Ten Scenes Satin

Ten Scenes of Silk (Part 1)

The vast wilderness stretches out, the setting sun hangs alone over the western mountains, and a patch of yellowish-green dry grass ripples in the wind.
The open fields of northern Shaanxi remain as peaceful as ever. A middle-aged man strolls among the grass, three children following behind, chatting and laughing without pause.
The man paces back and forth, stopping under a withered tree, and suddenly says, "Yuan'er, pick up a branch and practice a few sword moves with your senior brother." The three children, knowing it's practice time again, immediately respond. Two boys, around ten years old, reply in unison, "Yes!" The
younger boy picks up a long branch, his left hand forming a sword gesture, his technique surprisingly precise. The other boy steps forward and exhales. The two boys, having established their stances, immediately begin sparring. The remaining child, a little girl of eight or nine, skipped and hopped to the man, blinked, and said, "Dad, is Brother Wen's technique the Compass Sword? It's really not very interesting." The man patted the little girl's head and smiled, "Xuan'er, don't talk nonsense. Be good and watch your senior brothers' moves carefully."
The boy holding the branch thrust and parried with very little force, yet his position was very stable. The other boy, with his left palm and right fist, had much greater strength, striking upwards and downwards, his fist and palm suddenly switching, changing opening and closing, showing extremely high skill. After
watching about ten moves, the man said, "Good, stop!"
The two boys finished their moves and ran to the man's side. The man took the branch and said, "Yuan'er, your move to stab the left shoulder just now wasn't executed well. You should have turned the sword like this and stabbed like this... Yang'er, if you had aimed for the abdomen instead, your junior brother would have lost..."
The little boy listened attentively to his master's instructions, while the little girl sat on the grass, looking up at her father as he talked and demonstrated, seemingly finding it quite interesting. Until the sun had set and the moon was high in the sky, the four of them slowly left the grassland.
Thus, day after day, moon after moon, countless hours had passed, and only three people remained on the grassland. The two little boys had grown into spirited young men, and the girl behind them had blossomed into a beautiful young woman.
The three stopped under a tree standing alone in the wilderness. It was early summer, and the grass and trees were lush and verdant, no longer a withered tree. Beneath the tree was a solid stone, simply engraved with the five characters "Tomb of Hua Xuanqing."
The young girl bowed to the stone tomb and said, "Father, we've come to see you again." She then untied a bag of rice wine and poured it all onto the stone. This girl was Hua Xuan, the only daughter of the person buried beneath the tomb. In the swaying shadows of the leaves, her features were exquisite, her figure graceful and elegant—truly a beautiful young woman.
The two young men were Hua Xuanqing's disciples. The elder brother, Xiang Yang, was twenty years old, with striking eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a heroic air. The younger brother, Wen Yuan, was only seventeen, two years older than Hua Xuan, with a gentle and handsome appearance, elegant and refined, resembling a scholar and showing no signs of martial arts training.
Wen Yuan bowed to the tomb and said, "Master, my fellow disciples, senior brothers, and junior sisters are about to set off today to use our master's skills to right wrongs. Please bless us, Master." Xiang Yang patted Wen Yuan on the shoulder and laughed, "Alright, alright, with your current skills, you don't need Master's blessing." He added, "We are all fellow disciples, each with our own strengths. However, what will become of us three figures in the martial arts world in the future? Nobody knows. Every year on this day, we will return here for a gathering and see who failed to carry on Master's teachings and eliminate evil. Then we will kowtow to Master three hundred and sixty-five times!"
Hua Xuan clapped his hands and laughed, "Senior Brother Xiang, is this your idea? Don't try to back out when you're dizzy from kowtowing!" Xiang Yang laughed heartily. Wen Yuan smiled and said, "Senior Brother's skills are the most impressive; it seems I'll be the one to kowtow to you." Xiang Yang laughed and said, "Nonsense, let's get going!"
The three left their old training ground and parted ways under the setting sun. This time, they entered the martial world, their future uncertain; they would meet again in a year!
Xiang Yang bid farewell to his junior brothers and sisters and headed east. He was naturally free-spirited and unconventional, and although he sometimes felt lonely, when the mood struck, he would drink, practice his fists, and intervene with his fists when he saw injustice. He had followed his master, Hua Xuanqing, the longest and had seen much. Along the way, he punched local tyrants and kicked corrupt officials, without suffering any losses. After all, his martial arts were extraordinary, and ordinary villains were no match for him.
One day, they arrived in Zhao County. The summer sun was blazing, and Xiang Yang casually found a pavilion to rest in, untied his wine pouch, and drank and enjoyed the scenery by himself. Looking north, he saw a stone arch bridge spanning the river, its design quite elegant. He immediately asked a scholar-like man beside him, "Brother, this bridge is beautifully built, what's it called again?" The scholar replied, "This is the Zhaozhou Bridge, built by Li Chun of the Sui Dynasty. Look, how well it's designed! It's thick at both ends and thin in the middle, with a gentle slope, making it convenient for carriages and horses to pass, and it doesn't obstruct boats from passing underneath. As for the stone arches at both ends, each has two arched openings. Do you know what that's called? It's called an open-shoulder arch, and the advantage of that is..."
Seeing him nodding and talking incessantly, Xiang Yang laughed heartily, "You certainly have a lot of tricks up your sleeve when it comes to building a bridge."
Without listening to him further, he stepped onto the stone bridge. The balustrades were carved with various subjects, some depicting landscapes and figures, others dragons, tigers, and mythical beasts. The balusters were also quite elaborate, with coiled dragons, bamboo joints, and double pearls. Although he didn't understand them, he knew they were exquisite works of art.
After watching for a moment, just as they were about to descend the bridge, they suddenly heard the distant sound of galloping hooves. They heard shouts from the crowd: "The bandits are coming! The Third King of White Tiger Stronghold!" Everyone on and below the bridge paled, screaming and fleeing. Xiang Yang pulled away from the bridge, grabbed the scholar who was about to escape, and asked, "What is White Tiger Stronghold? Is it a den of mountain bandits in this area?" The scholar's teeth chattered, and he stammered, "Yes...yes..."
Xiang Yang laughed, "Look how scared you are! Fine, it is. You'd better run far away!" He released him, and the scholar's legs went weak, unable to move for a moment. After a moment of stunned silence, he screamed and fled.
Xiang Yang stood in the middle of the bridge, seeing a yellow mist approaching from afar, and thought, "Good! In broad daylight, such a large group of mountain bandits have emerged from their den. Could White Tiger Stronghold really be quite powerful?" A moment later, dozens of strong horses charged towards the bridge, the sound of hooves echoing everywhere. Xiang Yang roared, "Which scoundrel is leading this? Stop right there!" His words, delivered with internal force, were clear, loud, and thunderous. The bandits shuddered and reined in their horses. Seeing only a young boy on the bridge, they began to curse, shouting, "What kind of little bastard are you, yelling like that!" "Get out of my way!" "Get off the bridge, or I'll run you over!"
Xiang Yang ignored them. Seeing a fat man with a fierce face holding a disheveled woman, he pointed at him and said, "You're the third leader of White Tiger Stronghold?"
The fat man glared at him, his left hand groping the woman's body. "What? Which gang are you from?" he asked. He was experienced and knew the young man's shout revealed considerable internal strength, but confident in his own martial arts, he didn't take him seriously, focusing instead on fondling the woman in his arms. The woman wept softly, her shoulders heaving, too afraid to utter a sound.
Xiang Yang nodded and said, "Alright, put down all the looted valuables and women, and get back to your stronghold!" The third chieftain glared at him and roared, "You brat..." Before he could finish his sentence, Xiang Yang had already leaped forward, his right palm striking out. The third chieftain casually parried, but unexpectedly, his wrist tightened. Xiang Yang transformed his palm into a claw, immediately seizing his wrist, and with a flick and a throw, a large, fat body was sent flying into the river with a "plop," while the woman was already in Xiang Yang's arms.
Xiang Yang helped the woman sit against the bridge railing and laughed, "Don't be alarmed, young lady!" The woman seemed frightened and slumped back down. Suddenly, a "splash" was heard, and the third chieftain had jumped back onto the bank, brandishing two hammers and cursing, "Brothers, kill this little bastard!" The bandits shouted loudly, dismounted, and drew their swords to attack.
The third bandit leader wielded his copper hammers, charging straight at Xiang Yang. Xiang Yang saw this clearly, circling his hands and smoothly pulling the hammers away. The third bandit leader felt a tremendous force emanating from each hammer, and in his surprise, the hammers collided with a loud "clang!" The impact sent numbness through his arms, causing the hammers to slip from his grasp and fall to the ground. Unexpectedly, Xiang Yang lightly tapped the ground with his right foot, deflecting the hammers and
striking the third bandit leader's feet. The leader cried out in pain, as if his bones had shattered. Xiang Yang laughed heartily, his movements fluid and unleashing a flurry of slaps, delivering over thirty blows to the third bandit leader's face.
Fortunately, his face was naturally fat, and now, whether swollen or not, it was difficult to discern his features. Xiang Yang leaped forward, his palm strikes landing squarely on the bandits, who fell to the ground without any chance to dodge. Xiang Yang searched the bandits, found their valuables, released the other captured women, and kicked steel knives and even a heavy copper hammer weighing dozens of kilograms into the river as he walked. The bandits lay on the ground, dumbfounded, when Xiang Yang suddenly shouted, "Get out of here! In less than three days, I will raze White Tiger Stronghold to the ground. Go back and report!"
The bandits dared not linger, hastily mounting their horses in chaos. Some bandits, after being struck by a blow, even lost the strength to mount their horses, and the bandits fled in disarray.
Xiang Yang saw a group of women, about twenty in number and disheveled, and asked, "Do you know how to get back to your villages?" One woman whispered, "Yes... it's Zhou Family Village up ahead." Xiang Yang distributed the valuables to the women and told them to go home. The women, having escaped the bandits' clutches, thanked Xiang Yang profusely, supported each other, and went their separate ways.
The woman captured by the third leader of the stronghold remained sitting on the bridge. Xiang Yang stepped forward to check on her and saw that she was biting her lip and trembling. Xiang Yang smiled and said, "Miss, what's wrong? Come, stand up." He extended his right hand.
The woman raised her head and looked at Xiang Yang. Only then did Xiang Yang see the woman's appearance clearly: she was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with deep-set eyes, cherry lips, a delicate nose, and a slender figure. She had been captured by bandits and was extremely tired, which made her even more pitiful. She had been huddled by the railing, but seeing the gentle look on Xiang Yang's face, she timidly stood up, but did not take his hand.
Xiang Yang asked, "Why aren't you going back with them?" The girl clutched her disheveled clothes and stammered, "I...I'm not from around here. May I ask your name, benefactor?" Xiang Yang smiled and said, "My name is Xiang Yang. May I ask your name, young lady?" The girl blushed and answered softly, "My surname is Zhao...my given name is Wan Yan." Xiang Yang
said, "Don't call me benefactor or anything like that, it sounds awkward. Where are you from, Miss Zhao? If you don't know how to get back, I can help you." Zhao Wan Yan blushed and stammered, "Well...no...I live in Luoyang. I...I can get back by myself, no need for you to trouble yourself, Young Master Xiang..." Unexpectedly, as soon as she left the railing, she felt weak all over, lost her footing, and fell into Xiang Yang's arms. Zhao Wan Yan let out a soft cry, feeling extremely embarrassed, and fainted.
Knowing she was still shaken and exhausted, Xiang Yang let her rest against a pine tree by the bridge while he sat beside her to care for her, feeling as if he were looking after his junior sister Hua Xuan when she was sick as a child.
He examined her closely and noticed that although Zhao Wanyan's clothes were disheveled and somewhat damaged, the fabric was clearly of high quality, unlike the coarse cloth of the village girls. Through the holes in her dress, she revealed translucent skin, and as the wind blew, her breasts could be vaguely seen rising and falling with her rapid breathing. Xiang Yang's heart stirred as he gazed at her beautiful face; her dark hair, though disheveled, still exuded elegance. "Could Miss Zhao be a young lady from a wealthy family?" Xiang Yang wondered to himself, but didn't dwell on it.
The sky gradually darkened. Seeing the evening breeze picking up and the air growing cooler, Xiang Yang took off his outer garment and covered Zhao Wanyan with it. Just then, Zhao Wanyan slowly woke up and saw Xiang Yang undressing. Startled, she cried out, "Ah... what are you doing?" Xiang Yang was taken aback and turned to look at Zhao Wanyan. Zhao Wanyan looked panicked, her delicate body shrinking back, her face flushed as she said, "You... why are you taking off your clothes..."
Xiang Yang chuckled, thinking, "This girl is really suspicious." Suddenly, a mischievous idea popped into his head. He coughed and said, "Because... I want to do it this way!" With that, he moved swiftly, closing in on Zhao Wanyan and pressing his hands against her small shoulders. Zhao Wanyan cried out in surprise, but her body couldn't move. She saw Xiang Yang with only a cloth shirt on his upper body, so close to her. She felt both ashamed and flustered, her clear eyes flashing with fear.
Seeing Zhao Wanyan's expression, Xiang Yang couldn't help but laugh. He withdrew his hands and instead draped his outer robe over her, immediately putting his hands behind his back. His face was extremely serious as he said, "That's how it is."
Zhao Wanyan was stunned for a moment, but then she understood. She thought to herself, "I've been asleep for so long. If he really wanted to do that to me... to me... that kind of thing, he wouldn't have waited until now..." Thinking of this, her face involuntarily flushed, and she whispered, "Aren't you... aren't you cold?" Xiang Yang said, "It's alright. We'll get to the town ahead..." "We'll buy another one then. It's quite far from Luoyang here; we should find a place to stay first."
Zhao Wanyan lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes, and whispered, "No... I'm going to the capital." Xiang Yang nodded and said, "Alright, that's much closer. Let's go!" Zhao Wanyan exclaimed softly, "Ah, you..." Xiang Yang said, "Of course I'll escort you, Miss. Wouldn't it be dangerous for you to travel alone?" Zhao Wanyan felt very shy, and her voice became even lower, "But... you... I..."
