Chapter 198: Follow Me to Fight

Chapter 198: Follow Me to Fight

The next morning.

Su Mo arrived early on the deck.

Not to enjoy the morning river breeze, but to meet the various leaders.

Last night, the scouts had already discovered that the restless bandits along the river had ceased their activities and returned to their camps.

However, it was too late to disturb Su Mo's rest.

So they came to inform him early in the morning.

As they notified him of this, the flotilla that had been assembled was gradually dispersing.

Thus, this small interlude during the journey came to an end.

After exchanging farewell greetings with the leaders, Mr. Zhan had the ship set sail.

However, after this, Mr. Zhan's attitude towards Su Mo underwent a complete change.

In conversations, he was always pleasant and welcoming.

Meals and drinks were delivered on time, but unfortunately... Su Mo never partook in them.

After all, it wasn't his own ship, and although Mr. Zhan didn't seem like a bad person,

you can never truly know someone's intentions.

When traveling, it's wise to remain vigilant.

Another two days passed, and they arrived at Jiyang Ferry.

Below the ship, the goods from the escort agency had already been unloaded, boxes loaded onto carts, horses saddled, and with a casual wave, the grand flag of Ziyang Escort Agency fluttered in the wind.

Mr. Zhan, having disembarked with his people, was bidding a lingering farewell to Su Mo:

"I never thought my humble ship would have the honor of carrying someone as distinguished as Chief Escort Su.

"It's a shame our time together was so brief. I hope we may meet again in the future."

Su Mo laughed heartily, "My agency is in Sunset City. If you ever find yourself in Sunset City and want to meet again, you can come find me at Ziyang Escort Agency. When that time comes, I will be the host and treat you to a good drink."

"A deal?"

"Yes."

With that, the two of them laughed heartily.

After the laughter subsided, Mr. Zhan glanced at Li Zhongcheng, who promptly presented a box.

Su Mo was surprised, "Mr. Zhan, what is this?"

"This is a token of apology."

"……Mr. Zhan is being too polite. But where does this apology come from?"

"Ah..."

Mr. Zhan sighed: "I want to tell Chief Escort Su the truth; I hope Chief Escort Su doesn't take offense.

"Previously, when we were on the ship, while I did value Chief Escort Su, I didn't fully appreciate the significance at the time.

"Giving gifts is just how I do things.

"Smiling at people and making more friends helps boost business.

"However, I was a bit too casual about giving the telescope.

"I never imagined Chief Escort Su would one day sail the Southern Sea.

"There's something I should have mentioned earlier."

"Oh?"

Su Mo smiled: "What Mr. Zhan is referring to is the fact that the telescope is a prohibited item at sea?"

"It seems Chief Escort Su is already aware of that."

Mr. Zhan glanced at Wei Ziyi, who was preparing the carriage nearby, and said softly, "I didn't think it through at the time, and only later realized that Chief Escort Su is a true hero, and the Southern Sea is probably not a challenge for you.

"That's when I realized the discourtesy and the implication of secret scheming.

"These past few days, I've been unable to eat or sleep, figuring out how to make amends.

"I realized how much Chief Escort Su is interested in the Southern Sea, so I came up with this."

He reached for the box Li Zhongcheng had brought and opened it to reveal a scroll inside.

Mr. Zhan handed the scroll to Su Mo: "Take a look, Chief Escort Su."

"Alright."

Su Mo responded and casually unrolled the scroll.

It was a map… or, more accurately, a sea chart.

It depicted an island and some details of the surrounding sea.

Su Mo looked at Mr. Zhan with some confusion.

Mr. Zhan smiled and said, "This is a treasure map.

"The island depicted on it is where the treasure is hidden.

"Of course, there are many such treasure maps on the Southern Sea.

"Many people enjoy searching for these secrets in the vast ocean.

"However, even with a genuine treasure map, whether you find the treasure depends on luck and timing.

"The Southern Sea is vast and wide. Sometimes, without the right opportunity, even if you search your whole life, you might end up with nothing.

"I obtained this map from a person of considerable status, and it has been in my possession for half my life. I've made more than a dozen copies of tracings and transcriptions, but… I've never found the place.

"Since Chief Escort Su is quite interested in the Southern Sea, I might as well give this map to you as a gesture of apology.

"Maybe one day, when you explore the Southern Sea, you'll get lucky and find it?"

Su Mo was rendered speechless. Mr. Zhan's words were clearly diplomatic; he had searched for half his life without success, so how could Su Mo expect to find it so easily?

However, the phrase "if fate allows it" meant that it wasn't entirely meaningless.

Su Mo couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as he held it in his hand.

He had heard of treasure maps but had never actually seen one before.

After a few more glances, he nodded and said, "In that case, I will humbly accept this. If I do find what's marked on the map, I will not forget Mr. Zhan's kindness."

"Haha, Chief Escort Su, if you do find it, just let me know. That will be enough to ease my mind."

Mr. Zhan laughed heartily.

At that moment, a voice called out:

"Chief Escort Su, the carriage is ready."

"Good, I'll be right there."

