Chapter 1277: The Imperial Princess’s Disappearance Shocks the Heroes, Dian Nan’s Flickering Candlelight Disturbs the Monarch’s Heart

The heroes of the Xiong Ying faction gradually returned to Jiangnan from the prairie.

The plum rain season in Jiangnan always carries a lingering sense of melancholy. When the rain clears and the sun first appears, crystalline droplets still cling to the blue stone steps of the Piaomiao Peak headquarters, refracting into a scattering glow in the morning light. Moss meanders along the stone step crevices, adding a touch of softness to this deadly place. The copper bell at the corner of the meeting hall’s eaves is stirred by the wind, producing a clear sound, which intertwines with the faint sound of pine waves from afar, like the prelude to a Jianghu ballad.

Liao Pei stands outside the meeting hall, the wear marks on his Long Arm Fist gloves are clearly visible, marks left by countless battles.

He takes a deep breath, his gloves heavily knocking against the copper ring, the dull sound startling the cold crows resting under the eaves.

“Grand Squad Leader, there are reports back from the Ryukyu Sub-Branch, Japanese spies have been increasingly rampant lately.” His voice is deep and powerful, carrying the weight of time’s changes, each word bearing a heavy responsibility.

Inside the hall, Lie Quan sits with the Heaven and Earth Saber across his knees, the copper ring on the scabbard gently trembles with his words, emitting a subtle buzz.

This seasoned Jianghu hero, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s at this moment: “We old bones have galloped across the prairie for months, it’s time to visit our old friends in Ryukyu.” His lips curve into a cold smile, seeming to recall the pleasure and grudges of past clashes with Japanese pirates, the saber ring tremor seemingly echoes his inner battle intent.

Inside the hall, the “Seven Cultivation Sword” Kong Triangle strokes the Big Dipper Pattern carved on his sword’s handle, his eyebrows slightly furrowed; the “Xingyi Fist” Fan Shi stands in a standard horse stance, his presence unified and commanding; the “Hundred Leaves Saber” Liu Yehua toys with thirty-six steel leaves in his hand, emitting a fine buzz; whilst the “Tai Chi Saber” Southwest Wind spins his long sword slowly, the blade reflecting his tranquil and unperturbed face.

Their expressions vary, yet all exude an aura that should not be underestimated.

Shi Feiyang sits at the main seat, his long fingers caressing the ice pattern of the Celestial Frost Blade, his glass-like skin glowing warmly in the morning light, akin to a naturally formed beautiful jade. He lifts his gaze, scanning the heroes within the hall, his eyes sharp as cold stars: “Ryukyu is the throat of the sea, coveted by Japanese for a long time. Shan Zhi, lead your brothers and embark immediately, see Lu Chengfeng and Li Ji for me.”

His voice is neither hurried nor slow, yet carries an undeniable authority, each word a heavy hammer upon the hearts of all present.

As his words fall, Shi Feiyang’s gaze lands on Wu Zhong.

This one-armed hero’s iron prosthesis gleams coldly under the sunlight, each corner showcasing strength and resilience. “Brother Wu, your forging secret technique…” Shi Feiyang says meaningfully, unfinished words full of trust and expectation.

“Understood!” Wu Zhong rises abruptly, his iron prosthesis striking the ground heavily with a booming sound, causing the entire meeting hall to slightly tremble. He gestures broadly, dismantling and reassembling the forged iron prosthesis, revealing the intricate gear structure inside, each component sparkling with intelligence.

“The watertight compartment design of this prosthesis is sure to give our Ryukyu warships an edge.” His voice echoes through the hall like a bell, his iron palm slams heavily on the table, splashing tea from the cup, a dark stain spreading on the table surface, “If Japanese dare to come, they’ll end up as fish food!” His eyes burn with fierce battle will, as if already witnessing the Japanese crumble under their counterattack.

The heroes in the hall hear this and their blood boils. The candle flames flicker. Shi Feiyang stands with hands behind him before the sea map, the Bright Jade Technique flows, his glass-like skin reflecting the contour of the Ryukyu Islands alternately bright and dim, as if holding the entire sea region within his eyes.

His fingertips are like a sword, he thrusts heavily into a spot on the sea map, speaking solemnly: “Japanese spies are numerous, unless this intelligence network is broken, Ryukyu will have no peace!” The “Seven Cultivation Sword” Kong Triangle draws his long sword with a clang, the Big Dipper Pattern on the sword shines coldly, the tip pointing southeast of the sea map: “Grand Squad Leader! The coral reef terrain is treacherous, surely the Japanese throat stronghold! I’m willing to lead the Seven Cultivation Sword Array for a night raid, using stars as guide, to break them into chaos!”

His eyebrows fly, his whole body surrounded by Sword Qi, as if already amidst a fierce sea battle.

“Xingyi Fist” Fan Shi steps out sharply, the ground beneath him slightly sinks, his aura steadfast as a mountain: “Japanese are arrogant at sea, but lax on land! I’ll lead twenty disciples landing from the Northwest, deploying a Tiger Concealment Fist Array, show them that the land’s tiger might is fiercer than the sea storm!” With that, he fiercely performs a set of boxing, the wind of the punches whistling, causing the candle flames in the hall to sway.

“Hundred Leaves Saber” Liu Yehua toys with the steel leaves at his waist, emitting a teeth-gritting buzz, his lips curving into a wicked smile: “Can the Japanese saber be faster than my thirty-six flying leaves? I’ll lead the fleet to a frontal assault, wait for them to come out in full force, then use my Hundred Leaves Saber Array to grind them to shreds!”

He shakes his wrist sharply, the leaves soar out like startled swans, pinning into the hall pillar, emitting a “thud-thud” sound.

“Tai Chi Saber” Southwest Wind slowly spins the long sword in his hand, the blade carving a smooth arc, speaking with a half-smile: “Japanese often use the ‘Wild Goose Formation’, looks impressive, but the eye is in the flagship. Once that ship’s broken, the rest are just scattered sand.”

His voice is neither hurried nor slow, yet exudes confident composure, the long sword swings in a hidden yin-yang revolving manner.

Before the words are finished, Xie Wen glides into the hall like a phantom, his hawk-like gaze sweeps across the sea map, urgently says: “Grand Squad Leader! I’ve discovered Japanese using wolf smoke to communicate, sending a secret ship every three days! We can lay a web on their route, capture the ship and its crew together!” He spreads out a yellowed map paper, densely marked with spy distributions and secret ship routes, each mark bearing his painstaking effort.