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

Suddenly, the sound of hooves came from the west side of the training ground. Thirty Mongolian horses trampled the setting sun, and the riders' wolf helmets gleamed fiercely in the sunlight.

The lead warrior thrust his spear into the ground, the tip of which bore the head of a Beggar Clan disciple. His Chinese was thick with the stench of mutton: "Guo Jing, come out and face your death!" Guo Jing instantly drew his iron bow to its full extent, the fletching of his black iron arrow whistling as he roared, "Mongol barbarians, how dare you run wild in Xiangyang City!" The force of his Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms stirred up the blood on the ground, which mingled with the setting sun, staining half the sky red.

Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeves suddenly billowed, and the energy of "Shifting Flowers and Jade" flowed secretly—he noticed the signal flares hidden in the samurai's boots, the fuses being ignited by sparks from the horses' hooves. Thirty ice pellets sprang from his sleeves, accurately striking the fuses, the flares exploding on the soles of the samurai's boots, sparks hitting the horses' eyes, and all thirty horses reared up simultaneously.

"What a clever sneak attack!" Huang Rong exclaimed. Her Dog-Beating Stick moved like a snake emerging from its hole, using the "Entangle" technique to wrap around the warrior's spear. She then roared, "Lu Youjiao, capture him alive!" The Beggar Clan disciple's curved sword clashed with the Mongolian warrior's curved sword, producing a metallic clang.

Guo Fu's Qingfeng sword also joined the battle, her swordsmanship bearing a hint of Yang Guo's style, but even more swift and fierce.

She severed the samurai's shoulder tendon with a single sword stroke, and the blood splattered onto the ice-sculpted rose, where it congealed into red ice along the petals' texture.

Shi Feiyang watched her lick the blood from the corner of her lips and suddenly thought of the snow on Helan Mountain, which was just as cold and intense.

Before the screams of the Mongol warriors had even faded, horns sounded again from the west gate. The Golden Wheel Monk's five wheels flashed in the twilight, sending Huang Rong's Dog-Beating Staff flying from her hand. He grinned maliciously, "Madam Guo, today I will use your head to consecrate my Great Khan's banner!"

Huang Rong's silver hairpin stuck into the Dharma King's golden wheel, and she used the momentum to flip over and land next to Guo Jing, saying urgently, "Brother Jing, protect Fu'er!"

She flicked three Ice Soul Silver Needles from her fingertips, but they were swept away by the Dharma King's bronze wheel. The silver needles spun three times on the ground and pierced the instep of a Beggar Clan disciple. The disciple instantly collapsed to the ground, convulsing, his face as blue as a frozen lake.

Guo Fu's Qingfeng sword was locked in combat with the "Raging Wind and Thunder Skill" of several disciples of the Golden Wheel Monk, and her sword moves gradually became scattered.

One of them struck her with a palm strike carrying poisonous sand from the Western Regions, severing several strands of her hair from her temple.

He sneered, "Little brat, your father can barely protect himself, yet you dare to act tough?"

Shi Feiyang used his profound "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to rise up, his tattered robes weaving through the golden wheel's light trails like a black bat. His "Mingyu Skill" condensed a three-foot-long ice wall, blocking Guo Fu's path. The poisonous sand crashed into the ice, scattering to the ground.

"Young Miss, step back." His voice was icy, colder than the winter snow in Xiangyang.

Guo Fu pushed the Qingfeng sword forward half an inch and scolded, "Why are you meddling in other people's business!" But her feet honestly retreated behind him, and she gripped the ice-carved rose even tighter. The broken ice mixed with the blood in her palm dripped onto Shi Feiyang's worn-out shoes.

The Golden Wheel Monk activated the tenth level of his Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, his palm wind pressing down on Shi Feiyang like a small mountain: "Where did this beggar come from, daring to block my way!" When the palm wind was three inches away from his chest, Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve suddenly unfolded, and the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" energy redirected the palm wind to the right—on the city wall there, thirty Tibetan archers were lying prone, their arrows aimed at Guo Jing's back.

"Rong'er, be careful!" Guo Jing hastily returned to defense with his Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. The force of his palm collided with the deflected Dragon Elephant Skill, causing city bricks to fall and smash onto the archers. Thirty men screamed as they fell off the city wall.

The Dharma King's bronze wheel swept towards Shi Feiyang's neck, but was deflected by his ice wall, and a thin layer of ice condensed on the rim of the wheel.

