While rumours were running wild, the principal protagonists were quietly enjoying a meal.
"Cousin, how long do we have to stay hidden? It's already been 3 years. Ai is becoming big, we can't stay in this hall forever and moreover I can't let us burden you anymore than this."
"Cousin, just for a little while more. Do not worry about this matter. We will soon be able to leave." Tian Shang replied.
Yue Shang sighed. Pampered from the day she was born. Married to her first love. Gave birth to a beautiful girl. Not only did her husband not dismissed her but he showered her with more love. Still, she never thought of herself as lucky. She always thought this was the normal course of things, that those were dues to her. Until that fateful day where the ground was dyed red with the blood of her husband's family. When she woke up in that dimly lit hall, she panicked. She was sure she was in hell. Her husband was not by her side, her daughter was crying and wailing. She really did not know what to do, so she stayed prostrated there for a long while trying to process all that happened.
When her daughter fell asleep from crying, she was still in that state where she wasn't able to pay attention to reality. Only when she saw her cousin-in-law's face did the horrible sunk in her. She came back to herself and started to crying. Small tears that morphed into rivers. She was just a woman with no strength. Her baby was still young. How would she survive? She could try to rely on her maiden family but she would be at risk to bring this calamity forth to her parents. She was unwilling. Where would they live? But then Bo came forward.
"Cousin, we are family. You are not alone. We are together in this. I will do my all to protect you and Ai. Do not worry." Tian said very solemnly. She could only believe and put her faith and her daughter's in his hand.
3 years. They had lived in this ancestral hall for 3 years. Even though, she could go out, she was always anxious she would be found out and would blow their cover. She couldn't wait to leave this kingdom and start anew.
Both Tian and her had to work hard during those 3 years in order to survive. Disguising as beggars, they would go beg for foods. At night, they would go and steal from the fields around. Sometimes Bo would go and offer his help to neighboring estate and earn some coins or bolts of fabrics. With his face full of dirt, he was no longer recognizable. The only joy in this bleak life that she had was her daughter. Despite the hardships, her daughter had a sunny disposition and was growing up happily.
Because they were still wanted, they decide to groom her as a boy since the enemy was looking for a girl. Dressing her up and having her cousin-in-law teaching her martial arts and sword play was all so she could protect herself. Still Yue Shang did not want her daughter to grow up ignorant of the 4 arts. So she supplemented with lessons on calligraphy, painting, chess and qin. Though her daughter was talented, she could clearly see this daughter of hers was more interested in learning about martial arts and swords than those 4 arts.
After their meal, Bo Shang brought the young Ai outside for their regular martial arts practice. He was now teaching her the lightning steps.
"Not good enough. Again" Tian Shang was very strict with her. She was the sole heir of the Shang family, she needed to be strong enough to fend her ennemies.
"Ok uncle!" said Ai enthusiastically. She loved learning martial arts and practicing with her uncle so no matter how strict he was with her she was enjoying it.
After mastering the first set in the lightning steps they went into sword play. Each one of the blow that Bo Shang was hurting Ai. Before long, her whole body was bruised, the moon had already risen but her will was still strong.
"Again Uncle! Let's continue."
"Enough for today. Let's not overdo it."
As they were about to go back to the hall, they heard scuffles of branches and some voices approaching. Tian Shang quickly took Ai in his arms and jumped high in the branches of a tree nearby.
"Are you scared? They say the ghosts of the Shang family will claim the lives of whoever trespass this domain. If you are scared, we can return" said a young boy of 6 or 7 yrs old. He was walking with other boys of his age. Despite his arrogant voice, it could clearly be seen on his face he was as scared as all the other boys. He was well dress in silk, probably from a noble family, definitely the leader of this group.
"Who's scared? I am not. Your mother is the scaredy cat!" Said a proud little boy. This one was being dragged by 2 boys bigger and older than him, one on each side. Though he wasn't as well dressed, he had noble disposition and a handsome face.
The noble boy got angry and punched him in the stomach. The handsome boy's face frowned in pain but his eyes stayed fierce.
"My mother is noble, you are just a bastard! Hit him more!" He ordered the other boys around.
"Young master, if he is hurt, your father will scold you!" said one of the little boys.
"I am not a bastard!" The handsome boy was now struggling very hard.
As they were about to kick him, they heard a howling in the night and some screams and wailing.
"Whooooo dare disturb the Shang's family final resting place?"
The little boys scared out of their wits, just left the handsome boy and started running away, afraid they would die if they were to stay.
"Ai, stay here, Uncle will come back really" Bo Shang whispered to the young girl, quietly laid her on one of the branches.
"Ai will listen to Uncle and not move."
Once Tian Shang was sure Ai was safely nested on the tree. He quickly put a devil mask on his head and headed down to where the young boy was.
When the young boy saw the scary red face, he didn't blink an eye, he just stayed still.
"If you kill me, my father will hunt you down. He is the leader of the Jianghu Alliance!"
Tian Shang said nothing but just kept approaching the boy. As he got closer, he could notice the young boy trembling body which contrasted a lot with the confident tone he was using.
"What a fine young boy. Such a pity we met in these circumstances." Tian Shang thought.
He swiftly hit the young boy, took him in his arms and went to bring him to the Jianghu Alliance building. The Capital city was in alert, thus it was not an easy task to bring him back to his family.