[Wuxia] Wandering Freely in the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - 14

Chapter 43 Reality and Illusion:
Upon returning to the courtyard, Yuan Yueze's greatest desire was to find Wanwan and ask her about the origin of the ring on her finger. However, upon entering the room, he found her nowhere to be found.
It was late, so he went back to his room and engaged in a passionate encounter with several women.
Finally, amidst Yun Yuzhen's high-pitched and resonant moans, Yuan Yueze also erupted.
The spacious bedroom was filled with a seductive and alluring atmosphere and rapid breathing. A moment later, the sounds of Yuan Yueze and the women laughing and talking could be heard.
Yun Yuzhen, after pressing down on Yuan Yueze's still mischievous hand, said breathlessly, "Three people couldn't sleep well tonight."
"It's Hongfu from the east wing, Feng'er, and Yunzhi,"
Shan Meixian, nestled on Yuan Yueze's other side, her voluptuous body twisting and turning for a while before finding a comfortable position, laughed upon hearing Yun Yuzhen's words.
Yuan Yueze grinned mischievously, "Let's make a bet, will they..."
As he spoke, he grabbed Shan Meixian's weak hand and slowly rubbed it against her pubic area.
Shan Meixian was extremely embarrassed and said, "Don't tease me, I'm already so satisfied I'm about to suffocate."
Fu Junzhuo and Yun Yuzhen also started to cheer from the side.
After a while of joking, Yun Yuzhen spoke up, "Today, when my husband met with Shi Feixuan, Wang Shichong sent someone to invite him to drink at the West Garden at noon tomorrow. Do you think we should go?"
Yuan Yueze pondered for a long time, "We should go and see. Wang Shichong is cunning and treacherous; he hasn't made any moves yet. The martial law order was probably forced upon him by Wang Bo and others. It's unsettling not to investigate."
Shan Meixian sighed, "He wouldn't try to recruit my husband, because he wouldn't dare. Think about it, how many people in the world would dare to recruit my husband?"
"The battle for Luoyang is about to begin. At such a crucial moment, who would dare to trust someone who is completely unfathomable?"
Fu Junzhuo also nodded.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Suddenly remembering the ring on his hand, Yuan Yueze recounted his affair with Wanwan and then asked Shan Meixian, "Meixian, tell me about the origin of this ring. Is it genuine or a fake?" Shan
Meixian examined it carefully for a while, her expression slightly puzzled. "When I was young, I did read some of the sect's scriptures, which contained records about the 'Holy Light Ring.' But this one looks genuine, yet it doesn't quite seem genuine."
Yuan Yueze and the others were completely confused.
"Never mind, let's ask Wanwan ourselves next time,"
Yuan Yueze said after a moment's thought.
"I wonder why Sister Bei, Susu, and Zhizhi haven't returned yet!"
Yun Yuzhen sighed.
Shan Meixian glanced at Wei Zhenzhen and Shang Xiuxun, who were now sleeping soundly like rag dolls, and said, "The matter over there must not be resolved yet. The situation in the south is not much better than in the north! But husband, you must be careful of Li Shimin. Xiuxun has met Li Xiuning a few times, and during our conversations, she vaguely sensed that Li Shimin seemed to want to betroth his sister to you."
"Isn't Li Xiuning already engaged? Why would she betroth her to me? I've only seen her a few times these past few days,"
Yuan Yueze asked curiously.
Yun Yuzhen glared at him: "My husband is incredibly foolish. If we were to become related by marriage, even if he didn't help the Li Tang dynasty in the future, he wouldn't be able to oppose them. And you went to the palace to forcibly take Feng'er. Li Xiuning is no less capable than Feng'er in any way. Starting tomorrow, Li Shimin will likely focus even more on this matter! As for the marriage agreement between the Li and Chai families, Li Shimin canceled it before we even came to Luoyang, which seems to have greatly displeased the Chai family, but they dared not act rashly due to the power of the Li Tang dynasty."
"If Li Xiuning were a man, her achievements would certainly not be much less than Li Shimin's; she would be considered a heroine among women. It's just a pity she was born in this patriarchal era,"
Yuan Yueze nodded and sighed.
"In short, my husband must be careful. If Wang Shichong is the number one enemy, then Li Shimin is the number two. Their scheming and cunning are terrifyingly deep. And what's most deadly is that they never confront us directly; their behind-the-scenes conspiracies are the most troublesome,"
Shan Meixian warned.
Yuan Yueze yawned and lazily said, "Who cares! We'll deal with whatever comes our way."
The group then fell into a deep sleep.
The next day.
A light drizzle fell, shrouding the entire city of Luoyang in a white mist, creating a scene both poetic and unreal.
Yuan Yueze bid farewell to the women in his household and headed alone towards the West Garden.
Many passersby greeted him along the way, and Yuan Yueze could vaguely hear strange glances and whispers from afar behind him.
Gradually, Yuan Yueze understood a few things. First, Yuan Yueze was known as the number one bully in Luoyang because of his kidnapping. This sounded quite pleasant to the common people, as their comments were filled with admiration, demonstrating the notorious reputation of the Dugu clan in Luoyang. Second, someone was actually calling Yuan Yueze the "Evil Emperor" of the Demonic Sect behind his back, which made Yuan Yueze's heart skip a beat. Originally, this title was just something he said casually, and more importantly, it was only used by Liao Kong, Shi Feixuan, and Wanwan. But the fact that the common people knew about it overnight meant what? It meant that the other three present must have leaked the information, or perhaps even deliberately spread it.
Yuan Yueze finally understood why the people looked at him with such a strange feeling; they seemed to feel sorry for Yuan Yueze's fall into the demonic path, yet they also seemed to be beginning to respect and distance themselves from him.
Was it Shi Feixuan or Wanwan who harmed me? Shi Feixuan was more likely! But Wanwan always suffered at Yuan Yueze's hands. Yesterday, she used that damned ring to harm Yuan Yueze, and with just this one win, she won back all her previous losses. Yuan Yueze still underestimated her. So
what if she's from the demonic sect? From today onwards, I am a member of the demonic sect!
Yuan Yueze lightly channeled his inner energy, and the raindrops bounced off the very edge of his damp clothes.
On the misty, rain-swept suburban road, Yuan Yueze snapped out of his reverie and continued pondering how to deal with Wang Shichong.
Finally, his destination was not far off.
Xiyuan was a garden centered around Jicui Pond, complete with various courtyards and buildings. The rain was now even heavier, the wind biting, creating an eerie atmosphere, and no tourists were to be seen.
The surrounding Jicui Pond, stretching for over ten li, blended seamlessly with the mist and rain, appearing boundless like heaven and earth.
Rocks were piled up in the lake, three of which rose over a hundred feet above the water, appearing and disappearing in the misty rain, resembling the three legendary immortal mountains known as Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou.
Most intriguing was the presence of pavilions built on these three mountains, connected by winding bridges, infinitely enhancing the sense of depth and space.
A canal flowed into the lake from the north, its banks lined with magnificent courtyards, halls, and pavilions.
The canal was about twenty paces wide, spanned by a flying bridge.
This was Yuan Yueze's second visit. The West Garden in the misty rain had a unique charm, no less beautiful than when it was sunny in spring.
The lake and mountains, the cascading waterfalls, the scenery all possessed a shy, maidenly beauty.
Walking along the gravel path, a figure emerged from the garden, about forty paces away, amidst the willows and bamboos.
It was Yang Gongqing, a general under Wang Shichong, with whom Yuan Yueze had a close relationship.
A gentle smile accompanied by a somewhat incongruous high-pitched voice, Yang Gongqing bowed and said, "Brother Yuan has come again. The Minister has instructed this old man to wait here." From
their previous interactions, Yuan Yueze had a general idea that Yang Gongqing and Wang Shichong didn't get along very well. Yuan Yueze chuckled inwardly: Yang Gongqing had still been deceived by Wang Shichong's outward appearance.
From the moment Yuan Yueze entered the West Garden, he had to be constantly on guard. Every expression, every word, could be a pretext arranged by Wang Shichong to deal with him.
After Yuan Yueze returned the greeting, the two continued along the deserted path. After
a long silence, Yang Gongqing spoke in a low voice, as if addressing Yuan Yueze, yet also as if talking to himself. But Yuan Yueze could clearly sense that Yang Gongqing was using his internal energy to focus his voice into a single line; unless one was a master, even if placed close to one's ear, one might not be able to hear him clearly.
"The Western Garden spans over a hundred li, its buildings resplendent in gold and jade, gardens everywhere, exotic flowers blooming in abundance, and rare birds and animals roaming in countless numbers. Yang Guang, a man of extravagance and a love of grand projects, squandered the people's wealth and resources, building this garden with the blood and sweat of countless people. Many see the Western Garden as a paradise on earth, but how many truly understand the immense human and financial burden it consumed?"
Yuan Yueze listened silently, his expression remaining calm, and said lightly, "Lord Yang's thoughts are indeed compassionate. The tyrant has finally passed away; we cannot simply destroy or abandon this place."
Lord Yang, without commenting on Yuan Yueze's words, continued gazing at the bamboo grove on his right and sighed, "Yang Guang was merely..." "It was only in the later years of his reign that things turned out this way. I believe that before Yang Guang began his tyrannical rule, he could be considered a good emperor who could be remembered for eternity. And after Yang Guang's death, the chaos reignited. Take Yang Tong, this puppet emperor, for example; no one can guarantee how long he'll hold the throne! Even more ridiculous is that while powerful foreign enemies surrounded them, the internal struggles within Luoyang were even more chaotic. Everyone was scheming against each other. For their own selfish desires, they spoke eloquently and righteously, but little did they know that it was precisely the existence of these hypocrites that caused the people's resentment."
As he spoke, Yang Gongqing's tone became noticeably hurried, his voice rising slightly, as if due to surging anger.
Yuan Yueze's expression remained unchanged, but his mind raced. Yang Gongqing's words were veiled, expressing his extreme dissatisfaction with Wang Shichong. But Yuan Yueze was not someone who could be easily deceived. He slowly spoke, "I understand Lord Yang's feelings, but unfortunately, one person's power is weak. Everyone who shares Lord Yang's feelings will try to help the suffering in their own way."
His words subtly interrupted Yang Gongqing's train of thought.
Yang Gongqing was taken aback, then chuckled, "Brother Yuan is quite right. Brother Yuan's reputation in Luoyang is already well-known. But I think this is not a long-term solution."
Yuan Yueze felt a chill in his heart and laughed, "Lord Yang means that my charity will not save many people, is that right? But my abilities are limited, and I have no other choice. I still hope that a powerful figure like Minister Wang will end this chaotic world as soon as possible!" Yang Gongqing
was a man of great experience in judging people and naturally heard the insincerity in Yuan Yueze's tone. A helpless bitter smile flashed across his face.
"As for my reputation, I heard quite a bit about it on the way here. It can indeed be called 'well-known',"
Yuan Yueze said self-deprecatingly.
Yang Gongqing understood that the reputation he mentioned must be related to the forced abduction of Gu Dufeng, and gave an awkward smile, unsure how to respond. Silence returned between the two.
Upon entering the banquet hall that Wang Shichong had arranged for Yuan Yueze, only a few people were waiting with tea.
Wang Shichong, looking smug, sat at the head of the table, examining one slip of paper after another, presumably containing intelligence or pre-arranged strategies.
Upon seeing Yuan Yueze and Yang Gongqing enter, Wang Shichong put down the note in his hand, quickly stepped forward, and, with a beaming smile, walked to Yuan Yueze's side, taking his hand intimately, saying, "Young Master, you have accepted my invitation to the banquet three times; it is the envy of all those in Luoyang who admire you!"
Yuan Yueze nodded in return, laughing loudly, "I may disregard everyone else's face, but I cannot disregard Minister Wang's."
Behind Wang Shichong, Wang Xuanying cursed inwardly, "What a hypocrite! My father has invited you more than twenty times, and he still pretends to be so generous!"
Wang Xuanying was already jealous of Yuan Yueze, especially after seeing Wei Zhenzhen at the last banquet, which had made him drool. Now, his gaze towards Yuan Yueze was even more vicious and ruthless.
Yuan Yueze didn't even glance at him, and after looking around, he realized that everyone present today, except for himself, was Wang Shichong's man.
Wang Xuanying, Wang Xuanshu, Zhang Zhenzhou, Song Mengqiu, Lang Feng, and Yang Gongqing were people I had met at the previous two banquets. The others were all unfamiliar faces, including a striking young woman.
She wore a white palace dress with a slight pink tinge, her skin as white as snow and jade, unusually fair, making her stand out even in black. Her eyebrows, like black silk, arched upwards, and her jet-black hair was styled in a high bun, a wisp of bangs gently framing her forehead. Her eyes, tilted upwards, were set deep beneath her delicate brows, and she gazed at Yuan Yueze with curiosity. Most striking was her straight nose, perfectly matched with her slightly high cheekbones, exuding an air of haughtiness yet retaining an elegant grace. Her lips, radiating aristocratic air, held a captivating, enigmatic smile.
Beneath her well-fitting clothes, her slender and curvaceous figure was on full display, arousing the imagination.
Seeing that Yuan Yueze's gaze lingered on her for only a moment before shifting away, the girl showed no displeasure, instead offering a sweet smile that revealed a row of neat, white teeth.
Wang Shichong coughed lightly and said, "This is my niece, Shuni. I presume that you've been in Luoyang for so long, you've heard of the 'Twin Beauties of Luoyang,' referring to her and Rong Jiaojiao, the daughter of Boss Rong."
Yuan Yueze smiled and nodded. Wang Shichong then introduced several other relatives to Yuan Yueze.
Seeing that Wang Shichong was preparing the banquet, the maid beside the main seat tidied up the slips of paper on the table, placed them on a golden plate, bowed, and withdrew.
As she passed three feet from Yuan Yueze, a gentle breeze suddenly blew in through the open window, fluttering the slips of paper and startling the maid, who hurriedly knelt down.
Wang Shichong's face was filled with rage. Several people around him seemed unusually concerned about the notes, and they all hurriedly began to tidy them up.
"It's already damp today, why aren't the windows closed properly?"
Wang Shichong said coldly to the maid.
The maid trembled with fear and couldn't utter a word.
Yuan Yueze sighed inwardly, but smiled and said, "This young lady probably didn't do it on purpose, so please don't take it to heart, Minister."
Wang Xuanshu interjected from behind Yuan Yueze, "It was my elder brother who said he liked watching the wind and rain outside and wouldn't allow the windows to be closed."
Wang Xuanying's face was fierce, but he dared not say anything. He hurriedly collected the notes before apologizing.
The moment Wang Xuanshu spoke, Yuan Yueze naturally turned to look at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a note on the ground, half of which had fallen out of an envelope. The words 'Attack the Imperial Palace' were vaguely visible.
Although surprised, Yuan Yueze's expression remained unchanged. After Wang Shichong reprimanded the maid, about ten people entered the banquet hall and sat around the table.
After several toasts, the atmosphere became lively.
"Young Master is truly handsome! I only realized the rumors were true after seeing him with my own eyes,"
said Dong Shuni, who was seated to Yuan Yueze's left by Wang Shichong. Her large eyes were filled with adoration as she stared at him.
Yuan Yueze didn't dislike her, but he certainly didn't like her. Hearing her bold words without a trace of reserve, he looked slightly embarrassed and didn't know how to respond. Wang Shichong chuckled, "Little Shuni admires heroes like you, Young Master, the most!"
A hero?
Yuan Yueze chuckled inwardly: Of all the things he'd done, which could be considered heroic? He'd been severely injured after harassing the Empress in the street. He'd forcibly taken a woman. These two incidents alone were enough to make him a laughingstock behind his back.
Seeing Wang Shichong's triumphant appearance today, Yuan Yueze gradually understood that the title of "great hero" Wang Shichong spoke of must refer to the killing of Chao Gongcuo. Chao Gongcuo's cultivation was considered among the top ten in the world at the time. Yuan Yueze had easily defeated him in just a few moves, shocking the attackers. And as everyone knew, Li Mi was Wang Shichong's greatest enemy, and Chao Gongcuo was a major asset to Li Mi. Yuan Yueze's killing of Chao Gongcuo undoubtedly removed a powerful ally from Li Mi, ultimately benefiting Wang Shichong the most. No matter how deep his cunning, he couldn't hide his joy; no wonder he was so happy today.
Wang Shichong then spoke with a guilty expression, "Regarding the martial law decree, please blame me, young master. I was pressured by Wang Bo and Master Liaokong, and had no choice but to implement it." With
a simple sentence, he completely absolved himself of responsibility. His humble attitude prevented Yuan Yueze from speaking, even if he wanted to blame him.
Thinking of this, Yuan Yueze laughed and said, "Your Excellency, please don't do that. It's normal for them to suspect me, but 'If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear.' I have a clear conscience. It's just that Chao Gongcuo was so aggressive. I originally intended to let him go, but he ambushed me instead, so I killed him in a fit of anger! However, Chao Gongcuo was no pushover. My already unhealed injuries were aggravated. The saying 'you gain some, you lose some' applies here."
A hint of doubt flashed quickly in Wang Shichong's eyes. After lowering his gaze for a moment, he said, "Young Master is indeed a man of integrity. Miss Shi has already sent out the news today that the theft of the He Shi Bi is indeed unrelated to you."
Yuan Yueze and Wang Shichong were scheming and deceitful, displaying their cunning. Every word they spoke was full of hidden meanings, making it impossible to believe how much of it was credible. Only by exhausting all means and hoping for a moment of carelessness could they possibly glean some truthful information.
