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

Tu Pengpeng murmured thoughtfully, "It seems that the real show in Dali has only just begun."

Gazing in the direction where Shi Feiyang disappeared, the jade pendant raised by the sword tip gleamed coldly in the morning light, bearing the insignia of the Dali royal family. She suddenly realized that this mysterious "Liansheng" senior was not some itinerant doctor at all. He did not want to save people, but rather to use the chaos in the southwest to deliver a deadly sword to the distant Dali royal family.

Meanwhile, the remaining snow on the Shu Road was quietly melting into water as the lotus shadow receded into the distance, nourishing the impending killing intent. Tu Pengpeng pondered for a moment, then quickly used her wondrous "Meteor Chasing the Moon" lightness skill to chase after Shi Feiyang, her heart filled with doubts, not wanting Shi Feiyang to slip away.

The night wind along the Shu Road, carrying snowflakes, stung my face like a knife.

Shi Feiyang's blue cloth shirt was lifted by the wind, revealing the sheepskin map wrapped around his waist—a map of the southwest defense deployment that he had found in the Liao army camp in Youzhou. The post stations of the Dali Duan family, the tea-horse road of the Western Xia, and the Tantric temples of the Tubo were all clearly marked with cinnabar.

He glanced at Tu Pengpeng, who was being dragged along by chains. The bloodstains on his moon-white shirt left long red trails in the snow, resembling the "Meteor Chasing the Moon" sword marks described in the Seven Star Sword Manual. Curious, he asked, "Boy, what level have you reached in your Seven Star Sword Technique?" He deliberately slowed his pace, walking alongside Tu Pengpeng, still treating him as a "man."

Shi Feiyang casually tapped the ice surface with his green bamboo staff, but in reality, he used his "true qi condensation" finger strength to draw a string of lotus-shaped qi energy under the ice layer. If pursuers were to come, these qi energy energy would explode and could delay the enemy for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Tu Pengpeng held her chin high, and despite her teeth chattering from the cold, her voice remained unyielding as she childishly said, "The seventh level of the Seven Star Sword Technique, 'Big Dipper Across the Sky,' what do you, a traveling doctor, know?"

Her gaze swept over the herbs in Shi Feiyang's medicine basket, and she suddenly recognized several of them as miraculous medicines for treating internal injuries. The wariness in her eyes lessened a bit, and she said frankly, "My master said that in the Southwest, there are no more than five people who can withstand three moves of my 'Big Dipper Across the Sky'."

From her naive words, Shi Feiyang could tell that Tu Pengpeng was a newcomer to the martial arts world. At this moment, the one-eyed man suddenly turned around, pointed his curved blade at the two people behind him, and cursed angrily, "Shut the fuck up! If you dawdle any longer, I'll cut your tongues out and feed them to the dogs!"

His boots crushed a frozen human bone, the one of the most vehement rebels from last year, who was said to have frozen to death on the trestle road.

Shi Feiyang's "Lotus Palm Technique" quietly began to circulate, and the white mist from his palm overflowed from his sleeve, gently brushing against Tu Pengpeng's iron chain lock. Under the "Yin-Yang Harmony" mental technique of the "Lotus Manual", the rust in the lock loosened instantly.

He smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Hero, please calm down." He moved the medicine basket closer to Tu Pengpeng, blocking the one-eyed man's view, and then deliberately added, "The 'young man' behind me is young and hot-blooded, please don't take him seriously."

Tu Pengpeng was incredibly clever. She immediately noticed that the lock was loose. She deliberately stumbled, and the iron chain slammed against the rock, causing the lock to open.

She took the opportunity to hide her hands behind her back and quietly untie the knot, but still cursed, "You wicked doctor, when my master comes, I will definitely let you taste the power of the Seven Star Sword Technique!" When they reached the most dangerous "One Line Sky" in Black Wind Pass, a "crashing" sound suddenly came from the cliffs on both sides - it was the soldiers of the Horse Trading Hall throwing rolling stones down.

Li Tieniu suddenly swung his bamboo staff horizontally, unleashing a move from the "Dog-Beating Stick Technique"—"Pushing the Dog Up to the Sky"—sending the foremost boulder flying and crashing into the ambush behind it. A scream of agony immediately echoed from the cliff top. One-Eyed Dragon slashed at Shi Feiyang with his curved blade, the edge gleaming with blood, cursing, "Damn it, there was an ambush! I knew you were a quack!"

Shi Feiyang used the "Lotus Shadow Illusion" footwork, his figure leaving several afterimages on the narrow plank road. His coarse cloth shirt brushed against the cliff wall, yet left no trace. Immediately afterward, he used "Lotus Fury," unleashing a fierce palm strike. The force of his palm struck the one-eyed dragon's curved blade, and the finely crafted steel blade shattered like rotten wood, half of the blade falling into the abyss with a whooshing sound.

