The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain, Chapter Two: The Precious Sword and Tender Feelings

Looking at the sweet and delicate face in his arms, Miao Renfeng's mind drifted back to events from three years ago. Three years had passed, but it felt as if only three days had gone by; everything was crystal clear. Before him, a torrential downpour was falling, but three years ago, it was snowing—a deluge of snowflakes falling like goose feathers. It was on the road to Cangzhou, Hebei, near the end of the year, with few travelers on the road. Miao Renfeng rode a tall, long-legged yellow horse, reining in his horse northward. Ten years ago, in the twelfth lunar month, he had dueled with the Liaodong hero Hu Yidao in Cangzhou, accidentally injuring Hu Yidao with a poisoned dagger. Hu's wife committed suicide to follow her husband in death. He and Hu Yidao were evenly matched in martial arts, sharing a similar spirit; the two had gone from enemies to friends, respecting and cherishing each other. Little did he know that a single misstep would wound his only true confidant. He was known as "unrivaled under heaven," roaming the land, but only when he met this great hero from Liaodong, with whom he fought for five days and talked late into the night, did he encounter a true worthy opponent, a true bond of loyalty and devotion... For ten years, Miao Renfeng had been deeply troubled by this, melancholy and sorrow. As the tenth anniversary of Hu Yidao and his wife's passing approached, Miao Renfeng traveled a great distance from southern Zhejiang to personally pay his respects at his deceased friends' graves. In the waning snow, as dusk fell on his horse, Miao Renfeng's heart grew heavier with each passing moment near Cangzhou. He rode slowly, thinking, "If it weren't for that one misstep back then, today I could be riding the Hu couple across the land, making corrupt officials, wicked bureaucrats, and powerful bandits tremble in fear—what a joy that would be!" Lost in thought, he suddenly heard the wheels of a cart crunching on the snow behind him. A coachman, his tongue twisting, urged the mule forward, cracking his whip. A large cart sped across the white snowfield. The sturdy mule pulling the cart puffed out white breath, braving the wind and snow, and galloped forward. The cart swept past Miao Renfeng when suddenly a delicate woman's voice rang out from within: "Father, when we get to the capital, you'll come with me to buy palace flowers to wear..." The rest of the words were inaudible; it was the soft, clear voice of a girl from Jiangnan, utterly out of place in the wind and snow of the vast northern plains. Suddenly, the mule's left foot stepped into a hole, and it lurched forward. The driver leaned forward, then pulled it up, and the mule used the momentum to lift its foot and continue running. Miao Renfeng was secretly astonished: "That driver's leaning and lifting—such skill, such strength! He must be a legendary figure from the world. How did he end up driving a cart?" Before his thoughts were settled, he heard footsteps, and a porter carrying a load of luggage strode up behind him. The load of luggage weighed down the jujube wood carrying pole, making it appear quite heavy. Yet the porter walked as if nothing was amiss, pacing quickly through the snow with remarkably light steps. Miao Renfeng was even more puzzled: "This porter is not only strong, but his lightness skill is also extraordinary." He knew there must be something going on: "This porter seems to be following the coachman; it seems there's some murder or revenge plot." He immediately picked up his whip and followed the cart at a leisurely pace, determined to see what was happening. After traveling several miles, he saw the porter, despite the heavy luggage on his shoulders, still running like the wind. Suddenly, he heard a loud clanging of copper plates behind him, and a man carrying a pot-mending pole came gliding up. This man walked even lighter in the snow; while not quite leaving no trace, his lightness skill was exceptionally rare in the martial arts world. Miao Renfeng pondered, "Another one. Which school does this man belong to?" He noticed the man's straw hat and raincoat were covered in snow, swaying in the wind as he walked unsteadily. He immediately realized, "This Naihe Kung Fu is the style of the Guijianchou Hammer family from northern Hubei." After traveling seven or eight li, darkness fell, and they arrived at a small market. Miao Renfeng saw a large cart parked in front of an inn and went inside to ask for lodging. The inn was very small, the only one in the market. Merchants were all crowded in the hall, warming themselves by the fire and drinking baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor), including the cart driver, porters, and tinsmith. Although Miao Renfeng was famous throughout the land, he had lived in seclusion in southern Zhejiang for the past ten years, and few in the martial arts world knew him. He didn't recognize the porter, cart driver, or tinsmith, so he silently sat down at a small table, ordered food and drink, and seeing the three men eating and drinking separately, he realized they weren't from the same school. Suddenly, a loud voice came from the inner courtyard: "Lord Nan, Miss, please excuse the small place; you'll have to dine in the outer hall." The cotton curtain was lifted, and a waiter led an official and a young lady into the hall. The merchants who were seated stood up upon seeing the official. Miao Renfeng ignored them and continued drinking. The official wore a dark brown satin fox fur robe, was plump and had a prosperous appearance. The young lady was beautiful, with fair and delicate skin; such beauty was rare not only in the north but also in the south. She wore a bright green brocade fur coat, a very vibrant color, but even the most brilliant brocade paled in comparison to her radiant beauty. The crowd's eyes lit up, and they couldn't help but feel ashamed of their own appearance. Some even awkwardly retreated to the corridor, leaving a large empty space in the hall. The shopkeeper, calling out "Sir, Miss!" repeatedly, served food and wine with great zeal. Miao Renfeng, noticing the man's strong voice as he called out the dishes, paid close attention. Observing his gait and movements, he realized the man was a martial arts expert. He also noticed the slight bulge in the man's temples, suggesting considerable internal strength. This piqued his curiosity further. He thought, "These people must have something important up their sleeve. I'll just watch and see if they're up to something good or bad. I wonder if they have anything to do with this official." This attention led him to glance at the official and the young lady a few more times. Suddenly, the official slammed his hand on the table, erupting in anger. Pointing at Miao Renfeng, he cursed, "What are you? Not only do you not avoid the officials, but you also have these thieving eyes, looking at me so improperly! You have rough hands and big feet, a born thief. If you look at me again, I'll take a report and send you to the county to be beaten black and blue!" Miao Renfeng lowered his head and drank his wine, ignoring him. The official grew even angrier and shouted, "Even when you're paying your respects, you can't just sit there so arrogantly!" The young lady gently advised, "Father, is it really necessary to get so angry? It's not uncommon for country folk to be ignorant of etiquette. Why bother with such boorish people? Drink this cup." She then held a cup of wine to his lips. The official gulped it down, seemingly swallowing his anger and the wine. He glared at Miao Renfeng, who lowered his head and remained silent, presumably out of fear. He then poured himself another drink and began chatting and laughing with his daughter. Their conversation revolved around what it would be like to be appointed to an official post in Beijing, suggesting he was a candidate for a post in the capital. As they spoke, the door opened, letting in a gust of snow, followed by the arrival of an official. This man was sallow-skinned and thin, far less imposing than the previous official. He laughed loudly, "Life is