Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 172 - 132: Night Raid on Lin Family Manor, The Enemy of My Enemy (1st Update)

In an unnamed small mountain north of Qingyun City, the Flying Feather skill swiftly crossed through dense forests, casually leaving behind three corpses.

Su Mu was extremely familiar with this mountain; it was the place where he previously practiced martial arts like the Startled Sparrow Step and Vajra Body. Although there were no tigers or leopards in the mountain, there was a pack of wild wolves.

Corpses thrown into the mountain required no attention; by nightfall, they would be devoured by the wolves.

After dealing with the corpses, Su Mu did not delay; he identified the direction using the starlit night and headed southeast, driven by his usual swift and decisive manner.

The Lin Family Manor, located more than thirty li southeast of Qingyun City, had Lin Yun, the manor master, who was known for his benevolence and chivalrous spirit. He often distributed porridge to impoverished families and was well-regarded in the Cyan Cloud area; even the rebels were wary of attacking the Lin Family Manor lightly.

From afar, a sprawling estate lay at the foot of Qingfeng Mountain, like a fierce beast entrenched on the ground. It was deep into the night, but the depths of the Lin Family Manor were brightly lit.

Outside the Lin Family Manor, several guards, wearing strong outfits with long sabers strapped to their waists, stood outside the towering gate of the mansion. The dark walls were almost a zhang high, resembling the majesty of city walls.

In the ink-like night, Su Mu did not use his spiritual power. With his sharp senses, he saw on the tall walls random and disorderly steel nails with some remnants of old blood; anyone careless enough to climb over would surely be injured. These were arranged to prevent people from scaling the walls.

Such barriers naturally couldn't stop Su Mu; he merely flickered past, treating the walls and nails as nothing, deploying both the Perfect Shocking Sparrow Step and Great Success Flying Feather Skill.

He landed soundlessly from more than a zhang height, his foot touching the ground without a trace.

Not far away, a Lin Family servant, dozing against a corridor pillar, continued his sweet dreams as Su Mu melded into the night, using the Small Faceless Transformation Technique to erase his presence.

Though this martial art, inherited from the pharmacist, did have flaws, it was near perfection in Su Mu's hands. Although it was not comparable to the effect Bai Yi could achieve, a regular Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artist would struggle to detect even a hint of his presence.

Su Mu quickly noticed that, besides many foot guards carrying lanterns in the manor, there were also numerous hidden guards stationed in inconspicuous shadows and blind spots with steady, drawn-out breaths.

Tonight, even any Seventh-Grade Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artist would barely take a few steps before being discovered by these hidden guards, but as for Su Mu, his extraordinarily sharp senses allowed him to hear the subtle breathing of these guards.

"This Lin Family Manor indeed has a problem!"

How could an ordinary manor have such strict defenses? This place gave Su Mu the feeling that he was infiltrating a government stronghold rather than a common household's estate.

Su Mu experienced a similar sensation when the constable led him into the Canghe Demon Slayer Bureau, with a combination of visible and hidden guards.

Upon discovering the tight security, Su Mu's interest only intensified; he wanted to see what the Lin Family Manor was trying to protect.

So, Su Mu moved along the shadows, avoiding all visible and hidden guards, heading toward the brightly lit inner courtyard.

"Woof... Woof..."

A hunting dog, its coat black and shiny, limbs slender, suddenly focused on one spot, exposing its sharp teeth, growling lowly from its throat, its body lowering.

Immediately, the tall guard holding the dog's leash squinted his eyes, raised his torch, illuminating the direction the dog was fixated on.

"Who's there?"

The guard raised the torch with one hand and placed the other on the hilt of his long saber at his waist, striding towards the direction the dog was glaring at.

One step, two steps.

Snap.

Just then, a breeze passed, stirring the plum blossoms at the corner, breaking a twig, dislodging the snow resting on it, and startling a sparrow into flight, with the branch swaying then falling to the ground.

"Ah, so it's a sparrow... Of course, who would be so daring as to break into our manor?"

The guard glanced a few times, his tightly-knit brows relaxing.

He was about to turn around but met resistance; the dog he held continued to bare its teeth, growling at the corner, unwilling to leave.

Hmm?

Just as the guard prepared to turn once more, a burly figure emerged from the shadows like a fierce wolf charging at the guard.

The guard's heart trembled; as he hurried to draw his saber, the figure expanded endlessly in his pupils, as a calloused hand struck violently at his temple.

Thud!

The guard felt as though his head was hit with a heavy hammer, blood started flowing from his orifices, and before he could utter a single groan, his brain shattered, his body limp, collapsing to the ground.

Simultaneously, the figure's leg turned into an iron whip, kicking the biting hunting dog away, causing it to emit a pitiful squeal as it flew backward.

"Not good!"

"What was that noise? Who's there?!"

The brief clash turned the tranquil Lin Family Manor into chaos, as visible and hidden guards surged towards the disturbance.

"No matter, since I've been exposed, I'll fight my way out! I must escape!"

Looking down from the heights, numerous Lin Family Guards hearing the commotion raised their torches like a dragon of firebrand, storming with claws outstretched.

The burly man in black said nothing, opting to openly head for the Lin Family Manor gate.

"Kill him here!"

The martial artists of Lin Family Manor shouted in rage, drawing out blade handles which reflected cold gleams in the firelight, as they surrounded the black-clad figure that had appeared.

