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

"Senior is injured!" He Yao's tears suddenly welled up. She took out some medicine from her bosom and was about to apply it to Shi Feiyang, but he held her hand down.

"This little injury is nothing." Shi Feiyang's smile was a bit mischievous. He wiped the bloodstains with his sleeve and said with a grin, "After we deal with these bastards, I'll have Li Tieniu stew an old hen for me to nourish myself."

He suddenly raised his voice and roared, "Wu Er! If you don't act now, your brother's revenge will be left undone!"

Heavy footsteps echoed from the stairwell. Wu Song's dagger shattered the floorboards, blood mingling with sweat streaming down his face—clearly, he had just killed a Jin soldier downstairs. He apologized, "Brother Shi! I'm late!" Then, using his "Jade Ring Step," he stepped into the pool of blood and smashed his fist into the skull of the last Jin soldier, splattering his brains onto Shi Feiyang's long robe. He then cursed, "These scoundrels, how dare they run wild in Yanggu County!"

Just then, the clear sound of jade pendants suddenly came from outside the building.

Guo Biyu, dressed in a pale yellow dress, swept across the sea of ​​fire like a nightingale. The dagger in her hand gleamed silver, and the tassels on her pearl hairpin drew golden lines in the firelight. She said devoutly, "Brother Shi! I'm here to help you!"

She had clearly followed him all the way here; her temples were streaked with cigarette ash, yet she was still as beautiful as a peony with dew on its petals.

Shi Feiyang asked with suspicion, "Why is Miss Guo here?" Somewhat surprised, he saw that her Emei dagger had already pierced the back of a Jin soldier. Her technique was ruthless and swift, showing a bit of the style of the nun who wiped out a family.

"I heard you were fighting fiercely here," Guo Biyu replied, her spikes deflecting another Jin soldier's dagger. Her pale yellow dress swept across the blood-stained ground without getting a drop on it, and she said sullenly, "How could I not come?"

Her gaze fell on He Yao with a hint of hostility, but she quickly turned to Shi Feiyang, her eyes overflowing with affection as she asked with concern, "Brother Shi, are you alright? I brought the best wound medicine."

He Yao felt a sudden prick in her heart, and her grip on the Tai Chi sword tightened.

She watched as Guo Biyu skillfully dodged the Jin soldiers' attacks, her Emei dagger and Shi Feiyang's folding fan moving in perfect coordination, clearly indicating she had practiced. As for herself, besides hiding behind Shi Feiyang, there was nothing she could do; she was even afraid of causing trouble by handing him medicine.

"Watch out!" Shi Feiyang suddenly pushed He Yao aside and faced Ximen Qing's counterattack.

The spear was coated with the Five Poisons Sect's "Bone-Corroding Liquid," its tip gleaming with a greenish light. He transformed his folding fan into a palm strike, unleashing the "Severing the Horizon" move from the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique." The palm strike collided with the spear tip, producing a deafening sound.

Guo Biyu's Emei dagger suddenly shot out from the side, aiming for Ximen Qing's wrist. "Brother Shi! I'm here to help you!" Her movements were nimble, like a butterfly flitting among flowers, just in time to rescue Shi Feiyang from the predicament.

Caught between two men, Ximen Qing gradually weakened. Suddenly, he pulled a signal flare from his pocket and fired it into the sky with a "bang." A green firework exploded in the night sky—the assembly signal for the Jin Kingdom's "Blood Wolf Camp."

"Not good!" Shi Feiyang's expression changed. "They have reinforcements!" He suddenly activated his "Emperor's Thunderous Fury" divine skill, and the icy energy turned into lightning that struck the hidden door, igniting the gunpowder fuse inside. "Wu Song, take Miss He and go! Miss Guo and I will cover our retreat!"

"I'm not leaving!" He Yao suddenly blocked his way, her Tai Chi sword pointing at the charging Jin soldiers. "If we're going to leave, we'll leave together!" Her jade hairpin shimmered in the firelight, like a stubborn star. "I'm not afraid!"

Looking into her resolute eyes, Shi Feiyang suddenly remembered that Tu Pengpeng had been the same way back then, following him no matter how dangerous it was. A warmth filled his heart, and he gently tapped her sword sheath with his folding fan: "Silly girl, listen to me." He turned to Guo Biyu, "Miss Guo, would you like to join forces with me?"

"It is my wish, but I dare not ask." Guo Biyu twirled the Emei dagger in her palm and smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream. "It is Biyu's blessing to fight alongside Brother Shi." The two figures moved through the sea of ​​fire, their folding fans and Emei daggers working together seamlessly.

