Chapter 119: The Lost Blade

Chapter 119: The Lost Blade

Setting off again from Red Cloud Temple, the journey ahead could be described as smooth sailing.

This was all thanks to Master Red Cloud, who had almost entirely gathered into the temple every notorious bandit and outlaw along the way.

Using the Suffering Scripture as a restraint, he transformed them through Buddhist teachings.

Whether this approach was appropriate or not could be debated, but at least it made the road much safer.

Apart from occasionally staying at shady inns and encountering some dangers, they did not run into any significant trouble.

On the road, Su Mo recounted to Yang Xiaoyun and Liu Mo what Master Red Cloud had told him, leaving both of them speechless.

Liu Mo marveled at how the martial world was indeed full of extraordinary people. Master Red Cloud's methods might seem absurd, but his ability to put his ideas into practice far surpassed many others.

Moreover, if what he said was true, then his dedication to transforming evil-doers from a young age and adhering to this lifelong mission was truly commendable.

Yang Xiaoyun, however, did not have as many reflections. Once she knew that the old monk had no dark magic, she felt relieved.

Taking advantage of the time, Su Mo delved into the Three-Day Pain technique that Master Red Cloud had given him.

The name "Three-Day Pain" seemed casual, but it contained many subtleties.

The method of guiding qi was unique, with three variations: One-Day Pain, Two-Day Pain, and Three-Day Pain.

As their names suggest, the effects were straightforward.

One-Day Pain targets the Shenmen point on the palm edge, Two-Day Pain targets the Fengshi point on the leg, and Three-Day Pain targets the Yutang point.

Depending on which acupoint is struck, different effects occur.

However, overall, the effect can be summed up in one word: pain!

The pain lasts for one, two, or three days, depending on the technique used.

During this period, if the person who inflicted the pain uses the methods from the Suffering Scripture to remove the true qi from the victim's body, the pain can be instantly alleviated.

Su Mo examined the flow of true qi in each acupoint and found that each point corresponded to a different method of qi guidance.

Using One-Day Pain on the Fengshi point would have no effect; it would simply transfer the force of the attack directly to the target.

Moreover, the Three-Day Pain was just one of the techniques in the Suffering Scripture.

From this, Su Mo inferred that using similar methods to create true qi that remains within the body and triggers after a month should not be too difficult for Master Red Cloud.

Master Red Cloud must have relied on such advanced techniques to keep these unruly bandits confined within Red Cloud Temple, as otherwise, it would be hard to explain why they remained there without even attempting to escape.

Naturally, this was because they either couldn't escape or escaping would be futile...

What was most intriguing about the Suffering Scripture was that, apart from causing intense pain, it did not damage the skin or flesh.

The true qi acted internally, causing minimal internal injury, which was quite remarkable.

Su Mo carefully studied every word in the thin booklet and finally confirmed that there were no cultivation methods, only techniques for using true qi. This reassured him enough to try them out cautiously.

As the saying goes, "Man does not harm the tiger, but the tiger has the intention to harm man."

Secret manuals of unknown origin should not be practiced lightly, as you never know which one might be a black book designed to deceive.

However, since there were no cultivation methods, only techniques for application, it posed no significant risk.

Within a few days, Su Mo had mastered all three techniques.

During this time, the message sent by Liu Mo via carrier pigeon finally returned, though it was a few days later than expected.

The reason was explained in the letter: the Heavenly Blade Sect had blocked all outgoing messages, causing the delay.

It also mentioned that the Heavenly Blade Sect had indeed sealed off Wufangji for over half a month, though the specific reasons were unclear.

However, the blockade had been lifted, allowing free passage.

This news brought a sigh of relief to Su Mo and his companions. Two days later, they confirmed that the information was accurate, as they saw merchant caravans coming from Wufangji.

When they approached and inquired, the merchants did not hide anything, confirming what was written in the letter.

The only thing everyone was unsure about was why the Heavenly Blade Sect had sealed off Wufangji.

