Xiang Kun and Jin Liufu, these two sturdy men, at this moment looked like children who had obtained the candy of their dreams, their faces flushed with excitement like ripe apples, red and striking. They hopped and skipped out of the valley, their steps as light as leaping fawns.

Throughout the journey, their laughter never ceased, the hearty laughter echoed back and forth in the valley like the mountain breeze, weaving freely, casting all worldly worries away beyond the clouds.

The surrounding valley was gently embraced by clouds and mist, ethereal as light silk, dreamlike and illusory.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds like golden threads, softly draping over them, adding a hint of sacred solemnity to this mysterious place, as if they had stepped into the Immortal Realm, their whole bodies radiating a gentle glow.

Gong Simeng happily sat on the back of the Vermilion Bird, the breeze like gentle hands lightly stirring her hair, which danced softly in the wind. She stretched her body, fully enjoying the freedom and joy from the sky, feeling at one with the blue sky and white clouds, becoming a part of the heavens.

She gazed down at the mountains and rivers below, the majestic scenery captivating her heart and soul, with mountains undulating and rivers winding like a beautiful painting. Among this scenic beauty, she recalled every moment since meeting Shi Feiyang; each instant was like a brilliant star embedded deep in her memory, bringing her warmth.

As for the future days of exploring the unknown with Shi Feiyang, she was filled with anticipation, that expectation like sparkling starlight illuminating her heart, making her eyes sparkle with hopes.

Shi Feiyang rode on the White Tiger, his figure moving further amidst the play of light and shadow, riding the steady steps of the White Tiger.

He glanced down at the sheepskin scroll in his hand, the marked location of the Black Wind Stronghold, which had become the beacon guiding his next target.

His gaze contained an unshakable belief, silently determined to quickly gather all the keys and unveil the secrets of the Ancient Curse Space, to rescue those sect leaders imprisoned.

His eyes were like torches on a cold night, radiating a fiery glow, with a light that conveyed firmness and perseverance.

Xiang Kun and Jin Liufu, like two innocent children, ran and frolicked excitedly in the valley. They chased each other, laughed, and played, the sounds of their merriment continuously echoing in the valley. They deeply understood that meeting a heroic figure like Shi Feiyang was their greatest fortune in life, and this fortune made their current happiness even more pure.

All the world's beauty gathered at that moment, making their smiles especially bright.

As the figures of the four gradually faded away, the valley returned to its usual tranquility and mystery.

And the legends and secrets about the Ancient Curse Space would also slowly unveil their mysterious veils with Shi Feiyang and others' exploration.

Suddenly, a melodious sound of a zither floated over, the music ethereal and twisting, as if coming from a distant Immortal Realm, carrying a transcendent charm. Shi Feiyang, Jin Liufu, and Xiang Kun almost simultaneously stopped and turned to look in the direction of the zither music.

Their actions were uniform, all drawn by an invisible force.

In the distance, a woman in white elegantly sat on a rock, lightly plucking a guqin in her hands, her actions gentle and rhythmic, each string she plucked seemed to weave a wonderful dream. Her demeanor was extraordinary, like a fairy descended to earth, with no hint of worldly smoke surrounding her.

She possessed stunning beauty, skin as white as snow, delicate as porcelain. Her eyes were like clear springs, sparkling with lively radiance. Her brows were gracefully long, her lips like cherry blossoms, slightly lifted at the corners with a faint smile. Behind her stood several maids in sky-blue clothes, like stars surrounding the moon, enhancing her extraordinary aura, with every gesture displaying elegance.

The zither-playing woman saw Shi Feiyang and others stop and look at her, then gracefully stood up like a drifting snowflake, leaping in front of them. She held a crystal-clear Ice Jade Sword in her hand, her whole body exuding a warm blue light, like the bright moon in the night sky.

This girl as beautiful as a Celestial Immortal was none other than the Young Palace Master Liu Tingting of Liaodong Divine Water Palace.

Suddenly, Shi Feiyang's White Tiger roared angrily, its fur bristling, swiftly pouncing towards Liu Tingting like an arrow shot from a bowstring.

The eyes of the White Tiger shone with a fierce light, as if sensing a strong threat, that ferocity seemed ready to rip everything in front of it to pieces. Its body, like a white lightning bolt, streaked through the air, rushing towards Liu Tingting.

Liu Tingting's beautiful eyes shimmered with surprise, but she quickly regained her composure.

She raised her Ice Jade Sword lightly, a surging stream of water emerged from the hilt like a lively water dragon, twirling and dancing to meet the White Tiger. The water dragon roared, carrying infinite power, fiercely clashing with the power of the White Tiger, the splashing water glistening in the sunlight like sparkling pearls. The stream flowed like a mighty torrent, repelling the White Tiger's attack.

The White Tiger retreated helplessly, its steps a bit shaky, hiding behind Shi Feiyang, its huge body appearing somewhat helpless, seeking its master's protection. It trembled slightly, its eyes revealing a hint of fear.

Liu Tingting withdrew her magic, and the raging water instantly turned into mist, swirling and dispersing.

