Traveling through time to cultivate immortality: a life and death test

Liu Xing has been feeling uneasy while practicing sword recently. Could something big be happening?

"Uncle Liang, what happened in the farm recently?" Liu Xing asked after dinner that night.

"There's been a lot of unrest lately. The Tianlang Gang has been harassing us constantly, and the conflict has escalated. Many people have died on both sides. The village is now under martial law, and several of our clan uncles who were in seclusion have come out. Young Master, don't run around anytime soon. It's not safe outside."

Even if the sky falls, there's always someone higher up to hold it up. Liu Xing wasn't particularly worried. The next day, he wandered around the manor, heading towards his father's study, hoping to catch up with him and learn what was going on. As he walked, he noticed the servants hurrying by, their faces serious. Upon seeing him, they simply called out "Second Young Master" and ran off, seemingly preoccupied with other matters. The security at the manor had also been stepped up, with three times as many patrolling guards as before. All of them were sharpening their swords, their armor gleaming, and a precarious atmosphere.

"Second Young Master, where are you going?" A guard leader asked Liu Xing when he saw him. This man had also taught Liu Xing basic boxing and kicking. His name was Liu Ada.

"Master Ah Da, I'm feeling bored staying in the yard. I came out to get some fresh air."

"It's not safe recently. Don't run around. Go back when it's almost time." Ah Da gave this instruction and led the team to patrol elsewhere.

"Hurry, hurry, get out of the way, get out of the way, call a doctor!" A burst of shouting was heard, and four warriors came rushing over carrying a stretcher. On the stretcher was a bloody man, who was breathing more than breathing in.

"Those bastards of the Tianlang Gang used their numbers to bully the weak. We suffered a great loss. One of our brothers died and another was seriously injured. We must avenge Brother Qiang!" said a warrior fiercely.

Liu Xing watched all this with a hint of worry in his heart. He walked around the study and the martial arts training grounds, but didn't see his father. He probably thought he was out busy with something.

That afternoon, Liu Xing went swimming in the river in front of the manor house as usual. Standing on a pile of rocks by the river, he could see a steady stream of knights in the distance, clouds of dust billowing, and sometimes even glimpses of clashes with enemy scouts. Had the situation gotten this serious? Was the enemy about to reach his doorstep?

Liu Xing hurried back to his yard, closed the door, paced back and forth in the yard, constantly thinking and deducing in his mind.

"No, I can't just sit there and wait for death. I have to prepare to escape," Liu Xing muttered. His martial arts skills weren't yet fully developed. He was more than capable of dealing with external martial arts masters, but against an internal martial arts master, he wouldn't be able to withstand more than three strikes before being injured. He wasn't familiar with the outside world, and he had no idea of ​​the enemy's strength. Abandoning home and fleeing wouldn't work either. The enemy would undoubtedly know that he was the second young master, and he wouldn't get far before being caught. He could only stay at the manor, hoping his father and the others could fend off the enemy and survive this ordeal.

"Oh, I've been swimming and practicing swordplay every day for the past three years, and haven't practiced horseback riding. If I have to run away, two legs won't be able to outrun four. What a mistake! Damn it, why didn't I practice riding before?" Liu Xing slapped his head, and a plan came to mind. It's better to sharpen your sword before the battle, even if it's not bright. He ran to the training ground, found a guard who was on duty, and asked him for serious advice on horseback riding.

Riding a horse is a skill. At first, he didn't know how to do it and fell several times. Liu Xing didn't care at all and continued to try and persevere. This is a skill related to escape. Time is short now, so he must learn it as quickly as possible.

"Horses understand human nature. Every time before you get on a horse, you should touch its neck and comfort it. You should also feed it some grass when it is resting to enhance your relationship." The guard explained patiently.

"When galloping, squeeze the horse with your knees and inner thighs, lean forward slightly, and step on the saddle. Your buttocks should be almost touching the saddle, rising and falling rhythmically with the horse's gallop. Don't sit too firmly, otherwise the bumps on the horse's back can easily cause injury."

"When going uphill, lean forward, and when going downhill, lean back, keeping your entire body's center of gravity perpendicular to the center of the horse's back."

"The reins are the only way to effectively control a horse, so hold them tightly. When turning, pull the reins inward with both hands to turn the horse's head. When stopping, pull the reins back. When stopping suddenly, use speed and force."

Liu Xing listened patiently, kept trying, and after an afternoon of study, he could sit steadily on horseback and trot. After all, his martial arts training had made his lower body stable, but his riding skills were still not proficient. He was confident that with a few more practices, he would master it.

Over the next few days, Liu Xing practiced horseback riding every day in the martial arts training ground. He didn't seek to fight or shoot arrows on horseback, he just wanted to be able to ride fast and control the horse freely. These days, the atmosphere in the villa was becoming increasingly depressing, with more and more casualties.

Three days later, early in the morning, there was a sudden sound of gongs and drums in the village, and shouts were heard everywhere.

"Enemy attack!"

The guards had been on high alert at various checkpoints. The enemy shot arrows from all around the villa, and the guards fought back in an orderly manner.

"what!"

"what!"

