Chapter 271: The Might of a Flick!

Chapter 271: The Might of a Flick!

The City Lord's Mansion.

Zeng Youwang held a teacup, gently skimming the leaves within.

Just as he was about to take a sip, he put the cup down again.

He glanced at the subordinate standing before him:

"Did he actually say that?"

"Yes, after saying that, he left with his companions, and none of the hundreds of martial artists on the street dared to stop him."

The man slightly lowered his head, not daring to meet Zeng Youwang's eyes.

Zeng Youwang gently shook his head:

"He is trying to assert his authority. Ever since Profound Theory Valley, his reputation has skyrocketed.

"This trip to East City has brought him to the pinnacle...

"However, with the pinnacle comes a lot of skepticism.

"Yesterday, Wang Dingsheng appeared out of nowhere, and now it seems he was here for this matter.

"Using the inexplicable identity of 'Wang Ergou' to challenge Su Mo.

"If Su Mo had underestimated him and actually exchanged a few blows, the title of the number one in the Eastern Wasteland would be even more in doubt.

"After this news spreads throughout the martial world, the situation will become even murkier.

"Unfortunately, Xu Lu's intervention completely reduced Wang Dingsheng's plan to ashes.

"Today, with Su Mo asserting his authority, he can further intimidate a group of petty villains.

"This Su Mo... is indeed an extraordinary person."

The subordinate standing there pondered for a moment and then said in a low voice:

"The City Lord is wise; Su Mo's martial arts are truly fearsome."

"Fearsome, you say?"

Zeng Youwang glanced at the man and gently shook his head: "What he has shown so far is still far from truly fearsome.

"What I find impressive about him is his temperament and tactics.

"In such a tangled situation, he can easily see through the core of the matter, allowing him to go all in.

"If he hadn't killed to assert his authority today, the road ahead would have been even more difficult for him."

At this point, he couldn't help but frown.

Su Mo's insight and intelligence were extraordinary, which made him somewhat concerned. Did he overstep with his actions yesterday?

If Su Mo had noticed any clues, could his visit last night have had another motive?

But upon further reflection, he felt it unlikely.

He had already looked into this matter in great detail.

Though Wei Ruhan had tried to play matchmaker between Su Mo and Wei Ziyi, hoping to marry off his daughter to the top dog of the Eastern Wasteland, Su Mo hadn’t budged.

His attitude so far was just out of friendship with Wei Ziyi. He never crossed the line.

This was exactly why his actions had driven a wedge between him and Wei Ruhan.

Though Su Mo didn’t say it outright last night, his attitude made it clear he held a grudge against Wei Ruhan.

After a moment’s thought, he sipped his tea.

Noticing this, his subordinate in the hall asked quietly, "Boss, what’s the plan?"

"Hmm?"

Zeng Youwang gave him a faint smile:

"The Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron?

"It’s just a rumor. Risking your life for it is downright laughable.

"You’re not thinking you’ll become some legendary fighter just by wielding a sword, are you?"

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

The man quickly shook his head.

"But..."

Zeng Youwang smiled again, "Get a few people to blend in and make their move when the time’s right."

"Ah?"

The man was startled, "Isn’t this not worth the trouble?"

"The Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron isn’t worth the fight."

Zeng Youwang said indifferently, "But slowing him down a bit wouldn’t hurt. If someone’s trying to stir the pot, let’s make it even murkier."

"Got it. I’ll take my leave."

"Go, keep it quiet. People can die, but don’t blow their cover."

"Understood."

The man in the hall nodded and vanished in a flash.

Zeng Youwang gazed at the tea leaves in his cup, deep in thought.

"The top dog of the Eastern Wasteland... Without bloodshed, who’d really buy it?

"But where do I go from here?"

...

After leaving Jinyang City, they spurred their horses westward, racing at full speed.

Accompanied by a rumbling noise, it was the sound of Zhen Xiaoxiao pounding the ground as she ran.

It wasn’t that Su Mo and the others were mistreating her, but her weight was simply too much for any horse to bear.

In no time, they had covered dozens of miles.

