Chapter 6, The Great Law of the Yellow Sky

The clear sound of swords clashing echoed incessantly, as Qifu Guoren continuously rose and fell above Yan Fei's head. Yan Fei, in turn, exerted all his strength to cope with this formidable opponent, who unleashed a relentless and overwhelming assault, causing him to retreat continuously towards the direction of Ying Shui.

Liu Yu said: "His target is General Hu, and due to his disdain for me, I was fortunate enough to succeed. If I am not mistaken, this person, even if he is not the 'Heavenly Master of Great Peace' Sun Si, must be one of his favored disciples; otherwise, he would not be so overbearing. The green flames spewing from his eyes are precisely the manifestation of the technique used when Sun Si performs the 'Earth Method' in the 'Great Law of Yellow Heaven.'"

Qifu Guoren let out a triumphant laugh, leaping into the air and soaring above Yan Fei. The black iron ruler, penetrating without exception and seeking out every gap, launched a frenzied and fierce assault on Yan Fei.

As the branches swayed and the leaves rustled, a person jumped down from the tree and laughed, "I thought the Southern army had recently set up a beacon tower here, but it turns out to be you, Yan Fei, grilling delicacies, which made me immediately salivate." Without any hesitation, he sat down beside him

Yan Fei casually discarded the leg bone that had been picked clean by the two, sheathed her dagger, and said calmly: "Of course I have a token as proof. However, it is worth more than ten ingots of gold. First, tell me if you are willing to earn these seven ingots of gold."

Gao Yanli's eyes sparkled as he stared at the gold, exclaiming, "Aren't you supposed to return the item to its rightful owner and pay a hefty interest? Damn it, is there such a thing as a free lunch in this world? Speak up! As long as it doesn't involve me going back to the desolate market, I will definitely handle it properly for you."

Qifu Guoren also secretly consumed a carriage, not expecting Yan Fei to change his tactics so suddenly, coming and going as he pleased. Otherwise, if he allowed Yan Fei to unleash his true energy and skillful techniques with his long sword, he would surely take the opportunity to employ his profound methods to seize the opponent's sword. Fortunately, Yan Fei was already in a defeated state; he only needed to pursue the advantage, ensuring that Yan Fei would have no strength left to counter. The black iron ruler, measuring two feet and eight inches in length, was in his hand as he charged forward swiftly, the black iron ruler of the northern martial world striking Yan Fei like a shadow.

Gao Yanda said: "Aren't you the indifferent Yan Fei who usually doesn't care about anything? Why have you suddenly taken an interest in me? Since we are friends, I cannot bear to deceive you. I, Gao Yan, am a person who is motivated by money; my only ideal is to have endless wealth, and then to indulge in pleasure everywhere. Do not trust me; as long as the price is attractive enough, I can betray anyone."

Yan Fei cut off a large piece of wolf leg meat and said to him, "I thought you were dead!"

Pong

Nearby guards rushed in to provide assistance, but it was already a moment too late

Gao Yan raised three fingers and said with a smile, "Do you want me to tell you? I'll give you a special price."

Yan Fei suddenly displayed a vigilant expression, fiercely staring upwards. Gao Yan was startled and followed his gaze into the night sky, where a dark spot was circling high above their heads.

Qifu Guoren revealed a cruel smile and said: "I know who you are and what *Tushu* is! Did Murong Wen die at your hands? Once this news spreads, even if you manage to escape tonight, the Murong Xianbei people will never let you go."

With hands raised and palms open, one exclaims joyfully: "Transaction completed!"

Gao Yan exclaimed in astonishment: "It should be 10 ingots, right?"

Yan Fei gazed at the bonfire and said in a low voice, "Gao Yan! Can I trust you?"

Yan Fei said: "This matter is easy to say yet not easy to accomplish, difficult to say yet not difficult to achieve. It requires you to leverage your connections. Go find Hu Bin for me and inform him that I will be at Langzi Ridge outside Shouyang City at the hour of You and Xu five days from now. If Xie Xuan wishes to win this largest battle since the Battle of Chibi, he must come to see me in person. I, Yan Fei, will certainly not let him down"

Liu Yu felt a stir in his heart, secretly pondering that it was highly likely to be an incident of strong bandits blocking the way and robbing travelers. Considering the convenience of the route and the possibility of encountering the wild people who had escaped from the border wasteland, coupled with his sense of chivalry, he no longer hesitated and rushed towards the source of the sound.

