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

Shi Feiyang, clad in a black python robe, stood atop the high platform, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the soldiers below. He proclaimed loudly, "The Miao bandits have wreaked havoc, causing immense suffering to the people. How can we bring peace to the nation if this grudge is not avenged? Today, we shall join hands and fight together to punish these traitors!"

The soldiers below the platform were filled with fervor, shouting in unison, "Defeat the Miao bandits! Restore our peace!" Their shouts shook the heavens and startled countless birds into flight from the forest.

Bai Zhen then cleverly began to sing loudly: "How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields. We will fight alongside you against this foe!"

As soon as the song ended, countless voices echoed, "How can we say we have no clothes? We share our undergarments with you. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and halberds. We will fight alongside you! How can we say we have no clothes? We share our garments with you. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our armor and weapons. We will march alongside you!"

The singing was loud and clear, the morale was high, and the sound seemed to break through the clouds, shaking heaven and earth.

The soldiers adjusted each other's armor and wiped their weapons, their eyes filled with determination and resolve.

They knew that this journey would be fraught with peril, but for the sake of peace and security for their country, they were willing to risk everything.

With such a solemn oath, they set out to fight, and were invincible. The army marched swiftly, unstoppable, and soon approached Liping.

As dusk turned the pass into an iron-gray hue, Yinli's Miao soldiers beat their cowhide war drums behind the antler-shaped barricades, the sound of the drums causing rocks to fall from the cliff face.

Shi Feiyang, clad in a black python robe, stood high above, his crystal eyes reflecting the setting sun. Suddenly, the Vermilion Bird jade pendant at his waist emitted a faint glow—a sign that Mingyu Gong had sensed the enemy's fighting spirit. However, out of concern for the lives of his soldiers, Shi Feiyang did not want to engage the enemy in a direct confrontation.

"Your Highness, this humble general requests permission to launch a full-scale attack!" Suhebalu's goose-feather saber struck the black iron armor, producing a piercing sound.

The burly general, veins bulging on his neck, roared, "Those Miao bandits are nothing but bluffing!"

Yue Zhongqi, however, pressed down on his tiger-headed spear and said in a deep voice, "The cliffs on both sides of the pass are as sharp as if cut by a knife, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. I'm afraid it's a trap."

Shi Feiyang raised his hand to stop the generals, his fingertips lightly tracing the ice blade hidden in his sleeve: "We must not act rashly."

He activated the Bright Jade Skill, and his skin glowed with a crystalline luster, appearing from afar like cold jade under the moon.

After the Miao soldiers' third drumbeat, the drumbeats gradually weakened, and two Miao soldiers in the formation began to fight over arrows. The sound of their swords clashing was particularly jarring in the silence.

"It's time!" Shi Feiyang roared, his voice like tearing silk.

Wei Nianhua's parting hook was the first to pierce the air, its cold light flashing, drawing a crescent moon as it headed straight for the lookout at the pass.

The hook tip, carrying a sharp killing intent, was like a black lightning bolt, instantly reaching within three inches of the Miao soldier's throat.

At the critical moment, Miao Bing suddenly threw out a poisoned dart, which glowed with an eerie green light and came hurtling through the air with a piercing sound.

Just then, Chen Feng appeared like a ghost, waving his black gold fan. With a slight shake of the fan ribs, the hidden bone-piercing nails shot out with a "whoosh," like a flock of crows released from their cages, accurately pinning the darts into the rock wall in mid-air, sparks flying everywhere.

"A mere trick!" Wei Nianhua sneered, and the parting hook struck again, this time aiming straight for Miao Bing's heart. Miao Bing raised his knife to block, but unexpectedly, Wei Nianhua's hook suddenly changed direction and hooked his wrist.

With a snap, Miao Bing's wrist broke, and blood gushed out. Wei Nianhua used the momentum to leap, his hook slicing across Miao Bing's throat, ending his life. Bai Zhen used his Eagle Claw technique, soaring over the barricades like an eagle.

Just as his eagle claw gripped a Miao soldier's shoulder, he suddenly felt a gust of wind from behind—the poisoned chain hammer of Miao "Scorpion" A'duo was coming down with a stench. The chain hammer was covered with sharp spikes and gleamed with an eerie blue light, clearly coated with deadly poison.

