Chapter 227: Borrowing a Sword for a While

Chapter 227: Borrowing a Sword for a While

That day, Su Mo took the flag token and headed to the Purple Sun Sect’s headquarters.

At the same time, Wei Ziyi carried Yun Jiuying’s letter to the Cold Moon Palace’s headquarters.

They both returned to the inn as the sun was setting.

Wei Ziyi’s odd expression caught Su Mo’s attention.

Upon asking, they found out that the Second Palace Master had become furious after reading Yun Jiuying’s letter.

She not only tore the letter to shreds but also berated Yun Jiuying for an hour.

Before Su Mo could even enjoy her misfortune, he learned that the Second Palace Master had also scolded him for half an hour.

What kind of hot-headed person is this?

Su Mo listened, utterly confused.

Wei Ziyi didn’t reveal the contents of the letter, but it wasn’t hard to guess.

It involved Yun Jiuying, Wei Ziyi, and Su Mo—what else could it be about?

Su Mo and Wei Ziyi tacitly dropped the subject.

However, when Wei Ziyi asked Su Mo what he had been doing all day, Su Mo just smiled mysteriously.

He only said, “You’ll know when the time comes.”

Wei Ziyi felt like she could have sliced open this old riddler right then and there.

Fu Hanyuan and Hu Sandao, though curious, didn’t press Su Mo for answers.

As subordinates, when needed, orders would naturally come from above.

Why pry so much during normal times?

When there’s food, eat your fill; when there’s entertainment, enjoy the show—why not live a little happier?

Fu Hanyuan found that ever since he joined the escort agency, his mindset had gradually become more laid-back…

The night passed peacefully without any disturbances.

However, the next day, news spread throughout the entire Tianqu City.

Wan Zangxin's eldest senior brother had struck again!

This time, he had attacked and killed two people.

One was Xuzhou, the sect leader of the Ancient Cloud Sect, and the other was Ximen Yuan, the sect leader of the Green Mountain Sect.

However, they were slightly luckier than Huayang Sect's leader, Zeng Quan. These two weren’t dead.

Because the incident happened while they were together.

Although they were ultimately no match for the attacker and suffered severe injuries,

they managed to attract the attention of the seven major sects' night patrol team, which scared off the attacker, allowing them to survive.

Though they were severely injured, they survived.

According to their account, the person who attacked them was indeed using the Heavenly Spring Heart-Cleansing Sword.

And the practitioner's skill was incredibly advanced!

The attacker was clad in black and masked. They also seemed capable of using martial arts from Evernight Valley.

However, they couldn't confirm if it was indeed Wan Zangxin's eldest senior brother, as they never saw his face.

And this incident couldn't be blamed on Wan Zangxin.

Because Wan Zangxin had promised to give everyone an explanation, he was with Luo Changsheng when the incident occurred.

Not only were disciples from the Distant Mountain Sword Sect present, but there were also disciples from the Purple Sun Sect.

With such solid alibis, all suspicion fell away from Wan Zangxin.

However, being cleared of suspicion didn't bring much joy to Wan Zangxin.

Because… the problem was far from resolved.

During these two days, Su Mo hadn't been idle either.

But as the head of the Southwest Security Agency, who had come to Tianqu City just to watch the commotion, he had no reason or appropriate standing to intervene in this matter.

After all, the ones currently in charge of Tianqu City were still from the Distant Mountain Sword Sect.

Without a compelling reason, even the Purple Sun Sect would risk raising suspicion by getting involved.

The Seven Great Sects take turns to maintain order in Tianqu City, and the nuances had to be carefully managed.

If I'm on duty, and you start giving orders,

Does that mean you have an issue with my being on duty?

Such matters were always sensitive and delicate.

Moreover… they might not even be willing to get involved.

So, the only thing Su Mo could do was discuss with Wei Ziyi why the targets were these two specific individuals.

Xu Zhou from the Gǔyún Sect and Ximen Yuan from the Green Mountain Sect were both old-generation experts in the jianghu.

Both were extraordinary martial artists.

Xu Zhou's Cloud and Mist Seventy-Two Moves from the Gǔyún Sect, and the Heavenly Star Eight Strikes from the Green Mountain Sect were not to be trifled with.

