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

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook gleamed coldly in the morning light, its tip still dripping with the blood of last night's battle: "Your Highness, the enemy has breached the east gate. This humble general will escort you away first!" Shi Feiyang shook his head, handing the old woman to Chen Feng. His heavy black iron sword was drawn three inches from its sheath, the blade reflecting his resolute brows: "If I retreat, what will become of the people?" Before the cellar in the west of the city, Chen Feng blocked the way, waving his large black gold fan: "Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince of the Qing Dynasty. If anything happens to you..."

Shi Feiyang raised his hand and pressed down on his shoulder, feeling the coolness of Mingyu Gong in his palm: "Listen to my command!" After saying that, he turned and walked towards the battlefield, his black cloak fluttering in the morning mist, like a battle flag that would never fade.

The "Wolf Howling Formation" of the Junggars surged in like a tide. Shi Feiyang leaped onto the city wall, and Ming Yugong activated the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Ice Soul Cold Prison". The cold mist around him transformed into ice crystal armor, which was dazzling in the sunlight.

He used his palm as a sword, and the palm wind from the "Hundred Victories Sword Technique: Viewing the Vast Ocean" was like a raging sea, sending the first cavalrymen who had climbed the city walls flying three zhang away.

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook followed closely behind, severing the ropes of the siege ladder. Amidst screams, the enemy soldiers fell like ants.

"Protect the people!" Shi Feiyang's roar, mixed with the sandstorm, swept over the city. Bai Zhen's powerful Eagle Claw technique had already set up a defensive line at the city gate. With a few swift movements of the iron claws, the throats of three cavalrymen were pierced, and drops of blood splattered onto the city wall, freezing into red ice crystals.

Watching Shi Feiyang's figure darting through the enemy ranks, he suddenly remembered what the prince had said: "The suffering of the people is my suffering." Seeing him now risking his life to protect the people, he felt his blood boil and his iron claws swung even more fiercely.

Chen Feng was throwing flying darts from the rooftop when he suddenly saw a troop of enemy cavalry charging towards the cellar entrance. He swiftly waved his folding fan, and thirty-six bone-piercing nails shot out, accurately striking the warhorse in the eyes. The startled warhorse reared up, throwing its rider to the ground.

"You scoundrels, if you want to harm the common people, you'll have to get past me, Chen Feng, first!" He laughed, the four characters "Eternal Strength of the Mountains and Rivers" on the fan were stained red with blood, yet they stood out even more.

Seeing that there was no immediate danger in the direction of the cellar, Shi Feiyang felt somewhat relieved.

Suddenly, they heard a child crying from the left. Turning around, they saw a Dzungar soldier raising his sword to strike a boy hiding in the ruins.

His pupils contracted sharply, and he used the profound "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to pounce like a ghost. The vortex suction force of the Mingyu Skill was activated, forcibly pulling the blade off course. The soldier stared in horror at the young man who exuded a chilling aura, and his curved sword clattered to the ground.

"Get lost!" Shi Feiyang shouted coldly, his palm sweeping across the soldier's chest, the cold air instantly freezing his meridians.

Shi Feiyang bent down and picked up the boy. The boy's tear stains were still wet, but he gradually stopped crying when he touched Shi Feiyang's warm chest.

Looking at the child in his arms, Shi Feiyang felt a surge of tenderness as he thought of his young son in the palace. He whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

At this moment, Ashina Sun's wolf-headed staff once again stirred up a sandstorm. Shi Feiyang handed the boy to Bai Zhen, who had rushed over, and unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation" technique with all his might from his Xuan Tie Heavy Blade. The golden blade energy transformed into a giant dragon phantom, colliding violently with the sandstorm. Ice crystals and yellow sand exploded in the air, as dazzling as fireworks.

Ashina Falcon screamed and flew backward, his wolf-headed staff shattering into dust.

Seeing that the Grand Preceptor had suffered another crushing defeat, the Dzungar army's morale collapsed, and they retreated in disarray.

Shi Feiyang stood on the city wall, looking at the mess on the ground, while the boy in his arms had fallen into a deep sleep.

He gently stroked the child's hair and said to Wei Nianhua, who had rushed over, "Calculate the casualties, open the granaries and distribute the grain, and make sure that the people have food to eat and clothes to wear."

Looking at his blood-stained clothes, Chen Feng sighed, "Your Highness disregarded your own safety to protect the people; you are truly a benevolent ruler for all time."

Shi Feiyang gazed at the rising sun in the east and said softly, "I dare not claim to be a benevolent ruler, but I pray that the people will no longer be displaced or suffer the pain of war. This world ultimately belongs to the people."

As wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of the city, Shi Feiyang handed the boy over to his parents.

The couple knelt on the ground and refused to get up. Shi Feiyang quickly helped them up, his eyes filled with gentle warmth: "Get up, live a good life, there will be no more war in the future." As he turned to leave, he heard children's laughter behind him, and his heart was filled with warmth.

Following behind Shi Feiyang, Wei Nianhua gazed at his weary yet resolute back and suddenly understood—on the shoulders of this Prince Bao lay not the throne, but the happiness and well-being of all people. And they, fortunate to follow such a master, would have no regrets even in death.

The setting sun gilded the city wall with gold. Shi Feiyang climbed the city tower, his heavy black iron sword planted at his feet, the two characters "Cang Sheng" on the hilt shining brightly in the afterglow.

He gazed at the myriad lights of homes and murmured softly, "Yanfei, do you see this? This is the warmth of human life that we must protect."

The following day, the crimson sunset dyed the foothills of the Tianshan Mountains crimson. Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back atop Monkey Mouth Cliff, his black cloak fluttering in the fierce wind, like a peerless divine weapon unsheathed. The ancient seal script engraved on the heavy black iron sword at his waist emitted a cold light, and his crystal eyes were fixed on the winding Baiyang River Valley, stretching for hundreds of miles—this natural barrier was the noose that bound the 100,000 enemy cavalry.

"Report! The enemy's vanguard has reached the north entrance of the valley!" Before the scout finished speaking, Shi Feiyang had already drawn his long sword.

The glint of the blade made his eyebrows appear as if painted with ink, and his eyes as bright as stars.

He turned to look at the generals behind him, his voice clear and resonant like the clash of metal: "Commander Wei will lead the elite troops to defend the West Peak, Mr. Chen will ambush in the East Valley, and Guard Bai will provide support from the center. Remember, this battle is not about killing the enemy, but about trapping them. The people of the world have suffered greatly from war; let there be as little bloodshed as possible."

Wei Nianhua gripped the parting hook tightly, its dark blue light reflecting off the cliff face. He said in a deep voice, "This subordinate understands. We will make sure the enemy never returns!" Chen Feng waved his black gold fan, the four characters "Strategic Planning" on the fan fluttering in the wind: "The quicksand caves on both sides of the valley are a divinely ordained killing move."

Bai Zhen embedded his iron claws deep into the rock, his knuckles cracking like a series of cannon shots: "Golden claws and iron hooks, specializing in breaking through heavy armor!" At three-quarters past midnight, all was silent. Suddenly, the sound of hooves like muffled thunder came from the north, and the Dzungar cavalry pressed down like dark clouds, their iron armor gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

Shi Feiyang stood on the cliff tip, activating his Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Ice Soul Cold Prison," his body shimmering with a glassy luster, resembling a war god sculpted from ice and snow.

He suddenly swung his sword and unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Cloud," the sword wind whipping up sand and gravel that condensed into a massive ice shield in the air.

"Not good! An ambush!" Before the Dzungar vanguard officer could finish speaking, Wei Nianhua had already swooped down like an eagle.

The farewell hook traced a strange arc, instantly seizing the throats of three cavalrymen.

On the western peak, three hundred warriors simultaneously threw out oil-soaked torches, igniting the withered grass on the cliff edge.

Fueled by the wind, the fire instantly formed a hundred-meter-high wall of fire on the west side of the valley, with heat waves and thick smoke shooting straight into the sky.

Chen Feng sneered in the East Valley, lightly waved his folding fan, and twelve blood droplets shot out into the air.

With a few sharp "crack" sounds, the ropes of the suspension bridge at the valley entrance snapped.

Lieutenant General Mu Tie'a leaped from his ambush, brandishing his iron sword and unleashing his family's "Cold Star Sword Technique." His sword flashed like a shooting star, aiming specifically at the enemy cavalry's eyes. The iron sword clashed with the enemy's blade, sparks flying. Mu Tie'a roared, "You barbarians, how dare you invade the territory of my Great Qing!"

Bai Zhen unleashed his Eagle Claw Kung Fu, his iron claws moving like shooting stars, specifically targeting the throats of enemy riders.

He moved with incredible agility, charging left and right through the enemy ranks, leaving screams of agony in his wake. "Golden Claws and Iron Hooks, today I'll show you what they're all about!" he roared, his iron claws seizing an enemy general's helmet and yanking him off his horse.

General Sukhbaatar charged into the enemy ranks, brandishing his goose-feather saber. The blade flashed and the wind howled. "Come on! Who will fight me!" His roar was like thunder. He unleashed a powerful strike with his goose-feather saber, splitting an enemy general and his horse in two.

