[Wuxia] The List of Peerless Beauties of the Jiangshan [Complete] - 10

Chapter Sixteen: The Record of the Evil Scripture

Ye Feng awoke on the third day at noon, feeling as if his entire body was falling apart, aching all over. He slowly opened his eyes, and a crystal-clear blue sky came into view.

"Where am I?"

Ye Feng wondered, then suddenly, everything that had happened in the past two days flashed into his mind, and he remembered.

"Am I not dead yet?" Ye Feng sat up abruptly, the movement aggravating his wounds, causing him to wince. He endured the pain and turned to look around. He was stunned by what he saw: flowing streams, strange rocks, and vibrant flowers—it was a beautiful and wondrous valley.

"Oh my god!"

Ye Feng forgot even his pain, getting up and greedily taking in his surroundings.

"It's so beautiful." Completely

forgetting everything else, Ye Feng got up and started walking. He walked slowly through the valley. As he walked, the scenery became increasingly beautiful, with cascading waterfalls, uniquely shaped pines, and lush greenery, a feast for the eyes.

After walking for a long time in the valley, turning several corners, a giant tree appeared before him, its branches and leaves teeming with countless strange birds! The birds weren't afraid of him at all, chirping and squawking at him, which amused Ye Feng greatly.

"Hmm..."

Ye Feng's gaze suddenly fell on a stone wall beside the giant tree. The stone wall was quite smooth, but there was a protrusion, and its color was unusual, making it rather strange. Ye Feng was puzzled and reached out to touch it. Suddenly, with a loud boom, the stone wall split open, revealing a deep cave entrance. He wondered what lay inside.

Ye Feng pondered for a moment, then reached into the cave. The cave was pitch black, and a chill emanated from it. Ye Feng groped his way forward, and after an unknown amount of time, he suddenly felt something. Ye Feng touched it and found it was a stone door. He tried to push it open, and the stone door slowly opened, letting out a beam of light.

Ye Feng was overjoyed and stepped into the stone gate. He was stunned by what he saw;

it was a rather large cave, completely deserted. In the southeast corner of the cave was a pool of water, several square meters in size, its water a deep, azure blue. Hanging on the central stone wall was a strange bead, its light illuminating the entire cave.

Below the bead, against the wall, was a stone table with many books and a stone box. The table was covered in dust, as if it hadn't been cleaned for many years; besides that, there was nothing else.

Ye Feng, intrigued by the peculiar shape of the stone box, picked it up; it was heavy. Opening the lid, a fragrant aroma wafted out. Inside was an envelope with some words written on it, and beneath it was a white and green jade plaque, strangely shaped, giving one a sense of unease at first glance. In another part of the box was a pill; the fragrance emanated from this pill.

Ye Feng picked up the envelope, which read: "The contents of this box are reserved for a destined person. Those who enter my room will receive a special elixir!"

"An elixir? Those who enter my room? Who is the master of this room?"

Ye Feng picked up the elixir, a fragrant aroma filling his nostrils, making him feel completely comfortable.

Ye Feng thought, "This place has a strange aura, and this pill looks like a rare treasure. Perhaps it will help my injuries."

With that thought, he put the pill in his mouth. It melted instantly, a fragrant aroma entering his dantian, quickly transforming into a warm current that flowed through his limbs and bones. Ye Feng felt extremely comfortable, all the pain in his body vanished.

Overjoyed, Ye Feng quickly sat cross-legged and began circulating the Spring Rain Manual. Instantly, he felt his true energy surging and flowing endlessly throughout his body, breaking through the seventh level of the Spring Rain Manual, skipping two levels to reach the ninth level.

Ye Feng was overjoyed; he never expected such a miraculous encounter. Taking this pill saved him at least twenty years of arduous training to reach the ninth level of the Spring Rain Manual. The sheer wonder of this encounter was truly rare! Ye Feng was now considered one of the top experts in the entire Floating Cloud Continent.

Ye Feng looked up, letting out a long sigh, his heart filled with gratitude for the cave's owner. He thought that if he ever met the owner again, he would definitely thank him properly. Suddenly, a thought struck him: "This pill is so miraculous, and the jade tablet has such an unusual shape, could it be some kind of treasure?" He

picked up the jade tablet, feeling its icy coldness, wondering what material it was made of. After examining it for a while without finding anything unusual, Ye Feng was about to put it down when suddenly his gaze seemed to freeze, unable to look away even a fraction.

At the very bottom of the jade tablet were three extremely small characters—"The Record of Evil Scriptures.

" Ye Feng exclaimed in surprise: "The Record of Evil Scriptures?"

These three characters were not only extremely small but also white and green, making them difficult to notice on the white and green jade tablet. No wonder Ye Feng hadn't noticed them earlier.

Ye Feng's mind was in turmoil, his conversation with Sun Yanggu from some time ago flooding back.

"I really didn't expect this...it's such a surprise, phew..."

Ye Feng took several breaths to calm himself, barely managing to suppress his agitated state, and then carefully examined the jade tablet again. After looking at it for a long time, a sense of disappointment arose in Ye Feng's heart. He knew this jade tablet was the "Evil Scripture Record," but besides the three characters "Evil Scripture Record," there were no other inscriptions. Where were the martial arts techniques written? Just

as he was about to put it down in disappointment, a thought suddenly struck him. Wasn't there a letter here? Perhaps there was some secret about this item inside. He had been so foolish; he had only looked at the envelope and hadn't thought to look at what was inside.

He immediately opened the envelope again, and inside was a piece of white paper, yellowed with age, covered in writing. Ye Feng unfolded it and began to read carefully.

The note read: "I am Zhang Hanfeng, the leader of the Divine Sect. I was trapped here due to the machinations of treacherous villains, and I hate it! Since you have taken my Divine Sect's sacred elixir and can absorb its spiritual energy without exploding, you should search the world for the sacred seed for my Divine Sect! I will pass on to you the Evil Scripture Record. Study it, and you will become the thirty-third leader of my Divine Sect..."

Ye Feng's heart trembled violently, his hands holding the white note shaking uncontrollably. He could only groan in his heart: "Leader of the Demonic Sect?...The thirty-third leader?..."

※※※

After Ye Feng finally finished reading the letter, he sat there for a long time before calming his agitated emotions.

From this letter, Ye Feng learned that the owner of this cave was Zhang Hanfeng, the leader of the Demonic Sect. Zhang Hanfeng was the previous leader of the Demonic Sect, and he was trapped here because of the treacherous schemes of his sworn brother, Liu Zhisuan, the current leader of the Demonic Sect. Years ago, when Zhang Hanfeng knew his life force was about to run out, he threw himself into the pool in the southeast of the cave. Because he loved water most in his life, and his soul returned to water, Ye Feng could not find his remains.

From this letter, Ye Feng also gained a general understanding of the Demonic Sect.

It turned out that the Demonic Sect was originally called the Divine Sect, founded before the founding of the Great Yue Kingdom. It had made great contributions to the establishment of the Great Yue Kingdom and was therefore revered by the successive monarchs of the Great Yue Kingdom, reaching its peak.

However, their enormous power increasingly affected the royal power of the Great Yue Kingdom, so the Great Yue king later issued a decree to restrict the Divine Sect, and the Divine Sect declined rapidly. But the Divine Sect was unwilling to accept its loss of power and launched a rebellion, which was suppressed. Subsequently, the imperial court ordered that the Divine Sect be renamed the Demonic Sect, listed as a forbidden sect, and permanently banned.

Thus, the Divine Sect became an evil sect despised by the world, and the Divine Sect was severely weakened and disappeared from the world.

Although the cult has lost its former glory, it still possesses deep roots. While its activities have gone underground, it has secretly accumulated strength to restore its former prestige. In recent decades, its power has grown significantly. Zhang Hanfeng, ambitious and eager to make a name for himself, was tragically murdered here by treacherous villains before his aspirations could be fulfilled; his resentment is unimaginable.

The letter's subsequent instructions on practicing the *Evil Scripture Record* further astonished Ye Feng.

It turns out that the *Evil Scripture Record* is a strange technique concerning the control of spiritual power. Once mastered, it allows one to arbitrarily control the mind and will of others, read their thoughts, and control their desires. At its peak, it can even transform into human form, no wonder it's considered the source of evil.

Besides being contained within the *Evil Scripture Record*, this spiritual power can also be transformed from internal energy. The stronger the internal energy, the heavier the evil energy, and the more prevalent the malevolent energy, the stronger the spiritual power. However, this method has a drawback: transforming internal energy into spiritual power requires an enormous amount of internal energy; a large amount of internal energy can only transform into a small amount of spiritual power, which is undeniably a pity!

The letter also describes various methods to enhance internal energy:

1. Internal cultivation, yin-yang union, absorbing the primordial yin of women to enhance internal energy, especially virgins. Ideally, the woman should be either extremely pure or extremely wicked and promiscuous.

2. The Absorption Technique, which involves absorbing the true energy of others. During absorption, one needs to circulate true energy, then use the other person's blood as a medium to absorb their blood and convert all its energy into true energy. This was truly an unimaginable cruelty, and the method of cultivation was unheard of.

3. Absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. However, this method was not explained in the letter, so Ye Feng was unaware of it.

Finally, the letter described the method of practicing the "Evil Scripture Record": inputting internal energy into this jade tablet to absorb its spiritual power.

Ye Feng circulated his internal energy, inputting his true qi into the jade tablet. After a moment, something strange happened.

Ye Feng felt a heat in his head, as if he had been electrocuted. A cold and evil feeling rapidly rose from his heart, instantly covering his entire body. It was a feeling that was difficult to describe, beyond the experience of ordinary humans...

※※※

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Feng opened his eyes!

The spiritual power of the "Evil Scripture Record" had been completely implanted into his brain. According to the letter, whenever he felt anger, murderous intent, or other negative emotions, or sexual urges, he could slowly absorb the pure spiritual power within the "Evil Scripture Record." Moreover, the "Evil Scripture Record" was indeed quite strange; it could not be used when there were no negative emotions in his heart.

It was only a matter of time before Ye Feng fully absorbed the spiritual energy within the *Evil Scripture Record*.

He glanced around the cave one last time, then walked to the stone table where the books were displayed. He picked up the dusty books and began to examine them. These were all martial arts manuals, covering a wide range of techniques: fist techniques, palm techniques, weapons, hidden weapons, pressure point techniques, grappling, and more—encompassing all styles and schools of martial arts.

