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

Shi Feiyang walked outside the tent, gazing at the flickering lights in the direction of Bamei Village in the distance, and muttered to himself: "Baoli, Red Flower Society, Beggars' Gang... do you think you can stop me with your natural defenses? I will not only win this battle, but I will also let the entire Miao region know that those who offend the Great Qing will be punished no matter how far away they are!"

At 3:45 AM, before the morning mist had dissipated from the Miao Mountains, the lookout post at Bamei Village spotted billowing dust rising from the mountain path.

A caravan of fifteen mules and horses, fully loaded with grain, slowly approached. The drivers shouted in broken Miao language, and the apricot flags bearing the words "Anshun Trading Company" on the cart shafts fluttered in the mountain wind.

"Something's strange!" Bao Li suddenly flung open the leather tent flap, and the malachite Miao knife at his waist rang out with a clear sound.

He stared at the dust deliberately billowing up on the mountain road, his pupils shrinking sharply—why would an ordinary caravan travel at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), when the miasma is heaviest? Before he could finish speaking, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from the open space in front of the stockade.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), the Miao Mountains were still shrouded in darkness, and the lion-headed beast-headed hilts on Yue Zhongqi's black iron armor gleamed with an eerie light. Dewdrops clung to the tips of his tiger-headed spears, condensing into tiny ice crystals under the moonlight. Five thousand Qing soldiers, clad in chainmail and with their horses' hooves wrapped in cotton cloth, still caused the mountain path to tremble slightly, as if dark clouds were pressing down on the city.

"Report—!" The scout suddenly reined in his horse. "The Miao soldiers have set up an ambush at Eagle's Beak Cliff!" Before the words were finished, the sound of horns came from the top of the cliff, and more than a thousand Miao soldiers poured out from the crevices of the rocks. The sap of the Antiaris toxicaria tree, which was quenched on their bamboo spears, gleamed with an eerie blue light in the night.

Yue Zhongqi yanked the reins hard, and his Akhal-Teke horse reared up. He raised his hand and removed his helmet, revealing a scarred forehead, his tiger-like eyes wide open: "Well done! Today, these Miao barbarians will know that the Qing cavalry is not to be trifled with!"

The tiger-headed spear suddenly swept across, cleaving a pine tree as thick as a bowl in half. "All troops, listen up! Shield formation in front, archers and crossbowmen in the rear!"

As the morning mist gradually dissipated, Bao Li walked over, stepping on the pine needles scattered on the ground.

He was draped in a striped tiger skin, and the hilt of his Miao sword was wrapped with nine strips of red silk. Silver bells vibrated with each step, creating a lively rhythm.

"Han dog!" His Miao language trembled with a metallic quality. "Today is the day you die in the Miao Mountains!" Before he finished speaking, three poisoned crossbow bolts suddenly flew out from the Miao soldiers' formation, their sharp sound like a ghostly howl.

Yue Zhongqi sneered, his tiger-headed spear unleashing the "Yue Family Spear: Rain of Pear Blossoms," the spear tassel swirling like a silver snake, deflecting the crossbow bolts. The spear tip, its momentum undiminished, aimed straight for Bao Li's throat. Bao Li spun to avoid it, his Miao sword flashing the "Soaring Dragon of Miao Ridge," the blade colliding with the spear shaft, sparks flying.

"Well done, Yue Zhongqi!" Bao Li's tiger's mouth went numb, but instead of retreating, he advanced. His Miao sword suddenly changed its move, revealing the "Bone-Eating Sword Technique" that had been lost by the Five Poisons Sect.

A faint green mist lingered amidst the flashing blades, instantly withering the vegetation wherever it touched. Yue Zhongqi's pupils constricted sharply, and he suddenly thrust his iron spear into the ground, using the momentum to leap into the air, executing the "Yue Family Spear Technique: Hawk's Turn," the spear tip aimed straight for Bao Li's face.

In the heat of battle, a sudden movement occurred within the Miao soldiers' ranks.

Twenty thousand Miao soldiers in the village responded to the call and surged out from between the stilted houses like a tide, wielding bamboo spears coated with the sap of the Antiaris toxicaria tree.

Amidst the whistling of arrows piercing the air, the Qing army's front-line shield bearers quickly formed a tortoise-shell formation. But then, with a deafening roar, logs and boulders, seemingly from nowhere, crashed through the formation, sending blood and flesh flying and screams echoing throughout.

Just as the two armies were locked in a fierce battle in front of the camp, several dark figures suddenly swept across the cliff behind the mountain. Chen Feng waved his large black fan, while Bai Zhen extended his eagle claws, leading thirty elite soldiers from the Sticky Pole Division to move along the cliff like geckos.

They bypassed three sentries and finally found the entrance to the secret passage hidden by vines.

