Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Gu Feiyu arrived a little late.

He was carrying Zhongfeng on his back and when he reached the sword platform, he just saw the cherry blossoms flying out of Lin Rufei’s hands, breaking the green sword Qi that Wang Teng had cleaved.

Panting, Gu Feiyu flew to Lin Minzhi’s side and said, “Finally, I found the place…… Kunlun Mountain is too big, Lin gongzi, do you need me to send Zhongfeng to the sword platform?”

Lin Minzhi said, “No need.”

Gu Feiyu frowned and said, “But Lin Si Gongzi[1] is barehanded ……” He was only able to say half when the rest of the words were stuck in his throat. This was because, on the stage, Lin Rufei suddenly raised his hand and pulled out a thin branch. The branch didn’t have any flowers or leaves and it looked slender and fragile. But when held by Lin Rufei’s pale hand, it vaguely let out a horrifying aura. 

Zhongfeng, which was on Gu Feiyu’s back, suddenly began to buzz. At first, Gu Feiyu thought that Zhongfeng was excited, but when Lin Rufei calmly swung down the cherry blossom branch, he realized that Zhongfeng was actually terrified.

Lin Rufei had never practiced with swords when he was young and therefore did not know any moves.

He raised his hand and waved his sword as plain as a child.

But Wang Teng, who was standing opposite him, showed a frightened expression.

Wang Teng did not understand Lin Rufei’s moves, but he felt a majestic and morbid sword intent that seemed to come out of Heaven and Earth. It gathered and boiled on Lin Rufei’s branch, flowing back and forth before finally gushing out—like a huge river. It rushed towards Wang Teng with an unstoppable momentum.

No moves, no techniques, just sword intent.

Wang Teng shouldn’t have been afraid.

However, when the sword intent actually enveloped him, Wang Teng found himself unable to stand up straight amongst this intent. This overwhelming sword intent was like a high-end god looking down on him with coldness. Inch by inch, it bent his body. At first, he could barely arch his back. Then he was forced to kneel on one knee, but the special sword platform under his feet began to break, and he was about to lose support.

Wang Teng vomited a mouthful of blood. He raised his head in hatred, looked at Lin Rufei, and swallowed back the blood that gushed out of his mouth again—hard. He called out, “Qingji—”

Qingji buzzed.

“Fly out of the sword platform.” Wang Teng spoke with difficulty, “As long as we leave the sword intent ……”

He only got halfway through his sentence when he revealed an unbelievable look. He looked at Qingji, which was in his hand, with eyes full of bewilderment. 

Qingji, which has met countless strong enemies and beheaded countless heads, actually shrank in his arms at this time, trembling like a frightened little child.

Qingji is Wang Teng’s life-bound sword. He could clearly feel the fear that Qingji was feeling. It feared the opponent opposite of them. The one who was sitting in a wheelchair, the seemingly fragile Lin Rufei who looked unable to withstand a single blow. 

At this moment, Wang Teng remembered what his master had once said to him.

The master who had picked him up and brought him home like his own son said that as long as you use Qingji for a day, you will never be able to beat Lin Rufei.

Qingji was forged by a famous craftsman and was already one of the best swords in the world. Therefore, Wang Teng thought his master was just talking about his incompetent swordplay, but now he vaguely understood the words.

The reason why as long as he uses Qingji for a day, he will never be able to beat Lin Rufei.

No swords will appear in Lin Rufei’s hands.

Because he is the sharpest one.

It is a pity that this sword has not been sharpened yet and his reckless self already became his first whetstone. 

Wang Teng laughed heartily.

His body was pressed hard against the green stone of the platform by the sword intent. The bones of his body were crushed by the intent one by one and it emitted a tooth-aching creaking sound. Blood spilled out from his mouth and stained the white blade of Qingji. 

Even so, Wang Teng did not concede defeat. In his dictionary, there wasn’t “defeat” this word.

Unlike the continent of Yaoguang, which was well endowed with the knowledge of etiquette. In the place where he lived, admitting defeat meant death. Since it’s all death in the end, it’s better to keep the last dignity as a loser.

Perhaps because he was so badly injured, Wang Teng’s consciousness gradually blurred, and some images of the past even flashed before his eyes. He saw himself riddled with scars as a young child and snatching food from a wild dog. But because his body was too thin, he was pounced onto the ground by the wild dog. Just as he was about to have his throat bitten off, a pair of white hands squeezed the back of the wild dog’s neck.

“Poor boy.” A gentle voice resounded. Someone picked him up and swept him into their arms, “Come with me.”

That was the first touch of softness that appeared in Wang Teng’s world.

Before that time, everyone called him a wild child, just because he had green eyes.

Later, that person took him onto the path of immortality and taught him how to train with the sword. He also gave him a gift—Qingji—which was the same color as his eyes. He thought he was all that person had.

Until a certain year, another name came out of that person’s mouth.

“That boy will certainly be a powerful character in the future. Wang Teng, you should hide far away when you meet him.”

“Who is he?”

“His name is Lin Rufei.”

“……”

“The fourth son of the Kunlun Sect, Lin Rufei.”

“Lin Rufei? Is he very powerful?”

