Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 117: Under the Sorrow of Love: Xie Zhichuan's Despicable Schemes and the Turbulence in the Jianghu
"You dogs dare to invade the Black Wind Village again, how audacious you are!" The man's voice was like a bell, and his roar resounded throughout the deep cave, echoing continuously, as if rolling thunder exploded in everyone's ears, making people's eardrums hurt.

This man was none other than Geng Hanqiu, one of the Black Wind Village's guardians. Once a top-tier expert of the Blood Axe Sect, his mastery of axe techniques was renowned throughout the martial arts world. At this moment, his muscles tensed, his eyes blazing with rage, like an enraged beast.

He held the massive battle axe high in both hands. In the dim cave light, its cold gleam spoke of the countless blood stained in the past. Then, Geng Hanqiu unleashed his "Blood-Raging Thunder Axe" and, with his "Earth-Splitting Tide" move, he descended upon Shi Feiyang like a cannonball, carrying a tremendous force.

The airflow driven by the battle axe actually tore the surrounding air apart, making a sharp "sizzling" sound, as if the air was about to be ignited, and a pungent smell spread.

Shi Feiyang's gaze was as sharp as a torch, revealing a calm and composed expression, like the brightest star in the night sky. He remained steadfast in this perilous situation. Facing Geng Hanqiu's powerful blow, he dodged it with a flick of his body, moving to the side as lightly as a ghost.

Shi Feiyang's movements were agile and graceful, with every detail handled just right, allowing him to cleverly avoid the fatal blow.

Almost at the same time as he dodged, Shi Feiyang had already unsheathed the Burmese knife in his hand. The blade flashed with cold light, like a silver lightning cutting through the darkness.

He immediately unleashed his Hundred Victory Sword Technique, unleashing the "Sword Breaking the Stars" move. With overwhelming force, the Burmese sword slammed into Geng Hanqiu's battle axe. Instantly, the sound of metal clashing was deafening. A resounding clang, like the tolling of a bell, echoed relentlessly through the cave. The powerful impact caused the surrounding ground to tremble slightly, raising a cloud of dust. The entire cave trembled under the impact.

During the fierce battle, Shi Feiyang's keen insight was fully demonstrated.

While he flexibly responded to the attacks from Geng Hanqiu and other bandits, he also carefully observed the bandits' martial arts.

He discovered that the bandits' moves were incredibly unique. They not only incorporated the Blood Axe Sect's powerful, sweeping, and ferocious axe techniques, each strike accompanied by a whistling sound, as if cleaving everything in half; they also incorporated some bizarre moves he had never seen before, strange and varied, making them unpredictable. The bandits' attacks seemed disorganized, yet in reality, they were seamlessly coordinated, their movements synchronizing like precise gears, operating in perfect unison, like a tightly coordinated fighting machine, making it impossible to defend against them.

While Shi Feiyang was struggling to resist the enemy's attack, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, always looking for flaws in the enemy's defense.

Suddenly, Shi Feiyang shouted loudly, his voice like thunder, and the sound seemed to be able to penetrate the darkness and shock people's hearts.

He used the "Dragon Claw Exploring the Sea" move from his Divine Dragon Claw technique. His arms instantly exerted force, his muscles bulged high, and he emerged from the water like a dragon, with a whistling sound, and went straight for the throat of a bandit.

The bandit was still immersed in the cover of his companions' offensive and had no idea that Shi Feiyang's attack would be so swift.

Shi Feiyang's hand, like a sharp pair of pliers, instantly grasped the bandit's throat. With a crisp snap, like a branch breaking, the bandit's throat was crushed. The bandit's eyes widened in terror, the light in them dimming instantly, and he died instantly. His body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, hitting the ground heavily, raising a cloud of dust.

Shi Feiyang's movements were as fast as lightning, and he spun in an instant, unleashing his next move: "Dragon Spinning Strangulation." His arms spun at high speed, creating a small whirlwind in the surrounding air. Like a ruthless meat grinder, he charged at the other bandit with a chilling murderous aura.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the bandit hurriedly waved his sword to try to resist.

However, in front of Shi Feiyang's powerful dragon claw, the big knife was as fragile as paper.

With a "crack", the bandit's arm was directly crushed, and the sound of broken bones was chilling.

Then, Shi Feiyang twisted suddenly, and there was a "crack" sound, as if a huge rock was turning, twisting the bandit's head off. Blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing on the ground of the cave. The scene was extremely tragic, and the smell of blood quickly spread.

