晋地, a land where undulating mountains and valleys stretched one after another. It was already night, and the sky above the hills was filled with stars. Beside a large rock on the hilltop, a bonfire burned brightly, roasting a field mouse impaled on twigs, emitting a savory aroma.

In a small iron pot nearby, a broth containing some mouse meat was also ready. Two figures, vastly different in size, sat by the fire. The smaller figure poured a bowl of broken, stale cornbread into the broth.

After a moment, the crumbled cornbread softened. The small figure sliced the mouse meat with a small knife, then ladled out two bowls of meat broth, offering the larger bowl of broth and the larger half of the mouse meat to the mountain-like, plump figure.

"Master, it's time to eat."

"Mm," the mountainous figure nodded, accepting the bowl. He then placed the mouse meat in front of the child. "Old Ban said, 'Cultivate the mind in poverty, practice martial arts in wealth.' To learn martial arts, one's family must be wealthy, or one won't have the strength to punch. You're growing, eat more meat."

"But... Master also needs strength. Master is so fat..."

"Your master ate a private meal before."

"A private meal..."

"I secretly left during the day, ate many things where you couldn't see. You don't know these things."

The plump figure lifted the bowl and took a sip while speaking. The child was visibly confused. He held his bowl, "...Master is lying, right?"

"Do you think your master wouldn't eat behind your back?"

"Uh..."

Although the child was young, he was weathered by hardship. His face bore many cuts and calluses from the wind, so he didn't blush much. The plump figure patted his head.

"In recent days, although you've improved in combat, your heart is still too soft. Those children you saved the other day were clearly trying to con you out of food, yet you excitedly went to find them something to eat. Later, they wanted to make you their leader, only wanting to rely on you to support them. Then, when you said you were leaving, they secretly plotted to steal your things. If I hadn't come over in the middle of the night, they might have knocked you on the head with rocks... You're too kind, you'll ultimately suffer."

"...But Master isn't like them."

The child mumbled softly.

"How much different am I from them? Ping'an, do you think I grew this fat eating dirt? The world is in chaos, and it's going to get worse. When things get unbearable, even master and disciple, even father and son, might have to eat each other. You've seen all sorts of things this past year. I wouldn't eat you, but from now on, don't be naive about anyone. Consider everyone's heart to be bad first, or you'll suffer greatly."

"Umm."

The child blocked his mouth with the broth bowl, slurping it down. There was a slight look of grievance on his face, but after walking through the purgatory of Jin for the past year or two, such grievances were nothing.

After eating, the master and disciple walked in circles around the large rock on the hilltop, practicing boxing. At first, it seemed relaxed, but after warming up, the stances gradually widened, and the fist techniques became dangerous. The massive figure's hands were like millstones, his footwork like plows. Each advance and retreat was like a dangerous vortex. This incorporated the power generation of Tai Chi's circular movements, as well as the plump figure's lifelong understanding. It was the most supreme Kung Fu in the world.

Although the child behind him, in his pushing and advancing, didn't yet possess such power, his fist postures were like stirring the waters of a great river, seemingly slow but actually fast, seemingly gentle but actually heavy. His every move displayed the aura of a master's high-achieving disciple. Laying the foundation of internal strength requires using the techniques to fine-tune the flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. Before the age of ten, it's most crucial. The child's foundation was actually nearing completion. When he reached adolescence and adulthood, his martial arts would dominate the world, and there wouldn't be many problems.

But the plump figure named Lin Zongwu's hopes for the child weren't just limited to dominating the world. After finishing the boxing routines, there was also sparring. The child attacked his plump master with a long knife. Under Lin Zongwu's constant correction and provocation, his attacks became increasingly fierce.

"I've been teaching you for so long? Is this all your martial arts amount to?"

"Think about how those three butchers of Jiangbei humiliated you in April! They killed the people you wanted to save, and even forced you to eat shit! I was right there, but I was too lazy to help!"

