Chapter 257: Going Home

Chapter 257: Going Home

Su Mo was silent for a long while.

Who would have thought that you had a roast chicken hidden in your arms?

The elderly man held the pig's trotter, eating it with great relish, his eyes taking in the lake and mountain scenery, completely ignoring everyone else.

Su Mo gave a slight bow and said, "Sorry to bother you."

Although the elderly man had arrived silently, it seemed from his demeanor that he truly meant no harm.

Su Mo didn't want to complicate matters.

According to the itinerary, they would arrive at Three Rivers Bay after noon today.

They would get off the ship directly then.

As for the elderly man...

Su Mo had already guessed that Mr. Zhan's ship had experts on board.

He had approached to talk earlier just out of curiosity, as the hidden experts on the ship had not shown themselves during the journey.

Now, suddenly appearing behind him and Wei Ziyi, startling them, but why?

Seeing him now, it seemed he was just there to eat the pig's trotter, so Su Mo didn't want to bother him further.

After a quick glance at Wei Ziyi, they were about to leave.

But then the elderly man suddenly looked away, scanning their faces one by one, and burst into laughter:

"Good, very good."

Wei Ziyi frowned and asked, "What's so good?"

"I see the two of you, looking like a perfect match, couldn't be better.

"Not only do you look good together, but you're also fertile, able to have two kids in three years, no problem."

The elderly man laughed heartily, clearly pleased with himself.

Wei Ziyi blushed deeply, her eyebrows furrowing in anger, but she instinctively glanced at Su Mo.

She noticed that Su Mo seemed even less bothered by the comment, just smiling and asking:

"Senior, can you really read fortunes?"

"He definitely can't."

Wei Ziyi couldn't help but mutter, "That's nonsense."

"Young lady, watch your mouth."

Hearing this, the elderly man shot a glare at Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ziyi wasn't scared of him?

She shot back an even fiercer glare: "It's clearly you, old man, spouting nonsense."

"Whether I'm just blowing smoke or not, we'll see as we go along," the old man snorted and gave Su Mo another look.

"Your judgment isn't bad, kid, but you're in for a tough time.

"This guy, though he keeps to himself and avoids romantic drama, can't seem to escape it... a real mess, tsk tsk, kind of enviable.

"It reminds me of another guy from way back..."

Su Mo was speechless: "Old man, you've got it wrong."

"My eyes are sharp as a hawk's; I don't make mistakes."

The old man looked at Su Mo with a half-smile: "Our meeting today is fate. I can't give you the roast chicken, but I've got something else for you."

"How can I take something without earning it?"

Su Mo waved his hand: "Thanks for the offer, old man, but we gotta go."

"You sure you don't want it?"

The old man stared at Su Mo.

Su Mo gently shook his head.

"Fine, fine."

The old man pursed his lips: "The scenery's great right now; don't ruin it. Get going, get going!"

Wei Ziyi was even more ticked off by this. The beautiful scenery wasn't his alone.

How was it in his way?

But though the anger rose in her heart, she didn't voice it.

Su Mo grabbed her wrist and led her away, quickly leaving the old man behind.

Once the old man was out of sight, Wei Ziyi turned to Su Mo:

"Is that the expert from Mr. Zhan's ship?"

"So you figured it out too."

Su Mo smiled.

"I'm not dumb, you know!"

Wei Ziyi was immediately dissatisfied with this remark, emphasizing, "I'm really smart, I swear!"

"Sure, sure."

Su Mo nodded repeatedly.

When they first met, she was sharp, but lately she just didn't seem to want to think.

"What's the story with that old guy?"

Seeing Su Mo nod, Wei Ziyi didn't bother with whether he meant it or not and started thinking about the old man's motives.

Su Mo gently shook his head: "We've only just met, and he hasn't shown any martial arts skills. How could I possibly tell anything about him?"

"That's true."

Wei Ziyi smiled: "So, with your skills, have you figured out what he's after?"

Su Mo was taken aback, giving Wei Ziyi a thoughtful look:

"Young Miss Wei, do you have something to teach me?"

