nyslfriends 88. Guests
88. Guests
The celebratory atmosphere grew even stronger in the afterglow of the setting sun. The wine flowed freely, laughter and chatter filled the air, and everyone seemed immersed in this hard-won joy. However, the faint, unsettling feeling in Lin Mo's heart did not dissipate with time; instead, like a pebble thrown into still water, the ripples grew ever clearer.
He remained outwardly composed, chatting and laughing with the leaders of the Southern Water Gang who came to offer him a toast, but out of the corner of his eye, he kept a close watch on the direction of the mountain gate and subtle movements in the square. The Taixu Ancient Sword trembled almost imperceptibly in its sheath, and the sword spirit conveyed a faint warning, which further confirmed his intuition.
Just then, the chanting from the mountain gate sounded again, but this time, it carried a hint of hesitation and a raised tone, unlike before:
"In the capital, the president of the 'Four Seas Chamber of Commerce,' a high-ranking official named Wan Sanqian, has arrived! His gifts include ten bushels of luminous pearls from the East Sea and a sandalwood carving of a 'Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains'!"
The chanting was like a drop of water falling into a boiling oil pan, instantly silencing the clamor in the square.
Sihai Chamber of Commerce? Thirteen thousand?
This name was both familiar and unfamiliar to most of the martial arts practitioners present. Familiar because the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce had businesses all over the country, was incredibly wealthy, and its name was renowned in the business world. Unfamiliar because the Chamber of Commerce had always maintained a subtle distance from the pure martial arts circle, rarely participating in such celebrations of martial arts gang alliances, let alone having its president attend in person.
Everyone's gaze, including that of the Seven Absolutes Sect's Grand Elder and Zhao Kun on the main stage, involuntarily turned towards the entrance of the mountain gate.
A group of about twenty people slowly entered the square. Leading them was a slightly plump middle-aged man, around forty years old, with fair skin. He wore a seemingly simple yet exquisitely crafted dark blue brocade robe, and a large jade thumb ring on his finger. His face wore a warm, spring-like smile, but his eyes held a shrewd, restrained glint, revealing the shrewdness and composure characteristic of a merchant. This was Wan Sanqian.
However, Lin Mo's gaze only swept over him once before fixing on the four people following closely behind him.
The four men were dressed as guards, in uniform dark-colored close-fitting outfits, with swords at their waists. Their steps were steady, and their auras were refined. Their appearances seemed ordinary, and they could easily be overlooked in a crowd. However, Lin Mo's keen senses, honed by his two lifetimes, detected a distinct aura emanating from them that set them apart from the martial artists around him.
It was a rigorous, almost rigid discipline honed through strict training, and a chilling aura of ruthlessness hidden beneath a calm exterior. Their eyes weren't as sharp and piercing as those of ordinary masters; instead, they were somewhat indifferent, scanning their surroundings with a condescending scrutiny, as if assessing everything. Their internal energy cultivation didn't seem particularly earth-shattering, but the flow of their energy was exceptionally coordinated, subtly forming a defensive array that protected the thirteen thousand at the center, leaving no room for error.
What made Lin Mo even more wary was that these four people, though seemingly standing casually, actually occupied the positions most suitable for dealing with emergencies. Moreover, the occasional glances they gave to lower-ranking disciples or servants carried a hint of barely perceptible contempt. It wasn't the disdain of martial artists for ordinary people, but rather... the inherent sense of condescension of a privileged class towards the "grassroots".
"President Wan of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, your presence is truly an honor to our alliance!" Although the Grand Elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect was also surprised, he was very courteous and immediately led several elders to greet him. After all, the other party was a renowned and wealthy merchant, and face had to be given.
Wan Sanqian smiled broadly, clasped his hands in return, and said in a loud and infectious voice: "Elder, you are too kind! The establishment of your alliance is a grand event in the martial arts world. Although I am just a merchant, I have long admired it. Today, I have prepared a small gift to come and celebrate the occasion, and also to make friends with the young hero, Alliance Leader Lin. I hope I have not disturbed your enjoyment."
His words were tactful and impeccable, leaving no room for criticism. As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Lin Mo in the center of the main stage, and his smile widened: "This must be Alliance Leader Lin Mo, right? Truly a young hero with extraordinary bearing; seeing is believing!"
