mother have wandered into the Black Forest by mistake too? Could her bones be rotting away in this cursed place right now? The thought constricted Hongtang’s chest like a vise. Paralyzed and voiceless as if an invisible hand choked her windpipe, she could only feel her scalding tears freezing into tracks of ice as they streamed down her cheeks.

Gradually, a low wind began to stir.

The breeze felt as though it were exhaling straight from the icy depths of hell, carrying a thick, nauseating reek of decay.

The wind swelled, gathering ferocious momentum.

Howling gales whipped up dust and debris across the forest floor; broken, brittle branches lashed against Hongtang’s head and face, inflicting a burning sting. Burying her head in her hands and tucking her face between her knees, she found herself utterly helpless against the dark, raging tempest! All she could do was endure—endure every shred of agony, terror, and the relentless cruelty dealt out by fate.

Just as suddenly, the gale died.

Dead silence reclaimed the Black Forest.

This profound stillness felt infinitely more menacing than the roaring winds or the wailing of vengeful spirits, masking an even deadlier threat in its quietude. Pricking up her ears, Hongtang braced herself for whatever horror was about to materialize. Sure enough, a faint, rustling whisper drifted toward her—a sound resembling something heavy sliding across dry autumn leaves. Could a venomous serpent be slithering in my direction? Unlike her younger brother Dongzi, Hongtang had harbored an innate terror of snakes since childhood. At the mere mental image of their slick, gliding scales, her legs would lock solid, cutting off her breath; spotting one slither past during field labor invariably sent her into piercing shrieks of terror that left her shaken for hours. Furthermore, local lore claimed the serpents of the Black Forest shared the demonic curse, heightening her dread to a fever pitch.

The rustling drew closer, pressing like a physical weight against Hongtang's fragile, terror-stricken heart.

Trembling uncontrollably, she squeezed her eyes shut.

Even if a poisonous snake swallows me whole, at least I won't have to look at its hideous face, she thought, forgetting entirely that in the pitch-black night, her wide-open eyes couldn't discern a single shadow anyway.

The sliding sound halted right beside her.

A silent wail tore through Hongtang’s soul: Mother, your daughter will never see you again... Dongzi, Big Sister can't protect you anymore... Father—

With her face caked in frozen tears, Hongtang surrendered to the certainty of her impending demise.

The noose of death wrapped tight around her frail frame. The bitterest tragedy of all was her inability to bid farewell to her family; separated across insurmountable chasms, she was destined to die alone—the most helpless, desolate, and terrified soul beneath the heavens.

Suddenly, a hesitant, timid voice broke through the stillness: "Hongtang... lift your head, open your eyes, and look at me, please?"

Impossible. Aside from herself, no living soul could possibly inhabit this place. This had to be the serpent mimicking human speech, plotting to taunt her with a familiar illusion before devouring her! What a wicked, torturous creature! If you're going to eat me, just do it, Hongtang thought bitterly. Why inflict such psychological torture?

"Hongtang, can't you even recognize my voice?" the timid plea continued.

A sudden flash of recognition pierced Hongtang’s mind, though she instantly rejected it as absurd. Is the snake mimicking his voice? How could a serpent have heard him speak? Paralyzed by disbelief, she lacked the courage to lift her head or unseal her eyelids.

"Hongtang, it's me—Wenqing..."

The voice dropped its timid register, swelling with a deeper, resolute timbre as if mustering every ounce of his courage.

Hongtang’s chest heaved, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Recognizing Shangguan Wenqing’s voice, a desperate sliver of hope flared—could it truly be him? But how on earth did he end up here? Overwhelmed by shock and a glimmer of relief, she cast caution to the wind: facing death either way, she had to see whether those words originated from Shangguan Wenqing or a demonic serpent.

Jolting her head upward, Hongtang flung her luminous eyes wide open.

Framed in the dim gloom stood Shangguan Wenqing in the flesh, holding aloft a burning pine torch.

A familiar, gentle smile lingered upon his face.

It was an expression so serene it seemed untouched by suffering or rancor.

Wiping the frozen tears from her cheeks, Hongtang stammered a breathless mixture of grief and disbelief: "Wenqing... why are you here?"

Sinking down onto the earth before her, a faint flush of bashfulness crossed his features: "You mustn't scold me once I explain, okay?"

The heavy gloom pressing upon Hongtang’s spirit parted slightly: "How could I ever scold you? If you hadn't shown up, God only knows what would have become of me. Seeing you here is an absolute blessing! Speak freely—I promise I won't be angry, Wenqing!"

Serving as her savior, hope, and emotional anchor in the abyss, he commanded her profound gratitude.

