The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Xian Zhen took the bronze hammer handle and gently stroked it with his fingers.

He recalled his life, thirty years of fighting, campaigning in the north and south, and experiencing countless battles.

He never wronged anyone, whether they were his brothers on the battlefield or ordinary people.

He always felt guilty towards two people: Fu Ming'er and Wang Zeng.

Xian Zhen gazed into the distance, murmuring to himself, "I long to return to the homeland of Jin, to bury Wang Zeng's bones in the green hills. I also want to see Fu Ming'er one last time at her grave..." His voice was filled with melancholy and regret.

His thoughts drifted back to many years ago, to his first encounter with Gongzi Yu and Fu Ming'er.

That day, the sun shone brightly, and he and Gongzi Yu got lost in Lotus Pier. In Lotus Pier, lotus leaves were layered upon layered, and lotus flowers were delicate and beautiful.

As they anxiously searched for a way out, they suddenly heard a clear, melodious singing voice. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a woman in a pink dress picking lotus flowers; it was Fu Ming'er.

When Fu Ming'er saw them, a bright smile appeared on her face, and she took the initiative to show them the way out. From then on, the three of them often got together and played in Lotus Pier.

As time went by, Fu Ming'er's feelings for Xian Zhen gradually changed, and her heart unknowingly leaned towards Xian Zhen.

Gongzi Yu was unaware of Fu Ming'er's thoughts.

Later, Xianzhen's father, Xianchi, died in battle.

Xian Zhen inherited his father's skills, and overnight, his strength increased greatly, making him a supreme expert.

In the struggle for the throne of Jin, Xian Zhen stood firmly on the side of Gongzi Yu without hesitation, and with his own strength, helped Gongzi Yu defeat Gongzi Jian.

Even after Gongzi Yu ascended the throne, he could never forget Fu Ming'er.

Xian Zhen, due to his relationship with Fu Ming'er, was gradually distanced by Gongzi Yu.

When the national war broke out, Prince Yu ordered Xian Zhen to lead his army into Dushan, a path that was almost certainly a death trap.

The snowstorm in Yucheng was getting heavier and heavier, with snowflakes falling heavily.

Xian Zhen stood on his warhorse, snowflakes falling on his shoulders and melting instantly. Memories of his time with Fu Ming'er kept flashing through his mind.

They once rowed a boat together in Lotus Pier, with Fu Ming'er sitting at the bow, laughing and chatting; they once strolled together under the moon, with Fu Ming'er's hand gently linked with his arm.

They had fought side by side on the battlefield. Although Fu Ming'er didn't know martial arts, her face was full of trust for him.

Xian Zhen then thought of Gongzi Yu, the brother who had fought alongside him and the king he had wholeheartedly served.

Gongzi Yu's feelings for Fu Ming'er are complex and profound. Because of Fu Ming'er, Gongzi Yu harbors suspicions towards her.

But he never imagined that Gongzi Yu would be so heartless as to send him to Dushan, almost putting him to death.

In the snow and wind of this Jade City, Xian Zhen finally understood the meaning of the "Postscript to the Mountain Song" written by Gongzi Yu back then.

That poem is filled with Gongzi Yu's desire for power, his helplessness in the face of love, and his complex feelings towards him.

At the same time, he also learned of Fu Ming'er's ultimate fate. After learning that he had been sent to Dushan, Fu Ming'er was heartbroken and eventually died of depression.

Xian Zhen's heart felt as if it had been pierced by a sharp blade. His hand gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, and the famous sword, Du Jie, trembled in his hand.

The nine thousand demonic beast cavalry had arrived beneath Jade City. They stood in neat rows, silent in the wind and snow, like statues sculpted by the hand of nature.

The wind and snow continued to fall relentlessly, as if trying to bury everything in the world.

As a key figure in the Chamber of Commerce, Yu Youwei had always maintained a good relationship with Jiang Chuan. Upon hearing the news, she immediately decided to invite Jiang Chuan to enjoy the snow at Reed Lake outside the city.

Reed Lake is formed by the confluence of the Yan River. In autumn, the reeds bloom, creating a vast expanse of white, hence the name.

The pavilion in the center of the lake was built by Mu Suifeng in memory of his deceased wife. It carries a poignant story and has become a unique scenic spot in Heyang City.

Yu Youwei quickly sent someone to find Jiang Chuan, and soon received his consent.

Accompanying them were Jiang Chuan, Qing Lin, and Yu Youwei's maid, Qing'er.

The group left the city and headed towards Reed Lake. Along the way, snowflakes fell in a flurry.

Qinglin was lively by nature. Looking at the snow falling all around, she was full of curiosity. She would reach out to catch the snowflakes from time to time, muttering, "These snowflakes look so crystal clear, why are they so cold?"

Yu Youwei looked at him and said with a smile, "Qinglin, be a good boy, I'll bring you mango sago cake when we get back to the city."

Qinglin nodded hurriedly: "Really? Then I'll definitely listen to you."

