Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

Late midnight, in Beiping city.

A dilapidated alleyway near Xizhimen, abandoned for many years. Half-collapsed adobe walls line both sides, withered grass shivering in the cold wind atop them. Piles of rubble, broken bricks, and frozen garbage, accumulated over countless years, fill the air with a nauseating musty stench of dust and decay. Moonlight, fragmented by the towering city walls and distant rooftops, meagerly casts a few pale rays, barely illuminating a small, relatively flat patch of ground deep within the alley.

He Damin helped his elder brother, He Daqing, who was still shaken and trembling slightly, to a stop. They were now far from the stench of blood and the cold night in the western mountains, but the fear on He Daqing's face hadn't lessened at all. On the contrary, the lingering dread of escaping danger washed over him like a tidal wave, making his teeth chatter. He looked at his younger brother, who had suddenly appeared and swiftly saved him, now with a calm and composed expression, his mind a jumble of questions, yet he didn't know where to begin.

"Damin...those two...are dead? You...you killed them?" He Daqing's voice was dry and hoarse, trembling with disbelief. The horrific scene of those two silver dollars slicing through necks and spurting blood kept replaying in his mind, as well as his brother's cold and sharp eyes when he stepped out of the shadows.

"They want to kill you, brother." He Damin's voice was calm, and although he didn't answer directly, it said it all. He released his hand from supporting He Daqing, took out the familiar, warm jade bottle from his bosom (which was actually the Taiji Space), uncorked it, and poured out a smooth, white, and fragrant Marrow Cleansing Pill.

"Eat this."

He Daqing stared blankly at the pill handed to him: "What...what is this?"

"I obtained this medicine to strengthen your body by chance," He Damin said in an unquestionable tone. "Your blood and qi are currently unstable, and you've been frightened. Taking this will help you strengthen your body, dispel the cold, and make you walk more steadily on the way back."

Looking into his younger brother's unwavering gaze, and recalling the unpredictable methods he had displayed that evening, He Daqing felt a mix of doubt and a strange sense of trust. He didn't ask any more questions, took the pill, and put it in his mouth.

The pill melted instantly upon entering the mouth, a warm current spreading throughout the body. Similar to Lü Bingxin's experience when taking the medicine, the warmth quickly dispelled the stiffness and discomfort caused by the cold and fear. The bones felt slightly warm and itchy, and fine beads of sweat, tinged with dirt, appeared on the skin. An unprecedented sense of ease and strength began to grow from the depths of the body.

"This medicine..." He Daqing moved his arm, his eyes showing surprise.

"The medicine will last for a while. When you get back, boil some hot water and wash yourself thoroughly to get rid of all the sweat. You'll feel much better." He Damin interrupted him, his tone turning serious. "Brother, there are a few things you must remember and do as I say."

Seeing his solemn expression, He Daqing quickly composed himself and listened attentively.

"First, when you get back, practice the Xingyi Quan I taught you before diligently." He Damin stared into his eyes. "Don't ask why. Make sure to set aside time to practice every morning and evening. This set of boxing techniques can not only strengthen your body, but also help you defend yourself. In this world, you need to have the ability to protect yourself and your family."

He Daqing recalled the boxing stances and the feeling of exertion that occasionally appeared in his dreams during this period. He had previously thought it was just a dream, but now that his younger brother had solemnly brought it up, he suddenly realized what was happening and felt a sense of heaviness. He nodded heavily.

"Secondly, take good care of your sister-in-law and Yuzhu." He Damin's voice lowered. "Don't mention tonight's events to anyone. If anyone asks, say you finished preparing a banquet for the Japanese and were politely escorted back. You didn't encounter anyone on the way, and nothing happened. You've never seen Jia Gui and that detective after they left the villa, understand?"

He Daqing's face paled, but he still nodded vigorously: "I understand. But... Jia Gui and the others are dead, what if the Japanese...?"

"This is the third thing I want to talk about." He Damin's eyes were deep. "My cultivation... has reached a bottleneck. I need to leave for a while to seek opportunities and break through."

"Leaving?" He Daqing exclaimed in surprise. "Where are you going? When are you coming back?"

"Go where you're supposed to go. Your return date is uncertain." He Damin didn't give a specific answer. "After I leave, if anyone asks about me, just say that I went to Tianjin to visit relatives recently and met a wandering master who took me away to learn his skills. I probably won't be back for a long time. From today onwards, consider He Damin to have temporarily disappeared from the courtyard house."

"Temporarily disappeared?" He Daqing's heart trembled violently. He grabbed He Damin's arm. "Damin! What nonsense are you talking about! Why would you disappear for no reason? Have you gotten into some trouble? Is it because of tonight..." He dared not finish his sentence, his eyes filled with worry and fear.

"Brother, listen to me." He Damin pressed his elder brother's hand firmly against his back. "I haven't caused any trouble, but there are some things I have to do. My continued presence at home might not be good for you or for me. Tonight's events have only reinforced that belief. You think Jia Gui's attempt to kill you was just a coincidence? It might involve the Jia family of the courtyard house, or even more. If I continue to stay at home like an ordinary apprentice, some things will be impossible to prevent."

Looking at his elder brother's shocked and bewildered face, he continued, "My leaving is the best protection for you. You can live ordinary lives, practice the martial arts I left behind, and have strong bodies. As long as you are careful, nothing will happen to you. As for me, I will go to pursue my path, and perhaps... I can truly change something in the future."

Hearing his younger brother's words, He Daqing felt that every word was heavy and resolute. He wanted to stop him, wanted to ask more questions, but looking into his brother's deep, seemingly bottomless eyes, all the words stuck in his throat. He suddenly realized that this younger brother, with whom he had grown up, was no longer the taciturn boy he remembered who needed his care. He was like a sharp sword hidden in its sheath, which tonight had finally revealed its unparalleled sharpness, and now, this sword was going to find a wider world on its own.

