The Heir

Сhарtеr 242: Нow Satisfуing! (А 7,000+ Wоrd Сhаpter)

Sincе thе last Ink Cоmpetitiоn, Rеnji Еishō’s dауs hаd been diffiсult. According to the rulеs оf the missiоn, he hаd tо tаkе resроnsibilitу fоr this fаilure, аnd the only оutсomе for him was seрpuku.

But hе did not want tо diе. Sо, hе flеd with sеvеral ronin wаrriоrs and еvеntuаlly jоined а flеet of Jарanеse piratеs, drifting at sea еvеr sinсe. It wаs foreseеаblе that in thе futurе, hе wоuld still hаvе no hоmе to rеturn to. Нis final destinаtion wоuld bе dеath аt sеа.

Rеnji Eishō was unwilling to аccept such аn outcomе. But if he wаnted tо rеturn, he hаd to redeem this failure. How could he redeem it? He believed that if he could obtain the Li family’s formula for the World’s Finest Ink and recreate it, then he would have the face to return home.

However, obtaining the Li family’s formula for the World’s Finest Ink was no easy task. Even if the Li family were to produce the formula, he worried they might play tricks—who knew whether the formula they provided would be genuine or fake? The Tian family had fallen for the Li family’s schemes in the past.

But while his men were gathering information, they unexpectedly learned something: the Ink Repository. The Li family had an Ink Repository that not only stored fine inks from over the years but also preserved various formulas developed by generations of the Li family.

This finally gave him a way to obtain the Li Ink Formula.

Thus, as long as he could get his hands on the Ink Repository, everything would fall into place.

However, the Li family was deep in Huizhou. For a Japanese like him, obtaining the contents of the Ink Repository was nearly impossible.

Nevertheless, he had been preparing all along, and opportunity always favors the prepared.

Sure enough, this time, he followed the Daixiong ship to plunder the vessels of the Huiyuan Trading Company. Initially, they succeeded, but now the garrison forces in the Ningbo waters were taking severe measures against the Japanese pirates. The dozens of ships of the Daixiong fleet were quickly scattered, and the fleet he was with took the opportunity to enter the Qiantang River, eventually reaching Jinhua.

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

Thus, the Ming troops lost track of them. By now, leaving would be a natural and effortless step.

But at this moment, Renji Eishō, who had been preparing all along, saw an opportunity to obtain the Li Family Ink Repository.

From Jinhua to Huizhou was not far, and there was a direct water route: the Xin’an River. Moreover, with their current identity as river bandits, to be honest, as long as they operated properly, they could still retreat unscathed after entering Huizhou, provided they acted swiftly.

So, Renji Eishō found Captain Kurohon and explained his idea. Upon hearing that they could plunder the wealthy households of Huizhou and reviewing the entire plan, Kurohon deemed it feasible and immediately began making arrangements.

First, they persuaded the river bandits and mountain bandits to join them in the operation. For the river and mountain bandits, having the Japanese pirates as a tool to use meant that if the authorities later held them accountable, the Japanese pirates would take the blame. With the added prospect of substantial gains, such an opportunity was not to be missed. Thus, the two sides quickly reached an agreement.

And so, the entire operation began. By now, Renji Eishō standing at the entrance of the Li family’s residence seemed perfectly logical.

And the moment Zhen Niang saw Renji Eishō, she understood the purpose of these people.At this moment, she spoke coldly, "Where we go is none of your concern. Rather, your sudden appearance in Huizhou in the dead of night is quite puzzling. Uninvited guests are no better than thieves."

Zhen Niang replied. Of course, she knew there was no reasoning with people like Renji Eishō. But now, she and Seventh Grandmother were trapped in the room, with no chance of escape. The only option was to stall for time.

Renji Eishō ignored Zhen Niang's remark about "uninvited guests being no better than thieves" and responded to her earlier words, "I have no choice. I didn’t want to come to Huizhou in the middle of the night either, but my admiration for Li Mo is simply overwhelming. Especially since I’ve heard that the Li family has an Ink Repository filled with precious inks from past generations. My desire to see it is simply unbearable. I beg you, Old Madam, to grant us permission and take us to the Ink Repository for a look."