"What a variation of the Ice Silkworm Poison Palm!" The Dharma King's golden wheel spun even faster, and he asked again, "Are you from the Lingjiu Palace?" Little did he know that this icy aura was even purer than the Ice Silkworm Poison Palm, and was the secret of the "Yihua Palace," which had once struck fear into the hearts of the martial arts world.

Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve wrapped around the Dharma King's silver wheel. He used his foot to lift a wooden stick and executed the "entanglement" technique of the "Dog-Beating Stick Technique," but deliberately left an opening. The silver wheel tore through his sleeve, revealing a corner of the black armor underneath. The ice patterns shimmered in the twilight before being covered by the tattered cloth again.

Guo Fu's Qingfeng sword suddenly thrust towards the Dharma King's ribs, the sword move so cunning it was unlike anything she usually used—it was the sword manual Shi Feiyang had just written in her palm with ice particles, precisely targeting the blind spot of the Dragon Elephant Skill. The Dharma King hurriedly returned to defend with his golden wheel, but it was deflected by Shi Feiyang's "Shifting Flowers and Jade," and the bronze wheel slammed heavily onto his shoulder armor, sparks flying all over his face.

"Retreat!" the Dharma King roared in exasperation, simultaneously withdrawing his five wheels, leaving five afterimages in the twilight. He then threatened, "Guo Jing, I'll come back in three days to take your dog's life!" His disciple, Darba, dragged the wounded warrior away, disappearing into the night outside Xiangyang City. The sound of horses' hooves mingled with the howls of wolves, making hearts clench. Huang Rong picked up the Dog-Beating Stick, using her silver hairpin to pry open the fragments of black armor on Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve, and demanded sharply, "This armor... is it black iron mixed with ice silkworm silk?" Her gaze was like a poisoned needle, and she coldly asked, "Who exactly are you?"

Shi Feiyang pulled his tattered straw hat down even lower and said casually, "I found it." His fingertips traced the wound on Guo Fu's palm, and the blood droplet froze into a red bead the moment the icy energy was injected. He then changed the subject, "Miss's hand needs to be bandaged."

Guo Fu abruptly pulled her hand back, her sword planted on the ground. "Mind your own business!" she said, but as she turned, she deliberately slowed her pace so that Shi Feiyang could keep up. Huang Rong watched their retreating figures and suddenly smiled at Guo Jing, "This kid's eyes are more sincere than Yang Guo's."

Guo Jing's iron bow was still pointed at the darkness outside the city, and he said cryptically, "As long as Xiangyang can be defended, what does it matter who it is?"

His black iron arrow suddenly shot out, hitting the wolf shadow in the distance. He said gruffly, "The moon tonight looks just like the one when we were guarding Yanmen Pass."

Guo Fu's hand injury had just been bandaged when Huang Rong sent her to deliver medicine to the wounded soldiers at the dilapidated temple in the south of the city. Shi Feiyang followed behind her, carrying a medicine box, his tattered robe still stained with blood.

The night in Xiangyang was colder than the blood on the training ground. The wind swirled paper money between them—it was the people mourning their loved ones who had died defending the city. "Old Master Shi," Guo Fu suddenly stopped, her sword flashing on the ground. She turned and asked in a trembling voice, "Do you think I'm stupid?" She remembered the look in Yang Guo's eyes when he rejected her marriage proposal—a look more hurtful than a Mongol warrior's blade. She added sadly, "Even Yang Guo doesn't want me. Am I really that hateful?"

Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve brushed against her hair, the icy air gently smoothing the stray strands at her temples. He praised, "Miss's intelligence is known throughout the martial arts world; Yang Guo simply doesn't have that fortune." Guo Fu's sword tassel suddenly wrapped around his wrist, and she scolded, "Smooth talker!" But the sob in her voice faltered, and she choked out, "My mother said that a woman should be gentle and virtuous, but I..."

Her tears fell onto the medicine box, wetting the label of "wound medicine".

Just then, two figures darted out from the corner of the wall, their steel knives gleaming coldly in the moonlight. "Fu-mei, don't be afraid, we'll protect you!" Da Wu and Xiao Wu stepped forward, blocking Guo Fu's path, even though the blades in their hands were still trembling slightly.

Guo Fu's cheeks flushed instantly. She pointed her Qingfeng sword at the two men: "You little tagalongs! Who needs your protection?"

Wu Dunru straightened his neck and said with a forced smile, "Sister Fu, the Mongol soldiers are cunning and treacherous, we..."

Before she could finish speaking, a dozen or so Mongol soldiers suddenly sprang out from behind the dilapidated temple, their curved swords aimed straight at Guo Fu's back.

