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

Chapter 283. The cold blade departs from its master, the cloud road stretches far; fading crimson tears shed, the moon's soul vanishes.
Shi Feiyang gazed at his enemies lying scattered on the ground, and his taut back finally relaxed slightly. The ice crystals mixed with blood droplets on the Frost Blade reflected a cold yet dazzling light in the setting sun. In a daze, those lights seemed to be the reflection of all the bloodshed and carnage he had fought his way through.

Xie Wen landed as lightly as a feather, enveloped in the silken net. Guo Xiangyu, trapped within the net, could no longer contain herself. With her skirt fluttering, she resembled a fledgling swallow eager to return to its nest, rushing straight into Shi Feiyang's arms.

The delicate jasmine scent in her hair mingled with the intense stench of blood on the ground, creating the most unsettling aroma in the world.

"Young Master!" Guo Xiangyu looked up, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, glistening like tiny stars in the setting sun. Her voice trembled with relief and joy, "I stood in the sky, my heart clenched, counting each strike you made. When I counted to the thirty-seventh, my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my throat..."

Her hands trembled slightly, as if she were holding a rare treasure, as she gently stroked Shi Feiyang's blood-stained clothes.

Her fingertips gently traced each tear, her eyes filled with heartache: "Look at this cuff, it's torn like this, was it scratched by a scorpion's sting? And the bloodstains on this shoulder..."

As she spoke, her voice gradually choked up, as if she were the one who was hurt.

Shi Xiong slid off Xie Wen's back and turned away obediently. But Guo Xiangyu had already forgotten everything else. She stood on tiptoe, buried her face in Shi Feiyang's chest, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "When you unleashed the ultimate move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, 'Slaying the Mortal World,' the blade light soared into the sky, turning the entire sky a deep red. At that moment, Xiangyu had only one thought—the most dazzling and moving thing in the world is not the morning sun, nor the night stars, but that blade you swung with all your might for the sake of all living beings!"

She suddenly looked up, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling as if they held a sky full of stars. Shi Feiyang looked down and saw that Guo Xiangyu's hair still had grains of salt from the fierce battle, shimmering in the setting sun, making her more beautiful than any jewels at that moment.

He reached out, his movements as gentle as if touching a fragile dream, and softly wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

His fingertips touched her skin, which was burning with anxiety, and he said softly, "Silly girl, if it weren't for you, if it weren't for the thought of returning to your side safely, where would I have gotten the courage to cut off all the demons and monsters in this world?"

These words were like a gentle breeze, lightly brushing across Guo Xiangyu's heart, creating ripples on the surface.

Her cheeks flushed instantly, like the sunset, and she snuggled even deeper into Shi Feiyang's arms, wanting to embed herself entirely into his life.

The north wind swept across the Ningxia salt fields, carrying grains of salt, and hundreds of Northwest Salt Gang disciples swarmed in like dark clouds pressing down on a city.

Xue Hongshan's white hair flew wildly as he slammed his iron staff heavily on the ground, causing dust to fall in a rustling sound: "Chief Shi! Who did this mess?"

Shi Feiyang stood tall in the center of the pool of blood, his black cloak stained with blood, yet appearing even more majestic.

He clasped his hands in a salute, his voice booming: "Senior Xue, the world is bustling with people coming and going for profit. Some people cannot bear to see you using salt to help the world and relieve the suffering of the people, and they certainly cannot tolerate the Xiong Ying Society joining hands with the Salt Gang to protect the peace of the Northwest!"

With that, he pointed, and among the corpses lying haphazardly on the ground were tiger head tattoos of the Northwest Iron Gang and green snake waist badges of the Five Poisons Sect, gleaming eerily in the moonlight.

Citroën crouched down, dipped his fingertip in the black blood, and frowned deeply: "Father, this wound is shaped like a plum blossom, clearly inflicted by the Five Poisons Sect's 'Bone-Piercing Nail.' But how could the Iron Gang members collude with the Demonic Sect?"

The setting sun, like blood, bathed the salt fields in a poignant and beautiful scene.

Xue Qiuchun, lifting the hem of her moon-scented brocade skirt, stumbled and ran towards them, the pearl hairpins at her temples making a soft, disordered sound with her hurried steps. Seeing the tall, dark figure standing proudly among the corpses in the distance, her beautiful eyes instantly lit up, like two blazing stars suddenly igniting in the cold night, and a captivating blush rose on her snow-white cheeks.

