"Argh, why's it making me remember all of these memories? Are these memories mine? It's painful…no more… please…" Tang Lin groaned sorrowfully.
Now, he was at the 86th step. The deeper he walked into the Law of Death's black mist, the more the memories he sealed up were unravelled.
For the first time, since he entered the ancient inheritance, Tang Lin started to hesitate. His mind and willpower were slowly being eaten away by the black mist's deathly aura.
Taking a small step back, his right foot didn't step on the stair, which made him lose his balance.
Falling down the gap between each step, Tang Lin barely managed to hold onto the ledge in time. However, that didn't stop or slow down the Law of Death and trial pressure from negatively affecting him both physically and mentally.
'Ah…should I just end it here?' he thought tiredly.
'It's so cold… I feel scared, yet fearless in the face of death. Everything's so suffocating', Tang Lin thought as tears started to fall down his face.
Although Tang Lin always tried to stay calm and brave, the truth was that he was still just a kid.
Sensing Tang Lin's peril, the egg inside Tang Lin's mind used some of the energy it obtained from absorbing the chimera to purify and reinforce his mind.
Light started to shine within Tang Lin's spiritual mind as the darkness from the Law of Death was pushed back.
Suddenly, Tang Lin felt a warm power reignite his dead heart as he felt like there were people supporting him from behind.
'Ah… That's right. I don't have the right to throw away my life like this. If… if I must survive, then I will live for the sake of the people who threw away their lives for me', he contemplated solemnly.
"Bei Ya. How did I forget about you and the promise we made? I promise I'll find you and get revenge on the Xu family for not only my mother, but everyone else", Tang Lin muttered with conviction.
As if he could feel Bei Ya, his mother and everyone else from the village supporting him in response to his declaration, Tang Lin managed to pull himself back up the staircase.
Although it was the egg that helped Tang Lin out, he didn't seem to notice that as he was sorting out his emotions.
Taking in a deep breath, Tang Lin attempted to fortify his mind as much as possible before continuing.
'87th step', he kept counting.
The last three steps filled with the black mist were much denser than before as Tang Lin felt his mind being pulled back into the deepest parts of his memories.
***
In Uncle Bei's living room and kitchen.
*Door closes*
"Care for some tea?" Uncle Bei asked politely.
"Bei Wu, does it look like I'm in the mood for some tea?" she responded grumpily.
"Uh-…" he was about to reply before getting cut off.
"Yes, I do want some tea", Tang Mei answered for him.
"Okay", replied Bei Wu as he scratched his head.
Going over to the kitchen, Bei Wu lit a fire and placed a pot of water on top as he prepared some spiritual herbs for the tea.
"Care to explain yourself yet? Who were those people? Why does it look like you know them and what do they want? Most importantly, why were they trying to take my Linlin?" Tang Mei asked, slightly agitated.
*Sigh*
"Let's start from the beginning", he said.
"In the Xu family clan, there are two direct descendants, who are the sons of the patriarch. The eldest son, Xu Yang, is very talented, but compared to the other direct descendants from the other major family clans, he is a bit weaker. The Xu family clan has always been ambitious. Thus, when one of their elders, who went on an exploration, brought back a secret cultivation scroll from some ruins; they decided to make use of it by letting Xu Yang cultivate it", Bei Wu informed.
"Originally, the younger brother was meant to cultivate it, because his talent was mediocre, but his mind and spirit were too weak to handle it", he continued.
"So, it was the Xu family! Those dirty bastards!" Tang Mei shouted in rage as she gritted her teeth.
"Calm down. Let me finish", Bei Wu told her.
"The reason why the secret cultivation technique was so powerful and overbearing was because it was a demonic art!" he revealed with dread.
"However, the biggest problem was the method to cultivate it. This required the user to sacrifice and consume geniuses and talented people. This was a very dangerous and taxing requirement even for a major family clan, which is when they came up with a solution", Bei Wu said before stopping as he dreaded the next few sentences.
"If you were in the Xu family's position, what do you think would be the most effective method of obtaining talented sacrifices that wouldn't offend anyone dangerous or with a strong background?" he asked her.
Tang Mei's face paled in response as her voice trembled.
"You don't m-mean…" she muffled.
"Us", he confirmed bluntly.
"In the Dongshan Yu province of the Youlan continent, there are four main overlords: Xu, Fang, Yan and Yi. Unfortunately, we're in the Xu family clan's territory, which explains their recent terrorising actions everywhere in search of suitable candidates to be an offering to the demonic art", he finished talking.
"You mean this isn't just happening here, but they're also going to other villages and towns doing this?" she asked in shock.
"I'm afraid so", Bei Wu replied with a grim expression.
"Of course, the public doesn't know about this. Only the chiefs and mayors were told and asked to help cooperate, but it's basically a threat", he added.
"Threat?", Tang Mei said in confusion, unable to identify it.
"Yes. You were wondering before why I was cooperating with them, weren't you? Well, have you noticed anything different here? To be more specific, do you notice someone missing?" he said, choking back his tears.
Previously, Tang Mei was so consumed by anger and madness that it took her a couple of minutes before she could figure it out.
*Gasp*
"Bei Yifei! Your wife! What did they do with her?" she asked after coming to a realisation.
"They took her to use as blackmail against me. I assume something similar has been done to control the other chiefs and mayors from the other villages and towns", said Bei Wu bitterly.
"That's terrible! I'm sorry for misunderstanding you", Tang Mei apologised.
"But why are you telling me all of this then? Won't you get in trouble?" she asked with confusion.
"That's because I'm already in trouble. The incident just then has probably branded me a traitor", he sighed in remorse.
"Why?! You didn't even help me", Tang Mei replied.
"And would they listen to reason? From start to end, I was an expendable resource to them. Your existence is the problem. I didn't know you were so strong, so it has made it look like I've been hiding a secret trump card against them or something", Bei Wu explained.
"I'm so sorry Mrs Tang. Now, they might even come after you showed signs of resistance against them", he apologised.
"Don't feel sorry. I should be the one apologising. What's going to happen to Bei Yifei now?", she asked with worry.
*Sigh*
"Forget it, it's not your fault. Our fate was already inevitable since the very moment we chose to live here under the rule of the Xu family", he spoke sincerely, but Tang Mei was already starting to feel the guilt weighing her heart down.
"Does Bei Ya know about any of this?", Tang Mei asked.
"No, I don't dare to tell her. I just told her that her mummy is on a long vacation without us. I fear that if I do, she will grow up full of thoughts of revenge. The least I can do is ensure our daughter's happiness. That's what I wish for and what Bei Yifei would also wish for", Bei Wu answered with resolve as he poured the hot water into a cup.
"What are you going to do now?" she asked.
"Escape. Anywhere that's not here. The farther the better", he responded without hesitation.
"I advise that you also leave this place", he suggested as he infused some spiritual herbs into the tea and passed it to her.
"Hmm… maybe you're right. In that case, time is of the essence", Tang Mei replied as she finished the tea in one go and turned for the door.
"Good luck!" Bei Wu blessed her as she opened the front door.
"Good luck? And where do you suppose you're going?" a voice inquired from outside.
"I-I-It can't be! Xu Lin!" Bei Wu mumbled as he fell to his knees in fear.
"Xu who? Who's this geezer? Get out of the way, I'm not in a good mood", Tang Mei grumbled impatiently.
"Tang Mei! Careful, that's the Xu family's patriarch!" he warned.
'Huh? T-THIS GUY IS THE PATRIARCH?!?' she thought as she tried to move away, but it was too late.