Ye Feng quickly flipped through several books, his mind already captivated. He took off his outer garment, packed the martial arts books into a bag, and slung it over his shoulder.

It was time to leave. Ye Feng bowed towards the pool, silently vowing to kill the traitor Liu Zhisuan and avenge Zhang Hanfeng.

Unconsciously, Ye Feng had already considered himself a member of the Divine Cult. Perhaps this was due to the *Evil Scripture Record*; not only had he acquired all the spiritual energy within it, but it had also changed his mindset.

At this moment, the belief in revitalizing the Divine Cult was deeply ingrained in his heart.

However, Ye Feng knew that becoming the leader of the sect wouldn't be easy. To become the leader, one first needed the token passed down through generations: the Sacred Token! This was the jade token in Ye Feng's possession, containing the "Record of the Evil Scripture." Ye Feng already had the Sacred Token; that hurdle was overcome.

But most importantly, Ye Feng understood from the letter that the sect revered strength above all else. To successfully become the leader, he had to subdue everyone in the sect. But how easy was that?

From the letter, he learned that the sect was full of experts. Besides the ten altar masters in various branches, each with exceptional skills and capable of handling things independently, the sect also had five protectors, four wandering figures, three envoys, two elders, and one holy maiden—each possessing astonishing strength.

Ye Feng had already learned of the altar masters' true strength from Zhang Ning; the five protectors, four wandering figures, three envoys, two elders, and one holy maiden were far more skilled than the altar masters. It could be said that Ye Feng's attempt to subdue them and become the leader would be fraught with difficulties. Furthermore, Ye Feng didn't know the location of the Divine Cult, nor how to find its members; the letter didn't mention

it. However, Ye Feng firmly believed he had the confidence and ability to find them and become their leader. Possessing all the spiritual power of the *Evil Scripture Record* and having consumed the Divine Cult's sacred elixir, Ye Feng had undergone a complete transformation, his confidence soaring to unprecedented heights.

The letter also mentioned a secret passage to leave the valley. It turned out that this valley appeared as a dead end from the outside, with only one secret passage leading out, which Ye Feng hadn't explored fully and therefore didn't know. Ye Feng couldn't help but wonder: if there was a way out, why didn't Zhang Hanfeng take it, instead choosing to die here?

Actually, Ye Feng didn't know that Zhang Hanfeng had been ambushed by Liu Zhisuan and had lost all his martial arts. Leaving would only make it harder to escape Liu Zhisuan's pursuit; staying here meant he could preserve his life and die peacefully of old age. Standing atop a rock, Ye Feng gazed at the distant, towering peaks, his heart surging with emotion. A few days ago, he had been knocked off a cliff, severely injured. Yet today, days later, he had miraculously survived and even learned an ancient, unparalleled skill—it all seemed predestined.

After a long while, Ye Feng let out a long roar that echoed across the land! Ye Feng's location was approximately several dozen miles west of Wanglong Village, still within the Wanglong Mountain area. Ye Feng determined his direction and hurried onward, feeling his inner energy flowing freely throughout his body, making his journey incredibly swift. After several hours of rapid travel, he encountered a hunter. Overjoyed, Ye Feng immediately inquired about his location. The hunter, also surprised to see Ye Feng, carefully explained. From the hunter, Ye Feng learned that he was now not far from Qing Shi Town, which made him even happier. A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately took out two taels of silver, saying he wanted to buy the hunter's attire. Two taels of silver was a month's income for the hunter, who was overjoyed and gave Ye Feng all his clothes and tools. After another hour of hurried travel, Ye Feng finally arrived at Qing Shi Town. Wearing a straw hat and dressed as a hunter, he entered the town. The town was still bustling, with merchants and passersby coming and going frequently, showing no signs of anything amiss. However, the closer Ye Feng got to Qing Shi Town, the more anxious he became: What was the situation of Chun'er and her two daughters? Had they met with misfortune? Finally, he arrived at the teahouse where Mei Chun'er and her two daughters lived! But the teahouse was tightly closed, not open. A sense of foreboding welled up in Ye Feng's heart. He pushed open the courtyard gate and saw that the teahouse was in disarray. The tea tables were crooked and overturned, and shards of teapots and teacups were scattered all over the floor, as if a fierce fight had taken place. A pool of blood on the ground was even more shocking! Ye Feng called out, "Chun'er, Mei Shui!" There was no response from inside the teahouse. After searching each room for a long time, there was still no sign of anyone. Ye Feng felt a chill in his heart! Since leaving the inn where he had stayed a few days ago, Ye Feng's heart had sunk even further: even his followers had disappeared without a trace! What was going on? Ye Feng pondered this repeatedly, and finally decided to go to the foot of Wanglong Mountain to capture someone to inquire about the situation. Having made his decision, he immediately left Qing Shi Town and hurried to the foot of Wanglong Village. When he reached the gathering place of the sentries, Ye Feng stopped. He lay down on the ground, listening closely—about ten meters away in the bushes, there were several faint breathing sounds. Ye Feng suddenly attacked, disappearing into the bushes, and with a "thud!" punch, he killed one of the sentries. He snatched the blade from his hand, its cold light flashing, and several other unsuspecting henchmen were already decapitated. The leader of the henchmen was shocked and brandished a pair of long swords like snowflakes, rushing forward. Ye Feng slightly dodged the single sword. With a left fist, he struck the leader hard in the chest. The leader cried out and flew backward, collapsing to the ground. Ye Feng listened intently to his surroundings, finding nothing amiss. He coldly asked the leader, "Has your Shanqian sent anyone to the teahouse in Qing Shi Town these past few days?"

The leader glared at Ye Feng, remaining silent.

Ye Feng sneered, and with a flash of his blade, he severed the leader's left arm. The leader screamed in agony, leaping up as blood gushed from his wound.

Ye Feng smelled the blood, triggering the spiritual energy of the "Evil Scripture Record" within his body. Instantly, a strange light flashed in his eyes, sending a chill down one's spine.

He stood proudly, then pointed his blade at the leader's right arm, and said calmly, "I'll ask you one more time, did you send anyone to the teahouse in Qing Shi Town? Also, have you kidnapped any men or women from the mountain these past few days?"

The leader, staring into Ye Feng's expressionless eyes, and seeing the blood dripping from the longsword in Ye Feng's hand, finally broke down, kowtowing and pleading, "Good sir, spare my life! I'll talk, I'll talk!" He trembled as he said, "As far as I know, Shan Qian did send people to the teahouse in Qing Shi Town a few days ago, but none of them have returned, and we can't find them anywhere. These days, the brothers of Shan Qian are all talking about it; everyone says this is very strange."

"Oh?" Ye Feng's heart stirred, and he asked again, "Have you captured any men or women with accents from other places in the past few days?"

The leader shook his head and said, "No."

Ye Feng said coldly, "You're not lying to me?"

The leader trembled and said, "I wouldn't dare, I... I wouldn't dare..."

Ye Feng slowly nodded, a smile appearing on his lips, and said, "Very good." Suddenly, he struck, grabbing the leader's severed left arm with his claw, and then used his Absorption Technique. The leader's whole body trembled violently, his eyes widened, and his body gradually withered.

Ye Feng, on the other hand, felt waves of extremely comfortable sensation flowing from his palm into his entire body, feeling indescribably blissful. After a moment, the leader was nothing but skin and bones.

Ye Feng quickly sat down and circulated his energy. Soon, he finished, feeling refreshed and invigorated, his internal energy instantly increasing significantly, feeling extremely comfortable.

Based

on the leader's confession, Ye Feng carefully analyzed the situation of the Wang mother and daughters, as well as Sun Mei and Lu Tianming's group. It seemed Sun Mei and Lu Tianming had most likely escaped, which was a relief. The situation

of the three Wang women was unclear. Based on what they saw at the inn, they might have perished, but according to the leader's confession, the situation was quite strange; they might have been rescued. But if they were rescued, who rescued them?

And what puzzled Ye Feng most was where all the followers from the inn had gone.

These questions lingered in Ye Feng's mind. After pondering for a long time, he finally remembered that Sun Mei still had businesses in the new city; perhaps going there would provide some answers.

At the same time, another worry arose in his heart: "Will Wang Longqian and the people of Xinfu City discover Sun Mei's relatives and businesses in the new city? Because I and Sun Mei had met Liu Yangao on the streets of Xinfu that day."

Ye Feng bought a fast horse in Qing Shi Town and traveled swiftly, arriving in Xinfu City in no time.

He was still dressed as a merchant, carrying his large bag of martial arts manuals on his back, and slowly walked into the city.

As soon as he entered the city, Ye Feng felt that the security in Xinfu City was much tighter. Although it seemed the same on the surface, Ye Feng noticed that there were many more sentries hiding among the crowds on the streets.

Ye Feng's heart skipped a beat, but he still walked calmly. Soon, he felt several burly men secretly following him. Ye Feng remained calm and pretended to stroll leisurely through the city. When he turned into a noisy alley, he suddenly quickened his pace and easily shook off his pursuers.

Although he had shaken off his pursuers, he was now more cautious, as he knew about the collusion between the new prefect and Wang Longqian. Furthermore, the increased security in the new prefecture was a clear indication that the prefect and Wang Longqian had discovered their plot had failed and were therefore tightening their guard. Besides, this was their territory, so caution was advised. Ye Feng

arrived at the elegant courtyard south of Sun Mei's city and sensed something was amiss. He pushed open the gate and was shocked to see Sun Mei's old steward, Uncle Shi, lying in a pool of blood.

He rushed forward, helped Uncle Shi up, and cried out, "Uncle Shi, Uncle Shi..."

His hands were cold; Uncle Shi had been dead for some time. Ye Feng felt

a pang of sorrow. Uncle Shi was Sun Mei's only relative in the new prefecture, and now he had been unjustly implicated and died a violent death.

However, a surge of anger welled up within him again. Needless to say, Shi Bo's death was definitely the work of Wang Longqian and Liu Yangao. He hadn't expected them to find Sun Mei's relatives in the new city so quickly. It seemed Sun Mei's furniture shop in the new city was also in danger.

