Within the valley, the battle had reached its climax. Shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, and the groans of the wounded mingled together, creating a poignant war song. Xiao Yichen charged into the enemy ranks surrounding the stone platform like a bolt of lightning. His arrival greatly boosted the morale of the defenders and martial artists, reigniting their fighting spirit and prompting them to launch an even fiercer attack on the enemy.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a wild laugh echoed through the valley: "Hahahaha, Xiao Yichen, do you think you can stop me?" This laughter, like a cold, sharp blade, sliced through everyone's hearts, causing a brief silence to fall over the fierce battlefield. Everyone turned to look, and saw Murong Xuan, dressed in a magnificent black robe and wearing a golden crown, slowly emerging from behind the stone platform like a king. His eyes revealed boundless arrogance and confidence, as if everything before him was under his control.
Murong Xuan walked step by step toward Xiao Yichen, each step carrying a powerful aura. In his hand he held a sword that gleamed with a cold light, its blade engraved with mysterious runes, seemingly containing some kind of evil power. "Xiao Yichen, you have repeatedly ruined my plans; today is your death day," Murong Xuan said coldly, his voice sounding as if it came from the deepest hell.
Xiao Yichen stared at Murong Xuan, his eyes burning with fury. "Murong Xuan, for your own selfish desires, you have plunged the people of the capital into misery. I will bring you to justice!" He gripped his sword tightly, assumed a fighting stance, and channeled his inner strength into his body, preparing for a life-or-death duel with Murong Xuan.
Lin Wan'er stood to the side, watching Murong Xuan with a sense of unease. Through her mind-reading ability, she could sense Murong Xuan's immense strength and unwavering resolve; his heart was like an iceberg, utterly fearless and unyielding. "General Xiao, be careful, he's very strong," Lin Wan'er warned.
Murong Xuan's lips curled into a slight, disdainful smile. He flashed forward, like a ghost, rushing towards Xiao Yichen. His speed was incredible; he arrived before Xiao Yichen in the blink of an eye. His sword, carrying a sharp aura, thrust towards Xiao Yichen's chest. Xiao Yichen was prepared; he dodged the fatal blow and simultaneously swung his sword at Murong Xuan's arm. Murong Xuan easily withdrew his sword, blocking Xiao Yichen's attack, then spun around, attacking Xiao Yichen again.
Their swords clashed in the air, creating a series of dazzling sparks, each collision accompanied by a powerful surge of internal energy. Xiao Yichen could sense the depth of Murong Xuan's internal strength; each time he blocked an attack, it required immense effort. But he showed no sign of retreating. His swordsmanship grew even more ferocious, each strike imbued with his responsibility to the people of the capital and his unwavering commitment to justice.
Murong Xuan's swordsmanship was unpredictable and ever-changing. His swordplay was like a venomous snake, always attacking from unexpected angles. He would sometimes stab at Xiao Yichen's vital points, and sometimes strike Xiao Yichen's weapon with the blade, trying to disrupt his rhythm. In one exchange, Murong Xuan suddenly changed his attack; his sword became a phantom, attacking Xiao Yichen from multiple directions simultaneously. Xiao Yichen was startled. He quickly focused his mind and used his years of honed swordsmanship to barely block the attack. But Murong Xuan's attacks didn't stop. He followed up with another sword strike, this one imbued with powerful internal energy, aimed directly at Xiao Yichen's abdomen.
Xiao Yichen felt the power of the sword strike. He took a deep breath, gathered all his inner strength into his sword, and fiercely met Murong Xuan's sword head-on. With a loud "boom," both of them were forced back several steps by the powerful rebound of the inner force. Xiao Yichen felt his blood surging, but he forcibly suppressed his injuries and gripped his sword tightly once more.
"General Xiao, you do have some skill, but it's far from enough." Murong Xuan sneered, his eyes revealing a hint of admiration, but even more so, contempt for Xiao Yichen. He launched another attack, this time with even more ferocious swordsmanship, each strike accompanied by a whistling wind, as if to tear Xiao Yichen apart completely.
