Chapter 174: The Order of No Life

Chapter 174: The Order of No Life

The remaining matters of the Three Extremes Sect were being handled by Wu Daoyou.

The Heaven Gate Master and the Liuyun Scholar were taken to Xuanhu Pavilion.

Wu Daoyou helped to bring back the 'body of Yang Yizhi' from Haoran Academy.

As for Su Mo, what he needed to do was essentially continue the plot from that day at Haoran Academy when a group had stormed off in anger.

At most, they would be delayed in East City for a few more days, 'accidentally' meeting Liu Mo and others.

There was little to say about this journey.

In the rush to travel, everyone used their light body skill to hurry along.

Zhen Xiaoxiao was brought by Su Mo, taking over ten days to finally return to Jiyang Ferry.

They found a boat and sailed south along the river, returning to the Three Rivers Bay dock.

This time they boarded a passenger ship.

These passenger ships traveled much farther than regular merchant vessels, covering nearly half of the water route.

Starting from Three Rivers Bay dock, they reached Pingguan Ferry.

Then they returned again.

This repetitive route was their line of work.

It was clearly not an easy business, as they had to have arrangements with the major bandits along the river.

Some connections and face were necessary; otherwise, it would be impossible to move an inch.

Thus, not many people engaged in this business.

Having a passenger ship pass by once every half month was already fortunate.

Su Mo and his group were lucky this time; a ship returning from Pingguan Ferry happened to dock at Jiyang Ferry to drop off passengers, and Su Mo took the opportunity to pay and board the ship.

The ship was filled with people from all over, making it quite noisy.

Liu Mo and Fu Hanyuan had already slipped into the roles of escort agency workers, subtly guarding Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun on either side.

With Zhen Xiaoxiao sitting nearby, it was truly a sight that kept strangers at a distance.

Su Mo listened closely.

The people were discussing a lot of news, most of which was miscellaneous and not worth much attention.

However, there were a few noteworthy pieces of information.

One of them was about Evernight Valley.

Within Jiaolong Water Village, the activities of Evernight Valley were widely publicized.

Especially after Chu Qiuyu and the others managed to escape the great danger and sent the message back to Cold Moon Palace, the palace master immediately flew into a rage.

She immediately contacted the seven major sects, excluding the Purple Sun Sect, and they set out along the water routes.

They aimed to suppress the 'tentacles' of Evernight Valley.

These people acted swiftly and decisively, and it was only a couple of days ago that the various disturbances along the river were finally calmed.

Upon hearing this, Su Mo's brows twitched slightly, and he soon heard someone say:

"This is a plan of feinting east and attacking west, using the unrest along the river to attract the attention of the seven major sects.

It is said that in secret, the Night Monarch has already attempted to invade Tianqu City again.

With all the attention of the seven major sects on the river, they might not notice the Night Monarch's moves."

"That's not necessarily the case."

Someone immediately refuted, "The seven major sects have far-sighted strategies and are all seasoned schemers. The Night Monarch's little trick, how could it escape their keen eyes?

To be honest, I have friends among the seven major sects, and I had already received news from Tianqu City."

"Oh? Do tell."

"Well, as you just said, while the seven major sects focused on the river, the Night Monarch secretly attempted to invade Tianqu City.

However, Tianqu City had already prepared a heavenly net and earthly web, a well-laid trap.

In this battle, Evernight Valley returned in defeat."

"Hiss! The leaders of the seven major sects are indeed the leaders of the righteous path, truly extraordinary."

"That's right... But the Night Monarch is no ordinary figure either.

It is said that the seven, including the one from the Purple Sun Sect, have once again joined forces to face the Night Monarch.

Like a battle twenty years ago, it ended in a tie, both sides suffering losses."

Everyone was astonished, and someone sighed, "The martial prowess of this Night Monarch is truly terrifying. He fought the seven leaders twenty years ago, and twenty years later, it's still the same, no different from back then."

"That's hard to say."

The man then spoke up, "Twenty years ago, Ye Jun was indeed unmatched in martial arts. Who were the ones fighting them back then? The top experts from the older generation!

"But now? Not to mention that the Cold Moon Palace has long since gotten a new palace master, the old sect leader of the Purple Sun Sect is also a frail old man whose skills probably can't be compared to what they were twenty years ago.

