Peach-pink petals lay scattered across the ground.
Slender, crooked peach boughs resembled sparse brushstrokes of an ink landscape painting, their branches lean and bare.
A burly man clutched his chest. Blood gushed forth, staining the earth crimson.
With a savage grimace, he snarled, "Sword Disciple, so what if your talent in the sword dao is supreme? In this lifetime... you will never find the culprit who wiped out the Marquis Manor! You will never have your revenge!"
With those final words, the burly man breathed his last.
Even in death, a sneer lingered on his face.
Nearby, seeing this, Commandery Princess Anyang showed a look of sympathy and reluctance. "Senior Sword Disciple, the trail has gone cold again."
Though Sword Disciple was clearly several years younger than her, standing beside him felt like following a giant block of ice.
His face was extraordinarily handsome and his physique robust, yet she could not muster even the faintest flutter of desire—terrified of being cut down by a single stroke of his sword.
Sword Disciple remained silent.
Seeing this, Commandery Princess Anyang continued, "Could it be... the killers are from another kingdom?"
She could only guess as much.
"I am leaving," Sword Disciple said. With that, his figure vanished without a trace.
Commandery Princess Anyang gazed at where he had been, biting her lip. She wanted to chase after him, but ultimately gave up.
Beside her, a guard asked, "Princess, shouldn't we try to keep Sword Disciple with us? With his assistance, why worry that our great cause won't succeed?"
Commandery Princess Anyang shook her head. "Feilai Kingdom... is not a place he belongs."
Commandery Princess Anyang's words held true; in the days that followed, Sword Disciple traversed the breadth of Feilai Kingdom on foot.
He continued to search for the perpetrators behind the massacre of his house, as well as for his sister.
Yet though he roamed all of Feilai Kingdom and ventured into Aoxiong Kingdom, traveling south to Tianhai Desert and north to Dixue Mountain, he still found no trace of his enemies.
Those foes seemed to have materialized out of thin air, slaughtering everyone in the Marquis Manor only to vanish into nothingness once more.
Fierce winds howled, bitingly cold to the bone.
Sword Disciple carried a broken sword upon his back, walking alone across the boundless expanse of snow.
The world was vast, and he was utterly alone.
Right then, Sword Disciple came to a sudden halt, turning his gaze toward the southwest.
Five hundred meters away, an orange-red flame flickered, accompanied by faint wisps of smoke.
A woman draped in a fox-fur coat sat upon the snow. Her delicate brows were painted like a picture, and pale puffs of mist drifted from her lips.
A scarlet cloak was tied over the fur. The woman rubbed her slender, fair hands together, arched an eyebrow, and glanced at Sword Disciple. "Care to warm yourself by the fire?"
Sword Disciple regarded the woman, sensing an inexplicable resonance from her.
"What is your name?" the fox-furred woman asked.
"Sword Disciple," he answered, sparing not a word more than necessary.
"A name that fits the man. A fine name." The fox-furred woman smiled, like a charming vixen. "Would you like to take me as your master? I can give you what you desire."
Sword Disciple fell silent for a moment.
He appeared to be considering it.
Yet, devoid of emotions, even the act of thinking proved difficult.
Only the sword in his hand was something he could trust.
"Revenge, and... finding your sister." The fox-furred woman gave a light laugh. Seemingly cold, she rubbed her hands again. "Wandering around here in circles, you won't find them in your entire lifetime."
"Very well," Sword Disciple agreed. "Greetings, Master."
He lacked emotions, but that did not make him a fool.
The smile on the woman's face widened. Looking at the handsome young man, she said softly, "I feel... you seem somewhat familiar."
Sword Disciple maintained his silence.
"Have we... met somewhere before?" the fox-furred woman continued.
She seemed to be quite talkative.
Or perhaps she was simply used to being alone, and having finally encountered another soul, she had much to say.
Sword Disciple said nothing.
Silence was his answer.
