Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Chapter 87: Matters of That Year

Wu Ao was someone from the witch tribe and since childhood, he had never left the tribe. 

But that time was very different compared to now. At that time, the Yaoguang Grand Formation had not yet been laid and for the demons in the Yaoguang Continent, wanting to survive was not an easy task. Wu Ao didn’t have any special background and was just an ordinary member of the witch tribe. If one desperately wanted to find out something special about him, it was that his parents died early.

In those days, a child wanting to survive without their parents was simply a very difficult thing. The difficulties they had to face were not only limited to demons but also hunger and cold. Even though hundreds of years have passed, Wu Ao still clearly remembered the day he met with the Heavenly Ruler. It was on a cold, Winter morning.

That day, it had been really cold and Wu Ao had gone to the river early. He wanted to make a hole so that he would be able to get some water to drink. However, the ice on the river was too thick. After smashing on it countless times, he still could not break through it. His stomach, which had not been filled in a few days, rumbled hungrily. Wu Ao wiped away his tears. Clenching his teeth, he took out a not-so-sharp blade and started chiseling on the ice bed little by little. Soon though, his body was getting colder and colder and his movements were gradually stiffening. The tears that were hanging on his cheeks even condensed into ice crumbs due to the severe coldness. Wu Ao felt his own strength rapidly flowing away and he gasped as he lied down on the ice, like a small frozen animal. 

Every year, Winter was the most difficult time. There were countless people who died in this terrible season, and soon, he would be one of them. And when the next Spring arrived, his body would sink into the river, becoming food for the fishes. Wu Ao’s breath was fading quickly by the moment and just when he was about to lose consciousness, he heard the sound of footsteps beside his ears. Using his last strength, Wu Ao raised his head with great difficulty. In the moment he saw the visitor, he even thought it had been an imagination he conjured up before he died——he saw a man dressed in red. The man squatted down halfway, silently reaching out with his hand and tenderly wiping away the fine ice crumbs from his cheeks.

“Why are you here?” The man’s voice was very soft. Very soft and it was warm like the sun in Spring, “Poor little guy.”

Wu Ao struggled to grab a corner of the man’s outfit, as if he was grabbing onto his last hope. His frozen black lips trembled, but he could not speak.

The man, however, seemed to have understood his meaning and he used those warm hands to pick up Wu Ao. When Wu Ao felt the warmth of the man’s chest, his heart breathed a sigh of relief as he slowly closed his eyes, revealing a smile of satisfaction. If this was just an illusion, even if he died like this, then perhaps, it was a happy thing.

However, Wu Ao did not die and he was saved by the Heavenly Ruler. Not only was he saved, but he also became a disciple under the Heavenly Ruler’s name. 

The Heavenly Ruler often came and went without a trace. To be able to become a disciple of the Heavenly Ruler was already a rare fortune. Wu Ao knew how to be satisfied. He originally had nothing, so the things he wanted were naturally not much. However, as long as it was something he had grasped, he would not let go of it again no matter what. 

The Heavenly Ruler was gentle and loved his disciples. He only had two disciples, one was called Gu Xuandu, and the other, Wu Ao.

But the two disciples had very different personalities. Gu Xuandu was perverse and extroverted and he would always think of some dumbfounding wicked ideas. Wu Ao was gloomy and introverted and because his speech wasn’t very fluent, he rarely communicated with people. If one wanted to point out something that the two of them had in common, it was no doubt that it was their terrible desire to monopolize.

Because of these two disciples, the Heavenly Ruler did not accept a third disciple.

In those unsettled times, just like that, the Heavenly Ruler carefully raised two children. He taught them swordplay and the three of them relied on each other. If it had been so, it would have been a blessing. But unfortunately, Heaven does not follow the wishes of man. A simple thought from the Heavenly Ruler completely changed the fate of these three.

The Heavenly Ruler wanted to lay down the Yaoguang Grand Formation in order to put an end to the demon invasion sufferings. At first, this thing sounded like it was a hundred benefits with no harm. However, in reality, they all know very well in their hearts that if this formation wanted to operate, they must find a special formation eye and the Heavenly Ruler wanted to use his own flesh as the formation eye for the formation to operate……

At that time, Gu Xuandu had already been connected by heart with the Heavenly Ruler. They were just afraid that Wu Ao wouldn’t be happy, so for the time being, they had not told him. Although Wu Ao did not know the special relationship between the Heavenly Ruler and his senior disciple brother, he clearly understood what this Yaoguang Grand Formation meant. However, the moment he knew everything, it was already too late. The Heavenly Ruler had long ago quietly laid the formation on Kunlun and only the eye of the formation was missing, then it could be activated.

