Chapter 5, First Blood

Li Mu saw Zhao Kuo eliminate five people with a single move and admired, "Young Master, you have great skills. Let me show you mine." As Li Mu spoke, he scratched his fingernail against a plant... He took out a sharp, short twig he had prepared earlier and dipped it in the plant's sap, then rolled it into a tube using a broad plant leaf...

"Hold on tight!" Zhao Kuo shouted as he grabbed Li Mu's belt, using the combined weight of both men to crash into a nearby small tree. With the force of the impact, Zhao Kuo and Li Mu were propelled like bullets, sliding along the grass and into the woods.

The sound of breathing behind him made Zhao Kuo feel a chill run down his spine, and he instinctively swung his knife back.

A decisive strike is something Zhao Kuo must achieve; he cannot afford to give the opponent an opportunity to make a sound. Otherwise, others will come following the sound, putting him in a passive position. Zhao Kuo resembles a hunter in pursuit, patiently waiting for the prey to come to him.

Over there, hurry and chase... he has run away

Three individuals were consecutively slain by Zhao Kuo, which brought him immense joy. In the era he lived, killing a person was a capital offense; such an act would at most be judged as justifiable self-defense, and one would still face moral condemnation. However, in the present time, the situation is different. If one does not kill, they risk being killed by the opponent. Killing is now a means of survival, with no need to consider so many concerns.

After a loud bang, a low groan of pain followed. Li Mu did not expect the assassins to shoot arrows; a crossbow bolt pierced his calf. This meant that he was destined to be captured. It seemed that the best way out was to bite his tongue and commit suicide before the assassins could react. This way, he could preserve the Mo family's secret texts and avoid the torment from the assassins.

Zhao Kuo let out a sigh; he did not expect that these assassins were from Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng. What kind of play is this? "Why are you trying to kill us? If you dare to fabricate lies, I will let you live, but it will be a thousand times more painful than death." He immediately thought, could it be that these assassins are deliberately instigating this?

"It is wolf's tooth grass, but wolf's tooth grass is not poisonous; it only causes a person to faint quickly for a period of time. People in the mountains often mix the juice of wolf's tooth grass into their liquor. By the way, what is a cobra?" Li Mu said

Not long after Zhao Kuo and Li Mu left, the corpses on the ground attracted the attention of the other party. The outcome was predictable; the launched wooden spears pierced the bodies of two individuals, causing an immediate commotion in the forest

Zhao Kuo glanced back and saw that there were no fewer than thirty people behind him, shouting as they chased after him and Li Mu. It seemed that they needed to quickly run into the woods to eliminate the threat of the feathered arrows.

Zhao Kuo believed that Li Mu's words were reasonable, but merely avoiding the situation was not a solution. These individuals were here to kill, and simply hiding might not be safe. He turned to Li Mu and said, "You stay hidden here, I will go take a look."

Zhao Kuo secretly thought that there was indeed such a plant in the world, which was quite a marvel. However, he did not have time to explain to Li Mu what a cobra was, because Li Mu's arrow had attracted the attention of the other party. He hurriedly said: "They are coming over. You stay hidden here and do not move. I will come to get you in a moment."

Li Mu indeed left shyly, intending to divert those assassins to ensure Zhao Kuo's safe departure. He believed that this was the best way to repay Zhao Kuo's life-saving grace. However, Li Mu had underestimated the situation. Although his skills were quite impressive, the injury on his wrist was severe. After this ordeal, it bled again, and his wrist was already stained a deep red. He had not run far before his whereabouts were exposed.

Over the past year, Li Mu has become accustomed to a life on the run, having developed a sixth sense for evading threats to his life. He pointed towards the south and whispered, "Young Master, there is no one over there. Let us hide in that direction. Running will inevitably make noise; only by stopping can we evade their search."

Li Mu let out a sound of acknowledgment and shouted at those who were still searching around, saying: "I am right here! Come and catch me!" After shouting, he was led by Zhao Kuo to walk around the trap mechanism.

