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

Chapter 519. The Flowing Water and the Scent of Agarwood Lock Up Hatred and Bind the Heart of the Ruler; The Smoke of War Across the Nine Realms Remains Unfulfilled, a Hero's Wish
Shi Feiyang's fingers trembled as soon as they touched the letter, burned by the tear stains on it.

Mei Qile's handwriting was crooked and shaky, clearly written on the bumpy back of a horse: "Young Master Shi, Hero Guo said he wants to be your matchmaker. I showed the plum blossom hairpin to Sister Guo Fu, and she said your ice sculpture is prettier than Yang Guo's jade bee needle. It's cold in Luoyang, remember to wear the cotton socks I sewed for you, they're under the third brick in the secret passage..." At the end of the letter was a crooked smiley face, with two dots of vermilion next to it.

Shi Feiyang stuffed the letter into his pocket, pressing it tightly against his heart.

The second wave of Mongol attacks came even more fiercely, with catapults smashing down the west wall of the granary.

Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation" technique from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique with both palms. The sharp blade energy slashed into the enemy formation. Amidst the ice shards and blood mist, he seemed to see Mei Qile standing on the city wall of Xiangyang, holding up that plum blossom hairpin and waving at him.

"Wait for me," he whispered towards the Luo River. Suddenly, the ice patterns on his black armor emitted a warm light, and from within the millennia-old, unyielding chill, a plum blossom, warm with life, finally bloomed. At that moment, reinforcements from Xiangyang attacked from behind the Mongol soldiers, raining down arrows like a swarm of locusts, killing countless Mongol soldiers.

The remaining Mongol soldiers had no choice but to retreat.

……

The morning mist in Luoyang carried the acrid smell of burnt blood.

Shi Feiyang's moon-white brocade robe was stained with undried blood, while the ice patterns on his black armor had already solidified into frost. He stood on the banks of the Luo River, looking at the setting sun reflected on the water, much like the sunset over the palaces of Chang'an in bygone days. The footsteps of Plum Blossom Gang disciples came from behind him. Mei Qile held the Black Wind Cult's newly collected roster, his fingertips tracing the words "List of Mongolian Spies," before suddenly clenching his fist until it turned white.

“Young Master Shi,” Mei Qile said in a low voice, her golden thread wrapped around his wrist and her pleated skirt sweeping across the ripples of the Luo River in the wind, “this record shows that thirty-seven gangs colluded with the Mongols, including He Jingang of the Kunlun Sect.”

A scorched leaf lay in her hair, brought from the ruins of the Black Wind Cult. She asked in a low voice, "What should we do?"

Shi Feiyang said in a deep voice, "Give it to Huang Rong. The Beggars' Clan's information network can spread these names throughout the martial arts world, which is more useful than us taking action."

At this moment, the prefect of Luoyang arrived in a hurry with his yamen runners. The peacock feather on his official hat trembled in the morning mist: "Dragon Armor Hero, spare my life! This humble official did not know that the Black Wind Cult was a rebel." After saying this, he knelt down on the ground, his forehead hitting the ice, which made a bloody hole.

Shi Feiyang's boot tip lifted the prefect's official seal, and the moment the icy air was injected, the three characters "Luoyang Prefecture" on the seal froze into ice patterns.

He said coldly, "Send me the head of the Mongol commander stationed in Luoyang within three days, or else..." His palm swept across the willow tree beside him, and the entire tree suddenly cracked from the cold. He then said coldly, "This is your fate."

Mei Qile watched the prefect scramble away and chuckled, "Your title of 'Dragon Armor Hero' is more effective than the title of 'Emperor of the Tang Dynasty' back then."

Suddenly, her golden thread wrapped around his neck, and with a gentle tug, their shadows overlapped on the ice.

She added sourly, "But if Miss Guo Fu knew how ruthless you are, wouldn't she be afraid of you?"

Shi Feiyang's black armor suddenly felt warm, and the plum blossom mark in the ice pattern lit up—it was embroidered with gold thread by Mei Qile last night.

He sighed, “She only sees me as a beggar.” His fingertips brushed the scorched leaves at her temple, urging her, “You should go. The register of Xiangyang cannot fall into the hands of the Mongols.”

