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

Zhu Yougui then forged an imperial edict in the name of his father, Zhu Wen, saying: "I have struggled for over thirty years to establish this dynasty, and have been emperor for six years. Everyone has worked hard, hoping to achieve a moderately prosperous society. Unexpectedly, Zhu Youwen plotted a treacherous scheme and was about to commit a great rebellion. Last night, armored soldiers entered the palace. Thanks to Zhu Yougui's loyalty and filial piety, he led troops to suppress the rebels and saved my health. However, my health has been severely affected, and I am in critical condition. Zhu Yougui's elimination of the treacherous villain has been of unparalleled merit, and he should be entrusted with the management of military and state affairs."

Shi Feiyang saw Zhu Yougui deep in thought, drafting a fake imperial edict. He knew Zhu's skills were limited and he would be busy until midnight.

Taking this opportunity, he quietly used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to leave. In the dense forest on the outskirts of the city, he told the Beggar Clan elder He Quan about what had happened and the contents of the fake edict, and asked He Quan to spread the news.

Then, Shi Feiyang said to He Quan, "Pass on my order: Make three hundred copies of the forged edict and post them all over the walls of Bianliang at midnight. Also, have people spread the news that Zhu Yougui forcibly took women from the people, even the late emperor's concubines..."

"Master Shi is brilliant!" He Quan clapped his hands and laughed, praising him repeatedly. The lotus tattoo gleamed in the moonlight. He then said, "In this way, Zhu Wen's former subordinates will surely rebel." Because Shi Feiyang had been unable to manage the Beggars' Sect affairs for the past few years, he had given the position of Beggars' Sect leader to his beloved wife, Ling Shuangyue. Therefore, He Quan changed his title for Shi Feiyang to "Master Shi".

Shi Feiyang then whispered, "Elder He, do you know that Zhu Yougui just bestowed eight beauties upon me?" He shook his wine gourd and teased, "Tonight I will be 'newlywed,' and I'm afraid I won't be able to hold onto this position as commander of the Imperial Guards for long. I estimate that Zhu Yougui will get rid of me in about three days."

He Quan understood, nodded, and floated away.

That night, Shi Feiyang returned to his residence, which was already brightly decorated. Eight beauties, all selected from the harem by Zhu Yougui, surrounded him. He leaned against the wedding bed, watching the leading lady, Lüzhu, undress him, and suddenly laughed, "Lüzhu, have these jade hands of yours ever ground ink for the late Emperor?"

Green Pearl's expression changed slightly, and the gold hairpin in her hand clattered to the ground.

Shi Feiyang picked up the hairpin, the pearl on its tip reflecting in his crystal eyes, and teased, "I heard that Zhu Yougui killed three old eunuchs in the side hall. Was it to silence them?" The beauties were so frightened that they all knelt down.

Shi Feiyang laughed heartily, inserted the gold hairpin into the dressing table, and said with a grin, "Get up, all of you. This commander doesn't like to see beauties with sad faces." The beauties got up and quickly helped Shi Feiyang to bathe and change his clothes, and then went to enjoy their wedding with him.

The following evening, Shi Feiyang and Ba Mei got up tiredly, took a bath and changed clothes, and had dinner together. Suddenly, applause came from the back room. Li Xing, the elder of the Beggars' Sect, led his disciples dressed as musicians to play and perform the song and dance "Back Garden Flower" for Shi Feiyang and Ba Mei.

Then, in the kitchen and restaurant, the sounds of a nation's demise echoed.

As the music began, Shi Feiyang suddenly saw a flash of pure white behind the screen.

He quietly got up, slipped into the back hall, and saw Zhu Huiran dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with her Su Xin sword slung across her waist. He teased, "Princess, aren't you afraid Zhu Yougui will chop off my head for sneaking into my residence in the middle of the night?"

Zhu Huiran slammed a military tally on the table, her jade-like face flushed with anger. She roared, "Guo Bin! Do you know that Zhu Yougui intends to disband the old Imperial Guards? Humph, and you're still here having fun? Don't you know that Zhu Yougui's knife is already at your throat? You're a real scoundrel! Do you still think you're Zhu Yougui's hero?" She paused, then said in a low voice, "I've already persuaded the Longxiang Army of Huaizhou. I'm just waiting for your order. I don't understand military affairs, and I've never fought a battle. You have to teach me and guide me through this. Besides, this whole game was set up by you. You even had Chief Ling Shuangyue accompany me to Huaizhou."

