Free Web NovelChapter 46: Chapter 46: Entering the Inner City
"Who’s there?!"
Yang Jin was startled by the sudden voice. He pulled a dagger from somewhere, gripping it tightly as he took a defensive stance.
The moment he spoke, he saw a flash of light.
A streak of white light shot out like a waterfall.
It was Su Mu who had struck.
CLANG!
With a crisp ring, Su Mu’s figure swayed slightly.
The newcomer stumbled back three steps, flicking their long saber back so the tip pointed diagonally at the ground.
"Wait! Don’t attack!"
Yang Jin suddenly shouted, leaping between the two and holding out his hands to stop them.
By this time, Su Mu had gotten a clear look at the other person.
It was the same helper Xing Zhao Fu had summoned during the assault on the Black Dragon Stronghold. His name seemed to be Wei Yongfu.
Su Mu had a deep impression of Wei Yongfu’s ferocity and was now on high alert.
Wei Yongfu was able to fight the leader of the Black Dragon Stronghold to a standstill, and his strength was no less than that of the former South City Bureau constable chief, Xing Zhao Fu. He was definitely an expert at the Third Stage of Body Tempering.
As for the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering—never mind the first two stages—reaching the third stage already made one an expert in all of Wuling City.
Aside from the Taiping Bureau, those at the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering in Wuling City could be counted on one hand. Every single one was a major figure who could shake the entire city with a stomp of their foot.
Su Mu could barely hold his own against someone at the Second Stage of Body Tempering, but he was definitely no match for someone at the Third Stage of Body Tempering.
"It really is Saber Intent!"
Wei Yongfu looked at Su Mu, a flash of envy in his eyes.
He had practiced the saber for thirty years, and his technique had long since reached the Realm of Perfection, yet he had never been able to take that next step.
He could never quite grasp Saber Intent.
How could he not be envious, seeing a young man more than a decade his junior who had already comprehended Saber Intent?
"Wei Yongfu, what’s the meaning of this?"
Before Su Mu could speak, Yang Jin growled, "If Su Mu hadn’t killed the leader of the Black Dragon Stronghold back then, the grass on your grave would be a foot high by now.
Are you trying to repay kindness with enmity now?"
"There’s no need to be nervous. If I had wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have made a sound just now."
Wei Yongfu shook his head and said, "Besides, he’s comprehended Saber Intent. I’m not necessarily his match."
"Old Yang, he has no killing intent," Su Mu said. During their probing exchange just now, he could feel that Wei Yongfu had deliberately held back his strength and harbored no killing intent.
"You’re Brother Wei, correct? To what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night visit?"
Su Mu said, holding his long saber in a reverse grip and cupping his hands in a salute.
"I was hired to kill you."
Wei Yongfu said.
Yang Jin, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, felt his heart leap back into his throat.
If he hadn’t seen that Wei Yongfu had no intention of attacking, he would have already told Su Mu to run.
"You can’t kill me."
Su Mu said calmly.
"True."
Wei Yongfu nodded. "You’ve mastered Saber Intent. Your strength is greater than anyone imagines. I’m not confident I can kill you."
Hearing this, Yang Jin’s face filled with surprise.
He knew Wei Yongfu’s identity—a famous Ghostwriter in Wuling City who took people’s silver to solve their problems.
The man was born with skin like bronze and possessed immense strength. Although he only had a Second Realm of Body Tempering Cultivation, he could hold his own even against an ordinary expert at the Third Stage of Body Tempering.
And now he was saying he wasn’t sure he could beat Su Mu?
’Just how strong is Su Mu now?’ freewebnovel.cσ๓
Yang Jin was filled with shock and doubt.
"Who wants me dead? Hu Yuxing? Zhao Ji? Or Xu Mingchen?"
Su Mu asked.
"According to the rules of the Jianghu, I can’t tell you."
A flicker of surprise crossed Wei Yongfu’s face; it seemed he hadn’t expected Su Mu to have so many enemies.
