Demon-Breaking Dao Technique Breakthrough
The heavy snow stopped.
The cold wind also didn't blow as boisterously as before.
Outside the Tran family courtyard gate stood several Thanh Ha Bang members holding crossbows, their arrows aimed into the courtyard. If there was any sign of trouble, they would pull the crossbow triggers without hesitation.
Tran Mac, of course, wouldn't expose his whole body. He and Truong Ha stood inside the room, in a position those crossbowmen couldn't hit.
Five or six Thanh Ha Bang lackeys rummaged through the room. The grain and several dozen wen of cash that Tran Mac had deliberately placed in plain sight were all looted by these men.
The clothes in the wardrobe were also all pulled out by them and thrown onto the ground.
Tran Mac even saw them looking under the bricks of the bed-platform, searching very carefully.
The cellar was right under the brick bed-platform in his parents' room; Han An Nuong was hiding in the cellar.
This cellar was specially made; on top was a layer of fire-dried mud slab, and beneath the mud slab was another layer of wooden planks. This way, heating the bed in winter wouldn't affect the cellar.
When Han An Nuong hid in the cellar just now, Tran Mac had deliberately spread a layer of long-burnt ash, which looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a long time, on top.
Moreover, it was dark and cold under the brick bed-platform; without a lamp, one couldn't see clearly.
While they were searching, Tran Mac, with a fawning smile, took out a cloth bag from his bosom, stuffed it into the hand of that small leader, and said:
"Esteemed Big Brother, what is this about? This little one doesn't know where I might have offended Big Brother. If I have, I hope Big Brother will forgive me generously. I and Bailiff Wu Shan from the yamen are like brothers. This is all that's left in the house. I hope Big Brother will raise your hand high and strike lightly, raise your hand high and strike lightly..."
Tran Mac adopted a very low posture, smiling brightly.
Inside the cloth bag were over a hundred wen.
That small leader weighed it, accepted it without any politeness, and shouted into the room, "Are you done yet?"
"Boss, done. Didn't find anything unusual," the lackeys said, coming out of Tran Mac's parents' room.
The small leader nodded, carefully looked Tran Mac over a few times, and said, "Is it just the two of you in your house?"
"Not to deceive Big Brother, his name is Truong Ha, he's my brother, came to hang out with me. I also have a sister-in-law, but since it was just past New Year, she went to offer greetings and isn't home," Tran Mac said with a smile.
"I heard from your fellow villagers that you hunted a Black Bear on the mountain some time ago?"
"That's right. Couldn't afford food, so I went up the mountain to try my luck and supplement the household income. But that was purely coincidental; I encountered a hibernating bear and then killed it while it was asleep."
The small leader was half-believing, half-doubting, and said with a smile, "Really? I heard from your fellow villagers that you can fight ten men by yourself. Two people from your village named Vuong Hi and Liu Er Gou are also missing."
Tran Mac feigned foolishness: "That's just the villagers exaggerating. So, Big Brothers are here because of this matter. Last time, Bailiff Wu and his men also came for this, and in the end, the investigation concluded it was just a misunderstanding."
Tran Mac's hand had inconspicuously moved to his waist, adopting a simple one-handed akimbo posture.
The small leader seemed to believe him. After glancing at Tran Mac, he said, "Let's go."
The group left, heading to the next house.
But Tran Mac, watching their departing backs, his originally smiling face instantly darkened.
Truong Ha approached and said in a low voice, "Brother Mac, is this matter over now?"
"No, it's just beginning."
Truong Ha: "..."
...
Today, Tran Mac practiced his dao for a whole day. Except for meals, he barely rested in between.
He even continued practicing when it got dark.
One slash after another.
[Number of dao swings +1, Demon-Breaking Dao Technique experience +1.]
[...]
Tran Mac felt his arm ache and sore, yet he didn't stop.
Until...
A surge of comprehension suddenly filled his mind.
He seemed to see a youth standing under a waterfall, braving the rushing river water from above, facing the river, diligently swinging his dao.
The youth was knocked down by the waterfall countless times, washed into the river, but each time he would stand up, return to his original position, stand firm, and continue swinging his dao.
Day and night, year after year like a single day, the youth was constantly swinging his dao.
Finally, heaven rewards the diligent. One day, he understood.
With one swing of his dao, the river surface exploded, stirring up towering waves.
Tran Mac glanced at his system panel.
[Name: Tran Mac.]
[Age: 16.]
[Cultivation Technique: Blood Nurturing Technique (major success 29.2/1000).]
[Realm: Bone Refining (eighth rank).]
[Strength: 85 + 47.]
[Skill: Demon-Breaking Dao Technique (advanced 0/400000).]
"After the Demon-Breaking Dao Technique advanced to intermediate, the accompanying strength increased by fifteen points."
Tran Mac's brow furrowed in concentration.
The Tang Dao in his hand swung out.
Under his control, invisible dao qi shot out from the blade's body.
"Bang bang bang!"
Wherever the dao qi passed, the snowdrifts on the ground exploded one after another. The courtyard gate three zhang away shattered with a sound, breaking into pieces.
Such a loud commotion was exceptionally conspicuous in this small mountain village.
Fortunately, it was night, so cold, with goose-feather snow drifting down; not many people would climb out of their quilts to see what had happened.
Han An Nuong, carrying hot water, had just come out of the kitchen. Seeing this scene, her eyes widened. Finally, her many words condensed into one sentence: "Uncle, wash your face and feet, and rest."
"Coming."
...
After washing up.
Tran Mac sat on the bed. Han An Nuong helped him take off the shoes on his feet, then took Tran Mac's feet, placed them in the hot water, and washed them for him while massaging them.
An oil lamp was lit in the room. The dim lamplight shone on Han An Nuong's face. After transforming into a wife and being nurtured for so many days, Han An Nuong had become even more maturely beautiful, her skin even more moist and tender, like a ripe honey peach, tempting one to take a bite.
Yet such a beautiful woman was actually washing a young man's feet. This would make many men who saw it want to beat their chests and stomp their feet, exclaiming, "What am I lacking?"
After washing his feet, Han An Nuong spread a towel, specifically used for drying feet, on her lap, then placed Tran Mac's wet right foot on her towel-covered thigh, carefully drying off the water, then switched to the left foot.
Finally, Han An Nuong simply washed her own face, poured out the water, and carefully closed the door.
She took off her cotton-padded jacket, blew out the lamp, removed her shoes, and slipped into the quilt.
But she wouldn't embrace Tran Mac first. Instead, she would first warm up the spot where she lay. Only when her hands and feet were no longer cold would she snuggle into Tran Mac's embrace, then softly say half a sentence: "Uncle, you..."
If Tran Mac wanted to be intimate, he would naturally take the initiative and say "Want," and then she would obediently lie down. If he didn't want to, the two would embrace each other through the cold night.
Tran Mac lowered his head and kissed Han An Nuong's forehead, saying in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, I'm going into town tomorrow. After I leave home, you hide in the cellar."
Tran Mac realized that this Thanh Ha Bang matter needed to be thoroughly resolved.
Han An Nuong's expression flickered slightly. She merely said, "Uncle, be careful," and said nothing else.
Perhaps she had already guessed something.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, it's nothing," Tran Mac pinched her cheek.
Han An Nuong proactively kissed Tran Mac, then whispered, "Uncle, tonight I..."