Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 160 - 124: Bounty Upgrade, Luck-Gathering Shrine!

"Zhou Yuanba's bounty has really been changed!" someone in the crowd whispered.

"Why is that?"

"Haven't you heard about what happened in Donghe Town? They say..."

Before the words were finished, as several new bounty posters were put up, the crowd began to buzz, and someone immediately noticed that Zhou Yuanba's bounty had increased by two levels.

"Butcher Zhou Yuanba, Seventh Grade Muscle Strengthening Realm, suspected to have completed Third-Time Yijin. A year ago, he resisted arrest and killed three Canghe Army officers. Yesterday in Donghe Town, he slaughtered the Guo Family... Has received Second-Class Merit in Canghe Demon Slayer Bureau three times. Bounty: three thousand taels, one Canghe Army Order, three hundred taels for clues provided."

Three times Second-Class Merit, three thousand taels in reward, plus a Canghe Army Order!

And just for providing clues, you can get three hundred taels of silver reward.

With a Canghe Army Order, you can become a Squad Commander in the Canghe Army. Even if you don't join the army, just having the title is enough—few in Canghe County would dare provoke you.

Moreover, one Canghe Army Order counts as a personal favor from the army itself. In Qingyun County, it's equivalent to the White Jade Order—no less in weight, arguably even greater. This favor within Canghe County is worth a fortune.

"Hiss, what a generous bounty! That Guo Family in Donghe Town, is it… that Guo Family?"

"Exactly the one you're thinking of. There's only that Guo Family in Donghe Town."

"Did you notice? Before, Zhou Yuanba was only listed as a First-time Yijin. Now, in just one year, he's suspected of having broken through to Third-Time Yijin. What on earth happened this past year?"

The onlookers in front of the Wanted List clicked their tongues in astonishment. After confirming the victims were from the Guo Family, no one doubted the richness of the reward any longer.

"Three times Second-Class Merit, one Canghe Army Order… Lord Zhao really is generous."

Su Mu swept a glance around, and became more certain in his heart—this Zhao Pingyuan, who governs the Canghe Demon Slayer Bureau, must know everything. This Guo Family was probably secretly supported by Lord Zhao all along.

Otherwise, how can one explain that as soon as Guo Lie died, the bureau's response was so swift, and they even put up a Canghe Army Order as part of the bounty?

"Maybe it also has to do with those account ledgers."

Su Mu understood that Lord Zhao was likely anxious now. Still, this had nothing to do with him for the moment, so Su Mu continued on to Jiuchen Workshop.

"Customer, would you like to try the new 'Hu Hu Wine'?" The young girl in the old wine shop suddenly looked up. Seeing who it was, she recognized Su Mu. "Eh? It's you?"

"What are you here for?"

"What, am I not welcome?"

Li Lu recalled how her father had been holed up in the brewing room as if possessed these last days, even forbidding his own beloved daughter to go in. "Did you give my father some kind of mind-altering soup? He keeps chanting 'distillation' these days." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Seeing the girl glaring at him suspiciously, Su Mu was just about to reply when hurried footsteps sounded from inside. "Lu'Er, is that Li outside?"

Soon after, the dark-skinned middle-aged man, Li Kang, came out with a blue cloth apron tied around his waist. When he saw it really was Su Mu, his face lit up with delight. "Li, that distillation method you spoke of the other day is truly incredible! Let me go pour you some of the new wine to taste..."

Li Kang was in the back. Li Lu shot Su Mu a glare. "Hmph, this time, no Hu Hu Wine for you."

Su Mu was momentarily stunned, then just smiled. Before long, Li Kang brought out a bowl of wine.

"Li, this is the new wine I've tinkered with these past days, using that distillation method you described. Try it!"

The wine in the bowl was much clearer than what Su Mu had tasted before, surprising him—he had just casually mentioned it the other day.

So Su Mu took a sip. The liquor burned like a knife going down, a slightly painful sear running down his throat and setting his belly aflame—a heat much stronger than before.

"How is it?"

Li Kang looked over full of anticipation.

"Shopkeeper Li, your brewing skills are amazing. This wine is far stronger."

"But Li, about that distillation process you spoke of, I still have quite a few questions. If you're free today, I'd like to seek your advice at length."

Li Kang's eyes shone with fervor and anticipation. This was a man who loved the art of winemaking deeply.

"There's no rush. I actually came today to buy wine—six hundred jugs: Hu Hu Wine and two other types, two hundred of each."

"How many?"

Li Kang was still caught up in the excitement of learning more and didn't react at first, but Li Lu was shocked, staring in disbelief.

