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

The morning mist, like a veil, shrouded the pavilions of the Huashan Sword Sect in a hazy veil.

Before the bronze mirror, Tu Yanfei's hand holding the ivory comb trembled slightly. The comb teeth brushed against her dark hair, but pulled out a few strands of broken hair.

The person in the mirror had dark circles under their eyes, and their once rosy cheeks had lost their color, making them look like peonies that had been touched by frost and snow.

Looking at her haggard reflection in the mirror, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears again. She grabbed the rouge box and slammed it heavily onto the dressing table: "Xiang Tiange! You wretched man..." The scene from last night uncontrollably surged into her mind again.

The man's burning body temperature, trembling voice, and the words, "Ellie, my beloved wife, where have you been all these years?" pierced her heart like a silver needle. She buried her face in the brocade quilt, yet she could still hear herself suppressing sobs until the first light of dawn appeared, her pillowcase already soaked. "Bang, bang, bang—" The knocking startled her. Gu Yi's voice came through the carved wooden door: "Junior Sister, hurry and pack! Elder Luo of the Qi Sect has arrived with his men, saying they want to go with us to Tianxian Peak to settle scores with Xiang Tiange!"

Tu Yanfei suddenly stood up, her skirt sweeping the jade hairpin off the table. She hastily applied some face powder in front of the bronze mirror, grabbed her long sword, and was about to leave when she caught a glimpse of her disheveled hair in the mirror, and stopped in her tracks.

Just as he was feeling annoyed, the door creaked open and Gu Yi walked in carrying a sandalwood box.

"I know you didn't sleep well last night." Gu Yi gently placed the box on the table, opened it to reveal a mutton-fat jade hairpin, the head of which was carved with a lifelike twin lotus. "I found this for you when I went down the mountain the other day. Wear it to cover up your fatigue." His gaze was gentle as he spoke, as if he were holding a fragile piece of glass.

Tu Yanfei turned her head away with a cold face: "Who asked you to meddle!" Before she finished speaking, she saw a plain handkerchief at the bottom of the box, embroidered with half an unfinished camellia flower—the very handkerchief she had ruined and discarded a few days ago.

Gu Lu scratched his head and chuckled, "Since you like embroidery, I..."

"Nonsense!" Tu Yanfei grabbed the jade hairpin and stuck it into her hair, but she couldn't get it to sit straight no matter what she did.

Seeing this, Gu Yi reached out to help, but she suddenly dodged away, and the jade hairpin fell to the ground with a clatter.

Both of them were startled. Gu Yi hurriedly squatted down to pick it up, but Tu Yanfei beat him to it.

Her fingers trembled as she held the jade hairpin, and suddenly, her eyes reddened, she slammed the hairpin to the ground: "It's all that Xiang Tiange's fault! He ruined everything for me..."

Before she could finish speaking, tears were already streaming down her face.

Gu Yi stood there helplessly for a long time before timidly taking out a handkerchief and handing it over: "Yan Fei, if you're upset, just take it out on me..." The mountain wind swept the morning mist into the room, blowing the rouge box on the table, which had no lid, into a fluttering mess of rouge.

Tu Yanfei cried for a while before raising her head. Seeing that Gu Yi still had a silly grin on his face, she was both angry and ashamed: "Look at you, you silly thing! Hurry up and change your clothes. The Qi Sect people must be getting impatient."

She turned her back to him, secretly wiping her face, but the image of Shi Feiyang's crystal-clear eyes resurfaced in her mind.

She suddenly shouted, "What are you dawdling for!" She grabbed her long sword and rushed out the door. The jade hairpin in her hair gleamed warmly in the morning mist, and the embroidered pattern of half a camellia flower swayed gently in the wind.

The gale, carrying icicles like thousands of flying knives, blew the branches and leaves of the ancient pine trees atop the perilous peak into the air.

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back on the edge of the cliff, his crystal eyes reflecting the surging sea of ​​clouds. Suddenly, the deerskin bag at his waist became hot, as if thunder was lurking inside.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from the mountain path in the distance. Shi Feiyang's lips curled into a cold smile - the oppressive feeling mixed with sword energy and palm wind was the joint arrival of the Huashan Sword Sect and Qi Sect.

Tu Weng led the Sword Sect disciples in a formation like wild geese, their Qingfeng swords gleaming coldly in the wind and snow.

Elder Luo Li of the Qi Sect arrived with his disciples through the snow, his palms swirling with a pale purple vortex that turned the snow into wisps of white mist wherever they passed.

Tu Yanfei mingled in the crowd and saw Shi Feiyang's leisurely and carefree appearance. The pillowcase soaked with tears last night and the longing she had been chewing on all turned into an unnamed fire in her chest, and her eyes couldn't help but redden again.

