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

Chapter 463. Shouldering the Burden of Justice to Protect the Common People: A Lone Hero on a Flying Boat Restores the Tang Dynasty.
"Boy, get down here now, lest you soil my axe!" Han Qing shouted in a booming voice.

Shi Feiyang chuckled, swaggered onto the stage, and teased, "If Commander Han can get rid of my weapon, I'll cut off my head and give it to you as a chamber pot." Han Qing was furious, and his axe came crashing down with a thunderous sound.

Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded. Suddenly, the Xuan Shuang Blade was drawn, and he unleashed the first move of the "Long River Sunset Sword Technique," "Desert Lone Smoke." Its momentum was fierce, rising straight up like a lone plume of smoke, and it actually swung the axe three feet away.

Han Qing was shocked and furious, and tightened his axe technique, but he saw Shi Feiyang's figure move erratically, and his sword move suddenly changed, transforming into "Long River Sunset", the blade light was like a crescent moon, blocking all his escape routes.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" With the Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique enhancing his power, Xuan Shuang Blade fought with increasing ferocity, his grip on the sword constantly shifting between circles and angles, each collision causing Han Qing's arm to go numb. Suddenly, Shi Feiyang flipped his wrist, the tip of his sword lightly touching Han Qing's "Yangxi" acupoint on his wrist, and the mountain-splitting axe clattered to the ground.

The crowd erupted in uproar, but Shi Feiyang winked and made faces at Zhu Yougui's stands, looking just like a street performer.

Zhu Yougui clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Well done, Guo Bin! Reward him!"

As Shi Feiyang knelt to express his gratitude, he caught a glimpse of the livid face of the Heavenly Wolf Guard envoy beside Zhu Quanzhong. Knowing that he had attracted the enemy's attention, he deliberately patted Han Qing on the shoulder and said modestly, "Brother Han, you flatter me. I'll treat you to some wine and women another day!"

From then on, he became even more cautious, infiltrating Zuo Longwu's army. On the one hand, he observed the movements of Zhu Quanzhong's sons, and on the other hand, he sought opportunities to make contact with anti-Liang forces outside the army. He discovered that among Zhu Quanzhong's sons, the second son, Zhu Yougui, was sinister, ruthless, and ambitious, but was not favored by Zhu Quanzhong; while the eldest son, Zhu Youwen, appeared gentle and refined, but was actually hypocritical and cunning, and was deeply loved by Zhu Quanzhong.

So, Shi Feiyang's eyes lit up and a plan came to mind. He decided to take advantage of Zhu Yougui's ambition, incite conflict between the brothers, and use chaos to overthrow Zhu Quanzhong and restore the Tang Dynasty.

In April of the fourth year of the Tianyou era, Zhu Quanzhong ascended the throne in the Jinxiang Hall in Bianzhou, establishing the Great Liang dynasty. Zhu Quanzhong also changed his name to Zhu Huang.

As a personal guard, Shi Feiyang stood with Zhu Yougui below the imperial steps, watching Zhu Huang put on his dragon robe. As the tassels of his crown swayed, half a fragment of the Kunlun Mirror was found hanging on his chest. Shi Feiyang felt a chill and thought to himself, "So he has inlaid the fragment of the jade seal into his dragon robe."

Inside the Jinxiang Palace in Bianzhou, incense ash burned brightly in a gilded beast-shaped incense burner. Amidst the swirling smoke, Zhu Huang, dressed in a dragon robe with twelve imperial symbols, was helped by a eunuch to put on a twelve-tassel crown. The swaying beads on the crown perfectly concealed the fierce glint in his eyes.

Shi Feiyang stood with Zhu Yougui below the steps. His Xuan Shuang Blade was wrapped in black silk and slung across his waist. His blue military officer uniform was washed until it was white, but it could not hide the shrewd glint in his glassy eyes.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The civil and military officials knelt down in a thunderous roar.

Immediately after the coronation ceremony, Zhu Huang held a grand banquet to mark the change of dynasty.

On the gilded candlesticks of the Jinxiang Hall in Bianzhou, eighteen coiled dragon lanterns illuminated the hall as if it were daytime.

Zhu Huang sat high on the jade throne, his newly made twelve-symbol dragon robe gleaming with a cold golden luster under the candlelight. The half-fragment of the Kunlun Mirror embedded in his chest flickered with his breath, and the crimson-gold wolf head totem on the edge appeared and disappeared in the smoke.

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands at his sides beside Zhu Yougui. Underneath his blue military officer uniform, he quietly activated the Mingyu Gong, causing his skin to glow with a faint glassy luster, which he cleverly concealed with the crimson light of the Kunlun Blazing Flame Gong.