Suddenly, Xiang Yang looked up and let out a long roar, the sound reaching all directions, and the river seemed to surge with it. Zhao Wanyan was startled and said, "What's wrong?" Xiang Yang stopped and smiled, saying, "What's wrong with you now? Do you want me to open my ears to hear you speak? Speaking so softly, it's so uncomfortable!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wanyan couldn't help but chuckle and said loudly, "Okay! Then I'll... I'll..." She could only manage a few words before feeling embarrassed and lowering her voice again, appearing very shy. When Xiang Yang saw her first smile, as gentle and elegant as spring blossoms, he was momentarily captivated. He composed himself slightly before saying, "It's getting dark, let's go!"
Zhao Wanyan suddenly said, "Wait a minute..."

Xiang Yang

turned back and asked, "What is it?" Zhao Wanyan pursed her lips, hesitant to speak, and after a long pause said, "I...
we shouldn't stay at the village inn, let's stay here tonight...okay?"
Xiang Yang was greatly surprised and asked, "Why is that?" Zhao Wanyan blushed and said, "There might be some people in the village looking for me..." Xiang Yang smiled and said, "Miss Zhao, are you worried about those bandits? Don't worry, even if their numbers are ten times greater, I, Xiang, can handle them just as well."
Zhao Wanyan quickly shook her head and said, "It's not them...I...I don't want to be found by those people." ..."
Xiang Yang was surprised. Seeing Zhao Wanyan's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she didn't know how to phrase it, he said, "If you have something difficult to say, I won't ask. What's wrong with not staying at an inn? I'm just afraid you won't be comfortable sleeping in the wilderness."
Zhao Wanyan's face lit up with joy, her dimples appearing slightly. She said softly, "Thank you, Young Master Xiang." Then she blushed again and whispered, "I need to ask Young Master Xiang for another favor..." Xiang Yang smiled and said, "Please speak freely."
Zhao Wanyan's face turned completely red. She clasped her hands tightly together, turned her head down, and whispered, "Please... please look around to see if anyone is there... I... I want to... I want to take a bath in the river..." She didn't dare to raise her head at all, her fingers rubbing together, appearing both shy and uneasy.
Xiang Yang laughed heartily, channeled his inner strength, and used his lightness skill to leap across bridges and through forests. He looked around swiftly, circled back to his original spot, and said, "There are people, but only two: one is the young lady, and the other is myself. What shall we do?"
Zhao Wanyan's heart pounded, and she whispered, "Thank you, Young Master Xiang... um... you..." Xiang Yang clapped his hands and said, "That's right, I'll just take a nap behind the bridge pier, I definitely won't peek at you." Zhao Wanyan hummed in agreement, then said, "It's best... best not to sleep, in case someone comes, I... I..." Xiang Yang laughed, "Alright, I'll go stand guard." With that, he strode away, waded into the river, and stood on the other side of the bridge.
Zhao Wanyan watched his back, suddenly feeling a flush on her face, and thought to herself, "I'm afraid someone might peek, but why am I not worried about him assaulting me?"
She slowly walked to the riverbank, her mind in turmoil. Thinking of the dashing man on the other side of the bridge, while she was bathing here, she felt increasingly shy, yet unconsciously very at ease, feeling that he was cheerful and straightforward, and there was no need to be wary of him. Lost in thought, she gently removed Xiang Yang's outer robe and untied her tattered silk gown, revealing a beauty rarely seen in the world, like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis…
Xiang Yang, on the other side of the bridge pier, couldn't see what was happening in the river, but thanks to his superb inner strength, he could hear everything clearly. He heard the rustling of clothes being removed, the sound of feet stepping in the shallow water, and the splashing sounds of water being scooped up, occasionally punctuated by a soft, melodious laugh. He didn't know what lay beyond the bridge, yet his heart pounded, his head remaining firmly planted.
Xiang Yang took a deep breath, exhaled sharply, and calmed himself slightly when he suddenly heard Zhao Wanyan cry out in surprise. Startled, he thought, "Could someone have come without my noticing!" His mind raced, and he leaped forward, instantly crossing the bridge. But when he was about to shoo away the intruder, he froze.
Under the half-moon's glow, its shadow fell upon Zhao Wanyan's profile, highlighting her slender figure, graceful and elegant. Her skin, as soft and white as jade, seemed to blend seamlessly with the moonlight. The exclamation about the river? It wasn't from unauthorized intrusion, but from a golden koi leaping from the water, rising right before her. Xiang Yang reacted swiftly, witnessing the scene. This golden koi was exceptionally beautiful, yet even it couldn't match the exquisite, flawless, and ethereal beauty of Zhao Wanyan's body. With a leap, the koi's body gently glided over her shapely breasts, giving a slight bounce. Its tail created an arc of water, splashing it all over Zhao Wanyan. Already soaked, she seemed draped in fine crystals. With a splash, the koi returned to the water.
Zhao Wanyan gently touched her chest with her left hand, bent over and looked into the water. Her once disheveled long hair was now as smooth as silk, flowing freely, creating ripples on the water. The golden carp had already swum away. A smile appeared on Zhao Wanyan's face as she murmured to herself, "Such beautiful carp, this is the first time I've ever seen one..." Suddenly, she felt a figure beside her. Turning her head, she saw Xiang Yang had crossed the bridge and was staring at her in a daze.
"Ah!" Zhao Wanyan was both surprised and embarrassed. She covered her chest with her hands and quickly hid in the water, only her head remaining above the surface.
Xiang Yang snapped out of his daze and cried out, "I'm so sorry!" He quickly climbed back behind the bridge, catching his breath. He was still lost in his own world, the beautiful scene from just now deeply imprinted in his mind, something he feared he would never forget for the rest of his life.
Although he was also straightforward and generous with women, he was extremely respectful. He had never seen a naked girl before, let alone such a beautiful one. He didn't know how Zhao Wanyan would react, thinking, "Whether she hits or scolds me, it's my own fault. I rushed out without understanding the situation, causing her unnecessary embarrassment." He couldn't help but think of her in the water, and felt flustered and uneasy. He struck out twice, leaving handprints on the stone bridge pier. He didn't even notice that the bridge was a masterpiece of art.
After some time, Xiang Yang heard Zhao Wanyan calling, "Young Master Xiang, Young Master Xiang..."
He stepped off the bridge and saw that Zhao Wanyan had already put on his robe. Her own upper garments were washed clean, but not dry, and hung on a small tree. The large men's robe and long skirt looked quite amusing. Normally, Xiang Yang would have laughed out loud, but the atmosphere was too awkward, and neither of them could speak. Zhao Wanyan's skin was as bright as the moon, her face as red as frost-covered maple leaves. She pursed her lips, fidgeted with the hem of her dress, overcome with shyness. Just moments before, with Xiang Yang not before her, she had managed to call out "Young Master Xiang" several times, but now she couldn't utter a single word.
Suddenly, Xiang Yang asked, "Miss Zhao, how old are you this year?" Zhao Wanyan was startled, lowered her head, and gestured with her fingers to indicate eighteen. Her heart pounded, wondering why he was asking.
Suddenly, a series of slapping sounds rang out. Xiang Yang's right hand moved rapidly, back and forth, slapping himself thirty-six times in one go.
Zhao Wanyan was shocked and cried out, "What are you doing?" Xiang Yang said, "I am utterly ashamed! You asked me to look around, but I actually saw your body. Your parents raised you for eighteen years, so these thirty-six slaps are my apology to them."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wanyan smiled shyly and said, "What apology do you have to my parents? You...you didn't see their bodies." Xiang Yang clapped his
hands and said, "Exactly! I should apologize to you again." As he spoke, he raised his hand to strike again. Zhao Wanyan quickly grabbed his hand and said, "Enough, don't hit me!"
Xiang Yang felt her soft palms, and his wrist was gripped by her two small hands. He couldn't help but be moved and couldn't bring himself to hit her. He glanced at her. Zhao Wanyan's cheeks flushed red, and she released his hand and ran away.
Xiang Yang was stunned for a moment, then looked up at the night sky. He had only ever known one female disciple since childhood, but Hua Xuan was lively and cheerful, and usually spent most of her time playing with her junior brother Wen Yuan, so his relationship with her was purely that of a senior brother and junior sister. Now, encountering this shy Miss Zhao, he felt increasingly at a loss, a strange feeling indeed.
Just then, Zhao Wanyan returned, handing him a damp handkerchief and whispering, "Wipe your face?
Will it hurt?" Xiang Yang took the handkerchief, which seemed to have a faint fragrance, and smiled, "It's deserved to hurt; it's called 'getting what you deserve.'" Zhao Wanyan sighed softly, saying, "Alas… I didn't say I blamed you, why did you have to hit me so quickly?" Xiang Yang asked curiously, "Why didn't you blame me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wanyan immediately became even more shy, clasping her hands tightly together and turning her head away. Xiang Yang seemed to understand something and took a few steps closer. Zhao Wanyan involuntarily took a few steps back, when suddenly she was stopped behind her by a small tree where she was hanging clothes. Zhao Wanyan gasped softly. Xiang Yang was already standing in front of her. She lowered her head and said, "Don't...don't come any closer! I...I..."
Xiang Yang was already feeling flustered and trembling. Hearing her soft voice, he couldn't help but reach out and gently embrace Zhao Wanyan. He whispered, "Miss Zhao, if you agree, I'm thinking of sending you back to Luoyang after we get to the capital."
Hearing him say this, Zhao Wanyan felt both shy and happy. She whispered, "I...I already promised...Those bandits have been filthy with me...I was afraid you wouldn't like it...that's why..."
As she spoke, she pointed to the river, then to the clothes on the tree, and lowered her head again.
Xiang Yang gently held Zhao Wanyan, smiling slightly, "Yes, now you're clean and tidy, you don't need to be afraid of those villains anymore." Zhao Wanyan raised her head, her expression both shy and excited, and softly said, "Young Master Xiang, you...you saved me, and you treated me so well...you saw me again...I..." She paused, as if making a great decision, and whispered, "If it weren't for you, who else could...could...um..." She felt it was too shameful for a girl to say such things, and finally couldn't continue, but the meaning was obvious. Without further consideration, Xiang Yang tightly embraced the beauty in his arms and kissed her lips.
"Ah..." Zhao Wanyan's soft cry was cut short as her pink lips were sealed, her starry eyes slightly opened, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. For a moment, she felt her limbs warm and weak, unable to exert any strength. Only after the kiss ended did she slowly open her eyes, her eyes slightly moist.
Xiang Yang gently laid Zhao Wanyan down on the grass, carefully loosening the belt of her robe as if handling a precious gem, afraid of damaging it in the slightest. He pulled the hem of her robe aside, revealing her fair skin. Zhao Wanyan sighed softly, her delicate breasts swaying slightly with unease.
"Miss Zhao...?" Xiang Yang pulled her robe up to her shoulders, stopped, and gazed at Zhao Wanyan. Zhao Wanyan lay weakly, turning her flushed face away and slightly relaxing her hands.
Xiang Yang supported her back with his right hand, and with his left hand, let the robe slide down her shoulders, through her arms, and onto the grass.
At this point, Zhao Wanyan's upper body was completely exposed. Unable to suppress the embarrassment that washed over her, Zhao Wanyan covered half of her pretty face with her right hand.
"Ah... I'm so embarrassed..." Zhao Wanyan dared not look at Xiang Yang at all, and closed her eyes again. Even so, she still felt the evening breeze blowing between her legs, because the long skirt had been gently removed. Zhao Wanyan asked softly, "What... what am I wearing?" Xiang Yang gently kissed her ear and laughed, "Nothing!" Zhao Wanyan made a soft "Mmm," her lips tightly pressed together, her whole body immediately tensing up, letting out a soft breath, still not daring to open her eyes. Until she felt something pressing down on her body, knowing the time had finally come, she groggily opened her eyes to find Xiang Yang on top of her, offering a reassuring smile.
A naked young couple, amidst the lush green grass. Zhao Wanyan tried her best to suppress her shyness, whispering, "Young Master Xiang... please... um... be careful..." As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Wanyan was overcome with shame at her choice of words. The word "be careful" was truly inappropriate for such a situation.
Xiang Yang smiled and said, "You're a delicate lady, how could you be careless?" Zhao Wanyan felt a sweet warmth in her heart and said, "You...you'll still call me 'Miss'?" Xiang Yang gently stroked her hair and smiled, "No more.
From now on, I'll just call you Wanyan, Wanyan..." "Mmm...ahh..." Zhao Wanyan felt his caresses, from her hair to her shoulders, breasts, fingers, and lower abdomen...her tender young body received unprecedented stimulation, and her snow-white skin gradually turned a faint pinkish-red as her breathing increased.
Xiang Yang's understanding of matters between men and women was not much different from Zhao Wanyan's; both were experiencing love for the first time. However, Zhao Wanyan was too shy, making Xiang Yang feel that he had to guide everything, caressing every inch of skin he touched with utmost tenderness. These hands, which had been fierce and devastating in their attacks, were now full of gentle affection. Xiang Yang cautiously elicited Zhao Wanyan's continuous low moans and soft gasps, his right hand gradually sliding between her long, slender legs, tentatively exploring the girl's most private parts.
"Mmm..." Zhao Wanyan sensitively squeezed her legs together, revealing a plaintive expression. "Don't be afraid..."
Xiang Yang gently comforted her, but he himself couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. With a slight effort, he spread Zhao Wanyan's legs a few inches apart, revealing a patch of sparse pubic hair that was already wet, appearing exceptionally beautiful in the moonlight. Xiang Yang composed himself and thrust his lower body forward.
"Uh... mmm...!" Zhao Wanyan was flustered and ashamed at seeing a man's penis for the first time, unsure of how to react. Seeing Xiang Yang slowly thrusting towards her genitals, she couldn't help but let out a flustered moan. Xiang Yang kissed her, pressing down on her aroused body, and slowly advanced inside.
As Xiang Yang went deeper, Zhao Wanyan's expression became even more chaotic. "Ahhh—! Ah…" With a high-pitched cry, the two were tightly joined together. Xiang Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Wanyan's hazy eyes revealed an innocent expression, and she let out a weak gasp: "Is it starting…?"
