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

Chapter 148 Breakthrough to True Qi

"Tell him to find some time," Su Bai smiled, "to treat me to another meal."

After saying that, he turned and left, his figure disappearing into the night.

Wang Muzhi stood still, looking in the direction Su Bai had left, without moving for a long time.

The moonlight shone on his face, reflecting a complex expression—shock, awe, and a hint of inexplicable pleasure.

The constables around him were also stunned, as if they had been frozen in place.

After a long while, someone asked in a low voice, as if afraid of disturbing something: "Lord Wang, this—this really needs to be sent?"

"Send it." Wang Muzhi came back to his senses, his voice carrying a hint of complexity. "Didn't you hear what the Chief Constable said?"

""

The constables exchanged glances and looked at each other blankly.

A moment later, someone took a deep breath and walked toward the body in Weihuan Town.

As he crouched down, his hands were still trembling. Looking at the head rolling in the pool of blood, his Adam's apple bobbed before he reached out to scoop it up.

Wang Muzhi watched them busy themselves, and then looked at the guests at the table who were looking at each other in bewilderment.

Some people were looking down, seemingly lost in thought; some were secretly wiping the sweat from their brows; and some were holding wine glasses but hadn't taken a single sip, the wine already cold.

A strange feeling welled up inside him.

These days, the garrison commander has been suffering all kinds of mistreatment in Qingyuan County, and he, as the deputy garrison commander, has to keep a low profile.

Walking down the street, even the servants of those powerful families dared to glare at them coldly.

When people go to teahouses, gang members will deliberately place stools across the entrance, forcing them to take a detour.

Which of those powerful families and gangs would take them seriously?

Sending gifts today and hosting banquets tomorrow are all ways of subtly telling them that your Zhenfu Division is nothing in this world.

But now?

A knife.

Just one cut.

Wang Muzhi recalled the moment Su Bai drew his sword.

He didn't even see the blade clearly, only a flash of white light, and then Wei Huanzhen's head was severed, blood gushing from his neck, splattering a dark red in the moonlight.

mighty.

These two words suddenly popped into his mind.

Regardless of Su Bai's background or whether he came through Deputy Inspector Feng's connections, this strike was quite impressive.

"Lord Wang."

Wei Anjing's voice rang out, sounding somewhat tired and hoarse.

Wang Muzhi turned his head and saw Wei Anjing walking over, his face not looking too good.

Under the moonlight, his face looked exceptionally pale, and his eyes and brows revealed an unconcealable weariness.

His steps were much heavier than when he came, each step feeling like he was walking on cotton.

"Lord Wei," Wang Muzhi bowed respectfully.

"Lord Su—this strike…" Wei Anjing hesitated for a moment, his gaze falling on the still-wet bloodstain on the ground, and lowered his voice, "What level of cultivation did he possess?"

Wang Muzhi shook his head: "I don't know either."

He genuinely didn't know.

That strike was too fast, so fast that he couldn't even judge the extent of Su Bai's skill.

He even doubted that even if Su Bai told him the truth, he might not believe it.

Wei Anjing glanced at him, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed.

The sigh sounded particularly heavy in the night: "Let's go, we can't eat here."

He turned and left, his steps heavy, his figure appearing somewhat desolate in the moonlight.

Wang Muzhi watched his retreating figure, then glanced at the guests who were gradually getting up to leave.

Some people walked too fast and almost tripped over the threshold; some talked in hushed tones with their companions, their voices very low, and occasionally looked back in the direction Su Bai had left; some walked alone at the back, their steps slow, as if they were thinking about something.

He suddenly felt like laughing.

Today's meal not only consumed Wei Huanzhen's head, but also revealed the contempt these people held for the Zhenfu Division.

Su Bai returned to his residence, closed the door, and the smile on his face faded.

He walked to the window, pushed it open, and the night breeze blew in, carrying the coolness of early autumn and the faint scent of grass and trees.

He stood by the window, looking at the night outside, and sighed softly.

"I just want to have a proper meal," he murmured, his voice soft, as if speaking to himself, "Why is that so difficult?"

He really thought so.

During his stay in Qingyuan County, he didn't intend to cause trouble. He just wanted to have a few peaceful meals, figure out the situation, and then slowly come up with a solution.

He had even planned out the next few days' schedule: to continue strolling around the streets and experiencing the local customs and culture.

Then visit a few local notables to learn about the distribution of power in the area;

Then find an opportunity to sit down and have a proper talk with all parties involved.

