Chapter 96: Flower in the Mirror, Moon in the Water
After finishing lunch at the Sword Forging Manor, Song Yan returned to the small bamboo courtyard in Cold Flower Valley. Cold Flower Valley was considerate—the courtyard was equipped with a simple protective formation.
It had no strong defensive properties, merely serving to inform others that one was in temporary seclusion for cultivation and should not be disturbed.
He activated it with spiritual energy and sat alone in the courtyard.
After adjusting his breathing for a moment, he began to examine his recent gains.
First, he took out the dark blue long case.
Channeling spiritual energy, he condensed it into a water screen and carefully cleaned the case.
The case was three chi three cun long and about a palm wide.
It was entirely dark blue, and upon closer inspection, cloud patterns like flowing water were carved across its surface.
“The craftsmanship is quite exquisite…”
In truth, this was the first time Song Yan had ever seen a “sword case,” and he had no way to judge the quality of the one before him—he could only offer a vague personal assessment.
“Why was it abandoned in the Yan family’s old sword workshop before it was even finished?”
He turned it over and over, examining it from every angle.
Huh?
Song Yan’s gaze sharpened.
Upon careful inspection, he discovered a pattern carved on the lower left corner of the case.
It looked familiar…
Not much time had passed, and Song Yan quickly remembered.
He summoned the flying sword “Lianli” from his Qiankun bag.
Its blade pattern wound like a branch of green plum, somewhat resembling the carving on the lower left of the case.
The flying sword emerged, but before he could hold it up to compare, it transformed into sword light on its own and plunged into the sword case!
“Hummm—”
The Twin Jade Pearl resonated once more, its profound fluctuations slowly rippling outward.
Song Yan felt a pulling force, drawing the spiritual energy throughout his body toward the Twin Jade Pearl.
Compared to the previous incident with the “Wandering Boat,” this time he vaguely felt he could control it all—he could stop the flow of spiritual energy at any moment.
However, there was no need.
He simply gripped two spirit stones in his hands and poured his full spiritual energy into them.
He anticipated that the scene before him would be identical to when the “Wandering Boat” had entered.
“Hummm—”
Finally, in a single instant, the dark blue sword case rose into the air.
A flash of spiritual light—it vanished without a trace…
His divine sense sank into the Twin Jade Pearl.
“…”
It had been a long time since he entered, but the scenery in the Twin Jade World had not changed much.
On the shadow of the Sword Seed, the small sword formed from the embryonic Dao Heart remained motionless.
The dark blue sword case hovered quietly nearby.
Around the case, one purple and one azure strand of spiritual light drifted in circles.
He stepped forward slowly and placed his right hand tentatively on the case.
As expected, the two strands of spiritual light flew toward him along his fingers and palm!
A tearing sensation erupted from the depths of his soul, and his divine sense began to blur.
The black and white winds and clouds of the Twin Jade World shifted and churned…
……
“…”
Strange…
Why did he feel so dizzy today?
“Pa!”
He felt a large hand slap the back of his head hard.
“Ouch!”
He turned around blankly, and a stern middle-aged man’s face came into view.
“Father…”
The middle-aged man had a grave expression, looking at him with disappointment. “Moping around all day—what kind of behavior is that!”
“…”
The street scene before him gradually grew familiar, and the fog in his mind slowly cleared.
His thoughts became clearer and clearer.
The person before him was his father, Yan Jue. Though his expression was stern and he rarely smiled, he considered everything for his son and for the family.
His name was Yan Gui, young master of the Yan family.
Today was the day before the Flower Festival.
……
Yan Jue’s voice was deep and heavy. “Tomorrow’s festival is not just about play and enjoyment. You must observe carefully.”
“How the clan elders and the seniors of Cold Flower Valley handle the festival’s affairs.”
“This knowledge of dealing with people and adapting to situations will serve you well when you hold an important position in the clan in the future.”
“Uh… understood, Father.”
Yan Jue looked at his child’s distracted appearance and sighed, shaking his head. “…”
By the green stones of the stream, the cry of a sword was suddenly heard.