He quickly dug a pit in the back garden, placed Shi Bo's body in it, and covered it with soil. After paying his respects at the grave, he hurried to Sun Mei's furniture shop. He was shocked to see that the furniture shop was a complete ruin; it appeared to have been burned down a few days ago. It seemed that everyone in the Zhao family furniture shop was also in grave danger. Ye Feng

gritted his teeth inwardly: "You ruthless Wang Longzhai, I won't let you get away with this!"

※※※

That night, Ye Feng sneaked into the residence of the new prefect. Ye Feng's martial arts skills had greatly improved by this time, and he moved like the wind. He easily subdued a guard, learned the prefect's residence, and effortlessly found the new prefect's study.

He peered into the study, hanging upside down, and saw several people sitting inside. One was Zhang Ning, another was Liu Yangao, and the third was a man in the prefect's robes, about forty years old, with a rather portly appearance and a somewhat anxious expression. Ye Feng figured this man must be the new prefect.

A dozen or so burly attendants stood around, and the atmosphere in the room was tense.

Ye Feng was overjoyed, thinking that this was truly effortless; everyone was here, and he could simply take them all down at once. He wasn't in a hurry, but instead focused intently on observing them.

The new prefect sighed and said to Zhang Ning, "Master Zhang, things seem dire this time. Those who escaped are most likely spies sent by Li Yin. This is truly a disaster."

Zhang Ning said in a deep voice, "Prefect, there's no need to panic. Even if they are Li Yin's spies and have reported everything to her, you need not worry, for I have already prepared a foolproof plan." Liu

Yangao chimed in, "Uncle, there's indeed no need to worry. The Master has already arranged various excellent strategies, and we will surely be able to repel the enemy safely. Besides, we've long been irreconcilable enemies with that bitch Li Yin. Now it's just a matter of tearing off the mask sooner rather than later. It saves us from having to put up with that vile woman's attitude any longer." As

he spoke, a hateful expression appeared on his face, clearly recalling how Li Yin had trained his beloved concubine into a "beauty dog."

The new prefect's expression didn't soften at all. After a long pause, he turned to Liu Yangao and asked, "Is everything settled?"

Liu Yangao replied smugly, "It's all settled. That old codger, Uncle Shi, was killed with a single blow. I burned down the Zhao Furniture Shop. Ha, dozens of people burned to death inside. Their screams were incessant. Just thinking about it makes me happy..."

Ye Feng, listening from outside, was filled with rage and murderous intent: Uncle Shi and the Zhao Furniture Shop were all Liu Yangao's doing. He'd settle this blood debt with him later! Although Zhang Ning was also a member of the Divine Cult, he was indirectly responsible, so Ye Feng wouldn't let him off either.

Then, Liu Yangao's tone changed, and he sighed, "It's a pity we didn't catch any of Li Yin's spies. Apart from the male spies with the best martial arts skills who were knocked off a cliff, the other two escaped. Especially that female spy, she was so charming and beautiful. If I had caught her, I..."

Just then, a heavy, cold snort came from outside. Everyone in the room was startled and asked, "Who is it?"

A gust of wind blew in, and the door opened wide, revealing a tall, elegant man carrying a large bag—it was Ye Feng!

"It's you!"

Liu Yangao and Zhang Ning were both shocked. Liu Yangao jumped up abruptly: "You're not dead yet?" Ye

Feng sneered without speaking, strode in with his hands behind his back.

Liu Yangao roared, "Take him down!"

The followers standing around finally realized what was happening, and with a clang, their waist knives were drawn.

Ye Feng, a disdainful sneer on his lips, moved swiftly, appearing before the followers. He struck repeatedly, instantly killing several.

The followers' martial arts were far inferior to Ye Feng's, and with Ye Feng's greatly improved power, killing them was as easy as turning his hand. In just a moment, more than a dozen followers were killed by Ye Feng, none surviving. Liu Yangao and Zhang Ning wore expressions of disbelief. Liu Yangao was particularly dumbfounded, unable to believe that Ye Feng's skill had improved to such an extent.

The new prefect was so frightened that he jumped up from his chair, repeatedly shouting, "Help! Assassin! Assassin!"

A figure flashed, and Liu Yangao and Zhang Ning attacked from the side simultaneously. Ye Feng slightly shifted his body, grabbing Liu Yangao's wrist with a backhand strike, followed by a left palm strike. His attack, though delayed, struck first, targeting Zhang Ning's left flank, the strongest among them. The whistling wind from his palm expanded like a tidal wave, giving Zhang Ning the terrifying feeling of being in the heart of a raging storm.

Zhang Ning felt a chill run through his body. He hurriedly raised his palm to meet Ye Feng's attack, and when his eyes met Ye Feng's, he froze.

Their palms finally collided with a loud bang. Zhang Ning groaned, his body swaying, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He then felt his internal energy rapidly draining into Ye Feng's body. He was utterly terrified, his eyes now filled with utter astonishment. He cried out, "You, you..." Without further hesitation, he immediately leaped out of the window and vanished in an instant.

Liu Yangao hadn't expected Ye Feng to be so powerful, striking Zhang Ning so hard that he coughed up blood with a single move. Even more unexpected was that Zhang Ning would abandon him and flee for his life. His mind went blank, and Ye Feng had already seized his right wrist. An indescribable heaviness instantly surged to his left shoulder, rendering him powerless to struggle. As

fear flashed in Liu Yangao's eyes, Ye Feng delivered a punch to his abdomen. Liu Yangao screamed in agony, thrown backward like a kite with a broken string, his internal organs shattered by the blow. He knelt down, groaning and belching, his body curled up like a shrimp.

"Crack!" Another strange sound rang out, the sound of something shattering. Ye Feng kicked Liu Yangao in the face again. Liu Yangao was kicked so hard he rolled against the wall, unable to stand up. His body convulsed, and bright red blood flowed continuously from his head, a horrifying sight on his pale face.

Looking at Liu Yangao's contorted face and listening to his groans of extreme pain, Ye Feng felt an immense sense of pleasure. This scoundrel had committed countless evils; today he finally tasted the bitter fruit of his actions. Moreover, he was also enjoying the exhilarating feeling of his martial arts improving greatly—a pleasure beyond words. Liu Yangao and Zhang Ning were both quite skilled, but Ye Feng had encountered a fortuitous event, advancing two levels of the "Spring Rain Manual" in just a few days. No wonder Liu Yangao and Zhang Ning were no match for Ye Feng.

The newly appointed prefect was terrified. Seeing Ye Feng's gaze fall upon him, his body trembled uncontrollably. He stammered, "Hero, spare my life! Don't kill me! Don't kill me..." Before he could finish, Ye Feng had already sealed his pressure points. Liu Yangao, meanwhile, had already fainted.

Ye

Feng took Liu Yangao and the new prefect to an abandoned house on the outskirts of the city. When he left the prefect's residence, although the guards tried to stop him, they were no match for him.

He threw the two men heavily to the ground, released the prefect's pressure points, while Liu Yangao remained unconscious.

Ye Feng remained silent, merely staring calmly at the new prefect. Ye Feng's sharp gaze made the prefect's face turn ashen, and his body trembled like a leaf.

Seeing that he was frightened enough, Ye Feng softened his expression and said, "I'll ask you a few questions, and you must answer me honestly!"

The new prefect trembled and said, "Yes, yes! This humble official will answer everything he knows!"

"Very good!" Ye Feng smiled and said, "Then I'll ask you, just now Zhang Ning said that he had arranged various brilliant strategies to deal with Li Yin's army, what exactly are these brilliant strategies?"

The new prefect stammered, "This... I—"

"Speak quickly!" Ye Feng suddenly raised his voice and shouted, his anger triggering the "Evil Scripture Record," and his eyes emitted a chilling light.

The newly appointed prefect trembled with fear, his voice trembling as he pleaded, "Hero, spare my life! Hero, spare my life! I only know that Master Zhang arranged for a few experts to deal with a woman named Hua Yi who works for Li Yin. I know nothing else."

"Nothing? How dare you!"

A flash of light, followed by a piercing scream. Ye Feng had sliced off the prefect's left ear with a single stroke. He coldly said, "You dare to conceal this from me?"

The prefect let out a pig-like scream, clutching his ear, his fat face trembling uncontrollably, clearly in excruciating pain! He prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, saying, "It's not that I'm unwilling to tell you, it's just that I don't know! Master Zhang doesn't tell me many things, please spare my life, my lord..."

Ye Feng quietly looked at the new prefect, his mind racing. Judging from the new prefect's cowardly appearance, it was clear that Zhang Ning had usurped power in the affairs of the new prefecture. It was reasonable for Zhang Ning not to tell the new prefect those confidential matters. Besides, he also knew that Zhang Ning had once planned to send someone to Jade Moon City to deal with Sister Yi.

He nodded and said, "Alright, let's leave that aside for now. Now, let me ask you, were the three Wang women in Qing Shi Town killed by you?"

The new prefect trembled and said, "Wang Longqian did send men to Qing Shi Town to kill these three women, but just as they were about to be killed, a very skilled man appeared and saved them."

"What?" Ye Feng's heart trembled violently, and immense joy welled up inside him: "Chun'er and the others were saved?" A huge weight was lifted from his heart, and coupled with the earlier news that Sun Mei and the others had escaped, he was overjoyed beyond words.

He thought for a moment and said, "So, the incidents involving Uncle Shi and the Zhao family furniture store in the south of Xinfu City were all your doing, weren't they?"

The prefect of Xinfu turned deathly pale and stammered, "This, this... this was all done by my nephew! Please spare my life, please spare my life!"

Ye Feng glanced at Liu Yangao lying on the ground and smiled, "Alright, I'll spare your lives for now."

A look of joy appeared in the prefect's eyes.

However, a cold smile immediately appeared on Ye Feng's lips as he said, "But you killed my sworn sister's family and shop employees. I'll make you suffer more than if you were dead. Moreover, Li Yin's army will arrive soon. I'll keep you alive until then to be subjected to slow slicing, your entire family will be executed, and your nine generations will be wiped out!"

Under the terrified gaze of the prefect, Ye Feng walked to the unconscious Liu Yangao, grabbed him, and used his Absorption Technique to instantly drain all of Liu Yangao's internal energy, leaving him a dried-up corpse.

Ye Feng absorbed the internal energy from three people, but now he felt nauseous. It seemed that absorbing internal energy required moderation, otherwise it couldn't be digested.

