[Wuxia] The Free and Easy Journey of the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - 7

Chapter 21 A Secluded Orchid in a Secluded
Valley Nine days after Yuan Yueze left Yuhang.
Midnight, in a large mansion east of the Dongtiao River in Yuhang.
Yuhang is situated at the junction of hills and plains .
During the day, the town is picturesque, a place of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, with a distinctly Jiangnan water town charm—a perfect place to enjoy life. But tonight, a pale moon and lonely stars hung in the sky, a gentle breeze blowing. The townspeople were already asleep, only the occasional chirping of crickets carrying a strange, chilling air that made one feel extremely uncomfortable.
Yun Yuzhen sat alone in her study, leaning against a candle, reviewing the various information gathered by her gang. She was even thinner than half a month ago, her face still somewhat pale, her breathing slightly erratic.
"Who is it?"
Yun Yuzhen stopped reading the letters, looked up, her beautiful eyes fixed on the tightly closed door, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and called out sharply.
"Bang!"
The door was smashed to pieces by a violent force, causing the door frame and surrounding walls to break and collapse.
Ten figures clad in black armor, their faces and heads covered, tall and exuding an extremely repulsive aura, entered the room.
"It's you again? Why is one less this time? Aren't you afraid of the inescapable trap set by my Giant Kun Gang?"
Yun Yuzhen forced down her panicked emotions and calmly asked.
"Heh! All your ambushes, both overt and covert, have been poisoned by our brothers! I didn't expect you, woman, to dare to come back so brazenly?"
the leader said.
"Who are you gentlemen? Why are you enemies of our gang? If I have offended you in any way, please tell me, so I can apologize."
Yun Yuzhen continued.
The ten men were clearly taken aback: when they were about to kill Yun Yuzhen last time, she hadn't shown any weakness or begged for mercy. Why was she deliberately lowering her stance today?
The ten men, initially worried about potential ambushes in Yun Yuzhen's room, were now even more certain that Yun Yuzhen's submissive demeanor stemmed from having exhausted all her "trump cards."
"Chief Yun, there's no need to subtly probe us. We were merely following orders. It's your fault for offending someone you shouldn't have!"
the leader replied.
"I understand the hardships you heroes face, but I want to know who is trying to kill me before I die! Otherwise, I won't find peace in the underworld! I know I'm no match for you, so I only ask for a quick and painless death!"
Yun Yuzhen pleaded tearfully.
With that, she threw the sword from her desk in front of the ten men, surrendering.
"Since Chief Yun is so insistent, I may reveal some information to you. We are under orders from Lord Yuwen. That's all I can say. Chief Yun, please depart!"
the leader replied after a moment's thought. With a gesture, the ten men surrounded Yun Yuzhen, ready to attack.
"So it's the lackeys of the Yuwen Clan!"
A melodious voice came from behind the screen not far away.
"Who? Come out!"
The leader's heart trembled: Why were there other people in the room? Why hadn't they noticed?
Light footsteps sounded, and three graceful and charming women emerged from behind the screen.
"Damn it! Chief Yun's plan is brilliant! Attack!"
The leader shouted, his surprise mixed with an indescribable fear.
The ten men were now surrounding Yun Yuzhen; their only goal was to take her life. The three women behind the screen were clearly experts among experts. To prevent any surprises, the ten men immediately attacked Yun Yuzhen in the middle. In an instant, a strong wind blew through the room, and an evil aura filled the air.
In the brief moment the ten men were stunned, Yun Yuzhen used her inner energy to draw the sword from the ground back into her hand and fought the ten men to a standstill.
While attacking Yun Yuzhen, the leader glanced at the three women who had emerged from behind the screen. The scene puzzled him greatly: Yun Yuzhen was being attacked by ten men, while the three women with powerful inner energy remained standing and watching. Two of them were unarmed, their hands behind their backs. The third held a sword to her chest, looking eager to join the fray.
Although surprised, the leader's unease grew stronger. In a short while, the two sides exchanged over a thousand blows. Yun Yuzhen's aura was sometimes incredibly powerful, sometimes gentle yet firm. The ten men in black armor used all their skills but couldn't harm her in the slightest.
The longer the battle dragged on, the worse it became!
The leader clearly knew this better than anyone!
"Netherworld Formation, activate!"
With a loud shout from the leader, the inner energy of the other nine men attacking Yun Yuzhen suddenly changed! A sinister and chilling aura emanated from their evil energy, and their moves became unpredictable and their coordination exceptionally skilled.
Yun Yuzhen once again experienced the feeling of being haunted by thousands of ghosts when she encountered this formation before. She was puzzled: why was she still bewitched by this formation after her body had been refined?
Little did she know that this kind of thing that affected one's mind was purely spiritual, and had absolutely nothing to do with the strength of the physical body.
In that brief moment of distraction, the black gold short sword in the hand of the enemy in front of Yun Yuzhen pierced straight towards her brow!
Just as the man thought he could pierce Yun Yuzhen's brow, the powerful and sinister short sword suddenly vanished as if struck by an abyss. It turned out that Yun Yuzhen had deflected the fierce attack with her yin-like qi.
"Ah!"
A scream rang out. The leader cried out: Oh no!
It turned out that Fu Junqiang, seeing that Yun Yuzhen seemed to be under the influence of this evil formation, couldn't help but use her qi to control her sword, the 'Chongxu Treasure Sword' piercing the neck of the burly man who was near Fu Junqiang and the other two women. The
'Netherworld Grand Formation' lost another foothold, but its power did not diminish.
Unable to break through after a prolonged assault, the remaining nine had no time to consider why Yun Yuzhen had become so strong. The leader suddenly let out a strange cry, and the nine fought even more desperately. Yun Yuzhen, affected by the evil energy, gradually began to falter.
Seeing that Yun Yuzhen seemed to be affected by the opponent's life-burning fighting style, Shan Meixian was about to rush forward to help.
"Swoosh!"
A delicate shout rang out from within the formation, and the swordplay shifted abruptly.
Yun Yuzhen's longsword danced, like autumn water falling from the sky, transforming into a boundless Milky Way, twisting and turning in her slender hands, flowing joyfully in the void. Sometimes soaring into the sky, sometimes falling to the ground, sometimes transforming into a silvery stream of light, sometimes scattering into countless stars.
What appeared to be a graceful fairy's sword dance could only be truly appreciated by the nine people within the fray, revealing the sheer power and ferocity of Yun Yuzhen's swordplay.
Because the nine attackers were too close, and with a slight pause, several swords, thrusting at unimaginable angles like galloping horses, struck their knees almost simultaneously, eliciting screams of agony. The might of the formation crumbled instantly!
Yun Yuzhen withdrew her sword, only to see that the legs of all nine men below the knees had been severed, leaving them groaning on the ground, sprawled out. Even their invincible black gold armor had been cut like thin planks.
The outcome was decided, and the three women who had been watching the spectacle rushed forward immediately, using their profound inner energy to seal the vital points around the nine men's bodies.
"Junqiang, go and inform Chief Bu and the elders in the secret chamber in the backyard. Interrogation is not our specialty,"
Shan Meixian ordered.
Fu Junqiang nodded and left. In less than a moment, Bu Tianzhi led six elders into the room, which was now a mess from the fight.
"Thank you all, ladies. Please rest in the backyard. We'll take care of the rest,"
Bu Tianzhi said, glancing at the nine still-alive people on the ground.
"The gang members who set up the trap outside will need your help, uncles,"
Yun Yuzhen and the other three women nodded and walked out.
"Sister Yuzhen, you're such a good actress! You looked so pitiful, even a man wouldn't have the heart to hurt you!"
Fu Junqiang said, pulling Yun Yuzhen's hand as they walked.
"Yuzhen did a great job. At least we know they were sent by the Yuwen Clan. And judging from their appearance, it's unlikely Elder Bu will get any more useful information from them,"
Shan Meixian added with a smile.
"Let's go back and think it over carefully. I'll make some of my latest pastries for everyone. My husband and Sister Junyu should be back soon,"
Wei Zhenzhen said.
"Great! Great! Sister Zhenzhen's cooking is the best!"
Fu Junqiang exclaimed.
The four women walked towards the backyard, laughing and talking, looking nothing like people who had just experienced a life-or-death battle.
After Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu left Danyang, Fu Junyu suggested they visit nearby Lujiang. Yuan Yueze didn't object; there was nothing to worry about now, so accompanying her was fine.
The two walked in the countryside, chatting and laughing intimately.
Suddenly, Yuan Yueze stopped, his brows furrowing slightly as he stared into the distance. Fu Junyu, puzzled, followed his gaze.
"Husband, that thick smoke in the distance seems to be from a fire,"
Fu Junyu said.
Yuan Yueze nodded, pulled Fu Junyu along, and they quickly ran towards the smoke.
Reaching a small hill, they stopped. About a mile away, they saw what appeared to be a village engulfed in flames. The flames were several meters high.
Fearing for lives, they hurried towards the fire.
Midway, they encountered a troop of over two hundred Sui soldiers, belonging to an unknown prefecture. Their uniforms were disheveled, and their banners were askew. Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu sighed inwardly: even the Sui army looked like this; how could they possibly defeat the rebel armies from various regions?
Then Yuan Yueze wondered: judging from the direction this Sui army was heading, they had clearly passed the burning village half a mile away. Why weren't they helping to extinguish the fire and rescue the people?
His thoughts raced in an instant, and without time for further contemplation, Yuan Yueze pulled Fu Junyu along and continued towards the burning village.
A short while later, the two finally arrived at the village, still engulfed in flames. The village had about a hundred households, yet not a single cry for help could be heard.
Filled with curiosity, Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu entered the village, where the fire had subsided.
A scene that Yuan Yueze would never forget unfolded before his eyes.
Bloodstained corpses were scattered along the roadside, clearly murdered, not burned to death. Further on, the bodies of young women lay disheveled, their lower bodies a mess, clearly indicating they had been raped and murdered. Continuing on, the corpses of the elderly, women, and children came into view. Especially disturbing were the bodies of several children, perhaps only four or five years old, covered in blood, their deaths gruesome and shocking!
Seeing all this, Yuan Yueze clenched his fists, his body trembling violently, tears welling in his eyes.
With each step forward, the surrounding stench of blood and corpses relentlessly pounded at Yuan Yueze's soul!
His heart had never ached so much!
This wasn't the first time Yuan Yueze had witnessed bloodshed and death. But the previous times, it had been either his enemies or people connected to him. This time, however, he was merely a bystander, witnessing this hellish scene around him.
Fu Junyu couldn't bear to watch any longer. She turned her head away, grasped Yuan Yueze's trembling right hand, and said, "It must have been the Sui army that did this. What's so special about a small village like this? They seem to only enjoy burning, killing, and looting. Such behavior, treating the weak like pigs and dogs, is simply outrageous."
"Junyu, please help bury these people's bodies,"
Yuan Yueze said, his voice trembling. His gaze remained fixed on the corpses of the children not far away.
After speaking, Yuan Yueze turned and left.
Fu Junyu knew what he was going to do and grabbed his large hand to comfort him, "Husband, go ahead and do it."
Yuan Yueze's body was still trembling, and he didn't answer. He turned back and gently kissed Fu Junyu's forehead before leaping up and rushing away.
Watching Yuan Yueze's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Fu Junyu sighed, formed a sword with her fingers, and a powerful sword aura blasted a large crater in the ground. She then turned to gather the surrounding corpses.
"Hey, that village wasn't big, but it had a lot of pretty women. Brothers, you really got your fill this time!"
The soldiers in the group reminisced, their words dripping with schadenfreude.
"That's right, even though we lost, we can't let the brothers down!"
"Boss, are there any other villages nearby? I'm getting 'hot' again!"
"You son of a bitch, you'll die on a woman's belly sooner or later!"
The leading soldiers continued their swearing, intending to continue searching for 'targets'.
"Boom!"
A figure suddenly appeared from nowhere in front of the group, landing squarely in front of them, creating a large crater several feet in diameter.
"Damn it! Pretty boy, blocking my way, you want to die?"
Seeing someone blocking the way alone, the leading soldier immediately drew his long sword and cursed.
"Beast!"
Yuan Yueze's eyes were bloodshot, his clothes and long hair moving without wind, incredibly eerie! With a roar, his furious anger ignited a surge of true energy, and his killing intent exploded violently!
The purple-clad figure moved like a tiger among sheep, using no fancy moves, simply smashing the bodies of every soldier before him with his fists.
"Spare us! Spare us!"
In just ten breaths, Yuan Yueze had reduced the force of over two hundred men to a mere few dozen.
Overwhelmed by the aura of this killing god, the remaining men hastily dropped their weapons, kneeling and begging for mercy.
Yuan Yueze, covered in blood, stood before the kneeling men, coldly staring at them like a grim reaper descended from the heavens.
Taking a few steps forward, he reached the foremost soldier, his left hand forming a claw as he grabbed the soldier's head and lifted it up.
"Spare you? Why did you humiliate and murder innocent civilians?"
Yuan Yueze's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he stared into the soldier's eyes and asked coldly.
The soldier, terrified by Yuan Yueze's cold gaze, couldn't utter a word.