The latter part of Renji Eishō’s words was directed at Old Madam Li, who stood nearby.

"And what if I refuse?" Old Madam Li asked calmly.

"Is that so?" Renji Eishō rubbed his nose thoughtfully, then raised his torch and swept it around the room. "This Li family mansion, the Li Family Ink Workshop—I hear they’ve been passed down for over a hundred years. Truly remarkable."

As he spoke, Renji Eishō wore an expression of feigned admiration. Then, raising his torch again, he added, "Old Madam, what do you think would happen if I set this place on fire? Ah, I can’t bear to imagine it—such a pity. Old Madam, I truly cannot bring myself to do it. So, I think it’s best if you cooperate with me. A century-old legacy is not easily earned, and your two lives—please don’t be foolish."

Renji Eishō spoke with an air of false sincerity. He had more cards to play, but he preferred not to reveal them all at once. Taking things step by step was far more entertaining.

"Hah! Do you think this mansion and this Ink Workshop are the foundation of the Li family?" Old Madam Li suddenly burst into laughter.

"Are they not?" Renji Eishō retorted.

"Of course not," Old Madam Li replied disdainfully. Then, turning to Zhen Niang, she said, "Child, today, Seventh Grandmother will tell you what truly constitutes the Li family’s legacy. Remember this well."

"Yes," Zhen Niang quickly responded.

"The Li family’s legacy is not vast wealth, nor grand mansions or fertile fields. Remember this, child: the foundation of our family lies in the Ink-making Technique—the skill that has allowed every generation to survive even in the most difficult times. It lies in the spirit of perseverance, never abandoning or giving up, and in the principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. It lies in the merchant spirit of aiding the world when prosperous, enriching one’s hometown when wealthy, and relying on skill to make a living when poor. These are the true foundations of the Li family. This mansion and this Ink Workshop alone do not constitute our legacy." Old Madam Li stood tall, her back straight as a slender pine tree, exuding an indomitable spirit.

"Seventh Grandmother, Zhen Niang will remember," Zhen Niang nodded solemnly.

Watching Old Madam Li calmly impart wisdom to her descendants as if no one else were present, Renji Eishō grew livid with rage.

Beside him, Kurohon also grew furious and snarled, "If you don’t care about your legacy, do you not care about your lives either?"

"Who doesn’t care about their life? But our ancestors have a saying: 'If the King of Hell decrees death at the third watch, who can delay it until the fifth?' Each person’s life is in the hands of the King of Hell. No one else has the final say."Zhen Niang said calmly. In truth, she was also anxious inside, but she forced herself to remain composed. At a time like this, anxiety alone would not be of any use. Moreover, she understood that since Renji Eishō was going to such lengths to obtain the Li Family Ink Repository, he would not easily take her and Seventh Grandmother’s lives before achieving his goal. Therefore, she spoke these words without much concern.

“The girl speaks well. Today, even if I, this old woman, were to die, it would be due to the decree of the King of Hell. You are merely the blades in his hands,” Old Madam Li said, patting the back of Zhen Niang’s hand.

“Old Madam, Miss Li. What admirable courage. Very well, you may not care about the Li family’s legacy, nor about your own lives. But can you also disregard their lives?” At this moment, Renji Eishō finally revealed his final card, waving a hand behind him.

Immediately, several Japanese pirates escorted a group of people forward. They were none other than the aunts of the Li family’s seventh branch, Li Dalang, Li Tianyou, and others, who had been evacuated earlier.

Everyone had thought there was still time, but they did not know that Renji Eishō had come precisely for the Li Family Ink Formulation. As soon as he entered the city, he led his group of Japanese pirates, ignoring the chaos at the eastern city gate, and quietly headed straight for the Li family mansion. In doing so, he happened to intercept the evacuating members of the Li family’s seventh branch right on the spot.

“Let go, we can walk on our own,” Chen Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Li family’s seventh branch, said coldly. Then, the group pushed aside those escorting them and walked over to stand beside Old Madam Li and Li Zhenniang. Renji Eishō did not stop them; instead, he smiled softly and said, “How wonderful. A family should be together. However, if the Old Madam does not comply, I fear the Li family’s seventh branch will be left without descendants. This boy is the only son of your seventh branch, isn’t he?”