Blood splattered on his face, but he was oblivious and continued to fight bravely.

General Yue Zhongqi held a tiger-headed spear, its tip gleaming coldly. "Those who offend China, though far away, shall be punished!" he roared, and the tiger-headed spear, like a dragon emerging from the sea, charged straight at the enemy's central army.

Wherever the spear pointed, none could stop it, and in the blink of an eye, a gap was torn open in the enemy ranks.

Seeing that the enemy's formation was in disarray, Shi Feiyang let out a long roar and used the mysterious lightness skill of "Concealing One's Body and Name" to leap into the enemy's formation.

He gripped the heavy black iron saber, unleashing the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique: Slaying the Mortal World," the saber flashing with light and its energy surging. With a single slash, like a red lightning bolt, he instantly cut down three enemy soldiers. Activated by the Bright Jade Skill, the enemy weapons shattered wherever the saber energy reached.

Seeing this, Ashina Lie, the commander of the Dzungar Khanate, personally brandished his spiked club and charged forward: "Qing dogs, prepare to die!" Shi Feiyang neither dodged nor avoided, but used "Shifting Flowers and Jade" to redirect the force of the spiked club towards the enemy soldiers beside him.

At the same time, he swung his sword backhand with a "Severing the Edge of the Sky" strike, and in a flash, Ashina Lie's helmet was sliced ​​off.

The fierce battle raged until dawn, with the Dzungar army suffering heavy casualties, and the remaining troops trapped in the valley, unable to advance or retreat.

Looking at the mess on the ground, Shi Feiyang silently vowed that once the world was at peace, he would ensure that the people could live a peaceful and prosperous life and no longer suffer from the ravages of war.

General He Tie of the Dzungar Khanate, looking at his army trapped in the valley, was so angry that he overturned his command table: "Charge! Even if we flatten this valley, we will tear Hongli to pieces!" The cavalrymen charged forward with their shields raised, unaware of the deadly danger lurking beneath their feet.

A cold glint flashed in Shi Feiyang's eyes, and he roared, "Release the quicksand!" With the wave of the command flag, the quicksand pits on both sides of the East Valley opened with a roar, and tens of thousands of grains of sand poured down like a waterfall.

Bai Zhen unleashed the "Nine Forms of the Golden Eagle," his iron claws ploughing up the soft sand like a plow, mixing it with the falling quicksand to form a deadly sand vortex.

The cavalrymen's horses sank into the sand, and the more they struggled, the deeper they sank, until they were swallowed up by the yellow sand, leaving only their screams echoing everywhere.

Ashina Sun brandished his wolf-headed staff, attempting to disperse the quicksand with his "Sandstorm Demon Art," but Shi Feiyang used his "Flower Transference and Jade Grafting" divine skill to deflect all the sand. The wolf-headed staff shattered inch by inch in the sandstorm, and Ashina Sun was cut all over by the sand grains, fleeing in a sorry state.

Shi Feiyang lightly touched the ground with his toes and caught up like a ghost. The vortex suction force of Mingyu Gong was activated, pulling him back.

“Tell your new master,” Shi Feiyang said, gripping Ashina Sun’s pulse point, the cold air from his palm penetrating directly into his heart, “this Baiyang River Valley is the burial ground of the Dzungar rebels!” With that, he exerted his strength and flung Ashina Sun like a kite with a broken string into the sea of ​​sand, instantly buried by the quicksand.

The moment Ashina Lie's head rolled into the sand, the Dzungar army erupted in a bloodcurdling scream like wolves.

In the moonlight shattered by the iron hooves, Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes reflected the battlefield intertwined with blood and fire. He used his heavy iron sword to pick up the broken armor of an enemy general and shouted coldly, "Annihilate this scoundrel!" Before his words had even finished, six fierce generals had already shot into the chaotic army like arrows released from a bow.

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook drew a dark blue arc, and the iron chain wrapped around the hook emitted a hissing sound like a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

"The hook at the sticky pole, today I'll collect some lonely souls from foreign lands!" He lightly tapped his toes on the horse's back, and the hook tip precisely pierced the enemy soldier's throat. With a flick of his wrist, he flung the corpse toward the cavalry behind him.

The three riders were unable to dodge in time and were knocked off their horses by their companion's corpse, instantly trampled into a bloody pulp.

Chen Feng waved his large, black fan, the four characters "Strategic Planning" on its surface stained with blood. "The art of war says, 'Surround three sides and leave one open.' Today, I'll close the door and beat the dog!" The fan suddenly unfolded, and twelve blood-dripping droplets transformed into black meteors.