"Be careful!" Da Wu said with concern, swinging his knife to defend, but was attacked by the opponent's "throat lock technique". His wrist was entangled, and the steel knife flew out of his hand and went straight into Wu Santong's old wound.

Xiao Wu tried to rescue him, but was tripped by a Mongol soldier's tripwire and fell heavily to the ground. His head hit a bluestone, and he immediately lost consciousness.

"Useless!" Guo Fu cursed angrily. Her Qingfeng sword danced like a ball of light and shadow, and her sword energy forced back two Mongol soldiers, but she was entangled by a third one. It looked like the curved blade was about to strike her shoulder.

Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeves fluttered in the air as he used the "Transferring Flowers and Jade" technique to guide the Mongol soldier's sword towards the nearby locust tree, the blade embedding deeply into the trunk. Just as he was about to act again, Guo Jing charged in like an iron tower, unleashing the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, which sent three Mongol soldiers spitting blood as they crashed into the wall and turned into a bloody mess.

"Father!" Guo Fu cried out in surprise. Her sword strike slowed as she watched Guo Jing rescue Da Wu from the Mongol soldiers. Wu Dunru's arm had been slashed open with a deep wound that exposed bone. Huang Rong arrived shortly after, pointing her Dog-Beating Stick at Da Wu and Xiao Wu, and angrily scolded, "Are you two good-for-nothings? Your martial arts are so bad, yet you still come to cause trouble. Do you want to kill your master?"

Wu Xiuwen got up from the ground, his face covered in blood from his nose, but he still approached Guo Fu and stammered, "It's good that Sister Fu is alright." Wu Dunru also endured the pain and said, "As long as I can protect Sister Fu, what does it matter if I get hurt a little?"

Guo Fu stomped her foot in anger, her Qingfeng sword sparking as she drew light on the ground, and cursed, "You mangy dog! Get out of my way!"

At this moment, a group of Mongol soldiers emerged from the shadows. Shi Feiyang stood in the shadows, a smile playing on his lips. He used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" technique, his energy flowing secretly. With the help of the wind, he gently guided Da Wu and Xiao Wu, causing them to slip and drift several feet away, landing right behind Guo Jing.

"You two, stand back!" Guo Jing, being kind and simple, shielded them behind him, and unleashed a barrage of black iron arrows, each piercing the throats of more than a dozen Mongols who instantly fell to the ground dead. He then roared, "Rong'er, have Elder Lu and the others flank us from the side!"

Lu Youjiao, Zhu Ziliu, and Wu Santong led their troops in the attack. The Beggars' Sect disciples' "Dog-Slaying Staff Technique" and the Dali Duan family's "One-Finger Divine Skill" intertwined, creating a chaotic scene of screams from the Mongol soldiers. Zhu Ziliu's judge's pen felled two centurions, the tip of which held the Mongol soldiers' token. He exclaimed in shock, "Great Hero Guo, this is a troop deployment token personally granted by Kublai Khan! What's coming isn't soldiers, but generals, assassins!"

Wu Santong's "One-Finger Divine Skill" pierced the throat of the last Mongol soldier, blood splattering on his crazed monk's robe. He roared to the sky, "How exhilarating! How exhilarating!"

Shi Feiyang watched as Guo Fu used her Qingfeng sword to cut off the left ear of a Mongol soldier—this was a method of recording merits taught by Huang Rong. Her profile glowed with a stubborn red in the moonlight. He suddenly felt that this girl's willfulness concealed the fiercest spirit of Xiangyang City.

Suddenly, the temple bell rang; it was a wounded soldier reporting that he was safe. Guo Fu threw her severed left ear into a cloth bag, and as she turned around, she met Shi Feiyang's gaze. Her face flushed red, and she snapped, "What are you looking at? Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Inside Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve, fragments of an ice-carved rose were quietly melting, dripping through his fingers onto the medicine box, leaving tiny damp stains.

The sounds of fighting in the distance gradually subsided, and the moon over Xiangyang finally emerged from the clouds, shining on the blood-soaked ground and on the inexplicable bond between the two young people.

However, from then on, Da Wu and Xiao Wu harbored even more resentment towards Shi Feiyang and often caused him trouble in front of Guo Fu.

That day, at the restaurant, Wu Xiuwen deliberately spilled tea on Shi Feiyang and mocked, "Where did this wild beggar come from? Does he even deserve to be by Miss Guo's side?" Before he finished speaking, his teacup suddenly flew back and landed precisely on Shi Feiyang's head—it was Shi Feiyang's "Transferring Flowers and Jade" skill, done flawlessly. Others thought it was just Wu Xiuwen's clumsiness.