One-Eyed Dragon's single eye widened in shock as he recognized the palm technique as the legendary "Lotus Manual" martial art. He exclaimed in astonishment, "You...you're not a doctor! You're one of Shi Feiyang's men?"

Shi Feiyang flicked out his finger, using the "True Qi Condensation" technique, and struck the Tanzhong acupoint on the man's chest from a distance. The one-eyed man made a "hoarse" sound in his throat, his hands futilely clutching his chest, where his clothes were visibly freezing into ice—this was the "Ultimate Softness and Ultimate Hardness" mental technique of the Lotus Sutra, which turned his internal energy into ice, freezing and cracking his meridians.

Shi Feiyang said coldly, "Who I am is not important. What is important is that the debt of the Horse Trading Hall colluding with the Dali Duan family to traffic people should be settled." He then picked up the one-eyed dragon's corpse with his green bamboo staff and threw it into the abyss.

Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword Technique was suddenly unsheathed. Her moon-white robe spun like a lotus flower in the snow. The sword energy of "Big Dipper Across the Sky" cleaved the throats of the last few ambushers. Blood splattered on her face, adding a touch of heroic spirit to her appearance.

Shi Feiyang's "Healing Holy Technique" released a white mist that brushed across her sword blade, wiping away the bloodstains. He smiled and said, "The Seven Star Sword Sect and the Beggar Clan have a long-standing relationship; this is called 'taking advantage of an opportunity.' So, I just happened to save you. Little girl, don't follow me anymore. I have important business to attend to!" He then looked towards the end of the plank road, where the sound of horses' hooves could be heard from the mist—it was reinforcements from the Horse Trading Hall.

Li Tieniu's bamboo staff struck the cliff face three times, and the Beggars' Sect disciples' coded signal, "Lotus Flower Fall," echoed from all directions. He ran over and reported, "Chief, brothers on the left flank are providing backup! The Duan family's 'One-Finger Divine Skill' master has arrived!"

The copper bell on his staff suddenly rang urgently, a signal that the Dali spy had been discovered. Tu Pengpeng's expression changed drastically, the tassel of her Seven Star Sword Technique trembled violently, and she said tremblingly, "It's Duan Zhenghong's 'One-Finger Divine Skill'! His finger power can strike acupoints from a distance, we must retreat quickly!"

Shi Feiyang used the "Lotus Shadow Illusion" footwork to drag Tu Pengpeng into the dense forest on the left. His green bamboo staff drew a wall of energy behind him, blocking the pursuing "One-Finger Divine Skill" outside the wall.

“Don’t be afraid,” his voice rang in her ear, carrying the cool, refreshing energy unique to the Lotus Sutra. “Duan Zhenghong is busy fighting his brother for the Lotus Sutra and doesn’t have time to chase us. This is called ‘feinting to the east while attacking the west.’”

Tu Pengpeng was stunned; she never expected "Doctor Yang" to be so resourceful!
……

The snow in the dense forest was knee-deep. Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword Technique flashed coldly through the forest, and the branches cut down by the sword energy formed a path.

She suddenly stopped, the tip of her sword pointing at a series of footprints in the snow—the footprints were horseshoe-shaped, but three times larger than ordinary horseshoes, and the horseshoes still smelled of Tibetan yak butter. Her voice trembled as she exclaimed, "These are the Tibetan 'Blood River Iron Cavalry'! How could they appear on the Shu Road?"

Shi Feiyang pushed his "Concealing Aura" technique to its limit, his aura blending seamlessly with the dense forest, unnoticed even by the crows perched on the branches. He used his bamboo staff to lift a blood-stained Tibetan prayer flag and explained in a low voice, "Dali is colluding with Tibet, trying to use the Shu Road to transport offerings for the 'Blood River Technique.' These people are all going to be sent to the Tibetan National Preceptor for training."

Suddenly, the sound of lamas chanting sutras drifted from afar, mixed with the sound of iron chains dragging on the ground. Shi Feiyang used the "Lotus Steps" footwork to carry Tu Pengpeng up an old pine tree. The tree's dense canopy, like an umbrella, perfectly concealed the two of them.

Looking through the gaps in the branches and leaves, one could see more than ten Tibetan lamas leading a group of ragged people forward. Each of them had a blood-red prayer flag stuck in the back of their heart, which was the "sacrificial flag" of the "Blood River Great Law".

Tu Pengpeng nearly lost her grip on the Seven Star Sword Technique, and cursed, "Too cruel! I'm going to kill them!"

Shi Feiyang pressed down on her wrist, his "condensed true qi" finger strength sinking down her meridians to calm her turbulent internal energy. He advised, "If we act now, we'll alert the enemy." His bamboo staff pointed to the middle of the lama procession, where a person dressed in Dali attire stood, the jade pendant at his waist gleaming in the moonlight.

