Chapter 388: Foggy Day

Chapter 388: Misty Day

Xiao Ning had always thought Fu Hanyuan was the leader of this group.

Not seeing him during the day had already made him curious.

Yet, to his surprise, when he returned at night, Su Mo was in the same room as Yang Xiaoyun.

Though he didn’t fully understand Yang Xiaoyun’s identity, her hairstyle made it clear she was a married woman.

Su Mo was supposed to be working for the household—how’d he get into the lady’s room?

For a moment, he was stunned and blurted it out.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could slap himself a few times.

Asking such a thing was practically inviting them to kill him to keep him quiet.

If he had walked in on something this private, wouldn’t that be disastrous?

Su Mo was speechless for a second, while Yang Xiaoyun let out a laugh and gave Su Mo’s arm a hard pinch:

"This is on you—teasing the kid like that."

Su Mo just sighed and tapped Xiao Ning on the forehead:

"This is my wife."

"Ah?"

Xiao Ning still didn’t quite understand, but at that moment, Wei Ziyi came out of the room in a hurry.

She glanced around and immediately landed on the innkeeper, who was creeping up the stairs. She frowned and commanded:

"Get out."

Though she often acted casually around Su Mo, her years of authority had honed a natural authority.

Even without anger, those two words left no room for argument.

The innkeeper flinched and scrambled back from the stairs.

Once the innkeeper was gone, Wei Ziyi turned to Su Mo:

"That child has been poisoned. Little Situ Taoist is treating her. She’ll be alright."

"Good."

Su Mo sighed in relief before turning back to Xiao Ning:

"What exactly happened?"

It finally dawned on Xiao Ning that Su Mo was the true leader of the group.

But there was no time to think about it, so he quickly explained what happened that night.

As it turned out, this matter was somewhat tied to Su Mo too.

Before Xiao Ning left tonight, Su Mo pulled him aside and asked him to do something for him.

For Xiao Ning, this was actually quite simple.

He just needed to find his buddies who had been paid to be "guides" and inquire about the appearance of the person who hired them, whether they revealed their name, and so on.

Su Mo told him not to ask directly but to fish for info subtly.

Getting info would be great, but it didn’t matter if he didn’t.

It was just that the household Master was quite curious about it.

If he succeeded, he would even be rewarded with ten silver taels.

Xiao Ning had no suspicions and got to work on the task that very night.

Everything went fairly smoothly.

His buddies didn’t suspect him at all.

Through casual conversation, he managed to gather most of what Su Mo had asked for.

He committed it to memory and was about to head straight home.

But just as he reached his doorstep and opened the door, he saw two figures flash past on the roof.

Clearly, these were martial arts masters skilled in lightfoot techniques.

Curious, his younger sister heard the door open and asked what was wrong.

Hearing that his sister was fine, he realized the two weren’t after them. After reassuring her with a few words, he said he had unfinished business and sneakily tailed the two figures.

Logically, as a teenage boy without any martial arts skills, he shouldn’t have been able to keep up with those two masters.

But the two had left a clear trail along the way as they fought.

Xiao Ning had done all kinds of odd jobs growing up—anything that could earn money—so he was pretty gutsy.

He had experience mountain hunting and river fishing.

Following these traces, he actually managed to track them down.

Sneaking up closer, he saw one of them was none other than the Third Uncle from Aunt Wang’s house across the street, standing there with a chicken leg in hand, munching away.

The other was a sickly man whose ordinary clothes somehow gave off an oddly regal vibe.

The two seemed on guard with each other, standing in the woods and talking.

Then, the Third Uncle sighed and said:

"You’ve laid low for seven years. I thought you’d long died in some godforsaken hole.

"Of those who practice the Five Transformations Demonic Art, eight out of ten die young. You’re lucky.

"Not only have you survived, but your demonic art has gotten even stronger.

"That really burns me up."

The sickly man sneered at this, as if he had something to say, but when he opened his mouth, no words came out—only a bout of coughing.

His face turned an unnatural pallor.

He covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, apparently coughing up blood. This brought him some relief, before he sneered and said:

“You old poison worm can't help but meddle in others’ affairs.

“Ever since what you did on Chiyan Island, I knew you’d come to Gupiao Island.

“But why must you hound me?

“That secret in the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture isn’t my secret alone.

“Everyone knows there’s deception in it, yet they all have their own goals.

“You pursue yours, I pursue mine—we stay out of each other's way.

“Yet you insist on meddling. What? Is that Qian Yuan Palm Ling Yuanke your father?”

“Horseshit! I’d spit on him calling me grandfather!”

The elderly man snarled.

“Then why, you old poison worm, must you poke your venomous snout into this?”

The sickly man shook his head lightly:

“Heh, how ridiculous.

“What kind of people have gathered on this island now?

“Disciples of the Shattered Star Sect, martial arts masters from the merchant guilds, sea-faring rogues, and many from so-called righteous sects.

“Who knows if the Dragon King Hall, the South Sea Alliance, or Guixu Island have also sent people?

