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

Chapter 452. Discussing the Mystery in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion; The Glass Hero Unravels the Puzzle.
As dusk settled over Luoyang, it painted the city walls a vibrant, ink-like hue, yet the third-floor pavilion of Zuixianlou remained brightly lit. The carved wooden windows were half-open, and the evening breeze, carrying the moisture from the moat and the hustle and bustle of the streets, swept in, stirring the calligraphy and paintings hanging inside.

Shi Feiyang, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, stood with his hands behind his back by the window. His Xuan Shuang Blade was slung across his waist, and his fair skin glowed warmly in the candlelight, outlining his handsome profile like the finest jade. He wore a slightly worn blue cloth robe and looked like an ordinary shopkeeper, but the arrogant and unruly air between his brows was something no ordinary person possessed.

"These remnants of An Lushan's forces are like maggots clinging to bones; they're quite troublesome," Shi Feiyang muttered to himself, his voice tinged with contemplation.

He strolled slowly through the spacious reception room, his steps light as if he were walking on clouds. The room was simply furnished with an eight-immortal table, a few wooden chairs, and a painting of "Drunken Immortal" hanging on the wall, which complemented the name of the restaurant.

However, upon closer inspection, one will find that the tea set on the table, though seemingly ordinary, is actually a secret mark used by the Beggars' Sect to transmit messages, and the few withered lotus flowers in the vase in the corner also conceal the Beggars' Sect's communication signals.

Just as I was pondering this, there was a gentle knock on the door.

“Chief,” came the slightly hoarse voice of Tieguai Li, an elder of the Beggars’ Sect, from outside the door. He respectfully said, “He Qianshan and Li Muxue, the senior and junior brothers and sisters of the Pangu Sword Sect of the Central Plains, have come to see you.” Upon hearing this, Shi Feiyang’s lips curled into a playful smile, and he stopped in his tracks. “Qianshan Muxue,” he murmured softly, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing, “A fine name! It does have a certain artistic conception to this vast martial world. Please invite them in.”

"Yes, sir!" Tieguai Li responded, and then his footsteps faded into the distance.

A moment later, a soft footstep sound came from the stairs, accompanied by Tieguai Li's guiding voice.

The door was pushed open again, and Tieguai Li, leaning on his gleaming jujube wood cane, entered first, then stepped aside to let him pass. Two young people stood side by side; they were He Qianshan and Li Muxue from the Pangu Sword Sect.

He Qianshan was dressed in a breezy blue outfit, the flowing fabric accentuating his heroic spirit. He was tall and handsome, with bright, piercing eyes that exuded righteousness. A long sword hung at his waist, its scabbard antique, giving him the air of a chivalrous young martial artist.

Li Muxue wore a light pink dress, her figure slender and graceful, like a willow swaying in the wind, yet exuding a lively spirit. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, her skin as smooth as jade, and her large, bright eyes sparkled as she observed Shi Feiyang in the room with a hint of curiosity and respect. A long sword hung at her waist, its hilt inlaid with a small ruby, adding to her charming allure.

The two men cupped their hands in unison, their voices clear and bright, and said in unison, "Junior He Qianshan and Li Muxue pay their respects to Chief Shi."

Shi Feiyang turned around, a gentle smile on his face, and waved for them to sit down. He then said kindly, "Please sit down, no need for formalities." His gaze swept over the two men, then landed on He Qianshan's blue robe. "Brother He, your blue robe makes you look as upright as a pine tree, quite the heroic spirit." Hearing this, He Qianshan blushed slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "Chief Shi, you flatter me. My junior sister and I have come here with an important matter to ask of you."

Li Muxue also said softly, "That's right, Chief Shi. Recently, several bizarre unsolved cases have occurred in the martial arts world, causing panic among the major sects. We are really at a loss. We have heard that Chief Shi is exceptionally intelligent and highly skilled in martial arts, so we have come to ask for your help."

Shi Feiyang gestured to Tieguai Li to serve tea to the two of them, then sat down in the main seat himself, picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying casually, "Oh? A mystery in the martial arts world? Tell me about it." His tone was composed, as if everything was under control.

