"Mother, you... how did you get in?"
Deng Ling Yaoyao's mother, Xue Hongniang, entered the inner chamber with Tang Yu Nu, immediately asking Tang Yu Nu to become her disciple and compete with Deng Ling Yaoyao for her, which left Deng Ling Yaoyao amused and speechless.
"How did I get in? Your father's room can block others, but not me," Xue Hongniang said with a proud smile.
Deng Ling Wei's inner chamber was full of mechanisms, but it couldn't stop his wife. Many of the mechanisms had been set up by Xue Hongniang herself.
"Mother, I wasn't asking about that..." Deng Ling Yaoyao pointed at Tang Yu Nu and said, "I finally found a disciple I wanted to take, and you're trying to snatch her..."
"Yaoyao, I'm not snatching her from you. Such a smart child needs a good teacher. You're still so rough, how can you teach her well? You should be her senior sister," Xue Hongniang chuckled.
After spending a short while with Tang Yu Nu, Xue Hongniang discovered that she was exceptionally intelligent and very young, making her highly moldable. Thus, she also felt the desire to take her as a disciple.
"Father, look at Mother..." Xue Hongniang's unseemly behavior left Deng Ling Yaoyao helpless. She stomped her foot and sought help from her father, Deng Ling Wei.
"You two daughters, stop arguing," Deng Ling Wei said upon hearing this. "Let her enter first. But before entering, she must pass the Three Trials of Proving the Dao."
"Brother, she's so young, what trials does she need to take?" Xue Hongniang asked.
"Hongniang, this is a rule left by our sect's founder. I cannot violate it," Deng Ling Wei said, shaking his head.
"Yaoyao, you also need to pass the Three Trials of Proving the Dao," Deng Ling Wei then said to Deng Ling Yaoyao.
"Ah? I have to take the trials too?" Deng Ling Yaoyao asked in surprise.
"Only after passing the Three Trials of Proving the Dao can one become my Mo disciple. You are currently only my daughter, not a Mo disciple," Deng Ling Wei replied.
...
"Yu Nu, are you scared?"
Deng Ling Yaoyao and Tang Yu Nu stood before a building. Deng Ling Yaoyao bent down and asked Tang Yu Nu.
The building was perched on a treacherous solitary peak, nestled among a few ancient pine trees. Towering ancient trees and dense cypresses surrounded it, creating a tranquil, solemn, and mysterious atmosphere that made one's heart flutter.
"Scared? Scared of what? Is it this building?" Tang Yu Nu curiously glanced at the solemn building and asked.
Tang Yu Nu was not only unafraid but also exceptionally curious. What was inside this building?
"It's a rule left by the Grand Ancestor. To enter the Mo Sect, one must pass the Three Trials of Proving the Dao. We will enter this building soon. After entering, many unexpected things might happen. Are you scared?" Deng Ling Yaoyao explained.
"Sister, are you going in too?" Tang Yu Nu asked.
Deng Ling Yaoyao nodded.
"Sister, are you scared?" Tang Yu Nu asked again.
Deng Ling Yaoyao smiled and shook her head.
"Sister isn't scared, so Yu Nu isn't scared either. With Sister, Yu Nu isn't afraid of anything," Tang Yu Nu patted her chest and said.
"Heh heh..." Deng Ling Yaoyao smiled and said, "After entering, we will be separated and cannot be together. Yu Nu, if you are scared, you can choose to withdraw. You can try again in a few years."
"Oh..." Tang Yu Nu looked at the building again and said, "Yu Nu is still not scared. Yu Nu knows that Uncle, Aunt, and Sister would not harm me, so Yu Nu is not scared."
"Clever child," Deng Ling Yaoyao nodded and instructed Tang Yu Nu, "After entering the temple, if you really cannot bear it, you can shout 'Heaven's will is not with me' three times, and you can withdraw from this building. Everything will disappear like smoke. Do you understand?"
"Heaven's will is not with me?" Tang Yu Nu silently recited the four characters three times and replied, "Yu Nu understands."
"Mm..." Deng Ling Yaoyao nodded and continued, "There is something I need to tell you in advance. If you shout 'Heaven's will is not with me,' it means you have failed the Three Trials of Proving the Dao and cannot enter our Mo Sect. Do you understand?"
"Oh, Yu Nu understands." Tang Yu Nu nodded her little head, and a competitive spirit surged. She said firmly, "Yu Nu must pass the test."
"Good, where there's a will, there's a way!" Deng Ling Yaoyao said with relief.
"Sister, when do we go in?" The two stood at the entrance of the building for a long time. Tang Yu Nu was getting impatient, wanting to know what was inside and if there were any fun items. She tugged Deng Ling Yaoyao's hand and asked.
"What are you rushing for?" Deng Ling Yaoyao couldn't help but laugh. "Wait for the three chimes of the bell. After entering the temple, you are not allowed to cry."
"Sister, don't worry, Yu Nu won't cry," Tang Yu Nu said with a smile.
Although Tang Yu Nu was young, she had already experienced many things: the fall of her country and the ruin of her family, the departure of her parents, tragic events, and being tricked by traffickers. Therefore, her mental maturity far surpassed that of children her age.
"Dong!" A moment later, a bell chime echoed from afar, long and resonant. The building's main door then opened, and twenty Mo disciples in black robes filed out, lining up on both sides. Deng Ling Yaoyao's father, Deng Ling Wei, and mother, Xue Hongniang, also walked out, wearing black and white robes.
