Chapter 202: Delivering the Message

Chapter 202: Delivering the Message

Inner energy twisted and entangled like a coiling snake, forming a complex array.

As Su Mo's inner energy entered, it was immediately attacked.

This was a dangerous situation.

The man was critically injured, and with his inner energy tangled, even the slightest conflict would worsen his condition.

But if he let go now, this inner energy would certainly turn against him.

Just then, he heard Little Situ's voice in his ear:

"You are channeling energy from behind him. Do not follow the Du Meridian; first, follow the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang. Start the inner energy from the Xinshu point, down to Guanyuan, Huiyang, and Chengfu.

"I will insert the needles here; you can circulate your true energy, temporarily avoiding their sharpness."

With a flick of his mind, Su Mo acted accordingly.

As his inner energy flowed, the elusive inner energy within the man, like clever snakes, could only be chased and blocked for the time being.

Any attempt to confront it directly led to repeated failures. It was as if the inner energy was always one step ahead.

Clearly, Little Situ had already planned how to guide and disperse the inner energy to neutralize the threat.

The only pity was that Little Situ's inner energy was insufficient; otherwise, Su Mo wouldn't have been needed.

The four girls knew of Little Situ's methods and understood how to circulate inner energy, but this action consumed an enormous amount of energy.

Thus, they had to retreat.

At this moment, as Su Mo drove his inner energy, he navigated through Chengfu, Yinmen, Chengshan, and Kunlun acupoints, eventually aiming for the Zhiyin point.

Before Chengshan, all the meridians were clear.

But after Chengshan, the acupoints closed again.

As Su Mo's inner energy fought through, just as he was about to reach Zhiyin, he heard Little Situ urgently say:

"Do not unblock Zhiyin yet. Turn back and follow the meridian upwards."

"Alright."

Su Mo didn't hesitate; he followed her instructions without question.

Little Situ's eyes widened in surprise. How could he still be speaking? His inner energy must be incredibly deep.

Unaware of Little Situ's inner surprise, Su Mo shifted his inner energy with great speed.

Despite the inner energy's relentless pursuit, it was constantly thwarted at every turn, so much so that it never once clashed with Su Mo's inner energy.

Afterward, Su Mo continued along the meridian, guiding the energy toward the Weizhong point.

Here, the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang actually split into two streams. Su Mo had previously taken the Chengfu route; now, Little Situ instructed him to take the Hunmen route.

The next acupoints along the path were Zhibian, Baohuang, Yishe, and Hunmen.

Tracing the meridian upward, all the way to the Heavenly Pillar acupoint, he realigned with the main pathway, and from there stepped into Jade Pillow (Yuzhen), Chengguang, and finally reached Jingming (Jingming).

As the Jingming acupoint opened, the person shuddered slightly, and a trickle of dark blood seeped from the corner of their eye.

Little Situ added, "Go through it again, in one breath, and break through Zhiyin."

Su Mo nodded slightly, and once again began from Jingming, letting his inner energy flow downward. But just as he was about to reach Zhiyin, he found several streams of inner energy had, for some reason, occupied the acupoint first.

Startled, Su Mo heard Little Situ say, "Break through it!"

"Alright!"

Su Mo realized what was needed. The energy streams were like a swarm of serpents, but he knew he had to break through them one by one.

By now, this Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, with its sixty-seven acupoints, had been completely opened, except for Zhiyin. What was needed now was one final push, to expel some of the inner energy out of the body.

Without hesitation, he channeled his energy with a single burst.

It was as if a valve had been opened near the person's little toe.

A hissing sound accompanied the release of black qi.

Su Mo raised an eyebrow at the sight.

Following Little Situ's guidance, he continued expelling the foreign energy.

This body was almost entirely entangled by these strange and mysterious inner energies.

They spread throughout the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians.

There are numerous acupoints spread throughout the body.

Just the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang on both sides combined totals 137 points.

For an ordinary person, sustaining their inner energy for even a short period is already a significant challenge, which is why Little Situ didn’t dare to claim she could seal all the acupoints.

Instead, she sealed both sides of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, assuming that with her and the four girls' inner energy, giving it their all would ensure no complications arose.

