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Several days later, outside Xuzhou, a cavalry force galloped in frantic haste. Their commander was none other than the pale-faced Yuwen Huaji.

"Brother, we've already left Xuzhou territory. Let's find somewhere to rest and regroup. Your injuries..."

Seeing Yuwen Huaji's pallid face and clenched teeth, Yuwen Zhiji, riding close beside him, was filled with worry and repeatedly urged him to stop.

Several days earlier, once the deal had been struck, the Yuwen Clan had spared no expense, dispatching a large force and paying a hefty ransom for their freedom.

Afterward, they had ridden without pause, traveling day and night as they fled Xuzhou in utter panic, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and that perilous place.

Yuwen Zhiji had no objections to this. That man was so terrifying that they naturally had to Avoid Their Sharp Edge. But Yuwen Huaji seemed to have been left with a psychological scar. Ignoring his injuries, he spurred his horse onward at breakneck speed, not daring to stop for even a moment.

"I'm fine. We cannot slow down. Send men ahead to prepare ships as well. We must return to Jiangdu as quickly as possible!"

Yuwen Huaji's face was pale as he pressed one hand to his chest, ceaselessly circulating his true essence to suppress the pain within.

He had been gravely injured.

That day, Xu Yang's Dragon-Subduing Palm had not only crushed his Ice Tiger Devouring Roar head-on; its remaining force had blasted him more than a hundred zhang away. He had been severely wounded on the spot, nearly dead. Fortunately, Xu Yang had wanted to exchange him for ransom and brought him back in time, using the Life Scroll to treat him. Only then had he preserved his life.

Otherwise, let alone galloping on horseback now, even being able to move would have been questionable.

Though Xu Yang had used the Life Scroll to preserve his life and even helped him regain a bit of his cultivation, he had not been fully healed. These past few days of frantic riding had aggravated his wounds, leaving him in excruciating pain.

Yet he still did not dare stop. Even after leaving Xuzhou, he did not dare stop. Instinctively, he wanted to get away from that man, away from that terrifying place.

It was a psychological scar, one beaten into him by that palm strike.

Now, all he wanted was to return to Jiangdu at once, to Emperor Yang Guang of Sui's side.

This was not because Yang Guang, that fool, could give him any sense of security. Rather, it would help him take revenge, wash away his former humiliation, and erase the psychological scar and dreadful nightmare that man had left behind.

Did Yang Guang have such a role?

He did!

Because he represented imperial power, supreme and absolute imperial power.

Yuwen Huaji believed that as long as he seized that power, every humiliation he had suffered today could be washed clean.

This was the result of careful consideration, not baseless confidence. Imperial power possessed just such overwhelming strength.

Take the Yuwen Clan, for example. It was divided into two factions. One was led by Clan Leader Yuwen Shang and focused on the martial world of Lakes and Seas, never involving itself in Court Affairs. The other was led by Yuwen Huaji himself, entering the court as officials and serving the Son of Heaven.

Thus, he could not command the Yuwen Clan's full strength and was restrained at every turn by Clan Leader Yuwen Shang.

But if he could seize the great power of the realm and become the Supreme Ruler, then the entire Yuwen Clan would surely obey his commands. Even Clan Leader Yuwen Shang would have to follow his every order.

And not merely the Yuwen Clan. There were also the three teachings of Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian, especially the Buddhist Sect, which had held the reins of the martial world for centuries and stood as the foremost of the righteous path. Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Zen Sect, the two great sacred lands of the martial world, were their representatives.

In the realm's Dragon Contention, every side was placing its pieces on the board, and all three teachings intended to Support the Dragon Throne. Cihang Jingzhai in particular regarded Choose Emperor on Behalf of Heaven as its traditional mission. Its successive heirs had always been the strongest supporters of the Son of Heaven and imperial authority.

Now that the Sui Emperor's Lack of Virtue had led to failures of governance both within and without, he had long since been abandoned by the three teachings. Otherwise, Cihang Jingzhai would not have sent its heir into the world again, walking the Lakes and Seas to reopen the matter of Choose Emperor on Behalf of Heaven.

