Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 201. Turbulent Times Begin at the Inn: Dugu Hong Sword Battles Heroes, Lan Xiaodie's Poisonous Scheme is Shocking

Between heaven and earth, the cold winter is like a cruel and merciless ruler, displaying its chilling majesty. The gale, like a pack of rabid wolves, runs and howls across the wilderness, emitting mournful howls, threatening to utterly annihilate all life in the world.

They ruthlessly swirl up the sand and fallen leaves on the ground, scattering them wantonly. These sand and fallen leaves, like soulless shells, helplessly tumble and drift in the wind, performing a tragic song of despair.

Above the sky, thick dark clouds resembled a solidified sea of ​​ink, hanging heavily above everyone's heads, as if they might collapse at any moment.

These dark, ink-like clouds mercilessly obscured the last vestiges of warmth and light, making the already frigid winter day even more gloomy and oppressive. The world was shrouded in a thick layer of haze, making it hard to breathe.

The earth was already tightly wrapped in a layer of ice as thin as a cicada's wing yet as cold as frost, like a sleeping being sealed in an ice coffin, silently telling the cruelty of winter. With each step, a "creak, creak" sound came from underfoot, the sound like the earth's painful groans under the shackles of this severe cold, shrinking and trembling under the endless chill, unable to bear the burden.

Shi Feiyang stood amidst the ice and snow, taking a deep breath.

The icy, bone-chilling air, like countless sharp ice needles, rushed into his lungs through his nasal cavity. In an instant, he felt a jolt of clarity in his mind, becoming even more lucid.

He turned around, his eyes filled with concern and tenderness, and gently helped the ladies to the side, as if protecting the most precious treasures in the world. Then, he resolutely turned back, gripping the Frostblade tightly in his hand.

In this bone-chilling air, the Heavenly Frost Blade seemed to be imbued with the atmosphere of winter, its blade gleaming with a cold, eerie light, like a frozen pool, deep and icy, exuding an aura that sent chills down one's spine.

He slowly crouched down, his movements steady and resolute, like an unshakeable, majestic mountain. The Frostblade in his hand drew a precise arc in the dim light, and with a "swoosh," cleanly and neatly sliced ​​open the body of a sword puppet.

As the sword puppet's body was slashed open, a pungent, putrid stench instantly erupted, quickly spreading and permeating the cold air, making one want to vomit. Shi Feiyang, however, seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed intently on the sword puppet's interior.

Soon, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he discovered a piece of Western Region black iron and a fragment of the "Nine Heavens Sword Manual".

The Western Regions Black Iron is incredibly hard, with a cold and mysterious luster on its surface. Under the dim sky, it resembles a mysterious star from a distant cosmos, exuding a unique and alluring aura.

It is an exceptionally rare material for forging divine weapons, said to be possessed by only a handful of people in this vast world, each piece containing boundless power and value. As for the *Nine Heavens Sword Manual*, although its pages are yellowed and weathered by time, one can still clearly feel the mysterious and powerful force it contains. The sword path expounded in this manual is supreme.

It emphasizes that the sword is the king of all weapons, and the way of the sword is ever-changing. The sword can be like a butterfly dancing in spring, graceful and agile, using skillful force to resolve the fixed situation; it can be like a giant axe splitting mountains and rocks, heavy and fierce, using powerful force to cleave mountains, rivers and lakes; it can also be like lightning that cuts through the sky, thunderous and powerful, breaking through all laws of the world with extremely fast speed, fully demonstrating the exquisite beauty of the way of the sword.

This "Nine Heavens Sword Manual" is a closely guarded secret of the Divine Sword Manor, and only the core disciples of the Xie family have ever been qualified to cultivate it.

Now that these two extremely precious items have appeared in the sword puppet at the same time, Shi Feiyang's heart was filled with shock and disbelief.

He frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

All sorts of doubts surged into his mind like a tidal wave: from the sudden ambush in Niangziguan Gorge to the shocking discovery inside the sword puppet, all signs clearly indicated that the person controlling the sword puppet was not only closely related to the Divine Sword Manor, but also very likely possessed the manor's top martial arts.