He Qianshan cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "Chief Shi, the matter begins at Shaolin Temple on Mount Song." He paused, seemingly gathering his thoughts, before proceeding to explain in detail: "Half a month ago, a strange thing happened in the Shaolin Temple's Sutra Repository. The pages of the Lankavatara Sutra that were originally stored there were replaced. On the new pages, a Turkic wolf head totem was drawn with living human blood, hidden in the auspicious cloud pattern on the edge of the rubbing. If it weren't for Master Wuran's meticulousness, it would have been impossible to discover."

Li Muxue continued, "Not only that, when we went to investigate, we also found a strand of spider silk with half a wolf tooth tied to it. Chief Shi, guess what? That wolf tooth actually had residual poison on it—it was the Heavenly Wolf Guard's 'Heart-Eating Gu'!"

Her voice carried a hint of lingering fear, clearly still shaken by the poison.

Upon hearing this, Shi Feiyang frowned slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and asked, "The Heavenly Wolf Guard? They actually dared to make a move in Shaolin; they've got some nerve." His eyes sharpened, and he continued, "And then?"

He Qianshan sighed and continued, "Later, the head of the Disciplinary Hall was found dead in the main hall. His death was extremely bizarre; his body was twisted into a strange shape, and he was still clutching half a piece of paper in his hand, on which were written in cinnabar, 'The Huashan Sect stole the scriptures.' Wasn't this clearly meant to provoke a feud between Shaolin and Huashan?"

Li Muxue picked up the conversation, angrily saying, "That's right! And that's not all. When we went to Mount Hua, we encountered something even more bizarre. The third senior brother of the Mount Hua Sect was found at the foot of the Cliff of Contemplation, holding a Shaolin iron broom in his hand! And inside that iron broom was a Turkic 'bewitching powder'!"

He Qianshan nodded and added, "Yes, even Sect Leader Yue Huiqun was terrified at the time, thinking it was Shaolin's doing. But upon closer inspection, we discovered that the fragments of monk's robes on the iron broom were actually sewn with Western Region gold thread. This is definitely not something from Shaolin!"

A flicker of fear flashed in Li Muxue's eyes, and she said in a trembling voice, "There's something even more terrifying, Chief Shi. We hadn't been on Mount Hua for long when we heard screams. It turned out that an Emei disciple had been murdered, and a sword was stuck in his body. The hilt of the sword was even engraved with the swastika symbol of Shaolin! This series of events clearly shows that someone is deliberately trying to sow discord among the major sects, wanting to make the martial arts world fight amongst itself!"

Shi Feiyang listened quietly, his face revealing little emotion, but the faint icy blue patterns beneath his fair skin betrayed his inner turmoil. "What a clever scheme to use someone else to do the dirty work," he murmured, a chill running through his voice, adding with a touch of shrewdness, "The Heavenly Wolf Guard is trying to undermine the Central Plains martial arts world from within!"

He Qianshan cupped his hands and said, "Chief Shi is wise! We also thought of this, but the other party is acting mysteriously, and we couldn't find any clues at all. Later, we went to Taiji Sect, and the situation there was even more bizarre."

Li Muxue continued, "Yes, the Tai Chi formation there suddenly reversed, and the command flags fluttered erratically. The disciples of the Tai Chi Sword Sect said that someone had placed a 'Heart-Turning Gu' at the formation's core! Moreover, the yin-yang fish eyes of the Tai Chi diagram had been replaced with wolf-eye stone carvings, and inside was a map drawn with the skin of a living person, marking the weaknesses of each sect!"

He Qianshan said solemnly, “Chief Shi, although our Pangu Sword Sect is weak and outnumbered, we know the principle of mutual dependence. The Tianlang Guard’s conspiracy is so vicious. If we don’t break it in time, the entire martial arts world will fall into their hands. At that time, the martial arts world will be in turmoil and the people will suffer! We are really desperate, so we have come to ask Chief Shi for your help. Please help us for the sake of our fellow martial arts practitioners!” After saying that, the two of them stood up and bowed deeply to Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang looked at the two young swordsmen in front of him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, looked at the deep night outside, and said with emotion, "I have long been aware of the Heavenly Wolf Guard's conspiracy." His voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable power. He then analyzed, "They want to split the martial arts world, incite internal strife, and then overthrow our Great Tang Dynasty. What wishful thinking!"

