Chapter 192: Ripples in the Waterway

Chapter 192: Ripples in the Waterway

At this point, the conversation had largely concluded.

In reality, the blade warrior’s life was insignificant.

What was truly valuable was Liu’s Rice Shop.

Regardless of whether that place was a hidden outpost left by the Wusheng Hall within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance’s territory, following the leads would inevitably uncover some clues.

Thus, revealing more individuals like the blade warrior.

So, Su Mo simply had the blade warrior and the poison user tied up.

Their tongues were cut out, and their mouths were stuffed with rags to silence them.

He then casually pressed their Yutang acupoint.

According to his Painful Mantra, pressing the Yutang acupoint causes three days of intense pain.

Given their injuries, they would surely die within three days.

Gagging them was simply to prevent their noisy cries from disturbing others.

After completing these tasks, Su Mo finally approached Steward He.

“Steward He.”

Su Mo called out softly.

Steward He and his family had been crying and were at a loss, unsure of what to do.

Upon seeing Su Mo, they instinctively recoiled.

Steward He quickly said, “It was Chief Escort Su who saved us. Quickly, kneel and show our gratitude.”

He pulled the people beside him, preparing to kneel.

Su Mo immediately waved his hands:

“Steward He, no need for such formal gestures, please rise…”

He helped Steward He and his family to their feet and sighed.

“Steward He, what are your plans now?”

“Well…”

Steward He was also confused for a moment.

“I’ve been running the He Family Inn on this land for half my life… It was my father’s legacy.

“But now, after this incident, I really don’t know where to turn.

“I don’t dare to run this inn anymore…”

“Do you have any relatives you can stay with?”

Su Mo asked.

"… Alas, I have long been without any kin to turn to."

Steward He let out a long sigh.

After a moment's contemplation, Su Mo nodded gently: "In that case, I do have a place in mind, but I wonder if Steward He would be willing?"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Steward He felt as though he had grasped a lifeline and hurriedly asked: "If Chief Escort Su can show an old man and his family a way to live, even if I cannot repay you in this life, I will surely repay your great kindness with the utmost gratitude in the next!"

"You speak too highly of it."

Su Mo shook his head lightly: "Steward He should know that I run a Ziyang Escort Agency in Sunset City."

"I know, I know."

Steward He quickly said: "An old man like me has even received several heroes from the Ziyang Escort Agency before, but… that was many years ago."

"That might have been my father’s generation."

Su Mo smiled: "I was rather reckless in my youth, but in recent years, I have truly taken over the family business. The agency is now in a state of revival and is in dire need of capable people. Steward He has managed an inn here for many years and must have some knowledge of accounting."

"Not at all, just a little bit."

"Good."

Su Mo said: "My agency is currently in need of a bookkeeper. Since Steward He is now without any kin and dare not continue running this inn, why don't I write you a letter and send a few men to escort you along the way?

"You can then head straight for Sunset City. When you arrive, hand the letter to the Deputy Chief Escort of the Ziyang Escort Agency. After she reads it, she will naturally arrange your accommodation and living expenses."

Tears welled up in Steward He’s eyes, and he fell to his knees with a thud:

"Chief Escort Su, your great benevolence has not only saved our lives but also... also... This favor, this old man... Even if my family repaid you for generations, we... we could never fully repay this kindness!

"Please, accept my bow!"

Without waiting for Su Mo’s response, he bowed his head to the ground.

Not only did he kneel, but his family members also knelt down.

Su Mo tried to stop them, but Wei Ziyi held him back.

Three loud thuds sounded as Steward He performed a deep bow.

Su Mo hurriedly helped him up.

"Steward He, you’re being too formal."

Steward He only shook his head, leaving Su Mo at a loss. He had no choice but to say:

"Steward He, please prepare some paper, ink, brush, and inkstone for me. Also, these people have endured too much fear and suffering these past few days; they should rest early."

"Yes, yes, I’ll arrange it right away."

After finishing his bows, Steward He felt a surge of vigor.

He immediately arranged for his family members to return to their rooms to sleep, planning to set off for Sunset City early the next morning.