Shifting his gaze downward, Shangguan Wenqing confessed: "Truth be told, I've been tailing you secretly this entire time. Wherever you went, I followed behind at a distance, terrified you'd catch wind and yell at me. Watching you search everywhere for your mother all by yourself... it moved me deeply. If my own mother had vanished, I lack the tenacity to scour the mountains the way you have. You are the most admirable woman in Tang Town, and I couldn't bear the thought of you coming to harm out here alone. At the very least, if disaster struck, I could witness it and race back to Tang Town to alert your father so he could send a rescue party—even though I know I lack the strength to protect you myself! The moment you marched out of town this morning, I fell in step behind you. When dusk fell and you entered this forest, I followed you inside. Never imagined the night would swallow the light so fast, nor that such violent gales would blow. When the storm broke, I kept watch nearby the entire time! To be honest, I was terrified out of my mind too, but I worried constantly that something might happen to you—if you perished, I'd carry that sorrow to my grave. Once the wind died down, I groped around in the dark until I found a fallen pine branch rich with fragrant resin. You know I always carry my flint pouch whenever I step outside; the flint crafted by my father's own hands is the finest in town. I struck a spark, lit the pine torch, and tracked you down here. Seeing you safe is the only reason I can finally breathe easy. I was so worried about you, Hongtang!"

Hearing his confession, fresh tears broke over Hongtang’s eyelashes. It was impossible not to be moved. Across all of Tang Town, not a single young man had ever shown her such tender devotion; while many local youths harbored secret infatuations with her beauty, dread of Li Cilin’s wrath kept them at a distance, too cowardly to declare their feelings or shadow her footsteps the way Shangguan Wenqing had.

Choking back a sob, she asked, "Why would you take such a reckless risk?"

Offering no verbal reply, Shangguan Wenqing simply favored her with a gentle smile.

"It was suicidal," Hongtang scolded softly. "If anything had happened to you, your mother would have cried her eyes out—she treasures you so deeply."

Extending the burning pine torch toward her, Shangguan Wenqing instructed, "Hold this, sit right here, and don't budge an inch. I'll be right back!"

Panic spiking instantly, Hongtang demanded, "Where are you going?!"

Reassuring her with a smile, he said, "Relax, I'm not abandoning you. There's no escaping this forest tonight anyway; we'll have to wait until dawn breaks. I'm going to gather some dry firewood so we can build a bonfire. That way we won't freeze to death, and if any mountain beasts prowl about, the flames will keep them at bay. Whenever loneliness gets the better of me back home, I escape up into the mountains to spend the night, so I know the ropes."

"I'm coming with you!" Hongtang insisted, scrambling up.

"There's no need for that," Wenqing gently pressed her back down. "Sit tight and stay put. I'm a man, my nerves are steadier, and it's safer this way. Don't wander off, or I won't be able to find you when I return!"

Yielding implicitly to the dwarf, Hongtang settled back down, anchored by a sudden wave of absolute security.

Making repeated trips into the gloom, Shangguan Wenqing piled a small mountain of dry timber beneath the towering pine. Striking a blaze, he tended the fire, feeding dry branches into the leaping flames that painted their faces in warm, golden light. His expression remained locked in that perpetual, gentle smile, as if it were etched permanently into his flesh. Bathed in the ruddy glow, Hongtang’s pale visage flushed with warmth, her dark eyes swimming with crystalline reflections. Spreading a thick layer of dry grass beside the hearth, he invited her, "You're exhausted, Hongtang. Lie down and rest; I'll keep watch."

"I—"

"Rest easy, nothing will happen. We'll head out as soon as the sun rises."

"And what about you?" she asked softly.

"I'll tend the fire; if the flames die down, the cold will kill us. Just close your eyes and leave me be. Remember, I'm Tang Town's living deity—even ghosts steer clear of me! I can go three days and nights without sleep and be none the worse for wear. Go on, sleep, Hongtang."

Yielding to exhaustion, Hongtang stretched out upon the bed of dry grass.

Exhausted by terror and endless trekking, she drifted into a deep sleep, cradled by the comforting warmth of the fire and Shangguan Wenqing’s steadfast presence. In the dark hours of that night, he stood as her ultimate sanctuary—a man for whom she would willingly surrender her life without a shred of regret.

As the crackling firewood popped and hissed, Hongtang babbled softly in her slumber: "Mother, Mother—"

Deep within the shadowed canopy, countless spectral eyes seemed to fix upon them, though Wenqing himself battled an inward tremor of dread.

Sinking down beside her sleeping form, he extended a small, calloused hand to rest gently atop her open palm. A surge of warmth coursed through his veins; Hongtang’s body heat imbued him with a sudden reservoir of strength and courage. Gazing down at her exhausted, worn face, he murmured softly, "You've suffered terribly, Hongtang..."

Noticing the silver threads shimmering amidst her dark hair, his lips quivered and his eyes misted over.

Such an expression of raw, poignant agony was something ordinary townsfolk never witnessed.

To the people of Tang Town, Shangguan Wenqing remained forever a cheerful, diminutive jester.

Quietly shedding his outer jacket, he draped it gently across her rising and falling chest.

As the first pale streaks of dawn filtered through the canopy, accompanied by the crisp, crystalline notes of waking birds, Shangguan Wenqing tossed fresh timber onto the dying embers. Rising quietly from Hongtang’s side, he crossed to the opposite flank of the hearth and collapsed heavily onto the ground. Exhaustion had finally claimed him; he needed sleep, desperately.

Waking moments later, Hongtang found herself staring at the glowing embers and the figure of Shangguan Wenqing sleeping soundly on the far side of the fire... Clutching his small jacket in her hands, a torrent of conflicting emotions surged through her chest.