Yang Xiaoyun looked back and then spoke:

"No one’s tailing us, not even the Fallen Phoenix Alliance."

Su Mo smiled: "Zeng Youwang would love to see me humiliated in front of these people. Even if they chased us, they’d have to change their names and disguise themselves before making a sneaky move."

"You’ve got a point."

Yang Xiaoyun also smiled upon hearing this: "But after passing through Jinyang City this time, the Sixth Leader of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance didn’t make an appearance?"

"Sister Xiaoyun, what do you think kept him from showing up?"

"...Avoiding suspicion."

Yang Xiaoyun pondered slightly and said: "From the looks of it, this Zeng Youwang, the leader, has already pledged allegiance to Wu Daoyou. And outwardly, you’re Young Miss Wei’s supporter.

"If the Sixth Leader showed up now, he’d be caught in a bind.

"More likely, it’d make people think he’s already picked a side, and in Jinyang City, he’d struggle to keep his standing."

"Hahaha."

Su Mo laughed: "The Fallen Phoenix Alliance’s game is nearly over. Once the pond’s drained, I wonder which fish and shrimp will still be flopping around, and what rocks will surface...

"Old Wei’s handling this, so we don’t need to sweat it. What needed to be done has been done. Everyone, brace yourselves—the road ahead won’t be smooth."

Yang Xiaoyun laughed heartily upon hearing this:

"You’ve been in East City for months, and I’ve been itching for a fight. Hearing this just amps me up."

Hu Sandao figured the best he could do was stay out of Su Mo and the others’ way.

So he kept his mouth shut.

As she ran, Zhen Xiaoxiao couldn’t help glancing at Su Mo:

"Boss, what’s for lunch today?"

Su Mo didn’t even bother answering her.

They pressed on, and as noon approached, the journey remained uneventful.

Of course, there were other travelers on the road, each heading their own way, so there was no reason to interact.

Before they knew it, the sun was nearly at its peak.

They considered finding some shade to rest, nibble on dry rations, and Zhen Xiaoxiao still had some ‘snacks’ from last night. Though not filling, they’d stave off hunger for a bit.

At first glance, a tea house stood by the roadside.

The weather was hot, and the words "Cool Tea" on the sign were quite enticing.

Beside the tea house, several carriages and horses were tethered, and the place was bustling.

Yang Xiaoyun glanced at the carriages, a few of which bore flags.

The flags fluttered in the wind, with the words "Yangwei" quite eye-catching.

"The Yangwei Escort Agency!?"

Yang Xiaoyun looked at Su Mo.

Su Mo nodded slightly; it was surprising to run into the Yangwei Escort Agency here.

After a brief pause, Su Mo simply said:

"Since our paths have crossed, we can't simply turn a blind eye. Let's go and see who is leading the Yangwei Escort Agency and greet them."

"Alright."

Yang Xiaoyun also nodded.

While they could have avoided the encounter, it wouldn’t look good if word got around.

Of the three major escort agencies in Sunset City, only the Yangwei Escort Agency was left, and it had already been overshadowed by the Ziyang Escort Agency.

Especially after Su Mo's reputation spread, the Ziyang Escort Agency had become synonymous with being the best in the Eastern Wasteland.

By comparison, the Yangwei Escort Agency paled in significance.

Now that their paths had crossed, regardless of Su Mo's current troubles, if they avoided the encounter today, rumors would inevitably spread, saying, "The Ziyang Escort Agency is all talk—they didn’t even have the guts to show their face when they met the Yangwei Escort Agency."

So approaching them now wasn’t about Su Mo trying to prove a point.

It was simply the way of the martial world—sometimes you have no choice.

As they spoke, the group had already arrived outside the tea house. As they tied up their horses, the patrons inside the tea house had already turned their gaze toward them.

However, since Su Mo's group did not display any flags, few recognized them.

Whether they genuinely didn’t recognize them or were feigning ignorance, it was hard to tell at the moment.

Su Mo's gaze swept across and noticed a few people sitting in a corner of the tea house.

