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

Chapter 292. Golden needles swirl amidst the darkening winds, jade knives dance in unison, righteousness shines forth.

Shi Feiyang held his sword horizontally across his chest, his icy blue true energy surging three zhang (approximately 10 meters) as he roared, "How can the land of China tolerate such evil spirits! Today, we will eradicate this poisonous fog and restore a bright and clear world to the world!"

After roaring, he gripped his knife and raised it, freezing all the poisoned gold needles in mid-air into ice pillars that plummeted into the Chishui River, creating a colossal wave.

Poison Guanyin was shocked, but since the battle had begun, there was no turning back. She continued to hurl countless poisonous golden needles at the disciples of the Xiong Ying Society. Amidst the churning poisonous mist, the scabbard of the "Qiankun Blade" slammed heavily against the stone platform, shaking off the fine poisonous frost. She then turned to Wu Zhong and said, "These ten thousand poisonous golden needles are specifically designed to break through protective true qi. If we try to withstand them head-on, I'm afraid we'll lose most of our brothers!" He stroked the Bagua pattern on the blade, his eyes blazing, and said, "Someone needs to use a surprise attack to disrupt our formation and find the weak point where the golden needles are launched."

After shattering the poisonous golden needles, "Iron Palm" Wu Zhong clapped his palms together, white mist rising from them, and said, "I, Old Wu, have a clumsy method!" His tiger eyes widened, and he continued, "When the golden needles get close, I'll use the Subduing Demon Palm to withstand them, and you all can take the opportunity to rush in and surely tear open an opening!" Before he finished speaking, "Mandarin Duck Blades" Xiao Lingling moved gracefully, her twin blades flashing silver light, and said, "My husband's fierce method is good, but it needs someone to support him. Xiangyu and I will cooperate and use the Mandarin Duck Blade Technique to entangle the Poison Guanyin, so she won't have time to control the golden needles!"

Miao Menlong, the "divine archer," nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring to its fullest extent. He said, "Miao Gu techniques have always been in harmony with celestial phenomena." He gazed at the churning dark clouds in the sky. "The Grand Master's wife, Bai Zhi, has already taught me Miao Gu techniques. When the thunderstorm arrives, I will use the Star Chasing Moon Arrow to draw the heavenly lightning into the formation and burn it to ashes!"

"Plum Blossom Dart" Shan Zhi shook his head and sneered, his dart pouch gleaming coldly. He said, "The thunderstorm hasn't arrived yet, so why would the enemy just wait? I'd rather lead ten brothers to flank them and target Poison Guanyin's poison-spraying henchmen, cutting off their supply of golden needles!"

As Shi Feiyang listened to the debate, he gently twirled the Frost Blade in his palm, icy blue true energy flowing along its blade, and said, "What you all say is correct." He glanced at the crowd and continued, "The Five Elements Formation needs to be changed again. Metal disciples should form the 'Eight Trigrams Shield' to defend against the enemy, wood disciples should use 'Withered Wood Rejuvenates' to neutralize the poison, and water disciples..."

Before he could finish speaking, the eagle on "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen's shoulder suddenly let out a sharp cry. Xie Wen's expression changed drastically, and he said, "Not good! Poison Guanyin has already formed the 'Hundred Gu Soul Devouring Array,' and the Gu worms in the golden needles are about to awaken!"

The young pageboy Shi Xiong gripped the White Rainbow Sword tightly, his voice trembling yet resolute as he said to Shi Feiyang, "Young Master! Let me lure away those Gu worms! I can run fast!"

Guo Xiangyu held her bamboo sword horizontally, the blade reflecting her resolute face, and said, "Feiyang, I will follow you straight to Poison Guanyin. For every bit of harm she inflicts on you, I will make her pay with ten feet of blood!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Feiyang burst into laughter, his laughter shaking the poisonous mist. He roared, "Good! Today, let these evil demons know that our Xiong Ying Society is united as one. Even if poisonous miasma fills the sky and golden needles rain down, we will still forge a bright path!"

He raised the Heavenly Frost Blade high and roared, "Those who offend my Central Plains, though far away, shall be punished! Those who protect my brothers, I will not hesitate to die ten thousand times!" The crowd shouted in unison, the sound waves dispersing the poisonous fog and startling the poison array on the opposite bank.

As dusk fell like thick ink, the poisonous miasma rising from the Chishui River sounded like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts, dyeing the world a strange purplish-black.