He whispered, guiding, "See that person? He's Duan Zhenghong's confidant. We need to 'capture the kingpin to catch the thief'."

Just as the lamas' procession passed the old pine tree, Shi Feiyang's "Lotus Palm Technique" suddenly struck out from the tree. The palm wind, like a lotus in full bloom, swirled into a huge vortex in the snow, engulfing the two lamas at the front.

Li Tieniu's bamboo staff moved like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, unleashing a move from the "Dog-Beating Stick Technique" called "Beating the Dog's Head," accurately striking the back of the head of Dali's trusted confidant. The man collapsed to the ground without even uttering a sound.

Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword Technique transformed into a streak of light, and the "Meteor Chasing the Moon" sword strike pierced the throat of the last lama. The seven-star pattern on the sword tassel was stained with blood and reflected an eerie red light.

Looking at the trembling crowd, including several children as young as seven or eight, she asked in bewilderment, "What should we do with these people?"

Shi Feiyang's "Healing Holy Method" sent white vapors across the wounds on the people's bodies, and their frostbitten skin healed at a visible speed. He drew a simple map in the snow with his bamboo staff and whispered, "Li Xian will lead them to Yanmen Pass. Follow this stream, and they will reach the Beggars' Gang's contact point in three days."

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the dense forest, Shi Feiyang had already changed into the attire of his trusted confidant from Dali, the jade pendant at his waist gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Tu Pengpeng had changed from her moon-white shirt into the red robes of a Tibetan lama, the scabbard of her Seven Star Sword Technique hidden beneath her monk's robe, the seven-star pattern on the hilt conveniently concealed by her prayer beads.

Shi Feiyang's "Concealing Aura" technique altered his voice, giving him a somewhat arrogant air reminiscent of a member of the Duan family. He then instructed, "We're about to enter Dali territory. Remember, when you see members of the Duan family, tell them we're 'delivering sacrifices.' This is called 'borrowing a path to attack Guo.'"

Tu Pengpeng's eyes shone with tenderness, and she truly admired Shi Feiyang's wisdom to the point of prostration.

She lightly stabbed her palm with the tip of her sword, squeezing out a drop of blood which she smeared on her cheek, pretending to have been injured by the Tibetans. Then, quite cleverly, she asked, "What if they ask about the Lotus Sutra?"

Shi Feiyang tapped her head with his bamboo cane, the gesture carrying a hint of elder's affection, and said with a smile, "Just say that the manual is in Duan Zhengming's hands. This is called 'using someone else's knife to kill someone.'"

Tu Pengpeng was stunned once again: Who exactly is this kid? How could he apply Sun Tzu's Art of War so skillfully in the martial arts world!

……

The boundary marker in Dali was faintly visible in the morning mist. The four characters "Dali Boundary" on the marker were blurred by wind and rain, but the strength of the engraver could still be seen—the unique "One Finger" style of the Duan royal family.

Shi Feiyang gazed at the distant, rolling mountains, the tip of his bamboo staff drawing a lotus flower on the ground. The inner energy of the Lotus Sutra flowed slowly within his body, and in the warm current of yin and yang merging, Zhao Qingyi's smiling face before giving birth was reflected.

He called out, "Let's go," and his figure disappeared into the morning mist. The hem of his red monk's robe swept across the boundary marker, and the wind he stirred up swirled up a withered leaf. He then whispered, "This time, we'll let the Duan brothers taste the bitterness of 'divide and conquer'."

Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword Technique followed closely behind, drops of blood from the sword tassel falling onto the land of Dali, melting into the snow, much like the tears shed by the Tang princess at Yanmen Pass many years ago during her marriage alliance. Meanwhile, the stench of blood on the Shu Road drifted slowly with the wind into the depths of the Cangshan Mountains.

Snowmelt from Cangshan Mountain flowed down the bluestone slabs, soaking the hem of Shi Feiyang's Tibetan monk's robe.

When his "Lotus Hidden in the Mist" technique was activated to its fullest extent, even the people of Dali who passed by did not notice that the red-robed lama's Adam's apple was fake—it was an illusion created by gathering internal energy in his throat using the "True Qi Condensation" method from the Lotus Sutra.

Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword was hidden in the sleeve of her monk's robe. The seven-star pattern on the hilt was blackened by incense smoke, making it look at first glance no different from a ritual implement of the Tibetan Tantric sect. As she followed Shi Feiyang into the Five Flowers Pavilion, cold sweat was sliding down her fingertips from the scabbard, dripping onto the turquoise-inlaid floor tiles and spreading out small damp patches.

When the manager of Wuhua Tower saw Shi Feiyang, he questioned, "Is the visitor a disciple of the Tibetan National Preceptor?" He was a one-eyed old man with a scar on his left eye that extended from his brow bone to his jaw. It was said that he had once competed with Duan Zhengchun in the "One-Finger Divine Skill".

