Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

Chapter 90: Another Spring

Wu Ao was lying on the ground with his last breath. His abdomen had been pierced by Tian Xiao and it now had a gaping wound. The wound wasn’t large in general, but it was very deep and blood was constantly bubbling out of it. But Wu Ao didn’t have the slightest intention to stop the blood flow. He simply stared with widened eyes as he quietly gazed at the sky overhead. 

The sky had already darkened and the nightly wind whistled. Because of losing too much blood, he began to feel somewhat cold. The black snake that had been coiled in his hand seemed to have sensed his master’s gradually declining breath and became agitated, wandering in Wu Ao’s hand. Wu Ao was unaware and just silently stroked its smooth body. His eyes were slightly half-lidded, showing a tired look.

Everything that had happened was completely different from what he had expected. The Heavenly Ruler had been voluntary from the beginning to the end, whether it was becoming Gu Xuandu’s lover or being attached to Da Han. His thoughts, were only his wishful thinking. Even if Lin Rufei, who had recovered his memories, didn’t mention anything at all, he could still taste the hint of disappointment in those eyes.

He was disappointed in him, disappointed in everything he had done, but he also would not speak out to chastise and at most just sadly gazed at him.

Wu Ao covered his eyes with his arm, sobbing sadly. He would probably die here alone, just as he had been born here alone.

His parents had passed away so early that he couldn’t even remember what they had looked like and his world was chaotic until he was adopted by the Heavenly Ruler. The appearance of the Heavenly Ruler ripped open the curtain of chaos and brought him a warm light, and he thought he was going to be in the world of light forever until he was one day left behind.

Consciousness gradually blurred, Wu Ao curled his body and closed his eyes, yet in the haze, he felt himself fall into an embrace, which gave him the illusion of returning to his mother’s body. Wu Ao closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

A long time later, Wu Ao woke up from the dream again. He opened his eyes blankly and the first thing he saw was a burning campfire with a silent figure, who had their back turned towards, him sitting next to the campfire. Wu Ao reflexively wanted to get up, but agitated his abdominal wound and let out a slight cry of pain. He lowered his head to look carefully, and incredibly, he found that his wound had actually been treated. Although the technique was very rough, at least it had stopped the bleeding.

“Who……who saved me?” Wu Ao asked, bewildered.

No one answered. Mo Changshan sat by the fire, his black eyes were still dull, much less responding to his question.

However, there were only the two of them here. The person who saved him, naturally, there was only one answer. Only, Wu Ao revealed a look of disbelief. He stared at Mo Changshan, like he was staring at a monster. Although he could revive Mo Changshan, he did not call upon Mo Changshan’s soul, so logically speaking, Mo Changshan should only be a puppet acting on instinct but how could a puppet save him?

Wu Ao thought with such doubts.

Mo Changshan remained silent. The two of them faced each other and the atmosphere was stilled, only the fire in front of them would incessantly emit a crackling sound.

“Are you the one who saved me?” Wu Ao smiled bitterly.

Mo Changshan did not speak.

“What’s the point of saving me?” Wu Ao muttered, “He doesn’t want me anymore.”

Mo Changshan still looked at Wu Ao quietly, unmoving.

Wu Ao was silent for a moment and suddenly spoke, “Do you want to go to the Xiliang Mountains to see?”

There was still no response.

Wu Ao was a little disappointed, sighed slightly, and whispered, “Your dog, named Zhaocai, is buried in the Xiliang Mountains.”

He thought Mo Changshan would still remain quiet, but who knew that in the next moment, he heard a small but extraordinarily resolute voice: “Okay.”

Wu Ao looked up in astonishment: “You can think now?”

Mo Changshan, however, was still the same as when he had first seen him. His eyes were lightless and he was unable to see a trace of spirit. It was as if the word “okay” just now, did not come out of his mouth at all.

Wu Ao smiled and the smile was a little bitter. But in the end, he was smiling, “Let’s go, I’ll take you……to see.”

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The Autumn wind was somewhat similar to the Spring breeze. It was just different from the warmth of Spring, carrying a hint of coolness inside.

September to October, it was once again the season to eat crabs. The crabs were transported from the great lake a hundred miles away and although the taste was very good, it was still cold so Lin Rufei was not able to eat more than necessary.

Although he now had the memory of the Heavenly Ruler, Lin Rufei’s life did not change much. He was still drinking medicine every day to recuperate from injuries, unusually leisurely.

