### Chapter 116: Red Cloud Temple

### Chapter 116: Red Cloud Temple

The moment Liu Mo recognized Ji Feiyang, Su Mo knew that today's encounter was far from good.

The head of the Tianmen Escort Agency, Heavenly Blade Ji Wanli, died tragically at home over a delivery.

This incident remains an unsolved mystery to this day.

Not only were outsiders unaware of the details, but even those within the Tianmen Escort Agency seemed to know little about it.

Under such circumstances, Ji Feiyang, instead of mourning Ji Wanli at home, had come to the Heavenly Blade Sect for no apparent reason...

What was he planning?

Why did he avoid the people from the Heavenly Blade Sect earlier? What was the real reason behind it?

Moreover... the Heavenly Blade Sect rarely ventured into the territory of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance. Why would they cross the river and head there now?

The road ahead leads to Wufangji, but north of Wufangji is the Heavenly Blade Sect.

Ji Feiyang, sneaking around and avoiding the disciples of the Heavenly Blade Sect... where could his destination be?

And who were the black-clothed men who ambushed him along the way?

Some things are not scary until you think about them; the real fear comes when you do.

But Su Mo had already pieced together most of the puzzle the instant he recognized Ji Feiyang.

Though there were still some unanswered questions, past experiences taught Su Mo...

It was best not to delve too deeply into unresolved matters.

His primary mission was to escort goods for the Wanxin Trading Company. If it involved him personally, then so be it, but since it didn't...

There was no reason to get involved in the affairs of the Tianmen Escort Agency.

Thus, after giving the medicinal pills, he considered it a gesture of martial chivalry and decided to stay out of it otherwise.

Instead, he hurriedly led the convoy away.

Throughout the journey, although Su Mo hadn't done anything extraordinary, all the tasks—fighting, planning routes, choosing accommodations—were handled by him. As a result, despite not showing off, he had earned the respect of the team.

No matter how high one's martial arts skills or reputation, what mattered most to the guards was someone who could lead them safely through and back.

Even though their livelihood depended on taking risks, no one wanted to lose their lives needlessly.

Therefore, Su Mo had unknowingly gained the highest esteem within the team.

Liu Mo, being quiet and uncompetitive, lagged behind Su Mo in terms of influence.

Thus, although everyone recognized Ji Feiyang from the Tianmen Escort Agency, when Su Mo said to leave, no one hesitated.

At this moment, Liu Mo finally reacted, looking up at Su Mo before closing his eyes again.

His eyes showed surprise and admiration.

But when he glanced back at Ji Feiyang, concern flickered in his gaze.

In the end, he merely shook his head without saying more.

The group quickened their pace, but the drizzling autumn rain persisted.

The wet roads made the heavily laden carriages difficult to navigate for long periods.

After nearly two hours, a scout returned to report that there was a temple ahead where they could take shelter from the rain.

Su Mo inquired, "What kind of temple? Is it well-maintained?"

"It's well-maintained," the scout replied hastily. "I saw other merchant caravans taking refuge inside, and the monks have prepared hot tea to warm them."

Su Mo nodded. "Lead the way."

Then, he instructed Yang Xiaoyun and Liu Mo, "Tell everyone to be cautious when we enter the temple. Keep your eyes open. Once the rain stops, we'll leave immediately without delay."

Both nodded and passed the message down.

The scout led the way, and soon they reached the temple halfway up the mountain.

Su Mo and the others arrived with their carriages, seeing other carriages parked nearby.

Guards stood watch under makeshift shelters, eyeing Su Mo's group warily upon their arrival.

However, when they noticed the escort flag on the carriages, they exchanged glances, seemingly recognizing something but unsure.

Su Mo glanced at the temple—it wasn't very large. The sign above the entrance read: Red Cloud Temple.

A young monk stood beside the gate, his face pale from the cold autumn wind.

Seeing Su Mo's group approach, he smiled and stepped into the rain:

"Good sirs, the autumn rain is chilly. Please come inside to take shelter. A small donation for incense would be appreciated as an offering to Buddha.

"Offering to Buddha always brings blessings."

The young monk's face was full of smiles, even though he was shivering from the cold; his smile did not diminish in the slightest.

Su Mo listened with a mix of surprise and bewilderment, feeling somewhat at a loss for a moment.

However, looking at the location of Red Cloud Temple, he knew that it likely did not receive many visitors on a regular basis.

But to ask for money so openly, didn't they worry about angering the strong?

Or perhaps there were powerful experts residing within Red Cloud Temple?

With these thoughts in mind, he casually asked, "How much is the small offering money?"

"Just one coin per person, just one coin per person."

The young monk's smile widened, showing all his teeth.

Su Mo couldn't help but chuckle. One coin per person indeed wouldn't provoke anyone into violence.

Especially for these merchants, if a situation arose where one coin per person could resolve it, that would be incredibly convenient.

