Jianghu (un mundo de artes marciales) - No te cortes

Capítulo 45

Hua Wushuang didn't argue, but simply smiled gently, dodging her attacks with his hands behind his back. When Shuangjing and the others looked over, their gazes were gentle and indifferent, with a hint of indulgence, as if he were simply enduring the other party's unreasonable behavior.

"I believe you!" Jing Shan's voice rang out through gritted teeth in the wind. She lashed out with her right hand, and a silver whip instantly whipped up a whirlwind. She took a step forward, the snow-white, silver-plated whip swirling tightly and flawlessly, tearing down the surrounding grass and leaves, forming a massive vortex that enveloped her and Hua Wushuang. With a snap, she lashed the whip to the ground, using the force to leap high into the air, retracting the whip and lashing it again at Hua Wushuang's face. Hua Wushuang reached out his left hand, gripping the whip tightly, and pulled hard, trying to drag Jing Shan to the ground. Unexpectedly, she dodged, stepping on the whip and rushing forward. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of Hua Wushuang, unleashing a powerful palm strike straight at his face!

Hua Wushuang dodged Jing Shan's attack, but his left hand was still wrapped in the whip, preventing him from creating distance! At that moment, Jing Shan spun around, appearing behind him in an instant, then to his right and left. Soon, he was firmly bound by the whip. With a loud shout, Jing Shan pulled hard, throwing Hua Wushuang away. While he was airborne, he heard the wind whistling past his ears, then a flash of white light. The whip struck him from below, causing intense pain in his legs, knees, waist, stomach, chest, and shoulders. Before he could react, he was slammed to the ground with a whoosh!

The thorn fan fell to the ground, and she unconsciously struggled to her feet, panting heavily, and looked at him with icy eyes.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, Hua Wushuang had already rushed in front of her again!

"!" Jing Shan's eyes widened as she stared at the familiar face with a faint smile, feeling a sense of disorientation.

Master of the Manor...

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her chest. She had been blasted away by a palm strike and landed in the ruins some distance away, her face covered in blood.

"Waaah!"

"Jing Shan!" Shuang Jing and the others exclaimed in surprise. Mei Hua wanted to help her up, but she couldn't leave Che Shui and was caught in a dilemma.

Hua Wushuang stood at a distance, watching her silently. His eyes and expression held no trace of the familiar warmth. "Since Heroine Fuping has already sent out invitations, I will be waiting for you all at the shore of Yuanquan in three days. I hope... you will arrive alive." He said calmly, slightly raising his face. The sun was already high in the sky, and a few rays of golden dawn slanted onto his face, as if he were bathed in a shimmering light. He didn't seem like the person behind all this, the one with the sinister smile.

He glanced one last time at Jing Shan, who was struggling to get up, and then turned and left.

"Wait...!" Plum Blossom called out, wanting to ask something more, but he had already disappeared from sight.

"Jing Shan!" Shuang Jing immediately ran towards the woman, but unfortunately, she hadn't recovered her strength yet and almost fell to the ground. Xuan Sheng gritted his teeth and supported her, slowly walking over with her numb legs.

As she approached, she saw Jing Shan slowly propping herself up, half of her face covered in blood. She wiped away the blood and looked ahead, but Hua Wushuang had already vanished. She opened her mouth to say something, but overcome with rage, she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Jing Shan!" Everyone was shocked. Mei Hua hurriedly asked Xuan Sheng to help Che Shui up, and then sat down behind Jing Shan, pushing her with both hands to help her catch her breath and calm her heart.

“We need to find a place to rest for a while…” Xuan Sheng immediately stood up with Che Shui in his arms. Unfortunately, his limbs were still numb, so he could only grit his teeth and barely stand up to look around.

“No one will come for the time being.” Shuangjing said calmly, looking around. “Master should have already notified them. They will be waiting at these four checkpoints. We can rest here for now.”

“Alright, I’ll go start a fire…” Xuan Sheng nodded, carefully placed Che Shui on the ground, and looked at her with some concern: “Shuang Jing, are you feeling alright?”

"It's alright, go and come back quickly," the Seven Stones Sect Master replied, letting him drape a robe over her shoulders. She focused intently on Jing Shan and Mei Hua, noticing their faces and bodies covered in blood and wounds. Without thinking, she tore off the robe, preparing to bandage their wounds and her own. But then she suddenly remembered something and turned to call out, "Xuan Sheng! Do you know what your father's alias was when he traveled the martial world?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Sheng frowned and pondered for a moment before saying, "It seems to be... 'Chu Ye'?"

