adbindia Chapter 399 - 234: Ten Thousand Tael Bounty, Murder at the Tavern!
Chapter 399 - 234: Ten Thousand Tael Bounty, Murder at the Tavern!
"Crack, crack, crack—"
The Rice Hat Wanderer put on the conical hat, and the young handsome face beneath it quickly transformed into an ordinary face. Bathed in the bright moonlight, the Rice Hat Wanderer turned and left.
After leaving the land of white mist, Su Mu returned to that cave, but unfortunately, the cave’s owner still had not returned.
As he walked out from the depths of the mountains, Su Mu was somewhat surprised to find that after a month, the traces of demon beast activity in the Qifeng Mountain Range had increased significantly, and there were also many traces left by human martial artists.
Although the mountain path was rugged, Su Mu moved as gracefully as a dragon, walking effortlessly.
Along the way, a demon beast or two barely showed themselves, only to suddenly raise their fur in fear upon catching Su Mu’s scent, then whimper and flee in a panic, as if encountering a natural enemy.
The demon beasts’ response caused Su Mu to pause slightly, and his original interest in conveniently hunting a few beasts vanished instantly.
"Truly bold like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. Just recently, a Seventh-Grade expert from the Canghe Commerce Association lost contact at Qi Peak, yet this kid dares to venture alone..."
"Ignorant of life and death, at his age, he’s at most eighth grade. Surviving this time was just lucky. If there’s a next time, he might just die on that mountain."
On the way down the mountain, several accompanying martial artists from the Three Counties and old hunters widened their eyes. Even traveling in groups, they dared not easily venture deep into Qi Peak, as it was rumored that a terrifying demon beast resided in the depths of the mountain, sometimes roaring loud enough to shake the mountain, causing ordinary beasts to flee in fear.
Watching the young man walk out alone from the depths of the mountains, everyone glanced sideways and began murmuring lowly.
Before daybreak.
Midway up Bailu Mountain, two jugs of wine were quietly placed before a tombstone.
With the crow of a rooster, the world brightened, and Su Mu returned to Qingyun City. At the city gate, an exceptionally conspicuous government wanted notice and a top-level Demon Slayer Bureau wanted order were posted brightly.
"Li Feiyu, a martial artist of the Sixth Grade Five Extremes Realm, formerly a Golden Order Blade Catcher of the Demon Slayer Bureau, highly skilled, adept with a one-zhang red spear, with a fierce fist technique, usually wears a rice hat and conical hat... On the night of May 17th, the Thirteenth Year of Tianwu, he attacked and killed Sima Tao Xingzheng six miles outside of Qingyun City and fled to avoid punishment. Those providing clues are rewarded three hundred taels; capturing or killing him earns a first-class merit from the Demon Slayer Bureau of Qingyun, Cang River, and Changfeng Counties, two times, a reward of ten thousand taels, and the conferment of an eighth-grade martial position."
Su Mu looked with interest at his own wanted notice, and after a glance, his gaze paused on the line ’usually wears a rice hat and conical hat’.
No wonder after his appearance, many people occasionally gave him scrutinizing looks. Su Mu silently took off his conical hat at that moment.
"Two first-class merits, ten thousand taels of silver, and an eighth-grade martial position... Truly grand gestures."
Su Mu nodded to himself with satisfaction at his current worth, seeing that the Three County Government Office and Demon Slayer Bureau placed great importance on him.
The ten thousand tael award for a first-class merit was secondary; this time, they directly offered an eighth-grade martial position as a reward.
It’s known that Li Qiu, the current Qingyun County Captain, is also only at an eighth-grade martial position, granted official status through the Golden Order examination. Now his own bounty reaches this level. If not for the requirement that a bounty be verified, he even considered for a moment completing the bounty himself.
Shortly after, even though Su Mu voluntarily removed his conical hat, he was still thoroughly questioned by the city guards before being allowed to pass wearing his rice hat.
Once within Qingyun City, Su Mu headed straight to the Yunhe Clinic at Wine Dust Lane. Since Su Mu left, the clinic had been closed for nearly a year. Yet upon arrival today, he still saw several people lingering outside the clinic.