The one who has arrived is none other than Gao Yan, the most outstanding wind messenger of the frontier market. He took the wolf leg and was devouring it ravenously, responding indistinctly: "This should be my question to you. You are so ostentatious; are you not afraid of attracting the Hu people?"

Yan Fei smiled wryly and said: "Even the Heavenly King cannot guarantee this. However, it can certainly increase his chances of success, but the details must remain confidential. Once Xie Xuan sees the physical evidence, he will understand on his own"

In the northeast of the city lies the abandoned Liang family courtyard, where there is a lotus pond in the eastern garden. The waterway leading into it connects to the Ying River, extending over ten zhang, sufficient for a person to enter and exit. Be cautious, as that is near the stronghold of the Di gang.

Pung! Pung! Pung!

Qifu Guoren swiftly dodged the blood that was bound by true energy, while Yan Fei had already fled several dozen zhang away, continuing to accelerate. Infuriated, he shouted angrily and took off in a wild pursuit.

Unexpectedly, the opponent suddenly changed tactics, shifting from a grab to a sweep. The sleeves of the robe suddenly swept down, as if the arms had extended nearly three feet. The long sleeves, filled with true energy, struck heavily against the sword body, and a terrifying force surged through the sword, invading the body. Hu Shan's already cracked tiger mouth could no longer withstand the assault; not only was half of his body sore, numb, and in pain, but the long sword also flew out of his hand, landing far away on the river surface. This was the first time he had ever lost his weapon in such a manner.

Yan Fei placed the gold in his hand and said, "Surely you won't smuggle it away for personal gain, will you?"

Qifu Guoren first felt a surge of masculine sword energy piercing through the air, thinking to himself that he was doomed. He exerted all his true strength, secretly planning that even if Yan Fei did not die, he would surely be gravely injured. Little did he know that the masculine energy suddenly transformed into a soft and yielding force, dissipating at least half of his own energy. By the time he realized he had fallen into a trap, it was already too late

Yan Fei held the Butterfly Lovers, slowly stood up, opened his fierce eyes, and stared unblinkingly at the red cloak fluttering like a ghost, which belonged to Qi Fu Guo Ren, who emerged from the dense forest in the northwest corner, seemingly gliding through the air, arriving before him like a phantom

Yan Fei closed his eyes and suddenly exclaimed, "Southeast!"

Why am I left all alone tonight

The sound of fierce clashes echoed continuously, with sparks and embers flying in all directions. Qifu Guoren unexpectedly encountered three layers of invisible yet tangible sword energy, each layer obstructing his advance, ultimately extinguishing his sharp momentum. This style of swordsmanship was something Qifu Guoren had never encountered before.

Gao Yan replied in astonishment: "Your question is truly strange. However, seeing that you have indeed helped me quite a bit over the past year, although I am not the type of person who is grateful and repays kindness, I am still somewhat moved. Speak up!"

Gao Yan lowered his voice and said: "Do you really have a way to ensure that Xie Xuan wins this battle?"

An irresistible force struck the body, causing Yan Fei's sword-holding hand to feel numb and painful, while he was kicked back, staggering and retreating.

Yan Fei was completely unfazed, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. With a sharp sound, the butterfly sword was drawn from its sheath, and at the same time, his left foot kicked at the campfire, instantly sending a spray of sparks mixed with glowing embers flying into the air, aimed directly at Qi Fu Guoren's face. His right hand wielded the butterfly sword, transforming it into a streak of blue light, swiftly targeting the vital points on his opponent's chest. All movements were executed in one fluid motion, reaching an extreme level of ferocity. He was well aware of the enemy's prowess, thus he took the initiative to strike with all his might, showing no mercy.

In the blink of an eye, Yan Fei had already firmly blocked the true strength of Qi Fu Guo Ren's series of attacks, yet his movements were both light and heavy, changing unpredictably, allowing him to counter more than ten strikes coming from any angle.

