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

The smoke from the walls of Luoyang rose like a monstrous dragon soaring into the sky, turning half the sky a grim ochre red.

Shi Feiyang and Dilirena stood side by side atop Mangshan Mountain, their warhorses pawing restlessly, the dust kicked up by their hooves swirling in the twilight.

The Luo River meanders at the foot of the mountain, but now it is stained with blood. Limbs and broken blades float on the river, drifting with the current, occasionally colliding with each other.

Dilirena reined in the reins, her gilded skirt billowing in the mountain wind, revealing the sacred flame token glowing red at her waist.

She lightly raised her jade-like finger, pointing to the churning crimson light shield in the west of the city. The vermilion mole at the corner of her eye looked like dripping blood in the sunset. She then softly reminded him, "Husband, the Star Moon Cult's 'Blood Moon Formation' is complete. Judging from the surging blood energy, they must have used all of the 'Moon-Eating Gu'. We must be careful!"

Shi Feiyang stroked the hilt of the Xuan Shuang Blade, his glassy eyes reflecting the soldiers below swarming like ants. He grinned and said, "Looks like these bugs can't wait to be roasted and eaten. Don't worry, my lady! We still have a few sons and beautiful daughters to have!"

He suddenly leaned down and kissed her forehead. His cool lips carried the fragrance of snow lotus ointment as he said affectionately, "My lady, please stay here on this mountain and beat the drums to cheer me on. When I return, I will bring you Yin Qianrou's head as a stepping stone."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly spurred the horse's belly.

With a long neigh, the warhorse charged down the cliff like an arrow released from a bow.

Shi Feiyang's clothes fluttered in the wind, and when the Xuan Shuang Blade was drawn, it brought with it an icy blue arc of light, which contrasted with his gradually transparent skin.

The moment he stepped onto the battlefield, Shi Feiyang used his "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill, his figure moving like a ghost amidst the flashing swords.

The swordsmen of Zhou Jun's "Black Cloud Longsword Capital" formed a battle formation, their black longswords gleaming with a ghostly blue poisonous light, yet they couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

He gripped the Frostblade and unleashed the "Burning Heaven and Earth" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade Art! The Kunlun Blazing Flame Technique was activated, and the crimson blade energy rising from his palm was wrapped in a bone-chilling cold. Wherever it passed, the followers of the Star Moon Cult were first burned by the flames, and then exploded into a rain of blood.

"Shi Feiyang! You ancient demon, I'm going to take your worthless life today!" Suddenly, a sharp, angry shout pierced the sky.

Yin Qianrou, the leader of the Star Moon Cult, with her long white hair flowing freely, stood barefoot on a blood lotus formed from the blood of her followers. Her blood-red longsword emitted poisonous mist, and with each step she took, the ground corroded into a deep pit emitting black smoke.

Shi Feiyang sheathed his sword and stood up, a mocking smile playing on his lips. He chuckled and said, "Master Yin's appearance is like that of a demon who crawled out of the eighteenth level of hell. But even demons are divided into different classes. Someone like you, who aids and abets evil, is probably not even as good as a demon."

Yin Qianrou's pupils shrank sharply, and she thrust out her blood sword, shouting angrily, "Arrogant brat! Taste my Star Moon Divine Sect's 'Blood Moon Soul Devourer'!"

The crimson sword shadows transformed into thousands of blood butterflies, and wherever they passed, the air emitted a piercing shriek.

Shi Feiyang retorted sarcastically, "Ugly freak, didn't you call me a thousand-year-old demon? How come you're calling me an arrogant junior now? Are you a ten-thousand-year-old demon? Heh heh! I'd like to see who dies first between us. Humph!"

At that moment, his Mingyu Gong also activated to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison", and the cold air around his body instantly condensed into a hundred-foot-long ice dragon.

The moment the ice dragon and the blood butterfly collided, a deafening roar resounded throughout the heavens and earth. Blood rain and ice crystals intertwined and fell, dyeing the battlefield a strange red and white.

Seeing that the battle was at a stalemate, Dilirena drew her scimitar, and crimson flames spiraled upwards along the blade, standing out conspicuously in the twilight.

She unleashed the Western Regions' "Flame Dance of the Nine Heavens" movement technique, charging into the formation like a burning cloud. Every time her scimitar slashed, the Zhou soldiers controlled by the "Moon-Eating Gu" would be engulfed in holy flames, turning to ashes amidst agonizing screams.

Seeing this, Yin Qianrou's eyes flashed with panic. She flicked her sleeve and threw out nine blood whips, cursing viciously, "You ignorant little bitch! Die!" The blood whips hissed in the air like snakes spitting their tongues, aiming straight for Dilirena's throat.

