A multiverse of possibilities…but I only have this sword for you.
Lei Wujie’s sword aimed unerringly at Duan Xuanyi as his third wave of sword qi continued to shoot forward. Filled with the fragrance of flowers though it may be, all that mattered in the end was its bristling killing intent.
Duan Xuanyi quickly retreated as he unleashed the Hidden Water Eulogy. But it was promptly shredded to pieces the moment the sword qi collided with it, its tattered threads of true qi scattering to the winds mere moments later. He tried to call forth the Twenty Four Bridges under a Silvery Moon once again. But the moment he executed his skill, he discovered that the fan and flute which he had practiced to perfection were showing signs of resistance. It was then that his cautionary words came echoing back to him, “the first twenty three bridges The words which his father had spoken to him in the past when he was practicing the skill appeared in his mind. On the obverse side, the first twenty three bridges abides by the dignity of a gentleman, they are ones of elegance. The last bridge on the inverse side, however, is an act of utter desperation, to break the cauldron and to sink one’s ship. Strong though such a move might be, it runs contrary to the ways of a gentleman, and must never be used lightly.”Duan Xuanyi didn’t think much of those words then, after all, a weapon was just a weapon. Today, however, he finally understood his father’s words.
But it was too late… he was about to die any moment now!
“Even though Jiangnan’s Duan Clan isn’t as strong as Tangmen or the Lei Clan, it is nevertheless a prestigious clan. It isn’t appropriate for the heir of the family to die here.” The white robed scholar sat down. Right now, it was no longer suitable for him to make a move.
As for Sikong Changfeng, he wasn’t anxious at all. Releasing the spear in his hand, he said,
“No matter who it is, they won’t die in Snow Moon City.”
Even though Tang Lian almost died, when he saw the scene in front of him, he yelled, “Wujie, stop!”
At this moment, flowers were revolving around Lei Wujie and his sword qi was rolling. At first glance, he was so handsome he looked like a heavenly being. However, he was cursing in his heart. He never thought of killing Duan Xuanyi but due to his impulse, he accidentally executed Moon in Obscurity, Flowers at Daybreak. He was unable to control such a terrifying power and there was no way he could take it all back!
“Lei Wujie!” Tang Lian screamed once again and he stepped forward. He was about to leap forward to stop Lei Wujie but he realized he was too late.
All the blood drained from Duan Xuanyi’s face as there was no longer a chance for him to get away. As he lost strength in his legs, his knees wobbled and kneeled with one knee on the ground. He no longer had the refined look he had just several moments ago.
It was at this time a green robed figure appeared in the sea of flowers. She appeared so casually it was as though she didn’t fear the undulating sword qi released by Lei Wujie. She appeared before Lei Wujie and lightly grabbed a camellia which was fluttering beside her.
It was her, Ye Ruoyi.
Lei Wujie was shocked silly but he was still unable to control the sword in his hand. Ye Ruoyi suddenly took an additional step forward as her hand gently rapped Rainfall which was in Lei Wujie’s hand. It swept past her head and sliced through the rope which held her hair together. Her long red hair cascaded down past her shoulders like a waterfall.
Lei Wujie’s mouth was agape as he looked at the scene in front of him. However, Ye Ruoyi turned around and lightly held his hand. In a soft voice, she said, “That’s a good sword.”
Unable to think of a proper reply, Lei Wujie stiffly nodded his head and agreed. “Yeah…”
Gently waving his hand, the sea of flowers followed his gestures as the suffocating sword qi which was filled with killing intent disappeared. It became a warm embrace which made everyone feel comfortable. Even though the sword qi was still present, it no longer possessed the slightest bit of killing intent. Ye Ruoyi took a step back and pulled Lei Wujie along with her. Finally releasing Lei Wujie’s hand, she said, “Follow my actions.”
Lei Wujie nodded with a dazed expression on his face. Ye Ruoyi’s voice was extremely gentle and pleasant to listen to. However, there was a kind of authority behind her voice which made it difficult to refuse her commands.
“Really a dumb kid.” Ye Ruoyi laughed and retreated yet another step. As she waved her sleeves, it swirled around and she started dancing.
Lei Wujie didn’t hesitate at all as he raised his sword to follow in Ye Ruoyi’s footsteps.
As flowers fluttered in the sky, Lei Wujie’s red clothes danced in the wind as he gracefully danced with the sword in his hand. As for the peerless beauty beside him, her sleeves danced in the wind and her actions were mesmerizing.