It was the joy of rain after a long drought, and the shyness of finally seeing the one you've been longing for.

"Young Master Shi!" Xue Qiuchun's call was tinged with the delicate breaths of a young girl. Her voice drifted in the howling north wind, yet it was so clear and urgent, filled with endless longing and affection.

However, when her gaze fell upon the delicate figure in Shi Feiyang's arms, her steps suddenly froze, as if bound by invisible shackles. Guo Xiangyu looked up, her hair disheveled yet unable to conceal her captivating charm, as beautiful as a flower blooming in spring.

Her hands were tightly wrapped around Shi Feiyang's neck, and a sweet smile of relief appeared on her lips. That smile was so bright and so happy that it pierced Xue Qiuchun's heart with waves of pain.

Xue Qiuchun felt a tightness in her throat. The word "Young Master" that was about to escape her lips was stuck in her throat, turning into a broken and bitter sigh. The pearls at her temples seemed to weigh a ton, making it difficult for her to even lift her head, and she felt as if she had lost all her strength.

The biting wind, carrying grains of salt, mercilessly swept across her stiff body, but she remained completely unaware.

Xue Qiuchun stared intently at Guo Xiangyu rubbing against Shi Feiyang's clothes, her nails digging deep into her palms, leaving bright red welts, but this was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. "That wretched Guo Xiangyu, why is she always with Young Master Shi? She's just Young Master Shi's little maid!" Xue Qiuchun muttered to herself, her voice so soft it seemed it would be blown away by a breeze, her words filled with jealousy and resentment, the pain and anger of unrequited love.

"Miss Xue!" Xie Wen's greeting was like a heavy hammer, startling Xue Qiuchun, who was immersed in pain, from her reverie. She forced a smile that was more like a grimace, took light steps forward, and deliberately kept a distance from the two people who were embracing.

Her gaze involuntarily fell on Shi Feiyang's arm around Guo Xiangyu's, the intimate gesture like a sharp blade piercing straight into her heart. Guo Xiangyu's cheeks flushed, and she buried her face even deeper, like a spoiled kitten, exuding tenderness and dependence.

Xue Qiuchun felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, a buzzing in her ears, and the whole world seemed to be spinning.

She tried her best to maintain a dignified demeanor, but her fingertips uncontrollably tugged at the hem of her skirt, twisting the fine silk into deep creases, creases like the wounds in her heart, which could not be healed.

The north wind whipped her long hair, sending it flying wildly through the air. In a fleeting moment, it seemed as if her unresolved sorrows had scattered across the vast expanse of heaven and earth, nowhere to be found. She crouched down, her jade-like hands trembling slightly, and pulled half a secret letter from the bosom of a corpse. The letter bore grotesque, cinnabar-ink characters: "Destroy the Salt Gang, seize the Salt Road, the Northwest is within our grasp!"

As she gazed at the shocking handwriting, her jealousy and pain were temporarily replaced by vigilance. However, the love and envy hidden deep within her heart burned like a raging fire, growing ever stronger and never ceasing.

Xue Hongshan slammed his iron staff into the ground with a deafening roar, startling crows into flight: "What a vicious scheme! Seizing my salt fields is a pretense; their true aim is to wreak havoc on my Northwest!" He turned to look at Shi Feiyang, his eyes full of approval, "Hero Shi, you anticipated that someone would sabotage this?"

Shi Feiyang gently stroked the Heavenly Frost Blade, the runes on its blade glowing faintly: "Senior, this world may seem peaceful, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging. Salt is the foundation of people's livelihood; whoever controls the salt routes controls the lives of countless people. If they seize the salt fields today, they can cut off the food supply tomorrow, plunging the people of the Northwest into misery. Now that the Xiong Ying Society and the Salt Gang have formed an alliance, it is our duty to protect the peace of this region. Even if faced with a thousand armies, I, Shi Feiyang, will never back down!"

Before the words were finished, a series of horn sounds suddenly came from afar, and countless torches lit up in the darkness, like a red serpent winding its way in.

The setting sun, like blood, bathed the entire salt field in a crimson inferno.

Shi Feiyang's lips curled into a chilling smile. As the Heavenly Frost Blade was drawn, a dragon's roar suddenly rose, and the runes flowing on the blade emitted a faint, cold light in the twilight.

