Taizu Long Fist is a straightforward, hard and direct external martial art. With diligent practice, although one may not become a true master, it is always effective for strengthening the body and sharpening reflexes. In addition, ‘Uncle Wynn’ would bring some meat every day, so Henry Lang grew up healthy and strong. Though not burly, his body was solid and muscular, tough as a chestnut.

Sometimes, Henry Lang would pester Evelyn Wynn to talk about things from three hundred years ago, about his ancestors. Whenever this happened, Evelyn Wynn would just smile wryly and shake his head—not because he was unwilling, but because he truly didn’t know much.

Although Evelyn Wynn was Edward Lang’s ghost servant, his magical power was weak and he couldn’t withstand the yang energy in the yamen. In name, he was a servant, but he didn’t have many opportunities to serve by his master’s side.

Seasons changed, stars revolved, and before anyone realized it, four years had passed. Henry Lang had grown from an eight-year-old child into a twelve-year-old boy. His appearance was nothing special—dark-skinned, small-eyed, looking much like any ordinary village boy, with an air of simplicity and honesty.

Besides a bit of martial arts, Henry Lang had also learned a little about the outside world. He could even write a crooked essay about his reading, which delighted Uncle Wynn and his mother.

Over these years, Evelyn Wynn would hide among the wild graves during the day, and at night come to teach Henry Lang his lessons and help The Langs with chores, never concerning himself with outside affairs, always smiling every day.

Another dawn broke. A moment earlier, Evelyn Wynn had already left. After practicing his fist forms for a while, Henry Lang was about to go to bed when suddenly, the thunder of hooves echoed from the main street outside!

The riders were all yamen officers, galloping down the street of the convicted, shouting nonstop: “By imperial decree, all convicted households are to be conscripted for the mountain-breaking and evil-dispelling task. All those aged twelve and above must report immediately. Heaven bless Dahong!”

Then, a large group of soldiers, led by yamen constables, marched into the street of the convicted, going door to door according to the registry, seizing every boy aged twelve and above.

The street of the convicted was thrown into chaos. For over three hundred years since the founding of Dahong, the rule had been that convicted households only had to serve hard labor at fourteen, but now it had changed to twelve.

The street of the convicted was cut off from the outside world, so no one knew what had happened, nor did they understand what the “mountain-breaking and evil-dispelling” mentioned by the officers meant.

But everyone could guess that these four words were even more terrifying than mining, border garrison, or quarrying—those deadly tasks from which few ever returned!

Horses neighed, dogs barked, children cried, mothers called out. At this moment, in all thirty-one prefectures of Dahong, every city’s street of the convicted was in utter turmoil!

Henry Lang was also dragged from his mother’s arms by the soldiers. The Langs lunged desperately, and just as a soldier, scowling, was about to kick her, a local constable stopped him with a punch.

The constable said coldly, “We’re all born of mothers and fathers. There’s no need for you to be so harsh, soldier!”

The young soldier didn’t dare confront the constable, so he gave an awkward laugh and turned away. The constable then held back the still-struggling The Langs, his face still cold: “If you fight desperately, the boy will too. Then neither of you will survive.”

Henry Lang’s voice rang out from outside the door: “Mother, wait for me to come back for you!”

For the first time, the cold-faced constable smiled. “Good lad!” Then he strode out, pointing at Henry Lang and telling the other officers and soldiers, “No one is allowed to hit him!”

The chaos lasted less than an hour. The entire street of the convicted fell into a heavy silence. All boys aged twelve and above had been taken away by the wolfish soldiers. The mothers, plain and homely, sat dazed and grief-stricken in the street, staring blankly toward the end of the road...

Chapter Two: Nine Dragons in Blue Robes

Henry Lang and countless other children of the convicted were escorted westward by the soldiers, not knowing where they were going or what they were to do.

But for these boys, after the initial panic and fear, what followed was boundless novelty and curiosity. For the first time in their lives, they left the street of the convicted and saw the world!

It was the height of spring, with red and green blending across the land, gentle winds and clear clouds, and beautiful scenery everywhere.

On the road, their group kept merging with other groups of convicted households, growing larger and larger... Later, another group joined them, but their numbers were few, and almost everyone was injured.

After some inquiries, they learned that this group had encountered two groups of cultivators fighting along the way—when immortals battle, mortals suffer. Of the original thousand, only a little over a hundred survived; the rest were caught in the crossfire of flying swords, magical treasures, and supernatural powers, leaving no remains.

Henry Lang listened with a heavy heart. Whether cultivators or demons, all possessed great power, and to them, mortals were but ants—no one cared about collateral damage in their battles.

Henry Lang blended in with the other convicted, moving forward. Thanks to good food and martial arts over the past four years, and the fact that he was still a boy and not fully grown, his body, hidden under ragged clothes, didn’t stand out.

He couldn’t tell if it was the fourteenth or fifteenth day. That night, as Henry Lang slept, he suddenly heard a soft whisper by his ear: “Xiner, wake up! I’m here.”

Startled awake, Henry Lang was overjoyed—Evelyn Wynn had finally arrived.