Xiao Yichen knew that Murong Xuan was one of the strongest opponents he had ever encountered. He could no longer remain passively defensive; he had to take the initiative. Seizing an opening in Murong Xuan's attack, he charged forward, unleashing his ultimate move—the "Wind-Breaking Sword Technique." His sword transformed into a whirlwind, sweeping towards Murong Xuan. Murong Xuan's expression changed slightly upon seeing this; he sensed the power of this sword technique. He quickly activated a defensive movement technique, simultaneously using his sword to block Xiao Yichen's attack.
The "Wind-Breaking Sword Technique" clashed with Murong Xuan's defense, the powerful force sending surrounding enemies flying. The ground in the valley cracked from the impact, dust billowing everywhere. Amidst the dust, Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan continued their fierce battle. Their figures appeared and disappeared in the dust, each clash of their swords echoing through the valley like thunder.
Lin Wan'er watched their battle intently from the sidelines. She knew the outcome of this fight would determine the fate of the capital. She wanted to help, but she also knew that rashly joining the battle with her limited strength would only become a burden to Xiao Yichen. Therefore, she continued to use her mind-reading ability to sense Murong Xuan's emotions and thoughts, trying to find his weakness. Through mind-reading, she discovered that although Murong Xuan appeared to have the upper hand, he was actually somewhat surprised and annoyed by Xiao Yichen's tenacity. He was eager to end the battle, and this eagerness might cause him to reveal a weakness in the fight.
“General Xiao, he’s getting impatient. You can try to wear him down,” Lin Wan’er shouted.
Hearing Lin Wan'er's words, Xiao Yichen formed a plan. He changed his tactics, no longer engaging Murong Xuan in a direct confrontation, but instead adopting a flexible guerrilla tactic. He used his lightness skill to move quickly around Murong Xuan, occasionally striking with his sword and then swiftly dodging Murong Xuan's counterattacks. Murong Xuan became somewhat annoyed by Xiao Yichen's fighting style, and his attacks began to become somewhat chaotic.
"Hmph, Xiao Yichen, is all you can do is run away like a rat?" Murong Xuan shouted angrily. He sped up, trying to catch up with Xiao Yichen, but Xiao Yichen always managed to skillfully evade his attacks.
During a pursuit, Murong Xuan's steps faltered slightly. Xiao Yichen keenly sensed this opportunity, immediately turning around and launching a full-force attack on Murong Xuan. His sword, swift and precise, pierced towards Murong Xuan's chest like a meteor, leaving Murong Xuan no time to dodge. But just as the sword was about to strike, a layer of black light suddenly appeared around Murong Xuan's body, blocking Xiao Yichen's sword.
"Trying to kill me? Not so easy," Murong Xuan sneered. Taking advantage of Xiao Yichen's surprise, he suddenly threw a punch at him. This punch contained powerful internal force, and Xiao Yichen was unable to dodge in time. He was struck in the chest and flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.
"General Xiao!" Lin Wan'er exclaimed, rushing over to check on Xiao Yichen's injuries. Blood trickled from the corner of Xiao Yichen's mouth; his face was pale, but his eyes remained resolute. "I'm fine, don't worry." He struggled to his feet and gripped his sword tightly once more.
Murong Xuan looked at Xiao Yichen, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "You can still stand up? You're really tenacious. However, this won't change your fate." He walked towards Xiao Yichen again, preparing to deliver the final blow.
Just then, the guards and martial arts practitioners saw that Xiao Yichen was injured, and they rushed towards Murong Xuan with shouts. "Don't hurt General Xiao!" Their voices echoed in the valley as they rushed towards Murong Xuan, risking their lives to buy time for Xiao Yichen.