The group chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at Reed Lake.

The lake was covered in snow, and the reeds in the distance looked like they were wearing white cloaks, swaying gently in the wind.

The group stepped onto the boardwalk leading to the pavilion in the middle of the lake. The boardwalk was slippery with snow, so everyone proceeded carefully.

Upon arriving at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, Qinglin and Qing'er couldn't wait to run outside and play in the snow. They ran and laughed, and even built a small snowman.

Yu Youwei and Jiang Chuan sat facing each other inside the pavilion.

The pavilion had prepared wine warming utensils, and Yu Youwei skillfully picked up the wine pot and poured wine. Soon, the aroma of the wine spread.

She poured Jiang Chuan a cup and said, "Brother Jiang, it's been a long time. Your sword intent seems even more solid now."

Jiang Chuan took the wine, took a sip, and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Yu."

Recently, I accompanied Tao Hongjing into the mountains to hone my swordsmanship. After much experience, my swordsmanship has improved somewhat.

Yu Youwei nodded: "Senior Tao is a master of swordsmanship. With his guidance, Brother Jiang's swordsmanship will surely improve even further."

As the two drank and chatted, after a few rounds of drinks, Yu Youwei suddenly suggested, "Brother Jiang, the snow scenery is so beautiful today, how about we have a swordsmanship contest on the snowy lake outside the pavilion in the middle of the lake, stopping short of a draw?"

Jiang Chuan excitedly replied, "That's exactly what I wanted. I've always wanted to experience Miss Yu's swordsmanship."

The two got up and left the pavilion.

Qinglin and Qing'er stopped playing and ran over to watch.

Yu Youwei stood on the snow lake, suppressing her cultivation to the Zhiwei realm. Then she reached out and grasped the hilt of her sword at her waist, drawing the Autumn Water Sword with a "whoosh." The sword exuded a chill.

Jiang Chuan was not to be outdone. He drew his Qing Shuang sword, its blade long and slender, gleaming with a faint blue light.

The two stood still, circulated their spiritual power, and unleashed their sword intent, causing the falling snowflakes to be swept back into the sky.

Yu Youwei rushed towards Jiang Chuan, her Autumn Water Sword swirling with snowflakes. This first strike, imbued with a fierce aura, slashed directly at the five-foot-thick ice beneath her feet.

The solid ice was easily cleaved by her sword energy, and a deep crack quickly spread out. A powerful sword aura rushed towards Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan knew the power of this sword energy and dared not rashly take it head-on. He lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the exquisite movement technique of stepping on the Great Dao, and moved quickly to skillfully avoid this fierce attack.

But Yu Youwei would not give up so easily. She immediately thrust out her second sword, which, with its immense power, attacked Jiang Chuan once again.

Jiang Chuan had nowhere to dodge and could only parry with his sword. He roared, circulated his inner energy, and his sword instantly emitted a blue light—his Azure Dragon Sword Technique.

The two sword energies collided in mid-air with a deafening roar, shattering the ice layer instantly and violently churning the lake water, sending sprays several meters high. Jiang Chuan was also shaken by the powerful impact, his internal energy becoming disordered and his blood surging, but he endured the discomfort, his gaze fixed on Yu Youwei, not daring to relax his vigilance in the slightest.

Yu Youwei's movements were extremely strange; she cleverly concealed herself amidst the blizzard.

Jiang Chuan only felt a blur before his eyes, and before he could react, Yu Youwei had already appeared behind him in an instant.

She raised her sword high and shouted, "Qi pervades all directions!" This sword strike, carrying a powerful momentum, pierced straight towards Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan sensed the danger behind him and quickly turned around, swinging his sword rapidly to barely block the attack. However, he was still forced back three steps by the powerful force.

Jiang Chuan was not to be outdone. He circulated his inner energy again and unleashed the "Rainbow Piercing the Sun" move from the "Righteous Qi Sword".

He soared into the sky, his sword flashing silver as it hurtled towards Yu Youwei.

Yu Youwei was also fearless, unleashing her "One Sword Startles the Wild Goose" technique to meet Jiang Chuan head-on.

The two figures crossed paths in mid-air in an instant, followed by another loud bang, with powerful sword energy spreading out and the surrounding air vibrating.

Yu Youwei seemed unsatisfied with this. She let out a delicate shout and used the "Swallow Double Flight" clone technique.

Her figure instantly split into two, launching attacks on Jiang Chuan from different directions.

Jiang Chuan remained calm in the face of this sudden change. He quickly adjusted his stance and unleashed the "Rolling Sword Style" from the "Great River Sword Intent." His sword spun rapidly, and two streams of sword energy, one blue and one white, surged forth from it, rushing towards Yu Youwei's clone.

Under the impact of this powerful sword energy, Yu Youwei's clone instantly dissipated.

As the competition reached its climax, Yu Youwei looked at Jiang Chuan with a serious expression and said, "Jiang Chuan, I'm going to get serious now."

