Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Gongyang Jue spoke with a face full of smiles, his manner so convincing one might mistakenly believe he was a concerned elder showing care for juniors.

As his words fell, the originally lively Cyan Fish Hall inner chamber suddenly quieted down, contrasting sharply with the outer chamber, and the atmosphere on the scene began to turn oppressive, like the calm before a storm.

Those who could stand here at this moment were not ordinary people, at least not foolish ones. Anyone could see that the struggle between Gongyang Jue’s faction and Baili Gang Leader’s faction had officially begun.

Although Gang Leader Baili Hong had extremely high prestige within the gang, he had been in seclusion for many years and had not appeared in public. The Young Master had also not appeared for nearly half a year, and even if he were to exit seclusion now, it would be difficult to directly intimidate everyone unless his father Baili Hong personally showed up.

The Cyan Fish Gang’s power had quietly been occupied by Vice Gang Leader Gongyang Jue’s faction during this time, and now there were signs of them trying to overpower the Gang Leader’s faction.

As for the neutral factions, they all fell silent and refrained from easily picking sides as Gongyang Jue spoke directly.

Regarding the ’Baili Feng’ on the scene, previously Gongyang Jue’s faction had sent Zhang Ying to threaten and chase him, making Su Mu their enemy, and one certainly couldn’t show mercy to enemies.

However, at this moment, Su Mu did not display much emotional fluctuation, as he wasn’t the real Young Master.

Under Baili Hongtang’s slightly worried gaze, Su Mu merely glanced faintly at Gongyang Jue on the right before stepping down again.

"A greenhouse cannot nurture truly powerful martial artists. The Cyan Fish Gang suppresses river bandits and establishes the gang through martial arts; as the Young Master of Cyan Fish Gang, it is my duty to suppress river bandits, so a mere skin wound is not worth mentioning."

After speaking, Su Mu strode vigorously over to the large chair carved with a giant blue fish on the left and sat down with great prestige, while Baili Hongtang’s eyes shone brightly as she gracefully sat on the large chair beside him on the left.

"I am aware of the recent happenings within the gang..." Su Mu calmly said with a practiced, majestic voice, "I know all your efforts for the Cyan Fish Gang. The year-end is approaching, so we won’t discuss gang trivialities today, let’s just eat meat and drink wine heartily, not stopping until we’re drunk tonight."

"Hahaha, the Young Master is right, I’ll drink as a tribute first!"

"Let’s toast together!"

"Come, let’s drink and feast!"

In the hall, people from Baili’s faction and neutral factions raised their glasses, and the previously oppressive atmosphere of the inner chamber dissipated, with the liveliness returning, as everyone sat down to eat and drink heartily.

After Su Mu’s words, he directly picked up the wine bowl on the table and gulped down three consecutive bowls, wiped his mouth, and grabbed a lamb leg to tear into it heartily, naturally displaying a bold, unrestrained character.

Everyone watched Su Mu’s every move, and the hall masters and elders all nodded quietly, putting an end to their original doubts.

Who else could the bold person on the left seat be, if not the Young Master of their Cyan Fish Gang?

"Damn it, could the information be wrong?"

"No...The information I received earlier indicated that recently Baili Feng nearly charged into the Jiao Blood Gang’s lair by mistake, and was surrounded by the eighth-ranked River Bandit Blood Tiger Sikong Li and the thirteenth-ranked Broken Soul Arrow Quan Feng of Donglai’s thirteen major river bandits. In that battle, Baili Feng’s men suffered heavy losses, with only about ten of hundreds breaking through together, and the heavy injuries inflicted by Sikong Li wouldn’t heal easily..."

"My dear nephew must be merely feigning strength...let’s test him then."

Gongyang Jue unhurriedly ate and drank, his eagle-like eyes inadvertently falling on Su Mu across from him, convinced that from the information he had, Baili Feng was severely injured, and being able to return alive from the Jiao Blood Gang’s lair was already akin to retrieving his life.

But the current ’Baili Feng’ had vigorous Qi Blood, long and powerful breath, and full Essence, Qi, and Spirit, showing no sign of injuries at all.

Gongyang Jue immediately deduced that his dear nephew was just putting on a front, pretending to be mysterious.

He set down his wine bowl.

Gongyang Jue communicated a secret message, and the burly black man with dark skin, thick eyebrows, and beard sitting beside him on the first seat nodded slightly, revealing a chilling smile. This man was none other than Hall Master Molin, Li Cheng, one of the five great hall masters of the Cyan Fish Gang.

"What a ruthless calculation...just as expected from the Vice Gang Leader, sir."

Li Cheng silently exclaimed, yet inadvertently showed a few hints of anticipation on his face, but the timing wasn’t right yet.

Su Mu, acting as if nothing was amiss, drank and feasted, showing little interest in the dancers from Qingyue Tower performing in the inner chamber, which matched Baili Feng’s personality, as he was not one to indulge in debauchery.

As time ticked away, Baili Hongtang beside him felt a vague unease, having caught Li Cheng’s subtle movements earlier, yet wondered why he hadn’t acted. What was Gongyang Jue planning in his gourd?

At this moment, what was being performed in the inner chamber was an opera named "White Jiao Legend," derived from the legend of the White Jiao in the eastern Donglai rivers, later adapted by folk dramatists to blend folklore, love, and enmity into it.

The opera itself tells the story of a scholar traveling to Qingzhou for the autumn exam and falling in love with a White Jiao, which is widespread in Donglai County and the Qingzhou area.

As the leading actress performing the last opera tune drew to a close, a sudden change occurred.

Gongyang Jue seemingly inadvertently gave Li Cheng a glance, and Li Cheng set down his wine bowl, clapping his hands vigorously as if enthusiastically praising the opera’s brilliance.

After Li Cheng began, the hall masters and elders of Gongyang Jue’s faction quickly followed suit, applauding.