Wandering Swordsman |

The bookworm asked curiously, "I see. Then why do you call me 'sir'?"

Shen Mo replied, "Your attire makes you look like a teacher in a private school. Aren't you a young teacher at a private school?"

Upon hearing Shen Mo's explanation, the bookworm immediately became wary: "You even know about private schools?"

Shen Mo explained, "I used to be a beggar in town for a few years, so I have a good impression of those private school teachers. When I was a beggar, the private school teachers would buy me delicious food from time to time, and sometimes they would let me listen in on their classes outside the window."

The bookworm, upon hearing this, suddenly understood and laughed, "Hehe, how interesting! Meeting you is quite a coincidence. Since you call me 'sir,' I'll stay for two days to be your 'sir' and impart some knowledge to you. What do you say?"

Shen Mo said happily, "Actually, it's not important whether you teach me or not. But I do have some questions I need to ask you, sir."

The bookworm chuckled, "Shen Mo, feel free to ask anything. But I'm not that much older than you. So don't call me 'sir,' my surname is Shu, just call me 'Brother Shu.'"

During their long conversation, Shen Mo recounted to the bookworm his experience of meeting a middle-aged swordsman while working as a beggar in a small town and subsequently becoming his apprentice. His eyes shone with gratitude and nostalgia as he recalled his master. Shen Mo then spoke of rescuing Zhao Xue with He Yun and embarking on their journey together. Finally, he mentioned being chased at the old house, facing danger alone to distract the enemy, ultimately falling off a cliff, but unexpectedly catching himself on a tree branch at the bottom, where he was rescued by two monkeys.

At this point, Shen Mo looked gratefully at the two monkeys beside him, who still watched the Bookworm warily. Listening to Shen Mo recount this experience, the Bookworm felt even more curious and admiring of this young man. However, in Shen Mo's narration, he deliberately avoided mentioning the *Wu Xiang Jing* (Scripture of No Form), making no mention of Luo Wangchen's request, and even omitting the names of Luo Wangchen, He Yun, and Zhao Xue.

After hearing Shen Mo's story, the bookworm was filled with doubt, especially curious about how he could survive such a perilous situation. So he asked, "Brother Shen, you have a sword in your chest but are still alive; that truly intrigues me. Could you extend your hand so I can take your pulse?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo extended his hand to the bookworm without hesitation. The bookworm gently grasped Shen Mo's wrist with his fingers, closed his eyes, and listened intently. After a moment, the bookworm's expression grew increasingly serious, his brows furrowed, as if he had discovered something unbelievable.

Finally, the bookworm opened his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise and unease, and said to Shen Mo, "Brother Shen, judging from the pulse just now, it's really strange."

Shen Mo asked curiously, "Brother Shu, is there anything strange about this place?"

After a moment of contemplation, the bookworm slowly said, "Perhaps it's due to my limited knowledge. When I took your pulse just now, I felt that Brother Shen's pulse was moving in the opposite direction to that of an ordinary person, and the position of his heart was also opposite to that of an ordinary person. According to medical books, you are an extremely rare person with a mirror-like appearance. According to martial arts books, you have the Heavenly Martial Body."

After the idiot finished speaking, Shen Mo suddenly realized that although he didn't know what the "Heavenly Martial Body" was, the "Mirror Man" made Shen Mo immediately understand the literal meaning of the words. No wonder he was still alive even though his heart had been pierced.

Thinking of this, Shen Mo felt a complex mix of emotions, a mixture of relief and shock. He looked at the bookworm and said gratefully, "So that's how it is. It's all thanks to this special constitution that I survived. Brother Shu, thank you for telling me all this."

The bookworm nodded slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He continued, "Brother Shen, your physique is indeed rare, but it also means you'll face greater dangers in the martial world. Some people might become interested in you, or even try to exploit your special physique. You must be more careful and absolutely avoid letting anyone casually probe your meridians."

Although Shen Mo didn't fully understand what the bookworm was trying to say, he nodded, keeping the bookworm's words in mind, and then said gratefully, "Brother Shu, I will remember your advice."

Immediately afterward, the bookworm asked with concern, "Brother Shen, have you felt anything unusual about your health lately?"

Shen Mo looked at the bookworm with disbelief and slowly said, "Brother Shu, you're really amazing. Ever since I got injured, I don't know why, but I feel more and more tired every day."

The bookworm frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "The Black Wind Gang is always efficient and clean in their work. Even if they stab you in the heart, they'll make sure you're dead. If, as Brother Shen said, he stabbed you, you fell off a cliff, and no one came to find your body, then we can conclude that the sword that stabbed you was definitely coated with poison!!!"

Shen Mo was startled upon hearing this. After a moment of stunned silence, he laughed out loud, "Hahaha, isn't this a good thing? If I die from the poison, then I'll have no more worries."

Upon hearing this, the bookworm felt a surge of admiration for Shen Mo's composed attitude and said, "It's rare to see Brother Shen so open-minded. But don't worry, Brother Shen. After I successfully complete this mission, I will find a way to locate a spiritual medicine to cure your poison."

Shen Mo felt a pang of sorrow in his heart and declined, saying, "Brother Shu, there's no need to trouble yourself. Since everything is predestined, why should I try to escape fate's arrangement?" His eyes revealed a deep loneliness and helplessness, as if to say: In this world, he has no more attachments, and no one cares about his life or death.

Shen Mo's heart was filled with complex emotions. He recalled how, after his parents died of the plague, he had been begging for a living alone in a small town. Later, he met Luo Wangchen, and it seemed that his life was about to have some new hope... After many twists and turns, he was now in dire straits again, and might not live much longer. This sense of loneliness made him feel extremely heavy.

Seeing Shen Mo's state, the bookworm felt a surge of pity. A thought struck him, and he said, "Brother Shen, if fate is truly predetermined, then perhaps your meeting with me today was also destined."

After hearing this, Shen Mo looked down at the ground and fell silent. Countless images flashed through his mind: the days of hunger and cold in the small town when he was a child, the surprise of meeting Luo Wangchen, the warm time he spent with He Yun and Zhao Xue... These memories surged like a tide, making him feel both warm and heartbroken.

Seeing Shen Mo remain silent, the bookworm asked softly, "Brother Shen, what are you thinking about?"

Shen Mo raised his head, tears glistening in his eyes, but he still tried his best to remain calm: "I was thinking, if all of this is really destined, then it might really be fate that I met Brother Shu on the last leg of my life. In the days to come, I ask Brother Shu to see me off on my final journey."