Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Chapter 8: Fate Cannot be Broken

The porridge was millet porridge, made with the new rice harvested before New Year’s Eve. Inside the porridge was the fine millet, boiled to a thick golden color. The side dishes included pickled radish and stir-fried seasonal vegetables. They were green in color, which aroused Lin Rufei’s appetite.

When Fu Hua saw that Lin Rufei was willing to eat, she was overjoyed and carefully helped Lin Rufei get off the bed to sit at the table. Her eyes suddenly stared at him and she noticed something. Half squatting down, she looked at the corners of Lin Rufei’s clothes: “Young master, why are your clothes dirty?”

A dark stain on Lin Rufei’s white outfit was particularly noticeable. Fu Hua was suspicious: “You master, did you leave the room?” However, after she finished her sentence, she felt that she shouldn’t have asked. After all, when she was cooking, Yu Rui was at the door, so if Lin Rufei had gone out, she would have known.

Lin Rufei squeezed his chopsticks and said lightly, “Well, I went out for a while. This side dish is well made.”

Fu Hua had been serving Lin Rufei for so many years, so she knows that Lin Rufei does not want to talk about it. Although she had doubts in her mind, she still kept quiet and softly said: “Then young master, would you like to take a bath before going to bed? It’s best to change into clean clothes ……”

Lin Rufei nodded: “You’re right.”

Fu Hua smiled lightly.

After Lin Rufei was taken out by the man in red into the night breeze, his appetite had miraculously improved. He drank a bowl of millet porridge and ate quite a lot of side dishes. 

While Lin Rufei was eating, Fu Hua got up and went to prepare hot water for Lin Rufei. The hot water was heated with a special charcoal fire, which can perfectly control the temperature, making it so that the water is not too cold or too hot. However, this charcoal fire must be generated with spiritual power or sword Qi, which is not something that was for ordinary people to use.

When Fu Hua finished heating the hot water, she was about to go back into the room to tell Lin Rufei to come out to bathe. When she passed by the courtyard, she saw Lin Er Gongzi standing quietly in the courtyard.

Donned in green, a long sword, not smiling and not speaking. His half-open eyes were gazing at the cherry blossom tree standing in the courtyard.

Fu Hua understands the sword, so when she saw Lin Bianyu, she perceived a cold killing intent from him. Killing intent? In this entire Yaoguang continent, the people who can provoke Lin Bianyu’s killing intent could be counted with one hand. Why did Lin Bianyu have this intent?

Lin Bianyu had already noticed Fu Hua behind him. The coldness in his eyes melted away, and his thin lips curled into a smile. He once again became the gentle, jade-like second young master of Kunlun Sword Sect. He said: “Xiao[1] Jiu came back?”

Came back? Why was it “come back?” Fu Hua was slightly frozen and she nodded blankly: “Came back …… but when did young master go out?”

 Lin Bianyu did not answer: “Take me in.”

Fu Hua could only nod yes. She felt that Lin Bianyu’s state was a bit strange, but in the end, she was just a maid. She knew that there were things that should not be asked, so she did not ask. 

The two entered the room and saw Lin Rufei sitting by the candlelight. He was leaning on a chair. His black hair was not tied up, it was just scattered messily on his shoulders. His face was a little pale in the candlelight, his long eyelashes trembled slightly, like a black butterfly that wanted to fly.

Lin Rufei also heard the footsteps and looked up. He smiled lightly and called out a second brother.

Lin Bianyu’s expression gradually softened, and Fu Hua felt the hint of killing intent also dissipated from his body.

“Did Xiao Jiu eat properly?”  Lin Bianyu came forward and sat opposite of Lin Rufei.

“Fu Hua made a bowl of porridge, I ate it all.” Lin Rufei said, “It’s late, why did second brother come. Is there something wrong?”

 Lin Bianyu said, “Nothing, I saw you coughing so badly earlier, so I thought I would come over again to take a look.”

Lin Rufei said, “After drinking the flower dew, I feel much better.” He was keenly aware of something in Lin Bianyu’s gaze and called out softly, “Second brother?”