Wu Dunru plotted to ambush Shi Feiyang by setting fire to his residence at night. However, Shi Feiyang's Mingyu ability could condense water into ice, and the fire was extinguished by a sudden icy rain. The next day, Wu Dunru discovered a dead rat under his bed and was so frightened that he fell ill for three days—it was a "gift" secretly delivered by Shi Feiyang using his "Dragon-Capturing Skill," allowing him to avenge himself without getting his hands dirty.

Guo Fu observed this, saying nothing, but inwardly she paid more attention to this "Old Man Shi." She discovered that although this man was dressed in rags, he recognized that the South China Sea pearls she wore were tribute items, could distinguish whether the pre-rain tea she was drinking was pre-Qingming or pre-rain, and even when she discussed "The Art of War," he could casually say "Military tactics are like water, which has no constant shape"—such knowledge was definitely not something an ordinary beggar could possess.

That day, Guo Fu couldn't help but ask, "Who exactly are you?" when no one was around, her hand tightening the whip slightly.

As Shi Feiyang gazed at the setting sun over Xiangyang, he suddenly recalled the evening glow of Luoyang Palace and said sadly, "A person... who lost their home and country, but found someone to cherish." His gaze fell on Guo Fu's pretty face, where the downy hair shimmered golden in the sunset, and he said gently, "If Miss doesn't mind, let me follow you forever." Guo Fu's face instantly turned red, and as she turned and ran away, the pearl flower in her hair fell to the ground. Shi Feiyang picked up the pearl flower and placed it in his palm—when the Mingyu Gong was activated, the light reflected by the pearl was even more dazzling than the Imperial Seal of the Tang Dynasty.

The twilight in Xiangyang always carried the smell of gunpowder, but Huang Rong's study was filled with the fragrance of peach blossoms.

The Beggars' Sect leader was using a silver hairpin to adjust the lamp wick, his gaze fixed on the window—Guo Fu had returned from Fancheng with her follower named "Shi Laoyao" after buying rouge. The pearl flowers in the girl's hair were dazzling, and the half of the follower's face peeking out from under his tattered straw hat was even more handsome than Yang Guo's.

"Fu'er, bring your friends in." Huang Rong's voice was filled with laughter, but her fingertips had already gripped three Ice Soul Silver Needles.

Guo Jing sat on the armchair, wiping his iron bow. The arrowheads of the black iron arrows gleamed coldly under the lamplight. Although he didn't say much, he had already looked Shi Feiyang up and down three times. His gaze was exactly the same as when he had scrutinized Yang Guo back then.

As Shi Feiyang followed Guo Fu into the study, the blue bricks beneath his feet suddenly trembled slightly—it was Da Wu and Xiao Wu hiding behind the door, their hands gripping the knife sweating profusely.

Guo Fu was about to introduce them when Huang Rong spoke up sharply: "Your name is Shi Laoyao? As a member of the Beggars' Sect, do you know Article 3 of the sect's rules?"

Shi Feiyang was the leader of the Beggars' Sect for hundreds of years, how could he not know these stupid rules?
He answered loudly, "All Beggars' Sect disciples must not associate with government officials, nor may they hoard gold or silver. This disciple will remember this." His gaze fell on the "Beggars' Sect Genealogy" on the wall. Next to Lu Youjiao's name, there was still an empty space, which was the position of sect leader that Huang Rong had deliberately left blank.

He decided to reclaim the long-lost position of gang leader; otherwise, he would not be able to enter the Guo family and marry Guo Fu.

Huang Rong was very particular about marrying someone of equal social standing.

"Easier said than done!" Wu Dunru suddenly rushed out from behind the door, his steel knife aimed straight at Shi Feiyang's heart, and cursed, "I think you're a Mongol spy!" When the blade was three inches from his chest, Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve suddenly billowed up, transforming into the arc of a dog-beating stick. He used the "leading the dog into the village" technique to forcefully change direction, the steel knife grazing Guo Fu's temple and striking the bookshelf, scattering the thread-bound books all over the floor.

Huang Rong thought to herself, "What a skill he's learned by stealing! This Shi Laoyao actually knows the Dog-Beating Stick Technique? What does that mean? When did he learn it? Could it be that he also knows the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms? Is he my master Hong Qigong's last disciple?" She almost shouted out in anger. Her silver hairpin twirled between her fingers. She had originally wanted to stop him, but now she changed her mind and wanted to see just how capable this kid really was.