Shi Feiyang thought to himself, "It seems that I might not have killed Xie Zhichuan when I quelled the rebellion in Bozhou last time. That scoundrel is still alive. Heh heh, he's hiding in the shadows stirring up trouble, thinking he can escape my eyes. I will definitely drag him out and make him pay a heavy price for what he's done!"

Shi Feiyang was born with an overwhelming aura of dominance, and every move he made exuded a kingly presence that commanded respect.

However, he was not a reckless fool; on the contrary, he was meticulous and paid great attention to every detail. Even the slightest, most subtle clue could become a key to uncovering the truth in his eyes.

Upon seeing this, the heroes swarmed around like a tide.

Liao Pei, the master of "Tongbei Quan," had a furious expression on his face, like an enraged lion, with veins bulging on his forehead.

He slammed his fist into the rock beside him, and with a dull thud, the rock shattered into countless fragments.

He shouted, "This Divine Sword Manor always pretends to be a hypocrite, but I never expected them to be so despicable and shameless! Colluding with the Five Poisons Sect is bad enough, but they even created these sword puppets to deal with us. They are simply scum of the martial arts world, and they cannot be tolerated by heaven!"

Lie Quan gripped the handle of the "Qiankun Blade" tightly, his knuckles turning white from excessive force, as if he wanted to crush the handle.

He gritted his teeth and said, "That's right, the actions of Shenjian Villa are truly outrageous and despicable in the martial world! Last time, Xie Zhichuan managed to escape by luck. If I run into him again this time, I will definitely tear him to pieces to vent my anger!"

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong was so angry that his face turned red, like a ripe tomato. He clenched his fists and waved them in the air a few times, as if he wanted to blow the air in front of him apart.

He roared at the top of his lungs, "That scoundrel Xie Zhichuan, hiding behind the scenes and doing these shady things, what kind of hero is he! Next time I see him, I will definitely use my iron palms to smash him into mincemeat and let him know the consequences of offending our Xiong Ying Society!"

The biting wind was like a wild beast breaking free of its cage, rampaging and roaring across this vast expanse of land, causing everything in its path to tremble in fear. The gloomy sky was like a heavy, leaden plate forgotten by time, hanging heavily above everyone's heads, airtight, and a sense of oppression surged towards them like a tide, as if trying to steal their very breath.

A thick layer of snow had already accumulated on the ground, shimmering with a cold light against the dim sky, like a desolate silver wasteland. With each step they took, a "crunching" sound came from under their feet, as if the earth was groaning in pain in the bitter cold. Each step felt like stepping into an ice cellar, with the chill shooting straight from the soles of their feet to their hearts.

As everyone chimed in with their own opinions, anger spread rapidly through the crowd like wildfire.

Liao Pei, the master of "Tongbei Fist," had bloodshot eyes. He kicked a rock beside him and roared angrily, "That scoundrel Xie Zhichuan! He escaped last time, but if we run into him again, I'll tear him to pieces and avenge my dead brothers and sisters!"

Lie Quan, known as "Qiankun Blade," clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, and gritted his teeth, saying, "That's right, blood for blood! Even if he escapes to the ends of the earth, we must find him!" Everyone echoed his vow, which resonated in the icy snow for a long time.

After the disciples finished burning the corpses, the heroes set up tents in the freezing cold.

They skillfully cut open the dead horse, preparing to light a fire and roast the horse meat to satisfy their hunger.

Shi Feiyang quietly took out salt, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, rice wine from the Divine Dragon Pagoda and handed them to the cook.

Before long, the air was filled with the enticing aroma of meat.

Shi Feiyang never drank alcohol, but seeing the joy on the faces of the heroes and his disciples being extremely excited, he took the four ladies, Yili, Qi Meizhen, Bai Zhi, and Gong Simeng, picked up their wine bowls, and walked towards the crowd.