But the black-clad figure was evidently not someone easily defeated, barehanded, he fought against hundreds, his swift and fierce fists creating a howling wind, breaking bones with every move.

Screams filled the air, and one by one, the Lin Family Manor guards flew back like severed kites, while others were directly struck by the brute force, bleeding from their orifices, dying instantaneously.

However, the sheer number of Lin Family Manor guards was overwhelming, and although his strength was exceptional, his speed in breaking through was greatly slowed, obstructed by the guards.

As the sounds of fighting spread, dense footsteps accompanied by bright firelight approached, causing the burly man to glance back frequently towards the inner courtyard in panic.

Fear was clear on his face, as if something terrifying resided deep within the courtyard.

"He is formidable, but his Lightweight Skill is poor, and it seems difficult for him to break through alone... These Lin Family Manor people are quite strange."

On the rooftop, Su Mu, wearing a Cyan Wolf Mask, observed everything, with senses sharper than a hound catching sight of the man ahead.

"This guy escaped from the Lin Family Manor's inner courtyard... He's scared, scared of someone deep within the courtyard, could it be Manor Master Lin Yun?"

Su Mu watched the battle unfold, noticing the man's fearful demeanor and also the courageous, resolute ambush of the Lin Family Guards, which seemed odd to him.

Memories of three individuals infiltrating Su Mu's residence surfaced, after Su Mu killed one, the other two were terrified, and the remaining one was so scared that he knelt and begged for mercy.

Yet, the brawny man fleeing from the inner courtyard had just killed over a dozen, and the Lin Family Guards showed no fear, bravely continuing their siege.

This extraordinary quality couldn't be possessed by ordinary people.

If this were a well-trained army, Su Mu wouldn't be surprised, but he keenly observed that their martial arts did not follow a unified pattern, unlike those originating from military ranks.

"I am Commander Zhang Feng of the Cyan Cloud Army, under Magistrate Tao's orders... Are you bandits attempting treason, seeking to exterminate nine clans?"

Under Magistrate Tao's orders, one of the commanders of the Cyan Cloud Army, Zhang Feng!

Su Mu was startled, realizing this Lin Family Manor must have serious issues, situated just thirty miles outside Qingyun City, under the government's nose.

Despite this, Lin Family Manor dared to attack a commander of the Cyan Cloud Army; even the Five Great Powers of Cyan Cloud wouldn't act so blatantly. The true force behind Lin Family Manor seemed ready to reveal itself.

"It seems coming here tonight was the right decision."

"The enemy's enemy is a friend, helping him escape to report to Magistrate Tao. Even for the sake of face, Magistrate Tao would likely target the Black Mountain Rebel Army."

Su Mu had an idea, intending to lend this man a hand at the right time.

The mention of exterminating nine clans caused hesitation among many Lin Family Guards, giving Zhang Feng the chance to seize a long saber and charge towards the outer courtyard.

"Damn the Cyan Cloud Army Commander, brothers, don't listen to his nonsense, attack and kill him!"

Seeing Zhang Feng ready to break out, someone shouted angrily, and immediately one of the Lin Family Guards quietly detached from the crowd and headed towards the inner courtyard.

Su Mu noticed this closely, knowing the person must be going to relay the news. He had just roughly scouted the Lin Family Manor's inner courtyard without finding anything suspicious.

"Lin Family Manor must have some underground chambers, perhaps this person can lead the way."

With this thought, Su Mu decisively decided to act.

Immediately, both of Su Mu's fists shot out, streaks of purple lightning tore through the sky, amidst thunderous sounds, flesh flew and blood splattered, clearing a bloody path through the Lin Family Guards.

Gulp!

The scene startled everyone into a daze, even Zhang Feng swallowed suddenly, knowing if those thunderous fists hit him unexpectedly, he might survive but be severely injured.

"The person who attacked seems not to be an enemy, his target isn't me."

As Zhang Feng quickly considered his thoughts, he suddenly heard a low voice.

"Commander Zhang, quickly leave, the Cyan Cloud Army is about to arrive outside Lin Family Manor, I'll cover you!"

"Alright, brother, be careful. If I, Zhang Feng, can escape today, I will repay this great favor another day!"

Zhang Feng was overjoyed, recognizing the attacker was stronger than him, his presence would only hinder, not to mention he had a mission. Without hesitation, Zhang Feng reminded Su Mu to be cautious and immediately broke out.

After unleashing several punches, Su Mu ceased his attack, leaving Zhang Feng's potential escape to fate. Su Mu's figure flickered, quickly chasing after the messenger amidst the sound of cicadas.

Su Mu's Body Technique was too swift, and despite his earlier actions, few noticed his presence. The news of the Cyan Cloud Army's impending arrival shocked many, while Zhang Feng's charge drew even more attention from the Lin Family Guards.

Thus, Su Mu smoothly escaped, following the man to an inconspicuous small courtyard east of the inner courtyard. The man turned to ensure no one followed before closing the courtyard gate and immediately proceeding to a fake mountain behind the house. After a moment of searching, he pressed a spot on the fake mountain.

"Rumble!"

Amidst the sound of gears turning, the fake mountain trembled, causing a slight vibration through the ground, before splitting in two, revealing a dark passage leading underground.

Just as the Lin Family man quickly entered, a murderous intent emerged from behind.