At this point, the woman rose to her feet.
The snowflakes that had gathered on her clothes scattered and drifted to the ground.
Her figure was slender, like delicate jade shoots, yet gracefully contoured in all the right places, exuding the poised, mature allure of an elder sister.
She dusted off her hands as snow dispersed. "Let me introduce myself: Wu Shi."
Hearing this, Sword Disciple committed the name to memory.
Wu Shi.
For some reason, he too felt the name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
"Hee-hee, to think that I, Wu Shi, would actually have a disciple! I'll have to put you to good use." Wu Shi looked at Sword Disciple, her vixen-like eyes brimming with delight. "Come, disciple, cook a meal for your master. It's been far too long since I had a full meal."
It truly had been a long time.
She couldn't even remember how long it had been since she last ate food.
"What do you want to eat?" Sword Disciple asked in a deep voice.
"Mmm... fish," Wu Shi answered, seemingly lost in memory, her gaze vacant.
"Understood." Having said that, Sword Disciple turned and walked away without looking back.
"Hey!" Wu Shi shouted at the empty air. "Aren't you supposed to ask your master why she was reminiscing, why she wants to eat fish? Don't you want to hear the story behind it?"
"No."
Sword Disciple's voice was icy, devoid of any emotional color.
"Hmph." Wu Shi snorted, though she wasn't angry. She held her fair, delicate hands over the fire.
Perhaps because her skin was so snow-white, her palms looked slightly flushed and translucent under the glow of the flames.
The fish was caught before long. As Sword Disciple roasted it, an appetizing aroma soon wafted through the air.
Even though no seasoning had been added, Wu Shi detected no fishy odor at all; after a long absence, her taste buds twitched in anticipation.
Resting her chin on her hand, she stared blankly at Sword Disciple, as if drifting into memory once more. "Your cooking is quite something."
Her vixen-like peach-blossom eyes seemed affectionate no matter whom she looked at.
Unfortunately, Sword Disciple had no emotions.
Nor did he understand what affection was.
"Master hereby appoints you as... Grand Steward of the Kitchen, Imperial Chef."
Saying this, Wu Shi picked up the fish and began to eat with great relish.
"Not bad. Your skill is truly wonderful."
"It's been so long since I ate something this delicious and felt this full."
"Still, I can't eat any more, or I'll get a little tummy."
Though Wu Shi loved food, she was very mindful of moderation.
Sword Disciple waited until she finished eating before speaking: "Revenge. Sister."
His voice remained as stiff and cold as ever.
Wu Shi looked at Sword Disciple's handsome face. "Too frigid. Why not smile a little?"
Sword Disciple remained silent for a moment before finally forcing a smile onto his face.
"Forget it, you'd better not smile." Exhaling a puff of white mist, Wu Shi spoke, "The Marquis Manor suffered two assassination attempts in total. The first was... when you were born. But a celestial anomaly appeared at your birth, and all those attackers died. Later came the second assassination."
Wu Shi watched Sword Disciple's reaction the entire time.
Unfortunately, Sword Disciple remained quiet, giving no reaction whatsoever.
"Their identity," Sword Disciple demanded succinctly.
"They come from... the Nine Heavens Divine Palace."
Sword Disciple had never heard that name before.
"It's natural you wouldn't know. They aren't on Yunmeng Mountain."
"Oh, right, you don't know what Yunmeng Mountain is either."
"Yunmeng Mountain is one hundred thousand light-years tall."
"Yet Yunmeng Mountain is merely a small hill."
Wu Shi said to herself.
"The Nine Heavens Divine Palace's target was your sister."
"At first, they likely received a request from an employer to snuff her out before she was even born."
"Later on, however, another employer took their place, asking that your sister be taken away alive."
Wu Shi spoke while keeping her eyes fixed on Sword Disciple's reaction.
Yet Sword Disciple remained consistently silent.
