Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

In Tao Han’s ears, the echoes of his father’s instructions before the grand competition reverberated once more. Thinking of his father’s past concern and regard for the Fourth Brother drop by drop, his face twisted and distorted beyond measure.

"Damn it, damn it... Damn Tao Xinglie, he’s just so good, worthy of your regard!"

Like a trapped beast, Tao Han’s low growls emerged word by word.

In an instant, the guards who heard these words froze, shivering uncontrollably, as these words were like a thunderous explosion they were not meant to hear, making them feel that their lives were nearing an end.

Time passed, causing the guards to be drenched in cold sweat, as each day felt like a year.

Finally, footsteps outside the desolate temple shattered the oppressive silence.

"Young master, there, there is news..."

"Speak."

"It seems something happened at the grand competition... I, I heard the steward say the Fourth Young Master seems to have encountered trouble..."

"What, the Fourth Young Master encountered trouble?!"

At this moment, even the guard who revealed the news felt the information was unreal. The other guards murmured, equally in disbelief.

Only Tao Xinglie, whose face was shrouded in shadow on the wheelchair, suddenly had his twisted expression freeze, then quickly relax, as his lips curved into an extremely pleasant smile.

"Good, good, good!"

"Hahaha, the Fourth Brother encountered trouble at the grand competition?" Tao Han burst into manic laughter, then suddenly ceased smiling. His gaze fell on the girl tied to the pillar not far away, a mix of affection and uncontrollable lecherousness.

After all, this was not the first time he had indulged in such deeds.

"This girl must be someone sent by heaven to assist me, Tao Han. All of you, leave... I will certainly cherish her well."

...

"The desolate temple... it’s right ahead."

Just then, a ragged old beggar staggered by, his lips smeared with blood as he passed by.

"Don’t go, a formidable person has arrived at the desolate temple, best not to approach."

"Alright."

Though the man responded, his steps did not halt. Watching the man ignore the warning and continue toward the desolate temple, the old beggar could only sigh.

Preoccupied with his own troubles, as rain seemed imminent, with no place to seek shelter, he couldn’t afford to concern himself with others’ lives.

As he turned to leave, suddenly a clear sound rang from within his clothes.

It seemed like the sound of metal pieces colliding, and the old beggar felt something weighing down the inside of his clothes. He paused, reaching inside, only to be startled.

He unexpectedly touched two hefty silver ingots.

"This, this..."

The old beggar swiftly turned his head, finding the alley void of the man’s presence, as if nothing had transpired, and he realized the person just now was far from ordinary.

"Boom—!"

From the dark clouds above, a silver snake churned, releasing a deep thunderous sound, pulling the old beggar’s thoughts back. He muttered words of gratitude for the benefactor, knelt in the direction the man left, bowed three times, and hurried away.

The dilapidated blue wall was barely recognizable as a place once flourishing with incense, now before him stood a sizable temple.

The last ray of sunlight from the sky fell upon the man, casting a long shadow beneath his feet.

Soon.

The shadow was gone, rain began to fall lightly, and the man’s figure faded like a mirage.

"Young master, young master!"

Just stepping out from the desolate temple, a guard cried out in alarm, before rushing back inside.

Within the desolate temple, a hand pinched the drowsy girl’s chin, having just found interest in taking out a bottle of pink pills to swallow with a lewd smile, when suddenly the sight of a subordinate rushing in made his face contort with a chilling and icy gaze.

The guard swallowed hard, yet boldly refused to retreat.

"Family token’s message... it’s, it’s a message from the Patriarch!"

Buzz—!

Like a sudden drench of cold water, Tao Han instantly sobered, the madness and wrath in his eyes restored to clarity.

"Get out, all of you get out!"

Tao Han growled for the guards to leave, and soon the desolate temple was empty, with Tao Han taking the trembling token engraved with Tao character.

Breathing deeply several times.

Tao Han sat back in the wheelchair, infusing a wisp of spiritual power and spiritual Qi into the token, stepping out of the desolate temple, the guards standing in the rain quickly heard an enthusiastic and flattering voice.

"Father... you, you were looking for me?"

Tao Han, through the token, displayed immense respect, and Tao Yang’s voice came from the other side of the token.

"What?!"

On the wheelchair, Tao Han suddenly stood up, his pupils contracted and eyes widened, his face filled with extreme shock.

"The Fourth Brother is in trouble... Second Uncle is dead?!"

From the token, hearing Tao Han’s trembling voice, there was a moment of silence.

"That villain won’t get away, the Second Ancestor has taken action... Han’Er, stay well in the Tao Family..."

At the end of the message, Tao Yang, after a long silence, spoke a word of concern.

Tao Han’s side was in a daze, as the message concluded, his respectful expression instantly dissipated, replaced by three parts shock and seven parts ecstasy.

The oldest brother aspires to the path of cultivation, the third brother is dead, and Tao Jidong, the Second Uncle, has always been the Fourth Brother’s backing. Now the Fourth Brother is in trouble, and Tao Jidong, the Law Enforcement Hall Master, is also dead.

Although Father didn’t clarify the conditions of the Fourth Brother, precisely because of this, it indicates the Fourth Brother’s situation is indeed severe, and he might never recover.

Isn’t this the perfect opportunity for Tao Han to rise and gain attention?!

"Ahahaha—, Heaven assists me, even the damned heavens are aiding me!"

As the words fell.

Outside the temple came a sudden thunderous roar, silver serpents danced wildly, and the drizzle swiftly became torrential rain.

At that moment, the just closed desolate temple door creaked open from the outside, and a tall figure stepped inside.

"Get out, who let you in!"

"You bunch of deaf sycophants!"