When daylight finally pierced the dense foliage, the lingering menace of the toxic miasma still cast a pall of dread over the Black Forest, leaving them uncertain of their safety.

Another full day elapsed without Hongtang and Wenqing emerging from the wilderness. At home, Zhu Luniang wept continuously until her eyes felt raw and blinded by grief, while her two sons-in-law scoured the surrounding hills alongside her daughters, who hovered anxiously to offer comfort.

Meanwhile, Dongzi’s fever stubbornly refused to break. Days blurred together as he remained trapped in delirium upon his bed, pushing Wang Haihua and Abao to the brink of despair. Master Zheng's medical bag had yielded no answers. Left unchecked, the boy would either perish or suffer permanent brain damage. Even Li Cilin grew increasingly agitated, convinced his son had fallen victim to malevolent spirits.

Desperate, Li Cilin summoned the local shaman, Madam Wang, to perform exorcisms throughout the household. Swinging a peach-wood sword with disheveled hair, she chanted rites across every room upstairs and down, yet her rituals proved utterly futile. Dongzi remained locked in unconsciousness, his body radiating the heat of a live coal.

As night fell, Li Cilin returned home early, relieving Wang Haihua so he could keep vigil beside his son. Studying the fever-racked boy, a genuine terror of losing his only child gripped him—this was not an outcome he desired. A sharp, searing remorse tore through his chest, wracking him with agony: My boy, your father has failed you! In that instant, his hardened, flint-like heart softened. Dongzi represented his sole remaining anchor in life; should the boy perish, everything he was striving toward would instantly lose its purpose.

A vivid memory flashed across his mind: A shivering child standing in the biting winter wind, his tear-ducts completely drained. Stretched out upon the cold ground lay a man's corpse, his skull crushed and bloodied beyond recognition—the boy's father. Ever since the death of his mother when he was a toddler, father and son had clung to each other for survival. Never had the child imagined such a catastrophic bolt from the blue would shatter their lives. The catalyst had been a single sweet potato. That late autumn afternoon, the boy had sneaked into the private fields of a wealthy clan patriarch, Li Shihuai, and dug up a single sweet potato. Washing the dirt off in the creek, he sat upon the grassy bank and began gnawing happily on the raw tuber. With its bright red flesh, sweet flavor, and abundant juices, it tasted like a feast; plagued by grinding poverty, hunger was his constant companion, and these stolen roots offered a rare reprieve. Wolfing down the sweet potato, his stomach still growled, tempting him back into the patch. He had barely pried a second tuber from the dirt when rough hands grabbed him—it was Li Shihuai’s long-term farmhand, bellowing: "Little thief! You've got a death wish, stealing sweet potatoes right under our noses!" Breaking free from the hand, the boy bolted across the fields for his life. The farmhand sprinted in hot pursuit, eventually tackling him to the dirt and sending him into hysterical sobs. A witness rushed off to alert the boy's father, who arrived armed with a sturdy hoe-handle and drove the farmhand off. Scolding his son bitterly, the father roared: "How could you steal from others?! You deserve to be beaten half to death!" Weeping bitterly, the boy cried, "Dad, I was starving!" The father rebuked, "Starvation is no excuse for thievery, understand?!" Nodding through his tears, the boy choked out, "I understand... I'll never do it again!" The father warned, "If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I'll chop off your fingers myself!" At that exact moment, a menacing mob surged into view, brandishing clubs and blades. Realizing the peril, the father shouted, "Run! Run as far as you can!" Refusing to budge, the boy cried, "I won't leave without you!" Roaring in fury, the father shoved him backward: "Run! Do you want to die waiting here?!" Turning on his heel, the boy fled. Li Shihuai strode up to the father, pointing a finger and snarling: "Even a dog's master deserves respect! Not only does your whelp steal my crops, but he dares raise a hand against my men—have you lost your mind?!" Before the father could utter a defense, Li Shihuai barked his orders: "Beat him! Beat him to death!" Having put some distance between them, a creeping dread made the boy stop and turn back. What he witnessed under the blinding sunlight was a premeditated murder. Struck to the earth, blows rained mercilessly down upon his father’s head and torso from hoes and cudgels. The father crumpled like a dead dog... Following the mob's departure, or perhaps just as they closed in for the final blows, the father's face was beaten into a bloody, unrecognizable pulp, his mouth disgorging gouts of dark blood. Kneeling beside him, the boy shrieked, "Dad! Dad—!" Trembling fingers reached out to clutch the boy's jacket, the dying man wheezing out his final words: "S-son... y-you... must... r-remember... n-never... s-steal... from... o-others—" Before the sentence finished, the breath left his lungs. The boy understood with absolute clarity that it was a calculated assassination executed simply because their family owned a prized strip of fertile farmland. Li Shihuai had approached the father repeatedly prior to the incident, demanding to purchase the plot, only to be refused. True to form, shortly after the father's murder, the land was forcibly annexed by Li Shihuai...