He turned around, his gaze sharp as he swept over He Qianshan and Li Muxue, and said domineeringly, "Rest assured, both of you, this matter of the martial world is also my matter, Shi Feiyang's matter. Since the Heavenly Wolf Guard dares to stir up trouble in my Central Plains, then I will make sure they never return!"

Upon hearing this, He Qianshan and Li Muxue's faces lit up with joy. They bowed again in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Chief Shi!"

Shi Feiyang waved his hand, a smile appearing on his face, and said with concern, "Alright, you must be tired. Stay at Zuixianlou for now. Tieguai Li, make arrangements so that you two can get some rest. As for this unsolved case, please allow me to think about it carefully; I'll find a clue eventually."

"Yes, sir!" Tieguai Li responded, then led He Qianshan and Li Muxue out of the reception room.

Only Shi Feiyang remained in the room. He walked to the window again, gazing at the lights of Luoyang in the distance, his eyes deep and thoughtful. "The Heavenly Wolf Guard," he murmured to himself, the icy blue patterns on his glassy skin becoming more pronounced, and said with resentment, "Your death is not far off."

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the thin mist of Luoyang, the third-floor pavilion of Zuixianlou was already bustling with activity.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a light blue outfit with his Xuan Shuang Blade slung across his waist, stood in the courtyard. His fair skin glowed faintly in the morning light, making him appear even more handsome. A smile played on his lips as he watched Tieguai Li, He Qianshan, and Li Muxue lead their horses towards him.

Iron-Crutch Li, leaning on his cane, said in a loud voice, "Chief Shi, everything is ready." Shi Feiyang nodded, his gaze turning to Li Muxue. She wore a light pink dress, rode a white horse, and the morning breeze gently ruffled her hair, making her appear exceptionally beautiful and charming. Li Muxue noticed Shi Feiyang's gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly lowered her head, a strange ripple stirring within her heart.

She had never seen such a handsome man, especially his glass-like skin and the light in his eyes that sometimes shone with arrogance and sometimes with gentleness, which stirred a longing in her heart. He Qianshan, riding his horse, witnessed all this, a bitter feeling rising in his heart. He and Li Muxue were childhood sweethearts, as close as siblings, and he had long harbored feelings for her. Now, seeing Li Muxue's expression towards Shi Feiyang, a strange jealousy welled up in his heart.

He gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Let's go." Shi Feiyang gave the order, and was the first to mount his horse. The horse neighed and galloped off towards Mount Song.

Along the way, Shi Feiyang would occasionally discuss Beggars' Sect affairs with Tieguai Li, and sometimes talk about the current state of the martial arts world with He Qianshan and Li Muxue.

He was witty and knowledgeable, able to speak fluently about everything from江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) anecdotes to military strategies, which made Li Muxue admire him even more. She often couldn't help but secretly glance at Shi Feiyang, admiring his dashing figure as he rode his horse, and his focused expression when he was deep in thought, and her affection for him grew stronger.

He Qianshan, on the other hand, remained relatively silent. He followed quietly behind, his gaze occasionally shifting between Shi Feiyang and Li Muxue, his eyes revealing complex emotions.

It was already evening when we arrived at Mount Song. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the red walls and green tiles of Shaolin Temple, making it appear exceptionally tranquil.

However, when Shi Feiyang and his group stepped into the temple, they felt a sense of oppression.

Master Wuran was already waiting at the mountain gate. Upon seeing Shi Feiyang, he quickly put his palms together in a gesture of respect and said, "Amitabha, it is an honor to have Chief Shi grace us with his presence. I am so sorry that I was unable to greet you from afar."

Shi Feiyang quickly bowed in return, saying, "Master, you flatter me. I heard that some strange things have happened in the temple, so I came to investigate."

Master Wuran sighed and said solemnly, "This is a long story. Chief Shi, please come with me."

The group followed Master Wuran to the Thousand Buddha Hall, where candlelight flickered and the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

Standing in the shadow of the bronze Buddha, Shi Feiyang's glassy skin, illuminated by the firelight, suddenly let out a long laugh, causing the spiderwebs on the beams to fall in a rustling sound. He teased, "Well done, the Heavenly Wolf Guard, actually playing tricks in the sacred Buddhist grounds!"

Master Wuran pointed to the rubbing of the Yijinjing on the stele and said in a trembling voice, "A month ago, the pages of the Lankavatara Sutra in the library were replaced, and this line of Sanskrit text appeared on the new page."

