Wandering Swordsman |

"It's all my fault. If I had been more resolute back then, maybe you wouldn't have..." He Yun said remorsefully, his voice choked with emotion.

He Yun raised his head, gazing at the abyss below the cliff, his heart filled with endless worry. Below the cliff lay a cloud of mist, its bottom invisible, as if concealing countless unknown dangers. A deep sense of powerlessness and self-reproach welled up within him, as if the entire world had become heavy at that moment.

After a long while, He Yun took a deep breath, sheathed Shen Mo's bronze sword, and tried to calm his turbulent emotions. He Yun knew he couldn't stay here too long; he had to rush back to the dilapidated temple to reunite with Zhao Xue, because leaving an injured girl like her in the temple made him very uneasy. With that thought, He Yun stood up, looked around again, and after confirming there were no other clues, he turned and began his journey back to the dilapidated temple.

In the early morning, mist swirled through the forest, as if draping it in a veil of mystery. Sunlight filtered through the sparse treetops, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A group of people hurried along the forest path, their footsteps echoing clearly in the tranquil woods.

At the very front of the procession, a burly man with a full beard rode a strong black horse. He held a long sword in his hand, and his eyes exuded an air of authority.

When the dilapidated temple came into view, the burly man stopped and turned to his companions who had been following him on foot, saying loudly, "Liaocheng is not far ahead. We've traveled all night for so long, brothers, come with me to this dilapidated temple to rest for a while."

Upon hearing the burly man's words, the group members immediately showed signs of exhaustion and nodded in agreement. One of them, however, appeared somewhat worried. He said timidly, "Brother, this mission was personally given to us by the gang leader. If we don't see Boss Ma soon to complete it, it won't be good if the gang leader finds out."

The burly man frowned slightly upon hearing this and turned to look at the speaker. A flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. His tone carried a hint of authority, yet remained gentle: "What? I'm considered a figure of some importance within the Black Wind Gang. Are you afraid of this?"

The man nodded and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, brother is right." His voice carried a hint of flattery, clearly showing his great respect for the big man. The other companions also echoed, indicating their willingness to follow the big man's arrangements.

Seeing that the crowd no longer objected, the burly man nodded in satisfaction. He turned and walked towards the dilapidated temple, with the rest of the group following closely behind. When they arrived at the temple, the burly man pushed open the half-closed door and went inside first. The temple was empty and silent; the withered leaves and pebbles on the ground made a soft sound underfoot.

The burly man looked around and noticed a beautiful young girl sitting against the wall in the corner, her eyes closed as if she were still asleep. This stirred a wicked desire in him. A greedy glint flashed in his eyes, and a wicked smile crept onto his lips. He immediately gestured for the people behind him to be quiet.

Upon seeing the burly man's gesture, everyone immediately stopped talking, and the atmosphere became extremely tense. Following the man's gaze, they spotted Zhao Xue in the corner. At that moment, their eyes widened with greed, as if they had found a priceless treasure. Their breathing quickened, and their eyes gleamed with ill intent.

The burly man slowly approached Zhao Xue, each step taken with extreme caution. His footsteps echoed through the dilapidated temple, but Zhao Xue seemed oblivious, still deeply asleep. The man stopped a few steps away from Zhao Xue, looking down at her with malicious intent in his eyes.

At this moment, one of the thin, lewd-looking henchmen chuckled maliciously in a low voice, "Big brother, how come there are girls in this dilapidated temple? In your opinion, is this a reward from heaven because it thinks we brothers work too hard every day..." His voice was tinged with flattery, but his eyes were full of greed.

Upon hearing this, the burly man's smile widened. He turned to look at his underling, a hint of smugness and cunning in his eyes. "Indeed, Sixth Brother, you're right. We brothers really work hard every day, and this time, God has truly blessed us." The burly man's voice was deep and magnetic, but the malice within it sent chills down one's spine.

Upon hearing this, the other companions nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with the same greed. They gathered around, each revealing a malicious grin, as if they already considered Zhao Xue theirs for the taking. The air inside the dilapidated temple seemed to grow even more oppressive, making even breathing heavy.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Zhao Xue finally noticed something. She frowned slightly and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw the scene before her, an ominous premonition immediately rose in her heart. She quickly stood up, her back pressed against the corner of the wall, and warily looked at the group of uninvited guests.

"Who are you people?" Zhao Xue's voice trembled slightly, but her tone was firm.

When the burly man saw Zhao Xue wake up, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his wicked smile. "Little girl, don't be afraid. We are just travelers passing through and had no intention of disturbing you. However, since you are here, it is fate. How about... we brothers take good care of you?" His words were full of implications, and his tone carried a hint of threat.

Zhao Xue's heart tightened; she knew these people were no good. She quickly scanned her surroundings, looking for tools to defend herself, but apart from a few broken wooden sticks, there was almost nothing she could use in the dilapidated temple.

"Don't come any closer!" Zhao Xue shouted, her voice filled with determination. She clenched her fists, ready to face any possible attack.

Seeing Zhao Xue's firm stance, a flash of anger crossed the burly man's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Little girl, don't be so ungrateful. We brothers mean you no harm. As long as you behave, we won't make things difficult for you." His words carried a hint of threat, yet his tone also held a touch of seduction.

Zhao Xue's resolve hardened; she knew she couldn't show weakness. She straightened her back, her eyes gleaming with unyielding strength. "You wicked people, don't even think about bullying me! My husband will be back soon. You'd better leave now, or you'll face the consequences!" Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was powerful. At this moment, Zhao Xue could only lie and say that He Yun was her husband, hoping to intimidate them.

Upon hearing this, the burly man frowned slightly, but then laughed again. "Young lady, you're so young yet already a young woman. However, I prefer young women."

Zhao Xue's heart sank, but she didn't give up. She knew that her only hope at this moment was to buy time and wait for He Yun to return. She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "You evil people will get your comeuppance sooner or later!"

Seeing that Zhao Xue still refused to yield, the burly man's eyes flashed with impatience. He turned and winked at his companions behind him, who immediately understood and pressed forward. The atmosphere inside the dilapidated temple became even more tense. Although Zhao Xue was filled with fear, she still did not back down.