Chapter 221: Tianqu City

Chapter 221: Tianqu City

Su Mo’s detailed report took over an hour.

As he stepped out of the courtyard, he glanced back toward the door.

Li Zhengyuan had already resumed his work in the fields, hoe in hand.

After a brief pondering, Su Mo turned and left.

He arrived at the courtyard where the escorts were staying, and before even entering, he heard shouts coming from inside.

As soon as he entered, he saw the escorts and apprentices following Li the Lead Escort in a drill.

Fu Hanyuan, naturally, didn’t need to participate and sat alone, practicing his internal energy through meditation.

In the courtyard, bare-chested Hu Sandao sat opposite the scar-faced stranger.

The two men stared into each other’s eyes, motionless.

When Su Mo and Wei Ziyi entered, Li the Lead Escort turned and hurried over.

"Head Escort."

"Lead Escort, you’ve worked hard. This trip was quite tough. When you have some free time, let the brothers rest for a few days," Su Mo said with a smile.

"These guys get antsy without daily training, and I need to keep my muscles loose too. No need to worry," Li the Lead Escort said with a warm and earnest smile, showing great respect for the young Head Escort.

Su Mo nodded and glanced at Hu Sandao and the scar-faced stranger, feeling puzzled.

"What are they doing?"

"Haha," Li the Lead Escort laughed. "Brother Sandao, having some free time, decided to have a little competition in determination with this scar-faced brother."

Su Mo’s lips curled into a smirk as he approached them.

Hu Sandao was on the verge of breaking his concentration.

Caught between standing to greet the Head Escort and not wanting to lose the contest, Hu Sandao’s mouth twitched nervously.

The scar-faced stranger had such precise control over his expressions.

He too twitched his mouth slightly.

In the end, Hu Sandao sighed and flipped upright. "Forgive me, Head Escort..."

"No problem."

Su Mo waved his hand. "But it looks like your focus could use some work."

Seeing Su Mo wave his hand, the scar-faced stranger also waved his hand. "No problem. But it looks like your focus could use some work."

It was one thing for Su Mo to say it, but for the scar-faced stranger to echo him was unexpected.

For a moment, Hu Sandao almost regretted his impulsive kindness in saving this oddball.

He glared fiercely at the scarred stranger.

The scarred stranger caught the glance and immediately glared back.

Su Mo chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, you two calm down. Is Chief Escort coming over?"

"Chief Escort!"

Fu Hanyuan, hearing Su Mo call him, quickly came over.

"Chief Escort, Old Hu, and... him."

Su Mo pointed at the scarred stranger, who immediately pointed back at Su Mo.

Hu Sandao's expression darkened. "Watch your manners!"

He quickly pushed the scarred stranger's hand down.

The scarred stranger, seeing this, also hurriedly held Hu Sandao's hand down. "Watch your manners."

Su Mo was momentarily speechless and could only say, "Alright, get yourselves ready. We’re leaving soon."

"Yes."

Everyone nodded in agreement except for the scarred stranger.

The scarred stranger, finally catching on, nodded and mumbled, "Yes."

Su Mo waved them off, telling them to get ready.

Li the Lead Escort came over. "Chief Escort... where are we heading?"

"Tianqu City."

Su Mo looked at Li the Lead Escort and said with a smile, "There are many eyes in Tianqu City, and it would be inconvenient for the brothers from the escort agency to follow. This trip, you’ll all wait here at the Purple Sun Sect."

"Of course, we'll follow your orders, Chief Escort."

Li the Lead Escort immediately clasped his fists.

Su Mo thought for a moment and took out a booklet from his robe, handing it to Li the Lead Escort.

"However, having you all wait here dryly, day after day with nothing to do, would surely become boring.

"Before I came back, I asked the great master for a formation to keep you all busy while you wait. You can use this time to practice the formation with the team."

Li the Lead Escort opened the booklet and looked. "Seven Star Formation!?"

He glanced at Su Mo, clearly surprised.

Su Mo nodded. "This formation is based on the movements of the seven celestial bodies—Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, the Moon, and the Sun—collectively known as the Seven Luminaries. The Seven Star Formation revolves around the changes of the sun and moon and is a combat formation that requires seven people."