As he spoke, Renji Eishō reached out and patted little Tianyou’s head. Tianyou shook his head angrily and tried to bite him, but Renji Eishō withdrew his hand quickly, avoiding the bite.

“Great Ancestor, do not listen to these Japanese pirates. Your grandson is not afraid of death,” Li Tianyou declared, clenching his fists indignantly. Even as a young boy, he already possessed an unyielding spirit.

Renji Eishō paid no mind and continued addressing Old Madam Li, “I wonder how you all will face the Li family ancestors in the underworld after this boy dies.”

For a moment, Old Madam Li fell silent. She could disregard the Li family’s legacy, but she could not disregard Li Tianyou. Of course, she would never yield to the Japanese pirates either.

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

Old Madam Li glared at her, and Madam Sun let out a long sigh, closing her eyes and saying nothing more.

“Old Madam, since these thieves are so enamored with the Li family’s ink-making techniques, why not grant their wish? Let them broaden their horizons properly,” a clear and resonant voice suddenly rang out from the shadows.

“Who’s there?” several Japanese pirates shouted, raising their swords in defense. At that moment, Luo Wenqian emerged alone from the shadows.

Seeing that the Japanese pirates and mountain bandits were about to charge into Four Treasures Street, yet the Li family’s seventh branch and Li Zhenniang had not yet evacuated, Luo Wenqian was naturally extremely anxious. He brought his guards to assist the Li family’s seventh branch, only to find they had already been captured by the Japanese pirates. Upon seeing Renji Eishō, Luo Wenqian immediately understood what he was after. Therefore, he quickly sent someone to deliver a message.At the same time, he ordered the several guards who had followed him to hide in the shadows before stepping out himself. He could not let Zhen Niang face this alone; moreover, he needed to coordinate from within and without to rescue everyone.

He had Old Madam Li lead Renji Eishō into the Ink Repository, both to buy time and to find an opportunity—a chance to save everyone.

As Luo Wenqian emerged, the Japanese pirates immediately held their swords to him. After checking the shadows and finding no one else, they finally relaxed.

"Shopkeeper Luo, you actually rushed here to die?" Renji Eishō naturally recognized Luo Wenqian.

"I have no choice. My fiancée is here—I cannot let her face this alone," Luo Wenqian replied calmly.

"I never expected Shopkeeper Luo to be such a romantic. Very well, I shall grant your wish," Renji Eishō said, pushing Luo Wenqian over to join Li Zhenniang and the others.

"Fine, I will take you into the Ink Repository," Old Madam Li suddenly declared.

"You should have agreed sooner, Old Madam Li. Please lead the way," Renji Eishō said, overjoyed.

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

"Oh? What condition?" Renji Eishō asked.

"Wenqian and Zhenniang have been engaged for several years. They were supposed to marry long ago, 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 have been waiting for this day. However, to be honest, I have no faith in villains like you, and I do not know if I will survive tonight. So, I wish to take this moment to officiate their wedding. That way, even if I do not live, I will have no regrets." Old Madam Li understood that the outcome of tonight’s events was uncertain. If anything happened to her, Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian’s wedding would likely be postponed again.

But this girl’s wedding could not be delayed any longer. Although officiating the ceremony now was inappropriate, it was the most fitting moment. Moreover, Wenqian had likely already prepared defenses, and this would buy more time—killing two birds with one stone.

Li Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian exchanged a glance. They could sense Old Madam Li’s intentions in officiating their wedding now, and their hearts were filled with complex emotions.

"You’re trying to stall for time?" Renji Eishō frowned. Tonight’s operation required swift action. With bandits and river pirates holding off the government troops outside, he could take advantage of the chaos to escape. Time was of the essence.

"A few bows and a few words—how much time could that possibly take?" Old Madam Li retorted disdainfully.

"Fine," Renji Eishō conceded, nodding. He then followed the Li family into the house.

