Su Mu settled into the tranquil and secluded valley, and as the days passed, he gradually let down his guard around Su Yuanshan.
From then on, he devoted himself entirely to studying the unique medical techniques and mysterious arts of the Su Clan under Su Yuanshan's guidance.
Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight poured into the valley, Su Mu would rise early and head to an open area to diligently practice various techniques.
Whether it was the intricate and sophisticated needlework, the precise dosage in herbal concoctions, or the calculations of fate and fortune through Gua Shu, he focused intently, not daring to slack off for even a moment.
Hard work pays off; after a long period of persistent effort, Su Mu's medical skills improved significantly, and his mastery of Gua Shu reached an extraordinary level.
Seeing Su Mu's eagerness to learn and his exceptional talent, Su Yuanshan felt greatly pleased and decided to impart all his accumulated knowledge and experience without reservation.
However, this peaceful and serene life did not last long.
One day, while practicing a fierce and powerful sword technique as usual, an inexplicable sense of unease surged within him, as if an invisible force was tightly gripping his heart.
With his keen intuition, Su Mu immediately halted his movements and quickly took out the Tortoise Shell Copper Coin, preparing to perform a divination to uncover the truth.
After a series of operations, the Gua Xiang appeared before him, revealing a significant omen of danger, clearly indicating that a great crisis was about to descend.
Almost simultaneously, distant sounds of commotion echoed from outside the valley.
Su Mu exchanged glances with Su Yuanshan; they understood each other without words and quickly stepped outside to assess the situation.
Looking up, they saw a group of figures clad in Black Tight-Fitting Outfits surrounding the entire valley.
Each of them wielded sharp blades, exuding an aura of chilling hostility.
Upon seeing this, Su Yuanshan's expression instantly turned grave. His gaze sharpened as he fixedly stared at these uninvited guests and shouted sternly, "Who are you? How dare you intrude here!"
At that moment, one among the black-clad figures stepped forward; he appeared to be their leader. This man was tall and robust, with a stern face that revealed a hint of cunning and ferocity in his eyes.
He coldly responded, "Hmph! Stop the nonsense! We are here on orders to retrieve the Heavenly Secrets Medical Manual! If you know what's good for you, hand it over quickly, or don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Upon hearing the mention of the Heavenly Secrets Medical Manual, Su Yuanshan's heart sank.
He understood all too well that the Su Family had guarded the secret of this Medical Compendium for generations, and it seemed that the secret had unfortunately leaked out…
"The Heavenly Secrets Medical Manual is an invaluable treasure passed down through our Su Family for generations. There is no way we will hand it over to you lowly scoundrels!" Su Mu's eyes widened in anger, his fists clenched, radiating a determined aura as if he were a fierce tiger about to pounce on its prey.
At this moment, he was fully armed and prepared to fight to the death against these unwelcome guests.
"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit! Since that's the case, don’t blame us for being ruthless!" The leader of the black-clad men roared with a sinister expression. With his command, the group of black-clad men surged forward like hungry wolves, clawing and snapping at Su Mu and Su Yuanshan standing beside him.
In an instant, cries of battle and the clashing of weapons filled the air as a thrilling and intense fight began.
Su Mu had studied various secret techniques from the Heavenly Secrets Medical Manual since childhood; however, most of it was theoretical knowledge, and he lacked real combat experience.
Now, under the relentless assault of numerous black-clad men, despite using all his skills and efforts, he gradually felt overwhelmed.
On the other hand, Su Yuanshan had seen many battles and was experienced. However, time was unforgiving; his age had diminished his physical strength. Faced with such fierce and relentless attacks, he too began to struggle.
"Mu Er, don’t worry about me! Quickly take the Medical Compendium and escape down that path!" Just when the situation became increasingly dire, Su Yuanshan shouted with all his might as he forcefully pushed Su Mu toward a winding path at the back of the valley.
Su Mu understood that his uncle's actions were driven by love for him and a deep respect for their family's legacy—the Heavenly Secrets Medical Manual. He gritted his teeth, his eyes slightly reddening as he fought back tears and turned to dash down that path.
He knew very well that only by successfully escaping and surviving could he inherit his family's will and take on the responsibility of protecting the Heavenly Secrets Medical Manual.
Seeing this situation, some of the black-clad men swiftly pursued him like arrows released from bows.
Meanwhile, Su Yuanshan faced the remaining black-clad men without fear. He swung his weapon with all his strength; each strike contained immense power as he tried to withstand the enemy's overwhelming assault just to buy Su Mu some precious time to escape.
On the other side, Su Mu raced along the winding path like a gust of wind.
He was well aware that this narrow path extended to the back mountain, a region characterized by treacherous terrain and steep peaks, making it a defensible yet difficult place to attack. If he could reach there, he might successfully shake off the relentless pursuers behind him.
However, the men in black did not easily give up; they closely followed Su Mu's footsteps, unwilling to miss any opportunity to catch up with him.
Su Mu dared not relax for even a moment. He ran with all his might while concentrating on using his knowledge of Gua Xiang to predict the movements of the black-clad figures.
At the same time, he made full use of the complex and changing terrain around him, weaving through dense woods at times and leaping over boulders and streams at others, skillfully evading the fierce attacks from his pursuers.
During this heart-pounding escape, Su Mu suddenly spotted something ahead—a cave partially concealed by lush vegetation!
Without a moment's hesitation, he darted into the cave.
Once inside, he did not stop; instead, he quickly gathered scattered stones around him and blocked the entrance securely.
Before long, the group of black-clad men arrived at the cave.
To their confusion, the once clearly visible figure of Su Mu had vanished without a trace. Unwilling to let their target escape so easily, they began a thorough search of the area.
They left no corner unchecked and overlooked no inch of ground, but ultimately their efforts were in vain; they found no clues regarding Su Mu's whereabouts.
Reluctantly, filled with frustration and regret, the men in black turned away.
Su Mu curled up in a dark and damp corner of the cave like a frightened rabbit, daring not to make a sound. The pounding of his heart echoed in his ears like a drum. He listened intently to every movement outside; even the slightest rustle would send his nerves into overdrive.
Time passed slowly, each second felt like an eternity for Su Mu.
Finally, when he confirmed that the chilling footsteps of the black-clad men had faded away until they completely disappeared, his heart that had been lodged in his throat began to settle back into place.
However, fear still clung to him like a shadow, causing his body to tremble slightly.
Slowly rising to his feet, Su Mu took a deep breath, striving to calm the turmoil within him.
He was acutely aware that this once peaceful and serene valley was no longer safe; that mysterious and powerful enemy could return at any moment.
If he wanted to preserve his life, continue studying the crucial "Heavenly Secrets Medical Manual," and find the other scattered members of his clan to collectively resist the malevolent forces eyeing the "Medical Compendium," he had to leave this place quickly in search of a true refuge.
With this thought, a wave of sorrow and anger surged within Su Mu.
Those despicable individuals not only cruelly murdered his family and friends but also regarded the "Medical Compendium," which they had guarded for years, as theirs for the taking.
Faced with this sudden and enormous upheaval, he felt an unprecedented sense of confusion and helplessness.
What lay ahead on his path?
Could he truly bear the heavy responsibility of saving his family and defending the "Medical Compendium"?
Countless questions swirled in his mind, leaving him troubled.
Yet even so, Su Mu understood that he could not afford to give up at this moment.
He carried the hopes and mission of his entire family on his shoulders; no matter how many difficulties and obstacles awaited him ahead, he had to grit his teeth and persist.
Thus, he resolutely took a firm step forward, heading into the unknown distance…
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