Mei Qile's golden thread suddenly tightened, making his neck ache slightly. She said affectionately, "What if I don't leave?" Her nose brushed against his black armor, the icy air mingling with her body heat, and she asked sadly, "Is the young leader of the Plum Blossom Gang unworthy of you, a king of a fallen kingdom?"

Suddenly, the ice on the Luo River cracked. Shi Feiyang pulled Mei Qile into his arms and used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to carry her to the shore.

The sound of Mongol cavalry hooves echoed in the distance. It was the "Broken Camp" personally led by the Thousand-Household Commander of Luoyang. Their spiked clubs gleamed menacingly in the morning mist, and their vicious voices surged like a tide: "Seize that pair of adulterers!"

Enraged, Shi Feiyang released Mei Qile and unleashed the "Breaking Heaven and Earth" move of the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique." In the instant the ice wave surged, Mei Qile's plum blossom needles pierced the throat of the commander. The Mongol soldiers scattered in terror.

Mei Qile walked over, nestled in Shi Feiyang's arms, and whispered, "Do you know why He Jingang of the Kunlun Sect colluded with the Mongols? His daughter was kidnapped by the Golden Wheel Monk, and he could only exchange intelligence for safety. Feiyang, you always say that matters of the martial world should be settled within the martial world, but people's hearts are not ice sculptures that can be frozen."

Shi Feiyang remained silent and turned to leave. Mei Qile, however, took out a brocade box from her sleeve. Inside was the "Blood Plum Pill," nurtured with her own blood—the Plum Blossom Gang's prized possession, capable of curing poisons. She said affectionately, "I know you're afraid Huang Rong will be suspicious. After you've dealt with things in Xiangyang, come to Plum Blossom Village to find me. My father said he wants to personally tie my red thread around your wrist."

Shi Feiyang nodded, moved, and said with tears in his eyes, "I'll take you with me! We'll never be apart again in this lifetime!"

"Young Master!" The Plum Blossom Gang disciples' shouts came from the mist. They had prepared a carriage, and the twin lotus flowers embroidered on the curtains were shining brightly in the morning sun.

Mei Xile was so excited that she choked up and couldn't speak.

Shi Feiyang pulled her into his arms and used his mysterious "Hidden Identity and Name" lightness skill to carry her to the carriage.

Mei Qile counted the scales of his black armor in his arms, and suddenly realized that her own reflection was in every ice pattern—it turned out that this person who had frozen thousands of miles had already engraved her into his heart.

As the carriage drove away from Luoyang, Mei Qile secretly lifted the corner of the curtain and discovered a group of Mongol soldiers.

Shi Feiyang leaped out and stood on the icy bank of the Luo River. The golden hairpins on his black armor gleamed in the morning sun. He unleashed the "Shocking Calamity" divine skill, his icy gaze sweeping over the Mongol cavalry. With a series of cracking sounds, a squad of Mongol cavalrymen shattered into ice shards scattered all over the ground.

As the remnants of the broken Mongol army fled into the twilight, two beams of golden light suddenly shot out from Shi Feiyang's deerskin bag.

The White Tiger's roar shook the remaining snow off the branches, and the Vermilion Bird's outstretched wings resembled clouds hanging from the sky. The gilded tent on its back gleamed warmly in the sunset—it was the "Universe Tent" he had taken from the Divine Dragon Pagoda.

Mei Qile exclaimed in surprise, "This is actually the legendary ancient mythical beast?" Her pleated skirt brushed against the white tiger's fur, and the tiger rubbed against her ankle like a house cat. She teased, "Feiyang, just how many secrets are you hiding?"

Shi Feiyang's black armor automatically detached inside the tent, and the ice patterns turned into stardust that fell onto the carpet. He picked up a wine pot from the coral table. The peach blossom wine in the pot was brewed by Bi Yan'er in the Divine Dragon Pagoda. As he poured the wine, the peach blossoms floating in the wine suddenly materialized and landed in Mei Qile's hair.

Shi Feiyang's fingertips brushed against the peach blossoms at her temples as he introduced, "The warm jade bed in this tent was made in the style of the Daming Palace." He then grasped her hand holding the register, the parchment containing the secrets of thirty-seven gangs, whose edges were now soaked with the sweat from her palms.