Wu Xiuwen's knife came down immediately, and Shi Feiyang's sleeve swept across the ground with a move called "Staff Sweeping the Ground," causing the air current to make Wu Xiuwen's trouser legs fly up. He tripped and crashed into Wu Dunru.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang used another move, "Slanting Strike on the Back of the Dog," his sleeves suddenly rising and striking the backs of the two knives. The tiger's mouths of the two brothers were simultaneously shattered, and the steel knives flew out of their hands, grazing Guo Jing's iron bow and embedding themselves in the beam.

"Hehe!" Guo Fu clapped her hands and laughed, but Huang Rong pressed her shoulder down—her mother's nails were already digging into her flesh, clearly she was really angry.

Shi Feiyang suddenly spun around and unleashed another move, "Shaking Head and Wagging Tail"! The arc of his tattered robe just barely avoided Wu Dunru's flying kick. Then, he used another move, "A Pack of Dogs Fighting for Food," which tripped Wu Xiuwen. The two of them fell into a heap, their hair covered in spilled ink.

With a final sweep of his sleeve, he delivered a "Dog-Beating Staff Technique" to Wu Xiuwen's buttocks. The boy howled in pain, but he hadn't even touched the hem of Wu's clothes. "Enough!" Guo Jing suddenly slammed his iron bow to the ground, sending dust flying from the beams. His face contorted with rage, he roared, "We're all brothers, why resort to swords and spears?" He looked at Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve, which bore not a single knife mark, and asked with suspicion, "Who taught you your Dog-Beating Staff Technique?"

Shi Feiyang coughed twice, deliberately feigning panic: "I...I stole these moves from the Beggars' Sect branch in Jiangnan, I only remember these few..."

His fingers twisted his sleeve as if afraid of being punished, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Huang Rong's silver hairpin had been tucked into her sleeve—this was a deliberate act of feigning weakness to dispel suspicion.

Guo Fu quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Dad, Shi Laoyao is really amazing. He even helped me win the horse race last time!" She tugged at Shi Feiyang's arm and shook it, her pearl hairpin brushing against his tattered straw hat, and then said coquettishly, "Mom, just let him stay. I promise he's not a spy."

Huang Rong stared into Shi Feiyang's eyes, which were as clear as the water of the moat of Xiangyang, yet unfathomably deep.

She suddenly smiled and said, "In that case, let Elder Lu register you."

She turned and called out to the door, "Lu Youjiao, take this Brother Shi to get a new set of clothes."

As Shi Feiyang followed Lu Youjiao away, he heard Huang Rong's voice behind him: "Fu'er, sleep with your mother tonight." Inside his tattered sleeve, his fingers were caressing the pearl flower—this was a "feigned indifference" tactic; Huang Rong had deliberately let him stay, undoubtedly to secretly test him.

When the clapper sounded through Xiangyang City at midnight, Shi Feiyang was sitting on a haystack in the woodshed.

His "Mingyu Skill" quietly activated, and the snow within three feet of his body condensed into ice crystals, reflecting the dark shadows that swept past the window—it was Lu Youjiao leading three Beggar Clan disciples, applying phosphorus powder to the beams and pillars of the woodshed, trying to track his whereabouts.

"A mere trick." Shi Feiyang sneered, flicking three ice pellets from his fingertips, which accurately struck the phosphorus powder canister. The canister fell into the haystack, and the phosphorescent flames were instantly extinguished by the wind from his palm.

Suddenly, a soft clatter came from the roof tiles, three times louder than the sound of Lu Youjiao's foot.

Shi Feiyang used his "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" light-footed skill to rise from the grass, his tattered robes spreading out in the moonlight, like a giant bat clinging to the beam.

Guo Jing landed in the center of the woodshed like an iron tower. The force of his Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms sent grass clippings flying everywhere. He said in a simple and honest manner, "Brother Shi, may I ask to learn a few moves from you?"

"I dare not." Shi Feiyang jumped down from the beam, his tattered straw hat falling to the ground. His face, which was exposed, gleamed with a jade-like hue in the moonlight. He said respectfully, "I am only worthy to look up to Master Guo's palm techniques."

His hands were tucked into his sleeves, and he had already circulated the Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison," causing the air inside his sleeves to condense into white mist.

Guo Jing unleashed his "Regretful Dragon" strike, the palm wind like the Yellow River bursting its banks, carrying the lingering force of the "Regret" technique, its fierce power concealing a portion of his strength being held back.

