Wandering Swordsman |

Shen Mo was startled upon hearing this, and suddenly understood something. No wonder his fatigue had lessened day by day since practicing the "Formless Sutra," and in the last two days, the symptoms had completely disappeared. He hadn't expected that the toxins in his body had been completely eliminated.

Thinking of this, Shen Mo seemed to have realized something, and a question arose in his mind: "Could it be that he cleared all the toxins by practicing the 'Formless Sutra'?" A trace of doubt and expectation flashed in his eyes, as if he had found the answer to the question.

Seeing this, Murong Qing breathed a sigh of relief, but remained tense, and asked softly, "Doctor, what... what does this mean? Is he alright?"

The doctor nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes: "Yes, the toxins in this young man's body have been completely cleared. He is currently in the recovery period and there is nothing to worry about."

Upon hearing the doctor's conclusion, Murong Qing visibly relaxed, letting out a long sigh and slumping her shoulders. However, when her gaze returned to Shen Mo, her eyes held a peculiar meaning, as if silently demanding a reasonable explanation. It was a gaze that mixed curiosity, reproach, and expectation, making it hard to ignore.

Shen Mo also noticed the unfriendly gaze from Murong Qing. He paused slightly, then scratched his head, looking somewhat uneasy, and lowered his head in silence. It was as if even the surrounding air was cheering for his silence.

The clinic was quiet, save for the soft sound of the doctor getting up to gather the medicinal herbs. Murong Qing broke the silence, her voice tinged with urgency: "Since everything's alright, let's get going."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo immediately looked up, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes: "Miss Murong, I think it's best to wait until you're fully recovered before setting off." His tone was full of concern, as if he was afraid that her haste to travel would hinder her recovery.

Murong Qing's expression held a hint of defiance as she stubbornly shook her head: "It's alright. If I can't walk anymore, Shen Mo, you can carry me." Her eyes were firm, as if she had already made up her mind and brooked no argument.

Seeing her stubbornness, Shen Mo, though still having reservations, had no choice but to nod in agreement: "Alright, let's go now."

Before Shen Mo could finish speaking, a sudden burst of noisy footsteps broke the silence of the night like thunder outside the clinic. The sound alerted both the doctor and Shen Mo, who exchanged a glance, a sense of foreboding rising within them.

As the footsteps grew closer, the doctor immediately went out to check on the situation. Watching the doctor hurry out, Murong Qing also felt curious and worried. She turned to Shen Mo beside her and whispered, "Shen Mo, help me up, I want to go see too."

Without hesitation, Shen Mo helped Murong Qing to the entrance of the clinic. There, a group of constables stood ready, swords in hand, and in the middle of them stood Yan Shang, with a fat, middle-aged man beside him—the magistrate of Cangzhou County.

"Uncle, it was them who attacked the yamen runners!" Yan Shang saw the two men walk out of the clinic and immediately pointed at Shen Mo and Murong Qing, his tone full of smugness and provocation.

Yan Shang, relying on his maternal uncle's status as the county magistrate, brought these constables to cause trouble, clearly having planned it all along. In an instant, the atmosphere became tense, as if one could smell gunpowder in the air.

Just as tensions were about to rise, Shen Mo stepped forward, blocking Murong Qing's path. His figure was like an unbreakable wall. He whispered to Murong Qing, "If a fight breaks out, I'll hold them off. You quickly use your lightness skill to escape."

Murong Qing felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. Although she didn't say anything, she firmly shook her head.

"Take him down!" With the magistrate's order, Yan Shangyang laughed triumphantly. The constables rushed forward, and a fierce battle was about to break out.

However, at this critical moment, a dark figure flashed across the sky like lightning and landed in front of everyone. The newcomer was dressed in black, with a lithe figure, and was none other than Murong Qing's master—Yan Zifei Liu Xiaorong.

"Stop!" Liu Xiaorong's voice was clear and confident, as if it carried an unquestionable authority. Her appearance was like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The constables immediately stopped at the sound, their previously aggressive expressions freezing instantly, as if they had been intimidated by an invisible force. The county magistrate also frowned slightly, warily scrutinizing the strange woman who had suddenly appeared before him, a vague unease creeping into his heart.

Liu Xiaorong moved with the lightness of a swallow, arriving beside Murong Qing in a few leaps. She bowed slightly and respectfully asked, "Seventh Miss, are you alright?" Her movements were elegant and swift, every detail revealing her unfathomable mastery of lightness skill.

Murong Qing was slightly taken aback, then quickly stepped forward to help Liu Xiaorong up, and said softly, "Master, what are you doing here?" Her voice was filled with surprise and confusion, and her eyes sparkled with gratitude.

Liu Xiaorong gave Murong Qing a meaningful look, indicating that now was not the time for reminiscing. Murong Qing naturally understood and said nothing more, simply nodding slightly to show that he understood.

Liu Xiaorong turned her gaze to the county magistrate, her tone carrying a hint of warning, yet still maintaining the proper politeness: "My lord, you should ascertain the facts before taking any action. How dare you so easily frame the seventh young lady of the Murong family?"

Upon hearing the words "Murong Family," the county magistrate's face instantly turned pale, and his previously arrogant demeanor crumbled. He was well aware of the Murong Family's prestige and the consequences of offending such a powerful clan. At this moment, he only hoped to extricate himself as quickly as possible to avoid getting into even greater trouble.

"It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!" the magistrate hurriedly explained, his tone full of flattery. "So it's Miss Murong Qi here. I was blind for a moment and have offended you. Please forgive me."

His voice was urgent yet humble, as if he feared that a single wrong word would lead to irreversible consequences. The surrounding constables also lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at Liu Xiaorong and Murong Qing, and a tense and oppressive atmosphere filled the air.

Seeing the change in the atmosphere, Yan Shang stood to the side, his face ashen, his hands clenched into fists, clearly not expecting things to develop this way. His lips trembled slightly, and he opened his mouth several times as if to speak, but in the end, he only swallowed his resentment. A hint of anger and fear flashed in his sinister eyes, but he was stopped by a stern look from the county magistrate.

The magistrate knew that further words would be futile and might even lead to greater trouble, so he simply glared at Yan Shang, signaling him to remain silent. Yan Shang gritted his teeth and shut his mouth, but the anger in his heart did not subside; instead, it burned even more fiercely.