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

Chapter 462. Kunlun Jade Shatters to Protect Tang Territory; The Setting Sun Over the Long River Conceals Heroic Spirit
The setting sun shone like molten gold. Outside Luoyang, the official road was lined with refugees fleeing famine. Their tattered clothes and withered faces, along with the cries of infants and the coughs of the elderly, wove together a shocking picture of a chaotic world.

Shi Feiyang and Ling Shuangyue rode side by side, their black outfits and moon-white dresses covered in thick dust. Only Shi Feiyang's occasionally bright eyes, though weary, revealed a glimmer of unquenchable fire.

“Husband, look at that…” Ling Shuangyue said softly, pointing to a collapsed earth god temple by the roadside. In front of the temple lay several corpses of starving refugees, which had been gnawed beyond recognition by wild dogs.

In an instant, her face showed sadness, and her eyes reddened. She never expected that the Central Plains would be like this.

Shi Feiyang reined in his horse and dismounted. He walked to the side of an old woman who was still breathing, took out a water pouch from his pocket, and carefully fed her a few sips of water. The old woman opened her cloudy eyes with difficulty, looked at Shi Feiyang, her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Then, her head lolled to the side, and she was lifeless. Shi Feiyang slowly rose, gazing at the endless flames of war, and couldn't help but softly recite: "The country is broken, but the mountains and rivers remain; spring comes to the city, but the grass and trees grow deep. Moved by the times, flowers shed tears; grieving at parting, birds are startled..." His voice was low, filled with endless grief and indignation.

Ling Shuangyue raised her sleeve to wipe away the tears on her face, walked to his side, gently took his hand, and offered a suggestion: "Husband, please accept my condolences. Now that we have arrived in the Central Plains, we must infiltrate Bianliang as soon as possible to stop that traitor Zhu Wen's conspiracy."

Shi Feiyang nodded, a resolute glint in his glassy eyes, and said, "That's right. Zhu Wen murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, and the Heavenly Wolf Guard is eager to act. The fate of the Tang Dynasty cannot end here!"

He took out a fragment of the Kunlun Mirror from his robes, the fragment shimmering with an eerie light in the setting sun. He said with grief and indignation, "This fragment of the Kunlun Mirror has given us a warning. Zhu Wen and the Heavenly Wolf Guard are plotting to use the Liang army to sacrifice blood for the Eye of the Abyss. Their intentions are despicable!"

Ling Shuangyue was at a loss for words to comfort her husband, and remained silent. The two rode to the outskirts of Bianliang City, only to find the city gates tightly closed, heavily guarded, and subject to rigorous checks. Shi Feiyang, having anticipated this, pulled Ling Shuangyue into a dense forest and retrieved disguise tools he had prepared beforehand.

“My lady, please wait here. I will go into the city to gather information and find a place to stay, then I will come to fetch you.” Shi Feiyang said, taking out a rough human skin mask and sticking it on his face. Instantly, he transformed into a burly man with a slightly flat nose and a scar on the corner of his mouth—the alias he had already devised—Guo Bin. Ling Shuangyue looked at his transformation and couldn't help but laugh, “Husband, your disguise skills are truly divine! Even your eyes have become a bit more rugged.” Her mood seemed to have improved, and her eyes were filled with anticipation, hoping that her husband could quell Zhu Wen's rebellion soon.

Shi Feiyang grinned, revealing two deliberately crooked teeth, and imitated a hoarse voice, teasingly saying, "How about it? Don't you look like a fugitive who's traveled all over the country?" He then took out a Xuan Shuang Blade wrapped in a dirty cloth from his bundle, his playful smile fading as he calmly said, "This time when I enter the city, I will conceal my Mingyu Gong and Tiancan Gong, and instead use Kunlun Lieyan Gong, employing the Changhe Luori Sword Technique. Although this sword technique only has two moves, it contains the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and I expect it will be more than enough to deal with some petty thieves."

Ling Shuangyue gave Shi Feiyang a thumbs-up and exclaimed, "My husband is so talented! I'm relieved. Go now!"

As she parted, she spoke only kind words, but her heart was filled with worry for her husband.

Shi Feiyang, skilled and daring, laughed heartily and used his "Deed Done and Gone" skill to fly out of the dense forest like a wisp of smoke. He mingled with a caravan heading into the city and successfully entered Bianliang.

The city appeared even more desolate; though high walls provided some cover, they could not conceal the pervasive stench of decay and bloodshed in the air. Shi Feiyang lowered the brim of his hat and moved through the streets and alleys, secretly observing the city's defenses and the people's conditions.

He discovered that Liang King Zhu Quanzhong (who was given the name Zhu Quanzhong after Zhu Wen betrayed Huang Chao and surrendered to the Tang court) was posting notices everywhere to consolidate his rule, offering rewards for the capture of so-called "remnants of the Tang dynasty." The people in the city were all in danger and dared not speak out.

