[Wuxia] The Carefree Journey of the Tang Dynasty (Book) - 7-9

Chapter 22: A Fury at

Xingyang, the birthplace of the well-known "Chu River and Han Border" in Chinese chess.

Xingyang's strategic location, known as the "gateway between the two capitals and the throat of the three Qin regions," made it a famous military stronghold in ancient China, where many famous battles took place. For example, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu divided the world at the Honggou Canal in Xingyang; during the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei fought the "Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu" at Hulao Pass in Xingyang; and military strategists throughout history, such as Zhang Han, Wu Guang, Li Shimin, and Dou Jiande, all staged great battles in Xingyang. During the Han Dynasty, Xingyang was a renowned city, on par with Chang'an and Luoyang, known for its immense wealth and status. Xingyang was also a crucial political location throughout history. Bounded by the Honggou Canal connecting the Huai and Si Rivers to the east, bordered by the Mangshan Mountains to the north and adjacent to the Yellow River, and bordered by the Suohe River connecting to the Songshan Mountains to the south, Xingyang was strategically located west of the Hulao Pass, connecting to Luoyang and Chang'an. Its strategic location and convenient transportation made it a vital seat of government throughout history. After Qin Shi Huang unified China and established the Qin Dynasty, he established the Sanchuan Commandery in Xingyang, governing counties such as Xingyang, Gong, and Jing. During the Western Han Dynasty, the Sanchuan Commandery was renamed the Henan Commandery, governing counties such as Xingyang, Chenggao, Gushi, Mixian, Zhongmu, Xinzheng, and Yuanling. In the first year of the Tai Shi era of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Henan Commandery was renamed the Xingyang Commandery, with its capital still in Xingyang. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Beiyuzhou Prefecture was established at Hulao Pass, and the Xingyang Commandery was established there. After the Northern Zhou dynasty conquered the Northern Qi dynasty, it renamed Beiyuzhou, which consisted of Xingyang and its surrounding areas, as Xingzhou, with its capital in Chenggao. After Emperor Wen of Sui established the Sui dynasty, he renamed Xingzhou (formerly Xingzhou) as Zhengzhou, which administered Xingyang, Chenggao, Mi, Neimou, Yuanling, and other counties. The capital of Zhengzhou remained in Chenggao.

The fall of Xingyang was a turning point in the rise and fall of the Sui dynasty and the starting point for Li Mi's ambition to dominate the empire.

Li Mi joined the Wagang Army in the twelfth year of the Daye era. He was extremely shrewd and ambitious. Taking advantage of the Wagang Army and Zhai Rang's rising power, and relying on his unparalleled martial prowess, he subdued nearby small rebel groups and various forces, multiplying the Wagang Army's strength. He also realized that relying solely on intercepting grain transport to maintain military supplies was a fatal weakness for the Wagang Army, insufficient to meet its needs.

Therefore, he suggested to Zhai Rang, "First take Xingyang, rest the troops and stock up on provisions, wait until the soldiers and horses are well-fed, and then compete with others for profit."

This insight alone demonstrates Li Mi's superior strategic brilliance, surpassing even Zhai Rang's.

Controlling the Xingyang region would solve the long-term food supply problem, further expand their power, and directly threaten Luoyang, the eastern capital, even affecting the connection between the capital and the three major military strongholds of Luoyang and Jiangdu.

After Zhai Rang agreed, in October of the same year, the Wagang Army launched a major offensive, first capturing the surrounding counties of Xingyang and then pursuing the city itself.

Yang Guang took this very seriously, dispatching Zhang Xutuo, the then-top general and commander of the twelve prefectures of Henan Province, as the governor of Xingyang, leading 20,000 elite troops to meet the attack.

Li Mi then used a stratagem to lure the enemy deep into their territory, and together with Zhai Rang's army, launched a pincer attack, severely damaging Zhang's army. Li Mi even personally intervened, killing Zhang Xutuo.

This battle made Li Mi famous throughout the land, making him the most prestigious figure in the Wagang Army, implicitly surpassing even the Grand Leader Zhai Rang.

This great victory established the foundation of the Wagang Army and severely damaged the prestige of the Sui army. Under these circumstances, Zhai Rang had no choice but to allow Li Mi to lead his own army, known as the Duke of Pushan's Camp.

Li Mi came from a noble family, with hereditary titles, so he inherited the title of Duke of Pushan and thus adopted it as his name.

Li Mi was extremely ambitious; having captured Xingyang, he also plotted to develop Luocang.

This granary was the largest granary of the Sui Dynasty, so Yang Guang attached great importance to it, dispatching General Liu Wengong with 25,000 infantry and cavalry from Luoyang, the eastern capital, in an attempt to reverse the decline. He also sent Pei Renji to attack the Wagang Army's flank from Hulao Pass, hoping to use these two large armies to contain Li Mi. At the same time, Yang Guang also sent his capable subordinate Wang Shichong to Luokou to confront Li Mi head-on.

Stepping on the fresh snow, Yuan Yueze, having recovered some of his strength after four hours of rest, stood before this ancient city, still magnificent a thousand years later, his heart surging with emotion.

His thoughts were a jumble of emotions, but his greatest worry was Su Su's safety. He composed himself, slipped past the guards at the city gate, and leaped into the city.

He had little time to appreciate the local customs and culture of Xingyang. After asking a passerby about Zhai Rang's residence, he headed straight there.

In less than half a cup of tea's time, Yuan Yueze arrived at Zhai Rang's residence, formerly known as the 'Xingyang Prefect's Residence,' now called the 'Great Dragon Head Residence.'

Sneaking into the courtyard, Yuan Yueze searched aimlessly like a headless fly. Finally, in desperation, he grabbed a passing maid, wanting to ask about Su Su's whereabouts.

"Keep your voice down, I won't harm you. Do you know where the eldest young lady's personal maid, Miss Su Su, lives?"

Yuan Yueze pressed a hand over the mouth of the maid he had pulled to a corner.

The maid, her eyes filled with shock, nodded after hearing Yuan Yueze's words and seeing no malice in his gaze.

"Susu disappeared a few days ago after returning. The other servants said she was given to General Wang by the Grand Dragon Head,"

she said after calming herself slightly.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yueze thought to himself, "Oh no!"

After asking the maid for the location of General Wang's residence, Yuan Yueze smiled apologetically and flew away. The maid shook her head, somewhat confused, and left with small, hurried steps.

North of Xingyang City, inside a sizable mansion

, Susu sat in a luxuriously decorated boudoir, her face filled with sorrow, staring blankly out the window.

The first time she saw Yuan Yueze, an inexplicable and strange feeling unexpectedly welled up within her. Then, Yuan Yueze effortlessly healed her leg injury, and later, he took her and his wives to live with him for a short time. Those days were unforgettable for Susu. She had certainly heard Yuan Yueze's "world-shaking" roar before, and had witnessed his various abilities firsthand in the days that followed. How could she not be attracted to him? Not to mention how charming Yuan Yueze's appearance and demeanor were.

What Su Su found even more unforgettable were Yuan Yueze's wives, each one like a fairy. As Zhai Jiao's personal maid, Su Su had naturally attended some important gatherings and seen some famous and high-status women. But none of them could compare to Yuan Yueze's group of beautiful wives. His wives were almost all of extraordinary origin. Especially the noble Miss Song, who showed no disdain for Su Su's humble background. Not only that, but she also personally accompanied Su Su every day, explaining everything magical about the world around her.

Su Su's curiosity about Yuan Yueze grew stronger and stronger, and she didn't even realize when she had fallen in love. Although Song Yuzhi would occasionally explain some things about Yuan Yueze, such as his embarrassing moments and martial arts competitions, etc. On her first day back in Yuhang, Susu chatted with Song Yuzhi and, after being teased by her, realized she had fallen deeply in love with the handsome Yuan Yueze. However, Susu knew her social standing was unworthy of Yuan Yueze, and all she could do was keep her feelings to herself.

During their time in the Yiyang valley, Yuan Yueze had been incredibly attentive to Susu's needs. Susu spent her days chatting and playing with his other wives. The warmth of that family life made Susu realize how joyful life could be.

Back in Yuhang, Yuan Yueze and the women parted ways, each going their own way. Susu panicked after hearing from Yun Yuzhen that Li Mi was plotting to eliminate Zhai Rang. Susu was grateful to Zhai Rang for saving her life. Zhai Rang entrusted Susu to Zhai Jiao, who, despite her unattractive appearance, treated Susu very well, like a sister. So, despite the earnest persuasion of Shan Meixian and Wei Zhenzhen, Su Su still decided to return to Xingyang to warn Zhai Rang to be wary of Li Mi.

After waving goodbye to Fu Junqiang, who had rushed to take her back to Xingyang, Su Su, heading towards the city, could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face. She seemed to realize that after this parting, she would probably never see the magical man who had captivated her again, nor experience that warm and comfortable family life.

However, she did not regret it; it was her nature. Even though Zhai Rang had only saved her casually, in her heart, she felt she had to repay him a hundredfold. Even if Zhai Rang treated her like merchandise and gave her away casually, she would not resist.

Today, she sat at the table again, thinking of Yuan Yueze and his beautiful wives.

But at this moment, all she could do was "longing"...

The more Su Su thought, the more bitter her heart felt.

"Bang!"

A soft sound brought Su Su back from her chaotic thoughts.

Following the direction of the sound, Su Su looked up and was immediately surprised, her mouth agape, her beautiful eyes filled with joy.

Jumping in through the window was Yuan Yueze.

"Su Su!"

Yuan Yueze was overjoyed to see Su Su, taking several large steps forward and pulling her into his arms.

Upon seeing Yuan Yueze's sudden arrival and his intimate contact, Su Su's face flushed crimson. Feeling his fresh, masculine aura, Su Su felt her heart pounding, overwhelmed with shyness. Yet, she couldn't bear to leave the warm embrace of the man before her.

The two stood there in this ambiguous posture for almost a quarter of an hour. Yuan Yueze gently grasped Su Su's shoulders and said softly, "Su Su, I've come to take you."

His words were straightforward, yet they carried Yuan Yueze's affection for her.

Hearing this, Su Su's flushed face was filled with joy, but then suddenly turned deathly pale. She lowered her head, gently shook it, and two lines of clear tears slid to the ground.

"I appreciate your kindness, young master, but I'm just a maid. Without the Grand Master's orders, I can't leave freely,"

Su Su said softly, her voice filled with bitterness.

"Is it just because of Zhai Rang's orders?"

Yuan Yueze's unease, which had been building since he heard Su Su had been given away, lessened slightly as he tentatively asked.

Su Su nodded awkwardly.

Yuan Yueze was extremely perceptive; seeing Su Su's reaction, his unease surged back intensely.

"Then why are you here? This is Wang Bodang's residence, isn't it?"

Yuan Yueze stared intently into Susu's eyes and asked.

"It's...it was Da Longtou who sent Susu...to General Wang two days ago."

Susu dared not meet Yuan Yueze's gaze, lowering her head and whispering.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yueze immediately understood why Susu wouldn't go with him.

"Zhai Rang treated you like merchandise, and you still owe him something! It's because of Wang Bodang that Susu doesn't want to come with me!"

Yuan Yueze's voice had already turned cold.

"No...no, Susu's body is already...Susu is not worthy of you, young master."

Seeing that Yuan Yueze's words seemed to imply that she had fallen in love with Wang Bodang, Susu immediately began to explain. As she spoke, the tears she had just stopped welled up again, and her frail body trembled slightly. It was clear how much pain she was enduring!

“Susu, no matter what, I will take you away. Your fate was manipulated by others, which is why you have suffered such a tragic fate. I don’t care. Answer me, are you willing to come with me? Are you willing to marry me?”

Yuan Yueze now fully understood: Zhai Rang had given Susu to Wang Bodang, and Wang Bodang had already violated Susu! His hatred could no longer be contained, but fearing to frighten Susu, he tried to lower his voice as he spoke to her.

Seeing Yuan Yueze treat her this way, Susu felt even more pained. Tears streaming down her face, she left Yuan Yueze’s embrace, sat down gently, and sobbed with her head down.

“Go, I’ll take you away now!”

Yuan Yueze was filled with rage. He forcefully pulled Susu up and walked towards the door.

Susu didn’t know whether she should resist or not, and could only follow behind Yuan Yueze, weeping.

Once outside, Yuan Yueze swept Susu into his arms, leaped into the air, and sped towards the city center.

Landing near the city center, Yuan Yueze set aside Su Su, whose expression was complex. Grabbing her hand tightly, he took a deep breath and roared, "Wang Bodang! You beast! Come to the city to see me!"

His voice, imbued with profound inner energy, could resonate throughout a large part of Xingyang City!

Wagang soldiers were still patrolling nearby. Hearing this, they immediately surrounded him, but seeing Yuan Yueze's cold expression and the chilling aura emanating from him, the surrounding Wagang soldiers dared not make a move.

In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, heavy footsteps echoed through the street, indicating a large number of people, at least several hundred.

In the blink of an eye, this group of men arrived before Yuan Yueze, quickly surrounding him and Su Su in layers. Spears, halberds, and arrows gleamed coldly in the sunlight, exuding a murderous aura!

"Susu, are you afraid?"

Yuan Yueze ignored the Wagang soldiers around him and turned to Susu in a low voice.

"Young Master, don't hurt yourself for Susu's sake. Let's go, Susu will go with you."

Susu showed no signs of weakness, not worried at all about the various weapons around her piercing her body at any moment. She just looked at Yuan Yueze with concern.

Yuan Yueze just smiled slightly and tightened his grip on her hand.

"Who dares to cause trouble in the Wagang army!"

A loud voice rang out.

Yuan Yueze shifted his gaze from Susu's face and looked in the direction of the voice.

He saw the dark mass of Wagang soldiers part to make way for a man holding two spears who walked into the battle. This man was tall, muscular, and dark-skinned, like an iron tower cast from red bronze. He was coldly sizing up Yuan Yueze. When his eyes fell on Susu beside Yuan Yueze, his expression changed drastically, and his eyes seemed to ignite with fire.

In official history, Wang Bodang was a loyal general under Li Mi. In novels such as *The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties*, *The Complete Story of the Romance of the Tang Dynasty*, and *The Rise of the Tang Dynasty*, as well as other folk tales, Wang Bodang was famous for his archery skills and nicknamed "Brave Third Brother." His ranking varies across different novels.

In *The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties*, he ranks sixth in Wagang Village and seventeenth among the "Eighteen Heroes." However, in *The Complete Story of the Romance of the Tang Dynasty*, he is not among the "Eighteen Heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties," though some later authors have added him to the fourteenth position. In *The Rise of the Tang Dynasty*, he is the fourteenth among the "Sixteen Heroes." Regardless of the ranking, Wang Bodang's archery skills are outstanding in every work.

In a martial arts competition at the Yanshan training ground, Qin Shubao's skill of shooting two birds with one arrow surpasses all others, yet the book states that this archery technique was taught to him by Wang Bodang. Clearly, Wang Bodang's archery skills are superior to Qin Shubao's. Later, Qin Shubao was chased to a riverbank by Wei Wentong, the ninth-ranked hero in the book. Just as Qin Shubao's horse sank to the bottom and was about to be cut down by Wei Wentong, Wang Bodang shot an arrow from the opposite bank, hitting Wei Wentong's left hand. Wang Bodang shouted, "I'll shoot your right hand!"

and shot another arrow, which indeed hit Wei Wentong's right hand. Wang Bodang then shouted, "If you don't leave, I'll shoot you in the heart!"

Wei Wentong was shocked and released Qin Shubao, retreating in panic. In addition, Wang Bodang also shot and killed Xin Wenli, the garrison commander of Hongni Pass, and others, becoming famous throughout the book and the undisputed number one archer in "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties."

However, the Wang Bodang in this world seems far less loyal and heroic than in the historical records.

Yuan Yueze's anger gradually subsided, but he seemed even more terrifying when he calmed down!

After carefully examining Wang Bodang, Yuan Yueze said calmly, "You are Wang Bodang?"

"That's me. Who are you, and why are you with my maid?"

Wang Bodang had long coveted Su Su's body, and seeing Su Su with Yuan Yueze naturally made him furious.

But a flicker of panic still crossed his eyes. Ever since he appeared before Yuan Yueze, Yuan Yueze had released his aura to lock him in place, and the mental pressure was making Wang Bodang extremely uncomfortable.

However, in the current situation, there was no turning back; otherwise, he could never hold his head high again.

Su Su remained silent, her lips twitching slightly, her beautiful eyes flashing with murderous intent as she looked at Wang Bodang.

"Yuan! Yue! Ze!"

After confirming Wang Bodang's identity, Yuan Yueze could no longer contain himself and uttered his name, word by word.

Before his words even finished, he had transformed into a wisp of smoke and flashed in front of Wang Bodang. His right hand formed a sword shape, and with a powerful aura, he simply attacked Wang Bodang's chest!

Seeing the unfathomable mystery of this finger strike, its movement seemingly unpredictable and elusive, Wang Bodang's momentum waned further. However, he knew his path and attack were now completely blocked, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and meet it head-on

. The spear tip, carrying seven fierce gusts of wind, formed a net that enveloped Yuan Yueze's fingertip. The sounds of finger and spear clashing echoed incessantly.

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged seven blows.

"Eek!"

With a muffled groan, Wang Bodang coughed up blood and staggered backward, his clothes torn at the chest, blood gushing out.

But the nightmare had only just begun!

Yuan Yueze lightly stepped with his left foot, using it as a pivot, and with a swift turn, his right foot shot out like lightning, unleashing a series of exquisite and mysterious footwork techniques. The footwork was unpredictable, shifting left and right, even causing the surrounding air to change, transforming into swirling, turbulent currents that blew towards the retreating Wang Bodang from all directions.

An incredibly powerful force, like countless heavy boulders, pressed down on him. Wang Bodang, feeling as if he were in the eye of

a storm, not only experienced excruciating pain all over his body but also struggled to breathe. Without time to think, Wang Bodang instinctively split his spears to meet Yuan Yueze's footsteps, one to the left and one to the right. In an instant, the spear tips transformed into a shower of cold light. This strike was truly his peak performance.

At the same time, he shouted, "Release!"

Already struggling to breathe under Yuan Yueze's pressure, Wang Bodang had to simplify the word "release."

The crisp sound of spears clashing rang out in succession. Having only taken two steps back, Wang Bodang saw his spears split to the sides. Yuan Yueze's myriad footsteps vanished, transforming into a simple, natural kick aimed straight at his chest!

Seeing Yuan Yueze's kick, seemingly fast yet slow, expanding in front of him, Wang Bodang's mind went blank. He felt his mind had been controlled by this terrifying opponent.

But he instantly regained his senses.

He realized that Yuan Yueze's kick hadn't actually landed on him. Instead, after Wang Bodang shouted, Yuan Yueze noticed a hail of arrows raining down on him and Su Su. To protect Su Su, who was still gazing at Yuan Yueze's back, Yuan Yueze rushed to her side and swatted away all the arrows around her.

"Roar!"

After a volley of arrows, Yuan Yueze was filled with rage. His clothes and long hair danced wildly in the wind. With a roar, a unique aura emanated from within a two-zhang radius around him. The air within the aura seemed to have been completely drained, devoid of any life. His right hand was around Su Su's slender waist, his left fist clenched, and he charged straight backward!

Su Su's breath almost stopped, but she still gritted her teeth and didn't utter a sound.

Yuan Yueze, like a demon reborn, transformed into a giant dragon, charging wildly. His fists seemed to have eyes, striking from all angles.

Screams like pigs being slaughtered rang out one after another.

They charged until they were more than ten zhang away from Wang Bodang, where Yuan Yueze and Su Su stopped.

In the blink of an eye, Yuan Yueze tore a gaping hole in the encirclement, killing or wounding nearly a hundred people, their bodies mangled beyond recognition—a chilling sight.

Wang Bodang was terrified. His only thought was to get as far away as possible, away from that devil.

But he felt the surroundings growing colder and darker, his body seemingly devoid of any strength. Curious, he looked down at his chest. Before he could even show a look of shock, his eyes widened, and he fell backward.

On his chest was a clear footprint, deeply embedded in his skin, the bone long since shattered.

Not only Wang Bodang, but even the surrounding soldiers couldn't understand when Yuan Yueze had kicked him. They had clearly seen Yuan Yueze stop his attack halfway to rescue Su Su.

Seeing Wang Bodang dead in the distance, and the surrounding soldiers hesitant to advance or retreat, Yuan Yueze looked down at Susu, who was still in shock, and said softly, "Were you frightened? I've avenged you!"

Hearing this, Susu calmed down, tears of happiness streaming down her face. She hugged Yuan Yueze tightly, sobbing.

Yuan Yueze glanced at the groaning Wagang soldiers not far away, sighed, and slowly led Susu away. The Wagang soldiers they encountered on the road were intimidated by Yuan Yueze's imposing presence, only daring to steal glances at him, not daring to attack. Yuan Yueze was

n't a bloodthirsty man, but the Wagang soldiers' arrows had enraged him, and he once again subtly applied his principle of 'if someone offends me, I will repay them a hundredfold.' Once

outside the city with Susu, Yuan Yueze felt a headache coming on; he didn't know how to comfort her. For a woman, regardless of the era, the impact of losing her precious virginity under the coercion of a man she doesn't love is immense, far more so than the physical trauma.

Shan Meixian or Yun Yuzhen might be able to comfort Susu, but Yuan Yueze feared that bringing up the matter again would worsen her emotional distress. Therefore, he planned to take Susu for a stroll in the countryside to relax.

"Young Master has committed so many murders for Susu, and has also incurred the wrath of the Wagang Army, a formidable enemy. Susu is deeply troubled,"

Susu whispered as Yuan Yueze pondered.

"That's because they provoked us first. Just consider the crimes Wang Bodang committed against Susu; he deserves to die a thousand times over,"

Yuan Yueze comforted her, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Actually…actually, what Wang Bodang did didn't warrant death…"

Susu whispered, blushing, as Yuan Yueze held her in his arms.

"He insulted you! Why doesn't he deserve to die? Susu, you're too kind. I'll never let you suffer any harm again!"

Yuan Yueze frowned upon hearing Susu's words.

"Young Master... Wang Bodang didn't... didn't defile Susu's... virginity."

Susu blushed, her voice growing softer with each word.

"Ah!"

Yuan Yueze was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this.

"Look, Susu's virginity mark is still there..."

Susu shyly rolled up her sleeves, extending her lotus-root-like forearm in front of Yuan Yueze.

A small, bean-sized virginity mark stood out prominently on her snow-white arm, seemingly exuding a faint, fresh fragrance of virginity.

"What exactly happened?"

Yuan Yueze's mind went blank: Logically, Susu had been taken by Wang Bodang two days ago, how could she not have been defiled? And what was with the look of misery on Susu's face when he first saw her?

"The night Wang Bodang took Susu from the leader's clutches, he forced himself on her... but she had no strength to resist and didn't know martial arts. After he tore Susu's clothes, Susu's mind was filled with thoughts of the young master, and she didn't know what was happening. Then she heard Wang Bodang scream, and when she opened her eyes, she found him lying on the ground with blood streaming from his nose. He seemed to be injured, and he never came looking for Susu again,"

Susu explained.

"It's not that I care whether Susu is a virgin or not, I'm just afraid that Wang Bodang's crime against you has left you with a knot in your heart,"

Yuan Yueze said with a smile, having roughly understood what had happened.

The strange power that Shan Meixian had placed in Susu's sea of consciousness required focused concentration to activate. Yuan Yueze had initially worried that if Susu were forced by Wang Bodang, she would be terrified and lose her mind. Who would have thought that she would accidentally, at the crucial moment, only think of Yuan Yueze, actually triggering that power, which Wang Bodang certainly couldn't withstand. Today, Yuan Yueze had killed Wang Bodang while he was still injured.

"How can that be? Susu's body is only for her husband to see. Wang Bodang has seen Susu's body, so I feel I'm no longer worthy of you, sir

," Susu pouted stubbornly.

There are countless women in the world, with all sorts of personalities. Whether in ancient or modern times, there are many women who, even after being seen or raped, still live fulfilling lives. But Su Su was incredibly virtuous; the mere fact that another man had seen her body made her feel utterly unworthy of pursuing love. How could Yuan Yueze not cherish such a woman, so steadfast in heart yet so gentle in appearance!

"Good, good, Su Su is right. From now on, don't think about those things anymore. Even if he saw Su Su's body, he's dead. That way, no man in the world has ever seen Su Su's body. Don't you agree?"

Yuan Yueze laughed heartily.

"I'll call Mei Xian and the others out. They're worried about you too. They're probably still enjoying themselves inside!"

Yuan Yueze tapped the bracelet on his left wrist and said to Su Su.

"Young Master... my sisters... won't they look down on Su Su?"

Su Su was still uneasy and asked worriedly. She felt that her background, appearance, and talents were no match for the likes of Shan Mei Xian, and naturally, she felt inferior.

Yuan Yueze smiled, pulled her to sit on the grass, and told her his entire life story.

Then, naturally, he waited for Su Su to recover from her shock.

Su Su snapped out of her shock, feeling as if she were dreaming. Hearing that Shan Ruyin had only been a maid that day, her mood improved considerably, and she happily threw herself into Yuan Yueze's arms, forgetting her shyness.

Afterwards, Yuan Yueze pulled the women out of the bracelet, planning a barbecue feast. Everyone was overjoyed to see Su Su unharmed.

Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen prepared the grilling meat, while Su Su recounted Yuan Yueze's 'divine might' in Xingyang City to the other women, who listened with admiration.

The family chatted and laughed as they ate, when Wei Zhenzhen suddenly asked Yuan Yueze, "Husband, I wonder how Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling are doing!"

Yuan Yueze was taken aback: the Twin Dragons should have made a name for themselves long ago, but there was no news of them in the martial arts world.

"Could they have died somewhere?"

Yuan Yueze wondered to himself.

“According to the books my husband showed us, Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling should have made a name for themselves by now, so why haven’t we heard anything from them?”

Wei Zhenzhen asked.

She and Fu Junzhuo were the most concerned about the Twin Dragons, given their past relationship.

“I’m wondering the same thing. Why haven’t we heard anything from them?”

Yuan Yueze was also curious: Could it really be because of my appearance that they’ve been affected? I’ve only had a very superficial relationship with them!

“What’s puzzling you, husband? We shouldn’t believe everything in those books. Since you appeared, many things have deviated from the trajectory described in those books! The fates of us sisters have been completely changed. The various forces that were once connected to us have also deviated from their initial paths to varying degrees,” Shan Meixian said

.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Yuan Yueze thought that he had only met the Twin Dragons twice, so it wouldn’t have affected them too much, but the truth was that it was precisely because of him that the Twin Dragons were affected.

First, Fu Junzhuo didn’t die, and the Twin Dragons even gained a sum of money. And now, Su Su doesn’t even recognize the Twin Dragons. It’s clear how much the Twin Dragons have been affected!

“Should we go back to Yangzhou and take a look? They both came from Yangzhou, so no matter how far they go, they won't leave Yangzhou’s territory,”

Wei Zhenzhen suggested.

“That’s a good idea,”

Yuan Yueze nodded.

Whether he saw the Twin Dragons or not was of little significance to him, but Wei Zhenzhen’s concerns were understandable.

“Since we’ve decided to find a worthy emperor to assist in the future, it would be best to establish an intelligence network now. I’ve always had a hunch that many forces are secretly hostile to us. If we can gather information from all over the world as quickly as possible, it will be easier for us to act,”

Shan Meixian suggested.

“Sister Meixian is right. Although Yuzhen has left the Giant Kun Gang, Uncle Bu’s warrant is still there, so the Giant Kun Gang can be considered a source of information,”

Yun Yuzhen agreed.

“The Song family’s intelligence points are also spread throughout the Central Plains and beyond. Let’s inform them later,”

Song Yuzhi nodded.

“Over in Korea, once Master travels the world, ambitious people will definitely make some moves. Master had five intelligence-gathering subordinates back then, so we can get more information from them. It would be best to secretly establish a base in the Central Plains, so that Senior Sister doesn't have to travel back and forth for at least a month each time,”

Fu Junyu added.

“Exactly! That guy named Gai Suwen always carries five broken swords around and even boasted that he wanted to marry the three of us sisters! Next time we meet, we'll definitely teach him a lesson!”

Fu Junqiang swung her arm, shaking her muscleless arm, and snorted.

Everyone smiled.

“Then let’s resolve this matter as soon as possible. Those of you with more experience in the martial world, you can take on more work. Xiu Xun, Wan Jing, Ru Yin, and Su Su don’t have much experience, so we’ll train them slowly!”

Yuan Yueze laughed.

“Let’s go! Let’s revisit Yangzhou!”

Seeing that the girls had almost finished eating, Yuan Yueze stretched and looked towards Yangzhou.

Chapter 23 Bloodstained Golden Palace

On the fifth day of the third month of the fourteenth year of the Sui Dynasty's Daye era,

in the Eastern Turkic territory, at the southern foot of Mount Udegan. Mount Udegan, also known as Mount Yudujin, was called Mount Yanran during the Han Dynasty and later widely referred to as the Khangai Mountains. Located in the northwestern part of the Mongolian Plateau, it represents the limit to which armies from the Central Plains could penetrate deep into the northern deserts to pursue nomadic tribes. Due to its geographical location, Mount Udegan cannot compare with the famous mountains and rivers of the Central Plains in terms of length, height, scenery, and resources.

It was nearing the end of winter, and the Mongolian Plateau was still covered in snow.

At the southern foot of Mount Udegan, at an altitude of a thousand zhang, what should have been a silver-clad, secluded valley was instead lush with green trees and vibrant flowers, buds bursting in full bloom. This created a stark contrast with its surroundings.

In the heart of this region, which could be described as a "paradise on earth" or a "mountain paradise," a large cluster of uniquely styled houses and pavilions stands out, forming a vast garden opera. Although the pavilions are connected, a closer look reveals a harmonious arrangement, subtly incorporating the mysteries of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the interplay of the Five Elements.

At the very center of this garden lies a small lotus pond, in the center of which stands a nine-story pagoda. The flowers and plants surrounding the pagoda are even more lush, seemingly planted by human hands, yet perfectly integrated with the tower, exuding vitality and endless charm, embodying the ultimate principles of nature.

Mist rises, and clouds swirl around the pagoda's entrance, flanked by wide plaques each bearing seven characters.

The left side reads: "White clouds surround the hall, those who attain sainthood." The right side reads: "The Empress of the Dharma transformed into a flying immortal here.

" The plaque above the door bears the four characters "Heaven Beyond Heaven," but the man and woman guarding the door are terrifyingly grotesque, and the eerie aura emanating from them makes it impossible to associate them with the word "immortal."

Inside the pavilion, the furnishings are not particularly elaborate, not much better than those of an ordinary poor family, simple and natural. Two rows of tables are set up inside, with eight people seated on either side. On the round table in the center sits a delicate incense burner, burning sandalwood, wisps of smoke filling the room with a sandalwood fragrance. Through a screen, through the thin gauze, a figure can be vaguely seen sitting sideways behind it; judging from the fullness of her chest, this person is undoubtedly a woman.

"Wu Ding, has there been any new news from 'the distance'?"

a deep voice comes from behind the screen. The voice was melodious and pleasant, sending a shiver down one's spine.

"After returning to France, the Great Khan seemed to have lost faith in us. On the second day of the month, our spies in the Central Plains reported that Li Yuan and his second son, Li Shimin, had launched a rebellion and had recalled their eldest son, Li Jiancheng, and fourth son, Li Yuanji, from Hedong. They even secretly sent envoys to meet with the Great Khan in our Turkic territory. The outcome of their talks is unknown, but judging from the reports from our people around the Great Khan, he began to subtly suppress us after that day, seemingly promoting us while actually demoting us. I believe the Great Khan must be secretly colluding with Li Yuan,"

the first burly man seated on the right replied respectfully.

"Hmph! That old scoundrel Shi Bi, no matter how much he tries, he can't escape my grasp."

"Four years ago, Shi Bi was so powerful, leading 100,000 wolf cavalry south, conquering 39 out of 41 cities in Yanmen Commandery. Only Yanmen and Guoxian remained unconquered. The Sui army used materials from dismantled houses to build fortifications. The 150,000 soldiers and civilians in Yanmen had only about half a month's worth of rations left. My wolf cavalry's arrows reached right in front of Emperor Yang of Sui, and the foolish emperor was so frightened his eyes swelled with tears."

The person behind the screen sighed.

"Do you all think Li Yuan will achieve great things in the future?"

The person behind the screen snorted lightly, paused slightly, and then asked.

"Wu Xiang believes: Li Yuan was fond of fishing and women, enjoyed hunting, and was indecisive. Although he could be considered a benevolent man, he could not be said to possess extraordinary talent. His second son, Li Shimin, on the other hand, was not someone to be confined to a small pond. When the Empress spoke of the war a few years ago, Tu Cong also had some opinions. To deal with our Wolf Cavalry, the Sui Dynasty took several emergency measures: First, the Sui soldiers were suffering from repeated expeditions to Goguryeo, and morale was low. Therefore, Emperor Yang Guang issued an edict explicitly stating the cessation of the Liaodong campaign to reassure the army.

Second, he promised heavy rewards to those who performed meritorious service and comforted the soldiers defending the city, thus the entire army fought day and night. Although many were killed or wounded, they finally held the city, buying time for reinforcements to arrive.

Third, they tied the emperor's edict to a piece of wood and threw it into the Fen River, letting it float out of the encirclement, and recruited soldiers nationwide to expand the army, ordering various..." The local garrison immediately came to the rescue, and Li Shimin, who was only sixteen years old at the time, also enlisted in the army. He suggested to the garrison general Yun Dingxing that, given the enemy's superior numbers, they should use a feint during the day, with "banners stretching for dozens of miles, and drums beating in unison at night," to mislead the enemy and make them believe that a large Sui army was coming to their aid. In September of that year, reinforcements from the Sui capital and many prefectures gathered at Xinkou. The large Sui army's arrival was the main reason that forced the Khan to retreat.

It is evident that Li Shimin's talent, learning, and military strategy were far from ordinary, and certainly not comparable to those纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) of the Central Plains.

Fourthly, he secretly sent envoys to Princess Yicheng for help. The princess sent someone to tell the Khan that "there is an emergency in the north." The Khan, seeing that a large Sui army had arrived and hearing that there was a problem in his rear, lifted the siege and retreated north. Only then was Yang Guang able to return south to Luoyang, the eastern capital. "

The second person sitting on the left answered. This man was about thirty years old, with a strong build, a dignified appearance, and extraordinary martial prowess.

"There are only a few major powers in the Central Plains that deserve our attention: the Li clan of Taiyuan, because they have Li Shimin; the Song clan of Lingnan, because they have Yuan Yueze; and Wang Shichong of Luoyang."

The graceful figure behind the screen nodded slightly, then spoke with admiration.

"Yuan Yueze is indeed an enigmatic figure, but rumors abound. Even with schemes, we haven't been able to lure him out. We must see him for ourselves in the future. As for Wang Shichong, whom the Empress Dowager mentioned, he hasn't accomplished much. He's just a minor official, only holding a superior position in Luoyang. Is he really more troublesome than Dou Jiande?"

The first person seated on the left asked curiously.

"Wang Shichong is no simple man. I met him once twelve years ago. You should warn your disciples to be careful. As for Yuan Yueze, I am also very interested in him. If possible in the future, you must use every means to capture him alive and bring him before me. However, it's not just the Li, Song, and Wang factions; there are probably other, even more powerful forces lurking in the shadows. The world is full of hidden talents; we must not ruin my grand plan because of one person or one mistake."

The voice behind the screen had begun to turn cold.

"We obey your orders. For the sake of the Empress's great cause, we are willing to die ten thousand times!"

The eight people below seemed to have thought of something, shivered, and said respectfully.

"Good! The situation in the world has slowly exceeded my control. Wuchang, immediately inform Huaji that Yang Guang must be killed within ten days, and the entire Jiangdu must be controlled. Otherwise, he knows better than anyone what will happen to him!"

The person at the end of the right seat bowed and accepted the order.

"Alright, everyone go out and do your work. Wuxiang, stay behind."

The voice behind the screen became melodious and pleasant again.

The seven people, except for Wuxiang, all knelt and left. Wuxiang, with his burly figure, stood up somewhat awkwardly.

"Wuxiang, come here."

The person behind the screen had already stood up. The profile reflected on the screen was curvaceous, and coupled with that charming voice, one could roughly guess that she was no ordinary woman without even seeing her face.

Although Wuxiang was only a foot away from the screen, his steps were hesitant and unsteady, the muscles on his handsome face even twitched slightly, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Why was this? Judging from the woman's words and actions behind the screen, she was about to do something "good" with him, right? What was there to fear about having a night with such a woman?

After Yuan Yueze forcibly killed a hundred people and General Wang Bodang in Xingyang and swaggered away with Susu, no news unfavorable to Yuan Yueze spread in the Wagang army. But rumors cannot be stopped, after all, nearly a thousand soldiers had witnessed the events. Thus, people had another topic to chat about during their leisure time.

The group continued their journey through various counties and cities.

A few days after leaving Xingyang, Yuan Yueze finally consummated his relationship with Susu that evening.

After dinner, the family rested in the countryside as usual.

The other women tacitly chose to leave, leaving the small tent for Yuan Yueze.

Susu, used to serving others, couldn't get used to enjoying herself anytime soon, so she rushed to the stream to wash the dishes.

Yuan Yueze lay comfortably on the ground when he heard footsteps approaching from outside the curtain. Susu's melodious voice, even more sweet than a nightingale's, came through: "Huh? Where did everyone go? Oh!"

She lifted the curtain and immediately froze. Then her pretty face flushed red, clearly understanding what had happened.

Yuan Yueze got up and came to her. He saw her delicate body trembling slightly, her fair and slender neck completely red, showing her extreme shyness. Yuan Yueze looked her up and down, and saw that her loose and elegant long robe could not hide her slender and handsome figure at all. Her cloud-like hair was neatly gathered behind her head, her skin was fair and delicate, and her face was without any makeup, making her look pure and elegant. A few beads of fragrant sweat appeared on her forehead because she had just washed the dishes. Combined with her trying to suppress her rapid breathing and flushed face, it made her look even more passionate.

Yuan Yueze reached out to wipe away her sweat, and Su Su let out a soft moan, nestling weakly into his arms. Yuan Yueze wrapped one arm around her slender waist, the other casually caressing her rounded, full, and elastic thighs, then moving to her pert, plump buttocks.

Su Su wasn't very tall, but her proportions were perfect; her figure was slender and well-proportioned, her exquisitely curvaceous body shape was incredibly beautiful, far surpassing the figures of later models, yet even more voluptuous. Her waist was slender yet subtly rounded, her buttocks naturally full without an ounce of excess fat—too thin to be any thinner, too plump to be any fatter. Her two proud, white breasts were erect, full, firm, and round.

Su Su was dazedly laid flat on the mat, her delicate body still trembling. Her soft, long hair fell onto the mat, her eyes were closed, her slender neck gracefully tilted to one side; her slender arms hung limply at her sides, revealing her fair, tender underarm skin. Yuan Yueze slowly began to remove her outer clothing.

Under the cover of the tent, Su Su's alluring body was revealed, her exquisite curves arousing the blood: her full breasts, like two large snowballs, were flawless white, with two firm, rosy nipples pointing forward, and round, even pink areolas that made the nipples even more enticing; her long, slender legs had delicate, fair skin reminiscent of ivory sculptures. Her high-opening waist made her near-perfect legs appear exceptionally long and shapely, showcasing her enviable figure and curves in full.

Most alluring was her dark, inverted triangle of pubic hair, the tender, glossy black pubic hair neatly arranged, all pointing uniformly towards the small crevice between her thighs; within this crevice, two small, wrinkled, red labia peeked out, suggesting only the tip of the iceberg, making one fantasize about what the rest might be like, and even more so, how enchanting the peach blossom-like opening nestled between her two vibrant labia must be.

Passion surged, hearts raced, and their breaths grew heavier.

Gazing at the moon-like, musky, and smooth body of the young girl before him, Yuan Yueze sighed inwardly, reaching out to caress her snow-white thighs, the smooth skin further stimulating his desire.

Yuan Yueze's fingers moved nimbly, teasing every inch of her delicate, smooth skin. At the same time, he passionately kissed her beautifully curved neck and her rounded, jade-like shoulders.

Su Su felt a burning heat coursing through her body from the kisses, waves of heat surging within her. A captivating moan escaped her lips, and her arms instinctively wrapped around Yuan Yueze's back, her body pressed against his hot chest, writhing passionately.

Yuan Yueze's lips slid to Su Su's delicate, bud-like breasts, his tongue gently licking each one. One hand covered her other breast, gently kneading and rubbing it; the other hand moved up her smooth legs, reaching her lower abdomen, to the soft, tender mound of her vulva. Su Su instinctively closed her legs, her small, white hand reaching out, but it was utterly powerless.

Yuan Yueze's large lips kissed her delicate, smooth face, and he whispered, "Susu, are you being naughty?"

Susu was already dizzy from the burning passion, and the heat within her was surging ever stronger, her lower abdomen itching unbearably. She groaned again, releasing her already weak hands.

Yuan Yueze's large hands parted her smooth, soft legs, moving along her wet, tender forest to her overflowing core area, his fingers moving.

Susu trembled even more violently, the moans from her cherry lips indistinguishable between pleasure and pain. Seeing her overflowing lust, Yuan Yueze could no longer resist, his large lips pressing hard against hers, their lips and tongues entwined, while his index finger parted Susu's wet, slippery petals, and slipped inside her steaming, slightly parted honey pot.

Susu trembled at the entry of his fingers, her slender arms around Yuan Yueze's shoulders involuntarily tightening their embrace.

Yuan Yueze felt his fingers tightly enveloped by her wet, warm flower path, and slowly slid them in and out, while his other hand rubbed her erect breasts more vigorously.

Su Su's delicate body flushed red, and she suddenly felt an emptiness inside, yet an even stronger tingling sensation. It turned out that Yuan Yueze had withdrawn his fragrant fingers and started to take off his clothes. Su Su secretly glanced at the terrifyingly large thing, gasped, and knew that the most crucial moment had arrived.

Yuan Yueze breathed heavily, placed his hands on Su Su's soft, rounded shoulders, and flipped her over, pressing her slender, white skin beneath him. He guided his long spear to her moist entrance, rubbing the tip up and down. The

waves of fluid in Su Su's flower path increased, and the emptiness inside her grew stronger. Her legs began to wrap around Yuan Yueze's waist, her soft, round buttocks gently lifting to meet his gaze. Moans escaped her warm, fragrant lips: "Husband...it's so itchy...Susu feels so uncomfortable..."

Yuan Yueze thrust forcefully, his thick, long member penetrating almost halfway. Because of the ample foreplay, Susu wasn't very nervous; amidst the pain of deflowering, she only felt completely filled.

Yuan Yueze paused, caressed her for a while, then began to penetrate again, until his entire member was fully inside her hot, tender, and tight flower passage. He then began to slowly thrust in and out.

Susu's delicate body trembled and twisted, unconscious moans escaping her lips.

The virgin's uniquely tight flower passage gripped the long spear, rubbing against the fleshy walls formed by countless tiny buds with each thrust of Yuan Yueze. The flower's core seemed to possess a kind of suction, greedily drawing in the massive member like an infant's mouth with each deep penetration, as if trying to suck him entirely into her womb. The sensation was exquisite.

Fine beads of sweat began to appear on Su Su's forehead, her moans growing louder and more wanton. Her body was immersed in the most pleasurable world of carnal desire, her soul seemingly lost, reacting only to instinct. With each thrust of Yuan Yueze, her fragrant buttocks arched upwards rapidly, and with each touch to her core, her already tight flower passage contracted and spasmed powerfully. She felt the delicate core deep within her tremble and swell more and more violently, surging waves of heat shooting forth from within her.

"Ahhh!"

Su Su's physical condition was quite good. Yuan Yueze went at it for over fifteen minutes straight. Su Su reached her climax and screamed uncontrollably, her limbs tightly wrapped around Yuan Yueze. Her snow-white, alabaster-like body convulsed violently, and her tender, alluring vulva gushed out a large amount of nectar, first pouring onto Yuan Yueze's powerful erection, and then slowly flowing out from where they were joined.

Yuan Yueze's physical condition was too abnormal; despite such intense teasing and pressure, he managed to hold back his ejaculation. Given that this was Su Su's first time, Yuan Yueze had no choice but to suppress his desire for the time being.

After their lovemaking, Yuan Yueze held the utterly blissful Su Su, who was completely limp and unaware of the world around her, as they lay on the soft couch. He kept speaking sweet and tender words, his language novel and humorous, which made Su Su laugh out loud like silver bells.

"Susu, do you want to refine your body tonight? You're already too weak. If you want to refine it tonight, you'll need Meixian and the others to help you."

Yuan Yueze gently touched Susu's already ravaged and tender area, and chuckled.

Her vital area was injured, already causing her unbearable pain. Yuan Yueze's gentle touch made Susu's eyebrows furrow slightly, her already flushed face turning red again, and her eyes becoming hazy once more.

"Husband...husband, please spare me! Susu just wants to sleep in your arms tonight. We can have the sisters help tomorrow..."

Susu quickly pressed her hand against Yuan Yueze's unruly large hand, pleading sweetly.

Yuan Yueze didn't force her; he knew what this night meant for a woman. The two then chatted idly until Susu was exhausted, at which point he took her head in his arms and fell into a deep sleep.

On the ninth day of the third lunar month, Yuan Yueze and his family entered Yangzhou City again. To avoid drawing too much attention with their group of over ten people, Yuan Yueze discussed with the women that they would only bring a few into the city to gather information. They ultimately decided to take Shan Meixian, Song Yuzhi, Yun Yuzhen, and Wei Zhenzhen. The three women, Shan Meixian, Song Yuzhi, Yun Yuzhen, and Wei Zhenzhen, were the best choices, as they were experienced in social interactions and the ways of the world. Wei Zhenzhen, being a native of Yangzhou, would make things easier with her by their side. Shang Xiuxun also insisted on accompanying Yuan Yueze. Yuan Yueze was extremely troubled; Shang Xiuxun's current beauty and charm were irresistible to almost any man. If she appeared, Yuan Yueze would have no chance of keeping a low profile.

After much persuasion, Shang Xiuxun finally gave up her plan to accompany Yuan Yueze into the city. Yuan Yueze promised that this trip was only for gathering information, and that he would later visit the Jiangdu Imperial Palace with the women.

In ancient times, there were several ways to gather information. The first was to send an undercover agent into a designated force, but this required time. The most common method was to use teahouses, taverns, and upscale restaurants. These places were bustling with people of all kinds, making them ideal for gathering information.

Yuan Yueze, accompanied by four women whose faces were covered by heavy veils, arrived at the upscale restaurant "Fu Lai Lou" in the western part of the city, led by Wei Zhenzhen. They booked a private room near the main hall on the first floor. Amidst the greedy glances of the other diners on the first floor, the five of them entered the room.

The private room wasn't very spacious, but the arrangement of the tables and chairs and the ink paintings on the walls were very high-class. The mahogany tables and chairs exuded a fresh and antique atmosphere. The five of them ordered some food and drinks casually, dismissed the waiter, and focused all their attention on the people in the main hall.

"Hey, Brother Zhang, look at those four fairies that handsome young man was with. They seem quite special!"

A not-so-loud male voice came from a table on the north side of the hall.

"Jiao Gui, you little rascal, do you become infatuated with any pretty woman you see? Didn't you see how extraordinary those four ladies were? You'd better not mess with them, or you might lose your life."

Another lazy voice came from the table.

"Yes, yes, Third Brother is absolutely right. I was just saying, but those ladies are not to be trifled with."

"All you can do is drink and show off your bravado!"

"Third Brother, you underestimate me! I also have a heart to serve my country! But the current Emperor... sigh!"

"Shh! Are you trying to kill me?! Speaking so loudly!"

Zhang Sange quickly stopped Jiao Gui.

"What's there to be afraid of! Yesterday, my younger brother who works at the General Manager's Mansion came back and said that it seems Lord Yuwen hasn't left Yangzhou, and it seems he's secretly gathering some troops, I don't know what he's up to..."

Jiao Gui whispered.

"Stop talking! How come you've always been so reckless with your words? Don't you know that loose lips sink ships? There are some things ordinary people shouldn't know! Even if you do know, you should keep them to yourself!"

Zhang San, being quite worldly-wise, glanced nervously at the other diners around him, then immediately grabbed a wine glass and forced Jiao Gui to drink, hissing under his breath.