Sure enough, that slender cherry blossom tree was really becoming different. Gu Xuandu’s soul was now inhabiting it and not only did it not have the intention to dissipate, but it was also actually being nourished. Lin Rufei’s brain came up with various ways to help him resurrect but the premise was that he needed to find a suitable body first. The body needed to be made of special materials, otherwise, he was afraid it wouldn’t be able to sustain Gu Xuandu.

Just as Lin Rufei was still worried about where to find the material, one day, when he was washing, he suddenly looked up and saw himself in the mirror.

This mirror was the one gifted to him by Lin Weirui and it was much clearer than the ordinary copper mirror. His reflection in it was in perfect detail and as soon as Lin Rufei raised his head, he noticed something unusual in his eye. It was a pink cherry blossom swirling in his eye. Lin Rufei was stunned at first and then overjoyed. He raised his hand and covered his eye——he knew what to use for Gu Xuandu’s body.

Gu Xuandu was still on the branch at this time. As late Autumn arrived, everything withered and the little flower bud that stood alone on the branch stood out at this time.

Even Fu Hua and Yu Rui felt that it was quite a strange phenomenon, saying, ‘this cherry blossom doesn’t bloom in Spring but actually in Autumn? Is it actually a plum blossom?’

Lin Rufei joked that it must have felt that it didn’t bloom enough in Spring, which was why it was also making up for it in Autumn. 

Fu Hua and Yu Rui still felt strange, but they didn’t think too much of it. However, Lin Bianyu noticed something right away and asked Lin Rufei with a frown if the bud had anything to do with Lin Rufei.

Lin Rufei frankly admitted and told Lin Bianyu some things. Of course, he still omitted the details of the Heavenly Ruler and the formation. He simply said that he had met a powerful senior and that the senior gave him the sword and taught him sword techniques. However, later on, that senior encountered some things and his soul was now recuperating on the cherry blossom tree.

Lin Bianyu frowned as soon as he heard that and asked, “So, at that time, he tripped me over on purpose?”

Lin Rufei froze for a moment before he finally understood what Lin Bianyu was talking about. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter and tears, “Brother……stop bickering with him.” 

Lin Bianyu coldly snorted and narrowed his eyes: “I naturally won’t bicker with him.”

Lin Rufei: “……” How come this tone of yours sounds so unreliable, ah? 

Seeing Lin Bianyu’s hateful look, he apparently had a lot of remarks about this senior. In the end, he could only kindly and patiently persuade for a long time before finally helping Lin Bianyu calm down the fire inside him. However, Lin Bianyu still had a deep prejudice against this “so-called” senior of his and believe that he had cheated his young brother, who was not experienced in the world.

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This year’s cold weather came fast and the first snow fell in the middle of November.

Lin Rufei was still sleeping when he was awakened by the sound of rustling snow. The first thing he did when he woke up was to put on his cloak and head out to see the cherry blossom tree in his yard.

A thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the bud. Lin Rufei gently swept the snow off with his fingers and called for Fu Hua and Yu Rui to fetch some bamboo and wood to build a snow barrier for the cherry blossom tree.

While Fu Hua was building, she urged Lin Rufei to go inside to change into thicker clothing. However, Lin Rufei simply stood still and said he was not cold.

“And you say it’s not cold? Look, the tip of your nose is already frozen red.” Fu Hua chided, “Young master, go quickly, don’t go and get sick again.”

In the end, Lin Rufei didn’t have any choice and could only head back inside. When he came out again, the bamboo frame was already set up. 

Lin Rufei gently swept the snow off the cherry blossom tree. Fu Hua was afraid of Lin Rufei catching a cold and had originally wanted to do it herself, however, she was stopped by Lin Rufei.

“I’ll do it.” Lin Rufei smiled. His fingertips gently glided over the trunk of the tree and seeing the soft bud tremble slightly with his movements, as if shouting at him that it was an itchy feeling, Lin Rufei said, “When I wait until Spring, will you bloom?”

The cherry blossom naturally could not answer.

“If you decide to bloom, you should blossom a few more buds.” Lin Rufei sighed, “Don’t be as wretched as last Spring.”

The Winter on Kunlun was long and silent. It was actually warmer at the bottom of the mountains, but Lin Rufei did not want to go down there. After returning to Kunlun, he also visited the town again but each time he would pass by that scorched cherry blossom forest. After Winter, the snow fell onto the cherry blossom grove and the white snow and the scorched black ground formed a stark contrast. Lin Rufei stood in place for a while, then turned around and went back, and never went back down the mountain after that.

