Wandering Swordsman |

As night fell, the lights of Jingtian Pavilion gradually illuminated the mountaintop, casting a serene and solemn glow on the snow-capped peaks. He Yun and Zhao Xue emerged from their room, their hearts filled with a mixture of tension and excitement. They knew that to achieve their goal of visiting Jingtian Pavilion, they had to find Sect Master Situ.

Upon seeing a Jingtian Pavilion martial artist passing by not far away, the two quickly stepped forward. He Yun clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, politely asking, "Brother, may I ask where Sect Master Situ is? I have important business with him."

The martial artist was initially wary of the two who had suddenly approached, but after sizing up the young man and woman, his wariness lessened considerably. He looked He Yun and Zhao Xue up and down, noticing their dignified appearance, extraordinary bearing, and resolute gaze, and secretly guessed that they might indeed have something important to discuss. Therefore, he nodded slightly and said calmly, "Please come with me, ladies."

He Yun and Zhao Xue exchanged a glance, feeling slightly relieved, and then followed behind the martial artist. The martial artist led them through corridors and courtyards. A gentle night breeze brought a chill, but the two grew increasingly tense.

After walking for a long time, the martial artist finally stopped in front of a magnificent and imposing study. This study was located in the core area of ​​the Jingtian Pavilion, and two Jingtian Pavilion martial artists of considerable strength stood guard at the entrance, giving it an exceptionally solemn appearance. The two guards had sharp eyes, seemingly scrutinizing everyone who approached.

The leading martial artist stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said respectfully, "Senior brothers, these two young heroes say they have important matters to discuss with the sect leader. Please convey their message to them."

The two guards nodded slightly. One of them turned and went into the study, while the other stood at the door, his eyes still watching He Yun and Zhao Xue warily.

After a short wait, He Yun and Zhao Xue stood outside the door, their minds filled with thoughts. Zhao Xue gently tugged at He Yun's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Yun, do you think Master Situ will see us?"

He Yun squeezed Zhao Xue's hand and comforted her, "Ah Xue, don't worry. Hero Situ will definitely see us."

Zhao Xue nodded, feeling a little more at ease.

A short while later, the martial artist who had entered the study came out again and said to He Yun and Zhao Xue, "The sect leader invites you in."

He Yun and Zhao Xue exchanged a smile, the weight lifted from their hearts. They followed the martial artist into the study, where they found it elegantly furnished, with bookshelves filled with various classics and several paintings and calligraphies by famous artists hanging on the walls, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.

Seated at the desk was a middle-aged man, none other than Situ Dengfeng, the sect leader of Jingtian Pavilion. He wore a blue robe, a smile on his face, and gave off a gentle and refined air. The aura emanating from him was similar to that of an ordinary person, making it hard to imagine that this middle-aged man had once been the leader of the martial arts alliance.

Upon seeing the two men enter, Situ Dengfeng stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "What brings you two young heroes to visit so late at night?"

He Yun and Zhao Xue stepped forward, cupped their hands in greeting, and He Yun respectfully said, "Junior He Yun, this is my junior sister Zhao Xue. We have come here today to report an important matter to the sect leader."

Situ Dengfeng nodded slightly, gesturing for the two to sit down, and said in a calm tone, "Please sit down, young heroes. Please feel free to speak your mind."

After He Yun and Zhao Xue sat down, He Yun organized his thoughts, his expression unconsciously becoming tense, simply because the person before him was Situ Dengfeng, a renowned hero known to all in the martial arts world. He took a deep breath and said firmly, "Sect Leader, I have a deceased friend who entrusted me to convey a message to you."

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng's face showed a hint of curiosity. He then praised He Yun for relaying the message and said in a gentle tone, "Young brother, your ability to fulfill your old friend's last wish is truly admirable. May I ask what it is?"

"The black wind breaks the melody!" He Yun didn't know the meaning of these four words, but simply relayed Shen Mo's words verbatim.

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng's expression changed drastically, and he stood up with a serious look. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, his tone carrying a sense of urgency: "Young brother, can you tell me who sent you to deliver this message?"

The image of finding Shen Mo's bronze sword by the cliff flashed through He Yun's mind again; the scene was still vivid in his memory. A wave of grief washed over him, and his expression was filled with sorrow: "This is a message from a deceased friend of mine. His name was Shen Mo."

Upon hearing the name "Shen Mo," Situ Dengfeng frowned slightly, clearly trying to recall. After a moment, he stared intently at He Yun and asked in a serious tone, "Shen Mo? I don't seem to recognize that name. Young brother, this matter is extraordinary. Could you tell me more about Shen Mo's background?"

Afterwards, He Yun recounted to Situ Dengfeng in detail how he met Shen Mo and how Shen Mo sacrificed himself to draw away the enemy.

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng's face turned solemn. He sighed deeply and said, "Young brother, it's truly rare for you to encounter such a righteous person. Although Shen Mo is gone, his chivalrous heart is enough to move anyone."

Then, Situ Dengfeng asked, "Has Shen Mo ever mentioned to you which school he came from or who his master was?"

Upon hearing this, He Yun tried hard to recall. After a moment, he shook his head, indicating that he did not know Shen Mo's background.

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng's expression clearly showed some disappointment.

However, at this moment, He Yun suddenly remembered that his master Ouyang Song had once mentioned to him that Shen Mo used the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique and that Shen Mo was exceptionally talented, and that he should maintain a good relationship with Shen Mo.

So he hurriedly said, "Sect Master, although I don't know Shen Mo's specific background, I do know that the martial art Shen Mo uses is a martial art called the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique."

Upon hearing this, Situ Dengfeng's eyes flashed with surprise, then he nodded. He was startled, for the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique was the signature sword technique of his close friend, Luo Wangchen. Situ Dengfeng knew that Luo Wangchen had lived in seclusion for many years, and very few had ever seen him use the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique. However, hearing He Yun say that Shen Mo was using the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique forced him to re-examine the entire incident.

Situ Dengfeng frowned slightly, staring intently at He Yun, his tone tinged with urgency: "Young brother, are you certain that Shen Mo is using the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique?"

Seeing He Yun's affirmative nod, Situ Dengfeng frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. He had specifically written to Luo Wangchen, inviting him to meet with Qu Yifan at Changbai Mountain on the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month. The letter had also specifically mentioned that he had already invited Qu Yifan and hoped that Luo Wangchen could come with him. However, it was already the fourteenth of the twelfth lunar month, and the two had not yet appeared. This made Situ Dengfeng somewhat worried. Combined with He Yun's message, Situ Dengfeng's heart tightened; his worst fears had come true.