High-Martial World: System Arrives 30 Years Late-Chapter 252 - 215: SSS-Class Bounty Order, False Saints Atop the Tower!
The second envelope looked much thicker than the first.
Inside it were several old newspapers and two sheets of paper, one large and one small.
After Su Mu spread out the large sheet, he found it to be an old reward notice. The issuer of the notice had been torn off, but a partial character "Saint" remained.
[Reward Level: SSS]
[Reward Target: Sima Xie]
[Martial Arts Realm: Sixth Level Initial Stage]
[Reward: None]
[Time Limit: Unlimited]
The target is only at the Sixth Level Initial Stage?
How could such an existence warrant an SSS-class reward level?
Suspicion flickered in Su Mu’s eyes as he continued reading.
The reward section was blank, and the time limit was unlimited.
This reward notice was full of mysteries. Not only was the target’s strength seriously mismatched with the reward level, but there was no reward, not even a description of what the target had done.
With doubts in his mind, Su Mu quickly unfolded the second piece of paper, his pupils contracting slightly.
[Sima Lin: Vice-President of Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall, father of Sima Xie...]
[Sima Jingshu: Third wife of Overlord Blade Martial Saint, sister of Sima Xie...]
In an instant, Su Mu understood everything.
It wasn’t that the reward target Sima Xie was particularly strong, but that the people behind him were unfathomable. To be precise, Sima Xie was currently the brother-in-law of the Overlord Blade Martial Saint.
The Overlord Blade Martial Saint was one of the Huaxia Martial Saints and the founder of the Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall.
Killing Sima Xie would inevitably anger his Ninth Level sister-in-law, the Overlord Blade Martial Saint. The consequences of provoking a Martial Saint would be unimaginable and bring endless troubles...
No one wants to endure the wrath of a Martial Saint.
Su Mu took a deep breath and then spread out several old newspapers. The dates on them were from twelve years ago, and one section was circled in red.
"Long Province, Northern Section of Qilian Mountain experienced a mountain fire at night. Man Niu Village, with 120 households and 321 people, perished in the sea of fire..."
The second was from fifteen years ago.
"Long Province, Minshan River West Section, a family of four from Wuli Village unfortunately encountered a mountain flood and died..."
Su Mu quickly finished reading all the newspapers and found they were all related to ’natural disasters’. At this moment, Su Mu had a terrifying guess in his heart as he looked toward Sikong Zhi.
Sikong Zhi nodded and spoke in a deep voice.
"That’s right, everything is as you think. These are not natural disasters but human-made calamities."
With one sentence, Su Mu’s suspicions were confirmed.
His heart sank, and he didn’t continue to ask anything. Everything was laid out before him. If these were not natural disasters but human-made, then the one who committed these crimes could only be Sima Xie.
If the crimes detailed in the newspapers were truly all committed by Sima Xie, then by law, he could be shot for several minutes without stopping, and all his hundred lives would not be enough to atone.
Yet Sima Xie was still alive...
For a moment, anger surged within Su Mu.
"In these events, a very few survivors exist. Some have not given up even after more than a decade, some have knelt and prayed before the statues of Martial Saints in the seven Saint Martial Universities across the country, with the longest prayer lasting over a month..."
"In the end, Qingfeng Martial Saint couldn’t bear it, so Sima Xie was placed on the reward list of South China Saint Martial University..."
To this, Su Mu snorted coldly.
"If that’s the case, why haven’t the Martial Saints taken action personally? It’s been more than ten years..."
Upon hearing this, Sikong Zhi’s face changed dramatically, and he interrupted in a deep voice.
"Su Mu, I offer you a word of advice: be cautious in your words and actions."
"When Saint Level martial artists engage in a major conflict, it will not just concern Sima Xie; do you realize how many innocent people will be affected and how severe the consequences could be?"
Su Mu understood what Sikong Zhi meant.
The Martial Saints would not personally get involved in Sima Xie’s affairs, and people like Sikong Zhi could not take action either. What was needed was a sharp blade, a blade to break the deadlock.
And right now, Su Mu was the killing saber that Qingfeng Martial Saint had his eye on.
Qingfeng Martial Saint wanted him to use this blade to kill Sima Xie.
