Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 188 - 143: Fate in the Black Mist, Journey to Changfeng (Second Update)

"Everything is ready except for the demon blood... Now, we can start forging the great spear!"

Su Mu felt a fervor in his heart; the small goal he set on his first day entering the Forging Workshop was finally achieved one and a half years later. Now, he had Red Iron Essence obtained from the Lin Family Manor.

"Red Iron Essence is different from Cold Iron Essence; it contains Flame Qi and is fire attribute iron. It requires demon beast blood of the fire attribute to engrave inscriptions and perform spiritual infusion..." Su Mu thought swiftly, planning to take a trip to Changfeng County.

"As the end of summer draws near, the bounty I accepted from Changfeng County is also nearing its deadline. Before that, I can also look for Zhang Jin to see if he can help hunt a demon beast for fresh demon blood!"

Even among demon blood there is a difference, and freshly hunted demon beast blood is naturally more effective than aged demon blood, both for medicinal use and forging.

Since Su Mu was going to forge a great spear, he naturally wanted to use the best materials possible!

Moreover, Su Mu had an anticipation in his heart.

"It is often said that demon beasts are born with bodies perfect for Martial Arts training, even stronger than human martial artists of the same level. I wonder what it would feel like to fight a demon beast?"

While everyone at the Forging Workshop was engaged in discussions, Su Mu, the owner of the Hidden Dragon Forging Room, quietly left the workshop.

After leaving the Forging Workshop, Su Mu bought some pastries and then went to the second residence he had purchased at Changxing Square to collect twelve jars of good wine, six for medicinal purposes, and six for the Pharmacist.

In the past three months, Li Kang from Canghe County had sent the second batch of wine, and now only the final batch was missing.

Su Mu casually opened a jar of wine and drank it down.

"Such strength... Li Kang's wine is becoming more fragrant and robust. Indeed, every trade has its master, and Li Kang is certainly a lover of good wine."

Then, Su Mu went to the medical clinic.

In the study, the Pharmacist's eyes lit up when he saw the wine Su Mu brought, swallowing his saliva secretly, while the Little Doctor cast a sidelong glance.

"Master, your alcohol tolerance isn't great. Tonight, you can have at most two bowls."

"Three bowls."

"That's too much. How about two and a half?"

"Fine."

After chatting for a while, the Pharmacist sent the Little Doctor out for a bit, "My young friend, are you planning to leave Cyan Cloud for a while?"

"Pharmacist, your vision is indeed sharp."

The Pharmacist chuckled softly, somewhat mischievously glancing back to ensure the Little Doctor had indeed left the study, then he couldn't help but open a jar of wine, taking two clay bowls from the study cabinet, pouring a bowl for himself and one for Su Mu.

"My young friend, let's drink."

After taking a sip, the Pharmacist immediately coughed loudly, "This wine is truly strong, a very fine wine... You have a great tolerance, my young friend."

Su Mu drank his bowl of wine in one gulp. When he saw the Pharmacist hesitate as he picked up the wine jar again, he spoke up, "Wine can relieve a thousand woes but also erode the bones. Pharmacist, it's better to drink sparingly and rest more."

Since winter set in, Su Mu discovered that the Pharmacist's cough had considerably worsened, and he appeared much older than when they first met; his face now had more wrinkles.

"Cough, cough, cough... my young friend is right... but the greatest joy in my life is drinking, and thanks to you, or else Xiaoyue wouldn't have allowed me to drink any."

The Pharmacist smiled as he removed the clay seal from the wine jar, watching the wine pour into the bowl.

"Besides, although my tolerance isn't as great as yours, young friend, I'm aware of my own health. It's nothing serious."

Hearing this, Su Mu thought to himself that the Pharmacist's medical skills were beyond compare, something he could not match, and enjoying life while alive is indeed a blessing, so he said nothing more.

"By the way, who brewed this wine? It's becoming clearer and more fragrant like water."