“Why didn’t you stop him?” This was something that Wu Ao could not comprehend. He was desperate to the extreme and uncontrollable hatred wanted to burst through his chest. He stammered, but sobbed out every word, “If he wanted to set up the formation, he could have waited a few hundred more years. When I have cultivated to a higher cultivation level, wouldn’t it be better if I replaced him?”

Gu Xuandu gave him a deep look and calmly said, “I did try.” It was just lightly three words, but no one knew how much blood and tears were hidden behind it. He and the Heavenly Ruler went all the way south and saw the tragic situation of countless living souls and what made the Heavenly Ruler make up his mind right then and there, was the battle in Dajing City. The demons came in through the air and the Heavenly Ruler tried his best to kill countless, but the people in the city were still killed and injured by these fiends. They were just ordinary people, even if they killed the demons, they could not be revived. After the battle, the ancient city that was built for a thousand years, only had a blanket of scorched Earth remaining.

After the battle, the Heavenly Ruler heard the cries of a child. He and Gu Xuandu followed the sound and saw a little girl lying on the corpses of her parents, helplessly howling. The Heavenly Ruler was about to go forward to pick up the child, but a half-dead demon suddenly appeared and swallowed the girl in a mouthful. The Heavenly Ruler drew his sword and broke open the belly of the demon, but the demon’s stomach was full of terrible venom and the little girl was no longer alive.

The Heavenly Ruler stared at the corpse of the child in front of him for quite a while without saying a single word.

Gu Xuandu was a little worried and reached out to hold his hand. After a long time, the Heavenly Ruler turned his head and said in a warm voice: “Xuandu, we can’t wait any longer.”

Gu Xuandu said, “Master……”

“We can’t wait any longer.” The Heavenly Ruler said, “I will rush to Kunlun on the same day, the matter of the Grand Formation can’t be delayed.”

Gu Xuandu said, “Even so, you shouldn’t……” He wanted to persuade again.

The Heavenly Ruler simply curved his eyebrows and patted his head. Even though he had grown taller than the Heavenly Ruler, the Heavenly Ruler still treated him like a half-grown child: “Xuandu, I do not want to see such a thing happen again.”

Gu Xuandu was speechless.

“I also do not want to see more children like you and Wu Ao.” The Heavenly Ruler let out a long breath, “No more waiting.”

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Gu Xuandu’s chest became dull, as if he was choking on something, “Let’s wait a little longer, okay? When I become as good as you are……let me go, okay?” The Heavenly Ruler had once said that he(GXD) was a genius. Only at the age of twenty-something and his cultivation had already reached the eighth level. Just give him another fifty years, no, thirty years would be enough, and he would definitely be able to break through the eighth level of cultivation and replace the Heavenly Ruler as the eye in the Grand Formation.

But the Heavenly Ruler showed a wry smile, “No.”

Gu Xuandu uttered, “What?”

The Heavenly Ruler sighed, “Silly Xuandu, if you can’t bear it, do you think I can?” 

Gu Xuandu stood frozen in place.

“Let me be selfish for once, okay?” He discussed with him in a tone that was like coaxing a child, “Just once.”

Gu Xuandu wasn’t able to say anything. He knew his nature well. At first, he seemed calm and casual, but if he had made up his mind, he would be obstinate. No matter what anyone said, it could not change his mind.

This parting, as early as when they had met, was already destined. The only thing Gu Xuandu could do was to accept it. He respected him, even if his heart had been painfully wretched, he could only regain his spirit and forced himself to show a smile. 

Because they knew Wu Ao’s nature, Gu Xuandu and the Heavenly Ruler dare not tell him of this matter in advance. By the time Wu Ao knew, all things had become a foregone conclusion.

“Why didn’t you tell me?! Gu Xuandu, you hateful liar——” Unable to be angry at the Heavenly Ruler, Wu Ao cast all his anger on Gu Xuandu. He was like a deserted beast and his eyes were red with hatred. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

Gu Xuandu silently looked at Wu Ao and replied lightly, “Yes, I did it on purpose.”

“Where is his soul?” Wu Ao cried, “If we can find the soul, he can be resurrected……right, resurrected. The witch tribe must have such a method……” He muttered brokenly and his expression was almost crazy.

Gu Xuandu frowned at him: “How are you going to resurrect him?”

Wu Ao said, “As long as we find his physical body and have it supplemented by the soul, master will be able to return!”

Gu Xuandu asked, “What about the Grand Formation?”

Wu Ao answered indifferently, “What does the Grand Formation have to do with me?”

