Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Chapter 88: Hundred Years of Time

Wu Ao didn’t mind Lin Rufei talking to Mo Changshan since he seemed to have extra confidence in manipulating this corpse that was resurrected by himself. With Mo Changshan’s careful strokes, the scarlet cinnabar formed a complete formation on the ground. Wu Ao stood aside, carefully holding the Heavenly Ruler’s body in his arms while quietly waiting for the formation to be completed.

When the last stroke of the formation was finally painted on, Lin Rufei didn’t know whether he should be smiling bitterly or feeling relieved. Although Wu Ao’s tone was very polite, his actions weren’t easy to refuse. He forcibly brought him into the formation and affixed a talisman to his body.

“Lin gongzi, when the formation is activated, your soul will be able to enter the body of the Heavenly Ruler.” Wu Ao smiled, “When that time comes, you will not only recover your memories, but also no longer have to worry about your weak body……”

Lin Rufei knew that Wu Ao had already made up his mind and wouldn’t change it even if he said something. In the end, he decided to close his mouth and not say anything at all. Wu Ao laughed and made a gesture to Mo Changshan. Mo Changshan understood and walked to the side of the formation. His black soulless eyes quietly gazed at Lin Rufei and after that, Wu Ao started reciting an incantation. Not long after that, the formation under Lin Rufei began to emit a dazzling red light. The Heavenly Ruler’s body was lying next to Lin Rufei’s and this was the first time Lin Rufei had seen his appearance up close. Indeed, there was no similarity in their looks at all, but the aura on their bodies made them feel somewhat familiar. No wonder when Wu Min saw him at that time, he remembered the Heavenly Ruler.

As the light of the formation became more and more dazzling, Lin Rufei felt something continuously pulling away from his body while at the same time, also taking away the heat and temperature of his body. He felt a little tired and his eyelids were getting heavy, unknowingly, his consciousness gradually faded away.

Beside him, Wu Ao, let out an excited shout. Only what was shouted, Lin Rufei could no longer clearly hear.

In this general state of mortality, Lin Rufei seemed to have seen Gu Xuandu’s face. Gu Xuandu seemed to be standing across from him, smiling lightly at him. Lin Rufei involuntarily reached out his hand and gently called out, “Xuandu……”

The light of the surrounding formation was blindingly bright and Lin Rufei’s consciousness sank into the darkness.

He didn’t know how long it took, but the boundless darkness started lifting, revealing a corner and a glimpse of light. Lin Rufei saw a thin child through this slit.

The child, thin and small, was crouching in a dirty alley looking for food. And after noticing his presence, he raised his head in alert and stared at him with a deadly stare. Lin Rufei heard himself make a sound. Although the voice should have sounded strange, he felt that it was somewhat familiar, as if it should have belonged to him. The voice said, “Little one, want something to eat?”

The child stared at Lin Rufei and shook his head heavily, refusing to take a step closer.

“Really don’t want it?” The voice brought about some laughter. He probably saw through the child’s sheepish character, “It’s a meat bun that I just bought, it’s delicious.”

The child was still shaking his head, but his rumbling stomach revealed his hunger. Hearing his stomach screaming, a hint of shame surfaced on the child’s face. He stood up and turned around, immediately wanting to run away. However, who knew that after simply running two steps, he then tripped over something and fell heavily on the ground. Just from listening, he could tell that it was painful. 

This child looked only four or five years old, which is the age of needing care. This fall seemed to be extremely heavy, but he did not cry and simply got up from the ground silently. He carefully rubbed his red eyes, limping, and wanting to leave.

“Don’t go, kid.” Lin Rufei saw himself reaching out to stop him. He then handed the meat bun in his hand to the child, “What are you afraid of? Are you worried about me poisoning you?”

“I know what you’re thinking, you bad thing, I’m not going to eat your food!” The child yelled.

After a moment of silence, he let out a low laugh, withdrew his hand, and took a heavy bite on the meat bun before swallowing it: “Now you’re not afraid, are you?”

The child froze.

“What’s your name?” He asked him, “Where are your parents?”

In the end, the child was very hungry. He stared at the meat bun placed in front of his eyes again and was unable to stop himself from swallowing his saliva. Under the war between Heaven and man, he finally reached out and took the meat bun that had been bitten and gnawed it wretchedly. While he gnawed, he answered vaguely, “I don’t have a name, nor……parents.”