Yuan Yueze continued to feign injury. Before the banquet, Shan Meixian had instructed him to control his qi and blood, making himself appear as pale and unsteady as
possible. Whether he could fool Wang Shichong was another matter entirely. "Today I heard rumors circulating in the city that you, young master, are the 'Evil Emperor' of the Demonic Sect. It's truly hateful. I wonder who spread this rumor. I have already sent men out to investigate. We must not let them tarnish your reputation,"
Wang Shichong said, his face slightly angry.
Yuan Yueze chuckled, "I am grateful for your kindness, Minister. However, I am indeed the 'Evil Emperor' of the Demonic Sect, it is not a rumor."
Wang Shichong, having been met with a cold shoulder, looked slightly embarrassed. Several of his subordinates around him also became awkward.
In the eyes of outsiders, the Demonic Sect's reputation was already utterly ruined. No one expected Yuan Yueze to admit it so frankly. Moreover, they had all heard of the Demonic Sect's "Evil Emperor" and "Evil King," but what was the origin of this title "Evil Sovereign"?
Everyone's minds raced, but they couldn't figure it out.
After a moment, Wang Xuanshu said with a strange expression, "Young Master, you and Empress Yin had a... a fierce battle a few days ago. Since you're from the same sect, why would you do that?"
He couldn't directly mention Yuan Yueze's harassment of Zhu Yuyan; even if Yuan Yueze was shameless, the speaker still had to maintain some decorum.
"Second Young Master seems to be unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Demonic Sect. The Demonic Sect is a sect where 'might makes right.' I injured Empress Yin's personal disciple and attempted to seize her decades-long, firmly held position as the Demonic Sect's supreme ruler. Do you think you would allow me to live peacefully if you were in my shoes?"
Yuan Yueze explained to Wang Xuanshu.
Wang Xuanshu and the others around him nodded in understanding.
Seeing that Wang Shichong's expression was calm, but the deepest doubt in his eyes could be sensed, Yuan Yueze spoke again: "It was only through a fortuitous encounter that I received the power of the previous Evil Emperor of the Evil Sect in the mountains, which brought me to where I am today. After his death, he entrusted me with the great task of unifying the Demonic Sect. Of course, I don't want to disappoint him, but unfortunately, my nature is simply incapable of such things. Even so, my existence is still seen as a threat by the Empress. Alas!"
Yuan Yueze's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, making it difficult for Wang Shichong to distinguish which were genuine. Most importantly, Yuan Yueze's explanation was plausible, and even if one didn't believe it, there was no reason to believe it.
"However, man proposes, God disposes. I fell in love with my wife, Shan Meixian, at first sight. As you all know, when love is intense, all inhibitions are forgotten. Before his death, my master warned me that I must remain a virgin for life in order to continue using demonic power, but in the end, I still couldn't do it..."
Yuan Yueze said with a bitter smile.
These words, once spoken, made the lie seem true.
"Young master, there's no need for that. You are a man of strong emotions. Since you have no desire to unify your sect or to compete for power, there's no need to pursue great martial arts skills. Looking at your current life, I'm even a little envious!"
Wang Shichong seemed to completely believe Yuan Yueze's words and sighed.
Dong Shuni smiled charmingly, "So, young master has lost his former world-shaking power, but he doesn't seem weak now. He must have lost very little!"
Yuan Yueze gave a bitter smile, "My injuries haven't healed. The Yin Empress's demonic energy is rampant within me, corroding my meridians and flesh. To suppress it, I'd need at least a year or two of seclusion. But I dare not easily go into seclusion, because the Yin Empress's actions are unpredictable. I fear that if I go into seclusion, she'll come after my family and take her anger out on my wives. If anything happens to my wives, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Wang Shichong laughed, "Young master's reputation for loving his wife is renowned throughout Luoyang; truly, he is a man of deep affection!"
He then gave Dong Shuni a subtle wink.
Dong Shuni immediately urged him to drink, her soft, supple body frequently making intimate contact with Yuan Yueze.
Yuan Yueze readily accepted all offers, and eventually even took the initiative to sow discord between them.
After discussing some trivial matters, Wang Shichong suddenly asked, "What does the young master think of the West Garden?"
Yuan Yueze looked puzzled. "It's alright, but it's a bit of a waste of resources and manpower."
Wang Shichong sighed, "How many people have been harmed by this tyrannical ruler? If the young master doesn't mind, I'll give you the West Garden."
Yuan Yueze asked in surprise, "Why is that? I live quite well in the south of the city."
Despite saying this, Yuan Yueze secretly wondered what Wang Shichong's true purpose was. Was the West Garden now his private property? Could he just give it away so easily?
Wang Shichong sensed Yuan Yueze's refusal, but merely smiled and didn't truly answer.
What followed was a back-and-forth exchange, seemingly lively on the surface, but incredibly dangerous in reality. One probed the other, the other inquired about the other. Eventually, both seemed somewhat exhausted, because neither knew the other's true nature, making their battle of wits even more mentally taxing than usual.
After an hour-long banquet, under Wang Shichong's deliberate arrangement, Dong Shuni escorted Yuan Yueze out of the mansion alone. The two chatted idly. Yuan Yueze was now certain that Dong Shuni was sent by Wang Shichong to use her beauty to ensnare him.
Dong Shuni's beauty was in no way inferior to Dugu Feng's; since Yuan Yueze had even snatched Dugu Feng, there was even less reason for him to abandon such a beauty as Dong Shuni.
This was merely Wang Shichong's wishful thinking.
The drizzle had stopped sometime earlier.
Watching Yuan Yueze's retreating figure, Dong Shuni's eyes were somewhat bewildered: This man's personality was so strange, sometimes warm, sometimes cold, giving one a feeling of being tormented, yet one strangely wanted to understand him more deeply.
While pondering Wang Shichong's true intentions in inviting him to this banquet, Yuan Yueze continued running southeast towards his home.
Before even reaching the south gate, Yuan Yueze sensed many surging streams of true energy of varying strengths, seemingly a large-scale battle.
He channeled all his inner energy, and in less than half a cup of tea's time, dozens of blurry figures could be vaguely seen fighting together ahead.
Yuan Yueze's eyes were sharp; with just a glance, he recognized the three in the group: Wanwan, Shi Feixuan, and the third was none other than Ga Duo, a blond-haired man!
There were also over a dozen corpses on the ground.
The fight was divided into two groups; Wanwan and Ga Duo were being attacked by at least twenty people, while Shi Feixuan was only being attacked by seven or eight. Beside Shi Feixuan stood a young man of about twenty years old, tall and robust, holding a folding fan. His handsome face exuded the refined air of a scholar, his eyes shining like stars, radiating a restrained brilliance. At this moment, seemingly influenced by the power of the attackers, a hint of ruthlessness appeared on his face, yet it also made him more charismatic.
Shi Feixuan's swordsmanship was imbued with Taoist principles, her swordplay containing boundless mysteries. Each stroke of her sword drew a beautiful curve, causing those around her to twist and turn as if losing their balance.
The stranger's fan movements were incredibly fluid and graceful, displaying a captivating and unpredictable style, with countless variations concealing ruthless and cunning killing moves—both beautiful and treacherous! Even more impressive was his lightness of movement; his agility seemed to carry countless illusory figures with him, drawing gasps of amazement from onlookers.
Meanwhile, Wanwan's Great Demonic Field was gathering energy on the other side, her slender arms and jade-like hands rapidly rotating and waving, thick black energy surging forth from between her hands like a gigantic black hole capable of blotting out the sky, emanating a chilling aura, forcefully blocking the powerful attacks before her.
Ga Duo alone held off more than a dozen people, his clothes disheveled, his moves simple and unadorned, yet possessing boundless power.
Shi Feixuan and the stranger seemed to be handling their opponents with relative ease. However, Wanwan and Ga Duo were gradually becoming overwhelmed, Wanwan's clothes torn in several places, bloodstains faintly visible.
Why, despite their superior skills and powerful assistance, were Wanwan and Shi Feixuan unable to gain the upper hand? It was because Yuan Yueze had recognized the attackers as the Black Gold Warriors he had seen before!
Wanwan and Shi Feixuan were only able to barely hold their own against their opponents using their own cultivation and mental attacks. The thick evil aura and ghostly illusions in the battle instantly reminded Yuan Yueze of the Great Ming Holy Venerable!
"Girl!"
Without time to think further, Yuan Yueze roared, transforming into a streak of light and shooting straight into the battle circle between Wanwan and Gaduo.
Affected by Yuan Yueze's roar, Wanwan, Gaduo, Shi Feixuan, and the stranger all paused for a moment, looking at Yuan Yueze. But the surrounding Black Gold Warriors seemed to ignore him, their attacks becoming even more vicious.
Wanwan, whose pretty face had been filled with murderous intent, suddenly heard Yuan Yueze's roar and glanced in the direction of the sound; the joy on her face could no longer be concealed. Gado seemed to be constantly watching Wanwan, and upon seeing her expression, a flicker of sadness crossed his eyes.
A mere moment of distraction could be fatal!
Wanwan sensed several flashes of swords closing in, but it was too late to react! Just
as she was inwardly screaming, Yuan Yueze appeared like lightning, blocking her path. Wanwan, her heart pounding with excitement, gazed at Yuan Yueze with trembling eyes.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
A series of crisp sounds rang out, and the six men determined to kill Wanwan were all forced back. Even Yuan Yueze was forced back three steps!
Without time to explain, Yuan Yueze roared, "All of you, get out of my way!"
Wanwan and Gado's breathing was already disordered; now was not the time to fight. Gado, seemingly extremely calm, forcefully pulled the furious Wanwan back several dozen feet.
As for Shi Feixuan, Yuan Yueze couldn't be bothered. What did it matter to him whether she lived or died?
The battle was a good half-mile from the south gate, and some audacious onlookers were watching from afar.
"Wow! Young Master Yuan is here! He's saved the beauty!"
"My goodness! Those are the real experts!"
Yuan Yueze, unaware of the origins and purposes of these black-gold warriors, had a cold gaze. Although he didn't know why they had ambushed Wanwan and Shi Feixuan, he instantly recalled their dealings with the Yuwen Clan, and even more so, their injury to Yun Yuzhen. Today, they had even injured Wanwan right before his eyes. Yuan Yueze was burning with rage.
But he quickly calmed himself down, otherwise his strength would be greatly diminished due to a loss of composure.
As soon as Yuan Yueze entered the battle, the dozen or so attackers seemed to be telepathically focused, fiercely pressing down on him.
The Wujin warriors, seizing the initiative, unleashed a barrage of sword and saber techniques on Yuan Yueze. The two in front of him, considered the most skilled, swung their twin blades wildly, seemingly chaotic yet each strike aimed at vital points. Yuan Yueze's longsword was already drawn; with a flick of the tip, a faint net of swords appeared, enveloping him entirely. He used stillness to control movement, complexity to break complexity. After a series of clanging sounds, Yuan Yueze took a step back, and the burly man, seemingly their leader, boomed, "Form ranks!"
Several men attacking Shi Feixuan on the other side immediately abandoned the two and surrounded Yuan Yueze.
Ten feet away, Shi Feixuan and the stranger slowly calmed their breathing, watching inexplicably as nearly thirty people attacked Yuan Yueze.
The formation was clearly the result of extensive practice by the opposing team. One could discern this solely from the positions, angles, and level of coordination among the members. The faint, eerie aura that had permeated their scattered battles was now several times stronger, accompanied by a chilling wind and overwhelming resentment.
This malevolent energy, however, had no effect on Yuan Yueze's composure at this moment.
Suddenly, Yuan Yueze vanished from everyone's sight.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared as if by magic, standing half a foot in front of the twenty-odd people, striking before they could even disperse and launch their attack.
His right wrist spun rapidly like a blooming flower, creating a vortex-shaped sword flower of breathtaking beauty before the twenty-odd people. Strangely, the sword moved so swiftly yet without emitting a single sound of friction against the air. The twenty-odd
people suddenly felt a profound darkness and depth at the center of the flower, as vast and boundless as the cosmos.
A sudden change occurred.
Suddenly, a punch pierced through the air from the flower's stamen. The speed of the punch was irritatingly slow, yet it seemed to extend and contract unpredictably as it moved, swaying left and right, striking in different directions at incredibly mysterious angles. The force contained within the punch was as if it had drained all the cosmic power from the flower's stamen, causing anyone to feel a dull ache in their heart and an overwhelming sense of despair.
This seemingly slow, yet lightning-fast punch finally revealed its full power.
Faced with this punch, which could shatter the heavens and the earth, and pierce through the very fabric of existence, the morale and spirit of the twenty-odd people plummeted, leaving them only able to blindly defend themselves with all their might.
A series of deafening clangs echoed.
In a flash, only seven of the twenty-odd attackers remained unharmed. The others were already mangled to pieces, their presence no longer detectable by Yuan Yueze.
Yuan Yueze clearly understood that these seven were the strongest among the group. Although they bore many shallow wounds, not a drop of blood flowed, and their facial expressions suggested they felt no pain whatsoever as they stood orderly a short distance in front of Yuan Yueze.
This scene unexpectedly reminded Yuan Yueze of Kuang Lei.
However, their true energy auras differed subtly.
The remaining seven could no longer form a large formation; to deal with Yuan Yueze, they had to concentrate their power on a single point.
They understood this perfectly well.
Yuan Yueze, of course, understood it as well.
Even as Yuan Yueze pondered Kuang Lei, the seven had already pounced, their swords and sabers each wielding different techniques, whistling through the air as they attacked Yuan Yueze once more.
Sensing the energy, Yuan Yueze clearly perceived that each of these seven possessed considerable cultivation. Their attacks, seemingly overwhelming, were actually concentrated within a small space of about a foot in diameter in front of Yuan Yueze.
This was the essence of the Chess Sword Technique.
Yuan Yueze felt a sudden headache coming on. These people were of unknown origin, yielding no information from their investigations, and impossible to pry open, yet they were secretly working against him. For the first time, Yuan Yueze felt a sense of helplessness.
In a flash, the seven of them joined forces, their powerful attack closing in on Yuan Yueze.
Yuan Yueze narrowed his eyes, his pupils suddenly contracting, then widening, his pupils dilating, his eyes flashing with divine light. His longsword danced, tracing seven random sword marks along an indescribable, mysterious path.
Everyone except Yuan Yueze was filled with astonishment.
Not because Yuan Yueze had vanished again, but because a seemingly real woman holding a sword had appeared where he stood.
The scene was indescribably bizarre, leaving everyone bewildered.
The woman's faint image appeared and disappeared in an instant, and Yuan Yueze was still standing there.
The visual illusion, so real yet so ethereal, filled everyone with dread.
The seven sword marks, seemingly alive and possessing precognitive abilities, completely blocked the path of the countless images concealing their true intentions.
In this fleeting life-or-death struggle, there was no chance to change tactics. Their only option was to concentrate all their energy and strength into a circular space of about a foot, intending to fight Yuan Yueze to the death. A smile
immediately appeared on Yuan Yueze's lips.
The seven sword marks had long since lost their effect. Yuan Yueze's wrists performed a series of profound and indescribable movements; the longsword seemed to leap and dance, yet when it thrust out, it was only a single strike. A
strike of great skill appearing clumsy, a strike of unchanging power containing countless variations.
The tip of the sword pierced precisely the strongest point at the center of that sphere of energy.
The sword roared fiercely, killing intent surged.
Man moved like flowing water, sword like refined steel.
A thunderous roar, like a rumble of thunder, followed by screams of agony.
Yuan Yueze, his face slightly pale, was completely absorbed, seemingly savoring the attack he had just unleashed. He didn't know how much time had passed when he was suddenly awakened by a soft groan. Looking down, he saw the ground littered with corpses and severed limbs. The only person still alive was kneeling there, barely breathing, his face numb, his eyes vacant as he stared at Yuan Yueze, who stood a foot away.
Yuan Yueze took a step forward, about to finish him off, when he suddenly heard a loud shout from behind: "Stop!"
Looking towards the voice, he saw it coming from the direction where Shi Feixuan and the stranger had been standing. The stranger seemed to have fallen unconscious for some reason, while Shi Feixuan's throat was being tightly gripped by a black-gold warrior.
Wanwan and Gaduo were standing in a different direction from Shi Feixuan. Upon seeing Shi Feixuan captured, Yuan Yueze's first reaction was to look at Wanwan, only to see a corpse in front of Ga Duo. He guessed that the person who had captured Wanwan was trying to use her to blackmail Yuan Yueze.
Yuan Yueze merely glanced at the person who had captured Shi Feixuan, secretly thinking that these people were indeed not simple; they had managed to silently send two men to capture two women as a last resort.
But their wishful thinking had clearly backfired.
Yuan Yueze ignored Shi Feixuan's capture, his long sword slowly piercing the still groaning Wujin warrior's Baihui acupoint. A series of shrill screams, like those of a vengeful ghost, rang out, so cruel that even Wanwan in the distance found it unbearable.
"I told you to stop! Otherwise, I'll kill her immediately!"
The person who had captured Shi Feixuan was clearly panicked. He had thought women would be Yuan Yueze's greatest weakness, but he hadn't expected him to disregard the life or death of such a beauty as Shi Feixuan, his brutal killing method seeming more like a show of defiance!
The entire sword plunged into the skull, finally freeing the man tortured by Yuan Yueze. His upper body was pinned to the ground.
Then, Yuan Yueze swiftly pulled out the sword, looked at the man whose head had been ripped open without a drop of blood, shook his head, turned, and chuckled, "What does it matter to me whether you kill her or not? Besides, if you kill her, I'll cut off pieces of your flesh!"
The black-gold warrior was the only survivor; his only goal was to escape. Otherwise, given their fearless nature, they would have fought Yuan Yueze to the death this morning.
Shi Feixuan remained expressionless, as if she weren't the one captured. But upon hearing Yuan Yueze's words, a strange, inexplicable feeling welled up within her—a sense of oppression, loss, and even a touch of bitterness.