Yuan Yueze's killing intent intensified; he pressed the soldier to the ground with his left hand and slammed his right fist into the soldier's chest.
"Answer me!"
With this roar, Yuan Yueze's right fist rained down on the soldier. The soldier didn't even have time to utter a word of beg for mercy before Yuan Yueze's powerful punch pierced his chest!
Among the dozens of survivors nearby, many had already lost control of their bladders in terror. Watching Yuan Yueze's fists relentlessly pound on the soldier's upper body, now a bloody pulp, the remaining dozens, led by someone, picked up their weapons and ended their own sinful lives!
"Devil, stop!"
A woman's sharp shout drew Yuan Yueze's attention, who was still venting his anger on the soldier who was now a bloody mess on the ground.
Yuan Yueze turned his head and saw a tangible yet intangible sword aura rushing towards him!
Extending his blood-red left hand, he grasped the sword aura in his claw, and with a slight exertion, it shattered.
The woman who had launched the sneak attack was startled. Just as she was about to retaliate, a flash of red light appeared, and a hand like an iron claw gripped her throat tightly! The woman's eyes were filled with horror, yet she remained calm under pressure. Gathering all her strength in her right hand, she cleaved Yuan Yueze's ribs with her sword!
"Clang!"
A spark flew, and the woman's eyes widened in even greater terror, for her sword had not penetrated Yuan Yueze's ribs at all, and the impact had left her right hand numb and tingling.
"You're courting death!"
Yuan Yueze's anger hadn't subsided. Seeing the woman's sneak attack followed by resistance, a sharp pain shot through his ribs. Instantly, his right hand transformed into a palm, unleashing a fierce, skin-slicing gust of wind, aimed straight at the woman's skull!
"Husband, stop!"
Fu Junyu's voice came from behind, instantly calming Yuan Yueze. His palm strike stopped an inch above the trembling woman's head.
Retracting his right palm and then his left claw, which had been lodged in the woman's throat, Yuan Yueze withdrew his energy and turned to walk towards Fu Junyu, who was rushing towards him.
Overwhelmed by Yuan Yueze's imposing aura, the woman collapsed to her knees, as if without support.
Fu Junyu rushed over, glancing at the woman in the distance, then patting Yuan Yueze a few times, letting out a sigh of relief. She glanced at the woman again, then pulled Yuan Yueze up, ready to leave.
"Wait...wait, why did you kill the soldiers?"
The woman kneeling on the ground, still shaken, asked, for some unknown reason.
"Get out!"
Yuan Yueze, in a terrible mood, roared without turning his head, startling the woman again.
"Young lady, this group of soldiers just murdered over a hundred people in the village a mile ahead, sparing neither the old nor the young, women and children, and even wantonly humiliating young women..."
Fu Junyu pulled Yuan Yueze back, helping him calm down, and turned to the woman.
Fu Junyu then carefully examined the woman. She was dressed in a white, fitted outfit, revealing her graceful figure, with fair skin, delicate eyebrows, and bright, sparkling eyes. Her face was pale from shock, but it didn't diminish her youthful charm; she was truly a stunning beauty.
The woman was speechless after hearing this, silently nodding. Seeing that Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu were about to leave, she quickly asked, "May I ask your names?"
"No need to ask your names, we'll meet again someday!"
Yuan Yueze didn't bother to say another word. Fu Junyu replied.
Then, under the woman's dazed gaze, Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu walked away hand in hand.
After this incident, Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu lost all interest in sightseeing and silently headed straight for Yuhang.
Using their vast inner energy, they flew swiftly, and a day later, they returned to the courtyard where Yun Yuzhen and the other women lived.
Fu Junyu watched Yuan Yueze with worry, unsure how to comfort him. She hoped the other sisters would have a solution.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard the lively laughter of Shan Ruyin and Shan Wanjing coming from the main house.
Sensing Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu's presence, Shan Meixian quickly led the other women out to greet them.
Yuan Yueze glanced at the women and saw that Shang Xiuxun and Song Yuzhi, who had gone out to communicate, were present, knowing they had completed their missions. Fu Junzhuo hadn't returned yet, presumably because Goryeo was too far from Yuhang, and a round trip couldn't be completed in just over ten days. Glancing at Yun Yuzhen and Shan Meixian, both women smiled sweetly at him, and Yuan Yueze understood that they hadn't encountered any major trouble while guarding the place.
The group entered the house, and after Wei Zhenzhen brewed tea, Yuan Yueze put his arm around her slender waist. He inquired about the women's experiences over the past few days.
The women had communicated smoothly without any obstacles. Upon hearing that the assassins had been captured, Yuan Yueze nodded.
"But it's such a pity. The uncles tried everything to torture them, but they wouldn't talk even under torture. Alas..."
Yun Yuzhen said regretfully.
"Was the torture not harsh enough?"
Fu Junyu asked.
"We didn't see it ourselves, but after hearing Uncle Bu talk about it, we were all a little scared. Uncle Bu said they cut their arms down to the bone, but they still wouldn't speak, and then...and..."
Yun Yuzhen started to speak with lingering fear, then blushed.
"What happened now?"
Yuan Yueze pressed, seeing her stammering.
"They...they cut off their men's 'things' again, but they still wouldn't talk. In the end, Uncle Bu had no choice but to kill them."
Yun Yuzhen stammered, her face flushed, and she hid behind Shan Ruyin beside her.
Yuan Yueze and the other women laughed when they saw Yun Yuzhen so embarrassed, making her blush and act coquettishly.
The women then asked about Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu's situation. Yuan Yueze's expression changed immediately, and he didn't say anything, but just turned to look out the window. The women thought that Yuan Yueze had encountered something serious, so they quickly asked Fu Junyu. Fu Junyu then recounted what had happened along the way. When she talked about killing Ren Shaoming, the women all nodded in agreement. When she talked about what she saw and encountered in the burned village, the women all looked somber.
"Alright, don't think about it too much now. I'm going to be lazy today. Zhenzhen, go cook a meal."
Yuan Yueze forced a smile and said to Wei Zhenzhen.
"My lord and the sisters must be tired. Zhenzhen will go prepare the meal now."
Wei Zhenzhen sensed Yuan Yueze's sorrow and, unusually, gave him a kiss in front of the other women before blushing and running away.
Dinner wasn't lively, as the women could all sense Yuan Yueze's melancholy. No matter how hard he tried to force a smile, he couldn't hide it from these perceptive women. After
dinner, Yuan Yueze went alone to the hills of western Zhejiang near Yuhang to gaze into the distance.
The scene he had witnessed that day was deeply imprinted in his mind. In the past, the lives of the poor people he had seen in Goryeo were merely a matter of accumulating wealth, but what he had encountered today had become a catalyst for a fundamental shift in his perspective.
In the two years he had lived in this world, he had only known how to live freely and carefree. In Goryeo, he had questioned his own attitude several times, but today, that questioning was heavier than ever before. His benevolent heart seemed to be urging him: it was time to do something!
He could conquer the world, but his governing skills all came from books—the kind of theoretical knowledge that couldn't be put to good use! Although he firmly believed that even with power he wouldn't become corrupt, how could he manage his officials? How could he strategize effectively? His heart was too soft, which destined him to never become a competent ruler.
Yet, he felt deeply saddened by the suffering of the poor people of this era. Upon reflection, his current predicament was merely a small scene; in this chaotic era, such scenes could happen every day.
The more he thought about it, the more conflicted he became, the more he sank into a dead end. Yuan Yueze wanted to roar to the heavens!
"My husband is perplexed,"
came Shan Meixian's ethereal voice from behind.
Yuan Yueze turned around, forcing a bitter smile at the beauty, without answering.
"Actually, what my husband and Junyu witnessed today is really nothing in this era. It's the first time my husband has seen someone bully the weak; his benevolent heart is inevitably wounded."
Shan Meixian stepped forward and took Yuan Yueze's hand, saying,
"My husband is conflicted again."
Seeing that Yuan Yueze didn't answer, she continued,
"I know what I'm made of, but I genuinely want to do something practical for the people."
Yuan Yueze gazed into the distance.
"Meixian has a method, but I don't know if it's feasible,"
Shan Meixian said.
"Since my husband doesn't want to be an emperor, nor is he capable of being one, why don't we assist an emperor to quickly end the chaos?"
Shan Meixian's beautiful eyes sparkled with wisdom.
"Assist an emperor?"
Yuan Yueze scoffed. "Is there an emperor in this world worthy of our assistance?"
"Why not?"
Song Yuzhi's voice came from behind.
Yuan Yueze turned around and saw that the women had all come out of the city to find him.
Seeing how worried the women were about him, Yuan Yueze felt a pang of guilt and gestured for them to sit down and talk.
"Zhizhi, who in this world do you think is worthy of our help to quickly end the chaos?"
Yuan Yueze asked.
"Li Shimin of the Li clan, what do you think?"
Song Yuzhi replied.
"Yes!"
Fu Junyu chimed in, "The historical materials from later generations that my husband showed me record Li Shimin as the emperor who unified the Central Plains after becoming Yang Guang. The book even says that Li Shimin was a rare and wise ruler throughout history!"
Fu Junyu, after being with Yuan Yueze, often read the various books from later generations that Yuan Yueze showed her along with Shan Meixian, Wei Zhenzhen, and Song Yuzhi, so she could be considered a semi-transmigrator.
"Meixian, you must have also seen the historical materials I showed you. Why don't you speak up? What do you think of Li Shimin?"
Yuan Yueze didn't answer Song Yuzhi's question but instead asked Shan Meixian.
Shan Meixian simply shook her head mysteriously: "Li Shimin may be seen as a good emperor by later generations, but only compared to emperors throughout history! Historical records show that Li Shimin became corrupt in the later years of his reign."
"Li Shimin had the talent and qualifications to become emperor because he was among the best of his time."
"But if my husband were to assist an emperor, Li Shimin wouldn't be qualified, because the emperor we're helping will be given elixirs to extend his lifespan and will rely on his governance to change the various outdated systems that have been passed down for thousands of years, such as why there's a hierarchy among people."
Yuan Yueze nodded, saying, "Indeed, as Meixian says, if there really is an emperor who can implement the kind of system that later generations will have within a few hundred years, we can definitely help him!"
"But unfortunately! There isn't such a person in the world! Because no matter how talented or outstanding he is, he still can't escape the framework of this era. And although I know all the principles, I'm simply not cut out for it. Alas..."
Yuan Yueze sighed.
"That's right!"
After a long silence, Wei Zhenzhen suddenly exclaimed. Everyone's eyes turned to her.
"Husband, do you remember what Master told us before returning to the Divine Realm? There are five people in the world who possess the aura of an emperor! This means that these five people are the most outstanding people of this era. Why are you only thinking about Li Shimin?"
"Yes! I remember too! Master said that the five people were in Yangzhou, Taiyuan, Luoyang, Lingnan, and Baipu respectively."
Shang Xiuxun also spoke up.
"What? There are also people with the aura of an emperor in Lingnan?"
Song Yuzhi asked curiously.
Yuan Yueze and Shan Meixian remained silent and deep in thought.
"Taiyuan is definitely Li Shimin, Yangzhou is definitely Kou Zhong, and it's still hard to determine the other three places."
Yuan Yueze said.
"In that case, let's go to the other cities and see who has the aura of an emperor. But I wonder who is the person with the aura of an emperor in Lingnan? Is it Father or Second Brother?"
Song Yuzhi asked curiously.
Thinking of Song Que and Song Shidao, Yuan Yueze shook his head. Song Que was indeed formidable on the battlefield, but his vision was too short-sighted. If Song Shidao were truly emperor, he would definitely be a good one, but like Yuan Yueze, he simply lacked the ambition, and it was also questionable whether he had the ability to manage his ministers!
"Let's not worry about that for now, let's just do as Zhizhi says, and visit a few cities first. However, if we really find an emperor worth assisting, our lives might not be so carefree,"
Yuan Yueze sighed.
"It will indeed affect our lives, but it shouldn't be too significant. We're not going to fight on the battlefield! We just need to lend a hand at crucial moments, and use the information from later generations in books to help, right?"
Shan Meixian laughed.
"That's right! How could I forget all that! It seems that even if there's an emperor worthy of our assistance, it won't have much of an impact on us! I finally understand why Master told us about those with the aura of a ruler before he left. Perhaps he foresaw the path we would take in the future, so he gave us a shortcut in advance."
Yuan Yueze pulled Shan Meixian close, kissed her, and laughed.
"Tch! The sisters are all watching, let go!"
Shan Meixian said, blushing.
"What's wrong with my own family watching? I'm going to give them a demonstration here!"
Yuan Yueze's worries vanished, and when his absurd side kicked in, he was capable of anything!
Shan Meixian was tightly embraced by Yuan Yueze, trying to break free but unable to. When Yuan Yueze's big mouth pressed against hers, she instantly lost all her strength, panting heavily.
"Okay, okay, husband, quickly demonstrate for us with Sister Meixian!"
Shan Ruyin shouted.
The more composed women all spat.
After a while of playful banter, Yuan Yueze, as if noticing something, looked up and scanned the women, asking, "Where is Miss Susu?"
"Husband, you just realized? Sister Susu was sent back to Xingyang a long time ago. She rushed back and only arrived in Yuhang the day before yesterday!"