Shi Feiyang's pupils contracted sharply, and he used his "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to appear in front of her in an instant.

The moment the blood whip wrapped around his wrist, he revealed a sinister smile and roared, "Such a trivial trick, just in time!" He then unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation" move from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique! The Xuan Shuang Blade slashed down with an aura as powerful as the creation of the world, and the phantom of reincarnation could be vaguely seen in the blade light.

Yin Qianrou tried to use the whip to defend herself, but found that the blood whip was like a magnet, unable to move.

In her terror, Shi Feiyang's blade flashed across her neck, blood gushing out like a fountain. Her body slowly split in two, collapsing heavily into a pool of blood. The setting sun finally exhausted its last bit of strength and sank below the horizon.

Shi Feiyang wiped the bloodstains off the Xuan Shuang Blade, the blade gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the twilight.

Dilirena walked to his side. The flames on her scimitar had died down, and her gilded skirt was stained with blood, but this did not diminish her unparalleled beauty.

Shi Feiyang took her hand, and the two walked towards Luoyang City, stepping over the mess on the ground.

The people had already opened the city gates and lined the streets cheering: "Having fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, clad in golden armor, Shi Lang's ingenious plan brings peace to the world!" The Beggars' Sect disciples, waving the captured Zhou army flags, also shouted loudly: "Having fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, clad in golden armor, Shi Lang's ingenious plan brings peace to the world!"

Upon reaching the city gate, Shi Feiyang suddenly stopped, gazing at the flock of wild geese flying in a line on the horizon, and said softly, "After settling my son Danqing, let's go back to Yihua Palace. Lingyi must be getting impatient; it's time to let her meet our bride from the Western Regions."

Dilirena's cheeks flushed slightly, and the peony hairpin around her neck shone softly in the twilight. She said shyly, "Then I'd better prepare properly, so my sister won't laugh at me."

In the distant imperial palace, the young Emperor Li Danqing unfolded the "Strategy to Defeat Zhou" left by Shi Feiyang. The words "Use the Jianghu to control the Jianghu" gleamed in the candlelight. This time, Shi Feiyang wouldn't fight alongside Li Danqing, hoping to see him become independent and lead his troops to victory. Therefore, after the battle, Shi Feiyang took Dilirena and went into hiding.

The battle flags atop Luoyang's city walls had not yet been rolled up, and twilight had already shattered the blood-red sunset into the Luo River. Zhu Huiran leaned against the carved white jade railing, the pearl on her phoenix crown swaying gently with her trembling fingertips, her gaze fixed intently on the direction of Mangshan.

Ling Shuangyue, dressed in a plain white palace gown, leaned against a pillar in the corridor. The cold light reflected from the silver hairpin in her hair was even more chilling than the desolation in her eyes.

"Mother, His Majesty's triumphant procession has reached Zhuque Avenue." Empress Yelü Shihan exclaimed excitedly, her alabaster cheeks flushed from her hurried steps, her pearl-embroidered robes brushing against the blue bricks. But then, her tone shifted, tinged with disappointment, "Only… we haven't seen Father yet." Zhu Huiran whirled around, the hem of her phoenix robe knocking over a celadon teacup on the table. With a loud crash, she clutched her gold-embroidered sleeve, saying sadly, "He really won't even see him? He said he would protect Danqing for life…"

Before he could finish speaking, Ling Shuangyue raised her hand to stop him.

Ling Shuangyue gazed at the deepening twilight outside the palace walls and whispered, "Since my husband has decided to retire, he will no longer be involved in the political intrigues of the court. As for Danqing..." At this moment, the candlelight in the imperial study suddenly blazed brightly.

Zhu Huiran, Ling Shuangyue, and Yelü Shihan hurriedly went to the Imperial Study, fearing that Li Danqing might have some kind of reaction. Li Danqing was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, with the black iron token left by his father hanging at his waist. His sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes revealed a composure beyond his years.

He unfolded the sheepskin map, his fingertips tracing the mountains and rivers of Shu, and analyzed, "The new ruler of Zhou, Chai Rong, is known for his virtue. The people of Chanzhou once erected a monument praising him for 'his clean and honest governance, with no thieves daring to cross the border.' If we rashly raise an army now..."

Yelü Shihan handed over a teacup and said softly amidst the fragrant tea, "Your Majesty, are you thinking of Shu? I have heard that although there is no war under Meng Chang's rule, many of the military governors in Shu also command the imperial guards. The current trend of emphasizing civil affairs over military affairs is becoming increasingly apparent, which is an opportunity to take advantage of."