Lin Rufei suddenly understood who the child was and who the owner of the voice was, so this was the encounter between the Heavenly Ruler and Gu Xuandu. This was the memory that belonged to the Heavenly Ruler. Lin Rufei looked greedily, looking at Gu Xuandu, the version in which he had never seen before.

The Heavenly Ruler asked softly: “Do you want to go with me?”

The child questioned, “Where to?”

The Heavenly Ruler replied, “To Yaoguang.”

The child looked at him suspiciously, “It’s so far away and across the sea, how are you going to get there?”

The Heavenly Ruler smiled, “Naturally, I will fly there.” When he raised his hand, the sword box behind his back gave a light sound and twenty-four blades surrounded him in mid-air. When the child saw this scene, his eyes widened slightly and he completely dropped his guard. He rushed to the Heavenly Ruler’s side and grabbed the corner of the Heavenly Ruler’s clothes, “Immortal, Great Immortal. I am willing, I am willing to go with you.” His eyes were filled with tears, “No matter what I have to do, I am willing. Please take me with you.”

“Alright.” the Heavenly Ruler smiled, “Then, come with me.” He slightly leaned down and took those small hands into his.

Lin Rufei also felt the touch of the palm of his hand. And since Gu Xuandu was still a toddler, his hands were still so small, so soft, and there were no calluses on them from sword practice, only sweat from tension, sticky, but it wasn’t annoying.

He held him, walking forward, and asked softly: “What is your father’s surname, do you remember?”

The child shook his head and whispered that he didn’t remember.

“Then you will take my surname.” He said, “My surname is Gu, and you were born on the Xuandu continent, so I’ll call you Gu Xuandu.”

“Gu Xuandu?” The child was confused and asked, “Is this name nice?”

“It’s nice.” He said, “The female flower of the peach blossom is named Hongyu, and the male flower is named Xuandu.” He was in a good mood and smiled brightly, “How about we make your nickname Gu Taohua[1]?”

The child said, “Okay, okay.”

This was their first encounter and it was the Heavenly Ruler’s most memorable piece of memory. 

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The traces left by the countless years turned into fragments and all of it flooded into Lin Rufei’s mind. He let out a low cry of pain, but still could not resist it and could only let the tide wash over him.

This time, he saw Wu Ao again, saw him wretched on the ice layer. Wu Ao was even thinner than Gu Xuandu, wrapped in tattered outerwear with a face that was frozen red. His lips were black, as if a little later, he would have died on the river. He held the Heavenly Ruler’s hand and sobbed lowly as he asked, “Will you leave me behind?”

“No.” He held Wu Ao in his arms, warming his body, “I won’t leave you here.”

“You really won’t leave me behind?” Wu Ao tilted his head and stared at him with fascination, “It’s so cold here, I’m alone, I’m scared.”

“Really.” This was the promise he gave him. He thought that this child was afraid and just needed security, but he didn’t know that this child would remember this promise for hundreds of years.

The days of raising Gu Xuandu and Wu Ao were the happiest memories he’d ever had. Both children were so interesting and brought countless joys to the Heavenly Ruler’s uneventful life. He taught them swordplay, taught them to read and write, and watched them grow from less than knee-high little children to taller than himself.

It was a pity that the world did not give them much time.

That year, when he and Gu Xuandu had exchanged their feelings, Gu Xuandu was twenty years old. Gu Xuandu was born intelligent and had excellent natural talent. When he turned twenty that year, he had already reached the eighth level of cultivation. The Heavenly Ruler was away for a year due to urgent matters and when he came back, he felt that Gu Xuandu was a bit strange, as if in a year’s time, the child who was still pampered in his arms had grown into an adult.

Gu Xuandu was smarter than Wu Ao and his desires were also much more stronger than Wu Ao’s. Wu Ao just wanted the Heavenly Ruler to be his companion, like family, but Gu Xuandu was eager for something else. Since he longed for it, he went to do it, like the Spring breeze moistening things, occupying the entire world of the Heavenly Ruler.

Since the Heavenly Ruler liked to drink tea, he(GXD) would personally go out and pick them. Since the Heavenly Ruler liked cherry blossoms, he would plant a thousand miles of cherry blossoms and unknowingly, the Heavenly Ruler would soon be in his arms. Even when confessing his love, it was the Heavenly Ruler who took the initiative. The Heavenly Ruler had never been a person who liked to hesitate, after perceiving his own feelings, he told Gu Xuandu straightforwardly. 

