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

Before Shi Feiyang could speak, He Yao interrupted him, saying, "Senior just finished a fight, so you can't eat anything too sweet!"

She stood in front of Shi Feiyang like a little animal protecting its food, and then said on Shi Feiyang's behalf, "It'll make your throat feel sore!"

Guo Biyu's face instantly darkened, and the jingling of her pearl hairpin rang shrilly. "What do you know, little girl?" she sneered, the osmanthus cake in her hand suddenly falling to the ground. She scolded, "Brother Shi loves my osmanthus cake, who gave you the right to interrupt?"

He Yao was equally defiant, picking up the Tai Chi sword from the ground, pointing the tip at Guo Biyu, and saying sternly, "I will not allow you to be disrespectful to your senior!"

Shi Feiyang looked at the two girls in front of him with a headache, and suddenly realized that he hadn't had this much trouble dealing with the Five Poisons Sect.

Just as he was about to speak to mediate, he heard the "Black Wind Order" signal from the Sun Moon Cult coming from the dense forest, indicating that Qu Liuxiang's people had arrived.

"Alright, stop arguing." He took He Yao's hand and said to Guo Biyu, "Thank you for the osmanthus cake, Miss Guo. We have other things to do, so we'll be leaving now."

He Yao was pulled along by him, feeling sweet inside. She turned around and made a face at Guo Biyu, her light green cloak drawing a graceful arc in the sunlight.

Guo Biyu watched their departing figures, crushed the osmanthus cake in her hand, the tinkling of her pearl hairpin jingling angrily, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes, and cursed, "You little bitch, you dare to try and steal Brother Shi from me, just you wait!"

The poisonous fog atop Yimeng Mountain had not yet dissipated, and the sweet, fishy smell of pine resin mixed with the bloody stench of the Five Poisons Sect members created an eerie fragrance in the twilight.

Qu Liuxiang's fiery red outfit was stained with a few drops of shimmering green venom. A golden dart spun rapidly between her fingers, its tip reflecting Guo Biyu's tear-streaked face—a face she had seen before in the peach blossom thicket at the foot of Mount Emei. Back then, she had been feeding medicine to an injured young monk, her beauty mark at the corner of her eye like a dew-kissed red bean; now, she wept like a peony drenched in a downpour.

"Girl from the Emei Sect," Qu Liuxiang's golden dart suddenly stopped at Guo Biyu's temple, the tassels on her pearl hairpin trembling wildly in the wind of the dart, she said sarcastically, "You Jianghu girls, crying and wailing like delicate maidens in their boudoirs."

Her gaze swept over the shattered sandalwood food box on the ground, the osmanthus cake mixed with the corpse of a poisonous spider, the sweet fragrance and stench intertwined, and she sneered, "His Majesty the Tang Emperor's taste cannot be bought off with a few pieces of sugar cake."

Guo Biyu's shoulders trembled like jade hairpins in the wind, but her tears suddenly stopped. A sharpness beyond her years flashed in her eyes as she defended herself, saying, "Sister is joking. Biyu just... just heard that Brother Shi was here, so she came to bring some snacks."

Her fingertips twisted the hem of her pale yellow dress, where the embroidered twin lotus blossoms were wrinkled from being soaked with tears. She then said solemnly, "As for the heroes and heroines of the martial world, although Xiangyu is not as heroic as her sister, she still knows how to write the word 'chivalrous'."

Qu Liuxiang's golden dart clattered to the ground. Suddenly, she burst into laughter. Her fiery red outfit looked like a dancing flame in the twilight. She teased, "Interesting. Really interesting!" She bent down to pick up the dart, wiped off the poison with a handkerchief, and then mocked, "No wonder the Abbess of the Extinction Sect made an exception and accepted you as her closed-door disciple. Your silver tongue is better than that girl from the Tai Chi Sword Sect."

She gestured with her chin to the followers behind her and said in a deep voice, "Clean up these food box fragments, so as not to offend His Majesty the Tang Emperor's eyes."

The believers stepped forward in response, the sound of shovels hitting the resin layer like gnawing on bones.

As Guo Biyu watched them scoop away the osmanthus cake mixed with poison, she suddenly took out a small silver box from her sleeve. Inside was a freshly made osmanthus cake, sealed with beeswax, and still steaming.

She said earnestly, "If you see Brother Shi, could you give this to him for Xiangyu?" Her voice was as soft as cotton candy, and her beauty mark glistened in the twilight. She said sincerely, "This box is clean. It's made by me... by me using spring water to knead the dough by the mountain stream at dawn."