Without turning his head, Su Mo responded and then cupped his fists. "Mr. Zhan, no matter how far you see someone off, all goodbyes must come to an end. We'll part ways here."

"Yes, I wish Chief Escort Su a safe journey and great success."

"Thank you, farewell!"

After cupping his fists again, Su Mo turned and left.

In a swift motion, he mounted his horse and, looking back, saw Mr. Zhan and the others waving.

Su Mo lightly cupped his fists once more and urged his horse forward, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Only after Su Mo had vanished from sight at the Jiyang Ferry did Mr. Zhan exhale a long breath.

"The Eastern Wilderness is indeed a place where hidden talents lie. Who would have thought that within a simple escort agency, there would be such a formidable expert?"

The black-clad man nodded slightly and looked at Mr. Zhan. "To engage in battle on the water and still have strength to spare, if the enemy hadn't had the upper hand, they would have lost their life from the first strike.

"His martial prowess is truly beyond comprehension."

"Oh?"

Mr. Zhan looked at him. "If you were to engage him?"

"… I would be dead."

The black-clad man answered without hesitation, but after a moment, he furrowed his brow and glanced back at the boat. "But if..."

"Silence."

Mr. Zhan's expression shifted.

The black-clad man fell silent at once.

"Mr. Zhan and his group are certainly an odd bunch."

As they re-entered East City, they continued their journey, with Cold Moon Palace as their destination.

Wei Ziyi knew this route well.

However, traveling solo or in a group was different from transporting goods.

Both Wei Ziyi and Little Situ from the Suspension Pot Pavilion still deferred to Su Mo in all matters.

As they walked, Wei Ziyi suddenly thought of Mr. Zhan and spoke up:

"Coming all the way from the Southern Sea to do business with just a modestly sized ship.

"The journey is long, and the water routes are particularly treacherous, costing a pretty penny...

"Wei Ziyi paused slightly, then said with a smile, "If they were just feeling out the market, they could have traded in Sunset City. Why bother venturing deep into the Eastern Wilderness?"

Su Mo gave Wei Ziyi a surprised look.

"Did Young Miss Wei suddenly get smart?"

"I've always been clever, you know."

"I just didn't feel like thinking much lately."

"Alright, alright, alright. Young Miss Wei is smart and intelligent, truly unparalleled!"

Faced with the suddenly raised voice of the young mistress of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, Su Mo could only retreat step by step:

"But if we really get down to it, it’s not worth the trouble. Everyone has their own agenda, and they can’t possibly go around telling everyone about it.

"Going through all the trouble to fabricate a lie for you is already quite considerate.

"Do you expect someone to bare their heart to you the moment they meet?

"Not to mention that Mr. Zhan is a businessman who travels far and wide, his skill in speaking the right words to the right people has reached its peak.

"Even an ordinary person wouldn’t act so foolishly, let alone him.

"He’s no fool."

"So, you knew from the beginning that their purpose wasn’t just to do business?"

Wei Ziyi asked.

Su Mo nodded: "At least it’s not as simple as doing business, and there should be an expert among them."

"An expert?"

Wei Ziyi was taken aback: "The man in black? He exudes a faint aura of killing intent, clearly a seasoned warrior. But without seeing him in action, it’s hard to gauge his true level of martial arts."

"No..."

Su Mo shook his head: "While the man in black’s martial arts are indeed good, they’re not much higher than those of the chief bandit and others.

"The true expert is someone else... but I won’t say who. Miss Wei, being as clever as you are, why don’t you take a guess?"

"Guess..."

Wei Ziyi's expression darkened. Indeed, even if Grandfather wanted her to marry this guy, she would still feel unwilling, right?

Why is this guy so annoying?

She really couldn't figure out what Sister Yang saw in him.

However, since they had already come this far in the conversation, Wei Ziyi was not willing to show weakness.

She immediately pondered for a moment and said, "Could it be Mr. Zhan? As the leader of these people, he must have some extraordinary abilities. Although he is large and overweight, if his inner strength is profound, it might not necessarily be a burden."

"..."

Su Mo gave her a blank look. "Mr. Zhan is really just a businessman, living in comfort. He'd be out of breath after walking a few steps."

"Then..."

Wei Ziyi thought for a moment. "The middle-aged scholar?"

Su Mo glanced at Wei Ziyi. "Although it's true that a real master doesn't reveal their true abilities, and those who do aren't real masters, Young Miss Wei's guess seems a bit hasty.

"That middle-aged scholar looks fragile. A breeze by the riverbank would make him sway for a while.

"Judging by his demeanor, it's not an act. He shouldn't be a master."

"That makes sense... If not him, then who? Maybe Li Zhongcheng?"

"Li Zhongcheng is definitely not a master."

Su Mo said with a smile, "He is unsteady and his footwork is wobbly. There's no sign of martial arts skill in him.

"Even if someone has cultivated their inner strength to a high level, they can still appear like an ordinary person,

"But there are still subtle differences."

"Mr. Zhan, the middle-aged scholar, the black-clad man, plus Li Zhongcheng.

"With four people, if none of them are the master, could it be that the real expert has been hiding on the ship all along and never came out?"

