Chapter 148: Return

Chapter 148: Return

"The Three Absolutes Sect?"

Su Mo glanced at Li Siyun. "Old Li, you also know of this Three Absolutes Sect?"

"Hmph, that monk's technique is called the Flowing Cloud Palm, which belongs to the Absolute Heaven Sect."

Li Siyun did not hide anything in this regard. "Although he didn't use his sect's techniques at first, when he tried to escape, he ultimately resorted to his signature moves.

"Elusive as flowing clouds, fleeting and myriad.

"This is the supreme art of the Tianzi Sect."

He paused here and looked at Su Mo. "The Three Absolutes Sect has three divisions: Heaven, Earth, and Man—Absolute Heaven, Absolute Earth, and Absolute Man. The Tianzi Sect is elusive and unpredictable, the Earth Division's power lies in the earth, and the Man Division can harness the myriad affairs of the mortal world.

"This sect does not belong to any gang or clan; it operates covertly, shrouded in mystery.

"Few in the martial world know about the Three Absolutes Sect.

"Truly unfathomable.

"Heh, it seems now that the Jade Cone was indeed stolen by them.

"But I had misunderstood this matter initially. Now, thinking about it... there must be more to it."

At this point, he glanced at the corpse of the Green Snake Alliance leader on the ground, shook his head, and his expression turned uncertain.

After hearing this, Su Mo furrowed his brow.

"What exactly is the connection between the Jade Cone and the Mandarin Ducks Scroll?"

He expected Li Siyun to keep it a secret, but to his surprise, Li Siyun did not hide anything:

"That snake spoke the truth just now. This matter involves a hidden treasure.

"Years ago, the Jade Cone fell into the hands of the Heavenly Blade Sect.

"For those who have been following this matter, it has never really been a secret.

"However, there are two key points in this matter that, if not clarified, would render even obtaining one of them useless.

"One of these points is the Mandarin Ducks Scroll.

"The other is a map.

"The origin of that map is unknown to me as well, even to an old man like myself.

"Only the Mandarin Ducks Scroll has been in my possession for over twenty years."

Upon hearing this, Su Mo suddenly understood:

"The Jade Cone, the Mandarin Ducks Scroll, and a map.

"Obtaining any one of these would only alert others.

"Therefore, the Jade Cone has remained safe in the Heavenly Blade Sect all these years, not because no one knew about it, but because without the other two, possessing the Jade Cone alone is meaningless.

"So, when the Jade Cone was stolen, you realized that the Mandarin Ducks Scroll must have already been coveted?"

"Exactly."

Li Siyun nodded. "These people have been plotting against the Heavenly Blade Sect for many years, with deep roots.

"Ever since the disappearance of Tong Yun, I have been in Wufangji... but it was then that I became trapped in Wufangji, unable to leave.

"Because someone was always watching me in secret. If I dared to leave Wufangji, I would likely lose the Mandarin Ducks Scroll immediately.

"Therefore, I could only observe the situation through other means, but as a result, I never saw the true face of my enemy."

Su Mo raised an eyebrow. "So, when you saw the flag of the Ziyang Escort Agency in Wufangji, you thought of entrusting the Mandarin Ducks Scroll to me, thus diverting attention from yourself.

"By doing so, you could shift from being overt to covert. I would openly lead the attention away, while you secretly followed, to lure the enemy out?"

Li Siyun fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly and changed the subject:

"Few in the martial world know much about the Three Absolutes Sect, but I know a little.

"First is the Man Division. The Man Division claims to encompass the myriad affairs of the mortal world, and their supreme art is known as the 'Three Thousand Red Dust Paths.'

"Three thousand paths, each leading through the mortal world. Thus, through this art, they can effortlessly master and apply various martial arts.

"However, truly unleashing its power is not so easy.

"Merely imitating the form is like drawing a tiger by copying a cat, merely superficial.

"Second is the Earth Division...

"The essence of the Earth Division's martial arts can be summed up in four words: its power lies in the earth, as I mentioned earlier.