Shi Feiyang's "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms" was fierce and powerful, while Guo Biyu's "Emei Thrust Technique" was gentle and feminine, creating a strange tacit understanding between them.

He Yao watched their retreating figures, feeling a pang of sadness, but she knew this wasn't the time to throw a tantrum, so she had no choice but to follow Wu Song to the east gate.

"Brother Shi, look!" Guo Biyu suddenly pointed to the rooftop, where the Jin Dynasty's wolf flag was curled up into a charred mess in the flames. "We won!" Her face was covered in soot, but her smile was brighter than fireworks.

Shi Feiyang's gaze swept across her face, and he suddenly realized that although this girl was somewhat spoiled, she was genuinely kind to him. If she hadn't arrived in time, he probably would have had to go through much more trouble to escape. "Thank you, Miss Guo," he said, his tone now more sincere.

Guo Biyu's cheeks flushed instantly, and she lowered her head to play with her pearl hairpin: "It is my honor to be able to work for Brother Shi."

She stole a glance at him, and seeing that he didn't seem to mind, she became bolder. "Brother Shi, after this matter is over, I... I'll make you osmanthus cake, okay? I'll put lots and lots of osmanthus flowers in it."

Looking at her shy demeanor, Shi Feiyang was suddenly touched. He recalled how Guo Biyu had followed him all the way here these past few days, bringing him medicine and snacks, and even risking her life to come and help him in battle. How could he ignore such affection?
"Okay." He nodded, his voice tinged with amusement.

The explosion shattered the last beam of the Lion Tower, and the flames illuminated half the sky.

Shi Feiyang pulled Guo Biyu out of the sea of ​​fire, and the building behind them collapsed with a crash. The wolf flag of the Jin Kingdom turned to ashes in the flames.

"Head towards the East Gate!" His "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" light-footed skill carried the two of them across the rooftops. Guo Biyu's hand gripped his sleeve tightly, as if she were grasping at a lifeline. Her pale yellow dress unfurled in the night wind, like a yellow butterfly spreading its wings.

He Yao and Wu Song were already waiting at the East Gate. When they came out safely, He Yao's eyes lit up, but then she lowered her head and looked at her blood-stained pale white blouse, which contrasted sharply with Guo Biyu's bright and beautiful appearance.

"Senior." He Yao's voice was a little low as she handed over an oil paper package. "I...I don't have anything good. These are wheat cakes I made myself. You...you can eat them on the way."

Shi Feiyang took the oil paper package, still warm from the heat, and felt a sudden warmth in his heart. He opened it and saw a crookedly carved "Shi" character on the wheat cake, clearly made with care. "Thank you," he said, his smile softening considerably. "It's delicious."

He Yao's face instantly turned red, like a ripe apple, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Guo Biyu looked at them, feeling a little uncomfortable, but she knew it was not the right time to make a scene, so she just silently followed Shi Feiyang.

The night wind in Yanggu County carried the smell of burning as the four figures disappeared into the mist at the East Gate. The sounds of fighting behind them gradually subsided, leaving only the blood moon hanging in the sky, illuminating the corpses scattered on the ground and the burning buildings, like a hellish picture painted with blood.

"Where to next?" Blood was still dripping from Wu Song's dagger as he stared intently at Shi Feiyang.

“Liangshan Marsh.” Shi Feiyang’s voice was firm. “That scoundrel Song Jiang is colluding with the Jin Kingdom. If we don’t eliminate him, he will become a great threat.” His gaze swept over the two girls beside him. He Yao’s light green cloak and Guo Biyu’s pale yellow dress created a strange harmony in the bloody night.

He Yao felt a sweet warmth in her heart, knowing that she could continue to follow Shi Feiyang. She secretly glanced at him and saw him gazing at the distant starry sky. His profile, bathed in moonlight, was as handsome as a figure in a painting. Suddenly, she felt that no matter how dangerous the road ahead, as long as she was by his side, she was not afraid of anything.

Guo Biyu watched Shi Feiyang's retreating figure, the tassels on her pearl hairpin swaying gently. She knew He Yao also liked Brother Shi, but she wouldn't give up. She would use her own methods to let Brother Shi know who was the most suitable person for him.

Shi Feiyang felt two burning gazes behind him, feeling both helpless and warm.

He knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy; there were Jin soldiers pursuing him, the Song court plotting against him, and the conflicts of the martial world. But as long as he had these loyal friends by his side, and these two girls who truly cared for him, he had the courage to keep going.

A night breeze swept by, carrying the distant sound of bugles from Liangshan Marsh.

Shi Feiyang gripped the folding fan tightly, the penetrating nails inside the fan ribs gleaming coldly, just like the determination in his eyes.