"Old man, you’re not from Qingyun City, are you? Pharmacist Lin might have gone traveling with his disciple. The clinic was closed since late last fall. If you need medical attention, you’d better go to another clinic."
A vendor with a wonton stall outside the clinic noticed the elderly man lingering and offered a reminder.
"Is that so? Thank you for the information."
The elderly man seeking treatment showed a regretful expression upon hearing this, shook his head, and left with a sigh. As they conversed, a fresh breeze blew into the clinic, unnoticed by either of them.
With the clinic closed for nearly a year and the absence of the Little Doctor to tend to it, the medicine field inside had become overgrown with weeds, and the creeping path covered in moss.
"Pharmacist, this kid is a bit early this year, so I brought some fine wine to see you... After parting today, once things are resolved here, I’ll be leaving Qingyun; I plan to head to Qingzhou first..."
"Rest assured, when I return next time, I’ll bring Xiaoyue to meet you, and then the three of us can drink together again."
Su Mu took out ten jugs of wine, speaking as he tipped his head back and drank. He downed five jugs himself and poured the remaining five before carefully placing two more jugs among the bamboo.
By nightfall, Su Mu in the bamboo grove let out a quiet sigh. With his current Fifth Refining Force Gang Force Realm, he didn’t need to deliberately activate it, as the Gangjin Pill in his dantian would circulate naturally with his breath.
One could say that even if Su Mu stopped practicing martial arts and let his martial skills waste away, the Gang Force within him would still grow more vigorous with time. This was one of the many strengths of condensing a Gangjin Pill after Fifth Refining Force.
And as Su Mu stepped into the Middle Third Grade, refining his heart, transforming his Gang Force into Attribute Gang Force, this became even stronger.
Because of this, Su Mu found it hard to get drunk, unless he consciously sealed his Gang Force. Otherwise, the self-circulating Gang Force would digest any alcohol entering his body.
But even without Gang Force, with his immensely strong physique forged from Jiao Tendons and Jade Bones, it was difficult to become drunk; ordinary wine couldn’t achieve this.
The eyes slowly opening in the bamboo grove were deep and clear without a trace of drunkenness, leaving Su Mu somewhat helpless. Sometimes being so powerful didn’t seem to be entirely beneficial.
"Pharmacist, the kid’s leaving now."
...
The Forging Workshop was quite lively tonight.
Woohoo!
A chestnut-red steed neighed, its head held high, and the carriage slowly stopped outside the Forging Workshop. Before it fully came to a halt, someone lifted the curtain from inside.
"Father, Mother, I’m going to find Sister Qiao’Er!"
Wearing a pale yellow silk skirt, Li Xuan leaped down from the carriage and eagerly ran towards the Forging Workshop, where Wu Qiao’Er had been waiting for a while. She joyfully led Li Xuan into the depths of the workshop.
"Xuan’Er, slow down, slow down."
Several calls came from inside the carriage, and Li Qiu quickly helped a beautiful woman down from the carriage.
"I, Wu, welcome County Magistrate Li."
"Today there is no County Magistrate Li here, only Li Qiu." Li Qiu glanced at Wu Lie with displeasure and said, after the battle of Changfeng, Tao Xingzheng was promoted to Sima of One County, leaving the position of Qingyun County Magistrate vacant. Li Qiu, one of the war heroes, was thus elevated to the current Qingyun County Magistrate.
"I misspoke, Mr. Wu. Later I will punish myself with three cups. Come on, come on, tonight we won’t go home until we’re drunk."
Wu Lie laughed heartily; he and Li Qiu had been friends for more than twenty years, which was quite deep.
Drinking was a man’s affair, while the women paired up and walked into the workshop, chatting about household matters. Nowadays, the most talked-about topic was the marriage of Li Xuan and Wu Qiao’Er, as both were of a marriageable age.
The women were slightly startled by a few reprimanding voices, pausing mid-step. Upon careful attention, they realized these voices came from within the Profound Iron Forging Room.
"Zhou Er Gou, you blockhead!"
"Master Chen, please calm down, don’t hurt yourself with anger. It’s my stupidity."
"Stupidity, stupidity, you say it eight hundred times a day. If it were that Su the kid... forget it, let’s stop here for today."
