Chapter 256: Harmonizing the World with a Banquet

Chapter 256: Harmonizing the World with a Banquet

The five of them sped out of Liuyin City on horseback, heading westward.

On this journey, Su Mo needed to return to the Purple Sun Sect first.

He would pick up Li the lead escort and a group of his men from the agency, then bid farewell to Li Zhengyuan.

After that, he would also bring along the old and young from Hu Sandao's former mountain stronghold.

This trip back would be even more bustling than the journey here.

Wei Ziyi would part ways with Su Mo and the others at the Purple Sun Sect, heading to the Cold Moon Palace to take her leave from her master.

After that, she would join up with Su Mo and the others to return to the southwest together.

Without a doubt, Fu Hanyuan was the happiest along the way.

As a handyman, he finally had a horse to ride.

Hu Sandao, however, kept thinking about the scar-faced wanderer. Perhaps after spending so much time together, he had grown somewhat attached to him.

He asked several times about the scar-faced wanderer's whereabouts, leaving Su Mo unsure how to respond.

Su Mo had to tell Hu Sandao that the scar-faced wanderer's illness had healed on its own, so he had already left.

Hu Sandao was skeptical but had to let it go.

As the group passed by Qingxiu Mountain City, they encountered a swordsman approaching.

Upon seeing this person, Su Mo immediately reined in his horse, dismounted, and clasped his hands in a martial salute:

"Master Liu."

Liu Suifeng looked just as he always did. When he raised his eyes to look at Su Mo, there was still a hint of confusion in his gaze, as if he was caught up in some unresolved matter.

Only after seeing Su Mo did he manage a smile:

"Master Su."

"...Master Liu, are you heading to the Youquan Cult?"

Su Mo could easily guess his destination from his direction.

Liu Suifeng nodded immediately: "Yes, I am heading to the Youquan Cult."

Hearing this, Su Mo sighed involuntarily: "About this, I must apologize to you, Master Liu. The Tianqu Sword Discussion, which should have been a grand event, ended up as a farce. You arrived with your sword intent at its peak, poised to unleash it.

"With the Tianqu Sword Discussion canceled, there was still the Sect Leader Youquan for you to test your sword against, but I ended up interfering..."

"Master Su, why say such things?"

Liu Suifeng shook his head gently: "Sword intent dwells in the heart, and its peak is but a thought away.

"Moreover, the Sect Leader Youquan's martial arts are extraordinary, and I might not be able to defeat him in one battle.

"If I were to accidentally let him escape again, I would be beyond redemption."

"Now that he has met his end at the hands of Chief Escort Su, it is quite fitting.

"As for testing the sword... I am about to do just that."

"Lord Liu makes a valid point..."

Su Mo nodded: "It seems your swordsmanship, Lord Liu, is at a crucial turning point. If you gain any insights from this journey, you will surely reach a higher level."

"Indeed."

Hearing this, Liu Suifeng suddenly looked at Su Mo, as if remembering something.

His eyes lit up briefly, but then he shook his head again.

He said softly, "Chief Escort Su, I must take my leave."

"Lord Liu, your path will lead you through the Phantom Forest. My uncle, Duan Song, oversees matters in Liuyin City.

"The Phantom Forest is guarded by formations. If you don't mind, seek out Uncle Duan and have someone guide you through to avoid any trouble."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

Liu Suifeng clasped his fists and said, "Farewell."

"Take care. Safe travels."

With a final word of caution, Su Mo watched Liu Suifeng, sword in hand, walk away.

"The sword intent emanating from him has become nearly imperceptible."

Wei Ziyi's eyes showed a hint of shock: "Yet it has grown even purer, truly awe-inspiring."

Su Mo nodded lightly, then suddenly smiled:

"Perhaps one day, he will truly condense the original eighty-one forms of the 'Sky Rainbow Interrogating Heart Sword' into a single form.

"If that day comes, this single sword strike will likely be unstoppable."

"...Could you stop it?"

Wei Ziyi glanced at Su Mo: "Your sword strike still haunts me to this day."

Hearing this, Su Mo frowned slightly, as if genuinely pondering the possibility.

Finally, he shook his head lightly:

"That can only be determined in battle."

