"What kind of needle is this, causing no pain or itch?" The more it was so, the more flustered Chongyu Wu became. He decided to rush to Yushi Valley to seek treatment from Wu Nanyong and then plan his next move.
It truly couldn't be delayed any longer. Gou'er finally mustered the courage to step forward and block Lin Chaoying, saying, "After following for more than twenty days, it's clear that Jing Tianmen is leading us into a trap. Why risk your life and fall into the enemy's snare? We must also consider the Madam's condition."
Lin Chaoying bit her lower lip. She knew that Nan was setting a trap with the "invite the wolf into the house" tactic, and she also knew she would be "walking into the tiger's den." This was because of that silhouette... possibly him. "You stay and guard the town ahead. If anything unexpected happens, please apologize to my grandmother on my behalf." Alas, thinking of both mother and daughter, and how she had disappointed her hard work and expectations, a long-lost lump formed in her throat. She said, "If possible, please serve her until her last day." It was then that she noticed Gou'er had grown to her chest without her realizing it. She patted Gou'er's head and said, "With your personality, she will like you."
Gou'er shook her head. "No, how could she like a servant who couldn't even protect her most beloved grandchild? Young lady, we'll face life and death together!" Lin Chaoying's pride surged. "No, I haven't dragged him out and scolded him soundly yet. How could I easily fall into someone's trap and lose my life?"
This dense forest seemed like a flat expanse of trees, but upon closer inspection, it was clear it had been deliberately cleared and cultivated with familiarity. Therefore, Lin Chaoying could easily pass through the forest without being led by Jing Tianmen's ruffians. Emerging from the forest, she saw a cliff on the left. The opposite cliff face was as smooth as a large bronze mirror, rising steeply by the river. To the right, a winding path led to another dense forest. Behind the forest, mountains rose and fell, and valleys were hidden. Lin Chaoying guessed that the deep valley and forest mentioned by Gong Liang might be somewhere within. Determined to get ahead of Jing Tianmen and catch Wu Nanyong off guard, she quickened her pace and ran towards it. After walking a short distance, she suddenly felt something was amiss. She looked back to see Gou'er still standing at the exit, gazing at the cliff face.
"Look, at the bottom of the cliff, in that dark area, is that a cave?" Gou'er pointed. Based on the water flow after the river waves crashed, Lin Chaoying believed Gou'er's observation was reliable. Moreover, she suddenly recalled Gong Liang's words from earlier. He had said, "Before reaching the valley, we entered a cave and passed through a dark tunnel; before entering the cave, we passed through a strange tree forest; before exiting the strange forest, we were blindfolded and moved forward, so we didn't know how they were connected. But I remember a guide reminding us several times to keep to the right and saying 'otherwise, you'll be smashed to pieces,' before being stopped by someone else. I inferred that we were walking on the cliff face at that time." Lin Chaoying pondered, "There's no way forward. Do we have to jump off the cliff and swim over there?"
It was truly dangerous. Gou'er feared she would act recklessly and quickly said, "Why don't we hide to the side and wait for Jing Tianmen to arrive and see how they get across? Don't forget they are our guides." Half coaxing, half pushing, she led Lin Chaoying into the woods to the left of the narrow path.
Lin Chaoying really didn't want to delay and insisted on striking first. The sun was high in the sky. Lin Chaoying suddenly remembered the technique of finding a path by following the sun's shadow. Indeed, in a brighter spot in the forest, she found another mountain path. This path seemed recently cleared, wide enough for only two people to walk side by side, winding along the cliff edge downwards to a cave entrance, from which darkness emanated. Lin Chaoying suddenly felt an ominous premonition and pulled Gou'er along. "If we encounter danger, retreat to the strange forest and hide. With your footwork, use the strange branches and trees for cover, and no one among them should be able to catch you. Swallow this honey pill; it can ward off迷烟毒雾 (miyan duwu -迷烟: intoxicating smoke; 毒雾: poisonous mist)."
In all their previous actions, had she ever been so cautious? Gou'er must have thought that her agitation was due to the imminent reunion with that person. She patted Lin Chaoying's hand back and said, "Don't worry, I'll be waiting to see how you scold him soundly."
The passage in the cave was winding. After walking for a while, it became impossible to discern the original direction. Lin Chaoying secretly considered several places to set up an ambush, but found no sentries. She wondered if there was some natural barrier they could rely on, or if traps were laid ahead. Continuing forward, the passage became increasingly steep, and the ground gradually changed from gravel to slippery, rugged stone paths. Lin Chaoying considered the environment, perhaps to weaken the use of Qinggong (lightness skill). While drawing her "Fen Long Suo" (分龙索 - Dragon Splitting Rope) for defense, she cautioned Gou'er. Gou'er replied, "Yes. Why haven't Jing Tianmen's ruffians appeared yet?" Lin Chaoying strained her ears again but still heard nothing. "By rights, they should have reached the cave entrance by now... Could this cave have a secret passage?" She thought that since they had come this far, they should go to the end and see the situation. After some time, seeing no way forward, faint light shone from the top of the stone wall on the left. The two of them leaped up the wall and saw a cave entrance not far below the sloping ground, where the light was entering.
