Wandering Swordsman |

Later that day, night had completely enveloped the entire Yimen County. After wandering the streets for a long time, Liu Xiaorong, Murong Qing, and Shen Mo finally found a relatively large inn.

This inn is located on the busiest street in the city. It is three stories high with flying eaves, bracket sets, carved beams and painted rafters, showing its luxury and grandeur. The brightly lit lobby is bustling with people, and guests come and go in an endless stream.

Murong Qing walked straight to the counter, her gorgeous attire and confident demeanor immediately attracting the shopkeeper's attention. The shopkeeper was a shrewd middle-aged man, worldly and shrewd; seeing a distinguished guest arrive, he immediately greeted her with a beaming smile. "Miss, what can I do for you?" he asked respectfully.

Murong Qing smiled slightly, took out a hundred-tael silver note from her sleeve, and gently placed it on the counter. "The three of us would like a more luxurious suite." Her voice was soft but carried an undeniable authority.

The innkeeper's eyes lit up instantly, but then a troubled expression appeared on her face. "Miss, to be honest, the inn is fully booked for today; there isn't a single room available..."

Before he could finish speaking, Murong Qing took out two more hundred-tael silver notes and placed them on the counter. "Is this alright now?"

The shopkeeper's eyes widened even more, almost popping out of their sockets. He hurriedly nodded and bowed, saying repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I'll arrange it for you right away!" After saying that, he turned around and told the waiters to get busy.

Before long, the innkeeper somehow managed to free up the most luxurious suite on the third floor for the three of them, even though the place was fully booked. This suite was not only spacious and bright, but also had three bedrooms and two living rooms, elegantly furnished and exuding luxury.

After checking in, Liu Xiaorong, Murong Qing, and Shen Mo sat around a round table in the living room, which was laden with tea and snacks. They engaged in a series of discussions based on the intelligence they had obtained at the Beggars' Sect branch that day.

As the discussion deepened, the three gradually formulated a plan. They decided to take advantage of the alliance between the Black Wind Gang and the Qilin Village to find the best opportunity to rescue Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan. However, facing the tight guard of the Azure Dragon Saint Lord and the White Tiger Saint Lord, how to successfully infiltrate the secret prison became the biggest challenge.

The three talked for a long time about infiltrating the secret prison, and before they knew it, it was late at night. In order not to disturb Murong Qing and Liu Xiaorong, Shen Mo suggested that they rest early and continue to think of a way to infiltrate the secret prison the next day.

......

The next morning, the three of them had breakfast in the lobby on the first floor of the inn. The lobby was full of martial arts practitioners from all over the country, and the air was filled with the aroma of food and the sounds of people talking.

At that moment, Shen Mo was eating breakfast when he suddenly overheard several people at the next table whispering about the latest news about the Black Wind Gang. He involuntarily pricked up his ears, trying to catch more details. "I heard that the Black Wind Gang is going to hold an alliance conference with Qilin Village," one of them said. "At the conference, they will also use the lives of Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan as a sacrifice to swear an oath."

Shen Mo's heart tightened, and he almost dropped his chopsticks. He forced himself to remain calm and continued listening. "This is no small matter," another person chimed in. "If this news is true, then Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan are probably in grave danger."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo could no longer contain himself and prepared to get up and join the conversation at that table to learn more about the situation.

However, just as he was about to act, a young man in a blue robe walked over and naturally joined the table. The young man had sharp eyes and a composed demeanor; he was clearly a thoughtful person.

He greeted everyone with a smile and then began a conversation. Surprisingly, the young man seemed particularly interested in information about the Black Wind Gang, asking more questions than he spoke, and occasionally chuckling in agreement. Shen Mo immediately realized that the man was trying to gather information and became secretly wary.

"It seems some people are also paying attention to this matter," Shen Mo thought to himself, then picked up his teacup and slowly walked towards the table of people. "Gentlemen, I've heard you talking about the Black Wind Gang. Could you elaborate?" His tone was calm and polite.

Upon hearing this, the young man in the blue robe quickly glanced at Shen Mo and then nodded. "Is this young brother also concerned about this matter? Actually, I've only heard some fragments myself. Why don't we discuss it together?" His smile was sincere, giving people a sense of approachability.

"Okay," Shen Mo replied after sitting down.

"As far as I know," the young man in the blue robe said, "the alliance meeting between the Black Wind Gang and the Qilin Stronghold is scheduled for two days from now, and the location will be within the Black Wind Gang's premises. It is said that, to show their sincerity, the Black Wind Gang even plans to swear an oath with the lives of two imprisoned martial artists."

......

As night deepened, the town's lights gradually thinned, with only a few lamps swaying in the wind, illuminating a tranquil scene. In the VIP suite on the top floor of the inn, Shen Mo sat alone by his window, his eyes revealing deep worry and determination.

Outside the window, moonlight spilled onto the flowers and plants in the courtyard, creating a tranquil and mysterious atmosphere. However, Shen Mo's heart was far from at peace. The news he had heard during the day had been devastating, and the impending fate of Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan made him restless.

"We can't wait any longer," Shen Mo muttered to himself, his voice almost swallowed by the night. "I must act now."

He paced back and forth in the room, his fists clenching unconsciously, as if seeking some invisible force. Every passing moment felt like a reproach, urging him to make a decision as soon as possible.

Finally, after a fierce internal struggle, Shen Mo gritted his teeth and made a crucial decision—to infiltrate the Black Wind Gang under the cover of night.

To avoid implicating Murong Qing and Liu Xiaorong, Shen Mo decided to act alone. He gently pushed open the window, making such a soft sound that Murong Qing and Liu Xiaorong in the next bedroom couldn't hear it at all.

A cold wind swept over him, bringing a touch of clarity. The world outside the window was pitch black, with only a few distant lights dotting the endless darkness. Shen Mo took a deep breath and silently prayed, "May everything go well."

He carefully climbed onto the windowsill, leaning slightly forward, his eyes fixed on the street below. After confirming that no one was around, he took a deep breath, leaped down, and landed lightly on the quiet, deserted street.

After regaining his footing, Shen Mo quickly adjusted his breathing, his gaze fixed firmly on the direction of Black Wind Mountain not far away. At this moment, he seemed to have transformed into a lone wolf in the night, solitary yet full of power.

An hour later, Shen Mo finally arrived at the mountain trail of Black Wind Mountain.

At the entrance to the mountain trail, a dozen or so members of the Black Wind Gang stood guard, swords in hand, their expressions solemn. Their figures stood out starkly in the dim starlight, like guardians of this land.