The Immortal Path

Su Mo had not expected the little widow to concoct so much drama in her head. He said gravely, "Not tomorrow morning!"

"Pack your valuables quickly and come with me to Third Uncle's place!"

Qin Bi'er's heart jolted. She instantly cast aside her jumbled thoughts and asked anxiously, "Did something happen?"

Su Mo swiftly explained in the fewest words possible, "Big Wart Ma wants me to pay one hundred and fifty taels of silver, then send you to the Zhou family!"

"Third Uncle and I naturally refused, so we've decided to fight that Assistant Magistrate!"

"You can't stay here any longer. The constables will surely come here to seize you tomorrow morning!"

Qin Bi'er's pretty face changed color.

Naturally, she did not suspect Su Mo of lying to her.

If they truly meant to send her to the Zhou family, there would be no need for any other schemes. They could simply come and take her away.

She hurriedly opened the courtyard gate. "Come in first!"

Su Mo entered the residence. Qin Bi'er set down her rolling pin, asked him to wait a moment, and hurried back into the inner room.

She did not keep him waiting long.

The little widow soon came briskly over, clutching a cloth bundle and carrying the sleeping Dian Dian in her arms.

"You packed that quickly?" Su Mo glanced at Qin Bi'er's cloth bundle, which did not seem to weigh more than a few pounds, somewhat surprised.

Qin Bi'er nodded and explained softly, "There isn't much of value in the house."

"Most of it was taken away by... my husband's clansmen."

Su Mo silently cursed!

Still, with no son left in the household, there was nothing to be done when others came to devour an orphaned estate. He would find a way to help her take it back later.

The little widow was efficient, which naturally saved them a great deal of trouble.

Su Mo did not waste any time. Taking the sleeping Dian Dian from her, he led Qin Bi'er straight toward the Chen residence!

The Chen family also lived in Ping'an Ward. They arrived after only a few steps.

The moment he knocked, the door opened.

The one who opened it was Third Aunt, Madam Qian.

Madam Qian was not particularly old, only a little over thirty. She had married Chen Gan in her teens and given birth to Chen Yiyao early the following year.

Though Chen Gan was ruthless and vicious in the eyes of others—

Madam Qian could truly be called a virtuous wife and loving mother. She treated the neighbors kindly, and because she had failed to bear the Chen family a son, she felt guilty and had always treated Su Mo quite well.

She looked at the widow and daughter behind Su Mo, then said quietly, "Come in."

Su Mo gave a grunt. "Third Aunt, this is Qin Bi'er."

Qin Bi'er hurriedly bowed. "This humble woman greets... Third Aunt."

Madam Qian nodded. "Your Third Uncle already told me about your situation. He left again just now and will return shortly. Wait a moment."

As she spoke, she led the three inside.

Su Mo casually asked, "Has Cousin Yiyao gone to sleep?"

Madam Qian gave a soft hum. "She only just fell asleep."

Though the Chen family was no great household, in the dead of night, Chen Yiyao was still an unmarried young woman. Even if she had not been asleep, she would not have come out to meet Su Mo.

Unable to conceal her worry, Madam Qian chatted with Su Mo for a few moments and asked Qin Bi'er several questions.

Before long, there came a rhythmic knock at the door.

Two long knocks, followed by one short.

Madam Qian immediately said, "Your Third Uncle is back."

"Mo'er, go open the door."

When Su Mo opened it, Chen Gan had indeed returned.

Four men dressed in different fashions stood behind him, each looking like anything but a good man.

His underlings, the unregistered runners Zhang Si and Scar Meng, were not among them.

By the time everyone reached the inner hall, Madam Qian and Qin Bi'er's mother and daughter were already gone.

Chen Gan did not waste words. He said directly, "This is my nephew, Su Mo!"

"Su Mo! Come greet your uncles!"