Mei Qile crawled into the tent, tossed the roster onto the table, and loosened the sash of her skirt. The pleated skirt unfurled like flower petals, revealing an undergarment embroidered with twin lotus blossoms—the color of which was exactly the same as the red light within the ice patterns of his Xuanjia armor. Her fingertip touched Shi Feiyang's heart, and she said affectionately, "More than the secrets of the martial world, I want to know if, besides the affairs of the nation, there is room for me within this place."

Suddenly, the white tiger brought over a brocade box containing snow ginseng that Shi Feiyang had brought from Liaodong. The ginseng roots were still covered with ice crystals that had never melted in a thousand years. Mei Qile picked up the ginseng slices to make wine for him, but the tiger grabbed her wrist and pressed her down onto the warm jade bed.

Shi Feiyang's kiss landed on the plum blossom mark between her eyebrows. Mei Qile reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him towards her.

Suddenly, the Vermilion Bird outside the tent spread its wings, blocking out the setting sun. Inside, the luminous pearls lit up one by one, reflecting in her reddened eyes. She said tenderly, "Shi Feiyang, I don't want you to be some kind of Dragon Armor Hero, nor do I care if you are a king of a fallen kingdom. I only want you to remember that the peach blossoms of Plum Blossom Village will bloom for you every year." The White Tiger lay outside the tent snoring. The Vermilion Bird's tail feathers swept across the tent flap, and the falling golden light flowed between their intertwined hair.

Shi Feiyang's black armor ice patterns merged with her plum blossom mark on the warm jade bed, transforming into peach blossoms fluttering in the sky.

The next morning, Shi Feiyang woke up and reached out to roll up the curtain.

Mei Qile saw a strange sight outside the tent—the wings of the Vermilion Bird were carrying them over the Mongol army's camp. At this moment, above the Luo River, only two intertwined auras flowed within the Qiankun Tent.

As the Vermilion Bird's wings swept across the Liaodong ice plains, Shi Feiyang's black armor was covered with frost from three thousand miles of travel.

The outline of Eagle Beak Rock resembles a giant beast lurking in the twilight. On the rock face that has remained unchanged for thousands of years, the character "雄" (xiong, meaning hero) that he carved with the "Hundred Victories Knife Technique" is still clearly discernible, only now it has been eroded by wind and frost, adding a touch of ruggedness.

As Shi Feiyang gracefully descended, his face was streaked with tears as he landed. This was the starting point of his rise to heroism, the beginning of his love story with Gong Simeng, Lin Wanqing, Liu Guihua, and Liu Tingting, and the starting point of the Xiong Ying Society's worldwide fame.

“The wind here is three times fiercer than in Luoyang.” Mei Qile leaped down, golden thread wrapped around his wrist, and his pleated skirt had been replaced with a deerskin coat worn by women from Liaodong. The plum blossom embroidery on the hem of the skirt fluttered in the cold wind.

She said cryptically, "But it's warmer than Xiangyang." She pointed to the icy stream below the rock, where the sound of flowing water was very pleasant to hear.

Suddenly, a gold ingot flew out of Shi Feiyang's deerskin bag and landed on the snow with a dull thud. Three Han Chinese hunters who had fled from the desert were hiding in a crevice, gnawing on frozen cornbread. When they saw the gold, they first shrank back, but were then attracted by the cooked meat that Mei Qile had thrown to them.

The burly man at the head of the group mumbled while gnawing on some dried meat, "Sir, you want to build a house? The frozen soil of Eagle Beak Rock will only leave a white mark after three blows of the axe."

Shi Feiyang said confidently, "I have a way." He then lightly wielded his "Ten Thousand Ren Piercing Clouds" divine skill, and the ice blade pierced diagonally for thirty feet, shaking the snow on the rock top into an avalanche. In the snow mist, his Nine Palaces Divine Speed ​​Leg stepped across the ice surface, each step carving a pit more than ten feet deep in the frozen soil. Then he said to the strong men, "Within three days, I want to see water emerge from the foundation."

Mei Qile's golden thread transformed into a measuring rope, circling a hundred-zhang radius in the snow, and said magnanimously, "According to the regulations of the Chang'an Imperial City, the main gate should face the seventh star of the Big Dipper."

