Chapter 1060 - 286: Frostblade Cleaves Demons, Ice Silk Seeks Mystical Map (Part 5)

Shi Feiyang gently placed her down and instructed the maidservant nearby, "Attend to the young lady well, and if there’s any mistake, I’ll hold you accountable."

The maidservant quickly agreed and supported Xue Li as she walked into the room.

Shi Feiyang stood at the door, gazing at Xue Li’s retreating figure, his brows slightly furrowed, his heart filled with countless thoughts.

This young lady is deeply intertwined with the Kunlun Jade Void Map, and the White Bone Sect is relentlessly pursuing her. It seems the upcoming days are destined not to be peaceful.

The north wind swept past the Tiger Hill Sword Lake, carrying remnants of snow. On the crimson wall of the Jiangnan Cao Bang Headquarters, the four gilded characters "Righteousness Over Clouds" gleamed coldly in the twilight. Shi Feiyang executed the "Thousand Miles Without Leaving" Lightweight Technique, lightly touching his toes on the roof edge. His dark cloak billowed like a sail, and in a blink, he landed before the three-zhang-high green stone steps.

"Grand Squad Leader!" The organized shout shook the snow, causing it to fall.

Figures were scattered on the steps. At the forefront was Qi Meizhen, draped in a silver fox fur, holding her infant son who was gnawing on the pom-pom of a tiger-headed cap with a "gugu" sound.

Her features were as artistic as a painting, yet at this moment, she held a hint of frost in her demeanor. The Miao Saber at her waist slightly hummed in the cold wind: "I heard the White Bone Sect in Gusu City was acting strangely; was your trip smooth, husband?"

Shi Feiyang strode up the steps, the dragon-patterned scabbard of the Celestial Frost Blade brushing against the railing, striking sparks on the green stone: "Just cut down a few jesters. But has the batch of ’private salt’ in the Three Hundred Thousand Stones of military provisions the Cao Bang is to escort before the year been thoroughly investigated?"

Before he finished speaking, Jin Liufu, the "Water Dragon," stepped forward two steps, his bronze bracers clanging: "Reporting to the Grand Squad Leader! That batch of salt ships had Western Region patterns carved on the masts, and last night during unloading, I personally witnessed someone mixing black sand into the burlap bags!"

"Black sand?" Shi Feiyang’s pupils suddenly contracted, and inadvertently, the True Qi in his palm shattered a piece of stone lion before the steps, "It must be the Bozhou rebels colluding with the White Bone Sect, using poisonous sand to impersonate military provisions! Yang Yinglong’s wolfish ambition is to cut off the Imperial Court’s path to quell the rebellion!"

He turned, gazing at the desolate twilight, his chiseled silhouette reminiscent of bronze casting in the setting sun, "Brothers, this year’s New Year’s Eve, we might have to spend amidst bloodshed." Fatty Lu Dechu, feeling around his round belly, gripped a wine gourd, took a sip, and said in a buzzing voice: "With one word from the Grand Squad Leader, the brothers will go through water or fire! Last year, during the suppression of bandits at Dongting Lake, my iron palm hasn’t drunk enough blood yet!"

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Huotian, the "Bamboo Pole," grasped an iron rod with a split tip, slicing a silver arc through the snowflakes in the air: "Fatty Lu, stop boasting! Last time, if it weren’t for me using ’Entwining Silk Force’ to ensnare the bandit leader, you would’ve long had your head split by that woman’s Willow Leaf Saber!"

"Enough chatter!" Qi Meizhen lightly scolded, causing her infant child to suddenly burst into tears.

She soothed the child while her fingers gently stroked the Miao Saber: "Husband, concealed posts from Cao Bang have sent urgent reports. The Thirty-Six Caves of the Western Regions have been frequently active lately, likely aiming for the Kunlun Jade Void Map."