"Upper Yang, lower Yin, Yin represents the earth. The supreme art of this division is called the 'Absorb Earth Power.'

"Standing firm on the earth, one's strength is immense. With this profound skill, one can draw upon the earth's energy to protect the heart, even surviving fatal injuries for a time.

"Finally, there is Heaven..."

He frowned as he spoke:

"The Tianzi Sect is the most inscrutable of all.

"Its martial arts are diverse and complex, and no one has ever fully grasped their entirety, let alone know what the sect leader practices.

"Among the three supreme sects—Heaven, Earth, and Man—Heaven stands first, indicating its extraordinary nature.

"The leader of the Tianzi Sect is like a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail, always plotting in the shadows, yet few have ever seen his true face.

"He is the most mysterious figure among the three supreme sects.

"This time, the plot within the Jiaolong Association was orchestrated by him.

"He sought both the Painful Scripture from the Red Cloud Monk and the Mandarin Ducks Scroll.

"By combining these two goals, he could take control of the Jiaolong Association, Xuanlong Water Village, and the Red Leaf Gang, while secretly infiltrating Evernight Valley.

"Add to that the Painful Scripture and the Mandarin Ducks Scroll... his schemes are truly extraordinary.

"Unfortunately, despite all his calculations, he still fell short..."

Having said this in one breath, he took a deep sigh, leaving Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun staring at each other in surprise.

Su Mo had thought he would need to use some means to extract this information, but he never expected the old man to spill everything so easily.

Meanwhile, Li Siyun, looking at the body of the Green Snake Alliance leader on the ground, suddenly widened his eyes.

"Could it be that..."

He stopped after three words, closing his mouth abruptly.

Su Mo's gaze fell on him: "What did you think of, Old Master Li?"

Li Siyun's eyes flickered, and he smiled lightly:

"Chief Su, although there seems to be no direct connection between you and the matter of Evernight Valley, if they truly plan to target the Purple Sun Sect and Cold Moon Palace, you cannot stand idly by.

"The Purple Sun Sect has a special relationship with your Su family. Your ancestor, Su Chengyu, nearly became the sect leader of the Purple Sun Sect.

"But you can ask about this connection when you visit the Purple Sun Sect in the future.

"They will surely treat you as an honored guest.

"However, regarding Evernight Valley... no one knows the name of the valley lord.

"People only refer to him as the Night Lord!

"He is a formidable genius, a true hero of his generation.

"Evernight Valley has a signature technique called the 'Noonless Demon Record.' Throughout history, those who have reached the third level are already rare.

"Yet it is said that this person has devoted all his efforts and achieved the unprecedented seventh level.

"Some even claim that he intends to break new ground and create the last three levels, pushing the Noonless Demon Record to its ultimate tenth level.

"However, whether this is true or not is hard to say.

"But with just the seventh level of the Noonless Demon Record, he is already invincible at night.

"In a battle long ago, he single-handedly faced the seven sect leaders of East City without falling behind.

"After the battle, both sides were severely injured, demonstrating his formidable strength.

"Although your martial arts are powerful, if you ever encounter this person, remember, do not fight him at night..."

After this warning, Su Mo was momentarily at a loss for words.

He clasped his hands together: "Thank you, Old Master Li."

"You're too kind."

Li Siyun shook his head and laughed bitterly:

"Chief Su, I acted rashly this time and almost caused a major disaster.

"I cannot afford to make another mistake.

"Remember what I've told you.

"With your skills and intelligence, getting through this should not be difficult."

"... What are you implying?"

Su Mo felt that these words seemed somewhat off, almost like a dying testament. His expression changed abruptly as he saw Li Siyun's face turn deathly pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun immediately rushed forward, each grabbing one of his wrists, but they were taken aback.

"Why go to such lengths?"

Su Mo's face darkened.

The old man had severed his own meridians while speaking, appearing intact but with his heart pulse already broken, barely clinging to life.

