Chapter 327 - 201: After the Battle

Chapter 327: Chapter 201: After the Battle

If he hadn’t wasted his time and energy on four different intents, he might have even become the first person in history to comprehend a phenomenon while in the Rebirth Realm.

"As Martial Artists, our time and energy are limited, so we must make choices. Wuling is a small place, and there’s no one there to guide you. That’s not your fault.

Are you interested in coming to Xiangzhou to cultivate with me?"

Li Tingkui asked.

Cultivating with him, while not making Su Mu a formal disciple, meant that he would impart everything he knew without reservation.

If it had been any other Taiping Captain, they probably would have kowtowed and pledged their loyalty immediately, overcome with gratitude.

Who was Li Tingkui?

A Taiping Bureau Commander-in-Chief, a Core Formation Realm expert, and he had even mastered a phenomenon!

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the foremost among all the Commanders-in-Chief.

If an expert of his caliber wanted to take a disciple, the line of hopefuls would stretch from Hujue Pass all the way to the Da Xuan Capital City.

Su Mu pondered for a moment before asking slowly, "If I go to Xiangzhou, can you make me a Governor?"

Li Tingkui: "..."

’I’m talking to you about Martial Dao cultivation, and you’re talking to me about a promotion?’

’Are you kidding me?’

"A Governorship... your qualifications are still a bit shallow..."

Li Tingkui said slowly.

"Then forget it."

Before he could even finish, Su Mu had already replied bluntly.

Li Tingkui’s eyes widened. ’Wait, this is negotiable.’

’Your qualifications might be shallow, but you have three cloud patterns to your name. Wanting to be a Governor isn’t something that’s completely off the table.’

"Before I left, my people back home promised they’d make me a Governor upon my return. I think it’s more suitable for me to stay in Jingzhou."

Su Mu said with a hint of restraint.

Xu Chongyuan and Zhong Guizheng had just walked over and happened to hear Su Mu’s words.

The two looked at each other. ’Was that true?’

’Did Governor Zhao say something like that?’

’If Su Mu becomes a Governor, what will Governor Zhao do?’

’Zhao Poni isn’t qualified to be promoted to Commander-in-Chief, is he?’

’Besides, does Governor Zhao even have the authority to promise Su Mu something like that? Can he decide who becomes the Governor of the Wuling Taiping Bureau?’

Xu Chongyuan blinked, realizing Su Mu was spouting nonsense.

’Making wild claims and demanding an exorbitant price... he was familiar with this kind of thing.’

’To think that Su Mu, who usually looks so serious, would also play these games.’

But clearly, Commander Li had been bluffed.

"If you come to Xiangzhou, I’ll figure out a way to solve the issue of your official rank. I guarantee I’ll get you promoted to Governor within two or three years!"

Li Tingkui said.

"Two or three years, huh—"

Su Mu sounded hesitant.

"Two years!"

Li Tingkui guaranteed.

Xu Chongyuan and Zhong Guizheng were stunned as they listened.

’Promotion to Governor in two years, what is there to hesitate about?’

’Just agree!’

"Furthermore, I have a way to help you comprehend a phenomenon!"

Li Tingkui continued.

"Oh?"

Su Mu’s interest was piqued.

He could become a Governor in two years even without going to Xiangzhou.

His Four Symbols Rebirth Technique had already reached the greater mastery stage of the Cyan Dragon Body, and it wouldn’t be long before he reached Perfection.

Once his Four Symbols Rebirth Technique reached Perfection, he could break through to the True Essence Realm.

With a True Essence Realm cultivation, he would be more than qualified for a promotion to Governor in the Taiping Bureau.

For Su Mu, even if he just followed the normal progression, he wouldn’t need two years to get promoted.

That being the case, why would he leave his familiar surroundings to go to the unfamiliar land of Xiangzhou?

However, when Li Tingkui said he could help him comprehend a phenomenon, Su Mu was genuinely tempted.

He had just witnessed the power of a phenomenon firsthand. If he could master one, it would definitely boost his strength tremendously.

’Then again, the method Li Tingkui mentioned might not even work for me.’

’My own comprehension ability... well, it’s hard to put into words.’

"It’s better to give such a great opportunity to one of our other brothers. I’d still prefer to shine and contribute in Jingzhou."

Su Mu said earnestly.

Compared to the chance of comprehending a phenomenon, he wanted a promotion more.

Li Tingkui stared at Su Mu, and it took him a long moment to realize what was going on.

’This kid is so damn confident.’

’He thinks that even without this opportunity, he can comprehend a phenomenon on his own!’

’That’s right. He comprehended four different intents on his own. Talent like that is on par with the Marquises when they were young.’

’A person like that would naturally have his own pride.’

