Under the moonlight, the Jade Belt Lake in the western district of the capital shimmered, a captivating sight. At the height of the full moon, its reflection shone brightly on the lake, complementing the trees along its banks bathed in silvery moonlight, creating a dreamlike and enchanting scene. This is the "Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake," praised by countless poets and writers, the most evocative of the five scenic wonders of the capital.
Not far from the lake, there is a solitary mountain rising abruptly from the ground, with cliffs, strange rocks, and dense forests. It seems to form a completely different world from the beautiful Jade Belt Lake. Except for a few daring tourists who dare to climb it during the day, it is a place with eerie winds at night, a place where ghosts can kill people, so there is not even a path.
Because the mountain is almost entirely covered with towering pine trees, people in the capital call it Ghost Pine Mountain.
At the summit of Ghost Pine Mountain lies a large flat area, covered by a thick layer of soft pine needles, untouched by tourists. Suddenly, a dark figure appears beside a tree at the edge of the flat area. Judging from the figure, it is a beautiful young woman completely shrouded in black, head and all. Her limbs are slender, with a full bust, wasp waist, and shapely hips, and her tight-fitting night clothes reveal her exquisite figure perfectly.
"That was close! We almost ran into that guy. Looks like I should use this stealth technique less often in the future." The woman in black chuckled. "But that man was quite handsome!" It turned out that Cliff's earlier suspicions were true. But how did this seemingly young woman manage to cultivate such amazing skills, reaching a level of unparalleled speed? Even if she had been practicing since birth, it seemed impossible.
She glanced around, a mischievous glint in her large eyes, looked up at the bright moon in the sky, stamped her foot lightly, and complained, "It's almost time, why haven't they come yet?"
"No, I've been waiting here for a long time!" A gentle voice rang out from another tree not far away. Then, part of the tree seemed to come alive, and a figure slowly emerged.
"Ah! Uncle, you startled me." The woman in black said softly, her bright, star-like eyes holding a hint of a smile.
The man in black, also completely covered up, shook his head and said, "Xiaoxue, how come you still haven't made any progress? Where has your vigilance as a Tianren gone? How can I leave you with peace of mind? You must work hard; the arduous task of restoring the kingdom will still depend on you in the future."
Upon hearing such a serious topic, the smile in Xiaoxue's eyes faded. Just as she was about to say something, her gaze suddenly sharpened as she stared at the woods opposite her.
The man in black, noticing Xiaoxue's unusual demeanor, was startled, for the murderous aura emanating from her sent chills down his spine. He cast his sharp, knife-like gaze into the seemingly ordinary depths of the forest, as if something truly amiss there. He couldn't help but think to himself, "She's completely different from before. It seems her recent cultivation has yielded significant results!"
"Here it comes!" Xiaoxue called out softly, her slender hand reaching for the short sword tucked into her waistband.
The man in black silently floated to her side, cautiously watching the ground that was beginning to change strangely.
A sound like the rustling of pines came from the distant pine forest, like waves crashing on the shore. The eerie, lingering sound contained within it was something only the two people present knew what it meant.
At this moment, a sudden gust of cold wind swept up the pine needles on the ground, making them dance wildly in all directions. This, combined with the dappled moonlight cast through the gaps in the tree branches, created a scene resembling a ghostly realm. Those with a weak heart would certainly be terrified.
A chilling wind blew, and faint, ghostly howls drifted through the air. Then, a person dressed entirely in black suddenly appeared in the forest.
"It really is you, Ghost Flame!"
The man in black gave a deep shout, indicating that they knew each other, but not on a friendly side.
The pine needles that had been flying in the air gradually drifted down and formed a strange pattern around the newcomer. Suddenly, this mysterious pattern coalesced into a raging dragon that hurtled towards Xiaoxue and her uncle.
"Just a trivial skill!" Xiaoxue's uncle said coldly.
Just as the pine needles were about to reach him, he opened his mouth and shouted. As if he had encountered an invisible resistance, the dragon of pine needles exploded and scattered in all directions as if it had crashed into an invisible wall.
"What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?" Xiaoxue's uncle asked arrogantly.
Gui Yan, standing in front of him, remained silent, only his cold eyes peeking out from the gap in his hood sending chills down one's spine and making one feel the terrifying nature of this man.
Xiaoxue looked at the assertive Guiyan with great interest and said, "You're Guiyan, the leader of our Eastern Japanese Ghost Ninjas! You look quite imposing!" Her uncle found this both amusing and infuriating. The Guiyan standing before them was more than just imposing; he was utterly mysterious and terrifying.
His tall, muscular body, concealed within black attire, exuded an astonishing power. His cold, icy black eyes shone with a chilling intensity, making him appear like a lifeless stone statue.