Shi Feiyang picked up the military tally, subtly channeling his Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique into his fingertips, scorching the wolf head emblem on it. He said, "Princess, do you know," he leaned close to her ear, his breath brushing against the snow plum blossom hairpin in her hair, and chuckled, "last night I had someone slip some Western Region itching powder into the drinks at the recruit camp?"

Zhu Huiran chuckled, then composed herself and said, "Shi Feiyang, be serious!" She suddenly grabbed his wrist and said sadly, "My father... Zhu Wen's body is still in the Taiji Hall, and Zhu Yougui won't allow it to be buried..."

Shi Feiyang withdrew his hand, a hint of regret flashing in his glassy eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Although Zhu Wen is a wicked old thief, he is still your father. Leave this matter to me. You wait for me in Huaizhou." Zhu Huiran nodded and turned to leave.

Shi Feiyang returned to the kitchen and said to Li Xing, "While our brothers are still disguised as Imperial Guards, you send my eight family members to Huaizhou so that the brothers can gradually withdraw from the Imperial Guards. Zhu Yougui should make his move against me and my brothers in the next day or two."

Li Xing asked in surprise, "You've only been a groom for one day!"

Shi Feiyang laughed and said, "Wow, that's a lot! Eight brides at once! What man could handle that? I haven't slept a wink since last night."

"Hahahaha!" Everyone burst into comical laughter.

Li Xing and the others then acted according to the plan.

Two days later, Zhu Yougui's new Imperial Guards, led by the new commander Han Shan, surrounded the "Guo Mansion." Swords were drawn and bows were strung. Han Shan jumped onto the roof and roared, "Guo Bin, quickly surrender! We might spare your family's lives and let eight women leave you an heir."

Shi Feiyang, wearing a loose bathrobe, stretched and walked out of the courtyard, yawning, and said, "What's all the noise about? Who are you? Get lost!" Zhang Han, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, was furious. He gripped his Ghost Ring Blade, flew in, and used the "White Crane Sword Technique," using the blade as a sword. Unexpectedly, he used the "White Crane Spreads Its Wings" move to stab Shi Feiyang's throat in mid-air.

With a flick of his sleeve, Shi Feiyang activated his "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill, causing Zhang Han's Ghost Ring Blade to suddenly shift direction, its blade embedding itself deeply into the tree trunk, cracking his tiger's mouth. He looked up in surprise to see Shi Feiyang's skin gleaming with a glassy sheen, like white ice shrouded in a cold mist. "Vice Commander Zhang's move," Shi Feiyang chuckled, tilting his head, "is three moves less refined than the Shaolin Dharma Hall's 'Finger of Flowers' technique."

He suddenly moved closer, his fingertip pointing at the other man's "Shanzhong acupoint," and his true energy penetrated the body, freezing ice flowers on Zhang Han's chest.

Shi Feiyang then lectured, “Remember, before you sneak up on me, you need to change into a pair of boots that fit properly—the sound of the iron nails on your left boot dragging on the bluestone slab is louder than the erhu at Zuixianlou.”

Seeing the situation, the imperial guards outside the courtyard unleashed a volley of crossbow bolts. Shi Feiyang spun and leaped into the air, employing the profound lightness skill of "Concealing One's Person and Name," his boots leaving plum blossom imprints on the eaves. The crossbow bolts grazed the hem of his robe as he suddenly pressed himself against the roof tile, channeling his inner energy. He activated the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill, shattering the roof tiles into icicles that rained down on the archers. Immediately afterward, the ice transformed into lightning, striking the enemy and exploding like thunder.

More than a thousand archers were instantly blown to pieces, leaving not even a bone fragment behind.