Yan Fei held the butterfly love flower with its scabbard in his left hand and calmly said: "Qifu Guoren, weren't you always surrounded by followers, looking quite impressive?"

Gao Yan displayed a look of great surprise and astonishment, staring at him for quite a while, and stammered, "Are you not joking? To have Xie Xuan come to see you, this cannot be accomplished merely by empty words."

Yan Fei spat out another mouthful of fresh blood, aiming it directly at Qi Fu Guo Ren. However, the latter took advantage of the momentum to fly backward, laughing as he said: "Let your elder brother have a good opportunity to spread rumors and create trouble!"

Liu Yu resolutely said: "No need! I will know how to take care of myself." After saying this, he leaped up and disappeared into the darkness on the shore.

Qifu Guoren let out a hearty laugh, his cloak billowing as if it were a red cloud, striking back with a sweeping motion. Suddenly, Yan Fei not only lost his target for attack, but the force generated by the billowing cloak also caused the embers and sparks to turn back towards him. Realizing the danger, he hurriedly retreated. He had long heard of the name Qifu Guoren, but never imagined he would be so formidable.

Gao Yanli was immediately filled with a chill, as Qifu Guoren was a terrifying master among the Xianbei tribes, second only to Murong Chui. His methods were cruel, and he was skilled in the art of tracking. What was most frightening was his penchant for male beauty; falling into his hands could lead to the most humiliating suffering for a man, making life worse than death. He instantly forgot to ask how Yan Fei could recognize Qifu Guoren's Tianyan Eagle at a glance, and in a state of utter horror exclaimed: "We must escape quickly"

Gao Yan gritted his teeth in anger and said: "If there is no deal, then so be it. You despicable scoundrel who takes advantage of others' misfortunes, you have forcibly taken away my hard-earned five taels of gold. Fortunately, I can still sell information to the Southerners and earn back a few coins."

Yan Fei felt a jolt in his heart. Although he was well aware that Qifu Guoren was employing a strategy to attack his mind, he was still affected by it, causing his sword energy to weaken by one third immediately

Yan Fei's treasured blade was struck directly by a heavy hammer weighing a thousand pounds, nearly slipping from his grasp. Within him, his meridians felt as if they were about to rupture, and he was in extreme pain, fully aware that his life and death depended on this moment. He hurriedly summoned his true energy, leveraging the force to swiftly spin away, transforming the Butterfly Love Flower into a sword aura of azure that enveloped his entire body, establishing a tight defense.

Yan Fei took out the sheepskin pouch containing the precious jade and said, "It is best that you do not open it to take a look, lest you succumb to temptation, causing trouble for both yourself and others"

Yan Fei exerted all his strength to withstand the relentless onslaught of Qi Fu Guo Ren's energy. He understood that Qi Fu Guo Ren had abandoned the intention of capturing him alive and had instead resolved to kill him, to prevent him from becoming a future threat. With a smile, he said: "Feel free to come at me; let us see if you can achieve your wish"

Liu Yu, carrying a backpack and a dagger, hurriedly walked over ten miles on the desolate plain illuminated by the moonlight, feeling both comforted and disappointed

Among the generals of the Northern Army, Hu Bin can be considered a top-tier expert. Although he is not on par with Liu Lao Zhi, He Qian, and Sun Wu Zhong, he surpasses Ge Kan, Gao Heng, Liu Gui, and Tian Ji. When the enemy's claws were still about four feet above his head, he swiftly drew his sword like lightning, making an upward slash without any hesitation. At the same time, he crouched on his horse, demonstrating a perfect balance of offense and defense in his response, making it truly impeccable

Qifu Guoren executed a somersault in mid-air, striking the tip of Yan Feijian forcefully with his right foot

Yan Fei felt it was inappropriate. Although it seemed impossible, Fu Rong's move was clearly aimed at Tuoba Gui, which made him feel very upset. He was unsure whether to continue with the matters entrusted by Tuoba Gui or to rush back to the border wasteland to see what was going on. He had no desire to entangle himself with this brat and said: "Go to hell! Where do you plan to go now?"