Other bandits attempted to attack Shi Feiyang from behind. They thought Shi Feiyang was concentrating on the fierce battle in front and had no time to pay attention to the rear.

However, Shi Feiyang had a keen sense, and his sixth sense sounded the alarm when danger approached.

Upon realizing this, Shi Feiyang quickly unleashed his "Dragon Tail Swing" move. His body spun with lightning speed, his arms swinging like a dragon's tail, unleashing an overwhelming force. Before the bandit could even get close, he was struck by this powerful force, snapping his body in two. His internal organs scattered across the ground, and the stench of blood grew stronger, filling the entire cave and making one nauseous.

However, the bandits continued to pour in from all directions like a tide, their shouts and footsteps intertwined, seeming to drown the entire cave. Shi Feiyang, Liu Tingting, and Gong Simeng were gradually surrounded by the bandits, and were unable to escape.

Gong Simeng used all her strength to display the martial arts of the Shenshui Palace, and a water-blue light flashed around her. The light was particularly dazzling in this dark and deep cave, forming a sharp contrast with the gloomy darkness around it, as if it was a ray of hope in the darkness.

She held the python whip and performed a move called "Water Curtain Sky Hua". A crystal clear water curtain instantly formed in front of her. The water curtain seemed to contain mysterious power, and the flowing water waves made a slight "gurgling" sound.

Gong Simeng tried to use this to stop the enemy's crazy offensive. Under the attack of the bandits, the water curtain began to ripple, and each ripple was her struggle in resisting the enemy.

But unfortunately, her skills were limited, and she gradually felt powerless under the crazy siege of so many fierce bandits.

Gong Simeng's breathing was rapid and heavy, and every breath was like a race with death. Her forehead was covered with sweat, which slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the floor of the cave.

Just when Shi Feiyang and others were engaged in a tough battle, Liu Tingting suddenly disappeared from everyone's sight without a trace.

Shi Feiyang was shocked and thought to himself, "Oh no!" An ominous premonition came to his mind, and he realized that the situation had become extremely bad.

At this moment, a deadly sword energy struck from behind like lightning, cutting through the air and making a sharp whistling sound.

Shi Feiyang instinctively turned around to resist, but because the incident happened suddenly, he was still a step too slow.

The sword energy was like a sharp dagger, instantly cutting his arm. Blood gushed out instantly. With a "hiss", Shi Feiyang took a breath and the pain made his body tremble slightly.

However, in an instant, the blood from Shi Feiyang's wound coagulated. It was the top-grade blood given by the Sunflower Saint in his body, which played a role in protecting his body.

Shi Feiyang turned around and saw Liu Tingting. Her eyes were as cold as ice, and she seemed like a completely different person. In her hand, she held a sword that emitted a faint glow. It was one of the artifacts Shi Feiyang had found in the cave earlier.

The faint light on the sword flickers in the darkness, showing its mystery and danger.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Tingting wielded the "Glowing Deadly Sword," unleashing the "Cold Star Breaking the Moon" move. Her swordplay was sharp, and the flickering blades shone like cold stars, yet carried a deadly threat. Each blade seemed to contain endless murderous intent, swiftly stabbing towards Shi Feiyang's vital spot.

The sword in Liu Tingting's hand at this time was a divine weapon, not an ordinary sword, and could not be blocked by ordinary people.

At this critical moment, Gong Simeng rushed out like lightning from nowhere. Her eyes were firm, and her expression was full of determination and fearlessness. She stood in front of Shi Feiyang without hesitation.

The sword tip pierced into Gong Simeng's chest with a "puff" sound, and the sound was like a heavy hammer hitting Shi Feiyang's heart.

The blood instantly dyed her clothes red, like a blooming red plum, looking particularly sad and beautiful in this dark cave.

Gong Simeng's body trembled slightly, and a look of pain appeared on her face, but her eyes were always looking at Shi Feiyang affectionately.

"Miss Gong!" Shi Feiyang's eyes nearly burst as he let out a heart-wrenching cry of grief. His voice echoed through the cave, filled with grief and anger. The cry seemed to shake the entire cave to pieces, venting the endless pain within him.

The dragon on the ring on Shi Feiyang's left middle finger suddenly popped out and instantly broke the sword in Liu Tingting's hand. Liu Tingting was so scared that she quickly flew away.

