Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Chapter 11: Above the Sword Platform

The news about Wang Teng and Lin Rufei’s sword competition was spread throughout the entire Kunlun Mountain in just half a day.

When Zuo Yuanbai heard the news, he was eating the most famous rice cake at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. The rice cake was sweet and soft with crumbles of honey dates placed on top—very delicious.

Zuo Yuanbai ate another piece when he saw Tian Yun hurrying over. He sat down beside him with an excited face. He slapped the table and said that he had big news to tell Zuo Yuanbai, telling Zuo Yuanbai to take out a low-grade spirit stone to treat him to a cup of freshly brewed Dukang[1].

Zuo Yuanbai chewed the rice cake. He chuckled and told Tian Yun to tell the news first. If the news was interesting, then he will definitely buy this cup of Dukang.

Tian Yun said, “Just this morning, did you know that a swordsman wearing a bamboo hat came to Kunlun with the Qiong Hua order……”

Zuo Yuanbai was shocked at the words, “Do you mean that legendary Qiong Hua order?”

“How many other Qiong Hua orders are there in the world?” Tian Yun took a piece of rice cake from Zuo Yuanbai’s hand and chewed it. He continued, “A hundred years ago, a nine-year-old child took the Qiong Hua order and approached the then head of Kunlun, saying that he was a descendant of the Yan Kingdom and that his request was to restore the kingdom. At that time, who did not take this as a joke, the one who defeated the Yan Kingdom was the Great Chu, and at that time the Great Chu was so strong that it could only be a dream to restore the kingdom.” Tian Yun said excitedly, his spit flying everywhere, “However, who could have imagined that after only twenty years, Yan Kingdom was actually restored……”

Although the word Kunlun was not mentioned at all from the beginning to the end, if one really wanted to say that there was no relationship with the Kunlun Sect, most likely no one would believe it.

To this day, the Qiong Hua order was famous all over the world and everyone wanted to get a piece.

However, a hundred years have passed, no second piece of Qiong Hua order had appeared, until today—

Zuo Yuanbai also followed the excitement, he said: “Someone really took the Qiong Hua order to Kunlun? What did he ask for?”

Tian Yun said: “The best part is here, the one who took the Qiong Hua order to Kunlun is a swordsman. Once he arrived at the mountain, he said he wanted to compete with the most powerful swordsman on Kunlun Mountain—”

Zuo Yuanbai froze: “What kind of request is that? Now that Lin Qionglou is still in seclusion, the most powerful, is it not the second son of the Lin family, Lin Bianyu?”

“If that’s all, what am I excited about?” Tian Yun’s spittle flew, “Here’s the problem, that swordsman actually said that Lin Bianyu was not the most powerful swordsman on Kunlun Mountain.”

“Then who is it?” Zuo Yuanbai froze again.

Tian Yun said, “The fourth son of the Lin family, Lin Rufei!”

Lin Rufei? That is a good name, but he has never heard of it. Zuo Yuanbai thought about it, but nothing came to mind.  “The fourth son of the Lin Family?” Zuo Yuanbai wondered, “How come I’ve never heard of him?”

Tian Yun said, “If you never heard of it then that’s the point! I also asked around for a long time before finally getting some information. They said that the fourth of the Lin family, ah, his body was born weak and since childhood, he has never held a sword…… But if this is true, then it’s really strange. Why would the swordsman say that he is the strongest on Kunlun Mountain?”

Zuo Yuanbai said: “It is very strange, ah.”

Tian Yun said: “But we just have to wait until tomorrow. Then we will know what is going on! Maybe …… that swordsman is not a powerful person in the first place and just grabbed a soft persimmon to pinch?”

Zuo Yuanbai shook his head, thinking that there was little truth in those words. That Qiong Hua order was not something that you could just get your hands on, how could you use it to make such a joke.

Speaking of which, Zuo Yuanbai suddenly murmured: “To say powerful, I do think that, that day the swordsman who was in the loft above the sword competition was definitely strong. He was able to break the northern peak with one swing…..”