Arriving at a training ground, they saw a large crowd and heard the deafening sound of gongs and drums. Shi Feiyang went closer to inquire and learned that Zhu Quanzhong was recruiting personal guards. Those who passed the selection would not only receive generous salaries but also gain access to the center of power.

Shi Feiyang's heart stirred, and he thought to himself, "This is an excellent opportunity! If I can become Zhu Quanzhong's personal guard, I can take the opportunity to investigate his conspiracy with the Tianlang Guard, and even..." So, he squeezed into the crowd and saw a three-zhang-high blue stone target standing in the center of the training ground. More than twenty burly men were taking turns to participate, some lifting weights, some chopping wood, and some sparring with the guards, showing the demeanor of warriors.

On the high platform of the drill ground sat several officials dressed in fine robes. The one in the center, with a sinister expression, was Zhu Yougong, Zhu Quanzhong's confidant and the commander of the Left Dragon Martial Army. "Next!" the drill ground supervisor shouted loudly.

A fat man with a protruding belly walked forward, holding a heavy machete, and grinned as he chopped at the wooden stake next to him.

With a "crack," the wooden stake snapped, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The man looked around smugly, his gaze finally settling on Shi Feiyang, who was squeezed into the crowd.

"Hey! You hiding in the back!" The fat man pointed at Shi Feiyang and sneered, "Look at you, all skin and bones, you want to be a prince's bodyguard? Don't embarrass yourself!" Shi Feiyang chuckled, deliberately showing some cowardice, and said in a trembling voice, "Sir, you're joking. I just came to join in the fun and, by the way... see if I can get a meal."

"Trying to get a free meal?" The fat man laughed wildly, then mocked, "You? I don't even think you're worthy of carrying my shoes! How about this, if you can withstand one of my cuts, I'll treat you to a good meal!"

Shi Feiyang sneered inwardly, but on the surface he pretended to hesitate and stammered, "This... I don't have much skill, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, sir."

"Enough with the nonsense!" the fat man cursed impatiently, swinging his knife again. The blade was sharp and carried a strong smell of alcohol, clearly indicating that he was a bully who relied on his strength. Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded. Just as the blade was about to reach his neck, he suddenly ducked and used the first move of the "Long River Sunset Sword Technique"—"Lone Smoke in the Desert."

With a flick of his wrist, he casually flicked the Frost Blade (still wrapped in a dirty cloth) upwards, placing it precisely on the back of the fat man's blade.

This move, though seemingly simple, embodies the spirit of "a lone plume of smoke rising straight in the vast desert." With a flick of the wrist, a gentle yet resilient force emanates from the Xuan Shuang Blade, deflecting the fat man's machete to the side.

The obese man felt a numbness in his arm, and his strength immediately went astray, causing him to stagger forward a few steps involuntarily.

"Good lad! You've got some skills!" The training ground manager's eyes lit up, and he shouted, "Again!" The fat man, enraged, roared and swung his sword horizontally, intending to cut Shi Feiyang in half. Shi Feiyang's figure swayed, and he used the second move of the "Long River Sunset Sword Technique"—"Long River Sunset".

His figure slowly sank like the setting sun, the Frost Blade in his hand drawing a perfect arc, seemingly slow, yet precisely blocking all the fat man's attack routes. "Clang!" Two crisp sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

The fat man's knife struck the ground in front of Shi Feiyang, while Shi Feiyang's Xuan Shuang Blade lightly touched his wrist.

A scorching heat emanated from the tip of the blade, the gentle force of the Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique. The fat man felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and the machete fell to the ground with a clatter. A clear red dot had been burned on his wrist.

"You flatter me," Shi Feiyang said modestly, sheathing his sword and standing still. He then cupped his hands in greeting to the training ground manager, still maintaining his rough and unrefined demeanor.

The training ground erupted in cheers. No one had expected that this unassuming man could so easily defeat the arrogant, obese man.

At this moment, another fat man, Wang Nantian, stepped forward. He wielded a hundred-pound stone lock with impressive force, sweat pouring down his large, bronze-bell-shaped head. This Wang Nantian was a distant nephew of Wang Yanzhang, a valiant general under Zhu Wen. Relying on his family background, he rampaged through the training ground for recruiting personal guards, showing off his brute strength before laughing wildly, "Guo Bin, dare you come up here to die?"

"Uncle Wang, you're strong!" Shi Feiyang deliberately squeezed to the front row, his blue cloth robe still covered with bits of grass he had picked up while climbing over the wall the night before. He grinned and said, "I just want to beg for food, I don't want to die."