"Then...then you must be careful." He Daqing's voice choked, his eyes reddening. "You must...be safe and sound. Your sister-in-law and I are here at home, and Zhuzi has grown up, so you don't need to worry."

"Hmm." He Damin nodded, then took out a small cloth bag from his pocket (Tai Chi Space) and stuffed it into He Daqing's hand. "There's some money in here. Keep it safe and use it to supplement your household expenses. Remember my words: practice your boxing diligently and take good care of the family."

The cloth bag was heavy, containing several dozen silver dollars and some loose banknotes. He Daqing gripped the bag tightly and nodded emphatically.

"Now, go home right away. Take the main road, don't be afraid, just pretend nothing happened," He Damin instructed as a final reminder. "Go home, take a shower, and go to sleep. Tomorrow, everything will be as usual."

He Daqing nodded again, giving his younger brother a deep look, as if trying to etch his image into his mind. Then, gritting his teeth, he turned and strode quickly along the other end of the alley towards Nanluoguxiang. His steps were initially unsteady, but the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill and He Damin's words seemed to give him support, gradually becoming steady and powerful until he quickly disappeared around the corner of the alley.

As he watched his elder brother's figure disappear completely, the last trace of warmth vanished from He Damin's face, and he returned to his icy calm.

His disposal of the body wasn't simply to destroy evidence. More importantly, he couldn't leave any clues for the Japanese or the detectives to trace back to his elder brother. Jia Gui and that teammate were ordered to "escort" He Daqing down the mountain; if they died on the way while He Daqing returned safely, even a fool would be suspicious. These two had to "completely disappear," leaving no trace, neither alive nor dead, to completely absolve his elder brother of any involvement. As for the reason for his disappearance, let the Japanese figure it out themselves—internal strife, embezzlement, or even being dragged away by something in the mountains were all possibilities.

He looked up to determine his direction, then his figure blurred, disappearing into the night like a ghost, and sped off towards the western mountains. His speed was several times faster than when he was with his elder brother. He used the full power of his "Swallow Three Drops of Water" lightness skill, using rooftops, walls, and even bare treetops for leverage. Each rise and fall was silent, only creating a barely perceptible gust of wind.

In less than half an hour, he returned to the vicinity of that secluded mountain path in the western mountains.

The night remained deep, and the cold wind howled. The two corpses still lay in place, their blood congealed into dark brown ice crystals that gleamed eerily in the moonlight. The heavy stench of blood attracted several nocturnal animals to linger in the distance, but they dared not approach, intimidated by the lingering scent of He Damin.

He Damin scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense and confirmed that no one was around. He stepped forward and a thought crossed his mind.

"receive!"

The two corpses, along with the blood-soaked withered grass beneath them and some blood-stained pebbles, vanished instantly, stored in a specially isolated corner on the positive side of the Taiji Space. Only some slightly darker soil remained in their original location, almost indistinguishable from the surrounding environment unless carefully examined.

He carefully examined the surroundings again, covering any possible footprints or signs of a struggle (though there were almost none) with loose soil and withered leaves stirred up by his true energy. Only after doing all this did he breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"It's time to go," he thought to himself.

He Damin suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them before he quickly concealed it. He stood up and stretched his limbs, which had become stiff from sitting cross-legged for so long. His internal energy circulated, dispelling the chill and discomfort.

He took one last look in the direction of Beiping. In the night, the massive outline of the ancient city lay sprawling in the distance, sparsely lit, like a sleeping behemoth. Nanluoguxiang, that small courtyard house, his elder brother, sister-in-law, Yuzhu… from now on, he would have to say goodbye for the time being.

There was little lingering attachment, only a chilling resolve.

He turned around and faced north. There, the Yanshan Mountains stretched out, their peaks rising one after another, their silhouettes appearing even deeper and more desolate under the starlight.

With a light step, his figure had already floated several feet away. Using the full power of "Swallow Three Drops of Water," combined with the perfect control of every muscle in his body by a master of internal energy, his speed was as fast as an arrow released from a bow, yet as light and agile as a withered leaf swept by the wind, leaping and flying across the rugged mountain land.

Soon, he arrived at the foot of the northern city wall of Beiping. The wall was tall and thick, resembling a winding black dragon in the night. The beams of searchlights occasionally swept across the top of the wall, and the footsteps of patrol teams could be faintly heard.

He Damin did not stop, nor did he search for the city gate. When he was still more than ten feet away from the city wall, he suddenly inhaled, his true energy surging to his legs, his spine heaving like a great dragon, unleashing astonishing power!

"Whoosh—!"

He shot into the sky like a cannonball! This leap raised him nearly four zhang (approximately 13 meters)! Seeing that his strength was about to run out, he lightly touched the vertical blue bricks of the city wall with his left foot, using the momentum to rise again! His movements were smooth and natural, as if the city wall was just a slightly steep hillside beneath his feet.

With two boosts, he moved like a giant owl, silently scaling the nearly ten-meter-high crenellations of the city wall! His body pressed against the shadow of the crenellations, he scanned the area with his spiritual sense, avoiding a patrol that had just passed by.

Then, without hesitation, he leaped off the outside of the city wall! The night wind whistled in his ears. He spread his arms, adjusted his posture, and like a gliding swift, plummeted towards the vast mountains to the north! During his descent, he occasionally used protruding rocks or treetops to cushion his fall, without slowing down at all.

In a few leaps and bounds, the gray figure completely disappeared into the boundless darkness and cold of the Yanshan Mountains, vanishing without a trace.

Only the cold starlight silently illuminates the ancient city walls and the desolate road winding northwards beneath them, leading to the unknown mountains and wilderness.