Just as Bai Zhen's eagle claws touched the rocks at the cave entrance, he suddenly heard a sharp whooshing sound from above!
Three poisoned crossbow bolts whizzed past his ears, and dozens of torches instantly lit up outside the cave. The leader of the Five Poisons Sect of Miao territory appeared with a cold laugh: "Qing dogs, do you think my Miao village is without men?" At this moment, Mu Tie'a was leading a hundred assassins, carrying leather bags full of sulfur and gunpowder, struggling forward in the secret passage. Water droplets constantly seeped from the damp stone walls, mingling with the sweat of the men and dripping onto the gunpowder bags. As the shouts of battle outside the cave grew closer, he suddenly raised his hand to stop the group—the sound of chains being dragged came from ahead, the Miao army's newly deployed "thousand-pound gate."

"Light it!" Mu Tie'a roared, and the assassins quickly threw the oil-soaked linen cloths at the turnstile.

The instant flames soared into the sky, the entire secret passage was bathed in a sea of ​​blood. The massive gate, twisted and deformed by the intense heat, collapsed with a deafening roar. The scorching airwaves knocked everyone to the ground, but Mu Tie'a was the first to rise, his face covered in blood, roaring, "Charge out!"

On the battlefield before the stronghold, Yue Zhongqi's tiger-headed spear deflected Bao Li's knife, when suddenly he saw thick smoke billowing from the mountains behind. He roared to the sky, spear tip pointing straight at the heavens: "All troops, listen to my command! Form the Crane Wing Formation!"

Five thousand Qing soldiers shouted in unison, their formation like birds spreading their wings, tearing a huge gap in the Miao army's defenses.

Bao Li wielded his Miao sword with impenetrable speed, but then a cold glint appeared—Suhebalu's goose-feather sword came slashing down with the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, its blade still stained with the blood of the black dog slaughtered the night before.

"Clang!" The two weapons clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

Bao Li's tiger's mouth cracked from the shock, and he staggered backward.

Just then, Chen Feng's black gold fan suddenly attacked from behind, the deadly poison coated on the fan ribs grazing his ear. Bai Zhen's eagle claws were even more cunning, targeting the lower body and forcing Bao Li to retreat repeatedly.

"Fire!" Bao Li shouted suddenly as he retreated to the gate of the stronghold. In the instant that a volley of arrows was unleashed, Mu Tie'a's elite troops finally emerged from the secret passage. They rained down pottery jars filled with gunpowder onto the granary in the stronghold, instantly sending flames soaring into the sky.

The fire was fueled by the wind, and the wind fueled the fire's power, instantly turning the entire Bamei Village into a sea of ​​fire.

The screams of the Miao soldiers mingled with the sounds of collapsing houses, and the air was filled with a nauseating smell of blood and burning.

As Shi Feiyang rode his Akhal-Teke horse, watching the fierce battle unfold, a cold glint flashed in his glassy eyes.

He raised his hand and waved it, and a stirring bugle call rang out from the Qing army ranks.

"Kill! Leave no one alive!" With Shi Feiyang's order, the Qing army surged into Bamei Village like a tidal wave.

Looking at his home engulfed in flames, Bao Li's eyes were filled with despair and resentment. He brandished his Miao sword, trying to put up a last stand, but Yue Zhongqi knocked him off his horse with a spear, leaving him seriously injured. Fortunately, Miao soldiers risked their lives to save him.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the ruins of Bamei Village into a scene of carnage.

Shi Feiyang trudged through the scorched earth, his black python robe stained with dark red blood, his glassy eyes reflecting the soaring flames, making him look like a demon from the deepest hell.

He suddenly stopped, and a cold, blue light emanated from his palm—the unique icy light that appeared when the Mingyu Gong was activated.

"Pass down the order," his voice was so cold it could freeze into frost, "change into Miao soldiers' uniforms and break into the city at midnight tonight."

At the third quarter of midnight, the sound of a wooden clapper on the city wall of Guzhou startled the crows into flight.

Shi Jinyuan rubbed his sore eyes and looked down at the "reinforcements" holding torches below the city.

When the other party gave the code, his heart finally settled down: "Open the city gate!" The heavy city gate slowly opened, and a cold glint flashed in the firelight—Sukhbaatar's goose-feathered sword cleaved through the night, the back of the blade slamming into the gatekeeper's temple!
"We've fallen into their trap!" Shi Jinyuan's Miao sword had barely been drawn three inches from its sheath when the runes on the blade glowed a ghostly blue in the firelight. Mu Tie'a's iron sword, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, was already aimed straight for the "General's Platform" acupoint.

The Miao general spun around, his blade flashing as it aimed for the throat. Suddenly, a large, black gold fan appeared out of nowhere. Chen Feng waved the fan and sneered, "Chief Shi, taste the Miao 'Blood-Sealing Throat' technique on this fan!"