Yan Fei smiled and said, "You are just deceiving me. You are merely afraid of being seen through as a person with a kind heart, pretending to be someone who values wealth above all and forgets righteousness for profit. Enough with the nonsense, look!" As he spoke, he had already plunged the dagger into the ground, reached into his bosom, and pulled out his hand, revealing ten gleaming gold ingots in the light of the fire, shining brilliantly.

Yan looked at him and frowned, saying: "What kind of person are you? Aside from constantly selling information for profit, do you have any ideals or greater goals?"

Gao Yan took it and hid it away, frowning as he looked at him and said, "What kind of person are you, exactly?"

Yan Fei gazed up at the bright moon in the sky, a trace of bitter helplessness appearing at the corners of his lips, his eyes filled with an even deeper melancholy. He softly recited: "Unable to sleep at night, I rise and play the zither. The thin curtain reflects the bright moon, and the cool breeze brushes against my collar. A solitary wild goose cries out in the wilderness, and the soaring birds sing in the northern forest. What shall I see as I wander? My worries alone bring me sorrow."

Qifu Guoren's dark iron staff pointed towards Yan Fei, his black hair and cloak billowing without wind, resembling a fierce ghost. His eyes emitted a chilling and unusual light never seen before, enveloped in true energy, locking onto his opponent, he ominously remarked: "Excellent swordsmanship, this is the most outstanding sword technique I have encountered in the past decade. What is most remarkable is your youth, your future is limitless, yet unfortunately, tonight you cannot escape your fate."

The personal guards surrounded Hu Bin, protecting him from all sides, each displaying a look of shock and fear as if they had just regained their composure.

Gao Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying: "It should be to send that damned dream of a clear autumn. Suddenly, Fu Rong's vanguard troops surged into the border town from all directions, seizing control of all entry and exit routes, and surrounding the border town heavily, displaying a predatory demeanor like that of leopards and wolves. Fortunately, I had made preparations in advance and reserved an escape route, quickly making my getaway; otherwise, my life would have been forfeit."

Qifu Guoren let out a fierce shout, his cloak billowing behind him, and the iron ruler in his hand was already filled with energy, striking directly with an astonishing force that could indeed shake the heavens and the earth

The reason for his comfort lies not in having encountered a master of the Five Dou Mi Dao, but rather in his desire to avoid unnecessary complications, not because he is aware of his own inadequacy. Should he unfortunately sustain an injury, it would greatly hinder the current mission. His disappointment stems from the inability to find even a single refugee who has escaped from the Border Wilderness Gathering, as he hopes to clarify the situation of the Border Wilderness Gathering through their accounts. Fortunately, his resolute character prevents him from becoming discouraged by this.

Yan Fei finally came to a halt, and with a "whoosh," he spat out a small mouthful of fresh blood, while Die Lian Hua pointed towards his opponent.

Hu Bin has completely changed his view of Liu Yu and advised: "This person might be lurking in the shadows plotting against you. It would be better to cancel tonight's plan and I will arrange for you to infiltrate the border area from another location tomorrow night"

Yan Fei confidently said: "Even if someone is following me, they must have been misled by my deceptive tactics and strayed into the wrong path, heading towards the shadow city on the opposite bank. Speaking of counter-tracking, I do have some methods. Why the change of heart? Weren't you planning to stay in the border town to make a fortune?"

Gao Yan sighed and said: "Am I still considered a human? Setting aside our friendship, I am, after all, a Han person. I am even more afraid that you, this little brat, will chase me to the ends of the earth, forcing me to live in constant fear and trepidation."

Bang

Qifu Guoren was also harmed by his own counter-shock force, unable to continue his offensive and defensive maneuvers. He had no choice but to roll over and fall from mid-air, and in an instant, the distance between the two had widened to two zhang.

Yan Fei exerted himself to focus his mind, and the sword light in his hand burst forth violently. He fully unleashed the life-saving secret technique from the "Sun and Moon Bright Sky" mental method. The "Butterfly Loves Flower" technique drew a series of more than ten small circles, transitioning from a large circle to smaller ones. Regardless of how Qifu Guoren's moves changed, the final circle remained ensnared at the point of Qifu Guoren's striking blade.

