Wandering Swordsman |

He Yun's expression was solemn, unsure how to comfort Zhao Xue. He gently placed Shen Mo's bronze sword on the table and said in a low voice, "This sword was given to Brother Shen by Miss Wang of Beiping City. I found it next to a pool of blood on that cliff..." His voice was low, and every word seemed to carry endless sorrow.

With trembling hands, Zhao Xue picked up the sword, her fingers gently tracing the remaining bloodstains on its surface. Her hand lingered on the hilt for a long time, as if trying to feel Shen Mo's warmth. A tear welled up in her eyes, then slid down her cheek, dripping onto the sword and mingling with the dried bloodstains.

"Young Master Shen..." Zhao Xue's voice choked with sobs, tears streaming down her face like broken beads. Memories of their journey together flooded her mind, from their first encounter in the forest to the perils they had faced. Every scene seemed to replay in her mind, tearing her heart apart. She remembered Shen Mo's smile, the moment he risked his life to draw away their pursuers, and her heart was filled with endless sorrow and reluctance.

He Yun stood silently to the side, his eyes filled with deep sympathy and helplessness. Seeing Zhao Xue in such pain, his heart ached even more. Suddenly, he stepped forward and pulled Zhao Xue into his arms. He Yun's heart was filled with heartache; he wanted to offer Zhao Xue warmth and comfort with his embrace. He understood that at this moment, Zhao Xue needed more than just words of comfort; she needed a solid support.

Zhao Xue found an outlet in He Yun's arms. Unable to contain her grief any longer, she began to wail. Her tears soaked He Yun's clothes, but He Yun showed no disgust. Instead, he hugged her even tighter, as if he wanted to take all the pain upon himself.

"Ah Xue, cry. Cry all your tears in my arms." He Yun's voice was deep and gentle, every word seemingly carrying a warm power. His embrace was like a solid fortress, giving Zhao Xue an endless sense of security.

Suddenly, Zhao Xue felt a sense of security in her empty heart. She opened up about her sadness and sobbed, her voice filled with endless sorrow: "I... am... now... alone... and helpless... even Young Master Shen has left me... now you're all I have left... I want to stay by your side forever... and never... leave... you..." Her tears flowed like a spring, but in this warm embrace, she felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

Hearing Zhao Xue's words, He Yun felt a surge of warmth in his heart, along with a heavy sense of responsibility. He hugged Zhao Xue tightly, tears streaming down his face. But he still said firmly, "Ah Xue, I, He Yun, swear to heaven. I will protect you for the rest of my life." His voice was filled with a resolute promise, as if telling Zhao Xue that no matter what the future held, he would protect her until the very last moment.

In He Yun's embrace, Zhao Xue felt an unprecedented warmth and strength. She immediately hugged He Yun tightly, as if to pour out all her sorrow. The two used tears to replace words, holding each other tightly, as if the whole world had disappeared, leaving only their existence.

As the two people inside the house grieved, lightning flashed and thunder roared outside, as if countless dark clouds were gathering in the sky. Then, raindrops the size of chopsticks began to fall, striking the roof with a crisp sound. Rain dripped from the eaves, forming curtains of water that enveloped the entire twilight in a hazy mist.

The sound of rain intensified, as if accompanying their sorrow. The candlelight inside flickered in the wind and rain, casting dappled shadows and adding to the desolate atmosphere. But within this guest room, He Yun and Zhao Xue's hearts were tightly bound together, as if neither the wind nor the rain could separate them.

In He Yun's arms, Zhao Xue gradually calmed down, but she didn't loosen her grip on him, and He Yun continued to hold her. They both seemed reluctant to let go, as if at this moment they had found each other's strongest support. Zhao Xue's tears gradually stopped, and a warmth and determination filled her heart. He Yun sensed Zhao Xue's calmness and felt a sense of comfort; he knew he hadn't betrayed her trust.

An hour later, the sound of rain outside the window began to subside, the raindrops gradually thinned, and finally turned into a light drizzle. He Yun whispered to Zhao Xue in his arms, "Ah Xue, it's getting late, we should go to the bedroom to rest. You should go to the bedroom to rest early too. Get some rest, we still have to continue our journey to Changbai Mountain tomorrow morning to fulfill Brother Shen's request."

Hearing He Yun's words, Zhao Xue felt a sudden pang of reluctance. She looked up, tears welling in her eyes, and whispered, "Brother Yun, I want to be with you tonight. I don't want to be separated from you again." Her voice held a hint of pleading, as if she were begging He Yun not to leave her.

He Yun remained silent for a long time, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He thought of Zhao Xue's ordeal in the dilapidated temple that day, of her fear and helplessness, and finally nodded. He said gently, "Okay, I'll stay with you tonight."

He Yun picked up Zhao Xue from his arms and walked into one of the bedrooms. The candlelight inside still flickered, but in this warm light, the two figures appeared exceptionally intimate.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the entire room. When Zhao Xue woke up, she found herself lying on a soft bed, with He Yun leaning over her on a stool beside her, one hand tightly holding hers. Seeing He Yun sleeping soundly, a bright smile instantly spread across her face. Her heart was filled with warmth, as if everything had become beautiful.

Zhao Xue leaned closer, carefully examining He Yun's face. A resolute air emanated from He Yun's brows, yet he appeared exceptionally gentle in his sleep. Zhao Xue couldn't help but place her other hand on He Yun's cheek, gently stroking it. Her fingers lightly traced his eyebrows, the bridge of his nose, and his lips, as if savoring every detail of him.

He Yun slowly opened his eyes as Zhao Xue touched him. The morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting a warm glow on his face. He saw Zhao Xue gently stroking his cheek, and his heart skipped a beat, thinking something urgent had happened to her. He asked softly, "Ah Xue, what's wrong?"

Zhao Xue was startled by He Yun's sudden awakening. The smile on her face froze instantly. She immediately withdrew her hand from He Yun's face, a slight blush appearing on her cheek. She dared not look directly at He Yun and said shyly, "No... nothing's wrong..."