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Shi Feixuan turned around, the moonlight casting a soft halo on her exquisite face, making her appear even more ethereal and otherworldly, yet also carrying a touch of hazy mystery. Her red lips parted slightly:

“Brother Hou, you have been in Sichuan for a long time, so you may not know much about the dramatic changes in the Central Plains. In the past few months, he has risen like a comet in the south. He first defeated ‘Heavenly Blade’ Song Que in Lingnan. The Song clan leader was arrogant and unparalleled, but he was willing to lead the entire Song clan mountain city to submit to his command.”

Hou Xibai's pupils constricted sharply. How could he not know the name Song Que? He was a peerless grandmaster, on par with his master, a pinnacle of swordsmanship!

Shi Feixuan continued, "Then we entered Jingling, and the Flying Horse Ranch surrendered without resistance, offering countless warhorses. We went south to Jiangdu, where we killed the traitors amidst a vast army, uprooting their forces. Then we went west, where we discussed the Dao with 'Empress Yin' Zhu Yuyan in Xiangyang. From then on, the entire Yin Gui Sect... also swore allegiance to the Heavenly Dao Alliance he founded."

Hou Xibai's folding fan stopped abruptly. Song Que, Zhu Yuyan... these were all top-tier heroes and powerful figures in the world, yet they had all fallen at the hands of this man? The entire Yin Gui Sect had submitted? This was simply a fantasy!

"This...how is this possible? He's only been here a few months! How could he...?"

"The most unbelievable battle took place between my master Fan Qinghui and the hermit Ning Daoqi."

Shi Feixuan's tone carried a hint of unease: "Master Ning personally tested his cultivation, and the two debated and competed on Dongting Lake. No one knows the specifics of the process, but in the end, Master Ning drifted away, leaving only a comment..."

She paused, then said, word by word, "Master Ning said: 'His depths are unfathomable, and he is above all living beings in the world.'"

"Even Ning Daoqi... can't do anything to him?"

Hou Xibai was speechless. Ning Daoqi was the supreme symbol of the Central Plains martial arts world, the spiritual leader of the righteous path, and his martial arts skills were hailed as the number one in the Central Plains! Even he gave such an evaluation?
Shi Feixuan nodded slowly, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "Now, the Heavenly Dao Alliance's power has encompassed most of the south, integrating the most powerful forces besides the Li Clan, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong, and other northern warlords. Wherever its laws extend, bandits disappear and powerful figures bow down. Even in the midst of chaos, it displays a strange order. His purpose in coming to Sichuan is self-evident."

Hou Xibai fell completely silent. This information was too shocking, almost overturning his understanding of the world situation. How could someone who appeared out of nowhere have accomplished in such a short time what countless powerful figures could never achieve in their entire lives?

If all of this is true... then it seems... not entirely impossible that he seriously injured his almost invincible master.
A chill ran down Hou Xibai's spine. He recalled Yi Huawei's calm yet domineering words, the terrifying strength that had so easily suppressed him, and the unquestionable tone he used when discussing Shi Zhixuan's injuries... The intense doubt he had felt earlier melted away like snow under the sun.

"What...what is his background?"

Hou Xibai's voice trembled slightly, without him even realizing it: "Master Shi, you know him, but do you know who his master is? What is his martial arts style? I have never heard of such a person in the world!"

Shi Feixuan gently shook her head, her eyes also filled with confusion:

"No one knows his origins; he seems to have appeared out of thin air. His martial arts... are unimaginably profound. I once sat down with him to discuss the Dao, and in our conversation, he demonstrated a thorough understanding of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and even various other schools of thought. His insights were often profound and thought-provoking. His martial arts style... appears unremarkable, yet his every move is close to the 'Dao,' encompassing all things and leaving no trace. You personally experienced the method he used to subdue you just now; could you discern even a fraction of its origin?"

Hou Xibai shook his head bitterly. That invisible aura as heavy as a mountain, that finger that effortlessly shattered his exquisite fan technique, showed no trace of familiar martial arts; it seemed to be nothing more than a pure and irresistible manifestation of "power."