"Many of the seven major sects have changed leaders as well. Some are older, and some are not as skilled.

"In my opinion, over these twenty years, Ye Jun's martial prowess might have actually declined."

His words stirred up a great deal of discussion.

Many people took the opportunity to voice their own opinions.

Some of them were heroes of the jianghu, while others were just ordinary travelers. At this moment, they were quite bold in commenting on important matters.

Su Mo's understanding of Ye Jun was limited to just a few words from Li Siyun and Chu Qiuyu.

Listening now, he felt something was off.

Talking about a feint? Perhaps not...

It seemed their initial plan regarding the river affair was genuine.

However, something went wrong inside the Jiaolong Water Village, and the plan fell short.

If I were Ye Jun, I wouldn't rashly attack Tianqu City at this time.

The intention of a feint was too obvious, and the seven major righteous sects aren't fools.

Charging in like that would easily lead to being encircled.

From what these people are saying, the seven major sects forced back Evernight Valley, which shows that Ye Jun didn't truly penetrate deep into Tianqu City.

His feint might have a more complex purpose.

Su Mo harbored some suspicions in his heart but didn't dare to confirm them.

However, after returning to Sunset City from this trip, once the grand act of wearing mourning clothes was over, it would be a good time to visit the Purple Sun Sect.

By then, the situation might be clearer.

As these thoughts lingered in his mind, he heard another voice.

"Evernight Valley's rash move was indeed unwise."

At first, people scoffed at this.

What would a spectator know about Ye Jun's thoughts?

You probably can't even understand the arrangements of the seven major sects, yet you casually comment as if you know everything.

Many immediately mocked him.

The man didn't care and just smiled, saying,

"Have you all forgotten about Master Red Cloud?"

"Red Cloud, the evil monk?"

Someone blurted out. Most of those who called him that were from the outlaw gangs.

Su Mo quietly looked at the man, then silently withdrew his gaze.

"What does this Red Cloud monk have to do with this?"

"It's said that after the Jiaolong Water Village incident, this Red Cloud monk turned a blind eye to the great thieves along the river and headed straight for the Jiyang Ferry, then disappeared."

"You don't know this, but the Red Cloud monk actually headed towards Tianqu City."

These words caused everyone present to gasp.

Tianqu City was the battleground between the Eastern City sects and the Demon Sect. Was Red Cloud going there to convert the Demon Sect?

The crowd looked at each other in surprise.

The earlier speaker snorted with pride and said with a smile,

"Don't you all know? After the Jiaolong Water Village meeting, Red Cloud headed straight for Tianqu City. He probably encountered something inside the Jiaolong Association that changed his mind.

"He felt that to save all living beings, he should first save those Demon Sect followers."

"Master Red Cloud's actions are truly virtuous."

"Indeed so."

"The Demon Sect's actions are despicable and extremely cruel. The people under their rule live in misery, amidst fire and water."

"Hmph, the Youquan Cult kidnaps people for their cultivation, Evernight Valley is notorious for skinning people alive, and as for the Paradise Palace, anyone they fancy is taken to their beds and emerges as a skeleton wrapped in human skin.

"Under the Paradise Pavilion lie piles of corpses, their crimes too many to record!"

"This is the fundamental reason for the opposition between righteousness and evil. We can do business, have clothes to wear, and food to eat in this region because of the protection of these righteous martial sects.

"Otherwise, how could we have such good days?"

"Well said! That's why Master Red Cloud's attempt to convert the Demon Sect, with his martial prowess, is truly virtuous and admirable."

"But I wonder what Master Red Cloud is doing now?"

The final question was clearly from the person who first spoke.

The man said with a smile, "Master Red Cloud is truly a great virtuous monk. Not long after he left for Heavenly Avenue City, there was movement from the Magic Sect... Gu Biyuan, the Deputy Palace Master of the Paradise Palace, has gone missing!"

"Ah?"

Everyone was stunned.

Gu Biyuan, the Deputy Palace Master of the Paradise Palace... The name was quite unfamiliar to them, but the Paradise Palace was a name they often mentioned.

"Could it be that she encountered Master Red Cloud?"

