The moon shines brightly over the empty mountains, and flowers fill the sky

Chapter 51

Shuang Jing frowned, patted Xuan Sheng on the shoulder and said, "We'd better hurry up and catch up, lest the distance grow and something unexpected happens and we can't help Mei Hua... Ah!" Before she could finish speaking, Xuan Sheng had already leaped high and followed closely behind the Eighth Hall Master; behind the two of them, Che Shui and Jing Shan also hurriedly set off to follow.

Sure enough, before they had gone halfway, they heard countless whistling sounds gradually approaching. Before they could react, Shuang Jing shouted crisply, "Charge forward, but be careful not to let the rope get cut!" These words reminded the others, but unfortunately, they were deep in the white clouds and could see nothing but frost.

Suddenly, everything burst open and shot down from the sky!

Fiery arrows, chains, spiked hammers—all ranged weapons swarmed towards them in a dense barrage.

Mei Hua gritted her teeth, kicked off and sprang up, flipping backward in the air. Countless silver threads scattered in all directions from her hands, but they could only stop some of the things that were being shot at them.

"Damn it!" Che Shui also leaped up, unfolding his silver fan. Although it caused a strong wind, it was not enough to stop all the weapons coming from all directions!

"Charge!" Xuan Sheng shouted when he saw the situation was dire. Everyone rushed forward with all their might, but it was too late. Arrows and swords rained down from the sky!

However, they all stopped in mid-air.

It was as if time had been frozen.

The swaying leaves, the floating smoke, the arrows and weapons that were cutting through the wind, and even the rolling river at their feet, far away, seemed to have stopped flowing.

Long also stood in front of Xuansheng and Shuangjing.

She tiptoed, her right hand raised high, her azure robes fluttering in the wind like fragments of the sky. Her hair was as white as snow, her skin as white as frost, and her deep eyes remained utterly calm. She spread her fingers and slowly raised them, and all the weapons surrounding them changed direction with her movement.

"What are you waiting for? Charge!" Shuangjing shouted suddenly.

As if jolted awake, everyone hurriedly rushed forward.

Suddenly, Jin Guan, who was at the back, felt the rope under her feet tremble. She turned her head and saw that there was white mist all around, so she couldn't see anything clearly. Without thinking, she immediately turned around and rushed back.

"Jin Guan!" Bai Yun called out hurriedly, "What are you doing!?"

But Jin Guan had already leaped high into the air, and with a whoosh, she drew her sandalwood halberd. With a delicate shout, she charged forward with imposing speed.

Sure enough, an arrow was embedded in the rope and rock, but the rope was extremely strong and could not be cut by an arrow. Then a man knelt down beside it, sharpening his knife. He heard the angry shout in the air, and as soon as he raised his head, he was violently pierced through the chest by a spear and pinned to the tree trunk behind him.

Jin Guan turned his head and saw Bai Yun running towards him on the hemp rope. His face turned deathly pale, and he shouted sharply, "Don't move!"

But it was too late. A slight cracking sound rang out, and the rope began to tumble and break. Mei Hua lunged forward and managed to grab the rope just in time, but she was almost pulled into the abyss. Luckily, she managed to grab onto a rock in time to avoid being smashed to pieces.

"Ugh...!" She pulled hard on the rope, but the force opposite almost ripped her entire arm off. Her palms were rubbed raw, and a burning pain shot through them. She gritted her teeth and held on tightly, but then she saw Bai Yun leap up as well, wielding two swords that swiftly passed through her and were about to strike the person behind her.

"Hold on!" Bai Yun shouted to her, dodging several darts rushing towards him. He drew his sword and stepped forward; a flash of silver light, and blood and flesh splattered as two heads rolled down the mountain. He didn't have time to check if anyone else was surrounding them; he hurriedly turned around to help Jin Guan hold onto the rope, only to see his companion's hands covered in blood, barely able to hold on.

The two of them worked together to tie the rope to the rock. Just as they were about to let go, they heard the sound of many things falling into the water from the bottom of the valley. From the white mist came Che Shui's anxious and panicked voice, echoing all around: "Jin Guan—? Bai Yun—?"