Wang Nantian glanced at him sideways, put down the stone lock, grabbed the machete on the ground, slammed it down with a thud, and cursed, "Trying to get by? There are no cowards under the Liang King's command!" He suddenly reached out and grabbed Shi Feiyang by the back of his collar, lifting him up like a chick, and mocked, "With your delicate skin and tender flesh, you're probably some young master looking for fun, aren't you?" Amid the surrounding laughter, Shi Feiyang deliberately feigned a cowardly appearance, but as he was put down, his fingertips quickly brushed across Wang Nantian's pulse point, causing Wang Nantian's arm to ache and go numb.

"Damn it, this is really weird!" Wang Nantian was furious and embarrassed. He swung his machete, which reeked of alcohol, and the wind from the blade actually cut off several strands of hair from Shi Feiyang's forehead. Amid the gasps of the onlookers, Shi Feiyang suddenly ducked like a cat, his Xuan Shuang Blade wrapped in a dirty cloth and slashing diagonally. He then used the first move of the "Long River Sunset Sword Technique," "Desert Lone Smoke." The tip of the blade rested on the crescent moon on the back of the blade where the cloth had torn.

With a sharp clang, dust billowed across the arena. Wang Nantian felt as if his arm had been struck by lightning, and his machete nearly slipped from his grasp. He staggered five steps before regaining his balance. Blood trickled from his tiger's mouth, and he cried out in a mixture of shock and anger, "You little brat! Come on!" His blade thrusts became even fiercer, unleashing the deadly move, "Black Tiger Pulls Out the Heart."

Shi Feiyang chuckled, his body spinning swiftly as he unleashed the second move, "Sunset Over the Long River." His wrist moved in a circle, the blade flashing like molten gold at sunset, directing the blade's momentum towards the stone pillar on the left. "Crack!" A foot-long, deep gash was cleaved into the stone pillar.

Amidst the flying pebbles, Shi Feiyang had already circled behind Wang Nantian, gently tapping him on the back with the back of his blade. "Thank you for your kind gesture!" Shi Feiyang said, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture, deliberately letting the soiled cloth slip down a little, the sunlight reflected off the Xuan Shuang Blade making Wang Nantian unable to open his eyes.

Wang Nantian was filled with shame and anger, but dared not step forward again. He clutched his chest and retreated to the side, his bushy beard trembling with rage. "Well done, Guo Bin!" At this moment, someone cheered from the northwest corner of the training ground, and a dark-skinned, thin man holding a nine-section iron whip stepped out from the crowd.

This man was Hou Qi, known in the martial arts world as "White Stripe in the Whip," who had once infiltrated a bandit's den and was renowned for his ruthless whip techniques. He circled around Shi Feiyang, then suddenly his iron whip shot out like a serpent from its hole, aiming straight for his face, and he said disdainfully, "You little bastard, taste your grandpa Hou's 'Poisonous Dragon Emerges from its Cave'!"

Shi Feiyang unfolded his robe sleeves like a folding fan, and actually used the cuffs to wrap the whip tip, mocking, "Master Hou's whip technique is more like a woman embroidering." He flipped his wrist, and the Kunlun Blazing Flame Skill was quietly activated. Although the Xuan Shuang Blade wrapped in dirty cloth was not drawn, it made the surrounding air suddenly heat up.

Hou Qi felt the tip of the whip burning hot, as if he were holding a branding iron. He hurriedly released the whip and retreated, only to see Shi Feiyang following closely behind. The Xuan Shuang Blade was drawn half an inch from its sheath with a "whoosh," and the blade's wind cut his cheek painfully. Shi Feiyang's blade light transformed into a half-sunset, seemingly slow but sealing off all escape routes. In desperation, Hou Qi used the "Lazy Donkey Roll," but the blade's wind swept across his ankle, causing him to scream and roll three zhang away, leaving charred finger marks on the iron whip.

"Amitabha, well said! Well said! The benefactor has gone too far." Before the words were finished, a monk holding a bronze staff stepped into the arena. This monk's Dharma name was "Golden Bowl". He was originally a Shaolin outcast who had mastered a body-strengthening martial art. At this moment, his bare chest was tattooed with a ferocious image of the Immovable King.

He slammed his staff on the ground, and the bluestone slab cracked with spiderweb-like patterns. He said sinisterly, "If you can withstand three blows from this humble monk, then you win."

Shi Feiyang rolled his eyes and deliberately scratched his head, saying, "Master, this staff must weigh a hundred or eighty pounds, right? I have such thin arms and legs..." Before he could finish speaking, the Golden Bowl Monk had already swung his staff down, the wind howling like thunder.

Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded. When the staff reached his head, he suddenly lowered his body and thrust the Xuan Shuang Blade diagonally with the momentum of "lone smoke in the desert," striking the knot of the staff precisely.