"Master Red Cloud is highly skilled in Buddhist teachings, but I wonder if this 'beauty withered to bones'... is truly of no attraction to him."

"Nonsense, Master Red Cloud has the heart to enlighten demons and mortals; how could he be swayed by someone as lowly as Gu Biyuan?"

Everyone started chatting again, each adding their own comments.

After all, the journey was lonely, and travelers from all over, gathering together, would exchange what they knew. Drinking, laughing, and talking along the way was also an excellent pastime.

Su Mo, on the other hand, listened in silence for a long while.

Gu Biyuan wasn't enlightened by Master Red Cloud... She was taken away by Wu Daoyou.

This Deputy Palace Master of the Paradise Palace had a rather special background.

Originally a spy planted in the Paradise Palace by the Three Extremes Sect, her exceptional talent allowed her to rise from an ordinary disciple to the position of Deputy Palace Master.

Because of this, she was highly valued by the Heaven Gate Master.

However, since the incident with Tong Yun, the attitude of the Three Extremes Sect towards their spies had quietly changed.

No matter how much the Heaven Gate Master valued Gu Biyuan, he wouldn't share too many secrets with her.

Thus, she knew even less than Scholar Liuyun.

This matter was crucial, and the Heaven Gate Master needed a substitute.

An ordinary person wouldn't have been weighty enough, which is why they thought of Gu Biyuan.

This person was also interesting. Whether it was due to the influence of the Paradise Palace or not, she feared hardship and loved beauty. After a lot of trouble, she spilled everything she knew.

This helped to verify the list written by the Heaven Gate Master.

Afterwards, Wu Daoyou kept her, considering her a valuable asset.

The Paradise Palace had always been a major enemy of the Eastern City sects, and with Gu Biyuan in their hands, it would be easier to handle matters in the East.

After all, they were all righteous martial artists. If the Fallen Phoenix Alliance approached them with a stance of not grabbing territory but only discussing business, it might yield surprising results.

By now, Su Mo had heard the follow-ups to both matters.

A few days later, he heard another piece of gossip from the Asura Hall.

This news came a bit late, brought over by a merchant from the Asura Hall.

It was said that the daughter of the Asura Hall's Chief had fallen in love with a disciple named Wan Zangxin.

Upon learning this, the Chief was furious and wanted to capture him for punishment.

However, Wan Zangxin was exceptionally talented and young, with extraordinary martial arts skills.

Those sent to capture him were instead killed to the last man.

This man was extreme in personality and decisive in his actions.

Knowing that the matter had been exposed, he decided to elope with the Asura Hall's little princess.

But the little princess didn't go with him. In his rage, he set a huge fire in the Asura Hall, and amidst the chaos, he broke into the Asura Hall's scripture repository, stole the "Great Transformation Rebirth Heart Sutra," and fled.

Three Hall Masters of the Asura Hall tried to stop Wan Zangxin, but he fought them off, killing one on the spot, and injuring the other two to varying degrees, before leaving with injuries.

The Chief of the Asura Hall was in secluded cultivation at the time and couldn't come out in time.

When he did, Wan Zangxin had already escaped.

Furious, he immediately issued an Asura Decree, spreading it across the martial world, offering great rewards to anyone who could capture Wan Zangxin and bring him to the Asura Hall.

Of course, with the Asura Decree, it was a matter of life or death, so it was regardless of whether the target was dead or alive!

For a time, the situation became turbulent, and some from the Asura Hall had even set foot in the Fallen Phoenix Alliance's territory, searching for his whereabouts.

Unfortunately, most people had found nothing so far.

...

...

After a few more days, the ship docked at the Three Rivers Bay pier.

Su Mo and his group of five disembarked and bought several fast horses, beginning their journey to Sunset City.

As per usual, Zhen Xiaoxiao followed behind, running.

However, since discovering that the martial art she practiced was very likely the long-lost Whale Devouring Skill, Su Mo had been quite concerned about her condition.

Previously, while she was eating, he had checked and found that the food she consumed, under the influence of her internal energy, would naturally transform into internal energy, stored directly in the various acupuncture points of her body.

There was no doubt that this aspect aligned even more closely with the Whale Devouring Technique.