Of course, he was also a little worried that Gu Xuandu would be disgusted, so his voice sounded a little sullen. He said that he had thoughts about Gu Xuandu that he should not have, and if Gu Xuandu felt disgusted, he would simply leave. Who knew that after hearing this, Gu Xuandu was ecstatic. He immediately reached out to embrace him and gave him a heavy kiss.

This was the beginning of the two.

Lin Rufei was deeply infected by this strong emotion, as if he had personally gone back in time to several hundred years.

But nothing was perfect. This kind of life did not last long for them. When the demons invaded Yaoguang, the world’s lives were in ruins and the Heavenly Ruler finally could no longer stand by and watch.

This was a painful memory. Lin Rufei even heard Gu Xuandu’s sad plea. He begged him, asking him if they could wait some more days. Just until he cultivated to the ninth level so that he could become the formation’s eye.

Such thoughts were rightfully rejected.

“Xuandu, your cultivation level isn’t there yet and we can not wait any longer……” That was what the Heavenly Ruler said to him, however, Lin Rufei knew that this was just an excuse. Since Gu Xuandu couldn’t bear it, could the Heavenly Ruler bear it? In the end, he couldn’t bear seeing this child, one who he had raised up by himself, sleeping in a stone coffin for the world’s sake. He was called the Heavenly Ruler, so naturally, he should bear the weight of this name.

In the end, Gu Xuandu finally agreed.

That period, exactly how painful did he feel? Lin Rufei also could not say. In short, when he saw him again, his body must have carried the smell of alcohol. The smell of alcohol was sometimes strong and sometimes light, but no matter what, it wouldn’t make a person drunk.

The Grand Formation was laid on Kunlun little by little, as if it was a countdown towards death.

Even after a hundred years, Lin Rufei also felt this cruelty. Every time Gu Xuandu appeared in front of his eyes, he also pretended not to care. However, this forced smile of his was even more painful than crying and pleading. The Heavenly Ruler couldn’t bear to let the world go on like this and he also couldn’t bear to let him go. But in the end, he could only pick one of the two. 

The battle in the city of Dajing became the turning point of the whole thing.

Countless humans lost their lives to the demons. Even if the Heavenly Ruler gave all his efforts to expel the demons, the dead still would not come back.

It was said that when the strong people fight, it was the weak ones that suffered. After the battle in Dajing, almost everything turned into a ruin. Everywhere he looked, there wasn’t a single intact building. There were children crying, there were wives howling, there were seriously injured cultivators moaning in pain, and the whole world became like a purgatory.

However, this was only the beginning. Next, the demon’s movements would become more and more frequent. The Demon King just had to break a hole in the void and the next entrance would be the next Dajing. 

Although the Heavenly Ruler was at the ninth level of cultivation, he could not protect every single one of them. 

“No more waiting.” He stared at the child’s corpse and muttered to Gu Xuandu.

Gu Xuandu forced a smile, “Wait a little longer, okay? When I become as good as you are……let me go, okay?”

Rightfully so, the Heavenly Ruler refused. This time, he wanted to be selfish for once.

Kunlun should have been a good place, the mountains were continuous and it was the place where the veins of ten thousand dragons converge. It was a pity that it was located at the border of Yaoguang and Bu’e, where the demons were rampant and the people were not happy. The Heavenly Ruler intended to set up the Grand Formation here, using his flesh as the eye of the formation in order to operate the Grand Formation.

As long as the Grand Formation was set up, demons below the seventh level would no longer be able to enter Yaoguang. As for the demons above the seventh level, the number was already small, so if they really came, there were other cultivators who could resist, and at least the situation in Dajing would not occur again.

Things went on in an orderly manner, but not many people knew about it. Only until the last moment did the Heavenly Ruler tell Wu Ao about it.

As expected, when Wu Ao heard the news, he nearly broke down. He cried and begged the Heavenly Ruler not to do so.

“Lord Heavenly Ruler, Lord Heavenly Ruler, please don’t go, okay?” Wu Ao lowly pulled at the corner of his clothes, just like when he met the Heavenly Ruler as a young child. His face was full of panic, as if he was left in the snow as a child and about to freeze to death, “Let me do it, give me some more days, I will be able to reach the ninth level. When I get to the ninth level, I will go be the eye of that formation, Lord Heavenly Ruler…… “

The Heavenly Ruler stroked his head, like when he was young, only this time, he did not say yes.