Shi Feiyang leaned closer to examine it closely, and suddenly icy blue patterns appeared in his glassy eyes—among the auspicious cloud patterns on the edge of the rubbing, there was a Turkic wolf head totem drawn with the blood of living people.

This totem is hidden within the Sanskrit text; unless one possesses profound inner strength and exceptional eyesight, it is impossible to detect.

Master Wuran seemed somewhat anxious and said hastily, "Chief Shi, what do you think of this..."

Seeing this, Li Muxue also leaned closer to take a look. Her gaze fell on Shi Feiyang's focused profile, and as she watched his glass-like skin radiate a captivating glow in the candlelight, her heart couldn't help but flutter.

She said softly, "Chief Shi, this totem is so strange, hidden so well. If you weren't a master like yourself, you probably wouldn't have been able to find it."

Shi Feiyang turned to look at Li Muxue and smiled slightly, saying, "Miss Li, you flatter me. The Heavenly Wolf Guard is full of cunning schemes, this matter is certainly not simple."

Just then, Li Muxue, with her sharp eyes, noticed a strand of spider silk in the corner. She carefully used her longsword to lift the silk, and found half a wolf's tooth tied to it. She exclaimed, "Chief Shi, look at this!"

Shi Feiyang took the wolf fang, activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Ice Soul Cold Prison" level, and condensed ice crystals at his fingertips. When he touched the wolf fang, green smoke instantly rose. He analyzed, "This must be the residual poison of the Heavenly Wolf Guard's 'Heart-Eating Gu'," and then said in a deep voice, "It seems that they are trying to use the Shaolin disciples to provoke internal strife in the martial arts world."

Watching Shi Feiyang display his divine skills with effortless grace, Li Muxue's eyes were filled with admiration and affection. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Chief Shi, your martial arts are truly superb; you can even easily detect this kind of poison."

Watching Li Muxue's admiration for Shi Feiyang, He Qianshan felt his jealousy intensify. He couldn't help but speak up, "Chief Shi's martial arts are far superior to ours. However, this case is so bizarre that it's probably not so easy to solve." Shi Feiyang glanced at He Qianshan, ignoring the sourness in his tone, and simply said, "It's all about human effort. With careful investigation, we can always find clues."

Just then, a novice monk came running in panic, his robes stained with blood, and stammered, "Master! Master Wuxin... he... he..." Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the profound "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill, his figure flashing like a startled swan across the stele forest, arriving first at the main hall of the Discipline Hall. Li Muxue watched Shi Feiyang's disappearing figure and couldn't help but exclaim, "Chief Shi's lightness skill is truly divine, almost like an immortal." He Qianshan snorted and muttered, "It's nothing but some unorthodox methods."

Upon hearing this, Li Muxue frowned and rebuked, "Senior Brother He, how can you say that? Chief Shi came to help us." He Qianshan was anxious and quickly explained, "Junior Sister, that's not what I meant. I just... I just think this case is too strange, and I'm worried that Chief Shi might also be in danger."

The two followed each other as they talked until they arrived at the main hall of the Disciplinary Hall. The sight before them was shocking: Master Wuxin's body was twisted into a bizarre shape, clutching half a piece of paper in his hand, on which were written in cinnabar: "The Huashan Sect stole the scriptures."

After examining the body, Tieguai Li said in a deep voice, "Chief, Master Wuxin's death was peculiar, as if he had been afflicted by some kind of evil magic."

Shi Feiyang nodded, his gaze falling on the note, and said with certainty, "It really is a frame-up against the Huashan Sect." He activated "Evil Blood Calamity," and the red light at his fingertips surged, forcing out a crimson Gu worm from Master Wuxin's corpse.

The Gu worm twisted into the shape of a wolf's head under the sunlight, which was the signature "Thousand-Mile Soul-Chasing Gu" of the Heavenly Wolf Guard. Shi Feiyang further analyzed: "This Gu worm can not only control a person's mind, but also leave a specific mark after the host dies, further confusing vision."

Seeing Shi Feiyang easily force out the Gu worm, Li Muxue's admiration for him deepened even further.

She couldn't help but walk over to Shi Feiyang and ask softly, "Chief Shi, these Gu worms are so powerful, how should we deal with them?"