"Beggar Clan's Xiang Tiange!" Luo Li stepped forward from the crowd, his palm crackling with purple lightning. "You have injured my Huashan disciples, and today you will pay for this in blood!" He moved like lightning, unleashing the Qi Sect's ultimate technique, "Purple Thunder Palm," which exploded in the air with streaks of purple lightning, scorching the rocks wherever it passed.

Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill, transforming into a phantom amidst the thunderstorm. "The Huashan Qi Sect is nothing special!" he sneered, pushing out the "Dragon Appears in the Field" technique with both palms, a golden dragon shadow roaring as it met the purple lightning.

The two powerful internal forces collided, and the loud explosion made everyone's eardrums hurt. Rocks fell from the cliff edge like raindrops.

Upon seeing this, Tu Weng drew his longsword. He unleashed the Sword Sect's signature sword technique, "Three Green Peaks of Taiyue," with three streams of green sword energy, like the Yangtze River, attacking Shi Feiyang from the upper, middle, and lower levels respectively.

His swordsmanship was light and agile, each strike containing subtle changes of yin and yang. Before the sword even arrived, the chilling sword energy had already cut fine cracks into Shi Feiyang's clothes.

A cold glint flashed in Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes as he unleashed his full power of the Heavenly Silkworm Technique.

A surge of silver light erupted from his palm, and countless silver threads cascaded down like a silver river, completely binding the three sword energies.

"A mere trick! How can you, a little sect leader, compare to me, the great gang leader? Humph!" Instead of persuasion, he provoked Shi Feiyang, who roared and unleashed "Flying Dragon in the Sky." His figure transformed into a golden stream of light and soared into the sky. The dragon shadows and silver threads created by his palms intertwined to form a huge yin-yang fish pattern.

Luo Li and Tu Weng both changed color at the same time. They looked at each other and simultaneously unleashed their life's most powerful skills.

The Purple Thunder Palm and the Taiyue Sword Technique blended seamlessly, with purple lightning and cyan sword energy intertwining to create a world-destroying storm.

Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded, his Mingyu Gong protecting him, his body radiating a jade-colored light. The chilling energy swirled, absorbing all the attacks, his power growing stronger with each blow. "Elder Xiao, join forces!" Tu Weng was furious, yet helpless, and shouted angrily. Xiao Heling drew his longsword and joined the battle. The Sword Sect's "Two Elements Sword Technique" and the Qi Sect's "Primordial Chaos Gong" complemented each other, forming an impenetrable wall of energy, trapping Shi Feiyang firmly in the center.

In an instant, purple lightning, cyan sword shadows, and golden dragon shapes intertwined, transforming the perilous peak into a battlefield of carnage.

Shi Feiyang let out a long roar, his palms moving rapidly as he unleashed the "Shocking the Hundred Miles" technique.

The powerful palm strike was like a raging storm, and tiny cracks appeared in the air barrier.

Taking advantage of the situation, he unleashed "Riding the Six Dragons," six golden dragon shadows and celestial silkworm silk forming a deathly net. Wherever it passed, the air crackled with unbearable force. Luo Li's Purple Thunder Palm was shattered by the dragon shadows, and he was sent flying backward, crashing into the mountain wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The gale, carrying icicles like thousands of steel needles, scraped the bark of the ancient pine tree, causing it to fall off in a rustling sound.

Shi Feiyang was covered in blood, his glassy eyes reflecting the surging sea of ​​clouds.

As Tu Weng's Qingfeng sword cleaved through the wind and snow, Luo Li's Purple Thunder Palm exploded on the other side, and purple lightning, like a venomous snake, devoured his throat.

Luo Li roared, "What kind of gang leader are you? You're nothing but a greenhorn!" He unleashed the "Purple Lightning Sky-Shattering" move with ferocity! The lightning in his palm surged three zhang.

Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor evaded, but leaped into the air and struck down from above, unleashing a move called "Flying Dragon in the Sky" with both palms. The golden dragon shadow roared and smashed through the thunderstorm. With a deafening roar, Luo Li was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. His back slammed against the mountain wall with a sickening cracking sound, and the blood he spat out condensed into a blood mist in the air, staining half of the cliff face red.

However, Tu Weng's sword strike had already arrived. The three azure sword energies of "Taiyue Three Green Peaks" thrust forward in a triangular pattern. Before the sword blades even arrived, the chilling sword energy had already cut spiderweb-like cracks into Shi Feiyang's clothes.

Unexpectedly, Shi Feiyang, relying on the protection of the Mingyu Gong, abandoned his vital points and suddenly closed in, his figure turning into a blur, and silver light burst forth from his palm.

The silkworm silk released from the palm strike was like a serpent emerging from its hole, instantly wrapping around the sword. Tu Weng felt his internal energy draining away like water bursting its banks, and the blood from the ruptured tiger's mouth meandered down the blade.