His fingers lightly tapped the travel document handed to him by Shi Feiyang. It bore the double seals of Dali and Tubo, but it was a forgery by Shi Feiyang using the "Lotus Heart Seal" of the "Lotus Palm Technique"—under the force of his palm, the cinnabar condensed on the paper into a lifelike lotus flower, exactly the same as the real seal.

Shi Feiyang's Tibetan had a heavy Tubo accent, which was the result of him changing his voice by "concealing his aura." He said, "By order of the National Preceptor, I am delivering the offerings for the 'Blood River Great Law' to Wuhua Tower."

He deliberately let the collar of his monk's robe slip down, revealing a pale blue lotus birthmark on his collarbone—a mark left on his skin by his inner energy when he cultivated the Lotus Sutra to the seventh level, enough to fool anyone.

Tu Pengpeng suddenly hissed in Tibetan: "Insolence!" The hilt of the Seven Star Sword trembled slightly in her sleeve. Her voice, though young, carried an undeniable authority as she said: "My nephew is the reincarnation of Padmasambhava of Tantric Buddhism. How dare you look me in the eye?"

This was the "flowers blooming on a tree" trick that Shi Feiyang had taught her last night—using the name of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism to scare people. The one-eyed steward's expression changed as expected, and he hurriedly bowed and said respectfully, "This old man was blind. Please come with me. Prince Duan the Second is already waiting on the top floor."

The staircase of Wuhua Tower was carved from a single piece of nanmu wood, with each step engraved with the dragon patterns of the Dali royal family. Shi Feiyang used the "Lotus Steps" footwork to step on the steps, and his inner energy spread along the wood grain, which actually triggered the mechanism set up by the Duan family in the dark. The bronze bells at the bottom of the thirty-six steps should have rung, but they were held up by the airflow generated by his palm wind, and not even the slightest sound was made.

The aroma of sandalwood mixed with yak butter tea wafted from the rooftop. Duan Zhenghong's gold-trimmed kasaya was draped over the back of a chair, and his "One-Finger Divine Skill" was aimed directly at a yak butter lamp. Under the pressure of his finger, the wick of the lamp actually condensed into a golden flame.

Upon seeing Shi Feiyang enter, he suddenly withdrew his finger, causing lamp oil to splatter onto the grapes in the silver dish, scorching the purplish-black skin.

Duan Zhenghong lightly rubbed his fingertips against the grapes, the sound of the skin cracking being particularly clear in the quiet attic. He asked urgently, "Friends from Tibet, did you bring the fragments of the Lotus Sutra? My brother Duan Zhengming said that your Tantric sect can't understand the Chinese mental teachings at all. Is that true?"

Shi Feiyang's "Yin-Yang Harmony" technique suddenly activated, and the Yang energy at midnight rose along the Du meridian, merging with the Yin energy at noon at the Tanzhong acupoint to form a warm current—this is the secret of the Lotus Manual for dealing with "One-Finger Yang," which can instantly neutralize the finger force.

His Tibetan suddenly switched to Chinese, and he said jokingly, "Second Prince is joking. The key to 'purifying the mind and reducing desires' in the manual is similar to the 'dry meditation' of Tantric Buddhism. It is the First Prince Duan who..." As he spoke, he began to sow discord.

Duan Zhenghong's knuckles suddenly turned white, and he asked anxiously, "What's wrong with my brother?" The internal energy of his "One Finger Divine Skill" surged in his palm, and the grapes in the silver plate suddenly burst open, splattering pulp all over the table.

Tu Pengpeng sneered at the opportune moment, the hilt of the Seven Star Sword twirling in her sleeve, and said coldly, "Last night, Prince Duan sent someone to the Tubo camp, saying he was willing to exchange three cartloads of Pu'er tea for the 'Holy Method of Healing' in the treasure manual." She paused deliberately, watching Duan Zhenghong's face turn from red to green, and then added provocatively, "My master said that such a traitor who seeks personal gain is not worthy of being the Crown Prince of Dali."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the attic. Duan Zhengming's blue robe swept across the threshold, his left ear wrapped in bandages—the very wound from when Duan Zhenghong had slashed off his ear that day, now bleeding. He said urgently, "Second brother, I heard that our Tibetan friends have brought some good things?" His gaze was as sharp as a "One-Finger Divine Skill," piercing straight into Shi Feiyang's face, and he questioned, "Could you show me what you've got?"

Suddenly, Shi Feiyang's monk's robes billowed without wind, and the "Lotus Palm Technique" technique's "Lotus Blossom" created a white lotus-shaped energy wall between the two, perfectly blocking Duan Zhengming's finger strike. His "True Qi Condensation" finger strike condensed into a lotus-shaped energy ball in his palm, and he exclaimed, "Both princes are exceptional individuals; why not take a look at this first?" The energy ball exploded on the table, condensing into a phantom image of half a page from the *Lotus Manual*—in reality, it was an illusion created by him using his palm force to force dust particles in the air. The eight characters on the page, "Yin and Yang in Harmony, Life Without End," were precisely the internal energy cultivation method the Duan brothers most desired.