“I secretly investigated…”

Shi Feixuan continued, lowering her voice even further: "None of the major sects or hidden families in the world have any record of this person. He seems to have sprung from a stone, carrying the force of a thunderbolt, and is about to reshape the world."

Silence fell once again in the private room.

Hou Xibai gazed at the deep night outside the window, his mind a jumble of thoughts. His master was seriously injured and his whereabouts unknown, his senior brother Yang Xuyan had already died at his hands (at this moment he was completely convinced of this), and his opponent was such a terrifying, mysterious, and even incomprehensible figure.

What should he do? Should he follow the other party's first suggestion and immediately flee this dangerous place of Sichuan and Chongqing, continuing to be his carefree and amorous young master? Or... stay and see? See where this mysterious and unpredictable nameless leader intends to lead this world?

Looking at the struggling and shifting expression on his face, Shi Feixuan spoke softly, "Brother Hou, I have said all I need to say. This man is an unprecedented figure in history, his heart and will are as deep as the ocean. As for where you go from here, I hope you... will take good care of yourself."

Hou Xibai suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Shi Feixuan, who was standing quietly by the window.

The moonlight outlined her cool and ethereal profile, like a fairy descending from the moon palace, but her slightly furrowed brows and the barely perceptible ripples in her eyes revealed that her heart was not as calm as it appeared.

"Master Fairy,"

Hou Xibai's voice carried a hint of confusion, and even a trace of dependence that he himself was unaware of: "What...what are your plans next? Could it be...that Cihang Jingzhai is also going to...submit to him?"

He spoke those last few words with extraordinary difficulty. In his heart, Cihang Jingzhai had always been a sacred place that transcended worldly affairs, upheld the righteous path, and even acted as a proxy for Heaven in choosing its ruler. If even Jingzhai had to bow down to this Heavenly Alliance Leader of unknown origin and unpredictable methods, then who in this world could restrain him?
Shi Feixuan slowly turned around, the moonlight flowing over her moon-white Liuxian dress, giving it a cool, clear glow. She did not directly answer Hou Xibai's question about Cihang Jingzhai's stance, as that involved the sect's most crucial decisions, which she could not easily reveal to outsiders.

Her clear gaze fell on Hou Xibai's handsome face, which was filled with surprise and unease. After a moment of silence, Shi Feixuan opened her lips slightly, her voice ethereal and elusive, yet carrying a strange firmness.

"What are Feixuan's plans...?"

She tilted her head slightly, looking in the direction of the stairwell where Yi Huawei had disappeared, her eyes becoming distant and profound: "I want to follow him."

"what?"

Hou Xibai almost thought he had misheard. He took a step forward, his face filled with disbelief: "Follow him? Fairy Shi, you...you want to follow this nameless alliance leader? Why? Aren't you afraid of him...perhaps he's even more threatening than the Demonic Sect? We've both seen his power and his methods! He's definitely not an ordinary righteous path!"

Shi Feixuan was not swayed by Hou Xibai's agitation. She withdrew her gaze, looked at him calmly, and even a faint smile appeared on her lips: "It is precisely because I have seen and heard it with my own eyes that Feixuan feels even more that it is necessary to follow him and see clearly."

"Brother Hou, do you know what he just talked about with me?"

Shi Feixuan’s voice was soft, but it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, once again creating ripples in Hou Xibai’s heart: “He was not talking about grudges between martial arts practitioners, not about sect disputes, and not even about the simple goal of conquering the world.”

"He was talking about... order. A new order based on the rule of law rather than the rule of men, based on principles rather than power, that can maximize the protection of people's rights and provide everyone with a ladder to climb through their own efforts."

These words, spoken slowly by Shi Feixuan, carried a powerful and moving force.

Hou Xibai was stunned. He came from the Flower School and, although he considered himself a refined and elegant scholar who disliked the naked law of the jungle, he had never heard anyone think about the problem from such a perspective. This had already transcended the ordinary mindset of江湖草莽 (jianghu grass-roots) or 争霸雄 (conquering heroes).