He himself went to find the paper, ink, brush, and inkstone.

At this moment, Su Mo glanced at Wei Ziyi. "At his age, with his family members either injured or in pain, why go through such elaborate formalities?"

"Though Chief Escort Su is indeed righteous and honorable, you must understand that after such a calamity, if you don't let him express his gratitude, how can he find peace?"

Wei Ziyi gently exhaled.

Su Mo was momentarily speechless.

Mental states are often difficult to articulate. As an outsider, he could hardly fathom the thoughts of Uncle He's family who had just undergone a great disaster.

Wei Ziyi, however, could empathize more and knew how to respond to make them feel reassured.

He nodded immediately. "Thank you for the advice, Miss Wei."

"Hmm… Trusting him as the accountant shows great confidence."

"The letter will clarify everything. If Sister Xiaoyun finds him untrustworthy, she will make other arrangements."

"This is the most appropriate course."

"Why don't you also write a letter, and I'll have a few escorts take it back tomorrow morning?"

"Good."

There were no more words for the rest of the night. After Su Mo and Wei Ziyi each wrote a letter, they both retired.

Before long, it was the next morning.

Everyone packed up and dragged out two carts from the inn’s backyard, bundling all of the He family’s belongings together.

Su Mo casually tore a large banner from the escort wagon and attached it to their cart.

He also chose a few skilled workers from the escort agency to accompany them for protection.

After thanking Su Mo again, the He family immediately set off for Sunset City.

Su Mo watched them depart, then turned his attention back to the white wall of the He Family Inn.

Hanging on the wall were three individuals.

Their eyes were lifeless, filled with a fierce expression, and they were already dead.

One had lost both arms, another had lost one arm, and the third had lost a leg.

The strong man who lost his leg had died the earliest.

As for the remaining two, once it was determined they were of no use, Su Mo had the medicinal ointment on their wounds wiped off.

Little Situ's medicine was indeed effective. Once wiped off, the wounds started bleeding again immediately.

After enduring through the night, they finally succumbed and died.

Su Mo looked at them, his eyes narrowing slightly. With a push of his foot, he was instantly by their side.

With his hand as a brush, he carved into the wall as if it were tofu.

Two large characters were swiftly written.

"Those who commit violence and disrupt the territory of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance shall be punished!"

"These bodies are displayed here to warn others——Ziyang Escort Agency, Su Mo!"

After the final word was spoken, Su Mo casually left a palm print beside it.

With that, he swiftly returned.

Wei Ziyi stood nearby, watching the whole scene. She clicked her tongue in approval:

"Using your hand as a brush, the power in your fingers is formidable, inspiring awe.

"Leaving this palm print serves as a further warning to those who follow... and, as a bonus, it promotes the Ziyang Escort Agency.

"Chief Escort Su, your methods in the jianghu have become increasingly sophisticated."

Su Mo glanced at her: "I can't compare to Young Miss Wei, who is wise and strategic."

"……”

Wei Ziyi's expression darkened: "You truly are... I wonder why Sister Yang is so infatuated with you."

"That is not for outsiders to know."

Su Mo smiled, mounted his horse, and called out, "Set off!!!"

Wei Ziyi lightly clenched her fists behind his back, puffed out her cheeks, and then gently rubbed them before mounting her horse and following Su Mo.

……

……

The incident at He Family Inn was merely a minor episode for Su Mo and his group.

From there, heading east, their journey was smooth.

When they passed Liu’s Rice Shop, mentioned by Zhou Fang the previous day, Su Mo and Wei Ziyi showed no signs of recognition.

They rode past as if it were of no consequence.

The journey continued smoothly, except for a brief delay in Zhongfu City.

As Wei Ruhan's granddaughter, Wei Ziyi needed to meet Chi Lu, who had recently joined the Wei family.

Chi Lu hosted a grand banquet, showcasing the authority of the Zhongfu City lord.

However, after the meal, Wei Ziyi, who had been smiling throughout, suddenly changed her expression.

