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

"You lot? What are you!" Shi Feiyang sneered, gripping his jade flute. Suddenly, he pointed it at the leader's throat, the icy air from his fingertips instantly freezing his vocal cords. With a light tap of his toes, his figure floated up like a willow catkin, dodging the curved blades of the other two. The jade flute drew an arc in the air and struck their Baihui acupoints with a "snap," causing the two to fall to the ground, bleeding from their seven orifices and dying instantly.

The surrounding people gasped and scattered, but he continued to walk slowly forward, as if he had just brushed the dust off his clothes.

As he turned the corner, a green figure suddenly fell from the eaves, a long sword pointed directly at his face.

"Your skill is truly remarkable," the woman's voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale's song. Her Emei dagger gleamed blue in the sunlight. She then reminded him, "But having killed the Yuan spies, I'm afraid you won't be able to leave Lin'an City."

Shi Feiyang gently flicked his jade flute, deflecting her sword strike, and only then could he see the woman's face clearly—her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her skin like solidified cream, and although dressed as a man, her stunning beauty was undeniable. She was none other than Fang Wenyu, a disciple of the Emei Sect. He twirled his jade flute in his palm, his gaze landing on the Emei Sect token at her waist, and said mockingly, "So, young lady, you've also come to take my life?"

Fang Wenyu's Emei dagger suddenly turned, piercing the throat of the Mongol soldier who had attacked from behind. She said domineeringly, "I'm here to save you." Her swordplay suddenly accelerated as she used the "Parting Flowers and Willows" move of the "Returning Wind and Willows Sword" to strike the surrounding spies. She urged them, "The Yuan's 'Shence Camp' has laid a net of heaven and earth. If we don't leave now, it will be too late."

What a kind person! Excellent!
Shi Feiyang wielded the jade flute and began to dance swiftly, the flute's body striking the acupoints of the spies. The icy energy intertwined with Fang Wenyu's sword energy, weaving an invisible net in the alley. He deliberately feigned an opening, letting two spies rush towards him, but the instant they were close, he spun the jade flute, drawing them toward Fang Wenyu's sword. He tentatively said, "Young lady, your swordsmanship is exquisite, somewhat reminiscent of the chivalrous heroine Guo Xiang."

Fang Wenyu's Emei dagger pierced the heart of the last spy. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he said frankly and humbly, "You flatter me."

As the two rushed out of Lin'an City side by side, the pursuers behind them surged like a tide.

Fang Wenyu unleashed her "Snowflake Piercing Cloud Palm" and struck the wine jar by the roadside. The wine, propelled by her palm strike, transformed into ice arrows, felling a group of pursuers.

Shi Feiyang held the jade flute, creating sound waves in the forest. He then used the "Sword Soul Sacrifice" technique from the Nine Heavens Sword Manual to stir up falling leaves, blocking the pursuers' view. He then asked, "Where are you going, young lady?"

Fang Wenyu pointed his Emei dagger southwest and said frankly, "My master is still waiting for my reply at Mount Emei."

As they traveled westward, the two gradually developed a tacit understanding amidst their battles.

The dilapidated temple west of Hengyang City had long been burned down by the Yuan soldiers, leaving only half a wall. Moonlight leaked through the gaps in the rubble, weaving a mottled net on the ground.

Shi Feiyang's dog-beating stick leaned against a broken pillar, its emerald green sheen reflecting the lingering bloodstains on his black armor—splattered from the daytime slaughter of thirty Yuan centurions. During the battle with the Mongol general, his jade flute had broken, forcing him to switch back to the green bamboo stick, but this also revealed his true identity to Fang Wenyu—the man wielding the green bamboo stick was none other than the Beggar Clan leader! The current Beggar Clan leader was none other than Shi Feiyang!

At that moment, Fang Wenyu sat down next to him, the dust on her blue robe fluttering down in the night wind. Looking at his sharply defined profile, she suddenly whispered, "Brother Shi, you're known in the martial arts world as 'Bold Shi,' daring to provoke even the Yuan dynasty's national advisor. Aren't you really afraid of death?"

Shi Feiyang's fingertips lightly stroked the copper rings on the Dog-Beating Stick, smoothing them like jade. He said meaningfully, "Back then, the great hero Guo Jing defended Xiangyang. He knew he would die if the city fell, yet he still defended it for more than thirty years."

His gaze pierced through the holes in the dilapidated temple, reaching towards the night sky where the stars resembled torches atop the city walls of Xiangyang. He then admonished, "What use is it for us martial artists to hone our skills merely to survive? If we do not rise up in resistance, we are nothing more than ants under the iron hooves of the Yuan invaders!"