With sincere eyes, Shi Feiyang said loudly, "Brothers and sisters, over the years, you have risked your lives and worked tirelessly for the Xiong Ying Society, making great contributions and always remaining loyal and supportive of me. Today, I toast you all to express my gratitude!" Everyone raised their bowls high, tilted their heads back, and drank it all in one gulp. Hearty laughter echoed in the cold air.

At this moment, Xie Wen, the "Flying Eagle Detective," descended silently, his figure resembling a light snowflake drifting in the wind.

He grabbed a piece of horse meat, chewing it greedily as he mumbled, "Chief, I just got word that Dugu Hong, the young master of Mingjian Manor, has colluded with a bunch of thugs from the Five Poisons Sect to rob a batch of military pay. This pay was originally intended for use in suppressing the rebellion in Bozhou, and it's still in our territory. They were planning to send it to Mingjian Manor in the northwest. Heh, it seems Mingjian Manor has also fallen into depravity, secretly colluding with Yang Yinglong's rebel army in Bozhou. It's truly despicable!"

Upon hearing this, the heroes slammed down their wine bowls, tossed aside the horse meat in their hands, and quickly gathered around, rubbing their hands together, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and anger.

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong shouted loudly, "Damn it, how dare Mingjian Manor do this! We must take back that batch of pay and let them know how powerful our Xiong Ying Society is!" Everyone responded in unison, shouting that they should set off immediately to take back the pay.

Shi Feiyang raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and said solemnly, "Brothers and sisters, you have traveled a long way, fought several battles, and are all exhausted, having also encountered many dangers. Therefore, this battle will be fought by myself, Wu Zhong, Miao Menlong, Shan Zhi, Xie Wen, Xiang Kun, and a few others. The rest of you, brothers and sisters, stay and continue drinking and rest well. Tomorrow, we'll go and deal with those bastards!" The leader had spoken, and although the heroes were unwilling, they could only obey, nodding in agreement.

So Shi Feiyang ordered Xie Wen to lead the way, and together with "Iron Palm" Wu Zhong, "Iron Flute Scholar" Xiang Kun, "Divine Archer" Miao Menlong, and "Plum Blossom Dart" Shan Zhi, they used their superior lightness skills to speed towards the town of Danjiangkou.

Along the way, the cold wind was like a series of extremely sharp blades, cutting painfully into everyone's faces.

However, everyone held only one firm belief in their hearts: to reclaim the salary.

Soon, they arrived at the "Xiangyun Inn".

Inside the inn, Dugu Hong, the young master of Mingjian Manor, had booked the entire inn and was drinking and playing drinking games with Lan Xiaodie, the leader of the Five Poisons Sect.

Inside the inn, the candlelight flickered, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the harsh, icy landscape outside.

Dugu Hong, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, stood tall and elegant, with a fawning smile on his face, and said to Lan Xiaodie, "Sect Leader Lan, today, let's drink until we're completely drunk! Haha!"

Lan Xiaodie is as beautiful as an angel, but she despises Dugu Hong to the extreme.

She forced a smile, her lips curving upwards into a fake one, and replied, "Young Master's hospitality is too much to refuse, so I, Xiaodie, will gladly oblige." But a barely perceptible hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.

Inside the inn, the Beggars' Sect disciples rarely had such a chance to indulge in eating and drinking, and they all became so drunk that they were staggering around.

Some were slumped over the table, snoring loudly and fast asleep; others were still shouting and yelling, urging others to drink.

Others staggered to their feet, trying to grab more wine, but stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud, drawing laughter from those around them. Shi Feiyang and his group quietly approached the inn. The cold wind outside grew even stronger, making the inn's doors and windows creak and groan like ghosts howling. Dan Zhi seized the opportunity, his plum blossom dart shooting out like a black lightning bolt, instantly taking out the sentries outside the inn.

Shi Feiyang, Miao Menlong, Xiang Kun, and Xie Wen, like ghosts, swiftly reached out and steadily caught the corpses, preventing them from falling and making a sound, before gently setting them down. Then, crouching low, they cautiously crept into the inn.

Inside the inn, the candlelight flickered precariously in the biting wind, as if it might go out at any moment. The stench of alcohol permeated the entire space, making one's head spin. Lan Xiaodie's cheeks were flushed like ripe apples, her eyes glazed over, clearly intoxicated.

