Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Er Gou’s expression and tone showed strong dissatisfaction, his words not yet finished, when a forty-something farmer interrupted, "You brat, what nonsense are you babbling?"

"Uncle, where was he when my mother died? Where has he been these years? Did that old bastard ever care whether we lived or died? My mother kept thinking of him even when she died..."

As the argument grew loud, many villagers came over at the sound.

"You little brat, say it again? Today I’ll break your legs!"

"Even if you break my legs today, Uncle, I must speak out. This is the truth. My father is a heartless man, betraying my mother,..." The youth known as Er Gou continued to shout.

The farmer behind him angrily grabbed a broom from the yard, raising it high to hit Er Gou, who instinctively dodged toward the correct direction but stopped when he came to his senses.

Smack!

The bamboo broom struck Er Gou, leaving welts, but he only grunted. The farmer raised his hand again, and the same reaction appeared. Su Mu squinted his eyes slightly.

"Sensitive perception... indeed, it’s a natural talent."

The farmer, seeing the boy silent and not dodging, seemed engulfed in rage, his broom aimed at Er Gou’s head. Su Mu raised his hand to intercept.

The farmer’s angry strike was caught in Su Mu’s palm, like wind meeting a mountain, unshakable.

"The dead are gone... The money has been delivered, I take my leave."

Su Mu let go of the money bag, and the farmer calmed down, fear settling in him, as Er Gou suddenly pursued and kneeled behind Su Mu, kowtowing earnestly.

"You must be a powerful Martial Artist. Please, sir, take me as your disciple. If you teach me Martial Arts, I, Zhao Xingzheng, will serve you as cattle and horse!"

"Seek another mentor instead; I do not take disciples."

With that, Su Mu strode away.

Zhao Xingzheng looked disappointed but quickly picked himself up, "Hmph, if you won’t take me, I’ll use this money to apprentice at the city’s Martial Arts Hall. Someday I’ll surpass my father, I’ll make something of myself... let him wait, I’ll make him answer for my mother!"

The youth called Er Gou said one thing right, but not entirely correct; the two had indeed met before, not in the village but under a tree outside it.

The son of Zhao Qing was evidently the boy Su Mu had encountered while seeking directions en route to deliver Yuan Wuming’s bounty to Changfeng County Town, when Su Mu already noticed Er Gou’s unusually sharp perception.

Er Gou had sensed extraordinary danger from Su Mu, stopping village children from approaching him. He later compared Su Mu to the ’Mountain Monarch’ in terms of danger.

In this world’s Jianghu, grudges are like adding fresh brew to a pot of aged wine, a complex mix hard to clearly distinguish.

Zhao Qing died by Su Mu’s hand, yet Su Mu fulfilled Zhao Qing’s last request by delivering the money bag to his son. It wasn’t that Zhao Qing was unwilling to return home; he was caught in the Changping Demon Dao’s mire, unable to escape.

Zhao Qing didn’t want to implicate his family. Judging by his naming of Zhao Xingzheng, Zhao Qing hoped his son would grow to be upright and do honorable deeds.

But upon hearing from Er Gou that his mother had died, Su Mu fully understood Zhao Qing’s relieved expression in his final moments.

Zhao Qing likely knew this already; he might have secretly returned to the village several times without revealing his identity, as suggested by the farmer’s reaction, implying he knew some hidden truths.

What confirmed everything for Su Mu was that Zhao Qing’s last request was to give the money bag to Er Gou, not to both mother and son, indicating Zhao Qing knew of the mother’s death. Zhao Qing’s last concern was the boy, Er Gou.

For this reason, Su Mu directly refused Er Gou’s request to become his disciple.

It wasn’t out of fear of Er Gou seeking revenge; Su Mu feared no one’s vendetta, but rather to conceal Zhao Qing’s identity as a Changping Demon Dao member, allowing him to live an ordinary life in the village without being drawn into it.

Er Gou was innocent.

As to why he did it this way, Su Mu didn’t linger on the subject; he had killed many, recognizing himself as not a good person, and acted only according to his conscience.

Having delivered the money bag, Su Mu crossed Changfeng County, arriving at the border of two counties at Yan Family Ridge, and ascended Great Mist Mountain alone.

Su Mu stopped before a straight Red Wood tree, its entire form dotted with light golden spots, reaching out to its trunk, as crimson and golden hues mingled.

In that instant.

