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

Wanyan Ping suddenly pointed her willow-leaf dagger at the starry sky, where the Big Dipper was hanging above the river. She offered a plan: "The secret map of the Jin Kingdom says that there will be a high tide at midnight tonight. We can go downstream and launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp."

Yelü Yan lightly touched the deck with her toes, and the splashing water droplets were frozen into ice crystals by the icy air rising from the rocks. She said firmly, "I will lead the Khitan navy to flank them and use the 'ship-cutting technique' to destroy their rudders!"

Shi Feiyang grasped their hands, and icy energy flowed through his palms, merging the three men's inner strength together. He said decisively, "Sun Tzu said, 'The skillful strategist seeks advantage in the situation.' The tide of the Yangtze River is our advantage."

At midnight on the river, the Tang army's navy descended like divine soldiers.

Shi Feiyang unleashed "Sword Twenty-Three," instantly freezing the sails of the Mongol warships on the river surface. The remaining henchmen of the Blood Blade Sect, about to raise their swords, were frozen into ice sculptures by the icy aura. Mei Jinghong unleashed "Falling Petals Palm," the palm wind whipping up fire arrows, turning the Mongol naval camp's tents into a sea of ​​fire.

Qu Kan's Black Blood Needles weaved through the sea of ​​fire, each silver needle claiming the life of an evil cultivator; Wanyan Ping's Willow Leaf Blade cleaved open the final sluice gate, causing the river to flood in and turning the Mongol army's camp into a swamp. Yelü Yan's twin blades leaped between enemy ships, her "Mandarin Duck Blade Technique" using the "Separating Phoenix" move to shatter the rudders, leaving the warships spinning in the tide like drunken men.

As the first rays of dawn touched the river, the remaining Mongol navy had been completely annihilated. Standing on the deck of the "Breaking Waves," Shi Feiyang watched the Tang army's warships arrayed in a "Tang" formation on the river, and tears welled up in his eyes!
Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan nestled beside him, their gazes fixed on the distance where smoke rose from the chimneys of the Jiangnan water towns. The new Tang Dynasty's water empire was becoming ever stronger, as solid as steel, through the baptism of blood and fire.

……

On the north bank of the Yangtze River in late spring, the Black Wind Cult's "Dark Cloud Banner" undulated in the wheat fields, resembling a flock of crows chasing carrion. Just as Helian Tiegui's successor, the "Red-Haired Old Monster" Gongsun Kun, shattered the wooden fence of the riverside stronghold with his "Blood-Transforming Palm," an ice wall suddenly rose from behind the stronghold.

Shi Feiyang arrived using his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill, and in mid-air, he unleashed the "Mountain Splitting" move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." The icy blade energy carried an overwhelming momentum, freezing the thirty Black Wind Cult members who were charging at the front into ice sculptures.

The wheat awns whipped up by his palm shimmered golden in the sunlight, making the ice patterns on his black armor even more dazzling.

Gongsun Kun roared, "Shi Feiyang! Today I will avenge Sect Leader Helian!" He unleashed his "Crimson Claw," which, trailing poisonous smoke, lashed at the ice wall. Black blood seeped from between his fingers, dripping onto the wheat field and instantly withering the seedlings. Behind this new sect leader were the Vulture Venerable of the "Blood Blade Sect" and Lan Fengyao of the "Five Poisons Sect," the three standing in a triangular formation, clearly intending to join forces to besiege Shi Feiyang.

On the watchtower of the water village, Yelü Yan's golden hairpin suddenly jingled rapidly.

Through her telescope, she saw a reflection behind a hill to the northwest—the reflection of sunlight on the maces of the Mongol "Kheshig" army. At least five thousand cavalrymen were hiding in the ravines, waiting for chaos in the water fortress before charging in.

She hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty! There are ambushes in the northwest!" Her voice pierced through the sounds of battle. Suddenly, she threw the Khitan token at her waist into the river. The token drew an arc in the air and landed on the deck of Mei Jinghong's flagship, the "Breaking Waves".

That was the signal they agreed upon: "Land forces need reinforcements, naval forces remain stationary."

Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf dagger was now wrapped around Lan Fengyao's "snake whip".

The whip of the Five Poisons Sect's Holy Maiden was wrapped with a golden ringed snake, its fangs gleaming blue in the sunlight. Suddenly, she changed her move, using the "Tai Chi Sword Sect's" technique of "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds." The tassel of her blade wrapped around the snake's head and pulled it away, causing the golden ringed snake to bite Lan Fenghuang's wrist.

Wanyan Ping then said jokingly, "The Black Wind Sect's secret letter says that your snakes are afraid of sulfur." ​​The blade flashed as it pointed to the pile of firewood behind the village wall, where there were sulfur blocks that Cheng Duoyuan had specially brought over. She then added teasingly, "My husband has already prepared a 'grand gift'."

