Chapter 185: A Sword Enters East City

Chapter 185: A Sword Enters East City

For now, there was no answer to Su Mo's question.

However, one thing was clear.

While Yang Yizhi was unaware, Su Tianyang did many things.

The broken Snake Head sword was evidence of this.

"My father... after returning from the Ziyang Sect, traveled the jianghu under the pretense of escort missions for several years, partly to track down Li Siyun's group of rebels.

"Additionally, he likely obtained some clues and tracked down the owner of the Snake Head sword.

"However, what exactly transpired during this period remains a mystery to us."

Su Mo gently shook his head and placed the Snake Head sword back in the box.

After a moment’s thought, he also placed the Couple's List, the Golden Jade Awl, and two Mystery Clasps into the box.

Though the box wasn’t very large, there was still plenty of space because the items were small.

"Do you plan to hide all these things here?" Yang Xiaoyun glanced at Su Mo.

Su Mo nodded. "Carrying them around daily isn’t practical. Bulging pockets are troublesome, and losing them would be even worse.

"This place is secure and hidden. The table also has a secret mechanism. Although Duan Song knows about this place, he won’t spread it around, and he doesn’t know about the table’s secret mechanism.

"It’s a decent hiding spot for now. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll dig a pit in my room..."

"..."

Yang Xiaoyun laughed wryly. "You should dig fewer pits. According to Uncle Fu, both Uncle Su and Grandfather Su had their own secrets. I wonder if they also dug pits in their rooms.

"If you keep digging, the entire Ziyang Escort Agency will be riddled with holes."

"Even better, we can live in the holes together."

Su Mo took Yang Xiaoyun's hand. "In the holes, we can avoid the storms of the jianghu. No matter how fiercely the winds blow from any direction, we can lean on each other and quietly watch the spectacle. If the storm can’t reach us, we’ll just watch the excitement unfold, isn’t that better?"

At first, Yang Xiaoyun didn't think much of it, but after careful consideration, she said:

"Isn't that... just like a squirrel? When there's no danger, it peeks out curiously from its tree hole, observing its surroundings.

"But at the first sign of trouble, it immediately retreats to avoid danger.

"It's actually quite interesting."

"Unfortunately, while natural storms can be fierce, they are often far less deadly than the storms of the jianghu."

Su Mo led Yang Xiaoyun out. "Come on, we'll leave this matter here for now. Later, we still need to settle things with the person at the Suspension Pot Pavilion."

"Yes, indeed."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded. "Father arranged some peculiar things. Leading Wu Daoyou to resist the Three Extremes Sect. Faking Duan Song's death for a clean escape. Yet, these two seem to be unaware of each other's involvement.

"The person at the Suspension Pot Pavilion seems to follow Duan Song's orders obediently..."

"It seems that Father’s relationship with Wu Daoyou is not as deep as we thought."

"It is likely that Wu Daoyou was just following orders."

Su Mo said, "As for the young master of Xuanhu Pavilion, he might truly be new to the jianghu and wanting to experience its wonders."

"He has certainly grown fond of meat buns," Yang Xiaoyun found it amusing. "Since that teahouse, he seems to have developed a particular fondness for them."

"He looks like he has gained some weight," Su Mo observed, shaking his head, speechless.

As they continued their casual conversation, the two of them quietly returned to the Iron Blood Escort Agency.

Inside the mourning hall, the monks were still chanting scriptures to transcend the soul, unaware that the coffin had been secretly switched.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun each returned quietly to their rooms.

That night passed without further incident.

The following few days passed without incident.

During the seven days of the funeral rites, Wu Daoyou helped arrange for feng shui experts to select the best burial site, determine the optimal burial direction, and calculate the most auspicious time for the burial.

Yang Yizhi's grand burial ceremony was a significant event in Sunset City.

The last time such a significant event occurred was when Heavenly Gate Escort Agency's Ji Wanli was buried.

The successive deaths of the chief escorts from the two major escort agencies led the people of Sunset City to speculate, feeling that life in the jianghu was hard to sustain.

It was rare for a chief escort to die a peaceful death.

Two generations of the Ziyang Escort Agency met violent ends in the jianghu.