The moment the steel blade clashed with the fan ribs, Wei Nianhua's parting hook, like an owl swooping down on its prey, slashed out from the side, revealing a half-moon. "The Third Form of Soul Separation: Hooked Moon Soul Lock!" The hook tip aimed straight for his back, but a crisp "snap" rang out, and the nine-section steel whip coiled like a nimble snake.

"Poison Dragon" Agulye's towering body blocked Shi Jinyuan's path, the three-edged barbs on the tip of his whip gleaming with black light: "You dog Tartar, if you want to get past this, first ask my steel whip if it will allow it!" Wei Nianhua's pupils shrank suddenly, and the parting hook suddenly changed its stance, wrapping around the steel whip and pulling hard.

Agulie's tiger's mouth was shattered, and blood dripped down the whip joints. Then, the commander at the sticky pole used the force to leap into the air, and the hook tip pierced straight into his throat.

With a roar, the fierce Miao general tore the steel whip in two, the broken end shooting towards Wei Nianhua's face like an arrow. This move, "Severing the Tail to Survive," was a lost technique of the Five Poisons Sect, but Wei Nianhua dodged it by sidestepping. The parting hook then slashed open Agu Lie's carotid artery, and blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the bluestone red.

Bai Zhen's Eagle Claw technique tore through the night, and "Flying Ape" Mu Lun, ten zhang away, moved swiftly along the wall like a ghost. His soft rope spear unleashed a flurry of spear shadows, the very "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" spear technique from Miao territory.

Bai Zhen chuckled strangely, and his claws suddenly changed their move, revealing the "Dragon Claw Hand" technique, a Shaolin martial art!
He gripped the other's wrist with his ten fingers like hooks, and with a "crack" of bone breaking, the moment the Mulun soft rope spear slipped from his hand, a chilling sensation ran down his throat—the muffled sound of an eagle's claw piercing flesh startled the night owls on the city wall, causing them to take flight.

Yue Zhongqi's tiger-headed spear swept across the battlefield, the red tassel on the spearhead stained with blood.

"Traitor, prepare to die!" He sent three Miao soldiers flying with a single spear thrust, the spear tip pointing directly at Shi Jinyuan.

The Miao chieftain roared, his Miao sword flashing in a display of power known as "Soaring Dragon of Miao Ridge," the blade flashing as if a hundred beasts were roaring within it. But then, the tiger-headed spear suddenly changed its attack, unleashing the Yue family's ultimate spear technique, "Liquan Divine Spear"! The spear tassel transformed into countless cold stars, and the sparks that flew when it collided with the blade flashed made Shi Jinyuan's pupils glow crimson.

Just then, a crystalline halo pierced through the smoke of gunpowder.

Shi Feiyang slowly stepped onto the battlefield. As he circulated his Mingyu Gong, his skin glowed with an icy jade-like luster. He unleashed a double palm strike, "Viewing the Vast Ocean!" The air suddenly emitted a piercing shriek. This move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique carried the force of an overwhelming tide, sending 173 Miao soldiers, shields and all, flying. As they crashed into the city wall, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and the crimson blood mist condensed into eerie totems under the moonlight.

Shi Feiyang unleashed his second palm strike, "Slay the Mortal World!", the three-zhang-long blade of light blazing like the sun in the sky. The Miao shaman "Gu King's" nine-section copper whip, which had just released the poisonous smoke, was shattered by the blade's energy. The fragments of the copper whip scattered like meteors, one of them grazing Shi Jinyuan's cheek, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound.

"You scoundrel! Give me back my home!" Shi Jinyuan's eyes were bloodshot as he lunged forward, brandishing his sword. Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded, but a chilling blue aura suddenly rose from his palm: "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison!" The Miao sword froze three inches away from him, the chill spreading along the blade, and Shi Jinyuan's fingers instantly frosted over.

The Miao general's pupils constricted suddenly, and at the critical moment, he abandoned his knife and rolled away, barely avoiding being frozen into an ice sculpture.

Shi Feiyang watched the figure fleeing in a disheveled state, a complex expression flashing in his glassy eyes.

He knew that if he wanted to pursue, Shi Jinyuan would have no chance of escape if he used Mingyu Gong at full power. But the oppressive atmosphere of the capital and the sinister power struggles of the palace flashed through his mind, and his fingers curled slightly in his sleeve—perhaps this war to quell the rebellion should be allowed to continue for a while longer.

In the darkness of night, the ancient city of Guzhou was littered with corpses, and blood meandered down the cracks in the city walls, staining the moat crimson.

Sukhbalu's goose-feather saber cleaved through the Miao soldiers' formation, the chipped edge still dripping blood.

He suddenly roared, and the blade flashed like a shooting star, severing the head of Miao general "Black Wind." As a pillar of blood shot into the sky, Wei Nianhua's parting hook had already caught the ankle of another Miao general, dragging him along the ground and leaving a long trail of blood.