At this moment, Shi Feiyang used the mysterious lightness skill of "Concealing One's Body and Name" to arrive silently, and immediately used "Nine Palaces Divine Leg" to create an ice wave with a "360-degree spinning kick", which simultaneously shook off Gongsun Kun's "Blood Transformation Palm" and the Vulture Venerable's "Blood Blade".

He caught a glimpse of the command flag Yelü Yan was waving on the watchtower—the signal for the Khitan "wolf cavalry" to charge—and knew she had mobilized the old Khitan troops within the water fortress for defense. Shi Feiyang then said mockingly, "Sun Tzu said, 'If you prepare in the front, you will be weak in the rear; if you prepare in the rear, you will be weak in the front.' You dare to show off your meager skills before an expert?" Just as his palm struck, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from the west side of the water fortress.

Yuchi Fu's "mountain-breaking axe" cleaved through the camouflage on the earthen slope, and five hundred Tang infantrymen rushed out from the secret passage. Their "hooked lances" specifically targeted the legs of the Mongol cavalry, and in conjunction with the "bed crossbows" brought by Yelü Yan, they instantly turned the leading "Kheshig" troops into pincushions. The arrowheads of those crossbow bolts were all coated with "snake venom" supplied by Wanyan Ping, and the warhorses hit by the arrows neighed wildly, even throwing their riders into the nearby mud.

Suddenly, the "Breaking Waves" on the river raised its sails, and Mei Jinghong's iron ruler pointed towards the reeds on the east side of the water fortress. The Mongol warships there were just about to dock when they were struck on the stern by the "paddles" of the New Tang Empire's navy, causing dozens of ships to lose their balance and collide. Yuchi Fu's "diving team" seized the opportunity to surface, drilling holes in the hull with chisels; the sound of river water rushing in mingled with the screams of the Mongol soldiers.

In the open space in the center of the water fortress, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" move from the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms," clashing head-on with Gongsun Kun's "Crimson Claw." The instant the palm winds and claw energy collided, Shi Feiyang used the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill to redirect the opponent's poisonous palm towards the Vulture Venerable—the old monster of the Blood Blade Sect was caught off guard and struck on the shoulder by the poisonous claw. He immediately screamed and fell to the ground, the flesh at the wound festering at a visible speed.

Gongsun Kun angrily cursed, "Despicable!"

Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf blade was already aimed at his face. This princess of a fallen kingdom's "Dragon-Slaying Technique" was surprisingly powerful, cracking the old monster's protective aura.

Yelü Yan followed closely behind with her twin swords. Her silver rings, shaped like a phoenix, locked the opponent's legs. Then, with a side kick, she struck his knees squarely. With two crisp cracking sounds, Gongsun Kun's knees bent backward, and he fell heavily to his knees in front of Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang pressed his palms against Gongsun Kun's crown, and icy energy surged into him through the Baihui acupoint. Just as the old demon's primordial spirit was about to escape, it was frozen into ice beads by the cold light of Shi Feiyang's "Shocking Calamity," and then his body shattered and broke into ice shards scattered all over the ground!
Seeing the situation was dire, Lan Fengyao suddenly transformed her snake whip into a flurry of whip shadows, attempting to break through the encirclement. However, Wanyan Ping was prepared. She threw a torch at the pile of firewood, and the sulfur ignited, producing yellow smoke. The golden-ringed snakes, smelling the fumes, scattered wildly, some even biting their master.

Yelü Yan's "flying kick" landed squarely on her lower back. Lan Fengyao staggered and fell towards the sulfur pile. With a scream, she was engulfed by yellow smoke, turning into a charred human figure. The Mongol cavalry outside the water fortress were now in complete disarray.

Mei Jinghong's naval warships sailed downstream, bombarding the ambushing troops in the ravines with alternating "spears" and "huihui cannons." Qu Kan's Jinyiwei suddenly attacked from behind the Mongol soldiers, their black-blooded needles aimed at the horses' eyes. The frightened warhorses trampled wildly, turning the five thousand "Kheshig troops" into chaos.

As dusk fell, the water fortress was filled with corpses.

Shi Feiyang stood at the gap in the stockade wall, the bloodstains on his black armor being carefully wiped away by Yelü Yan with a silk handkerchief.

Wanyan Ping then directed his soldiers to fill the ditches with the corpses of Mongol soldiers, cover them with stone slabs, and then pour ice water over them. Soon, these corpses would freeze into a solid barrier, becoming a new defensive fortification for the water fortress.

Yelü Yan unfurled the newly drawn defense map, marking the locations of twelve arrow towers in vermilion, and said affectionately, "My husband, I have had a three-zhang-wide moat dug inside the stockade walls. Each arrow tower overlooks the river and the land route, forming a mutually supporting defensive position."

She pointed her finger to the corner of the trench and offered another suggestion: "We can set up a 'horse trap' here, with camouflaged wooden planks on top and iron spikes buried underneath."

