One hundred and seventy-eight years after the fall of the Southern Tang dynasty, in the twenty-third year of Shaoxing of the Southern Song dynasty, which was the first year of Zhenyuan of Jin.
On March 26th, the Jin ruler, Liang, moved his capital to Yanjing, renaming it Zhongdu Daxing Prefecture. In early May, Qin Hui, who was more seriously ill in the south, petitioned the Emperor to retrieve the imperial decree received by Qi Guili from Xie Ji's household in Taizhou. This was the first decree that dismissed Qin Hui from his post, and he wished to destroy evidence that was unfavorable to him. Wang Shixiong, the chief disciple of Yun Gao Jushi, who assisted Han Shizhong in defending the territory of Chuzhou, responded to the call for aid from the "Wei Wu Alliance" and rushed to Taizhou to help them retrieve the decree, exposing Hui's wickedness to the world. The "Wei Wu Alliance" was an organization formed by loyal warriors after Yue Fei was murdered at Fengbo Pavilion, advocating for "maintaining the use of force and recovering the land."
Wang Shixiong entered Ninghai County in Liangxi Xilu and arrived at Langfeng Mountain. Su Shi described this mountain in his "Ode on the Red Cliff" as "floating and ethereal, as if detached from the world." On this day, the sky was clear, and the air was crisp, like an immortal realm without clouds or mist. However, the steep cliffs and layered lush trees were still magnificent. Yet, in his eyes, after being ambushed and pursued by three groups of "Dark Swordsmen" for days, he could only remain vigilant against ambushes.
The "Dark Swordsmen" were a unit trained by "You Xu Dongzhu," the alliance leader of the "Luan Alliance," which was formed by some former officials of the Southern Tang in Changshan County, Liaodong, along with the local cave dwellers. The Luan Alliance first resisted the Jin, but during the reign of Jin Taizong, they defected to Jin and became accomplices, brutally harming Song civilians who resisted Jin. This earned them the hatred and contempt of Song righteous warriors, who called them "Mo Luan" (Magic Peaks).
On a sultry midsummer afternoon, Wang Shixiong went to the stream to fetch water and wash his face. The fierce sunlight reflected on the water was dazzling. He noticed several unusual light beams and quickly retreated, drawing his sword. Seven figures in black leaped out of the water from above, encircling and attacking him. Wang Shixiong used his sect's "Four-Point Sword Technique," specifically "One Point of Fearlessness," concentrating his mind to find openings, and with his sword, he parried the rain and swept away the clouds, breaking the enemy's momentum. After landing, the Dark Swordsmen immediately leaped up from different angles to attack again. Wang Shixiong had fought them for a long time and was familiar with their nimble and varied sword techniques, which were like a cat catching a rabbit. Some of their sword forms were as graceful as flying orioles and dancing swallows, and the one he hated most, Mao Ya, excelled at them. He felt his sect's martial arts were becoming insufficient and predictable, so Wang Shixiong began to contemplate new methods of counteraction. After a few exchanges, he unleashed his self-created "Chuzhou New Moves" in a surprise attack. As expected, one opponent was caught off guard and suffered two arm wounds. Wang Shixiong followed up with two more fierce new moves, disabling two more opponents and forcing them to flee with howls. His new moves had achieved victory, and Wang Shixiong excitedly shouted, "Demons, I have defeated you!"
Continuing eastward, the mountain gorges gradually narrowed, and strange rocks were piled in the stream, arranged as if in a military formation, presenting a treacherous landscape. Under the slanting rays of the setting sun, the rock surfaces were ferocious, and the tree shadows were gloomy. Wang Shixiong, walking along the plank road, gripped his sword tightly. It wasn't just about the danger; he had detected another ambush and surmised the enemy was employing a strategy of wearing him down. He needed to find a way to escape. Just then, the wooden planks ahead exploded, and three figures in black leaped out. From the cliffs and trees above, another four figures in black descended by rope. The leader, who leaped out of the broken plank road, twirled his sword, attacking from five directions. His sword techniques had plenty of cunning but lacked power. Wang Shixiong recognized that it was not the "You Xu Sword Technique" commonly used by the Dark Swordsmen, but seemed to be the "Bai Yue Sword Technique" from the Six Chen Sect of Xiuning, Huizhou. The other attackers also belonged to a variety of sects, mostly from the Huainan and Xiangjing regions. Moreover, they wore differently colored shirts and trousers under their black outer garments, unlike the Dark Swordsmen who were entirely black, inside and out. "Which faction do they belong to, and why are they impersonating Dark Swordsmen to harm me?"
