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

Chapter 313. Heroic Spirit Displayed in Pacifying the Rebellion in Bozhou; Cleverly Unraveling Conspiracy to Protect the Common People.

The mountains of Guizhou lay prostrate like giant beasts in the night, while the Haichao Temple Observatory was torn apart by an eerie purple light.

On the bronze star trails of the armillary sphere, the Twenty-Eight Mansions gleam with an eerie light, as if countless eyes are gazing upon the human world.

Yang Yinglong's scarlet cloak fluttered in the wind as he gripped the armillary sphere's rotating disc tightly with both hands. His fingertips were deeply embedded in the bronze patterns, and the blood that seeped out flowed along the star trails, resembling a blood-red galaxy.

"Shi Feiyang, today I'll show you the power of the stars!" Yang Yinglong's laughter, mixed with the clattering of gears, made the white marble railings of the observatory tremble.

Before the words were even finished, the sky suddenly cracked open with a spiderweb-like fissure, and countless meteorites, trailing crimson fiery tails, tore through the night. The burning fragments fell like heavenly fire, smashing the ground into a bottomless crater.

Scorched earth and sparks flew everywhere, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur and blood.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a dark, tight-fitting outfit, was surging with icy blue true energy. He activated the Mingyu Gong to its limit, and frost flowers on his palm condensed into blades.

"A mere trick!" He unleashed the "Heaven and Earth United" technique from his palms, nine golden sword energies imbued with icy coldness soaring into the sky and colliding violently with the falling meteorite. The explosion was deafening, the shockwave blasting away bricks and stones within a ten-foot radius. Sparks landed on Shi Feiyang, but were instantly extinguished by his icy blue true energy.
At that moment, Fujiwara no Nishimuneku transformed into nine afterimages, his chrysanthemum-patterned katana weaving a death vortex in the air.

"Demon Wheel Slash - Dance of the End!" The Japanese pirate ninja's shout was as cold as ice. The sword formation composed of nine curved swords carried a sharp sound of tearing through the air, and the space distorted and deformed wherever it passed.

Shi Feiyang flipped backwards on his toes, his black outfit ripped in dozens of places by the wind from the blade, and the flying fabric turned into bloody butterflies in the air.

He activated his Bright Jade Technique, his icy blue true energy intertwining with the golden blade light to form a shield, barely blocking the fatal blow. However, he felt a numbness in his hand, and the Heavenly Frost Blade emitted a resentful clang from its sheath. "Little Butterfly, help me!" Shi Feiyang's roar shook the bronze bells on the eaves of the Star Gazing Platform. Lan Xiaodie's plain white Miao dress fluttered in the wind, and the Myriad Gu Pot in her hand glowed with a ghostly green light.

With a gentle wave of her hand, countless Gu worms surged forth like a black cloud—the Golden Silkworm Gu King spat out golden threads, the Blood Spider Gu sprayed out poisonous mist, and the Soul-Devouring Centipede swung its hundreds of limbs. The army of Gu worms collided with the meteorite, erupting in a series of crackling explosions. A sweet, pungent blood mist filled the observatory, dyeing the moonlight an eerie bluish-green.

Bai Zhi stood amidst the ruins, holding an ancient Miao flute. As her delicate hands danced, the melody of "The Demon-Suppressing Song" surged like a raging tide. The flute's sound transformed into tangible sound waves, causing meteorites to crumble inch by inch wherever it touched, yet the shockwaves caused blood to trickle from the corner of her mouth.

Yang Yinglong laughed maniacally and pulled out a bronze token engraved with runes from his bosom: "Stars return to their positions, blood sacrifice to the heavens!" The celestial sphere suddenly emitted a piercing roar, and an even larger meteorite swarm rolled down like a reversed Milky Way, pressing down with an aura of destruction that even the air seemed to groan under the weight of the storm.

Shi Feiyang stared at the meteorite that blotted out the sky, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

He activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison," and his icy blue true energy surged three zhang, actually condensing into an icy dragon phantom in the night sky.

His skin gradually became as transparent as jade, and his inner strength swirled inward like a vortex, creating a suction force that drew nearby rubble into his body.

"Borrowing the power of the stars, I will vanquish the demons!" He touched the ground with his toes and used the "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill, leaping onto the celestial globe like a shooting star.

Seeing this, Fujiwara no Nishimuneju merged his nine afterimages into one, and his Japanese sword pierced straight into Shi Feiyang's back.

Shi Feiyang unleashed a backhand strike with "Slaying the Mortal World," the golden blade energy spinning like a roulette wheel, shattering the Japanese pirate ninja's attack.