"Clang!" The Golden Bowl Monk felt a surge of gentle force, and his staff rose a foot or so upwards. "You little bastard, you cheated!" the monk roared, no longer chanting "Amitabha." He swung his staff like a silver wheel, unleashing the "Mad Demon Staff Technique," intending to send the stone flying and kill him in an instant.

Shi Feiyang's figure was elusive, like a butterfly flitting among flowers. His Xuan Shuang Blade would sometimes appear straight like a wisp of smoke, and sometimes draw a circle like the setting sun. Every collision made the Golden Bowl Monk's arm go numb.

Suddenly, he flicked his wrist, the tip of his blade lightly touching the monk's "Jianjing" acupoint. The monk let out a muffled groan, his staff flying out of his hand and smashing into the ground, creating a deep crater. "Master, you are too kind," Shi Feiyang said, deliberately patting the monk's buttocks with the back of his blade as he sheathed his sword, causing the onlookers to burst into laughter. The monk was both ashamed and angry, but felt an unbearable tingling sensation where he had been touched. Knowing he had encountered a master, he dared not utter another sound, accepting his bad luck.

"Well done, Guo Bin! I, Li, will have a go at you!" As he spoke, a man in black robes stepped into the arena, holding a pair of judge's pens. He was none other than Li San, the notorious assassin "Death-Taking Judge" from Bianliang City.

This man was ruthless; he had once assassinated three wealthy families in a single night. Now, his judge's pen was coated with a deep, bluish-green poison. "Master Li, is this weapon for the King of Hell to collect souls?" Shi Feiyang chuckled, the Xuan Shuang Blade spinning between his fingers.

Without further ado, Li San's judge's pen transformed into two cold stars, aiming directly at Shi Feiyang's two vital acupoints, "Renzhong" and "Tanzhong." Shi Feiyang dodged to the side; the blade flashed like lightning, and the wind from the blade made Li San's clothes flutter loudly.

"You're courting death!" Li San, feeling humiliated by his failed attempt, roared and suddenly fired a poisoned needle from the Judge's Pen. Shi Feiyang was prepared, unleashing his Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique to its fullest extent, causing the surrounding air to glow red. The poisoned needle was melted into molten iron by the intense heat before it even got close. In shock, Li San used the Judge's Pen to execute a "Cross Throat Lock," but Shi Feiyang flicked his wrist, and the Frost Blade drew a perfect arc, landing precisely at the point where the two pens crossed.

"Crack!" The two judge's pens were bent and deformed by the shock. Li San's tiger's mouth was split open, and blood dripped onto the bluestone slab. He suddenly screamed and retreated—his palms had been burned by the blade wind, and puffs of white smoke were coming out.

Zhu Yougong nodded slightly on the high platform and gave a wink to the steward beside him.

The steward understood and stepped forward, deliberately asking, "Young man, you've got some skill. What's your name? Have you ever learned martial arts?"

"My name is Guo Bin," Shi Feiyang imitated the tone of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and outlaws), then added with feigned sophistication, "I learned a couple of moves with a butcher's knife from my late father, please excuse my poor skills." He secretly activated his Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique, a faint warmth rising from his palm, subtly melting the edges of a pebble beneath his feet. The steward sized up Shi Feiyang, noticing that although his clothes were tattered, his eyes were bright, his demeanor composed, and his previous two moves were exquisitely skillful, far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary butcher. He pondered for a moment, then drew his sword from his waist—a heavy, black iron blade—and tossed it to Shi Feiyang, saying, "Try this sword. If you can withstand three moves from me, I'll take you as my personal guard."

Shi Feiyang caught the Xuan Tie sword and felt that it was extremely heavy, weighing at least seventy or eighty pounds.

He laughed and unleashed the first move of the "Long River Sunset Sword Technique," "Lone Smoke in the Desert," the blade flashing like a lone wisp of smoke, aimed straight at the chief steward's face.

The steward was taken aback, not expecting the heavy black iron sword to be so agile in his hands, and quickly swung his sword to parry.

Unexpectedly, Shi Feiyang twisted his wrist, and the sword technique suddenly changed, transforming into the second move, "Sunset Over the Long River." The sword light was like a crescent moon, carrying a majestic aura that blocked all of the steward's escape routes.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

Three loud bangs rang out in succession as Shi Feiyang's black iron sword clashed three times with the steward's sword, each collision emitting dazzling sparks.

The steward felt his arm go numb and his hand throbbed with pain, but Shi Feiyang remained unfazed, with even a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Excellent! Excellent skill!" the steward exclaimed loudly, then said in a deep voice, "From this day forward, you will be the Prince of Liang's personal guard! Follow me!"