full of unexpected encounters! To meet Brother Rentong here is truly a coincidence!" He then rushed forward to greet the official surnamed Nan, Nan Rentong. The Nan father and daughter stood up together. Nan Rentong cupped his hands and said, "Brother Tiaohou, it's a pleasure to meet you! Please sit down." The "Brother Tiaohou" thanked him and sat down at the table. The waiter brought more cups and chopsticks, and served wine and dishes. Miao Renfeng thought to himself, "Including this Brother Tiaohou, that makes five experts in total. This father and daughter of the Nan family don't seem to have any martial arts skills. Could it be that they are wise in disguise and I've been misled?" Thinking of this, he couldn't help but be wary and dared not look at them for too long. You should know that his nickname "Invincible Under Heaven" was a major taboo in the martial arts world. Which hero in the world wouldn't want to get rid of this title? The risks he had faced in his life were a hundred times greater than those of ordinary people, all thanks to this nickname. At that moment, he thought, "These men might be after me. They're in a group; it'll be difficult to fight them all at once. I wonder if there are even more experts lying in ambush ahead." He overheard "Brother Diaohou" and Nan Rentong engaging in a lively discussion, spouting trivial gossip about promotions and demotions in officialdom. Meanwhile, the porter and the tinker under the eaves were arguing loudly, arguing about whether there were truly any swords or knives that could cut through iron like mud. The porter said, "What 'cutting through iron like mud'? That's all boasting! Those swords are just a little sharp; are they really that magical?" The tinker said, "How much of the world have you seen? Do you know what a real sword is? If I weren't afraid of scaring you, I'd show you one." The porter shouted, "You have a sword? Bah! Stop dreaming! If you had a sword, you wouldn't be mending pots! I only have dull, rusty kitchen knives that are hard to sharpen!" Everyone burst into laughter. The tinker, puffing out his cheeks, pulled a knife from his carrying pole. It had a green sheath and a gold hilt, and looked quite impressive. He drew it with a swift motion, its cold gleam piercing the air—truly a fine blade. Everyone exclaimed, "A fine knife!" The tinker picked up the knife and swung it at the porter. The porter cried out, "My God!" and quickly dodged, causing another burst of laughter. Miao Renfeng, observing the two's exchange, thought to himself, "These two are definitely in cahoots. This charade isn't for me." The tinker said, "I have some excellent kitchen knives and woodcutting knives; could I borrow one?" The shopkeeper responded and went into the kitchen, bringing out a kitchen knife. The tinker said, "Hold it carefully!" The shopkeeper raised the knife high. The tinker swung it horizontally, and with a clang, the knife broke in two. Everyone cheered, "Truly a fine knife!" The tinker, beaming with pride, loudly boasted about how powerful and valuable his knife was. The crowd in the corridor listened with rapt attention, their faces showing admiration. After a while, Nan Rentong couldn't help but snort, his face showing disdain. The "Brother Tiaohou" said, "Brother Rentong, this knife certainly deserves the title of 'treasure.' I never imagined that a commoner would possess such a weapon." Nan Rentong replied, "It is indeed powerful, but not necessarily a treasure." "Brother Tiaohou" said, "My brother, you are mistaken! Look at this knife, it cuts iron like mud. Where in the world is there a knife better than this?" Nan Rentong said, "My brother is rather ignorant. I'll just…" Before he could continue, Miss Nan suddenly interrupted, "Father, you've had too much to drink. Go eat and go to sleep." Nan Rentong…He laughed, "Hey, girls always love to talk about their fathers." Then he actually started begging for food and stopped drinking. "Brother Tiaohou" said again, "Brother, I've finally seen something amazing today. This kind of precious sword is probably the first time you've ever seen one like this." Nan Rentong sneered, "I've seen swords ten times better than this one many times over." "Brother Tiaohou" laughed loudly, "You're joking! You're a civil official, what kind of precious sword have you ever seen?" The tinker, hearing their exchange, shouted, "If there's a sword in the world better than this one, I'd gladly cut off my head and give it to him. Anyone can boast! Hey, I bet my son will become a fifth-rank official, do you believe me?" The crowd quickly shouted, "Nonsense! Shut up!" Nan Rentong's face turned pale with anger. He abruptly stood up and strode into the house. Miss Nan called out, "Father!" He ignored her, and in a moment produced a three-foot-long curved knife. The scabbard was dark and unremarkable. He shouted, "Hey, pot mender, I have a knife here. Let's have a contest. If you lose, you'll have to cut off your head!" The pot mender said, "And if you lose, sir?" Nan Rentong retorted, "I'll cut off my head for you too!" Miss Nan said, "Father, you've had too much to drink. What's there to say to them? Go back to your room!" Nan Rentong seemed to understand, snorted, and turned to go back to his room with the knife. Seeing him about to enter, the pot mender added provocatively, "If you lose, sir, how dare I take your head? Why don't you take me as your son-in-law instead!" Some laughed, others scolded him for talking nonsense. Miss Nan, her face flushed with anger, refused to persuade him further and stormed off to her room. Nan Rentong slowly drew his sword, the blade barely visible, yet a chilling blue light shot out. As the blade was fully drawn, its gleaming light flickered, dazzling everyone's eyes. Nan Rentong said, "This sword of mine has a name, it's called the 'Cold Moon Treasure Sword.' Take a good look." The tinker leaned closer, noticing the crescent moon shape inlaid with gold and silver thread on the hilt, and said, "Sir, your sword is excellent; there's no need for a comparison." Miao Renfeng, seeing the crowd's provocative words and Nan Rentong's discovery of the sword, understood immediately. These people had all come for this sword. Martial artists wield their swords with the same sharpness as their own lives; possessing a powerful weapon was equivalent to multiplying their martial arts skills. It was no wonder everyone coveted his sword. However, he was a civil official, so where did he get the knife from? And how did these people know? Miao Renfeng had initially been wary of these people plotting against him, remaining highly cautious. Now that he knew they wanted the precious knife, he was taken aback and instantly went from being a participant to an observer. As soon as the knife was drawn, "Brother Tiaohou," the innkeeper, the porter, the coachman, and the tinsmith all gathered around. Miao Renfeng knew that all five wanted the knife, but because of the others' superior martial arts skills, they dared not act rashly. Otherwise, given Nan Rentong's lack of strength, the knife would have been snatched long ago, and he wouldn't have had it until today. Nan Rentong hated the tinsmith's frivolous words and wanted to have a duel, but seeing the knife's unparalleled sharpness, he knew it was no ordinary weapon. If they fought to the death, wouldn't that damage the precious knife? So he said, "It's good that you know now. Will you dare to talk nonsense again next time?" Just as he was about to return the knife to its sheath, "Brother Tiaohou" suddenly reached out and snatched the knife away, slicing it open... With a soft clang, the blade clashed with the tinker's. The tinker's blade snapped in two, followed by another clang as the blade fell to the ground. The tinker, the porter, the coachman, and the innkeeper surrounded "Brother Tiaohou," ready to attack. Although "Brother Tiaohou" possessed the precious sword, he was outnumbered and quickly returned it to Nan Rentong, giving him a thumbs-up and exclaiming, "A fine sword, a fine sword!" Nan Rentong's face changed color, and he scolded, "Ahem, you were too reckless!" Seeing that the sword was unharmed, he happily sheathed it and went back