"This isn’t just a combat formation..."

Before Su Mo could finish, Li the Lead Escort, unable to contain himself, interrupted. "This is a lifesaver! Chief Escort, are you sure you want to teach this to the rest of the team?"

"That's right."

Su Mo nodded with a smile. "However, the scroll in your hand contains only three variations of the array. The complete Seven Star Array has seven variations. Once deployed, it interlocks perfectly, with endless changes."

"When does the sect leader plan to teach the rest?"

Li the lead escort hurriedly asked.

"I have already informed the great master and decided to pass down the martial arts of the Purple Sun Sect within the Purple Sun Escort Agency."

"As for the rest, those who enter my sect and become my disciples will naturally receive the inheritance."

Seeing this, he looked at Li the lead escort again and smiled. "However, the various escort leaders have contributed greatly and each already has their own lineage. How could you all easily change your masters? Furthermore, I, Su, am young and inexperienced, and I dare not regard myself as a 'master' to you all. Therefore, the Seven Star Array can be fully learned by all the escort leaders.

"However, without my permission, you must not teach it to others.

"Even if I could tolerate it, the Purple Sun Sect wouldn't."

"The Chief Escort is considerate!"

Li the lead escort bowed solemnly.

Just as they were speaking, Wei Ziyi entered from outside the door.

Seeing Su Mo, she huffed, "You're back already?"

"Yes."

Su Mo nodded, "Wei Ziyi, prepare yourself. We'll depart immediately for Tianqu City."

"Leaving right away?"

Wei Ziyi was startled but immediately agreed, not having time to say more as she hurried back to pack her things.

Soon, everyone was ready and they set off.

After descending Shouyang Mountain, Su Mo reined his horse to a stop and looked back at the Purple Sun Sect, a faint ripple appearing in his eyes.

Wei Ziyi looked at him and couldn't help but ask, "What did you and Li the sect leader talk about?"

She knew that after leaving the Hall of Past Matters, Su Mo had headed towards the sect leader's residence.

But she couldn’t conveniently follow, so she had reluctantly left.

Now that they had already descended the mountain, she couldn't help but ask.

Su Mo smiled slightly, "Nothing much, it's just that the great master asked me to... make a delivery."

"???"

Wei Ziyi was stunned, "Deliver to whom?"

"I’m not telling you."

"..."

Wei Ziyi’s mouth twitched. "Can you just speak normally?"

By the way, where's Elder Duan? Wasn't he saying he would also go to Tianqu City?"

"Him..."

Su Mo smiled and said, "You can relax. He has other important matters to attend to. Let's go. I can hardly wait for the excitement of the Tianqu Sword Contest."

……

……

The group set out from the Purple Sun Sect and made their way towards Tianqu City.

Even with fast horses, the journey still took nearly half a month.

The closer they got to Tianqu City, the more warriors they saw.

With more people, friction was inevitable.

Thus, along the way, Su Mo and the others occasionally witnessed fights, with bodies left on the roadside or hanging from trees, left unburied.

In such cases, it was wiser to stay out of it.

The reasons could range from trivial arguments to deep-seated grudges, and getting involved could easily drag you into trouble.

So, they mostly ignored the troubles they came across on the road.

But when they saw someone using their skills to bully civilians, they didn’t hesitate to step in and help.

In the blink of an eye, Tianqu City was before them.

From afar, they saw a mighty city standing between the heavens and earth.

From above, the city walls looked mottled and ancient, and the buildings within were faintly visible, all bearing the marks of time.

This was the largest city Su Mo had seen since arriving in this world.

In comparison, neither the four cities of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance nor any others they had passed along the way could compare.

"Are there actually civilians in Tianqu City?"

Su Mo asked Wei Ziyi in surprise. He had assumed that, as a battleground between the sects, the city would only house warriors, not civilians.

After all, the Three Great Demon Sects often clashed here, and innocent people could easily get caught in the crossfire.

"Hundreds of years ago, Tianqu City was the capital of the Eastern Wilderness and was the undisputed center of the region.

