Chapter 293: Visit

Chapter 293: Visit

The voice from behind wasn't loud, but it echoed like muffled thunder in their ears.

So much so that the old man and *Huo Liaoyuan* felt as if an invisible hand was pressing down on their whole bodies.

It pinned them down so firmly they couldn’t budge.

Even though the person behind them hadn’t acted or shown any malice, it still left them feeling stiff and utterly powerless.

As for answering his question—how should they answer?

Their minds went completely blank.

Su Mo shook his head slightly, glancing past them at the Hidden Sword Hermit, who sat on the ground, poised to trigger a mechanism.

He couldn’t help but chuckle:

“Didn’t you say you were leaving, Hermit? Yet here you are, still in the Hidden Sword Retreat.”

“This…”

The Hidden Sword Hermit smiled. “I lied. Even if I wanted to leave, I had to settle the score for Old Ji first. But before I could finish, I nearly got myself killed.”

“Instead, I ended up looking like a fool in front of you…”

“I sent you away because I didn’t want to involve you in this mess. Who would’ve thought you’d outsmart me…”

He glanced cautiously at the old man and *Huo Liaoyuan*, feeling puzzled:

“Why aren’t they moving a muscle?”

“Probably too scared to move.”

Su Mo ignored them, walking straight past and helping the Hidden Sword Hermit to his feet.

“Too scared to move?”

The Hidden Sword Hermit paused, then suddenly turned to Su Mo:

“Chief Su, you’re not secretly a martial arts master, are you?”

“…I’d say I’m pretty good.”

“Pretty good?”

The Hidden Sword Hermit looked at Su Mo in surprise, then at the old man and *Huo Liaoyuan*:

“So you could take them on, right?”

Su Mo smiled and shook his head:

“You might not know this, Hermit, but martial arts in the martial world vary greatly.”

"Each school and sect has its own strengths, each excelling in their own way.

"So, it's hard to predict who would come out on top, as no one knows the true depth of their martial arts until they actually make a move."

At this point, he glanced back at the two men and smiled:

"Speaking of which, since this is Master Huo Liaoyuan, might this elderly gentleman be the Drifter of the Dust?"

"..."

The old man took a deep breath, clasped his fists, and said:

"Drifter of the Dust, greetings to Chief Escort Su."

"Hm."

Su Mo nodded lightly: "I had thought the big boss, being so interested in the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron, might come in person.

"Now it seems, that was just a pipe dream."

"Chief Escort Su..."

The Drifter of the Dust said gravely: "The big boss has no intention of crossing Chief Escort Su. The Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron is related to another significant matter. We originally intended to buy it from Ji Shuhua, but he refused to sell, hence this last resort.

"Now that Chief Escort Su is also here, I, as an old man, will take the liberty to make a decision on behalf of the big boss.

"As long as Chief Escort Su is willing to sell the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron to us, name your price, and we will pay it!

"Forgive my bluntness, but although Chief Escort Su is known as the Eastern Wasteland's Number One,

"isn't it true that you still endure hardships to escort goods across the rivers and lakes, all for the sake of gold and silver?

"If this deal is made today, Chief Escort Su can henceforth live comfortably in the martial world, no longer needing to toil and wander, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Ha ha ha ha."

Upon hearing this, Su Mo couldn't help but laugh heartily: "Money can indeed work wonders, truly money can work wonders! Unfortunately, this time Su Mo is not here for money, but to get justice for Master Ji.

"Today, since the big boss has not come in person, Su Mo will have to hold onto the two of you, as a token of my intentions."

"Bolt!!!"

As soon as Su Mo's words fell, the Drifter of the Dust and Huo Liaoyuan bolted.

At this point, no more words were needed.

Even a slight delay would mean being pummeled by Su Mo.

But how could they possibly escape?

With a single step, Su Mo's figure almost vanished, streaking like a comet in front of the two men in an instant.

He lashed out with a kick, aiming straight for the Drifter of the Dust.

The Drifter of the Dust was stunned. He had heard of Su Mo's exceptional skills in fists and palms, but never of any kicking skills.

Yet this kick came so fast and fierce, leaving no room to dodge.

So he simply met Su Mo's kick head-on.

With a clash of their feet, a cracking sound was heard, and the bones in one of the legs of the Red Dust Wanderer shattered into pieces.

In a split second, Su Mo's sweeping kick caused the Wanderer's head to tilt and twist a full one hundred and eighty degrees. He was dead before his body hit the ground.

During this brief delay, Huo Liaoyuan had barely run a few meters away.

Su Mo tapped his toe and launched a kick straight at Huo Liaoyuan's back.

Hearing the ominous whistle of the wind, Huo Liaoyuan quickly turned his head, but there was no one behind him.

In his moment of bewilderment, he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye.

Su Mo had somehow materialized by his side.

A flurry of leg shadows suddenly erupted, cascading down like a tempest of legs.

Huo Liaoyuan, never renowned for his martial prowess, could not withstand such a fierce leg attack. After a few hits, he was dead on the spot.

Su Mo withdrew his stance, landed on his feet, and with a tap, he was back by the side of the Reclusive Sword Scholar.