Even fighting together, they barely escaped with their lives.

So… why did Wan Zangxin's eldest senior brother target them specifically?

What could have been the motive?

Was there a grudge or enmity between them? Or were they chosen randomly without any prior conflict?

Su Mo and Wei Ziyi pondered for a long time but couldn't figure it out.

As their discussion drew to a close, Su Mo cast a glance at the scarred stranger who was drinking with Hu Sandao.

Hu Sandao had finally summarized some experience after struggling with this person for a long time.

Brute force wouldn't work; in order to deal with the scarred stranger, he would need to use some tricks.

So, he had Fu Hanyuan prepare two wine jars for him.

One contained plain water, while the other held strong liquor.

Hu Sandao drank the water, while the scarred stranger held the jar and guzzled down half a jar of liquor in the blink of an eye.

Seeing the guest's eyes getting dizzy, Hu Sandao thought his plan had succeeded.

But to his surprise, the scarred stranger immediately circulated his inner energy without hesitation, dispelling all the effects of the alcohol.

Furious, Hu Sandao jumped up and started cursing, calling the scarred stranger a cheater.

The scarred stranger, not backing down, jumped and cursed back, calling Hu Sandao a cheater.

Still... it felt like both of them had a point.

And so, another night passed this way.

However, another person in Tianqu City had met with an accident.

This time, the person involved was surnamed Hu, Hu Dingming!

He was unaffiliated with any sect, just a lone wanderer of the jianghu.

However, he was of high seniority, a well-known hero of the jianghu for many years.

He went by the nickname "Unfixed Finger."

Despite being unaffiliated with any sect, his martial skills were even sharper than those of Xuzhou and Ximen Yuan.

But the attacker's martial skills were even more formidable.

According to Hu Dingming, he had exchanged only two blows with the eldest senior brother of Wan Zangxin before nearly losing his life. At the critical moment, Wan Zangxin arrived just in time.

Wan Zangxin revealed the identity of the attacker.

The two of them, disagreeing, immediately engaged in a fierce fight, battling as they moved, and eventually, before Luo Changsheng arrived, Wan Zangxin's eldest senior brother left first.

But before leaving, he left behind a message:

"Junior Brother, let's fight again next time!"

That statement confirmed his identity without a doubt.

Now, the three injured individuals were all recovering in Tianqu City.

They were being protected by the disciples of the Seven Great Sects.

As the situation had developed up to this point, the atmosphere in Tianqu City had become extremely tense.

Tianquan Elder's eldest disciple, for some unknown reason, had gone on a rampage within Tianqu City.

Despite causing chaos for several days, the only real casualty was Huayang Sect's leader Zeng Quan; the others narrowly escaped.

Still, it sent shockwaves through the city.

This person has thrown Tianqu City into chaos, yet there has been no clue as to his whereabouts.

How can anyone feel safe?

But as things have unfolded, some hidden details have started to surface.

Just as Liu Suifeng was about to arrive, the Tianqu Sword Contest would begin in just a few days.

At this critical juncture, Su Mo, sitting in the inn, was finally approached.

……

……

Inside the room, two cups of clear tea were prepared.

Wan Zangxin picked up his cup and took a sip, gently letting out a sigh:

"If there were any other way, I wouldn’t dare ask for your help, Chief Escort Su!

"At present, although I have found some clues, I’m on my own and don’t have enough support. Even if I confronted my eldest senior brother, I wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

"Chief Escort Su is a true leader, always ready to lend a hand and uphold justice.

"So I’m humbly asking for your help."

"What words are these, Wan Daxia?"

Su Mo smiled: "I’ve also found the actions of your eldest senior brother hard to stomach. But I know very little about your sect, so I couldn’t make any assumptions. Could you tell me what you’ve found out?"

"The pattern in which he’s targeting people."

Wan Zangxin said solemnly: "The people he wants to kill are all those who were once very close to him."

"Oh?"

Su Mo was taken aback. "Why is that?"

"I don’t know the reason."

Wan Zangxin sighed. "However, I do know who his next target is!"

"Who?"

"Panlong Shou, Weng Ziliu!"

"Weng Ziliu..."