"I'm not a good person either! If we really run out of food, you'll be used to fill my teeth! Draw your knife, draw your knife, draw your knife... This knife is good, look, aim for my neck..."

"You're not a good thing either!"

The sparring in this shouting match gradually grew heated. The child named Ping'an had killed many people in the past year or two, some out of necessity, some intentionally. Once the real fire was ignited, his eyes were filled with a fiery rage, and he roared as he attacked his master, each strike aimed at the vital points.

Lin Zongwu laughed heartily, "That's right! In a life-and-death struggle, don't hold back! Think about the fire in your heart! Think about those scumbags you've seen! I told you long ago, my Kung Fu is driven by the seven emotions and six desires. The stronger the desire, the more powerful the Kung Fu! Come on, come on, everyone is filthy! Everyone is killable! We should use the flames of the Bright King to burn away the world, and then we can obtain pure land!"

With gusts of wind howling, Lin Zongwu and his disciple were too far apart. Even if Ping'an was more angry and fierce, he naturally couldn't hurt him. After the sparring ended, the child was panting heavily, almost exhausted. Lin Zongwu had him sit down and helped him stabilize his mind with the *Bright King Descends Scripture* of the Manichaean Church. Soon, the child sat cross-legged, entering a meditative rest. Lin Zongwu also sat cross-legged beside him, resting.

Under the starlight, the night deepened. A snake rustled over from the side, but Lin Zongwu silently killed it and placed it aside. After midnight, the huge figure suddenly stood up and silently went into the distance.

Wang Nantuo rode his horse to the agreed-upon hillside and saw Lin Zongwu's figure slowly appear on the rocky hill. Without much movement, he came down like flowing clouds and water.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, it's been a long time. Your martial arts have improved again."

Lin Zongwu's gaze swept over Wang Nantuo, then he simply smiled, "People get old, they have old ways of fighting. Improvement is out of the question. But recently, teaching children, seeing how young and weak they are, thinking about it from their perspective, I've gained some insights. Junior Brother, you might as well try it too."

"I'm also old. Some things, the desire to pick them up again is a bit weak. Let's just leave it at that." Wang Nantuo's hair was half white. Since his arm was crippled and he was almost stabbed to death by Lin Chong that night, most of his martial arts had been ruined, and he no longer had much desire to pick them up again. Perhaps it was also because he had experienced the great chaos in the world, realized that human power was limited, and had become disheartened.

However, on the surface, as Lin Zongwu's mind was focused on his disciple, Wang Nantuo was still shouldering the surface affairs of the Great Brightness Church in Jin. Every once in a while, the two would meet and exchange information.

"Senior Brother is already clear about the events in the Wu Dynasty, right?"

"Yes," Lin Zongwu nodded with a sigh. "Zhou Yong abdicated too late. Jiangning is a dead end. I'm afraid that new emperor will also die for his country there. The Wu Dynasty is gone. If the Jurchens send troops to the southwest with the strength of the whole country, Ning Devil's situation will also be unsustainable. The Wu Dynasty's world will ultimately be completely lost."

Although he sighed, his words were still calm. Some things, when they really happen, are certainly difficult to accept, but over the years, many clues have already been laid out before his eyes. Since giving up the Manichaean Church and concentrating on teaching his disciple, Lin Zongwu had actually been waiting for these days to come.

The world was perishing, and after struggling for a long time, everyone was ultimately powerless to turn the tide.

"Ning Devil's response to Xiyin's words was still very tough."

"Ning Liheng... his response to everyone's words is very tough. Even those who look down on him have to admit that he murdered the emperor in the Golden Hall and is a hero of his generation. It's a pity, ah, the Wu Dynasty is gone. Back then in Little Cang River, he fought against a million troops from all over the world, and ultimately had to flee to the southwest to eke out an existence. Now that the world has been settled, the Jurchens no longer treat the Han people as human beings. There are more than two million regular troops in Jiangnan alone. Adding to the Jurchens' expulsion and looting, millions, three million, five million... even ten million people will be poured into the southwest. I don't see anything regrettable for them..."