Li Danqing raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the Empress's gentle face. A warmth welled up in his heart, and he said affectionately, "Shihan understands me best. But this expedition..." He gripped the black iron token tightly, turned to look at Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue, and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please rest assured." Ling Shuangyue and Zhu Huiran exchanged a glance and nodded helplessly. Their son had grown up; he had to be allowed to be independent, especially since he was the Emperor.

The next morning, the air in the Taiji Hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Zhu Huiran narrowed her phoenix eyes and looked at the Beggar Clan elders Li Xing and He Quan kneeling below the steps. She said in a deep voice, "The two of you are highly respected in the martial arts world. I wonder if you can protect my son?"

Li Xing clasped his hands in a salute, his muscles taut beneath his coarse cloth and short jacket, and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured! This old beggar's life was saved by Master Shi back then!" The dog-beating stick at his waist was covered with teeth marks, each one recording the grudges and feuds of the martial world.

He Quan stroked his goatee, his eyes sharp as an eagle, and said with some worry, "However, the terrain of Shu is treacherous, and Meng Chang commands the 'Xingyuan Armored Soldiers' and the 'Chengdu Imperial Guards.' If we were to launch a surprise attack..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Danqing had already entered and unfolded the secret letter, analyzing, "This is a map of the defense deployment in Sichuan sent by the Beggars' Sect disciples."

The young emperor pointed his finger at Jianmen Pass and decisively said, "Meng Chang has gathered all his elite troops in the capital, but the border passes are mostly manned by the old and weak. We can advance in three routes: one will feign an attack on Jianmen Pass, another will head straight for Xingyuan Prefecture, and I will personally lead the central army to launch a surprise attack on Chengdu!"

Ling Shuangyue suddenly stood up, her white dress billowing in the morning light, and said resolutely, "No! Chengdu is a fortified city; if anything goes wrong..."

Before she could finish speaking, Li Danqing had already knelt on one knee and pleaded, "Mother!"

Looking at the worry in his mother's eyes, he said in a firm voice, "Since childhood, I have studied military strategy with my father, and my martial arts skills are not weak. I also have thousands of troops protecting me. Now that my father has retired, if I do not shoulder this responsibility, how can I face our ancestors?"

Seeing this, Yelü Shihan also bowed gracefully and pleaded, "Your Majesty, I am willing to accompany you on your expedition to prepare provisions for the army." She looked at Zhu Huiran and analyzed, "With the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Ling overseeing the country here, there is no worry about the rear. Your Majesty will surely return in triumph!"

As Zhu Huiran gazed at the young emperor's tall and upright figure, she was momentarily reminded of the man who had once dominated the battlefield.

She took a deep breath, nodded, and said, "Alright! I grant your request! But you must send us a message every day to let us know that everything is alright."

Li Danqing excitedly took Yelü Shihan's hand and got up, leaving happily.

Three days later, outside Chang'an City.

Li Danqing, clad in black armor, rode his magnificent steed, its hooves neighing as the morning frost crumbled beneath his feet. Yelü Shihan, dressed in a sleek outfit with a Heavenly Wolf Bow at his waist, exuded a heroic and dashing air.

"Report!" A scout galloped in, dismounted, and knelt to report, "The Zhou army has reinforced its troops at the border, but shows no intention of invading!" Li Danqing's lips curled into a confident smile, and he calmly said, "Chai Rong is indeed as composed as rumored. Issue the order: the army will advance westward according to the original plan!"

He turned to the Beggars' Sect disciples and said politely, "Elder Li, Elder He, please, brothers, go ahead and ascertain the true situation in Shu!"

The fierce winds of Jianmen Pass in Shu, carrying sand and gravel, scraped against the black armor of the Tang soldiers like countless fine needles.

Zhang Xiong, the commander of the Shu Kingdom's imperial guards, stroked the gilded dagger at his waist, gazing at the Tang army swarming like ants outside Jianmen Pass. A contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his lips as he sneered, "Li Danqing, that brat, truly doesn't understand military strategy. This pass is so formidable that one man can hold off ten thousand. Even if Shi Feiyang were to be resurrected..."

Before he could finish speaking, a scout came stumbling in: "Report! Tang army tracks have been discovered on the Micang Road!" At that moment, the Chengdu moat shimmered with light. As Yelü Shihan unfolded the sheepskin map, his fingertips trembled slightly as he traced the winding lines of the moat.