Qu Liuxiang raised an eyebrow and took the silver box. Her fingertips touched the warmth of the bottom of the box and she suddenly remembered how she delivered medicine to Shi Feiyang twenty years ago. At that time, she was not an elder of the Sun Moon Sect, but just a girl in green carrying a medicine basket. She waited for three days and three nights in the snow on Mount Hua until her frozen fingers could no longer hold the medicine bottle.

“Your kindness,” she weighed the silver box in her hand, then suddenly stuffed it back into Guo Biyu’s arms, saying coldly, “You should keep it for yourself.” The fiery red figure turned and disappeared into the dense forest, leaving behind only a light, airy remark: “His Majesty the Tang Emperor has no shortage of people to deliver sweets and cakes.”

Guo Biyu held the warm silver box, her knuckles turning white.

As dusk settled over the hem of her skirt, her pale yellow dress stood out like an untimely forsythia amidst the carnage scattered on the ground.

She gazed in the direction Shi Feiyang had left, and her beauty mark suddenly lit up—it was the light green cloak of the girl from the Tai Chi Sword Sect. Just now, when it flashed by in the dense forest, she clearly saw Shi Feiyang holding that girl's hand, and the sunlight filtering through her fingers was sweet.

……

Shi Feiyang's fingertips were entwined with He Yao's hair. This was because when she was startled by the poisonous spider and pounced on him, the jade hairpin had come loose and wrapped around the tassel of his animal skin coat. At this moment, the two of them were walking through the dense forest, and he could feel the warmth from his palms—He Yao's hands were always warm, unlike his own, whose fingertips were always icy due to years of practicing the Mingyu Gong.

"Senior, your hands are so cold." He Yao said in surprise, suddenly stopping in her tracks. The light green cloak swept across his arm like a playful leaf.

She carefully pried open his fingers and placed her palm against them. The cuffs of her pale white short jacket slid down, revealing a red string on her fair wrist. She said caringly, "This will keep you warm." The small silver bell on the red string jingled softly with her movements, like spring water dripping onto a blue stone.

Shi Feiyang's heart skipped a beat. Tu Pengpeng's hands carried a sword-like aura, with distinct knuckles; Yelü Mingquan's hands always smelled of ink, with thin calluses on his fingertips; Su Xiaoman's hands were covered in hard calluses from years of wielding darts.

He Yao's hands were as soft as clouds, and the lines on her palms were warm, gradually warming up the coldness that had lingered in him for years.

"Silly girl," he tried to pull his hand away, but she held it even tighter. Her earlobes, beneath the jade hairpin, were as red as ripe cherries. He said, contradicting himself, "What would it look like if someone saw us?"

"So what if I saw it?" He Yao lowered her head even further, the hood of her light green cloak covering half of her face, revealing only her delicate chin. She said playfully, "People in the martial arts world say that His Majesty the Tang Emperor is cold and ruthless, but I know that you are a good person, senior."

Her fingertips gently traced the thin calluses on his palm—the result of practicing the "Hundred Victories Sword Technique," crisscrossing like a map—and she said with heartache, "These calluses, you got them to protect others, didn't you?"

Shi Feiyang suddenly remembered that when Bianliang fell, he used these hands to shield the people, and his palms were smashed and bloodied by the Jin soldiers' spiked clubs.

No one called him a good person back then. Only the children in the pile of corpses clung to his clothes, saying his hands were as cold as ice. He looked down at the jade hairpin on He Yao's head. The crack in the hairpin was still there—it was broken by a piece of gravel when she blocked the poisoned needle this morning. This girl couldn't bear to replace it.

"What are you thinking about, senior?" He Yao's voice was like a kitten scratching at your heart, and she asked with a hint of fear, "Do you think I'm too annoying?"

Her hand loosened slightly, her fingertips brushing against his wrist bone, where there was a shallow scar—a mark from when he was scratched by Lan Fengye's poisoned needle in Dali last year. She stammered, "If...if Senior finds me in the way, then I..."

"Who said you were in the way?" Shi Feiyang suddenly gripped her hand tightly, the cuff of his fur coat brushing against the back of her hand, carrying the scent of pine resin. He said tenderly, "Follow me if you want, but..." He looked at the unhealed knife wound on her shoulder, the patch on her moon-white short jacket peeking out from the tear in her light green cloak, the crooked stitches clearly her own. He said affectionately, "Next time, don't be so foolish as to rush over to block the poison needles. Your Tai Chi sword hasn't reached the point where you can withstand the 'Five Poison Palm' yet."