Fu Hua probably knew what was on Lin Rufei’s mind and did not dare to persuade. However, she was still afraid that Lin Rufei would catch a cold, so she burned a lot of charcoal fire and she even burned out all the earthworms in the room. 

The room was warm enough for him to wear a single coat, but Lin Rufei’s body was weak and the charcoal fire was too dry, as more continued to burn, the more he would cough.

In addition, Lin Rufei liked to head outside all day, so Fu Hua and Yu Rui had to boil a few more warmers for Lin Rufei to carry close to him.

In December, heavy snowfall arrived, covering the entire world.

Lin Rufei, holding an umbrella and holding a warmer in his arms, was standing in the courtyard talking to the cherry blossom tree. He said that today, Shen Wucui had come over to propose marriage. Lin Weirui was so happy that she even ate a few more bowls of rice. Shen Wucui also asked about the betrothal gift, but Lin Weirui, this child, simply gave him an elbow and wrapped her arms around Shen Wucui’s shoulder. She said that since they were in such a good relationship, what was the point of a betrothal gift? He just had to give her a kiss and she would marry him right away. 

As a result, the thin-skinned Shen Wucui was bashful and beet red in the face. Finally, Lin Minzhi couldn’t stand it anymore, he reached out and dragged Lin Weirui back. Gritting his teeth, he asked why she couldn’t be more reserved as a girl. Lin Weirui was full of innocence and simply replied that she had been very reserved. And that if she hadn’t been reserved, probably at this time she would have excitedly headed over to the Shen family to propose…….She had wanted to say something else until she noticed Lin Minzhi’s unkind eyes, then she hurriedly shut her mouth and made an innocent stance. She knew that if she opened her mouth again, she was afraid to be whipped again.

The cherry blossom tree stood quietly in the courtyard and did not answer. Lin Rufei’s voice was soft and the atmosphere was also harmonious.

In the blink of an eye, it was already New Year’s Eve. Wan Yao came to check on Lin Rufei’s body to make sure that he had almost recovered from his previous injuries. However, there were still a lot of hideous wounds left on his hands which looked a bit out of place.

Lin Rufei could care less about such matters. Which swordsmen didn’t have wounds on their bodies?

New Year’s Eve was a big festival and the usually calm Kunlun also followed the liveliness. Too many things had happened this year and it was time to have a good year to celebrate.

Since Lin Bianyu had given the word, the whole Kunlun was naturally eager to respond. Big red lanterns and window flowers[1] were hung on every eave and corner of the houses. Lin Weirui had gotten her hands on a large pile of firecrackers and fireworks from somewhere, saying that she wanted to have a good time on the night of the New Year.

Lin Minzhi didn’t persuade this time, when he noticed that Lin Weirui was looking a little lonesome, he said that once Lin Weirui really married into the Shen family, this nature of hers must be changed……

Lin Weirui hummed but she did not answer. 

“Change, why change?” Lin Bianyu commented indifferently, “With the backing of the Kunlun Sect, are we still afraid that someone will dare to bully Weirui?”

Lin Minzhi sighed, “I’m not afraid of someone bullying Weirui, I’m afraid of Weirui bullying someone else. It’s not like you don’t know Shen Wucui’s nature. Since he had met Weirui, I don’t know if it is considered his good luck or his calamity.” He and Lin Bianyu did not know that Lin Weirui and Shen Wucui were now connected in life and naturally had some sympathy for the old-fashioned Shen family’s son. After all, he had met such a difficult girl as Weirui, who was difficult to meet even in a hundred years.

Lin Weirui giggled then wiggled her eyebrows at Lin Minzhi. She then grabbed Lin Rufei, who was watching the show, and said, “Come on, Xiao Jiu, let’s not talk to these two old people, let’s go out and set off fireworks.

Lin Rufei smiled and nodded his head. 

On the day of New Year’s Eve, the snow had stopped, but Heaven and Earth were still white. Lin Rufei, draped in a cloak, stood in the snow and looked up at the flowers. Lin Weirui was laughing and joking with the maids, talking about which fireworks were the most beautiful.

But halfway through, Lin Rufei felt something in his heart and glanced in a certain direction, however, he saw no one. He thought he was being paranoid and then smiled to himself, thinking that with that person’s nature, he probably won’t be coming back. But he didn’t know that someone was cowering in the corner, covering his pounding heart, murmuring: “Fortunately, I was not seen.”

Standing beside him, the man in black was still expressionless, but since the two had been together for a long time, he saw what was in the mind of the man in black and muttered annoyedly: “I’m not afraid either, just……just……” His eyes dropped halfway as he murmured, “Afraid that he will blame me.”

