Wandering Swordsman |

Situ Dengfeng showed no displeasure at Shen Mo's refusal; on the contrary, his gaze softened, even showing a hint of respect. He turned to look at Situ Meng, who was standing to the side.

Situ Meng stood quietly, still holding the unfinished teacup in her hand, her fingertips gently stroking the rim, as if deep in thought. Her eyes were clear as water, yet they concealed an indescribable emotional fluctuation.

Situ Dengfeng looked at his daughter with a mixture of affection and deep meaning in his eyes.

"Meng'er," he spoke slowly, his tone gentle yet undeniable, "Young Master Shen's skill far surpasses that of most of the martial arts seniors at the Elite Academy. If you wish to achieve something, you should seek guidance from Young Master Shen more often within the academy."

This seemingly ordinary statement actually contains a hidden meaning.

Murong Qing raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, her heart skipping a beat. Being as intelligent as she was, she naturally understood the unspoken meaning – Situ Dengfeng was subtly acknowledging her daughter's feelings for Shen Mo.

This tacit approval not only means no longer opposing, but also encourages!

Situ Meng glanced down at the teacup in her hand, then slowly raised her eyes to look at her father, her gaze firm yet gentle: "Daughter understands."

In that instant, a flicker of emotion crossed her eyes, as if a long-suppressed secret had finally been released. She knew that her father was finally willing to set aside his concerns and accept Shen Mo's existence. And more importantly—he was willing to trust her judgment.

Situ Dengfeng nodded in satisfaction, a pleased smile appearing on his lips. He glanced at the three of them one last time, then cupped his hands and said, "Young Master Shen, Miss Murong. It is a great pleasure to meet you both today. I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

Having said that, he turned and strode out, his steps steady and powerful, his back as upright as a mountain. In the sunlight, his shadow was stretched long, like an elder who had weathered many storms and finally found peace, leaving a warm and profound mark in this quiet courtyard.

After Situ Dengfeng left, the courtyard returned to silence.

Shen Mo gazed in the direction of the courtyard gate for a long time before turning his gaze away. He slowly sat down, picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, took a sip, and fell into deep thought.

Murong Qing sat to the side, her gaze fixed on Situ Meng. She suddenly noticed that the gentle and graceful woman from before now exuded a firmness and composure she had never seen before.

A slight tremor ran through her heart; she vaguely sensed that a silent contest had quietly begun.

......

Two days later, Situ Changkong, who had been away on a mission, returned to the Martial Alliance, looking travel-worn.

As soon as he stepped through the gate, he sensed an unusual atmosphere. The fellow disciples he encountered along the way cast strange glances at him, some even whispering amongst themselves, their eyes filled with pity and regret. All of this filled Situ Changkong with an ominous premonition.

When he finally learned from a passing junior brother that Shen Mo, who had disappeared for many years, had reappeared in the Martial Alliance and was about to enter the "Elite Academy," his face instantly turned ashen, his fists clenched involuntarily, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

Situ Changkong felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart tightly, and the long-suppressed jealousy and anger surged up like a tide.

Over the years, whenever the night was quiet, Situ Changkong would always think of Shen Mo, whom he had met in the Black Wind Gang. At that time, he was ordinary and unremarkable, yet for some reason, he had attracted Situ Meng's special attention. Especially after the Black Wind Gang incident ended, when Shen Mo suddenly disappeared on his way back, Situ Meng couldn't forget him.

Thinking of this, Situ Changkong's jealousy and resentment deepened. Despite his years of care and protection for Situ Meng, it seemed that Situ Meng only had eyes for that figure who had disappeared many years ago.

"It's you again, Shen Mo!" Situ Changkong muttered through gritted teeth, his voice filled with venom. "If you've already disappeared, you shouldn't have shown up!"

Thinking of this, Situ Changkong's face grew increasingly gloomy, a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. He knew that his heart had long been twisted by this obsession, but at this moment he could not suppress the turmoil within him.

He began to recall how he had tried so hard over the years to replace Shen Mo in Situ Meng's heart, but no matter how much he tried, Situ Meng's gaze remained fixed on that ethereal figure.

"Senior brother, what's wrong?" A clear voice interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he saw his junior brother, who had followed him in the martial arts alliance for a long time. He didn't know when the junior brother had come to him, but the junior brother was looking at him with concern and worry in his eyes.

Situ Changkong forced a smile, trying to hide his inner turmoil: "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."

However, his forced smile couldn't completely conceal the gloom in his eyes. The junior brother frowned slightly, seemingly sensing something was amiss, but he didn't press the matter further, instead silently following behind him.

As he walked, Situ Changkong's gaze inadvertently fell upon the towering "Elite Academy" in the distance. Sunlight shone on the glazed tiles, reflecting a dazzling light and illuminating a magnificent scene. However, in his eyes, this academy, a symbol of glory and hope, seemed particularly glaring at this moment.

"Shen Mo, we'll see," Situ Changkong muttered to himself, a hint of resentment in his voice. He knew that this encounter might be the final end to the feud between him and Shen Mo.

At this moment, he grew increasingly eager to see Situ Meng, trying to ascertain her true feelings about Shen Mo's return. With mixed emotions, he hurried to Situ Meng's residence.

When he gently pushed open that familiar wooden door, he saw a completely transformed Situ Meng. Her face was beaming with a long-lost smile, and her eyes sparkled with vitality.

"Junior Sister Meng," Situ Changkong's voice carried a hint of barely concealed nervousness, "I heard you've been doing well these past few days, so the first thing I did upon returning was to come and see you."

Situ Meng looked up and saw Situ Changkong's figure. A warm smile appeared on her face: "Brother Changkong, it's you! Yes, a lot of good things have indeed happened these past few days."

Situ Changkong approached her and said softly, "I just heard from others that Shen Mo has come to the Martial Alliance..." His voice was tinged with a hint of gloom, "Is it true that Shen Mo's return makes you very happy?"

Situ Meng's cheeks flushed slightly. She carefully placed the handkerchief aside and said softly, "Brother Changkong, you know I've always been grateful to Young Master Shen for what happened with the Black Wind Gang back then. He's been missing for so many years, and now that he's reappeared, I feel like everything is even better."