"I am Li Feiyu."

Su Mu directly responded, maintaining a calm demeanor even while surrounded, and spoke to Li Qiu beside him, "Lord Li, leave this place to us. You should escort Lord Li away first."

Upon hearing this, Li Qiu’s face showed grief and bitterness. He knew he probably wouldn’t be able to leave today; these bandits wouldn’t easily let him go, especially since Elder Wang died for him. Li Qiu was unwilling to retreat.

However, the remaining Cyan Cloud Soldiers had long been scared out of their wits. Hearing someone volunteering to cover their retreat, they expressed joy, like grasping a life-saving straw, and one after another said, "Hero Li, take care. Lord, apologies."

Several people then carried Li Qiu away.

The Blind Swordsman and Chained Strongman ignored this, as they could kill Li Qiu anytime, which wouldn’t affect them. They had also heard the Celestial King’s earlier remark about Li Qiu: as a County Captain, Li Qiu was quite decent.

Li Qiu, although serving as a county captain alongside Liu Qing in the same district, was starkly different from the latter, who blatantly oppressed the common people. In contrast, Li Qiu was a unique official in Great Yan, often donating his wealth to help the populace.

Therefore, their desire to kill Li Qiu wasn’t strong.

The events of tonight unfolded with slight unpredictability; the expected ones didn’t arrive, while the unexpected ones did.

In their eyes, Li Qiu was unlikely to escape tonight. Moreover, having Li Qiu present hindered Li Feiyu somewhat. It was better to let Li Qiu retreat, completing matters for their second sister from before her death.

During her life, Purple Shirt had been investigating Li Feiyu, believing he would become a major obstacle to the Black Mountain Army. She wished to eliminate him swiftly, but Li Feiyu’s elusive whereabouts prevented this from concluding successfully.

Now, with the second sister executed by the Taiping Dao Envoy, the Blind Swordsman and White Shirt wanted to complete what Purple Shirt hadn’t finished, even if only to comfort themselves.

Li Qiu was taken away; Su Mu didn’t feel relieved but grew even more solemn, notwithstanding the chaotic battle at the other side involving the Black Mountain Celestial King and Lin Family Siblings, causing houses to collapse.

The Blind Swordsman with White Shirt before him and the robust axe-bearing man behind gave Su Mu an unusual feeling. Unlike the mere marauding rebels, they resembled Purple Shirt back at the Black Forest Mountain.

Moreover, the qi blood and powerful aura from both even surpassed Purple Shirt, and though their combat skills weren’t as advanced, their strength wasn’t much weaker, even superior at times.

"It turns out the previous guess was spot on!"

Su Mu, this time, noticed the cold aura swirling around their hearts, stirring some unrest in the Gu Insect within him.

Though Su Mu had guessed part of it, events unfolded beyond his anticipation; besides Purple Shirt, other Death Warriors indeed existed among the Black Mountain Rebels, with the Black Mountain Celestial King on the other side remaining uncertain, but for these two, it was beyond doubt.

Seeing Li Qiu leave, Su Mu took up Li Feiyu’s name directly.

The two announced their titles.

"Left Protector of Black Mountain Army, Blood Axe."

"Right Protector of Black Mountain Army, White Shirt."

Black Mountain Army Left and Right Protectors?

Su Mu pondered; it was his first time hearing of these tonight. Previous rumors only suggested that the four protectors of the Black Mountain Army were second only to one in the rebel army.

"With Left and Right Protectors... could there be other formidable ones hidden among the rebels?"

Su Mu’s eyes flickered, thinking of this possibility; he always considered the worst outcomes.

"Li Feiyu, you’ve slain many Black Mountain Army members, yet you dare appear before us tonight? Third brother, don’t intervene; I’ll handle him alone!"

After speaking, the Blind Swordsman’s qi blood surged through his body, making swooshing sounds. Under the crescent moon, his form disappeared like a dissolving mirage, and reappeared with a chillingly focused Sword Light piercing the sky, rapidly enlarging.

The Blind Swordsman’s sword strike was astonishingly fast, causing the Lin Family Siblings, who were battling Wang Xuantian, to slightly narrow their eyes. Yet, to Su Mu, the sword’s speed drastically slowed, his superhuman perception and inference instantly activating.

This sword was barely a notch inferior to Purple Shirt.

However, Su Mu was no longer the same person facing Purple Shirt; bolstered by his strong comprehension and mental fortitude, he could instantly grasp and unravel the attack.

Su Mu didn’t evade or strike back; his body surged with intense heat, erupting with terrifyingly high temperatures. Air within several yards distorted, white waves roiling outward, and crimson flames soared inches from his skin.

"Clang clang!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Su Mu leisurely raised his fist; his Jiao Tendons and Jade Bone resonated profoundly, linking together as taut as a siege crossbow’s string.

"Boom!"

Under the cyan light coating the Jade Bone, Su Mu’s robust and tenacious sinews carried an extremely pure Gang Force like a roaring Canglan River, creating thunderous sounds.

"Just in time."

Su Mu also wanted to test his strength gains over the last two months and evaluate the Gang Force’s destructive power. Hence, he chose to raise his fist simply and brutally, aiming it at the Blind Swordsman’s sword.

"Clang!"

The Eighth-Grade Long Sword, forged by three master craftsmen using special ores, collided violently with Su Mu’s bare fist, producing an unexpectedly ungentle sound. Sparks flew, resonating like thunder.