Under the current circumstances, Su Mo could not easily change the route of the Whale Devouring Technique.

He could only follow the method he used when he helped Zhen Xiaoxiao channel her energy. He had her rapidly circulate her inner energy in this manner during her daily practice, converting the inner force within her meridians as much as possible.

This method actually proved effective. After a few attempts, Zhen Xiaoxiao complained to Su Mo.

She said that following the leader's method of circulating her inner energy made her hungrier faster.

Su Mo told her to endure it, and she obediently agreed.

Although it was like pouring water into a bottomless pit, they would delay as much as possible.

As the day drew to a close, Yang Xiaoyun looked at the surroundings and said,

"There's a village ahead. Let's stay at the villagers' homes tonight."

"If we go a little further, we'll reach Zhongfu City. Once we pass Zhongfu City, it's not far from there."

"Alright."

Su Mo nodded and reminded Zhen Xiaoxiao, "When we eat at the villagers' homes later, be restrained. Don't scare them."

"Yes, leader!"

Zhen Xiaoxiao nodded immediately.

"...Call me Chief Escort."

Su Mo knew it probably wouldn't do any good, but he couldn't help but correct her.

"Yes, I understand, leader!"

Zhen Xiaoxiao nodded solemnly, her face full of determination, indicating she remembered.

Su Mo sighed deeply and decided to give up.

Liu Mo and Fu Hanyuan exchanged glances, both feeling a bit helpless and amused.

Their understanding of Zhen Xiaoxiao had deepened on this journey.

This big, fat fellow was a simple child, naive and innocent, yet surprisingly strong in martial arts.

Even Liu Mo, with his astonishing physical strength, wielding two purple-gold concave-faced maces, could not be easily approached when he swung them.

However, after trying to compete in strength with Zhen Xiaoxiao, he found himself far inferior.

Although Zhen Xiaoxiao possessed extraordinary inner strength, his techniques were lacking.

Even Fu Hanyuan, with his limited combat experience, could slightly outmaneuver Zhen Xiaoxiao in terms of technique.

But only slightly...

Zhen Xiaoxiao's martial arts were peculiar. Fu Hanyuan's Frost True Qi had no effect on him. Instead, Zhen Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and found it refreshing, quite enjoyable.

This made Fu Hanyuan curse in frustration. His Frost True Qi was extremely dangerous, yet Zhen Xiaoxiao treated it like cold food, casually consuming it as if it were nothing.

To make a long story short, the village soon came into view.

But Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun's brows furrowed.

They exchanged a glance, and Su Mo gently raised his hand:

"As the day grows late, there's no smoke from the chimneys. There might be trouble in the village. Everyone, be cautious."

"Yes."

Liu Mo and Fu Hanyuan agreed, and Su Mo led the way on horseback, with Yang Xiaoyun closely following.

Zhen Xiaoxiao carried her bronze figurine and ran heavily, shaking the ground.

Finally came Fu Hanyuan and Liu Mo, who had already drawn his purple-gold concave-faced mace.

Before they arrived, the smell of blood filled the air. As they reached the entrance of the village, they saw bodies strewn across the street.

Yang Xiaoyun's expression darkened. She dismounted, flipping her Longyuan spear, and turned over a corpse. She saw an empty chest cavity, with a sharp claw-like weapon dug into it, having ripped out the heart.

At that moment, Su Mo suddenly looked up and saw a short man standing on the roof of a nearby house.

In his hand, he casually swung an iron chain, with an iron claw attached to it.

He waved it around and laughed, "Wild horse, rider, spear, mace, and a bronze figurine... What's in your box?

"Everyone, are you fine warriors of the jianghu?"

Su Mo looked at him quietly. "Did you kill these people?"

"Yes, yes."

The man nodded repeatedly. "My brothers were hungry, and the food they gave us wasn't enough. After asking, they said there wasn't much food at home, just enough to get through this winter, and they planned to cultivate more land next spring to grow more food...

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, seeing how hard they worked, I kindly ended their lives, allowing my brothers to feast here for a few more days. Isn't that wonderful?"

As his words fell, the sound of wind breaking through the air was heard, and several more people arrived, taking positions on various rooftops, their eyes fixed on Su Mo and his group.