Chapter 211: Parting Ways

Chapter 211: Parting Ways

"What do you mean by 'wave'?"

Liu Suifeng was slightly stunned. "Please enlighten me, Chief Escort Su."

Su Mo shook his head. "Lord Liu asks me at this moment, but I cannot answer. The internal details need further consideration. I just wanted to remind Lord Liu not to act rashly for now."

"This..."

After a brief ponder, Liu Suifeng nodded. "Since you say so, I’ll follow your advice."

"You flatter me."

Su Mo waved his hand. "However, I also plan to attend the Tianqu Sword Contest. We can discuss this matter with Lord Liu in detail then."

"Very well."

Liu Suifeng nodded.

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Not being good with words, after saying what he needed to, Liu Suifeng didn’t know what else to say to Su Mo.

After a few thoughts rolled in Su Mo's mind, he suddenly asked:

"By the way, I heard a rumor earlier that Lord Liu encountered danger on the road and it was Wan Zangxin who came to your aid?"

"Indeed, there was such an incident."

Liu Suifeng nodded. "However, because of this, I could see that although his swordsmanship is exquisite, he is not my match."

"Hmm, what is your opinion of this person's character?"

"Character..."

Liu Suifeng thought for a moment and smiled slightly. "He is quite a generous and bold person."

Su Mo pondered for a moment and then nodded. "I previously heard that the two of you became acquainted and traveled together for a while. Why didn’t he come with you to Cold Moon Palace?"

"Ha ha, he said that since we’re having the contest in Tianqu City, watching my swordplay now would be unfair.

"So, he decided not to watch any sparring matches along the way, preferring to wait until we reach Tianqu City."

"I see, he is indeed a bold and generous person."

Su Mo smiled. "Thanks for sharing that with me, Lord Liu."

"You're welcome."

At this point, Liu Suifeng stood up. "Where are you heading next, Chief Escort Su?"

"I need to make a trip to Purple Sun Sect," Su Mo said. "To be honest, the Purple Sun Sect is my former sect. I came to East City primarily to return to the sect."

"Purple Sun Sect is Chief Escort Su’s former sect?"

Liu Suifeng paused, then realized. "That’s right, Purple Sun Sect, Purple Sun Escort Agency... I should have realized it earlier. I had planned to challenge the Purple Sun Sect next, but given your connection to them, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to do so."

"This..."

Su Mo was startled and said with a smile, "Lord Liu, feel free to go as you wish. Our personal relationship is separate from this matter."

"No."

Liu Suifeng shook his head. "Chief Escort Su has shown us boundless kindness. While the Seven Sects may seek to sharpen their skills, I cannot act against my principles. Focusing too much on appearances would be a sign of weakness. I will avoid the Purple Sun Sect on this trip."

"..."

Su Mo was momentarily speechless, but seeing that Liu Suifeng had made up his mind, he could only nod.

Afterward, the two of them made plans for where to meet during the Tianqu Sword Contest. Only then did Liu Suifeng take his leave.

He departed alone, carrying only his sword, unburdened by anything else. His posture was elegant, evoking admiration from those who saw him.

After seeing him off, Su Mo returned to the Cold Moon Palace and prepared to leave for the Purple Sun Sect.

But before leaving, he had to see the Third Palace Master one more time.

Wei Ziyi led Su Mo over, and after entering, she excused herself.

The Third Palace Master leaned against a soft couch and glanced at Su Mo. "You watched the excitement in the morning and now you're leaving in the afternoon? The Purple Sun Sect and the Cold Moon Palace are only separated by a mountain. You could leave tomorrow."

Su Mo shook his head. "I've already stayed too long in the Cold Moon Palace. I have important matters to attend to, so I dare not linger here."

"Hmm..."

The Third Palace Master pondered lightly and looked up at Su Mo. "Are you going to the Tianqu Sword Contest as well?"

"This matter likely involves a lot. Given my position in the Eastern Wilderness, I cannot afford to remain neutral."

Su Mo smiled.

"It's no surprise you're his son."

The Third Palace Master nodded slightly. "The Tianqu Sword Contest—why choose Tianqu City for this event?