Su Mo and his companions did not dwell on this question. Regardless of the reason, the lifting of the blockade meant they could travel freely, which was good news for them.

After another two days of travel, they arrived at Wufangji.

...

...

It was midday, but the weather had become increasingly bleak and cold.

Even at noon, the warmth of the sun was barely felt.

Looking ahead, Wufangji came into view, with merchant caravans constantly leaving the town, bustling with activity.

Su Mo led his group through the town gate of Wufangji, entering the bustling market.

The streets were filled with vendors shouting their wares, and the crowds were dense and lively.

"The liveliness here is no less than that of any of the four major cities of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance," Su Mo remarked.

Yang Xiaoyun's gaze swept over the stalls on the street, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Liu Mo was quite familiar with the place. After a moment of silence, he said:

"Wufangji attracts guests from all directions; it is indeed bustling with activity. Caravans come and go, and trade from various regions converges here, making it a source of goods. Prices are often much cheaper than elsewhere."

Su Mo nodded slightly. Merchants operate this way, buying goods at low prices in one place and selling them at higher prices elsewhere.

This naturally depends on the location.

For example, stockpiling items like cotton and transporting them over long distances to the cold northern regions would result in different prices.

And some fresh items from the north, when delivered to the Eastern Wastelands, would also fetch high prices due to their novelty.

Su Mo still remembered that time in the Peach Blossom Forest, at the Falling Petals Pavilion, when someone, whether it was the Mountain Overturning Palm or the Heaven Overturning Palm, boasted about his tea, saying how the tea leaves were brought from the north...

After a casual chat with Liu Mo, the convoy did not stop. However, by this point, everyone had dismounted and was walking.

They passed through streets and alleys, and under Liu Mo's guidance, they soon arrived at a shop.

The shop was open for business, and the manager was enthusiastically explaining his goods to a few rosy-faced men and women. Upon spotting Liu Mo, he was overjoyed.

He quickly instructed a waiter to take over and hurried to the door in two steps:

"Oh, my old friend Liu, you've finally arrived!"

"Manager Cheng."

Liu Mo bowed to him and introduced Su Mo: "This is Manager Cheng, the general manager of several branches in Wufangji."

He then introduced Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun: "This is Chief Su Mo, the head of Ziyang Escort Agency, and Deputy Chief Yang Xiaoyun."

Manager Cheng was not surprised and immediately greeted them with a bow: "Greetings, Chief Su and Deputy Chief Yang. It's truly impressive to see such young heroes. Your journey must have been arduous."

"Manager Cheng, you're too kind," Su Mo said with a smile. "Since we took on the job from Wanxin Trading Company, the effort is well-deserved. I wonder if you have some free time now. Could we inspect the cargo and verify the quantities?"

"Of course, of course, please follow me."

Manager Cheng was a man of action. Without further ado, he gave a few instructions to an assistant and led Su Mo and the others away from the shop.

They took a slight detour and arrived at a courtyard. He knocked on the door, and a dozen people came out immediately.

"Come, come, everyone, let's get to work. The goods from the main office have finally arrived. Help unload the carts and count the items."

With a call, everyone sprang into action.

The escort agency's assistants and the guards also joined in to help.

Su Mo held the contract agreed upon with the chief of Wanxin Trading Company and began to count the items with Manager Cheng.

It took more than an hour to complete the task.

Manager Cheng breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally done, the numbers are correct. Chief Su, you are indeed remarkable. Even Heavenly Gate Escort Agency would be stripped along the way, but under your protection, nothing was lost. Truly impressive."

Su Mo waved his hand: "Manager Cheng, you're too kind. It was just good luck."

"Haha, Chief Su, at your young age, you should be bold and confident. How can you be so modest? Although I lack the skills to travel the world, I know that relying on luck alone is not a sustainable path in the world of commerce."