Seeing the situation was dire, Han Shan led three hundred axemen to break through the wall. Shi Feiyang landed on the Taihu stone, looking at the enemy's blade with its eerie blue glow of corpse poison, and suddenly laughed loudly: "Commander Han, what a grand gesture! You actually used the 'Bone-Corroding Blade' from the Five Poisons Sect of Miao territory."

A silver light flowed from his palm, and the silk threads of his Heavenly Silkworm Technique emerged from his body, wrapping around the wrists of the first row of axemen. His inner force surged forth like a tidal wave. The men screamed and fell to the ground, their internal organs shredded and blood oozing from their seven orifices, forming ice flower patterns on the ground.

Shi Feiyang stepped down the stone and unleashed the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" technique from the Hundred Victories Swordplay. With a sweep of his palm, the weapons of 133 swordsmen and axemen were shattered into dust.

Immediately afterwards, he unleashed a move called "Slaying the Mortal World," his palm strike as sharp as a knife, leaving a three-foot-long gash on the morning frost.

The armor of the Imperial Guards in the front row cracked open, revealing the wolf heads of the Heavenly Wolf Guards embroidered underneath—indeed, Zhu Yougui was using the Heavenly Wolf Guards to eliminate dissidents.

The old locust tree in the courtyard gradually turned blood-red. Shi Feiyang watched as Han Shan raised the wolf-head command flag, knowing that the other party was about to use evil magic. He then activated the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill, and the blood lines on his fingertips resonated with the bloodstains in the courtyard. The fallen imperial guards suddenly vomited blood, and the blood droplets condensed into ice spikes in the air, piercing back towards the shaman who held up the flag.

"Do you think a blood sacrifice can save lives?" Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes flashed with icy coldness, and he cursed angrily, "The wronged souls of Baima Post Station have been waiting to collect their debts in this flash of blades." With a gust of wind from his palm, the wolf-headed command flag was split in two, revealing the "Eye of the Abyss" totem on the flag.

Han Shan was terrified. Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his wrist as Shi Feiyang gripped his Taiyuan acupoint. The chill of Mingyu Gong spread along his meridians, and Han Shan could only watch helplessly as his arm gradually froze, eventually snapping with a "crack".

Shi Feiyang threw his severed hand into the enemy ranks and said jokingly, "Go back and tell Zhu Yougui that I, Guo, have sent the eight beauties he bestowed upon him back to the Western Regions—and by the way, I sent him a love letter, saying that I, Guo, am waiting to drink his farewell wine." After saying this, he used his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," to head towards Huaizhou.

The Longxiang Army there must be getting impatient.

That night, songs echoed throughout Bianliang: "Guo Lang bravely slays three thousand armored warriors, changing the world amidst the fragrance of snow plum blossoms." At that moment, Shi Feiyang was leading his Beggar Clan brothers towards Huaizhou. The Xuan Shuang Blade swayed gently beside the saddle, and the bloodstains on the blade gradually condensed into the patterns of the Kunlun Mirror under the moonlight.

Three days later, Huaizhou City was engulfed in flames. Shi Feiyang stood on the city wall, watching the Longxiang Army soldiers tie Liu Chongba to a flagpole, and suddenly laughed, "Elder He, do these soldiers look like they just came from a brothel?"

He Quan wiped the soot off his face, the lotus flag fluttering in the wind, and exclaimed, "Master Shi's itching powder is indeed powerful. The three thousand Dragon Cavalry were so itchy last night that they tore their armor apart, and this morning they joined Princess Zhu Huiran in rebellion."

He pointed to the smoke and dust in the distance and said, "Zhu Youzhen's men have reached the East Gate."

Shi Feiyang gazed towards Bianliang, his glassy eyes reflecting the rising sun, and said solemnly, "It's time for Princess Zhu Huiran to reveal her identity."

He suddenly pulled out an oil paper package from his pocket, inside which was half a burnt cake, and said jokingly, "These were given to me by the boys and girls at Chenqiao Post Station. They said that when the Tang Dynasty is restored, they want to eat sesame cakes from Chang'an."

He Quan took the cake, his fingertips trembling, and said firmly, "Don't worry, Master Shi, the Beggars' Sect disciples have taken control of the Bianliang grain route. Chief Ling is very competent and meticulous, keeping a close eye on everything. She doesn't even have time to take care of her children."