to his room to sleep. Miao Renfeng knew that the five men had provoked Nan Rentong to take the sword to test its authenticity, and that a bloody fight would break out among them within a day. Although he was chivalrous, he saw that Nan Rentong was domineering and not a good person. He suspected that the sword had been obtained through trickery and force, so he decided to go to the grave to pay his respects and not concern himself with how they had stolen the sword. The next morning, they rose very early and found Nan Rentong already on his way. The tinker and the others were no longer in the shop, and even the shopkeeper had left. Upon asking, they learned that the man was indeed the unwelcome guest who had arrived the previous evening. He had given them ten taels of silver to disguise himself as the shopkeeper. Miao Renfeng sighed inwardly, "As the saying goes, 'Hidden pirates hide,' and it's absolutely true." After settling the bill, they mounted their horses and rode off. After galloping for about twenty li, they suddenly heard a woman's voice screaming in the western valley: "Help! Help!" It was Miss Nan's voice. Miao Renfeng thought, "These villains have taken the knife and want to kill me; we can't ignore this." He leaped off his horse, used his lightness skill to follow the sound, and after turning two corners, he saw a crimson stain on the snow. Nan Rentong lay dead, head and body severed. The "Cold Moon Sword" lay beside him, and none of the five dared to reach for it. Miss Nan, however, had her hands held by the tinker, unable to struggle. Miao Renfeng hid behind a large rock, observing the situation. He heard "Brother Tiaohou" say, "There's only one precious sword, but five people want it. What should we do?" The porter replied, "Let's decide based on skill. The winner gets the sword; it's a fair trade." "Brother Tiaohou" glanced at Miss Nan and said, "A precious sword and a beautiful woman are both rare treasures." The tinker said, "I won't fight for the sword; I'll take her." The shopkeeper sneered, "It's not that easy. The one with the best martial arts gets the sword, and the second gets the beauty." The porters and coachmen chimed in, "Yes, that's right!" The shopkeeper said to the tinker, "Brother, please let go. Maybe I'm the second best; this is my wife!" "Brother Tiaohou" laughed, "Exactly!" He turned and sternly said to Miss Nan, "If you dare make another sound, I'll cut you down first!" The tinker released his grip. Miss Nan lay on her father's body, sobbing uncontrollably. The coachman laughed, "Miss, don't cry. You'll have your fun soon!" He reached out to touch her face, his expression extremely lewd. Seeing this, Miao Renfeng could no longer restrain himself. He strode out from behind the rock and shouted in a low voice, "You filthy things, get out of here!" The five men were startled and shouted in unison, "Who are you?" Miao Renfeng, by nature a man of few words, waved his hand and said, "Get out of here!" The tinker, with the most volatile temper, leaped up and struck out with both palms towards his chest, shouting, "You get out of here!" Miao Renfeng swung out his left palm, meeting his force with force. With a push and a swing, the tinker flew through the air and landed several feet away, unable to get up for a long time. The other four men, seeing his incredible strength, were all horrified. After a long while, they asked in unison, "Who are you?" Miao Renfeng waved his hand again, this time without even saying "get out." The coachman took out a soft whip from his waist, and the porters lunged at him from both sides, crossing the carrying pole. Miao Renfeng knew these five men were formidable opponents, and if they attacked together, it wouldn't be easy to defeat them quickly. So, he immediately unleashed a fierce and ruthless move. He dodged the whip to the side, his right hand swiftly reaching out to grab one end of the carrying pole. With a powerful twist, the jujube wood carrying pole snapped in two with a crack. His left leg suddenly flew out, kicking the coachman half-tumble. The porter tried to retreat, but Miao Renfeng's long arm reached out and grabbed him by the back of the collar. With a loud shout, he hurled him away with all his might. The porter, like a kite with a broken string, fell several feet away, landing heavily on the snow. "Brother Diao Hou," realizing he was outmatched, said, "I admire you, I admire you. This precious sword should belong to you." As he spoke, he bent down, raised the sword, and offered it to him with both hands. Miao Renfeng said, "I don't want it, give it back to its original owner!" The "Brother Tiaohou" was taken aback, thinking, "Where in the world is there such a good person?" He looked up and saw that the man's face was as white as gold, his bearing imposing. Suddenly remembering, he said, "So you are the Golden-Faced Buddha, Hero Miao!" Miao Renfeng nodded. The "Brother Tiaohou" said, "We were blind to your greatness and have fallen into Hero Miao's hands. What else can we say?" He then handed over the precious sword, saying, "I am Jiang Tiaohou, and I am fortunate to have met such a great hero. Please, Hero Miao, do with this precious sword!" Miao Renfeng disliked being persuaded and thought he could give it to Miss Nan after taking it. He reached out and grasped the hilt. Just as he was about to lift it, he heard two soft hissing sounds and felt a slight pain in his leg. Jiang Tiaohou leaped back more than ten feet, running forward and shouting, "He's been hit by my deadly poison needle! Quickly, entangle him!" Upon hearing the words "Extinction Needle," Miao Renfeng exclaimed "Oh!" and thought to himself, "The poison needles of the Jiang family of Yunnan are renowned throughout the land; this time I've fallen for their trick." Knowing the hidden weapon was extremely poisonous, he took a deep breath, rushed forward, and caught up with Jiang Diaohou in an instant. He grabbed him, stuck a finger under his arm, and sealed his acupoints, then threw him to the ground. The porters and coachmen, already utterly defeated, were overjoyed to hear that their enemy had been poisoned. They surrounded him from a distance, not daring to approach, waiting for the poison to take effect. Miao Renfeng dared not breathe, unleashing his lightness skill, and swiftly rushed towards the porter. The porter was terrified and ran for his life. Miao Renfeng caught up behind him and struck with his right palm, instantly rupturing his internal organs. After striking, he didn't stop for a moment, instantly catching up with the coachman. The coachman brandished his soft whip for protection. He could only hope to withstand ten or eight moves before the poison took effect. Miao Renfeng, however, didn't bother with any fighting. He stretched out his large, fan-like hand, grabbed the tip of the soft whip, and with a powerful swift movement, reversed the whip, smashing the man's brains. Having killed two men, Miao Renfeng's legs were already numb. This was a life-or-death situation; there was no time to catch his breath. He saw his shopkeeper and the tinker were already dozens of feet away. Both shared the same thought: to escape as far as possible and wait for the enemy to weaken. Miao Renfeng hadn't intended to kill, but now, if he left even one alive, and he collapsed from the poison, he would be handing his life over to the culprit. He gritted his teeth, gripping the soft whip...He chased after the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper was extremely cunning, always choosing to run through muddy ditches and pits. But Miao Renfeng's lightness skill was extraordinary; in the blink of an eye, he had caught up. Seeing that escape was impossible, the shopkeeper lunged at him with a dagger. Miao Renfeng immediately turned around, kicked backward, and without even looking, immediately gathered his strength to chase after the tinker. This kick struck the shopkeeper squarely in the heart, causing him to spit out blood and die on his back. Although the tinker's martial arts were not particularly strong, the lightness skill passed down by the Ghost Hammer family of northern Hubei was unparalleled in the martial arts world. As Miao Renfeng