Chapter 524 Encounters in the Far West
Inside the Martial Arts Alliance, in front of the Elite Academy, two enormous red lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, casting a dim and hazy glow.
Two guards were leaning against the gatepost, yawning incessantly, looking utterly bored.
Suddenly, a figure in black emerged slowly from the darkness. His pace was unhurried, yet he exuded a chilling sense of oppression, as if even the surrounding air froze.
The guard rubbed his sleepy eyes, thinking he was hallucinating.
But as that handsome yet aloof face gradually came into focus under the lantern light, all the drowsiness in his body vanished instantly!
He straightened up abruptly, his heart pounding like a drum, almost unable to believe his eyes.
"Sword...Sword God!" Another guard reacted, his voice becoming shrill with excitement.
The two exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, immediately knelt on one knee, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and performed the most solemn and sublime salute in the martial arts world.
For these low-level martial artists, the term "Sword God" has long transcended the realm of the mundane and become a synonym for the faith of the martial arts world.
To be able to witness this living legend in person at this moment is an immense privilege.
Shen Mo simply nodded slightly in response, then stepped across the threshold and entered the Elite Academy.
His back was as straight as a pine tree, and every step he took seemed to tread on people's hearts, leaving an indelible mark.
Stepping into the school courtyard, the familiar bluestone path, the vigorous ancient pine, and the quiet bamboo forest were exactly the same as when he left.
However, as he passed through the moon gate and stepped into the central square, his steps involuntarily faltered.
In the very center of the square, a newly erected statue has appeared.
The statue was carved entirely from white marble, and under the moonlight it gleamed with a warm and sacred luster.
Shen Mo stared intently and saw that the statue was dressed in a black robe, standing with its hands behind its back, its hem seemingly fluttering in the night wind.
Although his face has been artistically rendered to appear more aloof and detached, the charm between his brows and the domineering air about him are clearly his own!
Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat, and a complex emotion that was hard to describe welled up inside him.
Surprise, astonishment, and even a sense of absurdity.
He has only been gone for two years, yet someone has already erected a statue in his honor?
He stepped forward, his fingers gently brushing across the cool stone surface, the sensation from his fingertips making him feel a little dazed.
Could this cold stone truly bear the blood, fire, life, and death he had endured along the way? Looking into the statue's hollow yet seemingly all-seeing eyes, he truly felt for the first time that the title "Sword God" was no longer just a casual compliment from martial artists, but had transformed into a heavy symbol, imprinted on this land.
With these mixed feelings, Shen Mo arrived at the curator's study.
Warm candlelight shone through the window, indicating that the owner was not yet asleep.
He was about to raise his hand to knock on the door when he heard an old but gentle voice from inside, as if it had already anticipated his arrival: "Come in."
Shen Mo pushed open the door and entered, only to see Guiguzi sitting upright behind his desk, holding a yellowed ancient book in his hand, his silver hair gleaming in the candlelight.
When he saw that the person who came was Shen Mo, a hint of surprise flashed in his usually calm eyes.
"Shen Mo?! You're back so soon?" Guiguzi put down the book in his hand, a relieved smile on his face. He quickly invited him to sit down, "Quick, sit down. I thought you would be lingering for a long time in the natural barriers of the far west."
Shen Mo sat down as instructed and respectfully bowed to this elder who was both a teacher and a friend.
Guiguzi asked impatiently, "Tell me quickly, what is the scenery like in that far west? I have read through all the classics in the world, but I know very little about that land west of the Western Regions."
Shen Mo felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the curiosity and thirst for knowledge shining in Guiguzi's eyes.
This traveler wasn't concerned with the power he had gained, but rather with a genuine desire to explore that unknown world.
So he began to recount his experiences along the way: from the scorching heat and deathly stillness of the vast desert, to the ferocious beasts and poisonous fog lurking in the Soul-Eating Abyss; from the magnificent yet deadly holy mountain of the Papacy, to the peaceful and prosperous life of the people in the Northern Palace of the Tsarist Empire; from the "Seven Stars" system that maintained peace among the six kingdoms through force, to the mountains of gold and the filthy secrets hidden in the Papacy's secret chamber...
Guiguzi listened intently, sometimes frowning, sometimes stroking his beard and sighing.
As he listened, he quickly scribbled on a blank sheet of paper, his handwriting vigorous and powerful, as if trying to capture every wisp of wind and every grain of sand from the ends of the earth.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Guiguzi put down his pen, his eyes full of admiration. "It turns out that the vastness of heaven and earth can give birth to such completely different civilizations and orders. The 'Seven Stars' system, which uses force to stop war, is truly a great wisdom; while the theocracy, which uses faith to govern the people, is also a den of filth and corruption, which is truly lamentable."
He raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Mo, and solemnly said, "Shen Mo, your experience is unprecedented. I will write down all these observations in detail for posterity. Your story should not only circulate among the people of the martial world, but should also become a window for future generations to understand this world. Let them know that beyond the Central Plains we know, there is such a vast world, and such wonderful people and events."
Looking into Guiguzi's expectant eyes, Shen Mo felt an unprecedented sense of responsibility welling up inside him.
He nodded solemnly and replied, "This junior will certainly obey." At this moment, he was not only a returning traveler, but also a messenger of civilization, shouldering the mission of bringing the story of the far west back to this homeland.
......
The night was as still as water, flowing silently.
Inside the study, the flickering candlelight cast a long shadow of Guiguzi as he wrote furiously, and also illuminated Shen Mo's calm profile with its light and shadow.
The two were so engrossed in that remote and mysterious western land that they were completely unaware of how time was passing by.
Until a distant and clear bell rang out, piercing the silent night sky—it was the third watch of the night.
The sound of the bell was like an invisible needle, instantly piercing Shen Mo's focused thoughts.
His heart tightened suddenly, and a strong sense of guilt welled up inside him.
He had completely forgotten! He had promised Murong Qing and Situ Meng that he would return immediately after finishing his work! At this moment, they must still be in their rooms, waiting for his return.
"Senior Guiguzi," Shen Mo suddenly stood up, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency, "It's already late, this junior... this junior will not disturb you any longer. We can discuss the matter of the far west tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Guiguzi paused slightly with the wolf-hair brush in his hand and looked up at Shen Mo.
Those eyes, so full of wisdom and experience, were so clear that with just one glance, they understood what Shen Mo was thinking.
A knowing, somewhat benevolent smile appeared on his face. Newlyweds had traveled thousands of miles to a remote and dangerous place; now they had returned, a time to cherish each other and make amends. How could this old man bear to continue monopolizing this precious night of reunion?
"Go, go." Guiguzi put down his pen, smiled, and waved his hand, his eyes full of understanding and kindness. "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman, let alone someone as devoted and righteous as you, the 'Sword God.' I'm not in a hurry here. Your heart has already flown back, hasn't it?"
Shen Mo was caught off guard, and a rare hint of embarrassment flashed across his face. However, he did not deny it, but simply bowed deeply: "Thank you for your understanding, senior."
Guiguzi personally got up and steadily escorted Shen Mo to the door of the study.
The night breeze was cool, ruffling his silvery hair and beard.
He stood inside the threshold, watching Shen Mo's dark figure quickly disappear into the darkness of the courtyard, his back revealing an undisguised urgency and tenderness.