Wandering Swordsman |

Liu Xiaorong was already used to Murong Qing's actions, but she still coughed twice on purpose, as if to remind Murong Qing to be mindful of his status.

However, Murong Qing's gaze remained fixed on Shen Mo, ignoring her master's hints or pretending not to hear them. Her eyes gleamed with determination and unwavering resolve, and she didn't loosen her grip on his hand despite Liu Xiaorong's suggestion. Her movements were natural and fluid, as if she were already accustomed to this intimate relationship, even though she knew it wasn't befitting her status as the seventh young lady of the Murong family.

After strolling around the city for a while, the three of them inadvertently came to a quaint teahouse. The aroma of tea wafting out seemed to have a magical power, attracting them to stop and linger.

When they stepped into the teahouse, they found it much more lively than they had imagined. Groups of martial arts practitioners chatted in hushed tones or laughed heartily, creating a unique kind of bustling atmosphere. Liu Xiaorong frowned slightly, wondering to herself: Logically, although Chengjiang Town was a major transportation hub, its permanent population wasn't large. Why was it so crowded today?

The three found a seat by the window, overlooking the bustling crowds outside, while inside, steaming hot tea simmered. Just as they were about to enjoy a moment of peace, a few words from the next table broke the tranquility.

"Why are the inns in Yimen County so full so quickly?" a gruff voice complained.

"Luckily we couldn't find an inn in Yimen County, so we came to Chengjiang Town right away. If we had come any later, there probably wouldn't have been any inns left in Chengjiang." Another voice replied, its tone full of relief.

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo's brows furrowed involuntarily, and a troubled expression appeared on his face. He glanced around, seemingly searching for a possible solution. However, Murong Qing, observing Shen Mo's expression, merely sipped her tea, a confident smile playing on her lips, as if she were completely unconcerned about everything.

"Silver notes can solve almost any problem in this world." Murong Qing put down her teacup, her gaze sweeping over Shen Mo's worried expression. "As long as we are willing to pay the price, we can always find a place to settle down."

The previously noisy teahouse was gradually drawn away by Murong Qing's confident words, like a gentle breeze rippling across a calm lake. All eyes turned to this elegantly dressed, extraordinary young woman.

However, in those eyes, Murong Qing and Liu Xiaorong sensed something unsettling—greed and sordid desire.

Liu Xiaorong sighed softly, her gaze shifting from Murong Qing to the surrounding stares, before she slowly said, "Qing'er, the world is treacherous, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Revealing too much information in your words and actions, especially about wealth, can often attract the greed of wicked people and cause unnecessary trouble."

Her voice was steady and authoritative, each word carrying weight. Murong Qing was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, realizing her oversight, and quickly nodded in understanding.

Upon hearing Liu Xiaorong's words, the atmosphere instantly became tense. Those who had previously harbored greedy gazes paled, one of them becoming enraged. A burly man slammed his fist on the table, his face contorted with rage, his eyes blazing with fury. Pointing at Liu Xiaorong, he shouted, "You bitch! Who are you talking about?!"

The air in the teahouse seemed to freeze for a moment, all eyes fixed on the burly man and Liu Xiaorong. But Liu Xiaorong remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. She simply smiled faintly, stood up unhurriedly, and faced the burly man's gaze with nothing but calmness, no fear.

"I didn't name names, but if you think I'm talking about you, then your guilty conscience says it all." Liu Xiaorong's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable power.

The burly man's face turned from red to green, clearly enraged by Liu Xiaorong's words. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms, and made as if to pounce on Liu Xiaorong.

In that instant, Liu Xiaorong moved slightly, appearing before the burly man at an almost imperceptible speed. Her movements were light and graceful, like a butterfly in flight, yet they contained boundless power.

With a muffled thud, Liu Xiaorong gently placed her hand on the burly man's chest. The seemingly effortless movement sent the man flying backward as if electrocuted, crashing heavily to the ground. The surrounding crowd was stunned by this sudden turn of events, and fell silent for a moment.

Liu Xiaorong stood still, her expression calm, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a trivial matter. She glanced around, her gaze so authoritative that no one dared to look her in the eye. "I only used thirty percent of my strength; I'll spare your life," she said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it echoed powerfully in the quiet teahouse.

As she finished speaking, whispers began to circulate, filled with awe at Liu Xiaorong's strength. The defeated burly man struggled to his feet, his face filled with shame and frustration, and could only slink away from the teahouse.

Those previously greedy eyes were quickly replaced by fear. They dared not look directly at Liu Xiaorong and her companions, lowering their heads in fear of attracting the attention of this unfathomable woman. Some even began to quietly leave, afraid that lingering even a moment longer might bring some unpredictable danger.

The hustle and bustle of the teahouse seemed to be frozen by a sudden cold snap; the previous noisy conversations vanished in an instant. Time seemed to stand still, with only a few wisps of smoke slowly rising from the teapot, meandering their final path through the air.

Murong Qing sensed the surrounding silence; she knew it was all because of her master's actions. A hint of reluctance flickered in her eyes as she gently tugged at Liu Xiaorong's sleeve. "Master," her voice was gentle yet firm, "let's go. While it's still early, we should be able to reach Yimen County before dark."

Liu Xiaorong tilted her head slightly, her gaze gently falling on Murong Qing's face, and then nodded softly. She knew that her actions had left a deep mark on this small teahouse, and it was time to leave.

As they stepped out the door, the guests inside the teahouse remained silent until the three figures completely disappeared into the street outside, at which point the noise gradually returned.

......

The setting sun bathed Yimen County in a golden glow. Although night was approaching, the streets remained bustling with people, including figures of martial arts practitioners, as if the darkness could not deter them. Liu Xiaorong, Shen Mo, and Murong Qing walked through this environment, the surrounding liveliness contrasting sharply with their inner tranquility.

"It seems there are more people in Yimen County than in Chengjiang Town," Shen Mo said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the shops and pedestrians on the street, and he couldn't help but worry about where he would stay tonight.

Murong Qing smiled slightly, seemingly prepared for this situation. She walked ahead and finally stopped in front of a rather respectable-looking inn on the street. The lanterns hanging at the entrance swayed gently in the breeze, emitting a soft glow.