chased after him, the poison took effect even faster, and his steps became unsteady, unable to catch up. Seeing him stagger, the tinker was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "Thank God, I've obtained a precious sword and a beautiful woman with ease." Before his thoughts were settled, he suddenly heard a whooshing sound in mid-air, and a dark thing came flying across the sky. Before he could dodge, it was too late. Knowing he couldn't catch him, Miao Renfeng mustered his strength and hurled his soft whip. The steel-cast whip struck the tinker from face to abdomen, instantly killing him on the snowy ground. Miao Renfeng, too, collapsed. Miss Nan, lying on her father's body, was stunned by the harrowing battle. Seeing Miao Renfeng fall, she rushed to help, but he was too strong for her. Miao Renfeng, though still conscious, was numb in the lower half of his body. He pointed at Jiang Diaohou and said, "Search around him and get the antidote for me." Miss Nan searched and found a small porcelain bottle. She asked Miao Renfeng, "Is this it?" Miao Renfeng, dazed and confused, replied, "Whether it is or not, take it...take it first." Miss Nan uncorked the bottle, poured half a bottle of yellow powder into her left palm, and fed it to Miao Renfeng. Miao Renfeng swallowed hard and said, "Kill him quickly!" Miss Nan was shocked and said, "I...I dare not...kill someone." Miao Renfeng said sternly, "He is your father's killer." Miss Nan still said, "I...I dare not..." Miao Renfeng said, "In a few hours, his pressure points will release on their own. I am seriously injured...then we will both die without a burial place." Miss Nan picked up the precious sword with both hands, drew it from its sheath, and saw the pleading look in Jiang Diaohou's eyes. She had never dared to kill chickens or fish since she was a child, so how could she bring herself to cut him with this sword? Miao Renfeng shouted, "If you don't kill him, you'll kill me!" Miss Nan was shocked, her body trembled, and the precious sword slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. This sword could cut through gold and jade, and the blade was aimed directly at Jiang Diaohou's head. Miss Nan and Jiang Diaohou screamed at the same time. One fainted and fell onto Miao Renfeng, while the other's head was split open by the precious sword. As Miao Renfeng thought of this, a sudden whimper woke him in his arms, and he cried, "Daddy, where's Mommy? I want Mommy!" Before Miao Renfeng could answer, the girl turned her head and saw the beautiful woman by the fire. She opened her arms and shouted, "Mommy, Mommy, Lanlan is looking for you!" Overjoyed, she wanted the beautiful woman to hold her. The people around were all astonished to hear the girl first call Miao Renfeng "Daddy" and then the beautiful woman "Mommy." They thought that this beautiful woman was clearly Tian Guinong's wife, so how could she be the mother of Miao Renfeng's daughter? The girl's two cries of "Mommy" intensified the tense atmosphere in the hall. Dozens of adults all looked serious, but only one child was overjoyed. The beautiful woman stood up, walked to Miao Renfeng's side, and took the child. The girl smiled and said, "Mommy, Lanlan is looking for you. You're home." The beautiful woman hugged her tightly, and their beautiful faces nestled together. The tears that the girl had shed in her dream had not yet dried, and now her cheeks were stained with her mother's tears. The one-armed, grotesque man with a scarred face had been huddled in a corner of the hall, observing everyone. Suddenly, he rose quietly, walked to the bandit leader Yan Ji, and whispered a few words in his ear. Yan Ji's expression changed drastically, and he abruptly stood up. He glanced at Miao Renfeng, his face filled with fear, and slowly reached into his robes, taking out a small oiled paper package. The one-armed man snatched it away, opened it, and saw two yellowed pieces of paper inside. He nodded, wrapped it up, put it back in his robes, and returned to his seat in the corner of the hall. The beautiful woman wiped away her tears with her sleeve, suddenly kissed the girl deeply on the cheek, her eyes reddening, and she was about to cry again, but she forced herself to hold back. She abruptly stood up and handed the girl back to Miao Renfeng. The girl cried out, "Mommy, Mommy, hug Lanlan!" The beautiful woman, with her back to her, seemed frozen, and never turned around. Miao Renfeng waited patiently, waiting for the beautiful woman to answer, waiting for her to turn around and glance at his daughter again… In Miao Renfeng's heart, he already wanted to pull someone over, trample them underfoot, and kill them with a single blow, but he knew someone would risk their life to stop him. His martial arts skills were unmatched, but his heart was fragile, simply because he deeply loved the beautiful woman before him. He heard his daughter crying, "Mommy, Mommy, hug Lanlan!" His daughter struggled in his arms, wanting to go to her mother. He waited patiently, waiting for the beautiful woman to answer, waiting for her to turn around and glance at his daughter again… Was the beautiful woman deaf, or was her heart as hard as iron? The little girl pleaded repeatedly, "Mommy, hug Lanlan!" But the mother didn't move at all, her back didn't tremble, and even her clothes didn't sway. Miao Renfeng's blood was boiling; his heart was breaking from his daughter's cries. The events of three years ago, in the snowy fields of Cangzhou, flooded his mind again: six corpses lay scattered in the snow, and Miao Renfeng had been struck in the leg by two deadly needles from Jiang Tiaohou, leaving his lower body paralyzed and unable to move. Miss Nan slowly awoke, finding herself in Miao Renfeng's arms. She hurriedly stood up, but her legs gave way, and she collapsed back onto the snow. She was utterly terrified, unable to even cry out. Miao Renfeng said, "Bring that horse over." His voice was stern, and Miss Nan had no choice but to obey. She led the horse to Miao Renfeng's side, reached out her soft hand, and grasped his large, fan-like palm, trying to help him up. Miao Renfeng said, "Get away!" He thought to himself, "How can you lift me?" His legs were already too weak to move, so he lifted his upper body, reached out his right hand to grasp the horse's saddle, and with a slight exertion of strength, flipped himself onto the horse's back, saying, "Take that knife!" Miss Nan, looking utterly distraught, raised the precious knife. Miao Renfeng gently pulled her onto the horse's back with his left hand around her waist. The two rode side by side, slowly returning to the small inn. Miao Renfeng had mustered all his strength to avoid fainting on the horse, but as soon as they reached the inn, he could no longer support himself and fell to the snow. Two waiters rushed out and helped him inside. Miao Renfeng rolled up his trousers and pulled out the two poisoned needles. He asked the waiters to suck the poison from his legs, and although he offered a generous reward, the waiters remained hesitant and fearful. Miss Nan pressed her soft lips to his leg and sucked out the poison, mouthful by mouthful. She knew very well that with this skin-to-skin contact, she was his. Whether he was a master thief or a notorious robber, there was no other way; she had decided to follow him. Miao Renfeng also knew that after inhaling those few mouthfuls of poisoned blood, his carefree days of roaming the martial world would be over. He had to protect this woman for life. The joys and sorrows of this young lady would henceforth be his joys and sorrows. He took Jiang Tiaohou's antidote in time, and his life was saved, but the deadly poison needle was no ordinary matter; without treatment for ten days to half a month, he would be unable to use his legs. He took out silver and ordered the waiter to prepare a burial for Miss Nan's father, as well as the five wealthy men who had tried to steal the precious sword. Miss Nan shared a room with him, serving him and keeping him company. After this harrowing ordeal, whenever Miss Nan closed her eyes, she would see the tragedy in the snow, see her father killed by the thieves, see the precious sword