Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

The midday sun hung listlessly in the hazy sky, like a salted duck egg yolk, offering little warmth, only managing to paint a faint golden edge on the gray tiles of the courtyard house. The cold wind had subsided somewhat, but it still sneaked in along the walls and through the cracks in the doors, carrying a dry, earthy smell.

He Damin stepped steadily into the courtyard gate of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

The front yard was empty except for the honeycomb briquettes piled under Yi Zhonghai's window, their surfaces covered in a layer of frost from the wind. The main house in the middle courtyard was closed, and the Jia family's side was also quiet. Zhang Cuihua's sharp tongue was probably frozen in place, or perhaps she was hiding inside, secretly rejoicing over her cousin Jia Gui's "great achievements." But He Damin could sense that behind the tightly closed windows, eyes were peeking and ears were listening intently. This courtyard was never short of onlookers and silent critics.

He didn't look to the side, walked straight through the hanging flower gate, and headed towards the east courtyard.

The moon gate was ajar. As he approached, the gate was suddenly pulled open from the inside, and Lü Bingxin's pale face emerged, her eyes bloodshot, a mixture of tension, anticipation, and fear staring intently at him.

"Damin! How is it? Did you find out anything? Your older brother, he..." Her voice was urgent and hoarse, as if it had been sanded.

"Sister-in-law, come inside and talk." He Damin stepped inside, closed the moon door tightly, and bolted it shut.

The room wasn't much warmer than outside. The charcoal brazier had long since gone out, leaving only a pile of grayish-white ashes. Little Yuzhu, wrapped in a small quilt, was asleep on the kang (heated brick bed), tears still streaking her face. On the table were two cold cornbread buns and a dish of pickled vegetables; clearly, Lü Bingxin hadn't eaten or drunk anything since morning.

He Damin walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), looked at his sleeping nephew, and then turned around to face his sister-in-law, who was so nervous she could hardly breathe.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, listen to me." His voice was calm, carrying a deliberately crafted, reassuring strength. "My brother is alright. I found out, he was invited to... cook for the Japanese."

"Cook?" Lü Bingxin was stunned for a moment, the fear in her eyes not lessening. "Please? They're arresting! First thing in the morning, with guns..."

"Yes, the methods were a bit crude," He Damin interrupted her, his tone still calm. "But that's how it happened. At the Japanese headquarters, some general wanted to hold a banquet for his birthday. To curry favor, his subordinates were looking everywhere for a skilled chef. Some unscrupulous person leaked the fact that my elder brother was learning cooking at Fengzeyuan Restaurant, exaggerating and calling him a 'master of Tan family cuisine.' When the Japanese heard that, they 'invited' him."

He deliberately used the word "please" and pointed out the ridiculous pretext of "Master of Tan Family Cuisine" in an attempt to steer the matter toward "misunderstanding" and "the subordinates doing things haphazardly" to reduce his sister-in-law's psychological pressure.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law," He Damin said confidently. "You know how skilled my brother is. It's authentic Tan family cuisine, so it'll be fine for a meal. I specifically inquired about it, and for banquets like this made for important figures, especially the soups and broths that Tan family cuisine is known for, just preparing the broth takes nearly ten hours. My brother is going there now, which is the time to prepare, and he'll be incredibly busy. I reckon he won't be able to come back until at least midnight, after the banquet is over and everything is cleaned up."

"He won't be back until midnight?" Lü Bingxin's face was still pale, but upon hearing the specific time and that he was only cooking, her tense nerves seemed to relax slightly, though her worry remained. "Is...is that place safe? He's alone..."

"It's safe. Just go cook and stay in the kitchen. There are so many cooks and helpers, nothing serious will happen," He Damin continued to reassure her. "I've already asked Chef Wang from Fengzeyuan, and other people to help keep an eye on things. We'll know as soon as there's any news. Sister-in-law, what you need to do now is take care of yourself and look after Zhuzi. If your brother comes back and sees you're seriously ill, he'll be even more upset."

Listening to He Damin's clear and confident words, and looking at his calm and composed face, Lü Bingxin felt the tangled panic in her heart being slightly smoothed out by an invisible hand. She recalled her brother-in-law's recent changes—calm, decisive, and always seeming to have a solution. Perhaps… he was telling the truth? Was Da Qing really just dragged along to cook a meal?

But that was, after all, the Japanese devils' den! Her heart still felt like it was being squeezed by a hand, tightening in waves.