He took out a silver note worth 2000 taels and handed it to Su Mo, letting out a long breath:

"These 2000 taels are finally spent. Chief Su, you may not know, but the branches in Wufangji are severely short of goods. I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival, so I withdrew these 2000 taels from the accounts long ago, hoping to spend them as soon as possible. Now, my wish is fulfilled, and this is the first time in my life that I've spent money so happily."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Su Mo solemnly accepted the note, checked it briefly, and smiled: "The amount is correct. Thank you, Manager Cheng."

He then handed it to Yang Xiaoyun to keep close.

"I should be the one thanking Chief Su."

After saying this, he instructed his staff to move the goods inside and said to Su Mo:

"Chief Su, you've had a long journey. I've already arranged rooms for you and your team at the inn. Take a few days to rest before leaving. Additionally, I will host a banquet tonight for Chief Su and the entire escort agency. Please do not decline."

Su Mo glanced at his system.

"Mission: Escort Wanxin Trading Company's goods to Wufangji (Completed)"

"Reward: Settling..."

Seeing this, he also sighed with relief, looked back at the escort agency's assistants and the guards, and laughed heartily:

"If that's the case, I won't refuse."

The journey had been tough, with wind and rain all the way. Having finally delivered the cargo, even if it wasn't for himself, he had to consider the feelings of his subordinates.

A meal was nothing to argue about.

Manager Cheng nodded repeatedly and instructed someone to lead Su Mo and his group to the inn.

Liu Mo naturally followed Su Mo and the others.

They were the guards of Wanxin Trading Company, but for this trip, they traveled with the escort agency. After Su Mo delivered the goods, they would return to Sunset City together.

They could only part ways once they reached Sunset City.

The journey was uneventful, and they soon arrived at the inn.

Mr. Cheng's arrangements were indeed thorough; the escort guards and the security team were all accommodated in a courtyard for rest, while Su Mo, Yang Xiaoyun, and Liu Mo were each given a superior room.

After seeing off the inn attendant who had led them there, Liu Mo excused himself and returned to his room to rest. Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun, however, gathered together.

The door closed, Yang Xiaoyun let out a huge sigh of relief:

"Close call, but surprisingly smooth this time."

She opened her eyes, filled with astonishment.

"..."

For a moment, Su Mo was speechless: "It should be smooth, shouldn't it? We can't encounter the Youquan Cult on every escort mission; otherwise, running an escort agency would be too difficult..."

"Pish posh, no nonsense."

Yang Xiaoyun glared at Su Mo, then sat down at the table: "This job is different from the one at Profound Theory Valley.

"That one mostly enhanced your personal reputation, but this time, it has truly established the name of Ziyang Escort Agency."

Su Mo smiled and poured her a cup of tea: "To soothe your throat."

"Mm-hmm."

Yang Xiaoyun took a sip: "However, the most troublesome along this route should have been those bandit leaders like Black Gold Saber Zhao Cheng and Ma Daqing of Horse King Fort, yet we didn't expect them to be taken care of in advance by the monk from Red Cloud Temple."

"Indeed."

Su Mo nodded: "In the past, Master Red Cloud of Red Cloud Temple couldn't handle them, so he remained patient. Now that he has achieved something, he acted directly, which gave us a free ride."

"So, I think on our way back, we should visit Red Cloud Temple. Master Red Cloud is not simple, and it would be beneficial to establish a connection with him."

"Sister Xiaoyun, aren't you afraid that I might be tempted by this demon monk and really become a monk?"

Su Mo looked at Yang Xiaoyun with a half-smile.

Yang Xiaoyun was stunned, her face instantly turning red: "You... why are you teasing me?"

"Ha ha ha."

Su Mo laughed heartily, then glanced at the girl before him, noticing how much more womanly Yang Xiaoyun had become during their journey.

The tomboy who used to punch him without hesitation seemed to have faded away.

Then she said, "If one day you really decide to become a monk, you must take me with you. If you become a monk, I'll become a nun. No matter what, I won't let you go in this life."

Hearing this, Su Mo felt a tremor in his heart.

Yang Xiaoyun, seemingly surprised by her own words, blushed and ran out of the room.