"If you don't acknowledge me as the leader of the Beggars' Gang, I'll beat you until you do!" Shi Feiyang sneered, making a mocking remark, and unleashed the move "Dragon Battle in the Wilds," his palms striking out with a devastating force.

The ground exploded with a deafening roar, sending rubble and blood flying into the sky. A Qi Sect disciple was unable to dodge in time and was torn in two by the shockwave, his internal organs scattering like raindrops. Tu Weng staggered backward, his clothes shattered by Shi Feiyang's palm strike, revealing a hideous purplish-black palm print.

Xiao Heling's pupils contracted sharply, and his longsword unleashed nine sword flowers. Immediately afterward, he used the "Two Elements Separation" technique, where yin and yang sword energies intertwined to form a net of death, aiming directly at Shi Feiyang's vital points. However, Shi Feiyang's figure twisted strangely, appearing behind Xiao Heling like a ghost, his silken threads clinging to his collarbone like a bone-deep infection.

"Elder Xiao, you flatter me." Shi Feiyang's voice rang in his ear, and Xiao Heling felt his internal energy freeze instantly, his long sword clattering to the ground. Just then, Tu Yanfei's scream suddenly erupted from the crowd.

Taking advantage of the chaos, a Qi Sect disciple shot a bone-piercing nail from his sleeve towards Shi Feiyang's back like a meteor. Before anyone could see how Shi Feiyang made his move, a silver thread pierced the air, and the bone-piercing nail exploded in mid-air, turning into dust that scattered on the snow.

Shi Feiyang slowly turned around, his glassy eyes sweeping over everyone before finally landing on Tu Yanfei's pale face.

At that moment, it seemed as if only the howling wind and the intertwined breaths of the two remained in the world.

Tu Yanfei looked at him, recalling the words "Ellie, my beloved wife" from last night, and her heart trembled.

"Stop!" She didn't know where she got the courage, but she rushed out of the battle and stood in front of Shi Feiyang.

The wind and snow lifted her red dress, making her look like a red plum blossom blooming in a rain of blood.

Tu Weng and the others withdrew, but Luo Li was furious: "Nephew! This villain has slaughtered my sect's disciples..."

"Enough! You were the ones who provoked them first! That disciple who died tragically attacked them in a despicable and shameless manner, didn't you see that?" Tu Yanfei drew her sword, pointing it at Shi Feiyang, then at Luo Li, the tip of the sword trembling.

Luo Li was speechless for a moment, his face flushed red, but no one could tell that he was blushing.

Looking into Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes, Tu Yanfei recalled the warmth of his embrace and the deep sorrow in his eyes, and her heart was filled with emotions she couldn't even understand herself.

Shi Feiyang's lips curled into a half-smile, and his Heavenly Silkworm Technique slowly receded, yet a murderous intent lurked beneath his robes.

The wind and snow intensified, freezing the blood on the ground into dark red ice crystals. The standoff between the two factions of experts and the mysterious gang leader reached a stalemate, with only Tu Yanfei's sword tip drawing a hesitant arc in the wind and snow, as if severing the boundary between reason and emotion.

A fierce wind swept across the treacherous peak, carrying away the remaining snow and gradually covering the bloodstains on the ground.

Tu Weng gazed at the faint aura of true energy surrounding Shi Feiyang, and the clear, melodious sound of the Qingfeng Sword fading into its sheath.

He suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the valley, showing no trace of the disheveled state he had just displayed in the fierce battle: "Chief Xiang's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms are truly a perfect blend of strength and gentleness, unpredictable and beyond the comprehension of ghosts and gods! I, Tu, have roamed the martial world for thirty years, and only today do I realize that there are heavens beyond heavens."

Shi Feiyang brushed the bloodstains from his sleeves, his crystal eyes reflecting the surging sea of ​​clouds: "Sect Leader Tu, you flatter me. The Huashan sword technique is profound and extensive. If it weren't for my good fortune, how could I have withstood your high-level moves?" In order to win the support of the Beggar Clan from various martial arts sects, Shi Feiyang won the fight, and after the fight, he said a few words of humility.

His gaze swept over Xiao Heling's pale knuckles, then settled on Luo Li's gloomy face. "Seniors, I apologize for my earlier offense." Luo Li snorted coldly, the remaining lightning of his Purple Thunder Palm flickering in his palm: "What a stroke of luck! Seven of my Qi Sect disciples were killed or injured. This debt..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tu Weng stepped in front of him, the jade pendant at his waist clinking crisply. "Elder Luo!" Tu Weng turned his head, his eyes gleaming. "In the code of the martial world, the capable shall prevail. Chief Xiang has impressed everyone with his unparalleled martial arts. How can our Huashan Sect act like those street thugs, fighting for victory even when we're the ones who lose? Besides, it was indeed us who provoked him first and launched a sneak attack on Chief Xiang. He acted in self-defense, so his life or death is no one's fault but his."