Another person leaped from the cliff, dressed in brown and grey, with broad cheekbones and a long face, a man nearly fifty with black beard and white whiskers. As soon as they met, this man attacked with a combination of fists and palms, his strength immense but his arms as soft as pythons, capable of shattering mountains when advancing and rolling like waves when retreating. After observing for a few moves, Wang Shixiong used "Qi Yun Jiang Shan" from his "Yun Yang Hand" to throw the man far away, jumped out of the circle, and stood on a rock tip. He cupped his fists and said, "Are you, sir, the commander of the Wei Wu Alliance from Wuyue Mountain?"
A long, triumphant laugh echoed, and another man leaped out, pointing at everyone and saying, "I told you that even all of you together couldn't defeat my senior brother, do you believe me now?" Saying this, he pushed off with his feet, bowed, and leaped behind Wang Shixiong, his face full of delight. "If you weren't skilled in martial arts, how could you be worthy of the title 'First Person to Valiantly Defend Chuzhou'?" Wang Shixiong felt both embarrassed and annoyed. Suppressing his anger, he reprimanded softly, "Zhou Botong, you're causing trouble again." Another laugh came from a crevice in the rock, and a man in his mid-thirties emerged. He was Meng Hanguang, the "Zhongli Sword," who was passionate about resisting Jin but did not belong to any organization. He had known Wang Shixiong for over ten years and had always supported him. Meng Hanguang said, "Brother, let these rising young talents have a chance to train and also stretch their muscles." Wang Shixiong sighed inwardly, having been fighting for three days and three nights. He quickly adjusted his mood and cupped his fists again to everyone, saying, "Forgive me, sirs, for my rudeness just now!"
They moved to a corner pavilion ahead to chat. Jie Wushan introduced Wang Shixiong to the leader of the initial assault on the plank road. He was a refined and benevolent young man in his early twenties, with a distinguished and graceful demeanor. "The Chong and Wu Chong brothers are descendants of wealthy Huizhou merchants and have poured their family fortunes into supporting the anti-Jin cause. They are resourceful and courageous, truly outstanding among the younger generation. They are currently serving in the alliance's Western Huainan Road." Wang Shixiong, hearing Jie Wushan speak of him this way, felt a bit puzzled and could only nod, responding vaguely. The others, after taking off their black clothes and masks, also came over, surrounding him and chatting volubly, but their conversation had nothing to do with the current "decree retrieval" mission.
Wang Shixiong couldn't help but glance at Meng Hanguang. Meng Hanguang, understanding, squeezed in and said, "The sky is getting late, why don't we first divide the tasks for food and lodging, and then discuss everything by the fire tonight?" Chong and Wu then led the young people out to make arrangements. Wang Shixiong wanted to discuss the "decree retrieval" operation with Jie Wushan and Meng Hanguang, but Jie Wushan claimed that he was in charge of Western Huainan Road and this trip was purely for assistance. He suggested they wait until they reached Taizhou and discuss it with Sun Bowu, the responsible official for Eastern Zhejiang Road.