After finishing his cultivation, Ye Feng turned around and crushed the bones of the terrified and exhausted new prefect inch by inch. Immediately, earth-shattering screams echoed throughout the room…

※※※

Ye Feng woke up from a nap on a large tree. He opened his eyes and saw that the east was already turning white. He stretched, thinking that he would eat something and then get up to continue his journey, returning to Jade Moon City as soon as possible.

Thinking of seeing Hua Yi and the others soon, a surge of warmth welled up in his heart. He thought, "It's been a while since I've seen Sister Yi and the others. I wonder how they are!"

He then recalled the chaos he'd witnessed last night while sleeping in a tree, hearing cries of "Assassins! Assassins!" echoing throughout the entire city of Xinfu. He could

n't help but laugh out loud, "These pigs!" At the same time, he was somewhat surprised by his own reaction. Last night, he had ruthlessly crushed the bones of the Xinfu prefect without a trace of remorse. He never imagined he could be so heartless.

This thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly got up and set off. It was just dawn, and there were few pedestrians. Ye Feng, having rested overnight, felt refreshed. He was currently in a grove of trees on the outskirts of the city. After crossing the woods and eating something at a small shop along the official road, he mounted his steed and galloped off towards Yuyue City.

Suddenly, Ye Feng heard shouts and sounds of fighting coming from the woods to his left. Judging from the sounds, there seemed to be more than one person. Ye Feng thought to himself, "Who's fighting like that in broad daylight?" With that thought, he spurred his horse off the main road and galloped into the woods.

Ahead was a high slope, at the foot of which stood a solitary earth god temple, surrounded by lush greenery. Beside the temple was a pond, covered in snow.

Ye Feng dismounted and, in a few leaps, reached the back of the temple. The sounds of fighting were coming from not far ahead. The clash of swords was exceptionally clear in the silent wilderness.

Ye Feng peered out and was overjoyed at what he saw.

"Sister Mei!"

In an open space in front of the temple, a group of burly men were fiercely fighting a beautiful woman—none other than Sun Mei!

"I didn't expect Sister Mei to be here! She really isn't dead!" An indescribable joy filled Ye Feng's chest.

Looking further, Ye Feng saw a burly, imposing man standing nearby, in his forties, with a thick, black mustache and a large, archaic-looking sword slung across his back. He was calmly watching the fight in the circle.

Ye Feng was startled, then overjoyed. Wasn't this the same burly man he'd encountered at the Drunken Moon Pavilion? Recalling his invincible Dragon Tiger Sword Technique, Ye Feng felt a surge of excitement. Moreover, Ye Feng could tell this man was a friend, not an enemy, because there was a group of burly men outside, each holding a large sword, the blades pointed at him. However, this man was focused solely on watching Sun Mei and the others fight, completely ignoring the blades beside him.

Ye Feng thought to himself: "What I've been searching for has come to me without any effort!"

Sun Mei was still fiercely fighting the group of men, several enemy corpses already lying on the ground. A thought struck Ye Feng: Sun Mei's martial arts seemed to have improved considerably. Could it be that the burly man had given her some pointers?

At this moment, the burly man said, "Madam Zhao, please step back. Let me, Li, deal with them!"

Sun Mei obeyed and stepped back. The burly man moved with lightning speed, followed by a clang and a flash of dazzling cold light. He stood tall, his sword sheathed. A series of booming sounds followed, and all the burly men fell to the ground, their bodies severed, blood splattering everywhere. They died without even a cry; the speed of his attack was terrifying.

Ye Feng was once again dumbfounded. Although he had witnessed the man's swordsmanship before, seeing his lightning-fast strike still left him speechless. Sun Mei, watching from the other side, shook her head and exclaimed, "Such a fast and fierce blade! Master Li's Dragon Tiger Saber is truly breathtaking!"

The burly man smiled, then suddenly turned to look at Ye Feng, his eyes gleaming.

Ye Feng knew the burly man had noticed his movements, so he stepped out from behind the temple and called out, "Sister Mei."

Sun Mei, upon hearing Ye Feng's voice, trembled violently. Turning around, she saw Ye Feng, and her pretty face lit up with uncontrollable joy: "Brother Feng!" she cried, running towards him. Ye Feng quickly went to meet her. A fragrant breeze wafted towards him, and Sun Mei was already in his arms. Ye Feng instantly embraced her warm, soft body.

Sun Mei hugged Ye Feng tightly, crying, "Brother Feng, I was so worried about you. I'm so glad you're alright."

Seeing Sun Mei's genuine emotion, Ye Feng was also moved. He held Sun Mei's full waist, carefully examining her. She was as radiant as ever, but her charming face showed signs of weariness. He couldn't help but say softly, "Sister Mei, you've lost weight." He gently wiped away the tears on her face with his sleeve.

Sun Mei's emotions calmed down, and she realized she was being held in Ye Feng's arms. Coupled with her earlier outpouring of emotion, a blush crept onto her fair face. She slowly pulled away from Ye Feng's embrace, her expression rather shy, completely unlike her usual cheerful self.

She composed herself, glanced at the calm-looking burly man beside her, and said to Ye Feng, "Brother Feng, let me introduce you." Leading Ye Feng to the burly man, she said to him, "Brother Feng, this is the great hero Li Huan. It was Hero Li who saved our lives." She then said to Li Huan, "This is my sworn brother, Ye Feng."

Ye Feng clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Hero Li. Thank you for saving my sworn sister."

Li Huan carefully examined Ye Feng, his eyes gleaming, and said, "It was nothing, no need for such formalities. "

※※※

The three of them headed towards Jade Moon City. Li Huan walked in front, while Ye Feng and Sun Mei followed behind, chatting and reminiscing about their time together.

Ye Feng told Sun Mei about falling off the cliff and consuming the elixir, but he didn't mention that he had obtained the "Evil Scripture Record" and become the leader of the Demonic Sect.

Sun Mei was amazed. Ye Feng then asked about what had happened since they parted ways,

and Sun Mei recounted it. It turned out that after parting ways with Ye Feng on Wanglong Mountain, although Sun Mei and Lu Tianming escaped, Wanglong Qian's men soon caught up. At the most dangerous moment, Li Huan appeared and repelled the powerful enemy. It was also Li Huan's timely appearance that rescued Mei Chun and the other two women. Now, the three women and Mei Zhu had already returned to Yuyue City with Lu Tianming's group.

Sun Mei, however, was worried about Ye Feng's safety and stayed behind to gather information about him. Li Huan stayed with Sun Mei to ensure his safety.

Although Mei Chun and the other two women were worried about Ye Feng, they were all weak and helpless women. Lu Tianming also urgently needed to pass on the information he had gathered to Li Yin, and his followers also needed to protect him. Therefore, everyone had to leave first. Before their departure, Mei Chun and the other two women, along with Lu Tianming, pleaded with Sun Mei to return to Jade Moon City as soon as possible if they found Ye Feng. They parted with tears in their eyes.

For days, Sun Mei and Li Huan had been searching for Ye Feng on Wanglong Mountain, but to no avail. Yesterday, Sun Mei suggested going to Xinfu City to see if they could find any news of Ye Feng.

Unexpectedly, they encountered Wanglong Qian's men in the forest today. Li Huan alone could easily have handled them, but Sun Mei, under Li Huan's guidance, had greatly improved her martial arts skills. She wanted to see her progress, so she fought Wanglong Qian's men for a long time until Li Huan intervened.

Sun Mei recounted her story, and Ye Feng listened with a sigh. He was overjoyed to hear that Mei Chun and the other two women were safe and sound and had returned to Jade Moon City with Lu Tianming and the others. He was also deeply moved when Sun Mei insisted on staying behind for him.

He unconsciously grasped Sun Mei's soft, smooth hand and said gently, "Sister Mei, you've suffered these past few days."

Sun Mei blushed at Ye Feng's affectionate gesture, but she boldly looked at him and chuckled, "Brother Feng, what are you saying? You're my brother, who else would I love if not you?"

Ye Feng smiled and said, "Yes, yes, I'm lucky."

They smiled at each other, a blissful feeling spreading through their hearts.

※※※

Li Huan walked silently ahead, oblivious to Ye Feng and Sun Mei's actions behind him, but his eyes flickered, as if he were deep in thought.

Around noon, the three stopped for a meal in a small town beside the main road.

During the meal, Sun Mei noticed Ye Feng hesitated and asked, "Brother Feng, what's wrong?"

Ye Feng pondered for a long time before finally asking, "Sister Mei, did you go into the new city?"

Sun Mei shook her head and said, "No."

Seeing Ye Feng's strange expression, she suddenly remembered something, and her face changed drastically. She said, "Could it be...?"

Ye Feng said sadly, "That's right, Uncle Shi and all the furniture store employees were killed by Liu Yangao and his men."

Sun Mei trembled and cried out in shock, "What?" Tears immediately streamed down her face.

Ye Feng took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped away Sun Mei's tears, and comforted her carefully. Li Huan also offered a few words of comfort.

Sun Mei wept uncontrollably, sobbing, "It's all my fault for dragging Uncle Shi and the others down with me. I... I need to go to Xinfu City to pay my respects to him."

Ye Feng said gently, "The dead cannot be brought back to life. Sister Mei, please accept my condolences. I have already taken care of Uncle Shi's remains, and I have avenged him and the others. Their suffering is worse than death. I believe Uncle Shi and the others can rest in peace now."

The three left the small town and came to a three-way intersection: one leading to Xinfu City, one to Yuyue City, and one to Jinyue City, the capital of the Great Yue Kingdom. An endless birch forest stretched along the main road.

Li Huan stopped and said to Ye Feng and Sun Mei, "Gentlemen, I have something to discuss with you. Please come into the forest to talk."

Ye Feng and Sun Mei exchanged a glance, nodded, and followed Li Huan into the forest.

The three rode their horses for several dozen meters into the forest, and dismounted when they reached a clearing.

Li Huan smiled and said, "Madam Zhao, I'm sorry, but may I speak with Brother Ye alone for a few minutes?"

Sun Mei's eyes flashed with doubt, but she still smiled and said, "Please, Brother Li, go ahead." She walked away.

Ye Feng's heart stirred. Li Huan's actions were always shrouded in mystery. Take the rescue, for example. He and Ye Feng, Sun Mei, and the others were complete strangers. Why did he rescue them? Moreover, he hadn't revealed a word about his identity or background along the way. Yet, he treated Ye Feng with utmost respect, and his skills were so formidable that it was truly inexplicable.