"Poison Guanyin" is draped in moon-white silk gauze and stands on the high platform of the "Human Gate" of the Three Talents Poison Array. The green snake-shaped jade ornament on her forehead emits a ghostly light, and her ten poisoned fingernails gleam with a cold metallic luster.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of her lips. With a flick of her fingers, thousands of golden needles shot out, weaving together in the air to form the "Hundred Gu Soul Devouring Array." The venomous Gu worms dormant within each needle were about to awaken. Wherever they passed, the air emitted a piercing hissing sound, and the bluestone ground was instantly corroded with countless honeycomb-like holes, as if the earth was being gnawed at by countless sharp teeth, painfully decaying.

The metal-element disciples of the Xiong Ying Society clashed swords, their woven silver nets striking the golden needles, instantly producing a sharp sound like fingernails scraping against cast iron.

The forged iron blades shattered inch by inch, sparks flying everywhere. The disciples' hands were ripped open, and their blood dripped to the ground, only to be instantly corroded away by the poisonous mist.

Liao Pei, wielding the Tongbei Fist, roared as his arm muscles bulged like the roots of an old tree. He swept his iron staff out, the resulting gust of wind stirring up the poisonous mist: "You son of a bitch! Do you really think there's no one left in the Central Plains martial arts world? Today I'll show you that we chivalrous people would rather break than bend!"

However, before he could finish speaking, dozens of golden needles pierced through the air currents, grazed past his ears, and burned a bowl-sized black hole in the ancient tree behind him. Where the bark had peeled off, the tree trunk, resembling white bones, was exposed, sending chills down one's spine.

Lie Quan wielded the "Qiankun Blade," its blade gleaming with the yin-yang symbol of the Eight Trigrams. With a deep shout, he unleashed the move "Qian Trigram - Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies!" A crescent-shaped blade of energy cleaved out, only to be pulverized the instant it struck the golden needle array.

The force of the recoil traveled along the blade, causing blood to seep from his hand, staining the ancient hilt crimson. Lie Quan was secretly alarmed: this poison array could actually transform into energy, tearing the blade to shreds! It seemed the only way to break the array was to find another method; he could no longer fight it head-on.

At this moment, the poisonous fog surged like ink, and Shi Feiyang's icy blue true energy condensed into a three-zhang vortex, which was the realm of Mingyu Gong's "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison". When the Heavenly Frost Blade was swung out, a half-moon tore through the poisonous miasma, and wherever the blade energy reached, thousands of golden needles "crackled" and froze into ice shards, which shattered into dust when they fell to the ground.

No matter what kind of poison array it is, it is useless in the face of Shi Feiyang's unfathomable Mingyu Gong, which is as cold as ten thousand years of ice.

Upon seeing this, "Poison Guanyin" let out a piercing shriek and tore off the snake-shaped jade ornament from her neck.

In an instant, a burst of emerald light erupted, and hundreds of corpse snakes, their bodies covered in golden needles, suddenly emerged from the ground.

These corpse snakes had eerie green phosphorescent eyes, and spewed foul-smelling poisonous mist from their open mouths, like dark clouds pressing down on a city. When they touched the clothes of the Xiong Ying Society disciples, they hissed and crackled, and as the green smoke rose, the cloth turned into charcoal, and the skin was corroded into a bloody mess, with screams rising one after another.

Shi Feiyang's eyes flashed like lightning, and his voice boomed like a bell: "Brothers! This land belongs to us, and we will not tolerate the trampling of evil forces! To capture the enemy, we must first capture their leader, and you all should cover our retreat! Today, we will make these evil demons and heretics know that our Central Plains will not tolerate your rampage! Those who offend our Central Plains, no matter how far away, will be punished; those who protect our land, even in death, will be honored!"

Having said that, he used his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," and his figure transformed into a faint afterimage, merging into the poisonous mist. He pondered in his heart that only by directly attacking the Poison Guanyin could he break this formation, but the journey would surely be fraught with danger, and he would have to deal with it carefully.

This unparalleled movement technique was as fast as a ghost. Even the seasoned "Poison Guanyin" couldn't help but lose her composure and shouted sharply, "Quick! Activate the 'Nine Netherworld Poison Array'! Today, I'll make sure these Central Plains martial artists never return! I want to see what skills you, Shi Feiyang, have to break my carefully laid killing array!"

Before the words were even finished, the "Divine Archer" Miao Menlong drew his bowstring to its fullest extent, the arrowhead crackling with lightning: "Star Chasing Moon Arrows!" Three arrows shot through the air, drawing down heavenly lightning. The golden needles exploded in the thunder and fire, turning into a cloud of poisonous smoke that blotted out the entire sky. Miao Menlong felt a surge of tension. If this arrow failed to disrupt the enemy formation, everyone would be in grave danger. Only by exerting all their strength could they have a sliver of hope.