But Yang Yinglong took the opportunity to turn the bronze token, and a meteorite a hundred feet long crashed down like a giant pillar.

Shi Feiyang unleashed the ultimate killing move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique," "Sun and Moon Shining Together," with both palms at full power! Two enormous golden blade shadows collided violently with the meteorite. Amidst the crisscrossing blade energy, the stone pillars of the observatory shattered, and fragments of stone fell like raindrops.

Yang Yinglong's scarlet cloak fluttered in the air currents as he laughed maniacally, "Shi Feiyang, you will die today!" However, before his laughter subsided, Shi Feiyang's illusory ice dragon suddenly opened its mouth and swallowed a meteorite.

He activated the Mingyu Technique, transforming the meteorite's power into his own. He became like a moving iceberg, freezing the ground and condensing the air into frost wherever he went.

"The suppression of the rebellion should be completely over!" Shi Feiyang's voice was as cold as the deepest ice in the netherworld.

He unleashed an enhanced version of "Heaven and Earth Live Together" with both palms, eighteen golden sword energies carrying the chilling aura of the Ice Soul Cold Prison, descending like divine punishment.

Yang Yinglong stared in horror, his bronze token shattering inch by inch; Fujiwara no Nishimune's katana was shattered into pieces, his entire body being torn into a bloody mist by the sword's energy. The observatory collapsed with a deafening roar amidst the violent tremors, its flames illuminating half the sky.

When the smoke cleared, Shi Feiyang stood atop the ruins, his black outfit tattered, yet his posture remained as upright as a pine tree.

His skin returned to normal, and the icy blue true energy in his palm slowly dissipated. In the distance, Shi Ying, Lan Xiaodie, Bai Zhi, and others walked over, stepping on the wreckage, their figures bathed in a golden halo in the dawn's light.

This bloody battle to quell the rebellion, which concerned the lives of all people, finally came to an end amidst the clash of swords and the power of the stars.

In the evening, we returned to the tents around Yun Wuyue's grave in the mountains near Feima Pass.

Shi Ying and Bai Zhi escorted their husbands, Shi Feiyang, into their tent.

Seeing this scene, Lan Xiaodie imagined the loving relationship between Shi Feiyang, Shi Ying, and Bai Zhi, and felt her heart pierced by needles. She was extremely sad and silently left the Xiong Ying Society's camp.

As dusk settled, it seeped into the gaps of the tent. Shi Ying knelt on the animal skin rug, her silver armor long gone, leaving her in only a moon-white undergarment. In her hand, she gently stirred the venison soup in the earthenware jar with a copper ladle, the rising steam blurring the deep worry in her eyes.

Bai Zhi leaned against the curtain, her fair hands fluttering like butterflies as she carefully ground the wound medicine into powder. Miao flute rested on her knee, but she had no heart to play it anymore.

"Husband, drink this soup first." Shi Ying scooped up a spoonful of soup, gently blew on it to cool it, and held it to Shi Feiyang's lips. "This is stewed with century-old ginseng and Tian Shan snow lotus; it's the best for replenishing vital energy." Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against his chapped lips, and suddenly her eyes reddened. "Look at you, look at the state you've become because of this war."

Bai Zhi put down the medicine bowl, knelt down to Shi Feiyang's side, and gently touched his blood-stained temple with her soft hand: "Husband, let me change your dressing."

Her voice was so soft, as if afraid of waking something, her fingertips, cool with the ointment, carefully wiping the wound. "When you leaped onto the celestial sphere to fight Yang Yinglong, I watched from below, my heart pounding in my chest."

Looking at the two faces filled with concern, Shi Feiyang felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He reached out and grasped Shi Ying's trembling hand, then gently patted Bai Zhi's hand: "I'm fine. I have the Mingyu Gong protecting me, so I never get hurt. Don't worry about me."

Before he could finish speaking, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the tent.

"Chief!" Xie Wen lifted the tent flap, his expression grave. "Leader Lan left the camp alone, leaving only a letter."

He handed over a plain silk handkerchief, on which Lan Xiaodie's handwriting still bore traces of her tears: "Shi Lang, the journey through the martial world is long, please take care. The Five Poisons Sect still has matters to attend to, so Xiaodie will go ahead first."

Shi Feiyang suddenly stood up, and Shi Ying and Bai Zhi hurriedly helped him up. When their eyes met, they both saw the complex expressions in each other's eyes. "I'm going to chase after her." Shi Feiyang broke free from their support, but Shi Ying grabbed his clothes tightly.

