Chapter 350: The Net

**Chapter 350: The Net**

The day’s hustle and bustle must eventually wind down.

Under the cover of night, Sunset City sleeps as peacefully as always.

When tomorrow comes, Sunset City will remain what it was—likewise the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

Seemingly nothing has changed, yet change never ceases.

In the study of Ziyang Security, a lamp still burns.

On the desk lie documents on various escort agencies.

Su Mo reads them one by one, occasionally dipping his brush in ink, making notes on a blank sheet beside him.

His brushwork is crude, but only because he writes too little.

Practice makes perfect.

While carefully studying and formulating his plans, he also records his insights in writing.

After a while, he gently sets down the brush and massages his temples briefly.

He picks up the teacup beside him, about to take a sip, when suddenly he looks toward the window.

Thinking for a moment, he puts the cup down, rises from his seat, and steps out of the study, melting into the shadows of the courtyard.

Before long, several shadowy figures alight silently on the roof of a room adjacent to the study.

One remarks:

“Has Su Chief Escort let his skills slip recently?

We’ve already made it this far, yet he hasn’t noticed?”

Another voice responds:

“Maybe he’s preoccupied with something?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. A warrior’s awareness should be keen. With his level of skill, even if not within a hundred li (50 kilometers), at least within ten li, nothing should escape his notice.

That he hasn’t reacted at all only proves that the higher one’s martial arts, the more complacent they become.

The title of Donghuang’s First will inevitably change a person’s heart…

Hmm, let me give him a proper fright.”

As the speaker finishes, he leaps down from the roof.

The others try to stop him, but it’s too late.

Meanwhile, those still on the roof see that as soon as the man lands, a shadow has already attached itself to him.

Just as they are about to call out a warning, Su Mo locks eyes with them, raising a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence.

Seeing this, the group immediately clamps their mouths shut, nodding vigorously, their eyes alight with mischief.

Su Mo was at a loss for words.

Trailing the person who’d tried to scare him, he arrived outside the study window.

He watched as the man pressed his ear to the window, then licked his finger and poked a hole through the paper, squinting inside with focus.

But a quick scan revealed no sign of Su Mo.

As he stood there baffled, he suddenly felt a tight grip around his waist, followed by a voice:

“Who the hell’s spying on Su Mo?”

“You’re dead!!”

The shock hit him like a ton of bricks—the man felt his hair stand on end and every pore contract.

On reflex, he struggled violently, but the grip around his waist was merciless.

One squeeze later, half his body went numb, leaving him paralyzed as he was lifted into the air.

One hand clamped his waist, the other his back, and with a forceful downward motion, he was about to be slammed headfirst into the ground.

Seeing his head about to splatter, the man hastily cried out:

“Mercy, mighty hero!!”

“Hmm?”

Su Mo smirked, pausing mid-motion before snapping, “How did you know I’m a great hero? If you don’t give a proper explanation, I’ll make sure you meet your end today.”

“...”

The man was momentarily at a loss, inwardly cursing.

What kind of stupid question was that?

He wanted to answer but couldn’t think of a suitable response.

Then it hit him, and he gasped:

“It’s me, it’s me! I’m Qilin!”

“What, like the mythical creature?”

“Bullshit! You’re the damn mascot!”

“Hmm? You’ve got nerve, you little rat, daring to insult me! Looks like I can’t let you off easy. Say hello to Su Mo’s Painful Mantra!”

“!!!!”

Qilin the swordsman nearly pissed himself in terror, shouting frantically:

“Wait, wait! Help me!! Somebody!!”

“Hahahaha!”

Su Mo cackled. “Today, you could scream till your lungs give out, and nobody’s coming to save you.”

"???"

The Qilin Swordsman was momentarily stunned—this can’t be right. How could no one save me?

Where were the people who came with him?

But before he could think further, Su Mo had already swung him around and slammed him toward the ground.

Qilin shut his eyes, thinking, *I’m done for!*

Yet after waiting what felt like forever, his head never hit the ground. He opened his eyes and saw Su Mo holding him upside down in midair, a teasing smirk on his face.

