A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 15

Volume Twenty-Two: Conferring Titles and Generalships, Chapter Ten: An Unforgettable Experience.

Having completed their inspection of the four gates, Ren Xiaoyao and Nangong Bubai, with almost identical words, reignited the fighting spirit of the city's soldiers and civilians. Now, both hoped the Liao army would launch their next attack soon, so they could deliver a crushing blow and show Yelü Xiezhen that even his plans could fail.
On the way back to the North Gate, Ren Xiaoyao repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Nangong Bubai. Indeed, without his strong support, not only would the attempt to boost morale have failed, but Xunfeng City might not have even survived until today.
Nangong Bubai smiled and said, "Putting aside the fact that your sect is one of Tingyuxuan's biggest clients, just based on my life-or-death friendship with Sect Leader Long, I have no choice but to help... Besides, you are my future son-in-law, and Xunfeng City is Fengyi and Fengzi's future home. How could I stand by and watch the Liao army run rampant on my precious daughter's land?"
Ren Xiaoyao said apologetically, "I didn't want to involve Fengyi and Fengzi in the war, but the Liao army besieged the city too quickly, and I'm powerless to send them to a safe place."
Nangong Bubai said solemnly, "No, in my eyes, Xunfeng City is the safest place under heaven. I feel very at ease with Fengyi and Fengzi living in the Taiji Hall."
Ren Xiaoyao looked at the half-moon in the sky and sighed, "Sect Leader..." "I have no way to repay your trust, so I can only lead the troops to defend the city and do my best to ensure the safety of Fengyi and Fengzi."
Nangong Bubai patted his shoulder and instructed, "Take care of yourself, try to avoid getting hurt... You don't know, during the days you were unconscious, Fengyi and Fengzi almost cried their eyes out."
Ren Xiaoyao gave a bitter smile and nodded, "Alas, I didn't want to, but the situation forced me to. Sect Leader, you might as well go and see Fengyi and Fengzi. Tonight, I'm afraid... I'm afraid I won't be able to go back again."
Nangong Bubai agreed, "With a formidable enemy at hand, the defense of Xunfeng City is of paramount importance, but after the Liao army retreats, you must not be indifferent to Fengyi and Fengzi, otherwise, I, as their father, will hold you accountable." After saying this, he laughed and left. When
Ren Xiaoyao climbed the city wall again, the soldiers could hardly believe their eyes. The sect leader, who had taken off his outer robe, was covered in bandages in more than a dozen places. Any one of them was seriously injured. Looking at the cult leader's expression, it seemed he had no intention of going back to rest, which made them even more astonished. Did the cult leader really intend to spend the night on the desolate city wall like these ordinary soldiers?
Liu Yijun and Gao Hongliang stepped forward simultaneously, respectfully saying, "Master, you are still recovering from your serious injuries..."
Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand to interrupt, saying, "I am young and impetuous, lacking in talent and learning, yet I have been favored by Master Long and given the position of Master. I should take the predecessors and sages as my role models and do my best to take care of the brothers in the sect. General Li Guang of the Han Dynasty, when leading his troops into battle, ate and drank with his soldiers. When food and water were scarce, if a water source was found, he would never approach the water before all the soldiers had drunk from it; if the soldiers had not all eaten, Li Guang would never eat first. I, Xiaoyao, may not be able to emulate General Li in everything, but I should at least follow the eight characters of leading by example and sharing weal and woe."
All the soldiers were moved to tears, and several of the older ones even cried out. Liu Yijun and Gao Hongliang, seeing the Master's resolute words, dared not object.
Ren Xiaoyao ordered all the soldiers to rest on the spot, while he himself climbed the corner tower, intently watching the Liao army's movements.
Half an hour passed quickly. Suddenly, Gao Hongliang reported that Shui Furong was carrying a food basket and was coming up the stone steps from the east end. His voice was loud, especially in the quiet night, and all the soldiers within a radius of several dozen feet could hear him clearly.
Ren Xiaoyao almost cursed Gao Hongliang for being foolish. Since Shui Furong was carrying a food basket, it was obvious that she had come to deliver tonics. Gao Hongliang's shout had put them in a dilemma—whether to accept it or not. Accepting it would be tantamount to contradicting themselves, rendering their vows of leading from the front and sharing weal and woe meaningless. Refusing it would be a betrayal of Shui Furong's good intentions.
While he hesitated, Shui Furong arrived about five feet in front of him. Ren Xiaoyao was immediately dumbfounded. Shui Furong was dressed in a martial arts outfit, her pretty face filled with fierceness. Her attire was nothing like that of someone delivering tonics; she looked every bit the valiant and heroic female general.
Shui Furong stared at him for a long time, then asked casually, "Fool, are you really not going back tonight?"
Normally, Ren Xiaoyao would have blurted out, "Why go back? To keep you company?" But remembering the soldiers around them, he quickly changed his words, "The Liao army could attack at any moment. As the leader, I cannot be negligent in the slightest."
Shui Furong's beautiful cherry lips feigned indifference as she said, "Alright, then eat your midnight snack first."
Ren Xiaoyao thought to himself that it must contain shark fin, bird's nest, or nourishing ginseng soup. If he actually opened it, he'd be accused of indulging in gluttony, and more importantly, the soldiers would misunderstand him as unable to endure hardship. All his previous speech might be wasted. He immediately took the food box, then handed it to Gao Hongliang, intending to put it aside for now and take it back to the Taiji Hall tomorrow morning to enjoy it slowly.
Shui Furong was slightly taken aback, her beautiful eyes flashing with surprise: "Why aren't you eating it? Are you afraid I'll poison it?"
Ren Xiaoyao was embarrassed, unsure how to answer.
Liu Yijun tried to smooth things over, saying, "The leader is afraid that the Liao army will attack when we're halfway through the meal..."
Shui Furong put her hands on her hips, her almond eyes wide open, and said, "What are you afraid of? If the Liao army dares to come, I'll take them on."
Ren Xiaoyao muttered, "Furong, so it turns out that you brought me this midnight snack under the pretense, and your real intention was to beat someone up."
The soldiers burst into laughter, and the tense and serious atmosphere immediately eased considerably.
Shui Furong stamped her foot and scolded, "Don't laugh! I... I heard the Liao soldiers are very strong, so I wanted to try it out and see how many blows they could withstand."
Liu Yijun smiled and said, "No need to try. Miss Shui's martial arts are the true teachings of Senior Yi Tianhan. She can easily take down the Liao soldiers with a single blow."
Shui Furong was very pleased and said with a charming smile, "Actually, my real purpose in coming here is to reward the troops. The two hundred jars of fine wine sent by Sect Leader Nangong will arrive soon. Everyone can drink to their heart's content... Don't worry, this kind of strong liquor won't make you drunk, and it won't affect your defense of the city."
The soldiers cheered in unison. To be honest, Xunfeng City had plenty of food. They could eat as much as they wanted five times a day, and their stomachs would never go hungry. However, the wine was strictly controlled and could not be touched casually. Now that the future sect leader's wife had personally sent two hundred jars, they were overjoyed.
In a short while, the wine arrived, and Ren Xiaoyao ordered the soldiers to divide into two groups: one group to patrol the city walls, and the other group to drink heartily. He picked up a pot, tilted his head back, and took two large gulps. A warm feeling rose from his chest and abdomen, and the image of Long Yinxiao's voice and smile involuntarily appeared before his eyes. Ren Xiaoyao's heart couldn't help but flutter. He pulled Shui Furong aside and whispered, "The other three sects..."
Shui Furong interrupted, "Don't worry, the sect leader has sent people to deliver them. The sisters have remembered your instructions and stayed obediently in the Taiji Hall. They only sent me alone to bring you a bowl of plain noodles."
"Plain noodles?!" Ren Xiaoyao almost spat out a mouthful of wine from his nose. The small food box had made him look around anxiously, and after all that, it turned out to be just a bowl of plain noodles.
Shui Furong slightly shrugged her fragrant shoulders, her posture and expression so captivating. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "You think I'd send you delicacies? No way! Second Sister said that if those fancy dishes were served, the soldiers would definitely be dissatisfied. If I made plain noodles, the effect would be completely different."
Sure enough, when the soldiers saw that the food box contained plain noodles, their eyes revealed sweetness and warmth. Ren Xiaoyao was almost certain that at this moment, they were thinking of their parents, wives, and children at home, hoping to return home after defeating the Liao army and taste such a bowl of noodles filled with love and family affection.
Ren Xiaoyao enjoyed endless sweetness. At this critical moment when the Tianji Sect was facing a life-or-death crisis, the women not only did not hold him back, but also wholeheartedly helped him boost morale and reorganize the army. With such righteous and beautiful women by his side, what more could a man ask for! After
several hours of rest and the comfort of fine wine, the soldiers' fatigue vanished.
Ren Xiaoyao wiped his mouth, contentedly placing the porcelain bowl back into the food box. Putting aside Shui Furong's exquisite culinary skills, the extraordinary significance of this bowl of plain noodles alone was enough to make him remember it for the rest of his life.
Suddenly, shouts of battle erupted outside the city…

Volume 22 Conferring Titles and Generalships: Chapter 11 A Desperate Gamble

"Hahaha, Liao soldiers!" Gao Hongliang suddenly stood up, grabbed a powerful bow, and ran towards the wall.
"Soldiers, prepare to kill the enemy!" Ren Xiaoyao said, giving Shui Furong a wink, signaling him to return immediately.
"Master, the Liao army isn't large, it seems to be only twenty or thirty thousand," Liu Yijun observed for a moment, then said in a deep voice.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind raced, and he pondered, "Hold off the arrows for now, all will obey my orders… Immediately summon the Dragon Soaring Tiger Wing Army, quickly!"
The soldiers obeyed, and the Liao army, without being sniped, easily filled a small section of the moat, pouring continuously towards the city gate.
Ren Xiaoyao personally took a wooden bucket filled with oil and smashed it hard against the Liao army's vanguard. Although the soldiers didn't understand why, seeing their master's decisive action, they followed suit, smashing oil all around the moat.
The Liao generals couldn't understand Ren Xiaoyao's tactics, yet they were reluctant to give up the opportunity to breach the city. They kept urging their soldiers to charge forward. The Liao soldiers pushed their battering rams, speeding across the now-filled moat. However, they slipped on the hot oil, falling in droves. Several men were pulled under the rams, the massive wooden wheels crushing their bodies, instantly turning them into bloody messes, their brains splattered everywhere. Only
then did Ren Xiaoyao order his archers to fire, targeting only the Liao soldiers and ignoring the battering rams
. Arrows rained down from the city walls, and Liao soldiers fell one after another.
Seeing the catapults near the city gate, the Liao army decided to abandon them. As soon as one platoon of ram-pushing soldiers fell, another platoon immediately took their place, displaying a fearless, relentless spirit.
The Liao soldiers had very limited space to clear, and to make room for the battering rams, the shield bearers had to watch from a distance. Without their protection, the Liao soldiers suffered heavy casualties, collapsing like leaves swept away by the autumn wind. On the city walls, the Tianji army roared with triumph, while the Liao soldiers below screamed and wailed in agony.
The battering rams finally crashed heavily against the city gate, but the sturdy gate only swayed slightly and remained undamaged. The Liao soldiers had no choice but to push aside the first ram and have another battering ram ram crash into the gate from behind, repeatedly using the same method of attack. Under Ren Xiaoyao's deliberate "lure," they completely abandoned their conventional strategy of scaling ladders and placed all their hopes on the dozen or so battering rams at the front of the line.
Seeing the battering rams blocking the city gates and all the Liao soldiers gathered on the filled-in moat, Ren Xiaoyao chuckled inwardly. "Yelü Xiezhen didn't come to command, and you've all been played like fools. You deliberately gave me a chance to breach the city, then all rushed to the city walls to be shot at. Good! I'll settle the score for the past few days!" He immediately ordered his entire army to fight back with all their might, sparing no defensive weaponry.
Soldiers hurled elm logs studded with spiked iron nails downwards, while boiling oil poured down. Five hundred strongmen used iron chains to tie logs weighing over a hundred pounds each, hurling them from a height to stab Liao soldiers. Then, winches pulled them back to the city walls, waiting for another opportunity to attack. Thousands of Liao soldiers became sitting ducks for the Tianji army; no matter how many came, they died!
The Liao general, obsessed with achieving victory, disregarded the lives of his soldiers, relentlessly ordering them to charge, completely unaware that he had fallen into Ren Xiaoyao's meticulously laid trap.
Under the repeated pounding of the battering rams, the city gate began to loosen. Before the Liao general could even rejoice, Ren Xiaoyao fired a fire arrow, instantly igniting the previously laid oil. Over a thousand Liao soldiers, their bodies scorched by the flames, cried out and stumbled about in agony. Thick smoke billowed before the city gate, resembling a scene of hell on earth.
In moments, the battering rams were reduced to ashes, and the Liao soldiers were reduced to corpses. Ren Xiaoyao, with his extraordinary wisdom, had orchestrated this brilliant fire attack, causing the enemy soldiers to scream and cry out in despair.
Ren Xiaoyao waved his command flag, ordering Gao Hongliang to open the city gate. As the drawbridge was lowered, the Longxiang and Huyi armies roared out, charging straight towards the Liao soldiers.
Warhorses neighed and hooves thundered as Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng led their elite troops in a fierce battle, each soldier fighting like ten men. In the darkness, the glint of swords reflected in the torches, like thousands of silver snakes flashing, instantly trapping the enemy in the center.
The Liao soldiers, having failed to break through their defenses, were demoralized and unable to withstand these two ferocious forces. In less than half an hour, they were completely annihilated. When Xiao Tianzuo arrived to rescue them, he found only corpses strewn across the ground.
Victories also poured in from the southeast, west, and central gates. Just as Ren Xiaoyao was brimming with confidence, news from the capital sent him crashing down as if he had fallen from the clouds.
"His Majesty is overcome with anger and has not yet regained consciousness. The dispatch of reinforcements is likely to be a long way off. I hope that all brothers in the sect will take good care of themselves.
— Fei Yun, from the Hall of Governance"
In the main hall of the Hall of Governance, Ren Xiaoyao, Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, Zhu Shunwu, Liu Qingping, and Qin Tianyu looked at each other, staring at the letter sent by Long Fei Yun via carrier pigeon. The seven men looked solemn and remained silent for a long time.
After a long while… after a long while…
Ren Xiaoyao asked with difficulty, “How many troops are left in the city?”
Qin Huaiyu replied in a deep voice, “Seventy thousand… but most of them are wounded.
” Ren Xiaoyao pressed, “What about the Liao army?”
Zhang Jinghong answered, “Not counting the old, weak, sick, and disabled, there are at least 280,000 capable of fighting, four times our number, and they have an absolute advantage in cavalry.”
Liu Ningtao smiled bitterly, “Taking advantage of tonight’s great victory, we could have fought the Liao army to the death, but dozens of veterans have been imprisoned, leaving command positions vacant. It will take at least two days to reorganize, and by then…”
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, “I fear the momentum will be broken, making victory difficult?”
Liu Ningtao nodded, “Yes, Yelü Xiezhen is cunning and treacherous, with endless schemes. Every moment of delay increases the danger, unless we can find a way to win another great victory…” "We must agree to a decisive battle later, otherwise we'll have little chance of victory,"
Zhu Shunwu suggested. "Why don't we continue to hold out? I think His Majesty will wake up soon."
Ren Xiaoyao remained silent, but Qin Tianyu objected, "If we continue to hold out, the entire city's soldiers and civilians will eventually be worn down by the Liao army. Food and equipment aren't a problem, but morale... I think we should fight to the death!"
Zhang Jinghong said anxiously, "Fight? What can we fight with? The leader... the leader just left, and we're going to throw away his 100,000-strong army for nothing. No matter what... I can't do that."
Qin Huaiyu said fiercely, "Even if we destroy the Five Halls, as long as we can wipe out Yelü Xiezhen's main force, it's worth it!"
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly said, "What if we can't wipe them out? The Liao army will take advantage of the situation and advance eastward, and His Majesty won't be able to govern. Who will be responsible for the consequences?"
Qin Huaiyu and Zhu Shunwu were speechless.
Zhang Jinghong assumed Ren Xiaoyao wanted to hold out and tried to persuade him, saying, "Given the current situation, we can at least hold out for half a month, plus..."
Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand to interrupt, his expression solemn, "If we launch a light cavalry raid, how many days will it take to reach Jinzhou?"
Qin Huaiyu blurted out, "At most two days... Does the leader intend to send troops to rescue the five prefectures? We are currently preoccupied with our own problems; if we were to divide our forces for battle, we might not be able to handle it."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly and continued, "What about Qingzhou, Weizhou, Jinzhou, and Hezhong?"
Zhang Jinghong pondered, "Three to seven days, but... doing so is too risky. What if Yelü Xiezhen receives the news?" "With a fierce attack, Xunfeng City will never be able to hold out."
Ren Xiaoyao sneered, "I never intended to defend it!"
Liu Ningtao exclaimed, "Does the leader mean—abandon the city?"
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "Yes, temporarily abandon Xunfeng City and concentrate the sect's strength to reinforce the five prefectures. As long as we defeat Yelü Xiuge and Li Deming's forces, Yelü Xiezhen will be an isolated army. How can we not retake Xunfeng City?"
Liu Ningtao hesitated, "Our army only has 70,000 men, while Yelü Xiuge and Li Deming have at least 300,000. The difference in strength between the two sides is huge. Even if we cooperate with the defenders from within, the chances of victory are not high."
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes gleamed, and he said with a smile, "Don't forget that we were forced to abandon the city and flee by Yelü Xiezhen. Yelü Xiuge and Li Deming were overjoyed, never expecting that the Tianji Army would turn around and attack their rear."
Zhang Jinghong pondered, "The leader's plan is not bad, but right now our army has won a great victory and our morale is high. We should take this opportunity to fight the Liao army to the death. If we suddenly withdraw, it is hard to guarantee that Yelü Xiezhen will see through our scheme."
Ren Xiaoyao, with an expression as if Yelü Xiezhen was already in his grasp, said, "You are wrong. If we withdraw now, Yelü Xiezhen will believe that the Tianji Army admits defeat and is trying to preserve its strength." They should withdraw, otherwise there would be no need to suddenly abandon the city when the Liao army had just suffered a defeat and its morale was greatly diminished.