She looked up at Li Danqing, the moonlight casting a silvery glow on the young emperor's profile. Yelü Shihan said with considerable worry, "Your Majesty, although Meng Chang has transferred his elite troops, the moat is three zhang wide, and the bottom is covered with caltrops. A direct assault might result in heavy losses..."

Li Danqing suddenly smiled and teased, "Does Shihan still remember the snow wolves of Yihua Palace?" With that, he raised his jade whistle and blew it lightly. Instantly, the howls of wolves echoed from the distant mountain peaks, like the sobs of a cold night.

He traced the upper reaches of the river on the map with his fingertip, a cunning glint in his eyes reminiscent of his father, Shi Feiyang, as he devised a plan: "At three-quarters past midnight, when the snow wolves break through the ice, we'll launch a 'dragon into shallows, stirring up the wind and clouds' attack!"

Elder Li Xing of the Beggars' Sect scratched his disheveled hair, twirled the Dog-Beating Stick in his palm, and exclaimed, "Good lad! You have the ruthlessness of your father back in the day! If that old beggar could lead his men to swim downstream, he would definitely pry open the city gates for you!"

He Quan stroked his beard and pondered, then reminded him, "Zhang Xiong is the number one expert in Shu, skilled in the Seventy-Two Styles of the Chasing Wind Sword. Your Majesty must be careful."

Li Danqing declared domineeringly, "Since we're here, let's make the best of it. I only know how to advance, not retreat. All you heroes, go and prepare!" Li Xing, He Quan, and the others quickly obeyed and left. Li Danqing also embraced Yelü Shihan and returned to his tent to rest.

At 11:45 AM, Chengdu was shrouded in a thick, inky night.

Yelü Shihan nocked an arrow with his Heavenly Wolf Bow. As the bowstring trembled, three fire arrows pierced the sky, striking precisely the grain piles atop the city wall. The firelight illuminated the terrified faces of the Shu soldiers on the city wall, and also stained the crimson dragon patterns on Li Danqing's black armor as blood-red.

"All troops, attack!" the young emperor roared, his voice booming like a bell. The snow wolf pack leaped into the moat like arrows released from a bow. In an instant, the river froze with a sickening sound, and the ice spread at a visible speed.

The Xuanjia Army of the Tang Dynasty galloped across the ice, their iron hooves shattering the thin ice, sending ice shards mixed with blood flying everywhere.

Shu general Wang Rui thrust his spear forward, but just as the spear tip reached his face, Li Danqing suddenly unleashed the "Regretful Dragon" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. Before the palm strike even landed, the powerful force had already shattered the spear shaft into pieces, sending splinters of wood flying towards the Shu army like projectiles.

Before Wang Rui could react, his tiger's mouth split open, Li Danqing's second palm strike, "Flying Dragon in the Sky," was like a dragon emerging from the sea, sending him flying ten zhang away and crashing into the city wall. Amidst the sound of bricks and stones shattering, Wang Rui's body was embedded in the wall, blood gushing out from the cracks, resembling a grotesque mural in the firelight.

On the moat, the Tang army's Xuanjia soldiers clashed with the Shu army in close combat. The Tang army's Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) struck the Shu soldiers' bamboo shields, producing a teeth-grinding cracking sound; the Shu army's spears thrust forward, but were deflected by the Xuanjia, sending sparks flying.

A Shu soldier swung his sword at Yelü Shihan, but the Empress, her silver armor gleaming, dodged the blade and thrust her short dagger like a venomous snake out of its hole, aiming straight for the man's throat.

Amidst the splatter of blood, she landed gracefully beside Li Danqing, saying anxiously, "Your Majesty, Zhang Xiong has arrived!"

A dark figure leaped down from the city wall, his sword flashing with nine sword flowers. It was Zhang Xiong, the number one swordsman in Shu. He sneered, "Li Danqing, you greenhorn, you dare to covet Shu? Take this!"

The sword's edge, like a venomous snake's tongue, aimed straight for Li Danqing's throat, its passage accompanied by a piercing shriek. Instead of retreating, Li Danqing advanced, unleashing a powerful palm strike, "Dragon Appears in the Field," the force of which clashed with the sword's energy, creating a deafening roar.

Zhang Xiong felt a numbness in his hand, and his sword strike slowed slightly. Li Danqing had already closed in, unleashing the "Wild Goose Approaching the Land" technique with both hands. Instantly, palm shadows filled the sky, forcing Zhang Xiong to retreat repeatedly. With each palm strike from Li Danqing, a half-foot-deep palm print was left on the ground, and fragments of blue bricks and stones flew everywhere.

