Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 189 - 144: Comprehending the Plaque, Secret Saber Technique (First Update)
The scorching sun of June blazed like fire, its merciless rays baking the earth. Unlike the southern waters of Canghe County and the open fields of Qingyun City, Changfeng County was nestled at the foot of the rolling Qifeng Mountain Range.
The sunlight showered down from the sky, sliced into mottled patches by the surrounding mountains, falling upon the bluestone walls of the city, from which rose waves of heat laced with the scent of pine resin. The mountain wind that swept through Changfeng County Town carried a touch of roughness in its breath.
At noon, a long line of people stretched outside Changfeng County Town, waiting to enter. The Rice Hat Wanderer flashed his Silver Order of the Blade and strode into the city. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"The ancients spoke true: reading ten thousand books cannot compare to traveling ten thousand miles."
The lands of the Three Counties each possess such different cultural and geographical wonders. So then, how grand and resplendent must the Qingzhou Prefecture, the Great Yan Dynasty, be?
"Let me walk along this Changfeng Avenue for a while."
After entering the town, Su Mu did not ask for directions, but strolled through the streets as any traveler from afar might do, feasting his eyes on the scenery of Changfeng County.
This Changfeng County bore several similarities to Canghe County; the town too was filled with Martial Arts Halls and Escort Agencies. Yet, there was a subtle difference—in Changfeng, the two seemed to have blended together.
Along the way, Su Mu saw disciples from Martial Arts Halls escorting guard-carts, and from the Escort Agencies came the uniform grunts of martial training.
At one spot, Su Mu paused for a moment. Outside the Demon Slayer Bureau of Changfeng County, the red and black lists were also posted, and the crowd gathered around the Government Office seemed even more boisterous than in Canghe County, though many were simply onlookers drawn by curiosity.
"Just ten more days until the Start of Autumn, right? There'll be a good show to watch again!"
"There are more bandits to be executed this autumn than any year before. If you go late, you might not even be able to squeeze into the execution ground."
"My child caught a chill after a trip to the mountains the other day. The shaman we called said only blood-soaked 'Red Steamed Buns' from a fresh execution could drive the evil away."
The crowd buzzed with discussion, the townsfolk keenly interested in the executions held at the Start of Autumn. Some would even use blood from a decapitated head to ward off evil.
"Indeed, the folk of Changfeng County are even more hardy and fierce."
Listening to the crowd and sweeping his gaze over the reward postings on the red and black lists, Su Mu calmly surveyed the streets and alleys nearby, then quietly withdrew from the Demon Slayer Bureau.
After that, Su Mu turned and left, asking passersby where the execution ground for the autumn sentencing would be held.
"Elder, may I ask where in the town the execution ground for the Start of Autumn can be found?"
"You're not from Changfeng, are you? That execution ground is just in the East Market. Walk along this stone-paved road and you'll get there." The old man glanced at Su Mu suspiciously and pointed out the way.
After cupping his hands and offering thanks, Su Mu turned to leave, passing through the bustling vegetable stalls of the East Market. Suddenly, an iron-scented, bloody wind brushed past his nose. Half a li ahead stood an execution platform three zhang square. The bloodstains under the sandalwood beheading table had long seeped into the wood grain, the dried blood mottled and weathered, exuding a pungent, almost tangible scent after sun and wind.
An ordinary person catching this smell would surely feel a chill in their heart, but the people of Changfeng County were long accustomed.
Standing below the Execution Platform, Su Mu looked about, then left. As he did, he keenly sensed several gazes settle upon him.
"The Yanling Saber... Most likely from the Changfeng County Government Office."
Su Mu thought to himself, turned and walked into the crowd. Using the maze of streets, he quickly shook off the government pursuers, before stopping in front of a grand Martial Arts Hall guarded by a Cyan Lion and red-painted doors.
He glanced up. On the agarwood plaque above the door, powerful ancient characters were written: Hongmen Martial Arts Hall.
Hongmen Martial Arts Hall, one of the five great powers of Changfeng County. It was said to be closely linked with the Jin Hong Martial Arts Hall in Canghe County—some decades ago, a dispute in Martial Dao philosophy led then Chief Instructor Wangposhan to leave Hongmen Martial Arts Hall with five disciples and establish Jin Hong Martial Arts Hall in Canghe County.
"What fine calligraphy!"
Su Mu squinted slightly as he looked at the ancient characters on the plaque. The brushstrokes of "Hongmen" were like blades unsheathing, fierce and poised to strike.
Hm?
Su Mu's expression faltered. In the center of his brow, the Hidden Dragon in the Abyss stirred. Su Mu entered his Soul Incarnation state—after breaking into the Ninth Realm of Body Refinement and gaining initial mastery over Spiritual Power, his Soul Incarnation range had increased from three to five steps away from his body.
