Wandering Swordsman |

At this moment, the scene shifts again to the Heavenly Demon Sect, located deep within the Heavenly Sword Ridge.

The wind whipped up the withered leaves on the mountaintop, swirling and dancing in front of the Heavenly Demon Palace, like countless unspoken sighs.

Inside the hall, the Four Demon Lords and the Twelve Venerables gathered together. The reason was simple: they had received further intelligence from the Heavenly Demon God—Shen Mo, also known as the "Sword God" of the Central Plains martial arts world—who would be holding a grand wedding on the tenth day of the fourth month at the Nanjing Martial Arts Alliance.

......

Not long ago, when the Moon Demon Lord handed the letter containing this message to Yue Linglong, she was standing alone on a cliff in Tianjian Ridge, overlooking the surging sea of ​​clouds.

After reading the contents of the letter, Yue Linglong was stunned for a moment.

"He... is getting married." She murmured to herself, her voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the wind.

The morning mist swirled around her, as if the heavens and earth themselves had draped her in a hazy sorrow.

In an instant, a wave of bitterness surged up in her heart, reaching her throat and almost suffocating her.

She remembered the grassy field under the starlight that night, the shyness and anticipation she felt when she mustered the courage to say "I like you," and Shen Mo's gentle rejection, "We are still young, it's not the time to talk about feelings."

At that time, she still harbored a sliver of hope, believing that time would change everything, and that one day she would be able to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder with him.

But now, Shen Mo has someone else by his side.

She closed her eyes, letting tears well up in them, but stubbornly refused to let them fall.

After a long while, she slowly released her hand, letting the letter drift away in the wind and fall into the depths of the sea of ​​clouds, as if burying her unrequited love along with it.

"Shen Mo..." she murmured softly, but forced a relieved smile onto her lips, "May you and she grow old together and never be apart."

She finally understood that some feelings of attraction are destined to remain just that – feelings; and some deep affections can only be expressed as blessings.

She is no longer that stubborn girl, but the future successor of the Moon Demon Pavilion, a prodigy not to be underestimated in the Demon Refining Mountain.

She wants to become a better version of herself, not to win back anyone's heart, but to live up to her own pride.

When Xie Xin learned of this news, she was sitting by the window in her room, holding a cup of warm tea, but she did not drink it for a long time.

The wind outside the window brushed against her hair, bringing a touch of coolness, and also the news that shook her to her core.

She stared blankly at her reflection in the glass, her eyes somewhat vacant.

She never dared to hope for anything. When Shen Mo rescued her from Qilin Village, she regarded him as her benefactor, or even as an unattainable ray of light in her heart.

She knew that she was just an orphan who had lost both her parents, while Shen Mo was now the Heavenly Demon God, the Sword God, and an existence that the entire martial arts world looked up to.

She gently set down her teacup, her fingertips icy cold, and sighed softly, "The distance between us is ultimately growing further and further apart."

She was neither a noble and exceptionally talented young woman like Yue Linglong, nor a beautiful woman from a prestigious family like Murong Qing, who stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

She was Xie Xin, an orphan of the former chieftain who grew up in Qilin Village, a tool that Fu Sheng was supposed to use and marry Fu Jiang. At the same time, she was also a woman who was accidentally favored by fate and saved by Shen Mo.

Even so, putting aside personal feelings, she was still happy for Shen Mo in her heart.

She remembered the determination in his eyes when he saved her, the patience he showed when teaching her swordsmanship, and his unyielding pride when facing powerful enemies.

Such a person naturally deserves the most beautiful woman in the world and the grandest wedding.

"Shen Mo..." she whispered, a glimmer of light in her eyes, "I wish you happiness."

She locked that secret feeling, along with her girlish thoughts, in the deepest corner of her heart, and from then on only treated it with the respect due to a subordinate, admiring it from afar.

......

Let's return to the present-day Heavenly Demon Palace.

Hua Tianyou stood in the center of the hall, his gaze intense as he swept over the other three demon lords. A slight smile played on his lips, his expression as gentle as spring water, barely concealing his inner excitement.

"Our lord is getting married?" he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement and curiosity. "Aren't you all curious about who this person is that could capture our lord's heart?"

He recalled the coldness and aloofness he felt when he first met Shen Mo. At that time, Shen Mo seemed to be isolated from the world, with only martial arts in his eyes.

"I must go to the Central Plains!" He had made up his mind, so he said loudly, "Not only to congratulate my lord on his wedding, but also to see with my own eyes what makes that woman who can move the heart of the Heavenly Demon God so different."

He imagined the grand scene of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance with lanterns and decorations, and he imagined Shen Mo dressed in wedding attire, holding hands with his beloved. A long-lost youthful passion welled up in his heart.

"I must go to the Central Plains!" Hua Tianyou's blood surged with passion. He suddenly looked up, his voice booming like a bell: "Not only to congratulate my lord on his wedding, but also to see with my own eyes what makes that woman who can move the Heavenly Demon God so different!"

He imagined the grand spectacle of the martial arts alliance's ten-mile-long red bridal procession and the crowds flocking to the streets; he imagined Shen Mo dressed in a dark red wedding gown, holding hands with his beloved, his eyes gentle and tender—that image warmed his heart, as if he too had been touched by the warmth of human life.

Just then, two clear and urgent voices came from the side of the hall.

"I want to go too!"

"Demon Lord, please allow me to accompany you!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Yue Linglong and Xie Xin standing side by side, their eyes sparkling with undisguised curiosity and anticipation.

The Moon Demon Lord frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on his granddaughter's face for a long time. How could she not know Yue Linglong's thoughts?

After being rejected by Shen Mo, Linglong appeared calm on the surface, but her grandmother could clearly see the disappointment in her eyes and the forced smile in her eyes.

"Linglong," her voice was soft yet carried an undeniable authority, "the Martial Alliance is not like Tianjian Ridge. It is the heartland of the righteous martial world, where a single wrong word or a wisp of demonic energy can lead to your death amidst the clash of swords."

She paused, her voice lowering, "Grandma doesn't want you to be in danger."

Yue Linglong lowered her eyes, her fingertips trembling slightly, but she quickly raised her eyes again, her gaze as clear and firm as the moon reflected in a cold pool. "Grandma, I know you're worried about me."

Her voice trembled slightly, yet every word was clear, "But the Lord's wedding is a momentous occasion that we, as disciples of the sect, should naturally attend to offer our congratulations. Moreover—"

She took a deep breath, as if suppressing all her emotions into her chest. "We spent five years on Demon Refining Mountain together, facing life and death together, and I also have a deep personal relationship with our lord. For both public and private reasons, Xie Xin and I should be there."

She stepped forward, her voice growing firmer and more resolute: "Grandma, rest assured. I will be careful with my words and actions along the way, concealing my demonic energy and never revealing my identity. I will not disgrace you, nor will I ruin the master's marriage."

The Moon Demon Lord gazed at her for a long time, his eyes swirling with emotions—worry, reluctance, and an unspeakable pride.

Finally, she sighed softly, as if relieved, yet also resigned to her fate: "Fine... since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you anymore."