He suddenly turned around, clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Shi Feiyang, and said with fluid movements, "To show my sincerity, I am willing to offer my eldest disciple Gu Yi and my daughter Tu Yanfei to the Beggars' Sect. In the future, the Huashan Sword Sect will surely be a pillar of the Beggars' Sect!"

These words shocked everyone. Tu Yanfei nearly dropped her sword, her almond-shaped eyes wide as she looked at her father: "Father! This..."

Gu Yue had already knelt on one knee, his moon-white robe stained with blood, but his expression was as firm as iron as he said to Shi Feiyang, "Chief Xiang, Gu Yue is willing to serve you like a dog!" Xiao Heling stroked his beard and sighed, a look of relief flashing in his eyes, "Chief Xiang, I have offended you greatly before, please forgive me." He sheathed his long sword, his movements even slower than usual, "From now on, the Huashan Sword Sect will stand with the Beggar Clan."

Luo Li's face was ashen, and the purple lightning palm force within his sleeve surged forth, only to be forcefully suppressed. He suddenly turned and flicked his sleeve, a gust of wind whipping up the hem of his black robe: "Qi Sect disciple, come back to the mountain with me!" Before leaving, he glared fiercely at Tu Yanfei, "Tu girl, don't regret this!"

Shi Feiyang watched the departing figures of the Qi Sect members and suddenly burst into laughter. He stepped forward, helped Gu Yi up, and then bowed deeply to Tu Weng: "Sect Leader Tu's noble character is truly admirable. To be honest, the Beggar Clan has formed an alliance with the Red Flower Society, aiming to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. If we can obtain the assistance of Mount Hua, great things can be expected!"

The butcher's knife at his waist moved automatically without wind, faintly emitting a dragon's roar. "When the Beggars' Sect is revitalized, I will repay you with a spring of gratitude! Oh, this is just a small token, please accept it!" After saying this, he took out two large silver ingots, each weighing a hundred taels, from the deerskin bag at his waist, which was invisible to ordinary people, and stuffed them into Tu Weng's hand, saying with concern, "Life is not easy for people in the martial arts world, please do not refuse!"

Looking into Shi Feiyang's crystal-clear eyes, Tu Weng accepted the two large silver ingots and said with emotion, "Good!" He patted Shi Feiyang's shoulder heavily, "I, Tu, am looking forward to it! From now on, my daughter Tu Yanfei and my unworthy disciple Gu Yi will be under the command of Chief Xiang."

Amidst the howling mountain wind, Tu Weng led the Sword Sect members away. Shi Feiyang watched Tu Weng's departing figure, lost in thought: Tu Weng's sudden change of attitude to support the Beggar Clan must have been driven by a variety of complex considerations.

Indeed, several factors intertwined, prompting Tu Weng to make this crucial decision: First, the sheer power of Xiang Tiange's martial arts. In his fierce battle against the Huashan Sect, Xiang Tiange displayed unfathomable skill. His Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms were incomparably powerful, and his Heavenly Silkworm Skill was unpredictable and treacherous. Neither Luo Li's Purple Thunder Palm nor Tu Weng's own Taiyue Swordplay could gain the upper hand against Xiang Tiange. In the martial world, strength is paramount, and Tu Weng knew that making enemies of such a figure was unwise. Rather than mutually assured destruction, it was better to forge a friendship and seek a more favorable future for the Huashan Sect.

Secondly, there was the weighing of strategic interests: "Xiang Tiange" bluntly stated that the Beggars' Sect was joining forces with the Red Flower Society, aiming to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. Tu Weng, as the leader of the Huashan Sect, possessed a long-term strategic vision.

He understood that under the current circumstances, with the Qing Dynasty's strict rule, it was difficult for martial arts sects to survive and thrive alone. Joining forces with powerful and ambitious groups like the Beggars' Sect and the Red Flower Society would not only enhance the Huashan Sect's influence but also secure a place in the anti-Qing cause. If successful, the Huashan Sect would be remembered in history; even in defeat, it would gain more allies within the martial arts world, improving its resilience.

Thirdly, there are considerations regarding the sect's succession: there is a certain degree of competition and conflict between the Sword Sect and the Qi Sect within the Huashan Sect. Elder Luo Li of the Qi Sect suffered a defeat in the fierce battle and displayed an impulsive and belligerent nature. If he continues to be an enemy of the Beggars' Sect, it could plunge the Huashan Sect into an even greater crisis, and even affect the sect's succession and development.

