I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 24 Black Mountain Stronghold

This sudden scene was truly astonishing.

Because it happened so fast, the Chen family members hadn't even recovered yet. Their faces were filled with horror, and they were all deathly pale.

"Ah! Brother Mo has killed someone!" Five-year-old Chen Yu'er screamed in fright. The candied hawthorn in her hand slipped to the ground. She didn't bother to pick it up and quickly ran behind Chen Wu to hide, only peeking out her little head and looking at Chen Mo fearfully.

Chen Wu didn't scream or back away.

Although he was only thirteen years old, he had developed a resolute character due to Zhang Ru's strict upbringing.

However, it was still very frightening to witness a murder scene for the first time.

Zhang Ru, being a woman, instinctively took a few steps back, and her gaze towards Chen Mo changed. It now held a hint of fear; she truly felt that this second young master was even more imposing than the master.

Lin Yulan, however, spoke up in surprise, "Why did you kill Steward Liu?"

Just as Chen Mo was about to speak, he heard Chen Yinfu say, "Was your current predicament caused by Steward Liu?"

Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine, secretly thinking how meticulous his father was.

“Nothing can be hidden from Father. Please take a look, Father.” Chen Mo took out the booklet and handed it to Chen Yinfu, then explained the whole story in detail, including how he escaped danger.

Of course, Chen Mo kept the fact that Li's mother-in-law was the mastermind behind it all a secret.

The reason I didn't tell them was because I didn't want my family to worry too much. Especially my mother; if she knew there was still a hidden danger, she probably wouldn't be able to sleep.

The whole family gathered around, listening in stunned silence, sighing with lingering fear.

Chen Yinfu sighed, "That was a close call! Luckily you were quick-witted and clever, otherwise you would have been saved. This Steward Liu deserved his fate. He deserved to be torn to pieces. Good riddance."

Zhang Ru also began to look at Chen Mo with new respect.

Although she was a woman and had little experience with fighting and killing, she was filled with admiration after hearing Chen Mo's detailed description. If it were anyone else, they would likely have already fallen victim to the bandits.

However, Zhang Ru simply couldn't believe it. How could that spendthrift son have suddenly become so capable?
Chen Yinfu instructed Qiulan to summon several servants to wrap Liu's body in straw mats, carry it out, and bury it. He also ordered the bloodstains to be cleaned up.

Having finished all this, Chen Yinfu patted Chen Mo's shoulder heavily, "Go take a shower first to get rid of the bloodstains. Then come over and have a family reunion dinner."

Lin Yulan readily agreed, "Go and wash off this blood."

Chen Mo nodded in agreement, went to the east courtyard to take a bath, and returned to the central courtyard to have a reunion dinner with his family.

During the meal, everyone looked at Chen Mo with new respect, and their words showed more awe. They no longer treated Chen Mo like a child.

Chen Mo also really liked this atmosphere.

Before this, Chen Mo didn't really have a concept of home in this world, nor could he feel any sense of belonging. But after this dangerous encounter, Chen Mo deeply felt that... in a chaotic world, once you are in danger, only your family will help you without hesitation.

Outsiders are unreliable.

He was especially moved when he learned that Chen Yinfu had taken five thousand taels of silver to seek help from the Red Lanterns.

Home……

He turned his head to look at Chen Yuer, and saw that Chen Yuer was short and could not reach the food far away, so she took off her shoes and stood on the stool to pick up the food. She ate the braised pork with big bites, her mouth full of grease, her eyes narrowed into slits, revealing a deep sense of satisfaction.

Suddenly, Chen Yuer grabbed a piece of braised pork and stuffed it into Chen Mo's bowl, saying, "Brother Mo, you eat."

Chen Mo was overjoyed and asked, "I just killed someone, aren't you afraid of me anymore?"

Chen Yuer tilted her head and said, "If my brother kills people indiscriminately, I'll be a little scared. But my brother kills people to protect our family, so I'm not afraid."

Chen Mo laughed heartily upon hearing this, and couldn't resist pinching Chen Yu'er's pretty face.

Then the whole family burst into laughter.

Only Chen Wu ate in silence, adhering to the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping.

Chen Mo could also see that Chen Wu was actually a good prospect for martial arts, but he had been strictly trained by his second aunt for many years, which made him too reserved. He was afraid of offending Lin Yulan and himself, so he always gave in, which made him feel wronged.

As for Zhang Ru, she was a cautious and timid person who always fulfilled her duties as a concubine and never dared to overstep her bounds.

Suddenly, Chen Mo realized that having such a family... was actually quite nice.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the maids brought lotus seed soup, pastries, and fruit.

Zhang Ru only ate two bites before hurriedly pulling Chen Wu away, saying, "Let's go back and eat. Don't disturb Madam's family's reunion." Chen Wu was clearly unwilling, but unable to resist his mother's scolding, he grabbed a piece of fruit and followed her.

Before leaving, Chen Wu politely bowed to Chen Yin and Fu Linyulan, saying, "Father, Mother, I bid you farewell."