In that daze, the Dugu Hong before her eyes transformed into Shi Feiyang, whom she longed for day and night yet hated to the core.

In an instant, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes, like a cold star twinkling in the dark night.

Suddenly, her almond-shaped eyes widened, filled with rage. Her lips parted slightly, her voice like a silver bell yet carrying endless hatred, and she shouted, "Shi Feiyang, you dog thief, prepare to die! Today is your death day!"

Before she finished speaking, her slender yet powerful hand shot out like a black lightning bolt, grabbing the large wine jar on the table. In her hand, the jar seemed like a mere toy, whistling through the air and carrying her pent-up rage, as she slammed it down towards Dugu Hong's head.

With a deafening crash, like a bolt from the blue, the wine jar shattered into countless fragments, the wine scattering everywhere like a fountain. "Ouch!" Dugu Hong let out a piercing scream, as if struck by lightning, falling backward and crashing heavily to the ground.

Blood gushed from his head, like a rushing mountain stream, flowing down his cheeks and instantly obscuring his once elegant face. He looked disheveled and utterly wretched.

Shi Feiyang and his group, who were quietly sneaking into the inn, were startled by this sudden turn of events, as if a boulder had been thrown into a calm lake.

Shi Feiyang reacted extremely quickly. His sharp eyes swept over the crowd, and he swiftly raised his hand, waving it lightly in the air. The crowd immediately understood and, like well-trained ghosts of the night, hurriedly and silently retreated, disappearing into the thick, inky darkness outside the inn. Their figures seemed to blend into the darkness as they vigilantly observed the movements inside the inn.

Lan Xiaodie's smash instantly dispelled her drunkenness. Looking at Dugu Hong, whose face was covered in blood and who was screaming in pain, she felt a sense of foreboding, but she remained calm and did not reveal any weakness.

She hurriedly apologized to Dugu Hong with a face full of remorse, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze: "Young Master Dugu, I am truly sorry. I was a little drunk and confused, and I mistook you for that wicked dog Shi Feiyang. Please forgive my unintentional mistake, Young Master.

The Beggar Clan elders Wu Ning and Wu Yuan were also somewhat drunk. They were instantly awakened by the sudden loud noise and Lan Xiaodie's words. They stood up abruptly, as nimbly as cheetahs.

The Five Poisons Sect members and the swordsmen of the Famous Sword Manor also reacted one after another. In an instant, the atmosphere inside the inn became tense, like a bowstring pulled to its limit, as if it would snap instantly if there was any external force.

An awkward atmosphere, like thick smoke, filled the air, making people feel suffocated and oppressed.

Looking at Lan Xiaodie's pitiful and apologetic appearance, and smelling her fragrant breath, Dugu Hong's anger instantly vanished. His heart softened, and he said gently, "Sect Leader Lan, it's alright. It must be because Shi Feiyang has committed too many evils that Sect Leader Lan hates him so much, which is why this mistake occurred."

Seeing this, Lan Xiaodie showed a grateful smile on her face, like a flower blooming in spring. She personally picked up the gauze and carefully bandaged Dugu Hong's wound, her movements as gentle as if she were protecting a rare treasure, her eyes focused and serious.

Shi Feiyang, hiding in the shadows, peeked into the inn and realized that Lan Xiaodie had mistaken Dugu Hong for himself.

His lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile, like a fleeting shooting star in the night sky.

Then, he waved his hand, a gesture like that of a general commanding thousands of troops, signaling the heroes to continue their actions.

The group crouched low and cautiously slipped back into the inn, their figures moving as lightly as ghosts in the darkness.

Shi Feiyang then flashed away like a black lightning bolt, his speed so fast that it was difficult to catch him, and flew alone to the backyard of the inn.

Upon reaching the backyard, he saw mountains of money and grain, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, a surprise as bright as fireworks blooming in the night sky.