At this moment, Shi Feiyang descended from the sky like an eagle. Wherever his true energy vortex passed, poisonous mist, snakes, corpses, and needles were pulverized. He trapped "Poison Guanyin" in the center of the Mingyu Gong true energy vortex, raised the Heavenly Frost Blade high with a bone-chilling cold, and roared: "Evil spirits, why don't you submit to death! Heaven and earth have righteous energy, evil cannot prevail over good, today is your death day!"

Shi Feiyang's eyes were firm, filled with murderous intent, as he vowed to defend the dignity of the Central Plains martial arts world and protect this beautiful land.

Just as "Poison Guanyin" was about to be shattered to pieces, a sinister laugh suddenly came from within the formation. "Wuchang Hand" broke through the mist, his hands bluish-purple like a rotting corpse, his ten finger joints twisted into bizarre angles, and he unleashed the "Throat-Locking Wind-Chasing Claw," a move that terrified people in the martial arts world!
Shi Feiyang snorted coldly: "The light of a firefly dares to compete with the sun and moon?" Tian Shuang Blade drew a Tai Chi diagram and used the starting move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" "Welcoming Guests from the Pine Tree". The blade movement seemed gentle, but it contained the power to dislocate tendons and bones.

With a muffled thud, the force of the Wind Chasing Claw was split in two, causing the "Unpredictable Hand" to go numb. But the demon's claw shadow suddenly changed, simultaneously grabbing at Shi Feiyang's seven vital acupoints, including Tian Tu, Tan Zhong, and Shen Que!

Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill, his figure weaving through the claw shadows like a swimming fish, and slashing down diagonally with the "Cloud-Breaking Style" move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique. Unexpectedly, the "Unpredictable Hand" arms suddenly stretched out three feet like boneless snakes, and the poisonous light at the fingertips pierced straight for his face.

Shi Feiyang's pupils shrank suddenly, and he thought to himself: This evil skill can extend and retract limbs at will, it is really troublesome! Mingyu Gong was activated at high speed, and ice-blue true energy condensed into a shield in front of him.

The moment the poisonous light pierced the shield, Shi Feiyang swung his sword backhand and unleashed "Moon Reflected in the Cold Pool," seven arc-shaped sword energies streaking across the sky like silver ribbons.

The "Unpredictable Hand" howled and swung its claws to block, but when its claws touched the blade's energy, the sparks that flew out were purplish-black—a sign that a deadly poison had entered its body.

Trapped in the vortex of Mingyu Gong's true energy, "Poison Guanyin" seized an opening, rolled on the spot to escape the shackles, and hid deep in the poisonous fog.

Shi Feiyang's killing intent surged, and he roared, "Where do you think you're going! How dare you commit such evil deeds on the Central Plains!"

The Heavenly Frost Blade transformed into a streak of light and chased after him, only to see the "Hand of Impermanence" blocking his way once again. Its ten fingers swelled up like steel whips, unleashing the deadly move "Nine Claws of Chasing the Wind"! Nine claw shadows, like ghosts, enveloped Shi Feiyang's vital points. Wherever they passed, the air emitted a piercing tearing sound, and even space itself seemed to be torn apart by this evil technique.

At this moment, blood mist filled the Chishui River, and pieces of flesh flew everywhere.

The members of the Xiong Ying Society fought valiantly, defending the dignity of the Central Plains martial arts world with their own flesh and blood in this world filled with poisonous miasma.

A cold glint flashed in Shi Feiyang's eyes. He activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Limitless Asura's Hell on Earth" level, and his true energy surged suddenly. He unleashed the "Heaven and Earth Coexistence" move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." With a roar from Shi Feiyang, the moment the Heavenly Frost Blade was unleashed, the entire world was enveloped in ice and snow. Ice-blue blade energy poured down from the sky, like the Milky Way hanging upside down on earth.

The "Hand of Impermanence" let out a shrill scream, and the nine blue-purple claw shadows disintegrated inch by inch in the sword energy, like a flickering candle encountering a hurricane, vanishing into nothingness.

His entire body was pierced by the blade's energy, and blood mixed with poisonous mist shot into the sky, condensing into a purplish-black blood rain that fell in abundance, staining the Chishui River even more crimson.