Tu Weng sent his daughter Tu Yanfei and his eldest disciple Gu Yi to the Beggars' Sect. On the one hand, this was to express his sincerity to Shi Feiyang. On the other hand, he also hoped to take this opportunity to let his disciples experience and grow in a broader martial arts environment, learn the strengths of the Beggars' Sect, improve the overall strength of the Huashan Sect disciples, and lay the foundation for the long-term development of the sect.

Fourthly, there's the emotional factor surrounding Tu Yanfei: Tu Weng noticed his daughter Tu Yanfei's special feelings for "Xiang Tiange." From Tu Yanfei's actions during the fierce battle to stop the crowd for "Xiang Tiange," and her complex expression afterward, Tu Weng realized his daughter's heart already belonged to someone else. As a father, he hoped his daughter could find a good home. Sending his daughter to "Xiang Tiange's" side would not only fulfill his daughter's wishes but also further solidify the alliance between the Huashan Sect and the Beggar Clan through this relationship—a win-win situation.

Tu Yanfei watched her father's receding figure, her heart filled with complex emotions. Last night she tossed and turned, unable to sleep because of that person, and today she was forced to stay by his side again.

She bit her lip and turned around, only to see Shi Feiyang looking at her, his glassy eyes sparkling like stars. "Miss Tu," Shi Feiyang handed her a clean handkerchief, his tone unusually gentle, "thank you for helping me out earlier."

The handkerchief was embroidered with half a lotus flower, and the edges were somewhat worn, making it seem like something worn close to the body.

Tu Yanfei instinctively wanted to refuse, but then she saw Gu Yi casting an encouraging glance at her from the side.

When she took the handkerchief, her fingertips touched the thin calluses on the other person's palm, and her heart suddenly trembled.

The cries of returning birds echoed in the distance, and the setting sun cast long shadows of the two figures, weaving strange patterns on the blood-red snow.

Gu Yi watched this scene and silently gripped the long sword at his waist.

He recalled the look in his master's eyes when he entrusted him with this mission, and Tu Yanfei's red, swollen eyes from crying the previous night. "Chief Xiang," he bowed again, his voice firm, "though Gu Yi is unworthy, he will face any danger without hesitation!" Shi Feiyang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the cliffs of Tianxian Peak. There, the traces of a fierce battle remained: broken ancient pines, shattered rocks, and blood that had not yet congealed.

As dusk deepened, the three walked slowly along the mountain path toward "Broken Cloud Cliff".

As Tu Yanfei gazed at Shi Feiyang's tall and straight back, the lotus flower on the handkerchief in her hand seemed to come alive, swaying gently in the wind.

She didn't know what kind of world awaited her, but she felt her heart pounding even harder than during a sword fight.

Upon reaching the Broken Cliff, Shi Feiyang gazed at the cliff face, which was faintly visible deep within the clouds, and his glassy eyes flashed with an icy light.

The deerskin pouch at his waist suddenly felt slightly warm, as if echoing the chilling aura emanating from afar.

"Trespassers shall die." The icy voice came from the clouds, causing the snow on the cliff edge to fall in a rustling sound.

A figure in white robes gracefully arrived, stepping on suspended pine branches, the judge's pen in his hand gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light.

Tu Yanfei's heart clenched—Shi Feiyang was venturing into danger alone, and she desperately wanted to rush out and warn him, but her legs seemed nailed to the ground. "Are you perhaps the Jade-Faced Judge Lu Chenzhou? I am Xiang Tiange, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, and I have come today to invite you to serve as an elder of our sect." Shi Feiyang stood with his fists clasped, his voice as steady as a bell.

Looking at his straight back, Tu Yanfei recalled the tears she had shed for him last night, and felt a tightness in her chest, yet also hoped that he could leave this dangerous place as soon as possible. Before she could finish speaking, Lu Chenzhou lightly touched the ground with his toes, and the Judge's Pen was already out of its hole like a venomous snake.

Tu Yanfei instinctively covered her mouth, her nails almost digging into her palm.

The moment the golden dragon shadow and the ink-black brush light collided, a blinding white light seemed to explode before her eyes, and her heart jumped into her throat.

Seeing Lu Chenzhou retreat three steps while Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back, his body completely undisturbed, she finally dared to breathe a sigh of relief, only to hear the thunderous pounding of her own heart in her ears.

"Judge Lu, your skills over the past ten years are nothing more than this. That palm strike just now, I only used one-tenth of my strength." Shi Feiyang's words were like a sharp blade, not only piercing Lu Chenzhou but also making Tu Yanfei's heart tremble. She looked at the crystalline light flowing in his palm, then at Lu Chenzhou's suddenly gloomy face, fearing that his arrogant words would anger the other party and put Shi Feiyang in danger.

When Lu Chenzhou roared and gripped the judge's pen, unleashing a shower of cold stars, Tu Yanfei could no longer control herself and took half a step forward.

