Chapter Nine: Departure

Mo Bai and Wuluohua were both taken aback. Mo Bai chuckled, “What do you think? We haven’t even left Yun Jian Town and someone already wants my life. Will you still come with me?”

Wuluohua replied with excitement, “Of course I’ll go! How thrilling! So, what should we do now?”

The sky was clear and boundless, not a cloud or breeze in sight, yet the fine weather seemed tinged with gloom; after all, if someone told you today was your last day to live, you wouldn’t be in great spirits either.

Mo Bai, however, showed no emotion. He said to Wuluohua, “Young master, should we hire a carriage? That way, we won’t have to walk everywhere. Since I’m acting as your bodyguard, you should at least pay me a little wage.”

Wuluohua shook his head with a sigh, “Seems you’ve really got me cornered.”

Mo Bai grinned, “Then you’d better fill your Jade Treasure Pouch with all the delicacies Yun Jian Town has to offer, so we’ll have something to enjoy on the road.”

Wuluohua replied, “No. First, the food won’t be fresh—even if the Jade Treasure Pouch can keep it from spoiling, nothing compares to food straight from the pot. Second, we’ll be passing through many places along the way, and I want to sample the local snacks and specialties.” Clearly, Wuluohua had a passion for such pleasures.

Mo Bai could only smile wryly, “Looks like our journey will be even more exciting than anticipated.”

Wuluohua asked quizzically, “Why do you say that, Brother Mo?”

Mo Bai said, “How many people on the Linglong Continent would want to kill you, yet tell you so in advance?”

Wuluohua paused, recalling the sharp voice from last night, and realized, “Indeed, it makes no sense, unless—”

Wuluohua nodded, “Then who could it be?”

Mo Bai gazed at the sky, speaking quietly, “From what I know, there are at least three people on the Linglong Continent capable of such a feat: Lord Chasing Blood from Bloodslayer Manor, the Evil Taoist, and the Venomous Hermit of Backlake from Fallen Leaf Sect.”

Wuluohua was startled. Though the Wu family was prominent on the Linglong Continent, they were practitioners of traditional spiritual arts, while the three Mo Bai mentioned were all notorious for their eccentricity—and infamous throughout the continent. Bloodslayer Manor was a renowned assassin organization: if you had the money, they would have the men. It was said that Lord Chasing Blood had worked for more than thirty years without ever returning a deposit—meaning he had never failed a contract, and now, Bloodslayer Manor no longer needed him to act at all.

The Evil Taoist was even more notorious—a man who looked the very image of a sage, yet committed every evil under the sun, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals.

The last was the Venomous Hermit, whose true face no one had ever seen; his mastery of poison was rivaled by no more than three people in the world, and though famed for his craft, his heart was as cruel as a serpent’s.

Wuluohua wiped the sweat from his brow. After hearing of these three, the thrill he’d felt was thoroughly dampened. “Brother Mo, who do you think our enemy is?”

Mo Bai replied, “Lord Chasing Blood hasn’t shown himself on the Linglong Continent for ages, and his subordinates are all discreet. Though they’re assassins, they’re never brash—only such professionalism could build such an organization. The Evil Taoist has been elusive for eleven years, so he’s unlikely. That leaves only the Venomous Hermit—and he is the most troublesome of all.”

Wuluohua nodded, “A master of poison leaves no opening for defense—a real headache. Still, I have a few treasures that might help.” Saying this, he sidled up to Mo Bai and quietly opened his Jade Treasure Pouch. Mo Bai peered inside, his eyes lighting up with delight.

He said loudly, “Well, hurry and hire a carriage! We can’t afford to miss a good meal.”

Wuluohua shouted, “Right away!” Like a diligent inn servant, he was nothing like the scion of a spiritual aristocrat.

Having money truly made things easier. It wasn’t long before Wuluohua drove over a rather decent carriage. Mo Bai, noting its spaciousness, commented, “But there’s no driver.”

Wuluohua gave a bitter laugh, “If we know there’s danger, why drag someone else into it?”

Mo Bai nodded, then, carrying a grimacing Shun Qing, leapt into the carriage with a swish. Wuluohua was taken aback, “Brother, aren’t you going to drive?”