Liu Tingting never dreamed that Shi Feiyang also had a magical weapon! She ran while muttering to herself: Is Shi Feiyang also practicing immortality?

Gong Simeng slowly fell down, and Shi Feiyang hurriedly reached out to catch her. His movements were gentle but filled with endless anxiety, as if he was afraid of hurting her.

Blood oozed from the corner of Gong Simeng's mouth, and she said weakly, "Brother Shi... I... I can't let you get hurt..."

Shi Feiyang felt both angry and sad, as if his heart was pierced by thousands of arrows.

His hands trembled slightly, and as he looked at Gong Simeng's face which was gradually losing color, his heart was filled with self-blame and regret.

He gently put Gong Simeng down and quickly took out the precious "Tianshan Snow Lotus Water" from his bosom. As soon as the bottle was opened, a faint fragrance spread out. He carefully sprinkled the medicine on Gong Simeng's wound, and the medicine made a subtle "sizzling" sound when it touched the wound.

The blood that was originally flowing like a spring gradually stopped, and Shi Feiyang breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew that Gong Simeng's injuries were still serious.

He then took out the Shaolin "Shao Huan Dan," the Wudang "Huan Hu Dan," the Kunlun "Ju Yuan Dan," and the Emei "Hu Xin Dan." These elixirs were all miraculous healing elixirs from the major sects, each gleaming with a mysterious luster and imbued with endless vitality. He fed Gong Simeng one by one, his eyes filled with both anticipation and worry, hoping that these elixirs would work a miracle and save Gong Simeng's life.

After feeding the pill, Shi Feiyang looked at Gong Simeng's pale face, feeling anxious, like an ant on a hot pan.

He prayed silently in his heart, hoping that God would bless Gong Simeng to be safe and sound. He no longer hesitated, took a deep breath, and gathered his internal energy at the soles of his feet. The true energy in his body surged endlessly, making a "buzzing" sound.

He picked up Gong Simeng, and his figure flashed, rushing out of the deep cave like a black lightning.

After coming out of the cave, he found Zhuque and Baihu guarding the entrance. He looked solemn, his eyes full of worry, and entrusted Gong Simeng to them: "Please take good care of Miss Gong. If anything happens to her, I will only hold you accountable!" His voice was low and firm, with unquestionable majesty.

Zhuque and Baihu looked at each other with determination in their eyes. They nodded solemnly in agreement and made a life-and-death promise to Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang's eyes were determined. He turned around without hesitation and jumped into the bottomless cave again with resolute determination.

The darkness in the cave was as thick as ink, like a huge and greedy mouth, eager to swallow him up in an instant.

In this pitch-black space where one cannot see one's hand in front of one's face, Shi Feiyang is like a cautious cheetah, slowly groping forward.

He took every step very carefully, placing his feet lightly, for fear of disturbing the danger lurking in the dark.

Shi Feiyang stretched out his palm and slowly stroked it along the cold stone wall. The rough texture of the stone wall passed through his palm, bringing with it a trace of unknown fear. However, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, flashing with a resolute light in the darkness.

Shi Feiyang's heartbeat was particularly clear in this silent cave, "bang, bang, bang", the powerful beats seemed to be an exciting battle song for his adventure, and each beat injected him with strength to move forward.

After a long and arduous exploration, Shi Feiyang finally reached the deepest part of the cave.

In the faint light deep in the cave, a mysterious formation came into his sight.

This formation is like a mysterious work of art from ancient times, composed of countless precious jades and mysterious runes.

The jade sparkles with a colorful luster, just like the bright stars in the night sky, emitting charming light; runes flow slowly on it, as if they have life, they are intertwined together, as if telling an ancient and mysterious secret.

Powerful force continuously surged from the formation, like a surging undercurrent, surging endlessly through the depths of the cave. It was this power that sustained Black Wind Village for centuries, making it a formidable evil force in the martial arts world.

Shi Feiyang stared at the formation, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, his breathing steady and powerful, and then mobilized the internal energy in his body.

In an instant, the aura around him surged, and his clothes fluttered under the impact of the powerful internal force, making a "whoosh" sound, and naturally activated the Dragon Pagoda ring on the ring finger of his left hand.

In an instant, the dragon on the ring seemed to wake up from a long sleep and let out a deafening dragon roar, "Ao——" The dragon roar was like a thunder, echoing continuously in the cave, as if to break through the endless darkness and let the light come again.