Murong Xuan looked at the charging crowd with disdain. "A bunch of ants, daring to come and die." He brandished his sword and charged into the crowd. Instantly, blood splattered, and many soldiers and martial artists fell under Murong Xuan's sword, but they still charged towards him relentlessly.
Looking at the people fighting for him, Xiao Yichen felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew he couldn't let these people sacrifice themselves in vain. He took a deep breath, suppressing his injuries, and charged towards Murong Xuan once more. "Murong Xuan, your death is near!" he roared, his sword burning with furious flames. This time, he would engage in a final life-or-death struggle with Murong Xuan.
At this critical moment, can Xiao Yichen defeat Murong Xuan and save the capital from peril? This thrilling battle will determine the fate of countless people, and the entire valley is shrouded in a tense and tragic atmosphere.
Despite his severe injuries, Xiao Yichen charged at Murong Xuan once more like an enraged lion. His eyes burned with an indomitable flame—a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice and his deep resentment towards Murong Xuan's evil deeds. Lin Wan'er stood behind him, her heart filled with anxiety. She knew Xiao Yichen was in dire straits, but she also knew he wouldn't back down.
Facing the surging tide of guards and martial artists, Murong Xuan showed no fear. His sword flashed with impenetrable speed, each swing sending a spray of blood down his spine. A cruel smile played on his lips, as if he were savoring the thrill of the slaughter. However, when he saw Xiao Yichen charging towards him again, a barely perceptible hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes. He knew Xiao Yichen's tenacity all too well; like an unkillable cockroach, Xiao Yichen always seemed to cause him trouble when he was at his most triumphant.
"Hmph, courting death." Murong Xuan sneered, his figure flashing as he dodged the several martial arts masters charging towards him and met Xiao Yichen head-on. Their swords clashed again, sparks flying. This time, Xiao Yichen clearly felt Murong Xuan's strength was far greater; each impact caused excruciating pain in his wounds. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, his mind focused on only one thought: he couldn't let Murong Xuan escape; he had to stop him here.
Lin Wan'er nervously observed the battle from the sidelines, using her mind-reading ability at full power to try and find Murong Xuan's weakness. She discovered that although Murong Xuan appeared calm on the surface, his internal energy was being greatly depleted by the continuous fighting and Xiao Yichen's tenacious resistance; he was only holding on through sheer willpower. Moreover, he was beginning to worry about the surrounding situation, fearing that he would be completely surrounded.
"General Xiao, his internal energy is almost exhausted. We just need to hold on a little longer!" Lin Wan'er shouted, hoping to give Xiao Yichen a little encouragement.
Hearing Lin Wan'er's words, Xiao Yichen's spirits lifted. Seizing an opening in Murong Xuan's attack, he suddenly unleashed his power, gathering all his remaining inner strength into the tip of his sword, thrusting it towards Murong Xuan's throat. This sword strike was as swift as lightning, carrying a do-or-die momentum. Murong Xuan was greatly shocked; he hadn't expected Xiao Yichen to be able to unleash such power even while severely injured. He hastily parried with his sword, but due to the depletion of his inner strength, his movements were slightly sluggish.
"Swoosh!" Xiao Yichen's sword slashed across Murong Xuan's shoulder, blood splattering. Murong Xuan roared, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by rage. "Xiao Yichen, you're courting death!" He launched an even more frenzied attack on Xiao Yichen, completely disregarding his own injuries.
Under Murong Xuan's relentless attacks, Xiao Yichen gradually found himself unable to withstand the onslaught. Blood gushed from his wounds, and his strength rapidly dwindled. The surrounding guards and martial artists tried to rush to his aid, but were desperately held back by Murong Xuan's men, and a fierce melee ensued.
Just as Xiao Yichen felt he was about to collapse, a melodious flute tune suddenly drifted through the valley. The music seemed to possess a magical power, invigorating everyone's spirit. Upon hearing the flute, Murong Xuan's expression changed drastically. "It's him! How could he be here?" he muttered to himself, a hint of fear in his eyes.