However, thinking of Li Huan's invincible Dragon Tiger Saber Technique, Ye Feng's heart warmed again. All along the way, Ye Feng had been pondering how to ask him about saber techniques, and now this was the perfect opportunity.

Li Huan slowly said, "Master Ye, there's something I need to confirm. Is your wife indeed Princess Hua Lan of the former Orchid Kingdom?" He finished speaking and looked sharply at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng's heart trembled violently, but he calmly asked, "Why would you ask such a question, Master Li?"

Li Huan stroked his jet-black beard and smiled, "Master Ye, there's no need to be alarmed. I mean no harm. In fact, Princess Hualan once did my family a great favor..."

He seemed to be recalling something, and after a moment, he continued, "There's an old saying: 'A drop of water in need is repaid with a spring.' Let alone such a boundless favor!"

Ye Feng wanted to ask what that favor was, but ultimately refrained from speaking.

"However, at that time, the princess was of noble birth, and commoners like us could hardly ever meet her. Therefore, I, Li, have never been able to repay this favor."

"Later, Hua Meng usurped the throne, and the princess was forced into exile. Unfortunately, I was thousands of miles away at the time and could not personally protect her."

"When I returned to Orchid Kingdom, the princess had already disappeared. For years, I've been secretly searching for news of her. Thank goodness, a month ago, I finally saw her in Jade Moon City."

Li Huan's eyes gleamed with joy. "Seeing the princess safe and sound, I am overjoyed. I wanted to approach her several times to acknowledge her, but I was afraid of disturbing her peaceful life, so I held back and protected her from the shadows." Ye Feng

smiled, but inwardly he was unconvinced: "What's the big deal about meeting her? If we had met sooner, I would have had a skilled bodyguard by Yi-jie's side, and I would have no worries. It would have saved me from wasting so many brain cells worrying about Yi-jie's safety... How pedantic!"

Li Huan continued, "Until several..." A few days ago, Li Huan saw the princess again. She seemed quite worried. After some investigation, Li Huan learned that it was because Master Ye had accepted Li Huan's mission and gone to the new capital. The princess was concerned for Master Ye's safety, hence her constant worry.

At this point, Li Huan sighed and said, "I couldn't bear to see the princess so worried, so I came from Jade Moon City. After finding Master Ye's whereabouts, I secretly protected him and his party."

His eyes lit up with excitement as he continued, "It was all worthwhile; we rescued Madam Zhao and her party. Although Master Ye was temporarily in trouble, he was incredibly fortunate and ultimately escaped unharmed. Moreover, he seemed to have had a miraculous encounter, appearing even more radiant than when he was in Jade Moon City." He chuckled again.

Ye Feng smiled as well, thinking, "Your insight is indeed sharp. You immediately noticed my miraculous encounter that led to my great improvement in skill."

Li Huan stroked his jet-black beard and chuckled, "Master Ye's internal strength is now vastly different from what it was in Jade Moon City, so I can now teach you the Dragon Tiger Saber Technique! However, we will only be friends as equals, there's no need for a master-disciple relationship!"

Ye Feng was taken aback, but then overjoyed. Li Huan's saber technique was the best he had ever seen in his life; if he could be taught by him, he would benefit for life.

※※※

The two returned to Sun Mei's side, and Li Huan smiled at Sun Mei, "I've kept Madam Zhao waiting."

Sun Mei smiled and said, "You're too kind, Master Li." Seeing Ye Feng's radiant face, she couldn't help but ask, "Brother Feng, what's making you so happy?"

Ye Feng then told her about Li Huan's offer to teach him the Dragon Tiger Saber Technique.

Sun Mei was both surprised and delighted, genuinely happy for Ye Feng. She said, "Brother Feng, you are truly blessed! I've heard that the Dragon Tiger Saber is one of the seven great martial arts of the world, fierce and powerful, known as a sure-kill saber, something every martial artist dreams of. Moreover, I've personally witnessed Master Li wield it, and it was indeed extremely powerful. I never expected Brother Feng to..."

Li Huan smiled and said, "There is no invincible martial art in the world, but the Dragon Tiger Saber technique fully utilizes the characteristics of the saber, maximizing its speed and power, truly the pinnacle of saber techniques." " Yes!"

He paused, then continued, "However, practicing the Dragon Tiger Saber requires a foundation of corresponding internal energy; otherwise, it will backfire. This is why I didn't teach Master Ye the saber technique before, and only now."

Sun Mei thought for a moment, "Master Li is imparting his extraordinary skills; should I excuse myself?"

Li Huan smiled and said, "No need. Although Madam Zhao is not yet suitable to practice the Dragon Tiger Saber technique, it would still be good for her to watch." He drew the ancient-looking broadsword from his back, which immediately gleamed and exuded a chilling aura.

Li Huan stroked the blade, his expression solemn, and said to Ye Feng, "Although the Dragon Tiger Saber Technique only has seven moves, the style is simple. Each move is fierce and unrestrained, emphasizing speed and power. Regardless of the opponent's changing moves, it dissolves them in an instant with its powerful and swift force!"

Li Huan explained the Dragon Tiger Saber Technique and the method of channeling energy to Ye Feng, then suddenly leaped into the air. Instantly, a burst of saber light spread out, seemingly devouring everything, or perhaps shredding everything in the world into dust—truly terrifying!

Chapter Seventeen: General Li Fei

"Good! Master Ye is indeed extraordinary, grasping the essence of saber techniques so quickly!"

By the next morning, Ye Feng had mastered the seven saber techniques, and even Sun Mei benefited greatly, gaining insights from them.

Internal energy is the foundation of all martial arts. Those with profound internal energy can easily integrate all martial arts, making them their own.

The Dragon Tiger Saber Technique is based on internal energy. Its simple seven moves contain extremely subtle variations. Without a profound foundation of internal energy, it's like a skilled craftsman without building materials—how can he construct a house? Forcing oneself to learn it will lead to all sorts of unexpected dangers.

However, if the practitioner has profound internal energy, things become easy and simple. Like Ye Feng now, he has already reached the ninth level of the "Spring Rain Manual," and with the spiritual energy absorbed from the "Evil Scripture Record," his internal energy is truly extraordinary. Once he grasps one thing, everything else falls into place. He mastered the incredibly fierce Dragon Tiger Saber Technique in just one day; all he lacked was the refinement.

Ye Feng stood solemnly, let out a long roar, and with a "clang!" his curved saber was drawn. Like Li Huan, he leaped into the air and slashed down. The curved saber, accompanied by a terrifying whistling sound, slammed down with a loud bang, splitting a large tree in two—truly extremely powerful!

Sun Mei was speechless with astonishment; such momentum and such swordsmanship were truly terrifying.

Li Huan nodded repeatedly, saying, "Master Ye has already grasped much of the essence of the Dragon Tiger Saber, but to reach its highest level, he still needs to practice and comprehend it diligently."

Ye Feng glanced happily at the tree split in two by the saber's wind and asked, "What is the highest level of the Dragon Tiger Saber?"

Li Huan stroked his black beard and solemnly replied, "The highest level of the Dragon Tiger Saber is 'no moves'!"

Sun Mei asked, "What does 'no moves' mean?"

Li Huan explained, "The so-called 'no moves' doesn't mean not using moves, but rather that there are no fixed rules for moves. It's relative to having moves. Take saber techniques as an example. Most saber techniques have fixed moves, but every move has a weakness. A skilled person can find the weakness in a set of saber techniques after seeing it a few times and break it!"

"Moves are static, but the person using them is dynamic. No matter how exquisite the moves are, there are always weaknesses. 'No moves' means there are no fixed rules; it changes with the opponent, thus eliminating weaknesses. This is the realm of 'no moves'!"

Ye Feng and Sun Mei nodded in agreement.

Sun Mei suddenly asked, "Has Master Li reached this state of no-form?"

Li Huan paused, then laughed, "To be honest, not yet. The concept of no-form is something my master talked about; I haven't grasped it myself!"

The three of them burst into laughter.

※※※

Ye Feng hunted a few pheasants for breakfast, and the three of them roasted and ate around the fire.

While eating, Ye Feng and Sun Mei talked about their recent gains, both feeling quite satisfied. Li Huan, however, fell silent, seemingly lost in thought. Ye Feng glanced at Li Huan and asked, "Master Li, is something on your mind?"

Since last night, Li Huan had insisted that Ye Feng not call him Master Li. Ye Feng knew this was out of respect and didn't press the issue, addressing him as Master Li.

Li Huan pondered for a moment, then said to Ye Feng, "You must have learned that Wang Longqian and the members of the Demonic Sect intend to harm Lord Li and your wife. However, you may not know that Wang Longqian and the Demonic Sect also have someone else to deal with!"

Ye Feng and Sun Mei asked, "Who is it?"

Li Huan replied, "It is the Jade Moon Military Governor, Lord Li's elder brother, Lord Li Huiwei, who is currently on official business in the capital."

"What?"

Ye Feng and Sun Mei were both shocked. Ye Feng asked, "Do you know their specific plan?"

Li Huan replied, "As far as I know, they will deploy a very secretive assassin organization under their umbrella, called 'Cold Night,' which is infamous for its ruthlessness. Every member of the organization undergoes the most rigorous and brutal training. Because of their cruel and inhuman methods, everyone fears them! Moreover, they are elusive and difficult to guard against."

"If Lord Li Huiwei is targeted by this organization without prior knowledge, his safety is indeed worrying!" Li Huan took a bite of his chicken leg and slowly said, "We must send someone to inform him immediately!"

He then looked directly at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng immediately understood his meaning: Li Huan wanted him to go to Jin Yue City to tell Li Huiwei about this. At that moment, the image of Hua Yi flashed through his mind. His beloved wives were waiting anxiously for him, and he had an impulse: he didn't want to do this.

However, looking into Li Huan's deep eyes, Ye Feng immediately understood one thing: the value of a man.

Now he has no shortage of beautiful wives and concubines, nor of unparalleled martial arts skills, but he still lacks one thing: achievements. In the eyes of others, and especially in Li Huan's eyes, Hua Yi is a princess. Even though she is now a princess of a fallen kingdom, she still carries a great deal of weight in people's hearts. As her man, if he doesn't have corresponding achievements to match and remains mediocre, he will only attract contempt from others.

