Wandering Swordsman |

As the morning light intensifies and the mist dissipates, the cobblestone streets of the town are warmed by the sun, and more and more pedestrians appear, bringing with them the sounds of daily life.

Shen Mo and Situ Meng walked to a forest path outside the town, where there was no one around.

He raised his hand and gently stroked his cheek, his fingertips moving slightly as his inner energy flowed across his face.

His face was restored to its original state—his eyebrows were like ink paintings, his eyes were like cold stars, his lips were clearly defined, and his coldness revealed a touch of aloofness.

He turned to look at Situ Meng, lightly touching her face with his fingertip. Her exquisitely beautiful face reappeared, like a white lotus under the moon, untouched by worldly dust.

Situ Meng gently stroked her cheek and whispered, "Disguise techniques are truly amazing."

The two quickened their pace, traversing forests and ridges, heading straight for the meeting place that Shen Mo and Li Fanglin had agreed upon the day before.

Before long, the two met Li Fanglin, who was wearing a black robe with the Black Wind Gang's unique dark patterns embroidered on the cuffs. He had his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp as knives, coldly scanning the surroundings.

He was just sneering to himself when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from afar.

Looking up, Shen Mo walked slowly towards her, with Situ Meng by his side!

Li Fanglin's pupils shrank suddenly, his face trembled, and a look of disbelief and astonishment flashed in his eyes.

"You..." His voice was low and almost forced out of his throat, "You actually...brought her out?"

He stared intently at Shen Mo, as if trying to see right through him.

Shen Mo stopped, his expression calm, as if he had just completed a routine task.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said calmly, his voice as still as the wind rustling through pine trees.

Li Fanglin remained silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up and laughed, his laughter carrying a hint of self-mockery and a touch of awe.

"Alright!" He slowly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed respectfully, though his movements still carried a hint of resentment. "I accept my defeat!"

His tone hardened, each word ringing with conviction: "From this day forward, for the next month, I will obey your orders without question!"

Shen Mo didn't move, only nodded slightly: "Brother Li, you flatter me. We both serve the Martial Alliance, so why distinguish between us? How about we just drop yesterday's bet?"

Li Fanglin snorted coldly, but a complex look flashed in his eyes: "Stop with this nonsense about righteousness. I, the mighty Black Wind Gang's Xuanwu Saint Lord, am not a sore loser."

Shen Mo's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not respond.

Li Fanglin said no more, turned and left: "There's no time to lose, let's set off immediately and return to the Martial Alliance. Let's complete this mission!"

"Wait a minute." Shen Mo suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but as firm as a rock falling to the ground.

Li Fanglin turned around: "What is it?"

"The Qingcheng Sect is unaware that Miss Situ is with me." He said calmly, "If we return directly to the Martial Alliance, the Qingcheng Sect will assume that Miss Situ has fallen into enemy hands and may mobilize the entire sect to track her down, even leading to a direct conflict with the Righteous Alliance. At that time, blood will flow like rivers, which would play right into the hands of the evil cultivators overseas."

He paused, his gaze resolute: "Let's take Miss Situ back to the Qingcheng Sect first, report our safety to Master Yuxu, stabilize the situation, and then set off back to the Martial Alliance."

Li Fanglin frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes: "This is unnecessary! The most important thing right now is to safely return Situ Meng to the Alliance Leader's side. Why bother with other trivial matters?"

Shen Mo sneered, "Brother Li, you were once the Holy Lord of the Black Wind Gang, so you are naturally used to using your power to suppress others and resorting to any means necessary. But now that you have joined the Martial Alliance, you should understand that the responsibility of the righteous path is not to win, but to protect people."

His gaze was piercing as he looked directly at Li Fanglin: "If the Qingcheng Sect suffers losses due to misjudgment, neither of us can escape blame."

Li Fanglin shuddered, his eyes surging with murderous intent, but he was overwhelmed by Shen Mo's undeniable aura and was speechless for a moment.

After a long silence, he snorted coldly, turned away with a flick of his sleeve, and said, "Fine! As you wish! But if your 'benevolence' ruins important matters, don't blame me for not warning you!"

Shen Mo smiled calmly: "Brother Li, rest assured, I, Shen Mo, never fail anyone in my actions."

Situ Meng stood to the side, listening quietly, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes. She looked at Shen Mo's figure—not tall, but as steady as a mountain—and a warmth quietly rose in her heart.

A morning breeze swept by, causing his black robe to flutter like a banner.

The three turned and headed towards the gate of Qingcheng Mountain.

......

Within the Qingcheng Sect.

The morning light, like gold, spills onto the glazed tiles with upturned eaves, reflecting a cold and solemn radiance.

However, this Taoist temple, which is usually shrouded in an ethereal and otherworldly atmosphere, is now enveloped in a depressing silence.

Master Yuxu stood at the highest point of the main hall's stone steps, his white beard fluttering, his Taoist robe billowing, and his hand tightly gripping a jade whisk, his knuckles turning white from the force.

His gaze was fixed on the direction of the mountain gate, his brows furrowed with anxiety and resentment, like a volcano about to erupt.

Before the hall, the nine elders of the Qingcheng Sect stood on both sides, each with a solemn expression and utterly silent.

Elder Jianxin, Li Qingyang, had a white cloth wrapped around his arm, his tiger's mouth still cracked and unhealed; Elder Leiyin, Liao Tongxuan, was pale, his internal thunder energy still in disarray. The two stood facing each other, both unable to hide their shame.

"What happened yesterday! It's an utter disgrace!" Finally, Master Yuxu roared, his voice shaking the rooftops. "The daughter of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, the only bloodline of Situ Dengfeng, was actually kidnapped in front of us by traitors from the Righteous Alliance while my Qingcheng Sect was under lockdown! If word gets out, what will the world think of Qingcheng?"

He flicked his whisk, his voice trembling: "They'll say—the Qingcheng Sect, one of the Nine Sects and One Clique, can't even protect a woman! They'll say my Jade Void Sect is incompetent, that Qingcheng martial arts are all show and no substance! They'll say we can't even protect the daughter of our righteous ally, so how can we talk about upholding justice and protecting the martial world?!"

The elders lowered their heads and remained silent, all knowing in their hearts that what the sect leader said was true.

Is Situ Meng's identity too special? She is the only daughter of Situ Dengfeng, the leader of the martial arts alliance, and one of the "Four Beauties" who have been gaining popularity in recent years, attracting worldwide attention.

Now she has been kidnapped right under the nose of the Qingcheng Sect. If this news spreads throughout the martial arts world, the Qingcheng Sect's century-old reputation will be ruined.

Even more frightening is that the Righteous Alliance is plotting to incite internal strife within the righteous path. If this matter is not handled properly, it could very well become their pretext for instigating a rebellion!

"Then... Sect Leader, should we immediately summon the disciples to investigate Situ Changkong's whereabouts?" an elder asked cautiously.

"Chase him?" Jade Void Master sneered, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes. "Judging from the strength Situ Changkong displayed last night, even I couldn't stop him. Are you sending your disciples to their deaths?"

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heavy, like dark clouds looming overhead, making it suffocating.

At that very moment—

"Report—!" A hurried footstep came from outside the hall.

A young disciple rushed over, his clothes dusty and sweat beading on his forehead. He knelt at the foot of the steps, his voice trembling with excitement: "Reporting to the Sect Leader! The guards at the mountain gate report—Situ Meng…is back! She's with two men and requests an audience with the Sect Leader!"

In an instant, the deathly silent hall seemed to be split open by a thunderbolt!

Master Yuxu whirled around, his white beard flying, his eyes wide: "What did you say?! Situ Meng... really came back?!"