In that state, the moment Su Mu's gaze fell upon the plaque a sharp Spiritual Light flared in his mind.
Shh!
Like a silver bottle shattering, a killing intent erupted. In an instant, the two characters for "Hongmen" truly transformed into an unsheathed blade poised to strike.
"The founder of this Hongmen Martial Arts Hall was no ordinary man—to imbue martial arts into the very calligraphy itself... Within these two characters, 'Hongmen', lies a profound saber technique."
Outside the Martial Arts Hall, a Rice Hat Wanderer stood staring at the plaque. The disciple with the long saber at his waist who led the group furrowed his brow: this Wanderer carried no aura of a Martial Artist.
"Just an ordinary man... best drive him off."
Zhang Qing thought to himself, striding forward. But in the next instant, his whole body erupted in goosebumps, his skin prickling. That "ordinary man" suddenly exuded a terrifying, hidden sharpness.
"This person... is incredibly strong!"
Zhang Qing's powerful frame trembled. The other disciples tensed, about to surround the stranger, but Zhang Qing raised his left hand, shaking his head to warn them off.
So Zhang Qing approached alone, positioning himself by Su Mu's side so that the passerby would not disturb him. He watched Su Mu out of the corner of his eye, then followed Su Mu's gaze up to the 'Hongmen' plaque—and his heart gave a sudden jolt.
"Could this man be..." Zhang Qing's heart surged with waves of shock. He vaguely remembered elders telling him in childhood that their ancestral Master had once embedded a secret saber technique in the hall's plaque.
"Was it true, then, about the secret saber technique?"
Just as this thought flashed through Zhang Qing's mind, Su Mu slowly came to himself. In his deep eyes flashed a keen light—within the plaque, there truly was a saber technique hidden.
"Thank you."
Su Mu cupped his fist in salute. Naturally, he had noticed Zhang Qing's actions just now—the man acted uprightly, neither interrupting Su Mu's epiphany nor showing aggression, instead standing guard by his side. He recalled, too, Zhang Jin's rescue at Lin Family Manor.
The heart shows in the details. In that moment, Su Mu's opinion of Hongmen Martial Arts Hall rose considerably, and he even felt some warmth toward it.
"Zhang Qing of Hongmen Martial Arts Hall. How should I address you, sir?"
"Li is my surname..." As he spoke, Su Mu drew from within his robes the token Zhang Jin had gifted him before parting. On the front, the copper token bore the words "Hongmen"; on the back, the character "Zhang".
The Zhang name was the direct line of Hongmen Martial Arts Hall. Upon seeing the token, Zhang Qing's mind turned. This man had not stated his identity, but Zhang Qing already understood, and so did not ask further, simply stepping aside to welcome him within.
"In that case, esteemed guest, please enter!"
Su Mu nodded and followed Zhang Qing into the hall, across the martial training ground to a quiet spot. Zhang Qing suddenly spoke: "Just now, Brother Li, when you gazed at our hall's plaque, I saw starlight flickering in your eyes... Did you gain any insight?"
"I am dull of mind—though I sensed something, I could not grasp its true meaning."
Su Mu shook his head, his words half-true and half-false. At this, Zhang Qing privately heaved a sigh of relief. Hongmen Martial Arts Hall had stood for nearly a hundred years, but never had he heard of anyone comprehending any saber technique from the founder's plaque.
Not to mention truly comprehending it—even sensing something, as Su Mu had done, was exceedingly rare.
All these disciples practically lived within the hall, yet none could even reach entry-level understanding. If a stranger gained enlightenment with a single glance, it would be a grave embarrassment for Hongmen Martial Arts Hall.
And yet, Zhang Qing also felt shock and regret. Shocked because Su Mu's talent for the Sword Dao was clearly extraordinary—to perceive so much at first sight of the plaque, his gifts were terrifying. Not even the current Martial Arts Hall Master, Hong Saber, had managed as much.
The regret was that the saber technique left by the ancestral master seemed doomed to be buried, with no one able to inherit it.
"Honored guest, please be seated. I shall go fetch Uncle Zhang Jin."
"I'll trouble you, then."
When Zhang Qing left, Su Mu casually broke a leaf of orchid from the tea table, drew in a breath, and exhaled. In that moment, the slender orchid leaf became a keen blade.
The blade flashed fast as lightning, piercing the air like a thunderbolt.
"To call this a saber technique is not quite right... It is more of a secret art. Since it was gained at Hongmen Martial Arts Hall, let it be named the Hongmen Secret Saber."