Amidst the clanging of iron teeth, the severed limbs and broken arms of the Dzungar army flew like falling leaves. Some cavalrymen tried to raise their shields to block, but they were shredded into pieces along with their shields. Blood mist splattered on Chen Feng's long robe, blooming like red plum blossoms.

Bai Zhen's iron claws gleamed coldly in the moonlight, each strike accompanied by the cracking sound of bones shattering. "Golden claws and iron hooks, specializing in breaking through heavy armor!" He moved with the agility of a monkey, darting freely through the enemy ranks.

When a burly Dzungar warrior swung his chain hammer at him, Bai Zhen suddenly curled up and rolled over, his iron claws reaching out like a snake, gouging into the opponent's eye sockets. The torn flesh, still connected to half of the optic nerve, swayed in the night.

Sukhbaatar's goose-feather saber stirred up a bloody wind. This fierce general from the grasslands had bloodshot eyes: "The sword technique my master taught me back then, I will return to you today!" The blade flashed, and the move "Splitting Mount Hua" carried the power to split mountains and shatter rocks. It cleaved an enemy soldier holding a curved sword in two. Internal organs and blood gushed out, splattering all over his face and body.

He was completely unaware of what was happening, laughing loudly as he charged into the enemy ranks, each swing of his goose-feather saber taking a life.

Mu Tie'a's iron sword danced, unleashing countless cold stars. His "Cold Star Sword Technique" was cunning and ruthless, specifically targeting the enemy's vitals. "These foreign traitors dare to covet the territory of my Great Qing!" His sword flashed like lightning as he charged left and right through the enemy ranks.

As a Dzungar archer drew his bow and nocked an arrow, Mutia suddenly leaped into the air, thrusting his iron sword straight into the opponent's throat. At the same time, he used the "Swallow Skimming Water" technique to snatch the bow and arrow and shoot it with his backhand. The arrow pierced the throats of both men, pinning them to the rock wall.

Yue Zhongqi's tiger-headed spear gleamed coldly, its tassel stained with blood like blooming red plum blossoms.

"Those who offend China, no matter how far away, shall be punished!" he shouted, spurring his horse into the enemy ranks.

When the Tiger Head Spear is unleashed, it's like a dragon emerging from the sea, its "spitting out a venomous snake" move aimed straight for the enemy general's heart.

The moment the spear pierced the armor, Yue Zhongqi flipped his wrist, lifting the enemy general into the air, and then swept the spear shaft across, shattering the heads of three cavalrymen, their brains and bone fragments scattering in all directions.

Shi Feiyang stood on a high place, activating his Mingyu Gong to the "Ice Soul Cold Prison" level, his body radiating a crystal-clear jade-colored halo.

He plunged the heavy iron sword into the sand and unleashed the "Hundred Victories Sword Technique: Burning Heaven and Earth!" with both palms.

The blazing sword energy, carrying an icy chill, swept across the enemy ranks like a tsunami.

Wherever they went, cavalrymen and their horses were frozen into ice sculptures, and then instantly evaporated by the high temperature, turning into a rain of blood.

When a Dzungar warrior attempted to break through the encirclement, Shi Feiyang used the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" technique, gently redirecting the spear thrusting at him towards his companion.

The spear pierced through the chests of seven men and became embedded in the rock face.

As the last enemy soldier knelt and begged for mercy, Shi Feiyang's heavy iron blade had already severed his head: "Born in a chaotic world, begging for mercy is useless."

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the smoke of battle, the Baiyang River Valley had become a hellish scene.

Blood mingled with the sand and gravel, congealing into dark red lumps; severed limbs hung from charred poplar trees, resembling eerie decorations.

Shi Feiyang wiped the blood off the knife, his glassy eyes gazing into the distance.

Wei Nianhua and the others gathered around and saw that although he was exhausted, he still stood tall and straight.

Chen Feng sighed, "Your Highness skillfully used the terrain to subdue the enemy without a fight; it is truly unfathomable."

Shi Feiyang shook his head, his glassy eyes gazing in the direction of Hami City: "It is not my divine prowess, but the protection of heaven and earth for all living beings."

He gently stroked the hilt of his sword and whispered, "This battle is only to ensure that the people can sleep peacefully."

The wind and sand swept across Eagle's Beak Cliff, whipping up his cloak.

In the crimson sunset, Shi Feiyang's figure blended into the mountains and rivers, like an immortal monument.

After a few days of rest, Shi Feiyang decided to launch the final battle to quell the rebellion.

A north wind swept through the yurts, carrying fine sand. Shi Feiyang pressed the tiger tally into Yue Zhongqi's palm, his black cloak fluttering in the waning moon: "If he does not return within three days, the general may act as he sees fit."