Wanyan Ping drew a waterway on the map and reported, "My lord, I have had the underground canal connecting to the Yangtze River dredged." She recalled the Jin Dynasty's "hidden troop caves" and explained, "There are sluice gates inside the canal. If the enemy forces launch a land attack, we will flood them and turn them into drowned rats."

Shi Feiyang grasped the hands of the two beauties, the icy air condensing into the patterns of flowing water on the blueprints. He advised, "Sun Tzu said, 'The best defender hides himself nine times underground.' We must turn this water fortress into an impregnable fortress, making the Mongols retreat in fear." He looked at the arrow towers being reinforced on the fortress walls and the patrolling warships on the river, and smiled with satisfaction, "The wisdom of my two beloved consorts surpasses that of a hundred thousand soldiers."

Yelü Yan's cheeks flushed red as she buried her head in his shoulder, feigning modesty as she said, "It's all thanks to my husband's excellent teaching." The golden hairpin in her hair brushed against his black armor, the ice patterns and gold threads intertwined, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Wanyan Ping then turned to the soldiers who were carrying sulfur and shouted, "Bring some more lime to mix with the sulfur and make 'smoke bombs' to counter the evil sects' poisonous arts." Her voice carried an undeniable authority, already showing the demeanor of a general.

Three days later, when the Mongol reinforcements arrived, they found the water fortress completely transformed. The three-zhang-high ice walls gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the water in the trenches was covered with a thin layer of ice, through which the iron spikes beneath were faintly visible.

The dark arrowheads of the twelve arrow towers were aimed at the land route, while the warships of the new Tang Dynasty navy on the river were arranged in a "Bagua formation". The large "Tang" flags on the masts fluttered in the wind, exuding an awe-inspiring and inviolable aura.

Tuohuan's successor, Yesugei, reined in his warhorse, looked at the impregnable water fortress, and suddenly threw his spiked club to the ground.

He knew that continuing the attack would be futile. When he turned his horse around, none of the five thousand cavalrymen behind him dared to stay. The sound of hooves echoed across the wilderness.

Shi Feiyang stood on the top floor of the arrow tower, watching the departing figures of the Mongol soldiers. The ice patterns on the black armor reflected the smiles of Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping.

The river breeze ruffled their hair, and in the distance, the "Breaking Waves" ship sounded its horn of return, its melody harmonizing with the wind chimes of the arrow tower. The wisdom and affection of these two women, like the waters of the Yangtze River, nourished the foundation of the new Tang Dynasty, making it ever more indestructible amidst the turbulent times.

……

The morning mist in Yangzhou carried the stench of blood.

On the threshold of Fuchun Teahouse, the corpses of three commoners were arranged in a bizarre triangle. The black wind cult tokens were stuck in the bloody holes in their chests, and the skulls on the tokens were facing the direction of the "Tang" character flag.

Shi Feiyang's black armor stepped over the bloodstains on the bluestone slab, the ice patterns gleaming coldly in the morning light. He bent down and pried open the dead man's wide-open eyelids, where the afterimage of the Five Poisons Sect's Golden Ring Serpent still lingered deep in his pupils.

Qu Kan leaned closer to report: "Your Majesty, at the third watch last night, someone also died at the Confucius Temple in Jinling." His Black Blood Divine Needle held a poisoned needle, the blue flame at the tip flickering in the mist. He then explained: "The bald monks of the Blood Blade Sect practiced their swordsmanship on living people, hanging the intestines of a schoolteacher on the tablet of Confucius."

The Taoist robe of this commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was damp with dew, clearly indicating that he had been traveling between the two cities all night. Then, he said angrily, "The Mongol army made a big promise to the evil sect: ten taels of gold for killing a civilian and a hundred taels for killing a Tang soldier."

Suddenly, Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf dagger cleaved open the teahouse window, its blade flashing towards the painted boats on the Slender West Lake. From the mist there came the cries of a woman. Lan Fengzhao of the Five Poisons Sect was throwing a child into a bamboo basket full of poisonous snakes. A note was pasted on the basket: "If Shi Feiyang does not surrender the city for three days, he will kill a hundred people every day."

Shi Feiyang's fingertips clenched so tightly they turned white, and fine frost seeped from the ice patterns—a sign that Mingyu Gong was being provoked by anger.

But he quickly calmed down, traced the locations of the two cities on the water stains on the tea table, and the icy air condensed the blood into ice crystals. He analyzed in a low voice, "Sun Tzu said, 'The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to attack their army.' These scoundrels want to use the massacre of civilians to disrupt the hearts and minds of our people. This is 'winning hearts and minds is the best strategy.'"

He looked up at Yelü Yan, who was wrapping the corpses of the people with gold thread, which shimmered softly in the morning light.

Then, Shi Feiyang asked thoughtfully, "Are there any skilled disguisers among the former Khitan troops?"