The Red Wood simultaneously released heat and sharpness, the air swirling around, but the heat soon dissipated, seemingly sensing the familiar power within Su Mu, expressing a hint of friendliness.

Yet the sharpness among the golden spots intensified, appearing to strongly reject Su Mu’s approach.

Sizzle!

The golden spots on the Red Wood flared up, invisible blades like gusts of wind, slicing the snowflakes around Su Mu into powder.

Blood splattered suddenly.

Several blood streaks burst forth on Su Mu’s face; skin that even an Entry Level Eighth-Grade Treasure Saber could not cut was now sliced open by the Red Wood’s sharpness, with a lock of hair flying amidst the wind and snow.

"What sharpness!"

Instead of being upset, Su Mu was pleased. The greater the sharpness, the higher the potential of the Red Wood. But soon, Su Mu slowly loosened his grip, not because he couldn’t handle the Red Wood.

It’s because he noticed that the approximately seven-foot trunk of the Red Wood was adorned with tree patterns resembling the Fire Sparrow Pattern. Now there were seven lines, but the last line had yet to completely form.

This sight reminded Su Mu of the third Grade-Entering Artifact Pattern of the Crimson Flame Spear; he knew the Red Wood’s seventh pattern was about to fully take shape. When it did, this Red Wood would surely advance further.

If he took it now, all would be in vain.

Rationality told Su Mu that taking it now was the best choice, to prevent unforeseen circumstances later, but as a Blacksmith, he wanted to see the Red Wood advance to the Realm of Perfection.

Without the pursuit of forging better weapons, in Su Mu’s view, one is merely an ordinary blacksmith, not a Blacksmith.

"No rush... then I’ll wait a little longer."

Su Mu pondered for a moment; even if he took the Red Wood now, he wouldn’t have time to forge a Flying Sword, so he might as well wait a bit longer.

"Let’s first return to Qingshui Town."

...

After a great fire in Canghe County, the incidents at Changping Dao Manor had not yet reached Cyan Cloud, and Qingshui Town remained peaceful and quiet.

Crossing the bluestone road on Juren Street, Su Mu stopped outside the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall.

"My surname is Lin, please inform your master."

"Alright, wait here."

The disciple at the Martial Arts Hall door looked slightly impatient; ever since their hall won a match and became the top force in Qingshui Town, he had seen too many people trying to feign familiarity.

The situation had quieted down after the New Year, but unexpectedly another person came today.

Before long, this disciple arrived before Li Li, the Ninth-Grade Instructor of the Martial Arts Hall, who had won a match against the Cangying Gang and held a higher status than other Ninth-Grade Instructors.

However, Li Li’s expression changed drastically upon hearing about it, and he gripped the shoulder of this Martial Arts Hall disciple firmly.

"What, you said the person outside the Martial Arts Hall is around twenty years old and has the surname Lin?"

"That’s right, that person at first glance..."

"That person is not for you to criticize; shut your mouth!"

No sooner had he spoken, Li Li coldly interrupted, then hurriedly left. Moments later, this disciple was dumbfounded.

He saw the master, Li Lishi, after being in retreat for several days, leading all the instructors of the Martial Arts Hall to hastily greet the person outside.

"The surname Lin? Could it be... that Elder Lin!"

The Martial Arts Hall disciple realized this, his entire body soaked in cold sweat.

"Elder Lin, have you recovered?"

Seeing the proud and handsome figure standing outside, everyone at the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall was stunned, showing expressions of shock.

"Master Li, it’s been a while."

Su Mu slightly nodded, glanced at the people in front, and his eyes flickered. He noticed the absence of Qinghe, that girl, and his gaze immediately fell upon Li Lishi, sensing a trace of panic.

Now the leading force of Qingshui Town, the master of the Iron Fist Martial Arts Hall, Li Lishi, trembled after feeling Su Mu’s gaze, his mouth dry, he quickly spoke tremblingly.

"Elder Lin, please move for a discussion on this matter."

"Alright, I’ll give you a chance."

Li Lishi dared not meet Su Mu’s gaze; those deep eyes seemed to see right through him.

In the inner hall of the Martial Arts Hall, Su Mu sat in the main seat, but Li Lishi still did not bring Qinghe, instead placing three items on the table.

Two letters, one thick and one thin, and a Cyan Jade Pendant engraved with the word ’Qingzhou’.

...