Fu Junqiang said with a charming laugh.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yueze's heart sank: "Why didn't she wait for me to return? Did she insist on leaving?"
Fu Junqiang nodded, puzzled: "Although Sister Susu is gentle, she is very strong-willed and stubborn. On the day you left, after hearing from Sister Yuzhen about Li Mi's plot to harm the leader Zhai Rang of Wagang Village, she became extremely worried and insisted on going back to report the news. She wouldn't listen to anything we said."
Susu's personality was indeed as Fu Junqiang described; if she was determined to do something, even if Yuan Yueze were present, he probably couldn't stop her.
Seeing Yuan Yueze's strange reaction upon hearing of Susu's departure, Wei Zhenzhen, who had already read the Complete Book of the Tang Dynasty, naturally understood his concerns. She then recounted Susu's experiences in Xingyang as recorded in the book, and the women immediately sensed something was amiss.
Shan Meixian laughed, "I've already left a wisp of extraordinary power within Susu's body; it will ensure her safety!" "Meixian is confused this time," Yuan Yueze said.
"Extraordinary power requires concentration to draw out from the sea of consciousness. What if Susu panics and forgets?" Shan Meixian was immediately speechless, but then looked aggrieved and said, "I spent two days recovering just to activate this extraordinary power!" Yuan Yueze hurriedly comforted her.

“Sister Susu is a good girl. We can’t just ignore her plight. Let’s go to Xingyang tomorrow. Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about in the Giant Kun Gang right now,”
Yun Yuzhen said.
“Great! We’re going somewhere else to play again! Sister Susu actually has a crush on our husband! She often asks people to talk about him, and her eyes light up whenever she hears about him,”
Song Yuzhi laughed.
The group giggled again.
The next day, after bidding farewell to Bu Tianzhi and the elders and reminding them to be careful of enemies, the women retreated into their bracelets to enjoy life. Yuan Yueze and Fu Junqiang, who was still clinging to him, headed to Xingyang alone.
Although the Yuan family members had diverse martial arts backgrounds, they shared a common physical advantage. Before Yuan Yueze went into seclusion in Goryeo, the women were all extremely interested in his Qi cultivation methods. As a result, the women who practiced diligently now had abundant Qi. If a top-tier martial arts master were to use all their vital energy on their lightness skill, they could only travel a hundred li at most. However, Yuan Yueze and Fu Junqiang could travel at least four hundred li before exhausting their energy. Their energy replenishment speed was also astonishing.
Fu Junqiang, running at full speed, even had time to show off her sword control technique. Two figures, almost indistinguishable to the naked eye, raced across the plain, Fu Junqiang's sword dancing incessantly around her, a truly beautiful sight.
When they reached a grove of trees near Huaiyang, Yuan Yueze suddenly felt his heart pounding. Curious, he pulled the intrigued Fu Junqiang to a stop. It turned out to be a small lake in the grove.
Yuan Yueze's eyes fell on a woman standing on the shore not far ahead. The woman's figure seemed familiar, but Yuan Yueze couldn't quite place where he had seen her before. He and Fu Junqiang walked towards the woman who was staring at him with a surprised expression.
The closer they got, the faster their hearts raced.
As they drew nearer, a scene from the past flashed through Yuan Yueze's mind.
"It's you!"
they both exclaimed almost simultaneously.
Yuan Yueze scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Truly, 'A floating leaf returns to the vast sea, where in life do we not meet again'! Miss, we meet again."
Hearing Yuan Yueze's two exquisite lines of poetry, the woman also spoke, "Young master, your writing is excellent, especially the line 'Where in life do we not meet again'."
Her voice was ethereal, like celestial music.
Then, when her gaze turned to Fu Junqiang, a look of surprise flashed across her face, not only because of Fu Junqiang's beauty, but also because of her swordsmanship, which seemed more pleasing than any acrobatic performance.
Yuan Yueze was taken aback, his face slightly flushed. "Miss, you flatter me. Those lines are not my own. I merely borrowed someone else's."
The woman said "Oh," clearly disbelieving, for she was well-versed in poetry and literature and had never heard of anyone having written those two lines.
Curious, Fu Junqiang looked the woman up and down a few times. Realizing Yuan Yueze seemed to know her, she giggled, "Husband, talk to this lady. I'll wait for you about a mile ahead."
Fu Junqiang skipped and hopped away. Yuan Yueze and Fu Junqiang, unsure what to say, stood there gazing at the distant lake and meadow.
Yuan Yueze recognized the woman from her heartbeat and eyes—the same woman he'd met on the streets of Chengdu. Although her face was now different, still ugly, Yuan Yueze instantly understood: she must have disguised herself.
The woman, of course, also recognized Yuan Yueze from his figure and eyes. Especially his eyes, so vast and clear as a starry sky—she hadn't forgotten them in the past six months.
"Why did you disguise yourself, young master?"
After a long silence, the woman asked, clearly finding Yuan Yueze most pleasing to the eye now.
"It was probably to avoid attracting attention. You must have been disguised too, young lady,"
Yuan Yueze said with a faint smile.
"Hehe, you saw through me!"
The woman laughed charmingly, her voice full of coquettishness and cuteness.
With that, she directly removed her ugly face, revealing a face that could only be described as "heavenly."
This woman possessed a pure and refined air, fresh and elegant, tranquil and dignified, untouched by worldly concerns. Her beauty was beyond compare, a face that could shame the moon and flowers, a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky. Her figure was perfect, exuding charm and grace, yet somehow, one dared not harbor any romantic thoughts, lest one defile her sacred beauty.
For an ordinary person to possess such beauty was absolutely rare, perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world. The moment Yuan Yueze saw her true face, he couldn't help but think of Shang Xiuxun from before.
The difference was that this woman's temperament was extremely unique, which could only be described with four words: a rare orchid in a secluded valley.
Yuan Yueze was not one to be easily swayed by beauty. He merely glanced at the woman before continuing to gaze into the distance, smiling, "Why do you wear such a mask, young lady?"
"I wear this mask so I can understand people's hearts more deeply,"
the woman said softly. "Though people in this world may not wear masks on their faces, they do in their hearts, making it impossible to know whether someone is truly good or evil. Wearing this mask allows me to see many things more clearly." "I agree with you," Yuan Yueze sighed.
"For example, when your family hurts you, when someone you considered a friend betrays you, when your lover, who was all lovey-dovey with you yesterday, becomes a stranger, you feel pain and helplessness. When you finally realize it's too late to change anything, and then lament, 'Why am I always the one who gets hurt? What did I do wrong?' you have no choice but to put on a mask. This kind of mask is a mask of the soul."
He had read countless books, and his pursuit of freedom and ease stemmed from a desire to avoid too much connection with the world.
The woman listened to his words, her face full of curiosity. Seeing that he only glanced at her face briefly, she secretly admired his skill.
"Does your heart also wear a mask, young master?"
she asked almost imperceptibly, then suddenly felt it was presumptuous, her face flushing slightly as she looked into the distance.
"No, I disguise myself simply to avoid being bothered and disrupted,"
Yuan Yueze answered straightforwardly. His true feelings were completely undisguised; his thoughts were all written on his face and spoken aloud.
"Then you are truly enviable, young master!"
the woman sighed softly, as if recalling something.
"I can sense your loneliness, your inner pain, and the deepest tears in your eyes seem to flow with blood,"
Yuan Yueze said.
For some reason, upon hearing this, two clear tears streamed down the woman's face, and she silently continued gazing into the distance.
Yuan Yueze was a man of few words, speaking bluntly and without regard for the occasion. Seeing the woman crying again, he didn't dare to comfort her, and hurriedly said, "Miss... I was being
presumptuous, I'm sorry." Seeing Yuan Yueze's flustered state, the woman burst into laughter through her tears, her smile as radiant as a hundred flowers blooming. Wiping away her tears, she replied, "I was just thinking about some past events, it has nothing to do with you, sir."
"How did you sense my loneliness, sir?"
the woman asked.
"I can't quite explain it myself. In Chengdu, the moment our eyes met, my heart suddenly raced for some reason, and I looked away. It was the same today. Passing by here, my heart suddenly raced, so I stopped to look, and there you were again,"
Yuan Yueze confessed.
The woman was also surprised, because her feeling was exactly the same as Yuan Yueze's!
"Are you also lonely, sir?"
The woman composed herself and continued,
“Me? I’m not lonely at all, haha.”
Yuan Yueze laughed heartily, his cheerfulness captivating. The woman seemed to be influenced by him, smiling slightly.
“However, I believe that loneliness is a transparent isolation. The lonely perceive everything around them with their hearts, rather than being tainted by worldly concerns. Loneliness makes one pure, innocent, and calm as a virgin. Thus, the lonely are often filled with a pure romance, seemingly veiled in mystery, and thus admired. But for the lonely, being admired is akin to being trapped in the mundane world; it exposes loneliness to the scorching gaze of the crowd, evaporating the water of life and causing it to lose its meaning. However, in this world, for every loss, there is a gain. Perhaps the lonely gain admiration, but are destined to lose the warmth that ordinary people should possess!”
Yuan Yueze continued.
The woman seemed to be influenced by his insightful words and nodded in agreement.
"What kind of sword-controlling technique did that young lady just use? It's so amazing! I've also practiced some martial arts, but at most I can only control a sword with my qi. I can't control it with that kind of freedom."
The woman asked curiously, recalling Fu Junqiang's sword-controlling technique.
Yuan Yueze smiled and said, "That's a skill called 'Divine Sword Controlling Technique,' which involves controlling the sword with qi, mind, and spirit. Although my wife is exceptionally talented, she has only grasped controlling the sword with her mind."
The woman's pupils contracted slightly, because this sword technique sounded terrifying just from hearing about it. She stared at Yuan Yueze, looking him up and down with curiosity.
Yuan Yueze felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, and he was also worried about Susu, so he said, "I have urgent business to attend to. Farewell."
"Take care,
young master. Farewell." The woman looked up and smiled gently at him.
Yuan Yueze cupped his hands and turned to leave.
The woman stared blankly as Yuan Yueze's figure disappeared into the distance at incredible speed, then suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! Qingxuan doesn't even know his name!"
"My name is Yuan Yueze, Miss Shi, remember it well!"
The voice came from the direction of Yuan Yueze, whose figure was already quite blurry, and rang in Shi Qingxuan's ears.

Chapter 022 A Fury in the Face of a Crown
Xingyang, also known as the origin of the "Chu River and Han Border" in Chinese chess.
Xingyang has a strategic geographical location, known as the "gateway between the two capitals and the throat of the three Qin regions," and is a famous military stronghold in ancient China. Many famous battles in history have taken place here. For example, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu divided the world at the Honggou Canal in Xingyang; during the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei fought the "Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu" at Hulao Pass in Xingyang; Zhang Han, Wu Guang, Li Shimin, Dou Jiande, and other strategists throughout history have all staged great battles in Xingyang. During the Han Dynasty, Xingyang was a renowned city, on par with Chang'an and Luoyang, known for its immense wealth and status. Xingyang was also a crucial political location throughout history. Bounded by the Honggou Canal connecting the Huai and Si Rivers to the east, bordered by the Mangshan Mountains to the north and adjacent to the Yellow River, and bordered by the Suohe River connecting to the Songshan Mountains to the south, Xingyang was strategically located west of the Hulao Pass, connecting to Luoyang and Chang'an. Its strategic location and convenient transportation made it a vital seat of government throughout history. After Qin Shi Huang unified China and established the Qin Dynasty, he established the Sanchuan Commandery in Xingyang, governing counties such as Xingyang, Gong, and Jing. During the Western Han Dynasty, the Sanchuan Commandery was renamed the Henan Commandery, governing counties such as Xingyang, Chenggao, Gushi, Mixian, Zhongmu, Xinzheng, and Yuanling. In the first year of the Tai Shi era of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Henan Commandery was renamed the Xingyang Commandery, with its capital still in Xingyang. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Beiyuzhou Prefecture was established at Hulao Pass, and the Xingyang Commandery was established there. After the Northern Zhou dynasty conquered the Northern Qi dynasty, it renamed Beiyuzhou, which consisted of Xingyang and its surrounding areas, as Xingzhou, with its capital in Chenggao. After Emperor Wen of Sui established the Sui dynasty, he renamed Xingzhou (formerly Xingzhou) as Zhengzhou, which administered Xingyang, Chenggao, Mi, Neimou, Yuanling, and other counties. The capital of Zhengzhou remained in Chenggao.
The fall of Xingyang was a turning point in the rise and fall of the Sui dynasty and the starting point for Li Mi's ambition to dominate the empire.
Li Mi joined the Wagang Army in the twelfth year of the Daye era. He was extremely shrewd and ambitious. Taking advantage of the Wagang Army and Zhai Rang's rising power, and relying on his unparalleled martial prowess, he subdued nearby small rebel groups and various forces, multiplying the Wagang Army's strength. He also realized that relying solely on intercepting grain transport to maintain military supplies was a fatal weakness for the Wagang Army, insufficient to meet its needs.
Therefore, he suggested to Zhai Rang, "First take Xingyang, rest the troops and stock up on provisions, wait until the soldiers and horses are well-fed, and then compete with others for profit."
