Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 130 - 112: Eradicate the Root, Martial Arts Manuals!

"Hero Li, I had no choice but to act tonight under the instructions of Shangguan Feng. I plead for Hero Li's understanding!" The white-haired elder Lin Zhen clasped his hands and bowed towards Su Mu.

"In the future, if I encounter Hero Li, I will definitely retreat three miles."

The horror and fear in Lin Zhen's eyes were revealed. After this battle, how could he dare to challenge Li Feiyu?

After the first person stood out, the man as strong as a bear took a deep breath and clasped his skeletal arms in respect, "I too, dare not be an enemy with Hero Li."

Soon after, Liu Qing, who had previously tracked Su Mu, spoke quickly, "Hero Li, you are magnanimous, please let this little one go."

Liu Qing's attitude was extremely sincere, and the fear on his face was equally unmistakable. Finally, the red-clothed beauty, who had her arm severed by Su Mu, reluctantly bowed in salute.

"Young Friend Li, I will send someone to retrieve the Muscle Strengthening Formula you requested and offer it to you with both hands. After tonight, we are even, and henceforth Qingfeng Gang and Young Friend Li will not interfere with each other..."

Gu Feng wanted to settle the grievances and disputes between both parties with finality, but Su Mu interrupted him with a cold snort.

"Gang Leader Gu, all the people here tonight have struck at me. Were it not for my self-defense, I would already be dead. If our situations were reversed, and I placed all blame on a dead man, how would you respond?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Feng raised an eyebrow but eventually asked calmly, "What does Young Friend Li intend?"

These words caused the remaining four elders of Qingfeng Gang, including Lin Zhen, to be stirred with great turmoil. Su Mu's words just now were somewhat relentless in pursuit of reconciliation.

But what surprised them more was Gang Leader Gu Feng's willingness to retreat once more. Gu Feng is known to be ruthless, certainly due to Li Zhihe, the Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Director.

However, repeatedly giving ground might have other reasons as well.

"Gang Leader Gu... is also afraid of Li Feiyu!"

With a sudden tremor, the quick-witted Liu Qing had such a thought burst into his mind, and soon the remaining few also shared this notion.

Gu Feng stood with hands behind his back, his eyes flickering; indeed, he had considerable apprehension towards Li Feiyu. This Li Feiyu, by appearance, seemed at most twenty-three or four.

To possess such strength at this age, don't be deceived that Gu Feng suddenly charged into the clash between Li Feiyu and Shangguan Feng's deadly moves, nullifying their attacks without harm.

In reality, Gu Feng suffered a covert loss; the sleeve of his exploding right arm was the best external evidence of him unable to easily withstand Su Mu's punch.

Even someone as formidable as Gu Feng could not easily nullify the lethal move created by Su Mu's Thunder Shock Fist. After the blow, the tendons in Gu Feng's right arm sustained some damage.

"This Li Feiyu is truly a freak... His power force is even more robust than mine!"

Not to mention other aspects, just the force of his power was enough to make Gu Feng apprehensive. After all, he was not confronting Su Mu at his peak but Su Mu after fighting multiple rounds with others and the deceased Shangguan Feng.

Moreover, the thunderous and devastating fist technique that could affect the air was something Gu Feng had never heard of before. Overall, Gu Feng was quite wary of Li Feiyu.

Adding the suspected backing of Vajra Temple and the support of Li Zhihe, without absolute confidence, Gu Feng was unwilling to easily oppose Li Feiyu, making it better to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The Jianghu is not just about fighting; there's also human affairs.

With keen senses and sharp insight, Su Mu captured the subtle changes in Gu Feng's expression and spoke in a low voice, "Gang Leader Gu is straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush."

"These few people have all surrounded and tried to kill me; aside from the Muscle Strengthening Formula, two Eighth-Grade Martial Arts for one life. Eight-Grade Martial Arts can redeem a Seventh-Grade Expert, Gang Leader Gu won't be at a loss, a total of six martial arts secret manuals for the three lives here."

Previously, when Su Mu fought with them, none aside from Shangguan Feng wielded Seventh-Grade Martial Arts, which surely wasn't about hiding their strength but rather their lack of possession.

"Seems it's truly difficult to obtain Seventh-Grade Martial Arts in Qingyun County."

Thus, Su Mu didn't make an exorbitant demand for Seventh-Grade Martial Arts. Upon hearing this, Gu Feng didn't hesitate and agreed on the spot, "As Young Friend Li suggests, the secret manuals I can provide... But why three lives?"

Among the elders of Qingfeng Gang still present, there were four in total. Yet Li Feiyu was only exchanging martial arts for three lives, obviously implying something else.

At this point, Gu Feng looked expecting Su Mu to continue speaking.

Su Mu's gaze swept over Liu Qing and the other three, finally resting on the red-clothed beauty. Feeling Su Mu's gaze, the red-clothed beauty's body trembled, her pupils shrinking suddenly.

"No, Gang Leader, save..."

Earlier, when the four bowed their heads to apologize to Su Mu, fear and dread were in the eyes of the other three, except the red-clothed beauty's eyes held a flash of maliciousness.

