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

Chapter 63: Dark Shadows in the Night: The Shocking Conspiracy between Shenshui Palace and King Kong Village

That night, in the ruins of Changsheng Castle, Shi Feiyang walked into Lin Wanqing's tent to visit her while she was recuperating from her injuries.

Afterwards, he strolled under the moonlight with Gong Simeng who was guarding outside the tent.

The moonlight on a summer night is as clear as water, and the breeze blows gently, making the leaves rustle.

The silver moonlight penetrated the sparse clouds and sprinkled on the ruins, casting a mysterious veil over this desolate land.

In the distance, the cries of a few night birds broke the tranquility of the night and added a sense of remoteness.

Shi Feiyang and Gong Simeng walked side by side, their figures elongated in the moonlight, appearing exceptionally slender and resolute. Everything around them seemed immersed in the tranquil and peaceful night, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty ruins.

After walking for a while, Shi Feiyang asked softly, "Sister, what do you think about the upcoming cooperation with various forces?"

Gong Simeng pondered for a moment and replied, "Brother, I think we must be cautious in this cooperation. The forces in the underworld are complicated and we must carefully distinguish them to avoid falling into others' traps."

Shi Feiyang nodded in agreement. "You're right. But no matter what, for the sake of peace in the martial arts world, we must try. However, before that, we must first resolve the trouble with King Kong Village."

Mentioning the King Kong Village, Gong Simeng's eyes immediately became sharp: "Although the seven leaders of the King Kong Village have been defeated by you, all of their disciples are highly skilled in martial arts. Moreover, the King Kong Village still has seven elders, especially Lin Danyang, the Tiger Subduing Fist. He is known as the Invincible Iron Fist in the martial arts world and must not be underestimated." Shi Feiyang smiled slightly and said domineeringly: "Huh, Invincible Iron Fist? I want to see, is his iron fist harder, or is my Dragon Claw sharper!" After that, the two continued to move forward.

Soon, Shi Feiyang asked Gong Simeng to tell him the specific situation of Shenshui Palace.

Gong Simeng introduced that when Shenshui Palace was first established, it was very simple in scale and had only a few disciples.

However, under the meticulous training of the first Palace Master, these disciples developed exceptional martial arts skills and a heart for justice. They frequently descended the mountains to fight for justice and punish bullies, gradually gaining fame in the martial arts world, earning the love of the common people and the respect of their fellow martial artists. As time passed, the reputation of the Shenshui Palace grew, attracting numerous aspiring individuals to join it, and the sect continued to expand.

During the development of Shenshui Palace, it faced major crises many times.

One of these events occurred decades ago, when a mysterious dark force quietly rose up, attempting to dominate the martial arts world. This cunning force gathered many of the scum of the martial arts world, and wherever they went, they burned, killed, looted, and committed all kinds of evil, causing unrest in the martial arts world.

As the mainstay of justice in Liaodong's martial arts world, Shenshui Palace would naturally not stand idly by.

At the Palace Master's command, the elite disciples of Shenshui Palace quickly assembled. Dressed in dark garb, wielding sharp swords, their eyes gleaming with determination and fearlessness, they encountered the forces of darkness in a narrow valley, and a thrilling battle ensued.

The dark forces took the lead in attacking, and a group of minions holding ghost-head swords swarmed in like a tide, with swords flashing and murderous aura everywhere.

The Shenshui Palace disciples, fearless, quickly formed a masterful sword formation. As their longswords swung, a cold light flashed, and the impenetrable sword net made it impossible for the minions to get even close. One Shenshui Palace disciple shouted loudly, flickered his wrist, and a burst of sword flowers erupted, instantly stabbing two enemies. His movements were clean and sharp, showcasing his extraordinary skill.

Seeing this, the leader of the dark forces snorted coldly and took action himself.

His figure was as elusive as a ghost, the long black whip in his hand wielding with vigor and force, the air whistling sharply wherever the whip tip swept past. The Palace Master of Shenshui Palace, his face solemn, flew forward to meet the enemy, the sword in his hand clashing fiercely with the long whip, creating a deafening roar and sending sparks flying.

The two men fought back and forth, neither giving in. Every confrontation caused the surrounding air to vibrate violently, with sand and rocks flying everywhere.

Fierce fighting raged for days, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. While the disciples of Shenshui Palace fought valiantly, the forces of darkness were numerous and treacherous, forcing the palace into a difficult situation. Just as everyone felt hopeless, an elder of the palace stepped forward. This elder, a reclusive practitioner of the art of Qimen Dunjia, possessed a thorough understanding of the palace's mechanisms.