He gently pushed Guo Xiangyu away from his arms, his gaze sharp as lightning, looking at the long, winding dragon of torches in the distance—the north wind howled in, carrying sand and gravel, turning the piles of white salt into dark red, just like the blood and tears spilled by the heavens.

"Perfect timing!" Shi Feiyang roared, his voice echoing across the land. "Today, these demons and monsters will pay for their blood debts!" ​​Before he finished speaking, Xue Hongshan's iron staff slammed heavily into the ground with a loud "boom," causing salt crystals to fly up like raindrops.

As the long dragon of torches drew near, the menacing scorpion tail totem on the black-clad figures was faintly visible in the firelight—it was none other than the Crimson Scorpion Sect, which had been entrenched in Ningxia for many years! "What a clever diversionary tactic!" Xue Hongshan's eyes widened in anger. "First, they used the Iron Gang and the Five Poisons Sect to create confusion, then they sent the elite of the Crimson Scorpion Sect to launch a surprise attack. What a brilliant plan!" Xue Tielong and Xue Qiuchun, brother and sister, had already drawn their swords. The light of their swords and the torches shone brightly, like two silver rainbows piercing the night sky.

As soon as the Crimson Scorpion Cult members appeared, the red-robed elder at the head let out a strange laugh like that of a night owl: "Shi Feiyang, the Xiong Ying Society has been wreaking havoc in the Northwest for a long time! Anyone who blocks our path to wealth will only face death!" After saying this, the three hundred cult members simultaneously swung out the soft whips at their waists. The venomous scorpion tails at the tips of the whips gleamed with a ghostly blue in the night, weaving an impenetrable net of death in mid-air.

Shi Feiyang held the Heavenly Frost Blade horizontally in front of his chest, the runes on the blade moving like living things, and his aura surged: "Wealth? You plunder the people and cut off their paths to life, do you even deserve to talk about wealth? In broad daylight, how can you rats run rampant! Today, I will use this Heavenly Frost Blade to cut down all the injustices in the world!" Before he finished speaking, he had already taken the "Seven Steps of Dragon Walking", his figure was as fast as lightning, and the light of his blade turned into a sky full of frost and snow, heading straight for the face of the red-robed elder.

In an instant, the shouts of battle shook the heavens, and this world was transformed into a hellish inferno.

Xue Hongshan wielded his iron staff, unleashing the "Mountain-Splitting and Rock-Shattering Staff Technique." Each strike carried the force of a thousand pounds, causing salt piles to collapse wherever it passed. Crimson Scorpion cultists were smashed to pieces, their flesh and blood flying everywhere, their severed limbs scattered across the ground. Xue Tielong used the "Snow Shadow Sword Technique," his sword tip like scattered plum blossoms, specifically targeting the vital points of the enemy's body, each strike drawing blood and sealing their throats. Xue Qiuchun, in conjunction with her brother, used the "Returning Wind and Willow Sweeping Sword." The two swords combined, their sword energy crisscrossing, actually shattering the attacking soft whips, the broken whips falling to the ground like venomous snakes.

Shi Feiyang's Heavenly Frost Blade was even more elusive, its blade flashing and blood raining down wherever it went. He unleashed the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," and with the chilling aura of the Bright Jade Skill enhancing it, his blade moves were unpredictable, sometimes sweeping away fallen leaves in autumn, sometimes crashing against the shore like a raging storm.

The blood of the Red Scorpion cultists splattered onto the snow-white salt heaps, turning them dark red, and a strong stench of blood filled the air. Seeing the situation was dire, the red-robed elder suddenly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. The black blood, upon hitting the ground, transformed into countless venomous scorpions, baring their fangs and claws, lunging at the crowd.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly, and activated the Mingyu Gong to the eighth level - "Supreme Forgetfulness". The white mist around him transformed into the phantom of an ice dragon, and the Heavenly Frost Blade unleashed a move called "Golden Dragon Coiling Claws"! The golden blade light collided with the poisonous scorpions, bursting out with a deafening roar. The poisonous scorpions exploded one after another, turning into a foul-smelling poisonous mist.

However, the members of the Red Scorpion Cult were fearless and formed the "Ten Thousand Scorpions Devouring Heart Formation".

Three hundred soft whips were swung simultaneously, forming a huge scorpion tail phantom in mid-air, which slammed down on the crowd.

