Chapter 34: In the Deep Woods, A Deer Appears—Sword Pointed East

A gentle breeze brushed their faces, morning willows glistened with dew, and deep in the woods, a deer appeared. At noon by the stream, no bells could be heard. A spotted deer, seeing Su Mu and his companions, raised its head to gaze at them, unafraid, twitched its ears and bounded away into the trees. Mr. Ji laughed heartily, inspired to recite a short poem.

“You have a refined taste, sir. Night Chen has already gone ahead; at most, we shall arrive at Dead Ridge City within a day.” Black Crow, empowered by his meridian force, let black light shimmer at his fingertips. He raised his hand to slash left and right, chopping away branches that blocked their path. Hearing Mr. Ji’s poetry, he stopped and walked over to him.

A little further ahead, Su Mu wielded a great sword, letting out a long howl as he cleared a path for the group. With a casual sweep, he felled several young trees and kicked aside a few large stones.

“Haha, look at this lad’s strength—though it’s truly a waste of energy. We’re only taking a slight detour, half a day at most, but he insists on blazing a trail for us, says he wants to stretch his limbs,” Black Crow laughed aloud, following Mr. Ji’s gaze.

“Let him be. Young men should move about more. Once we’re in the city, send word to have the Black Car bring the Netherbone with haste, along with everything else. Su Mu won’t be leaving here any time soon.” Mr. Ji turned back and climbed into his sedan, instructing Black Crow. With a slap, his eyes flashed a faint light, and the sedan rose, floating off the ground, gliding forward.

Su Mu, leading the way, chopped down a young tree, revealing a broad road ahead. On the road, a group turned to look at him, startled by the commotion. Su Mu himself was taken aback.

There were more than twenty in this party. Four or five in the lead, dressed in white and riding fine white horses. In the middle, a dozen or so ragged men and women, each shackled, their chains linked together to prevent escape. Among them, several held long whips and swords at their waists, lashing out and cursing loudly. Behind, more white-robed riders. It looked like a convoy escorting prisoners, though none wore official uniforms.

“Well now, where did this little fellow come from? Is he a hunter from Sparrow Mountain? Since you’ve run into us, don’t bother going back. Someone, lock him up and sell him with the others!” A man rode over, a fresh flower stuck in his cap, his voice shrill and grating.

Su Mu, ahead of the group, had barely shown himself before being singled out. Without even speaking, he found himself targeted, leaving him bewildered.

“I’m not a hunter. I’m headed to Dead Ridge City. What is it you’re doing?” As a few surrounded him, Su Mu raised his sword defensively, shouting angrily.

The flower-capped man cackled, “Hunter or not, it makes no difference. Crossing paths with Cloud Sky Sect’s sheep trade is unlucky for you. Wielding a sword and chopping trees without breaking a sweat—you must cultivate your vital essence, yes? You should surrender. Otherwise, you’ll be hurt and tossed in with these sheep.”

He called the captives ‘sheep,’ showing not a shred of pity. This attitude enraged Su Mu, who gritted his teeth. “You cultivators should be slaying evil, upholding justice, protecting the people. Otherwise, what use is your cultivation? Did you capture these people? Release them at once!”

His words left the Cloud Sky Sect group momentarily stunned, then they burst into laughter. Some doubled over, clutching their stomachs, others wiped tears from their eyes, laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

“Where did this ridiculous brat come from? Uphold justice, protect the people—ha ha ha!”

“We cultivators are so wicked, how could we oppress the people? We should all kill ourselves here, lest this young hero finish us off with a wave of his hand!”

“It’s true, it’s true. Best bow to the young hero, apologize, release these oppressed sheep, gift them silver and see them safely home.”

Their jeering and mockery echoed, making Su Mu’s face flush with shame and anger.

“Run, young man! Rare to see someone with a conscience—don’t throw your life away!” shouted a man in chains beside Su Mu, about forty years old. Immediately, a whip cracked across his back, leaving a bloody welt.

“Stop!” Su Mu roared.

Three Star Sources spun in his abdomen, meridian force flooding his body. Raising his sword overhead, he brought it down heavily toward the man wielding the whip.

The flower-capped man barked, “Trying to fight? Kneel!” With a flick of his wrists, dozens of star-shaped lights shot from his sleeves toward Su Mu’s legs. Ignoring them, Su Mu pressed on, sword descending. The whip-wielder coiled his whip, holding off the sword’s strike.

The star lights embedded themselves in Su Mu’s body, crackling loudly. They revealed themselves as plum-blossom shaped darts. But Su Mu’s body, tempered and fortified by meridian force, was impervious. The darts bounced off, falling to the ground.

Seeing the whip-wielder resist his sword, Su Mu switched from striking to slicing. With a hiss, his sword severed the whip into pieces, scattering them. The sword continued its arc, smashing down before the man, its blade burying deep in the earth.

