Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Chapter 12: The Dragon kills the Dragon (I)

When Wang Teng said this, Lin Bianyu was not angry. He calmly said: “Yesterday, you said so yourself, that you wanted to compete with the most powerful swordsman in Kunlun. If you couldn’t even block my sword, how can you be qualified to face Rufei?”

If Wang Teng only knew that Lin Rufei was weak and sickly and had not practiced swordplay. And was just using him to make a name for himself, even if he died under Lin Bianyu’s sword, it would not be injustice. 

However, last night, Wang Teng proved his strength in front of Lin Bianyu.

Wang Teng was indeed powerful, and his sword style treacherous. It was more suitable for assassins that sneaked attack rather than such an open and honest sword competition. If you say it was on the wide sword stage, Lin Bianyu still had a seven-point chance of winning, but if it comes to the complex night terrain, the chance of victory will only be three points.

This was the case last night.

Lin Bianyu was defeated.

Wang Teng did not want to waste any more time. He turned his head to look at Lin Rufei and raised his hand to unsheathe his sword.

That sword, Lin Bianyu had seen it last night. It was three feet long and two inches wide. Its body was blue with a black python pattern. Held in his hand, it was like a soft green snake—able to easily take the life of a person.

Last night, Lin Bianyu nearly died under this sword. Unlike ordinary famous swords, this was a murder weapon designed to kill. Once it was unsheathed, it would see blood.

Wang Teng pulled out the snow white blade. There was a unique foul smell coming from it. It smelled like fresh blood.

The Spring breeze carried the foul air and smacked Lin Rufei’s cheeks. Wang Teng smiled and said in a voice as gentle as that of a lover, “It’s named Qingji[1], please, Lin gongzi.”

Lin Minzhi stepped forward and stood beside Lin Rufei. He whispered, “Rufei, wait a little longer, I summoned Gu Feiyu to bring over Zhongfeng, he should be here soon.”

Lin Minzhi didn’t go meet with Wang Teng during the night. He was thinking of a more tactful method.

That day, in the loft above the sword stage, Lin Rufei used Zhongfeng to split Kunlun’s north peak. He thought that Zhongfeng and Lin Rufei at least had some affinity.

Although he didn’t know if Lin Rufei could still use Zhongfeng, it was still better than going to the sword platform empty-handed.

But Lin Rufei knew that Zhongfeng was not his own sword. He was about to say something when he felt his wheelchair being pushed by a pair of hands, and when he looked behind him, there was no one there.

“Rufei—” Lin Minzhi was stunned, he thought that Lin Rufei had slid his wheelchair by himself.

“Big brother, nothing is wrong.” Lin Rufei remembered something and softly reassured, “Don’t worry.”

“Xiao Jiu—” Lin Bianyu was anxious and even called out Lin Rufei’s nickname.

Lin Rufei turned his back to Lin Bianyu, waved his hand, and did not speak. He was afraid that if he said too much, it would let those two people worry more.

Someone was accompanying him, although that person could not be seen, his heart was reassured.  

Even Wang Teng, who was on the sword stage and could take his life any moment, wasn’t as scary anymore. 

Lin Rufei smiled lightly.

Wang Teng really liked the expression on Lin Rufei’s face. He had competed with many swordsmen and had taken many heads. Those people would show the fear hidden in their bones when they faced him.

Wild beasts were very sensitive to these emotions, and Wang Teng could see through their disguise with a glance.

But Lin Rufei seemed to be a little special. He looks handsome but was very thin. He could clearly see his neck’s fragile curvature and the hidden light blue veins on top. His white neck was very tempting. Wang Teng really liked to watch it being gently cut, splashing out bright red liquid. This imagination makes him excited and also brings fear to the enemy.

However, Lin Rufei seemed to feel no negative emotions from Wang Teng. He was calm. His pupils, which were lighter than normal people, stared coldly at Wang Teng. He was neither fearful nor excited, as if looking at some plain roadside weed.  

This indifferentness made Wang Teng very interested. He raised his hand to remove the bamboo hat, revealing a face belonging to a foreign race. This face was a little too young, it was about sixteen or seventeen years old, however, the most striking was the pair of ice green eyes.

It was the first time Lin Rufei saw such cold eyes. It was like ice that sunk to the bottom of the lake and could not store a single trace of warmth.

“Twenty-three years ago, it was the birth of a son on Kunlun Mountain. That day the sunset turned into a phoenix and flew around Kunlun and only until night did it gradually disperse.” Wang Teng’s voice was hoarse. He stared at Lin Rufei’s eyes, like staring at a long-awaited prey. The only trace of reason left in his pupils began to gradually dissipate, only the excitement of the remaining beast remained, “My master then told me that this world had another person who could take my life!” 

Lin Rufei’s face was expressionless.

“Ten thousand birds taking the form of a phoenix is the sign only when the Heavenly Ruler was born. And you Lin Rufei had this sign too. Even though you cannot compare to the Heavenly Ruler, I think you won’t be too unsatisfactory.” Wang Teng said, “That day when I saw you by the bridge, I knew I had found the right person—Lin Rufei, you are very strong!”

Lin Rufei looked at Wang Teng. He was sitting in a wheelchair, his face as pale as the snow on the top of the mountain.

He should be afraid. If the person in front of him could beat Lin Bianyu, it would certainly be an opponent that he could not defeat. But Lin Rufei was not afraid. Not only was he not afraid, he also raised his hand to support his chin. He just surveyed the enemy standing opposite to him indifferently.