He sighed here. "You say, how can the southwest hold on? It's not the Little Cang River era anymore. With the whole world attacking him, he has nowhere to hide anymore."

Wang Nantuo was silent for a moment, then sighed, "...However, recently the Lou woman has been mobilizing believers, wanting to go to Gaizhou to counterattack. She greeted me, so I came to you, Senior Brother, to discuss it."

"Descendant of the Mysterious Woman..." Lin Zongwu nodded. "Let her go. The Wu Dynasty is almost over, and the Jurchens don't know when they'll turn back. At that time, it will be a disaster. I think she's also anxious... It's useless. Junior Brother, I don't understand military or political affairs, so it's hard on you. You don't have to resist her on this matter, just let her do as she pleases..."

The world was in chaos. Lin Zongwu had tried to gain something several times, but ultimately failed. At this time, he was disheartened, and Wang Nantuo could completely see it. In fact, earlier, Lin Zongwu wanted to join forces with Lou Shuwan's power to fish in troubled waters and create a Descendant of the Mysterious Woman. Soon after, the "Descendant of the Mysterious Woman" faction and the "Bright King" faction in the Great Brightness Church showed signs of confronting each other. By this time, Lou Shuwan had the name of Mysterious Woman among the believers and the reputation of female prime minister and virtuous prime minister among the people. The Bright King faction had basically all submitted to the command of the Mysterious Woman.

In today's Jin, even if Lin Zongwu didn't allow it, if Lou Shuwan wanted to force it, this side, which had the title of the world's number one expert, probably had no way to do anything except for a forced assassination. And even if he wanted to assassinate Lou Shuwan, the Dragon King Shi Jin who was with her was definitely not someone Lin Zongwu could kill if he wanted to.

The senior and junior brothers walked in the mountains for a while. Wang Nantuo said, "How is that nephew Ping'an doing recently?"

"He has talent and perseverance, but his temperament is still lacking. The world is so dangerous today, he trusts people too much."

"He's still a child, after all."

"Yes, he'll get better slowly." Lin Zongwu smiled. "Also, he always wants to go back to find his father."

"Didn't he already go back to Wozhou to look for him when we first saved him?"

"After all, he didn't find him. Recently, he's learned martial arts and wants to go back all the way to find him."

"Wozhou is in a great chaos..."

"So it's also a good thing. Heaven will bestow great responsibilities on this person, and must first strain his muscles and bones, starve his body, and empty his being... I won't stop him, I'll let him go from now on." Lin Zongwu stood on the hillside, taking a breath. "Look now, the stars fill the sky, but in a few years, I'm afraid they'll all be gone. By then... you and I may not be here either. It will be a new world, a new dynasty... Only he will survive in the new troubled times, survive beautifully. As for those who try to stop the wheels of history with their arms, they will eventually be crushed by the momentum... Three hundred years of light, three hundred years of darkness. The Wu Dynasty has been sitting for too long, it's time for this troubled world to replace it..."

Wang Nantuo couldn't speak bitterly.

Lin Zongwu sighed.

"In the past, there was the An Lushan Rebellion, the Five Barbarian Invasions of China... This Han Chinese troubled world may have only just begun..."

*****************

The same night, in the northwest Fuzhou, the wind was blowing ominously across the plains.

Fires occasionally flared up, and there were screams and the sounds of horses neighing. Under the night sky, Mongol banners and cavalry were sweeping across the land.

Located on the easily defended and difficult to attack Shishan Ridge, north of the Yellow River, the city of Fuzhou was now engulfed in scattered fires.

