Wandering Swordsman |

Shen Mo took a deep breath, as if inhaling all the sand and dust from the vast expanse of land, and then slowly exhaled a long-forgotten past.

"In the far-off Western Regions, far from the Central Plains, there is a sect called the 'Heavenly Demon God Sect.'" His voice was calm, yet like a stone thrown into a lake. "Its disciples practice demonic arts, but... it has no connection whatsoever with the 'Demon Sect' that invaded the Central Plains and slaughtered the righteous path back then. The Heavenly Demon God Sect is a self-contained system, with numerous powerful figures and a profound foundation."

"The Heavenly Demon Sect?" Situ Dengfeng's pupils contracted sharply as his gaze met Guiguzi's—a hint of surprise flashed in the latter's eyes. The information Guiguzi had received consisted only of scattered rumors, mentioning a mysterious force called the "Heavenly Demon Sect" in the Western Regions.

But Shen Mo could actually name it at this moment, and his tone was so familiar, as if he had experienced it firsthand!

"How do you know about the Heavenly Demon God Sect?" Guiguzi's voice was slightly deep, his fingers secretly calculating in his sleeve. "Even Guiguzi has only heard of its name."

Under the intense gazes of the three, Shen Mo finally unveiled the deepest layer of his secret.

"Because..." He paused, then spoke each word slowly and deliberately, like a sword being drawn from its sheath, "I am the master of the Heavenly Demon God Sect—the Heavenly Demon God!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the secret room fell into an eerie silence.

The seasoned businessman Murong Liang, usually so composed, stared wide-eyed, his lips trembling slightly: "The Heavenly Demon God?!"

Situ Dengfeng suddenly stood up, his face turning deathly pale in an instant, then quickly turning into a complex and indistinct flush.

He founded the previous martial arts alliance, personally leading his people to defeat the demonic cult, leaving countless heroic souls buried in the wilderness. Now, his own son-in-law actually calls himself the "Heavenly Demon God"? His Adam's apple bobbed, as if a thousand words were stuck in his chest, yet he could not utter a sound.

Guiguzi closed his eyes for three breaths, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with the swirling stars, as if he had already glimpsed some of the secrets of heaven.

His voice was deep: "No wonder...no wonder you were able to defeat Jianzhen and repel the evil cultivators from overseas."

Shen Mo nodded, and then began to explain:

After I disappeared back then...

......

...To stop the Flame Demon Lord from wreaking havoc in the Central Plains, he risked his life to agree to enter the Demon Refining Mountain for the Moon Demon Lord, obtain the Heavenly Demon Qi, and become the Heavenly Demon God.

He cleverly omitted the part that "the Demonic Sect was actually created by the Flame Demon Lord's trusted henchmen"—after all, the blood feud between the Central Plains and the "Demonic Sect" was too deep, and if it were revealed now, it might arouse Situ Dengfeng's old hatred and cause the Heavenly Demon God Sect to be wronged.

The three listened quietly, their expressions shifting from shock to contemplation, and then from doubt to understanding.

Situ Dengfeng slowly sat back in his chair. He looked at Shen Mo, the anger in his eyes gradually subsiding, replaced by a deep scrutiny and... relief.

"So, you became the Heavenly Demon God just to prevent the Flame Demon Lord from coveting the Central Plains and causing a catastrophe?" His voice was hoarse.

"Exactly." Shen Mo's eyes were clear. "If I hadn't entered the Demon Refining Mountain, and if the grandson of the Flame Demon Lord had become the Heavenly Demon God, the Heavenly Demon God Sect would have already pointed its sword at the Central Plains. If I hadn't taken control of the Heavenly Demon God Sect, the Western Regions would have been in chaos, and the Central Plains would have been in turmoil."

Murong Liang calmed down, and suddenly smiled, a hint of smugness in his eyes: "Good! My Murong family's granddaughter has married not only the Sword God, but also the Heavenly Demon God! If she has a great-grandson in the future, she'll probably rule both the Eastern and Western Regions, and control all the martial arts under heaven!" His tone was teasing, yet every word carried immense weight—trust had reached this point, no further explanation was needed. If Shen Mo truly harbored malicious intentions, why would he reveal such a secret, enough to invite universal condemnation, on the second day of their marriage? And why would he marry Qing'er in the first place?

