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

"You lecher!" Dilirena pushed Shi Feiyang away and scolded him coquettishly, but then curled her lips as she turned away.

While the two were playfully fighting, Blood Soul was completely frozen by the ice net, turning into blood-red ice crystals all over the ground.

Shi Feiyang picked up one of the pieces and, through the ice crystal, vaguely saw a familiar face sealed inside—it was the face of Dilirena's brother.

……

Inside the Frosty Hall of the Yihua Palace, Zheng Lingyi slammed the secret letter onto the table. The letter turned to ashes in her palm, and her hand, hidden beneath her crimson cloak, clenched tightly as she exclaimed in sudden realization, "Elder Xuanli has indeed colluded with the Longevity Abyss!"

Standing to the side, Shi Shiwei was pale. He was about to speak when he coughed violently, the blood and foam spreading on the icy ground. He said in a trembling voice, "Great-grandmother, should we... should we inform the Ancestor?"

"No!" Zheng Lingyi firmly rejected the idea, placing her hand on his shoulder before gently saying, "Your ancestor is at a crucial moment searching for the antidote for you; you can't be distracted." She walked to the window, gazing at the distant ice peaks, and sharply commanded, "Pass on my order: deploy the Xuan Iron Guards to guard all the secret passages, and also..."

A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and she said decisively, "Spread the word that Shi Feiyang has obtained the Soul-Returning Pill and will return soon."

That evening, in a side hall of the Yihua Palace, Elder Xuanli was having a private conversation with a masked man. On the table lay a brocade box containing half a fragment of a star map.

He said smugly, "As long as I get the other half, Changshengyuan promises to help me regain control of Yihua Palace." Before he finished speaking, the palace door was suddenly pushed open, and Zheng Lingyi stood there holding a whip, followed by twelve Xuan Tie Guards. He said sarcastically, "Elder, after years of cultivating in seclusion, you actually covet such an evil object?"

Elder Xuanli sneered, "You monster, don't think I'll be afraid of you just because you married a thousand-year-old demon at such a young age. Hmph! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! Men, seize this demoness!"

The masked men attacked simultaneously, their palm strikes carrying a thick, bloody stench. Zheng Lingyi's soft whip moved like a serpent emerging from its hole, unleashing the Blood Moon Demon Art's "Moon Devour!"

A blood-red whip wrapped around the necks of the two, but then Elder Xuanli suddenly tore off his human skin mask—that face was exactly the same as the envoy from the Abyss of Immortality!
Zheng Lingyi was slightly stunned, and Elder Xuanli took the opportunity to fly away.

……

Outside the Abyss of Immortality, in the "Bone-Eating Swamp," Shi Feiyang, stepping on the flaming blade thrown by Dilirena, sped across the swamp churning with venom.

The words "Nine Netherworld Secret Realm" were carved into the cliff face ahead. Two men in black robes guarded the entrance, with a string of skull bells hanging from their waists.

“The one on the left is the ‘Death Judge,’ and the one on the right is the ‘Soul Stealer.’” Dilirena’s voice came from behind. She had changed into a black robe, and the vermilion mole at the corner of her eye was covered by ink. She said bravely, “I’ll distract the judge, and you deal with the messenger.”

Shi Feiyang nodded, his figure suddenly sinking into the swamp. When he reappeared, he was behind the envoy and immediately used "Shifting Flowers and Replacing Jade!" The envoy's ghost-headed blade slashed back at himself, and the blood splattered on the cliff wall, which actually activated the hidden stone door mechanism.

The stone gate slowly opened, revealing a deep passageway. As soon as Shi Feiyang and Dilirena stepped inside, they heard the sound of iron chains dragging on the ground.

At the end of the passageway, dozens of prisoners were suspended from the stone wall, each with a transparent tube inserted into their chest. The other end of the tube was connected to a huge blood vat, in which countless writhing tumors were soaking.

"Brother!" Dilirena cried out, rushing towards the prisoner on the far left. The man was dressed in rags, and a tube was constantly drawing blood from his chest.

Shi Feiyang drew his Xuan Shuang Blade, severing the iron chains as he unleashed his "Heavenly Silkworm Skill." A crystalline light surged from his palm, and the silver silk threads formed from his true energy wrapped around the blood vat, tearing it apart. The moment the tumor hit the ground, it emitted a sound like an infant's cry.

