[Wuxia] Wandering Freely in the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - 33

Chapter 123 Old Stories The Cheshi
Kingdom members were astonished. Yue Kepeng nodded and said, "I didn't expect Brother Yuan to be so resourceful. Brother Yuan and his two companions are sincere and saved our lives. I don't want to hide anything. My trip to Longquan to attend the founding ceremony of the Sumo tribe was indeed for another purpose, and I was prepared to risk my life."
Ba Feng Han and Ren Jun both showed curious expressions.
Yue Kepeng briefly recounted the crimes committed by Fu Nan Tuo in the eight kingdoms of Turpan, saying, "Two years ago, some of our men went to Longquan to do business and happened to run into Fu Nan Tuo. Even though he had shaved his beard, he was still recognized at a glance."
Ren Jun suddenly realized, "You came here under the guise of delivering gifts, but actually you're going to settle accounts with Fu Nan Tuo. My elder brother said that Bai Zi Ting is not a good person either. He must be in cahoots with Fu Nan Tuo, swindling your wealth to use for the founding of the kingdom."
Faced with the puzzled looks of the others, Yuan Yueze explained the theft of Zhai Jiao's sheepskin and what he knew about Bai Zi Ting's character.
Ke Zhuan was startled and said, "The same thing happened to us before. About three years ago, we bought a hundred cartloads of the famous Xiangshui rice from Bai Ziting, but we were robbed in the middle of the night! A few people managed to escape, but the others were brutally murdered. We always thought we had encountered bandits and never suspected Bai Ziting. It seems it's not as simple as we thought."
Yuan Yueze sneered, "As long as we get the evidence, I'll turn his founding ceremony into a funeral for the fallen nation. What kind of king is he? What kind of demonic monk is he? I'll kill all these people who bring disaster to the country." As Ba
Feng Han hesitated, a strange cry startled everyone, and they all looked over.
A dozen feet away, a strangely dressed man was kneeling and kowtowing to the Black King, who was enjoying a delicious meal.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise.
After kowtowing more than ten times, the man stood up and walked over with a powerful stride.
He was of medium appearance, around forty years old, imposing and dignified, at least a head taller than Yuan Yueze. His skin was dark, his muscles were muscular, like an iron tower. He wore a tight-fitting red leather coat with an embroidered image of a fierce, outstretched eagle on the chest. A curved sword was at his waist, a longbow slung over his shoulder, and daggers were tucked into his boots, making him appear incredibly imposing.
Yuan Yueze remembered what Ren Jun had said, and seeing this man's respect for the Black King, he deduced that he was most likely a member of the Bai Xi tribe.
Approaching him, he reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the Black King, glanced around at the crowd, and then fixed his gaze on Ba Feng Han. He placed his left hand across his chest and said in Turkic, "Hello, I am Buri Gude. Welcome to the Bai Xi."
The crowd quickly rose to invite him to sit down.
Burigude smiled slightly, politely sat down, and accepted the wolf meat Ren Jun offered. His eyes remained fixed on the Black King, and he said, "This Turkic brother can actually tame a divine eagle; truly remarkable." Ba Feng Han
laughed, "This 'Black King' isn't mine, but his treasure."
Burigude followed his finger to Yuan Yueze, who appeared quite thin to the steppe people. After carefully examining him, he exclaimed in surprise, "Han people are indeed extraordinary; I admire you."
His tone was calm, making it impossible to reconcile it with his imposing appearance.
Yuan Yueze smiled and shook his head.
Burigude looked up at the sky; it was already late, and the red sun had sunk behind the western mountains. He said, "It seems you brothers have nowhere to stay. You can come to my house; I still have some empty rooms."
Yue Kepeng and the others had fled all the way, and their tents and other belongings had long since fallen. They were worried about this, but their gazes turned to Yuan Yueze, as if waiting for him to speak.
Yuan Yueze was deeply impressed by the hospitality and simplicity of the other party. They had been invited to visit without even being asked their names, so Yuan Yueze said in Turkic, "Brother De, you are so hospitable, we won't refuse."
Ba Feng Han laughed loudly, "Brother Peng, and then Brother De! 'Buri Gude' means 'eagle' in Turkic, you insist on calling me by my name!"
Buri Gude smiled and said, "My full name is Buri Gude Wudun Qibi. Qibi is my tribal name, Wudun is my ancestral surname, and Buri Gude is my given name. It sounds nice to call you Brother De too!"
Yue Kepeng nodded from the side, saying, "My full name is Yue Kepeng Taguruna. Luna is my tribal name, Taguru is my ancestral surname, and Yue Kepeng is my younger brother..." "Your names are too long. I think it's quite nice to address you like Brother Yuan!"
Yuan Yueze blushed and scratched his head, saying, "Please don't be offended by your long names."
Then he said to Burigude, "I didn't expect to meet a descendant of the Qibi tribe here. I've also heard of the great name of Yiwuzhen Mohe Khan."
The Qibi tribe was one of the Tiele tribes. About twenty years ago, the Tiele tribes rose up against the tyranny of the Western Turks and jointly elected the Qibi leader, Geleng, as Yiwuzhen Mohe Khan. However, it didn't last long. Geleng was defeated and killed, and the Xueyantuo leader, Yishibo, was elected as Yedie Khan. Yishibo then led his tribe to establish their court at Yanmo Mountain, thus becoming a powerful tribe among the Tiele. Burigude's
expression darkened, and he changed the subject, saying, "It's getting late. Let's set off. It's still an hour's walk up the mountain to my house."
When they arrived at the valley where Burigude's house was located, only a sliver of the setting sun remained.
The group chatted idly along the way, talking about all sorts of random things.
The scene in the valley was truly astonishing.
The houses were all carved into the walls, and from the outside, only wooden doors of varying sizes were visible. Burigude explained that this was to protect against the harsh northern winter. They encountered many men and women along the way. The men were mostly dressed similarly to Burigude, except for their leather jackets, all embroidered with eagles on their chests, showing the tribe's reverence for eagles. The women mostly had long hair braided into thin braids, their heads wrapped in floral cloth, and wore loose robes embroidered with all sorts of strange and beautiful patterns. Small copper bells hung from the hems of their robes, jingling as they walked, a distinctive feature of their ethnicity. The young women were even bolder and more enthusiastic, frequently casting flirtatious glances at the dashing Yuan Yueze and the handsome Ba Fenghan as they passed by. The men's attention was focused on the Black King, who was resting with his eyes closed on Yuan Yueze's shoulder. If Yuan Yueze hadn't been prescient enough to mention this to Burigude earlier, those men would probably have come over to kowtow.
Burigude explained to everyone that Ba Feng Han had traveled across the desert and grasslands and had never actually been to a tribe that still retained such a strong primitive social atmosphere, let alone Yue Kepeng and the others who rarely left the Cheshi Kingdom. Everyone listened and watched with great interest.
Burigude's home was located in the middle of this small village that could barely be called a "village." After placing the horses outside the cave, they pushed open the ordinary door and felt as if they had entered another world. The house, which looked unremarkable from the outside, actually occupied a large area. The cave was actually carved out, and the walls were built with rammed earth, dividing the large space into several small rooms. They were now in what was probably the living room, which was at least five zhang in diameter. Although the facilities were simple, they were complete, and a large oil lamp hung from the ceiling, providing ample light. Along the walls carved into the windows, there was a wide array of items, from small handmade trinkets to leather clothing and hats, and even large items like bows, arrows, and swords. In one corner of the hall, there was a square pit with a fire burning, on which sat a large iron kettle, steaming slightly. Beside it were pots, stoves, basins, bowls, chopsticks, and other cooking utensils.
Burigude invited everyone to sit around a large wooden table on a tiger-skin mat in the center of the hall. Although the table was large, it could only seat a dozen or so people. Yuan Yueze's group of over thirty people had some soldiers voluntarily sit in the back before they finally took their seats.
A clear, crisp voice rang out, uttering a phrase Yuan Yueze couldn't understand. The wooden door on the west side opened, and a slender figure appeared inside, looking at the group of outsiders with surprise.
Everyone's eyes lit up. A beautiful young woman, over six feet tall, yet not at all bulky, with brown hair, well-defined features, a high nose, and deep-set eyes, bore a striking resemblance to Lian Rou. A pair of deep, clear blue phoenix eyes stared curiously at the crowd.
In fact, Burigude also had a pair of clear blue eyes, but Yuan Yueze and the others hadn't noticed them at all.
Burigude introduced in Turkic, "This is my younger sister, Qiqige."
Then he said to Qiqige, "These friends come from all over the country and have nowhere to stay. I've invited them to our house. Go and ask your father to come out."
Qiqige responded and turned away.
Burigude went to the corner, filled the earthenware teapot with hot water, and brewed homemade mountain tea for everyone. He then began to introduce his family. His father was named Chaolu, and his mother was named Ulan. They had three sons and one daughter. Burigude was the eldest, and he and his second brother, Amur, were already married. Only his third brother, Erdemutu, and his younger sister, Qiqige, remained unmarried. According to tribal custom, they all lived in their father's house and made their living by hunting and farming.
Sipping the fragrant tea, everyone praised it. Yuan Yueze pondered whether civilization was a good thing or a bad thing. Although he had never left the Tianshan Mountains in his later life, the books he had read gave him a deep understanding of how humanity had recklessly destroyed the natural ecological balance in pursuit of a higher material life. The scene before him, brimming with natural beauty, was something that could not be experienced by watching ancient films. Lao Tzu's views on "small countries with few people" and "living and dying without interacting" were not entirely without merit.
Seeing Yuan Yueze's entranced expression, Ba Feng Han asked, "Brother Yuan, what are you thinking about?"
Without hesitation, Yuan Yueze sighed in Chinese, "We work at sunrise and rest at sunset. We dig wells to drink from, and till the fields to eat from. What power does the emperor have over us?"
Yue Ke Peng put down his teacup and said, "This is the 'Song of Tilling the Soil' by Emperor Yao, one of the Five Emperors of the Central Plains. Why did you suddenly recite this folk song, Brother Yuan?"
Yuan Yueze's eyes shone with longing, and he sighed, "Perhaps it's the primitive customs here and Brother De's simplicity that have influenced me. This is the kind of peaceful and prosperous world I yearn for."
Ba Feng Han said with deep feeling, "This kind of sentiment..." "The ideal will never appear, because human desires and wants only grow stronger with each passing day.
The saying 'having gained one thing, one desires another' perfectly describes this." Yuan Yueze said with a bitter smile, "Yes! If everyone had such an ideal, then the times would never progress. Civilization is truly a double-edged sword. Even a thousand years, or even ten thousand years from now, no one will be able to truly balance gains and losses."
A long laugh came from the west gate, and an old man with a large beard walked over, accompanied by two men who bore a resemblance to Burigude, one around thirty and the other around twenty, and a rather clever child beside them. It was obvious that the three adults were Burigude's father and brothers, and the child must be Burigude's son. Chaolu was tall and thin but not hunched over; his other two sons were both robust and imposing. Erdemutu, in particular, possessed a refined and scholarly air, quite similar to Bafeng Han.
After introductions, another table was set up, and more than thirty people sat down to chat. This family didn't understand Chinese at all, so they had no recollection of the name Yuan Yueze. However, upon hearing that Ba Feng Han was visiting, they showed him immense welcome, demonstrating Ba Feng Han's popularity on the grasslands. Yuan Yueze was handsome, with an elegant demeanor. Though he spoke little, his eyes were deep and unfathomable, radiating unparalleled wisdom. Furthermore, after hearing Rigude recount the story of the Black King, the father and sons immediately felt that this young man must be a hero in the Central Plains, and thus treated him with equal enthusiasm.
Ba Yin, the son of Buri Gude, nestled in his father's arms, curiously scrutinizing Yuan Yueze with his clear, bright eyes. In his childish voice, he said, "This uncle is even prettier than the woman Deya's family bought."
Everyone burst into laughter. Yuan Yueze smiled slightly and asked, "Is that woman the prettiest here?"