"Husband!" Shi Ying looked up, tears welling in her eyes. "You just went through a great battle..." She suddenly buried her face in his chest. "Is she more important to you than your own life?"

Bai Zhi bit her lip, and after a long while, she whispered, "Husband, perhaps Sect Leader Lan wants to be alone for a while..."

Her voice became lower and lower.

Shi Feiyang stood frozen in place, the image of Lan Xiaodie turning away flashing through his mind.

The figure in white drifted further and further away in the twilight, like a cloud scattered by the wind.

A mountain breeze suddenly rose outside the tent, stirring up the sachet that Lan Xiaodie had left behind in the corner, and the embroidered twin lotus flowers swayed gently in the wind.

Inside the Ming army camp in Bozhou, the night was as dark as ink, and the flickering candlelight in the tents cast distorted and menacing shadows of everyone present.

On the tiger-skin chair, Imperial Envoy Li Changgeng held a jade thumb ring, his knuckles turning white, his eyes fixed on the battle report on the table. The handwriting of Shi Feiyang killing Yang Yinglong stung his eyes.

"This Shi Feiyang is truly a thorn in my side!" Li Changgeng slammed the battle report to the ground, the jade ring clattering against the wooden table with a crisp cracking sound. "I originally intended to use Yang Yinglong to get rid of him, but unexpectedly, he has instead made a great contribution!"

Kang Fusheng, the commander of the Imperial Guards, was still clad in black armor, the embroidered spring knife at his waist gleaming coldly. He stepped forward, his boots treading over the battle report, a sinister smile playing on his lips: "My lord, do not worry. No matter how skilled Shi Feiyang is, he is still just a commoner. He has killed Yang Yinglong and now commands thousands of elite troops of the Xiong Ying Society. For the court, he is already a formidable threat."

Commander Xiang Yushan of the Embroidered Uniform Guard gently stroked the leather belt embroidered with python patterns at his waist, a calculating glint in his triangular eyes: "Indeed. The Xiong Ying Society has been entrenched in the martial arts world for many years, maintaining close ties with sects such as Wudang and Shaolin. If left unchecked, it will surely become a major threat to the imperial court in the future."

"But Shi Feiyang is a man of great righteousness and has a very high reputation in the martial arts world. If we act rashly, we may incite public anger." Guo Dunyi, the Ming army's commander-in-chief, frowned, his back under his armor already soaked with cold sweat.

He had fought alongside Shi Feiyang and knew how formidable the latter was. Now, thinking of plotting to frame him, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Lu Yuan, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, toyed with the gilded token in his hand and let out a sinister laugh: "General Guo, are you scared out of your wits? People in the martial arts world value their reputation the most. With just a little trick, we can ruin Shi Feiyang's reputation!"

A sinister glint flashed in Li Changgeng's eyes. He grabbed the wolf-hair brush from the table and dipped the tip heavily into the inkstone: "Tell me about it!"

Lu Yuan leaned forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Shi Feiyang killed Yang Yinglong and seized a large amount of grain and military equipment. All we need to do is spread the word that he embezzled military funds and intended to rebel. We can also bribe a few petty thugs to testify. Then, even if he has a lot of mouths, he won't be able to clear his name!"

Kang Fusheng clapped his hands and laughed: "Great plan! This way, we can not only cut off the Xiong Ying Society's supplies, but also alienate other factions in the martial arts world from him. When he is isolated and helpless, we can then send troops under the pretext of suppressing a rebellion and wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

Xiang Yushan added, "Furthermore, the Xiong Ying Society is full of talented people. We can secretly bribe a few weak-willed individuals to act as our inside agents. With their help from both inside and outside, Shi Feiyang will have no chance of escaping."

Guo Dunyi felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at the sinister smiles on everyone's faces, but she could only grit her teeth and agree: "You all have brilliant insights! However... Shi Feiyang is surrounded by many experts, and Lan Xiaodie's Five Poisons Sect and Shi Ying's Heavenly Star Sect are both formidable opponents."

"General Guo, there's no need to worry." Li Changgeng sneered, holding the Xuan paper covered in writing up to the candlelight, watching the flames gradually erode the characters. "We'll cut off their supplies first, then demoralize them. When they're exhausted from running around, that's when the imperial army will be mobilized. As for those martial arts sects..." A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, "The Imperial Guard's prison has always been known for making people confess the truth." Guo Dunyi didn't want to do something like this—killing someone after they've served their purpose. Besides, Shi Feiyang's martial arts skills were unparalleled in the world; if things went wrong, he might be killed by Shi Feiyang instead.

Shi Feiyang and Xiong Ying's greatest strength lies in counter-attacking.

