Since the ink competition last time, Lian Jiyingsong’s days have been difficult. According to the delegation’s rules, he had to take responsibility for this failure, and his only recourse would have been ritual disembowelment.

However, unwilling to die, he fled with several Ronin warriors and joined a wokou pirate fleet, drifting at sea. It was clear that he could never return home, and his ultimate fate would be to die at sea.

Lian Jiyingsong was not content with such an outcome. But if he wanted to return home, he would need to redeem this failure. How could he do that? He believed that if he could obtain the formula for the Li family’s “Number One Under Heaven” ink and recreate it, he would finally have the face to return home.

Yet obtaining the Li family’s ink formula would be no easy task. Even if the Li family were to provide the formula, he worried they might play tricks – who knew if the formula would be genuine or false? The Tian family had fallen for their deception years ago.

However, while his men were gathering information, they accidentally discovered news about an ink vault. The Li family had a vault that not only stored their finest inks from over the years but also contained formulas developed by generations of the Li family.

This finally showed him a way to obtain the Li ink formula.

If he could get into the vault, everything would fall into place.

However, the Li family was deep in Huizhou, and as a Japanese person, it would be nearly impossible for him to obtain anything from the ink vault.

Nevertheless, he kept preparing – opportunities always come to those who are prepared.

Sure enough, this time when he joined the Daxiong fleet to plunder the Huiyuan merchant ships, they initially succeeded. But now the coastal defense forces in Ningbo were taking thunderous action against the wokou, and the Daxiong fleet’s dozens of ships were quickly scattered. His group managed to enter the Qiantang River and made their way to Jinhua.

At this point, Ming dynasty troops were still closely pursuing them. With no choice, they changed into Ming dynasty clothes and blended in with the river bandits, becoming one of their groups.

This allowed them to shake off the Ming troops, and at this point, leaving would have been simple.

However, Lian Jiyingsong, who had been preparing all along, saw an opportunity to obtain the Li family’s ink vault.

From Jinhua to Huizhou wasn’t far, and there was a direct waterway – the Xin’an River. Plus, with their current identity as river bandits, if they operated carefully, they could still withdraw safely after entering Huizhou, as long as they moved quickly.

So Lian Jiyingsong found the captain, Heiben, and shared his idea. When Heiben heard they could plunder a wealthy Huizhou household and reviewed the entire plan, he found it feasible and immediately began preparations.

First, they persuaded the river and mountain bandits to join their action. For the bandits, having the wokou as a scapegoat when the government troops came after them, plus the promise of substantial profit, made it an opportunity too good to pass up. Thus, both sides quickly reached an agreement.

And so the operation began, leading to Lian Jiyingsong now standing at the Li family’s main gate, everything proceeding according to plan.

When Zhenniang saw Lian Jiyingsong, she immediately understood these people’s purpose.

She coldly said, “Where we’re going is none of your business. Rather, your appearance in Huizhou in the middle of the night is quite puzzling. Those who come uninvited are called thieves.”

Zhenniang knew there was no point in talking with people like Lian Jiyingsong, but at this moment, she and her Seventh Grandmother were trapped inside the house with no chance of escape. Their only option was to stall for time.

Lian Jiyingsong ignored Zhenniang’s comment about “uninvited thieves” and instead responded to her earlier words: “I had no choice. I didn’t want to come to Huizhou in the middle of the night, but I have such deep admiration for Li ink. Especially after hearing that the Li family has an ink vault containing all their historical ink treasures, my desire to see it became unbearable. Please, Old Madam, do us the honor of leading us to see the ink vault.”

The last half of Lian Jiyingsong’s words were directed at Old Madam Li.

“And if I refuse?” Old Madam Li replied calmly.

“Well then.” Lian Jiyingsong rubbed his nose, then waved his torch around, saying, “This Li family mansion, the Li Ink Workshop – I hear they’ve been passed down for over a hundred years. Hmm, truly remarkable.”

As he spoke, Lian Jiyingsong maintained a look of appreciation. Then he raised his torch again: “Old Madam, what do you think would happen if I were to set a fire? Oh my, I can’t bear to think about it – it would be such a shame. Dear Madam, I don’t want to do that, so I think it’s best if you cooperate with me. This hundred-year legacy wasn’t easy to build, and then there are your two lives – you really shouldn’t be so stubborn.”

Lian Jiyingsong spoke with a facade of conscience and concern. He had other cards to play, but he didn’t like showing all his hands at once. It was more interesting to reveal them gradually.

“Haha, you think this mansion and workshop are the Li family’s true legacy?” Old Madam Li suddenly burst into laughter.