“This is ‘Soul-Nourishing Gu’…” the prisoner said weakly. “The Abyss of Longevity feeds them with the blood of living people, and then uses the Gu worms as medicine to make Soul-Returning Pills…” He suddenly pointed to the remains of the blood vat and said in a trembling voice, “Inside… there are clues to the star map…” Shi Feiyang picked up a blood-stained parchment from the fragments of the blood vat. It had a map of the Abyss of Longevity drawn on it, with “The Abyss Lord’s Secret Chamber” marked in the center.

Dilirena was bandaging her brother's wounds when she suddenly heard a strange noise behind her—it was Elder Xuanli leading more than ten men in black, carrying an unconscious woman, Zheng Lingyi!

"Shi Feiyang, hand over the star map, or she'll have to keep these Gu worms company!" Elder Xuanli gripped Zheng Lingyi's neck, a dagger waving near her cheek. Shi Feiyang's pupils constricted, his aura instantly intensifying, and he coldly said, "Release her!"

He slowly raised the parchment scroll and said in a deep voice, "I can give it to you, but you must guarantee the safe departure of the three of them."

Dilirena pressed down on his wrist and whispered, "No! This is a trap!" Shi Feiyang shook his head at her, his glassy eyes filled with determination, and said firmly, "I owe my wife, and I must repay her."

He tossed the parchment scroll to Elder Xuanyu, but in an instant, he unleashed "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder," and the moment the ice and thunder exploded, he charged towards Zheng Lingyi like an arrow released from a bow. Elder Xuanli caught the parchment scroll with a sinister grin, only to see Zheng Lingyi suddenly open her eyes, her soft whip coiling around his wrist like a venomous snake emerging from its hole—it turned out she had already awakened and was merely playing along. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade Art; a flash of light, and Elder Xuanli's head flew into the air.

Amidst the splattering blood, Shi Feiyang embraced the exhausted Zheng Lingyi, only to see Dilirena leading her brother towards the tunnel exit. She glanced back at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions, which finally softened into a relieved smile as she whispered, "Remember your promise..." Before she finished speaking, she vanished into the darkness.

Shi Feiyang looked in the direction she left and suddenly chuckled.

Zheng Lingyi punched him in the chest and scolded him playfully, "Still laughing? I almost didn't see you again."

He gripped her hand tightly, his crystal eyes reflecting the blood rain, "With you here, how could I bear to die?" The two excitedly returned to Yihua Palace with the "Resurrection Pill" that could cure Shi Shiwei's poison.

After curing Shi Shiwei's poison wounds, Zheng Lingyi also gave birth to a son. Shi Feiyang named his beloved son Shi Fengyi, reappointed his great-grandson Shi Shiwei as the master of Yihua Palace, and taught Shi Shiwei the divine skill of "Yihua Jieyu".

Having completed these important tasks, Shi Feiyang left Zheng Lingyi at Yihua Palace to recuperate after childbirth, instructing his great-grandson Shi Shiwei to take good care of his young great-grandmother. He was now on his way to Luoyang, as news from the Beggars' Sect disciples indicated that the Tang Dynasty was at war with the Han Dynasty.

According to the Beggars' Sect disciples, after Shi Feiyang left Luoyang, the Tang emperor was very successful in building a new official system, namely abolishing the prime minister and establishing the Six Ministries, with the ministers of the Six Ministries being responsible to the emperor.

Now, there is a great opportunity: to attack the Han.

Emperor Li Danqing of the Tang Dynasty decided to lead the army alone. He had a rare opportunity and wanted to test his ability to command generals and strategize.

The millennia-old ice of the Yihua Palace gleamed with a pale golden luster under the warm early spring sun. A few days later, Zheng Lingyi leaned against the entrance of the Hanbing Palace, holding an infant in her arms, her crimson cloak fluttering against the lingering snow on the steps.

Shi Feiyang tied the Xuan Shuang Blade to his waist, his fingertips gently tracing the sleeping baby's eyebrows and eyes. His glassy eyes were filled with rare tenderness as he whispered, "Feng Yi, when your father comes back, I'll catch you a white fox as a toy."

"Husband, be careful on the road," Zheng Lingyi said with concern, stuffing a brocade box into his arms. Inside was freshly made snow lotus ointment. She then reminded him, "The letter from the Beggars' Sect says that the Zhou army has set up a triple defense line on the border. Those sycophants in the martial arts world will definitely take the opportunity to make things difficult for you."

Shi Feiyang suddenly leaned down and lightly pecked her lips, causing Zheng Lingyi's cheeks to flush red.

