Wandering Swordsman |

February on Heilong Island is bitterly cold.

The snow in the North had not yet melted, and the world was a vast expanse of white. The glaciers were like mirrors, the withered forests were covered with frost, and even the breath exhaled condensed into white mist in mid-air, which was then torn apart by the fierce north wind.

Ordinary people walking on this icy plain must wear three layers of fur coats and thick animal hide boots to barely keep warm.

But Shen Mo was only wearing a thin blue robe, and as the sleeves fluttered, he showed no sign of flinching.

The demonic energy within his body circulated like a tide, chilling yet harmless, instead forming an invisible barrier that kept the wind and snow at bay.

With each step, the snow beneath my feet melted slightly, then froze again, leaving a trail of faint footprints, like a ghost walking among humans.

Before long, he arrived at Hanyayi, a small border town on Heilong Island.

Inside Xueluju, the only inn still open in town, the stove is burning brightly, and the aroma of wine mingles with the rising smoke from the charcoal.

At a corner table, eight members of the Qingfeng team sat, their eyes sharp as eagles. They had been lying in wait here for half a month, but had not found the slightest flaw in the Beiming family.

Suddenly, the curtain was lifted, and a cold wind swept in the snow, and a green figure slowly stepped in.

Everyone was taken aback at first, then stood up in unison, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply, their voices low but full of respect: "Captain!"

Shen Mo nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the people's reddened cheeks and frosted eyelashes, and he sighed inwardly.

"How's the investigation going?" he asked, his voice low but clear and steady, like ice water striking stone.

"We've been here for some time, but there's been absolutely no progress." A member of the Qingfeng team said in a hoarse voice, his tone tinged with helplessness. He rubbed his fingers, which were red from the cold, and continued, "With the continuous heavy snow, the Beiming family has practically stayed indoors. We've been guarding for so many days, and we haven't even seen a single member of the Beiming family."

Shen Mo's heart sank, but then cleared up as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun. He remembered the list he had burned, which clearly listed two Heavenly Demon Sect spies who colluded with the Flame Demon Lord, and they were members of the Bei Ming family.

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the rough wooden table, his thoughts drifting like snowflakes.

"A blizzard?" Shen Mo repeated softly, a slight smile playing on his lips. "This is a good opportunity."

He stood up, his eyes sharp. "Tonight, I'll infiltrate the Beiming family and gather intelligence." He paused, his tone calm to the point of being cold. "This blizzard is perfect for infiltration."

The Qingfeng team members exchanged worried glances. One of them said, "Captain, the Beiming family is heavily guarded. Won't it be too dangerous for you to go alone?"

"It's alright," Shen Mo waved his hand, his eyes firm. "I know what I'm doing." He turned and walked towards the door, his voice exceptionally clear in the wind and snow: "You all rest first. I'll be back as soon as I have news."

Shen Mo's figure quickly disappeared into the wind and snow outside the inn, as if blending into the boundless night.

......

The Cold Valley where the Beiming Family was located was covered by a thick layer of silvery white, as if only wind, snow and silence remained in the world.

The continuous blizzards blocked the roads into the mountains and also blocked human activity—the disciples of the Beiming family had long since closed their doors and gone out, and even the patrolling sentries had retreated to the eaves, leaving only a few lonely lamps flickering in the wind and snow, like will-o'-the-wisps.

Shen Mo stood on the high cliff, the snowflakes instantly evaporating after hitting his face.

He looked down at the magnificent yet chilling mansion built against the mountain below, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing through the wind and snow.

......

He walked briskly along the base of the wall, his figure like a withered leaf swept up by the wind, gliding silently across the snow.

Each step landed precisely in the gaps where the snow had not yet solidified, as if the wind was blowing beneath my feet, without disturbing a speck of dust or a speck of snow.

Even with the Beiming family mansion heavily guarded, even with the wind and snow like knives and the cold biting to the bone, he moved like a ghost wandering between reality and illusion—his lightness skill was so superb that he seemed to be in an empty realm. Not even a faint trace was left on the snow, only the wind and snow continued, as if no one had ever passed through this world.

The mansion of the Beiming family stood majestically amidst the blizzard, its high walls like a colossal beast, silent and imposing.

The red lanterns hanging from the eaves cast dim yellow halos in the snow curtain, like weary eyes helplessly watching the swirling snow.

Shen Mo looked up at the towering rooftop, but there was no fear in his eyes, only a calm and resolute determination.

After sneaking into the mansion, he moved like a silent shadow, quietly approaching a servant who was sweeping snow.

The man was hunched over, his broom making a "swish-swish" sound as he muttered complaints about the awful weather.

Shen Mo held his breath, lightly touched the ground with his toes, and moved like a night breeze across the water, appearing behind him without warning.

He brought his right index and middle fingers together, like a willow leaf gently swaying, and precisely placed them on the "Fengfu" acupoint on the back of the man's neck.

The man didn't even utter a groan before collapsing limply like a puppet with broken strings, leaving only a shallow dent in the snow before being slowly buried by the fresh snow.

Shen Mo moved with lightning speed, immediately using his disguise technique. In less than ten breaths, he had completely transformed—his eyebrows were lowered, his lips slightly pursed, and even his slightly hunched shoulders were perfectly imitated. He looked down at the familiar yet unfamiliar face on the snow, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips: "This disguise technique is getting faster and faster."

He quickly dragged the unconscious servant behind the artificial hill and hid him, then straightened his clothes and, mimicking the man's gait, walked with slightly stiff but natural steps toward the source of the voices coming from the vast Beiming family compound. Snowflakes fell on his shoulders, melting into water droplets, but they did not disturb his concentration in the slightest.

Before long, a group of servants gathered under the eaves to avoid the snow and chatted, their laughter mixed with complaints.

Shen Mo strode forward, lowered his voice, and imitated the servant's tone from before: "Where is Bei Mingji now? I have important news to report."

The moment the words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Xiao Chen, are you out of your mind?" An older servant suddenly turned around, his eyes wide, his finger almost poking the tip of his nose. "How dare you call the Third Elder by his real name? You don't even know where they live, and you dare to say you have important business?"

It turned out the person he had knocked out was named Xiao Chen. Shen Mo's heart tightened suddenly, as if an ice pick had pierced his spine—Oh no, he had slipped up! But he forced a flustered expression, his voice trembling: "Look at my memory, I bumped my head a few days ago, and my memory is indeed a bit confused. In addition, I really had urgent business with the Third Elder, and I misspoke in my haste. Please don't spread this around..."

The servants initially looked him over suspiciously. Seeing his fearful expression and restrained demeanor, they figured he was probably telling the truth. If he really delayed what he was supposed to report, it would be bad if his superiors blamed him.

"The Third Elder should be at the Tranquil Mind Courtyard in the west right now." Another person waved his hand impatiently, his tone full of disdain. "You're such a clown."

Shen Mo felt a great weight lifted from his heart, as if a huge boulder had been lifted from his chest.