“Are they not?” Lian Jiyingsong asked.

“Of course not.” Old Madam Li replied with disdain, then turned to face Zhenniang: “Child, today, Seventh Grandmother will tell you what the Li family’s true legacy is. You must remember it well.”

“Yes,” Zhenniang quickly responded.

“The Li family’s legacy is not countless riches, not magnificent houses or beautiful fields. Child, remember this – our Li family’s legacy is our ink-making technique, a skill that has allowed each generation to survive in the most difficult times. It’s our attitude of enduring hardship without abandoning or giving up. It’s our principles of benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, trustworthiness, and faith. It’s our business spirit of the successful helping all under heaven, the wealthy enriching their hometown, and the poor making a living with their skills. These are the Li family’s legacy – this mansion and workshop alone don’t qualify.”

Old Madam Li stood straight as a pine tree, emanating an overwhelming spirit.

“Seventh Grandmother, Zhenniang has remembered,” Zhenniang nodded firmly.

Watching Old Madam Li casually teaching her descendants at this moment, Lian Jiyingsong’s face turned livid with anger.

Beside him, Heiben also grew furious, snarling, “You might not care about your legacy, but do you not care about your lives either?”

“Who doesn’t care about their life? But our ancestors had a saying: ‘If the King of Hell wants you dead at the third watch, he won’t let you live until the fifth.’ Everyone’s life is in the King of Hell’s hands – others don’t get to decide,” Zhenniang replied calmly. Though her heart was racing, she maintained her composure, knowing panic wouldn’t help. She understood that Lian Jiyingsong, having gone to such lengths to obtain the Li family’s ink vault, wouldn’t easily take her and Seventh Grandmother’s lives before achieving his goal. So she spoke without reservation.

“The child speaks well. If this old woman is to die today, it will be by the King of Hell’s decree. You are merely his tools,” Old Madam Li said, patting Zhenniang’s hand.

“Old Madam, Miss Li, such spirit, excellent! You may not care about the Li family’s legacy or your own lives. But can you also disregard their lives?” At this moment, Lian Jiyingsong finally revealed his final card, waving his hand backward.

Immediately, several wokou brought forward a group of people – the very ones who had tried to evacuate earlier: the wives from the Li family’s Seventh Branch, Li Dalang, Li Tianyou, and others.

Everyone had thought there was still time, not knowing that Lian Jiyingsong had come specifically for the Li family’s ink formula. Upon entering the city, he had led his wokou straight to the Li family mansion without bothering with the chaos at the east city edge, perfectly intercepting the evacuating members of the Li family’s Seventh Branch.

“Let go, we can walk by ourselves,” Madam Chen, the first wife of the Li family’s Seventh Branch, said coldly. Then the group shook off their captors and walked to Old Madam Li and Li Zhenniang’s side. Lian Jiyingsong didn’t stop them, instead smiling softly: “How wonderful, a family should be together. However, Old Madam, if you don’t cooperate, I’m afraid the Li family’s Seventh Branch will end here. This boy is your Seventh Branch’s only son, isn’t he?”

As he spoke, Lian Jiyingsong patted young Tianyou’s head. Tianyou hatefully jerked away and tried to bite him, but Lian Jiyingsong pulled back quickly, avoiding the bite.

“Ancestor, don’t listen to the wokou thieves. Your grandson isn’t afraid to die,” Li Tianyou clenched his fists and spoke angrily. Though just a young boy, he already showed an unyielding spirit.

Lian Jiyingsong remained unbothered, continuing to address Old Madam Li: “I wonder how you’ll face the Li ancestors in the underworld after this boy’s death.”

For a moment, Old Madam Li fell silent. She could disregard the Li family’s material legacy, but she couldn’t disregard Li Tianyou. Yet she also wouldn’t submit to wokou thieves.

“Old Madam…” Madam Sun tightly held Li Tianyou’s hand.

Old Madam Li glared at her, and Madam Sun sighed deeply, closing her eyes and saying nothing more.

“Old Madam, since these thieves so admire the Li family’s ink-making techniques, why not indulge them? Let them truly see what they’re after,” a clear voice suddenly rang out from the darkness.

“Who’s there?” Several wokou shouted, raising their swords defensively. At this moment, Luo Wenqian walked out alone from the shadows.

Seeing the wokou and mountain bandits about to reach Si Bao Street, while the Li family’s Seventh Branch and Li Zhenniang hadn’t evacuated, Luo Wenqian had hurriedly brought guards to assist. He hadn’t expected to find the Seventh Branch already captured by the wokou. Seeing Lian Jiyingsong, Luo Wenqian understood what he was after, and immediately sent someone to report back.

