Roi céleste

Chapitre 15

Blue-tailed wine—after the New Year's cup, blue-tailed wine is served; the spring platter first offers sticky candy. Li Bai, drunk, has no more drunken guests; pitifully, his spirit hangs in the setting sun.

...

The entire Qishan Mountain was silent, and countless people below the stage had stood up and were staring intently at the battle platform.

My hand was numb, and some tiny blood vessels in my right arm had been severed by the shock, yet I still drew my sword at an astonishing speed. Under thousands of sword shadows, the illusion was recreated, with lightning and thunder.

The platform seemed to be in another space. The sound of swords clashing was like thunder, and the sharp sword shadows turned into lightning, all striking towards Yin Liuchuan, who was wielding his sword with wide, sweeping movements.

The second move of the Sword Technique for the Emperor – Thunderclap Shakes Ten Thousand Miles, Might Overwhelms the Universe and Moves the Four Seas

The cracks on the rocks increased, and the originally flat platform began to slowly crack, demonstrating the power of the King's Sword Technique!

My internal energy was already running low. Taking advantage of the moment when my internal energy couldn't be replenished, Yin Liuchuan seized the opportunity to leap up, swing his blade down, and leap to catch it. Frosty blade and snowy edge, in an instant, the light of the blade flew all over the sky.

He had already broken through the second move of the Sword Technique, making it difficult to reveal the true essence of the sword technique.

He braced himself against my sword with his left arm, and the instant my sword pierced through, it was as if a heaven-splitting slash had already arrived!

I quickly skimmed backward, my feet barely touching the ground, hoping to avoid that blade that shone like a clear, still lake.

I stopped, avoiding direct injury, but some of the blade's force still penetrated my body, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The blade cleaved directly into the rock, and a crack three zhang long appeared on the platform with a crack.

The Heavenly Dragon Seventeen Cuts, this is already the eleventh cut.

Countless dust particles rose into the air, and amidst the smoke and dust, the white-clad youth opposite him drew his sword and stood up.

After casually moving his injured left arm, Yin Liuchuan slowly raised his head and looked at me again.

I moved my right arm, which was almost numb, and even without looking, I knew there was a lot of bruising under the skin.

There was still some wine left between my lips and teeth, which I swallowed along with my saliva.

He closed his eyes, frantically circulated his inner energy, and when he opened them, he charged directly at the person opposite him with terrifying speed, like a moth drawn to a flame.

The sword rises again.

Like me, he must have sensed the metallic scent of the tide emanating from the sword.

Nearly ten thousand sword shadows rose out of thin air, like fireworks bursting open, breathtakingly beautiful, and their domineering and unstoppable sword momentum was fully unleashed.

Half of the battle platform collapsed directly under the overwhelming sword shadows, and my entire right arm sprayed out a cloud of blood mist. The sword light, so numerous that it was dizzying and seemed unreal, had transformed into a raging tide of dragon roars and tiger howls!

Time seemed to have returned to that Bai Ping Ferry, to that abandoned ancient shrine. The raging waves and torrential rain were already deeply etched in my heart. What I had to do was to use my sword to depict them, to transform them into an invincible sword intent, to use the sword's power, and to transform myself into the storm that filled the river, the raging tide that filled the river!

Yin Liuchuan frowned, his face grave as he dodged my sword, his movements unpredictable, like a lone boat adrift in a storm. Yet, the knife in his hand was behind his back, poised to strike!

My internal energy was being consumed frantically. Not only my right arm, but my entire body was struggling to bear the strain. After leaping up and swinging my sword downwards, I suddenly looked down and spat out a mouthful of blood. In that instant, a seemingly simple and unassuming blade of light appeared before me—

I felt a tremendous sense of crisis from that seemingly unremarkable slash. Ignoring my body's limits, I poured all the remaining internal energy in my body into the sword in a way that was extremely harmful to my body. However, the sword cracked because it could not withstand the force!

I gritted my teeth and shattered the entire sword into countless fragments, sending them all toward Yin Liuchuan. At such close range, it would be difficult for him to dodge them all.