The number of imperial guards, gangs, and martial arts sects killed by Shi Feiyang and Xiong Ying's heroes is countless.

A silence fell over the tent. The night in the Bozhou camp was so thick it seemed impossible to breathe. The flickering candlelight in the bronze crane lamp cast eerie shadows of the people inside, making them look like the fangs of demons.

Li Changgeng gripped the shattered jade ring tightly, drops of blood seeping from between his fingers staining the wolf-hair brush, making the three characters "Shi Feiyang" appear grotesque and terrifying: "You scoundrel! How dare you ruin the court's millennia-long plan! Yang Yinglong, this discarded pawn, was meant to pave his way to the underworld, but instead, he's become his stepping stone!" He suddenly flicked his sleeve, scattering bamboo slips on the table with a clatter. "Martial arts chivalry? Nothing but a trick to deceive the ignorant masses!"

In order to persuade the general Guo Dunyi, Li Changgeng felt that he had to lose his temper in public, otherwise it would be difficult to intimidate Guo Dunyi.

Kang Sheng was still wearing his black armor, and the dragon patterns on the scabbard of his embroidered spring knife glowed red in the firelight.

He crushed the battle report with a heavy stomp, the iron teeth on the sole of his boot grinding the words "great victory" into dust: "Why should you worry, sir! Shi Feiyang commands the fierce army of the Xiong Ying Society and is also colluding with the Five Poisons Sect and the Heavenly Star Sect. He is clearly raising bandits to enhance his own power! If he is not eliminated soon, one day he will raise his arms and the entire southwest will raise the banner of rebellion!"

He suddenly drew half a blade, its cold light making the whites of his eyes appear bloodshot. "This humble general is willing to lead three thousand imperial guards to raze his lair tonight!"

Xiang Yushan stroked the python-patterned leather belt, his triangular eyes flashing with a sinister light like a venomous snake: "Reckless! The Xiong Ying Society is in cahoots with Shaolin and Wudang. If we rashly use force, it will only confirm the infamous reputation of 'the imperial court cannot tolerate the martial arts world'."

His fingertips traced the map on the table, leaving deep indentations on the route from Bozhou to Miao territory. "What we want is to ruin his reputation and leave him with no place to be buried!" Lü Yuan toyed with the gilded token, his grotesque laughter shaking the tent ceiling and causing dust to fall. "General Guo, are you still clinging to womanly compassion?" He suddenly leaned close to Guo Dunyi, his foul breath hitting the other's face. "Back then, Yue Fei's three words 'fabricated charges' could still cause the deaths of millions. We have ironclad evidence of 'treason' in our hands. What do we have to fear from Shi Feiyang's hundred accusations?"

He pulled out several petitions covered with handprints, casting eerie silhouettes in the candlelight. "These scoundrels have already received their bribes. They'll just insist that Shi Feiyang is hiding the imperial robe and attempting to usurp the throne. Even the Three Pure Ones descending to earth won't save him!"

Li Changgeng slammed the wolf-hair brush into the inkstone, ink splattering like blood: "Good! First cut off their supplies, then demoralize their people!"

He grabbed the secret letter filled with accusations, watching the flames greedily devour the words, a venomous smile curving his lips. "Have the Blood Shadow Guards disguise themselves as bandits and rob him of all his supplies. Then send men to infiltrate the Five Poisons Sect and spread rumors that 'Shi Feiyang is going to annex all the sects'—I want to see what he can use to fight against the imperial court without supplies and popular support!"

Kang Sheng couldn't help but stomp his foot: "Once he's trapped in this isolated city, I'm willing to lead the Shenji Battalion to fire ten thousand cannons at once and annihilate him!" Xiang Yushan smiled sinisterly: "Why bother with all that effort? The Jinyiwei's prison has plenty of ways to get people to talk."

He pulled a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve, inside which wriggled worms, their cries sounding like weeping blood. "If the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Star Sect and the leader of the Five Poisons Sect were to shout 'Shi Feiyang is plotting a rebellion' on the torture instruments..." Guo Dunyi stared at the distorted faces of the crowd, his back beneath his armor already soaked in cold sweat.

Outside the tent, a fierce wind howled, whipping up withered leaves that lashed against the tent flap, as if thousands of wronged souls were wailing for the impending bloodshed.

Li Changgeng crushed the charred secret letter into powder, and the ashes were blown by the wind onto Guo Dunyi's face: "General Guo, don't be intimidated by this grand show—the greatest credit for suppressing the rebellion is right before your eyes!"

