[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":12,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},151687,261,"Chapter 1: Sacrifice","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>\"Giddyup~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the violently jolting carriage, Hua Changxi, whose hands and feet were bound, opened her eyes. After a moment of confusion, her expression turned to one of shock and fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been kidnapped!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the day Old Madam Hua was leading the Hua family women to Guangji Temple on the southern outskirts of the capital to pray for blessings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoyed at having to attend the temple's Dharma assembly, Hua Changxi had slipped away on her own, intending to check out the famous wishing tree in the back mountain of Guangji Temple. Unexpectedly, as soon as she reached the back mountain, her neck hurt, and then she fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had known something so unlucky would happen, even if she couldn't sit still, she would have stayed by her family's side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi suppressed her panic, forced herself to calm down, and quickly surveyed the interior of the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, there was nothing besides her. At this moment, her hands were tied behind her back, and her feet were also bound tightly, making even the slightest movement very difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang bang bang~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage jolted violently from the rapid speed, and the window kept making a clattering sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the constantly opening and closing window. Her eyes lit up. She twisted her body with effort, laboriously lifted her bound legs and rested them against the carriage wall, lying supine in the carriage in an L-shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, Hua Changxi extended her feet to the window, rubbing her right foot along the windowsill back and forth, scraping her shoe out of the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rested with her eyes closed for a while. Estimating that the carriage had traveled another five kilometers, Hua Changxi rubbed her foot again, scraping the other shoe off as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father was a constable of the Six Doors. Once the family discovered she was missing, they would definitely come looking for her. She hoped these two shoes could provide clues for her father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi thought for a moment, worried that two shoes might not be enough. She leaned against the carriage wall, struggling to bend and stand up, then used her tied hands to pull off the purse at her waist and threw the purse out the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoa~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the carriage slowing down, Hua Changxi quickly lay down, closed her eyes, and pretended not to have woken up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, with a \"creak,\" the carriage door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Hua Changxi felt herself being dragged out of the carriage by the kidnappers, gripping her arm like a dead dog, and then being carried over someone's shoulder like a sandbag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just to catch this one, we've wasted a considerable amount of time. Today is the final deadline. I was worried we wouldn't be able to deliver.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the conversation between the two kidnappers, Hua Changxi's heart instantly sank to rock bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had originally thought she was kidnapped at random, but unexpectedly, the kidnappers had come specifically for her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what was the reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Robbery for money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capital was full of wealthy merchants. The Hua family couldn't even afford a servant. Kidnapping her would yield no silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kidnapping for lust?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was only thirteen, her face not yet fully developed, and her body not mature. Even if sold to a brothel, she would need another two years of raising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be revenge from a family enemy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her father, as a constable of the Six Doors, often dealt with people from all walks of life, and during that time, he had certainly made enemies. This possibility was the most likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carried on someone's shoulder with her head hanging down, Hua Changxi assumed the two wouldn't pay attention to her, so she quickly opened her eyes to take a look at the place the kidnappers had brought her to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A broken-down temple, more than half collapsed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this the last one we have on hand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, the two kidnappers had already carried Hua Changxi into the broken temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Click~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scraping sound rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi quickly opened her eyes again to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw the other kidnapper standing in front of the broken statue in the center of the temple, holding a protrusion on the base with both hands and turning it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, the statue slowly moved aside, revealing an entrance to a tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kidnapper carried Hua Changxi and jumped down into the tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Underground, the tunnels crisscrossed, and there were many stone chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi tried hard to memorize the route they took, but unfortunately, being carried over someone's shoulder made her head congested and swollen, not only hindering her thinking but also severely limiting her vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had originally planned to remember the route for later escape, but now she couldn't even clearly see the conditions inside the tunnels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her upper abdomen pressed uncomfortably, Hua Changxi suddenly had an idea and let out a few retching sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the kidnapper dropped Hua Changxi to the ground with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's face twisted from the fall, but ignoring the pain, she retched a few more times, pretending to just wake up, and looked at the two kidnappers with a terrified expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good thing she didn't throw up on me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do we do now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're already underground. Are you afraid she might run away? Untie the rope on her feet and let her walk on her own.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kidnapper hesitated for a moment, then drew his blade and with a swift motion, cut the rope binding Hua Changxi's feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the kidnapper's adept movements, Hua Changxi's heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial artist!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person who abducted her was actually a martial artist!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get up now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kidnapper grabbed Hua Changxi and roughly shoved her forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being able to see the conditions inside the tunnel clearly, the further she went, the more shocked Hua Changxi became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The underground was extremely vast, like an underground city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she was facing a life-or-death crisis, she was still awestruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two kidnappers had occasionally exchanged words on the surface, but once underground, they remained completely silent throughout the journey, their expressions solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they continued deeper, the temperature in the air began to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, sweat beaded on the kidnappers' foreheads, and their clothes became soaked with perspiration, while Hua Changxi remained perfectly dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One kidnapper, seeing that Hua Changxi was unafraid of the underground heat, muttered, \"No wonder...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the words left his mouth, he immediately drew a warning from the other kidnapper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's expression flickered. The two kidnappers felt like they had stepped into a sauna underground, yet she hadn't broken a single sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinct told her that this abduction might not be the ordinary kind of revenge or retaliation she had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kidnappers had taken her, most likely because of her body's tolerance to heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the rest of the journey, the two kidnappers remained very silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After weaving through the underground for over half an hour, the kidnappers, drenched in sweat, opened a stone door and shoved Hua Changxi inside with force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scorching wave of heat hit her face. Hua Changxi stumbled and fell to the ground, struggling for a while before sitting up. When she saw the scene behind the stone door, she gaped in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the stone door was a wide stone platform, its surface engraved with complex patterns. The platform was surrounded on three sides by rolling, boiling lava, with the stone door behind her being the only exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she been brought to... a lava layer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What made Hua Changxi's pupils dilate even more was that dozens of boys and girls about her size were lying scattered across the stone platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hands and feet were bound; some lay down, some sat, some sobbed, and others lay motionless in despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi's heart turned cold. She guessed who had captured them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demonic monks!