She had overestimated her own inner strength and underestimated the extent of the other person’s internal injuries.

In the end, she was overwhelmed by the inner energy and was thrown back.

That’s when Su Mo stepped in, and it took him nearly an hour to expel the lingering inner energy from the two Bladder Meridians.

Little Situ was about to call it quits, but Su Mo still had energy to spare and simply said, “Continue!”

“Chief Escort Su, don’t push yourself too hard.”

Little Situ hoped that Su Mo would know his limits, given what had just happened to her.

After all, once the alien inner energy from the two meridians was expelled, with her silver needles assisting, they could follow the same procedure the next day. With a few days of careful work, they would eventually be able to expel all the alien inner energy.

However, Su Mo gave her a strange look and said, “Do I look like I’m pushing myself too hard?”

“That’s true…”

As she watched Su Mo, Little Situ couldn’t help but marvel. “Chief Escort Su’s inner energy is profound to a terrifying degree. If that’s the case, then let’s continue…”

Su Mo circulated his inner energy, while Little Situ provided guidance.

Time passed quickly, and before long, the sky began to darken.

Su Mo and Little Situ had already helped expel the foreign true energy from the three yang meridians—the Foot Taiyang, Foot Shaoyang, and Foot Yangming—of this person.

At this point, Little Situ hesitated to let Su Mo continue:

"Chief Escort Su, there's no rush to heal this person. You should take a rest for now."

Su Mo exhaled softly, withdrew his hand, and smiled. "Thanks for your concern. My inner energy is profound; I’m fine for the moment. However, the severity of this person’s injuries is quite unexpected."

"That’s true."

Little Situ nodded, though it was unclear whether she was referring to Su Mo’s inner energy or the person’s injuries.

After a moment of contemplation, she said, "The extent of this person’s injuries is truly unprecedented. Even the elders in my clan have never spoken of anyone surviving such severe injuries.

"However, I sense another force of inner energy residing in his heart center, guarding his heart meridian, which is what’s keeping him alive.

"Additionally, this person’s will to survive is extremely strong."

"Oh? How can you tell he still has the will to survive in this condition?"

Su Mo was puzzled.

"As martial artists, our inner energy naturally safeguards us. Even if we enter a state of near-death, our inner energy still reacts defensively.

"Yet, when we channeled our inner energy into his body, there was no resistance at all."

"If he had shown even a hint of despair, things wouldn't have gone as smoothly as they have. It's clear that this person truly wishes to survive, aware that you and I are saving his life, which is why he restrained himself and let us work without interference."

Little Situ was speaking with confidence, far from the foodie obsessed with meat buns.

The spark in his eyes was something Su Mo had rarely witnessed.

Su Mo glanced at Little Situ, then instinctively at his legs, and gently shook his head:

"Your legs... is there still hope for them?"

"It's difficult to say."

Little Situ didn't shy away from the question, smiling as he replied, "As far back as I can remember, my legs have been this way. The elders in my clan always told me that if I had the right fate, I might be able to walk again.

"But where that fate might lead... no one can say.

"They always said that my fate lies beyond these walls, not confined to the small space of Suspension Pot Pavilion.

"That's why I decided to leave on this journey..."

At this point, he paused, glanced at Su Mo, and gently shook his head. "This journey into the world is what truly set me free.

"Once I stepped out, I didn't have any particular destination in mind, just wandering wherever the wind took me, not actively seeking fate, but to see if my fate would reveal itself in the world."

The statement seemed somewhat contradictory at first glance.

However, Su Mo smiled. "An opportunity is called an opportunity because it comes when you least expect it, not when you chase after it."

"That's exactly the point."

Little Situ smiled too, her expression softening. "I rarely have exchanges with Chief Escort Su, but today this conversation has been exceptionally refreshing."

"After leaving the Suspension Pot Pavilion, I’ve seen so much of the world, and everywhere I look, there’s something fascinating to discover. And among all these wonders, Chief Escort Su stands out the most."

"Really?"

Su Mo was slightly stunned. "What makes me stand out so much? Enlighten me, Little Situ."

"I’m not telling you now. Maybe later."