As he turned around, he bumped into Shi Shiwei standing below the steps, holding the "Transplanting Flowers and Jade" manual. The young man's arrogance had faded, and he said steadily, "Grandpa, rest assured, your grandson will definitely protect Grandmother and Uncle."

"That's more like it." Shi Feiyang praised him, then lightly tapped his brow with his finger, and a warm stream of true energy flowed in. He then instructed him, "Remember, the essence of the 'Transferring Flowers and Jade' technique is not about borrowing strength, but about understanding the situation."

Before he finished speaking, he had already used his "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill to leap down the cliff. His dark clothes flashed in the snow and mist and then turned into a small dot on the horizon.

Three days later, at the Yellow River ferry. Shi Feiyang was about to board the boat when he suddenly heard the soft sound of a bowstring coming from the reeds. He lightly touched the gunwale with his toes, and his body floated up like a willow catkin. Three poisoned crossbow bolts grazed the soles of his boots and shot into the water. Before the splashes could fall, they were frozen into ice crystals by the cold aura emanating from his body.

Shi Feiyang floated down and said jokingly, "I haven't heard of the 'Cloud Piercing Crossbow' from the Eagle Pavilion for twenty years. It seems to have regressed." After saying that, he stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, watching the seven black-clad figures emerge from the reeds. The bronze plaques at their waists were engraved with a soaring eagle.

The leader, his face veiled in black, spoke in a hoarse voice, "Palace Master Shi, Lord Guo Wei has ordered that you stay in Heyang for three months."

Shi Feiyang suddenly laughed out loud, his glassy eyes shining brightly in the sunlight. He said jokingly, "It's a pity that I'm busy earning a title for my son and don't have time to play with you."

With a flick of his long sleeves, he secretly activated his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" skill, causing the seven crossbow bolts that were fired at the same time to twirl in mid-air and pierce the leader's heart in unison.

The man grunted, black blood trickling down the arrow shaft and into the water, staining half the river red. The other six drew their swords and slashed, but Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded. His skin, transformed by the Mingyu Gong, was as transparent as ice. The moment the blades touched his sleeves, they were held firmly, like a magnet to iron.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Mountain Splitting" technique of the Hundred Victories Swordplay with both palms! Before the palm wind was even released, the surge of true energy alone was enough to shatter the tendons and bones of the six people. The moment these six people fell into the Yellow River, their blood was drained by the "Evil Blood Calamity," turning them into six withered corpses that floated downstream.

That night, Shi Feiyang stayed at the "Yanshi" Inn. As he stepped into the small attic and loosened his clothes, he felt the window paper move slightly.

He threw the teacup with his backhand, but it was intercepted in mid-air by a red shadow.

Dilirena stood by the window frame, her gilded skirt with a Western Region flair sweeping across the table. The curved sword at her waist gleamed coldly as she said with a playful smile, "Great Palace Master Shi, how have you been?"

"So it's Miss Dili." Shi Feiyang said, feigning sudden realization. He then slowly poured himself a drink, the liquid rippling in the glass. He chuckled and said, "I wonder if you've come to visit so late at night to ask for the return of the Heart-Clearing Herb I lent you last time, or... to try the Heavenly Silkworm Technique again?"

Dilirena blushed slightly, then flicked her colorful silk ribbon to wrap around his wrist, scolding, "Stop talking nonsense! My brother said that Guo Wei has set up the 'Nine Fiends Formation' in Luoyang, just waiting for you to walk into his trap."

She suddenly leaned closer, the vermilion mole at the corner of her eye glowing like a peach blossom in the candlelight, and teased, "Unless you agree to take me with you, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Shi Feiyang raised an eyebrow and chuckled, his fingertips sliding along the colorful silk to the back of her hand. The chill made her skin frost over with fine white frost. He teased, "You think you can tie me up with this tattered silk?" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly spun around, and the colorful silk instantly wrapped around Dilirena's waist.

The two were only inches apart; he could smell the benzoin in Dilirena's hair, and she could see the tiny ice crystals condensing on Shi Feiyang's eyelashes.

Suddenly, a commotion arose downstairs. Shadowmoon Village henchmen kicked down the door and burst in. The leader, wielding a crescent shovel with flesh and blood of Beggar Clan disciples still clinging to its fangs, snarled viciously, "Shi Feiyang, prepare to die!" Dilirena drew her curved blade, crimson flames swirling around its body, and said tauntingly, "Your opponent is me!" Relying on Shi Feiyang's presence, she was fearless.