As long as he dealt with Yang Guang, replaced him as the new emperor, and declared his support for the Buddhist Sect, he would certainly win Cihang Jingzhai's favor.

Then, with the strength of the Yuwen Clan and the aid of the Buddhist Sect, he could sweep aside the Rebel Kings of every road, establish a new era and found a nation, creating a new dynasty.

What would a mere Xu Qingyang amount to then?

He could have Xuzhou. Not to mention that his scheme of Substitute the Plum for the Peach would enrage countless aristocratic families and stir the wrath of both men and gods—even if he could win over the aristocratic families, he would still be no match for the combined strength of the Yuwen Clan and the Buddhist Sect. Once Yuwen Huaji ascended as the Supreme Ruler and held great power in his grasp, today's humiliation would be repaid a hundredfold!

This was Yuwen Huaji's plan for the future, and why he was rushing toward Jiangdu despite his injuries.

The situation across the realm had already grown unstable. Rebel Kings were rising everywhere, and Yang Guang's fine head, along with those hundred thousand Elite Xiaoguo Army soldiers, could not be allowed to fall into Others' hands.

They were Yuwen Huaji's possessions, already in his pocket!

Just as Yuwen Huaji left Xuzhou and hurried toward Jiangdu, people from every side also arrived in Xuzhou.

Though the battle in Xuzhou several days earlier had not been earth-shattering, it had still drawn clouds and winds together, attracting countless eyes.

Within Xuzhou City, in an utterly ordinary inn.

"Greetings, Saintess!"

"Rise."

A woman in pink, with a graceful figure and seductive bones born in her very nature, sat casually reclining on the bed with her jade-like bare feet exposed. She idly shook a bracelet covered in tiny bells. "Have you found out?"

"Reporting to the Saintess, the Longevity Art is indeed in the hands of that Goguryeo Rakshasa Woman, and the items from Duke Yang's Treasury also came from her."

Though such a lovely sight lay before him, the subordinate did not dare raise his head. With his face lowered, he respectfully said, "Half a month ago, this Rakshasa Woman and the two boys she had adopted were pursued by Yuwen Huaji. They fled all the way to Xuzhou, seeking treatment from the divine physician Xu Qingyang."

"Xu Qingyang acted to dissolve Yuwen Huaji's Ice Profound Force. Afterward, he heavily wounded the pursuing Yuwen Huaji with a single palm strike. He also mobilized the strength Bao'an Hall had secretly built up over many years. A force of Ironclad Elite Soldiers wiped out Yuwen Huaji's large contingent, and all Four Great Masters of the Yuwen Clan were captured."

The woman was impatient at this. "Don't waste time on matters that have already spread everywhere. I want to know Xu Qingyang's background—his identity and origins!"

"This..."

The subordinate hesitated for a moment before finally answering truthfully, "This man's origins are exceedingly strange. Sixteen years ago, when Bao'an Hall had just opened, someone investigated him."

"They discovered that he had actually been a beggar in Xuzhou City, nearly frozen to death in the streets. Yet somehow, he acquired superb Medical Arts from an unknown source. From then on, he changed his name and identity, and his rise became unstoppable."

"Over the past sixteen years, he had openly gathered disciples and expanded his clinics. In secret, he trained followers and practiced martial arts. He also used Disguise and the method of Steal Heaven and Change Sun, having his disciples and followers Substitute the Plum for the Peach and quietly replace the great aristocratic families and martial sects of Xuzhou. Before anyone realized it, he had taken actual control of Xuzhou into his own hands."

"Furthermore, we discovered that several great merchant associations, escort agencies, and caravans that travel throughout the realm, as well as the gangs and fleets upon all the great rivers, lakes, and seas, have close ties to Bao'an Hall. Perhaps he has also used Substitute the Plum for the Peach to infiltrate many of them."

"With this, he has not only raised a force of Ironclad Elite Soldiers, but has also seized complete control over Xuzhou's land and the hearts of its people. Whether the garrisons stationed in the prefectures and commanderies, the private troops of the great families, or the gang members and disciples of the various martial sects, all now obey his every command. He has turned Xuzhou into an iron barrel, watertight and impenetrable!"

