Chapter 26: A Son Grows Beyond His Father’s Reach

Chapter 26: A Son Grows Beyond His Father's Reach

After Su Mo recounted his thoughts, Yang Xiaoyun gradually calmed down.

In truth, she might have considered these things before.

As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion.

She had always treated Su Mo as family, so when matters involving him arose, especially such dangerous assassination attempts, it was natural for her to lose her composure.

"You do make sense; I was indeed shortsighted...

"I only thought of Wu Chenfeng and the malicious person behind the scenes, focusing on the private grievances of the younger generation. But I forgot to consider that this could be related to the struggle for the leadership of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

"But waiting for them to strike again is too risky, isn't it?"

"Actually... the second attempt is still uncertain. If they had succeeded in their first attempt and I couldn't resist, then perhaps it would have been fine. But now that I'm still alive, the situation remains unresolved. And thus..."

He paused slightly at this point.

"What?"

Yang Xiaoyun looked at him, curious about his thoughts.

Su Mo pondered for a moment and said, "There's something I find quite intriguing. They seem so eager to kill me, as if doing so would directly disrupt Wu Daoyou and Uncle Yang's alliance. But the question is... has Uncle Yang made any statement on this matter yet?"

"My father has been secretive lately, keeping everything from me. We hardly speak anymore, less than you and I do in a day. How would I know what he thinks?"

Yang Xiaoyun spoke with a hint of resentment.

Considering her remarks yesterday about hoping Yang Yizhi would 'practice what he preaches,' it wasn't hard to understand her frustration.

Su Mo nodded lightly. "Let's set this aside for now. If our assumptions are correct, do you think the person they truly want to deal with will just sit idly by and watch the flowers bloom?"

"Whoever wants to kill you likely aims to prevent Wu Daoyou from succeeding. This is clearly an attack directed at Wu Daoyou."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded and let out a soft breath.

"...But the one getting hurt is me."

"Do you realize that?"

Yang Xiaoyun glared at Su Mo irritably. "However, whoever is behind this now faces obstacles."

Su Mo nodded and smiled. "Isn't this becoming interesting?"

"So, what do you suggest we do now?"

"We should remain steady."

Su Mo smiled. "The more they want you to act, the less you should. Instead of rushing into action, observe the chaos. Otherwise, even if they manage to kill everyone in the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, can they really get away with such violence?"

In the martial world, martial arts are important, but one must not act recklessly.

Especially since Su Mo runs an escort agency, he needs to maintain discipline to ensure its prosperity.

Killing indiscriminately only shows brute force, not a sustainable path.

Indeed, those who rely solely on martial prowess often meet bad ends.

Either they become labeled as evil and face attacks from righteous factions,

or they become tools in others' hands, unaware of their fate until it's too late.

"You're quite composed... I didn't see this side of you before."

"People adapt under pressure."

It was meant as a joke, but when he saw the look of pity in Yang Xiaoyun's eyes, he wished he hadn't said it.

This joke might not land well with her.

Just as he was about to change the subject, Yang Xiaoyun suddenly slammed the table:

"In that case, I won't go back during this time."

"Huh... What?"

Su Mo looked up sharply at Yang Xiaoyun. "What do you mean?"

"Regardless of whether the person behind this faces obstacles or how interconnected everything is,

or whether Wu Daoyou has made any decisions,

none of it matters to me.

Nothing is more important than your life. Until this matter is resolved, how can I sleep soundly at home?"

Yang Xiaoyun stated matter-of-factly, "I'll stay by your side to protect you."

"Uncle Yang won't agree."

"I'm not a child. Haven't you heard the saying?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"A son grows up and doesn't listen to his father anymore!"

"..."

Su Mo found these words not only unfamiliar but also boldly stated.

For a moment, he furrowed his brow: "Xiaoyun... this might not be appropriate. Although we have an engagement, we haven't married yet. If you were to live at the Ziyang Escort Agency, your reputation..."

"Hmm? What does that matter? A mere reputation is nothing compared to your life."

Yang Xiaoyun waved her hand decisively: "Besides, we will eventually become husband and wife. Everyone in Sunset City knows I was promised to you since childhood. A Yang woman marries only once, so this won't damage my reputation."

"Ah, well..."

Su Mo pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.

He noticed Yang Xiaoyun staring at him intently.

Subconsciously, he touched his face, making sure there was no tea on it: "What's wrong?"

"I want to look at you closely."

Yang Xiaoyun looked at Su Mo: "I've seen this face since we were young, but I never expected that after these few years with little contact, you'd suddenly be different."

"...How exactly am I different?"

"In the past, you were frivolous and indecisive, like mud that couldn't stick to a wall."

Yang Xiaoyun smiled: "Don't be angry when I say this. In fact, I wasn't entirely satisfied with our engagement before. But I couldn't go back on this promise. So, I made up my mind to support you for the rest of my life."

"This..."

Su Mo shook his head. If they truly got married, no one could always rely on another person.

If that were the case, life would be too exhausting.

"But now, things are different."

Yang Xiaoyun looked at Su Mo: "You seem reliable now. Facing assassination without changing expression, and your thorough thinking is something even I can't match. Wu Chenfeng is considered skilled among the younger generation, but you just shrugged him off and sent him flying into the restaurant. Your inner strength is truly remarkable...

"Xiao Mo, how did your internal martial arts improve so much?"

This woman truly lives up to being a heroine; she immediately became excited about martial arts. She stood up: "Come on, let's spar again. Yesterday, I thought your internal strength was weak, so I didn't use mine, worried that I might accidentally hurt you.

"Now that your internal strength is extraordinary, let's have another match!"

As she spoke, she pulled Su Mo towards a sparring session.

Su Mo was both amused and exasperated. Just then, Uncle Fu approached with a smile:

"You must be hungry. I've prepared a meal. Come and eat."