Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

In the letter, Qinghe described with great pride the surprised expression on Liu Zhengyuan’s face upon seeing those verses, and how he chanted them repeatedly with rapturous admiration.

"Qinghe will never forget Mr. Li’s great kindness... Disciple Qinghe stays."

Su Mu finished reading with a smile on his lips, and there was a hint of peculiarity in his expression.

It seems that I am the instigator, as it was the verses I taught Qinghe that caught Liu Zhengyuan’s attention. Perhaps this is how Liu Zhengyuan gradually discovered Qinghe’s extraordinary nature.

After all, both Li Lishi’s words and Qinghe herself mentioned that Liu Zhengyuan taught Qinghe in the private school for nearly three months before taking her away.

As for why Qinghe had to leave, Su Mu understood. The letters reveal one’s character, and Qinghe’s words imply ambition.

Moreover, water flows downhill, and people strive upwards.

Meeting Liu Zhengyuan was Qinghe’s chance, and she seized it well. Su Mu’s heart was not narrow, nor would he be angered by such matters; everyone has their own path in life to follow.

Su Mu is like this; Qinghe is the same.

Closing Qinghe’s handwritten letter, Su Mu looked curiously at another letter on the table, a letter left by Qinghe, likely the one with Liu Zhengyuan from Qingzhou Academy.

What might this Confucian Cultivator from Qingzhou Academy leave for me? An invitation?

Su Mu tore open the envelope and took out the thin sheet of paper inside. On the large sheet, there was only one word.

"Right?"

Upon seeing this upright ’Right’, Su Mu’s eyes instantly brightened, and his breath became rapid. He keenly sensed the unusualness in this word, as if it contained profound reasoning and power.

This was an entirely new power, indescribable, unseen before by Su Mu.

As his fingertips touched it, a trace of golden light flowed from the ’Right’ into his brow, and suddenly Su Mu felt a resounding, righteous voice booming in his mind.

Instantly, Su Mu’s spirits refreshed, his mind clear and bright. This power flowed through his body, even momentarily suppressing the Gu Insect under his heart, making it feel as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Good word!"

Su Mu’s eyes shone with brilliance, and this ’Right’ indeed seemed to contain a wondrous rule, as if Liu Zhengyuan infused reasoning about ’Right’ into the ink and wrote it down.

However, after careful examination, Su Mu faintly felt that this ’Right’ was somewhat incomplete; the shape was complete, but the reasoning and rules within were incomplete, still missing.

Additionally, when Su Mu narrowed his eyes, he vaguely detected that this rule’s power was somewhat similar to the Power of Fortune, yet not entirely the same.

"Confucian Cultivators enter the world to help it, and the stronger the Dynasty’s fortune, the stronger the Confucian lineage; this then is the Confucian Cultivation Method... Indeed, it is entirely different from Daoist Cultivation and greatly distinct from the Buddhist Sect."

"What spectacle would a Confucian Cultivator’s battle be like?"

Su Mu’s eyes suddenly showed fervor, anticipating this. He had never seen a battle of scholars in this world.

His thoughts spun quickly, realizing Liu Zhengyuan’s cultivation was probably not low, indeed a Confucian Cultivator of high standing.

Su Mu carefully folded and stored this ’Right’, though he knew little about the Confucian Cultivation Method, he was well aware of the extreme value of this ’Right’.

Liu Zhengyuan might be compensating for taking Qinghe from his side by presenting him with such a gift.

Su Mu didn’t expect Qinghe to encounter an opportunity, even bringing him benefits.

An old saying goes: ’Proximity to cinnabar makes one red, proximity to ink makes one black.’

Building relationships with those who carry fortune is never a loss. Qinghe is like this, and Zen Heart is too; even the beggar selling poetry at the Shuangbai Poetry Gathering might benefit him someday.

"Qingzhou Academy, huh... I, Su Mu, will go."

A lecturer from Qingzhou Academy already had such a cultivation realm; the heavenly land of Ancient Qingzhou would certainly further his power, making Su Mu even more expectant of Qingzhou.

"But before that, I must resolve the matters of Cyan Cloud... It’s time to return to Qingyun City."

"Can Li Zhihe obtain a Sixth-Grade Technique for me?"

...

Last year’s New Spring arrived later than usual, entering the sunny spring March right after the first month.

At this time, the wind and snow of Cyan Cloud had not completely dissipated, but signs of thriving grass and flycatchers were appearing, marking the beginning of the busy farming season.

Fields and paths were filled with farmers wearing rice hats and conical hats, and after the snow melted, more and more ox carts headed to Qingyun City.

Months had passed since the Rice Hat Wanderer last saw the silhouette of Qingyun City lying in the snowy landscape, feeling briefly as if in a different world.