Seeing the concern in Li Muxue's eyes, Shi Feiyang felt a slight stirring in his heart and said gently, "Miss Li, rest assured, although the methods of the Heavenly Wolf Guard are mysterious, they are not invincible. As long as we find their weakness, we can break their conspiracy."

Seeing the two chatting happily, He Qianshan's jealousy burned even brighter.

He gritted his teeth, thinking to himself: Shi Feiyang, although you are highly skilled in martial arts and exceptionally intelligent, I will not let you steal my junior sister away. I must find a way to stop you and let my junior sister see your true colors.

Over the next few days, Shi Feiyang led Tieguai Li, He Qianshan, and Li Muxue to carefully investigate the Shaolin Temple in search of clues.

Li Muxue stayed close to Shi Feiyang, watching him analyze cases from the smallest clues and listening to him recount his experiences in the martial arts world and his investigative strategies. Her love for him grew deeper and deeper. One day, Shi Feiyang discovered a hidden compartment in the library, containing a tattered map.

He studied the map carefully and suddenly exclaimed with realization, "So that's how it is! The Heavenly Wolf Guard wants to exploit the conflicts between the various sects to open a secret passage to Chang'an, so that they can coordinate from the inside and outside to overthrow the Tang Dynasty!" Upon hearing this, Li Muxue exclaimed in surprise, "Chief Shi, you are truly amazing! You were able to find such a hidden clue."

Shi Feiyang smiled slightly and was about to respond when He Qianshan suddenly interrupted, "Chief Shi, this map may not be part of the Heavenly Wolf Guard's conspiracy. Perhaps someone deliberately placed it here to mislead us?"

Shi Feiyang looked at He Qianshan, his brows furrowed slightly, and asked, "Brother He, why do you say that?"

He Qianshan's eyes flickered, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "I just feel that this case is going too smoothly, which is a bit suspicious."

Li Muxue couldn't help but retort, "Senior Brother He, Chief Shi's analysis makes a lot of sense. The Heavenly Wolf Guard's conspiracy is very secretive, and finding such a clue is already quite difficult." Seeing Li Muxue protecting Shi Feiyang at every turn, He Qianshan felt even more resentful. He secretly decided to find a way to frame Shi Feiyang, embarrass him in front of his junior sister, or even get rid of him.

Using his identity as a disciple of the Pangu Sword Sect, he secretly contacted some martial arts figures who were dissatisfied with Shi Feiyang, and also bribed a disciple of Shaolin Temple to set a trap. Based on clues, Shi Feiyang learned that a stronghold of the Heavenly Wolf Guard was located in a cave behind Shaolin Temple. He decided to investigate, and Li Muxue and He Qianshan also expressed their desire to go with him.

Upon arriving at the cave, Shi Feiyang sensed something amiss, but didn't dwell on it and went inside first. Li Muxue and He Qianshan followed closely behind.

The cave was pitch black. Shi Feiyang circulated his inner energy, and his smooth skin emitted a faint glow, illuminating the path ahead. Suddenly, a strange noise came from the cave ceiling, and countless sharp spikes rained down from above, attacking Shi Feiyang.

"Watch out!" Li Muxue exclaimed, trying to warn Shi Feiyang, but it was too late.

Shi Feiyang used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" skill, his figure as graceful as a ghost, cleverly directing all the spikes towards the adjacent stone wall. With a loud "boom," the spikes pierced deep into the stone wall, making a piercing sound.

Li Muxue rushed to Shi Feiyang's side and asked with concern, "Chief Shi, are you alright?"

Shi Feiyang shook his head, his sharp gaze sweeping across the surroundings: "Someone has set a trap; we've been ambushed!"

Just then, a cold laugh came from the depths of the cave, and He Qianshan's voice rang out: "Shi Feiyang, didn't expect this, did you? Today is your death day!" He Qianshan, holding a long sword, led several masked men out from the depths of the cave.

Li Muxue stared at He Qianshan in shock, then angrily demanded, "Senior Brother He, it was you? Why did you do this?"

He Qianshan looked at Li Muxue, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by jealousy and ambition. He shamelessly said, "Junior sister, you don't understand! Shi Feiyang is just a beggar gang leader. He is not worthy of you at all! Only I can give you true happiness! As long as we get rid of Shi Feiyang, the Heavenly Wolf Guard's conspiracy will not succeed. At that time, I will become a hero of the martial arts world, and you will return to my side!"