He had also ordered the guards who came with him to hide in the darkness before stepping out himself. He couldn’t let Zhenniang face this alone. Additionally, he needed to prepare for coordination between those inside and outside to rescue everyone.

His suggestion that Old Madam Li lead Lian Jiyingsong to the ink vault served two purposes: to buy time and to create an opportunity to rescue everyone.

When Luo Wenqian appeared, several wokou held their swords to his throat, then checked the darkness but found no one else, finally relaxing slightly.

“Master Luo, you’ve come rushing to your death?” Lian Jiyingsong, who recognized Luo Wenqian, asked.

“I had no choice. My fiancée is here – I couldn’t let her face all this alone,” Luo Wenqian replied calmly.

“I didn’t expect Master Luo to be such a romantic. Very well, I’ll grant your wish.” Lian Jiyingsong said, pushing Luo Wenqian toward Li Zhenniang and the others.

“Fine, I’ll take you to the ink vault,” Old Madam Li suddenly said.

“You should have done so earlier. Please lead the way, Old Madam Li,” Lian Jiyingsong was overjoyed.

“Before that, this old woman has one condition,” Old Madam Li added.

“Oh? What condition?” Lian Jiyingsong asked.

“Wenqian and Zhenniang have been engaged for several years. They should have married earlier, but Zhenniang’s grandfather passed away, and she observed the mourning period, which delayed things another year. In just a few days, it would have been their wedding day. I’ve been waiting for this day. But honestly, I have no faith in thieves like you, and I don’t know if I’ll survive tonight. So I’d like to officiate their wedding now. Even if I don’t make it, I’ll have no regrets.” Old Madam Li explained. She understood that today’s outcome was uncertain, and if anything happened to her, Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian’s wedding would likely be delayed again.

But the girl’s wedding couldn’t be delayed any longer. Therefore, although it wasn’t proper for her to officiate a wedding at this moment, it was most appropriate. Moreover, she suspected Wenqian had already made preparations, so this would buy more time. It was the best of both worlds.

Li Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian exchanged glances, understanding Old Madam Li’s intentions in officiating their wedding at this moment. Their hearts were filled with mixed emotions.

“You’re trying to buy time?” Lian Jiyingsong frowned. His plan tonight required swift action. With the mountain and river bandits keeping the government troops occupied outside, he could slip away first in the chaos. Tonight’s timing was very tight.

“How much time can a few bows and words take?” Old Madam Li replied disdainfully.

“Fine.” Seeing Old Madam Li put it this way, Lian Jiyingsong had to agree. Then he followed the Li family group into the house.

“Guard the outside, we’re going in,” Heiben ordered the wokou outside, then led over a dozen men inside.

As Luo Wenqian entered, he stumbled on the stone steps, nearly falling, and coughed three times. Zhenniang quickly turned back to support him.

A wokou who understood Chinese laughed heartily: “Young man, it’s your wedding night – you can’t have weak legs now!”

Though the other wokou couldn’t understand, they joined in the strange laughter.

Luo Wenqian and Zhenniang ignored them. Zhenniang held Luo Wenqian’s arm as they entered. Earlier, when she saw Luo Wenqian rush out, her heart had been anxious, but now that things had come to this, anxiety was useless. They would face this hardship together. They exchanged a glance, conveying thousands of words in that single look, their hands tightly clasped together.

At this moment, a cat’s meow came from the darkness nearby. Hearing it, Luo Wenqian’s lips curved slightly upward, understanding that the guards hidden in the darkness had received his signal – the operation was about to begin.

Inside the Hall

Old Madam Li sat solemnly in the master chair, with Madam Chen temporarily officiating the wedding.

“First bow to Heaven and Earth…” Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian knelt and bowed to Heaven and Earth.

“Second bow to the elders…” They bowed to Old Madam Li.

“Husband and wife bow to each other…” Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian bowed to each other.

“The ceremony is complete…” Madam Chen announced finally, secretly wiping away tears, not knowing if any of them would survive the night.

Nearby, Madam Huang, Madam Tian, and the others had reddened eyes, but none cried aloud.

“Zhenniang, do you remember what I told you earlier about our family legacy?” Old Madam Li pulled Zhenniang up and asked.

“I remember,” Zhenniang nodded firmly.

“Good.” Old Madam Li nodded, then beckoned to young Tianyou. He walked over and held Old Madam Li’s hand.

