Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

For some reason, since just now his right eyelid had been twitching abnormally, similar to the night when the giant waves and the Jiao Blood Gang joined forces to swallow and destroy the Black Snake Gang.

Fortunately, that night he recognized the situation, seeing that the Black Snake Gang’s downfall was inevitable, he immediately pledged loyalty to the Jiao Blood Gang. As a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist, Li Xuan quickly mixed in with the Jiao Blood Gang and secured a position as an Incense Master. Liu E had even planned to grant him the role of Vice Hall Master in the future.

On the deck, members of the Jiao Blood Gang were discussing in low voices, and the decadent sounds from the cabin reached his ears, intensifying the unease in Li Xuan’s heart.

"I hope nothing goes wrong with this secret meeting..."

The waning moon hung high as a small boat sailed toward the large ship in the center of the lake for a secret meeting, carrying three people on board.

Leading them was a man with an arrogant demeanor, clad in luxurious attire despite the secrecy of the meeting; this was Tao Han. Beside him were two people; one was a man with a gentle scholar’s appearance, following Tao Han closely, with a hint of perennial coldness deep in his bright eyes.

The other, a burly man with a thick beard, had broad shoulders and a robust frame; his palms were covered with calluses, and he stood at the stern rowing.

The approach of the small boat quickly caught the attention of the Jiao Blood Gang members stationed on the large ship in the lake’s center. They saw the shimmering figure in luxurious clothes under the moonlight, a style distinctive to none other than Fifth Young Master Tao.

The gang members muttered to themselves, and the river bandits who were drawing bows and stringing arrows retreated; the cold gleam of the arrows disappeared back into their quivers.

"It’s Young Master Tao, quick brothers, make way!"

Quickly, a boarding ladder was lowered from the large ship, allowing Tao Han and the scholar-like man to climb aboard. The burly man rowing the boat didn’t board but remained on the boat with his eyes closed to rest.

In the reed forest by the shore, a shadow silently watched the lake’s center and whispered softly to himself.

"Profound Demon Five Transformations: Cold Ape Transformation."

Every inch of his skin and flesh rapidly squirmed as blue patterns intertwined, forming a phantom image of a fanged, entirely dark blue demon ape on his shoulder and back.

"Plop!"

The demon ape dove into the lake, emitting only a small ’plop’, even fainter than the sound of the wind blowing through the reeds. Once in the water, Su Mu’s eyes lit up with two blue glows, instantly brightening and clarifying the underwater world that was as dark as ink, with not even a finger visible.

Although Su Mu’s underwater vision after performing the Cold Ape Transformation was still not as clear as on land, he could still see within a range of two zhangs. The Water Ape’s shadow excluded most of the lake’s water outside, and Su Mu slightly opened his mouth to try to breathe.

"Sure enough, breathing underwater is much more difficult... a breath is only about a tenth of what it is on land, but it’s enough."

With a solid Martial Dao foundation, Su Mu’s breath was naturally much longer than that of an ordinary martial artist. Although a tenth of breathing might barely support underwater combat, it was sufficient for underwater activities.

At this moment, Su Mu casually moved his limbs, and the currents instantly seemed to come alive. The water split before the Water Ape’s shadow, allowing Su Mu to move with little resistance, instead feeling a current pushing his body easily in any direction he wished to go.

Furthermore, in the Water Ape Transformation state, the noise created while swimming underwater was minimal. After diving half a zhang deep, he could swim with almost no ripples on the water’s surface.

While Su Mu was testing the Water Ape Transformation, a palm-sized crucian carp swayed its tail and approached him from the lake bottom. When it finally saw Su Mu’s form, a trace of surprised doubt appeared in its fish eyes.

It seemed to be wondering when such a big fish had appeared in the shallow water. Realizing this, it suddenly panicked and swam away frantically.

"It’s time to head to the lake’s center to meet Tao Han."

In his past life, Su Mu could only swim at a level barely preventing himself from drowning. Having lived on land all his life in this one, he hadn’t improved his swimming skills.

But now, with a dragon-and-phoenix level enlightenment of a terrifyingly high one hundred and seventy-five points, Su Mu initially appeared awkward as he swam. However, after swimming just a few zhangs, his awkwardness quickly faded, replaced by visible proficiency.

