The four men emerging from the forest were robust, all donned in armor. Though not iron armor, the uniformed cotton armor still projected a sense of immense oppression.
"Why did you stop running? Don't you want to run anymore?"
"Hehe, the head of a Cyan Cloud Army Squad Commander is worth thirty taels of silver, enough for us four brothers to enjoy ourselves for a few days."
The four men jested as they conversed, their eyes sweeping over the bloodstained Cyan Cloud soldier, their gazes resembling that of onlookers inspecting a plump sheep awaiting slaughter.
Shi Feng, a Ninth-Grade Refining Power Martial Artist, was under the command of Cyan Cloud Army, overseeing a fifty-man squad. This time he left the city alone on the orders of the County Captain, only to fall into an ambush by these four on the way back.
"You thieves may try, but before you take my head, see how many of you I, Shi Mou, can take down with me!" Shi Feng forced calm, yet he was already near exhaustion, so he ferociously stared at them, releasing harsh words.
But anyone with clear eyes could see his staggering stance, indicating he was merely a paper tiger with a formidable appearance but lacking true strength.
"Boss, there's a young boy over there... Judging by his attire, he's likely a civilian."
Among the four, someone noticed Su Mu, dressed in a straw raincoat and conical hat, not far away and immediately queried the stern-faced soldier leading them.
"Civilian? You're mistaken. Where are the civilians? I only see two Cyan Cloud Army henchmen. Kill them both." The cold-faced man looked at Su Mu, smirking as he spoke.
"Yes, yes, the boss is right!" The others quickly chuckled in agreement.
Hearing the words of the four, Shi Feng was irate, "Your Black Mountain Army claims to be a rebel troop, yet you commit acts of murder, arson, and robbery, and now you're unwilling to even spare a passing youth. How are you different from bandits?"
"Come at me with everything, let the boy go, I'll take responsibility, I, Shi Mou shall bear it all!"
Black Mountain Army?
Su Mu slightly squinted his eyes; he had heard this name at the black market, where a stall owner selling secret manuals mentioned the Black Mountain Army alongside the government office of Qingyun County, followed by the five major forces of Qingyun County.
In such a tone, the strength of the Black Mountain Army might surpass the five major forces of Qingyun County.
From the conversation between both parties, Su Mu also learned that the Black Mountain Army was a rebel force, yet their murderous and deceitful behavior resembled more a group of ruthless bandits in chaotic times than a revolt against tyranny.
"Hmm? You claim not to be a Cyan Cloud Army henchman. If you're not companions, why would you protect him? Go, kill them both."
Upon hearing Shi Feng's words, the four from the Black Mountain Army continued to sneer relentlessly. They were indifferent to Su Mu's real identity, and since fate led them to him today, it could only be considered Su Mu's bad luck.
Killing one or two makes no difference.
A Cyan Cloud Army Squad Commander's head was worth thirty taels, while the head of an ordinary Cyan Cloud soldier might fetch two or three taels of silver. Even small gains were sought after by them.
Besides, they were proficient in acts of theft and murder; in their eyes, the heads of these civilians were akin to piles of silver and military merits. Once enough merit was accumulated, they would receive rewards from the Lord Guardian, paving their way on the Martial Path.
Initially, Su Mu didn't plan to meddle in the situation, ready at any moment to employ the Startled Sparrow Step to leave, as the conflict between the Black Mountain Army and the Cyan Cloud Army was unrelated to him.
But listening to the words of the Black Mountain Army stirred killing intent in Su Mu's heart. He had been in this world for over a year, yet deep in his soul, he remained a modern Huaxia man.
Being nurtured by modern Huaxia civilization from a young age, Su Mu found it hard to accept the atrocities unfolding before him. Despite being nothing more than a passing civilian, in their eyes, he seemed like livestock with two legs; with a few words, they easily decided to include him in their slaughter.
Su Mu couldn't help but think of the Gu poison within him and how his life now seemed out of his own control.
