Chapter 352: Preparation

Chapter 352: Laying the Groundwork

Yang Xiaoyun noticed Su Mo's deep frown and moved closer.

"What's wrong?"

Su Mo handed him the letter.

After reading it, Yang Xiaoyun also looked surprised.

"The East City Seven Sects?"

"Hmm?"

Since the East City Seven Sects were involved, Wei Ziyi became alert. "What’s going on? Does this matter concern them too?"

Without hesitation, Yang Xiaoyun passed the letter to Wei Ziyi.

After she read it, she couldn’t help but give a slight shake of her head.

"Back then, that martial artist was stopped by top fighters from the East City Seven Sects and failed to assassinate the Great Manager.

"A group of raiders attacked Da You Bank, and in the end, it was Tianxin Sect that stepped in to handle it...

"The relationship between the East City Seven Sects and Da You Bank seems suspiciously close.

"Chief Escort Su, since this involves the East City Seven Sects, it might not be easy to resolve."

Su Mo, however, shook his head slightly.

"Actually, it's the opposite," he said.

Wei Ziyi was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood.

Exactly because the East City Seven Sects were involved, the matter would actually be easier to resolve.

We don't know exactly how close Da You Bank and the East City Seven Sects really are, but why would the sects risk crossing Su Mo just to protect a bank manager?

No matter how important that manager is to them, when forced to choose, they'd surely side with Su Mo.

There's simply no comparison.

Wei Ziyi nodded thoughtfully. "You've got a point there. So what do you plan to do, Chief Escort Su?"

"Heh."

Su Mo chuckled. "I'm just a lowly escort—what can I do? For now, all I can do is wait until the appointed day and report everything to my elders and respected seniors. As a junior, I can only ask them to back me up."

Wei Ziyi pursed her lips—this man really was such a sly fox.

But thinking it over, she found it kind of amusing.

If Da You Bank truly had ties with the East City Seven Sects, their expressions when the time came would surely be a sight to see.

With that settled, Wei Ziyi rose to leave.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun saw her off outside the gate of the escort bureau. At the entrance, Yang Xiaoyun still held Wei Ziyi’s hand, urging her warmly:

"If you have free time, come visit me at Ziyang Escort Bureau.

"Or I can come to the City Lord’s Manor. Since we call each other sisters, we should stay close and visit often."

"Alright."

Wei Ziyi cheerfully agreed. She looked at Su Mo once more before taking her leave.

Only after watching her disappear from sight did Su Mo ask:

"Sister Xiaoyun won’t stop inviting her to the escort bureau... this..."

"What's wrong?"

Yang Xiaoyun glanced at Su Mo:

"She’s going through a tough time right now and needs someone to keep her company.

"Who better than me?"

"..."

Su Mo was momentarily speechless and could only nod. "Sister Xiaoyun, you’ve got a point."

"Of course."

Yang Xiaoyun folded her arms behind her back and walked ahead.

Su Mo grumbled to himself:

"There’s definitely something strange..."

Yet when he turned to look in the direction Wei Ziyi had left, his heart was filled with a tangled mix of feelings.

Let’s table this for now.

That afternoon, Zhang Biaotou, Li Biaotou, Zhen Xiaoxiao, Liu Mo, Fu Hanyuan, and others all returned.

No surprise—another feast was held.

During the feast, Su Mo broke the news to everyone that he and Yang Xiaoyun were getting married.

The escorts and senior staff at the bureau didn’t seem particularly surprised.

They thought it was only natural.

The only thing puzzling them was why it took so long to announce.

Some even asked—weren’t the Head Escort and Deputy Head Escort already married?

They’re always together, even sharing a courtyard. Many had assumed the two had already tied the knot.

Of everyone, Uncle Fu was the happiest.

The old man was overjoyed, his hands shaking with excitement.

"Heaven be praised, Heaven be pleased!

"This old fool who clings to life has actually lived to see the Young Master marry.

"No, no... I must go give thanks tomorrow."

His lip twitched as Su Mo listened:

"Uncle Fu... when did you even make that vow?"

"A long time ago."