Chen Feng waved his blood-stained black gold fan, the four characters "Slaying with a laugh" on the fan surface soaked in blood.

He suddenly threw out three bone-piercing nails, which drove into the face of the Miao soldier "divine archer".

Bai Zhen's eagle claws were stained with brain matter, yet he pounced on the next target, with enemy flesh still embedded in his fingernails.

As dawn pierced the clouds, the city walls of Guzhou were already covered with Qing army banners. Shi Feiyang gazed at the corpses strewn across the ground, his glassy eyes gleaming with an eerie red light.

He slowly raised his blood-stained hand, and as he activated the Mingyu Gong, an ice blade suddenly appeared in his hand, slicing the "Miao" character flag on the city wall into pieces.

Afterwards, Shi Feiyang told Bai Zhen that he was going into seclusion to practice martial arts for three days and that no one should disturb him. He also asked Yue Zhongqi to guard Guzhou.

Afterwards, Shi Feiyang returned to the temporary palace, closed the bedroom door, but gently pushed open the window, floated out, and used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to fly to Jiangnan.

In late spring, Suzhou was shrouded in a light veil of rain and mist, and the blue stone alleys shone brightly after being washed by the rain.

The awning boat glided along the Pingjiang River, the boatwoman's soft Wu songs mingling with the sound of oars, startling egrets that flew past the upturned eaves.

Shi Feiyang removed his military uniform, revealing a pale white robe that exuded a chilling aura. As he used his "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" light-footed skill to sweep across the city wall of Lumen, the wind stirred up by his robe did not blow down even a single crabapple blossom.

The copper bells of the Jishi Pharmacy in the city jingled in the breeze, and the aroma of medicine mixed with the bitterness of decocting medicine permeated the air.

Shi Huiyu was standing on tiptoe organizing the "Compendium of Materia Medica" when he suddenly felt a blur before his eyes, and the ink in the inkstone on his desk moved on its own without any wind.

Looking up, one could see a handsome young scholar standing at the threshold, a simple jade pendant adorned with a vermilion bird hanging from his waist. His crystal-clear eyes reflected the raindrops on the eaves, making him appear like a celestial being descended to earth. This scholar was none other than Shi Feiyang in disguise.

"And this young master is..." Before Shi Huiyu could finish speaking, Shi Feiyang smiled and clasped his hands in greeting: "I have long admired Master Shi's skillful and benevolent treatment, and I have come specifically to purchase three doses of Tranquilizing Soup." His fingertips traced across the medicine cabinet, his gaze sweeping over the medicine labels such as "Angelica" and "Angelica dahurica," and his voice suddenly became deep and resonant, "May I ask if Master Shi could tell me how many generations this medicine shop has been passed down?"

Shi Huiyu wiped his sweat and looked at Shi Feiyang, whose face was kind and whose skin was as tender as a baby's. A thought suddenly occurred to him: Could this be the legendary person who has practiced the Mingyu Kung Fu? Otherwise, how could a man have such tender skin? Could it be that he is related to my Shi family by blood?
He took out a steelyard from behind the counter: "To be honest, young master, my Shi family ancestor served as an official in the previous dynasty. Have you ever heard of Prince Shi Tianyu? In terms of military strategy, he was comparable to Zhuge Liang. However, Zhu Youjian disliked him, so my ancestor chose to retire. He had many sons, and each of them received a share of money and grain. My father's grandfather then returned to his ancestral home in Jiangnan and established the Jishetang (a traditional Chinese medicine clinic)."

As he weighed the medicinal herbs, he suddenly lowered his voice, "My grandfather said that my great-great-grandfather was once the greatest hero in the world! Oh, you're a scholar, so you may not know about the affairs of the martial arts world, and you may not have heard of Shi Feiyang!"

Shi Feiyang's hand froze in mid-air, the copper rings on the medicine cabinet making a soft tinkling sound. He gazed at the yellowed family genealogy hanging on the wall, his Adam's apple bobbing: "May I ask, Master, was your ancestor's wife... surnamed Bai?"

Shi Huiyu pushed the wrapped medicine bag forward, a hint of doubt in his expression: "How did you know, young master? My great-great-grandmother was none other than Lady Baizhi. I've heard from the elders that she was the foremost medicine woman in Miao territory. She met my ancestor at Feihu Pass in Miao territory while trying to save people from the plague..."

Shi Feiyang suddenly coughed violently, his glassy eyes welling up with tears. He reached out and pressed the medicine packet, the warmth from his fingertips causing the paper to frost over: "That...that Lady Baizhi, is she fair-skinned as white as snow, with a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows?"

Seeing the strange expression on Shi Feiyang's face, Shi Huiyu couldn't help but scrutinize him more closely: "Indeed! It's rumored that Madam Baizhi is not only highly skilled in medicine, but has also mastered the unique internal energy cultivation method of the Yihua Palace, enabling her to use her true energy to enhance the medicinal effects. However..."

