Chapter 129: The Hard Journey

Chapter 129: The Hard Journey

"May I ask which one of you is Chief Su?"

The voice echoed, and everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward the door.

There stood an old man and a young girl at the entrance of the inn, peering inside curiously.

The older one appeared to be at least sixty, with gray hair and a ruddy complexion, dressed modestly but neatly.

Beside him was a girl of about sixteen or seventeen.

She looked timidly at Su Mo and his companions, showing a hint of fear.

For a moment, everyone was puzzled, unsure where this old man and young girl had come from.

Su Mo smiled and said, "Are you looking for me?"

"Are you Chief Su?"

The old man raised his head and glanced at Su Mo, his eyes flickering with curiosity. After a moment, he nodded gently:

"I have met Chief Su. Wan'er, come and greet Chief Su."

"Greetings... greetings, Chief Su."

The young girl bowed shyly.

"Do you know me?"

Su Mo asked, somewhat curious.

"We don't."

The old man quickly shook his head: "But we have heard tales of you in the martial world. So, we knew that Chief Su comes from the Ziyang Escort Agency in Sunset City."

"That's correct."

Su Mo smiled and said: "Old sir, please don't stand. Sit down first, and we can talk. Xiaochuan, prepare to settle the bill and wait outside."

"Sure thing."

Xiaochuan agreed and was about to leave.

But Innkeeper Cheng hurriedly said: "Brother Xiaochuan, you can't do that. We can't let you pay for the room again."

He followed Xiaochuan, arguing over who should pay.

However, the old man did not sit down. He looked around, seeming somewhat hesitant.

Su Mo was slightly taken aback, then said after a moment: "Shall I ask the innkeeper for a private room?"

"That would be very kind of you, Chief Su."

The old man nodded without hesitation.

Su Mo did not mind and simply told the innkeeper. Immediately, the innkeeper had a waiter lead them to a private room on the second floor.

Only then did the old man and the girl sit down. The waiter poured tea for both sides and left.

Su Mo smiled and asked: "I haven't had the pleasure of knowing your esteemed name, sir?"

"Oh, no, no."

The old man hurriedly replied: "I am surnamed Li, Li Siyun."

"So, it's Mr. Li. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Su Mo asked with a smile.

"To be honest..."

Li Siyun smiled and said: "I am originally from Sunset City. Raised in a merchant family, I have been traveling and trading in the Eastern Wasteland since my youth, and I managed to build a small fortune.

"But as they say, the sky can be unpredictable, and the moon has its phases. In the world of commerce, there are hidden dangers, no less perilous than the martial world, though there may be no visible swords or spears.

"In my younger days, I was deceived by a villain, leading to the decline of my family. The legacy built by my ancestors was eventually lost.

"At that time, I was still in my prime and unwilling to accept defeat. I gathered all my remaining assets and decided to make one last gamble...

"The details are too numerous to recount, so I'll keep it brief.

"At that time, I converted all my wealth into goods, planning to travel deep into East City to trade.

"However, things went wrong on the way.

"The guards who had accompanied me for a long time conspired with local strongmen and set an ambush on the road. They betrayed me, and within a short while, everyone around me was dead.

"Just when I thought I would meet the same fate, I suddenly heard someone shout, 'In broad daylight, who dares to commit such violence?!'

"I looked up and saw a young hero with a long spear, charging into the crowd, ready to fight.

"Truly remarkable!"

At this point, Li Siyun's eyes sparkled:

"His spear moved like a dragon, and none could stand against him. In a short time, he almost wiped out the entire group.

"This person saved my life. I explained everything to him, and it turned out we were heading in the same direction.

"He said he was also heading to East City on business and could escort me along the way, so I wouldn’t be killed again.

"With such divine assistance, I managed to barely save my life.

"However, this also made me abandon my original plan. After reaching a town, I hastily sold the goods, recovered my capital, and returned to Sunset City. Later, after much wandering, I settled in Wufangji.

"In recent years, as I have grown older, the ambitions of my youth have long faded like yesterday’s bubbles.

"Only the kindness of that righteous hero from back then remains unforgettable even now.

"Therefore, when I heard that you all came from an escort agency in Sunset City, I boldly came to your door, for I have a request."

At this point, he beckoned to Wan'er.

Wan'er immediately nodded, took out a small box from her bag, placed it on the table, and turned it towards Su Mo after he opened it himself.

"Please inspect, Chief Su."

Li Siyun gestured with his hand.

Su Mo leaned forward to look and found that the box contained silver bills, jade, and jewels. Beneath these items lay a book.

The cover of the book read: *Yuan Yang Pu* (Mandarin Ducks Spectrum).

"What is this?"

Su Mo looked up at Li Siyun.

Li Siyun sighed, "I have been wandering here in Wufangji until now and can no longer leave this place. I always thought that before I die, I must repay the kindness of that hero from my past. So for many years, I have been preparing gifts, but they never seemed sufficient. Now that I am in my sixties, I cannot endure long journeys anymore.