Yelü Yan's golden hairpin jingled as she took out a human skin mask from her sleeve. The wrinkles on the mask were incredibly lifelike. She said seriously, "The 'Thousand Faces Sect' masters left behind by my brother are all here; they can disguise themselves as anything." She kicked open the lid of the bamboo basket. The golden-ringed snake inside had just poked its head out when it was frozen into amber by Shi Feiyang's icy aura. She asked, puzzled, "You mean…"

Shi Feiyang calmly said, "Let's turn the tables on them." Bingwen spun in his palm, condensing the street maps of the two cities into phantom images in the air. He then instructed, "Have the brothers of the 'Thousand Faces Sect' disguise themselves as civilians and deliberately wander around the areas where evil sects roam. Leader Mei and his Plum Blossom Gang disciples should disguise themselves as members of the Black Wind Sect, pretending to share the spoils with them, and lure them to the 'Nine-Bend Bridge' at Slender West Lake—a place surrounded by water on three sides with only one way out, making it the perfect place to 'catch the thief behind closed doors'."

Wanyan Ping carved the character "fire" on the tea table with her willow-leaf knife, and said in a clear voice, "I will lead the followers of the Sun Moon Sect to bury 'thunderbolt bombs' under the bridge, and then seal the water surface with sulfur powder." Her fingertips brushed over the amulet on the tassel of her knife, which Shi Feiyang had tied for her last night, and she offered another suggestion: "The snakes and insects of the Five Poisons Sect are afraid of sulfur, and the Black Blood Divine Needle can break the evil skills of the Blood Blade Sect. We can 'prescribe the right medicine' for them."

As dusk fell, the slums of Yangzhou suddenly came alive. Yelü Yan, disguised as a flower girl, her blue cloth skirt stained with mud, concealed two poisoned daggers beneath the magnolia flowers in her bamboo basket. She saw three monks from the Blood Blade Sect walking by, each carrying a young woman, bloodstains still dripping from their robes. One of the monks, nicknamed "Blood Blade," was carrying a swaddled baby, his yellow teeth flashing as he grinned.

"Monk, would you like to buy a flower?" Yelü Yan's voice was timid, but Jin Buyao quietly turned towards the Nine-Bend Bridge—on the painted boat there, Mei Jinghong was dressed as a protector of the Black Wind Sect, with a fake human head wrapped around an iron ruler, bargaining with Lan Fengzhao.

"Not bad, young lady." The leading blood-blade monk chuckled wickedly, suddenly reaching out to touch her face. The moment his hand touched her hair, Yelü Yan's "Mandarin Duck Blade Technique" slashed his wrist. The silver ring of the short sword locked his throat, and another "step-and-sit kick" struck the other monk's dantian.

She deliberately screamed and backed away, leading the last bald monk toward the Nine-Bend Bridge: "Help! A monk is committing violence!"

On a painted boat on the Slender West Lake, Lan Fengzhao's snake whip was wrapped around Mei Jinghong's iron ruler. The Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect, her face painted with scarlet rouge and human skin fragments embedded in her fingernails, said sinisterly, "Black Wind Sect scum, did you kill enough people yesterday?" The hiss of venomous snakes came from her bamboo basket, and she said inhumanly, "The Mongol commander said that whoever kills the most people will become the leader of the Jiangnan headquarters."

Suddenly, Mei Jinghong pointed his iron ruler down from the bridge. The instant Lan Fengzhao turned her head, his "Falling Petals Palm," carrying sulfur powder from the ship's deck, struck her face. The saintess's scream had barely escaped her lips when Qu Kan shot a black blood needle from the water, pinning her to the mast. The barb at the needle's end churned in her throat, and blood mixed with sulfur powder flowed into a yellow-red stream.

When the Blood Saber Monks reached the Nine-Bend Bridge, they discovered that the wooden planks had been replaced with thin ice. Just as the bald monk leading the group was about to swing his blade at Yelü Yan, his foot suddenly slipped, and the "Blood Saber" flew from his hand, embedding itself in his companion's chest. It was Shi Feiyang who had arrived using his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill, and then, in mid-air, used the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill to deflect the bald monk's Blood Saber.

At this moment, the ice patterns on Shi Feiyang's Xuanjia armor refracted the sunlight into seven colors. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he swung his palm and unleashed the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique" - "Slaying the Mortal World". The fierce blade energy swept across the ice surface, severing the legs of three monks in one fell swoop. Blood spurted three feet high, staining half of the bridge red.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang unleashed "Shocking Calamity!" His icy gaze swept over the last monk. The bald monk's primordial spirit had just emerged from the top of his head when it was frozen into transparent ice beads. His corpse twitched on the ice for a moment before suddenly shattering into ice shards scattered all over the ground, each fragment containing flesh and blood.