"Hey, aren't you going to ask why they wanted to kill your sister, and why... they wanted to take her away alive? If you beg me, I'll tell you." Wu Shi narrowed her eyes, gazing at him with an even deeper, almost seductive tenderness.
"That is not important. I only need to take revenge, kill them all, and find my sister," Sword Disciple replied.
"So you can say more than ten words at a time after all?" Wu Shi smiled. "However, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace isn't something you can destroy just because you want to. Within it... there are quite a few Dao Gods. As for you, your sword talent is impressive, but you can't even walk out of Yunmeng Mountain. How can you speak of revenge?"
Sword Disciple said nothing, merely cradling his sword.
"I am your master, so of course I will back you up. Cook well for me every day, and I will teach you how to become strong."
"Understood."
On that day, amidst the snowy plains, Sword Disciple gained a master, and Wu Shi gained a disciple.
The snow atop Yunmeng Mountain seemed to fall all the heavier.
Sword light flashed and crisscrossed, seemingly piercing through the heavens.
[Taking Wu Shi as your master altered the trajectory of your life.]
[Wu Shi was quiet by nature and disliked showing her face in public, so you became the sharpest sword at her command.]
[Your strength grew ever greater, your realm ascended higher, and you drew... ever closer to the Nine Heavens Divine Palace.]
[Ten thousand years passed. Fighting across all fronts, you finally unified Yunmeng Mountain and established Yunmeng Palace.]
"If you want to defeat the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, relying on yourself alone won't be enough."
Amidst the snow, pear blossoms drifted down. Wu Shi sat upright upon a throne.
Below lay nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, the distance separating the two of them. Orange lantern light intertwined with the falling snow, mingling warmth with desolation.
Dressed in black, Sword Disciple possessed profound features and a sharply contoured face. Cradling his sword in his arms, he looked like an incomparable Sword God.
"When will it be enough?" Sword Disciple asked.
Wu Shi narrowed her eyes, her smile enchanting. "When a single strike of your sword is enough to slay me... it will be enough."
Sword Disciple remained silent.
Upon the throne, Wu Shi continued, "The background of the Nine Heavens Divine Palace is far from being as simple as it looks. The business they run is immense... one could say it is the greatest enterprise in the world."
Wu Shi spoke to herself, tinged with loneliness.
"Have you heard of the True Spirit Reincarnation Method?" Wu Shi asked.
Sword Disciple shook his head.
"That too is their doing."
"In this world, there are the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations. How difficult it is to overcome them!"
"Yet, One gave birth to Two, Two gave birth to Three, and Three gave birth to the myriad things. In this world, all realms can actually be divided into three kinds. The first is One, the beginning, also known as the Yang Realm. The second is Two, the transition, known as the Rebirth Realm. The third is Three, known as the Yin Realm. If one searches carefully across these three realms, perhaps every person can find their corresponding counterpart. Where we are now is Two, the Rebirth Realm. My good disciple, perhaps in the Yang Realm, or even the Yin Realm, there is another you. Well... he isn't you, but... he can be used to help you avert the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."
The three realms were distinct from one another.
The Yang Realm was the beginning, the origin, the orthodoxy, possessing all kinds of innate spirits. Everyone there was like a god.
The Rebirth Realm was more like a waystation, where people from the Yang Realm could descend, and people from the Yin Realm could arrive via the True Spirit Reincarnation Method.
As for the Yin Realm, it represented the Three that gave birth to all things; its resources were far more impoverished, treasures were scarce, and extraordinary factors were faint. Therefore, the path of transcendence for the living beings within it was exceptionally arduous.
"Your sister came from the Yin Realm. Her life was purchased by a Dao God," Wu Shi said calmly.
Hearing this, Sword Disciple gripped his hilt tighter. "I am going to practice my sword."
"Stop practicing. Come eat fish with me. It's been so long since I tasted the fish you make." An expectant look appeared on Wu Shi's face.