Fang Wenyu's cheeks suddenly flushed red. When he lowered his head, strands of hair fell from his temples and brushed against the back of his hand, tickling him like willow catkins in early spring.

She hurriedly gathered her hair, but accidentally knocked over an empty wine jar beside her. The sound of the shattering pottery shards was particularly clear in the quiet night.

Just then, a strange "heh heh" laugh suddenly came from outside the dilapidated temple. Three dark figures floated down onto the crumbling wall like ghosts. The moonlight illuminated the bronze masks on their faces, revealing them to be the "Three Yin Messengers" of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

"Shi Feiyang is indeed here," the left-hand envoy said sinisterly.

His mask was carved with a skull, and his hands were bound with an iron chain around a female corpse whose skin was bluish-purple and whose nails were painted with scarlet nail polish. Then he said in a sinister tone, "The leader has ordered that if I take your head, I will reward you with a thousand taels of gold and a high-ranking official position."

The mask of the envoy on the right was painted with venomous snakes. He suddenly lifted the robe of the corpse, revealing a dense array of poisonous needles underneath, and said threateningly, "Would Master Shi like to taste the flavor of 'Seven Steps to Death'?"

Fang Wenyu already held the Emei dagger in her palm, her fingertips holding three "Ice Soul Silver Needles"—which she had stolen from the Emei Sutra Pavilion.

She quietly moved closer to Shi Feiyang and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "The envoy on the left practices 'Corpse Dissolving Hand,' the poison needle on the right is coated with 'Heart-Corroding Powder,' and the one in the middle who hasn't spoken has the deepest aura."

Shi Feiyang nodded, then suddenly slammed his dog-beating stick on the ground. He then used the "Luring Technique: Luring the Dog into the Village" to sweep the stick with a gust of wind to the left, deliberately exposing an opening under his ribs. The envoy on the left fell for the trap. The iron chain emerged like a serpent, and the female corpse's fingernails, carrying a foul stench, clawed at his heart.

"Be careful!" Fang Wenyu said with concern, gripping the Emei dagger and thrusting it out like lightning, but not at the enemy, but at the woman's throat.

She had calculated that the corpse's joints were stiff and difficult to move, and sure enough, she forced the iron chains to slow down slightly.

In that instant, Shi Feiyang's dog-beating stick transformed into a green light, unleashing the "Entangling Technique: Pulling the Dog's Tail to Death," entangling the middle of the iron chain. With a sudden yank of the stick's tip, the left-hand envoy was caught off guard and his throat gurgled as his own iron chain tightened around him.

"You reckless fool!" the right-hand envoy cursed, his poison needles suddenly shooting out like a storm, the red silk at the ends weaving a web of death in the moonlight. Shi Feiyang pulled Fang Wenyu into his arms, the ice patterns on his black armor suddenly lighting up as he unleashed the "Sealing Technique: Mother Dog Protects Her Cubs," his staff forming a circular shield in front of him. With a clanging sound of copper rings, all the poison needles were deflected, falling to the ground with a hissing sound, even etching small pits into the blue bricks.

Shi Feiyang released Fang Wenyu and said with concern, "Wenyu, to the left rear!" The dog-beating stick suddenly sank down, using the "tripping technique - dog-heading", and the green bamboo stick hit the middle messenger's ankle.

The messenger intended to launch a sneak attack, but the tip of the staff caught him, causing him to lose his balance and stumble towards Fang Wenyu.

Fang Wenyu unleashed the "Snowflake Piercing Cloud Palm," striking out with a palm wind carrying a chill that struck the man's chest, actually dispelling the man's protective inner strength—it turned out that this envoy, though seemingly silent, was actually the weakest of the three.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the left-hand messenger broke free of the chains, and the female corpse's head suddenly detached from the neck bone, turning into a black shadow that shot towards Fang Wenyu's face.

Shi Feiyang gripped the dog-beating stick and unleashed the "Chopping Technique: Strike the Dog's Head"—his attack, though delayed, landed heavily on the corpse's head.

The head exploded instantly, splattering black blood all over him.

He paid no attention, and with a backhand "reverse dog body strike", the tip of his staff accurately hit the messenger's "Qi Hai acupoint". Amidst the scream, the messenger's body withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning into charred bones.

Seeing the situation was dire, the right-hand envoy suddenly changed direction, shooting all the poisoned needles at the beams and pillars of the dilapidated temple. With a loud crash, the already crumbling roof collapsed, dust billowing up, and his figure swiftly darted several feet away.

Shi Feiyang followed closely behind with his dog-beating stick, using the "quick strike on the dog's buttocks" technique, the tip of the stick sweeping towards the enemy's back with a powerful gust of wind. With a "plop," the enemy's blood mist condensed into blood beads under the moonlight, crashing heavily into the chaotic graveyard three zhang away, twitching twice before falling silent again.