Guo Dunyi was finally persuaded and said in a low voice, "Everything is up to Your Excellency, and my troops are at Your Excellency's command."

Outside the tent, the night wind howled, swirling up the withered leaves on the ground.

In the distance, the camp of the Xiong Ying Society was brightly lit, and Shi Feiyang was drinking and chatting with everyone. Behind them, a conspiracy against them was quietly unfolding like a venomous snake.

In this vortex of power and conspiracy, the title of "Number One Hero Under Heaven" has become a death warrant, waiting for the right moment to drag Shi Feiyang and his heroes into an abyss of no return.

When the spy delivered a message by carrier pigeon embroidered with the insignia of the Xiong Ying Society, Shi Feiyang was leaning against the ancient cypress tree in front of Yun Wuyue's grave, wiping his Tian Shuang Blade. Moonlight fell on the letter, revealing words such as "embezzling military funds" and "bribing insiders." Suddenly, his icy blue true energy surged in his palm, scorching black lines onto the edges of the letter.

"What a brilliant plan to undermine our strength." He gazed at the Ming army camp in the distance, a cold smile playing on his lips.

As Mingyu Gong circulated, the chill around him condensed into frost flowers, which fell softly onto his dark-colored martial arts attire.

Inside the council tent, Liao Pei's Tongbei Fist made the table vibrate: "These scoundrels in the imperial court! They're clearly afraid we'll become too powerful, so they've resorted to such despicable tactics!"

Lie Quan's Qiankun Blade sparked as it struck the ground, the dragon pattern on its scabbard seemingly about to burst forth from the earth: "Chief, let's storm the camp now and show them that the Xiong Ying Society's blades are not to be trifled with!"

Shi Feiyang raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, his gaze sweeping over the heroes in the tent. Lan Xiaodie's fingertips were wrapped with the Five Poisons Sect's insect-attracting silk, the eagle on Xie Wen's shoulder let out a wary cry, and Miao Menlong's treasured bow was already nocked with three armor-piercing arrows.

Shi Feiyang took a deep breath, and the icy blue true energy in his palm transformed into a sword: "If we raise an army now, we will fall right into their trap. What the court wants is for us to bear the name of rebellion."

"Are we just going to let them frame us like this?" Blood Rakshasa twirled her soft sword in her hand, creating a chilling sword flower. Shi Feiyang suddenly laughed, his laughter clear and bright like the clash of metal and stone: "They want to ruin my reputation, but I will reveal the truth to the world."

He took out Yang Yinglong's command seal and the captured military register, saying, "These physical evidences are sufficient to prove our innocence."

Lan Xiaodie arrived unnoticed. Her beautiful eyes darted around as she pulled a jade box from her bosom. "My Five Poisons Sect has the 'Soul-Chasing Gu,' which can track down the mastermind by following their scent." She opened the box, and three golden silkworm Gu fluttered their wings, ready to take flight. "But we need someone to infiltrate the Ming army camp."

"I'll go!" Shi Xiong gripped the White Rainbow Sword tightly, his face flushed red. Xie Wen pressed down on his shoulder, "I'll take Flying Eagle. Those secret sentries of the Embroidered Uniform Guard can't escape this little guy's eyes."

The eagle seemed to understand human nature, spreading its wings and landing on his shoulder, its sharp gaze seemingly piercing through the night.

Three days later, when rumors were rampant in the martial arts world, Shi Feiyang led the heroes of Xiong Ying to the gates of Bozhou City in a grand manner.

He held Yang Yinglong's command seal, followed by a convoy of vehicles loaded with provisions and weapons, each vehicle displaying a gleaming troop count book.

On the city wall, Li Changgeng and the others watched this scene, their faces as black as the bottom of a pot.

"General Guo, may we speak at the city gates?" Shi Feiyang's voice was clear and resonant, the sonic waves generated by his Mingyu Gong causing the copper nails on the city gates to vibrate. Guo Dunyi's hand, holding the city defense map, trembled slightly. He suddenly recalled the image of Shi Feiyang single-handedly shielding the civilians from the fire oxen during the bloody battle of Hailongtun. Just then, Xie Wen appeared on the city wall like a ghost, carrying a black-clad man entangled in golden silkworm worms—the very confidant sent by Lü Yuan to spread rumors. "Gentlemen," Xie Wen waved the confession in his hand, a hawk on his shoulder letting out a triumphant cry, "this charade should come to an end, shouldn't it?"

Looking at the panicked faces on the city wall, Shi Feiyang slowly extended his palms to begin the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique".

