Chapter 139: Self-Knowledge

One was severely wounded, the other had his legs crippled.

Wu Xuanwei and the leader of the men in black had been locked in a struggle on the ground for quite some time, ultimately perishing together.

Tang Mubai left their corpses where they lay. He simply wiped away all traces of his own presence before unleashing his lightfoot technique and soaring into the sky. By tomorrow morning, those training at the Xuanwei Martial Arts Hall would naturally discover the bodies.

It was better to leave organizations like "Tian-Shu" to the authorities at the Bureau of Martial Security. In any case, Tang Mubai had no interest in engaging with them for the time being.

Upon returning to the mercenary group's quarters, he had originally intended to wait until tomorrow to tell Mi Wu and Mi Li that their troubles had been resolved. However, looking up, he noticed the lights were still on in their room. Curious, he walked over and knocked on the door.

"Creak—"

The door opened, and Mi Wu’s sturdy frame nearly blocked the entire doorway. Seeing Tang Mubai, a smile immediately broke out on his honest face. "Le... Leader, you... you’re not... not asleep yet? Is... is there... something you need?"

As he spoke, he stepped aside to invite Tang Mubai inside. Tang Mubai stepped in, nodding as he replied, "I was finishing up some business. Why are you two still awake?"

In the living room, Mi Li was also present, watching a rerun of a television program.

"We were... just about to sleep," Mi Wu answered with a bashful smile. "It... it’s been a while... since we watched... television, so I... I couldn’t help but... watch a little more."

"Hello, Leader," Mi Li said, lowering her head and greeting him softly.

"Haha, feel free to watch, there will be more tomorrow," Tang Mubai said with a smile, nodding at her. He then gave a light cough and said seriously, "Since you’re both still up, it’s a good time to tell you something. The trouble caused by the *Samsara Sutra* has been completely resolved. As long as you don't speak of it outside, no one will come looking for you again."

"Re... really?" Mi Wu’s eyes widened, his face filled with joy. He was so excited he couldn't speak, resorting to waving his hands and pacing back and forth in the room to vent his happiness.

Mi Li was the same; she looked up at Tang Mubai, her face reflecting shock and delight. Clearly, she had not expected Tang Mubai to resolve all their lingering threats so quickly.

"Thank you, Leader!" She raised her voice, her tone trembling with gratitude. "Thank you, Leader, thank you."

"No need for thanks. You are part of the Miracle Mercenary Group now, which makes us family. Solving problems for family is what I, as your leader, ought to do."

After a pause, Tang Mubai continued, "Furthermore, I have already investigated the secrets of the *Samsara Sutra*. Since you are privy to it, you deserve to know..."

"No, we don't want to know!"

Mi Li interrupted him abruptly. "Leader, you don't need to tell us the secrets of the *Samsara Sutra*. We don't want to know anything about it!"

At this moment, the young girl cast aside her shyness, looking at Tang Mubai with determined eyes. Once the excited Mi Wu had regained his composure, he blinked and then nodded along. "Mi... Mi Li is... right! We don’t... want to have... anything more to do... with that book!"

"Are you certain?" Tang Mubai looked at Mi Wu and then at Mi Li, his expression solemn. "You should think carefully. The secrets of the *Samsara Sutra* are no small matter."

"There is no need to think; this is our decision," Mi Li said with a smile. "I’ve heard an old saying: 'Eat only what you can afford.' The greater the implications of the *Samsara Sutra*, the more we will be affected if we know about it."

"Right... right!" Mi Wu nodded vigorously.

Hearing this, Tang Mubai stopped trying to persuade them, instead silently commending them both. Their self-awareness made him view them in a new light. Mi Li, in particular—despite her frail and small stature, she possessed great strength of character. He had wanted to tell them the secrets, yet she had resisted the temptation and cut it off before it could begin. Such resolve was something most people could not muster.

*Eat only what you can afford.* Many people know this phrase, but knowing it is one thing, and being willing to follow it is quite another. Everyone wants to gain more, but very few are willing to recognize their own limits.

The *Samsara Sutra* was linked to the "Samsara Grotto-Heaven," a treasure left behind by a powerful sect from centuries ago. This temptation was immense. If one didn't know, it was fine, but if they did, ninety-nine percent of people would be tempted. And once tempted, they would struggle to contain their impulses, leading them to inquire and search for the whereabouts of other volumes of the *Samsara Sutra*. Once they searched too much or asked too many questions, they would inevitably draw the attention of those with ulterior motives, and subsequently, the scrutiny of even greater powers.

Like Wu Xuanwei, who had been targeted by "Tian-Shu"—there was a ninety-percent chance he had brought it upon himself. Mi Li and Mi Wu were cutting off the source to prevent that very desire from taking root. They were satisfied with their current lives and did not want to be entangled in further trouble.

Moreover, given that Tang Mubai had been willing to share the secrets of the *Samsara Sutra* with them, if he truly gained something from it, he would likely share a portion with them! Mi Wu might not have thought that deeply, but Mi Li was certain of it.

To reinforce that certainty, she no longer hid anything. She pressed firmly on a mechanism located on the side of her wheelchair’s armrest.

"Click!"

Amidst the strange sound, a wooden crossbar on the left side of the seat cushion suddenly popped out. Mi Li reached into the opening, fumbled for a moment, and pulled out a book.

The *Samsara Sutra*!

"Th... this..." Mi Wu stared, stunned.

Tang Mubai was also caught off guard, looking at Mi Li with surprise. He had intended to search the siblings' living quarters thoroughly later. He had not expected that Mi Li had known exactly where the *Samsara Sutra* was all along and had kept it on her person the entire time.

"My father told me this before he passed away," Mi Li said, her face flushing slightly under the gaze of Tang Mubai and Mi Wu. She lowered her head and whispered, "He said not to take it out until the very last moment. Now that we have a good start, we don't want to be involved with it anymore. So, Leader, please take this book."

"Thank you." Tang Mubai did not stand on ceremony and accepted the second volume of the *Samsara Sutra*. Although he did not grasp the full extent of Mi Li’s underlying intentions, if it were truly possible to enter the "Samsara Grotto-Heaven" and find treasure, he would not mind sharing some with them. Once Mi Wu’s divine strength fully matured, it would only benefit the mercenary group.

"If you are willing, Mi Li, you should get prosthetic legs. The group will cover all the costs," Tang Mubai said, putting the book away.

"Re... really?" Mi Wu was overjoyed. "Th... that’s wonderful!"

"Thank you, Leader," Mi Li added gratefully.

"No need for thanks. Tomorrow, go find Old Man Xu; he will take you to the hospital," Tang Mubai instructed.

"Al... alright," Mi Wu nodded repeatedly.

After chatting for a while longer, Tang Mubai took his leave. Returning home, he lay on his bed, no longer feeling sleepy. He took out the two volumes of the *Samsara Sutra* and examined them closely. This time, he focused his mental energy, attempting to "perceive" the contents of the scriptures from a spiritual level.

Soon...