"How could such a place not have civilians?

"Not everyone is willing to leave the land where they were born and raised."

Wei Ziyi smiled and said, "This is my first time here too. I'll have to explore it thoroughly. The Seven Great Sects and various clans from East City all have bases here. It's a concentrated hub of the East City's martial world and is by no means an ordinary place.

"Many people even see this as a place of opportunity. Those who struggle to find a master might come here to try their luck.

"If one can gain the favor of the Seven Great Sects, they can rise to great heights in an instant."

Hu Sandao didn't have much reaction to the latter part of Wei Ziyi's explanation.

But the earlier line, "Not everyone is willing to leave the land where they were born and raised," resonated deeply with him, and he nodded in agreement.

"No one leaves their home unless they have no choice."

The scarred stranger sharing the horse with him also nodded in agreement. "If not for dire circumstances, who would willingly leave their hometown?"

Hu Sandao's lips curled into a grimace. He was tempted to fight back against the scarred stranger.

However, while the scarred stranger's mind was like that of a child, his martial skills remained intact.

Whatever move Hu Sandao made, the scarred stranger would mirror it exactly.

Hu Sandao’s attacks had no effect, but when the scarred stranger struck back, Hu Sandao winced in pain for a long time.

For a moment, Hu Sandao could do nothing but endure it.

Fu Hanyuan also sighed softly, his heart filled with nostalgia after hearing Wei Ziyi's words.

After a few casual exchanges, they set off for Tianqu City.

The old saying 'a mountain in the distance looks close, but the journey is long' rang true. Although the city seemed near, it still took the better part of half a day to reach its gates.

The city gates were guarded primarily by members of the Seven Great Sects, with support from other factions, taking turns to prevent cult members from sneaking in.

As a result, control over those entering and leaving was quite strict.

Ordinary folks and merchants needed a travel permit to prove where they came from and the purpose of their visit.

Once inside the city, they couldn’t just roam freely; they had to register and provide detailed information.

If one was a martial artist, an ordinary travel permit wouldn't suffice.

They also needed a certificate issued by either the Seven Great Sects or any of the sects in East City.

This way, any suspicious activity could be traced back to its source.

Of course, if one was a renowned expert from the Eastern Wilderness, they only needed to verify their identity to enter the city.

The verification process required ruling out possibilities of disguise.

In short, it varied depending on the individual.

Before leaving, Li Zhengyuan had given Su Mo a token, which he now took out.

The guards at the gate let them pass without a word after just a glance, though their eyes held a hint of respect and awe.

Su Mo casually put the token into a small pouch, where it clinked with a sharp sound.

Wei Ziyi peered into the pouch and said, "It's quite heavy."

"…Yeah."

Of course it’s heavy—it’s made of iron.

Su Mo felt a wave of helplessness. Whether it was the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, the Heavenly Blade Sect, the Sword-nurturing Pavilion, or the Purple Sun Sect, they all favored iron for their tokens.

Some even used dark iron, which was even heavier.

"You should be grateful."

Seeing Su Mo's expression, Wei Ziyi was momentarily speechless. "There are countless people who would give anything to have the tokens you’re tossing around so carelessly."

Su Mo ignored her and looked out at a corner of the city.

The city gates towered overhead, and the streets stretched wide before them. Lining the streets were all manner of shops.

Of course, street vendors lined both sides of the road, but they couldn’t completely fill the spacious main street.

At first glance, the city felt a bit sparse.

But as the Tianqu Sword Contest loomed, the streets buzzed with swordsmen and warriors, their weapons at the ready.

Everyone rode their horses along the street, looking around. Occasionally, the sound of heated debates from taverns and teahouses drifted through the air.

Even before the contest began, some stood on rooftops or hills, resolving old feuds.

Su Mo and the others walked and observed. Soon, they arrived in front of an inn.

As they approached the inn, a waiter rushed out to greet them.

Su Mo had no intention of staying at the Purple Sun Sect’s compound this time, so he handed his horse over to the waiter, who led it off to the stables.