Seeing this imposing force, the heroes of Xiong Ying roared in unison, their voices echoing across the land. Liao Pei, the "Tongbei Fist" master, roared, his massive iron cudgel, carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, smashed towards "Poison Lotus's" back: "Witch, prepare to die! Taste my Tongbei Divine Cudgel!"

Lie Quan, wielding the "Qiankun Blade," turned his blade, aiming directly at Lie Quan's lower body. The blade moved in the Bagua pattern, subtly conveying the wonders of Yin and Yang. Wu Zhong, wielding the "Iron Palm," unleashed the "Subduing Demon Palm," a powerful move called "Pushing Mountains and Filling Seas." The palm force surged forth like a tidal wave, dissipating the poisonous mist wherever it passed.

Shi Feiyang's eyes flashed with a cold light as he roared to the sky, "Those who offend my Central Plains, though far away, shall be punished!"

The moment the Frostblade was unleashed, the entire world was enveloped in ice and snow, and the chill was bone-deep.

The icy blue sword energy poured down like a cascading silver river. The poisonous lotus flower let out a miserable scream amidst the sword energy, its body disintegrating inch by inch, turning into a rain of blood.

Just then, Miao Menlong, the "divine archer," drew his bowstring to its fullest extent, the arrowheads flashing with lightning: "Chasing Stars and Chasing the Moon Arrows!" Three feathered arrows shot out into the air, drawing in heavenly thunder, and crashed into the golden needle array.

In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the golden needles exploded in the lightning and fire, and poisonous smoke filled the air, obscuring half the sky.

The "Thousand-Faced Scholar" appeared with eerie steps, leaving afterimages on the ground with each step, like a ghost.

He lightly waved his folding fan and unleashed the "Phantom Step," instantly splitting into seven identical figures. The folding fan in his hand transformed into seven beams of white light, which attacked several elders of the Xiong Ying Society.

Seeing this, Shan Zhi, the "Plum Blossom Dart" expert, shook his dart pouch and unleashed a series of "Three Variations on Plum Blossom" darts, each one a sharp, cold star aimed directly at the illusory figure's vital points.

However, the phantom quickly reforms after being shattered, making it impossible to defend against.

Dan Zhi was extremely anxious: This sorcery was truly troublesome; he had to find a flaw as soon as possible!

Lu Wending, known as "Tianshan Sword," and Xue Luosha, wielding whips in their left hands and swords in their right, along with Liu Pingsheng, Wu Zhengliang, and Ling Lanzhi, each wielding a long sword, attacked "Thousand-Faced Scholar." However, all they managed to strike were illusions and phantoms. Despite the combined power of the Tianshan sword technique and the combined strength of the group, their fierce offensive failed to harm "Thousand-Faced Scholar" even slightly.

Seeing the situation, Shi Feiyang activated his Mingyu Gong to its peak, transforming his true energy into a giant ice lotus that exuded a chilling aura.

"Break!" With a roar, the Heavenly Frost Blade unleashed the ultimate move "Heaven and Earth Live Together" from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." The icy blue blade energy surged like a raging storm, instantly severing the three illusory figures of the Thousand-Faced Scholar.

However, "Poison Guanyin" took the opportunity to unleash the "Ten Thousand Gu Devouring Heart Curse," causing thousands of Gu worms to surge out from the ground and rush towards the ankles of the Xiong Ying Society disciples like a black tide.

With a sharp cry, Xiao Lingling wielded her twin swords like snowflakes, unleashing the "Seven Fiends Blade: Linked Wings," slicing down countless Gu worms in their wake. Guo Xiangyu stood protectively in front of Shi Xiong, wielding her bamboo sword in perfect coordination with Xiao Lingling. She glanced at Shi Feiyang frequently, her eyes filled with concern and worry, only to see him enveloped in a brilliant, icy blue light, a three-foot-long icy blade condensing on his Heavenly Frost Blade.

"Today, I will wipe out all demons and restore peace to our land!" Shi Feiyang roared to the sky, unleashing his Mingyu Gong to the "Limitless Asura's Hell on Earth" level. Wherever the icy light passed, corpse snakes, golden needles, and Gu worms turned to dust. A thunderous roar seemed to echo through the heavens and earth as the Poison Guanyin's meticulously crafted Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Talents Poison Array collapsed with a deafening roar. The poisonous mist dissipated, leaving only a scene of utter devastation.

Seeing that all was lost, "Poisonous Guanyin" and "Thousand-Faced Scholar" were filled with resentment and despair.