Uncle Fu said, "On the first and fifteenth of every month, I've gone to Zhiyuan Temple (Temple of Predestined Bonds) on Cuifeng Mountain to burn incense, praying tirelessly for the Buddha's mercy so my Young Master might see the light and wed Miss Xiaoyun sooner rather than later.

"Now at last my wish is fulfilled, and the old Master’s spirit can rest in peace."

"..."

Su Mo remained silent for a long while. He couldn't help but wonder—what did his marriage to Yang Xiaoyun have to do with the Buddha?

Of course, he only thought this to himself. It was good for an old soul like Uncle Fu to have something to believe in.

Next happiest after Uncle Fu were Escort Captains Zhang and Li, who had followed over from Iron Blood Escort Agency.

They had personally watched Yang Xiaoyun grow from a toddler stumbling around into the elegant and fierce woman she was today.

Now that she was about to become someone’s wife, they were swamped by nostalgia.

After Su Mo announced the wedding date, the two men knocked back three bowls of wine in quick succession.

Then suddenly, they broke down in tears, thinking of Yang Yizhi.

One of them blurted out how wonderful it would be if he were still alive to witness this moment.

As soon as the words left his mouth, regret flashed across their faces. They feared such talk might cast a pall over the celebration and bring unwarranted sadness to Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun, so they backpedaled fast.

After some cheerful moments passed, little Zhen Xiaoxiao suddenly squinted her beady eyes, glancing back and forth between everyone.

Then she whispered to Su Mo:

"Boss, when you and the Second-in-command get married, will there be a wedding feast?"

"What kind of nonsense is that, child?"

Before Su Mo could answer, Uncle Fu shot Zhen Xiaoxiao a glare.

Zhen Xiaoxiao looked momentarily disappointed: "There won’t be?"

"There will!" Uncle Fu snapped immediately. "We’ll throw a feast that never ends!"

"A feast that never ends? Like eating on a boat?" Her eyes lit up.

"..."

Uncle Fu felt he just couldn’t get through to this kid whose mind was only on food.

He could only nod in resignation.

Zhen Xiaoxiao immediately lit up:

"Great! The Boss and his second-in-command are getting married!

"Now we can all eat aboard a big ship!!"

Everyone turned to look at Zhen Xiaoxiao, including the white tiger gnawing on a hunk of beef nearby, who couldn’t help but shoot them a glance.

And in the tiger’s gaze, there seemed to be a flicker of anticipation as well.

From that moment on, time seemed to fly by.

The next day, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun were all but dragged by Uncle Fu to Zhiyuan Temple to make good on their vow.

Afterward, drawing up the guest list took quite some time.

The carrier eagles of the Fallen Phoenix Alliance were dispatched en masse, flying across every corner of the Eastern Wasteland.

And as the eagles soared, word of the upcoming wedding of Su Mo, the First of Donghuang, spread far and wide.

For a time, countless martial world layabouts converged on Sunset City.

Whether they got to attend the banquet or not wasn’t the point—they weren’t Zhen Xiaoxiao or that glutton of a tiger.

What mattered was getting a look at the Eastern Wasteland’s Number One, so they’d have something to brag about later.

As for those who received invitations, many were fuming.

Not because they didn’t want to go—on the contrary, they were flattered—but the time given was way too short.

Under such rushed circumstances, how were they supposed to scrounge up a decent gift for the East’s greatest martial expert?

This was the wedding feast of the Eastern Wasteland's Number One.

Ordinary offerings just wouldn’t cut it.

If he sent word via carrier eagle and you traveled nearly a month just to arrive and hand over a measly two hundred taels of silver—

Well, that might as well spit in Su Mo’s face.

For a while, countless invitees tore their hair out night after night.

But no matter how much hair they pulled or how loudly they cursed, they still had to show up.

Some who ran no-name escort agencies were downright baffled when they got their invites.

A few had only just realized—oh right, the First of Donghuang owns a security convoy?

Then came the frustration: he runs one, I run one—how come he’s leagues ahead?

Those who still hadn’t caught on were even more confused: Su Mo’s getting married? Sure. But why me? We’ve never even met! What’s the invitation for?

Yet once they held that invitation, they couldn’t exactly skip it.