Shi Feiyang, however, held her wrist, a sly glint in his glassy eyes, and said teasingly, "Don't rush, let me see how many levels the Shadow Moon Village's 'Soul-Chasing Shovel' has reached." He suddenly used the mysterious lightness skill "Hidden Body and Name," his figure moving like a ghost to circle behind the seven people, and then used the divine skill "Shifting Flowers and Jade"! The seven crescent shovels turned at the same time, slashing at each other, and in an instant, the sound of bones breaking and tendons snapping could be heard.

The last henchman knelt down and begged for mercy, but Shi Feiyang casually played with the jade pendant at his waist and said in a deep voice, "Tell your chieftain that I will be waiting for him in Mangshan in three days. If you dare not come..." A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he said coldly, "The moonlight in Yanshi City cannot illuminate the road to the Yellow Springs."

The next morning, before the morning mist had completely dissipated from the Mangshan ancient tomb complex, Shi Feiyang was already brewing wine in front of the Overlord's Tomb.

Dilirena watched him pour three jars of strong liquor into the stone cauldron, puzzled, and asked curiously, "What are you up to?"

"The 'Jade-Faced Fairy' of Baifeng Temple loves fine wine the most, so what are we doing here..." Before Shi Feiyang could finish speaking, more than a hundred women in white robes floated out of the tomb passage, their silver whisks shimmering in their hands, which were none other than the "Soul-Locking Silk" of Baifeng Temple.

The middle-aged woman at the head of the group held a jade ruyi scepter. Her voice was soft but contained a chilling edge. She said mockingly, "Palace Master Shi has quite the interest, setting up a trap here." Shi Feiyang chuckled and said, "Compared to Fairy Lady's refined taste of using living people to refine the 'White Phoenix Pill,' I am ashamed to admit my inferiority."

Having said that, he shielded Dilirena behind him, and as the Xuan Shuang Blade was drawn, it brought with it an icy rainbow. He then said sarcastically, "I've heard that Fairy Lady's 'White Phoenix Nine Style' can turn bones to ash. Today, I'll have to experience it for myself."

The beautiful woman swung her whisk, unleashing a torrential downpour of silver threads. Shi Feiyang activated his Bright Jade Skill, his body condensing into an ice wall of chilling energy, which shattered upon impact. Suddenly, he noticed Dilirena being entangled by three female disciples; her curved blade, though sharp, was no match for the uncanny power of the Soul-Locking Silk.

Shi Feiyang warned, "Be careful!" He then used his wondrous "Deeds Done, Departure" lightness skill to rush to her side. He activated his Heavenly Silkworm Skill, and a crystalline light flashed in his palm. Silvery-white filaments formed from his true energy pierced through the collarbones of the three female disciples like serpents emerging from their holes. Before they could even scream, the true energy forced their internal organs back, causing them to spurt blood from their seven orifices and die.

Dilirena looked at the drops of blood dripping from his sleeve, her eyes suddenly reddening, and she said emotionally, "You could have just ignored me..."

Shi Feiyang turned his face away and said, "Who said I did this for you?" His ears turned red, and he said jokingly, "I'm afraid that if you die, no one will lead me to Luoyang." As he turned around, he saw the beautiful woman launch a sneak attack, her jade ruyi aimed straight at Dilirena's back.

Shi Feiyang quickly unleashed his "Shocking Calamity" divine skill! His eyes turned icy cold, and a beam of icy light shot towards the beautiful woman's face. Her face instantly turned to frost, the jade ruyi slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, and she turned into an ice sculpture with a scream. Then, with a "crack," it shattered, and dozens of infant skulls rolled out from the scattered ice crystals.

Dilirena felt a churning in her stomach, but Shi Feiyang pressed down on her shoulder. He took out a snow lotus ointment from his pocket, put it in her hand, and teased, "Wipe your face, don't let the blood stain this pretty face."

Morning dew condensed into tiny beads on the sword tassel. As Dilirena lowered her head to wipe her face, her fingertips touched her burning cheeks, and she was surprised to find her eyes were red. The snow lotus ointment that Shi Feiyang handed her carried a cool, refreshing scent, yet it warmed her heart. His sculpted, jade-like figure reflected in her eyes was more intoxicating than the strongest wine from the Western Regions.

Shi Feiyang said jokingly, "Fool, you wiped it crookedly." Suddenly, he raised his hand and gently brushed the bloodstain on the corner of her lips with his fingertips. Dilirena shrank back like a startled deer, but inexplicably did not dodge.

