King of Hundred Victories Saber

Yang Yinglong leaned against the tiger-skin chair, with the gold-accented python-patterned saber resting horizontally on his knee, his fingers unconsciously tapping the cold scabbard.

The scarlet cloak beneath the candlelight resembled congealed blood, reflecting the greed and malice in his single eye.

He glanced at the five people kneeling on the mats, releasing a cold laugh from his throat which caused the human skin lantern hanging in the tent to sway slightly: "Guo Dunyi, that old cur, has lost three guards, yet the Heroic Sakura Association under Shi Feiyang is like a bone-eating ulcer. You all are capable figures in the Jianghu, do you have a strategy to defeat the enemy?"

The Beggar Gang Leader Zhong Renwang pulled open his greasy coarse cloth collar, casually grabbing a roasted lamb leg from the table.

The grease dripped from his bristly beard, spreading dark stains on the patched holes of his clothing. His noseless face looked particularly terrifying.

He tore off a big piece of meat, cheeks bulging as he mumbled: "Shi Feiyang’s Bright Jade Technique is a perfect balance of strength and softness, and the Hundred Victories Saber Technique is exceptionally domineering." Before finishing his sentence, he suddenly slammed the lamb bone against the tent’s pillar. Amidst the flying wood chips, "Attacking head-on is akin to throwing eggs at rocks, we must hit his weak spot." His murky eyes turned to fix on the saber at Yang Yinglong’s waist, "I hear Guo Dunyi relies heavily on the artillery battalion?"

"Indeed!" Mingjian Manor Master Dugu Yan’s sharp voice suddenly rang out, startling the night owl perched on the beam into making a strange cry.

Adorned in brocade, this Jianghu Eunuch gently stroked the Soft Sword in his hands, its blade reflecting his paper-white face which contorted into a twisted smile. He deliberately straightened his hunched back, his hoarse voice reverberating within the tent: "Firearms are potent but vulnerable to water. If only we could render Guo Dunyi’s artillery battalion a pile of scrap..." Before finishing, he suddenly unsheathed the Soft Sword by three inches, its gleaming cold light shattering into poisonous starlight in his eyes.

"A fine strategy to defeat fire with water!" Yang Yinglong abruptly slapped the table and stood up, spilling the wine cup on the table, as the wine mixed with candle tears twisted into bizarre patterns over the sheepskin map. He paced to the tent’s entrance, gazing at the hazy encampment in the rain, the gold-accented python-patterned saber spinning cold light in his palm: "But the walls of Zhangyi City are high, how can ordinary water flood them?"

"During the reign of Li Huizong in Western Xia, there was the ’Siphon Flood City’ technique." Beggar Gang Elder Ding Hong’s skeletal hand suddenly reached into his robe, retrieving a roll of yellowed ancient paper.

His fingernails were still embedded with unwashed blood crust, and as he unfurled the parchment, the iron chain on his dried-up wrist emitted a soft clink — remnants of punishment marks left when previously captured by the government.

"Utilizing the terrain, connect with bamboo tubes, it can divert water from a thousand miles to flood a city." His murky eyes turned to Yang Yinglong, suddenly coughing violently, his knuckles taut with strains of green due to exertion, "Coincidently, there’s a hidden river behind Zhangyi City, just open the canal..."

"Marvelous!" Poisonous Hand Nuwa Li Wuduo suddenly rose with a charming laugh, her gold-and-jade bangles clinking crisply against each other.

She gracefully moved to Yang Yinglong’s side, the snake-shaped silver ornaments on her wrist flicking their tongues in crimson, slashing three bloody marks across the back of his hand with her fingers.

Her scarlet nails were still tainted with fresh nail polish, casting an eerie glow under the candlelight: "But flooding the city alone is not enough. My newly crafted ’Bone-Eroding Powder’, dissolves instantly when it meets water, not only artillery but even the city walls will be gnawed into holes."

As she moved closer to Yang Yinglong’s ear, the poisonous spider hairpiece by her hair suddenly vibrated its eight legs, terrifying the soldier serving beside them into a pale face.

Yang Yinglong abruptly gripped her blood-stained hand, roaring with laughter that shook dust from the tent ceiling.

He drew out the saber, chopping off the table’s corner, and amidst the flying wood splinters, loudly ordered: "Transmit my command, commence work at 5:00 AM tomorrow! Once Guo Dunyi’s artillery falls silent, let him taste what it’s like to be swallowed by floodwaters!" The torrential rain happened to pound the tent top at this moment, merging with his laughter, rousing night owls across the mountain wilderness, their dark wings obscuring the last sliver of moonlight.

Upon receiving the messenger sent from Zhangyi City, Shi Feiyang led the Flying Eagle Detective Xie Wen, Divine Archer Miao Menlong, Plum Blossom Dart Shan Zhi, and Scholar’s Attendant Shi Xiong to Zhangyi City to aid General Guo Dunyi, while Yun Wuyue also quietly arrived.

Smoke hung like ink, dyeing Bozhou’s sky a harsh gray.

Shi Feiyang stood amidst the ruins, his black fighting garment soaked in blood and dust, his typically steadfast face now shrouded in an indelible layer of haze, the icy blue True Qi of the Bright Jade Technique flickering uncertainly in his palm.

He watched the rebellion soldiers surging forward like tides in the distance, his sword-like brows furrowed tightly, the blood drops on his sleeve trickling along the saber guard to the scorched earth, forming tiny craters.

Leaning against the beam was Yun Wuyue, her simple white robe billowing in the wind, glimpses of the peacock plume within her wide sleeves emitting a ghostly blue glow.

She observed the bloodied figure fighting valiantly, momentarily recalling the rainy night in the dense forests of Miaojiang.

At that time, Shi Feiyang was just beginning to show his sharpness, entangled in passionate conflicts with Bai Zhi like burning liquor, whereas she, during this tangled drama, had quietly buried her girlish affection. She had been full of bitter resentment, and in a fit of anger joined Yang Yinglong’s ranks, earning the title of "Beauty Strategist" with her impressive intelligence and ruthless means.

Her venomous schemes came one after another, causing the Imperial Court’s suppression army to be repeatedly defeated.

Yet now, watching Shi Feiyang setting foot once again in Bozhou, reclaiming nine passes with just his own strength, that sense of gallant spirit unexpectedly stirred ripples in her heart.

"So you’ve never changed..." she muttered softly, her voice torn apart by the distant sound of explosions.

The fingers hidden within her wide sleeves gripped the peacock plume tightly, its cold surface leaving deep crescent marks in her palm.

As Shi Feiyang turned to command the formation against the enemy, she suddenly charged forward, the peacock plume striking like a venomous snake, aimed straight at his heart!