Chapter 37: The Way of the Blade
The middle-aged man stood still, staring at the young boy lying on the ground some ten meters away. He made no immediate move to approach.
"Sir, help me! I encountered a ferocious beast while training here, and my leg broke when I fell. Please, I have money. I can pay you!" the boy cried out, his voice filled with desperation.
The man narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Who are you, boy? This is deep within the Annan Ridge. What are you doing here?"
"I'm a disciple of the Mu family from Annan City. I came here to train and found a hundred-year-old ginseng. But I was attacked by a beast and fled in a panic, only to fall and break my leg. Sir, please help me! I have the ginseng and plenty of money. If you help me back to the Mu family, I'll reward you handsomely!" The boy's face twisted in pain, his voice pleading.
"What? A hundred-year-old ginseng?" The man's eyes gleamed with greed, and a sly smile crept onto his face. A hundred-year-old ginseng was worth thousands of gold coins—a fortune beyond his imagination.
"Yes, I'll share the money with you if you save me!" the boy added desperately.
"Ha! Excellent! Don't move, I'm coming to save you!" The man laughed, but malice flickered in his eyes. He drew his sword and began approaching slowly.
As he reached within three or four meters of the boy, his grin turned sinister. Without warning, he lunged forward, his sword raised high.
"You're out of luck, boy. Consider yourself wolf bait! I'll make good use of that ginseng for you!" he snarled, swinging his blade.
"Ha!"
Before his strike landed, a short-haired youth leaped down from a nearby boulder, his blade slashing through the air toward the man. Startled, the middle-aged man abruptly halted his attack and blocked the incoming strike.
Clang!
The two blades collided, and the force sent the youth flipping mid-air before he landed nimbly on the ground.
The Trap Springs
At that moment, the boy on the ground—Mu Feng—sprang to life. With a swift motion, he drew a dagger hidden at his thigh and lunged at the man. The blade found its mark, plunging into the man's chest near his heart.
"Argh!" The man howled in pain. His instincts kicked in, and he swung his sword toward Mu Feng. But Mu Feng had anticipated the move and quickly retreated, avoiding the deadly strike.
The man staggered backward, clutching his wound. Blood poured from his chest, and his breathing became labored. His one remaining arm trembled under the weight of his sword.
"Damn you, boy! You dared ambush me?" he growled.
"Ambush you? You were just about to kill me, weren't you? If you hadn't been greedy, you wouldn't have fallen for it," Mu Feng retorted coldly.
Fury flared in the man's eyes. He raised his sword and unleashed a wave of golden energy. The slicing force flew toward Mu Feng and Mu Kuang, who both dodged out of its path. The attack left a deep gouge in the rock behind them.
But the effort cost the man dearly. The strain on his body exacerbated his injuries, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Knowing he was in dire straits, he turned and fled.
"You're not getting away!" Mu Feng shouted. He hurled his dagger with precision, the blade striking the man's leg and embedding itself deep into his thigh.
The man cried out and collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain. Mu Feng and Mu Kuang closed the distance quickly. With one swift motion, Mu Feng swung his blade, severing the man's remaining arm.
"Argh!" The man's screams echoed through the forest as blood gushed from his wounds.
Mercy Is Not an Option
The two youths stood over the mutilated man, who now lay writhing on the ground like a worm. There was no trace of pity in their eyes.
"Kuang, finish him," Mu Feng said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Me? I… Feng, I've never…" Mu Kuang hesitated, his grip on his sword faltering.
"What? Are you afraid?" Mu Feng raised an eyebrow, his tone challenging.
"No… I'm not!" Mu Kuang took a deep breath, steeling himself. He approached the man, his sword trembling in his hand.
"You brat! Kill me, and I'll haunt you from the afterlife!" the man roared, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Mu Kuang with unbridled hatred.
The venom in the man's gaze unnerved Mu Kuang. His hands shook, and the blade hovered indecisively in the air.
"He's nothing but a beast. No mercy, Kuang. Kill him!" Mu Feng barked.
The words spurred Mu Kuang into action. He gritted his teeth, summoning his resolve. With a fierce cry, he brought the blade down.
"No!" The man's final scream was cut short as his head rolled from his shoulders, blood spraying across the dirt.
The Burden of Killing
Mu Kuang stood frozen, his chest heaving as he stared at the lifeless corpse. His face was pale, his expression dazed.
Mu Feng walked over, placing a firm hand on his brother's shoulder. "Kuang, this is the path we've chosen. As cultivators and warriors, we'll face countless such moments. Killing isn't something we do for pleasure; it's a necessity for survival. Especially against men like him—men who'd kill us without hesitation. If you don't act, they'll come for you first."
Mu Kuang nodded, his voice quiet. "I understand. But… when I looked into his eyes, I hesitated. He was human, after all…"
"Yes, he was human," Mu Feng agreed, "but he was worse than a beast. He betrayed his comrades, took lives without remorse. Killing him wasn't just survival—it was justice. Remember, Kuang, we don't kill the innocent. We only kill those who threaten us or others. That's our code."
Mu Kuang took a deep breath, nodding resolutely. "I'll remember that."
"Good. Now, take his blood energy and use it to grow stronger. I'll keep watch," Mu Feng said, gesturing toward the headless corpse.
Kuang gave a weak smile, shaking his head. "No, Feng. You take it. I… I need some time alone."
Understanding his brother's turmoil, Mu Feng sat down next to the body and began cultivating.
The man's body held five drops of vital blood essence—an extraordinary treasure for Mu Feng's cultivation. After absorbing it, his tenth meridian was fully restored, and his eleventh nearly completed.
Now, with ten fully functioning meridians, Mu Feng's power had surpassed the typical limits of the Ninth Stage, elevating him to an entirely new level.