Shi Feiyang was secretly delighted, but remained outwardly calm as he followed the steward toward the high platform. As he passed the edge of the training ground, he inadvertently caught sight of several men in black standing in a corner, one of whom wore a wolf-head token at his waist—the insignia of the Heavenly Wolf Guard!

"Good!" Cheers rang out from the high platform of the training ground, coming from Pang Shigu, Zhu Wen's trusted general.

He stroked his bushy beard and said loudly, "Guo Bin, are you willing to serve this commander?" Shi Feiyang turned over and bowed, deliberately revealing half of the wolf-head token at his waist, and said, "It would be my honor to serve the commander."

Suddenly, someone in the crowd whispered, "Look into his eyes!"

When Shi Feiyang looked up, his glassy eyes shimmered in the sunlight. Pang Shigu's heart stirred; he felt that although this young man was ragged, he possessed an untamed spirit, much like himself in his younger days. So, Pang Shigu deliberately asked, "What's the name of your swordsmanship?" Shi Feiyang scratched his head and laughed, "This is just a humble country bumpkin's style. I've just made up a name for it, 'Long River Sunset.' I hope you'll forgive my blunder, General."

As he spoke, the Xuan Shuang Blade suddenly emitted a slight hum, and the blood groove on the blade faintly glowed red—a sign that the Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique and the Sunflower Saintess had given him the supreme bloodline resonated.

Pang Shigu laughed heartily, threw down the command arrow, and said, "What a fine 'Sunset over the Long River'! From this day forward, you will be a captain of my personal guard!"

Amidst thunderous applause in the drill ground, as Shi Feiyang picked up the command token, a glimpse out of the corner of his eye caught sight of a man in black standing in the shadows of the northwest corner, the wolf-head token at his waist flashing in the sunlight. So, Shi Feiyang deliberately winked at Pang Shigu and said, "Thank you, Commander! I'll go buy some wine to treat you right away!"

As the sun set, Shi Feiyang walked through the streets of Bianliang, touching his newly acquired captain's badge. The Xuan Shuang Blade trembled slightly in his sleeve. He looked up at the eaves of the Liang Prince's Mansion, a sly glint in his glassy eyes—he had truly waded into the murky waters of Bianliang.

Under the guise of buying wine to entertain guests, Shi Feiyang weaved through streets and alleys, then suddenly appeared, displaying the mysterious "Concealing One's Identity and Name" lightness skill. He arrived at the "Sweetness" Inn, scaled the wall, leaped from the backyard, and entered through a window to meet his beloved wife, Ling Shuangyue. Ling Shuangyue anxiously asked, "Husband, how is the situation?"

Shi Feiyang said in a low voice, "Everything is as you wish! Madam, you should disguise yourself well. When you have nothing to do, stay in the attic and practice your martial arts. This book, 'Nine Yin Manual,' records many of the world's most powerful martial arts. As long as you practice a portion of its divine skills, you will be invincible! But you must keep it safe, as long as you are here, the book will be safe too!"

Ling Shuangyue nodded affectionately, then said resolutely, "Husband, rest assured! Even though you are not here, this book is my husband, accompanying me day and night." After saying that, she took the "Nine Yin Manual" and pressed it to her chest.

Shi Feiyang nodded and drifted away. He bought a few jars of fine wine on the street and returned to Pang Shigu's military camp, where he was assigned to the Zuo Longwu Army. From then on, he kept a low profile, but secretly observed everything in the army.

He discovered that Zuo Longwu's army was a mixed bag, containing both loyal and brave soldiers and many sycophantic bullies who oppressed the people. Among them, the head constable Zhang San was the most arrogant. Zhang San, relying on his status as a distant relative of Zhu Yougong, ran rampant in the army, embezzling soldiers' pay, abducting women, and committing all sorts of evil deeds. Shi Feiyang saw this and kept it in mind, deciding to find an opportunity to teach him a lesson and rid the people of this scourge.

One day, Zhang San forcibly snatched a flower basket from a girl selling flowers outside the military camp. When the girl resisted, Zhang San kicked her to the ground.

Shi Feiyang happened to be passing by and was furious when he saw this, but he suppressed his anger and stepped forward, deliberately putting on a fawning expression, and said, "Chief Zhang, why bother arguing with a little girl? Calm down, calm down."

Upon seeing that it was the newcomer Guo Bin, Zhang San snorted disdainfully and cursed, "Get lost! Mind your own business!"

Shi Feiyang chuckled and flattered him with a calculating air, "Chief Zhang, I'm not trying to meddle, but seeing your imposing presence, why get angry over such a small matter? How about I invite you for a couple of drinks as an apology?"

Zhang San's eyes darted around. He thought to himself that although Guo Bin was ugly, he'd heard Guo Bin was skilled in martial arts. He might as well use this opportunity to win him over; then he'd have another henchman. So he waved his hand and grinned slyly, "You're smart, kid! Come on, let's go for a drink!"

