Wandering Swordsman |

The burly man, his face ashen, stood before He Yun with his sword held to his side, his eyes flashing with a complex light. He clearly hadn't given up on revenge, but for now, he could only endure. His companions stood by, some gritting their teeth, others exchanging furious glances. A suffocating atmosphere permeated the dilapidated temple, as if a storm was brewing.

He Yun turned to Zhao Xue and asked, "Miss Zhao, are you able to walk now?" His voice was full of concern, and his eyes were full of encouragement.

Zhao Xue endured the pain in her foot and nodded. Although a trace of pain was visible on her face, her eyes still showed determination. She staggered to He Yun's side and tightly grasped his sleeve, as if seeking support.

Seeing that Zhao Xue could barely walk, He Yun breathed a slight sigh of relief. He gently pressed his sword against the burly man's neck and pushed his back, signaling him to move forward. Although the burly man was unwilling, he dared not make any rash moves and had no choice but to obediently start walking. He Yun and Zhao Xue followed closely behind, and the three of them slowly walked out of the dilapidated temple under the watchful eyes of everyone.

Upon arriving outside the dilapidated temple, He Yun still held onto the burly man. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, constantly watching the burly man's henchmen who had followed him out.

Under these circumstances, He Yun's gaze fell upon the sturdy black horse at the entrance of the dilapidated temple. He immediately had an idea and turned to Zhao Xue, saying, "Miss Zhao, you ride this horse first; we need to get out of here quickly." Although Zhao Xue's ankle was in excruciating pain, she understood the critical situation and the need to escape danger as soon as possible. She endured the intense pain and staggered towards the black horse.

Seeing Zhao Xue's difficulty in moving, He Yun grew even more anxious. He held his sword against the burly man while keeping a close watch on Zhao Xue's movements. Zhao Xue gripped the saddle, gritted her teeth, and with great effort managed to sit on the horse. Her face was pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but her eyes still shone with determination.

Seeing that Zhao Xue had finally mounted her horse, He Yun breathed a slight sigh of relief. He quickly sheathed his bronze sword, then kicked the burly man in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground once more. The man's body crashed heavily to the ground with a dull thud. He struggled to get up, but the sharp pain in his back clearly prevented him from rising quickly.

He Yun gave the burly man and his men no chance to catch their breath. He swiftly leaped onto the horse, sitting behind Zhao Xue, grabbed the reins with one hand, and slapped the horse's rump hard with the other. The black horse was instantly startled, its hooves off the ground, and it galloped away, carrying He Yun and Zhao Xue.

At the entrance of the dilapidated temple, the burly man and his men reacted quickly, but it was too late. The burly man scrambled to his feet, his face ashen, his eyes flashing with hatred. He roared angrily, "Chase! Chase after him!" But his men exchanged glances, clearly hesitant to give chase. They all knew that He Yun's skills were extraordinary; his recent actions had already proven his strength.

Seeing his men hesitate, the burly man grew even angrier, but his reason told him that chasing after them now would probably be futile. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger.

At this moment, one of his men said repeatedly, "Brother, the most important thing right now is to complete the gang's mission." His words carried a hint of reassurance, clearly trying to give the big man a way out.

The burly man turned to look at his subordinate, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He understood that his subordinate was reminding him not to let momentary anger affect more important matters. He suppressed his anger and slowly said, "I didn't expect that kid to know martial arts. If he hadn't suddenly attacked me, he would definitely not have been a match for me. If I encounter him again, I will definitely deal with him properly."

The man immediately replied, "What you say is absolutely right, brother."

The burly man nodded, his anger subsiding slightly. He turned to his other men and said in a deep voice, "Alright, brothers. Now let's go find Boss Ma." With that, he slunk away with the group from the dilapidated temple.

He Yun and Zhao Xue rode their black horses at breakneck speed along the winding path. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on them. Zhao Xue gripped He Yun's clothes tightly, her heart filled with gratitude and relief. She whispered, "Young Master He, thank goodness you arrived in time, otherwise..."

He Yun turned to look at Zhao Xue, his eyes filled with comfort and encouragement: "Miss Zhao, don't worry, I will definitely protect you." His words revealed a firm strength, as if telling Zhao Xue that no matter how difficult the road ahead, he would protect her.

The two rode their black horses at breakneck speed, the surrounding scenery flashing by. He Yun glanced back every now and then to make sure the pursuers weren't closing in. Although Zhao Xue's ankle ached, she gritted her teeth, pressing her back tightly against He Yun, as if he were her only support. Despite the pain on her face, her eyes still shone with unwavering determination.

"Miss Zhao, hang in there, we'll be at the next town soon." He Yun's voice was deep and strong, each word carrying a warm strength. Zhao Xue nodded, though in excruciating pain, her heart was filled with trust in He Yun.

The two rode their horses through dense forests and across winding rivers, finally arriving at a small town—Fushun—as dusk approached. He Yun reined in the black horse, which gradually slowed down and eventually stopped in front of an inn. He Yun dismounted, carefully helped Zhao Xue down, and asked with concern, "Miss Zhao, are you alright?"

Zhao Xue smiled slightly, though her smile carried a hint of weariness, she still appeared strong: "Thank you, Young Master He, I'm much better now." He Yun nodded and helped her into the inn. Under the innkeeper's arrangement, the two checked into a suite with two bedrooms.

After entering the room, He Yun closed the door, turned to look at Zhao Xue, and his eyes showed a hint of seriousness. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Miss Zhao, there are some things I need to tell you."

A sense of unease welled up in Zhao Xue's heart. She looked up, a hint of doubt in her eyes, and asked, "Young Master He, what has happened?"

He Yun remained silent for a moment, but finally decided to tell her the truth he had witnessed while searching for Shen Mo.

"What?! Young Master He... Young Master Shen, he..." "No! This can't be true!" Zhao Xue's face was filled with sorrow, her eyes wide with disbelief, as if she was unwilling to accept this fact. Her hands trembled slightly, and her body involuntarily shook.