As a result, aside from some smaller, less-known escort agencies, the most prominent ones remaining in Sunset City were the Ziyang Escort Agency and the Yangwei Escort Agency.

Despite not collapsing like the Heavenly Gate Escort Agency, everyone knew the Iron Blood Escort Agency was effectively finished due to Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun's situation.

In fact, after the burial that day, Yang Xiaoyun announced it.

From that day forward, the Iron Blood Escort Agency and the Ziyang Escort Agency would merge.

This was essentially the dowry Yang Xiaoyun brought upon joining Su Mo.

The leaders and masters of the Iron Blood Escort Agency were not surprised by this.

Some even felt relieved.

Yang Xiaoyun was still quite young. Over the past few years, Yang Yizhi had deliberately allowed her to gain extensive experience in escort missions.

Her martial skills far exceeded her peers, but it was hard to feel completely at ease with her in charge.

Su Mo had his performance in the battle at Profound Theory Valley to support him, and with Yang Xiaoyun by his side, it instilled hope in people.

The combination of the two escort agencies naturally brought about a myriad of tasks to manage.

At this critical juncture, however, an unexpected letter and an uninvited guest arrived from East City.

……

……

Inside the main reception hall of the Ziyang Escort Agency.

After the guest and host had taken their respective seats, Wei Ziyi, who had been absent for some time, angrily slammed an object down in front of Su Mo.

"What do you mean by this!?"

She pointed with her snow-white finger at an open letter.

On it, in bold handwriting, were two large characters: "Noted!!"

"I took great pains to write to you, covering every detail, big or small, and wrote so much……

"And all you replied with was 'Noted?'"

She glared, staring at Su Mo angrily, waiting for a satisfactory explanation.

Yang Xiaoyun sat to the side, keeping her gaze lowered, completely acting as if she had nothing to do with it.

Su Mo, however, remained calm, glancing at his teacup:

"Didn't I send a follow-up note after that?"

"If you hadn't sent that follow-up, I would have come after you with my sword!"

Wei Ziyi snorted.

"……Come after you with a sword?"

Su Mo looked slightly surprised. "Looking for a beating?"

"……"

Wei Ziyi's eyes widened in surprise, and finally, she stood up and moved to Yang Xiaoyun's side, as if she had found a solid ally, and pointed at Su Mo:

"Sister Yang, look at him!"

Yang Xiaoyun glanced at Wei Ziyi helplessly. "You don't expect me to help you get back at him, do you?"

"……I almost forgot, you go where your husband goes now."

Wei Ziyi was momentarily deflated.

Yang Xiaoyun smiled. "Alright, alright, no more trouble. What he did was indeed over the top, but I've already scolded him on your behalf."

"Really?"

Wei Ziyi looked full of doubt.

"If I tell you it’s true, will that make you feel better?"

"If you can put my mind at ease, my heart will naturally feel better too."

Wei Ziyi took Yang Xiaoyun's hand and said, "Head Escort Yang's spirit in heaven would not want to see you so distressed."

Yang Xiaoyun paused for a moment, then gently sighed and patted Wei Ziyi's hand, saying, "Why did you come back so suddenly?"

Wei Ziyi, now the deputy mayor of Heavenly Feather City, couldn't say she was occupied with numerous responsibilities, but she was certainly very busy.

"It's all because of him..." Wei Ziyi glanced at Su Mo again. "He killed Zhou Qingchuan with one palm strike—what a display of power. After that, Chi Lu rushed to demonstrate his loyalty to Grandfather, who was, naturally, delighted..."

As she said this, she looked around the room.

Su Mo waved his hand, and all the serving maids and servants immediately retreated.

Wei Ziyi continued, "As you both know, my situation is this. At present, I have control over two cities in Heavenly Feather's Central Prefecture. Strategically, the situation is indeed looking very favorable, but with Wu Daoyou's return from East City, his reputation has grown significantly.

"He is credited with expanding new territory, which has caused one of the two previously wavering alliance leaders to fully support him.

"The position of Grand Master of the Alliance is something my ancestor cannot directly involve himself in, so he can only try to balance the situation.

"The Fallen Phoenix Alliance controls four cities, three rivers, and two bays. From any perspective, a power transition is possible, but we must prevent any real internal turmoil in the alliance.