After the dust settled, Fang Wenyu noticed that Shi Feiyang's left arm had been struck by a falling beam, his armor cracked, and the blood seeping out gleamed dark red in the moonlight. She hurriedly tore off a piece of her skirt to bandage him, and as her fingertips touched his burning skin, she suddenly remembered the teachings in the notes of Guo Xiang, the founder of the Emei Sect: "A true hero is not one who is fearless of life and death, but one who, knowing that death is inevitable, still protects those behind him."

"Brother Shi, you're injured." Her voice was choked with sobs, and her bandaged hands trembled slightly.

Shi Feiyang drew an arc on the ground with his dog-beating stick, protecting her within the circle, and said indifferently, "It's just a minor flesh wound, nothing to worry about."

He looked at the flickering phosphorescent lights in the mass grave and analyzed, "These henchmen of the Heavenly Demon Sect must be acting under the orders of the Lingxiao Palace—we killed their people, and the Palace Master of Lingxiao Palace will never let it go."

Fang Wenyu twirled the Emei Dagger in her palm, the moonlight illuminating her beautiful face, but her eyes burned with a stubborn light as she said firmly, "Even if the Palace Master of Lingxiao Palace comes in person, Wenyu is willing to face it together with Brother Shi."

She took out a paper package from her bosom, inside which were several dry, hard wheat cakes, and said softly, "Eat something first, we still have to continue our journey tomorrow."

When Shi Feiyang took the wheat cake, his fingertips accidentally touched her hand. They both pulled back at the same time, and a flush rose on their faces.

The wind outside the dilapidated temple swept across the piles of graves, carrying the distant sound of Yuan soldiers' hooves, but it could not dispel the emotions quietly growing among the ruins.

……

The morning mist of Zhurong Peak was filled with the smell of sulfur. The bluestone slabs on the mountain path were pitted and uneven by the Yuan soldiers. Every ten steps there was a corpse hanging from a tree—all of them were people who resisted the rule of the Yuan people, and each of them had the Ice Soul Flag of Lingxiao Palace stuck in their chest.

Fang Wenyu's face was pale, but he still gripped the Emei Dagger tightly and said sadly, "These people... were all frozen to death by the Lingxiao Palace's 'Mysterious Ice Palm'."

Pointing to the frozen terror on the corpse's face, she said sympathetically, "He must have suffered terribly before he died."

Shi Feiyang slammed his dog-beating stick down heavily on the ground, the copper ring at the end ringing angrily. He introduced, "Lingxiao Palace Master Murong Xue has become sworn brothers with the Yuan commander Boyan. Every month, she offers up more than a hundred Han people to practice her 'Frost Great Technique.' Today, we are here to act on behalf of Heaven."

He pulled Fang Wenyu behind him and said warily, "Something's wrong with that bamboo grove ahead. There's ice on the bamboo leaves, but no morning dew."

Before the words were finished, a crisp "crack" suddenly came from the bamboo forest, and hundreds of icicles shot out like arrows, their tips coated with dark green venom.

Shi Feiyang gripped the dog-beating stick and used the "Turning Word Technique: Puppy Playing with a Ball" to create a circular wheel in front of him, deflecting all the icicles. Twenty white-robed disciples emerged from the depths of the bamboo forest, their long swords emitting white steam. They were none other than the "Hanjiang Guards" of Lingxiao Palace.

The leader, a man in white with a frosty expression and an ice-jade sword hanging at his waist, was none other than Murong Shuang, the young master of Lingxiao Palace. He said coldly, "Shi Feiyang, you killed my Heavenly Demon Sect's ally! Today, I will tear you to pieces!"

He had already mastered the seventh level of "Mysterious Ice Sword Qi". Before the sword was even drawn, the temperature around him dropped several degrees, and a thin layer of ice even formed on the stone slab.

Fang Wenyu suddenly unleashed her "Golden Top Cotton Palm," the warm wind of her palm striking the icy air, and questioned, "Young Master Murong, you aid and abet evil, harming the people, and you dare to speak of chivalry?" Her figure moved like willow catkins, unleashing the "Returning Wind Sweeping Willow Sword," the sword intent infused into her palm technique, leaving a trail of shallow footprints on the icy ground. Murong Shuang's Ice Jade Sword suddenly drew its sheath, and in the instant a flash of blue light appeared, the bamboo forest within ten feet froze completely.

He said menacingly, "You little brat, how dare you speak so much? I'll freeze your collarbones first!" He then unleashed the sword technique "Frozen Thousand Miles," which carried a bone-chilling cold as it aimed straight for Fang Wenyu's heart. Wherever the sword energy passed, the air itself condensed into ice crystals.