Duan Zhengming's hand rested on the sword at his waist, the sharkskin scabbard gleaming coldly in the lamplight. He questioned, "Why is there only half a page?" Shi Feiyang's monk's robe suddenly brushed against the candlestick, the flame dimming abruptly. He continued to provoke, "The other half is at the core of the Western Xia's 'Ten Thousand Gu Formation.' Whoever can help the Tibetan National Preceptor break the Ten Thousand Gu Formation will have this half of the page." His "Lotus Shadow Illusion" footwork left three afterimages in the pavilion, pointing to Duan Zhengming, Duan Zhenghong, and the doorway respectively, saying, "Please make yourselves at home, gentlemen."

Suddenly, Duan Zhenghong's "One-Finger Divine Skill" pointed at Duan Zhengming's throat, the force of his finger whistling through the air as he coldly declared, "So, my brother has long colluded with the Western Xia people, intending to monopolize the manual!" Duan Zhengming's sword clattered as it was drawn, its light flashing like the "Big Dipper Across the Sky" of the Seven Star Sword Technique, cleaving the finger force in two. He angrily retorted, "You're spouting nonsense! The black-clad man who ambushed me that day was clearly a Western Xia assassin you sent!"

The two engaged in fierce combat, their figures weaving together in the attic. The golden light of the "One-Finger Divine Skill" clashed with the cold glint of the sword, carving lotus-shaped indentations into the beams and pillars. Tu Pengpeng watched in stunned silence until Shi Feiyang used his "True Qi Condensation" finger strength to write the character "走" (walk) in her palm. Only then did she realize that the beams of the attic had been shaken to the point of collapse by the combined internal energy of the two.

Shi Feiyang pushed his "Lotus Hidden in Mist" technique to its limit, grabbed Tu Pengpeng's wrist, and darted toward the secret door of the pavilion.

The mechanism of the hidden door was originally a secret of the Duan royal family, but he easily cracked it with the "Lotus Heart Seal" of the "Lotus Palm Technique"—pressing his palm force on the center of the "卍" pattern, the mechanism clicked and turned, revealing a secret passage leading to the Dali Royal Palace.

Duan Zhengming's furious roar came from behind: "Help! Help! Quick! Seize those two Tibetan swindlers!"

Immediately following was Duan Zhenghong's scream, presumably from being struck by Duan Zhengming's "One-Finger Divine Skill".

Shi Feiyang's low laughter echoed in the secret passage, carrying the unique, clear inner energy of the Lotus Sutra, causing strings of ice lotus flowers to condense on the damp stone walls. Tu Pengpeng stopped and asked in confusion, "Is this the 'divide and conquer' tactic?" Her Seven Star Sword drew a faint light in the darkness, illuminating the murals on both sides of the passage—the murals depicting the battles of the Duan family ancestors, which bore a striking resemblance to the illustrations in the Central Plains' "Complete Compendium of Military Classics."

Shi Feiyang tapped his bamboo cane lightly on the fork in the road ahead. The faint sound of water came from the passage on the left. He said, half-jokingly, "No, this is just the beginning of 'using someone else to do the dirty work.' The imperial kitchen of the Dali Palace is just ahead. Let's go and add some 'ingredients' to Duan Zhengchun's soup."

Behind the iron fence at the end of the secret passage, the sound of the imperial chef chopping vegetables could be heard.

Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Lotus Palm Technique" from a distance, causing the iron bars of the fence to bend like noodles, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through. As he leaned out, he saw a young eunuch carrying bird's nest soup toward Duan Zhengzhong's palace; the dragon pattern on the soup bowl gleamed golden under the palace lanterns.

Shi Feiyang then jokingly said, "Watch my 'Stealing'." He used his "True Qi Condensation" technique, flicking his finger to send the "Love Potion" he carried with him into the soup bowl. It was a secret medicine he had seized from Hu Sanchuan of Hulu Village. It was colorless and odorless, but it could make people reveal their deepest secrets.

Tu Pengpeng was very quick-witted. Suddenly, her Seven Star Sword was drawn, its light circling around the little eunuch's feet, startling him so much that he knelt down with a thud. She shouted in the tone of the Duan imperial family, "Don't be afraid, deliver the soup to Duan Zhengchun's palace without fail!"

The little eunuch scrambled away. Shi Feiyang watched his retreating figure disappear at the end of the corridor, then suddenly chuckled, "What Duan Zhengzhong said tonight will spread throughout Dali tomorrow. At that time, the Duan brothers' 'One-Finger Divine Skill' will probably be used on their father." The wind in the secret passage blew up Shi Feiyang's monk's robe, revealing a dark undergarment underneath—it was hand-sewn by Zhao Qingyi, with a small white lotus embroidered on the inside of the lapel.