“Will he?” The man in black asked.

“He won’t.” He laughed bitterly, “He is so good-natured, how could he possibly blame me?”

The fireworks exploded one after another in the sky. Lin Rufei looked at the fireworks, but suddenly remembered something and smiled, “Sister, leave some for me. I want to release them when I head back to the courtyard.” 

Lin Weirui stated, “Why do you want to release them when you go back?” She asked suspiciously, “Xiao Jiu, do you now have a golden house for a beloved[2] in your courtyard? You didn’t use to be like this.”

Lin Rufei now liked to stay in the courtyard and nowadays, he hardly ever comes out. Several times when she went to look for him, she would see him standing in front of the cherry blossom tree, either weeding, watering, or staring at that flower bud with a light smile. The cherry blossom tree was also strange to the extreme. Other cherry blossom trees bloomed in the Spring, but this one grew a bud during the Winter, and it didn’t even blossom as it simply hung alone on the top of the tree. If not for Lin Rufei telling her not to touch it, she may have long been itching to pick that thing off.

Listening to Lin Weirui, Lin Rufei did not refute and smiled wryly: “Yes, in the house, there is a beautiful beauty hidden.”

“Where, where?” Lin Weirui asked, “How come I didn’t see it?”

Lin Rufei stated seriously: “Only a smart person can see it. Second brother, you saw it, right?”

“I saw it.” Lin Bianyu said sorrowfully. He naturally knew what Lin Rufei was talking about.

Lin Weirui glared, saying that they must be hiding something from her. 

Lin Rufei waved his hand and said that he was sleepy, so he would go back first. Then he turned around and slipped away, leaving Lin Weirui shouting at him from behind.

Taking the fireworks to the courtyard, Lin Rufei walked towards the cherry blossom tree. He first greeted and said that today was the New Year. It was very lively outside and he had bought some fireworks back, especially to show him. Thus, he lit a firecracker, watching as it gave off a warm and soft orange light in the courtyard. 

Lin Rufei’s cheeks were also illuminated by the light, “I’ve missed you.”

A grain of snow fell from the sky and fell upon Lin Rufei’s eyelashes. The feeling was a little icy and he frowned slightly, his tone brought along some helpless sigh: “Those hundreds of years, how did you make it thus far?”

Amidst that hundred miles of cherry blossom forest, he had no one to talk to. Gu Xuandu could only wait for that unknown future that he had never seen before. That day, when Da Han shattered and was about to dissipate, Gu Xuandu could have ascended to Heaven, but he still liberated his own body just to preserve his soul. He was then successfully reincarnated as the youngest son of the Kunlun Sect and Gu Xuandu finally ended that long wait when he saw the vision of Lin Rufei’s birth.

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The fireworks dissipated and the courtyard was quiet once again. Lin Rufei walked up to the flower bud and reached out to brush upon it. The bud was soft and Lin Rufei watched it tremble slightly at his fingertips as he whispered softly, “Come back soon.”

The breeze blew by and the branches quivered lightly, as if nodding their heads to his words.

Once Winter was over, it would be Spring again.

But this Winter seemed to be much longer than usual and only until March, did the snow gradually start melting.

Everything was reviving, the grass and trees all started to sprout new shoots, and in just one night, many lovely greens sprouted on that tree branch. Lin Rufei raised his hand to touch it, quite like seeing his favorite child grow little teeth, and said with a smile, “Finally, you sprouted.”

The cherry blossom tree naturally could not speak.

The other grasses and trees in the courtyard also began to turn green quickly. After just a few days’ work, the snow-covered Earth returned to an earthy black, and in a few days, the black was layered with a blanket of rich green.

Lin Rufei sat in the courtyard playing chess with Lin Bianyu, who asked, “It’s a nice day today, why don’t Xiao Jiu and I go down to the mountains for a stroll?”

Lin Rufei was a little hesitant.

“The pagoda tree flowers in town are also in bloom.” Lin Bianyu said, “It would be good to pick some and wrap them in dumplings.”

When Lin Rufei saw Lin Bianyu’s strong persuasion, he had to agree. In the end, Fu Hua brought her horse and found a thick cloak for Lin Rufei.

Lin Rufei rode on the horse and as he headed outside and he also noticed that the mountain gate was very busy.

As he continued the road down the mountains, he would very soon pass that cherry blossom forest. Lin Rufei originally thought that he would see the melancholy of scorched earth, but who knew that when he arrived at the scene, the scorched earth was gone and in its place, there was now a dense forest. But this forest was still a little bit on the shorter side and it seemed to be just planted saplings. Interspersed with some already blooming cherry blossom trees, it looked a little out of place compared with the surrounding area. 