He Yao's tears suddenly welled up, not from fear, but from sweetness. She looked up, her hood slipped down, and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, adorned with a few golden ginkgo leaves—she didn't know when, but the ginkgo trees in the dense forest had turned yellow.

"Is Senior concerned about me?" Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled, as if they held the entire starry sky. Her pretty face flushed, and she stammered, "Like...like in the stories, heroes always protect the girls they like?"

Shi Feiyang's ears suddenly burned, something that had never happened to him since he began practicing the Mingyu Kung Fu. He turned his face away, looking at the faint light deep in the dense forest—it was the direction of Liangshan Marsh, and he could vaguely hear the bugle calls of the water stronghold.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" His voice was a little tight, but he didn't let go of her hand again. "If we don't leave now, we won't reach the water village before dark."

He Yao pursed her lips and smiled secretly, letting him lead her forward. The hem of her light green cloak swept across the ground covered with ginkgo leaves, rustling like a song. She secretly counted his steps, one step, two steps, three steps… each step was in his shadow, like a clingy little tail. She knew her Tai Chi sword was not as powerful as Guo Biyu's Emei dagger, nor as formidable as Su Xiaoman's golden dart, but she had the warmest hands in the world, capable of warming the icy palms of Shi Jiang.

As dusk settled over the dense forest, the two rested by the stream. Shi Feiyang gathered some dry branches to start a fire, and sparks flew onto his animal-hide coat, bouncing off with tiny ice particles—the chilling aura of Mingyu Gong couldn't even penetrate the flames.

He Yao squatted by the stream washing her hands. The moonlight shone on the water, like a layer of broken silver.

Her reflection swayed in the water, then was suddenly pressed down by a cold hand.

"Don't move." Shi Feiyang's voice rang out above her head. His fingertips brushed through her hair as he plucked a ginkgo leaf covered in dew. "There are 'Golden Silkworm Gu' eggs on this leaf. I just picked them up on the top of the mountain."

He threw the ginkgo leaves into the fire, and the flames shot up with a "whoosh," making a "crackling" sound, like he was chewing on something crunchy.

He Yao's heart was pounding like a drum, and she could feel his breath on the top of her head, carrying a faint scent of pine resin.

She thought of Guo Biyu's pale yellow dress and pearl hairpin, and then looked at her own faded white short clothes. Suddenly, she felt a little inferior and said, "Senior, am I...am I too shabby?" Her fingers twisted the hem of her clothes, where the patches had turned white from being soaked in the stream. She said sadly, "Unlike Miss Guo, who dresses so beautifully and can even make osmanthus cakes."

Shi Feiyang's hand stopped in her hair, the coolness of the jade hairpin coming through his fingertips.

He recalled the first time Tu Pengpeng accompanied him on his adventures, wearing faded men's clothing, yet managing to kill three assassins with a single embroidery needle; Yelü Mingquan always wore coarse cloth skirts, yet could defeat all the masters in the world on the chessboard.

“Beautiful clothes,” he said meaningfully, picking up a dry twig and drawing an orchid on the ground, the same kind embroidered on her short jacket, “but not as good as a sword that can protect you.”

He Yao looked at the orchid on the ground and suddenly smiled. The beauty mark at the corner of her eye looked like a smiling star. She said with emotion, "Senior, you painted it so well."

She picked up a sharp stone and drew a sword next to the orchid, with an exceptionally long tassel, like her Tai Chi sword. She then jokingly said, "Once I've mastered the Tai Chi sword, I'll draw a big one, even more powerful than the senior's 'Hundred Victories Sword Technique'."

Shi Feiyang's laughter startled the night birds in the trees. He suddenly reached out and gently stroked her nose. His cool fingertips were warm as he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll wait." He took out an oil paper package from his fur coat. Inside were a few dry, hard wheat cakes. He said affectionately, "Have something to eat first. When we get to Liangshan, I'll have Li Tieniu make you meat buns."

He Yao took the wheat cake, then suddenly remembered something. She took out a small bamboo tube from her bosom, which contained the honey she had brought down the mountain. She said softly, "Put some of this on and it won't be hard." She carefully poured out the honey, and the golden honey dripped onto the wheat cake like melting sunlight. She added sincerely, "This honey is from the beehives in my backyard. It's sweeter than the ones in the market."

Shi Feiyang took a bite of the wheat cake, and the sweetness of the honey mixed with the aroma of wheat spread on his tongue. He suddenly felt that it was a hundred times tastier than Guo Biyu's osmanthus cake.