The dragon emanated a dazzling golden light, which was like a sharp blade, cutting the darkness into pieces.

The golden light and the formation collided, and for a moment, the entire cave shook violently, emitting a loud "boom boom" sound. The runes of the formation began to tremble violently under the impact of the dragon's power, shattering one by one, each shattered rune emitting a crisp "crack" sound. As the runes shattered, the cave shook even more violently, and debris continuously fell from the cave ceiling, "crackling" and hitting the ground.

Shi Feiyang clenched his teeth, the muscles on his face twisted slightly due to the force, but his eyes remained firmly fixed on the formation.

He continued to increase his internal energy output, sweat dripping from his forehead and onto the ground, but he was completely unaware. Finally, with the dissipation of the last rune, the mysterious source of power in Black Wind Village was completely destroyed. The powerful force instantly vanished without a trace, leaving only silence.

The moment they lost the protection of the formation, the bandits in Black Wind Village fell into chaos.

Their eyes widened in horror, revealing deep fear, and they ran around like frightened rabbits.

Their shouts and footsteps mixed together in a chaotic mess.

Seeing this, Shi Feiyang immediately launched an attack. He unleashed his divine Dragon Claw technique, unleashing a succession of moves, including "Dragon Claw Probing the Sea," "Dragon Spinning and Strangling," and "Dragon Tail Swinging." With "Dragon Claw Probing the Sea," his arm shot out like a dragon breaking through the water, whirring with the sound of wind, striking the enemy's throat. With a whoosh, his arm sliced ​​through the air like a streak of black lightning. With "Dragon Spinning and Strangling," his arm spun at high speed, like a merciless meat grinder, emitting a humming sound, sending foes falling in its wake. With "Dragon Tail Swinging," his body spun with lightning speed, his arm swinging like a dragon's tail with overwhelming force, snapping the enemy's body in two. With a chilling "crack," the sound of bones breaking was terrifying. Simultaneously, he wielded his Burmese knife, employing unique techniques from the Baisheng sword technique, such as "Sword Breaking the Stars."

The Burmese knife in his hand was like a nimble silver snake, the blade flashing, and every swing brought up a whistling sound of the wind. "Swish, swish, swish", amidst the flashes of swords and shadows, the thieves fell to the ground one after another, blood splattered everywhere, instantly dyeing the ground of the cave red, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

After a fierce battle, Shi Feiyang finally completely wiped out the Black Wind Village, eliminating a major scourge for the martial arts world.

He stared at the mess before him, feeling a mixture of emotions.

Although he had achieved a complete victory in the battle with Black Wind Village, Shi Feiyang knew that the disputes in the martial arts world would never end.

He gently wiped the blood off his face, his movements gentle but somewhat tired, then he straightened his clothes and smoothed out the wrinkles. Every movement revealed his calmness and composure.

He looked up toward the cave entrance, his gaze firm and deep, gazing upon a world filled with challenges and unknowns, and upon the people he had sworn to protect. Shi Feiyang took a deep breath, a breath tinged with the blood and dust of the cave, and then took a firm step, ready to continue on his journey to protect peace in the world of Jianghu. No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, he would remain steadfast.

Then, Shi Feiyang held Gong Simeng firmly in one hand, his movements gentle, afraid of hurting her, and with the other hand he held the white tiger, which nestled docilely beside him. He flashed like a black lightning and jumped lightly onto Suzaku's back.

The Vermilion Bird let out a long, resonant cry, "Cry!" It then spread its enormous wings and, carrying a powerful gust of air, flew off towards Jinan Prefecture. In the afterglow of the setting sun, their figures gradually vanished into the horizon, leaving only a blurry afterimage.

After returning to the "Jinhui Inn" in Jinan Prefecture, Shi Feiyang devoted himself to taking care of Gong Simeng.

His eyes were filled with tenderness and care, like the warm spring sun. Every movement was made with care, fearing to hurt the injured Gong Simeng. He personally stood by the stove, brewing a medicinal decoction for Gong Simeng. The flames licked the bottom of the pot, and wisps of hot steam rose from the medicine pot, emitting a fragrant aroma.

Shi Feiyang stared at the medicine jar intently, stirring it from time to time.

