Wandering Swordsman |

Hearing this, Hua Tianyou was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. Shen Mo continued, "As long as you are willing to serve me as your master, I will spare your life. After all, there is no deep-seated hatred between us."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yan and Yue Linglong felt a surge of warmth in their hearts. They knew that these were the very words Hua Tianyou had spoken to them at the entrance of the cave. Shen Mo's words now were undoubtedly meant to avenge them.

Lu Yan's eyes gleamed with admiration and respect as he looked at Shen Mo. At that moment, his loyalty to Shen Mo deepened even further.

Yue Linglong clenched her fists slightly, her eyes filled with affection for Shen Mo. She understood that Shen Mo was not only retaliating against Hua Tianyou's arrogance, but also demonstrating his authority to everyone.

Hua Tianyou's face turned extremely pale; he knew he had been driven into a corner. He gritted his teeth, stared at Shen Mo, and said firmly, "I can swear to be loyal to you forever, but I have one condition."

"Speak!" Shen Mo's response was firm and decisive, his eyes showing no wavering.

Hua Tianyou took a deep breath, as if making a final struggle, "I want you to come with me to the far west to kill someone." His tone was not a request, but carried an unquestionable sense of command.

"Alright! Hua Tianyou, I agree!" Shen Mo's answer was without any hesitation, as if this condition was easy for him. His gaze remained firm, as if it could pierce through Hua Tianyou's soul.

Hearing Shen Mo's unwavering promise, Hua Tianyou was deeply moved. He knew that his choice at this moment would determine his fate. So, he quickly knelt down, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and bowed his head to show his loyalty: "My lord, please accept Hua Tianyou's bow! From this day forward, my life belongs to you, and I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation."

The atmosphere inside the cave was exceptionally solemn, leaving Tu Yuliang and his six companions somewhat at a loss. They had just declared their betrayal of Shen Mo and pledged allegiance to Hua Tianyou, and now Hua Tianyou had sworn allegiance to Shen Mo. Each of them was filled with complex emotions: shock, confusion, and a deep sense of unease.

At this moment, Shen Mo's gaze slowly shifted to the six people who had betrayed him, including Tu Yuliang. He approached them expressionlessly, his steps steady and powerful, like death itself drawing ever closer. The six men's faces were filled with fear, and they involuntarily retreated, trying to keep their distance from Shen Mo.

However, Shen Mo did not take immediate action against them. Instead, he stood before them, silently observing each of them. His silence was more oppressive than any words, causing the fear in the six men's hearts to rise steadily.

In fact, Shen Mo deliberately put on this for Hua Tianyou's benefit. He knew that these six people had already betrayed him once, and he could not trust them again. Even if he used these six people again, it would only greatly diminish his prestige.

But through this demonstration, he wanted to test whether Hua Tianyou would intervene to stop him. If Hua Tianyou did indeed protect these six people, their loyalty to Hua Tianyou would be even stronger, making them an important asset for Hua Tianyou in establishing his power within the Heavenly Demon God Sect.

After a moment, Hua Tianyou finally broke the silence: "My lord, although these people have betrayed you, they were forced by circumstances. If you can give them a chance to repent, perhaps they will become your most loyal supporters."

Shen Mo nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Hua Tianyou's suggestion. "Since you're pleading for them, I'll give you that face." His tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable authority as he spoke to Tu Yuliang and the others, "For Hua Tianyou's sake, the death penalty can be waived, but you'll still have to pay a price—cut off one of your fingers."

Upon hearing that Shen Mo was giving them a chance to reform, Tu Yuliang and the others quickly exchanged glances. In that instant, they all understood a truth: in this unpredictable world, choice is often more important than loyalty.

Tu Yuliang stepped forward first. He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed firmly on Hua Tianyou, and then without hesitation, drew his longsword. The blade gleamed coldly in the dim light of the cave, as if foreshadowing what was to come. Tu Yuliang's eyes showed no hesitation, only resolute determination. He swung his sword sharply, the sharp blade slicing through the air, precisely severing the little finger of his left hand. Blood gushed from the severed finger, staining his palm and the blade crimson.

Immediately, the other five followed suit, each drawing their weapons and decisively severing a finger. A faint smell of blood filled the air, accompanied by the sounds of the six gritting their teeth in pain. However, despite the excruciating pain, a sense of relief appeared on their faces, as if through this act, they had finally gained a new life.

"Thank you, Heavenly Demon God, for sparing our lives! Thank you, Lord, for saving our lives! From this day forward, we are willing to follow the Heavenly Demon God and our Lord at all costs!" Tu Yuliang and the others endured the pain of their severed fingers, kneeling down as they spoke, their voices filled with determination and resolve. Blood continued to gush from the wounds on their severed fingers, but their faces bore a look of relief and resolve.

Hua Tianyou looked at the six people before him, a surge of emotion rising within him. He knew that although these people had once betrayed Shen Mo, they had now completely changed their allegiance. At this moment, he was filled with confidence for the future. He spoke slowly, a hint of satisfaction in his voice, "I will lead you to even greater heights."

"The Heavenly Demon God?" The fact that Tu Yuliang and the others called themselves the Heavenly Demon God stirred a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including nostalgia and reflection) in Shen Mo. He stood there, his gaze deep, his thoughts drifting back to four years ago. Back then, he was just a beggar wandering the streets, struggling to survive. Who could have imagined that just four years later, he would become the Heavenly Demon God of the Heavenly Demon God Sect? All these changes felt like a dream, lacking a real sense of reality, yet so vividly unfolding before his eyes.

Then, as if he had suddenly thought of something, Shen Mo said to Tu Yuliang and the others, "Get up first." His voice was deep and powerful, exuding an undeniable authority.

Upon hearing this, the six immediately stood up. Then, Shen Mo, still standing, extended a hand towards the six severed fingers lying on the ground and began to concentrate. Suddenly, the scattered severed fingers floated up, and under Shen Mo's remote manipulation, they seemed to come alive, flying towards the cut surfaces of Tu Yuliang and the others' severed fingers. This ability to manipulate objects from a distance was something even the Demon Lord couldn't do, leaving everyone present utterly astonished.