Their family's wine hadn't been selling well in the city—the sharp, throat-cutting taste just didn't sit well with the rich or the scholars.

Li Lu had tried convincing her father to make other varieties, but Li Kang was stubborn as a mule.

Six hundred jugs—that meant three hundred taels of silver. To Martial Artists, three hundred is nothing, but for common folk, it's a small fortune—enough to buy a sizeable house in the city!

All at once, stars glimmered in Li Lu's eyes as she gazed at Su Mu, who suddenly seemed to transform into a God of Wealth—however you looked, he seemed especially easy on the eyes.

"What? Li, why do you need so much wine? Why not buy a little less?" But soon Li Lu heard her fool of a father starting to bargain in the wrong direction.

"Your wine is good; I have my reasons for buying it. Less simply won't do, I want all six hundred." As he spoke, Su Mu took out three silver notes, each a hundred taels. "Six hundred jugs, three hundred taels."

"All right, we'll take this deal!" The girl rubbed her hands together, then, worried it looked improper, wiped them on her clothes before reaching out to take the notes, only to have Li Kang snatch them away and lightly tap her forehead.

"Girl, are you trying to crawl into a pile of money?"

"Father..."

The girl winced, a wronged look on her face.

"Li, you'd better keep your money for now."

Su Mu waved a hand, "Li, I do need this much wine—it's for a Commerce Association order."

Li Kang finally realized Su Mu wasn't joking after seeing the receipt. Only then did he hesitate. "Li, I might not have all six hundred at once, but I can probably gather one or two hundred in a batch."

"Then deliver it in two batches, please have them sent to Ancient River Commerce Association."

Deal struck, Li Kang couldn't wait to pull Su Mu inside to talk shop, leaving Li Lu at the counter, her slender fingers lovingly stroking the silver notes, humming a little tune.

"Hmph, Father really is slow-witted... These silver notes feel wonderful."

Inside, Li Kang had Su Mu sit down for an in-depth chat. Su Mu was intrigued to find the distillation apparatus Li Kang had fashioned was already taking shape.

He promptly described for Li Kang the equipment used for distillation in his previous life, which blew Li Kang's mind with its wild imaginings.

Seeing Li Kang so obsessed, Su Mu also gave a rough rundown of brewing techniques and devices from his past world, making Li Kang's eyes shine even brighter—he was absolutely awestruck.

"Li, you are truly a Divine Being!"

Su Mu's face flushed at such praise. Having just had lunch, he was nearly pressed to stay for dinner and the night, but only managed to refuse after much insistence.

"Li, you must visit Canghe City again soon! I'll let you taste my newest brew!"

"Definitely, definitely!"

Su Mu waved goodbye.

By the time he left the shop, the noon hour had barely passed, but as he pushed open the wooden door, the setting sun was already blood-red in the sky.

"Time to head back."

The next day, Guzhou Town was filled with gongs and drums, firecrackers going off in celebration.

A chestnut-red steed stepped to the clang of cymbals; the groom, resplendent in his bright red robe, cast joy over the whole street; Miss Li, her phoenix crown shimmering and pearl veil swaying with each step of the bridal sedan, was escorted by two maidservants.

The wedding procession, instead of heading to the groom's house, turned off toward the east of the town, to a new ancestral hall still under construction. Its ebony plaque was still shrouded in red silk.

The bride and groom knelt devoutly to pay their respects at the hall, then continued on their way out of town.

Soon, a pack of seven or eight young children sprang out at the corner, shouting crisply, "No wedding sweets, no way through!" Li Family's maids and the groom's attendants laughed as they tossed longans, candied jujubes, and red-wrapped wedding sweets, sending the crowd scrambling to snatch them up.

Amid the crowd, a silent figure watched it all. Once the wedding procession had gone, he walked into the unfinished ancestral shrine. Looking up, he saw four bold characters peeking out from under the silk: Li Feiyu Shrine.

Su Mu felt a ripple at his brow, and as his eyes narrowed, he caught a fleeting, nearly imperceptible glimmer of Destiny at the spot where the couple had knelt.

Stepping into the shrine, Su Mu felt an indescribable and subtle sensation in his heart. The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss at his brow pulsed with heat.

"A living shrine gathers fortune... Perhaps this is a fateful opportunity, but it can't be forced."

As he left the town, a Li Family servant looked vacantly after the receding wedding party—then, seeing Su Mu, warmly pressed a handful of wedding sweets into his hand.

"Take some good luck with you!"

"Thank you."

Taking the wedding sweets, the young man smiled and left the town.