If he goes to Jin Yue City to inform Li Huiwei, it will undoubtedly be a great achievement, extremely beneficial to his future development. A man should prioritize his career, and he must restrain his affections for his wife. He'll meet with Sister Yi and the others a little later.

As for Sister Yi and the others' safety, he doesn't need to worry. With a peerless master like Li Huan protecting them, there's nothing to be uneasy about. The reason Li Huan told him this was simply to give him a credit, allowing his achievements to advance further. He couldn't refuse this good intention.

He quickly made up his mind and nodded, saying, "That's right, we should inform Lord Li Huiwei immediately. How about this, I'll go to Jin Yue City."

Sun Mei trembled and said, "What? Brother Feng, you're going?" She hesitated for a long time before saying, "I want to go too."

Ye Feng smiled and said, "Sister Mei, do you think I'm going to Jin Yue City for sightseeing? I'm going to take care of business. You've been out for a long time, and you've completed this mission very well. You should go back and rest well. When you return to Yu Yue City, please give my regards to my elder brother."

Hearing Zhao Bai's name, Sun Mei's expression darkened, but she still insisted, "No, I want to go with you."

Ye Feng shook his head and said, "Nonsense!"

Sun Mei stubbornly said, "I want to go!" But her tone was much softer, almost like she was being coquettish.

Li Huan couldn't help but laugh, and Ye Feng sighed, "Sister Mei, you don't seem like my older sister, you seem like my younger sister."

He turned to Li Huan and said, "Does Master Li have any paper and pen with him?"

Li Huan nodded and took out paper and pen from his body.

Ye Feng wrote a letter of divorce with swift strokes, then handed it to Li Huan, saying, "This is a personal letter to Sister Yi, containing details of our separation. Please make sure to deliver it to her personally, Master Li."

Li Huan immediately understood Ye Feng's meaning; Ye Feng wanted him to publicly acknowledge Hua Yi so he could protect her. He nodded and said, "Don't worry, Master Ye, I will personally deliver the letter to Madam."

However, what troubled Ye Feng was Sun Mei's insistence on going to Jin Yue City with him. No matter how much he pleaded, Sun Mei wouldn't agree. Ye Feng was at a loss.

The journey to Jin Yue City was fraught with danger, and even if Ye Feng reached Jin Yue City and met Li Huiwei, he couldn't leave immediately. He would have to stay and fight this secretive assassin organization with Li Huiwei and his team.

Considering the organization's ruthless and elusive methods, if something happened to Sun Mei, how could he explain it to Zhao Bai and Sister Yi? Therefore, Sun Mei absolutely could not go to Jin Yue City.

Ye Feng hesitated for a moment, glanced at Li Huan, and then said to Sun Mei, who was pouting, "Sister Mei, let's go for a walk in the woods over there."

Sun Mei chuckled and said, "Okay, but no matter what you say, I'm going!"

Ye Feng smiled slightly, and the two of them walked side by side into the woods on the left.

※※※

The woods were completely silent, except for the soft rustling sound of their footsteps on the snow.

The two walked to a high vantage point. Below the slope was a large meadow where several wild goats grazed, and a dozen tall birch trees stood nearby. The sun had already risen, and the reflections of the trees on Sun Mei's body and face gave her a hazy, dreamlike appearance.

Ye Feng pointed down the slope and said, "It's beautiful!"

Sun Mei smiled and said, "Yes!"

She turned to look at Ye Feng, and he looked back at her. Their eyes met, instantly entwining.

Ye Feng gazed at Sun Mei's pretty face, remembering what she had done for him, and a tender feeling welled up in his heart. Sun Mei's heart pounded under Ye Feng's gaze, and she lowered her head shyly, then raised it again, giving him a charmingly reproachful look.

When Ye Feng felt a tremor in his heart from that glance, Sun Mei lightly slapped him a few times with her small hands, scolding, "You're so annoying, Feng-di! How can you look at someone like that?"

Ye Feng smiled but remained silent. In fact, the relationship between him and Sun Mei was quite peculiar; even he himself couldn't figure it out, and perhaps Sun Mei herself couldn't either!

However, Ye Feng understood that no matter what, Sun Mei was his elder brother's wife, and he had to respect her. Especially now that he had no negative emotions and hadn't touched the evil energy within the "Evil Scripture Record," he was even more clear about this.

Seeing that Ye Feng didn't react, Sun Mei's eyes darted around, and she continued the earlier topic of going to Golden Moon City. She took Ye Feng's hand, shaking it repeatedly, and pleaded in a slightly flirtatious, soft voice, "Good brother, let me go to Golden Moon City with you, okay?"

Seeing that Ye Feng didn't speak, she added in a coquettish voice, "Okay, please?"

Ye Feng felt his bones go weak; Sun Mei's seductive charm wasn't so easy to resist. Honestly, having such a beautiful and charming sworn sister by my side along the way would be incredibly pleasant. Unfortunately, her safety was paramount.

He gazed into Sun Mei's eyes and softly asked, "Sister Mei, why do you insist on going to Golden Moon City with me?"

This question left Sun Mei speechless; a blush instantly spread across her fair and delicate face. However, she quickly retorted, "I'll go if I want to, why so many questions?"

Ye Feng smiled without speaking. His hand slowly caressed Sun Mei's smooth cheek, and he said gently, "Sister Mei, do you know how worried I am about you! If anything happens to you, I will never forgive myself!"

Under Ye Feng's affectionate touch, Sun Mei's fair cheeks flushed a deep rosy hue, but she made no move to resist. She simply looked quietly into Ye Feng's eyes, a faint light slowly filling them.

Ye Feng continued, "Back in the abyss, I often wondered, 'Has Sister Mei escaped? Is she safe?'" Every time I think about it, I feel a pang of heartache. I don't want to feel this way again. Do you understand, Sister Mei?"

Sun Mei suddenly burst into tears, large, crystal-clear tears rolling down her delicate cheeks. She sobbed, "I understand. In fact, I feel the same way."

"That day on Wanglong Mountain, I heard that Feng Di was beaten off a cliff by Wanglong's men. I felt like the sky had fallen... But I didn't give up, and I kept searching on Wanglong Mountain... I was afraid that you would suffer the same fate, so I went with you..."

Hearing Sun Mei's heartfelt confession, Ye Feng was moved. He laughed and said, "Don't worry, Sister Mei, it won't happen. Think about it, falling off such a high cliff and not dying, and even eating a pill, my life is incredibly tough! I'm a genuine nine-lives spirit cat. Note, genuine, just like Peking duck!"

Sun Mei laughed through her tears and scolded, "You're so thick-skinned!" "It's Yuyue City roast duck! What Beijing brand roast duck? I've never even heard of it!"

Ye Feng noticed a few tears still clinging to her jade-like cheeks, yet her smile was radiant and captivating, leaving him momentarily stunned. He quickly smiled and said, "Alright, alright! Yuyue City roast duck it is. Wipe your tears clean, or you won't be pretty!"

Sun Mei retorted, "I won't wipe them!"

She then glared at Ye Feng, "So, if I'm not pretty anymore, will you ignore me, Feng-di?" Ye Feng

laughed, "How could that be?" Sun Mei pressed

, "Is that right?" Ye Feng

said seriously, "No matter if Sister Mei is beautiful or ugly in the future, I will always keep Sister Mei in my heart!"

Sun Mei smiled broadly, "That's more like it!"

She beamed, but seemed determined to make one last effort regarding going to Golden Moon City. She took Ye Feng's hand again, saying affectionately, "Brother Feng..." Ye

Feng interrupted her, saying, "Sister Mei, if you still want to go to Golden Moon City, then there's no need to say anything more."

Sun Mei paused, but she wasn't giving up and wanted to say something more.

Ye Feng said seriously, "Sister Mei, listen to me, or I'll be unhappy."

Sun Mei stared blankly at Ye Feng, noticing the resolute look in his eyes—a look that compelled obedience.

Sun Mei stared blankly for a long time, knowing that the matter was settled and couldn't be changed.

※※※

The matter was thus decided. Seeing that things had come to this, Sun Mei had no choice but to obey Ye Feng's arrangements.

Ye Feng remembered something, took off his bag, and said to Sun Mei, "Sister Mei, let me show you some good things." Opening the package

revealed a huge pile of martial arts manuals. Sun Mei was stunned, never expecting Ye Feng to possess so many treasures. Although she had noticed the package on Ye Feng earlier, she assumed it contained his clothes, never imagining it would contain so many martial arts manuals.

With trembling hands, she touched the manuals, exclaiming in disbelief, "Heavens, I can't believe it, I can't believe it!"

Ye Feng smiled and said, "Sun Mei, pick whatever you like!"

Sun Mei looked at Ye Feng happily and asked, "Really?"

Ye Feng feigned anger and said, "Of course it's true! Does Sister Mei doubt my sincerity?" "

In the Floating Cloud Continent, strength equals status and power, and is the guarantee of survival. Martial arts manuals are the fastest way to increase strength. Countless people fight to the death for these things. Now that Ye Feng is casually giving away a few, it's no wonder Sun Mei is in a dream. Of course, Ye Feng can only give them away so casually to his relatives. He would never do that to others.

" Sun Mei giggled and whispered, "Brother Feng, don't be angry. How could your sister doubt your sincerity?"

She happily flipped through the pile of books for a while, her joy growing stronger, constantly exclaiming in amazement. Finally, she chose two martial arts manuals on fist techniques and two on hidden weapons. She happily tucked all the books into her pocket. Ye

Feng smiled slightly; to be honest, seeing Sun Mei so happy, he himself felt an indescribable joy.

※※※

The three finally parted ways. Before leaving, Li Huan took the ancient, large sword from her back and said to Ye Feng, "Master Ye, this sword is called 'Dragon Breaker,' best suited for the Dragon-Tiger Sword Technique. I've had this sword for over ten years; now I'm giving it to you!" Ye Feng realized

that Li Yin's sword had been left on Wanglong Mountain, and the sword he carried was one he had stolen from someone in Wanglong that day. It wasn't very comfortable to use, so he didn't refuse, saying, "Thank you! " He took the knife.

It felt heavy in his hand. Drawing the blade, it immediately emitted a bright, gleaming light, exceptionally sharp. Ye Feng stroked the blade, noticing the various natural patterns forged upon it, a truly pleasing sight.