This blow revealed Su Mu’s true strength—his body, strengthened by the myriad-poison reincarnation bath and growing meridian power, delivered a force as heavy as a mountain. The whip-wielder, struck by its might, turned pale, cold sweat streaming down, legs buckling as he fell to his knees.

The flower-capped man saw his plum-blossom darts had no effect, grew uneasy, and frantically unleashed dozens more orchid-shaped spikes. The plum-blossom darts leapt from the ground, swirling in the air, joining the orchid spikes to swarm Su Mu like angry bees.

Su Mu covered his face with his left hand, raised his sword with his right, ignoring the flying darts and spikes as he charged at the man. Panic-stricken, the man shouted, “This kid’s trouble! Don’t just watch—attack together!”

The others, who had been amused, now realized Su Mu was no pushover. Without waiting for orders, they rushed forward, casting spells.

Dozens of meters away, Mr. Ji and Black Crow were still conversing.

“Sir, Su Mu is important, but we can’t delay with Crown Prince Lingran in the capital. If those petty villains invent more charges against you, it could be troublesome,” Black Crow whispered.

“I know, but I must stay for Su Mu. Once his bone transformation begins, I’ll return to the capital. This is a critical moment. Both matters can’t be handled at once; we must choose the more important. Have Shang Yi linger for a few days, send word of major events, let her handle the minor ones,” Mr. Ji replied after some thought.

As they spoke, sounds of battle reached them. They hurried from the woods onto the road, finding Su Mu beset by white-robed attackers. Despite his strengthened body, his cultivation was low, and he was already battered and wounded. The road was alive with fire, wind blades, flying swords, and boulders. Su Mu struggled to fend them off, sword in hand.

Mr. Ji was furious. “Black Crow, deal with them all—how dare they put on such airs!”

Black Crow’s anger flared; Su Mu was someone Mr. Ji valued greatly, and these people dared to kill him. He replied, “Understood!” and transformed into a cloud of black smoke, plunging into the fray.

Black Crow shielded Su Mu, black energy surging around him, making him appear a giant formed of black flames. Flying swords, stones, and spells bounced off the black aura. Black Crow flung Su Mu from the battlefield, then moved to confront the stunned white-robed group.

Within the black aura, Black Crow seemed a death god. All spells against him failed, and his speed was astonishing. With every gesture, he knocked the white-robed attackers to the ground, blood gushing from their mouths. Fortunately, he didn’t kill; otherwise, in less than half an incense stick’s time, they’d all be dead.

“Sir, shall I kill them?” Black Crow shouted, showing no regard for their lives.

“Friend, my name is Zheng Zongwei, of Cloud Sky Sect, disciple of Master Hong Meng—sixth disciple of the sect leader. We’re all cultivators; for my master’s sake, spare us!” the flower-capped man begged in a shrill voice, all pride gone.

Black Crow stomped on Zheng Zongwei, eliciting a spurt of blood. “Too much nonsense. What do I care about your sect? The master will decide.”

Mr. Ji's face was dark. “Cloud Sky Sect isn’t even among the major sects, yet your conduct rivals theirs. You dare attack my people? Luckily, Su Mu is unharmed; otherwise, I’d level your sect myself.”

“In my ignorance, I failed to recognize your esteemed student. In future, I’ll treat you with all due respect. Please forgive us, sir. These sheep are yours, and I’ll gift some sect elixirs and treasures to this young man to show our remorse.” Zheng Zongwei, despite his pain, knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.

“Bah! I don’t want your worthless elixirs. Release these people,” Su Mu interjected.

“Yes, yes, at once,” Zheng Zongwei hurriedly ordered the removal of all shackles and offered a fawning smile.

“Trouble already, before we even reach the city. Did you forget what I told you? Dead Ridge City is a deep pool—there are many captives in the city. How many can you save?” Mr. Ji scolded Su Mu, realizing the cause of their conflict.

Seeing Mr. Ji angry, Su Mu lowered his head and protested, “These people are chained like lambs, yet haven’t sinned. I couldn’t bear it.”

“The strong prey on the weak. Can you command everyone? Had I not been here today, you’d have been captured and sold, becoming a lamb yourself. Man is the knife, I am the fish. Don’t you understand?”

Though freed, the captives did not run. They stared at Su Mu and his group in numb silence. The man who’d spoken earlier sighed, “Young man, thank you for your help. But we all possess Star Sources. The cultivators, to capture us, have killed our families. We have nowhere to go. Better to be sold—perhaps we’ll find a new home.”

His words made Su Mu step back in shock. Was this the answer he fought so hard for? For whom, and for what?

“Su Mu, do you realize how fortunate you are? Do you know how cruel this world is? Remember: only when you are strong enough that no one dares resist you, can you protect those you wish to protect. Otherwise, you’ll end up like these people—lambs to the slaughter.”