Under the moonlight, the four figures gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving behind only a mess on the ground and the still scarlet blood moon.

The Liangshan Marsh water fortress coiled like a giant python in the twilight. Shi Feiyang's raincoat dripped with water, and the wolf pattern on Yelü Mingquan's fishing knife reflected at his waist—this Liao Dynasty scimitar had been soaked in the blood of thirty-seven Jin soldiers, and the wolf fangs on its scabbard had been polished to a gleaming shine. He Yao's light green cloak wrapped around Li Tieniu's green bamboo staff, the copper bell at the top of the staff wrapped with a fiery red silk ribbon, each sway sending up a string of water droplets, like the sweat that hadn't been wiped from her temples.

"Senior, the rope is poisoned," He Yao warned. Her fingertips had just touched the rope of the water fortress when Shi Feiyang grabbed her wrist. His palm was icy cold, and the chilling energy of Mingyu Gong traveled along her meridians, freezing the bluish-black poison between her fingers into ice crystals that dripped onto the water's surface.

Guo Biyu's pale yellow dress stood out against the reeds. She was using her Emei dagger to pry open the Jin soldiers' patrol net, and the tassels on her pearl hairpin were sticky with reed catkins. She took the initiative to ask Ying, "Brother Shi, there are three Blood Wolf Guards at the western watchtower. I'll go and take care of them."

Her spikes gleamed with silver light, clearly having been treated with the "Power-Dissolving Powder" from the Western Regions. She then said with concern, "You should go and save the Beggars' Clan brothers first."

Shi Feiyang said with emotion, "Be careful." His gaze swept over her skirt, where a lotus leaf was stuck, indicating that she had just come from underwater.

Although this girl is spoiled, she always shows ruthlessness at crucial moments, much like Tu Pengpeng when she fought the Five Poisons Sect in Dali.

As soon as the sound of the clapper at midnight shattered the moonlight on the water, Liangshan Marsh burst into flames that soared into the sky.

As Shi Feiyang used his unparalleled "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill to step on the floating ice, he suddenly turned around and grabbed He Yao's waist the instant his curved blade severed the cable.

A light green cloak unfurled in his arms, like a startled kingfisher narrowly avoiding a hidden arrow—the arrowhead was coated with the "Blood Wolf Camp's" black blood poison, and the spot where it struck the ice instantly melted into a dark green hole.

He Yao habitually addressed him as "Senior!" Her cheek pressed against his soaked raincoat, and she could smell the ink scent mixed with the stench of blood.

She saw that Shi Feiyang had been shot in the left shoulder by a hidden arrow, but the shaft froze the moment it touched his skin. He pulled it out with a backhand, and the drop of blood that came out froze into frost in the air.

Shi Feiyang said confidently, "It's alright." He slashed down another Jin soldier with his scimitar, and then, gripping the scimitar, he unleashed the "Broken Sky Edge" technique of the "Hundred Victories Sword Method," splitting the patrol boat in two. Wood chips and screams flew into the sky.

He suddenly pushed He Yao into Lin Chong's spear shadow, and then faced Song Jiang's "Timely Rain" hidden weapon—those silver needles, with the sound of bone-piercing nails piercing the air, were guided by his "Shifting Flowers and Jade" technique, and all of them shot off the ropes of the watchtower.

The wooden frame holding the corpses of the Beggars' Sect disciples collapsed with a crash, and Li Tieniu's gruff voice boomed: "Your Majesty is mighty!" His green bamboo staff swept down a group of soldiers, the copper bell at the end of the staff making people's eardrums hurt. He then warned: "Miss He, get out of the way quickly! This scoundrel's hidden weapon is poisoned with Gu poison!"

He Yao's Tai Chi sword drew a "cloud hand" shape, but she was forced to retreat repeatedly by the wolf-tooth club of a Blood Wolf Guard.

The guard's black armor was splattered with the blood of a Beggar Clan disciple. He grinned maliciously, revealing a wolf-patterned tattoo, and said in a lewd tone, "This young lady has delicate skin; she's perfect as a sacrifice for us!" His spiked club whistled as it came crashing down, about to tear her light green cloak to shreds. Shi Feiyang roared, "You're asking for death!" His figure flashed like a ghost, his left hand gripping the guard's back, the chilling energy of his Mingyu Gong instantly freezing his meridians.

The guard's sinister smile froze on his face, his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out. At the same time, Shi Feiyang's scimitar was drawn, cleanly and neatly slicing open his throat.

He immediately scolded He Yao: "If you're so reckless again, I'll lock you in the inn to do embroidery." He Yao's face flushed red, and she suddenly turned her Tai Chi sword, knocking away the Jin soldier who was attacking from behind, and said coquettishly: "I don't know how to do embroidery!"