That child was the young Li Cilin. He had buried a bottomless well of hatred deep within his soul; though his adoptive father, Wang Fugui, and his master, the martial artist You, repeatedly urged him to purge the bitterness, how could he ever extinguish the blood-debt owed for his father's murder? For years he had played the dutiful, silent observer, biding his time for the day of reckoning. Following Master You's death, he had resolved to strike, only to be reined in by his wife, You Sidi: "They possess wealth and power; no matter how formidable your martial arts, you can't defeat them. Think of our family—live a steady, peaceful life!" Recognizing that wealth commanded loyalty and hired blades could easily overwhelm bare fists, Li Cilin realized an impulsive strike would not only cost his own life but drag his family down with him, forcing him to bury his vengeance once more. The arrival of Eunuch Li, however, had finally unveiled a pathway to retribution...

Li Cilin exhaled a long, heavy sigh.

Flashing across his mind was a vision of roaring flames consuming an old wooden homestead, accompanied by the desperate shrieks of innocent souls trapped within... Shuddering through his frame, Li Cilin stared down at his comatose son and murmured brokenly, "I don't want your life, son... I truly don't. But... but my hands won't stop, I can't pull back... Is this divine retribution? Is this my payback?"

Moments later, his eyes flushed a vivid, dangerous crimson: "No! No, I will have my vengeance! Nothing will stop me from settling this score! I demand wealth! I demand power! I demand—!"

The image of his aging, decrepit enemy, Li Shihuai, surfaced once more. Ever since Li Cilin aligned himself with Eunuch Li, the old patriarch had sensed an acute threat hanging over his head despite Cilin’s outward composure. Recognizing he had lost the upper hand, Li Shihuai had actually approached Cilin, offering to return the stolen farmland alongside a hefty compensation of silver. With cold, unyielding indifference, Li Cilin had rejected the overture. Old ghost, he thought bitterly. When the time comes, I'll take not just your entire fortune, but every last drop of blood in your household.

A sharp rapping at the door interrupted his thoughts.

Stepping downstairs, Li Cilin unlatched the heavy panel.

Wang Haihua stepped inside.

"Haihua, thank you for your hard work," Li Cilin told her. "Keep a close watch on Dongzi; I have business to attend to outside."

"Rest easy, Big Brother, I'll take good care of him," she promised.

Stepping out into the night, Li Cilin vanished into the encompassing shadows.

In the distance, the muffled baying of stray hounds pierced the silence.

Spurred by Dongzi's mysterious affliction, the residents of Tang Town gripped an escalating panic, convinced that a malignant demon had infiltrated their settlement, spreading an atmosphere of siege-like terror.

And on that very night, a far more concrete horror struck Tang Town.

Midnight draped the settlement in the stillness of a tomb.

Several shadowy figures slipped quietly past the eastern gates and drifted into the deserted residential lanes.

An alert pariah dog picked up their scent and erupted into furious barking; one of the shadows casually flicked the glinting blade of a steel sabre in the dog's direction, prompting the animal to let out a whimper and flee in blind terror. Creeping up to the front entrance of Zhu Yinshan’s sprawling manor in Qinghua Alley, the intruders deftly slipped a knife tip between the double doors to slide the wooden bolt, gliding silently into the courtyard...

A shrill, agonizing shriek pierced the night air.

The witness paid it little mind until dawn broke, revealing the grim reality of what had transpired at the Zhu residence.

The main gates stood flung wide open, venting a heavy stench of fresh gore into the biting morning gale. Wang Hai荣, who arrived early to handle odd jobs for the household, was the first to enter. To his horror, he discovered Zhu Yinshan and his entire family bound tightly within the main hall, strips of cloth stuffed firmly into their mouths. Turning pale with terror, Wang Hai荣 stammered, "Master, Master, what on earth has happened?!" The bound family members stared with wide, bloodshot eyes brimming with raw terror. Only old man Zhu Yinshan retained a semblance of composure, rolling his eyes frantically to signal Wang Hai荣 to pull the gag from his mouth. Rushing forward, the laborer cleared the obstruction. Gasping for air, Zhu Yinshan wheezed, "Haihua—unfasten these ropes immediately!" Slashing through the hemp cords, Wang Hai荣 freed the patriarch, who scrambled unsteadily to his feet and lunged blindly toward the side chambers without a backward glance.

Remaining behind in the hall, Wang Hai荣 set about releasing the remaining captives.

Moments later, a blood-curdling howl echoed from the side quarters—the sound of a slaughtered beast.

Hurrying toward the sound, Wang Hai荣 froze on the threshold of the side chamber.

Zhu Yinshan was cradling his concubine’s bleeding corpse, weeping tears of desolate grief. The bed and floor were slick with congealed pools of dark crimson.

Looking up, Zhu Yinshan choked out, "Hurry—go alert the authorities!"

"Master, where are we supposed to report this?" Wang Hai荣 asked bitterly. "To the county yamen? That's a hundred miles of rugged mountain trails away! Even if we made the trek, would the county magistrate ever bother dealing with trouble in this godforsaken mountain pocket? Past victims who filed reports at the yamen never saw a single resolution; in the end, every crisis in Tang Town has to be solved by our own hands. What do you suggest?"

Clutching his head, Zhu Yinshan gasped, "Then run and fetch Li Cilin immediately!"

Nodding urgently, Wang Hai荣 bolted out the door at a dead run.