"Any damage would harm not just the alliance, but the people under its rule.

"Apart from our ancestor, including me, there were originally seven alliance leaders. Naturally, my mother and I stand united.

"Now, with Chi Lu... we now hold half the power.

"After Wu Daoyou's return, another leader has shifted their support to him.

"The issue now lies with the vacancy left by Zhou Qingchuan.

"Wu Daoyou is capitalizing on this."

She looked at Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun and continued, "I know Wu Daoyou exerted considerable effort in the matter of Head Escort Yang. I didn't intend to tell you about the situation within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance...

"But since you've asked, I'll just casually mention it. Consider it something to hear and forget.

"After Zhou Qingchuan's position became vacant, Wu Daoyou wants to place his own people there, while my ancestor wants to place someone from our side.

"The two sides are deadlocked over this issue.

"Chi Lu is now the mayor of Zhongfu City, which leaves a vacant deputy mayor position.

"This position was originally dispensable, but now it has become crucial.

"Whoever among us secures this position will gain the support of the last remaining alliance leader.

"The balance of power would immediately shift. To put it bluntly, whoever secures this position can gain control of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance."

Hearing this, Su Mo felt something was off.

Logically, it should be time to reveal whose side Wu Daoyou is truly on.

Why hasn't this information been shared yet?

Yang Yizhi was right. With Wu Daoyou's return to Sunset City, the contest for the position of Grand Master of the Alliance is considered completely over.

Why continue with this deliberation now?

Su Mo lightly tapped his fingers on the chair arm.

Wei Ruhan is a seasoned strategist; he wouldn’t waste his moves.

There must be more to the current situation than meets the eye.

With this in mind, he gently patted Yang Xiaoyun's hand.

They had long been in sync, and with this pat, Yang Xiaoyun understood Su Mo’s intention to remain neutral.

She feigned confusion. "You came back because of this?"

"Indeed," Wei Ziyi said with a smile. "However, there’s more. I'm afraid I'll have to return to Cold Moon Palace for a while. Have you heard... Recently, a major event occurred in East City.

"More accurately... a major event happened in the entire Eastern Wilderness."

"What is it?"

Her words sparked Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun’s curiosity.

"Yuliu Jianxin, Liu Suifeng, has entered East City with his sword, challenging all the sects to test and refine the 'Sky Rainbow Heart-Questioning Sword' technique!"

"What?"

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun exchanged glances. "When did this news come out?"

"Within the past ten days," Wei Ziyi said. "Aside from discussing the Zhongfu City issue with my grandfather, I was also summoned back by my sect to witness the battle when Liu Suifeng challenges Cold Moon Palace.

"But that’s not all. Liu Suifeng’s sudden entry into East City is due to one person."

"Stop being so mysterious."

"Hmph..."

Wei Ziyi gave him a sideways glance and then said, "Because someone challenged him!"

"Who?"

"Wan Zangxin!"

Wei Ziyi uttered the three words.

Both Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun were taken aback. Why him?

But along with this confusion, another question inevitably arose:

"Why?"

Wan Zangxin was merely an obscure disciple of Wusheng Hall, known in the jianghu only because he fell in love with the hall's little princess.

Although there were rumors that his martial arts skills were not weak.

However, even if he dared to challenge Liu Suifeng... Liu Suifeng would never have given him any attention.

If Liu Suifeng had to accept every challenge from anyone, his life as the Yuliu Jianxin would never know peace.

This person lacked both the reputation and the martial skill to qualify.

"That is precisely what makes the jianghu so captivating."

Wei Ziyi said with a smile, "I imagine the great master Wan Yutang of Wusheng Hall never expected that this unknown clansman would actually turn out to be someone of great significance. Do you know who the First Sword of East City is?"

"The First Sword of East City..."

Yang Xiaoyun's expression shifted slightly when he heard this. "Ziyi, are you talking about... the Heavenly Spring Sword God?"

"Exactly that person."

Wei Ziyi nodded immediately, then glanced at Su Mo, who seemed slightly confused, and laughed. "Chief Escort Su, your martial prowess is unmatched, and your skill in writing letters is unparalleled, but it seems your knowledge of the jianghu is somewhat lacking.