Volume Twenty-Two: Conferring Titles and Generalships, Chapter Twelve: The Decisive Battle

. The next day, at the Liao army camp.
Last night, the four armies suffered a crushing defeat, and Yelü Xiezhen was so angry that he hadn't slept a wink . He
had finally calmed down a little and was just taking a nap on his bed when Xiao Tianzuo rushed in anxiously from outside the tent. No one is perfect.
Although Yelü Xiezhen was an invincible hero on the battlefield, he had a bad habit of insomnia and hated being disturbed while he slept. Coupled with his lingering anger from last night, he said with a gloomy face, "Give me a suitable reason." If Xiao Tianzuo's answer did not satisfy him, he would face severe punishment.
Xiao Tianzuo replied breathlessly, "Inside...inside intelligence reports that the Tianji Army is preparing to abandon the city."
Yelü Xiezhen was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized, and said calmly, "Well done, Ren Xiaoyao, you really chose the right time." Xiao
Tianzuo volunteered, "Your Majesty, give me 100,000 elite cavalry to intercept them, I guarantee I'll annihilate their Tianji Army."
"General Xiao, you absolutely mustn't!" Tu Jinxiu walked in from outside the tent and hurriedly stopped him, "They just defeated our army last night, and today they're abandoning the city and fleeing. There must be a trap."
"Advisor Tu is overthinking it. Your Majesty's might is unmatched. Ren Xiaoyao knows he's no match for our army, so he led his troops to retreat from Xunfeng City to preserve his strength." Yelü Xidi, who arrived later, sneered, "The reason they chose to flee today is simply because the Tianji Army won a great victory last night and their morale is high, while our army has just suffered a defeat and certainly won't dare to stop them."
Tu Jinxiu pondered, "Ren Xiaoyao's wisdom should not be underestimated. Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, and others are also seasoned warriors. Do you two generals think they would easily abandon Xunfeng City, which has strong fortifications, and rashly choose to flee?" Xiao
Tianzuo decisively said, "With reinforcements from the five prefectures of Jinzhou, Qingzhou, Weizhou, Qinzhou, and Hezhong cut off, even if Xunfeng City is impregnable, it is still an isolated city. Let alone Ren Xiaoyao, even if Long Yinxiao were reborn, he wouldn't be able to defend it."
Tu Jinxiu sneered, "If it's true that the Tianji Army is withdrawing, where can they withdraw to?" "The road to Bianjing is flat and undefended. Fighting on the plains... Hmph, the 70,000 Tianji troops plus the troops stationed along the way are less than half our army... No, once they retreat, the generals of Jinzhou, Qingzhou, Weizhou, Qinzhou, and Hezhong will surely flee at the mere sight of them. At that time, three armies will advance simultaneously, a force of 600,000 fierce warriors..."
Yelü Xiezhen suddenly interrupted, "If Xunfeng City falls, the entire Guanzhong Plain, and even the northwestern provinces, will fall to our dynasty. It's understandable that Ren Xiaoyao, young and impetuous, might act without considering the consequences, but Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, and Liu Qingping are all shrewd and calculating. How could they make such a rash move?"
Xiao Tianzuo tentatively asked, "So... is there really a trap involved?"
Yelü Xiezhen ignored him and said in a deep voice, "Summon Xu Shangheng and his son here, quickly!" "Saying this, he walked to the military map hanging on the wall, his expression focused on deep thought.
Yelü Xidi, Xiao Tianzuo, and Tu Jinxiu dared not speak until Xu Shangheng and his son Xu Yanzheng hurriedly ran over.
Yelü Xiezhen didn't turn his head, and said indifferently, "Tell me briefly about the situation of the Tianji Sect's cavalry."
Xu Shangheng respectfully replied, "The Tianji Sect has six cavalry units, led by the Longxiang and Huyi armies. Their strength is no less than that of Your Majesty's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. The current commanders are Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng..." He spoke in great detail, but Yelü Xiezhen still felt it wasn't enough. He inquired about the army's equipment and combat characteristics, and then turned to ask about the detailed situation of the other troop types. Xu Shangheng answered according to his knowledge, and Xu Yanzheng occasionally chimed in.
The three of them gestured in front of the map for a long time. Yelü Xiezhen suddenly turned around and sneered, "Good! Good! As expected of the successor personally chosen by Long Yinxiao, you even came up with this trick." Yelü
Xidi, Xiao Tianzuo, and Tu Jinxiu exchanged bewildered glances. Yelü Xiezhen beckoned them forward, pointed to the marching route marked on the map, and explained, “The Tianji Army will break out from the south gate, then make a large detour at Shili Slope, bypassing Songhe Valley to the north. They will then split into five routes to simultaneously attack Yelü Xiuge and Li Deming’s armies. Once the siege of the five prefectures is lifted, they will immediately unite and launch a full-scale counterattack, trapping our army in Xunfeng City.”
Yelü Xidi gasped, his voice trembling, “Drawing firewood from under the cauldron—that’s vicious!”
Yelü Xiezhen sneered, “Since Your Majesty saw through it, it’s not called drawing firewood
from under the cauldron, but walking into a trap.” Xiao Tianzuo said solemnly, “I still think it’s unlikely. Such a marching route is extremely unpredictable; any slight mistake will expose them. It’s hard to imagine that the Song army could have such audacity.”
Yelü Xiezhen said coldly, "The Heavenly Pole Army is the best in the world; how can ordinary armies compare?" Tu
Jinxiu said sinisterly, "Fortunately, we had Brother Xu's help; otherwise, we would have truly been outmaneuvered by Ren Xiaoyao."
Xu Shangheng said calmly, "Now that I have joined your army, I naturally hope to take Xunfeng City as soon as possible. However… please don't forget what Your Majesty promised."
Yelü Xiezhen laughed heartily, "Don't worry, the day Xunfeng City falls will be the day you take over as the leader of the Heavenly Pole Sect." Half an hour later, the Liao
army launched a full-scale attack. Yelü Xidi led his main force of 200,000 to ambush at Songhe Valley, while Xiao Tianzuo led 50,000 elite troops to set up a defensive line around Xunfeng City, allowing the Tianji Army to "calmly" break out and then pursue, sealing off the entrance to Songhe Valley, and cooperating with Yelü Xidi's army to annihilate the enemy. As for Yelü Xiezhen, he led his 30,000 Tiger and Leopard Cavalry straight into Xunfeng City, immediately galloping through the most fortified city in the world, guarded by the Song Dynasty's most elite ace troops, showing off their might!
At three-quarters of the hour of Chen (7:45 AM), the Tianji Army began its breakout. The Longxiang and Huyi armies took the lead, tearing through the Liao army's seemingly "solid" defenses with overwhelming force, and 70,000 troops marched south in a mighty procession.
A cold smile appeared on Yelü Xiezhen's lips. In less than half a day, his glorious record of invincible victories would be further enhanced—in a short time... Ten days to capture Xunfeng City, annihilating the garrison!
Upon receiving the signal from Xiao Tianzuo, Yelü Xiezhen mounted his warhorse without hesitation and charged towards the north gate, followed closely by 30,000 elite cavalry, along with Xu Shangheng and his son Xu Yanzheng.
Looking at the north gate, now deserted after countless sacrifices, Yelü Xiezhen was filled with endless感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing regret, sorrow, and a sense of loss). Ren Xiaoyao was indeed a formidable opponent, but ultimately, due to various reasons, he had been defeated. If it weren't for matters of national importance, he would have preferred to let Ren Xiaoyao go
. The helplessness of a hero is tragic; such an opponent would likely never be found again. His spies in the city lowered the drawbridge, and Yelü Xiezhen spurred his horse forward with a swift stride. Xu Shangheng spurred his horse to catch up, flattering, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Your grand ambitions are just around the corner..."
"Boom!" Before he could finish speaking, a deafening crash rang in his ears. Yelü Xiezhen turned around in shock to see a massive iron gate slam down at the city gate, crushing several soldiers nearby into a bloody mess. They died instantly, without even a groan.
"Oh no! We've fallen into a trap!" Yelü Xiezhen was horrified, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He, along with Xu Shangheng and his son, and the five hundred elite cavalry who had entered first, were instantly cut off from the city by the massive gate, completely losing contact with the thirty thousand troops outside!

(Volume 22: Conferring Titles and Generalships, Chapter 13: A Victorious Battle)

A flurry of footsteps echoed all around. Yelü Xiezhen barely managed to regain his composure when he saw thousands of burly men in various attire emerging from near the city walls. Some carried clubs, others machetes, spears, and other miscellaneous weapons; they didn't resemble the regular army of the Heavenly Strike Sect at all, but rather a local militia.
Yelü Xiezhen thought to himself, "What a relief! It turns out they're just city dwellers. A few stern words from them will surely scare them into a rout."
Just as this thought crossed his mind, a young man in white robes suddenly emerged from the city walls. Yelü Xiezhen stared intently, nearly losing his mind in shock. This young man in white was none other than Ren Xiaoyao, the leader of the Heavenly Strike Sect!
Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, "Yelü Xiezhen, I never thought you'd fall into a trap like this!"
Yelü Xiezhen, being a seasoned general, quickly regained his composure and said loudly, "If I'm not mistaken, your sect's 70,000 troops have all left the city. Those remaining in the city are mostly old, weak, and disabled soldiers."
Ren Xiaoyao said coldly, "That's right. Don't think I don't know. You still have spies planted in the city. If you hadn't transferred your main force, would King Yelü have dared to venture so deep?"
Yelü Xiezhen was greatly alarmed and said in a deep voice, "So, the northward expedition to rescue the five prefectures was just a decoy you deliberately set out. Your purpose was nothing more than to lure me into the city and then annihilate me.
" Ren Xiaoyao said arrogantly, "That's right! How about it, my elaborate scheme is passable, isn't it?"
Yelü Xiezhen's face hardened with a cold expression, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. He said fiercely, "Fine, fine, you're the first person in the world to have me fall into a trap, remaining completely unaware until disaster struck." Ren
Xiaoyao smiled mischievously and said leisurely, "I wasn't the only one deceiving you, Mr. Zhuge. Please come out."
Zhuge Wenjie stepped forward with a smile, his feather fan and silk turban radiating heroic spirit, showing no trace of the dejection and sickness of a seriously injured man.
Yelü Xiezhen was astonished and said, "You...you weren't accidentally hit by a stray arrow and unconscious?"
Zhuge Wenjie stroked his beard and smiled, "Being hit by a stray arrow is true, being unconscious is false. Otherwise, how could I have calmly planned and secretly plotted against King Yelü?"
Yelü Xiezhen's lips twitched slightly as he pressed on, "Master Ren was unconscious for three days, and our army took the opportunity to gain a great advantage. Was there something fishy going on behind the scenes?" Ren Xiaoyao looked up at the sky, calmly smiling, "
How should I answer? From the moment Fei Yun left the city to seek reinforcements, I've been plotting this ingenious scheme to lure you into a trap. Your Majesty's soldiers have inflicted dozens of wounds on me, making me fall under swords and spears for the first time in my history, but also pushing Your Majesty into an abyss of no return... Of course, thanks to Mr. Zhuge's timely intervention, he 'fainted,' otherwise I would have truly had a wasted trip to the King of Hell."
Yelü Xiezhen sighed, "It seems I was indeed too careless, I truly underestimated you two—'The Romantic Thief' Ren Xiaoyao, 'The Reincarnated Zhuge Liang,' I, Yelü Xiezhen, will never forget these two names in this lifetime." His words were filled with sorrow, revealing the desolation of a hero's end.
Ren Xiaoyao's tiger eyes flashed with murderous intent, his calmness bordering on coldness as he said, "What a 'life and death,' do you think you'll even make it out alive?"
Yelü Xiezhen stared intently at Ren Xiaoyao, coldly scoffing, "Xiao Tianzuo's 50,000 elite troops aren't far from the city. He must have received the news long ago and led his men back. Leader Ren, you should worry about yourself." Ren
Xiaoyao casually replied, "To be honest, my troops set up camp 30 miles outside the city. The purpose is simply to hold off your 50,000 elite troops."
Yelü Xiezhen shrugged nonchalantly, laughing confidently, "My Tiger and Leopard Cavalry are outside too. Although they're not good at attacking cities, how long can your mere few thousand militia hold out?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a hearty laugh came from the city tower, "Militia? Hahaha, elder brother, the Beggars' Clan brothers, who are renowned throughout the world, are considered militia? King Yelü's vision is truly high!" "We're just a bunch of beggars anyway. It's the Robin Hoods under Third Brother's command who are being looked down upon." "Alas, to be honest, the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance is at best a bunch of roughnecks, how can they compare to the elite retainers under Sect Leader Nangong?" "President Ye, you flatter me. I only brought about a hundred men, they may not be of much use."
Xiong Xiaotian, Ye Zhi Qiu, Nangong Bubai and others stepped forward, and the heroes on the city wall shouted in unison.
Yelü Xiezhen's expression changed drastically. Although he knew very little about the affairs of the martial world, he had heard of the reputation of the Beggar Clan and the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance, and knew that these two groups were not easy to deal with. He had planned to test their skills during the siege, but after several days, he had not seen them make a move. He thought that they were afraid of his reputation and were therefore afraid to fight. Now he thought that Ren Xiaoyao had deliberately kept them in hiding, saving them as a surprise force to deal with him now.
Ren Xiaoyao returned to his usual carefree attitude and said with a smile: "Vice Hall Master Xu went deep behind enemy lines and lured Yelü Xiezhen here. His contribution is not small. He will be richly rewarded after today's mission is accomplished."
Xu Shangheng spurred his horse forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "The Master is a man of profound wisdom, devising this flawless plan. I merely followed the plan; how dare I claim credit?" Yelü Xiezhen's body trembled violently, and he exclaimed, "Xu Shangheng! You...you dare to feign surrender? Aren't you afraid of being exposed and subjected to slow slicing and being torn apart by five horses?" Xu
Shangheng solemnly replied, "The Dragon Master has given me a second chance at life. Let alone risking my life to feign surrender, I would gladly die even if it meant my immediate demise."
Yelü Xiezhen coldly said, "So you say you would gladly die? Don't you care about your father's life?"
Xu Shangheng proudly said, "My father followed Emperor Taizong in his campaigns, and he's seen it all. He didn't even consider the three thousand old, weak, and disabled soldiers left behind by Your Majesty in the camp a threat." Yelü
Xiezhen stood frozen in place. Xu Shangheng's words were like a blow to the head, shattering his overflowing confidence. If being outmaneuvered by Ren Xiaoyao and Zhuge Wenjie was due to his arrogance and underestimation of their opponents, then failing to see through Xu Shangheng's true nature was indeed a result of his own misjudgment. Heavens! He, who had dominated the battlefield and won every battle, had made such a basic mistake, which justified his ambush today and his death in Xunfeng City.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with unfathomable light as he stared intently at Yelü Xiezhen, his expression solemn: " King Yelü is a wise man, he naturally knows what I'm about to say, I hope you'll consider it..."
Yelü Xiezhen waved his hand to interrupt, looking at the thousands of Central Plains heroes and top experts like Dugu Yu, Nangong Bubai, and Xiong Xiaotian surrounding him, he smiled bitterly, "That's right, my five hundred Tiger Leopard Cavalry and I are already in a desperate situation, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Even if we fight to the death, we can't possibly break through the North Gate, and instead, these brothers who have fought alongside me for decades will sacrifice themselves in vain. So... I've decided to stay behind alone, to exchange my life for their safety."
The soldiers cried out urgently, "Your Majesty, you can't! We brothers will risk our lives to protect you!"
"Shut up!" Yelü Xiezhen shouted suddenly, his tiger eyes glistening with tears, looking up at Ren Xiaoyao, choking back sobs, "Leader Ren, will you agree to my request?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded, "Alright, as long as you surrender, I guarantee with my life that I will not harm them in the slightest." Yelü
Xiezhen laughed loudly, instantly regaining his domineering aura, and roared: "The Liao general, how could he surrender to the Song dogs!" After speaking, he drew his sword from his waist with a "whoosh"...