Shi Feiyang shouted, "Well done!" He raised the Heavenly Frost Blade high above his head and unleashed the ultimate killing move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, "Slaying the Mortal World"!
A massive golden blade of light shot into the sky, carrying the force of splitting the heavens and earth, slashing directly at the illusory scorpion tail. The blade of light collided with the scorpion tail, causing the heavens and earth to change color. Amidst the deafening explosion, the illusory scorpion tail shattered inch by inch, and the Crimson Scorpion cultists, blasted by the powerful force, coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

Seeing that the formation had been broken, the red-robed elder's eyes flashed with fear, and he turned to flee.

How could Shi Feiyang give him a chance? He used his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," to catch up in an instant, and his Heavenly Frost Blade slashed down fiercely!
A piercing scream tore through the night sky as the red-robed elder was severed in two.

The elder in blue robes of the Crimson Scorpion Sect grinned like a night owl, his hands forming nine profound hand seals, and the surging black energy in his palms shot into the ground like a living creature.

In an instant, countless scarlet vines burst forth from the ground, their surfaces covered with fine, fleshy barbs, wrapping around the ankles of the Salt Gang disciples like venomous snakes spitting their tongues.

The flesh and skin instantly rotted upon contact, exposing the white bones, and a shrill scream mixed with the sizzling sound of decaying flesh echoed through the sky.

Upon seeing this, Shi Feiyang's body was enveloped in white mist that surged like a tide, and he activated the Mingyu Gong to the eighth and a half level – "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison".

He unleashed a powerful slash with his Heavenly Frost Blade, unleashing the move "Heaven and Earth Live Together!" A phantom of an ice dragon roared forth, and wherever the blade's energy passed, vines snapped inch by inch, and frozen poisonous blood shot out like shrapnel, creating countless deep pits on the salt pile.

However, the Red Scorpion cult members were fearless and shouted in unison, "Scorpions rule the world!" Three hundred soft whips were lashed out at the same time, weaving into a dark purple net of death in the air. The scorpion tail hooks at the tips of the whips glowed with eerie blue phosphorescence, turning the sky into a strange bluish-purple.

"How dare you, you brat!" Shi Feiyang roared, unleashing both the Heavenly Frost Blade and the Divine Dragon Claw, unleashing the peerless killing move "Heaven and Earth in Silence".

The golden blade light and the azure dragon shadow collided with a deafening roar, and the resulting shockwave was like a hurricane passing through. The crisp sound of the soft whip breaking into pieces mingled with the screams of the cultists. The corpses thrown by the force of the energy crashed into the salt mountain, splashing red and white substances all over the mountain, dyeing the snow-white salt grains into dazzling colors.

Seeing the situation was dire, the gray-robed elder grinned and pulled out an ebony poison mist bomb, hurling it at the crowd. Shi Feiyang used the mysterious lightness skill of "Concealing One's Name and Body," his figure flashing like a ghost as he leaped into the air. His Heavenly Frost Blade unleashed a barrage of blades, cleaving the poison mist into countless fragments.

When the poisonous fog touched the salt grains, billowing white smoke rose up, emitting a nauseating stench of rotting corpses, and the vegetation within a radius of ten feet withered instantly.

At this moment, the scarlet robe of Elder Kegu of the Crimson Scorpion Sect fluttered, and a cold laugh, as if from the depths of hell, came from beneath his mask.

His ten fingers suddenly grew three inches, the dark purple barbs gleaming with an eerie cold light. As his palms moved, a scarlet mist suddenly rose between heaven and earth.

The ground churned like a boiling pot of soup, countless scorpion-shaped protrusions twisted and burst forth from the earth, turning the salt mounds into boiling swamps of poison, hissing and emitting green smoke. Xue Hongshan roared and slammed his iron staff heavily to the ground, unleashing his "Shadow Slapping Skill".

He moved his palms, and countless tiny palm shadows slammed into the ground like a swarm of bees. Each strike created ripples in the poisonous swamp, turning the scorpions that darted out into a bloody mess.

However, Ke Gu's figure flashed, and he actually used "Scorpion Shadow Illusion" to disappear from the spot. The next moment, he appeared behind Xue Hongshan, and his poisonous claws went straight for his back!
At the critical moment, Xue Hongshan used the "Flying Shadow Step" to dodge to the side and then counterattack with both palms.

Instantly, countless tangible palm shadows, each the size of a washbasin, pressed down on Ke Gu like a wall.

