Chapter 163 – The Carefree Martial Lodge, Grand Demonic Abode, Yan Mu’s Letter, and the Emperor’s Broken Promise - Part 1

In the depths of Bluepond’s county jail, the cold brick walls exuded a biting chill, and through narrow crevices, dark red stains of blood could be faintly seen.

In a brazier, red flames danced wildly while several branding irons lay scattered about, the blood on their tips long since charred into black.

This solitary firelight cast a shifting silhouette on the wall not far away.

The figure belonged to a skinny youth drenched in blood, hanging limply in midair. His hair, matted into a grimy blend of red and black, concealed a young face whose eyes remained tightly closed. Even the clotted blood in his strands refused to drip.

With a sudden splash, a bucket of cold water doused his face.

The scrawny boy opened his eyes; his gaze, fierce and unyielding like a stalking leopard, locked onto the bailiff before him.

“Looks like you still have some fight left, kid,” the bailiff remarked with a chuckle.

Drawing a blade from his belt, he grazed the youth’s cheek and barked, “Talk! Who ordered you to kill Lord Ma?”

The boy was the one who had earlier clutched a shard of iron, scaled the wall, and dashed through a doorway to rescue someone.

“Xu Sheng, confess! Who abducted the maid from Lord Ma’s household?” another bailiff demanded coldly.

At that moment, Xu Sheng lifted his head slightly and rasped, “She...was taken by someone?”

“Exactly, a man in grey! Now speak: who is that grey-robed fellow?” the bailiff pressed.

They interrogated him on orders from above, not out of fear of offending anyone important. What could these ragged street urchins possibly know?

Instead, it was so that both the higher-ups and Lord Ma’s faction could unmask this motley gang and the mysterious grey-robed man, and then round them all up to settle their bloody score.

Upon hearing this, Xu Sheng broke into a deranged laugh before lowering his head and, between ragged gasps, declared, “A fortune-teller once said our Xu family would produce greatness. My sister has been extraordinary since childhood. I always knew fate had chosen her. And sure enough, someone saved her. You’d best not cross that man...for it’s all the will of heaven, the will of heaven!”

In truth, that so-called fortune-teller was nothing more than a charlatan spouting empty flattery, something their parents had long seen through.

Xu Sheng, however, had clung to his words. His outbrust was a calculated ploy meant to terrify the bailiffs and confuse them; the more unsettled they became, the less likely they were to dig further, keeping his sister safe.

Unmoved by his theatrics, the bailiffs burst into laughter before one snapped his whip and lashed out hard across Xu Sheng’s body.

Like a tattered sack, he shuddered under the blow yet only grunted without crying out, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on his attacker.

Unnerved by that fierce stare, the bailiff even considered drawing his blade to gouge out one eye until a voice suddenly called out from outside the cell.

“Enough with the questioning! Lord Ma’s household has sent fine wine. If you dawdle, you’ll miss your chance!”

The bailiff reluctantly set his blade aside and bellowed, “Unless it’s wine from the Ginger Tavern, it’s nothing but watered-down drivel!”

From outside, another bailiff replied, “Hey, you’re right on the money; it’s the Ginger Tavern’s Springdream Brew this year!”

“What brew?”

“Springdream Brew. It’s the finest, even better than the Springwater Brew!”

“Alright, alright, I’m coming!” Ecstatic, the bailiff tossed aside the torture gear and dashed out.

The Ginger Tavern’s wine was renowned throughout these parts, especially since the establishment was run by the wife of the notorious Bloody Blade Patriarch, lending it an air of refined prestige.

And who was this Bloody Blade Patriarch? Even Bluepond County had heard his name!

His junior brother, Mister Wood, had once ventured single-handedly to Autumnlake, slew Zhao Xiantong, and subdued General Mammoth who stood behind him.

It was enough to show everyone in the neighboring counties who ruled these lands.

Additionally, the Ginger Tavern’s wine wasn’t just exceptional; it was almost impossible to come by.

So, the moment the promise of Springdream Brew reached their ears, the bailiffs abandoned everything and fled.

Hanging by his bonds, head bowed and suspended in midair, Xu Sheng listened numbly to the clink of cups and distant laughter.

For a long, agonizing moment, he stared blankly at the space before him before slowly closing his eyes in pain.

After an indeterminate time, as the rowdy sounds outside faded into silence, Xu Sheng blinked open his eyes in surprise and turned his head slightly.

He heard measured footsteps approaching from the gloomy corridor—a calm, almost serene pace that belied the tension of the moment.

Soon, within the flickering light of the brazier, a tall figure emerged. He was cloaked in a gray cape and sported a wooden mask.

The mysterious stranger reached the door, produced a key, and with a creak, unlocked the iron shackles.

Stepping inside, he untied Xu Sheng. As the boy tumbled down with a

thud

, the figure caught him effortlessly and slung him over his shoulder.

“Thank you,” Xu Sheng managed in a hoarse whisper, unsure of his rescuer’s identity.

“Aren’t you wondering who I am?” the gray-caped man asked with a hint of amusement.

Xu Sheng croaked, “Shouldn’t we leave here first?”

“What? Just because I distracted the guards and used the key to open the door, you’re looking down on me?” the stranger laughed.

Taken aback, Xu Sheng quickly replied, “Not at all.”

In the blink of an eye, the mysterious man carried him out of the prison.

With graceful strides cutting through the night, they soon vanished into the darkness, leaving no trace behind.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Several days later.

In a large residence, twelve ragged street urchins sat huddled together, nervous yet alert. They all shared a few distinct traits—

First was that despite their hardships, they were surprisingly robust, a testament to naturally strong constitutions.

Second was that each had a past steeped in bloodshed and bitter grudges.

