Wandering Swordsman |

Just as the two were in trouble, the Black Wind Gang Leader suddenly darted around Situ Changkong behind him like a ghost and appeared behind Situ Meng.

"Watch out!" Situ Changkong cried out in alarm, but it was too late. The Black Wind Gang Leader moved swiftly, one hand gripping Situ Meng's wrist like an iron clamp, while the other gently rested on her shoulder, immobilizing her completely. Before Situ Meng could react, she was subdued.

"Let me go!" Situ Meng's voice was filled with anger and resentment. She tried to break free from the Black Wind Gang Leader's grasp, but his arm was as hard as iron, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't budge it an inch. A hint of anxiety flashed in her eyes as she looked back at her companions, hoping they could think of a way to rescue her.

Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat, and the longsword in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp. His gaze instantly sharpened, his eyes burning with rage. "Let him go!"

The Black Wind Gang Leader chuckled coldly, ignoring Shen Mo, and instead scrutinized the group before him with a critical gaze. "Do you think you can still escape?" The Black Wind Gang Leader's voice was low and icy, like a warning coming from the depths of hell.

At this critical moment, Situ Meng knew she had to make a decision. Her gaze swept over Situ Changkong and Shen Mo, finally settling on the Black Wind Gang Leader. "If you dare to harm them, I'll bite my tongue and kill myself right here!" Situ Meng's voice trembled, but it was filled with determination.

The Black Wind Gang leader was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Situ Meng to be so bold. A hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, before his gaze returned to its coldness. "Do you think I care?" he said coldly, but his tone betrayed a trace of wavering.

"Of course you care," Situ Meng continued, her voice becoming even more resolute. "If I die, my father will never let it go. At that time, do you think you will still get the 'Formless Sutra'? Perhaps even your Black Wind Gang might be lost."

The Black Wind Gang leader's eyes deepened, as if he were weighing the pros and cons. He knew Situ Meng was right; if he really killed her, not only would he fail to obtain the "Formless Scripture," but he would also become irreconcilably opposed to Situ Dengfeng. This would be entirely detrimental to the Black Wind Gang.

At this moment, the shadows of the trees swayed and flickered on the ground, as if countless eyes were watching the duel from the shadows. A tense atmosphere filled the air; the sound of every falling leaf could be clearly heard.

Finally, the Black Wind Gang leader released his grip and slowly took a few steps back. His eyes were still filled with vigilance and resentment, but the fervor from before was gone. "Fine, I'll let them go," he said coldly.

Situ Changkong's gaze was as resolute as a knife's edge. He stared intently at the Black Wind Gang leader, his lips pressed into a tight line. "If I can't get her away, I'd rather die here!"

At this moment, time seemed to freeze, and the surrounding air seemed to thicken with heaviness. Luo Wangchen's gaze swept back and forth between Shen Mo and Situ Changkong, finally exchanging a meaningful look with Shen Mo—they both knew that action had to be taken, and quickly.

Taking advantage of the moment when Situ Changkong was completely focused on the Black Wind Gang leader, Luo Wangchen flashed forward, his movements swift and silent, like a gentle breeze. With a flick of his wrist, he struck Situ Changkong on the back of the neck. The blow was precise and powerful; Situ Changkong's body jolted violently before he slowly collapsed, losing consciousness. All of this happened so fast that the others barely had time to react.

"Let's go!" Luo Wangchen immediately hoisted Situ Changkong onto his shoulder. Qu Yifan and Shen Mo didn't dare to delay either, and immediately followed Luo Wangchen's footsteps, rushing down the mountain.

However, after running a few steps, Shen Mo suddenly stopped. He turned around, his gaze piercing through the night, and met the eyes of Situ Meng, who remained standing there.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still again. Shen Mo's eyes were filled with determination and promise, as if telling Situ Meng that he would definitely come back to save her.

Looking into those eyes, Situ Meng felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, showing Shen Mo her utmost trust.

Upon seeing this response, Shen Mo felt a slight relief from his distress. He knew he couldn't linger; to rescue Situ Meng, he had to continue. So, he took a deep breath, turned, and continued on his way. His figure gradually blended into the night, eventually disappearing along the winding mountain path with Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan.

When the last trace of the figure disappeared from sight, Situ Meng breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew she was still in danger, a strange sense of peace welled up inside her, as if that brief exchange of glances had given her enough strength to face the unknown.

"Let's go!" The Black Wind Gang Leader's voice was deep and cold, as if it came from the abyss, breaking the brief silence. He released his hand, which had been gripping Situ Meng's wrist like an iron clamp, and a chill dissipated.

However, Situ Meng did not respond. Her gaze seemed to pierce through the darkness before her, looking towards the place where Shen Mo and the others had disappeared. After a moment, she turned and walked straight towards the Black Wind Gang on the mountain.

The Black Wind Gang leader was slightly taken aback, clearly surprised by Situ Meng's reaction. But he quickly regained his cold expression, a barely perceptible sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

......

The three of them carried the unconscious Situ Changkong at breakneck speed along the winding mountain path. Along the way, they encountered several groups of guards, but Qu Yifan and Shen Mo worked in perfect harmony, moving with lightning speed and silently overcoming the obstacles.

Finally, they reached the foot of the mountain. At that moment, the dozen or so Black Wind Gang members guarding the entrance saw these three strangers carrying a young man down the mountain path. They immediately became alert, their eyes sharpening. "Halt!" A loud shout shattered the night's tranquility, echoing through the valley. The dozen or so gang members quickly formed a circle around them, their weapons gleaming coldly.

Shen Mo stopped, drawing his Tai'a sword once more with a steady hand; the blade gleamed with a cold, eerie light. He whispered to Qu Yifan beside him, "Hero Qu, with my remaining internal energy, I can only handle four more at most..."

"Young man, don't worry, leave the rest to me." Qu Yifan made his decision before Shen Mo could finish speaking. His eyes were firm, and a confident smile played on his lips, as if he had already made up his mind. As soon as he finished speaking, he flashed forward like an arrow released from a bow, rushing towards the enemy.

In an instant, the sounds of clashing weapons and fierce fighting filled the air. Qu Yifan moved through the crowd with ease, his movements swift, precise, fluid, and deadly. Shen Mo stood by, ready to provide support at any moment, but Qu Yifan's combat prowess exceeded everyone's expectations. Before Shen Mo could even make a move, Qu Yifan had already swiftly defeated his enemies one by one.