The two arrived at a small tavern, where Shi Feiyang ordered a few side dishes and a pot of strong liquor.

During the meal, Shi Feiyang deliberately flattered Zhang San, making him feel like he was floating on air.

Zhang San, completely drunk, began boasting about his "heroic deeds," even inadvertently revealing that he had contact with a secret envoy of the Heavenly Wolf Guard and had received considerable benefits from him. Shi Feiyang remained unmoved and continued to force-feed him alcohol. Once Zhang San was completely unconscious, Shi Feiyang dragged him to a secluded spot outside the military camp, tied him to a tree with a rope, and stuffed a rag into his mouth.

Then, he took out a pen and ink and wrote eight large characters on Zhang San's back: "Heavenly Wolf's lackey, everyone has the right to kill him!"

The next day, Zhang San was discovered, and the words on his back attracted a large number of soldiers to watch.

When Zhu Yougong learned of this, he was both shocked and furious. Although he knew that Zhang San had dealings with the Tianlang Guard, he believed that if this matter were to spread, it would be extremely detrimental to him.

Therefore, he ordered Zhang San to be flogged one hundred times and expelled from the military camp.

A few months later, Shi Feiyang gradually gained a foothold in Zuo Longwu's army. With his "Long River Sunset Sword Technique" and "Kunlun Blazing Flame Skill", as well as his wit and mischievousness, he made many outstanding contributions and soon won the appreciation of Zhu Yougong and Pang Shigu. He was promoted to junior officer of the personal guard.

On this day, Shi Feiyang once again encountered the secret envoy of the Tianlang Guard having a private conversation with Zhu Quanzhong.

He secretly lurked and overheard their conversation, learning that Zhu Quanzhong, in order to consolidate his rule, had actually agreed to cooperate with the Tianlang Guard and was preparing to launch a major war in the near future, using the blood of the Liang army to sacrifice to the Eye of the Abyss in exchange for the support of the Tianlang Guard's evil power.

As night deepened, the city of Bianliang was sparsely lit, except for Zhu Quanzhong's Prince's Mansion, which remained brightly lit and filled with singing and dancing. Shi Feiyang stood on the watchtower of the military camp, gazing in the direction of the Prince's Mansion, his glassy eyes gleaming with unwavering determination.

In the eighth month of the first year of Tianyou, at the third watch of the night.

Deep within the Luoyang Palace, the incense burner in the Jiaolan Hall emitted ambergris, yet it could not conceal the somber atmosphere that permeated the hall.

Shi Feiyang was dressed in the armor of the Left Dragon Martial Army's personal guards. The armor plates gleamed coldly under the palace lanterns in the corridor. His fingers, which were pressed against the Xuan Shuang Blade, trembled slightly. It was not fear, but the flames of anger surging in his Liuli bloodline.

Inside the palace, Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, Li Ye, pushed aside his wine cup. His withered fingers traced the pages of a scroll titled "Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era" on the table. A half-fallen paulownia leaf slipped from the pages, its edges riddled with wormholes. "Empress," he said hoarsely, looking at Empress He, whose phoenix crown was slightly askew, "yesterday I heard the news that the armored troops of the Liang Prince's mansion have completely surrounded the imperial city. You said... Zhu Quanzhong, he..."

Empress He put down the silver spoon, the gold-inlaid jade bracelet on her jade wrist making a soft clinking sound, and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, do not worry, with the Imperial Guards protecting us, how dare a mere Prince Liang..." Before she could finish speaking, the sound of armor plates rubbing together suddenly came from outside the hall, followed by the heavy footsteps of boots on the blue bricks, like a pack of hungry wolves approaching a sheepfold.

Shi Feiyang suddenly looked up and saw a group of black-armored figures rushing in from outside the moon gate. The three leading figures were Zhu Yougong, the Left Dragon Martial Commander; Shi Shucong, the Right Dragon Martial Commander; and Jiang Xuanhui, the Imperial Guard Commander. These three were all trusted henchmen of Prince Liang, Zhu Wen, but at this moment their faces were filled with an almost ferocious excitement.

Emperor Zhaozong stood up, trembling all over, and asked in a trembling voice, "What are you going to do?" His bright yellow dragon robe trailed on the ground, making him look somewhat comical.

Zhu Yougong's hand, gripping the hilt of his sword, bulged with veins. A cold smile spread across his lips as he said viciously, "By order of the Prince of Liang, I have come to escort His Majesty on his journey!" Before he finished speaking, the armored soldiers behind him surged in like a tide. The beast-faced breastplates on their bright armor flickered in the candlelight, casting an eerie atmosphere over the hall.