Not attending would be a slight against Su Mo, but going without an appropriate gift would be even more insulting.

This was truly piling trouble upon trouble.

But no matter what, those invited had no choice but to come—and they set off the moment they received their invitations.

They even had to ride at breakneck speed; otherwise, they wouldn’t make it to the wedding banquet in time.

Without realizing it, those in the martial world who bred horses suddenly found themselves striking it rich.

Meanwhile, bands of river pirates along the waterways, upon hearing the news, quickly gathered and made their way toward the Fallen Phoenix Alliance.

This left river travelers baffled—where were the river patrols?

But they had little time to dwell on it, as they were busy shuttling back and forth with passengers.

Traffic between the two regions had exploded seemingly overnight.

Jiyang Port was overflowing, with every boat booked solid.

On the river, countless large ships were seen heading toward Three Rivers Bay.

The docks there were bursting at the seams, with no docking space left.

Some simply bypassed it altogether and headed straight for South Sea Bay, which led directly into Sunset City.

Like a stone cast into a pond, ripples spread far and wide—the entire martial world was abuzz.

Yet no matter how much the world stirred, Su Mo had no time to notice. Even if he did, there was little he could do.

He was already running himself ragged.

Neither in this life nor his last had he ever been married.

Who knew weddings could be such a hassle?

The date was divined by Yang Yizhi.

The venue required extensive preparation, and the Fallen Phoenix Alliance was pulling out all the stops.

When Wei Ruhan heard about Su Mo’s wedding, he went all out—offering manpower, resources, and unwavering support.

He didn’t bat an eye that the bride wasn’t Wei Ziyi, but Yang Xiaoyun instead.

Su Mo visited the old man twice. His spirit was strong, though his martial arts were completely spent after his duel with Wei Qixiong.

At his age, trying to preserve his cultivation would have cost him his life.

The old man called it a silver lining.

What martial artist would willingly lose their skills?

Some only relinquished their powers when they chose to end their lives.

And yet, because of that one battle, his lifelong cultivation had vanished entirely—while he himself walked away unscathed.

Now that he'd lost his martial prowess, the Fallen Phoenix Alliance had also found its new home.

He became an ordinary wealthy old man, and whenever Hua Qianyu ran into trouble, she could still turn to him.

So long as he was alive, he’d lend a hand for as long as he drew breath.

If he only had a couple more years left, then so be it—he was at peace with it now.

Su Mo wasn’t about to stir the pot by bringing up anything about himself and Wei Ziyi during this time.

Instead, the old man ribbed him good-naturedly a few times before letting it drop.

He simply told Su Mo to take it easy—life was long enough.

Su Mo wanted to say "take it easy" already meant slow down, so adding “take things” before it was redundant.

But of course, he bit his tongue.

Meanwhile, Wei Ziyi had made a habit of dropping by Yang Xiaoyun’s place to gab.

No one knew what those two women were always huddled together scheming about all day.

Su Mo was run ragged and barely noticed, though he did catch Wei Ziyi giving him these sideways looks once in a while.

Her relationship with Yang Xiaoyun had gotten thicker than thieves—practically joined at the hip. If not for her duties with the Fallen Phoenix Alliance, Su Mo honestly wondered if the two of them would’ve been inseparable.

Sometimes he even wondered whether it was him or Wei Ziyi who was marrying Yang Xiaoyun.

Still, with the Fallen Phoenix Alliance’s help, a lot of things got easier.

Streets were cleared, banquet tables and chairs set straight, and to add festive flair, the Alliance handed out red silk banners to every household in Sunset City, asking them to hang them on their doors before the big day.

The whole city was drenched in crimson celebration.

Partly because of Su Mo’s close ties with the Alliance,

and partly because he was the First of Donghuang—a native son no less—and having invited masters from across Donghuang to attend, the Alliance had serious bragging rights.

Most townsfolk were just there for the show, counting down to the free meal.

Of course, anyone currently mourning a loss was cut some slack—it’d be downright cruel to expect them to decorate in red.

As long as no funerals fell on the wedding day itself, it was fine.

Once those arrangements were settled, the next headache was hiring chefs for the banquet.

