Chapter 5 Scared? (1/2)
Chapter 5 – Scared?
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“How could that be?” Zheng Longxing traced the three wisps of beard that trailed down his chin, a surprised look on his face. “Isn’t this Li Mu a scholar candidate who passed the imperial examinations? How could he suddenly become a martial arts master? The Strength Unity realm can’t be considered much but it is still enough to mix into the martial arts world. Yet, such people were instantly killed? Could the information sent from the capital be wrong?”
Besides his status as the county commander of Alabaster County, he had another identity – that was, one of the four ceremonies masters of the Bloodmoon Gang.
This mission to assassinate Li Mu had been set in action by him.
And he himself was a martial arts master.
The Strength Unity realm was the very beginning of the road of martial arts. After that was the Energy Unity realm, Concept Unity realm, and so forth. But no matter how it was said, a martial artist that entered the Strength Unity realm should have managed to roughly master his internal energy and could be considered a third-class martial artist in the martial arts world.
The martial artists that the Bloodmoon Gang sent out to assassinate Li Mu were all vigilant and elite disciples. Besides five third-class martial artists at the Strength Unity realm, there was an Energy Unity realm warrior leading them. That leader could be called a master amongst third-class martial artists, and more than enough to deal with an imperial scholar candidate who had yet to reach even 15 years of age.
But, such a force had actually been defeated and two of the gang disciples had even lost their lives in the process.
“It might be because Li Mu’s hidden depths are too deep. I never heard that such a person would know martial arts.” The black-clothed warrior said with a bowed head.
Within Zheng Longxing’s mind, the scene of Li Mu’s performance in the County Administrative Hall this morning appeared.
When the youth sat atop the official’s chair, although he appeared calm, the truth was that he was extremely squeezed and was only pretending to be composed. It was easy to see through, after all, whether it was in aura or action, he was entirely similar to a newcomer. He completely lacked all signs that he was a martial arts master or an imperial scholar candidate. Could it all have been an act?
If he really was acting, then to be able to act to such a degree was far too terrifying. He was surely a deeply hidden individual of his generation.
This time, the reason Zheng Longxing took the risk of having the Bloodmoon Gang assassinate Li Mu midway to Alabaster County City was because he wanted to seize the position of county magistrate.
Within the Western Qin Empire and even the entire continent, martial arts factions and sects all possessed extremely special statuses; they could even almost stand on par with the various governments. Many chief administrators of empires came from backgrounds that originated in sects of the martial arts world. It could be said that the martial world collaborated with the various imperial courts to rule the world.
In fact, even when it came to the law of the land, martial artists were given preferential treatment. Zheng Longxing was originally just a bodyguard, but afterwards he joined the Bloodmoon Gang. There, he performed great merits again and again, eventually rising to the position of ceremonies master. It was only because of his gang that he was able to become the county commander of Alabaster County and take control of military power.
Now, the Western Qin Empire’s political scene was in chaos with corrupt officials running haphazardly about. The land was faintly descending into turmoil.
He had plotted everything in advance. As long as he successfully killed the new county magistrate he could quickly deal with that county deputy Zhou Wu. Then, using the Bloodmoon Gang’s strength, he could absolutely take the position of county magistrate.
Zheng Longxing’s ambitions were endless.
In his eyes, Alabaster County was in an extremely good position. If appropriately managed, this could be his own paradise. He could slowly accumulate his strength and in the future it would be possible to rise even further.
But now, a hiccup had appeared in his plans as soon as they began.
He lost himself in thought within his chamber. Then, after a long time of pondering, a ruthless light finally flashed across his face. “The plan absolutely cannot be changed. It’s not too late. Have the gang send an even stronger master to assassinate Li Mu and kill him off before he is prepared. There can be no delaying my plan.”
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The night quickly passed.
The suns rose up in the eastern skies.
There were two suns in total, one large, one small, following each other up into the skies.
The dappled sunlight was gorgeous, the weather wonderful.
Creak.
The bedroom door opened.
Li Mu walked out from his room. He was in a state of unprecedentedly high spirits.
“Young master, you…” The silly and cute attendant Ming Yue stared at Li Mu with wide eyes. After a brief moment, she screamed and turned around, running as she said, “It stinks, it stinks to the high heavens…! Young master, just what is that dark stuff all over your body and why does it smell like poop?”
Li Mu was left speechless.
For the entire night, he had been cultivating the Xiantian Arts. He had entered a meditative state that he had never experienced before, and like that, the entire night had passed in the blink of an eye. As he walked out of his room he didn’t examine himself. It was only after being yelled at by Ming Yue did he see that his entire body was covered in black dirt that emitted from his pores.
A vile and hurl-inducing smell swirled around his body.
Even he thought he smelled disgusting.
“Somebody, prepare the hot water…I am going to take a bath…”
Li Mu yelled out.
There were workers in the County Administrative Hall that did a variety of tasks. Hot water was quickly heated up and brought to Li Mu’s room along with a tub.
After taking a bath, Li Mu felt much more comfortable.
He was surprised to see that after washing off the black dirt over his body, his skin had become clearer and smoother. When he examined himself in the mirror, he discovered that his hair had grown almost an inch longer overnight and he even seemed to have grown a little bit taller.
“This Xiantian Arts is indeed miraculous. It even has beautifying effects.”
Li Mu said, expressing his heartfelt admiration.