Jiao Gui nodded sheepishly, saying nothing more, only focusing on drinking.

Yuan Yueze and the four women overheard their conversation. After a brief discussion, the five decided to go to the palace immediately, as a "good show" was likely to unfold in the next couple of days, and missing it would be a great regret.

Yuan Yueze discreetly led the four women down the stairs, quickly leaving amidst the greedy glances of the many diners on the first floor.

"Chu Datou, seeing those people just now, I suddenly remembered the legendary 'God of Slaughter,' Young Master Yuan Yueze. Do you think it could be him?"

"Probably not. Rumor has it Yuan Yueze is getting married soon, why would he be running around outside? He should be in Lingnan right now!"

"Hey, but speaking of which, some people say his beautiful wives are all stunningly beautiful, I wonder if it's true."

"What do you know! That's all made up by storytellers in teahouses. I don't believe it unless I see it with my own eyes. I do admire that 'Sword-Wielding Fairy'! Those who have seen her say she truly seems like a celestial being!" "

But that fairy, like Yuan Yueze, is too mysterious. I think the martial arts world calls him 'Shadowless Hidden Dragon,' which seems more fitting."

"Wait a minute, I heard the old scholar near my house say Yuan Yueze is an alias, his real identity is the 'Sanzhenren' Ning Daoqi, the head of the 'Three Grandmasters'!"

"What Ning Daoqi! Would Song Que marry his daughter to an old man like Ning Daoqi? I think Yuan Yueze's true identity is Ning Daoqi's illegitimate son!"...

Once the chatterbox in the restaurant started, everyone was talking at once. If these words reached Yuan Yueze, who had already left the restaurant, he would definitely be so angry he'd vomit blood!

After discussion, Yuan Yueze's family decided to first go to the palace to take a look. If Yuwen Huaji didn't rebel today, they would stay in the palace for a few days.

Because the cultivation levels of this family members were uneven—for example, Shan Ruyin was lazy and her cultivation wasn't very strong, while Song Yuzhi didn't know any martial arts—in order to avoid being discovered by the heavily guarded palace guards, Yuan Yueze had to coax and trick the noisy maids into submission. Only he and a few others with high cultivation, such as Shan Meixian, restrained their energy and sneaked into Linjiang Palace in Jiangdu.

After Yang Guang ascended the throne, he ordered the construction of Yangzhou City, where he had once served as governor, and renamed it Jiangdu. Not only did he expand the city walls, build numerous palaces, and cultivate gardens, but he also constructed the "Ten Palaces of Shugang," including Guiyan, Huiliu, and Songlin, nestled against the mountains and beside the water in the north of the city.

However, the most magnificent of all was the Linjiang Palace, built separately on the banks of the Yangtze River. Whenever Yang Guang felt like it, day or night, he would go there to admire the beautiful scenery of the Yangtze.

Taking advantage of the terrain and the concealment of the buildings and trees, the group entered the Linjiang Palace and were immediately struck by its opulent, gold-carved, and jade-adorned architecture. They wondered how much of

the people's hard-earned money had been wasted to build such a magnificent palace. Yuan Yueze and Shan Meixian were both surprised and indignant. "Yang Guang, for his own enjoyment, has wasted so much of the people's wealth and caused the deaths of so many laborers!"

Yuan Yueze frowned and muttered.

"Therefore, the emperor we are looking for must not be corrupted by power. Yang Guang is a living example."

Over the years, Shan Meixian had read a lot of historical materials from later generations. Although it was only theoretical, her knowledge alone was far beyond that of this era.

"This Linjiang Palace is indeed heavily guarded, with sentries every three steps and guards every five steps. One slip and you'll definitely give yourself away,"

Wei Zhenzhen sighed softly, hiding behind the eaves.

The group moved like ghosts, and suddenly they faintly heard the sound of melodious music coming from afar.

"Such indulgence in music in broad daylight? Let's go see,"

Yuan Yueze said, and then flew off. The women immediately followed.

Passing through a massive, semi-circular archway carved from white jade, they landed in a secluded corner. The scene that unfolded before them astonished Yuan Yueze and the women: Not far ahead, three enormous pavilions surrounded a vast stage standing on an artificial river. On the stage, at least two hundred performers were practicing singing, acrobatics, throwing arrows into a pot, breathing fire, somersaults, and human pyramids—a complete array of folk acrobatic skills, a truly spectacular sight! On the other side of

the stage, nearly a hundred beautiful dancers in flowing veils and alluring costumes danced gracefully to the music, their captivating postures and enchanting charm breathtaking.

Yuan Yueze and his companions were clearly stunned by the magnificent scene before them, staring blankly for a long time before finally recovering.

After shaking their heads and sighing, the group continued their furtive exploration.

Since none of them had ever been to this magnificent, splendor-filled Linjiang Palace, which covered tens of thousands of acres, they could only see what they could find.

After stealthily moving about for nearly half an hour, they finally arrived at a large garden. Surprisingly

, only a few lazy guards surrounded the garden, which made Yuan Yueze and his companions quite relaxed.

Yuan Yueze activated his senses, connecting with nature, and discovered that the vast garden was deserted. He then pulled the other women aside to show them around.

The expansive garden, covering thousands of acres, was filled with countless exotic flowers and plants of various colors. Amidst the sea of flowers, artificial rock formations made of natural boulders were interspersed with pavilions and towers, creating a magnificent and imposing sight. Artificial waterfalls and rivers, fed by the Yangtze River, flowed gently, their clear, melodious sounds filling the air. Many rare birds and animals roamed and played among the flowers, adding to the lively atmosphere and creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene—truly a paradise on earth.

The group was utterly astonished.

"Why are there so many flowers here, yet not a single fragrance wafts through the air?"

Shang Xiuxun asked, puzzled.

Yuan Yueze and the other women were also somewhat puzzled, and went forward again to examine the flowers scattered everywhere.

What they saw shocked them. Not a single flower in this sea of blossoms was real; all the stems and leaves were exquisitely crafted from pearls, agate, gold, silver, gemstones, and jade, lifelike and breathtakingly beautiful!

Yuan Yueze was filled with rage and reached out to collect all the valuables before him, intending to distribute them to the poor.

Seeing his movement, Shan Meixian immediately stopped him: "Don't rush. We can collect them after Yuwen Huaji makes his move."

"Mother, someone's coming!"

Shan Wanjing suddenly exclaimed.

The group hurriedly dodged behind a nearby artificial hill, cautiously peering out.

Two figures emerged from the depths of the Imperial Garden. The one on the left was refined and handsome, tall and slender, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. His steps were unsteady, suggesting he not only lacked martial arts skills but had also been weakened by wine and

women, appearing frail and weak. The one on the right, dressed in luxurious official robes, was short and stout, resembling a water bucket, with narrow eyes, a wide face, and a bulbous nose, giving him the appearance of a villain. "Doctor Fei, why hasn't that treacherous Yuwen made a move yet? I've cast this net for three days, and he's still as still as a dead cat, motionless. Could he still be secretly plotting something?"

the slender man asked.

"Minister Yu, don't be impatient. This evening, Minister Wang will arrive in Jiangdu to meet the Emperor. By then, whatever schemes that treacherous Yuwen plots may have, they won't threaten us! Moreover, we can wipe out the entire Yuwen clan!"

the stout man replied.

"Now I'm relieved. His Majesty should have finished bathing and eating by now, and we can wait for Minister Wang's arrival,"

the slender man said with a sigh of relief.

"Minister Yu's worries are unnecessary. That scoundrel Yuwen's good days are over!"

the fat man added.

The two then chatted about other topics, nothing more than women and matters of power, until they reached the entrance of the Imperial Garden and disappeared from sight.

"Who were those two? To be able to walk around freely in this Imperial Garden, they must be minor officials!"

Song Yuzhi patted her ample chest and asked.

"The tall and thin one should be Vice Minister Yu Shiji, and the short and fat one should be Imperial Censor Fei Yun. Could the Minister Wang they mentioned be Wang Shichong? Wang Shichong should be guarding Luoyang right now. What's going on?"

Yuan Yueze said, then fell into deep thought.

"Those two said Yang Guang is going to the palace to meet Minister Wang. Let's go and see in a bit; we won't get anywhere here!"

Shan Meixian suggested.

"Alright, let's take a walk in this garden built with the blood and sweat of the people!"

Yuan Yueze said.

At dusk, Yuan Yueze and the women had a snack deep in the Imperial Garden. He then took only Shan Meixian, Wei Zhenzhen, Fu Junyu, Yun Yuzhen, and Fu Junqiang to the top of the main palace hall, which was about forty or fifty feet high. They were struck by the grandeur of the hall, which exuded an awe-inspiring and inviolable imperial majesty!

"The exterior is already like this; I wonder what the inside is like!"

Yuan Yueze sighed.

All six of them were masters among masters, so they weren't worried about being discovered. They quietly drilled a few small holes in the roof tiles and looked down.

Even though they were mentally prepared, they were still stunned by the magnificent and resplendent interior of the hall.

Within the grand hall, spanning hundreds of feet in circumference, there were no fewer than several hundred imperial guards, densely packed in every corner. Amidst the glittering jewels, a solemn and menacing aura was subtly revealed!

In the very center of the hall, atop a dragon platform five feet high and twenty feet wide, lay a multitude of women—more than fifty concubines and maids—with Yang Guang seated at the very center, surrounded by them, reveling in blissful abandon! No one could have imagined that the political center of the Great Sui Empire in the Central Plains would be such a place of boundless debauchery and decadent extravagance!

Yang Guang, who should have been fifty years old, wore a brightly colored nine-dragon robe, yet he appeared utterly out of place, like a corpse dressed in a shroud!

Only three ministers were present in the hall: Fei Yun, Yu Shiji, and a seemingly military general, tall and robust, exuding an aura of menace.

All three ministers stood with their heads bowed and backs bent. Yang Guang on the Dragon Platform seemed oblivious to everything, engrossed in playing and frolicking with his concubines, lost in his trance, oblivious to the world around him! After

a moment of surprise, Yuan Yueze snapped out of his daze, frowning and shaking his head.

"The emperor can have concubines on both sides, why doesn't my husband have the same desire?"

Yun Yuzhen said with a soft, seductive laugh.

"So what if he has concubines on both sides? Yang Guang's three thousand beauties can't compare to the charm of our Yuzhen alone!"

Yuan Yueze retorted.

"Exactly, besides, who can guarantee that all his concubines are devoted to him?"

Fu Junyu pouted, then sighed softly, "My senior sister tried to assassinate Yang Guang twice before, but she felt he was worse than a dead man now. What difference does it make whether he's killed or not?"

"If the news we heard in the Imperial Garden this afternoon is correct, then Yuwen Huaji will definitely come to kill Yang Guang tonight. Wouldn't it be better for us to watch the show?"

Yuan Yueze laughed.

"Chief of the Imperial Guards, Yuwen Huaji, requests an audience!"

the eunuch outside the hall announced loudly.

"Hey! The show's about to begin, my beloved wives, watch closely!"

Yuan Yueze laughed.

"Summon them!"

Yang Guang was taken aback, then spoke.

The palace doors swung open, and two imposing, arrogant men strode in. Their overwhelming aura silenced the imperial guards in the ceremony, none daring to stop them. These two were none other than Yuwen Huaji and his younger brother Yuwen Zhiji, two of the most powerful young men of the Yuwen clan.

Fei Yun, Yu Shiji, and the tall general all showed expressions of panic. The concubines and palace maids on the dragon platform were also affected by the icy aura, their faces filled with astonishment, shock, worry, and fear.

"Why is Minister Yuwen still in Jiangdu? Didn't I order you to return to Liang County to recuperate a few days ago?"

Yang Guang's surprise was fleeting as he calmly asked.

"Hua Ji dared not rely on the emperor's favor to claim credit, so minor injuries were not a problem for him. Hua Ji also had to help the emperor quell the surrounding rebel forces."

Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji entered the main hall without kneeling, standing tall and speaking.

Yang Guang seemed unconcerned about Yuwen Huaji's rudeness, but his violent face still flashed with displeasure as he coldly asked, "Oh? Didn't Minister Fei say that the number of thieves has decreased significantly?"

After speaking, Yang Guang turned his gaze to Fei Yun, who was standing to the side with his head bowed. Fei Yun felt Yang Guang's cold gaze and immediately shivered.

"Nonsense! Du Fuwei used to be in Changbai, Shandong, but now he's in Liyang. Li Mi used to only have Wagang, but now he's taken Xingyang first, then Luokou. What was Li Zitong before? Now he's gathered his forces north of Jiangdu, ready to march south at any moment. The reason Your Majesty is completely unaware is because you're surrounded by treacherous officials. Reports of rebellion have come from all sides, but they haven't been reported to the emperor. The number of rebels is actually large, but it's been arbitrarily reduced. Your Majesty has heard that the rebels are few, so you haven't sent many troops. The disparity in numbers is huge, and the rebels are growing stronger every day. Even the rebellion of Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, is known throughout the land, but Your Majesty

is kept in the dark." Yuwen Huaji's voice turned cold, his eyes revealing a chilling aura.

"Your Majesty, please don't believe his slander! The one who wants to rebel is Yuwen Huaji!"

Fei Yun hurriedly knelt down and cried, and Yu Shiji also quickly knelt down to beg for mercy.

"Really? My cousin has started to rebel against me? Minister Yuwen, do you have any good ideas for me?"

Yang Guang's face showed surprise, but a sly glint flashed deep in his eyes. He simply told Fei Yun and Yu Shiji to rise, without pressing further, and instead asked Yuwen Huaji in a panicked tone.

"Minister Wang Shichong is here to see you!"

Before Yuwen Huaji could answer Yang Guang, the eunuch outside the door called out loudly again.

"Summon him!"

Yang Guang's face lit up with joy, and he called out loudly. "

Your subject Wang Shichong greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

Wang Shichong, accompanied by two servants dressed as household servants, each carrying a wooden box, walked into the hall with his head held high and knelt down.

"Minister Wang, please rise quickly!"

Yang Guang was suddenly overjoyed for some reason.

Wang Shichong stood up, first glancing at the roof with a strange expression, then walked with the two servants to a spot not far from Yuwen Huaji, staring at him coldly.

Feeling guilty, Yuan Yueze and the women all looked up to avoid eye contact the moment Wang Shichong raised his eyes. They exchanged surprised glances, then, after confirming they had completely concealed their malice, peered back into the hall below.

"Shouldn't Lord Wang be guarding Luoyang? Have you driven back all the bandits who coveted Luoyang?"

Yuwen Huaji said disdainfully.

"Shouldn't Lord Yuwen be in Liangjun? I only obey His Majesty's orders; I do everything as His Majesty commands. How can I be as 'powerful' as Lord Yuwen!"

Wang Shichong retorted.

"Then what brings Lord Wang here today?"

Yuwen Zhiji asked, glancing at the wooden boxes in the hands of the two servants.

"I received His Majesty's secret decree and the blessing of Heaven, and finally brought the heads of the rebel Li Yuan, the garrison commander of Taiyuan, and his eldest son Li Jiancheng before the Emperor!"

Wang Shichong said smugly, glancing at Yuwen Huaji before bowing to Yang Guang.

"!"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were immediately stunned! Looking at Yang Guang on the dragon platform, they saw him wearing a smug smile. Clearly, Yang Guang was not so foolish as to be deceived by a few sycophantic ministers.

Yuan Yueze and his men, who were lurking on the roof, were even more astonished! This Emperor Yang of Sui did not seem to be a completely incompetent fool. Moreover, Wang Shichong had just glanced in the direction of Yuan Yueze and his men for some reason. Was it a coincidence? Or had he already sensed their presence? Could his abilities be even greater?

"Please take a look, Your Majesty!"

Wang Shichong ordered two servants to hand the wooden box to Yu Shiji, who then presented it to Yang Guang.

Upon opening the wooden box and seeing the two human heads preserved using special methods, Yang Guang laughed heartily, displaying the domineering aura of an emperor.

"My dear Wang, you have worked hard! I will reward you handsomely shortly!"

After laughing, Yang Guang sat back on the dragon throne.

Wang Shichong immediately knelt down to express his gratitude. After getting up, he kept glancing towards the direction where Yuan Yueze and the women were hiding.

"Husband, Wang Shichong seems to have discovered us!"

Shan Meixian whispered, her voice focused.

"Let's all put on our masks and see if there's any unusual activity. We can also kill some villains!"

Yuan Yueze didn't dare release his inner energy to test Wang Shichong's strength, so he said to the women.

The women nodded and took out masks they had prepared beforehand and put them on.

"I just asked Minister Yuwen if he had any good ideas on how to deal with the thieves outside. Minister Yuwen, have you thought of anything?"

Yang Guang glanced coldly at Yuwen Huaji and said arrogantly.

"Heh, of course I have a way, which is... please abdicate and yield the throne to a worthy successor!"

Although Yuwen Huaji still had some doubts about Wang Shichong's purpose, he couldn't afford to think about it any further. Success or failure depended on this one gamble!

"Ha...ha!"

Yang Guang laughed loudly again, his face calm. "I have always treated you well, why do you rebel against me?"

"Your Majesty has abandoned the ancestral temples, constantly on tours, waged wars abroad, and indulged in extravagance at home, causing able-bodied men to perish from arrows and the old and weak to fill ditches, leaving the people without livelihoods, and bandits rising up everywhere. Furthermore, you have appointed only treacherous officials, covering up wrongdoing and refusing to listen to advice. If you were willing to execute all the treacherous ministers around you and return to the capital, we would still be loyal and do our best for the court."

Yuwen Huaji sneered.

"A tyrant!"

Yuwen Zhiji shouted, and in an instant, thousands of Yuwen clan soldiers, as fierce as wolves, swarmed into the hall, their killing intent overwhelming!

Suddenly, the concubines and palace maids on the dragon platform were terrified, their faces pale with fright, screaming and fleeing to the back in chaos.

"Dou Xian, didn't you escape Jiangdu long ago? Why did you rebel with the traitor! Lay down your weapons and surrender, and perhaps I can plead with the Emperor for your life. Otherwise, I will make sure you and the Yuwen dog are reduced to dust."

The tall general beside Fei Yun pointed at the leader of the Yuwen clan's personal guards and shouted.

"Dugu Xiong, don't try to act tough with me. Today, hundreds of people in this hall will all die! How can hundreds of people stand against our thousands of elite soldiers!"

Dou Xian also shouted.

"You've really rebelled! Let's see if you have the ability!"

Yang Guang was furious and pointed at Yuwen Huaji.

"Minister Wang, the time has come for me to serve you. Take down this traitor for me!"

Yang Guang shouted at Wang Shichong. It seems that Wang Shichong is Yang Guang's most trusted pawn.

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji immediately focused their energy on Wang Shichong, who was not far away.

Unexpectedly, Wang Shichong remained motionless, and his two servants behind him stood silently, seemingly unfazed by the chaotic and bloody scene before them.

"Minister Wang, why don't you act?"

Yang Guang's previously composed expression finally faltered, his voice lacking confidence as he asked. He vaguely sensed that things had spiraled out of his control.

"Lord Yuwen is quite right; Your Majesty should abdicate,"

Wang Shichong said with a cold smile. He then gestured for Yuwen Huaji to proceed.

Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were completely baffled by Wang Shichong's intentions. But now that Wang Shichong had declared he would not aid Yang Guang, Yuwen Huaji felt much more at ease.

Both sides were loyal to their respective masters, leaving no room for compromise; a great battle was imminent!

"Zhiji, remember to be careful of Wang Shichong and those two servants. Leave the tyrant to me, the others are yours!"

Yuwen Huaji transmitted his voice to Yuwen Zhiji. Yuwen Zhiji nodded in response.

"Attack!"

Yuwen Huaji roared, unleashing his fierce Ice Profound True Qi, transforming into a flying ice tiger, hurtling down upon Yang Guang!

Yang Guang's last trump card was no longer effective, so he also mustered his powerful inner strength, leaping into the air, and from above, unleashing a domineering and overwhelming aura directly at Yuwen Huaji!

The martial arts of Yang Guang's family are little known to outsiders. It is said to have originated from the most ethereal of the Four Great Classical Novels, the "War God's Record." Yang Jian and Yang Yong were no weaklings in their day, and Yang Guang's ability to kill his father and brother speaks volumes about his skill. Although Yang Guang has been indulging in wine and women in recent years, weakening his body, even a broken boat has some nails. Underestimating Yang Guang will surely lead to trouble.

"Boom!"

The two men's palms clashed, their powerful true energy colliding with a deafening sound. Their momentum was overwhelming, utterly destroying the space within two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). Soldiers fighting nearby were pulled apart, some dead, some wounded!

After the attack, both men were sent flying back, blood trickling from their mouths.

"Yuwen Huaji is even stronger now than he was by the river. I didn't expect him to be able to fight Yang Guang to a standstill. This tyrant's strength is not low!"

Yuan Yueze thought to himself.

Yang Guang and Yuwen Huaji ceased their exchange, both standing silently, eyes closed, circulating their internal energy. Yuwen Huaji, impacted by Yang Guang's powerful internal energy, felt his meridians about to burst, and had to expel it. Yang Guang, too, was suffering; the full force of the attack had frozen his blood and energy, forcing him to expel his Ice Profound True Energy.

At this moment, both men, while circulating their energy, also had to be mindful of Wang Shichong and his two servants, who remained completely still. No one could guarantee what Wang Shichong would do next.

In just two breaths, Yuwen Huaji had expelled Yang Guang's powerful internal energy and was preparing to unleash another fierce attack. However, as Yang Guang began circulating his energy again, he found his internal energy flowing slowly, his body convulsing, and he began to cough. Suddenly, a sweet taste filled his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You tyrant! You were once a peerless master, but in recent years you have indulged in unrestrained pleasures, neglecting your physical needs and overindulging in food and drink. Your body has long been hollowed out by wine and women! That last attack was merely a final burst of energy before death!"

Yuwen Huaji roared, gathering twelve-tenths of his power in his palms. His move, 'Three Feet of Ice,' carrying chilling true energy, swiftly attacked Yang Guang's chest.

Yang Guang had no way to retreat at this point. He could only forcefully push forward, meeting Yuwen Huaji's fierce attack with both palms.

"Ah!"

After the violent impact, Yang Guang screamed in agony. The blood he spat out turned into shards of ice, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. His obese body crashed into the stone wall and shattered, suffering unspeakable pain.

On the other side, Yuwen Zhiji easily killed Yu Shiji and Fei Yun, who had no martial arts skills whatsoever. He then used his Ice Profound Sword Technique to force Dugu Xiong to retreat repeatedly, leaving him utterly defenseless.

Meanwhile, the chaotic battle inside the hall was nearing its end. Although the imperial guards were fierce, they were outnumbered by the Yuwen clan's personal troops. So, at this point, only two or three hundred men from both sides had survived. The hall was a sea of blood, littered with corpses, a scene of utter carnage!

Just as Yuwen Zhiji was about to stab Dugu Xiong to death with his sword , a whoosh came from behind. Yuwen Zhiji had no choice but to abandon Dugu Xiong and turn to fend off the incoming attack. "Who goes

there! " Deflecting the lightning-fast arrow, Yuwen Zhiji roared. "Yuwen, you dog! Dugu Sheng has come to take your lives!" A loud male voice rang out from outside the hall. A short, sturdy man with a fierce expression instantly led hundreds of imperial guards into the hall. The Dugu clan's personal troops had arrived! The situation had reversed; there was no time to think. Yuwen Zhiji desperately attacked Dugu Xiong, trying to kill him first. Seeing this, Dugu Sheng roared and joined the battle with his personal troops. Yang Guang was now barely breathing, too weak to speak. He glared angrily at Yuwen Huaji, whom he felt was not human, but a demon. "You tyrant! Your Yang clan destroyed my Northern Zhou, today my Yuwen clan will destroy your Great Sui! Hahaha!" With a maniacal laugh, Yuwen Huaji unleashed all his Ice Profound True Qi into Yang Guang's body. Yang Guang didn't even have time to utter a cry before his entire body was frozen and shattered, and he died! The tyrant, Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, died without a complete corpse, officially gone! On the rooftop, Yuan Yueze and the others felt little joy, for Yang Guang's death did not signify the arrival of peace, but rather the beginning of chaos. Yuwen Huaji, having dealt with Yang Guang, turned to support Yuwen Zhiji. With this powerful reinforcement, Yuwen Zhiji's fighting spirit surged again. In less than ten moves, the two brothers had killed Dugu Sheng and Dugu Xiong! At this moment, the Yuwen Clan's personal guards inside the hall were almost completely wiped out. Although the Dugu Clan's personal guards still numbered over a hundred, they were leaderless and no longer wanted to hold their positions, so they all fled. Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were overjoyed and were about to burst into laughter when they felt a strong gust of wind behind them. Yuwen Huaji hurriedly raised his hand to meet the attack! "Boom!" Yuwen Huaji was thrown back, greatly alarmed. When he regained his footing, he looked up and saw that it was a servant of Wang Shichong who had repelled him! "Wang Shichong, what do you mean! The tyrant is dead, do you want to start a war with my Yuwen Clan?" Yuwen Huaji had been fighting for a long time and was both injured and exhausted. If he continued fighting, he might not even be able to save his life. The servant beside Wang Shichong seemed to have extremely high cultivation. "How could I, Wang, let you, a villain who murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, go?" Wang Shichong smiled. "Enough nonsense. Today's matter is over. Everyone, step out of the hall and from now on, each of us will fight for the world based on our own abilities!" Yuwen Zhiji's condition had also deteriorated, so he could only speak up to ease the tension. "I, Wang, will eliminate you all today! Then I'll have one less competitor when I contend for supremacy!" Wang Shichong said in a deep voice. With that, he slightly twitched his finger. Two servants behind him attacked simultaneously, targeting Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji! A sly smile flashed in Yuwen Huaji's eyes. With a muffled groan, four figures emerged from the few remaining Yuwen clan guards behind him, meeting Wang Shichong's two servants head-on. "Ah! It's them!" Yun Yuzhen on the roof suddenly exclaimed. Fortunately, the hall was in chaos, and Yun Yuzhen's voice wasn't particularly loud, otherwise, the people below would have noticed. "It's the one in the black-gold armor who attacked me that day! Eleven attacked me that day, ten the second time, and today there are four more here!" Seeing the others' puzzled expressions, Yun Yuzhen continued to explain in a low voice. "Then it seems we must make our move!"

Yuan Yueze, observing the carnage on the ground, spoke as Wang Shichong's men and Yuwen Huaji's men were locked in a fierce battle. Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out from the rooftop: "Hey! You traitors and villains, you usurped the throne! His Majesty's 'Flower Guards' are a step too late; prepare to die!"

"You've finally shown yourselves!"

Wang Shichong's lips curled into a sinister smile as he looked at the four ordinary-looking women in tight-fitting clothes descending from the broken roof.

Chapter 024: The Savior Hero .

The sudden appearance of strangers leaping from the beam drew the attention of Yuwen Huaji and his brothers. Wang Shichong's two servants and Yuwen Huaji's four black-gold warriors, momentarily distracted, forced their opponents back several feet.

"Who are you all? You seem to have some background!"

Wang Shichong narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the four graceful and alluring women who had leaped down from the beam. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he looked at their ugly faces, and he slowly spoke.

"We are His Majesty's secret envoys, known as the 'Flower Guards.' We have arrived late to rescue His Majesty. You traitors, prepare to be captured!"

the leading woman said, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's.

The four women who had leaped down were: Shan Meixian, Yun Yuzhen, Fu Junyu, and Fu Junqiang.

This was Shan Meixian's idea, as only the four of them had real combat experience. Having superior martial arts skills alone is useless; it's different from killing with one's own hands.

"Heh! You're quite the joker. Do you think I'm so easily fooled? I sensed your presence the moment I entered this hall!"

Wang Shichong's expression returned to its coldness as he spoke indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Shan Meixian was also taken aback. From the beginning, she had noticed that Wang Shichong had indeed been keeping an eye on the rooftop where they were hiding. His reluctance to attack Yuwen Huaji seemed to stem from his uncertainty about the intentions of the men on the roof.

Before Shan Meixian could speak again, Wang Shichong cupped his hands and said, "May I ask what brings you here? Now that the tyrant is dead, if there's nothing important, I have personal grudges to settle, so I won't keep you company any longer!"

"We have no interest in your personal grudges, but they must be kept here!"

Yun Yuzhen pointed to the four burly men in black armor.

"Very well, then I won't disturb you any longer, farewell!"

For some reason, Wang Shichong surprisingly decided against continuing to kill the Yuwen Huaji brothers, showing deference.

"Then please!"

Fu Junyu said.

Wang Shichong said goodbye, then gave a signal to his two servants before quickly leaving.

"Yuwen Huaji, do you intend to fight, or surrender?"

Shan Meixian asked calmly.

Yuwen Huaji inwardly cried out: "This is bad!"

The seemingly frail women before him possessed an unusually powerful aura. The moment they landed, their energy locked onto Yuwen Huaji and his brother, far beyond what the brothers and the dozens of soldiers before them could withstand. Yuwen Huaji could only turn his gaze to his younger brother, Yuwen Zhiji, the 'think tank' of the Yuwen Clan.

Yuwen Zhiji was extremely troubled, having no idea when he had offended these women of unknown origin!

After Wang Shichong and his two servants disappeared into the distance, Shan Meixian nodded slightly to the other three women. The four of them acted simultaneously, striking with lightning speed before Yuwen Zhiji could even speak!

Exhausted, Yuwen Huaji and his brother hadn't even grasped the changes before their vital points were sealed, rendering them immobile! The four black-gold warriors were no ordinary fighters; they seemed even stronger than the ten who had ambushed Yun Yuzhen that day. With the help of the remaining dozens of Yuwen clan guards, they managed to withstand dozens of moves from the four women before being captured!

Unfortunately, Fu Junqiang lacked real combat experience. The black-gold warrior she was targeting feigned weakness, and taking advantage of Fu Junqiang's momentary lapse in attention, he flicked a black powder from his sleeve, aiming straight for Fu Junqiang's face. The black-gold warrior seemed exceptionally familiar with the layout of the Linjiang Palace, leaping out of the window in just two bounds!

The powder appeared to be non-toxic, merely a distraction, but in the brief moment Fu Junqiang lost focus, her prize had escaped. The little girl was furious, stomping her foot and chasing after him.

Upon seeing that several of their men had been captured and the rest of their personal guards were dead, and realizing that their opponents were not the "flower guards" under the tyrannical emperor at all—who were now completely immobilized and had their speech points sealed—Yuwen Huaji could only sigh helplessly. He had thought that after killing the tyrannical emperor, Wang Shichong would be the one to stalk the cicada, but unexpectedly, these strange women who appeared out of nowhere were the ones to stalk the cicada. "

So be it! We have to accept our fate!"

Yuwen Huaji and his brothers sighed inwardly.

Just as Fu Junqiang was careless and allowed the Wujin warrior to escape, Yuan Yueze on the roof cried out in alarm! He could not allow any of the Yuwen clan's lackeys to escape today, otherwise the forces behind them would not let it go.

He forcibly pulled out the other women, briefly explained the situation, put on masks, and together they leaped into the main hall.

"Keep an eye on these people. Make sure to capture the one who escaped; we can't let him get away! Split up and search the palace and surrounding area. That man is injured; he can't have gone far!"

Yuan Yueze gave the order, then took the lead in chasing after Fu Junqiang.

"Search carefully; that man is no pushover! Meet him at the City God Temple in the northern suburbs of the city no later than tomorrow before sunrise!"

Shan Meixian, along with Shan Ruyin (who had almost no experience in the martial world) and Susu, escorted Yuwen Huaji and the other five. She ordered the other women to pursue them in different directions.

Outside Yangzhou City, a simple carriage sped along a small road.

"Your Excellency, why did you let that dog Yuwen go? Those five women are indeed somewhat capable, but not to the point where we should be afraid!"

A sarcastic voice came from inside the carriage.

“Rongxuan, I know you two have also noticed those highly concealed auras on the beam. Although we could fight them, it wouldn't be a wise move. Just look at the eyes of those women; they seem to harbor a deep hatred for that traitor Yuwen. That traitor Yuwen must die, but who kills him isn't that important. We shouldn't reveal too much; for now, controlling Luoyang is our top priority!”

Another voice came from inside the carriage.

“Rongxuan understands, but the identities of those women and the two auras that haven't yet revealed themselves are quite intriguing!”

After a long silence, the sarcastic voice from inside the carriage sounded again.

“What kind of bullshit ‘Flower Guards’ are they! Do they think we're children who would believe them?”

The burly man driving the carriage also spoke up.

“Regardless of their background, if they also have a heart for the world, we will naturally meet again in the future!”

The next day, at sunrise.

Except for Shan Wanjing and Shang Xiuxun, the entire Yuan Yueze family had reunited, though their faces showed some dejection.

After a sigh, Shan Meixian comforted everyone, saying, "None of you have much experience in the martial world, so don't be discouraged that person escaped. As for Wanjing and Xiuxun, they probably won't amount to anything; they're probably just playing around somewhere. Let's eat something and wait for them."

Everyone nodded, and Yun Yuzhen suggested taking Yuwen Huaji and the other five back to the Giant Kun Gang for Bu Tianzhi to deal with. Since carrying them around was inconvenient, Yuan Yueze put them in his bracelet. With

everything taken care of, they waited for Shang Xiuxun and the other two to return while starting a campfire to roast meat.

Shan Meixian recounted her encounter with Fu Junzhuo in the dilapidated temple. Su Su, unaware of this, listened with rapt attention.

After the roast meat, the sun had risen, but Shan Wanjing and Shang Xiuxun still hadn't arrived. Yuan Yueze had no choice but to continue waiting with the women.

They chatted idly, and Yuan Yueze recounted how, after chasing Fu Junqiang the previous night and finding no trace of her escape, he had impulsively returned to the Imperial Garden of Linjiang Palace and looted all the flowers, plants, and rocks made of gold and silver. A rough estimate suggested that this alone netted him over ten million taels of silver! One could only imagine the immense expense of the entire Imperial Garden of Linjiang Palace!

While everyone was still sighing and lamenting, the sun was already high in the sky. The people of Yangzhou should be up and busy with their day's work. One wonders what their reactions would be upon hearing the news of the tyrannical emperor's death. Many impoverished people believed that with the death of the tyrannical emperor, their suffering was over. The Yuwen clan's Yuwen Huaji and his brothers had also disappeared; how would Yuwen Shang and others govern Yangzhou now?

At the beginning of the morning, people began to emerge from the direction of Yangzhou, some with their families, their faces filled with haste.

Only Shan Meixian and Song Yuzhi remained with Yuan Yueze; the others had gone to rest.

"Old man, may I ask what happened in Yangzhou? Why are people fleeing?"

Yuan Yueze, seeing the continuous exodus from Yangzhou, walked out of the temple with the two women and stopped an old man carrying a simple backpack, asking.

"Young master, you don't know yet! The tyrannical Emperor Yang Guang was assassinated yesterday! The Sui Dynasty has fallen!"

The old man, captivated by the charm of Shan Meixian and Song Yuzhi, hesitated for a moment before answering. His tone lacked any joy.

"The death of the tyrannical emperor should be a good thing, so why are people fleeing Yangzhou?"

Song Yuzhi asked.

“Young lady, you don’t know this, but I, a commoner, was indeed overjoyed to hear of the tyrannical emperor’s death. But my joy was short-lived; soldiers stormed in and forcibly looted my meager possessions. I could no longer survive, so I had to flee. I imagine those others are in the same boat!”

The old man sighed, pointing to the scattered fleeing people around him.

Yuan Yueze hadn’t expected Yangzhou to descend into such chaos after Yang Guang’s death. He took out a hundred taels of silver and gave it to the old man: “Old man, your plight is truly pitiful. You are old; don’t trouble yourself. Take this money and find a peaceful place to retire.”

The old man accepted the silver, kneeling and kowtowing in gratitude. Shan Meixian quickly helped him up. The old man wiped away his tears, bowed deeply, and hurriedly fled towards Jiangnan.

Yuan Yueze had collected ten million taels of silver in the Imperial Garden yesterday, and now he was using it to provide relief to the people.

And so, Yuan Yueze and his two wives seemed to have established a regular relief point at the entrance of the dilapidated temple, distributing tens of thousands of taels of silver in just one morning.

By afternoon, very few people were still walking out from the direction of Yangzhou City. The streets gradually became deserted again. Shang Xiuxun and her two wives still hadn't come to join them.

Song Yuzhi woke the women up and they went out to start a fire to cook some food.

Everyone chatted and laughed around the fire, while Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen busied themselves.

Suddenly, Yuan Yueze sensed a powerful aura at the temple entrance. The women stopped chatting and looked towards the door.

There stood a man and a woman.

The man appeared to be in his thirties, over seven feet tall, with a robust and muscular build, an extraordinary appearance, and an extremely imposing expression. Most striking were his fiery red curly hair and short sideburns. The woman beside him was equally tall and slender, dressed in red, with delicate, fair skin that glowed with a rosy hue. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, and her almond-shaped eyes held a hint of heroic spirit. The red whisk in her right hand was particularly eye-catching. The

two people at the entrance seemed to be captivated by the dozen or so people inside the temple, their expressions slightly dazed.

The red-haired man's daze only lasted a moment before he cupped his hands and said to Yuan Yueze, "I was just passing by; please forgive any disturbance."

His voice was loud and clear, revealing his profound internal martial arts cultivation.

"Friend, you are too kind. This place is unclaimed; anyone can enter."

"However, this place was originally reserved by my wife and me for starting a fire. If you two don't mind, you are welcome to come and have some food with us."

Yuan Yueze looked around and said to the two people at the entrance.

"Then we won't stand on ceremony!"

The red-haired man and the woman in red were extremely forthright. After laughing heartily, they greeted the women and sat by the fire, watching Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen prepare food using those strange cooking utensils.

"May I ask your names?"

Yuan Yueze had a rough idea of the woman in red's identity, but he didn't know who the forthright red-haired man was.

"I am Zhang Zhongjian, and this is my sworn sister, Zhang Chuchen,"

the red-haired man introduced generously.

Yuan Yueze sighed inwardly, "Just as I thought!"

"And what is your relationship with the Song clan of Lingnan?"

The red-haired man glanced at them and then asked Song Yuzhi.

"I am Song Yuzhi, daughter of Song Que,"

Song Yuzhi replied generously. The man and woman before her didn't seem like bad people at all. Even if they had ulterior motives, they couldn't compare to Yuan Yueze's family in the temple. However, Song Yuzhi was quite impressed with the red-haired man's discerning eye.

"How did Mr. Zhang recognize that this young lady has ties to the Song Clan?"

Song Yuzhi asked again. Yuan Yueze and the others beside her also looked on with curiosity.

"Because the young lady's belt was made by 'Jade Satin Shop' in Song Family Mountain City, Lingnan. As far as I know, 'Jade Satin Shop' belongs to the Song Clan and never provides clothing to outsiders,"

the red-haired man said with a smile.

"Sir, you certainly have a good eye!"

Song Yuzhi praised. On one hand, she admired the other party's keen observation skills, and on the other hand, she admired his intelligence network, because "Jade Satin Shop" had very little reputation in Lingnan, yet this person knew about it, which meant he must have quite a background.

"Then this young master must be the famous Yuan Yueze, brother Yuan!"

The red-haired man turned his gaze to Yuan Yueze and smiled without a trace of surprise.

"You must be Qiu Ran Ke, and your sister must be Hong Fu Nu, right?"

Yuan Yueze did not answer, but looked at the two of them and asked in return.

"Haha!"

Neither of them answered each other, but after looking at each other, they burst into laughter.

The other women, seemingly drawn in by the bold and unrestrained spirit of the two, couldn't help but smile. Hong Fu's eyes flashed with a strange light as she looked at Yuan Yueze, scrutinizing him carefully.

"Brother Zhang and Miss Zhang, what brings you here?"

Yuan Yueze asked first.

"I arrived in Yangzhou at dawn today, intending to attend to some business, but upon entering the city, I heard that Yang Guang had died yesterday. Brother Yuan, what brings you and your wife here?"

the bearded man asked.

"To be honest, Brother Zhang, my wife and I happened to witness Yang Guang's death in the Linjiang Palace yesterday,"

Yuan Yueze said frankly. He knew the bearded man was a chivalrous and righteous hero.

"Oh? Then, Brother Yuan, could you explain what happened to me?"

the bearded man asked with a smile, equally unconvinced by Yuan Yueze's words. Hong Fu, standing to the side, looked slightly surprised, seemingly not quite believing that Yuan Yueze could freely enter and leave the palace.

Yuan Yueze was busy grilling meat. After introducing the women to Qiu Ranke and his companion, Shan Meixian recounted the events.

"I'm sure what Wang Shichong said about the heads of Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng isn't true; it was probably just to appease Yang Guang!"

Qiu Ranke frowned, lowered his head, and thought for a long time before looking up.

"I've had many dealings with the Li family of Taiyuan before, and I knew they were fake the moment I saw those two heads last night,"

Shan Meixian nodded in agreement.

"Alright, the food is ready. Let's eat and talk,"

Yuan Yueze said to Qiu Ranke and Hong Fu Nu after Wei Zhenzhen gestured.

After everyone was seated, Yuan Yueze poured red and white wine for them. He raised his glass and said, "It's fate that I met Brother Zhang and Miss Zhang today. Please drink this cup."

Qiu Ranke and Hong Fu Nu also drank in one gulp. The women enjoyed their meal while chatting and laughing. Yuan Yueze and the Bearded Man drank several cups in succession.

"Brother Zhang, do you know Li Jing?"

Yuan Yueze suddenly asked.

"Li Jing?"

The Bearded Man asked in confusion, "I've never even heard of him, how could I know him?"

Yuan Yueze didn't answer, just nodded, wondering to himself what was going on. The Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust had become the Two Heroes of the Wind and Dust. Where had Li Jing gone? Had he been secretly killed by Du Fuwei's men? And how did the Bearded Man and Hong Fu Nu meet?"

"Mr. Zhang, could you explain to us the situation in Yangzhou City today? Why are people fleeing?"

Shan Meixian picked up a piece of food for Hong Fu Nu and asked the Bearded Man.

"When we entered the city today, we noticed that the atmosphere was strange. Everyone seemed to be wearing a joyful expression." "Upon further inquiry, I learned that Yang Guang had been assassinated the previous day, but power within the city was now in the hands of the Grand Commander, Yuchi Sheng. Yuchi Sheng's orders seemed to have been issued several hours late, and during those hours, the city's soldiers had been looting the people like bandits. I, Zhang, also tried to punish them, but with little effect. Around noon, the Grand Commander's orders finally arrived, and a large number of troops were deployed to guard the city. The soldiers who had been looting were beheaded on the spot, and the people's panic subsided; there should be very few who fled,"

the bearded man replied.

"But when we left the city, we found that the guards at the city gates were at least three times more numerous than when we entered, and they were carefully checking everyone entering and leaving. We also overheard soldiers chatting that the assassins had been hiding in the city after killing Yang Guang the previous day, and this was their way of preventing escape." "

Hong Fu glanced at Yuan Yueze before speaking. Her voice, though not weak, was pleasant to the ear.

"Yu Chi Sheng and the Yuwen Clan are in cahoots, birds of a feather. This approach is indeed killing several birds with one stone,"

the Bearded Guest laughed.

"Firstly, Yu Chi Sheng's actions are merely a smokescreen. The disappearance of Yuwen Huaji and his brothers has made him afraid of being targeted, as he was also one of the plotters to kill Yang Guang. He believes that those who captured the Yuwen Clan will certainly not let him go.

Secondly, this approach can exonerate him. It should be noted that Yuwen Huaji and his brothers are the pillars of the younger generation of the Yuwen Clan. Their silent disappearance will not be tolerated by Yuwen Shang, Yuwen Shu, and others. As the closest force in Yangzhou to the Yuwen Clan, Yu Chi Sheng is also implicated in their disappearance."

Thirdly, with Yang Guang's death, Yangzhou will inevitably descend into chaos. The surrounding rebel armies will certainly not let this opportunity pass. Just the Jianghuai Army in Danyang alone is enough to terrify Yuchi Sheng half to death. Strengthening the city's defenses can prevent spies from infiltrating,"

Shan Meixian analyzed carefully.

The bearded man nodded approvingly after listening: "I once heard that Lady Dongming single-handedly raised the banner of Dongming. Seeing her today, I can see that she is indeed a woman who is no less capable than men!"

Shan Meixian repeatedly said that she dared

not accept such praise. "I observe that Brother Zhang's martial arts cultivation is extremely high, and there seems to be an unparalleled Taoist energy flowing through his meridians. I suppose Brother Zhang's skills are definitely among the best in the world,"

Yuan Yueze said after examining the bearded man for a while.

"A mere worldly reputation is not worth my attention!"

The bearded man took a sip of wine and laughed loudly.

"Then Brother Zhang must have ambitions for the world!" “

Yuan Yueze recalled the bearded man recorded in historical materials and smiled.

The bearded man was also taken aback, but did not answer Yuan Yueze, instead picking at his food and drinking wine.

“Young Master Yuan seems quite similar to the legend. With such miraculous abilities, why don’t you make a name for yourself?”

Hong Fu asked. She saw Yuan Yueze conjuring things out of thin air, and having so many strange containers, wines, and foods, almost as varied as the rumors suggested.

“Miss Zhang thinks too highly of me. I’m not cut out for that!”

Yuan Yueze glanced at Hong Fu and sighed.

“I’ve been watching Brother Yuan and your wife rescuing the fleeing people from afar. They must have distributed quite a bit of silver!”

the bearded man asked.

Yuan Yueze was somewhat surprised, thinking that the bearded man must have been watching them rescue the people from a distance.

“In two hours, they distributed about thirteen thousand taels of silver.” "

Yuan Yueze replied.

Hearing that such a large amount of wealth was easily distributed to the people, Hong Fu also inwardly praised Yuan Yueze's actions. Qiu Ran Ke remained silent, only slightly frowning.

"Mr. Zhang, please speak frankly, there's no need to be polite,"

Song Yuzhi said, seeing Qiu Ran Ke's attitude. She sensed a feeling in Qiu Ran Ke that was very similar to her father, 'Heavenly Blade.'

"I believe that now that Yang Guang is dead, heroes have risen up across the land, each claiming their own territory and declaring themselves kings, and they will fight to the death for the right to rule as emperor. Today is the true beginning of chaos, and the lives of the people will be even more difficult than when Yang Guang was in power."

"Brother Yuan's abilities are definitely superior to mine, so why don't you stand up and help the suffering people? Your act of distributing wealth to help the people today is certainly respectable, but how many people in the world are suffering? Can you save them all?" "

The bearded man spoke in a deep voice.

"Conquering the world is easy, but maintaining it is difficult!"

Yuan Yueze sighed, seemingly unrelated to the question.

"In the past, I, Zhang, also studied Taoist arts and martial arts with people from beyond the borders. But only after traveling to various places and witnessing the lives of ordinary people did I realize that cultivating Taoism can only benefit oneself, and learning martial arts is merely the courage of a brute. Neither can truly save the people from suffering, especially in this era of war."

The bearded man and Yuan Yueze seemed to be talking to themselves.

"Brother Zhang's ambition for the world is a good thing. Judging from your character, if you were to become an emperor, you could be remembered for eternity."

Yuan Yueze did not want to discuss deeper topics with him, because the bearded man did not understand his suffering. The bearded man only saw his abilities, not his character.

"Brother Yuan, you are mistaken. I, Zhang, have no desire for the throne. I simply cannot stand the current system in which the rulers treat the people." "

The Bearded Guest sighed.

"My husband prefers a carefree life and dislikes being tainted by worldly affairs. Moreover, he is kind and honest, not suited for officialdom. And the world is not decided by force alone,"

Shan Meixian explained.

The Bearded Guest nodded thoughtfully.

"Brother Zhang, how do you think the world should be governed after it is pacified?"

Historical records state that the Bearded Guest established a kingdom overseas, becoming its ruler and realizing his ideal of saving the world outside the Central Plains. He was indeed a wise and courageous man who cared for all people and was dedicated to saving the common people. Thinking of this, Yuan Yueze asked.