"Excellent skill!" Zhang Xiong roared, his sword flashing past Li Danqing's ear, shaving off a few strands of hair. Seeing this, Yelü Shihan fired three bone-piercing nails from her Heavenly Wolf Bow, but Zhang Xiong deflected them all with a "whirlwind sweep."

The bone-piercing nails driven into the ground blasted a deep crater the size of a bowl into the stone slab. At the critical moment, Li Danqing suddenly unleashed a move called "Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use," concealing his true energy and causing Zhang Xiong's sword strikes to miss completely.

When his old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated, Li Danqing suddenly roared: "You dog thief, you dog thief surnamed Zhang, the torrent of history is rolling forward, how can you dog thief stop it?" He suddenly unleashed a move called "Benefiting to Cross the Great River"!
The powerful palm strike was like a tidal wave, sending Zhang Xiong flying several feet away and crashing heavily onto the ice of the moat.

The ice surface, unable to withstand the weight, emitted a chilling "crackling" sound, and cracks spread like a spider web.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the snow wolves swarmed forward, their fangs piercing Zhang Xiong's flesh.

Zhang Xiong brandished his longsword to resist, the blade slicing off the wolf's head. Blood splattered onto the ice, quickly freezing into dark red ice crystals.

Li Danqing approached with the sound of ice cracking, his palm radiating intense cold. In an instant, he unleashed a series of attacks, "Sudden Attack" and "Shocking for Miles," shattering Zhang Xiong's sword net completely. Zhang Xiong was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing into the city wall and splattering a large cloud of blood mist. He died a gruesome death, his body riddled with broken bones.

Elders Li Xing and He Quan of the Beggars' Sect led their followers to attack from downstream. Their Dog-Beating Stick Technique clashed with the short blades of the Shu army, sending countless sparks flying.

In the midst of the fierce battle, Li Xing roared with laughter, "You little bastards, taste my 'Dog-Binding Stick'!" He swept his dog-beating stick across, breaking the shinbones of three Shu soldiers. He Quan, however, remained grim, his judge's pen striking the Shu soldiers' pressure points. Wherever it touched, screams of agony filled the air; the struck Shu soldiers convulsed, writhing on the ground like fish out of water. Li Danqing and Yelü Shihan fought side-by-side; the young emperor's palm strikes were powerful and fierce, while the empress's archery skills were exquisite.

Li Tuo, the deputy commander of the Shu Kingdom's Imperial Guard, charged forward with his sword. Li Danqing unleashed a powerful strike with both palms, using the "Double Dragons Taking Water" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. The two powerful energies, like two giant dragons, directly shredded Li Tuo's sword into pieces.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yelü Shihan shot out the Heavenly Wolf Arrow, the tip of which pierced Li Tuo's throat. Li Tuo's eyes widened, a "gurgling" sound came from his throat, and the broken sword in his hand fell limply, hitting the ice surface with a crisp sound.

The gates of Chengdu burst open with a roar, and the Xuanjia Army surged in like a tidal wave.

On the streets, the Shu army and the Tang army engaged in fierce street fighting. The Tang army's Mo Dao (陌刀) units formed square formations, like moving steel walls, crushing the Shu army's resistance; the Shu army's archers fired arrows from the rooftops, but were blocked by the Tang army's shield bearers forming a shield wall.

Blood soaked the bluestone slabs, and corpses piled up like mountains.

Li Danqing stormed into the palace, his footsteps stained with blood. Emperor Meng Chang of Shu, clad in a bathrobe, trembled as he raised the imperial seal, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty... Shu surrenders..." The young emperor lowered his hand and stood, the dragon patterns on his black armor gleaming in the morning light, momentarily reminiscent of Shi Feiyang's unparalleled brilliance. At this moment, Chengdu, in the blood-red dawn, welcomed its new master.

The day the good news reached Luoyang, Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue embraced and wept. Ling Shuangyue gently stroked her son's letter, murmuring, "Feiyang, did you see it? Our child is already capable of standing on his own..."

Meanwhile, Shi Feiyang and Dilirena were hiding in the "Yuzhu" Inn in Chengdu.

He stood at the window of the third-floor attic, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, the Frostblade in his hand reflecting his lover's smiling face.

……

The glazed tiles of the Chengdu Imperial Palace gleamed with a bluish light in the morning mist. Li Danqing, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright on Meng Chang's former dragon throne. Below, the officials of Shu stood with their heads bowed, the folds of their robes still stained with the blood of the previous night.

The young emperor lightly tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingertips, the black iron token inside his sleeve slightly warm, and said in a loud voice: "Issue my decree: the people of Shu are exempt from taxes for three years, and all those who wish to return to their fields will be given three shi of grain seeds." As soon as he finished speaking, a gasp rose from below the steps.