Su Mo immediately had Yang Xiaoyun hand over the money. The young monk counted it several times, ensuring there was no mistake before smiling and saying,

"Please come inside, esteemed benefactors... By the way, for those guarding outside, there are materials nearby to build a temporary shelter from the rain."

This young monk seemed well-versed in such matters, pointing out where the materials were.

Su Mo glanced at Liu Mo, wondering if they had encountered this scene before.

Liu Mo shook his head, indicating they hadn't been here before.

Su Mo understood; Red Cloud Temple was located halfway up a mountain, far from any villages or towns. There was no reason to come here while traveling normally.

However, Su Mo didn't pay much attention to the young monk's invitation to enter the temple. Since there was a shelter, they might as well stay here.

Without further ado, they set up the shelter. The young monk then brought over a pile of rough ceramic bowls and distributed them among everyone.

A moment later, he ran back with a large teapot.

He exclaimed loudly, "Good fortune has arrived for all the esteemed benefactors."

As he spoke, he poured hot tea into their bowls.

"This is plenty; if you need more, just let me know, and I'll fetch more for you."

Everyone held their tea bowls but didn't drink, instead looking at Su Mo.

Su Mo checked each bowl carefully before allowing them to drink.

The young monk wasn't in a hurry. After Su Mo finished checking, he said,

"Esteemed benefactor, it's still quite cold outside. Why don't you come inside to avoid the wind and rain?"

Su Mo glanced into the depths of the temple and smiled, "No need to disturb the peace. We are people of the Jianghu, carrying heavy killing intent. We wouldn't want to offend the Buddha."

The young monk nodded, seemingly unconcerned, and returned to the doorway, gazing down the mountain, perhaps hoping another group would arrive soon, so he could collect one coin per person from them.

Su Mo found this young monk rather interesting.

However, he didn't call him over for a chat. Recalling Wei Ziyi's list, he didn't see Red Cloud Temple mentioned, so he decided to ignore it.

Together with everyone else, he stayed under the shelter.

This made the escort guards and the security team feel a bit embarrassed.

They opened their mouths but didn't dare speak to Su Mo directly. Eventually, they gathered around Liu Mo and whispered something.

After hearing them, Liu Mo approached Su Mo and said, "They said you've been working too hard. There's no need for you to suffer with us here. Go inside to rest; we all rely on you."

Su Mo was taken aback and looked at the group, feeling both amused and touched.

"You should have told me directly. Having your leader come over makes it seem like I'm some kind of monster."

Some of the guards were older, while others were young and inexperienced, but at that moment, they all felt a bit embarrassed.

One middle-aged man spoke up with a smile,

"Chief Su, you've truly been through a lot on this journey. Our team has never been treated so meticulously, even when working with Heavenly Gate Escort Agency.

"Moreover, although our security team isn't part of the escort agency, you treat us equally.

"You may not think much of it, but we remember your kindness.

"There's no need for you to stay here with us in the rain. Go inside and rest a bit; we'll keep watch here."

Su Mo smiled, "Why should I enjoy comfort inside while you all endure the cold? This journey hasn't been easy for anyone, not just me, Su Mo.

"I only hope this trip goes smoothly, and I can bring you all back safely."

"We trust you."

"Indeed, we've never met anyone as capable as Chief Su."

"Chief Su, do you need more people in your escort agency?"

Perhaps encouraged by the conversation, various comments followed.

Su Mo wasn't annoyed and stood in the shelter, chatting casually with them.

The relaxed atmosphere also helped ease the tension among the other merchant guards.

And upon hearing Su Mo's conversation, they realized that he truly was the person they had imagined him to be.

Su Mo, who became famous with one battle at Profound Theory Valley and decisively defeated the Youquan Cult!

Su Mo, the Chief of Ziyang Escort Agency!

For a moment, many people sucked their teeth.

When they heard his reputation in the martial world, they didn't take it too seriously, but now that they saw him in person, they couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

Fortunately, Su Mo's demeanor was relaxed and friendly, without any of the aloofness expected of a renowned martial artist. This made them have a different impression of the name Su Mo.

Influenced by this atmosphere, some people began chatting idly.

While Su Mo was talking to the brothers, he also kept an ear out for other conversations.

Suddenly, a voice caught his attention.

The man said, "If we hadn't left Wufangji earlier, we might have been trapped there. It wouldn't matter much for us, but the boss's business would be ruined."

"Indeed. The Heavenly Blade Sect sealed off Wufangji, trapping many merchants inside. No one knows when things will ease up. If it takes ten days or half a month, it might still be manageable, but if it goes on longer, the expenses for food and fodder will be astronomical. The bosses will probably cry themselves to sleep every night."

Su Mo raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Yang Xiaoyun, signaling her to listen closely.

After hearing a few sentences, Yang Xiaoyun called over Xiaochuan and whispered something to him.