"I know you're stubborn and won't get anything out of me. Go back and tell your master that no matter how many men he sends, they will all die by my hand!"
Yuan Yueze's already pale face suddenly turned deathly white, his body trembled violently, and he used his sword to support himself, blood seeping from his mouth and nostrils.
The black-gold general was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly: "Yuan, you're already at your last gasp, and you still dare to threaten me? Haha!"
Seeing Wanwan and the other woman rushing over, the black-gold general didn't rashly try to kill Yuan Yueze. Instead, he pushed Shi Feixuan towards Yuan Yueze to block his pursuit, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared.
Shi Feixuan seemed to be attracted by the battle just now, otherwise, how could she have been captured so easily? But her acupoints were sealed, and she couldn't muster any strength. She limply fell towards Yuan Yueze, following the momentum of her charge.
Yuan Yueze raised his right hand, intending to support her shoulder with one palm. However, she flew directly towards him, and his hand, meant for her shoulder, misjudged the direction, landing instead on her left, full, jade-like breast.
Both were stunned. The soft, elastic flesh touched Yuan Yueze's large hand. Shi Feixuan, who had never had such intimate contact with a man before, frowned slightly, two red clouds rising on her face. A strange, unprecedented sensation coursed through her body. She instinctively wanted to pull away, but couldn't muster the strength.
Yuan Yueze casually wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and his hand on her breast involuntarily began to knead it.
"Young...Master, please...don't..."
Shi Feixuan's cool expression vanished, her beautiful eyes shimmering, her face flushed, her mouth slightly open, her breath coming in short gasps, weak and feeble.
Yuan Yueze also realized the situation was too ambiguous and quickly released her, releasing her pressure points. Shi Feixuan's pretty face was still flushed as she rushed to check on the injured stranger lying on the ground in the distance. It was unclear whether she was shy or trying to avoid embarrassment.
This quick action was witnessed by Wanwan and Gaduo, who had already rushed over.
Wanwan pouted and unhappily clung to Gaduo's arm, seemingly defying Yuan Yueze. Gaduo, on the other hand, was somewhat flattered, his handsome face flushed, and after a flustered, silly grin, he gave Yuan Yueze a thumbs-up.
Upon seeing Wanwan and Gaduo's affectionate gesture, a flash of displeasure crossed Yuan Yueze's eyes. Without even glancing at Wanwan, he nodded to Gaduo and walked towards Shi Feixuan.
Wanwan stomped her foot angrily, turned, and quickly left without a word.
The crowd watching from afar was completely stunned by the fight. It took them a long time to recover, and then the discussions resumed.
"I've really broadened my horizons today! Young Master Yuan is so strong!"
"But he coughed up blood, his injuries must have worsened."
"Wow! That move Young Master Yuan just made must be the legendary supreme Buddhist technique!"
"What technique?"
"It's that 'Breast-Sending Palm' move!"
"Young Master Yuan has teased all the masters from both the righteous and the wicked! First there was Yin, then today there's Fairy Shi! Tsk tsk!"...
Next chapter preview: Princess's Heart in Turmoil

Chapter 044 Princess's Heart in Turmoil
Ga Duo stared at Wanwan's vanished figure in an instant, a strange melancholy rising in his heart.
After a long, stunned silence, he came to his senses and sat down beside Yuan Yueze, Shi Feixuan, and the strange man.
Yuan Yueze hadn't intended to help Shi Feixuan and the strange man heal their injuries, but his soft heart prevented him from doing so. He helped them expel the chaotic, malevolent true energy from their meridians.
His own vital energy was also greatly depleted, so he could only slightly assist Shi Feixuan and the strange man.
After a while of recuperation, Shi Feixuan and the strange man opened their eyes almost simultaneously, exchanging a glance, each with a hint of surprise in their eyes.
Shi Feixuan sat cross-legged and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your help, young master."
Her voice was full of vital energy, indicating she had fully recovered eighty or ninety percent of her strength.
"Young master's injuries..."
Seeing that Yuan Yueze only nodded slightly, Shi Feixuan suddenly remembered that Yuan Yueze had just vomited blood and asked again.
Yuan Yueze merely smiled slightly, then turned to the stranger and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, you must be Hou Xibai, known in the martial arts world as the 'Amorous Young Master'!"
"Xibai's little reputation can't compare to Brother Yuan's. Brother Yuan is indeed as rumored,"
the stranger replied with a cupped-fist salute.
Yuan Yueze smiled, then asked, "What exactly happened? Why are you here, and why did you clash with those strange people?"
Shi Feixuan replied, "Today, I was invited by Brother Hou to take a walk in the countryside after the rain. While waiting for Brother Hou, I happened to meet Sister Wanwan. Unexpectedly, Sister Wanwan..."
Her words were cryptic, but after a moment's thought, Yuan Yueze knew that Wanwan must have started it.
"After that, we started fighting. After only a few moves, this brother rushed from the city to stop us. But suddenly, those people wearing strange armor jumped out of the woods. Their martial arts were even more sinister. They split into two groups, and their targets seemed to be Sister Wanwan and Feixuan. Fortunately, Brother Hou arrived in time and, together with this young master, helped us a lot, so we weren't captured. Later, Young Master Yuan arrived and used his extremely powerful sword moves. Feixuan's attention was drawn to him, but she was secretly attacked. A stronger and more sinister true energy sealed her acupoints, and she couldn't muster any strength at all."
Shi Feixuan pointed at Ga Duo and began to speak.
Yuan Yueze nodded: "These strange people have ambushed me time and time again, but I don't know why they ambushed you?"
Shi Feixuan asked in surprise: "So you've met them before, young master? These strange people's martial arts are bizarre. I've tried to recall the martial arts manuals I've read, but I can't find a clue."
Yuan Yueze thought to himself that even he had no way to deal with these hidden forces. If they didn't come out, he probably wouldn't be able to find them without searching the whole world.
"These people have unknown origins. As you said, their martial arts are even more bizarre. They only know how to ambush, but it's impossible to figure out their purpose."
Yuan Yueze sighed helplessly.
Hou Xibai chuckled: "So there are people and things in the world that even a master like Brother Yuan can't handle."
Yuan Yueze thought he was just saying it casually and didn't mind: "I only have a pair of arms and a pair of legs."
"Brother Gaduo, you and I became friends after our fight. Last time was just a misunderstanding, please don't take it to heart."
Yuan Yueze turned to Gaduo and said.
Gado laughed heartily, "It's alright. I grew up in the Western Regions and am just traveling in the Central Plains. My actions were inevitably impulsive, so please forgive me, Brother Yuan."
His accent was slightly strange, probably due to his limited fluency in Chinese, but his vocabulary was quite good.
Yuan Yueze greatly enjoyed befriending such forthright people, and immediately smiled back, cupping his hands in farewell, "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now. Those who attacked today will certainly not let it go. Brother Hou and Miss Shi, please be careful in the future."
He could tell that Gado's background was somewhat mysterious, but it wasn't convenient to ask at this moment. With Gado's abilities, he wasn't afraid of those Wujin warriors attacking him. Just
as Yuan Yueze was about to leave, Shi Feixuan suddenly spoke up, "Why did you let one person go, young master?"
Yuan Yueze smiled mysteriously and didn't answer her.
This group of people was acting mysteriously. If Yuan Yueze didn't take this opportunity to show weakness, how would he have another chance to lure them out? And if he didn't lure them out, how could he further uncover their secrets?
Of course, these words couldn't be spoken to Shi Feixuan.
Ga Duo then rose to his feet, bid farewell to Shi Feixuan and the other woman, and headed alone in the direction Wanwan had left.
"What does Brother Hou think of him? Could he be a member of the Demonic Sect? Does the title 'Evil Emperor' truly exist?"
After a long while, Shi Feixuan asked, watching Yuan Yueze's receding figure.
Hou Xibai frowned deeply: "This Young Master Yuan's inner strength is vast and pure, yet he possesses not a trace of the eerie aura of the Demonic Sect. His swordplay also deeply embodies Taoist principles. Moreover, he is peaceful and sincere; he doesn't seem like a member of the Demonic Sect at all."
Shi Feixuan was also somewhat confused: "But Feixuan personally saw him wearing the 'Holy Light Ring,' and he himself admitted to being a member of the Demonic Sect. Feixuan has only never heard
of the title 'Evil Emperor.'" Hou Xibai smiled: "Since he admitted it, then it must be true. He doesn't resemble other members of the Demonic Sect at all; on the contrary, he exudes righteousness. As for the title 'Evil Emperor,' it probably existed since ancient times, but has been forgotten."
Shi Feixuan nodded, then smiled bitterly: "Although Brother Hou greatly admires this person, there is one characteristic that most resembles that of a member of the Demonic Sect: his eyes and words reveal a strong dislike, or rather, disgust, towards Feixuan's sect."
Hou Xibai was somewhat surprised, yet unsure how to comfort her.
Shi Feixuan suddenly remembered the way Yuan Yueze had kneaded her breasts with his "Breast-Extending Palm" move, and her body immediately felt uncomfortable. Especially her shapely breasts, which had recorded the strange sensation of Yuan Yueze's kneading, sent a tingling, electric current through her body, and Shi Feixuan's face flushed crimson. Her beautiful eyes revealed an extremely alluring and seductive light.
Hou Xibai had known Shi Feixuan for a long time, but he had only seen her gentle smile a few times; she always had a calm and composed expression. He had never seen her display such a captivating and alluring demeanor, and Hou Xibai's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Noticing the strange look in Hou Xibai's eyes, Shi Feixuan hurriedly suppressed her fluttering heart, instantly regaining her ethereal, otherworldly demeanor, exuding a faint fairy-like charm that kept mortals at bay.
Shi Feixuan said calmly, "Thanks to Brother Hou's help today, let's go back too."
Hou Xibai was still reeling from Shi Feixuan's charming words, and upon hearing this, he immediately stood up, and the two walked side by side towards the city gate.
※※※※※ Yuan Yueze entered the south gate and headed straight for his home.
Humming a little tune, he strolled along the sparsely populated road when he suddenly sensed a faint groan coming from around a corner a few dozen feet ahead. Several powerful internal energy auras seemed to flicker around him.
This was the outskirts of the city, sparsely populated with houses and even fewer residents.
Could someone be up to no good?
Thinking this, Yuan Yueze dashed forward, covering several dozen feet in the blink of an eye. To avoid alerting them, he forcefully suppressed all his auras and slipped to the window of a dilapidated thatched hut around the corner.
Hearing a woman's soft sobbing coming from inside, he peeked inside, and the scene enraged him!
Inside the thatched hut, a burly man, shirtless, had a woman pinned beneath him. One hand gripped the woman's delicate hand, hidden by his back, while the other seemed to be tearing at her clothes. He leered, "You little wench are a beauty beyond compare. I'm a hero, after all. A beauty for a hero, you're not at a loss."
"If you don't let me go, I'll die right here."
The woman beneath him screamed in a hoarse voice.
Yuan Yueze's heart skipped a beat. No matter how hoarse her voice was, Yuan Yueze could still recognize it as Li Xiuning's!
"Hehe!"
The burly man chuckled evilly, and Li Xiuning could no longer make a sound, as if her mouth had been gagged.
The burly man shouted, "This place is deserted, screaming won't do any good. With your mouth gagged, you can't even kill yourself! Enjoy the ecstasy I'm giving you!"
Although Yuan Yueze had no feelings for Li Xiuning, the scene before him could no longer be judged by personal feelings. This was the brutality of a beast, and anyone with a conscience should stop it.
"Bang!"
Yuan Yueze's suppressed aura suddenly exploded, blasting open one wall of the thatched hut. With a leap, he jumped into the hut, his eyes flashing with cold light, and flew straight for the other woman's head.
Her long hair was disheveled, her beautiful eyes were red and swollen, and tears streamed down her face. Her upper garment was already torn to shreds, her pink undergarment exposed to the air, revealing a patch of her fair skin. Seeing Yuan Yueze's familiar figure arrive like a god, Li Xiuning seemed to forget her recent humiliation, her joy written all over her pretty face.
The burly man, surprisingly calm in the face of danger, swiftly reached for Li Xiuning's throat with his right hand, while his left hand was already inside his robes. Suddenly, he sensed something was wrong. Before his right hand could touch Li Xiuning's jade-like neck, a strange sight appeared before him: his body was kneeling there, but his head was gone, and Yuan Yueze, sword in hand, stood before him. At the same time, the burly man lost all sensation.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
"Miss Li, you've been frightened,"
Yuan Yueze said softly, seeing the burly man's strange behavior and not having time to ponder his purpose, looking at the pitiful Li Xiuning with her arms crossed.
"Wah!"
Li Xiuning could no longer hold back, tears of grievance streaming down her face. Ignoring her exposed skin and disheveled clothes, she threw herself into Yuan Yueze's arms and burst into tears.
Yuan Yueze sighed deeply, pulled her close, and gently stroked her shoulder. He didn't speak, only letting her vent her unhappiness.
She cried for a full quarter of an hour. Even when her tears seemed to have dried, Li Xiuning didn't leave Yuan Yueze, only burying her head in his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"Why has Miss Li suffered such a fate? Did you go out alone? Why are you here?"
Seeing that she wouldn't leave him, Yuan Yueze had no choice but to pick her up, sit her on the ground, and place her on his lap.
No one could see Li Xiuning's expression, as she remained buried in Yuan Yueze's arms.
"Xiuning originally intended to visit Xiuxun, but today I suddenly decided to come alone, and unexpectedly encountered..."
Li Xiuning said in a trembling voice, seemingly sobbing again towards the end.
Yuan Yueze sighed deeply. If he had arrived even half a day later, the tragedy might have truly come to pass. For women of this era, this was more important than life itself. Fortunately, she had arrived at the right time. If something had happened to Li Xiuning, Xiuxun might have been uneasy, since Li Xiuning had come to visit her.
Nestled against Yuan Yueze's broad chest for a while, listening to his amusing stories, Li Xiuning gradually forgot her grievances and even giggled occasionally. Her tear-streaked face shone with happiness, captivating Yuan Yueze.
Gently wiping away her tears with his thumb, Yuan Yueze smiled and said, "Let's go, I'll take you home, otherwise your second brother might worry."
Although Li Xiuning was reluctant to leave his embrace, she couldn't find a reason, so she blushed and stood up. She didn't want to hide her naked body beneath her tattered clothes, because it was for Yuan Yueze to see. But fearing he would think she was a harlot, she clumsily tried to cover herself. Her clothes were torn, and no amount of covering would help; Li Xiuning was even more embarrassed.
After thoroughly examining the bracelet, Yuan Yueze closed his eyes and scanned it, taking out a sleeveless, straight-fronted, low-slit cheongsam. These were originally placed there by Yun Jizi, intended for his wives, but they were all accustomed to the simplest palace-style dresses and disliked such formal attire.
Li Xiuning, already aware of Yuan Yueze's ability to conjure things out of thin air, blushed even more upon seeing him suddenly produce such a strange long dress and opening it. Such dresses from later generations would be considered insane by ancient people; only exhibitionists would wear them. However, this was a gift from Yuan Yueze, and Li Xiuning cherished it. She hesitantly invited Yuan Yueze outside before changing inside.
A moment later, a long, emerald-green dress encasing her graceful, slender figure, Li Xiuning emerged shyly, no longer resembling a female politician. Yuan Yueze looked at her and nodded in silent admiration.
This kind of clothing needs to match the wearer's temperament to be truly beautiful, and it's extremely suitable for someone like Li Xiuning, who was born into a prominent family and possesses a noble air.
"Young...Young Master, is this dress...pretty?"
Li Xiuning asked softly.
Yuan Yueze smiled and said, "Very pretty, it suits you perfectly."
With that, he pulled her along and used his light-footed skill to run towards the villa where Li Tang was staying in Luoyang.
During the run, Yuan Yueze was lost in thought, remembering the hidden internal energy. With their abilities, they should have been able to hear Li Xiuning's cries for help, so why weren't they coming to her aid? Suddenly, a memory flashed through Yuan Yueze's mind of his wife's warning to be extremely careful of Li Shimin.
As they approached the villa, Yuan Yueze slowed down and turned back to ask Li Xiuning, who seemed lost in thought, "Miss, could you tell me which room your second brother usually stays in?"
Li Xiuning was somewhat puzzled, but didn't dare ask directly, so she pointed to Yuan Yueze, who then pulled her along stealthily.
Inside Li Shimin's study.
Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji, and Pang Yu sat together.
Pang Yu, the head of the intelligence network of the Tian Ce Mansion, spoke up: "Your Highness, we just received news that Song Shidao has been indulging in pleasure for over half a month after leaving the mountain city. Recently, he has started traveling the martial world, killing many tyrants, seemingly ready to live a life of chivalry and revenge."
Li Shimin sighed, "He was originally a dragon among men, but alas, his will is not firm, and he has not inherited even a trace of the domineering bloodline of the 'Heavenly Blade.' Alas, the Song clan!"
Changsun Wuji also laughed, "This is even better. I congratulate Your Highness on losing one less rival."
Li Shimin showed no joy, only a bitter smile.
Pang Yufu added, "Perhaps Song Shidao's personality is more suited to the life of a江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world)! The news states that he is famous for his swordsmanship. Consider that Song Que was unparalleled in the world with his saber, yet his son can't even use a saber properly. It's absurd!"
Changsun Wuji chimed in, "We don't need to concern ourselves with Song Shidao's matter anymore; we should focus our attention on Yuan Yueze."
Upon hearing the name Yuan Yueze, Li Shimin's expression became even more complex. After a long while, he sighed deeply and said with a bitter smile, "Wuji, Brother Pang, do you think Shimin is still human? Is he still a qualified elder brother?"