"..."

Listening to her subordinate's report, the woman in pink grew serious as well. She said in a deep voice, "Another Song Que?"

"This..."

The subordinate hesitated for a moment, then ultimately agreed. "The way this man conducts himself does bear A bit of resemblance to that Song Clan Leader."

"..."

These words left the woman silent, and a trace of helplessness faintly showed through.

The Song Clan Leader, Heavenly Saber Song Que, was a legend of the martial world. His great reputation was not the least bit inferior to that of the Three Grandmasters.

This man was a heaven-blessed genius, peerless in both warfare and martial prowess. After ascending to the position of clan leader in his early years, he began to reorganize Lingnan, quell the barbarian unrest, and unite its many heroes.

Later, when the great conqueror Emperor Yang Jian of Sui swept through the south in his bid to unify the realm, Song Que personally led ten thousand elite soldiers against him. The result was ten battles, ten victories, beating Yang Jian into a miserable retreat.

Left with no alternative, Yang Jian could only withdraw from Lingnan, confer upon him the title of Duke Who Pacifies the South, and issue summons that went unanswered.

This was the lifelong regret of the Sui Emperor.

Such was Song Que's talent in military strategy. He could be called a great master of the art of war, learned in both ancient and modern times.

As for Martial Dao, he was an even greater prodigy. He had gained fame in his youth and Shaken the World. It was said that his martial arts were no weaker than those of the Three Grandmasters. Even the Evil King and Yin Queen, the eight most renowned masters of the demonic sect, did not dare provoke him lightly.

The woman in pink understood this deeply, for she herself was a member of the demonic sect. To avoid angering this Song Clan Leader, they had withdrawn their sect's forces from Lingnan years ago, avoiding the edge of the Heavenly Saber.

And now, was another such troublesome figure about to emerge in Xuzhou?

But Xuzhou differed from Lingnan. Lingnan was a remote frontier of barbarian lands; occupying it was merely occupying it, with no effect on the overall course of the realm. But Xuzhou... lay in the heart of the Central Plains, at a vital strategic pass. Every side coveted it and was determined to claim it.

Even Heavenly Saber Song Que might not be able to hold it.

Could this man surpass even Song Que?

"You said this man heavily wounded Yuwen Huaji with just one palm?"

"Yes. Before the eyes of the public that day, this man struck out with a palm like a dragon. Even after exhausting his entire cultivation, Yuwen Huaji could not withstand it and was nearly blasted to death on the spot. That man appeared to have held back somewhat."

"..."

The woman in pink fell silent for a while. "Then the Longevity Art has fallen into his hands?"

The subordinate nodded. "This man enjoys collecting martial arts from across the realm. Earlier, he even demanded that Yuwen Huaji hand over the Ice Profound Force Manual. If the Longevity Art was on that Rakshasa Woman, it should now be his."

"..."

The woman fell silent again, then asked, "Where is that Rakshasa Woman now?"

"We have been tracking her all along. The three of them have already left Xuzhou..."

Elsewhere, within Xuzhou City, at Jing'an Temple.

Under the cold moonlight, within a secluded meditation chamber, someone looked at the letter in her hand and faintly furrowed her brow.

In the night wind, beneath the bright moon, she wore a robe of blue-green, ethereal and detached from the dust of the world. Her peerlessly beautiful face seemed born from the gathered Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, breathtaking yet unworldly, like a lotus rising from clear water, like spiritual rain in an empty mountain—dreamlike and unreal, as though not of this mortal world. Her eyes carried the wisdom of Zen and the great truths of Buddhism. Even with her brow furrowed, she still seemed suffused with compassion.

She stared at the letter in her hand without speaking for A long time, as though lost in thought. Only when a cool breeze stirred, scattering the letter in her hand, did she awaken as if from a dream. She raised her eyes toward the heavens and Muttered to herself.

"Xu Xian?"

"Xu Qingyang?"

"You... who exactly are you?"