Xiang Kun and Jin Liufu were full of anger, running away as if avoiding the plague.

They loathed Liu Tingting to the extreme and were unwilling to stay with her for even a moment longer. The two ran more than ten zhang away and sat in the grass, panting, while occasionally glancing back, muttering discontentedly with eyes full of wariness and disgust.

Shi Feiyang's heart jolted violently at the sight of Liu Tingting, as if struck hard by a heavy hammer, and his breath halted instantly.

His gaze was like a magnet firmly attracted to her, unable to move an inch from Liu Tingting's face. Countless images flashed through his mind, the beautiful times shared with the Sunflower Saintess surged like a tide. Every feature, every expression of Liu Tingting made him feel as if in a trance, as though the Sunflower Saintess had crossed time and space to stand before him.

Shi Feiyang's legs felt slightly weak, and if not for the White Tiger supporting him steadily, he almost couldn't stand firm. A wave of indescribable excitement surged from the depths of his heart, a longing for the beautiful memories of the past and the surprise of such a wondrous reunion. The intertwining of these emotions made his chest heave dramatically, as if to release this torrent of feelings.

He composed himself, trying to calm his frantically beating heart, but his rapid breaths betrayed him nonetheless. Clasping his hands, Shi Feiyang said, "Miss Liu, is it you? I wonder what brings you to this place?" His voice trembled slightly, each word seemed to be squeezed from his quivering throat, carrying his undisguised excitement and nervousness.

Liu Tingting sheathed the jade sword at her waist, gracefully returning the salute, "Hero Shi, you're too kind. Recently, my Divine Water Palace sensed an evil presence in the Jianghu, so we traced it here. Learning that Hero Shi was also investigating, I thought to come and assist, to unveil this mysterious enigma together."

She recalled the day Shi Feiyang had a duel with her mother Liu Yanran at the cold pool of Cyan Simurgh Peak. Shi Feiyang's swordsmanship was fierce, each move wielding an unstoppable force, the sword light flickering as if to cleave the heavens and earth.

Despite Liu Yanran's profound power, she ultimately lost. Liu Tingting, watching the battle from afar, felt deeply astonished, and Shi Feiyang's image was etched deeply into her heart, like a picture engraved within.

After that rare century-encountered pinnacle duel, Shi Feiyang's actions further transformed Liu Tingting's impression of him.

At that time, Shi Feiyang had people send three hundred thousand taels of silver and three hundred thousand stones of grain to the Divine Water Palace, leaving Liu Tingting deeply moved, knowing it was not just a material gift but a showcase of magnanimity and poise.

Since then, Shi Feiyang's image frequently appeared in Liu Tingting's thoughts, and a difficult-to-sever feeling for Shi Feiyang emerged within her, as if he had become an indispensable part of her life.

Detecting anomalies in the Jianghu and learning that Shi Feiyang was investigating, Liu Tingting set off without hesitation on a journey to find him, with only one thought in her mind: to fight alongside him.

At this moment, gazing at Shi Feiyang's resolute profile, Liu Tingting felt a surge of inexplicable courage.

She took a deep breath, her cheeks slightly reddening like the radiant sunset, and approached, softly saying, "Hero Shi, since parting at Cyan Simurgh Peak, I've been seeking a chance to meet you again. Now, fighting alongside you fulfills my wish."

Her voice was gentle and sincere, recounting a beautiful dream, her eyes full of anticipation and shyness.

Shi Feiyang was slightly taken aback, not expecting Liu Tingting to express such thoughts at this moment.

However, in his heart, Liu Tingting was like the Sunflower Saintess, and considering the current need for personnel, he nodded solemnly, responding, "Miss Liu, let us first rescue the missing sect leader of the Shandong Martial Arts, and discuss other matters later."

A touch of panic flashed in his eyes, stirred by Liu Tingting's straightforward words, while he endeavored to balance complex emotions with the urgent task at hand. Yet soon, his gaze became resolute once more, looking into the distance, shedding all distractions, fully engaging in the challenge to come.

Gong Simeng's heart sank the moment she saw Liu Tingting, a strange sense of loss overwhelming her.

Looking at Liu Tingting's beautiful and captivating appearance, like a blooming, enchanting flower, then at Shi Feiyang's slightly excited expression, an ache of bitterness rose in her heart. She forced a smile, saying, "Young Palace Master, the water-attribute cultivation technique of the Divine Water Palace is truly remarkable, and your displayed skill earlier lives up to its name." Her smile was somewhat stiff, with a hint of subtle dimness flickering in her eyes, as if the light of hope in her heart had extinguished, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her garment.

Liu Tingting smiled in response, "You flatter me. There are hidden mysteries within this Black Wind Stronghold, we should remain cautious."

Shi Feiyang hurriedly asked, "Miss Liu, how did you learn about the connection between the missing sect leader of the Shandong Martial Arts and Black Wind Stronghold?"

He found this matter quite odd, having gone through many bloody battles to uncover the stronghold's conspiracy.

Yet Liu Tingting seemed to have known long beforehand, filling him with doubts and enveloping his heart in a layer of fog, his brows unconsciously furrowing.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.