Wei Ziyi raised her eyebrows.

"I was thinking the same thing."

To her surprise, Su Mo nodded in agreement.

"..."

"Is there a hidden expert on the ship?"

Wei Ziyi frowned slightly. "Are you certain?"

"Isn't this just a guessing game?"

"Even a guess should have some basis, right?"

"You know, traveling from the Southern Sea, they must have faced countless challenges.

"The sea is dangerous, and the challenges they faced were even more brutal. The fact that they made it this far suggests they have an expert with them."

"And... this telescope, as you said, is a banned item at sea. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to get their hands on it...

"Although Mr. Zhan was vague about its origin, he must have an extraordinary identity. Otherwise, how could he dare to use the telescope as a bargaining chip?

"Talk of small business and merchants is just a ruse. It doesn't hold up under scrutiny."

"…Indeed, there's some logic to it."

Wei Ziyi frowned tightly. "However, if your guess is true, what could the martial artists from the Southern Sea, who have secretly entered the Eastern Wilderness, be after?

"When I return, I'll report this matter to our sect. We should send more people to keep an eye on things."

Su Mo glanced at Wei Ziyi and gave a slight nod. "Sure."

With that, they no longer spoke further and continued forward.

However, from this point onward, there were more troubles on the road.

From time to time, bandits would appear, and occasionally passing martial artists would spy on them.

At night, they often missed their lodgings.

It wasn't that the itinerary Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun had planned was wrong, but the places themselves had changed.

Some had unexpectedly changed hands.

Others had simply vanished, leaving only ruins behind.

They had no choice but to set up camp on the spot and cook meals.

In the escort business, there are three rules and one exception: setting up stoves and cooking meals is a standard part of the job.

Unexpectedly, Li the lead escort had excellent culinary skills.

When cooking, his expression was serious, even more solemn than when he was sparring with others.

Although conditions were limited, Li the lead escort's cooking made Su Mo feel that the food was even better than at home.

……

……

The sun was high in the sky.

On the halfway point of Tuniu Mountain, a group of bandits sat sighing beside a large rock.

"Boss, we've had nothing but trouble on this journey.

"At present, we have only about sixty to seventy people in total.

"That includes family members. If we don't count them, we only have twenty to thirty people...

"Although we have a temporary shelter in an abandoned stronghold on Tuniu Mountain, this can't go on much longer."

A poorly dressed, gaunt man shook his head as he spoke:

"Boss, let me give you some advice. We are mountain outlaws.

"What does it mean to be a mountain outlaw?"

"As the saying goes, we drink from big bowls, eat big chunks of meat, and divide gold with big scales, engaging in business with no capital.

"That's what it means to be bandits!

"Our stronghold isn't a charity, so why on earth did you go and save someone?

"Now, the little bit of flour we stole from the foot of the mountain a few days ago has all been turned into gruel and fed to a waste of space."

"Shut up."

The Boss snorted, "You call yourself a scholar? Don’t tell me you’ve never heard that even thieves have their code."

"I taught you that."

"I learned it, but have you?"

When the Boss saw him talking back, he glared.

The people around him shrank back and dared not speak.

Seeing that his authority still held, the Boss nodded:

"The reason we came to East City is to make a comeback.

"The lands in the southwest are fraught with danger; one wrong step and you could end up crossing the wrong people.

"This time, I saw the opportunity early, otherwise, all of you would have lost your heads!"

The group exchanged glances and forced a nervous laugh:

"The Boss is absolutely right... But compared to the southwest, what's the advantage of this East City?"

"What’s the advantage?"

The Boss suddenly lifted his golden-ringed broadsword:

"East City is full of sects, but there are plenty of areas they can’t control, which is a great opportunity for us to make a big move!

"Here, we can rest and recuperate, rob passing merchants, expand our numbers, and strengthen our stronghold.

"Over time, we'll occupy a mountain, have a large force, and become a formidable group.

"Even the disciples of major sects will fear us and try to win our favor.

"Once we get to that point, we’ll be set for life."

Just as he was speaking passionately, his stomach growled inopportunely, which made him lose some credibility.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but think of the gruel that was fed to the waste of space earlier that morning, and he secretly regretted it a little.

Sure, even thieves have their code... but that doesn’t mean we have to be saints, right?

As he thought, he heard hurried footsteps approaching.

"Boss, Boss!"

A scruffy little bandit burst out of the bushes, breathless:

"We've got a job!"

"What?"

Boss's face lit up with joy. "Did you get a good look at who they were?"

"Yes, I did."

The little thief nodded eagerly. "There was a flag on the carriage. The wind was whipping around, making it look pretty impressive, but I can't read the writing."

"How many people?"

"Not too many—just two carriages. The cargo was sealed up tight and looked quite valuable."

"Good!"

Boss laughed heartily. "After days of waiting, a juicy target has finally shown up. Get me my sword!"

The gang stared at Boss in surprise, thinking, shouldn’t we just take it from him?

As Boss lowered his head, he also realized the critical point. No wonder he's the leader.

Despite losing face, he didn’t break a sweat, and casually waved his blade:

"Men, follow me into battle!!!"