Volume 22 Conferring Titles and Generalships, Chapter 14 Conferring Titles in One Battle

After three whole days of waiting and torment, Zhao Guangyi finally woke up from his coma. After all, he was a wise ruler. He only ate a little food and immediately summoned his ministers to discuss the matter of sending troops.
Rescuing the Tianji Sect was of paramount importance, a fact unanimously agreed upon by everyone present. However, they held several diametrically opposed views regarding the number of troops to be deployed and the battle strategy. Huyan Zan advocated dividing the army into two routes: he would lead 100,000 imperial guards to Xunfeng City overnight to confront Yelü Xiezhen's forces, while Cao Bin would go to Xiangyang to gather troops from neighboring prefectures to confront Yelü Xiuge. At the same time, he would send proclamations to Jinzhou, Bazhou, and Xingyuan Prefecture, ordering the troops of these three prefectures to encircle the rear of the Western Xia army. Lü Duan suggested a strategy of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao," mobilizing the entire nation's strength to attack Liao in the north, forcing Yelü Xiezhen, Yelü Xiuge, and Han Derang to retreat. Wang Ruoqin, who had secretly allied with Liao, used the excuse that the capital region could not be left undefended to allow only Cao Bin to lead 50,000 troops westward, while Huyan Zan was to remain to protect the capital—his intentions were utterly malicious!
Long Feiyun and Jing Si watched helplessly as the court officials argued endlessly, their hearts burning with anxiety. Every moment of delay meant greater danger for their brothers in the sect. Unfortunately, neither of them held any official position and could offer any advice. They could only anxiously await the Emperor's final decision.
"Northwest Battle Report—Northwest Battle Report!" A deafening shout suddenly rang out from outside the hall, followed by a messenger stumbling in and collapsing to his knees.
"Read it, quickly...read it quickly!" Zhao Guangyi abruptly rose from his throne, his voice trembling. His former composure and resolute imperial bearing were completely gone. Long Feiyun, Jing Si, Huyan Zan, Cao Bin, and the others turned deathly pale, their hearts pounding in their throats. Wang Ruoqin turned away, a barely perceptible sneer on his face.
"Leader Ren led his troops to a great victory over the Liao army, killing over 108,000 enemies and capturing countless supplies and provisions."
"They...they won!?" Zhao Guangyi could hardly believe his ears. Ren Xiaoyao, a mere youth fresh out of school, had actually defeated the invincible war god Yelü Xiezhen—a figure who had dominated the world—despite being beset by internal strife, lacking external support, and surrounded by enemies!
"Heroes emerge from among the young! Heroes emerge from among the young!" Huyan Zan exclaimed, tears streaming down his face. Since the crushing defeat at the Battle of Gaoliang River, the Song Dynasty desperately needed a resounding victory to boost morale. These veteran generals had fought for twenty years without seeing a glimmer of hope, yet Ren Xiaoyao had achieved it. He had proven to the world through his actions that the Song Dynasty's Tianji Army was truly an invincible force!
Wang Ruoqin approached the messenger and asked in a deep voice, "Have you captured any Liao generals?"
The messenger replied truthfully, "No."
Wang Ruoqin then asked, "Have you seized any Liao army banners?"
The messenger replied in astonishment, "No...no, Lord Wang..." Wang
Ruoqin coldly said, "To merely kill 100,000 enemies without any additional gains is worthy of being called a great victory?" Yelü Xiezhen had promised to send 100,000 taels of gold as long as he stopped the imperial reinforcements and captured Xunfeng City. Now that the money that was about to be in his hands had vanished, he was naturally furious and tried every means to belittle Ren Xiaoyao in court.
Huyan Zan couldn't stand it and said angrily, "Lord Wang, if you have the ability, lead a few hundred thousand troops and fight Yelü Xiezhen. If you can win a battle, I will give you all the military merits I have earned in my life. If you don't have the ability, then stop slandering Master Ren here."
Wang Ruoqin dared not offend him, and said with a forced smile, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, what I meant was..." The
messenger interrupted, "According to the King of Wuwei, this great victory makes Master Ren's achievements surpass Xie Xuan's resistance against the Former Qin and Sun-Liu's defeat of Cao Cao. His Majesty will surely be delighted and reward him handsomely."
Everyone looked at each other. In the Battle of Fei River, Xie Xuan defeated the Former Qin's million-strong army with 80,000 Beifu soldiers. In the Battle of Red Cliffs, the Sun-Liu allied forces of 50,000 defeated Cao Cao's 830,000 troops. These were all famous victories in history. How could the mere triumph of Xunfeng compare? Qin Huaiyu's words were really too much. Not only the dozens of civil and military officials present, but even Zhao Guangyi frowned repeatedly.
Cao Bin was very cautious and asked softly, "You didn't forget to say something, did you?"
The messenger suddenly paused and added, "Yes, yes, Yelü Xiezhen was defeated and surrounded. Knowing that he had no way to escape, he committed suicide with his sword. His head is outside the palace. "
Upon hearing this, the assembled officials gasped in shock. Wang Ruoqin, as if slapped in the face, retreated sheepishly to the side, his face deathly pale, speechless for a long while.
Zhao Guangyi roared without hesitation, "Quickly, bring it up!" The
guards on duty outside the hall immediately brought up the elaborately presented wooden box containing the severed head. Zhao Guangyi opened it and could no longer contain his excitement. He looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, "Hahaha—hahaha, Yelü Xiezhen, when you slaughtered me and forced me to flee south in a sorry state, did you ever imagine that you too would one day suffer defeat and be beheaded?"
Huyan Zan was overjoyed and said, "With Yelü Xiezhen dead, the Liao Dynasty has lost an arm. From now on, it will be difficult for them to compete with our dynasty. The words of the King of Wuwei are indeed true... indeed..." He was so excited that he could not even speak clearly. Zhao
Guangyi sat back on the dragon throne with a smug look on his face, his eyes shining brightly. He said with delight, "Guards, send Yelü Xiezhen's head to Tianbo Mansion to pay tribute to General Yang... My dear ministers, Ren Xiaoyao has made such a world-shaking achievement for the court. How should he be rewarded?"
Huyan Zan stepped forward and said, "After winning the battle and pacifying Guanzhong, being ennobled as a marquis and appointed as a general is naturally indispensable."
The ministers all agreed. Cao Bin joked, "More than just a marquis, he could easily be ennobled as a king."
Zhao Guangyi stroked his beard and laughed, "I was hoping that Ren Xiaoyao would sweep away the barbarians and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun for the Song Dynasty. Now he's being ennobled as a king. What will he be ennobled as a king in the future? Hahaha." "
Lu Duan respectfully said, "Your Majesty, please devise a title for Master Ren."
Zhao Guangyi pondered for a moment, then slowly said, word by word, "What do you think of the title 'Champion Marquis'?"
Cao Bin clapped his hands and said, "The bravest among the three armies, excellent!"
Huyan Zan exclaimed, "Champion Marquis? This...this is the title inherited from Huo Qubing, the General of the Cavalry of the Han Dynasty!"
Zhao Guangyi proudly declared, "That's right. Emperor Wu of Han obtained Huo Qubing and thus pacified the Xiongnu, creating an unprecedented and great achievement. I have obtained Ren Xiaoyao, and one day I will surely surpass him, pacifying the Liao Dynasty, destroying the Western Xia, pacifying the Tubo, subduing the Dali, and making my prestige extend throughout the land, shaking all directions!" The ministers all knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise."
Zhao Guangyi smiled slightly, turned his gaze to Long Feiyun, and said mysteriously, "In addition, I want to reward Ren Xiaoyao with a special gift, a gift that will make him even happier than being granted a marquisate or a generalship." "

Volume 23, Chapter 1: Unparalleled Divine Skill

After finally dealing with the various matters following the battle, Ren Xiaoyao finally had the opportunity to sit down and have a detailed talk with Dugu Yu, asking him about the many doubts that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.
The first was about his background. Whether it was his first encounter with Dugu Yu on the summit of Zhurong Peak, or his first meeting with Yi Tianhan and Long Yinxiao, their reactions were unusually excited. Obviously, he looked a lot like someone—someone they had all seen and were very familiar with, and this person was very likely his father.
Dugu Yu was very secretive about this issue. No matter how Ren Xiaoyao pressed him, he refused to reveal any details. Finally, seeing that Ren Xiaoyao was pressing him too hard, he could only say, "Meng Fei knows your background very well. If you really want to find out the mystery, you might as well go back to Coconut Island and ask."
Upon hearing the word "mystery," Ren Xiaoyao's heart stirred, and he continued to ask, "About the innate supreme qi..."
Dugu Yu smiled and said, "What, didn't Qin Huaiyu mention it to you?" Ren Xiaoyao was slightly taken aback, then shook his head and said, "
I asked, but Uncle Qin said that consulting Senior Dugu would provide more detailed information."
Dugu Yu said solemnly, "Alright, then I will tell you everything exactly as it is. The Innate Supreme Qi is the number one divine skill in the universe, its power is astonishing, and it is incomparable to any other martial art in the world."
Ren Xiaoyao said incredulously, his voice trembling, "The world... the world really has such a powerful martial art?"
Dugu Yu said frankly, "Of course it does... well, you should have seen the Yi Jin Jing of Shaolin Temple, right?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded slowly.
Dugu Yu asked again, "What about the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra of Hatred Heaven?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded again.
Dugu Yu smiled and said, "The Innate Supreme Qi is an internal skill formed by the fusion of the Yi Jin Jing, the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, and the long-lost Hai Na Bai Chuan Xin Fa. It combines the profoundness of the Yi Jin Jing, the strangeness and ruthlessness of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, and the mighty power of Hai Na Bai Chuan. Isn't that amazing?"
Dugu Yu continued, "Sixty years ago, during the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, although the martial arts world of the Central Plains was in turmoil, heroes gathered and masters emerged one after another. Among them, the martial arts of 'One Monk, Two Companions, Three Swordsmen, and Four Saints' were the most outstanding. The One Monk refers to the Arhat Hall of Shaolin Temple." The first seat is occupied by the mentally challenged Zen Master; the two partners are the Tianshan Twin Heroes, Murong Shaozong and Situ Ning; the three swords refer to myself, my younger sister Gu Qiu Yi Qiu, and Xue Yilong, the "Peerless Swordsman" and mentor of Yi Tian Han and Fu Long Yuan; and the four saints are four old fellows skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. As for those from beyond the realm, the most renowned are Chi Li, the leader of the Asura Cult, and Yelü Deguang, the emperor of the Liao Dynasty.
Ren Xiaoyao cautiously asked, "Which of these ten people created the Innate Supreme Qi?"
Dugu Yu shook his head and said, "None of them. That person is named Feng Renqiu, Hai Na Bai..." "The 'Chuan' technique is his family's secret art. He was once infatuated with Situ Ning, but she married Murong Shaozong, who was her equal in social standing. In a fit of anger, Feng Renqiu fled to the Western Regions and disappeared from the martial arts world. Thus, he missed the ranking of 'One Monk, Two Companions, Three Swordsmen, Four Saints,' otherwise… hehe, his martial arts would be far superior to mine."
Ren Xiaoyao pressed, "Where did Feng Renqiu learn the Yi Jin Jing and the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra?"
Dugu Yu recalled, "At that time, Emperor Shi Jingtang of the Later Jin Dynasty ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun to the Liao Dynasty, and Emperor Yelü Deguang of Liao then…" He harbored ambitions to conquer the Central Plains, but he knew he was no match for a monk, two companions, three swordsmen, or four saints on his own. Therefore, he recruited skilled individuals from all over, and somehow he met Feng Renqiu. Seeing that this love-struck young man could be easily manipulated, he didn't hesitate to impart to Feng Renqiu the secret Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra passed down through generations of the Khitan people, inciting him to return to the Central Plains to seek revenge on Murong Shaozong. The Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra drastically changed Feng Renqiu's character, turning him into a ruthless and bloodthirsty demon. At that time, Murong Shaozong and Situ Ning had long since moved to the Tianshan Mountains, and he searched the Central Plains for them without success. He began a massacre of his fellow martial artists. The power of his "All-Encompassing" technique, after absorbing the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, was immense. In just a few months, countless senior masters perished by his sword. Finally, Murong Shaozong and Situ Ning were forced to return to the Central Plains, where they, along with a monk and three swordsmen, barely managed to subdue Feng Renqiu. They then placed over a dozen restraints on him and imprisoned him in a cave atop Mount Tianshan. The compassionate Zen Master Zhizhang, before leaving, passed on the Yi Jin Jing to Feng Renqiu, hoping it would dispel the rage within him.
Dugu Yu sighed deeply and continued, "We... " Upon returning to the Central Plains, we were astonished to find that the entire martial arts world had undergone a cataclysmic upheaval. It turned out that Yelü Deguang had used Feng Renqiu to lure us away, while he himself, in alliance with the Asura Sect, launched a massive invasion, conquering the entire Later Jin territory within months. The Four Sages of Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua (music, chess, calligraphy, and painting) finally managed to persuade Chi Li to back down, but in exchange, they had to retreat overseas and could not return to the Central Plains for fifty years.
Ren Xiaoyao said softly, "Then it's Senior Dugu's turn to deal with Yelü Deguang?"
Dugu Yu nodded, "Yes, the decisive battle will take place in Daliang, the capital of Later Jin." We exhausted ourselves, breaking through the defenses of over ten thousand Liao soldiers, and desperately stormed into the palace. By the time we saw Yelü Deguang, we were completely worn out. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra had been cultivated to its highest level, which could greatly enhance one's power. So, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea… Murong Shaozong and Yi Qiu died on the spot, while Master Zhizhang, Xue Yilong, Situ Ning, and I were severely injured. In our despair, Feng Hanqiu appeared. It turned out he had completely dispelled his inner demons and merged the Yi Jin Jing, the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, and the Ocean of All Rivers into a supreme innate energy, easily breaking the seal… Later… The situation was almost unbelievable. Feng Hanqiu defeated Yelü Deguang in just three moves, and then left with the words, "I never want to see you again," which terrified Yelü Deguang so much that he immediately retreated and never set foot in the Central Plains again until his death.
Ren Xiaoyao was dumbfounded. He had witnessed the power of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra with his own eyes and thought that he would not last ten moves against Hentian. However, even when the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra was cultivated to its highest level, it could not last three moves against the Innate Supreme Qi. This... If these words had not come from Dugu Yu's mouth, he would never have believed it even if he were beaten to death.
Ren Xiaoyao barely managed to compose himself and pressed on, "How could the secret manual of the Supreme Innate Qi be hidden in the Qiande Treasure Vault? Could it be that Senior Feng and the Emperor Taizu..."
Dugu Yu interrupted him before he could finish, "Feng Hanqiu could never forget Situ Ning, but Murong Shaozong died because of him. Feeling he had no face to face her again, he passed on the incantation of the Supreme Innate Qi to Situ Ning to make up for his debt to her, and then disappeared from the martial world. Kuangyin and Guangyi were Situ Ning's last disciples after the battle of Daliang, so the Supreme Innate Qi naturally passed on to them after they were injured... You probably know how Kuangyin founded the Tianji Sect and how he conquered the Song Dynasty's vast empire. The only thing to add is that they didn't actually cultivate the Supreme Innate Qi; they only figured out another set of mental techniques that Kuangyin named the Heavenly Dao Divine Art. Although its power was not as great as the former, it was enough to make Kuangyin invincible throughout the world during his decades of military career."
Ren Xiaoyao asked in astonishment, "Why did the Emperor Taizu... " "Not practicing the Innate Supreme Qi? Is it because it's too difficult?"
Dugu Yu said mysteriously, "Well... hehe, you'll understand once you've read the manual."
Ren Xiaoyao was silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, "If I could really master the Innate Supreme Qi, what are my chances of winning against Ghost Netherworld Lord or Hentian?"
Dugu Yu suddenly slapped Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder and said solemnly, "With the eighteen... no, seventeen forms of the Soaring Sky Sword Technique, let alone these two great demons, even if you wanted to ..." "Single-handedly defeating Juesha and destroying the Shura Cult would be a piece of cake!"

Volume 23, Chapter 2: Imperial Decree Grants Marriage.