“Xiao Jiu.” Lin Bianyu suddenly got up and walked towards the window. He pushed the window wide open. Outside the window, was the cherry blossom tree that was an eye-sore. He laughed and asked, “This cherry blossom tree is crooked and thin, it is really ugly. It’s agitating to look at. Let’s cut it down with a sword, shall we?”  

Lin Rufei was slightly stunned and was about to speak. Lin Bianyu then waved his hand, indicating to Fu Hua to leave. Seeing this, Fu Hua bowed and withdrew from the room—gently closing the door.

Lin Rufei and Lin Bianyu stared at each other for a long time, neither making a sound.

“Is that cherry blossom tree a demon?” Lin Rufei finally spoke.

“No.” Lin Bianyu replied.

“Then what is it?” Lin Rufei said. He had originally wanted to say what just happened a while ago, but looking at Lin Bianyu’s appearance, the words that were at the tip of his tongue did not come out. 

“It’s your destiny[2].”  Lin Bianyu said.

Lin Rufei was puzzled: “Destiny?”

He noticed Lin Bianyu’s wording, it was destiny, not blessing.

Lin Bianyu said, “Any more, Wan Yao will not be able to calculate.”

Wao Yao’s divination was not something to look down upon. On the whole Kunlun Mountain, if he was “second,” then there was no “first.” If it was something that even he could not calculate, then it must involve the laws of Heaven.

Those that pry into the Heavenly ways will have their life shortened, fortunes broken, body in decline, unable to eat, and never reincarnate. Even someone like Wan Yao, who was a master at divination, did not easily dare to try. 

Lin Bianyu’s hand was already on the hilt of Tianxiao, he said, “Xiao Jiu, this tree may kill you. No matter what, I can’t allow that.”

When the words fell, Lin Rufei saw a white rainbow-like cold sword light. He knew Lin Bianyu had drawn his sword.

Tianxiao was unsheathed. A biting sword intent gushed out, mixed with strong killing intent. It pierced in the direction of the thin cherry blossom tree. The tree was standing in the cool Spring breeze, leafless and flowerless. Its thin branches were drooping, looking innocent like a pitiful child.

Lin Rufei was actually able to clearly see Lin Bianyu’s movement. Lin Bianyu had lifted his hand, unsheathed the sword, and struck. Tianxiao’s sharp edge melted into a stream of light. Lin Rufei even saw the seal engraved on the side of Tianxiao. The inscription was only two words; Tian Jue, which was Lin Bianyu’s courtesy name.  

At this moment, Lin Rufei remembered the cherry blossom forest at the foot of the mountain, the golden-haired Monkey King in the forest, and the man who was more beautiful than a fox fairy.

His mind hadn’t returned, but his body had already moved. His originally heavy body was now as light as a feather and in an instant, he had stretched out his hand to block in between Lin Bianyu and the cherry blossom tree. 

“Second brother, don’t ……” Lin Rufei spoke out. He was breathing heavily, hair scattered on his shoulders. There was no trace of red on his pale cheeks, but the corners of his eyes had a little abnormal flush, he called out, “Second brother ……”

Lin Bianyu’s Tianxiao had not fallen. It was not because he(LBY) had stopped his attack in time, it was just that Tianxiao was caught by a pair of hands. 

Blood dripped little by little from Lin Rufei’s palm, staining the snow-white sword blade of Tianxiao.

Lin Bianyu’s eyes were wide open. His chest heaved heavily and he stiffly suppressed the tumbling emotions and said in a weak voice: “Xiao Jiu, let go.”

Lin Rufei released the sword, he was at a loss. He didn’t know how he had appeared in front of Lin Bianyu, let alone how he had caught Tianxiao. The only thing he knew was that he didn’t want to see that skinny cherry blossom tree being chopped into several pieces by Lin Bianyu’s sword.

So he moved involuntarily.

Lin Bianyu looked down at the wound on Lin Rufei’s hand, although it was bleeding a lot, it was only a flesh wound. He sighed, opened his mouth, and sighed again. In the end, he said nothing, and only let out a sound to Yu Rui, who was silently standing outside the door, to fetch some medicine.