"The defeat of the Sui dynasty under Yang was due to its policies that harassed the people and disrupted their livelihoods. It involved numerous constructions of ponds and temples, the pursuit of rare treasures, and exhausting military campaigns, preventing the people from cultivating the land and women from weaving. Fields lay fallow, industries were abandoned, and the people suffered greatly. Now, north of the Yellow River, a thousand miles are devoid of smoke; between the Yangtze and Huai rivers, weeds grow thick and abundant. East of the Yi and Luo rivers, not a sound can be heard, roads are desolate, and progress is difficult. All this is because the rulers saw the people's hunger and cold but did not help them, saw their suffering but did not feel compassion. Such rulers who torment the people are not rulers who govern them. Whether great chaos should be followed by great order is a matter of debate. Is it difficult to govern after such chaos?"

the bearded man sighed.

"After the great chaos, when the world is initially at peace, the people will surely be exhausted, overworked. Brother Zhang, how do you think we should allow the people to rest and recuperate?"

Yuan Yueze asked, staring at the bearded man.

"Abolish the oppressive policies of the old Sui Dynasty, streamline the government, simplify all matters, reduce taxes and corvée labor to alleviate the suffering of the people,"

the bearded man replied naturally. This was a method of recuperation and development passed down since ancient times, something almost anyone who had read a book could recite.

"How to replenish the national treasury? How to restore finances? How to rebuild local military preparedness? How to deal with the surrounding tribes that are eyeing us with predatory intent?"

"Reorganize the tax system, strengthen national power, reform the military system, integrate military and agricultural work, increase military pay at the border, and increase training."

"What kind of administrative system should be used for the newly established state?"

"The old Sui Dynasty's Three Departments and Six Ministries system needs improvement. It could be structured as Three Departments, Six Ministries, One Censorate, Five Directorates, and Nine Courts.

The heads of the Three Departments would all be prime ministers, jointly discussing state affairs. However, because the power of the former Grand Secretary was too great, the new system must weaken its authority. Two Vice Ministers could be appointed to share power.

One Censorate would be responsible for supervising central and local officials and participating in trials of major cases. The Five Directorates would be the Imperial Academy (responsible for education), the Imperial Household Department (responsible for royal handicrafts), the Imperial Workshops (responsible for civil engineering), the Arsenal (responsible for manufacturing military equipment), and the Water Conservancy Bureau (responsible for water conservancy). The Capital Water Conservancy Bureau. The Nine Temples are: the Court of Imperial Sacrifices (Taichang Temple), in charge of rites and sacrifices; the Court of Imperial Banquets (Guanglu Temple), in charge of imperial wine, food, and provisions; the Court of the Imperial Guards (Weiwei Temple), in charge of weapons and ceremonial regalia; the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs (Zongzheng Temple), in charge of imperial family genealogy; the Court of Imperial Stud (Taipu Temple), in charge of imperial carriages and state pastures; the Court of Judicial Review (Dali Temple), in charge of criminal law and adjudication

; the Court of State Ceremonies (Honglu Temple), in charge of state guests and rites; the Court of Agriculture (Sinong Temple), in charge of state granaries and reserves; and the Court of Treasury (Taifu Temple

), in charge of finances and trade. Locally, a two-tiered system of prefectures and counties is implemented. An additional

secret supervisory office, subordinate to the emperor, is established to secretly monitor local officials. Hearing this, the women around him nodded in agreement. Those women, well-versed in later historical records, showed little reaction. Yuan Yueze didn't ask further, because the bearded man's answer was arguably the most suitable policy for the newly established empire. But how far this was from Yuan Yueze's goals and ideals!

The bearded man thought his answer was the most suitable, yet he saw no joy on Yuan Yueze's face. He couldn't help but ask, "Brother Yuan, what kind of system do you envision?"

"Based on the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances, establish legislative, executive, and judicial powers, with equal status, independent of each other, and mutually checking and balancing. Use the law of 'equality for all' to bind all people, including the emperor, supported by benevolence and righteousness. Finally, and most importantly, the military and government organs should be independent of each other, not subject to each other's control. Leadership should not fall into the hands of one person."

Yuan Yueze briefly considered some knowledge from later generations, casually extracting some practical theories.

"Limiting imperial power" was the core of Yuan Yueze's statement. Qiu Ran Ke was surprised and pondered deeply.

Qiu Ran Ke's theory would only be most effective when the emperor fully focused on the well-being of the people. Yuan Yueze's theory, however, completely overturned the deeply ingrained ancient idea that "the monarch is supreme."

"Brother Yuan, your method has its advantages and disadvantages, but it is truly unprecedented! Since you possess such great talent, why not put it to use?"

the Bearded Man said after a long pause, slamming his hand on the table.

"Brother Zhang, you don't know much about me. I can only talk the talk. If this system were to be implemented, it would be far more difficult than just 'difficult'!"

Yuan Yueze explained.

The scene was rather strange: neither of the two men were emperors or powerful warlords, yet they were discussing the principles of governance at length. However, none of the women showed any disdain, especially Hong Fu, who seemed extremely interested in Yuan Yueze's theories.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, let's continue drinking!"

Yuan Yueze said with a smile when he saw the Bearded Man put down his chopsticks.

The Bearded Man also came to his senses and gave Yuan Yueze a thumbs up. After that, the group stopped discussing these matters and simply chatted about various things. The bearded man recounted his travels throughout Persia, India, and the Western Regions, describing the customs and traditions of each place, which amazed everyone.

As the banquet drew to a close, Shan Meixian suddenly looked towards the door and announced, "Wanjing and Xiuxun are back."

No sooner had she spoken than the two women slowly entered the dilapidated temple. Following behind Shang Xiuxun was a woman dressed as a noblewoman, with a shapely and voluptuous figure.

Yuan Yueze and the others hurried to greet them, while Shang Xiuxun and Shan Wanjing rushed into Yuan Yueze's arms, acting coquettishly.

The bearded man, initially captivated by Shang Xiuxun's charm, instantly regained his composure, demonstrating his high level of self-cultivation.

Hongfu, on the other hand, was completely drawn to Shang Xiuxun's elegance and allure. When she first saw the women in the temple, she felt that their existence in the mortal realm was already a great blessing from heaven. Now, seeing a fairy who shouldn't even exist in the mortal realm enter the temple and throw herself into Yuan Yueze's arms, how could she not be extremely surprised!

"It is truly my honor to meet Brother Yuan and your ladies today. Since your wife has returned, I, Zhang Hongfu, must take my leave!"

The bearded man said, seeing Yuan Yueze's family reunited.

"It is a great regret in my life that I did not have the honor of sparring with Brother Zhang today. Brother Zhang and Miss Zhang, please take care. See you another day!"

Yuan Yueze said with a smile.

"If Mr. Zhang and your sister have time, why not come to Song Family Mountain City when we get married? I'm sure my father would also like to befriend a hero like you."

Song Yuzhi said.

"In that case, I will not stand on ceremony. If I am not busy, I will definitely pay my respects on time!"

The bearded man laughed loudly, cupped his hands, and left.

"I am deeply grateful for the hospitality shown to me today by Young Master Yuan and all the ladies. Please take care, and I hope we meet again!"

Hongfu had become quite familiar with the women over the meal. She glanced at Yuan Yueze one last time, and when he smiled and nodded at her, she smiled back, bowed, and followed the bearded man away.

After watching the two leave, Shang Xiuxun and Shan Wanjing ignored the questions from the people around them and pounced on the table, wolfing down their food without a trace of the demeanor of ancient ladies. Even the noblewoman who had returned with them looked on in astonishment.

"Husband, we don't want leftovers. Can you grill some more meat for us?"

Shan Wanjing said sweetly.

"Yes, yes!"

Yuan Yueze doted on his wives to the extreme.

Wei Zhenzhen busied herself lighting a fire and getting things ready. Yuan Yueze glanced at the noblewoman who had returned with the two women and asked, "May I ask who this...madam is?"

The noblewoman was dignified and polite, and after entering the dilapidated temple, she didn't say a word, simply standing silently to the side. As soon as Yuan Yueze spoke, the others in the temple also began to sized up the noblewoman: she appeared to be about thirty years old, with a stunningly beautiful face, graceful figure, and an elegant and noble demeanor, exuding the air of a refined lady.

"My surname is Xiao, and my given name is Bei (Note: a name the author made up). Thanks to the two ladies' rescue, I was able to escape the fire. Please accept my bow,"

the noblewoman said politely, gracefully performing a curtsy.

With her twenty-plus years of experience, Shan Meixian naturally sensed that the noblewoman before her was no ordinary person. She quickly went to help her up, saying, "Young lady, please don't be so polite. Let's have some food first before we talk."

The woman surnamed Xiao looked at the young woman who had helped her up, puzzled as to why she was called "young lady." "Does Madam find it strange that I call you 'young lady'?"

Shan Meixian asked with a smile, noticing her odd expression.

"Then, Madam, do you know my age?"

Shan Meixian asked again.

"Madam should be around twenty!" The woman

surnamed Xiao looked Shan Meixian up and down carefully before answering confidently.

"Sister Xiao, you're mistaken! My mother is over forty!"

Shan Wanjing ran over laughing after causing trouble for Wei Zhenzhen for a while.

"!"

The woman surnamed Xiao was clearly confused. These fairies all looked to be under twenty. How could the little fairy who saved her last night call this woman "mother"?

Seeing her shifting gaze, Yun Yuzhen pulled her to sit at the table and began to explain.

Yuan Yueze also noticed something amiss with this woman surnamed Xiao. Clearly, she was no ordinary person. A clue even flashed through Yuan Yueze's mind, but he quickly calmed down and approached Shang Xiuxun, who was assisting Wei Zhenzhen, and quietly inquired about the woman's background.

“Last night, Wanjing and I chased after him all the way to the far north but found no clues, so we had to return to the palace to check the situation. We encountered the injured man healing himself. After a short fight, seeing no hope of escape, he severed his own meridians and died! Then we encountered many soldiers looting the palace, so Wanjing and I had to sneak away. But in the barren Imperial Garden, we saw Sister Xiao crying alone. We didn't intend to approach her, but several soldiers rushed in, captivated by her beauty, and tried to assault her. Wanjing and I went down to rescue her. Afterwards, Sister Xiao wanted to come out with us, saying she had no relatives in the palace. We felt sorry for her and had no choice but to take her out. Husband, blame me if you must.”

Shang Xiuxun explained, thinking Yuan Yueze was worried that the woman surnamed Xiao was a burden and was blaming her.

“Did she reveal her identity? Her clothing in the palace was unusual; her identity must be extraordinary,”

Yuan Yueze asked tentatively, his thoughts gradually becoming clearer.

"We didn't have time to ask! Sister Xiao is very kind and doesn't seem like a bad person. She's probably just a palace maid,"

Shang Xiuxun replied abruptly.

Yuan Yueze glanced at the woman surnamed Xiao chatting and laughing with the other women at the table not far away, then exchanged a look with Shan Meixian. He was already seven or eight tenths certain of the woman's identity.

Chapter 025 Encountering the King of Qin

April 16th, Yangzhou Riverbank.

The moon is fullest on the 16th.

It was almost the end of the day, the sky was starry and cloudless, and a full moon hung in the sky, its bright light spreading across the calm, still river surface. Against the backdrop of the faint twilight, it was incredibly peaceful, hazy, tranquil, and elegant. It gave people an indescribable sense of transcendence and freshness.

A strangely shaped 'small' boat was slowly moving on the river. What makes it strange is its unusual size; the boat is so wide it seems to float sideways across the river like a normal small boat.

Its design is also very simple, lacking even a canopy. From a distance, only a dozen or so people can be seen scattered on it, but the occasional bursts of women's laughter suggest there are quite a few on board, and even the sound of their laughter is enough to stir one's heart.

At the bow, facing the gentle breeze, sit two women, one on each side. One has a guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither) in front of her, while the other holds a pipa (a

traditional Chinese stringed instrument). A clear, melodious guzheng note, like the gentle flow of flowing water, drifts from the boat, echoing across the river and creating ripples. Suddenly, a penetrating, yet melodious and mellow pipa note, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, rises up.

The sounds of two different instruments intertwined, clear and high notes rising and falling. The people on the boat gazed at the calm river under the night sky, as if they could hear the gentle murmur of waves lapping against the shore. The night was tranquil, the river as

blue as orchids. The long, resonant notes of the zither gradually quickened, like the rising tide and the bright moon. The soft moonlight quietly spilled onto the vast river, the dark water shimmering with emerald waves. In the distance, mountains rose and fell, verdant and layered, their peaks like flowing clouds, stretching endlessly. The pipa's accompaniment was slightly more subdued, like fine rain falling on the vast sea. The tide rose and fell, waves crashing against the rugged rocks, carrying sand back to the shore.

Suddenly, both sounds deepened simultaneously, after "The Moon Rises Over the Eastern Hills" and "The Wind Returns to the Winding Stream," appearing as a gentle river breeze, swaying flowers and grasses, and reflections in the water, layered and hazy. Then the rhythm shifted again, the pipa's sound quickened once more, while the zheng's accompaniment became more subdued. The rapid, sweeping, robust, and mellow pipa notes were like white sails dotting the

water, the distant sound of fishermen's songs rising and falling. At this moment, the zheng's sound surged again, accompanying the pipa's high notes with the force of "a silver bottle suddenly shatters, water gushing forth; iron cavalry charges forth, swords and spears clashing," like a fishing boat breaking through the water, creating waves crashing against the shore, spray flying, and the sound of oars echoing.

The zheng's notes shifted several times, like a raging sea gradually calming down, while the pipa's notes also shifted, gradually becoming gentler, like a vast ocean, its turbulent waves subsiding, the clouds parting to reveal the moon, a beam of moonlight shining on the sea, a few flying fish leaping from the surface, reflecting the pale silver light of the moon, the night sky clear, the bright moon shining on the vast blue waves.

This zheng and pipa duet lasted a full quarter of an hour. The dozen or so people on the small boat were completely immersed in the music, which resembled a meticulously crafted, softly colored, and elegantly refined landscape painting. Many fishermen on the shore were also not resting; people had gathered on the numerous fishing boats scattered along the bank, seemingly captivated by the melody, gazing intently at the two women at the bow.

Yuan Yueze inwardly exclaimed, "What a beautiful 'Spring River Flower Moon Night'! What a pair of beautiful women playing it with such passion!"

Just now, watching "Sister Xiao" skillfully employ various techniques such as plucking, picking, pinching, rolling, flicking, stroking, flying, gathering, hooking, and wiping, completely immersed in playing the pipa, lost in the world she created, especially when playing long notes, her eyes slightly closed, her head and body swaying gently unconsciously, Yuan Yueze sighed inwardly: "No matter who it is, when they are immersed in the world deep within their hearts, they are the most captivating and the most genuine."

Looking at Shan Meixian on the other side, her body also trembling slightly, immersed in playing the guzheng, her beautiful eyes slightly open, her entire process showing mastery of various techniques such as supporting, chopping, picking, wiping, flicking, hooking, shaking, pinching, sliding, kneading, and trembling,

Yuan Yueze couldn't help but recall the events of March 10th at the City God Temple in the northern suburbs of Yangzhou.

That day, from Shan Meixian's gaze, Yuan Yueze was almost certain of the identity of the middle-aged noblewoman sitting at the table not far away, and Yuan Yueze's head began to ache. He pulled Shang Xiuxun, who was still helping Wei Zhenzhen, into his arms, gently pinched her smooth, delicate face, and whispered in her ear, "My little aunt, do you know how much trouble you've caused? Do you know who that noblewoman is?"

"Hehe, it tickles."

Shang Xiuxun shrank back and laughed when he breathed on her ear.

"Is Sister Xiao's identity that scary? At most, she's just an Empress Dowager or an Empress! Now that Yang Guang is dead, what's there to be afraid of?"

Shang Xiuxun added.

What Shang Xiuxun said made a lot of sense.

Yuan Yueze thought for a moment and decided to confirm it first.

As expected, this noblewoman surnamed Xiao was indeed Empress Xiao, the first wife of Emperor Yang Guang of Sui. Empress Xiao seemed to have roughly learned about Yuan Yueze's identity from her conversation with Shan Meixian, Yun Yuzhen, and the other women, and her curiosity immediately intensified.

Having personally verified Empress Xiao's identity, Yuan Yueze was stunned and speechless, only able to stare blankly at her.

Who was Empress Xiao?

Historically, there have been dozens of empresses with the surname Xiao, the most famous being Empress Xiao, from the 'Lanling Xiao Clan'.

According to official history, Empress Xiao, wife of Emperor Yang Guang, was the daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Western Liang, Xiao Kui, and Empress Zhang. Born in February, a month considered unlucky in Jiangnan, she was adopted by Xiao Kui's cousin, Xiao Ji. After her adoptive father Xiao Ji passed away, she was adopted by her maternal uncle, Zhang Ke. Due to Zhang Ke's poverty, the princess Xiao also had to work in the fields. After Emperor Wen of

Sui ascended the throne, he made his eldest son Yang Yong crown prince and his second son Yang Guang the Prince of Jin. Emperor Wen then wished to select a princess from the Western Liang Kingdom, with whom he had always maintained good relations, to be the Prince of Jin's consort. Upon learning of this, Xiao Kui began to consult divination, but all the daughters he kept by his side were deemed unsuitable. Finally, he had no choice but to bring back Xiao Shi. A divination there yielded a very auspicious result, and Xiao Shi became Yang Guang's wife, becoming the Princess of Jin.

Historical records state that Xiao Shi was gentle and studious, favored by Emperor Wen and Empress Dugu, and had a harmonious relationship with her husband, Yang Guang. Later, when Yang Guang ascended the throne, Xiao Shi, as his principal wife, was made Empress. Although Emperor Yang had many concubines after his ascension, he always treated Empress Xiao with great respect. Emperor Yang made several trips to the south, and Empress Xiao always accompanied him; historical records also document many of Emperor Yang's conversations with Empress Xiao. Empress Xiao, out of fear, dared not directly criticize Emperor Yang's tyranny, but instead composed a "Declaration of My Aspirations" as a subtle admonition.

Later official histories record that after Emperor Yang was assassinated by the rebel Yuwen Huaji while in the Jiangdu Palace, Empress Xiao was taken to Liaocheng by the rebel army. Afterwards, Dou Jiande led his troops to attack the city and welcome back the Empress, temporarily settling her in Wuqiang County. At that time, Princess Yicheng, the wife of the Turkic Khan Chuluo, was Empress Xiao's aunt. Because of this relationship, Chuluo Khan sent envoys to respectfully welcome the Empress. Dou Jiande dared not refuse, so Empress Xiao accompanied the envoys to the Turkic

Khaganate. Later, in the fourth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong defeated the Turks and welcomed Empress Xiao back to the capital. Upon her return, Empress Xiao received great respect from Emperor Taizong. In the twenty-first year of the Zhenguan era, Empress Xiao passed away at approximately eighty years of age. After her death, Emperor Taizong buried her with the rites due to an Empress in the mausoleum of Emperor Yang, posthumously

granting her the title of Empress Min. However, these are not the reasons why

Empress Xiao is remembered for generations. She is still widely discussed and studied in later generations, largely due to accounts in unofficial histories.

In these unofficial histories, Empress Xiao is portrayed as one of the most prominent "beauties who could topple kingdoms," enjoying the favor of five emperors throughout her life. In ancient times, it was extremely rare for a woman to remain by the side of a monarch through dynastic changes.

Yuan Yueze had certainly read both official and unofficial histories.

What is official history? For example, the accounts of Yuan Yueze's life by Song Que, Fu Cailin, and Lu Miaozi, who are now familiar with her background, would be considered official history.

Unofficial history, on the other hand, refers to the gossip among the idle diners at the "Fulai Restaurant" in Yangzhou on the ninth day of the third month, such as the claim that "Yuan Yueze is Ning Daoqi's illegitimate son."

Regardless of the truth of the official and unofficial accounts, Empress Xiao's fate had changed. Although it's unknown whether her life would have been like the unofficial accounts if she hadn't met Yuan Yueze, now that she had been rescued, at least she could live a peaceful, tranquil, and carefree life.

Her talent and intellect were no less than many men of this era; only because she was a woman could she rely on her beauty and body. How tragic! While some envy her life, who sympathizes with her plight? Is her heart truly filled with the joy and contentment she appears to have?

Having figured this out, Yuan Yueze snapped out of his reverie, his gaze shifting from surprise to a mixture of respect and pity.

Empress Xiao, equally bewildered, stared at Yuan Yueze, wondering why he was staring at her so intently. Logically, the beauty and allure of the women in the temple should have made the usually self-assured Empress Xiao feel inferior, yet this man, whose reputation was legendary, was simply staring at her blankly. Empress Xiao had intended to take a good look at Yuan Yueze, but under his intense gaze, her face flushed, and she lowered her head, her eyes darting away. After a while, she secretly glanced at Yuan Yueze, only to find no trace of lust in his eyes. Empress Xiao cursed herself inwardly: how could she have such wild thoughts? But she was also somewhat confused: at this moment, she had lost everything, especially her status. The Sui Dynasty had already fallen, so why did Yuan Yueze still look at her with such respect? The hint of pity in his eyes stirred a sense of kinship within Empress Xiao.

"Empress Xiao... what are your plans for the future?"

Yuan Yueze asked after a moment's hesitation, unsure how to address her.

"Young master, you needn't call me 'Empress' anymore. The Sui Dynasty is gone. I was saved from disaster by the two ladies. I don't know what the future holds..."

Empress Xiao said with a sorrowful expression. It would be good to stay with Yuan Yueze's family, but she feared she would be a burden. Her tone was filled with uncertainty.

"If the Empress doesn't mind, I can choose a peaceful town for her and prepare everything for her. She can then simply enjoy her life in peace. What do you think?"

Yuan Yueze suggested.

"This... how can I accept such a great favor from you, young master..."

Empress Xiao felt a pang of sadness, thinking to herself: So, they really see me as a burden.

Seeing a hint of sadness in Empress Xiao's eyes, Shan Meixian smiled and said, "My husband means well, but his idea is flawed. If a beauty like you, Xiao, were to suddenly move to a town, some lecherous men would inevitably harass you. And since you're defenseless, your fate would be tragic."

From their earlier conversation, Shan Meixian knew Empress Xiao was a year younger than her, hence the address of "sister. "

Yuan Yueze nodded in agreement; he was always slow-witted, often "doing more harm than good." Empress Xiao felt grateful for Shan Meixian's understanding.

"Sister, don't make wild guesses. My husband doesn't consider you a burden. If you don't mind, you can live with us in the future, how about that?"

Shan Meixian added.

For some reason, Empress Xiao's face flushed red again, clearly misunderstanding Shan Meixian's meaning. She softly thanked him, saying, "This concubine thanks you, young master and madam, for your hospitality."

Shan Meixian, of course, saw that Empress Xiao had misunderstood, and quickly gave Yuan Yueze a meaningful look. The couple, understanding each other perfectly, Yuan Yueze smiled faintly, "Empress, there's no need to be so formal. Although I am not a gentleman, I only have respect for you, and absolutely no improper intentions. Please treat us as family; there's no need to be so polite."

Hearing Yuan Yueze's words, Empress Xiao's face, which had just recovered, flushed again. She lowered her head and nodded slightly. She cursed herself inwardly: shameless.

At this time, Wei Zhenzhen had already prepared the meal again, so Shang Xiuxun and Shan Wanjing pulled the still slightly shy Empress Xiao to eat together.

Empress Xiao, of course, displayed the demeanor of a well-bred lady, her eating posture quite dignified. Looking at Shang Xiuxun and Shan Wanjing, their eating habits clearly showed they had inherited Yuan Yueze's 'true teachings'. They were both completely open-hearted people, so Yuan Yueze didn't find anything annoying about their actions at all. On the contrary, he felt that they were completely unpretentious and genuine.

Watching the three of them eat and drink, Yuan Yueze chatted with the other women. Yuan Yueze looked at Shang Xiuxun, shook his head slightly, and sighed, "The book originally described Xiuxun's eating habits as one of the most beautiful 'scenes' of this era, but look at her eating habits now..."

Shang Xiuxun, who was listening nearby, continued to shovel food into her mouth, then turned back and made a face at Yuan Yueze.

Everyone couldn't help but smile.

After the meal, everyone began to rest. Shan Meixian, being close in age to Empress Xiao and quite similar in mentality, pulled the astonished Empress Xiao around and showed her everything inside her bracelet. That night, Shan Meixian even stayed with Empress Xiao in bed, talking to her late into the night, afraid that she would be lonely, which deeply moved Empress Xiao.

Meanwhile, Yuan Yueze's side was as absurd as ever. After a long period of activity, the women, exhausted, had all fallen into a deep sleep.

Yuan Yueze took advantage of Fu Junyu, who was in his arms, groping her all over. After several rounds of ecstasy, Fu Junyu was sore all over and hurriedly pressed down on Yuan Yueze's large hands, panting, "Husband, no more, I can't take it anymore. Go find the other sisters."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yueze turned his gaze to the other wives who were still awake, but he saw that Yun Yuzhen, Song Yuzhi, and Susu all hurriedly waved their hands and begged for mercy.

Yuan Yueze chuckled and pulled Susu into his arms, saying, "I was just teasing you. There are more than one thing men and women can do in bed."

"My husband really knows how to take care of me. We originally came here for the whereabouts of those two bastards, Kou Zhong, but we didn't expect to witness the death of the tyrannical Emperor Yang Guang and capture the two pillars of the Yuwen Clan. We've gained a lot."

Fu Junyu squirmed in Yuan Yueze's arms a few times, found a comfortable position, and then spoke.

“Those two boys are lucky, they should be fine. It's Junzhuo and Zhenzhen who are worried about them, but there's no point in me saying anything. Let's keep looking,”

Yuan Yueze said.

“Sister Yuzhen said that people would have been very close to them, like siblings, but why has Susu never even heard of them?”

Susu asked from the other side.

“Originally, things in this era were destined to develop along a certain path, but my husband suddenly arrived and unintentionally did some things, resulting in a series of reactions. Many things and people have been changed by my appearance,”

Yuan Yueze laughed.

“There are still more than two months until our wedding. Where should we go for some fun?”

Song Yuzhi asked, tilting her head.

“Yuzhen, do you have any ideas?”

Yuan Yueze didn't answer Song Yuzhi, but instead asked Yun Yuzhen.

“Now that Yang Guang is dead, the world is in chaos, and our intelligence network isn’t fully operational yet, so our intelligence might not be very reliable for a while. What we do next doesn’t matter. Since Sister Junzhuo and Zhenzhen are worried about those two boys, let’s continue our search,”

Yun Yuzhen said after a moment’s thought.

“Then let’s continue exploring the Yangzhou area. The scenery on the river is quite nice. There are also many picturesque valleys in the countryside; we can go there and live freely anytime,”

Yuan Yueze said.

The group whispered some sweet nothings and gradually fell asleep.

The next day, the whole family sat around the table for breakfast. Empress Xiao looked very haggard and had no appetite, her head bowed as if lost in thought. Later, Yuan Yueze asked Shan Meixian about her family, and she told Empress Xiao everything about them. No wonder Empress Xiao was like that; she had clearly suffered a great emotional shock.

After a few more days of rest and sightseeing, Empress Xiao finally relaxed. However, Yuan Yueze's constant, respectful address of her as "Empress" made her extremely uncomfortable.

Leaving aside the fact that the Sui Dynasty was gone, she shouldn't even exist as Empress. Yuan Yueze's expression and tone alone gave Empress Xiao an indescribable sense of estrangement. He repeatedly told her to treat this place as her home, yet he always treated her like an outsider. While his attitude seemed friendly to Empress Xiao, it was a sense of distance emanating from his heart.

Therefore, a thick wall remained in Empress Xiao's heart. Over the past few days, she had gradually come to understand Yuan Yueze's character; indeed, he was as devoted to his wife as he had been a year ago, with his "earnest roar" that shook the world. Empress Xiao herself even felt a slight romantic attraction to Yuan Yueze. Whenever she thought of this, Empress Xiao forced herself to calm down: Yuan Yueze's dozen or so wives were all like fairies; standing among them, Empress Xiao would become the most inconspicuous one. Of course, she wasn't arrogant enough to believe that Yuan Yueze would have feelings for her. But the longer they spent together, the more Xiao Hou couldn't suppress her feelings. Adding to this, she was harassed by the "demonic sounds" from

nearby for over two hours every night—how could Xiao Hou, at her age and "like a wolf in sheep's clothing," endure it? After Yang Guang's death, she naturally worried about her future. But once basic needs were met, she began to consider deeper pursuits. This was human nature, and no one could blame her. After

a few days of rest, seeing that Xiao Hou's emotions were almost stable, Yuan Yueze discussed with the other women the possibility of searching for the Twin Dragons near Yangzhou.

Xiao Hou had never learned martial arts and was physically weak, so Shan Meixian voluntarily stayed in the bracelet to keep her company.

After searching for several days without any clues, Yuan Yueze went to a beautiful little valley that Shan Ruyin had stumbled upon, intending to stay there for a while.

He ended up staying in the valley for over half a month, enjoying a tranquil and carefree life, easily forgetting the outside world. During this time, at Shan Meixian's suggestion, Yuan Yueze became much more affectionate towards Empress Xiao. He abandoned his previous respectful attitude and treated her with the same care he showed the other women. Empress Xiao was flattered but unsure of Yuan Yueze's true feelings.

Seeing Empress Xiao's increasingly anxious expression, Shan Meixian didn't mind, but she understood that Yuan Yueze had no improper thoughts towards Empress Xiao at this time. Moreover, Empress Xiao's status was rather special; they were to hold their grand wedding in Lingnan in June, and if Yuan Yueze and Empress Xiao's relationship wasn't handled well, it would naturally cause some inconvenience. Yuan Yueze's family didn't care about what outsiders said, but they also had to consider the families of the women who were about to become brides. After some consideration, Shan Meixian suggested that Empress Xiao and Yuan Yueze address each other as brother and sister for the time being. Both agreed.

Once they started addressing each other as brother and sister, Yuan Yueze immediately became more affectionate. He had previously experienced a bit of sisterly affection from Shan Meixian, but Shan Meixian had primarily appeared before Yuan Yueze as a wife. Now that he had a sister, how could Yuan Yueze not be happy? Their relationship deepened, though it became a familial bond not originally intended for Empress Xiao. Nevertheless, it brought her great comfort: to have such a younger brother in this life was truly a blessing.

Empress Xiao temporarily set aside her feelings for Yuan Yueze and threw herself into her new life. Yuan Yueze went to great lengths to help her open her meridians and teach her martial arts. Afterwards, Empress Xiao sang and danced with the other women, enjoying a carefree life like that of immortals.

Fu Junzhuo finally returned after more than a month and found her family. After clinging to Yuan Yueze for a long time, they discussed establishing a communication base between the Central Plains and Goryeo. The family then began searching for Shuanglong again, like headless flies.

On this night of the full moon, Yuan Yueze suggested they all go boating on the Yangtze River to admire the moonlight.

The group enjoyed the gentle breeze and the spring air on their makeshift boat. Shan Meixian, in high spirits, asked Yuan Yueze to bring out his musical instruments so she and Empress Xiao could play a duet on the zither and lute.

The two women had an exceptionally harmonious relationship, perhaps due to their similar psychological ages. Over the past month, they had frequently studied Yuan Yueze's later musical scores together and played them. Shan Meixian was already a skilled zither player, and in the past year or so, she had immersed herself in the scores collected by Yun Jizi, her zither skills reaching a near-divine level. Yuan Yueze's family had only just learned that Empress Xiao was also a skilled pipa player.

Today, the rendition of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" carried far and wide, captivating all who heard it. Especially in this setting, it was easy to become completely absorbed in the music.

"Who are these great artists playing such beautiful music ahead? I am Li Shimin, may I have the honor of meeting these two masters?"

While everyone was still enchanted, three warships, almost comparable in size to "five-toothed warships," appeared about a hundred feet ahead of the small boat. The loud voice just now came from the middle ship.

“They are from the Li clan. Should we avoid them, my husband?”

Shan Meixian asked, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. Empress Xiao, who was standing to the side, knew of the Li clan, but she didn’t react much and continued to gently stroke her pipa.

"Why should we avoid them? Who do they think they are? I'd like to see for myself this man whose talent will be remembered for eternity!"

Yuan Yueze laughed.

"Does anyone want to come with me to see Li Shimin?"

Yuan Yueze turned back to ask the women around him.

None of the women were very interested. Empress Xiao was also afraid that her appearance would cause trouble for Yuan Yueze, so she and the other women went to rest in the bracelet. Only Shan Meixian and Shang Xiuxun remained by Yuan Yueze's side.

As the eldest of the women, Shan Meixian's presence made everyone feel at ease. Shang Xiuxun wanted to see her old friend, but she didn't know if her friend was on Li's ship.

"Please wait a moment, we're coming!"

Yuan Yueze responded from afar, and he and Shan Meixian flew through the air, lightly touching the water's surface. In a few leaps, they covered more than ten feet and landed on the bow of the large ship in the middle.

The three men arrived too quickly, and the members of the Li clan instinctively formed a protective barrier in front of Li Shimin.

"Step back. I invited you distinguished guests; please don't be so rude!"

Li Shimin said after a slight pause.

The Li clan guards responded and stepped back, while Li Shimin stepped forward, followed by a woman.

"I am Li Shimin, and my father is Li Yuan. I have just heard the performances of several masters and am filled with admiration. The music, with its gentle melody and tranquil mood, depicts the beautiful scenery of the world: as the evening drum bids farewell to the setting sun and the flute welcomes the full moon, people set out in light boats, drifting on the calm spring river. The green mountains on both banks are layered, and the flowers cast shadows; the moon ripples on the water, and the oars add to the sound. The music, with its gentle and simple melody, smooth and varied rhythm, ingenious and delicate instrumentation, and meticulous performance, vividly depicts the enchanting scenery of the moonlit night and the spring river, and fully praises the unique charm of the Jiangnan water towns. As far as I know, it seems that only the qin master Shang's skill can reach such a level. Today, to hear the music of two zheng masters and pipa masters is truly an honor of a lifetime!"

Li Shimin said, bowing with his hands clasped, his tone full of heroic spirit.

“I didn’t expect Brother Li to be such a kindred spirit. But does Brother Li wish to speak with us here?”

Yuan Yueze pointed to the deck at the bow of the ship.

“It was presumptuous of Shimin.

Please, the three of you!” Li Shimin gestured for them to enter.

It was dark outside, and the people on the deck still couldn’t make out each other’s features.

Led by Li Shimin, Yuan Yueze and the two women entered the luxurious reception cabin. The guards outside were naturally wary of letting three people of unknown origin in so easily, but Li Shimin stopped the others from following in, saying only, “How could someone who can compose such beautiful music be an evil person? You may leave!”

This was a very tactful remark, subtly flattering Yuan Yueze and the other two while also demonstrating his generosity.

Yuan Yueze remained silent, and after entering the cabin with Li Shimin and the woman, they sat down and began to sized each other up.

Li Shimin appeared to be around twenty years old, tall and imposing, with a square face and large ears. His imposing presence and bright, piercing eyes, combined with his composed and dignified demeanor, captivated all who beheld him. The

woman beside him was also exceptionally beautiful, dressed in elegant, light-colored robes. Her figure was slender and graceful, her bearing refined and elegant—a sight to behold. Li Shimin

and the woman similarly sized up the man and two women before them, clearly stunned by their beauty and charm. Even Li Shimin, accustomed to seeing countless beauties, was momentarily taken aback when his gaze fell upon Shang Xiuxun. However, a fleeting look of astonishment crossed his face, revealing his resolute will.

Li Shimin and the woman's gazes lingered on Shan Meixian and Shang Xiuxun, their expressions growing increasingly strange. A moment later, the woman exclaimed, "Aunt Meixian, Xiuxun!"

"Xiuning doesn't even recognize me? We met a few years ago, didn't we?"

Shan Meixian smiled slightly, her tone teasing.

Shang Xiuxun also nodded with a charming smile.

"So it really is Aunt Meixian and Sister Xiuxun! Shimin, you're too kind! This must be the renowned Young Master Yuan, right?"

Li Shimin's eyes flashed with only a hint of surprise before he smiled naturally.

Yuan Yueze didn't answer, but smiled and nodded. He then glanced at the woman beside Li Shimin a few more times before looking away from her.

"This is my younger sister, Xiuning."

Li Shimin, seeing Yuan Yueze's impolite behavior, didn't stand on ceremony, as rumors in the martial arts world suggested that Yuan Yueze was a very casual person.

Li Xiuning, however, stared at Yuan Yueze with a complicated expression.

Although Li Shimin's expression remained unchanged, his mind immediately began to calculate: the spy clearly said that Xiu Xun had gone out for a trip, but did not mention that she was with Yuan Yueze.

The Flying Horse Ranch was a place coveted by any major power in this chaotic world, and Shang Xiu Xun, as the only daughter of the ranch owner Shang Qingya, was naturally extremely pampered. In this era that valued marriage alliances, if someone could marry Shang Xiu Xun, their power would immediately increase several times. With Shang Xiu Xun's beauty, which could rank among the top five in the world, it was definitely a deal that would bring both wealth and beauty!

But now it seemed that Shang Xiu Xun was already Yuan Yueze's woman, and Yuan Yueze had a marriage relationship with the Song Clan, so wouldn't the Song Clan be...?

Li Shimin could only think of these things, and he couldn't help but feel anxious: in just this short period of deliberation, he knew that many things had already exceeded his expectations!

Li Xiuning, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking about something else, not so complicated. She just went over and hugged the jade-like arm of the ethereal Shang Xiu Xun with an envious look, and chatted excitedly.

Li Shimin's mind was in turmoil, so he casually asked about the moving piece of music he had just heard. Shan Meixian replied that she had played the zither, while Yuan Yueze's sister played the pipa in harmony. This piece, "Spring River Flower Moon Night," wouldn't have appeared until the Ming and Qing dynasties, and a more mature score didn't emerge until the 19th century, so Li Shimin obviously couldn't have heard of it. However, upon hearing that Shan Meixian said it was Yuan Yueze's sister playing the pipa, he became somewhat interested in her identity, because in his knowledge, no woman in the world seemed to possess such pipa skills.

Yuan Yueze remained silent; he disliked such hypocritical occasions and was not good at dealing with such situations. He simply lowered his head and tasted pastries and fine tea. Many of Li Shimin's well-hidden questions were answered by Shan Meixian.

Seeing that Yuan Yueze showed no interest in speaking, focusing only on eating and drinking, while Shan Meixian answered all questions, Li Shimin guessed that Yuan Yueze might be henpecked, hence needing Shan Meixian to make all the decisions. This was because Shan Meixian was a top-tier figure in terms of life experience and worldly wisdom.

Meanwhile, Li Xiuning was trying to elicit information about Shang Xiuxun through conversation, while Li Shimin and Shan Meixian were engaged in a "battle of wits," which Yuan Yueze listened to attentively, his eyelids drooping.

Li Xiuning and Shang Xiuxun's conversation was relatively mild, without much hidden agenda. However, Li Shimin and Shan Meixian's conversation was like a game of chess, or perhaps a battle, with hidden meanings and veiled implications in their words. Li Shimin's implication was that he wanted to know Yuan Yueze's background and goals; after all, no one wanted to make such an enemy, even though Yuan Yueze appeared simple and honest. Shan Meixian, however, avoided direct answers, her meaning clear: if you want to know, just ask the Song Clan Chief. They directly passed all of Li Shimin's questions to Song Que. Shan Meixian also subtly inquired about Li Shimin's presence on the Yangtze River, to which Li Shimin's answer remained equally evasive.

"Where are Aunt Meixian and Sister Xiuxun staying? If you don't mind, why don't you stay the night on our boat?"

Seeing that he hadn't gotten any answers after asking for so long, Li Shimin grew impatient and offered this invitation, hoping to devise a plan for the night and inquire again the next day.

"We won't stay here. We appreciate your kindness, Shimin, but remember to give my regards to your father when you return."

Without hesitation, Shan Meixian answered.

"But it's already quite late, and we're not close to any town. Aunt Meixian, are you planning to stay in the wilderness?"

Li Xiuning quickly tried to persuade them to stay when she heard they were about to leave.

"We're used to staying wherever we end up! Xiuning and Brother Li, please take care!"

Shang Xiuxun smiled at Li Xiuning.

"Then I won't keep you three any longer. On your wedding day, I will definitely visit Songjia Mountain City to offer my congratulations!"

Li Shimin reluctantly agreed.

"Then we'll wait for Brother Li's arrival!"

Shang Xiuxun nodded.

"Husband, we should go."

Seeing there was nothing more to say, Shan Meixian prepared to leave.

Her gaze turned to Yuan Yueze beside her, but she noticed he didn't move at all, simply leaning against the round table with his head down.

The other four people in the room looked puzzled, and several of them leaned closer.

When Li Shimin and his sister saw clearly, their expressions were incredibly complex.

It turned out that Yuan Yueze had his eyes closed, a trickle of drool at the corner of his mouth, and his breathing was long and even; he had fallen asleep without anyone noticing! ( Chapter 26, April 20th

) Seeing Yuan Yueze's sleeping posture, Li Shimin and his sister's expressions became awkward. However, Shan Meixian showed no sign of discomfort. She gently nudged Yuan Yueze a few times, turned her head, and smiled at Li Shimin and his sister, saying, "My husband is just like that, don't laugh at him. He only came to see Shimin today." While Li Shimin was still pondering the deeper meaning behind Shan Meixian's words, Yuan Yueze was already groggily awakened. The first thing he saw was Shang Xiuxun, gently wiping Yuan Yueze's drool with a fragrant handkerchief. Looking around sleepily, Yuan Yueze cupped his hands to Li Shimin and said, "Have you finished talking? Then I'll take my leave." Li Shimin and his sister quickly returned the gesture and watched the three of them leave. "Second Brother, what do you think of this Young Master Yuan compared to the rumors?" After sitting in the cabin for a while, Li Xiuning asked. "I can't really explain it. At first glance, he seems very simple, like a child of a few years old. But upon closer inspection, he seems like a learned sage. In short, the more you look at him, the more you notice his unique characteristics and his extremely strange temperament." Li Shimin frowned and said, even finding suitable words to describe Yuan Yueze was not easy. However, he was quite capable. Yuan Yueze had only spoken a few times in the cabin, and his eyes had only shifted twice. Yet Li Shimin was able to see through Yuan Yueze. He was indeed not comparable to the disciples of ordinary aristocratic families. "But many things in the rumors seem to be true! Look at Aunt Meixian, now she looks like someone else's sister no matter how you look at her! And Xiuxun, the change is too great! It seems that person really does know some magic!" Li Xiuning sighed. At this moment, her attention was entirely focused on the changes in Shan Meixian and the other two women. Everyone has a love for beauty. Women, in particular, are extremely competitive. But Li Shimin had no time to consider these issues; his focus was on matters of interest. "Who cares if they have magic! Our spies have made a huge mistake this time! The news we received about the Pegasus Ranch over a year ago seems to have been false! Sigh..." Li Shimin's head ached at the thought. "Second Brother, your worries are unnecessary. Based on Aunt Meixian's words, Xiuning has noticed that they seem to rarely interact with outsiders, meaning they prefer to live in their own little world. This kind of personality is unrestrained and detached from worldly affairs. That's why no one has been able to find their whereabouts for over a year. Such people have no interest in the struggle for power or the conflicts of the world," Li Xiuning replied after a moment's thought. Indeed, coming from a political family, once she regained her composure, her analysis was crystal clear. "I hope so, but as long as there's even the slightest potential crisis, it's hard for us to feel at ease!" Li Shimin sighed. “Anyway, we’ll be sending congratulatory gifts when they get married in Lingnan. If I’m not mistaken, many powerful forces will come to offer their congratulations, which will increase the chances of them revealing their secrets,” Li Shimin added. Li Xiuning remained silent and nodded quietly. Yuan Yueze and the other two left the Li clan’s ship and traveled to the small valley where they had rested a few days earlier. They ate some snacks with the women and chatted about all sorts of things before resting. After a few moments of passion, Yuan Yueze held Song Yuzhi, who was as limp as mud in his arms, and his hands greedily continued to grope her body, as if searching for treasure on her curvaceous figure. Song Yuzhi hadn’t recovered from the ecstasy she had just experienced and was panting heavily. Seeing Yuan Yueze like this, she quickly used all her strength to press down on his strange hands and whimpered, “Husband, no… no more, I can’t go on…” Yuan Yueze smiled and stopped, about to reply, when he heard a faint sigh coming from not far away. The house in the bracelet was indeed very large. But in the quiet night, even the slightest sound could travel far, let alone the cultivation level of Yuan Yueze's family! "It must be Sister Xiao!" Shan Meixian chuckled softly from Yuan Yueze's other side. "Sister, are you still awake so late? Are you thinking about your unhappy past again?" Yuan Yueze asked curiously. "No way! It's just that you, you rascal, have disturbed my peace of mind!" Yun Yuzhen also had a knowing look on her face. "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!" Yuan Yueze gently pinched her smooth cheek and laughed. "My husband is like a block of wood, of course he can't understand many things, let alone the delicate feelings of a young lady!" Yun Yuzhen retorted unconvinced. Yuan Yueze began to frown, thinking to himself: I haven't done anything, so how could I have disturbed my sister's peace of mind! This blockhead is stupid to death, just as Yun Yuzhen said. Over the past month, Empress Xiao had almost fully integrated into the family, but her status was that of Yuan Yueze's 'family member,' quite different from the other women. Yuan Yueze, though not entirely foolish, wasn't completely oblivious. When arranging a room for Empress Xiao in this large house, he worried that the deafening noise of the women's revelry would reach her ears, so he arranged a room quite far from Yuan Yueze's and the other women's rooms. Empress Xiao, however, insisted on being closer to them, otherwise she would easily be afraid of being alone at night. This reason was quite perfect. The result was that Empress Xiao no longer felt 'afraid' at night, but she couldn't sleep soundly for a single night! The lewd and seductive sounds kept her awake! During the day, she often appeared absent-minded, causing quite a bit of amusement. The perceptive women around Yuan Yueze, of course, understood what was going on, but they kept it to themselves. "Sister Xiao's status is special; it would be best to make plans regarding her marriage after the wedding!" Shan Meixian said from the side. "What do you mean by 'matters with me'?" Yuan Yueze said unhappily. "My good man, do you know how charming you are? Sister Xiao is already completely infatuated with you! And every night she's harassed by our voices; even a cultivator couldn't maintain her composure!"

Song Yuzhi, having regained some strength, chuckled.

Yuan Yueze, upon hearing this, felt a headache coming on. His only family member since childhood was Yun Jizi. But everyone longs for the love and care of parents and siblings during childhood; this bond of blood is irreplaceable by any other relationship. Now, having recognized Empress Xiao as his sister, he felt immensely satisfied and personally experienced the feeling of being cared for by family.

Over the past month, Yuan Yueze had noticed that Empress Xiao was becoming increasingly awkward around him. Although she seemed like a block of wood, she wasn't completely inanimate. Yuan Yueze could only try his best to suppress his feelings. Today's casual conversation left him somewhat at a loss.

"Forget it, I won't think about it anymore. I'll talk to my sister tomorrow. What needs to be faced must be faced,"

Yuan Yueze sighed.

The remaining girls, still lucid, naturally giggled.

“We’ve been searching like this, but we haven’t found any news about those two bastards, Kou Zhong and Zhenzhen. Junzhuo and Zhenzhen are still worried. Let’s all split up tomorrow and gather information. It’s been over a month; our bases should be operational by now, right?”

Yuan Yueze glanced at Fu Junzhuo, who was whispering with Yun Yuzhen, and asked.

“They should be operational by now. Let’s split up and gather information tomorrow, and then we can discuss the next steps,”

Yun Yuzhen replied quickly.

After a few more unrelated words, everyone fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, in the afternoon,

after the family had eaten, Yun Yuzhen, Song Yuzhi, and Fu Junzhuo laid out the information they had gathered before everyone. Wei Zhenzhen read it aloud to everyone one by one.

The three information gathering bases of the Giant Kun Gang, the Song Clan, and Goryeo were indeed impressive. They could find out almost everything, big or small, happening throughout the Central Plains and surrounding areas.

Among these slips of paper, some of the messages were quite intriguing.

Firstly, a gang called the "Double Dragons Society" suddenly rose to prominence in Yuyao County more than ten days ago, and its leader was none other than Shuanglong. According to news from the Giant Kun Gang's Yuhang base, the "Double Dragons Society" consisted of local idlers with some skills. Shuanglong had witnessed the "Water Dragons Gang" oppressing the local people in Yuyao that day, and he had bravely intervened, killing the "Water Dragons Gang" troublemakers. He was subsequently promoted to leader by some shrewd local thugs.