Xiang Yang nodded and began to move slowly. At first, Zhao Wanyan managed to suppress her cries, but when Xiang Yang's fingers brushed her cherry lips, a surge of pleasure seemed to rush through her body, and she could no longer care about her last bit of restraint.
"Ugh… Ahhh… Ah, ahhh—!"
The moonlight in the sky disappeared into the clouds, but the two on the ground reached their most splendid moment.
Everything calmed down, and Xiang Yang draped a robe over Zhao Wanyan, letting her sit against him. Zhao Wanyan looked at the fallen petals in the grass, thinking about what had just happened, her pretty face still flushed.
Xiang Yang said softly, "Wanyan!" Zhao Wanyan turned her head and looked up, a faint smile on her face. Xiang Yang asked, "Aren't you too tired? Did I hurt you just now?" Zhao Wanyan chuckled softly, "It's alright." She then lowered her head and thought for a moment, saying, "Brother Xiang, we did this ourselves, we can't... we can't let our parents know first." Xiang Yang laughed, "That's right, I should think of a way to prepare a betrothal gift, right? It's a pity I have no family or job, so I'll have to put in some effort."
Zhao Wanyan smiled and said, "No need, Father has always been afraid that I won't marry. I chose this myself... how could it be bad?" Xiang Yang smiled and said, "You'll know when I suddenly become naughty." Zhao Wanyan smiled and said, "You won't."
Suddenly, Xiang Yang swept Zhao Wanyan up in his arms and laughed, "How about I show you how naughty I am?" He then kissed her breasts.
Although Zhao Wanyan had already experienced lovemaking, she remained shy and struggled to laugh,
saying, "Stop fooling around!" Suddenly, a shout came from afar, "Shameless scoundrel, release our young lady!" Xiang Yang was startled and looked up to see three men rushing towards him, their steps swift, clearly skilled in martial arts. The three arrived in the blink of an eye, shouting in unison, "You scoundrel, die!" The three men unleashed six palm strikes, all at once, with extremely fierce power.
Zhao Wanyan was shocked and cried out, "Stop, you three! He's not..."
Xiang Yang didn't wait for Zhao Wanyan to explain herself. He pulled her behind him with his left hand, shielding her, and with his right hand in a palm strike, he shouted, "Six palms against one! One move is enough!" This palm strike was his master's secret technique, the "Nine Thunder Palm," named after the thunder drum used by the Yellow Emperor in his battle against Chiyou. Legend has it that the sound of this drum shook the heavens and reached five hundred miles. Nine consecutive drum strikes greatly boosted the morale of the Yellow Emperor's army, leading to Chiyou's defeat in one blow. The "Nine Thunder Palms" technique
, when unleashed, was fierce and powerful, truly invincible and unparalleled in its strength.
The three men's six-palm combo was their most formidable killing move, fast and fierce, and should have been foolproof.
Unexpectedly, Xiang Yang's palm strike immediately countered the force of two of their own, and the aftershock of the thunder palm broke through two more. Before the remaining two palm strikes could reach their opponents, they were shattered by the aftershock of the third thunder palm strike. One palm strike with three forces completely destroyed the three men's signature moves. While the three men were still in shock, the fourth thunder palm strike arose. Caught off guard, they simultaneously bore the brunt of this immense force, staggering back several steps, losing their footing, and falling to the ground. They felt their breath stagnate and could hardly move, their faces turning ashen.
Xiang Yang laughed and turned to Zhao Wanyan, saying, "They're the ones who came to find you?" Zhao Wanyan nodded and said, "Yes, but I... Ah, be careful!" As she said the last two words, her tone suddenly became extremely alarmed. Xiang Yang suddenly felt a chill run down his neck. Startled, he darted back and immediately looked around. Sure enough, a flash of sword light appeared before him, wielded by a middle-aged Taoist priest. Had he reacted any slower, his head would have been severed.
The Taoist priest exclaimed, "You villain, you've got some skill!" Before the word "skill" had even finished, the sword light shifted rapidly, becoming chaotic and vast. A long sword seemed to transform into a large patch of blue-white mist, instantly enveloping Xiang Yang within a four-foot radius and slicing away from Zhao Wanyan. Seeing the sword light so intense that it even obscured the Taoist priest's figure, Xiang Yang, suddenly faced with a formidable foe after his blissful encounter, was invigorated. He let out a thunderous roar and unleashed his Nine Thunder Palm strike from afar, like a thunderclap. With a clang, the strike shattered the rapidly wielding long sword in two, the broken pieces flying into the air.

(Part 3)

When the Taoist saw Xiang Yang's palm strike was so fierce, his face changed color, and he cursed, "You little thief!" He flicked his right sleeve and stepped into the Seven Star Step. Although he only had half a broken sword left in his hand, his stance was still as steady as a mountain. Xiang Yang dared not be careless and thought to himself, "This Taoist's swordsmanship is truly flawless. He relied entirely on the strength of his Thunder Palm to break his sword. Now it won't work." Suddenly,
he saw the Taoist swaying left and right, stepping precisely into the Seven Star Step to advance. His broken sword flashed with blue light and made a sound as it cut through the air. The power of his moves was not diminished at all because of the broken blade. Xiang Yang dismantled and dodged, and his Thunder Palm struck back repeatedly. The two figures moved back and forth, leaving the four people on the side dazzled.
Fearing Xiang Yang might get hurt, Zhao Wanyan quickly cried out, "Master Lu, this Brother Xiang is a good person, please stop fighting!"
The Lu-surnamed Taoist was engrossed in his fight when he heard this. He was greatly surprised and hastily withdrew his sword, stepping back several feet to scrutinize Xiang Yang.
Xiang Yang walked to the three men, patted each of them on the shoulder, and laughed, "Forgive me, forgive me!" The three men, who had felt a tightness in their chests and couldn't even stand, were unexpectedly relieved by the pats on their shoulders. A surge of energy flowed through their bodies, instantly making them feel better, and they all jumped to their feet.
Master Lu sheathed his sword and said, "When Miss's carriage was robbed by the bandits of White Tiger Stronghold, I was engaged in a fierce battle with the bandit leader and couldn't spare the time. Miss was frightened, and I truly deserve to die." He then knelt down with the three men. Zhao Wanyan blushed and said, "It's alright, get up! I... I'm perfectly fine." She then secretly glanced at Xiang Yang.
The four men stood up. Lu Daoren said, "It is truly fortunate that Miss is unharmed. I have prepared a carriage in the town ahead; please set off." Zhao Wanyan hummed in agreement and said, "No need… You go to the capital first. This Brother Xiang will escort me."
The four men exchanged bewildered glances, seemingly unable to believe what they were hearing. They knew this young lady was extremely shy, rarely speaking a word to a strange man. Why would she want to travel with this man? Lu Daoren said, "We are under orders to escort Miss to the capital; please do not trouble yourself." Zhao Wanyan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master Lu. I will explain to my father; he will not blame you. I also need to take Brother Xiang to see my father."
Lu Daoren, experienced as he was, noticed the affectionate glances between Zhao Wanyan and Yang, and hearing her words, he had already guessed what was going on. Seeing that Zhao Wanyan was dressed in a man's robe, he surmised that she might have already pledged her life to him. He snorted and said to Xiang Yang, "Your 'Nine Thunder Palms' technique is indeed extraordinary. Was your master's surname Long or Hua?" Xiang Yang replied, "My master's surname was Hua."
Lu Daoren said, "Oh," and then added, "Has Hua Xuanqing passed away? What a pity, another great master has been lost." He continued, "Hua Xuanqing's successor must be of good character. Very well, since Miss has given such instructions, this humble Daoist dares not disobey. But I hope Miss arrives in the capital soon, lest…" Zhao Wanyan suddenly cried out, "Ah, don't say it!" Lu Daoren paused, then said, "Yes, so that Master won't worry." He said to the three men, "Give the things to Miss." One of the three men untied his bundle and handed it to Zhao Wanyan. The four men bowed to Zhao Wanyan and left together.
Xiang Yang said, "Wanyan, your family has quite a few experts! This Taoist Lu's skill is truly formidable." Zhao Wanyan smiled and said, "Yes, he's my father's most valued person." As she spoke, she opened her bundle, which was full of clothes and jewelry. Taoist Lu and the others searched around for Zhao Wanyan, fearing she might have been violated by the bandits, so they had ordered someone to bring two sets of clothes so she wouldn't be embarrassed by being disheveled when they found her.
Xiang Yang laughed, "That's good, now you have clothes to wear. Come, come, take off your robe and give it back to me." Zhao Wanyan smiled and said, "I wanted to wear this robe, Brother Xiang, you can wear these."
Xiang Yang rummaged through the bundle; everything was women's clothing. He laughed, "You want to tease me? I'll strip your robe off even if I have to." With that, he grabbed Zhao Wanyan and hugged her tightly. Zhao Wanyan chuckled, "Alright, I'll change!"
Xiang Yang took off her long robe and took out a light green silk shirt from his bundle, saying, "This one?" Zhao Wanyan chuckled softly, "Okay." Xiang Yang gently caressed her breast with his left hand and laughed, "It's such a pity that such a beautiful body is covered by clothes." Zhao Wanyan blushed and said, "Don't say that!" and reached for the clothes. Xiang Yang hid his right hand behind his back and said, "Wait, answer me a question first." Zhao Wanyan
asked, "What is it?" Xiang Yang said, "You just asked Lu Daoren not to say anything?"
Zhao Wanyan leaned against Xiang Yang's chest and said softly, "Don't ask, you'll know when we get to the capital... If I tell you, it might... not be good." Xiang Yang didn't want to press her, so he smiled and said, "Okay, then I won't say!"
As he spoke, he helped Zhao Wanyan put on the silk shirt, and Zhao Wanyan took out a silver hairpin and put it in her hair. The beauty, enhanced by her attire, was even more captivating. Zhao Wanyan stood gracefully by the bridge, her green dress swaying gently in the breeze, truly like a willow by the river, endlessly beautiful.
Xiang Yang exclaimed, "Wanyan, no wonder that golden carp sank back down as soon as it leaped up. The phrase 'sinking fish and falling geese' perfectly describes her."
Zhao Wanyan was overjoyed and whispered, "There are no geese flying here." Xiang Yang laughed, "Of course there are! There's a beautiful goose landing right here in front of me." Zhao Wanyan tilted her head slightly, revealing a shy expression.
Immersed in their deep affection, the two leaned against a tree, talking intimately, and didn't sleep a wink all night. At sunrise, Xiang Yang and Zhao Wanyan bought two horses in town and headed north to the capital.
Having just tasted the sweetness of love, their journey was extremely slow, as if they wished the capital would never be reached. Zhao Wanyan was shy and dared not be intimate with Xiang Yang in the inn, fearing that other guests would hear, so they slept outdoors for two consecutive days.
As dusk approached, the two traveled through desolate mountains, still without seeing a town. Xiang Yang laughed, "Wan Yan, are we sleeping in the wilderness again tonight?" Zhao Wan Yan chuckled, "I don't know, you tell me." Xiang Yang smiled, then suddenly reined in his horse, remaining silent. Zhao Wan Yan asked curiously, "Brother Xiang, what's wrong?"
Xiang Yang didn't answer, and after a moment, addressed a grove of trees ahead, "Friends ahead, how much longer will you show yourselves?"
Suddenly, people surged out of the surrounding bushes, some carrying knives, some with spears, most with menacing faces. Then, three leaders emerged, one of whom was the third leader of White Tiger Stronghold.
Another was thin and bony, with a tangled beard and narrow, squinting eyes. The last was burly, bald on top, but with a thick, short beard, exuding a fierce aura.
The burly giant's tiger-like eyes widened as he said, "Brother, you truly keep your word! You've arrived in three days and have indeed trampled our White Tiger Stronghold." Xiang Yang clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I dare not! Actually, I've just found my sweetheart and was in a moment of carefree joy. I had long forgotten about my promise to raze White Tiger Stronghold to the ground in three days. Today, I was merely passing through this place, but as fate would have it, things have turned out so unexpectedly that even though I had forgotten, I've still been forced to come and trample it." He then laughed heartily.
The skinny man snorted and said, "Boy, who are you?" Xiang Yang replied, "My name is Xiang Yang. I suppose the three stronghold leaders have never heard of this nameless nobody. Anyway, I don't know your names either, so we're even." The skinny man angrily said, "Even when death is imminent, you're still so stubborn!" He flew out, his right hand, with its five claws, diagonally grabbing at Xiang Yang's left shoulder, the strike both accurate and ruthless.
"This skinny guy is incredibly skilled, far superior to that fat guy. His grabbing technique is extremely powerful!" Xiang Yang thought to himself, secretly praising him. He flipped his left palm to parry the attack from the outside, then sidestepped and thrust his right palm straight in from the center. The skinny guy quickly reached out with his left hand to grab, but missed, and the force of the palm had already shifted to his waist. The skinny guy's face showed surprise, and he swayed and flew backward, barely avoiding the attack.
The giant man pointed with his thumb and said, "Good skill! Brother Xiang, this is my third brother, Guo Degui, and this is my second brother, Ding Ze." He pointed to the three leaders of the stronghold, then to the skinny guy, and continued, "I am Tong Wanhu. The three of us brothers established the White Tiger
Stronghold. Do you know why?" Xiang Yang said, "I would like to hear the details." Tong Wanhu glanced at Zhao Wanyan and said, "It's because of the father of this girl beside you, the dignified Prince Jingwei, Zhao Tingrui, hmph!" As he said this, his eyes revealed an extremely resentful look. Xiang Yang glanced at Zhao Wanyan, noticing her pale face and her gently biting her lower lip. Prince Jingwei, Zhao, had a bad reputation among the people; many secretly cursed him, saying he amassed wealth and oppressed the common folk. While the truth was unknown, the rumors were certainly true.
Tong Wanhu said, "Nineteen years ago, this old scoundrel Zhao encountered a large group of assassins on these mountains. At that time, the three of us brothers were his guards. My second brother took a poisoned dart in front of him. Heh heh, he didn't die, but the poison seeped deep into his bones and could never be completely removed. A once strong man has become like this. Miss Zhao, did you see clearly?" Zhao Wanyan lowered her head and remained silent.
