Wandering Swordsman |

As Murong Qing stepped into the inn, a fragrant aroma of tea and food wafted towards her. The inn was packed with guests, and the noise was deafening.

The shopkeeper was extremely busy, but seeing new customers enter, he hurriedly came forward with a professional smile: "Welcome, esteemed guests! May I ask...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Murong Qing walked directly to the counter, took out a brand-new one-hundred-tael silver note from her pocket, and gently placed it on the counter. Her voice was soft but carried an undeniable power: "Manager, please arrange a room for me. This is your tip."

The silver note gleamed alluringly under the lamplight, and the innkeeper's eyes lit up instantly. His previously tired face transformed into one of delighted surprise. He quickly picked up the note, examined it carefully, and after confirming its authenticity, his eyes gleamed with greed. He hurriedly bowed and scraped, saying, "Oh my, this young lady is truly generous! Our inn is actually full, but..." He then suddenly had a brilliant idea, "I'll make room for you gentlemen in my own room right away. I guarantee it's clean and tidy. Please follow me!"

The shopkeeper's words drew envious glances from those around them, but Murong Qing merely smiled faintly, as if it were all within her expectations. She turned to look at Liu Xiaorong and Shen Mo, a hint of smugness in her eyes, along with a touch of concern for Shen Mo.

Following the innkeeper, the three of them passed through the bustling lobby and arrived at a relatively quiet corner in the backyard of the inn. The innkeeper personally opened the door to their room. The room was simply yet cozy, and the items inside were neatly arranged, which made it clear that the innkeeper was a clean and tidy person.

However, the atmosphere in the room instantly became awkward, and the three of them showed a hint of helplessness at the current situation. This was because the suite only had one bedroom, which was clearly insufficient to comfortably accommodate all three.

Shen Mo's gaze swept around the room, seemingly searching for a possible solution. He noticed a fleeting look of difficulty on Liu Xiaorong's face and immediately understood the situation. Without the slightest hesitation, he said firmly yet gently, "Senior Liu, Miss Murong, I'll sleep in the living room; you can sleep in the bedrooms."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaorong responded almost immediately, her voice tinged with urgency, as if afraid that Shen Mo would change his mind: "Alright! Then I'll have to trouble you, Shen Mo."

Murong Qing stood to the side, her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly finding the arrangement somewhat unreasonable. She was about to say something when Liu Xiaorong stopped her with a glance. Liu Xiaorong gently shook her head, indicating that she didn't need to say anything more. Murong Qing had no choice but to swallow her words, but she still couldn't help giving Shen Mo an apologetic look.

"Shen Mo, this... I'm really sorry," Murong Qing said softly, her voice full of apology. "Let's find a bigger inn tomorrow."

Shen Mo smiled, trying to ease the tension: "Miss Murong, you don't need to worry. Compared to sleeping on the streets in the past, I'm already very satisfied to have a living room to rest in."

Liu Xiaorong watched all this quietly from the side, and a rare hint of satisfaction and approval appeared in her eyes when she looked at Shen Mo.

......

As night fell, the streets of Yimen County were gradually lit up, but the inn still shone with a warm glow. Murong Qing gently pushed open the door. The corridor outside was quiet, with only Shen Mo's figure clearly visible in the dim light. He was sitting quietly by the door, seemingly deep in thought, leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on the distance.

Murong Qing called softly, "Shen Mo." Her voice was gentle and cautious, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the night. Liu Xiaorong, who was beside her, also slowly walked out of the room, their shadows elongated in the dim light, as if they had blended into the night.

Hearing the call, Shen Mo turned around, a gentle smile immediately appearing on his face, as if his earlier contemplation had not troubled him at all. "Miss Murong, Senior Liu, is there anything else this late?" His voice was calm and composed, making people feel at ease.

"It's like this," Murong Qing said, sitting down next to Shen Mo, her tone becoming serious, "We've arrived in Yimen County now. Further ahead is Black Wind Mountain, Black Wind Gang territory. Didn't you come here to rescue someone? I wanted to ask if you have any plans?"

Shen Mo frowned slightly, clearly having paused to think about the question. He shook his head, a hint of hesitation in his eyes: "To be honest, I don't have a specific plan either."

Liu Xiaorong stood to the side, nodding, seemingly unsurprised by Shen Mo's answer. After a moment's thought, she offered her suggestion: "The Black Wind Gang is a powerful force; acting rashly might alert them. Let's gather some intelligence tomorrow. After understanding the Black Wind Gang's specific situation, we can then make our next move."

Murong Qing and Shen Mo both looked at Liu Xiaorong, their eyes revealing approval. Murong Qing nodded first: "Master, you're right. Intelligence first is the only way to avoid unnecessary risks."

Shen Mo agreed, his expression hardening: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Liu. It's settled then."

......

The morning sun shines on the streets of Yimen County, and a light morning mist hangs in the air.

Liu Xiaorong led Murong Qing and Shen Mo along a winding alley, eventually stopping in front of a seemingly ordinary wooden door. This door was no different from the surrounding houses; if Liu Xiaorong hadn't told them beforehand, no one would have guessed that this was actually a branch of the Beggars' Sect in Yimen County.

"The Beggars' Sect's branches are all very well hidden," Liu Xiaorong explained in a low voice. "But as long as you know the special marks the Beggars' Sect leaves on the streets, it's not difficult to find the location of a branch."

Shen Mo secretly admired her. Looking at the inconspicuous door in front of him, he thought that if it weren't for Liu Xiaorong leading the way, he would never have found this place.

Pushing open the door, one enters a simply furnished room. Several tattered paintings hang on the walls, and miscellaneous items are piled in the corner. A burly, rugged-looking man sits in a worn-out chair, toying with a bamboo pipe in his hand. He is Wang Daniu, the contact person for the Yimen County branch of the Beggars' Gang.

Upon seeing a stranger enter, his gaze initially swept over them casually, but when he saw Murong Qing, his eyes visibly froze, then revealed an undisguised look of amazement and greed. His gaze lingered on Murong Qing's face for a moment, which seemed somewhat impolite.

Murong Qing seemed accustomed to such gazes; she merely frowned slightly, showing no displeasure. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her sword, her movements elegant yet dignified. Just as Wang Daniu was about to speak, Murong Qing suddenly took out an exquisite token from her bosom, held it high in the air, and coldly said, "This is the token of the Murong family. We are here to inquire about information."