Fu Junzhuo and Wei Zhenzhen finally felt relieved. They weren't worried about Shuanglong's future; their only concern was their own safety.

Secondly, in the month following Yang Guang's death, the political landscape of the country had changed dramatically, with various forces establishing their own kingdoms and waging war against each other. The lives of the common people were far more difficult than during Yang Guang's reign.

In the north, Liu Wuzhou and Liang Shidu maintained close ties with the Turks and coveted the vast and beautiful lands of the Central Plains.

Eight days after Yang Guang's death, Li Yuan of Taiyuan led his army to capture Chang'an, installing Yang You as a puppet king and declaring himself Grand General. He appointed his eldest son, Li Jiancheng, and second son, Li Shimin, as commanders-in-chief and deputy commanders-in-chief, respectively. Starting from Taiyuan, after occupying Chang'an, they dominated Guanzhong. Rumors circulated that they also had secret dealings with the Turks. Their power grew rapidly, making them a formidable force capable of both offense and defense, and arguably the most powerful to dominate the world!

After the inexplicable loss of Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji, the Yuwen clan leader, Yuwen Shang, initially intended to divide his forces to occupy Yangzhou and Chang'an respectively. However, the Li clan, once they launched their attack, swept through Chang'an with overwhelming force. The weakened and divided Yuwen clan could not withstand the Li clan's fierce offensive and was forced to abandon Chang'an to focus their efforts on Yangzhou.

Du Fuwei, who had already captured Danyang, would not abandon the valuable territory of Yangzhou! Five days after Yang Guang's death, Du Fuwei ordered Li Zitong to lead the main force of the Jianghuai Army to seize Yangzhou. The city's defenders consisted only of Yuchi Sheng's troops and a small contingent of Yuwen Clan's personal guards, who easily captured Yangzhou. The Yuwen Clan, who had hoped to have their cake and eat it too, ended up with nothing and had to return to Liangdu.

In Luoyang, the eastern capital, the powerful families of Wang Shichong and the Dugu Clan jointly held all power, installing Yang Tong as a puppet king. Their influence rapidly spread to a vast area of thousands of miles around the Yellow River bend.

Meanwhile, Li Mi, the leader of the Wagang Army, had already usurped the throne from Zhai Rang through a conspiracy, commanding numerous skilled warriors. He seized Wagang, captured Xingyang, then Luokou Granary, and advanced on Luoyang, gaining immense power.

Dou Jiande, who controlled Hebei, possessed keen insight and acted decisively, earning him the title of a contemporary hero. He declared himself "King of Great Xia," establishing the state of "Xia" with its capital at Leshou. The same fervor for expansion

prevailed. South of the Yangtze River, Emperor Lin Shihong of Chu, having lost his powerful ally Ren Shaoming, was increasingly weakened, while Emperor Xiao Xian of Liang seized the opportunity to expand aggressively from Baling, gradually consolidating his power and showing signs of rivaling the Song clan of Lingnan.

Lin Shihong, a true warlord of troubled times, quickly stabilized his position, taking over a portion of the leaderless Iron Cavalry Society and focusing on rebuilding his military strength, waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback.

These were merely internal struggles within the Central Plains; what was truly chilling were the surrounding major foreign tribes. The Turks, Tiele, and Tuyuhun, three great foreign tribes, had long coveted the fertile Central Plains. Their people were fierce and brave, natural soldiers, with countless skilled warriors among them. Now that Yang Guang was dead, these foreign tribes were plotting to take advantage of the situation and trample the land underfoot.

The news Fu Junzhuo brought back from Goryeo was equally worrying: Fu Cailin had been in seclusion for a long time, and when he finally emerged, it was only to witness his beloved disciple's wedding at the Song Dynasty in Lingnan. During this past year, under the instigation of the ambitious Gaisuwen, the Goryeo people's 'deification' of Fu Cailin had faded considerably. Gaisuwen was overjoyed when news of Yang Guang's death reached Goryeo, and then mysteriously disappeared for half a month; no one knew where he went. It's unlikely he was doing anything honorable.

"If I'm not mistaken, Gaisuwen must have gone to unite with other forces to jointly seize the Central Plains,"

Yuan Yueze said after a long silence, having listened to Wei Zhenzhen's recitation.

"Emperor Yang Guang was manipulated by treacherous ministers, launching three campaigns against Goguryeo, which angered the Goguryeo people and led them to turn their wrath upon the people of the Central Plains. It's all the rulers who harm the poor! The people know nothing; they are merely pawns being manipulated,"

Empress Xiao sighed.

"The puppet kings supported by Wang Shichong and Li Yuan must be your grandsons, right?"

Yuan Yueze asked.

Empress Xiao nodded silently, her face expressionless. "I haven't seen them in recent years. We are related by blood, yet we are more like strangers."

"As the saying goes, 'Once you enter the gates of a noble family, it's like entering a deep sea; the most ruthless is the imperial family!' Sister, there's no need to lament. Now, isn't there a warmer home?"

Yuan Yueze comforted her.

This guy was quite 'talented'; he managed to twist two seemingly unrelated lines of poetry together, making them rhyme.

Empress Xiao smiled gratefully at Yuan Yueze.

"Judging from the current situation, the Li clan is the most capable of winning the throne,"

Shan Meixian said after a moment of contemplation.

"And Wang Shichong, we must not underestimate him,"

Empress Xiao reminded her from the side.

"That's right! Wang Shichong already knew where we were hiding in the Golden Palace that day, and he even used fake heads of Li Yuan and his son to reassure Yang Guang, clearly having also taken Yuwen Huaji into his scheme. And those two servants of his are no pushovers either,"

Yun Yuzhen added.

"Wang Shichong is definitely not simple. He was Yang Guang's secret envoy that day. Everyone thought Yang Guang was incompetent and deceived by treacherous officials, but that's not the case. This time, Yang Guang's death wasn't at the hands of the Yuwen clan, but rather due to Wang Shichong's machinations," Empress

Xiao added.

"Sister, you are truly remarkable, living up to your title of 'talented woman,' and your intelligence network is also impressive!"

Yuan Yueze praised.

"Wang Shichong is not only exceptionally cunning, but his martial arts skills are also unfathomable,"

Empress Xiao said, blushing at the praise.

Thinking back to the chaotic battle in the palace, Yuan Yueze had no chance to test Wang Shichong's abilities and inwardly sighed in regret.

"These are just the visible forces; there are hidden forces we may not even know about!"

Song Yuzhi said.

"Sigh! I hate this kind of thing the most, yet I've unknowingly been drawn into the vortex of power struggles!"

Yuan Yueze sighed deeply.

"Husband, this isn't being dragged in! We're just learning about the current state of the world. The real power struggles are a thousand times more terrifying! Besides, we're doing this to find the true 'Emperor's Star'!"

Shan Meixian laughed.

"Meixian is absolutely right, I still need to adapt slowly,"

Yuan Yueze said with a wry smile.

"What should we do next?"

Yuan Yueze asked, seemingly oblivious to the situation.

"Let's go check on those two boys first! That way Junzhuo and Zhenzhen can rest assured,"

Shan Meixian said, glancing at Wei Zhenzhen.

"Alright, we'll set off for Yuyao tomorrow,"

Yuan Yueze nodded, patting Wei Zhenzhen's soft hand.

Everyone agreed and went off to find their own fun, leaving only Yuan Yueze and Empress Xiao sitting at the round table.

Seeing the teasing looks from Shan Meixian and the other girls before they left, Empress Xiao's heart pounded, and she didn't dare to look Yuan Yueze in the eye. But she could feel the two burning gazes on her.

"Sister, we unintentionally changed your original life trajectory. Have you ever blamed us?"

Yuan Yueze asked. Empress

Xiao hadn't expected him to ask such a question. For the past month or so, Empress Xiao and Shan Meixian had often read and played music together, and she had also read a lot of historical materials from later generations. Although she didn't completely believe what was recorded in those books, Empress Xiao believed that meeting Yuan Yueze's family made her the luckiest person in the world. Therefore, she never harbored any resentment towards them.

"Young brother, there's no need to be so formal. I've received your and my sisters' love and care, it's like a dream. How could I blame you?"

Empress Xiao said calmly after a moment, raising her head.

Yuan Yueze had always treated Empress Xiao as family, so he had never looked at her with the eyes of a woman. Today, he took the opportunity to thoroughly feast his eyes on her beauty.

Empress Xiao indeed couldn't compare to Yuan Yueze's other wives, because they simply didn't belong to the same category. To an ordinary person, Empress Xiao's beauty and charm could indeed be described as breathtaking. Leaving aside her stunning face and exquisite curves, her charm alone was incredibly alluring. However, a hint of melancholy lingered on her smooth face.

Yuan Yueze never bothered to conceal his feelings, nor did he know the meaning of shame. He simply stared at Empress Xiao, becoming increasingly infatuated.

Empress Xiao felt her body heat rising under Yuan Yueze's gaze, her face flushed red. Feeling his burning gaze, she felt as if two intangible hands were caressing her. Wherever Yuan Yueze's eyes fell, Empress Xiao felt a tingling, numb sensation throughout her body. Her beautiful eyes, which had been fixed on Yuan Yueze, were now misty and gradually became hazy.

"Mmm!"

After the two of them had experienced such intense pleasure simply through eye contact, Empress Xiao unconsciously let out a soft moan.

Immediately, her eyes cleared, her face turning a deep red, as if it could drip water, and her head drooped so low it seemed to touch her breasts, too ashamed to lift it again.

"Oh dear! What's wrong with me? How could I lose my composure in front of my little brother? And make such shameful sounds! He's always treated me with such respect and affection, but now he must think I'm a slut and will look down on me!"

Empress Xiao thought to herself, her head bowed, growing increasingly distressed. Two strings of tears, like broken pearls, involuntarily streamed down her face.

Yuan Yueze hadn't noticed Empress Xiao's voice, preoccupied with admiring her beauty, when he was suddenly startled by the soft sobbing. Coming to his senses, he saw Empress Xiao weeping, and Yuan Yueze didn't know what had happened. He quickly stepped forward to wipe her tears and apologized, "Sister, I was wrong. I shouldn't have looked at you like that."

"Do you think I'm a bad woman?"

Empress Xiao, as if possessed, looked up after hearing Yuan Yueze's explanation and asked, her face streaked with tears.

“Sister, you were just forced into this situation! In this era, how many women from official families have the right to pursue their own happiness? Most of them sacrifice themselves for their families! Take you, sister, for example. When you married Yang Guang, was he really the man of your dreams?”

Yuan Yueze pulled her hand and asked.

Empress Xiao didn’t speak, but shook her head sadly.

“That’s why I think you deserve even more pity and sympathy. You are indeed the Empress, but so what? You are trapped in the cage-like palace like a little bird every day. Is there any joy in life?”

Yuan Yueze continued.

Although this simpleton hadn’t experienced much, his title of ‘King of Theory’ was well-deserved. He was more than capable of giving advice.

“To be honest, I don’t know what kind of feelings I have for you, sister. There is familial affection, romantic love, and many other complex emotions mixed in.”

Yuan Yueze turned his gaze into the distance and sighed.

Hearing such blunt words, Empress Xiao’s face, which had calmed down, flushed again, and her heart pounded wildly.

"In short, sister, just enjoy life. I'll give you an explanation after the Lingnan wedding."

Seeing Empress Xiao staring at him blankly, Yuan Yueze leaned forward and gently kissed her soft, fragrant lips before getting up and leaving. Empress Xiao

watched Yuan Yueze's figure disappear into the distance.

"Ah!"

Coming back to her senses, Empress Xiao realized she had just been "ambushed" by Yuan Yueze. She immediately pressed her lips to hers, as if savoring the memory. Thinking of Yuan Yueze's gentle words, her face flushed red as she looked around shyly. She stood up abruptly, dragging her weak body, and quickly ran back to her room.

The next day at dawn, Yuan Yueze and his family arrived in the outskirts of Yuyao, accompanied only by Fu Junzhuo and Wei Zhenzhen.

"Young man, may I ask where the 'Double Dragons Society's' residence is?"

Yuan Yueze asked a passing young man as he entered the city.

"Young Master, are you going to the 'Twin Dragons Society'? They were attacked by someone a few days ago! It's a complete mess now!"

The young man pointed out the route and reminded him.

"Thank you very much."

Yuan Yueze didn't say much and turned to leave with the two veiled women.

A short while later, the three of them finally arrived at the location of the 'Twin Dragons Society'. It turned out to be a very large manor. However, it seemed lifeless, giving off a desolate feeling.

"Let's sneak over and take a look first. I wonder how much Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling have changed!"

Fu Junzhuo suggested.

Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen nodded in agreement, and the three of them entered the manor like ghosts.

"There are several powerful auras ahead!"

Wei Zhenzhen said.

"Let's hide and see!"

Yuan Yueze pulled the two women up and leaped into the dense bushes within the mansion. He looked around.

Ahead was a training ground about a hundred feet in diameter, where more than a dozen people stood. The two leading figures were the Twin Dragons. Looking closely, the Twin Dragons, whom he hadn't seen for nearly two years, had become much more robust and mature. Kou Zhong exuded an even more arrogant and domineering air, while Xu Ziling had the air of a refined scholar, handsome and dashing. Their eyes flashed with a sharp light,

and the powerful true energy within them was truly admirable. Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen nodded in approval.

However, the atmosphere in the courtyard was very somber, and everyone's arms were wrapped in black gauze, as if they were mourning someone.

"Four auras are approaching!"

Fu Junzhuo spoke in a focused voice.

Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen sensed it as well and turned to look.

Atop a large tree about ten feet ahead, a slender and alluring figure stood gracefully, like an elf from the deepest darkness. Her light gauze robes fluttered softly in the wind, her white palace dress revealing bare jade feet. The eerie and bewitching allure, the captivating charm, should have been intoxicating, yet it also sent a chill down one's spine.

Yuan Yueze and the two women had a vague idea of the woman's identity; if they were right, she was undoubtedly Wanwan, the successor of the Yin Queen and the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect.

However, what concerned the three of them even more were the three powerful auras hidden not far behind Wanwan.

"You actually dare to stay here? Have you chosen this place, quiet yet prosperous, as an ideal burial ground, intending to die here with your brothers? But have you made all the necessary preparations for your deaths?"

Wanwan smiled sweetly, her starry eyes sparkling with affection, her voice soft and melodious, yet the murderous intent in her tone sent chills down one's spine. The scene was extremely eerie.

"Wanwan, you witch! We haven't even come looking for you yet, and you dare to provoke us again! Very well!"

Kou Zhong sneered, his voice filled with hatred.

Yuan Yueze and Wei Zhenzhen were also completely bewildered; it seemed the Twin Dragons and the Yin Gui Sect had some deep-seated blood feud.

"How about we make a deal? As long as you tell me the location of the 'Yang Gong Treasure,' our grudges will be wiped clean, and from now on, we'll keep to ourselves,"

Wanwan landed on the treetop, giving Kou Zhong a flirtatious wink, and said sweetly.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were only momentarily stunned by Wanwan's "Heavenly Demonic Appearance," while their subordinates behind them were clearly bewitched, staring blankly at her.

"Fuck your delusions! You killed over a hundred of my men! Such a deep-seated hatred! If I, Kou Zhong, let this go, who will respect us brothers in the future?"

Kou Zhong roared in fury.

"Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, if you two cooperate with my Holy Sect, the world will be yours! A hero achieves great things; why be so petty about sacrificing a few lives?"

Wanwan ignored Kou Zhong's insults and continued to persuade him.

"That's your opinion! The lives of my brothers are invaluable. You've been relentlessly pressuring me to find the treasure's location; a grudge has been formed!"

Kou Zhong continued angrily.

"So what if we've formed an alliance? Last time, didn't you two almost get played to death by me? You should thank me for your survival today!"

Wanwan said with a charming smile.

The two dragons didn't answer, but instead exchanged glances, their figures flashing forward, ready to capture Wanwan without another word!

"Oh dear! You two really do keep fighting despite repeated defeats! But that's not bravery, that's foolishness!"

Wanwan's expression turned serious, her voice turning icy.

At the same time, she took a step back, channeling her inner strength, pulling the surrounding air to form a concave space, which rolled back and pressed down on the two dragons.

"This must be the 'Heavenly Demon Field' in the 'Heavenly Demon Great Art'!"

Yuan Yueze sighed.

"Should we go down and help Xiao Zhong and the other two?"

Wei Zhenzhen asked anxiously.

"No rush, let's see how their martial arts have improved over the past six months."

Fu Junzhuo comforted Wei Zhenzhen.

Their bodies were involuntarily drawn into the intense demonic energy of the 'Heavenly Demon Field.' The two dragons, however, did not panic; they surprisingly released their weapons.

Wanwan was bewildered by their strange fighting style. In that brief moment of surprise, the two dragons launched a full-scale attack on Wanwan's lower ribs from both sides!

The two spinning vortexes were highly concentrated, swift as lightning and heavy as thunder. Wanwan was secretly startled and rapidly contracted the 'Heavenly Demon Field' to resist!

In the fierce clash, the two spinning vortexes on the left and right were actually tightly sucked into the compressed 'Heavenly Demon Field,' then vanished without a trace.

The two dragons were forcibly pulled by the strange 'Heavenly Demon Field,' unable to advance or retreat, feeling as if their internal energy was about to be sucked away by Wanwan! The two were terrified. They mustered all their strength to forcibly recover the spinning top's vortex. The two spiraling energies rotated at different speeds, and Wanwan was momentarily unable to adapt, leaving her helpless and forced to retreat repeatedly.

"Witch, give me back my brother's life!"

Xu Ziling roared, his already powerful aura exploding once more, aiming straight for Wanwan's crown, who was being relentlessly entangled by Kou Zhong!

Wanwan had never encountered such a disadvantage since her debut. Xu Ziling's lightning-like attack was about to crash down, and Wanwan, who should have been on the verge of death, inexplicably showed a strange smile on her face.

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, Xu Ziling's thunderous strike was blocked by a black giant sword that appeared out of nowhere.

The two dragons sighed inwardly, realizing that the witch's fate was not yet over and she had prepared a backup plan!

Composing themselves, the two dragons noticed that a tall, thin, middle-aged man dressed as a scholar was standing to Wanwan's right. This man was fair-skinned and beardless, handsome and dashing, exuding the charm of a mature man. His eyes flashed with lightning as he opened and closed them. Standing with his hands behind his back, he possessed a self-admiring and aloof air. His appearance was very similar to Shan Wanjing's.

To Wanwan's left stood two women.

One was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a full head of silver hair. She wore a wide golden robe and had a beautiful profile, but her expression was wooden, her face pale and lifeless. Her eyes flashed with a strange and sinister light, making her look like a beautiful ghost who had slipped out of the underworld to claim lives.

The other woman was over five and a half feet tall, which was quite tall for a woman. Her long hair hung down her back, reaching her hips, and was extremely black and shiny. Her beauty was comparable to Wanwan's; her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows were dark and emerald, and her cheeks were rosy. She looked no older than twenty-five. Those clear, bright eyes seemed to ripple with boundless affection, captivating and alluring with every glance.

Both dragons' eyes were filled with infatuation, but a closer look revealed a clear glint in their gazes—clearly a ploy to lure an enemy.

"Wan'er, how are you? Your Uncle-Master will help you sit down and rest,"

the middle-aged man said gently, helping Wanwan to her feet.

"Hmph, you two brats, learn from Uncle-Master Bian! A man should know how to cherish a woman!"

Wanwan ignored the middle-aged man, turning instead to scold the two dragons.

Wanwan's mention of "Uncle-Master Bian" reached the ears of Yuan Yueze, who was hiding nearby, frowning and intently watching the middle-aged man. Instantly, everything became clear!

Yuan Yueze, consumed by rage, let out a cold snort and appeared like a ghost three feet in front of the middle-aged man, seemingly delivering a simple, diagonal strike to his neck.

The middle-aged man, who had lived a life of constant danger and was a seasoned warrior, suddenly felt a powerful aura erupt and lock onto him, as if a towering mountain had descended upon him. His heart clenched, and he felt an overwhelming sense of unease. Sensing the immense, sharp force emanating from above, seemingly overwhelming and irresistible, he knew he had no time to resist. He could only clench his right fist and use his forearm to block the attack.

"Ah!"

A bloodcurdling scream rang out, and the middle-aged man staggered back several steps.

His forearm had blocked Yuan Yueze's wrist. Yuan Yueze's palm strike, seemingly slow but actually fast, seemingly soft but actually hard, continued its downward strike the instant their arms met.

However, Yuan Yueze's attack was sudden and lacked sufficient power, and the man's head moved with his arm, so Yuan Yueze only managed to land a fraction of his force on his ear.

Touching his left ear and gazing at the blood, the middle-aged man's eyes turned icy, exuding an eerie aura as he glared at Yuan Yueze.

Yuan Yueze's sneak attack had occurred in the blink of an eye, leaving the surrounding people no time to react.

Coming to their senses, Wanwan and two other alluring women quickly shielded the middle-aged man.

"Brother Yuan!"

Kou Zhong exclaimed excitedly upon recognizing the newcomer.

Yuan Yueze turned and nodded to the two women before focusing all his energy on the middle-aged man.

"You two brats, is your only memory of your Brother Yuan?"

Fu Junzhuo and Wei Zhenzhen arrived with giggles.

"Mother! Sister Zhen!"

The two dragons, like two immature children, rushed into the women's arms.

"You, are you Bian Bufu?"

Yuan Yueze stared at the middle-aged man, his face expressionless.

"Not bad! You pretty boy, you dare to ambush me!" Bian Bufeng

said coldly, all traces of his former refined demeanor gone. The three women beside him glared at Yuan Yueze with hostility, while Wanwan's face showed only a fleeting shock upon first seeing Yuan Yueze, quickly replaced by intense resentment.

Yuan Yueze remained silent, simply raising his right hand and, under the strange gazes of Wanwan and the others, counting on his fingers one by one.

"You should have died in October of the year before last! But my negligence allowed you to live an extra year and a half, alas..."

Yuan Yueze shook his head and sighed.

"Who are you? How dare you speak so arrogantly! How dare you interfere in the affairs of my Holy Sect?"

Wanwan looked at Wei Zhenzhen and the other woman behind Yuan Yueze, already vaguely guessing his identity, but still shouting angrily.

"I have no interest in talking to you anymore, Bian Bufeng must die today!"

Yuan Yueze glanced deeply at Wanwan and said calmly.

"However, let the most suitable person to kill you kill you."

Yuan Yueze seemed to remember something, then closed his eyes and continued.

Shan Meixian was enjoying Su Su's cooking with the other women when she was suddenly pulled out. She looked around, and when her gaze landed on Bian Bufeng, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, a faint smile on her lips.

Wanwan and the other three were naturally surprised to see Yuan Yueze suddenly appear out of nowhere, but what surprised them most was that the person who emerged from the bracelet was none other than the former Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect!

Only the upper echelons of the Yin Gui Sect and a very few others, such as Song Que, Lu Miaozi, Shi Zhixuan, and Shi Qingxuan, knew about Shan Meixian's relationship with the Empress Yin.

Bian Bufeng, of course, remembered the Shan Meixian before him, especially the Shan Meixian when she was eighteen or nineteen, in the prime of her youth.

At this moment, Bian Bufeng seemed to have forgotten the crimes he had committed, only staring blankly at Shan Meixian.

Although Wanwan didn't have a good impression of Bian Bufeng, she still coughed lightly, her tone slightly sarcastic: "Uncle Bian, your eyes are about to pop out!"

"Mei...Meixian, is it really you?"

Bian Bufeng ignored Wanwan and asked.

"Shut up! How dare you, a beast, call someone Meixian?"

Shan Meixian's voice turned cold.

"My mistake caused me to become addicted to this intoxicating life and forget my promise to Meixian. I should have brought him to you two years ago."

Yuan Yueze said apologetically.

"Husband, there's no need for that. I had long forgotten about it. Now that we've met, it's time to settle the score!"

Shan Meixian chuckled and took Yuan Yueze's arm.

"You're that Yuan guy? What do you want?"

Bian Bufeng and Wanwan realized that the handsome young man before them was the elusive Yuan Yueze who had been the talk of the town for the past two years. Wanwan's gaze towards Yuan Yueze grew increasingly strange.

Although Bian Bufeng was lecherous, he was also incredibly shrewd and calculating. At this moment, he was worried about his survival, not about indulging in the beauty before him! The man and woman before him clearly harbored deep hatred for him. Furthermore, given the selfishness of the Demonic Sect members, it was uncertain whether Wanwan and the other two women would come to his aid if a fight broke out. Even if the other three women did help, Yuan Yueze's side had no shortage of experts.

"Husband, please watch from the side; I will personally take his head!"

Shan Meixian smiled at Yuan Yueze, as if Bian Bufeng were already dead!

Yuan Yueze nodded and stepped back to stand beside Wei Zhenzhen and the two dragons.

Bian Bufeng had just been worried about how to deal with Yuan Yueze and Shan Meixian. Yuan Yueze's abilities had been rumored to be invincible, and although Bian Bufeng didn't believe it, a huge shadow loomed over him. Seeing that Yuan Yueze had no intention of continuing his attack, he became smug, thinking that Shan Meixian's strength was unlikely to be as formidable as Yuan Yueze's.

Relieved, Bian Bufeng resumed his refined demeanor, standing two zhang in front of Shan Meixian.

Bian Bufeng practiced a self-created technique called "Demon Heart Linked Rings," modeled after the "Heavenly Heart Lotus Rings" of another master of the Demonic Sect, "Fat Jia" Anlong.

"Demon Heart Linked Rings" was an extremely vicious martial art. When circulating qi, it gathered true qi within the meridians, forming rings that linked one after another, each ring interconnected. Bizarre and unpredictable, it allowed the user to borrow force to launch attacks, continuously striking while the opponent's old strength was waning and new strength had not yet been generated, using its all-pervasive ring technique to directly shatter the opponent's eight extraordinary meridians.

"If you survive today, I'll let you go, and our feud will be wiped clean!"

Shan Meixian said expressionlessly after glancing at Bian Bufeng.

Bian Bufeng smiled slightly and said, "What saintess? I played with her first!"

'Demon Hidden' had roamed the martial world for decades; he was no ordinary person. With just this one sentence, it was clear he understood the principles of combat.

He could clearly sense the high cultivation levels of Yuan Yueze and Shan Meixian. In this situation, if he could strike at his opponent's mentality with words, causing them to reveal a weakness they shouldn't have, he would gain the upper hand and seize the initiative. Yuan Yueze

behind him was completely enraged. He had drawn his transparent longsword, and his clothes and long hair danced against the wind again, a truly terrifying sight.

Hearing the insulting words, Shan Meixian's face turned cold. Before Yuan Yueze could attack, she shouted and transformed her left hand into a palm, leaping into the air and delivering a simple palm strike straight at Bian Bufeng's head!

According to the rules of the martial arts world, Yuan Yueze had just indicated that Shan Meixian and Bian Bufeng would fight one-on-one. Bian Bufeng thought he could dampen his opponent's spirits with words, but seeing Yuan Yueze's frenzied state and remembering the rumors that Yuan Yueze always scoffed at worldly etiquette, he felt a tremor in his heart, and his own momentum weakened.

It was a classic case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead.

However, Wei Zhenzhen whispered something in Yuan Yueze's ear, and he immediately calmed down, ignoring Bian Bufeng and Shan Meixian, and instead focusing his energy on the three women, Wanwan and the others.

Seeing that Yuan Yueze had returned to normal, and facing Shan Meixian's unpredictable, seemingly aimless yet fiercely powerful palm strike, Bian Bufeng remained unfazed. He composed himself and gracefully swung his right hand to meet the attack. His wide robe sleeves slid down, revealing a gleaming silver iron ring about a foot and a half long, which completely blocked Shan Meixian's attack route.

In recent years, Shan Meixian had resumed her martial arts training, and later, she had used Yuan Yueze's strange techniques to temper her spiritual energy. Her current cultivation level was comparable to her former self.

"Clang!"

Their palms clashed, Shan Meixian dodged a step, while Bian Bufeng retreated three steps.

Bian Bufeng's expression was cold. As he retreated, the silver ring in his hand spun once, neutralizing seventy percent of Shan Meixian's palm force while simultaneously using the force to launch a counterattack. Taking advantage of Shan Meixian's weakened strength and lack of new power, he swiftly counterattacked, regaining the initiative.

At the same time, Wanwan and the other two women simultaneously attacked Shan Meixian, who had shifted a step to the side, forming a sword shape with her fingers, gathering her strength to meet Bian Bufeng's attack head-on!

The Yuan Yueze family were not fools.

Without time to ponder why Wanwan and the other two women were not afraid of angering Yuan Yueze and instead attacked Shan Meixian, Yuan Yueze, Wei Zhenzhen, and Fu Junzhuo, as if by telepathy, transformed into ghosts, each pouncing on the three women.

They struck first despite being late!

With the siege broken, Shan Meixian finally understood why Wanwan and the other two women had rushed to attack – they were certain Bian Bufeng's move would capture her.

The instant Shan Meixian broke Bian Bufeng's right-hand iron ring, his hidden left-hand ring materialized into countless shadowy rings, spreading like mercury across the ground, relentlessly attacking Shan Meixian's heart.

Shan Meixian smiled coldly, stepping back with her lotus-like feet. Her body seemed boneless and supple, drifting like fallen leaves and drifting catkins through the gaps in the sea of rings. Her right fist clenched, a small pink fist imbued with immense energy, thrusting straight in, aiming for the strongest point of the ring's power.

Every move has its strongest point; if that point is broken, all subsequent attacks will be cut off, unable to continue.

Shan Meixian understood this perfectly well. Bian Bufeng,

who had just been flawless in every move, instantly changed his expression.

Yuan Yueze was furious that Wanwan had interfered, and his sword strike was utterly merciless from the start.

Wanwan inwardly groaned, resentful that her two senior uncles had forced her to intervene. The pressure Yuan Yueze exerted was immense; she couldn't gauge his strength even with all her might. She could only forcefully unleash her highest-level 'Heavenly Demon Field,' distorting the surrounding space by a foot, attempting to resist Yuan Yueze's seemingly simple yet powerful sword strike, capable of shattering the air, its sound like muffled thunder, revealing the subtle changes of heaven and earth.

"Ah!"

Wanwan cried out softly, a blush flashing across her face, quickly disappearing as she retreated several feet before stopping.

Yuan Yueze didn't pursue further.

The battle, though seemingly long, was actually over in a mere instant.

Looking around, she saw that Fu and Wei had already repelled the other two demonic sect women; those two women were cunning and had already escaped.

Shan and Bian stood motionless. Shan Meixian's slender arm was pierced through the iron ring on Bian Bufu's left hand, her delicate fist still imprinted on his chest.

"I thought I had forgotten the sins you committed against me, but seeing you today, I realize that if I don't kill you, my heart will always be clouded."

Shan Meixian slowly withdrew her arm, turning her head nonchalantly as she gracefully walked towards Yuan Yueze. Suddenly,

blood gushed from Bian Bufu's chest; he had been pierced through by Shan Meixian's fist.

Wanwan, her delicate body trembling slightly, seemed unaffected by Bian Bufu's death, only staring at Yuan Yueze with a complex expression, sometimes tender and affectionate, sometimes filled with deep hatred.

Yuan Yueze felt Wanwan's strange gaze. Although he hated her for her sneak attack, he was also curious why she didn't take advantage of the chaos to escape. He turned to meet her gaze and asked, "Why didn't you run away like those two? And why did you attack Meixian?"

Wanwan had come full of confidence today, but unexpectedly, Yuan Yueze and his group completely ruined her plans, and she even lost Bian Bufu, the third strongest expert of the Yin Gui Sect. Furthermore, she was forced by her martial uncle to attack Shan Meixian, and now she had truly provoked Yuan Yueze, this wicked star. Wanwan couldn't help but feel uneasy. Just from that one sword strike, Wanwan knew how powerful the man before her was.

But faced with Yuan Yueze's question, Wanwan didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Miss Wanwan, don't you plan to avenge your lover?"

Xu Ziling, seeing that Wanwan didn't speak, recalled Bian Bufu's ambiguous attitude towards Wanwan earlier and immediately teased her.

"Hehe!"

To everyone's surprise, Wanwan showed no anger at Xu Ziling's words. Instead, she giggled, her expression becoming even more charming and alluring.

"You little brat, you're not even fully grown yet, what do you know about love? Who said Uncle Bian is someone's lover? Even if I were to find a lover, I'd want someone as young, handsome, and heroic as Young Master Yuan!"

Wanwan's demeanor and voice were incredibly seductive as she gave Yuan Yueze a flirtatious wink.

"Or you two little devils could have a passionate love affair with me, how about that? I'm very obedient, you can do whatever you want..."

Wanwan truly lived up to her reputation as a rare talent in the Demonic Sect. Despite being at a disadvantage, she defused the situation with just a few words, while simultaneously using language to sow discord within Yuan Yueze's family and erode the Twin Dragons' trust in him. As she became more and more explicit, Yuan Yueze, who hadn't yet shown any signs of aggression, was starting to lose control once the Twin Dragons' crisis was over.

Shan Meixian, Fu Junzhuo, and Wei Zhenzhen remained silent, only staring at Wanwan with smiles on their faces.

Yuan Yueze, seeing the lecherous looks on Shuanglong's face, couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Shuanglong suddenly snapped out of it, realizing they had fallen for Wanwan's trick again.

Kou Zhong's temper flared up again: "Miss Wanwan, you flatter me too much! I don't want to be holding a beauty every night while living in fear!"

"Giggle!"

Wanwan giggled again, but her eyes remained fixed on Yuan Yueze. Her smile was incredibly tender and sweet, but Shuanglong felt increasingly uneasy!

"Young Master Yuan, I know you cherish women, but this mission was ordered by my master. Your appearance with my senior sister has made it impossible for me to go back and report. What do you suggest we do?"

Wanwan looked at Yuan Yueze with a pitiful expression, seemingly forgetting about her earlier ambush of Shan Meixian.

"Why do I feel that you harbor a deep hatred for me, young lady?"

Yuan Yueze asked curiously, looking at Wanwan.

"Of course I hate you! I'm so jealous of my senior sister and those two older sisters. Why can't I receive your favor, young master?"

Wanwan continued, her face full of sorrow.

The more sorrowful she spoke, the more convincing her performance, which only served to highlight her inner peace.

"Don't do this anymore, young lady. I'm tired for you even if you're not. Tell me, what do you want to stop?"

Yuan Yueze said helplessly. This Wanwan truly lived up to her title of 'little witch.' Yuan Yueze was already dizzy after just a few words with her. Not only did she shirk all responsibility, but she also subtly attacked him, turning the tables on him.

"Wait! Brother Yuan, this vixen killed over a hundred of our men, how can we let her go?"

Kou Zhong interjected.

"Oh! You're accusing me first? What about the matter of you killing my Holy Sect's spy in the 'Water Dragon Gang'?"

Wanwan said solemnly.

"..."

The two dragons were speechless.

"Let's leave it at that for today, but I still need to report to Master about Uncle Bian's matter. Senior Sister, Young Master, good luck to you! Master has already reached the highest level of the 'Heavenly Demon Secret,' far beyond Wanwan's reach!"

After Wanwan finished speaking, she didn't even glance at Bian Bufu's corpse on the ground, and flew over the wall and left.

Chapter 027 Mental Showdown

Yuyao, the 'Twin Dragons Society' headquarters mansion.

Laughter and cheerful voices, both male and female, could be heard from the spacious living room.

"We two were saying we felt a sense of familiarity with Brother Yuan's back, but seeing Sister Zhen and Mother together today, we understand everything!"

Kou Zhong sipped his tea and smiled.

If the Twin Dragons still didn't know Yuan Yueze's identity after seeing Wei Zhenzhen and Fu Junzhuo arrive together, they would truly be fools.

"Don't you blame your elder brother for heartlessly abandoning you and letting you venture out on your own?"

Fu Junzhuo asked with a smile.

"At first, I couldn't understand, but later I realized that Brother Yuan's life with you was indeed not suitable for Xiao Zhong and me. Perhaps we can only be as open-minded as Brother Yuan after experiencing more of the world."

Xu Ziling also sighed.

"You are both young and full of vigor, and you have learned martial arts. It's perfectly normal for you to want to achieve great things."

Shan Meixian said from the side.

"I heard Master Bai say that women all like men who are domineering and ambitious. Why is it that Brother Yuan, with his personality, has so many beautiful sisters-in-law? It's strange! I, Kou Zhong, a fine young man, haven't found a single girl who has given me her heart!"

Kou Zhong feigned a sigh while making flirtatious remarks.

"Little Zhong, you're still young. How could you possibly understand a woman's heart? Feelings are very subtle; they all come naturally. There aren't so many rules and regulations! Besides, that Master Bai, has he ever seen all the women in the world? Does he dare say he understands the hearts of all the women in the world?"

Wei Zhenzhen said with a smile, tapping Kou Zhong on the head.

Kou Zhong scratched his head awkwardly, unable to say anything to refute Wei Zhenzhen.

"Quickly tell me about your experiences over the past year,"

Fu Junzhuo said eagerly.

Wei Zhenzhen nodded in agreement.

Although these two women and the two dragons were not related by blood, they shared a blood bond. The image of the two women as both elder sisters and mothers was deeply ingrained in Shuanglong's heart.

Xu Ziling nodded and began to explain.

Since leaving Cuishan Town, Shuanglong had found a valley nearby and had been diligently cultivating the "Nine Profound Great Art" day and night. Their only thought was to take revenge on Boss Zhang's son. They lived a life of hardship, eating raw meat and drinking blood, hunting and fishing with homemade bows and arrows and harpoons.

However, after nearly half a month of arduous cultivation, they could only reach the third level of the "Nine Profound Great Art," making no further progress. Although they were now considered third-rate masters, how many people would easily be satisfied with their current situation? They remembered what Fu Junzhuo had told them: "You're too old, you lack the 'luck' for martial arts." They became somewhat despondent. But the reality was different. The "Nine Profound Great Art" came from the "Way of Nature," and naturally, it should be cultivated with a "natural heart." Shuanglong's obsession with revenge had led them into a dead end.

After several more months of unproductive study, the two finally stumbled upon the final two diagrams of the "Longevity Manual" and began their true cultivation.

They studied it for another six months, and about two weeks ago, they were considered second-rate masters. Leaving the valley, they headed towards Cuishan Town, their minds free of grand ambitions; their only thought was to return and seek revenge.

However, as soon as they entered the town, they overheard people discussing the assassination of Yang Guang. Kou Zhong's 'great ambitions' were instantly rekindled. He urged Xu Ziling, and the two rushed back to Yangzhou, hoping to take advantage of the chaos. Upon

returning to Yangzhou, they discovered it had been occupied by Li Zitong, and the Jianghuai army was notoriously ruthless, with Du Fuwei allowing his subordinates to run rampant. The two dragons were greatly disappointed with the Jianghuai army. They left Yangzhou and wandered aimlessly. Finally, in Yuyao, they encountered someone blocking their way and committing violence. Both possessing a chivalrous heart, they bravely intervened. Afterwards, they were inexplicably elevated to the position of 'boss'. The 'Water Dragon Gang's' influence in Yuyao had been dismantled by the two, so Kou Zhong proposed establishing a new gang. Xu Ziling, immersed in martial arts, didn't object.

The rapid rise of the Twin Dragons attracted the attention of nearby forces. Especially in the eyes of outsiders, the two possessed two great secrets: the 'Yang Gong Treasure' and the 'Longevity Manual,' both highly coveted treasures.

However, the Twin Dragons drove away all the minor figures, except for Wanwan of the Yin Gui Sect, who used the pretext of her subordinates being killed by the Twin Dragons to launch a campaign against them. That day, the Twin Dragons did indeed kill many members of the 'Water Dragon Gang,' but whether any of them were Yin Gui Sect members, no one knew!

The Twin Dragons fought Wanwan three times, but were completely outmaneuvered by her, even being used by her to help Wanwan advance her power with 'Longevity True Qi.' The Twin Dragons also comprehended the Spiral Qi Force, so they weren't entirely at a disadvantage.

Today, Fu Junzhuo and her companions arrived just in time, thwarting Wanwan's strongest attack.

"What are your plans for the future?"

The three women remained silent for a long while after hearing Xu Ziling's account. Shan Meixian finally spoke up.

"The tyrant is dead, and the world is about to descend into chaos again. Xiao Zhong intends to accomplish great things, so I have no choice but to accompany him for now,"

Xu Ziling said helplessly.

"Heh, I, Kou Zhong, said back then that we brothers would one day become great generals and prime ministers. In the prime of our youth, wouldn't it be a shame not to go out and enjoy ourselves? We've given us such bodies and wisdom!"

Kou Zhong laughed unrestrainedly.

"Does Xiao Zhong have designs on becoming emperor?"

Fu Junzhuo asked Kou Zhong with a smile, as if suddenly remembering something.

Kou Zhong was taken aback, and Xu Ziling was also somewhat puzzled by Fu Junzhuo's question.

"Become emperor? That's a long shot! Our little gang only has a few hundred people right now!"

Kou Zhong replied after a long pause.

"Mother is just asking if you have the determination, perseverance, and talent,"

Fu Junzhuo said seriously.

"What talent do I have! To be honest, I don't really have any ambition to become emperor. I just can't stand those people from high-ranking families! Whether in the martial world or the court, those without achievements are not valued. 'Are kings and generals born with a special destiny?' I must prove to people that birth does not determine achievement!"

Kou Zhong said.

"Reality has always been this cruel. Without money and power, no one will take you seriously, let alone expect to gain respect from others or the favor of a woman you admire!"

Shan Meixian laughed from the side.

"So, since we brothers are not born into wealth, but still want to enjoy the good things in life, we can only fight for it with our own hands. Let's set lofty goals and strive to achieve them!"

Kou Zhong clenched his fists and shouted.

"Then you should also be interested in the Emperor, right? Are you really decided? Once you embark on this path, there's no turning back!"

Wei Zhenzhen said, looking at Kou Zhong in front of her.

"Mother, why do you ask us that? I think Xiao Zhong is just playing around. If he were emperor, would he have the ability to govern the country?"

Xu Ziling glanced at Fu Junzhuo and asked.

"Heh, I can only guarantee one thing, and that is that he cares for the people, because we come from the lowest rungs of society in this era! As for other aspects, I really know nothing!"

Kou Zhong scratched his head and said.

"Xiao Ling, don't worry about why your mother is asking Xiao Zhong that. Xiao Zhong's ideas are indeed not suitable for governing the country. Governing the country is not enough just by caring for the people. Managing officials is not as simple as ordinary people think!"

Fu Junzhuo said, having read a lot of knowledge about later generations, she was already a talented woman.

Fu Junzhuo had just remembered what Yuan Yueze had said about Kou Zhong having the 'aura of an emperor,' which led to her question. Seeing that Kou Zhong really couldn't be the emperor they were supposed to assist, she stopped the topic.

"Just like my husband said, let the two of them soar freely!"

Fu Junzhuo thought to herself.

Shan Meixian and Wei Zhenzhen, standing to the side, understood Fu Junzhuo's thoughts, so they remained silent, letting the two dragons answer Fu Junzhuo's question through their own hearts.

"I think Brother Yuan, besides being handsome, skilled in martial arts, and a bit rich, doesn't seem to have much charm! Why are so many sisters-in-law in love with him?"

Kou Zhong was clearly jealous of Yuan Yueze.

Shan Meixian and Fu Junzhuo simply smiled.

"When you find your true love, you'll naturally understand our feelings,"

Wei Zhenzhen said with a smile. "Alright, I'll go get some food. We don't know when my husband will be back, so let's eat first." The

two dragons were immediately overjoyed. In this joyful moment of seeing loved ones again, enjoying fine wine and food was truly delightful!

Meanwhile, after Wanwan left, Yuan Yueze would inevitably have to face the two dragons. He had no interest in them whatsoever, and it seemed as if he didn't want to see them at all. Seeing Yuan Yueze's expression, Wei Zhenzhen understood his thoughts and telepathically told him he could wander around freely and didn't need to stay.

Yuan Yueze, eager to leave, immediately agreed, telling the three women he was going to inquire about the results of the Giant Kun Gang's interrogation of Yuwen Hua and the others.

Shan Meixian and the other two women stayed to reminisce with Shuanglong, agreeing that Yuan Yueze would return within a day. After agreeing, Yuan Yueze headed alone to Yuhang.

At the shore of Taihu Lake

, as evening approached, the sun set, painting the sky with colorful clouds. The surrounding scenery was picturesque, a tranquil and beautiful atmosphere that inspired a sense of peace and longing .

Yuan Yueze stood alone by the lake, watching the sunset, recalling the information he had gathered from the Giant Kun Gang that afternoon.

Suddenly, Yuan Yueze felt a fierce aura approaching from behind.

Two serpentine ribbons appeared ghostly behind him, accompanied by two extremely sinister energies, sweeping over Yuan Yueze with overwhelming force.

In a flash, Yuan Yueze moved forward rapidly. Without turning his head, he unleashed a palm strike, hitting the two light, yet deadly ribbons with perfect accuracy.

"Bang!"

The force of the impact caused the surrounding grass to be drawn up by the massive vortex, swirling and dancing in the air.

"Hmm!"

A soft cry came from behind Yuan Yueze. He slowly turned around, a smile on his face as he sized up his attacker. A face

of breathtaking beauty, flawless and exquisite. Skin as smooth as snow, magically elastic, every inch so delicate. A pair of beautiful eyes, like twinkling stars in the night sky, bright and radiant, serene and captivating.

A snow-white robe enveloped her exquisite figure, graceful and charming, perfectly flawless. Her jet-black hair complemented her snow-white skin and white robe, creating a harmonious effect. But the most unique feature was her bare feet, spotless, sparking endless imagination.

The newcomer was none other than Wanwan, whom he hadn't seen for even a day.

"Why did you ambush me, young lady? Do you have a habit of ambushing?"

Yuan Yueze was still resentful about Wanwan's ambush of Shan Meixian, and said coldly.

"Hmph! Can't you just let me have my way? I just wanted to test your martial arts skills myself! It was my fault for ambush Senior Sister, I apologize."

Wanwan smiled, bowed gracefully, and said with a hint of coquettishness. In her eyes, as bright as the stars in the night sky, lay a few emotions that Yuan Yueze couldn't decipher.

"..."

Yuan Yueze couldn't bear Wanwan's tone and was immediately speechless.

"Giggle!"

A sweet, melodious laugh escaped Wanwan's lips, her voice clear and gentle, like heavenly music. "Why isn't Young Master speaking?"

"Your words are truly too sharp, Miss. I'm naturally dull-witted, so I didn't understand what you meant."

"You little devil, I've taken a liking to you, is that alright now?"

Wanwan continued to giggle, a hint of affection in her eyes, but her expression mostly seemed intent on teasing Yuan Yueze.

"I'm so afraid of you, you little devil! Are you here to avenge your Uncle Bian? Or to retaliate for my sudden appearance that ruined your plans?"

Yuan Yueze said, somewhat exasperated.

"Uncle Bian's revenge? I might want to avenge him! But not now. I was just passing by."

Wanwan walked closer to Yuan Yueze.

"That's true. I've heard that the Demonic Sect's style is ruthless, selfish, and that the strong rule."

Yuan Yueze glanced at Wanwan and sighed.

"Young Master seems to know quite a bit about my Holy Sect!"

Wanwan stared at Yuan Yueze curiously.

This morning, Wanwan hadn't had a proper look at Yuan Yueze, so now was a good opportunity to examine this world-renowned, elusive man closely.

"I wouldn't say I know a lot, but for example, I dare say I'm very familiar with the core ideology of the Demonic Sect and the unique techniques of your Yin Gui Sect!"

Yuan Yueze continued, staring at the distant lake.

"Oh?"

Wanwan's tone held curiosity, but even more so, disdain. The Demonic Sect had always operated underground, many things unknown to outsiders, let alone absolute secrets like their sect's ultimate techniques.

"Let's start with your core ideology. The Demonic Sect believes that evil is a greater force than justice. Evil represents destruction, and destruction is the most beautiful phenomenon in the world. Like wood burning into charcoal, that's destruction, but who can deny that fire is indeed one of the most beautiful things in the world?

The Demonic Sect believes there are two kinds of change in the world. The first is the power of growth, the positive power; for example, a seed becoming a tree. The second is the power of death, the evil power, for example, when the tree withers. In fact, in the end, destruction always triumphs over growth. Therefore, evil is more powerful than good.