"You all guard the outside; we’re going inside," Kurohon ordered the Japanese pirates outside before leading a dozen men into the house.

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

A Japanese pirate who understood Chinese laughed heartily, "Kid, tonight is your wedding night—weak legs won’t do."

The other pirates, though they didn’t understand, joined in with strange, raucous laughter.Luo Wenqian and Zhen Niang paid no mind to these matters. Zhen Niang held Luo Wenqian’s arm as they entered the house. Earlier, when she had seen Luo Wenqian anxiously stepping outside, her heart had been filled with worry. But now that things had come to this, such worries were useless. Now, they faced hardship together. The two exchanged a glance, a thousand words conveyed in that single look, and their hands clasped tightly together.

Just then, a cat’s meow came from the darkness not far away. Hearing it, Luo Wenqian’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. He naturally understood that the guards hiding in the shadows had received his signal—the operation was about to begin.

…………

Inside the hall

Old Madam Li sat upright in the master’s chair, while Chen Shi temporarily presided over the wedding ceremony.

“First bow to heaven and earth…” Zhen Niang and Luo Wenqian knelt and bowed to heaven and earth.

“Second bow to the elders…” The two kowtowed toward Old Madam Li.

“Husband and wife bow to each other…” Zhen Niang and Luo Wenqian bowed to one another.

“Ceremony concluded…” Chen Shi called out the final words, secretly wiping away tears. No one knew whether they would still be alive after tonight.

Nearby, Huang Shi and Madam Tian, among others, also had reddened eyes, but not a single person wept aloud.

“Zhen Niang, do you remember what I told you earlier about the family’s legacy?” Old Madam Li then took Zhen Niang’s hand and helped her stand.

“I remember,” Zhen Niang nodded firmly.

“Good.” Old Madam Li nodded, then beckoned to little Tianyou. Tianyou walked over and took Old Madam Li’s hand.

“Wenqian, Zhen Niang, Tianyou, remember this: houses may collapse and be rebuilt, the Ink Workshop may decline and rise again, but the inheritance of craftsmanship must be passed down from generation to generation without interruption. Keep the ancestral teachings in mind: the Li Ink Family, in poverty, relies on skill to survive; in wealth, brings prosperity to the hometown; and in success, benefits all under heaven.” Old Madam Li spoke each word deliberately.

“We will remember,” Zhen Niang and the others responded solemnly. Yet for some reason, Zhen Niang suddenly had a foreboding feeling—the old woman seemed to be leaving her final words.

“Old Madam Li, enough now. Can you take us there? Don’t delay any longer, or I might lose patience and have to shed some blood,” Renji Eishō said impatiently from the side, waving his hand to direct several Japanese pirates to keep watch over Luo Wenqian and the others. He had long since made up his mind: once he obtained the treasures in the Ink Repository, this place would naturally be burned to the ground.

“Let’s go.” Old Madam Li’s gaze swept over Zhen Niang and the others one by one, then she turned and gestured for them to follow.

“Kurohon, you stay here and guard the place,” Renji Eishō said to Kurohon.

Kurohon was displeased. “Renji, that’s not fair, is it? The Ink Repository is full of treasures. Do you intend to keep them all for yourself?”

“You misunderstand. This is still a dangerous place—we must be cautious and avoid any mishaps,” Renji Eishō explained.

“What mishaps could there be? Look at the fires outside—they’re still in the eastern gate area. With those bandits holding back the government troops, who knows if the soldiers will even break free by dawn? And outside the Li family’s gate, we have over a hundred men surrounding the place. Not even a fly could get in.”Kurohon spoke again, pointing at the captured group and continuing, "And most of these people are women and children. Even though there are these two lads, Old Madam Li is in our hands. How could they possibly turn the tables? If you're still worried, just tie them all up and leave two men to guard them. We've come all this way for wealth—now that we're here, how can we not let everyone go in and grab something?" Kurohon said with a look of unwillingness.

The dozen or so Japanese pirates who had entered echoed his words. They had fought their way here for riches, after all—how could they possibly not enter the Ink Repository when it was right before their eyes?

