Chapter 273: White Tiger City

Chapter 273: White Tiger City

"Just asking casually, huh?!"

The middle-aged man fell backward, dead with his eyes still open.

Su Mo didn’t care if his eyes were closed. He approached and searched the man's body, finding nothing but some silver and several throwing darts.

The man was literally covered in throwing darts.

His cloak was triple-layered, each layer densely packed with darts, essentially turning the entire cloak into a dart pouch.

Darts were hidden all over his body, leaving Su Mo tutting in amazement.

After removing all the darts, Su Mo checked again to ensure there was nothing left, then stood up and walked over to the Poison Child's corpse.

Yang Xiaoyun and the others didn’t dare to touch the Poison Child's body.

The earlier group had mentioned his reputation, knowing he was skilled in using poison.

Such a person's corpse obviously couldn’t be handled carelessly, as one might easily fall victim to his tricks.

After a thorough search, Su Mo found nothing and sighed.

He then looked up at young Chief Escort Jiao.

"Young Chief Escort Jiao," Su Mo spoke.

Jiao Wenhao had remained silent, quietly waiting for Su Mo to finish examining the corpse. Hearing Su Mo speak, he finally said:

"Thank you, Chief Escort Su, for rescuing us. I will never forget today's kindness."

"No need to thank me, no need," Su Mo waved his hand. "We’re old acquaintances and fellow townsfolk. How could I stand by and do nothing when you're in trouble? Besides, this isn’t just your problem; it’s tied to some of my own issues."

As he spoke, he glanced at the increasingly pale Escort Zhou.

He pulled out a pill from his pocket and tossed it to Jiao Wenhao:

"Even with the acupoints pressed, it's still difficult to stop the bleeding from your subordinate's severed arm. This pill can stop bleeding and heal wounds. Consume half orally and apply the other half externally. Please take it."

"Thank you, Chief Escort Su."

Jiao Wenhao quickly nodded, understanding that Su Mo's "please take it" wasn’t the same as "make him take it quickly." Those words left room for discretion.

Although Su Mo had saved their lives today, they were old acquaintances, but not exactly close friends.

If Su Mo had said "make him take it quickly," Jiao Wenhao might’ve hesitated.

Instead, this "please take it" left the decision to use it or not to Jiao Wenhao, which made him feel more at ease.

It also highlighted Su Mo’s openness.

Jiao Wenhao couldn't help but admire Su Mo, but he didn't hesitate. He immediately split the pill in half, stuffing one part into Escort Zhou's mouth and crushing the other to sprinkle on the wound.

Sure enough, the bleeding stopped moments after the powder was applied.

Everyone from the Yangwei Escort Agency present breathed a sigh of relief.

With the bleeding stopped, Escort Zhou's life was saved.

They immediately clasped their fists and thanked Su Mo.

Seeing that Escort Zhou had improved significantly, Jiao Wenhao instructed the porters and escorts to start fixing the damaged carts.

A group of bandits had stopped them here, damaging the carts in several places. They fought desperately to protect the carts, barely keeping the convoy safe.

Su Mo, watching all this, couldn't help but ask:

"Young Chief Escort, are these people from the King's Fort?"

Jiao Wenhao shook his head: "We know the people from the King's Fort well. I've traveled this road at least eighty times, maybe a hundred. It's always been peaceful, but this time, a fierce group of bandits appeared out of nowhere, fearless and skilled.

"Caught off guard, they ambushed us."

Su Mo raised an eyebrow.

According to Jiao Wenhao, the King's Fort was probably in trouble.

How could they let others settle so close to them?

This unknown group, now settled here, must have clashed with the King's Fort.

After a moment, he asked: "So, what are your plans next, Young Chief Escort?"

Jiao Wenhao quickly replied: "Thanks to Chief Escort Su's help, we're safe for now. I'll send someone to take Escort Zhou back to Sunset City to recover, while the rest of us leave Guan Yue Ridge... We'll settle the score here later."

"Alright."

Su Mo looked around. "They're gone, and it's not far to get out of Guan Yue Ridge. Once your carts are fixed, I'll move on. Sorry about that."