"The Heavenly Spring Sword God shocked the martial world years ago with his Heavenly Spring Sword, traveling through the Eastern Wilderness, challenging every swordmaster he met.

"However, since entering the jianghu, he had never suffered a defeat.

"With his Heavenly Spring Heart-Washing Sword technique, he shook the entire martial world!

"Since then, he has quietly been known as the First Sword of East City.

"After turning thirty, he ceased fighting, choosing instead to pass on his legacy through three disciples.

"Tragically, all three disciples met unfortunate ends.

"The first disciple wanted to slay demons and eliminate monsters, venturing into Evernight Valley with the intention of killing the Night Sovereign.

"But he was slain by the Night Sovereign.

"The second disciple, while practicing swordsmanship, somehow went astray, leading to his sword heart falling into madness, becoming a menace in the East City.

"He was eventually hunted down and killed by the elders of Cold Moon Palace and Purple Sun Sect working together.

"The third disciple's fate was the most tragic of all. He was the most talented, the most gifted, and the strongest of the three.

"He was also described as elegant and refined, not radical in his approach.

"But due to love, he fell from grace, ultimately taking his own life and disgracing the martial world.

"Since then, the Heavenly Spring Sword God has taken no more disciples, and it is said that he has even hung up his Heavenly Spring Sword for good.

"Who would have thought that the unassuming Wan Zangxin was actually the last disciple the Heavenly Spring Sword God took in during his later years?

"It is said that Wan Zangxin has already grasped the essence of the Heavenly Spring Heart-Washing Sword technique.

"Inside Wusheng Hall, without using his sword, he fought three people at once and killed one hall master, severely injuring the other two.

"It is said that if he had used his sword... The three of them would not have been a match for him in even a single exchange.

"After leaving Wusheng Hall, he returned to East City and, for some reason, revealed his identity, boldly challenging Liu Suifeng to a duel in Tianqu City."

"This finally led to Liu Suifeng drawing his sword and entering East City, challenging various sects along the way, honing the Sky Rainbow Heart-Questioning Sword technique while facing the formidable challenge of Wan Zangxin.

After these words, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun were both silent for a long while.

The twists and turns in this situation were beyond imagination.

But it also raised a question: Given Wan Zangxin's high status, why would he choose to be a low-profile disciple in Wusheng Sect?

His subsequent challenge to Liu Suifeng was now understandable.

Given his status as a disciple of Wusheng Sect, marrying the sect's young miss would naturally be extremely difficult.

Now that he had revealed his true identity and stopped concealing it, he aimed to achieve fame as the closing disciple of the Heavenly Spring Sword God. Perhaps he could even renew a past relationship.

Especially if he won this battle, Wusheng Sect would have to revoke the Wusheng Order, and the Wan Family would have no choice but to welcome this ideal son-in-law into their family, happily allowing him to marry their daughter.

'How true that the changes in life can be swift, like the changing tides of life...'

Su Mo shook his head gently. 'Recently, I planned to go to East City as well. I might have the chance to witness this event.'

'You're going to East City as well?'

Wei Ziyi looked surprised.

'That's correct. Not long ago, I wrote to the Purple Sun Sect, and the sect leader has replied, granting me permission to visit and meet the senior members.'

Su Mo smiled. The letter had arrived just before Wei Ziyi did.

He even had time to compare the handwriting of that letter with Duan Song's, confirming that both letters were indeed written by the same person."

“……What if we go together? We can travel together on the way.”

“That could work.”

Su Mo thought for a moment, and then nodded, but he glanced at Yang Xiaoyun again.

Yang Xiaoyun smiled and said, “I won’t be joining you. Recently, an additional escort request came in from the Wanxin Trading Firm. There are many tasks to manage at the escort agency, and someone has to take care of them.

“Also… my respected father… Alas, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to leave right now.”

“Are both of you free tonight?”

Wei Ziyi added, “I heard from Huang Yuan that recently, he delivered a letter to my grandfather, inviting you to visit his home. But then… the incident with Deputy Chief Escort Yang happened, so it was postponed.

“If you’re free tonight, how about we meet at the City Lord’s mansion?”