Heartbroken, they used the remaining poisonous fog as cover to disappear into the dense forest, vanishing without a trace. This thrilling and fierce battle ended in victory for the Xiong Ying Society, but the blood in the Chishui River continued to flow, telling the story of the carnage.

Night finally fell, shedding its previous ferocity and violence, yet the air still reeked of the nauseating stench of blood and the acrid smell of poisonous mist. The Chishui River continued to flow, its waters a strange purplish-black, silently recounting the harrowing battle that had just taken place. The disciples of the Xiong Ying Society, torches in hand, methodically cleaned the battlefield, their weary yet resolute shadows stretched long in the firelight.

Guo Xiangyu stumbled and staggered as she ran toward Shi Feiyang, the jasmine hairpin in her hair swaying gently with her hurried steps, a few strands of her black hair falling onto her pale yet still stunningly beautiful face.

Her bamboo sword hung casually at her waist, her eyes fixed only on that tall, upright figure.

"Feiyang!" Her voice trembled noticeably, like a startled fawn. Before Shi Feiyang could turn around, she had already rushed in front of him, grabbing his arm tightly with both hands, her starry eyes filled with worry and concern. "Let me see, are you hurt? Is anything bothering you?"

Before Shi Feiyang could speak, she began to examine him carefully.

Her fingertips gently brushed across his shoulders and chest, the movements so tender as if she were touching a rare treasure, afraid that she might accidentally hurt him.

"This poisonous fog is so potent, and the evil magic of 'Poison Guanyin' is even more difficult to defend against. Are you really alright?" Her voice was thick with nasal tone, and her eyes were slightly red, as if she had already anticipated the worst possible outcome.

Shi Feiyang felt a warmth in his heart and gently took her cold little hand in his. "Xiangyu, I'm really alright. Have you forgotten my Mingyu Skill? With that vortex of true energy protecting me, how could these evil arts possibly harm me?" His eyes were gentle yet firm, trying to reassure her. But Guo Xiangyu wouldn't give up. She stood on tiptoe, cupped his face in her hands, and made him look into her eyes. "I don't care! I just want to see you alright with my own eyes before I can relax. Do you know how scared I was just now? Watching you fight in the poisonous fog, my heart was breaking..."

Her voice gradually choked, and a crystal tear slid down her cheek, landing on Shi Feiyang's hand. "You are my sky, my everything. If anything were to happen to you, I... I wouldn't want to live anymore..."

Shi Feiyang's heart skipped a beat. He pulled her into a tight embrace, gently rubbing his chin against the top of her head. "Silly girl, how could I bear to make you sad? No matter what dangers we encounter in the future, I will protect you and take good care of myself. Because I know that my well-being is your greatest wish."

Guo Xiangyu sobbed in his arms, clutching his clothes tightly as if afraid he would disappear if she let go: "Feiyang, promise me you won't work so hard again, okay? Even if there's the slightest danger, you have to take care of yourself first... I don't need you to be some kind of invincible hero, I just want you to stay safe and sound by my side..."

Shi Feiyang gently stroked her long hair and said tenderly, "Okay, I promise you. We'll see all the beautiful scenery in the world together, and grow old together. How could I easily abandon you?"

At this moment, the moonlight pierced through the thin clouds and shone on the two of them, giving the lovers who had gone through life and death a soft glow.

The surrounding clamor seemed irrelevant to them; on this bloody and cruel battlefield, their love blossomed like a flower, becoming ever more beautiful and captivating.

The autumn night wind, carrying the fishy sweetness of the Chishui River, stirred up a fine murmur outside the tent. Shi Feiyang stared at the flickering torches outside the tent, listening to Guo Xiangyu's even breathing, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cold hilt of the Tian Shuang Blade.

The face I hadn’t seen for three years gradually became clear in my mind. The image of Shi Ying holding the child was even more striking than the red dress I remembered.

He gently tucked the quilt over Guo Xiangyu's shoulders, only to see her eyelashes tremble slightly. In her drowsy state, she grabbed his wrist: "Are you going to see her again?" Her voice was tinged with sleepiness, like a wronged cat.

Shi Feiyang's throat tightened, and he leaned down to kiss away the wrinkles between her brows: "I'll go take a look, and I'll be back in three days. Just wait for me patiently, and when I return, I'll take you to see the mountains covered in red maple leaves."

Guo Xiangyu suddenly sat up, the moonlight making her pale face appear translucent, but a stubborn jealousy burned in her eyes. She said resentfully, "It's been three years. She's been in the deep mountains with her child. Do you know how she's spent those more than a thousand days and nights?"