Her gaze was fixed on Shi Feiyang, watching him calmly respond, but every time the judge's pen approached, she felt her breath catch in her throat.

The strong wind whipped up ice shards like thousands of fine needles, stinging Tu Yanfei's cheeks.

She hid behind an ancient pine tree, her fingertips digging into the bark, watching Shi Feiyang and Lu Chenzhou confront each other in the wind and snow. The corner of the man's coarse cloth clothes fluttered in the wind, and his glassy eyes reflected the surging sea of ​​clouds. Despite his disheveled appearance, he exuded a chilling aura.

Just as the pen tip was about to touch Shi Feiyang's throat, Lu Chenzhou suddenly changed his move, and Tu Yanfei was surprised to find that his palms were covered in cold sweat.

"Why did you hold back?" Shi Feiyang's question echoed in the wind and snow.

Looking at Lu Chenzhou's pale face, and then at the doubt flashing in Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes, Tu Yanfei suddenly felt that there seemed to be a thousand threads connecting the two of them. But her heart was only tied to that free and unrestrained figure.

Lu Chenzhou said sadly, "Because I accidentally killed my best brother!"

As Lu Chenzhou recounted that sad past, Tu Yanfei's eyes welled up with tears.

She recalled Shi Feiyang's embrace and his longing words, "Ellie, my beloved wife." Now, seeing him facing Lu Chenzhou's questioning, she felt a pang of heartache for him.

She desperately wanted to rush out and share his burden, but reason told her that showing herself now would only cause more trouble.

When Lu Chenzhou launched another sudden attack, Tu Yanfei's heart almost stopped beating.

The dark blue, lightning-like judge aimed straight for Shi Feiyang's throat, but froze just three inches from her skin. In that instant, she finally understood her own feelings—unconsciously, she had already etched this mysterious Beggar Clan leader into the softest corner of her heart.

Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes trembled slightly, and the golden true energy flowing in his palm quietly dissipated.

Seeing the pain surging in Lu Chenzhou's eyes, he quickly comforted him, saying, "More than a hundred years ago, the brothers of the Xiong Ying Society fought and bled under the iron hooves of the Qing soldiers."

He spoke slowly, his voice carried by the wind and snow to the vast mountains, “Some people shielded their companions from arrows, some used their last breath to ignite gunpowder, they told me with their lives—those who bear sins can only find redemption by washing blood with blood.”

Lu Chenzhou's hand, gripping the pen, veins bulging: "Blood for blood? But I..."

"Now that I am the leader of the Beggars' Sect, I know even better the dangers of the martial world." As Shi Feiyang turned around, his glassy eyes blended with the cold light of the snow. "A sect that wants to establish itself is nothing but fish on a chopping board if it doesn't have masters to support it. Judge Lu, do you really want to spend the rest of your life on this lonely peak, burdened by guilt?"

The north wind whipped up icicles like thousands of flying knives, tearing the night sky of Broken Cloud Cliff to pieces.

A sharp whistle pierced the sky from the bottom of the cliff, and more than twenty dark figures climbed up like a leech. The leader, a bronze-masked man, had nine blood-dripping beads at his waist that gleamed with an eerie light, and the swaying chains even brought with them gusts of foul wind.

"What a silver-tongued Beggar Clan leader!" The masked man's laughter ripped through the night sky. "Overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming? Nothing but a pipe dream!"

Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes narrowed sharply, and the crystalline light flowing from the Heavenly Silkworm Technique in his palm reflected the cold gleam of the Blood Droplet in the night.

Tu Yanfei gripped the sword hilt tightly, her nails digging deep into her palm. Gu Yi drew his longsword, its blade reflecting her pale face: "Junior sister, be careful!" Before the words were finished, the two of them were already standing side by side with Shi Feiyang.

The cold wind blew the stray hairs at Tu Yanfei's temples. As she gazed at Shi Feiyang's tall and straight back, a strange flutter rose in her heart.

Lu Chenzhou swung his judge's pen, the ruby ​​on the handle pulsating as if weeping blood: "Chief Xiang, let me repay this favor to you first!"

He shot out like an arrow, his "Judge's Soul-Pointing" killing move aimed straight for the masked man's throat.

The masked man sneered and grabbed the pen with his bare hands: "Ten years have passed, and your moves are still unchanged!" With a violent flick, Lu Chenzhou staggered and flew backward. Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Dragon Appears in the Field" technique with both palms, and a golden dragon shadow roared as it crashed into the masked man.

The blood-dripping chains suddenly swelled, crushing the palm strike, while three shadowy judge's pens attacked from treacherous angles.

"Watch out!" Shi Feiyang shouted, grabbing Tu Yanfei's slender waist and spinning to avoid the attack.