Shi Feiyang, arriving late but arriving early, unleashed the Dog-Beating Stick Technique. With the move "Evil Dog Blocks the Road," the Dog-Beating Stick moved like an angry dragon emerging from the sea, its shadow precisely striking the spine of the sword with the "Pick" technique, instantly deflecting the Ice Jade Sword three inches away.

He took the opportunity to push Fang Wenyu aside, while he himself went to meet the sword energy. The "Mingyu Skill" condensed into a bright white shield on his body. At the moment of collision with the sword energy, the ice patterns on his black armor actually turned red.

Twenty "Hanjiang Guards" simultaneously brandished their swords, their sword energy weaving an ice net in the air, trapping Shi Feiyang in the center.

Shi Feiyang's dog-beating stick suddenly plunged into the icy ground, unleashing the "Guiding Technique." The powerful energy spread along the ground, causing the bamboo roots frozen in the soil to break through and entangle the "Cold River Guard's" ankles.

His staff tip flashed out in a "slanted strike on the dog's back," simultaneously forcing back three disciples and creating an opening for Fang Wenyu. Fang Wenyu, gripping the Emei dagger, unleashed a move called "parting flowers and brushing willows," specifically targeting the wrist meridians of the "Cold River Guard."

Her figure was as nimble as a butterfly, always able to dodge sword energy at the last second. Whenever a disciple attacked Shi Feiyang's retreat, her hidden weapons would follow like a shadow—those silver needles coated with anesthetic were all made by her overnight in the dilapidated temple.

Murong Shuang's "Mysterious Ice Sword Qi" became increasingly fierce, and a thin layer of ice had condensed on Shi Feiyang's black armor, with white mist swirling around his breath.

He noticed that Fang Wenyu's shoulder had been swept by sword energy, leaving a layer of ice shards on his green robe. His heart tightened, and his Dog-Beating Staff Technique suddenly changed to "Striking Two Hounds Horizontally!" The staff's shadow swept like a whirlwind, forcing Murong Shuang to retreat repeatedly. At the same time, he used the "Pushing Dogs to the Sky" tripping technique to trip two "Cold River Guards" in front of Fang Wenyu. He urgently said, "Wenyu, use your 'Snowflake Piercing Cloud Palm'!" His voice contained internal force, causing the surrounding ice shards to fall.

Fang Wenyu immediately understood and unleashed both palms simultaneously. The palm wind carried the warmth of Mount Emei, which melted the ice on the bodies of the "Hanjiang Guards". The frozen meridians suddenly regained their vitality, causing them to scream in pain.

Enraged by this, Murong Shuang transformed her Ice Jade Sword into a streak of azure light, aiming straight for Fang Wenyu's back, and cursed, "You shameless wretch, you're courting death!"

Shi Feiyang's "Mad Dog Bites Monkey" chopping technique, delivered with a powerful strike, struck the sword blade with the tip of the stick, instantly breaking the Ice Jade Sword in two.

He then used a move called "reverse thrust to the dog's buttocks," with the tip of his stick precisely striking Murong Shuang's "Huantiao acupoint."

The young master screamed and fell to his knees, his legs instantly frozen by the chilling energy of the "Mingyu Skill".

Upon seeing their young master captured, the remaining "Hanjiang Guards" immediately scattered.

Shi Feiyang's "beating the dog when it falls into the water" move with his dog-beating stick knocked down the last three people, but he did not rush to kill them. Instead, he said sternly, "Go back and tell Murong Xue that if she continues to aid and abet evil, next time it will not be as simple as breaking a leg!"

When Fang Wenyu approached, clutching his shoulder, his face was as pale as paper. The ice shards there were slowly melting, revealing the bluish-purple wounds underneath.

Shi Feiyang's "Mingyu Gong" internal energy flowed into her body through his palm. Wherever the cold energy passed, her frozen meridians gradually relaxed. He sighed and said, "Everyone says that Lingxiao Palace's 'Xuanbing Sword Qi' is sinister and vicious. It is indeed true to its reputation."

He looked at her lips, which were purple from the cold, and suddenly took off his black armor and draped it over her body, saying with concern, "Put this on first, don't get cold." The armor still carried his body heat, and as Fang Wenyu wrapped it tightly, she smelled a faint scent of blood mixed with the fragrance of soap.

She gazed at Shi Feiyang's back, clad only in a single layer of clothing. A deep, bone-revealing wound marred his back—the result of enduring Murong Shuang's sword strike while protecting her. Tears suddenly blurred her vision as she recalled another line from her master's notes: "The most moving things in the world are never vows made under the moonlit flowers, but rather acts of protection amidst the clash of swords."