Yan Gui hurried over and saw a young girl holding a worn-out sword, having just severed a peach branch. The sword’s cry had startled the birds roosting in the tree.
The girl’s lapel was patched, and she looked back.
He was stunned for a moment, then realizing it was inappropriate to stare at a girl, Yan Gui quickly found something to say. “Why does your sword have no spiritual nature? It’s no different from an ordinary mortal’s blade…”
The girl looked at him strangely but said nothing.
At that moment, a harsh voice came from behind. “A wandering playboy, discussing swords with a beggar on the street, are you?”
Yan Gui was startled and quickly retreated to Yan Jue’s side.
Yan Jue snorted coldly, glanced at the girl, and said sternly, “Hmph, come back with me.”
……
Years passed in a flash, like white colts crossing a gap, like floating clouds drifting past one’s eyes.
Several years later, on the night of the Flower Festival.
Yan Gui walked against the crowd and, under a green plum tree at a secluded alley entrance, saw the wandering cultivator girl who slept while cradling a sword.
Moon-white petals fell into her dark hair.
He stepped forward gently, about to brush the fallen blossoms from her hair, when the girl suddenly grabbed his wrist. Her sword unsheathed and pressed against him.
The girl smiled slyly. “You Yan family lecher—are you trying to take advantage of this lady while she naps?!”
Yan Gui smiled bitterly. “At today’s festival, could the great Miss Hua put away her killing move for now?”
Her name was Hua Luo, and she was a wandering cultivator.
Though both her parents had died and she lived in solitude, in all the years he had known her, she had never complained of hardship.
“Here. This is the flying sword I forged for you.”
Yan Gui handed over a long sword. “It’s only a lower-grade magical artifact, but it’s better than a cultivator like you waving around a mortal weapon.”
Hua Luo’s eyes lit up with delight. She gently caressed the flying sword in her hands, unable to put it down.
She suddenly asked, “Did you really forge this yourself?”
“Uh…”
Yan Gui froze, his expression becoming somewhat unnatural. “Of course. A mere lower-grade magical artifact—piece of cake.”
The girl smiled brightly. “All of North Watch Mountain is saying that Yan Gui, the young master of the Yan family, loves pleasure and has no skill.”
“He hasn’t learned a single thing about sword forging…”
“This…”
The young man couldn’t keep his composure and was about to argue when the girl leaned close to his ear.
Her voice was soft, her breath like orchids.
“Little Yan, from now on I want you to forge a flying sword for me with your own hands.”
“Whether it’s a mortal weapon or a magical artifact…”
“I only want yours.”
The young man’s face flushed red—whether from shyness or embarrassment at being caught in his lie, he couldn’t tell.
……
It was truly strange.
All of North Watch Mountain City was saying that Yan Gui, the young master of the Yan family, had reformed his ways and begun to seriously study the art of sword forging and artifact crafting.
He had even won first place in the clan’s internal competition.
His family was overjoyed, and others looked on with envy.
None of this entered Yan Gui’s ears. He only knew to study the way of artifact crafting day after day.
He swore he would forge the finest flying sword he could manage before the girl he admired left the mountain city!
That day, the furnace blazed high, and the sound of metal striking stone rang out.
The flying sword was finally completed.
Outside the mountain city, the young man and girl stood facing each other.
“What is the name of this sword?”
Hua Luo gently stroked the flying sword in her hands, the joy in her eyes even brighter than under the green plum tree years ago.
But Yan Gui showed little joy, his tone somewhat somber. “…Qingmei.”
The girl was about to travel far. Today they parted, and who knew when they would meet again.
He took a deep breath. “A-Hua, the cultivation world is dangerous. You must be extra careful on this journey…”
“…”
The girl did not answer. She simply looked at the young man’s face and smiled.
The young man lowered his head, muttering to himself. “On the way… take care of yourself…”
“I can’t take care of myself.”
The girl suddenly spoke, and under the young man’s astonished gaze, she took his hand. “I can’t take care of myself…”
“Little Yan, come with me.”
“Beyond the mountains, there are more mountains…”
“I want you to see them with me.”