Chapter 5 Disagreement at Once

Jianghu chivalry, green robe and longsword, indulging in carefree roaming!

Plenty of drinks in big bowls, eating meat in large chunks, all in a heroic and bold spirit.

By chance meeting on the road, sharing a pot of turbid wine, talking about half a lifetime's experiences, there's an air of liberation in it.

Logically speaking, Su Mo shouldn't have refused.

However... he did, quite decisively.

"I dare not!"

How did it come to ask myself whether I dare or not?

Who knows who this person is?

What is the purpose of his visit here?

Is there something mystical in this wine?

Why drink wine for no reason?

There is a saying among the escort masters, which they regard as an absolute rule.

That is, safeguard a third for safety!

The so-called safeguarding a third for safety means... show a third of a smile, give a third of reasoning, drink a third of the alcohol!

And for the latter, actually, if one can avoid drinking alcohol, they should.

Drinking alcohol can lead to mistakes, unless it is extremely cold and the alcohol is used for warmth, and even then, one should only drink a third of their capacity and be wary of what's in the cup.

Now it's summer, not to mention Su Mo is young and strong, and even has the protection of Longxiang Wisdom Divine Skill.

He doesn't carry wine himself, so why would he drink wine offered by this stranger?

"Uh?"

The person across narrowed his eyes slightly, appearing more imposing: "Are you afraid that there is poison in this wine?"

"Yes."

"..."

The man fell silent for a moment, seemingly at a loss for words.

Who would be so straightforward?

Embarassedly, he retracted his hand: "Youngster, you fail to recognize a treasure, my precious wine in this gourd is wasted on you."

Su Mo just sneered coldly, munching on his own flatbread.

The visitor, whose origins were unknown, drank heavily in front of Su Mo, devouring the roast chicken bite by bite.

Until chicken bones littered the floor.

After drinking too much, he even started a drunken rant, getting up to curse heaven and earth.

Angry at the heavens for being unjust, the earth for being uneven, and the many divergent paths in the world, his tongue blossomed like lotuses, leaving Su Mo wide-eyed and speechless.

"Where did this madman come from?"

But these weren't Su Mo's words.

The speaker was right across Su Mo at this time.

Hands folded across his chest, holding a sword in the fold.

The sword was long!

Ordinary swords exceed three feet, but the sword of this person was a full seven feet!

The sword was long and straight.

The man also stood upright.

Just like the sword in his hands.

This person arrived swiftly; Su Mo heard his movements when he was still miles away, yet suddenly he was already here.

Hands circling the sword, his words mocking.

But Su Mo could hardly disagree with him.

The drunken maniac indeed looked like a madman.

Even if he really was a madman, he probably wouldn't appreciate being addressed as one to his face.

Therefore, he suddenly stood upright, looking towards the man holding the sword.

"What did you say?"

"Saying you're a madman."

"You're right."

"Good that you know."

"Consider it as a reward!"

"What reward?"

"A reward of wine!"

As these words ended, the wine gourd suddenly flew through the air, whistling fiercely, carrying a gust that seemed to tear through the void, heading straight for the person holding the sword.

"Hmm?"

The person's eyebrows slightly raised, still embracing the sword with one hand, while the other subtly pressed down in the air.

Immediately, the wine gourd spun ceaselessly two feet in front of him in the void, unable to advance any further.

Su Mo silently clutched his pancake, retreating slightly backward.

Encounters on the Jianghu leading to sudden brawls were quite common.

Being a bystander was fine, as long as one avoided getting splashed with blood.

"I have always disliked drinking in my life, here, take it back!"

The sword-bearer suddenly stamped lightly on the ground, and as his inner breath flowed, his sleeve fluttered without wind. The spinning gourd in mid-air was suddenly shot back in reverse.

Yet, the man, previously scattering wine like a madman, swayed and appeared in front of it, catching the wine gourd before it could hit with great force, still spun around from the momentum.

He didn't panic; utilizing the movement, he swiveled and swung with his staff:

"Respect the drink or suffer penalty!"

This stick technique was bizarre, and in a flash, the sky was filled with images of the staff.

"Excellent staff technique!"

The sword-bearer's eyes lit up, not daring to be careless, he immediately withdrew.

He retreated judiciously, just three feet.

All the staff images in the sky silenced just in front of him, a line that seemed as distant as the end of the world.

At that moment, the staff technique sharply turned, focusing at one point, striking directly towards the heart.

"Draw the sword!"

The sword-bearer exclaimed softly, and as his inner strength burst forth, the longsword in his embrace suddenly unsheathed.

The seven-foot longsword turned in mid-air, its tip colliding with the staff.

A buzzing sound was heard, as Sword Qi and inner strength burst forth simultaneously.

Whoosh, the campfire that Su Mo had lit roared and glowed brightly from the blast.

Looking up again, the two in front were caught in fierce combat.

The sword-bearer wielded the longsword, moving intricately and ruthlessly.

While the man, previously scattering wine, handled the staff with fluid motions, flipping between left and right, his footwork elusive and deceitful, yet meticulously defensive.

Su Mo himself practiced the Ziyang Sect martial arts passed down through his family.

However, the original owner was neglectful. Although Su Mo was diligent, he regretted that there wasn't enough time for cultivation.

Watching the battle before him, he felt he had learned a lot in a short time.

However, benefiting much didn't affect his judgment. Without any hesitation, Su Mo packed his belongings and left.

These two people had unclear origins and brawled for unknown reasons.

It's best not to stare too long at uncertain and dangerously lively scenes, lest he inadvertently becomes another spectacle.

He withdrew rapidly, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Upon looking back, the light of the fire and the sounds of the skirmish were thrown miles behind.

He shook his head lightly: "I intended to rest well and continue the journey early tomorrow. Yet, these two madmen stirred trouble; forget it, I won't sleep. This Brocade Box is a hot potato, I better deliver it to Wang Xianglin soon..."

Resolved, he paused no longer and continued his journey.

The night passed into the next clear morning without issues.

Which was a surprise to Su Mo.

He had suspected that last night's duo must have been connected with the Brocade Box.

He had pondered that the night might bring more encounters.

Unexpectedly, the saga had no further developments?

Raising his head, he saw a town within sight, deciding no longer to dwell on last night's events, he first opted to enter the town for some food and necessities.

Words are long with stories, short without; soon, Su Mo reached the town.

The sign read: Wangxiang Town.

Stepping inside, just as he reached the town entrance, he saw a servant looking around. Upon spotting Su Mo, the servant observed him carefully for a moment and then approached with a face full of joy.

"Excuse me, sir, might your surname be Su?"