A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Fengshan County, Li Family.

The entire mansion covers nearly a hundred acres, with numerous pavilions and towers, their eaves and brackets layered upon each other, casting dappled shadows in the sunlight. Pavilions and waterside terraces meander and connect, winding paths lead to secluded spots, and covered corridors meander. Exotic flowers and rare plants vie for attention in the courtyards, while artificial hills and ponds complement each other beautifully. Every brick, tile, plant, and tree exudes the profound heritage and luxurious grandeur of a powerful family, and even the air is filled with the faint fragrance of grass and trees.

At this moment, in a quiet garden in the backyard.

The sunlight was perfect, filtering through the branches and foliage, scattering golden light across the garden. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the flowers and leaves to sway softly. A middle-aged man in a blue robe, holding pruning shears, was slowly trimming the branches before him. Tall and slender, he possessed an air of profound and imposing presence when standing with his hands behind his back. His face was refined, yet his eyes held a subtle, authoritative air. Sunlight filtered through the dense treetops, casting dappled shadows on him, which swayed gently with his movements. The interplay of light and shadow made his face appear even more serene and enigmatic. He was relaxed, his movements unhurried, each snip executed with composure, as if nothing in the world warranted his haste.

"Master Li."

The steward hurried through the moon gate, his steps quicker than usual, yet he still tried his best to keep quiet, his boots barely making a sound on the bluestone slabs. He quickly came to the man's side, bowed deeply, his back bent in a respectful arc, and spoke in a very low voice:

"An Wuou is dead."

The middle-aged man paused slightly, the shears hovering in mid-air for a moment, the blade still open, hesitant to close. Then, the snip-snip sound resumed, unhurried, one snip after another. Only his eyebrows twitched upwards very slightly, the curve so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

"Oh?" His tone was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger, and he didn't even turn his head. "Dead? How did he die?"

The steward lowered his head even further, his gaze fixed on the dappled light and shadow on the ground, not daring to look up at the man's expression: "He was killed by a candidate for the position of Deputy Chief of the Southern District of Fenjiang County. A man named Su Bai, twenty years old."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man finally stopped what he was doing.

He gently placed the shears on the stone table beside him, his movements so light that the shears barely made a sound as they touched the stone. He turned around, his gaze falling on the butler. His gaze was calm as still water, unfathomable, yet it made the butler instinctively hold his breath, a chill creeping down his spine. A faint hint of surprise flashed across the man's eyes, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, the ripples disappearing in an instant.

"An Wu'ou was seriously injured at the time, so it was estimated that he still had the cultivation level of the sixth realm of martial arts left, right?"

His tone remained calm and indifferent, as if he were asking about something trivial, but the certainty in his words and his deep eyes made it impossible not to answer seriously.

"Yes, Master Li," the butler replied respectfully, not daring to hesitate for a moment, his forehead almost touching his chest.

The middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze passing over the courtyard wall to the distant, azure sky. The sky was crystal clear, with a few birds flying by. He remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.

After a long while, he gently shook his head, the movement very slow.

"Never mind," his voice was devoid of emotion, as flat as if he were commenting on the weather, "Since he killed An Wu'ou, reward him as he should be. As for the rest... we'll talk about it when we see him."

He paused after speaking, then bent down again to pick up the pruning shears from the stone table. His fingers gripped the handles with distinct knuckles, applying just the right amount of pressure. His gaze fell on the crabapple tree before him, which had only been partially pruned. The crabapple was in full bloom, its pink and white blossoms vibrant and delicate, a few petals drifting down and gently settling on the bluestone ground. His tone remained calm, yet carried a subtle chill, as if seeping from between his teeth:

"Now that this matter is considered closed, those who intervened to stop An Wu'ou should be punished accordingly. Understand?"

The steward's heart skipped a beat, his back instantly tensed like a bowstring, and a fine layer of cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He quickly lowered his head deeply, his voice filled with suppressed respect: "Understood, Your subordinate."

This Master Li is the head of the Li family, a truly powerful and influential figure. He is the undisputed leader in the clan, seemingly gentle and refined, but in reality, he is as deep and unfathomable, with a profound and cunning mind. No one can fathom what he is thinking.

The steward knew perfectly well that the elder who had intervened to stop An Wuou's evil deeds was likely to be in big trouble this time.

This punishment will definitely not be lenient.

He had originally hoped to redeem himself through meritorious service, but now that An Wu'ou is dead, what merit can he possibly gain? Naturally, he can only obediently accept his punishment.

three days later.

A black-covered horse-drawn carriage was parked in front of the Fenjiang County government office. The Li family crest, with its black background and silver patterns, shimmered faintly in the sunlight, its intricate and elaborate designs hanging on the carriage shaft. The horses pulling the carriage had glossy coats, their hooves lightly pausing, occasionally snorting.

The person sent by the Li family was the same steward who had reported to the head of the family three days ago.

He had changed into a brand-new dark blue robe, the cuffs neat, the hem hanging down, and his hair, not a single strand out of place, was tied up neatly with a jade hairpin. He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the carriage, his back straight, exuding an air of seasoned composure, his gaze calmly fixed on the gate of the county government office.

"Lord Su."

Upon seeing Su Bai emerge, the butler immediately stepped forward, a polite smile on his face—a smile that was neither obsequious nor distant, perfectly measured. He clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his movements as precise as if measured with a ruler.

"I am the steward of the Li family, and I have been ordered to invite you to the Li family. Our Li family is grateful to Lord Su for killing An Wuou."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, his pace neither too fast nor too slow, each word clearly enunciated. His demeanor was perfectly balanced, neither overly enthusiastic nor disrespectful because of the other's youth. His gaze lingered on Su Bai's face for a moment, a subtle assessment, before falling back down.

Others might think that the Li family looked down on Su Bai, only sending a servant to invite him.

But those with discernment present understood that in a large family, the position of steward was actually more important than that of most family members. To have the steward personally make the trip and wait for them at the entrance of the county government office was already an extremely high honor.

Faced with this invitation, Su Bai naturally had no reason to refuse.

He nodded slightly and calmly followed the steward into the carriage. His steps were neither hurried nor slow, showing no sign of being flattered or uneasy.

The carriage was clean and tidy, with soft cushions covered in fine brocade and a faint scent of sandalwood that wafted into the air.

The butler personally lowered the carriage curtain, his movements gentle, the curtain falling almost silently. He nodded slightly to the coachman.

The driver gave the reins a sharp tug and uttered a soft shout.

The wheels rolled, grinding against the bluestone slabs with a dull, rumbling sound. The horses' hooves clattered lightly, a quick, rhythmic thud.

The carriage traveled through the county town's cobblestone streets, the shops and houses on both sides slowly receding into the distance. Gradually, it entered the official road, where the road surface became smooth and wide, the carriage moved faster, and the sound of the wheels became even and rapid.

Along the official road, fields and paths crisscross, and distant mountains appear like dark eyebrows.

The carriage sped off towards Fengshan County.