For five whole days, Ren Xiaoyao was overwhelmed by the chaotic affairs of the cult. He was busy from nine to five every day, inspecting the military camp, checking the warehouse, comforting the fallen soldiers, and pacifying the people in the city... Now he finally understood what it would take to be a powerful martial arts overlord in one region—hard work, sweat, and even endless precious time. Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, and others repeatedly advised Ren Xiaoyao that his health was paramount and that he didn't need to personally handle everything. However, Ren Xiaoyao insisted on staying on the front lines, refusing to slacken in the slightest. When he agreed to take over as leader of the Tianji Sect from Long Yinxiao, he had completely bid farewell to his carefree and leisurely life. From now on, his actions would not only be for himself, not only for Fengyi, Fengzi, Furong, and Xiuxiu, but for the entire city of Xunfeng, and even for the fate of the Song Dynasty.
Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng were in no better shape. The Longxiang and Huyi armies had made the greatest contributions in the city defense battle, but also suffered significant casualties. Maintaining the 8,000-strong standing force of these two elite units was exhausting, just recruiting and training soldiers. Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong were deeply gratified to see their beloved son, having experienced the baptism of war, finally become mature and steady, no longer the pleasure-seeking, naive young master he once was. When the imposter Long Yinxiao promoted Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng, it was simply because he thought they were pampered and had little ability, and he intended to use them to eliminate the Longxiang and Huyi armies. However, Ren Xiaoyao's repeated encouragement and heavy reliance on them completely stimulated the huge potential buried in their hearts. While destroying the treacherous plot, he also cultivated two capable generals for the future of the Tianji Sect.
Meng Ruyan and Shui Furong, on the other hand, were quite carefree. They had been cooped up at the headquarters during the Liao army's siege, and now that the Liao army had retreated, their playful and mischievous nature was on full display. Whenever they had free time, they would drag their newly acquainted sisters from the Women's Army out to enjoy the scenery outside the city. Only Nangong Fengyi remained quietly at the headquarters. Aside from occasionally spending time with her father or Liu Qianyun, she devoted all her time to managing Ren Xiaoyao's affairs. After the war, the Tianji Sect had spent a large sum of money on reorganizing its military, providing relief to soldiers, and repairing the city walls. The Qiande Division, responsible for finances, was overwhelmed, and since Nangong Fengyi was skilled in this area, they asked her for help. Because of this, Ren Xiaoyao spent a lot of time at the Qiande Division. Sometimes, the two of them would spend half an hour or more in the secret room where important account books were stored. Everyone wanted to know what they were doing there, but no one dared to.
"Creak—" The secret door opened, and Ren Xiaoyao, arm in arm with the slightly shy Nangong Fengyi, stepped out with a smile. The latter's hair was disheveled, her hairpins were loose, and her pretty face was still flushed.
"Would you like to go back and rest?" Ren Xiaoyao asked softly.
"No...no, I still need to sort out the accounts." Nangong Fengyi cast a tender, almost praising gaze at Ren Xiaoyao, murmuring.
"Alright, I'll pick you up tonight." Ren Xiaoyao helped Nangong Fengyi back to her seat, personally pulling out a soft chair for her, giving her a light kiss on the cheek, and whispering in her ear.
"Going to the medical camp to visit the wounded soldiers again?" Nangong Fengyi reluctantly clutched her lover's sleeve, pressing for an answer.
"No, I went to the foundry to supervise the manufacture of the thousand-pound crossbows. The original thousand or so were mostly destroyed by the Liao army, so..." Before Ren Xiaoyao could finish speaking, Zhang Feng rushed in from outside, shouting, "Master, Hall Master Long and Uncle Jing are back, accompanied by General Huyan Zan. It's said...it's said there's an imperial edict for you." "
An imperial edict? Immediately summon all the hall masters and prepare to go out of the city to welcome them!" Ren Xiaoyao put on his long robe and headed outside.
"Master Long and the others have arrived in the city and are waiting for you at the Hall of Governance," Zhang Feng said solemnly.
"What? So fast!" Ren Xiaoyao was slightly surprised. Issuing an imperial edict was a momentous event; how could it be so abrupt? It would be one thing if there hadn't been a prior notice, but the arrival of an imperial envoy should have been properly welcomed by the entire Heavenly Pole Sect according to court etiquette. How could he go straight to the main altar?
Despite his thoughts, he still moved swiftly, heading straight for the Hall of Governance.
As he approached the gate, a commotion arose ahead. Ren Xiaoyao looked up and saw a beautiful woman in palace attire, surrounded by a crowd, gracefully approaching. She wore a pleated, plain yellow silk skirt adorned with countless shimmering pearls. Her cloud-like hair was styled in a bun, adorned with a glittering gold hairpin. Her bright, clear eyes were like the brightest stars suspended in the deep black night sky, and her long, slender eyebrows, like pristine springs in the desert, framed her delicate features. Her nose was exquisitely pretty, and her lips, like dew-kissed petals, were a vibrant red. Her oval face, fair and rosy skin, and two small dimples glowing with a healthy pink hue made her even more radiant and captivating. Who could resist her charm? Who else could it be but Long Feiyun, now dressed as a woman again?
Long Feiyun stopped abruptly three feet away from Ren Xiaoyao, gracefully offering a deep bow: "Feiyun greets the Sect Leader. Congratulations on your great victory over the Liao army, a feat unparalleled in your service to the court." Her voice was like a nightingale's song, the last syllable slightly drawn out, yet possessing an alluring charm. The close proximity allowed Ren Xiaoyao to clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from her delicate body, causing his heart to race.
He forced himself to composed himself, but could not suppress the overwhelming joy within him, excitedly saying, "Sect Leader Long, please rise." He bent down to help Long Feiyun, but suddenly remembered that she had regained her true identity, and in public, he must maintain propriety and not overstep the boundaries between men and women. He abruptly stopped, and in his haste, accidentally touched her slender, jade-like fingers. His heart pounded.
Long Feiyun seemed to sense Ren Xiaoyao's lapse in composure, a smile appearing in her beautiful eyes, a hint of shyness shimmering within them.
Zhang Feng stared in disbelief, stammering, "Big...Big...Big Brother...Woman...Woman..."
Qin Xiang walked to his side and said with a smile, "Not Big Brother, Big Sister. We've all been deceived."
Zhang Feng stood there, stunned, stammering, "Why...why did you deceive me!"
Zhang Jinghong's hearty laughter rang out from behind him: "Son, it's not just the two of you, we've all been kept in the dark. Fei Yun is actually a woman, but she was ordered by Big Brother to disguise herself as a man for eighteen years. Now she has finally regained her womanly appearance."
Qin Huaiyu said happily, "Alright, receiving the decree is the priority. Sect Leader, you should hurry inside."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded and led everyone into the Hall of Governance. Hu Yanzan,
fully armored, was already waiting in the guest seat. Although he had imagined the new Heavenly Pole Sect Leader's composed and dashing figure countless times after receiving the Northwest war report, he was still awestruck by Ren Xiaoyao's handsome demeanor and imposing presence.
This was Ren Xiaoyao's first encounter with the renowned general Huyan Zan. Seeing that although Huyan Zan was nearly seventy, he still possessed a refined and handsome appearance, exuding an imposing and domineering aura.
Ren Xiaoyao realized that as one of the three great generals of the dynasty, Huyan Zan was still vigorous in his old age, no less capable than Lian Po or Ma Yuan. After the incense table was set up, Huyan Zan began to read the imperial edict. When he read, "Ren Xiaoyao is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Champion, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of the Six Prefectures of Guandong, with a fief of three thousand households," everyone showed heartfelt joy. The Emperor was indeed a wise ruler, and such a generous reward for Ren Xiaoyao was truly well-deserved.
The second imperial edict was for the members of the Tianji Sect. All those who participated in the defense of the city were promoted one rank. Among them, Xu Shangheng, who had made the greatest contribution, was promoted three ranks and appointed as the Military Commissioner of Guozhou. His son, Xu Yan, was granted the title of Commandant of the Imperial Guard.
After the edict was read aloud, everyone cheered. Huyan Zan smiled slightly, then presented the third imperial edict, saying with delight, "His Majesty has another great gift for Leader Ren. In Leader Ren's eyes, this gift is far more precious than bestowing titles or honors."
Ren Xiaoyao was moved and asked, "May I ask what His Majesty's great gift is...?"
Huyan Zan laughed, "The Marquis of Champion is extremely intelligent; why not guess for yourself?"
Ren Xiaoyao cupped his hands and said, "His Majesty's will is beyond our comprehension. Please, General, read it aloud."
Huyan Zan nodded, smiled, and opened the edict. He was first taken aback, then revealed a knowing smile, and read aloud, "I have heard... " "Long Feiyun, daughter of the Loyal and Brave King, is of marriageable age. Virtuous and kind, she has disguised herself as a man for eighteen years to glorify the Heavenly Pole Sect, during which time she has made countless contributions. Therefore, she is hereby granted the title of Princess, with the name 'Phoenix Dance,' meaning 'a hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix,' and is betrothed to Ren Xiaoyao, the leader of the Heavenly Pole Sect and the champion. So be it!"
Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, and others exchanged knowing smiles. For Ren Xiaoyao, known for his romantic escapades, what could be more pleasing than marrying him to a beautiful princess of unparalleled beauty? Moreover, this princess possesses both talent and virtue, excelling in both literature and martial arts, making her an indispensable and capable assistant in his management of the Heavenly Pole Sect.
Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng were overjoyed. Since Long Feiyun was a woman, they had a renewed opportunity to pursue Liu Qianyun. After the Liao army's defeat, Ren Xiaoyao bestowed generous rewards upon the brothers who had rendered meritorious service. Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng were granted the title of Deputy Hall Master (equivalent to a candidate Deputy Hall Master, ranking above the commanders of various armies). Young and successful, they were at the height of their fame. The only thing they lacked was Liu Qianyun, their confidante.
Long Feiyun knelt on the ground, her cheeks flushed with a blush of rosy shyness. Her captivating eyes shimmered with a cloud-like radiance, making her even more alluring and irresistible. Indeed, for a woman, what could be more desirable than marrying the man she loved and who was the most outstanding in the world?
Ren Xiaoyao slowly raised the dragon's head, his eyes filled with deep affection, and said slowly, word by word, "Please inform His Majesty, General, that I absolutely cannot accept this marriage decree." (

Chapter 3, Volume 23, Twenty-Four Bridges Punishing Evil Disciples)

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, so shocking that everyone nearly collapsed to the ground. Disobeying an imperial decree was a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. How many heads did the sect leader have to dare to commit such a treasonous act in front of everyone?
Long Feiyun's delicate body trembled slightly, her eyes suddenly reddening and swelling, then two crystal tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Looking up at her beautiful face, which could break Ren Xiaoyao's heart, she said sorrowfully, "Xiaoyao...you...you don't love me anymore?"
Ren Xiaoyao shook his head and said, "No, my feelings for you will never change in this life."
Long Feiyun looked at him with tear-filled eyes, asking pitifully, "Then...then why did you refuse His Majesty's bestowed marriage?"
Ren Xiaoyao's gaze burned as he scrutinized Long Feiyun's exquisite and refined face, slowly saying, word by word, "Because His Majesty bestowed upon me the title of Marquis of Champion!" Long Feiyun
seemed to understand, and exclaimed, "The Xiongnu...how can I have a home if the Xiongnu are not destroyed?"
Ren Xiaoyao spoke with a firm and powerful tone, yet his demeanor remained calm and composed: "Indeed! Huo Qubing, the General of the Cavalry and Marquis of Champion, drove the Xiongnu north and established unparalleled merits for the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu of Han bestowed upon him a mansion and offered him the choice of any woman in the land. Huo Qubing, however, uttered the heroic words, 'How can I have a home if the Xiongnu are not destroyed?' Now that Xiaoyao has been granted the title of Marquis of Champion, every action should be modeled after his comrade, Huo Qubing. I request General Huyan to convey my message to the Emperor: Xiaoyao will not marry until he has eradicated the Asura Sect, annihilated its members, and helped the court subdue the barbarians."
Only then did everyone realize the sect leader's true intention, and they were both surprised and impressed.
Huyan Zan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, then quickly dimmed, and he said solemnly, "Very well, very well said, 'Without destroying the Xiongnu, how can I have a home?' I am deeply moved by the lofty ambitions of the Marquis of Champion. The Marquis of Champion can rest assured, I will take the third imperial edict back to the capital, and I will explain it clearly to His Majesty. But please accept the congratulatory gifts that will be sent later."
After seeing Huyan Zan off, Ren Xiaoyao accompanied Long Feiyun back to the Qilin Hall. On the way, the two talked about trivial matters of the sect, without touching on matters of the heart. Ren Xiaoyao felt that disobeying the imperial edict was disrespectful and that he was ashamed of his feelings for the beauty, while Long Feiyun was simply being modest. However, the brief silence could not extinguish the raging fire of love between them. The separation of more than ten days, which felt like a matter of life and death, had completely transformed their brotherly affection into an unbreakable infatuation.
Entering the Wangyue Pavilion, Ren Xiaoyao smiled and looked at Long Feiyun, remaining silent for a long time.
Long Feiyun gave him a charming and alluring glance, and said coquettishly, "What are you looking at? Do I have flowers growing on my face?"
Ren Xiaoyao pretended to be surprised and said, "Flowers? If you had flowers growing on your face, I would turn around and leave."
Long Feiyun blinked her beautiful big eyes and looked back at him in confusion.
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, "What flower under heaven can compare to my Fei Yun's beauty? Rather than let your stunning beauty be overshadowed by flowers, it's better to just ignore it."
Long Fei Yun knew he was flattering her, but she still couldn't help but giggle, her breath sweet as orchids, "Today I've realized that you have no other skills but a glib tongue."
Ren Xiaoyao deliberately put on a serious face, mimicking her tone, "Today I've realized that you're even more charming as a woman than when you were dressed as a man."
Long Fei Yun's beautiful eyes drifted towards him, and she blurted out, "What charm?"
Ren Xiaoyao leaned forward slightly, teasingly saying, "Is that even a question? A woman's charm."
Long Fei Yun's pretty face flushed slightly, two small dimples rippling across her jade-like cheeks, and she
stamped her foot in annoyance, "Oh, you...you tricked me." Ren Xiaoyao couldn't resist pinching her delicate cheek, and said softly, "No, I'm just curious, you're eighteen..." Even though she hadn't appeared as a young woman for years, her every move still exuded a captivating youthful charm, almost making me unable to resist... unable to resist..."
Long Feiyun said anxiously, "Unable to resist what... Hmph, trying to trick me again, I won't ask anymore."
Ren Xiaoyao shrugged nonchalantly, "Hehe, answer my question first, is that alright?"
Long Feiyun let out a silvery laugh, smiling sweetly, "It's all His Majesty's doing. He was afraid that after I revealed my true identity, I wouldn't be as good as the other young ladies around you, which would damage the princess's reputation. So he specially arranged for two female officials to accompany me. On the way, they taught me all the proper etiquette and the qualities a young lady should display. Actually, I already knew even without them saying it. Didn't even you see through the ruse at the Five Blessings Teahouse last time?"
Ren Xiaoyao was slightly taken aback, surprised, "His Majesty also knows about my affair with Fengyi and Fengzi?"
Long... Fei Yun smiled slightly, glancing at him, and said, "What do you think? Let alone just 'The Romantic Thief,' even Chief Xiong, Young Master Xiao, and Chief Ye—His Majesty knows their character, temperament, and conduct perfectly well. Don't think that just because they're in the palace, they can hide anything that happens in the martial world."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded thoughtfully and asked softly, "Regarding the Northern Expedition, what is His Majesty's intention…"
Long Fei Yun walked to the door, looked around, then carefully checked the window, making sure no one was eavesdropping outside Wangyue Pavilion before pulling Ren Xiaoyao aside and whispering, "When I arrived at Zichen Palace to report the news, the memorials from the five prefectures requesting reinforcements arrived. His Majesty was so angry that he fainted on the spot. Although he woke up three days later, it aggravated his long-standing injuries, and he'll likely be unable to fully recover for several months. In addition, our sect has suffered heavy losses, so the urgent attack on the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun must be temporarily postponed. However, the court still maintains its stance of preparing for war and being ready to march north at any time." "This is a highly confidential matter; even Uncle Qin and Uncle Zhang don't know it. You mustn't tell anyone."
Ren Xiaoyao said casually, "Don't worry, do you think I'm still a three-year-old child... Hmm, from now on, what do you plan to do? Will you continue to appear as a woman, or will you revert to men's clothing and continue to manage the Qilin Hall?"
Long Feiyun lowered her head slightly and said softly in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "A woman dresses up for the one she loves. Whatever you say, that's what I'll do."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled mysteriously and whispered in her ear, "How about this, during the day you wear men's clothing and help me handle all sorts of trivial matters and share the teaching duties. At night... hehe, it's better to change back into women's clothing."
Long Feiyun was slightly taken aback, her beautiful eyes showing a confused look. Suddenly, she leaned in and lightly kissed his cheek, saying softly, "I'm telling you, you're not allowed to touch me before we're married..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Volume 23, Chapter 4 of Twenty-Four Bridges Punishing Evil: Uncontrollable Lust.

