Night Arrests

"Sister-in-law, still no sensation?"

At night, Tran Mac watched Han An Nuong practice according to the Blood Nurturing Technique method once. Her entire body was already covered in sweat, her cloud-like hair disheveled.

Han An Nuong shook her head.

According to the description of the Blood Nurturing Technique, only when one felt the qi and blood surging within the body and the whole body heating up was it considered true cultivation. Anything else was just useless effort.

And Han An Nuong clearly had not experienced this kind of sensation.

Tran Mac sighed and could only have Han An Nuong stop for now.

Han An Nuong had been cultivating the Blood Nurturing Technique for a week, yet there was not a bit of effect.

No wonder the original Tran Mac would give up. The arduous cultivation method was one thing; it also required meat and fish supplements. If there was no progress after ten consecutive days, few people could persevere.

"Uncle, am I too useless?" Seeing Tran Mac sigh, Han An Nuong pursed her lips, her mood somewhat dejected as she spoke.

Tran Mac walked over, took Han An Nuong's fair hand, and said in a warm voice, "It's okay. I was the same as you back then. We'll take it slow, no rush."

Though he said this, Tran Mac was still thinking in his heart that perhaps the Blood Nurturing Technique was truly not suitable for Han An Nuong to cultivate.

However, to have her switch to another cultivation method was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Because cultivation methods and martial arts simply couldn't be bought in the city.

Initially, Tran Mac discovered he could become stronger by swinging his dao.

He thought swinging a spear, bow and arrow, or anything similar, would also work.

He even deliberately made a wooden spear and a bow and arrow to try, but there was absolutely no effect.

Later, he noticed it might be due to the cultivation method or martial art.

After all, when swinging the dao, what was added was experience for the Thien Hop Dao Technique.

It was just that he had gone into the city several times, before and after, but had never inquired about any trading houses selling cultivation methods or martial arts.

Conversely, by joining gentry clans like the Ly family or the Vuong family, one could obtain opportunities to cultivate techniques and martial arts.

This made him understand that cultivation methods and martial arts, much like becoming an official before the imperial examinations were established, were firmly controlled by those powerful families and clans, ruining the path for commoners to advance. Unless one was their own people, it was fundamentally not open to commoners.

"Mm."

Han An Nuong knew her uncle was coaxing her, but her previously dejected mood dissipated.

"Then uncle, you rest first. I'm so sweaty, I'll go take a bath."

"No need."

"?"

"Because you'll have to bathe again later; it would be a waste of effort."

Due to the heat from cultivation, Han An Nuong was currently wearing very thin clothes. The sweat-soaked fabric clung to her skin, exquisitely outlining her ripe and beautiful body curves.

"Uncle, don't... ooh ooh..."

Before she could finish speaking, Tran Mac, with a quick step, embraced Han An Nuong's waist and lowered his head to kiss her.

Han An Nuong retreated step by step, pressed against the wall by Tran Mac. She only felt her face burning hot, her heart flustered.

She wasn't repulsed by this kind of behavior.

Rather, her body was all sweaty, sticky, and dirty.

However, she didn't know that this state would only make...

The rustling sounds completed.

Tran Mac held one of Han An Nuong's thighs...

...

The night was hazy, the moonlight slightly cold.

In the room next door, Tong Man, who had originally fallen asleep, was awakened.

Since coming to the Tran family, Tong Man had felt unprecedented happiness. Brother Mac Ca and Sister Han treated her well, even better, one might say, than her own mother.

Precisely because of this, after adapting, Tong Man slept very soundly every night.

The only downside was that Brother Mac Ca would "bully" Sister Han every night, and even make Sister Han cry.

Although Tong Man was sensible for her age, she didn't understand much about matters between men and women.

"Stop, don't run!"

"Let's see where you run."

"..."

Just then, several loud shouts came from outside the room.

In the main bedroom, the "match" had just moved onto the bed. Hearing the loud shouts from outside and seeing the flickering firelight outside the window, Tran Mac's expression changed. He rolled over... got up, then turned back to cover Han An Nuong properly.

"Sister-in-law, sleep peacefully. I'll go out and see what's happening."

Just as he finished dressing and left the room, Tong Man also came out of her room holding a lit candle: "Brother Mac Ca, what happened?"

Just right.

Tran Mac took the candle from Tong Man's hand and said, "It's nothing. Little Man, you go into the room with your Sister Han. I'll go take a look."

"Okay, Brother Mac Ca, be careful."

...

Leaving the small courtyard, aided by the candlelight, Tran Mac saw a figure below jump over the earthen wall.

As a result, just as the figure flipped over, he was caught by two yamen bailiffs.

Tran Mac couldn't help but be slightly startled; why were yamen bailiffs in the village so late?

"Run, eh? Why don't you keep running?" The two bailiffs rained fists and kicks on that figure.

Aided by the lantern light in the bailiffs' hands, Tran Mac clearly saw that person was a ruffian from the village, nicknamed Re Gen.

At this time, every household was also awakened by the commotion outside. When they came out and saw the bailiffs arresting someone, they were startled, wondering if something else had happened.

"Brother Mac Nhi, save me, save me!"

A familiar voice came. Tran Mac followed the sound and saw in the distance, on the ground, a figure lying prone, covering his head, while several bailiffs beside him were punching and kicking him.

And that person was Luu Thu.

Luu Thu also saw Tran Mac and actually pleaded with Tran Mac for mercy.

But Tran Mac acted as if he hadn't seen him, his gaze shifting to Banh Thanh beside Luu Thu.

Because of Luu Thu's call, Banh Thanh also noticed Tran Mac and nodded from a distance.

Luu Thu, noticing this, hurriedly said, "Don't hit, don't hit! We're family, family! I'm Brother Mac Nhi's father-in-law!"

The bailiffs who were punching and kicking glanced at Banh Thanh. Banh Thanh raised a hand, then looked towards Tran Mac. Neither said a word.

"Don't know him," Tran Mac said. He had told Luu Thu last time that they had nothing to do with each other anymore.

Luu Thu, hearing this, his pupils first constricted slightly, then filled with despair.

"Everyone, stop hitting. If they're injured, how can they go to the battlefield?" Banh Thanh said to the bailiffs who were beating Re Gen some distance away, then turned to the onlooking villagers, "These two evaded conscription during the day and should be executed. But Magistrate Thuong is merciful and has decided to give them another chance, specially ordering us to come arrest them tonight to serve the country with effort."

"Take them away."

After speaking, Banh Thanh led his men away. During this, Luu Thu was still shouting, "Why doesn't Brother Mac Nhi want (me/to help)?", but he was quickly beaten unconscious.

The villagers looked at Tran Mac with even more awe and fear.

Tran Mac didn't explain, turned, and entered the house.

In the main bedroom, the lamplight was dim.

Han An Nuong had already dressed and come out, and was currently comforting Tong Man.

Luu Thu's voice was so loud that the two in the room had heard it.

After Tran Mac entered the house, Tong Man hesitated for a long time, but still couldn't help asking, "Did his father commit a crime?"

Tran Mac walked over, smiled, and patted Tong Man's head: "Your father has gone to be a soldier. It might be a very long time before he can come back to see you."

"Oh." Tong Man didn't understand the fate of conscripted men.

"It's getting late, go to sleep."

Tran Mac's expression was calm. Towards everything, he had become completely indifferent.

What happened tonight reminded him of a poem.

"At dusk, arriving at Shi Hao village; then at night, officials came arresting men."

"The old man climbed over the wall to flee; the old woman went out the door to look."

... ...