He chuckled softly, like a spring breeze across a frozen lake, and teased, "Such a grown woman, yet still like a little girl stealing candy." Dilirena gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, the gilded embroidery thread pricking her palms until they tingled. She stammered, "Who...who stole the candy..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shi Feiyang had already led her by the hand and onto the road heading east. His palm was as cool as jade, yet it possessed a reassuring strength. Dilirena secretly glanced up and saw his skin, as translucent as glass, revealed as his black robes fluttered. Her heart skipped a beat. Reaching the Sishui Pass, they suddenly heard the mournful sound of a bone flute echoing from the forest. Shi Feiyang paused, shielding Dilirena behind him, and whispered, "It's the 'Soul-Capturing Flute' of the White Bone Boat. Cover your ears." She, however, gripped his sleeve tightly, her voice barely audible, "I'm not afraid, you're here."

Before he finished speaking, dozens of skeletons crawled out of the grave, their white bones still covered with rotting flesh.

The boat owner, clad in a black robe, pointed his bone staff, and skeletons surged forth like a tide. Shi Feiyang drew his Xuan Shuang Blade, its gleam reflecting in Dilirena's eyes. Suddenly, he turned and pushed her behind a tree, saying, "Stay put, and I'll pick some 'bone flowers' for you to play with." As he spoke, he unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Cloud" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique! A gust of wind from his palm stirred up dust, shattering the skeletons one by one.

Dilirena watched Shi Feiyang's figure weaving through the pile of bones, then suddenly drew her curved sword from her waist, rushed forward, and said coquettishly, "I don't need your protection!" Her sword strikes were as fierce as the flames of the Western Regions, but the moment she touched a skull, Shi Feiyang gently pulled her back. He had already secretly activated his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill, and the curved sword shattered the boat owner's bone staff.

"Stubborn," Shi Feiyang scolded again, flicking her forehead with his finger, but the smile in his eyes was hard to hide.

Dilirena covered her forehead and glared at him, her eyes reddening as she said coquettishly, "I just want to fight alongside you..." Before she could finish speaking, he pulled her into his arms. The chill emanating from him was tinged with the faint scent of snow lotus.

She heard Shi Feiyang whisper in her ear, "Okay, from now on, I'll take you with me to every battle." Spending the night in a dilapidated temple, Shi Feiyang was polishing his Xuan Shuang Blade by the fire when he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. Dilirena had somehow gotten close to him, her hair tangled in his clothes, murmuring, "Don't go..."

He paused, then reached out and moved Dilirena closer to the fire. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, the vermilion mole at the corner of her eye shining brightly in the firelight, like a peach blossom. She said shyly, "I dreamt that you were being attacked by the Fenglei Sect, covered in blood..."

"Silly girl," Shi Feiyang chuckled, handing over the roasted rabbit and teasingly saying, "My 'Mingyu Skill' grants me immortality. Even if the sky falls, it'll have to get past the blade in my hand first."

Dilirena suddenly grabbed his wrist, her fingertips tracing the pale blue veins on his wrist, and said in a trembling voice, "But I'm still afraid... afraid that you'll be like my brother, never to return."

Shi Feiyang's heart clenched. Gazing into her shimmering eyes, he suddenly leaned down and kissed her between the eyebrows, swearing, "I swear to heaven that as long as Dilirena lives, I will never leave before her."

Dilirena suddenly threw herself into his arms, her tears soaking his clothes, but he chuckled softly, "If you keep crying, the hare will be snatched away by the lynx." The two snuggled together, leaning against the tree trunk, and gradually drifted off to sleep.

The following morning, the leader of the Wind and Thunder Sect, along with his disciples, blocked the bridge, their steel whips whipping down with the sound of thunder and lightning. Shi Feiyang shielded Dilirena behind him, only to see her suddenly draw her curved blade, the tip pointing directly at the sect leader's throat, and declare domineeringly, "Your opponent is me!"

Shi Feiyang raised an eyebrow and chuckled, taking a half step back and saying, "Alright, let me see how much my little girl has improved." Although Dilirena's sword strikes were swift, she ultimately lacked experience and her blade was entangled by the steel whip.

In the critical moment, Shi Feiyang suddenly flicked his finger, and a pebble struck the sect leader's pulse point. Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang used the "Shifting Flowers and Receiving Jade" divine skill, and the sect leader's steel whip suddenly changed direction, striking the sect leader himself heavily in the face.

He screamed and fell to the ground, only to see Shi Feiyang already had his arm around Dilirena's waist, laughing in her ear, "Now, you should believe me, right?"