The Yaoguang Grand Formation was laid. The formation eye entered the stone coffin and although the flesh was there, the soul was not. 

Gu Xuandu secretly kept the soul, but did not dare to tell Wu Ao of this. Wu Ao, who had just lost the Heavenly Ruler, had been close to madness. If this formation wasn’t laid by the Heavenly Ruler himself, and the fact that even after destruction it would not be able to call the Heavenly Ruler back, he probably would have made his move against it already.

But once it had left the body, the soul of the Heavenly Ruler, that couldn’t enter the reincarnation, would soon dissipate. Gu Xuandu really had no other choice. He could only send the soul into Da Han and carefully nourish it. This was another memory. At first, it was muddled and only sporadic images flashed by. It was only later that his consciousness gradually emerge.

“This is Taohua.” Gu Xuandu taught his lover, as his lover had taught him before, “It’s my name.”

“Taohua?” The sword spirit was confused, “Your name?”

“Yes, and remember, my name is Gu Xuandu.” He could not touch him, but simply looking, he was satisfied, “The female flower of the peach blossom is called Hongyu and the male flower is called Xuandu. I am Gu Xuandu.”

“That’s nice.” The sword spirit murmured.

“Yes, it’s nice, isn’t it?” Gu Xuandu smiled, “I like this name too.” As long as it was something you gave, I would always like it.

The two were together for about a few hundred years, during which the Yaoguang Continent benefited from the Grand Formation and flourished for hundreds of years.

And Gu Xuandu had finally reached the tenth level from the ninth level of cultivation, surpassing the Heavenly Ruler back then.

When he reached the tenth level, the first thing he did was to go straight to Bu’e and behead the Demon King. Ten thousand demons witnessed this with their own eyes. They watched as a swordsman in red, carrying three sword blades, stepping into the air, waving his sword, and chopping off a head to the ground.

This head, which had brought countless pain to Yaoguang, was so light that it was not even as heavy as a sword blade.

Gu Xuandu looked at the head and casually threw it aside before stepping back into the air. The ten thousand demons looked at his back and all was quiet.

After that, it was a long and beautiful period of time.

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Gu Xuandu took Da Han and traveled all over the provinces. He went back to Xuandu and saw the places where he had lived. He went to Qionglong and saw the towering overhanging mountains. He went to Bu’e and exchanged vows with Da Han on that half snowy and half clear island. They saw countless Springs, Autumns, Winters, and Summers. They believed that they would never have to part again. Even if he could not touch him and wasn’t even able to hug, the two had been connected and didn’t need anything else. 

Just when Gu Xuandu thought that he would live with Da Han just like that, the Heavens took everything away from him again.

After reaching the tenth level, he would be able to step through the void and ascend to the immortal world. This was the thing that every cultivator desired the most. Although Gu Xuandu did not have any desire to ascend to immortality, rumors said that there was a method in the Heavenly Realm that allowed the sword spirit to have a physical body, so he also started harboring this idea.

However, when the thunder tribulation descended, Gu Xuandu realized that something was wrong.

The thunder was too strong and he could not resist it at all. He had used all the magic treasures, but could only block ninety-nine. The hundredth thunder was the most powerful one. As long as he fell, Gu Xuandu could only end up with his soul scattered. But even so, he did not intend to use Da Han. Instead, he hugged the sword in his arms, wanting to protect it to death. 

The sword spirit could live for thousands of years and even if its master died, it could still find a new one. Gu Xuandu couldn’t bear to bury him with himself. He used his last strength and dropped a kiss on top of the sword hilt. 

But if Gu Xuandu couldn’t bear to, how was Da Han willing either? Lin Rufei saw the dense dark clouds in the sky as well as the flash of lightning and roaring thunder.

There were raindrops falling, wetting Gu Xuandu’s hair. He tilted his head and the rain fell down his chin low, as if they were tears.

The lightning flashed again. It was accompanied by continuous thunder with the momentum that could shake Heaven and Earth.

The heavenly tribulation gathered into a belt of blinding light. Seeing that it would fall soon, Gu Xuandu loosened his grip, wanting to let Da Han fall from his hands to the ground. However, who knew that at this time, Da Han unsheathed himself and with a cold light, swept towards Gu Xuandu’s head.

“No——” With a harsh scream, the thunder fell and the snow-white sword blade resisted most of it before flying into pieces, turning into blackened ashes and disappearing into oblivion. The memory ended there, however, Lin Rufei could still vaguely hear Gu Xuandu’s harsh howling and the desperate cry of grief.

