The Little Widow

Su Mo narrowed his eyes to slits as he stared at the Jade Token.

A faint aura of magic power, thick with the flavor of slaughter, emanated from it.

It was definitely a Magic Item!

And an offensive Magic Item at that!

If he had not cultivated the Yang Tian Jue, he absolutely would not have discovered it!

Xue Yishu's uncle was unquestionably an Immortal Path practitioner!

There was no doubt about it. If anyone dared to mistreat Xue Yishu, she definitely knew how to activate the Jade Token's offensive power and kill them without mercy!

No wonder she dared to lodge at an unfamiliar man's home!

And no wonder Xue Shan had governed Changping County well yet could only remain here, unable to secure a promotion!

Now, imperial authority and Immortal authority were locked in endless covert conflict, with undercurrents surging everywhere.

From the Empress's perspective, she certainly would not want to see more and more officials with Immortal Path backgrounds receive promotions!

Her brother-in-law sounded like someone who only knew how to cultivate and did not meddle in officialdom, so he could not provide Xue Shan with the support of the court's Immortal Path officials.

Being suppressed in Changping County all along was perfectly normal!

However, Xue Shan was also a man with an extremely keen sense of danger. He must have known that the dried corpse case was deeply entangled and that the County Yamen could not handle it.

That was why he had invited this great backer to take charge of Changping County!

One truly could not underestimate anyone who became an official!

And one truly could not blame Xue Shan for being afraid of his wife.

With someone like this elder brother backing Madam Wang, if Su Mo were in Xue Shan's place, he admitted he would fare no better!

Xue Yishu smugly stuffed the Jade Token away.

Something stirred in Su Mo's heart.

She had an uncle like that, and might even know how to release Immortal Path techniques.

She must be extremely familiar with the Immortal Path.

Much more reliable than his Third Uncle's hearsay!

Thinking of this,

Su Mo snorted coldly at Xue Yishu. "Brother Xue, you don't actually think I'm that easy to deceive, do you?"

"Immortal Path practitioners are extraordinary. They are exceedingly rare in this world."

He rolled his eyes disdainfully at Xue Yishu. "You pull out any old Jade Token and claim your uncle is an Immortal Path practitioner? I could just as well say my uncle is a Martial Arts Master!"

Xue Yishu immediately grew frantic. "It's true! I'm not lying to you! What will it take for you to believe me?"

Su Mo's eyes shifted. "All right!"

"Since you say your uncle is an Immortal Path practitioner, you must know quite a bit about the Immortal Path as well."

"Then let me ask you: how many realms are there in Immortal Path cultivation?"

"If you can answer, I'll believe you!"

No matter how clever Xue Yishu was, she was still a sheltered young woman who had spent most of her time in the inner chambers.

How could she compare with a shut-in who could "sit at home and know everything under heaven"?

Especially after that shut-in had undergone a hundred days of intensive study at the yamen, with a crafty subordinate clerk constantly offering pointers at his side. His level of cunning had advanced at astonishing speed!

Without hesitation, she said, "Of course I know!"

"There are nine great realms in Immortal Path cultivation!"

"They are the Entry Level, Body Observation, Soul Stabilization, Spirit Severing, Aperture Return, Golden Core, Heavenly Infant, Spirit Roaming, and Mortal Immortal realms!"

Xue Yishu paused, then continued, "My uncle said so himself."

"Immortal Path cultivation is harder than climbing to heaven. Reaching the Soul Stabilization Realm is enough to be called a master who has entered the hall and chamber, with few opponents under heaven!"

"Hmph!"

She shot Su Mo a provocative glance. "My uncle's Spirit Severing Realm can stand shoulder to shoulder with a Martial Arts Grandmaster. He is already one of the finest among practitioners!"

Su Mo secretly drew in a sharp breath.

He had thought that defeating Yan Dahu with ease meant he counted as a real expert.

Now it seemed he was still Trashy Mo!

He had never expected Xue Yishu's uncle to possess such terrifying strength.

He wondered who was more powerful between him and Lin Moyin.

The Golden Core Realm—the sixth realm of the Immortal Path.

His Yang Tian Jue led directly to the Golden Core. It was truly extraordinary. No wonder it had such power despite him only just reaching the Entry Level.

Chen Bao had indeed given him a super gift!

Su Mo still wanted to pry out more information about the Immortal Path.

But Xue Yishu was unwilling to say more. "Now that you know everything, can you let me stay over for a few days?"

He could not rush things.

Although Xue Yishu was inexperienced in worldly affairs, she seemed far cleverer than Heroine Chen.

If he kept asking, he feared he would arouse her suspicions.

Su Mo finally nodded. "In that case..."

"If you do not find my residence too humble, Brother Xue, you are more than welcome!"