Ba Yin blushed, nodding sheepishly, "That woman is also Han Chinese. Deya said her father rescued her."
Yuan Yueze was slightly taken aback and asked Chao Lu, "Could you explain this, sir?"
Chao Lu, thinking he was a stranger in a foreign land, felt a subtle connection with his fellow countrymen. "Deya is the daughter of Sude, a hunter at the village entrance," said Erdemutu. "Few of us go out to hunt. Sude is the best hunter, and he has the best catch. He goes south twice a year to sell the finest animal hides to you Han people and exchange them for daily necessities. He rescued that Han woman a few months ago."
Erdemutu smiled strangely and continued, "She's pitiful. I saw her being beaten and scolded by Sude's wife."
They were all men, and some things could be guessed without being said. Sude must have been unfaithful to the woman, but his wife was a shrew; she wouldn't let him have his cake and eat it too.
Little Bayin, of course, didn't understand what the adults were thinking and chided in his childish voice, "More than ten days ago, another Han man came here. He was only a little younger than Grandpa. We all saw him build a thatched hut outside the village and settle down."
Yuan Yueze suddenly felt a desire to meet these two fellow villagers.
Seeing Ren Jun sipping tea listlessly, his eyes constantly glancing at Ximen, Ba Feng Han teased, "What are you looking at, little Jun?"
Ren Jun's tender face flushed red, and he was at a loss for words. Anyone with eyes could see that he had his eye on the girl, but according to their customs, only adult males of the family were allowed to attend such occasions, hence his dejected expression.
At this moment, the women began to bring out the delicious food they had prepared, and Qiqige ran around several times, making Ren Jun's eyes almost pop out. Chao Lu and his son did not speak, but carefully examined Ren Jun a few times, finding that although this young man was not as good as Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han, he was still a fine young man.
The food and wine were served, and Bayin was carried away. The dinner, full of ethnic flavor, began in a lively atmosphere. The guests and hosts toasted each other and chatted. Chao Lu and his son were very warm and hospitable to them, fully demonstrating the hospitality of the nomadic people. The Chaolu family had many women, and the meat they prepared using various primitive methods, along with the bitter vegetables pickled with mountain spices, whetted everyone's appetite and drew praise.
Historical records about the Baixi tribe are extremely scarce, and Yuan Yueze, during the meal, heard many fascinating tales of their unique customs and traditions.
After another drink, Yuan Yueze suddenly said, "If I'm not mistaken, your family should be descendants of the Tiele Qibi tribe. How come you live here?"
Chaolu and his son looked astonished, then glanced at Burigude, who could only manage a wry smile. Who knew Yuan Yueze's imagination could be so vivid? In fact, even Ba Feng Han, a native of the grasslands, and Yue Kepeng and other Cheshi people knew very little about the Qibi tribe.
Ba Feng Han patted Yuan Yueze on the shoulder and laughed loudly, "Don't panic, everyone! I, Ba Feng Han, guarantee with my life that Brother Yuan has no ill intentions. Have you heard about Bi Xuan being defeated?"
Chao Lu nodded in surprise, "Su De heard about this in the south of Shiwei last time. When he came back, everyone thought it was just a rumor. Who doesn't know Bi Xuan? He's a god of the grasslands. Who could defeat him? Could it be..."
Ba Feng Han said proudly, "It was my Han brother who did it. He's a hero, and I, Ba Feng Han, am also his defeated opponent. Just imagine, if he really wanted to harm someone, who could stop him? And Xiao Jun, Huyan Jin was killed by his own hands. His body is still in the wild; we don't know if it's been eaten by wolves."
Yue Kepeng also nodded in agreement. Chao Lu and his son all looked at Yuan Yueze and Ren Jun, their expressions turning to horror. With Ba Feng Han's reputation and status as a general of the Cheshi Kingdom, how could he possibly lie?
Yuan Yueze blushed at the praise, punched Ba Feng Han, and sincerely raised his cup, saying, "I misspoke. If you gentlemen have any difficulties, please forget about this matter."
Chao Lu and his son quickly raised their cups and drank another cup. Amur stared at Ren Jun and said, "Although our people rarely go out, we have indeed heard of Huyan Jin's infamous reputation. Brother Ren was able to kill him, so he must be a top expert."
Ren Jun quickly replied politely.
Chaolu gulped down a cup of wine and sighed with regret, “You are all heroes, worthy of our admiration. Indeed, we are descendants of the Qibi tribe. Back then, Khan Geleng was a man of both literary and military prowess, chosen as the leader of the Tiele, leading his people to resist the Western Turks. He won eight battles in a row, and the Western Turks retreated step by step. But one night, he was assassinated in his command tent, which was protected by thousands of troops. I was serving the Khan at the time, reading at night. If I hadn’t been too timid and fainted from fright, I probably would have been dead. After that, our army suffered a great defeat, and only later did Yishibo rise to power and establish his tribe at Yanmo Mountain. After the Khan’s death, a group of people who were loyal to him began to migrate. After nearly a year of travel, we finally found this place and settled here. Almost twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.”
Looking at his pained expression, everyone deeply felt that he still felt remorse and regret for his incompetence back then.
Yue Kepeng was taken aback and said, "I was born in the Western Regions and know a bit about the Tiele, but I've never heard anyone mention your tribe."
Ba Feng Han nodded and said, "I was born in Gaochang of the Uyghurs, and I've only occasionally heard people mention your tribe. The decline of one tribe on the grasslands represents the rise of another. It's rare for a tribe to fall so quickly like yours. If the news is deliberately suppressed, it's not difficult for outsiders to know about it."
Chao Lu wiped away the cloudy tears from the corner of his eyes and said, "At the time, we all thought it was done by a master from the Western Turks. But after hearing what you two said, it seems that Yi Shibo is also involved. I met this person back then. Although he has great talent and ambition, he is cunning and has a strong desire for power. There is a possibility that he conspired with the Western Turks to kill the Great Khan."
Yuan Yueze thought that at that time, Commander Yun had just settled in the Western Turks. Not to mention that he didn't have the ability to assassinate someone in the midst of an army at that time, judging from the time, Tong Yabghu probably hadn't even set off to invite him yet. A person suddenly flashed through his mind, and he said in a deep voice, "Old man, could you describe this person's appearance to me?"
Chao Lu's eyes shot out a deep light of hatred, and he said fiercely, "I will never forget him in my life. That person was burly, dressed in all black, wearing a ferocious mask, and exuded an aura of death. His eyes were sharp enough to kill! But when he spoke, he was gentle and refined, without the slightest hint of arrogance."
Yuan Yueze thought to himself, "If it's not Liu Yu, then who is it!" Suddenly, he realized that it was no wonder that Tong Yehu spoke so highly of him; it turned out that the two of them had known each other even before Yun Shuai.
In a flash, Chaolu continued his recollection: "When the Great Khan died, the soldiers charged forward fearlessly. That man leaped into the air, high-fived another accomplice who appeared out of nowhere, and used the momentum to escape. That accomplice had a sallow complexion, an ordinary appearance, a large mole on the corner of his mouth, and a large, flat nose—I had never seen anyone with such a big nose. The Great Khan had over a thousand guards, all highly skilled. When I woke up after midnight, I found them all dead, all dead..."
He could no longer continue, clearly overwhelmed by the deepest memories that had stirred up his mind, causing him grief and fear.
His three sons immediately comforted him.
Yuan Yueze frowned and asked, "Did that accomplice use a golden spear or a giant axe?"
Chao Lu shook his head, leaning over his desk, and said, "He did use a spear, but it wasn't a golden spear."
Even so, Yuan Yueze was almost certain it was Xi Feng. Although their appearances were different, he remembered that Xi Feng had once disguised himself as a eunuch in Chang'an, so he knew that Xi Feng was very skilled in disguise. As for why he didn't use a golden spear, perhaps he hadn't obtained such a divine weapon at that time, or perhaps it was to deceive others!
Chao Lu was emotionally out of control and had drunk quite a bit of wine. Yuan Yueze helped him calm down and put him to sleep. After he fell asleep, Amur arranged for everyone to stay in a row of empty rooms in the east house. Yue Kepeng and the others, having fled for a day, buried themselves in the soft, thick fur mats on the large, heated kang bed made of adobe bricks and, fueled by the alcohol, fell into a deep sleep.
Because of their high regard, Yuan Yueze and his two companions were arranged to share a room. First, they pulled Shan Wanjing out to cleanse Ba Feng Han's marrow and refine his genitals, then coaxed her back. The three lay on the warm earthen bed, wide awake, chatting. Faced with Ba Feng Han's confusion, Yuan Yueze didn't hide anything, telling him everything he could. Ba Feng Han gasped, then smiled bitterly, "Although you now consider yourself a 'monster,' I really doubt your resilience. You know, Jieli was implicated and severely humiliated because of Bi Xuan's setback. If he can't get revenge, his image in the hearts of the grassland people will plummet. Therefore, he will definitely mobilize a large number of Golden Wolf soldiers. You saw the strength of the Khitan bandits today, didn't you? The Golden Wolf army is at least stronger than them." "Double. Can you even kill them all?"
Yuan Yueze shook his head with a wry smile, saying, "Do you know what Bi Xuan did after returning to the Turkic Khaganate?"
Ba Feng Han shook his head, disdainfully saying, "A defeated general has no right to talk about bravery. Bi Xuan is old and used to being high and mighty. Once he's hit, he'll never be able to recover."
For some reason, Yuan Yueze remembered what Yuwen Shang had said that night, followed by what Chao Lu had said. His mind began to swirl. He glanced at Ren Jun, who was staring blankly at the ceiling, and said to Ba Feng Han, "Brother Ba, teach Xiao Jun how to fall in love. This kid has no experience and is a hopeless romantic. I need to visit my two fellow villagers first."
After saying that, he left the amused Ba Feng Han and the embarrassed Ren Jun, got up, dressed, and left.
Ba Feng Han thought to himself, "I'm not like you, an expert in this area." Seeing Ren Jun's excited eyes, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and begin to explain.
Under the moonlight, Yuan Yueze easily found the hunter Su De's house at the village entrance, as Chao Lu had mentioned. Chao Lu's house was already one of the larger ones in the village, but Su De's house was even more spacious. A two-story building was carved into the smooth stone walls, and the small garden outside was crisscrossed with ditches, seemingly planted with enough grain and vegetables for their own consumption. Light still shone from the second-floor window, and a rough, gruff woman's voice
could be faintly heard. Yuan Yueze thought to himself, "Heaven is on my side!" He leaped up and leaned over the window. He heard the rough woman cursing incessantly in Turkic, using vulgar language like "little slut," "a whore who only knows how to seduce men," and so on. Another woman was sobbing softly, not daring to answer. A loud voice came from the first floor, and the rough woman cursed again, then footsteps sounded as she went downstairs.
Having already confirmed the identities of the three people, Yuan Yueze was inwardly cursing the woman's rudeness when a sob suddenly came from the window. He could imagine the poor woman's tearful eyes and her lamenting to the moon. With a swift movement, he slipped inside, his large hand pressing against her lips, whispering in her ear, "Don't be afraid, I'm Han Chinese."
The woman immediately nodded.
Their bodies pressed close together. The woman's body was supple and boneless, her skin full and radiant with youthful vitality. Before Yuan Yueze could even see her face clearly, he was already captivated by her allure. Before his primal instincts kicked in, he quickly pulled away, and what he saw immediately stunned him.
She wore a somewhat dirty coarse cloth gown, yet it did not diminish her striking beauty and captivating figure. Exquisite features were perfectly set in her face, and her large eyes, fixed on Yuan Yueze, were filled with terror.
What stunned Yuan Yueze was not the innate noble aura emanating from her bones, nor the red handprint on her slightly puffed-up, delicate face, but rather her appearance—she bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Bei!

