Wandering Swordsman |

Shen Mo lightly touched the water with both feet, each step landing precisely on the ripples. His figure was like a swallow, walking on the water at a speed even faster than a fast boat! His clothes fluttered, his black hair danced wildly in the wind, and the Tai'a sword and the Qingniu sword wrapped in cloth were carried on his back, their tassels swaying, making him look like a war god riding the waves.

One step, two steps, three steps...

He walked further and further away, his figure gradually blurring in the mist and rain, yet he remained firmly on the lake surface, as if walking on flat ground.

"He...he's...walking on water?!" another boatman's voice trembled. "I've been a boatman my whole life, and I've never seen anyone walk on water! Could that young man, barely twenty years old...be a god?"

"It seems that things are about to change on Xishan Island..." the old boatman murmured, his eyes filled with awe as he watched the departing figure.

The wind picked up, and the rain intensified.

Shen Mo's figure had already transformed into a black line, pointing directly at Xishan Island.

......

Xishan Island is characterized by its eastern coast lined with reefs and shrouded in mist.

A burly bandit was dozing against a crooked watchtower, his wine jug askew, wine dripping from the corner of his mouth. Another, thin lookout was idly scanning the lake when suddenly his pupils contracted and he sat bolt upright.

"Sixth Brother...?" His voice trembled, his finger pointing shakily to the center of the lake. "You...you look...what's that?"

Old Six looked up groggily and mumbled, "What could it be? Fish? Birds? Or did you see will-o'-the-wisps again?"

"No!" The gaunt bandit almost jumped up. "It's...it's a person! Someone's walking on the water!"

"Bullshit!" Old Six scoffed, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "Walking on water? Do you think it's the Dragon King appearing? Or..."

Before he could finish speaking, he froze.

In the distance, a dark figure was rushing towards the lake, moving as if on flat ground, leaving no trace on the water! With each step, the lake surface remained undisturbed, as if the vast Taihu Lake was nothing more than a dry riverbed beneath his feet!

"I... I'll fucking kill him!" Old Liu dropped the wine jug, which crashed to the ground with a bang, but no one paid any attention to the aroma of the wine.

The two men stared wide-eyed at the approaching figure, as if witnessing a legendary immortal descending to earth. The gaunt bandit even subconsciously rubbed his eyes, but the figure remained clear—clad in ink-black robes, with long, flowing hair, carrying two long swords on his back, treading on water with the speed of a startled swan!

"Quick! Be on alert!" Old Six suddenly woke up, grabbed the gong hanging by the tower, and banged it with all his might.

The sound of gongs pierced the rain curtain, echoing over the island and startling flocks of birds in the forest, which took flight like dark clouds.

"A master! A master is coming on water!" the gaunt bandit screamed, his voice distorted with fear. "Quick! Go report to the boss!"

The two tumbled and crawled down the watchtower, stumbling and staggering towards the main village on the island, their steps faltering, forgetting even to draw their swords.

......

A moment later, Shen Mo lightly touched the last shallow beach with his toes, leaped, and landed steadily on the muddy shore of Xishan Island.

His robes were slightly damp, and his hair clung to his forehead, but he showed no sign of dishevelment. Only his eyes, like cold stars, swept coldly across what lay before him.

On both sides of the forest path ahead, there were already more than thirty bandits, each wielding a knife and axe. They had drawn their swords and nocked their bows, and should have been menacing, but none of them dared to step forward. Instead, their faces were pale, their eyes were darting around, and their hands holding their knives were trembling slightly.

The leader, a burly man with a fierce face and wearing a tiger skin—none other than Wu Ba, the "Iron Palm Flood Dragon" and leader of the Xishan Island bandits—forced himself to remain calm, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. He quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice carrying a hint of obsequiousness:

"Young hero! Which sect do you belong to? I, Wu Ba, have no respect for your stature. Please forgive me if I have offended you!"

The bandits behind him also lowered their heads, some even quietly sheathing their knives, afraid that any action might anger this "master who came by water".

Shen Mo stared at him coldly, without saying a word.

Cold sweat beaded on Wu Ba's forehead as he continued with a forced smile, "Great hero, you've come from afar; you must be tired. I've prepared hot tea and simple food at the stronghold. If you don't mind, would you please come in for a chat? It's raining heavily; it wouldn't be good if your clothes got wet..."

As he spoke, he secretly sized up Shen Mo—that composed demeanor, those unfathomable eyes, that unparalleled lightness skill as he traversed water… This was no ordinary martial artist! Coupled with his youthful face, even the river bandits suspected that this person's martial arts had reached the realm of returning to simplicity, and that his real age might be over sixty!

In the eyes of these river bandits who made their living by plundering, martial arts were everything. Those who could walk on water were practically gods. Bullying the weak and fearing the strong was their way of survival. Now, facing such a master, how could they dare to act rashly? Only by bowing and scraping could they save their lives.

"I've come looking for someone." Shen Mo finally spoke, his voice deep and resonant like a cold iron bell, each word piercing the ears and causing the reeds on the shore to tremble. "A woman, dressed in white and carrying a sword, from the Martial Alliance, has she come to this island?"

Wu Ba was taken aback, then nodded hastily, cold sweat mingling with the rain as it slid down his forehead. He intended to answer truthfully, but the words caught in his throat.

He suddenly realized something.

The young man before me trembled slightly as he spoke, his voice cold yet unable to conceal a trace of suppressed anxiety; his eyes, like a deep, cold pool, showed a fleeting flicker of emotion in his words—it was concern, it was affection, it was a connection that was far beyond what ordinary fellow disciples could have.

Wu Ba's heart skipped a beat, and then a cold smile crept into his eyes.

This man and that woman have an unusual relationship!

In an instant, a wicked plan flashed through his mind.

He had already plotted against Murong Qing—using the lives of ten kidnapped children on the island as leverage to force her to jump into the bottomless abyss, known as the "Ten Thousand Zhang Abyss," on the north side of Xishan Island. The abyss was teeming with venomous snakes, its chilling energy corrosive to the bone; any ordinary expert who ventured in would be devoured to the bone within half an incense stick's time! He witnessed her fall into the abyss; her piercing screams echoed through the valley, only to be swallowed by the hissing of the snakes.

In Wu Ba's eyes, she was dead.

But this young man before us possesses unparalleled martial arts skills and has come walking on water. If he knows the truth, he will certainly not let this go easily!

I can't tell!

He said he was certain to die today!

In a flash, the fear on Wu Ba's face vanished, replaced by an extremely obsequious smile. He straightened his back, his voice even carrying a hint of respect:

"Oh! Young hero, you've come at the perfect time! That Miss Murong is highly skilled in martial arts. Since she arrived on the island the other day, how could we dare to neglect her? We've already prepared fragrant tea and fine wine for her in the stronghold, to treat her well!"

As he spoke, he secretly observed Shen Mo's expression. Seeing the other man's eyebrows twitch slightly, he sneered even more: "Young hero, don't be impatient. I will personally take you to see her. I guarantee that the moment you meet her, even her icy face will melt for you."

He bowed respectfully, his posture humble, but a sinister smugness flashed in his eyes.

This kid is still young after all!

Did he think that coming across the water would intimidate the bandits? Did he think that a simple "search for someone" would reveal the truth? How could he know the treacherous nature of the martial world and the treacherous hearts of men? The slightest slip-up would be met with a backlash!

Wu Ba sneered inwardly, 'Since you're such a lovesick fool, then I'll use love as bait to lure you into my trap! Once you step into the stronghold, traps and hidden weapons will appear from all sides; no matter how skilled you are, you won't escape death!'