This was the first time Fu Hua saw this expression of Lin Rufei. Compared to his usual expression, this was more foreign. However, currently, Fu Hua could not think about it too much, she smelled on Wang Teng’s body that increasingly strong smell of blood. It was almost as if he just killed countless wild animals, cut open their throats, and let their blood soak in the smell of the Earth.

Yu Rui cultivation was the lowest and she already couldn’t help but vomit.

Fu Hua was also pale.

But it just so happens that Lin Rufei, who was sitting opposite Wang Teng, remained indifferent. He indeed could not smell the fishy smell. All he could smell was the light fragrance of cherry blossom. The person who was accompanying him appeared behind him. His hand rested gently on his shoulder. His voice was slightly cool and he said: “Xiao Jiu, angry?”

Lin Rufei did not answer. He knew that everyone present could not see the person behind him, and could not hear his question.

“You’re right to be angry, what kind of cats and dogs are worthy to speak out in front of you.” The man lowered his head and came close to Lin Rufei’s ear. His black hair fell onto Lin Rufei’s neck, bringing a few tickles. He whispered, “Go ahead, I’m here.” After he finished speaking, he turned into a gust of wind, interspersed with rustling cherry blossom petals, which spread over the entire sword platform.

The sudden appearance of cherry blossom petals spread its fresh aroma over the entire sword platform, strongly suppressing the rich smell of blood on Wang Teng.

Wang Teng stared at Lin Rufei. There seems to be a fire in his green eyes. The fire gathered and tumbled in his eyes before finally brewing into a wave of monstrous anger. Qingjing[2] was unsheathed and Wang Teng made the first move. 

In a flash, four green sword lights spurt out. It was wrapped in the power of wind and thunder and it slashed directly at Lin Rufei. The raging sword power actually resonated with the sky and a thunderstorm erupted. The original clear sky was instantly covered with dark clouds, interspersed with golden threads. It was as if the world had turned upside down.

The cherry blossoms that originally covered the sword stage were blown into mid-air by the wind. Lin Rufei sat amidst the rain of flowers petals, without sorrow or joy—like a sitting Buddha.

The green sword Qi was like a predatory tiger. It was about to pounce on his face. This sword light was more terrifying than poison, as long as it touched even the slightest bit, they would be torn to pieces.

The time in Lin Rufei’s eyes froze. Wang Teng’s movements were incomparably slow in his eyes, even the swift tiger-like green sword Qi, also seemed to just be wriggling. Lin Rufei raised his hand and his middle and index fingers gently caught a petal of cherry blossom that was blown upwards. He slightly tilted his head, then the petal in his hand flew out like a knife blade.

The petal instantly turned into blood-red sword Qi and lunged towards the green sword Qi.

The two swords Qi collided. First, a loud sound that could shake Heaven and Earth rang out, and then all was quiet. Standing at the side of the sword platform, Fu Hua’s ears were buzzing. She turned her head in bewilderment and saw Yu Rui’s mouth opening and closing, but there was no sound. After that, she felt as if something wet was flowing out her ears, she raised her hand to wipe and saw that her fingers were stained with bright red blood.

Yu Rui at her side did the same.

The level of this competition was not something they could watch.

It was only the first strike, yet their ears were already deafened. 

On the stage, Wang Teng’s pupils stood up, and inconspicuous scales began to faintly emerge on both sides of his face. He looked at Lin Rufei on the other side of the sword platform, his voice was hoarse: “I just wanted to know why Master would praise a person he has never met before for so many years. Lin Rufei, it’s just a name. A living human could not even compare to a name?”

Lin Rufei said, “I don’t know you, nor do I know your master.”

“You naturally wouldn’t know.” Wang Teng said coldly, “But I have known you for twenty-three years.”

But Lin Rufei laughed and looked at Wang Teng like a child who was provoking a fight: “So what?”

Wang Teng seemed to be irritated by Lin Rufei’s smile, and he hissed, “So what? Just after today, after today, your Lin family disciples, the whole Kunlun Sect, will remember my name, Wang Teng! It was I who killed you, Lin Rufei, I am the most powerful sword immortal!”

Lin Rufei said, “You have already made your move, now it’s my turn.”

He didn’t intentionally emphasize the tone of his voice but Wang Teng’s heart inexplicably shrank and his feet involuntarily took a step back. It was like a beast reacting involuntarily when it found a deadly enemy, and Wang Teng’s green pupils contracted violently.

A thin, slender cherry blossom branch appeared out of nowhere in mid-air.

Lin Rufei understood it by heart and raised his hand to hold it.

Standing beside the sword platform, Lin Bianyu’s pupils shrank slightly, and his injured cheeks turned a few shades whiter. He recognized the branch, it was the one which he had secretly broken off the cherry blossom tree before.

Because of this, he was tripped by the tree and fell.

At this time, the seemingly unexceptional cherry blossom branch that appeared in Lin Rufei’s hand turned into a fearsome existence.

The thick dark clouds above Lin Rufei’s head began to gather into a huge storm, and the gusts of wind even began to uproot the surrounding trees.

However, Lin Rufei sat on the sword platform, as steady as a mountain. He raised his hand and lightly made a swing.

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[1] Qingji means Green Thorns

[2] No clue if this is the author’s typo but this was how it was writtened. Still means Green Thorns though.