Two years passed in the blink of an eye. Mu Chengfeng had grown, both in age and demeanor, shedding much of his youthful immaturity.
On the wide grass field outside the Qingshan Mercenary Group compound, a group of boys and girls had split into two factions. In the center, two young boys faced off, one around fourteen or fifteen, the other just eleven or twelve. Their peers surrounded them, shouting and jeering loudly.
On one side, the boys yelled with flushed faces, clearly eager for trouble.
"Go, Lü Xiaobu! Smash him up! Beat that snake-blooded bastard into the ground!"
The girls, meanwhile, stood to the side laughing and cheering, eyes sparkling as they rooted for the tall, black-haired, green-eyed boy standing calmly at the center of it all.
Mu Chengfeng.
"Sigh... Lü Xiaobu, you again? Didn't you learn your lesson last time?" Mu Chengfeng let out a breath, shaking his head as he spoke with mild annoyance.
Lü Xiaobu — son of the Qingshan Mercenary Group leader Lü Bu. The town folks had dubbed him 'Lü Xiaobu' for simplicity and distinction.
There were three major mercenary groups in Qingshan Town: Qingshan, Wolfhead, and Crazy Lion. Qingshan and Wolfhead were long-time rivals, constantly vying to eliminate each other, their conflict now open and irreconcilable.
Though weaker, the Crazy Lion group remained untouched, backed by a Dou King from the Jia Ma Empire. No one dared make trouble for them, and they remained neutral between the warring factions.
The Qingshan Mercenary Group had been founded by Lü Bu and Mu Yang, brothers in all but blood. They'd grown up together, closer than family. Ironically, their sons were anything but close — sworn rivals since childhood, constantly brawling, neither willing to back down.
"D-Don't act so smug. T-Today, we're g-gonna settle this!" Lü Xiaobu raised his fist, stammering with anger. His speech slurred slightly, thanks to the front teeth Mu Chengfeng had knocked out in their last fight.
Admittedly, knocking out his teeth had been harsh. But back when Mu Chengfeng had no cultivation, Lü Xiaobu had bullied him mercilessly.
In the past two years, Mu Chengfeng had refined and absorbed the power of the snake-type magical beast sealed in his pupil. With the Emerald Three-Flower Pupil, his cultivation soared to the peak of Ninth Stage Dou Qi — just a step away from becoming a Dou Practitioner.
In the original tale, Xiao Yan had taken six years to reach that same stage. Mu Chengfeng had done it in two.
His frightening pace of growth had drawn the attention and jealousy of the Wolfhead Mercenary Group. Everyone knew, if he were allowed to keep progressing, it wouldn't be long before Qingshan Town was entirely in his hands.
"You want another fight? Fine, let's do it!" Mu Chengfeng's Dou Qi surged within him as he stepped forward, voice tinged with anger.
"Hmph!" Lü Xiaobu snorted and launched himself forward, aiming low.
"Watch this — Yellow Rank Beginner Dou Technique, Whirlwind Kick!"
As soon as Lü Xiaobu made his move, Mu Chengfeng noticed something different.
"Oh? So that's why you dared show your face again. Looks like you broke through to Eighth Stage Dou Qi, and even learned a Dou Technique."
"But, I'm already at Ninth St—"
Before he finished, Mu Chengfeng's energy erupted. He unleashed a Yellow Rank Advanced Dou Technique: Explosive Flame Fist.
Boom!
Lü Xiaobu flew backward over five meters before hitting the ground hard and staying there.
Mu Chengfeng calmly lowered his fist, hiding the ache in his hand behind his back. Then he finished his sentence.
"I'm at the peak of Ninth Stage Dou Qi now. Still think picking a fight with me is a good idea? Are you some kind of masochist?"
The crowd froze.
For a few long seconds, no one made a sound. Then, the girls erupted with cheers.
"Chengfeng! Chengfeng! So cool!"
Mu Chengfeng grinned, basking in the moment. He wondered if any of the girls would bring him flowers.
Smack!
A hand landed on his head.
"You two little punks, fighting again?" Mu Yang appeared out of nowhere, dragging Mu Chengfeng away from the crowd.
He rushed over to check Lü Xiaobu's condition, worried his son had turned his sworn brother's idiot son into an actual idiot.
"Pfft... Father, you didn't even ask if I was injured. What if I got hurt internally?" Mu Chengfeng pouted, clearly annoyed.
Mu Yang glanced back and chuckled.
"In all of Qingshan Town, who your age could possibly hurt you? Just be glad you're not the one bullying everyone else."
"Heh, you always understand me best, Father. Unlike that idiot who keeps overestimating himself." Mu Chengfeng scratched his head and laughed.
The two stood on the grass, quietly plotting how to explain to Lü Bu that his son had been knocked out — again.
Meanwhile, not far off, a few shady figures peeked from a nearby alley, whispering among themselves. On their chests gleamed badges engraved with a one-eyed wolf — the emblem of the Wolfhead Mercenary Group.
"What now? We didn't expect Mu Yang to be there today. Looks like we'll have to abort the mission," one chubby man mumbled nervously.
"Vice Captain Hemon, maybe we should retreat for now," one of the mercenaries suggested quickly. "Mu Yang's a Dou Fighter. There's no way we're snatching that kid with him around."
Hemon glanced again at Mu Chengfeng and his father, then sighed and waved his hand.
"Yeah, fall back for now."
The group from Wolfhead dispersed quickly, disappearing down the street.
...
Inside the Wolfhead Mercenary Group's main tent, a gloomy-faced middle-aged man sat at the head. An eyepatch covered one socket, giving him a sinister look.
This was Mu She, the group's captain — a Two-Star Dou Fighter and one of Qingshan Town's most powerful men.
"Hemon, what happened today? Why didn't you bring the brat back?" Mu She tapped the table with a single finger, breaking the heavy silence.
Hemon trembled and quickly responded.
"Captain, Mu Yang was there today. We couldn't get close. We'll try again another—"
Before he could finish, a thin, skeletal strategist leaned in close and whispered in Mu She's ear.
"Here's what we'll do… first this… then that..."
Mu She's frown slowly twisted into a smile.
"Brilliant plan. Not only will it get rid of that little freak, but it'll also help us take down the entire Qingshan Mercenary Group. Two birds, one stone."
The two shared a cold, knowing laugh.
Then Mu She's eyes flickered with a glint of malice.