He sighed, "She devoted her entire life to developing the antidote, and passed away at the young age of thirty."

Shi Feiyang staggered backward, bumping into the medicine cabinet and making it vibrate. Memories flooded back—two hundred years ago at Feihu Pass, the girl in white standing on tiptoe picking snow ginseng, the cinnabar mole between her brows like a blood-red plum blossom under the moonlight.

She always said, "A doctor's heart is benevolent, and he should save lives," but little did she know that she had already become the softest concern in his heart.

"Young master? Is your surname Shi?" Shi Huiyu hurriedly went around the counter, only to find that the scholar had already turned his back. The rain had stopped at some point, and a ray of sunlight shone through the carved window lattice, casting a faint halo around the man, which was clearly the appearance when he was performing the Mingyu Skill.

“This calming soup… I don’t want it.” Shi Feiyang’s voice was hoarse as he took out two gold bricks, three gold leaves, four gold ingots, and five large silver ingots from a mysterious deerskin bag at his waist and placed them on the table. “These are just small gifts, as a token of my gratitude for hearing the story.”

Shi Huiyu was stunned and remained in shock for a long time.

When Shi Huiyu came to his senses and chased after her, only shallow puddles remained on the bluestone path, reflecting the sunset glow.

He gazed at the empty streets, and suddenly a chill emanated from the medicine packet in his hand. Upon opening it, he found that the three doses of herbs had solidified into ice crystals, gleaming with a faint blue light in the twilight. Shi Huiyu murmured, "Mingyu Gong? It really is Mingyu Gong! He... he is a descendant of my Shi family!" Little did he know that the person who had come was Shi Feiyang, his great-great-grandfather's grandfather.

In late spring, Taihu Lake resembles a long, ink-wash painting, with its seventy-two peaks appearing and disappearing amidst the vast expanse of misty waters.

Beneath the Misty Peak, the crimson cherry blossoms are reflected in the clear water, their petals drifting with the current like scattered tears of rouge. The morning mist lingers in the mountains, wisps of it clinging to the ancient pines and cypresses. Occasionally, a mountain bird flits by, startling a ripple in the mist before it slowly returns to stillness.

Shi Feiyang used his unparalleled "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill, his figure gliding across the lake like a ghost. He lightly touched a floating duckweed with his toes, but the duckweed did not sink even slightly, leaving only fine ripples in its wake. In the distance, the Misty Peak stood majestically, and the thatched hut of the Xiong Ying Society's cemetery on its summit appeared and disappeared in the clouds, stirring up endless longing and guilt in his heart.

In front of the thatched hut, Lin Ruoxue was drying herbs. Her once smooth face was now marked by the passage of time, and a few strands of white hair had quietly crept into her black hair. She held a bamboo tray in her hand, her movements gentle yet revealing her weariness.

Zhou Weirou was chopping wood on the side, her slender palms already calloused.

Two children were playing in the yard, their innocent laughter echoing through the mountains, but it couldn't dispel the desolation that permeated the air.

"Mom, when is Dad coming back?" Lin Ruoxue's child asked, looking up at her.

Lin Ruoxue's bamboo tray trembled slightly, and a trace of pain flashed in her eyes: "My dear child, when the cherry blossoms bloom all over the mountain, your father will be back." She looked at the withered cherry trees in the distance, her voice so soft that it seemed as if a gust of wind could blow it away.

Zhou Weirou stopped what she was doing and sighed, "Sister, stop lying to the child. That heartless man has probably forgotten about us long ago." Her words were filled with resentment, but she couldn't hide her deep disappointment.

Lin Ruoxue shook her head: "He won't. I can feel that he's still alive. Back in Liaodong, when I fought him, I'll never forget that familiar look in his eyes." She gently touched her chest, where a broken jade pendant was still hidden, a token of her love with Shi Feiyang from back then.

Hiding deep in the dense forest, Shi Feiyang watched this scene, his heart breaking. Liuli's eyes welled with tears, but she stubbornly held them back.

He saw the gray hair at Lin Ruoxue's temples and Zhou Weirou's rough hands, and his heart was filled with self-blame and regret. He had once promised them a lifetime of peace, but now he had left them to suffer in these deep mountains.

As dusk deepened, the setting sun painted the lake surface a golden-red hue.

Lin Ruoxue and Zhou Weirou began preparing dinner. Their meal was pitifully simple, consisting of nothing more than wild vegetable porridge.

The children ate with relish, as if it were the most delicious food in the world.

As night deepened, the oil lamp inside the thatched hut gradually went out.

Shi Feiyang sneaked into the thatched hut like a ghost. In the moonlight, he saw Lin Ruoxue and the children sleeping in each other's arms, their faces bearing a faint sorrow. Zhou Weirou was sleeping in another room, still clutching a worn-out dog-beating stick in her hand—a testament to her past adventures in the martial world.