When the medicine was ready, he gently picked it up and sat beside Gong Simeng's bed. He scooped up the medicine with a small spoon, blew it gently to cool it, and then slowly fed it to Gong Simeng. His movements were as gentle as a spring breeze. The white tiger also curled up quietly beside him. Its originally majestic eyes now had a bit of concern. From time to time, it rubbed its head against Gong Simeng's hand, protecting the couple in its own way.

However, the peaceful days didn't last long. One day, the sudden sound of hurried horse hooves outside the inn shattered the tranquility within. Lin Wanqing, galloping in from Liaodong, her hair dancing in the wind, a few strands plastered to her flushed cheeks. The fatigue of her long journey hadn't diminished her beauty in the slightest. With a hint of anxiety in her eyes, she entered the inn and found Shi Feiyang.

"Master, I've successfully established the Xiongying Society's Liaodong Yingzuiyan branch." Lin Wanqing's voice was clear and melodious, like a clear mountain spring. "The two gold bricks you and Liao Pei gave me have been exchanged for countless small coins and distributed to the brothers in the branch. Except for a very small number of brothers who stayed behind at the Yingzuiyan base, the others have disguised themselves as bartenders, waiters, woodcutters, or small vendors, running small taverns and inns. They closely monitor all news from the Liaodong underworld and will send pigeons to report any important information."

Lin Wanqing paused slightly, a barely perceptible hint of shyness flashing across her eyes, and then she continued, "Now, as the elder of the Xiongying Society and the head of the Jishitang, I request to accompany you south to Suzhou Prefecture and to Jiangnan to recruit disciples for the Xiongying Society."

In reality, Lin Wanqing harbored a deeper reason. Ever since parting with Shi Feiyang, she had been consumed by the agony of longing, tormenting him day and night. Countless nights, she lay in bed, gazing out the window at the bright moon, her mind filled with Shi Feiyang. She simply couldn't bear the longing. Even if she couldn't marry him, just being by his side, seeing him every day, was enough. She buried this longing deep within her heart, never expressing it.

After hearing this, Shi Feiyang sighed inwardly and agreed reluctantly.

How could he not know Lin Wanqing's feelings, but his heart had already been filled with Gong Simeng.

Lin Wanqing, a skilled doctor, immediately took Gong Simeng's pulse. Her fingers rested gently on Gong Simeng's wrist, her brow furrowed slightly as she carefully examined her condition. Then, she began to heal Gong Simeng, her technique skillful and gentle.

Gong Simeng was lying on the bed, watching Lin Wanqing busying around, but a wave of sadness welled up in her heart.

She sighed inwardly, "Hey! Liu Tingting just left, and Lin Wanqing is here to compete with me for a man. Why is my life so miserable?"

Gong Simeng was born a maid in Shenshui Palace and had a humble status in the palace since childhood. This made her feel inferior and uneasy when facing Lin Wanqing.

Lin Wanqing is the daughter of Lin Hui, the owner of Changsheng Fort in Liaodong. She is not only beautiful, but also exudes an innate elegance in her every move. She is also gentle and lovely, and always treats people just right.

She was an excellent doctor, and her professionalism and focus when she took her pulse and treated her injuries just now made Gong Simeng feel ashamed.

Lin Wanqing was a master swordsman and a well-known figure in the martial arts world. She was quite intelligent and had demonstrated extraordinary abilities in both establishing branch offices and handling martial arts affairs. Thinking of this, Gong Simeng felt a heavy weight on her heart, as if a huge stone had been placed on her.

During the days when Gong Simeng was recovering from her injuries, this worry grew wildly in her heart like weeds.

Whenever Shi Feiyang and Lin Wanqing talked, she would secretly observe their every move, her eyes full of vigilance and uneasiness.

She was afraid that Shi Feiyang would be attracted by Lin Wanqing's excellence and that she would lose Shi Feiyang.

Sometimes, she would even fall into groundless speculation and fantasy, imagining the scene of Shi Feiyang and Lin Wanqing together, and her heart would ache. She loved with repression and pain, but she couldn't help herself.

Shi Feiyang was caught between the two of them all day and felt extremely uncomfortable.

He could feel Gong Simeng's anxiety and pain, and understood Lin Wanqing's feelings, but he didn't know how to balance it all.

He tried to take care of Gong Simeng while also not letting Lin Wanqing feel left out, but this often backfired, making the atmosphere between the two even more strained. He often sat alone in the courtyard of the inn, staring at the night sky in a daze, his heart filled with helplessness and confusion, not knowing how this complicated emotional entanglement would end.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, burning the streets of Jinan, and dust rolled wildly in the heat wave.