Then, clutching his collar, her voice trembling, she said, "Every time you said you were coming to Bozhou, I was afraid you'd never come back. Afraid you'd be held back by that world of pleasures and forget there's someone waiting for you..."

Shi Feiyang pulled her into his arms, smelling the jasmine scent mixed with a faint smell of blood in her hair, and said tenderly, "Silly girl, you are the one etched in my heart." He stroked her slender hand, "After Yang Yinglong is defeated, I will bring you all to the Jiangnan headquarters. At that time, I will draw your eyebrows every morning and admire the Milky Way together at dusk."

Guo Xiangyu burst into laughter through her tears, lightly punched his chest, and scolded him playfully, "You're just trying to coax me." But then she suddenly hugged him tightly, saying, "Be careful on the road. If there's any danger, come back immediately. I... I'd rather you betray the world than let you betray yourself."

As Shi Feiyang disappeared into the night using his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," Guo Xiangyu remained leaning against the tent. She gazed in the direction he had gone until the morning mist swept across the Chishui River, swallowing up the last ray of starlight.

The morning mist enveloped the Leiyin Rice Terraces like a light veil, and the rice ears, adorned with glistening dewdrops, shimmered like scattered gold in the early sun.

Shi Feiyang's toes touched the waves of rice, his heart pounding even harder than when he faced the "Poisonous Guanyin." A misty morning veil gently enveloped the Thunder God Rock Demon Sect's headquarters, the datura flowers appearing and disappearing in the thin fog, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air.

Shi Feiyang walked up the stone steps, his pace quickening unconsciously, his heart pounding in his ears. When he pushed open the familiar vermilion door, the creaking sound startled the white pigeons under the eaves, and in the fluttering of their wings, time seemed to flow back three years.

In the courtyard, Shi Ying, dressed in a moon-white gauze dress, looked like a celestial being descended to earth.

She was holding her infant son in her arms, teasing the canaries under the eaves.

The morning light bathed her in a soft glow, and the pearl hairpin in her hair swayed gently with her movements, making her face appear even more beautiful and charming. Three years had passed since I last saw her, and while some of the girlish charm had faded from her eyes, replaced by a more mature and gentle grace, her eyes remained as bright as ever, brimming with starlight.

Shi Feiyang's throat bobbed, a thousand words stuck in his chest, and after a long while he softly called out, "Shi Ying."

Shi Ying's movements suddenly froze, and the baby in her arms also stopped laughing.

She slowly turned around, and the instant her gaze met Shi Feiyang's, her eyes instantly welled up with tears. The grains of rice in her hand spilled onto the ground, but she seemed oblivious, staring blankly at the person before her, her lips trembling slightly: "Feiyang...is it really you?"

Shi Feiyang strode forward, but stopped three steps away from her.

Three years of separation had instilled a sense of unfamiliarity and unease in him. Shi Ying gazed at him, her fingertips gently tracing his face, as if to confirm if it was all real: "You've lost weight, and you're tanned," her voice choked, tears streaming down her cheeks, "For these three years, I've counted the days waiting for you, hoping every night to see you in my dreams."

The baby in her arms blinked his big, curious eyes and stretched out his chubby little hand to gently pat Shi Feiyang's cheek.

"This is...our child?" Shi Feiyang's voice trembled as he cautiously reached out to touch the child's soft little face. The child suddenly grinned, revealing a toothless smile, and let out a clear laugh. He grabbed Shi Feiyang's collar and snuggled into his arms.

“His name is Shi Nian, and he thinks of his father every day.” Shi Ying smiled through her tears and gently placed the child in Shi Feiyang’s arms. “Look, he looks exactly like you.”

Shi Feiyang held the child tightly, feeling the warmth of the little body, his heart filled with endless tenderness and guilt. He raised his head and looked at Shi Ying with deep affection: "I'm sorry for making you suffer. After the rebellion in Bozhou is quelled, I will never leave you again. I want to accompany Nian'er as she grows up, to see the changing seasons with you, and to stay with you until we grow old together."

Shi Ying nestled against his shoulder, her tears soaking his clothes: "As long as you're by my side, I'll gladly endure even the hardest days."

As the morning light grows stronger and the thin mist dissipates, the fragrance of the datura flowers becomes increasingly rich.

In the courtyard, the family of three embraced tightly. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and all the longing, waiting, and concern transformed into endless tenderness and sweetness.

Three days later, inside the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters at Leigong Rock, Shi Feiyang was holding his young son Shi Nian's small hand, teaching him to identify the cloud patterns on the sword manual.