"Chu Ye?!" If she hadn't been trying to stabilize Jing Shan's pulse, Mei Hua would have jumped up: "Isn't Chu Ye the only person the Undefeated Heroine considered her rival, the second-best martial artist in the world? Sixteen years ago, he died with a smile on his face under her sword?!"

"What?" Xuan Sheng frowned and shook his head, saying, "It shouldn't be the same person."

"...Is that really so?" Shuang Jing said thoughtfully, then looked at Xuan Sheng: "Xuan Sheng's father...why did he leave Half Moon City?"

"I don't know," the second young master of February City said calmly. "I haven't seen him since I was three years old."

"Is that so?" Shuangjing sighed and said nothing more.

Suddenly, memories that had been locked away somewhere surfaced before my eyes.

It was deep autumn then, and she and her master sat in a wooden house deep in the bamboo forest, listening to the pattering rain all around them.

"In my entire life, I almost lost to one person." — Fu Ping said with a smile, taking a sip of tea after the rising steam.

"What?!" she exclaimed, nearly knocking over her cup upon hearing this. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Who is it?!"

"His name is Chu Ye." The invincible female warrior took a sip of tea, answered calmly, and then said nothing more.

Shuangjing remembered that although her master looked serene and had an elegant and leisurely demeanor, she clearly saw a trace of regret flash across her eyes.

Then the duckweed gently opened its mouth and sighed in an almost inaudible voice:

—If only I had lost to him back then.—

Shuangjing looked up and saw that Jingshan had already fallen into a deep sleep, Meihua was carefully treating Cheshui's wounds, and Xuansheng was slowly walking over carrying some withered branches.

She clenched her fists involuntarily.

Suddenly a strong wind blew up, and leaves and flowers everywhere were blown into the air.

A storm is brewing, and the wind fills the tower.

The Great Roc Rises, Soaring Ninety Thousand Miles Away (1)

Under a clear blue sky and with the sun shining brightly, a white sailboat sails forward on a river that, like a silver ribbon, divides the grassland into two. At the bow, a man and a woman stand silently, gazing at the boundless ocean ahead. The azure sky is reflected in their eyes, creating a magnificent and hopeful scene.

"You entered the martial world just for these two things?" the girl in green broke the silence, taking out a jade pendant and examining it curiously in the sunlight. "This jade pendant is quite ordinary, just a bit exquisite and pretty." She winked at him. "What's its origin? Tell me?"

"Take it if you like it." The young man glanced at her indifferently, a hint of doting warmth in his cold eyes, and smiled slightly: "I don't know its origin, it was just stolen to harass those people in Jianrou Manor."

"Huh? Just for this? Xuan Sheng, you're such a pervert." Shuang Jing glanced at him, then unceremoniously accepted the jade pendant. After a moment's thought, she paused in her act of collecting things, then turned around with a grin: "A token of love? Then I'll accept it without hesitation!" She had said it jokingly, but then she saw the man in front of her turn his head and smile gently, which suddenly melted everything around him, as if turning the river into a warm and gentle plain where grass grows and birds fly.

"Mm." Xuan Sheng smiled and patted her head, solemnly and gently promising, "It's a token of our love."

"ha?!"

Shuang Jing froze on the spot. Then, her face flushed crimson from her ears to her neck, her cheeks feeling like they were burning. She stammered, "Um... I..." I was just kidding! Although she really wanted to say that, she was afraid of hearing "Me too!", so she froze for a moment, staring at him with wide eyes, her face full of embarrassment and her cheeks flushed.

“I’m serious, Shuangjing.” Xuansheng sighed. “Why don’t you believe me?”

Can you believe such a thing? There wasn't even a hint of warning! Shuangjing, cheeks puffed out, glared angrily at the man who had once again turned his gaze to the river. Seeing him calmly and composedly watching the surging waves, she felt a surge of annoyance, unsure whether she was angry at him or at herself. Glancing sideways at Cheshui and Tiansha, who were leaning against the railing, she felt a pang of bitterness.

Hmph! At least A-Che tried really hard to please Sha-Sha, why are you so wooden?! Suddenly saying something like that, how am I supposed to know if you're sincere?! You're such a blockhead, so annoying! I'm at least a beautiful young woman in my prime, why didn't you give me any indication?! >_< You only say half of what you mean! So annoying!