Golden blade energy intertwined with icy blue true energy, casting a lingering shadow of the character "侠" (hero) under the moonlight: "I, Shi Feiyang, have no shame before heaven and earth, no shame before the common people. If anyone dares to stir up trouble again..."

His gaze swept over the trembling folding fan in Li Changgeng's hand. "My blade doesn't mind drinking a few more drops of the blood of treacherous officials!"

That night, Xie Wen released a carrier pigeon that pierced the night sky, carrying a secret letter clarifying the truth, flying towards various sects such as Wudang and Shaolin. In this contest of honor and justice, Shi Feiyang used his wisdom and courage to win a brilliant victory for the Xiong Ying Society.

Shi Feiyang's act of publicly exposing the imperial court's conspiracy was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating a huge upheaval in both the martial arts world and the imperial court, profoundly changing the power structure of all parties. Master Songhe of Wudang personally wrote a letter praising him for his "chivalrous spirit and righteous courage, which shines brightly in the martial arts world," and Master Xuanku of Shaolin also chanted sutras for him before the Buddha.

Various sects sent envoys to befriend the Xiong Ying Society, which gathered more righteous people under its banner, rapidly expanding its power and becoming the undisputed leader in the martial arts world. Every move it made was enough to influence the direction of the martial arts world.

The treacherous plot of Li Changgeng, Lü Yuan, and others was exposed, causing a great uproar in the imperial court.

The emperor was furious and ordered the replacement of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Shi Feiyang was well aware of the dangers of being too famous, but he always kept the common people in mind, and his righteous deeds were widely known among the people.

People from all over the country spontaneously organized themselves to provide food and supplies for the Xiong Ying Association, and some young men even volunteered to join.

Some local forces that had initially adopted a wait-and-see attitude began to reassess their positions after seeing Shi Feiyang's strength and prestige.

Some secretly allied with the Xiong Ying Society, hoping to gain a share of the spoils in future changes in the situation; others, however, were more cautious in navigating between the imperial court and the martial arts world in order to protect themselves.

In the early morning in Miao territory, a thin mist, like a light veil, entwines the scattered bamboo houses, and dewdrops roll on the emerald green leaves, refracting colorful light.

The autumn wind in the Ningxia salt fields, carrying sand and gravel, turned Xue Qiuchun's silver-embroidered skirt a pale yellow.

She stood atop the salt flats, watching the setting sun melt the bronze whistle into liquid gold. In a daze, she saw again the blood droplets splattered when the man swung his knife, which solidified in her memory into an indelible cinnabar. The salt crystals at her waist rustled with each breath, heavier than her heartbeat.

"Young Master, the fast horse to Bozhou is ready." The female disciple's voice shattered her daze.

Xue Qiuchun suddenly gripped the reins tightly, her knuckles turning white like salt frost, and the chestnut horse neighed, trampling the salty light and shadow on the ground.

She knew that this 1,600-mile journey through wind and sand was nothing more than a foolish delusion with a predetermined ending.

The twilight at Feima Pass was like thick blood, staining Yun Wuyue's tombstone black. When Xue Qiuchun knelt before the grave, her embroidered shoes were worn through by pebbles, and the silver threads hanging from her peony skirt hooked onto withered branches, like her heart riddled with holes.

“Brother Shi…” Xue Qiuchun trembled as she stroked the inscription on the monument, her voice breaking like grains of salt in the wind, “Do you know that for six hundred days and nights, I counted every crystal in the salt field waiting for you? Salt grains fell into my eyes, salty like tears, but I dared not close my eyes, for fear of missing the sound of your returning horse hooves…” Familiar footsteps came from behind her, and the soft sound of withered leaves breaking on the soles of her boots struck her heart like a heavy hammer.

Xue Qiuchun turned around abruptly, tears streaming down her face.

Shi Feiyang, his dark, close-fitting clothes shrouded in the dust of battle, had his face made even more striking by the cold glint of the Frost Blade, making him even more handsome than he remembered. “Why are you here?” His voice carried a hint of surprise, like thin ice.

"Why can't I come?" Xue Qiuchun suddenly threw herself into his arms, completely disregarding the reserve expected of women of the martial world. She clutched Shi Feiyang's clothes tightly, like a drowning person grasping at the last piece of driftwood. "Since you left, the wind in Ningxia has been bitter! The salt boiled down tastes of blood; I can't taste any saltiness at all!" She looked up, tears streaming down her face. "I know Guo Xiangyu's love for you is stronger than gold, but my heart isn't a block of salt; it can't be frozen or broken!"

Shi Feiyang stood frozen in place, his hand, which he wanted to push away, hovering in mid-air.