The Demonic Sect means that every person and thing contains both positive and evil forces. Therefore, people have good and evil, all things have yin and yang, and heaven and earth have birth and death. Destruction is the power of evil,"

Yuan Yueze said with a smile.

This statement clearly exceeded Wanwan's expectations, because Yuan Yueze delivered it with such elegance. Wanwan listened and nodded.

"Then let's talk about your martial arts. One of the Four Great Classical Novels, the *Heavenly Demon Strategy*, was written by Cang Qu, the first Holy Lord of the Demonic Sect, known as the 'Heavenly Demon,' during the Western Han Dynasty. After Emperor Wu of Han implemented the policy of exclusively promoting Confucianism, he collected various rare and unusual books, eventually refining and compiling them into the ten volumes of the *Heavenly Demon Strategy*. During the Han Dynasty, the Demonic Sect suffered setbacks and fragmented, with members fleeing everywhere, leading to the loss of the *Heavenly Demon Strategy*. Therefore, only six volumes remain today."

Seeing that Wanwan was listening intently, Yuan Yueze continued.

Wanwan gazed at Yuan Yueze, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a faint smile. The shimmering lake reflected in her eyes, giving them a golden glow and making them appear even more translucent.

"The highest martial art of the Demonic Sect is undoubtedly the *Dao Xin Zhong Mo Da Fa* (Great Method of Planting Demons with the Dao Heart). It is the most profound and supreme scroll in the *Tian Mo Ce* (Heavenly Demon Strategy), containing methods to shatter the void. It is divided into two volumes. During the great exodus of the Demonic Sect in the Han Dynasty, it was ultimately seized by the Xie Ji Sect in the competition and became their treasured heirloom. However, the secret manual of the *Dao Xin Zhong Mo Da Fa* has been lost with the fall of the previous 'Evil Emperor' Xiang Yutian."

"Then there is the *Zi Xue Da Fa* (Great Method of Purple Blood), which was lost during the great exodus in the Han Dynasty and is almost comparable to the *Dao Xin Zhong Mo Da Fa*."

Yuan Yueze continued.

"Nonsense! Why has no one in my Holy Sect ever heard of the *Zi Xue Da Fa*? The one second only to the *Dao Xin Zhong Mo Da Fa* is clearly our *Tian Mo Mi* (Heavenly Demon Secret)!"

Wanwan suddenly interrupted Yuan Yueze, speaking with disbelief.

Yuan Yueze was stunned.

After being lost for nearly a thousand years, the "Purple Blood Great Art" was obtained by Li Gong, the "Blood Hand," of the Yin Gui Sect in the early Yuan Dynasty. Surprisingly, the Yin Gui Sect of this era was unaware of this technique.

Yuan Yueze then smiled, not answering Wanwan, and continued, "Next is your Yin Gui Sect's supreme martial art, the 'Heavenly Demon Great Art,' also known within your sect as the 'Heavenly Demon Secret' Great Art. The 'Heavenly Demon Great Art' is the foundation for mastering the 'Purple Blood Great Art.' It was obtained by the Yin Gui Sect during the great exodus of the Han Dynasty. Those who reached the highest level were mostly women. It is extremely lengthy, the largest volume in the 'Heavenly Demon Strategy.'"

"The 'Heavenly Demon Great Art' is divided into six chapters and eighteen levels, exactly matching the levels of the legendary hell. It is profound and unpredictable, incredibly strange, possessing the wonders of creation and the power to penetrate heaven and earth."

"The first to fourth levels are the 'Form and Spirit Chapter,' serving as the introductory techniques of the 'Heavenly Demon Great Art.' Those who master them undergo a transformation in temperament, condensing their essence and soul, undergoing a metamorphosis, turning ugliness into beauty, and generating an indescribably powerful and alluring attraction to the opposite sex, who willingly submit to them. Among these, the 'Heavenly Demon Voice' and 'Heavenly Demon Eye' are the most prominent. With just a word or a glance, one can control the mind of an enemy and do as one pleases. I imagine you've used them quite a bit, young lady!"

Yuan Yueze said with a smile.

Wanwan gave Yuan Yueze a charming glare and nodded.

Yuan Yueze was momentarily disoriented by that glare, but quickly regained his composure and continued, "The fifth to eighth levels are the 'Hard and Soft Chapters,' featuring the supremely hard 'Heavenly Demon Blade' and the supremely soft 'Heavenly Demon Belt.' All weapons in the world can be wielded with mastery. Great skill lies in simplicity, all paths lead to the same goal. A thousand transformations, all are at my disposal. From large swords and spears to small items like a comb, a needle, or a belt, everything can be transformed into a bizarre and deadly weapon of boundless power. Its moves are unpredictable, purely driven by a powerful and ferocious killing intent. I have just personally experienced your 'Heavenly Demon Belt.'" Wanwan

rolled her eyes at Yuan Yueze again, remaining silent.

"The ninth to twelfth levels are the 'Illusion and Reality Chapter,' where Yin and Yang complement each other, hardness and softness interact, and illusion and reality complement each other, embodying the tangible within the intangible. Illusion and reality alternate at will. At this level of cultivation, one has reached the ranks of a super master, and can even absorb the enemy's true energy for one's own use. I believe you have already used this move on those two lads, Kou Zhong, right?"

The spiraling energy of the Twin Dragons was indeed cultivated by Wanwan. Although Wanwan wanted to use the Twin Dragons' longevity true energy for her own practice, both parties benefited from it without realizing it.

"The thirteenth to sixteenth levels are the 'Space Chapter,' and those who master them reach the level of unparalleled masters. With each strike, the true energy can cause space and objects to distort and cave in with a strange attraction. This is the Heavenly Demon Field that you use most often, and its power is invincible. You must have used this move when you blocked my sword today."

Wanwan recalled Yuan Yueze's sword strike. If he hadn't withdrawn forty percent of his power at the last moment, Wanwan would likely have been seriously injured on the spot. Thinking of this, Wanwan's delicate body trembled slightly for no reason.

Not noticing Wanwan's movement, Yuan Yueze continued, "The seventeenth level is the 'Disintegration Chapter,' a terrifying skill that destroys one's own realm. 'Heavenly Demon Disintegration' can form a death sphere ten feet in diameter, with highly concentrated and compressed force, trapping the enemy and using its own explosive power to shatter them into dust, resulting in mutual destruction. Heavenly Demon Disintegration means mutual destruction."

At this point, Yuan Yueze's body suddenly trembled violently. He was thinking of Zhu Yuyan.

"Why did you stop, my nemesis?"

Wanwan, who had been listening with great interest, asked curiously when Yuan Yueze suddenly stopped.

"The eighteenth level is the 'Reincarnation Chapter,' said to be a peerless demonic skill that truly comprehends the creation of heaven and earth, masters the unfathomable mysteries of life, and has the power to bring the dead back to life and change all things in the world. To this day, no one has truly witnessed its full power."

Yuan Yueze finished speaking and let out a long sigh.

Wanwan felt a chill run down her spine. Yuan Yueze's description of the "Heavenly Demon Great Art" was incredibly accurate; he was flawless except for the incantation.

"Young Master, you know so much about our sect's secret techniques. What is your background?"

Wanwan asked. To outsiders, Yuan Yueze's origins had always been a mystery, especially with the current rumors circulating in the martial arts world. Wanwan was even more curious.

Yuan Yueze didn't answer her, nor did he know how to. He simply shook his head.

"You stingy little thing, I won't ask anymore!"

Wanwan pouted.

"It's getting late, we should part ways now!"

Seeing that the sun was about to set, Yuan Yueze, fearing that Shan Meixian and the other two women would worry, took his leave.

"No, you must treat me to a meal at the best restaurant in the city,"

Wanwan said with a coquettish smile, her devilish charm fully revealed.

"What good food is there in restaurants! At home, we always eat food cooked by me or my wife!"

Yuan Yueze laughed.

"Then why don't you grill some meat for them? Right here,"

Wanwan said, her jade-like feet lightly touching the ground.

Yuan Yueze nodded in agreement, and the two separated. A short while later, a large bonfire was lit, and they sat around it. Yuan Yueze continued to take out meat and seasonings, getting busy.

Wanwan's eyes were even more curious: so the rumors that he could conjure objects out of thin air were actually true!

Yuan Yueze was completely absorbed in grilling the meat and naturally didn't notice her gaze.

A quarter of an hour later, several large pieces of meat were grilled. He took out some red wine, and they drank and chatted about random topics. Wanwan ate and praised the food, quite content.

Seeing Wanwan occasionally revealing the charming innocence of a young girl, Yuan Yueze sighed that her existence was the best proof of the words "spiritual energy of heaven and earth."

Suddenly, Yuan Yueze felt an extremely subtle and profound feeling, indescribable in words.

Or rather, it was a sense of unease and premonition.

An extremely concentrated yet incredibly powerful killing intent seemed to come from afar, surging into every pore of Yuan Yueze's body. He felt the surrounding space begin to distort, and even the image of Wanwan, her lips slightly moving as she chewed on roasted meat, began to seem unreal. Space and time seemed to stand still for a moment, and Yuan Yueze even realized that his five senses had vanished!

The wine glass in his hand slipped from his grasp!

A sharp killing intent, fused with extremely high spiritual power, had completely locked Yuan Yueze in place.

He felt a strange aura within his body, surging wildly through his meridians and flesh like a runaway horse.

The killing intent not only entered Yuan Yueze's body but also gathered and circulated before him. When Yuan Yueze clearly saw the scene before him, he was immediately shocked!

It wasn't some demon or monster, but lightning—a massive, azure pillar of lightning.

Cold sweat poured down Yuan Yueze's back; he could barely breathe, his heart pounded, and his blood surged uncontrollably.

Had someone ambushed Yuan Yueze?

In a battle between experts, besides the actual physical combat, the greater key lies in the invisible clash of essence, qi, and spirit at a profound level. Therefore, for someone like Yuan Yueze, whose spiritual senses were exceptionally sharp—even Lian Songque and Fu Cailin weren't confident they could completely defeat him—there was no possibility of being successfully ambushed, because if the opponent harbored murderous intent, Yuan Yueze would definitely sense it.

But the person emanating this killing intent was no ordinary expert.

In an instant, Yuan Yueze realized the extraordinary nature of the one who unleashed the killing intent, and that the lightning bolt was merely an illusion. He immediately disregarded the immense pressure on his body and mind, focusing instead on calming his spirit. He swiftly activated his strange cultivation technique, merging his body and mind with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The killing intent that had invaded his body, and the lightning bolt that had suddenly appeared before him, had completely vanished under his mental observation.

Sensing the change in Yuan Yueze's inner energy, the opponent seemed to have detected it, and intensified their killing intent to press down.

The lightning was indeed incredibly powerful, but Yuan Yueze, as one with heaven and earth, remained as still as a meditating monk. Suddenly, his vital energy erupted wildly.

"Boom!"

After a deafening roar, Yuan Yueze finally broke free from the opponent's mental control, the killing intent within him forced out, and slowly opened his eyes. Before him lay

a scene of utter devastation, a mess within a two-zhang radius. Looking around, he realized that Wanwan was nowhere to be seen.

A few dozen zhang away, a burly man's figure had appeared.

Yuan Yueze could sense the killing intent emanating from the man, the very same power that had just invaded his body. He drew his longsword, stood up, and carefully examined the newcomer. He saw a burly man in blue robes, around forty years old, over eight feet tall, with a majestic appearance, robust and muscular build, his muscles like cast iron. His tiger-like eyes faintly flashed with lightning. His skin and hair were not normal colors, but blue. He carried a huge blue axe on his back.

Through sensing the man's energy, Yuan Yueze perceived that the man's vitality was much weaker than that of an ordinary person. His meridians were filled with powerful true energy, and his bones and muscles seemed to carry an eerie aura.

The man looked Yuan Yueze up and down, a hint of admiration in his eyes, and said, "Are you Yuan Yueze?"

His booming voice seemed to come from the heavens, clear and distinct, each word ringing in Yuan Yueze's ears, as if whispering in his ear.

Seeing Yuan Yueze nod slightly, the burly man laughed heartily: "I am Kuang Lei, invited by someone to kill Brother Yuan. Of course, if Brother Yuan has enough skill, you can kill me too."

Yuan Yueze felt somewhat amused and exasperated. What kind of assassin speaks like this?

But seeing Kuang Lei's solemn expression and the murderous aura emanating from him, Yuan Yueze had no choice but to immediately calm down and prepare for battle.

"Since that's the case, then come on! If I were a coward, I wouldn't be alive today!"

"Alright!"

Kuang Lei's movements were faster than lightning. He had already drawn his giant axe, held it horizontally in front of his chest, and gently stroked the axe blade with his left hand. He stepped towards Yuan Yueze.

Yuan Yueze's gaze was grave. He noticed that with each small step Kuang Lei took, as his foot lightly touched the ground, the ground seemed to turn into water, with ripples spreading in rings of air. Yet, it made no sound at all; the scene was extremely mysterious.

Kuang Lei's movements as he stroked the axe blade were incredibly profound, a blend of rhythm and arrhythmia, yet surprisingly harmonious.

A slight friction sound emanated from the blade, remarkably similar to Wanwan's 'Heavenly Demon Sound,' seemingly a means of disturbing the enemy's mind.

Yuan Yueze, sword in hand and eyes closed, completely absorbed in the background, relying solely on his spirit and energy to sense Kuang Lei.

Sensing Yuan Yueze's calmness, Kuang Lei's footsteps remained steady, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He spoke softly, "Brother Yuan's method of absorbing the energy of heaven and earth is indeed profound, but it has two flaws."

Yuan Yueze, still with his eyes closed, replied slowly, "First, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is abundant but not refined, making it difficult to temper into pure vital energy in a short time. Second, my mental state and cultivation affect the vital energy within my body, preventing it from reaching its full potential." Kuang Lei

was taken aback, his steps slightly unsteady.

He twice tried to find an opening in Yuan Yueze's mind, but his psychological attacks were not only like throwing a stone into the sea, but were also neutralized by Yuan Yueze's combination of defense and offense. Instead, he himself was affected.

"Clang!"

A clear sound like a dragon's roar rang out, and Yuan Yueze's eyes suddenly flashed with divine light, his longsword half-drawn. In an instant, an unparalleled powerful aura filled the heavens and earth, surging straight towards Kuang Lei.

Yuan Yueze's experience had gradually increased; a slight crack had appeared in Kuang Lei's mind, how could he not seize the opportunity to pursue?

"Brother Yuan's words are like a heavenly horse galloping freely, gaining a firm advantage, deeply understanding the essence of swordsmanship, I admire you."

Kuang Lei's words meant that the crack in his mind had been instantly repaired, and Yuan Yueze's advantage had been completely neutralized.

"Take my first move!"

The voice seemed to come from all directions. Kuang Lei approached like a ghost, wielding an axe in both hands, its blade crackling with faint blue lightning. He leaped into the air and simply cleaved the axe at Yuan Yueze's head, instantly enveloping an area of five zhang in a chilling, almost tangible killing intent!

This axe strike was simple and unadorned, yet possessed both strength and gentleness, perfectly executed, without any flaws!

Yuan Yueze's longsword was drawn without a sound. The sword traced countless naturally beautiful lines in the air, flowing smoothly and continuously, striking the sides of the giant axe.

Kuang Lei's eyes flashed with surprise again, for all his strength was concentrated on the axe blade, yet Yuan Yueze had deliberately forsaken the perfect opportunity to break through his strongest point.

Because Yuan Yueze had sensed Kuang Lei's hidden follow-up move.

To play the sword with the man, and the man with the sword.

Yuan Yueze had already grasped most of the essence of the swordplay.

Even in this passive position, Kuang Lei's pupils contracted slightly. Before his sword flower could even touch the axe, he abruptly withdrew his attack, completely disregarding the laws of nature.

Kuang Lei's body leaned back rapidly, spinning like a roc three zhang in the air.

Another strange phenomenon occurred.

Suddenly, the giant axe shone brightly, and Kuang Lei's figure split into two, seemingly real yet illusory, as if carrying electric currents and leaping about, unpredictable and elusive, making it impossible to distinguish between reality and illusion. The two lightning-like figures swooped down from above, one after the other.

The giant axes in the hands of the two Kuang Leis conjured countless axe shadows, unleashing a sky-covering aura of qi, sweeping towards Yuan Yueze at unimaginable angles, like a whirlwind sweeping away fallen leaves.

A smile appeared on Yuan Yueze's lips.

The hidden soft force in Kuang Lei's first axe strike was actually a prelude to not needing to retract his attack and gather his qi before unleashing the second axe strike.

The other fake Kuang Lei was not to be underestimated either. Through the interaction of their energies, Yuan Yueze sensed that it was a half-real, half-illusory image created by Kuang Lei by condensing his own essence, energy, and spirit, possessing tangible destructive power.

Yuan Yueze seemingly raised his longsword casually, but the blade was subtly visible, humming and trembling slightly.

Each time the sword's form appeared, it flawlessly deflected the elusive blade of the giant axe. The sword vanished with a fleeting, graceful movement, yet its reappearance was overwhelmingly powerful.

It was as if the sword was being used as a knife.

The dull, drawn-out clash of weapons continued incessantly. After more than forty exchanges, the soaring Thunder's momentum had waned.

He sheathed his giant axe and, incredibly, leaped half a zhang into the air once more.

Yuan Yueze's expression turned cold, his longsword held horizontally above his head. His

simple, unassuming stance contained boundless mystery, as if connecting heaven and earth.

Heaven above, earth below, the sword in the middle, forming a bridge between them.

"Hah!"

Seeing this, Thunder's eyes hardened, his tongue crackling like thunder. The instant his body began to fall, he hurled his giant axe ten zhang into the air.

The giant axe, imbued with the powerful energy of a raging thunderbolt and weighing at least two hundred pounds, suddenly snapped at its highest point, crashing down on Yuan Yueze like a meteorite, its momentum terrifying.

The thunderbolt, already on the ground, flashed its form, unleashing a domineering punch straight at Yuan Yueze.

Yuan Yueze remained calm, leaping two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) lightly, his longsword swirling in his hand, its sword energy swirling out, creating a dazzling and fantastical trail visible to the naked eye, dodging the thunderbolt's punch that could pierce the heavens and earth.

The axe carried immense force; at the moment of impact with Yuan Yueze's sword, not a sound was made.

The balance of power connecting heaven and earth was shattered, instantly causing a vast area of space to spin and distort.

In a flash, Yuan Yueze concentrated the power contained in the giant axe and all his own vital energy into his right foot. The force, like a magnificent and awe-inspiring galaxy swirling from his Yongquan acupoint, surged forth, transforming into a black ribbon studded with starlight, pressing down directly on Kuang Lei. Its power was like the primordial chaos of heaven and earth, the beginning of the universe, an eternal and unchanging existence!

'Having law yet not having law' is the highest level of harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity. Only a human can connect heaven and earth, reaching a state where there is no law yet there is law, and law yet there is no law. This is the way of the sword with Song Que. Using

keen insight to judge the opponent's martial arts skill level, understanding their foundation, and making a judgment to preemptively seal off their next move is the essence of the chess-like sword technique, renowned for its ability to anticipate the enemy's moves. In

this move, Yuan Yueze perfectly blended sword intent and sword techniques, penetrating, luring, using, and defeating the enemy—the entire process flowing smoothly like clouds and water, reaching the pinnacle of artistry!

As Kuang Lei leaped nearly six feet into the air, he realized the danger was imminent, but he couldn't stop

himself. He sneered and met the attack with both fists. These fists had already lost all initiative; in a fight, this meant being at a disadvantage, a significant loss.

However, Yuan Yueze, as someone involved, realized that Kuang Lei's punches had broken through the time limit, allowing him to strike first despite being behind.

Thus, Yuan Yueze's initiative vanished.

One controlled the spatial advantage, the other the temporal advantage.

But Yuan Yueze still possessed the advantage of strength.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar, like a thunderbolt striking the earth, followed by a slow calm.

Yuan Yueze, bearing several wounds, forcibly suppressed his surging blood and qi, sat cross-legged on the ground, and looked at Kuang Lei lying on the ground a dozen feet away.

Suddenly, Kuang Lei sprang to his feet, picked up a giant axe not far away, turned back to Yuan Yueze with a friendly yet apologetic smile, and staggered away.

Seeing that Kuang Lei seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and noticing his torn clothes, wounds everywhere, and exposed flesh yet not a drop of blood, Yuan Yueze's expression turned strange. He was about to call out to Kuang Lei to demand an explanation.

He wanted to know more about who had ordered Kuang Lei to act, but that was clearly not a question he could answer at the moment.

"Crack!"

The sound of a wine glass shattering on the ground startled Yuan Yueze.

Time and space resumed their course.

Everything before Yuan Yueze's eyes returned to normal: intact clothes, a tranquil lakeside, a roaring campfire, and the charming Wanwan—as if nothing had happened.

But Wanwan's adorable eating had stopped sometime earlier.

Yuan Yueze followed her gaze, looking in the direction where Kuang Lei had just disappeared.

"Pfft!"

Just as Yuan Yueze was about to ask Wanwan what had happened, he couldn't suppress the urge to vomit blood, as if to tell Yuan Yueze: what had just happened was definitely not an illusion!

"My darling, are you alright?"

Wanwan snapped out of her daze and rushed to Yuan Yueze's side, asking with concern.

Yuan Yueze shook his head, his expression strange, and asked, "I'm fine. What just happened?"

Wanwan pointed in the direction where Kuang Lei had disappeared and said, "I sensed a trace of a member of the Holy Sect, which was very well hidden, but it vanished quickly."

Yuan Yueze thought about it carefully. From the moment Kuang Lei invaded him with his killing intent to the end of their duel, it must have happened in a very short time. Because the wine cup fell from his hand to the ground in the blink of an eye.

But everything was too bizarre.

Seeing that Yuan Yueze seemed lost in thought, Wanwan asked, "What's wrong?"

After Yuan Yueze explained everything that had just happened, Wanwan was quite surprised.

After a moment, she said thoughtfully, "I've read about this in my sect's records. It must be a battle of spiritual realms between experts, very profound."

Yuan Yueze stared at Wanwan like a dumbfounded bird: "There's such a thing?"

A hint of envy flashed in Wanwan's eyes: "Of course! Every movement, reaction, and detail in a spiritual clash is just like in reality, I can feel it myself. Otherwise, why would you be injured?"

Yuan Yueze nodded as if he understood.

"Who exactly is this Kuang Lei who could injure you? He should be from my Holy Sect, but I've never heard of that name before."

"Alright, my dear, I have to go back now. Consider this meal compensation for disrupting my plans this morning! You should go back and recover."

Wanwan tilted her head and thought for a long time before shaking her head, letting out a long sigh, and patting her lower abdomen a few times with her jade-like hand, saying contentedly.

Then he stood up, walked a few feet away, and turned back, saying, "You rascal, you have to apologize to my senior sister for me!"

Yuan Yueze was still sitting there, lost in thought. Hearing Wanwan's voice, he looked up and nodded to her.

Seeing his wooden-like expression, Wanwan wrinkled her delicate nose and turned to leave.

Half an hour later.

Kuang Lei dragged his seemingly broken body step by step under the moonlight.

Suddenly, he stopped and looked up at the moon.

After a moment, as if he had made a great decision, he used the handle of his axe to strike his own Qimen acupoint.

After a shrill scream, the forest returned to silence.

After a while, Kuang Lei emerged from the forest, his abdomen wrapped in simple rags, the red blood seeping out conspicuously in the bright moonlight.

Dragging his faltering steps, he slowly moved forward, his gradually disappearing figure exuding an indescribable desolation.

Chapter 28 The Emperor Star Appears:

As the sun rises, its golden light shines brightly, auspicious clouds gather, and the rosy glow

stretches for miles. Amidst the drifting mist, a majestic mountain peak rises high, seemingly piercing the clouds. Enveloped in mist, hundreds of exquisite buildings can be vaguely seen perched atop the peak. The mountains are wondrous and the forests serene, yet a desolate and lingering bell tolls through the mountains.

In a secluded valley, shrouded in mist and shaded by towering trees, a magnificent temple, its buildings gleaming in the sunlight, stands silently atop the mountain. "

Home is in this mountain, hidden deep within the clouds.

" This is the location of Cihang Jingzhai, one of the two holy sites of the Central Plains martial arts world, known as the "Head of the Xuanmen" and the "Spiritual Leader of the Righteous Path," hailed as "holding the reins of the righteous martial arts world and controlling the rise and fall of dynasties."

Inside the main hall of the temple, a five-zhang-tall (approximately 10 meters) high, crimson-gold Buddha statue sits serenely on a lotus pedestal, its expression compassionate. Wisps of incense smoke rise, and chanting fills the air, adding to the temple's mystique and solemnity.

A gray-robed nun kneels on a prayer mat, silently gazing at the invitation in her hand.

She appears to be in her thirties, yet her simple, jade-like face conveys a sense of world-weariness, as if nothing could ever move her heart. Her shaved head, devoid of any black hair, accentuated the clear, defined features of her face, as graceful as the undulating mountains and rivers, making one forget the mundane world. It seemed that to think of worldly matters outside the courtyard would be a grave disrespect to her.

"Has Feixuan finished her morning prayers?"

the nun asked, her voice devoid of emotion, as if she had seen through everything.

"Yes, Master, she should be almost finished,"

a young nun of about ten years old, who had just entered the main hall to clean, replied respectfully.

"Tell her to come to the main hall to see me after she finishes her morning prayers,"

the kneeling nun said.

The young nun acknowledged and left the hall.

Although her face remained expressionless, the nun's heart, which had been churning like a stormy sea since opening the invitation, was still far from calm.

"Feixuan has been in my Jingzhai for over ten years, never stepping outside the temple gates. How did your Song clan know this?"

the nun muttered to herself, still staring at the invitation.

The nun's expression turned cold, as if she had suddenly understood something: "Song Que, Song Que, how could you treat me like this! All these years, Qinghui has been devoted to you for forty years!"

"Who exactly is the spy planted by the Song clan? Could it really be 'her'?"

The nun wondered to herself, was the secret she had kept hidden for thirteen years finally about to be revealed?

"Very well, this humble nun will go and see you and your 'world-renowned' son-in-law!"

the nun murmured.

Yuyao, the 'Double Dragons' mansion.

In a spacious side room in the backyard, passion was unfolding.

On the wide bed, one man and three women, completely naked.

Even without seeing the scene, the moans emanating from the three women—sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, intoxicating, soul-stirring, and mind-shaking—one could deduce the intensity of the 'battle'.

Beneath Yuan Yueze, Shan Meixian's fair, jade-like skin was flushed with a faint blush. Her usually dignified and composed face was now rosy, her skin moist and supple, her eyes alluring, her eyebrows furrowing and relaxing, her gaze dreamy. Her head swayed gently, her nose slightly wrinkled, her lips parted slightly, her breath fragrant and rapid, emitting sounds that seemed both pleasurable and painful, a sound that was both intoxicating and soul-stirring. Her curvaceous body trembled back and forth in rhythm with Yuan Yueze's powerful thrusts.

On either side, Wei Zhenzhen and Fu Junzhuo knelt on the bed, their bodies writhing, their small mouths emitting indistinct moans, while one gently nibbled at the two rosy nipples of her breasts. One hand kneaded, pinched, squeezed, or pressed against one of their breasts, while the other lightly stroked near their tender areas. Meanwhile, the other two snow rabbits of the two women were squeezed and shaped by Shan Meixian's jade hands.

Between Shan Meixian's two long, rounded jade legs, Yuan Yueze was vigorously 'plowing'. Comrade 'Little Ze' seemed to have found its home, throbbing and moving rapidly in and out of that narrow, warm, and moist valley.

Yuan Yueze's 'devil hands' were not idle either, sometimes kneading the two women's high, supple, and elastic round buttocks with varying pressure, sometimes gently squeezing the shyly protruding nipple with a finger, and finally using two fingers as 'Little Ze', sometimes digging, sometimes scooping, sometimes twisting, sometimes grinding, constantly entering and exiting the two women's tight, hot, and incredibly lubricated secret valleys.

Yuan Yueze's heavy, rapid breathing mixed with the three women's soft, seductive moans of different styles, coupled with the postures and movements of the four, the scene was as decadent as could be, as alluring as could be.

The three women took turns climaxing, constantly changing into various intoxicating positions. 'Little Ze' even 'moved' several times, seemingly finding each of the three 'homes' to her liking.

Finally, the four returned to their initial positions, preparing for the final 'battle'! The outcome was about to be decided!

This battle raged on until the sky darkened and the sun and moon lost their light! Just as the four were about to simultaneously reach the pinnacle of ecstasy, a discordant, lewd voice came from outside.

"Brother Yuan! You're so powerful! I, Kou Zhong, admire you to death! Get up! We want to eat Sister Zhen's midnight snack!"

The four were so engrossed that they didn't notice when Kou Zhong had arrived at the door.

Yuan Yueze immediately stopped all his movements.

"You brat! If you scare me into 'impotence,' your sisters-in-law will skin you alive!"

Yuan Yueze shouted at the door.

"Haha!"

Kou Zhong's laughter faded into the distance.

Although Yuan Yueze stopped all his movements, the three women were naturally shy upon hearing Kou Zhong's voice. However, they couldn't stop now, because their souls were about to soar to the heavens, reaching a state of ultimate bliss, just a little short of that ethereal, infinitely pleasurable feeling of ascension.

Kou Zhong's voice rang out at this crucial moment, which, while causing shyness, also provided a strange kind of stimulation for the three women.

Shan Meixian instinctively wrapped her jade-like legs around Yuan Yueze's waist, her fragrant buttocks moving back and forth actively. Wei Zhenzhen and Fu Junzhuo each placed their small hands, which were close to Yuan Yueze's tender parts, on his wrists, forcefully pulling his 'magic hands' to continue their piston-like movements.

The pleasurable feeling was about to arrive, and the three women, in a state of ecstasy, were no longer in their right minds.

Yuan Yueze only paused for a few breaths. Seeing the state of the three women and realizing that he was also about to reach his limit, he continued his three-way 'attack'.

The three women's delicate bodies and valleys began to tremble violently. Yuan Yueze withdrew his fingers, which were still moving within Wei Zhenzhen's valley. Wei Zhenzhen suddenly felt an unusual discomfort; the feeling of reaching her climax suddenly subsided. Her jade-like hand, which had been gripping Yuan Yueze's wrist, began to wander aimlessly, wanting to continue enjoying that feeling of fullness. After Yuan Yueze withdrew his hand, he turned his body and pressed his mouth directly against that fragrant valley, his tongue penetrating deep into the valley, stirring every fold and fold.

The feeling of pleasure returned, and Wei Zhenzhen continued to moan softly.

"Ah..."

"Hmm..."

"Ugh..."

The three women, their souls reaching their peak, simultaneously emitted three different styles of high-pitched, delicate cries. Their bodies trembled violently at the same time.

Feeling the tender walls of Shan Meixian's delicate valley contracting rapidly, 'Little Ze' was attacked from both sides, and his drill bit was sprayed with hot, lubricating nectar, causing it to 'gush'...

Wei Zhenzhen's nectar also shot out in large quantities, spraying all over Yuan Yueze's face, which Yuan Yueze caught entirely in his mouth. On the other side, the large hand moving on Fu Junzhuo's tender part was also covered with fragrant and rich nectar.

The four of them simultaneously reached the blissful realm, and it seemed that Kou Zhong even lent a helping hand at the crucial moment... (I haven't written any passionate scenes for several chapters. It's too difficult to control the scale when writing them, and they might get censored. Please don't blame me, fellow enthusiasts.)

Wei Zhenzhen and Fu Junzhuo were too weak to kneel any longer, their bodies limp as they lay beside Shan Meixian, panting heavily as they savored the moment.

Yuan Yueze, after a brief moment of climax, also regained his senses and slowly suppressed his heavy breathing.

Just as Yuan Yueze was about to lower himself onto Shan Meixian, Wei Zhenzhen turned her head and saw the glistening, moist fluid near his mouth and the tip of his nose. She realized that the fluid was from her own ejaculation. Wei Zhenzhen's already flushed face turned even redder, as if it could bleed. She quickly straightened her still limp body, which hadn't yet recovered its strength, and picked up a light gauze from the side of the bed to gently wipe Yuan Yueze.

After wiping him, Wei Zhenzhen lay back on the bed to continue savoring the moment. Yuan Yueze lay directly on Shan Meixian's soft body.

The four of them, still panting, remained silent, seemingly reliving their recent passionate encounter.

"Husband, just now... just now..."

Wei Zhenzhen asked first, her face flushed, after a long pause. Her voice was so low it was barely audible, and no one could hear her.

"What happened just now?"

Yuan Yueze asked curiously. Shan Meixian and Fu Junzhuo also stared at Wei Zhenzhen, wondering what she was going to say.

"Just now... did you spit it all out?"

Wei Zhenzhen didn't know how to explain, her face turning a deep red with embarrassment, making her incredibly charming.

"What do you mean, spit it out?"

Yuan Yueze was even more confused.

"It's just... it's just that I... I helped you wipe it off..."

Wei Zhenzhen stammered, then buried her head in Shan Meixian's arms, too ashamed to look up.

"Oh, I understand. But I didn't spit it out, I swallowed it all..."

Yuan Yueze's mind raced, and he immediately understood Wei Zhenzhen's meaning, smiling at her.

"Ugh... so dirty! Husband, please don't do that again!"

Wei Zhenzhen, forgetting her embarrassment, looked up at Yuan Yueze.

"No way! Zhenzhen isn't dirty at all, she even smells nice!"

Yuan Yueze laughed, staring at Wei Zhenzhen as if savoring the memory.

Wei Zhenzhen blushed even more upon hearing this, but at the same time, she felt Yuan Yueze's love for her and said with inexplicable emotion, "My husband is the best man in the world!"

"Of course!"

Shan Meixian and Fu Junzhuo already knew what it was when they saw Wei Zhenzhen wiping Yuan Yueze. Hearing Yuan Yueze's words, although they were only directed at Wei Zhenzhen, the other two women were equally moved, because they knew that in Yuan Yueze's heart, all his wives held the same position. Seeing Wei Zhenzhen's shyness, Shan Meixian and Fu Junzhuo teased her with their words.

The three women occasionally let out silvery giggles. Yuan Yueze lay on Shan Meixian for a short while, then, afraid of crushing the beautiful woman, he turned to the side and squeezed down between Shan Meixian and Fu Junzhuo, stretching out his arms. The three women cooperated by lying on top of him.

"You big bad guy, you came back and immediately dragged us sisters into this, and you haven't even told us about what happened this afternoon!"

Shan Meixian hugged Yuan Yueze's waist, recalling how Yuan Yueze, dressed in tattered clothes, rushed back to the 'Double Dragons Society' and pounced on the three women like a wolf after finding them chatting in the room. She scolded him playfully. "

I missed you all so much, it felt like we'd been apart for ages. Seeing you again makes me especially excited. Besides, didn't you all enjoy yourselves? I heard you scream the loudest, Meixian!" Yuan Yueze lightly kissed her nose and laughed. Shan Meixian immediately became relentless, and Wei Zhenzhen and the other two women joined in the teasing. "Alright, stop fooling around, husband, tell us already." Fu Junzhuo monopolized one of Yuan Yueze's arms, gently swatting away his strange hand that was still kneading her breasts, and laughed. Yuan Yueze's hand didn't leave that round, soft 'mountain of flesh,' it just stopped moving. He recounted to the three women what he had learned from the Giant Kun Gang, his encounter with Wanwan, and his fierce battle with Kuang Lei. The three women listened with trepidation, their hearts pounding. After a long silence, Wei Zhenzhen spoke, "Such a thing can happen; it's truly unimaginable." Understanding she was referring to mental combat, Shan Meixian smiled, "This kind of thing can happen to those with high cultivation levels. The most mysterious aspect is that time and space cease to exist, and everything happens in an instant." Shan Meixian turned to Yuan Yueze and added, "Judging from what my husband said, Kuang Lei's body must no longer be that of an ordinary person. I just don't know how he achieved that? And why he has no reputation whatsoever. Judging from the fact that my husband was blasted into his meridians by Kuang Lei's lightning energy, causing him to vomit blood, as long as one's cultivation is high enough, one can kill simply by sheer force. This experience is invaluable and will greatly help my husband improve his cultivation in the future." Yuan Yueze's current level was only mediocre. Especially regarding the intent of techniques, the other women naturally learned moves created by others. However, after fighting against masters like Song Que and Fu Cailin, Yuan Yueze had begun to develop his own unique techniques, but he hadn't truly completed this path yet. Learning others' moves had only hindered him, leaving him in a daze. Fu Junzhuo interjected, "That Kuang Lei was also very strong; he actually survived my husband's final, brilliant move." Yuan Yueze said, "Although he came to kill me, I found him to be very forthright and a true man. It's just a pity our positions are different. If we were to fight again in a real battle, even if I admired his character, I would still be ruthless enough to kill him." Fu Junzhuo nodded, "This person seems to have many secrets; his skills are so high, yet he has no reputation whatsoever." "You should understand the saying 'Hidden Tiger, Crouching Dragon, Crouching ... "It's a pity about Yuwen Huaji and those men in black armor; they were so tight-lipped," Yuan Yueze nodded and sighed. "It is indeed a pity, but at least it avenged Yuzhen, and the Yuwen clan lost two great generals, so it's not a bad thing," Fu Junzhuo comforted. "Alright, let's get up. Wasn't Kou Zhong waiting outside saying he wanted to eat Zhenzhen's cooking? We've rested for so long; you should be recovered by now," Yuan Yueze said with a smile. "!" Upon hearing this, the three women's pretty faces immediately turned red. They then remembered the moment before they ascended to the Immortal Realm together, when Kou Zhong shouted outside the door. "It's all your fault! How could we sisters face those two boys?" Fu Junzhuo scolded playfully. "Do you want to do it again? You have to see them whether you want to or not!" Yuan Yueze laughed loudly. "Haha, I see you can't come anyway. Go out and make some food and drink, and bring Xiuxun and Zhizhi out to enjoy with us." Yuan Yueze patted the three women's chests and said. The three women started playfully fighting again. After a while, the four of them dressed and came out of the room. There were very few people in this large mansion. It was probably because the 'Double Dragon Society' didn't have many people to begin with, and some people had died in the conflict with the Yin Gui Sect, making it very desolate and sparsely populated. "Brother Yuan, what are you doing here? Where is Sister Zhen? Aren't you resting?" Xu Ziling had just rushed back from outside and saw Yuan Yueze, Shan Meixian, and Fu Junzhuo drinking tea in the room, so he asked.

"Zhenzhen went to prepare the meal. Where's Xiao Zhong? Didn't he say you wanted to eat Zhenzhen's cooking?"

Fu Junzhuo, blushing, assumed Xu Ziling had also been eavesdropping on their lovemaking with Kou Zhong.

"I went out to contact people at dusk; the gang still needs to recruit. The guard at the gate just said Xiao Zhong seemed to have gone to a brothel. That guy, he's really despicable,"

Xu Ziling sighed.

Hearing that Xu Ziling clearly didn't know about Yuan Yueze's lovemaking with the three women, Fu Junzhuo breathed a sigh of relief.

"You should go to those brothels less often. Aren't you disgusted by women who are 'a thousand men's pillows on one jade arm, ten thousand men's tastes on one red lip'? Wouldn't it be better to use that time to find a woman you love and cherish?"

Fu Junzhuo said coldly.

“Mother is right. That guy Xiao Zhong always brags about liking this ‘sense of conquest.’ I just don’t understand. Conquering a courtesan would give you a feeling? Love between a man and a woman should be about both of you using your body and soul to jointly pursue and explore that wonderful and infinite realm that belongs only to the two of you.”

Seeing Fu Junzhuo’s expression, Xu Ziling quickly replied.

“You are not a fish, how can you know the fish’s joy? But I still agree with Xiaoling’s point of view.”

Yuan Yueze laughed.

“Brother Yuan, you can’t do that. You have so many sisters-in-law. Can you have the energy to be good to everyone?”

Xu Ziling laughed loudly.

“Hehe, how do you know whether I can or can’t!”

Yuan Yueze also laughed loudly.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Xiaoling, haven’t you been tricked into going to brothels by Xiao Zhong quite a few times?”

Fu Junzhuo continued to ask.

Xu Ziling’s old face turned red, and he nodded.

“Sigh, Mother won’t say anything to you anymore. You’re not children anymore, you understand things. It’s not that you can’t go, but you should go to those kinds of places as little as possible.”

Fu Junzhuo sighed.

Xu Ziling didn't speak, only nodded again.

The four chatted and sipped tea. Half an hour later, Wei Zhenzhen had prepared the food. The five of them worked together to set the table. Yuan Yueze then pulled out the other women and had them sit at the table, chatting while waiting for Kou Zhong.

Kou Zhong's timing was perfect; he returned to the courtyard in less than half a cup of tea's time after setting the table.

Looking radiant and refreshed, Kou Zhong entered the room, bowed to Yuan Yueze and the women, and took his seat.

"When did Brother Yuan come out?"

Kou Zhong asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Aren't you going to eat your food? Stop talking!"

Wei Zhenzhen blushed and gave Kou Zhong a flick on the forehead.

Kou Zhong nodded sheepishly, gave Yuan Yueze a thumbs-up, laughed heartily, and began to eat.

The other women, unaware of what was going on, also began to enjoy the fine food and wine.

Yanqi, Yongning City.

Yongning City is adjacent to the Kaidu River. The strong winds from beyond the Great Wall carry dust into the river, making it the most significant difference between Yongning and the rivers of the Central Plains.

"Your Excellency, I think it would be better to send Lie Feng."

Three people stood on the open riverbank, one in front and two behind. The one at the back spoke.

"Now is not the time to send Lie Feng. Even Kuang Lei failed. Could that Yuan fellow truly be a harbinger of disaster sent to disrupt our 'Holy Cult's' plans?"

The man in front stood tall, gazing at the water and sighing.

"I believe we'll have detailed information about him next time. Because no matter how he hides, he'll appear during the Lingnan wedding. Our spies can then… hehe!"

The other man at the back chuckled maliciously.

"Hmm, how is Kuang Lei?"

the man in front asked again, his tone unchanged.

"It shouldn't be a lie. Once Kuang Lei's deepest internal energy is broken, he'll lose at least five years of his lifespan! He wouldn't be foolish enough to injure himself like that to deceive Your Excellency. Besides, Kuang Lei is a martial arts fanatic; he will never easily admit defeat!"

the man at the back replied.

"I understand. Help him recover well. Anyone who doesn't use such a useful pawn is a fool! His stubbornness and righteousness make him easy to manipulate. You may leave now!"

The man in front chuckled, his voice full of cunning.

The two behind him nodded and took their leave.

"Even without spies, the 'Holy Venerable' might still want to go to your dilapidated mountain city to see what's going on! Old ghost Song, your good days are numbered! The 'Holy Venerable' doesn't act rashly until he does!"

The man by the isolated river muttered to himself.

Because Song Yuzhi reminded them of the wedding date, Yuan Yueze's family only stayed in Yuyao for three days before bidding farewell and continuing their journey towards Song Family Mountain City. On

the seventh day of the sixth month, after traveling for about a month, Yuan Yueze and the women finally arrived at the outskirts of the mountain city, less than a mile away.

"Finally home!"

Song Yuzhi exclaimed, looking at Song Family Mountain City in the distance.

The women who had never been before, such as the Fu sisters and Su Su, were all awestruck by the magnificent grandeur of the mountain city, marveling at its beauty. Xiao Bei had visited the mountain city more than ten years ago, and this time, returning, she was also quite moved . This time, she would enter the mountain city as an ordinary woman. However, Song Que had seen her before, so Xiao Bei hesitated for a long time, unsure how to face the Song clan, and could only hide in Yuan Yueze's bracelet for the time being.

"Let's go. For some reason, I have a feeling that someone in the mountain city is waiting for me,"

Yuan Yueze said with a smile as he walked slowly with the women.

"Of course someone is waiting for us! Father and the others should have been out of seclusion for more than half a month and are preparing for the wedding!"

Song Yuzhi muttered, as if Yuan Yueze's words were heartless.

"That's not what I meant. I meant that someone is waiting for me, not my father-in-law and the others. Anyway, I can't quite explain this feeling,"

Yuan Yueze explained.

Shan Meixian smiled mysteriously, "Let's go! We'll find out if anyone's waiting for my husband once we're inside!"

Even before entering the mountain city, the group could already feel the festive atmosphere.

Song Shidao stood alone at the foot of the city, smiling as he watched Yuan Yueze and his dozen or so companions approach.

"Second Brother has finally emerged from seclusion! Is everything alright?"

Yuan Yueze greeted them with a broad smile as they drew near.

"Last year we parted amidst the flowers, today the flowers bloom again, a year has passed."

Song Shidao also laughed and embraced Yuan Yueze.

Yuan Yueze was taken aback: Good heavens, another 'literary thief' has appeared! Aren't those lines from Tang Dynasty poetry?! It seems Song Shidao has been reading quite a bit of the books he left behind a year ago!

"Hey, Second Brother is also a 'thief'!"

Yuan Yueze chuckled dryly.

Song Shidao was startled, then burst into laughter again.

Yuan Yueze ignored his expression and introduced the women to Song Shidao. After the women greeted Song Shidao, Song Yuzhi stormed into the mountain city like a tank, heading straight for the Mingyue Tower's reception room.

Upon seeing that Yuan Yueze had returned after a year's absence with several more women, Song Shidao put his arm around Yuan Yueze's shoulder and secretly gave him a thumbs up: "How was it? Were you bothered so much in Goryeo that you wanted to find a place to hide?"

Yuan Yueze laughed, "At first, some influential people came to pay their respects, but I had already gone into seclusion. Later, I heard from Junyu and the others that many people were hesitant to bother me because of Master Fu's reputation."

The two exchanged a hearty laugh.

Everywhere in the mountain city, there were large red flowers, red lanterns, and other decorations symbolizing celebration, which filled everyone with joy.

The group chatted and laughed, and soon arrived at the reception hall of Mingyue Tower. This was the reception hall Yuan Yueze had entered when he first arrived in the mountain city, and it left a deep impression on him.

Upon entering the hall, several people were already waiting.

Yuan Yueze glanced around and saw that the three Song brothers, Lu Miaozi and his wife, and Fu Cailin had all stood up from their seats, smiling as they looked at Yuan Yueze and his group of more than ten people.

But when Yuan Yueze's gaze swept over the last person in the hall, he and that person simultaneously trembled, instantly freezing on the spot.

'Empress of the Underworld' Zhu Yuyan!

Two years had passed, and Zhu Yuyan had lost some weight. She was still veiled, her face still covered by heavy gauze, a black palace gown enveloping her graceful figure, which seemed to radiate heaven and earth. The moment her eyes met Yuan Yueze's, a hint of tenderness and excitement flickered within them, and her former coldness vanished. Her trembling figure revealed her desperate attempt to suppress her emotions.

"Ahem!"

Seeing Yuan Yueze staring blankly at the 'Empress of the Underworld' upon entering, the others in the room hesitated to speak. But Yuan Yueze remained motionless, seemingly stunned, so Song Que coughed lightly.

Yuan Yueze snapped out of his reverie, smiled slightly at Zhu Yuyan, and stepped into the hall before the others.

Zhu Yuyan realized her earlier lapse in composure and quickly regained her icy demeanor.

Song Que looked at Yuan Yueze curiously, seemingly wondering what was going on between him and Zhu Yuyan, while Yuan Yueze was also puzzled as to why Zhu Yuyan was there.

While Yuan Yueze was still staring blankly at the 'Empress of the Underworld,' the other women had already rushed into the arms of their respective relatives, pouring out their longing for each other.

"When did you arrive?"

Yuan Yueze's eyes remained fixed on Zhu Yuyan. Before even greeting the other elders, he asked Zhu Yuyan first.

Zhu Yuyan couldn't bear his intense gaze and could only dart away, avoiding his eyes, before softly replying, "The day before yesterday."

Fortunately, everyone in the room understood Yuan Yueze's personality; otherwise, he would have truly committed a grave offense. Not only did he not bow upon entering the room, but he also didn't greet the elders. Those who didn't know his character might have thought him arrogant and conceited.

Seeing that Yuan Yueze had been staring intently at Zhu Yuyan since entering, Shan Meixian secretly tugged at his sleeve a few times.

Seeing this, Yuan Yueze had no choice but to first exchange greetings with the elders.