Racing through the lanes, he bellowed at the top of his lungs: "Murder at Zhu Yinshan’s house! Blood has been shed at the Zhu manor—!"

Shock rippled through the awakening settlement as locals bolted from their homes to chase after the news.

Pounding frantically against the door of Li Cilin’s residence, Wang Hai荣 yelled, "Open up! Open up!"

The heavy panel swung open to reveal Wang Haihua rather than Li Cilin. Looking utterly exhausted from pulling an all-night vigil over feverish Dongzi, she demanded, "What's gotten into you, Hai荣, making such a commotion at this hour?"

Panting heavily, Wang Hai荣 blurted out, "Big Sister, it's a disaster! The Zhu manor was raided last night, and Zhu Yinshan's concubine has been murdered!"

Wang Haihua's jaw dropped in genuine shock: "Agh—!"

"Where is Li Cilin?" Wang Hai荣 pressed. "Zhu Yinshan sent me specifically to find him!"

"He left the house last night and hasn't returned," she replied. "God only knows what kind of shady business he and my husband are running behind closed doors lately. He dumped Dongzi's care entirely onto me—the boy's burning up, yet he acts as though Dongzi isn't even his son! Try checking with Eunuch Li... ah, I mean Lord Shunde. He might be over at the manor."

Spinning around, Wang Hai荣 sprinted off.

Watching her brother's retreating back, Wang Haihua fell into deep, troubled contemplation.

Reaching the mouth of Xinglong Alley, Wang Hai荣 spotted Li Cilin and Li Saogu marching toward him with several armed men in tow. Breathless and wide-eyed, Wang Hai荣 cried, "Uncle Cilin! Disaster struck at Zhu Yinshan's place—he sent me to fetch you, you need to get over there right now!" With a face carved from granite, Li Cilin rumbled in a heavy baritone, "I've already heard. Lead the way!"

According to Zhu Yinshan’s trembling account, he had been sleeping in his concubine's quarters when the attack unfolded. Around midnight, a bone-chilling draft woke him; opening his eyes, he found the oil lamp freshly lit and a razor-sharp steel blade pressed flush against his throat. Two masked men dressed in black flanked the bed, while his terrified concubine huddled bound in the corner. One intruder hissed, "Get up, old dog!" Sinking into an abyss of ice, Zhu Yinshan dragged himself upright from the carved rosewood bed, keeping his neck clear of the biting edge. "Spare my life, good heroes!" he begged. "I possess no hidden hoards of gold or silver, but my granaries are crammed to bursting with grain—take whatever you need!" Pressing the blade deeper until the skin broke and oozed a bead of blood, the intruder sneered, "We aren't after your grain, old dog, we want your wealth! Hand over your gold and silver right now, and we'll spare your wretched hide—otherwise, not only will I carve your throat, but I'll slaughter every soul in this courtyard!" Trembling like a leaf, the concubine whimpered, "Master, just give them whatever they want! Your life is what matters!" Shooting her a wicked, mocking glance, the masked man laughed, "At least the little lady possesses some sense. Keep your tongue still, old dog, and no sudden moves!" Trapped with no escape, Zhu Yinshan stammered, "Follow me..." and shuffled out into the hall like a man walking to the gallows, with the blade resting constantly against his vertebrae. The second intruder remained behind, his fiery gaze lingering lecherously upon the concubine's pale, youthful face... Dragging the patriarch toward the master bedroom to open the hidden wall safe, Zhu Yinshan discovered his entire household trussed up in the main hall, guarded by additional blade-wielding thugs. Handing over an intricately carved black lacquer lockbox packed with gold bullion and gemstones, he watched the intruder’s eyes flare with greedy triumph. Just as the bandit tied Zhu Yinshan securely to a pillar in the hall, a piercing, agonizing shriek echoed from the side quarters—a sound that drove a dagger straight through the patriarch's heart, plunging him into darkness as he fainted away...

Listening to the harrowing narrative, Li Cilin furrowed his brows deeply. "Did you recognize any of their accents?"

Still shivering with shock, Zhu Yinshan shook his head. "None at all."

"Could you discern any distinctive facial features?"

"How could I? Their heads and faces were wrapped tight in black cloth, leaving only their eyes exposed."

Turning to Li Saogu, Li Cilin instructed, "Saogu, go inspect the side chamber and check if the bandits left behind any dropped items."

Darting a nervous, shifty glance away, Li Saogu stammered, "R-right away."

Stepping into the side chamber, Li Cilin exhaled heavily and remarked, "It seems Lord Shunde’s foresight was spot-on after all!"

Blinking in confusion, Zhu Yinshan asked, "What foresight?"

"Shortly after Lord Shunde returned to Tang Town, he warned us that the outside world was plunging into chaos, making Tang Town's relative peace a fragile thing that could shatter at any moment," Li Cilin stated evenly. "He predicted long ago that the turmoil of the outside realm would eventually bleed into our mountains. Now that it has actually happened, marauding outlaws have clearly breached the region. We must prepare our defenses immediately!"

"Brother Cilin, what are we supposed to do?!" Zhu Yinshan panicked.

"As the head of the Yu clan, you needn't panic. Lord Shunde will summon the various patriarchs over the next couple of days to formulate a collective strategy. Until a formal resolution is enacted, I will deploy trusted men to safeguard your households."