Less than half a day after leaving Zhurong Peak, flames suddenly shot into the sky from the valley ahead. Disciples of Huoyun Cave, holding burning torches, were driving the entire village into the fire. The shrill cries and wild laughter mingled together, echoing through the valley.

The cave chief, Chi Bilie, was bare-armed, the flame tattoo on his chest glowing red in the firelight. His spiked club was wrapped with burning iron chains; with each swing, a head fell to the ground. Suddenly, Chi Bilie's chains lashed out, wrapping around a child's ankle and dragging him into the fire. He roared like a madman, "Shi Feiyang, you killed my beloved son, Murong Shuang! Today I will grind you to dust!"

The child's mother lunged at him to bite, but he kicked her, shattering her skull. Her brains splattered onto the burning firewood, making a sizzling sound.

Fang Wenyu's Emei dagger flashed from its sheath, a green shadow streaking towards the fire like a meteor. She roared angrily, "Release the child!" Her "Unpredictable Flying Rings" technique was unleashed, silver needles raining down on Chi Bilie's wrist, only to be deflected by his iron chain. Sparks splattered onto her green robe, instantly burning a hole. Shi Feiyang cried urgently, "Wenyu, come back! Danger!" Grasping his dog-beating stick like an arrow, he used the "Pick-the-Word Technique: Stick Picks the Mangy Dog," precisely striking the iron chain and pulling the child back into his arms.

His "Mingyu Gong" instantly activated, extinguishing the sparks on the child's body. However, Chi Bilie's spiked club, wreathed in flames, slashed down, the force of the blow distorting the air itself. Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Sealing Technique: Hungry Dog Blocks the Way!"

The dog-beating stick drew an arc in front of him, the emerald green of the stick colliding with the crimson of the flames, sparking a sky full of sparks.

Shi Feiyang tucked the child into Fang Wenyu's arms and said warmly, "Take him to a safe place!" He then charged forward towards the spiked club, the ice patterns on his armor clashing with the flames, making a crackling sound.

Fang Wenyu had just handed the child over to the surviving villagers when she turned around and saw Shi Feiyang being forced to retreat repeatedly by Chi Bilie's "Blazing Palm," with several flames already burning on his black armor. She suddenly remembered what Shi Feiyang had said last night: "Although the 'Blazing Heaven Fire Technique' of Fire Cloud Cave is fierce, it is afraid of extremely cold things."

She took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom, containing the Emei Sect's "Millennium Ice Toad Ointment," uncorked it, and threw it at Chi Bilie's face. The Ice Toad Ointment exploded instantly upon contact with the fire, releasing a chilling mist that instantly dimmed Chi Bilie's flame tattoo.

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Shi Feiyang used the "Poke Word Technique - Desperate Dog Jumps Over the Wall" with his dog-beating stick, aiming straight for his throat. The cold air from the tip of the stick even froze his beard into ice shards.

Chi Bilie roared, "You're courting death!" His chains suddenly exploded, flames rising like a mushroom cloud, as if he were trying to take Shi Feiyang down with him. Shi Feiyang pushed Fang Wenyu away, but was thrown back by the shockwave and crashed heavily against the rock wall. A metallic taste rose in his throat, and the blood he spat out condensed into a mist in the air.

When Fang Wenyu rushed over, Shi Feiyang's black armor was charred black, and his dog-beating stick was broken in two. She tore off a piece of her clothing to wipe the blood from his face. Her fingertips touched his cold skin, and she burst into tears, crying out, "Brother Shi, wake up... You said you'd take me to Xingqing Prefecture to see the snow..."

Shi Feiyang's eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes. Seeing her red and swollen eyes, he suddenly gave a weak smile and teased, "Silly girl... I haven't... I haven't taught you the Dog-Beating Stick Technique yet..."

He raised his hand, intending to wipe away her tears, but it fell halfway down.

"Having fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, clad in golden armor, Shi Lang's ingenious plan brings peace to the world!" Just then, the shouts of Qin Mu's personal guards came from afar.

Fang Wenyu looked up and saw hundreds of men dressed in Beggars' Sect attire charging towards her, brandishing broadswords. Leading them was none other than Qin Mu, a fierce general of the new Tang Dynasty. She suddenly realized that the carrier pigeon Shi Feiyang had asked her to secretly release last night had finally arrived.

Qin Mu's iron spear knocked down the last Fire Cloud Cave disciple. When he rushed over, he saw Fang Wenyu transferring her inner strength to Shi Feiyang. Her face was as pale as paper, but there was a determined smile on her lips.

Qin Mu knelt on one knee, choking back tears, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble general... is late."