Jiao Wenhao nodded, not wanting to use Su Mo's reputation to boost theirs.

Although he knew that if Su Mo could escort them, there would be no risk at all.

But that would make their Yangwei Escort Agency look bad.

But Su Mo's 'sorry' made Jiao Wenhao understand the issue:

"Is it because of what that guy yelled earlier?"

Su Mo sighed. "Yeah..."

Since it would take time to fix the carts, Su Mo told them about Ji Shuhua's last request and the rumors outside the inn.

Of course, he couldn't reveal the details of the cargo.

Jiao Wenhao listened with righteous indignation:

"How outrageous, Master Ji was widely known for his chivalry and unparalleled sense of justice during his lifetime.

"Now that he has just passed away, so many shameless people have jumped out, wanting to covet Master Ji's belongings, it's truly hateful and infuriating."

Su Mo nodded gently: "So this trip is really troublesome for me, and I cannot accompany Young Chief Escort on the journey, please forgive me."

Jiao Wenhao pondered for a moment and said:

"Chief Escort Su, your journey is bound to be full of risks. Although I know your martial arts are formidable..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Yang Xiaoyun, who stood silently beside Su Mo, his eyes showing clear worry.

"However, it's easy to dodge a punch, but hard to avoid a sneak attack. You must be wary of cunning villains who might ambush you. Don’t let your guard down for even a second!"

"That’s solid advice."

Su Mo laughed heartily: "I’ll definitely remember that."

Although this advice was something he didn't need to be told, Su Mo would not disregard the goodwill of others.

Jiao Wenhao also felt that his words were a bit over the top and was a bit embarrassed.

He sighed: "Although I’ve heard of Chief Escort Su’s reputation in the past, we’ve had little contact. Today, I see that a great reputation is well-deserved. If I’ve ever stepped on your toes, I hope you won’t hold it against me, Chief Escort Su."

"No worries..."

Su Mo paused slightly before continuing:

"Meeting today, there’s something I’d like to talk about with the young Chief Escort... but now isn’t the right time. Here’s an idea: after I finish this escort mission and return to Sunset City, I’ll drop by in person."

"That would be great."

Jiao Wenhao quickly replied: "I’ll make sure to roll out the red carpet."

With that, the conversation came to an end. The escorts and drivers of the Yangwei Escort Agency were all seasoned professionals.

They soon had the carriages almost repaired, and seeing this, Su Mo took his leave with Yang Xiaoyun and the others.

After exchanging farewells, they watched them ride ahead, but Jiao Wenhao couldn’t take his eyes off them for a long time.

"Young Chief Escort?"

An Escort Leader stood beside him, whispering.

Jiao Wenhao turned around, his expression grave:

"What do you think Chief Escort Su wants to discuss with me?"

They exchanged glances, at a loss for words.

Jiao Wenhao sighed: "He was once wild, but now he’s completely changed, achieving greatness.

"He is the top martial artist in the Eastern Wasteland, but is he really content with just the Ziyang Escort Agency?"

He took a deep breath, gripped his nine-section whip tighter, but then sighed again and slung it back around his waist:

"Let’s go!"

The Escort Leaders glanced at each other.

Although they felt there was some truth in Jiao Wenhao’s words, they still couldn’t figure out Su Mo’s real motives.

If the Ziyang Escort Agency isn’t enough, what more could he want?

Given Su Mo’s selfless help today, he’s clearly not the kind to wipe out other escort agencies.

"Jiao Wenhao’s martial arts are nothing special, but he’s got a sharp mind."

"After Jiao Yongcheng hit forty-five, he mostly stepped back from the martial world, handing over the business to his son."

"Even though he’s young, he keeps everything running smoothly."

"Even if his martial arts aren’t top-notch, he’s managed to keep Yangwei Escort Agency’s reputation intact without Jiao Yongcheng."

"That alone shows he’s got something special."

As they traveled on, they quickly left Guanyue Ridge behind. Su Mo asked about Jiao Wenhao.

Yang Xiaoyun filled him in on what she knew.

