Wandering Swordsman |

Two days later, in the evening, in a small town 500 miles away from Nanjing, Situ Changkong's haggard face and disheveled clothes clearly showed his current predicament.

The once neat and dignified robe now appeared disheveled, as if telling of its owner's inner weariness and struggle. His hair was loose, with a few strands of black hair falling over his shoulders, and his eyes revealed deep worry and exhaustion.

Situ Changkong walked into a secluded teahouse, trying to find a moment of peace.

However, the surrounding noise made it difficult for him to calm down.

The chatter of several江湖人士 (jianghu figures) at the next table gradually reached his ears. At first, it was just a few casual words, but it quickly turned into wanton slander against him.

"Have you heard? Situ Changkong, the beloved disciple of the martial arts alliance leader, has done many despicable things!"

"That's right. I heard he accidentally killed an innocent person in a martial arts competition. He's a complete murderer."

"What's even worse is that he forcibly abducted women, driving their families to ruin and death."

"It's said he also embezzled funds from the Martial Arts Alliance; he's a complete scoundrel!"

"Welcome (*｀∀´*)ノ亻架人, (*｀∀´*)绞流."

"7, 4, 7, 3, 9, 2, 4, 1, 2"

"This is a QQ group for wandering adventurers."

......

These statements became increasingly exaggerated, with each version more outrageous than the last.

Situ Changkong was furious upon hearing these unfounded accusations.

He never imagined that simply framing Shen Mo once would become the talk of the town, and the rumors were getting more and more outrageous, almost portraying him as an utterly wicked villain.

Just as those people were getting more and more outrageous, Situ Changkong finally couldn't hold back any longer. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Enough!"

The shout was like a bolt from the blue, and the entire teahouse fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the guest who had suddenly erupted.

Seeing that Situ Changkong was dressed sloppily and looked disheveled, the martial arts figures assumed he was easy to bully and all showed disdainful smiles.

"How can you be so rude? What business is it of yours if we're talking about Situ Changkong?" one of them provocatively said.

Situ Changkong coldly swept his gaze across them, his eyes as sharp as a knife, as if trying to see through their thoughts.

He stood up, his voice low and firm: "The person you're talking about is me—Situ Changkong. I admit I made a mistake, but I'm definitely not the kind of person you're describing."

Seeing Situ Changkong's tough stance, those people couldn't help but show a fierce look on their faces. Relying on their superior numbers and the fact that Situ Changkong was outnumbered and outmatched, they immediately prepared to teach this arrogant person a lesson.

However, they quickly regretted their decision. Situ Changkong flashed forward, his movements as swift as lightning, instantly routing the provocateurs. Although he was exhausted, his years of training in the Jingtian Pavilion martial arts allowed him to handle these minor figures with ease.

A moment later, those people lay on the ground groaning, while Situ Changkong straightened his clothes and slowly left.

However, all of this was observed by a woman inside the teahouse.

She sat quietly in the corner, a wicked smile playing on her lips, as if she found everything happening before her quite amusing.

After Situ Changkong left, she gently placed the money on the table, then got up and followed in his footsteps.

......

As night falls, fewer pedestrians appear on the streets, with only a few dim streetlights illuminating the road ahead.

Situ Changkong walked hurriedly, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and helplessness, leaving him no time to notice the figure quietly following behind him.

The mysterious woman followed him closely like a shadow, seemingly showing great interest in him.

Moonlight spilled onto the stone path, tracing silvery paths. In this quiet night, a new story was quietly unfolding.

Situ Changkong had no idea that this seemingly ordinary night would be a pivotal moment in his life.

At this moment, Situ Changkong's feelings were complex and heavy. He knew that everything he had done was irreversible, and the rumors in the martial arts world would only intensify. However, he did not regret it, because he firmly believed that everything he had done was for Situ Meng's good. In his heart, it was Shen Mo's sudden appearance that had shattered his peaceful life and disrupted everything.

Situ Changkong's heart was filled with resentment towards Shen Mo. If only Shen Mo could just disappear forever, he cursed silently in his heart countless times.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that the root of all misfortune lay with Shen Mo, as if the existence of this person was a curse.

Every time she recalled her interactions with Shen Mo, the anger in her heart burned even more fiercely, eventually turning into an uncontrollable hatred.

"Why did you have to show up? Why now of all times?" Situ Changkong muttered to himself through gritted teeth, his hands clenching into fists involuntarily. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this state. Shen Mo, it's all your fault!"

Just as he was overcome with anger and couldn't help but shout those words, a chill suddenly swept over him.

He turned around abruptly and found a mysterious woman standing not far away, staring at him with an enigmatic gaze.

The moonlight shone on her, outlining a graceful silhouette, as if she were a ghost from another world.

"Who are you?" Situ Changkong asked warily, his hand unconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword, a hint of vigilance flashing in his eyes.

The woman smiled slightly, a hint of eerie allure in her smile: "Young Master Situ, who I am is not important. What is important is that I was also tricked by the 'Shen Mo' you mentioned." Her voice was as gentle as a night breeze, yet it carried an unsettling power.

It's actually her!

If Huangfu Haotian were here, he would definitely recognize her. She is the Red Lotus Demon who escaped from Huangfu Haotian's hands. If Shen Moruo were here, she would also recognize her face at a glance as the person who caused a scene at the engagement ceremony that day.

Upon hearing this, Situ Changkong's heart stirred. He knew the woman before him was no ordinary person. But whether she was friend or foe was still uncertain. In any case, he had no way back; he could only continue forward and face the unknown fate.

"What does the young lady want?" Situ Changkong asked calmly, trying to conceal his inner turmoil. His gaze swept over the Crimson Lotus Demon, attempting to catch any possible flaw.

The woman approached with light steps until they were only a few steps apart. "I can help you get out of your current predicament, and we can get rid of Shen Mo together, as long as you are willing to cooperate with me." Her voice held a hint of temptation, as if she were showing Situ Changkong a completely new path.

Situ Changkong remained silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He knew that the woman before him might be an opportunity, but she could also be a trap. But regardless of the outcome, his current situation indicated that he had no better choice.

"You won't even reveal your name, how can I trust you?" Situ Changkong said, feigning suspicion, trying to probe the other party's true intentions.