After ten zhangs, even the veteran river bandits observing Su Mu’s movements underwater would have marveled at his remarkable swimming skills, feeling a sense of admiration for such astonishing water abilities.

Underwater, Su Mu approached the lake’s center, unnoticed by either the Jiao Blood Gang river bandits on the big ship or the burly man with a thick beard on the small boat.

"Hall Master, Young Master Tao, Brother Zhao, I’m going out for a patrol."

Li Xuan downed a glass of wine before stepping out of the cabin. Tao Han wore a lascivious expression, his hands shamelessly groping the clothes of two gorgeous maids on either side. The maids trembled, their lips turned pale, but still forced a fawning smile.

Tao Han glanced at Li Xuan’s departing figure with a snort, showing disdain for Li Xuan’s caution. The scholar-like Zhao Yixin beside Tao Han, however, nodded approvingly, appreciating Li Xuan’s prudence.

Inside the luxurious cabin, directly across from Tao Han, sat a man in a Red Robe with a somewhat handsome face, arching eyebrows, and an innocent appearance.

"Young Master Tao, have you obtained information about that merchant ship?"

"The information on the Li Family’s merchant ship is all here. Aside from the agreed profit share, I also have a favor to ask of Hall Master Liu."

After Tao Han finished speaking, a flash of spiritual light appeared in Zhao Yixin’s hand, revealing a bulging secret letter, but he did not hand it over.

"Young Master Tao, just say the word. Between us, as long as it’s something Liu can accomplish, even if it’s ten tasks, just command me!"

Liu E lightly chuckled, clearly indicating this wasn’t their first collaboration. Seeing this, a barely noticeable trace of disdain flashed in Tao Han’s eyes, but he wore a smile on his face.

"I was being too polite; we are brothers. I’d like you to kill someone for me."

"Who?"

"Hai’an."

Tao Han softly uttered two words, recalling the scene at Lu Ming Banquet where this ant-like figure overshadowed him with a poem, his tone ice-cold.

Beside him, Zhao Yixin timely spoke, "This person is of no significant status, just a scholar about to participate in the autumn imperial exams. My young master doesn’t want this person to leave Donglai County alive."

"Easily done. Crushing a mere scholar is as easy as snapping a finger. Within three days, Young Master Tao can expect good news from Liu."

"That’s good. Then I, Tao, will await the good news."

Upon finishing, Liu E clapped his hands, and soon outsiders carried in a few iron cages. As the black cloth was lifted, a few trembling young girls, shackled by chains on their feet, were revealed.

"Young Master Tao, today, I have a new batch of fine goods here, all virgins, many from noble families."

"Hehe, since brother is offering, I shall not stand on ceremony!"

Tao Han’s eyes gleamed, and he let out a lewd laugh, his searing gaze scanning over the girls in the cage. Feeling the undisguised heat of his gaze, the girls turned deathly pale, frantically withdrawing backward, yet having nowhere to retreat. Their bodies repeatedly hit the cage, making a clanging sound.

Outside the cabin.

"Glug, glug—"

Suddenly, the surface of the water bubbled, attracting the attention of the Jiao Blood Gang members on the deck, all turning to look at the bubbles. Upon closer inspection, they realized there was a relatively large fish swimming underneath.

"A false alarm, it’s just a fish."

No one noticed the shiver that ran through the burly man with the thick beard, who was resting with his eyes closed on the small boat.

"You, you..."

A ghostly figure emerging from the water hid in the shadow of the large ship, slowly pulling its crimson finger out from the burly man’s skull. The terrifying high heat from the Melting Gold Technique supported by the Five Elements Technique and Gang Force instantly melted the man’s skull, sealing the wound without a trace of blood.

The sound of the waves covered the quiet ’crackling’ as the burly man on the boat vanished silently. The ghostly figure changed clothes under the shadows, quickly transforming into an identical appearance to the burly man.

A few moments later.

The burly man abruptly stood up, his expression grim, speaking in a hoarse voice.

"I have urgent news to report. I need to see the young master!"

Li Xuan, hearing the commotion, strode over to the deck, repeatedly scrutinizing the burly man from above. Finding nothing amiss, he gestured.

"Throw him a line, let him aboard."

The burly man climbed aboard, calmly expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you."

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