That night, the fighting had ended, but the slaughter had not stopped. On the Zhelifu Square, located at the high point of Fuzhou, the direct descendants of the Zhe family's Western Army were bleeding into rivers, and the heads of people were piled into Jingguan. Zhe Keqiu, half-covered in blood, was tied to a pillar in front of the square. Beside him, the heads of the Zhe family's family members and children were scattered on the ground.

Someone was laughing loudly in the night wind, "...Zhe Keqiu, so you have this day! You betrayed the Wu Dynasty, you betrayed the Northwest! Didn't expect it, did you? Today you taste this flavor too!"

The sorrowful cries of the Zhe family's women were still coming from not far away. The middle-aged man laughing loudly at Zhe Keqiu was on the square. He grabbed a head from the ground and kicked it in Zhe Keqiu's face. Zhe Keqiu's mouth was full of blood, and he roared and struggled on the pillar, but of course it was useless.

"...Look at your youngest son's head! Very good, haha - my son's head was also cut off like this by the Jurchens! You traitor! Beast! Bastard! Now the Wu Dynasty is also going to perish! You can't escape! Your Zhe family can't escape! You look at me! You want to kill me? Want to bite me to death? I feel exactly the same way as you! You three-surname slave, old beast!"

The middle-aged man's roaring was carried away in the wind, his excitement bordering on madness.

Since the Humiliation of Jingping, both Zhong Shidao and Zhong Shizhong had died on the path of resisting the Jin. Zhou Yong ascended the throne and moved south, abandoning the Central Plains. The Zhe family's will to resist the Jin had never been very strong. Later, in the Battle of Little Cang River, the Jurchens came aggressively, and the puppet Qi also mobilized millions of troops. The Zhe family formally surrendered to the Jin.

After the Battle of the Northwest was fought, the remnants of the Chinese Army and the Zhong family of the Northwest left the Northwest with some of the people. The Jurchens were furious and slaughtered the entire Northwest into a wasteland.

The Jurchens lost two founding generals in the Northwest. The Zhe family did not dare to touch this bad luck and reduced its forces to the original Lin, Fu, and Feng prefectures, only seeking to protect themselves. When the Northwest people were almost dead, a plague of corpses broke out, and even these three prefectures were affected. After that, the remaining Northwest people all came under the banner of the Zhe family.

Some people were fortunate that they were still alive in that disaster, and naturally there were also people who held resentment - and now that the Jurchens and the Chinese Army had left, this resentment naturally fell on the Zhe family.

The Northwest had been breeding for several years, and underground resistance had always existed. Having lost the orthodox name of the Wu Dynasty and having shrunk back when the Northwest suffered a huge tragedy, the always brave Northwest men were not so convinced of the Zhe family. On the sixth day of June this year, a mighty cavalry leaped out of the Hengshan direction. The Western Army had certainly resisted, so that the enemy could only sway outside the three prefectures, but by September, someone finally contacted the invaders outside and, cooperating with the other party's offensive, launched an attack at once, opening the gates of Fuzhou.

The leader of the resistance force was the middle-aged man named Chen Shiqun in front of him. He was originally an official placed in the Northwest by the Wu Dynasty. His family was slaughtered when the Jurchens swept through the Northwest. Later, the Zhe family surrendered, and the resistance force he led followed the other party like a curse, lingering, and at this time, this curse finally broke out in front of Zhe Keqiu.

"Aaaaaaaaaah - ah... hehehehehehe..."

Zhe Keqiu struggled, shouting loudly, the sounds he made were not known to be angry roars or miserable laughter, the two were still shouting confrontation, suddenly, only a loud sound came, followed by five bombardments. On the edge of this square, someone lit the cannons and bombarded the residential areas in the city.

The wind was fierce and the fire was raging. In the sound of explosions, the conqueror opened his arms on the edge of the square, enjoying the roaring loud sound in laughter. His flag fluttered in the night, and strange Mongolian words were heard.

"You lost with such weapons - you all deserve to die!"

Mongol, Thirteen Wings.

- Jamukha.