"Guo Bin, go pour wine for Commander Pang." Zhu Yougui suddenly ordered in a low voice, his fingertips subtly brushing against the jade pendant at his waist—this was the agreed-upon signal to act. Shi Feiyang understood, bowing his head in agreement, his glassy eyes glancing at the gilded incense table in the corner of the hall, where the "Emperor Liang's Repentance" wrapped in yellow silk was displayed, the very secret blood sacrifice manual of the Heavenly Wolf Guard that he had overheard the previous night.

The hall was filled with the aroma of wine, and the military governors from various towns held up golden goblets and vied to offer wine to Zhu Huang.

Shi Feiyang mingled among the eunuchs, and as Pang Shigu waved his hand in a drunken stupor, he suddenly slipped and crashed into the incense table.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed deliberately, and as he reached out to steady the incense table, a hidden force in his sleeve had already caught a corner of the yellow silk. The instant the yellow silk fell, he had already used the wondrous lightness skill of "leaving without a trace" to flash behind a pillar, and on the title page of the "Emperor Liang's Repentance" in his arms, the wolf head totem of the Heavenly Wolf Guard was clearly printed.

"Guo Bin, are you courting death!" Pang Shigu's curse came, but Shi Feiyang stared at the sheepskin map tucked in the book—the map depicted the terrain of Chenqiao Post Station in cinnabar, with the words "Blood Sacrifice Array for Boys and Girls" densely marked in the center, and a cracked abyss eye drawn in the due north corner, with the note "Kunlun Mirror Fragment Resonance" next to it.

His heart raced. Suddenly, he heard the sound of weapons clashing outside the hall. He knew that the Beggars' Sect disciples were creating chaos in the armory as planned. He immediately moved along the hall wall toward the west door. The armory's copper lock was severed by Shi Feiyang's Heavenly Silkworm Technique silver threads, and the stench of rotting blood assaulted his nostrils.

Shi Feiyang covered his nose and entered. Moonlight shone through the air vent onto the rows of black armor, revealing that each suit of armor had half a wolf-tooth-shaped metal plate embedded in its chest—the very evil artifact used by the Heavenly Wolf Guard to control the corpse soldiers.

He moved along the wall when he suddenly heard the sound of clothes rustling overhead. Three poisoned crossbow bolts were already at his face. Shi Feiyang used his "Shifting Flowers and Jade" skill, and the crossbow bolts suddenly changed direction, pinning the three Tianlang Guard scouts in the shadows to their armor.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang slipped behind the weapon rack, only to see a huge sacrificial array drawn in wolf blood on the north wall, which complemented the secret diagram in the "Emperor Liang's Repentance Ritual". In the center of the sacrificial array, written in gold powder, were the words "At midnight on the fifteenth of the fourth month, a blood sacrifice was performed at Chenqiao Post Station, and the eye of the abyss opened", and at the end was Zhu Wen's jade seal - that jade seal was carved from the other half of the Kunlun Mirror fragment.

"How dare you!" A sinister laugh echoed from the shadows as seven members of the Heavenly Wolf Guard burst through the wall. The leader, wielding a wolf-headed dagger, was none other than Hou Qi, the "White Stripe in the Whip," who had escaped the martial arts competition. Upon seeing Shi Feiyang, a gleam of wild joy flashed in his eyes, and he exclaimed, "Guo Bin, so you're a remnant of the Tang Dynasty!"

Shi Feiyang chuckled, pointing his Xuan Shuang Blade at Hou Qi, and mocked, "Hou Qi, if you used this whip technique to spin a top, you could probably take first place in Bianliang." Before he finished speaking, Hou Qi's nine-section iron whip, carrying poisonous mist, swept over.

Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor avoided, but used "Shifting Flowers and Replacing Jade" to suddenly veer Hou Qi's whip tip off course and pull it toward the weapon rack. Where the iron whip swept, three long swords fell to the ground with a thud, their blades gleaming blue in the moonlight—indeed, they were coated with corpse poison.

"Attack together!" Hou Qi roared, and the other six surrounded Shi Feiyang in the Big Dipper Formation. Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes suddenly turned cold, and he activated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness Ice Soul Cold Prison", his skin instantly became transparent as ice, and even his breath brought out white mist.

He used both palms as blades, unleashing the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" move from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique. The palm wind, sharp as a blade, cleaved the oncoming poisonous mist in two. Immediately afterward, he unleashed another move, "Slaying the Mortal World"! The palm wind swept up fragments of the Xuanjia armor on the ground, shooting towards the enemy's wrist like a sharp blade.

Then, Shi Feiyang used blood to draw blood, unleashing the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill. The two cultists immediately spat out blood and collapsed, already shriveled into dried corpses.

