Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Chapter 245 - 168: Cyan Bamboo Buries Bones, Sumeru Mustard Seed!_2

The next day, the assistant Zhang Yang arrived, and after calling out several times outside the clinic, he hesitated before entering and was immediately hit by a smell carrying a metallic scent mixed with saltiness.

Soon, Zhang Yang found Su Mu in the bamboo grove.

"What, what exactly happened here? No, Pharmacist Lin entrusted me with caring for this person, I can’t let anything happen to them!"

Zhang Yang tried to pick Su Mu up, his face flushing red and veins popping on his arms, only to find he couldn’t lift him. For a moment, Zhang Yang was aghast.

His physique might not be considered robust among ordinary people, but it was by no means weak. Working odd jobs since childhood had given him some strength; he could barely carry two bags of rice or flour, each weighing a hundred pounds, and yet today he couldn’t carry this unconscious person.

"Why is this person so heavy?"

After trying for a long time, Zhang Yang ended up bringing reinforcements from the tavern, and only then did three men, panting heavily, manage to move Su Mu from the bamboo grove back into the pharmacy.

"Tsk tsk, who is this guy that Zhang Yang brought, not much lighter than the pigs our village slaughters for Chinese New Year!"

Zhang Yang shook his head, Su Mu was wrapped entirely in bandages and his face was indistinguishable. Moreover, Pharmacist Lin only asked him to care for Su Mu for a while without mentioning his identity.

"For the pharmacist to care so much, and to hire you specifically for this, this person must be quite a martial artist. I’ve heard stories since I was a child about people who are innately different, and I always thought they were just tales, but I didn’t expect it to be true!"

The two men from the tavern left in wonder.

Zhang Yang dared not delay, as the pharmacist had given strict instructions about what to do. He quickly went into the pharmacy to find the ointment, then carefully removed Su Mu’s bandages. Upon seeing the wounds on Su Mu’s body, resembling cracks all over, Zhang Yang was appalled.

"How can someone with such injuries still be alive?!"

That deep night, Su Mu slowly awakened, soon realizing that someone had reapplied medicine and re-bandaged him. His ears moved slightly, catching the sound of breathing from the adjacent room.

This breathing was somewhat longer than that of ordinary people, but Su Mu could discern they were ordinary, not martial artists.

"You’re awake?!"

During the day, Zhang Yang entered the room and was surprised to see Su Mu awake, thinking this man’s resilience was remarkable, how could he wake from such injuries after just one night?

"Are you Zhang Yang?"

Zhang Yang nodded repeatedly. Su Mu, lying on the sickbed, spoke calmly but with a pressure that Zhang Yang felt, realizing that Su Mu must be someone extraordinary for the pharmacist to be so concerned.

"Thank you for your trouble during this time."

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all, the pharmacist was very kind to me, having treated my mother, this is nothing!"

Listening to Zhang Yang’s somewhat hurried tone, Su Mu could hear the sincerity within, realizing this person was indeed as the pharmacist described, kind-hearted.

In the days that followed, the clinic remained closed, and Su Mu stayed inside to rest and recover, while Zhang Yang diligently followed the pharmacist’s instructions, preparing medicinal decoctions daily and changing Su Mu’s ointments every three days.

Su Mu’s absence from the Forging Workshop for several days did not raise suspicion among others, as Wu Lie and the other masters assumed Su Mu was taking a break after forging the Red Feather Saber.

On this very day, Qingyun County Captain Li Qiu visited the Forging Workshop.

"Martial Master, your workshop has produced an extraordinary Master Blacksmith, who at such a young age can independently forge Eighth-Grade Treasure Artifacts, even causing phenomena—truly worthy of celebration! I wonder if I could meet this Master Su?"

"Lord Li, Master Su hasn’t visited the workshop these past few days. I promise I’ll convey your wishes once he returns."

After exchanging pleasantries, once the place was left just for the two of them, Li Qiu expressed his purpose.

"Lao Wu, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve come today on behalf of Magistrate Tao, who wants your workshop’s masters, especially Master Su, to forge a weapon."

"What weapon?" Wu Lie looked curious.

"This matter is of great importance to Magistrate Tao, but I’m not quite familiar with it. The weapon is to be forged not in the workshop but in the magistrate’s manor outside the town; Master Su will know once he goes."

"Alright, I’ll let Master Su know as soon as he returns."

Wu Lie agreed, finding the matter somewhat odd, but given that it was an invitation from Magistrate Tao, and Li Qiu himself had come, he thought he might be overthinking.

Time galloped by like a fleeting white pony, as snow and wind filled the world, marking the arrival of winter in Cyan Cloud.

After half a month of recuperation, Su Mu’s robust qi blood and jade bone took effect, with his wounds nearly healed, only shallow scars remained, leaving Zhang Yang amazed over the past few days. However, this was only what Zhang Yang could see.

Su Mu knew well that while flesh wounds heal easily, internal ruptured meridians couldn’t be fully healed with ordinary ointment and rest.

"Zhang Yang, you’ve worked hard during this time, you should go back now."

Su Mu took out a silver note and handed it over. Zhang Yang immediately waved it off.

"No way, I can’t accept this money."

"If you don’t accept it, then just throw it away."

Seeing Su Mu’s firm stance, Zhang Yang hesitated but eventually accepted the silver note, "Mr. Lin Xiao... are you planning to leave the clinic?"

Pharmacist Lin hadn’t disclosed Su Mu’s identity to Zhang Yang, and furthermore, Su Mu had quietly changed his appearance using the Small Faceless Transformation Technique over these days while keeping his face wrapped, leaving Zhang Yang unaware. In front of Zhang Yang, Su Mu claimed to be a distant relative of the pharmacist, sharing the surname Lin.

Out of respect for the pharmacist who helped him, Zhang Yang referred to Su Mu as Mr. Lin Xiao.

"Yes, I came here seeking medical treatment, and now that I’m mostly healed, it’s time to return."