All kinds of cries of pain and shouts came from all directions. The enemy's attack became more and more fierce, and the guards could no longer withstand it. As the morning passed, the defense circle continued to shrink.

The servants screamed and ran around. Some were killed by arrows, some fled, and some squatted in the corner, covering their heads and trembling.

Manor owner Liu Ying sat in the main seat of the meeting hall, silent and sullen. Standing or sitting around him were several elders and strong men, all of whom were masters of the acquired realm and the core strength of the manor. In the backyard, children like Liu Yang, Liu Yue, and Liu Xing were also gathered, each of them extremely nervous.

"Master Liu, why don't you surrender? Do you want everyone in Meihua Villa to die?" The arrogant voices of surrender kept coming from outside.

"Master, I'm going to meet Leader Chen of the Tianlang Gang." An elderly man in his sixties said with a bow. He turned out to be a master who had reached the acquired realm.

"Okay, second uncle, be careful." Liu Ying nodded and advised.

"Boy Chen, give me your life!" Then the sound of weapons colliding was heard.

"Ah! Who are these rats who attacked me?" Hearing the furious voice of his second uncle, Master Liu hurriedly led everyone out.

"Do I need a sneak attack to kill you?" Only a sinister voice was heard, as unpleasant as the cry of a duck.

"It's the Black Wind Twins. Chen Pifu actually found two helpers at the peak of the acquired realm. Our lives are in danger." Everyone was in despair and felt powerless to save the situation.

"Even if I risk my life, I'll take Chen Pifu with me!" Liu Ying gritted his teeth and said fiercely. At the same time, he looked at a housekeeper beside him. The housekeeper nodded and quietly walked towards the backyard.

"I swear to live and die with the villa!" Liu Ying shouted and rushed towards the leader of the Tianlang Gang.

"We swear to live and die with the Villa!" Everyone roared and rushed towards the enemy, ready to die. However, in this situation where the enemy was strong and we were weak, and the enemy was outnumbered, no one knew how long they could hold out.

The butler walked quickly into the backyard and looked at a group of young men with tender faces and frightened eyes. The inheritance of the Liu family would soon fall into the hands of these young masters and young ladies.

"The enemy is strong. I follow the orders of the manor owner and arrange for everyone to leave the manor first."

"How are Daddy and the others?" Liu Xing asked, still relatively calm.

The housekeeper looked at the second young master, who was not as panic-stricken as the other young men. He couldn't help but admire him in his heart, feeling that the owner of the manor had a successor.

"The owner and his men are fine for now. They are currently resisting foreign enemies. You should leave first to avoid holding everyone back." The housekeeper replied quickly.

Liu Xing meditated for years, and his perception was sharp. He could sense the dire situation outside, and could also sense a sense of tragedy and grandeur in the housekeeper's trembling voice. However, he was alone and powerless, unable to do anything. He could only grit his teeth and follow the housekeeper to the back.

The housekeeper led everyone to a woodshed, moved away a few bundles of firewood, and opened the entrance to a tunnel. Everyone was surprised because they didn't know there was a secret passage here.

"This secret passage leads to a stable ten miles away, where we have several fine horses. Let's run quickly. After we get out, ride on our horses and run away separately. The farther the better. Then hide and keep your identities secret. Don't come back to the villa within ten years." The housekeeper said quickly while busying himself.

"Ah, if we don't go back to the villa for ten years, where will we live?" the children asked in confusion.

"You all have martial arts skills, so you won't starve to death if you hide. The enemy is powerful, so if you come back early, won't you be walking into a trap?" said the housekeeper anxiously.

Everyone was silent for a while, and finally realized that something was wrong.

"I will definitely master the Plum Blossom Sword Manual and return to avenge my father!" Liu Yang, being the older one, was the first to react. With red eyes, he jumped into the tunnel and ran away. The other children also entered the tunnel, crying, and ran forward. Torches had been prepared in the tunnel, and everyone lit them and ran forward with all their might.

The housekeeper waited until everyone had entered the tunnel, then quickly blocked the tunnel entrance with sandbags and rocks that had been prepared nearby, then knocked down the woodshed and started a fire. At this point, the village was ablaze with fire, so the enemy could burn, kill, and loot without worrying about being discovered.

"Master, I'll follow you." The butler took a deep breath, looked around to see if there was anything unusual, and resolutely walked towards the direction where Master Liu was fighting.

In the square in front of the council hall, the aftermath of the battle had completely destroyed the buildings. The steward arrived just as Manor Master Liu was struck in the chest and back by the Black Wind Devils, a palm strike and a punch. Liu Ying spat out a stream of blood and collapsed to the ground. He had fought tooth and nail, having just chopped off Gang Leader Chen's right arm, crippling his entire power. The steward, also a master of acquired martial arts, was now filled with righteous indignation. He raised his sword and lunged at the Black Wind Devils, risking his life and offering no defense. The Devils were startled and panicked. However, the difference in their realm was significant, and they managed to kill the steward with only minor wounds. Thus, all the masters of Plum Blossom Villa were lost. Plum Blossom Villa's property was divided up, its buildings destroyed, and fire and vandalism spread everywhere, leaving only ruins. A martial arts family of over a century had been reduced to ashes...