In just a few days, the battle at Azure Fall Palace had spread throughout the martial world. Among those subdued by the palace, sixty-three individuals returned to their sects in tears, many recounting the inhumane treatment they endured—how they were deceived into consuming forbidden drugs and forced up the mountain against their will. They denounced Dissolute Shop for its treachery and wickedness, even using women as bait, branding it the greatest enemy the martial world had faced since the Blood Sacrifice Society. Of course, some disdained explanations and returned to their sects in silence. Cheng Yunpao relayed the truth of the battle to the Central Plains Sword Association, and thus the grudge between the Association and Tang Lici was quietly set aside. Since Yu Qifeng was a member of Dissolute Shop, Tang Lici’s leadership in killing him was deemed both wise and courageous. Meanwhile, Azure Fall Palace’s victory over Dissolute Shop elevated its reputation overnight. Many recalled the battle in Luoyang years prior and praised the palace as a pillar of righteousness in the martial world, with Wan Yu Yuedan’s fame now rivaling that of the legendary "White Hair" and "Heavenly Eye."
Within days, the once-mysterious Azure Fall Palace emerged into the martial world with the bearing of a sovereign. As for when it would return to its ancestral lands by the Luo River, Wan Yu Yuedan surely had his own plans. Xiao Qilan, now fully recovered from his injuries, bid his thanks and departed, vowing that the Xiao Clan of Qifeng would spare no effort in opposing Dissolute Shop henceforth. Shao Yanping of the Central Plains Sword Association arrived at Azure Fall Palace, rallying forces to eradicate Dissolute Shop with the momentum of a wildfire.
"Young Palace Master Wan Yu is remarkably accomplished. The late Palace Master would surely be deeply comforted knowing this," Shao Yanping remarked with a hearty laugh, though his eyes darted around Orchid Robe Pavilion, searching in vain for the object of his curiosity. "I heard Young Master Tang and the Palace Master joined forces to defeat a formidable foe. Might I ask where Young Master Tang is now?"
Wan Yu Yuedan sipped his tea. "Young Master Tang is resting in the guest quarters. He is injured and should not be disturbed." Disappointed, Shao Yanping could only ramble on about future collaborations between the Sword Association and Azure Fall Palace—available manpower, possible strongholds of Dissolute Shop, and whether the palace had any plans. Wan Yu Yuedan smiled without answering, instead mentioning that Azure Fall Palace could no longer remain here and intended to return to the Luo River. Shao Yanping praised this as a fine endeavor and inquired about the progress of the restoration. Wan Yu Yuedan replied that Tang Lici had already offered assistance and plans were underway. Shao Yanping chuckled, saying that if Tang Lici was involved, the Sword Association couldn’t afford to be stingy either. While they couldn’t match his financial resources, they would gladly contribute manpower if needed. Wan Yu Yuedan thanked him but declined politely. Shao Yanping insisted on helping, and in the end, the Sword Association presented the palace with an inscribed plaque in its name.
With official matters concluded, Wan Yu Yuedan invited Shao Yanping to rest in the guest quarters. After expressing his thanks, Shao Yanping entered. A short while later, he quietly slipped out and began peeking into the adjacent rooms. As a senior member of the Sword Association, he shouldn’t have acted so frivolously, but Shao Yanping sighed heavily—he admitted he was simply too curious, too lacking in solemnity and composure. If he returned without catching a glimpse of Tang Lici, he’d likely lose sleep over it.
A man who could kill Yu Qifeng, defeat Dissolute Shop, and leap from a mountain hundreds of zhang high without a scratch—how could Shao Yanping pass up the chance to see such a figure? Others practiced the sword to strengthen their bodies or uphold justice, but he did it for the thrill of the extraordinary. And this old habit of his hadn’t changed in decades.The guest rooms on both sides were occupied, but in his eyes, they were all second or third-rate figures, likely those poisoned by the Ape-Demon Nine Hearts Pill and left with nowhere to go. As for Tang Lici’s whereabouts? He still hadn’t spotted him.
From Wan Yu Yuedan’s tone, it seemed he was deliberately concealing Tang Lici’s location, which meant Tang Lici wasn’t staying in an easily found place… Shao Yanping’s mind raced a few times before he darted toward the most remote and inconspicuous hut in the distance.