Jin Guan was about to answer, but then fell silent.

Countless arrows, bound with hemp ropes, pierced through the clouds from both sides and firmly embedded themselves on the edge of the cliff where they stood.

She and Baiyun smiled at each other, and at the same time raised their hands to cut the hemp rope leading to the cliff on the other side.

"Master, you go first!" Jin Guan shouted to the other side, "Baiyun and I are fine! We'll catch up with you soon!"

"What?!" Che Shui exclaimed in shock, then immediately roared, "You all get over here right now!"

“Oh dear…” Jin Guan laughed, “We can’t let the girls of the Seven Stones Sect steal all the glory.” Facing the cliff, she stood smiling, her clothes fluttering, her eyes resolute and calm, completely unlike her usual charming and playful self: “Don’t you think so, Baiyun?” she asked, turning to her companion beside her.

"They're just some lackeys... Don't worry, Master! They definitely won't disgrace Chongchonglou!" Baiyun put his hand to his mouth and shouted with a smile, "We'll catch up soon!"

"Damn it! Who told you all this! Come here right now!" Che Shui's angry voice came from afar, and after a while he shouted even more furiously, "How dare you...! How dare you cut the rope!"

But Baiyun and Jinguan were no longer listening.

The crowd drew closer, all masked in black and wielding various weapons. The two men glanced at each other back to back; there were at least sixty people, forming a shield that surrounded them.

"Sigh...we have to get back alive." Bai Yun turned his head and grinned, looking at the woman who had fought alongside him for the past few years.

"Didn't you hear what Sect Leader Ye said? We will all return alive." Jin Guan smiled slightly, looking proudly at the forest of snow-white swords and spears gathered before him.

Baiyun remained silent, turned her head, and gripped her weapon tightly.

"Well, thank you all these years," he finally said.

"What are you saying..." Jin Guan glared at him, but after thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, "If you really want to thank me, go back and make me lotus root and lotus root sweet cakes." If she could really go back alive.

"Alright." Baiyun looked at the white mist and clouds opposite, where Cheshui's shouts were no longer heard, and nothing could be seen in the vast whiteness. "Next time, let's go on a picnic with the host. He's been talking about it for a long time."

"Yes." Jin Guan smiled calmly, "Definitely..."

The First Battle: The Student Surpasses the Master, Part 2

Birds took flight in fright, tree shadows swayed, and there seemed to be some movement on the road behind us.

Che Shui suddenly turned around, hoping to see two familiar figures on the road behind him, but apart from the narrow path and the dark woods, he could see nothing else.

“Look ahead,” Plum Blossom suddenly said beside him. Seeing that he had turned to look at her, she lowered her eyes and said, “Look ahead. If you keep looking back, you won’t even be able to control the road ahead.”

Upon hearing this, Che Shui frowned and continued on his way with a heavy heart.

Beside him, Xuan Sheng silently carried the sleeping Shuang Jing uphill. The Seven Stones Sect Master was no less vigilant; even in his sleep, his fists were clenched, his brows furrowed, and his lips pressed tightly together, not daring to relax for a moment. Behind them, Jing Shan and Long Ye also walked silently. The former would abruptly raise her head at the slightest movement, seemingly waiting for something, while the latter remained absent-minded, her expression calm and serene even if an entire mountain collapsed before her.

It was dusk, and being deep in the mountains and forests, there was no view of the colorful sunset. Only when winding up the bend, facing the towering mountain walls, could one catch a glimpse of the purple, undulating sea of clouds outside, but no one had the mind to appreciate those views.

"Che Shui..." Mei Hua suddenly called softly, turning her head to look at him. Her eyes reflected the golden light falling through the dense foliage, as clear and bright as tears. Che Shui looked over and felt as if his whole body was immersed in a pool of clear water.

When she met Che Shui's gaze, which quietly fell upon her, Mei Hua paused unconsciously.

