Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 38 - 37: Secret Collusion, Qingshui Massacre!

Chapter 38: Chapter 37: Secret Collusion, Qingshui Massacre!

The young man, returning to his senses, showed a hint of urgency on his face, and immediately the wind rose under his feet, flashing several steps across ten yards as he dove into the wilderness.

Besides the official road, there’s a small path to the town, though it takes a slight detour.

Su Mu, without reservation, performed the Startled Sparrow Step, his figure like a startled swan constantly flashing on the mountain path, wind gushing with his speed.

Peng!

At such terrifying speed, the jug in his hand lightly touched the roadside leaves, then suddenly exploded, spilling wine in the air, mingling with rainwater before crashing into the muddy ground.

The figure on the path had already vanished from the original spot, appearing ten yards away.

Peng! Peng! Peng!

A series of jug explosions followed, but Su Mu couldn’t pay attention to them now; his eyes were filled only with Li Tie, Xiaohu, Master Zhou, and others in Qingshui Town.

Finally, Su Mu’s instincts activated his power to protect the last jug of wine, saving it.

In the short distance, rushing with all his might, Su Mu’s speed surpassed even the Cyan Cloud Army’s fierce horses, arriving first outside the town.

From a high vantage point, Su Mu saw the Cyan Cloud Army briefly stop outside Qingshui Town, then continue south.

"Most likely the Cyan Cloud Army received wrong information... Those rebel soldiers didn’t attack Qingshui Town, which is why the Cyan Cloud Army continued chasing."

Thinking this, Su Mu let out a sigh of relief.

After the Cyan Cloud Army left, Su Mu revealed himself from the mountain path, but his face changed drastically when half a mile from the town entrance.

A pungent metallic salty smell invaded his nostrils.

Su Mu was now very familiar with this scent, the smell of blood.

He stepped forward.

Voices of cries and shouts were carried by the wind into his ears, unknowingly causing Su Mu’s fists to clench tightly.

"Everyone will be fine... they will be!"

Hanging from the Qingshui Town arch were numerous bloody corpses, their heads severed and piled under the arch. Su Mu, with a glance, recognized them as residents of Qingshui Town.

"The attendant from the bun shop."

"Aunt Zhang from the tailor shop."

"The old doctor from the pharmacy..."

For a moment, Su Mu was dazed. He clearly remembered the town being peaceful when he left; yet after just over ten days, he returned to find it a bloody massacre, ravaged by rebel soldiers.

Rain continued to pour relentlessly, and Su Mu watched as rivulets of blood washed by rainwater flowed towards his feet.

A dreadful thought flashed through his mind, becoming heavier.

"Rest in peace for the departed..."

Su Mu took a deep breath, bypassing the corpses, his heart burning as he entered Qingshui Town.

A mother hugged her deceased child, howling mournfully. The surrounding shops were in ruins, echoing with screams, and the once-familiar streets now seemed utterly alien.

Splatter.

Su Mu stepped onto the blue-stone ground, where blood and rainwater mixed outside Li’s Blacksmith Shop, trembling all over.

The blacksmith shop’s door shattered and collapsed, seemingly forcibly blasted open from the outside, with the pungent smell of blood wafting out.

"Who’s there?"

Detecting Su Mu’s approach, there were alert low calls from inside the shop, followed by two blacksmith masters, covered in blood and wielding blade weapons, cautiously peering out.

"Are you Xiaomu?!"

Seeing Su Mu’s face, the two relaxed their tense bodies, letting out a long breath.

"Xiaomu, why did you return? Weren’t you supposed to be in Qingyun City?"

Su Mu didn’t answer the masters’ questions, anxiously stepping into the shop, holding on to a thread of hope, he asked, "Is Li Tie, Xiaohu, and Master Zhou as well as everyone in the shop alright?"

"Is Xiaomu back?"

A familiar voice echoed inside, tinged with sorrow. Li Tie, also covered in blood, emerged from the shop clutching a long saber, his face heavy with none of his usual steadiness.

"Uncle Li."

