Wandering Swordsman |

Upon hearing He Yun's shout, Shen Mo immediately understood the urgency of the situation. He quickly assessed the surrounding environment and distance, deciding to take the most direct approach to stop the bandits' escape. Without hesitation, Shen Mo forcefully hurled the knife in his hand at the fleeing bandits. The bandits, naturally, noticed Shen Mo throwing his weapon at them, and while desperately trying to escape, they frantically focused their attention on the flying knife.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xue, who had been lurking in the shadows, keenly observed that the bandits were fleeing in the direction she was currently in. A thought struck her; she realized this was a golden opportunity. Holding her breath, she waited until the bandits were close, then suddenly extended a leg, intending to trip them.

This happened extremely suddenly; the bandit hadn't anticipated this move at all. He suddenly lost his balance while running, falling forward with a panicked scream. The bandit's fall was quite comical; he stumbled a few steps like a tripped pony before crashing heavily to the ground, his weapon flying out of his hand.

With a loud "bang!", the bandit fell to the ground, immediately uttering a curse as he scrambled to his feet, preparing to continue his escape. However, before he could even regain his footing, a stern shout rang out, "Don't move!" and a short sword was already pressed against his neck. The bandit froze, gasping for breath as he felt the cold blade.

"Stand up!" Shen Mo had already picked up the knife he had thrown earlier and held it to the bandit's neck. He Yun followed closely behind, coming to Shen Mo's side. The two of them sandwiched the bandit between them, ensuring that he could not escape again.

"You...you remember this, Black Wind Stronghold will not let you go!" The bandits threatened, still unwilling to give up, even though they were subdued.

Under the moonlight, the battle in the dense forest came to an abrupt halt. Shen Mo's blade flashed like lightning, and a spurt of blood gushed from the bandit's neck, a gruesome sight in the quiet night. It all happened so fast that He Yun didn't even have time to react before the bandit died before his very eyes.

Shen Mo's actions made He Yun's heart skip a beat. Yesterday, Shen Mo insisted on handing the bandits over to the authorities, but now he was decisive and ruthless, as if he had become a different person overnight.

Zhao Xue stood aside, witnessing all of this, her shock barely concealed. She had originally thought Shen Mo was someone who left room for maneuver in his actions, but now, Shen Mo's change left her momentarily unable to comprehend it.

Shen Mo remained calm, as if what had just happened was nothing out of the ordinary for him. He looked up at He Yun and Zhao Xue and explained indifferently, "Brother He, I've figured it out. To deal with such villains, they should be killed."

After hearing this, He Yun remained silent for a moment, then burst into laughter, patted Shen Mo on the shoulder, and expressed his agreement: "Haha, that's how my masters always taught me. Brother Shen truly has the potential to become a great hero!"

Shen Mo's gaze was exceptionally firm under the moonlight. He was no longer a naive boy, but had learned how to survive in the martial world.

The atmosphere among the three became subtle because of Shen Mo's action, but at the same time, they also developed a tacit understanding and trust because of their shared experience.

......

Eight days later, the streets of Beiping Town were bustling with people.

Along the cobblestone road, vendors' shouts rose and fell, displaying a dazzling array of goods, from daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt to strange and unusual trinkets.

Children chased and played, their laughter echoing through the air. Pedestrians dressed in colorful clothes either stopped to shop or hurried on their way, their faces beaming with festive joy.

Red lanterns hung in front of the shops along the street, creating a festive and peaceful scene.

Today is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, also known as Laba Festival. This traditional festival fills Beiping Town with a warm and lively atmosphere.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Shen Mo, He Yun, and Zhao Xue stood out. They had been drawn to the lively scene as soon as they entered the town. It was the Laba Festival, and the upcoming Laba Festival celebrations in town were the talk of the town.

The air was filled with the unique aroma of the festival. Unlike ordinary days, the town of Beiping seemed to be given a special meaning on this day.

As He Yun entered the city, he overheard passersby discussing the Laba Festival that night. A glint of excitement flashed in his eyes; he was always full of curiosity about new things.

He turned to Shen Mo and Zhao Xue, and said eagerly, "Miss Zhao, Brother Shen, the Laba Festival in the city tonight should be quite interesting. Why don't we stay in Beiping Town for the night?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xue smiled brightly and nodded in agreement: "Okay, okay, but I wonder if it will take up too much of the two gentlemen's time?" Her tone was tinged with concern, but even more so with anticipation.

Hearing about Laba Festival, Shen Mo looked up at the sky. The swirling snowflakes reminded him of his childhood. Every year on Laba Festival, his mother would cook a warm bowl of Laba porridge, the most cherished taste in his memory. Now, things had changed, and that warmth was a thing of the past. A faint sadness flickered in Shen Mo's eyes, and he sighed softly, "Laba Festival..." His words carried a touch of melancholy.

He Yun, absorbed in his anticipation of the Laba Festival, failed to notice Shen Mo's change in mood. Seeing Zhao Xue agree, he immediately grabbed Shen Mo's shoulder excitedly and asked eagerly, "Brother Shen, Brother Shen, what do you think about staying tonight to see the Laba Festival in the city?"

Shen Mo snapped out of his reverie, looked at He Yun's expectant eyes, nodded, and smiled, "Alright, since we've happened to come across this, let's stay and see the Laba Festival in Beiping Town."

After inquiring about the exact location of the town's Laba Festival, the three found an inn nearby to settle down. The inn was simply but neatly decorated. Although the waiter saw that they were three teenagers, he did not neglect them in the slightest. On the contrary, he warmly welcomed them and prepared hot meals for them, driving away their fatigue from the journey.

As night falls, the streets of Beiping Town are brightly lit, with lanterns hanging in front of every household illuminating the entire street, making it feel like a fairyland.

Shen Mo, He Yun, and Zhao Xue strolled through the sea of ​​Laba Festival offerings, feeling the unique festive atmosphere. Zhao Xue's face was filled with unprecedented joy. She pulled the other two through the crowd, sometimes stopping to watch the performers, sometimes tasting the street food. The three of them enjoyed this rare moment of leisure.

In front of shops lining both sides of the street, people gathered to share the joy of the festival. Children played among the crowds, carrying all sorts of lanterns, while the elderly sat around braziers, reminiscing about the past. Watching all this, Shen Mo felt his sorrow lessen considerably amidst the joy. He silently followed He Yun and Zhao Xue, immersing himself in the vibrant and lively festival celebration.