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji immediately stood up and knelt on the ground: "This plan was something I came up with on a whim when I was in Song Family Mountain City. I didn't expect it to have such a consequence." "The opportunity is ripe. King Qin should be pleased with such a good opportunity. Anyone with eyes can see that Princess Xiuning has fallen in love with Yuan Yueze. Although our methods are somewhat flawed, the outcome is not bad for either side. Moreover, King Qin's lifelong goal is the well-being of the people, and he is both virtuous and talented. After this succeeds, the princess will surely understand King Qin's predicament. Yuan Yueze's devotion to his wife is renowned throughout the land. The princess will be happy, King Qin will achieve great things, and Yuan Yueze will gain a beautiful wife—all three will benefit. If King Qin feels uneasy, I, Wuji, am willing to bear all the blame!"
Li Shimin's mood seemed to improve. He rose and helped Changsun Wuji up: "Wuji, what are you saying? How could I not know your heart? It's just… alas!"
Pang Yu spoke up, "Pang Yu knows that Prince Qin is afraid of burdening Princess Xiuning, as this matter did not arise naturally. But please believe me, Prince Qin, the princess is a woman of great virtue and integrity, the most admirable heroine I have ever met. She will certainly not blame you."
Li Shimin laughed heartily, "I understand your good intentions. My only concern is whether the plan will go awry."
Changsun Wuji said, "Prince Qin, you can rest assured on that point. We take money and do our jobs. Old Du only has one son; he only wishes for his son to live happily. Wuji..." "I've already given him a hundred taels of gold, and Old Du has promised that even if he dies, he will never let anything go wrong."
Li Shimin then asked worriedly, "Of course, I trust Wuji, but about the aphrodisiac..."
Changsun Wuji replied, "Please rest assured, Your Highness, regarding the aphrodisiac, I have already instructed Old Du to carefully time its use. If Yuan Yueze discovers Princess Xiuning's location beforehand, our hidden experts will hold him off, buying Old Du time to administer the aphrodisiac. Old Du has been traveling the martial world for many years and is very discerning in these matters." "The aphrodisiac is the key to the plan. We've been planning this for a long time, and Wuji thinks it's almost flawless."
Li Shimin nodded and sighed, "Then I'm relieved. I hope Yuan Yueze can give Xiuning a lifetime of happiness!"
Pang Yu nodded and said, "Although no one has been able to see through him all this time, once he and the princess become husband and wife, even if he doesn't support the Prince of Qin, he certainly won't oppose him. Given his sentimental nature, when the world is about to be at peace, he should still help the Prince of Qin for Princess Xiuning's sake." "Heh."
Li Shimin laughed, "But it's also thanks to his attempt to forcibly take Dugu Feng that we've learned he doesn't just value a woman's looks! Xiu Ning surpasses Dugu Feng in every way. That's why Wuji's plan was able to proceed."
Pang Yu said with a hint of contempt, "How could Miss Song compare to our princess? If Princess Xiu Ning had met Yuan Yueze before her, Prince Qin wouldn't have any worries; he'd be laughing in his dreams!"
Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji laughed heartily at Pang Yu's amusing words.
Yuan Yueze and Li Xiu Ning, who were hiding a few feet away from the study, suppressing their auras, were dumbfounded.
In a flash, Yuan Yueze had already guessed their plan based on the conversation.
The rape of Li Xiu Ning was just one part of the plan! The burly man who committed the assault, and the several auras hidden in the shadows, were all people arranged by Li Shimin. Thinking further, Yuan Yueze's route home and all his movements today were all part of Li Shimin's calculations! This requires many spies, including mobile ones and those placed around Wang Shichong.
What a vicious
plan. Just as Shan Meixian had guessed, once Yuan Yueze and Li Xiuning consummated their marriage, given Yuan Yueze's nature, even if he didn't help the Li Tang dynasty, he wouldn't dare oppose them. Just now, I heard Li Shimin hypocritically sighing, feeling guilty for using his sister like this—it was all a lie! He just wanted his subordinates to comfort him and give him some words of agreement! Li Shimin was an ambitious man, but also a man of flesh and blood. The bond between him and his sister was deep, and even someone as hard-hearted as him would feel a pang of sadness deep down from using his sister like this! However, this sadness obviously wouldn't last long, because for him, a politician, ambition trumped everything. To achieve hegemony, he was willing to sacrifice anyone! Moreover, he had only used his sister; although the methods were somewhat dirty, the result satisfied everyone. Politicians only care about the outcome, not the process or the methods used.
They overlooked the most crucial point: Yuan Yueze's strength far surpassed that of the hidden experts they had hired, and he had already rushed into the thatched hut before they even discovered him. Reflecting on it, Yuan Yueze realized he hadn't noticed when the hidden auras disappeared; they must have realized their opportunity to attack had passed and fled. Remembering
the aphrodisiac Changsun Wuji had mentioned, Yuan Yueze knew it must still be on the burly man.
He dragged the expressionless Li Xiuning to the scene of the incident, searching the headless man's body, and indeed found a small porcelain bottle hidden in his arms.
Holding the bottle, Yuan Yueze finally understood why the burly man had tried to capture Li Xiuning even in his dying moments—he wanted to use the aphrodisiac on her. Yuan Yueze muttered to himself, "Changsun Wuji, Li Shimin, you're so ruthless! It's a pity you underestimated my strength despite your meticulous planning!"
Turning his head, he saw Li Xiuning looking lost and expressionless. A sudden surge of unprecedented tenderness welled up within Yuan Yueze, and he pulled her tightly into his arms. Perhaps it would have been better if they hadn't overheard this plan by accident; at least Li Xiuning wouldn't be in this state.
Was she helpless? Painful? Heartbroken? Resentful? Or perhaps angry?
Yuan Yueze didn't know what she was thinking. He simply picked her up and climbed over a dilapidated wall more than two zhang high, placing her on his lap.
Li Xiuning couldn't even describe her own feelings.
From childhood, she had been taught to prioritize the family above all else. Over the years, without a doubt, she had grown into an outstanding politician, and deep down, she vaguely felt she was no less capable than her second brother. In terms of cunning, wisdom, and methods, she surpassed many men. Her second brother had used her before, for example, by betrothing her to the Chai family, and later, after Yuan Yueze's fame spread far and wide, by promising to marry her to him.
All of this was for the sake of the family, Li Xiuning told herself. To gain something, you must lose something else; this is an eternal principle of the world.
In the past, Li Shimin had explained all his plans to Li Xiuning. While accepting her fate, Li Xiuning also understood her second brother's decisions. She knew him better than anyone; his ambition was great, but once he ascended to a high position, it would represent the prosperity of the Li family. As a member of the Li family, what reason did she have not to support him? Besides, in this era, daughters of powerful families almost all shared the same fate—political pawns.
But today, having inexplicably overheard her second brother's plans with Yuan Yueze, Li Xiuning's mind had lost its way. She was a shrewd person, and even from that conversation, she had deduced Li Shimin's entire plan.
It was a fact that she liked Yuan Yueze, but he had always been cold and indifferent to her. If things turned out as her second brother predicted, she would indeed be very happy, but would that be fair to the sincere man before her?
Yuan Yueze had saved her in her moment of crisis today, and she should have thanked heaven, but she discovered that everything was deliberately arranged by her good second brother! They had even considered using aphrodisiacs!
Li Xiuning was in turmoil, unsure whether to blame Li Shimin. But she felt that this matter had deeply hurt Yuan Yueze.
Li Xiuning dared not raise her head again. Her deeply ingrained belief made her think that her second brother hadn't done much wrong; he was using her, but also for her own good, and she accepted it, since it was all for the family. But how could she face Yuan Yueze's deep, clear eyes now?
"There is a plant called a sunflower,"
Yuan Yueze said slowly, gazing intently at Li Xiuning after a long silence.
Sunflowers were only introduced to the Central Plains during the Ming Dynasty, so Li Xiuning had no way of knowing them. While she was still hesitating about how to face Yuan Yueze, he suddenly spoke. His tone neither mentioned the earlier incident nor blamed anyone, which only made Li Xiuning more uneasy. She felt that she would feel much better if Yuan Yueze were to berate Li Shimin or herself.
"It only blooms one flower at the top of the stem. When it blooms, the flower is disc-shaped, and the stamen always faces the sun, hence the name sunflower. In autumn, the flower disc is full of heavy fruit, and the top of the flower disc no longer faces the sun but droops down. Do you know why?"
Yuan Yueze continued, squinting his eyes.
Li Xiuning had never seen this strange plant before and didn't understand what Yuan Yueze meant. She simply shook her head.
"Because it carries too heavy a burden,"
Yuan Yueze said calmly.
The quick-witted Li Xiuning grasped the key point instantly. Two hot tears streamed down her numb face as she slowly closed her beautiful eyes and let out a long, soft sigh.
Although Yuan Yueze's words didn't explicitly state his attitude towards Li Shimin, what he wanted most at that moment was to comfort himself? Yes, I carry too heavy a burden, but who isn't?
"If you scold Xiuning a few times, Young Master, Xiuning will feel much better,"
Li Xiuning said softly, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Yuan Yueze was taken aback. Of course, he wouldn't let Li Shimin off so easily. But right now, this poor woman was also suffering, and he should comfort her first.
"You don't need to take it to heart. I know what to do,"
Yuan Yueze comforted her.
A strong sense of unease immediately welled up in Li Xiuning's heart: "Could it be that you..."
Yuan Yueze narrowed his eyes, gazing into the distance, and said calmly, "It's normal for them to scheme against me, because I've become a potential stumbling block for them. If one plan fails, they'll come up with another. If they cross my bottom line, there will be nowhere in the world for them to hide."
There was not a trace of power or pressure in his words. Yet Li Xiuning knew that he absolutely meant what he said!
As a high-ranking member of the Li Tang, a major power in this chaotic world, Li Xiuning understood the meaning behind Yuan Yueze's words all too well. As long as Yuan Yueze had a breath left, no matter where he was, he would not let ambitious people live in peace!
This was the feeling of threat, this was the feeling of fear!
Li Xiuning suddenly wanted to plead for her second brother, but Yuan Yueze never actively provoked others, so what right did she have to ask him for mercy?
"Xiuning, are you going to let your second brother off the hook?"
Yuan Yueze smiled at her, his form of address unconsciously changing.
Hearing Yuan Yueze call her that for the first time, Li Xiuning should have been happy, but she felt no joy at all, because her emotions were too conflicted. Normally, she would be foolish not to use Yuan Yueze, given her boldness, wisdom, decisiveness, and ruthlessness! But Yuan Yueze was always thinking of her, and this sincere attitude was enough to awaken the innocence in anyone's heart, especially since the man before her was the one who had most captivated her. Therefore, she had no desire to use Yuan Yueze at this moment; instead, she inexplicably began to blame her second brother, whom she had already forgiven.
"The imperial family is the most ruthless!"
Yuan Yueze sighed, his voice filled with helplessness.
Li Xiuning was at a loss for words; every word Yuan Yueze spoke was for her sake.
Silence fell again, a gentle breeze occasionally blowing, ruffling their long hair.
Thinking of how Wang Shichong and Li Shimin had used their beauty to seduce him after he had taken back Dugu Feng, Yuan Yueze chuckled wryly. Thinking that if Li Shimin had truly succeeded in his scheme today, Yuan Yueze's actions would be hampered, inevitably delaying the unification of the Central Plains, which would mean even more innocent civilians and soldiers dying tragically! With a sigh, Yuan Yueze spoke again: "I will forget about today's events, and you don't need to hold it against me."
The implication was that he wouldn't pursue the matter further; in truth, there was no real loss.
"Then Xiuning will take her leave. Take care, young master,"
Li Xiuning said with a sorrowful expression.
Yuan Yueze knew she must be deeply troubled; it would be better for her to take some time to think things through herself. He had already said what needed to be said.
The two nodded without exchanging another word and went their separate ways.
※※※※※ A hundred miles outside Luoyang City, at Dahong Mountain.
Five people sat in a secluded cave, meditating with their eyes closed. These men were robust and sturdy, their eyes gleaming with a sharp light, and the aura they exuded was not to be underestimated; they seemed to be highly skilled in martial arts.
"Nephew Shimin, your good uncle has deceived you once. I hope you'll learn your lesson!"
After a long while, the one who seemed to be the eldest of the five opened his eyes, his gaze sharp, and sighed.

Chapter 45: Secrets of Lanling,
Shangshu Mansion.
Wang Shichong sat alone on a high seat, massaging his temples and closing his eyes to rest.
"Knock knock!"
Wang Shichong opened his eyes and called out to the door.
A cool breeze blew past, and a frail-looking man appeared on the lower seat. The door, however, seemed to have remained completely still.
"Holy Envoy, His Majesty has issued an order: everything must be done according to the Holy Envoy's will,"
the man said in a sarcastic tone.
Wang Shichong nodded: "Did the Holy Venerable obtain the He Shi Bi and go into seclusion?"
The man beneath him shook his head: "The Holy Venerable's perfect body was shattered, and his state of mind seems somewhat unstable. He only left behind the words 'The Holy Religion is of utmost importance' before disappearing without a trace."
Wang Shichong showed surprise and solemnity, frowning as he said, "That day, the Holy Venerable only had all our strength to hold off Yuan Yueze. What happened afterward, we have no idea."
The man beneath him replied, "The Holy Envoy should have been able to see that Yuan Yueze's injuries were exceptionally severe, undoubtedly caused by his battle with the Holy Venerable. With the successive battles that followed, even if he were a god, he couldn't withstand it!"
Wang Shichong nodded: "With this person gone, dealing with that old thief Li Mi will be much easier."
"As for the great battle outside the city yesterday, it was extremely fierce. After Yuan Yueze and the others left, I examined the corpses and limbs, which further confirmed that they must have been sent by that mysterious Turkic religion. There are no other clues."
The man beneath him added.
Wang Shichong frowned: "We don't need to care about them for now. Their target should be Yuan Yueze. We'll deal with those Turks after the Luoyang matter is settled."
"Yes, how's the matter I asked you to arrange near Yuan Yueze's house going?"
Wang Shichong asked again.
The man sitting below nodded, indicating it was done.
A cunning smile spread across Wang Shichong's face.
※※※※※ After a night of revelry, Yuan Yueze was the first to wake up. Looking at the voluptuous figures of his wives beside him, several beautiful women sleeping soundly, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction. Recalling their discussion the previous day, Yuan Yueze fell into deep thought.
From the relationship between the Wujin generals and the Yuwen clan, and the fact that the Yuwen clan had now sided with Li Mi, Yuan Yueze could deduce two possibilities. One was that Li Mi was originally connected to those Wujin generals; they were all his accomplices. Secondly, Li Mi was a fool, destined to be defeated by the traitor Yuwen Clan sooner or later. Moreover…
considering Li Mi's antagonistic relationship with Wang Shichong, Yuan Yueze's thoughts became even clearer. These Wujin warriors were definitely not members of the Great Ming Zun Sect, because Yuan Yueze was almost certain that Wang Shichong was. Therefore, these Wujin warriors might have a deep connection with the Red-Clothed Empress he had met that day.
These people ambushed Wanwan and Shi Feixuan, but Shi Feixuan was merely a side target. Judging from the fact that most of them were surrounding Wanwan, their primary target was undoubtedly her.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that although Yuan Yueze and Wanwan's relationship was ambiguous, it was unusually close. Yuan Yueze's Achilles' heel was his women. If Wanwan can be captured alive and Shi Feixuan killed, not only will both the legitimate and illegitimate factions in the Central Plains suffer, but Yuan Yueze's future actions will also be hampered. This is a very good plan to kill two birds with one stone.
After discussing the battle with Yun Yuzhen and the other women, Yuan Yueze guessed that these Black Gold Warriors were becoming increasingly powerful, but also increasingly scarce. Killing a batch would result in significant losses for the enemy. Currently, he had no time to deal with them; the only thing he could do was to deal with them as they came.
Thinking back to those self-righteous eavesdroppers from last night, Yuan Yueze couldn't help but laugh inwardly. They had come and gone without a trace. Even though their bodies were strange and they didn't bleed, Fu Junzhuo's swordsmanship had directly torn them to pieces. He just wondered why these eavesdroppers were so bold, and which faction had sent them. Currently, only Li Shimin, Wang Shichong, and Li Mi would dare to plot against Yuan Yueze!
Speaking of yesterday's strange swordplay, Fu Junzhuo felt a resonance similar to that of Shan Meixian that day. Shang Xiuxun, the little jealous pot, once again overturned, making the whole family laugh heartily.
Thinking of Li Xiuning, Yuan Yueze sighed inwardly; he could feel her affection for him. However, under the current circumstances, it is absolutely crucial not to provoke her, otherwise it will only put her in a difficult position. If the two of them really do get together, Li Xiuning will certainly hope for peaceful coexistence, but this is clearly impossible. Neither Yuan Yueze nor Li Shimin is destined for success; only one side will succeed. Since Li Xiuning has chosen to accept her fate for the sake of her family, Yuan Yueze will naturally also maintain a proper relationship between them.
But, is Li Xiuning really as Yuan Yueze thinks?
※※※※※ The villa where Li Tang is staying.
Li Xiuning, wearing the cheongsam Yuan Yueze gave her yesterday, sat listlessly on the edge of the bed, her face haggard.
Thinking back to yesterday when she returned, and Li Shimin greeted her with a look of surprise and delight upon seeing her in this strange dress, Li Xiuning felt a chill in her heart. With Li Shimin's shrewdness, seeing his sister return in such a strange outfit—an outfit that only Yuan Yueze could possess—it was clear that the two of them had already gotten together!
