Wandering Swordsman |

"Brother Shen!" He Yun called out loudly, his voice as clear and powerful as ever, yet now with a touch more composure and depth. He was more robust than before, but his brows still held the heroic spirit of yesteryear, and his eyes shone brightly, as sharp as they had in his youth. He wore a dark blue close-fitting outfit, and the sword at his waist remained unsheathed, yet it already subtly exuded a chivalrous air.

Shen Mo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a long-lost smile: "Brother He, it's so good to see you again."

He Yun strode forward, patted Shen Mo's shoulder heavily, and laughed like a child: "You rascal, I've been out of touch for so many years, I thought you had become an immortal and no longer ate the food of the mortal world!" His words were somewhat joking, but also full of affection, and his smile was like sunlight piercing through the haze, warm and bright.

Standing to the side, Zhao Xue chuckled and shook her head. Her eyes were gentle and tender. Time had left faint traces on her face, but they only added to her mature charm. Her hair was neatly styled, and her simple dress accentuated her gentle and refined temperament. She waved gently to Shen Mo, her eyes filled with satisfaction and concern.

"Young Master Shen, it's been a long time." Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze. "We are all happy for you today as you get engaged." Her voice was like a spring breeze across a lake, bringing peace and tranquility.

Shen Mo smiled and nodded, his eyes shining with gratitude. His gaze turned to Yang Muran, who had been silently following behind He Yun without saying a word. As He Yun's second wife, Yang Muran had only met Shen Mo briefly a few times in Yunnan and was not familiar with him. However, she had heard many stories about Shen Mo from her husband and Zhao Xue, so Shen Mo was not unfamiliar to her.

"Young Master Shen, congratulations." Yang Muran's voice was soft and sincere. She stepped forward and presented a beautiful brocade box with both hands. "This is a congratulatory gift we brought on behalf of our masters."

Seeing Shen Mo's surprise, He Yun immediately explained, "Actually, my masters were unable to attend your engagement ceremony in person due to some urgent matters, but they specifically instructed me to deliver this gift to you." He opened the brocade box, inside which lay several precious medicinal herbs, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. "These are rare spiritual herbs. For ordinary people, they have the effect of prolonging life; for martial artists, they are a good thing to enhance internal strength."

Looking at these precious medicinal herbs, Shen Mo was deeply moved. He solemnly accepted the brocade box and bowed deeply, saying, "Brother He, please convey my gratitude to all the seniors for their kindness."

Then, Shen Mo gestured for them to enter the hall and take their seats. "Brother He, Miss Zhao, Miss Yang, please come in and sit for a moment. The engagement ceremony will not begin for another half an hour." His voice was gentle and sincere, as if a warm current was flowing in the air.

......

The courtyard was bustling with people, filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter. In the distance, guests of the Murong family arrived one after another, the sounds of horses' hooves and conversation blending into a lively symphony. Sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves of the trees lining the street, casting golden patches on the ground, as if carpeting the area outside the Murong family's gates with a shimmering radiance. A faint fragrance of flowers filled the air, mingling with the joy of the people.

Not long after, a fine horse galloped in, carrying a lithe swordsman—Luo Wangchen. He arrived dusty and travel-worn, his eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation. When he saw Shen Mo standing inside the Murong family gates, greeting guests, an overwhelming emotion surged within him. Those eyes, which had remained calm and composed in countless life-or-death situations, were now moist.

"Shen Mo..." Luo Wangchen's voice trembled slightly, a thousand words stuck in his throat, finally turning into a soft call. His gaze was fixed on Shen Mo's figure, as if afraid that this familiar person would disappear in the next second. Time had left its mark on his face, and the once dashing middle-aged swordsman now looked a few years older, but his eyes were still bright and piercing.

Shen Mo, who was exchanging pleasantries with other guests, turned around upon hearing that familiar voice. The moment he saw his master, his eyes reddened. However, the busyness of the moment forced him to suppress the turmoil in his heart. "Master!" Shen Mo quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "You've arrived."

Shen Mo stared at Luo Wangchen, momentarily stunned, for in just five short years, Luo Wangchen seemed to have aged ten years. The image of the middle-aged swordsman from back then now appeared somewhat aged, with deep wrinkles on his forehead, and although his eyes were still firm, they revealed a hint of weariness.

Luo Wangchen nodded, patted Shen Mo's shoulder, his eyes filled with relief and affection. "Good disciple, you are indeed still alive." His voice was deep and warm, as if it could soothe all unease in the world. Although he had countless questions and concerns in his heart, seeing Shen Mo busy greeting guests, he chose not to disturb him for the time being.

At this moment, Luo Wangchen's heart was filled with complex emotions. "When I first met Shen Mo in that small town, he was just a helpless young beggar, suffering constant bullying. Who could have imagined that he would stand here today, becoming such an outstanding young man?"

He looked at the little beggar he had taken in in the small town, now grown into a handsome young man with an upright air about him, who was about to marry the seventh young lady of the Murong family. He felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. A hint of pride flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, as if he could see how right his decision from many years ago had been.

"You must have gone through a lot during those five years you disappeared," Luo Wangchen thought to himself, but he didn't say it aloud. He knew that Shen Mo was busy receiving guests at the moment and it wasn't appropriate to disturb him too much.

Recalling the moment he received the invitation from the Murong family not long ago, Luo Wangchen's heart was still filled with unease. That day, he was handling daily affairs at his martial arts school in Mengzhou when he suddenly received an invitation.

When he opened the invitation and saw Shen Mo's name, he initially thought it was a prank, after all, Shen Mo had been missing for a long time. But upon closer inspection of the seal and contents of the invitation, Luo Wangchen realized it was no joke. How could the prestigious Murong family send a fake invitation? Thinking of this, he couldn't calm down for a long time, and for the next few days he was so excited that he could hardly sleep.

Shen Mo felt his master's gaze, and the emotion in his heart was beyond words. He knew that if he hadn't met Luo Wangchen back then, he wouldn't be where he was today. At this moment, facing his master Luo Wangchen, his heart was filled with gratitude and respect.

The two smiled at each other, needing no further words. Although they hadn't seen each other for many years, the bond between master and disciple they had formed back then was deeply rooted in their hearts.