Shi Feiyang gently placed down several gold bricks, two sacks of silver, and four sacks of rice and flour. These valuables glittered in the moonlight, but they could not illuminate the gloom in his heart. He took a deep breath, channeled his inner strength, and unleashed a burst of sword energy.

The sword energy, like a brush, carved a line of words on the ground: "Xiang Tiange is not dead. In a few years, he will take you to live a wonderful and happy life. Remember, he will never die, and he will always love you."

The moment the characters were finished being carved, the oil lamp in the thatched hut was suddenly lit by an invisible wind.

Lin Ruoxue suddenly woke up. She looked at the words on the ground that still carried the warmth of the sword energy, and tears welled up in her eyes. Zhou Weirou also rushed over. The two looked at each other in silence, only tears streaming down their faces.

Shi Feiyang stood under the cherry blossom tree outside the thatched cottage, taking one last look at his family inside.

His figure appeared exceptionally lonely in the moonlight, yet filled with unwavering determination. "Wait for me," he silently vowed in his heart, "when the world is at peace, I will surely restore your happiness."

Having said that, he used his lightness skill to disappear into the vast night like a night bird. Only cherry blossoms remained, swaying gently in the wind, as if telling a poignant story that transcended the martial world and the imperial court. And inside the thatched hut, a few lines of tears bore witness to a heart-wrenching longing and waiting.

The morning mist in Miao territory, shrouded in blood and gunpowder, enveloped the temporary royal palace of Guzhou in a bluish-gray miasma.

Yue Zhongqi's palms, gripping the tiger-headed spear, were covered in cold sweat, and the spear tip unconsciously scraped against the blue bricks with a piercing sound.

Sukhbaatar gripped the scabbard of his goose-feather sword so tightly it creaked. This usually rough and bold general was now like a frightened bird, glancing at the tightly closed main gate of the palace every now and then.

“Commander Wei, the Prince has not left his room for three days,” Bai Zhen’s eagle claws opened and closed slightly, with blood and flesh from the previous day’s battle still embedded in his fingernails. “If he continues to…” Before he could finish speaking, Wei Nianhua’s parting hook suddenly appeared at his throat, and he sneered, “Does Lord Bai want to test the rules of the Sticky Pole Office?”

Chen Feng, waving his large black gold fan, strolled between the two men. The four characters "Slaying with a Laugh" on the fan were blurred by the morning dew: "Why are you two so angry? The prince's martial arts are unparalleled; how could ordinary villains harm him?"

Mu Tie'a suddenly pressed down on the hilt of his sword, causing the heavy black iron sword to vibrate and the scabbard to hum: "But last night at midnight, there was clearly a figure flashing past the back wall of the Prince's mansion!"

Everyone was startled. Yue Zhongqi's tiger-headed spear clattered onto the stone steps: "Could it be a remnant of the Red Flower Society?"

Before the words were finished, the tightly closed vermilion door suddenly opened by itself without any wind, and a chilling aura rushed out, condensing into fine ice flowers on the door frame.

Shi Feiyang stood inside the doorway, dressed in a black python robe. His glassy eyes gleamed with a faint blue light, and the hem of his robe was still adorned with apricot blossom petals, a specialty of Jiangnan. As he slowly stepped out, the morning mist parted automatically to create a path. As he circulated his Mingyu Gong, a crystalline halo emanated from his body, like ripples on a cold pond under the moonlight.

The generals felt their knees buckle and involuntarily knelt on one knee, their voices shaking the copper bells on the eaves of the palace: "Greetings to Your Highness!"

"Everyone, please rise." Shi Feiyang raised his hand to help them up, and an ice blade that slid out from his sleeve grazed past Wei Nianhua's ear, cleaving an ancient pine tree in half in the distance.

The commander of the sticky rod narrowed his eyes. This seemingly casual action actually contained the subtle skill of "shifting flowers and jade"—clearly a warning to everyone not to discuss his whereabouts. Inside the council hall, a freshly cooked venison soup was placed on a long table with gilded dragon patterns, but the heat could not dispel the chill in the room.

Shi Feiyang picked up half a piece of venison with his ivory chopsticks and suddenly sneered, "I heard that you all haven't even been able to eat breakfast properly these past few days?"

Yue Zhongqi slammed his tiger-headed spear heavily on the ground, making the bowls and plates rattle: "This humble general has failed in his duty! I failed to find out the whereabouts of the prince, and I am willing to accept my punishment!"

"Accept punishment?" Shi Feiyang suddenly smashed the jade bowl against the wall. The shattered porcelain flew everywhere, creating spiderweb-like cracks on the blue bricks. "What I want is the pacification of Miao territory! Although Bao Li is dead, Shi Jinyuan's remnants are still putting up a stubborn resistance on Leigong Mountain. The Red Flower Society and the Beggars' Sect may make a comeback at any time!"