Martial arts are never just about words.

Only what is proven in battle holds weight; otherwise, it's all just talk.

This brief interlude did not disrupt the group's journey. Later, they briefly stopped in Tianqu City.

There were always matters to settle. Su Mo went to see Zhuo Dongming, while Wei Ziyi went to see the Second Palace Master.

Upon their return, Su Mo appeared indifferent, but Wei Ziyi wore a strange expression.

"After meeting the Second Palace Master last time, she scolded you vehemently."

"Today, upon meeting again, she couldn't stop praising you."

"My Second Aunt has always been aloof, with no man in the world ever catching her eye. Yet, at your age, to receive such praise from her is truly one of a kind."

Su Mo was momentarily speechless, but seeing Wei Ziyi's expression, he sensed there was more to it than just praise.

He raised an eyebrow slightly: "Another one trying to arrange a marriage?"

"Chief Escort Su, you are truly perceptive."

Wei Ziyi also seemed a bit helpless.

Su Mo immediately nodded: "This place isn't safe to stay long, let's go."

Wei Ziyi rolled her eyes at him, not wanting to dwell on the matter any longer.

After that, there was no more conversation. After parting ways with Wei Ziyi at the Purple Sun Sect, Su Mo went up to Shouyang Mountain to ask Li Zhengyuan about the third surprise of the Dragon Gate.

As expected, Li Zhengyuan knew nothing about it.

This lead... for now, has come to an end.

Li Zhengyuan simply advised Su Mo to keep the secret box safe.

He also advised Su Mo to protect himself.

If he ever encountered danger, he could always seek help from the Purple Sun Sect.

No matter how big the problem, the Purple Sun Sect would protect him.

At the moment of farewell, the reluctance was so strong that Su Mo felt a strange discomfort in his heart. He could only promise to take more escorts to East City in the future and then return to Shouyang Mountain to drink and chat with the great master.

Although Li Zhengyuan knew these words were meant to comfort him, he still felt somewhat reassured.

Setting off again from the Purple Sun Sect, it wasn't until they picked up the elderly and children from Hu Sandao's original mountain stronghold that Wei Ziyi caught up.

After that, leading the group around, the journey slowed down significantly.

Fortunately, Hu Sandao's people were skilled in large-scale transfers, experienced, and didn't require Su Mo to expend too much mental energy.

Moreover, they were disciplined and obedient.

After many days of traveling, they finally arrived at Jiyang Ferry.

However, upon arriving at Jiyang Ferry, new problems arose.

Their group was quite large, and while there were plenty of spaces on passenger and merchant ships for individual travel, accommodating the entire group together was a bit challenging.

They stayed at Jiyang Ferry for several days without finding a suitable vessel.

It wasn't until Li the lead escort met Li Zhongcheng at the dock that...

"Thank you very much, Mr. Zhan."

On the deck, Su Mo expressed his gratitude profusely to Mr. Zhan.

Mr. Zhan laughed heartily: "Chief Escort Su, you are too kind. If it weren't for your mediation, I would have been stopped on the river earlier. The success of this journey is entirely thanks to you."

"Chief Escort Su is currently facing some trouble, and it just so happens that I am coincidentally here to help. It's a minor matter, so Chief Escort Su, there's no need to say more. Besides, if you keep refusing, it would seem you don't consider me a friend."

Su Mo had no choice but to nod in assent.

Indeed, it was quite a stroke of luck. Who would have thought that on his way here, he took Mr. Zhan's boat, and now on his return, he ran into him again?

Su Mo reflected that it was also due to his journey taking so long; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to meet again.

Mr. Zhan, however, was even more intrigued by Su Mo:

"On my journey, I've picked up many passengers along the way, and recently I've heard them all talking about Chief Escort Su.

"I heard that in Tianqu City, Chief Escort Su struck down Sect Leader Youquan with a single palm strike?

"Then in Liuyin City, he felled a great demon from Evernight Valley with a single punch?

"Is there any truth to these stories?"

"Indeed, it is true."

Su Mo nodded, not hiding anything: "But it was also a matter of chance, and I'm afraid it's a bit embarrassing to Mr. Zhan."

"Not in the least!"