“You have to remember that name. Stay far away, as far away as you can.”

As master had wished, Wang Teng remembered the name forever.

The memories stopped there and Wang Teng felt his strength draining away as black spots started appearing in his vision. He stroked Qingji, feeling its cold blade, and whispered an apology.

Sorry, ah. I was not able to let you win this round. I am a substandard master. The original buzzing sound from Qingji faded as if it sensed something. Suddenly it started chirping loudly, the hilt of the sword glued itself into Wang Teng’s hand, refusing to slip away. It wanted him to grab it like he had always done. 

He seemed to have sensed the reluctance of Qingji. The terrifying sword intent came again. Fine cracks began to appear on Qingji’s snow-white blade. Wang Teng’s eyes opened, and his emerald green eyes were filled with the color of struggle. He uttered out with difficulty: “No—Qingji, go away—”

Qingji still refused.

Wang Teng’s green eyes filled with tears, with his last strength he hissed: “Go away ah—”

Qingji acted as if it did not hear him.

For the first time, Wang Teng showed despair. If he died then so be it, but Qingji shouldn’t have to follow him. It was a famous sword, so naturally, it could meet a more powerful master. 

Wang Teng hugged the sword, with his head dead against the hilt. He murmured softly: “Qingji, only you guys, don’t mind me ……”

Doesn’t mind that he is a green-eyed monster.

The morbid sword intent came to an abrupt halt.

The powerful oppression disappeared instantly and air returned to Wang Teng’s lungs again. He gasped heavily, coughing up heaps of dirty blood. He looked up and saw Lin Rufei sitting in the distance.

“You’re not going to kill me?” Wang Teng asked in a dumb voice.

Lin Rufei said, “Do you admit defeat?”

Wang Teng smiled to himself, “Naturally, I have lost.”

Lin Rufei said, “It’s just a sword fight. The point is if you admit defeat, why would I take your life? However, you have to promise to agree to my condition.”  

Wang Teng’s face sank. He thought Lin Rufei was going to propose something untoward. His pupils stood up nervously like snakes and said, “What is it?”

Lin Rufei pointed to Lin Bianyu standing by the sword platform and calmly said, “Apologize to my second brother.”

Wang Teng was dumbfounded. His pupils then returned to normal and said, “It was your second brother who came to me for a sword fight last night—it’s not me who should apologize, right?”

Faced with Wang Teng’s question, Lin Rufei’s expression did not change. He raised the cherry blossom branch in his hand: “Are you going to apologize or not?” He also inherited the Lin family’s inherent protectiveness. Whatever the reason, he should apologize for hurting his second brother.

Wang Teng was left speechless. Finally, he could only twist his head with difficulty and said sorry to Lin Bianyu. His body’s recovery ability was very strong. The bones in his body were broken into many pieces, and within the time that he was talking, he was already able to get up from the sword platform. However, there was still a huge human-shaped crater left on the sword platform—it was a really big eyesore.  

“It’s Lin Si Gongzi who won.” Wang Teng recognized the result of the competition.

“Wang Teng.” Lin Minzhi spoke out, “You are Mr. Long’s[2] disciple?”

Wang Teng didn’t expect anyone to know his master’s name, so he was slightly surprised but still nodded his head.

Lin Minzhi added, “Is Mr. Long still well?”

Wang Teng was silent for a moment and said in a low voice, “He has been ill for a year.”

Lin Minzhi looked regretful and said sorry.

Wang Teng obviously did not want to talk more about this matter. His eyes searched the ground for a moment then limped to the corner and picked up the bamboo hat he had thrown aside before. He put it back on his head.

Then he turned his head and looked at Lin Rufei: “You spared my life, I owe you a favor.”

Lin Rufei just smiled and did not say anything.

Wang Teng said again: “But a few years later, I will come back to challenge you. I will also be stronger by then, and I also hope that by then you….” would have become a sharp blade. 

After he said this, he bowed to Lin Rufei and turned around to leave.

Lin Rufei, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up and called out to him, “Wang Teng.”

“Hm?” Wang Teng turned his head.

Lin Rufei said sincerely, “Your green eyes are beautiful, like the most beautiful emerald.”

Wang Teng was silent for a moment and muttered in a small voice. After a moment of hesitation, he removed the bamboo hat from his head and left flying on his sword—swaying towards the direction of the front mountain.

When he left, the pair of beautiful emerald eyes took on a slight smile.

The man who had disappeared behind Lin Rufei reappeared and came to his ear, his breath burning: “What, is that person’s eyes more beautiful than mine?”

Only then did Lin Rufei turn around. He looked at the man’s beautiful side profile and slightly smiled. He wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, a burning liquid gushed out. One mouthful after another, his white fox fur was instantly dyed into a piercing scarlet.  

“Xiao Jiu—” Lin Bianyu’s frightened cry also seemed distant. Lin Rufei’s body swayed, his nose lingered with the man’s cherry blossom fragrance. His eyes were half-closed and before he completely fainted, he answered the man’s question with a faint voice, “Naturally …… it is no match against yours.”

Your eyes are the most beautiful ones I have seen in the world.