"You've gone mad!" Li Muxue trembled with rage, angrily shouting, "He Qianshan, how could you collude with the Heavenly Wolf Guard and frame loyal officials for your own selfish desires! How can you face the ancestors of the Pangu Sword Sect?"

"Enough with the nonsense!" Enraged, He Qianshan roared, "Attack!"

Upon hearing this, the masked men drew their weapons and attacked Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang looked at He Qianshan with disappointment in his eyes and said painfully, "He Qianshan, you are really stubborn!"

He activated his Mingyu Gong, and ice-blue patterns appeared on his glass-like skin. He drew his Xuanshuang Blade and unleashed the "Slaying the Mortal World" technique from the Hundred Victories Blade Art. The blade energy was as swift as a startled swan, instantly shattering the two masked men.

Seeing this, He Qianshan brandished his longsword and attacked Shi Feiyang, shouting angrily, "Shi Feiyang, you are a hypocrite, a villain! I asked you to investigate the case, but you seduced my junior sister! You will die a horrible death! You are worse than a pig or a dog! Prepare to die!"

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and used "Shifting Flowers and Jade" again to easily deflect He Qianshan's attack. He mocked, "He Qianshan, your swordsmanship is not bad, but your heart is not righteous. You will never amount to anything."

The two engaged in a fierce battle in the cave. Shi Feiyang's swordsmanship was exquisite, and with the enhancement of his Mingyu Gong, he was even more formidable. Although He Qianshan's swordsmanship was not weak either, he seemed somewhat powerless against Shi Feiyang.

Li Muxue stood aside, heartbroken as she watched her former senior brother become a traitor. She drew her longsword, pointed it at He Qianshan, and shouted angrily, "He Qianshan, stop! Otherwise, I won't be so polite!"

Upon hearing this, He Qianshan paused, then said sadly, "Junior Sister, are you really going to oppose me for the sake of this beggar gang leader?"

Li Muxue rebuked him righteously and sternly: "He is Chief Shi, a chivalrous man who serves the country and its people, while you are a traitor who colludes with foreign enemies!" Upon hearing this, He Qianshan was utterly desperate. He launched a frenzied attack on Shi Feiyang, roaring: "Since that's the case, then let's die together!"

Seeing He Qianshan's madness, Shi Feiyang knew he could no longer show mercy.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he lightly unleashed the ultimate move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, "Severing Reincarnation"!
As the sword energy surged, the heavens and earth changed color. A streak of white light flashed past, instantly severing He Qianshan's longsword. He himself was also blasted away by the sword energy, crashing into the stone wall of the cave and spitting out blood.

"Senior Brother He!" Li Muxue exclaimed, wanting to step forward to check, but was stopped by Shi Feiyang. Shi Feiyang cautiously said, "Be careful, it might be a trap." He then looked at He Qianshan warily. He Qianshan struggled to his feet, a strange smile appearing on his face, and said viciously, "Shi Feiyang, do you think you've won? The Heavenly Wolf Guard's conspiracy has only just begun!" After saying that, he suddenly took out a poison sachet, intending to commit suicide.

Shi Feiyang reacted swiftly, unleashing his "Shocking Calamity" divine skill. His icy gaze swept across He Qianshan, instantly freezing him into an ice sculpture, his poison sac falling to the ground. Li Muxue, seeing the frozen He Qianshan, was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She quickly pleaded for He Qianshan, her childhood friend, choking back tears, "Chief Shi, He Qianshan is still my senior brother. Please, spare his life, okay?"

Shi Feiyang said softly, "Miss Li, please accept my condolences. He Qianshan went astray in a moment of weakness; it was his own choice." Li Muxue raised her head, tears welling in her eyes, and looked at Shi Feiyang, saying sadly, "Chief Shi, thank you. If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be in the dark." She then suddenly knelt down, her forehead touching the ground, and pleaded, "Chief, please, spare my senior brother! Otherwise, I will have no face to return to my sect!"

Shi Feiyang sighed and said, "The world is dangerous, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Mu Xue, you must be careful in the future!" He had long anticipated that Jie Mu Xue would plead for He Qianshan, so Shi Feiyang only used "Shocking Calamity" lightly, not shattering He Qianshan into ice shards, but freezing him.