Chapter 124 The Way of Emptiness
secretly brought the noble woman out and summoned Xiao Bei to confirm. Sure enough, the woman was her own daughter, Princess Yang Yan of the former Sui Dynasty. (Note: This name is a personal invention of the author. Originally, I wanted to name her based on her younger sister Yang Ji'er in "The New Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties," but Yang Ji'er's name is also a fabrication, so I decided to create my own. This name is based on the names of her three brothers. Any resemblance to actual persons, living
or dead, is purely coincidental. The mother and daughter embraced each other in anguish, as if in another world.
Yuan Yueze watched quietly from the side.
Only in this way could Xiao Bei vent the deepest worries buried in her heart, and Yang Yan could release the sorrow and bitterness accumulated in this inhuman life.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there were many famous court women, from Dugu Jialuo, the empress of the two Sui emperors, Xiao Bei, to Empress Dou, the first wife of Emperor Li Yuan, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Empress Zhangsun, the first wife of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, Princess Nanyang of the Sui Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty.) Princess Pingyang, any one of them, is a woman who left a beautiful name in the history books of later generations. Not to mention Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in history, and Chen Shuozhen, the "Wenjia Emperor," and so on.
The mother and daughter were exhausted from crying. Xiao Bei looked at the bruises on her daughter's body with heartache. Her usually serene face showed an unusual ferocity. She got up, wanting to find trouble for Su De's wife.
Yang Yan's fragrant shoulders were still trembling slightly. She weakly pulled Xiao Bei and shook her head, saying in a low voice, "Mother, there is no need for this. If it weren't for their rescue, I would have died in Hebei long ago. Consider these past few months as repaying their life-saving grace."
Her voice was sad and moving, and her appearance was pitiful. It seemed that she could not change her address in a short time, so she still subconsciously called Xiao Bei "Mother." Yuan Yueze's bright eyes carefully examined her.
Historical records describe her as having "beautiful appearance, strong will, and always acting with propriety." Yang Yan married Yuwen Shiji at the age of fourteen. When her father-in-law, Yuwen Shu, was seriously ill and near death, she, despite her noble birth, personally prepared his food and served it to him, demonstrating her filial piety. Despite her seemingly weak appearance, this royal noblewoman possessed an extremely resolute character.
Historical records state that Yuwen Huaji was defeated by Dou Jiande, and Shiji returned to the Tang Dynasty from Jibei. At that time, the most powerful force in Hebei was Dou Jiande, the King of Xia. Former Sui officials were all terrified and flustered when introduced to Jiande, but Princess Nanyang remained composed. Upon meeting Dou Jiande, the princess recounted the destruction of her country and the loss of her family, lamenting her inability to avenge her family. Tears streamed down her face as she spoke eloquently and earnestly. Jiande and all who heard her were deeply moved and wept, all showing her profound respect and admiration. Later, Dou Jiande, wanting to punish the Yuwen family, said to her, "Yuwen Huaji committed regicide, and now his entire clan will be exterminated. Your son, Princess, should be punished as well. If you cannot bear to part with him, you may spare him."
Princess Nanyang actually allowed Dou Jiande to kill her ten-year-old son, Yuwen Chanshi. This is utterly incomprehensible in later times, a foolish loyalty to ancient customs. Shortly afterward, Princess Nanyang shaved her head and became a nun. She lived within Dou Jiande's sphere of influence. After Dou Jiande's defeat, Princess Nanyang returned to Chang'an, the western capital, and later met Yuwen Shiji again in Luoyang, the eastern capital. The princess resolved not to see him. Yuwen Shiji approached her and asked to remarry. Princess Nanyang refused, saying, "You and I are enemies. I only regret that I cannot kill you myself, but it is because you were unaware of your brother's rebellion beforehand."
Shiji knew he could not be persuaded, so he bowed and left.
Xiao Bei was not one to forget everything in a moment of impulse. Hearing this, he stopped and introduced the two.
In fact, Yang Yan had already guessed Yuan Yueze's identity. Xiao Bei's sudden appearance explained everything. Besides, how could someone as heroic as him possibly kill so many people while recklessly charging around? But she had always been aloof and superior. Not to mention before, even when Su De rescued her, she had never been stared at so intently by a man. When she felt displeased, she saw Yuan Yueze's elegant demeanor and clear, untainted eyes, which exuded an inexplicable sense of respect. This made her blush and her heart race for no reason, and she turned her head away uncomfortably.
Yuan Yueze came back to his senses, looked up at the sky and sighed, "The moon's shadow lingers in the distant night, only the plum blossom's soul remains." Ignoring Yang Yan's exclamation as she stared at him, he put the two women away and turned to fly towards the direction where the other "fellow villager" Bayin had mentioned lived.
He would leave everything to Xiao Bei to explain slowly.
Arriving at the makeshift shack, a light faintly shone from inside.
Yuan Yueze knocked gently on the door and said in Chinese, "I'm just passing by. May I come in?"
The lights inside suddenly went out, and in the darkness, a hostile, aged voice rang out, also in Chinese, "This old man has already gone to bed. Please excuse me, it's inconvenient to receive guests. Please come in, brother."
Yuan Yueze pushed the door open and entered, laughing loudly, "People say, 'A long drought meets sweet rain, a foreign land meets an old friend, the wedding night, and the day of passing the imperial examination.' We're all from the same hometown, why are you being so formal, sir?"
Although he disdained etiquette, he wouldn't do something so impolite. However, he had vaguely heard fear in the old man's tone, which gave him a vague idea, but he couldn't grasp the key point. He could only force his way in.
Although the hut was pitch black, Yuan Yueze's bright eyes took in everything: besides a fire pit and simple cooking utensils in a corner, and a simple wooden bed and a small wooden table beside it, there was nothing else. On the moldy cotton quilt sat a man who looked to be under fifty. His bald head was supported by his long neck, which seemed to be unable to bear the weight. He had two gray mustaches, his eyes were tired and thoughtful, his face was sagging, and his eyes were swollen, showing the decadent look of someone who had been addicted to alcohol and women for many years.
Yuan Yueze stepped forward, lit a lamp, and sat down on the ground opposite him. He took out two cigarettes, lit them, and handed them to the man. He took a deep drag and said, "Sir, please do not be afraid. I am Yuan Yueze, and I have come here with no ill intentions."
At first, the man simply took the cigarettes blankly. But when he saw Yuan Yueze's face clearly in the dim light, his eyes lit up with a sharp light. Then, his expression returned to one of utter despair and weariness, and he took a drag, just like Yuan Yueze. Upon hearing his self-introduction, the man immediately jumped up, his eyes wide, his body trembling as he pointed at him, stammering, "You...you..."
Yuan Yueze exhaled a smoke ring, shrugged, and said nonchalantly, "Sir, do you have a grudge against me?"
The man breathed heavily for a while before sitting down, saying calmly, "Brother Yuan, what brings you here?"
Yuan Yueze smiled slightly, "It's strange, I originally just heard that a fellow Han Chinese lived here and wanted to come and see, but when I arrived at the door, I felt a vague clue in my mind, so I had to come in to find the answer."
The man's expression was sorrowful as he murmured, "Fellow countryman! Fellow countryman!"
Then, his eyes gleamed, and he stared at Yuan Yueze, saying, "The rumors seem to be true. Brother Yuan's spiritual perception has reached a profound realm that mortals cannot attain. May I ask why you have come to the grasslands?"
Yuan Yueze had no obligation to answer his impolite question, but he spoke frankly, "I have come for two reasons: first, to confront the Ghostly Fiend; second, for the future unification of the land. If you encounter any injustices, sir, you are welcome to tell me. I, Yuan, am fond of meddling in such matters."
In fact, anyone who wasn't a fool knew that Yuan Yueze was a man with ambitions for the world, and anyone could guess that he had come to prepare for conquering the grasslands and deserts.
The man's eyes flashed with sorrow, yet he laughed loudly. The pain and resentment in his heart were like lava hidden deep underground, about to erupt from a volcano if suppressed any longer. Two streams of turbid tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, and his laughter was full of desolation. In the dim light of the oil lamp, his hunched and thin figure appeared even more lonely.
Yuan Yueze smoked his cigarette while calmly watching him.
After a long while, the man's laughter gradually subsided. He wiped away his tears, took two deep drags on his cigarette, and said, "I've long forgotten my real name. Everyone calls me 'Arrow Master.' A man of your stature, Brother Yuan, would never have heard of me."
Yuan Yueze shook his head and recounted his journey from Shanhaiguan to hear about the "Hundred Flowers Tragedy." He concluded, "I never expected to meet you here, sir. It's truly astonishing."
Arrow Master said bitterly, "How could I be so easily captured or killed by them!"
He paused, then continued, "Brother Yuan..." "Will we pass?"
Yuan Yueze shook his head, but said, "I know that your enemy is Shen Mohuan of Shiwei."
The archery master was taken aback, then looked as if he had aged several years, his face drained of all color, and nodded, saying, "Four hundred li north of here is Shiwei territory, and my greatest enemy is a Shiwei person."
He then fell silent, and after a long while, slowly said, "That was seven years ago, one summer. I was running a workshop in Shanhaiguan, specializing in bows and arrows. I had just married a beautiful wife, and life was wonderful. One day, a man claiming to be a member of the Shiwei royal family named Shen Mohuan..." A man led a large entourage to buy goods from me. I saw that he was handsome and spoke with a dignified and generous manner. Moreover, he was buying goods to deal with the Turkic bandits I hated most. In addition, he deliberately flattered me, thus letting a wolf into the house. I regarded him as a confidant. Who knew... Alas! Who knew that this man was a wolf in sheep's clothing, alas!"
Yuan Yueze said in a deep voice: "Shen Mohuan is the leader of the Shiwei Sand Gang. He and his wife Muling are known as the 'Husband and Wife Bandits.' They are notorious in the borderlands. They lead their band of bandits and come and go like the wind. No one can do anything to them. It is said that they also have Jieli." "Secretly supporting him, he ravaged Liaobei, killing countless people. How could you, sir, be fooled by him?"
Master Arrow said painfully, "Back then, he was indeed a member of the Southern Shiwei royal family, his infamy not yet known. It was only after the Southern Shiwei was defeated by the Great Shiwei that he became a notorious bandit. One night, he deliberately got me drunk, raped my wife Xiaojuan, and stole all my treasured bow and arrows, disappearing like a crane in the wind. Poor Xiaojuan fell ill and never recovered, eventually dying with resentment."
Yuan Yueze nodded and said, "That's old news. From what you're saying, sir, was he also responsible for the 'Hundred Flowers Massacre' a while ago?"
The Archer Master said, "I recognize the Sand Gang members even if you beat me to death. Luckily, they didn't come to steal the two divine bows I had hidden, otherwise I wouldn't have escaped alive."
Yuan Yueze said, "Please tell me more, sir."
The Archer Master's old eyes flashed with deep hatred as he said, "They took advantage of the sudden 'Anle Tragedy' to draw the attention of the Northern Frontier people to Anle, which is why they suddenly attacked me. From what they said, they just wanted to capture me alive and hand me over to Jieli. Hmph, no matter how ruthless they are, how could they be a match for my wits? After escaping, I remembered someone saying that the Baixi tribe has a primitive culture and everyone loves peace, so I thought of coming here to live in seclusion, hoping to take revenge in the future. It seems that Heaven has taken pity on me, allowing me to meet Brother Yuan today."
Yuan Yueze felt a chill in his heart. He was now certain of Jieli's purpose in sending people to capture the Archer Master. Everyone on the grasslands was skilled in riding and archery. "A craftsman must first sharpen his tools if he wants to do his work well." If someone like the Archer Master could make bows and arrows for the Turks, then the strength of the Turks would be greatly enhanced. This further demonstrates that Jieli would never let go of the lucrative Central Plains. One could even speculate that, seeing Zhao Deyan missing, Jieli would fear his long-held plan would be exposed, and thus change course, intending to take advantage of the impending Tang invasion to launch a surprise attack southward.
Of course, this is merely speculation.
Taking another drag of his cigarette, Yuan Yueze said, "Even without your great grudge, sir, I wouldn't have let Shen Mohuan and his wife go. If you don't mind, sir, could you come back to the Central Plains with me for a while?"
