Eternal Life Begins with Learning

"Brother Mu! Brother Mu!"

Leading a few Inspectors who had come as reinforcements, Xu Yuan called out anxiously.

But as he broke through the dense woods, Xu Yuan’s urgent cries came to an abrupt halt.

The other Inspectors who had come with him also stopped in their tracks, their expressions varied as they stared into the dim forest not far away.

There, in the gloom, a figure covered in blood knelt in the woods, hacking away at something with a saber, blow after blow.

They weren’t too far away, and they could clearly see the body lying beneath the figure. With each chop of the saber, the spattering blood was also shockingly clear.

Then, an even more terrifying scene unfolded before their eyes.

The saber-wielding figure lifted a bloody head. Blood still dripped from it, a ghastly match for the blood-soaked man, creating an indescribably horrifying sight in the dim forest.

"Bro... Brother Mu..."

Xu Yuan swallowed hard, his words catching in his throat.

"We won!"

Chu Mu raised the still-dripping head and grinned. Beneath the blood smeared across his face, the smile was undeniably terrifying.

One head was worth thirty silver. It wasn’t much, but it was a start, something to hope for.

With five heads, he could be promoted from a common Inspector to a team leader.

That would be a huge leap in power and status.

Although getting four more heads seemed unlikely, it was good to have a goal.

"What’s your name?"

One of the men, a burly fellow, stepped forward. The Iron Armor he wore was a clear testament to his rank.

"Chu Mu," Chu Mu replied.

The burly man asked again, "What about Li Tie, who came as backup just now?"

Chu Mu answered, "He was injured. I had some men carry him to the Thousand Households just a moment ago."

The burly man glanced at the corpse on the ground, his eyes lingering on the saber wounds for a moment. Then, he casually flicked his gaze to the Long Saber in Chu Mu’s hand.

The burly man asked no more questions. He didn’t seem to care that the head was already in Chu Mu’s possession. He just nodded and motioned for the Inspectors following him to leave.

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow in surprise. ’I expected a thorough interrogation,’ he thought. ’After all, the man in Iron Armor who helped me was seriously injured, and... this head represents military merit!’

For the newcomer to be so nonchalant was something Chu Mu hadn’t expected.

"Brother Mu, you killed him?"

Xu Yuan sidled up, looking with a hint of fear at the head in Chu Mu’s hand.

"I think so..."

Chu Mu wasn’t entirely sure. After all, the punch from the man in Iron Armor had played a significant part.

"You’re amazing, Brother Mu!"

"It was nothing, really!"

Chu Mu waved his hand dismissively. He knew his own limits; killing this man had been a complete fluke.

"Let’s go!"

Chu Mu looked up at the still-dark sky and let out a long breath. "It’s going to be a long night."

Chu Mu was clearly worried. From what he’d seen, all the attackers were highly skilled.

’If they’re truly pushed into a corner, they’ll lash out like a cornered animal...’

"You just killed one of the attackers?"

As Chu Mu was lost in thought, a voice from nearby snapped him back to reality.

"Team Leader."

Chu Mu looked at the approaching Li Gang, his gaze tightening.

’Li Gang... is injured?’

His Inspector Armor was torn, and several strips of cloth were wrapped around him as bandages. Accumulated blood seeped through, dripping to the ground as he walked.

The triumphant look he’d worn since entering the mountains was now replaced by a sickly pallor.

Li Gang stared at Chu Mu, his tone uncharacteristically soft. "I’m one head short. Give me the head, and I’ll give you a hundred silver!"

"If you agree, I’ll owe you a favor."

Then, as if afraid that wasn’t enough to persuade Chu Mu, Li Gang added, "I also know a thing or two about Martial Arts. If you agree, you can come to me anytime in the future. I can even teach you my family’s Martial Arts!"

This barrage of offers genuinely tempted Chu Mu.

He had only managed to take this one head by a stroke of luck. As for getting four more to meet the promotion requirement, while he’d entertained the thought, Chu Mu himself knew it was highly unlikely.

’Selling this one head for such a price would be a huge profit!’

Just as Chu Mu was about to accept, a voice from nearby made him shut his mouth.

"Li Gang, what do you think you’re doing!"

"Is military merit something that can be bought and sold?"

"If you want merit, go fight for it yourself! What’s the meaning of this scheming and slacking off!"

Wu Shuo strode over with several Inspectors in tow, his sharp gaze fixed on Li Gang.

Li Gang’s relatively soft expression instantly turned ugly. He glared at Wu Shuo, his killing intent surging. "Wu Shuo, are you looking to die?"

"If you hadn’t set me up, would I be injured?"

"Haha, you got injured because your skills are inferior!"

"What nerve you have, blaming me!"

"Besides, is that any way to speak to me?"

"Captain Li?"

As the two men stood poised on the brink of violence, Chu Mu silently took two steps back, feeling utterly speechless.

’I’ve actually been dragged into this kind of power struggle! This is a complete disaster I did nothing to deserve!’

The situation was undoubtedly clear. Li Gang’s smug ambition had obviously offended Wu Shuo—and likely not just him, considering the two Squad Leaders now standing by Wu Shuo’s side.

It was unclear what had happened to make them turn on each other so openly, or perhaps Wu Shuo had simply decided to strike first before things came to a head.

He had likely sabotaged Li Gang during the recent attack.

With Li Gang heavily injured, he was probably unable to fight any longer, which was why he had come to buy a head to gather enough military merit...

"Oh, right, I almost forgot. Captain Li, you only have the merit for three heads!"

"I’ve already reported to the Hundred Households how you forced Li Sang and stole his military merit!"

"Stealing military merit is a major crime!"

Li Gang stared daggers at Wu Shuo, his face an unnatural, flushed red. "Bullshit! It was mutual. When did I ever force him or steal anything?"

Wu Shuo chuckled lightly. "That’s not what I’m saying. You should go ask Li Sang!"

"Captain Li, you’d best watch yourself!"

"You’re despicable!"

"You just wait!"

Blood trickled from the corner of Li Gang’s mouth, a clear sign of how furious he was. He clenched his fists tightly, but in the end, he was clearly helpless.

He shot Wu Shuo a venomous glare, spat out his threat, and staggered away.

Chu Mu remained silent, keeping his head down and staring at the bleeding head in his hand as if a flower had bloomed on it that he could never tire of watching.

It was obvious Wu Shuo was a step ahead—in fact, more than just one step.

His pitiful team leader had been completely outmaneuvered. Not only did Wu Shuo have something on him, but he was also seriously injured.

As for what would happen next...

Chu Mu really didn’t want to care.

He wanted absolutely no part of this mess!

...