Behind Green Peak Cliff, there was a barren gravelly patch where the climate was relatively cold. Scattered patches of unmelted snow still lingered on the gravel, though not enough to form glaciers. Beyond the gravel, nestled within a pine forest, stood a small wooden cabin with slightly ajar windows and tightly shut doors. Shao Yanping’s figure flickered as he leaped to the window and peered inside. He saw a man lying on the bed—tall and strikingly handsome. He inwardly praised Tang Lici’s good looks, though he couldn’t help feeling that despite his handsome appearance, something was missing, preventing him from being truly awe-inspiring…
A hundred miles beyond Cat Sprout Peak, on the Mu River of Lingzhou.
"After defeating the enemy, you shift from light to shadow—truly an undefeatable old fox," Shen Langhun remarked coolly from the small boat. "But isn’t it a pity for the number one under Azure Fall Palace to impersonate you indefinitely?" Someone in the boat chuckled. "This impersonation scheme was entirely Wan Yu Yuedan’s plan. What does it have to do with me?"
Shen Langhun held a fishing rod, sitting quietly by the boat’s edge as he fished. "Hmph!" To any distant observer, it would appear as a lone angler on a boat, hardly imaginable that the two aboard were the very figures who had recently turned the Martial Arts World upside down.
Inside the boat’s canopy, Tang Lici sat with Feng Feng in his arms, leaning against the wall. His complexion was still good, but his hand pressed against his abdomen, and his lips were slightly pale. Ever since receiving Liu Yan’s palm strike, his stomach had been wracked with sharp pain. The injury itself wasn’t severe, but it seemed to have affected Fang Zhou’s heart buried within his abdomen, disrupting his qi and blood flow. For the next few days, it was best not to circulate his inner energy. Yet now, of all times, was the perfect moment to track the Dissolute Shop—only Chi Yun was nowhere to be found. Since leaping down Green Peak Cliff to check on Tang Lici’s fate, he had vanished without a trace.
"Chi Yun might truly have been captured by the Dissolute Shop—or perhaps he’s already dead. What’s your plan?" Shen Langhun held the fishing rod, the line clearly tugged by a fish biting the bait. Yet he remained motionless. Moments later, the bait was entirely eaten. With a flick of his wrist, he reeled in the hook and attached another piece of bait, repeating the process."Death?" Tang Lici's gentle voice came from the boat. "I detest that word the most." Shen Langhun replied, "Even if you detest it, that doesn't guarantee Chi Yun won't run into Liu Yan and get killed by his pipa strike." Before Tang Lici could respond, the sound of hoofbeats came from the shore. The rider seemed unwilling to go too fast, merely following the boat at a slow pace, hidden among the trees.
"Haha," Shen Langhun said lightly, "That little girl is truly cunning. She actually predicted we'd pass by here and followed us again." Tang Lici gently stroked Feng Feng's shoulder—the child's skin was soft and delicate to the touch, utterly adorable. "This... can only be described as unrequited affection. Matters of the heart require mutual willingness. Though Miss Zhong is a beauty, she's still just a child."
Shen Langhun smirked. "Are you saying she's too young for you?"
Tang Lici replied, "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare."
Shen Langhun suddenly asked, "Do you have a wife?"
Tang Lici smiled faintly. "I have a lover, but no wife."
Shen Langhun was taken aback. The words "I have a lover" were entirely unexpected. "What kind of woman could earn your admiration?"
Tang Lici's gaze drifted slightly, as if lost in thought. "She... let's not speak of her. What about your wife? What kind of woman is she?"
"My wife is a simple peasant woman—washes clothes, farms, weaves, manages the household. Her greatest wish in life was to bear me a son." Shen Langhun spoke plainly. "She was a good wife."
Tang Lici sighed softly. "Her greatest wish was to give you a son. To have such a wife is truly your good fortune." His words carried an ambiguous implication.
Shen Langhun's lips curled slightly. "Is your lover the proprietress of the Ten Thousand Gold Bank?"
Tang Lici laughed. "She's had a hard life. If she had someone like me as a lover, wouldn’t that be even more miserable?"
Shen Langhun chuckled faintly. "At least you're self-aware."
Tang Lici picked up Feng Feng, nuzzling the baby's soft cheek, breathing in the sweet, milky scent. Suddenly, he parted his lips slightly and gently took Feng Feng's delicate ear into his mouth. The baby let out a cooing sound, tiny fists flailing against Tang Lici's face. Tang Lici closed his eyes, accepting the blows, and bit down lightly on Feng Feng's ear with a quiet laugh.
