Perilous

"I misjudged you. You're quite skilled." The Black-Clad Strongman smiled grimly.

"When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. We have no grudge against each other, so why not stop here and go our separate ways?" Chen Mu said calmly, his smile gone.

The Burly Man frowned slightly and glanced toward Little East Mountain out of the corner of his eye.

Just now, Lu Jin had risked his life to fire a Whistling Arrow.

He suspected it was a signal between Lu Jin and Qingfeng Temple.

"I can't stay here too long!"

With that thought, the Burly Man stepped forward twice. "What if you report me to the authorities afterward and turn the tables on me? Wouldn't that leave endless trouble behind?"

Chen Mu sensed the other man's hesitation and immediately pressed his case. "We don't even know each other. Why would we become enemies for no reason?"

"Even if someone asks me about you later, all I could tell them would be the direction you left in."

Chen Mu moved two steps closer and lowered his voice. "Once you cross the bridge, you'll have countless roads to choose from. The information I give might even mislead them."

The Burly Man was immediately tempted. He sheathed the saber in his left hand behind his waist, leaving only the saber in his right. Then he stepped sideways and pointed at Chen Mu. "A gentleman's word!"

Chen Mu let out a long breath. The Burly Man had crippled and captured Constable Lu, which showed just how powerful he was. It was better not to fight if he could avoid it.

He immediately stepped forward, raised his right hand, and swore to the heavens. "My word is my bond!"

"Haha, good!" The Burly Man was overjoyed.

A smile appeared on Chen Mu's face. He clasped his hands in salute. "May we never meet again!"

"Then shall we part ways here?" the Burly Man said with a smile.

"Part ways," Chen Mu echoed with a smile.

"Then I'll be going." The Burly Man made as if to turn around.

"After you!" Chen Mu said humbly.

"Fine, then I'll go first." The Burly Man smiled pleasantly.

Sacrificial Slash!

He suddenly took a large step forward, and his left hand, hidden behind his back, snapped out.

His arm lashed like a whip, the Short Blade its tip.

Immense force struck the hilt and was accelerated through the scabbard.

Whoosh!

The Short Blade seemed to teleport, crossing four meters through thin air and suddenly appearing at Chen Mu's right side.

Clang!

A Short Sword appeared and intercepted the Short Blade's path.

Its tip struck the blade at precisely the right point.

Sleeve Sword!

"Haha, I knew it! I mean no harm, yet others always seek to harm me!" The Burly Man stared fixedly at Chen Mu.

"You and Lu Jin are in this together, aren't you?" The Burly Man wore an expression of sudden understanding.

"You misunderstand—"

"Just as I thought! This world is perilous. Not a single good person among you!" the Burly Man roared, his face filled with sorrow.

"The world gives me nothing but malice, so I'll repay it with a Sharp Knife!" the Burly Man howled madly. "Killing to protect life! Severing karma, not people! Ahhh!"

Demon Sealing Slash!

A surging web of saber light fiercely enveloped Chen Mu.

"You villain! Shatter! Be ground into scraps! Hahaha!"

Chen Mu: "..."

Puff!

A cloud of bright red mist appeared out of nowhere and rushed straight at the Burly Man's face.

The red mist instantly invaded his eyes, nostrils, and mouth.

Caught off guard, even his web of saber light nearly collapsed.

Yet the Burly Man forcibly resisted the urge to rub his eyes. He exerted more strength with both arms, and the saber light became even sharper!

The muscles in his legs pumped blood. Instead of retreating, he advanced.

Ignoring his lost vision, he leaped forward with his eyes closed and charged fiercely at Chen Mu.

But the instant he rose into the air, a heavy drowsiness suddenly swept over him.

The saber web stalled for an instant.

Whoosh!

As though it had been rehearsed countless times, an Iron Lotus Seed arrived right on cue. Like a nimble swallow, it slipped through the tiny gap in the saber web.

Wrapped in spiraling airflow, it drilled into the Burly Man's right eye and pierced straight through his skull.

Puff!

Chen Mu stood in the middle of the arched bridge, expressionless.

He watched impassively as the Burly Man's head snapped back, as his body flipped over, as he fell onto his back and lay still.

He glanced toward the bridgehead and confirmed that Lu Jin remained unconscious.

Chen Mu turned and silently vanished from where he stood.