"Your martial prowess is unmatched in all of Tang Town, Brother Cilin," Zhu Yinshan wept. "You carry the safety of us all on your shoulders now!"

Patting his shoulder firmly, Li Cilin vowed, "Have no fear. Matters have reached this pass—protecting this town is my absolute duty!"

Gnashing his teeth with a murderous glare, Li Cilin hissed, "Once those bandits are hunted down, I'll hack them into a thousand pieces!"

Even when midday sunlight managed to pierce the dense canopy in fractured, dappled shafts, the Black Forest remained an oppressive, menacing labyrinth reeking of silent decay. Every waft of rotting vegetation churned Li Hongtang's stomach, yet she swallowed down her nausea, pressing forward side-by-side with Shangguan Wenqing to locate an exit. With Wenqing by her side, the consuming terror that had paralyzed her upon entering the woods had subsided, replaced by a lingering, nervous tension.

Advancing with a sturdy branch to probe the leaf-choked soil ahead, Shangguan Wenqing cleared a path through the thick carpets of decomposed humus, entirely blind to what lay concealed beneath. Every few paces, he would glance back over his shoulder to offer a reassuring smile: "We're making headway, keep going!"

A swell of profound gratitude warmed Hongtang’s chest. The diminutive dwarf, treated with casual contempt across Tang Town, extended a tender, flawless solicitude toward her. Whenever hunger struck, he foraged edible wild berries to sustain her; whenever chills threatened, he built crackling hearth fires for warmth... and passed the hours spinning endless, whimsical tales to distract her from their plight. She remained baffled by how such an expansive, rich inner world could be housed within so stunted a frame.

Suddenly, Shangguan Wenqing halted, his voice dropping an octave: "Hongtang, stop right there! Don't take another step!"

A shiver raced down Hongtang’s spine as she froze instantly.

Above them, the sunlight was abruptly smothered by a bank of heavy clouds, plunging the timberland into twilight gloom. Wenqing appeared to have stepped into a concealed quagmire; his boots were sinking slowly into a patch of dark, bubbling mire. Hongtang watched in horror as jet-black, foul-smelling bubbles erupted around his ankles, releasing thin tendrils of noxious vapor accompanied by a gag-inducing stench. Her instincts screamed the truth: Shangguan Wenqing had blundered into a forest bog. Hidden beneath the deceptively thick carpet of autumn leaves, the hazard had remained invisible; lacking the physical weight and leverage to pierce the packed leaf-matting safely, his lighter frame had broken right through the crust. Furthermore, she recognized immediately that the rising vapor was toxic marsh miasma.

Panic seized her throat. What on earth can I do?

If the mire swallowed him whole, he would never see Tang Town again, his frail bones rotting into anonymity beneath the leaves like countless nameless souls before him.

Eyes dilated wide with terror, Shangguan Wenqing’s mouth gaped in a silent scream.

He thrashed frantically, but every desperate movement only dragged him deeper into the sucking mud, which responded with wet, slurping sounds resembling the mocking laughter of ghouls.

Screaming out, Hongtang yelled, "Wenqing! Stop moving, don't move an inch!"

Gasping frantically for air, he cried, "Hongtang, save me, save me—!"

The serene smile had vanished entirely from his face, replaced by unadulterated panic.

Paralyzed by helplessness, Hongtang could only watch as he sank inexorably downward. He thrashed his arms through the air: "Hongtang, save me, save me—!"

For the very first time in her life, she witnessed tears spilling from Shangguan Wenqing’s eyes. As those droplets caught the dim light, her heart cleaved in two; a life previously disconnected from her own was suddenly pulling her into its orbit, striking a devastating blow of raw empathy.

Hot tears streamed down her own cheeks.

Trembling violently, she pleaded, "Wenqing, hold still, don't struggle! I'll find a way to pull you out!"

Cautiously stepping forward to close the distance, she intended to grab his outstretched hands and drag him free from the toxic mire. But as she inched her foot forward, Shangguan Wenqing roared: "Hongtang, don't come closer! Stay back—!"

Weeping openly, she choked out, "I have to get you out! I can't just stand here and watch you die!"

Voice breaking with emotion, he cried, "You mustn't come over here! If you fall in too, you'll die right beside me—I won't let you throw your life away, no—!"

"I don't care about any of that anymore!" she sobbed.

A sudden realization flashing across his eyes, Wenqing yelled, "Hongtang, listen to me! It's too dangerous! Actually... you can pull me out without risking your life. Go find a long branch and extend it over here so I can grab hold and let you haul me out. If it doesn't work... just leave me."

His desolate tone drove a knife through her chest, yet his instruction cut through her panic.

Why didn't I think of that earlier? she berated herself, spinning around to scour the undergrowth. Snapping off a long, sturdy bough, she rushed back to the spot—only to find Shangguan Wenqing had sunk dangerously deep, the foul sludge now lapping near his collarbones. His face had turned a bruised, congested purple, eyes bulging from their sockets as he fought for his final gasping breath.

Tears blinding her vision, Hongtang thrust the branch forward.

"Hang on, Wenqing! Grab the wood, I'm going to haul you out right now! Don't let go, you're not going to die, you hear me—?!"