She took out a blueprint from the tent on Zhuque's back. It was a reconstruction of Snow Eagle Fortress drawn based on Shi Feiyang's dictation. She then said to Shi Feiyang, "Husband, there is a Black Stone Village nearby." Afterwards, under the mobilization of these strong men, more and more refugees joined the construction of the Plum Blossom Gang's headquarters.

In the process, they also became new disciples of the Plum Blossom Gang.

A year later, Mei Jinghong led the few remaining disciples of the Plum Blossom Gang to settle down on Eagle Beak Rock in the snowy plains of Liaodong.

Mei Qile placed his son Shi Niantang on Shi Feiyang's shoulder. The child's palm patted the Xuanjia armor, and the dragon pattern in the ice pattern glowed red—the spiritual energy of the Divine Dragon Pagoda merged with human blood for the first time.

Shi Feiyang stood on the arrow tower of Snow Eagle Fortress and looked out. Suddenly, a group of Mongolian cavalry appeared on the ice field. Their wolf-head banners fluttered in the wind, and the centurion leading them was spying on the fortress with a telescope.

Mei Qile had already held the plum blossom needle in his palm, but Shi Feiyang pressed down on his wrist. He whispered, "Let them see." Then he turned and roared at the Mongol cavalry, "Go back and tell your commanders that this is Plum Blossom Gang territory. Anyone who dares to trespass will be killed without mercy!"

The sound of cavalry hooves echoed as they fled for miles. Mei Qile's golden thread wrapped around his waist, his nose brushing against the icicles on Shi Feiyang's black armor, and he asked knowingly, "You deliberately left someone alive to lure the snake out of its hole?"

Shi Feiyang said calmly, "The Mongolian 'search dogs' in Liaodong have to be dealt with." His gaze fell on the direction of Guifeng Mountain in the distance, where the smoke from the chimneys was mixed with the smell of yak butter from the Tibetan lamas. He then said in a deep voice, "Moreover, there are people who are even more eager to take action than we are."

……

Just as the first batch of angelica was planted in the medicinal herb fields of Qingluan Peak, the Mongol "Broken Army" surrounded them. The iron hooves of three thousand cavalrymen shattered the icy plains, and the leader was none other than the junior brother of Phagpa, the Tibetan national preceptor, whose Dharma name was "Extinguishen." The vajra in his hand was wrapped with nine human bone prayer beads, each bead engraved with Sanskrit mantras.

Suddenly, the prayer beads of the Demon-Extinguishing Beads exploded, and nine black wisps of energy coiled towards the arrow tower of Snow Eagle Fortress. Wherever they passed, the pine railings instantly rotted. He said coldly, "Benefactor Shi, hand over the Eagle Beak Rock vein, and you can save the entire fortress from the suffering of reincarnation. The Great Khan has already granted me permission to build a temple here to spread Buddhism."

Shi Feiyang unleashed "Sword Twenty-Three," his sword aura suddenly expanding, black energy condensing into a spiderweb within the frozen space. His Six Steeds of Zhaoling pointed diagonally at Miechen's brow, and he said contemptuously, "You demonic monk, you even dare to deceive the Buddha. Don't try to use the Mongol cavalry as an excuse; I've never been afraid of anyone! Hmph!"

Mei Jinghong unleashed the "Falling Petals Palm," the medicinal powder within her palm strike merging with the icy mist to transform into a bewitching miasma. Simultaneously, golden threads from over a hundred Plum Blossom Gang disciples flew out, weaving a plum blossom formation across the snow, dividing the Mongol cavalry into nine sections.

Mei Qile used his Qingfeng sword (gifted by Shi Feiyang) to knock down a Mongol centurion. As the sword sliced ​​across the man's throat, he suddenly remembered Guo Fu's appearance on the city wall of Xiangyang and teased, "Father's palm technique has improved. But compared to the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms of Hero Guo, it is still three points less powerful."

Shi Feiyang repelled Miechen and then unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation" technique from the Hundred Victories Saber Method. The sharp saber energy cleaved into the enemy ranks, freezing fifty Mongol soldiers into ice sculptures, but suddenly shattered upon touching the Tibetan lama. Miechen retreated and advanced rapidly, unleashing the "Great Handprint" towards Shi Feiyang's back, the palm wind actually containing the Black Wind Sect's "Bone-Melting Powder".

