Chapter 64: The Price of Insult

“You claim Bai Ji’s collar was rolled up to conceal bloodstains?”

Bai Ji stepped forward willingly, allowing Su Mu to pull open her collar, revealing earthy yellow traces of mud.

Su Mu presented it before Ling Guang, a smile playing on his lips as he inquired, “Is this what you refer to as blood?”

Ling Guang furrowed his brows, remaining silent.

Su Mu released Bai Ji’s collar. With a sharp clang, he effortlessly drew the sword from Bai Ji’s waist.

“Furthermore, you stated that the water stains on Bai Ji’s sword were from washing it?”

Su Mu swung the longsword, a flash of silver light glinting as it struck Ling Guang’s shoulder, clad in golden armor.

Ling Guang’s subordinates glared at Su Mu with fury. Their hands clenched tightly around the weapons at their waists, poised to fight for their leader, yet none dared to strike first.

Su Mu paid no heed to these ‘clowns.’ He simply gazed at Ling Guang and uttered, “Smell it?”

Ling Guang made no move. The moment Su Mu rested the longsword on his shoulder, he had already caught the pungent scent of rust emanating from the blade.

“Now, answer me. Is that water on the sword?”

Ling Guang clenched his fist. “No, it’s oil…”

Su Mu sneered, “Oh, so it’s oil, then? Sir Radiant Knight, as someone who frequently handles weapons, you must know what this implies, correct?”

Ling Guang’s expression darkened, and he offered no response.

He understood perfectly well that oil on the sword indicated it was freshly forged from the blacksmith’s, never yet used.

This evidence unequivocally proved that these individuals had not been killed by Bai Ji.

With two pieces of his evidence disproven, he couldn’t help but question the validity of his own deductions.

However, an instinct deep within him screamed that Su Mu was undeniably the culprit.

He gritted his teeth and declared, “Then what about the wound? How do you explain that?”

Su Mu burst into laughter, doubling over, unable to contain himself. “This wound is considered evidence? You say only Bai Ji could inflict such a wound? Hahaha, utterly preposterous! Then, pray tell, what about the vastly more powerful Sir Radiant Knight Ling Guang?”

Ling Guang hesitated. “I… could also do it, but I swear on my knightly honor, I would never commit such an act of indiscriminate slaughter!”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a hollow and powerless oath…”

Ling Guang ground his teeth. His knightly honor was being slandered and trampled by Su Mu, an act tantamount to defiling his very faith.

He roared, “If I am the culprit, I shall take my own life in atonement!”

Su Mu’s eyes turned icy. He silently swung the longsword in his hand, thrusting it backward toward Bai Ji.

“Shhh—”

A sound of steel piercing flesh echoed.

Before everyone’s astonished gazes, the longsword plunged into Bai Ji’s shoulder.

Ling Guang was utterly stunned.

He had never imagined Su Mu would act so recklessly, so unreasonably, by suddenly attacking his personal guard.

What enraged and shocked him further was Bai Ji’s serene expression, as if the person just stabbed by the longsword wasn’t her at all.

Su Mu impassively pulled out the sword, trailing a stream of blood.

He held the sword horizontally before him, examining the bloodstains, a smirk curving his lips. He murmured, “What a pity, I missed. Next time, I must aim properly.”

With that, he thrust the longsword forward once more.

“Clang—”

This time, his longsword was blocked by Ling Guang’s swiftly drawn greatsword.

“Enough!”

Ling Guang roared in fury.

Su Mu watched Ling Guang with an amused glint in his eyes. “What? Didn’t you say you could atone with death? My Bai Ji can do the same.”

Ling Guang’s face was grim. Suddenly, he dropped to one knee.

“Your Highness, I misjudged and damaged your reputation. As a knight, I apologize to you and accept any punishment you deem fit.”

Su Mu paused, genuinely surprised that Ling Guang would so readily admit his error for Bai Ji, a person with whom he clearly had a grievance.

He let out an unsatisfied ‘tsk,’ tossed the longsword aside, and approached the kneeling Ling Guang. Bending down, he whispered into his ear, “Ling Guang, I know you despise me. It doesn’t matter; I don’t think highly of any of you either. I’ve gotten what I wanted. Seeing you in such a pathetic state brings me great joy. I hope we’ll have another wonderful opportunity like this in the future…”

With those words, he turned and departed.

Katusha and Roland silently followed behind Su Mu.

Bai Ji calmly retrieved her fallen sword and immediately trailed after them.

Long before, the curious onlookers had been discreetly dispersed by the sensible knights during the confrontation between Ling Guang and Su Mu.

The vast street was soon left with only the kneeling Ling Guang and his subordinate knights, enveloped in a profound silence.

****

“Bai Ji, does it hurt?”

“No, Your Highness,” Bai Ji replied, shaking her head with a gentle gaze.

Since leaving Ling Guang, they had returned to the Holy Water Institute.

Katusha applied medicine to Bai Ji’s injured shoulder and bandaged it.

Everyone remained silent, tactfully avoiding any mention of the recent events.

“Brother Mu, you were a bit too heavy-handed…” Katusha remarked, casting a reproachful glance at Su Mu.

Su Mu scratched his head sheepishly, quickly apologizing, “Bai Ji, I’m sorry. You suffered because of me.”

Bai Ji shook her head understandingly. “Your Highness’s actions surely have a purpose. I am happy to be of assistance.”

Suddenly, Roland hesitantly asked, “Su Mu, you and Sir Ling Guang seem to have a deep conflict…?”

Katusha subtly stomped on Roland’s foot.

Roland grimaced in pain, but still smiled, feigning nonchalance.

Su Mu replied, “He has some misunderstandings about me, which is normal. I don’t have a good impression of the Judgment Army anyway. If he treats me with such an attitude, he shouldn’t expect me to let them save face.”

Roland nodded. “Indeed, Sir Ling Guang truly went too far this time!”

Katusha interjected, indignantly stating, “This is beyond ‘too far’; it’s utterly disrespectful! To say such insulting things to Brother Mu… I used to admire him for some of his deeds, but I never expected him to be such a despicable fellow!”

“Exactly, it was too much…”

Listening to his friends passionately defending him without reservation, the lingering irritation in Su Mu’s heart immediately dissipated.

He smiled brightly and said, “Actually, considering Ling Guang as an individual, I rather admire him. He pursues light and justice, doesn’t he? Heh, I look forward to the day I expose his hypocrisy and shatter his dao heart. What a sight that will be.”

Katusha gazed up at Su Mu, stars practically twinkling in her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Brother Mu, do you know? You looked like a super villain just now, so cool!!!”

Hearing Katusha’s praise, Su Mu gave an awkward laugh. “There’s no such thing as heroes or villains, just different stances… But honestly, when I was face-to-face with Ling Guang just now, I noticed his face is quite handsome.”

Katusha and Bai Ji looked shocked. “Brother Mu, being gay is not allowed!”

Roland, however, had stars in his eyes, looking like he’d found a kindred spirit.

Su Mu explained, exasperated, “Where did your minds go? I was merely stating a fact. Why are all of you so strange-minded?

Alright, alright, enough about that. Let’s get back to the counterfeit holy water case. Didn’t I tell you before that I had a plan? Well, the preparations are complete; we can proceed now!”

“What plan?”

Su Mu smiled mysteriously, not elaborating further. He simply said, “To the Adventurers’ Guild. There, without a doubt, we should find new clues and information.”

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