Chapter 258: Taking a Break

Chapter 258: Taking a Break

When Su Mo left that time, the winter snow had not yet melted.

In the blink of an eye, it was already approaching autumn.

Not having seen him for such a long time, at this sudden reunion, Yang Xiaoyun felt that her eyes were full of Su Mo, not wanting to shift her gaze away for a single moment.

However, she was ultimately not an ordinary woman. After gazing at him for a while, she made herself look away toward Su Mo's back.

She was surprised:

"What? So many people?"

When he left, there were only people from the escort agency initially, but now, in just a little while, there must have been at least a hundred people behind him, either riding horses or sitting in carriages.

Most of them were people she didn’t recognize.

She didn’t have time to figure out why. Quickly, she brought Su Mo over to Wei Ziyi and the others.

She saluted and said, "Young Miss Wei, it's been a while."

Wei Ziyi had already jumped off her horse and, hearing this, grinned mischievously:

"Sister Yang is looking more and more beautiful.

"Chief Escort Su has now returned to where he belongs, Sister. Rest assured, I've been keeping an eye on him for you while we were out. I wouldn't let him play around with other women."

"I truly appreciate it, Young Miss Wei."

Yang Xiaoyun was struck dumb. "This journey has been long and exhausting. It's still early, so why not join us at the escort agency for a bit?"

"No need to rush with that."

Wei Ziyi said, "I've been away for far too long this time. After meeting my ancestor, I'm afraid I'll have to travel through the night to return to Heavenly Feather City. I can't afford to waste any more time in Sunset City... There's something else I need Sister Yang's help with."

"Feel free to speak."

Yang Xiaoyun had always been straightforward.

Wei Ziyi smiled and, looking at the old and young ones beside Hu Sandao, said,

"Your chief escort took pity on these Three-Knife brothers. He couldn't stand the thought of them staying outlaws.

"So, he brought them all into the escort agency.

"However, many of them are women, children, and the elderly who obviously can't handle the hardships of being an escort. I've made sure they have temporary shelter.

"Coincidentally, I have a courtyard near the Ziyang Escort Agency.

"Unfortunately, it's gotten pretty run-down since I've been away from Sunset City for so long.

"Now, I don't even have the time to handle it... So, I need Sister Yang to help take care of it."

After hearing the situation, Yang Xiaoyun immediately smiled and said, "Isn't this more his responsibility than yours? Don't worry, I'll handle it."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister."

Wei Ziyi smiled lightly, glanced at Su Mo, and then said, "I'll head back to the City Lord's mansion to meet my ancestor. The necessary supplies will be sent over by Manager Huang. If I ever find the time in the future, I'll visit the Ziyang Escort Agency for some drinks and casual chats."

"Forget it..."

Yang Xiaoyun sighed, "I thought you would join us tonight to join in the fun."

"There'll be other chances."

Wei Ziyi looked at Su Mo, who was still holding Yang Xiaoyun's hand, then cupped her fists, "Chief Escort Su, I'm heading out then."

"Go ahead."

Su Mo nodded slightly.

Without further ado, Wei Ziyi spurred her horse and headed towards Sunset City.

Su Mo and the others didn’t delay either, just introducing Hu Sandao to Yang Xiaoyun.

Yang Xiaoyun had almost forgotten about him, but Su Mo's reminder jogged her memory. He was a bandit they ran into on the way to Wufangji.

Su Mo filled Yang Xiaoyun in on Hu Sandao's background along the way.

Yang Xiaoyun's face darkened when she heard this.

"They're testing blades on people, and Wusheng Hall just lets it happen?"

"People were saying that ever since the current hall master took over, Wusheng Hall has changed a lot.

"The ordinary folks under his rule live quite a hard life... I didn't know about it before and thought it was just a rumor.

"Turns out, it's even worse than I imagined."

Su Mo nodded slightly. As they passed the fields where people were working, he continued,

"The Heavenly Blade Sect may not be great at governance, but at least they keep people fed.

"The Fallen Phoenix Alliance is even better run. Wei Ruhan's spent most of his life focused on governance.

"Even though the eight alliance leaders are always fighting for power, as long as old man Wei is still around, the Fallen Phoenix Alliance won't fall apart.