Seeing that things were not going well, Hou Qi swung his iron whip at Shi Feiyang's face.

Shi Feiyang suddenly ducked, unleashing a powerful palm strike that seemed to split mountains. The force of his palms swept across Hou Qi's lower body, sending him crashing into the sacrificial array with a scream. Instantly, his bones shattered, and he died a gruesome death on the spot. The remaining four exchanged glances, then simultaneously bit their tongues, spitting out black blood to summon their corpse soldiers. The armor in the armory suddenly trembled, and ghostly blue flames flickered from its eye sockets—it was the Heavenly Wolf Guard's "Ten Thousand Corpses Devouring Heart Array."

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and unleashed the "Shocking Calamity" divine skill. His icy gaze swept across the area, and the three nearest corpse soldiers instantly shattered into ice shards. More corpse soldiers then surged out from behind the weapon racks, the sound of armor clashing deafeningly loud.

Shi Feiyang unleashed "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" with both palms! The ice crystals in his palms transformed into purple lightning, exploding amidst the horde of corpses.

He seized the opportunity to dart to the sacrificial array diagram, slashing his palm with the Frost Blade, using his blood to ignite the fragments of the Kunlun Mirror—mirror powder he had stolen from Zhu Huang's dragon robe the previous night. Where the fragments resonated, the wolf head totem on the sacrificial array diagram suddenly burst into flames, revealing a sheepskin scroll hidden within.

Hou Qi's son, Hou Lian, came upon hearing the commotion. Seeing that the sacrificial array had been destroyed, he knew that all was lost. Suddenly, he threw out three bone-piercing nails, aiming straight for Shi Feiyang's back.

Without turning his head, Shi Feiyang unleashed a backhand strike, "Breaking Heaven and Earth." The palm wind swept across, and the bone-piercing nails flew back, embedding themselves in Hou Lian's shoulders. Such divine skill left the remaining followers dumbfounded, forgetting to flee.

Shi Feiyang grabbed the scroll and scanned the vermilion characters: "The Eye of the Abyss is sealed in Kunlun Ruins, requiring nine fragments of the Kunlun Mirror, the blood of a thousand young boys and girls, and the Imperial Jade Seal as a catalyst..."

He was shocked. Suddenly, he heard the sound of horses' hooves outside the hall—Zhu Huang's entourage had set off from the main hall, clearly having discovered that the ceremony had been stolen.

Shi Feiyang hurriedly kicked over the candlestick, and flames instantly engulfed the sacrificial array diagram. The followers of the Heavenly Wolf Guard screamed in agony in the fire, and the armor of the corpse soldiers melted in the high temperature.

He unfolded the scroll and discovered that Zhu Wen's birth date and time were drawn on the back, making him the core sacrifice of the Blood Sacrifice Array. He suddenly realized that Zhu Wen thought he could consolidate his power by relying on the Heavenly Wolf Guard, but he didn't know that he himself was the final sacrifice of the array.

An alarm bell rang from the direction of Jinxiang Hall. Shi Feiyang hid the secret scroll inside his clothes and used his amazing lightness skill, "After the deed is done, I leave," to leap out of the armory.

Under the moonlight, he looked back at Zhu Huang's dragon carriage, which was frantically turning around amidst the firelight. His glassy eyes reflected the starlight in the sky. He suddenly remembered what Ling Shuangyue had said in the Western Regions: "What the Kunlun Mirror reflects is not destiny, but the human heart."

He touched the "Emperor Liang's Repentance Ritual" in his arms. The wolf head totem on the scroll gradually materialized under the Mingyu Skill, perfectly matching the fragments on Zhu Huang's dragon robe. It turned out that the Heavenly Wolf Guard had long regarded Zhu Wen as a sacrifice. The so-called blood sacrifice was nothing more than using the blood of the Great Liang army to pave the way for opening the Eye of the Abyss.

Shi Feiyang suddenly chuckled, his laughter carrying the arrogance of Yang Guo, and teased in a low voice, "Zhu Wen, Zhu Wen, you've schemed and plotted, but do you know that you are the lamb to the slaughter?" When the gong sounded at dawn, Shi Feiyang had already mingled with the panicked imperial guards and rushed out of Bianliang City.

The fragment of the Kunlun Mirror in his arms was burning hot, resonating with the totems on the secret scroll. Meanwhile, in the direction of Chenqiao Post Station, dark clouds were pressing down on the city, where a thousand boys and girls awaited rescue, and Li Cunxu's army of the Tang Restoration was about to arrive.