"I truly wish to deliver this gift to the benefactor myself, but I am too weak to do so.

"Therefore, I humbly ask Chief Su to deliver this to the hero of my past."

As he spoke, he took out two silver bills, exactly two hundred taels, and placed them on the table. "This is the escort fee for Chief Su. What do you think, Chief Su?"

Su Mo understood why the old man was so candid.

By opening the box directly, it was like inspecting the goods.

He shook his head with a smile but was also curious. "Who is this supposed to be delivered to? Who is the hero you mentioned?"

"I believe Chief Su must have heard of this person's name."

Li Siyun laughed heartily. "It is none other than the Chief of Iron Blood Escort Agency, the Iron Blood Dragon Spear, Yang Yizhi!"

"..."

Yang Xiaoyun, who had been listening quietly, almost choked on her tea when she heard this.

So all this time, she had been listening to a story about her own father's heroic deeds in his youth?

Su Mo's expression was also strange.

Li Siyun, however, was puzzled. "Chief Su, haven't you heard of him?"

"Not... not at all, his name is like thunder in my ears."

Su Mo smiled. "But if it's for him, I can take this job."

It wasn't just because the job was for Yang Yizhi.

More importantly, when Li Siyun mentioned Yang Yizhi's name, a system prompt appeared.

"Mission: Deliver Li Siyun's gratitude to Yang Yizhi at the Iron Blood Escort Agency in Sunset City."

"Do you accept?"

If it were any other mission, he might have hesitated. After all, they were outsiders in Wufangji, and there were local escort agencies here. Taking a job across regions would seem disrespectful to the local agencies.

But since it involved Yang Yizhi, Su Mo felt he should take it.

He didn't know what Yang Yizhi was up to, and the relationship between him and Yang Xiaoyun couldn't be left hanging indefinitely.

Both of them had stubborn personalities, and if he didn't mediate, it might lead to lifelong regret.

Yang Xiaoyun, however, looked at the *Yuan Yang Pu* with surprise. "What is this?"

"It is a musical score."

Li Siyun smiled. "Actually, I didn't know what Chief Yang likes, so over the years, I compiled this randomly. When I saw that the *Yuan Yang Pu* was extraordinary, I decided to include it."

"I see."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded and fell silent.

Su Mo then said with a smile, "Alright, we'll take this job at Ziyang Escort Agency."

"Thank you, thank you!"

Li Siyun immediately stood up with the little girl and thanked them repeatedly.

Without further ado, he prepared the writing materials and wrote down the contract, handed over the escort fee, and the matter was settled.

However, Li Siyun requested that they not publicize this job, as revealing wealth could attract trouble.

Su Mo immediately agreed.

After seeing these two off, Su Mo glanced at Yang Xiaoyun, who rolled her eyes. "Why do you always look at me... You took the escort job yourself; you should deliver it in person."

Su Mo couldn't help but smile. "That won't do. Uncle Yang hates me to the bone. Without Sister Xiaoyun's help, I fear I might go in alive but come out dead."

"Who dares to treat you like that? Your martial arts are formidable now. Even Father... he can't beat you anymore."

As Yang Xiaoyun said this, she felt a bit pleased but also a bit melancholic.

At this moment, the clerks of the escort agency and the brothers of the guard were already ready to set off.

The two of them no longer dwelled on the matter, bid farewell to Master Cheng with a bow, and immediately led their group away from Wufangji, heading south back to Sunset City.

...

...

This journey was rather uneventful, nothing much to speak of.

This escort mission was also quite secretive, besides, the money wasn't much, so it wouldn't attract any trouble.

For several days, there was not a ripple, and they were about to reach Red Cloud Temple.

Su Mo could not take the Venerable Red Cloud lightly.

Previously, when he and Yang Xiaoyun returned from Heavenly Gate Mountain, they lingered a bit in Wufangji, buying a set of hand-copied scriptures as a gift, which they planned to present to the Venerable Red Cloud upon their return to Red Cloud Temple.

Therefore, when the group arrived here, they immediately turned up the mountain. However, as they saw Red Cloud Temple from afar, something seemed amiss.

"Why is Red Cloud Temple so quiet? The main gate is closed, and there's no sign of smoke or activity," Yang Xiaoyun whispered.

Su Mo replied, "Stay here, I'll go check it out. Tell the men to be more cautious."

"Alright, be careful too."

Yang Xiaoyun agreed, and Su Mo ordered everyone to stop here. In a moment, he had leaped to the front of Red Cloud Temple.

The main gate of Red Cloud Temple was tightly shut and locked.

Su Mo paused, thought for a moment, then leaped over the wall into the temple grounds.

There were no signs of struggle or blood inside, and everything was neatly arranged.

After passing through the main hall, he entered the rear courtyard, where every door was locked.

He then went to the meditation room where the Venerable Red Cloud resided and found a letter wedged between the door cracks.

Su Mo casually took out a pair of deerskin gloves from his waist and put them on before retrieving the letter. It read: For the Esteemed Chief Escort, Su Mo!

