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

Chapter 278. A brilliant strategy to lure the enemy into a trap; a swift blade shatters the enemy's advance.

Shi Feiyang said urgently, "Miss Xue, then I'll carry you on my back, otherwise you'll be attacked by those demons."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Qiuchun, like a drowning person grasping at a lifeline, instantly transformed her panic and anxiety into a surging dependence. Her bright, deer-like eyes shone with an almost fanatical expectation and trust. Her delicate body trembled slightly, and her voice choked with sobs as she stammered, "Young Master Shi, please save my father… I… I can't live without him!"

Her voice, like a babbling brook in the mountains, carried endless tenderness and earnestness, striking straight into Shi Feiyang's heart.

Before she could finish speaking, Xue Qiuchun had already cast aside all her reserve and shyness, and like a light butterfly, she jumped onto Shi Feiyang's back without hesitation. She hugged Shi Feiyang's neck tightly, her arms so strong that she almost wanted to become one with him.

Her cheek gently pressed against Shi Feiyang's broad back, feeling his warm body temperature seep through her clothes. An unprecedented sense of security and sweetness surged into her heart like a tide.

At this moment, Xue Qiuchun greedily inhaled Shi Feiyang's unique scent, silently murmuring in her heart, "Young Master Shi, as long as you are here, even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, I will no longer be afraid. You are a ray of light in my dark world, illuminating every step I take. I am willing to stay by your side forever, for all eternity, never to be separated..."

Shi Feiyang steadily carried Xue Qiuchun on his back. In an instant, his aura changed drastically, as if a calm sea had been stirred into a raging storm. The Mingyu Gong true energy within his body surged and flowed through his meridians like a turbulent river.

He used his extraordinary lightness skill, "hiding his identity and name," and with a flash, he was like a dazzling white light, instantly piercing the dark night sky.

Xue Qiuchun nestled tightly against Shi Feiyang's back, feeling the wind whistling past her ears, her hair flying wildly in the wind.

She could clearly feel Shi Feiyang's every steady step and every powerful breath, which made her heart sink deeper and deeper.

She buried her face deeper and whispered, "Young Master Shi, do you know? With you by my side, I feel like the happiest person in the world. No matter what happens, I believe in you and rely on you..."

Her voice, carried on the wind, was sweet as honey, filled with deep affection.

How could Shi Feiyang have the leisure to talk about love with Xue Qiuchun?

His eyebrows were like swords, and his furrowed brows exuded a murderous aura. He then used the wondrous lightness skill of "hiding one's identity and name" to flash his figure, which was like a dazzling white light tearing through the dark night sky. The gale brought up by the hem of his clothes even left a silver light trailing three zhang long behind him. He was truly like a shooting star chasing the moon, leaving only a faint afterimage. Even the experts present who were watching carefully could only catch a fleeting white shadow.

Xue Qiuchun nestled tightly against Shi Feiyang's back, feeling the white mist rising from Shi Feiyang's body, which was emanating from his Mingyu Gong true qi, shielding her from the sharp wind that swept over her like a knife. The pearls and jade in her hair jingled in the wind, but she was unharmed.

Looking down at the rapidly receding mountains, she felt both anxious for her father's safety and amazed by Shi Feiyang's extraordinary lightness skill.

At this moment, she felt as if she were walking on clouds and chasing the moon. In this world of swords and shadows, only the small world on Shi Feiyang's back could give her a little peace of mind. In the blink of an eye, the two of them had already rushed to Xue Hongshan's side.

Shi Feiyang immediately gripped the Heavenly Frost Blade tightly with his right hand like an iron clamp, took a deep breath, his chest bulged high, and it seemed as if a dragon and tiger roared from his dantian. He let out a loud shout that shook the sky, his voice like a thunderclap, as if a thunderclap had exploded on flat ground, causing the surrounding sand and stones to tumble down.

The vegetation within a radius of ten zhang was so powerful that it snapped and broke.

