The Li Household.

Li Pingfu and Li Ping'an were shocked to see Li Rongzhou and Li Pingcan returning home covered in grass stains and mud. Lady Qin rushed to Li Pingcan's side, her heart aching as she examined the red scratch visible through the torn sleeve of his cotton shirt. "Does it hurt?"

"Mother, I'm fine."

Li Pingcan hadn't even noticed when he'd injured his arm—probably scraped by branches while evading the salamander carp. Given another half hour, the scratch would have scabbed over. Lady Qin assumed her sensible youngest son was trying not to worry her. She turned to her husband with narrowed eyes. "Li Rongzhou!"

Li Rongzhou's heart skipped a beat. Though his wife was usually gentle as water, hearing his full name meant serious trouble! Thinking quickly to interrupt her brewing anger, he loudly declared, "Dear wife, Can'er and I discovered a valuable medicinal ingredient worth twenty to thirty taels of silver!"

Lady Qin shot him a glare. "So that's why Can'er got hurt?"

Rubbing his hands awkwardly, Li Rongzhou was about to offer excuses when Lady Qin sighed. "I'll apply medicinal wine to Can'er's wound. You all go ahead and eat." Her tone carried unexpected melancholy.

The three brothers exchanged puzzled glances. While their youngest brother's injury was minor, it was strange to see their usually gentle mother so angry with their father.

............

"Ouch!"

Li Pingcan grimaced, his face contorting momentarily. The medicinal wine disinfecting his wound burned fiercely. Normally he'd complain, but seeing his mother's stern expression, he bore it quietly.

"Mother, don't be angry with father. It was my own carelessness," he said meekly.

"Blow on it to make the pain fly away," Lady Qin whispered, gently blowing on the wound until Li Pingcan giggled from the ticklish sensation. Seeing her son's innocent smile melted her heart, and she hugged him tightly, planting kisses on his cheeks. "I'm not angry with your father—I just can't bear to see you hurt."

Her youngest had suffered hardships since birth, never experiencing the comfortable life of a wealthy landlord's son. Guilt made her dote on him excessively until age four. But boys shouldn't be raised solely by women's hands. When Li Pingcan began martial training, Lady Qin realized he would eventually grow up and leave her. Torn between wanting him to succeed and fearing his hardships, she'd reacted fiercely when Li Rongzhou failed to protect him properly. These conflicted maternal feelings, filled with worry and sorrow, were too personal to explain.

............

After dinner.

Having explained the salamander carp incident, Li Rongzhou secretly watched for his wife's reaction. Surprisingly, Lady Qin—who normally opposed dangerous activities—remained silent.

"Salamander carp?" Li Pingfu grew interested. "Master Zhou mentioned consuming them greatly enhances flesh and blood power—more effective than Blood Qi herbs." While medicines carried toxicity risks, food-based supplements didn't. The Purple-Gold Blood Centipede's venom paste had similar usage limitations as poison.

Li Ping'an angrily added, "That fish nearly hurt little brother. Not avenging this would be unworthy! We must eliminate it to clear our minds." After thinking, he suggested, "We could coat blades with anesthetic. Piercing its scales would slow it down."

Li Rongzhou nodded. "Ping'an has a good plan. Luring it ashore would let Pingfu and I flank it easily. Even if dragged underwater, the Breath of the Tree technique allows extended breath-holding."

"I can help too!" Li Pingcan quickly offered, his Thorn Whip being somewhat effective against the creature.

As they discussed details, Lady Qin listened carefully, only relaxing after confirming minimal danger—though worry still lingered between her brows.

............

Next morning at Gourd River.

Suspicious figures dug pits along the bank, filling them with sharpened bamboo spears glistening with black liquid—enough anesthetic to knock out a wild bull.

After completing preparations, Li Rongzhou and Li Pingfu appeared as bait pretending to fish, while non-combatant Li Ping'an observed. Li Pingcan assisted by activating [Earth Pulse Sense]—vibrations and sounds traveling through soil and water would detect any approaching salamander carp.

Beneath the swirling currents, a powerful ripple shot toward shore with clear intent.

Li Pingcan's heart pounded. "Father! Elder brother! It's coming!"

Li Rongzhou immediately grabbed his iron spear. "Stick to the plan—I'll take left, you right! Lure it toward the trap!"

"Understood!"

As Li Pingfu responded, a massive black carp erupted from the water, chasing and snapping at them with razor-sharp teeth that nearly caught his clothes. Retreating toward the trap, he was shocked to see the creature flopping ashore in pursuit—unlike normal fish, it moved aggressively on land, tail slapping and jaws snapping violently.

No wonder they say "a carp's struggle is fierce!"

"Into the trap! Now!"

Crash!

The dried grass covering collapsed under the carp's weight, bamboo spears piercing through scales into flesh. The enraged creature thrashed wildly, its tail kicking up dust clouds. Li Pingcan summoned thorny vines to seal the trap's exit, though many snapped under the violent thrashing.

The massive anesthetic dose proved effective—the carp's furious eyes gradually glazed over as its tail drooped limply, mucus dripping from fins.

Ever cautious, Li Rongzhou delivered a finishing spear thrust to its head, blood immediately gushing out.

"Whew." Li Pingfu exhaled. Unlike village brawls, this creature's sheer wildness—especially that terrifying shadow when it leaped—had been overwhelming. 'That pressure... pure killing intent only battle-hardened beasts possess.' Martial arts cultivated both body and spirit; understanding such ferocity could strengthen one's martial heart.

His contemplation shattered when Li Pingcan screamed, "Elder brother! Run!"

Run?

Before Li Pingfu could react—too late!

Splash!

A towering wave crashed ashore, water curtains rising skyward to reveal an enormous silhouette whose shadow completely engulfed him. Gripping his dagger tightly, he barely registered the white surge before the waters receded—leaving Gourd River's bank devoid of Li Pingfu's presence!