He pointed at the most imposing of the four, a burly man in short clothes with a conspicuous knife scar across his face. "Chen Bao, a clansman of ours and the chief of Eagle Ravine Dock!"

Su Mo hurriedly cupped his hands. "Su Mo greets Chief Chen!"

With his square face, he gave off the feeling of heroic spirit soaring to the clouds. At a glance, he looked like a bold outlaw of the martial world.

Chen Bao looked Su Mo up and down, then laughed heartily. "What chief? I'm only a smuggler selling salt!"

"Just call me Uncle Chen or Uncle Bao!"

Su Mo was secretly startled.

Third Uncle had dealings with salt smugglers?

That was a business that cost heads!

It seemed his Third Uncle's connections were far wilder than he had imagined, and his courage far greater as well!

Chen Gan said solemnly, "We're all our own people. No need for formalities!"

Then he pointed to a clean-shaven middle-aged man in a dark official-style robe. "Zhao Han, skilled in litigation."

So he's a legal advocate. I thought he was a eunuch. Su Mo said, "Greetings, Mister Zhao!"

Zhao Han smiled and nodded.

Chen Gan continued, "The Tu brothers—Tu Ren and Tu Yi!"

Yet he did not explain what the two did.

Su Mo looked them over.

The Tu brothers were both a little over thirty.

Tu Yi looked wretched, with a rat-like face and beady eyes.

Ever since entering the room, his shifty eyes had rolled about ceaselessly, and he had looked around several times.

Tu Ren, meanwhile, was short, sturdy, and thickset, with arms longer than his knees and unusually large finger joints. It was obvious that his hand techniques were formidable.

Yet a vicious glint surfaced in his eyes from time to time, and the brutality around him was difficult to conceal. Looking at him made people uncomfortable.

Su Mo greeted the two.

Tu Yi rubbed his hands together and greeted Su Mo with a smile that did not reach his eyes, though his gaze fell upon the money pouch at Su Mo's waist.

Tu Ren merely gave a perfunctory response, his savage gaze roaming over Su Mo's throat and heart.

Su Mo felt as if he were being watched by a venomous snake, thoroughly ill at ease.

Chen Gan coughed. "You've met each other now."

"From now on, Su Mo's words are my words. Do you understand?"

Chen Bao and the others all nodded in agreement.

Chen Gan added, "I already explained what needs to be done on the way here!"

"For commoners to contend against officials is a great taboo. One misstep, and the family will be destroyed and lives lost. We must not be careless!"

His gaze fell on Chen Bao. "Brother Chen Bao, stay at my place for the night. Tomorrow morning, once the city gates open, go with Su Mo and the others to Eagle Ravine Dock."

He added gravely, "Without word from me, do not return to Changping County!"

Chen Bao laughed. "Rest assured, Brother. Your little brother understands!"

Zhao Han and the Tu brothers hurried away.

Chen Bao, familiar with the place, went by himself to rest in a side room.

After the four had left—

Chen Gan suddenly asked Su Mo, "Of the four, who do you think is the most trustworthy?"

Su Mo was somewhat surprised.

Was this a test for him?

Of the four, Zhao Han the legal advocate looked as if his belly was full of wicked schemes.

Those who practiced litigation were basically no good people.

There was no need to mention the Tu brothers.

One had the look of a thief, while the other was clearly a murderer.

Only the salt smuggler, who seemed loyal enough to lay down his life for righteousness, appeared a little better.

Those who butcher dogs often had the most loyalty. It was not strange for a salt smuggler to value brotherhood.

But anyone could see that Chen Bao was more trustworthy. Would Third Uncle really ask such a question specifically?

Could it be that the least reliable one was instead the one who seemed most reliable?

"Zhao Han?" Su Mo voiced his guess tentatively.

Chen Gan neither confirmed nor denied it. "Why do you say that?"

Su Mo said, "Isn't it?"

Chen Gan waved his hand. "None of the four is trustworthy!"