If he hadn't witnessed this, it would have been fine; yet having encountered it, Su Mu decided not to walk away. Moreover, after being rejected and leaving Qingyun City, there was a lingering surge of frustration in his heart.
The Gu poison, abandonment, and rejection ignited a flame, fully kindled by the four from the Black Mountain Army. This rage needed release.
"I'll take it out on you!"
Su Mu lowered his head slightly, eyes burning with fiery killing intent.
"Young man, later run towards Qingyun County Town as fast as you can, I will hold them back!" Shi Feng took a deep breath, finally glancing at Su Mu with adamant determination on his face.
With an angry roar, Shi Feng forcefully drew his curved saber, and charged voluntarily at the four from the Black Mountain Army.
Shi Feng was fully aware of his dire situation; he was bound to face it head-on today. Rather than meeting doom, he may as well create a chance for the young man to escape. As for whether the youth could run away, Shi Feng was powerless but left it to fate and the hardiness of the young man's destiny.
"Leave this guy to me. Two of you assist me, Old Four, go kill that kid, and don't let that Cyan Cloud Army henchman escape."
The leader of the Black Mountain Army men gestured, intentionally provoking Shi Feng and then laughed as he drew his saber towards Shi Feng.
"Go quickly!"
Clang clang clang!
The blades clashed metal, emitting a series of resonant sounds.
The one referred to as Old Four among the Black Mountain Army soldiers strode towards Su Mu, his face twisted with malice as he spoke.
"Kid, don't blame me; blame your bad luck for encountering us, I actually don't want to kill you."
The Black Mountain Army soldier sneered viciously, unsheathing the curved saber at his waist.
"Relax, my blade is swift, swift enough that you won't feel too much pain."
At that moment, the Black Mountain Army soldier raised his curved saber high, ready to strike down. Yet, the youth who had kept his head low slowly lifted it, and surprisingly, the soldier saw none of the terror or tearful pleading he imagined would envelope the boy's face. Instead, there was only a tranquility and eyes roiling with killing intent.
This Black Mountain Army soldier, with ample experience in slaughter, sensed the looming danger within an instant as he whipped his blade like a white gleam towards Su Mu's head.
And at that split second, the seemingly innocent youth, Su Mu, suddenly moved, his left hand swiftly clawing out like a tiger.
Whoosh!
This claw strike was incredibly swift; it was the Tiger Play from the perfected Five Animals Qigong. It would generally take over twenty years for an ordinary person to perfect this Five Animals Qigong, and this claw embodied twenty years of effort!
The tiger claw reached precise and swift, landing on the wrist holding the blade, followed by a fierce surge of power.
Crack.
The Black Mountain Army soldier's face contorted instantly, a cry of agony escaping his lips, feeling his wrist crushed by the claw, and the next second Su Mu's left hand exerted force, instantly snapping it.
The curved saber flew out, while his wrist folded over the arm, bending it a full one hundred and eighty degrees.
Another more harrowing scream echoed.
"No, spare, spare me..."
On the verge of death, the Black Mountain Army soldier's survival instinct drove him to retreat, desperately trying to distance himself from the ferocious tiger that was Su Mu, opening his mouth to beg for mercy. But Su Mu denied him the chance.
With a step, deploying the Startled Sparrow Step, Su Mu closed the gap instantly, and his empty right fist struck mercilessly, the Tiger Play switching instantly to the Tiger Subduing Fist.
Fierce Tiger Pounce!
A devastating punch slammed onto the soldier's face, and at the moment of impact, flesh sunk in, the skull shattered, and the defeated soldier's body catapulted back several meters before crashing heavily onto the ground.
The fist roared like a tiger, lethal in one strike, the youth thrusting it calmly spoke softly.
"If you haven't been dead, how can you know pain?"
As the words fell, the soldier on the ground convulsed a few times before ceasing to breathe.
...