"Do you know that the entire East City is divided by Tianqu into two sides? One side is righteous, and the other is evil.

"East City refers to Tianqu City.

"During the time of the Great Xuan Dynasty, Tianqu City served as the capital of the Eastern Wilderness.

"It was the heart of the dynasty's most important affairs.

"Tianqu City holds countless secrets, many of which are directly related to the Great Xuan Dynasty.

"Countless conflicts have erupted over these hidden truths.

"Over the past few hundred years, many secrets have been unearthed.

"But many more secrets still lie buried, waiting to be uncovered."

"Engaging in a sword contest right under the noses of both the righteous and demonic factions...

"This invitation from Wan Zangxin is not as simple as it seems.

"There might be some unsavory entanglements.

"Once these entanglements unfold, not only will East City be unable to stay uninvolved, but even the southwest, which has been peaceful, might not remain on the sidelines.

"It's good that you go to take a look. Otherwise, when things happen, you might still be oblivious.

"You won’t realize how sharp that blade is until it’s pressing against your throat."

Hearing this, Su Mo nodded lightly. "I understand."

"Is it that hard for you to say more than two sentences to me?"

Third Palace Master glared at Su Mo. "I've said so much, and you only replied with four words?"

"This... I don't know what to say."

"Forget it..."

Third Palace Master shook her head. "There might be some crucial matters involved in the Tianqu Sword Contest. So, not only do you have to go, Ziyi must go as well. Now that she has become the eighth leader of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, she can no longer remain just a disciple under my guidance.

"She needs to experience more of these situations... That's one of the reasons I insisted on bringing her back."

"One of the reasons?"

Su Mo was startled and was about to ask what the other reason was when he abruptly shut his mouth.

He had already guessed what the other reason was. But it was too late to keep quiet now. Third Palace Master seized the opportunity:

"That's right. The other reason for calling her back is to discuss a marriage proposal for you.

"But what I have to say is different from what Wei is thinking...

"Wei is considering her future, the future of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance... and his own pipe dream.

"As for me, here’s what I think: Ziyi is a great girl. If you like her, consider keeping her around."

A twitch appeared at the corner of Su Mo's mouth. "Senior, with all due respect, it seems that neither you nor Lord Wei has considered Young Miss Wei's thoughts on the matter."

"That's true."

Third Palace Master nodded. "The fact that you have this thought is quite unexpected and actually makes me like you even more..."

She paused for a moment and then suddenly called out:

"Ziyi, come in!"

Those four words nearly caught Su Mo off guard.

He looked at Third Palace Master in astonishment, only to see her wink at him mischievously.

Wei Ziyi pushed the door open and stepped in, oblivious to the exchange.

Just as they approached, they bowed and said, "Master."

"Hmm."

The Third Palace Master regained her serious expression and said quietly, "Today, in the battle against Liu Suifeng, your master was injured. Now, I cannot go to Tianqu City. For the Tianqu Sword Contest, you will go in my place."

"Yes."

Wei Ziyi nodded. It was a disciple's duty to assist their master; there was no room for argument.

The Third Palace Master then produced two letters. With a wave of her hand, she tossed them to Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ziyi caught the letters, glanced at the envelopes, and tucked them into her chest pocket.

"One letter is for Duan Song at the Purple Sun Sect."

"The other letter is for the Second Palace Master in Tianqu City."

"Yes."

Wei Ziyi acknowledged the orders.

"That’s all."

After giving her instructions, the Third Palace Master waved a dismissive hand. "You may go. I am tired."

Su Mo and Wei Ziyi bowed and took their leave. But just as they were about to leave Hanxi Tower, Su Mo heard a voice in his ear.

The voice belonged to the Third Palace Master, and the message was brief—just four words.

"Take a good look."

He paused, taken aback, and turned back to look at the Third Palace Master, only to see that she had closed her eyes at some point.

The door slammed shut with a loud noise.

Su Mo pondered for a moment, uncertain of its meaning for a moment.

What am I supposed to be looking at?

Look at what?

Why couldn’t she just say it out loud?