But those people insisted on giving him gifts, trying to intimidate him, and putting on airs in front of him.

They don't appreciate kindness.

Su Bai shook his head and turned to pour tea.

The water in the teapot was still warm. He poured himself a cup and held it in his hand.

The warmth of the teacup seeped through the porcelain walls to his palm, calming his chaotic thoughts somewhat.

He knew how much trouble this stab would cause tonight.

The Golden Knife Alliance will not let this go easily, and other forces will also reassess its importance.

Those who were watching from the shadows will surface tomorrow;

Those who were originally itching to act will start plotting again tomorrow.

He has stirred up the waters of Qingyuan County to the point of utter chaos.

But he had no choice.

Some people, you can't know what pain is unless you make them bleed.

Su Bai picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

Jin Tangjing.

He repeated the name to himself.

The leader of the Golden Knife Alliance, a late-stage True Qi Realm expert, is a veteran force in Qingyuan County.

He had heard of this person before he came to Qingyuan County—a self-made man who climbed his way up in the Golden Knife Alliance step by step, and in eight years transformed the Golden Knife Alliance from an insignificant gang into one of the most powerful forces in Qingyuan County.

He must be the one who suffered the most from this knife wound tonight.

Wei Huanzhen was his man, and he was killed in a situation he orchestrated. Where does that leave his reputation?

But if he doesn't swallow his anger and insists on seeking an explanation from the Zhenfu Division, then the trouble that follows will be even greater.

Su Bai smiled.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on his face and making his smile appear exceptionally gentle.

He was eager to see what choice Kindo Kei would make.

Golden Knife Alliance Council Hall.

"Bang!"

A fine mahogany table shattered into several pieces, splintering wood everywhere. Some pieces hit people nearby, but no one dared to dodge.

An Chen stood amidst the wood chips, his face ashen, his chest heaving violently, each breath accompanied by heavy panting.

His hands were still trembling slightly, a lingering tremor from exerting too much force.

"This is outrageous! This is outrageous!"

He is the vice leader of the Golden Knife Alliance, a mid-stage True Qi Realm expert, and a prominent figure within the Golden Knife Alliance.

Wherever he goes, people respectfully call him "Vice Alliance Leader An." Even the heads of powerful families give him face.

At this moment, however, he was like an enraged beast, exuding murderous intent, with bloodshot eyes and throbbing veins on his forehead.

"Alliance Leader, I'm taking men!" He slammed his hand on another table, causing teacups to jump and tea to splash all over the table. "I'll show that Su Bai that the Golden Knife Alliance is not to be trifled with!"

"Yes!" Third Elder Zhong Ji also stood up, slamming his hand on the table with a dull thud. "We demand an explanation! We must demand an explanation!"

The council hall was in an uproar as seven or eight people clamored to go to the Zhenfu Division to demand justice.

Some people slammed their fists on the table, some smashed their cups, and some paced back and forth, muttering curses.

The candlelight flickered with their movements, casting their shadows on the wall, which looked menacing.

Jin Tangjing remained seated in the main seat, without moving.

He stared at the human head in the box before him—the head of Wei Huanzhen—his expression unreadable.

The box was placed on the table in front of him, with a white cloth inside. The human head rested on the white cloth, its eyes half-open, and the shock of the moment before death still lingered on its face.

He stared for a long time, so long that the noise in the council hall gradually subsided, so long that everyone turned their attention to him.

"Sit down, everyone," he said.

The sound was not loud, even calm, yet it instantly silenced the boiling council chamber.

An Chen was unwilling to accept this; his chest was still heaving violently: "Alliance Leader—"

'

I said, "Sit down."

The voice remained calm, so calm that it was completely still.

But An Chen seemed to have something choking him; he opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.

He gritted his teeth and sat down heavily. The chair made a dull thud, which was particularly clear in the quiet council chamber.

The others gradually returned to their seats, but their eyes were all fixed on Jin Tangjing.

The candlelight illuminated their faces, revealing a variety of expressions: some were resentful, some angry, some doubtful, and some harboring a hidden worry.

Jin Tangjing stood up and walked to the desk.

His steps were slow, each one steady, as calm as a mountain.

He walked up to the box, lowered his head, and looked at Wei Huanzhen's face.

He recognized that face very well. Wei Huanzhen had been following him for seven or eight years. Although he was of average talent, he was quite capable and perceptive.

I sent him tonight to probe Su Bai's background, but I didn't expect—

Jin Tangjing's gaze lingered on Wei Huanzhen's face for a long time, so long that the air in the council hall seemed to freeze.