Shi Feiyang sneered, "You old bald thief, you're nothing but a fart in front of me!" As he turned around, his palm glowed red, and his "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill was unleashed in response to his chant. Mie Chen exclaimed in shock, "What kind of sorcery is this!" Blood mist suddenly burst from his palm, and the human bones in his prayer beads shattered one by one. He looked incredulously at his arm, which rapidly withered, like a piece of dry wood whose marrow had been drained.

Shi Feiyang admonished, "It's your own doing." He then unleashed the "Heavenly Silkworm Technique," the powerful true energy forming silver silkworm threads that wrapped around the opponent's throat. With a flash of crystalline light, Miechen's primordial spirit was forcibly pulled from his body—this bald thief's primordial spirit was actually a three-eyed crow, emitting a mournful cry within the sword energy domain. He contracted the domain of "Sword Twenty-Three," and the crow's primordial spirit was cleaved into six faint rays of light, scattering into the wind and snow of the icy plains.

At this moment, shouts of battle came from the Tibetan camp on Guifeng Mountain. Mei Qile wrapped her golden thread around Shi Feiyang's waist and said urgently, "Husband, that's the Duan family from Dali! They've actually chased us all the way to Liaodong."

Master Yideng, Duan Zhixing, flew at incredible speed. As his "One-Finger Divine Skill" pierced the last line of Mongol cavalry defenses, he landed beside Shi Feiyang. The old emperor's whisk suddenly wrapped around Shi Feiyang's wrist, and he exclaimed, "Benefactor Shi's skill is even greater than it was in Xiangyang City." His fingertip pointed at Miechen's corpse, and he questioned, "But such ruthlessness, aren't you afraid of damaging your Dao heart?"

Shi Feiyang's black armor ice patterns gradually faded, and he said meaningfully, "To be merciful to demons is to be cruel to oneself." His gaze fell on the young man behind Duan Zhixing. The boy's "One-Finger Divine Skill" had become more agile, and he couldn't help but praise, "Your son's kung fu has some of the shadow of Peach Blossom Island."

Mei Qile had already ordered his men to clean up the battlefield.

She handed her daughter, Shi Nianfu, to Duan Zhixing. The baby's tiny fist was clutching a fragment of a Tibetan rosary, which she crushed to pieces.

The old emperor laughed heartily: "This little girl will surely be a heroine in the future." Then he lowered his voice and said: "Benefactor Shi, the Mongolian 'Blood Eagle Guard' in Liaodong has infiltrated the medicinal fields of Qingluan Peak."

Shi Feiyang nodded and said, "Thank you! Please guard the herb field for me for three days, Your Highness. This money is enough to buy three thousand Cloud Piercing Arrows. I'm going to meet these 'Blood Eagles'." After saying that, he used the peerless lightness skill "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles" and flew towards Qingluan Peak. His black armor fell to the ground like a meteor in the snow.

The medicinal herb field of Qingluan Peak is hidden between three cliffs. Shi Feiyang flew over and floated down, then used "Sword Twenty-Three". His sword energy field expanded, freezing the seven "Blood Eagle Guards" who were digging for angelica roots in a still space.

These people were dressed in Han Chinese clothing, but their palms were branded with Mongolian wolf head marks, and the short knives in their hands were scalded with "arsenic," a deadly poison that could kill on sight.

Shi Feiyang coldly demanded, "Is your master the Golden Wheel Monk or Phagpa?" His Zhaoling Six Steeds Sword pointed diagonally at the frozen earth, and within the sword energy domain, the terror in the Blood Eagle Guards' pupils was clearly visible.

Shi Feiyang recognized the pattern on the leader's boots—the Black Wind Cult's specially made "Snow-Treading Without a Trace" boots. Suddenly, the Blood Eagle Guard leader bit his tongue and chanted a spell in Tibetan. The seven men's spirits simultaneously left their bodies, transforming into seven blood-red fledgling eagles that pounced on Shi Feiyang's brow—this was the Mongolian Tantric "Blood Sacrifice Technique," a power that sacrifices the soul for mutual destruction.