Ren Xiaoyao stared intently at Long Feiyun's exquisitely beautiful face. Her eyebrows were arched, her cheeks like fresh lychees, her nose like smooth goose fat, her cherry lips slightly parted, revealing pearly teeth, her fine black hair cascading over her shoulders, and her bright, watery eyes shone with a shy yet seemingly joyful light, radiating a pure and elegant aura. How could he possibly suppress the lust within him?
Ren Xiaoyao pulled her even tighter, kissing Long Feiyun's delicate earlobe, finally landing on her luscious red lips. An indescribable, exquisite sensation deeply penetrated Ren Xiaoyao's heart—the tenderness of a young girl's lips, yet mixed with a captivating, intoxicating charm.
Long Feiyun's beautiful face flushed, her eyes slightly closed, displaying an alluring expression that was difficult to discern as either pain or pleasure. When Ren Xiaoyao's tongue parted her pearly white teeth, and his lips intertwined with her moist, soft tongue, a little saliva secreted from her mouth. Ren Xiaoyao sucked on her lips with lingering affection, completely sealing her moist, soft lips with his own. As he sucked, a large amount of saliva gushed from under Long Feiyun's tongue. In that instant, she felt as if a hundred flowers were blooming, and she was like a happy butterfly, flying freely and lightly among the flowers.
Long Feiyun was completely intoxicated by Ren Xiaoyao's wet kiss. Ren Xiaoyao's hands slowly moved down, wantonly kneading her buttocks. His strong fingers were completely immersed in the tender flesh, squeezing lightly or heavily, savoring the fleshy texture and elasticity of her beautiful buttocks. Long Feiyun trembled involuntarily. Beneath her pale yellow silk skirt, her full, snow-white thighs and buttocks were being freely enjoyed by Ren Xiaoyao's large hands. Her round, smooth buttocks were gently caressed, slowly kneaded, forcefully pinched, spread apart, and squeezed inwards, rubbed back and forth. Long Feiyun was both anxious and ashamed, but the pleasure of being caressed by her lover made her subconsciously part her jade legs slightly. Ren Xiaoyao's burning fingers took the opportunity to explore her deeper and softer bottom. Seeing
Long Feiyun's alluring and beautiful appearance, like a begonia, and seeing that he was about to lose himself in the rising flames of passion, Ren Xiaoyao was about to untie her skirt when Long Feiyun pushed him away at the last moment, panting softly, "I said, you are not allowed to touch me before we are married." As soon as she finished speaking, her pretty face suddenly turned as cold as frost.
Ren Xiaoyao knew that she came from a strict family and would never do anything improper before marriage, so he smiled and said, "Feiyun, don't take it seriously. I... I couldn't help myself."
Long Feiyun flattened her beautiful cherry lips and said indifferently, "If you... if you really want to be with me... with me... then you should fulfill your vow as soon as possible."
Ren Xiaoyao gave a bitter smile and scratched his head, saying, "Putting everything else aside, dealing with the Asura Sect and Absolute Kill will take more than a year or two. You... you're trying to suffocate me."
Long Feiyun straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and whispered breathlessly in his ear, "Hmph, you're not satisfied with Miss Nangong, Miss Shui, and Miss Lin? You even want to have me?"
Ren Xiaoyao reverted to his true colors, grinning, "Hehe, who told you to be my betrothed, chosen by the Emperor? Besides, having someone to look at but not to eat is worse than death."
Long Feiyun shrugged her shoulders, her posture and expression captivating, and rolled her eyes at him, saying, "You haven't even received the imperial decree, yet you dare to bring up its contents."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled leisurely, "Even without the imperial decree, I have to obey the Dragon Sect Leader's wishes. He personally entrusted your life's destiny to me."
Hearing Ren Xiaoyao mention her father, Long Feiyun's eyes immediately reddened, as if she were about to cry.
Ren Xiaoyao quickly changed his words, "Feiyun, I didn't mean to talk about these sad things, you..."
Long Feiyun lowered her eyes and said softly, "It's...it's alright. Although Father has left this world, his indomitable will and unyielding fighting spirit constantly spur me on and inspire me. He will live forever in the hearts of all the soldiers and civilians in the city."
She paused for a moment and continued, "Speaking of which, I really have to thank you. You won such a beautiful victory as soon as you took over the sect. If Father knew this in the afterlife, he would be very pleased."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled and said, "As the sect leader, this is my duty...By the way, come with me back to the Taiji Hall later. We should explain things to Fengyi and Fengzi."
Long Feiyun smiled sweetly and said, "Okay, wait a moment, I'll change my clothes first." Without waiting for Ren Xiaoyao's reply, she gracefully walked into the inner room.
Before long, she appeared in front of Ren Xiaoyao dressed as a man. The beautiful and intelligent Princess Fengwu suddenly transformed back into the dashing and spirited Master Long, which Ren Xiaoyao found hard to accept.
Long Feiyun said gently, "Let's go, we can still make it for dinner if we go now."
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback and said, "Your daughter's attire is quite nice, why..."
Long Feiyun smiled and raised her crystal-clear white hand to press against Ren Xiaoyao's lips, saying with a warm smile, "If you don't want to ask Chief Xiong, Young Hero Xiao, and President Ye to help you put on an act again, then listen to me."
Ren Xiaoyao's old face flushed slightly, and he said awkwardly, "Really? You know about what happened at the back mountain of Shaolin Temple?"
Long Feiyun met his gaze, looked deeply into the depths of his eyes, and said bluntly, "Of course, I know exactly how many women you've been with..."
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Inside the Taiji Hall, only Nangong Fengyi, who had just returned from the Qiande Division, was present. Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, and Lin Yuxiu had traveled together to Zhongnan Mountain and had not yet returned.
Nangong Fengzi was gentle and virtuous, so naturally she wouldn't mind having another older sister, especially since her lover had been awarded the title of Champion Marquis, and she was overjoyed. Long Feiyun knew that Shui Furong came from a prestigious family and was proficient in all six arts, so they chatted about topics favored by young ladies of noble families, such as poetry and prose. Their whispered conversations lasted almost the entire evening, punctuated by occasional silvery giggles, leaving the head of the household, Ren Xiaoyao, completely ignored.
Suddenly, with a loud "bang!", the door was kicked open, startling all three—who had the audacity
to cause trouble at the Taiji Hall? From afar, Ren Xiaoyao spotted Shui Furong approaching with a sullen face and puffed-up cheeks. He immediately understood; it was the jealous girl who was always getting jealous. No wonder the guards at the door couldn't stop her from forcibly opening the door.
Shui Furong stopped angrily about ten feet away from Ren Xiaoyao, first glaring at him fiercely, then fixing her gaze on Long Feiyun. Surprisingly, instead of becoming more agitated, she took two deep breaths, trying to calm her exaggeratedly fierce expression, and scolded, "You fool! Going behind my back to philander! Humph, don't think I won't bother you just because you have Master Long around."
Lin Yuxiu, who was following behind, quickly grabbed her clothes and whispered, "Third sister, don't blame big brother. Perhaps... perhaps she doesn't even know herself."
Ren Xiaoyao asked in astonishment, "Furong, who are you referring to?"
Shui Furong put her hands on her hips and said angrily, "Who else could it be but Princess Fengwu!"
Ren Xiaoyao, Long Feiyun, and Nangong Fengyi looked at each other, and then burst out laughing in unison. Judging from Shui Furong's tone, she obviously didn't know that Princess Fengwu was right in front of her, and even mistook Long Feiyun for a envoy invited by Ren Xiaoyao. This little girl was too muddleheaded.

Volume 23, Chapter 5 of Twenty-Four Bridges Punishing Evil: The Water Maiden's Unruly Nature.

Shui Furong pointed at Ren Xiaoyao's nose, relentlessly questioning, "I've always found it strange. Since the hunting ceremony, you've spent less and less time with your sisters. It seems you've been spending all your time with Princess Fengwu."
Nangong Fengzi exclaimed anxiously, "Second Sister, you've misunderstood Brother Xiaoyao! The princess is staying in the Bianjing Palace. Why would she come to Xunfeng City? She must have long admired Brother Xiaoyao's reputation, and it just so happens that Brother Xiaoyao forced Yelü Xiezhen to his death, establishing a world-shaking achievement for the Song Dynasty..." "A remarkable achievement, the court will reward you, so they're taking this opportunity... this opportunity to get a share of the spoils from us."
Shui Furong gave him a resentful look, expressing her displeasure, and questioned, "Is what Fourth Sister said true?"
Ren Xiaoyao was about to tell the truth, but seeing Long Feiyun cover her cherry lips, seemingly mocking his fear of his wife, he immediately raised his head and said nonchalantly, "No, I have indeed been with Princess Fengwu a lot these days, and I have also brought her to the Taiji Hall..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shui Furong suddenly stomped her foot and rushed straight to the back hall.
Lin Yuxiu asked in astonishment, "Third Sister, where are you going?"
Shui Furong's voice came from afar: "Catching a fox spirit, Fifth Sister, come and help!"
Lin Yuxiu looked at Ren Xiaoyao and said apologetically, "Big Brother, I... I'll help you hold Third Sister back." Saying that, she hurriedly left, leaving Nangong Fengzi standing alone in the place.
Ren Xiaoyao took her soft hand and whispered, "Tell Brother Xiaoyao, why is Furong so angry?"
Nangong Fengzi's beautiful eyes lit up as she looked at him and said softly, "When we returned from Zhongnan Mountain, we heard Gao Hongliang shouting at the North Gate that you had been named the Marquis of Champion. Third Sister couldn't wait to dismount and ask for details. Gao Hongliang kept calling her 'Marquis's Wife' and 'Marquis's Wife,' making her incredibly happy. Who would have thought that this loose-tongued old man would eventually say that the Emperor had decreed a marriage for you, betrothing Princess Fengwu to you, and that Third Sister could only be a concubine? She was so angry that she cursed and rode straight to the main altar, saying she would skin you alive and teach you a lesson." "Give her a good scolding."
She gently stroked her breasts and continued, "If I had spoken up for you, you could have just mumbled something, but you... but you insisted on admitting it. Now look at how angry Third Sister is. You're in for it tonight."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled bitterly, "Didn't you even ask who Princess Fengwu is?"
Nangong Fengzi said irritably, "It doesn't matter who it is, Third Sister's temper... sigh!"
Ren Xiaoyao cursed Gao Hongliang for ruining things in his heart and said softly, "Fengzi, do you agree to my relationship with Princess Fengwu?"
Nangong Fengzi looked at him with eyes full of autumn water and said coquettishly, "If Sister agrees, then I agree."
Ren Xiaoyao, Long Feiyun, and Nangong Fengyi exchanged a smile.
After a short while, Shui Furong stormed out of the back hall, pouting and saying shrewishly, "Fool, where did you hide that vixen? Tell me! Tell me and I'll spare you."
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes gleamed, and he smiled, "What if I don't tell you?"
Shui Furong blurted out, "Hmph, then I'll definitely..." Suddenly realizing she couldn't beat Ren Xiaoyao, she quickly changed her words, "...tear her into eight pieces, who cares about her being a princess or not."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled calmly, "To be honest, if you two really fought, who knows who would be torn to pieces, right, Fengyi?"
Nangong Fengyi understood immediately and chimed in, "Hmm, Third Sister, I think we should let it go."
Shui Furong angrily retorted, "I don't believe it! I don't believe a pampered princess like her can beat me!"
Long Feiyun's mind raced, and she interjected, "What if you win? Will you then stop interfering in the princess and Brother Ren's affairs?"
Shui Furong raised her pretty face, provoked, and said, "Fine, call her out! I'm going to have a good fight with her!"
Lin Yuxiu innocently asked, "Third Sister, isn't it a bit inappropriate for a young lady to use force so casually?"
Shui Furong glared fiercely at Ren Xiaoyao and scolded in a low voice, "Hmph, if we don't intervene, the woman around that idiot won't just be four or five, but seven or eight, or even more!"
Lin Yuxiu thought about it and agreed, nodding, "Big Brother, today..." "My third sister and I are on the same side this time. You...you decide what to do."
Long Feiyun glanced at Ren Xiaoyao and chuckled, "Sigh, we thought of more than a dozen ways before coming to Taiji Hall, but who would have thought that things would be resolved so easily with just a few words? If we had known, we wouldn't have wasted so much effort."
Lin Yuxiu asked cautiously, "Hall Master Long, do you also think that my third sister is no match for Princess Fengwu?"
Long Feiyun suppressed her laughter and said frankly, "Princess Fengwu's cultivation is no less than that of Sect Leader Ren. I'm afraid Miss Shui
will have a hard time winning." Lin Yuxiu exclaimed in surprise, "Really...really? Then we'll have another sister."
Shui Furong scolded in a low voice, "What sister? She's a vixen...no, we can't have any more!"
Nangong Fengyi couldn't help but burst out laughing. She was usually cold as ice and never smiled, but this time her unusual behavior immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Nangong Fengzi urged, "Sister, you must know where the princess is hiding! Tell me quickly, stop keeping me in suspense!"
Nangong Fengyi smiled gently, her voice soft, "Actually, Princess Fengwu is right here, though far away."
Without waiting for a reply, Shui Furong abruptly lifted the tablecloth. Luckily, the food had been cleared away, otherwise it would have been a complete mess.
There was no one under the table. Shui Furong looked around, still finding nothing amiss, and then, with a slight step, tried to leap onto the beam to continue her search. Ren Xiaoyao grabbed her, laughing, "Oh, I can't stand you! Fei Yun is Princess Fengwu, and Princess Fengwu is Fei Yun!"
Upon hearing this, Shui Furong, Lin Yuxiu, and Nangong Fengzi all froze, their surprise, astonishment, and bewilderment a mixture of emotions, unable to speak for a long time.
Long Feiyun removed her hairpins, letting her smooth, lustrous hair cascade over her shoulders, and said with a smile, "My three younger sisters, I greet you from the front." With that, she gracefully bowed and performed a full curtsy.
A faint smile played on Nangong Fengyi's crimson lips as she softly said, "Sister Yun, can you tell me why you hid your true identity? I'd love to know too."
Long Feiyun nodded happily. After hearing her story, the other women couldn't help but sigh. Shui Furong's earlier anger had vanished completely in the depths of Long Feiyun's heartfelt lament. She exclaimed, "Just for your father's instruction, you've silently given so much for eighteen years. If you hadn't met that fool, you would have lived a lonely life. If... if I had known earlier, I certainly wouldn't have blamed you for being with that fool."
Lin Yuxiu smiled sweetly, "I'm so glad to have another good sister."
Long Feiyun nestled into Ren Xiaoyao's arms and said gently, "I told you, the ladies are all understanding and kind to you. There's absolutely no need to worry."
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, his joy surpassing even that of when he was bestowed the title of Marquis Champion.
Nangong Fengzi blinked her beautiful eyes and suddenly blurted out, "Who will Brother Xiaoyao accompany tonight?"
Shui Furong lightly spat, "Fourth Sister, you're so frivolous, always thinking about these things."
Nangong Fengzi's cheeks flushed red, and she said coquettishly, "Doesn't Third Sister want Brother Xiaoyao to spend the night with you?"

Shui Furong, caught off guard

, hurriedly tried to defend herself, saying, "No way! You treat a fool like a treasure, I... I won't!" Nangong Fengzi
scoffed and tickled her, saying, "Hehe, who was it that was fighting tooth and nail with Sister Yun over Brother Xiaoyao just now?"
Shui Furong's cheeks flushed red, too shy to answer.
Lin Yuxiu giggled, "If you're so capable, then for a month... no, ten days, you can make sure Big Brother doesn't have to accompany you."
Shui Furong shook her head vigorously, saying, "Why should I? This idiot isn't just yours, I have a share too."
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly interjected, "Do you treat me like merchandise? Dividing me up and down like this, be careful I don't go anywhere."
Shui Furong glared at him, "Don't think I don't know, you're all talk now, but you'll definitely sneak off to Wangyue Pavilion in the middle of the night, hmph, fickle!"
Long Feiyun looked extremely embarrassed, waving her hands, "Alright, alright, the leader and I didn't... we didn't do that, oh dear, you're being so blatant, you're not acting like girls at all."
Shui Furong exclaimed in surprise, "Really? It's been almost half a month since the end of the Heavenly Hunt, and you and this idiot have been together all the time, and you still haven't... you deadbeat, you're getting more and more useless."
Nangong Fengzi wrinkled her cute little nose, slightly annoyed, "Third sister, don't speak ill of Brother Xiaoyao." "
Shui Furong covered her mouth and giggled, "Is it because you want that silly boy to go to your place tonight that you've been helping him so much?"
Lin Yuxiu said anxiously, "No way! I just told my older brother this morning that you can't steal him!"
Shui Furong and Nangong Fengzi said in unison, "Alright, you beat us to it!"
The Taiji Hall was instantly filled with the sweet sounds of their voices.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Indeed, lovemaking between men and women is a good way to relieve fatigue. Ren Xiaoyao spent the whole night with Lin Yuxiu and Nangong Fengzi, and the next day he still appeared on the training ground full of energy; Long Feiyun was still dressed as a man and personally led the Qilin Hall followers in a drill. Although everyone in the sect knew that she was a woman, they still admired and obeyed her from the bottom of their hearts when they saw her majestic posture when she waved the command flag; Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng performed even more diligently to please Liu Qianyun, and the vacancies in the Longxiang and Huyi armies were all filled by the various halls. The elite followers under the age of thirty were transferred to replenish the ranks, maintaining a full strength of eight thousand. Training them in horsemanship and teaching them combat tactics alone exhausted them. Unfortunately, Liu Qianyun was completely ungrateful, staying cooped up in the Wuwei Duke's mansion all day, refusing to even leave the gate.
Ren Xiaoyao, with Long Feiyun's help, was much more relaxed and finally found time to visit the Qiande Treasure Vault to get a full look at the Innate Supreme Qi Manual. Little did he know that the very first sentence read: "The Way of Heaven is vast and boundless, the Great Mystery has no form, the void cannot be seen, and the boundaries vanish. The Book of Changes says that Kan and Li are the two uses of Qian and Kun. These two uses have no fixed positions, circulating throughout the six voids, exhausting the spirit to know transformation." This left him completely bewildered, and the recurring phrases "destruction before construction, defeat before success" in the manual only added to his confusion.
Ren Xiaoyao's first thought was of Dugu Yu. If anyone in the world could truly understand the secrets of the innate supreme qi, it would undoubtedly be this universally acknowledged number one martial arts master. Fortunately, Dugu Yu was receiving state honors and residing in the Wude Hall, not far from the Qiande Treasure Vault. Ren Xiaoyao
simply took the manual and headed straight there. Dugu Yu seemed to have anticipated everything, leisurely sipping tea in the main hall. Seeing Ren Xiaoyao enter, he blurted out, "I knew you'd come. Ask me anything you don't understand."
Ren Xiaoyao obediently sat down opposite Dugu Yu and explained his confusion in detail.
Dugu Yu stroked his beard and smiled, "Although the innate supreme qi is formed by the fusion of three supreme internal cultivation methods—Buddhism, Taoism, and Demonism—its fundamental basis still lies in the all-encompassing Xuanmen mental cultivation method. Taoism speaks of the Three Origins: in the heavens, they are the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars; on earth, they are the three elements of water, fire, and earth; and in humans, they are the three substances of essence, qi, and spirit. Refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, and refining spirit into emptiness are the essence of the entire cultivation process. Among the three elements of primordial essence, primordial qi, and primordial spirit, primordial essence is the foundation of everything. Primordial qi and primordial spirit are the refinement and enhancement of primordial essence..." "Alright. The primordial energy and primordial spirit differ depending on each cultivator's circumstances and methods, but the primordial essence remains the same."
Dugu Yu continued, "From a Taoist perspective, before birth, the fetus's breathing through the mouth and nose is cut off, relying entirely on the umbilical cord for nourishment. At that time, the Ren and Du meridians are open, and the innate energy returns to the Ren and Du meridians. After birth, acquired energy enters through the mouth and nose, severing the connection with the mother's body. The Ren and Du meridians gradually close, eventually becoming completely blocked, making it difficult to absorb innate energy. Although innate true energy still fills the space between heaven and earth..." However, he was troubled by his inability to absorb it, and the purpose of the Supreme Primordial Qi was precisely to open the Ren and Du meridians, thereby regaining the ability to absorb the essence of heaven and earth! The so-called 'seizing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and fusing the essence of all things' is nothing more than this.”
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback, and asked in astonishment, “All Xuanmen internal cultivation techniques take opening the Ren and Du meridians as the ultimate goal of cultivation. Judging from this, the Supreme Primordial Qi is not particularly special, so what exactly is its power…”
Dugu Yu interrupted, “Pay attention to the fifth paragraph of the third chapter of the manual, this sentence: ‘acquired Qi ’…” Belonging to Yin, the innate Qi belongs to Yang. When Yin reaches its limit, Yang arises; when Yang reaches its limit, Yin arises. Its breath is harmonious, circulating through the six directions, externally connecting with the Yin-Yang symbol, internally generating the true One body. 'By using other mental techniques to open the Ren and Du meridians, seemingly connecting to the pathways of absorbing the essence of Heaven, one's own innate Qi is unknowingly transformed into acquired mundane Qi, completely losing its original power.' Conversely, regarding the supreme innate Qi, apart from the Ren and Du meridians being indistinguishable, the acupoints and meridians through which the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra's true Qi flows, and the ten points it emphasizes... The two primary meridians—Lung Meridian of Hand-Yangming, Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, Heart Meridian of Hand-Taiyang, Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang, Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin, Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin, Triple Energizer Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang, Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin, and Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming—are also given considerable attention. Generally speaking, true qi originates in Taiyin and terminates in Jueyin, with the Ren and Du meridians as the main pathways. The essence of heaven and earth flows from the three Yin meridians of the hand, through the internal organs to the hand; the three Yang meridians of the hand flow from the hand to the head. The three Yang meridians of the foot flow from the head to the foot; the three Yang meridians of the foot... "Yin, from the feet to the abdomen, circulates endlessly, like a ring without end."
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly realized, "I understand. The most fundamental power that the Supreme Primordial Qi controls in all things originates entirely from nature, thus contradicting all current cultivation methods. It cannot be controlled by ordinary Qi circulation methods. No wonder I couldn't start studying the manual when I got it."
Dugu Yu nodded slowly and continued to explain, "'The inferior guards the form, the superior guards the spirit. The spirit, the spirit, is the mechanism in motion. The movement of the mechanism is inseparable from emptiness, but this emptiness is not an eternal emptiness, it is not empty.'" "The void. Pure and subtle, its arrival cannot be met, its departure cannot be pursued. Welcoming it and following it, harmonizing with it unintentionally—this is the first realm of the supreme innate qi. Don't underestimate this simple interaction of qi. Kuang Yin spent three years trying, yet still only grasped its form but lost its spirit, ultimately giving up halfway and having to create his own Heavenly Dao Divine Art."
Ren Xiaoyao tentatively asked, "The effect of qi interaction lies in duels between top masters. My skill is far inferior to that of Ghost Netherworld God Lord and Hentian; even if I mastered it, it wouldn't be of much use, would it?"
Dugu Yu answered without hesitation, "Yes, unless your cultivation reaches the level of Master Xiaochen... no, at least the extraordinary level."
Ren Xiaoyao murmured, "No wonder the Dragon Sect Leader instructed me before his death not to practice it on my own, but... why did he want me to memorize the mental techniques and formulas contained within?"
Dugu Yu solemnly replied, "The Innate Supreme Qi Manual was written by Situ Ning, but according to Kuang Yin, his master never truly mastered it before his death. Initially, I thought that Situ Ning was seriously injured in the battle of Daliang, and after recovering, his internal strength could not reach its former level, thus preventing him from breaking through the bottleneck. However, when Long Yin Xiao took over as sect leader and asked me for advice because he encountered the same problem as you, I discovered that even with my skill at the time, I could not master the second level of the Innate Supreme Qi. Therefore, I have always suspected that the mental techniques and formulas described in the manual are not all that Feng Renqiu taught Situ Ning, and the missing parts are the key to mastering the divine skill. However, both Feng Renqiu and Situ Ning are gone, and the mystery can only be solved by relying on..." "You must understand this yourself. If you don't even know the basic techniques and formulas, how can you comprehend the true essence of the innate supreme qi?"
Dugu Yu paused, then continued, "Just as the general principles state, 'Nourish yourself internally, be quiet and empty, originally hidden and bright, cultivate your inner form. Close your openings! Fortify your spiritual plant, let the three lights sink, nurture the seed pearl, invisible to the eye, yet easily attainable.' As long as you gradually cultivate 'qi, meridians, and chakras,' unleashing the potential of your life, it will be like holding a pearl in your hand, success will come naturally, and one day you will be able to seize the heavens." The creation of the earth, the unfathomable innate supreme qi, merged and became a second Feng Renqiu… no, it should be said that it was a combination of Feng Renqiu and Ren Qiaocui.”
Ren Xiaoyao’s eyes brightened, and he asked, “What does ‘destruction before construction, defeat before success’ refer to?”
Dugu Yu answered directly, “I don’t know either. Back then, Situ Ning was severely injured by Yelü Deguang, his life force exhausted, both broken and defeated, and in the end, he still failed at the last moment. The mystery of this can only be unraveled by yourself.”
Ren Xiaoyao showed a deep understanding. With a solemn expression, Ren Xiaoyao said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Dugu. I am deeply grateful."
Dugu Yu smiled and said, "Actually, I also have something I need your help with, so there's no need for thanks." Ren Xiaoyao was taken