Shi Feiyang nodded and tentatively said, "Elder He, what do you think? If I change the surname of all the children I have with Chief Ling to Li, wouldn't it be faster to restore the Tang Dynasty? Wouldn't it be more popular with the people? After all, the Tang Dynasty lasted for more than 280 years, and the people are deeply rooted in it."

He Quan's heart skipped a beat, and he said in a trembling voice, "Can't we find any descendants of the original Li Tang emperors now?" Shi Feiyang laughed and said, "Zhu Wen slaughtered them all. If we put someone else on the throne, wouldn't the world become even more chaotic?"

He Quan immediately fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he came to his senses and said, "Master Shi, I think it's a good idea! For the sake of the people and to restore the Tang Dynasty, it's excellent to find a reasonable child to be the emperor! As for Li Xing, I'll clarify things for him. You can rest assured and fight against Zhu Yougui and Zhu Youzhen!"

Shi Feiyang nodded with satisfaction.

At this moment, Zhu Huiran rode up on horseback, his plain white battle robe stained with blood. He picked up a fragment of Zhu Wen's dragon robe with his Su Xin sword and said excitedly, "Shi Feiyang, Huaizhou has fallen! Thank you, you are so talented, your plan was truly brilliant!"

She tossed the fragment to Shi Feiyang, excitedly saying, "Zhu Youzhen sent someone, saying they want to join me in attacking Zhu Yougui." Shi Feiyang caught the fragment; the wolf head totem on it curled up when heated. He asked in return, "Join us in attacking him?"

He suddenly burst into laughter, tossing the fragments into the air, and said, "Does the princess know that Zhu Youzhen's men posted a notice on the walls of Bianliang last night 'Zhu Yougui commits incest'?" Zhu Huiran was taken aback, then laughed and said, "What have you done this time?"

"It's nothing," Shi Feiyang said, brandishing the Xuan Shuang Blade in his hand. The blade's gleam reflected his mischievous smile as he teased, "It was just having the Beggar Clan disciples deliver a few letters to Zhu Youzhen, Yuan Xiangxian, and a few others."

Zhu Huiran chuckled sweetly and gave Shi Feiyang a thumbs-up.

Blood frost clung to the glazed tiles of the Bianliang Palace. Zhu Yougui slammed his golden goblet heavily on the table, cursing, "I've spent so much money and grain to reward the civil and military officials, yet today, hardly anyone has come to the morning court! Damn it, those old ministers have all gone mad! If it weren't for the fact that I've just ascended the throne, I would have all these old bastards beheaded and displayed to the public."

The newly appointed military governor of Zhongwu Army and temporary commander of the Imperial Guards, Han Qing, approached and said, “Your Majesty, those who did not attend the morning court are all people favored by the late Emperor. They all harbor ulterior motives! Now, I am afraid that they will secretly collude and ruin Your Majesty’s important affairs. I think Your Majesty could learn from the late Emperor, be two-faced, and treat them with utmost respect in public, but turn on them at night. Be polite to one during the day, and send the new Imperial Guards to kill the other at night.”

Zhu Yougui felt a chill run down his spine, but smiled sinisterly and said, "Why bother with all that? When they all come to the morning court, I'll kill them all. Minister Han, quickly go and find some talented people to replace those old codgers."

Han Qing exclaimed, "Your Majesty is indeed a master of political maneuvering, excellent!" With that, he turned and left, but hiccuped all the way, feeling disheartened. It seemed that Zhu Yougui was even more ruthless than his father, Zhu Wen! Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. Han Qing was now thinking about resigning from his temporary post as commander of the Imperial Guards as soon as possible and quickly going to take up a high-ranking post in another region.

Zhu Yougui stared at Han Qing's retreating figure, lost in thought. Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the hall, and a deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, covered in blood, burst in, kneeling and reporting, "Your Majesty! Three thousand men of the Longxiang Army have raided the granary of Huaizhou and are enthroning... enthroning Princess Zhenning!" The golden goblet in Zhu Yougui's hand clattered to the ground, the wine trickling like blood onto the gold bricks. His face, instantly pale, contorted with rage as he roared, "It must be that scoundrel Guo Bin's doing! That beast, utterly inhuman! I have treated him well! Issue an edict: send Lu Bokui with three thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry to reclaim Huaizhou for me!"