Mr. Zhan said with deep respect: "I've heard about these two; each was a formidable demon wreaking havoc. Chief Escort Su, by meting out justice, has brought great joy to the people."

Discussing this face to face was somewhat awkward.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Su Mo steered the conversation toward Mr. Zhan's business.

At this, Mr. Zhan's face immediately lit up with pride.

He spoke candidly about the considerable gains from this trip, having gathered many rare treasures from the Eastern Wilderness, ready to fetch a high price in the South Sea.

He also mentioned his plans to make several more trips in the future, intending to visit Su Mo in Sunset City.

After some casual banter, they inevitably ended up boasting to each other.

Then Mr. Zhan took his leave, saying he didn't want to intrude any longer.

Su Mo advised him not to disclose his identity, as the boat was crowded and it might invite unnecessary trouble.

Mr. Zhan readily agreed and then took his leave.

After he departed, Su Mo's smile slowly faded.

Frowning slightly, he summoned Li the lead escort and inquired in detail about their encounter with Li Zhongcheng.

Li the lead escort thought there was another issue with the boat.

But Su Mo waved his hand:

"It's just that things are too coincidental, and I can't help but feel a bit suspicious. Li the lead escort, don't worry about it."

Li the lead escort nodded, finally feeling relieved.

He thought to himself that finding the same boat twice was indeed quite a coincidence.

However, when we arrived, we also traveled on Mr. Zhan's boat, and there were no disturbances along the way. The only hiccup came from some turbulence on the river.

On the return trip, there shouldn't be any issues.

Su Mo nodded in agreement, putting everyone at ease.

And indeed, the rest of the journey went smoothly without any hitches.

Even Xu Lu had no trouble... after all, it had been a while since he last came through here.

Even though the river authorities were particularly concerned about his activities and conducted strict checks for a few days, they eventually let up.

Since there were no further incidents, they naturally didn't waste much more time on him.

However, this matter couldn't just be swept under the rug, so when passing by Xuanlong Water Village, Su Mo made a point to take Xu Lu along to visit, effectively clearing up the misunderstanding.

This once again left Xu Lu in awe of Su Mo's vast network.

In the martial world, no matter how big your reputation, people might show you surface-level respect to avoid trouble, but they rarely truly admire anyone from the heart.

But the chief of Xuanlong Water Village's attitude toward Su Mo was as if he wanted to bow down in admiration.

It seemed that with just a word from Su Mo, he'd be willing to lay it all on the line.

After the explanation, the chief of Xuanlong Water Village kept apologizing to Xu Lu, leaving him a bit flustered.

This incident got Xu Lu thinking about his own future.

As a thief, even at the top of your game, how could you earn that kind of respect from others?

Su Mo, with his incredible martial arts skills, now carrying the reputation of having taken down Sect Leader Youquan with a single palm strike and Night Demon Lord with a punch, has quietly earned the title of the top martial artist in the Eastern Wilderness.

What's rare is that despite his incredible skills, he's extremely humble.

Though there's a sharp edge to his smile... interacting with him feels like a warm breeze, with no discomfort at all.

And from what he saw, Su Mo treated not only him but also his subordinates, and even the elderly and weak under Hu Sandao's care, with a welcoming smile.

He doesn't put on the airs of a great master.

This is really something special.

For a moment, Xu Lu seriously considered bowing his head and joining Su Mo's crew.

But thinking of his past as a thief, he couldn't help feeling ashamed, and his heart was heavy with distress.

...

...

For Su Mo, Xu Lu's matter was no big deal, just a small issue that could be handled easily.

The rest of the journey was smooth sailing.

One day, Su Mo, having been stuck in the cabin for too long and without the responsibility of guarding the cargo, decided to step out onto the deck for some fresh air.

To take in the scenery along the riverbanks.

As soon as he came out, he saw Wei Ziyi leaning against the ship's railing, her long hair swaying in the breeze.

Hearing Su Mo's footsteps, perhaps, she turned her head, and their eyes met. Wei Ziyi smiled slightly:

"You’re out too?"

"Just stepping out for some fresh air. It’s not often that Young Miss Wei is in such a relaxed mood."