Exhausted, I was cut by the knife and thrown out by its force, crashing onto the shattered rocks.

I struggled to sit up from the rubble. My right arm was completely numb, and I coughed up another mouthful of blood as soon as I moved.

I wiped the blood from my lips with my other hand, and just as I half-raised my head, a flash of extremely cold light appeared before my eyes—

The tip of a knife was already pressed against my throat.

...

My hand, hidden in my sleeve, clenched tightly, my nails digging into my flesh, then slowly loosened. I looked up at the person in front of me, then lowered my head again, admitting in a hoarse voice, "...I lost."

The entire arena was silent. All eyes were fixed on the now-defunct battle platform.

The person opposite me didn't speak, but instead sheathed his knife and extended a hand in front of me.

I stared at that long, beautiful hand with its distinct joints for a moment, then looked up in surprise, only to meet a pair of smiling eyes. The long, beautiful eyes were slightly curved, and the soft light in them was like sparse stars reflected in water.

"...Defeat me here, two years from now."

The boy's voice sounded serious and gentle for the first time, each word resonating deeply, like metal striking jade.

In a daze, I inexplicably remembered a distant summer night, amidst the cacophony of insects like rain, when someone suddenly grabbed my hand. Their voice was hesitant, yet earnest and gentle, "If you... if you have my child, I will marry you."

Then, like an idiot, I reached out and placed my hand in that person's palm.

She was lifted up and stood up. She swayed a couple of times from exhaustion, and then she was lifted up horizontally and placed in a warm embrace.

"Let's go, I'll take you to get your injury treated, otherwise your right arm will definitely be ruined."

I was fully awake now, and I frowned as I struck him on the elbow, saying coldly, "No need, I can walk by myself."

Yin Liuchuan dodged with a flick of his arm, raised an eyebrow and complained, "You're absolutely disgusting when you've been drinking."

"Then please, Young Master Yin—"

"People are noisy too."

Before he finished speaking, he struck my pressure point, causing me to faint.

My vision went black and I collapsed.

...

When I woke up, it was already night. I found myself in a room at an inn, but it was clearly not the inn where the Thousand Years Sect was located.

In the corner, Yin Liuchuan was dozing off, his hand propped on the coffee table. Hearing my movement, he opened his eyes and looked over.

For some reason, I followed his gaze and looked down—

I changed into a new outfit.

I opened my mouth, but decided against asking that utterly stupid question. This kind of scene is all too common in martial arts novels: a woman wakes up to find herself dressed differently, asks in alarm what happened, and the man, in a gentlemanly manner, replies that his maid changed her clothes. The woman is usually captivated by the man's gentlemanly demeanor, and the two end up spending their lives together. After seeing so many of these, all I want to do is curse him.

But I bet if I asked, Yin Liuchuan would give me a charming smile and then casually say, "Of course I switched it, little lady."

Yinliuchuan seemed to have read my mind, and sure enough, he gave a flippant smile, the dragon in the corner of his eye moving with it. But he said, "These clothes of yours, my father changed them for you."

I'm petrified.

Then his father pushed open the door and came in. I stared at Yin Liuchuan's father with a blank expression.

Yin Liuchuan looked at me and chuckled, "...My father is an expert in medicine; he bandaged both our wounds." He then added, "How come you look like you've returned to normal?"

I didn't say anything.

The effects of alcohol on me are time-limited.

Yin Xuan, the master of Youlong Heavenly Palace, came over, sat on the edge of the bed, took my pulse, nodded to indicate that I was alright, and then smiled at me and said, "We met once nearly ten years ago, do you still remember Miss Guyi?"

"Of course," I replied immediately, surprised that this renowned Palace Master actually remembered me.

Yin Xuan hasn't changed much since nine years ago, except for a few more wrinkles on his face and the scar on his right cheekbone, which still reveals his ruthless nature.