That day, their position wasn’t considered too far from the loft and they were able to clearly witness everything that had happened. The swordsman on the wheelchair, who had a pale face and was wearing fox fur, lifted his arm to swing the heavy sword. It was a light swing, but it split the north peak. After this incident, it became widespread but no one knew the identity of the swordsman. There were rumors that he was an immortal exiled from the nine heavens. Of course, the rumors could not be trusted. But a real immortal would probably look kind of just like that. Zuo Yuanbai was lost in his thoughts. 

Tian Yun also quieted down, he was probably the same as Zuo Yuanbai, reminiscing about that day. 

Besides, tomorrow on Kunlun Mountain will be the sword competition. However, Lin Rufei did not feel any restlessness, as if it was just another normal day for him.

He could hold it together, but the young Yu Rui could not. After knowing this news, she has been crying nonstop with tears like broken lines of beads. She even soaked her entire front lapel but still couldn’t stop. 

Lin Rufei didn’t know how to comfort her, so he could only take out two pieces of corn candy to coax her, but Yu Rui said in a huff that she did not want to eat the candy. She said that young master should not go to the sword competition tomorrow, but after she said that she realized that this request was destined to be unfulfilled and the tears came out again. 

Lin Rufei could not comfort her, so he had to watch her cry with a sad face. In the end, Fu Hua came in and pulled her out, saying fiercely: “Young master is fine, why are you crying. If you want to cry, go out and cry! It’s such an eyesore!”

Fu Hua rarely was this violent, most likely it was also because she was upset about the matter of Lin Rufei being in a sword competition. 

Yu Rui went out crying, but before she left she did not forget to eat a piece of corn candy. Probably because the taste of sugar was good, the little girl could not help but release a smile. But then she quickly became sad again and left whimpering. 

Lin Rufei looked at her and had the urge to laugh.

Fu Hua sullenly said: “Today, whatever young master wants to eat, I will go to town to buy it for young master.” 

Lin Rufei turned his head to look at her: “Fu Hua, you are not allowed to go to town today.”

Fu Hua bit her lip heavily.

Lin Rufei said, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Fu Hua pouted, “Young Master ……”

Lin Rufei said, “Throwing a tantrum won’t work.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Fu Hua began to sob heavily. Her aggrieved look was somewhat similar to Yu Rui’s. Normally, Lin Rufei really had no way to comfort them when they were like this, but in this case, Lin Rufei was not going to back down. He stroked Fu Hua’s head, which was one head shorter than himself, and helplessly said: “Be good, do not cry, since that person dares come to Kunlun, he naturally has his own ways of doing things. Your cultivation is only level six, how could you be his opponent?”

“Then what about young master?” Fu Hua’s tears fell like rain, “Can we only watch as young master you go to your death?”

Lin Rufei smiled, “Why be sad about death, it is better to look at it optimistically.”

Fu Hua said with hatred, “If anyone dares to sing with a drum[2], I will break their hand!”

Lin Rufei laughed.

But how could Fu Hua laugh, her tears were still dripping sorrowfully. Lin Rufei could not help it, so he found an excuse to say he was hungry to send her out to make some food. 

Once Fu Hua left, the room was quiet. Lin Rufei sat in front of the window, propped his chin up and looked at the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard. The tree had not changed, it was still thin and small. No branches, no leaves, and the trunk still bare. It looked very pitiful.

“The year I turned sixteen, I was very sick. My second brother found Wan Yao to come and diagnose me.” Lin Rufei muttered to himself, “Both of them thought I was sick to the point of being confused, so some of the words were said openly. Second brother asked Wan Yao how much time I had left. Wan Yao replied that I had less than a year standing.” 

Thirty years old.

Wan Yao’s words were to say that Lin Rufei would not live past thirty years old.  

“I heard it all.” Lin Rufei very plainly talked about the matters of life and death, “I was still young then. I was upset for a few days but then I figured it out.” He curved his eyebrows. In his light-colored eyes, the hidden cherry blossom revealed itself slightly, “Matters of life and death shouldn’t be held in such high regards.”

The person will eventually die, fearless and also intrepid.

Lin Rufei said, “I am very happy to have such good brothers and such a good sister. I am also very happy to have met you.” That night, he will never forget. He later understood that the sword took him to where his fixation was. Lin Rufei’s ** was already frail. Those days, he just wanted to be able to bully the monkeys who stole his rice cake at least once.

