Wandering Swordsman |

Shen Tianxing remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering how to answer. "Actually, your mother, Wen, was once a disciple of our Shen Family Manor. She was not only exceptionally talented but also kind-hearted, deeply loved by everyone in the manor. However, after an unexpected incident, she left the manor and has been lost to us ever since."

Hearing this, a look of shock flashed in Shen Mo's eyes. He had never imagined that his mother had such a hidden past. "Then, why did she leave? And what kind of accident happened?"

"It's all because of you!" At that moment, an elderly woman with a full head of white hair, supported by a middle-aged man, entered the main hall. Her sharp and angry voice shattered the silence of the room.

When Shen Tianxing saw the person who had arrived, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected the old woman to come at all. Then, that surprise was quickly replaced by anger, and he snapped at the old woman, "Who let you come here? Go back to your room!"

The old woman showed no fear, but instead retorted angrily, "You, Shen Tianxing, now that you've found that lowly servant's child, you think you can claim him as a member of the family?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo seemed to realize something. Was his father from Shen Family Village? But who was that old woman? She actually called his mother a lowly servant. Instantly, a murderous intent surged in Shen Mo's heart, and he released his Demon-Refining Beast King aura. Everyone present was suddenly startled, their backs turned cold, and their bodies trembled slightly.

While everyone was still gripped by fear, Shen Mo stepped forward, his gaze piercing as he stared at the old woman. "What did you say? Tell me the truth!"

Just as Shen Mo was about to question her further, Shen Tianxing quickly stepped forward, standing between Shen Mo and the old lady, his eyes firm and serious. "Shen Mo, calm down." His voice was deep and powerful, as if an invisible force was calming Shen Mo's emotions.

Shen Mo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, but his gaze remained fixed on the old woman, waiting for an answer.

Shen Tianxing slowly turned around to face Shen Mo, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Shen Mo, your father's name is Shen Lang. Shen Hai must be the name he changed himself after leaving Shen Family Village."

Shen Tianxing took a breath and fell into his memories: "Shen Lang is my youngest son. Shen Lang was frail and sickly from a young age, and no one wanted to play with him. Only the daughter of a guard in Shen Family Village—your mother, Wen Shi—was willing to play with him. As time went by, they grew up and their feelings for each other deepened until they eventually pledged their lives to each other."

Shen Tianxing's voice choked with emotion as he continued, "Later, Wen became pregnant with your child. When Shen Lang learned of this, he came to me and said he wanted to marry Wen. At the time, your grandmother firmly opposed the marriage and planned to have Wen aborted the child. Upon learning this, Shen Lang immediately took Wen and fled Shen Family Village, and we have not heard from them since."

Hearing this, tears welled up in Shen Mo's eyes. He understood why his mother had left, and why his father had never mentioned the past. "So that's how it is..." he murmured, his anger gradually turning into deep sorrow.

Shen Tianxing looked at Shen Mo, his eyes filled with deep guilt. "Over the years, I've always regretted not stopping all of this from happening. Seeing you now is a way of making up for that guilt in my heart."

Shen Mo nodded. Although the pain in his heart hadn't completely dissipated, he knew that the old woman before him genuinely regretted what had happened back then. He turned to look at the old woman, his eyes still filled with resentment, but also with a hint of understanding. However, Shen Mo still had some unresolved issues: "Do you know that my parents contracted the plague when I was nine years old and both died? In the past eight years, have you ever looked for them?"

Seeing Shen Mo's indignant questioning, the old lady's expression softened slightly, but there was still resentment in her eyes.

Shen Tianxing sighed, as if trying to release all the pent-up resentment and guilt he had felt over the years. "We sent people to look for you, but there was no news at all. It wasn't until five years ago that your name started circulating among the martial arts world in Yunnan," he said slowly, his voice tinged with helplessness and weariness. "At first, I didn't think much of it, after all, there are many people with the surname Shen in the martial arts world. However, later the Beggars' Clan contacted me, saying they wanted to sell me some information, claiming it was related to my search for my son back then."

Shen Mo frowned slightly, asking in confusion, "The Beggars' Sect? How did they know about my affairs?"

Shen Tianxing nodded and continued to explain, "When the Beggars' Sect was investigating your background, they learned in that small town that your parents came from Hangzhou. So, they found in the Beggars' Sect's files the matter of the Shen Family Village entrusting the Beggars' Sect to find Shen Lang back then, and that's how they connected it to this matter."

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall became heavy, filled with an indescribable tension. Shen Tianxing's eyes revealed a complex emotion, a mixture of reminiscence for the past and anticipation for the future.

"I see..." Shen Mo murmured softly, his doubts gradually dispelled. He raised his head, looking firmly at Shen Tianxing, waiting for further explanation.

A complex emotion flickered in Shen Tianxing's eyes, a mixture of reminiscence for the past and anticipation for the future. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Later, I heard from people in the martial arts world that you had disappeared on your way out of Yunnan, so I once again entrusted the Beggars' Sect to search for your whereabouts. However, after many years, we found nothing. So I decided to send Guard Lin to be stationed in the small town where you used to live, hoping to run into you one day when you suddenly return to the town."

At this moment, Lin Huyuan said with emotion, "Shen Mo, heaven rewards those who persevere. I stayed in that small town for three years, and finally I waited for you." His voice revealed a sense of relief and satisfaction.

Just then, the old lady with a full head of white hair—Shen Tianxing's wife—speaked. Her voice was still cold and stern, carrying an unquestionable authority: "Shen Tianxing, I will not acknowledge this grandson. If you want to acknowledge him yourself, then leave the Shen family. My Shen family has no son-in-law as disobedient as you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tianxing's face filled with anger. Just as he was about to retort, Shen Mo spoke first, saying, "Master Shen, you don't need to make things so difficult for me. When my parents chose to flee Shen Family Village, they severed all ties with it. They never mentioned this place, nor did they ever think of returning. Therefore, even if you find me, I will not return to Shen Family Village to acknowledge my ancestors."

Shen Mo's voice was firm and calm, each word clear and powerful, as if declaring his stance. He continued, "As for why I came here, it's because I want to understand my parents, their past, and why they chose that kind of life. As for Shen Family Village, it's just a strange place to me, a family that has nothing to do with me."