Chapter 103 - 92: Assassination

Chapter 103: Chapter 92: Assassination

"Sir, why did you have me send Su Mu a message?"

The Inner City. The Wang Family’s Prince’s Mansion.

Wang Lai asked, a little puzzled, "Is this supply escort mission really dangerous?"

"It’s a possibility."

Wang Zang said lightly, "It’s best if there’s no danger. But if there is, you’ll have done him a favor. Either way, we don’t lose anything."

It didn’t matter if the Hu Family used this opportunity to make a move on Su Mu. By having Wang Lai deliver the warning, even if the Hu Family found out, he could simply claim that Wang Lai and Su Mu had a private friendship.

And that was the truth. After all, Wang Lai’s Autumn Water Saber was in Su Mu’s possession.

If Su Mu actually managed to survive the Hu Family’s attempt, then this gesture of goodwill might one day pay off.

’A gesture from Wang Lai is a gesture from the Wang Family, is it not?’

If Su Mu died outside the city, the Wang Family wouldn’t lose a thing.

In the end, it was just a matter of sending a small note—a favor that cost nothing.

...

"Beware the Hu Family."

Su Mu glanced impassively at the note in his palm. He rubbed his hands together, and the paper disintegrated into shreds.

’The Hu Family is behind the Xu Family? Is there something strange about this escort mission?’

Su Mu pondered internally.

There were only four words on the note, with a small saber drawn as a signature.

He was very familiar with the saber’s shape; it was the Autumn Water Saber currently hanging at his waist.

It was immediately clear who had sent the note.

Wang Lai.

Wang Lai was a member of the Wang Family. The fact that he had to resort to such a method to warn him, here in South City, meant that the Wang Family was unwilling to get directly involved.

Thinking back on how Wang Lai had been suddenly recalled to the Inner City by his family, Su Mu already had his suspicions.

’It seems the Xu Family’s connections are even more extensive than I imagined.’

’Even the Wang Family has backed down.’

’If the Hu Family is behind the Xu Family, then this must be their revenge,’

Su Mu thought to himself. ’They deliberately arranged for me to escort supplies, and then they’ll send people to kill me outside the city.’

’After all, the lands outside the city are fraught with danger. If I die, it will just be because my skills were lacking. It could never be traced back to the Hu Family.’

A cold smile appeared on Su Mu’s face.

’The Hu Family sure thinks highly of me, going to the trouble of luring me outside the city to make their move.’

’My status as a Taiping Bureau White Clothes must count for something. Otherwise, the Hu Family would have probably just killed me directly in South City.’

’When I killed Xu San, only Zheng Wang, his men, and Wang Lai saw it.’

’Zheng Wang and the others probably couldn’t discern my methods. Wang Lai might have, but he couldn’t be certain whether I had truly mastered a realm.’

’On the bright side,’ Su Mu thought, ’the Hu Family probably doesn’t know my true strength.’

’Even if Zheng Wang and Wang Lai betrayed me, they only know a fraction of my power.’

’On the other hand, if the Hu Family wants to ruin me, all they have to do is destroy these supplies.’

The more he thought about it, the more troublesome the situation seemed.

If he were alone, he could come and go as he pleased.

Even with all their power, the Hu Family couldn’t just casually dispatch experts of the Blood Transformation Realm.

If they sent Martial Artists at the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering, Su Mu could escape even if he couldn’t win.

But these supplies were another matter.

Losing the supplies was a major offense. If it came to that, he would not be able to return to Wuling City.

Although with his current strength he could easily establish himself elsewhere, he would have to start from scratch, abandoning the status he had worked so hard to build.

’In the end, it all comes down to my strength being insufficient.’

’If I were already at Bone Tempering Perfection, or even the Blood Transformation Realm, so what if I wiped out the Xu Family? Would the Hu Family dare to cause trouble for me?’

’If I really were in the Blood Transformation Realm, I could become a Taiping Captain. Then, the Hu Family would be the ones who should be afraid.’

However, while his current strength wasn’t enough to challenge the Hu Family, it wouldn’t be so easy for them to kill him either.

"We’ll stop here for the day. Make camp, start a fire, and prepare a meal."

Su Mu raised his arm and called out.

They had only traveled a few miles, but who wouldn’t be happy to rest?

The constables acknowledged the order and began to set up camp.

While they were busy, Su Mu walked to the side and sat down on a green-tinged stone. With a thought, he summoned his system panel.

[Name: Su Mu]

[Identity: Ghostwriter / Constable / Taiping Bureau White Clothes (Ninth Grade)]

[Points: 480]

[Realm: Third Stage of Body Tempering (Extreme Skin Tempering Realm, Extreme Flesh Tempering)]

[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique (Initial Success)...]

[Martial Arts: Kan Water Realm (Initial Success), Wind-Chasing Swordsmanship (Greater Success), Gale Swordsmanship (Perfection), Wind-Breaking Swordsmanship (Perfection), Archery (Beginner/+)]

After the fall of the Xu Family, Su Mu hadn’t rushed to advance his Tendon Tempering Technique. Instead, he had spent the past few days putting some effort into his martial skills.

His Gale Swordsmanship had now reached Perfection, and he had mastered the Gale Sword’s Momentum.

His Wind-Chasing Swordsmanship had also reached Greater Success and was just a step away from Perfection.

’Reaching Perfection in Wind-Chasing Swordsmanship requires six hundred Points. I should be able to gather enough tonight.’

’Based on past experience,’ Su Mu mused, ’mastering about four martial arts gives me a chance to grasp a new realm.’

’However, I have the Xunfeng Realm Map, which I’ve been studying these past few days. Perhaps if I master all three Sword Techniques of the Xunfeng Lineage to Perfection, I’ll be able to grasp the Xun Wind Realm.’

’You could count on one hand the number of people in all of Wuling City who have mastered two realms.’

’Even if it means a day’s delay, I have to master the Xun Wind Realm before moving on,’

Su Mu resolved.

...

Under the deep night sky, a bonfire crackled fiercely.

Except for two constables on watch, the rest were leaning against the five large carts, deep in sleep.

Su Mu sat with his back against a wheel that was more than half his height, seemingly dozing off as well.

Suddenly, a gust of wind rose from nowhere, causing the bonfire to flicker violently.