Wandering Swordsman |

Upon hearing this, a hint of relief flashed in Zhao Xue's eyes. She smiled gently, a tender expression on her face: "Yes, we must help Young Master Shen complete the task he entrusted to us!"

Zhao Xue paused for a moment, then continued, "But, Brother Yun, when we were at Master Wang's mansion, you mentioned that Jingtian Pavilion would be holding a grand event. What kind of event is it?" After speaking, Zhao Xue looked at He Yun with curious eyes.

Just as He Yun was about to respond, a voice came from behind them: "Naturally, it's the martial arts tournament for marriage held by Jingtian Pavilion!"

Hearing the sound, He Yun quickly turned his head and saw a young man who looked like a scholar walking towards them. The man was wearing a blue robe, had a handsome face, and his brows exuded a scholarly air. He was elegant and had a refined demeanor.

After sizing him up, He Yun politely asked, "May I ask who this brother is?"

The young scholar said politely, "My name is Li Fanglin! It is truly fate that we meet you two on our journey in this snowy weather."

Seeing the other party's sincere attitude, He Yun returned the greeting with a cupped hand and said, "I am He Yun, and the lady next to me is my..." Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Xue immediately interrupted, "Junior Sister."

He Yun was slightly taken aback, then understood Zhao Xue's intention, and smiled bitterly to himself. He knew Zhao Xue was doing this to avoid unnecessary trouble, especially in this situation; it was better to avoid trouble altogether. He quickly adjusted his expression and continued, "Yes, this is my junior sister, Zhao Xue."

After hearing this, the scholar looked at Zhao Xue with a strange expression, as if sensing that she was hiding something. He asked thoughtfully, "May I ask your name, young lady?"

Zhao Xue smiled slightly and replied calmly, "Young master, you may call me Zhao Xue."

Li Fanglin nodded, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions. He continued, "Miss Zhao, Brother He, there's still quite a distance to the Jingtian Pavilion's mountain gate. I wonder if I could travel with you, so we can look after each other in this snow-covered landscape?"

Seeing that the young scholar in front of him looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a scholarly air about him, and didn't seem like a bad person, He Yun readily replied, "Since Brother Li is also going to Jingtian Pavilion, let's go together."

Upon hearing this, Li Fanglin smiled gratefully and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Brother He and Miss Zhao. With you two traveling with me, I feel much more at ease."

The three continued their journey along the snow-covered mountain path. Snowflakes continued to fall, and the mountain scenery resembled an exquisite ink painting. The white snow covered the mountains, and the branches were covered with crystal-clear icicles. Occasionally, a few small birds would fly across the snow, leaving behind a series of tiny footprints.

He Yun and Zhao Xue walked side by side ahead, with Li Fanglin close behind. He Yun would occasionally turn back to talk to Li Fanglin, trying to learn about Jingtian Pavilion and the martial arts contest for marriage. Li Fanglin was happy to share, and the two chatted amiably.

"Brother Yun, do you think this Li Fanglin is trustworthy?" Zhao Xue leaned close to He Yun's ear and asked in a low voice, her voice tinged with worry. A hint of wariness flashed in her eyes, as if she had some doubts about Li Fanglin's true identity.

He Yun smiled slightly and replied softly, "He doesn't seem like a bad person, and it's good for the three of us to look out for each other. Besides, he's also going to Jingtian Pavilion, so he probably doesn't have any ill intentions."

After hearing this, Zhao Xue nodded, her worries easing slightly. However, she remained somewhat wary of Li Fanglin, because she always felt that he wasn't the gentleman he appeared to be. As He Yun turned to talk to Li Fanglin, she would occasionally turn back to carefully observe his every movement and expression, trying to find some clues.

An hour later, He Yun, Li Fanglin, and Zhao Xue reached the mountainside, where the sight before them made them stop in their tracks. The front gate of Jingtian Pavilion stood before them, like a majestic city gate, its imposing presence and grandeur undiminished even by the ancient walls that had weathered countless storms. The gate was constructed of massive bluestones, each stone seemingly bearing the weight of history, and exquisite dragon and phoenix carvings adorned the entrance, seemingly recounting the glorious history and honor of Jingtian Pavilion.

Above the gate, the three large characters "Front Mountain Gate" resound loudly, their powerful strokes seemingly capable of suppressing immense force. On both sides of the gate, ancient trees reach for the sky, covered in snow, forming a stark contrast with the gate's splendor and further highlighting its majestic grandeur.

On either side of the mountain gate, two martial artists dressed in magnificent attire stood like statues, their presence a stark contrast to the surrounding natural beauty. The two warriors wore long, sapphire-blue robes embroidered with gold patterns, exuding both nobility and mystery. Their eyes were deep, their faces solemn, as if they could see into people's hearts, and they emanated an aura of authority that commanded respect. Compared to the desolate yet beautiful snowscape, the two stood out remarkably, like deities guarding this sacred land.

The appearance of He Yun, Li Fanglin, and Zhao Xue seemed to have no effect on the two gatekeepers. They remained as immovable as two mountains, exuding an oppressive aura as heavy as a boulder. Li Fanglin's gaze swept over the two warriors, a fleeting hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, as if afraid that his emotional fluctuations would be detected by them.

Seeing this, He Yun secretly pondered that the extraordinary temperament and superb martial arts skills of these two warriors were far beyond those of ordinary martial artists. The profound foundation of Jing Tian Pavilion far exceeded his imagination. Therefore, he stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and tried to strike up a conversation with the warriors: "Greetings, seniors. We wish to enter Jing Tian Pavilion. May we be allowed to pass?"

However, the two martial artists remained motionless in the face of He Yun's greeting, not even glancing at him, as if he didn't exist in this world. He Yun shrugged slightly awkwardly and smiled faintly, then turned to Zhao Xue and said softly, "It seems the two seniors have tacitly agreed. Let's go up the mountain then." With that, he gently took Zhao Xue's hand, preparing to step straight through the front gate and continue forward.

However, just as he stepped over the threshold of the mountain gate, preparing to walk onto the path ahead, two figures suddenly appeared before him like ghosts. The two martial artists were incredibly fast; almost the instant He Yun made a move, they blocked his path, their hands easily reaching out to stop him. This action not only startled He Yun but also made him realize that these two martial artists were far stronger than him.