The archery master was astonished and said, "Of course! I even want to make more bows and arrows to properly 'repay' Jieli. But if I stay with you, Brother Yuan, I'm afraid I'll hold you back."
Yuan Yueze led him into the bracelet, briefly explained the situation to his shocked expression, arranged for him to rest, and then came out alone.
Back at Chaolu's house, Ren Jun was nowhere to be found; only Ba Feng Han and Erdemutu were chatting.
Upon seeing Yuan Yueze enter, Erdemutu immediately stood up and respectfully said, "Brother Yuan, you are the man who was once renowned throughout the land? I truly misjudged you."
Yuan Yueze patted his shoulder, then glanced at Ba Feng Han, who was lying in bed, knowing that he was boasting again.
The two sat on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), and Yuan Yueze looked around and asked, "Where did Xiao Jun go?"
Ba Feng Han rested his head on his arm and sighed, "Your good brother's eyes light up the moment he sees a girl. Just now, Brother Tu encouraged him a couple of times, and he even forgot what his father's name was, jumping around to bother her."
Erdemutu said happily, "Brother Ren is a generous man, and he also killed the Khitan villain Huyan Jin. He is a great hero. My sister has always been picky, but I think they are quite a good match."
Yuan Yueze shook his head and chuckled, then said, "Brother Tu is exceptionally brave and valiant. Perhaps you are not content to spend your remaining years here?"
Having been in the world for a long time, he also had some ability to judge people.
Erdemutu sighed
upon hearing this, "I truly long to venture out and find the villain who assassinated the Great Khan, but my father and the other elders have established clan rules forbidding us descendants from leaving this place." He paused, then smiled bitterly, "Brother Ba just explained to me the high level of skill of the assassin who killed the Great Khan, and I feel disheartened."
Ba Feng Han suddenly said, "According to your father, your clan only arrived here twenty years ago. As far as I know, the Bai Xi people have existed for far more than a century."
Erdemutu explained, "Brother Ba, you misunderstand. Before our clan arrived here, the Bai Xi people did indeed live here. There were about six tribes at that time, the strongest of which was the Dulun Hejin tribe, located 140 li away, led by Chief Huolundu, with 40,000 households. I was still young then, and I heard..." My father said that most of the local people lived by primitive means of life. Gradually, some people from the Khitan, Xi, and Shiwei tribes, tired of the war, began to migrate here, bringing new habits. After more than ten years of integration, they became the Baixi tribe as we know them today. For example, Sude was originally a Khitan.
Ba Feng Han pondered, "So that means this village is only a small part of the Baixi tribe, and Huo Lundu is your leader?"
Erdemutu said, "More or less, but due to the heavy rains of the past few years, this area is full of swamps, and it is temporarily impossible to truly establish an army. Therefore, he cannot compare with the current Ahui clan of the Xi tribe."
The Xi tribe was formerly known as Kumoxi. They were a branch of the Donghu Xianbei Yuwen tribe, along with the Khitan. They were divided into five tribes: Ruhewang, Mohefu, Qige, Mukun, and Shide. Each tribe's chief was called Sijin, and Ahui clan was the chief of the tribe.
Yuan Yueze realized that this place was indeed riddled with hidden swamps, no wonder no one had attacked. His deduction during the day had clearly been too hasty. He said, "Brother Tu should already know that I am a mortal enemy of the person who assassinated the noble Khan, so you can rest assured. As long as I have a breath left, that person will surely suffer the consequences."
Erdemutu's face lit up with joy, but a fleeting shadow of sadness crossed his eyes. Both Yuan Yueze and Erdemutu knew that he was troubled by his inability to leave this place, but no one could help him with this matter. Just then, Ren Jun returned, beaming with pride. It seemed he had made quite a haul, and he was bound to be teased by the others.
The next day, to thank the Chaolu family for their hospitality, Yuan Yueze left them a considerable amount of gold and silver, instructing them to buy more daily necessities to improve their lives. Afterward, the group bid farewell and set off.
After discussion, Yue Kepeng and his party continued their mission. Yuan Yueze had temporarily prepared a batch of rare treasures for them, which could be used to make up the difference in Longquan. Even if they couldn't recover the goods, they could still complete their mission. Yue Kepeng and the others were extremely grateful. Yuan Yueze, Ba Feng Han, and Ren Jun were heading to Yan Yuan Ji to find Ma Ji.
Ba Feng Han, leading his horse, sighed, "If I had to say what surprised me most, it wouldn't be that you walked right into the trap on the grasslands, but that you didn't even prepare a horse."
Yuan Yueze glanced at Ba Feng Han's beloved horse, "Taklamakan," and laughed, "I still prefer to walk on my own two legs."
Then, turning to the sullen Ren Jun, he said, "Xiao Jun must be reluctant to leave Qiqige. You should go back and be with her!"
Ren Jun's face flushed red, and he awkwardly explained, "No...no, brother, you misunderstood, I..."
He was clearly not a skilled liar and couldn't even come up with an excuse.
Ba Feng Han laughed loudly, "Gentle Fragrance is the grave of heroes, Xiao Jun, remember this well, ha! Brother Yuan is an exception."
Yuan Yue Ze said irritably, "How am I an exception? I just understand the situation. Don't worry, Xiao Jun, after this trip, I will accompany you to propose marriage."
Ren Jun's tender face was still red, but a look of gratitude flashed in his eyes.
Ba Feng Han said, "Jieli intended to lure you to the grasslands, but why hasn't he taken any action yet?"
Yuan Yueze chuckled, "Plans never keep up with changes. Maybe Jieli realized he can't afford to offend me!"
Ba Feng Han knew he was joking, and shrugged helplessly. He then said, "Two people have suddenly disappeared from the village. Will anyone notice? Especially Su De."
Yuan Yueze pondered for a moment, then said, "Su De harbors ill intentions towards the princess. Even if I had spoken to him politely, he probably wouldn't have given up. Sigh, hearing you say that, I suddenly have a bad feeling."
Ba Feng Han gracefully mounted his horse, saying, "Even if Su De knows the person is missing, he probably wouldn't dare to spread it. His wife is so terrifying; she probably wishes the princess would disappear sooner."
He then spurred his horse, and the Taklamakan rose to its feet, letting out a long neigh before shooting forward like lightning. Ba Feng Han laughed loudly, "Brother Yuan, you wouldn't have any designs on the princess either, would you?"
Before Yuan Yueze could react, Ba Feng Han had already galloped forward several dozen feet.
After shaking his head and chuckling, he and Ren Jun used their lightness skills to follow closely behind Ba Feng Han. The three of them and their horse galloped freely across the boundless green expanse stretching to the horizon.
Yan Yuan Ji could not be called a city, county, or town; it was merely a trading market for nomadic tribes from various places near the eastern shore of the great lake, Fishing Lake. Centered on a vast open space, it was surrounded by nearly a hundred irregularly distributed tents, each with its own unique features and vibrant colors, creating a spectacular sight.
When the three arrived, the open space was filled with a lively crowd. Judging from their clothing, they were mainly of Khitan, Mo, Turkic, and Hui ethnicities, both men and women, all dressed up, creating a festive atmosphere.
The three stood on a small hill and looked out. Ba Fenghan said, "We're a bit lucky; we've stumbled upon their trading day. This will continue for more than ten days, with people constantly coming and going. For the people of the grasslands, this is an important time. They can not only exchange for goods and wealth they lack, but even for women."
Ren Junzheng watched as a caravan of oxcarts entered the outskirts of Yanyuan Market, followed by a magnificent sheep herd of hundreds of sheep, their bleating incessant. Yuan Yueze said thoughtfully, “People from the Central Plains often say that the land beyond the Great Wall is a barbaric place, but it’s really just different customs due to different geographical factors. For example, some tribes on the grasslands live in tree nests, while others hide in earthen caves or build houses by mixing mud with the blood of cattle and sheep. In fact, no one wants to be like that; they are just influenced by nature.”
Ba Feng Han nodded and said, “There are countless customs on the grasslands, some of which are probably unimaginable to you people from the Central Plains, such as brothers sharing a wife, or using a wife to entertain guests. There are even absurd ones. Under normal circumstances, the trading of women is limited to within the tribe, but if slaves are captured in war, they will be brought here to be exchanged for more useful things such as horses, sheep, and sable. Now, Brother Yuan, you should understand why I…” "I traveled thousands of miles to the Central Plains precisely because I admire your culture. During the prosperous Sui Dynasty, the royal families and tribal chiefs of the various border states all learned your language."
Yuan Yueze chuckled mischievously, "Was your Chinese taught by Badier?"
Ba Feng Han was taken aback at first, then fell silent, and after a long while said painfully, "You bastard, you know too much. Alas, how can I put it? I used to think that only solitude could lead to the pinnacle of martial arts
, but after meeting you, I've become somewhat confused, and what's worse, I can't help but think of her from time to time." Back then, Badier was only fifteen years old, the wife chosen by Tuli Khan. She was chasing Ba Feng Han in the desert with Tuli and his elite warriors when a sandstorm struck, leaving her lost and alone, where she was captured by Ba Feng Han. Her slender yet voluptuous beauty, her alluring, expressive eyes, and her defiant and challenging gaze strongly attracted Ba Feng Han, igniting his deep-seated desires and leading to their most intimate relationship. Afterwards, Badel fell deeply in love with him and even wandered with him across the desert grasslands for a time.
Badel was Zhao Deyan's disciple, and her martial arts skills were truly inherited from him. Ba Feng Han learned his Chinese from her, and it was during this time that he developed a longing for the profound culture of the Central Plains, deciding to travel south. For the sake of his martial arts pursuits, on a heartbreaking night, he finally and quietly left her. Badel was the only woman who could make him feel guilty.
After encountering Yuan Yueze, a man with many wives, Ba Feng Han began to question his past actions.
Yuan Yueze said casually, "Regarding this matter, I can't give you much experience. I just feel that if you put your heart into it, you don't need to consider the people and things around you, because those are all illusions. Only a heart trained under such circumstances can be the strongest heart."
Ren Jun seemed thoughtful after hearing this, while Ba Feng Han's tiger eyes gleamed as he said, "What you said does make sense. Perhaps it's similar to some Buddhist views, but how easy is it to control the seven emotions and six desires?"
Yuan Yueze didn't answer him, but instead asked Ren Jun, "Little Jun, what do you think is the highest level of dealing with 'emotions'?"
Ren Jun realized that the emotions he was referring to were not simply romantic love, and pondered, "I think being heartless is the highest. Like Brother Ba, it's somewhat similar to 'ruthlessness.' Brother Ba, please forgive my bluntness."
How could Ba Feng Han blame him? He smiled bitterly upon hearing this. Yuan Yueze shook his head and said, "Human emotions are indeed difficult to control. Throughout history, those who wish to cultivate the Dao and comprehend life and death have all been lonely. This certainly doesn't just refer to the 'heartlessness' that Xiao Jun mentioned, but rather to viewing all things in the world with a transcendent perspective, which is a step above 'ruthlessness.' However, I believe the most profound is 'emptiness of emotion.' I firmly believe that people certainly have the ability to control their emotions at will, being immersed in tenderness one moment and abandoning everything the next."
Ren Jun said, "Brother, what you advocate is cultivating the mind. If you have the right mindset, the illusions will disappear on their own, and I will be free and unrestrained."
Ba Feng Han sighed, thinking, "To achieve that, would I still be human? It's not as convenient as my method." He spurred his horse down the hill and laughed loudly, "Brother Yuan, please forgive me for not being able to do what you say. Let's go into the market first!"

Chapter 125 The Demonic Monk's Gamble:
Three people and one horse, walking and looking around. Standing in the heart of Yan Yuan Market, experiencing the customs of the nomadic peoples of the northern grasslands. Regardless of gender, everyone carried a bow and a knife, sitting on horseback as comfortably as if they were in a chair. Different ethnic groups spoke different dialects, and their clothing and attire were dazzling and incomprehensible to the eye.