At this point, Lin Rufei finally understood why Gu Xuandu had a sad smile in his eyes when he was lying down in the stone coffin.

At least this time, he did not have to be the one left behind and he also no longer had to wait in that cherry blossom forest for a hundred years just to wait for the reincarnation of his beloved. Instead of tasting the despair of parting again, he preferred to fall into a long, peaceful sleep.

The darkness completely faded and Lin Rufei slowly opened his eyes. He thought that when he opened his eyes, he would see Wu Ao, however, he didn’t even see his silhouette. Instead, the ground was a mess, as if someone had just fought here.

Lin Rufei rose from the ground with difficulty, however, he saw the body of the Heavenly Ruler next to him. Currently, he already had all the memories of the Heavenly Ruler, so when he saw the Heavenly Ruler’s body still lying on the side, he couldn’t help but still be in some trance. What happened? According to Wu Ao’s plan, shouldn’t he enter the Heavenly Ruler’s body? Why was it only the Heavenly Ruler’s memory?

Lin Rufei still had little strength. Just as he was pondering over this thought of his, he heard the sound of fighting coming from the outside. He froze slightly, limped out, and actually saw Wu Ao standing aside with a gloomy face. Two figures were rumbling in the sky and it was actually Lin Bianyu and Mo Changshan.

“Lord Heavenly Ruler.” When Wu Ao saw that Lin Rufei was awake, he revealed a look of surprise. He walked to Lin Rufei’s side and shouted out this sentence in a trembling voice. 

Lin Rufei pursed his lips and responded in a low voice, “Wu Ao.” When he saw Wu Ao, he remembered the child who was freezing to death by the river, and the words that should have been full of blame turned into a low sigh on his lips, “I’m sorry……”

“Lord Heavenly Ruler.” Wu Ao cried, almost choking on his words.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Lin Rufei was a little tired. In fact, his consciousness was even now a little confused. All kinds of messy memories were constantly converging in his brain and currently, he still hadn’t had the time to fully receive all of it. After knowing the past, the disgust for Wu Ao was mixed with some guilt and self-blame.

“I just wanted to see you one more time.” Wu Ao uttered painfully.

“Even if you saw me, what’s the point? I’m not me anymore.” Lin Rufei sighed, “My last name is Lin now and I am the youngest son of the Lin family, not your Lord Heavenly Ruler.”

Wu Ao, “I know, I know.” He said he knew, but his expression was still lost in thought.

Lin Rufei looked up to the mid-air, Mo Changshan and Lin Bianyu were currently still fighting. He didn’t know how Wu Ao managed to make Mo Changshan return to his peak state, but when he fought, his moves were ruthless. Lin Bianyu didn’t want to hurt him, so for a while, the battle situation between the two was quite worrying.

“Lord Heavenly Ruler, I just, want to ask a question.” Wu Ao clenched his teeth again and trembled, “That Gu Xuandu, did he lie to you?” He looked at Lin Rufei eagerly, as if he wanted to get the answer he wanted from Lin Rufei’s expression. And the only way to give him the strength to continue talking, was with this answer.

“No.” Lin Rufei smiled bitterly, “These three lives, he and I were two lovers. Da Han was not damaged by him, but voluntarily resisted the heavenly calamity. This life, he also had not mentioned the matter of the Heavenly Ruler……”

Wu Ao looked dumbfoundedly at Lin Rufei: “Heavenly Ruler, do you not blame him?”

Lin Rufei shook his head.

“What about me?” Wu Ao wanted to laugh and cry. He looked at his hands and asked in a strained voice. “What about me? After I did all this, Lord Heavenly Ruler, will you blame me?”

Lin Rufei looked at him hesitantly and he sensed that something seemed wrong with Wu Ao’s mental state.

As expected, in the next moment, a maniacal smile surfaced on Wu Ao’s face: “Three hundred years, three hundred years, ah……what exactly am I waiting for? I still……was left behind……” and thrown into that cold, cold river.

********

The author has something to say:

Lin Rufei: My surname is Gu, and you were also born on the Xuandu Continent, in this case……

Gu Xuandu: 0.0

Lin Rufei: You’ll be called Gu Dalu[2].

Gu Xuandu: ? ? ? ? ? ?

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[1] Technically….Taohua means peach blossoms….but because the English title for this is “cherry blossoms” so….. Uh yeah. 

[2] Dalu means continent.