aback

and said, "With Senior Dugu's reputation in the martial world, what problem couldn't you solve with a single word? There's no need for me to need your help."
Dugu Yu chuckled and said, "Only you, Instructor Ren, could handle this matter."
Ren Xiaoyao solemnly said, "Please, Dugu..." "Senior, you have spoken frankly."
Dugu Yu's expression was solemn as he said, enunciating each word clearly, "I wish to ask you to travel south to sea and invite Yi Tianhan, Meng Fei, and even Fu Longyuan to return to the martial world!"
Ren Xiaoyao frowned and said, "Now that the Absolute Killing has suffered a crushing defeat and the Asura Sect has vanished without a trace, why do we need my master and Senior Yi to intervene? Is the current strength of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance insufficient to ensure peace in the martial world?"
Dugu Yu said in a deep voice, "Alliance Leader Dugu has been missing for nearly half a month, and there is still no news of him. Your sect has also suffered considerable losses in its repeated battles with the Liao army." Moreover, when the main forces of the Beggars' Sect and the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance were trapped in Xunfeng City, the Asura Sect did not take the opportunity to launch an attack. This is quite different from the ruthless and aggressive style of the Ghostly Lord. I estimate that the other party must be planning some earth-shattering conspiracy. In order to avoid making mistakes and needlessly harming our fellow martial artists, I can only trouble Yi Tianhan and your master to take action.”
Ren Xiaoyao said with a wry smile: “My master has not traveled halfway for more than ten years. I am afraid I may not be able to persuade him.”
Dugu Yu said leisurely: “Only If you tell Meng Fei that you have already taken over as the leader of the Tianji Sect, I guarantee he will be eager to return to the martial world... As for that stubborn old man Yi Tianhan, just tell him frankly that he absolutely refuses. You and Miss Shui can pretend to go back to visit him, and then talk at length about Master Xiaochen's brilliant performance at the martial arts tournament, how the Thousand-Leaf Tathagata Hand has improved, how the Yi Jin Jing has become much more profound—in short, make him sound as powerful as possible.”
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled and said, “Senior Yi is still resentful about his defeat in the martial arts competition twenty years ago, he must…” "I want to test the power of 'Water and Sky in One Color' with Master Xiaochen. This will provoke him, forcing him to leave Yanxia Island."
Dugu Yu said in a deep voice, "Fu Longyuan and Yi Tianhan are from the same sect; Yi Tianhan must know where he is."
Ren Xiaoyao pressed, "Then how do we persuade Senior Fu?" Dugu Yu smiled, "Fu Longyuan has always been dissatisfied with Yi Tianhan. Since Yi Tianhan has agreed, how can he resist?"
Ren Xiaoyao agreed without hesitation, "Alright, I'll set off immediately after I finish dealing with a few important matters within the sect.
"
Thanks to the joint efforts of Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun, the Tianji Sect quickly recovered from the trauma of the war, and all operations returned to normal. Meanwhile, amidst the Song Dynasty's bluffing calls for a northern expedition, both the Liao and Western Xia sent envoys to actively seek peace. Zhao Guangyi, with his keen insight and superb political skills, managed to force both countries to admit their invasion of the Song Dynasty and even cede territory and pay reparations. Western Xia fared relatively well, merely paying some silver and ceding two prefectures. However, the Liao Dynasty suffered greatly. Yelü Xiezhen, the invincible Southern King, revered by the people as a military god, was defeated and committed suicide, losing hundreds of thousands of troops. The territory south of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun was all ceded to the Song Dynasty, directly causing widespread panic throughout the country. Emperor Yelü Longxu of Liao fell seriously ill and was overthrown, with his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, ruling as regent.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Ren Xiaoyao took the women south. Long Feiyun originally intended to stay at the main altar to manage the sect's affairs, but Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, and others insisted that she accompany Ren Xiaoyao. As the emperor's betrothed to the Marquis of Champion, how could they be separated? Ren Xiaoyao originally wanted to invite Meng Ruyan along, but she was angry that he had concealed Long Feiyun's identity and immediately launched into a tirade, frightening Ren Xiaoyao into silence. He could only set off lightly with four women and one man (Ren Xiaoyao traveling with five women would be too conspicuous, so Long Feiyun continued to disguise herself as a man to avoid being recognized).
Since they had plenty of time, the group traveled south, combining sightseeing with business. They chatted and laughed along the way, thoroughly enjoying themselves, a far cry from the anxious and tense journey from Shaolin to Xunfeng City last time. Of course, romantic encounters were also inevitable. Ren Xiaoyao used every trick in the book to entice Long Feiyun to "submit." Long Feiyun, still a virgin, couldn't resist Ren Xiaoyao's masterful flirting. Several times, she nearly lost control of her bladder from his caresses, only managing to hold on thanks to her strong will and the last vestiges of clarity in her mind. After that, she wouldn't even let Ren Xiaoyao indulge his desires, let alone touch her, fearing that she might lose control and have her virginity taken before marriage. When
one plan failed, Ren Xiaoyao devised another. Whenever he stayed at an inn, he would go to the room next to Long Feiyun's, sneaking into the next room in the middle of the night with sounds of passion. He even specifically instructed Nangong Fengzi, Lin Yuxiu, and Shui Furong to talk about intimate matters in front of Long Feiyun, hoping to arouse her desire. After all, he was known as the city's dashing and romantic thief, yet he couldn't even get his hands on the emperor's rightfully betrothed wife. If word got out, he would lose face big time.
Long Feiyun was incredibly clever. After being outmaneuvered by him once or twice, she quickly devised a countermeasure. When staying at inns, she always avoided the crowd. Whenever Nangong Fengzi and the others opened their mouths, she would immediately speak loudly to attract attention. Girls are naturally shy; it's fine for sisters to chat amongst themselves, but with seven or eight pairs of eyes watching, they wouldn't dare to speak. More than
ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and Ren Xiaoyao still couldn't do anything to Long Feiyun.
Unbeknownst to them, the group arrived in Yangzhou. Yangzhou is located on the north bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, at the southern end of the Jianghuai Plain. It borders the Yellow Sea to the east, bordering Nantong and Yancheng; it connects to Nanjing to the west, bordering Liuhe and Tianchang counties; it faces the Yangtze River to the south, across which lie Zhenjiang and Wuxi; and it borders the Huai River to the north, adjacent to Huaiyin. The Grand Canal runs through it from north to south, making it a historically important transportation hub and a vital passage for north-south grain transport. Ships from Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, and Huzhou all stopped here, indirectly boosting the local economy. The saying goes, "With ten thousand strings of cash around one's waist, one can ride a crane to Yangzhou," reflecting the many wealthy merchants from the Central Plains who flocked to Yangzhou to do business and make their fortunes. Thus, from its founding by King Fuchai of Wu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Yangzhou has reached its zenith. "
Of the three parts of the moonlit night under heaven, two parts are in Yangzhou, a place of unbridled roguishness." Whether it's the scenic beauty of the Slender West Lake, with its "willows and flowers lining both banks, and pavilions and terraces stretching all the way to the mountains"; or Guanyin Mountain, known as the "First Spiritual Mountain in Jiangnan"; or the numerous private gardens that make Yangzhou comparable to Suzhou and Hangzhou, making it one of the most important tourist destinations in the Jiangnan region.

In Volume Twenty-Three, Chapter Eight, "Punishing the Evil at the

Twenty-Four Bridges," it was already late when they entered the city, and they couldn't appreciate the beautiful scenery of "willows hanging down the streets for a thousand steps, and the sunset reflecting on both sides of the city." So, they simply found a restaurant to eat first, and after they were full, they would visit the famous Twenty-Four Bridges.
Long Feiyun, Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, and Lin Yuxiu sat in order, the five women chatting and laughing happily, clearly in a very good mood.
"Big brother, eat fish." "Silly boy, drink soup." "Brother Xiaoyao, bring a bowl of bird's nest porridge." As soon as the dishes were served, Ren Xiaoyao's bowl was piled high, and the surrounding diners all looked on with envy.
"Fengzi, your favorite West Lake drunken shrimp." "Fengyi, this sweet and sour crucian carp is quite good." "Furong, try it, it doesn't seem as good as your cooking." "Xiuxiu, the white fungus and lotus seed soup is just to your liking." Ren Xiaoyao wielded his chopsticks with lightning speed, attending to everything around him, making Long Feiyun unable to help but cover her mouth and giggle.
"Sister Yun, what are you laughing at?" Lin Yuxiu asked innocently.
"Just the four of you Xiaoyaos are already so busy, what will you do if there are seven or eight?" Long Feiyun chuckled, "You'll definitely drive Xiaoyao crazy."
"Bang—" Shui Furong slammed her hand on the table, nearly knocking cups, plates, and chopsticks to the ground. She glared at Ren Xiaoyao fiercely and said angrily, "He dares! If he dares to bring another woman back, I'll make him..." Before she could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly arose downstairs. "Boss Du, the Prefect wants to book your Huaiyue Restaurant! Throw all the guests out, not a single one is allowed to stay!" Several fierce-looking officials roared as they rushed up to the top floor.
"Sir, when does Prefect Qian need our supplies...?" the shopkeeper asked cautiously.
"Three days later," the fat constable in the lead replied impatiently.
"Then...then you gentlemen don't need to...don't need to rush us away now," the shopkeeper stammered.
"You know nothing!" the fat constable snapped. "Xu Ren, the Commander-in-Chief of the Jingyang Military Region, is coming to Yangzhou for inspection in three days. He's a high-
ranking official. If we don't entertain him properly and Prefect Qian blames us, we'll all be in deep trouble." "Yes...yes, I understand," the shopkeeper hurriedly replied. "But...please let me finish my business tonight." He took out a small amount of silver from his pocket and stuffed it into the fat constable's hand, smiling obsequiously. "
It's just a small token, please take it and have some tea." "You're smart enough to accept it quickly," the fat constable said, taking the silver and leading the other constables downstairs.
"Hmph, what a scoundrel, relying on his master's power!" Shui Furong muttered, unable to bear it any longer.
"Be careful, walls have ears," the waiter beside her warned.
"What's there to be afraid of? He's just a prefect, a mere seventh-rank official," Nangong Fengzi said arrogantly. Putting aside Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun's noble status, with the immense wealth of her Tingyu Pavilion, the officials who came to pay their respects during festivals were at least third-rank officials. She didn't care about the prefect of Yangzhou.
"Miss, you can't say that. Prefect Qian is, after all, an official appointed by the imperial court," someone at the next table said.
Ren Xiaoyao looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the speaker was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dressed in a scholar's robe with a brocade outer robe. He was tall and straight, handsome and elegant, with a smile on his fair and slender face. He was as perfect as a marble statue. Although he spoke rebuke, he was still calm and composed. On the surface, he appeared to be a frail scholar, but Ren Xiaoyao sensed an extraordinary kingly aura from his piercing eyes.
At the same table was an elderly man with white hair, wearing a tall hat and wide belt, sporting a long beard, an ancient and simple face, and a thick brocade robe. His humility concealed an air of superiority, and his shrewd, penetrating eyes gave him an air of otherworldly elegance, like a recluse.
Lin Yuxiu said irritably, "So what if he's an official of the court? The yamen runners in his prefecture are so domineering; he himself is certainly no good."
The white-haired old man asked with a smile, "How so?"
Nangong Fengyi said charmingly, "Like father, like son. If there wasn't a corrupt prefect who embezzled and harmed the local people, how could such unreasonable and oppressive officials be raised?"
The waiter interjected, "Miss is right. Prefect Qian Yi is truly a scoundrel."
The middle-aged man asked with interest, "Waiter, what do you mean?"
The waiter gave an awkward smile, not daring to speak. The manager, however, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and whispered, "Qian Yi, relying on his godfather Wang Ruoqin's favor with the Crown Prince, completely disregards the laws of the court. All he does is create excuses to plunder the people's wealth. Take my restaurant, for example; besides paying taxes, I have to give him an extra hundred taels of silver every month."
Shui Furong asked curiously, "What can he do to you if you just refuse?"
The manager smiled bitterly, "If I don't give it to him, he'll definitely charge me with harboring a criminal." "If you lock me up in prison, it'll cost even more money to bail me out later."
Long Feiyun said calmly, "Does Xu Ren just turn a blind eye and let Qian Yi run rampant?"
The shopkeeper sighed, "Of course not. Lord Xu is a good official. He originally wanted to deal with Qian Yi, but unfortunately, Wang Ruoqin is in charge of the Department of Justice, and no censor dares to submit a memorial to impeach him. Naturally, Lord Xu cannot conduct a public trial."
The middle-aged man said coldly, "So, he's just letting it go?"
The shopkeeper shook his head, "No, Lord Xu has been secretly... " They were collecting evidence of Qian Yi's corruption and abuse of power, waiting for the right moment to expose him to the Eighth Prince and Lord Kou. The Eighth Prince was second only to the Emperor, highly respected, and impartial; Lord Kou, as Prime Minister, was known for his hatred of evil and fearlessness of powerful figures. With their involvement, even the Emperor would have to be wary. How could they not deal with Qian Yi
? Lin Yuxiu pressed, "Then why did Qian Yi book your restaurant to entertain Lord Xu?"
Nangong Fengzi continued, "Yes, they must be sworn enemies."
The innkeeper whispered, "Miss, do you have..." "What you don't know is that Qian Yi is cunning and treacherous, and acts with extreme secrecy. Lord Xu sent his men to investigate several times but couldn't find reliable evidence. This time, he must have come personally to catch Qian Yi red-handed. Qian Yi probably wants to buy peace of mind, so he booked my restaurant to try and get rid of Lord Xu... Lord Xu is an honest and upright official, loyal to the country. How could he collude with him?"
The white-haired old man suddenly asked, "How much exactly did Qian Yi embezzle?"
The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then frowned and said, "This... how would I know? It must be at least a few hundred thousand."
"Outrageous!" Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man slammed his fist on the table and said sternly, "A seventh-rank prefect's annual salary is only a few dozen taels, yet he has plundered hundreds of times that amount of the people's wealth."
"That's right. Our Yangzhou is prosperous and wealthy, ranking first among the seven prefectures of Jingzhou and Yangzhou. The annual fireworks tax alone is no less than two or three hundred thousand. Qian Yi only needs to add 10% privately to his tax, and that's enough for him to embezzle." The shopkeeper answered truthfully.
Ren Xiaoyao put down his chopsticks, his eyes gleaming, and said in a deep voice, "Shopkeeper, the area from Sanyanjing in the eastern suburbs to Xihuamen is a slum in Yangzhou, isn't it?"
The shopkeeper nodded and said, "Yes, most of the people there can't afford to pay rent, and their land and houses have been seized by Qian Yi, so life is very difficult."
Long Feiyun sat up straight, her bright eyes sparkling, and said softly, "Xiaoyao, you don't necessarily want to..."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly and remained silent.

