Chapter 1198 - 313: Bozhou Pacified, Heroic Spirit Revealed; Wisdom Thwarts the Plot, Protecting the People (Part 2)

The dusk was like ink, gradually seeping through the tent’s seams. Shi Ying knelt on the beast fur blanket; her silver armor had long been shed, now wearing only a moon-white inner garment. Her hands gently stirred the deer meat soup in the clay jar with a copper spoon, the steaming heat blurring the worry in her eyes that wouldn’t dissipate.

Bai Zhi leaned against the tent curtain, her delicate hands fluttering like butterflies, grinding the golden sore medicine into fine powder, while the flute lay slanted against her knee, but she had no heart to play it.

"Husband, drink this soup first." Shi Ying scooped up a spoonful of soup, lightly blew it cool, and brought it to Shi Feiyang’s lips. "This is stewed with a hundred-year-old ginseng and Celestial Snow Lotus; it is the best for replenishing energy." Her fingertip inadvertently brushed against his cracked lips, suddenly bringing tears to her eyes. "Look at you, what you’ve turned yourself into for this battle..."

Bai Zhi placed down the medicine bowl, crawled to Shi Feiyang’s side, where her gentle hand caressed the blood-stained corner of his forehead, "Husband, let me change your medicine."

Her voice was so soft it seemed afraid of waking something, her fingertips encased with cooling ointment cautiously cleaned the wounds, "When you leapt onto the Celestial Globe, battling Yang Yinglong, I watched from below, my heart was in my throat..."

Shi Feiyang gazed at the two faces filled with concern before him, a wave of warmth surged within his heart. He reached out to hold Shi Ying’s trembling hand, and gently patted the back of Bai Zhi’s hand, "I’m fine, I have the Bright Jade Technique protecting me, never getting hurt. Don’t worry."

As his words fell, urgent footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent.

"Grand Squad Leader!" Xie Wen lifted the tent curtain, his expression grave, "Master Lan left the camp on her own, leaving behind only a letter."

He handed over a plain silk cloth, where Lan Xiaodie’s handwriting bore marks of unshed tears: "Shi Lang, the road of Jianghu is long, take care. The Five Poison Sect has matters to attend to, Xiaodie is taking a step ahead."

Shi Feiyang suddenly stood up; Shi Ying and Bai Zhi hurriedly supported him, meeting each other’s gaze, seeing each other’s complex expressions. "I’m going to chase her." Shi Feiyang broke free from the support of the two, but Shi Ying resolutely grasped the corner of his clothes.

"Husband!" Shi Ying lifted her face, tears welling in her eyes, "You’ve just been through a great battle..." She suddenly buried her face in his chest, "Is she more important than your own life in your heart?"

Bai Zhi bit her lip, remaining silent for a while before speaking softly, "Husband, perhaps Master Lan just wants some quiet alone..."

Her voice grew softer and softer.

Shi Feiyang froze in place, his mind flashing to Lan Xiaodie’s silhouette as she turned to leave.

The white garment drifted further away in the dusk, like a cloud blown apart by the wind.

Outside the tent, a mountain wind suddenly arose, lifting the fragrance pouch that Lan Xiaodie had left behind in a corner, embroidered with a twin lotus that swayed gently in the wind.

Inside the Ming Army Camp in Bozhou, night was ink-like, the candle flames swayed in the tent, casting twisted and menacing shadows of everyone present.

Seated on the tiger’s fur chair, Imperial Envoy Li Changgeng clutched an emerald thumb ring, his knuckles turning white, his eyes fixed intensely on the battle report on the table, the record of Shi Feiyang slaying Yang Yinglong piercing his eyes painfully.

"This Shi Feiyang, truly like an indelible blight!" Li Changgeng slammed the battle report onto the ground, the emerald ring clashing with the wooden table, producing a crisp shattering sound. "I intended to use Yang Yinglong to remove him, but instead, he’s made a great contribution!"

Forbidden Army Commander Kang Fusheng, still in his black armor, with the Brocade Spring Saber by his waist glinting coldly, stepped forward, his bootsole treading on the battle report, a sinister smile curving at his lips, "Don’t worry, sir. No matter how high Shi Feiyang’s martial arts are, he’s still just a Jianghu ruffian. He killed Yang Yinglong and holds thousands of elites from the Heroic Sakura Association, posing a threat impossible to ignore by the Imperial Court."

Commander of the Imperial Guard Xiang Yushan lightly stroked the leather belt at his waist embroidered with python patterns, a calculating glint flashing in his triangular eyes, "Correct. The Heroic Sakura Association has entrenched itself in Jianghu for many years, closely connected with sects like Wudang and Shaolin. If left unchecked, it has the potential to become a major internal threat to the Imperial Court."

"But that Shi Feiyang is morally upright and has high prestige in Jianghu; acting rashly may provoke public anger." Ming Army General Guo Dunyi frowned, the back under his iron armor soaked in cold sweat.

He had fought alongside Shi Feiyang, well aware of his prowess, and at the thought of scheming against him now, inevitably felt uneasy.

Assistant Chief of the Imperial Guard Lv Yuan played with the gilt token in his hand, letting out a sinister laugh, "Has General Guo been frightened out of his wits? Jianghu people value reputation above all; we only need to employ a small trick to ensure Shi Feiyang loses all credibility!"

Li Changgeng’s eyes flashed a trace of cruelty, grabbing the wolf hairbrush on the table, heavily dipping the nib into the ink. "Let’s hear it!"

Lv Yuan leaned close, lowering his voice, "Shi Feiyang killed Yang Yinglong, capturing a large cache of provisions and armaments. We just need to spread word that he embezzled military supplies with intent to rebel. Then, bribing a few Jianghu scoundrels to testify, and by then, even if he has a hundred mouths, he can’t explain it away!"

Kang Fusheng clapped his hands in laughter, "Great plan! This way, not only can we cut off the Heroic Sakura Association’s supplies, but also alienate him from Jianghu sects. When he’s isolated, we can dispatch troops under the guise of suppressing rebellion and surely capture them all!"

Xiang Yushan added, "Moreover, the Heroic Sakura Association is brimming with talent; we can secretly buy off a few weak-willed members to act as our insiders. With coordinated efforts from within and without, Shi Feiyang will have no escape."

Guo Dunyi looked at the ferocious smiles on everyone’s faces, a chill swept through his heart, yet he could only force himself to echo grudgingly, "Wise opinions, everyone! But... Shi Feiyang is surrounded by skilled experts, with Lan Xiaodie of Five Poison Sect and Shi Ying of Celestial Star Sect both formidable characters to deal with."

"General Guo need not worry." Li Changgeng let out a cold laugh, raising a paper filled with words to the candle flame, watching as the fire gradually consumed the writing, "We will first cut their supplies, then scatter their followers. When he is busy running for his life, the Imperial Court’s army will deploy. As for those sects in Jianghu..." A sinister flash passed through his eyes, "The Imperial Prison of the Imperial Guard has always made people speak the truth." Guo Dunyi was loathe to do such deeds of betrayal, even more so as Shi Feiyang’s martial arts were unrivaled, risking being killed by Shi Feiyang in return.