Bai Zhen let out a strange laugh, and his claws suddenly changed their move, becoming the Shaolin "Dragon Claw Hand"! His five fingers were like hooks, moving with incredible speed, instantly gripping the chain hammer. Ice suddenly appeared in his palms, and A'duo felt a bone-chilling coldness travel through the chain hammer, her arm instantly losing sensation, and the chain hammer clattered to the ground.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bai Zhen swung his claw at A Duo's face. A Duo screamed in agony, her face covered in blood, and collapsed to the ground. At this moment, a fierce Miao general known as "Giant Bear" Mang Gu charged over, wielding a huge bronze axe. The force of the axe whipped up the sand and stones on the ground.

"Qinggou, prepare to die!" Manggu roared, his voice booming like a bell. Bai Zhen neither dodged nor evaded, and as the bronze axe was about to strike, he suddenly sidestepped, his eagle claws aimed straight for Manggu's throat. Manggu hurriedly parried with his axe, but was kicked in the knee by Bai Zhen.

Manggu knelt on one knee, and Bai Zhen's eagle claws had already gripped his neck. "Die!" Bai Zhen roared, and with a forceful squeeze, Manggu's neck was snapped, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

Sukhbaatar cleaved through the crowd with his goose-feather saber, the blade still dripping blood from its chipped edge.

A Miao warrior thrust forward with his spear, shouting, "You scoundrel, you're asking for death!"

The blade flashed like a startled swan, cleaving the spearman and his hilt in two! Blood splattered on his face, but he laughed loudly: "You dog, come again!" Before he finished speaking, two more Miao warriors charged at him with their swords.

Undeterred, Suhbalu wielded his goose-feather saber with incredible speed and precision. With two sharp, swift movements, the heads of two Miao warriors were severed, their bodies continuing to lunge forward a few steps before collapsing.

At this moment, Ali, the "Black Panther" of Miao territory, wielding two short knives, circled behind Suhbalu like a ghost, his knives aimed straight for Suhbalu's back. Suhbalu reacted with lightning speed, turning around abruptly and sweeping out his goose-feather saber.

Ali hurriedly raised his knife to block, but Sukhbaatar's blade sent him flying, his short knife also flying out of his hand. Sukhbaatar seized the opportunity to pursue, slashing at Ali's head. Ali couldn't dodge in time and was cleaved in two, his internal organs spilling onto the ground.

Mu Tie'a's iron sword followed closely behind, targeting Miao soldiers and generals with cunning and ruthless swordplay. Tuya, the Miao "Flying Eagle," rode a swift horse, bow and arrow in hand, continuously firing at the Qing army. Mu Tie'a roared, leaping into the air, his iron sword flashing like a venomous snake, aimed directly at Tuya.

Tuya hurriedly drew her sword to parry, but Mu Tie'a's sword sliced ​​through hers with a single blow, its momentum undiminished, and pierced her chest.

Tuya screamed and fell off her horse.

Batu, the "Blood Wolf" of Miao territory, charged forward roaring as he brandished a spiked club.

"Qinggou, I will avenge my people!" Batu roared.

Mu Tie'a sneered, "You? You think you can take me?" The iron sword clashed with the spiked club, sparks flying everywhere.

Mutia changed his sword technique and used a move called "Snake Spitting Tongue," piercing Batu's abdomen with his iron sword like lightning.

Batu screamed in agony as his spiked club fell limply to the ground. He clutched his stomach with both hands and slowly collapsed.

Yue Zhongqi wielded his tiger-headed spear with impenetrable force, the red tassel on its tassel stained with blood. The Miao soldier leader, "Lei Bao," swung his spiked club at him, shouting, "Take this!" and unleashing the ultimate killing move of the Yue family spear technique, "Li Quan Divine Spear."

The spearhead transformed into countless cold stars, and the sparks that flew when it collided with the spiked club made "Thunder Leopard's" pupils glow red.

"Lei Bao" possessed immense strength. With one blow, he knocked Yue Zhongqi's tiger-head spear to one side, and then swept the blow across with another.

Yue Zhongqi dodged to the side, and the tiger-headed spear suddenly thrust towards "Lei Bao's" throat.

"Lei Bao" hurriedly lowered his head, but Yue Zhongqi stabbed him in the shoulder with a gun.

"Thunder Leopard" roared and swung his spiked club down again.

Instead of retreating, Yue Zhongqi advanced, his tiger-headed spear aimed straight for "Lei Bao's" heart. With a "thud," the spear tip pierced "Lei Bao's" chest.

"Leopard" stared wide-eyed, unable to believe he had been defeated so easily, and slowly collapsed. Miao Jiang's "Poison Dragon" Yan Song held a poison dragon whip, with poisonous barbs hanging from the tip, and swung it in the air, making a "whooshing" sound.