Her sword tassel, adorned with green beads, struck Shi Feiyang's scabbard with a crisp sound. "I want to kill the Jin dogs with you, senior!" At that moment, Guo Biyu's Emei dagger flew down from the watchtower, piercing Song Jiang's wrist with precision, and she shouted a warning: "Brother Shi! This bastard is trying to fire a signal flare!"

Her pale yellow dress was stained with blood, but her pearl hairpin still shone brightly. She said fiercely, "Quickly take him to sacrifice to the Beggars' Gang brothers!"

Song Jiang's "Timely Rain" hidden weapons scattered all over the ground. He clutched his bleeding wrist, watching Lin Chong's spear pierce through the chest of his confidant. Suddenly, he let out a wicked laugh and said viciously, "Shi Feiyang! You think killing me can save the Great Song? Wanyan Zongbi's iron cavalry has already crossed the Yellow River. Your Great Tang's Luoyang will sooner or later be in the pocket of my Great Jin!"

Shi Feiyang sneered: "You hypocritical little black devil, you may fool many righteous martial artists, but you can't fool me! Humph!"

Its "shocking calamity" was unleashed in response; Song Jiang's body instantly froze, countless ice cracks spreading from head to toe. When it finally shattered into ice shards scattered across the ground, the fragments of his brocade robe floated like paper money in the firelight.

Shi Feiyang's scimitar suddenly turned, using the back of the blade to deflect the poisoned dart aimed at Guo Xiangyu—the dart's tail was entwined with the wolf flag of Xixia, clearly a follow-up move by the Blood Wolf Guard. Guo Biyu said excitedly, "Thank you, Brother Shi!" Her Emei dagger pierced the dart thrower's throat with a backhand motion, her pale yellow dress twirling in the blood without getting a speck of dirt on it. "I knew you would protect me."

Her eyes sparkled, as if they held the entire starry sky.

He Yao's Tai Chi sword suddenly veered off course, almost getting swept away by the Jin soldier's longsword.

As she watched Guo Biyu wiping the blood from Shi Feiyang's shoulder, her heart felt like it was stuffed with a wad of wet cotton, aching with a dull ache.

Until Shi Feiyang's voice rang in her ears: "What are you daydreaming about?" He flicked the tip of He Yao's nose with his fingertip, which was cool and icy, and said teasingly: "If you keep spacing out, all the meat buns tonight will go to Li Tieniu."

He Yao then realized what was happening, and nodded with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, she thought that Shi Feiyang was so outstanding, there must be many people who liked him, and wasn't she one of them? Sigh!

Guo Biyu put away the Emei dagger, reattached it to her back, and skipped over, boldly and affectionately taking Shi Feiyang's arm.

Shi Feiyang reached out and put his arm around He Yao, then took Guo Biyu's hand and walked towards Mount Tai. ...

The summit of Mount Tai was covered with snow several feet thick. Shi Feiyang's cotton robe concealed Tu Pengpeng's Seven Star Sword, its scabbard adorned with the flame emblem of the Sun Moon Cult. He Yao wore a hunter's fox fur coat over her light green cloak, the tassels on her jade hairpin glistening with snowflakes. She was using her Tai Chi sword to clear away the thorns blocking her path—ice clinging to the withered branches, falling in a flurry at the slightest touch, much like the pounding of her heart at that moment.

Guo Biyu, wearing a pale yellow dress and a black cloak, was drawing a formation in the snow with her Emei dagger. She offered a suggestion: "Brother Shi, the Tibetan Dharma King's 'Great Handprint' is most vulnerable to cold energy. You can use the Mingyu Skill to deal with him." She poked a hole in the snow with her fingertip and then offered to Ying: "Leave the Five Poisons Sect followers to me. I brought 'Poison-Breaking Powder' to counteract them."

Shi Feiyang nodded and continued on his way with He Yao and Guo Biyu.

When the vermilion gate of Bixia Temple was smashed open, Wanyan Zongbi's spiked club, dripping with black blood poison, came crashing down.

The barbs on the stick held the bones of the people, and the energy from the blood and nerves caused the surrounding snow to melt into blood, a stench so foul it was nauseating.

He roared, "Shi Feiyang! You destroyed my Liao Kingdom and slaughtered my Jin Camp! Today I will grind you to dust!" His palms were tinged with black and red, and each swing brought forth a cloud of blood mist. Suddenly, Shi Feiyang's Seven Star Sword was drawn, and he swiftly unleashed the "Burning Heaven and Earth" move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." The fierce sword wind was like the blazing sun in the sky. At the moment it collided with the spiked club, he suddenly turned and pulled He Yao into his arms.