After Zhao Kuo broke the neck of the assassin on the ground, he got up to pursue Li Mu. He did not want the future God of War to have any mishaps. Although he had not experienced the skills of those assassins, judging by the losses they had suffered, their strength was not that formidable. Zhao Kuo was confident in his ability to rescue Li Mu

Zhao Kuo understood that these three corpses would eventually be discovered. It would be better to use them as bait. He sharpened several wooden spears with his military knife and fashioned spring-loaded traps using nearby wild vines and branches. As long as someone approached and triggered the vines on the corpses, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that they would be pierced by the protruding wooden spears, resulting in either death or injury

Li Mu was experienced in evasion, yet his life experiences were extremely limited. By the time he contemplated silencing others, it was already too late. Noticing Zhao Kuo regarding him with a peculiar gaze, Li Mu felt a deep sense of shame. He believed he should not have deceived Zhao Kuo and felt guilty for bringing him into a life-threatening situation. "Young Master, I am sorry; I should not have deceived you." The ancients upheld sincerity in their dealings with others, and Li Mu felt that his deception was unforgivable.

Hearing the continuous screams behind the books, Li Mu's admiration for Zhao Kuo had already surpassed the point of being utterly impressed. He had not anticipated that Zhao Kuo had effortlessly eliminated seven or eight assassins. Young people inherently lack role models, and at this moment, Zhao Kuo's image rapidly grew larger and more imposing in the minds of the youth.

In a situation of utmost urgency, Zhao Kuo suddenly recalled the numerous DVD clips he had watched that depicted how to handle such circumstances. He pulled the reins of the horse upwards with all his might, causing the horse to rear in pain. With a sound of "puff," a flying arrow pierced through the horse's head, and a few drops of blood dripped from the exposed arrowhead. The horse did not even let out a mournful cry before it breathed its last.

Zhao Kuo knew that Li Mu was practicing with a blowgun, so he reached down and plucked two thin blades of grass from the ground, saying: "Binding the grass blades to the tail end can improve the accuracy."

The sharp branch flew out at a speed no less than that of a feathered arrow, striking the man's neck directly. The man let out a cry and then fell to the ground

The Secret Manual of the Mo Family? Zhao Kuo murmured to himself, and after a moment of searching in his mind, he realized what the Secret Manual of the Mo Family was. The manual was written by Mozi and his disciples, primarily encompassing military strategy, machinery, and swordsmanship. Since the death of Mozi, this work had been preserved by the prominent figures of the Mo School, but it was lost during the time of the prominent figure Huang Xiang. Huang Xiang once mobilized all the disciples of the Mo School to secretly search for the manual, but unfortunately, no trace of it was ever found. The loss of the Mo School's manual also directly led to the division of the Mo faction. Since the death of Mozi, this work had been preserved by the prominent figures of the Mo School, but it was lost during the time of the prominent figure Huang Xiang. Huang Xiang once mobilized all the disciples of the Mo School to secretly search for the manual, but unfortunately, no trace of it was ever found. The loss of the Mo School's manual also directly led to the division of the Mo faction.

Li Mu chuckled and said, "If I die, you will never get your hands on the Mo family secrets in this lifetime. If you have the guts, come and take them!" Li Mu said this to instill fear in the assassins. If the assassins were afraid of losing the whereabouts of the secrets and hesitated to kill him, he would have a chance to turn the tables.

Just as Li Mu was about to bite his tongue and take his own life, Zhao Kuo caught up with him and delivered a great gift to the assassins

With a loud bang, Zhao Kuo's brows furrowed in pain, and the towering tree blocking his path shook its branches and leaves from the impact. The birds perched on the tree scattered in all directions. He glanced at Li Mu beside him, relieved to see that he was mostly unharmed.

Zhao Kuo ran very quickly, his rapid pace causing the surrounding air to flow faster, making a whistling sound by his ears. Soon, the heavier sound of his breathing drowned out the whistling. Zhao Kuo noticed that Li Mu's speed had slowed down; the purplish hue of Li Mu's face and his labored breathing indicated that he might not make it to the woods. He glanced at the lush green grass and a solitary little tree on the ground, and suddenly had an idea.

