Wandering Swordsman |

Oda sat in the main seat, clad in jet-black armor and a scarlet cloak. His face was cold and stern, his eyes deep-set with pale gold pupils, making him look like a wild beast.

Below them, a dozen or so overseas heretical practitioners stood on either side. They spoke in hushed tones, their voices stiff and their words full of arrogance.

Among this group of evil cultivators, there was one person dressed in Central Plains martial arts attire, yet with a cold expression and icy gaze—Situ Changkong.

He was no longer the spirited disciple of the martial arts alliance leader. Now, his brows were furrowed with gloom and calculation, and with a slight movement of his sleeves, black energy flowed between his fingertips, clearly indicating that he had mastered some kind of evil art. Although he was from the Central Plains, he now held a high position in the Righteous Alliance, obviously having gained Oda's deep trust.

"My lord," Situ Changkong suddenly spoke, his voice deep and iron-like, "Situ Meng is currently in the Qingcheng Sect. If we can capture her, we can directly threaten Situ Dengfeng and greatly accelerate our plan to annex the Central Plains martial arts world."

"Although the Qingcheng Sect is one of the nine sects, most of the martial arts alliance has been dispatched to the East Sea to deal with the martial artists sent by His Majesty the Divine Emperor. They are too busy to attend to Qingcheng. Why not concentrate our forces and take down the Qingcheng Sect first?"

Everyone in the hall focused their gazes on Oda.

Oda slowly raised his head, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips: "Situ Changkong, I have also considered what you mentioned. However, now is not the time to take action."

"However, I have already sent some people to Tai'an Town ahead of time to secretly monitor the Qingcheng Sect." His tone suddenly turned serious. He stood up and his gaze swept over everyone like a knife: "The reason I did this is because there is still one major obstacle to our annexation of the Central Plains martial arts world that has not yet appeared."

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

"Guiguzi." Oda slowly uttered the three words, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes. "This person's identity is mysterious. Back when the Demonic Sect invaded the Central Plains martial arts world, if it weren't for the intervention of Guiguzi led by him, the Central Plains martial arts world would probably no longer exist."

He paused, his voice low and thunderous: "According to the message, His Majesty the Divine Emperor has dispatched the 'Divine Wind Battalion' and the 'Hundred Ghosts Night Parade' to land from the East Sea one after another. As long as we stabilize the Southwest and contain the main force of the Martial Alliance, once His Majesty the Divine Emperor personally arrives in the Central Plains martial arts world, we will wipe them out like autumn leaves!"

The crowd shouted in unison, their voices like ghostly howls.

Situ Changkong did not move, but looked down at the location of Qingcheng Mountain on the map, a complicated look flashing in his eyes.

He recalled the time he slammed his fist on the table in a secluded teahouse, angrily denouncing the rumors—back then, he still retained a shred of pride and dared to stand up against the slander of the martial world; he recalled his conspiracy with Ling Tiancheng in the dungeon to frame Shen Mo, only to be exposed by Shen Mo in public and lose face; he recalled how he offered his loyalty to Oda in the name of "revenge," in exchange for power and protection.

Humiliation, jealousy, and hatred entwined his heart like vines, tightening their grip ever more.

"Shen Mo..." His lips twitched slightly, his voice barely audible, "Everything you took away, I will take back with my own hands."

Suddenly, he looked up, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at Oda, his tone calm and confident: "Chief, I am willing to go to Qingcheng Mountain alone and personally capture Situ Meng."

Everyone in the hall was startled.

Oda remained motionless, only slightly narrowing his golden pupils as if scrutinizing her.

After a long silence, a sinister smile slowly crept onto his lips: "Oh? Situ Changkong, you're actually willing to risk your life alone?"

"My Lord," Situ Changkong shook his head, his voice low, "Situ Meng grew up with me since childhood. She trusts me and won't be wary of me."