The faint sunlight reflected off fine dust particles, which danced in the air. Everything slowly returned to tranquility, the wind slowed down, and it draped itself over the skin, covering everything with a gentle breath.

I remember the first time I saw this man was outside the carriage that I had stumbled upon halfway through my journey.

At that moment, arrows filled the sky, obscuring the heavens. She saw him dressed in an incomparably magnificent purple robe, as if brushing aside patches of colorful clouds, smiling, relaxed, and dashing, holding a silver fan and knocking down all the sharp arrows.

She remembers her posture at the time; she was looking up.

He shielded the car from the barrage of arrows on the roof, while she protected the people inside from the window. Occasionally, she would glance over and catch a glimpse of his indifferent yet playful smile. His eyes and smile were as clear and bright as a child's.

She became curious, and then everything became unavoidable.

She knew very well what kind of future it was. Between them lay the vast expanse of time, the fleeting years, and a legendary past. It wasn't like Shuangjing and Xuansheng's relationship, where simply reaching out to embrace and warm each other allowed them to transparently touch each other's heartbeats.

So suddenly, the words I wanted to say became hard to utter.

However, Lin Meihua was not a delicate young lady raised in seclusion; she was a woman of the martial world, always daring to love and hate. Especially when there was Ye Shuangjing, who was willing to do anything for love, she always felt a surge of courage.

"I..." She cleared her throat, turned to look at the road ahead, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I... I don't have Xuan Sheng's speed, nor Shuang Jing's wisdom... and certainly not your skills." She frowned slightly, having regained her usual composure. Once she mustered the courage to speak, her words flowed effortlessly. Mei Hua smiled calmly, reaching out to catch a small, falling leaf. The yellowish leaf, with its vibrant color, cast a warm golden glow on her fair skin.

"As for masters, the three hall masters of Tianxia Inn are no match for the Immortal Elder, the Invincible Heroine, or the many experts in Half Moon City... But, in three years, I will surpass you." She paused, turned around, and smiled at him: "I will surpass you, Du Cheshui, so before you can be defeated by anyone else, you must first be defeated by me. Until then, you'd better stay alive!"

Che Shui paused, unconsciously stopping in his tracks, and watched as Lin Meihua shrugged at him before continuing to walk forward as if nothing had happened.

A ray of sunlight fell on her back, sparkling like golden dust falling on her head. Her long, black hair shone brightly. She seemed a little uncomfortable, her shoulders stiff. Her belt fluttered behind her like a colorful butterfly following her. It was a very familiar scene, but her usually dashing and heroic back suddenly had a touch of gentleness and playfulness.

Is this guy encouraging him?

“I…” She seemed to remember something and suddenly stopped, but did not turn around. She just kept looking ahead and said, “I don’t have the power or the right to say such things to you, but… at least it’s a reason to live. Live on, even if it’s just to see my results three years from now, you must live on.”

Che Shui was startled. Looking at the plum blossom's retreating figure, he suddenly became speechless.

She knew; she knew everything.

He was prepared to perish together with his opponent if the situation became irreversible, and seeing that Shuang Jing had found Xuan Sheng, he felt relieved enough to leave. Since Chongchonglou originally existed solely for conquering Qianxialou, once they reached the final checkpoint, the gang would be rendered unnecessary. And since Shuang Jing had finally found Xuan Sheng, he could finally return to Tian Sha's side, smiling as he told her that the mission was complete.

But then, this woman suddenly said to him with such determination and courage, "Please live for me."

She's right. She doesn't possess Shuangjing's wisdom, Xuansheng's speed, or her own skills.

She lacked Tian Sha's gentle innocence, kindness, purity, and virtuous heart.

But she was lucid. More lucid than any of them.

The plum blossom sees through everything; it observes the world with a gaze sharper and more incisive than the heavens, and then faces it bravely.

Even he couldn't match that kind of courage.

Then the woman turned around and, on their way to the underworld, said to him clearly and firmly, "Please live for me. If you live, I will do my utmost within three years to prove to you that your perseverance was the right thing to do."