"Chi Yun disappeared at the foot of Cat Sprout Peak, just as Dissolute Shop was retreating. But since Dissolute Shop made a critical mistake—leaving behind those white-clad women at Azure Fall Palace who knew too much—their stronghold must be relocated soon. Otherwise, once Wan Yu Yuedan orders Shao Yanping to lead a sweep, wouldn’t they be completely wiped out? So even if we find their hideout, we might not be able to save anyone." Shen Langhun changed the subject, casting another bait into the water. "You’ve shifted from the open to the shadows, letting Bi Lianyi take the hero’s name in Azure Fall Palace. Have you already figured out the direction of your pursuit?""Should I tell you... or not?" Tang Lici released Feng Feng, closing his eyes to indulge in the gentle river breeze. "Better not tell you after all." Shen Langhun gave a faint smile. "Have you contacted the undercover agent in Dissolute Shop?" Tang Lici let out an exaggerated sigh and opened his eyes with a teasing look. "Shen Langhun truly lives up to his price of fifty thousand taels of gold. Quite different from Chi Yun indeed." Shen Langhun suddenly flicked his wrist and hooked a fish, listening as the lively catch slapped against the boat's side with noisy splashes. "What method did he use to inform you that Chi Yun is safe? And how did he relay Dissolute Shop's movements?" Tang Lici parted his crimson lips slightly, his tongue lightly tracing them, then remarked, "What a splendid Slippery Scale Colored Fin. Who would have thought such a rare delicacy could be found in the Mother River?"
Shen Langhun grasped the wriggling fish. Its body was smooth and scaleless, resembling an eel, yet its shape was no different from an ordinary carp—except for its fins, which shimmered in five dazzling colors. "Simply roasting a Slippery Scale Colored Fin over fire makes for a delicious meal." Tang Lici tossed something from under the boat's canopy, which Shen Langhun caught. It was a translucent green orb, exquisitely beautiful under the sunlight. "Jade Smile Fire! As expected of the master of Ten Thousand Apertures House—even the fire starter he carries is a rarity." This emerald sphere, called "Jade Smile," ignited with vigorous friction, producing a flame that neither wind could extinguish nor smoke obscure, burning with a brilliant glow. Though Jade Smile Fire had many advantages, it was not merely a fire starter but a peerless jewel of extraordinary rarity.
Shen Langhun kindled the "Jade Smile," and the goose-egg-sized green orb burst into flames reaching two feet high. He gutted the fish, drew a three-inch silver needle from his hidden weapon pouch, skewered the Slippery Scale Colored Fin, and began roasting it leisurely.
The aroma of fish wafted slowly into the picturesque woods along the shore.
Zhong Chunji sat atop her horse, staring blankly at the small boat on the Mother River. He was there—even roasting fish. She didn’t understand why she had left Azure Fall Palace, why she had followed his trail, or why she reined in her horse at dusk just to catch a glimpse of him. Leaving behind the moonlit nights, her heart had been reluctant, but when Tang Lici departed, she couldn’t rest unless she watched over him like this, moment by moment... What... what was this feeling? She looked down at her hands gripping the reins, noticing a red mark on her pale skin, slightly painful. Deep down, she knew—her greatest longing was to stay with the moonlit nights and Tang Lici, never to part. But... this was a shameful thought, an unspeakable taboo. Moonlit nights and Lici were, after all, entirely different people.
As she gazed at the boat on the river, lost in her thoughts, a shadow suddenly flickered among the trees. She startled. "Who's there?"
From behind a large tree not far away, a figure leaned forward slightly—clad in black robes with long sleeves, a black cloth covering his head. The breeze stirred his sleeves lightly. Zhong Chunji tensed. "Who are you?" She tightened her grip on the reins. This person had hidden in the woods without her noticing—clearly a formidable foe. Her mind raced with plans to retreat.
"A friend who knows your heart..." The breeze brushed against the black-robed man’s soft garments as he spoke in a low, mesmerizing voice that seemed to whisper directly into one’s soul. Zhong Chunji snapped, "Stop playing tricks! Who are you?""I am Tang Lici's friend," the black-clad man said softly. "I know you care deeply for him. Would you like to hear his story?" Zhong Chunji was taken aback. "His story?" The man stepped out from behind the tree and slowly reached out to grasp the reins of her horse, Plum Blossom. "We grew up together. If you wish to know his story, come with me." Zhong Chunji lashed out with her whip, striking his hand. "Let go! We are strangers—why should I trust you?" The man replied in a low voice, "Because I could kill you, yet I haven't." With a sharp crack, the whip left a vivid red mark on his jade-white hand. Zhong Chunji hesitated, a pang of guilt stirring within her. "Why tell me his story?" The man murmured, "Because he is about to do something dangerous. I cannot face him myself, but I cannot bear to see him repeat his mistakes. I know you care for him, so I hope you can stop him from folly." As he spoke, he led the horse deeper into the forest, gradually drawing them away from the Mu River.
