Wandering Swordsman |

The night in Silvermane City seemed to have been cleansed by holy light after Adrian spat out that mouthful of black blood, and suddenly became clearer.

The wind outside the window no longer howled, and even the candlelight burned exceptionally brightly.

Baron Mason remained kneeling before the bed, his beard soaked with tears, yet he smiled like a child.

He shakily helped his son up, then turned and tightly grasped Hua Tianyou's hand, his voice choked with emotion and burning with passion: "Two holy envoys... no, benefactors! Please stay in Silvermane City for a couple more days! Let me do my duty as a host and prepare a banquet to thank you for your life-saving grace!"

Shen Mo stood beside Hua Tianyou, his black robe as dark as ink, his face as calm as an ancient well.

He couldn't speak—at this moment he was a "mute assistant missionary"—but his Adam's apple moved slightly, and a wisp of true energy condensed into a sound beam, quietly entering Hua Tianyou's ears: "Refuse him first."

Hua Tianyou's eyes flickered slightly, his expression still filled with sorrow, and he was about to politely decline.

"Wait!" Adrian suddenly sat up on the bed, still weak, but his eyes were unusually firm.

He draped the silver fox fur coat handed to him by a servant, his voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Two holy envoys, if it weren't for your appearance, I fear my days would be numbered. Please stay for two days... I wish to personally express my gratitude and, more importantly, proclaim to the entire city—Silvermane City is blessed by the divine!"

Baron Mason nodded repeatedly: "Yes! Yes! Just as Adrian says!"

Hua Tianyou and Shen Mo exchanged a glance, and after Shen Mo nodded slightly, Hua Tianyou said, "In that case, we shall respectfully comply. May the Holy Light protect Silvermane City."

That night, the two were placed in the quietest "guest room" in the east wing. The room's walls were painted with murals of saints, the windows were inlaid with stained glass, the bed was covered with snow-white linen, and even the candlesticks were made of pure silver.

However, Shen Mo sat cross-legged on the futon, his eyes slightly closed, circulating his internal energy to enhance his five senses.

At three-quarters past midnight, the moon hid behind the clouds.

Seven dark figures leaped over the courtyard wall like ghosts, their toes touching the ground silently, their short blades gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light—coated with deadly poison.

They were all dressed in black and their faces were covered with black cloths. Their movements were perfectly coordinated, clearly indicating that they were well-trained assassins.

The leader made a gesture, and the six men split up to guard the doors and windows. One of them quietly pried open the window latch and slipped into the room like a venomous snake.

However, just as that person landed—

"laugh."

A soft sound, like a leaf falling in the wind.

Hua Tianyou didn't even get up.

He simply sat on the edge of the bed and flicked his right index finger lightly.

A silver-white finger strike shot through the air, precisely piercing the assassin's throat. The man didn't even have time to scream before his body went limp like a broken puppet, his eyes filled with disbelief and terror—it was too fast…so fast that he didn't even have time to feel death.

Just as the other six noticed something was wrong, Hua Tianyou appeared at the window like a ghost.

He remained motionless, yet his body suddenly erupted with dazzling light, like the light of judgment descending from the dome of a cathedral.

The light was not warm, but chillingly cold, carrying a crushing pressure on the soul.

"Run!" one of the assassins screamed, his short blade clattering to the ground.

Hua Tianyou's lips curled slightly, but his eyes showed no mercy. He continued his attack, and in just three breaths, he had killed all six men. (Details to follow)

Silence returned, broken only by the chirping of insects outside the window.

Hua Tianyou dusted off his sleeves, his expression unchanged, and turned to leave: "My lord, I'm going to report to the Baron that someone dared to assassinate the Holy See's envoy!"

"Wait." Shen Mo's voice was deep and resonant, like the night wind, yet it carried an undeniable force.

He stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over the seven corpses, a dark, demonic light flashing in his eyes.

He slowly raised his right palm, and a jet-black vortex appeared in his palm—it was the aura of the Heavenly Demon. The vortex spun silently, and wherever it passed, corpses melted away like ice and snow. Even clothes, weapons, and bloodstains on the floor were swallowed up and turned into nothingness.

A moment later, the room was spotless, as if no one had ever entered.

"This is most likely the work of the second young master," Shen Mo said slowly, his voice as calm as ice. "Even if you go to the Baron, the second young master will definitely find a way to interfere. In that case, you won't find anything, and you'll end up getting smeared."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Besides, the Baron is currently immersed in the joy of his eldest son's recovery; how could he possibly be interested in investigating this matter?"

Hua Tianyou was silent for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, before his gentle smile returned: "My lord, you're right. Then we... shall pretend nothing happened?"

"We'll go see Adrian first thing tomorrow morning." Shen Mo looked out the window at the deep night, his voice low, as if he already had a plan.

The next morning, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

The two ate the breakfast brought by the servants—bread and cheese.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Leonard was pacing anxiously in his study.

The servant knelt on the ground, trembling all over: "Second Young Master... last night... those seven people disappeared! According to the servant who delivered the meal, there was nothing unusual in the room! It's very likely that they were afraid of offending the Vatican, so they didn't assassinate them, but instead took the deposit and ran away."

Leonard's face turned deathly pale, and he slammed his fist on the table: "Useless! Seven top assassins, and they're afraid of even two missionaries?!"

He looked up abruptly, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "It seems... we can only wait for the 'holy envoy' I bribed to arrive, and then accuse them of falsifying their identities. Until then, we cannot act rashly."

Unbeknownst to him, Shen Mo and Hua Tianyou were walking through the corridor toward Adrian's bedroom at that moment.

......

Morning light streamed through the stained glass windows, casting dappled shadows of the icons into Adrian's bedroom.

After a night of recuperation, his complexion had regained some color. Although still weak, he was able to sit up against the headboard, holding a cup of warm medicinal tea in his hands.

The birdsong outside the window was crisp and clear, as if even the air in Silvermane City had become clear because of last night's "miracle".

Hua Tianyou sat upright in a high-backed chair in front of the bed, his silver robe spotless, his expression gentle as a spring breeze melting snow.

Shen Mo stood quietly in the shadows by the window, his black robes almost blending into the dark curtains. His eyes were lowered, as if he were praying silently, but in reality, his divine sense was like a net, enveloping the entire room.

Without uttering a word, he transmitted his thoughts clearly into Hua Tianyou's mind via telepathy: "Ask him why he entered the canyon. His tone should be concerned, not forceful."

Adrian laughed heartily and generously, "You two envoys may ask any questions you may have about Shen Mo."

Hua Tianyou nodded slightly, his voice as gentle as playing a zither: "Young Master Adrian, I was greatly relieved to see you vomit the miasma last night. But there is one thing I'm unsure whether I should ask..."

He paused, his gaze earnest: "The Ten Thousand Mile Canyon is infamous, and for centuries no one has dared to venture deep into it. As the heir to Silvermane City, why would you risk such peril and lead your troops into that forbidden land?"

Upon hearing this, Adrian's eyes dimmed slightly, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of the glass.

After a long silence, he gave a bitter laugh, his voice low but carrying the stubbornness unique to young people: "I want to... prove myself."