He gripped his sword and unleashed the "Golden Dragon Coiling Claws" move with ferocity. This was a refined technique from the "Hundred Victories Sword Technique," combining offense and defense. The blade resembled a golden dragon awakened from the deepest abyss, its scales shimmering with a cold light. Its whiskers danced wildly with the sword's momentum, carrying a world-shattering, earth-shattering aura. It drew a dazzling arc in the air, fiercely attacking the Blood Lord. Where the sword light passed, the void seemed to be torn apart, and a faint dragon's roar pierced the clouds, making everyone's eardrums ache. Even the stars and moon in the sky seemed to dim slightly.

When Blood Lord saw Shi Feiyang suddenly arrive, his pupils shrank. Although he was shocked, his face was full of sinister and ruthless expression.

He let out a cold snort, a sound that seemed to come from the depths of the deepest hell, filled with endless chill and ferocity, like a thousand-year-old ice shattering, sending chills down one's spine. He immediately channeled all his power, unleashing the "Blood Shadow Divine Skill." In an instant, his body was enveloped in a thick, impenetrable layer of blood shadow, and the stench of blood in the air became even more pungent, making one want to vomit.

He transformed into a streak of blood-red light, like a cannonball. Wherever he passed, the ground collapsed, leaving a trail of footprints over a foot deep. The surrounding air was corroded and distorted by the bloody aura, condensing into countless hideous faces in the void, emitting shrill screams, as if the gates of hell had been opened and thousands of wronged souls were roaring out.

The two attacks collided instantly, producing a deafening roar, like a thunderclap exploding overhead, causing the entire mountain to tremble violently. A powerful shockwave emanated from the two, spreading outwards like a raging tsunami, whipping up sand, rocks, and vegetation, sending them flying wildly through the air, crackling and popping as they collided.

The sand and gravel carried by the blast wave flew everywhere like a torrential rain, even shattering distant boulders.

Xue Qiuchun, who was lying on Shi Feiyang's back, felt an overwhelming force rushing towards her, and she was terrified.

Fortunately, the white mist emanating from Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Gong acted as an invisible barrier, protecting her from the impact of the shockwave.

She looked up and saw Shi Feiyang standing tall and straight like a pine tree, his heroic figure even more striking amidst the flashing blades and bloodshed, like a war god descended to earth.

Xue Qiuchun murmured to herself, "Young Master Shi, with your bravery, you will surely defeat this villain and save my father..."

Using the force of the impact, Shi Feiyang spun rapidly in the air, just like a nimble eagle turning nimbly in the gale.

He smoothly drew a semi-circle with the Heavenly Frost Blade in his hand, unleashing the ultimate killing move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Peerless and Unrivaled."

The blade flashed like a cold moon, radiating a chilling aura. Wherever it touched, the air instantly froze into frost, and a thick layer of ice crystals formed on the ground.

Upon seeing this, Blood Lord's expression changed drastically. Sensing the terrifying power contained in this strike, he dared not take it head-on and hurriedly dodged to the side. At the same time, he rapidly moved his hands, forming a blood shadow barrier three zhang wide in front of him.

With a hiss, the Heavenly Frost Blade, like a streak of white light, easily tore through the blood shadow barrier, bringing with it a cloud of blood mist, which spread through the air like a blooming crimson datura.

Blood Lord's left arm was slashed with a deep, bone-revealing wound. The flesh was torn open, and blood gushed out like a fountain, instantly staining his clothes red. In the dim night, the crimson bloodstains were particularly shocking.

Blood Lord was in pain, his entire face contorted and deformed by the excruciating agony, his veins bulging like gnarled vines, his eyes bloodshot like burning embers, making him look exactly like a trapped beast.

The excruciating pain did not deter him; instead, it ignited the savagery hidden within him, as if a thousand-year-old slumbering dragon had been awakened. His ferocity surged like a raging flood, instantly overwhelming reason. He raised his head to the sky and let out a deafening roar, the sound waves rolling like thunderclaps, making everyone's eardrums ache and their minds buzz.

The roar was filled with anger and resentment.

Immediately, his hands moved with ghostly speed, forming hand seals, and as his fingers flew across the air, crimson ripples spread through the air.