The assassin now only seeks death, and he firmly stated: "We are indeed sent by Lord Pingyuan, with the purpose of seizing a treasure from this person. This young man possesses the secret techniques of the Mo family, which is something Lord Pingyuan is determined to obtain. If you don't believe me, you can ask him." As the assassin spoke, he directed his gaze towards Li Mu, as if expecting Li Mu to confirm his words.

"I do not have ... ... ." Li Mu saw the look in Zhao Kuo's eyes and suddenly realized that explanations were futile, as his hesitation had already confirmed Zhao Kuo's suspicions. Amidst the awkwardness, Li Mu felt a warmth in his heart; he did not know how long it had been since he had enjoyed such a feeling of warmth.

Ah ... ... ! ''

Li Mu did not wait for the horses to throw Zhao Kuo down; he leaped forward, grabbed Zhao Kuo's hand, and ran towards the woods. Just as they began to move, the horses left behind were suddenly pierced by numerous sharp arrows, resembling a hedgehog, but far more terrifying than a hedgehog

Zhao Kuo recalled a movie, in which Stallone's impressive skills in the forest in "First Blood" made him envious. At this moment, it was just the right time to experiment and see who resembled the "grassroots hero" more, him or Stallone

Zhao Kuo saw three people approaching one after another. Imitating the actions from a movie, he covered the mouth of the last person with his left hand, while his right hand drew a military knife across the opponent's neck. The person in his arms twitched a few times and then became motionless

Whoosh

Zhao Kuo was walking when he suddenly felt his feet give way. Looking down, he couldn't help but laugh, saying: "Li Mu, take a look at your masterpiece. Isn't this the person who was knocked down by your arrow? Come over and step on him a few times to vent your frustration; these guys nearly took our lives!"

Zhao Kuo stood behind a large tree, observing three individuals approaching. They exchanged no words, yet their steps were in perfect harmony, moving and pausing as if they had undergone specialized training and were seasoned in their experience

Zhao Kuo turned around to look, and the pursuers first stopped to glance around, then began to search carefully both in the trees and on the ground. It seemed that they would not give up until they captured him and Li Mu.

Do you think I will not return? Zhao Kuo is certain that Li Mu has had this thought in his heart; at this moment, anyone in a life-and-death situation would feel that sense of abandonment.

It is now

Want to run? You ran all the way from Wu'an to Handan, let's see where you run to today

Whoosh

"How exhilarating!" Zhao Kuo listened to the cries of despair; all the traps he had set were functioning perfectly. It seemed that even if the one he had possessed was a down-and-out hunter, he could still survive in this era.

Zhao Kuo was taken aback and quietly asked, "What kind of liquid is that? Its toxicity is extremely high! It is even more potent than the venom of a cobra"

Ah!

Li Mu watched Zhao Kuo leave and pondered whether Zhao Kuo intended to draw the attention of those people in order to escape alone. Li Mu felt that Zhao Kuo would not do such a thing, yet another voice in his heart told him, what if Zhao Kuo really did that? He would be left with no way out.

The assassin bit his lip fiercely and said: "I say this, but you must give me a quick end; otherwise, even if I become a vengeful spirit, I will not let you go. We are all guests of Lord Pingyuan, here on the orders of Lord Zhao Sheng of Pingyuan."

Zhao Kuo smiled faintly, thinking to himself that historical figures in their youth are not much different from ordinary people. Xiao Li Mu is quite interesting. "Let’s go! You shout out to draw them over, and let them taste the experience of being pierced by bamboo skewers"

Zhao Kuo and Li Mu were running swiftly, with shouts echoing behind them. Arrows occasionally whizzed past their sides, the sound of the piercing air sending chills down their spines

Zhao Kuo was unaware of what Li Mu was thinking; he was completely immersed in the exhilaration of setting traps. He sharpened the branches with his military knife and inserted them into the ground, using wild vines to create simple snares

You used to intercept him in the past

Zhao Kuo chuckled a few times and said, "I have already killed more than ten of your accomplices. If you do not speak, I can ask others. However, rest assured, I will not let you die so easily. First, I will cut off your tongue, and then I will sever your reproductive organ, allowing you to witness it being devoured by wild dogs. After that, I will sever the tendons in your hands and feet..."