Although they had little interaction with the Yangwei Escort Agency, they were not complete strangers.

After all, a young Chief Escort like Ji Feiyang, who was as reclusive as a maiden, was rare.

Su Mo immediately recognized that the leader among them was Jiao Wenhao, the young Chief Escort of the Yangwei Escort Agency.

And when Su Mo saw him, Jiao Wenhao also looked up and saw Su Mo.

As their eyes met, Jiao Wenhao stood up immediately.

He instantly recognized Su Mo.

This was inevitable; in the same city, Su Mo's reputation far surpassed that of Jiao Wenhao.

Whether before or after the battle of Profound Theory Valley.

Su Mo's reputation has always been this prominent.

In the past, he was notoriously known as a playboy, and whenever Su Mo was mentioned, it was always a warning not to follow his example.

Now, he is celebrated as a master, and when people talk about him, it is mostly with admiration.

Jiao Wenhao had encountered Su Mo a few times in the past, but they had never spoken.

One was a dragon soaring through the heavens.

The other was a worm wallowing in the mud.

Naturally, there was no common ground.

Later, when Su Mo rose to fame, Jiao Wenhao was surprised, but he didn’t give it much thought.

He never expected to run into Su Mo at this teahouse today.

For a moment, his heart sank.

The Purple Sun Escort Agency is now at its peak, while the Yangwei Escort Agency holds onto a single route to the west.

Seeing Su Mo on this route, does it not mean that Su Mo aims to take over this path?

With a deep sigh, he clasped his hands in greeting:

"Chief Escort Su."

"Young Chief Escort Jiao Wenhao."

Su Mo smiled, "Seeing Yangwei Escort’s banner at the entrance, I thought I might run into some of their esteemed members. I didn’t expect you, Young Chief Escort Jiao, to be leading the team yourself. It’s been years, but you’re as impressive as ever. Truly admirable."

Hearing this, Jiao Wenhao let out a sigh of relief.

He’d been worried Su Mo might show up rudely, looking to embarrass Yangwei Escort. Running into each other on the road was one thing, and Ziyang Escort’s purpose for this route could wait.

If Su Mo used his current fame to tarnish Yangwei Escort’s reputation here, that would be a problem.

Seeing Su Mo’s politeness, Jiao Wenhao’s face lit up with a smile:

"Chief Escort Su, you’re too kind. Running into each other like this must be fate. If you don’t mind, take a seat and let’s chat."

"No need, no need."

Su Mo waved his hand, stopping the escorts who were about to stand up to offer their seats, and said with a smile:

"I was just passing by, saw Yangwei Escort’s banner, and thought I’d stop in to say hello.

"I won’t intrude any longer. Please, go about your business."

Hearing this, Jiao Wenhao immediately understood why Su Mo had come over to greet them. In the martial world, such courtesies are well understood.

He smiled and said, "Alright, then I won’t disturb Chief Escort Su. When I have the chance, I’ll definitely drop by for your advice."

"Good."

Just meeting each other doesn’t mean we have to do anything. A quick hello or a nod is enough. None of us are scared to see each other, so it’s fine.

Su Mo guided his group to their seats, and Zhen Xiaoxiao jumped in right away, nearly ordering a feast.

Luckily, Yang Xiaoyun stepped in, saving the wallet from a big hit.

Right after Su Mo sat down, he noticed a few people getting up, tossed a piece of silver onto the table, and then left in a hurry.

He glanced at their table; the food was fresh, barely touched.

They were heading west, he noticed.

Yang Xiaoyun caught this too and shot a look at Su Mo, who gave a slight shake of his head, so she stayed quiet.

By the time their food came, Jiao Wenhao’s group was nearly done.

He stood to settle the bill, gave Su Mo a quick nod, and then took off with his crew in their carriage.

Hu Sandao looked in the direction they left and then said:

"Boss, up ahead is Guan Yue Ridge. The land’s high on both sides—perfect for ambushes. Any juicy targets come through, we can hit ‘em hard."

Su Mo nodded slightly: "Do you have any connections here?"