Suddenly, the copper bell on the eaves rang sharply, and a gray shadow swept into the courtyard like willow catkins in the wind. "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen landed on one knee, the eagle on his shoulder flapping its wings and emitting a sharp cry, the secret letter tightly clutched in its claws still bearing the unique vermilion mark of the southern border.

"There's been a change in the Five Poisons Sect!" Xie Wen's voice was deep and resonant, like a drumbeat, and the veins on his forehead throbbed slightly from his rapid run. "Lan Xiaodie was in seclusion in the Sacred Gu Cave for seven days, and when she came out, she actually smashed the blood feud memorial tablet that had been enshrined for many years!"

Shi Ying was draping a cloak embroidered with a tiger's head over Shi Nian's shoulders when she heard this, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

Shi Feiyang gently stroked the child's soft hair, but his gaze was like a blade tempered with ice: "Tell me about it."

"Disciples of the sect witnessed her kneeling beneath the sacred tree of Miao territory, murmuring to herself into the void." Xie Wen loosened his blood-stained robe, revealing three deep, bone-revealing claw marks on his chest. "When my subordinates approached to investigate, she suddenly unleashed the 'Thousand Spider Venomous Hand,' and if it weren't for the eagle's warning..."

He paused, then lowered his voice, "Her words sounded like she was possessed by some deity—'Shi Feiyang is a great hero,' 'A son should not have to pay his father's debts,' every word she uttered was an attempt to overturn the blood feud of that year!"

Suddenly, Shi Nian began to babble, his chubby little hands patting Shi Feiyang's scabbard.

Shi Ying took the child, gently shaking the rattle with her delicate hands, but her gaze remained fixed on her husband's solemn profile. Outside the courtyard, the datura flowers swayed without wind, their fragrance wafting in the air. Shi Feiyang slowly rose, his Heavenly Frost Blade drawing from its sheath with a chilling blue light.

The autumn wind, carrying the fishy smell of the Chishui River, made the copper bells on the eaves of the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters ring loudly.

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back on the observatory, his gaze piercing through the thin mist like a hawk's, fixed on the towering mountains to the west.

There, clouds and mist surged, and faint purple aura rose; this was the place where the Five Poisons Sect was entrenched.

"Thank you, Wen!" Shi Feiyang suddenly spoke, his voice booming like a bell, making the blue bricks beneath his feet tremble slightly. "Lan Xiaodie's temperament has changed drastically, and the Five Poisons Sect is in turmoil. This is a golden opportunity for our Heavenly Demon Sect to annex the Five Poisons Sect and uphold the righteous path of the martial world!"

"Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen knelt on one knee, the gyrfalcon on his shoulder letting out a sharp cry: "Your subordinate is willing to follow the leader to the Miao region!"

Shi Feiyang waved his hand, the Frost Blade gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light under the moonlight: "No. Immediately use the 'Flying Willow and Light Smoke Technique' and rush back to the Red Water River. Order Lu Wending, the Sword of Tianshan, Blood Rakshasa, and their disciples to quickly rush to Leigong Rock to protect Shi Ying and the main altar."

He paused, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, and analyzed, "The situation of the Five Poisons Sect is unclear. It's hard to guarantee that someone won't take advantage of our predicament and launch a surprise attack on the Heavenly Demon Sect." Xie Wen's heart tightened, knowing that the Grand Master's words were absolutely true. The Five Poisons Sect was full of experts; if someone harbored ill intentions and took advantage of the situation, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Your subordinate obeys!" He bowed respectfully, his figure leaping up as lightly as a willow catkin, disappearing into the night in an instant.

Shi Feiyang gazed in the direction Xie Wen had gone, then turned to the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect and his beloved wife Shi Ying, saying, "The martial world is like a game of chess; one wrong move and the whole game is lost. Since I have taken the world as my responsibility, I must plan meticulously to protect this beautiful land and safeguard the lives of countless people!"

Having said that, he used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill, his figure transforming into a streak of light as he sped towards the Five Poisons Sect.

In the night sky, two figures streaked across the sky like shooting stars. One headed towards the Chishui River, the other towards Miao territory; their fates would be swept up in the turbulent waves of this martial world. Meanwhile, at the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters, Shi Ying, holding her infant son Shi Nian, stood atop the city wall, gazing in the direction her husband had departed, her eyes filled with both worry and determination.

She knew that a great battle was about to begin.