Shi Feiyang said dismissively, "A mere trifle." He then unleashed "Six Annihilation Sword Twenty-Three," his icy blue sword energy forming a six-path reincarnation diagram. The moment the blood-red fledgling eagle collided with the diagram, it let out a shrill scream and transformed into countless drops of blood.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang unleashed his Nine Palaces Divine Kick, a 360-degree spinning kick that sent shockwaves through the seven empty corpses, turning them into a bloody pulp. He then angrily denounced, "The remnants of the Black Wind Cult have actually learned the evil arts of the lamas."

Mei Qile's golden thread wrapped around his wrist, followed by Shi Niantang and Shi Nianfu, two children poking at the blood droplets in the snow with twigs.

She reminded them, "These angelica roots are for the wounded soldiers in Xiangyang; we mustn't let them waste them." Her fingertips brushed over the severed stalks of the herbs, where amber-colored sap was seeping out. She then explained, "Father said this is the 'resurrection herb' that Shennong tasted; it can revive the body within three days."

Shi Feiyang activated the Mingyu Technique and channeled it into the medicinal field, causing the roots beneath the frozen soil to emit subtle cracking sounds.

As he watched the severed seedlings sprout anew under the nourishment of the icy air, he suddenly recalled the time he spent in the Divine Dragon Pagoda and said sincerely, "I once planted similar immortal herbs, which grew three inches a day when watered with snow water from Kunlun."

Suddenly, the bugle call of the Mongol soldiers rang out from below the peak; it was Miechen's junior brother leading reinforcements. Three hundred Tibetan cavalrymen formed a human wall, blocking the only exit. Their "Great Mudra of Esoteric Buddhism" slammed against the cliff, and the sound of falling rocks echoed through the icy valley.

Shi Feiyang picked up his two children and tossed them into the Qiankun tent on the back of the Vermilion Bird. He then turned to Mei Qile and said, "I'm going to meet these lamas." He spun around and unleashed the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" move from the "Hundred Victories Knife Technique."

The fierce blade energy stirred up icy waves that stood like a wall, forcefully halting the cavalry's charge.

Mei Qile suddenly wove a barrier around the medicinal field with golden thread, and then took out a bronze whistle from his pocket. The energy emanating from the whistle caused the Tibetan cavalry's horses to slip.

As she hit him, she reminded Shi Feiyang, "Husband, don't forget you promised our daughter Nianfu that you would take her to see the peonies in Luoyang."

Her Qingfeng sword clashed with Shi Feiyang's blade energy, producing a clear and melodious sound.

Shi Feiyang remained silent, swinging his palms to unleash the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill, transforming ice into lightning, which struck the enemy and exploded at the heart of the Tibetan cavalry's formation.

Immediately afterwards, he embraced Mei Qile, flew into the Qiankun tent on the back of the Vermilion Bird, and rode the Vermilion Bird back to Snow Eagle Fortress.

Duan Zhixing used his "One-Finger Divine Skill" to inscribe the four golden characters "Han and Tibetan as One Family" on the plaque of Snow Eagle Fortress. Mei Jinghong tapped his pipe against the railing of the watchtower, the embers in the pipe flickering in the wind. He introduced, "News has come from Xiangyang that Yang Guo has found Xiaolongnu in the Valley of Heartbreak. Guo Jing and his wife want us to guard the grain route in Liaodong. Next spring, they will launch a counterattack on Luoyang."

A map flew out of Shi Feiyang's deerskin bag, marked with thirteen Mongol granaries in Liaodong in vermilion: "I've already sent Zhuque to scout them out. The largest is at Fushun Pass, guarded by the third disciple of the Golden Wheel Monk." He drew a line on the map and said, "From Eagle Beak Rock to Fushun, it's exactly a seven-day journey." Mei Qile pointed to "Black Wind Pass" on the map and said, "There are former members of the Plum Blossom Gang here. My grandfather once set up the 'Nine-Bend Bewitching Array' here. If we can take this place, the Mongol reinforcements will have to take a long detour."

As dusk settled, the campfires at Snow Eagle Fortress formed a sea of ​​stars.