Shi Feiyang handed the fragments of the Kunlun Mirror and the secret scroll totem to Ling Shuangyue, then used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to return to the capital. No one knew what he had done. No one knew that the one who had undermined Zhu Wen was actually his personal guard, "Guo Bin"! The autumn night in Bianliang was as cool as well water. In the study of the west wing of the Prince of Ying's mansion, the candle wick of the bronze sparrow-shaped candlestick flickered, illuminating Zhu Yougui's sinister face. He was now enfeoffed as the Prince of Ying, but because of his mother's lowly birth, he was disliked by Zhu Huang. At this moment, his fingers tapped on the rosewood table, his knuckles turning white as bone.

“Guo Bin,” he suddenly spoke, his voice so low it seemed to drip water, and he said in a sinister tone, “Tell me the truth, is Father Emperor… determined to pass the throne to my elder brother?” Shi Feiyang stood with his hands at his sides, having specially changed into a worn-out blue cloth robe today, with the Xuan Shuang Blade at his waist wrapped in a dirty cloth, looking like a down-on-his-luck scholar who had failed in his career.

Upon hearing this, he scratched his head, feigning a flustered expression, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, I am merely a personal guard, how could I dare to presume to understand Your Highness's thoughts? However, the other day while pruning the paulownia trees in the Imperial Garden, I overheard the eunuchs gossiping..."

Zhu Yougui leaned forward abruptly, his brocade robe sleeve sweeping over the inkstone, the ink spreading like blood on the table. He roared, "Speak! What are they talking about?"

Shi Feiyang lowered his voice, took a few steps closer, and deliberately let the candlelight illuminate the fear on his face. He said in a panic, "They said...that His Majesty has been summoning Young Master Youwen for private talks these past few days, and even gave him the jade seal left by the late Emperor. They also said that he has ordered someone to draft an edict to make Young Master Youwen the Crown Prince..." He suddenly shuddered and stammered, "I was so frightened at the time that I ran away as fast as I could. Your Highness, please don't tell anyone that I told you..."

"Just as I thought!" Zhu Yougui exclaimed in sudden realization. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacup to bounce and fall, shattering into pieces. He then angrily cursed, "That hypocrite Zhu Youwen! He pretends to be compassionate and virtuous all the time, but he's actually a treacherous villain who covets the throne!"

A venomous glint flashed in his eyes as he cursed, "Father is getting senile; he can't even see this beast's wolfish ambitions!"

Seeing that his provocation had succeeded, Shi Feiyang sneered inwardly, but on the surface he showed a worried look and comforted, "Your Highness, please calm down. I only heard it secondhand... However, I have remembered something that may be of use to Your Highness."

Zhu Yougui shouted impatiently, "Speak quickly!" He grabbed his wrist, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

Shi Feiyang lowered his voice mysteriously and said, "The other day, while I was on duty at the armory, I saw a servant of Young Master Youwen sneakily stuffing a crumpled piece of paper into the corner. Out of curiosity, I picked it up and found it was a secret letter addressed to Li Keyong of Hedong!" He paused, noticing Zhu Yougui's suddenly changed expression, and then provoked him further, "The letter said, 'I am willing to borrow the iron cavalry of Hedong to jointly undertake a great cause. After the success, I will cede three prefectures of Hedong'... I was so frightened that I burned it on the spot. I only remember that the signature was 'Youwen'."

Zhu Yougui's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. Suddenly, he drew his sword from his waist and slashed the corner of the table, sending wood chips flying. He exclaimed angrily, "What a traitorous villain who colludes with the enemy!" He then praised, "Guo Bin, you did well! If I were to ascend the throne, I would certainly appoint you as the commander of the Imperial Guards!"

Shi Feiyang immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "It is my honor to be able to share Your Highness's worries. I also have a plan that can help Your Highness get rid of this major threat." Zhu Yougui's eyes lit up, and he quickly helped him up, saying urgently, "Speak quickly!"

Shi Feiyang smiled slightly, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, and after a moment said, "Does Your Highness know the 'Long River Sunset Sword Technique'?"

Zhu Yougui was taken aback, so Shi Feiyang explained, "This is a sword technique from my hometown, consisting of two moves, yet it contains profound truths. The first move, 'Lone Smoke in the Desert,' emphasizes using straight lines to overcome curves, unparalleled in its power and ferocity; the second move, 'Sunset Over the Long River,' uses roundness to overcome straightness, demonstrating that softness can overcome hardness. Now, Young Master Youwen's momentum is like a raging fire, just like 'Lone Smoke in the Desert.' If Your Highness were to fight head-on, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock. It would be better to learn from 'Sunset Over the Long River,' temporarily avoiding his sharp edge, and waiting for him to become arrogant and complacent, revealing a weakness, before Your Highness strikes with thunderous force to achieve victory!"