"For me?"

Su Mo raised an eyebrow, opened the letter, and quickly read through it.

His expression became peculiar.

He shook his head, leaped away from Red Cloud Temple, and landed back on his horse.

Yang Xiaoyun looked at him, "What's the situation?"

"…You see for yourself."

He handed the letter to Yang Xiaoyun casually.

Then he signaled for everyone to turn around and continue on their way.

No one asked questions, and after reading the letter carefully, Yang Xiaoyun was stunned. "Venerable Red Cloud is taking these bandits on a pilgrimage to experience the hardships of life?"

"Indeed..."

Su Mo rubbed his nose. "In the letter, Venerable Red Cloud says that the reason these people are stubborn is that they lack restraint and have not seen the suffering of the world. Reading Buddhist scriptures alone is insufficient; only by experiencing it themselves can they truly empathize.

"He believes that enduring the trials of life and experiencing the various hardships will help them rid themselves of their inner malevolence.

"Furthermore, he plans to try to convert the evildoers along the way and join them on this pilgrimage."

Yang Xiaoyun gasped, "Won't this cause chaos?"

Su Mo nodded. "It won't be a small mess."

Venerable Red Cloud's intentions were noble, wanting to reform evildoers and guide them back to the right path.

However, the problem is that not everyone wants to live under someone else's will.

If Venerable Red Cloud had stayed within Red Cloud Temple, gathering people and converting them one by one, it might have been manageable.

But now, with this unexpected pilgrimage,

Every mountain and village they pass will likely suffer.

Moreover, the distinction between good and evil is not so simple.

Many wander between the black and white of the world, not everything is black or white.

To say nothing of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, which has committed its share of killings and arson, yet the people in the four cities, three rivers, and two bays under its protection live in peace and prosperity, free from the turmoil of the world.

Wouldn't they remember the good deeds of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance?

If Venerable Red Cloud brings these bandit monks to Sunset City and asks Wei Ruhan to lay down his sword and become a monk, wouldn't that cause a major disturbance?

"What can we do?"

Yang Xiaoyun was at a loss for what expression to show: "Master Hongyun’s intentions were good, but this action... is a bit too rash, isn’t it?"

"Let's see."

Su Mo shook his head slightly: "No matter what, we can't stop it."

People like Master Hongyun, when they really want to do something, won't listen to advice.

Hearing this, Yang Xiaoyun could only nod.

As they traveled south, they indeed saw the work of Master Hongyun.

Occasionally, they encountered some bandits on the road, but none of them were major criminals, and their martial arts skills were quite ordinary.

Su Mo casually inquired, and these bandits almost burst into tears.

They said that not long ago, a group of monks passed through their hideout, directly forcing their leaders to become monks. The remaining bandits who were willing to join the monastic life were also ordained on the spot, while those who refused were driven away.

These people had regrouped afterward.

They encountered several more 'roadblocks' of this kind, but as they continued south, there were no more.

The Heavenly Saber Token in Su Mo's possession came in handy now; no matter what kind of bandits or highwaymen, upon seeing the token, they all backed off.

Just by asking around about Master Hongyun's whereabouts, they found someone who knew.

It was said that a group of fierce-looking monks had rushed from north to south, suddenly changing course halfway and heading east.

By the time Su Mo and his companions reached Hui River, they could still hear people on the boat talking about it.

They said that a group of monks had suddenly arrived at the banks of Hui River, traveling downstream, causing chaos wherever they went.

This caused considerable dissatisfaction among those doing business along the river, and many planned to take revenge on these monks.

However, when the larger bandits along the river went after them, not only did they fail to capture the monks, but they themselves were captured and became part of the monk group...

At this point, the group of monks was growing steadily, moving along Hui River, with no one knowing where they were headed.

Many people along Hui River felt threatened, unsure of what the final outcome would be.

Su Mo listened, shaking his head repeatedly. This result wasn't entirely unexpected, but it still had a sense of absurdity when it actually happened.

...

...

After crossing Hui River, they entered the territory of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

The road became increasingly familiar.

It was already winter, and snowflakes were falling, turning the banks of the river into a silver-white landscape.

Night had fallen, and Su Mo and his companions didn't rush to continue their journey, so they decided to stay overnight at a dock on the bank of Hui River.

The inn wasn't a familiar place, but they knew its background, so there was no need to worry too much.

In the main hall, a charcoal brazier was placed, and the windows were slightly open. Travelers and merchants who had just crossed the river, from all walks of life, gathered around the brazier, sitting on the ground, drinking, eating, and chatting.

Su Mo and his companions attracted some attention upon arrival, but no one paid them too much mind.

After securing a room, Su Mo led his group to sit nearby, called over a waiter for food and drink, and while waiting, he heard someone say:

"That Cloud-Catching Hand Xu Ruoshen, dying such a tragic death in East City, was truly unexpected..."

Upon hearing this, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun felt as if someone had grabbed them by the back of the neck, and they were instantly shaken to the core.