in her hand fall and kill someone. She often woke up crying from her dreams. Miao Renfeng was a man of few words and never uttered a word of comfort. But whenever Miss Nan saw his calm and composed expression and his sympathetic gaze, she was no longer afraid. She told him that her father, Nan Rentong, was an official in Jiangnan who had captured a notorious bandit and obtained the "Cold Moon Sword." Soon after, Nan Rentong was transferred to a position in the capital, and he intended to present the sword to the authorities, hoping for a meteoric rise to power. However, he ended up losing his life because of it. Miao Renfeng asked for the bandit's name, but Miss Nan couldn't recall it. She only knew that the bandit had died of illness in prison. He thought: "I wonder which hero was killed so inexplicably. Those five thieves who stole the sword must have recognized the bandit and knew he possessed a precious sword, which is why they followed him." On the fifth night, Miss Nan brought Miao Renfeng a bowl of medicine. Just as he was about to take it, he heard a few rustling sounds outside the window. Without showing any emotion, he took the bowl of medicine and slowly drank it. He knew someone was spying outside the window, but intimidated by his reputation, he dared not act rashly. He secretly calculated, "This is most likely reinforcements from the five who stole the knife. In five or six days, they will be no threat. However, my legs have been weak and sore these past few days. If a strong enemy arrives, it will be difficult to deal with." Suddenly, a thud was heard, a flash of white light, and a dagger was thrown in through the window, embedding itself in the table and trembling slightly. A piece of white paper was attached to the dagger. Miss Nan cried out in surprise and rushed to his side. Miao Renfeng, lying on the kang (heated brick bed), couldn't reach the dagger. He sneered, slapped the edge of the table with his left palm, and the dagger, which had been embedded several inches into the tabletop, bounced up a foot or so and fell beside his hand. Someone outside the window praised, "The Golden-Faced Buddha lives up to his name; he is indeed formidable!" Light footsteps sounded, and two people leaped over the wall and went outside. Then the sound of horses' hooves rang out, and the two riders rode away into the distance. Miao Renfeng picked up a piece of white paper and saw a line written on it: "Ebei Chui Zhaowen, Chui Zhaoying, and Chui Zhaoneng bow a hundred times." Miss Nan saw his blank expression, unsure whether it was worry or anger, and asked, "Have the enemy come looking for us?" Miao Renfeng nodded. Miss Nan said, "You slammed your hand on the table like that, and they ran away, didn't they?" Miao Renfeng shook his head and said, "They came to deliver a message." Miss Nan said, "With your great abilities, they must be afraid."Miao Renfeng remained silent, thinking, "Since the three Ghost-Scaring Hammer brothers of Northern Hubei have come looking for us, we shouldn't be afraid." Miss Nan said this, but she herself was worried. After a long while, she softly said, "Brother, let's ride away now. They won't find us." Miao Renfeng shook his head, remaining silent. How could the invincible Golden-Faced Buddha Miao Renfeng flee from his enemies? Even if he temporarily endured humiliation and hid for Miss Nan's sake, how could he let the Ghost-Scaring Hammer brothers escape? Miss Nan wouldn't understand these things. He never liked to talk much, and besides, why should he explain these things to her? That night, Miss Nan tossed and turned, unable to sleep soundly. She was wholeheartedly caring for this rough-and-tumble countryman, but Miao Renfeng slept soundly. However, he had a dream—a bridal sedan chair, a band of musicians, and a bride with a red veil on her head. It was a long, long time ago... He had seen it long ago in his childhood, something he had long forgotten, yet now he suddenly dreamt of it. When he awoke, he seemed to faintly hear the sound of drums and music from his dream. The dim, flickering candlelight shone on the face of Miss Nan on the bed beside him, a face as soft and beautiful as a hibiscus flower. But this flower was no longer smiling. Even in her sleep, she felt fear and pain. Her face was illuminated by candlelight, but cast even more shadows. The next morning, Miao Renfeng ordered the waiter to make him a large bowl of noodles, then pulled up a chair and sat in the hall, his Cold Moon Sword beside him. He never liked to plan ahead, because predictions were rarely accurate; he preferred to improvise. Seeing his expression, Miss Nan was terrified. She asked him a few questions, but Miao Renfeng didn't answer, so she dared not ask any more. At dawn, the sound of hooves rang out, and three horses stopped in front of the inn. Three guests entered. The people in the inn were startled by the three men's attire. All three were dressed in coarse white linen clothes, white hats, and white shoes, with frayed edges—the attire of mourners who had recently lost their parents. However, their mourning clothes were worn and worn, seemingly confirming the mourning attire, yet not quite. Miao Renfeng knew that the Ghostly Zhong Clan of northern Hubei dominated Jingzhou and Xiangyang, possessing truly unique martial arts skills. The tinker was a disciple of the Hammer Clan, whose martial arts were already... Not to be underestimated, the arrival of the three Hammer brothers in person made this matter truly troublesome. The three men all had similar appearances: pale faces, flat, large noses, and upturned nostrils. Their ages could be discerned only by their beards; the one with the grayish-white mustache was the eldest, Zhong Zhaowen; the one with the black mustache was the second, Zhong Zhaoying; and the one without a beard was the youngest, Zhong Zhaoneng. They entered with light, almost floating steps, as if their feet barely touched the ground—truly formidable enemies had arrived. Throughout his life, the stronger the enemy, the more invigorated Miao Renfeng became. Seeing the extraordinary presence of these three, his bones trembled slightly. The three Zhong brothers stepped forward and bowed simultaneously, saying in unison, "Greetings, Master Miao." Miao Renfeng returned the bow, saying, "Greetings, Master Miao. I apologize for my leg injury; I cannot stand." Zhong Zhaowen said, "Master Miao, your leg injury is inconvenient, and I shouldn't have disturbed you. However, the grudge of killing my disciple cannot go unavenged. Please forgive me, Master Miao." "Your family, your family," he said in a thick Hubei accent. Miao Renfeng nodded but didn't reply. Zhong Zhaowen said, "Master Miao is renowned throughout the world. We three brothers are no match for your family in a one-on-one fight. Second brother, third brother, let's all go together!" Zhong Zhaoying and Zhong Zhaoneng responded in strange voices and shouted, "Eldest brother, let's all go together!" "These three brothers were renowned figures in the martial arts world. Although they spoke strangely and looked odd, they held a high position in the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), were prudent in their actions, and possessed strong martial arts skills. Therefore, they had already established a great empire in the Hunan and Hubei regions. As soon as the three brothers made their strange noises, clanging and banging incessantly, each of them took out a pair of judge's pens from their sides. The guests in the inn, seeing the arrival of these three, knew something was wrong. When they saw the weapons drawn, everyone scattered, and the hall was instantly empty. Miss Nan, concerned for Miao Renfeng's safety, remained in a corner of the hall. Miao Renfeng was greatly pleased to see that this delicate and weak woman had such courage. Just because Miss Nan stood in the corner of the hall, Miao Renfeng was willing to die for her and fell deeply in love with her. He smiled slightly at her and drew his Cold Moon Sword. The Zhong brothers, seeing the sword flashing with a blue light and exuding a chilling aura, exclaimed in unison, 'What a fine sword!'" "The three brothers cried out in unison. Zhong Zhaowen