After exchanging greetings, the twenty-odd people took their seats at a long, wide table. Zhu Yuyan's seat was originally between Shan Meixian and Shan Wanjing, but Yuan Yueze insisted on pulling her to sit next to him, making everyone in the room quite awkward. Only the three mischievous girls, Shan Wanjing, Fu Junqiang, and Shan Ruyin, secretly chuckled below.

The usually aloof and arrogant 'Empress Yin,' who never showed any interest in any man, didn't dare to raise her head and sat helplessly next to Yuan Yueze.

Song Que and Lu Miaozi both had some ambiguous feelings for Zhu Yuyan from their younger days. However, their awkwardness was only due to Yuan Yueze's bold and explicit behavior. It seemed that Zhu Yuyan had met with them before Yuan Yueze and his group returned, and even discussed some things.

The group sipped tea and chatted about the events of the past two years.

Of the three Song brothers, all have changed quite a bit, especially Song Que, who has regained the appearance and physique of someone around twenty years old. He is almost comparable to Yuan Yueze, only their temperaments differ; one is dignified and domineering, while the other is elegant and carefree. Unfortunately, Song Lu's silver hair is natural, and he currently looks like a young man with prematurely gray hair.

Fu Cailin's appearance has also changed significantly. Yuan Yueze had initially thought Fu Cailin was quite ugly in his youth, but now, while not exactly handsome, Fu Cailin is still quite good-looking, especially with the grandmaster's aura he developed over the years, adding a touch of ethereal grace. Although Goryeo is over ten thousand miles from Lingnan, Fu Cailin left the pass ahead of schedule and arrived in Lingnan a dozen days ago. He has been enjoying himself these past few days discussing martial arts and philosophy with Song Que.

The Lu Miaozi couple also arrived in the mountain city a few days ago.

The experiences of Yuan Yueze and his group are recounted by the eldest sister, Shan Meixian.

The elders in the room listened attentively to Shan Meixian's narration. Zhu Yuyan's embarrassment gradually subsided. While listening to Shan Meixian's vivid storytelling, she secretly glanced at Yuan Yueze beside her a few times.

Suddenly, Zhu Yuyan stiffened, a fleeting glint of allure flashing in her eyes. She quickly scanned her surroundings and, realizing everyone was focused on Shan Meixian, let out a soft sigh and glared at Yuan Yueze with feigned anger.

It turned out that Yuan Yueze had just reached under the table, grabbed Zhu Yuyan's smooth hand, and placed the back of his hand on her shapely leg.

He then secretly made a face at her, his hand gently caressing her rounded, supple leg. Zhu Yuyan's delicate body trembled slightly, a tingling, itchy heat spreading from Yuan Yueze's hand throughout her body. Worried that Yuan Yueze might do something even more outrageous, Zhu Yuyan's eyes held a mixture of allure and pleading as she quickly used her other hand to firmly press down on his 'devilish hand,' preventing him from going any further.

Shan Meixian made no attempt to hide anything, speaking for a full half-hour. Song Que and the others sighed; although the past two years had passed quickly, they had experienced quite a lot.

"After your wedding, I will pass the position of clan leader to Shidao. I have carried the family's mission for too many years; it's time for me to enjoy life like Brother Cailin!"

Song Que said with a carefree laugh, his former haughty demeanor greatly diminished, replaced by a more peaceful air.

"I say, father-in-law, you look several years older than me now, why are you still calling me 'old man, old man'!"

Yuan Yueze, still holding Zhu Yuyan's warm, soft hand, mimicked Song Que's tone, speaking in a strange voice.

Everyone in the room smiled, while Song Que looked embarrassed.

"Old... I think Xiao Ze is right, haha!"

Fu Cailin changed his tune quickly.

"I just wonder who in Lingnan possesses the aura of a king?"

Lu Miaozi, having heard Shan Meixian's words about assisting the Emperor Star and recalling Yun Jizi's previous remarks, spoke up.

"This is too difficult to find. Lingnan is such a vast region, sigh!"

Yuan Yueze sighed.

Seeing his disappointment, Zhu Yuyan turned her jade hand under the table and gently squeezed it.

Yuan Yueze glanced at her, gave her a reassuring smile, and then fell into deep thought again.

The room was silent.

Song Shidao hesitated several times

, as if he wanted to speak. Everyone was deep in thought and didn't notice Song Shidao's expression.

"Hey! I remember!"

Yuan Yueze suddenly shouted, startling everyone.

Seeing all eyes on him, Yuan Yueze blushed and then extended his right hand.

His eyes slowly closed, and suddenly, a seven-colored light filled the entire reception room!

When everyone regained their sight, they saw a long table with a golden sword that shone brightly in harmony with the emanating spiritual light.

"This...this...could this be the legendary 'Sword of the Holy Path,' the Xuanyuan Xia Yu Sword?"

Song Que was the first to react, exclaiming in disbelief.

"The Xuanyuan Sword was forged by the gods from the copper of Shou Mountain for the Yellow Emperor, and later passed down to Yu the Great. One side of the blade is engraved with the sun, moon, and stars, while the other side is engraved with mountains, rivers, and plants. One side of the hilt is inscribed with the arts of agriculture and animal husbandry, while the other side is inscribed with strategies for unifying the four seas. However, this one is just a replica made by my master." Yuan

Yueze nodded to the people around him.

They knew without a doubt that something made by Yun Jizi wouldn't be much worse than the real thing.

"This was given to me by my master years ago. Only a destined person can use it. I think if someone is a true emperor or a star of destiny, then they will definitely be destined to have it, that is, its master! Then we can assist him!"

Yuan Yueze explained further.

Everyone in the living room nodded in agreement.

"Oh! Xiu Xun suddenly remembered that Master said more than two years ago that her husband should give someone a divination book, but he completely forgot about it the next day!"

Shang Xiu Xun exclaimed coquettishly, giving Yuan Yueze a big eye roll.

"Ha...ha...it's not too late now."

Yuan Yueze chuckled dryly. After searching for a long time, they finally found the book "Tianyan Gua" and handed it to Shang Xiuxun.

Lu Miaozi frowned and said, "Lingnan is so big, how can we find someone destined for this sword as soon as possible?"

Yuan Yueze smiled and said, "It's simple. Just concentrate and communicate with it with your mind. Once it's truly destined, the sword will choose its master."

Although no one was arrogant enough to think they were destined for this divine sword, they still followed Yuan Yueze's instructions as if possessed.

Seeing that everyone in the hall except him had closed their eyes to try, Yuan Yueze smiled and lowered his head to drink his tea.

In less than half a cup of tea's time, after a "hum!"

sound, Yuan Yueze looked up and saw a scene that surprised him!

The Xuanyuan Sword had stopped in front of Song Shidao.

The surprised gazes of everyone in the hall were all fixed on Song Shidao.

Song Shidao was not very shocked. He was only slightly stunned before raising his hand and grasping the Xuanyuan Sword in front of him. Instantly, a burst of spiritual light appeared in the room!

"Clang!"

The Xuanyuan Sword seemed to have found its true master and let out a melodious long sound!

"Second Brother, have you resolved to save the common people?"

Yuan Yueze asked, regaining his senses.

"I was just about to say this. During my time out of seclusion, I've been studying the books left by Xiaoze, which have completely overturned all the ideas I've formed over the past twenty years. In the past, I had no interest in vying for supremacy because in the end, it's always the common people who suffer. But now that I have a long life ahead of me, why not completely change the dynasty and gradually establish a new system? I find the 'constitutional monarchy' and 'republican system' recorded in your 'Western History' to be quite good. We can learn from each other, modify them, and use them as the system after the world is at peace, restoring rights to the people and reducing the power of the officials."

Song Shidao said loudly.

Everyone in the living room was astonished, while the three Song brothers looked on with surprise mixed with immense relief.

"To be honest, I've always thought Second Brother was very suitable to be emperor because of your kind heart. Even without learning about later generations, you would be a good emperor. The only problem is that you never had any ambition to conquer the world, so I didn't pay much attention to you. Who knew Second Brother would have such a benevolent and righteous heart!"

Yuan Yueze laughed loudly.

"It's just that I really can't bear to waste these long years! More importantly, the military and political books you left behind have influenced me!"

Song Shidao also sighed.

"Good! Good! However..."

Yuan Yueze suddenly remembered that Song Zhi of the Song clan was determined to expand the family's influence, which would conflict with the future system. Once Song Shidao implemented the new system, large clans, nobles, and landlords like them would be the first to be eliminated.

Seeing Yuan Yueze glance at him, Song Zhi was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Is Xiaoze afraid that Second Uncle's dream will conflict with Shidao's?"

Song Zhi asked.

"My second uncle's greatest dream was indeed to bring glory to the family and ensure its continued prosperity. But since meeting Xiaoze last year, I've felt that if you were to become emperor, even if all the descendants of the Song clan were to become commoners, I would be content! I've also read the books you left behind, and they deeply moved me. But at the time, I saw that you had no interest in the throne, so I only thought about it. Today, seeing the divine weapon Xuanyuan Sword recognize its master, I vow to put aside all my past selfish thoughts and wholeheartedly assist my master in establishing a new era of peace and prosperity!"

Song Zhifu continued.

"Second Uncle!"

Song Yuzhi had known for many years that Song Zhi was a proponent of war within the Song clan, and seeing his open-mindedness today, she immediately rushed into his arms.

The living room was instantly filled with joy.

Yuan Yueze looked at Song Shidao with delight, "Second Brother, what do you think of the sword's power?"

Song Shidao examined it carefully for a while before saying, "The sword exudes a peaceful and solemn aura, but I can't sense any real power. It's more of a symbolic gesture. We can't pacify the world with just a sword, so how can we govern the country? We must proceed step by step, steadily and surely, gradually recruiting capable people, first stabilizing the world, and then gradually implementing transitional reforms. That's the true way."

Hearing Song Shidao's eloquent words, Yuan Yueze nodded repeatedly.

Lu Miaozi suddenly laughed loudly, "I've always wondered why the Venerable God would pass on the elixir to us. Was it just a matter of fate? Today I finally understand. It turns out everything was within his expectations. Let's assist Master Shidao together!"

The older generation nodded in unison.

Su Su was practically an orphan, having never met her parents since childhood. Seeing the three Fu sisters and Fu Cailin acting spoiled, and Shang Xiuxun and Song Yuzhi all having relatives to rely on, she couldn't help but look at them with envy.

"If Su Su doesn't mind, call me—oh no, call me Father—and you'll be my daughter from now on, how about that?"

Seeing Su Su's expression, Song Que knew she was a child lacking parental love, so he spoke up.

"Su Su kowtows to Father."

Su Su was overjoyed; how could she have imagined such a thing? The former little maid was now the daughter of the Song Clan's leader.

Song Que was greatly pleased, nodding and stroking his beard with a long laugh.

Seeing Su Su's reaction, Wei Zhenzhen and Shan Ruyin, who were standing nearby, also started making a fuss, eventually dragging Shan Meixian into it as well. They all wanted to acknowledge Lu Miaozi, Song Que, and Fu Cailin as their godfathers.

"If I call the Clan Leader Father, then Mother..."

Shan Meixian glanced at Yuan Yueze with ill intent, then pointed at Zhu Yuyan.

"Hmm? If what Meixian said is true, then wouldn't Yuyan be father-in-law's woman? And Yuyan seems to have had some complicated relationship with father-in-law when they were young..."

Yuan Yueze's mind raced as he saw Shan Meixian's gaze. He even pictured Zhu Yuyan nestled in Song Que's arms in his mind.

Before Zhu Yuyan could understand Shan Meixian's meaning, Yuan Yueze roared, "No way!"

Yuan Yueze had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he had subjectively deduced a fabricated conclusion, and he had unconsciously shouted wildly, startling everyone.

The people in the living room immediately fell silent, looking at Yuan Yueze curiously.

"Hey, father-in-law, let me make this clear first, you're not allowed to do anything reckless."

Yuan Yueze ignored the strange looks from everyone, and simply raised the hand he was holding under the table, like a child, to Song Que in a show of defiance.

Zhu Yuyan didn't react at all, and instinctively tried to pull her hand back in embarrassment, but she was no match for Yuan Yueze's strength.

Song Que was momentarily confused about what Yuan Yueze meant.

"What do you mean 'I'm not allowed to do anything'?"

Song Que asked, looking bewildered.

"I mean Yu Yan is mine, and you're not allowed to do anything!"

Yuan Yueze said matter-of-factly.

The living room fell silent, all eyes fixed on the two.

Yuan Yueze's family didn't seem too surprised, as Shan Meixian had already told the women about Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yu Yan, but they were still astonished by Yuan Yueze's audacity and rudeness. The expressions

on the faces of Lu Miaozi and his wife, the three Song brothers, Fu Cailin, and Song Shidao were incredibly complex, and they were also extremely embarrassed.

Zhu Yu Yan, the person involved, could no longer tolerate Yuan Yueze's 'crazy talk.' She used all her strength to shake off his large hand, not even noticing her veil fall. Underneath the veil, her stunning face was flushed crimson, so red it seemed to bleed. Zhu Yu Yan was so ashamed she forgot to use her light-footed skills and ran out of the living room in small, quick steps.

The living room remained silent, save for the soft sips of tea made by Yuan Yueze. The silence lasted for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The women

, including Shan Meixian, weren't too surprised, as they were well aware of Yuan Yueze's personality and character. However, Song
Que , Fu Cailin, Lu Miaozi, and Song Shidao were extremely embarrassed and unsure how to speak. Song Que, of course, was the most awkward. This father-in-law and son-in-law were truly hilarious. What kind of son-in-law talks to his father-in-law like that? What kind of father-in-law is left speechless and blushing from his son-in-law's words? Especially the world-renowned 'Number One Blade Under Heaven'! "By the way, Shidao, you must have a detailed plan for conquering the world by now. Tell us so we can all refine it together," Shan Meixian said, glancing sideways at the still nonchalant Yuan Yueze, trying to divert everyone's attention. Although her words were meant to change the subject, they were actually quite timely. Conquering the world was no casual interest, much less a child's game! It couldn't be accomplished with empty ambition alone! A detailed and meticulous plan, strategic maneuvering, outwitting and outmaneuvering various powerful figures, gradually stabilizing the Central Plains, and progressively eradicating old ideas—none of these were easy tasks! "Ah… um… um… I need to use the restroom. I'll go out for a bit. You all can talk slowly. I'll prepare the food and drinks later, and then I'll call my father-in-law and everyone else." Yuan Yueze's head started to ache upon hearing Shan Meixian's words. He hated these kinds of tedious matters, especially plans for conquering the world! So he made up a cheap excuse. Without waiting for anyone to speak, he got up and quickly fled the reception room. Song Que finally breathed a sigh of relief, while the others smiled wryly: this kid looks like an adult, but he's just a child at heart. "Aunt Meixian is right. I've been thinking about the plan these past few days, but it's not completely finalized yet. I've discussed it extensively with Father, Master Lu, and Master Fu. Today, since Aunt Meixian and the other siblings are all here, I'll reiterate it. Please help me see if there's anything else we need to pay attention to," Song Shidao said. Which family in the world has the most chaotic generational hierarchy? The harem of the deceased Emperor Yang of Sui? No! Families with power in various factions? Even less so! The answer is: Yuan Yueze's family. This guy can be considered the most disdainful of etiquette and law throughout history! In this family, sisters share the same husband, mothers and daughters share the same husband, and it's even possible that three generations will soon share the same husband! Although he's not an ordinary person, he's still living in the lower realm. People like Lu Miaozi, Fu Cailin, and Song Que, raised with ancient etiquette, disregard Yuan Yueze's behavior. Knowing his extraordinary identity is one reason, but more importantly, these older generations really like Yuan Yueze's personality. Although Song Shidao had read some of the books left by Yuan Yueze from later generations, overturning many of his deeply ingrained ideas, some of his fundamental principles were difficult to change in a short time. For example, according to seniority, Shan Meixian should call him "Second Brother," but Song Shidao would never dare to accept such a title! Shan Meixian didn't care. Having spent nearly three years with Yuan Yueze, her thinking was becoming more and more like that of women from later generations. According to seniority, she and Shan Wanjing should already be addressing each other as sisters, but Yuan Yueze never cared what they called each other; these were just verbal terms. So Shan Meixian didn't force Song Shidao, and in the end, everyone separated and ranked themselves according to seniority. "There's no turning back when it comes to conquering the world!" Song Yuzhi interjected with a sigh. "Is Little Sister afraid that Second Brother will be corrupted by power and forget his original intentions?" Song Shidao laughed. "I'm not afraid at all! If Second Brother really goes against his original intentions, then I'll be the first to ask my husband to deal with you!" Song Yuzhi blushed, feigning anger, when her brother guessed her thoughts. “If Second Brother truly gains the throne, and becomes the ruler of all people, what difference would it make if my brother-in-law killed me? It would be no different from him going out and killing the leaders of various factions, leaving the world without a ruler and causing suffering to the people.” Song Shidao continued. “This…” Song Yuzhi was speechless for a moment. But how many who have gained the throne throughout history have not been corrupted by power? Her worries were not unfounded. What Song Shidao said was also true. If the world were truly at peace in the future, whether Song Shidao or someone else obtained the throne, it would no longer be as easy for Yuan Yueze to kill them, because the person on the throne would be closely connected with the people. “Little sister, don’t worry. Even if you don’t trust Second Brother’s character, you should trust the system. Under the system Second Brother mentioned, officials don’t have much power, and the person on the throne is merely a figurehead. So your worries are unnecessary.” Song Shidao comforted her. “Let’s ask Father to tell me about the plan I was about to discuss first.” Song Shidao patted Song Yuzhi’s head and smiled. "Yang Guang has been dead for several months now, and the world is in chaos. Various factions have already begun their struggles, openly or covertly," Song Que said, nodding slightly. "The struggle in the north involves neighboring tribes. Before we seize the south, we only need to pay attention to the activities of the northern forces. Currently, there are several major forces in the south: Xiao Xian, Du Fuwei, Fu Gongshi, Lin Shihong, Shen Faxing, Li Zitong, and our Song Clan. It's not the right time to send troops yet; we must wait. Because there are many ethnic minorities in Lingnan, the relationships are even more complex. Our first step is to stabilize Lingnan internally. Only after all the factions have weakened themselves through their internal struggles will we make our move," Song Que continued. "I believe the final struggle in the Central Plains will be a north-south conflict between the Song Clan and the Li Clan," Yun Yuzhen added. Upon hearing the words "north-south conflict," Song Que frowned slightly, seemingly recalling something.

"Your Majesty is a foremost strategist and military master, but what I admire most is your forbearance. Back then, seeing the Southern Chen dynasty's fate sealed, you voluntarily submitted after a decisive victory against the Sui army with fewer troops, accepting the title of 'Duke of Zhennan' from the Sui dynasty, and establishing yourself in Lingnan, awaiting your opportune moment. Over the years, you have not only amassed a vast fortune through means such as the smuggling of salt, but also treated all ethnic groups in Lingnan equally, deliberately winning their hearts and minds. The Song dynasty is now like a tiger poised to pounce. Those you just mentioned—Xiao Xian, Lin Shihong, Shen Faxing, Fu Gongyou, Li Zitong, and even Du Fuwei—are nothing more than pitiful prey, unaware that they are beneath its claws.

As for the Li dynasty, its leader, Li Yuan, is mediocre and lustful, but he has a fine son, Li Shimin, who is not only brave and skilled in battle but also humble and courteous, commanding a wealth of talented individuals who laid a solid foundation for his empire in Chang'an." Chang'an, located on the Guanzhong Plain, south of the Wei River and north of the Qinling Mountains, is a fertile land surrounded by mountains. Since ancient times, it has been a vital transportation and military stronghold, serving as the capital of the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties, which continuously expanded and developed it. In the second year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Wen of Han, Yang Jian, selected a site south of Longshouyuan, southeast of the old city of Chang'an, describing it as "beautiful with rivers and plains, abundant with vegetation, and suitable for building a capital," and built a new capital called "Daxing." Later, through the continuous construction and improvement by Emperors Yang Jian and Yang Guang, Chang'an became not only the largest city in the land, but also, in terms of military value alone, far surpassed Luoyang and Yangzhou, which were considered the three great capitals. The reason why Qin Shi Huang was able to unify the six kingdoms and eliminate rival warlords lay in the eight characters: "fertile land, wealthy people, and defensible terrain." With the geographical advantage of Chang'an and the popular support of Li Shimin, the Li clan's unification of the north was only a matter of time. "

Fu Junzhuo spoke up from the side.

Although her comments on the Song Clan were somewhat impolite, they were all true, and Song Que did not take offense.

Everyone in the living room nodded in approval.

"As for the Clan Head's statement about passing on the lineage to the Clan Head, Meixian thinks it's inappropriate,"

Shan Meixian said.

"After hearing what I've said about my experiences over the past two years, Clan Head, I understand that there are several exceptionally powerful forces secretly plotting against us. Before the Song Clan officially announces its participation in the struggle for supremacy, it's best to keep a low profile and show weakness,"

Shan Meixian explained after seeing the expressions of the elders.

"That's right. In that case, Second Uncle can be the de facto Clan Head, serving as the public face, while the lineage can remain a 'retired emperor'." "

Song Zhi smiled.

"What about the various ethnic groups outside the Central Plains..."

Fu Junyu frowned slightly as she spoke.

No matter how long she had followed Yuan Yueze or how many books she had read, she could not change the deep-seated ethnic differences in her bones. The imperial star that Yuan Yueze's family wanted to assist was not simply to appease the Central Plains, but to spread advanced systems to every corner of the land. In this way, conflicts between ethnic groups would inevitably occur, so Fu Junyu was still worried about her own ethnic group.

"Junyu, don't worry. I have talked a lot with Master Lu, Brother Song, and Master Dao these past few days. You don't need to worry about ethnic matters."

Fu Cailin said with narrowed eyes.

"Master, can you tell us the details?"

Fu Junyu continued to ask.

"The details would take a whole day and night to explain. In short, the Silla and Baekje that were later divided will be assigned to the Goryeo people and incorporated into the Central Plains. The land and power will be controlled by the Goryeo people." "

Fu Cailin replied.

"What 'On the Origin of Species' says is most reasonable. It truly is 'survival of the fittest.' Between nations, a baptism of iron and blood is needed; a short pain is better than a long one. If the system established by Master Song can spread throughout the land in the future, that will definitely be a blessing for our people."

Fu Cailin's eyes shone with supreme wisdom as he spoke again with deep emotion.

"Just as Master Fu said, otherwise true universal love, equality, and freedom will never come!"

Song Shidao also spoke.

"Let's talk about how to implement other plans."

At the stone table in the Moon Gazing Pavilion of Tingtao Xiaozhu, Zhu Yuyan gazed at the surrounding scenery alone. Her graceful figure and long hair dancing in the wind revealed an elegant demeanor and endless charm.

"Yuyan!"

Hearing that familiar, slightly hurried voice, Zhu Yuyan slowly turned around.

"Whoosh!" A figure ,

like a streak of purple light, pounced and embraced her tightly. Before she could even speak, his handsome face pressed against hers, his large mouth directly onto her bright red lips.

His hateful tongue, like a raging dragon unleashed, easily and forcefully pried open the defenses of Zhu Yuyan's teeth, plunging into her mouth and wreaking havoc.

Although Zhu Yuyan knew the person embracing her was Yuan Yueze, and instinctively tried to push him away, her teeth crumbled in an instant. Her mind went blank, and she had no strength left to resist. She slowly closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around Yuan Yueze's waist, and offered her delicate tongue, clumsily engaging in a game of cat and mouse with him.

Two years of longing had finally been rewarded... Upon this reunion, Yuan Yueze trembled with excitement, savoring the sweetness, softness, tenderness, and smoothness of the woman in his arms, sucking hard on her honey-like lips. An indescribable comfort washed over him, a blissful sensation only achievable through lovemaking.

Their bodies pressed tightly together, Yuan Yueze feeling the delicate body of the woman he had longed for day and night, while his hand roamed over her back, then settled on her round, full buttocks, kneading and squeezing them repeatedly.

Zhu Yuyan was deeply captivated by Yuan Yueze's gentle seduction, letting out soft moans and alluring cries. Her body instinctively began to twist and rub slightly, enjoying the stimulation from the friction against her chest, cooperating with Yuan Yueze's 'magic hand'... It was extremely enjoyable.

They had shared a passionate kiss before parting two years ago, but it was nothing compared to this one. Feeling the clumsy tongue of the beauty in his arms becoming increasingly skilled under his guidance, Yuan Yueze's 'devilish hand' became even more unrestrained.

At this moment, the woman was no longer some high and mighty empress, and the man was no longer some god; they were simply a pair of lovesick lovers, expressing their mutual affection and venting the pain of a year's longing through their actions. They continuously sucked each other's saliva, played with each other's teeth, and chased each other's tongues…

their breathing quickened, their hearts pounded, their chests heaved, and Zhu Yuyan, whose flower stream, untouched for decades, was beginning to overflow from the strange hand caressing her shapely buttocks, suddenly stiffened.

That strange hand had somehow climbed onto her proud... 'Jade Maiden Peak,' his fingers seemingly casually toying with the love bean beneath the thin veil. Zhu Yuyan, whose delicate body had begun to tremble violently, suddenly opened her misty eyes, a last glimmer of clarity flashing in her alluring gaze. With her last remaining strength, she forcefully pushed Yuan Yueze away.

Yuan Yueze, thinking the kiss had lasted too long and had made the beauty uncomfortable, quickly suppressed his desires and placed his hands on her fragrant shoulders: "I'm sorry, I missed Yuyan so much, so I lost my composure..."

At this moment, Zhu Yuyan had lost all her haughty and aloof demeanor; she was simply a woman deeply moved. Yuan Yueze's explanation only made things worse; her still-blushing face glowed even brighter.

Seeing Zhu Yuyan with her head down, Yuan Yueze didn't know what she was thinking, and he dared not push her too far.

"Come, let's sit down. How have you been these past two years?" Yuan

Yueze released her hands, but held her delicate hands and led her to sit down at the stone table.

Zhu Yuyan gradually calmed her breathing and heartbeat. She was forcibly pulled to the stone bench. Just as she was about to sit down, Yuan Yueze pulled her onto his lap with a force.

After struggling and twisting for a while, Zhu Yuyan had no choice but to sit down resignedly.

"Why are you so shy, Yuyan? There are no outsiders here,"

Yuan Yueze said, trying to comfort her when she remained silent.

"You...you shouldn't...force Yuyan, okay?"

Zhu Yuyan lowered her head and whispered.

"Okay, I just missed you so much. Tell me about it,"

Yuan Yueze said, still holding her close, but still giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Zhu Yuyan had almost recovered her composure. After his surprise attack, she could only give him a reproachful look before recounting her experiences over the past two years.

After parting ways with Yuan Yueze and Shan Meixian, Zhu Yuyan's life didn't change much. She still handled sect affairs, but she delegated most of them to her disciples and junior brothers and sisters. Later, when news of Yang Guang's death arrived, the Yin Gui Sect began implementing various plans. Two years ago, Shan Meixian informed Zhu Yuyan of her attendance at the wedding and also informed her of the location of Song Que's secret Yin Gui Sect base, making it convenient for the Song Clan to send messages. Zhu Yuyan arrived in Shancheng the day before yesterday and met with Song Que, Lu Miaozi, and Fu Cailin, where they discussed some past events. However, the majority of the conversation revolved around Yuan Yueze.

When Shan Meixian recounted her experiences over the past two years, she avoided mentioning Bian Bufu's matter due to Zhu Yuyan's presence, but presumably Wanwan had already told her what had happened.

"Yuyan, I don't know how to say anything about Bian Bufu, but he must be held accountable for his crimes. I understand your position; if you want to blame someone, blame me,"

Yuan Yueze said, looking at Zhu Yuyan.

“Yu Yan doesn’t blame you, and has no right to blame Mei Xian. If it weren’t for my indulgence that day, Fifth Junior Brother wouldn’t have harmed so many women. Mei Xian already told people last time that she wanted to kill Fifth Junior Brother, and Yu Yan had no objections.”

Zhu Yu Yan pressed her slender fingers to Yuan Yue Ze’s lips and said softly. Her voice revealed a trace of sorrow.

“You don’t need to blame yourself either. Isn’t there a saying? ‘In the martial world, one is not in control of one’s own destiny.’ Yu Yan said last time that I would give you some time. How have you considered it now?”

Yuan Yue Ze’s ‘devilish hands’ could no longer restrain themselves and began to roam all over the beauty’s exquisite body.

“No…”

Zhu Yu Yan was already weak all over when he held her in his arms, and with those strange hands groping her everywhere, she was even more moved. She quickly pressed down on those strange hands and said reproachfully.

“Mei Xian said you were a very honest person. How come I can’t see it at all!”

Zhu Yu Yan said again. After saying that, she giggled. Yuan Yueze was taken aback. To be honest, his personality was hard to change; for example, he was somewhat dull and slow-witted. He had never treated his wife like he treated Zhu Yuyan. It was as if he became a different person whenever he was with Zhu Yuyan—proactive, impatient, and handsy.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm not usually like this, but when I see you, I get so excited,"

Yuan Yueze answered honestly.

"Maybe it's because I liked this character the most when I was in school!"

Yuan Yueze thought to himself.

"What are Meixian and the others doing?"

Zhu Yuyan asked, trying to hide her inner turmoil.

"Don't even mention it, it's a headache! Meixian was just about to discuss with Second Brother how to conquer the world and refine the plan, so I rushed out to find you,"

Yuan Yueze said, making a headache face.

"It's good that you set such grand goals, but isn't this incredibly irresponsible? Even Meixian said you were the most responsible man!"

Zhu Yuyan continued.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Yuan Yueze looked at her curiously.

"Since you've set your goal to assist the Imperial Star, you're part of the plan. Running off like this, isn't that irresponsible? Are you only capable of empty ambitions? Only capable of talking about pity for the suffering people? You won't even listen to the plan, so what actions will you take to express your determination?"

Zhu Yuyan said with a strange expression.

Yuan Yueze was stunned.

Zhu Yuyan was absolutely right. To save the people, they shouldn't act like he did, relying solely on empty words and a momentary, impulsive decision. Each of Zhu Yuyan's words resonated more deeply with him.

“I’ve always felt I wasn’t suited for those things, so even after making up my mind, I didn’t take it too seriously. Today, Yu Yan’s words, as clear as a morning bell and evening drum, have awakened me. I understand a lot now, and I will definitely try my best to correct myself starting tomorrow,”

Yuan Yueze said with a serious expression.

“Actually, Mei Xian and the others should know too, but they know you too well…”

Zhu Yu Yan sighed.

“However, these things shouldn’t be Yu Yan’s concern right now,”

Yuan Yueze said.

“What I mean is, it’s about your and your sect’s greatest ideal,”

Yuan Yueze said, seeing Zhu Yu Yan’s curious expression.

“You even know about my and my sect’s greatest ideal?”

Zhu Yu Yan looked incredulous, but a sly glint flashed in the depths of her eyes.

“Isn’t it just those four words, ‘Holy Gate Under Heaven’?”

Yuan Yueze lightly touched the beauty’s luscious lips again.

“What’s so special about that?”

Zhu Yu Yan blushed again and said.

“Since Second Brother has decided to contend for supremacy, it is certain that the Central Plains and the outer regions will eventually fall into your hands! It’s just a matter of time and the extent of the losses. After the Central Plains are pacified, Second Brother will begin to gradually implement the system of later generations. Under this system, no doctrine, teaching, or thought will be restricted, and they will all have equal status, as long as they are not distorted theories that harm the country and the people. At the same time, no single religion will be allowed to dominate, but rather the situation of ‘a hundred schools of thought contending’ will be restored to that of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Therefore, your ‘Holy Gate Under Heaven’ has absolutely no hope of being achieved.”

Yuan Yueze said slowly.

Seeing Zhu Yuyan’s calm expression, Yuan Yueze didn’t know what she was thinking, nor why she didn’t show

any surprise. “Are you curious why Yuyan didn’t react to what you said?”

Zhu Yuyan smiled softly when she saw Yuan Yueze’s expression.

“Because I’ve been discussing this with Song Que and the others for several days, and Yu Yan has also read your books. If those systems can really be implemented a few hundred years from now, it will be a good thing for everyone. Since our Holy Sect was suppressed during the Han Dynasty, all we’ve wanted is to have an equal living space with other martial arts sects. However, after hundreds of years of fruitless struggle, the mentality of our members has gradually changed, and their methods have become ruthless. The more unattainable something is, the more they want it, and their desires become even stronger, which is why we have the ultimate goal of ‘Holy Sect Under Heaven.’ When our Holy Sect can truly have the same status as other martial arts sects, it doesn’t really matter whether we achieve ‘Holy Sect Under Heaven.’ Besides, under the system established by Song Shidao, even the emperor is only in name, so what chance do others have to fight for power? Even if they did, what would be the use?”

Zhu Yu Yan continued to explain.

“Ah! Yu Yan, you don’t know about my background, do you? Did your father-in-law tell you?”

Yuan Yueze suddenly realized this and hurriedly asked.

“Fool, Mei Xian told her two years ago.”

Zhu Yuyan gave Yuan Yueze a charming sidelong glance and smiled.

"Hey, then Yuyan, why don't you just marry me too, and wear your wedding dress at this ceremony?"

Yuan Yueze said shamelessly.

Zhu Yuyan was stunned for a moment, then shook her head with a complicated expression, not answering him.

"Are you disgusted that I already have a family, or do you still not have feelings for me, Yuan?"

Yuan Yueze deflated like a punctured balloon upon seeing her like that.

"Is it 'the fallen flower longs for the flowing water, but the flowing water has no heart for the fallen flower'?"

Yuan Yueze looked into the distance with a desolate tone.

"Don't talk nonsense... If Yuyan didn't have feelings for you, how could she... how could she let you take liberties with her..."

Zhu Yuyan blushed and whispered.

For a woman like Zhu Yuyan, who had suffered a deep emotional wound that lasted for decades, and who also carried the heavy burden of her sect's mission, falling in love was extremely difficult, let alone falling for another man! Yuan Yueze was actually quite lucky; his greatest advantage was something he himself hadn't even realized. That advantage was his nightly, nightly, "forcibly entering" Zhu Yuyan's dreams to disturb her peace of mind. If this happened to an ordinary woman, she would either go mad or be driven insane. Zhu Yuyan was able to maintain her composure at the most crucial moment, not because of any superior mental cultivation—her mind had long been corrupted by Yuan Yueze—but because she was afraid. She was afraid of the past repeating itself, afraid of being cruelly abandoned again, even though Yuan Yueze wasn't that kind of person. But the saying "once bitten, twice shy" holds true; she had many concerns, such as seniority, societal expectations, and age. Although Yuan Yueze emphasized that he didn't care about these outdated social norms, Zhu Yuyan had lived for decades, and some of those norms were deeply ingrained, not something that could be easily discarded.

"At most... at most I promise you, please give Yu Yan some more time. When Yu Yan has really thought things through and let go of everything, she'll marry you, okay..."

Seeing Yuan Yueze's dejected look, Zhu Yu Yan couldn't bear it and had no choice but to speak, her face flushed with embarrassment as she finished.

She herself didn't know why, but whenever she saw Yuan Yueze, she became extremely weak. The former aloof, cold, and ruthless Empress would completely transform into a weak and helpless little woman who only longed for a strong embrace to comfort her.

"Let's go, let's prepare some wine and dishes first. How about Yu Yan helps me?"

Yuan Yueze knew that if he forced her any further, it would really backfire. He immediately forced a smile that was more like a grimace and said.

"How can I feel at ease if you act like this? Do you really want to force Yu Yan to agree to you right now?"

Seeing Yuan Yueze's expression, Zhu Yu Yan knew that he was definitely uncomfortable, and said sadly.

Yuan Yueze hurriedly tried to comfort her, forcibly suppressing his displeasure, and it took a lot of effort to finally make her smile through her tears.

Each lost in their own thoughts, they went into the kitchen to busy themselves.

Afterwards, dinner was relatively pleasant, as the reunion of Yuan Yueze's daughters with their relatives alleviated much of the melancholy Yuan Yueze couldn't hide. After dinner, to everyone's surprise, he unusually participated in discussing the plan to conquer the world, much to everyone's astonishment. The perceptive Shan Meixian looked at Zhu Yuyan with curiosity, while Zhu Yuyan avoided eye contact with her daughter.

The discussion only lasted an hour, after which they discussed wedding preparations and entertaining guests.

Yuan Yueze wasn't surprised to hear that various forces and martial arts figures might attend the wedding.

Firstly, he and his wives have been the talk of the town for the past two years, and this Lingnan wedding would allow them to see these legendary figures in person—who wouldn't be interested?

Secondly, the allure of the titles "Heavenly Blade" and "Master of the Sword" is no less than that of Yuan Yueze! They are idols to countless martial artists. Who wouldn't come to see their idol in person?

But everyone knows that the various factions aren't here to offer congratulations; their ultimate goal is to gather information about the Song Clan and when they will participate in the struggle for supremacy.

Yuan Yueze has no interest in dealing with those politicians; he'll leave that to Song Que and the others.

It's almost the end of the 7 PM.

The women have already gone to the hot springs in the mountain city to relax and enjoy themselves, led by Song Yuzhi. Shan Meixian noticed Yuan Yueze's strange behavior and vaguely guessed that it must be related to Zhu Yuyan, so she pushed Yuan Yueze away, who wanted to play in the water with the women.

Yuan Yueze wandered aimlessly alone in the "Listening to the Waves Pavilion," his mind in turmoil.

As they approached the Moon-Gazing Pavilion again, the familiar figure inside came into view, still standing motionless, gazing up at the starry sky.

Zhu Yuyan was deeply troubled, especially seeing Yuan Yueze's every emotion written on his face. Her conflicted feelings tormented her greatly.

Suddenly, she felt a hand gently stroking her flowing hair. The scent of the person behind her was incredibly familiar. Zhu Yuyan remained motionless, gazing at the moon.

"Ten miles of pavilions, frost fills the sky; how many years have passed since my black hair turned white? No regrets in this life, mistakes in this life; may we meet again in the next. A smile like a flower, so captivating; a face like water, so tender; how can I linger? Deep affection is like a fleeting longing; I dance freely on Penglai Mountain."

Yuan Yueze stroked her hair for a while before reciting the poem.

In this situation, reciting such poetry—who could feel good?

Zhu Yuyan was forced to shed tears again. Yuan Yueze could only try to comfort her once more.

After a long while, Yuan Yueze gazed at the starry sky and suddenly burst into hearty laughter: "Yu Yan, I won't force you anymore. You just need to promise me one thing."

"I promise you. Yu Yan will never have another man in her heart..."

Zhu Yu Yan seemed to sense Yuan Yueze's sudden change in mood and smiled sweetly in response.

Yuan Yueze was taken aback: "I don't want you to promise me this thing, I mean you promise me you will never do anything foolish."

Two red clouds rose on Zhu Yu Yan's cheeks, and she nodded solemnly to Yuan Yueze.

Looking at the shy yet happy, hesitant Empress Yin, Yuan Yueze smiled naturally, pulled her to sit down, told her stories, sang love songs, and the two laughed heartily from time to time.

Half an hour later, as Yuan Yueze was chatting and laughing with the beauty, he heard Song Shidao's voice beside him: "Brother-in-law, come to Mingyue Tower quickly."

Mingyue Tower wasn't far from here, so people with some internal energy could usually transmit their voices here.

Yuan Yueze reluctantly lingered a little longer with Zhu Yuyan before running into Mingyue Tower.

It turned out that Shuanglong had arrived.

Shuanglong had arranged with Wei Zhenzhen and the other women to attend the wedding before Yuan Yueze left Yuyao. They wanted to witness the grandeur of a powerful family and also personally attend Fu Junzhuo and Wei Zhenzhen's wedding.

After a few pleasantries, Kou Zhong chatted with Song Shidao, who was receiving them.

Yuan Yueze, however, was drowsy and dozed off several times.

By the end of Hai hour (9-11 PM), everyone was exhausted. Song Shidao arranged accommodations for Shuanglong, and the women had already returned after washing up. Yuan Yueze pulled the women into a passionate encounter, continuing until the beginning of Chou hour (1-3 AM) before finally falling asleep.

The next morning, the family sat at the table enjoying breakfast. Shan Wanjing, who had gone to call Zhu Yuyan to eat, rushed in in a panic.

"Husband, Grandma passed away sometime ago. She left a note for you in her room."

Yuan Yueze was startled and rushed to Zhu Yuyan's room, where he found a neatly folded note on a small table.

After unfolding the note and slowly reading through it, Yuan Yueze closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He then handed it to the women around him to read in turn, before taking it back, folding it neatly, and putting it in his pocket.

“Husband, don’t worry. Mother is probably still a bit hesitant. Actually, she’s changed a lot. Let’s give her some more time!”

Shan Meixian quickly comforted him.

“But she hasn’t even witnessed the wedding yet, why is she leaving like this?”

Yuan Yueze frowned.

“What does it matter! Next time you hold a wedding, wouldn’t it be better to have Mother as the main character?”

Shan Meixian teased mischievously.

If Zhu Yuyan were here, she would definitely faint. This daughter is too naughty, she has to sell her own mother off…

Everyone in the room smiled, and Yuan Yueze’s distress was greatly relieved.

“Let’s go, today I’ll take my husband and the sisters on a good tour of the mountain city!”

Song Yuzhi called out. The other women naturally echoed.

In the Song family’s main courtyard in the mountain city, in the study.

Song Que sat at the desk, his posture immovable as a mountain.

“Who goes there! Why don’t you show yourself?”

Song Que suddenly called out to the door.

"Creak."

The door opened, and upon seeing the gray figure appear in the study, Song Que trembled. His bright, deep eyes suddenly flashed with an extremely dazzling light, but it vanished in an instant.

"Forty years have passed, Qinghui's elegance remains unchanged. I wonder why you have come to Lingnan? And why you did not have a servant inform us?"

Song Que stood up, made a gesture of invitation, and spoke.

Song Que had long sensed a powerful and infectious aura approaching the mountain city, but this aura gave him an exceptionally familiar and warm feeling. Therefore, Song Que did not make a sound, but pondered which acquaintance it was. However, he did not expect it to be Fan Qinghui, the master of Cihang Jingzhai, who had personally come, and even sneaked in!

"Brother Song, it's been a long time. Decades have passed in a flash, and Brother Song is as heroic as ever."

Fan Qinghui smiled and sat down generously opposite Song Que, speaking in a voice like celestial music, ethereal and uncertain.

As time flows by, birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable for all things in the world. However, Fan Qinghui seems to transcend these limitations. Her jade-like face, as pure and ethereal as a flowing river, remains as captivating as it

was forty years ago, and her otherworldly beauty is incredibly alluring. But for Song Que, who has already witnessed the charm of Yuan Yueze's many wives, Fan Qinghui's charm has little effect. What attracts Song Que is, of course, Fan Qinghui herself, who has haunted his dreams for forty years.

"Qinghui's arrival this time is due to the invitation sent by Brother Song,"

Fan Qinghui said after sitting down, handing over the invitation. Her tone clearly carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

Song Que also sensed the change in her tone, paused slightly, took the invitation, and examined it carefully.

"This is not an invitation sent by me, how did Qinghui receive it?"

Song Que asked curiously after examining it.

"Brother Song, as the head of a powerful clan, you dare not even admit your own actions? Qinghui can still recognize your handwriting!"

Fan Qinghui said calmly.

"I swear to heaven, if I'm lying, may I be struck down by divine retribution. Besides, even if I wanted to invite Qinghui, I would have gone to invite her myself; it wouldn't be that simple,"

Song Que said after a moment's thought, sensing something amiss.

Hearing Song Que's oath, Fan Qinghui was stunned, as if she'd been tricked.

"It seems someone's up to something. Then Qinghui will take

her leave. Take care, Brother Song, until we meet again," Fan Qinghui said, realizing the situation and declining.

"Since Qinghui is here, I'll humbly invite you to be a witness at my daughter's wedding,"

Song Que said, rising to persuade her to stay.

"This…"

Fan Qinghui hesitated for a moment, then nodded to Song Que, "In that case, I'll gladly accept."

She had no interest in being a wedding witness! She just wanted to see Yuan Yueze in person. Because Yuan Yueze was likely the most crucial figure influencing the struggle for supremacy, how could Fan Qinghui know which rumors were true without seeing it for herself?

"Then how about Qinghui stay at the villa in Rushan City? June 14th is my daughter's wedding day,"

Song Que invited again.

"Thank you for the invitation, Brother Song, but my disciple is waiting outside the city. Qinghui needs to inform him. Besides, this invitation seems to indicate someone is plotting against the Song clan and my Jingzhai. This humble nun also needs to send a letter back to Jingzhai to warn all the disciples to be careful,"

Fan Qinghui politely declined.

"That's true. I also need to send someone to investigate. Then please come to the mountain city on the day of the wedding,"

Song Que nodded.

"Qinghui understands. Farewell,"

Fan Qinghui bowed with her hands clasped, then turned and left. The vast mountain city, with its iron-like protective net, she came and went as she pleased; her cultivation was truly superb.

Song Que gazed wistfully at the unforgettable figure of the past forty years, and gave a bitter smile.

Sitting at his desk again, Song Que picked up the invitation and frowned in thought.

Chapter 30 The Most Expensive in the World

June 12th, dusk, the reception room of the Mingyue Tower in the Song family's mountain city.

This reception room had clearly risen to the status of the Song clan's highest-secret meeting place.

Song Shidao and the five women, Shan Meixian, Fu Junzhuo, Yun Yuzhen, Wei Zhenzhen, and Song Yuzhi, were having a heated discussion in the hall. The topic was all about the wedding preparations in two days, various etiquettes, and how to deal with the entanglements of various forces.

Yuan Yueze was not among them. He had already taken the other women out to stroll around and experience the customs and culture of the various ethnic minorities in the mountain city.

Last year, he had also toured the mountain city with Song Yuzhi, but at that time it was a superficial and cursory experience. Today was different.

On the busiest market street in the mountain town, a group of people walked along the wide road. The man was handsome and had an extraordinary air about him; his eyes, as vast as the starry sky, were the perfect embodiment of attracting attention. The women were even more stunning. Each of them wore no makeup or ornaments; their breathtaking beauty and captivating curves alone were enough to mesmerize any man in the world! Even one such fairy-like woman would be considered a great blessing, yet several walked together, surrounding the young man like stars around the moon.

The group's charm was so overwhelming that they attracted an astonishing number of admiring glances!

"Oh! That young master is so handsome!"

"Nonsense, that's called 'handsome'! You're describing a young lady like that!"

"Wife, what are you doing?"

"Husband, quickly check if my hair is messy? That young master seemed to be looking at me just now!"

"Hmph! All you know is looking at those little vixens! Quickly check my hair, or I won't serve you anymore!"

"You old geezer! Don't you know shame! Staring at that fairy in the street like that! Why is my life so miserable! Waaah..."...

Being stared at like a monkey, Yuan Yueze and the women felt overwhelmed, much less comfortable than when they were disguised. But it was too late now, they could only slip back to the mountain city.

Back in the Mingyue Tower reception room, Yuan Yueze and the women took their seats, listening to Song Shidao and Shan Meixian still having a heated discussion.

"Second brother, who exactly are the guests?"

Yuan Yueze took a sip of tea, then took Su Su's hand beside him, playing with it as he asked,

"Let me count. Today, envoys from the Li Clan, Dugu Clan, and Yuwen Clan have arrived. From other forces, envoys from Dou Jiande, Liu Wuzhou, the Wagang Army, Xiao Xian, and the Bashu Duzun Fortress have also arrived. Several foreign tribes from beyond the borders also arrived in the mountain city around noon."

Song Shidao seemed very familiar with Yuan Yueze's absurd behavior, showing no concern as he watched him playfully tug at the shy Su Su in public, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Ah!"

Yuan Yueze was immediately bewildered.

"The other forces are fine, but the Dugu Clan and the Wagang Army—they've had major conflicts with me on the surface; they should have deep-seated hatred. What are they doing here?"

Yuan Yueze asked, utterly bewildered.

"That's politics, isn't it!"

Song Shidao gave a wry smile.

“Second Brother is right. Nobody believes they’re genuinely here to congratulate us! Their real purpose is to probe the Song Clan’s internal strength or find out when they’ll join the struggle for supremacy. After all, the Song Clan is still the most powerful force in the South. Besides, they can see their rumored husband in person and witness the charisma of Master Fu and the Clan Chief. It’s a win-win situation, why not? As for the Dugu Clan and the Wagang Army, how could their leaders give up so many benefits for a little personal grudge?”

Yun Yuzhen analyzed with a charming smile.