He unleashed the killing move "Boundless Blood Sea" from the "Blood Shadow Divine Skill." In an instant, the blood shadows around his body surged like boiling magma, transforming into an endless sea of ​​blood. A foul wind blew, and giant waves surged, rushing towards Shi Feiyang.

Amidst the blood-red waves, countless ferocious faces appeared and disappeared, some baring their teeth, others glaring angrily, emitting shrill screams, as if they were evil spirits from the deepest hell, eager to drag Shi Feiyang into an abyss of no return.

Upon seeing this, Shi Feiyang's expression turned solemn, like an iron-cast mask, as steady and unmoving as a mountain.

He took a deep breath, and his true energy surged in his dantian, like a dragon drinking water, instantly absorbing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

He concentrated all his power into his right hand, and in an instant, his right hand shone brightly, like a small sun illuminating the entire world.

He once again unleashed the ultimate killing move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Peerless and Unrivaled." He gripped the Heavenly Frost Blade tightly in his right hand, raised it high, and the light on the blade was dazzling, like a lightning bolt piercing the sky, making people dare not look directly at it.

With a fierce downward slash, a massive blade of energy roared forth, carrying an overwhelming, earth-shattering force. Wherever the energy passed, the air crackled and popped like a series of firecrackers; sand and gravel were swirled up, flying everywhere like a sandstorm sweeping across the land. The blade energy and the blood-red shadow collided violently in mid-air, producing a deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, causing the entire mountain range to tremble violently. The powerful forces collided, forming a massive energy vortex, like a greedy beast, engulfing everything in its path. Sand, gravel, and vegetation were pulverized into dust within the vortex, scattering in all directions; deep cracks appeared on the ground, as if the earth had been ripped apart by an invisible giant hand, from which steam rose, and faint red light, like magma, flickered.

Zhong Renwang, Xie Zhichuan, Dugu Yan, Xue Tielong, and others who were fighting were all thrown to the ground by this powerful force, like kites with broken strings. They groaned in pain on the ground, their bodies covered in dust and blood, looking utterly wretched.

Some people had blood coming from their noses and mouths, others had broken arms, and cries of agony echoed throughout the bloody world.

Only Xue Qiuchun lay steadily on Shi Feiyang's back, tightly protected by the white mist shield formed by Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Gong.

Gazing at the harrowing scene of battle before her, her heart was filled with worry and concern. Her eyes were fixed on Shi Feiyang, and she murmured to herself, "Young Master Shi, you must be safe and sound..."

Her voice was soft and trembling, filled with endless concern and worry.

Under Shi Feiyang's powerful sword energy, the Blood Lord's sea of ​​blood was instantly cleaved open with a huge gash, and the blood shadows quickly dissipated like a tide, revealing his disheveled figure. His face was as pale as paper, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with terror and resentment.

Shi Feiyang pressed his advantage, his figure flashing like a white beam of light, his speed reaching its limit, and he instantly arrived in front of Blood Lord.

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes, a resolute determination burning with rage against evil and a steadfast commitment to justice. His Heavenly Frost Blade swiftly thrust out, aiming straight for Blood Lord's throat. This strike was filled with Shi Feiyang's burning fury, a vow to utterly eradicate this villain.

Blood Lord was terrified and tried to escape, but it was too late.

His eyes were filled with despair, as if he could see his own end.

He hurriedly raised his right hand, trying to use his arm to block Shi Feiyang's fatal blow.

With a soft "plop," the Heavenly Frost Blade pierced Blood Lord's right arm as easily as cutting tofu, sinking deep inside. Blood gushed out from the blade, drawing crimson streaks in the air.

Blood Lord let out a shrill and desperate scream. He was thrown several meters away by the force and crashed heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust and creating a deep, human-shaped crater.

Shi Feiyang held the Heavenly Frost Blade in one hand, the blade still dripping with warm blood. Dark red blood droplets meandered down the blade's grooves, blooming into crimson mandalas on the bluestone slab, and in the blink of an eye, they gathered into a winding stream of blood.