"You!!"

Furious, Qilin shouted, "You bastard, Su Mo! You were messing with me, weren’t you?"

Su Mo let go, and Qilin hurriedly pushed off the ground, flipping himself back to his feet.

Looking around for Yang Yizhi and the others, he realized they were no longer on the rooftop.

"I was just returning the favor," Su Mo said with a chuckle. "If you hadn’t teased me first, I wouldn’t have any interest in messing with Brother Qilin in the middle of the night."

"Come, let’s go inside for some tea."

With that, he led the way into the study.

Muttering to himself, Qilin followed behind, only to find the study completely packed when he stepped inside.

Yang Yizhi, Yu Lingxin, Ling Hongxia, Ji Feiyang, and even Bei Zhangzhi were all seated.

Yang Yizhi was pouring tea for everyone himself, playing host.

Qilin stamped his foot in frustration as he scanned the room.

"You… why didn’t any of you warn me he was right behind me?"

"...The First of Donghuang told us to stay silent. Who’d dare say a word?"

Ji Feiyang gave Qilin a smirk. "In my opinion, this just proves what goes around comes around."

Qilin was momentarily speechless. As he opened his mouth to retort, Yu Lingxin shot him a glare.

"Enough. Drink some tea and chill."

"......"

Grumbling, Qilin went to pour himself a cup, only to find the teapot empty.

One pot of tea wasn’t nearly enough for all of them.

"Now even the teapot’s against me?"

This just made Qilin even angrier.

At that moment, Su Mo walked in carrying a fresh pot of hot water, smiling as he asked,

"Who’s picking on Brother Qilin now?"

"Tell Su Mo about it, and I'll be the first to not let him off."

The Kirin Swordsman (a titled swordsman) couldn't help but lose his edge at the sight of Su Mo.

Ever since the Wusheng Hall affair, he had been repeatedly outmaneuvered by him.

If he said anything more, this guy would just find another excuse to thrash him, leaving him with no recourse.

After refilling the teapot with hot water, he poured more tea for everyone.

"Uncle Yang, when did you all arrive in the city?"

Su Mo cradled his teacup and asked casually.

"Just today."

Yang Yizhi smiled. "Today is the Fallen Phoenix Alliance's grand meeting, with all manner of folk about—an ideal day to enter the city."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the papers on Su Mo's desk.

He had intended to give them a passing glance, but a few familiar words caught his eye, making him pause briefly.

Then, he started slightly:

"Mo'er... what is this?"

"Oh."

Su Mo chuckled and immediately picked up the papers on the desk, handing them to Yang Yizhi:

"Uncle Yang, have a look."

Yang Yizhi accepted them gravely and carefully read through the contents. After a long while, his brows furrowed slightly, and he read them again before finally letting out a long exhale:

"Mo'er... are you planning to bring all the escort bureaus in the Eastern Wasteland under your wing?"

At these words, the faces of everyone present altered.

All eyes turned toward Su Mo simultaneously.

The Kirin Swordsman blurted out: "Damn, you're really... mmmph... bad... mmmph..."

The rest of his words were muffled as Yu Lingxin covered his mouth, forcing him to choke back the words.

Yu Lingxin then gave Su Mo an awkward look:

"Apologies, Chief Escort Su. My younger brother has a loose tongue... I'll stitch it closed for him later."

Su Mo could only chuckle wryly and wave it off.

No one really paid attention to what the Kirin Swordsman said—he'd always run his mouth, and it would never change.

Returning to the topic of Su Mo's plans, Ji Feiyang couldn't help but muse aloud:

"Chief Escort Su is every bit the legend.

"Not acting unless it's world-shaking!

"But... surely this won't come easy, will it?"

There’s no telling just how many security bureaus exist across Donghuang.

Let alone the rest, just within the territories of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance—the four cities, three rivers, and two bays—every one of these four cities boasts multiple.