pointed his two pens straight at his chest, Zhaoying attacked from the left, and Zhaoneng attacked from the right. Miao Renfeng sat upright in his chair, his sword motionless, the tips of his six iron judge's pens just touching him when he suddenly swung his sword, whistling through the air, and slashed at each of the three men. The three Zhong brothers were indeed highly skilled; seeing the strangeness of his sword strike, they each moved swiftly and dodged. They only knew that the Miao family's swordsmanship was unparalleled, but they did not expect his swordsmanship to be so exquisite. Miao Renfeng was using the Hu family swordsmanship taught by Hu Yidao, which was mysterious and agile, but its only disadvantage was that his body could not move, making it difficult to follow up with a single strike." The four men immediately engaged in combat, their swords flashing and pens clashing in the hall, instantly creating a fierce and dangerous battle. The three Zhong brothers possessed exceptional lightness skills, attacking and defending simultaneously, their six judge's pens appearing as twelve in a row. Miao Renfeng used his swordsmanship, attacking, defending, and slashing, never falling behind. He knew that today's fight required a decisive blow, severely injuring the three brothers, otherwise his own and Miss Nan's lives would be in danger. However, he knew that the three Zhong brothers were law-abiding citizens with no history of wrongdoing and a good reputation in the martial arts world, so he didn't need to take their lives. He saw that the brothers' attacks were becoming increasingly intense, each strike targeting his vital points; if he relaxed even slightly, not only... His lifelong reputation was ruined, and even the beautiful and gentle Miss Nan had fallen into the enemy's hands and suffered. Thinking of this, he intensified his attacks, slashing and hacking with all his might. The three brothers, fearing his strength and the sharpness of his blade, dared not let their weapons touch his precious sword, and the circle of attack gradually widened. Seeing that victory was impossible, Zhong Zhaoying suddenly let out a strange cry, his body lunging sideways, rolling on the ground, and attacking Miao Renfeng from behind, striking his lower body. This move was extremely dangerous and vicious. Miao Renfeng was sitting in a chair and couldn't move; how could he defend himself against an attack on the chair leg from behind? Zhong Zhaoying launched several attacks in quick succession, and with a horizontal slam, snapped one of the chair legs with a crack. The chair shifted to one side, and Miao Renfeng's body followed... The sword tilted. Miss Nan cried out in alarm. Miao Renfeng's left hand suddenly shot out, grabbing at Zhong Zhaoying's face. Zhong Zhaoying was shocked and hurriedly rolled away to avoid it. There were two clangs, and one of the judge's pens in his and Zhong Zhaoneng's hands was severed by the precious sword. Zhong Zhaowen felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, but had been cut by the blade. Miao Renfeng attacked three enemies at the same time with one strike. This move was called "Three Appearances of the Cloud Dragon," a wonderful move in the Hu family's sword technique. The three Zhong brothers used their lightness skills to leap away. They looked at each other, their faces filled with shock. Zhong Zhaoying said, "Eldest brother, you're injured." Zhong Zhaowen said, "It's nothing." Seeing Miao Renfeng's chair tilting precariously, he thought this was a golden opportunity, unlikely to come again. However, he was wary of Miao's sharp sword and exquisite swordsmanship. So he clasped his hands and said, "In terms of weaponry, my three brothers and I are no match. We'd like to experience your family's fist and palm techniques." These words sounded noble, but they were malicious, intended to make their enemy abandon his strengths. The three of them had come to take advantage of Miao's vulnerability; it was a desperate act of revenge, not a contest of martial arts. Miao Renfeng could have easily ignored these words, but being skilled and bold, he gave a cold laugh, sheathed his sword, nodded, and said, "Very well!" The three brothers dropped their judge's pens and leaped forward, attacking. Every step they took was a leap, not a single step. Miao Renfeng's palm techniques were incredibly powerful; once unleashed, the three brothers couldn't get within eight feet of him. It was only because of the Zhong family's exceptional martial arts skills that they survived; otherwise, a single blow from his palm would have been enough to seriously injure them. Zhong Zhaoying, the most quick-witted, saw that one of Miao Renfeng's chair legs was broken, making it difficult for him to sit steadily. He thought of using the same method, breaking another chair leg to force Miao Renfeng to fall. He immediately used the Earth Party Fist technique, rolling behind Miao Renfeng's chair and suddenly sweeping his right leg horizontally. With a crack, he broke another chair leg. The chair, already tilted, now plummeted backward. Miao Renfeng reached out and pressed down on the back of the chair, leaping into the air. Enraged by Zhong Zhaoying's cunning, he swooped down on him from mid-air like a hawk. Zhong Zhaoying was terrified and cried out, "Eldest brother! Third brother!" "Zhaowen and Zhaoneng rushed to the rescue. Miao Renfeng struck with both palms, his left hand hitting Zhong Zhaowen's shoulder and his right hand striking Zhong Zhaoneng's chest. Unable to withstand the blows, they both fell backward. Zhong Zhaoying seized the opportunity to tumble out of the hall, only to find Miao Renfeng already on the ground. Seeing his incredible strength, the three brothers dared not enter to fight him. Zhong Zhaoying noticed a pile of hay for donkeys and horses beside the shop entrance, and on a whim, he took out a tinderbox, lit it, and set it alight on the hay. The dry straw immediately caught fire, spreading with the wind towards the shop. The innkeeper and merchants, seeing the flames, panicked and rushed out. The three brothers, holding their judge's pens, stood guard at the door, shouting, 'Whoever saves that guest with the broken leg, I'll smash his head open!'" "Everyone was too busy fleeing for their lives to spare, so who would dare to rescue anyone?" Miao Renfeng saw the wind fanning the flames, thick smoke and flames billowing into the hall. Unable to walk, and with the enemy guarding the door, he thought to himself, "Could it be that I, a hero of my generation, am going to be burned alive here today?" In the blink of an eye, he saw that Miss Nan had escaped with the others, and he felt a little relieved. In the firelight, he saw a bundle of thick rope in the corner of the room and cried out, "Heaven have mercy!" He crawled over, untied the rope, and wrapped it around his arm about ten times. Seeing the smoke and flames surrounding the door, the Zhong brothers knew that the invincible Miao Renfeng was doomed to perish in the fire. Overjoyed, they exchanged smiles. Miss Nan, who had rushed out of the shop in the moment of crisis, now remembered that Miao Renfeng was still inside, wounded and dead while saving her. She was overcome with grief, tears welling in her eyes. Just as she was about to burst into tears, a loud shout came from inside the shop, and a rope shot out from the flames, one end already wrapped around the trunk of the large ginkgo tree outside the door. Then, with a swing of the rope, Miao Renfeng's tall, thin body flew out. Everyone saw him suddenly fly...The general descended from the sky, terrifying everyone. Miao Renfeng, gripping the rope with his left hand, lunged at the three Zhong brothers from mid-air. The three Zhong brothers were terrified, their will to fight gone, and immediately fled. Although their lightness skills were superb, they were no match for Miao Renfeng's swift swinging motion. He extended his large, fan-like palm, throwing and grabbing repeatedly, sending all three brothers flying into the flames. Fortunately, all three were skilled in martial arts, and once inside the fire, they hurriedly escaped, but their beards and eyebrows were