Two crudely designed short blades were sheathed at his waist, their sheaths and hilts painted with a flame pattern in blue and red respectively. Under the pale moonlight, they exuded an eerie aura, an invisible killing intent almost bursting forth. One could easily imagine that Ghost Flame had used these two short blades to slay countless enemies.
In fact, all three people present were dressed as people of a different race; their attire consisted of ninjas from the distant land of Eastern Japan. Although outsiders couldn't distinguish between the Heavenly Ninjas and Demon Ninjas they referred to, these were two major factions and two opposing ninja groups within Eastern Japan.
Ninjas are extremely rare on the Fengyue Continent. They are skilled in using various weapons and poisons, and can wield all sorts of astonishing ninjutsu. "Fighting in the darkness, dying in the darkness" is their motto and a true reflection of their lives. Various terrifying legends about ninjas have been circulating among the warriors and adventurers of the continent, but very few people have actually witnessed ninja battles firsthand, as most witnesses are killed off, and very few are lucky enough to survive.
"What are you doing here? Did the fake king send you?" Uncle Xiaoxue's tone became increasingly murderous, and he was poised to strike, but Guiyan remained unmoved and stood silently in the arena.
Xiaoxue stopped her uncle from taking the action she was about to take, her eyes shining brightly, and said, "Has the fake king's mastermind, Gui Wuyue, come to the capital? It seems that the fake king has sent out all his elite troops."
"What?" Xiaoxue's uncle exclaimed in surprise, looking around warily. "Even Gui Wuyue has come out, huh!"
Ghost Flame finally made a move. He took a step forward and said, "Lord Yurakuzai, it seems you are not as clever as Miss Yuki. She is much smarter than you. Indeed, Lord Ghost Moon has also arrived. Your escape should be over." Before he finished speaking, Ghost Ninja was already in front of Yurakuzai, Yuki's uncle. His movements changed from slow to fast so naturally, as if he had always been standing there.
Yurakuzai shouted, pulling on the Japanese sword hanging at his waist with his right hand. With a crisp sound, half of the slender blade was revealed, its bluish light reflecting off the surrounding green. A burst of intense sword energy shot out like an arrow, pointing towards Ghost Flame. The surrounding air seemed to sense the killing intent emanating from the sword, emitting a faint rustling sound.
"What a fine sword! It truly lives up to its reputation as one of the three great swords of the Shingen clan, the Shiranui Seiyu!" Guiyan bowed slightly, his hands also touching the hilt of the kodachi, his eyes still as cold as a sword.
"Lord Yurakusai's sword-drawing technique is so refined! Let me experience it for myself!"
You Lezhai immediately felt that the ghost flames in front of him seemed to have suddenly transformed into a bowstring that was fully drawn, and a series of sharp killing intents came out of the air, forcing the green jade knife in his hand to vibrate slightly, emitting a faint sound like the surging of the sea.
Yurakuzai's sword was finally fully drawn. The famous sword, Shiranui Seigaku, emitted a chilling blue light, slicing through the night sky like a wisp of blue smoke as it approached Oni-yan.
"Prepare to die! Demon Flame!!"
Faced with a deadly attack, Guiyan swiftly drew two short swords decorated with crimson and blue flames from his waist and met the oncoming blades with a slashing motion.
Two cold, sharp blades flashed with captivating flames in the air, seemingly flames from the unfathomable void, ready to devour all living things.
With a crisp clang, the two men trembled slightly, their strength evenly matched, and each took a half-step back.
Before Youlezhai could even stand still, he took a step forward, the green smoke on his blade swirling around, bringing out pale blue flames, and slashed towards Guiyan's left shoulder.
This strike was filled with a terrifying aura of no return, and the surrounding air instantly turned cold. Although what was seen was flame, it was hellfire from the underworld, devoid of any warmth, emitting a chilling light.
"He has improved a lot in the past year; he can actually unleash such a terrifying slash!"
With such a respectful thought flashing through his mind, Ghost Flame's reaction was in no way inferior.
Suddenly retreating, then advancing diagonally, half-turning, a pair of beautiful short swords flew up again.
Shocked by the powerful blade energy, the pair of short swords in Guiyan's hands lost their blades, resembling two beautiful flames that drew a large cross of red and blue in the air. They collided with Shiranui Qingyu, bursting into countless flames that were quite beautiful in the night sky.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!" After a brief exchange, the two gained a clear understanding of each other's strength and began to tacitly distance themselves from each other, readjusting their actions and preparing for the next round of attacks.
It's easy to imagine that this second round of competition will be earth-shattering. For two people of similar skill levels, determining a winner might be a long time coming, but that would not be what the onlookers wanted.
At this moment, Xiaoxue suddenly stepped forward a few steps, stood to the side of both sides, slowly drew the short sword from her waist, and held it above her shoulder.