With each step he took, the soles of his boots crushed fine blood foam, the rustling sound seeming to echo with the wailing of countless wronged souls.

At this moment, his brows were furrowed with frost, his eyes swirled with a chilling intent that could freeze a person's heart, and his killing intent emanated like a materialized black mist, truly resembling a deadly demon emerging from the depths of the underworld.

"Blood Lord, when you slaughtered the women and children of the Salt Gang, did you ever think of this day?" Shi Feiyang's voice was as cold as iron, each word carrying the chilling coldness of ice. "Although this martial world is not a bright and just place, it cannot tolerate a bloodthirsty demon like you running rampant!"

Before the words were even finished, the blade had already drawn a cold, crescent-shaped gleam, aiming straight for the opponent's throat.

The dying Blood Lord collapsed in a pool of crimson blood, like a caged beast with broken wings.

Beneath the blood-stained clothes, the white bones were gruesome, and broken swords and shattered blades lay scattered around, telling of the brutality of the battle that had just taken place.

His eyes were wide open in anger, burning with resentment. A low, beast-like growl escaped his throat, and his blood-stained fingernails dug deep into the soil. Yet, he had no strength left to even raise his hand to defend himself. He could only watch helplessly as Shi Feiyang's Heavenly Frost Blade approached with chilling killing intent.

Just as the cold light was about to touch Blood Lord's throat, a deafening "boom" resounded, as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had split open.

In mid-air, the blood clouds surged like a raging tide, and a blood-red blade of light, like a meteor, streaked across the night sky and crashed to the ground with the force of thunder, forcefully pushing the Heavenly Frost Blade away by three feet!

Qi Yin, dressed in a black robe that fluttered in the wind, emerged slowly from the blood mist, like a demon walking out of the depths of hell.

He held a churning ball of blood in his palm, within which countless faces twisted and wailed, each one frozen in the terror of impending death—a truly horrifying sight. "Shi Feiyang, you call yourself a pillar of the righteous path, but you've only gained fame by stepping on the corpses of my disciples!" Qi Yin smiled chillingly, a smile that seemed to freeze hearts. Suddenly, nine bloody chains shot from his sleeve, each wrapped with a piercing wail. "Let me show you the true power of the 'Blood Demon Technique'!"

In an instant, the world seemed to be shrouded in blood, transforming into a living hell.

The masters of the Western Regions Holy Sect unleashed their ultimate techniques, and in an instant, bloodshed and terror filled the surroundings.

The red-clad messenger's Blood Shadow Whip exploded into hundreds of blood blades in the air, each one as precise as a venomous snake's tongue, striking at Shi Feiyang's vital points; the white-haired old man's palms unleashed a storm of blood and gore, turning grass and trees into rotten mud in its wake, life vanishing so easily under this evil power.

Although Xue Qiuchun, who was lying on Shi Feiyang's back, was protected by the white mist of Mingyu Gong true energy emanating from Shi Feiyang like a gentle arm, the terrifying aura that rushed towards her still made her pale.

She screamed in fright, her delicate body trembling violently, cold sweat dripping down like pearls, instantly soaking her clothes.

She held Shi Feiyang tightly in her arms, her fingertips turning white from the force, her heart filled with shock and worry: "How could this be? Qi Yin's martial arts are so powerful, even Young Master Shi was almost defeated... Young Master Shi, you must be safe and sound!"

The image of Shi Feiyang being injured kept flashing through her mind, a mixture of fear and heartache, and tears welled up in her eyes.

As she watched Shi Feiyang fight bravely amidst the bloodshed, her love surged like a tidal wave.

Every swing of his sword, every turn he made, was so heroic and fearless in Xue Qiuchun's eyes, so captivating. "Young Master Shi, you are the bravest person in this world. No matter how great the danger, I believe in you!" she silently shouted in her heart, her eyes filled with trust and deep affection for Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang spun around to avoid the fatal blow, and the Heavenly Frost Blade unleashed the ultimate move "Slaying the Mortal World" from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique". As the blade flashed, it was as if countless snowflakes were falling, carrying a chilling aura, and it cleaved the rain of blood in two!
In that instant, in Xue Qiuchun's eyes, Shi Feiyang seemed like a god descending to earth, radiating brilliance, which intensified the love in her heart. "Want to leave? Leave your life behind!" Qi Yin's ten fingers were like hooks, and with a grab in the air, a blood-red cage immediately appeared around Shi Feiyang.