He did not intend to kill Lu Jin, but neither would he save him.

The Burly Man had not been entirely wrong.

This world was perilous!

Kindness did not always bring good results.

He did not want to be dragged into trouble.

Besides, this stone bridge was the only route to Qingshan County.

Lu Jin would eventually be discovered.

Whether he lived or died depended on his luck.

Half an hour later, on the stone bridge.

Cheng Yi crouched down and examined Lu Jin's injuries.

"He's not dead yet." Cheng Yi sighed in relief, then shook his head. "But he's crippled."

After a round of pressing and pinching, Lu Jin slowly woke.

When he saw Cheng Yi, hope immediately flashed in his eyes. In a breath as weak as a thread, he said, "Save me..."

Cheng Yi looked toward Feng Ren.

Lu Jin laboriously turned his gaze, and his pupils shrank uncontrollably.

Cheng Yi said calmly, "If Master were still alive, and you weren't confident you could control us master and disciple, why would you have helped us kill people and harvest their organs?"

"Feed him two Five Qi Pills." Feng Ren gave Lu Jin a glance and spoke indifferently.

Lu Jin's face immediately filled with gratitude.

The Five Qi Pill was practically a miraculous medicine.

It could stimulate blood and qi, accelerating cultivation.

It could enhance one's life potential and heal injuries.

These master and disciple still needed me!

Right, that scholar!

They needed five people with special fates for Alchemy. That scholar was my bargaining chip!

Lu Jin relaxed inwardly.

"He has already taken several Five Qi Pills in succession. His life potential is nearly exhausted. If he takes two more, they might drain him completely. His injuries may heal, but he won't live more than a few days." Cheng Yi frowned slightly.

Lu Jin went completely rigid.

Exhausted life potential, drained dry, only a few days left...

Wasn't the Five Qi Pill a Precious Medicine that replenished life potential?!

Lu Jin stared at Feng Ren and his disciple in utter horror.

"Make use of waste." Feng Ren glanced at Lu Jin. "Draw out all his life potential, take his five organs, and refine the Heartless Bell."

"Yes." Cheng Yi suddenly understood.

Lu Jin felt as though he had fallen into an ice pit.

"Master, could we be exposed?" Cheng Yi asked worriedly as he looked at the Burly Man's corpse.

"It's possible," Feng Ren said thoughtfully.

"Then..." Cheng Yi grew somewhat anxious.

"It's not a major problem." Feng Ren thought for a moment. "Lu Jin does not know much."

"Right! Even if someone investigates, they'll focus on the killings and Alchemy." Cheng Yi immediately calmed down.

"But we still need to be cautious." Feng Ren said solemnly, "Notify Li Qing tomorrow. Tell him to urge the laborers to speed up construction of the Altar."

"Alright." Cheng Yi nodded.

With a flick of his toe, Feng Ren kicked the Burly Man's corpse into the Bailang River as if it were a rag doll.

He glanced at Lu Jin, who lay sprawled on the ground, constantly twisting and wriggling as he tried to escape.

Feng Ren said coldly, "Take him. Return to the temple."

"Yes." Cheng Yi stepped forward, grabbed Lu Jin by the belt, and lifted him.

"Five people... the fifth..." Lu Jin used all his strength to whisper.

Cheng Yi stopped and looked toward Feng Ren. "Master, we have found four of the five Human Cauldrons. We still lack the last one."

"Forget him. I have a substitute," Feng Ren said without looking back.

Lu Jin immediately fell into despair.

As the sun set, Chen Mu sat in a bamboo chair.

A Black Pottery Casserole sat atop the Red Clay Stove before him.

Flames licked the bottom of the pot, and white steam bubbled out from beneath its lid.

Chen Mu stared at the bright red firepit, adjusting the heat from time to time.

"My heart has grown cold too."

Just over a year ago, he had been a timid office worker with kindness in his heart.

He might not have achieved much, but he would not have caused much harm either.

Now, he could easily end a life without the slightest ripple in his heart.

Thinking of that Burly Man, Chen Mu sighed.

"Why can't we live peacefully? Why can't people just be good?"

"They always force me to kill."

"It's precisely these evil people who have made my heart harder, colder, and more disgusted with this world."

Chen Mu lifted the casserole lid and added sliced, deboned fish.

An enticing aroma rushed into his nose.

"Mmm... delicious!"