"Sun Sword Holy Light!" With her sharp cry, the originally unremarkable short sword shone brightly, completely obscuring the blades in the hands of Yurakuzai and Guiyan.
Gui Yan was terrified and took three steps back, saying, "This is... the Sun Sword..." The white light emanating from the sword transformed the short sword into a five-foot-long light sword, exactly like the legendary holy light of the Sun Sword.
"You... can comprehend the secrets of the Sun Sword..." Yurakusai and Guiyan exclaimed almost simultaneously, one with surprise and the other with delight.
"Not bad! Do you want to try the power of the Sun Sword?" Xiao Xue proudly drew her sword, the hilt pressed tightly against her chest, the flickering sword light pointing at Ghost Flame.
Gui Yan suddenly ducked down, seemingly disappearing into the ground.
The sound of wind breaking rang out as countless darts shot in from all directions. Xiaoxue calmly swung her sword and nimbly spun around, a screen of light faintly appearing around her, flowing with dazzling colors.
"Protection of the Holy Light!"
The darts that came into contact with the holy light melted away like snow under the sunlight. Then she and Yurakusai flew out and appeared in the forest. As the blue flames and sunlight flowed, screams rang out, and the demon ninjas who had been clinging to the trees fell down like autumn leaves.
With a whistle, the leaves rustled, and the demon ninja began their retreat. From the depths of the dense forest came the receding voice of Oni Flame: "Lord Oni Mugetsu will not rest until you hand over the sacred weapons of the nation, the Sun Sword and the Moon Bow!"
A gentle breeze rustled through the air as Xiaoxue and Youlezhai reappeared in the arena. Looking at the panting Xiaoxue, Youlezhai asked, "What's wrong?"
Xiaoxue took a deep breath and said, "Although I can use the Sun Sword now, I can't fully control its divine power yet. I need to recuperate for a while after each use. That was really close! I was afraid that Gui Wuyue would also come. His Demon Jade Staff is enough to withstand the divine power of the Sun Sword, and my cultivation is not as profound as his."
Yu Lezhai said anxiously, "Then let's leave here quickly! Otherwise, when Gui Wuyue comes, it will be troublesome again. Sigh, this was originally a perfect place for you to comprehend the Moon Bow, but it seems we'll have to find another place. By the way, I've made contact with the Tianren Clan, let's go find them now. Once you've grasped the secret of the Moon Bow, we can return home."
"Okay! Let's go."
Ghost Pine Mountain returned to its usual eerie silence, with only messy footprints recording what had just happened. But soon these traces would be covered by withered branches and fallen leaves, as if they had never happened.
※ ※ ※
After Aurelian Dragon and his companions enjoyed their first sumptuous dinner in the capital, the moon was high in the sky and the night was cool and still. The reason the meal took so long was because Aurelian Dragon was surrounded by beauties and savoring their tenderness. He was so happy that he was practically eating without lifting a finger.
While the Eight Guards were cleaning up the dining room, Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade ushered Aurelian Dragon back to the large room assigned to him, then smiled mysteriously and left. A bewildered Aurelian Dragon, itching to follow them, was again sent back.
After a while, the pretty Wu Feng finally entered and said in a crisp voice, "Please invite the young master!"
Full of curiosity, Aurelian Dragon followed Wu Feng to an embroidered pavilion in the back courtyard.
Upon entering the flower hall, Aurelian Dragon was immediately captivated. Lynette Quill was dressed in a pale yellow spring gown embroidered with phoenix patterns, paired with a matching floor-length skirt that swayed gracefully with every step. Her hair was styled in a high, coiled bun, her temples were as white as silk, her eyebrows were lightly drawn, and her face was lightly powdered, exuding an indescribable allure.
All along, Aurelian Dragon had only seen Lynette Quill in her youthful and athletic figure dressed in samurai attire. Now, she had changed her usual image and dressed as a mature and beautiful woman. Her delicate and charming beauty, so beautiful yet seemingly powerless, made men want to hold her in their arms and cherish her tenderly.
Looking at Obsidia Shade beside her, Aurelian Dragon's eyes widened in awe. She was wearing a semi-transparent cloud-like gauze spring blouse, over which a close-fitting red floral bodice was barely visible! Even more intriguing was the blouse's sleeves, which were only three-quarters of the way up, revealing most of her plump, pink arms. A jade bracelet dangled from her slender, fair wrist, its clear, melodious sound captivating. Her lower body was clad in a matching long, trailing skirt, the curves of her legs both defined and veiled. Due to the folds of the skirt, her legs were sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, making one breathless with impatience, wishing one could tear it off to see what was inside!