Ye Feng couldn't help but exclaim, "A fine knife!" He said to Li Huan, "Master Li, this is a generous gift; it would be impolite to refuse!"

He looked deeply at Sun Mei, whose eyes were red-rimmed, and smiled, "Take care, Sister Mei!"

Tears welled in Sun Mei's eyes as she nodded vigorously.

Ye Feng added, "Remember to give my regards to my elder brother when you return to Jade Moon City!"

Sun Mei nodded again.

Ye Feng then said to Li Huan, "Farewell, take care!"

He mounted his horse, pulled on the reins, and with a shout, the white horse reared up and neighed, galloping away like the wind towards Golden Moon City.

Sun Mei stood there, stunned, watching Ye Feng's figure gradually disappear into the distance. A gust of wind rose, and he was no longer visible. The sound of hooves gradually faded until it was no longer audible, and a feeling of utter desolation welled up in her heart.

※※※

From Xinfu City to Golden Moon City, the land was mostly plains, with abundant water, rivers and lakes scattered everywhere, and villages nestled along their banks, creating a tranquil and beautiful landscape.

But this tranquility was shattered by the rapid sound of hooves. A rider was galloping from the direction of Xinfu, his hooves kicking up snowflakes that flew everywhere. The rider was a handsome and dashing man, Ye Feng, who was heading towards Jinyue City.

He had parted ways with Sun Mei and Li Huan a few days earlier outside Xinfu City and had been traveling along the winding official road towards Jinyue City, only resting briefly in small towns along the way at midday and evening.

Ahead was a three-way intersection, one of which led from the direction of Donghan Kingdom to Jinyue City.

Suddenly, Ye Feng reined in his horse. The horse neighed loudly, its front hooves off the ground, and came to a stop. Ahead lay a vast river, the Jade Moon River, which flowed towards Jinyue City. Ye Feng drew his sword and stood on his horse,

gazing intently. Before him stretched the sky and water into a seamless expanse, a sight that left him speechless with awe!

However, darkness soon fell, and dusk was approaching. Ye Feng was starting to panic. There was no village or shop in sight; he'd better hurry on and try to find someone before nightfall.

Having made up his mind, Ye Feng hurried along the Jade Moon River. About half an hour later, he saw wisps of smoke rising from the depths of the woods ahead. Ye Feng was overjoyed: "There's a house!"

He entered the woods and spurred his horse towards the smoke. Ahead was a hillside, its surface covered in snow. He rode up the hillside and saw a large camp ahead, its lights shining through.

Ye Feng was delighted, but then he thought, "Could it be an army?"

He spurred his horse down the hillside, when suddenly a chill ran down his spine. He heard a sharp shout: "Who is it? Dismount!"

Ye Feng took a few more steps forward, then suddenly heard a whooshing sound, and a dazzling flash of metal appeared from all sides. Then, five sharp weapons, from various angles, hurtled towards him at high speed, whistling through the air.

Ye Feng was startled. His "Dragon Breaker" flashed out, spinning rapidly, immediately deflecting a series of clanging sounds as the sharp weapons thrusting at him were all long spears.

A thought struck Ye Feng. Based on their earlier encounter, he realized these spearmen possessed extraordinary spear techniques and powerful, evenly distributed strength, clearly skilled in combined attacks. As he felt a chill, three more long spears suddenly shot towards his chest without warning.

Startled, Ye Feng tumbled off his horse. Before he could even get up, two more long spears flashed before him, aimed at his face.

"You want my life!"

In this life-or-death moment, Ye Feng unleashed his full power, shouting and spinning wildly. A blade of light appeared! It was an incomparably dazzling light, accompanied by a terrifying whistling sound, seemingly capable of devouring everything!

A loud "clang" followed by a scream of agony echoed as the spearmen were struck and thrown backward!

The Dragon Tiger Saber Technique truly lived up to its reputation!

Just then, a loud shout came from ahead: "Stop!"

***

Upon hearing the shout, the men with guns immediately ceased their attack, merely surrounding Ye Feng warily.

Ye Feng glanced at the men with guns, thinking, "Who spoke? How could they make these fierce men so obedient?"

He looked up and saw a continuous sound of footsteps ahead, a large group of people carrying torches hurrying towards him, quickly reaching Ye Feng.

In the center was an old general, well over fifty years old, clad in armor, with a long beard, a lean face, and a refined appearance, yet his demeanor exuded a commanding aura that commanded respect.

Accompanying him were several men dressed as officers in full armor, carrying the air of seasoned veterans. Finally, following them were some burly soldiers, their spears gleaming coldly.

Ye Xi was secretly alarmed, wondering, "Who is this person? How can they have such an imposing aura?"

At this moment, the men with guns bowed to the old general and said, "General!" Their demeanor was respectful, and their voices were charming; they were all women.

Ye Feng hadn't seen them clearly in the darkness, but now, by the firelight, he could see that his attackers were all women—ten in total. Each was fully armored, tall and athletic, only an inch shorter than Ye Feng. Their intense energy was like that of ten female leopards!

The soldiers around them were all burly, but even they appeared much shorter than them, making them stand out even more. Each carried a long, silver-gleaming spear, their posture ramrod straight. The only flaw was their cold, expressionless faces.

The appearance of ten such women together filled Ye Feng with astonishment.

Ye Feng's expression was clearly observed by the old general. He smiled slightly, carefully scrutinized Ye Feng, and said with a smile, "Young brother, your swordsmanship is quite formidable. This is the first time all of my 'Moon Guards' have been defeated at the same time. If I'm not mistaken, you're using the Dragon Tiger Sword Technique, aren't you?"

Ye Feng secretly admired his keen eye, and hearing his amiable voice, immediately replied, "Indeed!" At the same time, he was trying to guess his identity.

The old general then asked, "May I ask how you are called, young brother? And what brings you here?"

Ye Feng replied, "My name is Ye Feng!" He then recounted how he had missed his lodging and had clashed with the female guards.

The old general smiled and said, "I see! My men were rude to Brother Ye just now. Please forgive them!"

Ye Feng thought to himself, "If I had been a little slower, your Moon Guards would have killed me by now. It's not something that can be explained away with a simple 'rude'!"

However, he guessed that this old general must be a person of very high status, who often encountered assassination attempts, and that his Moon Guards were just doing their duty. Besides, they had warned him before. In addition, the old general was approachable, and for some reason, Ye Feng felt an inexplicable sense of kinship with him, as if he were a long-lost relative. So he smiled and said, "It's just a friendly acquaintance!" He

then asked the old general's name.

The old general smiled and said, "I am Li Fei!"

"What?" Ye Feng's body trembled, and he exclaimed, "The one known as the number one general of the Great Yue Kingdom, General Li Fei?"

Li Fei smiled and said, "I dare not presume, it is indeed I!"

A huge wave surged in Ye Feng's heart. He never expected to meet a legendary figure of the Great Yue Kingdom here.

There are many folk tales about General Li Fei. Ye Feng knows that he is a descendant of Li Tie, the peerless general of the Great Yue Kingdom. He has inherited his ancestor's skills and is proficient in both literary and military arts.

Li Fei has been stationed on the border between the Orchid Kingdom and the Winter Cold Kingdom for many years. He has fought dozens of battles, large and small, without ever being defeated. He rose from the lowest-ranking military officer to the rank of general. His military career was filled with bravery and he was the bravest in the army, making the Orchid Kingdom and the Winter Cold Kingdom tremble with fear.

Li Fei was adept at analyzing the situation of both sides and then launching targeted attacks based on correct strategic policies. For example, in the Battle of Doufu ten years ago, during the border dispute with the Orchid Kingdom, he concentrated superior forces to defeat the Orchid army piecemeal, ultimately inflicting a major defeat and nearly forcing the Orchid Kingdom to relocate its capital.

A crucial reason why the Great Yue Kingdom has maintained a peaceful environment for many years is Li Fei's presence, which instills fear in the Orchid and Winter Cold Kingdoms, preventing them from launching large-scale invasions and only allowing small-scale harassment along the border.

When Ye Feng chatted with Hua Yi, Li Yin, and others, everyone expressed deep respect for this veteran general. The love story between this general and his wife, Lady Anguo, was also a popular topic of conversation.

Ye Feng learned from Li Yin that Li Fei's wife was originally named Yang Meiqing, now known as Lady Anguo. She was from a distinguished family, not only incredibly beautiful but also skilled in singing and dancing, and exceptionally talented. In her prime, she captivated countless nobles and heroes, and was widely recognized as the most beautiful woman in the Great Yue Kingdom, ranking alongside the current Queen and the King's most beloved concubine, Consort Li, on the list of the most beautiful women in the land.

Back then, not only all the men in Jin Yue City, but even those who had only heard of her beauty, longed to see her and even hoped to have her hand in marriage. However, Yang Meiqing remained unmoved by her many ardent suitors. Until she met Li Fei, who was then a lowly young man and had lost his wife early in life, the two fell in love at first sight.

Their relationship was opposed by the entire kingdom, especially by Yang Meiqing and Li Fei's parents. However, the couple persevered and convinced them, finally marrying. It is said that on the day of Yang Meiqing's wedding, no fewer than a hundred people committed suicide for her.

After their marriage, the couple were devoted to each other, their love growing ever stronger. Li Fei worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk for his official duties, while Yang Meiqing diligently managed the household, keeping everything in perfect order so her husband could focus on his work. She also served her in

-laws with utmost care, winning their hearts. During Li Fei's campaigns across the north and south, Yang Meiqing often accompanied him, taking care of his daily needs and providing him with a gentle, comforting presence amidst his busy battles. This, in turn, kept him energized and invincible in battle.

It can be said that Li Fei's rise to the rank of General and his subsequent success were inseparable from Yang Meiqing's help. When Li Fei was promoted to General, Yang Meiqing was also bestowed the title of Lady of Anguo. Their love story has become a timeless tale of romance.

More than twenty years have passed, and Yang Meiqing is still as beautiful as ever. Every man who sees her is captivated and his heart flutters.

Li Yin often remarked, "She once saw Lady Anguo and was completely stunned. She couldn't believe such a beautiful woman existed in the world, especially since she's already in her forties but looks like she's in her thirties. I really don't know how she maintains her beauty."