Wang Shixiong searched everywhere for Zhou Botong, who had disappeared midway. By the stream among the bushes, he caught sight of a tall, slender figure behind him. Turning around, he saw Lin Benju of the Gan Cang Sect. "Brother Wang, what are you looking for? Let me help." Hearing her soft question, Wang Shixiong replied simply, "Looking for Zhou Botong," and continued to walk, avoiding the gossip of a man and woman being alone. Lin Benju thoughtfully said, "Zhou Botong, huh..." Wang Shixiong couldn't help but turn back, only to hear her giggling, "He takes good care of the younger generation and is humorous." Wang Shixiong felt a sense of wry amusement. Seeing her approaching, he continued, "He told us about your heroic deeds, and I have long admired the reputation of 'The First Person to Valiantly Defend Chuzhou.' Meeting you now makes me even more enchanted." Lin Benju saw him retreat three steps and her tone turned a little panicked. "I heard you were being chased by Dark Swordsmen. Li Yu was elegant and romantic; how could he have nurtured such ferocious and brutal demons?" Wang Shixiong said, "Environments can change people's goals and methods, so 'a steadfast will comes from a sincere heart' is very important." Lin Benju lowered her head and said, "Among Li Yu's lyrics, my favorite is 'It is difficult for me to come out, allowing you to dote on me at will.'" Wang Shixiong often said, "What home can I have if the Xiongnu are not yet defeated?" Moreover, her overly familiar behavior was irritating. Just as he was about to admonish her sternly, he saw Zhou Botong in the distance, showing half his face with a grimace. Filled with suppressed anger, he shouted, "Zhou Botong, don't leave!" His body suddenly leaped up, and he rushed to intercept him. Lin Benju looked up sharply, her expression bewildered, then she became playfully angry.
Leaping into the dense forest on the opposite cliff, Zhou Botong fled east and west, but eventually disappeared again. Wang Shixiong thought that catching him might only lead to more trouble, so he lost the energy to pursue further and decided to relax and take a walk in the quiet forest.
The sky seemed to be shrouded by a dark cloud, and the surroundings were exceptionally deep. However, Wang Shixiong enjoyed this moment of tranquility and wanted to sit down and rest. Unfortunately, he heard a faint sound and detected a tall, slender figure in the distant darkness. He sighed, thinking that Lin Benju had come to pester him again, and mocked, "'It is difficult for me to come out,' judging by your movements, Lady Lin, this statement is not true." But as quickly as he spoke, the dark figure's sword was already stabbing in front of him.
This move was called "Calyx Hidden Beneath the Leaf," with a move within a move, and a killing intent tightly bound. It was a powerful killing move of the You Xu Sword Technique. Wang Shixiong had suffered losses before and knew its power. He felt it was more bizarre, changeable, and unpredictable than what he had encountered before. He used his painstakingly devised "Chuzhou New Moves," advancing and then retreating, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack with his sword to subdue the enemy.
The Dark Swordsman twisted his body sharply to evade, but his shoulder was still grazed by Wang Shixiong's back.
A faint scent of hair brushed past his nose, and Wang Shixiong's spirit was captivated.
The Dark Swordsman turned back, saw his frivolous expression, and angered by his cunning trickery and insult, cursed the sacred poems with his mouth and launched a fierce killing move, "Night Rain Falling Flowers." The sword stabbed straight down like rain, while the horizontal points resembled falling petals, as if casting a net.
Wang Shixiong responded with "One Point of Clarity" from the "Four-Point Sword Technique," using nothing to counter the tangible. He waited for the enemy's strength to weaken, then changed moves, breaking their offensive and counterattacking their lower body, leaving them nowhere to land.
The Dark Swordsman used the tip of his sword to support himself on the ground and performed several consecutive somersaults to the side, landing on a tree branch and kneeling on one knee. Under the waning moon, her profile was outlined by the evening breeze blowing her hair, veil, and clothes. In Wang Shixiong's eyes, she seemed like the celestial maiden Su'e descending, accompanied by dark clouds, embodying the artistic conception of proud branches still resisting frost even in withered chrysanthemums. Their eyes met, and Wang Shixiong's body and mind were instantly frozen by the cold gleam.