Xue Qiuchun buried her face deeply in his chest, her hair tangling around the buttons of his clothes: "Let me hold you for a while, just a little while..."

Her voice was muffled by the fabric of her clothes, carrying suppressed sobs, "I practiced the sword techniques you taught me every day until my palms bled. Last month, when bandits robbed the road, I used the moves you taught me to fight them off. They said my swordplay carried your ruthlessness, but in my palms, all I felt was the pain of missing you..." Suddenly, the mountain wind swirled up the paper money in front of the grave, sweeping across their pressed faces like snowflakes.

Xue Qiuchun trembled as she took off the jade pendant from her neck and placed it in Shi Feiyang's palm. The cool jade touched his warm skin: "This is my dowry from my mother before she passed away. It is engraved with 'May you live a long and healthy life'."

Her nails dug into the back of his hand. "I don't want any title, I don't want any status in the martial world, I just want to stay by your side! To be your maid, your bodyguard, or even a whetstone under your blade..."

Shi Feiyang stared at the mottled carvings on the jade pendant, his throat tightening as if a grain of salt were stuck in it: "Qiu Chun, you and I..."

"Don't say it!" Xue Qiuchun suddenly covered his mouth, her rough calluses brushing against his lips. "I won't listen!" Tears fell onto the back of his hand. "I just want you to remember that the greenhouses in Ningxia Saltworks are always lit with charcoal fires, and there is always mutton soup simmering in the pot to ward off the cold."

She tiptoed and pressed a burning kiss onto his cold cheek. "If one day you grow weary, hurt, or are let down by this world..." she choked back tears, stumbled, and mounted her horse. "Look back, I'll always be here."

Xue Qiuchun knelt on the woolen felt, the salt crystal tassels hanging from her silver hair trembling, casting an eerie glow on her pale cheeks. "Shi Lang!" Her voice tore through the twilight, its hoarseness, tinged with the sands of the Gobi Desert, concealing a burning obsession.

She crumpled the hem of her skirt, embroidered with salt flower patterns, and dug her fingertips deep into her palms. "Do you know that for the past two years, I've spent countless days guarding every crystal in the salt field, turning my longing for you into poison, and then swallowing it with my own hands!"

Shi Feiyang gazed at her chapped lips, still dusty from her long journey, yet unable to conceal their vibrant, cinnabar-like color.

A sudden gust of wind rose outside the tent, and the swirling pebbles struck the tent fabric like fine needles.

Xue Qiuchun suddenly pulled open the brocade pouch at her waist, and hundreds of salt crystals engraved with the character "stone" poured out, piling up into a small hill on the wool blanket: "I used the purest brine to engrave your name three thousand times!"

Her nails dug deep into his arm. "They say I'm crazy, but who told you to be my nemesis?"

Shi Feiyang's Adam's apple bobbed as he looked at her chest, which was heaving violently with excitement, where the jade pendant engraved with "Long Live to a Hundred Years" still hung, burning hot from her body heat. "Enough..." His voice trembled almost imperceptibly, but was interrupted by Xue Qiuchun's maniacal laughter.

"Not enough! Never enough!" Xue Qiuchun suddenly ripped open his shirt, her burning lips pressed against the old scar on his chest, biting his collarbone, the taste of blood spreading between her teeth, "From this day forward, every new wound you have can only be for me!"

A sudden gust of wind ripped open the corner of the tent, and sand poured in like a blizzard. Xue Qiuchun, however, was completely unaware. She loosened her hair ribbon, and as her long black hair fell loose, it revealed the blood-red words written with wound medicine on her waist: "Shi Feiyang's woman."

"Do you see that?" She looked up, her eyes burning with an almost insane fervor. "I've engraved your name on my life! If you dare push me away, I'll use my Shadow-Slapping Skill to disfigure myself, so the whole world will know that Master Shi has betrayed a woman who was willing to die for him!" Shi Feiyang's rationality collapsed under her burning body temperature.

As he turned around and pressed the person down on the wool blanket, he heard Xue Qiuchun whimper like a kitten.

Xue Qiuchun breathed heavily in his ear: "It should have been like this long ago...it should have been like this long ago..."

Her fingernails traced his back. "Even if you have the world in your heart, at least tonight... let me be your everything!" Outside the tent, the wind carried their panting breaths, blowing the salt crystals engraved with their names into the depths of the forest, like a grand and crazy vow.

Dressed in simple Miao clothing, Lan Xiaodie stood on the terrace of the bamboo house, gazing into the distance, her heart as turbulent as the mountains of the Miao region. The suppression of the rebellion was over, but the infamy of the Five Poisons Sect in the martial arts world lingered in her heart like a dark cloud.