The force of the air lifted his light green cloak, revealing the patched, moon-white short jacket underneath. She could feel the muscles beneath his cotton robe taut, like a fully drawn bowstring.

"Senior!" He Yao called out habitually. Her Tai Chi sword pierced out from under his armpit, the tip of the sword knocking away a Five Poisons Sect member who was rushing towards her. When the poison powder exploded in front of her, it was frozen into ice crystals by the cold aura around Shi Feiyang.

She said urgently, "Your hand!" But she saw that Shi Feiyang's hand was splattered with poison powder and was turning bluish-black, yet he seemed unaffected.

Guo Biyu's Emei thorns, swift as shooting stars, pierced the left rib of the Tibetan Dharma King. The Dharma King's "Great Handprint" had just shattered the stone tablet behind him when her thorns severed his meridians, and black blood seeped from his golden robes in the snow.
She exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Shi! I've crippled that old bald monk's internal energy!" Her pearl hairpin fell into the snow and rolled to Shi Feiyang's feet. She then reminded him, "Quickly use 'Emperor's Heavenly Thunder'!"

Suddenly, ice patterns appeared on Shi Feiyang's cotton robe. As his "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill transformed into lightning, his left hand remained protective of He Yao's back. When the shattered limbs of the Jin soldiers flew over, they were frozen into ice blocks by his icy aura, which slammed into the snow with a dull thud.

Guo Biyu's Emei daggers, like two silver snakes, always slithered along his right side, deflecting those cunning hidden weapons for him.

Shi Feiyang roared again, "Wanyan Zongbi! So what if you've mastered the Blood Scripture to the ninth level?" He then unleashed the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, the fierce palm strike hitting the spiked club and causing an avalanche of snow. He cursed, "Look how dirty the snow on the top of Mount Tai has become because of you!" His Seven Star Sword suddenly turned, using its spine to press down on He Yao's Tai Chi Sword—she had almost taken the Dharma King's final palm strike to protect him.

He Yao's tears suddenly welled up, not from fear, but from the heat. She looked at Shi Feiyang's profile, flickering in the lightning, the silver earring on his left ear reflecting the snow, his mischievousness concealing a deep sense of patriotism.

Guo Biyu was wiping the poison off the back of his hand with a handkerchief. Her pale yellow sleeve was stained with blood, but her movements were as gentle as if she were polishing a rare treasure.

Wanyan Zongbi finally dropped his mace. Looking at his right arm, which had been frozen into an ice sculpture, he suddenly pulled out a letter from the Western Xia seeking help from his pocket—the letter was stamped with the jade seal of the Western Xia royal family, and the ink was still wet.

Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Shocking Calamity" divine skill. The instant his gaze swept over Wanyan Zongbi, Wanyan Zongbi's body shattered into ice shards. Only the letter was caught by Shi Feiyang using "Transferring Flowers and Jade," and it drifted down onto the snow.

"The Western Xia wants to borrow troops?" Shi Feiyang's fingers gripped the letter, the cold air causing the ink to spread rapidly. He sneered, "They certainly know how to make wishful thinking." He glanced at He Yao's nose, which was red from the cold, draped his fox fur over her shoulders, and whispered, "Pack your things, let's go back to Luoyang."

Guo Biyu suddenly grabbed the pearl hairpin from the ground, stuffed it into his hand, and said affectionately, "Brother Shi, you can keep this hairpin." Her ear tips were red, and her fingers under her pale yellow cloak twisted the hem of her clothes. She said tenderly, "My mother said that a pearl hairpin that has been worn can bring peace and safety."

He Yao silently picked up the Seven Star Sword Sheath that he had dropped, wiped away the bloodstains with snow, and felt the red silk burning hot in her palm.

Shi Feiyang roared to the sky, summoning the Vermilion Bird and the White Tiger. He then embraced He Yao and Guo Biyu, jumped onto the Vermilion Bird's back, and rode back to Luoyang.

The palace in Luoyang appeared particularly solemn amidst the peach blossom snow in March.

Shi Feiyang's dragon robe was embroidered with a nine-clawed golden dragon, and the jade belt at his waist carried the imperial jade seal of the Tang Dynasty.

He Yao wore a gold-embroidered cloak over her light green palace dress and was using the tassel of her Tai Chi sword to brush away the fallen plum blossoms from his shoulder. She was now a female official in the Tai Chi Palace, and her jade hairpin had been replaced with a red-gold phoenix hairpin, but she always secretly changed into a moon-white short jacket when no one was around.

