Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 84 - 78: Black Mountain Protector, Cyan-Faced Bat King

After leaving the tavern, Su Mu frowned slightly. He had just heard some 'useful' information at the tavern.

Flying Goose Saber, the woods south of the town?

On Baihe Town's main street, Su Mu paused and looked southward. Baihe Town was surrounded by mountains to the east and west, with a thoroughfare running north and south.

He had heard at the tavern that someone had been beheaded and died in the woods south of town, early this morning.

However, this contradicts the information provided by the Demon Slayer Bureau.

Su Mu turned back to gaze northeast, toward the dark mountain range. The confidential note from the Demon Slayer Bureau says that the Black Insect Elder is hiding twenty miles northeast of Baihe Town, at the south slope of Black Bull Mountain. This was completely opposite to what he had heard earlier.

Is there a delay in the Demon Slayer Bureau's information?

Or perhaps the Black Insect Elder is deliberately creating a diversion to mislead the government?

After a brief contemplation, Su Mu considered both possibilities, but, recalling that the Demon Slayer Bureau's intelligence had not been wrong the previous two times, he remained skeptical but was more inclined to trust the confidential note.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll first go to the south slope of Black Bull Mountain... If I don't find anything, it's not too late to go to the south woods of town."

At this moment, Su Mu asked for directions and arrived at Baihe Town's market. Originally, Su Mu intended to choose a white wax wood rod for a gun barrel, even though it risked being broken.

But the white wax wood rod is purposefully one of his vulnerabilities. Once the enemy takes the bait to break the gun barrel, Su Mu will make them pay dearly.

However, midway, he suddenly heard the 'clang clang clang' sound. Intrigued, he went to take a look and found it was a small blacksmith shop.

"Refined Iron Zen Staff made from top quality white iron, sold at a low price, only fifteen taels of silver." A thin, weak-looking teenager of about fifteen or sixteen called out loudly, and Su Mu saw in him a trace of his former self.

At present, the teenager's brows revealed a bit of worry and disappointment, as passersby from the Jianghu did not stop. Unless they cultivated with corresponding Martial Arts, most martial artists would not choose a Zen Staff, a niche weapon, for usage.

"Zen Staff?"

Su Mu's eyes scanned the refined iron body of the Zen Staff, although short, it was after all refined iron, up to a forty-refined standard, which could also serve well as a short spear.

Only the Thirty-Forged Blade Soldiers sold at the Forging Workshop can fetch fifteen taels or more, and this refined iron Zen Staff's materials alone are worth three knives or swords, with more complex forging craftsmanship.

Why sell it so cheaply?

Su Mu approached, "I'm interested in this Zen Staff; may I inspect it?"

"Naturally, please, sir."

Although Su Mu trusted his own judgment, he still intended to inspect it personally. Upon grasping the Zen Staff, Su Mu was reassured as he could tell the weight and materials were sound, though it had some minor issues.

Meanwhile, that blacksmith shop's boy stood by, swallowing his saliva, somewhat excited and expectant.

"I'll take this Zen Staff, but I want to ask one question."

"Really... you'll take it?" The boy got extremely excited and immediately said, "Ask away, sir, not one but ten questions if you want!"

"Why is this Zen Staff sold at a low price?"

The boy explained bitterly that this Zen Staff was commissioned by a monk three months ago, but now, after two months past the agreed time, the monk hadn't shown up.

Since this Zen Staff was the boy's master's prized creation in recent years, the boy also invested a significant amount of effort into it and was reluctant to simply melt it down and rebuild it, intending to find someone destined for it.

Yet, for over half a month, it hasn't been sold, so the price kept dropping from the initial fifty taels to the current fifteen taels.

"The Zen Staff's iron billet was unevenly stressed, causing the material to sink below and lighten above. You might replace it with a slightly lighter forging hammer or take care to adjust your breathing, as the furnace temperature was somewhat low... Pay attention to quenching."

After finishing his words, Su Mu paid fifteen taels of silver and took the Zen Staff. The boy, momentarily happy to have sold the Zen Staff, suddenly felt annoyed.