Dilirena gazed into his crystal-clear eyes, then suddenly tiptoed and gently kissed the corner of his lips. Shi Feiyang was struck dumb, frozen in place, only to see her run away, her skirt fluttering as she left, saying, "This is... a thank-you gift!"

A gentle east wind rustled through the willows by the bridge. Shi Feiyang raised his hand to his lips, where her warmth still lingered. Gazing at that gilded figure, he suddenly burst into laughter. The Xuan Shuang Blade drew a dazzling arc in the sunlight, illuminating the world with clarity.

Shi Feiyang laughed for a while, then hurried after Dilirena.

His figure shot out like an arrow, instantly catching up with the shimmering gold skirt. He stretched out his long arm and pulled Dilirena firmly into his embrace. His dark robes intertwined with her red skirt, like black jade inlaid with agate, creating a breathtaking beauty in the morning mist.

"Why are you running away?" His breath brushed past her ear, carrying a faint scent of snow lotus. He said with a grin, "You've lost all the courage you had to offer a kiss earlier." Dilirena's cheeks were burning hot, and she placed her hands against his chest, but dared not push him away forcefully—his chest, through the thin fabric, exuded the unique warmth of Mingyu Gong, much like the spring water melting from the snow-capped mountains of the Western Regions.

"I...I didn't mean to." Her voice was barely audible, her eyelashes drooping and casting a faint shadow under her eyes. She stammered, "The wind was too strong, and it made me lose my balance."

Shi Feiyang chuckled softly, the vibrations from his chest traveling through their skin, sending shivers down her spine.

He suddenly leaned down, his nose brushing against her temple, where ashes from last night's fire still clung.

He added jokingly, "This wind is quite sensible; it knows how to cover up your lie."

He gently lifted her chin with his fingertips, his glassy eyes shining brightly, and teased, "But I insist on asking—was that kiss just now a thank you gift, or... a token of my affection?" Dilirena's eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings in the wind, and tears welled up unexpectedly. "You knew..." she choked, pounding on him, her fists landing on him like cotton hitting a rock, "From the moment you shielded me from that poisoned needle at Mangshan, from the moment you stuffed the last half of the Snow Lotus Ointment into my hands... Shi Feiyang, you scoundrel, you know everything, yet you insisted on forcing me to tell you!"

"Yes, I know," Shi Feiyang said seriously, then suddenly stopped joking and gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. The coldness of his fingertips made her flinch, but he held her even tighter and said with a chuckle, "But I just want to hear you say it. I want to hear you say that Dilirena's heart is filled with Shi Feiyang, not anyone else."

Dilirena looked up abruptly, meeting his deep eyes.

There, her flushed cheeks were reflected, as was the rising sun on the horizon, and the tenderness he had never shown to anyone else. "Yes! You're the only one in my heart!" Dilirena's voice trembled with tears, yet every word was clear, as she said shyly, "I don't care if you have a wife or not, I don't care if you're the mistress of the Flower Palace, I just want to follow you! Even if I can only be a little maid by your side, I'll be willing!"

Shi Feiyang's heart felt as if it had been struck hard by something, a mixture of sourness and tenderness. He suddenly lowered his head and kissed her trembling lips.

The morning dew fell on their hair, carrying the fragrance of willow branches. Her lips were soft and warm, carrying the smoky aroma of last night's roasted rabbit, yet more intoxicating than any snow lotus wine he had ever tasted.

"Silly girl." He pressed his forehead against Dilirena's and said in a hoarse voice, "Who said I wanted you to be a little girl?"

He pulled a jade pendant from his robes, a phoenix carved from warm jade from the Western Regions, its wings inlaid with tiny rubies. He said with deep emotion, "This is something I asked a Beggars' Sect disciple to find in Khotan. I intended to give it to you after we reached Luoyang, but now it seems..." Dilirena's tears fell even harder, yet she clutched the jade pendant tightly, fearing it was all just a dream. She murmured, "You... what do you mean by this?"

“What I mean is,” Shi Feiyang suddenly knelt on one knee, holding up the jade pendant and looking up at her. The morning light outlined his handsome profile, which carried a hint of youthful shyness. He stammered, “Dilrena, are you willing to marry me? Not as a concubine, not as a maid, but as my rightful wife, Shi Feiyang, and to watch the sunrise and sunset of this martial world with me.”