Emperor Zhaozong, being a descendant of the Heavenly Khan, suddenly displayed a fierce temper. He pushed aside the armored soldiers rushing towards him and ran around the dragon-carved golden pillar in the hall, his jade belt fluttering behind him like a white ribbon. He roared, "Guards! Protect the Emperor! Quickly, guards!"

His shouts echoed in the empty hall, only eliciting more ferocious laughter from the armored soldiers. Shi Feiyang stood in the shadow of a pillar, his fingernails digging deeply into his palms, the hilt of the Xuan Shuang Blade damp with sweat. He watched Emperor Zhaozong flee like a trapped beast, and suddenly Du Fu's words, "The glorious achievements of Emperor Taizong, so magnificent," echoed in his ears. Now, however, he had fallen to such a state, and a lump formed in his throat, almost causing him to spit out blood.

"Grab him!" Shi Shucong roared, thrusting his long spear straight at Emperor Zhaozong's back.

Emperor Zhaozong cried out and dodged, but another armored soldier grabbed the hem of his dragon robe and threw him heavily to the ground.

He struggled to lift his head, his hair disheveled, his eyes bloodshot, and he cursed angrily, "Zhu Quanzhong! You traitorous eunuch! I have treated you well, why did you murder the emperor and usurp the throne!" Jiang Xuanhui strode forward, his boot crushing the jade hairpin that Emperor Zhaozong had dropped. He squatted down, wiping the blood groove on his sword with his sleeve, and said in a sinister tone, "Your Majesty, the times are what they are, why say more?"

Before he could finish speaking, two armored soldiers had already pinned Emperor Zhaozong down by the shoulders, their long blades flashing coldly in the candlelight. Empress He screamed and lunged forward, but was knocked unconscious by the hilt of a soldier's sword. Her phoenix crown rolled off, revealing a silver hairpin in her hair, the token of love that Emperor Zhaozong had bought for her among the common people years ago.

Shi Feiyang abruptly closed his eyes, but couldn't block out the muffled thuds that reached his ears.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Emperor Zhaozong lying in a pool of blood. The twelve imperial symbols on his dragon robe were soaked in blood, like blooming red plum blossoms.

Consort Li Jianrong threw herself onto the emperor, three short knives stuck in her back, her eyes still wide with anger.

The stench of blood filled the hall, causing even the spiderwebs on the beams to tremble slightly.

Jiang Xuanhui used the tip of his sword to lift Emperor Zhaozong's jade belt, then suddenly turned to look at Shi Feiyang in the corner. His gaze was as cold and sinister as a venomous snake. He said in a chilling tone, "Guo Bin, what are you still standing there for? Come with me to the Liang Prince's Mansion to report back."

Shi Feiyang bowed in agreement, but his gaze was fixed on the goldfish pouch at Zhu Yougong's waist, and then swept over the bloodstains on the soles of Shi Shucong's boots—he had etched the images of these three people into his heart, as if he had carved a blood oath on the glass bone with the Xuanshuang Blade: If this grudge is not avenged, I swear I will not be a human being!
At the Yellow River ferry crossing at Baima Post Station in Huazhou, the turbid waves surged. Shi Feiyang mingled among Zhu Quanzhong's personal guards, his Xuan Shuang Blade wrapped in a dirty cloth and slung across his waist, his blue robe splattered with mud, making him look exactly like a cart driver.

In the willow grove on the opposite bank, more than thirty scholars dressed in court robes had their hands tied behind their backs. They were former officials of the Tang Dynasty, led by Pei Shu.

"Guo Bin," the guard commander beside him wiped his sweat and said in a trembling voice, "See those? Those are the 'pure stream' that Lord Li Zhen mentioned. They'll all be fish food in a bit." Shi Feiyang looked in the direction he was pointing and saw Pei Shu with his hair and beard standing on end, cursing loudly, "Zhu Wen, you scoundrel! We were born to serve Tang, and we will die as ghosts of Tang. How dare you, a traitor, defile us!"

Riding on his tall horse, Li Zhen chuckled coldly upon hearing this, pointing his whip at the Yellow River: "Pei Shu, you always pride yourselves on being pure and upright. Today, I will let you be buried in these turbid waves. It will be just what you deserve!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the armored soldiers shoved the scholars to the riverbank.

Shi Feiyang's fingers tightened suddenly as he gripped the Xuan Shuang Blade, causing the blade beneath the stained cloth to vibrate slightly from the force of his internal energy.

"Attack!" Zhu Quanzhong waved his banner, and in the flash of cold light, the scholars fell to the ground one after another. Shi Feiyang watched as Li Zhen rode past a corpse, bent down and cut off the jade belt buckle of the dead man, stuffing it into his pocket while muttering, "What a load of rubbish, the jade belt buckle is quite valuable."