Xue Qiuchun's heart leaped into her throat, and she exclaimed, "Young Master Shi!" Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face.

Suddenly, Shi Feiyang threw his head back and roared, his roar filled with defiance and determination. His Mingyu Gong true energy transformed into white mist and soared into the sky, shattering the cage with his bare hands. With the blood-dripping Tian Shuang Blade in his mouth, his long arms moved like lightning, embracing Xue Hongshan and his son Xue Tielong.

Xue Qiuchun felt the power and gentleness in Shi Feiyang's movements, and her heart was filled with emotion and pride.

Shi Feiyang used his superb lightness skill, "leaving without a trace after the deed is done," and his figure transformed into a streak of light, shuttling through the rain of blood.

Each turning point left a semi-transparent aura in the void, which was the afterimage of the collision between Mingyu Gong and the power of the Blood Demon. In Xue Qiuchun's eyes, it was a symbol of Shi Feiyang's power and proof that he protected everyone.

The Western Regions Holy Sect members gave chase, but then Shi Feiyang suddenly turned around in mid-air and threw out three blood-quenched silver needles.

Wherever the silver needles touched, the blood mist twisted and dodged as if it were alive—this was the finger technique of "Dragon Soaring Through the Void" from the "Dragon Claw" manual.

Looking at Shi Feiyang's dashing figure, Xue Qiuchun was filled with admiration and love: "Young Master Shi, you are really amazing! No matter how dangerous the situation, you can turn danger into safety."

When everyone looked again, the four white figures had already blended into the moon's halo, leaving only a mess and lingering bloodstains on the ground, telling the story of this thrilling battle under the cold moon. Xue Qiuchun, her heart filled with longing and love for Shi Feiyang, knew that no matter how many dangers lay ahead, she would face them together with him, because in her heart, Shi Feiyang was her everything, the person she was willing to protect with her life.

The north wind, like sharp steel knives, swept across the scorched earth, carrying a pungent, fishy stench.

Zhong Renwang fell to the ground with a thud, his knees slamming heavily into a pool of blood mixed with broken bones, splattering blood all over his face.

He crawled forward like a maggot, his forehead scraping long marks in the dark red mud, his hands gripping the ground tightly, his fingertips sinking deep into the soil, almost pressing his whole body into the bloody earth.

When he finally managed to raise his head, his mouth stretched to his ears in a fawning smile, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening into deep furrows. His eyes gleamed with a sycophantic light, and his voice was high-pitched and trembling: "Master! When you unleash your 'Blood Demon Technique,' it's as if the sun and moon have lost their light, and the world has turned upside down! When that scoundrel Shi Feiyang saw your divine power, his legs cramped up and he fled in terror. If it weren't for your lightning-fast rescue, Master, we would have surely perished in this hellish scene tonight!"

After saying that, it deliberately rubbed its face against the ground again, just like a vicious dog trying to show its loyalty.

Xie Zhichuan's eyes were filled with eagerness and obsequiousness. He took three steps at a time, ignoring the bloody scratches his knees on the sharp gravel. He crawled forward on his knees, his hands on the ground, his buttocks sticking out. The jade pendant at his waist swayed with his movements, occasionally tapping against the stones with a crisp sound. The wound medicine hidden in his sleeves spilled along the way, the powder mixing with the blood and staining the ground with an eerie color.

He yelled in a high-pitched voice that echoed through the empty valley, startling several circling vultures: "Exactly! Exactly! The Master's move 'Blood Prison Devouring the Heavens' is truly earth-shattering and awe-inspiring! Shi Feiyang usually prides himself on being the leader of the righteous path, but in front of the Master, he's nothing but a chicken and a dog, utterly vulnerable! Looking at how pathetic he was when he ran away, he wasn't even as good as those petty thieves who were chased all over the mountains back then!"