The elder quickly set up traps around the battlefield. He cleverly used the terrain and laid out a stone circle at the entrance of the valley.

These boulders seemed randomly scattered, but they held a hidden secret. Once an enemy stepped within, the mechanism would trigger, sending the boulders tumbling down and crushing the enemy to pieces. He also placed hidden weapons in the grass on both sides of the road. Poisoned darts and silver needles lay hidden in the shadows, waiting for the enemy to fall into his trap.

The leader of the dark forces, unaware of the ruse, led his men in a reckless attack. As they reached the valley's entrance, a massive boulder instantly rolled down, crushing a host of enemies. Immediately afterwards, hidden weapons were unleashed from the brush, striking the dark forces one after another, sending screams of agony.

The leader was furious upon seeing this, but he could do nothing but watch his men fall into chaos.

The disciples of Shenshui Palace seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, their morale boosted. They charged at the enemy with the courage and fearlessness of a tiger descending from the mountains. The Palace Master unleashed the Shenshui Palace's peerless martial arts, his sword strikes piercing the air, each strike imbued with powerful energy, driving back the enemies one after another.

With the concerted efforts of everyone, this dark force was finally defeated and the world was saved from danger.

After this battle, Shenshui Palace's prestige in the martial arts world reached its peak, becoming a respected and revered sect. However, time passed, and the landscape of the martial arts world shifted. New forces rose, and old ones declined. While Shenshui Palace remained formidable, it also faced numerous challenges.

In order to expand its influence and consolidate its status in the martial arts world, Shenshui Palace once sent people to actively win over King Kong Village.

At the time, Jin Gang Village was a formidable force in Liaodong's underworld. After several rounds of discussions with Shenshui Palace, the former village chief, Fang Yi, initially agreed to a cooperation proposal. While not yet a formal alliance, the two sides had established a certain level of tacit understanding and connection.

The Shenshui Palace's famed and mysterious image stems not only from its unique architectural layout and powerful defenses, but also from its strict access control. Without a knowledgeable guide, outsiders are completely barred from entering the palace. Natural barriers and meticulously constructed defenses complement the palace's surroundings. Any unwarranted approach could trigger a series of hidden traps and weapons, resulting in disastrous consequences.

But after listening to Gong Simeng's description of the situation in Shenshui Palace, Shi Feiyang looked up at the moon.

I thought to myself: Although the Shenshui Palace is strong, my Xiongying Club is no ordinary party.

Now that I, Shi Feiyang, have come here, I will intimidate Liaodong. His eyes were like torches, as if they could penetrate the darkness and see farther.

The night breeze blows, bringing a hint of coolness.

Shi Feiyang escorted Gong Simeng back to her tent to rest.

Then, Shi Feiyang signaled to Liao Pei in the distance and ordered him to strengthen patrols.

Afterwards, he used his unique lightness skill of "Thousand Miles Without Stopping" to quickly head to the King Kong Village and explore the enemy camp at night.

This time, he decided not to bring Gong Simeng with him because he was worried that he would not be able to ensure her safety in the fierce battle.

King Kong Village suffered a tragic defeat in the Battle of Changsheng Fort. Village leader Fang Yi and his seven altar masters all died in the battlefield.

Fang Yi's son Fang Yi was filled with resentment. The hatred for his father was irreconcilable, and it burned like a raging fire in his heart.

He knew that he could not compete with the Xiongying Society with his own strength, so he turned his attention to the Shenshui Palace.

On this day, the sky was covered with dark clouds and was so gloomy that it seemed like it would collapse at any time.

Fang Yi, carrying a heavy gift, stood at the entrance of the narrow stone path of Shenshui Palace, feeling uneasy.

Fortunately, due to the past relationship between Jin Gang Village and Shen Shui Palace, the guards of Shen Shui Palace confirmed Fang Yi's identity and agreed to take him into the palace. Under the guidance of the guards, Fang Yi walked cautiously along the stone path, and the bottomless cliffs on both sides made him feel terrified.

Shenshui Palace is located on the shore of Tianchi Lake in Liaodong, surrounded by mountains and shrouded in clouds and mist.

Tianchi Lake, like a shimmering pearl, nestled amidst this magnificent landscape, its clear, emerald waters reflect the surrounding towering peaks and the ever-changing sky. The buildings of Shenshui Palace, scattered along the lake's edge, blend seamlessly into the natural landscape, resembling a mysterious celestial palace from afar.

