C28 The Heaven Connecting Secret Technique

As I was momentarily distracted, Sunn Youde's nephew landed a punch squarely on my head, leaving me reeling and nearly unconscious.

I stumbled backward, grasping a fistful of lime from my pocket and flinging it at him, causing him to scream in agony as he clutched his eyes.

Yet, I wasn't satisfied. Seizing an iron shovel from the ground, I struck him on the back of his head, knocking him out cold.

With a cold smirk, I suddenly heard Sunn Youde's voice echoing from the courtyard, "Everyone, come quick! Help put out the fire! Someone, please help my son..."

Realizing that the fire had drawn everyone's attention, I breathed a sigh of relief and made my way towards the western edge of the village.

Before long, I caught up with Xiaohu, but the rascal hurled a stone at me upon seeing me. Enraged, I grabbed the little scamp and, without a second thought, rendered him unconscious with a swift blow.

Gasping for breath, I glanced towards the village entrance and back at the raging fire consuming the Sunn family's home, knowing this was no time to rest.

I pressed on towards the village entrance, but as I did, I spotted someone approaching. I quickly ducked into the roadside bushes for cover.

To my surprise, it was Ms. Xiaofeng. I pulled her aside into a secluded corner and whispered, "What are you doing here? Weren't we supposed to meet at the village entrance?"

"The Taoist priest has arrived. I just saw him at the village entrance," Ms. Xiaofeng replied, visibly shaken.

A sense of dread washed over me as I asked, "What?! Where is the Evil Taoist now?"

Ms. Xiaofeng shook her head. After a moment of contemplation, I advised her, "This Taoist priest is no ordinary man. We need to split up. Take Xiaohu and hurry to our relatives in town, while I escape through the mountains."

"But..." Ms. Xiaofeng's eyes were filled with concern.

"No 'buts'. It's either all of us in danger or none. Go, now!" I insisted. Ms. Xiaofeng bit her lip, nodded in agreement, gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and then, carrying Xiaohu, she dashed off down another path leading out of the village.

I absentmindedly caressed my cheek and sighed. If only Ms. Xiaofeng didn't have such a beastly father, perhaps...

As Ms. Xiaofeng's silhouette vanished into the night, an unsettling feeling crept over me. Ever since that Evil Taoist appeared, I've sensed danger lurking around me, as if he could materialize silently at any moment behind me.

I readjusted my hat brim and made a beeline for the hills behind the village. The path there led past my home, and I involuntarily slowed my pace, gazing longingly at what once was.

But all that met my eyes was devastation and sorrow. The cozy home I shared with my foster father had been reduced to ashes, leaving behind only the ruins and the stone furniture in the yard.

With a heavy heart, I was about to turn away when the stillness of the night was broken by an old woman's cough.

Startled, I quickly took cover behind a tree and saw a stooped, white-haired Grandma Lee approaching from the east.

Her faltering steps took her into the courtyard where she tenderly placed a bowl of food on the stone table. Witnessing this, tears welled up in my eyes.

Grandma Lee, our neighbor, had always been fond of me, treating me as if I were her own grandson. In my childhood's poverty, I often sneaked into her home for a bite to eat, but she never scolded me. Instead, she would lovingly prepare a meal for me each night.

In the moonlight, I noticed the chains trailing behind Grandma Lee seemed shorter than before. Could it be because...

Once Grandma Lee had left, I entered the courtyard, heavy with emotion. I picked up the bowl of rice with greens and took a few bites as I looked upon the remains of my home.

The moonlight revealed a wooden chest beneath the rubble.

Curious, I approached and dusted off the ash. It looked like the chest my foster father used for his Feng Shui and fortune-telling services. Oddly, it had survived the blaze.

Opening it, I found a book, a compass, and several Talismans.

I flipped open the book and the title 'Heaven Connecting Secret Technique' caught my eye.

Heaven Connecting... My foster father had instructed me to seek out Zhao Guizhen at the Heaven Connecting Palace on Wuling Mountain. I pondered whether there was a link between this technique and that place.

I returned the book to the box, intending to take the wooden chest and make my exit. However, my previous concerns became a chilling reality!

An icy voice echoed from behind me. As I glanced over my shoulder, an involuntary shudder coursed through me.