singed, leaving them in a sorry state. At this point, the three brothers dared not linger, abandoning their horses and galloping south. Miao Renfeng's hearty, cheerful laughter echoed from behind them. Miao Renfeng recalled his fierce battle against the three Zhong brothers, known as "Ghost-Slaying Heroes," and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. However, it was a smile amidst sorrow, a fleeting joy amidst grief. Then he thought of the time after his leg injury healed, when he would marry Miss Nan. This wife, whom he loved deeply and cherished so dearly, was the beautiful woman before him. She was only five feet away, yet those five feet felt farther than five thousand or fifty thousand miles. He thought of the joyous days after their marriage, when he took his Lan (Miss Nan's name was Nan Lan) to pay respects at the graves of Hu Yidao and his wife. He sealed the Cold Moon Sword in the grave soil, thinking: No one in the world but Hu Yidao was worthy of wielding this sword. Since he was no longer alive, the sword should accompany him. So, at Hu Yidao's grave, he told his wife about the duel and the accidental injury. He was never one to talk much, but that day he spoke at length. This matter had been weighing on his heart for ten years, and only today did he finally let it out in front of his closest person. He prepared a great deal of food and wine to commemorate Hu Yidao, filling the table, just as Mrs. Hu had prepared for their duel. So he drank quite a bit, as if his only confidant had been resurrected, and they talked and drank merrily together. The more he drank, the more he talked. He spoke of his admiration and reverence for this great hero of Liaodong, of the capriciousness of fate, the impermanence of life, and of Madam Hu's love for her husband. He said, "A woman like that, if her husband is in fire, she will be in fire too; if her husband is in water, she will be in water too..." Suddenly, he saw his bride's face change, and she covered her face and ran away. He chased after her, wanting to explain, but he was drunk and couldn't speak. Besides, he clearly remembered the scene of the Zhong brothers' fire attack at the inn... He was in the fire, while she had escaped alone. ...Throughout his life, he was generous and chivalrous, never concerned with trivial matters, yet this was the woman he loved with his life and death... In his mind, he always felt that Nan Lan should escape. She was a woman, knew no martial arts, and would naturally be afraid of thick smoke and flames. She wasn't his wife then; what good would it do her to die with him...? But deep down, he longed for a beloved person to be by his side in times of danger, hoping she wouldn't abandon him and run away first... He always envied Hu Yidao, thinking that he had a wife who truly loved him, while he didn't. Although Hu Yidao died young, he lived a happier life than he did. So, drunk, at Hu Yidao's grave, he unintentionally uttered a wrong sentence, or rather, unintentionally revealed his true feelings. This sentence created an irreparable rift between husband and wife. Although Miao Renfeng always loved his wife deeply and sincerely, he never mentioned this incident again, not even Hu Yidao's name, and Nan Lan naturally never mentioned it either. Later, their daughter Ruolan was born, as beautiful and delicate as her mother. The couple's feelings deepened. However, he was a chivalrous hero from a poor family, while his wife was the daughter of an official. He was naturally taciturn and always had a stern face, while his wife needed gentle care and humble comfort. She wanted a man who was refined and cultured, who understood women's whims, who could joke and flirt… Miao Renfeng possessed unparalleled martial arts skills, yet his wife lacked all of them. If Miss Nan knew martial arts, perhaps she would admire her husband's abilities and understand why he was such a remarkable and outstanding man. But she utterly despised martial arts, even hating it from the bottom of her heart. This was because her father was killed by a martial artist, all because of a knife; and because she married a man who ignored her feelings, all because this man saved her with his martial arts. There was a brief period in her life when she felt a slight interest in martial arts, when one of her husband's friends came to visit. That was the handsome and dashing Tian Guiyi. Every word he uttered was charming, every glance soft and alluring, making one's heart flutter at the mere thought of him. But strangely, her husband didn't seem to think much of this Mr. Tian, treating him with indifference. Thus, the task of entertaining the guest fell to her. On their first night together, she lay in bed, her eyes wide open, gazing out the dark window, secretly heartbroken: why wasn't it this charming and dashing Mr. Tian who saved her that day, but instead this wooden-like husband sleeping beside her? A few days later, Tian Guiyi discussed martial arts with her, discovering she knew nothing about it, so he taught her a few moves. She learned with great enthusiasm, though she still didn't like martial arts; only because he taught her did she learn with great interest. Finally, one day, she said to him, "Your name and my husband's name should be switched. He should be a farmer, and you would truly be a phoenix among men." Whether he had intended it all along or was simply affected by the irony of her words, on a passionate night, guests insulted the host, the wife insulted the husband, and the mother insulted the daughter. At that time, Miao Renfeng was practicing swordsmanship under the moon, and their daughter, Miao Ruolan, was sleeping sweetly. The golden phoenix hairpin in Nanlan's hair fell to the floor in front of the bed. Tian Guinong picked it up for her and gently placed it in her hair. The head of the phoenix hairpin trembled slightly... And so she made up her mind. Husband, daughter, home, reputation... all gone. She wanted tender love, she wanted passion. So she ran away from home with this handsome husband. And so her husband chased after her through the storm, carrying their daughter. The daughter was crying, pleading, calling "Mama." But she had made up her mind. As long as she was with Guinong, even a few days would be enough. As long as she was with Guinong, she didn't care if her husband killed her or tortured her. She loved her daughter dearly, but this was Miao Renfeng's daughter, not the daughter she had with Tian Guinong. She heard her daughter's cries, but in the corner of her eye, she saw Tian Guinong's captivating smile, so she didn't turn around. Miao Renfeng thought: I only hope she comes home with me. I will never mention this again. I will love her even more. If she changes her mind, I want her, my daughter wants her! Madam Miao thought: Will he beat Guinong to death? He loves me very much, he won't beat me, but will he beat Guinong to death? Miao Ruolan's little heart wondered: Why doesn't Mommy pay attention to me? Why won't she hug me? Am I being naughty? Tian Guinong was also lost in thought. His thoughts were deep. He thought of the endless treasures left by the King of Chuang. Madam Miao was the key to unlocking this treasure trove. Of course, she was beautiful and charming, but more importantly, it was the King of Chuang's treasure trove. Would Miao Renfeng beat me to death? Miao Renfeng waited. The镖客 (bodyguards/escorts), 盗盗 (bandits), 守卫 (guards), the owner of Shangjiabao, the one-armed man, and the child in the hall were all waiting. There were many people in the hall, but no one spoke. Only a little girl cried, "Mommy! Mommy! Hug Lanlan!" Even the most hard-hearted person longed for her to turn around and hug her daughter. Since entering the Shang family's main hall, Miao Renfeng hadn't uttered a single word, his eyes fixed on his wife like a hawk's. Outside, a torrential downpour began, flashes of lightning followed by thunder. The rain showed no sign of stopping, nor did the thunder rumble incessantly. Finally, Mrs. Miao slightly turned her head. Miao Renfeng's heart leaped. He saw his wife smiling, her eyes filled with tender, deep affection. She was looking at Tian Guinong. Such a loving gaze—she had