Zhu Yougui nodded repeatedly, patted Shi Feiyang on the shoulder and laughed, exclaiming, "What a wonderful 'stillness overcomes movement, softness overcomes hardness'! Guo Bin, you are truly my Zhang Liang reincarnated!"

His eyes gleamed with ambition, as if he could already see himself ascending the throne. Shi Feiyang bowed in thanks, but inwardly he sneered—this vicious wolf had finally fallen into the trap he had woven.

Shi Feiyang took his leave, departed from the Prince of Ying's mansion, and returned to his own humble residence.

The late spring moonlight spilled onto the eaves of Bianliang City. Shi Feiyang bid farewell to Zhu Yougui and walked along the bluestone path towards his residence. He deliberately made a loud clattering sound with his boot heels, but as he turned the corner, he suddenly held his breath and slipped into the shadows along the wall—behind him were three extremely light sounds of clothes rustling in the wind, like the flapping of owls' wings. It was Zhu Wen's youngest daughter, Princess Zhenning, the beautiful Zhu Huiran, who was using her "Treading Snow Without a Trace" lightness skill to follow Shi Feiyang.

"Is Your Highness's Pure Heart Sword Technique to be tested on me tonight?" Shi Feiyang suddenly turned around, leaning against the mottled brick wall. The moonlight shone in his glassy eyes, brighter than the stars in the sky. Zhu Huiran was caught off guard, her figure stopping abruptly among the branches of the locust tree. Her moon-white skirt fluttered in the night wind, and the jade tassel of her linked sword at her waist swayed. She removed her bamboo hat, revealing her beautiful face. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she shouted, "Guo Bin, you are indeed no ordinary captain. The fire in the armory, the secret letter from the Prince of Ying's mansion, and the shards of mirror on Father's dragon robe—who exactly are you?"

The sound was like shattered jade thrown into a pot, yet it carried the chill of an icicle.

"Haha!" Shi Feiyang suddenly laughed, his fingertips stroking the cloth handle of the Xuan Shuang Blade. He said with a grin, "Does the princess know that you chased me for three streets, and even the lotus pattern on the soles of your boots is stained with the scent of sesame from the West Market?" He deliberately leaned closer, his glassy eyes reflecting her shocked and angry face, and teased, "But seriously, if your wrist had been just half an inch off during the seventh move of the 'Pure Heart Sword,' you could have sealed my 'Qu Chi acupoint.'"

Zhu Huiran was furious. Her jade sword was drawn with a clang, and her Suxin sword technique was as graceful as a dragon and phoenix. The tip of the sword was aimed directly at his brow. She cursed, "You scoundrel, how dare you insult my sect!" In the flash of the sword light, twelve sword shadows appeared. It was the exquisite sword technique of the Suxin Sect, "Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens!" Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor avoided. His Xuan Shuang blade suddenly came out three inches from its sheath. He used the first move of the Long River Sunset Sword Technique, "Lone Smoke in the Desert," to slash diagonally. The blade light was like a lone smoke rising straight up, and it hit the center of her sword spine.

"Clang!" Sparks flew everywhere. Zhu Huiran felt a numbness in her wrist, and her sword strike faltered. Shi Feiyang took the opportunity to spin around and tapped the handle of his Xuan Shuang Blade against her "Shaohai" acupoint in the crook of her elbow. He then chuckled and said, "Princess, your sword is more agile than the 'Seven Star Sword Technique' of the Western Regions, but it lacks a bit of composure."

This wasn't a battle with someone, it was practically a master teaching a disciple! "Shut up!" Zhu Huiran was so angry that she was practically fuming. Her jade-like face turned red, and her sword technique suddenly changed. She actually used the forbidden move of the Pure Heart Sword, "Pure Heart Calamity." Seven sword flowers appeared at the tip of the sword, targeting seven major acupoints of Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes lit up. His Xuan Shuang blade traced a perfect arc as he unleashed the second move, "Sunset Over the Long River." The blade's light shone like molten gold at sunset, shattering all seven sword flowers. "Princess," Shi Feiyang suddenly sheathed his blade, taking a half-step back, the Xuan Shuang blade slicing sparks as it touched the ground, and said solemnly, "when your father threw more than thirty ministers into the Yellow River at Baima Post Station in Huazhou, their blood stained the entire river red?"

His voice was deep, his crystal eyes reflecting the distant lights, and he said solemnly, "You think I'm instigating infighting among the princes? Have you ever seen people in the streets exchanging children to eat?" Zhu Huiran's sword trembled slightly as she recalled what she had witnessed the other day—Zhu Wen had severed the wrists of surrendered soldiers and piled them up into a small mountain for her officials to admire. She bit her lip and said, "Even so, you shouldn't have used my second brother's ambition..."