She then bowed to Chen Mo and said, "Brother Mo, I'm leaving now."

Chen Yu'er, having lost her mother, still craved braised pork and refused to leave. In the end, Zhang Ru forcibly dragged her away. Since her mother's death, Chen Yu'er had been living with Zhang Ru.

In the large room, only Lin Yulan and her family of three remained.

Chen Yinfu said, "Yulan, go to the wine cellar and fetch a jar of aged peach blossom wine. My son and I will have a couple of sips today."

Lin Yulan was in a good mood and said with a smile, "How about I make some fried peanuts and cooked beef for you and your husband?"

Chen Yinfu smiled and said, "That would be best."

Before long, the food and wine were served.

The father and son drank, and Lin Yulan watched and listened from the side, occasionally chiming in with a few words. The family seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Chen Yinfu personally poured Chen Mo a bowl of wine, saying, "Today's events really gave me a fright. You escaped danger entirely thanks to your quick thinking. I now understand that your decision to practice martial arts was the right one. In chaotic times, one ultimately needs martial arts to protect oneself. Come, let me toast you. My son has grown up and can stand on his own now."

Not only Chen Yinfu, but Chen Mo himself was also terrified.

Chen Mo raised his large bowl and toasted with Chen Yinfu.

After drinking, Chen Yinfu became much more boisterous. "Although I don't practice martial arts, I still know a bit about martial arts in the county. Our family isn't short of money, and since you're interested in practicing martial arts, we need to find a good teacher."

Chen Mo agreed wholeheartedly, so he leaned forward and listened attentively.

He didn't have the original owner's memories, so he didn't really know much about martial arts in Honghe County.

Chen Yinfu said, "The most powerful force in Honghe County is naturally the Red Lantern Gang. Even the county magistrate goes there every year to worship and make offerings. However, the Red Lantern Gang has always been mysterious and unpredictable. They look down on our Chen family and the little silver I gave them. Even a master like your Uncle Zhou, who is at the Blood Rising Realm, is not worthy of the Red Lantern Gang's attention. It is obviously unrealistic for you to think about going there to learn martial arts."

Besides the Red Lantern Guard, there were the county's Martial Arts Academy and three major martial arts schools. These were places where one could pay to enter and learn. However, learning the internal martial arts secrets within them was highly unlikely.

Chen Mo secretly noted, "Are there any martial artists in these three major martial arts schools and the martial arts academy who are even more powerful than Uncle Zhou?"

Chen Yinfu said, "That's natural. The three major martial arts schools and the martial arts academy all have internal martial arts masters in charge. Your Uncle Zhou is still one step away from becoming an internal martial arts master. This step is an insurmountable chasm. If you can cross it, you'll get through it in a day. If you can't, you may never get through it in your lifetime."

Chen Mo felt both joy and sorrow upon hearing this.

An internal martial arts master is a highly skilled individual who has cultivated internal energy.

Martial artists who possess true qi are said to have their qi and blood manifest externally, granting them various unpredictable divine powers. That is naturally the realm that Chen Mo greatly yearns for.

Chen Mo began to consider which place would be more suitable to go.

At this moment, Chen Yinfu said, "Although these internal martial arts masters are powerful, they are ultimately no match for evil spirits and ghosts. I have seen you have been plagued by evil spirits and ghosts many times, so I suppose learning ordinary martial arts is not enough to satisfy your thirst."

These words struck a chord with Chen Mo. "Father, do you have a solution?"

Chen Yinfu said, "Besides the three major martial arts schools and the martial arts academy in the city, there is another force outside the city—the Black Mountain Stronghold. It is said that the Black Mountain Stronghold has a mysterious origin and cannot be offended even by the three major martial arts schools and the martial arts academy. They have some methods to resist ghosts and evil spirits. If you can learn some skills from the Black Mountain Stronghold, it would be a good idea."

Chen Mo was overjoyed and asked, "How can I go to Black Mountain Stronghold to learn skills?"

Chen Yinfu seemed hesitant, but after a moment he said, "The Taoist priest Li Yuanlong who performed the ritual for you earlier is from the Black Mountain Village. However, the Black Mountain Village is extremely xenophobic, so you should not make contact with them easily. On Taoist priest Li's birthday, I will bring generous gifts to visit him again and ask him about your apprenticeship."

Chen Mo recalled the scene of the old Taoist priest in yellow robes performing his ritual, and felt even more that Black Mountain Village was extraordinary.

Perhaps we can really learn a way to control madness from Black Mountain Village.

The Fiery Palm technique is, after all, a rudimentary method. As Lei Peng himself said, it's only good for suppressing ordinary ghosts, but it's useless against powerful ones.

For example, the Nightmare Suppression Technique we encountered today had no effect on the Fiery Palm.

This still made Chen Mo feel very insecure.

And the Black Mountain Stronghold where Li Yuanlong lives might really have some powerful magic.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Please make arrangements for me, Father."

(End of this chapter)