Tong Wanhu continued, "The man surnamed Tong covered his retreat, and my third brother rescued my second brother. He and several other guards protected him as they escaped to the riverbank. There was only a small boat. Hmph, second brother, what happened then?" Ding Ze's narrow eyes suddenly gleamed, and he said in a deep voice, "We all got on the small boat, but it was too deep and couldn't move fast. The old thief saw the pursuers were almost there and, finding me too wounded and useless, pushed me into the river." Tong Wanhu nodded and asked, "Third brother, what about you?" Guo Degui said, "The old thief said I was too heavy and had that old man surnamed Lu kick me into the river too. But he didn't expect that second brother hadn't died, and I was rescued by him." "On the shore, we'll use the darts to treat Second Brother, a life for a life."
Xiang Yang saw Zhao Wanyan's increasingly distressed expression and felt a pang of pity. He said, "Chief Tong..." Tong Wanhu said, "As for me, Tong, after killing two assassins, I was also seriously injured. I rolled down a nearby hillside and passed out, thinking I was surely going to die. But when I woke up, there were two severed hands beside me. Judging from the color of the clothes on the arms, they belonged to the enemies who had been chasing me. Then I saw a giant white tiger. Brother Tiger, please come out and meet our honored guest."
A tiger's roar could be faintly heard from the forest. The bandits quickly made way, and a white-furred tiger with black stripes slowly stepped out. Xiang Yang and Zhao Wanyan were both astonished. They had never seen such a white tiger before, only thinking it was a mythical creature. They never expected to actually see one. The white tiger was much larger than an ordinary tiger, with a fierce aura and a gleaming light in its eyes, as if it were about to devour someone at any moment.
Tong Wanhu said, "This white tiger didn't eat me; instead, it let me recuperate in a mountain cave. Two days later, it carried my second and third brothers to the cave. The three of us escaped death, all thanks to this tiger brother. I don't know if it's because my name is related to tigers, but I got along very well with this tiger brother. After our injuries had half healed, one day I went down the mountain to buy wine and discovered that the old thief Zhao had issued a notice saying that I had conspired with an assassin to rebel against the emperor, and offered a reward for my capture. In shock and anger, I rushed to Luoyang alone to find out how my family was doing. Heh heh, all the men were imprisoned." "The women were all captured and taken to the Prince's mansion, and they all died within three years."
At this point, he glared fiercely at Zhao Wanyan and shouted, "I, Tong, was blind to have chosen such an ungrateful master, so be it. My wife's fate was unknown, manipulated by that old thief's men, and he didn't care at all. Instead, he feared I was still alive and wanted to get rid of me. I was no match for Lu the bandit at the time, and couldn't do anything to them. Heh heh, I returned to the mountains and established the White Tiger Stronghold. Every brother in the stronghold suffered persecution at the hands of that old thief Zhao. Miss Zhao, the brothers in the stronghold have inquired about you; you are kind-hearted, and from Luoyang..." Everyone in the city applauded, and I, Tong, originally did not wish to harm you. However, the hatred of the brothers of White Tiger Stronghold cannot go unavenged; the sins your father committed will be avenged from you.”
He added, “Brother Xiang, you saw injustice and beat my third brother soundly; that was your act of righteousness, and I, Tong, have nothing to say about it. But this matter has nothing to do with you, so please leave on your own and do not interfere.”
Zhao Wanyan shook her head sadly and said, “Father…is that really how it is?” Xiang Yang dismounted and said loudly, “Chief Tong, what I know about Prince Zhao…” "Not many indeed. But even if what you say is true, I personally witnessed the plundering by Guo Sanzhai. It's one thing for White Tiger Stronghold to be established to deal with Prince Zhao, but their other actions are clearly unrelated and certainly not honorable. You want to keep Miss Zhao, but I, Xiang Yang, absolutely will not allow it."
Tong Wanhu drew his thick-backed ghost-head saber with a "whoosh" and shouted, "Brother Xiang, if you insist, there's nothing I can say. I'll have to take you down the mountain!" Xiang Yang raised an eyebrow and said, "I'll learn from you!" Tong Wanhu roared, and the three stronghold leaders attacked simultaneously. Tong Wanhu used his family's secret saber technique, powerful and fierce. Ding Ze attacked empty-handed, forming an eagle claw stance, incredibly ruthless. Guo Degui's double hammers were kicked into the river; without his weapon, he grabbed a steel staff instead.
Xiang Yang exhaled deeply, focusing his attention on finding an opening. He parried the eagle claw with his hand, his palm striking the blade. Before three moves were over, he kicked Guo Degui in a vital pressure point in his waist. The force was devastating, and the obese man flew straight away, crashing to the ground, unable to move. Tong and Ding dared not underestimate their opponents, their moves precise and meticulous.
Zhao Wanyan watched her lover fight two enemies alone, her palms sweating profusely, her heart filled with anxiety, yet she was helpless. Suddenly, her foot tightened, and she was grabbed by a bandit.
"Ah!" Zhao Wanyan cried out in surprise as several bandits pulled her off her horse. They coveted Zhao Wanyan's beauty, and while their leader was engaged in fierce combat, they also took the opportunity to violate her. Six or seven bandits surrounded her, pinning her against a cypress tree, ignoring her terrified expression, and several hands simultaneously attacked her.
"Damn it!" Xiang Yang was furious upon seeing this. Forgetting his own safety, he charged out of the pincer attack of Tong and Ding, unleashing a flurry of palm strikes. The bandits screamed in agony as they were sent flying. He tightly embraced Zhao Wanyan in his left arm, asking, "Are you alright?" Zhao Wanyan, slightly shaken, nodded, then suddenly cried out, "Blood… Brother Xiang, your left leg…!" Xiang Yang then felt a sharp pain in his left leg. He had managed to escape to save her, but his opening had been exposed, and he had been struck by Tong Wanhu's blade. Before he could even apply pressure to stop the bleeding, Tong Wanhu's blade struck again, while Ding Ze attacked from above and below with his claws, and several bandits joined the fray.
The situation was perilous. Without hesitation, Xiang Yang stepped in front of Zhao Wanyan, his inner energy circulating three times. With a long roar, his arms unleashed a barrage of attacks like a raging storm. Before one attack was finished, another followed. The Nine Thunder Palms, "Thunderous Drumming Mountains and Rivers," resembled a sudden clap of thunder from the horizon, causing all things to tremble in fear, overwhelming and unstoppable.
In an instant, the Ghost Head Blade, struck by the force, snapped in two. Ding Ze's Eagle Claw was thwarted, suffering two blows to his chest and abdomen, blood gushing out as he staggered back several steps. The bandits who had approached Xiang Yang were all sent flying, crashing into trees or falling to the ground. Finally, Xiang Yang's full-force attack on Tong and Ding had managed to inflict heavy damage on the bandits, but they were not fatally wounded.
Tong Wanhu managed to parry, but his inner energy surged, his expression changing drastically. Glancing at the thick-backed cleaver he still held, he involuntarily took two steps back.
Xiang Yang unleashed his ultimate move with all his might, his blood surging, blood gushing from the wound on his leg, almost losing his footing, and he let out a soft groan. Zhao Wanyan exclaimed, "Brother Xiang!" Xiang Yang turned around and smiled, saying, "No problem!" He regained his spirit, pressed several acupoints on his leg, and the bleeding immediately stopped. He raised his head and glanced around.
The bandits were intimidated by his remaining power, and for a moment no one dared to step forward. Most of them instead took a few steps back.
Suddenly, a loud roar shook everyone. Amidst the echoing sound in the valley, the white tiger slowly stepped out, walking towards Xiang Yang and Zhao Wanyan. Its tail swayed gently up and down, its eyes gleaming, and it roared in a deep voice. The bandits of

White

Tiger Village saw the white tiger approaching and retreated, making way for a clear space. Tong Wanhu had personally witnessed it kill the soldiers who came up the mountain to attack the village, including a highly skilled guard, and knew that it was very different from ordinary tigers. Normally it lived in a cave, occasionally venturing into the mountain streams. White Tiger Village was named after it and originated from it. Facing Xiang Yang, a formidable enemy, it seemed to be personally leading the hunt. Tong Wanhu was overjoyed, saying, "Brother Tiger, it would be perfect if you could help us deal with this brat." He took a steel knife from one of his men and strode forward.
Unexpectedly, the white tiger suddenly turned its head, letting out a deep, low growl, and tilted its head towards Tong Wanhu. Tong Wanhu was startled, then said, "Yes, Brother Tiger is going hunting alone; we don't need to help."
The white tiger turned back, stood up respectfully, and stared intently at Xiang and Zhao. Seeing that the strange beast was about to pounce, Xiang Yang thought, "Wan Yan is here; it's too dangerous!" A thought flashed through his mind. He picked up Zhao Wan Yan, leaped up, and placed her in a tree so he could fight without worry.
They had only leaped five or six feet high when a sudden gust of wind arose overhead, and a dark shadow loomed over them. The white tiger had leaped more than ten feet into the air, already above Xiang Yang, incredibly fast and fierce. With a roar, its claws came crashing down, aiming straight for Xiang Yang's head. Zhao Wanyan couldn't help but cry out in alarm, and Xiang Yang was also taken aback. In the nick of time, he struck a tree trunk with his palm, using the force to fly backward, barely dodging the tiger's claws. The white tiger somersaulted and landed steadily, its front paws lashing out as it roared and pounced.
Seeing the tiger's formidable power, Xiang Yang feared he might accidentally injure Zhao Wanyan. He had barely managed to push her back with his left palm when the tiger's shadow appeared. With a clear whistle, Xiang Yang spun around just as the tiger's claws were about to strike him, weaving between them and performing a somersault in mid-air. His thunderous palm struck the white tiger squarely on the forehead, and using the momentum, he flipped again, mounting the tiger's back. The white tiger, struck on the forehead, roared angrily but seemed unharmed. As Xiang Yang climbed onto its back, the tiger's tail suddenly whipped up like a black and white whip. Xiang Yang grabbed the tail tightly, ready to exert force, but unexpectedly, the tail suddenly lashed out with a force of at least several hundred pounds. Xiang Yang was thrown off the tiger's back and slammed to the ground.
The white tiger roared and pounced like lightning. Before Xiang Yang could land, he braced his right hand against the ground, dodging the heavy claw. The claw struck a cypress tree, causing the trunk to shake violently before snapping in two, branches and leaves falling as it collapsed. Everyone scattered in alarm.
Xiang Yang was secretly astonished: "What exactly is this white tiger? How can an ordinary tiger possess such strength?" Without time to think further, he spun around and landed firmly. The white tiger's movements were incredibly swift; if one pounce missed, another would follow immediately, like a top-tier martial arts master, its power unstoppable. Xiang Yang used his agile footwork to dodge the two attacks, circling to the tiger's side. He channeled his strength into his toes and delivered a swift right kick, striking the tiger squarely in the belly.
The kick was as sharp as a cone, injuring the tiger's internal abdomen. The white tiger roared in pain and lashed out with its claws. Xiang Yang's kick was too powerful to dodge; he barely managed to turn and flip, feeling a sharp pain in his left leg as the tiger's claws swept across his knife wound, spraying blood everywhere. The bandits of White Tiger Stronghold cheered.
"Brother Xiang!" Zhao Wanyan, terrified, rushed forward, her face pale. Seeing Xiang Yang's mangled wound, she was filled with anxiety and fear. Xiang Yang was alarmed. If the white tiger pounced now, he could no longer protect both Zhao Wanyan and himself.
However, the white tiger did not pounce; instead, it slowly crouched and approached. Xiang Yang frantically channeled his inner energy into his palm, thinking, "Even if I inevitably die in the tiger's jaws, I must kill it with a single blow to ensure Wan Yan's safety." Suddenly, a pang of pain shot through him: "Even if I kill this white tiger, Wan Yan will still fall into the hands of these thieves. That would be worse than death. I absolutely cannot let that happen...
"
Zhao Wan Yan watched the white tiger approach, her heart filled with immense fear, clinging tightly to Xiang Yang's body. The white tiger suddenly stopped, raised its head towards Zhao Wan Yan, and let out two deep growls, "Hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo."
Xiang Yang and Zhao Wan Yan exchanged a glance, both feeling puzzled. The white tiger's ferocity had completely vanished; compared to before, it was remarkably friendly. The white tiger approached Zhao Wan Yan and let out another soft growl. Zhao Wan Yan was greatly surprised. Mustering her courage, she slowly reached out and gently touched the tiger's fur. The white tiger immediately rubbed its face against her hand.
Everyone was utterly astonished. They never expected that the ferocious beast from just moments before would become as docile as a cat under the gentle touch of a beautiful woman's hand. The white tiger lowered its body, flicked its tail at Zhao Wanyan, and then coiled it around its back.
Zhao Wanyan's fear subsided slightly, and she asked, "Brother Xiang, does it want me to ride on it?" Xiang Yang was also puzzled, and said, "I don't know, maybe?" The white tiger raised its head towards Xiang Yang, then turned to look at Zhao Wanyan, flicking and coiling its tail again.
Zhao Wanyan mustered her courage, stepped forward, and gently stroked the white tiger's fur. Suddenly, the tiger's tail coiled around Zhao Wanyan's slender waist, lifted her up, and gently placed her on its back. Zhao Wanyan was both surprised and delighted, and cried out, "Brother Xiang, it won't hurt anyone! Come over here too!" Just as Xiang Yang was about to come over, the white tiger roared loudly in his face and shook its head.
Xiang Yang laughed heartily, "No, no, this tiger only loves beauties. He'll only offer me a claw to the head."
The white tiger's eyes widened, it circled once, and its right foreleg stomped twice on the ground, as if to say, "All of you stay here and don't move!" Then it carried Zhao Wanyan and darted into the forest.
Xiang Yang and Tong Wanhu were all startled and were about to give chase. They had only taken a few steps when the white tiger suddenly turned around, roared, glared at Tong Wanhu, and then stared at Xiang Yang with a "whoosh," as if to say, "What are you doing?" "What's the rush? We'll bring her back in a bit!" Before they could react, the white tiger had already darted out of the forest.