"Yes, sir!" The lieutenant obeyed and left.

In a private room on the second floor of Zuixianlou, Shi Feiyang leaned against the railing, watching Zhu Youzhen's secret envoy haggling with the Tianlang Guards downstairs. He Quan, disguised as a waiter, tapped out the Beggars' Sect's secret code on the table with his hand, which was carrying wine and dishes: "Yuan Xiangxian's men have taken control of Kaifeng Prefecture, and Yang Shihou's Weibo army will enter the city tomorrow."

Shi Feiyang asked in a low voice, "Do you know why I ordered you to raid the Huaizhou granary?" He took another bite of braised beef, then suddenly threw the bone into the street and said seriously, "Did Zhu Yougui's edict mention the Longxiang Army's pay?"

He Quan suddenly realized and said, "Master Shi, are you saying that you deliberately cut off their food supply to force them to seek refuge with Princess Zhenning?"

“Wrong,” Shi Feiyang shook his head and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He then carved a snow plum blossom pattern on the railing with his Xuan Shuang Blade and said solemnly, “It’s to let them know that if they follow Zhu Yougui, they won’t even get the leftovers from the Tianlang Guards.”

He suddenly pointed to the convoy hurrying past at the street corner and whispered, "See those tire tracks? The Heavenly Wolf Guard's provisions are all hidden in the dilapidated temple in the west of the city." A scream suddenly came from downstairs, and the Heavenly Wolf Guard's envoy clutched his throat and fell to the ground, with half a piece of paper still between his fingers: "Kill Shi Feiyang, and be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households."

Shi Feiyang laughed loudly as he stood up, slammed the money for the wine on the table, and said loudly, "Elder He, it's time to let Li Xing spread the news—say that Zhu Yougui wants to take the heads of the Longxiang Army to sacrifice to the Tianlang Guard."

He Quan nodded excitedly and turned to leave.

That night, a light snow fell on the drill ground of the Imperial Guard camp. Shi Feiyang sat on the command platform, looking at Han Qing, the new commander sent by Zhu Yougui, and deliberately smashed his wine cup on the ground, teasingly saying, "Brother Han, have you already forgotten me, Guo?"

Han Qing gripped his sword hilt and roared, "Guo Bin, you traitor! You colluded with the Beggars' Sect and killed three thousand Imperial Guards. What is your crime? Humph! You still dare to come here to die?" Suddenly, twenty guards behind him drew their swords.

Shi Feiyang stood up, the Xuan Shuang Blade twirling in his palm, producing silver flowers, and asked in return, "Adultery?" He suddenly pointed to the gate and teased, "Brother Han, do you know that the three thousand brothers outside the gate all have lotus flowers embroidered on their sleeves?"

His purpose in returning this time was to incorporate the Imperial Guard into his army.

What he wanted was to personally take command of the military and lead an army.

Suddenly, deafening shouts of battle erupted from the training ground. Beggar Clan disciples charged out of the armory, their lotus tokens forming a white wave under the moonlight.

Han Qing was shocked and furious. He slashed at Shi Feiyang's face with his sword, but Shi Feiyang suddenly lowered his body and drew a line with his Xuan Shuang Blade, creating the "Long River Sunset". With a flick of his left palm, he guided Han Qing's sword towards the flagpole in the training ground, the light of the blade like the setting sun.

"Crack!" The flagpole snapped in response, and the commander's flag bearing the words "Da Liang" fell to the ground, revealing a large flag with the character "Tang" hidden underneath.

Shi Feiyang, stepping on the commander's flag, approached Han Qing. His glazed eyes darted in the firelight as he sternly said, "Han Qing, do you remember the boys and girls at Chenqiao Post Station? Their blood has seeped into this commander's flag." Han Qing, terrified, knelt on the ground, his knife clattering to the stone slab. He begged for mercy, "Commander Guo, this humble general... this humble general... was only following orders..."