Xiaochuan nodded and left the shelter, greeting the other merchants with a bow.

Since they knew Su Mo's background, they naturally didn't dare to underestimate Xiaochuan.

After exchanging pleasantries and introducing themselves, Xiaochuan found a pretext to start a conversation with them.

Casually, he steered the topic towards Wufangji.

They wanted to get more detailed information about the situation there.

Su Mo's group was only about ten days away from Wufangji.

If there were any changes in Wufangji, it would not be good news for them.

Xiaochuan, having honed his skills over the years, quickly extracted all the information these people had about Wufangji.

Unfortunately, they didn't know much about the specifics.

They only knew that about ten days ago, disciples of the Heavenly Blade Sect descended from Heavenly Gate Mountain and sealed off the important town below.

But why they did so was unclear.

This batch of people had received early information and left before Wufangji was sealed off.

Otherwise, they would have been trapped there as well.

After hearing this, Su Mo frowned and asked Liu Mo:

"Leader Liu, since Wanxin Trading Company has a branch in Wufangji, surely you must have some news. Have you heard anything?"

Liu Mo seemed somewhat distracted. After Su Mo asked twice, he finally came back to his senses and shook his head:

"No, but I brought pigeons with me. Shall I write a letter to inquire about the situation?"

"Good idea."

Su Mo nodded.

With the situation in Wufangji unclear, it could be troublesome if entry and exit were restricted.

If it was just a delay, it would be manageable after delivering the goods.

But if entry was impossible, it would be a waste of effort.

If that were the case, they needed to find a solution as soon as possible.

Whether through negotiation or alternative methods, it was better than going in blind.

Liu Mo nodded, thought for a moment, and then asked the young monk: "Little Master, do you have writing materials in the temple?"

"Yes."

The young monk smiled and said, "However, the writing materials in the temple are dedicated to Buddha. If you need them..."

"How much for incense money?"

"One copper coin."

The young monk, a true money-lover, held up one finger.

Liu Mo casually took out a copper coin and handed it to the young monk, who immediately led Liu Mo into the temple.

It didn't take long for Liu Mo to come out, but his expression was somewhat strange.

He placed the written letter in a bamboo tube, tied it to the pigeon's leg, and released it.

The pigeon fluttered and initially seemed unaccustomed to the autumn rain, but soon flew steadily, disappearing from view.

At this moment, Liu Mo whispered to Su Mo, "Something is amiss in the temple."

"Hmm?"

Su Mo glanced at Liu Mo with some surprise. "How so?"

Liu Mo’s expression was odd. "I’ve traveled this road many times and know a few bandit characters, like Zhao Cheng with his Black Gold Blade and Ma Daqing from Horse King Fort. They’re all skilled in their own right on this route. They’re also who we might face next..."

As he spoke, he glanced at the temple and whispered:

"However, these people, along with other strong individuals, are all currently inside the Red Cloud Temple."

"..."

Su Mo raised an eyebrow slightly. "What are they doing in the temple?"

"Becoming monks..."

Liu Mo’s expression became even stranger. "These burly men, full of murderous aura, have now shaved their heads, put on monk robes, and worn monk hats, busily serving tea and water to the merchants in the main hall... It’s quite bizarre."

Just as Su Mo was about to speak, the sound of galloping hooves echoed.

In the distance, about twenty riders were seen racing towards them.

Their horses splashed through mud, kicking up water, looking fierce and menacing.

Leading the group was a towering man.

His wild hair stood out, yet under the cold autumn rain, his chest was bare, revealing his muscular build.

He had a mountain cleaver hanging from each side of his waist.

The riders behind him were diverse: a young maiden, a scholarly-looking man, someone as strong as an iron bull, and another as thin as a monkey.

In moments, they arrived, forming a line across the path down the mountain.

The leader scanned the crowd, pausing slightly when his gaze fell on Su Mo’s flag:

"Ziyang?"

He snorted and smirked arrogantly: "This is too easy."

Without even glancing at Su Mo and the others, he strode directly to the temple entrance.

The little monk, despite being money-minded, was observant.

When he saw Su Mo and the others arrive, he eagerly approached for donations.

But upon seeing the brutish man, he shrank back, hiding behind the gate.

One of the peculiar-looking four stayed outside with the remaining fifteen riders, while the other three followed the leader into the temple.

Su Mo looked up and heard the man shout loudly:

"Where are you, baldies? Halfday Fierce has come to see you!"

His voice boomed with inner strength, echoing around.

Afterward, he added: "I heard that Chief Su of Ziyang Escort Agency is here too. One of my younger brothers was taken care of by Chief Su; not only did he kill them, but he even burned down their stronghold... Since we’re here now, why don’t you come out and meet? I’d like to repay this deep kindness for my brother!"

Su Mo’s lips twitched. This guy just walked past him without noticing, so why was he shouting so loudly now?