Seeing the extraordinary change in her expression, Xuan Sheng knew what she was thinking. He chuckled softly, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her close to his chest. He then leaned down to meet her gaze, speaking earnestly yet calmly, "I'm not good with words, Shuang Jing. But I don't lie. And... what I say, I will do. So..." He frowned slightly, seemingly considering how to continue.

He's definitely not a good talker. He thought for a long time but couldn't figure out how to continue, so he just frowned and looked at her.

Shuangjing opened her eyes wide and looked carefully at the person in front of her.

The shimmering light reflected off his face, highlighting his resolute and determined features as sharp as if sculpted by a sword. His seemingly indifferent eyes were actually very deep, like the abyss of a bottomless sea, filled with tenderness and doting affection.

“Hmm…” Xuan Sheng paused for a long time before sighing again:

"Believe me, this is truly a token of our love... Until I find someone better, you can take it anytime... to... take my life." He originally wanted to say "to take my life," but he felt that wasn't good enough. He couldn't wait to give her his most precious thing. After thinking for a long time, he finally blurted out this sentence.

Shuangjing stood there, stunned, and suddenly couldn't speak.

Her master taught her many things. When she set out to explore the martial world at the age of thirteen, she traveled all over the country and witnessed countless romances. She had seen stories of scholars and noble ladies eloping together and dying tragically together; she had seen a couple at the pinnacle of the martial arts world turn against each other and die smiling at each other's swords; she had heard stories of imperial concubines enjoying the emperor's favor; and she had also seen an elderly couple in the countryside, the man carrying a load and the woman carrying a basket, each with one hand free, walking slowly through the fields at dusk, their smiles revealing the imprint of each other between their brows.

Accustomed to the clash of swords and the hustle and bustle of life, she was already incredibly lucky to have a companion who understood her. She never dared to hope that someone would make such a solemn promise to her, and actually fulfill it.

Seeing her staring blankly at him with her mouth agape, Xuan Sheng knew she couldn't accept these words right away. He couldn't help but smile, shake his head, and pat her head, as if to comfort her: "It's okay, this is just my feeling, you don't need to respond." Anyway, he had a lifetime to slowly fulfill this vow.

Seeing that she still hadn't reacted, Xuan Sheng had no choice but to change the subject: "Didn't you just ask me why I stole these two things? Actually, it has a lot to do with my leaving Half Moon City."

"...Uh...Hmm? Huh?" Shuang Jing was dazed, not even sure if she was listening to him: "What's the relationship?"

Xuan Sheng remained silent, slowly walking to the front of the deck. Gazing at the boundless water, a hint of desolation crept into his eyes.

"The initial reason was to avenge my master, but there was another reason... to prove to my father that Half Moon City is just as glorious without him. I want everyone in the martial arts world to stay away from Half Moon City, not because legendary masters who have long since retired live there, but because Half Moon City is protected and guarded by my second young master, Xuan Sheng." He turned his head and smiled proudly: "No one can violate the rules for entering the city, not even my father."

Shuang Jing squinted slightly. At that moment, the white sails of the ship blocked the sunlight, but the towering man standing before her suddenly seemed to be surrounded by a dazzling halo, as if the whole world had brightened up with him. She vaguely recalled the first time she saw him, at the foot of the Red Robe Gang's mountain, when this man swooped down like an eagle and landed steadily in front of her. At that time, his robes were billowing in the wind, just like the sails of the ship before her, carrying countless dreams and pride, steadily sailing forward through the wind and waves.

She wanted to say something, but didn't know how to begin.

Just then, Che Shui's cheerful, teasing laughter drifted on the wind: "Hey, I bet five taels of silver that Xuan Sheng is flirting with Xiao Jing and asking her to sleep with him tonight..."

Shuang Jing was stunned, her face turning bright red. Before she could turn around and curse, she heard a "Ouch!" as Che Shui was hit by something Xuan Sheng threw. The young master of Chongchonglou lost his balance and fell from the high observation platform. Tian Sha reached out to grab him but misjudged the weight, and the two of them fell onto the deck, grimacing as they got up.

"Pfft..." Shuang Jing stared at them with wide eyes and couldn't help but laugh.