Li Shimin was about to ask Li Xiuning what had happened when Pang Yu rushed over and whispered a few words in his ear. Li Shimin
's expression immediately changed, and he comforted Li Xiuning briefly before leaving. Li Xiuning was exhausted and slept fitfully until dusk. When she awoke, she greeted Li Shimin and noticed his anxious expression. It turned out that the five guardian monks who had just returned from the Western Regions had left without saying goodbye. The importance of these five to the Li Tang dynasty was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
Li Xiuning quickly understood what had happened. Judging from the anxious yet disappointed expression on Li Shimin's face, he valued this plan more than his sister. Since Li Xiuning hadn't revealed the details, Li Shimin should have comforted his sister, who had almost been harmed by evil people, first.
"Because it carries too heavy a burden."
These words echoed in her ears again, and Li Xiuning realized her mind was in turmoil. Seeing Li Xiuning's expression, Li Shimin suddenly realized what was going on. He tried to comfort her, but she politely declined and returned to her room alone, leaving Li Shimin somewhat bewildered.
"If only they could get along well!"
Li Xiuning thought wistfully.
But she knew it was just wishful thinking, something that could never be realized. Even in death, Li Shimin would not abandon his ambition. Although Yuan Yueze's purpose was unknown, as he himself had said, his true motives were no longer important. His very existence, as long as he had a breath left, was enough to keep those ambitious men on edge.
Lowering her head, gently stroking her silk dress, Li Xiuning felt a pang of self-doubt for the first time: I did it for the family, but who has ever truly understood me? Besides him, which other man has ever truly understood me? Have all my sacrifices over the years been worthwhile?
Suddenly, she snapped back to reality: Was she really the same person who had been so indecisive and lost in thought?
A sudden headache struck, and drowsiness unexpectedly returned.
Slowly closing her still-swollen and red eyes, Li Xiuning drifted off to sleep again. Perhaps, in dreams, she could forget all her troubles!
※※※※※ Lost in thought, Shang Xiuxun beside her awoke with a soft moan. Her beautiful eyes, hazy like fine, rich wine, slowly opened, gazing at Yuan Yueze sitting beside her. After a sweet smile, she sat up and stretched. Her infinitely beautiful upper body, smooth as ivory, was exposed to the air. Her slightly disheveled hair, her brows still flushed with spring, were flawless. Her slightly rosy features and languid elegance combined to create an alluring charm that made Yuan Yueze swallow hard.
Seeing Yuan Yueze's distraught state, Shang Xiuxun felt a surge of pride. She deliberately puffed out her ample breasts, gave him a flirtatious wink, and said sweetly, "Good morning, my husband."
Good morning? Yuan Yueze's hands, already itching to get down to business, pulled her into his arms, kissing and nibbling at her, his large hands constantly busy, like a lustful devil.
Luckily, Shang Xiuxun had just woken from sleep, and her body wasn't fully alert yet, but she couldn't withstand Yuan Yueze's aggressive advances. She could only gasp and forcefully hold him down, saying, "No more, Xiuxun can't do it anymore. Can't you just talk to me properly?"
Having satisfied his desires, Yuan Yueze didn't force her, and the two simply nestled together quietly.
After a while, Yuan Yueze asked, "How is Xiuxun's understanding of the *Tianyan Gua* coming along?"
Shang Xiuxun raised her head, her face beaming with a smile, and said, "I've only grasped a fraction of it. There are many things I feel I can predict, but I'm not entirely sure."
Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "Don't overwork yourself. Just treat it as a hobby. If it goes beyond that, it will inevitably become a burden."
Shang Xiuxun nodded vigorously, her pearly teeth lightly biting Yuan Yueze's chest, and said sweetly, "My husband is the best."
The two chatted casually for a while, and after a quarter of an hour, the other women gradually woke up.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Yun Yuzhen suddenly spoke up, "By the way, news came yesterday that Li Mi's 100,000 troops have already set off from Xingyang. If I'm not mistaken, they'll be at the gates of Luoyang in five or six days at most. A storm is brewing."
"How are things going with your secret contacts with Wang Shichong's confidants?"
Yuan Yueze asked.
Shan Meixian said listlessly, "Now that my husband is always portraying himself as the weaker party, how can we women possibly negotiate with them?"
Yuan Yueze nodded, put his arm around her, and comforted her, "It's really tough on you, but we absolutely cannot let Wang Shichong secure his position in Luoyang. I remember my master saying that there's someone in Luoyang with the aura of an emperor, and that must be him. If we don't bribe a few of his confidants, once we make a high-profile appearance, those forces in the shadows might come up with even more vicious schemes. The worst part is that they're not on Wang Shichong's side, so it's hard to figure out what their true purpose is."
Wei Zhenzhen interjected, "Based on my experience of interacting with him several times, Yang Gongqing is trustworthy. Although he is an old subordinate of Wang Shichong, he is extremely dissatisfied with Wang Shichong. Although my husband said that Yang Gongqing may not necessarily understand the real Wang Shichong, so what? This should be a good thing; we can support him. As for Wang Shichong's other subordinates, most of them are opportunists."
Yun Yuzhen sighed, "Popular sentiment is easy to manage; my husband's charisma in Luoyang is unimaginable. But the morale of the army needs a qualified general to manage it, so we must find a way to satisfy both sides."
"Zhenzhen will go see Yang Gongqing again today,"
Wei Zhenzhen said after pondering for a moment.
Shan Meixian turned to her: "Zhenzhen, you can also reveal a little about our strength to him, otherwise relying solely on personal relationships won't be very effective."
Wei Zhenzhen nodded and said, "Lord Yang treats Zhenzhen like a daughter, and Linglong Jiao, who is in charge of intelligence under Wang Shichong, is also close to Zhenzhen. If we can reveal a little bit of our strength to them, the effect will surely be better."
Yuan Yueze recalled what Lord Yang had said to him privately when he attended Wang Shichong's banquet before, and now it seemed that it was truly from the heart. He smiled and said, "Then Zhenzhen will have to grasp the appropriate measure herself."
Wei Zhenzhen nodded.
“There are really few outstanding generals under Wang Shichong; there are plenty of sycophants. His second son is alright, but he's unlikely to favor us, given our blood relation,”
Wei Zhenzhen added.
“Regarding my husband’s claim of seeing the ‘attack on the palace’ mentioned in Wang Shichong’s intelligence report in the West Garden, Yuzhen thinks it’s strange and suspects he’s being tricked,”
Yun Yuzhen chimed in.
Yuan Yueze laughed, “Whether his trick is real or not, it won’t affect us at all.”
The women nodded knowingly.
Shan Meixian changed the subject, saying, "Rong Fengxiang is holding a birthday banquet the day after tomorrow, and he's invited you, my husband."
Yuan Yueze suddenly laughed, "That sorcerer invited me? I'm too lazy to go!"
Shan Meixian also giggled, "It would be really bad if you didn't go, my husband, because when I was young and traveling the world, I met a good friend, the once-famous Mingyue, a master of music. It's a pity that fate was cruel to her, and Mingyue passed away too soon. Mingyue's daughter, Xiufang, is also famous for her musical talent. She just arrived in Luoyang the other day and is staying at Manqing Courtyard. She was originally only allowed to..." Two performances were prepared, one at Manqing Courtyard and the other at Wang Shichong's residence. Rong Fengxiang, well-connected in Luoyang's official and business circles, invited her out of courtesy, but she declined, saying only that if he could persuade her husband, Xiufang wouldn't mind performing a piece. Her husband should know Xiufang's reputation, especially the people who support her. If he could attend, it would bring him good publicity and be a great honor—why not?
Yuan Yueze scoffed, "What's with the airs? I'm not going!"
The women were taken aback, then burst into laughter.
Fu Junzhuo giggled for a while before saying, "But hasn't my husband been putting on airs all along? In the past few months, we've received hundreds of invitations, but he's only attended two or three banquets."
Yuan Yueze was stunned; what Fu Junzhuo said was indeed true.
He pretended to grit his teeth and grabbed her naked body, giving her a good 'ravaging'. Fu Junzhuo quickly begged for mercy. Yuan Yueze finally spoke, "I'm putting on airs because we're not here for entertainment; we have more important things to do. But Shang Xiufang is just having fun."
Shan Meixian also laughed, "Does my husband look down on her for working in a brothel?"
Yuan Yueze asked in surprise, "Aren't you insulting my character? When have I ever looked down on women?"
Shan Meixian laughed even harder, "That's not what I meant. I know you've always been worried about the forces in the shadows, and what I said earlier was just a casual remark. But the reason I want you to attend the banquet is because she insists on calling me 'Auntie,' and yesterday she even sent someone to deliver a message, wanting to see me. After all, it's been five or six years since we last met. What's wrong with letting her meet the man I entrusted to her?"
Yuan Yueze nodded awkwardly, but still stubbornly said, "Luoyang is about to descend into chaos. Wang Shichong is playing some underhanded tricks that are hard to guard against. You go ahead; I'll stay home and discuss it with Yuzhen and the others."
"If you want Shang Xiufang to meet the man you've entrusted yourself to, why don't you invite her to our house? I'll cook her a feast myself; wouldn't that be a thousand times better than those noisy, hypocritical occasions? Before the banquet the day after tomorrow, go to Manqing Courtyard and tell her that because I didn't attend the banquet, Shang Xiufang won't perform either, which might anger everyone. They might come to their deaths, but I find it troublesome!"
Yuan Yueze, seeing Shan Meixian's sullen expression, guessed her mood and immediately spoke gently.
Sure enough, Shan Meixian's displeasure vanished, and she immediately nodded in agreement.
Afternoon.
Xiao Bei finally returned.
He was in a hurry, travel-worn.
After resting for a while, Xiao Bei began to recount the events of the past few days.
The He Shi Bi jade was stolen by the two dragons. Given their physical strength, they should have surely died from the jade's supernatural power. However, not only did they learn the "Longevity Technique," but they also received the miraculous "Concentration Technique." Therefore, they not only survived but also completely absorbed the jade's power, undergoing a transformation of their acupoints and meridians as described in the original story, resulting in a rapid increase in their strength. Currently, they are recuperating in the mountain city while preparing for further improvement.
Yuan Yueze was annoyed by these two brats, but as long as he heard they were alright, he was satisfied. He immediately pressed, "Where have you been these past few days?"
Xiao Bei hesitated, seemingly having something difficult to say, or perhaps unsure where to begin.
"Is there something you can't say?"
Yuan Yueze asked curiously.
Xiao Bei shook her head and let out a long sigh: "My husband should already know that it was I who saved Kou Zhong and the other man that day, and also encountered the strongest enemy."
Yuan Yueze nodded: "Afterwards, we thought about it and felt that it was the woman in red who set up the plan to lure you away from the mountain, to separate you. And the Holy Venerable arranged for Wang Shichong to hold me back."
Xiao Bei also nodded and said: "After discussing with Kou Zhong and the other man along the way, we guessed that from the moment Kou Zhong and the other man sneaked into Jingnian Temple, they had already stepped into someone else's trap, but we could not be sure whether it was the Holy Venerable or the Empress who set it up."
When she mentioned the Empress again, the unnatural look on Xiao Bei's face deepened.
Shan Meixian smiled and said, "We've discussed these matters many times over the past few days. Hearing your words today, sister, I'm even more certain that besides its extraordinary abilities, the He Shi Bi jade likely holds other mysteries."
The women had fallen into a trap that day, scattering to fight in various locations outside Luoyang. When they met again, they only exchanged a few brief instructions before going their separate ways, so there wasn't time to discuss deeper issues.
Xiao Bei nodded and said, "It's not necessarily as you say, sister. You should know that some religions outside the Central Plains would worship what outsiders consider worthless iron as a priceless treasure."
Yuan Yueze interjected, "Regarding the He Shi Bi jade, we can only speculate for now. There's no need to speculate wildly about its secrets. We can discuss it later."
Xiao Bei nodded silently, "Actually, I suspect that the woman in red seems to have some connection with me."
Everyone was greatly surprised and quickly inquired. In their eyes, the Great Ming Zunjiao was somewhat better off, because some things were already known to Yuan Yueze's family. The origins and purposes of the red-clad empress and the assassins clad in black armor remained a complete mystery.
Xiao Bei forced a smile and began to speak slowly, "My father, Xiao Kui, was Emperor Ming of Western Liang. Among his many children, two brothers, Xiao Cong and Xiao Yu, were the most outstanding."
Wei Zhenzhen interjected, "Sister, your talent is no less than any man's."
Xiao Bei smiled and continued, "My brother Xiao Yu was demoted to the governor of Hechi for opposing the expedition to Goguryeo. If my guess is correct, he should have already pledged allegiance to the Li Tang dynasty in Chang'an. Because he was the one who resisted Xue Ju's attack. After the Li Tang occupied Chang'an, Li Shimin personally led troops to attack Xue Ju. With Li Shimin's personal charisma and strength, my brother had no reason not to pledge allegiance to him."
The crowd, unsure of what Xiao Bei was about to say, could only listen quietly.
"The Northern and Southern Dynasties period was inherently rife with war. Xiao Cong, the elder brother, succeeded to the throne of the Western Liang Dynasty. He was learned, talented, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and possessed a free and unrestrained personality. After the Later Liang was annexed by the former Sui Dynasty, the elder brother was also demoted to Duke of Ju. His uncle, Xiao Yan, and others led a group of residents to flee to the Chen Dynasty. The elder brother remained highly regarded during the Sui Dynasty. After Yang Guang ascended the throne, he again enfeoffed the elder brother as Duke of Liang and Grand Secretary. Furthermore, due to his concubine's connections, many relatives of the Lanling Xiao clan were promoted to official positions in the court. However, a children's rhyme suddenly appeared saying 'Xiao Xiao also rises again,' leading to Yang Guang's suspicion of the elder brother. Ultimately, the elder brother was dismissed from office and fell ill, never to recover."
Yuan Yueze spoke as if listening to a historical story, a completely different experience from simply reading historical materials.
"Few of my brother's children were outstanding. Only his eleven-year-old son, Xiao Ge, was proficient in both literature and martial arts. When Western Liang fell, Xiao Ge was separated from my brother in the chaos of battle and disappeared without a trace. After my brother was dismissed from his post, he was still worried about his beloved son until his last breath. Soon after, my brother died of illness. He left me a letter, instructing me to find his son and raise him to be a good man."
Xiao Bei spoke of the past separations and deaths with a sorrowful expression.
Everyone who heard this sighed and felt saddened.
After Yuan Yueze comforted Xiao Bei in his arms for a while, Shan Meixian suddenly asked, "Now that decades have passed, the children of yesteryear have grown up. I'm afraid they wouldn't even recognize you, would they?"
Xiao Bei nestled in Yuan Yueze's arms and looked up, saying, "In the letter my brother wrote to me that day, I could recognize Xiao Ge by just two marks. One was the Buddhist swastika mark his mother had tattooed on his chest. The other was the last thing my brother said to Xiao Ge before we were separated: 'You must live on, remember to be self-reliant, and don't waste your talent.' He also told Xiao Ge that this was the secret code for their reunion."
Yuan Yueze nodded, "So you mean that the Red-Clothed Dharma Queen has some connection with your nephew Xiao Ge?"
Xiao Bei nodded, "That day, I originally..." She wanted to fight that woman in red to the death, but after asking her name, she suddenly uttered that coded message. Decades had passed, and she was completely flustered. In that moment of hesitation, she escaped.
Yun Yuzhen frowned slightly and said, "So, the Empress Dowager knows you, sister. Otherwise, why would she say that for no reason? She must have been trying to disturb your peace of mind."
Xiao Bei replied, "If my guess is correct, that woman in red definitely knows Xiao Ge's whereabouts."
Yuan Yueze sighed and said, "We are already extremely passive in front of that mysterious Empress Dowager, and with her having people she can use to blackmail us, how things will develop in the future is even more unpredictable."
Everyone understood this, and the room fell silent.
After a long pause, Xiao Bei spoke, "My husband's grand plan cannot be disrupted. If the arrival of a peaceful and prosperous era is delayed because of a nephew, then I and the Xiao family lineage will have failed our ancestors. Besides, it's hard to say whether Xiao Ge is alive or dead."
This former 'Mother of the Nation' was indeed no ordinary woman. But one can imagine the immense pressure she felt as she spoke these words.
Yuan Yueze comforted her, "It's too early to talk about these things now. Let's take it one step at a time. As long as we can find your nephew and fulfill your family's last wishes, what does it matter if we search the entire land?"
Xiao Bei was grateful for Yuan Yueze's understanding and nodded against his chest.
Fu Junzhuo smiled helplessly, "Those people are hiding somewhere. Even if we search the entire land, we probably won't find them."
Yuan Yueze also sighed helplessly upon hearing this.
"Let's not think about these things for now. Luoyang will be in chaos in a few days. If my prediction is correct, the day the battle in Luoyang begins will be the day all sides conspire against our family. Because no matter how big their conflicts are, they are not as great as the threat that my husband poses to them. Under such circumstances, the combination of interests is inevitable,"
Shan Meixian said.
Yuan Yueze nodded solemnly: "The others are not much of a threat, but Wang Shichong and that Empress Fa are indeed worrying."
Afterwards, everyone began to discuss among themselves.
※※※※※ Four days later.
A beautiful, quiet valley, 150 miles east of Luoyang.
Yuan Yueze sat alone cross-legged on the grass.
For several days, he had not slept or moved, constantly tempering his vital energy and nourishing his meridians and internal organs.
He had fought in many battles, large and small, and Yuan Yueze actually had some hidden injuries in his meridians. When Wei Zhenzhen discovered this, she immediately suggested that Yuan Yueze go to a place with abundant spiritual energy to recuperate in order to prepare for future battles.
Yuan Yueze was quite doubtful about his current physical resilience; logically, he shouldn't be so weak.
Over the past few days, Yuan Yueze gradually understood some things.