This insight alone demonstrates Li Mi's superior strategic brilliance, surpassing even Zhai Rang's.
Controlling the Xingyang region would solve the long-term food supply problem, further expand their power, and directly threaten Luoyang, the eastern capital, even affecting the connection between the capital and the three major military strongholds of Luoyang and Jiangdu.
After Zhai Rang agreed, in October of the same year, the Wagang Army launched a major offensive, first capturing the surrounding counties of Xingyang and then pursuing the city itself.
Yang Guang took this very seriously, dispatching Zhang Xutuo, the then-top general and commander of the twelve prefectures of Henan Province, as the governor of Xingyang, leading 20,000 elite troops to meet the attack.
Li Mi then used a stratagem to lure the enemy deep into their territory, and together with Zhai Rang's army, launched a pincer attack, severely damaging Zhang's army. Li Mi even personally intervened, killing Zhang Xutuo.
This battle made Li Mi famous throughout the land, making him the most prestigious figure in the Wagang Army, implicitly surpassing even the Grand Leader Zhai Rang.
This great victory established the foundation of the Wagang Army and severely damaged the prestige of the Sui army. Under these circumstances, Zhai Rang had no choice but to allow Li Mi to lead his own army, known as the Duke of Pushan's Camp.
Li Mi came from a noble family, with hereditary titles, so he inherited the title of Duke of Pushan and thus adopted it as his name.
Li Mi was extremely ambitious; having captured Xingyang, he also plotted to develop Luocang.
This granary was the largest granary of the Sui Dynasty, so Yang Guang attached great importance to it, dispatching General Liu Wengong with 25,000 infantry and cavalry from Luoyang, the eastern capital, in an attempt to reverse the decline. He also sent Pei Renji to attack the Wagang Army's flank from Hulao Pass, hoping to use these two large armies to contain Li Mi. At the same time, Yang Guang also sent his capable subordinate Wang Shichong to Luokou to confront Li Mi head-on.
Stepping on the fresh snow, Yuan Yueze, having recovered some of his strength after four hours of rest, stood before this ancient city, still magnificent a thousand years later, his heart surging with emotion.
His thoughts were a jumble of emotions, but his greatest worry was Su Su's safety. He composed himself, slipped past the guards at the city gate, and leaped into the city.
He had little time to appreciate the local customs and culture of Xingyang. After asking a passerby about Zhai Rang's residence, he headed straight there.
In less than half a cup of tea's time, Yuan Yueze arrived at Zhai Rang's residence, formerly known as the 'Xingyang Prefect's Residence,' now called the 'Great Dragon Head Residence.'
Sneaking into the courtyard, Yuan Yueze searched aimlessly like a headless fly. Finally, in desperation, he grabbed a passing maid, wanting to ask about Su Su's whereabouts.
"Keep your voice down, I won't harm you. Do you know where the eldest young lady's personal maid, Miss Su Su, lives?"
Yuan Yueze pressed a hand over the mouth of the maid he had pulled to a corner.
The maidservant, her eyes filled with shock, nodded after hearing Yuan Yueze's words and seeing no malice in his gaze.
"Susu disappeared a few days ago after returning. The other servants said she was given to General Wang by the Grand Dragon Head,"
she said after calming herself slightly.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yueze thought to himself, "Oh no!"
After asking the maidservant for the location of General Wang's residence, Yuan Yueze smiled apologetically and flew away. The maidservant shook her head, somewhat confused, and left with small, hurried steps.
North of Xingyang City, inside a sizable mansion
, Susu sat in a luxuriously decorated boudoir, her face filled with sorrow, staring blankly out the window.
When she first met Yuan Yueze, an inexplicable and wondrous feeling welled up within her. Then, Yuan Yueze effortlessly healed her leg injury with a wave of his hand, and later, he took her and his wives to live with him for a short time. Those days were unforgettable for Su Su. She had certainly heard Yuan Yueze's "world-shaking" roar before, and had witnessed his various abilities firsthand; how could she not be captivated? Not to mention how charming Yuan Yueze's appearance and demeanor were.
What Su Su found even more unforgettable were Yuan Yueze's wives, each one like a fairy. As Zhai Jiao's personal maid, Su Su had naturally attended some important gatherings and seen many women of fame and status. But none could compare to Yuan Yueze's wives. His wives were almost all of extraordinary origin. Especially the noble Miss Song, who showed no disdain for the humble Su Su. On the contrary, she personally accompanied Su Su every day, explaining everything magical about their surroundings.
Su Su's curiosity about Yuan Yueze grew stronger and stronger, to the point that she didn't even realize when she had fallen in love. Although Song Yuzhi would occasionally tell Su Su about Yuan Yueze's mishaps and martial arts contests, on her first day back in Yu Hang, Su Su, while chatting with Song Yuzhi, was teased and realized she had fallen deeply in love with the handsome Yuan Yueze. But Su Su knew her background was unworthy of Yuan Yueze, and all she could do was keep her feelings to herself. During
their time in the Yiyang valley, Yuan Yueze was incredibly attentive to Su Su's needs. Su Su spent her days chatting and playing with his several young wives. That unique warmth of family made Su Su realize that life could be so joyful.
After returning to Yu Hang, Yuan Yueze and the women parted ways, each going their own way. Upon hearing from Yun Yuzhen that Li Mi was plotting to eliminate Zhai Rang, Su Su panicked. She was deeply grateful to Zhai Rang for saving her life. Zhai Rang entrusted Su Su to Zhai Jiao, who, despite her unattractive appearance, treated her kindly, like a sister. Therefore, despite the strong persuasion of Shan Meixian and Wei Zhenzhen, Su Su decided to return to Xingyang to warn Zhai Rang to be wary of Li Mi.
After waving goodbye to Fu Junqiang, who had rushed to take her back to Xingyang, Su Su, heading towards the city, could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face. She seemed to realize that after this parting, she would likely never see the wondrous man who had captivated her again, nor experience that warm and comfortable family life.
However, she did not regret it; it was her nature. Even though Zhai Rang had only saved her casually, she felt she owed him a hundredfold gratitude. Even though he treated her like merchandise, giving her away so easily, she didn't resist.
Today, sitting at the table again, she thought of Yuan Yueze and his wives.
But now, all she could do was "longing"...
The more Su Su thought, the more bitter she felt.
"Bang!"
A soft sound brought Su Su back from her chaotic thoughts.
Following the direction of the sound, Su Su looked up and was immediately surprised, her mouth agape, her beautiful eyes filled with joy.
It was Yuan Yueze who had jumped in through the window.
"Su Su!"
Yuan Yueze was overjoyed to see Su Su, taking several large steps forward to pull her into his arms.
Upon seeing Yuan Yueze's sudden arrival and his intimate contact, Su Su's face flushed crimson. Feeling the fresh, masculine scent, Su Su's heart pounded, and she blushed shyly. Yet, she couldn't bear to leave the warm embrace of the man before her.
The two stood there in this ambiguous position for almost a quarter of an hour. Yuan Yueze gently grasped Su Su's shoulders and said softly, "Su Su, I've come to take you."
His words were straightforward, yet they carried Yuan Yueze's affection for her.
Hearing this, Su Su's flushed face lit up with joy, then suddenly turned deathly pale. She lowered her head, gently shook it, and two clear tears slid to the ground.
"I appreciate your kindness, young master, but I'm just a maid. Without the Grand Master's orders, I can't leave freely,"
Su Su said softly, her voice filled with bitterness.
"Is it just because of Zhai Rang's orders?"
Yuan Yueze's unease, which had been building since hearing that Su Su had been given away, lessened slightly as he tentatively asked.
Su Su nodded awkwardly.
Yuan Yueze, with his keen intuition, felt a renewed surge of unease upon seeing Su Su's state.
"Then why are you here? This is Wang Bodang's residence, isn't it?"
Yuan Yueze asked, staring intently into Su Su's eyes.
"It's...it was Da Longtou who sent Su Su...to General Wang two days ago,"
Su Su murmured, avoiding Yuan Yueze's gaze.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yueze immediately understood why Su Su refused to leave with him.
"Zhai Rang treated you like merchandise, and you still owe him something! It's because of Wang Bodang that Su Su doesn't want to come with me!"
Yuan Yueze's voice turned cold.
"No...no, Su Su's body is already...Su Su is not worthy of you, young master."
Seeing that Yuan Yueze seemed to have misunderstood her love for Wang Bodang, Su Su quickly explained. As she spoke, the tears she had just stopped flowed again, and her frail body trembled slightly. It was clear how much pain she was enduring!
“Susu, no matter what, I will take you away. Your fate was manipulated by others, which is why you have suffered such a tragic fate. I don’t care. Answer me, are you willing to come with me? Are you willing to marry me?”
Yuan Yueze now fully understood: Zhai Rang had given Susu to Wang Bodang, and Wang Bodang had already violated Susu! His hatred could no longer be contained, but fearing to frighten Susu, he tried to lower his voice as he spoke to her.
Seeing Yuan Yueze treat her this way, Susu felt even more pained. Tears streaming down her face, she left Yuan Yueze’s embrace, sat down gently, and sobbed with her head down.
“Go, I’ll take you away now!”
Yuan Yueze was filled with rage. He forcefully pulled Susu up and walked towards the door.
Susu didn’t know whether she should resist or not, and could only follow behind Yuan Yueze, weeping.
Once outside, Yuan Yueze swept Susu into his arms, leaped into the air, and sped towards the city center.
Landing near the city center, Yuan Yueze set aside Su Su, whose expression was complex. Grabbing her hand tightly, he took a deep breath and roared, "Wang Bodang! You beast! Come to the city to see me!"
His voice, imbued with profound inner energy, could resonate throughout a large part of Xingyang City!
Wagang soldiers were still patrolling nearby. Hearing this, they immediately surrounded him, but seeing Yuan Yueze's cold expression and the chilling aura emanating from him, the surrounding Wagang soldiers dared not make a move.
In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, heavy footsteps echoed through the street, indicating a large number of people, at least several hundred.
In the blink of an eye, this group of men arrived before Yuan Yueze, quickly surrounding him and Su Su in layers. Spears, halberds, and arrows gleamed coldly in the sunlight, exuding a murderous aura!
"Susu, are you afraid?"
Yuan Yueze ignored the Wagang soldiers around him and turned his head to ask Susu in a low voice.
"Young master, don't hurt yourself because of Susu. Let's go, Susu will go with you."
Su Su showed no signs of weakness, completely unconcerned about the various weapons that might pierce her body at any moment. She simply looked at Yuan Yueze with concern.
Yuan Yueze merely smiled faintly, tightening his grip on her delicate hand.
"Who dares to cause trouble in the Wagang army!"
a loud voice rang out.
Yuan Yueze shifted his gaze from Su Su's face, looking in the direction of the voice.
He saw the dark mass of Wagang soldiers part to create a path, and a man wielding two spears entered the battle. This man was tall, muscular, and dark-skinned, like an iron tower cast from red bronze. He coldly scrutinized Yuan Yueze. But when his gaze fell upon Su Su beside Yuan Yueze, his expression changed drastically, his eyes seemingly blazing with fire.
In historical records, Wang Bodang was a loyal general under Li Mi. In novels such as *Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties*, *The Complete Story of the Romance of the Tang Dynasty*, and *The Rise of the Tang Dynasty*, as well as other folk tales, Wang Bodang is renowned for his archery skills and is nicknamed
"Brave Third Brother." His ranking varies across different novels. In *Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties*, he ranks sixth in Wagang Village and seventeenth among the "Eighteen Heroes." However, in *The Complete Story of the Romance of the Tang Dynasty*, he is not among the "Eighteen Heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties," though some later authors have added him to the fourteenth position. In *The Rise of the Tang Dynasty*, he is the fourteenth among the "Sixteen Heroes." Regardless of the ranking, Wang Bodang's archery skills are outstanding in every work.
During a martial arts competition at the Yanshan training ground, Qin Shubao's skill of shooting two birds with one arrow surpasses all others, yet the book states that this archery technique was taught to him by Wang Bodang. Clearly, Wang Bodang's archery skills are superior to Qin Shubao's. Later, Qin Shubao was chased to a riverbank by Wei Wentong, the ninth-ranked hero in the book. Just as Qin Shubao's horse sank to the bottom and was about to be cut down by Wei Wentong, Wang Bodang shot an arrow from the opposite bank, hitting Wei Wentong's left hand. Wang Bodang shouted, "I'll shoot your right hand!"
and shot another arrow, which indeed hit Wei Wentong's right hand. Wang Bodang then shouted, "If you don't leave, I'll shoot you in the heart!"
Wei Wentong was shocked and released Qin Shubao, retreating in panic. In addition, Wang Bodang also shot and killed Xin Wenli, the garrison commander of Hongni Pass, and others, becoming famous throughout the book and the undisputed number one archer in "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties."
However, the Wang Bodang in this world seems far less loyal and heroic than in the historical records.
Yuan Yueze's anger gradually subsided, but he seemed even more terrifying when he calmed down!
After carefully scrutinizing Wang Bodang, Yuan Yueze spoke calmly, "You are Wang Bodang?"
"Indeed, that is me. Who are you, and why are you with my maid?"