"...Who would dare?"

Wei Ziyi pouted: "I just think you must have noticed something fishy. Otherwise, why would you refuse when he offered you something?"

"I don't accept gifts without a good reason."

Su Mo explained.

"...You're pulling my leg, right?"

Wei Ziyi glanced at him sideways: "Others might not know you, but I sure do. When you first met Mr. Zhan, why did you accept his telescope?"

"That's a different story, isn't it?"

"Then just tell me, did you see anything or not?"

"How could I tell? Even if there was something, it'd just be a shot in the dark."

Su Mo looked back at the place, his eyes slightly contemplative, then pushed Wei Ziyi: "Let's head back."

"Stop pushing, I can walk on my own... By the way, why did that old man say you're always surrounded by admirers?"

"Are you seeing someone else?"

"Not at all."

"You're clearly lying to me."

"What makes you so sure?"

"I just know, no explanation needed!"

"Sure of yourself without any reason?"

"Exactly! I have to warn you, think about Sister Yang before you do anything..."

......

......

As Su Mo and Wei Ziyi argued, the old man on the deck had already polished off a pig's trotter.

Then he pulled out a roasted chicken from his pocket and started eating it with gusto.

"Couldn't get rid of it?"

A voice came from behind him.

The old man didn't bother to turn around, just tore off the chicken's butt, picked at it carefully, then stuffed it into his mouth, chewing noisily.

"If he doesn't want it, how can I force it on him?"

"You've been playing this idle game for more than forty years, wasting over thirty years here in the Eastern Wilderness alone.

"What you were supposed to find remains unfound, and now, how many pieces remain on the board?"

"The world is the chessboard, and all living beings are the pieces."

At this, the old man tore off a chicken head and turned to look at the young man sitting on the cabin:

"Xiao Liu, here's a chicken head for you."

With a flick of his hand, the chicken head buzzed through the air toward the young man.

The young man casually spread his hand, and the chicken head was caught between his two fingers.

After a glance at the chicken head, he shook his head slightly:

"Neither the chicken head nor its tail is what I desire... you should keep this chicken head for yourself."

With a flick of his palm, the chicken head shot back.

It didn't seem like an offer to eat, but rather as if he intended to pierce through the old man with it.

The old man simply turned, opened his mouth, and caught the chicken head, then tilted his head back, crunching it loudly.

After finishing, he muttered:

"Young people these days always aim too high, whether it's eating, playing chess, or walking, it all has to be done step by step.

"The game in the Eastern Wilderness is getting more and more interesting."

"I fear there are too many variables, and it's already slipped from your control."

"That's precisely what makes it interesting."

The old man didn't mind, but when he looked up, the young man was already turning away.

Only his voice came through:

"Once you're done eating, head back early. If you keep showing off, remember he's no ordinary man—be careful, or you might not even make it back to Xizhou."

"If I can't return, so be it. Is it really such a big deal?"

The old man muttered under his breath, then tore off a chicken leg and put it into his mouth, gazing at the landscape before him, clearly pleased.

……

……

Three Rivers Bay dock.

After a headcount confirmed no one was missing, Su Mo went to say goodbye to Mr. Zhan.

"Chief Escort Su, why not travel with the ship?

"After all, the ship still has to make a trip to the Fallen Phoenix Alliance."

Mr. Zhan seemed a bit reluctant to part.

Su Mo smiled: "I'm accustomed to traveling overland, and with so many of us eating and drinking on the ship, Mr. Zhan, you won't accept payment. How could I possibly impose any longer?"

"Well... if I had known, I would have taken a bit of your silver to keep you all a bit longer."

Mr. Zhan smiled bitterly.

"We'll have plenty of chances in the future."

Su Mo said with a smile: "When I make my way to the South Sea someday, if fate brings us together again, I'll be sure to impose on you once more."

"Consider it a deal."

Mr. Zhan immediately nodded, and after a moment of thought, he pulled out a plaque from his robe.

Su Mo was at a loss for words; he now got a headache just looking at plaques.