In that instant, four words appeared in the mind of everyone present: Incomparable and unmatched magnificence.
“This is true elegance.” The white robed scholar laughed. “Jiangnan’s Duan Clan? They are sorely lacking…”
“So this is the Ruoyi sword dance…” Sikong Changfeng said in a deep voice.
“That’s right, the Ruoyi sword dance. It’s the sword dance created on the battlefield by General Ye. It is said that twenty years ago when the Ye Clan’s army marched through the lands, there would be a white robed lady who would execute a dance while holding the sword. Looking at it from a distance, it would seem as though a heavenly being descended into the mortal world. There are two parts to this sword dance and it begins with smooth movements, alike dancing clouds and flowing water. As the dance progresses, the murderous aura slowly intensifies, and nearing the end of the dance, the killing intent becomes so strong it seems to solidify. Within the radius of a thousand meters, nothing other than killing intent would be felt. This time, it looks like she is merely executing the initial part of the dance.” The white clothed scholar laughed, “However, it’s a pity there is no music to accompany the dance.”
“There are so many singing courtesans here. How can you say that there is no music?” Sikong Changfeng said.
The white clothed scholar shook his head. “It’s not that I’m looking down on your Snow Moon City. In order to find a musician who can play a melody to compliment the Ruoyi sword dance is harder said than done.”
The instant the words left his lips, the melody from a flute filled the room. The white clothed scholar was stunned. Snapping his head to look at the source of the sound, he discovered a blue robed youngster with a flute in his hand as he lightly blew into it. With an expression as still as water, he seemed completely undisturbed by the world. However, the tune which came out of the flute encompassed a myriad of emotions which perfectly complemented the dance performed by the two individuals in the pavilion. It was as though this tune was specially made for the dance.
“No! It’s not as though this tune was made to complement the dance. This melody IS the song of the Ruoyi sword dance. ‘Harmonious’… This is the tune which was said to be long lost, ‘Harmonious’! Sikong Changfeng, who on earth is this guy? How can your Snow Moon City possess such a disciple?” The white clothed scholar leaped onto his feet and a bright light flashed in his eyes.
“It’s my disciple, Xiao Se.” Sikong Changfeng said smugly and it was clear he was proud of himself.
“Great, great, great! It seems like my trip to watch the Hundred Flowers Banquet this time wasn’t in vain!” The white clothed scholar felt much more interested and after scanning the surroundings, he jumped out of the pavilion before landing in a courtyard. The musician who was watching the dance with a blank expression on his face became shocked when he discovered that someone else appeared out of nowhere.
As for this scholarly man clad in full white, he waved his hand gently at the musician. “Sorry, lend me your qin.”
The musician nodded and stood up in a fluster. Before he could do anything, he saw that with a slight wave of his hand, the qin had already appeared in the white clothed scholar’s hand. Without sitting down, the scholar used his right hand to raise the qin as his left hand violently swept at the strings.
It was like thousands of horses running through the plains. Everything in their path was destroyed.
“Who?!” Lei Wujie, Ye Ruoyi, and even Xiao Se who were shocked. The power behind the qin’s melody was too strong and it was something they couldn’t match up to.
The middle aged scholar softly chuckled and took a step back. Placing the qin back on the table, he casually took a seat and said in a clear voice, “You don’t have to bother about me! It’s my honor to be able to witness the real Ruoyi sword dance in this life!”
Even though the sword dance didn’t stop, the three of them were astonished. Their steps and the melody of the flute weren’t distruped at all even though their hearts shook. As for the middle aged scholar, he closed his eyes and listened closely to the tune coming from the flute in Xiao Se’s hand. After a short while, his hands started to move as his fingers plucked the string. This was the first time he heard the melody of the Ruoyi sword dance, ‘Harmonious’. However, with his heaven defying talent, he understood the tune the moment he touched the qin.
There was nothing in this world which couldn’t be understood.
In the instant he sat down, Xiao Se had already guessed the identity of this white clothed scholar. There were people who were mediocre even though they practiced the way of the sword their entire life. As for this person, he studied for half his life and proclaimed that he was proficient with everything under the heavens. There was someone who mocked him by handing him a sword after asking if he, a scholar, would know how to use the sword.
After muttering to himself for quite some time, he picked up the sword and waved it around awkwardly for some time. He executed a move out of the blue…
This sword could be said to have reached the pinnacle!
With this move, another Sword Immortal appeared in the martial world.
Confusian Sword Immortal, Xie Xuan.