Shi Feiyang watched as the young men of various ethnicities practiced the "Falling Petals Palm" in the open space. The brute strength of the Han hunters, the horsemanship of the Mongol deserters, and the resilience of the Tibetan monks were all fused into new moves under Mei Qile's guidance. He held Mei Qile's hand, the ice patterns on her black armor blending with her body heat, and said with emotion, "Back in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, I never imagined that this day would come."

Mei Qile wrapped the gold thread around his ring finger, where the dragon-patterned ring suddenly glowed red. He said cryptically, "Fate is like the frozen soil of Liaodong. It looks hard, but as long as you warm it with your heart, it will eventually thaw."

Her gaze fell on the direction of Guifeng Mountain, where the Han Chinese "Tang" flag had been raised in the Tubo camp. She then said thoughtfully, "Look, even the lamas are willing to put down their prayer beads and pick up hoes. Things will get better for the world."

The snores of the children from various ethnic groups blended into a harmonious melody within Snow Eagle Fortress.

Shi Feiyang suddenly understood—the so-called comeback is never about rebuilding a castle, but about rebuilding the hearts of people in this world.

Inside the warm chamber of Snow Eagle Fortress, the underground heating was burning brightly, making the ice shards on Shi Feiyang's black armor sizzle.

Mei Qile was carefully wiping the dragon-patterned ring on his wrist with a deerskin towel. The ginseng juice on the corner of the towel spread on the metal, blending into a warm red color with the radiance flowing from his Mingyu Gong.

The sounds of children laughing and playing came from outside. Shi Niantang was imitating his father's "Slaying the Mortal World" with a small wooden sword, while Shi Nianfu was chasing her brother with her mother's golden thread. Mei Qile's ears suddenly turned red, and his fingertips traced the character "囍" on the ice patterns on his black armor.

She said meaningfully, "Nianfu said she wants to learn Sister Guo Fu's 'Yue Maiden Sword Technique' so that she can help you defend Xiangyang in the future."

Shi Feiyang was deeply moved, and tears welled up in his eyes instantly.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and the icy air condensed into frost flowers in his lungs and then melted away. He thought of Guo Fu's sword tassel on the city wall of Xiangyang, and the golden thread of Mei Qile on the icy bank of Luoshui. Suddenly he understood what the lark had said in the pagoda about "the tribulation of love"—that the most powerful martial arts could never sever the attachments in one's heart.

"I'll go with you to Black Stone Village to collect grain tomorrow." Mei Qile suddenly bit his earlobe, unfastening the clasp of his black armor with a golden thread, and teased, "Those hunters' wives always say that I, the young leader, only know how to hide in the fortress and embroider. I'll show them that my 'Falling Petals Palm' can shield you from arrows." Shi Feiyang excitedly pulled her into his arms and said affectionately, "Let's have a few more children!"

"Hehe!" Mei Qile chuckled sweetly and closed her eyes happily.

……

Outside the granary of Black Stone Village, the iron hooves of Mongol cavalry shattered the morning mist.

The centurion, holding a spiked club with the head of a Plum Blossom Gang member on the tip, spoke fluent Mandarin: "Shi Feiyang, hand over the mining map of Snow Eagle Fortress, and I'll spare the lives of the old and young in this village!" Suddenly, Mei Qile's golden thread wrapped around the beams of the granary, and over a hundred gang members unleashed their "Falling Petals Palm" simultaneously. The medicinal powder in their palm strikes mingled with the dust in the granary, transforming into a bewitching miasma.

Her Qingfeng sword stood protectively beside Shi Feiyang, the red silk tassel of the sword intertwined with the ice patterns on his black armor, reminding him, "Be careful of their 'counterattack'!"

Mei Qile suddenly pulled Shi Feiyang back half a step. Three poisoned bone-piercing nails flew past his ears and into the wooden pillars of the granary. He then introduced, "These people have learned the Black Wind Sect's 'Shadowless Needle' technique, which specializes in striking vital points."

Shi Feiyang parted Mei Qile and unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation" technique from the Hundred Victories Saber Method. A fierce saber aura cleaved out, freezing ninety Mongol soldiers into ice sculptures. However, upon reaching the centurion, the aura suddenly shifted—Mei Qile's golden thread was wrapped around his wrist, diverting the saber aura towards a powder keg to the side. With a deafening roar, her pleated skirt was lifted by the shockwave, revealing a breastplate hidden beneath, its surface engraved with his name.

