Wandering Swordsman |

"Elders, beware of that strange fragrance!" Master Yuxu suddenly became alert and shouted sharply, his voice filled with anxiety. "That fragrance can cloud the mind and corrupt the soul! Hold your breath! Step back!"

But—it was too late.

Elder Jianxin, Li Qingyang, already had a cracked tiger's mouth and his meridians were trembling, while Elder Leiyin, Liao Tongxuan, had a face as pale as paper and his internal thunder energy was dissipating.

The two of them had inadvertently inhaled a trace of fragrance, and their eyes immediately became unfocused, their pupils dilated, as if they had fallen into a nightmare.

The longsword in Li Qingyang's hand clattered to the ground, its blade slightly twisted.

Liao Tongxuan's hands trembled, the lightning faded, and he swayed precariously, muttering, "Father, don't go..."

They couldn't even stand up straight.

"Now!" Wei Honglian whispered seductively, her crimson skirt billowing like fire. The blood lotus slowly dissipated from her fingertips, turning into specks of blood that merged into the night wind. "Brother Changkong, let's go!"

Situ Changkong grinned maliciously, surrounded by black mist, like a demon god descending to earth, his aura overwhelming.

He understood that it was not advisable to linger, so he stopped fighting, turned around and grabbed Situ Meng gently but firmly, and then stood side by side with Wei Honglian.

"Master Yuxu, please tell the Martial Arts Alliance Leader that we're taking Situ Meng with us!" He sneered, his figure flashing as he darted several feet away. Black energy enveloped the two of them, and they sped away like ghosts, disappearing into the vast night in an instant.

Master Yuxu wanted to pursue, but the blood fragrance was like a bone-deep infection, quietly invading his meridians, causing his true energy to stagnate slightly, and his steps to falter.

His eyes widened in anger, and he slammed the jade whisk into the ground with a loud crash, shattering the blue stone!

Shen Mo, who was hiding not far away, remained motionless.

He leaned against an ancient, sturdy tree, his black robes trailing behind him, blending seamlessly into the night.

His eyes were like abysses, unfathomable, as he coldly observed the breathtaking duel that had just taken place.

It's not that he's afraid to make a move, but rather that he can't afford to gamble.

Situ Changkong's strength has far exceeded his expectations.

That "Taiyi True Skill" was incredibly domineering, capable of devouring sword energy and lightning strikes, and its counter-force was enough to severely injure the two elders.

If he were to appear now, he would probably have to unleash a wisp of demonic energy to intercept the two... but what would be the price?

The prosperity of the Murong family and the majesty of Wudang Mountain flashed through his mind.

Once he uses the Heavenly Demon Qi, the Qingcheng Sect leader will definitely recognize that he is using demonic arts and that his level is not low. At that time, even if he saves Situ Meng, he will inevitably become the target of the righteous path's encirclement and suppression.

Oda and others might see him as the greatest threat, while the martial arts world of the Central Plains... would also see him as a traitor.

"Qingcheng Sect... is not a place to expose one's strength." He whispered, his voice as light as the night breeze, yet every word was like a knife, etched into the heart.

He stared in the direction where the three had disappeared, his eyes sharp as knives, chilling to the bone.

The night wind tousled his black hair, making it flutter like an inky banner.

"But you can't take her away," he murmured, his voice filled with unwavering determination.

In the next instant, he moved like smoke, his toes lightly touching the branches of the ancient pine tree without making a sound.

His black clothes fluttered, like a shadow, and he silently slipped out, following behind without a sound.

Using the jagged rocks and dense shadows as cover, he moved swiftly along the ground like a ghost.

The demonic energy circulated once more, and perception spread like a spider web, firmly locking onto the movement trajectory of that sinister aura.

The night wind howled, whipping up fallen leaves like knives, slicing through the silence.

......

Shen Mo's figure moved like a shadow, traversing among the jagged rocks and ancient gnarled branches, each step landing precisely in the depths of the shadows, silently and without a sound.

During the chase, his expression changed.

He gently stroked his cheek with his fingertips, subtly using his internal energy to alter his facial structure and reshape his skeletal structure, causing his features to shift, his brow bones to rise, his nose bridge to sag, and his jawline to narrow—the once handsome Shen Mo had now transformed into a cold-faced, sinister-looking master.

Then, he covered his face with a black cloth, leaving only his eyes shining like cold stars. Even his hair was pressed under the brim of his hat, leaving no flaws.

He didn't want Situ Meng to see him make a move.

If she recognizes him, she will definitely become suspicious.

