Wandering Swordsman |

At this moment, Murong Fan suddenly spoke up, his voice steady and firm: "Father, is it possible that this matter is related to the rampant bandits in Cangzhou that we sent people to eliminate last month? Since Cangzhou is not far from Jinzhou, I think we can start the investigation from there."

Upon hearing this, Murong Tian was slightly taken aback, then thought about it carefully. His brows furrowed, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes: "That band of bandits has already been wiped out, how could they possibly still have the ability to retaliate?" He muttered to himself, seemingly considering this possibility.

Liu Xiaorong stood aside, quietly listening to the conversation between the father and son. Her eyes were thoughtful, and after a moment she nodded, indicating her agreement with Murong Fan's view: "Young Master, I agree with the Second Young Master's opinion. Although that band of bandits has been wiped out, perhaps their remnants or accomplices still harbor thoughts of revenge. I will investigate in Cangzhou and report back to you."

Upon hearing this, Murong Tian's gaze swept back and forth between Murong Fan and Liu Xiaorong, seemingly weighing the feasibility of the suggestion. Finally, he took a deep breath and nodded: "Very well, then I'll trouble Miss Liu to investigate my daughter's whereabouts. If there's any clue, immediately send me a message by carrier pigeon."

Liu Xiaorong replied, "Don't worry, young master, I'll set off immediately." After saying that, she turned and left right away.

......

The scene shifts from the Murong family to Cangzhou. After two days of travel, Murong Qing and Shen Mo finally enter the city. They had walked the entire way, and due to limited funds, they hadn't eaten or slept well. Murong Qing's shoes were worn, but her eyes still shone with determination and anticipation.

Upon entering Cangzhou City, Murong Qing immediately became excited. She twirled around lightly, a long-lost smile on her face: "After traveling for so many days, we've finally arrived in the city."

Looking at her, Shen Mo shook his head helplessly, but his eyes held a hint of indulgent curiosity: "Miss Murong, why are you so happy? You've suffered a lot on this journey, don't you feel tired?"

Murong Qing smiled and replied, "Of course I'm tired, but going into the city means I can stay in a nice inn and eat delicacies." Her eyes were full of longing for a better life, as if a feast was already laid out before her.

Shen Mo smiled wryly and said, "Miss Murong, but we don't have much money left." His voice was tinged with worry, after all, the reality was that they were indeed short of money.

Murong Qing smiled slightly and said mysteriously, "Wait for me here for a moment." After saying that, she disappeared into the street like a gust of wind, leaving Shen Mo standing there, full of doubts.

A while later, Murong Qing reappeared on the street, holding several silver notes in her hand. She waved them from afar and shouted, "Shen Mo, come over here! I have silver notes!"

Upon seeing this, Shen Mo's eyes widened in surprise, and he hurriedly stepped forward: "Miss Murong, what is this...?" Before he could finish speaking, Murong Qing had already handed over the silver notes with a smile.

As Murong Qing's voice echoed through the bustling streets, the silver notes in her hand were snatched away in an instant, as if pulled by an invisible hand.

The man moved with dazzling speed; in an instant, the silver notes disappeared into the crowded throng. Murong Qing was stunned for a moment, her face immediately showing anxiety and unease as she anxiously scanned her surroundings.

The streets were bustling with people, the crowds surging like a tide, and everyone looked so similar that Murong Qing's heart jumped into her throat.

She looked around, trying to find the figure who had snatched the silver notes, but the thief had already disappeared into the crowd. She bit her lip, her hands clenched unconsciously, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her eyes were filled with anxiety and regret.

Just as Murong Qing was about to give up, a tall, elegantly dressed young man suddenly took action not far away.

As if he had noticed all of this beforehand, he swiftly grabbed the thief who was trying to escape and snatched Murong Qing's silver notes from the thief's hand.

The young man's actions drew everyone's attention. His voice was loud and authoritative: "You thief, you stole someone's money and tried to run away!!!"

The shout caused the surrounding pedestrians to stop in their tracks, their curious gazes turning to the scene, quickly forming a circle. Seeing the situation was dire, the thief turned ashen-faced and immediately knelt down, begging for mercy: "Great hero, spare my life! Great hero, spare my life!" His voice trembled, filled with obvious fear.

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, two constables happened to be patrolling nearby. Seeing what was happening, they immediately stepped forward and took the thief away without a word. The onlookers whispered among themselves before gradually dispersing, and the street returned to its usual bustling state.

Murong Qing was still reeling from the shock, standing there blankly, seemingly unable to recover from the sudden turn of events. The young man, who looked like a gentleman, approached Murong Qing, bowed respectfully, and his gentle voice broke the silence: "Miss, Cangzhou has never been peaceful. It's best not to show your wealth to others easily."

Murong Qing was slightly taken aback, then accepted the money that had been stolen from her from the young man. She thanked him softly, "Thank you for your help, young master."

The young man smiled slightly, his smile revealing a touch of nonchalance and confidence: "My name is Yan Shang. I suppose you are also new to the world of martial arts. It is an honor to meet you today." His eyes were gentle, and his tone was sincere, as if every word had been carefully chosen.

"Meeting is fate," Yan Shang continued. "It's almost lunchtime. Why don't you come to my residence, young lady, for a casual meal?"

Murong Qing felt a strange sense of goodwill towards the young master who had suddenly appeared and acted bravely, but her eyes suddenly became hesitant, as if she had remembered something important.

Her gaze shifted for a moment, finally settling on the crowd not far away, as if searching for someone. "Young master, thank you for your kindness, but I have a friend who came to Cangzhou with me..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yan Shang had already keenly sensed her hesitation and immediately interrupted, "Then it wouldn't hurt to invite your friends along. We can enjoy tea and conversation together at your residence; wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Qing looked around but couldn't find Shen Mo anywhere, and she couldn't help but feel anxious. "My friend was just here a moment ago, how come he's disappeared in the blink of an eye?" Her brows furrowed, and her voice carried a hint of unease. "Thank you for your kindness, young master, but I still need to go look for him."

Seeing that Murong Qing was about to leave, Yan Shang quickly reached out to stop her, his movements elegant yet firm: "Miss, there's no need for you to trouble yourself. Once you arrive at my residence, you can tell me the details of your friend, and I'll send someone to find him. That will be faster and safer."