Guo Biyu, dressed in a pale yellow palace gown embroidered with lotus blossoms, was using a dagger to open a secret letter from the Western Regions. Her pearl hairpin had been replaced with a pearl hair ornament. She reported, "Brother Shi, the border garrison of Western Xia has a new commander, Li Ningling. It is said that he is most skilled in the 'Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace' lightness skill." She handed him the letter, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against the back of his hand, and then lowered her voice, "The Beggars' Sect brothers have discovered that their provisions are only enough for three months."

Shi Feiyang tapped his fingers on the armrest of the dragon throne, the ice patterns on it gleaming under the operation of the Mingyu Gong. He decisively said, "Issue my decree to have Qin An's Flying Tiger Battalion send troops out from Tongguan. Cheng Fei will lead the Xuanjia Army to flank them and cut off their supply lines."

He glanced at the military treatise He Yao was holding—it was one she had copied late into the night, with small Tai Chi diagrams drawn in the margins—and continued, “Let Instructor Lin’s spear battalion go through Xiaoguan Pass to tie down Li Ning and Ling Ge’s main force.”

He Yao's cheeks flushed slightly as she placed the military treatise on the table and reported, "Your Majesty, I have followed your instructions and sent disciples of the Taiji Sword Sect to contact the Tibetan king." Her light green skirt swept across the ground, scattering peach petals as she added, "The king said that he is willing to send troops to assist us if we help him reclaim the Hexi Corridor, which was occupied by the Western Xia."

Guo Biyu was using a silver stick to pick open the grapes from the Western Regions when she heard this and looked up and said, "Brother Shi, a letter of surrender has also been sent from Dali."

Her hair ornaments jingled as she reported, "Duan Zhengzhong said that he will present three thousand bolts of brocade as tribute every year from now on, only asking that His Majesty stop attacking his camellia grove." She held the largest grape to Shi Feiyang's lips, her eyes brimming with laughter, and then excitedly added, "He also said that he is willing to give his most treasured 'Drunken Immortal Tea' as part of my sister's dowry."

He Yao's face flushed red. She turned around to get the map, but Shi Feiyang grabbed her wrist.

His palms were still cold, yet they carried a reassuring power as he said, "What's the panic?" His dragon robe swept over her palace dress, and he calmly added, "Once we destroy Western Xia, I will issue an edict ordering the Ministry of Rites to prepare the investiture ceremony."

Suddenly, the snow falling outside the window intensified. He Yao's light green cloak and Guo Biyu's pale yellow palace dress overlapped beside the dragon throne, like two flowers blooming side by side.

Shi Feiyang looked at the map on the table—the Liao Dynasty had been destroyed, the Jin Dynasty was trapped north of the Yellow River, Dali had submitted to the Tang Dynasty, and Tibet had formed an alliance, leaving only the Western Xia as a stumbling block. His fingertips traced the map over Xingqing, the capital of Western Xia, and the chill made the sheepskin map tremble slightly.

He Yao's voice was sweet as honey as she playfully said, "Your Majesty, I have mastered the Tai Chi Sword to the seventh level. I can go to war with you then."

Her phoenix hairpin brushed against Shi Feiyang's dragon robe, and she chuckled, "Sister Guo's Emei daggers have also improved. If the three of us fight side by side, we will surely succeed."

Guo Biyu smiled and nodded, resting her head on Shi Feiyang's shoulder, and said confidently, "I also brought 'Poison-Breaking Powder,' which is most afraid of Xixia's 'Power-Dissolving Powder.'" Her hairpin tassels wrapped around his jade belt, and she said affectionately, "Brother Shi, you mustn't always protect us like you did on the top of Mount Tai. We can protect you too."

Haha! Shi Feiyang's laughter shook the snow off the eaves. He looked at the two girls—one was like a clear mountain spring, pure yet resilient; the other was like a fiery rose, beautiful yet sharp.

……

The yellow sand of Xingqing Prefecture churned under the blazing sun, Shi Feiyang's black armor gleamed coldly, and the scabbard of his Seven Star Sword was wrapped with three circles of red silk—these were modified from the tassel of a Tai Chi sword by He Yao, who said they could borrow the "Big Dipper Formation" energy of the Tai Chi sword. He gazed at the Western Xia wolf flag on the city wall and suddenly whispered to the messenger beside him: "Have Cheng Fei lead the Black Armor Army to feign an attack on the east gate. Remember, defeat is not an option."

He Yao asked in confusion, "Senior, is this a 'feint to the east while attacking the west' tactic?" Her light green battle robe was covered in sand, but the jade hairpin under her iron helmet still shone brightly.