Why use a secret transmission?

It’s not like this is a public setting...

What was she trying to hide?

Su Mo instinctively glanced at Wei Ziyi, thinking maybe the Third Palace Master wanted him to see just how impressive her disciple was.

Wei Ziyi gave him a puzzled look. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"..."

Su Mo sighed, realizing he was still in the dark.

Shaking his head gently, "You're still coming with me?"

"I can go on my own."

Wei Ziyi's words clearly carried a hint of resentment.

As the saying goes, once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern, but thrice is a habit. Now, for Wei Ziyi, it was one thing after another.

First, Wei Ruhan had been evasive with her, then her master had been vague, and during several conversations with Su Mo, she wasn't allowed to listen in.

She could tolerate that, but now Su Mo was saying this too?

Who exactly was she getting in the way of all of a sudden?

"No, no."

Su Mo quickly waved his hands. "Of course we'll go together, together!"

"Hmph."

Wei Ziyi shot Su Mo a glare. "What's really going on between you and my master?"

"Um..."

Su Mo was at a loss for words for a moment.

At this point, using an excuse like being old acquaintances wouldn't be convincing anymore.

Wei Ziyi stared intently at Su Mo, determined to get to the bottom of things from him.

Under the intense gaze of Wei Ziyi, Su Mo couldn't help but retreat step by step.

Just as he was racking his brains to come up with a way to get through this, he heard Wei Ziyi speak slowly, emphasizing each word:

"My master's former lover..."

Su Mo was taken aback and instinctively looked at Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ziyi, seeing this, suddenly widened her eyes: "It's you!?"

"..."

Su Mo's mind buzzed in confusion. What is all this nonsense?

He couldn't resist tapping her forehead:

"Did you even think before saying that?"

"Alright… it's not you, but it definitely has something to do with you."

Wei Ziyi rubbed her sore forehead, feeling that Su Mo had hit her a bit too hard, her eyes even welling up with tears:

"I don't know much about this matter, but I do know who Duan Song is.

"My master has always been cold toward this person, but today, in front of you, he asked me to deliver a letter to Duan Song.

"This might indicate that my master is beginning to let go of past events.

"And all of this only started happening after he met you."

"Back in the day, that chivalrous figure was an old friend of Duan Song.

"And the matter has some connection to you...

"Your Su family is also affiliated with the Purple Sun Sect...

"So, if it's not you, then it must be someone in your family.

"But the Su family has a single direct lineage, and given the timeline, the only person who had a family back then... was your father, right?"

This was actually not hard to guess. But because of preconceived notions, no one thought it could involve Su Mo.

Once you consider Su Mo, it's not hard to see the connection between Su Tianyang and the Third Sect Leader.

Moreover, although Wei Ziyi became a bit unrestrained after revealing her true nature,

she was extremely intelligent and by no means ordinary.

It's no surprise that she figured it out.

Su Mo sighed, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

"Is it really?"

Wei Ziyi was taken aback. Coming to a conclusion was one thing, but confirming it was clearly another.

She instinctively looked at Su Mo, then at the gradually distant Han Xilou, and couldn't help but gasp:

"How did Master not finish you off?"

"……My father did something in the past, but beating me to death wouldn't solve anything. Besides, she would have to be able to beat me."

"That's true."

Wei Ziyi nodded, "I didn't expect that the old Chief Escort Su from back then was also quite a figure. Even a breathtaking beauty like Master couldn't win his heart...

"But what has Master been discussing with you behind closed doors these past few days?"

"Nothing important, really."

Su Mo’s lips twitched.

"……Is it related to me?"

Wei Ziyi looked at Su Mo.

"……"

Su Mo fell even more silent.

"Master isn't... planning to...?"

Wei Ziyi pointed at Su Mo, then at herself.

Su Mo forced a smile, "You're as sharp as they come, Young Miss Wei."

"……First my grandfather, and now my Master……"

Wei Ziyi felt her expression was a bit conflicted. "How about it, Chief Escort Su, why don't you just agree?"

"…You’re the one who’s following, right?"

Su Mo blurted out.