Looking at the lotus flower, Tu Pengpeng suddenly remembered what her master had said: "There was an emperor in the Tang Dynasty who could transform a lotus flower with his palm and pacify the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun."

The tip of her Seven Star Sword lifted Shi Feiyang's monk's robe, the red silk tassel on the sword trembling gently in the darkness, strikingly resembling the silver earring on Shi Feiyang's left ear as rumored in the martial arts world. Her suspicions grew stronger, and she roared, "Who exactly are you?"

Shi Feiyang used the "Lotus Shadow Illusion" footwork, leaving a long afterimage in the secret passage, leaving only a clear and melodious voice, carrying the unique internal rhythm of the "Lotus Treasure Book", and said in a low voice: "When you see the Duan brothers killing each other, you will naturally know."

Tu Pengpeng retorted angrily, "I know now that you are Shi Feiyang! Humph! Don't think I'm stupid!"

Shi Feiyang chuckled and said, "Then why are you asking?" With that, he drifted away.

Tu Pengpeng hurriedly followed.

The palace lanterns outside the secret passage suddenly flickered, casting the shadows of the two figures onto the stone wall—one like a fleeting lotus shadow, the other like a sharp, upright sword. The night in the Dali Palace was being stirred into a boiling pot of muddy water by these two uninvited guests, while the sounds of fighting from the Wuhua Tower could still be faintly heard in the distance.

……

The gilded palace lanterns of the Dali Royal Palace swayed in the night wind, casting a flickering dragon shadow on the window paper of Duan Zhengzhong's bedroom.

The bowl of bird's nest soup with added ingredients sat on the low table by the bedside. The fragments of blood bird's nest in the remaining soup gleamed with an eerie silver light—Shi Feiyang's "True Qi Condensation" finger technique had already dissolved the medicinal powder into the soup, so that even the finest silver needle could not detect anything unusual.

Duan Zhengzhong's snoring suddenly became rapid, and the collar of his gold-trimmed dragon robe opened, revealing a pale blue birthmark on his chest. His murmurs, mixed with gasps, were exceptionally clear in the silent palace: "The precious manual... the Lotus Manual isn't actually in Dali... it's a fragment stolen from the Song Dynasty palace back then..."

Behind the banana leaves outside the window, Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword nearly came out of its sheath.

Her fingertips gripped the window frame tightly, the grain of the mahogany pressing deep marks into her palms, but all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart—it turned out that the rumors of "a complete manual hidden in Dali" were just a smokescreen deliberately released by the Duan family.

Shi Feiyang's "Lotus Hidden in Mist" technique blended their auras with the night dew. His bamboo staff gently touched Tu Pengpeng's wrist pulse, and the "Yin-Yang Harmony" internal energy from the Lotus Sutra flowed along her meridians, suppressing her turbulent blood and qi. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, falling on his profile. His silver hair gleamed coldly in the night mist, and the icy marks left by the silver earring on his left ear reflected Tu Pengpeng's trembling eyelashes.

"...That wicked Zhengming...had long colluded with the Tibetans...intending to seize the throne using the 'Blood River Great Law'..." Duan Zhengchun's ramblings suddenly rose, the hem of his dragon robe soaked with cold sweat, "Zhenghong is even more foolish...being used as a pawn by the Western Xia princess..."

Tu Pengpeng's fingertips suddenly touched the back of Shi Feiyang's hand. His palm carried the unique coolness of the Lotus Sutra, creating a strange fusion with the heat of her palm. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, and the tassel of the Seven Star Sword wrapped around Shi Feiyang's green bamboo staff. The red silk tied a knot in the night wind, as if binding some inexplicable emotion.

"Let's go." Shi Feiyang's voice was even softer than the night dew. He then explained, "If we wait any longer, the patrolling 'One Finger Divine Skill' experts will be here soon."

He used the "Lotus Steps" footwork, embracing Tu Pengpeng as they flew over the palace wall. On the banana leaves swept by his robes, strings of glistening dewdrops condensed, each reflecting the shadow of Tu Pengpeng's flowing red dress.

……

On the stone gate of the Dali royal treasury, the "Six Meridians Divine Sword" manual of the Duan family ancestors was engraved. Shi Feiyang's green bamboo staff lightly tapped the sword mark of the "Shaoshang Sword," and the "True Qi Condensation" finger technique from the Lotus Manual spread along the stone patterns. The engravings, which had stood for centuries, suddenly lit up with a blue light, like a flowing river of swords. Tu Pengpeng asked in astonishment, "This...this is...'overcoming strength with softness'?" The tip of her Seven Star Sword lightly traced the engraving of the "Shangyang Sword," and the sword energy collided with the blue light in the stone patterns, producing a clear and melodious sound like a zither.