He quickly took the deerskin bag from his waist, invisible to ordinary people, and with swift, dancing hands like a graceful butterfly flitting among flowers, he continuously filled the bag with money and provisions, his movements skillful and rapid.

At this moment, Wu Ning was looking around warily, her eyes as sharp as an owl's.

Just then, Wu Zhong burst in like a ghost. His previously calm expression instantly changed, turning as gloomy as the sky before a storm. Suddenly, he opened his mouth wide and shouted in a booming voice, "Damn it! The scoundrels from the Xiong Ying Society are here! Everyone wake up! Grab your weapons and fight them!"

However, before he could finish speaking, "whoosh!" a black shadow streaked across the sky like a meteor, and it was the arrow shot by "Divine Archer" Miao Menlong.

The arrow was incredibly fast, faster than anyone could imagine. With a sharp whistling sound, it drew a straight line through the air, as straight as a ruler, and struck Wu Ning's throat with perfect precision.

Wu Ning's eyes widened, filled with terror and disbelief. She instinctively covered her throat with her hands, trying to make a sound, but could only gurgle, like a broken bellows struggling to breathe.

His body swayed a few times, like a leaf falling in a storm, before finally falling backward and dying instantly. His blood spread rapidly on the ground like blooming red flowers, a horrifying sight.

Upon seeing this, Lan Xiaodie's beautiful eyes widened, filled with a raging fire that seemed to devour the entire world.

Annoyed, she drew the Azure Phosphorus Sword from her slender waist. The blade rubbed against the scabbard, producing a crisp sound, like a dragon's roar.

The moment the Azure Phosphorus Sword was drawn, a ghostly green light flashed, like will-o'-the-wisps from hell, carrying an eerie aura.

A faint mist emanated from the sword, as if it were shrouded in a mysterious veil.

She lightly touched the ground with her toes, her body moving like lightning, her speed dazzling, as she leaped towards Wu Zhong, the blade flashing with a cold light like winter frost, aimed straight at Wu Zhong's throat.

Seeing this, Wu Zhong was not afraid at all. He roared angrily, his voice like thunder: "Lan Xiaodie, you vicious woman, in order to dominate the martial arts world, you actually colluded with the filthy villains of Mingjian Villa. You are really despicable and shameless! Hehe, I think you are more like the top courtesan of some brothel, only good at flaunting your charms!"

While mocking Lan Xiaodie, he activated the internal energy of the "Six Harmonies True Scripture".

His aura circulated around him, and his clothes fluttered and rustled without wind, as if blown by an invisible force.

His hands moved swiftly, unleashing the "Demon-Subduing Palm." His palms whistled through the air, each swing generating a powerful gust of wind, like surging waves, as they slammed towards Lan Xiaodie.

The first palm strike, "Subduing Demons and Opening Mountains," was like a towering mountain peak, pressing down on Lan Xiaodie's chest with overwhelming force. The second palm strike, "Demonic Shadows Upon Demons," instantly transformed his palm into countless phantoms, attacking Lan Xiaodie from all directions, making it impossible to defend against. The third palm strike, "Demon God Descends," shone brightly on his palm, as if a demon god possessed it, smashing down on Lan Xiaodie with world-destroying power.

Lan Xiaodie snorted coldly, and her Azure Phosphorus Sword moved rapidly as she unleashed the "Azure Phosphorus Illusion Sword Technique".

The first move, "Phosphorescence Appears," saw the sword blade trace a strange arc in the air, its eerie green light blazing brightly as it slashed towards Wu Zhong's wrist, intending to sever his arm.

Her second move, "Phantom Chain Thrust," instantly transformed her into several afterimages, her sword blades like poisonous needles, stabbing at Wu Zhong's vital points from different angles.

The third move, "Azure Phosphorous Poison Mist Slash," saw her wrist flick, sending the Azure Phosphorous Sword spinning rapidly in the air. With each rotation, a thick layer of green poisonous mist would spread around the sword, quickly spreading towards Wu Zhong. At the same time, the blade, carrying a sharp sword aura, slashed towards Wu Zhong's neck. The two exchanged blows, the battle growing increasingly fierce, turning the entire inn into a scene of carnage.