"As long as the Fallen Phoenix Alliance is around, the people under them will keep having good days.

"Compared to them, Wusheng Hall is... a whole different story."

He looked at Yang Xiaoyun, opened his mouth, then seemed to forget what he was about to say.

Yang Xiaoyun waited but heard nothing more, and couldn't help but look up at him, "What is it?"

"I got distracted by how beautiful you look and lost my train of thought."

Yang Xiaoyun's face turned bright red and she couldn't help pinching his hand.

She instinctively looked back to make sure no one had overheard the embarrassing comment.

Once she was sure no one had, she breathed a sigh of relief and shot Su Mo a sideways glance,

"We're still outside, watch what you say..."

It was rare to see Yang Xiaoyun acting like a young girl, and Su Mo couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy, bursting out laughing.

His words didn't attract anyone's attention, but his loud laughter caught everyone's attention.

The crowd couldn't help but exchange glances, secretly finding it amusing.

The ten-li (about 3 miles) journey felt short, and to Su Mo, it felt like it passed in an instant.

Su Mo slowed down upon reaching the city gate, entering the city with the common folk.

But as they approached, the gate guard was shocked at first sight.

"Purple Sun Escort Agency, it's Chief Escort Su!?"

His voice was so loud that it immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Where? Where?"

"Where is Chief Escort Su?"

"The number one expert of the Eastern Wastes!?"

"Has he returned?"

As the questions flew, Su Mo's expression changed, realizing things were going south. He immediately signaled Li the lead escort, telling him to keep an eye on Fu Hanyuan and Hu Sandao.

He didn't have time to worry about Xu Lu and quickly grabbed Yang Xiaoyun's hand.

"Apologies," he directed this last remark at the guard.

The guard was confused, not fully getting what was happening, when he saw Su Mo leap into the air, using his head as a stepping stone to gain momentum. With this boost, Su Mo unleashed his Purple Qi Coming from the East technique.

In the blink of an eye, he was on the city wall. The next instant, he shot forward, speeding into the city.

"Hiss! The number one expert of the Eastern Wastes, what incredible lightness of body!"

Someone shielded their eyes, feeling completely outclassed.

"Chief Escort Su, wait! I want to take you on in a fight!"

Some, not realizing the danger, were just looking for fame.

"Where is he? Where is he?"

A blind expert kept asking, unable to find Su Mo, and could only keep inquiring.

But with one move of Purple Qi Coming from the East and then employing his divine transformation technique, Su Mo vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

…

…

The gentle breeze brushed against their hair, and their clothes fluttered noisily.

Held in Su Mo's embrace, Yang Xiaoyun didn't need to exert any effort, allowing him to carry her through the air.

When he lowered his head, he saw the tiles and figures being thrown away, and for a moment, he felt a surge of joy.

When he looked up again, he saw the tall building looming ahead of him.

Su Mo lightly tapped his toe on the roof's edge and leaped into the air. After a few more jumps, he reached the top.

Yang Xiaoyun was still holding onto Su Mo tightly, and he had no intention of putting her down either.

After a moment of just standing together, Yang Xiaoyun reluctantly let go of Su Mo and looked over with a smile.

"You haven't taken me home, so why did you bring me to the top of the Lingjue Tower?"

The Lingjue Tower is a restaurant. It might not be the best restaurant in Sunset City, but it was undoubtedly the tallest building in the entire city.

From here, you can see the entire view of Sunset City.

Su Mo chuckled:

"If we go back now, we'll definitely be hounded. Let's just chill here and hide out for a bit."

"I haven't even washed my face yet, you know."

Yang Xiaoyun said with a smile as she poked Su Mo's nose with her finger. "Uncle Fu would have a fit."

"How is he doing?"

Su Mo asked hurriedly.

"He's very energetic."

Yang Xiaoyun smiled. "It's just that you've been away for too long this time, and he's always been worried. He didn't dare bring it up in front of me, afraid that it would make me miss you too."

"I didn't expect that this trip would last this long either."

Su Mo gently shook his head. "Let me fill you in on my experiences from this trip."

The news of his return would surely spread like wildfire across Sunset City.

The entrance of the escort agency had probably already become a hotspot for trouble.

Going back now would definitely not be peaceful, so he figured he'd stay here with Yang Xiaoyun for a while, avoiding the chaos and sharing some intimate words.