Su Mo lightly raised his eyebrows. Over the past few days in Tianqu City, the so-called "Know-It-All of Tianqu" had been spreading various rumors.

Su Mo had been fortunate enough to hear about this person.

It was said that Weng Ziliu became famous in the jianghu for his Sixteen Forms of Cloud Dragon Claw. He was still a master of the older generation.

"Can you be certain?"

Su Mo asked in a solemn tone.

"Yes!"

Wan Zangxin nodded. "There weren't many people my eldest senior brother used to associate with back in the day. I've discussed this with Sect Leader Xu and Sect Leader Xi Men, and we know that there is only one person left in Tianqu City.

"If I’m right, the person my eldest senior brother plans to kill tonight is none other than him!

"Therefore, I humbly request Chief Escort Su to help me capture my eldest senior brother."

Su Mo took a deep breath. "Since that's the case, I cannot shirk this responsibility. I will be there tonight to assist in capturing the enemy."

"With your help, Chief Escort Su, we’ll definitely succeed. I owe you one."

Wan Zangxin stood up and bowed.

Su Mo quickly helped him up. "We’re both part of the same chivalrous world. How could I remain indifferent in the face of such a matter?

"Before, I didn’t have a reason to get involved. But now that you’ve spoken, I have no reservations."

The two men exchanged a few more words before Su Mo personally saw Wan Zangxin out of the inn.

Su Mo stood there, watching as Wan Zangxin vanished into the crowd, before turning back to his room.

He fetched brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, dipped the brush in ink, and after a brief moment of contemplation, wrote a letter.

After drying the ink, Su Mo put the letter away, left the room, and came to Wei Ziyi's door.

He knocked lightly, and Wei Ziyi opened the door slightly.

She glanced at Su Mo with a quick, suspicious look. "What is it?"

"I need to talk to you."

Wei Ziyi opened the door wider but still couldn’t stand this enigmatic man.

Su Mo smiled. "You want to know what's really happening?"

"Hmph, like I care!"

Wei Ziyi sneered. "Chief Escort Su is sharp enough to see through all the lies. I, a mere woman, don't have such ability. If I stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, I might end up dead."

"That’s true."

Su Mo nodded. "Since that's the case, this important matter indeed cannot be entrusted to you."

"Wait! What’s this important matter you’re talking about?"

Su Mo smiled but shook his head. "I can't tell you just yet."

He reached into his chest and took out the letter, placing it on the table.

He tapped the envelope lightly. "I thought about sealing it in a brocade pouch, just to feel like I’m pulling off some brilliant plan."

"After some thought, I ultimately decided not to.

"Hold onto this letter. I have something important to do tonight, and your instructions are inside."

"……"

Wei Ziyi looked at Su Mo in surprise and couldn't help but purse her lips. "So mysterious..."

As she spoke, she picked up the letter and was surprised. "It feels pretty heavy."

She was just about to open it.

Su Mo interrupted, "Wait until tonight to open it."

"Ah?"

Wei Ziyi blinked in surprise, then glared at Su Mo with mock annoyance. "Then why are you giving it to me now?"

"I wrote it, so I gave it to you."

Su Mo blinked and suddenly smiled. "Maybe I should have given it to you before I left?"

"……Aren't you afraid that I'll read it in advance?"

"No."

"……Is it because reading it early has no effect?"

"Because I trust you."

Wei Ziyi looked at Su Mo suspiciously. Although the words made her feel comfortable, she remembered the saying, 'Learn from the past.'

She suddenly looked at Su Mo. "It doesn't say 'Read and initial' or anything, does it?"

"Of course not."

Su Mo gave her a deadpan look.

"Alright."

Wei Ziyi put the letter into her bosom. "What are you going to do tonight?"

"Catch a thief."

Su Mo's lips curled into a smile.

……

……

Night had fallen.

The night sky was shrouded in thick clouds, hiding the stars completely.

It was well past midnight, but the courtyard remained eerily still.

Su Mo leaned against the wall and let out a long yawn.

The courtyard door creaked open, and Luo Changsheng stepped out, chuckling at Su Mo's relaxed posture.

"Chief Escort Su, why don't we find a place for you to rest for a bit?"