Tu Yanfei felt a sudden dizziness and landed in an embrace that carried a faint scent of blood. Warm breath brushed against her ear: "Miss Tu, don't panic!"

Gu You's longsword had already transformed into a blue light and thrust out. Tu Yanfei steadied herself, broke free from Shi Feiyang's embrace, and with a sharp cry, swung her sword forward. Together with her senior brother Gu You, she unleashed the Huashan sword technique "Taiyue Three Green Peaks." The sword light resembled an endless mountain range, and amidst the crisscrossing sword energy, two Blood Droplet assassins were unable to dodge in time, their throats precisely pierced, and their blood splattered onto the snow like blooming red plum blossoms.

Upon seeing this, the masked man suddenly released the Blood Droplet, and the nine iron beads wove a net of death in the air.

Shi Feiyang unleashed "Dense Clouds Without Rain" with both palms, but the resulting energy shield shattered the moment it touched the Blood Droplet.

Lu Chenzhou's face turned deathly pale: "This is... my improved 'Three Yin Soul-Severing Brush'!" Shi Feiyang activated his Heavenly Silkworm Skill to its fullest extent, and the silver light in his palm surged. Countless silver threads cascaded down like a silver river, piercing through the chest guard of an assassin.

The man screamed and flew backward, his internal organs being shredded into a bloody mist by the internal force, exploding into a dazzling yet terrifying blood flower in the night.

Throughout the fierce battle, Shi Feiyang always protected Tu Yanfei behind him. Whenever a hidden weapon came, he would instantly shield her, and several bloodstains gradually appeared on his robes.

Tu Yanfei felt a surge of warmth as she watched Shi Feiyang fight valiantly.

She bit her lip, her sword flashing even faster, her moves becoming increasingly sharp. Gu Yi shouted a warning from the side, "Junior sister, watch out for the left!" The two worked in perfect harmony, and in the flash of their swords, another Blood Droplet assassin fell into a pool of blood.

The fiercer the wind and snow, the more brutal the battle on the cliff top became.

Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes were brimming with killing intent, yet he still remembered to look after those around him: "Brother Gu, protect Judge Lu! Miss Tu, don't linger in the fight!" His words, though brief, warmed Tu Yanfei's heart. She wielded her long sword even faster, determined to fight alongside Shi Feiyang and defeat the powerful enemy together.

The north wind whipped up snowflakes like thousands of cold blades, tearing the night sky of Broken Cloud Cliff into chaotic fragments.

The masked man's horn wailed, and the twenty blood-dripping guillotines trembled simultaneously. The sharp cracking of chains mixed with the sound of air being torn apart, weaving a chilling giant net of death on the cliff top.

Tu Yanfei's fingertips, gripping the sword, were already white with cold when Shi Feiyang suddenly appeared beside her like a golden lightning bolt: "Miss Tu, follow me!"

Shi Feiyang struck out with both palms, creating a "Double Dragons Drawing Water" pattern. Two golden dragon shadows intertwined with the silkworm silk to form a yin-yang symbol. He then gestured with his left palm, causing Tu Yanfei to stagger back three steps. Just then, three chains grazed her hair, severing her black hair and sending it flying in a flash of blood.

Gu Yue's longsword moved like a dragon, and the "Three Green Peaks of Taiyue" sword move slashed at the assassin on the right. The moment the sword tip severed the blood-dripping chain, Tu Yanfei had already swung his sword to finish the job, and the tip of the sword accurately pierced the opponent's throat.

Lu Chenzhou wielded his judge's brush, unleashing the "Thirteen Styles of the Judge," the ink-black gleam and the dragon-like silk threads reflecting each other.

Suddenly, the masked man unfurled a black banner, and a chilling wind carrying a putrid stench swept over them.

A dozen zombies suddenly emerged from the snow, their bluish-gray fingernails gleaming eerily, and the gold thread on their official robes already soaked with blood.

Just as Tu Yanfei was about to thrust her sword forward, her waist suddenly tightened—Shi Feiyang had pulled her into the air, and the palm strike of "Dragon Fighting in the Wild" blasted a trench more than ten feet deep into the ground, sending rubble flying like bullets towards the zombie horde.

"Brother Lu, guard the east side, I'll break the formation's eye!" Shi Feiyang gently placed Tu Yanfei among the branches of an ancient pine tree, his palm cascading with silver threads like a torrential downpour.

The moment the silk pierced through the zombie's seven orifices, the rotting flesh emitted a white mist and made a sizzling sound that made one's teeth ache.

Tu Yanfei watched his blood-soaked back, seeing how he had taken a fatal blow to his left shoulder from a flying bone nail, his coarse cloth shorts instantly splitting open with a scarlet gash. The moment the masked man threw out the copper bell, its sound pierced eardrums like thousands of steel needles.