"Qinggou, taste the power of my Poison Dragon Whip!" Yansong said with a sinister grin.

Yue Zhongqi remained calm, flicking his tiger-headed spear and unleashing a move called "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies," the spear tip sweeping towards Yan Song's legs. Yan Song quickly jumped away, but the Poison Dragon Whip lashed out towards Yue Zhongqi's face. Yue Zhongqi raised his spear to block, and the Poison Dragon Whip entangled the tiger-headed spear.

Yansong pulled hard, and Yue Zhongqi took the opportunity to leap up, thrusting his tiger-head spear toward Yansong's chest.

Yansong tried to dodge, but it was too late. He was pierced through the chest by a spear, and his Poison Dragon Whip fell limply to the ground.

Above the pass, shouts of battle, screams of agony, and the clash of weapons mingled together, creating a scene resembling a living hell.

Just as the pass collapsed with a deafening roar, Shi Feiyang finally made his move.

He thrust out both palms, unleashing the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" technique from the Hundred Victories Swordplay. Wherever his palm strikes passed, the air emitted a piercing shriek, and thirty-seven Miao soldiers, shields and all, were sent flying, crashing into the rock wall and turning into a bloody mist.

Yinli's eyes were bloodshot with rage as he lunged forward, brandishing his knife: "You Qing dog! Prepare to die—"

Before he finished speaking, a chilling blue aura emanated from Shi Feiyang's palm. He activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison!" Yinli's Miao sword suddenly froze three inches away from him, and the chill spread along the blade, instantly freezing his fingers.

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.

When the Miao army was defeated, Shi Feiyang remained calm and composed.

He glanced at the retreating troops, noticing that Yinli's personal guards maintained an odd formation, and suddenly raised his hand: "Do not pursue rashly!"

Wei Nianhua understood immediately and directed the elite troops of the Sticky Rod Office to conduct reconnaissance by taking a detour.

Sure enough, three hundred Miao warriors were lurking in the valley, their crossbows already aimed at the path the pursuers were sure to take.

Shi Feiyang unleashed a palm strike in mid-air, and the blade light of "Demonic Cloud" transformed into a hundred-foot-long glare, instantly tearing apart the ambush formation.

Yinli's screams mingled with the sound of weapons hitting the ground. Shi Feiyang looked at the corpses scattered on the ground, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes.

He slowly put away the Mingyu Skill and softly ordered, "Pass down the order to treat the wounded and give the enemy soldiers a proper burial."

As night fell, the stream below the pass was stained dark red.

Shi Feiyang gently stroked the Vermilion Bird Jade Pendant at his waist, recalling the angelica flowers from the Suzhou Pharmacy. The melodious sound of the lusheng (a traditional reed pipe instrument) drifting from the distant Miao Mountains inexplicably reminded him of the fishermen's songs on Taihu Lake in the past, and there was a certain similarity between the two.

On their way back to the capital, the army marched in a grand and imposing procession.

After this battle, "Hongli" firmly grasped most of the military power.

As Shi Feiyang rode on his horse, he looked at the people kneeling to welcome him on both sides of the road, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew in his heart that he was no longer a chivalrous knight-errant, unable to roam the world with his sword and seek revenge; but he could become an umbrella for the world, shielding all living beings from the wind and rain and creating a peaceful sky.

The north wind of the twelfth lunar month swirled with snowflakes, pelting the vermilion walls of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The ambergris incense from the bronze crane incense burner mingled with the scent of medicine, swirling within the hall.

Emperor Yongzheng leaned back on a bright yellow satin cushion, his once majestic face now etched with deep wrinkles, his bony fingers gripping a jade thumb ring, each light tap on the armrest seeming to strike the hearts of his ministers.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a brand-new robe embroidered with four dragons, and his black python-patterned boots, made a slight echo as he stepped over the gold bricks.

He glanced at the secret memorial on the imperial desk, the vermilion annotations on it more crooked than usual—it was a report about Hongshi's collusion with Longkodo's former subordinates. "Hongli," Yongzheng suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse as if tearing silk, "you made invaluable contributions to the suppression of the Miao rebellion." He straightened up with difficulty, his figure under the dragon robe as thin as a withered branch, "you truly deserve the title of 'wise and brave'."

Just as Shi Feiyang was about to express his gratitude, he saw Yongzheng suddenly smash the teacup on the ground. The sound of the celadon shattering startled all the civil and military officials in the hall, who all knelt down.