The geographical location of Shenshui Palace is extremely special and of great strategic significance. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Behind it are towering cliffs, the steep mountain walls like a natural barrier, birds can hardly cross, and ordinary people can not climb. The front and two sides are surrounded by the waters of Tianchi Lake, the vast lake surface becomes an insurmountable natural barrier.

There is only a narrow stone path winding its way to the gate of Shenshui Palace. There are bottomless cliffs on both sides of the path. As long as a small number of guards are set up on the path, it is easy to resist large-scale attacks.

Moreover, the architectural layout of Shenshui Palace also contains hidden mysteries.

Legend has it that the palace walls were designed and constructed by a mysterious master proficient in the art of Qimen Dunjia. Long ago, a powerful force attempted to attack the Shenshui Palace. When their army arrived at the palace walls, they found themselves trapped in a vast maze. No matter how hard they searched, they could not find the entrance to the Shenshui Palace.

It turns out that the order of the bricks and stones in this palace wall holds the secrets of Qimen Dunjia, capable of confusing the enemy's mind and causing them to lose their way. Today, this tall, thick palace wall is constructed of solid granite, each stone meticulously polished and fitted together to create a tight fit, impervious even to arrows. Hidden within the walls are numerous ingenious hidden weapon launchers. These devices are controlled by mechanisms. If an enemy approaches the walls and triggers them, countless poisoned darts, silver needles, and other hidden weapons are unleashed, creating an impossible defense.

There are watchtowers at regular intervals on the palace walls. It is said that the inspiration for the construction of these watchtowers came from ancient beacon towers.

In ancient times, border wars were frequent, and beacon towers played a key role as important facilities for transmitting military intelligence.

The same is true for the watchtower of Shenshui Palace, where the guards can look down from above and have a panoramic view of everything going on around them.

Once an abnormal situation is discovered, a signal will be sent immediately and everyone in Shenshui Palace will be able to respond quickly.

The tower is surrounded by a special iron net, hung with bells. The slightest disturbance will cause the bells to ring, alerting the guards. The tower is also stocked with hidden weapons, such as sleeve arrows and plum blossom darts. If an enemy attempts to climb the tower, the guards can fire them from inside to repel them.

The gate is made of heavy ironwood and covered with sharp iron nails. When closed, it looks like an indestructible fortress.

According to legend, this gate was created by a highly skilled blacksmith over a period of several years.

This blacksmith had received guidance from an immortal, and in the process of building the gate, he incorporated special materials and spells, making the gate not only extremely strong, but also endowed with some kind of mysterious power.

Once upon a time, a highly skilled bandit attempted to break into the Shenshui Palace to steal its treasures. When he touched the gate, he was instantly repelled by a powerful force, severely wounded. From then on, the fame of the Shenshui Palace gate spread throughout the martial arts world. On either side of the gate, a secret compartment housed a powerful crossbow. If anyone attempted to force their way in, the crossbow would automatically trigger, unleashing a powerful bolt, inflicting a devastating blow.

Entering the main hall of Shenshui Palace, one sees towering stone pillars engraved with strange runes, as if telling of the palace's mysterious and ancient history. Candlelight flickered within, its dim light casting eerie shadows on the eerie walls. Dark crimson curtains draped the walls, swaying subtly with the howling wind outside, like ghosts lurking in the shadows. The floor is paved with massive black slabs, each polished to a mirror-smooth finish, yet emitting an icy aura that sends a chill down one's spine.

The dome-shaped roof of the hall was inlaid with luminous gemstones, like cold stars twinkling in the night sky, yet with an indescribable eeriness. In the center of the hall stood a vast pool, its water a deep green, a thin layer of mist lingering above. Something vaguely visible moved beneath the surface, adding a touch of mystery to the entire hall.

Fang Yi suppressed his inner uneasiness, put on a flattering smile, and said respectfully, "Palace Master Liu, I have long heard of your great name. I came here this time to join forces with the Shenshui Palace to deal with the Xiongying Society. Shi Feiyang's power is growing. If he is not eliminated soon, he will become a serious threat in the future."

Liu Yanran sat upright in the main seat. The huge screen behind her was painted with a dragon with bared fangs and claws, as if echoing her majesty.

Her eyes were icy, and she looked at Fang Yi with a half-smile. Her voice was cold and icy, "Oh? Your Jingang Village just suffered a loss at Changsheng Fort a few days ago, and now you want to drag me into this? Oh, I heard that your father died tragically in the battle of Changsheng Fort, right?"

(End of this chapter)