Zhao Wanyan was terrified when she saw the white tiger running away. She felt the grass and trees rushing past her, truly "riding a tiger and finding it hard to dismount." She could only hold tightly to the tiger's neck to avoid falling, thinking to herself, "This white tiger seems to have a spirit. Where is it taking me? I'll go and see." Although she was inevitably afraid, there was nothing she could do.
The white tiger moved swiftly and freely through the mountains and forests, surpassing even the best horses. Soon they arrived at a cave, surrounded by dense woods and a steep slope on the left, clearly indicating a secluded place. The white tiger rushed into the cave, and Zhao Wanyan's vision went dark for a moment, then suddenly brightened. It wasn't a cave at all, but a small clearing surrounded by rocks, with a passage leading outside. The white tiger stopped, crouching low to let Zhao Wanyan down.
Its back was extremely broad, and after riding for a while, Zhao Wanyan felt some discomfort in her groin and almost lost her balance. She looked around, seeing nothing amiss, and was wondering what was going on when suddenly she felt a weight on her back—the white tiger was pressing down on her. Zhao Wanyan screamed in surprise as she was pinned down.
The white tiger, hovering over Zhao Wanyan, reached out its forepaws to tear at her clothes, its sharp claws already hidden beneath its paw pads. Zhao Wanyan was terrified and struggled in shame and fear. The white tiger stopped, staring at her face, seemingly quite puzzled. Zhao Wanyan gasped for breath, then realized, "It's a tiger. What right does a beast have to wear clothes? Of course it thinks I shouldn't be wearing clothes." Seeing the white tiger about to paw at her again, Zhao Wanyan blushed, thinking, "It's not human, so it doesn't matter if I'm not dressed. But... what is it going to do?" She had no time to think further and gently unbuttoned her top. The white tiger retreated a few steps and then moved towards her lower body. Zhao Wanyan's face flushed. She lay down, curled up, and took off her gauze skirt.
A rare and exotic beast and a beautiful, naked young woman created an extremely eerie and beautiful scene.
The white tiger mounted Zhao Wanyan's body, licked her cheek with its tongue, and then licked downwards.
Zhao Wanyan cried out in surprise, feeling a burning, tingling, and numb sensation where the tiger had licked her. An indescribable, intense stimulation spread throughout her body, and she couldn't help but cry out, her heart filled with panic, not knowing what to do.
The white tiger's tongue licked her chest, then suddenly opened its mouth and took her soft breasts into its mouth.
"Ah, ah!" Zhao Wanyan cried out. The white tiger didn't let its sharp teeth touch her tender flesh at all; its jaws slowly opened and closed, its tongue teasing her nipples back and forth.
The girl's hands gripped the white tiger's fur tightly, but to the white tiger, this force was like a tickle.
Zhao Wanyan's mind went blank, and she gasped repeatedly. Her snow-white breasts flushed red, deforming and bouncing under the pressure of the tiger's jaws, and the nipples in its mouth had unknowingly become erect. A breath of hot air shot out from the white tiger's throat, and Zhao Wanyan let out an unbearable moan, feeling a warm mass on her chest, as if it were melting.
"Ah...why...it's like...like Brother Xiang..." Zhao Wanyan let out a soft moan, lost in ecstasy, feeling that this white tiger was exactly like Xiang Yang. His ferocity in battle and his gentleness towards her were key reasons why she admired Xiang Yang. She never expected that a beast could evoke such feelings in her. The difference was that Xiang Yang couldn't possibly be sucking and licking both her breasts simultaneously; it was something no human mouth could do.
"Mmm, mmm, ahh..." Zhao Wanyan experienced a sensation that was neither entirely wild nor gentle, panting, moaning, and writhing. "How could this be... now with a wild beast... a tiger..." Zhao Wanyan was bewildered, constantly experiencing inexplicable excitement. "Now it's licking the lower side... the tip... ah... rubbing...
so hot... no... what am I thinking..."
If this white tiger were any other man, based on her love for Xiang Yang, Zhao Wanyan might only feel shame and humiliation. But facing a tiger, a creature unrelated to morality, her defenses crumbled. Zhao Wanyan had forgotten the white tiger's sharp teeth and claws, completely intoxicated. The tiger's mouth was filled with its scorching breath, like a furnace to the girl's delicate body.
The white tiger growled softly, finally releasing Zhao Wanyan's breasts. Two mounds of pink, tender skin, wet and glistening, seemed to sizzle as they moved. "Ugh..." Zhao Wanyan cried out in pain. Her skin, burning hot in the tiger's mouth, was suddenly exposed; the sudden change in temperature made her tense, her body jerking violently, her chest feeling as light as a wad of cotton.
The white tiger suddenly roared repeatedly, circling Zhao Wanyan, its gaze fixed on her lower body. Its head then burrowed between her legs. "Ah!" Zhao Wanyan shuddered, feeling something soft slide past her with a hissing
sound. Her lower body was already soaking wet; the tiger's tongue licked it deeply. Its paws parted her pink legs, its head burying itself between them, licking and drinking with a slurping sound. Zhao Wanyan was so ashamed she almost cried. Never before in her life had her legs been spread like this, her lower body completely exposed.
The tiger's claws weren't particularly strong, but they were still too much for her frail body to bear. Zhao Wanyan bit her lip, finally unable to hold back her scream.
The white tiger raised its head and stood up, hovering over her again, shifting forward slightly. The white tiger was enormous, and Zhao Wanyan's small body was completely shrouded in its shadow. The white tiger flicked its front paw, flipping Zhao Wanyan over, one paw pressing down on her back. Zhao Wanyan let out a soft "uh," gasping for breath. Her still-hot chest was now pressed against the ground, feeling suffocated and uncomfortable. Just as she opened her mouth to scream, she suddenly felt something rubbing against her crotch.
"Ahhh!" Zhao Wanyan was horrified, her body trembling as if struck by lightning. A scene of utter depravity, lewdness, shame, and wantonness suddenly flashed through her mind. She had never imagined that wild animals would commit such vile acts against humans, yet that thing was already probing her private parts, only unable to penetrate.
"No, no...!" Zhao Wanyan cried out helplessly, hoping the unusual white tiger could understand her, but the creature exerted force, pressing against her wet vulva as if a thick piece of flesh was trying to force its way in. Zhao Wanyan cried out in despair, her vision blurring. Suddenly, she saw a white shadow; the white tiger was standing in front of her, and something was clearly trying to penetrate her crotch. Zhao Wanyan was startled. "It's not a tiger... Ah! Who... who is it...?"
Zhao Wanyan quickly rolled over and looked closely. Her face immediately turned bright red. It was a small tiger, also entirely white, about the size of a kitten, digging between her legs with its front paws, as if trying to dig for water. Zhao Wanyan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself, "How could I have imagined... imagined... that kind of... shameful thing?" She couldn't help but laugh and feel ashamed at the thought.
The white tiger growled softly, and the cub immediately ran over, its right foreleg leaving several wet paw prints on the ground. Zhao Wanyan saw this and felt a pang of embarrassment. The white tiger growled at her again. Zhao Wanyan was startled and was about to get up and walk towards the white tiger when it let out several low growls and gently shook its head.
A thought struck Zhao Wanyan: "Always trying to imitate tigers?" Suppressing her embarrassment, she pushed herself up on all fours and crawled towards the white tiger. The white tiger seemed quite satisfied, lowering its body, and the cub immediately came forward to suckle.
Seeing this, Zhao Wanyan suddenly realized: "Ah, this tiger is female, and these are her cubs."
Realizing it wasn't a male tiger, she felt relieved and much more at ease, all the strange thoughts from before disappearing.
The white tiger let the cub suckle, then beckoned to Zhao Wanyan with its forelegs. Zhao Wanyan's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "Does it want me to imitate the little tiger?" Suddenly, she felt her face flush, and looking at the tiger's nipple, she felt embarrassed. Just as she was undecided, the white tiger barked repeatedly, urging her on. Zhao Wanyan said to herself, "Oh well, no one's watching anyway, so I'll just do it..." She gently raised her head and began to suckle, feeling a little lost. For an infant, suckling is instinctive; as an adult, one often doesn't know how to do it. She suckled awkwardly for a moment, then suddenly felt a stream of warm, thick milk flow into her mouth. Her eyebrows trembled slightly, and she drank it down little by little. She didn't find it particularly tasteless, but soon she had grasped the technique.
The white tiger let the little tiger and Zhao Wanyan suckle for a while, then suddenly pushed the little tiger away, leaving only Zhao Wanyan to suckle. Zhao Wanyan was surprised and confused, but she didn't dare stop, her soft lips moving incessantly. The little tiger tried to come closer, but was always pushed away by the white tiger, whimpering and listlessly circling around. Zhao Wanyan suckled for a while, but the tiger milk became increasingly thin. Suddenly, the white tiger paused with its front paws, pushed Zhao Wanyan away, lay down on the ground, and opened its mouth wide, seemingly very tired.
Zhao Wanyan had suckled a bellyful of tiger milk and gently lay down on the ground, feeling her whole body tense, especially her chest, which felt particularly swollen, and she was panting heavily. "Hmm...it feels so uncomfortable...it feels hot everywhere..." Just as she was feeling confused, the little tiger suddenly jumped over, sniffed her, and lay down to suckle her right breast.
"Uh...? Ah..." Zhao Wanyan immediately felt a wave of softness, and the little tiger actually began to suckle. Zhao Wanyan felt a sense of relief, as if the heat and swelling in her body were slowly being absorbed away. She thought to herself, "I just united with Brother Xiang, and I'm not pregnant yet, so how can I have milk? This little white tiger, no matter how much it sucks, it's useless...hmm...hmm...?"
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a warm sensation rush to her breasts, and the little tiger sucked with a "slurp," and milk flowed out. Zhao Wanyan was filled with surprise and embarrassment, completely bewildered. She only felt her limbs gradually relax as the tiger cub suckled, a tingling, indescribable sensation on her nipples. The white tiger watched, letting out a long, low growl, its tone slightly raised, seemingly quite satisfied.
Zhao Wanyan sat up, holding the tiger cub in her arms, letting it nurse quietly. The tiger cub curled up, closing its eyes to drink its fill. Zhao Wanyan suddenly felt a surge of joy, thinking, "How wonderful it would be if I could hold my brother and my child like this!"
The tiger cub, having finished nursing, jumped down, and the white tiger brought Zhao Wanyan's clothes. Zhao Wanyan chuckled, "Sister Tiger, you almost scared me to death! So you wanted me to feed this tiger cub?" She finished dressing. The white tiger roared at the cub, its voice full of majesty, its head tilting towards Zhao Wanyan. The tiger cub turned its head to look at Zhao Wanyan, then whimpered softly to the white tiger. The white tiger roared several times in a deep voice, then slapped the cub's head with its front paw.
The little tiger whimpered for a while, seemingly having made up its mind, and then nestled at Zhao Wanyan's feet. The white tiger growled softly at Zhao Wanyan, lowered its body, and flicked its tail. Zhao Wanyan was startled, picked up the little tiger, mounted the white tiger, and said, "Tiger Sister, do you want me to take care of the tiger cub?"
The white tiger roared and rushed out of the cave, moving as fast as the wind, heading back into the forest. Before long, it arrived at the previous spot. Ding Ze lay to one side, while Xiang Yang was locked in a fierce battle with Tong Wanhu, their palm strikes and blade flashing.
The white tiger roared and pounced. The two were startled and separated.
Seeing Xiang Yang's left leg covered in blood, and dozens of bandits lying scattered on the ground, Zhao Wanyan knew he must have been injured in this extremely dangerous battle. She quickly dismounted from the tiger's back and rushed forward, calling out, "Brother Xiang! Your injury..." Xiang Yang was overjoyed to see Zhao Wanyan return and laughed, "It's just a minor injury, nothing serious!" Seeing the white tiger cub in her arms, he paused, asking, "What? What's that?" Zhao Wanyan smiled, "It's a tiger cub."
Suddenly, the white tiger roared loudly, its roar filled with rapid breathing, barking repeatedly at Xiang Yang and Zhao Wanyan. Having experienced the strange event with it, Zhao Wanyan seemed to sense its emotions and whispered, "Brother Xiang, she wants us to leave quickly!" She was about to put the cub down when the white tiger roared again, suddenly losing its footing and stumbling forward, still roaring loudly. The cub cried out in distress, turned around, and leaped back into Zhao Wanyan's arms. Zhao Wanyan cried out softly, "Sister Tiger, do you want me to take the baby away?"
Tong Wanhu roared, "Where do you think you're going?" He brandished his steel blade and charged forward. The white tiger suddenly stood up, roaring angrily at Tong Wanhu, its whiskers bristling. Tong Wanhu was startled and cried out, "Brother Tiger, what's wrong?"
Zhao Wanyan chuckled, "Chief Tong, you've got it wrong, you should call me Sister Tiger!" Tong Wanhu was taken aback. Xiang Yang, seeing the opportunity, had already picked up Zhao Wanyan and laughed, "Brother Tong, excuse me, we'll settle this another time!" He used his light footwork to dash off towards the edge of the forest. Tong Wanhu was about to give chase when the white tiger blocked his path with a roar. Tong Wanhu was greatly puzzled, thinking, "Why is Brother Tiger blocking my way? Does it think it shouldn't have captured that Miss Zhao?"
Xiang Yang carried Zhao Wanyan out of the mountains without slowing down, until they could see a town ahead. He then stopped, put Zhao Wanyan down, tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve, and bandaged her injured left leg. Zhao Wanyan was worried as she watched the blood flow from his leg. She said, "Shall we go to town and find a doctor?" Xiang Yang shook his head and smiled, "I can handle this injury myself; there's no need to trouble yourself." Zhao Wanyan was still concerned, so she found an inn for him to stay that night so he could recover.
The two entered their room, and Zhao Wanyan tipped the waiter before putting the little white tiger down. The waiter looked at it, quite puzzled, and said, "Miss, this cat is quite strange. Look at its markings; it looks just like a little tiger." Zhao Wanyan smiled, "It is! Brother waiter, you can go now!" The waiter, looking puzzled, left the room.