Ke Gu's robes tore open in several places, revealing skin covered in scorpion scales. He managed to deflect all the palm shadows: "Hmph! A mere trick! In my eyes, the Shadow Strike Technique is nothing but a child's game!" With that, he clapped his hands nine times in succession, and nine huge scorpion tail phantoms burst out of the ground. The blackish-green venom dripping from their stingers corroded the salt pile, creating a bottomless pit.

Xue Hongshan's eyes widened in fury as he gathered all his strength to unleash a barrage of palm strikes.

The palm shadow, as large as a millstone, collided violently with the scorpion tail phantom, the poisonous mist and the palm wind swirling together.

Just as Ke Gu was about to retaliate, Xue Hongshan suddenly changed his move, and countless tiny palm shadows came like a rainstorm, with three of them piercing straight into his chest!

With a muffled "plop," Ke Gu coughed up blood, his heart and lungs shattering like broken glass. He swayed a few times before falling backward, his scarlet robe gradually turning blackish-purple in the poisonous swamp.

Suddenly, a piercing shriek like tearing silk was heard, and three dark figures fell to earth from the northwest sky like meteors. The three protectors of the Crimson Scorpion Sect rushed over, stepping on grains of salt.

The sound of the scorpion's tail hook piercing the air was like the clash of metal, and the air in its path seemed to explode like boiling oil being poured onto snow, creating layers of distorted air waves. Shi Feiyang roared deafeningly, "Well done! I'm just waiting for you to consecrate my sword!" He lightly touched the salt pile with his toes, and his figure transformed into a swimming dragon as he retreated rapidly. His Heavenly Frost Blade had already drawn a move from the "Hundred Victories Sword Technique" called "Heaven and Earth Live Together".

Where the chilling blade energy passed, the earth instantly froze into ice crystals over ten feet thick, blocking the three's attacks from a distance of three feet. The gray-robed elder in the center chuckled like a night owl, and with a flick of his palms, a purplish-black poisonous mist erupted, resembling ghostly flames from the underworld.

This poisonous fog is the "Bone-Corroding Mysterious Yin Mist" secretly refined by the Red Scorpion Sect. It corrodes upon contact and seals the meridians upon smelling.

Shi Feiyang's pupils contracted sharply. The Heavenly Frost Blade transformed into a silver wheel and spun rapidly, its blade energy forming a Bagua barrier. The poisonous mist collided with the blade energy, instantly producing a hissing sound like a venomous snake. The ancient runes on the Heavenly Frost Blade even developed black spots, and its light dimmed like a candle flame about to go out.

"You dare to show off your meager skills before an expert!" Shi Feiyang roared like a dragon's cry, his figure suddenly turning into a blur as he approached.

The Heavenly Frost Blade instantly transformed into a myriad of stars in the sky, which was none other than the ultimate move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Heaven and Earth in Silence."

With a flash of cold light, the gray-robed old man's protective aura shattered like paper, his sleeves tore apart inch by inch, revealing the hideous scorpion tattoo on his arm.

However, the scorpion-tail hook of the left-hand protector was like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, aiming straight for the back of the heart!

Without turning his head, Shi Feiyang swung his sword with a backhand strike called "Meteor Chasing the Moon." The blade flashed like lightning, severing the scorpion's tail hook in two. Blue venom dripped from the broken ends onto the ground, instantly corroding a pit a foot deep.

The right-hand protector seized the opportunity to pounce, his short blade gleaming with a ghostly green light; it was a weapon tempered with "Seven-Step Intestinal Severing Powder".

Instead of retreating, Shi Feiyang advanced, his Heavenly Frost Blade aimed directly at the opponent's throat, forcing the opponent to hastily retreat to defend.

In that split second, a deep, cold laugh, like a thunderclap, suddenly rang out in the air.

The leader of the Crimson Scorpion Cult, dressed in a scarlet robe and wearing a gilded scorpion-shaped mask, exuded a suffocating aura as he slowly walked through the air: "Shi Feiyang, even if you possess extraordinary abilities, today you will stain the salt fields with blood!"

Before he finished speaking, the cult leader formed nine profound hand seals and chanted incantations.

In an instant, dark clouds covered the sun, and a gale swept sand and gravel like a stampede of thousands of horses.

A sickening rumble came from the ground, and countless crimson scorpion tails burst forth from the soil, each as thick as a bucket. Purple smoke spewed out as the scorpion pincers opened and closed, turning the salt mountains into poisonous swamps wherever they went.

