Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

The two walked in the Cyan Fish Gang, one following the other to the Cyan Flood Dragon Hall martial arts field. With their arrival, eyes converged upon them, and the atmosphere on the field instantly boiled like water in a cauldron.

"It’s the Young Master! The Young Master!"

"The Young Master has finally emerged. I told you, how could mere river bandits harm the Young Master... Look at the Young Master’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit; there must be a significant breakthrough recently!"

Seeing ’Baili Feng’ finally appear, hundreds of elite disciples from the Baili Clan and Cyan Flood Dragon Hall felt assured, as if finding their backbone, instantly clearing the haze that had been oppressing their minds by Gongyang Jue’s faction. Each was exuberant with a mighty presence.

"The Second Miss... is also so beautiful, truly deserving to be among the top ten beauties of Donglai County!"

Hundreds of elite disciples of Cyan Flood Dragon Hall followed, like stars around the moon, with heads held high, full of dignity and escorted them towards the core of the Cyan Fish Gang, the Cyan Fish Grand Hall.

On the way to the grand hall, Baili Hongtang’s gaze intermittently fell on Su Mu in the front, but soon she realized that her worries were unfounded.

Su Mu was even calmer than her, walking with a majestic stride, making it hard for anyone to imagine that this person was just a newcomer who joined the gang three months ago.

The Cyan Fish Grand Hall is where the Cyan Fish Gang conducts rituals and discusses major gang affairs. The hall is not lavishly decorated, but it exudes an ancient grandeur and the weightiness and vicissitudes of age.

The beams, made from centuries-old ancient wood, are carved with grand illustrations of the founding ancestor conquering Donglai’s various docks and slaying the malevolent Demon Flood Dragon.

Winter has arrived, drawing close to the year’s end; the Cyan Fish Grand Hall is starting to be decorated with lanterns and streamers, adding some vitality to its gravitas.

"Young Master, Second Miss!"

As they led the Baili Clan members and Cyan Flood Dragon Hall disciples in, disciples from other halls, including the Law Enforcement Hall and the Alchemy Hall, rose to salute with cupped hands and bowed bodies.

Among them were solemnity and respect, but some showed signs of surprise and doubt, evidently, ’Baili Feng’s’ presence today caught some off guard.

"Hmm."

Su Mu calmly accepted this, nodding lightly, and directly strode towards the main hall.

The disciples who could attend the Cyan Fish Gang gathering today were all elite gang members, but these ordinary elite disciples only had the privilege to wait in the outer area.

Further in were the stewards and elders of the five major halls, but even these could only eavesdrop from the outer chamber.

Only those elders and Vice Hall Masters, Hall Masters, with high prestige within the gang were qualified to truly enter the inner chamber of the hall’s center area to sit and discuss.

Every step was strictly hierarchical, entering the hall’s inner chamber was a place many Cyan Fish Gang disciples could never reach in their lifetime.

"Young Master, Second Miss!"

In the inner chamber, most of the elders, Vice Hall Masters, and Hall Masters rose to greet them, saluting with cupped hands.

"Please be seated, everyone, no need to be formal."

Su Mu’s gaze scanned the inner chamber with slight dread in his heart, noticing that not all rose to greet them. About one-third remained motionless, only begrudgingly standing and saluting from a distance, then coldly casting glances.

This was a blatant show of intimidation!

Su Mu’s gaze passed the greeted Hall Masters and elders, quickly recognizing several familiar faces among them, including Zheng Qi, Liu Yuan, and others.

Leading them was a man with a smile on his lips, seated right of the three high-backed chairs at the top of the inner chamber, casting a lofty gaze in an overwatching manner.

This person also wore the Cyan Fish robe, the style slightly different from Su Mu’s, the color somewhat lighter. This man appeared about forty years old, with a handsome face, and was not particularly burly, but his eyes were sharp like a hawk, and he radiated an aura of commanding respect without anger.

"This must be Gongyang Jue!"

Su Mu’s expression remained unchanged, as if unaware of the actions of Gongyang Jue’s faction, and strode towards the high-backed chairs at the top of the inner chamber.

"Dear nephew... I heard you were inadvertently injured by the demons of Jiao Blood Gang while suppressing river bandits recently. Seeing you today, it seems you’ve recovered well, which has relieved our concerns greatly during this period."

"Our Cyan Fish Gang spans across the great rivers of Donglai; dear nephew, you must be cautious in the future."