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "You're going to demand an explanation? What explanation?"

"A life for a life!" Zhong Ji blurted out. He stood up, his face flushed red, veins bulging on his neck. "Wei Huanzhen was a member of our Golden Knife Alliance, and he was killed just like that. If we don't get justice, who will respect our Golden Knife Alliance in the future?"

"A life for a life?" Jin Tangjing turned to look at him, his gaze calm, almost cold. "You want Su Bai to pay for Wei Huanzhen's life?"

"certainly!"

"Alright, go ahead." Jin Tangjing nodded, pointed to the door, and said, "Go to the Zhenfu Division and tell Su Bai to pay with his life. Let's see if he'll give you that kind of face."

Zhong Ji was stunned, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word.

"What if he doesn't give it to you?" Jin Tangjing continued, staring directly at him. "You'll do it? You dare kill him?"

Zhong Ji's face flushed red, from her cheeks to the roots of her neck, and then to the tips of her ears: "I—"

"You wouldn't dare," Jin Tangjing said for him, his tone still calm. "Wei Huanzhen couldn't dodge that blow. How much stronger are you than Wei Huanzhen? Could you dodge it?"

Zhong Ji was speechless. His hands clenched into fists, then relaxed, then clenched into fists again, his knuckles turning white.

Jin Tangjing looked at An Chen: "What about you? Can you dodge it?"

An Chen gritted his teeth, remaining silent. He recalled the news that had come back tonight—Wei Huanzhen hadn't even had time to react to Su Bai's stab. What about him? Could he even react? He dared not think about it.

"None of you can escape this." Jin Tangjing walked back to the main seat and sat down. The chair made a slight creak, which was particularly clear in the quiet council hall.

These words silenced the council chamber completely.

It was so quiet that I could hear the faint crackling of the candlelight, the rustling of the leaves in the night wind outside the window, and my own heartbeat.

The only one capable of fighting the other side is probably Kindou Kei.

He is at the late stage of the True Qi Realm and is the absolute number one in the Golden Saber Alliance. He is also a top expert in the entire Qingyuan County.

No matter how powerful Su Bai is, he can never be a match for Jin Tangjing.

Will Keijin make a move?

"But... can we just let it go like this?" An Chen was unwilling. His voice was hoarse, filled with barely suppressed anger.

"Forget it?" Jintang Jing shook his head. "It can't be forgotten."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the faces of the crowd.

Those eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the candlelight, so deep that their depths were unfathomable.

"But you can't calculate it that way."

"Then how do we calculate it?"

Instead of answering directly, Jin Tangjing asked, "Who do you think Su Bai was cutting with that strike?"

An Chen was taken aback, then frowned: "Of course it's Wei Huan Town."

"That's not right." Jin Tangjing shook his head, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, making a soft tapping sound. "He chopped at Wei Huanzhen, he slapped us in the face. But the ones he really offended weren't just us."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"Tonight, there are people from the four major families, the Chamber of Commerce Alliance, and other gangs present. Everyone has witnessed Su Bai's move."

"So what?" Chung Chi asked.

He hadn't recovered from the embarrassment of the previous moment, and his tone was tinged with resentment.

"So what?" Jin Tangjing turned to look at him, his gaze scrutinizing. "What do you think they're feeling?"

Zhong Ji thought for a moment, then frowned even more: "They—they should be thankful, thankful that this blow wasn't delivered to one of their own."

"Anything else?"

Zhong Ji frowned, unable to figure it out. He scratched his head, looking puzzled.

An Chen suddenly spoke, his voice low: "They'll be afraid."

Jin Tangjing nodded: "Yes, they will be afraid. Su Bai could kill Wei Huanzhen with one strike, and he can kill their people with one strike as well. Today it's us, tomorrow it could be them. So..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces: "They're all watching us now. They're watching how we react. If we fight the Golden Knife Alliance to the death, they'll be happy to see it; if we back down, they'll have to consider Su Bai's worth."

An Chen understood, and his brows relaxed slightly: "Does the Alliance Leader mean—we can't back down?"

"We can't fight to the death." Jin Tangjing shook his head, walked back to the main seat and sat down. "If we keep fighting to the death, we'll suffer the biggest losses. The others can just watch from the sidelines and reap the benefits in the end."

Think about it, which of those four major families is easy to deal with? They'd love for us to fight Su Bai, the fiercer the better, ideally resulting in mutual destruction.