Shi Feiyang roared to the sky, his Mingyu Gong circulated at high speed, forming a vortex of true energy to protect his body. He raised the Heavenly Frost Blade high above his head and slashed down. A huge ice dragon soared into the sky, its scales shimmering with cold light. Wherever it passed, the scorpion tails froze and shattered, turning into a rain of ice crystals.

A look of horror flashed in the cult leader's eyes, and he clapped his hands three times to unleash the cult's ultimate technique, the "Three Scorpion Soul Devouring Formation".

Three scorpion-shaped phantoms, each tens of feet tall, lunged forward, baring their fangs and claws. Where their giant pincers landed, the ground collapsed with a deafening roar.

Shi Feiyang roared, unleashing seven consecutive strikes with his Heavenly Frost Blade. The blade energy condensed into a gigantic ice wheel, instantly shattering the illusory image. Thousands of icy blades burst forth from the edge of the ice wheel, turning the surrounding Crimson Scorpion cultists into a rain of blood. "Impossible!" The cult leader, filled with shock and rage, personally intervened.

He used the "Scorpion Shadow Illusionary Step," his body moving erratically from east to west, his scorpion tail whip striking like a snake's tongue, specifically targeting the major acupoints on his lower body.

Shi Feiyang responded calmly, while Tian Shuang Blade maintained an impenetrable defense, the light of the blade and the shadow of the whip intertwining to form a net of light.

In the heat of battle, Shi Feiyang suddenly seized an opening in his opponent's moves and unleashed the ultimate killing move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Peerless and Unmatched"!
A golden blade of light ripped through the sky, as if it would split the heavens and earth apart. The Crimson Scorpion Cult Leader was unable to dodge in time and was locked onto by the blade's energy.

With a piercing scream, the cult leader was cleaved in two, his blood gushing out like a fountain, turning the snow-white salt mound into a shocking dark red.

The setting sun, like weeping blood, dyed the western sky a strange crimson-purple, and the evening glow, like torn brocade, drifted helplessly across the horizon.

On the salt field, corpses piled up like mountains, and blood and white salt had long since congealed into dark red hard lumps, gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the twilight, like countless hideous scars, telling the story of the brutal battle that had just taken place.

The air was thick with a nauseating, sweet-smelling stench, a mixture of rotting flesh and the acrid smell of poisonous fumes; every breath felt like swallowing the taste of death. The broken limbs and distorted faces, bathed in the blood-red sunset, appeared especially sinister and terrifying.

Some of the dead Red Scorpion Cult members stared wide-eyed, their deaths unfinished; others gaped, revealing gleaming white teeth, as if still uttering their final screams; still others were covered in sores and wounds, their flesh torn open to reveal the white bone, dark purple venom still oozing from their wounds. On the salt mounds, dark red bloodstains snaked like snakes, flowing down the terrain and pooling into small pools of blood in the low-lying areas.

A gentle breeze swept by, swirling up the salt and blood clots on the ground, making a rustling sound, as if countless wronged souls were weeping softly.

In the distance, several corpses were half-buried in the salt heap, with only half of their bodies exposed. They swayed gently in the wind, like ghosts drifting by.

Shi Feiyang stood tall in the center of this mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood. His Heavenly Frost Blade was untouched by blood, yet it exuded a chilling killing intent.

His dark cloak fluttered in the wind, his shadow stretched long by the setting sun, cast upon the corpses scattered on the ground, making him appear like a war god from hell. "The mountains and rivers bear witness, the sun and moon are my witness!" His voice resounded throughout the saltworks, carrying boundless majesty and domineering power. "Those who dare to bully the people, even with a thousand troops, I, Shi Feiyang, will crush their lair! Today's battle is a long-awaited warning to all the villains of the world!"

The sound, like a thunderclap in mid-air, shattered the gloom in the air and dispelled the eerie and terrifying atmosphere that permeated the salt field.

"Young Master!" A cry filled with endless worry and heartache broke the deathly silence.

Guo Xiangyu, like a delicate flower swaying in the wind, rushed towards Shi Feiyang with her skirt fluttering.

Her hair was already disheveled, but it couldn't hide her beautiful face. Her eyes were full of anxiety and concern, and tears were welling up in her eyes.

She threw herself into Shi Feiyang's arms, hugging him tightly, as if afraid that if she let go, he would disappear. "Young master, are you hurt? Xiangyu's heart is breaking..." Her voice was trembling with sobs, soft and sweet, every word filled with deep affection.