The former Minister of Revenue of Shu said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, the national treasury is empty. If taxes are exempted..." Li Danqing raised his eyes, his gaze sharp, and said in a deep voice, "The people are the foundation of the country. If we lose the hearts of the people, no amount of gold and silver will be of any use."

He looked at Li Xing, the elder of the Beggars' Sect, and said decisively, "Elder Li, the old army from Shu has been transferred to Jiangnan. You will temporarily take command of the troops and must ensure that military discipline is strictly enforced."

Li Xing scratched his disheveled hair, twirled the dog-beating stick in his palm, and said in a clear voice, "Old beggar, you may not know anything else, but you're good at training scoundrels!" He Quan stepped forward, his long white beard moving without wind, and offered a suggestion: "Your Majesty, although Li Yu of the Southern Tang Dynasty has retreated to the south of the Yangtze River, the defenses of Nanjing are strong, and the navy is elite. We need to investigate first."

"Elder He is absolutely right." Yelü Shihan stepped forward gracefully, praising him. Her pearl-embroidered robe swept across the gold-brick floor, and she then asked Ying, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the Imperial Guards disguised as merchants and sneak into Jiangnan." She looked at Li Danqing, her eyes filled with three parts worry and seven parts determination, and said with concern, "However, Shu has just been pacified, and Your Majesty needs someone to protect you."

Li Danqing held her hand, the warmth of his palm coming through the jade bracelet, and said affectionately, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have made arrangements." He suddenly activated the "Heavenly Silkworm Technique," his true energy surging in his dantian, transforming into "Thousand-Mile Voice Transmission" that pierced through the palace walls: "Father, I request that my virtuous nephews from the Yihua Palace come to my aid."

……

In a teahouse in western Chengdu, Shi Feiyang sipped Bi Tan Piao Xue tea, his dark robes appearing and disappearing in the tea mist.

Dilirena fiddled with the Sacred Flame Token at her waist, the vermilion mole at the corner of her eye shining brightly in the morning light, praising, "Your great-grandchildren, who are thousands of years old, are actually more clever than that brat Shi Shiwei."

"Hahahaha!" Shi Feiyang laughed loudly upon hearing this, his laughter carrying a surge of internal energy that caused the tea leaves in his teacup to stand upright. He then said with a smile, "It's fine for Shi Wei to stay and guard the Yihua Palace. The martial world and the imperial court should be left for young people to explore."

He suddenly tilted his head, a hint of a smile flashing in his glassy eyes, and teased, "Speak of the devil, and he appears. Cao Cao's lightness skill is the best in the world!"

Outside the teahouse, five young men in blue robes filed in. The one in the lead had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and a unique jade token of the Yihua Palace hung at his waist—it was Shi Shiye. He clasped his hands in a salute, and said in a clear voice like the clinking of jade stones, “Great-grandfather, great-great-grandson Shi Shiye, has come to await His Majesty’s orders on the orders of the ancestor.”

Shi Feiyang tapped his fingertips on the table and gave his advice: "Most of the officials in Shu are Meng Chang's old subordinates. The five of you will be in charge of the defense of the five cities of Chengdu. Remember," a cold glint flashed in his eyes, "if anyone dares to disobey, there's no need to ask for permission, just get rid of them."

Shi Shiyue, being the most impatient, couldn't contain himself upon hearing this and hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Ancestor! We'll make these Shu barbarians know what's what!" With that, he led his brothers away. Three days later, in the main hall of the Shu Palace, Li Danqing looked at the five young men in blue robes below the steps and, in a daze, saw his father's appearance in his youth.

Shi Shiye stepped forward, his jade tablet gleaming coldly in the morning light, and announced in a clear voice: "Shi Shiye of Yihua Palace, along with his brothers Shi Yue, Shi Yun, Shi Feng, and Shi, pay our respects to Your Majesty."

Li Danqing rose from his seat, the hem of his dragon robe brushing against the gold bricks, making a soft rustling sound. He said kindly, "My nephews, there's no need for such formalities." He walked to the five men, his gaze sweeping over the swords at their waists, and said in a low voice, "Sichuan has just been pacified, and the people's hearts are restless. I intend to appoint Shi Ye to command the Chengdu garrison, Shi Yue to manage the criminal justice system, Shi Yun to oversee the grain supply, and Shi Feng and Shi to stay by my side. What do you all think?"