Hmph! The assassin, restrained by Zhao Kuo, let out a cold snort and then gave Zhao Kuo a look that expressed a willingness to face death without fear.

The continuous sound of branches breaking made Zhao Kuo and Li Mu dare not linger, supporting each other as they ran deeper into the forest. The forest appeared small, yet the primitive ecological environment was more than sufficient to conceal the two of them. Moreover, the further they ventured in, the denser the foliage became, and the light quickly dimmed. Upon closer inspection, the wild grass reached their knees, and wild vines hung down haphazardly towards the ground.

As Zhao Kuo's intimidation intensified, the assassin's face grew increasingly pale. Not only the assassin, but even Li Mu beside him shuddered a few times. Li Mu had not anticipated that Zhao Kuo possessed so many underhanded tactics; it was simply unheard of. However, it was undoubtedly shocking, making one's heart feel as if it were being tightly squeezed.

"Kid, hand over the secrets of the Ink Clan and the books! We will make your death quick and painless; otherwise, you will surely regret being born into this world," said the leader of the assassins.

It was of no concern to step down a few times; the man who had been knocked unconscious by the blow dart surprisingly woke up. This filled Zhao Kuo with great joy, as he was just about to capture a live one to inquire about the identity of the other party. Truly, it was an effortless gain! Zhao Kuo reached out and grabbed the neck of the man on the ground, pinching his face a few times forcefully. Once the man regained consciousness, Zhao Kuo whispered, "Tell me, who exactly are you?"

It turns out that the secret manual of the ink masters really exists. I wonder if there are indeed various untold secrets within it. It seems that this world is quite interesting... Zhao Kuo was lost in thought, and when he came to his senses, he realized that Li Mu was no longer there.

It is I. Li Mu quickly crouched down to evade Zhao Kuo's strike and said, "Young Master, hurry and leave, someone is coming."

Although Li Mu did not understand what the term "hit rate" meant, he still tied a blade of grass behind each sharp stick according to Zhao Kuo's instructions. He then smiled at Zhao Kuo and aimed the simple blowpipe at a person not far away.

Upon hearing the shouts, Zhao Kuo discerned the direction and distance, and he guessed Li Mu's intention. Li Mu aimed to divert the guests of the Plain Prince, providing Zhao Kuo with an opportunity to leave safely. It seemed that young Li Mu felt guilty for concealing the reason behind the pursuit, demonstrating that his innocent heart had not been lost.

Li Mu saw Zhao Kuo finish speaking and, like a ghost, slipped along the grass, gradually approaching the assassins under the cover of the trees. Although Li Mu believed that the dense forest was indeed an excellent location for a counterattack, it was too risky for Zhao Kuo to go alone. Thinking of this, he followed after him.

Zhao Kuo drew his sword and severed the wild vines that obstructed his path. Li Mu had never seen any weapon sharper than the one in Zhao Kuo's hand, which cut through the wild vines without making a sound

Li Mu realized that the assassins were getting closer, and it was likely they would discover him soon, while Zhao Kuo had not yet returned to pick him up. The thought that Zhao Kuo would not come back plunged Li Mu's heart into despair. Just as he regretted waiting for Zhao Kuo, he felt a light pat on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw none other than Zhao Kuo, whom he thought would never return.

Snap ... ...

Ah ... ...

Li Mu saw that three assassins had blocked his path, while other assassins were subtly surrounding him. He felt no fear at all; he only prayed for Zhao Kuo to leave quickly. Although Zhao Kuo was the second son of the Marquis of Ma, these death warriors of the Marquis of Pingyuan would definitely not show any favor to Zhao She. They might even kill Zhao Kuo to strike a blow against the Marquis of Ma, Zhao She.