“Not to mention some reclusive old monsters like you—former Poison Lords who’ve long left the martial world.

“And then there’s me… a walking corpse with one foot in the grave.

“In this pit of vipers and wyrms, where good and evil gather, you’re the only old poison worm who’d harass me over some stranger.

“The so-called divide between good and evil is truly laughable.”

“What they do is not my fucking business.”

The elderly man snorted coldly:

“Your stinking ways offend me, that’s all.

“Enough jawing today.

“Leave Gupiao Island now, and I’ll act like you were never here.

“But if you refuse…”

“If only one of us can stay, why must it be me?”

The sickly man’s face twisted in anger.

As their conversation reached this point, Xiao Ning suddenly felt something was off.

Where the two men stood, numerous pine trees grew. Yet, without warning, the pine needles had abruptly turned yellow. Though they hadn't fallen, they looked lifeless.

Before Xiao Ning could process this, the two men suddenly moved.

Their movements were so swift that Xiao Ning couldn’t distinguish who was who as they fought among the trees.

Xiao Ning could barely follow, seeing the two figures appear north one moment, then south the next.

Occasionally, the sickly man would strike a tree with his palm, causing it to tremble. Though the tree wasn’t broken, it withered instantly.

Xiao Ning couldn’t discern any special skill from the elderly man, but the sickly man appeared frighteningly strong.

Unexpectedly, right at the fight’s climax, the sickly man suddenly stopped dead.

He suddenly broke into violent coughs. When he looked up at the elderly man, his eyes were filled with shock:

"You crafty old viper, your poison craft is peerless."

"Heh… glad you noticed."

The elderly man chuckled darkly:

"Getting the Triple Ultimate Poison into you wasn’t easy."

"Though the Five Transformations Demonic Art isn’t much to me, it does have its merits."

"The Five Transformations Body can neutralize any poison, regenerating and dissolving them on its own. To poison you, I still had to target your lung meridian."

"You underestimated this art in the past, leading to your qi deviation. Now, that flaw works in my favor."

The sickly man frowned, standing motionless:

"What poison did you use on me?"

"Do I look stupid to you?"

"Why would I tell you that?"

The elderly man rolled his eyes hard, bit into a chicken leg, and taunted:

"Want some?"

"......"

The sickly man scowled. Just then, Xiao Ning suddenly heard a call:

"Brother… are you here?"

The call came out of nowhere, startling Xiao Ning.

The two motionless men both looked up sharply.

With two martial arts masters fighting, how could Xiao Ning’s presence go unnoticed?

In truth, from the moment they met, the two had been engaged in a battle of poisons. That Xiao Ning remained unharmed was only because the elderly man had secretly shielded him.

However, the elderly man's skills were a notch above the sickly man.

But not by much.

Keeping Xiao Ning safe was already pushing his limits.

Now that another person had arrived, he was stretched too thin.

The elderly man muttered a curse under his breath as he saw the sickly man turn to flee.

"You dare run? You asking to die?"

The elderly man roared in anger.

The sickly man, however, let out a mocking laugh:

"Staying put would’ve been suicide... Let’s see how you protect these two clueless brats."

No sooner had he spoken, Xiao Ning turned and saw his sister running toward them.

The moment their eyes met, the little girl went limp and dropped.

"She’s been poisoned with Seven-Colored Heart. Save her or finish me—pick one."

After leaving these words, the sickly man bolted.

The so-called Seven-Colored Heart was a poison brewed from a mix of deadly toxins.

When completed, it shimmered like a rainbow-hued stone, hence its name.

The poison was a bitch to brew, and its antidote even more troublesome.

By naming the poison, the man was just twisting the knife.

Hearing this, the elderly man’s face went grim.

Xiao Ning rushed to the little girl’s side, cradling her in his arms and frantically calling her name.

But how could she respond, poisoned as she was?

The elderly man’s expression shifted uneasily before he suddenly remembered something. He pulled out a porcelain vial from his robe and tossed it to Xiao Ning:

"Make her take this—it’ll buy her some time.

"I still have business to settle and can’t stick around.

"Use this time to find that patron of yours from these past few days.

"Your sister might still have a fighting chance."

Without another word, he took off after the sickly man.

Baffled as he was, Xiao Ning understood that between the two, the elderly man was the one on his side.

Out of options, he fed the pill to his sister.

Then, carrying her, he booked it back toward the inn.

He had no idea why his so-called "benefactor" from the past few days could save his sister.

But these were beyond his understanding, and at this critical moment, he didn't dare overthink things. One wrong move could mean his sister's life.

Having already lost his parents, how could he bear to lose his last remaining family?

With these words, he had recounted the whole story, covering most of what happened.

Xiao Ning stumbled over his words, occasionally failing to convey his meaning precisely, but he managed to get his point across.

Su Mo was somewhat surprised.

He wasn’t surprised that Master knew of their arrival.

Coming as openly as they did, it'd be weird if he didn't know.

What surprised him was that Master would confront Sick Prince for Ling Yuanke’s sake.