His small bag was already stuffed with tokens.

First, there was the Phoenix Call Order from the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, then came the Sword Division Order from the Sword Nurturing Cottage, and later, the Heavenly Blade Order from the Heavenly Blade Sect.

Back at the Purple Sun Sect, he picked up the Purple Sun Order.

Little Situ Taoist got in on the act too, handing him a token from the Suspension Pot Pavilion.

Then, he got his hands on the Yin-Yang Life and Death Order.

All told, he now had seven tokens.

Now, Mr. Zhan also took out a plaque and handed it to Su Mo:

"This is the VIP Order, crafted by the Hundred Merchant Guilds of the South Sea.

"As the name suggests, show this order at any of the Hundred Merchant Guilds, and you'll be treated like a VIP.

"I can't promise every request will be granted, but for small things like restocking supplies or adding gear to the ship, you'll be taken care of.

"Best of all, it won't cost you a thing.

"My shop is part of the Hundred, so I have one of these plaques too.

"Chief Escort Su, take it, please. If you ever set foot in the South Sea in the future, you can find me with this order."

Hearing this, Su Mo had no choice but to accept it:

"Then thank you, Mr. Zhan."

"You're too generous, truly."

Mr. Zhan gently exhaled: "In that case, I'll set up a banquet on the South Sea, awaiting the grand arrival of Chief Escort Su!"

"Good, then until we meet again!"

"Until we meet again!"

After bidding farewell with a cupped fist, Mr. Zhan left first.

It seemed he couldn't wait to sell the goods from the Eastern Wilderness to the sea.

Su Mo stood by the dock, seeing him off first.

After staring for a while, he looked at the token in his hand again, thought for a moment, and then stashed it in his small pack.

Turning around, he led a large group away from the Three Rivers Bay dock.

After that, they continued their journey to Sunset City without much to say...

They traveled on and on, with little to remark upon.

However, along the way, he kept hearing rumors about Su Mo.

The same two incidents were being told in countless ways.

Ordinary martial artists gossiping in taverns and teahouses was one thing.

But storytellers went further, turning these tales into books, divided into many parts, each day telling a new segment.

As Su Mo journeyed, he heard various storytellers spin different tales about him.

Not only the stories, but his image varied too.

Some described Su Mo as a modest, jade-like gentleman, incredibly suave.

Others claimed he was so strong he could crush a tiger to death with his armpit.

His weapons were described in various ways.

Most agreed he carried a box on his back.

But what was inside that box was anyone's guess.

Those in the know said it was a Dragon Roar Sword.

Those who didn't know just made stuff up.

Some said it held a purple-gold hammer, others the world's top hidden weapon, though they couldn't name it.

Su Mo figured this guy hadn't even thought of a name.

But the craziest claim was that the box held a Fang Tian Hua Ji!

He'd never heard of such a thing. How big would the box need to be?

Carrying that around every day, wouldn't it just drag on the ground?

This journey left Su Mo helpless, while Wei Ziyi and others laughed.

They even teased Su Mo about it... though only Wei Ziyi dared.

No one else would dare.

As Su Mo's reputation grew, he developed an aura of authority, though he stayed the same.

His subordinates respected him and rarely stepped out of line.

The most common news he heard was that the Fallen Phoenix Alliance would soon hold an internal conference.

This meeting would take place within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

The time was likely within the next few months, but the exact date had not yet been determined.

The purpose of this grand assembly is solely for the transition of the position of the Grand Alliance Leader.

The long and chaotic struggle for the Grand Alliance Leader position is finally nearing its conclusion.

From an outsider's perspective, the situation within the alliance seems like a three-way battle.

Originally, they thought it was impossible for Wei Ruhan to pass the Grand Alliance Leader position to his granddaughter, Wei Ziyi.

Previously, the city lord of Zhongfu City was killed by Su Mo with a single palm strike, and the position of city lord was taken over by Chi Lu.

Chi Lu later pledged loyalty to Wei Ruhan after Su Mo used Wei Ruhan's Phoenix Command and left him with a message.

