That’s when one dared not move.
They only carefully watched Su Mo.
Su Mo was however both amused and exasperated: "Master, leaving behind your proper estate, why would you suddenly run here to make a living?"
Master stared at Su Mo with wide eyes and took a deep breath: "You, you... why do you persist like a lingering spirit?"
Su Mo was puzzled, his last meeting with him had been a very long time ago.
This time, passing by this place, heading to Lengyue Palace, was purely coincidental.
No matter how you look at it, it has nothing to do with lingering like a spirit, right?
"Forget it, if you want to kill, then kill!"
Master carelessly placed down the Golden Silk Ring Blade to the side: "As you wish."
Someone who didn’t know would think I was forcibly seizing mountain bandits.
"Master... how can you start talking like that?"
Su Mo then said: "Our last encounter, albeit some turbulence, was ultimately cordial. Now, what misunderstanding has occurred that suddenly leads to talks of fighting and killing?"
"Hmph... Su, the Chief of the Escort’s martial arts prowess enables him to kill at will.
To say you’d visit again afterward, who doesn’t know the real purpose?
It’s simply because I offended you, and you wish to seek revenge afterward."
At this point, Master was ready to risk everything, straightening his neck: "You don’t have to waste anymore time, just kill me directly.
However, there’s one thing: you can kill me, but spare these brothers of mine.
They are all unfortunate souls; if not truly desperate, who would willingly turn to banditry and thievery?"
Su Mo was speechless for a while, who wanted vengeance? Who was going to kill him?
Even Wei Ziyi couldn’t watch any longer, he involuntarily said to Su Mo:
"Lord Su, this man seems to be an upright fellow, yet what could he have done to offend you to the point of death?"
"Who wanted to kill him?"
Su Mo couldn’t help but give Wei Ziyi a glare, then said to the Master:
"Master, there seems to be some misunderstanding between us, certainly, talk of life and death is not applicable."
Master listening to Su Mo’s words, looked at his face, and sensed he wasn’t pretending.
For a moment, he was somewhat confused: "You’re not going to kill me?"
"Why would I want to kill you?"
Su Mo was now the confused one.
"Then you mentioned bringing gifts for a visit?"
"Bringing gifts for a visit, means just that, a visit."
Su Mo said: "We, as escorts travelling through Jianghu, rely on reputation. We met in conflict, visiting later and cherishing relations means in future when I pass by you, we could speak amicably... how did it turn into harboring revenge?"
After hearing this, the Master felt not the slightest bit comforted.
Instead, he gradually stiffened as if petrified.
Standing there, he stared fixedly at Su Mo for a long time before suddenly slapping his thigh hard:
He sprang up: "You, you... why didn’t you say that earlier?"
"I came for a visit."
"You did say it was for a visit... ah!!"
Master, both angry and frustrated, stood up and started pacing around.
Really, how did it end up ?
Wei Ziyi and others also then understood, and for a moment, everyone exchanged looks, somewhat dumbfounded.
But how astute was Su Mo?
By now, he clearly understood Master’s thoughts, and actually felt somewhat embarrassed:
"My fault, my fault, I didn’t explain myself clearly, causing you unnecessary trouble."
"Why should it cause trouble?"
Master’s tears began to fall: "I, I... oh well, I deserve it."
Su Mo thought, this can’t keep going on right here, and promptly bowed with clasped hands: "So, Master, this time are you guys robbing the escort or not?"
Master, startled by the question, looked behind at the escort carts then at Su Mo.
Isn’t living well enough?
A single Su Mo could effortlessly kill them.
Everyone is already starving to the point of gnawing at bark.
Up until now, they haven’t raided any villages entirely because Master kept strict control.
But if people were truly pushed to the extreme, desperation-made decisions might not hold.
After much struggle, the Master glanced at Su Mo:
"Do you have any food supplies?"
Su Mo felt he had never been so speechless in his life, and immediately nodded: "We do have quite a bit of food supply and some silver. You cannot touch the silver ticket, but I can give you some silver to get by for a few days.
Next time I pass by, I will bring gifts for a visit...
It will really just be a visit, no killing."
He quickly emphasized, lest the Master runs away in fear.
The Master’s face was a mix of emotions as he looked at Su Mo: "Thank you, Lord Su."
"There’s no need to be so formal."
Su Mo shook his head: "When in Jianghu, difficulties cannot always be avoided, if one can lend a hand, one should."
While speaking, he waved over Captain Li.
Captain Li, having heard the entirety of their conversation, immediately took a cloth bag from his subordinate, filled with cornbread.
This was their rations for the day; Captain Li took half and also grabbed some silver, handing them to the Master.
The Master, a giant of a man, couldn’t help but let the tears flow freely.
But this wasn’t solely out of gratitude; the complexity of his emotions was such that he didn’t even know how to express them with words.
Yet... after sharing the cornbread, the Master, having hesitated for a long while, still couldn’t resist asking Su Mo:
"Lord Su, I have an inconvenient request... among your convoy, is there anyone skilled in medical arts?"