As the sun set, the surviving villagers dug a large pit in the valley and buried their fellow villagers who had been burned to death.

Fang Wenyu sat before the grave, cradling the unconscious Shi Feiyang in her arms, the broken Dog-Beating Stick clutched in her hand. Moonlight bathed her, making her appear as if coated with silver frost. She softly hummed a folk song from Mount Emei, the tune Guo Xiang had sung to Yang Guo years ago. Now, echoing through this blood-red valley, it possessed a chilling tenderness. Suddenly, Shi Feiyang's fingers twitched, gripping her hem tightly.

When Fang Wenyu looked down, she met his gaze as he woke up. Those eyes, which had once burned with anger and murderous intent, were now filled with tenderness.

“Wenyu…” His voice was hoarse like a broken gong, yet clearer than ever before, and full of affection as he said, “The snow in Xingqing Prefecture… must be even more enchanting than that of Mount Emei.” Fang Wenyu’s tears fell again, but he smiled and nodded.

The distant firelight gradually died down, and stars rose in the night sky, much like the lingering icy light on Shi Feiyang's black armor.

……

The clouds and mist of Mount Emei shrouded the mountain like a light veil, and the golden light of the Buddha on the summit appeared and disappeared in the sea of ​​clouds. Fang Wenyu led Shi Feiyang up the stone steps, and the Emei disciples along the way curiously looked at this exceptionally handsome man, whispering among themselves like birdsong in the forest.

As Fang Wenyu led Shi Feiyang around the "Viewing Platform," Guo Xiang's Heaven-Slaying Sword appeared from the clouds, the pearls on its tassel shimmering in the morning light, just like the starlight on the city walls of Xiangyang back then.

She stood leaning against her sword, her white hair disheveled by the mountain wind. The moment Shi Feiyang appeared, the prayer beads in her hand scattered to the ground with a "crack," the sandalwood beads rolling everywhere.

"Brother-in-law!" Guo Xiang's voice trembled like a candle in the wind. She staggered forward and grabbed Shi Feiyang's sleeve tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Memories of Xiangyang City twenty years ago suddenly flooded back. Back then, she was a young girl with her hair in two buns, always following behind Yang Guo, watching him use his Xuan Tie sword to cleave through the shields of the Yuan army, while Shi Feiyang's green bamboo staff always protected her in the most dangerous moments.

Shi Feiyang gazed at the whiter hair at her temples than he remembered, recalling Huang Rong's dying wish: "Take good care of Xiang'er..." He took Guo Xiang's hand in return, the icy air flowing from her fingertips, trying to warm her cold knuckles.

Guo Xiang's gaze suddenly fixed on the jade pendant at Shi Feiyang's waist—it was a piece of mutton-fat white jade, carved with a soaring eagle, which Yang Guo had given to him years ago, saying, "Brother Shi's spirit is worthy of this eagle."

Tears welled up suddenly, sliding down the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and she said in a trembling voice, "Brother Yang... have you seen Brother Yang before?"

The question, though abrupt, was also quite reasonable. Looking into her expectant eyes, Shi Feiyang seemed to see the girl from twenty years ago, listening to storytelling at Fengling Ferry, holding steaming dumplings, her eyes sparkling as she asked, "Have you ever seen the Condor Hero?"

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he forced a smile, crafting a white lie as he said, "I saw you in the East China Sea last month. Brother Yang was helping Miss Long dry salt. He was a bit tanned, but he looked very strong."

"Does he...do he still remember me?" Guo Xiang's voice was so low it was almost inaudible. Her fingers unconsciously twisted her sleeve, where the small hole from when she sewed clothes for Yang Guo was still visible.

Shi Feiyang recalled Yang Guo's dying words, pointing to the drifting clouds outside the window: "Xiang'er, that child, always loves to follow me. Actually, she doesn't know that when I look at her, I see a childlike innocence in her!"

He was heartbroken, but still forced a smile and said, "How could I not remember?" Mingyu Gong's icy energy condensed into a dragon flower in his palm, the dewdrops on the petals glistening like tears. "Brother Yang said he gave you three golden needles back then..."

Even a well-intentioned lie can't be kept going forever.

However, Guo Xiang smiled, and as she smiled, tears streamed down her face, wetting Shi Feiyang's sleeve. She remembered when she was sixteen years old at Fengling Ferry, Yang Guo killed Mongol soldiers for her, then helped her out of a predicament at the Heroes' Banquet, and finally gave her three golden needles, saying, "Whatever your wish, I will fulfill it for you."

How beautiful the moonlight was then, illuminating the cold gleam of his black iron sword and shining on her burning cheeks.