Shi Shiye bowed and accepted the order: "Your Majesty, we will obey your command." Shi Shiyue scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and said, "Your Majesty, managing the criminal justice system is quite interesting, but those corrupt officials..."

Li Danqing laughed and said, "If it needs to be fought, then fight; if it needs to be killed, then kill. I will take responsibility if anything goes wrong." Yelü Shihan came over with a teacup in hand, the tassels on her silver armor swaying gently. She said softly, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards have prepared their gear and can depart tomorrow."

Her gaze swept over the five Shi brothers, and she said softly, "With them here, I can rest assured." Li Danqing nodded.

……

He Quan had already led his Beggars' Sect disciples into Jiangnan. On a pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River in Jinling, he stroked his beard, listening to a tune, while his fingertips sketched a map of the Southern Tang navy's deployment on the table. Suddenly, the sound of shattering porcelain came from the next table—a Beggars' Sect disciple had been shot with a poisoned needle by the bartender, his face instantly turning black.

"This is a tough one!" He Quan exclaimed, drawing his judge's pen and pointing the tip at the bartender's throat.

The man sneered and dodged like a ghost, revealing half of a token at his waist, which was engraved with the words "Imperial Guard".

"Retreat!" He Quan shouted, quickly forming a battle formation with his disciples. In the darkness, the Beggars' Sect disciples fought their way back. He Quan looked at the black-clad men relentlessly pursuing them and suddenly remembered Shi Feiyang's instructions: "Jiangnan is a network of waterways; we need to borrow the 'Water Shadow Technique' from the Yihua Palace for assistance."

He took a carrier pigeon from the bamboo basket on his back. The note tied to its wing contained only eight characters: "There is an alarm in Nanjing. Dispatch the navy immediately."

……

The moonlight over Chengdu poured down like flowing water. Shi Feiyang leaned on the railing, gazing at the lights of the Shu Palace. Dilirena nestled beside him. The Sacred Flame Token glowed red in the moonlight. He teased, "You really trust the children to go out and explore."

Shi Feiyang chuckled, the Xuan Shuang Blade gleaming coldly in his palm, and said, "When I was their age, I was already roaming the martial world alone."

In the distant palace, Li Danqing was studying a map of Jiangnan with the five Shi brothers. Shi Shiyun pointed to the Yangtze River waterway: "Your Majesty, if we can use the 'Ice Soul Ship' of the Yihua Palace to sail downstream, we will surely achieve a surprising victory."

Li Danqing clapped his hands and said, "Good! Then please ask Shi Ye to convey a message to Ancestor and borrow a hundred ships."

In the dead of night, Shi Feiyang received a secret letter, and after reading it, he casually handed it to Dilirena.

She ran her delicate fingers over the letter and suddenly laughed, "This kid is even more cunning than you were back then." Shi Feiyang put his arm around her waist, leaped out of the window, and said with a grin, "Come on, let's go see the moon over Jiangnan."

Under the moonlight, two figures streaked across the top of Chengdu city like shooting stars.

……

On the banks of the Qinhuai River in late spring, willow catkins drifted like snow onto the green tiles of the painted boats. He Quan shed his tattered clothes as a Beggars' Sect elder and put on a silk robe. His white beard was neatly combed, making him look like a salt merchant traveling between the north and south.

He toyed with two gold ingots in his hand, but his peripheral vision kept glancing at the boats of all sizes moored on the shore—from awning boats to multi-storied ships, masts like a forest, sails blocking out the sun, the very lifeblood of the Southern Tang navy.

“Mr. He, this ‘White Streak in the Waves’ Zhang Laosan is a local tyrant on the waterways of Jinling.” A Wu, a Beggar Clan disciple beside him, reported in a low voice, pointing to the largest multi-storied ship at the dock, and whispered, “I heard he has thirty fast boats, all equipped with iron rams on their bows.” He Quan stroked his beard and chuckled, tossing a gold ingot around, and said jokingly, “Money can move mountains, let alone a boat captain.”

He strode toward Zhang Laosan's dock, the bluestone slabs beneath his feet damp with dew, reflecting his slightly hunched yet sturdy figure.

As soon as they reached the entrance to the dock, two burly men blocked their path, their swords jingling. "Halt! How dare you trespass on Master Zhang's territory?" the man on the left shouted, his face full of scars, a bloodstained strip of cloth still wrapped around the hilt of his sword.

He Quan remained calm and composed, tossing over a gold ingot and saying in a pretentious manner, "I am in the tea business and would like to rent a few fast boats to transport goods. I wonder if Master Zhang would be willing to grant me an audience?"