"Fine, tie them all up. Leave two men to guard them, and the rest of us will go in," Renji Eishō said, knowing he couldn't stop them and reluctantly compromising.

The group of Japanese pirates cheered, then tied everyone up, leaving two disgruntled men behind to guard them.

At this moment, Old Madam Li glanced at Luo Wenqian.

Luo Wenqian gave a slight nod, signaling for the old madam to rest assured. Old Madam Li also nodded slightly before turning and leading the group into the inner room's Buddhist hall.

When the Guanyin statue was moved aside, the door to the Ink Repository was revealed. Renji Eishō was thrilled and escorted Old Madam Li inside, while the accompanying Japanese pirates rushed in to plunder the treasures.

Outside the Li family mansion, the guards from the military garrison had already arrived and were quietly advancing toward the Japanese pirates surrounding the mansion.

The pirates besieging the Li family were far from content with merely surrounding it. By now, they had already broken into neighboring houses in small groups, ransacking and looting with wild shouts. However, they were silently subdued by the soldiers who had stealthily infiltrated the area.

At the same time, a team of Yi Hou Sheng guards quietly slipped into the Li family mansion.

In the main hall of the Li residence, Zhen Niang felt an indescribable unease. She understood that the old madam must have led Renji Eishō and the others into the False Repository. However, Renji Eishō was knowledgeable about ink, and if he discovered the deception, Old Madam Li's life would be in danger.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. My men should be here soon," Luo Wenqian whispered into Zhen Niang's ear, his breath brushing against her neck.

"Mhm," Zhen Niang nodded slightly, though she was still worried, fearing that Seventh Grandmother might be in danger. Just then, she saw half a head peek out from outside the hall before quickly disappearing.

"Ouch..." Luo Wenqian suddenly cried out beside her.

"What's going on?" the two guarding pirates asked irritably, clearly annoyed that they couldn't join Renji Eishō and the others in looting valuable items from the Ink Repository.

"N-nothing," Luo Wenqian replied, feigning calmness, though his panicked eyes suggested otherwise. At the same time, his bound feet kept retracting inward. As he shifted, a gleaming yellow object—the luster of gold—peeked out from beneath the hem of his robe.

"It's gold!" one of the pirates exclaimed. The other pirate lunged forward first, and the one who had shouted out also rushed over, unwilling to fall behind.

At that moment, two men burst in through the door, swiftly raising their swords and cutting down the two pirates before they could even utter a sound. Blood splattered across the floor.

Clearly, the gold had been bait set by Luo Wenqian, and the two pirates had lost their lives because of it.

"Boss, are you all right?" the two men who had entered from outside asked as they began untying everyone.The Li family finally recognized that the two men were Luo Ping An and a guard from Yi Hou Sheng, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's fine. Quick, bring more people and follow me to the Buddha hall," said Luo Wenqian. Zhen Niang also scrambled to her feet at once and rushed toward the Buddha hall, thinking anxiously, "Please let nothing happen to the old lady."

Meanwhile, outside, the government troops had begun their final assault on the Japanese pirates besieging the Li family mansion.

The sounds of fierce fighting finally reached the Li residence and echoed into the Buddha hall.

Renji Eishō faintly heard shouts and killing sounds, so he sent someone to check at the entrance of the Ink Repository while he himself flipped through the ink-making notes, the formulas inside, and the various ink cakes nearby. Vaguely, he also sensed something amiss. As someone knowledgeable about ink, these inks and notes gave him a feeling of being both familiar and unfamiliar. Yet, judging by the tight security at the entrance, this repository didn’t seem to be fake.

Moreover, there were whole chests of copper coins and some gold and silver utensils nearby, so it naturally never occurred to him that this Ink Repository could be false.

Little did he know, this was precisely Old Madam Li’s scheme—the False Repository had to contain some genuine items to achieve the effect of passing off the false as real.

“It’s bad! The government soldiers have broken in!” At that moment, the Japanese pirate who had gone outside earlier to check on the commotion had just reached the door of the Ink Repository when he saw Luo Wenqian approaching with guards. He cried out in alarm.