"But the Third Prince Hongshi!" The old emperor coughed violently, dark red blood seeping from between his fingers, "colluding with bandits and plotting rebellion!"

His bloodshot eyes swept over the crowd. "If they are not severely punished, after my death, this empire..."

The hall was deathly silent, like a graveyard. Sukhbaatar's iron wrist guards struck the blue bricks with a dull thud; Yue Zhongqi's hand holding the scepter trembled slightly; Wei Nianhua stared down at the tips of his boots, the shadow of the farewell hook casting a distorted arc on the ground.

Shi Feiyang suddenly kowtowed heavily, his forehead thudding: "Father! Third Brother has always been kind and benevolent; he must have been deceived by treacherous people! Please consider our father-son relationship..."

"Father-son relationship?" Yongzheng suddenly laughed wildly, his laughter tinged with a mournful tremor. "Back then, when Emperor Kangxi's nine sons fought for the throne, I watched with my own eyes as my brothers' blood was spilled in the court!" He breathed heavily, his body hunched over like a shrimp beneath his dragon robe. "If Hongshi were alive, he would surely become a major threat to Hongli in the future!" Chen Feng's hand, which was waving a plain white folding fan, stopped. The four characters "Peace Under Heaven" on the fan were blurred by cold sweat.

Bai Zhen's eagle-claw-like fingers dug deeply into his palms, causing Mu Tie'a's iron sword to tremble slightly in its sheath.

The court officials seemed to awaken from a dream, and amidst the rising and falling cries for mercy, Shi Feiyang crawled two steps on his knees: "Your subject is willing to exchange the merits of suppressing the rebellion for Third Brother's life!" "Military merits of suppressing the rebellion?" Yongzheng suddenly sneered, his withered finger pointing at Shi Feiyang, "Do you know how many elite Eight Banners troops were lost in the Miao Frontier War?" He coughed violently, blood splattering onto the bright yellow dragon pattern, "If we don't establish our authority, who will respect the imperial family's discipline in the future?" Suddenly, a mournful suona horn sounded outside the hall, the signal from the Imperial Clan Court to order his execution.

Shi Feiyang trembled violently. When he looked up, he met Yongzheng's cloudy yet sharp gaze—a gaze that contained heartache, determination, and the ruthlessness unique to the imperial family.

"Get up," the old emperor suddenly waved his hand wearily, his dragon robe sweeping across the imperial desk and knocking the secret memorials to the ground. "Tomorrow, you will go and see off the third prince on my behalf." By the time everyone had retreated to the outside of the Qianqing Gate, the twilight had already dyed the palace walls a dark red.

Shi Feiyang gazed at the snowflakes falling on his shoulders, suddenly feeling the Mingyu Gong surging violently through his meridians. He recalled the fragrance of medicine in Gusu City, and the blood mist on the Miao battlefield, but at this moment, none of these could compare to the heavy sigh in the Yangxin Hall.

Yue Zhongqi stepped forward, the red tassel of his tiger-headed spear dangling in the snow: "Your Highness, His Majesty's actions..."

“This is the emperor’s scheme,” Shi Feiyang interrupted softly, his glassy eyes reflecting the darkening sky, “and also the emperor’s helplessness.”

He gripped the Vermilion Bird jade pendant at his waist, a chill creeping up his fingertips—it turned out that the most prestigious position in the world was always paved with the blood of one's closest relatives. As the last rays of dawn disappeared behind the palace, the night in the Forbidden City was tinged with an indelible bloodstain.

Shi Feiyang returned to the Prince's Mansion with a heavy heart, where Yonglian was already waiting anxiously at the gate.

Upon seeing his father, the little boy immediately rushed into his arms and asked in his childish voice, "Did Father win the battle?"

Shi Feiyang took off his helmet, letting his young son stroke his sweat-dampened temples, a long-lost gentle smile appearing on his face.

That night, the bright moon hung high in the sky, its cool light shining into the study.

Shi Feiyang spread out a sheet of Xuan paper, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote the four large characters "天下无饥" (meaning "No Hunger Under Heaven") with vigorous strokes.

The ink was still wet as he gazed at the full moon rising above the corner tower of the Forbidden City outside his window. His shadow, elongated by the moonlight and cast upon the golden bricks, resembled a sword planted in the ground—hilt in hand, blade pointing to the sky, protecting this vast land, guarding that undying benevolence between the martial world and the imperial court. At this moment, Shi Feiyang had finally found his path. No longer a wandering swordsman in the martial world, nor a prince embroiled in power struggles within the palace, but a ruler who embodies chivalry and governs with benevolence, bringing peace and prosperity to all under heaven.

