The night was like thick ink, pouring heavily down, wrapping the ruins of Changsheng Castle tightly in silence.

The moonlight like mercury flowed freely, outlining a scene of desolation and loneliness on the charred beams and scattered bricks. Those ruins, like silent sentinels, stood quietly, telling tales of past prosperity and present desolation.

After bidding farewell to Lin Wanqing, Shi Feiyang, with a posture as upright as a pine, strode out of the tent with firm and powerful steps. Each step he took seemed to break the boundless silence, carrying an innate dominance and determination.

Gong Simeng followed silently behind him, their shadows elongated by the moonlight.

One was resolute and fearless, exuding a reassuring strength; the other appeared slightly hesitant, with eyes full of complex emotions. They seemed like two stars of completely different brightness, particularly conspicuous against the dim backdrop of the ruins.

Shi Feiyang suddenly turned around, the moonlight unabashedly illuminating his distinctly defined and determined face. Amidst the sternness, a trace of subtle tenderness quietly emerged, his eyes blazing as he gazed at Gong Simeng, filled with concern.

His voice, deep yet penetrating, said: "Sister, regarding the safety of your father and uncle, I, Shi Feiyang, promise to use all my power to ensure it. Not only that, I plan to persuade them to join our Heroic Sakura Association. They possess great martial skills and are honest and upright, but in a place like the Divine Water Palace, they're merely pawns in Liu Yanran's hand, their talents buried without mercy. Do you understand my intentions?"

He took a step forward, slightly bowed his head, and looked attentively into Gong Simeng's eyes, seemingly seeking an affirmative answer from her gaze. Meanwhile, a night breeze swept through, accentuating the deathly silence of the ruins, with only the distant sound of the wind.

Upon hearing this, a flash of complex and indistinct emotion appeared in Gong Simeng's eyes, containing trust in Shi Feiyang, worry for her family, and confusion about the future. She subconsciously bit her lower lip gently, as if suppressing the surging waves within, her hands involuntarily clutching the corners of her clothes, trembling slightly, and said softly: "I understand, Brother Shi, they indeed deserve a broader stage to realize their ambitions. However, they are extremely stubborn in character. Just take my leaving the Divine Water Palace, for example. They must think me rebellious. Persuading them to join the Heroic Sakura Association this time will be challenging to achieve easily."

With that, she sighed softly, a sigh full of helplessness and sorrow, which also brought a deep worry to her face.

Shi Feiyang's lips curled into a self-assured smile, gently patting Gong Simeng's shoulder, and said with determination: "I have my considerations on this matter, so you need not worry. By the way, sister, what is your view of Liu Yanran?"

The surrounding ruins were dead silent, with only a few insect chirps occasionally breaking this temporary calm, further accentuating the oppressive atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, Gong Simeng's eyebrows instantly knitted, a strong loathing flashed in her eyes, harboring the blood and crimes witnessed over the years. Her fists clenched tightly, knuckles whitening from the exertion, and she said through gritted teeth: "Liu Yanran has always been insidious and treacherous, ambitious, ruthless, with hands stained with the blood of countless innocents. Just talking about that massacre years ago, many families were destroyed, separated from their loved ones, all caused by her! I wish I could bring her to justice myself! But she is also the one who raised me, taught me martial arts, and instructed me on the ways of the world, so I have an inextricable gratitude for her. I... I am really conflicted."

Her voice trembled slightly, with a hint of choking, eyes full of pain and struggle, her inner turmoil like tangled threads, vividly expressed.

At this moment, the moonlight became increasingly cold, as if also mourning Gong Simeng's conflicted emotions, casting silvery rays that seemed to carry threads of chill.

Shi Feiyang nodded slightly, having fully understood the complex emotions within Gong Simeng, yet momentarily unsure of how to comfort her.

Just then, Xiao Lingling hurriedly approached with an anxious expression to report: "Grand Squad Leader, Wu Wei has escaped!"

She ran breathlessly, beads of sweat covering her forehead and slipping down her cheeks, with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

Shi Feiyang's expression remained calm, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, as he said leisurely: "Wu Wei will come back; let her suffer a bit outside, to learn a lesson. She thinks she can escape easily, yet she doesn't realize even this vast Jianghu can hardly accommodate her rampant behavior."

In the moonlight, Shi Feiyang's shadow was elongated, reflecting a sense of steadiness and confidence.

Xiao Lingling, showing concern, asked in a low voice: "Grand Squad Leader, will Wu Wei's escape cause us trouble? She knows quite a bit about us!" Saying this, she slightly furrowed her brows, eyes filled with worry. The surrounding ruins appeared increasingly dilapidated under the night, the shattered walls and broken structures casting faint shadows in the moonlight, seemingly foretelling the impending storm.

Shi Feiyang shook his head gently, his eyes exuding undeniable confidence and certainty, and said: "Wu Wei, though cunning and crafty, is ultimately hard to escape our control. She is merely a petty clown, unable to stir much trouble."

A cold wind blew, raising dust from the ground and unsettling everyone's mood.

Wu Zhong stepped forward, tilted his head, and asked Shi Feiyang: "Grand Squad Leader, when shall we head south? The brothers are all hoping for a new direction, to boost the reputation of the Heroic Sakura Association!"

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