Wandering Swordsman |

The Murong family scions around them also fell into deep thought, each filled with mixed emotions. One of the young men couldn't help but speak up: "We've always lived under the protection of our families, never imagining that the real martial world could be so cruel."

Another disciple nodded and added, "Yes, seeing all this with my own eyes today, I realize that the martial world is far more complex than I imagined. I thought assassins were all strong men, but I never thought they could even be old people or children."

At this moment, the autumn wind rustled, and leaves drifted down, as if bidding farewell to this fierce battle. The setting sun cast a blood-red glow on the horizon, adding to the desolation. The group stood motionless for a long time, deeply moved by what they had just witnessed.

"Shen Mo, you've been through a lot like this over the years, haven't you?" Murong Qing asked softly, her tone filled with concern and tenderness.

Shen Mo nodded and said, "That's how the martial world is. Sometimes, it's either you die or I die; there's no way out."

Murong Qing took a deep breath, her eyes full of agreement. After calming her inner turmoil, she continued to speak to the young members of the Murong family: "From now on, we must be more cautious and cannot afford to be negligent in any way."

The other members of the Murong family nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with determination and resolve. At this moment, they all deeply understood the cruelty and ruthlessness of the martial world, and realized that only by constantly honing themselves could they gain a foothold in this world full of unknowns and dangers.

"Let's go, let's keep going." Shen Mo broke the silence and took the lead.

After regaining their composure, everyone followed Shen Mo's lead and continued forward.

......

Blood Shadow Tower.

The candlelight flickered in the bronze lamp, like a candle in the wind, as if it might be extinguished at any moment. The portraits of the past leaders hanging on the wall cast mottled shadows in the dim light, as if the spirits of those long-gone heroes were silently watching this assassin organization that was about to unleash a storm.

A suffocating sense of oppression hung in the air, making even breathing heavy. The assassins stood or sat, their expressions varied, yet none dared to make a move. They knew that today's events were no small matter—the second assassination attempt had failed, and failed so thoroughly that not even a hair on Shen Mo's head had been harmed.

"Failed again!" Huangfu Hui slammed his hand on the table, sending wood chips flying and leaving a deep crack in the surface. His eyes were bloodshot, his anger almost bursting from their sockets. "Looks like your Blood Shadow Tower is nothing special after all!"

His voice was like hailstones pelting the roof tiles, each word ringing out, sending a chill down their spines. Several young assassins couldn't help but shrink back, feeling a cold shiver run down their spines.

However, faced with this humiliation, the current leader of the Blood Shadow Tower remained seated and unmoved. He was thin, with a cold expression and eyes as deep as an icy pool. At this moment, a cold and resolute glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had already disregarded life and death.

"Shen Mo and the others haven't reached the Nanjing City Martial Arts Alliance yet, we still have a chance." He spoke slowly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable power.

Huangfu Hui sneered, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "So you say 'there's still a chance'? If you fail again, what face will your Blood Shadow Tower have left to stand in the martial world? You might as well just disband!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. No one dared to speak, and even their breathing became slightly softer.

After a long silence, Huangfu Hui turned away, leaving behind a chilling statement: "If you still cannot complete the mission of my Huangfu family before they reach the Nanjing Martial Arts Alliance, then the Blood Shadow Tower has no reason to exist."

The footsteps faded into the night. Once they were completely out of sight, a murmur of discussion arose in the hall.

"That Huangfu Hui is too arrogant!" A burly assassin slammed his fist into a stone pillar in a fit of rage, his knuckles breaking and blood gushing out. "How about we just..." He made a throat-slitting gesture, his eyes fierce.

"Are you crazy?" another older assassin hissed. "He is the second young master of the Huangfu family, one of the eight great families. He certainly has the right to be arrogant. Our Blood Shadow Tower is no match for them. If we act rashly, we will only bring about the destruction of our entire family."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent for a moment, their gazes all falling on the host.

The host slowly rose, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the dark night outside the window. After a long while, he said, "Shen Mo is still two days away from the Nanjing Martial Arts Alliance. This is our last chance." His voice was deep yet firm, like a tempered blade cutting through the silence. "If we fail again this time... the Huangfu family will not let us off the hook."

He paused, turned around, and his gaze swept across the entire room, causing every assassin to involuntarily straighten their backs.

The atmosphere in the hall shifted abruptly, the previously low morale replaced by a chilling killing intent. The assassins clasped their hands in salute, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

"Boss! We swear to complete this mission, even at the cost of our lives!"

As night deepened and dark clouds obscured the moonlight, the Blood Shadow Tower mobilized in the shadows, like a group of silent ghosts. They chose a small village that Shen Mo and his group were bound to pass through as their battlefield.

This village was once peaceful and tranquil, where villagers worked at sunrise and rested at sunset, living a life free from worldly strife. However, this peace is about to be completely shattered.

Under the cover of night, the assassins of the Blood Shadow Tower silently surrounded the entire village. They held sharp blades, their eyes gleaming with a cold light. With a single command, screams shattered the silence of the night, and blood stained the earth. The villagers didn't even have time to cry for help before falling to the merciless blades. The entire village became a living hell, the air thick with the stench of blood.

......

The next day, at the first light of dawn, the village was shrouded in a thin mist.

Golden sunlight streamed across the fields, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking filled the air, as if yesterday's bloody massacre had never happened. Villagers on the field ridges continued their work at sunrise, hoes swirling and soil flying, children ran and laughed at the village entrance, and elders sat on stone benches basking in the sun and smoking pipes—everything was as usual, peaceful as a pastoral painting.

However, beneath this peaceful facade lurked a chilling murderous intent—the "villagers" had long since been replaced by assassins from the Blood Shadow Tower.

Their movements were precise yet unnatural; the rhythm of their hoe swings was too uniform; their eyes lacked the simplicity and focus expected of farmers, instead displaying a coldness and wariness. Even the barking of the dogs seemed deliberately imitated, carrying a mechanical stiffness.