Wang Bodang had long coveted Su Su's body, and seeing her with Yuan Yueze naturally enraged him. However,
a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. Since appearing before Yuan Yueze, Yuan Yueze had released his aura, locking him in place, the mental pressure causing Wang Bodang extreme discomfort. But in the current
situation, there was no turning back; otherwise, he could never hold his head high again.
Su Su remained silent, her lips twitching slightly, her beautiful eyes flashing with murderous intent as she looked at Wang Bodang.
"Yuan! Yue! Ze!"
Having confirmed Wang Bodang's identity, Yuan Yueze could no longer contain himself and uttered his name, word by word.
Before his words even finished, he had transformed into a wisp of smoke, appearing before Wang Bodang. His right hand formed a sword shape, and with a powerful aura, he simply attacked Wang Bodang's chest!
Seeing the unfathomable mystery of this finger strike, its movement seemingly unpredictable and elusive, Wang Bodang's momentum waned further. However, he knew his path and attack were now completely blocked, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and meet it head-on
. The spear tip, carrying seven fierce gusts of wind, formed a net that enveloped Yuan Yueze's fingertip. The sounds of finger and spear clashing echoed incessantly.
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged seven blows.
"Eek!"
With a muffled groan, Wang Bodang coughed up blood and staggered backward, his clothes torn at the chest, blood gushing out.
But the nightmare had only just begun!
Yuan Yueze lightly stepped with his left foot, using it as a pivot, and with a swift turn, his right foot shot out like lightning, unleashing a series of exquisite and mysterious footwork techniques. The footwork was unpredictable, shifting left and right, even causing the surrounding air to change, transforming into swirling, turbulent currents that blew towards the retreating Wang Bodang from all directions.
An incredibly powerful force, like countless heavy boulders, pressed down on him. Wang Bodang, feeling as if he were in the eye of
a storm, not only experienced excruciating pain all over his body but also struggled to breathe. Without time to think, Wang Bodang instinctively split his spears to meet Yuan Yueze's footsteps, one to the left and one to the right. In an instant, the spear tips transformed into a shower of cold light. This strike was truly his peak performance.
At the same time, he shouted, "Release!"
Already struggling to breathe under Yuan Yueze's pressure, Wang Bodang had to simplify the word "release."
The crisp sound of spears clashing rang out in succession. Having only taken two steps back, Wang Bodang saw his spears split to the sides. Yuan Yueze's myriad footsteps vanished, transforming into a simple, natural kick aimed straight at his chest!
Seeing Yuan Yueze's kick, seemingly fast yet slow, expanding in front of him, Wang Bodang's mind went blank. He felt his mind had been controlled by this terrifying opponent.
But he instantly regained his senses.
He realized that Yuan Yueze's kick hadn't actually landed on him. Instead, after Wang Bodang shouted, Yuan Yueze noticed a hail of arrows raining down on him and Su Su. To protect Su Su, who was still gazing at Yuan Yueze's back, Yuan Yueze rushed to her side and swatted away all the arrows around her.
"Roar!"
After a volley of arrows, Yuan Yueze was filled with rage. His clothes and long hair danced wildly in the wind. With a roar, a unique aura emanated from within a two-zhang radius around him. The air within the aura seemed to have been completely drained, devoid of any life. His right hand was around Su Su's slender waist, his left fist clenched, and he charged straight backward!
Su Su's breath almost stopped, but she still gritted her teeth and didn't utter a sound.
Yuan Yueze, like a demon reborn, transformed into a giant dragon, charging wildly. His fists seemed to have eyes, striking from all angles.
Screams like pigs being slaughtered rang out one after another.
They charged until they were more than ten zhang away from Wang Bodang, where Yuan Yueze and Su Su stopped.
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Yueze tore a gaping hole in the encirclement, killing or wounding nearly a hundred people, their bodies mangled beyond recognition—a chilling sight.
Wang Bodang was terrified. His only thought was to get as far away as possible, away from that devil.
But he felt the surroundings growing colder and darker, his body seemingly devoid of any strength. Curious, he looked down at his chest. Before he could even show a look of shock, his eyes widened, and he fell backward.
On his chest was a clear footprint, deeply embedded in his skin, the bone long since shattered.
Not only Wang Bodang, but even the surrounding soldiers couldn't understand when Yuan Yueze had kicked him. They had clearly seen Yuan Yueze stop his attack halfway to rescue Su Su.
Seeing Wang Bodang dead in the distance, and the surrounding soldiers hesitant to advance or retreat, Yuan Yueze looked down at Susu, who was still in shock, and said softly, "Were you frightened? I've avenged you!"
Hearing this, Susu calmed herself, tears of happiness streaming down her face. She hugged Yuan Yueze tightly, sobbing.
Yuan Yueze glanced at the groaning Wagang soldiers not far away, sighed, and slowly led Susu away. The Wagang soldiers they encountered on the road were intimidated by Yuan Yueze's imposing presence, only daring to steal glances at him, and dared not attack.
Yuan Yueze wasn't a bloodthirsty man, but the Wagang Army's arrows had enraged him, and he once again subtly applied his principle of "if someone offends me, I will repay them a hundredfold."
As they walked out of the city with Susu, Yuan Yueze felt a headache coming on; he didn't know how to comfort her. For a woman, regardless of the era, the impact of losing her precious virginity under the coercion of a man she didn't love was immense, far more so than any physical trauma.
Shan Meixian or Yun Yuzhen might be able to comfort Susu, but Yuan Yueze feared that bringing it up again would worsen her emotional distress. Therefore, he decided to take Susu for a stroll in the countryside, to let her relax and unwind.
"Young Master has committed so many murders for Susu, and has also incurred the wrath of the Wagang Army, a formidable enemy. Susu feels uneasy,"
Susu whispered as Yuan Yueze pondered.
“That’s because they provoked us first. Just look at the crimes Wang Bodang committed against Susu; he deserves to die a thousand times over,”
Yuan Yueze comforted her, putting his arm around her shoulder.
“Actually…actually, what Wang Bodang did didn’t deserve to die…”
Susu whispered, her face flushed, as Yuan Yueze held her in his arms.
“He insulted you! Why doesn’t he deserve to die? Susu, you’re too kind. I will never let you suffer any harm again!”
Yuan Yueze frowned upon hearing Susu’s words.
“Young Master…Wang Bodang didn’t…didn’t defile Susu’s…virginity.”
Susu blushed, her voice growing softer with each word.
“Ah!”
Yuan Yueze was stunned.
“Look, Susu’s virginity mark is still there…”
Susu shyly rolled up her sleeve, extending her lotus-root-like forearm to Yuan Yueze.
A small, bean-sized virginity mark stood out prominently on her snow-white arm, seemingly emanating a faint, fresh fragrance of virginity.
"What exactly happened?"
Yuan Yueze's mind went blank. Logically, Su Su had been taken by Wang Bodang two days ago, so how could she not have been defiled? And what was with that miserable look on her face when he first saw her?
"The night Wang Bodang took Su Su from Da Longtou, he forced himself on her… but she had no strength to resist and didn't know martial arts. After he tore her clothes, Su Su's mind was filled with thoughts of the young master. She didn't know what was happening when she heard Wang Bodang scream. When she opened her eyes, she found him lying on the ground, bleeding from his nose. He seemed injured and never came back to see her,"
Su Su explained.
"I don't care whether Su Su is a virgin or not; I'm just afraid that Wang Bodang's actions have caused you emotional distress,"
Yuan Yueze said with a smile, having roughly understood what had happened.
The extraordinary power that Shan Meixian possessed in Su Su's sea of consciousness required focused concentration to activate. Yuan Yueze had initially worried that Su Su would be terrified if Wang Bodang forced himself on her, but unexpectedly, she inadvertently managed to unleash that power at the crucial moment, thinking only of Yuan Yueze. Wang Bodang certainly couldn't withstand it. Even today, the Wang Bodang that Yuan Yueze killed was still injured.
"How can that be? Su Su's body is only for my husband to see. Wang Bodang has seen Su Su's body; I feel I'm no longer worthy of you, sir,"
Su Su pouted stubbornly.
There are countless women in the world, with all sorts of personalities. Whether in ancient or modern times, many women have lived fulfilling lives after being seen or raped. But Su Su was incredibly virtuous; simply having her body seen by another man made her feel she was no longer qualified to pursue love. How could Yuan Yueze not cherish such a woman, so virtuous yet outwardly fragile!
"Good, good, Susu is right. From now on, don't think about those things anymore. Even if he saw Susu's body, he's dead. That way, no man in the world has ever seen Susu's body. Don't you agree?"
Yuan Yueze laughed loudly.
"Let me call Meixian and the others out. They're worried about you too. They're probably still enjoying themselves inside!"
Yuan Yueze tapped the bracelet on his left wrist and said to Susu.
"Young Master... my sisters... won't they look down on Susu?"
Susu was still uneasy and asked worriedly. She felt that her background, appearance, and talents were no match for Shan Meixian and the other women, so she naturally felt inferior.
Yuan Yueze smiled, pulled her to sit on the grass, and told her about his background in detail.
Then, naturally, he waited for Susu to recover from her shock.
When Susu came to her senses, she felt like she was dreaming. Upon hearing that Shan Ruyin was just a maid that day, she felt much better and happily threw herself into Yuan Yueze's arms without any shyness.
Afterwards, Yuan Yueze pulled out the women from the bracelet, intending to have a barbecue feast outdoors. Everyone was overjoyed to see that Su Su was unharmed.
Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen prepared the barbecue, while Su Su recounted Yuan Yueze's 'divine might' in Xingyang City to the other women, who listened with admiration.
The family chatted and laughed as they ate, when Wei Zhenzhen suddenly asked Yuan Yueze, "Husband, I wonder how Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling are doing!"
Yuan Yueze was taken aback: the Twin Dragons should have made a name for themselves long ago, but there was no news of them in the martial arts world.
"Could they have died somewhere?"
Yuan Yueze wondered.
"According to the books you showed me, husband, Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling should have made a name for themselves by now, so why is there no news of them?"
Wei Zhenzhen also spoke up.
She and Fu Junzhuo were the most concerned about the Twin Dragons, given their past relationship.
"I'm wondering the same thing. Why haven't they heard anything?"
Yuan Yueze was also curious: Could it really be because of my appearance that they've been affected? I've only had a very superficial contact with them!
"What's puzzling you, my husband? Let's not believe everything in that book anymore. Since you appeared, many things have deviated from the trajectory described in the book! The fates of us sisters have been completely changed. The various forces that were once connected to us have also deviated from their initial paths to varying degrees,"
Shan Meixian said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Yuan Yueze thought that he had only met the Twin Dragons twice, so it wouldn't have affected them too much, but the truth was that it was precisely because of him that the Twin Dragons were affected.
First, Fu Junzhuo didn't die, and the Twin Dragons even gained a sum of money. And now, Susu doesn't even recognize the Twin Dragons. It's clear how much the Twin Dragons have been affected!
"Then should we go back to Yangzhou to take a look? After all, they both came from Yangzhou. No matter how far they go, they won't leave the Yangzhou area,"
Wei Zhenzhen suggested.
"That's a good idea,"
Yuan Yueze nodded.
Whether or not he saw the Twin Dragons was of little significance to him, but Wei Zhenzhen's worries were inevitable.
"Since we've decided to find an emperor worthy of our assistance, it would be best to establish an intelligence network now. I've always had a hunch that many forces are secretly hostile to us. If we can gather information from all over the world as quickly as possible, it will make things easier for us,"
Shan Meixian suggested.
“Sister Meixian is right. Although Yuzhen has left the Giant Kun Gang, Uncle Bu's warrant is still there, so the Giant Kun Gang can be considered a source of information,”
Yun Yuzhen agreed.
“The Song family's intelligence points are also spread throughout the Central Plains and beyond. We should inform them later,”
Song Yuzhi nodded.
“As for Goryeo, once Master travels the world, ambitious people will definitely make some moves. Master had five intelligence-gathering subordinates back then, so we can get more information from them. It would be best to secretly establish a base in the Central Plains, so that Senior Sister doesn't have to travel back and forth for at least a month each time,”
Fu Junyu added.
“Exactly! That guy named Gai Suwen carries five broken swords all day long and even boasted that he wanted to marry the three of us sisters! Next time we meet him, we'll definitely teach him a lesson!”
Fu Junqiang swung her arm, which had no muscles at all, and snorted.
Everyone smiled.
"Then let's resolve this matter as soon as possible. Those of you with more experience in the martial world, take on more work. Xiuxun, Wanjing, Ruyin, and Susu don't have much experience, so we'll train them slowly!"
Yuan Yueze said with a smile.
"Let's go! Let's revisit Yangzhou!"
Seeing that the women had almost finished eating, Yuan Yueze stretched and looked towards Yangzhou.

Chapter 023 Bloodstained Golden Palace
March 5th, in the Eastern Turkic territory, on the southern slope of Mount Udegan.
Mount Udegan, also known as Mount Yudujin, was called Mount Yanran during the Han Dynasty, and later widely known as the Khangai Mountains. Located in the northwestern part of the Mongolian Plateau, it was the limit to which armies from the Central Plains could penetrate deep into the northern desert to pursue nomadic peoples. Due to its geographical location, Mount Udegan cannot compare with the famous mountains and rivers of the Central Plains in terms of length, height, scenery, and resources.
