Chapter 21

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This chapter is edited by Cthulhu. Thank you for your contribution!

Chapter 21: Falling Leaves

The long spear in Qiao Mu’s hand had been abandoned by the mountain bandits.

Made of iron at its tip and white waxwood for its shaft, the spear was similar in length to the standard one Qiao Mu had used before.

He swung it several times, swiftly adapting to the weapon in his hands. Standing on the mountain ridge, he looked down at the crowd of official soldiers below, his gaze following Military Officer Chu’s movements as he quietly waited for an opportunity.

“Military Officer Chu appears to be rank 8?”

He closed his eyes and looked inward, seeing his dantian and qi sea filled with abundant, invisible internal strength, forming a vortex at the center of his dantian.

The vortex of internal strength in his qi sea indicated that his internal strength had reached the dantian’s limit.

This meant Qiao Mu had now reached the peak of 9th rank in internal strength, just one step away from 8th rank.

One death had consumed eight years of Qiao Mu’s lifespan, equivalent to far surpassing eight years of hard cultivation. It had directly surpassed the intermediate stage of internal strength accumulation, reaching the peak of 9th rank.

“If I die once more, perhaps I can break through to the 8th rank.”

“Military Officer Chu commands a thousand soldiers, yet he is merely an 8th rank martial artist, not far above me. There is a chance for a successful ambush.”

A fearless warrior at the peak of 9th rank, attacking an 8th rank martial artist with their life at stake, had a high chance of success.

After the assassination, Qiao Mu could even continue to advance.

The main question was how to assassinate Military Officer Chu.

Currently, thousands of soldiers surrounded Military Officer Chu. If Qiao Mu were to charge in directly, he would end up trapped, just as he had when facing the bandits before. His internal strength would be depleted, and he would die again, unable to even reach Military Officer Chu.

“While Military Officer Chu has thousands of soldiers around him before returning to Yan City, making it difficult to get close, what if getting close isn’t necessary?”

Qiao Mu gripped the long spear tightly.

After eight years of secret practice, Qiao Mu had mastered Military Spear Skill. The long spear had become an extension of his arm.

“I’ll attempt an ambush from this distant mountain ridge using the spear!”

Though Military Spear Skill didn’t include ambush techniques, Qiao Mu felt confident in his ability to attempt it with his current weapon.

“If the first strike misses, I’ll temporarily withdraw and devise another plan when he returns to Yan City.”

He crouched on the mountain ridge, silently awaiting the right moment.

Soon enough, he spotted Military Officer Chu walking toward the rear of the formation, accompanied by Old Huang and others carrying a body. They appeared to be in conversation.

Here they come!

Military Officer Chu walked to the back of the team, closer to the valley’s mouth. From Qiao Mu’s position, the straight-line distance between them was less than a hundred meters!

He gripped the long spear firmly in his right hand, his arm muscles tensed, aiming at Military Officer Chu below in the valley.

“Remain calm. Even if this assassination fails, other opportunities will arise.”

“This time, let’s proceed with caution and steadiness…”

“Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method!” Qiao Mu’s internal strength surged instantly, and the spear in his hand emanated a blood-colored aura as it shot through the air!

………………………..

Below in the valley.

Military Officer Chu had just concluded his discussion with Old Huang about handling Qiao Mu’s body and was turning to leave.

He instructed his confidant, “After returning to Yan City, arrange for Qiao Mu’s body and inform the City Lord’s mansion.”

The confidant immediately replied, “Indeed, Lord Chu’s brilliant strategy effortlessly dealt with a troublemaker that even the City Lord couldn’t handle.”

“Hmph, merely a reckless youth with misplaced courage!” Military Officer Chu sneered.

“What use is combat skill alone? In this world, power and connections are necessary for survival.”

“Such arrogance in Yan City? Daring to challenge the city lord? I’ll dispose of this nobody without breaking a sweat.”

Thinking of Qiao Mu’s heroic sacrifice, he couldn’t suppress a smile.

“Such combat skill, such bravery. After his death, everything will be settled. Then, I will claim credit for all the bandits he eliminated.”

“And if not for his heroic death, our army would have suffered heavy casualties fighting against a thousand bandits in the valley.”

“In truth, I should thank him.” Military Officer Chu smiled and said:

“Having such a useful young man, it would be better if we had more like him.”

Just as these words left his lips, Military Officer Chu suddenly felt a surge of fear, his pupils contracting.

A sharp whistle pierced the air behind his ear as a spear descended rapidly toward him!

“A skilled attacker! Among the bandits, there exists such expertise? I was right not to rush in!”

Military Officer Chu quickly gathered internal strength in his toes and prepared to dodge with all his might, but in that brief moment, he glimpsed the figure standing on the mountain ridge.

Despite the hundreds of meters distance, the figure’s posture struck him with an overwhelming sense of familiarity…

That person….

That person appeared to be Qiao Mu?!

In that instant, Military Officer Chu’s mind reeled, and the surging internal strength in his meridians faltered slightly.

Swish!

The spear, having traversed the air, pierced Military Officer Chu’s throat in a flash. The tremendous force hurled his body backward, pinning him to a tree several meters away.

Military Officer Chu’s eyes widened, staring fixedly at the figure on the mountain ridge.

In his final moments, terror gripped him completely.

He attempted to cry out, but only a weak sound emerged, not even forming a complete word.

Blood gushed from the wound in his throat, and his strength rapidly faded. His hands fell limp, and he perished.

“Enemy attack!”

The soldiers nearby panicked.

They had just achieved victory and were preparing to return to the city, never expecting their leader, Military Officer Chu, to fall to an ambush by a skilled fighter with a single, fatal strike!

Old Huang and his companions were equally terrified.

Yet their fear differed from that of the other soldiers.

“Did… did you see that figure on the mountain?” Old Huang stammered.

The soldiers mourning and carrying Qiao Mu’s body had been walking at the rear of the formation.

Thus, apart from Military Officer Chu, only a few had glimpsed the fleeting figure on the mountain.

“…”, the monk beside them remained silent momentarily, instinctively lifting the banner to glance at Qiao Mu’s bloodied body.

“I saw it too, it was a bandit ambush,” he stated gravely.

“Yes, bandits,” Old Huang realized, shouting loudly:

“Bandits are attacking!”

“Bandits are attacking!” the few soldiers echoed in unison.

The group of soldiers, now leaderless, scattered in panic.

None dared retrieve Military Officer Chu’s body. Instead, they fled swiftly as if escaping grave danger. After all, a skilled warrior who could kill Military Officer Chu with one strike remained nearby, capable of striking again at any moment.

Officer Chu’s body hung alone on the tree on the small hill, with none daring to approach.

A gentle breeze stirred the leaves of the tree where Officer Chu was pinned.

Fresh blood trickled down the body, staining the tree trunk with the words “Fallen Wood Valley” in crimson.

At Officer Chu’s throat, the wooden handle of the long spear still quivered slightly.