Gu Xuandu smiled bitterly. Now that things have reached this stage, he began to envy Wu Ao. If he could do as he wished, he would not be in this situation. With his understanding of his own younger disciple brother, Wu Ao really would do it; destroying the Grand Formation in order to resurrect the Heavenly Ruler.

So Gu Xuandu lied. He said that the Heavenly Ruler was gone and his soul dissipated with him. He also added that the formation was the only thing left behind by the Heavenly Ruler, so that Wu Ao should not have other thoughts about the formation.

When Wu Ao heard this, he went crazy and almost tried his best to kill Gu Xuandu. In his eyes, this senior disciple brother had become a hateful liar. If only he had told him about the Grand Formation earlier, he would have used his life to stop the Heavenly Ruler from doing it.

Like this, two disciple brothers broke off their relationship. 

For a long time afterward, Gu Xuandu did not see Wu Ao and Wu Ao seemed to have disappeared from the world. The Heavenly Ruler was originally the reason for his existence and now that the Heavenly Ruler was gone, he had lost the motivation to live.

Gu Xuandu felt the same way as Wu Ao, however, he was much luckier than Wu Ao. He looked at the buzzing Da Han in his hand and showed a bitter smile.

For the sake of the formation, the Heavenly Ruler’s flesh was sacrificed, but at least it left his soul intact. However, the sword intent contained in the Heavenly Ruler’s soul was too thick. Because his physical body was not dead, he simply could not enter the cycle of reincarnation and he could only gradually dissipate in the mortal world. Gu Xuandu, who could not let go,  thought about it and finally came up with a foolproof method. Without moving the body, he would place the soul of the Heavenly Ruler within the sword blade and then use the sword to nourish the soul, allowing the Heavenly Ruler to keep his soul intact.

Only, the soul that entered the sword blade became ignorant, just like a toddler. Gu Xuandu was heartbroken but he was also happy. Heartbroken because he saw his lover become like this and happy because he at least did not lose him completely.

Before the Heavenly Ruler left, he cautioned Gu Xuandu about many things and also asked him to replace him as the Heavenly Ruler in order to deter the demons. Told him to do righteousness and protect the world for him.

The Heavenly Ruler’s heart was very big and it could hold the whole world but Gu Xuandu’s heart was small and could only hold one person. But for the sake of their promise, Gu Xuandu still put on a red outfit and gradually lived into his likeness.

The day he finally reached the tenth level of cultivation, he personally entered Bu’e and beheaded the Demon King. At that point, great chaos reigned throughout Bu’e. The demons no longer had a leader and also lost the intention to invade Yaoguang. The people of Yaoguang thus enjoyed a hundred years of peace with no more war.

Gu Xuandu became the new Heavenly Ruler.

But in the end, he wasn’t able to learn his gentle nature. When doing things, he did it based on his true conscience. As a result, in the eyes of different people, the Heavenly Ruler became somewhat different. Some think he was hostile and scary while others think he had a gentle nature.

Gu Xuandu carefully raised Da Han. Now that he had a cultivation at the tenth level, no one in the world could hurt him. However, it was a pity that the sword spirit could not condense into an entity. It could only talk to him, but it could not even give him a hug. However, Gu Xuandu didn’t care too much. What he loved was his soul, so no matter what he became, he would like it.

In addition to his ten levels of cultivation, in a few days, he would be able to step through the void and soar into immortality and to the immortal world. Perhaps then there would be a way to make the love of his life condensed into a solid entity.

With such thoughts, Gu Xuandu became more diligent in cultivating, but who knew that……

“But who knew that at the time of ascension, the thunder tribulation of that day was actually a hundred times more fierce than usual.” Wu Ao’s voice was ghostly, like a malevolent ghost, “You were unable to resist it, and under the danger, just as your soul was about to fly away, you actually used Da Han to resist the heavenly thunder—Da Han broke and the soul of the Heavenly Ruler also suffered heavy damage——Gu Xuandu, although you are able to say words of flattery, the things you are bitterly disappointing!!” 

Gu Xuandu did not retort and simply looked at Wu Ao indifferently.

Wu Ao snickered: “You were struck by the heavenly thunder and your flesh was damaged. After that, you had no choice but to live on top of a cherry blossom tree. You came close to Lin Rufei just to get him to help you find your physical body!!!”

Gu Xuandu slowly said, “There is some truth to that.”

“Look, he dares not refute! Lin gongzi……” Wu Ao exclaimed, “You should finally understand, in the end, what kind of person this Gu Xuandu is!!” 

Lin Rufei, however, simply responded indifferently: “Although I don’t know what kind of person he is, I only know that you are not a good thing.”