Those trading here included ordinary herders, but more often came chieftains, local tyrants, and even bullies, yet everyone followed established rules, haggling over prices without any instances of the strong bullying the weak. The goods traded were abundant, including various livestock, cowhides, sheepskins, deer hides, local wines, and utensils, as well as silk and ceramics from the Central Plains—a feast for the eyes and a truly eye-opening experience. The absence of other Han Chinese in the market made Yuan Yueze and Ren Jun particularly conspicuous, attracting the attention of many unfriendly Khans who wanted to cause trouble, but they immediately retreated upon seeing the uniquely shaped straight cleaver on Ren Jun's back.
Ba Feng Han sighed, "The bandits we didn't finish killing yesterday should have already spread the news of Huyan Jin's death. Xiao Jun has become famous overnight."
Ren Jun blushed at the praise and nodded obsequiously.
Yuan Yueze said, "It's clear that most of these people are extremely disgusted with us; their eyes are burning with hatred."
Ren Jun muttered, "That's Yang Changguang's fault. During his reign, he made the relationship between the Han people and the various tribes of the grasslands extremely bad. We haven't done anything wrong."
Yuan Yueze said wistfully, "How many people in the world can objectively view commonalities and individualities?"
As he spoke, Ba Feng Han led the two to the front of Ma Jin's group of tents. More than a dozen Turkic armed men rushed out from between the tents, blocking their way. Just as they were about to shout angrily, they suddenly caught sight of Yuan Yueze's face, which had just turned around. Their expressions changed drastically, and after letting out a strange cry, more than a hundred burly armed men poured out from the nearest group of tents, surrounding the three of them with murderous intent.
Sixty paces away, the curtain of the main tent suddenly lifted, revealing two burly figures who slowly approached.
The one on the left was dressed as a Khitan, carrying two swords on his back. Though not handsome, he was tall and upright, with dark, gleaming skin. Most striking were his eyes, which seemed to open and close at the same time—a sharp glint when open, and an unfathomable depth when closed, giving him an air of disdain and arrogance. His broad forehead and high brow bones revealed his strong and stubborn personality, and his slightly upturned lips seemed to always carry a hint of disdain and confident smile, making him unforgettable.
The one on the right, wielding a spear, was young, handsome, and exuded the air of a first-rate master. In just a few steps, the two reached the outer edge of the battle, coldly observing the three, their eyes sharp as blades.
The young man holding the spear said in Chinese, "I was unaware of your arrival, Brother Yuan and Brother Ba. Tuoba Miefu has failed to greet you properly; please forgive me."
Ba Feng Han could tell these two were no ordinary men; his face remained calm as a rock, showing no emotion. He said, "Brother Tuoba, you are too kind. The three of us only wish to see Maji."
Tuoba Miefu's eyes flashed with anger at Ba Feng Han's disrespect, but he still spoke politely, "Where has my lord offended Brother Ba?"
The Khitan giant glared at Ren Jun with eyes blazing with fury and coldly snorted in Turkic, "I am Huyan Tie..." " Ren, you are the chief warrior of the Khitan chieftain Abaojia. I've heard that you are exceptionally skilled in martial arts, Brother Ren
. Would you be so kind as to demonstrate your skills?" Ba Feng Han looked at him and said approvingly, "I've heard that you are hailed as the most outstanding master of the new generation of Khitan warriors. You are indeed remarkable. What is your relationship with Huyan Jin?"
Huyan Tiezhen was not intimidated by Ba Feng Han's imposing aura and stared intently at Ren Jun, saying, "I have no relation to Huyan Jin, but he was the chieftain's subordinate and was killed by you, Brother Ren. I must seek justice for him. Otherwise, what face does the chieftain have?"
A larger crowd gathered, many already drawing their bows and aiming at the three, cheering loudly at the news.
Yuan Yueze initially observed coldly, but suddenly sensed something was amiss. The two in front of him were clearly stalling for time, and Ma Ji was likely taking the opportunity to escape. His lightning-fast eyes scanned the area, noticing dust rising in the southeast. He immediately leaped after them, shouting, "Attack!"
In an instinctive reaction, a hail of arrows rained down on Yuan Yueze.
The next moment, everyone on Ma Ji's side was stunned: Yuan Yueze vanished dozens of feet away in the blink of an eye, like a hedgehog.
In that brief moment, Ba Feng Han and Ren Jun had seized the initiative.
"Clang!"
"Chang Kong" and "Zhan Xuan" were drawn simultaneously, emitting a crisp sound.
Green and white lightning streaked across the air at lightning speed as Ba Feng Han and Ren Jun charged into the crowd.
Ordinary characters were no match for these two. Having just slain two Tangut warriors, Ren Jun felt a sense of unease. A murderous aura and blade energy enveloped him completely. Two sharp blade energies attacked his head and back from the upper right, with astonishing speed.
Before he could even curse himself for being too arrogant and forgetting Yuan Yueze's advice to hold back his strength in every strike, he spun around, his blade flashing and transforming into a shower of azure light that protected his entire body.
"Clang!"
One attack was premeditated, the other a hasty counterattack; the difference in skill was immediately apparent.
Ren Jun was no match for Huyan Tiezhen's seemingly simple two strikes, which were actually incredibly varied and powerful. He was forced back four steps, and the chilling true energy pierced his meridians, causing him immense discomfort.
Huyan Tiezhen laughed loudly, "What kind of Central Plains expert? You can only bully small fry like Huyan Jin!"
With that, he leaped into the air, his twin blades slashing down like lightning, aiming straight for Ren Jun's head.
After slaying dozens of ferocious men, Ba Feng Han was nearly exhausted of his inner energy. His combat experience far surpassed Ren Jun's, so he employed his most proficient technique of multitasking, simultaneously killing enemies while keeping a portion of his attention focused on Tuoba Miefu, who stood guard at Yuanting Yuezhi. Just as Tuoba Miefu's momentum reached its peak, his body leaned slightly forward, causing Ba Feng Han to momentarily lose focus. A burly man wielding a longsword in front of him suddenly shifted his sword stance, unleashing a dazzling sword flourish that not only obstructed Ba Feng Han's left-side view but also posed a significant threat to his distracted state.
Almost simultaneously, Tuoba Miefu transformed into a wisp of smoke, striking with lightning speed. His spear, like an angry dragon emerging from its cave, generated a whistling wind, creating a sharp trajectory symbolizing the pinnacle of power. Seemingly clumsy yet skillfully executed, it relentlessly attacked Ba Feng Han's face with overwhelming force.
Ba Feng Han let out a long roar, shifting his sword slightly to the right before pulling back with a downward elbow strike. Then, with a sudden twist of his body, the longsword inside his robes exploded into a ball of energy reflecting multicolored light. This not only dispelled the sword net obstructing his vision but also, in a simultaneous attack and defense, created a rain of light surrounding the seemingly real sword, meeting Tuoba Miefu's spear with exquisite and wondrous variations—a stroke of genius.
"Clang!"
A piercing sound rang out, and Tuoba Miefu shuddered violently, staggering back two steps uncontrollably. Ba Feng Han gave Tuoba Miefu no chance, flashing forward in pursuit.
Hu Yan Tie Zhen's twin blades were incredibly varied and sharp, truly deserving of the title of the most outstanding warrior of the Khitan. His twin blades were like two venomous snakes seeking an opening, relentlessly attacking Ren Jun without giving him any chance.
Ren Jun, as still as a meditating monk, clearly perceived that Huyan Tiezhen's twin swords, attacking simultaneously, not only differed in their intensity and timing, but also in their angles, strength, and points of attack—a perfect blend of unchanging and ever-changing.
A sharp whistle pierced the air, and the azure light intensified, transforming into a sky full of illusory and real phantoms, like mercury spilling onto the ground, relentlessly meeting Huyan Tiezhen's attack.
The clash of metal was incessant, but the initial onslaught proved ineffective. Huyan Tiezhen, filled with fear, retreated only a small step before the sword shadows vanished. Ren Jun, his eyes gleaming, gripped his swords and brought them down with deadly force.
Huyan Tiezhen was terrified. His opponent's seemingly ordinary, even somewhat clumsy, strike evoked in him the horrific image of a massive, blood-soaked battle, a battlefield strewn with corpses, where the sun and moon had been dimmed. His intuition told him: this strike was absolutely unacceptable.
"Clang!"
After a deep, thunderous sound, Huyan Tiezhen coughed up blood, his entire body sent flying dozens of feet by Ren Jun's blade.
On the other side, Ren Tuoba Miefu, who had exhausted all his strength and repeatedly changed his spear stance but could not counter Ba Feng Han's seemingly effortless and natural swordplay, also let out a scream and was thrown out of the battle, his fate unknown.
The battle descriptions are slow, but in reality, it all happened in the blink of an eye.
Although Ba Feng Han and his companion had killed over a hundred people, there were simply too many enemies, and another volley of arrows flew over, forcing them to switch from offense to defense, missing a good opportunity to pursue.
However, the two had undergone Yuan Yueze's marrow cleansing and transformation, and their strength was no longer comparable to before. Moreover, the people who surrounded them were a mixture of Ma Ji's subordinates and Huyan Tiezhen's subordinates. Huyan Tiezhen had fled with his tail between his legs, and his subordinates were not foolish enough to throw their lives away. In addition, most of their morale had been broken, and they all began to flee.
The two of them had killed hundreds of people together, but their true energy was almost exhausted. Ren Jun sat down heavily on the ground, panting, and asked, "Brother, will you be able to catch up with Maji?"
Ba Feng Han didn't answer him, but instead stared intently at the isolated main tent.
There wasn't a single person left around.
Yuan Yueze's exasperated voice rang out, "Maji, get out here now!"
In a flash, Yuan Yueze appeared in front of the ornately equipped tent.
A fleshy ball rolled out from inside.
Yuan Yueze stared at him in astonishment.
Whether in the borderlands or the Central Plains, he had never seen anyone dressed more luxuriously or adorned with more jewels than Maji. His Hanfu, both inner and outer robes, were not only well-tailored but also exquisitely embroidered, with patterns of the sun, moon, and stars creating a colorful and magnificent effect. Maji's tall crown and jade belt were both studded with gemstones, sparkling in the sunlight. Every place where chains and rings could be hung was adorned. He looked like a burden, yet he seemed perfectly content.
This man, the most notorious thief and scoundrel of the vast grasslands, was far from pleasant to look at; he was fat and short, with a huge belly, a swollen face, and bulging eyes—a picture of excessive drinking and womanizing. He slumped in front of Yuan Yueze like a defeated rooster. Ba
Feng Han and his companion surrounded him.
Yuan Yueze said to them, "Damn it, this bastard dared to play me, sending someone to lure me away, planning to quickly kill you both before leaving. Heh! Do you think my brothers, Yuan Yueze's brothers, are so easily dealt with? What do you have to say before you die?"
Ma Ji's fat body trembled violently. He looked up and met Yuan Yueze's piercing eyes, and said in fluent Chinese with a pained expression, "I admit defeat. I'm willing to exchange secret information for Brother Yuan's life!"
He habitually narrowed his eyes, which flashed with a strange light, revealing not only his profound skill but also his shrewdness, cunning, and formidable nature—not someone to be trifled with.
His cultivation was like that of a child compared to Yuan Yueze and his companions, yet he remained composed even in this disadvantageous situation, demonstrating that his years of experience in the martial world had not been in vain.
Ba Feng Han scoffed, "What great secret could a small-time merchant like you, struggling to make a living, possibly know that's worth your life? I'll just kill you now."
With that, he swung his sword down.
Ma Ji didn't beg for mercy, facing Ba Feng Han's terrifying sword strike with unwavering pride.
Yuan Yueze nodded inwardly; Ba Feng Han wasn't impulsive. His actions were simply a test of Ma Ji's sincerity.
Catching Ba Feng Han's sword with ease, Yuan Yueze thought to himself that this man certainly had something to rely on, so he said, "If the information satisfies me, I promise to spare your life, but don't let me see you again. Moreover, this promise only applies to me."
Ma Ji replied without hesitation, "Then you might as well kill me. Otherwise, with Brother Ba and Brother Ren's cultivation, which one of them couldn't kill me?"
