Wandering Swordsman |

As the banquet came to an end.

Hua Tianyou led Shen Mo to a secluded rose garden at the back of the mansion. The night breeze swept through the carved iron railings, swirling up a few withered petals, carrying a hint of coolness.

"My lord," Hua Tianyou stopped and turned to face Shen Mo. The moonlight outlined his angular profile, and his eyes, which usually shone with pride and loyalty, were now filled with complex and indescribable emotions. "I... cannot leave here for the time being."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo showed no surprise. His deep, unfathomable eyes remained fixed on Hua Tianyou, as if they could see into the most hidden corners of his soul. He nodded slightly, his movements gentle yet carrying an undeniable trust—no need for further words, I have already agreed to your request.

Seeing Shen Mo like this, Hua Tianyou felt a warmth in his heart, and his deep-seated stubbornness and defensiveness seemed to crumble silently at this moment. He took a deep breath, and the air, mixed with the fragrance of roses and the damp cold of night dew, filled his lungs, gradually clearing his previously chaotic thoughts.

"It's because of the Marquis Henry," Hua Tianyou's voice lowered, each word seemingly squeezed out with difficulty from between his teeth, carrying a rusty heaviness, "and Cardinal Silas of the English Papacy."

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tightening, his nails digging deep into his palm, leaving several crescent-shaped marks.

"My lord," Hua Tianyou raised his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Mo, his eyes surging with a sinister and resolute look that Shen Mo had never seen before, "Although Marquis Henry's title is above my father's, he has long coveted Marseille. Given the current situation, he will definitely launch a territorial war against Marseille."

"And that Cardinal Silas," Hua Tianyou's lips curled into a cold sneer, "is outwardly a respected cardinal, but in reality, he is insatiably greedy. He secretly colluded with the Marquis Henry to launch an attack on Marseille. My grandfather has already exhausted all his energy trying to lead Marseille to survive between these two forces."

Hua Tianyou's voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the anger and heartache that had been suppressed for too long.

"If I leave now," he whispered, his gaze fixed on his clenched fist, as if it held not air but the throat of his enemy, "Henry and Silas have joined forces to attack Marseille. The Cassio family will surely fall. My lord, though I am the Demon Lord, loyal to you to the death, I am also my mother's son. This burden of ensuring the family's survival must be borne by my own hands!"

The night wind suddenly turned fierce, swirling up fallen leaves that swept past their feet.

Shen Mo listened quietly, his face remaining calm, but a storm seemed to be brewing silently in his eyes.

Is it the Vatican again?

A long-lost chill quietly spread through Shen Mo's heart.

He had neither the slightest goodwill nor the slightest ill will toward this so-called "Holy Church" in the far west.

In his eyes, they were nothing more than another group of ordinary people who wore the cloak of faith and pursued power.

To him, their doctrines were nothing but lies to fool the people. What did the Papacy matter to Shen Mo? The Heavenly Demon Sect stood tall in the Western Regions; how could it have ever taken this religion from thousands of miles away seriously?

but……

Shen Mo's gaze slowly shifted to Hua Tianyou's face, which was filled with determination and forbearance.

Who is Hua Tianyou? He is the Heavenly Demon Lord of the Heavenly Demon God Sect, the number one general under Shen Mo, and the loyal subordinate who always protected him like a sharp sword in the vast yellow sand, frozen snowfields, and Soul Devouring Valley.

He could disregard the life or death of the Holy See, and he could disregard the conflicts in the far west, but he absolutely could not tolerate anyone daring to harm Hua Tianyou's closest relatives!

That would not just be a family matter, but an act of enmity against the Heavenly Demon God Sect!

An invisible pressure quietly emanated from Shen Mo's body, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly, even the biting night wind paused.

If these so-called Marquis Henry and Cardinal truly dare to cross Hua Tianyou's bottom line, then Shen Mo wouldn't mind letting this so-called "holy land" witness the true power of the "Heavenly Demon"! Even if the Holy See's divine kingdom lies ahead, or amidst a vast army, as long as they dare to harm Hua Tianyou's family, he will slay them with a single sword strike!

However, in front of Hua Tianyou, Shen Mo simply raised his hand and patted his shoulder lightly.

The movement seemed casual, yet it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from Hua Tianyou's heart.

"In that case," Shen Mo's voice was clear and cold like the moon, yet it carried a reassuring calmness, "you can stay here and take care of your family matters. Once you're done, we'll return to the Heavenly Demon God Sect."

"Heavenly Demon Lord," Shen Mo's voice was like a stone falling into a cold pool, calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, "I have some personal matters to attend to. I will be leaving tomorrow. If you need any support in the future, please send me a message."

Hua Tianyou paused slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by understanding. He bowed respectfully, his voice filled with undisguised reverence: "Rest assured, my lord, I will handle everything."

Shen Mo nodded slightly and turned to leave. His black robes fluttered in the breeze like inky clouds, his back straight as a pine tree, yet carrying an indescribable loneliness.

Hua Tianyou watched Shen Mo leave until that dark figure disappeared into the depths of the courtyard.

He took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes. "My lord, rest assured," he murmured, his voice filled with unprecedented determination, "I will handle everything well and will not allow you to be distracted."

Shen Mo returned to his guest room, gently closed the door, and isolated himself from the outside world.

Inside the guest room, the flickering candlelight cast a long, lonely shadow of Shen Mo.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and even.

Although Shen Mo and Alice had temporarily entrusted the Heavenly Demon Totem they brought down from the frozen volcano to Invincible Duke for safekeeping before coming to Marseille City, Shen Mo had already deeply engraved the profound and complex incantation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art on the Heavenly Demon Totem into his mind.

At this moment, with no one around and all sounds hushed, it was the perfect time for cultivation.

Shen Mo took a deep breath and slowly circulated the Heavenly Demon Qi within his body. In an instant, a domineering aura rose from his dantian, like a giant dragon awakening, flowing through his meridians.

Following the incantation left by Xuanyuan Ling, he carefully guided this power, attempting to resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

"call……"

Shen Mo's breathing gradually became rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He could feel the demonic energy within his body intertwining and merging with a strange and mysterious power.

That is spiritual energy—a natural force that transcends internal strength and originates from the very source of heaven and earth.

He focused his mind and channeled his spiritual energy with all his might, opening up a new passage in his meridians.

The process was painful and difficult, as if countless tiny knives were cutting through his veins, or as if thousands of ants were gnawing at his bone marrow.

But Shen Mo gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound. Only his tightly clenched fists betrayed his restraint at this moment.

As spiritual energy continued to flow in, Shen Mo's perception range also expanded rapidly.

He could clearly feel the movement of every speck of dust in the room, the swaying of every leaf outside the window, and even the soft breathing of a nightingale in the distant garden.

This feeling was incredibly mysterious, as if the whole world was under his control.