She exclaimed in astonishment, "I never imagined that the manual's techniques could actually break the mechanisms of the Six Meridians Divine Sword?"

Shi Feiyang's "Lotus Palm Technique" unleashed the "Lotus Blossoms," and the palm wind stirred the airflow within the stone gate, causing the heavy basalt gate to slowly open inward, revealing a treasure trove of jewels inside.

His fingertips brushed against the bronze lock on the lintel, and the lock core automatically opened under the impetus of the "Yin-Yang Harmony" internal energy. He then explained, "The Lotus Sutra and the Six Meridians Divine Sword are of the same origin, both using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as a guide, but they have taken different paths."

Deep within the secret vault, on a gilded shelf, rested a purple-gold kasaya, embroidered with a map of the Dali Kingdom's mountains and rivers in gold thread—the very "troublemaker" Shi Feiyang sought. Beside the kasaya, in a jade box, lay a luminous pearl the size of a pigeon's egg. Its light illuminated Tu Pengpeng's profile, making her face appear as if sculpted from jade, even the fine downy hairs on her eyelashes clearly visible. Shi Feiyang's gaze lingered on Tu Pengpeng's pretty face for a moment, then abruptly shifted, pointing his bamboo staff at the kasaya, explaining, "That's the robe Duan Siping wore when he unified Dali. Hidden beneath the hem is a secret pact between the Duan family and Tibet—if this pact can be made public, Tibet will surely turn against Dali."

Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword suddenly unsheathed, its light tracing an arc in the secret vault, cleaving the incoming poisoned arrow in two. The serpentine mark on the arrow shaft gleamed with a ghostly blue under the pearly light—it belonged to Duan Zhengming's "Shadow Guard," skilled in assassinating with "scorpion stings."

She was quite clever, and reminded him again, "Be careful!" Her "Big Dipper Across the Sky" sword technique protected Shi Feiyang's back, and the sword energy wove into a seven-star-shaped sword net, blocking all the poisoned arrows that followed.

The sword energy lifted his hair, brushing against Shi Feiyang's cheek, carrying a faint orchid fragrance that almost caused him to lose control of his "pure and desireless" mental technique.

Shi Feiyang unleashed "Lotus Fury," a fierce palm strike suddenly slamming out. The force of his palm struck the dome of the secret vault, and countless fragments of light from the luminous pearls rained down, exploding into ice lotuses on the shadow guard's body. Driven by the "ultimate softness and ultimate strength" internal energy of the "Lotus Manual," the ice lotuses instantly transformed into sharp ice shards, slicing open bloody gashes on the shadow guard's throat.

Tu Pengpeng said in surprise, "Your palm technique..." Her sword tip was poking the throat of the last shadow guard, but Shi Feiyang's fingertips flicked out the "True Qi Condensation" finger force, leaving a light blue lotus mark on the shadow guard's forehead.

She asked, puzzled, "Is this to leave a mark?"

Shi Feiyang explained, "Let Duan Zhengming know that the Tibetans stole the secret treasury." His green bamboo staff lifted the purple-gold kasaya, and the sheepskin under the hem unfolded in the pearly light, with the Tibetan wolf head imprint and Dali dragon pattern overlapping on it.

He further explained, "This is called 'resurrection through a corpse'."

Tu Pengpeng felt that following Shi Feiyang had truly broadened her horizons, as if she had gained more knowledge than she had in ten years of study. Suddenly, she cried out "Ouch!" as the scabbard of the Seven Star Sword struck the jade box, and the luminous pearl rolled off, landing right next to her boot.

Shi Feiyang used the "Lotus Shadow Illusion" footwork to fly past in an instant and catch the luminous pearl before it hit the ground. His fingertips inadvertently touched the instep of her foot, and both of them withdrew their hands as if they had been burned.

Tu Pengpeng said gratefully, "Thank you..." Her cheeks flushed red under the pearl's luster, more dazzling than the most beautiful ruby ​​in the secret vault, and she said shyly, "I... I just think this bead is pretty."

Shi Feiyang placed the luminous pearl in her palm. The internal energy of the "Healing Holy Method" from the Lotus Manual flowed through her fingertips, soothing her hands, which had been numb from the sword energy, with a warm and comforting sensation. He chuckled and said, "The heroine of the Seven Star Sword Sect, you also like these girly things?" His tone was somewhat teasing, but when he saw the starlight in her eyes, his voice softened unconsciously.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the secret vault, and Duan Zhenghong's roar pierced through the stone wall: "Surround the secret vault! Don't let a single fly out!" His "One-Finger Divine Skill" struck the stone door, stirring up clouds of dust.