He suppressed his anger, deliberately slipped and fell face-first into the mud, rolling over to a corpse. His fingertips swiftly pulled out half a charred manuscript from the dead man's sleeve, on which the five characters "The country is broken, but the mountains and rivers remain" were still faintly discernible.

The Yellow River, stained with blood, surged forward. Li Zhen reined in his horse and laughed, "Your Highness, look at this river, is it still clear?"

From afar came Zhu Quanzhong's laughter: "What a turbid current! Minister Li's plan is brilliant!" Shi Feiyang lay in the mud, his glassy eyes reflecting the blood-red river. He had already branded Li Zhen's face in his heart—this kind of treacherous villain, he would make him pay for his blood debt one day.

The winter night in Bianliang was exceptionally cold and gloomy. Shi Feiyang huddled in the shadows outside Jishan Palace, listening to the sobbing sounds coming from inside.

Empress Dowager He's palace maid ran out crying and bumped into Shi Feiyang, who was on night patrol. She hurriedly knelt down and pleaded, "Junior Officer Guo, please have mercy, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager..." Before she could finish speaking, Wang Yin, who had been chasing after her, slit her throat with a knife.

Shi Feiyang cried out and collapsed, pretending to be terrified. Zhao Yinheng kicked him and cursed, "Get out of here! If you dare to say another word, I'll hang you too!" The two turned and went inside, but Shi Feiyang caught a glimpse of the white silk ribbons wrapped around their waists, with amber prayer beads, a favorite of the Empress Dowager, hanging from them.

He followed quietly and saw Empress Dowager He hanging from the beam, her skirt still swaying slightly. On the table was a bowl of overturned poisoned wine, with half a wolf-head token soaked in the wine stains—the very token of the Heavenly Wolf Guard.

"The Empress Dowager has passed away!" Wang Yin's shout startled the Imperial Guards. Shi Feiyang, mingling in the crowd, suddenly pointed at the token and exclaimed, "This... isn't this the Heavenly Wolf Guard's? How could the Empress Dowager..." Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Yinheng punched him in the face and angrily shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! The Empress Dowager had an affair with Jiang Xuanhui and hanged herself out of fear of punishment. Anyone who speaks falsely again will be executed on the spot!"

Shi Feiyang covered his face and retreated to a corner, a cold smile playing on his lips. He had anticipated that Zhu Quanzhong would use this as an excuse to cause trouble, but he hadn't expected the Tianlang Guard to interfere in the palace coup. He quietly put away the half of the token, a chill running through his fingertips.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, Bianliang City was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, but Shi Feiyang had no interest in appreciating the lanterns and slipped into the woodshed of "Zui Xian Lou" in the west of the city.

Ling Shuangyue, dressed in men's clothing, had been waiting for a long time. When she saw him come in, she quickly handed him an ice crystal and whispered, "Husband, Li Keyong's adopted son, Li Cunxu, has already prepared his army in Hedong and sent someone to deliver a secret letter."

Shi Feiyang took the Ice Soul, and a cool sensation came through his fingertips. The eight characters "On the day the dragon raises its head, let us raise the banner of righteousness together" were engraved on it with his internal force.

He placed half of the wolf-head token on the table: "Zhu Quanzhong's collusion with the Heavenly Wolf Guard has deepened, as evidenced by the Empress Dowager's death. You should return to the Western Regions and contact the old Beggar Clan members. I will provide support from the army."

Ling Shuangyue suddenly grabbed his hand, her moon-white sleeve slipped down, revealing an ice crystal birthmark on her wrist, and said, "I have found the other fragment of the Kunlun Mirror, which is inside Zhu Quanzhong's jade seal." Shi Feiyang was shocked upon hearing this, and his glassy eyes suddenly lit up: "That's excellent! Once I find an opportunity to steal the jade seal, I can thwart the Heavenly Wolf Guard's blood sacrifice conspiracy."

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the woodshed. Shi Feiyang blew out the candle, drew his Xuan Shuang Blade, and held it against Ling Shuangyue's neck, calling out loudly, "Who goes there?"

The girl who came in was a singer, and she asked timidly, "Sir, would you like to request a song?"

Upon closer inspection, Shi Feiyang noticed that the girl had a lotus knot from the Beggars' Sect tied around her waist, and realized that she was one of Ling Shuangyue's subordinates. He then sheathed his weapon.

As Zhu Quanzhong was about to declare himself emperor, he set up a martial arts contest at the Bianliang training ground in order to win over the hearts of his troops.

Shi Feiyang deliberately signed up for the competition, and the draw unexpectedly paired him with Han Qing, the commander of the Imperial Guards.

Han Qing was a confidant of Zhu Yougui. He held an eighty-pound axe and stood on the arena, making the platform creak.

(End of this chapter)