“Du Cheshui, no one will think you’re mute if you don’t speak.” Xuan Sheng raised an eyebrow and said coldly, then turned his head and frowned, supporting Shuang Jing’s arm: “Let’s go somewhere else.”

For some reason, Shuangjing was slightly taken aback, and then very naturally reached out and took his hand.

The first time they held hands, their skin touched, and both felt a jolt, as if something warm flowed from their palms, reaching deep into their hearts. They glanced at each other, both smiling knowingly.

Holding hands with you, I wish this road would never end.

Xuan Sheng opened his eyes.

All around them was a sea of lush green forest, with white clouds still lingering on the ridges, warbling birdsong, and the sound of flowing streams. Red maples covered the mountains, and the late autumn twilight painted the sky with vibrant colors. As the sun set, they rested under a huge rock. The plains were covered in green grass, and warbling birds sang in the distant woods. Che Shui and Jing Shan lay beside him, and Mei Hua was feeding them water with a large leaf. Shuang Jing nestled in his arms, her eyes lowered, lost in thought. When she felt him move slightly, she looked up at him with a hint of worry.

"Are you awake? Is anything bothering you?"

"I'm fine." Xuan Sheng sat up straight, feeling that the numbness in his limbs had disappeared. He stretched his neck, circulated his qi for a moment, and felt a sense of comfort in his chest. It seemed that there was nothing seriously wrong with his body. He was more worried about Shuang Jing's condition, so he looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"I'm fine too." The Seven Stones Sect Master shook her head: "When that big rock fell, it didn't knock me down. It seems... she saved my life." She looked at Long Ye, who was sitting quietly on the rock: "She must have used that special martial art that A-Che mentioned before? Maybe she froze the rock for a moment, saving not only me but also A-Che... preventing him from hitting that wall."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Sheng was filled with gratitude, but still had some doubts: "If that's the case... then who broke down the wall?"

“It must have been Master.” Shuangjing sighed, her eyes grave. “I was in the water… I clearly heard a muffled sound. Meihua also said she saw the stone wall crack before Che Shui hit the pavilion wall. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now that I think about it, it definitely wasn’t Che Shui who cracked it…”

Xuan Sheng remained silent. He thought of the struggles he and Shuang Jing had gone through inside, and when he looked at Che Shui, he felt a deep sense of madness from him back then.

Knowing that Che Shui's life was bought with the sacrifices of Chen Tian Sha, himself, and Shuang Jing, the master of Chongchonglou cherished everything before him more than anyone else. He must have been in such despair that Che Shui, who loved himself and those around him so much, would risk his life, even at the cost of his own life, by crashing into that wall.

But did the invincible heroine, Fu Ping, really break through that seemingly impenetrable wall of steel so easily?

As if only now realizing how powerful their opponent was, Xuan Sheng's eyes grew serious, and he tightened his grip on Shuang Jing's arm slightly.

“Xuansheng…” Shuangjing sighed, resting her head on his shoulder: “We will all go back safely. Together…”

Let's go back together.

You, me, clear water, plum blossom, thorn fan. How we came, we'll go back.

We will never lose anyone again.

If we don't return in this way... then we might as well die here.

Ye Shuangjing's courage and lack of regret were all fake. I don't want to see anyone leave again.

“Shuangjing…” As if knowing what she was thinking, Xuansheng sighed, gently stroked her long hair, and kissed her: “Don’t think like that… If we go into battle with the mindset of certain death, then we will definitely face that ending. In any case, we will survive.”

Upon hearing this, Shuang Jing was slightly taken aback, and her grip on Xuan Sheng's hand loosened slightly.

What is the most important thing when venturing into the world?

It's not about fame or reputation, not about achievements or skills, but about survival.

Without fighting with such a belief, without having any reason to live, one can never gain a foothold in this world.

Shuangjing looked into Xuansheng's eyes, which remained deep and unfathomable, as if they could encompass and endure everything. Unconsciously, she smiled.

The arrogance and ambition that once filled me when I stood in the darkness of Jianrou Manor gradually reawakened. It was as if I had returned to the spirited and proud days of my youth.

The words she had said to Jing Shan with a smile still echoed in her ears. Shuang Jing rested her head on Xuan Sheng's shoulder and smiled calmly: "Yes, I will definitely go back safely."

In this world, there is no one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with us. There wasn't one before, there isn't one now, and the future is still far away. Therefore, we will absolutely not lose. We won't even lose to our master.