Outside Yanmen Pass, the sandstorm was like a knife, tearing the setting sun in the west into scarlet blood foam.

Lu Siniang's moon-white silk dress fluttered in the wind, and the soft sword "Autumn Water" at her waist emitted a dark blue sword light, just like a lurking ice snake.

She gently stroked her swollen belly, and the fetus inside her suddenly stirred violently, as if sensing the impending bloodshed. This reminded her of the grudges and passions that had unfolded on the dragon bed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. A sudden, thunderous sound of hooves rose from the northwest, and seven sturdy horses galloped towards her, shattering the sand and mist. Tang Xiaolan leaped into the air; her Qingfeng sword was not yet drawn, but the chilling sword intent of the Tianshan Sword Technique swept through like a cold tide, causing the sand and gravel within a ten-zhang radius to levitate in the air.

Bai Taiguan, leaning against his chestnut horse, flicked his folding fan, sending out three iron lotus seeds that precisely embedded themselves in the sand in front of the horse's hooves: "Master Tang, are you so nervous because you're afraid the bandits will steal your sweetheart?"

The one-eyed leader's scimitar slashed out a crescent moon of blood, the deadly venom on the blade gleaming eerily in the twilight: "Rumor has it that Lady Lü is pregnant with a dragon's seed. Why not come back to the stronghold with me, and I'll protect you..."

Her voice abruptly stopped, and Lü Siniang lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure transforming into a wisp of green smoke and drifting into the air.

The "Autumn Water" sword was suddenly drawn, bringing out the "Flying Flowers Chasing the Moon" sword technique passed down from the Yihua Palace. Where the sword light passed, petal-shaped bloodstains bloomed in the air, and the throats of the three bandits were split open at the same time, with blood gushing out like a spring.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, the fetal movement struck like a thunderclap, causing Lü Siniang to sway slightly. Tang Xiaolan's eyes flashed with shock and pain, and she abruptly changed her Tianshan sword technique. "Tianshan Plum Blossom" transformed into thousands of illusory plum blossoms, and amidst the crisscrossing sword energy, it actually shredded the incoming curved blade into pieces.

Suddenly, a cold arrow pierced the air. Without hesitation, he dodged to the side to protect himself. The arrowhead grazed his ribs, leaving a half-foot-long gash, and blood instantly soaked through his dark-colored outfit. "Xiaolan, be careful!" Lü Siniang cried out in alarm, a sharp pain in her abdomen nearly causing her to faint. In that critical moment, the "Autumn Water" sword suddenly burst forth with a dazzling blue light, revealing the sword technique infused with the saber intent of "Welcoming Guests with Pine Trees," personally taught by Shi Feiyang.

Her sword moved like a dragon piercing through the clouds, striking the "Shanzhong" acupoint of five bandits in succession. Her internal force penetrated their bodies, sending them flying backward and crashing into the sand dunes, splashing up blood and sand everywhere.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the one-eyed dragon swung out his nine-section steel whip and aimed it straight at Lü Siniang's dantian.

Ignoring the reopening of her wound, Tang Xiaolan used her Qingfeng sword to pierce the sun like a rainbow, severing the steel whip with a "clang".

Taking advantage of the moment, Lü Siniang lunged forward, her "Autumn Water" sword piercing precisely into the bandit's throat. With a flick of her wrist, the tip of the sword drew a string of blood droplets, tracing a poignant arc in the air. As the last bandit fell, Tang Xiaolan could no longer hold on and knelt on one knee.

Lu Siniang strode forward, her skirt sweeping across the corpses scattered on the ground, the torn strips of cloth still carrying a faint smell of blood.

She was about to bandage him when Tang Xiaolan grabbed her wrist: "Fourth Aunt, I don't care whose child this is..."

"Shut up!" The "Autumn Water" sword flashed coldly, piercing the sand near Tang Xiaolan's ear. "There should be no such thoughts between us. I have the blood of the Yongzheng Emperor flowing in my veins; this is a sin that cannot be washed away!" Bai Taiguan's cold laughter echoed from afar: "Tang Xiaolan, have you forgotten the rules of the Tianshan Sect? Aren't you afraid of being expelled from the sect for entangled with the Qing Dynasty's bastard?"