He suddenly stood up, his python robe sweeping across the table, dozens of maps fluttering like butterflies. "And you, you're all suspicious of a mere three days' worth of whereabouts!"

Sukhbaatar blushed and tried to explain, but was stopped by Chen Feng's large, black fan. The deputy commander of the Sticky Rod Office, waving his fan, laughed, "Your Highness, we are truly worried about your safety. We've heard rumors in the martial world that a mysterious master is in Guzhou City..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Feiyang's Mingyu Gong suddenly erupted, and the entire council hall was instantly covered in frost, making everyone feel as if their breath was about to freeze.

"Rumors from the martial world?" Shi Feiyang conjured an ice blade at his fingertips and lightly traced the mark of Leigong Mountain on the map. "I'll show those cowardly martial world rats what's what—" Before he finished speaking, the ice blade had already cleaved the entire map in two.

Mu Tie'a suddenly knelt on one knee, his iron sword embedded in the blue brick: "This humble general is willing to lead three thousand elite soldiers in a night raid on Leigong Mountain!" The veins on his neck bulged. "Last time, that scoundrel Shi Jinyuan escaped. This time, this humble general will definitely take his dog's head!"

Bai Zhen's eagle claws dug five deep gashes into the icy ground: "This servant is willing to be the vanguard and scout out the enemy's situation!"

Shi Feiyang slowly sat down, the coldness in his glassy eyes gradually turning into killing intent: "Good! Yue Zhongqi will lead the main force to launch a frontal assault to attract the main force of the rebel army; Suhebalu will lead the cavalry to detour and cut off their rear; Chen Feng and Bai Zhen will lead the elite troops of the Sticky Rod Office to infiltrate and find an opportunity to destroy their food and supplies."

He suddenly looked at Wei Nianhua, and the owner of the Parting Hook felt a chill run down his spine. "Commander Wei, if I hear even a single word of gossip again..."

Before he could finish speaking, the bronze lamp on the table suddenly exploded, and the lamp oil condensed into ice crystals in the air.

The morning light finally pierced through the mist, illuminating the icy chamber with vibrant colors.

Shi Feiyang watched the departing figures of his generals, his fingertips gently caressing the Vermilion Bird Jade Pendant at his waist—the only memento he had left behind in Suzhou.

"Once the Miao region is pacified, peace will surely be restored to the world! Everyone in the world will have enough to eat and wear!"

He whispered to the jade pendant, and as he circulated the Mingyu Gong, the jade pendant emitted a faint red light.

In late spring, the Miao Mountains were shrouded in the blood-red sunset, and the clouds and mist of Leigong Mountain were mixed with the smoke of gunpowder, like a tragic painting in ink wash.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a black python robe, sat upright on his Akhal-Teke horse. The Vermilion Bird jade pendant at his waist gleamed with a warm red light, and his glassy eyes reflected the fiery sunset on the horizon, making him seem like a war god who had descended from the heavens on fire.

His long, slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the gold-inlaid saddle, producing a crisp sound. His piercing gaze swept over the fully equipped Qing army, and he declared in a loud voice, "This campaign is not for slaughter, but to restore peace to the Miao people!" His voice was like a booming bell, reverberating through the valley and startling countless birds in the forest.

As night deepened, a few cold stars dotted the inky sky.

Yue Zhongqi held a tiger-headed spear, its tassel soaked in blood, resembling a blooming red plum blossom. He roared, "Kill!" His voice shook the heavens, and the tiger-headed spear instantly transformed into a silver dragon, its tip gleaming coldly, heading straight for the rebel army's defensive line.

He unleashed the "Yue Family Spear: Chasing Stars and Catching the Moon" technique! The spear flashed like lightning, shattering the shields of the Miao soldiers wherever it went. A minor Miao leader had just raised his Miao knife when a spear pierced his throat, and blood gushed out, staining Yue Zhongqi's black iron armor red.

Sukhbaatar brandished his goose-feather saber, leading his cavalry in a flanking maneuver. The thunderous sound of their hooves shook the earth. "You dog, prepare to die!" His roar echoed through the valley, his saber tracing graceful arcs in the air, its blade gleaming.

A Miao warrior rode a fast horse and charged forward with a spear in hand. Suhebalu sneered, swung his sword fiercely, and with a whoosh of wind, the Miao soldier and his horse were cut in half at the waist. Blood gushed out like a fountain, and the scene was extremely bloody.

Wei Nianhua led the elite troops of the Sticky Rod Bureau and quietly infiltrated the rebel army's rear. Holding the parting hook, he moved as nimbly as a cat between the tents.

"Whoosh!" The parting hook shot out through the air with a sharp whistling sound, precisely hooking the throat of a patrolling Miao soldier.

With a slight flick of Wei Nianhua's wrist, the Miao soldier's eyes widened. Before he could utter a cry, he was dragged over, blood dripping down the hook and leaving a trail of dark red bloodstains on the ground.