Her hands gently explored Shi Feiyang's body, afraid of missing any wounds.

Just then, Xue Qiuchun also walked slowly over with graceful steps.

Her face was as pale as snow, and her beautiful eyes were filled with complex emotions: heartache, jealousy, and an indescribable sense of loss.

Looking at the two embracing, she felt a sharp pain in her heart, her nails digging deeply into her palms, but she forced back the bitterness in her heart and said softly, "Young Master Shi, it's good that you...you're alright."

Guo Xiangyu raised her head, gave Xue Qiuchun a defiant look, then buried her face in Shi Feiyang's chest and said coquettishly, "Young Master belongs to Xiangyu, and no one is allowed to take him away. Xiangyu will stay by Young Master's side for the rest of her life, bandaging his wounds, brewing medicine for him, and listening to him tell those epic tales of the martial world..."

Her words were full of dependence and coquetry. Shi Feiyang gently stroked Guo Xiangyu's long hair, a tender smile on his lips, his eyes full of doting: "Silly girl, with you by my side, I can fight even the most dangerous battle."

His voice was deep and warm, like a warm current flowing into Guo Xiangyu's heart.

As Xue Qiuchun watched this scene, her jealousy burned fiercely like a raging fire.

But she forced back her tears and managed a smile: "Young Master Shi, if needed, Qiu Chun is willing to go through fire and water for you..."

Her words carried a hint of humility and expectation; she was willing to do anything to stay by Shi Feiyang's side.

As the last rays of the setting sun gradually disappeared, night slowly descended.

On this eerie and terrifying salt field, the shadows of the three people were stretched very long.

The complex and intense emotions between them, like the night itself, were profound and captivating.

Fine salt, carrying a fishy smell, swirled among the three, seemingly silently recounting the grudges and affections of the martial world.

Xue Qiuchun's fingertips, which were holding the jade medicine bottle, turned slightly white. The refreshing fragrance of the Tianshan Snow Lotus Ointment inside the bottle mingled with the surrounding stench of blood and decay, creating a poignant and poetic atmosphere.

Looking at the tears welling up in her eyes, Shi Feiyang couldn't help but recall the line, "There are countless skilled painters in the world, but none can capture this heartbreak in a painting."

He gently pushed the medicine bottle back, his dark cloak fluttering in the wind. Behind him, the Frost Blade, embedded in the salt pile, reflected the setting sun on the horizon, like "tears of rouge, lingering in drunkenness, when will we meet again," resembling a tragic ink painting: "Miss Xue's deep affection is etched in my heart. But this path of the martial world is like a dream of swords and blades. Now that I wield this blade, I will, as Li Bai said, 'After the deed is done, I will dust off my clothes and leave, concealing my identity and name.' With the common people yet to be saved, how dare I indulge in the tender feelings of 'I envy not the immortals but only the mandarin ducks'?"

Guo Xiangyu looked up, the jasmine stains on her temples making her even more pitiful. She tightly gripped Shi Feiyang's sleeve, her red lips parted slightly, and she smiled brightly: "Young master's heart is as firm as a rock, and he has long made a vow that 'until the mountains crumble and the rivers run dry.' Even if Miss Xue's snow lotus has the purity of 'rising from the mud unsullied,' I'm afraid it will be difficult to shake young master's determination to 'find a single-hearted person and stay together until old age.'"

Xue Qiuchun suddenly chuckled softly, her laughter filled with the poignant sorrow of "things have changed, people are gone, all is lost, and tears flow before words can be spoken": "Does the young master know that the snow lotus grows in extremely cold places and never withers for a thousand years, just like the unwavering devotion described by Yishan: 'The silkworm spins its silk until death, the candle burns until its wax is gone.' This medicine bottle once contained my late mother's blood, and she guarded it her whole life, just like the helplessness in Li Qingzhao's poem: 'This feeling cannot be dispelled; it just left my brow, only to rise again in my heart.'"

Shi Feiyang's expression shifted slightly, and the story of Madam Xue from the martial arts world came to mind.

He sighed softly, his tone filled with the melancholy of "What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?": "Miss Xue, why are you so trapped by your obsession? The world is vast and boundless, why not follow Wang Wei's example and 'walk to where the water ends, sit and watch the clouds rise' and find a peaceful place to return to?"