He watched He Yao nibble on the wheat cake, the moonlight illuminating her profile, making even the fine hairs on her face clearly visible, like a little squirrel stealing a bite. "Eat slowly," he said affectionately, handing her the water bottle, "Don't choke."

He Yao took the kettle, took a small sip, and suddenly choked and coughed.

Shi Feiyang quickly patted her back, the chill from his palm traveling down her spine and quickly stopping her cough. "Senior's hand..." Her cheek pressed against his palm, cool yet reassuring, she murmured, "It doesn't feel so cold anymore."

"You've warmed me up." Shi Feiyang's voice was a little muffled. He could feel her heartbeat through the thin short jacket, like a pounding drum.

He tried to pull his hand back, but she pressed it down—He Yao's hand covered the back of his hand, small and warm, like two intertwined doves.

The stream murmured, and the firelight flickered. The two sat there, neither of them speaking.

He Yao felt as if she had a jar of honey in her heart, so sweet it was almost overflowing.

She secretly glanced at Shi Feiyang's profile. The shadow of his straw hat couldn't hide his straight nose, and the silver ring on his left ear gleamed in the moonlight. Suddenly, she felt that the night in this dense forest was better than any magnificent palace.

As dawn broke, the two finally saw the Liangshan Marsh water fortress.

The wolf-tooth flag at the village gate was faintly visible in the morning mist, and countless eyes were hidden in the reeds on the bank. The sound of bamboo poles dipping into the water was like the sound of a night watchman's clapper. Just as Shi Feiyang was about to pull He Yao around to the side gate, he heard the clear sound of jade pendants coming from the reeds.

Guo Biyu stood at the bow of the boat, carrying a food box. Her pale yellow dress shone like a blooming yellow rose in the morning mist. She had clearly come overnight; dew still clung to her pearl hairpin. When she saw Shi Feiyang, her eyes lit up like two stars, and she said affectionately, "Brother Shi! I knew you would take this route!"

She jumped ashore on the diving board, the aroma of chicken soup wafting from the food box, and said devoutly, "I specially stewed black chicken soup to nourish you."

He Yao subconsciously hid behind Shi Feiyang, but a corner of her light green cloak was lifted by the wind, revealing a patched moon-white short jacket underneath.

Guo Biyu's gaze pierced him like needles, but a sweet smile graced her lips as she said, "Oh, this little sister is here too. Did you catch a chill last night?" She took out a silver bowl from the food box, filled it to the brim with chicken soup, and handed it to Shi Feiyang, saying warmly, "Brother Shi, drink up, it's still warm. I added angelica and goji berries, which are the best for replenishing qi and blood."

Shi Feiyang didn't take the silver bowl. His gaze fell into the depths of the reeds—there, the top of a bamboo pole was wrapped with red silk, a code of the Beggars' Sect, indicating that Li Tieniu's men were nearby. "Miss Guo is very kind," he said in a light, yet cold voice, "but the rules of the water stronghold are strict, and outsiders are not allowed to enter."

Guo Biyu's hand froze in mid-air, the steam from the chicken soup blurring her face. She said sadly, "Brother Shi, do you think Biyu is in the way?"

Her tears came instantly, sliding down her cheeks and into the bowl. She choked out, "I... I was just worried you'd get hurt. The Five Poisons Sect's poison is potent, but this black chicken soup can cure all poisons..."

“No need.” Beneath Shi Feiyang’s animal-skin coat, the chilling aura of Mingyu Gong quietly circulated, and the morning mist condensed into tiny ice crystals at his feet. He said coldly, “I have my own way of curing the poison of Lan Fengye.” He took He Yao’s hand, turned to leave, and then added, “Let’s go into the village first.” “Senior!” He Yao suddenly stopped, took out the bamboo tube containing honey from her bosom, and stuffed it into Shi Feiyang’s hand, saying gently, “Take this with you. If you haven’t finished the wheat cakes, you can spread some on them.” Her cheeks were flushed, like ripe apples, and she stammered, “I… I’ll go to the reeds over there to relieve myself. I’ll be right back.”

Shi Feiyang held the warm bamboo tube in his hand, watching her run towards the reeds. Her light green cloak looked like a kingfisher spreading its wings in the morning mist.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Guo Biyu stuffed the silver bowl into his hand, her voice as soft as cotton candy, and pleaded, "Brother Shi, Biyu doesn't ask for anything else, she only asks to be able to follow you, even if it's just to serve you tea and water..."