The Reclusive Sword Scholar was utterly dumbfounded.

Just moments ago, they were here saying, 'Before making a move, no one can truly gauge the other's depth,' and after saying that, with one kick each, these two were killed?

So you really couldn't gauge their depth!

You killed them before their depth could even be revealed!

What kind of person does that?

Wait...

The Reclusive Sword Scholar suddenly looked at Su Mo:

"They just called you the First Martial Arts Master of Donghuang?"

"It's merely the kindness of my martial world friends."

Su Mo waved his hand: "But my modest skills are truly unworthy of such acclaim."

"..."

The Reclusive Sword Scholar was utterly speechless.

Then, gazing at the corpses within the Reclusive Sword Cottage, he sank into deep thought.

After a long pause, he sighed:

"When did Chief Escort Su get here?"

"I got here when they did."

Su Mo said: "I wasn't far off; after deceiving their senses, I've been waiting here for them all along."

"So that's how it is."

The Reclusive Sword Scholar gently exhaled:

"So, you witnessed everything that happened earlier?"

"Hmm."

Su Mo smiled: "I didn't expect that, despite not knowing martial arts, the hermit still possesses formidable tactics. If it weren't for that final misstep, I probably wouldn't have shown myself. I stayed only as a precaution."

"Killing these two might be overstepping my bounds, so I hope the hermit won't hold it against me."

"What is there to blame..." The hermit shook his head: "If it weren't for you, I'd be dead by now."

At this point, he pointed to the nearby hut and said:

"I've set up numerous traps around this house as a last resort.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't needed. I carry the Fire Thunder God, which, once detonated, would have taken them down with me.

"Had you appeared any later, I'd be gone too.

"Now, it's just perfect."

He then came to the side of the woman's corpse. He picked up the black iron from the ground and said:

"Over the past three days, I've managed to refine this item somewhat. Chief Escort Su, would you like this?"

"The Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron was entrusted by Master Leng Tianyun to Master Ji for delivery to the hermit. What need would I have for it?"

Su Mo gently shook his head.

"This item is of little use to ordinary people."

The hermit smiled: "In that case, let's wait for the right time. Once I've fully resolved this matter, I'll use this item to forge a fine sword for Chief Escort Su."

Su Mo slightly frowned: "What are your plans now, hermit?"

"I'll be leaving for a while to seek vengeance for Old Ji."

The hermit said: "But rest assured, Chief Escort Su, the confrontation at the Hidden Sword Cottage was inevitable.

"Had I left then, they would have found and ambushed me en route.

"Rather than being at their mercy, it was better to wait quietly at the Hidden Sword Cottage for their arrival.

"Just in time to use the traps here to take their lives and honor Old Ji's memory.

"Now it's different; with all these people dead within the Hidden Sword Cottage, I can operate from the shadows and devise new strategies.

"I won't let Old Ji's death be in vain..."

Su Mo hesitated, initially wanting to offer some advice, but then thought better of it.

The hermit's resolve was firm, not easily swayed by others.

And in such matters, Su Mo acknowledged he wasn't in a position to advise, as their friendship hadn't yet reached that level.

So after pondering, he said:

"This great manager is deeply concealed, immensely wealthy, and has a vast network of informants."

"If you're set on doing this, then I can only advise you to be extremely careful and not be careless in the slightest.

"You're not trained in martial arts, which could actually work to your advantage.

"Lastly, if there's anything you need, you can come to Ziyang Escort Bureau to find me.

"Though I don't know Master Ji well, I respect his strong sense of honor.

"I am willing to lend a hand for this."

The Sword-Seclusion Hermit looked at Su Mo differently and sighed deeply:

"I always thought that Old Ji usually associated with a bunch of shady characters, but now it seems, there are still good people in this world.

"Chief Escort Su, the Eastern Wasteland's top man, would go this far for a nobody like him...

"Haha, when I kick the bucket and join him in the afterlife, he'll have a good story to tell."

With that, he slapped his thigh:

"Chief Escort Su, please wait here for a moment."

Not waiting for Su Mo's reply, he ran back into the hut.

After a while, he came out holding a box and handed it over.

"What is this?"

Su Mo was startled, then suddenly had an idea:

"Is this the Artisan's Compendium they mentioned?"

"Yes."

The Sword-Seclusion Hermit opened the box: "But this is just a fragment. Those folks know their stuff; the Artisan's Compendium is indeed a marvelous book compiled by the Great Xuan Dynasty, bringing together the best craftsmen in the land.

"Unfortunately, after the Great Xuan Dynasty collapsed, the book was divided into three parts.

"One part was lost in the North River, another is said to have been lost in the West Region.

"The last part is in my possession.

"My school has inherited the weapon forging methods and the art of making hidden weapons from this book.

"Additionally, it records various solutions to intricate mechanisms and locks.

"Other parts might not be useful to Chief Escort Su, but knowing how to deal with traps could come in handy.

"As for what they said about the relationship between the Artisan's Compendium and the Great Xuan Treasury, that's all just speculation.

"Moreover, without the Xuanji Key, the treasury door cannot be opened, and besides, no one knows where the treasury is now, daydreaming about it is pointless."