"Luxurious and extravagant, what a waste! This Chi Lu... He cannot remain in his position for long.

"For now, we will let it slide, but once the situation stabilizes, we must take him down."

They spent a night in Zhongfu City and set off again the next day.

Their convoy was small, consisting of just two carriages, traveling familiar roads, and naturally encountered no obstacles.

A few days later, they arrived back at Three Rivers Bay.

This time, there were no complications at Three Rivers Bay.

Li the lead escort found a moderately sized merchant ship to load the goods and sail down the river to Jiyang Ferry.

Loading the escort carriages onto the ship was naturally different from other situations.

The horses and carriages were unharnessed and taken to their designated places.

After storing the goods, Su Mo had someone keep a close watch, allowing no room for negligence.

As things were settling down, a person arrived.

Before even approaching, he had already clasped his fists in greeting:

"May I ask who among you is the lead escort?"

Li the lead escort glanced at Su Mo, then stepped forward: "Who might you be?"

"I am Li Zhongcheng, just a messenger for the shopkeeper, not worthy of any title."

He smiled lightly: "Are you the Chief Escort of the Ziyang Escort Agency?"

"No, no," Li the lead escort quickly replied. "This is our Chief Escort, Su."

As he spoke, he gestured to introduce Su Mo.

Li Zhongcheng was momentarily surprised, instinctively sizing up Su Mo before smiling and saying,

"My apologies, my apologies... I didn’t expect Chief Escort Su to be so young. How rude, how rude. Please don’t take offense, Chief Escort Su."

"There’s no need to be so formal."

Su Mo smiled: "May I ask what brings you here today?"

"Actually..."

Li Zhongcheng said with a smile, "Our ship has been operating at sea for the past few years and only recently shifted to Nanhai Bay near Luoxia City. We plan to take the water route to East City.

"However, sailing downstream, we ended up taking a considerable detour.

"It is said that from here on, there are many heroic figures doing business along the river.

"Although our shopkeeper has made some arrangements, we haven’t actually traveled this route before.

"So... hearing that a team of escorts had come aboard, I took the liberty to visit you.

"As everyone knows, escorts have wide connections and eat from all corners, so... I have a small favor to ask...

"If these heroes along the river cause any trouble, I wonder if you would be willing to show your face and greet them?"

Su Mo laughed heartily after hearing this: "You’re being too polite. There’s no need to call it a favor; it’s our duty.

"But I think you’re overthinking it. I’ve traveled this route twice before, and it’s always been safe. If arrangements have been made in advance, you’ll arrive safely."

"Good, good, good," Li Zhongcheng nodded hurriedly. "With your words, I’ll have something to report back. I won’t disturb you further. I bid you farewell, farewell!"

"Please."

Su Mo also treated the man politely, who bowed and turned to leave.

Once the man had moved a bit further away, Su Mo gave Fu Hanyuan a glance.

Without a word, Fu Hanyuan stooped and followed him out.

"You think he’s suspicious?"

Wei Ziyi asked in a low voice.

"When traveling, one must always be cautious. Suddenly, someone appears claiming to be a messenger for the shopkeeper. We’ve never encountered him before, so how can we determine if he’s genuine or not?"

Su Mo said, glancing at Chief Escort Li. "The ship’s background wasn’t properly investigated, was it?"

"This... is my mistake," Chief Escort Li lowered his head slightly.

Su Mo waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind, it likely doesn’t matter. We’re only on this journey for a few days, after all... and this situation isn’t your fault."

Chief Escort Li was rather rough around the edges and often overlooked details. Su Mo said it wasn’t his fault given this... He was aware of this but still assigned him the task, so such a situation was inevitable.

Fortunately, Fu Hanyuan returned shortly.

"Chief Escort, that man likely wasn’t lying."

Fu Hanyuan whispered, "He went to the main cabin. Guards are stationed outside the door, all from the ship’s crew."

"Mm-hmm."

Su Mo nodded. "Good, but keep your men on high alert. Other issues can be overlooked, but the cargo must be protected at all costs."