Deng Ling Wei, Xue Hongniang, and the twenty black-robed Mo disciples all had long swords hanging from their waists.
"Deng Ling Yaoyao, Tang Yu Nu, are you ready?" Deng Ling Wei stepped forward, hand on his sword, and asked.
"Ready!" Deng Ling Yaoyao replied.
Deng Ling Wei then turned his gaze to Tang Yu Nu.
Tang Yu Nu nodded.
"The Three Trials of Proving the Dao: Trial of the Heart, Trial of Wisdom, and Trial of Heaven," Deng Ling Wei nodded. "Only after the three trials can you become my Deng Ling's Mo disciple. Zong'er, ring the bell."
The eldest disciple, Wu Zong, looked at Deng Ling Yaoyao with concern before leading the men to strike the bell.
After three long bell chimes, Deng Ling Yaoyao and Tang Yu Nu walked into the building.
"Zong'er, I heard you had some family matters?" Deng Ling Wei asked Wu Zong as Deng Ling Yaoyao and Tang Yu Nu entered the building.
Wu Zong's family was in Yizhou.
"Master!" Wu Zong cupped his hands and replied, "Disciples' parents passed away when I was young. I only have my uncle at home. Two days ago, my uncle sent a message saying he was seriously ill and wished to see me. I hadn't asked Master's permission yet, but Master already knows."
"A father must be benevolent, a son must be filial, an elder brother must be friendly, and a younger brother must be respectful," Deng Ling Wei nodded. "Your parents are no longer here, so your uncle is like a father to you. You should go down the mountain to fulfill your filial duty. Why are you making things difficult for yourself?"
"Yes, Master..." Wu Zong looked at the building with some hesitation and replied, "I will wait until Junior Sister comes out of seclusion before going down the mountain."
Junior Sister had finally returned, and he had to go to Yizhou to visit his uncle. This trip back and forth was hundreds of miles. What if Junior Sister disappeared again by the time he returned from fulfilling his filial duty? Wu Zong thought to himself. In fact, his uncle wasn't seriously ill; he had sent a message saying someone wanted to see him.
Xue Hongniang nodded slightly with satisfaction.
Even though Wu Zong's uncle was seriously ill, he still couldn't let go of Deng Ling Yaoyao. Although it was somewhat unfilial, he cared deeply for Deng Ling Yaoyao.
Deng Ling Wei and Xue Hongniang were quite pleased with their eldest disciple, Wu Zong.
...
"Yu Nu, my Yu Nu, are you alright?"
After Tang Yu Nu entered the building, it was pitch black, and she couldn't see anything. Then, Tang Yu Nu lost consciousness.
When Tang Yu Nu woke up, what greeted her were pure beams of light shining down from the domed ceiling. Amidst the intersecting beams, a man and a woman appeared. The man smiled at Tang Yu Nu, looking without speaking, while the woman walked up to Tang Yu Nu, spread her arms, and opened her hands.
"Daddy, Mommy, you're back? Where did you go? Don't you want Yu Nu anymore?" Tang Yu Nu rushed forward and threw herself into her mother's arms, weeping.
"Yu Nu, Yu Nu, my child, Mother is sorry for you," Tang Yu Nu's mother embraced her and cried uncontrollably.
The man spread his arms and held both mother and daughter in his embrace. The family of three was finally reunited. Tang Yu Nu felt exceptionally joyful and blissful, immersed in it, completely forgetting, or perhaps not even realizing, that this was just an illusion.
"Giddy up... giddy up... giddy up..."
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Charge in and kill them all, leave no one alive!"
At this moment, countless fierce cavalry suddenly appeared before Tang Yu Nu. Their faces were ferocious, riding warhorses and brandishing sabers, charging towards the family of three. The leading general was Zhou Fugui.
"No!"
The fierce cavalry scattered the family of three. The man and woman gradually drifted away, looking back with deep reluctance. Tang Yu Nu cried out mournfully, chasing desperately but unable to catch up. Her parents were also getting further and further away from her, until they disappeared into the beams of light.
"Daddy, Mommy!" Tang Yu Nu cried out loudly.
Tang Yu Nu's cries immediately drew the attention of the cavalry. They turned their horses, brandished their sabers, and galloped towards Tang Yu Nu.
Tang Yu Nu was heartbroken. As the saber was about to strike her, she remained oblivious.
"Clang!"
Zhou Fugui dismounted and stood in front of Tang Yu Nu. He blocked several incoming sabers with his own and roared, "Do not harm my sister! Those who dare to come forward again will die!"
A golden light fell upon Zhou Fugui, making him appear exceptionally majestic and tall.
"Big Brother, is it like this?" Tang Yu Nu asked, heartbroken.
Zhou Fugui nodded.
"Why did you do this?" Tang Yu Nu cried.
Zhou Fugui gave a wry smile of helplessness.
"Yu Nu, the deep hatred of your parents' blood cannot be borne!" At this moment, a deep voice echoed in Tang Yu Nu's ears.
Tang Yu Nu nodded.
"Yu Nu, take the sword and kill him to avenge your parents!"
At this moment, a precious sword flew down from the sky and stopped in front of Tang Yu Nu, hovering in the air. The blade emitted dazzling rays of light in the beams.
"Mm..." Tang Yu Nu grasped the sword hilt with both small hands and slowly walked towards Zhou Fugui.
The majestic and tall Zhou Fugui was now frozen, still maintaining his wry smile.
Tang Yu Nu tightened her grip on the sword hilt, raised the sword, and thrust it forcefully towards Zhou Fugui.