The man weighed the gold ingot in his hand and said greedily, "Wait!" As he turned to go inside, He Quan suddenly gave A Wu a wink—the token that was showing at the man's waist was clearly engraved with the sealing wax seal of the Southern Tang Ministry of War.

Deep within Zhang Laosan's dock, the aroma of wine mixed with the smell of tung oil wafted over.

The one-eyed boat captain was using a dagger to pry open a crab, and on the table lay freshly cut snake gall wine. He glanced at He Quan's silk robe, a cold smile playing on his lips, and questioned, "From the North? I've heard things haven't been peaceful in Nanjing lately. The tea business must be having a hard time, right?"

He Quan picked up his wine cup and downed it in one gulp. The wine was spicy as it went down his throat, but he still pretended to be serious and said, "Master Zhang is joking. The more chaotic the times, the more precious tea becomes." He pushed another gold ingot over and said, "Thirty ships, rented for three months, how about that price?"

Zhang Laosan's one eye suddenly narrowed, and the dagger clattered onto the table. He sneered, "You're not here to transport tea, but to transport knives and guns, are you?" He clapped his hands, and suddenly more than twenty men wielding short knives surged out from all around. He grinned maliciously, "Li Danqing's men, dare to cause trouble in my Jinling?"

He Quan remained calm and composed, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. He teased, "Master Zhang is certainly well-informed. But I wonder what benefits the Southern Tang emperor promised you?" He suddenly raised his voice and questioned, "Was he made you the commander of the navy, or did he promise you three wives and four concubines?"

Zhang Laosan's face changed drastically, and he cursed, "Nonsense!" He thrust the dagger straight at He Quan's heart. At that moment, the judge's pen on He Quan's back shot out, accurately striking Zhang Laosan's wrist. Amidst a scream, He Quan had already grabbed the man's throat, coldly saying, "Old beggar, I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it. Humph!" With a forceful squeeze, Zhang Laosan's throat snapped, and he died a gruesome death, his head lolling to the side.

The Beggars' Sect disciples were prepared; they lifted Zhang Laosan's body and buried him in a pit dug in the backyard. At midnight, the Qinhuai River turned an eerie red.

He Quan led the Beggars' Sect disciples in a surprise attack on Zhang Laosan's dock. The Dog-Beating Stick and the Short Knife clashed, producing a dense, crisp sound like popping beans.

A-Wu smashed the watchtower with his club, only to find an archer hiding at the top, an arrow aimed directly at He Quan's back. "Elder, watch out!" A-Wu cried out, rushing forward to shield him, the arrow piercing He Quan's shoulder blade.

He Quan roared, and his judge's pen, like a serpent emerging from its hole, pierced the archer's throat. He supported A Wu, his old eyes bloodshot, and comforted him, "Hold on! Once we take Jinling, this old beggar will treat you to the strongest liquor!"

Deep within the dock, thirty fast ships were ablaze. He Quan directed his disciples to move the ships that hadn't been burned, and then advised, "Replace all the rudders with the 'movable-leaf rudders' from the Yihua Palace; that will increase the speed by thirty percent." With that, he led his men away in the ships.

Seven days later, Yelü Shihan led the Imperial Guards to the riverbank.

She was dressed in plain clothes, no different from an ordinary woman, except for the beaded dagger at her waist that revealed her identity.

He Quan pointed to the merchant fleet on the river and laughed, "Your Majesty, look, these ships may look inconspicuous, but their bottoms are actually lined with iron plates, enough to break through the iron chains of the Southern Tang." Yelü Shihan gazed at the outline of Jinling City in the distance and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Elder."

She took out the secret letter and handed it to He Quan, whispering, "His Majesty said that after the autumn harvest, he will lead his troops south. Before that, we need to find out the deployment of the Southern Tang naval commander Lin Renzhao." At this moment, an inconspicuous awning boat slowly approached the shore.

Standing at the bow of the boat was a young man in a blue robe, none other than Shi Shifeng. He clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the Ancestor has sent a disciple to deliver the 'Water Shadow Technique' manual, which allows the brothers to hold their breath underwater for three hours."

Yelü Shihan took the manual, his fingertips tracing the yellowed pages, and said firmly, "With the assistance of the Yihua Palace, what is there to worry about in defeating the Southern Tang?"

As night deepened, the modified merchant fleet slowly sailed down the Qinhuai River into Jinling. He Quan stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the Southern Tang soldiers patrolling the shore, and suddenly whispered, "Tell His Majesty that everything is ready, except for the east wind."

The wind ruffled his white beard, revealing a sly smile at the corner of his mouth, a smile identical to Shi Feiyang's. (End of Chapter)