Xue Yishu glanced toward the yamen. "Hurry up!"

"If Mother finds out that Yan Dahu failed to catch me, she will definitely send even more people!"

She did not know that Su Mo had already revealed his identity.

Even if she hid at Su Residence, her mother would still come looking if she wanted to.

Su Mo did not say more to her.

If it was merely people like Yan Dahu, he could handle them alone.

As for this sort of family and private matter, Xue Shan surely would not go so far as to mobilize the forces of the County Yamen.

If word got out, how could Xue Yishu, a young woman, ever show her face again?

He beckoned to Xue Yishu and headed straight home!

But when they reached the area near the residence, he saw quite a few men waiting outside the house who were plainly no respectable sort.

He turned toward the side door.

It was the same there.

Su Mo was instantly left laughing and crying at once.

Xue Yishu looked at Su Mo suspiciously and could not help asking, "Brother Su, what is this?"

Su Mo had no choice but to explain. "To be honest, Brother Xue, I was just appointed a Regular Servant at the yamen, and I have three Assistant Servant positions under me!"

Xue Yishu's beautiful eyes instantly widened as she stared at Su Mo in disbelief. "What?"

"You're a yamen runner?"

Su Mo smiled. "Don't I look like one?"

Xue Yishu...

How was this merely a case of not looking like one?

He had absolutely nothing to do with the type!

It was not as if she had never seen yamen runners before.

Most of them were crooked and ugly, sinister and cunning, vicious and ferocious men!

Su Mo was handsome and dignified, with a refined bearing and elegant speech. He lacked the vulgarity of ordinary commoners and was plainly a learned man who understood books and propriety.

Now that he suddenly claimed to be a yamen runner, the contrast was simply too great for Xue Yishu to accept!

If she had known Su Mo was a yamen runner earlier,

she definitely would not have suggested staying at his residence!

Wasn't this just sending a sheep into a tiger's den?

Seeing the wariness on Xue Yishu's face, Su Mo smiled and explained, "Brother Xue, you needn't worry."

"Although I am a yamen runner, I have some acquaintance with your father."

"Magistrate Xue will probably show me some consideration and won't send people to look for you!"

Xue Yishu was even more bewildered.

When had her own father ever become acquainted with a subordinate clerk?

Show him consideration?

How could a mere subordinate clerk deserve such consideration?

But before she could ask,

Su Mo had already strode forward, preparing to open the door and enter.

Several hoodlums waiting by the side door brightened at once. They hurried over, bowing and greeting Su Mo ingratiatingly and respectfully.

They had obviously done their homework and knew what Su Mo looked like.

Su Mo cupped his hands toward them and said with a smile, "I am deeply grateful that all of you brothers think so highly of me."

"Unfortunately, the Regular Servant positions under my name have already been filled."

"Please leave. If I need anything in the future, I will certainly seek your assistance!"

"And please tell the brothers at the main gate as well."

Though the hoodlums who had come to pledge themselves to Su Mo were reluctant to leave, now that he had said this, staying would mean refusing to give him face.

The consequences of refusing to give a yamen runner face were extremely serious!

At once, they could only return Su Mo's salute one after another.

They thumped their chests and promised that whenever Officer Su gave the word in the future, they would obey his every command.

Then they dispersed.

Xue Yishu saw that Su Mo had already stepped through the side door and was turning back to wave her in.

After hesitating for a moment, she could only follow him inside!

Although she was the magistrate's daughter, she rarely left the small patch of land behind the yamen. Her experience of society was even more limited than Heroine Chen's.

Now that she was alone outside, she truly had no idea where she could go besides an inn!

If she stayed at an inn, her mother would definitely find her.

She could only place her trust in this Su Mo, who looked unreliable no matter how she saw him!

Su Mo was exceptionally enthusiastic.

He worked hard to raise Xue Yishu's favorable impression of him.

After all, she was not only the magistrate's beloved daughter but also the niece of a great Spirit Severing practitioner!

If he maxed out her favorable impression,

wouldn't that amount to gaining a powerful backer?

He could not afford to be careless!

After inviting Xue Yishu to sit down and making her tea, Su Mo was just preparing to tidy up the guest room himself.

Suddenly, a commotion came from the side door.

Someone was pounding hard on it!

Su Mo frowned.

He thought those hoodlums were unwilling to give up.

But when he went over and opened the door,

he was surprised to discover that the visitor was the little widow, Qin Bi'er!

After yesterday's wild storm, hadn't she secretly slipped away early in the morning because she did not know how to face him?

Why had she suddenly come looking for him again?

Could it be that she had developed a taste for the marrow?

A rush of heat surged through Su Mo's heart!

Begging for monthly votes—brothers, could you lend me a hand?