These anecdotes flashed through Ye Feng's mind like lightning. Facing this once-renowned hero, he felt a surge of admiration. He bowed deeply again, saying, "I was ignorant just now and offended your subordinates, General. Please forgive me!"

Li Fei stroked his beard and smiled, "Brother Ye, you're too kind. If you don't mind, how about we rest in a secluded place?" Ye Feng

felt a surge of excitement he didn't understand. He was naturally willing to be with such a person, and immediately cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, General Li!"

※※※

Passing through the heavily guarded area with sentries every three steps, Ye Feng followed Li Fei to a tall cowhide tent.

Ye Feng thought this must be the commander's tent, because besides being taller than the other tents, it also had a huge flagpole in front, with a commander's flag on it. By the lamplight, he could vaguely make out the character "Li".

However, when Ye Feng's gaze fell on the two rows of guards in front of the tent, he was secretly startled, thinking, "My goodness, ten female leopards again!"

These two rows of guards were also ten women, their height and attire identical to the women he had fought before. They all had the same athletic and tall figures, the same expressionless, icy demeanor, and held the same silver spears, standing as straight as nails. Seeing Li Fei enter,

they all saluted. Ye Feng paused for a moment before following them into the tent. Looking around, he saw that the interior was quite spacious, but the furnishings were simple, though everything exuded a military atmosphere.

Li Fei ordered a banquet to be prepared and then warmly entertained Ye Feng, introducing him to the officers around him—all of whom were his close generals.

One officer, Li Po, particularly caught Ye Feng's attention. Ye Feng observed that Li Po was tall and imposing, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Despite his young age, he possessed an indescribable, robust air, the unique military bearing of someone who had endured countless battles and life-or-death trials, exuding an aura of steely will.

Li Po seemed to also be paying close attention to Ye Feng; when Li Fei introduced him, he smiled gently at him.

The atmosphere at the banquet was warm and friendly. Li Fei chatted amiably, recounting many interesting anecdotes from the border regions, especially detailing the local customs and traditions with remarkable familiarity, demonstrating his extensive knowledge. Ye Feng listened with great interest.

However, Ye Feng felt that although Li Fei's manner was approachable, he possessed an innate authority; every word and action carried an irresistible force. Especially considering Li Fei's noble status and position, his humility and unpretentiousness towards a commoner like himself were truly admirable.

Coupled with Li Fei's refined appearance and approachable demeanor, being with him was like basking in a gentle breeze.

During the meal, Li Fei inquired about Ye Feng's identity and background. Before this legendary hero of the Great Yue Kingdom, whom he admired, Ye Feng didn't want to hide anything. Furthermore, he always felt an inexplicable affinity for this elder, so he readily revealed his identity and background, even mentioning his trip to Jin Yue City to see Li Huiwei.

"Oh~"

Li Fei stroked his beard and pondered, "So Brother Ye is going to the capital to pay respects to Lord Li Huiwei. It just so happens that I also have important matters to discuss with Lord Li in the capital. If Brother Ye doesn't mind, how about we travel together?"

Ye Feng was naturally delighted and happily nodded in agreement.

The meal continued for a long time, until late into the night, before everyone dispersed.

That night, Ye Feng rested in Li Fei's side tent.

※※※

The next day, just as dawn broke, Li Fei sent someone to wake Ye Feng. Ye Feng quickly packed his belongings and set off with the others.

When he saw Li Fei, he was already fully prepared and nodded with a smile upon seeing Ye Feng.

The group marched in a grand procession towards Golden Moon City.

Ye Feng rode on Li Fei's right. The group was magnificent, numbering in the thousands. Uniform horses, fluttering banners that blotted out the sky, and every warrior appeared tall and imposing, exuding an invincible and domineering aura. Ye Feng couldn't help but admire them: "Only General Li Fei could lead such a powerful army."

The twenty "Moon Guards," his personal attendants, closely protected Li Fei. Ye Feng had already witnessed their skills the previous night; their unparalleled combined attack technique would make any assassin hesitate. From the moment Ye Feng saw them that morning, they had followed Li Fei with solemn expressions, never leaving his side, diligently fulfilling their duties as guards.

One of the most beautiful women appeared to be the leader of the group; she was taller, colder, more alluring, and more arrogant than the others. Besides carrying a long spear, she also had a very heavy military saber hanging at her waist, its thick spine making her legs appear even longer on horseback.

Seeing the curiosity in Ye Feng's eyes as he looked at the women, Li Fei smiled and said, "Brother Ye must be wondering why I've chosen these women as my guards?"

Ye Feng nodded. Li Fei stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "I don't know why, but I always feel a sense of affinity and closeness with Brother Ye. I'm willing to tell Brother Ye anything; I've never felt this way before."

Ye Feng felt an indescribable excitement. He hadn't expected Li Fei, a general, to speak so frankly to him.

Li Fei continued, "Actually, these girls were a gift from a good friend of mine. I've suffered many assassination attempts in my life, losing countless fine young men in the past. But since my friend gave me these women, the danger has greatly decreased under their tight protection. And they've never suffered any losses; their colleagues are all incredibly envious."

Ye Feng recalled his encounter with them last night, realizing how difficult it would be to break through their defenses. The person who could train such a group of skilled individuals was no ordinary person.

"In fact, my use of these girls as guards has caused quite a bit of controversy, but I've acted uprightly and honestly, so who am I afraid of?" Li Fei finished with a hearty laugh.

Ye Feng couldn't help but laugh. He thought to himself that General Li looked very scholarly, but he was quite witty. He smiled and said, "General Li is right. A true man should act with a clear conscience and not be afraid of what others say."

The two chatted and laughed and found themselves quite compatible. Although they were of different ages, they could talk about many things together.

However, Ye Feng, with his sharp eyes, noticed that although Li Fei was chatting and laughing, there seemed to be a hint of worry between his brows. He asked, "General, you seem worried. What is it about?"

Li Fei looked at Ye Feng for a while, then sighed and said, "To be honest, Brother Ye, the reason I traveled all the way from the border back to the capital is because a major event has recently occurred there."

※※※

"What is it?"

"His Majesty wants to depose the Crown Prince and install the Second Prince as the new Crown Prince!"

Ye Feng asked with interest, "Why is that?"

"There are many reasons." Li Fei gazed into the distance, his tone rather heavy. "The current Crown Prince, Li Zhiji, is kind-hearted and generous, but his personality is rather straightforward and weak, and he lives a luxurious life, so His Majesty has never liked him." "

On the other hand, the Second Prince, Li Weiquan, is handsome, talented in both literature and martial arts, and skilled in scheming and political maneuvering. He also appears humble, so he has won unanimous praise from the court and is deeply favored by His Majesty."

"Furthermore, His Majesty favors Consort An, the mother of the Second Prince, so His Majesty has considered deposing the Crown Prince and making the Second Prince the new Crown Prince several times. However, due to the ministers' earnest persuasion and the current Queen's dignified and elegant demeanor, befitting the Empress, the plan was thwarted..."

Listening to Li Fei's slow narration, Ye Feng couldn't help but recall a casual conversation with Li Yin, during which Li Yin had mentioned this Second Prince, Li Weiquan. Ye Feng knew that the current King had eleven children, among whom Li Weiquan was the most favored and was bestowed the title of Prince Wei.

Popular legend had it that Prince Wei, Li Weiquan, was a man of great talent and ambition, achieving much in governance and being benevolent and righteous. For example, no matter who from the court went to Li Weiquan's residence to seek refuge or pay a visit, regardless of their status, Li Weiquan would personally greet them at the gate, host a banquet, and present them with generous gifts. Therefore, everyone praised Li Weiquan's benevolence and filial piety.

However, Li Yin had a different opinion. Based on her intelligence analysis, she believed that Li Weiquan was actually a cunning and treacherous man, adept at opportunism. He feigned innocence and used every trick in the book to curry favor with powerful figures in the court, showering them with gifts and flattering words, all in an attempt to seize the throne.

According to the secret reports Li Yin knew, Li Weiquan, to demonstrate his lack of interest in women, had hidden away the beautiful women in his residence when he learned that the king was going to visit him, leaving only old and ugly women to serve as palace maids. He

also deliberately broke the strings of his zither and covered it with dust. His actions revealed him to be a deeply scheming and terrifying person. His birth mother, the stunningly beautiful Consort An, was extremely licentious and ruthless, resorting to any means to eliminate dissidents. Now, it could be said that most of the people in the court were her cronies.

While Ye Feng was pondering this, Li Fei continued, "The King has tried to depose the Crown Prince many times before, and each time he has passed without incident. But this time, the Crown Prince is in grave danger! Rumors in the capital say that the Crown Prince has committed serious crimes such as plotting rebellion, filial impiety, and cursing. If convicted, the Crown Prince will not only lose his position, but he may also be demoted to a commoner." "

Given the Crown Prince's temperament, is it possible for him to do such a thing?" Ye Feng asked slowly.

Li Fei sighed, "Although the Crown Prince is frivolous, I firmly believe he wouldn't commit such a treasonous act. There must be something else going on."

Li Po, who had been silent until now, chimed in, "I also firmly believe the Crown Prince wouldn't do such a treasonous thing. Someone must be framing him!"

Li Fei nodded and continued, "Fortunately, the Left Chancellor, Li Xinzhi, has already begun to intervene in this matter in the capital. Chancellor Li is highly respected and influential; with his involvement, the truth will surely come to light. Furthermore, I have already joined forces with the Jade Moon Military Governor, Li Huiwei, the Left Minister, Yang Liuyu, Duke Zhao Jinquan, and other virtuous officials, and we will surely restore the Crown Prince's innocence."

As he spoke, a glint appeared in Li Fei's eyes, and a commanding aura appeared on his refined and scholarly face.

※※※

Afterwards, traveling day and night, the group resembled a long dragon, winding along the official road to Jin Yue City. Before they knew it, many days had passed, and they were getting closer and closer to Golden Moon City.

That day, a heavy snow began to fall again. Braving the wind and cold, the group traveled until noon. Li Fei laughed, "Brother Ye, look, Golden Moon City is just ahead!"

Ye Feng quickly looked, and through the swirling snowflakes, he could see a tall city faintly visible on the distant horizon, so majestic in the snow. Ye Feng stared blankly, murmuring to himself, "I've finally arrived! I've finally reached Golden Moon City!"

This day was December 29th, 1605 in the Continental Calendar, only one day away from the New Year.

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