Su Mo nodded slightly and stood beside Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ziyi sighed softly:

"Once we get back from this trip, I’ll be thrown back into the Fallen Phoenix Alliance’s endless tasks, and it’ll be hard to find such peace again. With such nice weather, it’s the perfect chance to soak in the endless view."

As she spoke, she glanced at Su Mo:

"Are you itching to get back home already?"

"Yeah."

Su Mo nodded: "After being away from home for so long, of course I miss it."

"Is it really home you’re missing?"

Wei Ziyi pouted: "You’re just missing Sister Yang, aren’t you?"

Su Mo chuckled but didn’t hesitate, just nodding:

"Yeah, I miss her."

At this, Wei Ziyi was momentarily stunned, and a strange feeling bubbled up in her chest.

But when she thought about it, it felt hollow.

Every now and then, she’d glance at Su Mo and find his face annoying, feeling an inexplicable surge of anger.

Luckily, she wasn’t some ordinary girl. She opened her mouth to say something but then shut it.

Instead, she started reflecting, thinking her temper was acting up oddly.

Su Mo missing Yang Xiaoyun was not only natural but also fair.

Why should she be mad?

She carefully analyzed the reasons and finally came to a conclusion.

It was probably just a woman’s pride, wasn’t it?

After all, throughout this journey, everyone seemed to want her to marry Su Mo.

And she herself... was willing to follow her grandfather and master's instructions, not finding anything wrong with marrying Su Mo.

It's just that there was no romantic feeling between the two of them.

Su Mo, in particular, seemed to avoid the topic like the plague, if not exactly, then close to it.

However, Wei Ziyi didn’t find his behavior inappropriate.

But being repeatedly disregarded by Su Mo like this, even a clay figure would have some temper, let alone her?

Am I really not as good as Sister Yang?

Whether in martial arts or appearance, I should be just as good as her.

Hearing him speak so bluntly, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

At this thought, Wei Ziyi couldn't help but chuckle:

"Sister Yang is really lucky. In the future, the two of you will be in perfect harmony, staying together for a lifetime... You better not let her down."

"I..."

Su Mo was about to speak when he suddenly turned around.

He saw an old man sneaking onto the deck, about to sit down, holding a juicy pig's trotter in his hand.

When the old man accidentally looked up and met Su Mo's gaze, he immediately felt embarrassed, grinning as he said:

"I just wanted to enjoy the deck's scenery with this pig's trotter.

"I didn't expect to find young lovers here, chatting away...

"I didn't want to miss this beautiful scenery, but I also didn't want to interrupt your moment.

"So... I had to sneak over. Let's not bother each other. I'll enjoy the view while munching on my pig's trotter, and you two can do as you please.

"Don't worry, I won't peek or listen in!"

After saying this, as if to demonstrate his determination not to peek or eavesdrop, he immediately turned his back to Su Mo and Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ziyi was momentarily furious, glaring at the old man.

But then, she furrowed her brows and looked at Su Mo.

It was one thing for the old man to evade her notice, but how could Su Mo only notice him when he was already so close?

Looking at Su Mo's expression now, it did seem a bit odd.

Su Mo glanced at Wei Ziyi, nodded slightly, and then smiled:

"It's us who have disturbed your enjoyment, senior."

Wei Ziyi was surprised and instinctively looked at Su Mo.

She thought to herself... Why didn't he explain that they weren't here to flirt or be intimate? He didn't even get to the main point. What if the old man misunderstood?

But for some reason, her earlier anger inexplicably subsided a bit.

The old man, however, didn't respond to Su Mo's words. Instead, he gazed at the scenery while munching on his pig's trotter.

He swayed his head, looking quite content.

Su Mo raised an eyebrow and approached the old man, looking down at him.

The old man seemed dissatisfied with the sudden shadow and glanced at Su Mo, pursing his lips:

"Young man, go ahead and talk about love. Why are you blocking my sunlight for no reason? It's been many years since I've enjoyed such comfortable sunlight."

Su Mo smiled: "Senior, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself. Pairing such beautiful scenery with delicious food—how does it taste?"

"You want to know?"

The old man thought for a moment, seemingly hesitant, but finally shook his head and made up his mind:

"Don't even think about tricking me out of the roast chicken I'm holding. No way!"