The Yuan Qi within his body wasn't pure. He had noticed this several years ago, and it was likely related to the length of his Qi cultivation. He only cared about quantity, neglecting quality. Therefore, he must focus all his energy on refining the Yuan Qi he already possessed, instead of continuing to relentlessly absorb the Qi of heaven and earth. Part of the hidden injuries to his meridians were caused by his insatiable absorption of spiritual energy.
Everything in the world boils down to two words: 'Tao' and 'moderation.'
If this happened to someone else, it would be because they hadn't grasped the 'moderation,' as the saying goes, too much is as bad as too little.
But Yuan Yueze was different. The circulation of pure and impure Qi within his meridians not only failed to further strengthen his strength but also slowed his progress and damaged his meridians.
It was like a group of orderly people and a group of disorderly people crowding together on a wide road. Although the situation was better than having only disorderly people, it was still worse than having only orderly people.
Another reason for the hidden injury was the trickery of the Great Ming Saint Venerable. That day, he lured Yuan Yueze into an illusion, and after escaping, Yuan Yueze realized that a layer of evil energy had been attached to the veins in his body. Yuan Yueze could completely expel it, but conservatively estimated that he would need to go into seclusion for more than half a year. From this, one could guess how insidious and powerful the Saint Venerable was!
"How long have I been here? Could Luoyang have already fallen?"
This thought suddenly flashed through his mind. Yuan Yueze opened his eyes. His body had almost recovered ninety percent. The reason he hadn't fully recovered was only because of the impure energy and the trickery of the Great Ming Saint Venerable.
He then chuckled to himself. Yuan Yueze thought to himself that if Luoyang really had fallen, his beloved wives, no matter how busy they were, would definitely come to inform him.
"Phew..."
Yuan Yueze squinted his eyes, gazed at the vast sky for a long time, let out a long breath, composed himself, and headed straight for Luoyang City.

Chapter 46 Fighting Against All Sides
As they approached Luoyang, Yuan Yueze could clearly feel the heavy and murderous atmosphere hanging over the city, with a faint but palpable stench of blood.
Yuan Yueze was greatly surprised, for he had spent countless days in the mountains, and it seemed the war in Luoyang had already begun!
Without time to think further, Yuan Yueze gathered his true energy and leaped over the towering city gates like the wind. He immediately headed towards his home.
Entering the city, the atmosphere became even more oppressive. Few pedestrians were on the streets, as if war had struck, everyone was on edge, and no one left their homes. However, there were many patrolling soldiers on the streets, seemingly searching for something.
Yuan Yueze's figure moved like a ghost, leaping and bounding, and soon arrived at the gate of his small house.
Without stopping, Yuan Yueze's brows furrowed slightly, his eyes scanning the abandoned houses dozens of feet away.
Several faintly visible streams of true energy emanated from them; Yuan Yueze knew they were there to investigate his family's whereabouts. But why were they still alive? Why hadn't Fu Junzhuo scared them away?
Lost in thought, Yuan Yueze stepped through the front door.
Suddenly, a clear, melodious zither tune, like a gentle spring rain, drifted from the direction of the main living room. The music was intermittent and trembling, like a thirsty person suddenly finding a clear spring, making them want to listen even more.
Yuan Yueze stopped and listened intently.
The music seemed to gently pluck at the heartstrings, subtle and delicate, like the whispered secrets of children, clear as a torrent crashing against white stones, carrying a mysterious aura that unexpectedly captivated the listener.
In a daze, towering mountains and flowing waters, white clouds emerging from the peaks—a scene of prosperous times, of peace and prosperity, appeared before Yuan Yueze's eyes accompanied by the melodious and delicate sound
of the zither. Suddenly, the zither music abruptly changed, containing a strong, resounding clang, like the clash of clashing swords and the honking of horns in a dream, a chilling atmosphere of galloping horses across mountains, with a hint of ferocity in the background. It was like a calm pond suddenly churning into a towering wave, with a deafening roar. Dark clouds obscured the moon, and a raging torrent surged forth, whipping up towering waves that rushed towards him.
Then, the zither music rose again, its tone mournful and hoarse, like the clash of clashing swords, the neighing of warhorses, the dissipation of smoke in the wind, the desolation of the land, the bloodstains, the corpses, a scene of utter desolation and sorrow.
The music slowly faded, each note like a tear from the player, dripping like pearls from a lotus leaf. The zither music was plaintive, both sorrowful and resentful.
Sometimes as subtle as the wind, sometimes as soaring as a phoenix's cry, the music ended abruptly, leaving Yuan Yueze still savoring it. The lingering notes revealed the player's compassionate heart, leaving Yuan Yueze deeply impressed.
In just a few steps, Yuan Yueze reached the hall door and pushed it open.
Inside, only Shan Meixian, Shang Xiuxun, Wei Zhenzhen, and Dugu Feng sat around a soft seat. Not far away, a slender figure in a plain yellow robe sat beside a zither.
Seeing Yuan Yueze enter, all five looked towards the door. Except for the unfamiliar woman, the other four women's eyes were filled with excitement and joy. Dugu Feng even cheered and rushed over.
Yuan Yueze gave the four women a reassuring smile, put his arm around Dugu Feng's slender waist, and sat down beside the other three.
"Xiufang, this is my husband, Yuan Yueze."
Before Yuan Yueze could speak, Shan Meixian spoke first, turning to the unfamiliar woman.
Hearing her name and recalling her superb zither playing, Yuan Yueze guessed that the woman sitting before the zither was Shang Xiufang, rumored to be the 'Number One Courtesan in the World.'
Turning his gaze to Shang Xiufang, Yuan Yueze scrutinized her closely. The moment he first saw her, the image of Wanwan—mischievous, spirited, and charmingly ethereal—involuntarily flashed through his mind. But Shang Xiufang was different from Wanwan; her beauty was tinged with a lively spirit, and her elegance carried a hint of melancholy. She was around twenty years old, with a unique and captivating presence, naturally beautiful and peerless. Her mesmerizing eyes were alluring and mysterious, seemingly capable of bewitching the soul.
Hearing Shan Meixian's introduction, Shang Xiufang also stood up, her bright eyes filled with curiosity as she stared at Yuan Yueze.
Seeing Shang Xiufang rise, her graceful figure and delicate smile, as fresh as rain in a mountain valley, seemed both tender and slightly shy, truly breathtakingly beautiful. Beneath her thin silk robe, a pair of long, slender legs were faintly visible, sparking endless fantasies; she was indeed comparable to Shi Qingxuan and Wanwan in beauty.
As for Shi Feixuan? Due to his subjective biases, Yuan Yueze had never considered her a normal beauty.
Shang Xiufang gave a graceful bow, her lotus feet slightly raised, and she lightly approached Yuan Yueze. She bowed again slightly, her lips parting slightly, her clear and melodious voice like a nightingale's song: "Xiufang greets...Young Master."
Shang Xiufang had just carefully observed Yuan Yueze and realized that the man before her wasn't as extraordinary as the rumors suggested; at most, he was handsome and had an elegant demeanor. But upon getting closer and gazing into Yuan Yueze's deep, dark eyes with their slightly blue pupils, a flicker of surprise crossed Shang Xiufang's eyes, a woman who had seen countless people.
However, she had just been unsure how to address Yuan Yueze. According to Shan Wanjing, they were of the same generation. But according to Shan Meixian, Yuan Yueze was naturally her elder. Yet Yuan Yueze appeared to be only around twenty years old, so Shang Xiufang had to choose a compromise and address him as "Young Master."
Yuan Yueze inwardly praised the music Shang Xiufang had just played; it was hard to imagine that this seemingly delicate and peaceful woman could play music with such a powerful, battlefield-like atmosphere.
"So it's Miss Shang. Your piece was indeed excellent. Please sit down,"
Yuan Yueze said, rising and bowing.
Shang Xiufang smiled faintly and sat down, not daring to look directly at Yuan Yueze. Because Yuan Yueze's left hand was groping around Dugu Feng's waist, even Shang Xiufang, who had seen countless grand occasions and was never embarrassed in the world of romance, felt a little shy. She thought to herself that this young master Yuan was indeed carefree in everything. Apart from the usual etiquette to show respect, he seemed to disregard all manners of propriety. Otherwise, how could he be so presumptuous in front of others!
Yuan Yueze had no time to think about what Shang Xiufang was thinking and asked, "How many days have I been gone? What has happened these past few days?"
Dugu Feng snuggled in Yuan Yueze's arms and said sweetly, "It has been four days since my elder brother secretly left the city to improve his cultivation. Several important things happened these past few days. Feng'er will only tell you the first one. On the afternoon of the day my elder brother left, Wang Shichong launched an attack on the palace. My nanny and father were no match for him and escaped through the palace's secret passage."
Shang Xiufang listened attentively, noticing that Dugu Feng was talking about her family's affairs without any concern for their safety. Is this simply a girl's extroverted nature, or a natural reaction of a young woman completely immersed in love? Shang Xiufang then thought: There is no such thing as eternal love in this world; only art is eternal.
At first glance, this young man seemed ordinary, but the more she looked, the more mysterious he became. She had always been confident in her looks, but now, in this room, only Dugu Feng's beauty was inferior to hers; the other three women were all superior, and there was also Shang Xiuxun, whose beauty was indescribable! What charm did this young man possess that could make these celestial women's hearts completely devoted to him? Aunt Meixian had changed so much; she looked even younger than herself, yet when asked, she always smiled mysteriously. Could it be thanks to this young man?
While Shang Xiufang was lost in thought, Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "The second matter should be about the start of the war outside the city, right?"
Shang Xiuxun nodded and said, "Last night, after Sister Xiufang performed at Rong Fengxiang's mansion, Sister Meixian invited her to stay at our house for a while. On the way, we happened to encounter a bloody battle. Li Mi sent a master to ambush Wang Shichong, and Wang Shichong was injured."
Yuan Yueze exclaimed in surprise, "Wang Shichong was outmaneuvered by Li Mi? I really overestimated him!" Then
, noticing that Shang Xiufang's expression was somewhat unnatural and her eyes showed a hint of fear, Yuan Yueze asked curiously, "Miss Shang, could it be..." "Are you feeling unwell?"
Shang Xiufang shook her head. "Young master, there's no need for such formality. I'm fine. If you don't mind, just call me 'Xiufang.' Calling me 'Miss' would be too formal."
Yuan Yueze nodded. Shan Meixian interjected, "Xiufang detests war and has never witnessed bloodshed before. Last night was her first time. Hundreds of people fought to the death; naturally, the killing intent and bloodshed were considerable. Xiufang must be terrified."
Yuan Yueze suddenly understood. He finally realized why Shang Xiufang could play that piece of music that blended the bloodshed of the battlefield. It must have been influenced by what she had seen last night. To be able to play such a piece, as if a thousand troops were charging, just by witnessing a few hundred people fighting, shows how high her comprehension is!
Shang Xiuxun spoke again, "Last night, the 100,000-strong allied army of Wagang and the Dugu clan had already reached ten miles south of Luoyang. At dawn this morning, the allied army began its attack on the city. Wang Shichong appointed his eldest son, Wang Xuanying, as commander-in-chief. Wang Xuanying, defying public opinion, did not rely on high walls
and strong fortifications, and ordered 20,000 troops to attack through the three gates of the south city wall." Yuan Yueze thought of that ugly Wang Xuanying, a typical spoiled brat, cowardly, arrogant, and stubborn, and then laughed, "Going out to fight is indeed a good idea. It ensures that we won't lose momentum in the first battle. I didn't expect..." "Even that coward Wang Xuanying has his moments of strength."
Shang Xiuxun rolled her eyes at Yuan Yueze and continued, "The battle on the plains south of Luoyang lasted from dawn until noon, and then from noon until the afternoon. Casualties were everywhere, mountains of corpses. However, Wang Xuanying was clearly no match for Li Mi. In the afternoon, Li Mi only sent ten thousand troops, feigning weakness to lure Wang Xuanying into a trap. Wang Xuanying indeed gave chase, but was attacked by Li Mi's ambush and suffered a crushing defeat."
Yuan Yueze said in a deep voice, "Then why did the city gates seem undamaged when I sneaked into the city?"
Shang Xiuxun laughed, "Husband, please continue listening. Just as Li Mi was chasing Wang Xuanying's more than 10,000 troops to a point a mile from the South Gate, Wang Shichong personally led 8,000 elite soldiers out from the west, intending to annihilate Li Mi's leaders in one fell swoop."
Yuan Yueze couldn't help but slap the table in admiration, and after giving Dugu Feng a quick kiss on the lips, he laughed, "This Wang Shichong is indeed no ordinary person! I was wondering how he was assassinated and injured by Li Mi! It turns out it was all his scheme!"
Dugu Feng blushed and let out a soft moan, not daring to raise her head. The other women were already used to it and showed no signs of unease. Shang Xiufang, however, blushed bright red on the side.
Shang Xiuxun giggled, "The matter isn't over yet! Wang Shichong, Li Mi, the Dugu... clan leader, and Old Madam You are locked in a fierce battle. Wang Shichong is fighting three against one, his skill is terrifying, he's not at a disadvantage at all. And Wang Shichong has two extremely wicked men under his command, you should remember them, right, husband?"
Yuan Yueze recalled the two strange men who accompanied Wang Shichong when Yang Guang died, and nodded, "Could those two have also gone to the battlefield to besiege Li Mi?"
Wei Zhenzhen interjected, "Wang Shichong seemed very confident in killing all of Li Mi's leaders, so he even sent out those two who had been hiding. But no matter how much he calculated, he still lost."
Seeing Yuan Yueze's anxious expression, Wei Zhenzhen laughed again, "Li Mi actually secretly summoned Yuwen Shang, who was guarding Liangdu. Yuwen Shang always disguised himself as an ordinary soldier, and at the most crucial moment, he launched a full-scale sneak attack on Wang Shichong. As a result, Wang Shichong's feigned injury became a real one. His two subordinates were also killed by Yuwen Shang and..." Li Mi and his allies killed one of them, while the other fought desperately to protect him as he broke through the siege and returned to Luoyang.
Yuan Yueze frowned deeply: "How do you know so much detail? It's as if you were there at the time!"
Shan Meixian smiled and said, "That's because Zhenzhen went to visit the slightly injured Yang Gong and heard him explain it to her personally."
Yuan Yueze was still uneasy and said, "Since Wang Shichong was able to fake his injury the first time, who can guarantee that he won't fake it again? Can we guarantee that Yang Gongqing's words are accurate?"
Wei Zhenzhen gave Yuan Yueze a charming look and scolded, "Suspicious! Yang Gong told me today that after my husband returns, I need to go there in person because there are some things he wants to say to him personally. But when you go, you must not let anyone see you."
Yuan Yueze nodded, glanced at Shang Xiufang who was lost in thought, and asked, "Then why are only a few of you here today?"
Shan Meixian answered, "Jun Zhuo was supposed to return to Goryeo yesterday to fight..." Hearing the news, he left. Yu Zhen was resting in the backyard, while Hong Fu was meditating.
Yuan Yueze understood why the spies outside were still there; Fu Junzhuo wasn't home, and they had escaped with their lives. He then asked, "Where did Bei'er go?" Wei
Zhenzhen replied, "Since the battle of Luoyang has begun, several major forces around are stirring. Dou Jiande is about to march south, and Xiao Xian is also heading north. These two seem to have reached a secret agreement, so Luoyang is truly in danger. Xiao Xian is Bei'er's junior, so Bei'er decided to meet him alone. Even if she can't persuade him, she can at least delay his plans. Because this is not the best time for Lingnan to send troops, it's best not to move if possible."
Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "I trust Bei'er's abilities. Hasn't Jiangdu made any moves? Since Li Zitong was killed by those two bastards Kou Zhong, and Fu Gongshi controls Jiangdu, they should make some moves." "Right?"
Shan Meixian shook her head and said, "There's still no news recently."
Yuan Yueze pondered for a while, then looked up and said, "We don't know if Wang Shichong was faking his injury, and I also wonder how someone with Wang Shichong's skills could be no match for Yuwen Shang and Li Mi? His evil skills are clearly not weak."
Wei Zhenzhen smiled and said, "Husband, you think too highly of him. You should remember the relationship between the Yuwen clan and that red-clothed empress. Yuwen Shang is already a master. If he had been instructed by that empress, how could his skills be weak?"
Yuan Yueze nodded: "I'll talk about these things with Yang Gongqing tonight. By the way, which forces' representatives are still in Luoyang City?"
Dugu Feng asked quickly, "Shen Luoyan came to see you the day you left home. After hearing that you were not here, she left disappointed and left Luoyang that night with the Wagang Army. Almost all the other forces are still here."
Yuan Yueze didn't say anything, but nodded silently.
A glint of surprise flashed in Shang Xiufang's eyes, who had been silent all along: "So, Young Master and Aunt Meixian really didn't come here just to enjoy life!"
From their words, how could someone as intelligent as her not understand the implication? That conversation was certainly not something an ordinary family should discuss.
Yuan Yueze didn't want to hide anything from her and nodded with a smile.
Shang Xiufang suddenly trembled slightly with excitement: "Young Master, are you going to restore peace and prosperity to the people?"
Seeing her sudden agitation, Yuan Yueze, bewildered, mechanically nodded.
Shang Xiufang's beautiful eyes were filled with surprise and joy: "Then why did you keep this from outsiders, young master?"
Yuan Yueze smiled helplessly: "Even my low profile makes people uneasy. If I were to be high-profile, what would happen? I'd become the target of everyone's attacks."
Shang Xiufang asked in surprise: "With your abilities, young master, you wouldn't be afraid of those people, would you! You'll sweep across the world and sit on the throne. With your personality, you'd definitely be a good emperor."