Yang Xiaoyun nodded, and the two sat down on the rooftop. She gently leaned on his shoulder, quietly listening as he talked about his experiences on this trip.

When it came to talking to Yang Xiaoyun, naturally, nothing was left out.

From how the trip started, to the people he met, the things he encountered, and the decisions he made… and everything in between…

Of course, regarding the matters with Wei Ziyi and Little Situ Taoist, Su Mo hadn't brought those up for the time being.

Wei Ziyi was still manageable, as it was only Wei Ruhan who had a crush on her. Even though the Third Palace Master and the Second Palace Master were causing problems, and even Duan Song had betrayed them, it was still different.

But when it came to Little Situ Taoist, it wasn't so easy to talk about, and Su Mo really didn't know how to broach the subject with Yang Xiaoyun.

When he mentioned He's Old Inn, Yang Xiaoyun nodded and said, "Steward He arrived early, and I have already followed your instructions in the letter.

"Someone who can run an inn in the dangerous world of the jianghu certainly can't be considered an honest and upright person."

"But after this change, he has become utterly loyal to you.

"I observed him for a while, and now he is gradually and steadily taking over the tasks of the accounting office. Uncle Fu is pretty satisfied with him too.

"His family has already been settled, though they haven’t purchased any property for the time being. I was thinking of waiting until you returned to decide whether to set him up with a home outside the escort agency.

"Hmm, your plan is sound."

Su Mo nodded in understanding. "There are many disabled people in his family who were injured by vicious thugs. In their daily lives, make sure Uncle Fu looks after them more."

"Got it."

After that, Su Mo continued to tell Yang Xiaoyun about what he saw and heard along the river.

Qi Shaoming, the Waterborne Yanluo himself, wanted to form an alliance on the river.

Wan Zangxin drew his sword in East City and carried out those three major deeds.

Yang Xiaoyun listened quietly and attentively, occasionally voicing her confusion, and the two of them briefly discussed.

One spoke, the other listened, with occasional quiet discussions, and time passed in this manner.

As the sun began to set, Su Mo finally recounted the overall details and course of his journey.

Yang Xiaoyun was left stunned and speechless. "In Tianqu City, you killed Sect Leader Youquan with a single palm strike and punched the Night Demon Lord to death in the riverine city.

"This news came back much earlier than you did. I knew right away that your journey must have been incredibly dangerous.

"But I didn't expect you to have walked straight into Night Lord's schemes.

"It seems that the Night Lord had long been scheming for the riverine area, and his goal was certainly not just the riverine area."

"He wants the riverine area for something else entirely."

Su Mo smiled. "He simply aims to bring this key passageway under his control. If he succeeds, there will be no end to trouble in the southwest."

"Even so, the southwest will certainly not remain peaceful."

Yang Xiaoyun's brows furrowed slightly. "The Night Lord's sights are set on the larger picture of the Eastern Wildlands!

"He laid out his plans along the river, and we saw through them. He used a strategy of feinting east while attacking west, but also openly repaired the roads while secretly crossing the Chen Cang. He ambushed troops in Qingxiu Mountain City, with the ultimate goal of dealing with the Demon Forest.

"After that, he lured Sect Leader Youquan to Tianqu City with a letter, where you killed him.

"Judging from his plans, this probably isn't everything."

"Do you remember the Wusheng Hall's Ren Xiongfei I mentioned before?"

"Of course I remember."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded.

"I used this opportunity to test the Night Lord at the Wangliang Court."

Su Mo smiled. "The Night Lord immediately saw through my identity and knew that I definitely was not Ren Xiongfei.

"...East City and the Wusheng Hall are thousands of miles apart."

"Even though the Night Lord has eyes and ears everywhere, it would be absolutely impossible for him to know you're not Ren Xiongfei in an instant."

Yang Xiaoyun sighed, "It seems that Ren Xiongfei is indeed a piece placed by the Night Lord within the Wusheng Hall. The villains that Master He and his people encountered at He Family Inn were connected to this."

At that moment, Yang Xiaoyun suddenly looked at Su Mo:

"Is the Night Lord planning to make a move against the Fallen Phoenix Alliance?"

"It's not just the Fallen Phoenix Alliance,..."