Her fingers gently traced the back of his hand, still burning hot, and she said sadly, "Look at this chicken soup, it's almost cold..."

In the reeds, He Yao gripped her Tai Chi sword tightly, her knuckles turning white. She heard Guo Biyu's voice, which felt like a needle piercing her heart.

She knew she shouldn't eavesdrop, but her feet felt like they were nailed to the ground.

The morning breeze rustled through the reeds, as if mocking her overestimation of her abilities—she was a top disciple of the Emei Sect, well-dressed and skilled at making pastries, while she knew nothing but a rudimentary Tai Chi swordsmanship.

“Miss Guo.” Shi Feiyang’s voice suddenly rang out, carrying an undeniable coldness, and said, “I don’t need someone who only brings soup by my side.” The silver bowl clattered to the ground, and the chicken soup spilled on the ground, quickly freezing into ice by the morning mist.

Shi Feiyang said expressionlessly, "Please leave."

He Yao's tears suddenly welled up; they weren't tears of sadness, but tears of sweetness.

She ran out of the reeds and bumped into Shi Feiyang as he turned around. She quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, but he saw her.

"Why are you crying?" Shi Feiyang asked with concern, his brows furrowing as he reached out to wipe her eyes, but she dodged him. "I'm not crying," He Yao said sweetly, her voice nasal, but her lips parted in a wide grin. "It's just that the reed fluff pricked my eyes."

She took his hand, her light green cloak tracing a graceful arc in the morning mist, and skipped along, saying, "Senior, let's go! I'm hungry, I want to eat Li Tieniu's meat buns." Shi Feiyang looked at her red-rimmed eyes and suddenly laughed, letting her pull him towards the water village. The morning mist dissipated behind them, revealing Guo Biyu's frozen figure, her pale yellow dress fluttering in the cold wind like a withered flower.

The gate to Liangshan Marsh's water fortress creaked open, and Li Tieniu's booming voice rang out from afar: "Your Majesty! You've finally arrived!" He was wearing a faded beggar's elder's robe, and a piece of meat bone was still wrapped around his dog-beating stick. He said warmly, "I left you two baskets of braised pork buns, they're still hot!"

He Yao's eyes lit up, and the hood of her light green cloak tilted to one side.

Looking at her eager expression, Shi Feiyang suddenly felt that the lively atmosphere of this water village was better than any conflicts in the martial arts world.

He patted Li Tieniu on the shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the sentries on the stockade wall—they all had red ribbons wrapped around their waists, a secret signal between the Beggars' Sect and the Sun Moon Cult, indicating that Qu Liuxiang's people had arrived.

"Arrange a place to stay first." Shi Feiyang's gaze fell on the wound on He Yao's shoulder, and he quickly instructed Li Tieniu, "Find someone who knows medicine to take a look."

Li Tieniu then noticed He Yao, his eyes widening like saucers. Knowing the answer already, he asked, "And who is this young lady?" He scratched his head, looked at their tightly clasped hands, and suddenly chuckled, teasingly adding, "I get it! I'll go arrange the best room right away, and have my wife stew a whole old hen!"

He Yao's face instantly turned red. She tried to let go of Shi Feiyang's hand, but he held it even tighter.

Looking at the people from the martial arts world coming and going in the village—beggars from the Beggars' Sect, followers of the Sun Moon Cult, and soldiers in Song Dynasty armor—she suddenly felt a sense of peace. These people were all Shi Feiyang's friends, and also her friends.

"Senior," He Yao's voice was barely audible, her heart pounding as she asked, "Will they laugh at me?"

Her light green cloak clashed with the coarse cloth clothing here, making her look like a phoenix that had wandered into a chicken coop. Shi Feiyang looked down at her; the shadow of his straw hat fell on her face, but it couldn't hide her bright, sparkling eyes.

The reeds of Liangshan Marsh glowed with gold and red in the twilight. Shi Feiyang had changed his animal skin coat into the monk's robe. The monk's knife was actually a Liao Dynasty scimitar given to him by Yelü Mingquan. The wolf pattern on the scabbard shone brightly in the moonlight.

Suddenly, the wine flags on the shore began to flutter, and thirty-six heroes emerged from the water fortress.

The leader's dagger was longer than Shi Feiyang's, and the tattoo on his face read "The Murderer is Wu Song".