The Rice Hat Wanderer pulled out a Wolf Head Silver Order to bypass the long line of people entering the city, catching the eyes of the Cyan Cloud Army guarding the city, with one person quickly and oddly turning back into the city. Su Mu remained indifferent, strolling into Qingyun City.

Su Mu followed the dense sound of iron being forged to Golden Iron Long Street, where the blacksmith shops along the entire street had lit their fires again, except for the Forging Workshop, whose doors remained shut, giving off a desolate impression.

"Don’t worry, I’ll bring the three master craftsmen back."

Su Mu naturally understood the reason for this, and after glancing from afar down the alley, he didn’t show up but turned and left.

Qinghe has now been taken to Qingzhou Academy by Liu Zhengyuan, so there’s no need for Uncle Wu to watch over her anymore. He needs to confront the Black Mountain Army directly in his next move, so it’s unwise to reveal his presence now.

Having looked over the Forging Workshop, Su Mu traversed the all-too-familiar alleys, and after rounding a corner, arrived at Wine Dust Lane.

After the winter snow passed, the Cyan Bamboo in the small courtyard of Yunhe Clinic has become green again.

Su Mu quietly leaped into the clinic and took off his conical hat.

The clinic had been closed for months, with no one to clean or walk on the bluestone path, corners have moss growing.

"Pharmacist, this lad has recovered and came to see you... the Pharmacist loves wine, but I bet you haven’t tried this Sparrow Blood Wine before, today I’ve especially brought it for you to taste..."

After spilling and sipping half a pot of wine, Su Mu stood up and put on the conical hat again, his face quietly transformed here from hiding the true appearance, into that of assassin Li Feiyu.

"Boss, I’ll have a bowl of fried egg noodles, add extra scallions."

"Sure, please wait for a moment, guest."

Su Mu sat down at a noodle stall in the market and ordered a bowl of fried egg noodles. As he was about to finish eating, a plump figure approached, panting, and sat directly opposite.

"These fried egg noodles look good, bring me a bowl too, add two taels of noodles."

"Alright."

The noodle stall owner lifted the hot pot to cook noodles, steam rose, and the plump figure rubbed his hands, lowered his voice and spoke.

"Hero Li, at last, you’ve shown yourself."

This figure was none other than the shopkeeper of Black Heart Pharmacy, Zhang Ping.

"It’s been a while, I hope you’ve been well, shopkeeper."

"Hero Li truly is elusive... these past months many forces across Three Counties have been inquiring about your whereabouts, and Black Mountain Army has also sent quite a few people asking around, several spies have come one after another... Director Li wants to meet you as soon as possible, please conceal your identity when you go, remember."

Conceal my identity?

Upon hearing the words, Su Mu had doubts in his heart but didn’t inquire, instead he leisurely finished the broth from the bowl, leaving a few copper coins.

"Boss, the bill."

Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau, deep in the study.

Li Zhihe was pacing back and forth non-stop in the study; these past months Li Feiyu seemed to have vanished into thin air from Cyan Cloud, today Li Feiyu finally showed himself.

At this moment, a junior official outside shouted aloud.

"Director, someone outside requests to see you."

A few moments after the words fell, Li Zhihe calmly pushed open the door and stepped out; beyond the study’s small courtyard, amidst fine snow, an ordinary-looking man calmly walked in.

"So you’re the one here for the assassin assessment? Come with me." Li Zhihe seemed to casually glance at the newcomer before speaking, his gaze swept past the junior official, "You leave first, remember I don’t want today’s matter to be heard, I’ve seen no one today."

"Yes, sir, understood."

Upon hearing this, the junior official’s face changed slightly, hastily complied and withdrew.

In the study, Li Zhihe scrutinized Su Mu with piercing eyes, seemingly hesitant to confirm; Su Mu took off the conical hat, and as the hat obscured his face, he deliberately wiped his face with his hand, instantly restoring the cold, stern appearance of Li Feiyu.

"Mr. Li, your disguise technique is truly masterful."

"Just a trivial skill."

After confirming Su Mu’s identity, Li Zhihe spoke in a deep voice, "Mr. Li, given our relationship, I won’t beat around the bush... now there are two pieces of news, one good and one bad, which one would Mr. Li like to hear first?"

"Bad news."

Without hesitation Su Mu spoke directly, then Li Zhihe’s expression turned somewhat serious as he retrieved a secret letter from the Demon Slayer Bureau from his sleeve and handed it over.

Su Mu reached out to take the secret letter, glanced at the seal on it, discovering it was surprisingly from the Canghe Demon Slayer Bureau.

"Mr. Li, something has happened."