At the moment he was utterly horrified, he suddenly saw the opponent's bare foot kicking towards his face. There was no time to evade, and he inwardly lamented that his life was at an end

Yan Fei exclaimed, "You actually have a secret passage that can lead away from the gathering?"

"Choking!"

Qifu Guoren, whose eyes were once as lifeless as a dead fish, suddenly sparkled with vitality, and he seemed to regain his spirit. He chuckled mischievously and said, "With you, my little darling, accompanying me, how could I possibly feel lonely?"

Gao Yan waited quietly with a tingling sensation on his scalp

The explosive sound of a clash rang in Hu Bin's ears, and he felt Liu Yu retreating behind him. The enemy's foot, which had nearly taken his life, also quickly moved away. A chilling laughter echoed back from the direction of the retreating assailants, saying: "You are lucky, Hu Bin!"

Gao Yan only regretted that his parents had given him two fewer legs, and upon hearing a warning of "Be careful," he sprang up and dashed off in the direction indicated by Yan Fei.

Hu Bin forced himself to stand upright and looked towards Liu Yu, seeing that the young general was sheathing his sword, his expression still so calm, gazing at the dark area on the shore where the assassin had vanished. Unable to restrain himself, he praised, "Young brother, you are remarkable; it is entirely thanks to your single strike that we repelled the enemy. I will report this matter to the military commander."

Yan Fei has borrowed the momentum of the spinning force to invade the opponent's vital energy. Upon witnessing Qi Fu Guoren's strategic brilliance to this extent, he inwardly exclaimed in admiration and retaliated with Die Lian Hua.

In Yan Fei's eyes, although Qifu Guoren still appeared to be imposing on the surface, he was well aware that Qifu Guoren was in an awkward moment where the old power had dissipated and the new power had yet to emerge; thus, he must seize the opportunity, with the green light in his hand flourishing, transforming into a rain of swords that swept towards this formidable opponent.

Qifu Guoren, unexpectedly, neither retreated nor blocked with an iron ruler, but instead crouched down, shaking his head vigorously, allowing his long hair, which reached his chest, to sweep fiercely into the heart of the sword rain, striking his beloved butterfly flower.

Yan Fei maintained a calm and composed demeanor, saying: "Do not move. I know which direction you are coming from. You must immediately follow my instructions and flee as far as you can without looking back to Shouyang. I have my own methods for preserving my life and escaping."

Yan Fei revealed a serious expression and said in a deep voice: "If my conjecture is correct, this eagle should be the divine eagle 'Tianyan' renowned in the northern frontier of the Qifu Kingdom."

Gao Yan was taken aback, as he did not know that Yan Fei was reciting the "Ode of Longing" by Ruan Ji, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, from over a hundred years ago. Due to the limited knowledge he possessed, he could not fully grasp the scenes of midnight melodies, cold moonlight, and solitary wild swans. However, these images made him feel the profound confusion, loneliness, and sorrow within Yan Fei, as if a heartbroken person held a different kind of longing. It reflected a worry of being unable to see any way out in the darkness, with chaos looming ahead. It was evident that beneath Yan Fei's carefree and unrestrained exterior lay a heart filled with scars, leaving Gao Yan momentarily at a loss for further questions.

Qifu Guoren stood proudly about two zhang away from Yan Fei, resembling a malevolent red-clad ghost emerging from the underworld. Although no weapons were visible on the surface, Yan Fei knew that the mysterious iron ruler, which had earned him his reputation, was, as per his usual habit, tucked behind his waist.

It turned out that Yan Fei Piao released a sword aura before retreating, laying down a triple energy net along his escape route, which forced Qifu Guoren to be unable to take advantage of the situation to pursue and attack vigorously

Yan Fei smiled and said: "The other three ingots are the secret passage that allows me to sneak into the border wilderness gathering."

The Ying River meanders southward about a certain distance to his right. He is hesitating whether to head north along the western bank of the Ying River, which would greatly increase his chances of encountering the wild people. Suddenly, a short and piercing scream came from a patch of wild forest to the northwest, which, based on his keen hearing, he estimated to be about half a mile away from his current position