In Sunset City, the three major security bureaus were the cream of the crop, with countless smaller ones beneath them.

Though they couldn’t land big contracts, small jobs still kept them afloat.

That’s without counting the regions under the Heavenly Saber Sect and Wusheng Hall. If we extend eastward from there and consolidate into East City—

East City is teeming with factions, each ruling its own city.

Just ballparking it, the scale is mind-boggling.

The thought of uniting all these bureaus is enough to make your hair stand on end.

Su Mo gave a faint smile:

“Indeed, it won’t be easy. That’s why I’ll need plenty of backing.”

Yang Yizhi mulled it over:

“You’re planning to wield the clout of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, the Heavenly Saber Sect, Wusheng Hall, even the eastern factions of East City to pull this off?

“This approach works. But fear only gets you so far—it won’t last forever.

“More importantly, these people built their bureaus through hard work. Even under pressure from East City’s powers and the southwest’s titans, why would they just roll over?

“Have you thought this through?”

Su Mo smiled again:

“First, I never meant to force them to rebrand entirely under my Ziyang Bureau.

“I only want their signs to bear my Ziyang Bureau’s seal.

“Calling in favors from the eastern factions should secure us that much.

“Second… Ziyang Bureau holds sway in the southwest. To control every bureau in Donghuang directly is impossible.

“But as the saying goes, *all hustle and bustle under heaven is for profit*.

“We tread the *jianghu*, living blade-to-mouth for a living—what we chase is a full ledger.

“At first, they’ll kowtow on the surface but seethe underneath, swayed by factional power and my title as *First of Donghuang*.

“But if they can line their pockets doing it…

“Over time, their loyalties will shift on their own.

“By then, even if I say nothing, they’ll come knocking in droves.”

“And how do we help them line their pockets?”

Yang Yizhi was genuinely intrigued upon hearing Su Mo's words.

Su Mo smiled and asked:

"What truly troubles escort bureaus when they operate in the martial world?"

"Of course, it's the bandits and highwaymen who ambush them.

"Even with prior arrangements, money can still corrupt. When it comes down to it, some may refuse to show respect, and in the end, blades are drawn."

Yang Yizhi answered without hesitation—this was, in fact, a common problem faced by all escort bureaus.

Situations like Su Mo’s, where every escort mission encounters major incidents, were few and far between.

Most were plagued by the harassment of bandits and thieves.

"Then... what if, for those who join us, I not only allow them to bear my Ziyang Escort’s emblem on their bureau’s signboard,

"but also let them display our Ziyang Escort’s insignia on their escort flags during missions?"

Yang Yizhi was taken aback: "You’re letting them borrow your prestige."

"Exactly."

Su Mo nodded. "Consolidating our influence must not be rushed. The first step can only go so far.

"Let them fly the banner of my Ziyang Escort. If they encounter bandits or thieves, they can invoke our name.

"Though there may still be some troubles, it should be far smoother than before.

"If anyone still refuses to show respect, my Ziyang Escort will intervene to reclaim their goods.

"And this is where I mentioned needing the assistance of the East City factions and factions like the Fallen Phoenix Alliance in the southwest.

"After all, I can’t be in all places at once. Once our reach expands, relying solely on myself makes it impossible to swiftly cover all of the Eastern Wasteland.

"Only by letting them use my Ziyang Escort’s clout to seek help from the East City factions can this be achieved."

"This could work," Yang Yizhi pondered carefully.

"But such things can only go so far. Favors have their limits.

"After all, you’ve done East City a great service. Whether it’s Sect Leader Youquan or the Night Monarch, they were always the archenemies of the East City factions.

"You killed them, so the East City factions owe you a favor.

"But favors can only go so far. Over time, the goodwill of the East City factions will eventually run out."

"When that happens, we’ll repay them with benefits.

"That’s just how favors are repaid."

Su Mo said with a smile: "For this, I plan to use my wedding with Xiaoyun as an opportunity to invite various sects and factions as guests and explain everything to them in detail.