Volume 23, Chapter 9: Old Feelings.

Nangong Fengyi whispered in his ear, "You are the Marquis of Champion, bestowed by His Majesty. You should respect your status. I think we should just let the matter of stealing silver go. We can secretly help Lord Xu find evidence, and that will still be enough to deal with Qian Yi."
Ren Xiaoyao thought about it carefully and felt that what Nangong Fengyi said made sense. Just as he was about to agree, the innkeeper suddenly blurted out, "Don't be fooled by Qian Yi's tyrannical behavior in Yangzhou. He's like a wagging dog when it comes to currying favor with the Crown Prince. He's used every means possible, sending him plenty of treasures and antiques. He even forced the Pianxian Pavilion to hand over the cold and beautiful Zhou Biyun, intending to present her to the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao immediately withdrew the words he was about to say and said coldly, "Those who do many evil deeds will surely perish. Qian Yi is doomed this time."
Nangong Fengyi was taken aback by his sudden change in attitude and said, "Xiaoyao, we..."
Ren Xiaoyao stood up and said calmly, "No rush. Let's talk about it back at the inn."
"Waiter, the bill." Nangong Fengzi casually tossed out a silver note and said softly, "Take it, keep the change."
"Five...five hundred taels!" The waiter took it and gasped.
"Don't shout, it's not for you." Nangong Fengzi smiled and said, "This meal will only cost six or seven taels at most. Take ten taels and use the rest to help the poor in the eastern suburbs."
"You gentlemen are truly compassionate." The shopkeeper said, moved.
"Young hero, wait!" Ren Xiaoyao was about to go downstairs when the middle-aged man suddenly called him back.
"What advice do you have, sir?" Ren Xiaoyao was anxious but didn't want to show it, so he
clasped his hands in greeting. "Young hero, you are so generous and righteous, I admire you." The middle-aged man smiled and cupped his hands.
"I am merely doing my bit for the people, how can I deserve your praise?" Ren Xiaoyao said calmly.
"So young yet so concerned for the people, if there were more young talents like you in the martial world, the prosperity of the martial world would be just around the corner." The white-haired old man smiled with delight.
"The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people. We martial artists should always keep this wise advice in mind." Ren Xiaoyao, preoccupied with Zhou Biyun, had no time to pay attention to anything else. He forced himself to be serious and said.
"What a fine saying, 'The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people.'" The middle-aged man's eyes flashed with sharp light as he stared at Ren Xiaoyao. "I wonder what your opinion is on the current political situation, young hero?"
Ren Xiaoyao casually replied, "How can I presume to discuss matters of state?"
The white-haired old man said magnanimously, "If you find it inconvenient, young hero, please feel free to go somewhere else."
Just as Ren Xiaoyao was about to politely decline, a servant dressed as an attendant suddenly ran upstairs and whispered a few words to the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man's expression changed slightly, and he gave the white-haired old man a wink. The latter immediately clasped his hands and said, "I have important matters to attend to and am afraid I cannot listen to your profound words today. Please leave your name so I can consult you again in the future." It was truly laughable that an old man nearing sixty would say such a thing to Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind raced. He smiled and said, "My surname is Meng, and my given name is Fei Tu. May I ask who you two are..."
The middle-aged man interrupted, "My surname is Song, and my given name is Zusheng. This is my old friend, Cao Zhongcheng." He then hurriedly took his leave.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The group found a nearby inn. As soon as they entered, Lin Yuxiu asked, "Big brother, we sincerely wanted to learn from you, so why did you make up a fake name?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly and explained, "As the saying goes, 'Speak only three-tenths of what you know, and never reveal your whole heart.'
Besides, these are extraordinary times, and we must be careful. How can we reveal our identities so easily?"
Nangong Fengyi said with a smile, "Actually, Xiaoyao wasn't lying. Meng Fei Tu is Meng Fei Tu, and he was originally a disciple of the great hero Meng."
Shui Furong asked with a smile, "Silly boy, when are you going to make your move? Can you take me with you?" All five women were intelligent and knew that Ren Xiaoyao planned to steal the silver embezzled by Qian Yi to help the poor and suffering people in the eastern suburbs.
Ren Xiaoyao said arrogantly, "My habit is to investigate on the same day I arrive, and then decide on the date to steal the treasure. But why bother with a mere Yangzhou government office?"
Lin Yuxiu said coquettishly, "Big brother, you mean tonight? Okay, count me in."
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "Hmph, Qian Yi isn't enough to make me break the rules. I'll go deliver Xiaoyao Jian later and scare him a bit. Tomorrow night we'll go together..."
Before he could finish speaking, Nangong Fengzi jumped up happily, clapping her hands and saying, "Great! Great! Brother Xiaoyao, I'll go ask the shopkeeper for paper and pen." With that, she skipped out the door.
Nangong Fengyi, still intending to persuade him, said softly, "Xiaoyao, I feel it's inappropriate for you to steal treasure in your current capacity. We should think of another way, don't you think, Sister Yun?" She fully expected Long Feiyun to agree with her, but the latter unexpectedly said, "Xiaoyao's fame stems entirely from his chivalrous deeds and his principle of robbing the rich to help the poor. Even now, with his titles and honors, he cannot forget his roots."
Lin Yuxiu giggled, "That's right! Xiuxiu also wants to experience the feeling of entering through a window or wall."
As she spoke, paper and pen were brought to him. Ren Xiaoyao took out a short note, picked up the brush, and wrote: "This Marquis has just arrived in Yangzhou, intending to enjoy a leisurely tour with beauties. However, upon hearing of your infamous reputation, my heart is filled with revulsion. Officials should be honest and impartial, benefiting the people. You, however, have arbitrarily established pretexts to levy taxes privately, engaging in corruption and bribery, oppressing the good, and corrupting the officialdom of our Great Song Dynasty. This is truly an outrage against both gods and men, and should be severely punished! Tomorrow night at Hai hour, I will surely come under the moonlight to take your ill-gotten gains." —The dashing thief Ren Xiaoyao.
After finishing his routine business, Ren Xiaoyao left the inn alone. He hadn't gone far when he suddenly noticed Long Feiyun following behind. Before he could speak, she smiled meaningfully and said, "The prefectural government office is to the south. Why are you heading east?"
Ren Xiaoyao feigned surprise, "Really? I remember it being on East Street."
Long Feiyun said calmly, "Stop pretending. You're going to the Pianxian Tower, aren't you?"
A fleeting look of shock crossed Ren Xiaoyao's face. He masked his inner turmoil with a smile and said calmly, "Pianxian Tower! I ..." "Why go to Pianxian Tower? To be honest, I haven't been to a place like that since I met Fengyi and Fengzi. Besides, Furong is a jealous woman. If she finds out, I'll tear her apart. You're overthinking things!"
Long Feiyun said coldly, "I just asked casually, and you answered five or six sentences, and you still say there's nothing fishy going on."
Ren Xiaoyao said awkwardly, "No, really, nothing, believe me."
Long Feiyun chuckled, "So you're still my old flame after all. You even lied to me for the cold and beautiful Zhou Biyun."
Ren Xiaoyao pretended... Surprised and bewildered, he exclaimed, "What old flame? Don't talk nonsense!"
Long Feiyun frowned slightly and said, "Keep pretending, just keep pretending, let's see how long you can keep it up."
Ren Xiaoyao spread his hands and smiled bitterly, "Alright, alright, I'll go to South Street, so you won't overthink things."
Long Feiyun sighed softly, "Alas, it's true what they say, a young man who isn't a bit of a playboy is wasting his youth. Just a few months out of school, and you've already made Zhou Biyun willingly offer you her most precious possession, and afterwards you immediately rushed to Hangzhou without stopping for even half a day. What a playboy, truly..." "You prodigal son!"
Ren Xiaoyao's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he exclaimed, "How...how did you know about that night?"
Long Feiyun ignored him and continued, "From then on, you had no contact with Miss Zhou until just now when you heard that Qian Yi was going to offer her to the Crown Prince. That's when your old feelings were stirred up, and you didn't hesitate to lower yourself to steal treasures from the prefectural government office, all to bring down Qian Yi as soon as possible, so that Miss Zhou wouldn't be sent to the deep palace and lose her freedom."
Ren Xiaoyao remained silent, but from his facial expression, he knew that Long Feiyun's words were absolutely true.
Long Feiyun sighed softly and continued, "Go to Pianxian Tower to find out what's going on, and then decide how to punish Qian Yi. If he laid a hand on Miss Zhou, perhaps you can kill him with your sword without even going through the court trial—daring to lay a finger on Ren Xiaoyao's woman will have to pay the price, even if she's a former woman, right?"
Ren Xiaoyao sneered, "That's right, I said Qian Yi is doomed this time."
Long Feiyun's eyes sparkled, revealing an extremely charming smile, and she shrugged her shoulders slightly, saying, "Luckily, I know everything about your past, otherwise I would have been fooled too."
Ren Xiaoyao said awkwardly, "Feiyun, you didn't go and gossip to Furong, did you?"
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes flickered, and she asked in return, "What do you think?" "

Volume 23, Chapter 11: Lust Rises High.

Cuihe was so startled she almost cried out. She quickly covered her lips with her small hands and tactfully retreated to the side.
Zhou Biyun was completely unaware, still gazing at the starry sky, her beautiful eyes filled with sorrow, and sobbed, "Xiaoyao, will you come... will you come?"
"I've come, haven't I?" A soft, deep, and melodious male voice sounded in her ear.
Zhou Biyun's slender body trembled slightly. With a soft "Ah," she turned around, and what came into view was Ren Xiaoyao's handsome face—the face she had longed for day and night, the face that had been on her lips until just moments before. Instantly, her whole body heated up, her mind went blank, and her heart was filled with an uncontrollable, raging storm.
How long had it been since she had so desperately longed to be reunited with him, to pour out her longing and pain to him?
How long had it been since she had lost all self-control in her yearning for him, to the point that she had considered abandoning everything and traveling thousands of miles to Guanzhong, just to see him one more time? The days without him felt like years, but cruel reality forced her to endure them silently, because... They were simply from completely different worlds.
Fate could never be more cruel. Just as her longing for Ren Xiaoyao reached its peak due to Cuihe's indignant questioning, Ren Xiaoyao finally appeared before her. A
mix of emotions—remorse, regret, shock, and annoyance—surged through Ren Xiaoyao's heart. He was a passionate wanderer, and having overheard Zhou Biyun's heartfelt confession behind the screen, a tidal wave of emotions surged within him! If Cuihe hadn't been there, he was certain he would have embraced her without hesitation, kissed her, and showered her with tenderness. Now, he could only rush to her side, take her soft hands in his, inhale her alluring fragrance, and excitedly say, "Biyun, as you wished, I'm back." Zhou Biyun's delicate body trembled again, tears welling in her eyes .
She withdrew her trembling hand and touched Ren Xiaoyao's face, sobbing, "Xiaoyao, you...you finally..." She broke down in tears. A
wave of heart-wrenching guilt washed over Ren Xiaoyao. He was about to offer a few words of apology when Zhou Biyun reached out and pressed her jade-like finger to his lips, stopping him from continuing. Tears welled in her beautiful eyes as she choked out, "It's enough that you came. I don't want to hear any reasons." Then she withdrew her slender finger, which had captivated Ren Xiaoyao's soul, and softly said, "Cuihe, go back to your room. You don't need to serve me tonight." "
Cuihe responded and left. The impatient Ren Xiaoyao had already pulled her into a soft, fragrant embrace. Just as he was about to look for her shoulder, Zhou Biyun, her passion burning, raised her jade-like arm and, like a snake, wrapped it around his neck, offering a passionate kiss.
The outside world suddenly vanished, leaving only their fiery passion. All the past loves and hates were no longer relevant. The raging fire of love between them was instantly rekindled. If the heavens and earth were to collapse at this moment, they would be fearless, their hearts united, crossing the ends of the universe together.
Their lips parted, Zhou Biyun closed her beautiful eyes, pressing her face against Ren Xiaoyao's head without reservation, tears streaming down her face as she said sadly, "A full year and seven months, five hundred and seventy-nine days, I've finally waited for this moment to reunite with you." "Having finished speaking, her delicate body trembled, her beautiful face flushed crimson, and her breasts heaved.
Ren Xiaoyao raised his sleeve to wipe away her tears. Zhou Biyun tilted her head back, her face radiant with a blush of crimson, her bright almond eyes shimmering with a captivating, alluring light. Her small, delicate nose twitched slightly, and her full, crimson lips, like ripe lychees, tempted one to take a bite. Her small mouth parted slightly, revealing two rows of white teeth, resembling jade shells on the beach, and two round dimples like small pools of water." Her alluring gaze, tinged with the delicate fragrance of perfume, drifted into Ren Xiaoyao's nostrils, stirring his emotions.
Ren Xiaoyao stared intently at Zhou Biyun's bright, clear eyes, her flawless face, her exquisite figure, her graceful curves, and the faint, alluring scent emanating from her body. Her jet-black hair accentuated her fair skin, and her gentle, refined demeanor made her even more beautiful.
Zhou Biyun was infinitely shy, her blush spreading from her cheeks to her snow-white neck. Unbeknownst to her, her silk skirt had been removed, revealing a light-colored bodice made of thin material, like a wisp of smoke. Although it covered Zhou Biyun's proud figure and perfectly protected her high breasts, it still faintly revealed the contours of her curves. Most captivating was the expression on her face; her flushed face held a mixture of shyness, provocation, expectation, and longing, arousing a strong possessive desire within one.
The two embraced and led her to the bedside. With a gentle flick of his finger, Ren Xiaoyao loosened the sash of Zhou Biyun's bodice, leaving her completely naked on the fragrant couch. Ren Xiaoyao paused, once again admiring the naked Zhou Biyun, savoring her near-perfect body. Her skin was delicate and smooth, like jade, her figure perfectly proportioned, her curves fully revealed. Her full back and rounded shoulders were incredibly sexy. Her arms were smooth and flawless, like two pieces of jade lotus root. Her long, round neck was as white as snow, and beneath her delicate, willow-leaf eyebrows, her large, watery eyes shone with captivating allure
. Her red, tender lips were like ripe peaches hanging from branches, tempting anyone who saw them to take a bite. Zhou Biyun exuded an elegant charm and a captivating fragrance. Her breasts were high and firm, like two opposing mountain peaks, echoing each other. At the top of her jade peaks, two light brown buds were rosy and translucent. Between the two jade peaks was a deep valley, below which was a flat, soft abdomen. Between her pink legs, her vulva was wide open, her vulva throbbing with desire. Her jade legs were exquisitely sculpted, utterly alluring.
Under Ren Xiaoyao's passionate caresses, Zhou Biyun gasped for breath, her fair and dazzling body flushed with a rosy glow. Her body trembled involuntarily, and she would occasionally stick out her small, fragrant tongue to lick her slightly parted cherry lips, as if she were extremely thirsty. Her reddened skin was covered with fine beads of sweat, making it appear even more translucent and jade-like. Her slender waist swayed like a snake, responding to Ren Xiaoyao's caresses. Her long, shapely legs opened and closed slowly, seemingly enjoying the pleasure of desire.
Ren Xiaoyao sealed Zhou Biyun's cherry lips with his own once more, kissing his way down her snow-white neck. What came into view were her high, firm breasts. The pale pink buds that had been barely visible were now engorged and erect. He couldn't help but open his mouth wide and take the left one into his mouth, sucking on it like a baby nursing. Sometimes he would stick out his tongue and lick the pink bud quickly, and sometimes he would gently bite the small nipple with his teeth. His left hand would also be constantly kneading the right bud. Waves of bone-melting, tingling pleasure made Zhou Biyun moan and groan.
Ren Xiaoyao, suppressing his burning desire, slowly kissed his way down Zhou Biyun's flat stomach. His rough tongue gently licked the inside of her round, straight thighs, causing Nie Lingyu to tremble all over. Her firm, high breasts rose and fell like waves, creating a beautiful, flawless, surging tide of milk. The fragrant sweat on her body, like raindrops, mingled with the intoxicating, soul-stirring lustful fluids. Her soft, plaintive moans were unbearable to hear and aroused.
Zhou Biyun's serpentine body began to writhe. Her eyes were languid, her body glistening with sweat. She was completely lost in the abyss of desire, moaning and enjoying the stimulation Ren Xiaoyao gave her. She felt as if her whole body was burning in flames, her limbs melting away piece by piece. She only knew to desperately raise her buttocks to meet Ren Xiaoyao's movements.
Ren Xiaoyao looked up. Zhou Biyun was alluring and captivating, her passion surging like a tide. She cried out wildly and gasped, her small, red, cherry-like mouth breathing rapidly. Her long, slender, and smooth legs, which had been raised high, gently fell down and wrapped around Ren Xiaoyao's waist with a mixture of eagerness and shyness. Her elastic, smooth skin rubbed against his thighs, flesh against flesh, so comfortable that every pore on Ren Xiaoyao's body opened up.
"I can't take it anymore, ah... ah..." Zhou Biyun cried out in pleasure. Ren Xiaoyao's desire also surged. He took the opportunity to lie on top of her and kissed one of Zhou Biyun's soft, translucent earlobes. His tongue licked and sucked, and her angelic beauty and purity made her breathing even more rapid. Her heart pounded, awaiting the coming storm.