Yuan Yueze laughed: "I'm not afraid of those people, but there are some even more terrifying people hiding in the shadows, constantly trying to harm us. So we can only wait and see. As for the throne, I have no interest in it. Being an emperor is too tiring, and more importantly, I don't have the ability to be an emperor. As long as I pacify the world, I..." "Our family will disappear from the world's sight and return to the deep mountains to live a quiet life."
After a long while, Shang Xiufang sighed, "For the first time, Xiufang understands what a true hero is, so concerned for the people and yet not greedy for credit. Young Master is indeed extraordinary."
Yuan Yueze blushed, "Xiufang, please don't laugh at me. I'm not that great, and I don't think it's for the sake of the people. It's just to avoid betraying my conscience. I use my abilities as much as I can."
Shang Xiufang was about to continue praising Yuan Yueze when Shan Meixian interrupted her, smiling, "If Xiufang likes him, take him to your room. Let's talk about some serious matters first."
Shang Xiufang was immediately embarrassed, glared at Shan Meixian, and quickly lowered her head.
"Husband, what do you think the outcome of the battle of Luoyang will be?"
Shan Meixian asked again.
Yuan Yueze said in a deep voice, "Now all of this is far removed from history, and it's too difficult to speculate. Wang Shichong is no simple man, and Li Mi is even more so. Behind this is the duel between the Great Ming Zunjiao and that Red-Clothed Fahou."
Shang Xiuxun suddenly smiled mysteriously and said, "Let Xiuxun cast a divination for this war."
Everyone immediately nodded.
Shang Xiuxun picked up a small handful of tea leaves with her left hand and placed them in her palm.
Dozens of tea leaves of varying sizes and lengths flew into the air, spinning continuously, and when they landed in the center of the round table, they seemed to form a meaningful hexagram.
None of the people understood this kind of knowledge, and they saw Shang Xiuxun frowning as she stared at the tea leaves.
After a long pause, Shang Xiuxun spoke, "This is the Tai hexagram. The lower trigram is Qian, and the upper trigram is Kun. The third line changes, indicating that good or bad fortune is uncertain, with alternating blessings and misfortunes."
Yuan Yueze was completely bewildered: "Then this hexagram is no different from not divining at all!"
Shang Xiuxun glared at Yuan Yueze and explained, "The third line is the last yang line in the hexagram, representing a dead end. The third line itself is a yang position, and the change to yin indicates an ominous situation, yet also a hint of hope."
Everyone was still confused, and Yuan Yueze simply ignored the hexagram and continued to ponder.
Dugu Feng suddenly exclaimed, "I understand! This hexagram only predicts two outcomes. First, Wang Shichong will definitely be defeated, but he may not necessarily die. Second, the two sides will reconcile, but that seems impossible."
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed after a moment's thought. Yuan Yueze laughed heartily, "There's a third possibility: Wang Shichong and Li Mi will both be severely injured."
Seeing Yuan Yueze seemingly constantly changing roles after entering the room—from an elegant scholar to a wise, inactive man, and then to a confident strongman—Shang Xiufang was filled with admiration.
Shan Meixian and the other women naturally understood the meaning behind Yuan Yueze's words.
Looking out the window, Yuan Yueze realized it was late and was about to get up to meet Yang Gongqing when Shan Meixian rolled her eyes at him, saying, "Husband, you promised to cook a meal for Xiufang yourself, have you forgotten?"
Yuan Yueze was taken aback; this was no time for such talk. Shang Xiufang was also embarrassed, saying, "Aunt Meixian, please don't joke like that. How could Xiufang dare to be so arrogant? Besides, I have important matters to attend to; I must go and attend to these important things first."
"I'll cook you a good meal tomorrow. I'm sorry about today, I really don't have time."
Yuan Yueze patted Shang Xiufang's shoulder affectionately and walked out of the room.
It was the first time a man had touched her body, and Shang Xiufang was incredibly shy. Yet, Yuan Yueze's actions reminded her of her deceased mother, a familial warmth she hadn't completely forgotten!
Glancing at the strange smiles of the women around her, Shang Xiufang dared not look up again, sitting down abruptly. She wondered what was wrong with her today. What kind of men hadn't she seen? How come she rarely blushed, yet today she was repeatedly embarrassed and ashamed?
※※※※※ When Yuan Yueze had walked about three hundred paces from the gate of the mansion, he suddenly stopped and shouted, "Who are you, you rat? Come out!"
Rapid footsteps sounded, and suddenly over a hundred people appeared around Yuan Yueze.
These people seemed to have been hiding in the nearby dilapidated thatched huts, and now that Yuan Yueze had shown himself, they were coming out to confront him.
He slowly surveyed the room, recognizing almost everyone as an old acquaintance: Li Shimin representing the Tian Ce Mansion, Qu Ao representing the Tiele people, Fu Qian representing the Tuyuhun people, Tuli representing the Eastern Turks, Tuoba Yu representing the Bi Xuan Sect, and their respective subordinates. Even that old fellow Wang Bo was there.
Beside Tuli stood a young woman exuding a strange and alluring aura strikingly similar to Zhu Yuyan and Wanwan. Most striking were her long, glossy black hair, which accentuated her snow-white face, making her exceptionally beautiful. Her attire was elegant and refined, giving an impression of dignified reserve, yet her bright, expressive eyes, coupled with her naturally shy and captivating demeanor, made her seem like a born femme fatale. While her appearance lacked the breathtaking grandeur of some other women, it possessed a more approachable and friendly quality.
Yuan Yueze seemed to disregard everyone else, focusing only on the woman and asking, "May I ask this young lady's name?"
Tu Li preemptively answered, "This is Lady Qing'er, the beloved concubine of Lord Qian of Xiangyang."
Yuan Yueze chuckled, thinking to himself, "So it's her.
" This woman was Bai Qing'er, the second disciple of the Yin Empress.
Bai Qing'er felt uneasy under Yuan Yueze's scrutiny, as if he had seen right through her, or as if she had no privacy left. Especially Yuan Yueze's slightly eerie smile made her flustered, and she quickly averted her gaze, trying to calm herself.
Yuan Yueze took a deep breath: "What brings you all here today? Why don't you come to my home for a chat?"
Wang Bo seemed to hate Yuan Yueze to the core, and shouted angrily: "Hand over the He
Shi Bi now, and I'll spare your life!" Yuan Yueze said, bewildered: "Didn't Shi Feixuan already say that the He Shi Bi wasn't in my hands? Why are you still here to cause trouble?"
Qu Ao also spoke up: "Shi Feixuan's demeanor has been rather strange lately. Don't think we're all blind. You members of the Demonic Sect are rampant in Luoyang, oppressing the righteous path. You think you can force Shi Feixuan to submit with force? We're not afraid of you!"
Fu Qian also chimed in: "Young Master Yuan, Fu Qian considers you a friend. You've been mysteriously leaving the city these past few days, you must be studying the power within the He Shi Bi! If you dare to do it, you should dare to admit it!"
Yuan Yueze's face turned cold: "You consider me a friend? I don't consider you a friend either!"
He then turned to Li Shimin, who had been facing away from him: "Brother Shimin, could you please explain your purpose? I have urgent business to attend to today."
"Ah!"
Li Shimin's expression remained unchanged, and he was about to speak when someone beside him suddenly cried out in surprise.
All eyes turned to the tall man.
Yuan Yueze stared at the man, feeling he looked somewhat familiar, but couldn't quite place him.
"Brother Li, why are you so distraught?"
Li Shimin asked, looking at the man.
The man, slightly embarrassed, composed himself and said, "So, the 'Sword-Wielding Fairy's' husband is Young Master Yuan!"
Yuan Yueze frowned, about to ask him a question, when Qu Ao rushed over, grabbed the man's shoulder, and said fiercely, "Are you sure?"
The man seemed slightly displeased with Qu Ao's action, forcefully breaking free and saying, "That day, Steward Du and Young Master Ren encountered Young Master Yuan and that masked 'Sword-Wielding Fairy' on Danyang Street. Li Jing was also present at the time, and he will never forget Young Master Yuan's appearance!"
Yuan Yueze suddenly remembered; it was Li Jing. He had secretly seen him a few years ago, so it seemed he was still under Li Shimin's command. But he hadn't seen him the previous few times; could it be that he only came to join them in the last few days?
Qu Ao and his disciples were all indignant. Their primary purpose in coming to the Central Plains was to avenge their son. Colluding with other forces was secondary. Now that Qu Ao heard that Yuan Yueze was actually the husband of the legendary 'Sword-Wielding Fairy,' how could he possibly tolerate it! The 'Sword-Wielding Fairy' was rumored to be incredibly powerful, and no one could possibly track her down. But Qu Ao was a master-level figure, and Yuan Yueze seemed much weaker than before. These people around him were all henchmen who wouldn't rest until Yuan Yueze was dead. Such an opportunity was incredibly rare!
Yuan Yueze secretly thought that he had to reveal what needed to be revealed. If they didn't want to live, he had no reason to hold back. But right now, he needed to be more careful about why this group was causing him trouble. The talk of the He Shi Bi was just an excuse! Therefore, he needed to ask Li Shimin. Given Li Shimin's style, even if he lied, he would make it difficult to detect any obvious flaws.
"Indeed, as you all said, I had no choice but to retrieve the He Shi Bi for Miss Shi today,"
Li Shimin said with a wry smile.
Damn it, you want to kill me, and you're pretending you had no choice? What a talent!
Yuan Yueze cursed under his breath, his mind racing as he became increasingly aware of something amiss, but now was not the time for careful consideration.
"Little brat, you can't escape tonight, even if you grow wings! Hand over the He Shi Bi!"
A burly figure stepped out from behind Tu Li, speaking in a deep voice.
This man was over fifty, with an aged appearance. Strangely, his hair, eyebrows, beard, and even his eyes were gray, exuding a powerful and eerie aura. He carried three strange short sticks on his back.
Yuan Yueze didn't even bother asking his name, casually asking, "Will you all come at me together?"
His arrogance was undeniable.
Qu Ao naturally agreed to join the fight, but whether the others would consider their reputation or the martial arts world's honor was another matter.
Wang Bo and the gray-haired old man didn't answer, but judging from their fierce eyes, Yuan Yueze could roughly guess their intentions.
After a brief silence, Qu Ao leaped up and landed two zhang in front of Yuan Yueze, shouting angrily, "You, surnamed Yuan, you've disguised yourself very well. In the past few days in Luoyang, I never realized that you were the mortal enemy who killed my son! A husband pays for his wife's debts, so today you'll repay my son's life!"
Yuan Yueze turned to Qu Ao, gesturing with his right hand.
No matter how arrogant Qu Ao was, he dared not underestimate Yuan Yueze. He immediately focused his mind, and his "Nine Transformations of Condensed Truth" instantly reached its peak.
Qu Ao's cultivation journey can be summarized by the numbers seven, eight, and nine, representing his achievements in three stages.
Generally, a martial artist who can cultivate to the point of controlling their energy flow is considered a master. But to surpass others, one must seek variations to defeat enemies. The way to achieve these variations lies in the cultivation of acupoints within the body, which are the hubs of the meridians. The difficulty of this is incomparable to ordinary Qi cultivation. Only when one can use these acupoints as the source of controlling true Qi flow can one reach the realm of a first-rate master.
Qu Ao was a martial arts genius; at the age of twenty-three, he had successfully cultivated seven acupoints, creating the "Seven Turns of the Raging Waves," but it would take him ten years to cultivate one more acupoint, the "Eight Turns of the Storm." The hardships involved are unimaginable. By the age of forty-one, he could control all the acupoints in his body at will, a skill he named "Nine Transformations of Condensed Truth." The "nine" did not refer to nine acupoints, but rather to the ultimate number, signifying infinity.
After mastering this divine skill, a set of techniques was needed to unleash its full power. Qu Ao, through long-term observation of the agile flight and swift hunting movements of eagles, combined with light and swift light footwork, created a set of claw techniques called "Thirteen Forms of Eagle Transformation," which was both offensive and defensive, and extremely lethal. This claw technique simplified complexity, encompassing the intricate variations of palms, fingers, and claws within thirteen forms. Combined with leaping and dodging movements, its unpredictable changes made it difficult to anticipate, like an eagle swooping down on its prey with precise precision. When pushed to its limit, the hands seemed to move between nothingness and reality, appearing and disappearing, illusory and unpredictable, making them impossible to defend against.
Afterwards, Qu Ao's martial arts skills and confidence reached unprecedented heights, leading him to conceive the idea of challenging Bi Xuan and replacing him as the 'Martial Venerable.' Before Bi Xuan's world-renowned ultimate techniques, the eagle's wings were broken, and Qu Ao suffered a crushing defeat. Knowing that Qu Ao had no further potential, Bi Xuan left. Wounded, Qu Ao fled back to his hometown of Tiele. After two years of astonishing perseverance and enduring countless hardships, he finally recovered and regained his full power. However, he knew he could never reach a higher level in his life, and surpassing Bi Xuan was merely a pipe dream. Therefore, he placed all his hopes on his son, Qu Shaoming. Qu Shaoming lived up to his father's expectations, becoming the only disciple among his many students to master the 'Nine Transformations of Condensed Truth,' his skill only slightly inferior to Qu Ao's. Qu Ao understood that as long as Bi Xuan was alive, the Tiele would find it difficult to rise to prominence on the grasslands. Gradually, he harbored ambitions to seize control of the Central Plains. He sent his son to the Central Plains, changing his surname from 'Qu' to 'Ren,' secretly building his power and preparing for a future invasion. Ren Shaoming founded the 'Iron Cavalry Society,' thriving south of the Yangtze River, only to be inexplicably killed by the 'Sword Fairy.' Almost losing all hope, Qu Ao mobilized all his resources to investigate the mysterious 'Sword Fairy,' but to no avail. Now, understanding the relationship between Yuan Yueze and the 'Sword Fairy,' how could he not hate Yuan Yueze to the bone and vow to kill him?
Qu Ao's face was solemn. Without warning, he leaped off the ground and pounced on Yuan Yueze, who stood a dozen steps away, seemingly indifferent and unskilled.
Reaching Yuan Yueze's head, Qu Ao simplified his actions, his right hand reaching for his skull. This grab seemed unremarkable at first glance, but its powerful and fierce momentum instilled a fear of direct confrontation. Most terrifyingly, it simultaneously contained five different types of true energy emanating from each finger: absorption, thrusting, deflection, sealing, and cutting. Its unpredictable nature made it difficult to defend against.
Yuan Yueze, unsure if this was a desperate attack and worried about potential ambushes from onlookers, shifted his stance laterally, his sword slashing upwards.
Five loud bangs erupted in succession. Just as the sword and claw clashed, Qu Ao, with speed too fast for the naked eye to see, struck the longsword with a series of exquisitely precise techniques: pressing, striking, sweeping, thrusting, and chopping.
Yuan Yueze was forced back half a step, while Qu Ao used the momentum to leap two zhang upwards, circling in the air like a soaring eagle, preparing for a second wave of attack.
Seeing Yuan Yueze's momentum falter and him at a disadvantage, Chang Shumou and the others immediately erupted in cheers.
Qu Ao suddenly accelerated, gliding down from a height of three zhang with the force of an eagle hunting a rabbit. His hands transformed into countless claw shadows, the surging energy enveloping the ground within a three-zhang radius centered on Yuan Yueze. To the onlookers, it was clear that this was a fierce and invincible move that forced the opponent to fight head-on, leaving no room for evasion. Qu Ao resembled an agile and unpredictable eagle, performing various poses in mid-air, circling and swooping down, or flying sideways and upwards, seemingly weightless.
At the same time, Wang Bo shouted, his feet moving with a strange step, swiftly striking Yuan Yueze's right side. His right hand retracted sharply, and simultaneously, a white shadow flew out from his sleeve, following a strange, wave-like trajectory, aiming for Yuan Yueze's right rib. Swift as a snake, and seemingly capable of changing direction at any moment, it contained a bizarre and unpredictable, domineering power, the force of which intruded, sending chills down the spine.
The gray-haired elder also drew his weapon from his back, combining the three blades into a nine-foot-long halberd with lightning speed. Almost simultaneously with Wang Bo, he attacked, the halberd tip trembling as it transformed into countless sparks. His attacks were overwhelming, making it impossible to distinguish which of the myriad halberd shadows was real. His inner energy was incomparably scorching, aiming directly for Yuan Yueze's left neck.
The three attacked Yuan Yueze from three directions—top, left, and right—with fierce blows of varying force. Yuan Yueze had no time to think; his footwork was as free and flowing as clouds and water, as graceful as a celestial being. His swordplay surged, imbued with emotion, intricate and continuous. The image of a graceful and ethereal fairy flashed by, leaving a deep impression on everyone, giving the impression of being hidden in a fragrant orchid thicket, wandering in a secluded valley—a strange and unbelievable feeling.
Three flashes of white light intertwined, forming a supple sword net that seemed unstoppable, effortlessly deflecting the three attacks.
"What kind of swordsmanship is this? In a life-or-death situation, this sword move carries not a trace of killing intent, but instead reveals a hint of tenderness and affection?"
"I think I just saw him turn into a woman, what's going on?"
"I had the same illusion, but he was clearly the only one using the sword..."
Among the onlookers were many martial arts experts, who were greatly intrigued by Yuan Yueze's move and exclaimed in amazement.
The crisp sound of weapons clashing rang out a dozen times in succession. The three attackers, from above, left, and right, launched a coordinated attack, but Yuan Yueze's gentle sword energy suddenly surged forth, clumsily thrusting out three swords that seemed slow but were actually fast. The swordsmanship appeared soft and weak, but only those involved understood the thunderous power contained within. Qu Ao was the first to be hit, forced to vomit blood and retreat, while the other two also barely managed to retreat and stabilize themselves, recovering their breath to prepare for another attack.