"This..."

Su Mo gently shook his head: "Since this is an heirloom of your sect, how could I possibly take it?"

"It's fine."

The Sword-Seclusion Hermit shook his head: "This can only be so helpful, after all, many things require practice from a young age to master... like the Wuchang's Calamitous Rain Needle, you'd need over a decade of dedicated practice."

"And the methods of assembly and setup after completion are by no means achievable in a day or two.

"So, even with this, Chief Escort Su, it would be nearly impossible for you to master the craft of hidden weapons.

"This item is for you, firstly, to repay you for saving my life.

"Secondly... although I won't be openly fighting the great manager on this trip, after all, I can't beat him...

"But who knows what dangers might arise? If I were to have an accident, and this item fell into their hands, they could easily find skilled craftsmen to produce a batch of sinister hidden weapons according to the records in the book.

"In this way, the martial world could face more chaos.

"So, it's also a request for Chief Escort Su to hold onto this item for me for a while.

"As long as I can return alive, I will personally come to the Ziyang Escort Agency to retrieve this item."

Hearing this, Su Mo paused briefly before nodding gently:

"In that case, Su Mo will keep this item for the hermit for now."

"Good."

The hermit smiled and fell silent. Over the past three days, he had packed everything he needed.

After handing over the Tiangong Treasure Record, he began to gather the corpses on the ground.

He dragged them straight into the greenwood forest.

He then set the entire forest ablaze, turning it and the corpses to ash.

This completely wiped out all traces of the place.

After finishing, the hermit saluted Su Mo and bid him farewell.

He turned and ventured back into the martial world.

Su Mo glanced at the greenwood forest, now reduced to ashes, and finally let out a gentle sigh.

With a light tap of his toes, he shot off like the wind.

This time, instead of Divine Movement, he used a technique called Catching the Wind and Shadows.

Three days ago, after handing over the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron to the hermit, Su Mo's system had finalized the transaction that very night.

He acquired the martial art known as the Wind God's Leg.

In recent days, Su Mo had tested it, using Catching the Wind and Shadows for travel, and the speed was even faster than Divine Movement.

At its peak, one could see the wind but not the person, vanishing in an instant, covering thousands of miles.

While this is somewhat exaggerated, it highlights the extraordinary nature of this skill.

Beyond travel, the Wind God's Leg is also a deadly weapon.

Today, Su Mo used two moves from the Wind God's Leg—Windy Grass and Stormy Wind—to kill the Red Dust Wanderer and Huo Liaoyuan.

With minimal effort, both were dead on the spot.

This left Su Mo feeling a bit unfulfilled.

At this moment, with the Wind and Shadow Technique activated, his figure almost merged with the wind, and in a matter of moments, he had disappeared into the Jifeng Mountain Range.

...

...

One day later.

A party arrived at Wusheng Hall.

The young man at the forefront bore a sword case on his back, his steps steady.

His brows were sharp like swords, and his eyes sparkled like stars; his appearance was dignified.

Beside him was a beautiful woman holding a long spear. Though weathered by travel, her stunning beauty was still evident.

However, she was stoic, with a heroic air about her that made people wary and afraid to look too long.

Following the two were two men.

One was a burly man with a fierce countenance, a full beard, and a knife on his back and another in his hand. His menacing presence made it seem as though he could walk sideways.

He didn’t look like a good person at all.

The young man beside him seemed lost in thought, occasionally remembering something and whispering under his breath.

From time to time, he would wave his hands and point at the air, seeming rather eccentric.

Finally, there was a portly man.

The portly man carried a one-legged copper figure, with another person tied to it, attracting considerable attention as they moved.

This group of people was naturally Su Mo and his companions.

The matter at the Hidden Sword Cottage was, for Su Mo, temporarily resolved.

Technically, when he handed over the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron to the Hidden Sword Hermit, the matter was considered finished.

But Su Mo knew that these people, not daring to act against him, would inevitably target the Hidden Sword Hermit.

And when the Hidden Sword Hermit said he was leaving that day, Su Mo didn’t buy it.

That’s why he made a return trip, biding his time.

Earlier, when Su Mo spoke truthfully with the Hidden Sword Hermit inside the cottage,

If it hadn’t come to the point where the Hidden Sword Hermit intended to go down with them, and if Su Mo had the ability to kill all those people, he wouldn’t have stepped in.

A friend seeking vengeance for another, Su Mo really had no reason to intervene.

However, in the end, being able to save the Hidden Sword Hermit made the journey worthwhile.

As for the situation with the great manager, that was not something that could be resolved in a day or two.

This person was well-concealed, and it would require a return trip from Wusheng Hall before further strategies could be devised.

The situation with the great manager would have to be set aside for now, but there was another matter that couldn’t be postponed.

A visit to Wusheng Hall!

And there it stood, Wusheng Hall, right before their eyes.

Upon arrival, the scene stunned Su Mo and his companions momentarily.

In front of Wusheng Hall, a constant stream of people bustled back and forth.

After a bit of asking around, they finally uncovered some news.

"The young princess of Wusheng Hall, Wan Yilan... is getting married!?"