Wandering Swordsman |

"Don't worry," Shen Mo said, noticing her distress. "Once you find the knack, lightness skill isn't that difficult."

Time was of the essence; Xie Xin and Fu Jiang's wedding banquet was only five days away. In such a limited time, it would be impossible for an ordinary person to quickly master the basics of lightness skill, let alone Xie Xin, who was just a weak woman who had never practiced martial arts.

Shen Mo knew this well. Looking into Xie Xin's eyes, which revealed determination and longing, he reminded her, "I will do my best to teach you. Whether you can learn it or not depends on your own destiny. Only after you have learned it can I tell you what to do next."

As the day drew closer, Xie Xin's progress, though slow, was steady. In the tense yet hopeful atmosphere, time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, only one day remained until the divorce banquet.

After several days and nights of arduous practice, Xie Xin finally mastered the art of light-body skills. Although her talent was far less astonishing than Shen Mo's, it was still a tremendous achievement for a beginner, surpassing the speed of most geniuses.

As night fell, moonlight bathed every corner of Qilin Village. All around was quiet, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects.

Xie Xin stood in the courtyard, took a deep breath, and then leaped lightly, her whole body floating up as lightly as a feather. In a few quick movements, she was able to move freely through the courtyard.

Although her movements are not yet perfect, she is already able to move quickly using the light-foot skills she has learned.

Shen Mo watched all this with satisfaction, knowing they were one step closer to breaking free from Fu Sheng's control. Xie Xin, on the other hand, was filled with anticipation for the future mixed with a touch of unease, as the real challenges awaited her.

......

The scene shifts to the eastern border of the Liangshan Mountains, shrouded in night. Moonlight spills onto the winding mountain road, draping the tranquil land in a silver veil. Situ Dengfeng and Situ Changkong ride their horses one after the other, galloping through the night, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust, as if racing against time.

As the outline of the mountain range ahead gradually became clear, Situ Dengfeng reined in his horse, slowing its pace. He turned back to look at Situ Changkong, who was following closely behind, and said with concern and caution, "Changkong, we are about to enter the territory of the Daliang Mountains. We are going deep into enemy territory alone, and it will definitely be fraught with danger. Think it over again. Are you sure you want to continue with me?" His eyes revealed his deep concern for his young disciple, but also a hint of worry.

Situ Changkong took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes. His hand, gripping the reins, trembled slightly, not from fear, but from unwavering determination. "Sect Master, since this journey is connected to my past, even if it leads to a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, I must go." His words were soft, yet each syllable was firm and powerful. Ever since learning his true identity and the story of Fu Sheng of Qilin Village, Situ Changkong had been prepared to face any danger.

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng's eyes flashed with appreciation and satisfaction. He nodded, his voice low yet full of strength: "Alright! If you encounter danger in Qilin Village, don't worry about me, you go first." He knew that this operation was extremely risky, but faced with the secrets that might be revealed and the responsibilities involved, they had no way out. If they really encountered danger, they could only evacuate quickly.

For this trip, Situ Dengfeng deliberately chose to travel light, taking only Situ Changkong with him. This was not only to facilitate a quick evacuation in case of emergencies, but more importantly, he hoped to handle the complex situation that was about to unfold more flexibly.

As for the purpose of this trip, in addition to figuring out the true meaning of "regret for life" mentioned by Li Yonghuan, there is an even more secretive mission—to investigate the demonic arts used by Fu Sheng.

The two continued on horseback, and the surrounding environment became increasingly treacherous. The mountain road was rugged, and the trees on both sides swayed gracefully in the night wind, making a rustling sound, as if hiding countless unknown dangers.

......

On the day of the wedding banquet in Qilin Village, the entire village was decorated in a brand new way, with red lanterns hanging high, colorful ribbons fluttering, and a strong festive atmosphere permeating the air.

Guests arrived in droves from all directions, and laughter filled every corner.

Fu Sheng and his son Fu Jiang stood at the gate of Qilin Village, greeting each guest with beaming smiles; their figures stood out in the crowd. Inside the village, a scene of bustling activity unfolded, with servants moving between rooms, preparing a sumptuous feast and exquisite snacks.

Meanwhile, in Xie Xin's room, two slightly older middle-aged women were busy combing her hair and applying makeup.

"Xin Xin, you are so lucky! You will be the young chieftain's wife from now on." A woman praised Xie Xin as she carefully combed her long, black, and shiny hair.

"Yes, marry the young chieftain, have a big, fat son, and you'll be living a life of luxury," another woman chimed in.

Xie Xin sat quietly in front of the mirror, forcing a smile, but her heart was filled with fear and unease about the future.

Suddenly, light footsteps sounded outside the door. Shen Mo appeared silently in the doorway, quickly and decisively clearing away the guards outside. As he pushed open the door and walked in, the two middle-aged women immediately sensed something was wrong. The smiles on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by wariness and hostility.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass here!" one of the women shouted angrily, and in the same instant, she attacked Shen Mo.

After exchanging ten rounds, Shen Mo immediately unleashed his Thunder Palm technique. With a flash, his palms struck out with lightning speed, instantly knocking the two middle-aged women to the ground. Although their attacks were fierce, they were ultimately no match for Shen Mo's superior martial arts skills.

"Come with me now!" After knocking the two down, Shen Mo urged them in a low voice, his eyes revealing an unwavering determination.

Xie Xin paused for a moment, then quickly followed. The two hurried towards the back gate of Qilin Village, encountering many obstacles along the way, but since most people were gathered at the wedding venue, Shen Mo easily broke through the defenses with his agile skills.

Finally, they arrived at the outer edge of Qilin Village. Shen Mo took a deep breath and said to Xie Xin, "Head east to the Sword Tomb in Simian Mountain, Shu. Find a man named He Yun. Just mention your name, Shen Mo, and explain in detail how I helped you. Someone will take care of you." His tone was firm yet gentle, as if he were giving Xie Xin his final instructions.

"Xie Xin! Where are you going?" At this moment, a cold shout suddenly came from behind, like a heavy hammer hitting the two of them in the heart.

Shen Mo and Xie Xin felt a chill run down their spines and quickly turned around, only to see Li Yonghuan had silently appeared behind them. His figure was as elusive as a ghost, a cold smile on his face, and a dangerous glint in his eyes. This sudden turn of events left the two of them momentarily at a loss.