“Wenqian, Zhenniang, Tianyou, remember this: Houses can be rebuilt if they fall, ink workshops can rise again if they fail, but our techniques must be passed down from generation to generation without interruption. Remember the ancestral teachings: The Li Ink Family – when poor, make a living with our skills; when wealthy, enrich our hometown; when successful, help all under heaven.” Old Madam Li spoke each word deliberately.

“We understand,” Zhenniang and the others responded solemnly. Yet somehow, Zhenniang suddenly had an unsettling feeling – the elder seemed to be leaving her final words.

“Old Madam Li, are we done? Can you take us now? Stop stalling, or I might lose my patience and have to shed some blood,” Lian Jiyingsong interrupted impatiently, waving several wokou to watch Luo Wenqian and the others closely. He had already made his plans – once he got what he wanted from the ink vault, he would burn everything clean with fire.

“Let’s go.” Old Madam Li’s gaze swept over Zhenniang and the others one by one before she turned away.

“Heiben, guard them here,” Lian Jiyingsong ordered.

Heiben protested: “Lord Lian, that’s not right. The ink vault is full of treasures – you want them all to yourself?”

“You misunderstand. This is dangerous territory; we must be careful not to let anything go wrong,” Lian Jiyingsong explained.

“What could go wrong? Look at the fires outside – they’re still by the East Gate. Those bandits are keeping the government troops busy, and they probably won’t break free until dawn. We have over a hundred men surrounding the Li family gate. Not even a fly could get in.”

Heiben pointed at their captives and continued: “Most of these are just women and children. Though there are these two young men, we have Old Madam Li in our hands. What could they possibly do? If you’re worried, we can tie them all up and leave two men to watch them. We’ve come so far for wealth – how can you not let everyone get their share?” Heiben said resentfully.

The dozen or so wokou who had entered agreed vehemently. After all, hadn’t they come all this way for wealth? How could they stand by while the ink vault was right before them?

“Fine then. Tie them all up, leave two men to guard them, and we’ll all go in,” Lian Jiyingsong had to compromise, seeing he couldn’t stop them.

The wokou cheered and bound their captives, leaving two reluctant guards.

Old Madam Li glanced at Luo Wenqian.

Luo Wenqian nodded slightly, signaling the old madam not to worry. Old Madam Li acknowledged with a slight nod, then turned to lead them into the inner chamber’s Buddha hall.

When the Guanyin statue was moved aside, the ink vault’s door was revealed. Lian Jiyingsong grew excited. He pushed Old Madam Li forward, with the wokou eagerly rushing in to grab treasures.

Outside the Li mansion, garrison troops had arrived and were quietly approaching the wokou surrounding the house.

The wokou besieging the Li family could hardly concentrate on their task. Many had broken into nearby houses, ransacking them while making strange noises, only to be silently dispatched by the soldiers who had stealthily infiltrated.

Meanwhile, a team of Yihou Trading Company guards also quietly slipped into the Li mansion.

In the main hall, Zhenniang felt an inexplicable unease. She understood that Old Madam Li must be leading Lian Jiyingsong and the others to a false vault, but Lian Jiyingsong was knowledgeable about ink – if he discovered the deception, the old madam’s life would be in danger.

“Don’t worry, everything will be fine. My men should arrive soon,” Luo Wenqian whispered in Zhenniang’s ear, his breath warm on her neck.

“Mm.” Zhenniang nodded slightly, still worried about Seventh Grandmother. Just then, she saw a head peek in from outside the hall before quickly withdrawing.

“Ouch…” Luo Wenqian suddenly cried out.

“What’s going on?” The two wokou guards asked irritably, still bitter about not being able to join the others in looting the vault.

“Nothing, nothing,” Luo Wenqian tried to appear calm, but his panicked eyes suggested otherwise. His bound feet kept shuffling inward, and as he moved, a flash of golden yellow showed beneath his robe – the gleam of gold.

“Gold!” one wokou shouted. The other pounced first, and the one who had shouted quickly followed.

At that moment, two figures burst through the door. Their blades fell, and the wokou dropped dead without even a groan. Blood splattered across the floor.

The gold had been Luo Wenqian’s bait, and it had cost the two wokou their lives.

“Master, are you alright?” The two men who had entered asked while untying everyone.

The Li family members recognized them as Luo Ping’an and a Yihou Company guard, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m fine. Quickly, bring more men and follow me to the Buddha hall,” Luo Wenqian ordered. Zhenniang jumped up and rushed toward the Buddha hall, praying that Old Madam would be safe.