Chen Feng waved his black gold fan, and the bone-piercing nails hidden between the fan ribs shot out like a rain of pear blossoms.

A Miao archer was preparing to draw his bow when his pupils suddenly contracted as several bone-piercing nails pierced his throat and heart.

The Miao soldier's eyes widened, the bow and arrow slipped from his hand, and after a few swaying moments, he collapsed to the ground, dead before he could even scream. Bai Zhen unleashed his Eagle Claw technique, swooping across rooftops like a hawk in the night. His claws gleamed coldly, and wherever they touched, blood and flesh flew.

With a sharp "ripping" sound, a Miao warrior had just leaped from the rooftop when Bai Zhen grabbed his arm. Bai Zhen let out a grotesque laugh and suddenly exerted force, tearing the Miao warrior's arm off. The warrior's scream was heart-wrenching and echoed through the valley, sending chills down everyone's spine.

Mu Tie'a brandished his iron sword, seeking out rebel generals to fight. His iron sword clashed with the Miao saber of a Miao deputy general, sparks flying.

"Take this!" Mu Tie'a shouted, his iron sword flashing like a venomous snake, aimed straight for his opponent's heart.

The Miao deputy general hurriedly raised his sword to parry, but unexpectedly, Mu Tie'a's sword suddenly changed its momentum. With a "clang," the iron sword sliced ​​through the Miao knife, and with its remaining force, pierced the deputy general's chest. The deputy general's eyes widened, blood gushed from his mouth, and his body slowly collapsed.

Between heaven and earth, shouts of battle, screams of agony, and the clash of weapons mingled together, like a tragic war song.

Blood stained the land of Miaoling, and corpses piled up like mountains. This battle had become a living hell.

Shi Feiyang stood on high ground, observing the battle. When he saw the rebel army begin to collapse, he finally made his move.

He activated the Bright Jade Skill, and his body shimmered with a crystalline light, just like white ice shrouded in cold mist.

With a roar, he used his palm as a blade, unleashing the "Breaking Heaven and Earth" technique from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique! The palm wind howled, the blade light flashed, and a huge wave of energy swept out, blasting away the rebels like falling leaves wherever it went.

Miao Bing's shields were as fragile as paper in the face of this powerful shockwave, and they shattered one after another.

Shi Jinyuan brandished his Miao sword, attempting to organize a counterattack.

He roared, "You dog, stop being so arrogant!" However, his voice was quickly drowned out by the shouts of killing.

Shi Feiyang's gaze sharpened as he locked onto Shi Jinyuan. In a flash, he appeared before him: "Shi Jinyuan, in the bright and clear heavens of my Great Qing Empire, how dare you petty men raise an army and cause chaos? Hmph! Today is your death day!"

Shi Feiyang's voice was as cold as frost, and he was fully activating his Mingyu Gong, his glassy eyes flashing with a cold light.

Shi Jinyuan swung his sword at Shi Feiyang, who neither dodged nor evaded, but instead used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill.

With a light flick and a gentle pull, Shi Jinyuan's Miao sword changed direction, almost injuring himself.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Shi Feiyang struck out with a palm, which was the "Severing Reincarnation" move from the Hundred Victories Saber Technique.

The palm strike carried a powerful suction force, and Shi Jinyuan felt his body flying forward uncontrollably.

Shi Feiyang pressed on his acupoints, and a bone-chilling cold instantly spread throughout Shi Jinyuan's body, causing his body to freeze.

"Spare...spare my life..." Shi Jinyuan managed to squeeze out a few words, but his voice was quickly frozen in the ice.

Shi Feiyang felt no joy as he looked at Shi Jinyuan, who had turned into an ice sculpture.

He sighed deeply: "If not for the circumstances, who would want to fight each other? I only hope that after this battle, the people of Miao territory can enjoy peace forever."

The fierce battle lasted until dawn, and the Miao rebels were finally completely defeated.

Looking at the corpses scattered on the ground, Shi Feiyang was filled with sorrow and ordered: "Give the rebel soldiers a proper burial and appease the Miao people."

His voice echoed through the valley, tinged with weariness yet filled with determination. In the morning light, Shi Feiyang's shadow stretched long, his gaze fixed on the distance, a place where the future of Miao territory lay, and where he held the hope for all living beings.

Under Yin Li's command, the remnants of the Miao army, like ravenous wolves, fled to Guangxi, entered Liping, and defeated Yongcong. Wherever they went, they burned, killed, and looted, causing untold suffering to the people. Upon hearing this news, Shi Feiyang was enraged and immediately ordered his army to march out, vowing to wipe out the bandits and restore peace to the people.

On the eve of their departure, the Qing army camp was brightly lit, the armor reflecting the firelight and gleaming with a cold, sharp light. (End of Chapter)