The red-clothed beauty thought she hid it well, but unfortunately, she encountered Su Mu, whose senses and perception were astonishing after numerous transformations.

This trace of hatred couldn't escape Su Mu's keen eyes. The other three were too weak; after this battle, they were terrified and would never dare to attack him again, so Su Mu could spare them.

But this beautiful woman harbored deep resentment against him; she had to die. Su Mu refused to leave a threat in this world; weeds must be eradicated at the roots.

"You harbor resentment towards me... you must die."

As soon as the word "die" was spoken, power surged from beneath Su Mu's feet. The powerful Pill Force lifted a waist knife from the ground and, with a fierce look, Su Mu struck with his palm.

Hiss!

The long saber cut through the air, piercing the beautiful woman's chest, and came out the other side with a buzzing sound, embedding into a wooden pillar. Then blood burst forth, and the woman's face showed disbelief, unwillingness, and hatred.

Finally, her body went limp, collapsing to the ground, dead with her eyes still open.

Su Mu struck decisively, killing the woman in red right in front of Gu Feng, and the blood splattered around Gu Feng was dispersed by an invisible Transforming Force, falling to the ground.

Gu Feng's expression changed several times; he looked down at the corpse of the beautiful woman and suppressed his inner fury after weighing the benefits. Keeping a harmonious demeanor was... more valuable than offending Li Feiyu for a mere body.

"Lin Zhen, go back to the gang. Take my token and fetch the Muscle Strengthening Formula and Six Sects' Eighth-Grade Martial Arts Secret Manual…" After saying this, Gu Feng looked at Su Mu.

"Young Friend Li, you have killed who you wanted to kill, and I have agreed to your terms. After handing over the martial arts manuals, you must promise not to pass them on. From now on, let bygones be bygones between you and our Qingfeng Gang."

Gu Feng's tone showed evident anger, which Su Mu naturally understood. The purpose had been achieved, and Su Mu said nothing, merely nodding lightly.

After Lin Zhen left, the scene fell into a deathly silence, except for the cold wind mingling with snow that howled relentlessly.

It wasn't long before Lin Zhen returned to the hall.

"Gang Leader, I've brought back the formula and the manuals."

Gu Feng did not reach to take them; Lin Zhen swallowed and, trembling, held the bundle containing the formula and manuals before Su Mu, "Hero Li, everything you wanted is here."

Su Mu nodded slightly, untied the bundle, and took out the formula to scan it briefly. With his knowledge of alchemy and medical skill, it seemed mostly genuine.

Considering this, Su Mu placed the formula inside his coat, but did not check the martial arts manuals. It was unnecessary; Gu Feng, the proud leader of the Qingfeng Gang, wouldn't stoop to such tricks.

"Gang Leader Gu, I have always kept my word. If your gang does not trouble me in the future, I will never come to bother Qingfeng Gang. The green hills never change, and the rivers flow forever…"

After these words, Su Mu picked up the bundle and stepped out of the hall, walking through the pool of blood amongst severed limbs.

Gu Feng watched Su Mu leave, not averting his gaze until his figure disappeared completely, sighing inwardly as Su Mu's footsteps faded away from the restaurant, "Remarkable… Qingyun County has produced a character like Li Feiyu, but the Black Mountain Rebel Army won't let him off easily."

Meanwhile, the other three present heaved a sigh of relief, feeling the joy of surviving a disaster. The deadly menace of Li Feiyu was finally gone.

...

Outside Tongfu Restaurant, Li Zhihe awaited Su Mu, who naturally noticed the bulging bundle showing the outline of martial arts manuals behind Su Mu, likely containing no less than five.

Li Feiyu probably had no interest in Ninth-Grade martial arts; as for Seventh-Grade, Gu Feng wouldn't give those away. The bundle likely contained Eighth-Grade martial arts.

With a total of five Eighth-Grade martial arts, tonight, Qingfeng Gang was truly extorted by Li Feiyu.

"Mr. Li… truly courageous, extorting right in front of that old fellow Gu Feng. Mr. Li is the first!"

"Many thanks for Director Li's righteous intervention tonight." Su Mu cupped his hands in salute, "Great kindness needs no thanks; should Director Li require assistance in the future, if the task is feasible and does not violate my principles, I will certainly do my utmost."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhihe laughed a bit. If the task is feasible and does not violate principles, do one's utmost. This cautious conduct of Li Feiyu is indeed refreshing.

But knowing the person, Li Feiyu always kept his promises, and saying this was more comforting to Li Zhihe than others' exaggerated cries of 'in for penny, in for a pound.'

Because Li Feiyu truly would keep his promises, rather than empty, toothless promises.

If it were someone else, lacking Li Feiyu's disposition, Li Zhihe would never be so earnest in aiding as he was tonight, despite having the intent to recruit Li Feiyu.

"Alright, now that Mr. Li has returned safely, I can rest easy. If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the Demon Slayer Bureau first."

"Much appreciated, I'll escort you out, Director Li."

"No need to see me off, Mr. Li. Please head back."