As for what would happen next, Su Mu could roughly guess. Once he, the young blade, killed Sima Xie, even if the other side sought revenge, the Martial Saint wouldn’t step in personally.
At that point, Qingfeng Martial Saint could take him under his wing in exchange for Sima Xie’s life.
But how could Su Mu ensure that Qingfeng Martial Saint would protect him after using him as a tool?
Rather than cooking the hunting dog after the deer’s death, hiding the good bow?
Even if this Martial Saint chose to protect him, how could he ensure that the other party would also not use a similar tactic later? For instance, choosing another blade for revenge, or retaliating against Su Mu’s family!
This matter was extremely complex, and once involved, it would be hard to extricate himself.
Sikong Zhi seemed to see through Su Mu’s thoughts and spoke up at an appropriate time.
"I understand what you’re worried about... you’re concerned about the Overlord Blade Saint Martial Hall behind Sima Xie and the Overlord Blade Martial Saint who stands behind them..."
"But a Martial Saint will not easily intervene in the feuds of the younger generation."
"And behind you, there is also the Saint Martial University, and the elder Qingfeng Martial Saint who will protect you."
"Moreover, once you pass the test, there’s a high possibility of inheriting his mantle and becoming a true successor to the Martial Saint. Do you know what that means?"
"This is the kind of opportunity that many Titled Grandmasters would envy."
"With the guidance of a Martial Saint, your future martial arts path will be smooth, and any resources, martial arts, and secret techniques will be open to you, and..."
"Governor Sikong, I understand." Su Mu spoke, pausing, then continued, "Do you have the contact or address information of those survivors who prayed at Saint Martial University? I would like a copy."
"Alright, I’ll have it emailed to you."
Su Mu silently packed the two letters and then spoke, "Governor Sikong, if there’s nothing else, I would like to leave first; my relatives and friends are waiting for me."
"Su Mu, wait a moment."
Sikong Zhi reached out and patted Su Mu on the shoulder, "Su Mu, your martial arts talent is excellent; the elder thinks highly of you."
"But sometimes, choices are far more important than talent. I hope you consider carefully before making a decision."
"I understand."
After leaving the rest area, a deep sense of disappointment flashed in Su Mu’s eyes. Yes, disappointment. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Previously, he had a reverence for the Martial Saint, but at this moment, a great disappointment had arisen within him.
"Hmph, can’t bear it?"
Su Mu was disappointed with the existing Martial Saints.
He began to doubt the Martial Saints and was skeptical about the so-called protection from Qingfeng Martial Saint. He completely distrusted a Martial Saint who could so easily use people as tools and pawns.
At this moment, the image of his teacher Wang Shuheng’s sincere admiration when first mentioning the Human Great Sage appeared in his mind.
In Su Mu’s opinion, a Martial Saint should be a powerful being like the Human Great Sage, someone who turns the tide for humanity. Such a figure is truly worthy of everyone’s respect.
But now, Su Mu couldn’t help but shake his head.
This Governor Sikong of the South China land referred to that so-called Qingfeng Martial Saint as the elder and couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity.
A Martial Saint should be a Great Sage of Humanity, engendering respect rather than being a fearsome, transcendent existence because of strength.
Such a Martial Saint is like a god overlooking the masses from the mountain’s peak or a high tower, standing above all.
The multitude of beings scattered like ants cannot call them by their true names, fearing them as gods, afraid to provoke a fraction of the Martial Saint’s wrath for fear of the divine punishment that would be too severe to bear!
But in Su Mu’s view, they are just martial artists with great power, nothing worthy of the title of ’Saint’, much less ’Martial Saint’. That’s all there is.
With a single thought, Cold Moon appeared in Su Mu’s hand. As the blade unsheathed, it emitted a fine blade cry.
"A blade should face outward, not inward."
"Likewise, the hardest part of the fist is meant for the enemy, while the palm is soft."
"If I, Su Mu, am fortunate enough to achieve Ninth Level Martial Artist, I must shatter the tower built on fear and cut down these Pseudo-Saints from the mountain peak..."
"Then everyone will be able to praise me, Su Mu, by my true name."