"Acting under orders?" Shi Feiyang suddenly sneered. "Among the people Zhu Yougui ordered you to kill, was there a single corrupt official?" He turned to look at the Imperial Guards in the drill ground. "Brothers, Princess Zhenning has opened a granary in Huaizhou. As long as you lay down your swords, everyone will have food to eat!" A group of Imperial Guards, under the command of He Quan and Li Xing, immediately left the camp and headed to Huaizhou overnight to join Princess Zhenning, Zhu Huiran.

A few days later, in front of the Xuanwu Gate of the Bianliang Palace.

Shi Feiyang, leading three thousand Beggars' Sect disciples, opened the city gates and watched as Zhu Youzhen's army surged in like a tidal wave. Zhu Yougui stood on the city wall, holding Princess Zhenning's Suxin Sword in his hand, the tip of the sword pressed against her throat.

"Shi Feiyang!" Zhu Yougui's voice was hoarse and broken as he questioned, "Do you think that by putting Zhu Youzhen on the throne, you can restore the Tang Dynasty?"

He suddenly ripped open his shirt, revealing a wolf head tattoo on his chest, and roared to the sky, "The Heavenly Wolf Guard said long ago that the fate of the Li Tang dynasty is sealed!"

Shi Feiyang stared at Zhu Huiran's white dress, now stained crimson with blood. The Xuan Shuang Blade burned in his palm as he questioned, "Zhu Yougui, do you know why your father died?" He suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "Because he forgot that this world is never a place where one can secure one's position through killing." Zhu Youzhen's archers suddenly unleashed a volley of arrows, but Shi Feiyang used his "Shifting Flowers and Jade" technique to deflect all the arrows at Zhu Yougui's guards.

A series of screams erupted as Zhu Yougui's personal guards were caught off guard, and most of them were nailed to the city wall.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhu Huiran broke free and drew half a sword flower with her Suxin Sword, which struck Zhu Yougui's acupoint-striking hand.

Shi Feiyang let out a clear whistle: "Zhu Yougui, your death is near!" Grasping the Xuan Shuang Blade, he unleashed a move called "Slaying the Mortal World," the blade light merging with Zhu Huiran's sword light, drawing a rainbow of light on the city tower.

Zhu Yougui's wolf head tattoo burst into flames when exposed to light, and he screamed as he fell from the city wall. Despite his broken arm, he endured the pain, got up, and ran back to the palace. However, Zhu Wen's grandson, Yuan Xiangxian, had already led several thousand imperial guards into the palace.

In front of the Taiji Hall in Bianliang Palace, Shi Feiyang watched as Zhu Yougui was surrounded by the chaotic army, and suddenly said to Ling Shuangyue beside him, "Madam, do you think this dragon throne is comfortable to sit on?"

Frost flowers clung to Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword as she watched Zhu Youzhen's men rush into the hall. She whispered, "Husband, as you wished, I have changed our son's surname to Li and infiltrated him into the Beggars' Sect. Elders Li Xing and He Quan will be responsible for training him in how to conduct himself in the world." She paused, then added, "Regardless of whether this dragon throne is comfortable or not, our son must sit on it, all for the sake of the common people."

Shi Feiyang nodded, seeing that Zhu Yougui and his wife, Empress Zhang, had broken through the encirclement and escaped the palace, reaching the foot of the north wall, thanks to the fierce fighting of their personal guards. However, Zhu Yougui and Empress Zhang's attempt to escape by climbing the city wall failed, so he ordered Feng Ting'e to kill him and Empress Zhang. Subsequently, Feng Ting'e also committed suicide.

Yuan Xiangxian led the Imperial Guards to control Luoyang. Zhao Yan then took the Imperial Seal to Tokyo and invited Zhu Youzhen to Luoyang to ascend the throne. However, Zhu Youzhen insisted on becoming emperor in Tokyo. Shi Feiyang and Ling Shuangyue then went to Tokyo.