"You've exceeded my expectations. It's truly fortunate that the Thousand-Year Sect has produced such a talent as you; I'm even a little jealous." Yin Xuan joked a few more times, praised me, and then left. However, Yin Xuan didn't mention recruiting me at all, especially since I had already learned the Sovereign Sword Technique. I was utterly astonished by this newfound understanding of this martial arts tycoon who could laugh and joke. Come to think of it, was he using me to highlight his son? Or perhaps this was his attitude towards his daughter-in-law…?

I wiped my sweat and couldn't help but look at Yin Liuchuan. He smiled brightly at me and said tenderly, "If you need anything, just tell your husband."

My heart skipped a beat.

The other person added, "Your father-in-law has a very good impression of you."

My heart trembled...

I gritted my teeth and said, "What if I want you to sleep with me?"

Yin Liuchuan lowered his head and smiled, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I didn't expect my little wife to be so passionate even with her injuries. My wife has given the order, how could I dare disobey?" As he spoke, he actually walked towards me.

"Go on, go on. Young Master Yin, you are still injured. Take care of yourself and get some rest. Go on, go on."

The evil spirit, grinning smugly, finally left.

I let out a sigh of relief and retreated back into bed, feeling resentful and defeated.

Someone was breaking into my window in the middle of the night. I opened my eyes and hissed, "Who's there—" and started reaching for my weapon, but then I heard the person by the window say, "It's me, Li Yiyao!"

I was taken aback. The man entered the room, closed the window, and said smugly, "How about that? I, your grandma, have unparalleled skills and successfully bypassed the group of Youlong disciples to get into your room."

My lips twitched, and it took me a while to say, "Those people let you in on purpose, okay?"

Li Yiyao clearly didn't believe her and walked over, saying, "Let's go, I'll get you out of here."

My lips twitched twice as I said, "Thank you for your kindness, heroine, but I'm seriously injured and it's really inconvenient for me." Don't disobey the evil spirit when you're not strong enough, or what will I do if I'm forced to serve him in bed!

Li Yiyao mumbled "Okay," and sat down on the edge of my bed, saying, "Then move a little further in, I'll protect you."

My lips twitched three times, and I silently moved further inside.

Li Yiyao also crawled into the quilt. "When I sneaked out, Old Man Yu found out, but he let me go and asked me to come and see you. You seem to be doing well." Suddenly, she touched my clothes. "Hey, you changed your clothes... Did Yin Liuchuan change them?" Her voice became excited.

My lips twitched four times. "...Yin Liuchuan's father."

"So, it turns out his dad has taken a liking to you?"

My lips twitched five times, and I gritted my teeth and said, "That's right."

"Tsk tsk, I heard that Yin Xuan has been unmarried for many years since his wife's death, but now he's going to remarry. In that case, you won't be the female palace master of Youlong Heavenly Palace anymore, and Yin Liuchuan will have to call you mother."

His lips twitched weakly, but he was powerless...

"But Yin Xuan is so old, you might not be able to have any children. When the old scoundrel dies, if you want to have an affair, just come to me, and I'll offer you my son."

The tomboy's lips curled into a silent smile...

"Guyi? Why aren't you making a sound? Are you asleep? Oh, why aren't you breathing?! Guyi, wake up, wake up..."

The long night stretches on, the cold dew outside the window like sorrowful tears inside. The gentle breeze and the bright moon offer a tribute to a short but extraordinary life.

Twenty cups of mead

Mead, made from pearls and jade, is a sweet drink; in June, the farmers sweat profusely. But nothing compares to the spring wine, naturally fragrant, where bees till the fields and flowers yield the harvest. On the first day, it boils gently, fish spitting foam; on the second day, it swirls, its clear light vibrant. On the third day, the fragrance fills the city when the jar is opened; quickly pour it into the silver bottle, no stirring needed. The maidservant, Jin Xie, pours the spring wine; the spring wine, when poured, shines like amber.

...

The next day, I got up, clutching a throbbing pain in my mouth.

While having breakfast in the lobby on the first floor, I also learned about Li Yiyao and Lu Wen's relationship.