Xiang Yang had suffered a severe leg injury in a fierce battle that day. To avoid worrying Zhao Wanyan, he remained calm and composed. When asked about the white tiger, Zhao Wanyan blushed and stammered out a clear account, leaving Xiang Yang unsure whether to be surprised or amused. After finishing her story in a low voice, Zhao Wanyan timidly asked, "Brother Xiang, will you...will you look down on me?"
Xiang Yang smiled and said, "How could I?" Zhao Wanyan said urgently, "But...but I actually felt...
that...it was so unfair to you..."
Xiang Yang's heart stirred. He hugged Zhao Wanyan tightly and said softly, "Wanyan, don't think like that! It was just a tiger. You didn't do anything wrong, and you didn't wrong me at all."
Zhao Wanyan felt a surge of joy and lowered her head. Suddenly, she remembered Tong Wanhu's words, and a wave of sorrow washed over her. She sighed. Xiang Yang asked curiously, "Wan Yan?" Zhao Wan Yan whispered, "Brother Xiang, my father is Prince Jingwei. His reputation has always been bad, and I don't know if it's true or not." Xiang Yang said, "I don't know either."
Zhao Wan Yan said, "Brother Xiang, I've always been afraid to tell you...you..." Xiang Yang gently kissed Zhao Wan Yan and said, "Why should I care whether your father is good or evil, rich or poor? As long as you are so gentle and lovely, so kind, what else do I care?"
Zhao Wan Yan leaned on Xiang Yang's shoulder, feeling sweet in her heart, and all her worries vanished for a moment. That night, the two were exceptionally intimate. Zhao Wan Yan thought of the white tiger, feeling shy, but she acted even more tenderly. Forgetting herself, she didn't care that they were in an inn, and couldn't control her voice. Seeing her let go of her shyness, her expression became even more moving, and Xiang Yang felt even more tenderness towards her. The two made love, their hearts in perfect harmony, and the room was filled with tenderness and love.
The little white tiger lay on the table, staring wide-eyed, motionless, seemingly dumbfounded.
Late at night, Zhao Wanyan was fast asleep. Xiang Yang gently covered her with a blanket, gazing at her beautiful face, a warm feeling welled up in his heart: "With such a companion, what more could I ask for?" The little white tiger slept soundly in the corner of the room, all around peaceful. Outside the window, the bright moon hung high, accompanied by the chirping
of crickets. Xiang Yang had heard this cricket chirping since childhood, and hearing it now suddenly reminded him of the times he and his junior brothers and sisters would catch crickets. A smile appeared on his face as he thought, "I wonder how my junior brothers and sisters are now? Perhaps my junior brother has found a good girl, and my junior sister has met her sweetheart." Thinking this, he gradually drifted off to sleep.
At the same time, on a similar moonlit night, on one of the countless lakes of Jiangnan, a small boat played the clear, resonant sound of a zither, played by the fingers of a young man. He played the final notes, let out a long whistle, stepped out of the cabin, and recited: "Stone Fish Lake, like Dongting Lake, summer waters almost fill the green Junshan Mountain. The mountain is a wine vessel, the water a marsh, and wine lovers sit on the islands. Long winds blow for days, creating great waves, but they cannot stop the wine boats.
I hold a long gourd and sit on Baqiu, drinking with everyone to dispel sorrow." After reciting the poem, the young man picked up a copper-handled wine pot and laughed: "Yuan Cishan! The poem is indeed well written, but unfortunately there are no guests on the lake, and I am not good at drinking. Brother wine, brother wine, I, Wen Yuan, am sorry!" After speaking, he flicked his sleeve, and the copper pot flew straight into the night sky, the fine wine scattering in arcs, and he turned and went back into the cabin.
Another peaceful zither melody sounded, and the wine pot fell down, "plop," into the lake, the wine falling like rain.

Ten Scenes (V)

After bidding farewell to his fellow disciples, Wen Yuan went south. Having long studied poetry and literature, he deeply admired the scenery of Jiangnan. He traveled south by boat, enjoying the views, composing poems, and playing the zither to
soothe his soul—a truly carefree and leisurely journey. That night, alone in his small boat, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Wen Yuan, in the prime of his youth, faced the beautiful lake and moonlit scenery, his mind filled with complex emotions, and he unconsciously thought of his fellow disciples. They had studied together since childhood, inseparable day and night. Even when his senior brother was away on missions, Hua Xuan was always there. These days, however, he had been traveling alone, inevitably feeling lonely. He could only amuse himself by playing the zither and reciting poems to the moon.
As he finished a piece, he plucked the strings three times, feeling slightly relieved. Suddenly, he heard the sound of plucking the strings. Listening intently, he faintly heard the sound of a pipa drifting from the lake shore. Though not very loud, it was clearly audible in the quiet night, echoing the lake's surface, each sound reaching his ears.
Wen Yuan's heart stirred, and he wondered, "Where did such exquisite music come from?" Stepping out of the cabin, the sound of a pipa drifted from the lake shore through the mist, like weeping and lamenting, like resentment and longing. A piece titled "Autumn Moon over the Han Palace" expressed the endless sorrow in the heart, its music deeply moving. Wen Yuan listened, completely captivated, thinking to himself, "Although many pipa pieces use the theme of palace lament, and also depict female imagery such as Zhaojun's lament, Xiangfei's tears, the image of a woman by her dressing table, or lazily painting her eyebrows, the underlying theme throughout the entire piece is 'longing for Han.' The ancient masters imbued these palace poems and farewell songs with the profound sorrow of leaving one's country and the sigh of the fading glory. The pipa's gentleness is the gentleness of 'a hundred chains of steel bent into a finger', not truly the gentleness of a woman.
Yet this piece can be so gentle, so full of resentment and longing; it could only be done by a woman."
Then the pipa music gradually faded, and the piece ended. Wen Yuan returned to his cabin, retrieved his zither, and sat upright at the bow.
He began to play, his fingers moving with a series of sweeping strokes, producing a piece titled "High Mountains and Flowing Water," flowing smoothly and elegantly, evoking the joy of Bo Ya finding his soulmate, Zhong Ziqi. As he played with fervor, his inner energy flowed, and the zither strings rang out with a resounding melody, truly conveying the grandeur of towering mountains and surging waves. The sound of a pipa followed, also playing "High Mountains and Flowing Water." The zither music, played by the pipa player, was exquisitely refined, depicting a scene of verdant peaks and murmuring streams. While it lacked the expansive and expressive quality of Wen Yuan's zither music, it was nonetheless intricate and graceful. The two notes harmonized, and in Wen Yuan's mind, he seemed to be walking hand in hand with a young girl amidst the mountains and rivers, expressing his aspirations while she smiled sweetly beside him...
When the music of the zither and pipa ceased, Wen Yuan felt incredibly refreshed, all his gloom swept away. With a sudden inspiration, he played a tune called "Guan Ju," silently contemplating the lyrics: "Guan guan, the ospreys, on the river's islet. A fair maiden, a gentleman's good match. The watercress grows thick and thin, flowing left and right. A fair maiden, he seeks her waking and sleeping..." The melody resonated with the sentiment of longing.
As the "Guanju" melody ended, the sound of the pipa began, taking its melody from the "Zheng Feng" section of the Book of Songs, specifically the poem "Qian Chang": "You truly miss me, so lift your skirt and wade across the Zhen River. If you don't miss me, are there no other men? You silly boy, how foolish you are!...
You truly miss me, so lift your skirt and wade across the Wei River..." The lyrics and music, however, carry a mocking tone, meaning: "If you truly miss me, lift your skirt and wade across the Zhen River. If you don't miss me, are there no other men? You silly boy, how foolish you are!..." The music is light and lively, seemingly both expansive and restrained, extremely beautiful, like a charming young woman standing far away, seemingly close yet distant, smiling sweetly.
Wen Yuan was startled, his heart fluttering. He thought, "What does the Zhen River matter? To see this woman even once is like crossing the dark sea of the far north." He immediately disregarded the small boat and wanted to swim to the lake shore. Suddenly, he thought, "Although this young lady has made such a gesture, if I were to go and meet her so abruptly in the dead of night, and someone were to see me, wouldn't that damage her reputation? How can I be so selfish as to indulge in such desires?" With that thought, he sat down again and played a tune called "Reed Catkins": "The reed catkins are green, the white dew is like frost. The one I long for is on the other side of the water... I go upstream to find her, but the road is long and difficult. I go downstream to find her, but she seems to be in the middle of the water... The reed catkins are sad, the white dew has not yet dried..." The melody was ethereal, as if expressing endless longing to the woman who was audible but unattainable, wanting to leave but leaving the meaning unfinished after the melody ended.
After he finished playing the zither, only the sound of the evening breeze rippling the lake remained, utterly silent. Wen Yuan was filled with unease, wondering what the girl was thinking. After a long while, the sound of a pipa began, still a poem from the "Airs of Zheng," titled "Wind and Rain." The melody subtly conveyed the poem's meaning: "The wind and rain are bleak, the roosters crow incessantly. Now that I have seen my beloved, how can I not be at peace? The wind and rain are fierce, the roosters crow incessantly..." The melody described a cold, windy night, with roosters crowing incessantly, a melancholy mood. But having seen her beloved, what could be unpleasant?
The pipa music, tender and affectionate, gradually faded into the distance until it was no longer heard. Wen Yuan stood quietly at the bow of the boat, his heart surging with emotion, the lingering sound seemingly still echoing on the lake.
As dawn broke, Wen Yuan headed east from the lake, still lost in thought about the encounter with the woman he had met the previous night. He couldn't help but be captivated, thinking, "I never expected to meet such a talented woman in Jiangnan. It's such a pity I couldn't see her in person!
I wonder if I'll have the chance to meet her again someday?" His mind unsettled, he strolled aimlessly, arriving at the outskirts of Hangzhou that afternoon. Looking around, he saw the cobblestone path bustling with people, likely tourists visiting West Lake. Wen Yuan thought, "People praise West Lake, saying, 'The scenery of mountains and lake follows you at every step; it's difficult to write poetry or paint a picture, both ancient and modern.' Wouldn't it be a shame not to see it for myself?" He immediately put aside his reverie and happily began his lake tour.
His first stop was Bai Causeway. Bai Causeway and Su Causeway traverse the lake, dividing West Lake into Inner Lake, Outer Lake, Little South Lake, Yue Lake, and West Inner Lake. Bai Causeway is lined with willows and peach trees, a truly beautiful sight—the willow branches swaying green, the peach blossoms smiling. Wen Yuan strolled leisurely, enjoying the scenery. Feeling refreshed, he exclaimed, "Bai Juyi's poem says, 'A riot of flowers dazzles the eye, shallow grass barely covers the horse's hooves. I love walking along the eastern shore of the lake, where green willows shade the white sandbank.' Truly wonderful!
Everyone speaks of the Ten Scenes of West Lake, but there are far more to see here than just ten!"
Nearby, under a willow tree, several men and women were chatting and laughing. A scholar-like man, hearing his words, rose and approached him, bowing and smiling, "Young master, are you traveling alone? If you are in the mood, why not join us to enjoy the scenery and chat?" Wen Yuan saw that the man was about forty years old, with a refined appearance and polite manners, and immediately returned the bow, smiling, "I apologize for disturbing you." He then walked with the man to the willow tree. There
were originally three men and three women under the tree, but now Wen Yuan was also present. After Wen Yuan introduced himself, the scholar introduced him to each of them. The two men, both middle-aged scholars, one with a fair complexion and the other tall and thin, were the brothers Zhang Hede and Zhang Hefang from Suzhou, friends of the scholar Song Shangqian. The young woman was Madam Song, and the other two women were maids Ping'er and Cuixiang, brought by the Song couple for their lake excursion. Ping'er was pretty and charming, while Cuixiang was beautiful and delicate. Both were dressed in light, flowing clothes, graceful and charming. A yellow cloth was spread on the ground, upon which were laid many cups, pots, and dishes, quite exquisite and plentiful.
Wen Yuan untied his guqin from his back and placed it aside. Song Shangqian said to those around him, "Cuixiang, why haven't you poured wine for Young Master Wen?" Cuixiang replied, "Yes!" and poured wine, saying sweetly, "Young Master Wen, please!"
Wen Yuan smiled and said, "Thank you." He took the wine cup and took a small sip. Song Shangqian said, "Young Master Wen, why don't you drink it all? Isn't the wine delicious?" Wen Yuan smiled and said, "The wine is excellent, but to be honest, I have a very low alcohol tolerance. If I finish every cup, I'll be drunk and sleep on the Bai Causeway after just a few cups, which would spoil the beautiful scenery." Song Shangqian laughed loudly, "Alright! Since that's the case, fine wine is not enough to entertain guests. Young Master Wen, please drink some tea instead."
Zhang Zhifang said, "Master Wen, you must be very skilled at playing the zither while you're touring the lake. Why don't you play a piece for us to enjoy?" Zhang Zhide also said, "That's right." Wen Yuan smiled and said, "In that case, I'll make a fool of myself." He sat up and began to play, plucking and strumming the strings. The music was smooth and melodious, like singing, and full of charm. After playing for a while, a man who had been sleeping soundly under a willow tree suddenly sat up and listened intently. When Wen Yuan finished playing, Song Shangqian and the others all cheered, and some of the tourists nearby also expressed their admiration. The man slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Clear and vast, transcending the mundane world, what a wonderful 'Crane Dance in the Grotto'!"
Everyone looked at the man and saw that he was about thirty or forty years old, with a strong physique, a head of messy hair, two thick eyebrows, and a full beard that was very short and prickly, which seemed quite sharp. His face was still clear, with a long scar on his forehead. He was wearing a tattered short shirt, which was not very presentable, but his eyes were bright and piercing.
Song Shangqian and the Zhang brothers thought to themselves, "What kind of music does this brute know? He's just a pig trying to pick up toilet paper, pretending to be cultured." But then they heard the man shout, "How many rich kids know any good music? He's just a pig trying to pick up toilet paper, haha, pretending to be cultured! Young brother, I was listening to your polite talk earlier, but I only smelled a lot of stinking farts. I didn't expect you to actually have some talent. The music is fine, but the melody is truly exquisite; ordinary people couldn't play it like that."
Wen Yuan, hearing his words, realized he had been directly confronted with his own thoughts. Overjoyed by the sentiment expressed in the music, he laughed and said, "You flatter me.