The moment Yuan Yueze withdrew his move, he thrust his sword straight at Wang Bo without stopping, determined to severely injure this old villain.
As Yuan Yueze charged forward, a sudden chill ran through him, a nameless fear washing over him.
A black figure, swift as lightning, flashed behind him, a dazzling white light, like moonlight pouring down, aimed a
sneak attack on Yuan Yueze's back. Forced to abandon Wang Bo, Yuan Yueze drew his sword to parry the attack. But his opponent was incredibly cunning; the first strike was merely a trap. Before the swords even clashed, the opponent's attack changed. Supported by ghostly speed, the longsword trembled as it slashed horizontally to the left, seemingly chanting a faint dragon's roar. A dark, terrifying killing aura emanated from the blade, aiming directly for Yuan Yueze's waist.
Misfortune never comes singly. Qu Ao, who had been attacking from above, had already been carried away by his disciples. But suddenly, a ghostly figure appeared out of nowhere in the air. The newcomer's fists clashed, separating instantly. A terrifying killing intent gathered on both fists, and with a thunderous roar that shook the heavens, the fists performed a series of exquisite movements, pressing down directly on Yuan Yueze's head.
Wang Bo and the gray-haired old man also joined the attack the moment Yuan Yueze withdrew his sword, unleashing even stronger attacks from all sides.
Suddenly, Yuan Yueze vanished, replaced by an old man with an elusive appearance, white hair and beard, and an air of otherworldly wisdom.
The old man's image flashed and disappeared in an instant. The momentary disruption to the minds of the attackers might seem insignificant to outsiders, but in such a battle, it was an extremely serious mistake.
Everyone thought Yuan Yueze stood there as if awaiting death, but those with discernment knew that he was neither truly still nor truly moving. His purpose was clearly to prevent outsiders from predicting his next move.
The four attackers, however, noticed his longsword flying swiftly, tracing four beautiful arcs, each half a zhang in diameter, along a mysterious path. These tangible yet intangible rings of energy seemed to possess an endless pull.
Almost simultaneously, the four powerful attacks were drawn in by the four rings of energy, their force neutralized.
"Screech!"
Yuan Yueze roared, changing his attack again. In an instant, the sword shone brightly, pointing directly at the strongest attacker above. The sword's momentum was like lightning striking from the heavens, capable of piercing the dark night clouds, possessing the power to penetrate the universe. This seemingly simple sword strike seemed to contain profound principles of the universe. The sword's momentum was both slow and fast, making its speed difficult to grasp. The sword trembled incessantly as if it had a life of its own, like a serpent that could change its attack direction at any moment.
Lightning flashed, sword energy filled the sky, and one sword instantly multiplied into four, attacking enemies in four directions. Each sword was simple and unadorned, yet possessed a light and graceful quality, like a gentle rain in an empty mountain. The direction of the thrusts was both the center of the four fading energy rings and the weakest point of the four attackers.
This terrifying swordsmanship, combining offense and defense, left the surrounding crowd speechless.
Suddenly, a burst of brilliant light erupted, vanishing in an instant.
"Clang!"
The moment the attacker landed, Yuan Yueze's ghostly figure appeared five feet behind him, his longsword simultaneously returning to its sheath.
Time seemed to pass for a long time before screams rang out one after another. It gave people an indescribable sense of strangeness.
Wang Bo and the gray-haired old man retreated rapidly, seemingly unharmed.
The attacker behind had only used eighty percent of his strength, so when he was exhausted, he was able to withstand Yuan Yueze's counterattack. His injury seemed very minor, and he disappeared in two leaps without any delay!
The newcomer above was the key figure in the encirclement of Yuan Yueze. He stood motionless behind Yuan Yueze, his body trembling slightly.
Yuan Yueze was in the same state, his blood surging, his face pale, and blood dripping from his nostrils.
In the recent clash, he not only had to withstand the pressure from the other three sides but also sensed the formidable power of the attacker above him.
A deathly silence fell over the surroundings.
"You… what is this…"
the man seemed to utter a few words with all his might. Before he could finish, his body swelled up violently, and a series of cracking sounds rang out.
Bones shattered and flesh broke.
His entire body, like a container riddled with countless tiny holes, emitted countless bursts of intense white light, instantly exploding into a shower of blood and powder, his body miraculously vanishing without a trace.
Ninety percent of Yuan Yueze's powerful sword energy had been blasted into this man's meridians; his body, unable to contain such energy, naturally exploded and destroyed.
This was precisely why the other three had not been seriously injured.
Yuan Yueze suddenly felt a pang of regret. He should have severely injured the man, captured him, and interrogated him. He could have waited until the man became defiant before finishing him off. But instead, he had comprehended a new sword intent on the spot, unconsciously using his peak power.
Looking around, Yuan Yueze chuckled. In that moment of astonishment, everyone who had just been shouting to surround and kill him had vanished. Only Bai Qing'er remained, her pretty face deathly pale, standing a dozen feet away.
Yuan Yueze wiped away the blood and leaped to her side.
Seeing her trembling slightly, her eyes filled with barely suppressed fear, Yuan Yueze gave her a reassuring smile and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Bai Qing'er was startled, wanting to dodge but finding her body seemingly unresponsive. In an instant, she realized Yuan Yueze was channeling his abundant vital energy into her. Without thinking, she focused her energy and began to absorb it.
Bai Qing'er showed no signs of stopping after a long while, indeed insatiable, but her own body's capacity was limited, and Yuan Yueze's vital energy was also greatly depleted. She immediately coughed lightly.
Bai Qing'er seemed to realize her own greed and hurriedly withdrew her aura, severing her connection with Yuan Yueze.
After circulating her inner energy for a while, Bai Qing'er opened her eyes, her gaze flashing with a sharp light. She immediately gave Yuan Yueze a flirtatious wink, then curtsied gracefully and said sweetly, "Thank you, young master."
Yuan Yueze stood before her, gazing at the starry sky and sighing, "You dare use your seductive arts on me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Hearing the coldness in Yuan Yueze's voice, Bai Qing'er shivered inexplicably and whispered, "Please forgive me, young master. It was all beyond my control."
Yuan Yueze asked curiously, "I'm very weak now. Don't you want to try and capture me?"
Bai Qing'er was taken aback, but she sensed Yuan Yueze's surging inner energy and the shadow he cast in the hearts of the people, a shadow as imposing as a mountain. Therefore, Bai Qing'er dared not act rashly. She laughed, "Young master is joking. Your abilities are far beyond my reach."
Yuan Yueze was indeed very weak after his outburst. To avoid Bai Qing'er's entanglement, he used the excuse of helping her recover to further solidify the shadow in her mind. In truth, Yuan Yueze was indeed putting on a brave front; after that sword strike, he was at his last gasp.
This feint, however deceptive, successfully fooled the cunning Bai Qing'er. Yuan Yueze then chuckled, "Your sect is probably used to using seductive arts at any time, isn't it? As long as you have a man of use, you'll use every trick in the book a woman can employ."
Bai Qing'er's expression remained unchanged as she said, "What sect are you talking about, young master? I'm confused."
Yuan Yueze looked at her amusedly; this girl, like Wanwan, was a perfect candidate for 'Actress of the Night': "Now that it's just the two of us here, what are we hiding? The second disciple of the Yin Queen..."
Bai Qing'er trembled slightly: "Young Master is truly all-knowing! Did Senior Sister Meixian tell you?" Yuan
Yueze didn't answer her: "I have other things to do. Farewell."
Bai Qing'er hurriedly asked: "Young Master, as a fellow member of our Holy Sect, what are your plans?"
Yuan Yueze turned around and said: "No plans at all. First, I'll teach those hypocritical people of the righteous path a lesson, and then strive to give my disciples an equal living space with other sects!"
After speaking, ignoring Bai Qing'er's calls, Yuan Yueze rushed towards Yang Gongqing's residence.
When he got to a distance, Yuan Yueze realized that Bai Qing'er hadn't followed him, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that his tactic had succeeded. After
meditating for half an hour and recovering some of his strength, Yuan Yueze gathered his energy and sneaked into Yang Gongqing's residence. He entered the study, but there was no one at the agreed meeting place.
Yuan Yueze's thoughts became chaotic. Just as he was wondering if Yang Gongqing was lying to him, he heard intermittent crying outside.
He crept over and found several women and maids in a large bedroom, all weeping bitterly.
Yuan Yueze looked at the bed and saw Yang Gongqing lying there, his face deathly pale. On a long mat on the floor lay a petite woman.
Without thinking, Yuan Yueze burst through the door, startling the women who rushed to the bedside in panic.
Yuan Yueze's appearance was familiar to most people in Luoyang. Upon seeing him, the women and maids knelt and cried out, "It's Young Master Yuan! Please save Master and Miss Jiao!"
After comforting them briefly, Yuan Yueze, to avoid being disturbed, dismissed them and left everyone outside, leaving himself alone in the room.
"You...are...Young Master Yuan?"
The petite woman on the mat seemed less seriously injured, barely managing to speak as she looked at Yuan Yueze sitting at the head of the bed.
Yuan Yueze was using his inner energy to examine Yang Gongqing and discovered that he wouldn't die anytime soon, but his body contained a strange inner energy and unusual medicinal properties.
Yuan Yueze decided to treat the woman first. He went to the long table, gently helped her up, nodded, and then channeled his true energy into her body. However, her leg bones were almost completely broken, and now was not the time to use his mental powers, as he had become accustomed to maintaining a final shred of vigilance.
Half an hour later, the woman's complexion regained some color.
"Thank you for saving my life, young master,"
the woman said with a forced smile.
Yuan Yueze smiled and shook his head: "Your name is Linglong Jiao?"
The woman, who had been staring blankly at Yuan Yueze, quickly looked away after hearing his question and nodded.
Yuan Yueze found her slightly blue eyes very attractive, and she possessed an indescribable wild beauty. He then said, "We can talk about this later. Let's treat Yang Gong first."
Half an hour later, Yang Gongqing finally regained some strength, opened his eyes, and quickly thanked him.
Yuan Yueze asked what had happened, and Yang Gongqing glanced at the pale-faced Yuan Yueze and sighed, "Young Master, you've always had some doubts about me. Aren't you afraid I'll harm you?"
Yuan Yueze was taken aback. He had only been thinking about saving people and had forgotten about this matter. His strength, which had been greatly restored, was now mostly depleted again. He smiled awkwardly and said, "I trust Zhenzhen, and naturally I trust you, Master Yang."
Yang Gongqing was also surprised upon hearing this, then chuckled and said, "I treat Zhenzhen like my own daughter. How could I harm her husband? Besides, I have no ability to harm you!"
Yuan Yueze thought to himself that people's hearts are unpredictable, and ability is not just about the strength of one's body.
"Tell me what happened first. How did you almost die?"
Yuan Yueze asked immediately after sighing. Yang
Gongqing explained, "Someone came to ambush me, which harmed Linglong. She had arranged to discuss important matters with you tonight, but she arrived half an hour early and was caught in the ambush."
Linglong quickly shook her head.
Yuan Yueze frowned: "Do you know who sent the sneak attack?"
Yang Gongqing and Linglong Jiao almost spoke in unison: "Wang Shichong!"
Yuan Yueze was greatly surprised: "Wang Shichong sent someone to attack you? Isn't this the time when we need capable men?"
Yang Gongqing sighed deeply: "Young master, don't be fooled by Wang Shichong's appearance. This man has close ties with the Great Ming Sect. Now that he's seriously injured, how can he entrust his son with command without taking back the military power of the generals with selfish motives?"
Yuan Yueze was stunned again: "I thought you couldn't see through Wang Shichong's two-faced nature! So his serious injury is real?"
Yang Gongqing shook his head: "This old fox schemed and plotted, and in the end, he wanted to show off but ended up losing himself. He hid his strength and had a secret expert, thinking he could kill Li Mi in one battle. " Who knew that Li Mi not only had experts, but also more than ten times his number!
Yuan Yueze seemed to understand something and asked again, "Now that the war is ongoing, to whom does he plan to hand over military power? What is the condition of Wang Shichong's injuries?"
Yang Gongqing replied, "His strength has always been hidden. I have never seen him make a move in years. This time he went all out, but he was attacked from all sides by Li Mi, Dugu Feng, Yuwen Shang, and You Chuhong. I'm afraid only you, young master, have the ability to defeat all four of them. It will take Wang Shichong at least two months to recover. He will probably hand over military power to that good-for-nothing bastard Wang Xuanying in the future."
Yuan Yueze laughed, "He will hand over military power to that idiot Wang Xuanying? Is Wang Shichong courting death?"
Yang Gongqing and Linglong Jiao laughed when they heard Yuan Yueze speak so vulgarly.
“No matter how cunning or resourceful he is, he has changed too much. If it were Wang Shichong fifteen years ago, Li Mi would definitely be no match for him. The current Wang Shichong, although still clever, has been corrupted by the ways of officialdom. For example, he now employs relatives and is suspicious, etc.,”
Yang Gongqing explained.
Yuan Yueze thought to himself, “Then I really overestimated him.” He then turned to Linglong Jiao and said, “I heard from Zhenzhen that Miss Linglong has been away on business all this time. I have never seen you since I came to Luoyang!”
Seeing Linglong Jiao nod shyly, Yang Gongqing laughed inexplicably and then said, “You are the first man who can make Linglong shy.”
Yuan Yueze scratched his head awkwardly: “In my understanding, you two should both be loyal to Wang Shichong, especially Miss Linglong. But why are you…”
Yang Gongqing shook his head and smiled bitterly: “As I just said, Wang Shichong has changed too much. Alas… this really chills the hearts of his subordinates!”
Linglong Jiao also nodded silently.
Yuan Yueze asked in surprise, "Isn't Miss Linglong also a member of the Great Ming Venerable Sect?"
Linglong giggled and said, "Just as Sister Zhenzhen said, Young Master knows many secrets. However, I originally came to repay a debt of gratitude, but I was controlled by Wang Shichong with drugs. If I didn't get his antidote within a year, I would die from the poison. Later, Sister Zhenzhen helped me get rid of that poison, and I hate Wang Shichong to death."
Yuan Yueze had heard from Wei Zhenzhen that they had a very good relationship, so he nodded and said, "Rest for a while, and I'll go home and call Meixian and Zhenzhen. They can help you fully recover."
Linglong nodded and said, "After Sister Zhenzhen helped me get rid of the poison last time, she seemed to be completely exhausted. It was terrifying. She said she would need at least several days to recover. But that power was really strong."
Yuan Yueze chuckled and then remembered the attack he had just been ambushed on the road, and told the two of them about it.
After a long silence, Yang Gongqing spoke, "If I'm not mistaken, Li Shimin and Wang Shichong have reached some secret agreement behind the scenes. Moreover, you, sir, are a threat to them. The talk of taking the He Shi Bi is just a pretext. The gray-haired old man you mentioned should be Li Shentong, the top martial artist of the Tang Dynasty. He's hiding behind Tuli, seemingly afraid of being recognized by you, which shows that Li Shimin doesn't want things to escalate too much. As for the other forces, it's hard to say. Perhaps they have some secret agreement with Li Mi and Wang Shichong to jointly deal with you. They should be afraid of you, sir, but today..." The timing of the siege seems related to the people who attacked me, which must be part of that old scoundrel Wang Shichong's scheme. He's trying to stall you while you carry out your other plans, while he tries to kill me and seize military power. As for the two mysterious attackers you mentioned, one should be the 'Shadow Assassin' Yang Xuyan, who has close ties with both Wang Shichong and Li Shimin. The other, according to your description, should be Li Mi's subordinate, because his true qi characteristics are very similar to those of the mysterious group that defeated Wang Shichong today.
Now, Yuan Yueze poses a threat both inside and outside the city. Wang Shichong fears he'll cause internal strife, and Li Mi fears he'll help Wang Shichong. As a result, the two sides, originally enemies, are now working together to deal with Yuan Yueze; the relationship between friend and foe is truly chaotic.
Yuan Yueze nodded, pondered for a while, and then said, "Right now, our main enemies are still Wang Shichong and Li Mi. We haven't had much time to deal with Li Shimin and his men. However, being constantly outmaneuvered by them isn't something to be happy about. How should we outmaneuver them?"
Yang Gongqing revealed a cunning expression: "I also have the pills that Wang Shichong forced us to take before the battle inside me, but Zhenzhen can help me neutralize them later. When I see Wang Shichong again tomorrow, I'll say that the person who attacked me today was scared away by my feigned death." "He has no way to seize power, and with the enemy launching a fierce attack, he still can't take my command. If we seize the right opportunity and eliminate him and Li Mi together, then everything will be fine."
Yuan Yueze exclaimed joyfully, "Old foxes are indeed shrewd! However, the detailed plan still needs further consideration."
Linglong Jiao interjected from the side, playfully scolding, "You've explained the plan so clearly, aren't you afraid someone will leak it?"
Yuan Yueze, already overjoyed, casually retorted, "If you dare tell anyone, I'll take you home as my wife, hehe!"
The room fell silent. Yang Gongqing looked at the two of them with a playful, amused gaze. Linglong Jiao, usually a forthright woman, couldn't withstand his provocation and was immediately embarrassed, too ashamed to lift her head.
Yuan Yueze was also somewhat awkward and quickly changed the subject: "How many secret subordinates does Wang Shichong have?"
Yang Gongqing said in a deep voice, "As far as I know in recent years, there are only two masters, whose martial arts are as unorthodox as Wang Shichong's. But one is dead and the other injured today, and it will be difficult for them to recover in a short time."
"I heard that you have already found a future 'King of Luoyang,' who is it?"
Yang Gongqing asked again.
Yuan Yueze did not answer, but only smiled mysteriously.

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