“He said that the Heavenly Dao Alliance was not just a Jianghu gang, but an experiment, a prototype.” Shi Feixuan continued, “His consolidation of the Southern martial arts world, restraint of powerful figures, and suppression of bandits were not just for expanding his power, but also to put into practice the ‘order’ he spoke of. He even… even intended to restrain and transform the power of the Yin Gui Sect, bringing it under the rules and guiding it to… the right path.”

When the Yin Gui School was mentioned, Hou Xibai frowned deeply, clearly harboring strong doubts about it.

Shi Feixuan watched this unfold and sighed softly, "I know this sounds absurd, almost like a fantasy. The ingrained habits of the Demonic Sect are deeply rooted; how could they be so easily transformed? His idea might be too idealistic, even... arrogant."

“But, Brother Hou, don’t you feel that in this chaotic world, all the old paths seem to have come to an end? Powerful clans are vying for power, warlords are fighting each other, and the people are displaced, like an endless cycle. The righteous path we uphold is certainly bright, but it always seems difficult to completely eradicate the chaos; and the demonic path, which is extreme and treacherous, is the source of chaos.”

"Now, there has come a person who possesses absolute power enough to shatter all existing order, yet he does not seem to be simply intoxicated by the power itself. Instead, he has proposed a new path that is unprecedented and even shocking. Whether this path ultimately leads to heaven or hell, isn't it worth seeing it for ourselves?"

Shi Feixuan turned her gaze to the window again, as if trying to pierce through the heavy night and see the future pointed to by the departing figure with his hands behind his back.

"Feixuan entered the world on her master's orders to find the true dragon, end the chaos, and restore peace to the world. Now, this nameless gentleman, with his power and words, has become the biggest variable in the world. His appearance may itself be a sign of 'destiny,' but the way it is shown has exceeded all of our expectations."

“I want to go with him,”

Shi Feixuan repeated, “It does not mean that Jingzhai has submitted, but rather that I am an observer, or perhaps... a seeker of truth. I want to see with my own eyes how he acts, how he treats the people, how he treats his opponents, and how he puts his seemingly illusory ‘new order’ into practice step by step.”

"I want to see if he is truly reshaping the world and ushering in an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity..."

She paused slightly, her voice lowering: "...or is it weaving an even more intricate and terrifying web?"

Hearing Shi Feixuan's words, Hou Xibai felt a storm raging in his heart that was far more intense than when he had been forcefully suppressed by Yi Huawei. He had never imagined that this usually aloof and self-possessed Cihang Jingzhai Fairy, who represented the highest ideals of the righteous path, would have such a... bold and even risky idea.

This is nothing short of a high-stakes gamble! They are betting their own safety, and even the reputation of Jingzhai, on that mysterious, enigmatic, and morally ambiguous man!

"But...it's too dangerous!"

Hou Xibai said anxiously, his tone filled with worry: "Master, this person is unfathomable, and his thoughts are hard to discern. He may just be using these high-sounding words to bewitch people! You are going to follow him alone, what if he..."

What if he harbors ill intentions? Hou Xibai didn't say the rest aloud, but the meaning was clear. With Yi Huawei's terrifying strength, if he really wanted to do something to Shi Feixuan, she would be powerless to resist.

Shi Feixuan smiled calmly, a smile that held a detached tranquility and an unwavering resolve: "Though Feixuan is not talented, she is capable of self-preservation. Besides, observation doesn't necessarily require close proximity. Maintaining distance and observing from the sidelines is also a valid approach. As for danger..."

"In the pursuit of the Great Dao, even danger lurks, it is our duty. If we shrink back from our path out of fear of danger, how can we ever glimpse the true destiny bestowed upon us?"

Looking at the woman's stunningly beautiful yet resolute face, Hou Xibai was momentarily speechless. He knew that although Shi Feixuan appeared gentle on the outside, she was extremely opinionated and once she made up her mind about something, it was difficult to change it.

