Chapter 1478: Chapter 558: Your Highness? (3)
Beichuan and Xizhou are both embroiled in chaos.
The entire world has fallen into complete turmoil.
This so-called righteousness is actually a facade for immense trouble.
Su Mo doesn’t trust Jiang Lan, precisely because of this.
If the Imperial Dao were truly loyal to the Da Xuan Dynasty.
If Jiang Lan were truly willing to pledge allegiance, in both emotion and logic, even if he were to die by Su Mo’s hand today.
It would be impossible for him to reveal this matter in front of everyone.
He must know what this represents.
Yet, he disclosed it, solely to save his life.
But... was it really just to save his life?
Jiang Lan is far from simple.
This man may seem frivolous, but he possesses a mind as sharp as Linglong.
He lacks nothing in scheming, tactics, or martial arts.
From the moment he first met me, he has been plotting against me.
Today, taking advantage of the right time, place, and people, I just so happen to strip away the outer layer of his fabricated lies.
Revealing an even truer inner self.
Yet, this remains a web of lies still.
Were it not for the possibility of mutual exploitation, Su Mo would now teach him the might of the Suffering People Scripture.
However, since the Jinglong Association hasn’t been eliminated, it’s not the time to move against this Imperial Dao just yet.
Moreover, even once the Jinglong Association is removed.
Whether to act against the Imperial Dao still remains undetermined.
At least for now, both sides have yet to reach that moment of exposed intentions.
Within Su Mo’s swirling thoughts, Lin Mu’s voice reached his ears:
"Your Highness... we have arrived."
Su Mo looked up, and there lay the entrance to the tunnel.
This isn’t a terribly hidden place; just grab any Dark Dragon Hall disciple on the island, and you could find out.
The surrounding Dark Dragon Hall disciples had already been swept clear.
Thus, no water ghost came searching for a kill, and it turned into a rare place of quiet.
Looking at the deep tunnel entrance, Su Mo gently raised his eyebrows:
"So there were uninvited guests all along."
"What?"
Lin Mu was stunned.
Jiang Lan also frowned tightly: "What a superb Concealing Breath Skill."
"This type of Concealing Breath Skill, I’ve seen it somewhere before..."
Su Mo’s heart stirred slightly, and he gently waved his hand:
"Vice Hall Master Jiang, do my words carry weight for the Prince?"
"Naturally, they do!"
Jiang Lan knelt on one knee: "Whatever Your Highness commands, I will lay down my life willingly."
"Then go clear the path..."
As the words left his mouth, Jiang Lan suddenly sprang up, flicked his hand, and with a clang, a Short Sword was knocked into the air by the copper tobacco pipe.
As a White Robed Swordsman was flung backward, two people darted out from behind Su Mo, seizing the person in their grasp.
Just as they were about to retreat, another white shadow appeared.
In the darkness, there was another White Robed Swordsman hiding.
At this moment, he leapt into the air, sword tip quivering, aiming directly for the vital points at the nape of the two men.
Only to hear Jiang Lan shout softly:
"Strike!"
The copper tobacco pipe in his hand twitched and was thrown directly.
With a bang, it struck the person’s forehead squarely.
The pipe, using the force, flew back into Jiang Lan’s palm.
The White Robed Swordsman fell as if hit by a meteor, tumbling away.
Falling into the bushes, lifeless.
Only then did the two who caught the White Robed Swordsman slowly land on the ground.
Su Mo turned his head and nodded slightly:
"So it’s them..."
It was unexpected yet not entirely surprising.
I just didn’t think we would meet here.
Immediately, a thought crossed my mind:
"Go inside and clear out the rats. If you see a brawny man without martial arts skills, do not harm him."
Though Jiang Lan didn’t understand what this brawny man with no martial arts skills meant.
He still nodded in agreement:
"At your command."
With that, he led his group of subordinates straight into the tunnel.
They marched grandly, over three hundred people.
If they rushed in all at once, the underground wouldn’t be able to hold them.
The rest of the people were led by Uncle Zhou, waiting beside Su Mo.
Su Mo waved his hand: "Hide yourselves, leave no traces visible. If more people come, do not intercept them, just block their retreat."
"Yes."
Zhou Shucai agreed, immediately leading these people to hide on both sides.
Only then did Su Mo step into the tunnel.
From within the tunnel, the sound of killing was continuous.
But in just a moment, he arrived before that door.
There, Jiang Lan’s men dragged the bodies of the White Robed Swordsmen to one side.
Jiang Lan himself was having a lively fight with a middle-aged man.
In a corner of the open space, a burly man had somehow found a chicken leg, eating it heartily.
Watching the battle unfold before him, somewhat bemused, yet at ease.
As soon as Su Mo saw him, he burst into laughter:
"Hermit, long time no see."
The brawny man turned upon hearing the voice, mouth agape, and the chicken leg fell to the ground:
"Chief Su!?"
This person was none other than the Hidden Sword Hermit!
The Dragon Roar Sword in Su Mo’s Sword Box was forged by this very person.
Upon seeing Su Mo, he hurried over to him:
"What are you doing here?"
"It’s a long story."
Su Mo smiled: "I’ve been in Nanhai for a long time, and as for coming to Cui Xin Temple... it was also to escort a shipment."
"I knew Chief Su came to Nanhai."
The Hidden Sword Hermit smiled:
"You are quite the capable person. The business of you slaying the Longmu Island Master on Longmu Island, I heard from a storyteller on an island I happened to pass by, told in about seventeen or eighteen parts.
"I never get tired of listening...
"Later, I even had the Store Manager capture a storyteller and bring him on board to tell me the tale thoroughly."
"Store Manager?"
Su Mo looked at the middle-aged man.
The Hidden Sword Hermit shook his head:
"Not him. Since leaving the Hidden Sword Hut, I used some tricks to mingle around the Store Manager.
"Unfortunately, throughout the journey, I never found a chance to kill him."
"What?"
The middle-aged man who was fighting with Jiang Lan.
Watching Su Mo and the Hidden Sword Hermit chat heartily already puzzled,
And now hearing the Hidden Sword Hermit’s blunt intention to kill the Store Manager.
He was even more dumbfounded:
"Sir... you, what are you saying?"