Lin Mo slowly walked down from the main stage and approached, his expression calm. He cupped his hands and said, "President Wan, you flatter me. The Chamber of Commerce is very busy, and I am flattered that you could come in person."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wan Sanqian was extremely enthusiastic and talkative, praising Lin Mo's achievements in the life-or-death arena and his courage in promoting the Jianghu Covenant. His words were full of a businessman's smoothness and flattery. However, Lin Mo keenly noticed that while Wan Sanqian was talking to him, the four guards' gazes lingered on him for a moment, though they quickly looked away. But the scrutiny in that instant was extremely strong, far beyond the curiosity of ordinary guards towards their master's conversation partner.
"Alliance Leader Lin, there are many guests today, so please be at your own pace and don't bother to entertain us. We can simply find a spot and enjoy the atmosphere of this grand event in the martial world," Wan Sanqian said tactfully.
Lin Mo nodded, signaling a Seven Absolutes Sect steward to lead Wan Sanqian and his group to the reserved, well-located guest seats.
Watching Wan Sanqian walk to his seat surrounded by four guards, chatting and laughing with some merchants and leaders of small sects who tried to befriend him, appearing flawless, Lin Mo's doubts grew stronger.
He retreated to the main stage, and Zhao Kun leaned closer and whispered, "Alliance Leader, what does the sudden arrival of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce mean? They've always been close to the government, they're not on the same side as us Jianghu people."
The Grand Elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect frowned slightly: "Wan Sanqian is known for not acting without self-interest. His personal visit is definitely not just for congratulations."
Lin Mo's gaze was deep as he looked at Wan Sanqian's table, especially the four seemingly unassuming guards, and he slowly said, "Those who come here are not friendly; those who come with good intentions do not come. The focus is not on Wan Sanqian, but on the people he brought."
"Those people?" Zhao Kun followed Lin Mo's gaze and carefully examined the four guards. "They seem to be quite skilled in martial arts, but they're not anything special, are they? Their aura is even weaker than those aristocratic experts from before."
"It's different." Lin Mo shook his head. "The aura of aristocratic masters is flamboyant and outward. But these people, their 'rules' are ingrained in their bones, and their 'arrogance' is hidden deep in their eyes. They are not like martial arts practitioners, but more like... well-trained hounds."
"Hounds and lackeys?" The Grand Elder's expression hardened. "You mean... government officials?"
"They may not be the government officials in the open," Lin Mo pondered, "but they are definitely not ordinary merchant guards. Inform our people to keep a close eye on their every move, especially those four guards. Don't get close, just observe from a distance. Also, have our informants in the capital investigate this Sihai Chamber of Commerce as soon as possible, especially who Wan Sanqian has been associating with recently."
"Yes!" Zhao Kun's expression turned solemn, and he immediately accepted the order and left.
The celebration continued, with singing, dancing, and toasts exchanged. The atmosphere seemed even more lively, perhaps because of the arrival of the wealthy merchant, Wan Sanqian. Many people believed this was a sign of the alliance's growing prestige, with even a tycoon from the capital coming to curry favor.
But Lin Mo could no longer fully immerse himself in the hustle and bustle. He sat on the main stage, seemingly watching the show and chatting with those around him, but in reality, most of his attention was focused on Wan Sanqian's seat.
He observed that the four guards almost never drank alcohol, only occasionally taking a sip of tea, their eyes constantly monitoring their surroundings. They barely communicated with each other, but an occasional glance or a subtle gesture seemed to convey complex information. When Wan Sanqian spoke with others, they appeared relaxed, but in reality, their bodies were always in a state of readiness to explode at any moment.
In particular, one of the guards, with a cold and stern face and a faint scar on his left eyebrow, swept his gaze several times over the defensive arrangements around the square, the positions of the Seven Absolutes Sect disciples, and the locations of the leaders of various sects. His eyes were sharp as knives, carrying an air of assessment and memory.
This behavior is definitely not what a chamber of commerce guard should do. It's more like reconnaissance, gathering intelligence.
As the sun finally sank completely behind the western mountains, darkness fell. The lanterns that had been prepared around the square lit up one by one, illuminating the scene as if it were daytime, and the atmosphere of the banquet became even more intense.
However, amidst the bright lights and bustling crowd, Lin Mo watched the few "mysterious guests" who blended into the throng yet seemed out of place, and his alarm bells rang high. He knew that this celebration would likely not end so smoothly. A lurking crisis, like the falling night, was quietly descending.