"Actually, losing a little wouldn’t be a big deal."

Wei Ziyi said, "After all, it’s our property."

"..."

Su Mo blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.

These items were entrusted to us by the Wei family. If anyone else said that, they’d get a slap. But coming from Wei Ziyi, he found it difficult to respond.

The nearby workers couldn’t help but stifle their chuckles.

Su Mo shot her a disapproving look. "If you can’t speak sensibly, speak less."

Wei Ziyi immediately flared up, instinctively placing her hands on her hips and pointing a finger.

But Su Mo had already turned and left, heading to the ship’s railing to watch the surging river.

"... Humph!"

Wei Ziyi secretly clenched her fist behind Su Mo’s back in frustration.

Li the head escort, Fu Hanyuan, and the other escorts pretended not to notice.

Time passed quickly, and Su Mo estimated that they should be nearing Jiaolong Water Village soon.

Yet outside, it was eerily calm.

In the past, even if everything was arranged properly, they would always encounter members of the Jiaolong Association stationed here, inspecting passing merchant vessels.

To avoid any slip through the net...

This time, however, there was not a single disturbance.

Moreover, as Su Mo observed the river, he didn’t see anyone from the Jiaolong Association.

For a moment, he was taken aback:

"Where are the people from the Jiaolong Association?"

From here, they would soon reach Jiaolong Water Village.

Su Mo thought for a moment and then climbed to the ship’s bow, where there were fewer people.

On a merchant vessel, few would let passengers wander around areas like the deck or the bow.

The sailors were busy and didn’t want to be hindered.

The helmsman was short-tempered and didn’t want to see any loiterers.

At this moment, only a few people were at the bow.

One of them was Li Zhongcheng.

He was accompanying a well-to-do middle-aged man, and they were also surveying their surroundings on the ship, clearly ready to handle the Jiaolong Association if necessary.

Su Mo didn’t move forward, standing by the cabin and looking towards Jiaolong Water Village. What he saw was a deathly quiet water village, as if it were... abandoned?

At that moment, Li Zhongcheng suddenly turned around and spotted Su Mo.

He immediately shouted, "Chief Escort Su."

As soon as he shouted, Li Zhongcheng regretted his words.

He instinctively drew back and glanced at the middle-aged man beside him.

However, the middle-aged man looked over with keen interest and, from afar, gave a respectful fist salute, calling out loudly, "If Chief Escort Su has no other business, would you care to chat?"

"As the guest follows the host, I have imposed."

Su Mo didn’t refuse, stepping onto the deck, and in a few steps, he was before the group.

Besides the middle-aged man in the center and Li Zhongcheng beside him,

there was also a middle-aged scholar standing nearby, with three strands of beard fluttering in the wind, his sleeves billowing in the breeze, looking somewhat frail.

Another person was a stern-looking man.

His eyes examined Su Mo with considerable caution.

Su Mo glanced at them and then withdrew his gaze, "I presume this gentleman is the boss of the operation."

"I wouldn't dare. I'm just a merchant, with the surname Zhan."

"Zhan."

Su Mo nodded.

"May I ask, Chief Escort Su, if that place is the Jiaolong Association's headquarters?"

Zhan got straight to the point.

Su Mo nodded.

"Oh?"

Zhan was slightly surprised. "The Jiaolong Association dominates this area, yet it seems completely quiet now. Do you know the reason, Chief Escort Su?"

"I don't know either."

Su Mo shook his head. "The last time I saw Zhuge Changtian, the leader of the Jiaolong Association, was several months ago. Since then, I haven't visited the Jiaolong Water Village specifically. To be honest, I'm just as puzzled as you, Zhan."

Hearing this, Zhan looked at Su Mo, his eyes hinting at suspicion about Su Mo's words.

However, he didn't say much, just nodded. "Regardless, at least for now, there's no trouble. It's a good thing."

However, Su Mo shook his head.

"Zhan, don't be too happy too soon. If there's any trouble on the water route, we can't escape this river's reach. Although the Jiaolong Association is calm now, it's hard not to worry about potential complications ahead."