Wandering Swordsman |

Shen Mo listened intently, his eyes following Shu Wangxing's every move, afraid of missing any detail.

With Shu Wangxing's meticulous explanation, Shen Mo was completely immersed in this mysterious and exquisite art of disguise. Time passed quietly, and after Shu Wangxing finished teaching how to make a human skin mask, the moonlight outside the window had shifted its angle, and an hour had passed without them realizing it.

"Next, I'm going to teach you a martial art that slightly alters your facial bones." Shu Wangxing's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet room. "This is not only to help you better fit the human skin mask, but also to achieve a truly lifelike effect."

A flicker of excitement and curiosity flashed in Shen Mo's eyes. He quickly adjusted his posture, focusing intently on the next part of the lesson. Shu Wangxing stood up, walked to the center of the room, and began to demonstrate a unique method of internal energy cultivation. His hands slowly rose, drawing graceful arcs in the air, as if guiding an invisible force. "Pay attention to my movements and the flow of my breath," Shu Wangxing explained as he demonstrated. "This martial art requires you to concentrate your internal energy around your facial bones, subtly altering your facial contours through subtle movements."

Shen Mo carefully observed every detail, not missing a single gesture or change in breathing. Then, he began to imitate Shu Wangxing's movements. At first, he was a little clumsy, but after a few attempts, he gradually grasped the essentials. Shu Wangxing provided guidance from the side, occasionally pointing out key points, "Remember, the strength should be evenly distributed; don't concentrate it too much in one spot."

Before long, Shen Mo had grasped most of it; his progress was astonishing. Shu Wangxing couldn't help but nod in approval, "As expected of the Heavenly Martial Body! His comprehension and talent are truly amazing."

Just as Shen Mo was practicing this skill, Shu Wangxing took out a thin piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Shen Mo, saying, "Also, this is the incantation for the internal energy circulation of voice changing techniques, used to alter your pronunciation. If you want to disguise yourself as someone else, your voice is an essential part."

Taking the piece of paper, Shen Mo read it carefully, softly reciting the complex incantations.

As his understanding of these incantations deepened, and with guidance from Shu Wangxing beside him, he tried circulating his internal energy according to the instructions, and sure enough, he felt a subtle change in his throat. "It feels like my voice has been reshaped," Shen Mo said in surprise.

Shu Wangxing smiled slightly, "That's right, exactly. However, it will take time and practice to master it perfectly."

Then, Shu Wangxing noticed that Shen Mo's complexion was much better than when they first met. A hint of relief flashed in his eyes, but then his brows furrowed slightly, as if he had remembered something important. "Brother Shen, your complexion has indeed improved a lot, but just to be on the safe side, let me take your pulse again to see if there are any signs that the toxins in your body have spread."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo's heart tightened. He knew that he not only possessed internal energy, but could also convert it into demonic energy. What if Shu Wangxing discovered this?

However, recalling that Shu Wangxing had not only taught him the precious art of disguise tonight, but also brought important news, all of which demonstrated his goodwill and trust, Shen Mo, after a brief internal deliberation, slowly extended his right hand, a hint of barely perceptible tension in his eyes.

Shu Wangxing nodded slightly, gently grasped Shen Mo's wrist, and lightly placed her fingers on his pulse. The room fell silent instantly, with only the flickering candlelight making a soft crackling sound. Shen Mo held his breath, his gaze fixed on Shu Wangxing's expression, trying to catch even the slightest hint of something unusual.

A moment later, Shu Wangxing suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise.

Shen Mo's heart suddenly raced, a strange sense of tension welling up inside him. Had Brother Shu discovered his secret of cultivating demonic arts? Fine beads of sweat involuntarily appeared on his forehead, and his fingers unconsciously clenched tighter. However, when he saw Shu Wangxing's clear and sincere eyes, his doubts gradually dissipated.

"Brother Shen, judging from your pulse, the toxins in your body have completely disappeared! Moreover, I can't feel any trace of the toxins eroding your heart meridian." As soon as Shu Wangxing finished speaking, he carefully examined Shen Mo, as if trying to find the answer on his face.

"So it wasn't about demonic energy after all." Shen Mo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the tension on his face fading away, replaced by a relieved smile. "Brother Shu, I don't know why either?" He tried to make his voice sound natural, attempting to conceal the turmoil in his heart.

Although Shen Mo couldn't give a definite answer, Shu Wangxing nodded, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "It seems that heaven is still looking out for you. However, now that the poison has been cleared, cherish this good fortune." With that, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and said softly, "Brother Shen, it's getting late, I should go."

However, Shen Mo asked with a face full of reluctance, "Brother Shu, when will we see each other again?"

Shu Wangxing smiled slightly, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. "Brother Shen, if you want to see me, take the token I gave you last time and go to the Baihua Pavilion in Hebi City to find the courtesan. If I am in Guigu, she will bring you to see me." His voice was soft, but every word revealed trust and expectation.

Shu Wangxing walked to the window, gently pushed it open, and turned back to remind him again, "Brother Shen, remember what I said today, and be careful in everything." After saying that, he flashed and disappeared into the night like a night hawk, leaving only the gently swaying curtains as proof of his presence.

Gazing at the cool moonlight outside the window, Shen Mo was filled with emotion. "Brother Shu, please rest assured, I will remember your words." He murmured to himself with a firm look in his eyes, as if making a promise to Shu Wangxing in the distance.

......

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, bringing a touch of warmth to the room. Luo Wangchen arrived at Shen Mo's door and knocked, looking for Shen Mo. Shen Mo opened the door and greeted Luo Wangchen with a smile, who looked surprised—because Shen Mo's voice sounded different than before!

"Shen Mo, what's wrong?" Luo Wangchen asked immediately, his face full of concern and confusion.

Shen Mo suddenly realized that he had changed his voice last night according to the method taught by Shu Wangxing, but forgot to change it back. So he coughed lightly a few times and explained, "Master, I may have caught a cold last night, and my throat is a little uncomfortable."

Luo Wangchen frowned as he looked at Shen Mo, his eyes filled with worry. "Then you should rest more and make sure your cold doesn't get worse." After he finished speaking, he patted Shen Mo's shoulder, turned around to leave, but then stopped and turned back to say, "This afternoon, we'll be leaving Yimen County with Jingtian Pavilion. Make sure you pack your things."