"So you're Shi Feiyang?" Wu Song asked coldly, smashing his wine gourd on the bow of the boat, the wine igniting blue flames on the deck—it was strong liquor laced with sulfur. Suddenly, he praised, "I heard you killed Wanyan Lie of the Jin Dynasty and deposed the Tibetan Dharma King. You're quite a hero." His monk's knife suddenly pointed at Shi Feiyang's throat, but he said coldly, "But Liangshan Marsh doesn't welcome the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. If you want to pass through, you'll have to get past these fists first!"

Beneath Shi Feiyang's monk's robes, Mingyu's inner energy was already poised to be unleashed. He recognized Lin Chong, Lu Zhishen, and Song Jiang behind Wu Song—all figures marked on Zhao Qingyi's city defense map. Lin Chong's "Lin Family Spear Technique" could break through the Jin Kingdom's "Iron Pagoda" defenses; Lu Zhishen's "Mad Demon Staff Technique" had once killed a tiger on Mount Wutai; and Song Jiang's "Timely Rain" hidden weapon was deadly.

"Captain Wu's 'Jade Ring Step' and 'Mandarin Duck Kick' are famous throughout the world," Shi Feiyang praised, then drew his curved sword, the blade gleaming silver in the moonlight, and said jokingly, "I'd like to learn from your 'Hundred Victories Sword Technique'."

He used his mysterious "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to spin around on the bow of the boat, leaving a blur of motion. His curved blade traced the trajectory of the "Viewing the Vast Sea" move from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique. The blade's energy collided with Wu Song's fist, stirring up a shower of water.

Wu Song's fist was as hard as refined steel, and he withstood the blade energy of "Watching the Sea" head-on. His "Jade Ring Step" slid across the water as if on flat ground, and his fist, carrying a strong wind, smashed towards Shi Feiyang's face. The wind from his fist carried the smell of alcohol mixed with the stench of blood, clearly indicating that he had just killed someone.

Shi Feiyang used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" skill, gently guiding Wu Song's fist to graz his ear and smash it against the mast, snapping the thick mast in two. Suddenly, Lin Chong's spear thrust forward, its tip concealing seven bone-piercing nails—a dirty trick he'd learned from Tong Guan.

Shi Feiyang swung his curved saber backhand with the "Slaying the Mortal World" technique from the Hundred Victories Saber Method. The saber energy split the spear tip in two, but Lu Zhishen's monk's staff came crashing down from the left, the iron ring on the staff head making his eardrums ache.

He unleashed the "Sudden Attack" move from the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms" with both palms, the fierce palm wind deflecting the monk's staff, and then struck Song Jiang's hidden weapon bag with his palm, sending all the poisoned needles in the bag flying into the reeds.

The battle unfolded in the reeds. Shi Feiyang's curved blade moved like a silver snake, each strike carrying the chilling aura of the Mingyu Kung Fu, freezing the weapons of the Liangshan heroes into ice blocks. Wu Song's punches gradually slowed, the tattoos on his face stained red with blood, and his eyes looked at Shi Feiyang with more admiration. He praised, "Your kung fu is even more powerful than the tiger I killed on Jingyang Ridge."

Shi Feiyang's scimitar suddenly stopped in front of his throat, the blade reflecting the distant firelight—the Jin Kingdom's "Blood Wolf Camp" had actually caught up with him to Liangshan Marsh.

“Now is not the time for infighting,” he sheathed his sword, his monk’s robe brushing against Wu Song’s shoulder, and guided him, “Wanyan Zongbi’s main force is just three miles away. If we’re going to fight, let’s fight the Jin soldiers together.”

Wu Song suddenly lowered his fist, grinned, and nodded, saying, "You're right! We Liangshan heroes will kill the Jin dogs first, and then settle our scores!"

He pointed his dagger at the firelight and roared, "Brothers, follow me and kill them!"

The shouts of the thirty-six heroes shook the reeds. Shi Feiyang, using his unparalleled lightness skill "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," leaped towards the foremost warship. His curved blade traced the trajectory of the "Burning Heaven and Earth" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade Method under the moonlight, illuminating the corpses of the Jin soldiers floating on the water.

The moonlight in Yanggu County, like a blood-quenched steel knife, slanted across the carved window frames of the Lion Tower. Shi Feiyang tapped his folding fan against his palm, the penetrating nails within the fan ribs poised to strike. The sap of the Seven Star Begonia gleamed coldly in the dark compartment, much like the occasional glint of cunning in his eyes—to the patrons, he appeared to be nothing more than a carefree scion of a noble family, and no one could discern the Tang Dynasty dragon tattoo hidden beneath the silver earring in his left ear.