Mo Bai replied, “I don’t know how.”

Wuluohua protested, “Neither do I!”

Mo Bai chuckled, “Then take it as practice. Do you have a horsewhip among your treasures? Produce one.”

Drenched in sweat, Wuluohua instead kicked the horse with his boot. The white horse looked back at him, wide-eyed and innocent, not knowing what to do.

Clip-clop, the wheels rolled on. Mo Bai leaned back comfortably in the carriage, thinking, “The stormy days are about to begin—but isn’t this exactly what I’d hoped for?”

Wuluohua, somehow, had gathered dozens of willow branches, deftly twisting them together into a horsewhip. With quick wit, he soon learned how to drive the carriage, keeping it steady and true. Mo Bai, peeking out the small window, couldn’t help but smile wryly at the sight.

The carriage sped along, Wuluohua holding the whip in one hand and the reins in the other, the passing scenery lifting his spirits until he began humming a little tune: “Gallant horse, you gallop ahead; willow switch, you strike the horse’s rear; horse’s rump, you bloom with red stripes.”

Mo Bai burst out laughing. “Little Hua, is that your own composition? How casual!” Before Wuluohua could reply, Mo Bai suddenly noticed Shun Qing’s face growing pale, sweat beading on his forehead.

Mo Bai swiftly applied a series of intricate finger techniques, tapping thirty-six key meridian points on Shun Qing’s body. After a thorough sweep, Shun Qing’s color improved slightly. Mo Bai whispered, “I didn’t expect the Venomous Hermit to act so quickly.”

Wuluohua pulled the carriage to a halt, having heard the commotion inside. He ducked in and asked, “Brother Mo, what’s wrong?”

Mo Bai gave a rueful smile, “The Venomous Hermit is here—perhaps your singing spurred him to act so soon.”

Wuluohua replied awkwardly, “But I don’t feel the slightest discomfort.”

Mo Bai said, “The poison used just now, if I’m not mistaken, is called the Art-Stilling Powder, meant for those with weak spiritual power. Because I sealed Shun Qing’s meridians, his energy was feeble, so he was affected. You, on the other hand, felt nothing. This was a test—a way for the Hermit to gauge which of us posed a threat.”

Wuluohua nodded, “That must be it. Though we don’t know who hired him to kill us, the Venomous Hermit is clearly cautious—he’d never trust the employer’s word alone. He wants to measure our abilities in person for absolute certainty.”

Mo Bai nodded, “The older, the wiser. I think he’s already found the key. So, Little Hua, you must be careful. Cut away the front panel—we’ll both stay inside the carriage.”

Wuluohua nodded gravely. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a short blade, its cold gleam even prompting praise from Mo Bai.

Effortlessly, Wuluohua sliced off the carriage’s front. Looking at the reins, he said regretfully, “Too bad I didn’t bring any rope, and these reins aren’t long enough.”

Mo Bai smiled, “No matter. I have a way to make it go.” With a flick of his fingertip, he sent out a white vapor, and the white horse, as if commanded, began to run on its own—smoothly and steadily.

Wuluohua gasped, “Brother Mo, you have such skills as well?”

Mo Bai replied, “Just a little trick.”

Wuluohua shook his head, “Don’t kid me, brother—that’s the exclusive horse-taming technique of the Horse-Lord himself.”

Mo Bai said, “I knew I couldn’t keep anything from you.”

Shun Qing, his color just starting to return, said, “Thank you, Master Mo, for saving my life. To think even the Horse-Lord is your friend—I am humbled.”

Mo Bai replied, “I didn’t do it to save you, but to save myself. Your life or death isn’t mine to decide. I’ve unsealed your meridians now, but don’t think of any tricks.”

Shun Qing sighed, “When even the Celestial Yun and the Horse-Lord are your friends, what right have I, Shun Qing, to play any games?” At this, his expression grew bleak; once proud, Shun Qing now realized there was always someone superior.

Suddenly, a faint breeze drifted by. Mo Bai said coldly, “Looks like the Venomous Hermit is making his move for real. Hold your breath, both of you.”