As soon as she finished speaking, Gongsun Ren, the "Centipede," had already shaken out a poisoned steel claw from his sleeve, its green light casting his face like a fierce ghost: "No matter what Jade Void Map there is! Whoever dares to touch the people of Heroic Sakura Association must get past this centipede first!"

Shi Feiyang stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the surging cold mist deep within the sword pool, suddenly bursting into laughter.

The laughter startled the cold crows in the forest, and their black wings covered half of the sky: "Excellent! Excellent Thirty-Six Caves of the Western Regions! Excellent White Bone Sect! I was worried about finding you, but you delivered yourselves instead!"

He abruptly drew the Celestial Frost Blade, the blade cut through the stone steps, amidst the sparks, the three-zhang long crack slithered like a venomous snake: "Issue orders to gather Jiangnan’s elite within three days. This New Year, we will protect the reunion of the townsfolk and let those villains who seek to disrupt the world pay the blood debt!"

The dusk deepened, and the lanterns of Cao Bang Headquarters lit up one by one.

Shi Feiyang embraced his wife and child, watching the heroes below the steps clutch their weapons tightly, his heart surged with overwhelming pride.

In the distance came the sporadic sound of firecrackers, which could not cover the clear clang of weapons in the cold night—the Jianghu is destined to be guarded with hot blood.

Flickering candlelight cast the new room inside the Tiger Hill Sword Pool Cao Bang Headquarters into a warm hue. On the carved wooden bed, the embroidered quilt with twin lotuses of Golden Silk slightly bulged. Shi Feiyang reclined on the soft cushion, his gaze following the busy figure of Qi Meizhen.

He watched as she removed her authoritative gang leader’s attire, donning a light pink nightdress. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, accentuating her snow-like complexion and picturesque features. At this moment, she had not a hint of the gallant gang leader, but was a gentle woman whose heart and eyes were filled entirely with her husband. "Feiyang, just wait a moment; the water will be warm soon." Qi Meizhen’s voice was gentle like the spring breeze, occasionally dipping her hand into the bathtub, testing the water temperature.

Shi Feiyang watched her busy figure, his heart welled up with endless tenderness, softly saying, "Meizhen, having you by my side is truly wonderful. All my fatigue dissipates the moment I see you."

Qi Meizhen, hearing this, turned around with a trace of a gentle smile, a smile that could melt all the ice in the world.

She walked to the bedside, gently holding Shi Feiyang’s hand, pressing her cheek against the back of his hand, murmuring, "You’ve been running around, facing strong enemies, which is the most strenuous. All I can do is protect this home, so that when you return, there’s a warm harbor waiting."

Once the water temperature was adjusted, Qi Meizhen carefully helped Shi Feiyang up, guiding him to the side of the bathtub.

She crouched down, softly helping him remove his clothes, her gaze filled with pain and affection.

Shi Feiyang noticed her pained expression, feeling deeply moved. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, saying, "With your worry towards me, even if injured, it means nothing. As long as you and the child are well, I will endure any hardship with pleasure."

After the bath, Qi Meizhen meticulously wiped Shi Feiyang’s body and dressed him in clean, soft nightwear.

The two walked hand in hand to the bed, slowly lying down.

Qi Meizhen nestled in Shi Feiyang’s embrace, her head resting on his chest, listening to the powerful heartbeat, feeling incredibly secure.

"Feiyang, promise me, no matter what danger you encounter in the future, remember, the child and I are waiting for you at home. If something happens to you, I... I truly don’t know what I would do." Qi Meizhen’s voice carried a slight tremble filled with worry.

Shi Feiyang held her tightly, planting a kiss on her forehead, resolutely saying, "Silly girl, how could I bear to let you and the child be sad? I will certainly protect you, and guard this Jianghu well. Because with you all in my life, this world’s peace is worth defending."

Thus, they remained locked in an embrace, in this tranquil night, expressing their mutual longing and care for each other. The candlelight gradually dimmed, illuminating their tightly intertwined figures, warm and sweet, as time seemed to pause, leaving only endless affection flowing in the new room.