As he spoke, he kept wiping the drool that had dripped from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

A sickly blush rose on Dugu Yan's deathly pale face. She delicately twirled a strand of hair with her orchid-like fingers, swaying slightly as she took small, shuffling steps forward. Her effeminate demeanor, unique to her self-castration, was on full display. She lightly stroked the longsword at her waist with her manicured nails, the blade scraping against her fingertips with a sickeningly sharp sound, while she giggled, her voice high-pitched and delicate: "Under the Sect Leader's divine might, Shi Feiyang's pathetic panicked escape reminded me of the days of the Mount Hua Sword Tournament, when those righteous sects trembled at the mere sight of the Sect Leader's back. Now, in the end, the martial world is ruled by you, Sect Leader!"

After saying that, she even gave him a flirtatious wink and flicked her sleeves lightly.

Ding Hong was hunched over, his body resembling a taut bow. He leaned on a bloodstained dog-beating stick, the skull at the end of which still had half a broken arrow embedded in its eye socket. Every step he took made a "creaking" sound.

He forced a fawning smile and leaned close to Qi Yin with difficulty. His withered hands gripped the staff tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. He lowered his voice and said, "Rumors in the martial world say that the Master's 'Blood Demon Technique' has reached its pinnacle. Seeing it with my own eyes today, I realize that the rumors are nothing compared to this! Such divine skill is probably the work of a celestial being descended to earth... I dare to say that with the Master in charge, what is there to worry about in achieving our great cause!"

As he spoke, murky saliva slid down the corners of his mouth and dripped onto his robes.

Qi Yin's black robes fluttered in the gale, like the wings of death spread out.

He raised his head slightly, his jawline as hard as if carved by a knife, his hands behind his back, his slender fingers tapping his forearms intermittently.

He stared at the severed limbs scattered on the ground, his eyes cold and focused. The broken swords and knives still trembled slightly as they were stuck in the corpses, and dark red blood dripped down the blades into the ground, staining the entire hillside an eerie purplish-black.

He walked slowly, each step steady and deliberate, the ground beneath his feet trembling under his imposing presence.

The stench of rotting flesh mixed with the lingering smoke of gunpowder assaulted his nostrils, causing his pupils to contract slightly—this scene of devastation, to him, was like a meticulously crafted work of art.

"Hmph." He finally spoke, his voice so cold it could freeze a person's heart. With a casual sweep of his sleeve, he stirred up a gust of bloody wind, and the bloodstains on countless corpses strangely flowed backward along the ground, condensing into blood-red runes in the air before dissipating.

After the group of people had gone far away, several white shadows suddenly swept across the horizon.

Shi Feiyang moved with agility, his toes lightly touching the clouds, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

Xue Qiuchun, nestled in his arms, clutched his blood-stained collar tightly, her fingertips trembling slightly. His other hand steadily protected her back, his eyes scanning the ground below warily. The ground below resembled the remains of a beast that had gnawed at it; moonlight shone on the tattered flags, the "Salt" flags now unrecognizable, soaked in blood.

Upon landing, Shi Feiyang slightly bent his knees to dissipate the impact, his movements fluid and graceful, before gently setting Xue Qiuchun down.

When Xue Hongshan landed, his legs buckled, and his knees slammed heavily onto the frozen ground next to the child's severed limbs with a dull thud.

His aged hands trembled violently as he stroked the countless mutilated corpses. Large, turbid tears fell onto the child's tightly closed eyelashes. His shoulders convulsed, and a suppressed sob escaped his throat: "It's my fault...it's my fault!"

Citroën's face was full of grief. He raised his fist, veins bulging, high and then slammed it hard into the frozen ground. Blood from his split knuckles splattered, mixing with the mud and gleaming eerily blue in the moonlight. Then he slumped to the ground, burying his face in his hands and curling his body into a ball.

Looking at the mess on the ground, Shi Feiyang activated his Mingyu Gong, and white mist rose from his palm.