Outside, the government troops had begun their final assault on the wokou surrounding the Li mansion.

The sounds of battle finally reached the Buddha hall.

Hearing the faint sounds of fighting, Lian Jiyingsong sent someone to check the vault entrance while he continued examining the ink-making notes, formulas, and various ink sticks. Something felt off – as someone knowledgeable about ink, these materials gave him an uncertain feeling, yet the vault’s tight security suggested it couldn’t be fake.

Moreover, there were whole boxes of copper coins and various gold and silver items, so he never suspected this vault was false.

He didn’t realize this was Old Madam Li’s calculation – a false vault needed some real treasures to be convincing.

“Bad news! The government troops have broken through!” The wokou who had gone to check suddenly cried out upon seeing Luo Wenqian approaching with guards.

Luo Wenqian had planned to quietly ambush them at the vault entrance but was now exposed. With no choice, he immediately had his men surround the vault door.

“How did they arrive so quickly?” Lian Jiyingsong couldn’t believe it. With those bandits as bait, how could the troops arrive so soon? Suddenly, he thought of Luo Wenqian, and his heart sank as he realized he’d been tricked.

Earlier, he had assumed Luo Wenqian had been hiding nearby and only emerged when he saw Li Zhenniang captured. Now he realized Luo Wenqian must have made arrangements beforehand, appearing only to buy time.

And he, in his desperation to obtain the Li family’s ink formula, had repeatedly yielded to the old madam’s delays.

Realizing this, he roughly grabbed Old Madam Li and dragged her to the entrance.

Sure enough, Luo Wenqian and his men had surrounded the vault entrance. Now he was trapped, and his forces outside were surely defeated. His only option was to fight to the death.

He pushed Old Madam Li in front of him, holding a blade to her throat, and snarled at Luo Wenqian: “Stand aside! Drop your weapons and let us through! Otherwise, Old Madam Li will accompany us in death!”

“Old Madam!” The Li family members cried out anxiously.

“Clear the way,” Luo Wenqian had to order his guards – he couldn’t risk Old Madam Li’s life.

“Good, good! Everyone is safe now, excellent!!!!” At this moment, Old Madam Li, seeing the Li family members freed from danger, laughed joyously. Then she called to Zhenniang: “Zhenniang, child, I want you to have a grand, lively wedding to send off your Seventh Grandmother!”

As her words fell, sudden changes occurred. The Buddha shrine that had been moved aside to seal the real ink vault suddenly sprang back, instantly sealing the entrance to the false vault.

Old Madam Li, Lian Jiyingsong, Heiben, and the other wokou leaders were all trapped inside the false vault.

“Old Madam!” Zhenniang rushed forward in panic, frantically turning the redwood handle on the shrine, but it wouldn’t budge no matter how hard she tried.

“Old Madam, do you have a death wish?” Inside the vault, Lian Jiyingsong raged, ordering his men to push against the shrine’s back with all their might, but it didn’t move an inch.

“I’m already in my eighties. Leaving like this, taking a few wokou thieves with me – how satisfying, how satisfying indeed!!!!” Old Madam Li laughed loudly. Then she smashed an oil lamp by the wall. The sparks fell into the oil trough below, and instantly flames and smoke filled the entire vault.

Lian Jiyingsong closed his eyes. It was over. He hadn’t expected to die not at sea, but in an ink vault. With this thought, he lunged at the ink-making notes and ink sticks, snarling at Old Madam Li: “Fine! If I die, I die! Having these ink-making treasures as burial goods, death isn’t such a loss…”

“Hahaha, haven’t you figured it out yet? This is a false vault, a false vault! This is so satisfying… cough cough cough…” Old Madam Li coughed several times, then collapsed to the ground, slowly closing her eyes.

Outside the vault, everyone saw thick smoke and flames seeping through the cracks.

“No! The vault is on fire!” Luo Wenqian shouted, quickly ordering people to try moving the shrine.

“It’s useless. This shrine uses a dragon-blocking stone mechanism. Once sealed, those inside cannot get out, and those outside cannot get in,” a guard explained with a sigh.

“How did it catch fire?” Li Dalang mumbled.

“This is a false vault. There are oil troughs around the vault – Old Madam must have sealed the vault and lit the oil. Old Madam was unyielding all her life; she would never submit to these wokou thieves, nor would she let them escape because of her. She chose to perish together with them,” Li Zhenniang explained through tears.

Earlier, when she had noticed the trough containing oil, she had asked Old Madam about it, but the elder hadn’t answered.

Oh, Old Madam!

In an instant, the fire blazed to the heavens.