This guy was indeed extraordinary, instantly turning the tables and throwing Yuan Yueze and the others into disarray.
Ba Feng Han said in a deep voice, "If you swear that the information you provide is indeed valuable, the three of us will not touch you for twelve hours, or we will suffer a terrible death."
Ma Ji was overjoyed and immediately swore a solemn oath. Ba Feng Han was always a man of his word; no one could doubt his promise. He was confident that he could escape to a safe place in a day and a night, and after the storm had passed, he would return to cause trouble and avenge this great humiliation.
Yuan Yueze picked him up, lifted the curtain, and said to Ba Fenghan and the other man, "Let's talk inside."
The four of them sat down in the spacious tent. The carpet was soft and comfortable, and the walls were decorated with colorful tapestries and embroidered tapestries, making it magnificent and splendid. In the middle were baskets of various fresh fruits, precious Persian tableware, and large platters of fragrant mutton, showing the luxurious and particular lifestyle of its owner.
Maji pulled the dagger stuck in the roasted mutton, cut off three slices and offered them to the three men, sighing, "My three brothers are skilled in martial arts and uphold chivalry. I, Maji, suddenly regret my actions over the years..."
Yuan Yueze shouted, "If you dare to ramble on and play tricks, I'd rather not listen to your news. Since I dared to come alone, I didn't take Jieli seriously!"
Maji's momentum vanished, his fear of Yuan Yueze resurfacing, and he said dejectedly, "If I'm not mistaken, Brother Yuan's purpose in coming here is to create more chaos on the grasslands, preventing them from invading the Central Plains due to internal strife."
Yuan Yueze said, "Anyone with a brain can guess that. Enough with the nonsense."
Maji continued, "I only have one piece of information, which I believe is enough to save my life. Brother Yuan, do you know that the Eastern and Western Turks are about to reunite?" "Unified?"
Yuan Yueze and the other two were stunned. Ba Fenghan asked, "Jieli and Tongyehu have differing political views, why would they agree to unite as one? Who will be the Great Khan?"
Maji shook his head and said, "I don't know the details, but this news is absolutely true. Brother Yuan probably doesn't know that Jieli originally planned to lure you to the grasslands to kill you. I only received the news of the Turkic reunification a few days ago. I wonder if Jieli will cancel his plan to kill you?"
The image of Liu Yu flashed through Yuan Yueze's mind. He thought that if this man were still alive, he would indeed be able to persuade Jieli and Tongyehu that the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates could never be unified again. But if he could just point out a common goal between Jieli and Tongyehu, such as the Central Plains, they could cooperate to invade the Central Plains in the future, divide the spoils, and then decide whether to fight or make peace. Jieli and Tongyehu would not miss such a good opportunity. If that were the case, it seemed that his father-in-law, the Grand Turk, Yun Shuai, had not accomplished anything in the Western Turkic Khaganate.
Ba Feng Han said in a deep voice, "Are you aware of Jie Li's original plan to ambush and kill Brother Yuan?"
Ma Ji smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid Brother Ba won't believe it, but I hate Jie Li to death. My cooperation with him is only superficial, and of course he wouldn't reveal any important secrets to me."
Yuan Yueze absolutely believed this. The major powers such as Bai Ziting, Funantuo, Khitan, Shiwei, and Goryeo were all opposed to Jie Li. Jie Li was cruel and tyrannical, running rampant on the grasslands, levying exorbitant taxes, and everyone dared not speak out against him. Just like the fate of the Arrow Master, it was very likely that Shen Mo Huan was forced by Jie Li to arrest the Arrow Master. Thinking of this, he had a sudden thought and said, "Let's not talk about Jieli for now. Tell me about your plans with Bai Ziting first."
Maji said, "Funantuo has forced Meiyan to hand over the Five-Colored Stone to Bai Ziting. The establishment of the Bohai Kingdom is a foregone conclusion. That's why I said Jieli might cancel his plan to besiege you, because the urgent matter is how to deal with the soon-to-be-unified Mohe. I only received news this morning that Tuli has made peace with Jieli and is preparing to join forces to destroy the common enemy, the Bohai Kingdom."
Meiyan refers to Maji's biological daughter, Funantuo's lover, the beautiful lady of the Yiwu tribe. She is elusive and has no fixed abode. She is as beautiful as a flower and as venomous as a snake. Her beauty is renowned throughout the northern frontier, attracting a large number of devoted men who flock around her.
Yuan Yueze did not expect things to develop so quickly. The Five-Colored Stone had already fallen into Bai Ziting's hands. No wonder Tuli made peace with Jieli, because they would stop at nothing to prevent anyone from unifying the eight tribes of Mohe with the Five-Colored Stone.
Ren Jun asked curiously, "What are the Five-Colored Stones? Can they influence the situation on the grasslands?"
Yuan Yueze replied without hesitation, "The Five-Colored Stones are a symbol of the founding of the Orthodox Persian Mingzun religion. Originally named 'Hegennile,' meaning 'Stone of Light,' it was brought to the grasslands fifty years ago by the messenger of light, Ramo. Ramo originally intended to deal with a group of apostates who fled from Persia to the grasslands, but his mission failed because those apostates settled in the Uyghur region and established another Mingzun religion. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, the Mohe people split into seven tribes, collectively known as the Mohe. Later, their leader obtained this treasure from Ramo and used it to adorn the crown of the chieftain. The Five-Colored Stones thus became a symbol of the Mohe leaders. Later, the Khitans invaded, the Mohe were destroyed, and their people scattered to various places, forming the seven Mohe tribes. The most powerful was the one in the north, with the Black Water..." The Mohe and the southern Limo Mohe, the other five tribes were all insignificant. The five-colored stone thus fell into the hands of the Khitans. It had originally been kept in Abaojia's tent, but was suddenly stolen several years ago and its whereabouts were unknown. For Bai Ziting to obtain this stone was like the Central Plains people obtaining the He Shi Bi jade; it would greatly increase his power, allowing him to legitimately establish a state.
Maji stared at Yuan Yueze for a long time, then sighed, "Brother Yuan, you know so much about this matter, it's truly admirable."
He paused, then continued, "I knew him before Funantuo came to Longquan. This man is incredibly eloquent, deeply cunning, and extremely formidable. Five years ago, Bai Ziting was still content to be the chieftain of his Sumo tribe, enduring Jieli's harsh treatment year after year. When he came west to Funantuo to spread the Dharma, he obtained the famous hexagram for establishing a state, which changed his fate, and also the fate of the entire Sumo tribe. Obtaining this hexagram for establishing a state..." After a while, news came from the Khitan leader Abaojia that the five-colored stone he had kept for many years had been stolen. This further boosted Bai Ziting's confidence, which he interpreted as a sign from the divination. Furthermore, Tuli and Jieli were clashing on many issues, and Jieli's excessive use of Zhao Deyan and his unreasonable demands caused those who had always been aligned with Jieli to become disloyal. Under these circumstances, Bai Ziting embarked on a massive construction project at Longquan, expanding his army and preparing for war. In reality, the truly ambitious one was Funanda; Bai Ziting was merely his puppet. I suspect that even if Bohai successfully established itself as a kingdom, Funanda would still kill Bai Ziting, install his son as a puppet emperor, and become the retired emperor himself, eventually taking over the throne when the time was right. Unfortunately, Bai Ziting was wise throughout his life. It wasn't until more than two years ago, when Funanda began associating with Gaesomun of Goryeo, that he became wary, and by then it was too late. Even more terrifying is Funanda... He had become a god in the hearts of the Sumo people, like Bi Xuan to the Turks and Fu Cailin to Goryeo. Even Bai Ziting couldn't touch him.
Ba Feng Han pondered, "Even if Bohai were to establish a kingdom, what would Fu Nan Tuo use to fight against the Golden Wolf Army and the Black Wolf Army?"
Ma Ji said, "This is a high-stakes gamble planned by Fu Nan Tuo. Ideally, Bai Ziting would die in battle, and Fu Nan Tuo would lead the troops to repel the Wolf Army. Gai Su Wen would then seize the throne of King Gao Jianwu of Goryeo and take his place. At worst, Fu Nan Tuo could share the gold and silver treasures that Bai Ziting had accumulated over the years with Gai Su Wen , and then
return to their respective countries. Only the Sumo people would die; they wouldn't lose a single hair. If successful, the benefits would be immeasurable." Yuan Yue Ze thought to himself that Gai Su Wen had already lost an arm, but it seemed that his influence in Goryeo's politics and army had not decreased but increased, which was puzzling. He casually asked, "How much do you know about the Ghost Fiend? I know he has some connection with Fu Nanta."
Ma Ji was taken aback and said, "I really don't know about this. We were originally allied to rebel against Jieli, but Fu Nanta is too treacherous and cunning. There has always been a rift between us, and we each acted independently. How could we possibly cooperate closely?"
Ren Jun interjected, "Boss Ma, shouldn't you give us some information? We came here for the goods from Cheshi Kingdom and the young lady."
A fierce glint flashed in Ma Ji's eyes. He said, "The goods from Cheshi Kingdom were only delivered by Huyan Tiezhen today; they haven't been shipped out in batches yet. The young lady's sheepskin was obtained from Bai Ziting; only a small portion has been processed. The goods are all in the warehouse to the right rear. Ah, the three of you have come at just the right time. Would you like to come with me to inspect them?"
The three simultaneously remembered that he had fled in the face of battle, abandoning them to their fate.
Yuan Yueze waved his hand, indicating it wasn't necessary, then asked curiously, "What is Bai Ziting's current situation?"
Ma Ji shook his head blankly, saying, "He might still be engaged in a final battle with Fu Nanta, or he might have already been controlled by Fu Nanta. I don't know."
Yuan Yueze said calmly, "Please, sir. I hope we never meet again."
Ma Ji lowered his head; no one knew what he was thinking. He responded softly and turned to leave.
Yuan Yueze shouted, "Take that woman behind the screen away!"
Ba Feng Han and Ren Jun subconsciously glanced at the large screen in the distance.
When Yuan Yueze entered, he had already sensed a woman behind the screen. His spiritual cultivation had reached a profound and unfathomable realm, far beyond what Ba Feng Han and Ren Jun could currently match. At that time, when he used his spiritual sense to investigate, he discovered that the woman's breathing had ceased, and there was no sign of true qi flowing through her meridians. There were only faint signs of primordial spirit activity. Although he was curious, he did not pay any attention to it.
Without turning his head, Ma Ji said, "I'm exhausted from my own escape, how could I have the energy to take care of her? Besides, she was half-dead when I rescued her, so I'll just give her to the three of you!"
Watching his fat figure leave, Ren Jun said, "Are we just going to let him go like this? If we can kill him, it'll cut off a shortcut for the bandits to get rid of their stolen goods."
Ba Feng Han replied, "One chicken dies, another crows; killing him doesn't make much sense."
Ren Jun pondered for a while and said, "But this man is not simple-minded; he won't give up so easily. We can't leave a threat behind."
Yuan Yueze got up and walked towards the screen, saying, "I agree with Xiao Jun's statement. The moment he left, I clearly felt his murderous intent. Our promise only lasts for twelve hours. Leave everything to Xiao Jun. After you've dealt with this, come to Shiwei to meet us immediately. I will send Black King to contact you."
Ren Jun responded, stood up, and ran out of the camp.
Yuan Yueze turned to the luxurious screen and stared blankly at what he saw.
On a long couch covered with thick brocade quilts lay a petite woman with a delicate figure, dressed only in a thin undergarment. Her long, cloud-like hair was loose, and her beautiful oval face had a cluster of small, star-like spots on each cheek, giving her a playful and wild appearance. Her long, phoenix-shaped eyes were tightly closed, and her hands were clasped together on her chest, like a beautiful goddess who had been asleep for many years.
She had no breath or heartbeat, no different from a dead person. But Yuan Yueze could clearly feel the youthful and fiery aura emanating from her still soft body, and her skin was smooth and radiant, without a trace of death.