He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and slowly walked to the other side of the hillside. When he untied the mysterious deerskin bag from his waist, his movements were steady and powerful, and the pots and pans inside the bag clattered crisply.

He crouched down, skillfully manipulating the combustible ice, his fingers deftly adjusting its position. With a "poof," a blue flame shot up, flickering and dancing in the cold wind. He gazed at the flame, his eyes deep and resolute, dispelling the darkness and bloodshed.

Amidst the flickering blue light of the burning combustible ice, Guo Xiangyu silently handed over half a piece of dry rations, her gaze gentle yet resolute, reflecting the still-burning flames of war in the distance, like the last glimmer of warmth in the cold night. As dawn broke, Xue Hongshan and the others returned, their steps stained with blood and mud.

The white mourning cloth, half-rolled up on Xue Hongshan's waist, was soaked with morning dew and felt heavy. Every step he took seemed to weigh a ton. There were still dark red marks left on it from the night before when he had bandaged the wounds of the Salt Gang disciples.

His gaze fixed on Shi Feiyang held both the bewilderment of a trapped beast and the questioning glint of a drawn blade. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “Young Master Shi, it is widely rumored in the martial world that your Mingyu Kung Fu has reached a state of perfection and your Hundred Victories Saber Technique is unparalleled in the world. How could you have fled in disarray before that fiend Qi Yin?”

He suddenly took a half step forward, his boot crushing a bloody piece of bone. "Could it be that the lives of the entire Northwest Salt Gang are as worthless as weeds in Young Master Shi's eyes?" Before he finished speaking, Citroën beside him could no longer contain himself, and the broken knife at his waist emitted a soft clang.

Guo Xiangyu raised her delicate hand to block Shi Feiyang, her slender fingertips gleaming with a cold, jade-like luster in the morning light.

She sneered, her voice like shattered ice striking a cup: "Senior Xue, your words are too kind! If my young master wanted to take Qi Yin's life, it would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. Last night, that demon led the elite of the Western Regions Holy Sect out in full force. If my young master were to fight him, who would take care of these wounded brothers?"

She suddenly turned around, her eyes shimmering with the gentle light of spring water as she looked at Shi Feiyang. "Young Master, you have the world in your heart. You would rather bear this misunderstanding yourself than let anyone else be harmed. How could an ordinary person match such magnanimity?"

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back. The morning breeze lifted the blood-stained hem of his clothes, revealing the ancient jade pendant at his waist engraved with the words "chivalry".

He nodded slightly to Guo Xiangyu; this gentle nod conveyed more trust than a thousand words.

When he turned around, his expression was as calm as an ancient temple bell: "Senior Xue, do you know the military strategy of 'to make the real appear real and the empty appear empty'?"

He flicked away the blood droplets that had congealed on the Frost Blade. "My feigned retreat was meant to embolden Qi Yin. Once he lowers his guard, that will be our chance to strike at the heart of the enemy." As he said this, he suddenly gripped the leather pouch at his waist, inside which lay the Holy Sect's defense map, which he had taken from Blood Lord the previous night. "Moreover, the Holy Sect of the Western Regions deployed all its experts last night. If we were to fight them head-on, even if we could kill a few, we would likely lose all of your lives. Although I possess some skill, I am unwilling to engage in a mutually destructive battle."

His voice was deep and resonant, each word striking Xue Hongshan's heart.

Xue Hongshan's face changed color rapidly. First, it turned bright red, like a brute who had been acupunctured; then it turned as pale as paper, like a torn window; finally, it turned bluish-gray, like withered grass after being hit by frost.

He suddenly staggered half a step, leaning against the broken sword and muttering, "It was my fault, it was my fault..."

Citroën was so ashamed that he slapped himself hard in public, the crisp sound startling the crows in the treetops.

Seeing this, Shi Feiyang sighed softly and took out a celadon medicine bottle from his pocket. The green bamboo painted on the bottle shone slightly in the morning light: "Let bygones be bygones. Master Xie's Nine-Turn Golden Wound Pill is the most effective for healing injuries. Everyone, please rest and recover first."