Suddenly, a phantom image of a Vermilion Bird appeared in the deerskin pouch at his waist, making his glassy eyes appear even colder.

Wei Nianhua toyed with the parting hook, its tip igniting a wisp of campfire: "Your Highness trusts so much, aren't you afraid of raising a tiger to cause trouble?" A cold glint flashed, and the iron hook was already embedded in the poplar forest beside them, the bark instantly forming ice flowers. Chen Feng chuckled, waving his large black fan, the four characters "Strategic Planning" on the fan surface stained with blood: "The hook at the sticky pole is colder than the human heart."

Shi Feiyang gently stroked the deerskin bag and said coldly, "Only by trusting those you employ can you gain loyal followers."

He turned to look at his men. Bai Zhen's iron claws were tearing open the throat of a wolf carcass, Suhebalu's goose-feather saber was glowing dark red in the firelight, and Mutia's iron sword was still dripping with blood from the previous day's battle.

Three hundred light cavalrymen drew their swords in unison, the flashes of their blades like an inverted Milky Way, and charged straight towards the Dzungar royal court.

Suddenly, the yurts exploded with countless sparks, and Galdan's wolf-head banner fluttered in the thick smoke. "Bloody Hand Asura's" laughter was like the cry of a night owl, his ten fingers suddenly growing three feet long, his nails tinged with bluish-black corpse poison: "You Central Plains brat, you dare to tread on the forbidden ground of the Netherworld Sect?"

Blood mist surged around him, and wherever he passed, blood seeped from the ground.

"Sukhbaatar, cut off their retreat! Mutia, protect the flanks!" Shi Feiyang roared, unleashing the "Severing Reincarnation" technique with his Xuan Tie Heavy Blade.

The blade energy clashed with the blood shadow, exploding into a crimson mist in mid-air, the stench of decay making people nauseous. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bai Zhen unleashed his Eagle Claw technique, his iron claws striking towards Blood Hand Asura's face with lightning speed, only to see the blood mist condense into chains, instantly binding his wrists.

"A mere trick!" Wei Nianhua's parting hook transformed into a ghostly blue light, hooking onto the blood chain and yanking it sharply. As Blood Hand Asura staggered, Chen Feng lightly waved his folding fan, and twelve blood droplets pierced through the air. Suddenly, countless blood hands emerged from the blood mist, shredding the blood droplets into fragments and shooting them back at the crowd.

Shi Feiyang spun around and used the "Flower Shifting and Jade Receiving" technique to redirect the hidden weapon, embedding it into the yurt behind him.

Sukhbaatar's goose-feather saber cleaved through three shamans, its blade flashing with a cold light as it aimed directly at Vokor, the leader of the remaining Dzungar forces.

Wokol swung his spiked club to meet the attack, but a crisp "crack" was heard as Sukhbaatar's goose-feather saber sliced ​​the iron club in half.

Vokel retreated in terror, knocking over the sacrificial bronze cauldron. Amidst the raging flames, Muti'a's iron sword was already aimed at his throat.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, "Bloody Hand Asura" attacked, his ten fingers stabbing towards Shi Feiyang's back like venomous snakes.

Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique: Severing the Edge of Heaven!" The Xuan Tie Heavy Blade transformed into a streak of lightning; before the blade's energy even arrived, a three-zhang-long ravine had already split open in the ground.

"Bloody Hand Asura" struck out with both palms, his Blood Shadow Demon Art forming a shield, but it shattered the moment it came into contact with the blade energy.

His expression changed drastically, and he turned to flee, only to see Wei Nianhua's parting hook blocking his retreat, and Bai Zhen's iron claws locking the sky above.

Shi Feiyang activated the Mingyu Skill, and his entire body transformed into a stream of icy blue light.

His skin grew increasingly translucent, like ice crystals shrouded in a cold mist, freezing the air wherever he passed. "Leave me here!" With a roar, a flash of light appeared, and "Blood Hand Asura" was cleaved in two, sword and all. Blood splattered on the snow, instantly freezing into a grotesque ice sculpture.

Seeing that things were going badly, Vogel drew a short blade from his waist and committed suicide.

Shi Feiyang sheathed his sword and stood there, his glassy eyes sweeping over the royal court, where corpses littered the ground.

Under the moonlight, Wei Nianhua wiped the bloodstains from the farewell hook, Chen Feng chuckled while shaking his blood-stained folding fan, Bai Zhen's iron claws were still dripping brain matter, and Sukhbaatar and Muti'a were dismembering the enemy chieftain's head.