Soon, the doors of the Profound Iron Forging Room swung open with a bang, and Chen Yuntian stormed out, his face flushed with anger.
"Is that Master Chen Yuntian? Who was being reprimanded? Is that Master Chen’s new disciple?" Li Xuan’s mother curiously asked.
"That Zhou Lei is the disciple Master Chen recently took in. He was originally a blacksmith from Baihe Town in Changfeng County."
"Oh? A person from Baihe Town? I wonder how Master Chen Yuntian discovered him and took him as a disciple?"
"The matter is actually quite simple."
"Why?"
"This person was recommended by Master Su Mu..." The woman lowered her voice, "Although Master Chen Yuntian is strict in scolding, I heard my husband privately say that Zhou Lei has excellent talent and is straightforward and honest. However, compared to Master Su Mu, he is naturally far inferior."
"The title of Master Su, my husband often speaks of it too. He said that Master Su Mu’s talent for forging is extraordinary, even in the Commandery City. Anyone who can catch the eye of Master Su is naturally extraordinary."
"Congratulations, in time, your workshop will surely produce another master."
The women chatted quietly as they walked past the front yard.
In the back courtyard, after leaving the forging room, Chen Yuntian soon went to the deep courtyard to attend the banquet. In addition to Wu Lie and Li Qiu, Masters Zhao Ju and Lin Ruoshui had also arrived.
"I’m furious! Zhou Er Gou, that blockhead, really can’t compare to Su the kid back then."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ju and Lin Ruoshui gave Chen Yuntian a glance, as if to say: Isn’t it obvious? How can people compare to a prodigy? Old Chen was angered into saying such nonsense.
After three rounds of drinks, the least capable drinker, Li Qiu, was the first to be drunk by Wu Lie and the three masters. He quickly fell asleep on the table.
"Lord Li, another one!"
"Stop shouting, he’s already passed out drunk."
"Hic... passed out already?"
Chen Yuntian’s hand holding the wine cup hung mid-air when suddenly slow and steady footsteps were heard outside the courtyard. The three masters and Wu Lie looked up and involuntarily trembled, the wine-inspired haze cleared, as a familiar figure came into view.
"Three masters, Uncle Wu... I’ll join you for drinks in the second half."
That night, the drinking never ceased within the grand hall. During the revelry, no one knew what the five men were saying, and jar after jar of wine was opened.
In the end, the sound of snoring was one after another on the table, with four more people added after Li Qiu.
Su Mu drained the last bowl of wine, stood up calmly, and left.
...
In June, the fragrance of Canghe Jiuchen Workshop’s wine was intoxicating.
It was the hottest period of summer. The shirtless men in the brewing room by the riverside were busy stepping across the scorching blue-brick ground.
It is said that brewing in June makes the brew durable; at this time, the workshop had to turn the yeast day and night, adjusting the stack of yeast every two hours to prevent mold.
"Turn the yeast!"
At this moment, yeast bricks were stacked like small mountains in the workshop, and the steaming heat mixed with the sweet scent of malt could be smelled. A hoarse voice pierced through the steam, indicating the busy period.
Deep within Jiuchen Workshop, a narrow alley hung with a black wine flag, the old wine shop’s dual wooden doors were tightly shut, a layer of dust had settled on the copper lock, seemingly closed for a period of time.
Seeing this, Su Mu’s pupils constricted, his heart tightened in his chest, and he suddenly recalled the two letters from Li Kang inviting him. He immediately realized that something might have happened to the wine shop.
Just as Su Mu’s mind was racing, he felt a presence and looked towards the alley entrance, where a figure turned around following the light footsteps.
Since the last meeting, the girl from the old wine shop seemed much more mature, her eyes no longer naively carefree as they once were; however, Li Kang’s figure was not by her side.
"Li Lu?"
"Li Yu... are you Li Yu?"
Recognizing Su Mu, the young girl’s face showed a look of surprise, and she ran into the alley before Su Mu could ask about the wine shop’s closure.
A sudden gleam of cold light appeared at the girl’s sleeve!
A dagger was tightly gripped by the girl, trembling and swiftly stabbing toward Su Mu’s heart.
...