It was nearing the end of winter, and as far as the eye could see, the Mongolian Plateau was still covered in snow.
At the southern foot of Mount Wudejian, at an altitude of a thousand zhang, what should have been a snow-covered, secluded valley a hundred zhang in circumference is instead lush with greenery, a riot of flowers in full bloom, creating a striking contrast with its surroundings.
In the center of this area, which could be called a "paradise on earth" or a "mountain paradise," a large cluster of strangely styled houses and pavilions stands out, forming a vast garden opera. Although the pavilions are connected, a closer look reveals a harmonious arrangement, subtly incorporating the mysteries of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the interplay of the Five Elements.
In the center of this garden, there is a small lotus pond, in the center of which stands a nine-story pagoda. The flowers and plants around the pagoda are even more abundant, seemingly planted by humans, yet they blend seamlessly with the pagoda, appearing vibrant and endlessly fascinating, embodying the ultimate principles of nature.
Mist rises, clouds swirl around the pagoda's entrance, and on either side, wide plaques each bear seven characters.
The left one reads: "White clouds surround the hall, those who attain sainthood." The inscription on the right reads: "The Empress ascended to heaven here.
" The plaque above the door bears the four characters "Heaven Beyond Heaven," but the man and woman guarding the door are terrifyingly grotesque, and the eerie aura emanating from them makes it impossible to associate them with the word "immortal."
Inside the pavilion, the furnishings are not particularly elaborate, not much better than those of an ordinary poor family, simple and natural. Two rows of tables are set up, with eight people seated on either side. On the round table in the center sits a delicate incense burner, burning sandalwood, wisps of smoke filling the room with a sandalwood fragrance. Through a screen, through the thin gauze, a figure can be vaguely seen sitting sideways behind it; judging from the fullness of her chest, this person is undoubtedly a woman.
"Wu Ding, has there been any new news from 'the distance'?"
a deep voice comes from behind the screen. It is melodious and pleasant, giving one a tingling sensation deep within.
"After returning to France, the Great Khan seems to have lost faith in us. On the second day of the month, our spies in the Central Plains sent word that Li Yuan and his second son, Li Shimin, had launched a rebellion and had recalled his eldest son, Li Jiancheng, and third son, Li Yuanji, from Hedong. They even secretly sent envoys to meet with the Great Khan in our Turkic territory. The outcome of their talks is unknown, but judging from the reports from our people who were close to the Great Khan, he began to suppress us by ostensibly promoting us but actually demoting us after that day. I believe that the Great Khan must have some secret dealings with Li Yuan,"
the first burly man seated on the right replied respectfully.
"Hmph! That old scoundrel Shi Bi, no matter how much he tries, he can't escape my grasp."
"Four years ago, Shi Bi was so powerful, leading 100,000 wolf cavalry south, conquering 39 out of 41 cities in Yanmen Commandery. Only Yanmen and Guoxian remained unconquered. The Sui army used materials from dismantled houses to build fortifications. The 150,000 soldiers and civilians in Yanmen had only about half a month's worth of rations left. My wolf cavalry's arrows reached right in front of Emperor Yang of Sui, and the foolish emperor was so frightened his eyes swelled with tears."
The person behind the screen sighed.
"Do you all think Li Yuan will achieve great things in the future?"
The person behind the screen snorted lightly, paused slightly, and then asked.
"Wu Xiang believes: Li Yuan was fond of fishing and women, enjoyed hunting, and was indecisive. Although he could be considered a benevolent man, he could not be said to possess extraordinary talent. His second son, Li Shimin, on the other hand, was not someone to be confined to a small pond. When the Empress spoke of the war a few years ago, Tu Cong also had some opinions. To deal with our Wolf Cavalry, the Sui Dynasty took several emergency measures: First, the Sui soldiers were suffering from repeated expeditions to Goguryeo, and morale was low. Therefore, Emperor Yang Guang issued an edict explicitly stating the cessation of the Liaodong campaign to reassure the army.
Second, he promised heavy rewards to those who performed meritorious service and comforted the soldiers defending the city, thus the entire army fought day and night. Although many were killed or wounded, they finally held the city, buying time for reinforcements to arrive.
Third, they tied the emperor's edict to a piece of wood and threw it into the Fen River, letting it float out of the encirclement, and recruited soldiers nationwide to expand the army, ordering various..." The local garrison immediately came to the rescue, and Li Shimin, who was only sixteen years old at the time, also enlisted in the army. He suggested to the garrison general Yun Dingxing that, given the enemy's superior numbers, they should use a feint during the day, with "banners stretching for dozens of miles, and drums beating in unison at night," to mislead the enemy and make them believe that a large Sui army was coming to their aid. In September of that year, reinforcements from the Sui capital and many prefectures gathered at Xinkou. The large Sui army's arrival was the main reason that forced the Khan to retreat.
It is evident that Li Shimin's talent, learning, and military strategy were far from ordinary, and certainly not comparable to those纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) of the Central Plains.
Fourthly, he secretly sent envoys to Princess Yicheng for help. The princess sent someone to tell the Khan that "there is an emergency in the north." The Khan, seeing that a large Sui army had arrived and hearing that there was a problem in his rear, lifted the siege and retreated north. Only then was Yang Guang able to return south to Luoyang, the eastern capital. "
The second person sitting on the left answered. This man was about thirty years old, with a strong build, a dignified appearance, and extraordinary martial prowess.
"There are only a few major powers in the Central Plains that deserve our attention: the Li clan of Taiyuan, because they have Li Shimin; the Song clan of Lingnan, because they have Yuan Yueze; and Wang Shichong of Luoyang."
The graceful figure behind the screen nodded slightly, then spoke with admiration.
"Yuan Yueze is indeed an enigmatic figure, but rumors abound. Even with schemes, we haven't been able to lure him out. We must see him for ourselves in the future. As for Wang Shichong, whom the Empress Dowager mentioned, he hasn't accomplished much. He's just a minor official, only holding a superior position in Luoyang. Is he really more troublesome than Dou Jiande?"
The first person seated on the left asked curiously.
"Wang Shichong is no ordinary man. I met him once twelve years ago. You should warn your disciples to be extremely careful. As for Yuan Yueze, I am also very interested in him. If possible in the future, you must use every means to capture him alive and bring him before me. However, it's not just the Li, Song, and Wang factions; there are probably other, even more powerful forces lurking in the shadows. The world is full of hidden talents; we must not let the mistakes of one person or one incident ruin my grand plan."
The voice behind the screen had begun to turn cold.
"We obey your command, for the sake of the Empress's great cause, we are willing to die ten thousand times!"
The eight people below seemed to have thought of something, shuddered, and said respectfully.
"Good! The situation of the world has slowly exceeded my control. Wuchang, immediately inform Huaji that Yang Guang must be executed within ten days, and the entire Jiangdu must be controlled. Otherwise, he knows better than anyone what his fate will be!"
The person at the end of the right seat bowed and accepted the order.
"Alright, everyone go out and do your work. Wuxiang, stay behind."
The voice behind the screen was melodious and pleasant again.
The seven people except Wuxiang all knelt and left. Wuxiang's burly figure stood up slightly awkwardly.
"Wuxiang, come here."
The person behind the screen had already stood up. The profile reflected on the screen was curvaceous, and coupled with that charming voice, one could roughly guess that she was no ordinary woman without even seeing her face.
Although Wu Xiang was only a foot away from the screen, his steps were hesitant and unsteady, the muscles on his handsome face even twitching slightly, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
Why was this? Judging from the woman's words and actions behind the screen, she was about to do something "good" with him, wasn't she? What was there to fear about having a night with such a woman?
※※※※※ After Yuan Yueze brutally killed a hundred men and General Wang Bodang in Xingyang and swaggered away with Su Su, no news of anything unfavorable to Yuan Yueze spread within the Wagang army. But rumors cannot be stopped, after all, nearly a thousand soldiers witnessed the events. Thus, people had another topic to chat about during their leisure time.
The group continued to travel through various counties and cities along the way.
A few days after leaving Xingyang, Yuan Yueze finally had his "good time" with Su Su that night.
After their lovemaking, Yuan Yueze lay on the soft couch with Susu in his arms, their voices tender and affectionate, their conversation witty and humorous, punctuated by Susu's silvery laughter.
"Susu, do you want to refine your body tonight? You're already too weak. If you want to refine it tonight, you'll need Meixian and the others to help you,"
Yuan Yueze said
, gently touching Susu's already ravaged and tender area. Susu, already in excruciating pain from the injury, winced at Yuan Yueze's touch, her already flushed face turning red again, her eyes becoming hazy once more.
"Husband...husband, please forgive me! Susu just wants to sleep in your arms tonight. We can have the sisters help tomorrow..."
Susu quickly pressed down on Yuan Yueze's unruly hand, pleading sweetly.
Yuan Yueze didn't force her; he knew what this night meant for a woman. The two then resumed their casual conversation. Only when Su Su was exhausted did he take her head in his arms and fall into a deep sleep.
On the ninth day of the third month, Yuan Yueze and his family entered Yangzhou City again. To avoid attracting too much attention with their group of more than ten people, Yuan Yueze discussed with the women that they would only take a few people into the city to scout ahead. In the end, they decided to take Shan Meixian, Song Yuzhi, Yun Yuzhen, and Wei Zhenzhen into the city. The three women, Shan Meixian, Song Yuzhi, Yun Yuzhen, and Wei Zhenzhen, were the best choices because they understood human relationships and had rich experience in the martial arts world. Wei Zhenzhen was a native of Yangzhou, and having her by his side would make things easier. Shang Xiuxun also insisted on going with Yuan Yueze. Yuan Yueze was extremely troubled. With Shang Xiuxun's current beauty and charm, almost no man in the world could resist her. If Shang Xiuxun appeared, Yuan Yueze would have no chance of keeping a low profile.
After much persuasion, Shang Xiuxun finally gave up her plan to go into the city with Yuan Yueze. Yuan Yueze promised that this trip was merely for gathering information, and that he would later travel with the women to visit the Jiangdu Imperial Palace.
In ancient times, there were several effective methods for gathering information. One was to place an undercover agent within a designated faction, but this required time. The most common and accessible methods were teahouses, taverns, and upscale restaurants—places bustling with diverse and often unsavory characters, making them ideal for intelligence gathering.
Yuan Yueze, accompanied by four women whose faces were veiled, and led by Wei Zhenzhen, arrived at the upscale "Fu Lai Lou" restaurant in the western part of the city. They booked a private room near the main hall. Amidst the greedy glances of the other diners on the ground floor, the five entered the room.
The room wasn't particularly spacious, but the arrangement of the tables and chairs, along with the ink paintings on the walls, was very elegant. The mahogany tables and chairs exuded a subtle, antique charm. The five ordered some food and drinks casually, dismissed the waiter, and focused all their attention on the people in the main hall.
"Hey, Brother Zhang, look at those four fairies that handsome young man was with. They seem quite special!"
A not-so-loud male voice came from a table on the north side of the hall.
"Jiao Gui, you little rascal, do you become indecisive when you see a pretty woman? Didn't you see how extraordinary those four ladies were? You'd better not mess with them, or you might lose your life."
Another lazy voice came from the same table.
"Yes, yes, Brother Zhang is absolutely right. I was just saying. Those ladies are not easy to look up to."
"All you can do is drink and show off your bravado!"
"Brother Zhang, you underestimate me! I also have a heart to serve my country! But the current emperor... sigh!"
"Shh! Are you trying to kill me?! Speaking so loudly!"
Brother Zhang quickly stopped Jiao Gui.
"What's there to be afraid of! Yesterday, my younger brother who works at the General Manager's Mansion came back and said that it seems Lord Yuwen hasn't left Yangzhou, and it seems he's secretly gathering some troops. I don't know what he's up to..."
Jiao Gui whispered.
"Stop talking! How come you've always been so reckless with your words? Don't you know that loose lips sink ships? There are some things ordinary people shouldn't know! Even if you do know, you should keep them to yourself!"
Zhang San, being quite worldly-wise, glanced nervously at the other diners around him, then immediately grabbed a wine glass and forced Jiao Gui to drink, hissing under his breath.
Jiao Gui nodded sheepishly, saying nothing more, only focusing on drinking.
Yuan Yueze and the four women overheard their conversation. After a brief discussion, the five decided to go to the palace immediately, as a "good show" was likely to unfold in the next couple of days, and missing it would be a great regret.
Yuan Yueze discreetly led the four women down the stairs, quickly leaving amidst the greedy glances of the many diners on the first floor.
"Chu Datou, seeing those people just now, I suddenly remembered the legendary 'God of Slaughter,' Young Master Yuan Yueze. Do you think it could be him?"
"Probably not. Rumor has it Yuan Yueze is getting married soon, why would he be running around outside? He should be in Lingnan right now!"
"Hey, but speaking of which, some people say his beautiful wives are all stunningly beautiful, I wonder if it's true."