Ba Feng Han, who had just arrived, was also stunned and blurted out, "Chunyu Wei!"

Chapter 126 Fierce Battle Against the Ghostly Fiend
Although Yuan Yueze felt strange about why this woman was here, he continued to use his true energy to examine her condition.
Chunyu Wei was under the influence of an extremely strange evil spell, which followed the same path as the "Imprisonment of Gods" technique of the Demon Seed Great Art, but was much more sophisticated. With his abilities, he could not break this spell without extraordinary force.
Yuan Yueze certainly wouldn't unleash his extraordinary power, otherwise it would take several days to recover, delaying their journey.
Shan Ruyin nestled weakly in Yuan Yueze's arms. Chunyu Wei, now awake, curiously surveyed everyone with her beautiful eyes.
Noticing Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han, two heroes she would never forget, a flicker of joy crossed her face, quickly fading. Her voice, hoarse and slightly broken in Mandarin, she said, "Thank you for saving my life."
Except for Xiao Bei and her daughter, who were still catching up in the outer area, the other women had all come over. They sat together, surrounding Chunyu Wei. Perhaps due to her prolonged unconsciousness, she was weak and listless, the contrasting qualities of her inner wildness and outward gentleness creating a particularly captivating charm.
Yuan Yueze was momentarily lost in thought when he heard Ba Feng Han say, "What are you doing here?"
Seeing two red clouds rise on her pale face, Shan Wanjing immediately rushed over to help her up, secretly channeling her inner energy, and said, "Sister, please don't blame us for our rudeness, not even giving you time to rest."
Chunyu Wei stared blankly at her beautiful, celestial face for a long time before shaking her head and saying, "You have done me a great favor; the Turks never owe anyone a debt of gratitude."
She paused, as if recalling something, and said, "There is a mysterious cult within the Turkic territory that has existed for many years. My master said it started decades ago..." This sect has a new leader and has begun secretly sending its underlings to infiltrate the upper echelons, influencing the Great Khan's decision-making. Their ambition is obvious. After careful planning by my master and the Great Khan, we decided to wipe them out with swift and decisive action. I won't go into the details, but before the Spring Festival, their headquarters on Dujin Mountain was razed to the ground overnight by the Golden Wolf Army. Most of their followers died as martyrs, while some who had infiltrated the Khan's court earlier surrendered.
She paused here, her beautiful eyes flashing with a mixture of hatred and fear, her breathing becoming rapid.
Everyone stared silently at her pretty face.
After a few breaths, she calmed down and continued, "According to the confessions of those who surrendered, my master personally took action, found the hiding place of their leader, and severely injured him in front of the Great Khan. That leader was no simple man; he ultimately escaped with serious injuries. My master was ordered to go to the Central Plains, so my second senior brother and I, along with the Eighteen Cavalry of the Northern Frontier, came out to search for the leader's whereabouts."
Yuan Yueze and the others listened intently, immediately realizing that the "leader" she spoke of must be the Red-Clothed Empress.
When Ba Feng Han saw Chunyu Wei mention the leader, his expression became extremely strange and complex, even he couldn't understand it. In a flash, he asked, "Does Bi Xuan believe that with the strength of your group, you can kill the injured leader?"
Chunyu Wei's expression became even stranger, and she lowered her head without answering him.
Su Su offered a few words of comfort, and Chunyu Wei raised her pretty face, staring blankly at Ba Feng Han for a long while before bitterly smiling and saying, "Master is so cruel! Alas! Poor Second Senior Brother and the others lost their lives in vain."
Only then did everyone realize that Tuoba Yu and his group had died long ago, and Chunyu Wei was the only survivor. Hearing this, they couldn't help but look at each other, not understanding why she suddenly said such an ambiguous thing.
After a long silence, Chunyu Wei sighed again, "When Master was fighting that cult leader, we realized that she was a close friend of mine and my second senior brother's for over ten years. My second senior brother had a crush on her, and in the heat of the moment, the Khan noticed something amiss. When Master sent us out, he told me on the boat that this journey was fraught with danger and that I should leave halfway. I didn't understand what he meant then, but now I do!"
Everyone suddenly understood. Although Chunyu Wei was naive, she wasn't stupid. Combining all the clues, she had guessed that Bi Xuan had to prove he had no connection with the Empress. Therefore, the best way was to send Tuoba Yu and others to capture the Empress. No matter the outcome, it wouldn't affect Bi Xuan's respected position in front of Jieli. Tuoba Yu had followed him for many years and could naturally deduce some of her thoughts, which was why he advised Chunyu Wei to leave. However, Chunyu Wei regarded him as an elder brother, so how could she leave so easily?
Yuan Yueze said in a deep voice, "Your group encountered the Empress? Brother Tuoba and the Eighteen Cavalry died at her hands?"
Chunyu Wei sneered, "Who else could it be but her! She came to the Northeast to stir up trouble, stealing human placentas, and attempting to restore her power with evil magic so as to take revenge on Master and the Great Khan!"
Yuan Yueze and the others were greatly surprised. Su Su immediately asked, "Sister, are you talking about Gui Sha? I have fought with him and I can confirm that he is not a woman."
Faced with the puzzled looks of Su Su and the others, Chunyu Wei said confidently, "I've known her since childhood. A simple glance and the intense true energy that's so similar to my master's are enough to confirm that Gui Sha is her. But why she suddenly turned into a thin, old man, I don't understand either. That day, our group landed at the Crude Sea Chart Wharf near Shiwei Black Mountain. That night, while we were resting, we were ambushed by him. Three of the Eighteen Cavalrymen were killed. Later, we chased him to Wangjian County, a hundred miles away, where he again ambushed us while we were resting, killing all my senior brothers and capturing me."
Yuan Yueze lowered his head and pondered deeply for a long time before coming to an answer that was both laughable and pathetic: the Empress was a hermaphrodite, not a real woman at all. This answer wasn't fabricated, because he remembered Yunzhi's kidnapping that day.
Ba Feng Han asked again, "Then why didn't he kill you?"
Chunyu Wei readily replied, "Because he couldn't bear to. He also said he never kills women, and since we're sisters, he wouldn't easily kill me. My constitution allows me to form a sacred embryo, enabling him not only to recover his former cultivation but also potentially surpass it. Then he made me lose consciousness, and I woke up here."
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this, and they understood why Chunyu Wei was so certain that Gui Sha was the true reason behind the Empress's existence. Yuan Yueze thought to himself, "Could it be because he never kills women that Yun Zhi was able to save her life?" He was an experienced womanizer and could tell at a glance that Chunyu Wei was still a virgin. The Empress had hidden her away, and Ma Ji and the others must have encountered her by chance. The Empress was probably looking for a suitable "seed planter."
Su Su's eyes darted around, and she said with a charming smile, "Then how about we turn the tables on her?"
Everyone understood her meaning. Chunyu Wei was slightly taken aback, but her beautiful eyes fixed on Yuan Yueze, shooting out a look of trust.
Yuan Yueze smiled and nodded at her, exuding an indescribable air of elegance and charm.
The next day, Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han left the tent and headed north towards Shiwei. The people of Yanyuanji were used to this kind of situation and quickly returned to their usual bustling life. The corpses scattered on the ground were cleaned up, leaving only the main tent, which faintly exuded an aura of death, and no one dared to approach it.
The bright moon hung obliquely in the night sky, illuminating the grassland with a hazy beauty. A gentle evening breeze rose, and the night was cool as water. The surroundings were completely silent, and the atmosphere was extremely eerie.
Thirteen days passed, and the gathering of Yanyuanji had long since dispersed. On the vast, open plain, only a solitary tent stood alone. A long wind blew, and the cloth curtain in front of the door fluttered. In this exceptionally deep darkness, it gave people an indescribable feeling of dread, making it all the more desolate and sinister. The howling of wolves came from afar, as if reminding them that the seemingly peaceful and beautiful grassland was actually fraught with hidden dangers.
Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han hid behind a small natural hill about a hundred feet away from the tent, gazing intently ahead.
Having kept watch for so many days, the two grew weary and began to chat idly.
Yuan Yueze asked, "Why hasn't Xiao Jun returned yet?" Ba
Feng Han replied, "Ma Ji was terrified. On the grasslands, if one is focused on traveling, one can cover six or seven hundred li in a day and night. Xiao Jun's stamina isn't enough, so the round trip naturally takes longer. By the way, how's your strength recovering?"
Yuan Yueze sighed, "Not even thirty percent."
It was already early March, and Zhu Yuyan still hadn't arrived. Although he was very dissatisfied with his recovery speed, he was also quite helpless.
Ba Feng Han sighed, "If we could truly resolve the evil spirits here, Brother Yuan wouldn't have had the chance to visit Shiwei."
Yuan Yueze said, "I only know that Shiwei is located upstream of the Black River, occupying the downstream section where it flows to the sea. The Black River is the largest river beyond the Great Wall. Shiwei originated from the Fengxi clan of the Nine Yi tribes of Northeast China, also known as Shiwei. They were a clan that made their living by raising pigs, with five major tribes and dozens of smaller tribes. Their language was the same as that of the Khitan."
Ba Feng Han nodded, "The five tribes are Shiwei, Da Shiwei, Bei Shiwei, Nan Shiwei, and Mengwu Shiwei. Among them, the most famous is Mengwu Shiwei. The clans of the Great Grassland all call them Mengren. It is said that they are a branch of Bo Shiwei, whose ancestors were branches of Peng or Fa before the Western Zhou Dynasty. This tribe is known for its bravery among the Shiwei people. They hold a wrestling festival and competition every year." The Horse Festival attracted many participants. This clan is full of experts. Among them, the brothers Belgunatai and Bugunatai are the most powerful in the Junggar River region. It is said that no one has ever met a general who can last ten rounds against them. They are both men I admire, and I hope they will not disappoint me one day.
Yuan Yueze frowned and said, "Gui Sha ran to Shiwei to cause trouble, and Belgunatai was unable to stop him."
Ba Feng Han laughed and said, "Shiwei is a vast area. Just look at how well Gui Sha hid Chunyu Wei. You can tell that he is particularly careful to conceal his whereabouts. Moreover, he is quite skilled. Even Tuoba Yu and the Eighteen Fierce Cavalry, who are good at coordinated attacks, died at his hands. I'm afraid the brothers Belgunatai will also have a hard time killing him."
Yuan Yueze nodded slightly, thinking that he must capture Gui Sha alive so that he can find out Xiao Ge's whereabouts from him.
Mentioning the vast grasslands, Ba Feng Han became interested and continued, "The vast grasslands are high and flat, covering a wide area with thousands of lakes of varying sizes. They stretch from the Greater Khingan Mountains in the east to the Altai Mountains in the west, from the Yin Mountains in the south to Lake Baikal and the upper reaches of the Yeni River and the Irtysh River in the north. They are over 3,000 li from east to west and over 2,000 li from north to south. Even with the fastest horse, traveling at a speed of 100 li a day without rest, and without any obstacles, it would take at least a month to cross this vast grassland. The vast area from the Kenchi Mountains to the Greater Khingan Mountains, from the Onon River to the Kerulen River and the Yin Mountains, consists of gently rolling hills, plains, deserts, and mountains. The vast Gobi Desert, with its endless yellow sand, is located in the southern and western parts of the grasslands. Severely lacking water, it is the most daunting barren land on this plain, and the climate is extremely changeable, with strong winds in spring and heavy rains in the north during summer." "The south is arid and hot,"
Yuan Yueze nodded. "In this vast region with its unique natural scenery, the most precious things are grass and water, the basic conditions for survival, neither of which can be lacking. Whenever the water and grass in one place run out, people move to different pastures to solve the problem of raising livestock, thus forming a nomadic lifestyle of living by water and grass."
Ba Feng Han continued, "Livestock is a means of livelihood, and water and grass are basic conditions. The peoples on the grasslands wage a struggle for supremacy around these two elements. From the Xiongnu, to the Xianbei, Rouran, and today's Turks, one after another, they have become the hegemons of the grasslands. Some peoples have been annexed and merged with the annexed, while others have fled to distant places. The speed of these changes is probably unimaginable to Brother Yuan."