The Alliance didn’t need to lift a finger here.

Word spread that they might cook for the First of Donghuang’s wedding feast, and every top restaurant in Sunset City descended on Ziyang Escort like locusts, practically at each other’s throats fighting over the top dog spot in the kitchen.

Not surprising—after all, too many cooks spoil the broth.

Uncle Fu was experienced, sure—but even he couldn’t micromanage this three-ring wedding circus.

A group of chefs who were at odds with each other, none willing to back down—eventually decided to settle the dispute through a cooking competition to determine the head chef.

It sounded like an impulsive idea, but perhaps they had too much free time, as everyone actually agreed to go along with it.

Even Wei Ruhan, upon hearing about it, said he would come to check it out. At the very least, he was happy to enjoy some free food while he was there.

They cleared the area and gave themselves three days to select the top chef.

Su Mo, as the groom, also brought Yang Xiaoyun along to join in the feast. Eventually, they chose one master chef to lead the rest, ready to showcase their skills on the big day.

Once the chefs were settled, the next step was shopping for supplies.

However, this wasn’t something that could be purchased in advance. Instead, everything had to be ordered ahead of time and delivered just before the wedding day.

The banquet was expected to spread throughout every corner of Luoxia City, so that anyone walking through town could eat wherever they pleased and drink wherever they found a spot.

Naturally, this was no small undertaking.

Luoxia City being located by the sea, the Luofeng Alliance handled all seafood supplies, ensuring everything was fresh and lively.

As for land-based ingredients, they were transported from Zhongfu City, Jinyang City, and Tianyu City to Luoxia.

Interestingly, some merchants even considered hiring the Ziyan Escort Agency to guard their shipments.

But the agency was already overwhelmed—with setting up decorations, arranging seating, planning the wedding procession, and assigning staff—so busy they couldn’t possibly take on anything else.

Still, it was safe to assume that even without an escort, no one would dare attempt to rob anything intended for Su Mo’s wedding.

That would be like pulling hair from a tiger’s head—purely asking for a death wish.

Meanwhile, members from nearby Tiandao Sect and Wusheng Hall began arriving.

Nangong Yu, the leader of Tiandao Sect—who hadn't appeared in the martial world for years—personally showed up in Luofeng territory. Naturally, the alliance rolled out the red carpet for him.

As for Wusheng Hall, Wan Zangxin came instead.

Wan Yutang, due to his current condition, felt unfit to face people and therefore did not attend.

Accompanying Wan Zangxin was Wan Yilan.

When they all reunited, another round of celebration began.

Old Hu returned with them as well.

Neither faction stood on ceremony. After discussing with Hua Qianyu, they simply decided to collaborate to maintain order.

On the wedding day itself, chaos was inevitable.

After all, guests from every mountain and stronghold, every sect and school, from all corners of the jianghu would be present.

With such a massive crowd, it would be nothing short of a miracle if nothing went wrong.

Therefore, someone needed to step forward with enough strength to keep things under control.

In the southwest region, these three factions naturally took charge. With all three present, no one dared to cause trouble.

Especially the members of Tiandao Sect—their intimidating aura alone made it clear that even glancing at them the wrong way might get you killed. Let alone getting rowdy or drunk—then you truly wouldn’t live to regret it.

It truly seizes the heart.

A whirlwind of tasks, endless details—yet somehow, it all left him happy.

And so the days slipped away.

Before he knew it, the month was almost up.

As the day approached, Su Mo, who’d been run ragged by all the wedding prep, suddenly found himself with nothing to do.

Everything that needed doing seemed already done.

Just two days ago, he’d tried on his wedding attire—no issues whatsoever.

Now, he and Yang Xiaoyun just sat around, day after day, in a daze.

Or they’d go to the backyard and stare awkwardly at Yang Yizhi and the rest.

He could hardly believe it—was he really about to get married?

In his past life, he’d made something of himself—yet stayed alone.

Now, here he was, about to settle down and build a future.

The idea that in days, he’d be a husband...

Suddenly, warmth flooded his chest—but so did a quiet dread.

Stepping into new shoes always leaves you wondering... if you’ll rise to the occasion.