She had just deflected the rockets fired by the Western Xia soldiers with her Tai Chi sword, the green beads on the sword tassel drawing arcs in the sunlight, when she reminded them, "But Li Ningling is the main force at the East Gate; a direct confrontation might be disadvantageous."

Shi Feiyang reached out and flicked the tip of her nose, the chill of Mingyu Gong making her shrink back. He said confidently, "Silly girl, Li Ningling is the most arrogant. When he sees us attacking the east gate, he will definitely transfer the guards from the west gate to the east gate."

His gaze swept over Guo Biyu—she was using an Emei dagger to draw the terrain of the Western Regions on a sand table, the iron hairpin under her pale yellow cloak gleaming.

He nodded and said, "Then we'll see how Miss Guo's 'secret plan' works." At this moment, Guo Biyu's pearl hairpin had long been replaced with an iron hairpin, but a jujube flower was pinned in her hair. She said confidently, "Brother Shi, don't worry, my 'Snow-Treading Camp' has already infiltrated the jujube forest in the west of the city last night." She poked a hole in the sand table with her dagger and said thoughtfully, "When the fighting starts at the East Gate, we'll use 'Thunderbolt Bombs' to blast open the secret channel at the West Gate."

As the sun began to set, a deafening battle erupted at the east gate.

Cheng Fei's Xuanjia Army suffered a series of defeats, and their disarray was clearly visible through the telescope.

Shi Feiyang looked at Li Ningling's smug figure on the city wall and suddenly sneered, "This 'pride-seeking strategy' really works every time." His Seven Star Sword was suddenly drawn, its light illuminating half the battlefield, and he roared, "Pass on my order, 'Capture the king to capture the thief,' target: the west gate!"

He Yao's aquamarine battle robe flashed like lightning in the charging ranks. Her Tai Chi sword's "cloud hand" protected her body, yet she never forgot to look back. Shi Feiyang's black armor charged through the chaotic army. Every swing of his Seven Star Sword carried the sharpness of the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique." The Western Xia soldiers who rushed forward were either cleaved in two by "Severing the Sky" or had their internal organs shattered by "Severing Reincarnation." Blood mist condensed into eerie red beads in the yellow sand.

Guo Biyu warned, "Watch out for hidden arrows!" Suddenly, an Emei dagger flew from the side, accurately deflecting a poisoned arrow aimed at Shi Feiyang's back. The arrowhead was coated with "Power Dissolving Powder," and upon landing, it eroded a green hole in the yellow sand.

Her pale yellow battle robe was torn, revealing a moon-white undergarment underneath, but she was only focused on shouting, "Brother Shi, hurry into the city! The underground canal has been blown up!"

Shi Feiyang used his profound "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to step over the corpses of the Western Xia soldiers, the ice patterns on his black armor gleaming in the sunlight. He saw the guards at the west gate frantically filling in the culvert, and suddenly unleashed the "Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms" technique, "Dragon Appearing in the Field," the palm wind sending sandbags flying everywhere. He exclaimed in admiration, "Miss Guo's 'Drawing the Firewood from Under the Cauldron' is truly marvelous!"

The underground drain at the West Gate collapsed amidst the explosion of the "thunderbolt," and Guo Biyu's pale yellow cloak was the first to appear in the smoke and dust.

Her dagger pierced the general's throat, and the jujube blossoms on her hairpin fell onto the corpse, adding an eerie splash of color to the bloody battle. She exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Shi! The west gate has fallen!"

At that moment, He Yao's warhorse was startled by a stray arrow, and as its front hooves left the ground, Shi Feiyang's figure flashed past like a ghost. He wrapped his left arm around her waist, and with his right hand, the Seven Star Sword drew a "Breaking Heaven and Earth" trajectory, shaking off all the surrounding Xixia soldiers.

His aquamarine battle robe unfolded in his arms, and He Yao could smell the ink-scented scent beneath his black armor, mixed with a faint smell of blood—the residue from when he had been grazed by a stray arrow while protecting her. He Yao asked with concern, "Senior's injury!" Her fingertips had barely touched his wound when he pressed her hand down. His palm was icy cold, yet it possessed a reassuring strength.

He joked, "This little injury is nothing compared to the frostbite on the top of Mount Tai." Suddenly, he bent down, bit open the water pouch at his waist with his teeth, and fed the water to her mouth. After she swallowed the water, he said warmly, "Hurry up and drink some water. There's still a tough battle ahead."

Guo Biyu's Emei dagger had already severed the Achilles tendon of the last guard. As she watched Shi Feiyang feeding her water, her eyes suddenly reddened, but she quickly smiled and said, "Brother Shi is biased, only giving water to my sister." She took out a piece of wheat cake from her bosom, wiped the sand off it with her sleeve, and said warmly, "I have wheat cakes made by Sister He, with lots of honey in them."