Hu Sandao scratched his head: "When I passed by the King's Village at Guan Yue Ridge before, I visited and had a nodding acquaintance with their third-in-command.

"However, times have changed, and I'm not sure if this face still works."

"Even if it used to work, it’s likely useless now."

Su Mo smiled, "Let's pass through as quickly as possible. Everyone, watch out for tripwires. We don't have a convoy here, so we might not catch their attention. If a conflict breaks out... and if your charm doesn't work, and they insist on making trouble, then we'll cut through them.

"After the matter is settled, we'll come back and take down the Bandit King's Fortress."

Hu Sandao felt a chill, and only then did he understand Su Mo's style.

When he was kind to people, he was truly a good person, always smiling and down-to-earth, without any pretensions.

Back in East City, seeing Su Mo so approachable had genuinely impressed Hu Sandao.

Now, in hindsight, he got it.

Once a conflict arose and it came to fighting, this Chief Escort Su was someone who would wipe them out completely.

Thinking about the time he had blocked the road to challenge Su Mo to three moves, it was only because he realized Su Mo's martial arts were superior and he was no match that he quickly stepped aside.

If he had been stubborn back then, he'd be pushing up daisies by now.

He stopped overthinking and just dug into his meal.

After the meal, everyone except Zhen Xiaoxiao was fully satisfied.

They paid the bill and left, continuing their journey westward.

Before long, they reached Guan Yue Ridge. As they sped up their horses, Su Mo suddenly spoke up:

"There's a conflict ahead. Everyone, be careful."

Conflicts could break out anywhere in the martial world, and such things were par for the course.

However, they are currently in a precarious situation, as the group that left earlier seemed suspicious.

It naturally leads to speculation.

One isn't concerned about conflicts in the martial world, but rather fears that the conflict is a facade, and the real target is oneself.

After Su Mo finished speaking, he took the lead, scanning the surroundings intently.

In no time, the group arrived at the scene.

Looking up, Su Mo was startled.

The individuals engaged in the conflict ahead were none other than Jiao Wenhao from the Yangwei Escort Agency and a group of unidentified bandits.

On one side of the narrow path, three people stood by, pointing and signaling, with one of them suddenly throwing a hidden weapon.

A scream erupted as a dart lodged into the eye socket of an escort in combat.

Blood poured down his cheek, and in the midst of the excruciating pain, two blades closed in swiftly.

The escort attempted to defend himself but could only block one, and with a spurt of blood, his other arm was severed at the shoulder.

"Escort Zhou!" Jiao Wenhao cried out in grief.

By this time, Su Mo and his group had arrived.

Hearing the sound of hoofbeats, Jiao Wenhao turned to see Su Mo and his companions.

His eyes immediately shone with a glimmer of hope, and he shouted urgently, "Chief Escort Su, please help us!!"

However, even as he shouted, he couldn't help but feel a sense of despair.

The two of them were only acquaintances, and in the escort business, competitors are often adversaries.

If Su Mo decided to intervene, it would be an act of unparalleled kindness; if he chose not to, there would be nothing to say.

Their lives now depended on Su Mo's decision.

At that moment, three cold flashes of light darted towards Su Mo.

The targets were his temple, throat, and heart.

Su Mo's expression didn't change as he casually waved his hand, using the Great Open Yang Scattering Palm to easily catch all three darts in his palm.

Though not adept with hidden weapons, he held the darts between his fingers and flicked them back.

Whoosh!!!

The sound of the darts slicing through the air was sharp, like meteors or thunderclaps, instantly piercing through the crowd.

The first person attempted to raise his weapon to block, but before he could lift his hand, the dart had already pierced his heart.

The force unrelenting, it continued to fly, piercing through several bodies before embedding itself into a tree in the forest, only to disappear into the trunk of another tree.

Whether it was the Yangwei Escort Agency, the marauding bandits, or the three mysterious figures nearby.

Even Hu Sandao, behind them, gasped in astonishment.

The power of a mere flick of a finger, to such an extent?

What kind of godlike power is this!?

Is this the unrivaled champion of the Eastern Wasteland!?