“Second brother ……” Lin Rufei felt a little uneasy.

Lin Bianyu instructed Lin Rufei to sit down. He reached out and squeezed Lin Rufei’s wrist, helping him stop the bleeding. Because his body was weak, Lin Ru Fei’s healing ability was also very poor. He was like a porcelain doll. Even a touch in his daily life can leave bruises on his skin, not to mention the current sharp wounds.

Yu Rui quickly got the medicine. She pushed the door and entered the room. She saw the room in disarray but did not dare say anything. She put down the things and quietly retreated.

Lin Bianyu lowered his head, dabbed Lin Rufei’s hand with the medicine, and wrapped it with a clean white cloth, instructing him not to let the wound touch water for a few days.

Lin Rufei said: “Second brother …… I ……” he wanted to apologize.

Lin Bianyu sighed and stretched out his hand to pat Lin Rufei on the head, his expression had a touch of helplessness, “In the end, Xiao Jiu has grown up.”

“I also do not know why I moved and caught Tianxiao ……” Lin Rufei murmured.

“This is most likely the destiny Wan Yao had talked about.”  Lin Bianyu said, “I’m a bit bewitched.” He bowed his head for a long time, and when he raised his eyes again, there was only the warmth of a brother in his eyes. He said, “Second brother is just a little worried, worried that the destiny is not good for Xiao Jiu.”

The cherry blossom tree that appeared inexplicably, the northern peak of Kunlun Mountain that was split by a sword. Lin Rufei had been swept into the center of the vortex but was unaware of it.

Lin Bianyu raised his hand and waved a sword, wanting to cut off this karma. But the moment the sword fell, he suddenly understood. Some things even Tianxiao could not break. This time, it was Lin Rufei’s hands that blocked his sword. If he persists in his obsession, perhaps the next swing will fall upon Lin Rufei’s neck.

This was Lin Rufei’s karma, and he is powerless to change it.

Lin Rufei was wounded and bled quite a bit. His brows wrinkled in tiredness and he tried to soothe his second brother with a few words. But seeing that he only smiled and did not say anything, he then realized some words were just a drop of water in the bucket, so he also obediently shut his mouth.

“You should rest first.”  Lin Bianyu got up, “I will come to see you tomorrow with elder brother.”

Lin Rufei nodded and watched as Lin Bianyu turned to leave.

Lin Bianyu exited through the door, but he did not immediately leave. He stood in the courtyard and stared at the cherry blossom tree for a long time until the light in Lin Rufei’s room dimmed. He coldly sneered: “I want to see exactly how powerful you are.” He raised his hand and fiercely broke off a section of the tree’s branch.

The tree did not react, as if it was just a poor innocent little tree.

Lin Bianyu snickered and casually threw the branch to the ground: “Nothing impressive.” He walked towards the entrance of the courtyard with big steps, but at the moment when he was about to cross the courtyard, his foot suddenly tripped over something. He stumbled a few steps before falling hard into the mud pit beside the road.

“You—” In the moment when Lin Bianyu fell, his Dantian felt empty and he could not use a trace of sword Qi. It was obviously the cherry blossom tree that pulled this trick.

“Just you wait.”  Lin Bianyu’s face was blue and he said angrily, “One day, I will chop you up and burn you for firewood!”

The branches of the cherry blossom tree were tilted up slightly, and if there was an expression, it would have been a provocative one.

********

The author has something to say:

Lin Rufei: ….. Are you a kid, how can you use such a childish method to get revenge?

Gong (seme) who feels wronged: It is still better than raging incompetently.

Lin Rufei: Alas, then you have offended my second brother.

Lin Bianyu: Who do you like? Xiao Jiu? Laozi[3] wants your life——

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[1] I know that it is already 8 chapters in, but in case people didn’t know, Xiao in this case means “little.”

[2] So the word here is 机缘, which can mean, opportunity, chance and destiny. I thought destiny would fit best for right now, but if in the future, chance or opportunity made more sense, I will go back to change it. 

[3] A haughty/arrogant way of referring to oneself. Makes it sound like they have more status, direct translation is “this old one”