Situ Dengfeng nodded, his eyes full of affirmation: "I share the same thought as Brother Murong. I'm at ease knowing Meng'er is with you. As the Heavenly Demon God, you've always thought of the Central Plains and repelled the evil cultivators from overseas. Such righteous deeds cannot be concealed by the identity of a mere 'Heavenly Demon God'."

Shen Mo's heart burned with emotion, and he bowed deeply to the ground: "Thank you for your trust, my two fathers-in-law. With the Heavenly Demon Sect in my hands, it will never become a threat to the Central Plains. On the contrary... if there is ever a change in the Central Plains, it will be the strongest bulwark and the most silent reinforcement."

Just then, Guiguzi suddenly turned around, his white eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a look of disbelief flashed across his eyes—not fear, but a tremor as if he had witnessed a sudden revelation of a heavenly secret.

"Shen Mo," his voice was deep, yet resonant like an ancient bell, each word striking the very soul, "Do you know... who Li Er was?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

"Curator... do you know Li Er?" Shen Mo's voice trembled slightly as he asked urgently, "Who exactly is he?"

Guiguzi, with a profound gaze that seemed to pierce through the ages, slowly said, "According to Guiguzi's records, Li Er was the founder of Taoism in the Central Plains. However, the name Li Er is not mentioned in Taoist classics because, given his status as the 'Taoist Ancestor,' he is always referred to as one of the Three Pure Ones in Taoist scriptures."

"Li Er...the Dao Ancestor?" Shen Mo murmured to himself, as if struck by lightning. The symbol he had found in the forbidden area of ​​Wudang Mountain flashed through his mind like lightning. Could it be that the symbol was left by Li Er when he was comprehending the Dao in Wudang Mountain?

The shock in Situ Dengfeng's eyes gradually subsided, replaced by deep thought. He slowly said, "No wonder... no wonder you were able to defeat Jianzhen and save the martial arts world of the Central Plains at such a young age." He looked at Shen Mo with a hint of awe in his eyes.

Guiguzi patted Shen Mo on the shoulder, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as the night sky: "Shen Mo, the path you walk will go further than we imagine. Today's honesty is the foundation for tomorrow. The martial world needs a sword god, and the Heavenly Demon Sect also needs... a clear-headed Heavenly Demon God."

"This matter," Guiguzi's gaze swept over everyone present, the candlelight flickering in his eyes, "is something we should keep to ourselves. Do not spread it. If someone with ulterior motives embellishes it, it could cause a great stir in the martial world." He paused, his withered fingers lightly tapping the sandalwood table, "The Central Plains has just weathered the crisis caused by the evil cultivators from overseas and still needs peace."

Situ Dengfeng nodded slightly: "Valley Master, rest assured, Brother Murong and I will keep our mouths shut."

Murong Liang nodded in agreement, "Of course."

Shen Mo then said, "Fathers-in-law, curator, the reason I'm being frank about this is because... I need to leave the Central Plains for the time being."

He turned to face the three: "I am going to fulfill my promise to the Heavenly Demon Lord and travel to the far west of the Western Regions!"

Before he could finish speaking, the secret room fell silent.

"The far west?" Situ Dengfeng's eyes trembled, as if he could already see that legendary, desolate land: yellow sand obscuring the sun, snow-capped mountains piercing the sky, uninhabited for thousands of miles, where no beast dared to cross. "West of the Western Regions, could it be the loess deserts, snowfields, and wastelands that no human could traverse?"

Guiguzi also said with a worried expression, "The westernmost part of the Western Regions, the far west, is a place that even the Guiguzi classics have never described." He looked up at Shen Mo, his eyes filled with worry.

Shen Mo listened quietly, his heart churning like a surging tide.

How could he not know the danger of this journey? But if he retreated out of fear, wouldn't he be betraying the oath he made at the Demon Refining Mountain? Wouldn't he be betraying Hua Tianyou's trust? And even more so, betraying the unreserved trust in Qing'er and Meng'er's eyes?

He took a deep breath, his voice low but firm, like a rock sinking into water, each word carrying immense weight: "If I were to break my promise to Hua Tianyou because of difficulties, I would be unworthy of the title 'Sword God,' and even more so, I would be unworthy of Qing'er and Meng'er."

His gaze swept over the three elders, his eyes filled with fear and no regret. "They married a man who keeps his promises, not a coward who seeks comfort but fears death. If I back down today, I will have no face to stand before them tomorrow."