"Damin...you...you didn't lie to your sister-in-law, did you?" Her voice trembled, as she made her last attempt to confirm.

"Sister-in-law, when have I ever lied to you?" He Damin met her gaze, his eyes open and honest. "My brother will definitely come back safely. I promise."

He didn't emphasize the word "guarantee" in a heavy tone, but it felt like two weighty stones falling into Lü Bingxin's anxious heart, stirring ripples of trust. She looked at He Damin, her half-grown brother-in-law, who seemed to have grown up and could now shoulder responsibilities.

"Then...then I'll listen to you, sister-in-law." She finally nodded slowly, but her body swayed slightly from the tension and standing for so long.

He Damin helped her sit down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed): "Sister-in-law, eat something first. Worrying won't help. If you ruin your health, who will take care of your brother when he comes back?"

Lü Bingxin then remembered the cornbread on the table, picked it up, and mechanically took a bite. It was cold and tasteless. But with something in her stomach, the feeling of palpitations and shortness of breath seemed to subside a little.

As He Damin watched her eat with difficulty, thoughts raced through his mind.

The elder brother is temporarily safe, but he's in enemy territory, and the situation remains uncertain. A rescue plan requires meticulous preparation, waiting for the opportune moment at night. Until then, his family—his elder brother and his younger sister—is a crucial safety net he must secure. Especially his sister-in-law; if she remains in this state of fear and anxiety, it will not only harm her health but may also lead her to make irrational decisions at a critical moment.

it's time.

He had previously planned to improve his family's self-defense capabilities. His eldest brother had already begun to subtly absorb the teachings of Xingyi Quan, but the effects were not yet apparent due to the short timeframe. As for his sister-in-law, he had originally wanted to wait for a more suitable opportunity, but now it seemed that it had to be brought forward.

Firstly, it can distract her from pure worry. Secondly, teaching her martial arts can build a deeper level of trust and reliance, making her more confident in her own judgment and abilities. Thirdly, and most importantly, in case... in case tonight's operation goes wrong, or if the family encounters a similar crisis in the future, my sister-in-law must have at least the ability to cope or escape.

"Sister-in-law," He Damin said after Lü Bingxin had barely finished half a cornbread and drunk a few sips of cold water, and her emotions had calmed down a bit, "There's something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it? Tell me." Lü Bingxin looked up at him.

"What happened to my brother this time has been a wake-up call for me. The world is not peaceful, and without a pillar of support in our family (he automatically ignored himself), we are easily bullied. I think... I'll teach you some self-defense skills." He Damin carefully chose his words.

"Self-defense?" Lü Bingxin asked blankly. "What can a woman like me learn for self-defense?"

"It's a style of martial arts called Wing Chun," He Damin explained. "This style doesn't emphasize brute force; it focuses on skill and speed. The moves are flexible, and it's very effective in close-quarters combat, making it especially suitable for women. I can't say how many people you can fight after learning it, but if you encounter a petty thief, a rogue, or... like the chaos this morning, at least you can protect yourself and have a chance to escape."

Lü Bingxin was stunned. Martial arts? Women could learn them? She had been raised to believe that women should be chaste and virtuous; wielding weapons was something she never even dared to dream of. But He Damin's words reminded her of the despair of watching her husband being taken away that morning, of Zhang Cuihua's vicious curses, of the terror of this chaotic world where human life was cheap… If, if she really had some skill, wouldn't she be less afraid?

"I...can I do it? I'm already this old..." she hesitated, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Sister-in-law, trust me," He Damin said firmly. "Age is not a problem. I'll help you get your body in order and build a foundation first. This boxing style isn't difficult to learn; the key is to put your heart into it."

As he spoke, he seemingly took out the small jade bottle containing the Marrow Cleansing Pill from his robes (but actually from the Taiji Space). The bottle was warm to the touch and carried a slight coolness.

"This is a pill I obtained by chance, called the 'Strengthening Pill'," he made up a name for it. "It's very good for your health, it can cure hidden ailments and strengthen your muscles and bones. Take one, and I'll teach you a breathing technique to complement it for even better results. Once the medicine has taken effect and you feel lighter, I'll formally teach you Wing Chun."

"A pill?" Lü Bingxin looked at the exquisite jade bottle, even more hesitant. This sounded like a trick by a charlatan.