"If not his ambition, then your mercy?" Shi Feiyang retorted, suddenly closing in, his palm lashing out at her temples, and said indignantly, "Do you know about the blood sacrifice of the Eye of the Abyss? A thousand boys and girls will have their hearts and livers taken while they are still alive, and your father's jade seal is the key to the sacrificial array!"

He pulled out the blood-stained scroll, its wolf head totem gleaming a ghostly blue in the moonlight.

Zhu Huiran's face turned deathly pale, and the jade sword clattered to the ground. Her voice trembled as she asked, "How...how do you know all this?"

"Hehe!" Shi Feiyang suddenly chuckled, his fingertips brushing across her brow, and teased, "Because I am the one chosen by the Kunlun Mirror."

The "Heavenly Palace Illusion" in the Sacred Heart Manual quietly activated, its spiritual power seeping into her sea of ​​consciousness like silk. It then raised its finger to the sky, misleading her, "Look at this moonlight, have you ever seen a more beautiful illusion than this?"

Zhu Huiran suddenly felt dizzy, and when she opened her eyes again, it was as if she was on the top of the Kunlun Mountains.

Under the moonlight, a man with eyes like glass stood before a sea of ​​clouds. As he turned, his eyes shone like stars as he questioned, "Huiran, have you ever considered that what the people of the world need is not a tyrant, but a wise ruler who can allow them to live and work in peace?"

She instinctively reached out, but touched the warmth of Shi Feiyang's palm, and asked in confusion, "You...you called me Huiran? My name is Huiran? Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going?"

“Yes,” Shi Feiyang’s voice was as gentle as melting snow, continuing to mislead, “Look at this fairyland, it’s the paradise in your heart. You hate your father Zhu Wen’s cruelty, but you’re trapped by blood ties, just like the snow on this mountain, seemingly white, yet suffocating.” He ran his fingertips across Zhu Huiran’s hand, and peach blossoms began to fall in the illusion, then teased, “Come with me, let’s make this illusion come true, wouldn’t that be nice?”

Looking into Shi Feiyang's crystal-clear eyes, Zhu Huiran suddenly realized that her own reflection was mirrored there, clearer than any other mirror. She remembered her mother's dying words: "Don't be like your father." Suddenly, she reached out and hugged Shi Feiyang, burying her face in his chest, and said tenderly, "Okay, I'll help you..."

In reality, Shi Feiyang looked at Zhu Huiran sleeping soundly in his arms and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. The "Heavenly Palace Illusion" had planted an anchor in her mind, and from then on, Zhu Huiran would take every word he said as her own will.

He picked up Zhu Huiran and suddenly noticed that the jade hairpin in her hair was the same hairpin he had seen years ago from the princess of Khotan in the Western Regions. "Huiran, Huiran," he sighed softly, "If there is an afterlife, I wish you were born in a peaceful and prosperous era, and not have to be a princess in this chaotic world."

Having said that, he used his lightness skill to carry her towards the palace, returning her there. A bitter smile played on Shi Feiyang's lips—was the affection in this illusion a deception he had made of her, or a deception she had made of herself?

When the clapper sounded at dawn, Zhu Huiran woke up laughing in her dream, with only one thought in her mind: Guo Bin was the person who understood her best in the world.

She touched the hairpin at her temple and suddenly felt that her father's dragon robe was even colder than the snow-capped mountains in her illusion.

At that moment, Shi Feiyang stood on the rooftop, gazing at the light in her window. A flicker of pain flashed in his glassy eyes—he had ultimately resorted to the very method he least wanted to use. Little did he know that the love within this illusion had already planted a seed in their hearts that was more difficult to break than the Eye of the Abyss.

Three days later, at the morning court session, Zhu Huiran suddenly burst into the Golden Palace, with a Kunlun snow plum given to him by Shi Feiyang tucked behind his ear.

"Father," she said, grabbing Zhu Wen's dragon robe in front of the entire court, "Guo Bin is a rare military talent. Your Majesty, I implore you to appoint him as the commander of the Imperial Guards." Zhu Wen's jade seal clattered onto the table, his eyes flashing with surprise. He asked in astonishment, "Ran'er, how do you know him…?"

"Your Majesty, I have been discussing military strategy with Commander Guo recently," Zhu Huiran said, her cheeks burning as she recalled the "Long River Sunset" sword technique that Shi Feiyang taught her in the illusion. "His 'Long River Sunset Sword Technique' is exquisite and will surely protect our Great Liang Dynasty."

The entire court was immediately taken aback.