Tang Xiaolan slowly rose, letting the blood drip from the tip of her sword, winding into a crimson stream on the sand: "Back then at the Broken Bridge of West Lake, when Fourth Sister risked her own safety to save my life, did she ever ask me whether I was righteous or evil? How can the rules of the Tianshan Sect compare to the feelings in my heart!"

Lu Siniang's heart trembled as memories flooded back like a tide.

That year, in the misty Jiangnan region, she rescued a severely injured boy who collapsed by a broken bridge, unaware that he was actually a disciple of the Tianshan Sect.

Looking at the man before her, knowing that she carried the blood of her enemy, yet still willing to protect him with her life, the fetus in her womb stirred violently. She wondered what kind of waves this unborn child would stir up in this world of entangled grudges and feuds.

The lights of Zhenbeibao appeared so distant and hazy under the blood-red setting sun.

A north wind carrying fine snow swept across the Qilian Mountains. When Tang Xiaolan handed the last half-pot of strong liquor to Lü Siniang, a thin layer of frost had already formed on the bronze pot. He looked at her pale face, and a metallic taste rose in his throat—the hidden injury left by days of forcibly stimulating her internal energy and using the Tianshan Sect's "Snow Soul Divine Skill" to protect her unborn child.

"Drink it." His voice mingled with the sound of the wind. "Once you pass the Jade Gate Pass, you'll be in the Tianshan Mountains."

Lu Siniang's hand holding the wine jug trembled slightly. A sudden stirring in her womb reminded her of the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine bestowed by Emperor Yongzheng in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. She tilted her head back and downed the strong liquor, the burning sensation in her throat unable to compare to the bitterness in her heart: "Hero Tang, why do you do this..."

"I've said it before, this is the duty of a Tianshan disciple." Tang Xiaolan turned her face away, not wanting her to see her reddened eyes.

He took off his cloak and wrapped it around her slender body; her dark outfit was still stained with blood from the fierce battle with the bandits from Guandong the previous night.

Bai Taiguan sneered from the front: "What a fine 'duty'! When did the Tianshan Sect start meddling in the affairs of the Qing Dynasty's bastards?"

Three days later at dusk, they finally caught sight of the continuous snow-capped peaks of the Tianshan Mountains.

Tang Xiaolan gazed at the glimmer in Lü Siniang's eyes and suddenly recalled their first meeting at West Lake, when she stood on the Broken Bridge amidst the lingering snow, holding an oil-paper umbrella. At that time, he was critically injured and on the verge of death, and it was she who used the "Great Sumeru Heart Method" of the Tianshan Sect to extend his life for seven days. Little did he know that from that moment on, his life was already tied to this woman.

On the day she stepped into the Tianshan Sect's gate, the sect leader, Zen Master Ruiming, looked at Lü Siniang's swollen belly and struck the bluestone heavily with his whisk: "Xiaolan, do you know that you have violated the three major precepts of the Tianshan Sect?"

Tang Xiaolan knelt on one knee, her forehead pressed against the cold stone steps: "This disciple is willing to be confined for a hundred years in exchange for the safety of Fourth Sister and her child."

Lü Siniang gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, tears of emotion streaming down her face.

Spring turned to autumn, and during Lü Siniang's pregnancy in Tianshan, Tang Xiaolan would practice his sword under the plum tree outside her window every day at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). He deliberately concealed his sword energy to the extreme, but would always use the tip of his sword to pry open the window frame, letting the first ray of sunlight in the morning shine on her pillow.

Sometimes he would leave behind wild fruits from the mountains, or tiger-head boots he sewed overnight, but he never dared to knock on that door.

On the day the child was born, a rare snowfall of peach blossoms fell in the Tianshan Mountains.

Tang Xiaolan stood outside the delivery room, listening to Lü Siniang's heart-wrenching cries, her nails digging deep into her palms.

As the baby cried, he stared at the blood staining the threshold and suddenly remembered the broken bridge that year, when she healed his wounds and the drops of blood that fell were just as glaring. However, the following spring, Lü Siniang did something astonishing. Holding her infant child, she knelt before Shen Zaikuan's door: "Mr. Shen was severely injured by the imperial henchmen while protecting my child and me. Though I am not beautiful, I am willing to spend the rest of my life repaying your kindness."

Shen Zaikuan trembled as he tried to refuse, but was forced back by the resolute look in her eyes.

Tang Xiaolan's hand, gripping the Tianshan Sword, bulged with veins, but she could only gaze at the bamboo house adorned with red silk from afar.