Li Siyun said no more, only gazing quietly at Su Mo, nodding gently before shaking his head:

"Head Warden Su, there’s no need to worry. I was wrong in this matter, and since I was wrong, I must pay the price.

"What I’ve told you is all that I can share.

"The rest will be buried with me.

"This life of mine should have ended long ago…

"Now that I can see you grow into such a capable person, it makes my life worthwhile.

"Head Warden Su… you… you…"

By this point, his voice was barely a whisper: "You must… must take care of yourself. In this world of martial arts… anyone… can die in my eyes…

"Except for you… except for you, you cannot die!"

"…"

Su Mo was momentarily at a loss for words.

Li Siyun's head tilted to one side, his eyes devoid of any remaining light.

"Xiao Mo…"

Yang Xiaoyun glanced at Su Mo, her heart filled with an indescribable feeling.

She felt that Li Siyun's death was too abrupt.

What secrets did he keep that were so significant?

Why would he risk his own life?

Moreover, when he handed the Love Spectrum to Su Mo, it was clearly to lure out their enemy. Now that the enemy had appeared, he chose to die without hesitation. What was the meaning of this?

Su Mo took a deep breath, rechecked, and confirmed that the man's heart had indeed stopped. He sighed:

"First, we’ll deliver the Love Spectrum to Uncle Yang, and then we’ll see what happens.

"Before the Green Snake Alliance leader died, he said there was something sinister behind this… but I don’t know where that came from.

"From Li Siyun’s words just now, it seems he thought of something, but when I asked him, he didn’t say anything, instead talking about Evernight Valley.

"Clearly, he was also hiding something.

"Most importantly…

"What is the relationship between him, Uncle Yang, and my father?

"Why can everyone else in the martial world die, but not me…?"

He looked at Yang Xiaoyun, and their eyes met, both filled with confusion.

"Could it… be related to that black-clothed figure from that night?"

Yang Xiaoyun asked.

Su Mo sighed: "I feel that Uncle Yang must know something."

"I’ll ask him when the time comes."

Yang Xiaoyun immediately perked up.

Su Mo smiled bitterly: "If he wanted to tell us, he probably would have done so over the years. The fact that he hasn’t… means he might be as determined to keep it secret as Li Siyun, even if it costs him his life."

"…"

Yang Xiaoyun was speechless.

Since Su Mo’s father died, Yang Yizhi’s personality had changed dramatically.

Now, with Li Siyun’s death, the hidden truths were truly unsettling.

However, these people clearly wouldn’t openly tell Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun what they knew.

Therefore, after exchanging a glance, Su Mo stood up:

"Let’s put this aside for now. With the Jiaolong Association matter settled, we need to continue escorting this convoy.

"We’ll discuss everything once we see Uncle Yang."

"Alright."

As they spoke, Su Mo searched Li Siyun’s body again but found nothing of significance.

He left some silver untouched, placing it back on Li Siyun’s body.

Then, he lifted the corpse and walked out the door.

In the distance, some of the Jiaolong Association pirates were waiting. Seeing Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun emerge, they hurried over.

"Head Warden Su, Young Head Warden Yang, the Chief and the others are waiting in the main hall… what about this body…"

They looked at Li Siyun’s corpse.

Su Mo thought for a moment and said: "Please, young brother, ensure this body is properly taken care of. Also, there’s another body inside, the Green Snake Alliance leader. Please take care of that one as well. Just be cautious with the Green Snake Alliance leader’s body; there might be some hidden dangers, and you must avoid poisoning."

"Yes, thank you for the warning, Head Warden Su."

This water bandit was also discerning; seeing how much Su Mo valued the corpse in his arms, he carefully took it over.

Then he had someone drag out the body of the Green Snake Alliance's leader from inside, not treating it with such gentleness.

On this side, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun went together to the Jiaolong Association’s main hall.

At this moment, everyone was seated, including several monks, among whom was Halfday Frenzy.

When he saw Su Mo, his gaze was rather complicated.

He still remembered the enmity between them.