Shi Feiyang nodded slightly to Zhu Huiran in the train.

After the court session, Zhu Huiran pulled Shi Feiyang into the Peony Pavilion in the Imperial Garden and stammered, "You... what you said in the fairyland that day," she avoided Shi Feiyang's gaze and said with affection, infatuation and reproach, "that I am like the snow plum blossom on the top of Kunlun Mountain, unafraid of the severe cold... was that true?"

Shi Feiyang looked at the snow plum blossom in her hair and recalled the "first meeting scene" he had created for her in the illusion: he transformed into a merchant from the Western Regions and rescued her from a lost avalanche. "It is true, of course," he said softly. "When I first met the princess, I felt that in this world, only the snow plum blossom could compare to the princess's spirit."

Zhu Huiran suddenly looked up, her eyes shimmering with tears, and said shyly, "Then...would you be willing to marry me?" She grabbed Shi Feiyang's wrist and said firmly, "If you are willing to be loyal to Father Emperor, I will naturally be willing to rule this world with you."

Shi Feiyang felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he had no choice but to continue weaving the illusion. He said sadly, "Princess, have you ever thought about this?" He took her hand in his, and the warmth of the Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique entered her body. He then said seriously, "If the Great Liang Dynasty is stable, can the people live in peace and prosperity?" He looked at her increasingly infatuated eyes and knew that the "Heavenly Palace Illusion" had once again taken deep root in her heart.

He left the Imperial Garden and returned to his secluded courtyard. As soon as he closed the door, a gust of cold wind blew the window paper up, and a dark figure landed on the windowsill like a raccoon. The wolf-head token at his waist gleamed eerily in the moonlight.

"Brother Guo, impressive skills," the newcomer said hoarsely, tossing a short blade between his hands. He then added sarcastically, "A few words were enough to turn the Prince of Ying and his son against each other. I admire you." Shi Feiyang slowly drew his Xuan Shuang Blade, its blade gleaming with cold light. He said chillingly, "A member of the Heavenly Wolf Guard? How long have you been following me?"

The newcomer sneered, "I've heard that Brother Guo's 'Long River Sunset Sword Technique' is superb, so I've come to learn from him." Before he finished speaking, he had already approached like a ghost, his long blade aimed straight at Shi Feiyang's throat, the force of the wind he generated causing the candlelight to flicker violently.

Instead of retreating, Shi Feiyang advanced, thrusting his Xuan Shuang Blade at the long blade. It was the first move of the "Long River Sunset Sword Technique," "Lone Smoke in the Desert," the tip of the sword aimed directly at the attacker's face. The attacker was taken aback, not expecting this unassuming "Guo Bin" to possess such a fast sword. He quickly parried with his own blade.

With a crisp clang, sparks flew everywhere. The attacker felt his arm go numb and almost dropped the short blade. He was horrified: the power of this sword was no less than that of the Five Tiger Generals under His Majesty's command!

Shi Feiyang landed a successful blow, his figure suddenly shifting, the Xuan Shuang Blade drawing a perfect arc, the second move "Sunset Over the Long River," sealing off all of the opponent's escape routes. The scorching heat brought by the blade wind made the newcomer sweat—Shi Feiyang had actually incorporated "Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique" into his sword move!

"What a magnificent Kunlun Blazing Flame! It truly lives up to its reputation!" the newcomer exclaimed, his long blade flashing with a flurry of blades as he unleashed the "Yin Wind Blade," a secret technique passed down by the Heavenly Wolf Guard. Each strike was aimed at Shi Feiyang's vital points, the moves ruthless and vicious.

Shi Feiyang laughed loudly. With the Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique enhancing his power, the Xuan Shuang Blade became even more formidable. He gripped the sword with a series of movements: straight and round, upright and slanted, slashing and sweeping, flicking and sinking, horizontal and chopping, thrusting and sweeping.

This seemingly simple movement contains endless variations; no matter how the attacker changes their moves, they are always sealed off by his sword.

The attackers grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed, feeling that the opponent's swordplay was as simple and unadorned as the creation of the world, yet as unsolvable as rivers flowing into the sea. No matter how they dodged and weaved, a cold glint of light would always be waiting for their vital points.

"Fight to the death!" the newcomer roared, and suddenly shot out three poisoned needles from his long blade, aiming straight for Shi Feiyang's eyes. Shi Feiyang was prepared, and used the mysterious lightness skill "Hidden Body and Name" to float away like a willow catkin. At the same time, he flipped his wrist and slashed out with the Frost Blade, just in time to cut the newcomer's wrist.