"It's alright."

Su Mo smiled. "As martial artists, we can't let a little drowsiness get the better of us. How’s the situation with the person inside?"

"Elder Weng has been around the jianghu long enough to handle this without any problems."

However, just as he said this, Luo Changsheng's brows furrowed. "But right now, the Distant Mountain Sword Sect has set up multiple layers of ambushes around the courtyard, with their disciples lurking nearby."

"If Wan Daxia’s senior brother sees this setup, will he even show up?"

"I think so..."

Su Mo looked up at the sky.

"Oh?"

Luo Changsheng glanced at Su Mo in surprise. "Why?"

"Because there are always things that some people feel they have to do."

Su Mo smiled slightly and glanced at Luo Changsheng. "Isn’t that how it always goes in the jianghu?"

"That's true..."

Luo Changsheng nodded. "What were you looking at just now, Chief Escort Su?"

"Ah?"

Su Mo was startled, looked up at the sky, and said with a smile, "I just had a feeling... that it's about to rain."

"I see..."

Luo Changsheng immediately nodded. "Tonight’s been pretty tense."

"Where’s Wan Daxia?"

Su Mo asked suddenly.

"In the northern part of the courtyard..."

Just as Luo Changsheng spoke, a sudden burst of sharp sword qi shot up from the north, seemingly out of nowhere!

Without a word, they exchanged a glance, then sprang into action, dashing toward the northern part of the courtyard.

At the same time, the Distant Mountain Sword Sect disciples hiding nearby all rose one after another.

When Su Mo and Luo Changsheng arrived at the location, they saw two figures in mid-air, their swords clashing continuously!

The sword techniques they used were magnificent.

With a wave of their hands, sword qi spread in sheets, and where it passed, explosive sounds were endless.

It was like two rivers of energy colliding in the sky, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

Luo Changsheng sucked in a sharp breath at the sight.

In a fight like this, how could ordinary disciples even get close?

He immediately waved for the disciples to halt and stay back.

At that moment, he realized why Wan Zangxin had insisted on bringing Su Mo here.

In reality, in a battle of such skill, ordinary disciples were useless; only true masters could intervene.

As this thought crossed his mind, he heard Wan Zangxin call out clearly:

"Eldest senior brother, stop now, don't make another mistake!"

"Silence!"

The black-clad figure merely snorted coldly in response.

Wan Zangxin sighed deeply, and in an instant, his sword flashed several streaks of light, aiming for the black-clad figure's vital points.

However, just as this happened, the black-clad figure's body seemed to melt into the night, reappearing on the other side of Wan Zangxin.

This eerie, unpredictable movement made Luo Changsheng's face pale.

"Shadowplay! It’s truly a fiend from Evernight Valley!"

Without hesitation, Luo Changsheng's sword rang out as he drew it, ready to charge forward.

But at that very moment, the black-clad figure looked at Luo Changsheng.

With a soft exhale, the figure loosened their grip, and the sword in their hand dropped half an inch, suspended in mid-air.

Luo Changsheng froze, instinctively glancing down at his sword.

The sword in his hand began to tremble and hum.

It wasn’t just him; at that moment, all the disciples of the Distant Mountain Sword Sect heard their swords rattling.

Wan Zangxin also sensed the issue and looked up sharply at his opponent:

"Purify the heart, forget the world, and reshape the true self!

"You... you've actually reached such a realm!?"

The black-clad figure did not respond but simply turned his sword finger and spoke softly:

"Borrow your swords!"

As the four words fell, a series of sounds followed—swords being drawn one after another.

Even Su Mo felt that the sword in his box, the Dragon's Song, emitted a faint ringing sound, as if unwilling to be left out and wanting to join in.

Su Mo's brows furrowed slightly. "Back!"

With a shift of his inner energy, a crisp sound followed as the sword in the box returned to its sheath, restoring peace.

However, at that moment, the swords around the black-clad figure were already arrayed like the Milky Way, or perhaps like a stream, a heavenly spring falling from the sky!

As the black-clad figure pointed out, the humming of swords rang out continuously.

Like the flowing water of a heavenly spring, it seemed to want to cleanse the world of its troubles.