“Yuzhen is absolutely right, but they’re pressuring me. Xiao Ze, do you think we should meet them before the wedding? They’ve all said they want to meet you privately,”

Song Shidao said to Yuan Yueze.

“How about this? We can meet with all the guests tomorrow. That way, even if they have some schemes in private, they won’t be able to say anything too outrageous in public. It’s a win-win situation

,” Shan Meixian said, seeing Yuan Yueze’s reluctant expression.

Yuan Yueze truly had to thank heaven for bestowing upon him such a virtuous and intelligent woman. Indeed, Yuan Yueze was exceptionally capable, the best choice for husband in every way. But no one is perfect. The experience and personality of Shan Meixian and the other women complemented Yuan Yueze's flaws, making their family seem perfect.

"But this banquet will definitely not be simple! Let's choose two of us sisters to accompany our husband. He's so dense, he'll easily be tricked into revealing information,"

Wei Zhenzhen said with a smile.

However, none of the women in the room wanted to attend such a hypocritical occasion, so they had no choice but to draw lots. In the end, Shan Ruyin and Fu Junyu were chosen. Fu Junyu was alright, having seen many such situations, but Shan Ruyin was simply not up to the task. As the eldest sister, Shan Meixian had to step in for her. Seeing the other women looking at her with schadenfreude, Shan Meixian felt she had chosen the wrong people.

As a young lady of the Song clan and one of the main characters of the wedding, Song Yuzhi should have been present, but judging from her smug smile, one could tell how excited she was about escaping this 'great calamity'!

Afterwards, Song Shidao discussed with everyone how to deal with the attacks from various forces the next day.

June 13th, afternoon, Song family's main residence in the mountain city, banquet hall.

This main residence covers over a thousand acres, and the central banquet hall alone can accommodate over a thousand people for a banquet.

Yuan Yueze, Shan Meixian, and Fu Junyu walked towards the banquet hall. Along the way, they encountered servants bustling about, and Yuan Yueze and the two women greeted them with nods. In the past few days, Yuan Yueze had been appearing more frequently in the mountain city; guards and servants alike recognized him and his wives. Originally, Song Shidao was the most popular person in the mountain city because of his gentle and refined manners, his lack of airs, and his ability to make people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze. After Yuan Yueze and his family arrived, the servants and guards felt an indescribable sense of warmth. Privately, everyone discussed how the clan leader's judgment was indeed brilliant; such a person was truly a dragon among men. Moreover, Yuan Yueze's name was even more renowned throughout the mountain city, and many servants already idolized him.

Arriving at the lavishly decorated banquet hall, they heard a cacophony of voices inside. Half an hour before the banquet began, Song Shidao had already arrived to greet the guests. Now, with a quarter of an hour to go, groups of people could be seen discussing something, with occasional laughter drifting out.

When Yuan Yueze and his two daughters appeared at the hall entrance, Song Shidao, who was chatting and laughing with several guests, immediately excused himself and hurried out to greet them.

All eyes followed Song Shidao's direction.

"!"

Instantly, the hall fell silent as all the guests focused their attention on the approaching man and two women.

The three women possessed an unimaginable charm, especially Shan Meixian and Fu Junyu, whose faces were not veiled. They became objects of admiration for the men in the hall, with some even drooling.

"Ah!"

Song Shidao led Yuan Yueze and the other two to the head table. Upon reaching the head table, a young woman there inexplicably stared at Yuan Yueze and exclaimed. She immediately realized her lapse and lowered her head in embarrassment.

The others in the room assumed that Yuan Yueze's charm was too great and the woman was simply attracted, so they just chuckled and didn't pay much attention.

Yuan Yueze looked at the woman, whose face was obscured by her lowered head. Yuan Yueze frowned, then bowed to the others before sitting down with the two women.

The seating in the hall consisted of round wooden tables that could accommodate about fifteen people. The hall was filled with about four tables, all occupied by unfamiliar faces, seemingly representatives of various factions.

"Brother Yuan, we meet again. I, Shimin, will take this opportunity to offer you a toast, wishing you and your wives a long and happy marriage."

Li Shimin, taking the initiative and clearly usurping the host's role, spoke words of heartfelt blessings for Yuan Yueze, so no one found his behavior impolite.

His preemptive move led the guests to believe that none of them had ever met the renowned Yuan Yueze. However, upon hearing Li Shimin's words, the representatives of various factions were already calculating their own intentions. It seemed Li Shimin and Yuan Yueze were old acquaintances; what about the relationship between the Li and Song clans? After all, these two clans were arguably the most powerful in the Central Plains. Any connection between them would have a significant impact on the course of history!

Little did they know that Yuan Yueze had only met Li Shimin once and exchanged a few words.

Yuan Yueze simply smiled faintly at him, said nothing, and drank his cup in one gulp.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Shan Meixian's eyes. Li Shimin had launched his 'offensive' so quickly.

"So the Prince of Qin and my brother-in-law are old acquaintances, no wonder,"

Song Shidao feigned ignorance.

"Shimin is right. Last time, my husband fell asleep after exchanging only a few words with me. How utterly rude!"

Shan Meixian began her 'counterattack.'

Her words were loaded with meaning and quite amusing, causing some of the seated guests to burst into laughter.

Born into a political family and a social genius, Li Shimin possessed impeccable manners! He showed no offense whatsoever, merely nodding and smiling slightly.

"Alright, everyone, please don't stand on ceremony. My father and Master Fu are out discussing Dao today and cannot accompany you distinguished guests. Please forgive them. All the dishes today were prepared by my brother-in-law himself. He is renowned in Shancheng for his 'first in cooking, second in martial arts.' You'll regret it if you miss this meal!"

Seeing the atmosphere was a bit awkward and Yuan Yueze remained silent, Song Shidao had no choice but to speak.

The guests were already attracted by the aroma of the food and wine. Hearing that Yuan Yueze had personally prepared them, their interest in him grew even stronger, and they took their seats and began to enjoy the meal.

"Let me introduce you all. This is Yuan Yueze, Shidao's brother-in-law. This is Aunt Shan Meixian, and this is Fu Junyu, the second disciple of Master Fu Cailin, the great Goryeo swordsman."

Although everyone in the hall could already deduce Yuan Yueze's identity, the identities of the two stunningly beautiful women beside him remained a mystery. Song Shidao then took the lead in introducing them to the guests.

"And these are Mr. Yuwen Shiji of the Yuwen Clan, Young Master Dugu Ce of the Dugu Clan, Miss Dugu Feng, General Liu Heita under the command of King Dou Jiande of the Great Xia, Strategist Shen Luoyan of the Wagang Army, Miss Xiao Huan, the sister of King Xiao Xian of Liang, Prince Fu Qian of Tuyuhun, Liu Wuzhou... General Song Jingang under Mr. Song, the young master of 'Duzun Fortress' in Bashu, Xie Wenlong, whom we should call brother-in-law. And then there is Brother Qin Wang Shimin, whom you all know."

Song Shidao introduced them one by one.

Liu Wuzhou, who controlled the north and colluded with the Eastern Turkic Khaganate's Shibi Khan, was bestowed the title of "Dingyang Khan." This was common knowledge among various forces outside the Central Plains, making him a traitor who betrayed his nation. In this situation, Song Shidao was unsure how to address Liu Wuzhou, so he simply addressed him as "Sir."

Yuan Yueze nodded to everyone at the table as Song Shidao introduced him, remaining silent. Due to Song Shidao's deliberate arrangement, those at Yuan Yueze's table were almost all representatives of the strongest forces in the entire Central Plains.

"Brother Yuan, on behalf of the Dugu clan, I offer you a toast!"

Dugu Ce appeared handsome and dashing, but a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he raised

his cup to Yuan Yueze. Yuan Yueze had felt a surge of disgust upon hearing his name. Seeing the emphasis on the word "toast," he still glanced at him expressionlessly, not uttering a single word, and downed his drink in one gulp.

Dugu Ce's first "attack" was thus silently neutralized, leaving him with no choice but to force a smile and drink with Song Shidao.

The guests also began to eat, the clinking of glasses and laughter echoing from the banquet hall, gradually enlivening the atmosphere.

"I never expected Brother Yuan's culinary skills to be so superb! Simple dishes can be transformed into such elaborate creations, and the taste is simply exquisite! I, Liu, toast you!"

Liu Heita raised his glass to Yuan Yueze.

Yuan Yueze quite liked Liu Heita. In the original story, Liu Heita fell in love with Su Su, but because of that damned "short-lived" prophecy, he dared not accept the happiness before him, fearing he would ruin the life of his beloved. In truth, if Su Su had truly followed him, she could at least have enjoyed a few years of happy life. Liu Heita's generous, righteous, and loyal character was far superior to that of scum like Xiang Yushan.

Upon closer inspection, Liu Heita appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with an extraordinary appearance, a robust physique, and a well-fitting outfit. His words exuded a bold and unrestrained spirit, truly befitting a hero.

"Brother Liu flatters me. Brother Liu is unrestrained and loyal, a man I most desire to befriend. Please!"

Yuan Yueze finally spoke, standing up to clink glasses with Liu Heita and drink in one gulp.

Liu Heita was immediately overwhelmed with gratitude. Just now, when Li Shimin and Dugu Ce offered toasts, Yuan Yueze hadn't stood up or uttered a word. Now, however, he was expressing a desire to befriend a rough man like him—how could Liu Heita not be excited!

"Second brother's words are inaccurate. My husband is actually first in taciturnity, second in slowness, third in culinary skills, and fourth in martial arts,"

Fu Junyu said with a charming smile after Yuan Yueze and Liu Heita had toasted and sat down. Although their words were full of sarcasm and irony, the deep affection and attachment they conveyed were palpable even to those inexperienced in matters of the heart.

The three women at the table were already quite beautiful, especially Dugu Feng and Shen Luoyan, but after Shan Meixian and her companion entered, the hall seemed to dim, as if all the light in the world had been focused on these two ethereal fairies who looked like figures from a painting. Dugu Feng and Shen Luoyan, though resentful, had to admit that Shan Meixian and her companion far surpassed them in both beauty and charm. Seeing Fu Junyu so boldly displaying her affection for Yuan Yueze in public, the other three women felt a sudden pang of neglect, and a hint of jealousy involuntarily arose within them.

Everyone was now certain of one thing: Yuan Yueze's appearance was indeed as dashing as rumored, and his wife was even more charming than the rumors suggested. Hearing about the fairy and seeing her in person were two completely different things.

But was Yuan Yueze's seemingly indifferent expression, as unchanging as a millennium-old iceberg, truly his true nature? Or was he simply extremely cunning? None of the guests dared to be certain, and could only continue to observe while pondering their thoughts.

"General Liu, as the top general under King Xia, is indeed admirable,"

Shen Luoyan said after glancing at Yuan Yueze.

As two of the three strongest peasant rebel armies, the Wagang Army and Dou Jiande's Army occupied adjacent locations, and Li Mi had once used stratagems to manipulate Dou Jiande, resulting in constant friction between the two sides over the years, though all limited to small-scale skirmishes. Therefore, although Shen Luoyan's words sounded like praise, they were actually just making conversation to change the subject.

Upon hearing Shen Luoyan speak, Yuan Yueze looked closely in the direction of the voice. Shen Luoyan lived up to her name, possessing a beauty that could rival even the most beautiful women. Her eyes were like a lake in autumn, complemented by slender, arched eyebrows, a delicate nose, and cherry-red lips. Her jade-like complexion and graceful demeanor made her a rare beauty. Her noble air, captivating and awe-inspiring, was tinged with a distinctly heroic spirit, earning admiration and making her truly one in a million.

"Three years ago, there were two women in this world whom I admired most, and Strategist Shen was one of them. Seeing her today, I can confirm she truly is 'a woman who does not yield to men'!"

Shen Luoyan was known for her boldness, but upon being scrutinized by Yuan Yueze, her pretty face inexplicably flushed, and she became somewhat shy. Then, as if possessed, he asked, "Oh? That would be my honor. But who is the other one?"

"'Empress of the Underworld,' Zhu Yuyan,"

Yuan Yueze replied cheerfully, his gaze fixed on the wine cup in his hand, revealing a hint of affection and longing. Everyone in the room could almost feel the deep love bubbling in Yuan Yueze's heart.

But who was the 'Empress of the Underworld'? She was a female demon who had been famous in the martial arts world for over forty years, a contemporary of Song Que! Although the guests had never seen the 'Empress of the Underworld' in person, she was rumored to be one of the 'Four Beauties of the Previous Generation,' implying that her beauty was far beyond that of ordinary women. But Zhu Yuyan was old enough to be his grandmother! Yuan Yueze looked to be only around twenty years old; he really dared to dream!

Then, the guests thoughtfully considered: He even had a mother and daughter sharing a husband; it wouldn't be surprising if he married a woman his grandmother's age!

Few know of the relationship between Zhu Yuyan and Shan Meixian. Who knows what expressions these people will have when they find out!

Shen Luoyan, watching Yuan Yueze intently staring at his wine glass, knew he was thinking of the 'Empress Yin.' Seeing that his two celestial wives showed no sign of jealousy, Shen Luoyan couldn't help but wonder: were they concerned about appearances or truly without a trace of envy?

"On my journey to Lingnan, Fu Qian has seen countless refugees and common people. The world is in chaos, and the people are suffering. Alas! I've heard that Brother Song is renowned in the martial world for his kindness and chivalry. What are your thoughts, Brother Song?"

Fu Qian sighed from the side.

No one in the hall was a fool. Everyone understood the purpose of their trip to Lingnan. Fu Qian's veiled question to Song Shidao was clear: When does your Song clan plan to join the game of vying for supremacy?

Yuan Yueze looked at the man, who appeared to be about thirty years old. He wore clothing with a strong northern style, had a thick beard, and was tall and imposing. Although seated, he was at least seven feet tall. He exuded an aura of extraordinary grandeur, like towering mountains, and possessed the air of an unrivaled, domineering ruler. His face, surrounded by a beard, was actually strikingly handsome. His cheekbones were high, but his nose was full and prominent. His eyes were unusually long and narrow, with a sharp, intelligent gleam in them. "Alas, I am willing but unable. I have only ever been in charge of the family's shipping business. The only thing I can do is distribute some gold and silver to help the suffering people,"

Song Shi replied, feigning helplessness, his words perfectly watertight.

"Then what is your opinion on this matter, Brother Yuan?"

Fu Qian, having failed to glean any clues from Song Shidao, was undeterred and turned to Yuan Yueze.

"My thoughts are the same as yours, Second Brother,"

Yuan Yueze replied directly, echoing Song Shidao's words.

"Isn't it a pity that Young Master Yuan has such talent? A good man's ambition lies in all directions. If he doesn't make a name for himself and achieve great things, wouldn't he be letting down the body and abilities bestowed upon us by Heaven

and our parents? Wouldn't life then lack meaning and joy?" Yuwen Shiji, who had been silent all along, spoke up.

"People say all sorts of things, he rides a fine horse while I ride a donkey, looking back at the man pushing a cart, I'm neither the best nor the worst,"

Yuan Yueze glanced at Yuwen Shiji, unaffected by his words and passion, and without directly answering his question, instead recited a doggerel.

The poem was simple in contentment, but its meaning was clear to anyone who pondered it.

"Contentment brings happiness!"

Shan Meixian also chuckled.

Yuwen Shiji hadn't expected Yuan Yueze to remain unmoved even after being provoked by his woman. He was at a loss for words, only nodding awkwardly and lowering his head to drink and eat.

"Then what in this world could possibly move and captivate Young Master Yuan?"

Fu Qian, unwilling to give up, continued to ask.

"What is your opinion on this, Brother Shimin?"

Yuan Yueze didn't answer Fu Qian, but instead asked Li Shimin.

The guests in the hall, hearing Yuan Yueze's words, deduced that he seemed completely uninterested in fame and fortune. But Li Shimin was no easy man to deal with. He dared not believe Yuan Yueze's words, because an empty statement meant nothing; who knew if he would say one thing today and do another tomorrow! His mind raced, focusing on what questions he could use to force out the Song clan's attitude towards the struggle for supremacy.

Yuan Yueze suddenly threw the question at him, and Li Shimin, after a moment of surprise, burst into laughter: "Shimin believes that the most exciting and intoxicating thing in the world is 'what one has not yet obtained'!"

"I think what the Prince of Qin said is quite right. The saying 'a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a stolen one, and a stolen one is not as good as what one cannot have' is exactly the same principle. What one cannot obtain is always the best,"

Song Jingang chimed in.

His language was crude, but quite amusing, and most of the men in the room smiled knowingly. Several women blushed slightly.

"And what is your answer, Second Brother?"

Yuan Yueze did not comment on Li Shimin's answer, but instead asked Song Shidao.

Song Shidao frowned slightly before smiling and saying, "My opinion differs from Brother Shimin's. What truly captivates and intoxicates in this world is 'what has been lost.'" "I agree with Shidao's statement," Xie Wenlong nodded, his face contorted with pain,

"People often fail to cherish what they have until it's gone, hence the saying, 'There's no medicine for regret.'" "But what is Young Master Yuan's answer?" Xiao Huan, her alluring gaze intrigued, asked. "Many years ago, there was a Yuanyin Temple, where many people came to burn incense and worship Buddha daily, making it a very popular place of worship. On the beam in front of the temple, a spider spun a web. Because it was constantly exposed to the incense and devout worship, the spider developed a Buddha-like nature. After more than a thousand years of cultivation, its Buddha-like nature had increased considerably," Yuan Yueze explained. At first, everyone was taken aback, but then they understood. He was trying to tell a story, so the hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on Yuan Yueze as he continued. "One day, Buddha visited Yuanyin Temple and was delighted to see its thriving incense offerings. As he was leaving, he glanced up and saw a spider on the beam. Buddha stopped and asked the spider, 'It seems we are destined to meet. I have a question for you, to see what insights you have gained after more than a thousand years of cultivation. What do you say?' The spider was overjoyed to meet Buddha and readily agreed. Buddha asked, 'What is the most precious thing in the world?' The spider thought for a moment and replied, 'The most precious things in the world are 'what cannot be obtained' and 'what has been lost.' Buddha nodded, said nothing, and turned to leave. Another thousand years passed, and the spider continued its cultivation on the beam of Yuanyin Temple, its Buddhist nature greatly enhanced. One day, Buddha came to the temple again and asked the spider, 'Are you well?'" "Do you have a deeper understanding of that question from a thousand years ago?" the Buddha asked. The spider replied, "I think the most precious things in the world are 'what you can't get' and 'what you've already lost.'" The Buddha said, "Think about it carefully again, I will come to find you again." Another thousand years passed. One day, a strong wind blew, carrying a drop of dew onto the spider's web. The spider looked at the dew, seeing its crystal-clear beauty, and was immediately filled with affection. The spider was happy every day looking at the dew; it felt these were the happiest days in three thousand years. Suddenly, another strong wind blew, carrying the dew away. The spider suddenly felt a loss, feeling lonely and sad. At this time, the Buddha came again and asked the spider, "In these thousand years, have you thought carefully about this question: what is the most precious thing in the world?" The spider thought of the dew and said to the Buddha, "The most precious things in the world are 'what you can't get' and 'what you've already lost.'" The Buddha said, "Very well, since you have such an understanding, I will let you go to the human world. " " And so, the spider was reborn into an official's family, becoming a wealthy young lady named Zhu'er. Before long, Zhu'er turned sixteen, a graceful and beautiful young woman, captivating and charming. One day, the newly appointed top scholar, Gan Lu, was to receive a celebratory banquet from the emperor in the back garden. Many beautiful young women attended, including Zhu'er and the emperor's youngest daughter, Princess Changfeng. The scholar performed poetry and songs, displaying his talents, and all the young women present were captivated by him. But Zhu'er..." Zhu'er wasn't nervous or jealous at all, because she knew this was a predestined marriage bestowed upon her by Buddha. A few days later, quite coincidentally, when Zhu'er accompanied her mother to offer incense and pray, Ganlu also happened to be there with his mother. After offering incense and praying, the two elders chatted. Zhu'er and Ganlu went to the corridor to talk. Zhu'er was very happy; she could finally be with the person she liked. However, Ganlu didn't show any affection for her. Zhu'er said to Ganlu, "Don't you remember what happened sixteen years ago on the spider web at Yuanyin Temple?" Ganlu was surprised and said, "Miss Zhu'er, you are very beautiful and charming, but your imagination is a bit too rich." With that, he left with his mother. Zhu'er returned home, thinking: Since Buddha arranged this marriage, why didn't he let her remember that incident? Why doesn't Ganlu have any feelings for me?

A few days later, the emperor issued a decree, ordering the newly appointed top scholar Gan Lu to marry Princess Changfeng, and Zhu'er to marry Prince Zhicao. This news struck Zhu'er like a bolt from the blue; she couldn't believe that Buddha would treat her this way. For days, she neither ate nor drank, racking her brains in despair, her soul nearly leaving her body, her life hanging by a thread. Prince Zhicao, upon learning of this, rushed to her side, collapsing beside her bed. He said to the dying Zhu'er, "That day, among all the girls in the back garden, I fell in love with you at first sight. I begged my father, and he finally agreed. If you die, then I will not live either."

With that, he picked up his sword, preparing to commit suicide.

Just then, Buddha arrived and spoke to the spider's soul, which was about to hatch: "Spider, have you ever considered who brought the dew to you? It was the wind that brought it, and in the end, it was the wind that took it away. Ganlu belongs to Princess Changfeng; he was merely an interlude in your life. As for Prince Zhicao, he was a small blade of grass in front of Yuanyin Temple. He watched you for three thousand years, loved you for three thousand years, but you never lowered your head to look at him. Spider, let me ask you again, what is the most precious thing in the world?"

After hearing these truths, the spider seemed to have suddenly understood everything. She said something to Buddha, who laughed heartily upon hearing it and departed. Spider's soul returned to its place. Opening its eyes, it saw Prince Zhicao about to commit suicide. It immediately knocked the sword away and embraced the prince tightly…”

Everyone listened quietly to the fable, understanding that the meaning lay in the spider's words. But what exactly were those words? Many fell into deep thought.

Shen Luoyan, however, fixed her beautiful eyes on Yuan Yueze the instant he finished speaking, her gaze sparkling. Her intelligence was evident; she clearly understood the spider's words.

Shan Meixian and Fu Junyu had already heard the fable. Seeing Shen Luoyan's expression, Shan Meixian nodded and smiled, admiring her wit. When Shen Luoyan's eyes met Shan Meixian's, gleaming with supreme wisdom, she immediately felt a little embarrassed and shy.

“I understand! What the spider said must be: The most precious thing in the world is neither ‘not yet obtained’ nor ‘already lost’, but only ‘seizing the present’!” "

Dugu Feng suddenly exclaimed.

"Just as Miss Dugu said!"

Yuan Yueze nodded approvingly at her.

Looking closer, he realized her beauty was comparable to Shen Luoyan's. The difference was that Shen Luoyan emphasized her heroic and spirited air, while Dugu Feng possessed a youthful vigor. Seeing her, Yuan Yueze naturally thought of Shan Wanjing, Fu Junqiang, and Shan Ruyin; it seemed that Dugu Feng's inherent free-spirited nature was easily detected no matter how she tried to conceal it.

Meeting her gaze, Yuan Yueze suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, but he couldn't quite grasp the key point of that thought. He continued to lower his head in deep thought.

"Feng'er, why aren't you sitting down? Such disrespect is unbecoming!" "

Seeing Dugu Feng acting like a wild girl, Dugu Ce immediately felt embarrassed and scolded her in a low voice.

Dugu Feng, caught off guard by Yuan Yueze's gaze, was momentarily lost in thought. Hearing her brother's displeased voice, she had no choice but to sit down sullenly .

"Please forgive my rudeness, everyone. My younger sister has always preferred martial arts to literature, so she often lacks manners. Please don't take offense."

Dugu Ce, mindful of the family's reputation, smiled humbly at Song Shidao.

"Miss Dugu is truly genuine and unpretentious. How can you blame her? Brother Dugu, there's no need to be so polite."

Song Shidao also comforted him.

The people in the hall continued to ponder, this parable more or less stirred up their deepest, truest selves.

"May I ask, Miss Dugu, why do I have a feeling that we've met before? This should be our first meeting." Yuan

Yueze pondered for a long time, still unable to figure it out, so he looked up and asked.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of many men in the hall became quite interesting: Was this a declaration of love? How cliché! They thought that having married a fairy-like wife, he would have far more sophisticated methods for seducing women! But it was nothing more than this!

Dugu Ce was even more embarrassed: He had come today firstly to see this sworn enemy in person, and secondly to investigate the strength of the Song clan. However, his younger sister was unruly at home, and no one dared to discipline her except the nanny. She had cried and insisted on coming, so he had no choice but to bring her along. But today, upon seeing Yuan Yueze, she lost her composure and cried out. She had completely disgraced the family.

Dugu Ce hated Yuan Yueze even more. This man truly seemed like a dragon among men. Even the narrow-minded Dugu Ce felt a pang of jealousy upon first seeing Yuan Yueze's handsome appearance and demeanor. He was simply too shrewd to hide it well. Now, Yuan Yueze not only appeared arrogant, but he dared to openly flirt with his sister in front of so many people, using vulgar and obscene language—the kind of low-class tactics used by street thugs.

Shan Meixian and Fu Junyu knew Yuan Yueze's character well, knowing he never lied, and simply looked at Dugu Feng with curiosity. Fu Junyu, who had been focused on eating and drinking since entering, now looked at Dugu Feng's beautiful face with a strange expression, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were pondering something.

"We...did meet, three months ago."

How could Dugu Feng know the sordid thoughts of those in the hall? She only dared to boldly meet Yuan Yueze's gaze and speak.

"Oh? Then why don't I have a deep impression of him? Could you elaborate, young lady?" "

Yuan Yueze still frowned as he asked.

"This..."

Dugu Feng didn't know how to answer, her face flushed red, and she began to stammer.

The guests in the hall had even more sordid thoughts: Could it be that the young lady of the Dugu family and this Yuan Yueze had some secret dealings? Judging from Yuan Yueze's appearance, was he going to deny everything after having his way with her? Did the Dugu clan and the Song clan also have connections?

Dugu Ce's face had already turned pale. He thought to himself: They've met? Why didn't Feng'er tell the people in the family? He's the Dugu clan's sworn enemy! Judging from Feng'er's expression, could they have secretly made a lifelong commitment? Could this Yuan guy be pretending to be crazy to renege on his debt?

As he thought about it, Dugu Ce's face began to turn cold.

Shan Meixian was perceptive and, after a little thought, could deduce the general thoughts of the people in the hall. To avoid deepening the misunderstanding, she spoke softly: "Miss Dugu, could you please explain in detail?"

Dugu Feng sighed, her gaze sweeping across the hall. Seeing the strange looks from the guests and her brother's eyes blazing with fury, she immediately understood. She began, "That day, I was traveling near Lujiang when I witnessed Young Master Yuan fighting hundreds of Sui soldiers… This sister arrived just in time to save my life. That's why I was so surprised to see you enter with her, Young Master, and couldn't help but cry out." Dugu

Feng pointed at Fu Junyu as she spoke.

After hearing this, everyone in the hall understood the details. So that's how they met; there was no secret scheming.

Yuan Yueze and Fu Junyu were also reminded of their past by her words. However, at the time, Yuan Yueze was consumed by anger, and Fu Junyu's mind was entirely on Yuan Yueze, so they hadn't paid much attention to Dugu Feng's appearance, leading to today's events.

"That day, I was so angry that I almost killed you, young lady. Please forgive me. I offer this cup of wine as an apology." Although Yuan

Yueze harbored grudges against certain individuals within the Dugu clan, he wasn't the type to generalize based on isolated incidents. Therefore, he sincerely apologized to Dugu Feng.

Dugu Feng, somewhat shy, raised her cup and drank it down in one gulp. A blush quickly spread across her beautiful face as she whispered, "I was rash back then, young master, you've

made me feel terrible." Seeing Dugu Feng display such an unprecedented shyness, Dugu Ce felt even more resentful. Suddenly, a scene flashed through his mind, and he was startled, thinking to himself, "My sister seems to have started acting strangely about two months ago, often spacing out. Could it be because of this Yuan Yueze…?"

Dugu Ce dared not think any further; the fierce look in his eyes began to turn vicious.

Seeing Dugu Feng's awkward demeanor, Fu Junyu and Shan Meixian gave Yuan Yueze a reproachful glare. Then, noticing the strange look in Dugu Ce's eyes, the two women immediately felt displeased, their pretty faces turning cold.

Song Shidao was still unclear about what had happened, only sensing the awkward atmosphere at the banquet. He quickly changed the subject, toasting each other to cover it up, thus easing the tense atmosphere.

For the next half hour, everyone continued their 'language games,' outwardly relaxed and harmonious, but in reality, it was a battle of wits and deceit.

Yuan Yueze found it increasingly amusing, thinking to himself, "What's wrong with these people? They speak such hypocritical words without batting an eye, all for the sake of power and influence! Sigh!"

Ultimately, thanks to the combined efforts of Song Shidao, Shan Meixian, and Fu Junyu, the various factions failed to obtain any substantial information, and the banquet came to an end.

Afterwards, everyone returned to the VIP villas arranged for them by the Song Clan to rest.

"You two have suffered. I'll slowly learn how to deal with them too, otherwise this constant battle of wits is exhausting,"

Yuan Yueze said with concern as he embraced the two women back at 'Tingtao Xiaozhu'.

"I'm not tired. It's only right for me to share my husband's burdens, but I think you should also experience real 'worldly' life. Have you forgotten the last four words your mother wrote in the note she left you?"

Shan Meixian chuckled.

Reminded by her, Yuan Yueze remembered the note left by the 'Empress Yin' and laughed heartily, "That's true. I can't let Yu Yan's good intentions go to waste."

Seeing Yuan Yueze's expression, the two women giggled and chatted with him as they walked.

"Xiao Ze, the three of you come to Mingyue Tower!"

Song Que's voice suddenly rang in their ears.

Upon arriving at Mingyue Tower, they found Lu Miaozi and his wife, the three Song brothers, Fu Cailin, and Song Shidao all present, their expressions solemn.

The three sat down, puzzled. ...

Night fell, and a nearly full moon slowly climbed into the brilliant starry sky.

Three hours passed, the lights in Mingyue Tower remained on, yet no sound could be heard from within.

Quietly, it blended into the surrounding tranquil night.

Chapter 031: The Sword's Escape and the Vanishing

June 14th, the sky was clear and blue, the clouds were light and the wind gentle.

For the people of the world, this was just an ordinary day. But for the Song clan of Lingnan, it was not. Inside

the main hall of the mountain city's nearly ten-acre courtyard, a bustling atmosphere filled the air.

The entire mountain city had been filled with a festive atmosphere for a month, but it was far less solemn and magnificent than the decorations in the main hall at this moment.

The hall could accommodate thousands of people for a banquet. In the '回'-shaped layout, rows of exquisitely decorated grand chairs lined both sides of the spacious aisle for the grand ceremony, where important guests from various factions beyond the Central Plains were seated. Other guests stood in layers at the back, watching the spectacle. The wedding ceremony hadn't officially begun; people were either discussing the soon-to-be-married couple or their own affairs in the world of romance. Whispers filled the air. At

the main seat in the center of the hall, five empty high chairs were arranged. One could only guess that two of them belonged to 'Heavenly Blade' and 'Master of the Sword,' while the identities of the other three remained a mystery.

Weddings, whether ancient or modern, have many fixed procedures, traditions passed down for millennia.

"Ahem!"

The wedding emcee, 'Silver Dragon' Song Lu, appeared discreetly, noticing the still-noisy atmosphere, and coughed lightly. Though his voice was low, it was amplified by internal martial arts techniques, so all the thousands present heard it clearly.

"The auspicious time is approaching, please invite the five elders to take their seats!"

Song Lu announced, surveying the now quiet crowd. His voice resonated throughout

the hall. All eyes turned to the passageway behind Song Lu.

"First, please invite the head of the Song clan, my elder brother Song Que, to take his seat."

At the passageway, Song Que's imposing figure gradually became clear. The legendary "Number One Handsome Man Under Heaven" of the previous generation had long lived in seclusion in the south. Although highly respected and revered by countless martial arts practitioners, very few had actually seen him.

"Next, please invite Master Fu Cailin, one of the 'Three Grandmasters' of Goryeo, the 'Master of Goryeo's Swordplay', to take his seat."

Song Que nodded to the crowd and took his seat. Before the crowd had fully recovered from the shock of Song Que's arrival, Song Lu spoke again.

Fu Cailin's figure also appeared at the passageway. He bowed to the crowd, smiled, and took his seat.

The 'Master of Goryeo' had traveled to the Central Plains many years ago, but had always kept a low profile. Today was the first day that the people of the Central Plains would see his true face.

"Please welcome 'The Greatest Master of Learning Under Heaven,' Lu Miaozi, and his wife, Shang Qingya, the current owner of 'Flying Horse Ranch,' to their seats."

Just as everyone was beginning to process the 'Master of Chess and Sword's' brilliance, Song Lu called out loudly.

"Whoa!"

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

Who was Lu Miaozi?

He was a figure even Ning Daoqi, the 'Number One Person in the Central Plains,' the head of the 'Three Great Masters' of the world, would respectfully address as 'Teacher Lu'! His seniority was even above Song Que and the others! Furthermore, rumors had circulated in the martial arts world that Lu Miaozi had passed away many years ago, yet today he arrived with his wife, who was actually the current owner of 'Flying Horse Ranch'! And what was most surprising was that their identities today were those of the head of the family—didn't that mean…? How could the guests, unaware of countless inside stories, not be stunned and astonished on the spot!

"And this last lady is the groom's sister, and the officiant for this joyous occasion, Ms. Xiao Bei.

Please take your seat." Seeing the crowd in the hall staring blankly at the four women seated at the head of the table, Song Lu continued.

Upon hearing this, almost everyone in the room wore a strange expression. Each of the parents seemed more famous than the last, so this last one should be the most famous, yet the officiant was completely unknown. However, when the three powerful clans—Li Shimin, Yuwen Shiji, and Dugu Ce—saw the woman, around thirty years old, emerge from the passageway after Song Lu's announcement, they all trembled.

Empress Xiao was Yuwen Shiji's mother-in-law! When did she become Yuan Yueze's sister? Wasn't she said to have died in the Jiangdu civil war? And why had her appearance changed so much?

The members of the three powerful clans all had close ties to the old Sui imperial family, and thus had all seen Empress Xiao in person. A hint of embarrassment finally appeared on Yuwen Shiji's usually calm face. Li Shimin and Dugu Ce had no time to consider these things. In their eyes, from the moment the Sui Dynasty collapsed, Empress Xiao's life or death was no longer important. Dugu Feng, standing to the side, was completely oblivious to all this. The martial arts enthusiast was admiringly observing the 'Heavenly Blade' and the 'Master of Chess and Sword' with sparkling eyes.

"The auspicious hour has arrived! Please welcome the newlyweds!"

The crowd saw that the five elders seated on the stage were all between twenty and thirty years old, exuding an elegant and ethereal air, seemingly untouched by the world's troubles. For a moment, many were captivated by their charm. Suddenly, Song Lu's voice rang out, and everyone's attention turned back to the entrance of the passageway.

For the past three years, the world had been buzzing with rumors that the person who had always been elusive was finally about to reveal his true form! Everyone involuntarily lowered their breath, and the hall instantly became deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

First to emerge was Yuan Yueze, clad in a red robe. Looking at him, the crowd saw a young man of about twenty years old, exuding an ethereal aura like a celestial being reborn. His skin, as white as jade, was translucent and virtually flawless. His exquisite features, perfectly complementing his indescribably beautiful face, made one feel as if they had entered a fairyland. Most captivating were his deep, clear, sky-blue eyes; looking into them felt like being in an endless starry sky, evoking a sense of inexplicable comfort and ease.

Truly: Eyes that shone like the sun and moon, brows that gathered the wind and clouds. Even the Spring Immortal could not compare, the Moon Goddess should be formless. One day he would sprout wings and soar like a phoenix among the Three Pure Ones.

Of the thousands in the hall, only a very few had actually seen Yuan Yueze before; therefore, most people, upon first meeting this legendary figure, were already captivated by his appearance and demeanor alone.

Behind Yuan Yueze, eleven women emerged in succession, each wearing a phoenix crown, a wedding robe, and a red veil: Shan Meixian, Fu Junzhuo, Fu Junyu, Yun Yuzhen, Wei Zhenzhen, Su Su, Shang Xiuxun, Song Yuzhi, Shan Wanjing, Shan Ruyin, and Fu Junqiang.

If Yuan Yueze's appearance had made one feel as if they had entered a fairyland, then the arrival of the eleven brides made everyone in the hall realize that this place was indeed a fairyland!

The charm of beautiful women is always far greater than that of handsome men! Especially since men made up nine-tenths of the guests, almost all eyes in the hall were focused on the women.

Because the brides' beautiful faces were covered by the thin veils, no one could see them clearly, even with their best eyesight. But just looking at their graceful figures, their exquisite curves, their captivating allure—curves that could only be born from the essence of heaven and earth—combined with a subtle ethereal charm, a noble elegance, youthful beauty, and mature allure, four seemingly impossible qualities coexisting, were vividly displayed before one's eyes. It was as if all the light in the spacious hall had been concentrated on the brides, and everything around them had become dim.

The hall was silent, save for the occasional soft gulp of swallowing.

Never before in history had a man married eleven women at one wedding. This alone was enough to make Yuan Yueze's family famous throughout the land!

Yuan Yueze's charisma and bearing were enough to make the female guests lose their composure. The male guests, on the other hand, had various feelings: admiration, envy, and jealousy. Although the faces of these eleven brides could only be vaguely seen, any man who could possess even one of them would be considered blessed by his ancestors, let alone eleven!

"Newlyweds, take your seats!"

Seeing that some people in the hall were only acting on instinct, and that things would get out of control and become embarrassing, Song Lu gathered his inner energy and shouted loudly.

Yuan Yueze and his eleven brides, who had attracted thousands of gazes in the hall, stood in a line before the five elders, like a beautiful sight, ready to pay their respects.

After bowing to heaven and earth and to their parents, the brides were led to the bridal chamber of 'Tingtao Xiaozhu'.

Many men in the hall, their minds still reeling, watched the eleven women disappear into the depths of the passage, their sanity gradually returning.

"Please take your seats, everyone. On this auspicious day, all the food and wine were prepared by the groom and bride, Wei Zhenzhen, themselves. Please enjoy them,"

Song Lu coughed lightly and announced loudly.

Everyone was astonished. This person, rumored to be so generous, actually cooked for those who came to offer their congratulations?

Yuan Yueze would cook for others? How could that be! He simply never ate food prepared by others! This was merely a lucky accident, an unintended consequence!

There were over 120 seats, and setting out the food and drinks took considerable time.

The main table could accommodate over 20 people, and everyone considered it an honor to sit at the same table as figures like Lu Miaozi, Song Que, and Fu Cailin, whom they could only hear about through rumors. However, they knew that among the thousands in the hall, only a handful were truly qualified.

"May you be blessed with a virtuous wife, like a fine jade planted in Lantian, your path leading to a paradise, a perfect union in this life. Congratulations, Second Brother, and thank you," said

Song Shidao, standing first at the head table, raising his glass to Yuan Yueze.

Everyone understood the congratulations, but only Yuan Yueze and a few others truly grasped the gratitude.

"How can this be enough? Bring us bigger bowls!"

Yuan Yueze declared boldly.

Those at the table were the same people who had sat with Yuan Yueze yesterday. Yesterday, Yuan Yueze had remained silent and aloof. Today, however, he was shouting and laughing like a child, his innocent and spontaneous behavior completely unpretentious. This left several outsiders scratching their heads, as these two encounters had only deepened their confusion. Just who was Yuan Yueze?

A moment later, large bowls were brought out, and Yuan Yueze and Song Shidao downed three large bowls in quick succession before taking their seats with high spirits. They

then toasted each other, but because three renowned and high-ranking figures were present, the representatives of various factions dared not be too unrestrained. Even Li Shimin and Dugu Ce were somewhat reserved and hesitant.

Song Shidao, who had been worried they might misbehave at the banquet, couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at their behavior.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly lively, spurred on by the fine wine and food.

"Everyone, please quiet down. I have something to say!"

Song Que stood up, gesturing with his hands, and spoke. His voice was soft, yet it seemed to whisper in everyone's ears.

The hall instantly fell silent, all eyes focused on Song Que in the head seat.

"Today is my daughter's joyous day, and I thank everyone for attending the wedding. The presence of masters like Master Lu and Brother Cailin, renowned throughout the land for over sixty years, has stirred my long-dormant desire for competition. After discussing with Brother Cailin, we have decided that tomorrow at the beginning of the day, at the Great Training Ground in the Mountain City, we will have a duel. Those of you interested are welcome to come and watch!"

A

clamor erupted within the ceremony hall.

Representatives from various factions and many martial artists were already quite satisfied to have witnessed 'Heavenly Blade' and 'Master Yi Sword' in person. Now, hearing the news of their duel tomorrow, in this era of martial arts fervor, no news was more impactful than Song Que's words!

Everyone even forgot about Yuan Yueze's wedding today. Witnessing a duel between grandmasters—what an honor! Those with higher comprehension would even have the opportunity to further improve their strength through their own understanding after watching the duel—a double benefit!

"Please be quiet, everyone! I have something else to say."

Seeing that the emotions of the people in the hall seemed to have spiraled out of control, Song Que spoke again. He secretly glanced quickly to his left.

"I have held the position of head of the Song clan for decades. Today, with my daughter's happy marriage, I have no further desire for the position."

Song Que said as the crowd quieted down.

This meant that Song Que was going to pass on the leadership! As for who it would be, that would have to be decided by him personally.

"Although Xiao Ze is the son-in-law of the Song clan, he and his wives prefer quiet. Therefore, although I have the intention to pass the leadership to him, he has no intention of accepting it. He also has no interest in managing family affairs."

Song Que added.

Song Shidao, as Song Que's only son, was the best successor, a fact well understood by everyone present. However, the appearance of Yuan Yueze directly overshadowed Song Shidao. Therefore, when everyone heard that Song Que was going to pass on the leadership, they had already vaguely guessed that the head of the Song clan was very likely to be Yuan Yueze. However, Song Que's words just now clearly indicated that Yuan Yueze had no interest in the position of clan leader, and seemed even less interested in the affairs of the Song Clan. As a result, the Song Clan lost a powerful ally!

Many powerful figures who had already deduced this outcome were secretly delighted. If it wasn't Yuan Yueze who became the clan leader, then it would definitely be Song Shidao. Song Shidao had been wandering the martial world for nearly ten years, and many in the martial world knew his character and personality. Therefore, once the Song Clan was under his control, it was very likely that they would live a peaceful and unassuming life.

"My son, Shidao, should have inherited the position of clan leader, but alas, he has no such desire. After discussing with the clan members, I have decided to pass the position to my younger cousin, Song Zhi,"

Song Que continued.

Many in the hall were already in a state of confusion upon hearing this: Song Zhi was indeed more suitable for the position of clan leader than Song Shidao, in terms of personality, style, methods, and experience. Many were already calculating how to manage their own faction's relationship with the Song clan in the future.

After finishing speaking, Song Que sat down and continued to drink heartily. The others' minds were no longer entirely on the banquet.

Afterwards, Yuan Yueze, following etiquette, went to over a hundred tables, offering six large bowls of wine to each. He drank until he was completely drunk!

The guests in the hall also had the opportunity to get close to Yuan Yueze, the legendary figure. However, his drinking capacity was truly terrifying. After an hour, Yuan Yueze, having gone to every table, roughly estimated that he had drunk at least eight hundred bowls!

Was this even possible for a human? Even a large wine vat couldn't hold that much!

Everyone was alarmed to see that Yuan Yueze's face was only slightly flushed, and he hadn't even gone out to relieve himself!

Yuan Yueze chuckled inwardly: Master, could you imagine me using the "Concentration Technique" to sober up?

As he passed the last table, Yuan Yueze's heart suddenly raced. He turned to look and met the gaze of a man in his thirties, with an ugly appearance. The man was dressed like an ordinary martial artist. He shyly raised his cup to Yuan Yueze, then drank it down in one gulp, his eyes filled with admiration.

Although Yuan Yueze's expression didn't change, an uncontrollable impulse welled up within him. A murderous intent, a desire to tear the man nearby to pieces, surged rapidly within his blood.

Realizing something was wrong, Yuan Yueze hurriedly suppressed this murderous intent, smiled humbly at the man who was trembling slightly under his influence, and turned to walk towards the head table.

At the head table, toasts were exchanged, the drinking merrily in full swing. The Dugu Clan and the Wagang Army, these two forces, seemed like longtime friends of Yuan Yueze, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts. Yuan Yueze couldn't help but chuckle inwardly: in the realm of politics, everything was too fake.

"Young Master Yuan, this humble woman wishes you a happy marriage,"

Dugu Feng raised her cup across Song Shidao, but a complex and unfathomable look flashed in her eyes.

Yuan Yueze smiled happily, thanked her, and downed a large bowl of wine in one gulp.

"If Young Master's drinking capacity is second to none in the world, then no one dares to claim first!"

Shen Luoyan raised her cup beside him.

Yuan Yueze looked up at her, saying nothing, only his lips moved slightly.

Shen Luoyan's jade-like hand holding the cup trembled almost imperceptibly, then she showed a grateful expression, nodded gently, and lowered her head to drink.

Those with exceptional cultivation, such as Lu Miaozi, naturally heard Yuan Yueze's telepathic message, but the others were busy drinking and had neither the time nor the ability to hear it.

The banquet lasted for over two hours, and many were already quite drunk. The Song clan, based in the south, had countless guest rooms, allowing all guests to return to their rooms to rest. Song Que and Fu Cailin, both known for their exceptional drinking capacity, returned to their rooms to cultivate after the banquet due to their upcoming martial arts competition the next day. Lu Miaozi, on the other hand, acted like a playboy, spending time with Shang Qingya, indulging in romance.

As dusk approached, Yuan Yueze returned alone to 'Tingtao Xiaozhu' and could hear the sounds of women laughing and chatting coming from inside.

"Ladies, I'm back!"

Yuan Yueze shouted as he opened the door.

The women's elaborate wedding gowns and ceremonial robes had long been discarded, replaced by their usual simple attire. Judging from their expressions, they didn't seem particularly interested in the wedding. Today was even less comfortable for them than usual.

Upon seeing Yuan Yueze enter, the women in the room stopped their playful banter and sat upright at the table, gazing at him with tender eyes.

From Shan Meixian to Fu Junqiang, they were all showered with passionate kisses.

"Ah! I don't know what good deeds I did in my past life to marry eleven such beautiful women!" Yuan Yueze exclaimed,

finally embracing Fu Junqiang and gesturing for the other women to sit down.

"Not at all, it's us ordinary women who are lucky to have such a husband!"

Shan Meixian laughed.

"But, in this world, a man and a woman are the perfect match. Like when I just kissed you, if it were a man and a woman, how perfect that would be! But I feel like I'm rushing from one occasion to another, unable to even give you the most complete man. I feel guilty!"

Yuan Yueze said, his brows slightly furrowed.

“My husband’s thinking like this shows how much you value us. It’s strange, really. With so many sisters in the family, I feel like you belong entirely to me,”

Yun Yuzhen said with a coquettish smile.

“Yes! That’s what I feel too!”

Shan Wanjing exclaimed.

The other women nodded in agreement.

“Don’t try to comfort me. The truth is, I’ve got all eleven of you by myself!”

Yuan Yueze said with a wry smile.

“Really! My husband should understand, we never lie to you, and we have no reason to lie to you,”

Susu said with heartache, seeing Yuan Yueze’s expression.

“If it’s really as you say, then it must be because you love me too much. This only makes me feel more guilty and more sorry for you!”

Yuan Yueze said, as if he had reached a dead end.

“It’s not like that at all, my husband. I think it’s because you love us too much!”

Fu Junyu said.

“Junyu is right. My husband is no ordinary man. We sisters may be considered beautiful in the mortal world, but there is a difference between humans and gods. My husband never looks down on us sisters, and he doesn’t impose any restrictions on us. On the contrary, he cares for us and loves us in every way. I have personally seen many men. Those with some ability are mostly arrogant and haughty, looking down on others and treating women as playthings, without any respect whatsoever. Some even treat women as their own possessions! There are so many couples in the world, but how many families are truly happy for both parties?”

Shan Meixian added.

