The scent of blood was almost tangible, assaulting the nostrils and piercing the heart and lungs, making one almost want to vomit.

Shi Feiyang stood proudly in the midst of the blood mist like a towering War God.

His whole body exuded an awe-inspiring presence, akin to the frost of a cold winter or the first light of dawn, making people feel both fear and reverence. The Celestial Frost Blade in his hand still dripped with crimson blood, gleaming with a cold light under the dim moonlight, recounting the thrilling battle that had just unfolded.

The masked men fighting fiercely against Gugela and her maid saw their companions fall one after another. Shi Feiyang descended like a Demon God, unstoppable, and they felt an ominous unease. A flash of fear crossed their eyes, and with a mutual understanding, they swiftly darted out of the battle circle like frightened rabbits, escaping into the night from the inn.

Their figures gradually blurred in the night and disappeared, leaving behind a scene of chaos and a lingering blood mist.

Xie Wen carefully placed Shan Zhi and Shi Xiong in a safe location.

His movements were gentle and cautious, as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the world. After ensuring the two were unharmed, his gaze was sharp, tightly fixed on the direction the masked men had escaped, and he used the Lightweight Technique, like a black lightning, to follow them.

He knew well that there was a massive conspiracy behind this assassination attempt that needed to be uncovered, so Shi Feiyang and the others could have their justice, and this scourge could be removed from Jianghu.

After a painstaking pursuit, Xie Wen finally uncovered the intricate marriage plot behind the assassination attempt.

It turned out that the leader of the Ordos Tribe, Ha-ha Map, was ambitious, with aspirations as vast as a sky-swallowing python, intending to gain support from the Kerchin Tribe by marrying off his daughter to the prince of Kerchin.

Once the marriage was successful, he would be strengthened, able to annex surrounding tribes and expand his power to dominate the region.

Yet, the Prince of Kerchin was enamored by Gugela’s beauty, determined to marry her.

Shi Feiyang’s arrival was like a giant stone cast into a calm lake, completely disrupting their plans.

They feared that Shi Feiyang, with his extraordinary martial prowess and wisdom, would ruin the marriage and, thus, their conspiracy.

Therefore, they sent skilled masked fighters, seeking to eliminate Shi Feiyang, the stumbling block, at this inn.

At this moment, inside the "Mingjin" Inn, Gugela walked gracefully to Shi Feiyang.

Her eyes were full of admiration and adoration, like stars in the night sky, as she said, "Hero Shi, witnessing your unparalleled martial arts today has truly opened my eyes. Your battle was like a Celestial God descending, turning the tide, and those villains were nothing but vulnerable like clay chickens and pottery dogs before you. Such martial skills are indeed rare in this world."

Shi Feiyang nodded slightly, his expression calm, his gaze deep as an abyss, and said, "Miss Gugela, you overpraise me. Jianghu is a melting pot where good and evil are intertwined and conflicts persist. We martial artists, with chivalrous hearts, should use martial arts to stop war and maintain peace in the world. Today’s event was just my humble contribution. The world’s conspiracies and schemes are as relentless as a flowing river, but as long as we uphold justice and stay true to our hearts, we can clear the clouds and see the sun, restoring Jianghu to clarity."

With that, he gently wiped off the blood from the Celestial Frost Blade and sheathed it slowly.

Gugela felt enlightened by Shi Feiyang’s words, deeply instructed.

She nodded slightly, eyes full of respect, softly saying, "Hero Shi, after this bitter battle, you must be extremely weary. Let me tidy up the inn while you rest and recharge."

No sooner had she spoken than her brother Lirak arrived hurriedly with the Royal Palace Guards.

Lirak looked anxious, his eyes filled with concern, urgently asking, "What on earth happened here? Why is it so chaotic, and why is the scent of blood so intense?" The guards immediately began to clean the battlefield in an orderly manner, moving swiftly and proficiently.

Gugela reported the entire assassination incident to her brother in detail.

Shi Feiyang listened silently, his mind filled with thoughts, and once Gugela finished, he turned and made his way upstairs, heading to his room to rest and regain his strength for the changes ahead.

At dawn the next day, the first light of morning seeped through the window, illuminating the room.

Xie Wen rushed back quickly, heading straight to Shi Feiyang’s room. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

His expression was grave, and after clasping his fists in greeting, he reported the entire story of the event to Shi Feiyang.

After hearing this, Shi Feiyang’s lips curled slightly into a faint smile, and he said, "It indeed seems that my arrival disrupted their plans. However, their schemes are truly too nefarious. No matter which tribe grows stronger, it would bring great harm to our Great Ming Empire. Therefore, we must find a way to prevent the alliance of multiple tribes and ensure the stability of our Great Ming Empire."

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an undeniable resolve.

Xie Wen nodded, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes, and said, "What the Grand Squad Leader says is true. From what I see, since Princess Gugela feels so highly about you, the Grand Squad Leader might consider marrying her. This way, with the princess’s help, we might disrupt those tribal schemes and also find a stable ally for us on this grassland."