Third was after being forced into begging, they had endured enough humiliation to make them as ferocious as wild animals. albeit still small ones, lacking the metaphorical claws of full-grown predators.

Xu Sheng sat among them. But instead of his sister Xu Lan by his side, a much smaller urchin, so slight that it was hard to tell if they were male or female, sat next to him.

New clothes and food were being distributed.

Xu Lan, the very first girl Li Yuan had taken in, sat regally on a high chair. Once she donned her fresh outfit, her beauty was magnified, rendering her almost impossibly stunning.

With an air of aristocratic cool, she announced, “Mister has provided us with a place to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear, and he’s even going to teach us martial arts! Are you all ready to learn?”

A chorus of voices, some loud and confident, others soft as whispers, answered, “Yes!”

Then Xu Lan commanded, “Now go heat some water, take a bath, change into your new clothes, and come practice!”

Everyone replied in unison, “Yes!”

Xu Sheng couldn’t help but smile as he watched his sister. He had never imagined things would turn out this way.

The man who had rescued him from the county jail had brought him here. And here, he found his sister, Xu Lan.

That man had promised, “From now on, this residence is your home.”

Later, he even brought in several other street kids, all of whom Xu Sheng and Xu Lan already knew from past encounters—and even from past grudges.

None of these kids were pushovers; each carried a fierce edge.

Among them, Xu Lan was renowned for her beauty. She was a rare gem among the downtrodden. It was remarkable how a girl raised on leftovers could blossom into a fair-skinned, big-eyed beauty with a slender, graceful waist.

Barefoot, she exuded an allure that made hearts race, as if her delicate feet were precious treasures.

It was no wonder many of the younger urchins affectionately called her, while some of the older ones eyed her with covetous glances that spoke of secret, forbidden desires.

However, Xu Lan was not only beautiful; she was bold and spirited.

Her brother Xu Sheng, known for having once taken a life, was no less formidable.

Believing in a blind seer’s cryptic prophecy from his youth and awed by his sister’s blossoming beauty, he had pinned all his hopes on Xu Lan.

No longer acting as an older brother in the traditional sense, he had become her ardent follower—a devoted, even fanatical, protector willing to die for her.

The sibling pair was famous among the urchins, especially Xu Lan, who carried herself with dignity and commanded respect. Had it not been for their capture by Lord Ma’s men, she would have continued to thrive among them.

After the other children dispersed, Xu Lan rose gracefully. She moved behind a folding screen beside her chair and, with an elegance that belied her humble origins, saluted the gray-clad man sitting there. “Mister, did I do well?”

The man in gray was Li Yuan. Xu Lan was the child he had chosen, though he wasn’t yet sure of her full potential.

Through Xu Lan and Xu Sheng, he had come to know many local street urchins, selecting those with steadfast spirits and sturdy bodies, and bringing them here.

Li Yuan, however, had no intention of acting as a full-time guardian. He wasn’t there to raise or coddle them, or to fight their battles for them. His plan was simply to provide a platform, a base where he’d check in periodically.

Those who could grasp his martial arts, he would continue to teach; for those lacking resources, he’d lend a hand. But after that, everything would be up to the children themselves.

He might arrange supply lines or set up ways for them to earn money, but they would have to make their own way in the world.

That’s why Li Yuan had never bothered with Lord Ma’s household or the bailiffs.

He’d even used a gentle sedative to knock out the bailiffs and free Xu Sheng from the jail rather than brazenly storming in.

Li Yuan wasn’t aiming to create a sheltered environment for them to simply study his techniques; he wanted to give them hope and the tools to survive, leaving life and death to be decided by their own actions unless extraordinary circumstances intervened.

“Well done,” Li Yuan said with quiet approval. Then he added, “But I won’t be staying here permanently.”

Xu Lan’s face showed no disappointment. “I understand, Mister. You’re a person of great ability, so of course you can’t remain here forever. Then...what do you want us to do?”

Li Yuan said, “I’m merely passing on my martial art. Beyond that, you must fend for yourselves. What you do is none of my concern.”

“Thank you, Mister,” Xu Lan replied.

After a brief pause, her large eyes dropped slightly and her sweet features took on a more demure expression.

Then she asked, “But may I ask, why did you choose me? Is it simply because I’m pretty?”

Li Yuan chuckled. “Of course not. It’s because you’re truly special.”

“Really special?” Xu Lan asked, her expression a mix of wonder and uncertainty.

Li Yuan nodded. “Your bearing exudes nobility. No matter what hardships you face, you’re destined to achieve greatness.”

Xu Lan’s expression shifted as she hesitated before asking, “Did you hear about the fortune-telling from my brother?”

“Fortune-telling? What do you mean?” Li Yuan asked, his tone laced with surprise.

Xu Lan recounted how, when she was young, a fortune-teller had visited their home.

Li Yuan laughed and said, “What a coincidence. The fortune-teller’s words agree with my own view.”

In that moment, a storm of emotion surged within Xu Lan.

A newfound, unwavering confidence began to bloom. She told herself,

I was meant for greatness. I was born to be extraordinary!

But in truth, Li Yuan’s words were a ruse; he craved this very effect. When someone believed they were chosen by fate, their achievements could soar far beyond those of someone who saw themselves as nothing more than a street urchin.

He had heard of the fortune-telling from Xu Sheng in the county jail and now decided to bolster Xu Lan’s resolve even further.

That said, Li Yuan wasn’t entirely convinced that Xu Lan would be able to master his Southern Mountains' Ghostly Rain or wield the Phantom Blade; it was merely an added wager.

Every child here, and every child who would eventually come, held a spark of potential. Yet once the seeds were sown, only time would tell which one would sprout into a mighty tree.