After saying that, he tossed the medicine bottle to Xue Qiuchun, and as he turned around, his clothes stirred up a gust of wind. As the curtains were rolled up, half of a tattered "Heroic Figures of the Martial World" was revealed hanging inside—a masterpiece by his master, Master Yuanchi.

Guo Xiangyu moved with light, graceful steps, carrying a leather pouch in her hands containing venison soup simmered with snow water.

As she handed the bowl to Xue Hongshan, her sleeve slipped down, revealing a jade pendant tied with a red string on her wrist—the very token that Shi Feiyang had casually given her when he rescued her from the "Four Beasts of the Northwest."

"Senior, drink it while it's hot. This soup contains ginseng from Changbai Mountain, which is excellent for replenishing qi and blood." Her voice was as gentle as willow catkins in spring, yet it stirred up a storm in Xue Hongshan's heart.

Guo Xiangyu's heart, like the willow catkins fluttering in spring, was already completely tied to Shi Feiyang.

When she spoke to Xue Hongshan just now, her tone remained gentle, but her eyes kept drifting towards Shi Feiyang's tent. If it weren't for the presence of others, she probably would have already run away.

As soon as she finished speaking, she could no longer suppress her longing and turned to walk towards the tent, her steps so hurried that it seemed as if a thousand troops were chasing after her.

Her eyes were full of concern and love, a love so intense it was like aged Shaoxing wine, ready to overflow at the slightest touch.

As she approached the tent, her heart pounded faster, and her cheeks gradually flushed, like a beautiful sunset, making her already stunning beauty even more breathtaking.

The moment the curtain was lifted, a misty vapor rushed towards us, as if we had stepped into a fairyland.

The candlelight flickered, casting a hazy, romantic glow within the tent. Guo Xiangyu's figure appeared and disappeared in this light, as beautiful as a fairy stepping out of a painting. She moved with light, graceful steps, each one seemingly carrying endless tenderness and longing, until she reached Shi Feiyang's side.

Her gaze was deep and focused as she carefully prepared hot water for Shi Feiyang. From fetching the water and boiling it to adjusting the temperature, every movement was meticulous, as if she were cherishing a rare treasure. When she picked up a soft towel to wipe Shi Feiyang, his cheeks instantly flushed red. He frantically waved his hands, stammering, "Miss Xiang... Miss Xiangyu, this... this won't do. I... I can do it myself."

As he spoke, he lay down in the bathtub fully clothed, clutching his clothes tightly with both hands, as if grasping at the last line of defense.

Looking at Shi Feiyang's shy yet adorable appearance, Guo Xiangyu felt a sweet ripple in her heart. She smiled gently, her smile full of doting and tenderness, and said softly, "Young master, please don't be stubborn. You've been through so much hardship and danger on this journey, so let Xiangyu take good care of you this once. In my heart, you are more important than anything else."

Shi Feiyang lowered his head, not daring to meet Guo Xiangyu's gaze, and stammered, "Miss Xiangyu, I...I understand your good intentions. It's just that men and women shouldn't touch each other, and I'm really...really embarrassed."

His voice grew softer and softer, but a warm feeling welled up inside him. He was deeply moved by the care and concern he received.

Seeing this, Guo Xiangyu stopped forcing him and simply sat quietly to the side, her eyes never leaving Shi Feiyang for a moment.

She gazed at him tenderly, handing him a towel and adding hot water, her eyes filled with an ever-growing love that seemed to melt Shi Feiyang into her affectionate gaze.

Outside the tent, Xue Qiuchun took in the whole scene, and her heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a knife, the pain was excruciating.

She felt as if her heart was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and a mix of emotions—bitterness, loss, and jealousy—rushed into her mind, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes.

She bit her lip, her nails almost digging into her palms, thinking to herself, "Why is Guo Xiangyu so close to Young Master Shi? Why is she able to stay by his side and take such good care of him? I care about Young Master Shi just as much, I want to..."

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, and her eyes gradually welled up with tears, but she stubbornly held them back.

She moved with light steps, her expression full of loneliness and unease, and slowly walked to Shi Xiong's side.

(End of this chapter)