Wu Ao’s expression stiffened.

Lin Rufei said: “Since Gu Xuandu has used Da Han to resist the heavenly tribulation, even if he was seriously injured, he should have ascended to immortality. Why would he appear here and even in such a wretched state? Now that he is the only one in the world with a cultivation at the tenth level…….” He looked at Gu Xuandu and continued softly, “Xuandu, if I do not retrieve my memory……will you……still like me?”

Gu Xuandu lost his smile. He patted Lin Rufei on his head and had some helplessness in his tone: “Silly Xiao Jiu, when did I ever want you to get back your memories? You are you, whether you have the memories of the Heavenly Ruler or not, I am pleased with you. If possible, I naturally want to protect you for a lifetime so that you are happy as the most beloved little gongzi of the Kunlun Sect. How could I bear to let you manage other things?…..It’s only a pity…..”  

It was a pity that during his calculation, he missed Wu Ao, this anomaly. He originally thought that Wu Ao simply had resentment in his heart, but he did not expect that even after several hundred years, he was still trying to resurrect the Heavenly Ruler. At this time, the Seventh King of Bu’e had already appeared and he also didn’t have his ten levels of cultivation. If the Grand Formation suddenly broke, he was afraid that the mortal world would be in another terrible situation. 

However, Wu Ao obviously did not care about those things. If there was no Heavenly Ruler, he would have frozen to death long ago on that cold river. He only lived for one person and one person only. He just wanted to meet with him again. Without him, he was just a humble grain of dust.

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The words that should have been said, were all said and Wu Ao’s expression gradually turned cold. He reached out and held the body of the Heavenly Ruler out of the stone coffin. 

The surrounding stone slabs seemed to feel the trembling coming from the eye of the formation and began to buzz uncontrollably. Soon, the ground beneath their feet also trembled.

Gu Xuandu suddenly squatted down halfway and held Lin Rufei’s hand. Now that he had a body, the palm of his hand also had a temperature. Even under such a tense atmosphere, he was smiling and raised his hand to wipe away the dust on Lin Rufei’s hair. Gu Xuandu said: “I really like Xiao Jiu.”

Lin Rufei’s heart ached very much as he whispered, “Senior……”

“Especially when Xiao Jiu calls me senior.” Gu Xuandu said, “It’s just a pity that I can’t continue to accompany you anymore.” He showed an apologetic smile, “I’m really sorry that I can’t watch Xiao Jiu become great.”

Lin Rufei sensed something and grabbed Gu Xuandu, his voice was trembling badly, “Gu Xuandu, what are you going to do?”

Gu Xuandu raised his head and looked around.

At this time, all of Wu Ao’s attention was on the Heavenly Ruler and he simply didn’t care about Gu Xuandu and Lin Rufei on the side. Gu Xuandu smiled: “Xiao Jiu, take a guess?”

“No……” Lin Rufei’s eyes widened slightly, “Don’t……..” 

Gu Xuandu asked, “Xiao Jiu can’t bear it?” and then he sighed, “Actually, I can’t bear it either, it’s just that……” He smiled bitterly, “There always has to be someone who has to do it.”

But he no longer wanted to be the one left behind.

It was the same every time. Every single time. When the Heavenly Ruler laid down the Grand Formation and when Da Han fended off the thunder tribulation and shattered for him. In order to let Lin Rufei’s soul re-enter the reincarnation, he scattered all his cultivation and could only parasitize in the cherry blossom forest, quietly waiting for his birth.

A hundred years was like a dull knife that grounded people and Gu Xuandu felt very painful as he was being grounded. He did not want to wait anymore and he was also afraid of being left behind. It was enough to experience this kind of thing once, but it just so happened that he also experienced it a second time. If he was going to experience it a third time, he was really going to go crazy.

“Let me be selfish once.” Gu Xuandu murmured, “OK?”

Lin Rufei was about to open his mouth but his lips were soon sealed by another pair. Gu Xuandu gave him a burning kiss. The kiss was so hot and forceful that it was like Gu Xuandu was trying to push Lin Rufei into his own body. Lin Rufei’s eyes were watery and he choked up slightly.

At the end of the kiss, both of their breaths were a little unsteady. In the end, Lin Rufei was in tears. His fingers hooked on Gu Xuandu’s sleeve and refused to let go.

Gu Xuandu kissed away Lin Rufei’s tears and placed a kiss on his thick eyelashes: “I know Xiao Jiu isn’t willing, but if the Grand Formation breaks, has Xiao Jiu thought about what will happen to Kunlun?”

Kunlun was the border of Yaoguang and once the formation breaks, the first to suffer was that place. Not to mention the Kunlun Sect, just the mortals who lived here, probably no one would be spared. 