On the day the rebellion was quelled, Shi Feiyang hosted a banquet for his generals in his military tent.

He distributed the treasures he had captured from the Western Regions to everyone, but kept only the crown of the Dzungar Khan. “This crown,” he said, his gaze sweeping over Wei Nianhua’s gloomy face, “I will present it to my father, the Emperor, to commemorate my victory in suppressing the rebellion.”

On their return journey, they stayed overnight at a post station. Late at night, Yue Zhongqi requested an audience and handed over a secret letter: "The Imperial Guard has already listed the Prince's crimes of 'forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices'."

Shi Feiyang threw the letter into the brazier, his glassy eyes gleaming in the firelight: "Tomorrow, I will have Wei Nianhua personally lead my horse back to the capital."

The autumn wind, carrying withered leaves, swept past the palace walls. Ruoyao leaned against Yongzheng's side, listening to the dripping of the water clock outside the tent.

Amid the emperor's long snores, she suddenly caught the soft rustling of the roof tiles—the unique, seamless movement of the tile-stepping technique characteristic of those using adhesive poles.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she gazed at the bright yellow brocade quilt on the dragon bed, recalling the burning fighting spirit in Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes under the moonlight when he fought his bloody battle in Baiyang Valley. Her jade-like feet silently stepped over the golden bricks, and her nightgown embroidered with twin lotus blossoms swayed gently in the night breeze.

The secret letter on the window frame gleamed coldly white in the moonlight, and the vermilion characters stung her eyes, making them burn.

"Forming cliques for personal gain and buying off the hearts of the soldiers..." As my fingertips traced the words, I seemed to see Shi Feiyang wielding his sword on the battlefield, and I recalled the light in his eyes, purer than the snow of the Tianshan Mountains, when he said, "When I ascend the throne, I will make sure that 400 million people have enough to eat."

"No..." she murmured to herself, her voice as soft as if afraid of waking a sleeping emperor.

Her hair, adorned with pearls, swayed slightly as she suddenly pressed the secret letter to her lips.

The cool paper pressed against her warm lips. Ruoyao closed her eyes, as if she could hear her own heartbeat shattering the palace walls.

The moment she bit into the paper, the bitter ink mixed with the taste of blood flooded her tongue—it was the specially made poisonous ink from the adhesive rod, but she couldn't care less.

A burning pain shot through her throat, yet she smiled with a gentler smile than the moonlight.

Memories flooded back, and I remembered how, when he used the Mingyu Kung Fu, the luster on his skin was more captivating than the most precious Hetian jade.

"Hongli, I love you..." she whispered, swallowing the last scrap of paper.

Just then, the sound of the night watchman's clapper came from afar. Ruoyao leaned against a palace pillar, panting. The churning pain in her abdomen made her vision blur, but she forced herself to straighten her hair.

As she turned around, the moonlight stretched her shadow long, like an unbreakable guardian.

The moment she swallowed the secret letter, she suddenly realized that she was no longer the spy sent into the palace by the Wudang Sect, but a woman willing to fall into the abyss for "Hongli"—even if this abyss was a bottomless icy pool of the emperor's suspicion.

Immediately afterwards, Ruoyao took out the Tianshan Snow Lotus Water and the Shaolin Treasures "Shao Huan Dan" and "Da Huan Dan". She used the Tianshan Snow Lotus Water to administer the "Shao Huan Dan" and "Da Huan Dan", thus saving her life from the brink of death.

When Shi Feiyang rode his Akhal-Teke horse into the capital, the people lined the streets and cheered.

Shi Feiyang gazed at the eaves of the Forbidden City and gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist—the four characters "天下归心" (meaning "All Under Heaven Return to the Heart") on it shone brightly in the sunlight.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, the secret agents of the Sticky Rod Bureau were rapidly recording his every move, unaware that this jade-faced prince had already woven an even larger web of power and intrigue amidst blood and fire.

Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, thirty-six bronze lanterns with coiled dragons illuminated the steps as bright as day, and the dragon heads on the white marble railings seemed to awaken in the candlelight.

Shi Feiyang wore a dark brocade robe embroidered with dark gold python patterns. The deerskin pouch at his waist gleamed mysteriously in the light and shadow. As he stepped up the steps, the phantom of the Vermilion Bird appeared and disappeared, attracting the secret glances of the guards on both sides, but they could not see anything.

Inside the hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and the golden dragon on Emperor Yongzheng's robe glowed in the candlelight.

When Shi Feiyang arrived at the foot of the steps, he performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows with utmost care. The cool touch of the gold bricks on his forehead was nothing compared to the tense atmosphere surging within the hall. The civil and military officials, their robes gleaming, stared intently at the victorious prince.

