Wandering Swordsman |

Upon hearing the sudden whisper, the masked man in black froze, his body tense like a bowstring. He whirled around, his eyes filled with terror and wariness, his weapon already drawn. "Who?" he asked in a low voice, his unease palpable.

"Don't be afraid," Shen Mo remained calm, spreading his hands to indicate he meant no harm. "I'm not a member of the Black Wind Gang!"

Upon hearing this, the masked man in black relaxed slightly, but remained highly vigilant. "Then who are you?" he continued, scanning his surroundings to make sure no one else was there. After confirming that no one else was present, the man in black visibly relaxed.

"I'm here to rescue people," Shen Mo replied. "I want to ask if you're familiar with the terrain here? Do you know where the secret prison is?"

Upon hearing this, the man in black narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly considering whether he should trust the person before him. Then, he became more wary, his tone growing more cautious: "I do know the location of the secret prison, but we need to build some trust between us. Let's remove our masks and see each other's true faces."

Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat; he realized this was a good opportunity to build mutual trust. He nodded, and the two of them almost simultaneously removed their black veils. In an instant, they recognized each other—the young man in the blue robe they had met at the inn during the day was now standing right in front of them.

"So it was you!" the young man said in surprise, then quickly covered his face just in case. Shen Mo also covered his face and extended his hand to the other man. "I am Shen Mo, may I ask how to address you, brother..."

"Situ Changkong," the young man replied briefly, shaking Shen Mo's hand. Shen Mo was unaware that he was Situ Changkong, the senior disciple of Jingtian Pavilion.

"Why don't we act together?" Shen Mo suggested. "That way we can look out for each other and reduce the risk of being discovered."

Situ Changkong thought about it and agreed. After all, in this dangerous place, having another ally was always a good thing. "Alright," he said, "but I suggest we find a safe place first to discuss our action plan."

The two began to move together, each step cautious, afraid of making the slightest sound and attracting attention. Finally, they found a secluded corner, providing them with an excellent hiding place. After sitting down, their eyes met, filled with trust and expectation.

"I am Luo Wangchen's disciple," Shen Mo spoke first, his voice firm and steady. "I have come here to rescue my master."

Upon hearing this name, Situ Changkong's eyes widened slightly, revealing a hint of surprise. He thought to himself, "The wandering swordsman Luo has a disciple?" This made Situ Changkong curious about Shen Mo's identity.

Situ Changkong then explained, "I originally came here to investigate the whereabouts of Qu Yifan and Luo Wangchen. After completing my initial investigation, I received a new message via carrier pigeon, instructing me to stay here and continue inquiring about Situ Meng."

Upon hearing the name, Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat. "Situ Meng?" he repeated, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "According to the intelligence provided by the Beggars' Sect, she may also be imprisoned in the secret dungeon."

Situ Changkong's expression instantly turned serious. Although his master's message only instructed him to secretly investigate Situ Meng's whereabouts and not to put himself in danger, Situ Changkong, remembering his master's kindness and now knowing where Situ Meng was being held, decided to risk his life to rescue her. Thinking this, he clenched his fists tightly. "Then we can't delay any longer."

Shen Mo shook his head and said, "Wait a minute. The secret prison is personally guarded by the Azure Dragon Saint Lord and the White Tiger Saint Lord of the Black Wind Gang. We definitely can't force our way in. We must think of a way."

After discussing it, Situ Changkong suggested, "We can split into two groups. One person will be responsible for diverting the patrolling guards and creating a large disturbance to distract them; the other person will take the opportunity to quietly approach the entrance of the secret prison, and then enter the prison to carry out the rescue after the Azure Dragon Saint Lord and the White Tiger Saint Lord are distracted by the disturbance."

"That sounds like a good idea," Shen Mo replied, his voice steady but tinged with hesitation. "However, who will be responsible for drawing the guards away?"

Situ Changkong took a deep breath, his gaze fixed firmly on Shen Mo. "My martial arts skills are superior, so the success rate of rescuing people from the secret prison is higher." His tone was unquestionable, revealing confidence and a sense of responsibility. "Moreover, I am quite familiar with the terrain here, and my lightness skill is also good, so I should be able to avoid unnecessary conflicts."

He carefully pulled a small tinderbox from his robes, placed it in his palm, and gently blew on it. The faint flame danced in his hand, illuminating his resolute face. Situ Changkong looked at Shen Mo, a sly glint in his eyes: "You're in charge of setting fire to the Black Wind Gang Leader's study. Once the fire starts, it will definitely cause great chaos. This way, not only will the guards be drawn away, but even the Azure Dragon Saint Lord and the White Tiger Saint Lord might leave the secret prison to deal with it."

Shen Mo took the tinderbox and put it away. "But..." he hesitated, seemingly having some concerns about the plan.

Situ Changkong patted Shen Mo on the shoulder, his gaze gentle yet firm: "This is the most effective method. As long as you successfully set the fire, escape immediately without lingering. I will be waiting for you at the inn in Yimen Town where we met. Remember, our goal is to save lives; safety must be the top priority in all our actions."

Shen Mo nodded, his worry gradually replaced by trust. "Alright," he said, "I'll get to the leader's study as soon as possible, complete the mission, and leave immediately. Brother Situ, please be careful too."

Situ Changkong then described in detail the route to the gang leader's study, pointing out every turn and every path. He pointed to a tall building in the distance and said, "The gang leader's study is on the second floor of that wooden building. Be careful on the way and don't expose yourself."

By the time Situ Changkong finished explaining, Shen Mo had already memorized the route. He stood up and stood side by side with Situ Changkong. The two exchanged a glance, then turned around simultaneously and headed in different directions.

Shen Mo's figure was like a ghost in the night. He carefully avoided every possible guard, his movements as light as a feather. He silently used his lightness skill to move through the shadows, speeding towards the leader's study.

Finally, Shen Mo arrived near the wooden building where the study was located. Standing in the shadow of the small wooden building illuminated by the moon, Shen Mo's gaze swept across the surroundings with the sharpness of an eagle.

This is a three-story wooden building that appears ancient and mysterious under the night sky, exuding an indescribable majesty.

Fortunately, apart from two guards standing at the entrance on the first floor of the wooden building, the windows on the second and third floors were completely dark and without any lights. This meant that it was the middle of the night and no one was in the study, making it the perfect time to set fire to create a disturbance.