"I’m following along."

Wei Ziyi looked completely unconcerned.

"…Shut up, or you’ll walk the rest of the way alone."

Their banter grew more playful, and before long, they were back at the courtyard of the escort agency, laughing and joking.

Li the lead escort, Fu Hanyuan, and Hu Sandao immediately came forward to greet them.

Of course, the scar-faced stranger followed alongside.

"Chief Escort Su."

The group greeted him, with the scar-faced stranger a beat slower: "Chief Escort Su."

Su Mo nodded slightly, but then suddenly took an extra look at the scar-faced stranger.

The scar-faced stranger also took another look at Su Mo.

As their eyes met, Su Mo smiled, and the scar-faced stranger smiled as well.

Then Su Mo said, "Tell everyone to prepare, we'll set off for the Purple Sun Sect immediately."

The scar-faced stranger repeated it word for word. His expression and the rhythm of his speech mirrored Su Mo’s perfectly.

"Yes."

Li the lead escort immediately responded and instructed everyone present to prepare.

Naturally, Fu Hanyuan and Hu Sandao went to help with the arrangements.

The scar-faced stranger stayed close to Hu Sandao, mimicking his every move.

Su Mo watched him closely for a moment, and Wei Ziyi couldn't help but ask,

"What’s up?"

"Nothing."

Su Mo smiled. "Where’s Little Situ Taoist?"

As if on cue, Little Situ Taoist was carried over by the four girls.

"Chief Escort Su, looking for me?"

Little Situ Taoist asked with a smile on her face.

"Little Situ Taoist… this concludes our escort mission," Su Mo said. "Now I plan to head to the Purple Sun Sect. What are your plans?"

Unlike the other escorts, Little Situ Taoist wasn’t part of his team. She had joined them to get a feel for what it’s like to travel with an escort.

Along the way, Little Situ Taoist had been following Su Mo's instructions without the slightest disobedience.

Now that the delivery is complete, Su Mo planned to head to the Purple Sun Sect and needed to discuss the next steps with Little Situ Taoist.

Would he continue to accompany Su Mo, or did he have other intentions?

Little Situ seemed hesitant. "Chief Escort Su, how long are you planning to stay at the Purple Sun Sect?"

"That's hard to say."

Su Mo shook his head. "I have important matters to attend to at the Purple Sun Sect, which may take some time."

"Will you be attending the Tianqu Sword Contest?"

"Yes."

"That’s reassuring."

Little Situ nodded and cupped his fists. "In that case, I’ll part ways with you here."

After saying this, he smiled lightly. "I’ve had an incredible experience these past few days and have truly enjoyed it. I plan to explore on my own for a bit and head to Tianqu City to see the excitement."

"If you go to Tianqu City, we should run into each other there. When you return, I'll follow you back."

"That works."

Su Mo smiled. "However, East City remains a dangerous place. Although your martial skills are excellent and the four girls are skilled swordswomen, you still need to be cautious and not let your guard down. I know you are highly accomplished in medicine and poisons, but you must still be wary of the myriad tricks that may exist in the jianghu."

"Even if you’re immune to a hundred poisons, how can you be certain you won’t face the one hundred and first?"

At first, Su Mo's expression was gentle, but as he continued, he became more serious.

Little Situ, being inexperienced in the ways of the world, often had naive thoughts. When he was by Su Mo's side, Su Mo could look out for him.

Now that he planned to venture out on his own, Su Mo couldn't help but worry that he might be harmed.

Though Little Situ sensed Su Mo’s stern tone, he wasn’t offended. He paused, then smiled and replied,

"Thank you, Chief Escort Su. I will keep these words in mind at all times and never forget them."

"Very well..."

Su Mo sighed softly and cupped his fists.

"In that case, with the vast road of the jianghu ahead, please take care."

"The same to you, Chief Escort Su. We’ll meet again in Tianqu City!"

Little Situ cupped his fists solemnly, then bid farewell to Wei Ziyi.

The four girls also bowed and escorted Little Situ away. Little Situ kept glancing back at Su Mo, clearly reluctant to part ways.