The Young Swordsman of Dalu

Shangguan Xingyun's father was originally the chief guard of the late emperor. Many years ago, he offended Zhou Moyao, the first prince of the court, because of the late emperor's decision on the heir apparent.

Zhou Moyao was the younger brother of the reigning emperor Zhou Muyao. He was arrogant and domineering, showing no regard for any ministers because of his outstanding military achievements.

In his early years, Zhou Moyao followed the late emperor in his campaigns across the country. After the founding of the nation, he was deeply loved by the late emperor for his bravery and skill in battle, and the emperor once wanted to make him the crown prince. At that time, Li Chaoyang and Wen Jun strongly opposed this, saying that although Zhou Moyao was a powerful warrior, he was extremely cruel and suspicious. If he became the crown prince, it would bring endless disasters. The two of them tried their best to persuade the late emperor, and finally convinced him. Subsequently, the late emperor made his eldest son, Zhou Moyao, the crown prince.

At the time, Shangguan Chenxing was also opposed to Zhou Moyao becoming the crown prince. He was the late emperor's chief bodyguard at the time. On many occasions, he discovered that Zhou Moyao was cursing the late emperor behind his back, calling him a stupid pig. After each cursing, he would also make wild remarks, saying that if he were to take the throne one day, he would definitely kill everyone.

On one occasion, the late emperor rejected Zhou Moyao's decision to massacre prisoners of war. As soon as he stepped out of the late emperor's tent, he cursed loudly: "You old bastard! You fool! One day you will kill all the stumbling blocks in my way and that will be the best way to vent my anger."

At that moment, Shangguan Chenxing was standing outside the tent. Hearing what Zhou Moyao said, he stared at him with wide eyes. Zhou Moyao turned around and met Shangguan Chenxing's gaze. Zhou Moyao said angrily, "Go ahead and complain! I'm not afraid. I'll take you down with me."

Shangguan Chenxing suppressed his anger and ignored him. He wasn't the type to speak ill of others behind their backs. Everyone knew Zhou Moyao was arrogant and unreasonable, and even if he didn't say it, the late emperor knew. His duty was simply to protect the late emperor's safety.

After the founding of the country, the four directions were basically stabilized, and the establishment of a crown prince was put on the agenda. Although Zhou Moyao had made outstanding military achievements, he did not have a good reputation in the army and did not get along well with others. On the contrary, Zhou Muyao, who had no military achievements, was supported by the masses and became the crown prince of the Great Lu Kingdom.

Zhou Moyao was resentful. When he learned that there were people opposing him, he said fiercely, "I will settle accounts with you all one by one!" Li Chaoyang and Wen Jun had a deep friendship with the late emperor, and he couldn't find an excuse to retaliate for the time being. He immediately found a fabricated excuse to bring down Shangguan Chenxing, who was the commander of the Imperial Guard at the time. The late emperor did not interfere much and went along with it by exiling Shangguan Chenxing's family to the northern frontier. Shangguan Chenxing did not show any dissatisfaction with the court and took his family to the distant northern frontier under the escort of officials.

By chance, Abbess Wuyi traveled to the northern frontier and encountered the Shangguan Chenxing family. At that time, Shangguan Xingyun was still a child. She was well-behaved, cute, clever and quick-witted, and deeply loved by Abbess Wuyi. Abbess Wuyi expressed her desire to take Shangguan Xingyun as her disciple. Although Shangguan Chenxing and his wife Wang were reluctant, their future was uncertain, and they could not delay their child's life. Perhaps if she followed Abbess Wuyi, the child would still have a way to survive. The couple endured their grief and entrusted Shangguan Xingyun to Abbess Wuyi.

Eight-year-old Shangguan Xingyun was taken back to Mount Ling by Abbess Wuyi, and twelve years have passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past twelve years, apart from occasional correspondence with her parents, she has never returned to northern Xinjiang.

Having not received any letters from her parents for a long time, Shangguan Xingyun was extremely anxious. Lingshan was thousands of miles away from the northern frontier, and she wished she could sprout wings and fly to their side.

Unintentionally, the nun noticed Shangguan Xingyun's thoughts.

"Xingyun, do you miss your parents?"

"Master, I haven't received any letters from my parents in a long time, and I'm a little anxious. They're far away, and I don't know how they are doing. I'm quite worried," Shangguan Xingyun said helplessly.

"Don't worry, your parents are kind people, nothing will happen to them," Master Wuyi comforted her.

Shangguan Xingyun's heart had long since flown to the distant northern frontier, the place where she was born. Twelve years had passed since she left, and she missed every blade of grass and every tree there, as well as every relative. Countless times, they appeared in her dreams. For a time, she felt her heart ache with longing, and she had the urge to go back and see them.

However, when Abbess Wuyi took her away back then, her father took her aside and told her to leave this place in the Northern Frontier and never come back. She asked her father why, but he only told her to remember it.

If Shangguan Xingyun didn't receive a letter from her parents in the northern frontier for a day, she couldn't find peace of mind. She couldn't concentrate on her studies or martial arts practice, and her longing to return to the northern frontier grew stronger and stronger.

On this day, Shangguan Xingyun could no longer contain his anxiety and went to the place where Master Wuyi was meditating and chanting sutras. He paced back and forth at the door, waiting for Master Wuyi.

When Abbess Wuyi came out, she saw the anxious and restless Shangguan Xingyun.

"Xingyun, what are you doing?"

“Master, please forgive my rudeness, but I wish to return to the Northern Frontier. Please grant my request,” Shangguan Xingyun said urgently.

"You must remain calm in the face of adversity to avoid any problems. You are so impulsive; how can I let you go back with peace of mind?" Master Wuyi said worriedly.

"Master, I must go back to the Northern Frontier, otherwise I won't be able to do anything. Please, Master!" Shangguan Xingyun knelt down and said.

"Get up quickly! My child, your master has allowed you to go to the Northern Frontier. Go quickly and come back quickly. If you encounter danger, remember not to act rashly. You must think about protecting yourself first so that you can better solve the problem," Master Wuyi earnestly instructed.

After bidding farewell to Wuyi, Shangguan Xingyun mounted her horse and rode away. Master Wuyi watched her go, her heart filled with mixed emotions, and said, "There are some things in this world that no one can do for you. You can only grow by facing them alone. Take care of yourself."

Shangguan Xingyun didn't waste a moment on the road, and rode at full speed to the northern frontier.

She arrived at the place where she had grown up, and was overjoyed. She immediately followed the route she remembered back to her childhood home, where the door was wide open.

"Father! Mother! Eldest brother! I'm back!" Shangguan Xingyun shouted loudly.

There was no echo in the courtyard, only the whooshing sound of the wind.

"Father! Mother! Eldest brother!" Shangguan Xingyun felt uneasy.

Shangguan Xingyun stepped forward and opened the door. The furnishings inside were the same as they had been back then, but they were covered in dust and looked like no one had lived there for a long time.

Shangguan Xingyun ran to each room to look, but there was no one there. She felt a sense of despair. Could it be that something bad had happened to them? If they had moved, they would have written to tell her.

"Father! Mother! Eldest brother! Where have you gone? What happened to you?" Shangguan Xingyun cried out in despair.