"What do you know! That's all made up by storytellers in teahouses. I don't believe it unless I see it with my own eyes. I do admire that 'Sword-Wielding Fairy'! Those who have seen her say she truly seems like a celestial being!" "
But that fairy, like Yuan Yueze, is too mysterious. I think the martial arts world calls him 'Shadowless Hidden Dragon,' which seems more fitting."
"Wait a minute, I heard the old scholar near my house say Yuan Yueze is an alias, his real identity is the 'Sanzhenren' Ning Daoqi, the head of the 'Three Grandmasters'!"
"What Ning Daoqi! Would Song Que marry his daughter to an old man like Ning Daoqi? I think Yuan Yueze's true identity is Ning Daoqi's illegitimate son!"...
Once the chatterbox in the restaurant started, everyone had something to say. If these words reached Yuan Yueze, who had already left the restaurant, he would definitely be so angry that he would vomit blood!
After discussion, Yuan Yueze's family decided to go to the palace first. If Yuwen Huaji did not rebel today, they would stay in the palace for a few days.
Because the cultivation levels within this family varied greatly—for example, Shan Ruyin was lazy and her cultivation wasn't very strong, while Song Yuzhi knew absolutely no martial arts—Yuan Yueze, in order to avoid being discovered by the heavily guarded palace guards, managed to suppress the noisy maids through a combination of coaxing and deception. He only managed to subdue the more skilled maids, including Shan Meixian, and sneak into the Linjiang Palace in Jiangdu.
After Yang Guang ascended the throne, he ordered the reconstruction of Yangzhou, where he had previously served as governor, and renamed it Jiangdu. He not only expanded the city walls, built numerous palaces and gardens, but also constructed the "Ten Palaces of Shugang," including Guiyan, Huiliu, and Songlin, in the northern part of the city, nestled against the mountains and beside the water.
However, the most magnificent of all was the Linjiang Palace, built separately on the banks of the Yangtze River. Whenever Yang Guang felt like it, no matter the time of day, he would go there to admire the beautiful scenery of the Yangtze.
Using the terrain and the cover of houses and trees, the group entered Linjiang Palace. Their eyes were immediately drawn to its opulent, lavish architecture, a testament to the immense wealth and resources squandered by the people to build this magnificent palace. Yuan Yueze and Shan Meixian were both astonished and indignant.
"Yang Guang, for his own enjoyment, has wasted countless amounts of the people's wealth and caused the deaths of countless laborers!"
Yuan Yueze said in a low voice, his brows furrowed.
"Therefore, the emperor we are looking for must not be corrupted by power. Yang Guang is a living example."
Over the years, Shan Meixian had read many historical materials from later generations. Although they were only theoretical, her knowledge far surpassed that of this era.
"Linjiang Palace is indeed heavily guarded, with sentries every three steps and guards every five. One slip and you're sure to give yourself away,"
Wei Zhenzhen sighed softly, hiding behind the eaves.
The group moved swiftly and stealthily, when suddenly they faintly heard the sound of melodious music drifting from afar.
"Such unrestrained music in broad daylight? Let's go see."
Yuan Yueze said, then leaped off. The women immediately followed.
They flew past a massive, semi-circular archway carved from white jade, landing in a secluded corner. The scene before them astonished Yuan Yueze and the women: Not far ahead, three enormous pavilions surrounded a vast stage standing on an artificial river. On the stage, at least two hundred performers were practicing singing, acrobatics, throwing arrows into a pot, breathing fire, somersaults, and human pyramids—all sorts of folk acrobatic skills were on display, a truly spectacular sight! On the other side of the stage
, nearly a hundred beautiful dancers in sheer, alluring costumes were gracefully dancing to the music, their movements captivating, alluring, and incredibly charming.
Yuan Yueze and the women were clearly stunned by the magnificent scene before them, staring blankly for a long time before finally recovering.
After shaking their heads and sighing, the group continued their furtive observation.
Since none of them had ever been to the magnificent, sprawling Linjiang Palace, which covered tens of thousands of acres, they could only wander around and see whatever they could find.
After sneaking about for nearly half an hour, they finally arrived at a large garden. Surprisingly
, only a few lazy guards were around the garden, which made Yuan Yueze and his companions quite relaxed.
Yuan Yueze activated his senses, connecting with the heavens and earth, and discovered that the vast garden was deserted. He then pulled the other women aside to show them around.
The expansive garden, covering thousands of acres, was filled with countless exotic flowers and plants of various colors and species. Among the sea of flowers, artificial rock formations made of natural boulders were interspersed with pavilions and towers, creating a magnificent and imposing sight. Artificial waterfalls and rivers, fed by the Yangtze River, flowed gently, their waters clear and melodious. Many rare birds and animals roamed and played among the flowers, adding to the lively atmosphere and making the scene breathtakingly beautiful—truly a paradise on earth.
Everyone stared in astonishment.
"Why are there so many flowers here, yet not a single fragrance wafts through the air?"
Shang Xiuxun asked, puzzled.
Yuan Yueze and the other women were also somewhat confused, and went forward to examine the flowers.
What they saw shocked them. Not a single flower in this sea of blossoms was real; all the stems and leaves were exquisitely crafted from pearls, agate, gold, silver, gemstones, and jade, lifelike and breathtakingly beautiful!
Yuan Yueze was filled with rage and reached out to collect all the valuables before him, intending to distribute them to the poor.
Seeing his movement, Shan Meixian immediately stopped him: "Don't rush. We can collect them after Yuwen Huaji makes his move."
"Mother, someone's coming!"
Shan Wanjing suddenly exclaimed.
The group hurriedly dodged behind a nearby artificial hill, cautiously peering out.
Two figures emerged from the depths of the Imperial Garden. The one on the left was refined and handsome, tall and slender, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. His steps were unsteady, suggesting he not only lacked martial arts skills but had also been weakened by wine and
women, appearing frail and weak. The one on the right, dressed in luxurious official robes, was short and stout, resembling a water bucket, with narrow eyes, a wide face, and a bulbous nose, giving him the appearance of a villain. "Doctor Fei, why hasn't that treacherous Yuwen made a move yet? I've cast this net for three days, and he's still as still as a dead cat, motionless. Could he still be secretly plotting something?"
the slender man asked.
"Minister Yu, don't be impatient. This evening, Minister Wang will arrive in Jiangdu to meet the Emperor. By then, whatever schemes that treacherous Yuwen plots may have, they won't threaten us! Moreover, we can wipe out the entire Yuwen clan!"
the stout man replied.
"Now I'm relieved. His Majesty should have finished bathing and eating by now, and we can wait for Minister Wang's arrival,"
the slender man said with a sigh of relief.
"Minister Yu's worries are unnecessary. That scoundrel Yuwen's good days are over!"
the fat man added.
The two then chatted about other topics, nothing more than women and matters of power, until they reached the entrance of the Imperial Garden and disappeared from sight.
"Who were those two? To be able to walk around freely in this Imperial Garden, they must be minor officials!"
Song Yuzhi patted her ample chest and asked.
"The tall and thin one should be Vice Minister Yu Shiji, and the short and fat one should be Imperial Censor Fei Yun. Could the Minister Wang they mentioned be Wang Shichong? Wang Shichong should be guarding Luoyang right now. What's going on?"
Yuan Yueze said, then fell into deep thought.
"Those two said Yang Guang is going to the palace to meet Minister Wang. Let's go and see in a bit; we won't get anywhere here!"
Shan Meixian suggested.
"Alright, let's take a walk in this garden built with the blood and sweat of the people!"
Yuan Yueze said.
At dusk, Yuan Yueze and the women had a snack deep in the Imperial Garden. He then took only Shan Meixian, Wei Zhenzhen, Fu Junyu, Yun Yuzhen, and Fu Junqiang to the top of the main palace hall, which was about forty or fifty feet high. They were struck by the grandeur of the hall, which exuded an awe-inspiring and inviolable imperial majesty!
"The exterior is already like this; I wonder what the inside is like!"
Yuan Yueze sighed.
All six of them were masters among masters, so they weren't worried about being discovered. They quietly drilled a few small holes in the roof tiles and looked down.
Even though they were mentally prepared, they were still stunned by the magnificent and resplendent interior of the hall.
Within the grand hall, spanning hundreds of feet in diameter, there were no fewer than several hundred imperial guards, densely packed together, standing watch in every corner. Amidst the glittering jewels, a solemn and menacing aura was subtly revealed!
In the center of the main hall, on a dragon platform five zhang high and twenty zhang wide, a multitude of women, more than fifty concubines and maids, sat in the very center, Yang Guang surrounded by them, enjoying himself like a god! No one could imagine that the political center of the Great Sui Empire in the Central Plains was such a place of boundless debauchery and decadent indulgence!
Yang Guang, who should have been fifty years old, wore a brightly colored nine-dragon robe, yet he gave an extremely incongruous impression, like a dead man dressed in a shroud!
Only three ministers were present in the hall: Fei Yun, Yu Shiji, and a seemingly military general, tall and robust, exuding a subtle aura of menace.
All three ministers stood with their heads bowed. Yang Guang on the dragon platform seemed oblivious to everything, focused solely on playing and frolicking with his concubines, lost in his pleasures, oblivious to the world around him!
After a long moment of astonishment, Yuan Yueze came to his senses, frowned, and shook his head.
“If the emperor can have women on both sides, why doesn’t my husband have the same desire?”
Yun Yuzhen said with a soft, seductive laugh.
“So what if he has women on both sides? Yang Guang’s three thousand beauties can’t compare to the charm of our Yuzhen alone!”
Yuan Yueze retorted.
“Exactly, besides, who can guarantee that all his concubines are devoted to him?”
Fu Junyu pouted, then sighed, “My senior sister tried to assassinate Yang Guang twice before, but she felt he was worse than a dead man now. What difference does it make whether he is killed or not?”
“If the news we heard in the Imperial Garden this afternoon is correct, then Yuwen Huaji will definitely come to kill Yang Guang tonight. Wouldn’t it be better for us to watch the show?”
Yuan Yueze laughed.
“Chief of the Imperial Guards, Yuwen Huaji, is here to see you!”
The eunuch outside the main hall announced loudly.
“Hey! The show is about to begin, my beloved wives, watch closely!”
Yuan Yueze laughed.
“Summon him!”
Yang Guang was taken aback and spoke.
The hall doors opened wide, and two imposing, arrogant men strode in. The overwhelming aura emanating from these two figures silenced the imperial guards at the ceremony, none daring to step forward to stop them. These two were none other than Yuwen Huaji and his younger brother, Yuwen Zhiji, two of the most formidable young warriors of the Yuwen clan.
Fei Yun, Yu Shiji, and the tall, imposing general all wore expressions of panic. The concubines and palace maids on the dragon platform were also affected by the chilling aura, their faces filled with astonishment, shock, worry, and fear.
"Why is Minister Yuwen still in Jiangdu? Didn't I order you to return to Liang County to recuperate a few days ago?"
Yang Guang's surprise was fleeting as he calmly asked.
"Huaji dares not rely on favor to claim credit, so this minor injury is no obstacle for Huaji. Huaji still needs to quell the surrounding rebellious troops for Your Majesty,"
Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji replied, standing tall and proud as they entered the hall, without even kneeling.
Yang Guang seemed unconcerned about Yuwen Huaji's rudeness, but his violent face still showed displeasure as he coldly asked, "Oh? Didn't Minister Fei say that the number of thieves has decreased significantly?"
After speaking, Yang Guang turned his gaze to Fei Yun, who was standing to the side with his head bowed. Fei Yun could feel Yang Guang's cold gaze, and his body immediately trembled.
"Nonsense! Du Fuwei used to be in Changbai, Shandong, but now he's in Liyang. Li Mi used to only have Wagang, but now he's taken Xingyang first, then Luokou. What was Li Zitong before? Now he's gathered his forces north of Jiangdu, ready to march south at any moment. The reason Your Majesty is completely unaware is because you're surrounded by treacherous officials. Reports of rebellion have come from all sides, but they haven't been reported to the emperor. The number of rebels is actually large, but it's been arbitrarily reduced. Your Majesty has heard that the rebels are few, so you haven't sent many troops. The disparity in numbers is huge, and the rebels are growing stronger every day. Even the rebellion of Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, is known throughout the land, but Your Majesty
is kept in the dark." Yuwen Huaji's voice turned cold, his eyes revealing a chilling aura.
"Your Majesty, please don't believe his slander! The one who wants to rebel is Yuwen Huaji!"
Fei Yun hurriedly knelt down and cried, and Yu Shiji also quickly knelt down to beg for mercy.
"Really? My cousin has started to rebel against me? Minister Yuwen, do you have any good ideas for me?"
Yang Guang's face showed surprise, but a sly glint flashed deep in his eyes. He simply told Fei Yun and Yu Shiji to rise, without pressing further, and instead asked Yuwen Huaji in a panicked tone.
"Minister Wang Shichong is here to see you!"
Before Yuwen Huaji could answer Yang Guang, the eunuch outside the door called out loudly again.
"Summon him!"
Yang Guang's face lit up with joy, and he called out loudly. "
Your subject Wang Shichong greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
Wang Shichong, accompanied by two servants dressed as household servants, each carrying a wooden box, walked into the hall with his head held high and knelt down.
"Minister Wang, please rise quickly!"
Yang Guang was suddenly overjoyed for some reason.