Tu Yanfei felt a sharp pain in his head, and he could barely hold the long sword in his hand. Just then, he saw Shi Feiyang rushing towards him like a roc spreading its wings.

He unleashed a powerful palm strike that shook the world, the force of which carried with it a blizzard. Simultaneously, he unleashed three strands of silkworm silk that bound Tu Yanfei's wrists, pulling her forcefully into his embrace. The shockwave that shattered the bronze bell sent everyone reeling. Tu Yanfei, pressed against his violently heaving chest, heard his hoarse voice, tinged with the stench of blood: "Close your eyes, don't look!" Gu Lu's swordplay suddenly became as sharp as lightning. Using the momentum of the shockwave, his longsword aimed straight for the throats of the two men in black.

Tu Yanfei broke free from Shi Feiyang's embrace, let out a delicate shout, and twirled her soft sword into seven sword flowers.

She deliberately avoided Shi Feiyang's front, seeking out assassins from the side; where the sword's edge sliced, blood and snowflakes danced together.

When the last assassin fell to the ground, she realized that Shi Feiyang had been half-turned, protecting her within the barrier of palm winds and silk threads.

The cliff top returned to silence, with only the howling of wind and snow remaining.

Shi Feiyang was covered in blood, but his glassy eyes shone like cold stars.

His gaze toward Tu Yanfei held a hint of weary tenderness. He reached out to wipe the bloodstains from her temples, but froze the moment he touched her hair.

As Tu Yanfei gazed at his blood-stained fingertips, she suddenly recalled how he had protected her countless times just now. Her heart trembled, and she heard her own heartbeat more clearly than ever before.

As Lu Chenzhou watched him fight against the enemy, his hand, which had been gripping the judge's pen, finally stopped trembling.

As the last man in black fell to the ground, Shi Feiyang turned and extended his hand: "Brother Lu, would you be willing to roam the martial world with me?"

Lu Chenzhou stared at the blood beads that had formed on the other person's palm, then looked at the surging sea of ​​clouds in the distance.

The gloom of ten years ago vanished in that moment. He tucked the judge's pen into his sleeve and revealed his first smile in ten years: "From this day forward, my life belongs to the gang leader."

The gale was like a thousand poisoned steel knives, making the ancient pines on the cliff creak and groan. Just as Shi Feiyang and Lu Chenzhou's toes touched the snow-covered rock surface, the snow floating in mid-air suddenly and eerily froze into icicles, and the mountain wind, carrying the stench of rotting corpses, rushed towards them.

At this moment, more than twenty dark figures, like a leech, rushed up the cliff face, their black outfits gleaming like snake scales in the waning moonlight, and the blood-dripping chains at their waists clanging together with a sharp, teeth-grinding sound.

"Lu Chenzhou, ten years have passed, and you still can't escape!" Dark red blood seeped from the gaps in the mask of the leading man in black, and the judge's pen in his hand emitted a purple light, the dark patterns on the tip of the pen being exactly the same as those on Lu Chenzhou's weapon.

Tu Yanfei's hand, which was gripping the longsword, was suddenly enveloped by a warm sensation. Shi Feiyang had appeared in front of her without her noticing: "Miss Tu, please take three steps back."

Lu Chenzhou's knuckles turned white as he gripped the pen, the nightmare of the blood-soaked arena ten years ago surging before his eyes. Shi Feiyang unleashed "Flying Dragon in the Sky" with both palms, two golden dragon shadows roaring and tearing through the night, but then the man in black lightly touched the tip of his pen, and the mountain wind instantly condensed into a wall of ink-black energy.

The moment the Dragon Subduing Palm struck the wall of energy, rubble flew out within a radius of ten feet. Tu Yanfei instinctively closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw Shi Feiyang's sleeves fluttering, and the Heavenly Silkworm Silk poured down like a silver river, shredding all the flying rubble into dust.

"They may know the moves, but they lack your mindset!" Shi Feiyang's deep shout, mixed with the wind and snow, entered Lu Chenzhou's ears.

A sharp whistle suddenly rang out from the ranks of men in black, and twenty judge's pens came flying through the air, forming a deadly "Big Dipper Formation".

Lu Chenzhou let out a long roar and unleashed the "Thirteen Deadly Strokes of the Judge," the ink-black strokes weaving a net of death in the air. However, the man in black neither dodged nor avoided, and the tip of his pen precisely pointed at the old flaw in his move.

Seeing Lu Chenzhou's chest tremble violently and blood spill from his throat, Tu Yanfei instinctively reached out to draw her sword and step forward.

Shi Feiyang, however, was a step ahead of her. His body surged with silver light, and he activated the Heavenly Silkworm Technique to its fullest extent. (End of Chapter)