In the brief moment that Murong Xuan was distracted, Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity and attacked him again with his sword. Murong Xuan hastily reacted, but was slashed on the arm by Xiao Yichen's sword. He roared, knowing that this place was not safe to stay, so he turned and rushed towards a secluded corner of the valley.
"Don't let him get away!" Xiao Yichen shouted, but he no longer had the strength to chase after him. Upon hearing the order, the guards and martial artists all rushed in the direction Murong Xuan had fled, but Murong Xuan was extremely fast and disappeared from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.
"Damn it!" Xiao Yichen slammed his fist on the ground, his heart filled with anger and resentment. He knew that if Murong Xuan escaped, the capital would never have peace, and he would definitely come back to continue his conspiracy.
Lin Wan'er came to Xiao Yichen's side and helped him up. "General Xiao, don't blame yourself too much. You've done your best. Let's check everyone's injuries first, and then think of a way to find Murong Xuan's whereabouts." She comforted him softly.
The valley was now a scene of utter devastation, a living hell. The ground was littered with corpses and blood, the groans of the wounded echoing throughout. The guards and martial artists were exhausted, many severely injured. They looked at Xiao Yichen with eyes that held both regret for failing to capture Murong Xuan and worry for the future.
Xiao Yichen, enduring the pain, stood up and surveyed the battlefield. He saw many familiar faces lying on the ground, and his heart ached as if being torn apart. These people had paid the ultimate price for the capital and for justice, while he had failed in his mission, allowing Murong Xuan to escape.
"Let's treat the wounded first, then clean up the battlefield and see if we can find any clues left by Murong Xuan," Xiao Yichen said to the group.
Everyone sprang into action immediately. The healers busied themselves treating the wounded, while the soldiers cleared away the corpses and tidied the battlefield. During the cleanup, they discovered some strange items left behind by Murong Xuan's men in the battle: some metal pieces engraved with mysterious symbols, and some unidentified powder.
Lin Wan'er picked up a piece of metal and examined it closely. "These symbols look familiar, as if they have some connection to the markings we saw at the enemy stronghold. Perhaps we can start with these items to find Murong Xuan's whereabouts," she said.
Xiao Yichen nodded, staring at the symbols on the metal plate in deep thought. These symbols seemed to contain some kind of information, but they hadn't yet found a way to decipher them.
The situation was far from optimistic as the wounded were being treated. Many were too badly injured, and despite the doctors' best efforts, quite a few succumbed to their injuries. Each loss weighed heavily on Xiao Yichen's heart. He secretly vowed to find Murong Xuan and avenge the dead.
After much effort, the wounded received proper medical treatment, and the battlefield was cleared. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er gathered all those who were still able to move and began discussing their next move.
“Murong Xuan has escaped, but we can’t give up. We must find him as soon as possible and stop him from continuing his evil deeds. Judging from these remaining items, we can start by studying these symbols to see if we can find his hiding place,” Xiao Yichen said.
A wise man from the martial arts world stepped forward. "General Xiao, I have some knowledge of these mysterious symbols. Ancient martial arts texts record an ancient code that is somewhat similar to these symbols. Perhaps we can find a way to decipher them by consulting these ancient texts."
"Alright, let's move out immediately. Some people will go and collect ancient books from the martial arts world, while others will continue searching for Murong Xuan's whereabouts in the capital and surrounding areas. Report back immediately if you find any clues," Xiao Yichen ordered.
The group obeyed and departed, with Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er not resting either. They carried some metal fragments to the capital's library, hoping to find clues there to unravel the mystery of the symbols.
The imperial library in the capital was filled with the scent of old books. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er wandered among the shelves, searching for any potentially useful ancient texts. They perused each book one by one, not overlooking any possible clue.
In an ancient book, Lin Wan'er discovered a picture with symbols that bore a striking resemblance to those on a metal plate. "General Xiao, look here!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Xiao Yichen hurried over and looked at the contents of the book. They discovered that these symbols seemed to be map markings, pointing to a mysterious place outside the capital city—the Misty Forest.