That month, Zhu Youzhen ascended the throne, posthumously demoting Zhu Yougui to commoner status and abolishing the Fengli era name, reverting to the third year of Qianhua. At Zhu Huiran's urging, Guo Bin remained commander of the Liang imperial guards, concurrently serving as the main commander of the city's defenses in Dongjing. Zhu Huiran staggered and threw herself into Shi Feiyang's arms, the Suxin sword falling to the ground with a soft thud. She choked back tears, saying, "Guo Lang, I...I saw Father Emperor..."

Shi Feiyang held her close as they watched Zhu Youzhen's dragon flag rise. At this time, Prince Jin, Li Cunxu, had seized control of Hedong, annexed Youzhou Town, and formed an alliance with Chengde Town and Yiwu Town to jointly resist the Great Liang in the name of restoring the Tang Dynasty.

Meanwhile, Yang Shihou, the military governor of Weibo in the Great Liang Kingdom, was arrogant and conceited. He controlled the finances of the six prefectures under his jurisdiction and selected several thousand fierce soldiers to form the Silver Spear Loyal Army as his personal guard. Great Liang faced a very serious situation, with powerful enemies lurking outside and powerful vassal states acting arrogantly within.

Zhu Youzhen then issued an imperial decree to allow Shi Feiyang to marry Zhu Huiran, and to send them to Weibo after their marriage.

After their wedding, Shi Feiyang and Zhu Huiran, without even having time to enjoy their honeymoon, led Ling Shuangyue, He Quan, Li Xing, Awang, and other elite members of the Beggars' Sect to Wei Bo. A light snow was falling over Wei Zhou City. Shi Feiyang, dressed in a brocade robe with floral patterns, and holding Zhu Huiran's arm in arm, stepped into the Wei Wang Terrace. The newly engraved snow plum blossom pattern on the handle of the Xuan Shuang Blade, hidden in his sleeve, silently clashed with the wolf-head emblem of the Silver Spear Loyal Army inside the palace.

Yang Shihou slammed his iron spear into the bronze cauldron, the sparks reflecting the nine scars on his chest. He said sarcastically, "Lord Guo, newly married, why aren't you enjoying your retirement in Bianliang? What are you doing in my Weibo?"

Shi Feiyang helped Zhu Huiran sit down, his glassy eyes darting in the candlelight. He asked in return, "Does Governor Yang know?" He ran his fingertips across the wine cup, his Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique melting the snow into watermarks. He then teased, "The Emperor dreamt of a Kunlun immortal last night, saying that the silver spears of Weibo should change their banner."

The candles in the hall suddenly went out, and three hundred silver-spear guards surrounded him like ghosts. Zhu Huiran drew her Su Xin sword half an inch from its sheath, the snow plum blossom patterned tassel brushing against Shi Feiyang's hand. She said with concern, "Guo Lang, did you promise last night that you wouldn't let my new skirt get stained with blood?"

Shi Feiyang laughed loudly, and Mingyu Gong reached the "Supreme Forgetfulness Ice Soul Cold Prison", his skin glowing with a glassy luster.

The moment Yang Shihou thrust his silver spear, Shi Feiyang used the "Shifting Flowers and Receiving Jade" divine skill. The vortex suction force formed by the Mingyu Gong true qi actually led the spearhead toward the palace pillar, and the fine iron spear shaft shattered into ice shards in the cold air.

Shi Feiyang said coldly, "Governor Yang, did you grind the spearhead of your Silver Spear Guard with the skull of a loyal minister from Baima Post Station?" Yang Shihou's iron spear crashed down with wind and thunder, but Shi Feiyang's figure floated towards the caisson ceiling like a ghost. Then, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" move from the Hundred Victories Saber Technique with both palms! The shockwave from his palm strikes shattered twelve bronze lamps, and the hall was instantly enveloped in icy blue mist.

Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword pierced through the skylight, leaving thirty-six ice marks on the pillar that formed a snow plum blossom pattern. She then said with a charming laugh, "Hero Shi, Elder He has taken control of the Weibo granary." With a light flick of her jade hand, her ice sword drew the Big Dipper Formation, sealing off the Silver Spear Guards' offensive.

Shi Feiyang landed beside Zhu Huiran, his fingertips brushing against the pearl in her hair, and then asked with a smile, "Does the princess remember," he said teasingly, looking into Yang Shihou's frightened eyes, "the boy and girl from Chenqiao Post Station asked me to ask you for sesame cakes?"