Shi Feiyang suddenly pointed his green bamboo staff towards the ventilation shaft deep within the secret vault and said to Tu Pengpeng, "This way leads to the fishing boat dock by Erhai Lake." He draped a purple-gold cassock over Tu Pengpeng's shoulders and said with concern, "This cassock can block the force of the 'One-Finger Divine Skill.' Go to the dock and wait there; I'll distract them." Tu Pengpeng resolutely replied, "No!" Her Seven-Star Sword stood between the two of them, its tassel wrapped in red silk around Shi Feiyang's green bamboo staff, and she said with a resounding clang, "We go together! The people of the Seven-Star Sword Sect never abandon their companions!"

Her gaze was brighter than a sword blade, reflecting Shi Feiyang's long hair. In order to stay by Shi Feiyang's side, she hurriedly found an excuse and stammered, "Besides...besides, you are here to avenge our Seven Star Sword Sect."

Shi Feiyang's "Concealing Aura" technique suddenly dissipated, his silver hair gleaming golden under the pearly light, and the icy gleam of the silver earring on his left ear reflected Tu Pengpeng's stubborn profile. He suddenly chuckled, gently tapping her head with his bamboo cane, and said meaningfully, "Then let them see what 'shedding one's shell' really means." Tu Pengpeng nodded tenderly, and thanks to Shi Feiyang's ingenious plan, the two successfully escaped.

Fishing boats on the shore of Erhai Lake swayed like silver shuttles under the moonlight. Shi Feiyang's "Lotus Palm Technique" struck Duan Zhenghong, who was chasing after him. The palm wind of "Lotus Blossoming" swirled into a huge white lotus flower on the water's surface, completely dissipating the force of "One-Finger Divine Skill".

Water splashed onto Tu Pengpeng's red dress, creating damp patches that added a touch of vibrancy even more than the luminous pearls in the secret vault.

Duan Zhenghong exclaimed with sudden realization, "Shi Feiyang! So it was you!" His finger strike suddenly shifted towards Tu Pengpeng, the "One-Finger Divine Skill" striking like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, aimed straight for Tu Pengpeng's throat. He cursed angrily, "This little brat is from the Seven Star Sword Sect? No wonder her swordplay looks so familiar!"

However, he was instantly deflected by Shi Feiyang's green bamboo staff using the "Dog-Beating Stick Technique" with the move "Pushing the Dog Up to the Sky". Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang used the "Lotus Shadow Illusion" footwork to unfold at the bow of the boat, his figure overlapping with the moon shadow, making it impossible to distinguish which was the real body and which was the illusion.

He said jokingly, "Second Prince Duan, the secret agreement hidden in the purple-gold kasaya is probably of great interest to the Tibetan king." He then used his "True Qi Condensation" technique, pointing his finger at the iron ring on the ship's side from a distance. The iron chain clanged, startling the seagulls all over the lake.

Duan Zhenghong's expression changed drastically, and the force of his "One-Finger Divine Skill" suddenly became frenzied. He roared, "Where did you hide the secret agreement?"

Under the force of his fingers, the wooden planks of the fishing boat shattered one after another, and wood chips mixed with lake water splashed everywhere, but they didn't even touch the hem of Shi Feiyang's clothes.

Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword suddenly transformed into a "meteor chasing the moon," the sword light leaving a bloody mark on Duan Zhenghong's back. She then angrily cursed, "You despicable villain! Colluding with the Western Xia people to harm fellow martial artists, today I will act on behalf of Heaven!" The tip of her sword picked up a piece of ship plank, blocking Duan Zhenghong's return attack.

Shi Feiyang unleashed a powerful palm strike, "Lotus Fury," which slammed into Duan Zhenghong's back, causing him to cough up blood and fall into Erhai Lake.

He snorted coldly, "Let's go!" He tapped the stern of the boat with his bamboo cane, and the fishing boat shot towards the center of the lake like an arrow. The moonlight cast long silver ribbons on the water, like a ribbon tied to the stern.

Tu Pengpeng's red dress fluttered in the night wind. She looked at the water droplets on Shi Feiyang's long hair and suddenly reached out to brush a willow leaf from his hair. The moment their fingertips touched, they both felt as if they had been struck by lightning.

Shi Feiyang's "pure mind and few desires" mental technique was rippled, and Tu Pengpeng's cheeks were redder than the sunset.

"That secret agreement..." Tu Pengpeng's voice was barely audible. She circled the tassel of the Seven Star Sword three times in her palm, then asked doubtfully, "Are you really going to give it to the Tibetan king?" Shi Feiyang looked at the snow-capped peaks of the distant Cangshan Mountain, his green bamboo staff drawing ripples on the water's surface, and said meaningfully, "Not to Tibet, but to the Song Dynasty."

His "Yin-Yang Harmony" internal energy circulated within his body, dissolving the stagnant energy from the force of Duan Zhenghong's finger strike. He then explained, "Didn't Zhao Ji want the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun? Using this secret agreement to exchange for his military intervention to contain Tibet is called 'befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones.'"

Tu Pengpeng was completely bewildered. She was new to the martial world; how could she possibly know so much?! (End of Chapter)