The Book of War

The next day, Yang Kai was awakened by a knock on the door.

After getting up and opening the door, he found no one outside. However, in the distance, he saw a familiar figure quickly running away.

Li Yuntian's figure!

What was he up to? Yang Kai was puzzled, but then he noticed a letter on the ground at the doorstep. Bending down to pick it up and opening it, he couldn't help but laugh wryly.

The letter contained a few words written in blood.

"To my esteemed senior, it has been many days since we last met, and I miss you greatly. I sincerely invite you to Black Wind Forest for a meeting. I hope you will kindly oblige. Your junior, Su Mu."

The words were written in bright red blood, though Yang Kai suspected it wasn't Su Mu's own blood.

At the bottom was another line of text, quite different from the previous formal tone.

"If you have the guts, come!"

These four characters were written with vigorous strokes, exuding deep-seated resentment and clear provocation.

It seemed Su Mu feared his invitation would be ignored, so he added this line. Young men were easily provoked, and Su Mu, having experienced this many times, knew well how to goad someone into action.

Holding this bloody challenge letter, Yang Kai shook his head slowly.

Yang Kai didn't take Su Mu's provocation to heart. Su Mu might genuinely resent him, but Yang Kai didn't feel the same. Their mindsets were different, their perspectives were different. Yang Kai saw these small skirmishes as opportunities to test his training.

Although their initial encounters had been unpleasant, and Su Mu had repeatedly caused trouble for him, Yang Kai had come to realize over time that Su Mu wasn't inherently bad, just a bit spoiled.

If you befriended someone like Su Mu, he would treat you well. But if you made an enemy of him, he would stick to you like glue, annoying you endlessly.

Yang Kai hadn't seen Su Mu and his group for some time; they had probably been avoiding him. Now, for some reason, Su Mu had regained his confidence and issued this challenge.

Initially, Yang Kai didn't want to bother with Su Mu, but after some thought, he decided to go.

Su Mu was undoubtedly a straightforward person. Instead of following the sect's rules for a challenge, he issued a battle invitation, likely planning an ambush.

The chosen location, Black Wind Forest, at the foot of Black Wind Mountain, was ideal for underhanded tactics.

Su Mu's group had many members, but only Su Mu himself had reached the ninth level of the Body Tempering stage. Li Yuntian was at the seventh level, and the rest were around the fifth or sixth level. Yang Kai wasn't sure if he could handle them, but he needed a proper battle to test his training, different from sparring with fellow disciples.

At that moment, Su Mu and his group were waiting on the road leading to Black Wind Forest. They didn't hide but stood there boldly.

Thinking back to the night when he was ambushed and knocked unconscious, Su Mu's face darkened. That night, he couldn't understand why the brothers who went to Yang Kai's hut suddenly fainted. Everything happened so mysteriously.

They didn't wake up until the next morning. Although it was summer and sleeping outdoors wasn't cold, the mosquitoes were unbearable. Everyone woke up covered in mosquito bites, feeling extremely weak.

After recovering, Su Mu led his brothers out of the sect, unable to bear seeing Yang Kai.

When Li Yuntian mastered a new martial technique yesterday, Su Mu's desire for revenge resurfaced. He sent Li Yuntian with a challenge letter, inviting Yang Kai to a fight in Black Wind Forest.

Su Mu didn't challenge Yang Kai within the sect because he didn't trust Li Yuntian's chances of winning. If Li Yuntian lost, they would all gang up on Yang Kai, ignoring sect rules and principles, and beat him up to vent their anger.

While waiting, Li Yuntian hurried over.

"Did you deliver it?" Su Mu asked, his eyes fierce.

"Yes."

"Good, now we wait for that bastard."

After a long wait with no sign of Yang Kai, Su Mu grew impatient, pacing and cursing, "That bastard doesn't have the guts to come?"

Just as he finished cursing, Li Yuntian suddenly said, "Su Shao, someone's coming."

"Huh?" Su Mu's spirits lifted, thinking Yang Kai had come to meet his doom, but it wasn't Yang Kai.

"Su Shao, it's someone from Wind and Rain Tower," Li Yuntian said, recognizing the approaching group, "The leader seems to be Cheng Shaofeng!"

"Cheng Shaofeng?" Su Mu's expression turned cold. Looking up, he saw Cheng Shaofeng leading a group of people over.

"Su Shao, should we avoid them?" Li Yuntian asked hesitantly. He knew Su Mu had a lot of grievances with Cheng Shaofeng. Both were leaders among their respective sects' Body Tempering stage disciples and had clashed many times over the years, with victories and losses on both sides. If they met now, conflict was inevitable.

"Avoid them?" Su Mu snorted, "Why should I give way to him?"

Li Yuntian didn't argue, knowing Su Shao's pride wouldn't allow him to back down. But the other group had more people; a fight would put them at a disadvantage.

As they spoke, Cheng Shaofeng spotted Su Mu and his group, quickening his pace with a smile.

In no time, the two groups confronted each other. The road Su Mu's group blocked was not only the path from Lingxiao Pavilion to Black Wind Forest but also from Wind and Rain Tower and Blood Battle Gang.

Blocking the road meant blocking Cheng Shaofeng's path.

"Well, well, look who it is. If it isn't Su Mu!" Cheng Shaofeng approached, his tone mocking and contemptuous.

Su Mu rolled his eyes and stood straight, ignoring him completely.

This disregard made Cheng Shaofeng's expression darken.

"Ha ha, Cheng little brother, he's ignoring you," a coquettish voice rang out, clear and pleasant but with a hint of licentiousness.

Following the voice, Su Mu saw a seductive girl emerge from behind Cheng Shaofeng. She wore a loose blouse, exposing her shoulders with a porcelain-like shine. Her skirt barely covered her hips, revealing long, slender legs, and delicate, jade-like feet in wooden shoes, a sight sure to captivate anyone's attention.