She knew that if the Five Poisons Sect wanted to be worthy of Shi Feiyang's righteous spirit, it had to undergo a radical transformation.

Lan Xiaodie turned around and stepped into the room where the medicine cauldron was placed. Inside the cauldron, five-colored medicinal liquid was rolling merrily, sometimes transforming into agile venomous snakes that slithered and writhed, and sometimes condensing into delicate lotus flowers that slowly bloomed.

With a gentle wave of her hand, she placed a snow lotus, which had existed for a thousand years and exuded a faint chill, into the cauldron.

Instantly, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, rising gently as if to completely dispel the poisonous miasma that had accumulated in the room over the years.

"Master, the Third Elder requests an audience," a disciple's respectful voice came from outside the door.

Lan Xiaodie frowned slightly and said softly, "Let him in."

The Third Elder strode into the room, his face bearing a hint of unruliness and arrogance. He cupped his hands and said, "Master, I have heard that you have been talking about reforming the Five Poisons Sect lately. I really don't understand. Our Five Poisons Sect has been established in Miao territory for many years, and we have always established our authority through poison. This is the foundation of our survival. Why make trouble for ourselves and carry out this nonsense of reform?"

Lan Xiaodie turned around, her expression calm yet unwavering, and said, "Third Elder, in the past, our Five Poisons Sect acted ruthlessly, which made us feared in the martial arts world, but also despised by many. Now that I am the sect leader, I must lead the sect members onto the right path. Poison can save lives and help the world, not become a weapon that harms people."

The Third Elder snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "Master, have you been bewitched by that Shi Feiyang? The martial world is treacherous, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Without poison, how can we survive in this dog-eat-dog world?"

A hint of displeasure flashed in Lan Xiaodie's eyes, and her voice turned colder: "Third Elder, I respect you as a senior member of the sect, but please listen to me today. Master Shi uses his sword to uphold justice and protect the common people. His actions have shown me the power of justice. If our Five Poisons Sect can use poison to save lives, we can also win the respect of the martial arts world."

The Third Elder was about to argue when Lan Xiaodie raised her hand to interrupt him: "Third Elder, my mind is made up. From this day forward, the use of poison to harm others is strictly forbidden within the sect, and the use of poison for profit or murder is even more strictly prohibited. I have already developed several antidotes, and if anyone is poisoned by our Five Poisons Sect in the future, we will do our utmost to save them." Although the Third Elder was dissatisfied, seeing Lan Xiaodie's resolute attitude, he could not forcefully refute her any further and could only say perfunctorily, "The Sect Leader is wise, and I will follow your teachings." After saying this, he took his leave.

Lan Xiaodie watched the Third Elder's departing figure and sighed softly.

She knew all too well that reforming the Five Poisons Sect would not be easy; many members were too deeply influenced by outdated ideas, and changing them would not be a matter of a day or two. But her mind was made up; no matter how difficult the road ahead, she was determined to guide the Five Poisons Sect onto the right path.

After that, Lan Xiaodie would spend her days studying medicine and poison-making techniques in the bamboo house, striving to perfectly combine poison and medicine.

She dispatched her disciples to collect various rare herbs, personally attempting to combine them with the five poisons to find effective antidotes and cures. Each time she prepared medicine, she was completely focused, her eyes revealing determination and perseverance, oblivious to the fine beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. In reforming the sect's rules, Lan Xiaodie was swift and decisive.

She summoned all the followers of the Five Poisons Sect to the main altar, stood on the high altar, and solemnly announced the new rules: "From now on, the Five Poisons Sect will take saving people and helping the world as its purpose. If any disciple violates the rules and uses poison to do evil, he/she will be severely punished!" The followers below whispered among themselves, some showing their approval, while others secretly scoffed and disagreed.

Lan Xiaodie's gaze swept over the crowd below the stage as she continued, "I know that change is not easy, but it is the only chance for our Five Poisons Sect to be reborn. From this day forward, we must abandon our past evil deeds and use our strength to help those in need."

However, the implementation of the new regulations was not without its challenges.

Some die-hard believers still secretly use poison for profit and even disobey Lan Xiaodie's orders.

Upon learning of this, Lan Xiaodie punished the violators without hesitation. She personally interrogated them, her eyes filled with authority and disappointment: "You knowingly committed these crimes. Did you ever consider that this would plunge the Five Poisons Sect back into utter ruin?"

Those who violated the rules lowered their heads, not daring to look Lan Xiaodie in the eye.

(End of this chapter)