Volume Twenty-Three, Twenty-Four Bridges, Chapter Twelve: The naked, jade-like body

of the exquisitely beautiful Zhou Biyun, elegant as a fairy and otherworldly, was lost in passion when she suddenly felt the massive body pressing against her soft flesh lighten… Suddenly, Zhou Biyun gasped, “Ah…” Ren Xiaoyao’s strong, thick male member broke into her.
In an instant, the bed was filled with the vibrant colors of spring. Ren Xiaoyao, lying on top of the flawless, snow-white body of the stunningly beautiful Zhou Biyun, thrust with all his might. The angelic, pure and lovely Zhou Biyun cried out softly beneath her lover, shyly yielding to his pleasure. Their desire was completely lost in the boundless pleasure of their intertwined bodies.
Ren Xiaoyao had lost count of how long this frenzied entanglement with Zhou Biyun had lasted. A ray of moonlight shone through the open window, falling upon their intertwined bodies.
As the storm subsided, the alluring Zhou Biyun gradually slid down from the climax of her passionate encounter. Ren Xiaoyao gazed at Zhou Biyun beneath him, her breath coming in short gasps, her body glistening with fragrant sweat, her exquisitely beautiful face radiating shyness, and her naked, smooth, snow-white, delicate body.
Zhou Biyun's starry eyes were half-open, half-closed, the blush of shyness on her peach-blossom cheeks and the flush of her intense climax making her exquisitely pure face as beautiful as a goddess in the clouds—a truly alluring picture of passionate love!
In that instant, a thousand emotions surged within Ren Xiaoyao. He lowered his head and whispered in Zhou Yunbi's delicate ear, "Yunbi, how was it? Not bad, right?"
Zhou Yunbi shyly buried her face back in her lover's embrace, saying in a barely audible voice, "Mmm, Xiaoyao, you...you're so good. I've never felt so happy before." Without
a second thought, Ren Xiaoyao blurted out, "Come with me, leave Pianxian Tower."
Zhou Yunbi sighed softly, a bitter smile appearing on her face, and said firmly, "No, I won't go!"
Ren Xiaoyao was stunned. "Why? Weren't you waiting for me?"
Zhou Biyun spoke calmly in an unusually desolate tone, "The reason I've waited for you so painstakingly is to know if you truly care for me, if you still remember the Zhou Biyun who gave everything for you. I yearn for another night of passion with you, not for you to take responsibility, much less for you to marry me."
Ren Xiaoyao's heart ached, his face turned pale, and he trembled violently, saying, "Biyun..."
Zhou Biyun's eyes suddenly became complex, seemingly containing countless emotions that had always been hidden deep within her heart. She sighed softly, interrupting him, "I was sold to a brothel as a child, and I've seen it all..." "The feigned affection on the field is utterly meaningless to men in the army. If it weren't for our destined meeting, I might have spent my entire life in the monotonous routine of welcoming and seeing off guests, without any ups or downs. But the moment I saw you, Xiaoyao, I knew it was a karmic debt from my past life that had brought me, Zhou Biyun, here. I've never taken any man seriously before, but... but because of you..."
She gazed at Ren Xiaoyao with deep affection and continued, "Since you entered my heart, I've tried to resist more than once, but I've been powerless. I know I can no longer..." I escaped from my longing for you. That night, I knew all too well that your departure would leave me with endless pain and waiting, yet I still willingly gave myself to you, because I knew perfectly well that I might never see you again.”
Seeing the slight tremor in her shoulders as she spoke, listening to her frank confession in a voice full of musical beauty, Ren Xiaoyao felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He placed his hand on her shoulder and said hoarsely, “It’s my fault, it’s my fault…”
Zhou Biyun interrupted him again, “Your departure has caused me unbearable pain…” It was this pain that taught me what love truly is. From that day on, my heart held a deep longing, and I was no longer the mindless, incapable soul of true love. Under the moon, I poured out my sorrow, merely trying to numb my thoughts with memories, to alleviate the endless pain caused by love. I longed to one day reunite with you, to pour out the boundless love in my heart to you.”
Ren Xiaoyao felt a heart-wrenching pain spread from his chest throughout his body, an uncontrollable tremor running through him. He said in a hoarse voice, “Biyun, please, stop talking! Come with me!”
Zhou Biyun turned her delicate body away, causing Ren Xiaoyao to remove his hands from her fragrant shoulders. Her expression was calm as she asked, "Do you truly love me? Are you truly willing to take me away from Pianxian Tower?"
Ren Xiaoyao answered without hesitation, "Of course! As long as you nod, we'll leave immediately. If Zhang Xiang dares to stop me, I'll tear this place down; if Qian Yi dares to obstruct me, I'll chop him up!"
Zhou Biyun's eyes reddened, and two crystal tears welled up in her eyes. She said sadly, "Can you guarantee that you will never change your heart for the rest of your life, even when my youth fades and my beauty withers?"
Ren Xiaoyao said with unwavering determination, "I can!"
Zhou Biyun closed her beautiful eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, but her tone remained unusually calm: "Can you guarantee that you will never fall in love with another woman from now on?"
Ren Xiaoyao thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "I can!"
Zhou Biyun opened her eyes weakly, saying sadly, "Can you guarantee..." "You only love me in your heart?"
Ren Xiaoyao was struck dumb, staggering back two steps, his face drained of color. He stared in disbelief at the beautiful woman before him, his voice trembling, "Biyun, you...you're not that kind of narrow-minded girl."
Zhou Biyun revealed a sorrowful smile, her face streaked with tears as she cried out, "No, I am!"
Ren Xiaoyao stared at her incredulously, exclaiming, "Give me a reason, a reason that convinces me."
Zhou Biyun sat up on the edge of the bed, her pretty face regaining its calm and composed expression, carrying a chilling calmness as she slowly said, "The reason is simple, because I hate you! The deeper the love, the deeper the hate."
Ren Xiaoyao's mind reeled violently, his feelings of guilt and remorse reaching their peak. His mind was completely focused on the beautiful woman in his arms, his emotions like a burst dam, no longer able to be stopped or contained by any force.
Zhou Biyun's beautiful eyes sparkled as she met his gaze for a moment, then softly said, "You can't give me your whole heart, so I won't leave. But I will never forget this most moving experience of my life. Just now, you gave me unforgettable feelings, freeing me from the torment of a painful love that felt like a cycle of reincarnation. To tell you frankly, after tonight, Biyun has no regrets, because I have finally found my true path and my destiny."
Ren Xiaoyao was overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling, his heart filled with complex emotions. After much deliberation, he finally managed to utter a few words... "Biyun, is this really the end for us?"
Zhou Biyun nestled into his arms like a little bird, holding him tightly with all her might. Her incredibly beautiful body trembled gently in his embrace as she murmured, "The zither's melody is melodious, her eyes are bright and charming, her hair is light and flowing; our time together is like a dream, hard to come by, I long for Jiangnan; alone, I lean against the railing, the setting sun casting its shadow, the orioles are silent and the willows are withered; deep in my boudoir, I feel a deep sorrow, my hair is gray, the brocade curtains are flowing, the candlelight is cold and desolate."
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled again, and with a sudden burst of strength, he pulled, instantly seizing the silver knife in the fruit plate on the table.
Zhou Biyun looked up at him, puzzled, watching as Ren Xiaoyao turned the silver knife upside down and placed it in her hand. She didn't know his intention, only mechanically grasping the hilt.
Ren Xiaoyao held her soft hand with precious care, and with a sudden burst of strength, the silver knife plunged into his own chest!

Volume Twenty-Three, Twenty-Four Bridges, Chapter Thirteen: The Sublimation of Love.

It was already past midnight when Ren Xiaoyao returned to the inn, his heart filled with emotion and turmoil.
Before he even entered his room, Nangong Fengzi, Lin Yuxiu, and the others came to greet him. Seeing Shui Furong puffing out her cheeks and glaring with her almond-shaped eyes, he realized he had been gone for three hours, and there was no way to explain it. Sure enough
, as soon as he approached, Shui Furong put her hands on her hips and relentlessly questioned, "You idiot, did you need to spend money to deliver Xiaoyao's letter to the prefectural government office…" Midway through her sentence, she suddenly noticed the bloodstains on Ren Xiaoyao's chest and gasped in horror, covering her mouth, "Ah! Idiot, you… how could you…"
Ren Xiaoyao managed to utter "I'm fine," his vision blurred, and he slumped weakly into Nangong Fengzi's arms.
Nangong Fengzi was shocked and at a loss, crying out, "Sister, come quick! Brother Xiaoyao is injured!"
The door was flung open with a bang, and Nangong Fengyi, no longer the gentle and composed woman she usually was, rushed to Ren Xiaoyao's side, urgently calling out, "Quick, quick, help Xiaoyao into the room!"
The women busied themselves for a long time, finally bandaging Ren Xiaoyao's wounds and changing his clothes.
Their biggest concern was naturally the cause of Ren Xiaoyao's injury, but unfortunately, he remained unconscious, leaving them with many questions but no answers.
Nangong Fengyi, using the excuse that Ren Xiaoyao needed rest, persuaded the women to leave one by one, while she sat by the bedside carefully watching over him. Late into the night, Long Feiyun came to relieve her, and Nangong Fengyi, knowing her thoughtfulness and intelligence, didn't refuse and went back to her room.
After she walked away, Long Feiyun locked the front door and closed the window before returning to Ren Xiaoyao's side. She said with a smile, "Well done, you even came up with the trick of playing dead. But to make Fengyi and Fengzi worry so much just for Zhou Biyun, isn't that a bit unfair?"
Ren Xiaoyao remained expressionless and calm, showing no reaction whatsoever.
Long Feiyun chuckled, "I know you didn't faint at all, and you weren't asleep either..."
Ren Xiaoyao still lay there quietly, completely still.
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes sparkled as she said calmly, "This time you've revealed too many flaws. A little thought would easily reveal them. First, your outer robe was only stained with blood, but there were no knife wounds, clearly indicating you weren't wearing any clothes when you were injured; second, judging from the size and depth of the wound, it was definitely not caused by a knife, spear, sword, or halberd, but rather... a small fruit knife; third, with your intelligence, it would have been incredibly easy for you to cover up the first two points, yet you didn't do it intentionally. If I'm not mistaken, you should have been with Miss Zhou at the time..."
Ren Xiaoyao abruptly interrupted, "Alright, if you keep going, where will I put my face?"
Long Feiyun chuckled charmingly, "If I hadn't exposed you, you would have kept hiding it, wouldn't you?"
Ren Xiaoyao shrugged slightly, staring at Long Feiyun noncommittally.
Long Feiyun scoffed, "What are you looking at? You think I'll pretend I don't know anything? No way!"
Ren Xiaoyao, his secret exposed, forced a smile and said, "Feiyun, please be merciful and forgive me this once."
Long Feiyun glared at him, slightly annoyed, and said, "Even if you and Miss Zhou had a brief affair, that's all in the past. Even if you two rekindled your old flame, you shouldn't have deceived four people around you for her sake. You had your eyes closed just now; how could you have seen the fear and anxiety on Fengyi and Fengzi's faces, especially Xiuxiu, who was crying like a baby? How could you be so heartless?"
Ren Xiaoyao gave a bitter smile and exclaimed, "Speaking of heartbreak and pain, how can they compare to Biyun?" He then recounted the entire incident in detail, adding, "Actually, I hadn't thought about how to hide it before coming to the inn. It was only after seeing Furong..." In my panic, coupled with the loss of blood, I truly fainted. However, I woke up when Fengyi bandaged my wounds. Thinking that it was better to continue pretending than to be questioned by them, I couldn't fall back asleep because I had too many worries.
Long Feiyun was stunned, and exclaimed in surprise, "So, it seems your relationship with Miss Zhou is over?"
Ren Xiaoyao sighed, "She only cared about having it once, not about forever—those were her exact words."
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes deepened, veiled with sorrow, and she said softly, "So, I misunderstood you… Alas, Miss Zhou is truly pitiful; you should spend more time with her."
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with intense emotion, but his tone remained calm as he sighed softly, "My relationship with Biyun ended completely the moment the silver knife pierced us. Even if I stayed, it would only bring me grief."
Long Feiyun took a deep breath, regaining some composure, and looked up at him, saying, "No matter how long you pretend, you'll wake up tomorrow morning. How will you explain that to Fengyi and Fengzi then?"
Ren Xiaoyao looked troubled and smiled bitterly, "Right now, my mind is in turmoil; I can't think of a solution."
Long Feiyun sighed softly and said gently, "They say that men become fools as soon as they get involved in matters of the heart. I never thought even you would be unable to escape this shackle."
Ren Xiaoyao felt embarrassed by her words and said with deep feeling, "No one is perfect, and I, Ren Xiaoyao, consider myself extremely intelligent. My only weakness is 'love.'"
Long Feiyun showed a rare, coquettish expression, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Ren Xiaoyao, and murmured, "If one day..." "We're separated for some reason. Will you worry about me and be heartbroken?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly and answered decisively, "Of course not."
A cold glint flashed in Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes. After staring at Ren Xiaoyao for a while, she said coldly, "Just because I haven't given myself to... to... so I'm not even as good as Zhou Biyun."
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled and said softly, "What are you thinking? What I mean is that no matter what happens, we will never be separated. We will stay together for the rest of our lives. Since we are so close and together every day, how can there be any worry or heartbreak?"
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes immediately brightened, making her even more alluring. She couldn't help but walk to the bedside and sit down.
Ren Xiaoyao slowly reached out and stroked her face.
Long Feiyun trembled, moaning softly, "Xiaoyao! No..."
Ren Xiaoyao stroked her flushed, blushing face, his fingertips lightly brushing her rounded earlobe. He leaned closer, his voice deep and affectionate, and said, "Don't leave tonight, okay? Stay with me."
Long Feiyun's cheeks flushed crimson, and she gave him a slightly embarrassed, playful glare, a look that was neither entirely pleased nor angry.
Ren Xiaoyao saw her exquisite figure, her chest heaving, her firm, high breasts swaying wildly—utterly alluring. She exuded a captivating charm, and his heart pounded. He couldn't help but caress her slender waist. Long Feiyun trembled slightly, but didn't struggle, undoubtedly giving Ren Xiaoyao the best encouragement.
Ren Xiaoyao gently pulled her into his arms with his left hand, his right hand holding her thigh, and his left hand grasping her firm, beautiful breasts through her outer clothing. Long Feiyun let out soft moans, whether in pleasure or protest, it was unclear.
Ren Xiaoyao pulled her even tighter, kissing her delicate earlobe, finally landing on her alluring red lips. Long Feiyun felt as if she were in a dream. When Ren Xiaoyao's tongue parted her lips, she offered no resistance, instead passionately returning the kiss.
Ren Xiaoyao's large hands slipped inside her clothes, caressing her firm, soft breasts. They were so tender and fragrant, so irresistible. Ren Xiaoyao kneaded them gently and slowly, feeling the firm, soft, and elastic sensation in his palms. He felt her pert, high virgin breasts rising and falling rapidly beneath his hands, making his blood boil.
Seeing Long Feiyun's beautifully contoured cheeks, Ren Xiaoyao's lust was stirred. His fingers gradually closed, gently caressing the tips of Long Feiyun's proud breasts with two fingers, circling and kneading them until he found the delicate, pert nipple. He gently pinched the soft, tender bud between his fingers, kneading and kneading it tenderly and skillfully. Long
Feiyun's virgin breasts, her carefully protected, snow-white, chaste breasts, were once again touched by a hand that didn't belong to her, so brazenly. In an instant, the strange sensation from the sensitive tip of her nipple made her feel as if she were being devoured by insects, and her heart felt a strange stimulation that was both shameful and deeply embarrassing.
In her panic and extreme tension, Long Feiyun trembled involuntarily, quickly becoming intoxicated by the wonderful feeling. A tempting blush involuntarily rose across her snow-white face, a beauty that was both elegant and ethereal. Her cold and resolute gaze instantly turned panicked; she felt incredibly ashamed of her shameful body and hastily turned her head away.
"Xiaoyao...no...really no..." Long Feiyun moaned insincerely, letting Xiaoyao remove her clothes, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful body. Her shapely figure stretched out, her snow-white arms and long legs casually placed, yet there was no more suitable way to position them. Ren Xiaoyao felt an indescribable sensation, a sense that no one could defile such a perfect body—except himself, of course. However, it wasn't defilement, but rather the highest sublimation of love between a man and a woman.

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