Since you are so skilled in music, why don't you also share your talent?" Song, Zhang, and the other two were already displeased that the man had insulted them, and when Wen Yuan invited them, they were all unwilling. Song Shangqian said, "This gentleman..."
The man waved his hand and said, "This place is full of vulgar people, they can't appreciate my music. Young brother, if you really want to hear my music, come to the platform on Lonely Mountain in an hour." After saying that, he stood up, stretched, yawned, and left without looking back.
Zhang Zhide, furious, said, "That rude man is so impolite!" Zhang Zhifang said, "What real knowledge does such a person have, spouting such grandiose pronouncements?" Wen Yuan smiled slightly, thinking to himself, "Although this gentleman is impolite, his knowledge of the zither is truly remarkable. It would be a pity to miss the appointment at the Lonely Mountain Platform." Song Shangqian laughed, "Young Master Wen's zither music just now was truly excellent! Even that rude man knows how to appreciate beauty; this is what it means to be appreciated by all. Come, everyone, let's toast Young Master Wen!"
The group discussed poetry, admired the scenery, and enjoyed tea and wine. After more than half an hour, except for Wen Yuan, who was drinking tea and being served by two maids, everyone else was tipsy and their speech was somewhat incoherent. Song Shangqian embraced his wife and joked around, while the Zhang brothers sang loudly. Suddenly, Zhang Zhifang pulled Cuixiang into his arms, and the two brothers began to behave improperly.
Cui Xiang giggled, her face flushed with drunkenness after Zhang Zhide had poured her three cups of wine. She became even more boisterous, rubbing and fidgeting, her clothes quite disheveled.
Wen Yuan, seeing the men and women becoming increasingly frivolous and dissolute, didn't want to watch any longer. Gazing at the lakeside scenery of the Broken Bridge in the distance, he picked up the teapot, but there wasn't a single drop of tea left. Ping'er chuckled, "Young Master Wen, you only drink tea, not wine, yet you've finished the tea completely. Let me heat up another pot for you." Wen Yuan smiled slightly, "That's too much trouble." Ping'er reached out to take the pot, her hand brushing against Wen Yuan's fingers. Her face flushed slightly, and she said, "Young Master Wen, your nails are getting long, isn't it inconvenient for you to play the zither?" Wen Yuan replied, "It's alright." Ping'er chuckled softly, "Young Master Wen, shall I trim your nails for you? That way, your zither playing will surely sound even better." Saying this, she brewed a pot of tea and started heating it up.
Wen Yuan chuckled and said, "I'm not your young master, why bother? You should go serve your master and mistress." Ping'er sighed. Seeing Wen Yuan's elegant and refined demeanor, she had already secretly fallen for him, thinking, "If only I were your maid."
Suddenly, she heard Cui Xiang's sweet, seductive laughter, full of wantonness. Zhang Zhifang hugged Cui Xiang from behind, his left hand slipping under her skirt, between her legs, pinching and kneading without restraint. Zhang Zhide splashed cups of wine on her face and clothes, laughing, "Look, all... wet! Ahahaha..." Cui Xiang licked the wine from her lips, laughing and panting, her clothes completely soaked, clinging to her body, revealing the curves of her chest. Zhang Zhifang laughed, "Well, this whole area under your skirt is wet, I wonder if it's wine." Zhang Zhide wiped his mouth and laughed, "Wouldn't a taste tell us immediately?" He then lifted her skirt and stuck his head inside. Cuixiang twisted her body, laughing uncontrollably, but her laughter was tinged with moans, growing slower and more frivolous.
Ping'er's face flushed, and she unconsciously tightened her collar. Wen Yuan said, "Miss Ping'er!" Ping'er's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her head timidly, "Mr...Mr. Wen, you...you wouldn't want to...want to..."
Wen Yuan smiled calmly, "Want what? The tea's almost boiled dry." Ping'er was startled, and blushed, laughing, "I forgot."
"Young Master Wen, please don't call me 'Miss.' I'm just a little maid; my name is Ping'er." She then arranged the tea set.
Wen Yuan smiled, recalling the words of the man surnamed Ren, and unwilling to watch Song Zhang and the others' antics any longer, he took a sip of tea, rose, and said, "Gentlemen, I have urgent business to attend to, so I must take my leave. Thank you for your hospitality."
Song Shangqian was flirting with his wife and had no time for formalities, only laughing, "Please, please... Young Master Wen, until we meet again... Haha, come, let me kiss you here..." Ping'er blushed and bowed, saying, "Young Master Wen, my master is confused; please don't mind." Wen Yuan slung his guqin over his shoulder and laughed, "How could I? Miss Ping'er, I'm truly sorry I can't finish your tea."
Ping'er watched Wen Yuan leave, then turned back to see the group of men and women entangled together, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
Wen Yuan moved with light steps, turning left and right, taking three steps in two, passing through a tree-lined path. Before long, he saw the two large characters "Gushan" (Solitary Hill) carved on a stone wall in front of him. Upon reaching the platform of Gushan, he saw a small pavilion to the north that read "West Lake's Most Beautiful Scenery," with a bridge, a pond, and artificial hills and rocks, their arrangement both varied and sparse, truly extraordinary. However, a large man sat on the artificial hill, hands on his chest, legs crossed. Upon seeing Wen Yuan, he laughed heartily and said, "Well done, young brother, you keep your promise, remarkable!" With that, he leaped down and landed on solid ground.
Wen Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Ren, you are so generous! How could I not keep your appointment?" The man said, "Oh, how did you know my surname is Ren?" Wen Yuan said, "You referred to yourself as Ren earlier, so you naturally know." The man laughed and said, "That's right, I forgot. I heard you and those guys introduce yourselves as Wen Yuan. My full name is Ren Jianqing. Come, come, I just broke a zither, could you lend me one?" Wen Yuan said, "Please." He handed over the zither.
Ren Jianqing sat down and played the strings, laughing, "Luckily, I thought it was right. There are no tourists here, otherwise they wouldn't be able to stand it." Wen Yuan was puzzled and was about to ask when Ren Jianqing took a breath, and with a "zheng," the zither music soared and rose. Wen Yuan was deeply moved, thinking, "What a magnificent spirit!"
Ren Jianqing was full of vigor, playing stronger and stronger, the music surging in all directions, its power immense. Wen Yuan was awestruck, his spirit soaring, his whole body tense.
Suddenly, a series of crackling sounds rang out, and all seven strings of the zither snapped. The zither body scattered with a series of snapping noises, and the piece was finished. Wen Yuan was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Excellent! 'His ambition lies beyond the vast expanse, roaming freely beyond the eight directions, as if riding a chariot drawn by the wind and clouds, letting his spirit roam the heavens and earth, traversing the universe without any constraints!' Brother Ren, what a magnificent 'roaming of the eight directions'!" Ren
Jianqing laughed loudly, "Young brother, I've ruined one of your fine zithers, what do you think?" Wen Yuan smiled and said, "Fine zithers are easy to find, but fine music is rare! If Brother Ren would be willing to play ten pieces, I'll buy ten zithers as a gift, what's a little regret!"
Ren Jianqing patted the broken zither body and said happily, "Good lad, you truly understand music. I was right to give you this piece. Ordinary people can't stand listening to it. Before halfway through, they'd either be stunned or run far away. Only those who understand music can appreciate it, and only martial arts masters can enjoy it. Young brother, you possess both, rare indeed, how delightful!"
Wen Yuan was surprised and said, "Brother Ren, how did you know I know martial arts?" Ren Jianqing smiled and said, "The melody of your zither resonates with my pulse; as a fellow practitioner, I naturally understand." Xiao. How do you see my internal strength? Wen Yuan said, "It is sharp and extraordinary, with a soft inner strength, like the endless Yangtze River. Brother Ren's skill is even better than mine."
Ren Jianqing laughed and said, "You are very good at listening, you are amazing!"

Ten Scenes (Six)

Wen Yuan was pleased to see that Ren Jianqing was straightforward and honest. He said, "Brother Ren's performance was unrestrained. It is really enjoyable to hear this piece today. It is a pity that the zither is broken. Otherwise, I would like to play another piece and ask Brother Ren for some pointers."
Ren Jianqing laughed and said, "I have also heard you play a piece. We are even, isn't that good?"
Wen Yuan shook his head and said, "No, no, I just played 'Crane Dance in the Cave Heaven'. I did not expect that there was a zither player as good as Brother Ren here. Therefore, I did not play with all my heart. It is not comparable to this 'Eight Extremes Tour'." Ren Jianqing was overjoyed and exclaimed, "
Excellent! So you still have a hidden talent you haven't shown yet! This is wonderful!"
Then, his expression suddenly turned serious. "No, my musical inspiration has run its course today. I can't possibly play another piece for you. I'll have to wait until another day to hear your wonderful music, young brother. How can I be the only one to benefit? Alas, what a pity!" He sighed deeply after speaking.
Wen Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Ren, if you're in the mood, I'm always ready to accompany you. Are you a local, Brother Ren?"
Ren Jianqing replied, "No! I have no fixed abode. I stay wherever I feel comfortable. I've recently encountered some trouble here, which is why I've stayed a few more days." He laughed heartily and said, "Young brother, I'll have to invite you to enjoy the scenery of West Lake for a few more days, and then we can play a few more pieces." Wen Yuan smiled and said, "Exactly." The two hit it off immediately and found themselves very compatible. When they parted, they agreed to meet again in three days.
It was dusk when Wen Yuan said goodbye to Ren Jianqing. Wen Yuan suddenly remembered something and quickly used his lightness skill to rush off. He traveled for six or seven miles before stopping. In the distance, he saw Xizhao Mountain, where the sun was setting and colorful clouds swirled. A pagoda's shadow rose from the mountaintop—it was Leifeng Pagoda. Wen Yuan smiled and muttered to himself, "Luckily, I made it in time. I didn't miss this 'Leifeng Sunset.' Not too early, not too late, just right."
He strolled around at his leisure for a while, then came to a forest path and went to a town to find lodging and rest.
Finding an inn, the waiter came out to greet him, but said, "Sir, you're looking for lodging? Unfortunately, we're out of rooms upstairs tonight. We just booked the last room for a young lady." Suddenly, a delicate female voice said, "Yes, that's me." Wen Yuan turned around and saw the inn was packed with people. He didn't know who had said that, so he smiled and said, "Alright, please show me to a seat. I'll have a meal and that'll be enough." The waiter found him a seat. Wen Yuan ordered two steamed buns and was eating when a caravan of over fifty men entered the inn. The leader asked the waiter, "Waiter, do you have any rooms?" Wen Yuan swallowed a bite of his bun and said, "No, I couldn't book a room."
The leader glanced at him, took out a silver ingot, and said to the waiter, "I'll book the entire first floor for you tonight. The lodging fee is separate." The waiter took the silver and readily agreed. Wen Yuan observed the caravan, which escorted ten carts, their banners embroidered with silver cloud patterns, exuding an imposing aura. The man, around forty or fifty years old, had a square face, a tall and sturdy build, and a rather dignified presence. He called out in a loud voice, "Brother Hong, you take ten brothers and keep watch. The rest of you, come in and rest." One of the guards agreed and left.
Wen Yuan finished his steamed bun and got up to leave when he suddenly heard a woman cry out, "Oops!" followed by the sound of a broken bowl. Wen Yuan turned around and saw a girl pointing at a puddle of soup noodles and broken bowl shards on the ground, saying to one of the guards, "What were you doing? Walking without watching where you're going! You knocked over my noodles, what a waste!" Her voice was soft and melodious, the same one he had just heard. The girl appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, petite, wearing a pink silk dress with a thin white veil draped over her shoulders. With arched eyebrows and delicate eyes, she was extremely beautiful and charming. Wen Yuan smiled to himself, thinking, "That room is really lucky to have such a young lady staying there, much better than me, a stinking scholar."
The bodyguard frowned and said, "The young lady put the bowl out so far out herself, how can you blame me?" The girl pouted, her expression as if she was about to cry, and exclaimed, "How can you say that? Everyone here is the judge! Does that mean that if the bowl is near the edge of the table, it deserves to be knocked off? I've only eaten half of this bowl of noodles..." As she spoke, she really seemed to be on the verge of tears, which amused the onlookers.
The leading man said, "Alright, Brother Yang, just compensate her. Don't argue with a young lady." The镖师 (bodyguard/escort) surnamed Yang said, "Okay." The young lady smiled sweetly and said, "Chief镖师 Hao is so understanding. Thank you!" The man was taken aback and said, "Who are you, young lady? How do you know me..." The young lady tapped the table with her index finger and laughed, "That flag has cloud and mist patterns on it. Isn't that the Iron Cloud Escort Agency from the capital? Chief镖师 Hao Yigang is very skilled. Who doesn't know? With so many large escorts, do you think Master Hao would just sit in the agency drinking tea and send out some ordinary people?" She finished speaking and smiled.
The man was indeed Hao Yigang, the chief镖师 of the Iron Cloud Escort Agency. He was highly skilled in martial arts, and everyone in the vicinity of the capital knew him. The Iron Cloud Escort Agency had been established for seventy years and had a great reputation. This time, he was escorting a large shipment to the Zeng family mansion in Shaoxing. He couldn't help but feel a little proud that this young lady knew his name.
Yang, the bodyguard, said to the waiter, "Waiter, another bowl of clear soup noodles..." The girl smiled and said, "Wait a minute, I only have half a bowl of noodles left, you don't have to make up for the whole bowl! I'll just find something cheaper, okay?" Seeing her innocent and cute appearance, Yang, the bodyguard, wasn't annoyed and asked, "What would you like, miss?"
The girl stood up, pointed to a row of caravans outside the shop, and said with a grin, "Just these ten carts, that should be enough!" Yang, the bodyguard, laughed and said, "Miss, don't joke around, these are the goods our escort agency is transporting..."
The girl ignored him, put her hands behind her back, walked to the door, and called out, "Hey, hey, hey, all of you move aside!
Coachman, follow the girl!" A hot-tempered porter waved his hand and said, "Little girl, stop fooling around...
