Chapter 31: Arriving at Yongan County

Gu Mo's housewarming banquet was held as scheduled, though Qu Heng, who was expected, was absent. Qu Heng had departed overnight the previous evening.

Changfeng Escort Agency was a well-known, long-established agency in Linjiang Prefecture. It was powerful and secured many large commissions, but in his three years there, Gu Mo had never encountered one as significant as this.

However, large rewards often came with great risks. Gu Mo could only pray that Qu Heng would complete his task safely. Life in the martial arts world, though a high-income profession throughout the entire realm, constantly demanded that one's life be on the line.

Take Gu Mo, for instance; what he was doing now was even more dangerous than escorting goods. The money he earned from his previous trip to Zhushan County was more than an ordinary person could earn in a lifetime. This was the allure of the martial arts world.

The day after the housewarming banquet, Yan Sanniang arrived. She had successfully secured a commission invitation from Wang Yuanbao, the wealthiest man in Yong'an County.

Yan Sanniang handed a gold-embossed invitation to Gu Mo and said, "In the past few days, news of Silver Fox's assassination attempt on Wang Yuanbao has spread. Many bounty hunters have flocked to Yong'an County, and numerous martial artists are also hoping to kill Silver Fox to make a name for themselves.

The Wang family has already implemented strict security; no one can enter without an invitation. Currently, besides the Six Gates constables, Wang Yuanbao has also invited several highly reputed martial arts experts. However, the main competition will come from the golden bounty hunters dispatched by the Windchaser Towers of Dongyang, Fuwei, and Xinyixing. These three are your biggest opponents, but for that very reason, while this mission is significant, the actual danger might not be as high.

The Windchaser Tower of Dongyang has sent the Old Man with White Hair. This individual has been famous for many years, having successfully killed over 200 wanted criminals, including more than ten high-value bounties like Feilong, worth a thousand taels. He possesses exceptionally high martial arts skills, excelling in claw techniques that can break metal and shatter stone.

The Windchaser Tower of Fuwei has sent the Scholar. This individual doesn't have as many achievements as the Old Man with White Hair, having only captured or killed around thirty wanted criminals. He is a bounty hunter who has only emerged in recent years, yet he once captured a wanted criminal ranked fifteenth on Yunzhou's Black List. He is skilled in swordsmanship but rarely makes a move.

Xinyixing has sent the Hermit, a master of Qinggong (lightness skill) and exceptional at pursuit. He has apprehended many wanted criminals, though most were not particularly famous. Nevertheless, he is still a golden bounty hunter due to his Qinggong; wanted criminals he targets can rarely escape him and are constantly tracked. Half a year ago, Yu Wuya, ranked eighteenth on the Black List, was continuously pursued by the Hermit and couldn't shake him off. Finally, the Six Gates surrounded and killed Yu Wuya based on the signals the Hermit provided."

Gu Mo asked, "What is the Black List?"

Gu Chudong immediately explained, "It's a ranking compiled by Yunzhou's martial arts intelligence network, based on extensive research, listing the thirty most notorious evil martial artists within Yunzhou. They are ranked according to their deeds and demonstrated martial arts abilities. You can think of these thirty individuals as the thirty most valuable wanted criminals."

Yan Sanniang agreed, "Precisely. Junior Sister Chudong summarized it perfectly: the thirty most valuable wanted criminals."

"What is Silver Fox's ranking?" Gu Mo asked.

"Twelfth," Yan Sanniang replied. "Silver Fox's ranking is a bit low because he has only acted nine times in total. Compared to other evil experts on the Black List, he has fewer recorded deeds, which is why he hasn't made it into the top ten.

However, if he succeeds this time, he will definitely enter the top ten. After all, Wang Yuanbao is no ordinary person, and with so many experts currently in the Wang family, if Silver Fox still manages to succeed, it would truly be extraordinary.

Conversely, Young Hero Gu, if you can bring back Silver Fox's head this time, just as you did with Feilong, you will directly become a golden bounty hunter. From then on, I'm afraid I won't be able to call you Young Hero Gu anymore; I'll have to call you Great Hero Gu!"

Gu Mo chuckled lightly, offering no reply.

Yan Sanniang continued, "This time, you won't need my informants in Yong'an County to assist you. However, I will give you a token; if you need to, you can still seek them out."

"Alright."

***

Yong'an County was the most prosperous of the more than ten counties in Linjiang Prefecture, bar none. This was because it was the confluence of several major rivers, making it a true commercial hub and exceptionally bustling.

In recent days, Yong'an County had become even more lively. Many martial artists had rushed there, naturally because of Silver Fox's impending assassination attempt on Wang Yuanbao.

Wang Yuanbao was a wealthy merchant who owned over a dozen large ships and controlled the largest dock, possessing countless properties. Although his main base of operations was in Yong'an County, he ranked among the top ten wealthiest individuals in the entire Linjiang Prefecture.

Many martial artists hoped to gain Wang Yuanbao's appreciation under these circumstances, ensuring a life of wealth and prosperity. Others had different ideas, aiming to kill Silver Fox and achieve instant fame.

In the martial arts world, most people sought renown. There were many ways to achieve it, but the simplest shortcut was to defeat or kill an already famous expert. Killing an evil expert, in particular, not only brought fame and praise as a great hero but also yielded a substantial bounty.

However,

Wang Yuanbao was no ordinary person, so he naturally wouldn't allow just anyone to enter the Wang family estate, especially since countless opportunists lurked in the martial arts world. Moreover, too many people could easily cause chaos, ironically providing an assassin with more opportunities.

Therefore, the Wang family strictly controlled the number of people allowed into their estate.

Aside from the Six Gates, fewer than ten martial artists were currently permitted to enter the Wang family estate. Without exception, they were all well-known experts in the martial arts world. Among them, Gu Mo was not prominent; in fact, he was quite conspicuous. It felt as though an unknown individual had appeared among a group of celebrities.

However,

Wang Yuanbao was indeed a shrewd merchant. Although Gu Mo's reputation wasn't extensive, when his servant announced Gu Mo's arrival, he still personally came to the entrance to greet him.

Wang Yuanbao's face was like a full moon, glistening with oil. His small eyes narrowed into slits, glinting with a shrewdness unique to merchants. His plump lips often bore a seemingly simple, yet hearty, smile as he enthusiastically said, "Oh, Great Hero Gu, you've finally arrived! You're the last one we were waiting for. Quickly, quickly, please come in! I've already had a welcoming banquet prepared for you!"

"Then I thank you, Master Wang," Gu Mo said, cupping his hands in salute.

"Please, come in quickly," Wang Yuanbao said, not forgetting to address Gu Chudong. "Heroine Gu, please come in quickly as well. Your name, Great Hero Gu, has been resounding like thunder in my ears lately. Two days ago, I heard from someone at Buer Villa that Great Hero Gu intended to lend a hand, and I was overjoyed. With your help, my life is surely safe now."

"You're too kind, Master Wang."

Gu Mo naturally understood that Wang Yuanbao was simply complimenting him out of a merchant's natural inclination, and he certainly didn't take it seriously. This was a common and habitual tactic for merchants; after all, compliments cost nothing yet were the most effective way to build rapport.

However,

Gu Chudong, however, found Wang Yuanbao's words quite gratifying, and her back straightened involuntarily. But just then, an untimely voice suddenly cut in: "A blind man, here to help? Isn't he just here to swindle food, drink, and money?!"