Yuan Yueze nodded secretly: Under these circumstances, the peoples who survive are all fierce and brave, and they value military force to protect their water, grass, and livestock. Therefore, there are many masters and countless capable people. Bi Xuan and Ba Feng Han are the best examples.
Ba Feng Han's voice continued, "The most fertile Hulunbuir Pasture on the Great Grassland, located between the two lakes of Kuolianhai and Buyurhai, is currently the base of Jieli. It's like the imperial palace of your Han people. If someone successfully invades this area, he will replace Jieli and become the new overlord of the grassland."
Yuan Yueze changed the subject, "Du Xing told me that Gui Sha is very likely to have a close relationship with Fu Nan Tuo. What do you think of this, Brother Ba?" Ba
Feng Han shook his head, "I can't deduce any useful clues for the time being, but anyone can imagine that they are at most colluding and using each other!"
Suddenly, the two of them trembled, stopped talking, and looked towards the northeast.
Both of them were unparalleled young masters. While talking, they were distracted by the changes in their surroundings. A series of noisy footsteps came from several hundred feet away, which immediately attracted their attention.
Ba Feng Han focused his eyes and said, "There are only two people coming, their steps unsteady. If they are desperate ghosts, that would be even better."
Yuan Yueze's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "There are at least three people coming."
Ba Feng Han was taken aback and said, "I could hear one person's footsteps and two people's breathing. One was rapid, and the other was intermittent. They might be dying, being carried. How did you know there was a third person, Brother Yuan?"
Yuan Yueze did not answer him, but gestured for him to continue looking.
In the blink of an eye, two figures appeared in their sight. The one in front was short, carrying a large man on his back, and several dozen feet behind, another strong man was chasing after them.
Ba Feng Han's pupils contracted. The short man moved with incredible speed, as if gliding across the grass, exuding no imposing aura whatsoever. His cultivation had reached a transcendent level; no wonder he had escaped Ba Feng Han's notice. The burly man behind him was also quite strong, but he was nearing his limit, his breathing erratic, his steps unsteady. The difference between him and the short man was like heaven and earth.
In the blink of an eye, the two had arrived a dozen feet from the camp. The short man suddenly stopped, whirling around to face away from Yuan Yueze and the other man.
The two exchanged a knowing glance, both understanding that the short man was most likely Gui Sha. Yuan Yueze was surprised. He had seen the Empress once before, and she looked like a pure woman. Without Chunyu Wei's guidance, he certainly wouldn't have recognized that the person before him was the same as the Empress, let alone the Su Su, whom he had only heard of.
The burly man who had been chasing them was exhausted and immediately stopped as well. The two faced each other from a distance.
One was panting heavily, the other calm and collected; without a fight, the difference in their abilities was clear.
Yuan Yueze and his companion exchanged glances again, both vaguely understanding that the burly man on the short figure's shoulder must be the chosen "seed planter," and the pursuers were undoubtedly his relatives and friends.
The short man spoke, his voice chillingly low in Turkic: "Do you want me to finish you off, or will you take your own life?"
His voice was high-pitched and deep, yet it possessed a strange quality that seemed to pierce the magnificent starry sky and shake the mountains and grasslands.
The burly man's breathing calmed slightly, and he also spoke hatefully in Turkic: "Ghost Fiend, you captured my elder brother for no reason and severely injured Brother Ren who stood up for justice! Even if my cultivation is inferior to yours, I, Bugunatai, will never bow down!"
Yuan Yueze and his companion were stunned. Needless to say, the identities of the two men before them were clear: the man on Ghost Fiend's shoulder must be Belgunatai, and the pursuers were his younger brother, Bugunatai. What surprised the two even more was that the "Brother Ren" mentioned by Bugunatai was very likely Ren Jun. Perhaps Ren Jun had encountered this matter halfway and intervened, only to be severely injured by Gui Sha.
Yuan Yueze remained calm. Bugunatai's words indicated that Ren Jun was only seriously injured, not dead. Even so, his hatred for Gui Sha had reached a new level.
The two carefully observed Bugunatai, whose breathing had stabilized. He was not tall, but as strong as an iron tower. His broad, thick shoulders made him appear square. A saber hung at his waist, his eyes were sharp, and his hair was cut to a short length, stiff as iron needles, resembling a boar bristle brush. His appearance was not handsome, but he possessed a powerful and charismatic aura that was endearing.
Gui Sha chuckled, "I searched for a long time before finding your elder brother. He's the reincarnation of my Holy Sect's child, so he should do his best for me. Besides, I'm not harming him; I just want him to enjoy a beautiful woman."
Yuan Yueze thought to himself, "What you say is indeed true, but judging from your methods and actions, no one can believe it."
Sure enough, a cold glint flashed in Bu Gunatai's eyes, followed by his pupils dilating and shooting out strange light—a sign of his gathering power.
With a roar, Bu Gunatai leaned his left shoulder forward, sprang up with his right foot, and stepped forward with his left, shooting towards Gui Sha like a cannonball. After a crisp sound, his twin blades were already in his hands. He drew two small semicircles, one above and one below, drawing all the life and death energy into the blades. The blade tips gleamed like two cold stars, attacking Gui Sha's throat and dantian.
The chilling blade energy filled the entire space. This one move alone was enough to show that he was no ordinary person.
This was a move he had unleashed at full power, a desperate, ruthless, and suicidal attack—a fight to the death.
Ghostly Fiend let out a low whistle, advancing instead of retreating. His withered right hand emerged from his wide sleeve, and his thin, hunched figure magically shifted to within a foot of Bugunata's left, striking out with a palm.
His palm strike produced no whistling wind, nor did it carry any force. Yet Bugunata clearly realized that not only was his attack futile, but all his counter-attack routes were blocked, leaving him utterly helpless.
While Ghostly Fiend was still pondering how to toy with Bugunata, he suddenly felt a warning: two extremely powerful sword energies were attacking from the left and right. Immediately, he dared not be careless, throwing Bugunata away and parrying with his own palm.
Strangely, their palms met the two swords without producing a sound.
"Pfft!"
The combined attack of Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han was too much for even the mighty Gui Sha to withstand. He spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back two steps
before regaining his footing. Yuan Yueze and Ba Feng Han had already blocked all of Gui Sha's escape routes.
Given their personalities, they wouldn't easily combine their attacks, but the current situation was special, and Yuan Yueze wasn't entirely safe. Therefore, they attacked together, determined not to give Gui Sha any chance to escape.
The two exchanged glances.
Gui Sha appeared to be at least fifty years old, with a wrinkled face, purplish-red skin, and eyes that seemed to be half-open, occasionally flashing with a sharp light, as if reminding one that this was no ordinary old man.
From any angle, he bore no resemblance to the woman Yuan Yueze had seen that day.
Upon seeing Yuan Yueze's face clearly, Gui Sha's eyes flashed with surprise. He sneered, "Yuan Yueze! I heard you left long ago, but I didn't expect to see you here. What? Want to meddle? We'll see if you have the ability."
Taking the opportunity, he ran over to help his brother, Bugunatai, up. He stared blankly at Yuan Yueze, never expecting to receive help from Han Chinese, who were usually looked down upon by the grassland people, at the most dangerous moment.
Gui Sha didn't mention Ba Feng Han at all. He seemed agitated, but in reality, he was apprehensive. He simply wanted to force Yuan Yueze to fight him one-on-one because he sensed Ba Feng Han's sharp aura locking onto his entire body. He was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
Yuan Yueze smiled slightly and said, "The last time I saw you, you were a woman. How come you suddenly became a man? And look so old?"
Gui Sha's expression changed slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He clearly couldn't maintain his calm demeanor.
This was exactly what Yuan Yueze wanted to see.
But this question was also something he couldn't understand.
With a soft snort, Yuan Yueze seized the opportunity and struck with lightning speed. The evil sword and his entire arm seemed to vanish, followed by countless cold glints of light. In an instant, the world was filled with sword blades and swirling, whistling winds. He shouted, "If you can defeat me again, I will no longer concern myself with other people's business today."
From the moment he appeared, he began to build momentum with various means, gradually weakening his opponent's fighting spirit and seizing the initiative. Gui Sha was initially startled by his sudden appearance, then his insulting words ignited his anger, widening the cracks in his resolve. This was not his fault, because what Yuan Yueze mentioned was the greatest insult to someone like him who was neither male nor female.
Yuan Yueze's soft snort was not simple; it was a direct attack of his true energy into Gui Sha's ears. He suddenly found it difficult to breathe, as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing on his heart, and his whole body felt as if it were being cut by knives. The sudden burst of cold energy from his opponent's sword made him feel as if he were immersed in ten thousand years of ice. He had come to the grasslands because he had heard that Yuan Yueze was injured, but Yuan Yueze's current demeanor showed no signs of injury. Having lost the initiative, he could only barely regain his composure, forming a sword with his fingers, his fingertips trembling as he thrust out repeatedly at bizarre and tricky angles to meet Yuan Yueze's overwhelming attack.
Belgunatai was dumbfounded. With his cultivation and eyesight, he could only barely discern the traces of energy left by Yuan Yueze and Gui Sha in the air. He thought to himself that if he were in that situation, he would have been torn to pieces long ago.
A series of muffled, dense sounds of clashing energy rang out, and the figures instantly separated.
The light dissipated, and the two stood in place, as if they had never fought.
Ghost Fiend's face turned pale, but he narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Brother Yuan, instead of worrying about the people of the Great Ming Sect, you come to the grasslands to meddle in other people's business. How strange!"
A blush flashed across Yuan Yueze's handsome face, then disappeared. He stood tall with his sword in hand, his expression indifferent, and said, "Don't waste your energy. No one can stop me from killing you today."
Ghost Fiend chuckled, "Is that so? Your wife, oh! I'm afraid Yang Guang's first wife won't allow you to kill me so easily, will she?"
Yuan Yueze's expression subtly changed; he had been struck by a remarkably accurate statement. Gui Sha, acting on impulse, took only a small step forward, traversing several meters of space like a ghost, his eyes blazing with fire as he delivered a punch straight to the chest.
The two onlookers were horrified. The instant Gui Sha spoke, a raging storm erupted from his body, filling the heavens and earth. His aura was scorching and boiling, capable of boiling iron and melting gold—more terrifying than Zhu Bixuan's Blazing Sun Technique. His punch, though seemingly simple, was propelled by astonishing speed and force. Not only did it continuously change, but its heat also steadily increased, immeasurable and uncontrollable, yet it appeared completely unchanged, returning to its origin, gathering countless variations within the unchanging. Such martial arts truly captured the essence of heaven and earth.
This was Gui Sha's true strength after mastering the Red-Clothed Shamanic Method.
At the center of the aura, Yuan Yueze's long hair danced wildly, his clothes fluttering. He inwardly sighed: His previous sword strike had already injured his opponent's meridians with its energy, yet Gui Sha was completely unaffected; the destructive power of this attack remained astonishing.
In a flash, his composure returned to normal, and he slowly thrust out a clumsy sword.
Bugunatai felt something strange; although Yuan Yueze had only made one strike, he couldn't see anything, only a sky full of sword shadows and the deafening roar of wind. For a moment, he even felt a profound stillness in the world.
It was an indescribable feeling.
Ba Feng Han's eyes shone brightly, imprinting every detail of the battle before him into his mind for future reflection.
A single punch and sword strike produced over a hundred rapid, ear-piercing sounds.
The exchange seemed to happen in an instant, yet also felt endlessly long.
The figures separated again.
Yuan Yueze's face was deathly pale. The instant he took a step back, Gui Sha suddenly sprang backward into the air, flying back more than twenty feet. Though spitting out blood, he laughed loudly, "I'm off! Thank you, Brother Yuan..."
Before he could finish speaking, his expression changed drastically.
His chest had been pierced through by the Xuan-Slaying Sword without him even realizing it.
He had no strength left to run forward and collapsed.

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