Wandering Swordsman |

Murong Liang quietly watched his son, Murong Tian. A flicker of certainty crossed Murong Liang's eyes as he listened to Murong Tian's reasoned arguments. He knew that Murong Tian's insistence was not only for his daughter's happiness, but also for the long-term interests and principles of the family. At that moment, Murong Liang seemed to see a reflection of his younger self, that unwavering commitment to justice and family ties.

At that very moment, a middle-aged man in the conference hall, Murong Jiang, Murong Tian's younger brother, noticed his father's supportive gaze. A thought struck Murong Jiang, and he decided to stand up for his brother. He cleared his throat, his tone firm and sincere: "Father! My elder brother is right. If we only consider the family's interests and disregard Qing'er's wishes, the Murong family is destined to have a short lifespan!"

The words had barely left his lips when the entire hall seemed to stir. Murong Tian cast a grateful glance, his eyes filled with thanks. Murong Jiang met his brother's gaze and nodded slightly, a gesture of greeting. This small act conveyed to everyone present the unspoken understanding and support between the brothers.

As Murong Jiang finished speaking, the previously tense atmosphere gradually eased. The elders exchanged glances, their eyes conveying understanding and agreement. Another highly respected elder of the Murong family broke the silence, saying, "Patriarch, Murong Jiang is right. We cannot ignore Qing'er's feelings for the sake of short-term gains. After all, she is the future hope of our Murong family."

The others nodded in agreement: "Yes, if we don't even respect our children's wishes, how can we call ourselves a large family that values ​​kinship?"

As more elders voiced their opinions, the consensus in the meeting hall shifted unanimously to allow Murong Qing to return and make the decision personally. They realized that only by respecting the choices of each member could the unity and prosperity of the family be truly maintained.

Finally, Murong Liang took a deep breath, a relieved smile appearing on his face. He said loudly, "Good!" His voice was loud and powerful, echoing throughout the hall. "In that case, it's settled. Qing'er is already on her way back at top speed. When she arrives, let her make her own decision."

Hearing his father's decision, Murong Tian felt a sense of relief and comfort. He knew that this discussion not only concerned his daughter's fate but also the future direction of the Murong family. Now, they had made the right choice, which filled him with confidence for the future.

Murong Liang continued, "We need to make Qing'er understand that whatever her choice, the Murong family will fully support her. This is where the true strength of our family lies."

At this moment, the cold stars still twinkled outside the window, and the night was as deep as ink. In this luxurious conference hall, a discussion concerning a crucial family decision finally came to a successful conclusion.

......

Meanwhile, the scene shifts to the Black Wind Gang. Night has fallen, a cold wind is blowing, and the Black Wind Gang's headquarters appears eerie and mysterious under the moonlight. At this moment, the gang's interior is brightly lit, patrolling members hurry along, and a tense atmosphere permeates the air.

When the Black Wind Gang leader learned that the fire had been put out in time and that although most of the study was burned, most of the books inside were still intact, his tense nerves relaxed slightly. However, when he rushed to his study's secret room, the scene before him enraged him.

The secret room was a mess, with tables and chairs overturned and the air still smelling of burning. The Black Wind Gang Leader's gaze swept across the room like a knife; besides the Tai'a Sword, even the two precious thousand-year-old ginseng roots had vanished. Even more chillingly, the martial arts manuals, including the *Heavenly Void True Qi*, had also disappeared without a trace!

"Dare to touch my things, and I'll make sure you suffer a terrible death!" The image of Shen Mo holding the Tai'a Sword flashed through the Black Wind Gang Leader's mind that night, and his voice was filled with barely suppressed rage.

Then, the Black Wind Gang Leader stormed out of the study and went down to the main gate of the wooden building.

"You two pieces of trash!" the Black Wind Gang leader roared when he saw the two guards. "What's your mission?"

The two guards fell to their knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Master, spare our lives! We really didn't know... This all happened so suddenly..."

The Black Wind Gang Leader ignored their explanations and with a wave of his hand, one of the guards was beheaded. The other guard, seeing his colleague's tragic state, involuntarily let out a scream. However, before the scream could finish, the Black Wind Gang Leader struck him again, sending him flying and causing him to vomit blood on the ground.

The other guards from the Black Wind Gang rushed over upon hearing the news. When they saw this chilling scene, they broke out in a cold sweat, fearing that their gang leader would take his anger out on them.

Fortunately, given the previous incident of Luo Wangchen stealing the "Wu Xiang Jing" (Scripture of No Form), the Black Wind Gang Leader had taken precautions this time. He had made a handwritten copy of the "Tian Xu Zhen Qi" (True Qi of Heavenly Void) and placed it elsewhere, just in case someone stole it. The existence of this backup gave him a slight sense of relief, but his anger did not subside.

"Send word to summon Li Fanglin to see me!" he said, enunciating each word clearly, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

As soon as the order was given, the patrol guards who had rushed over immediately sprang into action, quickly leaving the wooden building to relay the instructions.

......

"Greetings, Leader!"

Upon meeting the Black Wind Gang Leader, Li Fanglin's movements were fluid and swift, demonstrating his absolute respect for him.

"What are your orders, Chief?" Li Fanglin raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on the Black Wind Chief, awaiting further instructions. His voice was steady, tinged with caution and anticipation, as if he had already foreseen the importance of the mission that was about to unfold.

The Black Wind Gang Leader sat on his throne, his hands clenched into fists, knuckles white from the force, his eyes burning with barely suppressed rage. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner fire, and then slowly spoke: "Li Fanglin, I have an important matter for you." The Black Wind Gang Leader's voice was deep and powerful, each word carrying immense weight. "Find out the background of those two young men who rescued Luo Wangchen and Qu Yifan last night."

Li Fanglin frowned slightly, a question immediately forming in his mind, but he didn't respond to the gang leader right away. He was pondering; the events of last night were indeed perplexing. Those people who were able to rescue others from the Black Wind Gang were clearly not ordinary. A hint of doubt flashed in Li Fanglin's eyes, as if he were weighing the pros and cons.

The gang leader seemed to have seen through Li Fanglin's thoughts, and his tone softened slightly: "If you have any questions, please speak freely."

Li Fanglin hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to speak frankly: "Chief, didn't you bring Situ Meng back last night? Shouldn't Situ Meng know who they are?"