Shi Feiyang's sleeves suddenly billowed, the energy of "Shifting Flowers and Jade" flowing within them, redirecting the palm strike to the right—behind the paper window there, Huang Rong's figure was hidden. "Rong'er, be careful!" Guo Jing's shout shook the dust off the roof beams.

Huang Rong's Dog-Beating Stick moved like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, its "entanglement" technique binding the edge of the palm strike. However, it was staggered by the fierce force, and the pearl hairpin in her hair fell to Shi Feiyang's feet. "What a brilliant use of leverage!" Huang Rong exclaimed. The tip of her stick pointed towards Shi Feiyang's chest, but stopped an inch away from him—she saw that Shi Feiyang's hands had never extended from his sleeves, but had merely moved slightly, redirecting the energy of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms in the opposite direction.

Just then, shouts erupted outside the woodshed. Lu Youjiao, Zhu Ziliu, Wu Santong, and others rushed over, weapons in hand, their footsteps making a crackling sound as they stomped on the roof tiles. They shouted in unison, "Spies!"

"Protect Master Guo!" The crowd looked around with torches in hand, unaware that the "spy" was right in the middle of the woodshed, confronting Guo Jing.

Guo Fu's voice suddenly came from the crowd: "Dad! Stop fighting!" The girl pushed past Wu Santong, her pale yellow skirt sweeping away the phosphorus powder on the ground, and advised, "Shi Laoyao is a good person, don't hurt him!" She ran to Shi Feiyang's side, and seeing that Shi Feiyang was unharmed, she excitedly hugged his arm and teased, "I knew you had divine protection!"

Shi Feiyang flicked his sleeve slightly, dispersing the lingering force of his palm strike. He saw the exchange of glances between Guo Jing and his wife, knowing that he had passed this test—although they hadn't figured out his martial arts style, they were certain he wasn't a Mongol spy; otherwise, Huang Rong's hidden weapon would have already been launched.

Guo Jing said calmly, "Fu'er, take Brother Shi back to his room to rest." His iron bow was already slung over his shoulder, and the arrowheads of his black iron arrows were still pointing at the beams of the woodshed. He said apologetically, "I was reckless tonight."

As he turned to leave, Shi Feiyang noticed a new scar on his palm, caused by the force of his own palm strike.

As Huang Rong walked at the back, she suddenly whispered as she passed Shi Feiyang, "Your hidden secrets are more terrifying than Yang Guo's cunning." She drew the character "doubt" on the ground with her dog-beating stick, paused, and then said, "But I trust Fu'er's judgment."

Shi Feiyang watched their figures disappear into the moonlight, then suddenly picked up the pearl hairpin that Huang Rong had dropped. The character "Jing" was engraved in the stamen of the hairpin, carved by Guo Jing with the tip of a black iron arrow. He placed the hairpin in Guo Fu's hand; the girl's fingertips were burning hot, hotter than the flames of war in Xiangyang.

However, Shi Feiyang knew that Huang Rong would definitely arrange for people to secretly investigate him, and would never betroth Guo Fu to him before she fully understood him. Moreover, at this time, Guo Fu was only quite interested in Shi Feiyang; she didn't like him, much less love him.

She liked Yang Guo and loved Yang Guo.

The next morning, as soon as the morning market in Xiangyang City opened, Lu Youjiao and two elders squatted in the teahouse outside the Guo Mansion.

Three bowls of coarse tea were placed in front of them, and hidden under the table was the Beggars' Sect's "Disguise Manual," which was being compared with the passersby coming and going—Huang Rong's order was to search through all the beggars who had come to Xiangyang from Jiangnan in the past three years, especially those who could carve.

"The Beggars' Clan leader said that Shi Laoyao's ice sculpture contains techniques from the Yihua Palace." Lu Youjiao tapped his pipe on the table, ash falling next to the three characters "Mingyu Gong" on the diagram. "The Beggars' Clan leader back then also had dealings with the Yihua Palace. Could this kid be...?"

Suddenly, a tea drinker at the next table coughed. He was a scholar wearing a blue cloth shirt with ink stains on his sleeves.

He drew the character "撤" (meaning "withdraw") on the teacup with his finger, which was the secret signal that Shi Feiyang had given to the Beggars' Sect disciples last night—he had anticipated that Lu Youjiao would come and had already secretly informed his familiar disciples.