"Commander Li, does Commander He of Jingzhou know you’re doing this?"

Suddenly, a quiet voice spoke up from the side.

It was Zhang Wangyue, who had also come over and heard Li Tingkui’s recruitment pitch to Su Mu.

’A talent like Su Mu—which province wouldn’t want him?’

’Your Xiangzhou is located in the heartland of Da Xuan. It’s peaceful. The Taiping Bureau there usually just deals with the occasional demon or vicious criminal. Do you really need a talent like Su Mu for that?’

’Only our Liang Province, our Hujue Pass, is where he’s needed most.’

’Even Wuling City, which has to guard the periphery of Daxing Mountain, needs him more than your Xiangzhou.’

’As if Commander He from Jingzhou would let such a talent go.’

"So what if Baldy He knows? You think I’m afraid of him?"

Li Tingkui boomed.

For some reason, he felt that Li Tingkui’s voice lacked confidence. A doubt arose in his mind. ’Could it be that the Commander-in-Chief of the Jingzhou Taiping Bureau is even stronger than Li Tingkui?’

’Is our Jingzhou really that impressive?’

’But Li Tingkui has comprehended a phenomenon.’

"Forget it. You can’t force a good thing."

Li Tingkui said with a wave of his hand.

After Zhang Wangyue mentioned Commander He, he actually changed his mind on the spot.

Su Mu was also a little disappointed. ’If Li Tingkui had pushed a little harder, say, by promising him an immediate promotion to Governor, he might have even agreed to go to Xiangzhou.’

’How could he back down at the first sign of difficulty?’

’My demands aren’t even that high.’

...

The people of Hujue Pass were still clearing away the corpses of the demonic beasts, while Su Mu, Zhang Wangyue, Xu Chongyuan, Zhong Guizheng, and the others escorted the bodies of their fallen comrades back to Wuling City.

Of the seven from the Wuling Taiping Bureau who came, only three now returned.

They had crossed the most dangerous part of Daxing Mountain without any casualties, yet here at Hujue Pass, more than half of them had died.

Xu Chongyuan silently collected the four waist tokens of his companions.

Although they had done their best to recover the bodies of the dead, they could only find severed limbs. After cremation, their ashes, along with their waist tokens, would be brought back to Wuling to be enshrined in the Heroic Spirit Hall.

"Captain Su, Commander Yang requests your presence."

Just then, Zhang Wangyue walked in from outside and said to Su Mu, "All of the Inspectors from the Inspection Bureau have been captured and brought back."

Su Mu nodded, called Shi Ziran over, and followed Zhang Wangyue to the main hall of the Hujue Pass Taiping Bureau.

A dozen or so people were hog-tied and thrown on the floor.

Yang Changfeng was seated high in the hall, an irrepressible fury on his face.

When he saw Su Mu enter, his expression softened slightly.

"Captain Su, it’s all thanks to your intelligence this time. Otherwise, I would have never known that the Hujue Pass Inspection Bureau had been infiltrated to this extent by the Pure Land Sect!"

A flash of lingering fear also crossed his eyes.

Back then, he and Qianyun Mountain had been lured away by Shao Santong’s scheme. If not for Su Mu and his team, Shao Santong would have likely opened the city gates and allowed the Demon Court’s army into Hujue Pass.

He still broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.

"What about Qianyun Mountain?"

Su Mu scanned the hall and noticed that Qianyun Mountain, the General of the Hujue Pass Border Defense Army, was also present.

Hearing Su Mu’s question, Qianyun Mountain slowly rose to his feet.

SHINK!

He drew his saber.

Shi Ziran instinctively moved to block Su Mu, staring warily at Qianyun Mountain.

However, Qianyun Mountain did not strike at Su Mu. Instead, with a reverse grip, he plunged the saber into his own thigh.

He let out a muffled grunt and said, "I, Qianyun Mountain, was blind. This blow is my atonement to the brothers who died fighting for Hujue Pass."

"I have duties to fulfill, so I cannot die so easily."

"I have already requested punishment and will join the Suicide Squad."

The Suicide Squad was composed of the Border Defense Army’s Death Warriors. If the Demon Court attacked the pass, the Suicide Squad would be the first to meet them in battle.

"General Qian was at fault, but he was also deceived by a villain. His crime does not warrant death."

Yang Changfeng said slowly, "He can be trusted. I also bear responsibility in this matter. Afterward, I will report to the Headquarters and request punishment."

"I am just a humble Taiping Captain. Lord Yang need not explain himself to me."

Su Mu said.

"You saved Hujue Pass. It’s only natural that I give you an explanation."

Yang Changfeng said, "I called you over for two reasons. First, I want you to help identify these people. Second, I found some things in Shao Santong’s residence. You killed him, so these things naturally count as your spoils of war."