And the fact that Sick Prince referred to the elderly man as Poison Lord was also surprising.

That's not a title just anyone can claim.

As he pondered this, a knock came at the door. Wei Ziyi stepped inside, letting out a soft sigh:

"Little Situ Taoist has given her acupuncture treatment. The child won’t die.

"However, Little Situ Taoist said the poison in her system is extraordinary.

"A full cure won't be easy.

"It will take at least two or three days to fully recover.

"During this time, the girl must stay with Little Situ Taoist."

Wei Ziyi's brow furrowed:

"But she’s just a child. Who would poison a child?"

Su Mo twisted his mouth slightly and glanced at Xiao Ning.

Yang Xiaoyun then filled her in on what happened.

Wei Ziyi’s expression darkened:

"That's absolutely ridiculous. A child with no martial arts skills sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?

"Ordinary people would run from that kind of danger, yet you charged right into it. Were you seeking death?"

Xiao Ning quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Wei Ziyi then looked at Su Mo:

"So it seems the one who killed Ling Yuanke last night was indeed Sick Prince."

"Hmm."

Su Mo nodded lightly: "But with that elderly man on his tail, Sick Prince likely has his hands full. Still, I wonder what that old man’s true motives are…"

On Chiyan Island, lives were taken for the Poison Dragon Alchemy Scripture, leaving many dead atop that roof.

Yet now, for the sake of an ordinary martial artist, he was giving Sick Prince trouble.

This person's actions seem solely driven by a single-minded determination.

However, Su Mo didn’t linger on this matter.

Today, from what Xiao Ning said, they learned that the "Fog Day" would arrive in two days.

Now that Xiao Ning's sister was safe for now, there was no need to worry about other matters.

That night, Su Mo arranged for Xiao Ning and his sister to rest in the inn as well.

Over the next two days, the entire Gupiao Island remained strangely quiet.

The hints of trouble that had begun to surface quickly disappeared completely.

However, Fu Hanyuan, posted at the shore, informed Su Mo that during these days, more people had arrived on the island.

Most of them did not dock at the official port but instead slipped ashore from other hidden spots.

From the watchtower, Fu Hanyuan watched through a spyglass and spotted several of them.

When the "Fog Day" arrived, a thick fog indeed rolled in.

Beyond six meters, everything became indistinct.

Under such conditions, no matter how skilled your martial arts or how extraordinary your vision might be, seeing through this fog was impossible.

Su Mo set out before dawn, leading everyone aboard the ship.

Aside from their original group, just Xiao Ning and his sister came along.

Xiao Ning's sister still needed one more day of acupuncture treatment to fully recover.

Since Xiao Ning wouldn’t leave her side, so they brought her with them.

"On the Fog Day, head north of Gupiao Island, sail eastward at noon until Shenshi (3–5 PM)...

"Before sunset, turn west and sail for two hours. When night falls and the clouds disperse, Longmu Island will be visible!"

Su Mo muttered to himself as the ship quietly slipped away from shore, heading north of Gupiao Island.

Over the past few days, Song Yuanlong had memorized this route, going over it again and again to ensure he could navigate it even blindfolded.

They waited around half the day, carefully timing their move until noon before setting sail.

The ship moved at a steady, unhurried pace.

Song Yuanlong stood at the helm on the deck, squinting into the thick fog ahead.

Su Mo stood beside him, gazing at the impenetrable mist, and couldn't help but ask:

"Old Song, is such heavy fog normal?"

After a pause, Song Yuanlong finally replied:

"Actually... it's not."

"But things at sea are unpredictable. Fog can indeed shroud the waters, especially during windless periods, allowing one to stay hidden for a while."

"Sailing in such weather is incredibly dangerous."

"Even on ordinary days, if you don’t know the waters, hidden reefs are tough to spot."

"And now with this fog?"

"If there were a mountain ahead, we’d spot it just as we hit."

Su Mo nodded slightly and was about to speak when a loud *crack* sound interrupted him.

Startled, he glanced at Song Yuanlong.

The man had just mentioned crashing into a mountain, and now they'd hit something. Talk about bad timing.

Song Yuanlong was just as stunned. Wei Ziyi, standing near the ship's railing, leaned over, looked, and after a beat called back:

"It's a small boat, but there's no one aboard..."

Su Mo nodded, then suddenly heard the sound of splashing water from the other side of the ship.

A series of *splat-splat* noises echoed against the hull.

With everyone gathered on the deck, Zhen Xiaoxiao got jumpy at the noise:

"Boss, are those... water ghosts?"

"Go ahead—see if they’re tasty," Su Mo chuckled. "But don’t worry, it’s a person..."

The second he said it, a pair of hands gripped the railing. A drenched figure struggled aboard, flopped onto the deck, gasping.

Once she caught her breath, the figure turned and went still, shocked:

"It's you?"

"It's you?"

Su Mo and the others were just as surprised.

The person who had boarded turned out to be the girl from the Shattered Star Sect they had run into just two days prior.