"My son, you have truly been my right-hand man in suppressing this rebellion!" Yongzheng's voice, carrying the weight of the emperor, resonated so powerfully that the chime bells hanging in the hall hummed. He gestured for Shi Feiyang to rise, his gaze sweeping over his blood-stained cloak. "Such a glorious achievement deserves to be recorded in history!"

Shi Feiyang slowly straightened up, his glassy eyes gleaming with a gentle light in the interplay of light and shadow: "Father, you flatter me. The success in quelling this rebellion is entirely due to your strategic planning and decisive victory."

He spoke earnestly, raising his hand to gently stroke the deerskin pouch at his waist, as if conversing with the spirit of the Vermilion Bird. "My father's earnest teachings before my departure resonate in my ears like a great bell. Moreover, the spirit of my Holy Ancestor in heaven has protected us, enabling our army to overcome all obstacles." The officials below whispered among themselves, their praises rising and falling.

Shi Feiyang, however, remained solemn and slowly walked towards the ranks of military officers: "Commander Wei, in the battle of Baiyang Valley, the parting hook was so deadly that the ghostly blue arc of light still shines before my eyes." He turned his gaze to Wei Nianhua, only to see the commander of the sticky pole gripping the cold hook at his waist. The ghostly blue light collided with the candlelight in the hall, bursting out a strange, cold gleam.

"This humble general has merely performed his duty faithfully; Your Highness is too kind," Wei Nianhua said in a voice as cold as iron, but his slightly trembling body betrayed the shock in his heart.

Chen Feng stepped forward, brandishing his large, black fan. The four characters on the fan, "Strategic Planning," were still stained with dried blood. "Your Highness is the true commander-in-chief. I was merely following the plan." Before he finished speaking, Shi Feiyang proclaimed loudly, "Mr. Chen's Blood Droplets, twelve in total, were unleashed simultaneously like a sky full of stars, completely crushing the enemy's retreat. Such wisdom is rarely seen throughout history!"

Bai Zhen's iron claws opened and closed slightly, with traces of battle still remaining on the tips.

Shi Feiyang looked at him: "Commander Bai's Eagle Claw Kung Fu is specifically designed to break through heavy armor. When taking the head of an enemy general, it is truly as swift and decisive as an eagle hunting a rabbit!"

These words brought a blush to Bai Zhen's dark face. Iron Claw unconsciously scratched his head and chuckled, "Your Highness flatters me!"

"And General Sukhbaatar's goose-feather saber!" Shi Feiyang suddenly turned around and pointed at the fierce general of the grasslands. "His move of splitting Mount Hua in two even cut the enemy's spiked club in two. It was truly a move of unparalleled strength and power!"

Sukhbaatar burst into hearty laughter, his voice booming so loudly that dust began to fall from the hall.

Mutia gently stroked the hilt of his sword, and the blade emitted a clear ringing sound.

Shi Feiyang praised, "General Mu's Cold Star Sword Technique is cunning and ruthless, targeting the enemy's vitals. Taking the head of a general from among thousands of troops is as easy as taking something out of a bag!"

Yue Zhongqi stood with his fists clasped in front of him, and Shi Feiyang said again, "General Yue's tiger-headed spear is unstoppable wherever its tip points. He is truly a pillar of our army!"

All the civil and military officials nodded in agreement, and a chorus of praise surged forth.

Shi Feiyang prostrated himself again, speaking earnestly: "Your subject can only repay your father's cultivation and trust by remembering the Emperor's grace and working even harder."

As he kowtowed, the white tiger stripes on the deerskin bag suddenly glowed faintly, as if responding to his sincerity. Yongzheng clapped his hands in satisfaction and laughed, his dragon robe sweeping across the armrest of the throne: "Good, good! Since my son has such a heart, I am greatly pleased. Guards, reward this meritorious official handsomely!"

As the decree was issued, the atmosphere in the hall reached its climax. When Shi Feiyang stood up, his gaze inadvertently swept over Mu Shen'a, who was deep in thought in the corner—that cold look in his eyes was like the spitting of a venomous snake, which made him feel a slight chill.

After the court session ended, when Shi Feiyang returned to the Prince's Mansion, the sunset had already painted the sky a magnificent red.

In front of the Prince's Mansion, Lady Fucha, dressed in a light blue Manchu-style dress, held her young son in her arms and waited quietly in the twilight.

Upon seeing him return, her eyes immediately lit up with a smile, and she quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Your Highness, you've had a long journey."

Looking at his wife and children, Shi Feiyang felt all the fatigue from the days of fighting vanish.