"Demoness, do not harm my senior brother!" Zhou Botong, who had been grabbed by the collar from behind by Meng Hanguang, broke free and rushed forward. Meng Hanguang also drew his sword and followed. The black figure in front of them suddenly disappeared. Zhou Botong retreated hastily and collided with Meng Hanguang, trembling, "She's truly a demon!" Meng Hanguang pushed him away, turned to Wang Shixiong, and said, "I expected her to be a formidable figure among the Dark Swordsmen. It seems the Jin dogs have gone all out to help Qin the traitor." Seeing that he received no reaction, he looked back and found Zhou Botong was no longer there. He couldn't help but be horrified: Is there really a demon?
Wang Shixiong's mind and nostrils were still filled with that scent. He chuckled at himself, realizing that after living so long and experiencing so many events, he had become as impulsive as a young boy. He sat down under the tree to collect his thoughts. Recalling Meng Hanguang's words from earlier, he wondered if Mao Ya, the demon, might be involved. He remembered Mao Ya serving Jin Liang, luring and capturing anti-Jin righteous warriors, making every effort to annihilate anti-Jin bases, harming the virtuous people of Chuzhou, and inciting Song civilians to betray their relationship with the government. He yearned for the day he could personally kill this villain to comfort the souls of the departed.
Muttering thunder rumbled frequently. Wang Shixiong worried that a storm was imminent. Being in a low-lying valley was indeed very dangerous. He proposed to Meng Hanguang, who agreed. They decided to travel to Tianmu Mountain to seek shelter that night.
Although the stream water in the distance, even without sunlight, appeared in vibrant colors in the pools, under the moonlight, the water surface also shimmered with different colored halos. Now, the halos were shattered by raindrops, and the chaotic, colorful patterns were crossed by streaks of black shadows.
Chong and Wu, who was leading the way, shouted a warning, "Ambush!" Unfortunately, two companions had already been hit by arrows. Wang Shixiong noticed that among the bushes on the ridge, besides archers, a pale, radiant face was faintly visible. He suspected it was Mao Ya and roared, leaping into the air to attack. Suddenly, a captivating scent wafted through the air. She had arrived! "My apologies!" Wang Shixiong inwardly lamented, resigned to using his sect's killing move, the "Cao Wan Sword Technique." This sword technique was created by Yun Gao Jushi in his early years. Although its style was also to combine offense with defense, its subsequent attacks were more fierce and vigorous, embodying the saying: "Strong grass knows the fierce wind; the stubborn grass is strong against the fierce wind."
However, the Dark Swordsman had no intention of a head-on confrontation. Her sword whirled, and her body spun, blocking his offensive. After allowing her seven companions to surround and engage him, she moved towards Chong and Wu. Seeing this, Wang Shixiong's heart grew more anxious and worried. He attacked more fiercely and aggressively. In a flash, he wounded two Dark Swordsmen. Immediately, screams erupted from Chong and Wu's side. He guessed that three people had been stabbed. He suddenly wondered if she intended to compete on who could inflict more injuries. How could she treat human lives as a gamble? He somersaulted and spun his sword, unleashing his ultimate move, "Cao Luan Feng Chui." The long swords of three Dark Swordsmen were entangled and knocked away. Wang Shixiong performed a "Swan Dive" and rushed to Chong and Wu's side, swinging his sword horizontally with "Cao Ya Feng Di" to force the Dark Swordsman back. He caught a glimpse of the severely injured Lin Benju lying on the ground and, angered by her brutality, delivered another killing blow, "Ran Ye Shao Feng."
The Dark Swordsman responded with "Ku Zhi Zai Fa" (Withered Branches Bloom Again), a move that also focused on defending first then attacking, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack.
Wang Shixiong blurted out, "Is this all you're capable of?" He couldn't tell if he was trying to make her impatient, enraged and insulted, or something else.
The Dark Swordsman raised her sword eyebrows, and her moves returned to sharpness and ruthlessness. They fought desperately. Before they knew it, they reached a cliff. At that moment, the rain intensified, the stream water surged, and the canyon shook violently. The rock they were standing on loosened and fell. The Dark Swordsman lost her balance. Wang Shixiong reached out to rescue her, but she mistook his action for a sneak attack from a position of advantage and stabbed him with her sword. Even after being wounded, Wang Shixiong did not change his momentum. He grabbed her hand, but it was too late. They both plunged into the stream.