Dilirena covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, but she smiled and nodded repeatedly, like a pomegranate flower blooming after the rain, saying, "I do! I do!" Shi Feiyang stood up and embraced her, whispering in her ear, "You're not allowed to cry anymore. Your tears are more powerful than that 'Shocking Calamity,' they can freeze my heart."

Dilirena snuggled against him, burying her face in his clothes, and murmured, "Then you're not allowed to smile at other women anymore, not allowed to shield other women from hidden weapons, not allowed..."

"Whatever you say." Shi Feiyang agreed with a smile, then suddenly lowered his head and gently bit her neck, causing her to gasp and try to dodge, but he held her firmly. "But now, I have to punish you first. You ran so fast just now, it was so hard for me to catch you."

"Then how do you want to punish me?" She looked up, the cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye shining brightly in the morning light, like a peach blossom, carrying a hint of cunning and a hint of shyness.

Shi Feiyang's gaze fell on her reddened lips, and he suddenly smiled, saying affectionately, "I'll punish you..." He leaned down and kissed her lips, his voice muffled between his teeth, "I'll punish you so that you'll never leave my side again for the rest of your life."

A morning breeze blew across the willow bank, lifting the intertwined garments of the two. In the distance, the faint sounds of horses' hooves and the clash of weapons could be heard on the official road, but under the shade of the willows, only the sounds of heartbeats and breaths mingled, so tender they could melt water.

Dilirena closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his embrace and the promise between his lips. Suddenly, she felt that even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, as long as this person was by her side, she would be fearless.

The night fog over Mount Song and Mount Shaoshi was as thick as ink. Twelve bronze mirrors floated in mid-air, their surfaces shimmering with an eerie golden light, trapping Shi Feiyang and Dilirena in the center. Xuan Yangzi, the leader of the Golden Light Sect, clad in a gilded Taoist robe and wielding the Seven Star Sword, stood atop the mirror array, his long beard fluttering in the night wind. He threatened, "Shi Feiyang, today I'll show you the ultimate technique of my Golden Light Sect, the 'Thousand Machine Golden Wheel Array'!"

Dilirena gripped the Sacred Flame Token tightly, the unique flame patterns of the Western Regions glowing faintly in the moonlight. She declared domineeringly, "What can these broken mirrors do to me?" Before her words even finished, the bronze mirror suddenly erupted with blinding golden light, countless golden rays shooting forth like sharp arrows. Shi Feiyang wrapped his arms around her waist, using his "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to weave through the golden light like a ghost, his dark robes torn in several places.

"Beware of mind-controlling techniques!" Shi Feiyang suddenly shouted.

Dilirena suddenly felt dizzy, and images of her burned-down homeland in the Western Regions flashed before her eyes, along with her brother, covered in blood, reaching out to her.

Just as she lost her composure, Shi Feiyang's voice rang in her ears like a booming bell: "Look into my eyes!"

A chilling glint flashed in Liuli's eyes, forcefully pulling her out of the illusion. Seeing this, Xuan Yangzi swung his magic sword, causing twelve bronze mirrors to spin rapidly, forming a golden vortex. Shi Feiyang activated his Mingyu Gong, his skin becoming as transparent as jade, his true energy transforming into a vortex of suction to counter his opponent.

Immediately afterward, he unleashed the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill! Transforming ice into lightning, the ice lightning shot towards the bronze mirror like meteors. With a deafening roar, the mirror surface shattered, and sharp fragments fell like raindrops, only to condense into ice crystals the instant they touched the chilling aura surrounding him.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Dilirena unleashed the Sacred Flame Token, and crimson flames swept upwards, burning away all the remaining captivating golden light.

Xuan Yangzi's eyes widened in fury as he said sullenly, "Impossible! How could my Golden Wheel Formation..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was struck by Shi Feiyang's "Shocking Calamity" divine skill, and instantly his whole body was covered in frost, his body fell apart and cracked, turning into ice shards all over the ground.

The moonlight draped the Shaolin Temple Pagoda Forest in a silver veil. Shi Feiyang sat on the base of a stone pagoda, bandaging Dilirena's arm wound. Silver needles pierced through the blood-stained bandage, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

Dilirena gazed at his focused profile and suddenly asked softly, "Where do you plan to take me after we've pacified the Zhou Kingdom?"