Who does that person think he is, an outsider speaking indiscriminately about craftsmanship, dismissing my master's hard work!

The boy felt very indignant but did not notice that soon after Su Mu's voice faded, the forging sound inside the shop also simultaneously ceased.

Thud!

The ground trembled briefly, followed by a resonant thud inside the blacksmith shop. The boy immediately looked worried and rushed inside to check, only to see his master, tied with a blacksmith's apron, drenched in sweat and running out anxiously.

"Er Gou, where is the wise old man who just left?"

"Wise old man?" The boy called Er Gou paused. "What wise old man, it was just some outsider who didn't know a thing, speaking willy-nilly about uneven forging, a wonder he said... ">

"Silence!"

The boy's words were abruptly cut off as his master's angry gaze fixed upon him, eyes filled with disappointment. He quickly stepped outside, body leaning forward to search the street eagerly, but found no trace of the person who took the Zen Staff.

Back in the shop, the boy's master let out a sigh.

"Er Gou... The person who bought the Zen Staff just now possesses crafting skills far beyond mine. We've missed our chance."

The master returned to the shop, regretfully pondering Su Mu's recent words. The more he pondered, the more he realized and regretted it, while the boy outside stood there, dumbfounded.

...

"Are you looking to stay at the inn, master?"

The waiter noticed a tall figure, wearing a conical hat and straw rain cape, holding a Zen Staff, walking from the street and greeted them with a smile. Walking closer, his face flushed and his smile froze.

"Get me a room."

"Certainly, this way, master... sir, please."

As he ascended the stairs, two people descended. "Eh, it's you!"

The two people were notably the pair who had shared a table earlier. Su Mu nodded slightly as a greeting, but the woman seemed to want to say something before the man beside her placed a hand on her shoulder.

Gongsun Hu had felt that Su Mu was not simple since the table sharing, with a dangerous aura around him. When Su Mu refused the invitation, Gongsun Hu secretly breathed a sigh of relief; he did not wish to have much contact with Su Mu.

The long night passed without words, as Baihe Town nestled between the contours of the two mountains to the east and west drifted into dreams.

Deep within one of the Black Bull Mountains on the south slope, forest birds flew frantically in fear. A faint firelight could be seen deep in the mountain, revealing an abandoned small wooden cabin when observed closely.

This area was mountainous, where many people once hunted for a living. Hunters built wooden cabins in the mountains for overnight stays. Later, as beasts decreased in the mountains, hunters could no longer support their families, and the presence of cabins dwindled; now most are abandoned.

Ah!

Wailing cries of agony echoed from the wooden cabin where the firelight flickered.

"My precious darling, this blood feast is fresh... Devour more, devour more..."

The candlelight revealed within a hunchbacked, sinister elder's silhouette. The elder emitted strange laughter, and gradually the howling within became weaker until it fell silent.

"What a waste, dead already. I thought the 'assassin' could hold on longer, but it's all the same." The sinister elder cursed a few times.

The cabin was filled with eerie copper-bell sounds. Suddenly, something swift shot into the elder's sleeve.

Then, inside, it seemed like bees swarmed, with frog croaking sounds agitating. Numerous insects rushed towards the lifeless body, and the scent of blood grew more intense.

At this moment, a child-like figure hurriedly approached from outside. "Master, someone claiming to be Cyan Bat Protector has arrived."

"One of the four protectors of the Black Mountain Army, the Cyan-Faced Bat King... Go invite him in."

Soon after, a graceful gentleman in blue clothes with a pale, gloomy face entered the cabin. Upon entering, his eyes glanced at the corpse, half-devoured with still some flesh hanging, releasing a glimmering light.

"Protector, your grand visit, this old man fell short in reception. This cup of wine brewed for years from a virgin's heart blood as amends, please!"

The hunchbacked elder's face looked young and tender, seemingly like a youth in their twenties, yet his gray hair showed he was far older, perhaps several times older.

"Good wine." The gentleman in blue clothes maintained his expression, accepting it and indulging with a face of rapture, directly opening his eyes to speak clearly.