In mid-autumn, the fog in Miao territory was like ink being poured, enveloping the Five Poisons Sect's watchtowers and turning them into ferocious behemoths.

Inside the Sacred Gu Cave, Lan Xiaodie stared at the bronze mirror. For the past two years, that illusion had been like a venomous snake coiling in her heart—the Jade Emperor's whisk was billowing, and the figure of Shi Feiyang leading the heroes in a bloody battle amidst the clouds and mist seemed like a god; Sun Wukong's golden cudgel shook the ground, and the evidence of her father's secret meeting with the traitor turned to dust.

She gripped the poisoned silver hairpin tightly; the mandala pattern on the hairpin's tip overlapped with the image of Shi Feiyang's blood-stained robe in her memory, and her knuckles turned white from the force.

The waning moon over Miao territory was tinged with a bluish-gray by the poisonous miasma, and the flickering candlelight inside the Sacred Gu Cave made Lan Xiaodie's face appear as white as jade covered in frost.

She wore a moon-white gauze dress embroidered with a hundred poison totems. On the skirt hem, which was outlined with silver thread, the mandala flowers embroidered with gold thread rose and fell gently with her breath. The emerald sword at her waist gleamed with a cold, eerie light, which complemented the crimson snake-shaped gold ornament wrapped around her wrist.

Her black hair was tied up high in a nine-poison pearl bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her pale, paper-white cheeks, which further accentuated the deep sorrow in her phoenix eyes. Two years ago, the "Heavenly Palace Illusion" that Shi Feiyang had cast on Lan Xiaodie was tormenting her like a bone-deep affliction.

At this moment, she leaned against the cold stone wall, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the silver hairpin at her temple. The mandala pattern on it seemed to come alive, overlapping with the blood-stained hem of her clothes in her hallucination.

She would laugh one moment and cry the next, her eyes sometimes clear and sometimes dazed, her former cold and arrogant demeanor as the leader of the sect completely gone.

"Father... did he really deserve this?" she murmured to herself, her voice broken like a withered leaf in the wind.

Images flashed through her mind: the Jade Emperor waving his whisk, Shi Feiyang leading his heroes to fight against foreign enemies amidst the clouds; she also saw Sun Wukong striking the ground with his golden cudgel, revealing the evidence of her father's collusion with traitors. These images were like sharp blades, repeatedly piercing her heart.

Suddenly, she coughed violently, her slender white fingers covering her lips. When she removed them, specks of crimson blood stained the spaces between her fingers. "Why...why did you have to make me see this..." She slumped weakly to the ground, her gauze skirt spreading out like a butterfly with broken wings. The pearls on her hairpin swayed gently with her trembling, mirroring her crumbling spirit.

The chirping of insects outside the cave sounded like mockery to her. She hugged herself tightly, curling into a small ball, letting the pain overwhelm her. Her once unwavering belief in revenge was now riddled with holes.

Shi Feiyang's towering figure in her hallucination was like a mountain, making it hard for her to breathe, yet it also made her want to get closer and explore the truth behind that light.

"Master!" A trusted disciple's voice rang out from outside the door, "The elders say you've gone mad and want to enthrone the Tiger Wolf Star as the vice master!" Before the words were finished, Lan Xiaodie's skirt, embroidered with a hundred poisons, swept the poison bottle off the table. The golden silkworm gu twisted and struggled among the porcelain shards, and the green liquid that seeped out corroded the blue bricks, creating wisps of white smoke.

At the same time, Shi Feiyang used his "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill to traverse the mountains. Suddenly, he saw purple qi surging like a sea of ​​blood above the Five Poisons Sect. A foul wind carrying the hissing of Gu worms rushed towards him, and he was startled: such an evil aura must mean that internal strife had broken out within the sect!
Inside the Sacred Gu Cave, the cave entrance shattered with a deafening roar. Tiger Wolf Star strode in, crushing the bluestone beneath his feet, the skull patterns on his nine-ringed broadsword seeming to grin menacingly. Behind him, twelve bone-piercing nails gleamed with a chilling blue light from Tang Qianji's sleeve, while Moon Shadowless's blood-stained blade dripped black blood, winding into eerie totems on the ground.

"Lan Xiaodie, now that you've been possessed by a demon, you should relinquish the position of sect leader!" Tiger Wolf Star's wild laughter shook the cave walls, causing dust to fall. He unleashed a move called "Black Wind Rolling Clouds" with his nine-ringed broadsword. Before the blade even arrived, the foul wind had already whipped Lan Xiaodie's hair into a frenzy.

(End of this chapter)