That day, Lin Wanqing hurried along, beads of sweat dripping from her smooth forehead, trickling down her cheeks and soaking her collar. She clutched a cloth bag filled with herbs tightly in her hand, her only hope being to rush back to the Jinhui Inn to brew a potion for the injured Gong Simeng. She was concerned about Gong Simeng's injury, and even more so about Shi Feiyang, hoping that returning sooner might allow her to see him more often.

Just as I returned to the vicinity of the inn, a sudden noise was heard.

Lin Wanqing looked up and saw a group of people dressed in silk and satin surrounding a young man walking towards them.

This man was none other than Xie Zhichuan, the Young Master of Divine Sword Villa. He wore a moon-white brocade robe that fluttered gently in the breeze. The cuffs, embroidered with golden cloud patterns, shimmered like ethereal fireflies, gleaming with his every movement. The jade-encrusted belt around his waist clunked with a melodious, crisp sound with every step, as if betraying his extraordinary status.

The carved sword in his hand gleamed with a cold light, and the gemstone on the hilt emitted a chilling radiance, as if condensed with a thousand years of frost. Beneath Xie Zhichuan's high nose bridge, his thin lips curled slightly upward, carrying an innate arrogance and contempt, as if everything in the world was nothing more than an ant in his eyes.

At this moment, Xie Zhichuan's eyes casually swept through the crowd, and in an instant, as if attracted by a magnet, they fixed on Lin Wanqing.

His pupils suddenly dilated, and his whole body seemed to be under a spell of immobilization. He stood there in a daze, his eyes full of amazement and obsession. All the noise around him was instantly blocked out, and the only thing left in his mind was the elegant and otherworldly figure of Lin Wanqing.

Watching Lin Wanqing enter the Jinhui Inn, Xie Zhichuan, as if drawn by invisible threads, eagerly followed in with his servants and maids. As soon as he entered the inn, he slammed a heavy piece of silver in front of the innkeeper and eagerly inquired about Lin Wanqing's background, his eyes gleaming with greed, as if he were searching for a long-lost rare treasure.

Since then, Xie Zhichuan began to deliberately get close to Lin Wanqing.

He wandered around every corner of the inn all day, not missing any opportunity to meet Lin Wanqing.

He also ordered his men to search far and wide for rare treasures, from mysterious spices from the Western Regions, whose strange and enchanting aroma was said to make one forget their troubles, to the finest silk from Jiangnan, whose texture was as soft and delicate as mutton-fat jade, each piece priceless. His room was filled with precious gifts. He even personally selected a night-shining pearl found among the mermaids of the South China Sea. The pearl was round and translucent, emitting a soft blue light that shone brightly in the darkness. He planned to present it to Lin Wanqing at the right moment to win her favor.

That day, Xie Zhichuan, like a cunning fox, had been lurking at the second-floor stairwell early in the morning, his eyes fixed on the bottom, as if waiting for his prey to appear. The moment Lin Wanqing's figure came into view, Xie Zhichuan's eyes flashed with surprise, a light as fiery as a hungry wolf seeing its prey. His face quickly spread to an ingratiating smile, his mouth stretched almost to his ears, like a clownish clown.

He couldn't wait to step forward quickly, bowed slightly, and acted extremely flatteringly, almost begging for mercy: "I am Xie Zhichuan from the Divine Sword Villa. It is my great honor to see your fairy-like beauty today. This is a little gift from me, I hope you will accept it." After that, he waved his hand, and his movements were as exaggerated as an actor on the stage. The servant behind him immediately presented an exquisite gift box inlaid with various gems. In the sunlight, the gift box reflected a dazzling light, which hurt people's eyes and showed off the owner's wealth and hospitality.

Lin Wanqing frowned slightly, her willow-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes, deeply repulsed by this sudden courtesy. She politely yet distantly declined, "Thank you for your kindness, sir, but I never accept gifts." Her voice was crisp, like a mountain spring, yet held a coldness that seemed to distance her. She leaned slightly, her movements graceful yet decisive, trying to distance herself from Xie Zhichuan, sensing a certain repulsive aura about him.