"This wine is made by a father and daughter from the old winery at the Jiuchen Workshop in Canghe County, the man named Li Kang, who also loves wine."

"Old winery, Li Kang... good, I'll remember this, and I must visit them if I ever go to Canghe County."

Under the night sky, Su Mu rose to leave, and the Little Doctor reluctantly escorted him out of the medical clinic. The Pharmacist watched their figures, a complex emotion flashing in his murky eyes.

The Pharmacist understood some face reading techniques, but with this young friend, it was like trying to look through an unfathomable, drifting, dark mist; he couldn't see it clearly.

That night, Su Mu returned to his residence on Yanque Street, took along a new batch of medicinal wine, packed some outfits, and then left Qingyun City carrying a few flasks of wine.

Before heading to Canghe County, Su Mu made his way to Bailu Mountain outside Qingshui Town.

"Uncle Zhou, fellow masters... I'm visiting you a few days early this year."

In the early morning, as the mountain mist lingered, the young man rose and left, just as a flock of egrets spiraled high into the sky.

...

Two hundred miles east of Cyan Cloud, a mighty tributary of the Canglan River winds into the mountains, marking the path with a moss-covered stone stele half a zhang high, engraved with 'Cyan Cloud' facing south and 'Changfeng' facing north.

Changfeng County connects to the thousand-mile Qifeng Mountain Range in the north, surrounded on three sides by mountains. The old county records once noted, 'Nine out of ten households hunt, the people fierce', and there were bandits who once made themselves kings in the mountains. Past county magistrates faced resistance when trying to suppress the bandits, who would retreat deep into the mountains.

Even the government office feared them, as the Black Mountain Rebel Army, now a major force spanning three counties, originally came from the Qifeng Mountain Range area in Changfeng County.

The Rice Hat Wanderer from Cyan Cloud journeyed on, passing through mountain villages where he saw many hunters wearing animal skins, bearing white poplar bows and machetes at their waists.

"Bang!"

A pebble whizzed through the air, hitting a sparrow on the head with precision.

"Er Gou, it's a hit, it's a hit!"

Under the tree, several children wearing animal skin jackets cheered happily. The leader, a tanned, lean young man, tucked the birch slingshot at his waist, climbed the tree nimbly like a mountain cat, skillfully retrieving the sparrow and its nest.

"Excuse me, is Changfeng County in this direction?"

A calm voice came from behind. The young leader called Er Gou and the other children turned around and saw a Rice Hat Wanderer.

Just as the children were about to engage in conversation, the eleven or twelve-year-old Er Gou became cautious and stepped forward to block his companions.

"Walk thirty more miles in this direction to reach the county town..."

After speaking, Er Gou immediately led the group of children towards the village. Upon returning, some of the children couldn't help but ask curiously, "Er Gou, what's wrong?"

"That guy had a very dangerous aura, like... a Mountain Monarch from the mountain."

"A Mountain Monarch?!"

Just as Er Gou was about to explain further, an old hunter's call came from a distance, "Er Gou! Go sharpen the machete, you'll be coming up the mountain with me later; today, we've got to go deeper."

Outside the village, the Rice Hat Wanderer looked back at the village, withdrew his gaze, and slightly raised his eyes towards the direction the young man indicated.

"Such acute perception, but his martial arts have some deficiencies. My cloaking technique still needs improvement, ...is it due to hunting in the mountains since childhood?"

Some people are born different, and with training, they can develop certain 'aptitudes'. It's not uncommon, and the Rice Hat Wanderer didn't dwell on it, continuing his way towards the county town.

Within the azure stone ramparts, the copper bell at the eaves of the Changfeng County Magistrate's Office chimed in the twilight.

"Any news on the Cyan Cloud Blade Catcher who accepted the bounty?"

"Reporting to you, sir, there's no trace yet." The constable, bearing a Yanling Saber, kneeled on one knee, looking hesitant.

"Those who took the job before mostly fled or met misfortune; this person, I'm afraid..."