"Is he...is he happy?" Guo Xiang's voice was as light as a feather. She knew the question was unnecessary, but she still couldn't help asking it.

Shi Feiyang looked up at the sea of ​​clouds, where the changing light and shadow seemed to reflect the figures of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu in the Valley of Heartbreak. He forced a smile again and said, "Miss Long gave birth to a daughter for him. The girl looks like Miss Long, always loves to wear white, and she married my son Shi Nianxiang."

Guo Xiang's tears suddenly burst forth. She covered her mouth, her shoulders trembling violently, but she dared not cry out.

Twenty years of longing, grievances, and expectations all turned into tears at this moment. She recalled their farewell at the summit of Mount Hua, when Yang Guo held Xiaolongnu and said to her, "Xiang'er, you must take good care of yourself." At that time, she did not understand why lovers could not stay together. It was not until later, when she was guarding the ancient Buddha and the green lamp on Mount Emei, that she understood that some love can only be hidden deep in the heart, like aged wine, becoming more mellow with age.

"I...I'm going to wash my hands..." Guo Xiang turned and ran into the meditation room, the door slamming shut behind her.

Suppressed sobs soon erupted from inside, like a torrent that had been building up for twenty years.

Shi Feiyang stared at the tightly closed door, recalling Huang Rong's words: "Xiang'er's temperament is like mine; once she makes up her mind, she won't change it." He placed the Dragon Girl Flower on the threshold, the icy air slowly melting away, just like those bygone days.

Fang Wenyu handed over a cup of tea and said softly, "In Master's room, there is always a brick from Xiangyang City, which is said to have been stepped on by Hero Yang back then."

She looked at Shi Feiyang and asked with curiosity, "Young Master Shi, is everything you said true?" Shi Feiyang took the teacup, the steam blurring his vision, and said meaningfully, "Some dreams are better left unresolved."

Half an hour later, the door to the meditation room finally opened. Guo Xiang's eyes were red and swollen, but she had changed into a clean meditation robe, and her hair was neatly combed. She walked up to Shi Feiyang, bowed deeply, and choked out, "Thank you, brother-in-law! You've put my mind at ease..." Her Heaven-Slaying Sword suddenly drew from its sheath, its light flashing like a bolt of lightning, and she declared with a resounding voice, "If one day you wish to restore Jiangnan, the disciples of Emei are willing to serve you with utmost loyalty."

Looking at her, Shi Feiyang suddenly understood that some love doesn't need to be spoken or answered; knowing that the other person is well is enough. Just like Guo Xiang guarding the green lamp on Mount Emei, guarding those memories of Yang Guo, guarding a hopeless yet burning love, that in itself is a kind of courage.

On the way down the mountain, Fang Wenyu tenderly saw him off. As they walked, he suddenly asked, "Young Master Shi, is Hero Yang really that good?"

Looking at the golden summit amidst the sea of ​​clouds, where the Buddha's light shone on the window of the meditation room, Shi Feiyang exclaimed, "It's like the moon in the sky; some people can only look at it from afar, yet they still feel its warmth."

A mountain breeze wafts by, carrying the delicate fragrance of dragon flower, much like the Jiangnan folk song that Guo Xiang sang for Yang Guo atop Xiangyang City.

Shi Feiyang stopped at the narrow pass of "One Line Sky". His moon-white brocade robe was lifted by the mountain wind, revealing the dog-beating stick with a bright green body at his waist.

Fang Wenyu twirled the Emei Dagger in her palm, the morning light illuminating her profile, her skin as smooth as jade. She said tactfully, "Brother Shi, although the Emei Sect is located in the southwest, matters of the martial world are also matters of the state."

Her fingertips brushed against the brass ring on the dog-beating stick, and she said affectionately, "I'll accompany you on this journey."

Shi Feiyang lightly tapped the ground with his dog-beating stick, the copper ring at the end of the stick jingling as he analyzed, "On the way to Xingqing Prefecture, we need to pass through the territories of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Lingxiao Palace, and Huoyun Cave. These evil sects collude with the Yuan people and use ruthless methods."

That's what I meant, but I really hoped that Fang Wenyu would back down when faced with difficulties.

Looking into Fang Wenyu's clear eyes, he pondered for a moment, but still refused, saying, "If you regret it, it's not too late to turn back now."

Fang Wenyu suddenly laughed, his eyebrows like distant mountains and his eyes like autumn waters, and said self-deprecatingly, "Back then, my master was able to ride alone into the Mongol camp. Although I am not as good as my master, I am not afraid of those petty villains in the martial arts world."

Suddenly, her Emei dagger was drawn, flashing with a blue light, splitting the falling boulder in two. She then teased, "Besides, with Brother Shi's dog-beating stick, how could I not protect my little sister?"

