Chapter Twenty-Two: Awakening

“Why are you forcing me?”
“Heh, that’s just how the world works,” Sheng Hong said, shaking his head. “Everyone does this. You just happened to run into me—consider yourself unlucky.”

“Did you really knock those two out?” Chen Mu asked, lowering his head.

“Scared now?” Sheng Hong sneered. “If you’re scared, then behave...”

“Scared? No, I should thank you.”

“Wha—”

“Thank you for knocking those two out!”

Whoosh!

Sizzle!

Blood splattered as Sheng Hong’s eyes widened in shock, half his ear torn off.

“You!” Sheng Hong stared at Chen Mu in disbelief. If he hadn’t dodged fast enough just now, his eyes would have been gouged out!

Boom boom boom…

A barrage of flying stones hurtled toward him.

Sheng Hong’s figure blurred, leaving multiple afterimages behind.

“You scholar, you’re hiding your skills well!” Sheng Hong growled in frustration. “Too bad I’ve trained in dodging hidden weapons!”

Pushing his Red Hawk Form to its limit, the flying stones were fierce but couldn’t touch him.

Sheng Hong sneered, “Just wait until you’re in my hands—let’s see how I treat you!”

Before he finished, a flying stone grazed his right forearm, tearing off a chunk of flesh.

“No way!” Sheng Hong’s heart tightened.

“I clearly dodged it!”

Pfft!

Another stone pierced under his left armpit, splattering blood.

Suddenly, Sheng Hong realized—

Though he saw the stones and made dodging moves, his body was no longer able to keep up with his mind’s commands.

His eyes darted to the square table.

The food…

Splatter, splatter, splatter—blood exploded behind Sheng Hong.

The flying stones’ momentum didn’t stop, pounding against the earth-colored courtyard walls, leaving dark red bloodstains.

Sheng Hong glared furiously at Chen Mu before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

After a long while, Chen Mu finally regained his senses, staggering to sit at the square table.

Turning his head to glance at Sheng Hong, whose face was drenched in blood and eyes wide open, a chill crawled up Chen Mu’s scalp.

He had killed someone...

After practicing martial arts for so long, he had a premonition—he would eventually have to strike a fatal blow.

He had rehearsed this in his mind more than once.

But when the moment truly came, Chen Mu’s mind went completely blank.

This was nothing like the minor scuffles before!

“I only want to practice in peace, why do you have to force me...”

It took him a long time to calm his restless heart.

“I have to deal with the scene quickly!”

He climbed over the wall and returned to his doorstep.

Zhou Liang and Zheng Huan were slumped on the ground, sound asleep.

Chen Mu approached cautiously, detecting a faint medicinal scent.

“They weren’t knocked out—they were sedated with a soporific,” Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief.

He dragged them to the doorway, letting them sleep against the wall in their usual squatting spots.

Chen Mu jumped back inside, wrapped Sheng Hong’s body in a straw mat, carried it outside, and silently soared northward using his Red Hawk Form.

Several abandoned houses awaited there, perfect for burying a body.

…

Half an hour later, Chen Mu returned home.

He cleaned the blood off the floor and walls, changed into fresh clothes, then went to the door.

Opening it, he saw the two still sound asleep and breathed a sigh of relief.

Rubbing his face, he shook them awake, “You two, it’s getting late. Time to head back!”

Zhou Liang and Zheng Huan groggily woke, “How did we fall asleep again?”

“Thanks for guarding the gate. I just made some braised pig’s feet—take these to enjoy with your drinks,” Chen Mu said, cheerfully handing over a wax paper package.

The rich aroma of meat filled the air, making their eyes light up.

“Thank you, Young Master Chen!”

“Well, we’ll be off now,” Zheng Huan chuckled, taking the package.

Chen Mu cupped his hands in farewell.

As soon as their figures disappeared, Chen Mu’s expression quickly hardened, and he shut the door fast.

…

In a narrow alley, Zheng Huan held the wax paper package to his nose.

“Smells amazing. This scholar’s cooking just keeps getting better. If he opened a deli, he’d make a fortune.”

“His paintings alone could feed you for years. No need to open a deli and struggle,” Zhou Liang said enviously.

“Enough talk. Let’s find a tavern and eat these pig’s feet while they’re hot,” Zheng Huan urged.

“Good idea. Eat well and sleep early,” Zhou Liang stretched. “We stayed out too late last night at Anle Alley; I was falling asleep just sitting on the street. We have to catch up on sleep today.”

“Right, right, let’s eat and go rest,” Zheng Huan yawned.

“Last night at Yicui Pavilion...”

In the shadows of the alley, Chen Mu stood silently, listening to their aimless chatter as he quietly pocketed the stones in his hand.

“These two probably didn’t notice anything unusual.”

“I can’t stay in the city for now.”

Though Chen Mu knew leaving in haste looked suspicious, he still couldn’t help but want to put distance between himself and Qingshan County.

If the city gates hadn’t been closed, he would have left that very night.

…

Early the next morning,

Chen Mu waited for Zhou Liang and Zheng Huan to arrive.

Their conversation confirmed they hadn’t discovered anything amiss.

Using the excuse of returning home to visit family, he sent them off, then packed his bags and even put the five hens he raised into a bamboo basket on his back.

He left the city gates of Qingshan County, heading straight for Chen Family Village.

…

In the year 639 of the Great Liang dynasty, January 27th.

Chen Mu opened his eyes to the chirping of birds.

Pushing open the door, the crisp air filled him with renewed vigor.

The sky was clear, distant mountains lush and green.

Dogs barked, chickens crowed—a peaceful rural scene.

After days of pent-up anxiety, his mood finally eased.

He had been in Chen Family Village for seven days, and today was the first day he slept soundly.

At first, every time he closed his eyes, Sheng Hong’s bloodied face would flash through his mind.

He tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, and even when he did, nightmares frequently woke him.

During the day, he was distracted while practicing and working, nearly crashing into walls several times.

Only now was his mind gradually settling.

He had thought through everything clearly.

Sheng Hong came threatening him, demanding money as if to buy his life—but in truth, he intended to kill for wealth.

If Chen Mu had obediently paid, Sheng Hong would have surely silenced him.

Martial artists who practiced Form Training and ordinary people were like two different species.

Stronger and faster, crushing a normal person was no harder than swatting a fly.

That made it easier for them to take lives lightly—otherwise, the Wang family massacre would never have happened.

“Sheng Hong was willing to kill without restraint for money.”

“I defended myself—why can’t I kill to protect myself?!”

“Should I beg for mercy and hope to be spared?”

Recalling Sheng Hong’s practiced movements and expression, Chen Mu realized this was no first attempt at murder for profit.

Suddenly, clarity dawned.

“Sheng Hong was the real pest in this world, deserving death! By killing him, I protected myself and many innocent lives.”

“The fault lies not with me, but with a world that allows the strong to oppress the weak! With those harboring evil intentions!”

“Faced with such malice and wickedness, what can I do? What choice do I have?”

“Submit and plead for mercy?”

“No, no, no—I must strike back with thunderous force!”

Chen Mu drew a deep breath.

Next time...

Next time he would be even more decisive and swift!

Eradicating evil thoroughly is the only way to bring lasting peace!