He Qianshan collapsed onto the cold stone ground, his limbs and bones feeling as if they were being pierced by thousands of fine needles, every inch of his skin still bearing the bone-chilling cold brought by the "Shocking Calamity".

He struggled to lift his head, and through his blurred vision, he saw Li Muxue kneeling before Shi Feiyang, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded for his life. At that moment, what surged in his chest was not gratitude, but an intense, unyielding resentment.

"Why...why him?" He Qianshan roared in his heart, his nails digging deep into his palms, not even noticing the blood seeping out.

Looking at Shi Feiyang's skin, which shimmered with a glassy sheen, and at the arrogant and untamed air between his brows, a strong sense of inferiority and jealousy gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake. He recalled the time he spent practicing swordsmanship with Li Muxue at the Pangu Sword Sect since childhood, and his longing to walk the martial world alongside her—all of which had been shattered by the sudden appearance of this Beggar Clan leader.

"Yes... I'm too weak..." He Qianshan's lips curled into a twisted smile as he thought to himself, "If I had his martial arts skills and his demeanor, why would my junior sister look at someone else?"

He closed his eyes, and images flashed through his mind of colluding with the Heavenly Wolf Guard, the ruthlessness of setting traps, and the bone-deep fear of being frozen in ice. But none of these could compare to the excruciating pain he felt when Li Muxue pleaded for Shi Feiyang.

"Shi Feiyang...you wait..." He Qianshan secretly vowed in his heart, "If I, He Qianshan, am not dead, I will definitely make you taste the bitterness of being disgraced!" He curled up on the ground like a wounded beast, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

Shi Feiyang raised his hand, and a warm breeze swept over He Qianshan.

Instantly, the ice sculpture melted, and He Qianshan was saved. However, he couldn't speak.

Emerging from the cave, the setting sun cast its last rays upon the ancient temple on Mount Song, adding a touch of warmth to this bloody day. Li Muxue silently followed behind Shi Feiyang, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She was grateful to Shi Feiyang for sparing He Qianshan, but also felt ashamed and heartbroken by her senior brother's actions.

Li Muxue said softly, "Chief Shi..." her voice still a little hoarse, "Thank you for showing mercy today." Shi Feiyang stopped and turned to look at her. The setting sun outlined his handsome features, his smooth skin glowing softly in the afterglow. "It was nothing," he said calmly, "I just hope He Qianshan can take this opportunity to reflect on his actions."

Li Muxue nodded and looked up into Shi Feiyang's eyes.

What kind of eyes were those? Deep as a cold pool, yet carrying a hint of tenderness that was hard to detect. She recalled the bits and pieces of the past few days investigating the case with Shi Feiyang; his wisdom, his martial arts skills, his sense of responsibility—all of these deeply attracted her.

"Chief Shi," Li Muxue said, mustering her courage, "I would like to continue following you in the investigation. Is that alright?"

Shi Feiyang was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "It would be wonderful if Miss Li were willing to help." So, Li Muxue stayed by Shi Feiyang's side without leaving his side, investigating the scene together, analyzing clues together, and facing danger together.

As she watched Shi Feiyang search for the truth from the smallest clues and saw him step forward in times of crisis, her affection for him grew even stronger.

One day, while searching for information in the Shaolin Temple's scripture pavilion, Li Muxue was accidentally hit by an ancient book falling from a bookshelf. Shi Feiyang reacted quickly, pulling her into his arms. At that moment, Li Muxue could clearly feel the warmth emanating from Shi Feiyang's body and his steady, powerful heartbeat. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly pulled away, lowering her head, unable to look at him.

Shi Feiyang seemed oblivious to her odd behavior, and simply picked up the ancient book to examine it carefully.

“Look,” he said excitedly, pointing to a passage in the book, “this records the origin of the Turkic wolf-head totem, which might help us solve the case.” Li Muxue composed herself and leaned closer to examine it. Their shoulders brushed against each other, and Li Muxue could smell the faint, cool scent emanating from Shi Feiyang, causing a sudden unease to rise in her heart. She secretly glanced at Shi Feiyang's focused profile; his brows were slightly furrowed, his eyes sharp, his concentration focused solely on the ancient book in his hands and the case in his mind.