Upon hearing this, Oda's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He slammed his hand on the iron table, making a loud "boom!": "Excellent! As expected of a high-ranking member of my Righteous Alliance! Very well!"

He laughed as he stood up, patting Situ Changkong on the shoulder: "As long as you bring Situ Meng back, we'll have the martial arts alliance leader Situ Dengfeng's Achilles' heel!"

Situ Changkong lowered his head, letting him pat his shoulder, but a cold smile quietly curled up at the corner of his mouth.

He whispered to himself, "Junior Sister Meng, this time, it's not about who you choose, but about me having you completely. Shen Mo? You'll never understand, she was meant to be mine."

Just then, a graceful figure slowly stood up.

She wore a long, crimson dress, the hem of which bloomed like a blood-red lotus. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, and her eyes seemed shrouded in a misty haze. She was none other than the Crimson Lotus Demoness.

She stepped forward lightly, her voice as gentle as a night breeze, soft and alluring: "Leader, although Situ Changkong is unparalleled in wisdom and strategy, he is going alone. After all, the Qingcheng Sect has many experts. If something unexpected happens, there may be some mishaps."

She smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling. "Why not let me travel with him? After all, I am also skilled in the art of bewitching minds, which can help him confuse the enemy and conceal his movements."

Oda's gaze sharpened as he scrutinized her.

Wei Honglian was not afraid at all. Instead, she met his gaze, a strange red light flashing in her eyes, as if flames were burning in her pupils.

"Alright." Oda finally nodded. "The two of you will travel together and look after each other. If we succeed, I will report this to His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Thank you, Chief." Wei Honglian chuckled, turned to look at Situ Changkong, and a strange, unfathomable light flashed in her eyes.

Situ Changkong frowned almost imperceptibly. He had not wanted to travel with the Red Lotus Demon, but Oda had given the order, and he dared not disobey.

He nodded coldly: "Let's go."

The two walked out of the council chamber side by side and stepped into the night.

Above the Cangshan Mountains, dark clouds gathered, and the distant rumble of thunder sounded like the beating of war drums. Blood-red flags fluttered in the fierce wind, as if countless wronged souls were howling in the night sky.

The mountain wind lifted Wei Honglian's red skirt. She glanced back at the ruins of the Diancang Sect and a wicked smile curled at the corner of her lips.

......

The scene and time return to the present.

On Mount Qingcheng, in the darkness of night, a figure stood atop the main hall of the Qingcheng Sect, yet no one noticed.

The night was as dark as ink.

The main hall of the Qingcheng Sect, "Xuanqing Pavilion," stands high atop the mountain, its eaves reaching towards the moon, and its glazed tiles gleaming with a cold light.

A figure stood silently atop the roof ridge, his black robes flowing down, blending into the night, as if he were a stone statue on the roof itself.

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, without making a sound, not even the copper bells on the eaves trembled.

Shen Mo.

His eyes were slightly closed, his breathing was faint, and his aura was completely suppressed, as if he had become one with the heavens and earth.

Suddenly, his brow twitched slightly, and the demonic energy within his body began to circulate slowly.

The demonic energy spread out like a spider web, permeating every inch of air, every piece of rubble, and every crevice.

Under the enhancement of this demonic aura, even the slightest fluctuations that ordinary martial artists cannot detect become as clear as a resounding bell.

In that instant, he "saw" it.

A gentle, jade-like aura, carried by a chilling, malevolent energy, was rapidly moving towards the back mountain within the Qingcheng Sect.

And the aura that was being carried away was none other than Situ Meng.

Shen Mo's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils flashing like cold stars.

His movements were as swift as lightning; his toes lightly touched the rooftops, and he rose like a fallen leaf in the wind, silently sweeping across the eaves. Under the cover of shadows and night mist, he moved swiftly between the palaces, as fast as a ghost and as light as a speck of dust.

The patrolling disciples were right there, yet they were completely unaware; many renowned elders of the Qingcheng Sect also failed to sense any warning.