Chapter 1720 - 635: Great Shock (Part 2)

Although Fang Hongying was no longer with them, there wasn’t much change in the caravan.

Everything remained peaceful along the way.

Even upon entering the gates of Four Directions City, nothing unusual occurred.

However, this left Su Mo looking displeased.

The letter from Third Surprise was deliberately mystifying, making it hard to tell true from false.

Yet, regardless of its authenticity.

There was one thing that was certain.

That was, when he received that letter, Third Surprise already knew he had arrived in Westland.

This was the simplest and most direct objective.

This should have been the warning line that Third Surprise set up in Xizhou specifically to monitor Su Mo.

Now that line was broken.

But the person who set it still hadn’t appeared.

This suggests that the purpose of this letter goes beyond just that.

However, Su Mo had anticipated this all along.

Though disappointed, it wasn’t a big issue.

When he got home, everyone was astonished to see Su Mo.

Clearly two people had left, so how did he return with so many people?

Chen Dinghai and Mu Shanshan were both seasoned Jianghu figures, each also a prominent figure in their own right.

A glance at these girls revealed something amiss.

After a closer look, they realized, although many were dressed as men, all these people were women.

For a moment, they marveled.

Casual conversations couldn’t be held at the doorstep, so Su Mo had people lead the girls inside.

All his subordinates had seen Su Mo, each one looked curious, waiting to hear the story.

Su Mo waved his hand, telling them to get back to their duties.

Then he pulled Yang Xiaoyun aside.

Yang Xiaoyun smiled slightly;

"I had thought before, with such a delay, you wouldn’t return alone.

"Now it seems that is indeed the case.

"These girls, they were abducted by the Blood Lotus Sect, weren’t they?"

"Yes."

Su Mo nodded;

"How are things with Old Ma and Yin Xiaoyu?"

"In recent days, we have smoothed the process.

"Acquired a tavern in the city, two pawnshops, a silverware shop, and several storefronts.

"And... one escort agency."

When Yang Xiaoyun said this, she glanced at Su Mo and smiled.

"An escort agency?"

Su Mo was taken aback: "Which one?"

There are several escort agencies in Four Directions City.

Besides Yulong Escort Agency run by father-in-law Yang Yizhi and others, there’s also ’Ping an Escort Agency’, ’Shunfeng Escort Agency’, ’Wuyou Escort Agency’, and so forth.

Their sizes and business engagements vary.

Small agencies often run errands like delivering letters, dealing with a mix of business.

Large agencies work with wealthy merchants, handling extensive trades; they generally avoid small tasks like delivering letters to leave some room for smaller agencies.

"Yulong Escort Agency has burst onto the scene, and Ping an and Shunfeng both have declined significantly."

Yang Xiaoyun softly said:

"Especially Shunfeng Escort Agency’s Old Leader, in his younger days, he was headstrong, envious of the talented, afraid someone might threaten his son inheriting the agency, resulting in no talents under his command.

"With the rise of Yulong Escort Agency, this Old Leader gradually felt inadequate.

"Recently, he fell ill, relying on his unskilled son to lead the escorts.

"As a result... while you were away, this son failed an escort mission, returned in disgrace, and once he explained the situation, the Old Leader, already ill, was so infuriated by whatever the Young Leader did, he suffered a stroke.

"Not only losing all martial skills, but also having a slanted mouth and crooked eyes, unable to speak now.

"This Young Leader does not intend to continue the escort agency business, and after scraping together compensation for the failed escort.

"Decided to hang up the agency for sale.

"Wants to exchange it for some money and live freely.

"Given the recent failure, the agency’s worth is low, the escort masters there lack great skill.

"I took the chance to have Old Ma buy it cheaply.

"Now it’s considered under our name.

"By the way, Old Ma drafted a sign, calling it the World Commerce, what do you think?"

"...Too ostentatious."

Su Mo was speechless; using this name, probably no one would dare do business with them:

"Have them change the name, that’s just ridiculous and pointless..."

"Okay."

Yang Xiaoyun couldn’t help but laugh: "I thought so too, but they said, since it’s the young master’s business, it ought to be the best in the world."

"..."

Su Mo lightly shook his head, then spoke:

"Keep the Shunfeng Escort Agency for now, but as for business, let’s wait a bit.

"Other businesses can proceed."

Yang Xiaoyun nodded slightly, then heard Su Mo say:

"Besides, have you contacted Lord Father-in-law these days?"

"Not yet."

Yang Xiaoyun said softly:

"Acting rashly might draw attention."

Su Mo nodded:

"Tonight come with me, we’ll visit Yulong Escort Agency."

"This trip was fruitful?"

"Far more than that..."

Su Mo sighed:

"I’ll explain the specifics to you all tonight.

"Also, these girls... I’ll need your help to settle them, they are all without homes, just need a way to earn a living."

"That’s easy."

Yang Xiaoyun smiled: "Your current business is sizeable, there are places everywhere in need of people. Since they’re girls, let them work at the cloth workshop."

"That’s a good idea."

Su Mo couldn’t help but smile: "But will it accommodate them all?"

"One certainly can’t, but we can redistribute them."