Lunging upward, Wenqing managed to grasp the timber, though his failing strength made his fingers slip. Gasping weakly, he wheezed, "H-Hongtang... I... I can't..."

"Don't you dare give up, Wenqing! Hold onto that branch with everything you've got, I am going to drag you out!"

Refusing to let go, a fragile, tear-streaked smile broke across his face once more.

Meanwhile, back in Tang Town, residents noted a steady stream of unfamiliar workers streaming into the sprawling Li estate. These solemn, expressionless men and women—hired by Eunuch Li from neighboring villages to manage the massive manor—moved with a mechanical, deadpan rigidity that unnerved the locals.

Following the tragic raid at the Zhu residence, Eunuch Li formally summoned the patriarchs of Tang Town and its surrounding hamlets into the grand reception hall of the Li estate to deliberate countermeasures. Detailing a litany of escalating violence across the outside world, he painted a grim, apocalyptic picture: without immediate, decisive action, Tang Town would know no peace. His ominous warnings left the clan elders exchanging nervous, panicked glances. Bereft of viable solutions, their minds clouded by fear, these wealthy patriarchs dreaded becoming the next targets of marauding outlaws.

Finally, Zhu Yinshan broke the silence: "We should defer to Lord Shunde’s judgment. He possesses profound worldly experience and brilliant strategy—he surely holds the key!"

Clearing his throat, Eunuch Li stated smoothly, "In my view, only one course of action guarantees our survival!"

All eyes pivoted instantly toward his pale, powdered face.

Anxiously, Zhu Yinshan pressed, "What plan? Please enlighten us, Lord Shunde!"

Inhaling a pinch of snuff from an ivory bottle, Eunuch Li drawled deliberately: "We must establish a local militia! Nothing else will suffice; only by fielding our own armed defense can we secure Tang Town!"

The assembly murmured in enthusiastic agreement—Lord Shunde’s proposal was sheer brilliance!

Eunuch Li continued: "My thought is this: raising a militia requires capital and manpower. As for the funds, I will cover the lion's share, while those assembled here contribute whatever they can spare. As for personnel, I propose appointing Li Cilin as militia commander. As you all know, his martial arts remain unmatched across Tang Town, and with his growing roster of disciples, his prestige is soaring. Entrusting him with troop recruitment and military training is the most logical choice. What say you all?"

Following a brief whispered consultation, the patriarchs unanimously endorsed the motion.

Eunuch Li pressed on: "Regarding armaments, I have already stocked an entire warehouse with spears and broadswords. In due course, if conditions permit, we may dispatch agents outward to procure modern firearms, which would render us impregnable."

The assembly beamed with elation. A lingering doubt nagged at the back of some minds—where on earth did Lord Shunde acquire an entire warehouse full of weaponry?—yet none dared voice the question aloud. Those recalling the unceasing nocturnal hammering issuing from the blacksmith shop during previous weeks kept their counsel, eyeing Eunuch Li with a mixture of awe and creeping dread.

"I have one final proposal, though I hesitate to burden you with it," Eunuch Li added smoothly.

Zhu Yinshan immediately jumped in: "Speak freely, Lord Shunde! Whatever you propose, I give it my absolute, dual-handed endorsement!"

"Truth be told, Tang Town remains dangerously porous," Eunuch Li explained. "Lacking defensive perimeters on any side, intruders can infiltrate from virtually any direction, rendering even a militia difficult to coordinate against coordinated bands of outlaws striking simultaneously. The devastation would be catastrophic. I have devised a permanent, once-and-for-all solution: we must construct a defensive city wall! Centered upon the town street, we shall erect fortified gates at the eastern and western boundaries, sealing Tang Town securely. Since our settlement is compact, construction will not demand excessive time; given that we are currently between agricultural seasons, local labor can be drafted immediately, supplemented by reinforcements from surrounding hamlets. I estimate completion within two to three months. Oh, and as for the construction budget—yours truly will shoulder the entire expense! You need only provide the labor!"

Cheers erupted through the hall. The primary catalyst for their jubilation wasn't merely security—it was the glorious realization that it wouldn't cost them a single copper!

"Since everyone is in agreement, let us waste no time," Eunuch Li concluded. "We shall break ground on an auspicious date."

The inauguration day for the Tang Town militia dawned under an overcast, brooding sky. Despite the gloomy weather, it was hailed as an exceptionally auspicious day, prompting the townsfolk to deck the settlement in festive lanterns and colorful banners. For a community fixated on the preservation of life and property, the founding of a militia constituted a monumental milestone—a narrative amplified so aggressively across Tang Town and its environs that it took on the aura of an infallible talisman guaranteeing permanent prosperity.

Meanwhile, Dongzi’s high fever persisted unabated, stretching into multiple days of delirious babbling upon his bed.