Su Mo stood there, forgetting to chase after her, only moving when she reached the door, gripping the handle and looking back at him.

Her eyes sparkled, saying nothing yet seeming to speak volumes.

Finally, she smiled faintly: "I, I'm going to rest now."

With that, she hurriedly opened the door and fled.

Su Mo stood there for a long time, a smile unconsciously forming on his lips.

...

...

Mr. Cheng had arranged a banquet in the inn itself.

Several private rooms on the second floor were reserved, enough for the escort agency staff and the security team to sit comfortably.

Now that the goods had been delivered, Su Mo hadn't enforced the no-drinking rule, but he did warn them to drink moderately and not get drunk, or they would face severe consequences.

Though this order somewhat dampened the mood, they had grown accustomed to following Su Mo's instructions over the journey.

They all agreed loudly, with no objections.

Even though they could only drink a little, the atmosphere was still lively.

Su Mo, Yang Xiaoyun, and Liu Mo were personally accompanied by Mr. Cheng.

During the conversation, Mr. Cheng mainly praised how capable Su Mo and the others were, while Su Mo complimented Mr. Cheng's shrewdness and business acumen.

It was all polite talk, as expected.

In the midst of the idle chat, Liu Mo suddenly asked:

"Why did Heavenly Blade Sect suddenly blockade Wufangji? Has Mr. Cheng heard anything about it?"

Mr. Cheng glanced at Liu Mo and smiled: "I knew you'd ask. The Heavenly Blade Sect has kept this matter tightly under wraps, and others might not have been able to find out. But I have some information, though I can't vouch for its accuracy."

As he spoke, he took a sip of wine, while Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun sipped tea instead.

Liu Mo looked at Mr. Cheng: "Stop being mysterious."

"Hehe."

Mr. Cheng chuckled, got up, and checked the door to ensure there were no issues before returning to his seat and whispering:

"Heavenly Blade Sect has encountered a massive incident!"

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun exchanged a glance, both somewhat shocked.

Liu Mo frowned even more deeply. "Speak."

"I'm not a wanderer of the rivers and lakes, so my knowledge isn't very deep, but I wonder if any of you present have heard of someone... the Unstoppable Saber Tong Yun!"

"The Unstoppable Saber Tong Yun!?"

Su Mo raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yang Xiaoyun, who nodded lightly.

Clearly, she was also familiar with this name.

Tong Yun, the Unstoppable Saber, held a significant position in the Heavenly Blade Sect, being one of the older generation's masters.

The term 'Unstoppable Saber' referred to his blade intent, which was ceaseless and unending; once he struck, it was a continuous flow without end.

However, in recent years, he had rarely been seen in the martial world, which is why many people were unfamiliar with his name.

Su Mo, with his family's deep martial heritage, and Yang Xiaoyun, who had access to the writings of her seniors, both had a memory of this name.

Liu Mo's brow lifted slightly. "And then?"

"This person... has gone missing."

Cheng, the innkeeper, continued: "It's said that before he disappeared, he took on a job as a bodyguard, but no one knows what the job entailed. Not long after his disappearance, a saber went missing from the Ten Thousand Peaks Pool within the Heavenly Blade Sect—the Hanging Moon Saber."

"The saber of the Seventh Generation Ancestor of the Heavenly Blade Sect?"

Liu Mo was taken aback. "Why would anyone steal that?"

"Who can say?"

Cheng shook his head. "But I heard that the person who broke into the Ten Thousand Peaks Pool seemed to be extremely powerful. Moreover, they had a thorough understanding of the Heavenly Blade Sect's martial arts. The Ten Thousand Peaks Pool is where the sect's disciples bury their sabers, and it is heavily guarded. Yet, this person came and went as if no one was there, and those guarding it were no match for them. They managed to take the Hanging Moon Saber and leave without a trace.

"Immediately after, the disciples of the Heavenly Blade Sect descended upon Wufangji and the surrounding areas to try to detain this person.

"But the final outcome, we do not know."