"Could it be that Murong Xuan escaped to the Misty Forest?" Xiao Yichen muttered to himself.
The Misty Forest is a dangerous place in martial arts legends, shrouded in mist year-round, teeming with ferocious beasts and mysterious traps. But Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er did not hesitate for a moment in their determination to capture Murong Xuan. They decided to immediately head to the Misty Forest to continue their pursuit of Murong Xuan, even if it meant facing a den of dragons and tigers.
In preparation for their journey to the Misty Forest, they gathered some new helpers. These helpers were all chivalrous individuals who had heard of their deeds and volunteered to join them. With unwavering faith and fearless courage, they embarked on their journey to the Misty Forest alongside Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er.
However, unbeknownst to them, after escaping, Murong Xuan had already laid numerous traps in the Misty Forest, awaiting their arrival. A new crisis is about to unfold. Will Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er be able to escape danger once again, find Murong Xuan, and stop his conspiracy? Everything remains to be seen.
The capital city, once a prosperous metropolis, is now like a frail old man, weary and vulnerable, after suffering the double blow of floods and war. A sorrowful atmosphere permeates the streets and alleys, with people searching for their last remaining belongings in the ruins or surrounding their wounded relatives, their eyes filled with helplessness and confusion.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er knew that the most urgent task was not only to continue the pursuit of Murong Xuan, but also to restore the capital's vitality as soon as possible and allow the people to return to a peaceful life. They first went to the palace and reported the entire incident to the emperor, including Murong Xuan's conspiracy, the fierce battle in the valley, and his escape. Upon hearing this, the emperor was furious and immediately ordered full support for Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's follow-up actions, allocating more manpower and resources for the reconstruction of the capital.
After leaving the palace, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er convened a meeting of officials at all levels in the capital, garrison commanders, and representatives of martial arts figures to discuss the restoration of the capital. The meeting was held in the capital's council hall, and the atmosphere was solemn and serious.
Xiao Yichen spoke first: "Gentlemen, the capital has suffered a devastating blow. Water sources are polluted, houses are destroyed, and people are displaced. We must act quickly to restore order and vitality to the capital. First is the water source issue. We must organize craftsmen and people knowledgeable in water conservancy to carry out a comprehensive cleanup and restoration of the water sources. At the same time, we must arrange soldiers to maintain order at various water supply points to ensure that the people can obtain clean water fairly."
An official in charge of water resources stepped forward: "General Xiao, the pollution of the water source is very serious, and the restoration work will require a lot of time and resources. Moreover, we also need to ensure that the restored water source will not be polluted again."
Lin Wan'er said, "We seized some enemy data during the previous battle, which may contain information about water pollution and purification. We can have people familiar with this data assist the craftsmen in the restoration work."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and then they began discussing the issue of rebuilding the houses. Many houses in the capital had been burned or collapsed in the chaos, leaving a large number of people homeless. A local official said, “We need to quickly assess the number of affected people and the extent of house damage, and then organize manpower and resources for reconstruction. We can encourage people to help each other, and at the same time, we can gather building materials from surrounding areas.”
Xiao Yichen added, "During the reconstruction process, we must pay attention to planning and safety. For areas prone to fire, we must strengthen fire prevention measures. In addition, we must ensure the quality of the buildings so that people will not suffer from the danger of house collapses again."
Besides material restoration, maintaining order in the capital and providing psychological support to the people are also crucial. The garrison commander stated, "We will strengthen patrols in the capital to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos. At the same time, we will arrange for medical personnel and psychological counselors to assist those who have been injured or lost loved ones in the fighting."
Representatives of the martial arts community also stated, "We, the martial arts community, will assist in maintaining order and helping the people in the capital. We can utilize the martial arts community's information network to collect the needs and difficulties of the people and promptly report them to the government."
