CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 50: STRANGE PHENOMENA

The duel between Shi Feiyang and Liu Yanran continued, their figures weaving through the flashes of swords and blades, the powerful energy seemingly distorting the surrounding air.

However, the prolonged fierce battle gradually slowed their movements, sweat soaking their clothes, and their strength nearing its limit.

Suddenly, a cold smile appeared on Liu Yanran’s face, carrying a hint of cunning and pride. She spoke to Shi Feiyang in a tone almost provocative, "Shi Feiyang, you’ve been poisoned by the Kunqian Holy Water that I meticulously prepared. This toxin will gradually corrode your body. If you continue to fight me, you will surely die. Hmph!"

Her voice echoed in the air, laced with a chilling edge, as if the poison had already begun to take effect.

Shi Feiyang, upon hearing this, showed a look of astonishment, clearly not expecting Liu Yanran to resort to such insidious means.

After all, he had not been in the Jianghu for long, and at just eighteen, a trace of panic flashed in Shi Feiyang’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and began thinking of a strategy to counteract.

He knew well the potency of this poison and, as Liu Yanran claimed, his situation would be extremely precarious.

Liu Yanran seized the fleeting opportunity and, as Shi Feiyang’s mind became unsettled, she struggled free from the powerful vortex of True Qi he had enveloped her in. Her figure moved slightly, nimble as a ghost, swiftly departing.

As her figure was about to vanish, she called out from afar, "Shi Feiyang, I solemnly warn you, do not harm my daughter Liu Tingting in any way, or I will exchange Gong Simeng for her. Otherwise, I will take Gong Simeng’s life. Hmph!"

The voice seemed to come from the Nine Nether Hell, filled with menace.

As soon as her words ended, Liu Yanran’s figure vanished from Shi Feiyang’s sight like a ghost.

Shi Feiyang stood still, looking up at the vast sky, a complex mix of emotions filled his heart.

Though Liu Yanran’s figure was no longer present, her words echoed in Shi Feiyang’s heart like resonant waves.

He knew well that even though Liu Yanran had left, the shadow of this contest lingered like an inexorable cloud over his heart.

Shi Feiyang clenched his fists, secretly vowing to find a way to counteract the poison and rescue Gong Simeng, while also ensuring that Liu Yanran’s plot would not succeed.

...

This is the complete account of Shi Feiyang successfully capturing Liu Yanran’s daughter, Liu Tingting.

Despite the efforts and hardships, Shi Feiyang, with his wit and strength, finally accomplished this nearly impossible task. Yet, Liu Yanran’s threats and warnings also made him realize that the battle was far from over; the real contest had just begun.

Every subsequent step necessitated more caution, for Liu Yanran’s methods and strategies were far beyond his expectations. He must prepare for more severe challenges ahead. Upon returning to Changsheng Castle, Shi Feiyang began seclusion training, aiming to enhance his abilities while also researching a solution to counteract the poison of Kunqian Holy Water.

As a fierce battle concluded, Lin Wanqing carefully scanned every corner of the battlefield, witnessing the casualties among members of Changsheng Castle and the Divine Water Palace, the scene in complete disarray.

Wounded martial artists lay scattered on the ground, their painful cries rising and falling, blood staining the earth.

Lin Wanqing’s heart surged with complex emotions, a mixture of the joy of victory and the sorrow from the conflict.

The joy came from their successful defense against the Divine Water Palace’s attack, protecting Changsheng Castle; the sorrow stemmed from the countless lives and homes lost to this conflict, leaving many families broken.

Given that Shi Feiyang still had a hostage from the Divine Water Palace, Lin Wanqing, after careful consideration, decided to temporarily detain Liu Tingting and the Gong Brothers to facilitate a subsequent hostage exchange. The hostage exchange too is a perilous gamble, a single misstep could trigger a larger crisis. But to rescue Gong Simeng and avoid more significant casualties, this was the only current option.

As Liu Yanran drifted away, she left with a remark claiming that Shi Feiyang had been poisoned by the Divine Water Palace’s deadly toxin.

Therefore, Wu Zhong, Liu Dayou, Liu Guihua, and others conducted a careful examination of Shi Feiyang’s body, their expressions tense, cautiously checking his pulse and bodily condition.

Finding that Shi Feiyang was not, as Liu Yanran claimed, poisoned in any way, everyone was instantly moved to tears, cheering with joy.

They embraced tightly, their faces brimming with joyful smiles, finally relieved from their worries about Shi Feiyang, while feeling furious about Liu Yanran’s deceit. They cursed Liu Yanran’s treachery, wishing her a miserable end.

Before meeting Shi Feiyang for the first time, Lin Wanqing already held great respect for this renowned figure in the Liaodong Region.

