Wandering Swordsman |

The night was as dark as ink, and the outline of Jinzhou City appeared exceptionally silent under the hazy moonlight. After three days and nights of continuous travel, Shen Mo finally arrived in this bustling city at dusk. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his weary figure, outlining a lonely yet resilient silhouette. His clothes were slightly worn, but his eyes shone with determination and unyielding spirit.

Upon arriving in Jinzhou, Shen Mo had very little money left. Recalling the time when he left the small county town with his master Luo Wangchen, he remembered how they had also endured wind and rain, sleeping outdoors as beggars. Therefore, even if he didn't stay at an inn, finding a place to spend the night wouldn't be difficult.

He decided to take advantage of the remaining darkness to find a place to stay among the many alleys in the main street. Finally, he found a large, leafy tree in a tree-lined alley, climbed up lightly, and chose a sturdy branch as his temporary bed.

As night fell, darkness gradually enveloped the surroundings, with only the occasional bark of a dog breaking the stillness of the night.

At midnight, the night watchman's voice echoed rhythmically through the empty streets like a pendulum.

The "thump-thump" sound was like the footsteps of time, knocking on people's hearts again and again. However, Shen Mo was awakened from his light sleep by this monotonous sound. Realizing that he was in an unfamiliar environment, his vigilance kicked in, and he did not fall back asleep immediately, but quietly waited for the night watchman to go far away.

But then, something strange happened. The regular night watchman's gong suddenly stopped, and the whole world seemed to fall into a deathly silence.

Shen Mo felt a chill run down his spine, a strange sense of danger welling up inside him.

He immediately became alert, carefully climbing down from the tree and landing silently on the ground like a nimble cat. He quickly hid in a corner and peered out. He saw a dozen or so men dressed in black, carrying large knives, sneaking along the main street outside the alley. Their steps were light and almost silent, clearly well-trained. The night watchman, who was responsible for announcing the time, was now lying in a pool of blood, obviously the victim of these uninvited guests.

Shen Mo's eyes sharpened instantly, his gaze fixed on the every move of the men in black. He knew these people were no ordinary folks, and something big was bound to happen tonight.

He dared not reveal his position easily, and could only continue to observe, trying to figure out the other party's purpose. The moonlight shone on the cold blade, reflecting a chilling light, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

Shen Mo was filled with doubt and unease. The scent of conspiracy grew stronger, as if an invisible hand was pulling him from the darkness. He knew the world was dangerous, but his curiosity and sense of justice prevented him from standing idly by. So, he decided to secretly follow the men in black to find out what was going on.

The tracking process was like a silent dance, with Shen Mo's figure moving gracefully through the alleys, like a part of the night.

The men in black seemed to know their destination intimately, quickly arriving at the side wall of a magnificent mansion. The leader of the group smiled coldly: "Once inside, proceed according to plan. Leave no one alive in this mansion!"

The others nodded in agreement, gripping their weapons even tighter. Then, in unison, they used their light-footed skills to leap over the high walls and enter the mansion almost simultaneously.

Seeing this, Shen Mo hesitated. "I'd better not meddle in other people's business," he muttered to himself, turning to leave. However, he stopped in his tracks, his inner struggle making it difficult for him to make a decision.

Just then, several screams shattered the tranquility of the night from within the mansion. The sounds were filled with fear and despair, as if someone were experiencing the worst nightmare.

Shen Mo's heart tightened. He realized these men in black were no ordinary night owls, but a group of assassins. His gaze returned to the direction of the mansion, and his sense of justice finally overcame his hesitation. He decided to continue following them to see if he could do anything.

Shortly after, a girl who looked like a maidservant, clutching her wounds, stumbled and opened the gate of the mansion. Her face was full of terror, and her eyes revealed a desperate desire to survive.

Seeing her swaying figure, something deep within Shen Mo was stirred. After a fierce internal struggle, he finally decided to help. He rushed into the street and pulled the injured maid into a nearby alley.

"Shh, don't make a sound, I'm not a bad person," Shen Mo said softly, while covering the maid's mouth with his hand to prevent her from screaming out of fright.

The maid was clearly terrified and struggled desperately to break free from Shen Mo's grasp. But when she saw that Shen Mo wasn't going to kill her, she gradually calmed down and stopped struggling.

"You're badly injured. Don't speak anymore, or you might not last half an hour," Shen Mo said with concern, his tone firm and unwavering. He could see from the maid's pale face that she had lost a lot of blood; her condition was extremely critical. However, the maid seemed unconcerned about her injuries, instead clutching Shen Mo's clothes tightly and pleading, "Please save my young lady."

Shen Mo's heart sank; he knew a greater crisis was lurking behind this. But his primary task now was to ensure the safety of this poor maid. He gently patted the maid's shoulder. "I'll take you to a doctor first. Once your condition stabilizes, we'll go save your mistress."

"I...I'm alright, but...please...please...save...my young lady." The maid's voice grew weaker and weaker, clearly at her limit. After saying this, her hand slid down limply, her eyes slowly closed, and she never opened them again.

A wave of grief washed over Shen Mo; he knew he had come too late. But he had no time to wallow in sorrow, for there were more important things waiting for him. He gently laid the maid's body on the ground, stood up, and resolved to fulfill her last wish.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Mo quickly composed himself, his gaze sharp and resolute. He strode through the half-open gate and into the mansion shrouded in darkness.

Moonlight filtered through the tall trees in the front yard of the mansion, casting dappled shadows on the ground, like the footprints left by death. The surroundings were eerily quiet, broken only by the occasional sound of the wind and one's own footsteps.

Looking around, Shen Mo's heart tightened. Before him was a gruesome scene: corpses lay scattered on the ground, blood stained the stone pavement, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.

Each corpse seemed to silently testify to their fear and despair. A flicker of pain crossed Shen Mo's eyes, but he quickly suppressed these emotions and continued his search.

Just then, a piercing female scream shattered the silence of the night: "No! Stop! Help!" The voice was filled with endless fear and despair, as if she were experiencing the worst nightmare. Shen Mo's heart clenched, and he immediately ran towards the sound, each step filled with determination.