Yet, Xie Zhichuan, like a dog-skin plaster, refused to give up. Instead, his enthusiasm intensified, even to the point of being annoying. Like a tireless follower, he followed Lin Wanqing around all day. He would recount the glorious history of Excalibur Villa, from its founding to its current renown within the martial arts world, his descriptions filled with vivid detail, as if the entire martial arts world was under the control of his Xie family. As he spoke, he would periodically glance at Lin Wanqing from the corner of his eye, his eyes filled with anticipation, eager to catch a glimmer of admiration from her pretty face, like a child eager to show off. Then, in the inn's courtyard, he would demonstrate his swordsmanship, his blade flashing and swift, drawing cheers from the crowd. As he danced with his sword, he would periodically glance at Lin Wanqing, his eyes filled with anticipation, eager to catch a glimmer of admiration from her pretty face. His swordsmanship seemed sharp, but in fact it was flashy and superficial. He just wanted to show off in front of Lin Wanqing.

Gong Simeng watched this scene from the side and was secretly delighted.

The corners of her mouth rose slightly, and a sly look flashed in her eyes, like a cat that had stolen some fish. She thought, if Lin Wanqing was entangled with Xie Zhichuan, she wouldn't have so much time to revolve around Shi Feiyang.

So, Gong Simeng smiled, but there was a hint of subtle calculation in that smile. She deliberately walked up to Xie Zhichuan and said, "Young Master Xie is so enthusiastic, Miss Lin might feel embarrassed. How about this, Young Master, tell us more interesting stories about Shenjian Villa, so that we can broaden our horizons." Xie Zhichuan thought Gong Simeng was helping him, and he immediately became interested. His eyes lit up, as if he saw the dawn in the darkness.

Xie Zhichuan immediately and enthusiastically invited Gong Simeng and Lin Wanqing to his side room for dinner, his hospitality acting as if he were the most generous host in the world. To escape Xie Zhichuan's entanglement, Lin Wanqing called out to Shi Feiyang, her voice filled with anxiety and a plea for help.

When Xie Zhichuan saw Shi Feiyang approaching, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes, as if Shi Feiyang was just an insignificant ant. The corner of his mouth curled slightly, his nose turned up, and his face was full of arrogance, and he didn't take Shi Feiyang seriously at all.

He sat at the table, talking incessantly about his glorious deeds at the Divine Sword Villa in Kaifeng Prefecture, and the prominent status of his father Xie Luojia as the current leader of the martial arts world. His words were full of pride and boasting, and he would glance at Lin Wanqing from time to time, trying to attract her attention.

His voice was sharp and piercing, and every word he said seemed to be a protest against Shi Feiyang.

Lin Wanqing sat helplessly aside, her eyes occasionally casting towards Shi Feiyang, her eyes full of help and helplessness, as if silently calling out: "Come and save me." Her eyes also carried a hint of grievance, blaming Shi Feiyang for not showing up earlier to save her.

Shi Feiyang was already burning with anger. When he saw Xie Zhichuan pestering Lin Wanqing, his brows were tightly twisted into the shape of the Chinese character "川". A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and that coldness seemed to be able to freeze the air around them in an instant.

He sat there quietly, outwardly calm and composed, like a calm iceberg, but inwardly he was rapidly calculating how to make this annoying guy give up. His hands unconsciously clenched, the knuckles turning slightly white from the force, revealing his inner anger.

In order to get Lin Wanqing, Xie Zhichuan began to secretly make things difficult for Shi Feiyang.

He bribed the inn's waiter Ji Ti Zao, and when no one was in the kitchen, Ji Ti Zao sneaked in early.

The kitchen was dark and damp, filled with a pungent smell of oil smoke.

Ji Ti Zao held a small porcelain bottle tightly in his hand, which contained a chronic poison that he had bought at a high price.

He carefully lifted the lid of Shi Feiyang's meal. The lid made a slight creaking sound, which was particularly harsh in the silent kitchen. He slowly poured the poison in, and it flowed into the meal like a thin black snake.

Then he gently stirred it with a spoon to ensure that the poison was evenly distributed without leaving any trace. After doing all this, he closed the lid with satisfaction, a smug and sinister sneer on his face, announcing that his conspiracy was about to succeed.

Unexpectedly, Shi Feiyang was protected by the Divine Dragon Pagoda and had the top-grade blood given to him by the Sunflower Saint flowing in his body. When his hands touched the food containing the highly poisonous food, the rice bowl and vegetable bowl automatically fell to the ground.

Seeing that Shi Feiyang was safe and sound, Xie Zhichuan had to come up with another vicious plan to harm Shi Feiyang.

(End of this chapter)