Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 231 - 162: The Fourth Endowment, Treasure Artifact Phenomenon!

Twelfth Year of Tianwu, early October.

In the region along Canglan River, the autumn rains have been unrelenting for half a month, heavier than usual this year, with chill wrapped in mist sweeping over the river’s surface, soaking the lands of the Three Canglan Counties overnight.

The locust trees on both sides of Cyan Cloud Avenue shiver in the rain, their shed yellow leaves mixing with the muddy rainwater, staining the blue-stone pavement a turbid color. Pedestrians hurry under the rain curtains, all donning cotton-padded clothes.

On North Yanque Street, a young man gazes at the medical clinic’s eaves where rain lines hang down. During this period, once he pulls himself out of the oblivion of swordsmithing, a vague unease starts to grow in his heart, becoming increasingly pronounced.

Every living soul has the ability to seek fortune and avoid danger; often, when death approaches, one possesses some foresight. As a martial artist’s martial arts realm elevates, this foresight in sensing danger is also enhanced.

Su Mu’s eyes flicker with thought, but all he can think of is something related to the pharmacist. The pharmacist has been traveling for over two months this time, where exactly has he gone?

"The rain’s been falling for over half a month now, and the master has gone traveling who knows where?"

The little doctor hands over a straw rain cape and conical hat; the master’s two-month absence naturally worries Xiaoyue. Though she usually appears dazed, it’s actually that she doesn’t care about many things, otherwise she couldn’t have practiced the unremarkable Five Animals Qigong to develop power and now even into Dark Force.

But this lack of concern doesn’t apply to Su Mu. In the young doctor’s heart, her master, copying writings, and Su the kid are equally important.

The astute Xiaoyue discovered a bit, through recent interactions, that her master is not simple and likely possesses significant strength, only consistently hiding it.

Despite still worrying within, Xiaoyue felt much more at ease afterwards.

"Master really, why keep hiding from me? When he returns from traveling, I definitely want a clear explanation!"

Su Mu took the conical hat and rain cape, thanking, "I’m off to the Forging Workshop."

The little doctor smiled, opening a light yellow oiled-paper umbrella to walk Su Mu to the clinic’s entrance; though Su Mu said he needn’t be accompanied, it was only a few steps, and with Su Mu’s strength, he was long no longer afraid of rain.

But the young doctor was exceptionally insistent about this, and Su Mu couldn’t overcome it, stepping out the clinic’s door, Su Mu suddenly recalled the pharmacist’s question before his journey.

"Little friend, what do you think of Xiaoyue?"

"How do I think of Xiaoyue..."

Across the alleys, Su Mu watched the young doctor’s figure turning back to the clinic, his heart slightly trembling; back then his answer was family.

...

Step, step.

Turning on the rain-soaked blue-stone street towards the Forging Workshop, Su Mu’s body faintly shivered under the rain curtain; to be cautious, Su Mu had stopped taking the medicinal liquor for these two months.

With the daytime’s blazing fires at the Forging Workshop, Su Mu chose to use a Silver Needle at night to expel poisonous blood, with Melting Gold Technique’s intense power nightly suppressing the Gu insect in his chest for a while.

Returning to the clinic, the young doctor’s eyes are now crescent; she solemnly retrieves a Silver-Scabbarded Knife from her waist, its handle wrapped in azure silk, the sheath engraved with four lines of plum blossoms—this was Su Mu’s New Year gift to her, since that day, the young doctor has carried it daily.

The knife was one Su Mu hurriedly forged during New Year amid being busy; he primarily focused on the blade rather than the sheath, which was somewhat rough due to limited time.

Su Mu had offered to reforge or create anew, but the young doctor refused.

In the study, the young doctor’s ten slender fingers gently stroke the sheath and the blade, then meticulously wipe them with a silk cloth. After half a year of daily polishing, the previously crude sheath gleams and shines, exuding a bit of feminine grace and subtle fragrance.

After wiping it, the young doctor rehung the short knife at her waist and began transcribing medical books with a pen.

Forging Workshop.

Having shed the rain cape and conical hat, Su Mu encounters Wu Qiao’Er under the eaves. Wu Qiao’Er isn’t interested in Su Mu; after a greeting, she passes by, having recently begun to vaguely pursue her benefactor’s whereabouts.

"The benefactor might be Li Feiyu!"

Wu Qiao’Er’s investigation yielded some clues, but though she visited Demon Slayer Bureau several times, Li Feiyu had not appeared for over two months; Wu Qiao’Er learned from the Bureau’s constables after spending some silver taels.

In these two months, several major powers, including the Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Director Li Zhihe and Qingyun County Magistrate Tao Xingzheng, wanted to meet Li Feiyu; after the reverse slash that executed Silver-Browed Eagle King at Changfeng County’s execution ground, everyone wanted to recruit Li Feiyu.

However, Li Feiyu seemed to have vanished, known from old constables as his usual way—only appearing when accepting and receiving rewards, generally as elusive as seeing the dragon’s head but not its tail.

Wu Qiao’Er was undeterred, determined to visit Demon Slayer Bureau daily.

Unaware of Wu Qiao’Er’s thoughts, Su Mu nods a brief greeting and heads to Hidden Dragon Forging Room, encountering Wu Ning along the way.

"Su Mu, let’s spar today, shall we? I’ve learned a new fist technique recently."

Wu Ning, Uncle Wu’s eldest son, is known for his obsession with martial arts. Compared to Su Mu’s master status, he is more interested in Su Mu’s martial arts, often seeking him after the New Year to spar.

When free, Su Mu would agree, leading to mutual familiarity over time.

"Get lost, you brat, get out of here, don’t delay Su the kid’s business!"

Just then, Chen Yuntian’s booming voice sounded, Wu Ning’s expression changes, "Su Mu, I’ll go now, once you’ve finished forging the long saber, we can have a good spar."

After Wu Ning leaves, Chen Yuntian approaches and inquires about the forging, surprised to learn from Su Mu it’s nearing Spiritual Infusion, marveling aloud, "No wonder, truly a prodigy."