Wandering Swordsman |

Upon hearing this, the air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment. The expressions of the elders of the Murong family varied; some frowned, some sighed, and some secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, the elders knew that if they were to form a marriage alliance with the Huangfu family, although they could gain power for a time, it would also drag the Murong family into the court's infighting, which might not necessarily be a blessing.

As soon as she finished speaking, Murong Qing stood up, gave an elegant bow, her eyes clear and firm, like a pool of autumn water under the moonlight: "Uncle Huangfu, thank you for your kind words. I am standing here today to tell you that it is not that Huangfu Hui is not good enough, but that I already have someone I love, and I will marry no one else."

Her words struck like a thunderbolt through the hall. Everyone was startled, even the usually composed elders couldn't help but turn their heads, their faces showing shock. They had thought that even if the Seventh Miss was unwilling, she would politely decline, but they never expected her to be so decisive and open in public!

Huangfu Haotian's face instantly darkened, his brows furrowed, and a look of shock and disbelief flashed in his eyes. He never expected that the rumored gentle and quiet, well-educated Seventh Miss Murong would have such a fierce side. Beyond the shock, a strong curiosity arose within him: what kind of man could make her so resolutely reject the Huangfu family's marriage proposal?

Sitting beside him, Huangfu Hui's face was even more ashen. He had pursued Murong Qing for years, and with an imperial edict, he thought he had her in his grasp. Now, Murong Qing had publicly announced that she already had someone she loved. The humiliation and betrayal he felt nearly drove him to a meltdown. His fingers gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles white, his eyes blazing with fury, yet he forcibly suppressed his rage. He silently vowed: whoever that man was, he would make him pay!

After a long pause, Huangfu Haotian suppressed his anger and maintained a polite demeanor, asking in a gentle tone, "Oh? May I ask which talented young man has won the favor of the Murong family?"

However, the chill and murderous intent in his eyes could not escape Murong Liang's notice.

Murong Liang naturally knew that Huangfu Haotian's question was not out of goodwill. If he directly revealed Shen Mo's identity, the Huangfu family head would likely immediately intend to kill him to eliminate any future trouble. Just as he was pondering how to answer tactfully, a servant hurriedly entered the hall and whispered, "Master, a young man has come to the door requesting an audience."

Murong Liang frowned slightly, and asked in confusion, "Who is this person? Did he give his name?"

The servant replied respectfully, "He said his name is... Shen Mo."

Upon hearing the name, Murong Qing's face instantly blossomed into a radiant smile, like a blooming flower, dazzling with light. Her eyes sparkled with excitement and joy, making her even more radiant. Almost instinctively, she looked up towards the doorway, as if that direction held the gentleness of the entire world.

The name "Shen Mo" stirred something in Murong Liang's heart. In that instant, he immediately understood why his granddaughter was so happy today.

But then Murong Liang reconsidered. Shen Mo's arrival was truly ill-timed—if the Huangfu family were to see Shen Mo, he would likely be immediately in danger. However, refusing to see him now would only arouse suspicion.

After a moment's thought, he quickly regained his composure and calmly ordered, "Bring him in immediately."

The servant obeyed and left. A moment later, light footsteps came from outside the hall, breaking the heavy atmosphere inside. Following the servant's lead, a figure slowly entered the hall.

At this moment, Shen Mo was dressed in black, with two swords on his back—one was the Tai'a sword with a chilling gleam, and the other was the Qingniu sword wrapped in cloth, making him appear mysterious and ancient.

His face was handsome, with a heroic air about him, and his every move exuded composure and confidence. His steps were steady, each one seemingly on the beat of a drum, neither hurried nor slow, giving people a sense of calm that remained unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

He entered the hall, his gaze sweeping across the room before landing on Murong Qing. Their eyes met, as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them. Murong Qing's eyes were filled with joy and pride, a slight smile playing on her lips—an expression only seen when truly in love.

Upon seeing Murong Liang seated in the main seat, Shen Mo immediately cupped his hands and bowed to Murong Liang, saying, "Junior Shen Mo greets Patriarch Murong."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, powerful, and penetrating, echoing throughout the hall. At that moment, the Huangfu father and son immediately realized that the young man before them, who was not yet twenty, was very likely Murong Qing's beloved; otherwise, Murong Qing wouldn't have reacted that way upon seeing him.

Huangfu Hui stared intently at Shen Mo, his fists clenching silently, his nails almost digging into his palms. A surge of rage welled up within him, yet he had to admit that the man before him possessed an indescribable air of elegance and refinement.

Huangfu Haotian narrowed his eyes, carefully examining Shen Mo, his mind racing as he calculated his next move. He knew that this contest had only just begun.

Although most of the others present had never seen Shen Mo before, they could tell from the smile on Murong Qing's face and the aura he exuded the moment he stepped into the hall that this was the person who could win the heart of the Seventh Miss.

With Shen Mo's arrival, the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly tense. Murong Liang nodded slightly and said in an extremely polite tone, "Young friend Shen, please sit down." His voice was gentle and steady, but he could not hide the deep worry in his eyes.

At this moment, Shen Mo keenly sensed the murderous aura emanating from Huangfu Haotian and Huangfu Hui. The chilling aura was like a winter's wind, sending shivers down one's spine. He secretly pondered that these two must be key figures in today's events, most likely from the Huangfu family. Therefore, Shen Mo slowly walked towards the seat prepared for him, each step unhurried, as if he were standing on solid ground, not in the turbulent whirlpool of the martial world.

Just as Shen Mo sat down, Murong Qing arrived gracefully like a butterfly. She moved lightly to Shen Mo's side, her eyes sparkling with determination and pride, and announced to everyone present in a clear and melodious voice: "This is the person I admire—Shen Mo."

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. The elders of the Murong family all showed surprise; some frowned, seemingly taken aback by the sudden news, while others nodded slightly, their eyes revealing a hint of approval.

Meanwhile, on the Huangfu family's side, Huangfu Haotian's face instantly turned ashen, his gaze piercing like knives as he glared at Shen Mo, clearly extremely dissatisfied with the outcome. Huangfu Hui's face was even paler, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, he wished he could tear this man who had appeared out of nowhere to shreds.