The moment Shi Feiyang took the wheat cake, he suddenly pulled the two of them behind him. The Western Xia soldiers' "repeating crossbows" shot out from the shadows, and he used his "transferring flowers and jade" skill to guide the crossbow bolts, which then flew towards the gunpowder barrels on the city wall.

Amid the explosion, Shi Feiyang's black armor fluttered wildly in the shockwave, yet he kept He Yao and Guo Xiangyu in his arms—their battle robes stained with his blood, like two flowers blooming in the snow.

Guo Biyu pointed her sword and said, "Li Ningling has run towards Mingsha Mountain!" Her pale yellow cloak stood out against the smoke of battle. Her iron hairpin had fallen off at some point, but the jujube flower in her hair still stood upright. She added, "He carried a secret letter from the Jin Kingdom. He must be trying to seek help from Wanyan Zongbi's son!"

Shi Feiyang suddenly pointed his Seven Star Sword toward the direction of Mingsha Mountain, the red silk on the sword tassel fluttering in the wind. He roared, "Chase!" He then used the mysterious lightness skill "Hidden Body and Name" to step on the ruins. The ice patterns on his black armor became brighter and brighter. He said domineeringly, "Today I will definitely let him taste the feeling of 'catching a thief behind closed doors'!" The Crescent Moon Spring of Mingsha Mountain was shimmering with a deep blue light. Shi Feiyang's black armor reflected the setting sun, like a piece of cold jade soaked in blood.

Li Ningling's "Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace" light-foot technique left shallow marks on the sand, unaware that Shi Feiyang's "Mingyu Skill" had already laid a net of heaven and earth—those seemingly randomly scattered sand date branches were actually wrapped with ice silk, and as soon as they were touched, their meridians would be frozen by the cold air.

Li Ningling leaned his spiked club on the ground, his palm glowing with black and red "blood nerve" energy, and said, "Shi Feiyang! If you let me go, the Jin Kingdom is willing to cede three cities to you! You destroyed Western Xia, wasn't it all for territory? Why must you be so ruthless!"

Shi Feiyang's Seven Star Sword drew silver lines in the spring water, freezing the splashing water droplets into ice arrows. He said coldly, "What I want is peace in the world, not your city, you traitor."

His gaze swept over He Yao and Guo Biyu—they were using Tai Chi swords and Emei daggers to block both sides of the spring, their figures, one water-green and the other pale yellow, like two phoenixes guarding their nest. Then, Shi Feiyang angrily rebuked them: "You colluded with the Jin Kingdom and harmed the people; today is your death day!"

He Yao's Tai Chi sword suddenly thrust towards Li Ningling's lower body. The green bead on the sword tassel struck his spiked club with a crisp sound. She angrily said, "You shameless scoundrel! Last year at Xiaoguan, it was you who poisoned three of my Tai Chi Sword Sect's senior brothers with 'Power-Dissolving Powder'!" Her iron helmet fell to the ground, and the light of her jade hairpin flickered in the twilight. She gritted her teeth and said, "Today I will avenge them!"

Guo Biyu's Emei Daggers resembled two silver snakes, specifically targeting Li Ning and Lingge's weaknesses.

Her pale yellow battle robe was torn by the force of the spiked club, and blood seeped through her moon-white inner garment, but she smiled even more charmingly and said mockingly, "General Li, do you know the 'borrowing a knife to kill' scheme?" She picked out a small porcelain bottle with her spikes, which contained the "Golden Silkworm Gu" of the Five Poisons Sect, and said coquettishly, "This is the poison you gave to the Western Xia National Preceptor. Now I'm returning it to you."

Li Ningling's spiked club suddenly swept horizontally, slashing towards Guo Biyu with black blood poison infused with "blood nerve." Shi Feiyang's figure flashed past like a ghost, his left hand gripping Li Ningling's wrist, the chilling aura of Mingyu Gong instantly freezing his meridians, while his right hand drew the trajectory of "Severing Reincarnation" with the Seven Star Sword—this strike was not aimed at Li Ningling, but instead shielded He Yao behind him, blocking the splattering poisonous blood for her.

"Ah—" Li Ningling's wrist suddenly froze, and the spiked club clattered to the ground. He looked at his legs, frozen in the spring water, and suddenly pulled out a secret letter from the Jin Kingdom from his pocket. The wolf-patterned seal on the letter still smelled of ink.

He said helplessly, "Look! This was written by Wanyan Zongbi's son himself! As long as I stall you, he will send troops..." (End of this chapter)