Su Mo smiled at him and then clasped his hands in greeting:

"Apologies, everyone, I just dealt with some personal matters. I kept you all waiting..."

"Head Warden Su, what are you talking about."

"Indeed, Head Warden Su saved our lives. Not to mention waiting a while, even if you asked us to cut off our heads, we would do so without hesitation."

The one who said this was naturally the chief of Xuanlong Water Village.

The leader of the Red Leaf Gang then asked: "Is there anything we can assist you with? We dare not say more, but these few families are at your command, Head Warden Su. If we hesitate, may heaven not forgive us."

"Thank you all. If I need anything, I will certainly trouble you."

These words were very tactful, meaning that he didn’t need their help, but he wouldn’t refuse their good intentions.

Immediately, the leaders all nodded, indicating they were willing to be at his disposal at any time.

At this point, Master Hongyun stood up:

"It's good that Head Warden Su is unharmed. I have been waiting here to bid farewell to you."

This was only natural.

They came here because the Jiaolong Association blocked the waterways, making travel difficult, so they came to investigate.

Now that they understood the situation, it was time to leave.

But Su Mo couldn't help asking: "Where are you heading, Master?"

"I intend to go east."

Master Hongyun did not hide it: "My journey has been more about witnessing the world's indifference than teaching others about its suffering.

"This world is too bitter, and everyone has their own constraints.

"It cannot be simply summarized by good and evil.

"Therefore, I intend to go east and meet the various demon sects in East City."

"..."

Su Mo widened his eyes: "This... shouldn't Master reconsider?"

"My mind is made up."

Master Hongyun clasped his hands together.

"Very well."

Su Mo sighed: "Master possesses supreme martial arts. Even the demon sects in East City might not be able to harm you.

"However, the hearts of people in the jianghu are unpredictable, and the storms are many. Many things cannot be resolved by martial prowess alone.

"The lessons of the past are not far away. If Master truly wishes to subdue demons, you must take care of yourself.

"The Buddha's act of feeding himself to the eagle is indeed awe-inspiring, but we... are not the Buddha."

Master Hongyun looked up at Su Mo silently, nodded lightly, and withdrew his hand into his sleeve, pulling out a scroll of scripture.

Behind him, Halfday Frenzy and the others watched with jumping eyes, their gazes tinged with envy.

Master Hongyun handed the scripture to Su Mo: "Please accept it, Warden Su."

After receiving it, Su Mo unfolded the cover and saw three large characters:

"Painful Man Sutra?"

"This Painful Man Sutra will be far more useful in Warden Su's hands than in mine.

"On my journey to East City, if I am summoned by the Buddha, I hope Warden Su will pass on this scripture."

Master Hongyun spoke calmly, as if stating a simple truth.

Su Mo sighed, tucked the scripture into his sleeve, and clasped his hands: "Then I will humbly accept it."

"Not at all, not at all."

Master Hongyun smiled gently: "It is precisely fitting."

Having said that, he did not linger further, passed by Su Mo, and left the Jiaolong Association’s main hall in a flash.

A group of monks followed him out, but when they passed Su Mo, their gazes were filled with a hint of fear.

It was unclear whether they were afraid of Su Mo or worried about the Painful Man Sutra in his possession.

At this moment, Su Mo bid farewell to everyone present, preparing to return to Three Rivers Bay and cross the water by boat.

Chu Qiuyu and the others prepared to travel with Su Mo's group.

The reason they didn't allow the Jiaolong Association to send them downstream by boat was that there were few major bandits along the river who roamed around. If they took their boat, it would only add many uncertainties.

Although Zhuge Changtian wanted Su Mo and his group to stay in the Jiaolong Water Village for a couple more days, he couldn't persuade them to change their minds. In the end, he had to see them off at the village gate.

Master Hongyun's boat had already set off downstream, and Su Mo's group boarded a boat from the Jiaolong Association, preparing to return to Three Rivers Bay.

As they moved, just as they had steadied themselves on the boat, they felt it suddenly lurch downward.

Turning around, they saw a large, round face grinning at them.