Su Mo was speechless. "Aren't they Third Uncle's true core group?"

"Core group?" Chen Gan laughed. "What core group is there? We merely use one another."

He went on, speaking to himself, "Chen Bao is a salt-smuggling boss, black-hearted and ruthless. No fewer than twenty people have died by his hand!"

Su Mo was slightly surprised.

A man truly could not be judged by his appearance.

Still, smuggling salt was work done with one's head tied to one's belt. Without enough ruthlessness, one could not be a salt smuggler, much less a salt-smuggling boss.

Chen Gan continued, "He needs me to open up Changping County's salt-selling routes for him!"

"If something happens to your uncle, he can forget about staying out of it."

"So although he is not trustworthy, there should be no problem with him!"

He picked up a clay bowl and took a sip of water. "Zhao Han is known as Zhao Three Taels. Without three taels of silver, don't even think of asking him to draft a complaint. He is exceptionally skilled in litigation, and his greed is enormous. That got him into trouble with men of the greenwood, who bagged him and sank him in the river."

"Your uncle was the one who saved him and settled the matter for him."

"On the surface, he appears polite, but in his bones he thinks of himself as a scholar and looks down on lowborn Subordinate Clerks like us!"

"But I have leverage over him. He can be used!"

Su Mo frowned. "The Tu brothers?"

Chen Gan was silent for a moment before saying, "Tu Yi knows lightness techniques and is skilled in theft and gathering intelligence."

"Tu Ren is vicious by nature, and his Iron Sand Palm is quite formidable."

"It is said the two brothers have ties to Immortal Path cultivators. Their origins are extremely mysterious."

"Though they are men of the wilds, they value loyalty and can be relied upon in their work."

"Your uncle has shown them kindness, so they are obedient for now. But if I am gone, they may not listen to you."

Su Mo's heart stirred slightly.

From Third Uncle's words, it seemed he knew something about the Immortal Path?

As a transmigrator, it would be a lie to say he was not curious after discovering that he had crossed into a world of immortals and martial heroes.

Who would not wish to travel with a sword at their side and seek the Dao of eternal life?

"Third Uncle knows about the Immortal Path?"

Su Mo could not help asking. Then, out of habit, he added, "Like Lin Moyin."

Third Uncle raised a brow and looked at Su Mo suspiciously. "Lin Moyin?"

Su Mo was stunned as well.

Third Uncle did not know that Female Captain's name?

Sure enough, the more one said, the more mistakes one made!

He had exposed himself again.

He could only say, "The Female Captain who held a book and summoned a flying sword to behead the Corpse Oil Lamp."

"I think I heard a constable say her name was Lin Moyin. Doesn't Third Uncle know?"

Third Uncle said irritably, "Who knows what her name is? You'd have to be tired of living to investigate the Imperial Guard!"

"There isn't a single good thing in the Imperial Guard. The farther away you stay from anything related to them, the better. If you get involved, nothing good will come of it!"

"And as for the Immortal Path, ask less about it from now on. It will do you no good!"

Su Mo was startled. "Is it suppressed by the court like an evil cult?"

Chen Gan waved his hand. "Not exactly."

"Emperor Wu the Founder received the full support of Immortal Path cultivators before establishing the Great Wu Dynasty. There are quite a few high-ranking court officials who cultivate the Immortal Path."

"There is a saying among the people: in the world today, the Sage holds seven parts, the Immortal Path three..."

As he spoke, he suddenly fell silent.

Su Mo immediately understood.

Those whose merit overshadowed their lord would be hidden away once the birds had all been hunted.

It was only because the Immortal Path cultivators were immensely powerful, and the court could not suppress them for the time being, that they had barely reached a balance.

No wonder Third Uncle was so wary of this subject.

It concerned the grand situation of the court and the realm itself.

Forget lowly yamen runners—even high officials of the third or fourth rank would not dare touch it.

Touch even its edge, and one would be mercilessly crushed to dust!