He then turned to Wei Ziyi:

“What are your plans next? Going to the Cold Moon Palace’s quarters, or staying at the inn with us?”

“I’ll stay with you guys.”

Wei Ziyi didn’t hesitate: “We’ve had a long journey, and I could use a good night’s rest. I’ll stop by the compound tomorrow morning to check in.”

“Sounds good.”

Su Mo nodded and requested four rooms.

Su Mo, Wei Ziyi, and Fu Hanyuan each had their own room, while Hu Sandao shared a room with the scar-faced guest.

It wasn’t that Su Mo insisted on this arrangement, but the scar-faced guest, for some unknown reason, had been following Hu Sandao around.

At first, every time they stayed at an inn, Su Mo would book five rooms, but by the next morning, the guest would be sleeping next to Hu Sandao.

Hu Sandao couldn’t win a fight against him, and the scar-faced man wouldn’t listen to any polite requests. With no other choice, Hu Sandao eventually came to terms with it.

Just like now, hearing Su Mo’s arrangement, Hu Sandao took it in stride, not feeling that anything was amiss.

After settling into their rooms, they gathered again in the main hall of the inn.

The hall was already occupied by small groups of people scattered around.

They were drinking, eating, and whispering to each other.

Su Mo and the others found a table. After sending the waiter away, they saw a group of people enter the door.

Eating and staying at inns were everyday occurrences.

Su Mo didn’t pay much attention until, after speaking with the innkeeper, the group suddenly raised their voices:

“Unbelievable! Although our Huayang Gate is not a major power like the Seven Great Sects, we still hold a name in East City. How dare you turn us away by claiming there are no rooms available?”

At the mention of Huayang Gate, Su Mo’s eyebrows raised slightly.

Immediately, he remembered what Chu Qiuyu had told him on the Observatory Terrace inside the Cold Moon Palace.

After entering East City, Wan Zangxin did three things.

The first thing was to root out the cult spy within the Purple Sun Sect.

Hearing this, he couldn't help but look up, but not at the group from the Purple Sun Sect. Instead, his gaze fell on the scarred stranger.

The scarred stranger was mimicking Hu Sandao's posture, subtly mirroring him as if they were cut from the same mold.

Su Mo smiled slightly and paid it no mind, shifting his gaze back to the door.

He then heard an elderly man say softly,

"Forget it, forget it. With the Tianqu Sword Contest approaching, it's understandable that the inns in the city are full. If it can't be helped, we'll just have to squeeze into the sect's outpost."

Everyone looked disheartened at this.

Although the Purple Sun Sect and the Huayang Sect differed by only one character in their names, they were vastly different.

The Purple Sun Sect was a prestigious and influential sect, whereas the Huayang Sect could not compare. Their presence in Tianqu City was limited.

This group of people couldn't all stay at the outpost, which was why they had to stay at an inn.

Someone muttered under their breath, "There's no need for us to rush over here. Yet here we are, without a place to stay."

"Quiet!" the elder snapped, suddenly furious. "Wan Daxia is a man of great righteousness and has eliminated a great harm for our Huayang Sect. Now, with the Tianqu Sword Contest, we should be here to bolster his prestige, no matter what! A mere lodging issue, surely we can resolve it."

"Yes, master, forgive me, disciple was wrong."

The man who spoke hurriedly apologized.

Su Mo was taken aback—this elderly man was the leader of the Huayang Sect?

The innkeeper quickly interjected, "Please don't worry, my establishment is indeed full. However, there is another inn, the Penglai Guesthouse, three streets away. They have plenty of rooms available, much more than we do.

"By the way, the person you were asking about, Wan Zangxin, the renowned Wan Daxia, is also staying at the Penglai Guesthouse."

Hearing this, the Huayang Sect group nodded in agreement.

The Huayang Sect leader thanked him profusely, showing none of the usual arrogance of a sect leader.

After thanking the innkeeper, they turned and left.

Su Mo watched them leave, then turned his attention elsewhere, focusing on the conversations at the other tables, hoping to catch any recent news.

On the other hand, it had been a while since he last saw Little Situ Taoist. He wondered if they had made it to Tianqu City yet and where they might be.