The Azure Phosphorus Sword in Lan Xiaodie's hand moved like a nimble venomous snake, swiftly dancing in the air and hissing.

With a turn of the sword, it became like a rapidly spinning winch. With each rotation, a faint green poisonous mist would spread around the sword. The mist seemed to have a life of its own, twisting and writhing as it quickly spread out, fiercely enveloping Wu Zhong.

Wu Zhong inwardly cried out in alarm, feeling a pungent, putrid odor, like an invisible undercurrent, suddenly rush into his nostrils.

In an instant, my head spun, as if the world was spinning, and my vision began to blur, making everything in front of me indistinct.

He suddenly realized his carelessness and couldn't help but curse himself inwardly: "Damn it, I actually fell for this witch's trick!"

Although annoyed, he reacted quickly and immediately held his breath.

However, the poisonous fog had already invaded his body. He felt as if his limbs were filled with lead, gradually becoming extremely heavy. Every movement required great effort, and the strength in his body was constantly being lost like a flood breaking through a dam.

He felt powerless and struggled against Lan Xiaodie's fierce, storm-like swordplay, constantly finding himself in danger.

"Damn it, Lan Xiaodie, you vixen, don't be so arrogant!" Miao Menlong was frantic with worry when he saw Wu Zhong in danger. His eyes widened in anger as he roared. He moved swiftly, his hands moving like lightning, and quickly drew his bow and nocked an arrow. The bow was pulled to its full length in his hands, the arrow on the string, ready to be released.

With a sharp whistling sound, the arrow, like a black lightning bolt, shot straight towards Lan Xiaodie with immense force. Lan Xiaodie raised an eyebrow, gave a cold snort, and her Azure Phosphorus Sword drew an arc in the air, deflecting the arrow with a resounding clang, sending sparks flying.

Taking advantage of the moment, Wu Zhong hurriedly withdrew and retreated, staggering but managing to stand firm.

He reached into his robes and swiftly pulled out the "Lesser Rejuvenation Pill" and the "Greater Rejuvenation Pill," tossing them into his mouth without hesitation and swallowing them. He thought to himself, "Even if I have to risk my life today, I cannot let this demoness succeed!"

Seeing Wu Zhong retreat, Shan Zhi felt a surge of rage and roared, "You dog, Dugu Hong, prepare to die!" With that, he waved his hands and threw out a series of plum blossom darts, which shot towards Dugu Hong like a swarm of black bats.

The plum blossom darts flashed with a cold light in the air, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, and were extremely fierce.

Dugu Hong's face was cold and stern, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. He sneered, "Hmph, even a grain of rice can shine!"

He tightened his grip on the sword slightly, flicked his wrist, and unleashed the "Eight Forms of Famous Swordsmanship".

The first move, "Sword Shadow Splitting Light," saw him turn his body, the blade slicing through the air, leaving afterimages as he deflected the incoming plum blossom darts, the clanging sounds ringing out incessantly.

Immediately following, with the second move, "Rainbow Piercing the Sun," he trembled his sword, transforming it into a rainbow-like sword light that enveloped Shan Zhi. The sword's momentum was fierce, as if it would instantly engulf Shan Zhi.

Shan Zhi felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, and he was immediately flustered, almost losing his grip on the plum blossom dart.

"Brother, don't panic, I'm here to help you!" Xiang Kun, the "Iron Flute Scholar," shouted as he leaped up, holding his iron flute.

He wielded his iron flute, displaying the extraordinary skill of "disturbing the mind with flute music".

An eerie sound emanated from the iron flute, like the wailing of ghosts and howls of wolves, piercing directly into Dugu Hong's ears.

Dugu Hong paused, her sword strike slowing slightly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhi took a deep breath, steadied himself, and once again fired his plum blossom darts at Dugu Hong. The darts flashed like stars. Seeing the situation was dire, Wu panicked and muttered to himself, "What should I do? Ah! A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle!"

So, he slipped away like a slippery eel and ran away, his figure quickly disappearing into the chaotic inn.

(End of this chapter)