"Ying!" the beautiful, fair-skinned youth on the opposite bank exclaimed, wanting to jump into the water to rescue her. He was stopped by a Dark Swordsman with clear, lively eyes, who said, "Senior brother, don't worry, she will be able to escape." Just then, a splashing sound was heard as someone was swept into the turbulent water. It was Zhou Botong, who, concerned for Wang Shixiong's safety, had rushed to witness his senior brother fall into the stream and unhesitatingly went to his aid.
They were swept by the turbulence into a cave and deposited on a gravelly shallow. Wang Shixiong pressed his wounded chest and stumbled a few steps towards the rocks inside the cave. Suddenly, he felt something cold pressed against his neck. "What is my capability?" a voice as cold as a sword's edge asked.
After a while, hearing no plea for mercy or even a single word, she said, "Prepare to die."
Wang Shixiong closed his eyes. He suddenly felt that dying at her hands might not be so bad. A pain shot through his cervical spine, and he fainted. When Wang Shixiong regained consciousness, he felt his wound had been bandaged. Peeking through his partially closed eyes, he saw her beside the campfire by the water, her veil removed, water droplets glistening on her forehead and cheeks. Suddenly, he recalled a legend he had heard in his childhood: an ice palace fairy burned a fire to save a mortal who had stumbled in and was about to freeze to death. In the end, the man lived, but the fairy melted into cold rain scattered across the world.
"Don't you dare insult me with your frivolous words again."
Hearing her say this, his heart full of pity turned into a grievance. He said, "My lady, why do you...?" He suddenly recalled the words he had spoken when they first met, which were clearly... He suddenly understood and said, "Is your surname also Lin?" Seeing her expression, he knew it was highly likely. "You misunderstood," he said, and proceeded to explain the situation. After listening, she coldly said, "So what?" Wang Shixiong was immediately speechless.
Seeing his embarrassed expression, she felt more gratified than if she had pierced ten holes in him. He lay there, remaining silent. She couldn't help but speak again, "Don't think you're so great just because you saved me; it's all false benevolence and righteousness."
Wang Shixiong felt extremely uncomfortable and said, "What constitutes true benevolence and righteousness?" He gazed at her cold face, remaining silent. He silently seemed to be resisting the firelight, and his pity resurfaced. Perhaps it was due to blood loss, exhaustion, or the warmth filling his heart, but his vision gradually blurred, and he fell asleep. After an unknown amount of time, he heard a series of rhythmic whistle sounds. Wang Shixiong knew these were the communication signals of the Dark Swordsmen. He opened his eyes and saw her retreating figure. He quickly called out to her, "May I ask your maiden name, my lady, is it Lin Ying?"
She ignored him, walked a few more steps, then stopped and said, "This round, you have won. I will surely take your life in the next round. Remember! My name is Lin Chaoying." Saying this, she leaped lightly into the water.
The beautiful youth was Mao Ya, leading a large contingent in pursuit of the fleeing Wei Wu Alliance. The one with the lively eyes behind him was named Wu Nanyong. She clearly saw in his intimidating eyes that he was concerned about Lin Chaoying's whereabouts. She suddenly thought it wouldn't be bad if the stream washed Ying away, but hearing the roar of the rapids, she couldn't help but worry about her childhood friend. Scanning her surroundings, Wu Nanyong finally spotted Lin Chaoying walking slowly forward among the rocks on the opposite bank. She joyfully exclaimed, "Over there!"
Lin Chaoying bowed respectfully to Mao Ya, saying, "I have failed in my duty." Mao Ya nodded and gestured for her to step down. Her eyes lacked the usual defiance and resentment after failure; instead, they showed confusion and avoidance. What had that Song pig done to her? He spewed false benevolence and righteousness, incited people to cause trouble within Jin territory, and even dared to lay hands on Ying! Mao Ya began planning how to eliminate him quickly.