Chapter 5: The Stone Cave

Yu Jinchen slipped the golden bracelet into her bosom, actually concealing it within her spatial pocket.

After two years of severe drought, anyone possessing such a valuable bracelet had surely become a lamb awaiting slaughter.

If anyone dared to try and snatch it—let them come!

Mu Guhuai once again double-checked the items his branch of the family was entitled to. Satisfied, he signed the family division document.

Upon receiving the document, the elderly couple of the Mu family cast a fearful glance toward the black-clad figures still lingering at a distance, then fled home as if their lives depended on it.

Members of the first and second branches quickly followed suit.

Witnessing the Mu family’s behavior, some villagers looked on with disdain.

“The Mu family is utterly heartless. After all, Mu Guhuai is their own flesh and blood.”

“Sigh, you know their reputation well enough—they’ve always been ruthless and ungrateful, forgetting all loyalty for profit.”

...

Xu Lizheng had watched Mu Guhuai grow up and sympathized deeply with his plight. Concerned, he asked, “Guhuai, what exactly did your wife do wrong?”

Liu Shi felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered her voice, “Uncle Lizheng, I didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, I behaved too well. Our master took pity and gave me two days off to reunite with my family.”

Xu Lizheng was taken aback, recalling the earlier events. He cast a meaningful glance at Yu Jinchen.

It seemed she had been the one to accuse Liu Shi initially, deliberately causing everyone to misunderstand.

Yu Jinchen didn’t notice Xu Lizheng’s gaze but instead looked toward the five black-clad men from before.

Why haven’t they left yet?

Could they be planning something against Songshan Village?

Following Yu Jinchen’s line of sight, Xu Lizheng asked, “What’s going on with those people in black?”

Yu Jinchen raised an eyebrow. “Who knows? But they’ve been a great help to me.”

If they hadn’t happened to be nearby, they probably wouldn’t have scared off the old Mu family members.

Mu Guhuai lowered his voice as well. “Uncle, please keep this matter confidential for now.”

Xu Lizheng responded, “But it won’t stay secret for long.”

Yu Jinchen smiled faintly, “Even if they find out, it’ll only make them furious enough to spit blood.”

Xu Lizheng twitched at the corner of his eye. Somehow, this child seemed sly and mischievous.

Mu Guhuai nodded, “That’s exactly how we feel as well.”

Xu Lizheng asked again, “You’re not taking any of the Mu family’s houses? Where do you plan to live then?”

...

Mu Guhuai pondered carefully.

If moving was an option, the city was the best choice. Water was regularly transported there from other regions.

The village’s last well had dried up; to fetch water, villagers had to climb into the mountains.

Nearby, on Mount Tianlei, lay a vast lake, but each trip there and back took several hours.

The mountain was fraught with danger, but if villagers traveled together, they likely wouldn’t encounter trouble.

Besides, Liu Shi was currently working in the city. Moving the whole family there would increase his chances of seeing her.

However, living in the city was expensive, and rent would quickly consume their savings, which might only last a month or two.

Most crucially, Mu Guhuai’s right hand had been injured years ago while saving Yu Jinchen.

Due to lack of funds, he missed the optimal treatment window and could no longer do heavy labor. In the city, no one would hire him.

Moving there would only mean living off their dwindling savings until they ran out.

Liu Shi seemed to see through his thoughts. “Husband, we might have more opportunities to meet soon. The General’s residence nearby has a mansion where their child will convalesce. They might ask me to go and take care of them.”

Mu Guhuai knew of that mansion on the mountain and brightened immediately. “Really?”

Liu Shi replied, “The recovery is real, but my assignment is tentative. The steward said personnel might change at any time.”

Mu Guhuai nodded, “Understood.”

Yu Jinchen raised an eyebrow; she preferred to stay here for the time being.

Though the original owner had been hunted down here years ago, she had lived quietly in this place for two years without trouble. It seemed like a safe haven.

Moreover, just a few kilometers away was a military camp, likely housing many important figures.

These were turbulent times; if the drought persisted, unrest might erupt.

The peace here for the past two years was probably due to the military presence.

Rashly venturing out and dying suddenly would be disastrous.

Compared to other places, this was almost a paradise.

The items in her spatial pocket were best left for use here for now.

Mu Guhuai glanced at the distant stone cliff. “There are several natural caves in the cliff. One is quite large. Let’s stay there temporarily today. It’s elevated, so we won’t have to worry about large predators at night.”

Xu Lizheng nodded. “I’ll find some able-bodied men to help you move your things up.”

Mu Guhuai expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, Uncle Lizheng.”

...

Half an hour later, all the possessions of the Mu family’s third branch had been moved into the cave.

Yu Jinchen stood beneath the cliff, surveying the surroundings.

The cave they’d chosen was about three meters above the ground—easy to climb down from but hard to get up.

It was neither too close nor too far from where the other villagers lived.

The strong man Zhao Shitou, who had come to help, climbed down from the cave. Seeing Yu Jinchen standing still, he thought she couldn’t climb up and softly asked, “Jinchen, do you want Uncle to help you up?”

Yu Jinchen glanced at the three younger brothers beside her—the three sons of Mu Guhuai and Liu Shi. “Thank you, Uncle, but I don’t need help. Please help them up first.”

Zhao Shitou assumed she was politely letting the brothers go ahead and planned to assist the youngest first.

After the youngest, Mu Sanyue, climbed up, Zhao Shitou turned to help Yu Jinchen, only to see her suddenly step back several paces and sprint toward the cliff.

With a running start, she performed a brief display of agile wall-running and easily reached the cave.

Mu Guhuai and the others watched in amazement.

Mu Guhuai asked, “Jinchen, you… you know martial arts?”

Yu Jinchen nodded. “Yes. Although I haven’t recalled all my past memories, I seem to have been training in martial arts since I could remember, practicing every day from dawn till dusk.”

This was indeed the original owner’s memory.

Despite being a well-to-do young lady who never worried about food or clothing, she rose earlier than the roosters and slept later than the dogs, enduring the strictest training day after day, year after year.

Coincidentally, in her previous life, she had also practiced martial arts from childhood as an heir of a martial family.

This body’s condition suited her perfectly.

Mu Guhuai recalled when he first found Yu Jinchen; her hands had been covered in calluses.

Her clothes were tattered and her appearance disheveled.

He had thought the calluses were from doing housework, but it turned out they were from martial training.

Mu Guhuai didn’t dwell on it further. After sending the strong men away, he and his family began organizing their new dwelling.

The cave was over twenty square meters and quite flat.

During past floods, many villagers had taken shelter here.

They brought plenty of straw, so sleeping on the floor for a while wouldn’t be a problem.