Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 148 - 120: Tiger Head Iron Order, Settling Scores and Repaying Grudges

"Lead the way, I want to see Shopkeeper Bai."

The waiter was startled awake, and just as he hesitated, a woman's voice echoed from deep within the inn, "Since there's an esteemed guest, follow me."

In the flickering light, a silhouette of a tall woman was cast on the wall.

The waiter glanced at Su Mu, then stepped aside to guide the way, "Please, sir!"

In the back courtyard of the inn, a woman in a dark coat leaned against a corridor pillar; she was about thirty, with a hint of allure in her lightly swept brows, absentmindedly playing with a Silver Hairpin between her fingers, "Where does the esteemed guest come from? Why so eager to see this little woman?"

Su Mu wasted no words and directly took out a Token from his collar.

"Do you recognize this?"

The woman's pupils contracted. Suspended in the air was a seemingly ordinary dark Token, yet the Tiger Head on it was lifelike, and locking eyes with it felt as if it might come alive in the next breath.

"Tiger Head Iron Order?"

Upon seeing the Token, the woman immediately kneeled on one knee, her hair ornaments jingling, "Subordinate Bai Erniang greets, my lord."

"Rise."

Then Bai Erniang led Su Mu to a room and pushed open the door to a suite, the sweet scent of rouge immediately filled the air, and a bellyband embroidered with twin lotuses was boldly draped over the vanity table.

"Subordinate will tidy up..."

"No need."

The window lattice cast shadows intertwining the silhouettes of the two within the curtains; Bai Erniang had two blushes rising on her cheeks, making her more charming, like a ripe peach.

"This young lord's waist seems robust and upright... I wonder how skilled you are?"

"Before the time of You tomorrow, I want all information about Guo Lie of Donghe Town, including who is close to him and whom he has enmity with. List everything in detail... then have someone deliver it to Donghe Inn in Donghe Town. Tomorrow, I will open a 'Ren' room."

After speaking, Su Mu took out a silver note from his collar and placed it on the table, then turned and left with large strides, leaving Bai Erniang in a daze in the room.

Coming to her senses, Bai Erniang stared at the departing figure, her gaze tracing over his waist and back, her tongue softly licking her rosy lower lip.

"So domineering... actually quite pleasing."

...

At dawn, Uncle Li woke from a drunken sleep at the bun shop, feeling a sharp pain in his head, "The wine Xiaomu brought is indeed strong, my stomach still feels like it's burning."

With a vigorous shake of his head, Li Tie realized Xiaomu was no longer in the room, and immediately got up to go outside, discovering Su Mu had already left without saying goodbye.

Just then, Li Tie noticed something extra inside his collar, reaching in, he found a stack of silver notes with a face value of one hundred taels each.

The silver notes were neither more nor less, exactly totaling one thousand five hundred taels.

Instantly, Li Tie's eyes reddened, his face showing a complex expression of relief, joy, and shame.

His hand holding the silver notes trembled slightly, and in the end, everything was thanks to Xiaomu's intervention to resolve the crisis, not only rescuing Xiaohu but also leaving behind a silver note of one thousand five hundred taels.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the shop.

"Uncle Li, I'm back."

The familiar voice jolted the dazed Li Tie awake, and he was about to speak when Su Mu quickly intervened, "Uncle Li, you once said 'One cannot refuse the gift of an elder'; this time, it's my gesture of filial respect to an elder, and it cannot be delayed."

"Xiaohu said the roasted duck in town tastes great. I asked around and bought roasted duck from Xinghua Building, not sure if it's authentic." Su Mu raised the item in his hand, the roasted duck wrapped in oil paper giving off an enticing aroma.

"This tofu and fish are to make broth for Xiaohu, to nourish his muscles and bones. I also brought this medicine, so when Xiaohu wakes up, he can take it."

Li Tie hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed and accepted the silver note, all witnessed by Su Mu, whose purpose of the silver note was to reassure Uncle Li.

"Those who harmed Xiaohu and humiliated Uncle Li must die."

Su Mu turned his back to Uncle Li and headed towards the woodshed, a flicker of coldness in his eyes.

Just then, a call sounded from within the house, "What smells so good... Water, I want to drink water."

Instantly, in the yard, Li Tie hurried into the house, Su Mu placed the items down and also entered; Xiaohu opened his eyes and was stunned by the figures before him.

"Am I dreaming... Su Mu, why are you here?"

"Xiaohu, take a closer look, see if you're dreaming?"

Hearing this voice, Xiaohu shivered all over, his confused eyes brightened instantly, and when he was about to rub his eyes, Su Mu beat him to it, holding his hand down.

"Xiaohu, your right arm was just reconnected, don't move recklessly."

"Su Mu, it's really you... you're in Donghe Town?!"

At this point, Xiaohu struggled to sit up, wrapped his left arm around Su Mu. The joy of reunion hadn't yet been expressed in a few words when memories before his unconsciousness surged, and Xiaohu's expression immediately changed.

"Younger sister Qingqing is still in their hands..."

"Xiaohu, sit down first. We'll go to redeem her in a moment."

"Dad, where did our family get the silver..."

"Xiaohu, your priority now is to heal, don't worry about other things, eat first, when you're stronger, we'll take a trip to the gambling house."

Li Tie immediately shot a grateful look at Su Mu, "I'll first visit Miss Qingqing's house, this matter after all our father-son duo have implicated the Yang Family."

Under the scorching noon sun, Li Tie initially intended to bring only Su Mu and the elderly Yang Shan along, but Xiaohu insisted on dragging his injured arm and coming along.

Upon seeing Yang Shan, Xiaohu kneeled on the scorching bluestone pavement.

"Grandpa Yang!" He knocked his head thrice on the ground with a loud thud, blood soon becoming visible on his forehead, "It's Xiaohu's fault for not protecting Qingqing..."

Yang Shan's rough hands trembled as he helped Xiaohu up from the ground. Yang Qingqing was an orphan, lacking parents since childhood, picked up by Yang Shan to be raised as a granddaughter, named Qingqing because she was found among a patch of green grass during Spring in the mountains.