Little Situ shook her head.

Su Mo raised an eyebrow. So you’re going to keep me in suspense, huh?

"You've been circulating your inner energy for so long, don't you need any rest?"

Little Situ was amazed that Su Mo showed no signs of fatigue during their conversation.

Su Mo shook his head. There were things Little Situ didn't know.

The Twelve Gates Golden Bell technique was no joke. Once mastered, it allowed someone to go without sleep or food for up to five hundred days. Though Su Mo had never tested this limit, his body and inner energy were currently at their peak, showing no signs of depletion.

As he was thinking about this, there were footsteps outside the door. Wei Ziyi entered with a wooden tray:

"Have something to eat."

She was munching on a wild fruit in her hand.

"Where did you get that?"

Su Mo asked.

"Picked it from the mountains, a thank-you gift from those children."

Wei Ziyi smiled. "It’s pretty sour, but it tastes sweet to me, somehow."

Little Situ glanced at it and sniffed. "You should eat less. The fruit isn’t fully ripe yet, and eating too much could give you a bit of trouble... you know, with your digestion."

"..."

Wei Ziyi suddenly didn't find the fruit in her hand as sweet anymore.

She hesitated for a moment, then set the tray down. "How much longer will it take for you two?"

"Circulating his inner energy overnight should help open up his blocked meridians," Su Mo replied, looking at Little Situ. "But I’m not sure if clearing the meridians will be enough to heal him completely."

"That’s just the first step," Little Situ shook her head. "First, we need to expel the foreign energy from his body. Then, we’ll address his other injuries. External wounds are easier to treat, but the damage to his internal organs and meridians will require daily acupuncture, medication, and the use of his own inner energy to heal from the inside out.

"Once the foreign energy is gone, I’ll use acupuncture to stimulate his inner energy and boost the medicine’s effects. With any luck, he should wake up within ten days."

There was a moment of silence as everyone absorbed the information.

"..."

Su Mo turned to look at Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ziyi raised her eyebrows. "Who the hell beat him up?"

Little Situ shook her head. "It's hard to say who dealt the blows based on his injuries. He's got a lot of external wounds, but from their positions and angles, the person who hit him wasn’t exactly a martial arts master.

"However, the internal injuries are severe, so I imagine he was initially hurt by someone using internal energy. After that, he ran for his life.

"Along the way, he ran into some people with blades and swords who tried to finish him off while he was badly injured.

"After all that, he was eventually rescued by the Boss."

"He’s got some serious luck," Wei Ziyi said, curling her lips. "But still, what’s his story?"

"Guess we’ll have to wait until he wakes up to ask," Little Situ replied.

Su Mo let out a breath and asked Wei Ziyi, "How’s everything going out there?"

"Boss Hu finally had a full meal and is now telling everyone about his time in the Western Frontier.

"It’s all about backstabbing and sword fights—quite the wild ride."

"Oh?"

Su Mo was taken aback. "Backstabbing?"

"Well, for Boss Hu, it's just sword fights, but I read between the lines.

"He’s quite an extraordinary guy."

Wei Ziyi said with a smile, "The situation in the Western Frontier is complicated. It’s said that Wusheng Hall left it as a refuge for those who wanted to stay in the west. All sorts of characters are there. Some folks who’d made enemies in East City and couldn’t stick around anymore ended up in the Western Frontier, just scraping by.

"Boss Hu got played a few times without even realizing it.

"Luckily, his three sword techniques came in handy, so no one actually tried to kill him."

Su Mo was left half amused and half exasperated. After a moment of thought, he discussed with Wei Ziyi about how to settle the elderly, women, and children in the stronghold.

He also shared his previous ideas.

"Boss Hu previously mentioned that on his way here, he came across a valley and rescued this person."

Wei Ziyi glanced at the bandaged stranger on the bed. "But since he was rescued there, it's probably even less safe. We should look further away instead of going somewhere with few people.

"Let them rest near a nearby town, and once they return, we can bring them along on the journey."

"That’s not a bad idea."

Su Mo nodded. "The next stop is half a day’s journey from here. If we bring them along, it’ll take at least two days to get there.

