Chapter 396: Trouble
Chapter 396: Trouble
The leading officer ignored Luo Cuilan and waved his hand. His men charged into the house like wild beasts, ransacking the rooms. Even Li Tieniu, who had been reading nearby, got startled awake. He pushed the door open and frowned at the chaotic scene in the yard.
“Next house!”
After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the officers found nothing. Without explanation, they left.
“Mother, what’s happening?”
Li Tieniu asked only after the strangers departed, having only caught part of the commotion.
“I don’t know. Return to your room—I’ll go check.”
Luo Cuilan hurried out after saying this.
The Sanhe Gang had fallen into chaos.
They’d reportedly clashed with the nearby Heihu Gang over a mine, suffering heavy losses. Their leader was severely wounded, and countless members lay dead or injured. Whispers spread that the Sanhe Gang teetered on collapse.
The scale of bloodshed alerted the authorities. The great master of Qingmu City had personally ordered the arrest of the gang’s core members, explaining the officers’ house-to-house search.
This news made Luo Cuilan’s vision darken. She collapsed right there in the street.
Their neighbor’s son Zhang Hu carried her home.
“Thank you, Brother Zhang.”
Li Tieniu bowed formally, flustering Zhang Hu. After an awkward pause, the young man muttered,
“We’re childhood brothers. Don’t get all stiff just because you’ve studied books.”
Though they’d played together as snot-nosed kids, Li Tieniu’s studies gradually distanced him from the others. Zhang Hu’s mother pushed the friendship, hoping her son might benefit if Li Tieniu ever earned an official rank.
After seeing Zhang Hu out, Li Tieniu tended to his unconscious mother.
Luo Cuilan didn’t stir until deep night.
“Tieniu!”
She cried out hoarsely upon waking.
“I’m here, Mother.”
He clasped her trembling hand.
“The Sanhe Gang’s finished—your father—if he’s caught up in this—”
Her words dissolved into sobs.
Tears came easily in their harsh world. Though the Li Family maintained decent appearances through Li Tie’s blacksmith earnings, his loss would plunge them into poverty. No more studies—empty bellies would become their reality.
“It’s just rumors. We don’t know anything yet.”
Li Tieniu’s calm contrasted with his mother’s panic, perhaps shaped by the fragmented foreign memories in his mind.
“First, we must confirm Father’s safety. Do you know where the Sanhe Gang operates?”
“Yes. Their hall master once dined here.”
His composure steadied her. She wiped her face, remembering.
“Then tonight, we’ll—”
They will die!
Before the words finished speaking, Li Tieniu’s heart suddenly throbbed, releasing a danger signal. This signal, like a beast’s instinct, took form through unseen forces. To Li Tieniu, it gathered into word-like messages he could perceive.
‘Traveling tonight brings danger?’
He didn’t understand this feeling, but his body’s warning made him trust it.
From an unseen higher perspective, Li Tieniu’s heart glowed with rainbow hues, resembling cleverly carved crystal…
“A mutation?”
Zuo Meng paused while managing his fabric shop, strange light flickering in his eyes.
The Origin Rules proved more marvelous than he’d imagined!
“We’ll leave at dawn tomorrow. Mother should first contact acquaintances to confirm father’s situation.”
“Alright.”
Luo Cuilan nodded like someone finding support, agreeing with her son’s plan.
Mother and son ate hastily before sleeping. Luo Cuilan tossed restlessly all night, while Li Tieniu slept deeply. Unknown energy from his heart transformed his body, with side effects – his ties to this life and world grew stronger.
“Emotions? Desires?”
Zuo Meng vaguely grasped something.
His current Dream Realm lacked development in ‘heart’ aspects. Present Ascension standards only measured power levels, but true worlds need more than raw strength. Otherwise, forging nuclear bombs would suffice for immortality.
Yet bomb-makers never ascended.
True immortality required elements beyond mere power – the gap between Dream Realm and Origin World.
“Give all things emotions, bind them with desires. Only those breaking free may ascend.”
Zuo Meng found direction.
But this remained theoretical. The Origin Rules needed further testing. Hopefully these two registered disciples would reveal more.
Dawn came.
The sleepless Luo Cuilan led Li Tieniu through city gates toward Sanhe Gang territory.
They passed soldiers returning from patrols. The troops only gave brief checks – city leaders must’ve ordered crackdowns after last night’s chaos. Blacksmith’s kin like them could die unnoticed beyond walls.
Safe passage came from recent military sweeps. Mother and son reached their goal unharmed.
A small village.
Though Sanhe Gang held fame, members remained ordinary people needing livelihoods. This village housed their families.
“Who goes there?”
A dozen strong youths surrounded them immediately upon approach.
“We seek someone!”
Li Tieniu restrained his mother, speaking calmly despite the guards.
“Who sent you?”
The leader eyed them suspiciously as official uniform spies.
“I seek Li Tiechui – my husband!” Luo Cuilan shouted.