Lin Rufei’s eyes gradually dulled.

Gu Xuandu got up and walked towards the stone coffin. At this time, Wu Ao had already taken out the Heavenly Ruler’s body and was looking at Gu Xuandu with cold eyes. Gu Xuandu didn’t care and simply waved his hand at him: “Don’t look at me, some things I do have to apologize to you.” 

Wu Ao sneered.

Gu Xuandu said, “But if it wasn’t for your twisted nature, it wouldn’t have been hidden from you.” He sighed, “I also did not expect that we, disciple brothers, would come to this point today.”

Wu Ao gritted his teeth, “Scumbag, if you hadn’t swindled master while he was weak, how could he have been with you?!” As he said this, he pointed to Lin Rufei, “Lin gongzi is ignorant, so you used your beauty to confuse him!”

Gu Xuandu thought about it. He felt that since things had already come to this point, it seemed that there was no need to continue to hide, so he said with a smile, “Want me to tell you a secret?”

Wu Ao asked, “What?”

Gu Xuandu said, “When I was with master, it was master who confessed his love first.”

Wu Ao froze.

Gu Xuandu spread his hands: “Bet you didn’t expect that.”

Wu Ao almost jumped from anger. The veins on his forehead all bulged out and he almost pulled out his sword to make a move or two against Gu Xuandu. When Gu Xuandu saw this, he let out a loud laugh, ‘You, ah, you, ah. Usually, you only know to cultivate and don’t even have the guts to look at an erotic picture so how would you understand these things? Me and master’s heart have already connected, so when did it become you, this demon’s, turn to oppose us?’ 

Wu Ao almost fainted from anger. If he wasn’t still holding onto the Heavenly Ruler’s body, he probably would have already made his move. Even Gu Xuandu, who had a smug look, could also see that in this relationship, Wu Ao really couldn’t do anything to his elder disciple brother. 

Just as the two people were talking, the vibration of the ground became more and more intense. The formation that was painted in the vicinity also began to emit a blinding red light and they watched as the formation was about to collapse because of the loss of the formation eye.  

Gu Xuandu smiled. He turned back and called out a “Xiao Jiu,” then took a step across the room and entered the stone coffin. Then, his body began to emit a rich red light that started to spread all the way along towards the formation. Lin Rufei was dumbfounded at all of this and softly answered back: “Xuandu.”

But his Xuandu had already closed his eyes and fell into a long, long sleep.

Lin Rufei staggered up and tried to walk to the stone coffin, but was stopped by Wu Ao.

Wu Ao said, “Lin gongzi.”

Lin Rufei looked at him and smiled bitterly, “Wu Ao, haven’t you ever thought about how the Heavenly Ruler would blame you if he really woke up?”

Wu Ao calmly said, “I’m not afraid of his blame.” He reached out and grabbed Lin Rufei’s wrist, smiling, “Lin gongzi, come on.” Although his voice was gentle, his grip was very firm and he forcefully pulled Lin Rufei to the Heavenly Ruler’s side. 

The Heavenly Ruler’s body had his eyes closed. At first, he looked no different from a normal person. Wu Ao gently helped smooth his hair and then pulled out two talismans from his bosom, “Mo Changshan, set up the formation.”

Suddenly, Mo Changshan appeared out of nowhere. It seemed that this Wu Ao indeed still had something up his sleeves probably because he was afraid of Gu Xuandu messing things up. But now that Gu Xuandu had been forced to be the eye of the formation, no one could stop him anymore.

Lin Rufei, who was drained of sword intent, sat down on the ground, weakly and silently as he looked at the coffin next to him. Mo Changshan, on the other hand, under Wu Ao’s command, silently lowered his head and drew the formation with the cinnabar in his hand.

Lin Rufei suddenly asked, “Do you still remember Mo Zhaocai?”

Mo Changshan did not respond.

“He’s dead.” Lin Rufei muttered softly, “He always wanted to revive you and even brought your head with him everywhere, but in the end, he ended up dying himself. He was a good dog.”

Mo Changshan’s movement paused inaudibly, but upon closer inspection, it seemed like it had just been Lin Rufei’s imagination. It was quite true. After all, what Wu Ao resurrected was only his physical body. A body without a soul, how could there possibly be any emotions? 

Lin Rufei thought with some disappointment.

********

The author has something to say:

Gu Xuandu: No matter what you become, I will always love you. 

Lin Rufei: Really?

Gu Xuandu: Really. Even if you turn to ash, I will recognize you.

Lin Rufei: ……………….Why do I feel like you are cursing?