Wang Shichong stood up, first glancing at the roof with a strange expression, then walked with the two servants to a spot not far from Yuwen Huaji, staring at him coldly.
Feeling guilty, Yuan Yueze and the women all looked up to avoid eye contact the moment Wang Shichong raised his eyes. They exchanged surprised glances, then, after confirming they had completely concealed their malice, peered back into the hall below.
"Shouldn't Lord Wang be guarding Luoyang? Have you driven back all the bandits who coveted Luoyang?"
Yuwen Huaji said disdainfully.
"Shouldn't Lord Yuwen be in Liangjun? I only obey His Majesty's orders; I do everything as His Majesty commands. How can I be as 'powerful' as Lord Yuwen!"
Wang Shichong retorted.
"Then what brings Lord Wang here today?"
Yuwen Zhiji asked, glancing at the wooden boxes in the hands of the two servants.
"I received His Majesty's secret decree and the blessing of Heaven, and finally brought the heads of the rebel Li Yuan, the garrison commander of Taiyuan, and his eldest son Li Jiancheng before the Emperor!"
Wang Shichong said smugly, glancing at Yuwen Huaji before bowing to Yang Guang.
"!"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were immediately stunned! Looking at Yang Guang on the dragon platform, they saw him wearing a smug smile. Clearly, Yang Guang was not so foolish as to be deceived by a few sycophantic ministers.
Yuan Yueze and his men, who were lurking on the roof, were even more astonished! This Emperor Yang of Sui did not seem to be a completely incompetent fool. Moreover, Wang Shichong had just glanced in the direction of Yuan Yueze and his men for some reason. Was it a coincidence? Or had he already sensed their presence? Could his abilities be even greater?
"Please take a look, Your Majesty!"
Wang Shichong ordered two servants to hand the wooden box to Yu Shiji, who then presented it to Yang Guang.
Upon opening the wooden box and seeing the two human heads preserved using special methods, Yang Guang laughed heartily, displaying the domineering aura of an emperor.
"My dear Wang, you have worked hard! I will reward you handsomely shortly!"
After laughing, Yang Guang sat back on the dragon throne.
Wang Shichong immediately knelt down to express his gratitude. After getting up, he kept glancing towards the direction where Yuan Yueze and the women were hiding.
"Husband, Wang Shichong seems to have discovered us!"
Shan Meixian whispered, her voice focused.
"Let's all put on our masks and see if there's any unusual activity. We can also kill some villains!"
Yuan Yueze didn't dare release his inner energy to test Wang Shichong's strength, so he said to the women.
The women nodded and each took out a mask they had prepared beforehand and put it on.
"Just now I asked Minister Yuwen if he had any good ideas on how to deal with the bandits outside. Minister Yuwen, have you thought it through?"
Yang Guang glanced coldly at Yuwen Huaji and said arrogantly.
"Heh, of course I have a way, which is... please ask Your Majesty to abdicate and yield the throne!"
Although Yuwen Huaji still had some doubts about Wang Shichong's purpose, he could not afford to think about it any further. Success or failure depended on this gamble!
"Ha...ha!"
Yang Guang laughed loudly again, his face calm. "I have always treated you well, why do you want to rebel against me?" "
Your Majesty has abandoned the ancestral temples, made endless tours, waged wars abroad, and indulged in extravagance at home. The able-bodied men have been killed by arrows and the old and weak have been drowned in ditches. The people have lost their livelihoods, bandits have risen up everywhere, and you have also made exclusive use of treacherous officials to cover up your mistakes and refuse to listen to advice. If you are willing to execute all the treacherous officials around you and return to the capital, we will still be loyal and do our best for the court."
Yuwen Huaji sneered.
"You tyrant!"
Yuwen Zhiji roared, and in an instant, thousands of Yuwen clan personal guards, fierce and menacing, swarmed into the hall, their killing intent palpable!
Startled by this sudden turn of events, the concubines and palace maids on the dragon platform turned pale with fright, screaming and fleeing to the back in chaos.
"Dou Xian, didn't you escape Jiangdu long ago? Why have you rebelled with this traitor! Lay down your weapons and surrender, and perhaps I will plead with the Emperor to spare your life. Otherwise, I will ensure that you and the Yuwen dog are reduced to dust!"
The tall general beside Fei Yun pointed at the leader of the Yuwen clan personal guards and shouted.
"Dugu Xiong, don't try to act tough with me! Today, hundreds of people in this hall will all die! How can hundreds of men possibly defeat thousands of elite soldiers like us!"
Dou Xian also shouted.
"You've truly rebelled! Let's see if you have the ability!"
Emperor Yang Guang roared, pointing at Yuwen Huaji.
"My dear Wang, the time has come for you to serve me! Take down this traitor!"
Yang Guang shouted at Wang Shichong. It seemed Wang Shichong was Yang Guang's most trusted pawn.
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji immediately focused their attention on Wang Shichong, who was standing not far away.
Unexpectedly, Wang Shichong remained motionless, and his two servants behind him stood silently, seemingly unfazed by the chaotic scene of slaughter.
"My dear Wang, why don't you act?"
Yang Guang's previously composed expression finally faltered, and he asked in a weak voice. He vaguely sensed that things had spiraled out of his control.
"Lord Yuwen is quite right. Your Majesty should abdicate,"
Wang Shichong said with a cold smile. He then gestured for Yuwen Huaji to follow.
Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were completely baffled by Wang Shichong's intentions. But now that Wang Shichong had indicated he wouldn't aid Yang Guang, Yuwen Huaji felt much more at ease.
Both sides were loyal to their respective masters, with no chance of compromise; a great battle was imminent!
"Zhiji, remember to be careful of Wang Shichong and those two servants. Leave the tyrant to me, the others to you!"
Yuwen Huaji focused his voice and transmitted it to Yuwen Zhiji. Yuwen Zhiji nodded upon hearing this.
"Attack!"
Yuwen Huaji roared, unleashing his fierce Ice Profound True Qi, transforming into a flying ice tiger, rushing straight down at Yang Guang!
Yang Guang's last trump card was no longer effective, so he also mustered his powerful inner strength, leaping into the air, and from above, he attacked Yuwen Huaji with a domineering and imposing aura!
The martial arts of Yang Guang's family were not well known to outsiders. It was said to be derived from the most ethereal "War God's Record" in the Four Great Classical Novels. Yang Jian and Yang Yong were not weaklings in their time, and Yang Guang was capable of killing his father and brother, so one can imagine Yang Guang's cultivation level. Although Yang Guang had indulged in wine and women in recent years, weakening his body, even a broken ship has some nails. Underestimating Yang Guang would surely lead to trouble.
"Boom!"
The two men's palms clashed, their powerful internal energies colliding with a deafening roar. Their momentum was overwhelming, utterly destroying the space within two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). Soldiers fighting nearby were pulled apart, some dead, some wounded!
After the attack, both men were sent flying back, blood trickling from their mouths.
"Yuwen Huaji is even stronger now than he was by the river. I didn't expect him to be able to fight Yang Guang to a standstill. This tyrant's strength is not low!"
Yuan Yueze thought to himself.
Yang Guang and Yuwen Huaji did not continue fighting, both standing silently, eyes closed, circulating their internal energy. Yuwen Huaji, affected by Yang Guang's powerful internal energy, felt his meridians about to burst, so he had to expel the energy first. Yang Guang was also suffering. The full-force attack had left his internal energy feeling frozen, forcing him to expel his Ice Profound True Qi.
At the same time, the two men were simultaneously circulating their energy while keeping an eye on Wang Shichong and his two servants, who hadn't moved an inch. No one could guarantee what Wang Shichong would do next.
In just two breaths, Yuwen Huaji had forced out Yang Guang's powerful True Qi and was preparing to unleash another fierce attack. However, when Yang Guang tried to circulate his True Qi again, he found his internal energy flowing slowly, his body convulsing, and he began to cough. Suddenly, a sweet taste filled his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"You tyrant! You were once a peerless master, but in recent years you have indulged in unrestrained pleasures, neglecting your physical needs and overindulging in food and drink. Your body has long been hollowed out by wine and women! That last attack was merely a final burst of energy before death!"
Yuwen Huaji roared, gathering twelve-tenths of his power in his palms. His move, 'Three Feet of Ice,' carrying chilling true energy, swiftly attacked Yang Guang's chest.
Yang Guang had no way to retreat at this point. He could only forcefully push forward, meeting Yuwen Huaji's fierce attack with both palms.
"Ah!"
After the violent impact, Yang Guang screamed in agony. The blood he spat out turned into shards of ice, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. His obese body crashed into the stone wall and shattered, suffering unspeakable pain.
On the other side, Yuwen Zhiji easily killed Yu Shiji and Fei Yun, who had no martial arts skills whatsoever. He then used his Ice Profound Sword Technique to force Dugu Xiong to retreat repeatedly, leaving him utterly defenseless.
Meanwhile, the chaotic battle inside the hall was nearing its end. Although the imperial guards were fierce, they were outnumbered by the Yuwen clan's personal troops. So, at this point, only two or three hundred men from both sides had survived. The hall was a sea of blood, littered with corpses, a scene of utter carnage!
Just as Yuwen Zhiji was about to stab Dugu Xiong to death with his sword , a whoosh came from behind. Yuwen Zhiji had no choice but to abandon Dugu Xiong and turn to fend off the incoming attack. "Who goes
there! " Deflecting the lightning-fast arrow, Yuwen Zhiji roared. "Yuwen, you dog! Dugu Sheng has come to take your lives!" A loud male voice rang out from outside the hall. A short, sturdy man with a fierce expression instantly led hundreds of imperial guards into the hall. The Dugu clan's personal troops had arrived! The situation had reversed; there was no time to think. Yuwen Zhiji desperately attacked Dugu Xiong, trying to kill him first. Seeing this, Dugu Sheng roared and joined the battle with his personal troops. Yang Guang was now barely breathing, too weak to speak. He glared angrily at Yuwen Huaji, whom he felt was not human, but a demon. "You tyrant! Your Yang clan destroyed my Northern Zhou, and today my Yuwen clan will destroy your Great Sui! Hahaha!" With a maniacal laugh, Yuwen Huaji unleashed all his Ice Profound True Qi into Yang Guang's body. Yang Guang didn't even have time to utter a sound before his entire body was frozen, shattered, and he died.

The tyrant, Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, died a gruesome death, his body torn apart
. On the rooftop, Yuan Yueze and the others felt little joy, for Yang Guang's death did not signify the arrival of peace, but rather the beginning of chaos.
Yuwen Huaji, having dealt with Yang Guang, turned to support Yuwen Zhiji.
With this powerful reinforcement, Yuwen Zhiji's fighting spirit surged once more. In less than ten moves, the two brothers had brutally killed Dugu Sheng and Dugu Xiong!
At this moment, the Yuwen clan's personal guards in the hall were almost entirely wiped out. Although the Dugu clan's personal guards still numbered over a hundred, they were leaderless and no longer willing to linger, all fleeing in disarray.
Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were overjoyed, about to burst into wild laughter, when they felt a sudden gust of wind behind them. Yuwen Huaji hurriedly raised his hand to meet the attack!
"Boom!"
Yuwen Huaji was thrown back, greatly alarmed.
Regaining his footing, he looked up and saw that it was a servant of Wang Shichong who had repelled him!
"Wang Shichong, what do you mean! The tyrant is dead, and you want to start a war with my Yuwen clan?"
Yuwen Huaji was exhausted and wounded from fighting for a long time. If he continued, he might not even survive. The servant beside Wang Shichong seemed to have extremely high cultivation.
"How could I, Wang, let you, a villain who murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, go?"
Wang Shichong smiled.
"Enough nonsense. Today's matter is settled. Everyone, step out of the palace and from now on, fight for the world based on your own abilities!"
Yuwen Zhiji's condition had also deteriorated, and he could only try to ease the tension.
"I, Wang, will kill you all today! Then I will have one less competitor when I fight for the world in the future!"
Wang Shichong said in a deep voice. After speaking, he slightly twitched his fingers.
Two servants behind him attacked Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji at the same time!
A sly smile flashed in Yuwen Huaji's eyes. With a muffled groan, four figures emerged from the few dozen remaining Yuwen clan guards behind him. They met Wang Shichong's two servants.
"Ah! It's them!"
Yun Yuzhen suddenly exclaimed from the rooftop.
Fortunately, the main hall was in chaos, and Yun Yuzhen's voice wasn't particularly loud, otherwise the people below would have noticed long ago.
"It's the people in black armor who attacked me that day! There were eleven of them who attacked me that day, but only ten came the second time, and today there are four more here!"
Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone's faces, Yun Yuzhen continued to explain in a low voice.
"Then it seems we have to make our move too!"
Yuan Yueze looked at the carnage on the ground and said. Just as Wang Shichong's men and Yuwen Huaji's men were evenly matched, a delicate shout came from the rooftop: "Hey! You traitors and villains, you murdered the emperor and usurped the throne! His Majesty's 'Flower Guards' are a step too late, prepare to die!"
"You've finally shown yourselves!"
A strange smile appeared on Wang Shichong's lips as he looked at the four ordinary-looking women in tight-fitting clothes who descended from the broken tiles and said.

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