"Sister-in-law, I won't harm you." He Damin uncorked the bottle, poured out a marrow-cleansing pill the size of a longan, white in color, and emitting a faint fragrance, and handed it to her. "This medicine is very mild. Trust me this once. With our elder brother gone, we have to stand on our own two feet."

The delicate fragrance of the elixir seemed to have a calming power. Looking into He Damin's clear and earnest eyes, and recalling his methodical analysis and assurances, Lü Bingxin's initial doubts were gradually replaced by a strange trust. This brother-in-law had indeed changed since that serious illness. Perhaps… he really had some extraordinary encounter?

She gritted her teeth, took the pill, and put it directly into her mouth without even drinking water.

The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, transforming into a warm, soothing current that slid down the throat. At first, it only felt warm and comfortable in the stomach. But soon, that warm current spread like a living thing, surging throughout the limbs and bones!

"Uh..." Lü Bingxin groaned softly, feeling a heat and itch spreading through her bones, as if something was gently tapping and vibrating. Tiny beads of grayish-black sweat with an oily smell began to seep from her skin. She could feel the fatigue and chill that had accumulated in her body over the years being driven away little by little by this warm current.

He Damin observed intently from the side, noticing her face first flush slightly, then beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, and her body trembling slightly. He knew the Marrow Cleansing Pill was beginning to take effect. This version of the medicine was relatively mild for ordinary people who had never cultivated, but the transformation process would still cause discomfort.

"Sister-in-law, close your eyes, don't be afraid. Just do as I say," he said in a deep voice. "Inhale, imagine the warmth rising from the soles of your feet and stopping at your lower abdomen... Exhale, expel anything that feels blocked or cold from your body..."

He guided Lü Bingxin through the simplest breathing exercises, coordinating them with the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill. This wasn't some profound technique; it simply helped her absorb the medicine more smoothly and alleviate her discomfort.

Time passed slowly. The pain on Lü Bingxin's face gradually subsided, replaced by a strange flush and a sense of relief. The layer of grayish-black sweat on her body increased, and the smell became somewhat unpleasant, but she felt a lightness and clarity in her body that she had never experienced before, as if a heavy shackle had been removed. Her head, which had been throbbing with worry and tears, was now perfectly clear; her icy hands and feet had warmed up.

About an hour later, the effects of the medicine finally subsided.

Lü Bingxin opened her eyes and exhaled a long breath. The breath had a faint gray tinge and quickly dissipated in the cold air. She looked down at her sweaty, somewhat dirty hands, then moved her arms and legs, a look of disbelief on her face.

"Damin...this medicine...is really amazing! I...I feel light and energetic all over! My eyes are brighter!" she said with delight, her voice full of vitality, and even her tightly furrowed brows relaxed a lot.

He Damin nodded: "The medicine has been initially absorbed. Sister-in-law, go boil some hot water, wash yourself quickly, and change into clean clothes. Wiping away this sweat will make you feel more comfortable."

"Okay, sure!" Lü Bingxin quickly stood up, her movements much lighter than before. She picked up the basin and headed outside, but turned back at the door, her face beaming: "Damin, that boxing technique... you really want to teach me?"

"I'll teach you. Once you're all ready, we'll begin." He Damin smiled and nodded.

Watching his sister-in-law briskly return to boil water for a bath, the smile in He Damin's eyes slowly faded, replaced by a calm stillness. His initial goal of diverting her attention had been achieved. The Marrow Cleansing Pill had improved his sister-in-law's physique, laying the foundation for her martial arts training and boosting her confidence.

Next, he would teach Wing Chun. The use of skill cards needed to be done discreetly, so he had to find the right opportunity.

He walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), looked at the sleeping Xiaoyuzhu, and gently stroked the child's head. Then, he returned to his usual old chair, slowly sat down, and closed his eyes.

Within his spiritual sea, his consciousness reconnected with the Wing Chun skill card that was shimmering with a faint light. At the same time, a wisp of his main soul consciousness also separated to maintain contact with several key clones scattered in the direction of the Western Hills and those possibly involved in the banquet location, like the most sensitive threads on a spider web, ready to capture any new movements of his elder brother, He Daqing.

Outside the window, the afternoon sun had already begun to set further west, casting an even longer, gaunt shadow of the old locust tree in the courtyard. The cold wind still blew, but in this small, icy house in the east wing, a different kind of warmth, faint yet tenacious, seemed to be quietly growing.