Su Mo raised an eyebrow: "The ‘Tengshe Nine Appearances’ he used today showed some serious skill. You can’t really call his martial arts ‘not high,’ can you?"

Yang Xiaoyun paused: "His dad’s martial arts aren’t much to write home about either..."

"..."

Su Mo was at a loss for words. It was only because Yang Xiaoyun had always been by his side, going along with everything, that he’d almost forgotten she rarely admired anyone in martial arts.

Back in the day, she could swing a spear and dominate Sunset City’s younger generation—no one dared to take her on.

If it weren’t for all the connections, relationships, and tangled politics, she might’ve taken on Jiao Wenhao and then gone straight for Jiao Yongcheng...

Even after roaming the martial world for so long, has anyone ever seen Yang Xiaoyun afraid of anyone?

"Xiao Mo, I’m a bit concerned that what you said today might’ve been premature."

"Are you worried that after this trip, the task we need to handle back in Sunset City might hit a snag?"

Yang Xiaoyun nodded:

"This is something we absolutely have to do, but with all these twists and turns, it’s introduced a lot of uncertainty.

"Jiao Wenhao’s no pushover; he could easily figure out your intentions.

"Jiao Yongcheng would never bow to anyone... It might not be so easy to navigate this situation now."

Hearing this, Su Mo smiled: "Yang Xiaoyun, don’t worry. Saving Jiao Wenhao’s life today was actually a lucky break for us.

"When I said that, I was really just trying to give him a heads-up.

"As you just said, this is something we must do.

"Yangwei Escort Agency is something we can’t avoid in this matter.

"Now, with this opportunity, we can see what he’ll decide."

"What he’ll decide..."

Yang Xiaoyun looked at Su Mo in surprise: "Are you suggesting they might still turn against us?"

"There are only three options."

"The most extreme option is to turn hostile.

"If they choose to turn hostile, now is the perfect opportunity. Our journey has been under the scrutiny of the entire martial world.

"Anyone with a bit of ambition would jump at this opportunity. Amid the chaos, they could not only stir up trouble for us but also safeguard themselves. Why wouldn’t they go for it?

"The other two options are to ally with us... One is that he figures out my intentions, thinks it over, and lays out a set of terms to negotiate once we’re back.

"The other is to flat-out refuse.

"If he really goes that route, well..."

Su Mo gently shook his head: "Then the Yangwei Escort should probably leave Sunset City."

Yang Xiaoyun shot Su Mo a glance, a smile playing on her lips: "Xiao Mo, you’ve got some big ambitions."

"I don’t have a choice."

Su Mo frowned slightly and switched to voice transmission:

"Back in the day, our ancestor Su Chengyu, and even my father, got it wrong.

"What we’re up against is a giant.

"They’ve been hiding in the shadows of the martial world, never fully showing their hand.

"In a situation like this, even if your martial arts are unmatched, you’d still be at a disadvantage.

"We’re outmatched in information, influence, and connections.

"We can only play the game, not control it.

"Escort agencies are in a unique spot, traveling the martial world, seeing it all, and having connections everywhere.

"Once I expand the Ziyang Escort Agency, my first move will be to spread it across the entire Eastern Wasteland!"

Yang Xiaoyun’s eyes went wide with shock as she stared at Su Mo.

"How... how could that even work?"

She didn’t get how voice transmission worked, so she didn’t dare ask, but her eyes were brimming with curiosity.

Su Mo gave a soft smile: "Yang Xiaoyun, just wait and see... We’ve already laid the groundwork. Now, we just need to clear the last hurdle."

Even though she didn’t fully get what Su Mo was planning, it didn’t stop Yang Xiaoyun from trusting him completely.

She nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement.

But Su Mo’s expression was a bit odd. If he were to set up escort agencies everywhere...

The Escort King? That’d totally ruin the cool factor!

The two of them spoke no more, and in a short while, they had left Guan Yue Ridge.

After leaving Guan Yue Ridge, traveling another two hundred miles to the west would take them out of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance's territory and into the domain of the Wusheng Hall.

The boundary between the two regions was marked by a mountain."

Tiger Lord Mountain!