From then on, he saw the stray hairs slipping from Lü Siniang's temples as she prepared medicine for Shen Zaikuan, saw her pacing in the courtyard late at night with her crying child in her arms, and saw her massaging Shen Zaikuan's atrophied legs day after day.

At such times, Tang Xiaolan would practice swordsmanship in the deep mountains, and the snow waves cleaved by her sword energy could surge up a cliff hundreds of feet high.

Time slipped away silently amidst the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains. Tang Xiaolan's sword tassel was already covered in frost, yet he still maintained his daily habit of practicing swordsmanship outside Lü Siniang's window. Those seemingly casual sword moves actually concealed profound secrets, each move containing the intention to protect her.

On this day, dark clouds loomed overhead, and a rare blizzard was about to sweep across the Tianshan Mountains.

Tang Xiaolan looked at Lü Siniang's house, and a strange unease welled up in her heart.

He quickened his sword practice, and the sword energy shook up the surrounding snow, forming a snow curtain in the air.

Suddenly, a child's scream came from inside the house, followed by Lü Siniang's anxious voice: "Brother Kuan, what's wrong?"

Tang Xiaolan could no longer care about anything else and used her lightness skill to break through the door.

Shen Zaikuan's face was deathly pale, and black blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating that he had been poisoned.

Lu Siniang's child cried loudly in fright, but she forced herself to remain calm and was preparing to use her internal energy to expel the poison from Shen Zaikuan.

"Don't move!" Tang Xiaolan shouted, quickly stepping forward to carefully examine Shen Zaikuan's symptoms. "This is the poison of the 'Heart-Eating Gu' from the Western Regions. Forcibly expelling the poison will only accelerate its onset."

Lu Siniang raised her head, her eyes filled with panic and helplessness—an expression Tang Xiaolan had never seen before.

"Then... what should we do?" Her voice trembled slightly.

Tang Xiaolan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Only the Tianshan Snow Lotus combined with my 'Snow Soul Divine Skill' might offer a glimmer of hope." After saying that, he turned to leave, but was grabbed by Lü Siniang's sleeve.

Tang Xiaolan was startled. Lü Siniang's hand was very light, yet it felt as if it had the force of a thousand pounds.

"Xiaolan, it's dangerous..." she whispered.

This was the first time she had called his name in front of everyone. Tang Xiaolan's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head and gave him a gentle smile: "Don't worry, I will definitely bring back the snow lotus."

At the summit of Tianshan Mountain, a fierce wind, accompanied by blizzard, cut across Tang Xiaolan's face like countless sharp blades.

With his superb light-footed skills, he struggled to climb the steep mountain wall.

Snow lotus grows on the most precipitous ice cliffs, surrounded by millennia-old ice and snow blocks that could collapse at any moment.

Tang Xiaolan's hands were cut by icicles, and the blood dripped onto the snow, instantly freezing into ice beads.

Finally, he saw the Tianshan snow lotus swaying in the wind and snow.

Just as he reached out to pick it, the snow beneath his feet suddenly loosened, and he plummeted off the cliff.

At the critical moment, Tang Xiaolan swung out the soft rope from her waist and hooked it onto a protruding rock.

He was panting heavily, looking at the snow lotus in his hand, his eyes filled with determination, "Fourth Sister, I will not let you down."

When Tang Xiaolan returned with Xue Lian, Shen Zaikuan had already fallen into a coma, his breath weak. Lü Siniang stood guard by the bedside, her eyes bloodshot.

Tang Xiaolan handed her the snow lotus and said, "Feed it to him, and I will use my internal energy to help him expel the poison." After saying that, he sat down behind Shen Zaikuan, placed his hands on his back, and slowly channeled the internal energy of the "Snow Soul Divine Skill" into him.

The temperature inside the room plummeted, and frost spread across the walls. Beads of sweat appeared on Tang Xiaolan's forehead, and her face grew increasingly pale.

He could sense that the "Heart-Eating Gu" poison was extremely stubborn, constantly eroding Shen Zaikuan's meridians while also backfiring on his own internal energy. But he gritted his teeth, not relaxing at all, with only one thought in his mind: he must save him, for Fourth Sister's sake.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Zaikuan made a soft sound in his throat, spitting out a mouthful of black blood, and slowly regained consciousness. Lü Siniang wept with joy, turning to look at Tang Xiaolan, only to see his face as pale as paper, as he vomited a large mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.

"Xiaolan!" Lu Siniang exclaimed and rushed to Tang Xiaolan's side.

She held his hand tightly, feeling the coldness of his hands, and felt a sharp pain in her heart.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." she murmured to herself, tears falling onto Tang Xiaolan's hand.