……

On the banks of the Qinhuai River in Jinling City, Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf dagger was wielding the "Yin Wind Whip" of the Black Wind Cult's protector. The protector, with a string of commoners' ears dangling from the whip's tip, grinned maliciously as he blew poisonous smoke into the tavern: "Shi Feiyang's women are nothing special!" Wanyan Ping suddenly spun to avoid the whip's shadow, her dagger tassel wrapping around the protector's ankle and pulling him towards the pleasure boat. Caught off guard and dragged to the water's edge, the protector discovered that the large "Tang" banner on the boat's deck was a disguise—it was actually a trap cleaved by Cheng Duoyuan's "Mountain-Breaking Axe," a valiant general of the new Tang Dynasty.

The axe blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight, waiting for him to walk right into its trap.

At that moment, Cheng Duoyuan swung his double axes down simultaneously, smashing the guardian to pieces.

The battle between the two cities continued until midnight. Shi Feiyang, enraged, unleashed "Sword Twenty-Three," his sword aura enveloping the top of Yangzhou's bell tower. In the frozen space, the scimitars of over a hundred Black Wind Cult members hung suspended in mid-air, their souls watching their necks being sliced ​​open by the sword energy, unable to utter a sound. As the sword aura dissipated, the bronze bell of the bell tower suddenly roared, shaking the remnants of the evil sect throughout the city, causing them to flee towards the city walls—where Yuchi Fu's "Hook and Sickle Formation" awaited them.

At midnight, the kerosene cans in Jinling City exploded simultaneously. Luo Zhan's spear, carrying the head of the deputy leader of the "Blood Blade Sect," was displayed in the square of the Confucius Temple, his own intestines still stuffed into the head's mouth.

The common people emerged from their hiding places, carrying torches, and watched as the Tang army piled the corpses of the evil faction into three small mountains. Mei Jinghong ignited the oil with her iron ruler, and flames shot into the sky, illuminating the gold thread on the "Tang" banner—the four characters "National Prosperity and Peace" that Yelü Yan had embroidered overnight.

Shi Feiyang stood on the city wall of Yangzhou, looking at the poisonous corpses floating on the Slender West Lake. Yelü Yan carefully wiped the bloodstains on his black armor with a silk handkerchief.

Wanyan Ping handed him a bowl of hot tea, the tea reflecting their images. She said softly, "When Zhongdu fell, I also saw such bloodshed and fire." Her fingertips traced the icy patterns on his palm, and she choked back tears, saying, "But back then, no one protected the people. Now..."

Shi Feiyang said domineeringly, "Now we are here." He grasped her hand, and the icy air condensed the tea into an ice cup, the tea leaves inside freezing into the shape of jade.

He said meaningfully, “The Mongols thought that slaughter would subdue us, but they didn’t realize that it would only unite the people.” He looked toward Nanjing, where the fires were gradually dying down, and explained, “This is called ‘turning the tables,’ using their brutality to temper the hearts of our people.”

Yelü Yan's gold thread suddenly wrapped around the flagpole of the city tower, tightening the "Tang" character flag even more.

A morning breeze blew, and the gold threads on the flag shimmered, like countless eyes of the people watching. She kicked away a loose brick, revealing the character "stone" secretly carved by the people, with dried bloodstains embedded in the strokes.

Yelü Yan's voice was tinged with laughter as her golden hairpin danced in the morning light. She excitedly said, "Your Majesty, Master Qu said that the Mongol messenger has been intercepted. The letter said they would send ten more groups of evil sect experts, but little did they know that our 'Thousand Faces Sect' has already disguised themselves as their people and drawn up the Mongol camp's defense map." Shi Feiyang nodded and reached out to embrace Yelü Yan.

The people of Yangzhou began to clean the streets. Some washed away the bloodstains with water, while others used lime to cover up the smell. The voices of storytellers gradually drifted from the teahouses, telling the story of Shi Feiyang slaying the evil man on the Nine-Bend Bridge.

On a painted boat on the Qinhuai River, Mei Jinghong and Qu Kan drank together. Looking at the rebuilt Confucius Temple on the bank, Mei Jinghong tapped the boat plank with his iron ruler and said excitedly, "My son-in-law's 'using a counter-strategy' is even more brilliant than Sun Quan's burning of the Red Cliffs."

Looking at the large banner with the character "Tang" in the distance, he sighed and said, "No matter how bold the evil faction is, they dare not go against the will of the people."

Qu Kan stirred the Black Blood Needle in the wine bowl, the venom at the needle tip staining the wine black. He said coldly, "I have already put 'Soul-Chasing Powder' in the boots of the Mongol messenger." He sneered, poured the poisoned wine into the river, and said confidently, "In less than three days, their camp will become a plague den. This is called 'profiting from chaos'."