"So, let’s get things organized. Have them pack their belongings tonight and set off early tomorrow morning.

"Oh, and this guy should come too. Without Little Situ’s acupuncture, he might really die.

"Since we’ve already started saving him, we should see it through to the end. There’s no reason to let him die halfway."

Wei Ziyi nodded. "I’ll handle the arrangements outside. You guys keep working on this."

Little Situ watched Wei Ziyi's departing figure and sighed:

"Miss Wei gets things done so efficiently—it's really admirable."

"Admirable?"

Su Mo was taken aback, thinking the word sounded a bit old-fashioned coming from Little Situ.

He couldn’t help but give him a curious glance. "What do you mean by that?"

"Ah?"

Little Situ blinked, realizing he’d said too much, and quickly looked down. "Never mind... where are the four sisters?"

The four girls outside turned and entered. "Young Master," they said in unison.

"…Uh, could you take me out for a bit?"

Little Situ cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Please wait a moment, Chief Escort Su."

"Go ahead," Su Mo waved his hand.

At this point, Su Mo realized that Little Situ had been born unable to walk, with his San Yin and San Yang meridians severely damaged.

The four girls by his side were there, firstly to protect him, and secondly to attend to him.

However, Su Mo couldn’t understand why it required four girls to serve this young master. Having four girls attending to him must be awkward at times, given the gender difference.

If they were just his servants, it wouldn’t be so unusual, but their relationship with Little Situ seemed far more complicated than that.

As he thought about it, Su Mo realized how little he actually knew about Little Situ.

Su Mo trusted him mainly because Yang Yizhi had placed so much trust in him.

But whenever he thought of Yang Yizhi, Su Mo couldn’t help but sigh.

It had been a long time since they parted ways in Blue Wind Valley.

Since then, he hadn’t heard a word from Yang Yizhi, which was starting to worry him.

……

……

Sunset City, Ziyang Escort Agency!

At this moment, the night was deep.

The entire Ziyang Escort Agency had already fallen into silence.

Suddenly, a figure moved across the rooftops, and within a few leaps, the figure was standing on the roof of the main hall of the agency.

With a black mask covering his face, a pair of eyes scanned the interior of the agency.

After a moment, he leapt into the air again, finally landing in front of a courtyard.

All the buildings at the Ziyang Escort Agency were now dark, except for the corridors and entrance halls, where lanterns still hung.

Only in this room, a flickering candlelight still cast its glow through the window.

He lightly touched the ground and moved toward the window, quickly pulling off his mask, licking his fingers, and preparing to break the window.

Suddenly, he sensed a powerful presence looming behind him.

He spun around to face a large, round figure staring at him intensely.

Startled, the black-clad figure immediately tried to flee.

But Zhen Xiaoxiao wasn’t about to let him escape.

With a smirk, Zhen Xiaoxiao reached out and grabbed his arm.

To his surprise, the arm slipped from his grasp like a slippery eel with just a quick twist.

In an instant, he took two quick steps, leapt onto the roof, and raised his hand.

"Wait!"

"Why?" Zhen Xiaoxiao asked, then somewhat annoyed, "Come down here."

"…I'm not coming down."

The person shook their head. "I came here in the dead of night with no ill intentions, only seeking Chief Escort Su... but I don’t know who you are."

"You're looking for the Boss?"

Zhen Xiaoxiao was taken aback. "Why’d you come sneaking around at night instead of just showing up during the day?"

"Wait, did Chief Escort Su turn into an outlaw?"

The person on the roof was even more shocked. "When did this happen?!"

The two of them—one on the roof, the other in the yard—were totally talking past each other.

At that moment, Yang Xiaoyun's voice came from the room:

"Is it the ‘Graceful Swallow’s Shadow, Unmoved by Falling Snow’ who has arrived?"

"Xiaoxiao, don’t be disrespectful."

"Understood, Second Boss."

Zhen Xiaoxiao stepped aside and leaned against the wall.

The door creaked open, and Yang Xiaoyun stepped out, her gaze lifting to the roof.

"May I ask why Graceful Swallow has come here in the dead of night?"

"I’ve come to deliver a message."