Luo Wenqian had originally intended to set up an ambush quietly at the entrance of the Ink Repository. Unexpectedly, they were exposed. With no other choice, he immediately led his men to surround the door of the repository.

“How could they come so quickly?” Renji Eishō couldn’t believe it. With those bandits serving as bait, how could the government soldiers arrive so soon? Suddenly, he remembered Luo Wenqian, and his heart sank as he realized he had been deceived.

Earlier, when Luo Wenqian emerged, he had thought Luo Wenqian was merely hiding there and came out only after seeing Li Zhenniang captured. Now, it occurred to him that perhaps Luo Wenqian had already made arrangements before that, and his appearance was merely to buy time.

And he, in his obsession to obtain the Li Family Ink Formulation, had repeatedly tolerated Old Madam Li’s actions.

Thinking of this, he roughly grabbed Old Madam Li beside him and dragged her to the door.

Sure enough, Luo Wenqian and his men had already surrounded the entrance of the Ink Repository. Now, there was no way for him to escape. He figured the men he had left outside were also gone. There was nothing left but to risk everything.

So he forcefully pushed Old Madam Li in front of him, holding a knife to her neck, and snarled at Luo Wenqian, “Step aside, drop your weapons, and clear a path for us. Otherwise, Old Madam Li will have to die with us.”

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

“Clear the path,” Luo Wenqian had no choice but to order the guards behind him. He could not disregard Old Madam Li’s life.

“Good, very good! Everyone is safe now, good!!!” At that moment, Old Madam Li, seeing that the Li family members were out of danger, laughed heartily. Then she turned to Zhen Niang and said, “Zhen girl, I want you to arrange a lively and grand wedding to send off Seventh Aunt!!!”

As her words fell, a sudden change occurred. The shrine that had been moved aside to seal the real Ink Repository suddenly snapped back into place with speed, instantly sealing the entrance of the False Repository.

Old Madam Li, along with Renji Eishō, Kurohon, and the other Japanese pirate leaders, were all trapped inside the False Repository.

“Old Madam!” Zhen Niang rushed forward in panic, desperately turning the rosewood handle on the shrine. But no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t budge.

“Old Madam, do you not want to live?” Inside the repository, Renji Eishō said furiously, while ordering his men to push against the back of the shrine with all their might. Yet, despite exerting every ounce of their strength, the shrine remained completely unmoved."I'm over eighty years old now. If I leave this world like this, I can still drag a few Japanese pirates down with me. How satisfying, how satisfying!!!" Old Madam Li laughed heartily. Then she smashed the oil lamp by the wall, and sparks splashed into the oil trough below. Instantly, flames scattered everywhere, and the entire Ink Repository was engulfed in fire and thick smoke.

Renji Eishō closed his eyes. It was over. He never thought he would die not at sea but in the Ink Repository. With this thought, he threw himself onto the ink-making notes and ink sticks, glaring fiercely at Old Madam Li and saying, "Fine, if I die, I die. With these ink-making treasures as my burial companions, I won’t have died in vain..."

"Haha, haven’t you realized yet? This is a False Repository, a False Repository... How truly satisfying... cough... cough..." The old madam coughed a few times before collapsing to the ground, slowly closing her eyes.

………………

Meanwhile, outside the Ink Repository, everyone saw thick smoke and flames seeping out from the cracks of the repository.

"Something’s wrong—there’s a fire inside the Ink Repository!" Luo Wenqian shouted, immediately ordering people to use all their strength to move the shrine.

"It’s useless. This shrine is made of a dragon-breaking stone. Once the mechanism is sealed, no one inside can get out, and no one outside can get in," a guard sighed.

"How could a fire start?" Li Dalang muttered to himself.

"This is a False Repository. There are oil troughs around the repository. The old madam must have sealed the repository and ignited the oil troughs. She was a woman of unwavering integrity all her life—she would never submit to the threats of these Japanese pirates, nor would she allow them to escape because of her. She chose to perish together with the pirates," Li Zhenniang said, tears streaming down her face.

Back then, when she saw the trough with some oil inside, she had asked the old madam about it, but the old madam had never answered.

Oh, Old Madam Li!!!!!!

In an instant, the flames soared to the heavens.