"Please come in, sir." The waiter bowed and scraped as he greeted Shi Feiyang. His blue cloth shirt was starched stiff, but the cuffs were frayed. As he turned around, the sword at his waist bumped against the corner of the counter, making a crisp "clang".

Shi Feiyang's folding fan suddenly stopped in mid-air. His gaze swept over the man's knuckles—the calluses on his hands and fingers were not from holding a knife, but rather from gripping a spiked club for many years. Moreover, under the collar of his left neck, half of a dark blue wolf tattoo was faintly visible.

"I've heard that Master Ximen possesses a jade ruyi, the scepter of Emperor Daozong of Liao?" Shi Feiyang asked deliberately, his folding fan unfurling with a "whoosh." In the painting of a lone fisherman on a cold river, a layer of white frost suddenly appeared on the fishing rod—the chill of Mingyu Gong had already spread along the fan ribs. He then said, half-jokingly, "I'd like to borrow it to take a look. If it catches your eye, how about exchanging it for three jars of ten-year-aged daughter's red wine?"

The waiter's eye twitched violently, and as he turned, a blade flashed from his sleeve. The blade was eerily fast, carrying the distinctive "Wind-Breaking Blade" style of the Jin Kingdom's "Blood Wolf Camp," aimed straight for Shi Feiyang's heart. But Shi Feiyang's figure rose like a willow catkin, using the profound "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to whirl and create afterimages among the tables. His folding fan seemingly casually rested on the waiter's back, while the silver threads from his Heavenly Silkworm Skill already traveled along the waiter's meridians.

"Pfft!" Before the waiter could take three steps, black blood suddenly gushed from his seven orifices, forming small blood pools on the bluestone slab. The corpse was curled up in a shriveled monkey shape, the result of being killed by Shi Feiyang's "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill—this skill uses blood to draw blood, it is the most insidious, but also the most effective at deterring villains.

Shi Feiyang used the tip of his fan to lift the man's tattoo and sneered, "Wanyan Zongbi's dog has a keen sense of smell." The scarlet carpet at the top of the stairs suddenly moved, and He Yao's light green cloak peeked out from behind the railing, the tassels on her jade hairpin swaying gently.

She had secretly followed him, but when she saw Shi Feiyang make his move, she covered her mouth in fright, yet couldn't help but peek through the crack—his profile flickered in the candlelight, a smile playing on his lips, and with a flick of his folding fan, he took a life; his mischievous nature concealed astonishing skill.

"Why is my sister here too?" Shi Feiyang's voice suddenly rang in her ear, carrying a warm breath.

He Yao was so frightened she almost fell, but he caught her around the waist. The light green cloak enveloped their figures, and she could smell the ink scent mixed with a faint smell of blood on him. Her heart was pounding as if it would jump out of her throat.

He then questioned, "Didn't I tell you to wait at the inn?"

“I…I’m worried about you, senior,” He Yao explained, her cheek pressed against his fur coat. The pale white collar of his coat was warmed by his body heat. She added with concern, “I heard Lion Tower is dangerous, I…”

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a burst of giggles coming from the third floor.

Pan Jinlian's green skirt unfurled like a lotus leaf as she toyed with the crabapple blossoms on the windowsill, the dewdrops on the petals shimmering with a deep blue hue under the moonlight. Her "Thousand Spider Venomous Hands" technique had reached its seventh level, her fingertips gleaming with a bluish-black hue, yet her smile was more alluring than the crabapple blossoms outside, captivating and enchanting as she said, "Young Master Shi, how dare you act so violently on my turf!"

Shi Feiyang gently pushed his folding fan aside, shielding He Yao behind him, and questioned, "The Five Poisons Sect's Jade Silkworm Gu," his gaze swept over the dewdrops, a chill condensing in his eyes, and he said mockingly, "Touching it means certain death. Miss Pan is quite generous in using such fine things to entertain guests." He suddenly lowered his voice and said to He Yao, "When we make our move later, remember to use 'Cloud Hands' to protect your chest and prevent the poison powder from touching you."

He Yao's heart skipped a beat, and she nodded obediently, the Tai Chi sword trembling slightly within her sleeve. She saw the white frost on Shi Feiyang's fingertips, knowing that he had activated the Mingyu Gong, intending to protect her.

Moonlight shone through the railing onto Shi Feiyang's hair, giving it a faint silvery glow, and his handsome features carried a touch of chivalrous compassion.