"Black Insect Elder, I came this time under Celestial King's orders to invite you to join the Black Mountain Army, both our great endeavor."

Upon hearing this, the hunchbacked elder didn't seem surprised; he had anticipated this.

The so-called Celestial King in the gentleman's words was Wang Xuantian, the current leader of the Black Mountain Army. His origins are mysterious, once occupying Little Black Mountain as king, over a few years expanding in the grey area at the intersection of Cyan Cloud, Changfeng, and Cang River counties, annexing mountain strongholds and bands of outlaws, now becoming a force.

Under Wang Xuantian's leadership, over the past decade the Black Mountain Army gathered many county experts and talents, not only with strong soldiers under its command, but reportedly this Celestial King's prowess is unparalleled, often killing in one move, unfathomable.

Facing the olive branch from the Cyan-Faced Bat King, the hunchbacked elder chuckled.

"The Celestial King and Protector overestimate me, this old body is half-buried in yellow earth, accustomed to idleness, afraid to disappoint your expectations."

The gentleman in blue clothes wasn't vexed upon hearing this, "Black Insect Elder, do not refuse so hastily... Do you know what lies above the Seventh Grade?"

Upon hearing this, the hunchbacked elder's heart jumped, and his eyes flashed with formidable brilliance.

"If you join the Black Mountain Army, the Celestial King will assist you in reaching Sixth Grade in three years, peering into the Middle Grade Ten Realms."

Great endeavor, reaching Sixth Grade in three years!

The Black Insect Elder's expression changed, realizing the Black Mountain Army might engage in significant actions after three years; risk was bound to accompany.

Besides, everything for now was mere words, unreliable.

Seeing the Black Insect Elder's shifting expression, the gentleman in blue clothes seized the opportunity, producing an exquisite sandalwood box from his lapel, "Observe this."

The elder hesitantly opened it, revealing a crystalline object the size of an infant's fist, and upon closer inspection, it bore a naturally occurring faint pattern.

"Pill Pattern, this is a Pill, could it be..."

The elder's expression transformed, swallowing hard, with glowing eyes, he couldn't resist shouting.

Pills are to Elixirs like Mortal Soldiers compared to Grade-Entering Treasure Artifacts; the gap is nothing less significant, for ordinary martial artists to normally advance to the Seventh-Grade Yijin requires 'Muscle-Protecting Pill' and 'Bone Strengthening Pill'.

These two can only be called pills, while what lay before the elder is called a Pill. To transition from Low Grade to Middle Grade requires a Pill for assistance.

"This Pill is not as you think... The Celestial King heard you, Black Insect Elder, are reputed in both medicine and Gu Technique, hence commanded me to offer this invitation. Joining is not difficult for refining pill."

Once seeing it, the Black Insect Elder couldn't avert his eyes, his heart pounding, aware his age had exhausted his lifespan, typically extending with Gu Technique, turning him into this ghostly being.

Glancing Middle Grade's profound secrets around life's final years might extend longevity, perhaps freeing from this ghostly existence.

"This Pill can extend life by over a decade, as a greeting gift from our Black Mountain Army, a little sincerity... But you also need to show sincerity."

After deliberation, the Black Insect Elder accepted the Pill, knowing this was the Black Mountain Army seeking a commitment, prompting hands to offer salute, "May I know what the Protector wants this old man to do?"

Seeing this, the gentleman in blue clothes nodded approvingly, speaking coldly.

"Help me kill a person... Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau's assassin, Li Feiyu."

"Li Feiyu..." The Black Insect Elder looked puzzled, unfamiliar with the name, "May I ask Protector, what is this person's ability?"

"Eighth Grade Bone Forging Realm, but exceptionally skilled, Flame Banner suffered losses under him."

"Bone Forging Realm?" The Black Insect Elder sneered, "Within three days, I shall present his head to the Protector."

"Not urgent, Li Feiyu acts cautiously, difficult to track... Stay here these few days; I will instruct someone to bring you information on him."