With the joint efforts of Shi Feiyang and Li Muxue, the case gradually began to take shape. They discovered that the Heavenly Wolf Guard had not only planted spies in various sects, but also established a secret outpost in an abandoned ancient castle outside Luoyang.

Looking at the map in his hand, Shi Feiyang said in a deep voice, "It seems we need to go and explore that castle."

Li Muxue said without hesitation, "I'll go with you."

Late at night, the two sneaked into an abandoned castle.

The night was cool as water, and the cold moon hid behind the clouds.

The ruins of the abandoned castle lay like a giant beast in the twilight, exuding a musty smell of old, decaying wood and dust.

Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure flashing like a ghost across the half-collapsed screen wall. His fair skin glowed with a faint blue light as he circulated his inner energy, making the surrounding spiderwebs appear as if woven from ice crystals. Li Muxue, in a pink dress, moved almost silently in the night wind. Her long sword pointed diagonally at the ground, the moonlight reflecting off its tip occasionally catching a glint of cold light in the depths of her eyes.

Shi Feiyang suddenly stopped and said with concern, "Watch your step." Liuli stared at the crack in the bluestone slab on the ground and analyzed, "There are signs that the dust here has been stirred up recently."

He crouched down, his fingertips tracing a very faint boot print, and determined, "It's the distinctive crimped pattern of Turkic boots." Li Muxue leaned closer to examine it, her hair brushing against Shi Feiyang's shoulder unintentionally. Her voice was so soft it could melt water: "Brother Shi is always so meticulous." As she spoke, her eyelashes trembled slightly, but a complex and unreadable expression flashed quickly in her eyes. She then said with a tremor, "But this castle is eerie, it seems..."

“It’s like a wolf’s den.” Shi Feiyang interrupted her, his tone suddenly turning cold. The soft clatter of chains dragging on the ground came from the end of the corridor ahead. He suddenly turned around, his Xuan Shuang Blade unsheathed half an inch, the blade drawing a cold star in the darkness. He said warmly, “Mu Xue, please step back.”

Passing around the dilapidated screen, four men dressed in short-sleeved shirts were seen working together to push a black camphor wood chest. The lid of the chest was inlaid with a wolf head totem with silver nails, which gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster under Shi Feiyang's shimmering light.

Li Muxue let out a soft cry, instinctively raising her longsword to protect her chest, while subtly making a hand gesture from her sleeve.

Shi Feiyang roared, "Attack!" He used the mysterious lightness skill "Hidden Body and Name" and his figure was like an arrow leaving the bow. He unleashed the "Mountain Splitting" technique of the Hundred Victories Saber Technique. Before the palm wind even arrived, the two people in front of him were already shaken so badly that their blood and qi surged and they could not hold the slingshot in their hands.

Li Muxue simultaneously darted out, her longsword unleashing seven sword flowers—the "Seven Stars Chasing the Moon" technique from the Pangu Sword Sect. However, just as the sword's momentum was about to reach the third person, the tip of the sword strangely shifted, slicing through the copper lock on the wooden box.

Li Muxue sheathed her sword and stood there, saying with a touch of coquettishness, "Thank you for your help, elder brother." Her tone became increasingly affectionate, from "Chief Shi" to "Brother Shi," and then back to "elder brother." Along the way, her way of addressing Shi Feiyang became more and more intimate.

However, Shi Feiyang frowned slightly: her move just now could have defeated the enemy, but she deliberately avoided the vital points.

Before he could think further, the wooden box creaked open. Inside were not weapons, but neatly stacked parchment scrolls, with the top scroll embroidered with a wolf's head emblem in gold thread.

As the secret letter was unfolded, Shi Feiyang's smooth skin suddenly trembled violently.

The letter, written in Turkic script, read: "Take advantage of the internal strife in the Central Plains, open the secret passage to Tongguan, and when An Lushan's rebel army arrives, burn Chang'an in response." A crescent moon was drawn at the end, which was the highest-level operational order of the Tianlang Guard.

Shi Feiyang tucked the secret letter into his pocket and said angrily, "As expected, they have the ambition of wolves!"

Suddenly, he felt a strong gust of wind coming from behind. Without thinking, he flicked his palms and activated the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill, dislocating the attacker's wrist with a backhand. The man screamed and knelt on the ground, his mask slipping off, revealing himself to be the Tianlang Guard branch leader who had been captured at Shaolin Temple that day.

(End of this chapter)