"At first, I’ll simply ask for their help, setting a one-year term. At the end of the year, during the New Year, I’ll send generous gifts.

"This is how favors are exchanged—you help me, and I give gifts for the New Year. It’s a fair exchange."

Having said that, it was not just Yang Yizhi who was taken aback.

Yu Lingxin and her brother exchanged glances as well.

Ling Hongxia, however, listened with great interest.

Ji Feiyang listened attentively, committing every word to memory, treating this as valuable future experience.

Among those present, the one who listened most intently was Bei Changzhi.

As one of the hall masters of Wusheng Hall, he was acutely aware of one thing.

Whether it was a sect or a gang, regardless of their reputation in the martial world,

they all had to eat.

Even if they didn't need to eat, wouldn't the disciples' clothing and weapons cost money?

Even if clothing and weapons were self-produced and thus free, injuries in the martial world were inevitable, and healing medicines certainly cost money.

Not to mention these, even the daily maintenance of the sect, fodder for horses, and the upkeep of weapons—

which of these things did not require money?

Etiquette and social obligations.

When someone gives you shiny silver coins, no matter how politely they speak, an additional source of income is never refused.

Moreover, they had also paid a price for this.

But what they give up is truly insignificant compared to these gains.

Take Wusheng Hall for example—within their territory, what bandit gang would dare cross them?

Instead, they kowtow and pay annual tribute.

Those who truly resisted have long been eliminated.

So this is essentially easy money handed to them, with barely any effort from them.

In the past, no one sought their help in such matters mainly because those escort agencies weren’t important enough—

they weren’t even worthy of setting foot in Wusheng Hall.

And if an escort agency lost its shipment, it was their own damn fault.

If they suffered losses, they could only grin and bear it.

But if Su Mo’s people came knocking, who’d dare say they weren’t welcome?

After briefly considering Su Mo’s words, the sheer possibility made Bei Zhangzhi suck in a sharp breath. Unable to hold back, he blurted:

"Chief Escort Su… pardon my forwardness.

May I ask—if the ones robbing the shipments aren’t mere bandits, but answer to someone else?"

Su Mo gave Bei Zhangzhi a look and smirked.

"Our Ziyang Escort Agency works together with Tianxia Escort Agency. If bandits cause trouble, we’ll deal with them."

"But what if the escorts weren’t robbed by bandits, or we don’t even know who did it...

"We *could* still handle it, but doing so would require a different kind of cooperation."

"Hmm? The second step?"

Yang Yizhi glanced at Su Mo. Earlier, Su Mo had mentioned the first step, so this additional cooperation naturally referred to the second step.

Su Mo nodded:

"The more you want, the more you *have* to give.

"If it’s just preliminary cooperation, I’d take only a ten percent cut from each escort job.

"But for *closer* cooperation, the share taken from each job would naturally be higher.

"Not only that—they’d also have to shoulder corresponding responsibilities."

"Go on."

Yang Yizhi quickly pressed.

Su Mo didn’t hold back and spelled out his plan to everyone present.

In truth, just the first step Su Mo proposed had already impressed Yang Yizhi and the others.

Now, as they listened further, their surprise only deepened.

By the end, even Yang Yizhi, a seasoned escort veteran, couldn’t help staring in shock:

"You can actually *run* an escort agency like *this*?"

"...Chief Escort Su, you’re not just running an escort agency, are you?"

Yu Lingxin suddenly interjected:

"You want to spin a web across the Eastern Wastes, with escort agencies as its nodes.

"Blanketing the entire Eastern Wastes, so that no whisper of movement would escape you."

Su Mo immediately looked up at Yu Lingxin and let out a soft sigh:

"Our enemy isn’t some nobody. With the Eastern Wastes so stable now, we *have* to cast this net wide.

"Otherwise, if they *act* and we stay in the dark, wouldn’t that be the biggest damn farce?"

"Chief Escort Su’s vision probably goes *farther*..."

Yu Lingxin said quietly: "You’re aiming to stretch this web *past* the Eastern Wastes, aren’t you?"