He just wanted to see the Monkey King’s aggrieved look, only to find that he bullied it a little too hard. 

When Lin Rufei thought of this, he couldn’t help but smile lightly.

The wind suddenly rustled in the courtyard. Upon taking a closer look, the cherry blossom tree actually sprouted a few bright green tender leaves. Lin Rufei’s eyes widened: “You …… how come you haven’t bloomed any flowers but are already sprouting leaves. “

Naturally, the tree could not speak. But looking at its shaking figure, it seems to be kind of angry. Lin Rufei quickly said: “No matter, no matter. I also like cherry blossom leaves!”  

Only then did the cherry blossom tree stop moving.

Lin Rufei looked at the tree and felt some inexplicable sadness. This cherry blossom tree was unpleasant in the eyes of his second brother. If he really died, maybe his second brother would draw his sword and cut it to pieces the next moment.

“No matter, tomorrow I will remember to talk to second brother about this matter.” Lin Rufei muttered, “Lest you be implicated with me when the time comes ……”

Time flowed, the moon was sparse, and it was yet another day.

Lin Rufei reclined on the couch, smelling the cool breeze. He slept with the bright moon. The sky was cloudless, it will most likely be a clear day tomorrow.

Good, Lin Rufei thought. He likes clear Spring days, the Spring breeze, the luscious plants and trees, and the cherry blossom trees with new leaves. All is well.

The next day, the sky was clear.

Fu Hua woke up early to prepare breakfast for Lin Rufei. She and Yu Rui both looked tired, probably because they had not slept all night.

Lin Rufei had slept well, but he was inexplicably embarrassed by the grim looks of Fu Hua and Yu Rui.

Fu Hua said: “Young master, did you have a good rest last night?”

Lin Rufei said, “Not …… bad?”

When Yu Rui heard this she sniffed and cried again, saying that young master shouldn’t try to be strong in order to keep them from worrying. He must have had a sleepless night but did not dare tell.

Lin Rufei looked helpless, so he had to take out another piece of corn candy, and only then did he stop Yu Rui’s sobbing mouth.

After breakfast, it was almost time for the competition with Wang Teng. Lin Rufei summoned Fu Hua and asked her to push him to the place that had been decided on yesterday.

This time, the sword competition was not on the mountain, but rather a sword platform deep in the forest.

Most likely because of certain considerations, Lin Minzhi did not intend to make the competition public when he decided on this place.

Fu Hua walked extremely slowly, while Yu Rui followed with her head hanging down. But even though she was slow, the road still had an end. 

Lin Rufei finally arrived at the place they had agreed. He saw Wang Teng standing in the middle of a clearing wearing a bamboo hat like yesterday. Lin Bianyu and Lin Minzhi were not far away from Wang Teng.

It was just that Lin Bianyu and Lin Minzhi’s expressions weren’t too good, especially Lin Bianyu’s. His face was pale and he was reluctant to look at Lin Rufei.

Lin Rufei called out to his big brother and second brother.

“Xiao Jiu.” Lin Minzhi said, “You’re here.”

“I’m here.” Lin Rufei asked, “Why does second brother look so pale?”

Before Lin Bianyu could answer, Wang Teng laughed. Only this laugh was icy cold, like a snake’s hissing. He said, “Of course that is because your second brother, for your sake, met me at night…..it’s a pity.

Wang Teng said coldly again: “It’s a pity he was half beaten to death by me.”

Lin Rufei turned back, gathered his smile, and looked into Wang Teng’s eyes—no longer with a trace of warmth.

********

The author has something to say:

Lin Rufei rolled up his sleeves: You dare to beat up my second brother, I will make you bald.

Wang Teng: ? ? ? ? ?

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[1] Type of wine, also in reference to a famous Chinese winemaker. 

[2] Ok, this gets lost in translation because of how Chinese works. So the response before Fu Hua’s, where Lin Rufei says to have an optimistic attitude, it uses the idiom “鼓盆而歌,” which means to see life and death optimistically. But also at the same time, the direct meaning is like the one Fu Hua says, “Daring to sing with a drum.” So basically both sentences use the same phrase, but because of the meanings it’s translated differently. Hope that clears things up a bit ^-^