A Man in the Snow: Starting with a Sword Challenge to the Northern Liang Prince's Palace

On the Guangling Road, a disheveled old man with a missing front tooth was listlessly leading a thin old horse.

"Hey Lao Huang, why were you running so fast just now? It wasn't like I was going to kill you. I almost managed to steal even more melons. I didn't know I should have stalled a little longer."

"Hehe, young master, you're too slow. You need to be quick and decisive in these kinds of things."

"Hmph! Next time I'm out for some fresh air, you're the one who goes."

The young man on horseback was cursing and swearing. Except for his turban, which looked intact, everything else on his body was tattered.

But those eyes had a quality that set them apart from other refugees.

The once warm spring sky suddenly changed, with dark clouds gathering. At that moment, a troop of cavalry was galloping desperately towards them from afar.

The voice arrived before the person.

"The Crown Prince—His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fengnian sensed something was amiss, as very few people knew about his travels.

Could something have happened to the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion?

When he saw a group of dusty, elite cavalry from Northern Liang, he realized upon closer inspection that they were actually the Xu family's most elite Great Snow Dragon Cavalry.

The leading armored general dismounted skillfully, practically tumbling and crawling to Xu Fengnian's side. With a "thump," he knelt on one knee before him, removing his helmet and speaking in a choked voice:

"Your Highness! We are here on the orders of the military advisor to welcome you home."

Xu Fengnian didn't notice when the sweet potatoes in his hands fell to the ground.

With Lao Huang's help, he quickly tumbled off the horse: "Tell me, what terrible thing happened?"

The general raised his head, not daring to look directly at Xu Fengnian, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, the Prince... he...!"

"What happened to my dad?"

"He was killed by Ye Yun, the son of Ye Baikui, a remnant of the Western Chu regime."

"What?!"

Xu Fengnian felt as if something had hit him hard on the head, and he couldn't help but take several steps back.

In a short time.

He fell straight down.

"Young Master!"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince...!"

His father was actually killed inside the Northern Liang royal palace. How could that be?

That was the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion, a place rife with traps and numerous skilled warriors.

That's Xu Xiao, the one who roamed the martial world.

The King of Northern Liang, known as the "Butcher of Men".

"Is this... really true?"

Xu Fengnian still didn't believe it. His voice became sharp, and he bent down to snatch the Northern Liang sword from the general's waist, holding it to his neck and asking.

"Your Highness, this is absolutely true. I swear on my life. The strategist sent us here to urge Your Highness to return to Beiliang immediately."

"The strategist said that the throne of the King of Beiliang... needs to be fought for."

The general, his eyes red, looked at the prince and said resolutely.

"The throne of the King of Northern Liang..."

Xu Fengnian closed his eyes tightly, trying his best to steady himself and prevent himself from falling.

Yes.

He cannot fall; the entire Northern Liang still needs him to take charge.

He recalled the many things his father, Xu Xiao, had told him: he had to protect his eldest sister, second sister, and younger brother.

If he loses his position as King of Northern Liang.

All of this was no longer under his control.

Without sufficient power, how could he avenge his father?

Even before his enemies could eliminate him completely, the internal forces of Northern Liang alone would annihilate the entire Xu family.

"Send the order: return to Beiliang day and night."

At this moment, Xu Fengnian seemed to have dropped his disguise, no longer resembling a spoiled brat, but more like a rising "new king".

An unexpected assassination attempt completely disrupted his travels in the martial arts world.

What awaited him was a change of power.

A conspiracy and a bloody battle.

However, there was one thing that Xu Fengnian couldn't understand.

That is, after learning of Xu Xiao's death, Emperor Li Yang immediately bestowed a posthumous title upon Xu Xiao, the King of Beiliang, and acknowledged the hereditary nature of the title, making Xu Fengnian the new King of Beiliang.

What shocked many powerful clans even more was that the Zhao family had specially sent people to secretly protect Xu Fengnian.

On Xu Fengnian's journey back to Beiliang, almost every faction opened its doors wide, openly or secretly protecting this future King of Beiliang.

As for Ye Yun, who assassinated Xu Xiao, that is no longer the most important matter within Beiliang at the moment.

In Lingzhou City

The atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed than it had been a few months ago. Although the checks were thorough, people were still able to enter and leave.

The entire city was plastered with wanted posters bearing Ye Yun's likeness, listing various crimes: "Ye Yun assassinated the King of Beiliang, a heinous crime. Anyone who can provide information will receive a reward of a thousand taels of gold, and anyone who can kill him will receive a reward of one million taels of gold."

One million taels of gold!

The Li Yang royal family is indeed very generous!

Such immense wealth would move any powerful figure in the martial arts world or a prestigious family.

However, no one dared to take up the challenge.

Land-based sword immortal!

These four words represent the pinnacle of military power.

It has long since transcended the realm of ordinary martial arts.

Even a million-strong army might not be able to stay.

You can surround and kill them, but you can't necessarily leave them alive.

Ye Yun mingled in the crowd, holding a folding fan in his hand, revealing a faint smile.

It's unbelievable that someone could paint his disguised face so realistically, giving off a sense of mastery.

Yu Youwei, who was following behind him, showed a hint of suspicion. The Ye Yun in the portrait was completely different from the Ye Yun in front of her. Apart from the phoenix eyes, there was no resemblance at all.

"What, do you have a doubt? This is the face I used when I challenged the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion with my sword."

Ye Yun said calmly.

"So, young master... you're fake now too."

"Anyone want to report me? A million dollars in gold makes me want to kill myself and take my head."

Ye Yun joked.

Yu Youwei could only remain silent and pet the cat vigorously, causing her cat to suffer.

"Young Master, why doesn't Beiliang issue such an arrest warrant, but instead the Liyang royal family does it?"

Yu Youwei was very puzzled.

Shouldn't the anger of Beiliang be even greater than that of the Liyang royal family?

"If the Li Yang royal family doesn't act, how can they appease the anger of Bei Liang?"

"It's just a little hardship, but Li Yang has a way to die."

A faint killing intent flashed in Ye Yun's eyes. If it weren't for Li Yang, there would be no Bei Liang.

Without Beiliang, there would be no Xu Xiao.

There is no such thing as destroying Chu.

Yu Youwei was startled by Ye Yun's words.

Could it be that his young master is going to challenge Tai'an City again?

Ye Yun regained her aloof demeanor:

"Xuanji, let's go home! Whether Beiliang is in chaos or not is up to me."

"Ugh!"

After sighing, Yu Youwei silently followed behind Ye Yun. At this moment, she seemed to regret getting involved in this struggle.

Perhaps she was never meant to be a killer.

Why sigh?

"Young master, the chaos in Beiliang will lead to widespread suffering, and it will be the powerless and vulnerable common people who will suffer the most."

Yu Youwei seemed to recall her own past. If it weren't for the war between the two countries and the defeat of Western Chu, she wouldn't be in such a miserable and pitiful state.

Ye Yun looked at the stunningly beautiful woman before him and said:

"Fate is never fair, but you can choose how to respond to it."