Tiger Lord Mountain has a rich and storied history, deeply intertwined with a famous mountain—Yin Mountain!

Tiger Lord Mountain is essentially an offshoot of Yin Mountain.

From afar, it looks like a massive tiger towering between heaven and earth, craning its neck to gaze and roar at the sky.

Despite being the border between two regions, this place is surprisingly tranquil.

That’s because nestled at the foot of Tiger Lord Mountain is a town known as White Tiger City!

White Tiger City isn’t part of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance or governed by Wusheng Hall.

Its history goes far deeper than that of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance and Wusheng Hall, yet it remains firmly rooted here, serving as a hub for travelers.

Su Mo and his group pressed on, reaching White Tiger City by noon.

As they neared White Tiger City, Su Mo’s eyebrow shot up as he glanced ahead.

He spotted dozens of corpses strung up high above the city gate.

The corpses were draped with white banners bearing inscriptions.

Some banners read: Crime of Mass Murder.

Others read: Crime of Sexual Assault.

And a few read: Crime of Defiling the Tiger Lord.

The last offense was clearly the gravest, with the corpses riddled with wounds, their skin completely flayed, as if they’d endured half a lingchi execution, and their eyes, along with the eyelids, gouged out.

Only then were they hung here, left to be killed by the relentless mountain winds.

"Defiling the Tiger Lord?"

Su Mo slightly raised his eyebrow: "Yang Xiaoyun, do you know much about this place?"

"Well... I’ve only heard a few rumors."

Yang Xiaoyun frowned slightly, speaking softly: "White Tiger City worships the Tiger Lord, seeing him as one of the righteous gods of heaven and earth, guiding them to prosper here..."

"Not only that."

Hu Sandao saw his chance and jumped in:

"Chief Escort, White Tiger City operates by its own rules—it’s practically a mini dynasty.

"The Grand Priestess rules everything, wielding the power of life and death.

"Moreover, for them, the Tiger Lord is not just a god, but also their ancestor.

"Their clan has thrived here for ages, and legend has it their martial arts were taught by the Tiger Lord himself."

"...A god teaching martial arts to people?"

Su Mo raised an eyebrow.

"That's not how it was said at the time."

Seeing that they had not yet entered the city, Hu Sandao quickly asked Su Mo and the others to stop for a moment and explained:

"As you know, I passed through here with the elderly and children before, so I heard a lot and did some preliminary research.

"They call themselves the remnants, meaning the lost remnants.

"Legend has it that long ago, the Tiger Lord rested and nurtured here and sired descendants, who were the earliest members of the remnants.

"Later, the Tiger Lord returned to the heavens and disappeared from the mortal world.

"But the descendants of the Tiger Lord did not ascend to the heavens with him, instead remaining in the mortal realm.

"They mingled with mortals, becoming the second generation of remnants.

"Thus, through generations of lineage, the current remnants came to be.

"The martial arts they practice are said to be called the Emperor’s Heart Sutra.

"However, after the Great Xuan Dynasty was established, they once attempted to seize the Emperor’s Heart Sutra.

"The details of this rumor are unclear, but since then, the Emperor’s Heart Sutra was renamed the Amber Sutra.

"It was only after the fall of the Great Xuan Dynasty that it was reverted back to the Emperor’s Heart Sutra.

"This martial art is profound and mysterious, rumored to possess incredible powers, yet no one but the Grand Priestess can master the entire text.

"And the Tiger Lord... here, he is a pivotal figure.

"No one is allowed to desecrate him; any disrespect towards the Tiger Lord will at least result in a lashing punishment.

"As for this corpse..."

Hu Sandao glanced at it and then said, "It might have been guilty of the crime of directly looking at the Tiger Lord."

"Directly looking?"

Su Mo felt he was almost dumbfounded: "Didn’t you say the Tiger Lord ascended to heaven? How can one look directly at him, by gazing at the sky?"

"...Inside the city, there is a Tiger Lord Temple, which is a holy site for the remnants.

"It is said that there is a statue of the Tiger Lord inside, which must not be looked at directly, or severe punishment will follow."