Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Yan Xiaolan's expression was filled with sorrow as she spoke through gritted teeth.

"I have discovered the stronghold of these demon people. I want to request the senior to help slaughter them all... Even if we can't, we must make them pay the heaviest price. If the senior assists me, the remaining Fire Sparrow blood will be yours. You can even take my life if you want!"

"I want to know where the Yan Family got the Fire Sparrow blood from?"

Upon hearing this, a look of reminiscence flashed in Yan Xiaolan's eyes as she slowly recounted, "Years ago, I was kidnapped by a thief to Great Mist Mountain. Later, I was rescued by a righteous hero. There is a Mountain Lord Temple in Great Mist Mountain, and I often went there to burn incense thereafter."

"Once, by chance, while burning incense, I heard some strange noises behind the Mountain Lord Temple. When I went out to look, I found a string of beast footprints in the snow. Out of curiosity, I followed the footprints deep into Great Mist Mountain, where I eventually found a concealed cave with a gigantic Fire Sparrow carcass. The Fire Sparrow's wingspan must have been four or five zhang in size, and its body bore bite marks from battles with other demon beasts. Despite being dead for many years, its feathers still blazed like flames."

"Perhaps the news of the Fire Sparrow carcass leaked and attracted the attention of the Changping Dao demons. My Yan Family was massacred. That night, my younger brother and I were outside and didn't return home, thus preserving our lives."

"Afterward, my brother and I began to dilute the demon blood in the Fire Sparrow's body with mountain spring water and consume it. Over the years, we both advanced to the Seventh-Grade Yijin, but were unable to break through to the Sixth Grade. My brother decided to go down the mountain for revenge..."

At this point, Yan Xiaolan paused and did not continue, then changed the subject, "Please be assured, Senior. Although we've consumed some of the demon blood over the years, there is still plenty left in the Fire Sparrow's body. As long as you help me seek revenge, all the remaining Fire Sparrow blood will be yours!"

Yan Xiaolan recounted the whole incident.

Su Mu sighed inwardly after hearing the story: "An innocent person gets killed for their treasure!"

However, Su Mu believed that it was unlikely the Fire Sparrow carcass alone led to the massacre of the Yan Family; otherwise, the Changping Dao would have dispatched people to take over the Fire Sparrow carcass. There would be no opportunity for the siblings to consume the demon blood.

"It's rumored that the Yan Family at Yan Family Ridge was once one of the Five Great Powers of Cyan Cloud, but later they fell into decline. It seems there are other secrets within the Yan Family, which caught the attention of the Changping Dao demons."

As for what happened afterward, even without Yan Xiaolan saying, Su Mu understood clearly. Her younger brother did not return after going down the mountain, so Yan Xiaolan also went down and encountered the pursuit of the Changping Dao demons.

Furthermore, Su Mu knew the reason why Yan Xiaolan couldn't break through to the Sixth Grade as she mentioned, as breaking into the Middle Third Grade realm requires the corresponding Martial Arts Technique, not just brute force.

Yet even so, one could glimpse the Fire Sparrow's power. The siblings only relied on diluting the demon blood with mountain spring water, and in less than four years, rapidly advanced in Martial Dao, both reaching the Seventh Grade.

"Breaking three grades in three years, if the diluted Fire Sparrow blood is so strong, then how powerful must the undiluted Fire Sparrow blood be, and how powerful was the Fire Sparrow in life?"

At the same time, Su Mu also noticed Yan Xiaolan mentioned the Fire Sparrow had bite marks on its body. The demon beast it fought against must have been formidable, and whether it was still alive?

"Senior, I've found out over these years. The leader who massacred my Yan Family is named 'Gongsun Xin,' an Incense Master of Changping Dao in Canghe County. He is also the nephew of Zhao Pingyuan, the Demon Slayer Director of Canghe County."

Yan Xiaolan gritted her teeth and named the person she wanted to kill.

Changping Dao Incense Master Gongsun Xin, nephew of Canghe County Demon Slayer Director Zhao Pingyuan!

This is collusion between officials and criminals!

On his wheelchair, Su Mu's gaze flickered; the situation became complicated and thorny. Such hidden truths existed, and it's no wonder there were not many rumors after the Yan Family's massacre, as Zhao Pingyuan likely suppressed the news from behind.

Not to mention that his meridians were not reattached for the moment; Gongsun Xin was backed not only by the Changping Demon Dao but also by the Demon Slayer Bureau of Canghe County. Killing him might be more severe than killing the Protector of the Black Mountain Army, and would inevitably draw attention from both sides.

Seeming to guess Su Mu's concerns, Yan Xiaolan spoke solemnly, "Senior need not worry about anything else. If this matter succeeds, you can put all the blame on me. I will take full responsibility, just a mere death it is. I'll give up anything as long as I can exact revenge!"

Hearing this, Su Mu glanced at Yan Xiaolan, admiring her courage. If a mere woman could do so, what would Su Mu fear?

If the Three Counties made him tread carefully, how could he, Su Mu, ever step out of Qingzhou or even head to the Central Province Imperial City to bring back the Little Doctor from the Huo Family in the future?!

"As you can see, my old wounds haven't healed, and I need the Fire Sparrow blood for recovery... If you want my help, you must first obtain the Fire Sparrow blood."

After speaking, Su Mu gave Yan Xiaolan time to consider, but Yan Xiaolan did not hesitate much before gritting her teeth and agreeing.

"Alright, I will take the senior to get the Fire Sparrow blood now!"

...