As the daughter of the martial arts alliance leader, if she knew that he used demonic arts, he would surely become a hidden danger in the future.

It would be better to let her think that tonight was just a mysterious master's help, a chance encounter in the martial arts world.

He stopped in his tracks. The moonlight was obscured by clouds, and the world was shrouded in darkness.

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, deliberately releasing a wisp of his inner energy—not a full-force burst, but a tiny strand like a spider's web, quietly seeping into the night breeze.

In an instant, the red lotus demon rushing ahead stopped in his tracks.

Her red skirt was fluttering, like a blood lotus skimming the sky, when she suddenly heard something strange in the wind, and alarm bells rang in her heart!

That aura... powerful and profound! She turned around abruptly, her eyes sweeping across the darkness like lightning.

"Who!" she shouted sharply, her voice as shrill as tearing silk, startling the birds roosting in the forest.

Situ Changkong also turned around abruptly, his body shrouded in black mist, his pupils slightly contracted. He held the unconscious Situ Meng in one arm, while the other hand had already condensed the Taiyi True Skill, with black flames surging around him.

His gaze was fixed on the masked man who slowly emerged from the shadows, his heart filled with turmoil—this person's aura was unfathomable, who exactly was he!

"Who are you? How dare you obstruct the important affairs of my Righteous Alliance!" Situ Changkong shouted coldly, but his voice trembled slightly.

Shen Mo remained silent, only walking slowly forward, his black clothes fluttering, like the embodiment of the night.

He raised his palms slightly, a dark light swirling in his palms, but he did not make a move, only using his aura to exert pressure.

Enraged, the Crimson Lotus Demon waved her blood-red sleeve, causing the blood mist to condense again. Thirty-six "blood needles" shot out like poisonous bees, aiming straight for the masked man's eyes and throat!

Situ Changkong also moved, black energy transformed into a palm, and a "Taiyi·Guixu Palm" was unleashed with a thunderous force, the palm wind as deep as an abyss, threatening to tear his opponent apart!

however--

Shen Mo did not move, but simply patted his palms lightly, as if plucking the strings of a zither.

A wisp of demonic energy suddenly erupted within him, forming an invisible wall of energy.

The blood needle struck, but it was swallowed up instantly, like a mud ox entering the sea; the black palm struck, but was pulled away by a gentle force, deflected by three inches, and blasted into the rocks, creating a deep pit!

"What?!" Situ Changkong's pupils shrank suddenly, as if struck by lightning.

The Crimson Lotus Demon was even more horrified—her blood needles were made from essence blood and were designed to kill instantly upon contact with blood, yet they hadn't even scratched the hem of the other person's clothes!

Shen Mo continued to approach slowly, and with each step he took, the ground trembled slightly, as if the earth itself was surrendering.

Without making a single move, he had already cornered the two men.

"Escape!" the Crimson Lotus Demon suddenly shouted, his voice carrying a hint of determination.

But she knew that she couldn't escape from someone stronger than herself.

This person's speed, internal strength, and reaction time far surpass theirs. If they attempt to escape, they will surely die.

In a flash, a ruthless and cunning glint appeared in her eyes.

—If we can't beat them, let's take a gamble!

She suddenly bit her tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood. At the same time, she took out a crystal-clear jade bottle from her sleeve, containing only a drop of dark blue liquid that swirled like a star.

With a flick of her fingertips, the medicine silently seeped into the acupoints on the back of Situ Meng's neck. Then, with a light pat, she instantly activated the medicine's power!

"That's the sacred medicine from Japan, the You Tan Yin, which I've treasured for ten years!" she whispered, her voice like a viper's hiss. "The most potent poison in the world, there is no antidote. Only the balance of Yin and Yang can neutralize it."

"If intercourse is not performed within fifteen minutes to neutralize the poison, her internal energy will boil like water, her meridians will rupture, and she will perish!"

In an instant, a strange blush appeared on Situ Meng's pale cheeks, and her breathing became slightly rapid, as if she were falling into a fiery dream while she was asleep.

Then, the Red Lotus Demon threw Situ Meng, who had been immobilized by acupuncture, towards the masked Shen Mo!

"You got off easy!" she sneered, her voice laced with mockery and relief. "If you don't give her the antidote within fifteen minutes, she'll perish! If you continue pursuing us... she'll be dead for sure!"

Situ Changkong, who was standing to the side, was stunned, his heart burning with anger—that was his junior sister whom he had protected since childhood!

Now, he was being humiliated like this just so he could escape! His fists clenched, black energy surged, and he almost rushed forward to pull Situ Meng back.