Shi Feiyang stood beside the boundary marker between the two cities, the ice patterns on his armor reflecting the smiles of Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan. The character "Tang" on the boundary marker had been repainted with gold powder by the people, shining dazzlingly in the sunlight. As dusk fell, the Fuchun Teahouse in Yangzhou reopened. The waiter served steaming crab roe soup dumplings, and the laughter of the diners drowned out the bloodshed of the previous night.

As Shi Feiyang watched Wanyan Ping use a willow-leaf knife to open the pleats of Yelü Yan's soup dumpling, and watched the children playing outside the window picking up the fallen magnolia flowers, he suddenly felt that the most powerful martial art in the world was not the "Hundred Victory Knife Technique," nor the most ingenious strategy was the "Thirty-Six Stratagems," but rather the smoke rising again from the chimneys of the people amidst bloodshed and fire, and that wisp of everlasting hope.

……

The plague in the Mongol camp had spread to its third day. Toghon's "Kheshig" army dug dozens of large pits outside the tents, and rotting corpses were thrown in like bundles of firewood. Black blood seeped into the yellow soil, turning the grassland purplish-black.

Shi Feiyang's black armor was hidden behind the sand dunes outside the camp. The ice patterns reflected the tragic scene inside the tent—the Tibetan national teacher had just killed a crazed soldier with his "Great Seal of Esoteric Buddhism." The corpse energy brought by the palm wind made him cough violently. The bloodstains on his kasaya were mixed with pus, and the original scarlet color was no longer visible.

At this moment, Qu Kan flew over and landed gracefully, reporting in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Prince Duan of Dali has arrived at Taihu Lake with a master of 'One-Finger Divine Skill'." His Black Blood Divine Needle was carrying a dead rat, and the barb at the end of the needle was wrapped around a piece of flesh from a Mongol soldier.

After a pause, he continued, "Duan Zhixing said that as long as we hold Tongguan, Dali is willing to send troops to contain the Yunnan reinforcements from Mongolia." The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly chuckled and said, "The old monk also secretly slipped me a bottle of rubbings of the 'Six Meridians Divine Sword' manual, saying it was a token of his sincerity in forming an alliance."

Wanyan Ping drew a map of the northwest on the sand with her willow-leaf knife, the blade flashing to circle the Hexi Corridor in red. She whispered, "Your Majesty, the Tibetan Grand Lama has also sent an envoy." Her fingertip pointed to the sand drawing of "Xingqing Prefecture," which had once been the capital of Western Xia.

Wanyan Ping then said seriously, "They want to return to the temple in Hexi and also want Brother Shi to acknowledge the Tibetan fiefdom in Qinghai. I have checked the old records of the Jin Dynasty. When the Western Xia Dynasty was destroyed, the Tibetans helped the Mongols attack Zhongdu. This group of people is fickle and we must be wary of them."

Yelü Yan's golden hairpin suddenly pointed towards the granary of the Mongol camp.

The garrison there was using spears to carry condemned prisoners and throwing them into bonfires, trying to cover up the truth of the famine with the stench of corpses.

She took out Yelü Qi's secret letter from her sleeve; the handwriting was hasty and messy. She reported, "Your Majesty, Uncle Guo of Xiangyang has sent the Seven Masters of Quanzhen to guard Zhongnan Mountain, so we can attack Suzhou with peace of mind."

She kicked a pebble, which hit a distant watchtower, and then explained the situation: "The Mongols have diverted all the grain and fodder from Suzhou to fight the plague, and now there are only old, weak and disabled soldiers left in the city."

Shi Feiyang's palm strike carved the four seal characters "distant alliances and close attacks" into the sand, and the icy air froze the sand grains into ice crystals.

He analyzed, "Sun Tzu said, 'When you reach a strategic location, you should make alliances.' Dali wants Tongguan, and Tibet wants Hexi. Let's just offer them this opportunity."

He looked up toward Suzhou, where wisps of smoke rose faintly in the twilight, and said in a deep voice, “Once we take Suzhou, we will use the strategy of ‘besieging Wei to rescue Zhao’ to directly attack Zhongdu, the capital of the Mongols. At that time, they will have no choice but to agree.”

It had been hundreds of years since Shi Feiyang had returned to Suzhou. He truly missed Suzhou, missed the Misty Peak of Taihu Lake, missed his beloved wives Yi Li, Qi Meizhen, Bai Zhi, Gong Simeng, Lan Xiaodie, Shi Ying, Lin Wanqing, Yang Xueer, Xue Li, Guo Xiangyu, Lu Hongye, Liu Tingting, Zhou Weiwei… and his brothers: Liao Pei, the “Tongbei Fist”; Lie Quan, the “Qiankun Blade”; Wu Zhong, the “Iron Palm”; Xiang Kun, the “Iron Flute Scholar”; Jin Liufu, the “Water Dragon”; Gongsun Ren, the “Centipede”; Yang Feng, the “Blue-Faced Beast”; Lu Dechu, the “Round Bucket”; Jiang Huotian, the “Bamboo Pole”; Xiao Lingling, the “Mandarin Duck Blade”; Xie Wen, the “Flying Eagle Detective”; Miao Menlong, the “Divine Archer”; Shan Zhi, the “Plum Blossom Dart”; and his page Shi Xiong…

Three days later on the surface of Taihu Lake, Tang warships and Dali's "dragon boats" formed an "eight trigrams formation." Duan Zhixing used his "One-Finger Divine Skill" to touch the sails of the Mongol navy. The wind from his finger penetrated the sails, leaving a small, charred hole in the mast.