Shi Feiyang said, moved, "When will you..." but before he could finish, his words were cut off by her kiss.

Mei Qile's tongue was sweet with the taste of snow ginseng wine, and golden threads wrapped around his neck, nailing their shadows to the blood pool in the granary.

Afterwards, Mei Qile separated Shi Feiyang and said affectionately, "From the day you shielded me from an arrow on the frozen shore of the Luo River, my breastplate has only been engraved with your name." As the second wave of Mongol soldiers charged, Mei Qile suddenly pushed Shi Feiyang towards the back door, bravely declaring, "Leave the villagers! I'll use the 'Nine-Bend Bewitching Array' to hold them off!" Her golden threads wove a barrier around the granary, and the plum blossom petals in her palm wind seemed to weep, reluctantly saying, "Don't forget you promised Nianfu you'd teach her 'Ten Thousand Ren Piercing Clouds'!"

Shi Feiyang laughed and unleashed "Sword Twenty-Three," instantly expanding his sword energy domain to protect her at its center.

He watched as his icy aura melted into a stream in her palm, and suddenly understood why the Sunflower Saintess was willing to break heavenly rules to save him—some feelings are heavier than reincarnation. The Mongol soldiers' rain of arrows fell outside the sword aura domain, as if crashing into an impenetrable wall.

Shi Feiyang wrapped Mei Qile in sword energy and used the unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to return to Snow Eagle Fortress.

……

Deep within the mine of Snow Eagle Fortress, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" technique from the Hundred Victories Blade Technique with both palms, the fierce blade energy cleaving through the final rock wall.

Mei Qile held up a tinderbox and approached, and the mural on the rock wall suddenly lit up—it was a military marching scene of Emperor Taizong of Tang conquering Liaodong, and the general's armor in the picture was exactly the same as Shi Feiyang's black armor.

She exclaimed with emotion, "So the Tang Dynasty you spoke of really did come here." A gold thread wrapped around the hem of the woman's skirt in the painting; the woman's features even bore a resemblance to hers. She couldn't help but ask in surprise, "This is..."

Shi Feiyang smiled and said, "She was the leader of the Plum Blossom Gang who accompanied Emperor Taizong on his campaign back then." His fingertips traced the character "Plum" on the mural. As ice energy was injected, the mural suddenly oozed cinnabar. He then said excitedly, "She said she wanted the fragrance of plum blossoms to spread throughout Liaodong, just like the peonies of Chang'an." Suddenly, shouts of Mongol soldiers came from outside the cave. It was the second disciple of the Golden Wheel Monk who had arrived with the "Blood Eagle Guards."

Mei Qile's golden thread immediately wrapped around the minecart's chains. Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill, transforming ice into lightning, which struck the stalactites on the cave ceiling. The blasted debris blocked most of the cave entrance. Mei Qile said unwillingly, "They want to seal us off!" She gripped her Qingfeng sword and pierced the throat of a Blood Eagle Guard, the blood droplets on the blade being wiped away by her golden thread.

Shi Feiyang said domineeringly, "With me here, what's there to be afraid of?!" He then unleashed the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill, and the Blood Eagle Guards who had stormed into the mine suddenly vomited blood, their corpses curling up into shriveled monkey shapes.

Just as the second disciple of the Golden Wheel Monk was about to unleash his "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill," Shi Feiyang used his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill to redirect the opponent's power to his own lower abdomen. As the palm force passed through his body, Shi Feiyang saw that what was revealed inside the opponent's armor was actually a collar belonging to a Han Chinese child. He couldn't help but angrily question, "You are truly despicable!" He had no choice but to let the thief escape.

Amidst the pile of Blood Eagle Guard corpses, Mei Qile embraced the trembling Shi Feiyang. Her gold thread wrapped around his braid, tightening the warm jade hairpin, and she advised, "Some debts must be repaid. But your hands should not be stained with the blood of the innocent."

The cry of the Vermilion Bird came from outside the cave. Shi Feiyang's black armor reflected the moonlight that shone into the cave, and the dragon pattern in the ice patterns finally merged completely with her plum blossoms.

(End of this chapter)