Su Mo looked at her, "He is planning to seize the Wusheng Hall first."

"...Is it about that plan involving Wan Zangxin?"

Yang Xiaoyun immediately realized this.

Su Mo nodded, "The words I spoke to Wan Zangxin back then were actually the worst option..."

"The worst option?"

Yang Xiaoyun was taken aback. Su Mo had just explained Wan Zangxin's background and the Night Lord's plans involving him.

It was all about making the incestuous relationship between the siblings public.

Then having the fake Wan Zangxin acknowledge it...

This plan had the potential to upend the entire Wusheng Hall.

How could it be the worst option?

She saw Su Mo's gaze move towards her, "What if Wan Yutang is truly Wan Zangxin's father?"

"..."

Yang Xiaoyun was dumbfounded, "If that's truly the case..."

The next moment, her eyes widened, "Is that what you're saying?"

"If I were the Night Lord, I would completely exploit this advantage and subdue the enemy without fighting.

"Simply by using Ren Xiongfei to convey this to Wan Yutang... if Wan Yutang wants to keep this secret, he would have to follow the Night Lord's orders.

"Do you think Wan Yutang would choose?"

Yang Xiaoyun couldn't help gasping, "This decades-long plan could very well be a reality.

"You... you realized this back then but chose not to tell Wan Zangxin?"

"How could I?"

Su Mo sighed, "He was seeking death at that time. If I had told him about this speculation, would he still have the courage to return to the Wusheng Hall? The truth is too cruel for him.

"And... is what I said really the truth?

"It's just speculation based on clues, not the ultimate truth.

"The reality is far more absurd than we can imagine..."

"This..."

Yang Xiaoyun sighed, "Now that Wan Zangxin has gone to Wusheng Hall, if it's ultimately confirmed that he's Wan Yutang's son, what shall we do?"

"This isn't so easy to investigate."

Su Mo said, "Actually, we need to go to Wusheng Hall next… no, you and I should go."

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Yang Xiaoyun's hand. "Now that the various matters within the Ziyang Escort Agency should have been settled, I don’t want to leave you at home while I go out into the jianghu alone anymore."

It was rare to see Su Mo show such emotion, and Yang Xiaoyun felt her heart fill with joy. However, the next moment, a gleam of excitement flickered in her eyes.

"You suddenly want to go to Wusheng Hall—is it because of Xu Lu's letter?"

"Exactly."

Su Mo then explained the contents of Yang Yizhi's letter to Yang Xiaoyun.

Yang Xiaoyun kept nodding as she listened. "So, we really can't afford to waste any more time at the escort agency… but, after all this traveling and hard work, don't you need to rest?"

"There's no time to lose..."

Su Mo sighed. "Yang Uncle has already been waiting for too long. How can I make him wait any longer? Besides, with so many loose ends, how can I rest easy?"

"Should we let Dad wait for another two days?"

Yang Xiaoyun gave a playful wink. "With Ling Yi and the others around, they should be able to keep him from acting rashly, and it's been this long already."

"If your dad knew his little darling was causing trouble, wouldn't he want to fight me?"

Su Mo said with a wry smile, then looked at the sky. "It's getting late. We can't stand here blocking the door forever. If that doesn't work, we'll sneak in through the back."

"Alright."

Yang Xiaoyun immediately nodded; she always listened to Su Mo.

They immediately turned around and headed back to the escort agency.

While on the way, Yang Xiaoyun said to Su Mo, "Ever since you made a big splash in Tianqu City, orders at the escort agency have been pouring in like snowflakes.

"There are quite a few going towards Wusheng Hall, but we haven't taken that route before, so all the requests have been put on hold.

"Have you come up with a reason to go to Wusheng Hall?"

"Find a suitable job, not too much cargo, and travel light.

"And then..."

Su Mo went over his plan with Yang Xiaoyun.

After listening, Yang Xiaoyun was silent for a while. "What kind of karma did Wan Zangxin bring upon himself in his past life? He was schemed against by Ye Jun for half his life, and now he's being used by you."

Su Mo was taken aback; he hadn't thought of it that way before.

After Yang Xiaoyun mentioned it, he also found it somewhat amusing and finally shook his head helplessly.

"There's no way around it. Who made him so useful?"