"If you are Tang Lici's friend, why not show me your true face?" Zhong Chunji scrutinized the mysterious figure. His oversized black robe concealed his frame entirely, and the cloth covering his head fluttered in the wind, revealing nothing of his features. Yet his martial skill was extraordinary—each step he took while leading the horse was effortless, his Inner Energy perfectly concealed, making his presence nearly undetectable. The man replied softly, "You may see my face, but first, promise me this: after hearing Tang Lici's story, you will help me stop him." Curiosity piqued, Zhong Chunji thought to herself, Fine, I’ll hear him out and see what game he’s playing. "Very well! Tell me Tang Lici's story, and I’ll help you. But first, remove your hood and let me see your face." The man raised his sleeve and lifted the black cloth. In the sunlight, his lips were as red as cinnabar, his skin flawless and luminous. His eyes slanted elegantly, his brows long and willow-like, his entire countenance exuding an eerie, melancholic beauty that sent a shiver through her heart.
Zhong Chunji was stunned. She had assumed his hidden face must be hideous, but instead, he was breathtakingly striking—his aura otherworldly, as if he were a spectral bloom from the depths of hell. "You—"
"My surname is Liu. My name is Liu Yan," the man said quietly. "I grew up with Tang Lici. When we were young, he called me 'big brother.' As we grew older, he called me 'A-Yan.'"
"Where... where is he from?" Zhong Chunji couldn’t tear her gaze from Liu Yan. His extraordinary appearance made her instinctively believe he wasn’t lying. "I’ve heard he’s the adopted son of the Imperial Father-in-Law, but not of royal blood.""Although he wasn't born into royalty, his upbringing was nearly equivalent." Liu Yan's voice was low, slightly hoarse, yet indescribably pleasant. "His parents were extremely wealthy. From the moment he was born, he lived a life more luxurious than any emperor's—spoiled rotten. As a child, he had a terrible temper. Abusing kittens and puppies or beating household servants was commonplace." Zhong Chunji listened with skepticism as Liu Yan continued, "By the time he turned ten, he had exhausted every possible mischief at home, finding no more amusement there. He ran away and fell in with street thugs his own age, stirring up trouble everywhere. Aside from murder, there was hardly any deed—good or bad—that he hadn't committed."
Zhong Chunji couldn't help but interject, "Really? That's hard to believe..."
Liu Yan went on quietly, "I was with him through all of it. Why would I lie to you? Later, he built a reputation among those hoodlums. By thirteen, he had established the Three Cities and Thirteen Factions, controlling the underworld across three cities and thirteen towns near his home. Had he continued down that path, who knows what he might have become..."
Zhong Chunji grew increasingly astonished. If Tang Lici had truly been so unruly in his youth, why had his name never surfaced in the jianghu?
Liu Yan said, "So I told him—if he kept going, it would be a road of no return. His need for control was too strong, and that wasn't good. If he no longer wanted such a complicated life, he had to wash his hands of it and become a good man."
Zhong Chunji remarked, "You sound like the good one here."
Liu Yan replied in his low, rasping voice, "I saved his life once. We were very close. Though he ignored nine out of ten things I said, this time, he listened."
Zhong Chunji raised his brows. "He left the underworld and turned over a new leaf?"
Liu Yan nodded. "From thirteen to twenty, he followed my advice and stayed on the straight and narrow. But he was never the type to live simply or without desire. Deep down, he wanted too much—his cravings were endless. His family already had power and influence, making him the center of attention in others' eyes. But he needed to be the focus of all admiration, envy, obsession, resentment, jealousy, confusion—everything. If those emotions weren't directed at him, he grew anxious, restless, suspicious, until his frustration erupted in extreme ways."
"One day, his father gathered talents from across the land and formed an organization called 'The Bronze Flute.' Both he and I were part of it. But after rounds of selection, trials, and tests, his father chose someone else as the group's core..." Liu Yan paused. "He couldn't accept that reality. So he decided to take us all down with him."
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