Guo Fu led Shi Feiyang past the teahouse. The girl held a brocade box in her hands, inside which was a newly carved ice sculpture by Shi Feiyang—a divine eagle with outstretched wings, its claws clutching a peach blossom. “Look at Elder Lu and the others,” Guo Fu said in a very low voice, “my mother must have them investigate you.”

Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve swept across the tea table, hooking Lu Youjiao's pipe to the ground, and calmly said, "Investigate if you want. An upright person has nothing to fear."

His gaze fell on the rouge shop across the street.

The landlady was winking at Lu Youjiao—it was a secret signal used by Mongolian spies, which he had noticed in the woodshed last night.

"Let's go buy rouge!" Guo Fu dragged him across the street corner. Her pale yellow skirt swept across the pebbles on the ground, and the pebbles flew up and hit the proprietress's hair. In the instant the hairpin rolled off, Shi Feiyang had already seen the wolf-head token at her waist.

He whispered, "Tell Master Guo that there is gunpowder in the cellar of the rouge shop."

Guo Fu's eyes widened instantly, but she wisely didn't ask any more questions. Instead, she deliberately knocked over the rouge box while buying rouge, spilling red powder onto the shopkeeper's skirt—a code Huang Rong had taught her, meaning "danger is imminent."

After they left, Lu Youjiao's disciples indeed rushed into the rouge shop and found enough gunpowder in the cellar to destroy half of Xiangyang City.

On the way back to the manor, Guo Fu suddenly stopped, her pearl hairpin dangling in front of Shi Feiyang's eyes, and she scolded, "Shi Laoyao, who exactly are you?"

Her fingertips traced his tattered sleeve, where the fabric, though worn, carried a faint, cool fragrance. She then said softly, "In your ice sculpture, there is a peach blossom miasma fragrance that even my mother doesn't know about."

Shi Feiyang gazed at the city walls of Xiangyang, where arrows from last year's Mongol soldiers still lodged in the arrow holes, and whispered, "I'll tell you after we drive away the Mongol cavalry." His gaze swept over the distant beacon tower, where smoke was slowly rising, and he said firmly, "But now, I want to protect you, protect this city."

Guo Fu's face suddenly turned bright red. As she turned and ran towards the gate of the mansion, another pearl flower fell from her hair. Shi Feiyang picked up the pearl flower and placed it in his palm—when the Mingyu Gong was activated, the light reflected from the pearl actually revealed the illusion of the Tang Dynasty palace.

Huang Rong stood behind the screen wall at the gate of the mansion and saw everything clearly.

She smiled at Guo Jing and said, "This lad is more composed than Yang Guo, and he understands Fu'er better than Yang Guo." She drew the character "留" (meaning "stay") on the ground with her dog-beating stick and deliberately said loudly, "Let him stay. Perhaps... he really is sent by heaven to help us."

Guo Jing's iron bow hummed softly, as if in response. In the distance, the smoke from the beacon towers grew thicker, and the sound of the Mongol army's hooves could be faintly heard. In the courtyard of the Guo family mansion, Guo Fu was tiptoeing, inserting peach blossoms into Shi Feiyang's tattered straw hat. The girl's laughter mingled with the sound of horns from the city wall, creating a strange sense of peace.

From within Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeves, his hands finally reached out and gently caught the peach blossom.

He heard Huang Rong say those words loudly, but he knew that Huang Rong would definitely send someone to secretly investigate him again.

……

The morning mist over Xiangyang was tinged with the stench of blood. Huang Rong's dog-beating stick tapped rapidly on the bluestone slabs, the tip of which held a crumpled piece of paper—a secret letter found on a Mongol messenger the night before, bearing the words "Dragon Armor Hero" written in Uyghur script.

Huang Rong indeed summoned Lu Youjiao and whispered, "Elder Lu," as she pinned the secret letter to the sand table in the Marshal's Mansion with her silver hairpin.

The model of Xiangyang City gleamed coldly in the morning light. Huang Rong then gave her a plan: "We must find out the origins of this Shi Laoyao. You take the Beggar Clan disciples to check the roster of Beggar Clan members in Jiangnan, especially those beggars who are skilled in ice carving."

Lu Youjiao tapped his pipe against the sole of his boot, sparks from the pipe landing on the model of the Mongol camp on the sand table. He said respectfully, "Don't worry, Chief, I'll take care of it right away." His fingers traced the Han River on the sand table, then he added with some worry, "But the Jiangnan Beggars' Clan was ravaged by the Mongol soldiers; the roster is probably incomplete." "Zhu Ziliu," Huang Rong turned to the scholar grinding ink beside her and said, "You, in the name of the Dali Duan family, investigate the martial arts practitioners who have come to the Central Plains from the Western Regions in the past three years. His skill in transferring other people's martial arts techniques bears some resemblance to the Xiaoyao Sect."