……

Behind the carved screen on the third floor, Ximen Qing, dressed in a brocade robe embroidered with gold peonies, swirled scarlet wine in his cup. Suddenly, the seven men in black behind him lifted their cloaks, revealing short swords whose blue light shimmered in the candlelight—these were poisoned blades coated with the Western Xia's "Power-Dissolving Powder," capable of crippling a person's internal energy.

"Young Master Shi is indeed skilled," Ximen Qing said sarcastically, his wine cup spinning rapidly in his palm, while a murderous glint appeared in his eyes. He then asked knowingly, "But I wonder if you serve the Song Dynasty or the Tang Dynasty?"

His gaze suddenly shifted to He Yao, like a viper eyeing a lamb, and he swallowed hard, saying, "This young lady is quite beautiful. Why don't you give her to me as my seventh concubine? In return, I will present you with the jade ruyi. What do you say?"

He Yao turned pale with anger, drew her Tai Chi sword with a "whoosh," and rebuked, "Shameless scoundrel! How dare you desecrate a disciple of my Tai Chi Sword Sect!" The tip of her sword drew the arc of the Tai Chi sword technique "Wild Horse Parts Its Mane," but Shi Feiyang gently pressed down on her wrist.

"Don't dirty your sword when dealing with this kind of person," Shi Feiyang advised in a low voice. Suddenly, his folding fan pointed at Ximen Qing's wine cup. The sword energy of "Splitting Mountains" from the "Hundred Victories Sword Technique" surged out along the fan ribs, and the wine cup shattered with a "crack." Hidden in the fragments were three bone-piercing nails, carrying the unique yin and soft power of the "Sunflower Manual," which went straight for He Yao's face.

"Watch out!" Shi Feiyang cried out in alarm, his left arm suddenly wrapping around He Yao's waist as he activated his "Flower Shifting Jade" divine skill. The bone-piercing nails, as if attracted by a magnet, suddenly changed direction and shot towards the black-clad man behind the screen.

Amidst screams, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms with his right palm. The force of his palm strike was like a golden dragon emerging from the sea, sending Ximen Qing crashing through the floorboards and plunging to the second floor. "Senior!" He Yao's cheek pressed against his chest, and she could hear his steady heartbeat. Shi Feiyang's animal-skin coat was stained with wine, but it froze upon contact with her skin, then quickly melted, carrying a strange warmth.

She saw Pan Jinlian's green dress approach like a ghost, the bluish-black tips of her fingers within reach, and she closed her eyes in fright.

Shi Feiyang hurriedly unleashed his "Shocking Calamity" divine skill, his gaze sweeping across Pan Jinlian with icy intensity. The woman's body instantly froze, countless ice cracks spreading from her head to her toes, before finally shattering into countless ice shards on the ground.

The fragments of her green dress fluttered like paper money in the moonlight. She never understood why the boy's gaze was more deadly than the "Thousand Spider Poison Hand."

The Jin soldiers finally rushed out from behind the hidden door, their spiked clubs whistling through the air. The centurion at the head grinned, revealing his wolf-patterned tattoo, and roared, "Tang dogs! General Wanyan knew you'd come!" The barbs on the spiked clubs were wrapped with fragments of the Liao wolf flag, exactly like the one Shi Feiyang had seen in Bianliang.

Shi Feiyang pushed He Yao behind him, his folding fan transforming into a palm strike and a blade, unleashing the "Severing Reincarnation" move from the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." The palm strike was as fierce as the blazing sun, and the leather armor of the Jin soldiers shattered in the blade's energy, their internal organs mixed with bone fragments splattering onto the peony screen, turning the auspicious image into a grotesque and terrifying mess.

He Yao watched with a pounding heart, but she remembered his words firmly. She used "Cloud Hands" to protect herself and occasionally used "Cross Hands" to force back the approaching Jin soldiers.

With a "clang," He Yao's Tai Chi sword collided with a Jin soldier's short sword, causing her hands to go numb from the impact.

The Jin soldier grinned and pounced, his blade aimed straight for her throat.

Shi Feiyang's figure flashed by like lightning. His left hand gripped the Jin soldier's pressure point, and the chilling energy of Mingyu Gong instantly froze him into an ice sculpture. His right hand, however, did not forget to hold He Yao's hand and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

His palms were icy cold, yet they carried a reassuring power. He Yao shook her head, her eyes reddening—just a moment ago, she clearly saw Shi Feiyang take a blow to the back from another Jin soldier's blade while protecting her. Although he was protected by the Mingyu Gong, his animal-skin coat was still slashed, and blood seeped out. (End of Chapter)