The reply she received was an icy: "Practicing the sword."
High atop the soaring palace, Wu Shi watched that slender figure, coughing intermittently. "To think that after so many years, my injuries... still haven't healed."
Crimson blood fell to the ground, dyeing the pear blossoms and snow red.
...
"My sword is not yet strong enough."
Amidst the snow, Sword Disciple wielded his sword.
Within Yunmeng Palace, he commanded immense prestige. He was seen as a god of slaughter, and also known as the Sword Fanatic.
Just then, murmurs sounded nearby.
"Sigh, the foundation of Yunmeng Palace was clearly won by Lord Sword Disciple. Why is that woman the Palace Master?"
"Hmph, that woman has ambitions; she's merely using Lord Sword Disciple!"
"Lord Sword Disciple is nothing more than a sword in her hands."
At that moment, the sword-dancing Sword Disciple ceased his movements. Looking toward the distant whispering crowd, he said indifferently, "She is my master."
Atop the mountain summit, Wu Shi heard this and couldn't help covering her mouth, a vixen-like smile dancing in her eyes. "My disciple cares about me after all."
Time flowed on, and another hundred thousand years passed.
Wu Shi sat high above, an aloof smile on her face—a smile that was exceptionally distant and cold.
Sword Disciple stood before Wu Shi like an unsheathed blade.
"The myriad mountains have been quelled. In these Hunxuan Ruins, Yunmeng Palace is now the foremost faction," Sword Disciple stated flatly.
Behind him, more than a dozen Dao Gods looked at Sword Disciple, deep reverence in their eyes.
Over these hundred thousand years, strike by strike, Sword Disciple had forged this immense domain for Yunmeng Mountain.
He was called a god of slaughter, yet he was also a gentle god of slaughter.
Though Sword Disciple was expressionless, he seemed to hold compassion for all under heaven.
He never slaughtered the innocent.
His sword killed only those who deserved death.
This earned the admiration of the Dao Gods behind him, along with deep sighs of emotion.
Clearly a god of slaughter, yet he was righteous to an almost unnatural degree.
"Well done, disciple. You've secured such a grand domain for your master. Come, as a reward, you shall share dinner with your master tonight," Wu Shi laughed.
However, those Dao Gods could not tell whether she was truly happy.
This master of Yunmeng Palace was extraordinarily enigmatic; very few had ever seen her take action.
All they knew was that her strength had to be formidable.
"I need to practice my sword," Sword Disciple said, casting a deep glance at Wu Shi.
At present, he was still no match for Wu Shi; therefore, he could not seek trouble with the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, nor could he avenge his house.
The smile on Wu Shi's face froze, and her voice turned cold. "This is an order."
She seemed genuinely angry.
The surrounding Dao Gods felt as if plunged into an icy cavern.
Sensing something amiss, they quickly took their leave one after another.
Atop the towering summit, only the master and disciple remained.
The icy aura on Wu Shi's face dissipated. "There were so many people around just now; Master needs to save face too, you know."
Her voice softened remarkably.
"Mm," Sword Disciple replied neutrally.
"I'm hungry," Wu Shi said with a drooping, listless face. "You've been out fighting all these years; it's been ages since I tasted the food you cook."
As she spoke, she seemed to drift into memory once more.
"I really miss the past now. Back then, I wasn't the Master of Yunmeng Palace, and you... ate your fill every day, then slept, and woke up only to eat again. Sadly... none of it can ever return."
She had always had a craving tongue and loved good food.
Yet, aside from what Sword Disciple prepared, she ate nothing.
Perhaps Sword Disciple had spoiled her palate.
"I'll make fish," Sword Disciple said plainly.
At last, a smile appeared in Wu Shi's eyes. She gazed at her disciple's retreating back, a glance spanning ten thousand years.
As if struck by a thought, she murmured softly, "Do you have no heart?"
She clutched her own chest. It felt utterly hollow.
Chapter 610