For a woman as proud as a phoenix, these words were nothing less than a tactful request and a cautious plea.

He couldn't help but smile, a wave of tenderness washing over him.

Over the years, I have lived for Shuangjing, and to accompany her through the long years of waiting. I had grown accustomed to standing alone atop a cliff, gazing at the vastness of the world, when suddenly I discovered that someone stood beside me. This made the pain of these past few years of stumbling and falling in this mortal world much less painful.

Why live on just to see this person's achievements and outcomes?

He was also very curious about what she would eventually become.

Will she become like Shuangjing or Tiansha, with a refreshing and natural smile, stirring up the world's love and hatred with her laughter and conversation? Will she also meet a man like him or Xuansheng, who gently smiles and tolerates all her unreasonable demands and madness? Will she one day suddenly appear in front of him, smiling and saying, "I told you, living is worthwhile"?

He looked at Mei Hua's bright red ears and neck, and suddenly wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start.

All around was the rustling of the wind through the grass, and the sound of footsteps came from ahead, thump-thump-thump, as if they were all stepping on my heart.

Actually, saying anything is superfluous.

Whether he agrees or refuses, he will prove it with his actions.

"...!" Suddenly, Jing Shan, who was walking at the front, couldn't help but swallow a gasp of surprise.

Xuan Sheng hurriedly woke Shuang Jing, and the group gathered around. Suddenly, a huge clearing appeared deep in the woods in front of them.

The floor is paved with marble in a circular pattern, with silver accents along the edges.

The fierce Lady Xi Quan stood in the center, dressed in a black robe, holding a huge horse-slaying saber. Shuang Jing recognized the weapon; it was also made by the Seven Stones Sect. The blade was shaped like a crescent moon, with a shearing edge as sharp as a thousand-foot cliff, as if it could split a precipice. The handle was made of copper and iron, and the hilt was made of black and purple sandalwood with steel inside. The saber was nine feet and five inches long, with no carvings or embellishments on its entire body, except for two seal characters engraved on the blade, which read "Kunming". It was a work of the Seven Stones Sect about fifty years ago, and it was once used by a general of the imperial court to sweep away the border. It was named after the general and was also called the "Soaring Cloud Saber".

Shuangjing had a bad feeling and involuntarily looked at Meihua behind her. She saw that although Meihua's face was slightly pale, her eyes were still calm, so she was slightly relieved.

"This is the checkpoint?" Che Shui looked at the person in front of him with a serious expression and frowned as he spoke.

“Like Chongchonglou, we should have already passed the most basic defensive hurdles. Now it’s time to truly face our opponents.” Shuangjing said calmly, “If that’s the case, then the next few trials should be the tests of Hua Wushuang, Xuansheng’s father, Hero Chu Ye, and my master as our opponents.” She smiled slightly, her eyes showing a calm ease: “If that’s the case, we should win.”

"Is this Xi Quan, the deputy lord of Flying Eagle Fortress, known as the 'Fierce Lady'?" Jing Shan carefully examined his opponent from head to toe, then asked with a stern face.

“It’s her…” the leader of Chongchonglou replied, rolling up his sleeves and tucking them behind his back. “This woman is a bit troublesome…”

"Wait!" Shuang Jing suddenly frowned and said, "What are you doing? Are you about to make a move?"

Che Shui was surprised: "Huh? Of course! Don't tell me, Xiao Jing, you want to go on stage? Although your physical condition has recovered most of the time, it's still not enough, right?"

"If it weren't for this woman stirring up trouble, we wouldn't have so much trouble." Jing Shan looked at her with disgust and said, "Flying Eagle Fortress deserves to fall. She harmed so many of her disciples for her own selfish reasons. Let me deal with her!"

Shuang Jing was both amused and exasperated: "I say, are all your so-called reasons as deep as the hatred for killing your master or sister? Only one person is qualified to participate in this fight, right?" As she spoke, she stepped aside, and the others turned to look, only to see Mei Hua stepping forward with a slightly pale face.

"she……?"