"Of all the places to go, none can compare to being by your side, young master." Xue Qiuchun stepped forward, her eyes glistening with tears like "the moon shining brightly over the sea, pearls glistening with tears," her voice choked with the sobs of "holding hands and gazing at each other with tearful eyes, speechless and choked with sobs." "During the previous crisis, your words, 'How could I, Shi, sit idly by while Miss Xue is safe,' made me mistakenly take 'last night's rain at midnight for eternity,' but now, I must taste the bitterness of 'flowers fall and water flows, one longing, two places of sorrow.'"

The cold wind howled, whipping up salt grains like sand.

Guo Xiangyu unconsciously nestled in Shi Feiyang's arms, as if drawing warmth and a sense of security from him.

Shi Feiyang took off the jade pendant from his waist. The character "侠" (xia, meaning chivalrous) on the jade had been polished by time, its engravings mottled, like the vicissitudes of "Ten years have passed, life and death are separated by a vast distance, I do not think of you, yet I cannot forget you": "This jade has accompanied me through seven hundred and seventy-seven battles, and I now give it to you, young lady. If you ever encounter difficulties in the future, take this jade to the Xiong Ying Gathering, and I, Shi, will surely fulfill my promise of 'The wind is howling, the Yi River is cold, the hero departs, never to return.'"

Xue Qiuchun trembled as she accepted the jade pendant, tears falling onto it and spreading out in a crystalline pattern: "So, in your heart, I am ultimately the one who 'returns the pearl with tears streaming down her face, regretting that we didn't meet before I was married.'" She clutched the jade pendant tightly and turned away, the pearl at her temple falling into the blood-stained salt heap, a poignant scene reminiscent of "flowers wither and fall, petals fill the sky, their red fades and fragrance dies, who will pity them?"

Shi Feiyang gently pushed Guo Xiangyu away, clasped his hands in a fist salute, bowed slightly to Xue Qiuchun, took Guo Xiangyu's hand, turned around and left. After a few steps, he wrapped his arm around Guo Xiangyu and used his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," to quickly blend into the air and leave the salt field.

Xie Wen quickly picked up Shi Xiong, used the "Flying Floss and Light Smoke Skill" to follow Shi Feiyang, and flew back to the Ningxia branch of the Xiong Ying Society. They picked up the elders of the Xiong Ying Society, Liao Pei of "Tongbei Fist", Lie Quan of "Qiankun Blade", Wu Zhong of "Iron Palm", and the heads of various halls, Xiao Lingling of "Mandarin Duck Blade", Miao Menlong of "Divine Archer", Shan Zhi of "Plum Blossom Dart", and others, and rode to the stone chamber of the cave in Helan Mountain.

As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun cast a poignant glow upon Xue Qiuchun. She wore a long, moon-white satin dress embroidered with delicate begonia blossoms, but now it was covered in salt and dust, making her look somewhat disheveled.

Her long, jet-black hair was disheveled by the wind, with a few strands clinging to her pale, snow-white cheeks. The once exquisite pearl hairpin at her temples was now broken, with only a few scattered pearls swaying in the wind, as if telling the story of her broken heart.

Her features were exquisitely beautiful; her willow-leaf brows were slightly furrowed, holding an unyielding sorrow. Her bright, clear eyes were now brimming with tears, reflecting the direction Shi Feiyang had gone, the deep affection and longing in her eyes almost overflowing. Her delicate nose twitched slightly, trembling with the aftereffects of crying; her rosy lips had lost their color, bitten until they were white, and trembled slightly as she murmured to herself.

Her slender shoulders trembled slightly in the cold wind. Her thin gauze dress offered no protection against the biting chill, yet she seemed oblivious to the cold.

Her figure was already slender, but now she stood there looking lost and dejected, appearing even more pitiful, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

The hands holding the jade pendant were fair and slender, with crescent-shaped marks on their nails where they had dug into their palms. Their fingertips were slightly cool, yet they gripped the jade pendant tightly, as if grasping at the last glimmer of hope.

Sometimes she would lift her misty, tearful eyes to gaze at the horizon where Shi Feiyang had disappeared, her gaze filled with wistful longing; other times she would lower her head, staring at the jade pendant in her hand, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips, tears streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto the jade pendant, and also dripping into her heart, riddled with wounds.

She seemed to have lost her soul, leaving only an empty shell, performing the most tragic solo act on this silent yet bloody salt field.

(End of this chapter)