Although the monk's robe of this former emperor of Dali has been washed until it is white, the sword energy of the "Six Meridians Divine Sword" still makes the water surface ripple, which is reflected in the icy air of Shi Feiyang and weaves a seven-colored water curtain under the sunlight.

Duan Zhixing flicked away the incoming rocket with his fingertips and praised, "Master Shi's 'Hundred Victories Saber Technique' is indeed well-deserved of its reputation. Back in Xiangyang, Master Guo also often used the strategy of 'using water as soldiers'." His gaze swept over Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf saber and Yelü Yan's twin swords, and he suddenly laughed, "The skills of these two ladies are no less than those of the heroine Huang Rong back then."

Suddenly, a deafening battle cry rang out from the west gate of Suzhou. Just as the Tibetan national teacher's "Great Handprint" shattered the iron lock on the city gate, a group of masked martial arts figures rushed out from behind the gate—the descendants of the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan."

Although their "Yue Maiden Sword Technique" was inferior to that of their ancestors, it still managed to hack the legs of the Tibetan soldiers' horses to pieces. The young man at the head of the group held up Han Xiaoying's iron oar, blood still dripping from it, and said devoutly, "General Shi said that protecting our homes and country is everyone's responsibility!"

Shi Feiyang unleashed his unparalleled "Leave No Trace for a Thousand Miles" lightness skill, leaping across the crenellations of the city wall. The ice patterns on his black armor deflected the Tibetan National Preceptor's "Great Handprint" three feet away. He discerned the "evil Tantric technique" within the old lama's palm strike, and thus unleashed the "Mountain Splitting" technique of the "Hundred Victories Swordplay." The fierce palm strike grazed past his opponent's throat, the icy aura spreading along the folds of his monk's robe, freezing his cassock into an ice shell. Suddenly, the Tibetan National Preceptor's skull rosary flew out, aiming straight for Shi Feiyang's back, angrily shouting, "This humble monk has opened the city gates as agreed! Why must you pursue us to the death?"

Shi Feiyang said coldly, "You should have thought of this day when you were practicing 'blood sacrifice' in the Mongol camp." He instantly used the "Flower Transference and Jade Grafting" divine skill to direct the prayer beads towards his own crown, and cursed, "You old bald thief, using the blood of three thousand Han people to practice 'soul astral projection,' do you even deserve this Hexi region?"

His words were chilling, and his "Shocking Calamity" divine skill was unleashed in response. His icy gaze swept across the old lama's pupils, instantly shattering the man's primordial spirit. His head exploded into ice shards on the city bricks, and black blood splattered onto the masks of the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan," hissing white smoke rising from them.

Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf blade was currently engaged in combat with Li Li, the vice sect leader of the Blood Blade Sect. The bald monk had already mastered the ninth level of the "Blood Blade Scripture," and wherever his blade flashed, the corpses of ordinary people would automatically fly towards the blade, adding a bloody touch to his sword aura.

Wanyan Ping recalled the "borrowing force to strike" technique of the Tai Chi Sword Sect taught by Shi Feiyang. Suddenly, she spun around to avoid the blade shadow. The tassel of the blade wrapped around the opponent's ankle and pulled him down from the city wall. There, a master of "One Finger Divine Skill" from Dali was already waiting. The wind from his finger penetrated his dantian and nailed this evil demon to the copper nails of the city gate.

Yelü Yan used the "Mandarin Duck Sword Technique" to fight the commander of the Mongol "Kheshig Army".

The commander's "Mountain-Breaking Axe" carried the true energy of the Tibetan "Great Seal of Esoteric Buddhism," and the powerful wind from the axe blade made the bricks and tiles of the city tower tremble.

Yelü Yan deliberately created an opening, crossed his twin swords to lock the axe handle, and suddenly delivered a "step-and-slide kick" that struck the back of his knee. As the opponent fell to his knees, he delivered another "flying kick" that shattered his helmet. The brains stuck to the soles of his boots splattered onto the "Tang" banner, which was like adding flowers to brocade.

The naval battle on Taihu Lake is raging. Mei Jinghong's "Breaking Waves" capsizes the Mongolian "Centipede Boat," and her iron ruler, carrying the head of the Black Wind Cult's protector, forms a "Double Dragons Emerging from the Sea" formation with the dragon boats of Dali.