Wang Haihua was driven to the verge of a psychological breakdown. At this rate, she prayed she might fall feverish and babble deliriously right alongside him. Running a dual household during the day—tending to her own family before rushing over to brew herbal drafts and spoon-feed Dongzi—she spent sleepless nights guarding his bedside, acutely aware that any mishap would unleash Li Saogu’s ruthless wrath. Allied tightly with Li Cilin, who had just ascended to the post of militia commander, Li Saogu enjoyed newfound status as deputy commander. Town gossip claimed the militia commander's word would soon carry more weight than that of the venerable clan elders. Despite her crushing exhaustion, Wang Haihua endured, cowed by her husband's intimidation and moved by genuine pity for orphaned Dongzi. Fortunately, Abao’s daily visits to sit by the boy helped share the burden. She desperately wished Li Hongtang would return so she could be relieved of her agonizing duty.

The thought of Hongtang naturally steered her mind toward her younger brother, Wang Hairong. In his early twenties and remarkably handsome, Hairong remained unmarried, a source of persistent worry for his sister. Hairong had previously confessed his affections for Li Hongtang, begging Haihua to act as matchmaker with Li Cilin. Terrified to approach Cilin herself, Haihua had floated the idea to Li Saogu instead. Dismissing the notion out of hand, Saogu had warned, "That's a dead end. Li Cilin isn't a man who listens easily." Holding out little hope, her suspicions were confirmed when a drunken Saogu returned one evening to sneer, "What a disgrace! You actually had me go proposition Cilin! He cursed me out of his house, saying a good-for-nothing like Wang Hairong trying to marry Hongtang was a toad lusting after swan meat!" Silenced by fear of further beatings, Haihua abandoned the subject. Upon learning of the militia's formation, she had urged her brother to enlist, hoping a military career might elevate his prospects and perhaps earn Li Cilin's favor enough to secure Hongtang's hand. Hairong, however, was terrified of violence, preferring the security of tenant farming and short-term labor. Furious at his spinelessness, Haihua fumed that he truly deserved to die an old bachelor.

Streams of townsfolk converged on the plaza before the Li estate to witness the grand inauguration ceremony.

Noticing Abao keeping vigil beside Dongzi's bed, Wang Haihua asked, "Abao, why aren't you outside to watch the excitement?"

With a sorrowful expression, Abao shook his head. "There's nothing to see. Until Dongzi's fever breaks, I don't even have an appetite for food."

Patting his head gently, Haihua smiled softly. "You really are a loyal, steadfast boy, Abao."

Just at that juncture, Li Hongtang and Shangguan Wenqing dragged their exhausted frames into the wilderness below the settlement. The open fields lay eerily desolate and silent. In the distance, a pale shroud of bluish mist drifted across the gloomy slopes of Wugong Ridge, exuding an air of eerie desolation.

"Strange," Wenqing murmured. "How is it that not a soul is working the fields today? Did everyone die off?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Hongtang scolded gently.

"Do you suppose something major happened in Tang Town?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Just a feeling."

As they neared the small wooden footbridge, a soft flush of crimson warmed Hongtang’s pale cheeks: "Wenqing, you mustn't walk into Tang Town alongside me."

Smiling gently, Wenqing replied, "Understood. I know you're worried about gossip. Go on home alone, and I'll sit up on that large boulder until noon before returning—that way no one will raise questions. Rest assured, Hongtang, I'll never breathe a word to anyone about the days we spent together. Hurry on home now; Dongzi must be half-crazed with worry."

Shyly lowering her gaze, she murmured, "Thank you for saving my life."

"You saved mine as well," he smiled. "If not for you, I'd be a ghost right now. Go on home, no need for formalities."

Nodding softly, Hongtang stepped onto the swaying wooden footbridge.

Crossing to the far bank, she glanced back: Shangguan Wenqing sat alone upon the boulder with his back turned, his face obscured from view.

A bittersweet ache tugged at her heart.

The narrow street stood entirely deserted, devoid of pedestrians, with every shop shuttered tight. Where has everyone gone? Fear spiked in Hongtang’s chest. Could the townsfolk really have perished? What has happened to Dongzi? To my father? Refusing to entertain the darkest scenarios, she hurried toward home with urgent, faltering steps. Their front door stood flung wide open. Dongzi must be inside, she thought; the people of Tang Town never left their doors unlatched if someone remained within. Stepping hesitantly across the threshold, she called out tentatively: "Dongzi—?"

Upstairs, Wang Haihua—who was in the middle of feeding Dongzi his medicine—recognized Hongtang’s voice and gasped in a mixture of shock and elation, turning to Abao: "Ah, Hongtang is back!"

Abao stared blankly.

Hearing Hongtang's second call of "Dongzi—!", Abao scrambled toward the stairs, shouting joyfully, "It's Big Sister coming home!"

Abao practically tumbled down the stairs. Catching sight of Hongtang, his lower lip quivered as he burst into tears: "Big Sister, you're finally back—!"

A sinking premonition seized Hongtang: "Abao, what's wrong with Dongzi?"

"Dongzi is sick!"

Racing up the stairs, Hongtang caught sight of Dongzi delirious with fever and cried out, "Dongzi—!" before her legs gave out entirely, collapsing to the floorboards with a heavy thud.

In the distance, the sharp, rapid cracks of celebratory firecrackers split the air.

Wang Haihua and Abao knew the inauguration ceremony for the Tang Town militia had officially commenced. Yet their hearts remained anchored entirely to the perilous fates of Li Hongtang and Dongzi.

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