Wandering Swordsman |

Murong Qing's eyes lit up instantly, her joy overflowing. She laughed happily, a smile as radiant and captivating as a flower blooming in spring. "Really? That's wonderful!" Her voice was filled with elation, as if the whole world was cheering for her.

Seeing Murong Qing's happy appearance, Shen Mo couldn't help but feel a warm feeling well up in his heart. It was an indescribable sense of satisfaction, as if all the fatigue had been completely dispelled by this warmth.

After Murong Qing left, Shen Mo stood alone in the courtyard, watching her departing figure, his thoughts racing.

After Shen Mo returned to his room, he quickly picked up a pen and ink and began writing a letter to the Moon Demon Lord, who was far away in Tianjian Ridge. He told the Moon Demon Lord that he was going to the Central Plains and would not be returning so soon. He asked the Moon Demon Lord to convey his message to the other three Demon Lords to arrange the affairs within their sects. Shen Mo also made some other arrangements in the letter.

In the flickering candlelight, his pen danced swiftly across the paper, the characters clear and powerful, each stroke imbued with his earnestness and determination.

After finishing the letter, Shen Mo carefully folded it and placed it into a bamboo tube he had prepared beforehand. Then, he opened the window, whistled softly, and a nimble carrier pigeon responded. Shen Mo tied the bamboo tube to the pigeon's leg, stroked its feathers, and then infused the pigeon with a trace of demonic energy.

Immediately, the carrier pigeon seemed to be injected with adrenaline, flapping its wings and taking flight, tracing a graceful arc across the night sky before speeding away into the distance. Watching the direction the pigeon disappeared in, Shen Mo took a deep breath and turned back into the house.

......

Three days later at Tianjian Ridge, the morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and a thin veil shrouded the mountains. The Moon Demon Lord stood by the window on the second floor of the Moon Demon Pavilion, clutching a letter sent by carrier pigeon from the Heavenly Demon God, Shen Mo. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were pondering something important.

Not long after, the Moon Demon Lord swiftly summoned the other three Demon Lords. The four Demon Lords gathered in the Heavenly Demon Palace, the atmosphere unusually heavy. Inside the hall, candlelight flickered, as if the candlelight itself was tense with anticipation of the upcoming discussion.

"Gentlemen, this is a message sent by the Heavenly Demon God from the Central Plains via carrier pigeon." The Moon Demon Lord's deep and powerful voice broke the silence in the room. "The Heavenly Demon God says that he may not be able to return immediately from this trip to the Central Plains, and he also mentioned that there is another matter that needs to be arranged by us in the name of the Heavenly Demon God Sect..."

The Flame Demon Lord leaned back lazily in his chair, a hint of disdain in his eyes: "Even if the Heavenly Demon God stays in the Central Plains for ten years, it won't matter. After all, we haven't had a Heavenly Demon God for a full hundred years, and our sect is still doing just fine."

The Blood Demon Lord nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right. Unlike the previous Heavenly Demon God, the new Heavenly Demon God doesn't disappear without a trace after leaving. As long as he remembers to come back, that's fine."

However, Hua Tianyou's eyes gleamed with a different light. He stood up, his gaze resolute as he looked at the Moon Demon Lord: "What arrangements does Your Majesty have? Do you require me to travel to the Central Plains to assist you?"

Moon Demon Lord gently shook his head, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Heavenly Demon Lord, I understand your good intentions, but before the Heavenly Demon God returned to the Central Plains, he instructed us to each perform our duties and not act rashly. We should act according to his instructions, manage the Heavenly Demon God Sect well, and wait for his return. Furthermore, the matters that the Heavenly Demon God mentioned in his letter can be handled by Juechenzi; there is no need for us Demon Lords to get involved."

The Moon Demon Lord's words were like a gentle breeze, dispelling the impulsiveness in Hua Tianyou's heart. He slowly sat down, still feeling unwilling, but he understood that the Moon Demon Lord's words made sense.

The Flame Demon Lord chuckled lightly, mocking, "Heavenly Demon Lord, aren't you being a bit too anxious? Since the Heavenly Demon God has gone to the Central Plains, he has his own plans. Why bother with this unnecessary trouble?"

Hua Tianyou took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. He also realized that if he really went to the Central Plains, it might bring unnecessary trouble.

The Moon Demon Lord continued, "As demon lords, we should prioritize the greater good. Since the Heavenly Demon God has chosen this path, he must have his reasons. We should do our utmost to support him, rather than acting rashly and disrupting his plans."

The air around them seemed to freeze as everyone fell into deep thought. The Moon Demon Lord's gaze swept over the three, finally settling on Hua Tianyou. His tone was gentle yet firm: "Heavenly Demon Lord, I know you are acting out of concern for the Heavenly Demon God, but we must respect his choice. Only in this way can we truly help him."

Hearing this, Hua Tianyou finally nodded, the stubbornness in his eyes gradually fading. "Alright, Moon Demon Lord. I will stay within the Heavenly Demon God Sect and wait with you for the Heavenly Demon God's return."

Moon Demon Lord smiled with satisfaction and turned to the other two Demon Lords: "Flame Demon Lord, Blood Demon Lord, you must also remember this. We must each be responsible for our own duties to ensure the normal operation of the Heavenly Demon God Sect and live up to the trust placed in us by the Heavenly Demon God."

The Flame Demon Lord and the Blood Demon Lord responded in unison. Although they did not believe that Shen Mo's departure would have a significant impact on the sect, they also knew that obeying orders was the key to maintaining the stability of the Heavenly Demon God Sect.

With the brief meeting over, the four demon lords returned to their respective territories to continue arranging related matters.

......

In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the tenth month. On this day, Luoyang City seemed to be covered with a layer of festive red silk. The streets and alleys were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and a joyful atmosphere permeated everywhere. The entire city was immersed in a lively and extraordinary atmosphere, and people flocked to the area where the Murong family was located, eager to witness this grand engagement ceremony.

The streets and alleys of Luoyang were bustling with people, filled with laughter and joy. Children ran and played, holding colorful windmills; women, dressed in brightly colored clothes, chatted amongst themselves; and vendors seized the opportunity to display their dazzling array of goods, attracting passersby. All of this demonstrated the immense influence of the Murong family in Luoyang. As one of the eight great families, every move of the Murong family captivated the hearts of the entire city.

The Murong family compound was brightly lit and filled with guests. Relatives from all over gathered, their faces beaming with joy. Shen Mo also notified He Yun, Luo Wangchen, and the leader and disciples of the Wudang Sect. Taking this opportunity to prove his identity, Shen Mo even wrote a letter to the Heavenly Demon Sect, instructing them to inform the Sunset Swordsman of the Northern Desert. Today, the Murong family was a gathering of distinguished guests, young and old alike.

......

Not long after, He Yun, accompanied by Yang Muruan and Zhao Xue, stepped into the gate of the Murong family. Sunlight slanted across the vermilion gate tower, making the four large, golden characters "Murong Family" on the plaque shine brightly. The three of them walked through the bustling crowd with light and steady steps, as if they had come with the dust of the past, or as if they had stepped into the river of time to return to their youth.

Shen Mo stood in the center of the courtyard, dressed in a flowing blue robe, his expression calm and composed. His gaze swept across the crowd, and suddenly he saw a familiar figure emerging from them. His heart skipped a beat, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes—it was He Yun!