After arranging the restoration of the capital, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er began preparations to continue their investigation of Murong Xuan. They knew that as long as Murong Xuan remained, the capital would never have peace.
Xiao Yichen said, "Based on the clues we found on the battlefield, Murong Xuan may have fled to the Misty Forest. This is an extremely dangerous place, and we cannot go there rashly. We need to make full preparations first."
Lin Wan'er nodded and said, "That's right. We need to gather more information about the Misty Forest, including its terrain, potential dangers, and whether other people are active there. We can ask martial arts practitioners who have been to the Misty Forest before."
They decided to post notices in the capital, recruiting experienced adventurers and those familiar with the Misty Forest. The notices immediately attracted widespread attention. Many heroes and adventurers flocked to sign up, all hoping to contribute to the peace of the capital.
While recruiting, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were also preparing supplies. They prepared ample rations, water, medicine, weapons, and protective gear. These supplies not only had to meet their own needs but also take into account various possible scenarios, such as being trapped in the forest or engaging in prolonged battles with the enemy.
They also discussed their plan to track Murong Xuan in detail. An experienced adventurer suggested, "The Misty Forest is shrouded in mist all year round, making it easy to lose one's way. We can prepare some special tools, such as compasses and marking ropes. At the same time, we should include someone skilled in tracking in the team so that we can follow the tracks left by Murong Xuan."
Lin Wan'er said, "I can use mind reading to sense the dangers around me and the presence of enemies, but my abilities may be somewhat limited in the Misty Forest. We need to have backup reconnaissance methods."
Xiao Yichen thought for a moment and said, "We can train some carrier pigeons and release them regularly after entering the forest to send messages to the capital. This way, even if we encounter danger in the forest, the capital will be prepared."
While preparations were underway, the restoration of the capital was also progressing steadily. The restoration of water sources had begun, with craftsmen, under the protection of soldiers, diligently cleaning up sewage and repairing damaged facilities. Simple water supply points had been set up, and people lined up in an orderly fashion to collect clean water. Although their faces still bore the marks of exhaustion and pain, a glimmer of hope had already appeared in their eyes.
Housing reconstruction work unfolded across the country, with residents spontaneously participating in the effort. Everyone worked together, moving building materials and assembling house frames. Businesses also generously donated supplies and funds to support the reconstruction of the capital. In this process, the people of Beijing felt the power of unity; their relationships deepened, and they worked together to rebuild their homes.
Meanwhile, healers were busy at makeshift medical stations, treating the injured. Psychological counselors went from street to street, talking to traumatized people, offering comfort and encouragement. The capital's garrison increased patrols, and the streets gradually became safer, with people's lives slowly returning to normal.
After a period of preparation, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er led the recruited team to the Misty Forest. Before setting off, they checked the supplies and equipment again to ensure that nothing important had been forgotten.
Xiao Yichen stood at the front of the group and said loudly, "Everyone, we are about to embark on a dangerous journey. This time, we are heading to the Misty Forest not only to find Murong Xuan, but also to completely eliminate this threat for the people of the capital. Everyone must cooperate with each other and follow orders. We will definitely complete the mission."
Lin Wan'er also said, "The Misty Forest is fraught with danger, but we have the courage and wisdom to overcome the difficulties. We are fighting for justice and for the peace of the capital."
Each member of the group wore a resolute expression, carrying with them their belief in justice and their love for the capital, as they set off towards the Misty Forest. Behind them lay the capital, gradually recovering its vitality, its people silently praying for their safe return, hoping they would completely eliminate Murong Xuan, this thorn in their side, and restore the capital to its former glory.
However, unbeknownst to them, in the Misty Forest, Murong Xuan had already learned of their impending arrival and was meticulously setting an even more treacherous trap, awaiting their arrival. This battle between good and evil will unfold once more in the Misty Forest, and the outcome will determine the fate of the capital and even the entire Rong Kingdom.
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