Duan Zhixing's "Six Meridian Divine Sword" transformed into six beams of red light, severing all the masts of the Mongol navy. As soon as the Mongol soldiers who had fallen into the water surfaced, Yelü Qi pierced their throats with his iron pen. Shi Feiyang arrived using his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill, activating his Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness: Ice Soul Cold Prison" level. With a flick of his wrists, he created an ice bridge, which the Tang army used to charge onto the Mongol flagship.

Shi Feiyang then used the mysterious lightness skill of "Concealing One's Body and Name" to arrive at the crossroads of Suzhou City like a ghost. He swung his palms like swords and used the "Sword Twenty-Three" divine skill, instantly freezing the Mongol soldiers and the evil figures from Jiangnan in a still space. In an instant, countless Mongol soldiers' spiked clubs were suspended in mid-air, and the remnants of the Blood Saber Sect were raising their swords to strike the crying children, but the swords were raised in mid-air and could not be brought down.

Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Severing the Edge of Heaven" technique from the Hundred Victories Swordplay with both palms, the fierce sword energy slicing across their necks. As the sword energy field dissipated, thousands of heads fell to the ground simultaneously, blood spurting in the setting sun like blooming red plum blossoms.

Duan Zhixing's "One-Finger Divine Skill" touched the plaque of the Suzhou government office, erasing the words "Mongolian Ten Thousand Households Office" and revealing the three seal characters "Suzhou Prefecture" below. The Dali emperor looked at the Tang army and people filling the city and smiled at Shi Feiyang, saying, "Master Guo said that Master Shi has the style of Emperor Taizong of Tang."

He flicked away the incoming arrow with his fingertips, and said kindly, "Once we recapture Zhongdu, I will pass on the true essence of the 'Six Meridians Divine Sword' to you."

Shi Feiyang's black armor was stained with blood, but Yelü Yan covered most of it with peach blossoms embroidered with gold thread.

Looking at the allied warships on the surface of Taihu Lake, he smiled at Wanyan Ping and said, "Does the map of the Jin Kingdom's secret passage remember the location of the granary in Zhongdu?" This incomparably handsome "millennial demon" had already concealed his plans for the next great battle in the blink of an eye.

Wanyan Ping's cheeks suddenly flushed red. She reached out and pinched Shi Feiyang's ear, saying tenderly, "In the cellar of Zhongdu, there is still the 'Thunderclap Bomb' left by my grandfather. They said that after waiting for twenty years, they have finally looked forward to the day when they can fight their way back to Zhongdu."

After saying that, he turned around to count the spoils of war.

Yelü Yan's golden thread suddenly wrapped around Shi Feiyang's wrist, tying the "Khitan Army Token" to the inside of his black armor, and she said firmly, "I'll go to Zhongdu with you." She lifted her leg and lightly touched the ground, the splashing water being frozen into ice crystals by the icy air.

As dusk fell, the large banner bearing the character "Tang" in Suzhou unfurled in the setting sun. People emerged from their cellars, watching Shi Feiyang and Duan Zhixing stand side by side on the city wall. Some wept, some laughed, and many more laid out streams of water along the streets to wash away the dust of battle from the Allied soldiers.

On the surface of Taihu Lake, Tang warships and Dali dragon boats were raising their cups in celebration. Yelü Qi used his iron pen to carve the four characters "Allied Army Might" on the ship's deck, the strokes of which carried the flavor of the Khitan, Han, and Dali ethnic groups.

Shi Feiyang's icy patterns spun in his palm as he memorized the Mongol army's deployment map.

He knew that this was just the beginning, and the road to recovering lost territories was still long. But as long as he had these people fighting alongside him, and as long as there was justice and popular support, there was no city that could not be conquered, and no bloody battle that could not be won.

……

The morning mist over Taihu Lake, like a piece of white silk, completely enveloped Piaomiao Peak. Shi Feiyang's "A Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" treads across the floating duckweed on the water, and the ice patterns on Xuanjia gleam faintly in the mist, like a piece of cold jade blending into the scenery of the lake and mountains.

His tall figure was reflected in the water ripples left by the oars, but gradually blurred in the mist, much like those fleeting memories of the past.

Climbing the stone steps of Misty Peak, he arrived at the dense forest where the Xiong Ying Society's secret headquarters once stood. The moss sank softly under his feet, damp with the scent of rain. He remembered that "Iron Palm" Wu Zhong had practiced his "Subduing Demon Palm" here, his fists slamming into this boulder, the sound of the pines all over the mountain cheering for him.

But the boulder remained, only the coldness of his hand pressing against it remained. The icy air seeped into the cracks, reflecting not the image of "Iron Palm" Wu Zhong drenched in sweat, nor his wife, "Mandarin Duck Blades" Xiao Lingling, tenderly wiping his brow, but rather a hazy mist. (End of Chapter)