Seeing Li Tie unharmed, Su Mu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Xiaomu, please come in..."

Li Tie tried to force a smile but couldn’t, wanting to speak but remaining silent.

Noticing Uncle Li’s expression, Su Mu’s heart sank, a growing sense of foreboding.

Stepping into the shop, the pungent smell of blood intensified, and looking closely, Su Mu shivered at the familiar corpses in the messy shop—individuals who once guided him during his apprenticeship now all lay dead.

Soon, Su Mu’s pupils constricted further, his empty left fist clenching with a crack.

"Master Zhou?!"

Among the bodies lay a robust middle-aged man, unmistakably Zhou Mountain, who taught Su Mu forging art, gifted him the Three-in-One Body-Strengthening Soup recipe, and frequently cared for him.

"Could I see this saber?"

"This is my family’s ancestral recipe... You seem weak, try brewing a few medicinal concoctions with it..."

"This kid can’t hold his drink, he’s had enough."

...

His voice lingered, scenes from the past floated before Su Mu’s eyes—their last farewell was forever, his eyes red, his final glimmer of hope shattered.

"Uncle Li, can you tell me what happened?"

Su Mu noticed the knife wounds covering Zhou Mountain’s body, none of them fatal, seemingly a result of torture in life.

Li Tie gritted his teeth, "A sudden attack by those rebels claiming to be the Black Mountain Army, they directly assaulted the town, starting to burn, kill, and loot without a word. We tried to shut the shop door, but the iron-armored strongman leading them shattered it with a few punches."

"He demanded we go with him, but the masters in the shop refused to follow such villains, so the iron-armored strongman seized Zhou Mountain and several masters to force our compliance, then in front of..."

"In front of everyone, killed Zhou Mountain and several masters. Fortunately, news of the Cyan Cloud Army’s imminent arrival frightened them, prompting the rebels to flee the town."

Su Mu’s furious expression gradually calmed, yet an unprecedented intense killing intent surged within him.

Black Mountain Army, once again, it was them!

"Sigh, those deceased masters have been with me for nearly twenty years, they all have families. I feel so guilty, how will I face the parents and wives of the masters in the future..."

Li Tie was filled with regret and sorrow, his voice a mix of pain and anger.

"Damn rebel army, worse than animals, simply a gang of bandits deserving a miserable death!"

One of the surviving masters cursed aloud.

"Isn’t there a government office in town? Where are the soldiers? And what about the Black Tiger Gang collecting protection fees? Where are they?" Su Mu spoke coldly.

"Sigh, the government and Black Tiger Gang people left the city yesterday to hunt bandits, unknowingly letting this gang of thieves seize the opportunity..."

A blacksmith master sighed.

The Black Tiger Gang and government officials left the city to hunt bandits, then the Black Mountain Army attacked the town right after?

Su Mu refused to believe such coincidence, instantly suspecting collusion between the Black Tiger Gang and Black Mountain Army.

At this moment, Su Mu suddenly remembered something, "Uncle Li, what about Xiaohu?"

"Xiaohu is fine; he’s fainted inside the house."

Fortunately, a blessing amidst misfortune, Su Mu immediately set down the cakes and the last jug of wine, taking out several bottles of injury medicine given by the Little Doctor when leaving the city.

"Uncle Li, here’s injury medicine, distribute it to the masters first, everyone should treat their wounds."

"Alright."

Uncle Li took the injury medicine and noticed Su Mu about to leave, quickly calling out, "Xiaomu, where are you going?"

"Uncle Li... I’m feeling suffocated, stepping out for some air, I’ll be back soon."

"Alright. Xiaomu, don’t go too far."

Leaving the shop, Su Mu headed straight to the Black Tiger Gang, yet their people hadn’t returned. Coldly, he glanced at the intact doors, then walked toward the town entrance, no longer hiding his murderous intent, gazing southward.

"The Black Mountain Army... and the Black Tiger Gang must die!"

"Since the Cyan Cloud Army is heading south, go south first... Uncle Zhou, the masters at the shop must not die in vain, the Black Mountain Army will pay for this!"