When Tang Xiaolan woke up again, she found herself lying in the familiar bamboo house, with Lü Siniang watching over her bedside, her eyes filled with concern and self-reproach. "You're awake!" Lü Siniang said with delight. "How are you feeling?"

Tang Xiaolan tried to get up, but found herself weak all over. She could only manage a weak smile: "It's alright, I'll be fine after a few days of rest."

Lu Siniang lowered her head and said softly, "Thank you so much this time. If it weren't for you..."

"No need to say more," Tang Xiaolan interrupted her. "As long as you are safe and well, anything I do is worthwhile."

Lu Siniang raised her head and looked into his sincere eyes, a ripple of emotion stirring in her heart.

In the days that followed, Lü Siniang took meticulous care of Tang Xiaolan every day.

When the two sat facing each other, a subtle atmosphere always filled the air.

Shen Zaikuan saw this and understood it in his heart. Moreover, he and Lü Siniang were not actually husband and wife.

So he called Lü Siniang to his side and said, “Siniang, I know you’ve suffered these past years. Brother Tang’s kindness is as clear as day. You don’t need to be trapped in this place anymore to repay his kindness…”

Lu Siniang shook her head, "Brother Kuan, don't say such things."

However, Shen Zaikuan's words stirred up a huge wave in her heart.

She began to examine her own heart, wondering if her feelings for Tang Xiaolan were truly just gratitude.
Actually, it was out of guilt, because she was carrying the child of Emperor Yongzheng, that she felt unworthy of Tang Xiaolan, the outstanding swordsman of the martial arts world.

However, since she had held a simple wedding with Shen Zaikuan in public, she had to take responsibility for the rest of her life.

So, with tears in her eyes, Lü Siniang picked up her son, carried Shen Zaikuan on her back, and quietly left Tianshan to live in seclusion in Mangshan. She also decided in her heart that she would let her son be an ordinary person.

Having infiltrated the palace for several years, she knew that the imperial family was the most ruthless place throughout history, and she could not allow her son to participate in the power struggles within the palace.

Meanwhile, inside the Forbidden City, Shi Feiyang was kneeling before Emperor Yongzheng's sickbed, listening to the emperor's faint words of advice. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lady Fucha standing behind a screen, her white robes billowing in the breeze, like a pear blossom swaying in a storm.

Yongzheng's fingers, as thin as withered branches, rested on his wrist, his voice barely a whisper: "I... entrust this empire... to you..."

Before the words were finished, the sound of porcelain shattering came from behind the screen—Fucha's plain white robe flashed by, and shards of porcelain splashed onto the blue bricks, emitting a faint light.

As Shi Feiyang kowtowed, his peripheral vision swept over the shadows inside the hall.

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook was hidden in his sleeve, Chen Feng's black gold fan half-covered his face, Bai Zhen's eagle claw was curled into a hook shape in his sleeve, and Suhebalu's goose feather knife, though not yet drawn, was already vibrating with a low hum within its sheath.

These trusted confidants who had accompanied him in his campaigns in the Dzungar and Miao regions were now on high alert, their eyes fixed intently on the direction of the screen.

"His Majesty has passed away!" The wailing of the attending eunuchs shattered the palace.

Shi Feiyang stood up and looked at the dragon bed again, where Yongzheng's face was covered with a white cloth.

"Issue the decree." Shi Feiyang's voice was as calm as a deep pool, yet carried an unquestionable authority. "Order the Sticky Rod Office to seal off the nine gates. No official of the third rank or above may enter the palace without being summoned. Yue Zhongqi shall lead the Xishan Elite Battalion to guard the Tai Mausoleum. Suhebalu shall be in charge of the nine gates and concurrently lead the Valiant Cavalry Battalion. Mu Tie'a shall be in charge of the palace guards. Chen Feng shall temporarily take charge of the daily affairs of the Sticky Rod Office."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Wei Nianhua will remain with me in the Forbidden City. Bai Zhen, immediately investigate Hongxi's faction within the Imperial Clan Court."

As Wei Nianhua received the order, Shi Feiyang suddenly grabbed his wrist and lowered his voice: "The third stone pillar in the underground secret chamber of the Imperial Clan Court contains the dragon robe that Longkodo privately forged back then."

The commander of the Sticky Rod Office's pupils constricted sharply, instantly understanding the new emperor's intention—if Hongxi intended to rebel, this would be irrefutable evidence confirming his guilt. (End of Chapter)