Chapter 3: Accepting the Mission

"Indeed, indeed, such a headless business, if carried through, I fear might also result in the loss of one's head. If it were me, I wouldn't accept it either!"

The voice came from beside Su Mo.

Su Mo turned his head to look and saw a young man with a saber strapped to his waist. His face bore a gentle smile.

Seeing Su Mo looking at him, the young man smiled again, "Since you don't plan on taking this escort task, how about giving that Brocade Box to me?"

"Fine."

Su Mo didn't hesitate. He picked up the Brocade Box and threw it to the young man.

The young man quickly grasped the Brocade Box in his palm which slightly trembled; he let out a hearty laugh:

"Good, indeed decisive! In that case, I have another impertinent request!"

"Let's hear it?"

"I wonder if I could… borrow your head for a moment!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a flash of Blade Light appeared, and the blade's edge had already reached the front of Su Mo's neck.

From the moment this young man appeared, he had no intention of letting Su Mo live.

Their assassination and robbery were extremely secretive. Not to mention that Su Mo had seen and even held this Brocade Box, but merely having seen this Black Clothed Man's features was enough to seal his fate.

Otherwise, since Su Mo had already said he didn't plan to accept the escort task and didn't want to get involved in this trouble, why not wait until after Su Mo left to take the Brocade Box and be done with it, to everyone's satisfaction?

Therefore, this young man came with the intent to kill right from the start.

Whether Su Mo gave the Brocade Box or not, whether he took the escort task or not, it made no difference!

The young man's saber was a fine one, and his Blade Technique was also exemplary, adept at killing and decapitating.

What's more, he had been using a smile and a gentle tone to lull Su Mo.

This strike should have had no mishap!

However... this strike indeed went awry!

The blade hovered an inch away from Su Mo's neck, unable to advance even a fraction more.

Because two fingers had firmly pinched the blade.

"I already said I didn't plan on taking the escort job, I gave you a chance, why did you have to force it?"

Su Mo sighed. His body was protected by Longxiang Wisdom, his Inner Strength so profound it was beyond belief. The young man hadn't even approached him when he already heard the movements.

That self-dialogue, mentioning not taking the escort duty, was also meant for him to hear.

The purpose was nothing more than to clarify that he did not intend to get involved in this trouble.

If the other party would step back and not harbor any intention to silence him, Su Mo honestly would put down the Brocade Box and leave.

Unfortunately, things went against his wishes!

He only heard a loud bang, and that fine saber was snapped in two by Su Mo's fingers.

The young man's palm shook with the force, tearing apart and blood flowed down along the handle, but he couldn't even bother to look at it.

Who would have thought that what seemed like an insignificant figure so easy to kill could actually be so unfathomably powerful?

He immediately tried to retreat, moving rapidly!

But as quick as he was, Su Mo was even quicker!

With no room left for turning back, Su Mo showed no mercy.

Between the flick of the blade, with a casual flick, the broken half of the blade flew like thunder, heading straight for the young man's throat.

The young man indeed possessed exceptional martial arts, lifting the half saber horizontally in front of his neck, not only thinking of blocking the blow but also intending to leverage it for a counterattack.

However, all the careful planning could not contend with the harshness of reality.

The blade unexpectedly pierced through the defense in a blink, slashing not only through the young man's throat in one stroke but also retaining enough force to continue towards the trees behind him.

After passing through three large trees in a row, it finally came to a stop at the fourth one, with half of the blade buried within the trunk.

The young man still maintained his posture, holding the single-edged sword in front of his neck, his eyes filled with terror, yet he had already breathed his last.

Su Mo stood up and approached the young man, letting out a sigh: "Why go through such troubles..."

He casually retrieved the Brocade Box, a container small enough to fit inside his travel bag.

A flicker of thought in his eyes as he glanced around the forest before sighing once more:

"Well then, it seems I'll have to make a trip to Jiming Post."

The turmoil of Jianghu is ever fleeting; since there's no avoiding it, one might as well move forward.

After packing his bag and determining the direction to Jiming Post, he strode away.

It took less than one pot of tea's time for several individuals to reveal themselves after Su Mo's departure.

"Do you think he noticed us?"

"It's hard to say; his final glance was quite intriguing."

"To break a sword with two fingers, and drive the blade through another sword and a man's throat, yet still have enough force to pierce through three large trees and embed in a fourth—what incredible strength this person has!"

"Hmph, don't flatter others at the expense of our own esteem. He's just a greenhorn fresh out of his thatched house. Just watch how I capture him with ease!"

"Ha, that's right, with your myriad tricks, he won't be able to defend against you."

After a brief inspection, the group did not linger and quickly followed in the direction Su Mo had gone.

They didn't even spare an additional glance at the corpses of the young man and the Black-clothed Man.

Not long after they left, another person emerged from the forest.

Watching the group leave, he was nibbling on a flatbread.

"A mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the Huang Que behind? Trying to play that trick with me?"

After gulping down some clear water, Su Mo swallowed the flatbread: "However, I had intended to secretly listen in to find out what these people were up to... but it turned out they didn't say a word. Now that they've revealed their tracks, it actually makes things easier for me. Under these circumstances, perhaps this deal isn't impossible to complete."

Just as Su Mo left earlier, he already knew there were others hidden in the forest.

It was to be expected.

The Black-clothed Man had wounds from swords, blades, and fists.

Conservatively estimated, at least three people were involved in the ambush.

How could there only be one with a sword, and no others follow up?

Thus, Su Mo's departure was merely for show.

Circling back in secret, his intentions shifted from overt to covert, planning to uncover the true identities of those lying in wait.

As he pondered, a thought stirred in Su Mo, and the task information appeared before him again.

[Mission: Deliver the Brocade Box to Wang Xianglin at Yuquan Inn in Jiming Post!]

[Accept the mission?]

"Today's events are a stroke of fate. Whether I like it or not, I've already been swept into this Vortex.

"At this moment, even if I discard the Brocade Box and walk away, the name 'Ziyang Escort Agency' has already caught their eye. If they can't find me, they will naturally turn to Ziyang Escort Agency.

"In other words, you can run from the Monk but not from the temple.

"Given the circumstances, a good game it shall be."

With a resolve set in his heart, Su Mo flicks his finger and chooses: "Accept!"