His palm strikes suddenly changed, unleashing the "Slaying the Mortal World" technique from the Hundred Victories Saber Art, cleaving Yang Shihou into ninety-nine pieces. Blood splattered everywhere, but was instantly frozen into ice blocks, which shattered on the ground.

A fire suddenly broke out in the Wei Bo army camp. Shi Feiyang stood on the command platform, watching the mutineers surge in with banners that read "Return to Tang," and smiled at Ling Shuangyue beside him: "Madam, the Western Region itching powder you put in the wine cellar is even stronger than the one at Chenqiao Post Station back then."

Frost flowers clung to Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword. Looking at the beggars scratching their heads in a disheveled state, she teased, "Master Shi, don't forget that you promised to give each Beggar Clan disciple ten jars of Drunken Immortal Pavilion's Daughter's Red wine."

Suddenly, three generals charged in on horseback; they were Yang Shihou's personal guards. Shi Feiyang didn't want to get entangled in a fight with these people, so he immediately used the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill. Blood threads flew from his fingertips, and the three generals, who had come galloping at him, coughed up blood and turned into three small monkey-shaped dried corpses, falling off their horses.

The mutineers cheered upon seeing this and elected Shi Feiyang as their temporary commander. His bright eyes reflected the dawn light on the horizon, and he said to He Quan, "Elder He, the key to Weibo's granary should be handed over to someone who truly protects the people."

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), Zhu Youzhen's imperial edict arrived, ordering Shi Feiyang to divide the six prefectures of Weibo.

Zhu Huiran unfurled the yellow silk and suddenly sneered, "Your Majesty, are you trying to play the old tricks of the late Emperor?" She turned to look at Shi Feiyang, blood dripping from the snow plum hairpin in her hair, and asked in a daze, "Guo Lang, what do you think we should do?"

Shi Feiyang stroked the cloth handle of the Xuan Shuang Blade and said with a smile, "Does the princess remember that I promised to take you to Kunlun to see the snow plum blossoms back in Bianliang?" He suddenly grasped her hand, pressed the Kunlun Mirror fragment into her palm, and teased, "But before that, we must let Li Cunxu's army enjoy the beautiful snow scenery of Weibo."

As they were talking, Li Cunxu's Hedong army had already reached the walls of Weizhou City, and Shi Feiyang had led the Beggars' Sect disciples to set up the "Ice Soul Cold Prison Formation" on the city wall.

Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword drew thirty-six ice marks, freezing snow plum blossoms on the city wall. Shi Feiyang stood at the crenellation, his glassy eyes reflecting the enemy's banners, and shouted, "Elder Awang, shoot Yang Shihou's secret letter into Li Cunxu's central command tent."

The arrow, trailing sparks, streaked across the sky and landed before Li Cunxu. The plan in the letter to "sacrifice blood to the Eye of the Abyss" made the Prince of Jin's face turn ashen. He looked up at the city wall and saw Shi Feiyang's figure standing proudly in the morning light, like a snow plum blossom from Kunlun.

That night, Shi Feiyang sat alone on the ruins of Weiwangtai, gazing at the lights of the six prefectures of Weibo. Zhu Huiran handed him a bowl of hot wine; the bloodstains on her plain white skirt had congealed into red plum blossoms. She said uneasily, "Guo Lang, when will this chaotic world end?"

Shi Feiyang took the wine bowl, traced a snow plum blossom pattern on the rim with his fingertips, and asked in return, "Do you still remember the boy and girl from Chenqiao Post Station?"

A flash of bloodlust from the past crossed her glassy eyes, and she declared domineeringly, "As long as there are still people who remember the moonlight of the Tang Dynasty, our swords cannot stop." Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

He Quan's lotus token gleamed in the night, bringing news that Li Cunxu, accompanied only by a few personal guards, was about to enter the city to pay a visit to Shi Feiyang. Shi Feiyang stood up, his Xuan Shuang Blade twirling in his palm, producing silver glints. He turned to Zhu Huiran and said, "Let's go, let's meet this Prince Jin." (End of Chapter)