"You saved my life once, so I’m saving yours now."
Wei Yongfu continued, "I won’t make a move on you this time."
With that, he suddenly untied a pouch from his back and tossed it to Su Mu.
Su Mu caught it easily, feeling its considerable weight.
"The client offered one thousand taels for your head. This silver came about because of you, so by the rules of the Jianghu, we split it. Here’s five hundred taels."
Wei Yongfu said.
Su Mu was speechless.
’What kind of Jianghu rule is this?’
"Wei Yongfu, you Ghostwriters can just take the money and not do the job?"
Before Su Mu could speak, Yang Jin couldn’t help but ask.
"Ill-gotten gains taken with a clear conscience."
Wei Yongfu said.
Su Mu and Yang Jin both gave him a thumbs-up.
"The client gave me three days to kill you. So for the next three days, no other Ghostwriter will take this job."
Wei Yongfu continued, "But after three days, I’m afraid the client will hire someone stronger to kill you."
"So you’re saying if Su Mu wants to seek refuge with one of the four great families, he should do it soon."
Yang Jin mused, "If he joins one of the four great families, the client won’t dare to hire assassins anymore?"
Wei Yongfu nodded.
Yang Jin looked at Su Mu and said, "It seems you’re out of options. You have to pick one of the four great families."
"Why don’t you draw me a map of the major powers in the Inner City, Old Yang? I’ll head into the Inner City tomorrow to check them out and see which one suits me best."
Su Mu said with a smile.
"No need for that trouble. I have a map of the Inner City right here. It’s yours."
Wei Yongfu pulled a piece of parchment from his robes and handed it to Su Mu.
Yang Jin was speechless.
’He knew Su Mu hadn’t given up on the Taiping Bureau and was just thinking of how to talk him out of it. Damn you, Wei Yongfu, why do you have to be so nosy!’
"Brother Wei, you have something this good? Thank you so much!"
Su Mu said in pleasant surprise. He opened the parchment and immediately spotted a location marked with a red circle.
"We Ghostwriters risk our lives for money, so we have to be clear about where we can and can’t go."
Wei Yongfu noticed Su Mu’s gaze and said, "That’s the Taiping Bureau’s Government Office in Wuling City. If you don’t want to die, stay far away from it."
Yang Jin rolled his eyes dramatically, already cursing Wei Yongfu out in his head.
But on second thought, it would be useless even if Su Mu went. He probably wouldn’t even be able to get past the Taiping Bureau’s main gate.
’It might be good for him to go. He can finally give up on that idea.’
Wei Yongfu left soon after. Yang Jin tidied up a room for Su Mu to stay in.
In the middle of the night, Su Mu heard Yang Jin go out. He knew Yang Jin was a man with a past and didn’t pry.
Seeing that it was now midnight, he lay in bed and, with a thought, summoned his system panel.
[Name: Su Mu]
[Identity: Constable Leader (Official)]
[Points: 45]
[Cultivation Technique: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Technique (Major Accomplishment)]
[Martial Arts: Submerging Wave Saber Technique (Perfection), Archery (Beginner)]
’Hu Yuxing just called me Constable Xiao Su, but it wasn’t a formal appointment, so I’m still a squad leader. However, because I caught the arsonist, my ’performance’ was high, and my earnings today reached forty Points.’
Su Mu was very satisfied with the change in the number of Points on his panel.
It would take one thousand Points to advance the Golden Scale Skin Tempering Technique from Major Accomplishment to Perfection. At this rate, he could achieve Skin Tempering Perfection in a month at most. If he could successfully join the Taiping Bureau, the process would likely be even faster.
Filled with anticipation, he tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
At the first light of dawn, Su Mu was already up, unable to wait any longer. Without waking Yang Jin, who had only returned just before dawn, Su Mu vaulted over the wall and headed toward the Inner City.
He had worked so hard for so long, and this day had finally come.
...