This matter spread far and wide, and the unresolved position of deputy city lord became a point of strategic importance.

Ultimately, the position of deputy city lord was secured by Wu Daoyou.

From then on, the situation reversed, with Wu Daoyou, having the merit of expanding the alliance's influence, occupying nearly half of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

Only Hua Qianyu remained capable of competing with Wu Daoyou.

But in the end, it was still uncertain who would come out on top.

At that critical moment, Wei Ziyi did not stay within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance to strategize but instead left for East City.

Many saw this move as unwise at the time.

By leaving, she effectively cut herself off from the core of power within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

She no longer had the ability to compete with the other two factions.

But no one expected that after traveling to East City with Su Mo, Su Mo would be crowned the number one martial artist in the Eastern Wilderness.

This achievement far outweighed anything Wu Daoyou had accomplished.

Frankly speaking, if Su Mo were to truly involve himself in the struggle for the Fallen Phoenix Alliance and fully support Wei Ziyi,

then Wei Ziyi's ascension to the position of Grand Alliance Leader would be a piece of cake!

Now, the biggest question mark is Su Mo's attitude towards this matter.

However, what really piques everyone's curiosity is the relationship between Su Mo and Wei Ziyi.

Wei Ruhan never speaks much about this matter, and even when someone tries to probe, he only says that the two are kindred spirits.

But even if they are just friends, no one would dare underestimate them.

Thus, the three-way battle is now in motion!

For a while, some are deeply worried, while others feel uneasy.

However, most are concerned about the uncertainty of the future situation, hoping that everything will go off without a hitch and with as little conflict as possible.

As for this matter, the only thing Su Mo is curious about is what Wei Ruhan is truly aiming for.

He is someone who has a firm grasp on the situation within the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

To him, there’s no suspense in what outsiders see.

Wei Ruhan has been carefully planning, and in the end, he has designed this situation, undoubtedly with a clear goal.

I just wonder, once the hook is cast, who will be the one to take the bait?

In any case, the truth will come out in a few months, so Su Mo didn’t dwell on it.

In the blink of an eye, a pavilion came into view ahead of the group.

The Ten Miles Pavilion outside Sunset City!

As Su Mo gazed at the distant pavilion, memories flooded back—the first time he’d been caught up in the struggle for the Mysterious Mechanism Token, stopping to rest at the Ten Miles Pavilion outside Sunset City.

In his memory, it was here that Yang Xiaoyun, whom he hadn’t seen in years, first came into view.

Heroic and spirited, with a boldness that could match any man’s.

Now, as he looked at the pavilion again, it was as if he could see her—the graceful figure, spear in hand, standing tall and proud.

Then the figure sprang to life, racing toward him.

Su Mo was stunned. What shadow was this?

It was none other than Yang Xiaoyun!

In a daze, he couldn’t wait any longer. With a light tap on the horse’s back, he leaped forward.

After landing, they stood just a step apart, steadying themselves, their eyes locked in silent understanding.

Their eyes held a thousand unspoken words.

But when it came to speaking, the words escaped them.

After a long silence, Yang Xiaoyun finally murmured:

“You’ve gotten thinner.”

Su Mo instinctively touched his face and gave a faint smile. “Not too bad.”

“You must not be eating or sleeping well. That’s why you’ve lost weight.”

A flicker of heartache crossed Yang Xiaoyun’s eyes as she gently reached for Su Mo’s hand.

Su Mo, at a loss for words, instinctively held her hand and exhaled deeply:

“What are you doing here, waiting for me?”

“I could feel you coming back.”

Yang Xiaoyun didn’t pull away, just said softly:

“It’s like every step you take toward Sunset City brings you closer to my heart.

“My heart was racing. I couldn’t hold back anymore—I kept wondering when you’d return. And then, here you are.”

“So you’ve been waiting here for a while, haven’t you?”

“No matter how long it takes, I’d wait.”

She gazed at Su Mo quietly, then broke into a smile. “Having you come home is all that matters.”

“Yes, I’m home.”