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or demonic Daoists!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she wasn't mistaken, this stone platform should be an altar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Kingdom of Great Jin saw a flourishing of Buddhism and Daoism, with the number of Daoists and monks surging. Once the base grew large, it was inevitable that degenerates would appear—evil monks and evil Daoists emerged in an endless stream. Almost every day, one heard reports of evil Daoists or evil monks stirring up trouble in this prefecture, that prefecture, or some county.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's father had once handled a case where an evil Daoist captured virgin boys and girls to cultivate evil arts. The altar and the virgin boys and girls described in that case were one hundred percent similar to her current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's heart sank to rock bottom. As far as she knew, whenever an evil monk or evil Daoist committed a crime, the captured victims had almost no chance of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could her father discover the shoe and purse she had dropped in time and come to rescue her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, she had only lived thirteen years. Could she be even shorter-lived than in her previous life? In her last life, although she had been on a 996 schedule, she had at least lived to twenty-eight, hadn't she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi suppressed her panic and began to look around, trying to find a chance to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, her feet could still move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced around the stone platform and finally spotted a rough protrusion on the stone wall next to the stone door. She immediately struggled to her feet, walked over to the protrusion, placed her bound hands against it, and began to rub the rope vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After rubbing for a while, she found that the protrusion was not sharp, and the rope would not break in a short time at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worried that someone would come soon, Hua Changxi turned her gaze to the others on the stone platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young gentleman, the rope on my hands is already looser. Help me bite it open. Once my hands are free, I'll untie you right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked the nearest youth for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth pointed at the more than ten people on the stone platform who were groaning in pain. \"They tried to escape just like you, but they were discovered by the patrol. Their hands and feet were all broken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi saw the miserable state of those people—their limbs were bent at unnatural angles. She was silent for a moment, then still said, \"I'm not afraid of being discovered. Just help me untie the rope first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth said, \"But I am.\" After that, he closed his eyes numbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned but said nothing. She then asked the next person for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, after asking several people in a row, no one paid her any attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi paused, scanning their expressions. These captured people seemed to have lost all desire to live; their faces were full of despair and numbness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Hua Changxi met a pair of calm, unruffled eyes. There was no despair in those eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a young lady about the same age as her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the young lady saw her looking, she closed her eyes immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had no time to wonder why that young lady was so composed despite being in danger. She only felt that this young lady should still have the will to live, so she quickly walked over: \"Young lady, can you help me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the young lady ignored her, acting as if she were asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi could only keep gently touching and shaking the young lady, repeatedly encouraging her not to give up hope of survival, and begging her to help and cooperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Hua Changxi's nagging like a chanting monk, the young lady opened her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young lady's expression was somewhat complicated. Before Hua Changxi could get a clear look, she heard the young lady tell her to turn around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's face lit up with joy, and she immediately complied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young lady was very effective; in no time, she helped Hua Changxi bite the rope free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as her hands were free, Hua Changxi moved to untie the young lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the young lady refused: \"I don't need your help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was stunned. Before she could ask further, someone nearby called out asking her for help untying them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young lady took the opportunity to say, \"Go help those who need it.\" After saying that, she closed her eyes and ignored Hua Changxi again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the young lady's oddness, Hua Changxi said nothing more. She quickly went to the person who had called for help and, while untying him, said, \"In a moment, you go help the others untie themselves. I'll look for the mechanism to get out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After untying that person, Hua Changxi headed straight for the stone door. She ran her hands inch by inch over the stone wall around the door, trying to find the switch to open it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, she found nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, a few people who had been freed also came over to help search for the mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi felt around the stone door several times. Seeing that finding the switch was hopeless, she began to walk around the stone platform, and even boldly stood at the edge of the platform to look down at the lava below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of stone carvings are those?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the outer edge of the stone platform were carved some patterns, shaped like birds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi could not see very clearly. She walked around several times, and although she still found nothing, she had figured out the structure of the stone platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Hua Changxi was growing more and more anxious, a noise came from the stone door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing someone was coming, Hua Changxi immediately lay down on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, her position happened to be in the center of the stone platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone door swung wide open, and an old man in a red robe walked in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few people who had untied themselves were not as quick as Hua Changxi; they failed to fall to the ground and feign unconsciousness in time and were caught red-handed by the red-robed old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams rang out. Hua Changxi couldn't help but crack open a slit of an eye and saw the red-robed old man holding a gleaming dagger, cutting one person's wrist after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those few people who had untied themselves were not broken in limbs, but were knocked unconscious by the red-robed old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cries of anguish rose one after another, and a thick smell of blood began to drift above the stone platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the blood flowed into the sunken grooves of the stone platform, it was pushed by an invisible force, rapidly converging toward the center of the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this, Hua Changxi noticed that the red-robed old man was cutting everyone's left wrist, so she secretly pressed several acupoints on her own left arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the red-robed old man came before Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had thought she could muddle through, but who knew that after her wrist was cut, a sharp pain came from the back of her head, and then she sank into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>",2550,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z","deepseek-v4-flash","e0ea5af382b9310cb11a202a5bf980d01e50cc7fb0e82d3e47d141c2128bfe52","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-2",null,547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]