Lin Chaoying leaped down the slope to the cave entrance and looked out. She saw another vast stone grotto and felt as if she were in the throat of a giant dragon, with herself standing at the base of its tongue, and the cave behind them like its gullet. She glanced to her right and saw a smaller, darker cave opening not far away. "Is this the cave Gong Liang mentioned?" Suddenly, she felt the stones beneath her feet collide violently, and a whistling sound filled her ears. She spun around, and a tidal wave, like a divine dragon wagging its tail, poured down. Pressing the button on the end of the "Fen Long Suo," the iron claw shot out, gripping the rock face above, and Lin Chaoying used it to lift herself to safety. Gou'er, who followed, reacted too slowly and was swept away, about to be pulled into the river. Lin Chaoying swung through the air and managed to grab Gou'er, using the momentum to throw her to a safer position further back.
"What deep mother-daughter affection! Hahahaha! Let Grandpa take his grandchild for a while." Lin Chaoying saw Lu Enshu emerge from the dark cave, pointing his finger at Gou'er. She quickly pressed the button to release the iron claw and drew her sword in mid-air, furiously stabbing at him. However, another sword, executing twelve consecutive strikes, swept towards Lin Chaoying from her right, aiming at various parts of her body. Lin Chaoying recognized it as the Dark Swordsman's move, "Men Bo Ying Zhi" (闷拨盈枝 - Muffled Pushing Full Branches), and skillfully parried all the attacks with "Hua Feng Yu Jie" (花逢雨劫 - Flowers Encountering Rain's Calamity).
From a young age, Wu Nanyong had strived tirelessly. After several assessments, he finally managed to join the group led by Li Wanxue. He knew that although she was not of the Da Xiang school, much of her You Xu Dong (游虚洞 - Wandering Void Cave) martial arts originated from Li Jincuo, and the rest had been improved by him. He also knew that Li Jincuo's most exquisite techniques were never passed down. Seeing Lin Chaoying gain them without effort, he was ordered to act, but what he resented most was that Mao Ya was also involved. It was clear that Li Wanxue had long intended to take him as a son-in-law, and this he could not tolerate!
"If my grandson is so disobedient, don't blame your grandfather for teaching you a lesson with a heavy hand." Lin Chaoying knew Lu Enshu was disrupting the enemy, but she also knew Gou'er was no match for him. She quickly unleashed several fierce moves, repelling Wu Nanyong. With a strong push, she intended to retreat to assist Gou'er. At that moment, a dark figure lunged from Lu Enshu's right, pushing out a stream of hot air with both palms. Lin Chaoying felt a burning pain in her arms and used "San Lu Gun Gun" (伞露滚滚 - Umbrella Dew Rolling) to protect her entire body. The masked man's palms were like cast iron, impervious to the circling sword edge, and he provocatively struck the blade. Lin Chaoying, facing this strange enemy, coupled with her worry for Gou'er's safety and Wu Nanyong's sneak attacks, found her swordplay becoming disjointed, and she was in peril.
"Be a good child and come back with your Grandpa. I'll find you a good husband."
Lin Chaoying knew Gou'er was about to be captured, and they would surely use her as a hostage. What should she do? Her swordplay faltered with her emotions. The masked man's iron palms were already close to her face and shoulders, and Lin realized she could barely hold on. Wu Nanyong seized the opportunity, flicked his sword, and unleashed "Hua Zhan Xi Dong" (花绽西东 - Flowers Blooming East and West), aiming to pierce Lin's clavicles at the shoulders. Just then, the tide surged in again, and Gou'er suddenly shouted, "It's you!"
Lin Chaoying rejoiced that he had finally appeared to rescue them. Her hand moved with her heart, executing "Yun Teng Zhi Yu" (云腾致雨 - Clouds Soaring to Bring Rain), a killing move of Master Yun Gao of Wang Shixiong. Their routines abruptly changed, and Wu and the other were forced to evade their锋芒 (fēngmáng - edge, sharp point). Lin Chaoying quickly turned and moved forward to meet him, but Wu Nanyong retreated and then advanced, blocking her. Lin Chaoying's thoughts shifted, and she used a new sword style she had comprehended at Nanxi River. The final chapter of Li Jincuo's notes contained crucial secrets on observing, mastering, finding weaknesses, and breaking enemy attack routines. During this time, Lin Chaoying changed her perspective, contemplating and attempting to break her own learned skills, which led her to comprehend many new moves.