The attacker winced in pain, his long blade nearly falling to the ground. Knowing that he would surely lose if he continued fighting, he feigned an attack and tried to escape. But Shi Feiyang would not allow him to escape. With a light step, he used the unparalleled "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill to give chase, his Xuan Shuang Blade following closely like a shadow, aiming straight for his back.

The newcomer had no choice but to turn and block, but Shi Feiyang kicked him in the chest, sending him flying like a kite with a broken string. He crashed into the old locust tree in the courtyard, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. He struggled to his feet, pointed at Shi Feiyang, his eyes filled with fear, and stammered, "You...who exactly are you?"

Shi Feiyang pressed the Frost Blade against the man's throat, his glassy eyes flashing coldly in the night. He said chillingly, "Even if it's Zhu Wen, his death is not far off. As for who I am... go ask Yama, the King of Hell, in the underworld." With that, he flicked his wrist, and the Frost Blade sliced ​​across the man's neck, leaving a thin line of blood as fine as a hair. Then, a jet of blood spurted out, and the man collapsed dead.

Shi Feiyang sheathed his sword, staring at the corpse of the Heavenly Wolf Guard envoy without a flicker of emotion in his eyes. The sound of a watchman's clapper echoed in the distance; it was already past midnight. He looked up towards the main hall of the imperial palace.

The place was brightly lit; Zhu Wen must still be plotting with his confidants.

“Zhu Quanzhong, Zhu Youwen, Zhu Yougui…” Shi Feiyang murmured these names, a resolute glint in his glassy eyes. He said in a low voice, “Your game should end now. This Tang Dynasty’s land is not for you traitors to trample on! Humph!” He turned and went into the house, closing the door behind him.

The candlelight flickered behind him, casting his shadow long and thin, like a sword about to be drawn from its sheath.

The following day, Shi Feiyang seized another opportunity to sow discord between Zhu Yougui and Zhu Youwen. He went to the Prince of Ying's residence, found Zhu Yougui, and said mysteriously, "Your Highness, great news!" Zhu Yougui was taken aback and asked in surprise, "What's the good news?"

Shi Feiyang lowered his voice and said, "I heard that His Majesty has been unwell recently and is considering the matter of establishing an heir. Moreover, I also heard that His Majesty is somewhat dissatisfied with Young Master Zhu Youwen, believing that he is too kind and unfit for the important task."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Zhu Yougui's eyes, and he asked with delight, "Is this really true?"

Shi Feiyang nodded and said seriously, "Absolutely true! I've also learned that His Majesty intends to have you, Your Highness, participate in court affairs to gain experience." Zhu Yougui was overjoyed and excitedly said, "Really? Guo Bin, you are truly my lucky star!"

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Feiyang urged, "Your Highness, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! However, His Highness Zhu Youwen is, after all, the eldest son, with deep roots. If Your Highness wishes to seize the throne, you must prepare early."

Zhu Yougui asked eagerly, "What good idea do you have?"

Shi Feiyang smiled slightly and said, "I have a plan that can help Your Highness get rid of Zhu Youwen and eliminate future troubles."

Zhu Yougui said impatiently, "Speak! Speak!"

Shi Feiyang whispered something in Zhu Yougui's ear. Zhu Yougui nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining with excitement, and exclaimed, "Excellent plan! Excellent plan! Guo Bin, you are truly my strategist!"

A few days later, Zhu Huang indeed summoned Zhu Yougui and made him participate in court affairs. Following Shi Feiyang's plan, Zhu Yougui appeared diligent and conscientious in front of Zhu Huang, while subtly revealing Zhu Youwen's "disloyal intentions".

One day, Zhu Huang dined with Zhu Yougui and Zhu Youwen. During the meal, Zhu Yougui pretended to be drunk, pointed at Zhu Youwen, and deliberately stammered, "Brother, you...you're colluding with Li Keyong of Hedong, trying...trying to seize Father's throne?" Zhu Youwen was shocked and quickly denied it, saying, "Father, my third brother is drunk and talking nonsense. Your son has absolutely no such intention!"

Zhu Huang's face darkened, and he remained silent. But from that moment on, his trust in Zhu Youwen diminished considerably.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Shi Feiyang forged several secret letters in which Zhu Youwen colluded with Li Keyong and secretly placed them in Zhu Huang's study.

Upon discovering the secret letter, Zhu Huang flew into a rage and his suspicions of Zhu Youwen deepened.

At the same time, Shi Feiyang secretly contacted the anti-Liang forces outside the city—righteous men from martial arts sects such as Shaolin, Huashan, Songshan, Taishan, Taiji, Qiankun, Emei, and Hengshan—to coordinate an attack from within and without, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Zhu Huang at the appropriate time.

(End of this chapter)