Just then, Obsidia Shade twirled around and said sweetly, "Sir, this is what I picked out this afternoon in a store selling exotic clothing when I was shopping in the capital. Does it look good?"
Aurelian Dragon watched as Obsidia Shade's long, shapely legs peeked out from under her flowing gauze skirt. This ethereal beauty was even more captivating, and she nodded repeatedly, exclaiming, "Beautiful! Beautiful!"
As they spoke, Lynette Quill, her face glowing, moved closer to Aurelien Dragon and said, "Aurelian, what about me...?" Her voice was so sweet and cloying that Aurelien Dragon felt as if his bones had lightened a few pounds.
He pulled her into a tight embrace and whispered in her delicate ear, "My dear, you look so beautiful. So this is the outfit you were going to wear for me. I'm so happy."
At this moment, Aurelian Dragon felt the heaving, full, and alluring touch of the beautiful woman in his arms, and he felt even more that life was so wonderful.
He looked up and saw Obsidia Shade gracefully approaching. The top of her bodice was low-cut, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful breasts. A large expanse of her snow-white, smooth skin shone brightly under the lamplight.
Aurelian Dragon rubbed his cheek against Lynette Quill's rosy face, then glanced at Obsidia Shade's alluring breasts. He exclaimed happily, "Next time you two should let me admire you while you change clothes, that would make you even more beautiful!"
Lynette Quill, her cheeks burning, couldn't help but scold him angrily as he revealed his lecherous nature again: "You're such an insatiable man! Aren't you satisfied with how Zhu Mei and I are dressed?"
Aurelian Dragon laughed and reached out to embrace Obsidia Shade as well. The three of them then walked towards the embroidery room at the back.
※ ※ ※
It was late at night when Cliff's three best friends left the tavern to celebrate his departure for his new post. Little did they know that after this day, the three best friends would never have the chance to meet again; the wheel of fate had swept them in different directions. Gan Zongming, in particular, regretted telling Cliff about it, hoping he could happily go on his way to his new post the day after tomorrow. But man is not omnipotent; how can one predict the future?
After leaving the tavern, Cliff wobbled as he mounted his horse, letting it carry him slowly through the streets of the capital city late at night.
The capital city gradually quieted down, and there were few pedestrians on the streets. Walking on the somewhat deserted streets, Cliff's heart was churning with turbulent emotions, his mind, numbed by alcohol, constantly replaying the words of Gan Zongming and Kobis.
"Lynette Quill was with a man, a strange man, and judging from her alluring appearance, she seemed to have already..." Thinking this, Cliff couldn't help but throw his head back and shout, "No! Why is this happening?!" His shout startled the few passersby on the street. Looking at Cliff's drunken state, they couldn't help but sigh, "He seemed like a pretty good young man, how could he be an alcoholic? Ah, alcohol is something you should never touch."
Cliff was oblivious to the astonishment of those around him, lost in his own chaotic thoughts.
"That guy is a very interesting person," Corbis's intelligence was very detailed, which showed that his lord was very capable, but Cliff was not thinking about this issue at the moment. "His name is Aurelian Dragon. Before the war, he was a centurion in the West River Garrison. He was a very lecherous man. Although he was born into a knightly family, he was like a lazy street ruffian, fighting and bullying in the local area. He was a local tyrant."
Gan Zongming, who had seen Aurelian Dragon, said this: "That guy has an indescribable aura and charm that makes him unforgettable. He should be the kind of person who is unpredictable and makes it impossible for people to see through him at first glance."
"Why would I like a man like him?" Cliff felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of the beautiful Lynette Quill writhing beneath this man. Ever since meeting Lynette Quill, he had cherished her, hoping to one day win her heart. But years of waiting had yielded this result. What did he lack compared to others? The son of a count, his beloved stolen by an ordinary knight—this thought fueled his hatred, and he cried out, "I will kill him!"
Kobis, who had just returned to the Crown Prince's residence, received a top-secret mission from his lord whom he admired. So, in the thick of night, he hurriedly embarked on his journey to Qingzhou.
"Darling, you're back!" As soon as Gan Zongming stepped into his home, he heard this sweet voice, and a feeling of disgust immediately arose in his heart. He wondered why he had been so infatuated with this voice before, to the point of being unable to extricate himself.
"The preparations for the Left Minister's matter are almost complete. They are already on their way to the capital. I hope our Left Minister will also do his best to complete his work!" The sweet voice continued to ring in Gan Zongming's ears, but he could no longer hear it because he was asleep. Only in his dreams could his heart be happy.
※ ※ ※
This night in the capital is truly remarkable. Many storms began to brew overnight, and many people with ulterior motives were actively working on it. However, Aurelian Dragon, at the center of the storm, was completely unaware, because he was also busy, like a hardworking bee, busy collecting nectar.