As she spoke, the sword intent within her body began to materialize, and the sword energy continued to rise, eventually reaching the Sword Qi Realm.

She rose into the air on her sword, her entire body hovering in the air, the sword in her hand shining brightly as she unleashed the "Snow Demon" sword strike.

This sword strike was incredibly powerful; countless snow demons, formed from blizzards, charged towards Jiang Chuan, wielding giant swords.

Jiang Chuan knew the power of this sword strike and dared not be careless. He immediately circulated his inner energy and unleashed the Heavenly Profound Sword Formation.

With a change of hand seals, 128 flying swords instantly appeared around him, quickly forming a giant azure dragon that exuded a powerful aura.

Jiang Chuan shouted, "Go!"

The Azure Dragon charged toward the snow demon sword energy with boundless power.

The sword intent of both sides surged and surged, and the fish in the icy lake sensed this powerful force and fled in panic.

The ice on the lake surface shattered under the impact of this powerful force, and the lake water began to boil.

This fierce collision lasted for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, until finally, the forces of both sides gradually dissipated, and the snowstorm gradually subsided.

Jiang Chuan and Yu Youwei stood with their swords sheathed, their hands trembling uncontrollably, clearly indicating that the competition had taken a heavy toll on them.

Yu Youwei was the first to sheathe her sword, looked at Jiang Chuan, and said with a light laugh, "Jiang Chuan, your sword formation is indeed impressive."

Jiang Chuan said with a wry smile, "Miss Yu, I admit that I lost in terms of cultivation level."

I'm just curious; I've never heard of Miss Yu before. May I ask who her teacher is?

Yu Youwei did not answer immediately. She walked quietly to the stone table in the pavilion, picked up the wine pot on the table, and personally poured Jiang Chuan a cup of "Immortal's Intoxication".

Then she picked up her glass, took a small sip, and said, "You will know some things in the future."

Jiang Chuan looked at Yu Youwei, and although he had some doubts, he did not ask any further questions.

Yu Youwei put down her wine glass and suddenly said, "Do you still remember the line you wrote on my desk when we first met, 'Warm wine to await your return, pluck flowers to compose for my wife'? Did you ever pluck flowers for me and return home?"

Jiang Chuan said awkwardly, "Miss Yu, it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing..." But Yu Youwei interrupted him and said, "I've been waiting for you all along."

As she spoke, she looked out of the pavilion in the middle of the lake, where the reeds swayed gently in the wind and snow, adding a touch of poetry to the competition.

As Jiang Chuan watched Yu Youwei's retreating figure, a strange feeling suddenly welled up in his heart. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

In the dead of winter, the world is covered in a blanket of white.

Jiang Chuan and his entourage rode in a white deer-drawn carriage, slowly returning to Heyang City from the Lake Pavilion.

The once peaceful city of Heyang is now shrouded in a thick layer of panic.

The news that Xian Zhen was leading an army of 200,000 ghost soldiers northward caused a great stir.

The city’s population surged to over a million in a short period of time, with refugees pouring in from all directions.

The streets and alleys were filled with ragged and haggard refugees.

Amidst this turmoil, the city's powerful and influential figures began to scheme for themselves.

They hoarded grain, filling warehouses to the brim, completely disregarding the starving and freezing people outside the city.

The refugees struggled desperately in hunger and cold, and their anger grew wildly in their hearts.

Zhao Dun, with a kind heart, once set up soup kitchens in the city to distribute porridge. Those powerful and wealthy people were merely going through the motions and had no real intention of helping the refugees.

The number of soup kitchens was limited, and the soup was so thin you could see your reflection in it. Refugees often fought each other over a single bowl of soup.

The hypocritical behavior of the powerful and wealthy finally enraged the displaced people, and a riot broke out in the city.

Faced with this sudden riot, the city's defense authorities did not hesitate and immediately dispatched troops to suppress it. Within just three days, thousands of refugees were brutally murdered.

The city defense authorities also strung the corpses together with ropes and hung them on the city wall as a warning to other refugees.

They underestimated the refugees, who, having endured so much suffering, had long since disregarded life and death, plunging Heyang into unprecedented chaos.

Jiangchuan's white deer carriage struggled to travel along the snow-covered city roads.

All around, countless eyes were looking over—the hungry and angry gazes of the refugees.

The swordsman in the straw raincoat, who was driving the carriage, exuded a chilling murderous aura.

Those who sensed the murderous aura involuntarily retreated, not daring to make any rash moves.

The commotion in front of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion broke the tense tranquility.

Zuixianlou is a renowned gourmet restaurant in Heyang City, always bustling with guests.

However, the city was in chaos, and Zuixianlou was not spared either.

Every day, people who dine and dash come to cause trouble, constantly clashing with the thugs of Zuixianlou.

Today, the chaos in front of Zuixianlou Restaurant was not caused by diners trying to dine and dash.

A richly dressed young man, accompanied by a group of cronies, was causing a ruckus in front of the building. (End of Chapter)