never looked at him before, not even during their honeymoon. This was the first time he had ever seen it. Miao Renfeng's heart sank. He gave up hope, slowly stood up, carefully and gently wrapped his daughter in an oilcloth, and placed her against his chest. He was extremely careful, for there was no father in the world so loving, so heartbroken. He strode out of the hall, without uttering a word or looking back even once, for he had already seen the deep affection in his wife's eyes. The rain lashed his strong head and broad shoulders, thunder rumbling overhead. The little girl's cries still faintly drifted in, but Miao Renfeng strode on. He carried his daughter, walking briskly through the wind and rain. They didn't go home. That home—none of them ever went back…His wife was the beautiful woman before him. She was only five feet away, yet those five feet felt farther than five thousand or fifty thousand miles. He thought of the joyous days of their honeymoon, when he and his daughter, Lan (Nan Lan's name), visited the graves of Hu Yidao and his wife. He sealed the Cold Moon Sword in the earth, thinking: No one in the world but Hu Yidao was worthy of wielding this sword. Since he was no longer alive, the sword should remain with him. So, at Hu Yidao's grave, he recounted to his wife the details of the duel and the accidental injury. He was never one for many words, but today he spoke at length. This matter had weighed heavily on his heart for ten years, and only today did he finally release it to his closest confidant. He prepared a great deal of food and wine to commemorate Hu Yidao, filling the table just as Hu's wife had prepared for their duel. He drank heavily, as if his only confidant had been resurrected, and they were drinking and talking together. The more he drank, the more he spoke. Speaking of his admiration and reverence for this great hero of Liaodong, of the capriciousness of fate and the impermanence of life, and of Madam Hu's love for her husband, he said: "A woman like this, if her husband is in fire, she will be in fire too; if her husband is in water, she will be in water too..." Suddenly, he saw his bride's face change, and she covered her face and ran away. He chased after her, wanting to explain, but he was drunk and speechless. Besides, he clearly remembered the scene of the three Zhong brothers' fire attack at the inn... He was in the fire, while she had escaped alone. ...Throughout his life, he was generous and chivalrous, never concerned with trivial matters, yet this was the woman he loved with his life and death... In his mind, he always felt that Nan Lan should escape. She was a woman, knew no martial arts, and would naturally be afraid of thick smoke and flames. She wasn't his wife then; what good would it do her to die with him...? But deep down, he longed for a beloved person to be by his side in times of danger, hoping she wouldn't abandon him and run away first... He always envied Hu Yidao, thinking that he had a wife who truly loved him, while he didn't. Although Hu Yidao died young, he lived a happier life than he did. So, drunk, at Hu Yidao's grave, he unintentionally uttered a wrong sentence, or rather, unintentionally revealed his true feelings. This sentence created an irreparable rift between husband and wife. Although Miao Renfeng always loved his wife deeply and sincerely, he never mentioned this incident again, not even Hu Yidao's name, and Nan Lan naturally never mentioned it either. Later, their daughter Ruolan was born, as beautiful and delicate as her mother. The couple's feelings deepened. However, he was a chivalrous hero from a poor family, while his wife was the daughter of an official. He was naturally taciturn and always had a stern face, while his wife needed gentle care and humble comfort. She wanted a man who was refined and cultured, who understood women's whims, who could joke and flirt… Miao Renfeng possessed unparalleled martial arts skills, yet his wife lacked all of them. If Miss Nan knew martial arts, perhaps she would admire her husband's abilities and understand why he was such a remarkable and outstanding man. But she utterly despised martial arts, even hating it from the bottom of her heart. This was because her father was killed by a martial artist, all because of a knife; and because she married a man who ignored her feelings, all because this man saved her with his martial arts. There was a brief period in her life when she felt a slight interest in martial arts, when one of her husband's friends came to visit. That was the handsome and dashing Tian Guiyi. Every word he uttered was charming, every glance soft and alluring, making one's heart flutter at the mere thought of him. But strangely, her husband didn't seem to think much of this Mr. Tian, treating him with indifference. Thus, the task of entertaining the guest fell to her. On their first night together, she lay in bed, her eyes wide open, gazing out the dark window, secretly heartbroken: why wasn't it this charming and dashing Mr. Tian who saved her that day, but instead this wooden-like husband sleeping beside her? A few days later, Tian Guiyi discussed martial arts with her, discovering she knew nothing about it, so he taught her a few moves. She learned with great enthusiasm, though she still didn't like martial arts; only because he taught her did she learn with great interest. Finally, one day, she said to him, "Your name and my husband's name should be switched. He should be a farmer, and you would truly be a phoenix among men." Whether he had intended it all along or was simply affected by the irony of her words, on a passionate night, guests insulted the host, the wife insulted the husband, and the mother insulted the daughter. At that time, Miao Renfeng was practicing swordsmanship under the moon, and their daughter, Miao Ruolan, was sleeping sweetly. The golden phoenix hairpin in Nanlan's hair fell to the floor in front of the bed. Tian Guinong picked it up for her and gently placed it in her hair. The head of the phoenix hairpin trembled slightly... And so she made up her mind. Husband, daughter, home, reputation... all gone. She wanted tender love, she wanted passion. So she ran away from home with this handsome husband. And so her husband chased after her through the storm, carrying their daughter. The daughter was crying, pleading, calling "Mama." But she had made up her mind. As long as she was with Guinong, even a few days would be enough. As long as she was with Guinong, she didn't care if her husband killed her or tortured her. She loved her daughter dearly, but this was Miao Renfeng's daughter, not the daughter she had with Tian Guinong. She heard her daughter's cries, but in the corner of her eye, she saw Tian Guinong's captivating smile, so she didn't turn around. Miao Renfeng thought: I only hope she comes home with me. I will never mention this again. I will love her even more. If she changes her mind, I want her, my daughter wants her! Madam Miao thought: Will he beat Guinong to death? He loves me very much, he won't beat me, but will he beat Guinong to death? Miao Ruolan's little heart wondered: Why doesn't Mommy pay attention to me? Why won't she hug me? Am I being naughty? Tian Guinong was also lost in thought. His thoughts were deep. He thought of the endless treasures left by the King of Chuang. Madam Miao was the key to unlocking this treasure trove. Of course, she was beautiful and charming, but more importantly, it was the King of Chuang's treasure trove. Would Miao Renfeng beat me to death? Miao Renfeng waited. The镖客 (bodyguards/escorts), 盗盗 (bandits), 守卫 (guards), the owner of Shangjiabao, the one-armed man, and the child in the hall were all waiting. There were many people in the hall, but no one spoke. Only a little girl cried, "Mommy! Mommy! Hug Lanlan!" Even the most hard-hearted person longed for her to turn around and hug her daughter. Since entering the Shang family's main hall, Miao Renfeng hadn't uttered a

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The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain, Chapter Two: The Precious Sword and Tender Feelings

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