Ouch!" Before he finished speaking, there was a scream, and the hand flew out halfway through the swing, blood splattering on the doorway. The young girl said calmly, "Fine, you've been so disrespectful to me. Losing just a hand is a good deal for you."
This caused the guests in the shop to change color, and many gasped in surprise. The caravan guard, Hong, rushed forward, cursing, "You little bitch, looking for trouble?" He reached out to grab her. The grab was powerful, but unexpectedly, blood splattered, and somehow, Hong's right wrist was severed, flying to a nearby table and landing in a pot of hot soup. The man screamed, "Oh my god!" and fell backward. Hong cried out in pain, stumbling back four or five steps.
Wen Yuan was taken aback, thinking, "This young lady is quite pretty, but her skills are both swift and ruthless."
Hao Yigang was even more shocked and furious. He stepped forward and shouted angrily, "Little girl, what's your background?" The young lady turned around and smiled, "Chief镖头 Hao, are these 600,000 taels of silver all being delivered to the Zeng family mansion in Shaoxing? Shaoxing isn't that far from here, so I think you don't need to bother. How about I deliver it for you?"
Hao Yigang's anger flared up, and he said, "Little girl, state your name. You injured two of my brothers. Are you determined to make trouble for the Hao family?" The young lady raised her head slightly and said, "So what? Hey, you're someone with some skill in the martial arts world. You should at least know the names 'Big and Little Murong,' right?" Hao Yigang's heart skipped a beat. He said, "
The two Murongs? They're a pair of infamous villains in the martial arts world, everyone knows that. What do you call them?" The little girl giggled and said, "You really do know. As for the elder Murong, I'll call him elder brother. As for the younger Murong, I'm sorry, my humble name is probably not enough to compare with elder brother, hehe!"
Upon hearing this, everyone from the Iron Cloud Escort Agency was shocked. The
"two Murongs" were a brother and sister with the compound surname Murong. Both were very young, but their martial arts were strong, and their actions were unpredictable. The elder brother was especially notorious, ruthless and vicious. His "Great Vertical and Horizontal Sword Technique" was famous throughout the martial arts world, and he had taken countless lives. The younger sister's martial arts were unique, unlike her brother's rampage, but her reputation was also extremely bad. This was because the brother and sister often acted side by side, and both bore the blame for a single evil deed, so naturally neither received a good reputation. The two had earned the reputation of being notorious villains in the martial arts world within three years of their debut, known as the "Big and Little Murong," though their real names were rarely known.
Hao Yigang had assumed she must have had companions, otherwise, it would be illogical for a lone young girl to rob a caravan. Unexpectedly, she claimed to be "Little Murong," and seeing her skill in crippling two hands in quick succession, so strange and ruthless, Hao Yigang broke out in a cold sweat, thinking, "Am I, Hao Yigang, going to die here today?" Unable to feign weakness, he said, "So it's Miss Little Murong, but this shipment of silver..." Little Murong raised a pretty eyebrow and said, "You have to give me this shipment of silver, whether you like it or not! Chief镖头 Hao, I know your skills very well; you're no match for me. Take the shipment, not your life; take your life, not the shipment! What do you say?"
Everyone in the Iron Cloud Escort Agency showed anger. Hao Yigang thought, "There are over fifty of us, and this vixen is all alone. Are we really no match for her? If we lose this shipment, my ancestral Iron Cloud Escort Agency will be ruined. Either way, we're going to die; today, I'll fight you to the death!" He immediately shouted, "Brothers, let's join forces to capture this female demon and rid the martial world of this scourge!" The镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) roared in agreement and drew their weapons.
Suddenly, Xiao Murong stopped, her eyes brimming with tears, and cried out, "Hey, what is this? Dozens of men bullying a girl like me, I, I..." Before she could finish, she covered her face with her hands and began to sob. The bodyguards were stunned. Seeing her delicate appearance, as if she would collapse in a gust of wind, they couldn't help but think, "Is this little girl really that devilish Xiao Murong?" Suddenly,
Xiao Murong leaped out, her sword flashing like a crimson cloud streaked with blue and white lightning, moving in and out, darting around. Only screams could be heard, one after another, and in the blink of an eye, seven bodyguards lay dead on the ground. Everyone was shocked, but then they heard Xiao Murong laugh and say, "It seems more reasonable for a little girl like me to bully a group of men, isn't it?"
Hao Yigang was both angry and horrified, and roared as he pounced. Xiao Murong swayed her slender waist and flicked her wrist. A short sword appeared out of nowhere, changing shape unpredictably. She laughed and counted, "Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, four, five, six, seven, eight..." The count grew faster and faster until the镖师 (bodyguards) couldn't even see it clearly. Xiao Murong leaped up and landed on a wooden table, laughing, "I've counted to five fives, twenty-five! Do you want to die or kill someone?" The short sword swung gently, and blood dripped from its tip.
镖师 Yang, wielding a single-edged sword, charged forward, cursing, "You witch!" Xiao Murong dodged, tripping him with her right foot, and laughed, "I've spoken a few words to you, so you're lucky. I can save you for the second-to-last kill, and then kill Hao Yigang last." Hao Yigang was furious and unleashed a set of Five Elements Sword techniques, alternating between opposing forces, each strike powerful and fierce, a continuous barrage of attacks. Seeing that his swordsmanship was not weak, Xiao Murong giggled and said, "Chief镖头 Hao is indeed skilled. If all fifty-odd men were this good, I wouldn't be so confident!" As she spoke, she stabbed three镖师 in the throat, killing them instantly with a single sword stroke. Twenty-eight men were already dead. The customers in the shop rushed out of the door. The innkeeper and waiters huddled against the wall in fear. Only the guests in the second-floor rooms were unaware that a bloody battle had broken out below.
Wen Yuan was shocked by Xiao Murong's ghostly swordsmanship. He thought to himself, "This swordsmanship is ruthless and cunning. If I use my master's swordsmanship to deal with it, it seems I lack agility. Could it be that I am no match for her?" A thought flashed through his mind, and he thought, "If my senior brother were here, he would have much greater experience and would surely be able to find an opening to strike her short sword with the Nine Thunder Palms." While he was thinking, Hao Yigang was struck by two swords in the arm, almost losing his arm. There were now thirty-three corpses lying on the ground.
Hao Yigang shouted, "Brothers, get back! Don't come up here to your deaths!" Little Murong laughed, "Oh dear, sorry, how can I kill you if they don't die?" Her movements were elusive, focusing on attacking the other镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), leaving Hao Yigang chasing her while also trying to stop her from killing his own men. Instantly, his weakness was exposed. Little Murong kicked him in the waist, striking a pressure point. Hao Yigang's single sword fell to the ground, and he slumped to the ground.
Little Murong held her short sword to the back of his neck, and the镖师 dared not move, all panicking. Little Murong laughed, "I've killed enough for today. Hey, you can all commit suicide now, and Chief镖师 Hao will follow you in the afterlife, and another Iron Cloud镖局 (escort agency) will rise in the underworld."
Hao Yigang, his pressure points sealed, was unable to move and lamented, "Enough, enough! Miss Murong, please release my brothers and send Hao Yigang on his way!" Little Murong chuckled lightly and said, "If you don't all die cleanly, my elder brother will scold me for being clumsy." Pointing at one of the guards with her left hand, she laughed, "Why don't you commit suicide? Is it so hard to slit your own throat?" The guard's face turned pale, his right hand holding the single-edged sword trembling uncontrollably. He lost his grip and the sword fell to the ground with a clang. Little Murong cursed, "Useless!" With a kick of her left foot, a steel sword flew out from the ground, its momentum striking the guard's chest.
Suddenly, a figure swept in from the side, a flick of her sleeve deflecting the sword back, adding force as it shot straight at Little Murong. Xiao Murong was taken aback and parried with her sword, but felt a jolt in her hand, almost dropping the short sword. She was secretly alarmed: "This person has such strong internal energy, who is he?" Looking closely, she saw that the one who had intervened was a young scholar, who had already pulled Hao Yigang away.
This person was Wen Yuan. Wen Yuan had seen Xiao Murong's merciless attacks and felt sorry for her, but he couldn't grasp the essence of her swordsmanship and felt he couldn't subdue her. Moreover, her attacks were incredibly fast and difficult to counter.
When she kicked the steel blade, Wen Yuan could no longer stand idly by. He immediately intervened, deflecting the blade, and then used his palm to knock Hao Yigang away from her short sword. He then released his pressure points, a series of rapid movements that caught Xiao Murong off guard, and she was rescued by him.
Seeing his skill, Xiao Murong dared not underestimate him. She smiled sweetly and said, "This young master has such impressive skills, truly remarkable. May I ask your name?" Wen Yuan bowed and said, "My name is Wen Yuan, and I was just passing through. Miss Murong, you have killed so many people; you are too arrogant. Please stop." Xiao Murong blinked, seemingly not taking his words seriously, and laughed, "Alright, your martial arts are quite good. I'll leave the killing to you. I've already killed enough, after all." Wen Yuan said, "How can that be? As Bai Juyi once wrote in his poem, 'Who says the lives of all living beings are insignificant? They are all of the same flesh and blood, all of the same skin.' Human life is of paramount importance; how can we treat it lightly?" "
Little Murong pouted and said, "Who's nagging you? Fine, if you won't kill them, I'll kill you! What do you think?" Wen Yuan thought to himself, "This Master Hao seems no match for Miss Murong. Whether I can win is another matter. Since I've already gotten involved, I might as well see it through and save their lives." Having made up his mind, he said, "If you want to kill them, please do so, but I must resist. How can I easily hand over my life to someone else?
So many people from the Iron Cloud Escort Agency have died; it's too tragic. I absolutely cannot let you kill any more..."
Before he could finish speaking, a flash of sword light appeared, and Little Murong's sword was already upon him. Wen Yuan was startled. His position suddenly changed, and he turned to the side, narrowly escaping being beheaded. Wen Yuan, enraged, shouted, "Girl, you didn't even declare your presence beforehand, and you didn't wait for me to finish speaking! Isn't that a sneak attack?" Little Murong retorted, "I like sneak attacks, so what?"
Her hands moved swiftly, her short sword flashing like meteors, like a hundred flowers blooming, its cold light scattering across the sky.
Wen Yuan let out a clear whistle, leaping into the air, turning mid-air, his long sword drawn. Normally, when he didn't draw his sword, others simply thought he was a scholar with a sword, which was quite ordinary. But now, with the sword light flashing, he landed, assuming a stance, and raised his sword according to the incantation, the long sword pointing directly at Little Murong. Instantly, he became calm and composed, as steady as a mountain, the blade unmoving—this was the "Compass Sword," a technique he had studied since childhood.
He recalled how the Yellow Emperor created the compass chariot to break through Chi You's fog, relying on the wooden figure on the chariot always pointing south, thus knowing how to break through the fog. The essence of this "Guide Sword" technique lies in the word "point," striking where the enemy cannot reach. The swordplay doesn't seek quantity, but precision. Seeing his extraordinary bearing, Xiao Murong dared not be careless. His smile vanished, and his short sword swirled like a storm, unleashing a series of rapid attacks.
Wen Yuan's longsword remained fixed on his opponent, focusing more on thrusts than slashes, though some were deflections, the tip always pointing within half a foot of his opponent's body. Xiao Murong's attacks grew faster and faster, his heart filled with the same anxiety. Everyone at the Iron Cloud Escort Agency was dumbfounded; Hao Yigang's eyes were blurred, and Wen Yuan was equally astonished. But his swordplay remained unhurried, his inner strength increasing, using simplicity to overcome complexity, becoming increasingly adept. The clanging sounds of their swords clashing were incessant. Eventually, it seemed as if Xiao Murong was solely targeting the longsword, unable to defeat Wen Yuan without breaking it in one strike.
Little Murong grew increasingly uneasy, thinking, "This sword technique of my elder brother is truly difficult to master. If I don't use my full strength, won't I lose?" Her thoughts were momentarily distracted when Wen Yuan's sword pierced through the encirclement, striking her wrist squarely. With a clang, a gold bracelet snapped in two. Little Murong cried out in surprise, her short sword flying from her hand.
The members of the Iron Cloud Escort Agency cheered in unison. Wen Yuan was also delighted, thinking, "Master's swordsmanship is truly formidable; it works perfectly."
Unexpectedly, Little Murong reacted with lightning speed, her right hand flashing out the two broken bracelets as projectiles. Wen Yuan swung his sword to deflect them, feeling a slight soreness in his wrist. He realized that even after blocking a flurry of sword strikes, Little Murong's internal energy had slightly disrupted his blood and
qi. He thought, "This girl is truly extraordinary." Having been caught off guard, Little Murong caught the short sword mid-air and laughed, "Hey, I'm not kidding anymore. Now I'm really going to kill you! Take this!" Suddenly, her swordsmanship changed, becoming graceful, fluid, and exquisitely beautiful. Wen Yuan was startled. He saw Xiao Murong's white veil fluttering, her ribbons dancing lightly, dimples appearing on her pretty face. She moved gracefully around him with light steps, her swordplay becoming increasingly exquisite, a sight to behold that was so captivating that he almost didn't think to defend himself.
Seeing her attack like this, Wen Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder, immediately struck by a sword. Startled, he quickly rearranged his "Guide Sword" stance, guarding his defenses, and focused intently on the attack, thinking, "I almost lost my life. How can this swordplay be so beautiful? It truly is 'The wind blows, and the fairy's sleeves flutter, like a dance of rainbow feathers.' Ah!"
In a moment of distraction, the short sword slashed across, and if he had been a little slower, his chest would have been severely injured. He dared not think rashly, thinking, "I'll observe her moves carefully before counterattacking."
Little Murong, seeing that his ultimate move had given him the upper hand, was overjoyed, thinking, "As expected, my 'Rainbow Feather Sword' is still the most comfortable. My elder brother's Great Horizontal and Vertical Sword Technique is beyond my internal strength."
This "Rainbow Feather Sword" was incredibly powerful; it appeared like a beautiful dance, but in reality, every move concealed a hidden attack, combining softness with strength, and its unpredictable changes were full of surprises. Wen Yuan wielded his compass sword, thinking, "No matter how strange your sword techniques are, I'll use the same compass sword to deal with you."

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