Left with no other choice, Shi Feiyang nodded in agreement to let her accompany him.

The Tianmogou Valley on the Shu Road is perpetually shrouded in darkness, and the miasma at the bottom of the valley is bluish-black, making one want to vomit.

Shi Feiyang's dog-beating stick scouted ahead, the realgar powder on the tip of the stick emitting white smoke when it encountered miasma, drawing a winding path on the ground.

Fang Wenyu followed closely behind, using the internal energy of the "Snowflake Piercing Cloud Palm" to protect his body and keep the miasma out. Suddenly, Fang Wenyu grabbed Shi Feiyang's sleeve, pointing his finger at the poisonous vines by the roadside. The thorns on those vines were dripping venom and could be heard wriggling.

She said with concern, "Watch your step. This is the 'Heart-Eating Vine' of the Heavenly Demon Sect; it will rot the flesh it touches." She took out sulfur powder from her bosom and sprinkled it on the vine. Where white smoke rose, the vine emitted a hissing sound like a baby crying.

Before the words were finished, a strange "creaking" sound suddenly came from the rock walls on both sides of the ravine. Dozens of men in black, like geckos, slid down the walls, their faces wearing hideous ghost masks and their curved swords glowing green. They were the "Ghost Shadow Guards" of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

The tall, thin man at the head of the group wore a mask painted with a skull, and held a chain binding a female corpse whose body had been refined to a bluish-purple color—the "Corpse Transformation Technique" of the Heavenly Demon Sect. He threatened upon meeting her, "Shi Feiyang, hand over the 'Martial Arts Manual of Yue Fei,' and I'll spare your corpses!"

Suddenly, the iron chain he was holding was flung out, and the female corpse's fingernails sprang out an inch, grabbing at Fang Wenyu's face.

Fang Wenyu gripped the Emei dagger and unleashed a move called "Parting Flowers and Sweeping Willows," aiming for the female corpse's throat. However, the weapon was entangled by the iron chain, and the female corpse suddenly opened her mouth, spitting out foul-smelling black blood. Shi Feiyang, wielding the Dog-Beating Stick, moved like a serpent emerging from its hole, using the "Entangling Technique: Pulling the Dog's Tail!" to entangle the middle of the iron chain. With a twist of the stick's tip, the chain immediately reversed its direction, leaving deep marks on the tall, thin man's wrist.

With a light tap of his toes, he unleashed a move called "Beating Two Dogs with a Stick," forcing back the black-clad men rushing from both sides. The dog-beating stick spun in his hand, its shadow, resembling a puppy playing with a ball, protecting Fang Wenyu's body. Amidst the clanging of the copper rings, three men were struck on the "Quchi" acupoint by the tip of the stick, their curved knives flying out of their hands.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Fang Wenyu withdrew his Emei dagger and struck the female corpse's heart with his "Golden Summit Cotton Palm," the force of which penetrated her body.

The female corpse suddenly exploded, splattering black blood all over her.

She paid no attention, and suddenly unleashed her "Unpredictable Flying Rings" hidden weapon technique. Silver needles from her sleeves rained down like stars, precisely piercing the gaps in the masks of the five men in black. Amidst screams, the faces exposed beneath the masks were revealed to be poisoned, their features already blurred.

Fang Wenyu's blue robe was soaked with black blood, yet she still stood tall and straight, reminding him, "Brother Shi, their internal energy is tainted with corpse energy! It's 'Puppet Technique' made from living people!" Her Emei dagger suddenly turned, deflecting a sneak attack from behind Shi Feiyang, and she added with concern, "Three people to the left rear!"

Shi Feiyang's dog-beating stick suddenly sank down, and the "pushing the dog to the sky" tripping technique tripped the three of them. The tip of the stick then used a "reverse stab to the dog's buttocks" move to accurately hit their "Huantiao" acupoints.

He caught a glimpse of black blood on Fang Wenyu's shoulder, where her clothes were slowly rotting. His heart tightened, and he suddenly activated his "Mingyu Gong" technique. His palm turned luminous white as he pressed it against her shoulder. The rotting stopped instantly where the cold energy passed. He then instructed her, "Focus on fighting the enemy."

Fang Wenyu's cheeks flushed slightly, but she put an antidote pill into his mouth and said tenderly, "This is the Emei Sect's 'Clearing Miasma Powder'."

Her Emei daggers suddenly transformed into two streaks of azure light. The sword intent of the "Returning Wind Sweeping Willow Sword" merged into her palm technique. Wherever the palm wind swept, the ghost masks on the black-clad man shattered, revealing the terrified faces beneath. (End of Chapter)