From numerous rumors and stories, she learned that Shi Feiyang was not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts but also a hero with a heart for the world, generous and open-handed. Therefore, she spared no effort in rescuing Shi Feiyang from Liu Tingting’s deadly sword and cautiously placed him within Changsheng Castle, providing him with the utmost protection.

However, to safeguard Shi Feiyang’s safety, a fierce conflict erupted between Changsheng Castle and the Divine Water Palace, which came seeking vengeance. This conflict resulted in numerous casualties among the martial arts heroes, leaving the battlefield stained with blood.

Now, upon discovering that Shi Feiyang already had a family, Lin Wanqing was heartbroken. She silently left, returning to her room alone, weeping sadly. She sat on the edge of her bed, tears flowing incessantly, filled with a sense of loss and helplessness.

All these calamities befell Changsheng Castle because of Shi Feiyang.

When Shi Feiyang’s wife, Liu Guihua, arrived, Lin Wanqing felt utterly devastated, her tears falling like rain.

Her heart was filled with complex emotions: her admiration for Shi Feiyang, her helplessness in reality, and her confusion about the future. She did not know how to face Shi Feiyang next, how to face her brothers and sisters in Changsheng Castle, or the feelings deep within her heart.

She often sat alone by the window, gazing into the distance, her mind filled with myriad thoughts, not knowing where her future lay.

In the deep of night, Shi Feiyang lay quietly on the bed, his posture serene as an ice sculpture.

Every night, he would usually subject Liu Guihua to intense torment of happiness until she begged for forgiveness in ecstasy, only then could he peacefully fall asleep. However, on this particular night, Liu Guihua waited deep into the night without seeing any action from Shi Feiyang. She assumed he was too exhausted to move and decided not to wait any longer.

Despite this, the newlywed young woman, Liu Guihua, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, feeling physically unwell from the absence of Shi Feiyang’s torments of happiness, her heart filled with puzzlement and unease.

She lay on the bed, tossing and turning, repeatedly picturing Shi Feiyang’s figure in her mind. She could not understand why Shi Feiyang had suddenly become so cold, her heart faintly sensing a feeling of unease.

Several days later, due to consecutive sleepless nights, Shi Feiyang’s appearance seemed exceptionally haggard. He lay still on the bed, like an ice sculpture, his past vitality hard to discern.

Liu Guihua began to suspect that Shi Feiyang might be affected by some kind of toxin, her heart full of worries.

Therefore, she decided to visit Lin Wanqing later, requesting this expert physician from a prestigious family to take Shi Feiyang’s pulse, hoping to find the root of the problem. However, even Lin Wanqing, despite her medical expertise, couldn’t diagnose Shi Feiyang’s condition, leaving her both puzzled and helpless.

She carefully took Shi Feiyang’s pulse, examined his tongue coating, complexion, but could not find the cause of his illness, her heart secretly anxious.

In truth, Shi Feiyang was also enduring immense pain, feeling as if he had lost his masculine power, a pain so deep it pierced the bone and was indescribable. But this kind of masculine pain and hidden agony was not something he could easily confide in others because once spoken, not only would he lose his dignity, but he might also be scorned and misunderstood by others.

Therefore, Shi Feiyang’s inner pain was deeper than what Liu Guihua observed, but he could only endure silently, facing this unspeakable torment alone. He often sat by the window alone in the quiet of night, gazing at the night sky, his heart filled with resignation and pain, yet having no one to confide in.

After much contemplation, Lin Wanqing conducted a detailed observation of Shi Feiyang’s condition, carving out numerous doubts and concerns in her heart. She knew well Shi Feiyang’s formidable martial prowess, ostensibly not easily falling into his current predicament.

Therefore, she began to speculate that there might be deeper reasons hidden beneath, possibly a significant mental blow, the mental and physical exhaustion from prolonged combat, or other unknown hidden reasons.

Lin Wanqing vowed not to give up easily, delving deeply to uncover the root of Shi Feiyang’s pain and helping him regain his former radiance.

She extensively studied medical texts, consulted renowned physicians, hoping to find a cure for Shi Feiyang, while secretly observing his daily activities, trying to find clues.

Meanwhile, Liu Guihua’s sense of anxiety grew increasingly severe.

She began reviewing Shi Feiyang’s recent behaviors, trying to discover any clues.

She noticed that Shi Feiyang’s eyes seemed to harbor a deep sadness, which made her uneasy.

She showed greater concern for Shi Feiyang, not only for herself but also for their shared future. Recognizing that only by finding the fundamental cause of the problem could they overcome difficulties together and regain their former happiness. She stayed by Shi Feiyang’s side every day, carefully attending to his daily life, hoping to warm him with her affection and to help him recover his spirits.