He was filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, he was shocked by Shi Feixuan's decision, but on the other hand, he was subtly touched by the possibility of the "new order" she described and her spirit of seeking the Great Dao regardless of her own safety.

What about himself? Should he follow Yi Huawei's first choice—to stay away from this place of trouble and continue his carefree life? Or…?

He subconsciously tightened his grip on the slightly deformed fan in his hand. The hazy profile of the beauty on the fan seemed to be silently watching him, waiting for his decision.

A long silence fell over the private room once again.

Shi Feixuan said no more; she knew she needed to give Hou Xibai time to process everything. She turned her gaze back to the window. In the night, Chengdu seemed to be quietly brewing an unprecedented storm with the arrival of that nameless alliance leader.

She has decided to step into the eye of this storm to see clearly where the hand holding the chess pieces intends to lead the world.

………………

Dark as ink.

As the hour of Xu (around 8 p.m.) passed, the lights in the city gradually thinned out, with only the back hall of the "Hexinglong" shop in the west of the city still emitting a faint light.

The house looks ordinary, no different from the mansions of wealthy families in Sichuan. It has blue bricks and gray tiles, red doors and copper rings, and two dim yellow lanterns hanging under the eaves, with the words "Hexing" written in ink on the lanterns.

However, upon passing through the three courtyards and entering the innermost secret council hall, the scene suddenly changed. The walls of the secret council hall were all covered with black ironwood, isolating all sound, and the floor was covered with a dark red camel hair carpet from the Western Regions, swallowing up any footsteps.

Hanging on the north wall is a huge painting of "Ink Lotus," with the lotus stamens as red as blood and the petals as sharp as blades—the very symbol of the Heavenly Lotus Sect. Below the painting lies a long sandalwood table, upon which sits a bronze lotus-petal incense burner, burning "Red Marrow Incense." The smoke coils like snakes, emitting a strange, warm, and sweet aroma that calms the mind, yet also carries a hint of restlessness.

Anlong sat on a large couch behind the long table. He was stout, with layers of fat and flesh, wrapped in a crimson brocade robe with floral patterns, resembling a Maitreya Buddha. But upon closer inspection, although his round face wore the usual merchant's smile, his narrow eyes were surprisingly bright, their opening and closing revealing a sharp glint. His fingertips unconsciously tapped lightly on the table, indicating that his inner world was far from as calm as it appeared.

An Long ranks fifth among the eight great masters of the Demonic Sect. Known as "Fat Jia," he is a wealthy tycoon and the current sect leader of the Heavenly Lotus Sect. His mastery of the Heavenly Heart Lotus Ring technique has reached a state of perfection.

To the left and right of him sat four people, all of whom were key figures of the Tianlian Sect in Shu and confidants of Anlong.

The first person on the left was a thin, frail old man dressed in a gray cloth robe like an accountant. He had large, thick knuckles and held an iron abacus. He was named "Iron Abacus" Sun Huai, in charge of the clan's financial transactions and account settlement. He was meticulous and shrewd.

Below Sun Huai was a plump woman with captivating eyes, around thirty years old, dressed in a crimson silk skirt, with a gold hairpin tucked into her hair. Her name was "Charming Lady" Liu Qiniang. She managed many restaurants and brothels under the "Hexinglong" brand, responsible for intelligence gathering and social interactions. She appeared charming, but in reality, she was ruthless.

The first person on the right was a middle-aged scholar with a sallow complexion, as if he had been suffering from a long illness. He coughed softly from time to time and held a string of ebony prayer beads in his hand. This was none other than "Sickly Ghost" Ouyang Xu, who was in charge of punishments and secret operations within the sect. His martial arts were sinister, and he was especially good at using poison.

Below Ouyang Xu was a wiry man in short clothes, his temples bulging, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. His name was "Cloud Piercer" Du Li, responsible for guarding and other shady combat duties; he was An Long's head bodyguard. (End of Chapter)