Shi Feiyang paused, his crystal eyes reflecting the crescent moon atop the tower, and said affectionately, “Return to the Yihua Palace. The Ice Palace there is warm in winter and cool in summer. I’ll have the courtyard filled with snow lotuses; it will surely be the warmest home for you.” Seeing her lower her eyes and remain silent, he added, “Or go to the Western Regions, rebuild the home you remember, and let even the winds and sands remember the name Dilirena…”

“I want to go back to Luoyang.” Dilirena looked up, the vermilion mole at the corner of her eye shining brightly like blood in the moonlight, and said longingly, “I heard that the peonies there are even more beautiful than the snow lotus in the Western Regions.” She paused and said softly, “And… I want to see the place where you were the prime minister.”

Shi Feiyang suddenly smiled and took out a brocade box from his bosom. When he opened it, a peony hairpin carved from black ice lay quietly on the brocade. The petals were as thin as cicada wings, and tiny frost flowers still clung to the stamen. He said tenderly, "I knew you would say that. I specially carved this hairpin from the thousand-year-old black ice of the Yihua Palace. After this war is over, I will marry you in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, and all the peonies in Luoyang will make way for us."

Dilirena took the jade hairpin, her fingertips touching its cool icy texture, yet feeling a burning sensation in her heart. Suddenly, she tiptoed and planted a kiss on his lips, saying coquettishly, "You said it yourself. If you dare break your promise..."

She deliberately put on a stern face, but couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. She said with a mix of affection, infatuation, and reproach, "If you dare to break your promise, may I never taste your hand-grabbed rice again in my life." Shi Feiyang put his arm around her waist, lowered his head and kissed her forehead lightly, and said affectionately, "But right now, I have to heal my bride first."

……

The next morning, dew still clung to the eaves of the City God Temple in Yanshi. Shi Feiyang, with his Xuan Shuang Blade wrapped in red silk at his waist, stood side by side with Dilirena.

There were no elaborate betrothal rites, no resounding music, only red silk hastily gathered by Beggar Clan disciples to adorn the statue, and twenty Beggar Clan elders holding dog-beating sticks serving as a makeshift ceremonial guard.

Dilirena changed into the wedding dress sent by He Quan, an elder of the Beggars' Sect. The bright red silk was embroidered with flame patterns unique to the Western Regions, which complemented the cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye. Shi Feiyang tied the jade pendant from the Yihua Palace around her neck. The cold jade on the pendant clung to her skin, emitting a faint halo.

"What if Sister Lingyi gets jealous?" Dilirena suddenly laughed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "She won't!" Shi Feiyang shook his head, squeezing her hand tightly. The warmth of his palm traveled through the Xuanbing Jade, and he said sincerely, "Lingyi knows that someone who can go through fire and water with me is someone I would cherish with my life. Just like this jade pendant, it may seem cold, but it is the most sincere."

Before the words were finished, the Vermilion Bird let out a long cry and flew down diagonally.

Led by He Quan, the Beggars' Sect disciples cheered and respectfully escorted Shi Feiyang and Dilirena into their bridal chamber—the tent on the back of the Vermilion Bird.

The tent gleamed softly in the moonlight, adorned with red silk collected by the Beggars' Sect disciples, and a simple wedding candle sat in the center, yet it couldn't conceal the enchanting atmosphere within.

Shi Feiyang lifted the bride's red veil, and the cinnabar mole at the corner of Dilirena's eye appeared even more vibrant in the candlelight. He teased, "I've heard that according to the customs of the martial arts world, one must perform the three bows on the wedding night?"

Then, he deliberately put on a stern face, but couldn't hide the smile in his eyes, and said with a grin, "First bow to heaven and earth..."

"I won't bow!" Dilirena threw herself into his arms, saying shyly, "We've bowed to swords and blades, we've bowed to life and death, why would we bow to heaven and earth?"

She suddenly took out the Xuanbing Peony Hairpin, pinned it in her hair, and said coquettishly, "It's you who promised to marry me in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, but now you're making me live on the back of the Vermilion Bird."

"This tent is much more impressive than an eight-bearer sedan chair." Shi Feiyang hugged her tighter and said affectionately. With the Mingyu Gong activated, a soft light emanated from his body. He then said affectionately, "After we defeat the Zhou army tomorrow, I will have all the craftsmen in Luoyang build us a flying sedan chair!"

Dilirena looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, and scolded him playfully, "You're always bragging." Suddenly, she reached out and touched his fair, jade-like cheek, and said affectionately, "But... I love listening to you brag."

Outside the tent, the faint sound of a night watchman's drum could be heard.

Shi Feiyang extinguished the candles and embraced the bride.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the tent, casting a silvery glow over the two chivalrous lovers. (End of Chapter)