“Whether my husband is a god or not, we sisters don’t care. My husband gives us the warmth that only a family can have. It seems ordinary, but there is mutual respect and love between husband and wife, and the warmth is incredibly sweet. Women in other families are bound tightly by the ‘three obediences and four virtues,’ but in our family, my husband never restricts the sisters from doing anything. Look at Junqiang and the others, how happy they are. Such a life is something we could enjoy for thousands of years without getting tired of it!”

Song Yuzhi said.

“Yes! At first, people might doubt that if they had a lifespan of millions of years, wouldn’t it be devoid of joy? Human life should be used to create infinite wonders within a limited time. But after personally experiencing this carefree and joyful life, their thoughts changed. It would be a real pity if such a captivating life couldn’t be enjoyed forever!”

Shang Xiuxun said thoughtfully.

“Actually, the most charming men in the world aren’t necessarily those who are persistent and clingy. Persistence might have a ‘water dripping wears away stone’ effect, but it’s definitely not as effective as a husband’s ability to influence someone with his heart, to convey love with his heart, and to express respect for others through practical actions!”

Fu Junzhuo seemed to have been pursued by many men in the past, so she spoke with an air of 'I’m an expert. ’

“It’s not entirely as Junzhuo says. How can I represent all the men in the world, and how can you few represent all the women? Our preferences are bound to be different. Let’s just mind our own business! As the saying goes, ‘Those destined to meet will find each other even from a thousand miles away, while those not destined will not meet even face to face,’ or ‘Ten years of cultivation brings us to share a boat ride, a hundred years of cultivation brings us to share a pillow.’ The word ‘fate’ is truly wondrous,”

Yuan Yueze interjected.

“In our family, there is only a wife, no concubines. Only mutual respect between husband and wife, no male superiority over female. Only freedom and unrestraint. Susu never dreamed that such a man would fall for me, and after meeting my husband, I dared not imagine that I could occupy even a small corner in his heart,”

Susu said with emotion.

“I’ve said so much because I’m afraid my husband will blame himself again. You’re good in every way, except that you’re too responsible. In everything in this world, you must grasp the ‘degree,’ for too much is as bad as too little!”

Shan Meixian smiled at Yuan Yueze.

“Yes, let everything take its natural course,”

Shang Xiuxun added.

"Perhaps humans are inherently contradictory. For example, in a story I once read, there was a man with many wives and concubines, yet he would occasionally feel lonely, believing that no one in the world understood him, and even questioning the meaning of love. I speak to you all this today because I feel this way; in truth, am I not also hypocritical? I speak to you with such righteous indignation, yet I still have other women in my heart. It mainly depends on whether this contradictory state of mind occurs frequently or occasionally!"

Yuan Yueze laughed.

"You must be thinking about your mother and junior sister again!"

Shan Meixian rolled her eyes at Yuan Yueze and laughed.

Yuan Yueze's wives knew all his secrets, so he had already told them about his fondness for the Yin Empress and her disciples before he came to this era.

"My feelings for Wanwan are no longer what they used to be, but I will never let Yuyan go! Even if I have to force myself, I will keep her!"

Yuan Yueze said firmly.

“If we sisters don’t understand you after how you treat us, my husband, then we would truly be unworthy of being wives. My husband just needs to cherish this opportunity,”

Wei Zhenzhen said.

“You rascal! You’ve been harassing Mother’s mind for two years, and she’s already in a terrible state. But Mother is different from us; she’s experienced more than twice as much as we have. My husband should know that hatred grows stronger every day, so it won’t be eliminated overnight. Now, my husband just needs to wait quietly,”

Shan Meixian chuckled again.

“Haha! I’ll be hypocritical for a while now. But looking at those guests outside, they’re hypocritical almost every day, it makes me want to vomit,”

Yuan Yueze sighed.

“Today is our big day, why did we suddenly start talking about such heavy topics! I don’t care how many wives my husband has in the future! Because I know that no matter how many sisters come in the future, my position in my husband’s heart will never change!”

Fu Junqiang said sweetly, leaning against Yuan Yueze’s chest.

“Junqiang is right. Besides, my husband is so powerful in bed, even all the sisters combined couldn’t beat him! Isn’t that right, Junqiang?”

Shan Ruyin winked mischievously at Fu Junqiang.

“I’m not the weakest, Xiuxun is the weakest! I remember the strongest she ever was, she only lasted three times before fainting!”

Fu Junqiang said without restraint, like a female hooligan.

“You little brat, how can you talk such nonsense? I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

Although everyone in the family knew about Shang Xiuxun’s ‘fighting power,’ hearing it out loud made her even more embarrassed, so she threatened Fu Junqiang fiercely.

“I know these things best. Mother is the strongest, then Yuzhen, then Junzhuo, Susu, Yuzhi…”

Shan Wanjing also joined in.

The girls in the room immediately started playfully fighting, embarrassed.

A moment later, the three girls, Shan Wanjing and her two mischievous friends, huddled together and continued their discussion: "Mother is the best! I remember she did it nine times in one go!"

"No, Sister Yuzhen is the best! I remember she did it ten times!"

"You two didn't secretly count them every time, did you?"

"Didn't you count them?"

"No way! But do you know whose moan is the prettiest?"

"Who?"

"Sister Zhenzhen! Her voice is as sweet as a kitten's!"... Their talk

got increasingly outrageous; such words would only be heard in the bedroom. The other girls, tired of their playful antics, could only helplessly watch the three 'unscrupulous' girls gossip and exchange experiences, like spectators at a play.

"Let the three of them continue their discussion; we should go to the bridal chamber!"

Yuan Yueze chuckled, picked up Shang Xiuxun, and said to the girls around him.

Although the girls were already used to Yuan Yueze's various absurdities, their faces still flushed with embarrassment, as alluring as the evening glow. They gracefully rose and followed Yuan Yueze towards the bedroom.

"Hey! They're gone, let's hurry and catch up!"

Fu Junqiang exclaimed.

"Let's count them carefully again tonight and see who's the best!"

Shan Wanjing shouted, looking like a scholar.

Entering the bridal chamber, which only had a large bed, Yuan Yueze put down Shang Xiuxun and sat with the eleven girls, joking around to amuse them. As they talked, they started playing around, and after a while, the bed was a mess.

The mischievous and lively Shan Wanjing, Shan Ruyin, and Fu Junqiang became more and more aggressive, starting to imitate Yuan Yueze's usual methods, teasing the delicate Wei Zhenzhen, making Wei Zhenzhen both laugh and cry, and she could only hide to the side. The three girls, now in a playful mood, started to reach out to Yun Yuzhen and the other girls, and the girls immediately rolled around laughing. After playing around, the girls just collapsed onto the bed, panting.

Yuan Yueze and Shan Meixian, who had been sitting quietly beside him, looked at each other and shook their heads with a smile.

Yuan Yueze stared at Shan Meixian, who smiled sweetly and looked at him with affection in her eyes, feeling a surge of emotion.

Today, as a bride, Shan Meixian was in high spirits. Seeing Yuan Yueze looking directly at her, she felt immense happiness and gave him a flirtatious glare. Yuan Yueze leaned over and quickly kissed her rosy lips.

The other women, influenced by the warm atmosphere between the two, stopped and their gazes fell on Shan Meixian. Her features were delicate and refined, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, deep and clear like a still pool. Her beautiful lips were slightly pursed, and dimples were faintly visible on her cheeks—she was incredibly alluring.

Yuan Yueze pulled her soft, boneless, and fiery body into his arms and called out to the other women, "Today is our wedding day, let's celebrate properly!" The other

women understood his meaning and nodded happily.

She was the first person to have a marital relationship with Yuan Yueze, and she knew best the feelings he had for her. It wasn't just lust; there were also elements of motherhood and sibling affection. So, without any hesitation in front of her sisters, she began to move her hands.

She knew Yuan Yueze's body intimately, and her skillful hands touched only his most sensitive areas.

A few breaths later, Yuan Yueze's desire surged, and he gently pushed Shan Meixian down, quickly stripping her naked, causing the world to lose its color.

The other ten women, though used to it, still instinctively moved closer, carefully admiring this peerless body that even the most exquisite spirit could not have produced, secretly marveling at it.

Shan Meixian's beauty was undeniable, but more importantly, she was immersed in the happiness of love. That unique feminine charm combined her inner and outer beauty, making her allure beyond the reach of words. "Transcendent" and "pure and noble" were insufficient to describe even a fraction of her allure!

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yuan Yueze used all his charm, employing both hands and mouth, kissing her breasts while caressing every inch of her delicate, white skin, indulging in provocation. Passionate kisses rained down, from Shan Meixian's neck, breasts, and lower abdomen, all the way to her private garden before stopping.

Shan Meixian readily opened her two long, shapely legs, as if sculpted from perfect white jade, exposing her lower body completely to the public.

Between her legs was that familiar patch of dark, tender grass, a soft, inverted triangle covering her secret garden, like a small hill covered in green grass. There, her body was overflowing with lustful fluids, glistening and sparkling, perfectly complementing her dark pubic hair.

Yuan Yueze's one hand continued to roam over her fair, tender body, finally pressing against her delicate, rounded breasts, kneading them vigorously; his other hand gently caressed her beautiful, tender, mysterious valley, enjoying the wonderfully elastic touch, the glossy black pubic hair smooth and delicate, as light as silk, making his blood boil.

Shan Meixian, with the demeanor of an elder sister, showed no shyness whatsoever, tearing off Yuan Yueze's thin clothes, her jade hand resting on his thick, long, black and red penis, slowly bringing her mouth close to his genitals, playfully pretending to bite it. While the other women stared in disbelief, she gently kissed the tip of the penis, then opened her mouth and took the purplish-red, shiny tip into her mouth, her tongue beginning to slide in the groove beneath the tip. She would occasionally suckle with her fragrant lips and gently bite with her jade-like teeth, then her movements became more vigorous, and she began to perform oral sex on Yuan Yueze, moving up and down. Her large eyes were watery, long eyelashes covered her eyelids, and the candlelight reflected on her beautiful, innocent face, radiating a holy light.

The women's breathing quickened.

As she skillfully tasted his penis, Yuan Yueze felt a heat enveloping his sensitive tip, and a tingling pleasure quickly spread throughout his body. His penis swelled up, hard as an iron rod, with bulging veins. He thrust his hips in response, making his penis thrust faster in and out of her mouth. Shan Meixian's face was flushed, her cheeks bulging as if the penis was being inserted into her throat.

Yuan Yueze parted her pubic hair, revealing a tantalizingly hidden crevice covered in wet, lustful fluid. The two bright red petals opened and closed, as alluring as her small mouth. His finger immediately moved, first patrolling the wet entrance, causing Shan Meixian to groan softly. Then he spread her labia, pinched the tender petals a few times, and then used his finger to pull back the clitoral foreskin, revealing a pink clitoris the size of a soybean, and began his assault on it.

While squeezing the clitoris, he inserted a finger deep into the pink flesh, his finger constantly rubbing against the protruding little fleshy balls inside her vaginal walls. The two pure flesh-colored labia minora, already moist, were half-open and panting.

Shan Meixian felt numb, sore, and itchy from the pinching and penetration, and waves of pleasure surged through her brain. Her snow-white, alabaster skin flushed with passion, radiating a captivating allure in the candlelight. Her whole body began to tremble, and clear, lustful fluid flowed more and more. Her mouth, which was holding Yuan Yueze's long spear, moved more and more violently, and seductive moans escaped her throat as her jade body twisted and swayed continuously.

Yuan Yueze withdrew his hand, lowered his head, and lightly licked her clitoris a few times with the tip of his tongue. Then, he parted her soft, fragrant petals, his tongue plunging into her tender, alluring vagina, stirring and sucking incessantly.

"Ah!"

Shan Meixian spat out the massive object, letting out a sweet, high-pitched moan in a daze. She was aroused to the core, waves of pleasure coursing through her body like electric currents. Her buttocks writhed and thrust upwards, swaying from side to side, her hands tightly gripping Yuan Yueze's head, letting out joyful, coquettish breaths: "So...comfortable, husband...come on..."

Yuan Yueze swallowed a mouthful of her fragrant juices, raised his head, and his tongue pulled a long, silvery thread from her thick pubic hair. This lewd scene excited the ten women watching. They couldn't help but start rubbing their mirrors, making five sets.

Shan Meixian was even more excited beyond words. While she was serious about her work, she was a pure slut when enjoying lovemaking. This kind of life made her completely forget herself and immerse herself in it.

Yuan Yueze finally lowered his head and sucked hard on the fleshy opening between her thighs. Shan Meixian let out a soft moan, a sound that was hard to tell if it was from discomfort or pleasure. Yuan Yueze puffed out his cheeks and pressed down on her, kissing her cherry lips and transferring half a mouthful of her nectar to her.

The salty taste made her furrow her delicate brows, but her heart was filled with sweetness, because Yuan Yueze had always described her secretions as sweet. She knew this was a misconception born of his love for her.

Yuan Yueze left half a mouthful, pointing to his own mouth with his finger, as if asking which of the women wanted to taste it. Shan Wanjing, whose nipple was being sucked by Fu Junqiang, happened to look over and quickly leaned over. Yuan Yueze transferred the remaining half of his nectar to her, their tongues entwining briefly.

The mother and daughter felt increasingly excited and aroused.

Yuan Yueze's large mouth traveled down from Shan Meixian's eyebrows and forehead, finally landing on one of her round, white, tender breasts. His teeth gently bit the tip, while his tongue lightly licked and then pressed against it. In the blink of an eye, Shan Meixian's incomparably beautiful breasts were covered with shallow teeth marks, and her two nipples, swollen and purplish-red, stood erect. She was already in a state of ecstasy, moaning sweetly as she writhed.

Yuan Yueze's massive member finally pressed against Shan Meixian's opening and closing pink petals, rubbing back and forth at the entrance, reluctant to enter. He began to tease Wei Zhenzhen and Yun Yuzhen on either side.

Shan Meixian could not endure the torment any longer. She immediately raised her trembling legs, tightly wrapping them around Yuan Yueze's waist, her wet, fleshy opening actively enveloping his erect member. The suction within the fleshy cave was immense; Yuan Yueze barely moved as his massive member was drawn into the warm, moist, and wonderful flower passage, thrusting straight into that delicate flower's heart.

After thrusting all the way in, Yuan Yueze remained still, enjoying the pleasure brought to him by Shan Meixian's beautiful, undulating body. The warm, soft flower passage tightly wrapped around his member, the tender, smooth jade-like skin rubbing against his skin, and the lubricated, white breasts pressing against his chest. He felt an unparalleled pleasure.

His nimble tongue simultaneously licked and teased the erect, alluring rosy nipples, gently biting and kissing them. Shan Meixian, in blissful pleasure, continuously let out soft moans and groans.

After a slight pause, Yuan Yueze began to thrust, his movements exceptionally gentle, pouring all his boundless love for Shan Meixian into them. Shan Meixian was both moved and happy, feeling wave after wave of pleasure. Soft moans escaped her lips, her waist swaying. With his teasing, her white, tender body pressed tightly against him, slowly rubbing and writhing.

Lost in an indescribable pleasure, Shan Meixian tightly embraced Yuan Yueze with her fair arms, her body writhing and undulating in response. With Yuan Yueze's movements, her soft, delicate body swayed and trembled involuntarily, welcoming the surge of ecstasy. Her

vaginal opening grew increasingly soft and moist, stimulating Yuan Yueze, whose thrusts grew increasingly fierce.

Shan Meixian was exceptionally resilient; the two battled for over half an hour. With a high-pitched cry, her whole body trembled violently, and the tender walls of her vagina began to squeeze and rub against Yuan Yueze's massive member. Her gushing, surging vaginal fluids, like a waterfall cascading down a cliff, sent waves of electric-like pleasure through Yuan Yueze's penis. He shuddered, ejaculating wave after wave of powerful semen into her alluring body, reaching her very core.

Shan Meixian breathed weakly, gave him a wink, then closed her beautiful eyes, savoring her climax.

Yuan Yueze pulled Fu Junzhuo, who was rubbing against Fu Junyu, closer. Fu Junzhuo, whose desire couldn't be quelled by the mirror, instinctively gasped, immediately realizing that Yuan Yueze had sealed her lips with his. She shyly closed her large, watery eyes, sticking out her delicate tongue to entwine with Yuan Yueze's.

Since consummating her marriage with Yuan Yueze, she felt like she was in a dream. Today was her wedding day, symbolizing another beginning in her life. A feeling of unprecedented happiness welled up within her, and she couldn't help but wrap her arms around her lover's back, lost in the intense caresses of Yuan Yueze.

Yuan Yueze tenderly embraced and kissed Fu Junzhuo, his hands "supporting" the women around him, constantly caressing their breasts, waists, buttocks, and vulvas. The other women, unable to enjoy themselves for the time being, only felt Yuan Yueze's hands roaming over their bodies, their skin trembling slightly, emitting waves of lewd moans.

Fu Junzhuo's breathing gradually became heavier, her jade cheeks flushed crimson. Yuan Yueze had already pressed her down, gazing deeply into her exquisitely beautiful body, sculpted like jade. His large mouth first kissed her high, delicate breasts, then moved to the grassy area between her buttocks, kissing the two soft, beautiful petals and the pink, moist opening.

The touch of his skillful tongue sent a strong electric current through her petals, Fu Junzhuo's whole body shuddered, her muscles twitching and trembling from the stimulation, a loud moan escaping her lips, her breathing heavier than ever before.

Yuan Yueze, as if kissing her small mouth, deftly parted the two delicate, rosy petals with his tongue, slowly probing inside, scraping the budding flesh, while forcefully sucking the sweet, fragrant nectar flowing from the opening.

Fu Junzhuo's whole body burned, her starry eyes half-closed, her moans growing louder, her delicate body twisting and turning, her jade hands groaning and grasping wildly in the air.

Her beautiful, exquisite body, her alluring moans and groans, ignited Yuan Yueze's lust, and his long spear rose again, thrusting straight into Fu Junzhuo's overflowing garden. "Sizzle!"

The spear was completely swallowed by her jade pot, her flower path instantly stretched to its limit, and Fu Junzhuo let out a satisfied sigh. Her delicate body was extremely stimulated by her lover's hands, as if a million ants were crawling inside her, and jade dew kept seeping from the depths of her flower path. In her throbbing desire, she uncontrollably twisted her body, thrusting her snowy buttocks, seeking more pleasure and stimulation.

Yuan Yueze began to thrust. With each deep thrust, Fu Junzhuo felt an indescribable pleasure deep within her body. Involuntarily, she swayed her slender waist with the movement of his massive member, her cherry lips occasionally uttering intoxicating moans.

Yuan Yueze's thrusts became faster and deeper. An indescribable, blissful sensation gradually spread throughout Fu Junzhuo's body. Her breasts, teased by Yuan Yueze, gave her a feeling of detachment, as if her soul were leaving her body, wandering in a celestial realm. Her

seductive moans grew louder.

Fu Junzhuo twisted her waist wildly, her movements like the undulating waves of the sea. The rapid, continuous sounds of their muscles colliding, mixed with her cries, echoed throughout the bedroom. The intense movements had caused her to overflow with vaginal fluid, soaking a large patch of the bedsheet beneath her.

Fu Junzhuo clung tightly to Yuan Yueze, her face flushed crimson, alluring and seductive.

After hundreds more thrusts, Fu Junzhuo could no longer withstand the intense pleasure. Her hips heaved rapidly, then she let out a scream, her whole body trembling violently, and her juices gushed forth. She then collapsed, a satisfied expression on her face. Her full, round breasts continued to heave rapidly, her smooth abdomen gleaming, and her shapely, long legs spread wide, revealing her disheveled garden and delicate petals.

Yuan Yueze placed her next to Shan Meixian, who was still savoring the afterglow of her orgasm, and rested his head on Shan Meixian's incredibly elastic legs. He used his inner energy to draw Fu Junyu, who was self-pleasuring after losing her partner, towards him.

Fu Junyu's desire was already burning, and she didn't hold back. She had no time for foreplay with him first. She squatted directly on Yuan Yueze's lap with her legs spread wide, straightening his rock-hard, nectar-covered member. Without a word, she thrust it into her already overflowing, tender flower path.

The member plunged deep into the end of her beautiful passage, the hard, hot tip touching her sensitive clitoris, as if penetrating Fu Junyu's very heart. A wave of pleasurable sensation surged through her brain, Fu Junyu's body went limp, her head arched back, and a series of uncontrollable, melodious moans and cries escaped her lips. Ignoring her sisters who seemed to be watching the spectacle, she writhed wildly, her body writhing wildly.

In this position, with each thrust, the member made intimate contact with her clitoris, and Fu Junyu's consciousness began to blur. Furthermore, Yuan Yueze's lower body was also thrusting in response, allowing Fu Junyu to achieve the deepest penetration with each lowering motion, the tip even piercing the clitoris at the end of her long, winding passage, reaching her uterus.

Fu Junyu's mind had soared to the heavens, a surge of pleasure washing over her, as if she were in paradise. The blissful, intoxicating sensation made her forget the time of day. She frantically moved up and down, twisting and turning, doing everything in her power to satisfy both her own and Yuan Yueze's desires. As her body convulsed wildly, her hands didn't forget to grasp and vigorously knead her high, firm breasts.

Fu Junyu suddenly let out a high-pitched cry. As the tip of his penis pierced her core once more, she felt an indescribable, exquisite sensation deep within her womb. Her head involuntarily arched back, her back arching to its maximum extent. Her body paused, her lower body pressing tightly against Yuan Yueze's lower abdomen. Her core massaged the tip of his penis intensely, her tight vagina spasming rapidly, spraying a large gush of fluid onto the tip, washing over the massive member.

Yuan Yueze knew she had reached her climax, and he cooperated by thrusting his hips forward, his penis pressing firmly against her core.

A few breaths later, the spasms in her flower path gradually slowed down. Yuan Yueze laid Fu Junyu down and then pulled Yun Yuzhen, who was lost in ecstasy as she caressed her breasts , towards him.

Wei Zhenzhen followed.

The two women hesitated for a moment, then Wei Zhenzhen smiled sweetly, lifted Yun Yuzhen's flushed waist, and spread her legs, presenting them to Yuan Yueze.

Yun Yuzhen's legs were almost spread wide into a straight line, her labia majora and minora wide open, clearly revealing her dripping, lustful opening. Yun Yuzhen was already used to this absurdity, and her heart became even more excited. Another stream of lustful fluid secreted from

her opening, dripping onto Yuan Yueze's chest. Yuan Yueze glanced at the smiling Wei Zhenzhen, who was kneeling there, her snow-white and rosy skin flawless, like a fine jade carving, exquisite and translucent. Small, angular red lips, a smooth, delicate neck, a flat, tender belly, rounded, long thighs, full, snowy buttocks, and that alluring triangle, mysterious as a secluded valley in the deep mountains. With a chuckle, he pressed his lips to Yun Yuzhen's honeypot while his fingers sneakily attacked Wei Zhenzhen's overflowing flesh from below. A

surge of intense pleasure washed over them, and both women groaned simultaneously, the tender flesh inside their openings contracting and writhing. Wei Zhenzhen's hand slipped, almost losing her grip on Yun Yuzhen.

Taking advantage of her last shred of clarity, she aimed Yun Yuzhen's wide-open opening at Yuan Yueze's firm, erect penis and lowered it. With a

"whoosh!"

sound, aided by the slippery wetness, the massive member plunged all the way in.

Yun Yuzhen, whose vaginal canal was naturally shorter, had never tried this woman-on-top position with Yuan Yueze before. She felt the burning, massive member suddenly forcefully open her tight passage, instantly penetrating her clitoris and reaching her uterus. Her face flushed, her hair flew wildly, and her whole body trembled, letting out a hysterical scream and moan.

Yuan Yueze continued to probe Wei Zhenzhen's overflowing

vaginal canal with one hand, while simultaneously lifting Yun Yuzhen's snowy buttocks slightly, allowing his member to grind against her clitoris while he also enjoyed the feeling of being tightly enveloped by her vaginal canal. Yun Yuzhen controlled the rhythm herself, gradually increasing the intensity. The long spear began to pierce her clitoris again, a wonderful sensation that the other women probably never experienced. Wei Zhenzhen spread her legs wide, enjoying Yuan Yueze's probing while kissing his lips, her delicate body rubbing against his and Yun Yuzhen's constantly writhing bodies. At the same time, her jade hands reached down to Yun Yuzhen's heaving breasts, squeezing them vigorously to increase her pleasure.

After more than a hundred thrusts, Yun Yuzhen suddenly trembled all over. Her head tilted back, and her delicate body moved up and down frantically, twisting and shaking wildly, like a small boat in a raging storm. After a series of soft cries, her movements stopped, her lower body tightly gripping the huge object. Her head shook even more violently, her already flushed skin turned even redder, and her whole body trembled and shook. Her vaginal canal contracted rapidly, and a large gush of vaginal fluid gushed out like a flood, drenching the tip of the penis that had already penetrated her uterus.

In that instant, Yun Yuzhen's consciousness entered a void. She involuntarily twisted her body wildly, tears streaming down her face. From her lips came sounds that were both sobs and cries of joy, murmuring incoherently. After the violent trembling subsided, her body went limp, and she leaned weakly against Yuan Yueze's chest, still choked with sobs.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Yueze, his body tingling from being drenched in her vaginal fluids, suddenly ejaculated, his powerful semen gushing out like rain, pounding heavily against her delicate uterine walls. Already nearly exhausted from this position for the first time, Yun Yuzhen, immersed in boundless pleasure, could not withstand such ecstasy. She let out a hoarse scream, her saliva dripping from the corners of her mouth. Her entire body convulsed again, whether from intense pleasure or pain, and her vagina contracted and sucked once more. First came a sudden release, then a powerful contraction surged from the depths of her flower core, reaching another peak of inspiration. The pleasure brought by the gushing was incredibly intense; Yun Yuzhen's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Yuan Yueze hurriedly channeled his true energy into her body, finding nothing amiss, and couldn't help but wipe away a cold sweat. In reality, she had only fainted due to a congenital condition and because it was her first time using this position; normally, Yun Yuzhen was quite resilient.

Shan Meixian and the other women took care of Yun Yuzhen, while Yuan Yueze abruptly stood up, pulling Wei Zhenzhen over and lifting her left leg above his head, hoisting it onto his shoulder. After years of martial arts training, Wei Zhenzhen's body was supple and boneless; she stood on the bed like the Arabic numeral "I," completely exposing her tender little garden to Yuan Yueze.

Yuan Yueze gently caressed her smooth, soft, plump buttocks, his fingertips nimbly tracing the cleft, lightly scratching and teasing, moving up and down. Wei Zhenzhen's itchy spots were thoroughly scratched, and her desire had long been ignited, so she could

n't help but moan softly. Seeing her flushed cheeks, hazy eyes, slightly parted lips, and rapid breathing, Yuan Yueze knew she was overcome with desire. Without further ado, he aimed his long spear at her tender little opening and thrust it in all at once.

Wei Zhenzhen's emptiness was filled, and she immediately let out a comfortable moan. Her toes curled together, her long, shapely legs stiffened, and her arms wrapped around his neck, tilting her head back in longing. Their lips met, their bodies intertwined.

Wei Zhenzhen's fair, full, mature body, after being explored, became even more sensitive, alluring, full, and rounded, subtly exuding an irresistible allure. Yuan Yueze began to caress her wantonly, wantonly defile her; Wei Zhenzhen, immersed in sensual stimulation, displayed a dazed and seductive state.

With this stimulating position, Yuan Yueze thrust in and out hundreds of times. His skillful techniques—grinding, ramming, and occasionally twisting—instantly brought Wei Zhenzhen to a state of blissful ecstasy, as if floating on clouds.

Overwhelmed by pleasure, she almost fainted from the sensation, no longer able to maintain the position. So Yuan Yueze laid her down, embracing her snowy buttocks, letting her wrap her legs around his waist, while he continued to walk around the bed, still standing. With each step, his massive member seemed to strike her very core, causing her unbearable tingling and itching. Wei Zhenzhen trembled uncontrollably, as if electrocuted. Full, sweet, and exhilarating, she moaned loudly, wanton and unrestrained.

Drops of her juices dripped with their movements, drawing gasps of admiration from the other women.

His hot, scalding member seared Wei Zhenzhen's core like a branding iron, the burning, full sensation causing her entire body to spasm. The spasms triggered a chain reaction; her flower path tightly sucked at the massive member; her clitoris also writhed and contracted, scraping against the tip of the member. Wei Zhenzhen, already "hanging" on Yuan Yueze, went mad, her round, full buttocks heaving, her large, white breasts swaying from side to side, exuding a seductive charm, as if in a frenzy,

her moans turning into hysterical screams. Wei Zhenzhen screamed, clinging tightly to Yuan Yueze, her whole body trembling. The waves of pleasure in her lower abdomen finally reached their peak, a torrent erupting like a volcanic eruption, forcefully surging out of her clitoris and shooting onto the tip of his member. The pleasure spread like lightning from a single point to every part of her body; she trembled repeatedly, gasped for breath, her consciousness gradually fading, leaving only pure pleasure…

Yuan Yueze gave Su Su and Song Yuzhi a look, and the two women immediately sent over the weakest, naked Shang Xiuxun, Shan Wanjing, Shan Ruyin, and Fu Junqiang.

Yuan Yueze chuckled, "Which of you is the strongest?"

The four women, all having experienced a near-orgasm, were momentarily speechless. Song Yuzhi, whose fighting prowess was always impressive, laughed, "They're about the same."

Fu Junqiang wrinkled her cute little nose and waved her pink fist, saying, "Anyway, I'm not the weakest."

She then glanced at Shang Xiuxun, who feigned anger, "What are you looking at?"

The women, still recovering from their orgasms, and the six men who hadn't yet been pleasured, burst into laughter.

Yuan Yueze then lay back on Shan Meixian's lap, comfortably stroking her soft, supple skin, lazily saying, "None of you four are a match for me. Who goes first?"

Shan Meixian, gently caressing Yuan Yueze's handsome face, chuckled softly.

Shang Xiuxun, sensing the other three women's sly stares, puffed out her high, alluring breasts and proudly declared, "I'll go first!"

Inwardly, however, she was screaming that she mustn't faint from pleasure again, or they would laugh at her again.

Yuan Yueze laughed heartily, reached out and lifted Shang Xiuxun onto his lap. After some caresses, Shang Xiuxun's pent-up desire from the mirror-grinding incident surged again. In a daze, she grabbed his massive member and sat on it. As it slid in to the hilt, Shang Xiuxun cried out, exhaling a heavy breath, seemingly enjoying herself immensely.

Overwhelmed by pleasure, she completely forgot about Fu Junqiang and the other two women, her snowy buttocks beginning to rise and fall rapidly. Yuan Yueze held her beautiful buttocks with both hands, repeatedly lifting them high and then slamming them down, his waist thrusting upwards repeatedly, nearly four or five hundred times in rapid succession. Shang Xiuxun trembled all over from this frenzied thrusting, screaming incessantly.

Because their intercourse was so rapid, Shang Xiuxun felt the initial pleasure of deep penetration hadn't even faded before another wave of ecstasy arrived. After a dozen more thrusts, she suddenly let out a high-pitched cry, her eyes snapping open, her teeth clenched, her whole body stiffening in shock. She twisted and thrashed wildly, her hands clawing at his back, her legs outstretched. At the same time, her vaginal canal contracted rapidly, and a gush of fluid spurted from deep within her.

Then, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed softly to the ground. Even after losing consciousness, she hadn't fully recovered from her orgasm; her alluring body continued to twitch.

The three women, Fu Junqiang and the others, their lust rekindled, no longer had the heart to tease her and stepped forward.

Yuan Yueze handed Shang Xiuxun over to Shan Meixian to care for, then grabbed Shan Wanjing, whose skin had turned bright red. He turned her over, making her kneel on the bed, and then, holding her soft waist, he used the overflowing fluid to part her delicate petals from behind, inserting his massive member into her warm, tender vaginal canal. Both hands simultaneously began their assault on Fu Junqiang and Shan Ruyin.

Shan Wanjing let out soft moans, her excitement palpable. These soul-stirring moans made Yuan Yueze's massive member even harder, even expanding further.

Shan Wanjing was immersed in this indescribable pleasure, sinking into a state of lewd depravity. She fully enjoyed the feeling of being unhindered and cherished, her heart yearning to remain forever immersed in this pleasure. The massive member reached her core, generating intense stimulation, an endless wave of pleasure crashing through her mind.

Her thighs clenched tightly due to the overwhelming pleasure, her waist moving back and forth in rhythm with the thrusting of the massive member. Her moans, initially soft, gradually grew louder and more seductive, becoming increasingly loud and alluring. She continuously swayed her full, snowy buttocks, moving them dramatically back and forth.

Just as she tried to express her boundless pleasure in words, she felt a huge wave of joy emanating from the depths of her flower, which had been subjected to such rapid, intense stimulation. Shan Wanjing used a nasal tone to convey the exquisite sensation, her fingers tightly gripping her long hair, her entire body tense to the extreme. Her slender waist arched backward repeatedly, her long

, shapely legs clenching in excitement. With a euphoric cry, Shan Wanjing's flower spurted out a stream of fluid, flowing continuously, as if trying to expel all the moisture from her body. Her beautiful eyes were glazed over, she gasped for breath, and collapsed weakly onto the bed, her cute little buttocks raised high, twitching rhythmically.

Yuan Yueze grabbed the delicate peaks of Fu Junqiang and Shan Ruyin with his large hands. These two wild girls decided to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who would enjoy themselves first.

Shan Ruyin won, and with a wicked grin, she came to Yuan Yueze, puffing out her trembling chest, and provocatively said, "Please, husband, draw the line!"

Yuan Yueze shook his head and chuckled. No longer the little girl she once was, Shan Ruyin's personality had changed considerably over the years, and her appearance was now perfect. At this moment, her eyes were like autumn water, and every glance and gesture was lively and charming. Her bright red lips were carefully outlined into a small curve. The smooth, glistening lines depicted a lively and beautiful contour. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, as if painted with a touch of rouge, adding to her alluring charm. Her jade-like skin was fair and smooth, shimmering with the luster of snow-white satin.

Yuan Yueze lay down again, and Shan Ruyin, without hesitation, squatted on his lap, lifted his massive member, and slowly sat down.

When it was about halfway in, Yuan Yueze suddenly thrust forward, plunging his entire member into Shan Ruyin's incredibly tight passage. He felt an indescribable pleasure and involuntarily pushed upwards again, reaching her very core. The

sudden insertion of such a massive member into her tight passage caused Shan Ruyin's body to tremble violently. She let out a soft moan, clearly caught off guard, her face contorted in pain, as if her body had been pierced.

Yuan Yueze used the momentum to pull her close, kissing her cherry lips. Once she had calmed down a bit, he changed her position to sitting, grasping her buttocks with both hands, and began to thrust his enormous member upwards, launching a fierce attack on Shan Ruyin's delicate passage.

Shan Ruyin recovered, her face flushed, her phoenix eyes half-closed, appearing exceptionally alluring. Her tongue also secretly darted over, swirling and teasing Yuan Yueze's mouth seductively. Attacked simultaneously from above and below, Shan Ruyin was lost in a daze, letting out continuous, ecstatic moans.

Yuan Yueze's ten fingers explored, crawled, swept, and scratched her most sensitive areas.

Shan Ruyin began to twist her waist, her two beautifully curved thighs arching alluringly, playfully resting on his shoulders, boldly parted. Influenced by her seductive posture, Yuan Yueze placed his hands on her slender waist, his lower body thrusting rapidly and powerfully, launching into a frenzied sprint.

Deep within Shan Ruyin's secret flower core, a strange suction gradually arose, as if every muscle in her body was contracting, tightly enveloping the massive member. The two were extremely comfortable, feeling intoxicated, experiencing continuous pleasure, their movements becoming increasingly exaggerated.

With Yuan Yueze's rapid and powerful thrusts, waves of pleasure surged, almost reaching their peak. Shan Ruyin couldn't help but cry out coquettishly. Her alluring eyes were slightly open, her red lips half-revealed, and her lower body began to contract and tighten. Seeing her like this, Yuan Yueze intensified his assault on her clitoris with his massive member. Stimulated by this, Shan Ruyin tensed up, as if a switch had been flipped, and her clitoris opened wide, releasing a torrent of fluid.

Yuan Yueze released her and pulled over the impatient Fu Junqiang, his hands busy tracing her fair, delicate body with his ten fingers.

Fu Junqiang's skin gradually turned from pink to bright red. Aroused by Yuan Yueze's combined oral and manual stimulation, the heat within Fu Junqiang gradually exploded. His hands, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, kneaded her tender, delicate breasts again and again; the indescribable, exquisite sensation further fueled Yuan Yueze's lust.

Fu Junqiang was the youngest of the eleven girls. Perhaps due to her upbringing, her figure was in no way inferior to Shan Wanjing's, and even surpassed Shan Wanjing in height and overall appearance.

Yuan Yueze's foreplay hadn't lasted long when Fu Junqiang couldn't contain herself any longer, twisting her body to reveal her moist, glistening vulva. Yuan Yueze lifted her fair right leg, thrusting his massive member forward until it reached the tight, wet entrance of her flower path.

He parted her delicate petals and entered her tender passage. He advanced two inches, then withdrew an inch, finally squeezing the entire length deep inside, reaching her very core. Fu Junqiang let out a satisfied sigh. As Yuan Yueze increased the force of his movements, her small mouth emitted seductive, pleasurable cries, experiencing the pleasure only found in sexual intercourse.

"Ah...ah...I'm going to...die!"

Yuan Yueze's hips thrust forcefully back and forth, his massive member rapidly moving in and out of Fu Junqiang's tender passage, the dense, rapid thrusts causing the tip to pound against her clitoris. Fu Junqiang moaned incessantly as he thrust into her, her body involuntarily responding to his thrusts.

Moments later, the waves of pleasure intensified, both nearing their climax, especially Fu Junqiang. How could she withstand Yuan Yueze's relentless onslaught? After a barrage of thrusts and pounding, she suddenly felt a spasm in her vagina, a surge of vaginal fluid gushing towards her cervix. Her vaginal walls contracted, gripping the tip tightly, and at the same time, her whole body convulsed, her buttocks arching upwards, engulfing the massive member entirely. She cried out, "Ah...I...I'm done!"

Ultimately, the four women failed to bring Yuan Yueze to climax even once.

Apart from Su Su and Song Yuzhi, who hadn't yet been intimate, the other women were either asleep or unconscious. Even the more robust women like Shan Meixian were recovering their strength, hoping to pass out from the joy on their wedding day.

Yuan Yueze pulled up Susu and Song Yuzhi, who were still polishing the mirror. He kissed Song Yuzhi, whose eyes were closed, and pressed his hands against the two women's already engorged nipples, pinching and kneading them with his thumb and forefinger.

Susu lowered herself down and licked Yuan Yueze's still-erect penis, cleaning off all the semen and vaginal fluid. While kneading Song Yuzhi's hard, bean-like nipples, Yuan Yueze reached out and grabbed Susu's two fragrant buttocks, kneading them continuously. The large penis rapidly swelled inside Susu's small, warm mouth and nimble tongue, filling her mouth completely.

Yuan Yueze made Susu kneel on the bed. Her even, snow-white skin was like solidified cream; any pose she took could make a man willing to die for her, let alone such an alluring one. She revealed her two alluring, sexy buttocks, and her already glistening garden. From behind, the part wet with her juices and her tender, red vulva were clearly visible. Yuan Yueze's blood surged, and with a "whoosh," his long spear smoothly entered the barely visible, slippery vulva between her round buttocks from behind. The honeypot was warm and tight, countless tender folds of flesh enveloping his massive member, making Yuan Yueze groan with pleasure.

Su Su also let out a soft moan of pleasure and began to move back and forth, taking the initiative, making it much easier for Yuan Yueze. He kissed Song Yuzhi's red lips deeply, kneeling beside her, his kisses descending from her long, slender, white neck. His wet, slippery tongue lightly licked her soft, white breasts, reaching her high, firm nipples. His teeth gently bit the soft, elastic peaks, his tongue gently taking the rosy nipples into his mouth. He inhaled her faint fragrance while his nimble tongue launched a fierce attack on her buds. His hands didn't stop either; one hand, covered in Su Su's slippery, lustful fluids, moved back and forth between her anus and perineum, stimulating her; the other hand ceaselessly caressed Song Yuzhi's alluring body, tracing her beautiful form with his palm.

The two women trembled and writhed under Xu Yu's demonic grasp, emitting seductive moans. They could both feel Yuan Yueze's infatuation with them. No woman wouldn't be proud of someone's obsession, especially with her beloved. The two women were overjoyed, reveling in the deepest pleasure that only a man and a woman could create.

Yuan Yueze's thighs and Su Su's smooth, round buttocks slapped together forcefully, producing a series of "slap slap" sounds. The two men responded to each other, their thrusts incredibly fast. Clear, lustful fluid dripped continuously from Su Su's opening, soaking almost half of the large bed sheet with the women's secretions. Su Su, kneeling, had a hazy, watery look in her almond-shaped eyes, her pink face flushed with a rosy hue, a mixture of shyness and wantonness. She cried out continuously, a sign that her climax was imminent: "Ah...ah...faster...faster..."

Song Yuzhi closed her beautiful eyes in ecstasy, her fragrant body trembling, moaning softly. Her slender hands held Yuan Yueze's head, which was resting on her chest. Her long, snow-white legs were spread wide apart, as Yuan Yueze's free hand had already inserted two fingers into her tight flower passage, moving in and out rapidly. Waves of pleasure washed over her, and Song Yuzhi collapsed, lying on her back on the bed in a "spread-eagle" position. One of her jade legs passed between Su Su's knee and arm, which was kneeling on the bed, and her tender flesh was directly facing Yuan Yueze. The fresh, pink, and beautiful flesh opening was constantly flowing with lustful fluid, which glistened like dewdrops on the exquisite petals.

The fire of desire burned fiercely, and beads of sweat began to appear on the bodies of all three.

These two women were far more powerful than Fu Junqiang and her four companions. They fought for almost half an hour. Su Su was trembling all over, her body tingling with pleasure. Her long, slender legs began to tremble violently, her arms were spread to her sides, and her head was pressed weakly against the sheets. She moaned incoherently, "So hot...so itchy...so comfortable...faster..."

She could no longer distinguish between pleasure and pain. The overflowing lust made the thrusting even more enjoyable. Yuan Yueze's lower abdomen slapped against her snow-white mons pubis, making a "slap slap" sound, which, together with the thrusting sounds, intertwined to create a soul-stirring melody.

At the same time, his two jade fingers rapidly thrust in and out of Song Yuzhi's flesh cave, bringing out a large amount of lustful fluid. His entire hand was covered in lustful fluid, glistening and extremely tempting. Song Yuzhi's legs swelled, her eyes stared straight at the ceiling, her small mouth made incoherent noises, and her round, snow-white calves began to twitch.

Suddenly, Su Su let out a high-pitched cry, her snowy buttocks arching and twisting as if using their last bit of strength to meet Yuan Yueze's final thrust. Her flower path and clitoris began to suck and release, drawing in and out the massive member: "It's coming...it's coming...ah!"

A sudden spasm erupted, and her vaginal fluids gushed out, all hitting the tip of his penis.

Yuan Yueze felt a tingling sensation in his lower back, a numbing sensation at the tip of his penis, and a wave of pleasure piercing his heart. He thrust rapidly, and in an instant, he collapsed onto her, gripping her shoulders tightly, his whole body trembling. His lower body pressed firmly against her round buttocks, and streams of his semen gushed out violently, hitting deep into Su Su's clitoris.

Su Su, already powerless, convulsed a few more times, unable to utter a sound, and collapsed limply, panting heavily. With

a "pop!" Yuan Yueze

pulled out his spear, revealing a mess on Su Su's little garden. Her vagina, temporarily unable to recover from the sudden withdrawal of his massive member, slowly released a thick, pale white liquid mixed with semen.

He then realized he had just climaxed and had forgotten his actions, much to the displeasure of the Song Clan's second young lady, who was also nearing her peak.

Gently coaxing the pouting Song Yuzhi, Yuan Yueze pressed down on her, his hips thrusting into her tight, virgin-like flower path.

The hot, enormous member pounded and ground against her sensitive, delicate core, causing Song Yuzhi to instantly lose herself, feeling only unparalleled pleasure. Her starry eyes glazed over, her legs tightly wrapped around Yuan Yueze's waist, her pink buttocks twisting wildly, fiercely responding. Her lips uttered moans of pleasure. Yuan

Yueze, having just ejaculated, showed no signs of fatigue, becoming even more vigorous, thrusting harder and harder, each time penetrating to the very end. Song Yuzhi's entire body was drenched in fragrant sweat, her soul seemingly floating in paradise. Her lips parted wide, and she gasped for breath, so comfortable that she couldn't distinguish between reality and illusion. She only knew to clench her vaginal muscles, her pink buttocks thrusting violently, welcoming Yuan Yueze's frenzied thrusts, letting waves of pleasurable sensations wash over her body.

Tidal waves of pleasure relentlessly assaulted her, filling every limb with that feeling. Her body trembled slightly, her breathing became rapid, and her moans grew louder.

After hundreds of thrusts in one breath, Yuan Yueze noticed Song Yuzhi's clitoris trembling, her body shaking violently, and her vaginal canal growing increasingly hot, as if it were melting the massive object within. He knew she was about to climax. So he thrust even more violently.

"Ah!"

Exquisite pleasure swept over her like waves, and Song Yuzhi clung tightly to his back, arching her slender waist desperately, letting out a scream as her body began to convulse.

Yuan Yueze felt a hot, sticky liquid being poured over the tip of his massive member, gushing out from her flower core with a sucking motion. Her vaginal canal then enveloped his member, contracting and relaxing like a child nursing, a sensation of exquisite pleasure.

Yuan Yueze released her and then pulled over Shan Meixian, who had almost fully recovered…

The next day, at the beginning of the day, at the Song Family Mountain City's grand drill ground.

The drill ground was teeming with people, a dense, dark mass, numbering over a thousand—more than double the number at yesterday's banquet. A constant buzz of whispers could be heard among them .

On the square stone platform, over a hundred feet long and wide, lay a vast, open space.

A row of high chairs surrounded the platform, where VIPs from all sides were already seated, occasionally whispering amongst themselves.

The two main figures still hadn't appeared.

Yuan Yueze and his wives were already seated on the north side. To prevent their beauty from being coveted, Shan Meixian had specifically instructed the women to cover their faces with heavy veils. But upon their first appearance, their bearing and charisma, their seemingly expressive eyes, still caused quite a stir.

At 1:15 AM.

"I wonder what kind of shock Father and Master Fu will bring us today?"

Song Shidao, sitting beside Yuan Yueze, asked.

"It's hard to say. Father-in-law's fighting spirit has permeated the entire mountain city, and Master Fu's aura is so strong that even I can't sense it; it seems to have already merged into the heavens and earth. Whether they'll just exchange blows is uncertain; once they clash, it could be a fight to the death. This is the true will of a martial artist!"

Yuan Yueze chuckled.

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone within several feet could hear it. The news spread, and all the spectators realized that today's battle was far from simple, and a fight to the death was very likely.

"They're here!"

Yuan Yueze suddenly shouted.

The sound didn't travel far, but a strange scene suddenly appeared; everyone around the training ground fell silent.

The once clear and sunny sky, without a single cloud, suddenly became shrouded in a thin mist of clouds. On the impenetrable training ground, a blue figure appeared out of nowhere, standing in the center of the stone platform.

The figure, though seemingly still, appeared to outsiders as if it were constantly shifting and disappearing.

This was a sensation imperceptible to anyone but those with a certain level of cultivation.

The moment the figure appeared, the thin mist of clouds abruptly changed, swirling into countless swords of varying sizes and shapes, a bizarre and unbelievable sight. The onlookers felt the overwhelming sword energy appear and disappear, its strength fluctuating, compelling them to submit. The

figure on the platform, his robes fluttering in the wind, held a simple yet elegant blue longsword behind his back, named 'Yi Jian' (The Chess Sword). This

was 'Master Yi Jian' Fu Cailin.

"Tap, tap, tap."

A series of strange footsteps sounded.

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/6277.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=6277&aspx=1

Previous Page : [Fantasy] Divine Capital (Book) - 19-21

Next Page : [Wuxia] The Carefree Journey of the Tang Dynasty (Book) - 10-12

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Wuxia] The Carefree Journey of the Tang Dynasty (Book) - 7-9

comment Open a new window to view comments