Zhu Ziliu wrote the two characters "ice sculpture" on the Xuan paper with his wolf-hair brush. The brush suddenly turned sharp, and he nodded and said, "I will write a letter to Emperor Baoding right away, but..." He looked up at Xiangyang City on the sand table and said thoughtfully, "If this person is really a reclusive master, he probably does not want to be disturbed."

Huang Rong's gaze fell on a corner of the training ground—Guo Fu was directing Da Wu and Xiao Wu to move the wounded soldiers. Shi Feiyang's tattered robe swayed in the morning light and actually caught the medicine box that Xiao Wu had accidentally dropped, his movements as light as a cloud.

So Huang Rong asked Lu Youjiao to find Da Wu and Xiao Wu. She whispered, "Da Wu, Xiao Wu," and drew three white marks on the ground with the Dog-Beating Stick. She then instructed, "Go and test his strength. Remember, you can only lose, not win."

Da Wu twirled his steel saber three times in his palm and said in a simple voice, "Don't worry, Master's wife, I'll make sure he shows off his skills." Xiao Wu scratched his head and said, "What if he can't beat me?" Before he could finish speaking, Da Wu elbowed him in the lower back. The two brothers walked towards the training ground together, their steel sabers flashing two cold lights in the morning mist.

Guo Jing suddenly took his iron bow off the wall, and the black iron arrow was nocked on the bowstring with a "whoosh." He said unhappily, "Rong'er, this kind of probing is probably not appropriate." His gaze fell on Shi Feiyang's hands as he helped Guo Fu tidy up her quiver. Although those hands were hidden in his tattered sleeves, they were steady like a beggar's. He said with doubt, "If this person is really a friend rather than an enemy, it will only hurt our harmony."

Huang Rong's dog-beating stick wrapped around his wrist, her silvery laughter concealing a sharp edge as she teased, "Brother Jing, Xiangyang City cannot tolerate the slightest carelessness. If Yang Guo hadn't been so insistent on protecting him back then, how could so many troubles have arisen?"

Her fingertip pointed to the Mongolian Khan's flag on the sand table, and she said in a deep voice, "This ice sculpture by Shi Laoyao hides a more cunning and vicious spirit than Yang Guo." The wooden stakes in the training ground were still stained with the blood from last night's battle. Da Wu and Xiao Wu's steel swords clattered on the stakes, and wood chips mixed with blood splattered all over Shi Feiyang.

"Brother Shi," Da Wu said in a dark voice, his steel knife spinning like an acrobatic act, oblivious to the pebbles at his feet, "Your martial arts are superb, why don't you spar with us brothers?" Before he finished speaking, he slipped and fell unsteadily toward Shi Feiyang.

With a flick of his tattered sleeve, Shi Feiyang unleashed the internal energy of his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill, causing Da Wu to spin in mid-air. Da Wu crashed into Xiao Wu, and the two rolled into a heap, while the steel knife became deeply embedded in the nearby haystack.

"Impressive skills!" Guo Fu exclaimed as she casually carved her sword on the wooden stake. But she quickly straightened her face and scolded Da Wu and Xiao Wu, "You two idiots, you can't even stand up straight!"

Shi Feiyang's tattered straw hat covered half his face, revealing only his hard jawline. He said modestly, "Brothers Da Wu and Xiao Wu are very skilled. I was just lucky." He flicked his fingertips lightly on the haystack, and three ice pellets accurately hit the rope hanging on the steel knife. The blade fell to the ground with a "clang" and landed right at Guo Fu's feet.

Xiao Wu's face turned bright red. He picked up the steel knife and slashed, cursing, "I think you did it on purpose!" The wind from the knife had just risen when it was caught by Shi Feiyang's tattered sleeve. The sleeve was as solid as iron, and no matter how Xiao Wu pulled, it wouldn't budge.

Da Wu's blade slashed from the side, but Shi Feiyang's figure suddenly blurred, as if merging into the morning mist. The two steel blades clashed with a "crack," both blades chipping. "This is..." Zhu Ziliu's wolf-hair brush stopped on the paper. He had witnessed this scene as soon as he arrived at the training ground. Shi Feiyang's movements were somewhat similar to the "One-Finger Divine Skill" footwork of Dali, but even more elusive. (End of Chapter)