He reached out and gently stroked his young son's soft hair. The boy giggled and reached for the deerskin bag at his waist.

"Good boy," he murmured softly, his voice full of tenderness.

Lady Fucha looked at his blood-stained cloak, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes: "Your Highness, please go and bathe and change. I have prepared hot water and your favorite West Lake Vinegar Fish."

Shi Feiyang nodded, put his arm around his wife's shoulder, and they walked together into the mansion.

The osmanthus flowers in the courtyard are in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance, and intertwining with the afterglow of the sunset to create a warm and inviting scene.

He looked at his young son in his arms and his wife beside him, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

This moment of peace was more precious to him than any military achievement.

As night deepened, Shi Feiyang stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

The praise he received in court during the day still echoed in his ears, but he knew that this was only one step in a long journey.

He still has a long way to go to realize his dream of enabling 400 million people to live and work in peace and contentment.

At this moment, being able to hold onto this small patch of warmth is the best comfort God has given him.

At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), when the cold dew condenses into frost, the blue waters of Fuhai Lake in Yuanmingyuan Garden shimmer with a cold light like shattered jade. In the distance, the eaves of Penglai Island and Yaotai are faintly visible in the thin mist, as if Penglai Fairyland has fallen to earth.

Shi Feiyang stroked the plain silk handkerchief that Bai Zhen handed him. On the corner of the silk, the red spots resembling tear stains on the bamboo branches of Xiangfei, painted with cinnabar, were lifelike. This was Ruoyao's unique code, which concealed the story of Xiangfei weeping over bamboo and also hinted at the sorrow of their meeting.

He gazed in the direction of Changchun Immortal Hall, his glassy eyes rippling with emotion. The sea and cliff patterns embroidered on his dark brocade robe rose and fell with his breath, and the vermilion bird pattern on the deerskin pouch at his waist appeared and disappeared in the morning mist, as if sensing its master's anxiety.

"How is Mother these days?" Shi Feiyang knelt in Chunhui Hall, the lotus scroll pattern on the golden nanmu pillar silently witnessing the conversation between mother and son.

Looking up, he caught a glimpse of his mother's newly changed kingfisher feather hairpin, its design—the "butterfly and flower" style most fashionable during the Yongzheng era—inlaid with kingfisher feathers. During their pleasantries, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bai Zhen making a "Tai Chi fish" hand gesture outside the window, and Shi Feiyang smiled apologetically: "I suddenly feel unwell, I'll be right back." As he stood up, the white tiger pattern on his deerskin bag suddenly emitted a faint glow, subtly echoing the "Upright and Bright" plaque hanging high in the hall.

Passing through the winding corridor, we arrived deep in the bamboo forest. The spotted bamboo swayed in the breeze; it was a precious variety taken from Xiaoxiang Pavilion. The natural purplish-brown spots on each bamboo joint resembled the blood and tears shed by Ehuang and Nüying a thousand years ago.

Ruoyao wore a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a semi-transparent silver fur cloak over it. The hem of her dress was embroidered with lotus flowers emerging from the water using the kesi (silk tapestry) technique, and the edges of the petals were outlined with peacock feather threads. As they trembled gently in the breeze, they looked as if real flowers were blooming.

The hairpin she wore was not an ordinary palace flower, but a twin lotus carved from Hetian mutton fat jade, with a perfectly round pearl embedded in the lotus seed, shimmering with a warm glow in the morning light.

The pearl tassels hanging from both sides swayed gently with her movements, making her skin appear as white as jade, exuding a hazy beauty reminiscent of the misty rain of Jiangnan.

Her willow-leaf eyebrows were slightly furrowed, like distant mountains shrouded in mist. Her eyes were misty, like ripples on a lake in early spring. The beauty mark at the corner of her eye blushed slightly in the morning light, adding a touch of delicate charm to her exquisite face.

Her nose was small and delicate, and her lips were pale, like cherry blossoms in full bloom, but now they were bitten until they turned white, showing a hint of stubbornness and unease.

Seeing Shi Feiyang approaching rapidly, she swayed slightly, the agarwood bracelet on her wrist jingling softly. It was a gift from Emperor Yongzheng, but now it felt like a heavy shackle. Around her neck was a filigree necklace of red gold, with rubies set in it like drops of congealed blood, contrasting sharply with her pale face, making her appear even more fragile and tragically beautiful, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

"Ruoyao!" Shi Feiyang reached out to help her, but froze when he touched her sleeve.

The keen intuition honed through his Wudang cultivation told him that the person before him was surrounded by an unfamiliar aura—a warm, nurturing presence, yet shattered by the chilling intrigue of court politics. (End of Chapter)