Lin Rufei showed his surprise and asked Lin Bianyu what this was all about.

Lin Bianyu said, “Knowing that Xiao Jiu likes cherry blossom trees, I sent people to clean out the burnt cherry blossoms and planted new seedlings. Supplemented by a big formation to help them grow, in a few days, these cherry blossom trees should be able to grow, although it will take some years to bloom, but I think it won’t take too long.”

Lin Rufei asked, “What about those cherry blossom trees?”

Lin Bianyu smiled and said, “I don’t know, but when I came down here to deal with the scorched Earth, I found that there were suddenly more cherry blossom trees……and they were all in bloom, so although it was strange, I just left them alone.”

Lin Rufei blinked. He seemed to have realized something and nodded, revealing a smile.

The town was as lively as usual and the pagoda trees, like last year, produced plenty of dense buds. Lin Bianyu climbed up the tree, picking the pagoda flowers by the handful, while Lin Rufei stood at the bottom with a cloth pocket, waiting to catch them. The two brothers were very down-to-earth as they attracted people who could not help but cast a gaze. 

Fortunately, Lin Rufei didn’t care about such things. When the bag was full, the two headed back home.

Lin Rufei also discussed with Lin Bianyu about the food they were going to have for lunch today, saying that since they were going to eat dumplings in the evening, they should just eat something random for lunch. Lin Weirui would be getting married soon and Shen Wucui said that he would come over in late June to give the betrothal gift, when that time comes, Kunlun could definitely make a big deal of it.

When it came to Lin Weirui’s marriage, Lin Rufei was heartbroken and comforted at the same time. But in the end, for Lin Weirui, it was a good thing. As the two of them chatted away, they showed a heartfelt smile, saying that when a girl grows up, they couldn’t keep her in the house anymore, ah…..

When they arrived back at the courtyard, Lin Bianyu took the pagoda flowers and sent Fu Hua and Yu Rui to deal with them. Lin Rufei came into the courtyard as usual and was about to look at the bud, but then he suddenly noticed that the branches were empty and nothing was left.

Lin Rufei looked dumbfounded at this scene for a long time before he started searching in panic. However, after looking around all over the grass, he saw no signs of the bud and Lin Rufei immediately grew anxious. He hurriedly called out, “Fu Hua, Fu Hua!

“Young master, what’s wrong?” Fu Hua was startled by Lin Rufei panic calls.

Lin Rufei asked, “Has anyone come into the courtyard?”

Fu Hua responded, “No, no one has come in. Young Master, what’s wrong?”

Lin Rufei hurried eagerly, “Where is the flower bud? Where is the bud on the cherry blossom tree?”

Fu Hua froze, seemingly not expecting Lin Rufei to become so anxious because of this matter, “Oh, young master. The flower bud you’re talking about was blown down just now by a gust of wind. I saw it fall on the ground, so I picked it up and placed it on the table in your room.” Everyone knew that the cherry blossom tree was their young master’s treasure, naturally, the flower bud was as well. Although she didn’t know why the bud suddenly fell, she knew that her young master would certainly be heartbroken, so when Fu Hua noticed it, she picked it up and placed it in Lin Rufei’s room. 

When Lin Rufei heard these words, he let out a long breath of relief before hurriedly running into his room. Indeed, he really saw the flower bud intact on the table, only, because it had fallen onto the ground, the flower bud was now covered in some dirt. Lin Rufei carefully took it in his hand and gently swept away the floating dust on it: “Why so fast?”

The bud stayed in Lin Rufei’s hand, like an embryo about to spit out its pistil.

Lin Rufei took a look at the Spring colors outside and lost his smile: “So it seems, it’s also already Spring……so it should be time.” He opened his eyes and his fingertips lightly brushed against them. He suddenly noticed that there were tears falling and in those tears, a tinge of pink was mixed in. Lin Rufei opened his eyes again and a single cherry blossom petal slowly fell from his eyes, like a feather, quietly landing on top of the bud.

When the flower bud and the cherry blossom petal touched, there was actually a slight tremor and the petals began to slowly bloom. Just like that, it revealed the white pistil, and in the center of the pistil, lay a naked little man. The little man also seemed to have noticed Lin Rufei’s gaze and in a sense of haziness, he also opened his eyes, rubbing them, emitting tiny little cries.

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[1] An examples of window flowers: (they come in various designs) 

[2] Golden house hiding a beloved: basically like hiding/keeping a lover.