Chapter 51: Rebirth (V) She asked Chi Xingji, and he only said...

On that nameless mountain, as Chi Xingji had said, there was a ten-mile stretch of blossoming peach blossoms, a breathtaking beauty.

Perhaps its reputation for being out of season is so strong that it attracts quite a few visitors. People can be seen scattered under the tree.

Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji slowly made their way from the foot of the mountain, chatting casually. Suddenly, Chi Xingji took a deep breath, as if about to say something profound: "...Have we ever been like this before?"

These days, he has been trying to understand a completely unfamiliar self indirectly. He finds it incredible, but also a little envious.

...I am so close to Lian Qiang but I don’t cherish her.

Lian Qiang was surprised to hear such a question, then shook her head and said with a smile, "No."

Xi Wenji's demands on him were almost harsh, and he wished he would abandon all worldly affairs. How could he be willing to let him waste his precious time on such an insignificant matter as appreciating flowers?

However, Chi Xingji would bring her a flower from time to time. Even when Qiang asked him where it came from, he would vaguely say that he happened to see one blooming by the roadside and thought she would like it, so he picked it.

Once or twice was fine, but after so many times, Lian Qiang couldn't believe that there were so many coincidences in the world. It must be intentional. However, she could never find out the reason, so she happily accepted it, thinking that Chi Xingji was just saying one thing and thinking another.

When had Chi Xingji stopped bringing her flowers? Lian Qiang narrowed her eyes, thinking carefully. She couldn't remember the exact time, but it was probably after her accident. She had ignored this memory for so long that she had almost forgotten it. But today, when Chi Xingji asked her about it, it came back to her.

After her answer, Chi Xingji didn't say anything else. The two of them walked in silence for a while. Lian Qiang was staring at her feet, not looking forward. In a moment of carelessness, she was hit on the head by a low-hanging branch.

She gasped softly; the collision wasn't painful, only blinding her for a moment. Lian Qiang rubbed her eyes, and just as her vision cleared, a bony hand reached out. With a snap, the branch snapped, and the hand was handed back to Lian Qiang.

"It's up to you." Chi Xingji, who was picking flowers, said righteously.

Lian Qiang was quite amused and helpless. When she was a child, she would cry and make a fuss if she accidentally fell down. Her parents would pretend to be angry at the ground and the tables and chairs when they saw this. But now she is no longer a child, and it was her own fault for not paying attention. Chi Xingji was making a fuss out of nothing.

But Chi Xingji's hand was stretched straight, and the perfectly cut branch lay in his palm. He was obviously very amused, but Lian Qiang could not find any reason to refuse. He even felt a little benefited, so he accepted it readily.

To appreciate the beauty of spring, Lian Qiang simply placed it behind her ear as a hairpin, but her hair became tangled with the flower. She tried to untie it, but couldn't see it, and her anxiety only compounded the confusion.

Chi Xingji reached out his hand to her at the right moment. The hand that could decide life and death could actually handle such trivial matters. Lian Qiang only felt him gently free her hair and place the flower branch in its proper place.

"...Okay." After everything was done, Chi Xingji took a few steps back, watched for a moment, and said solemnly.

Lian Qiang stroked the flower branch, a playful thought suddenly forming in her mind. She tilted her head slightly and smiled at him, "Does it look good?"

As if he had not expected her bold question, Chi Xingji was speechless for a long time before he slowly said: "...It looks good."

"Which is prettier, the flower or the person?" Lian Qiang pressed on, insisting on getting an answer. This question caught a faint smile in Chi Xingji's eyes: "They're equally good."

A gentle breeze blew by, bringing a touch of warmth. She'd clearly been the one teasing him initially, but now all she could hear was the pounding of her own heartbeat. Lian Qiang opened her lips, wanting to say something to cover up her guilt, but her attention was instantly drawn to the cheers from the distance.

"...Let's go check it out?" She changed the subject, curious about what had happened. Chi Xingji wouldn't deny her interest, so she nodded in agreement.

Following the sound, the two men arrived at an open area, where they discovered a pair of monks engaging in a sword duel. While it might be called a duel, it was more of a collaborative sword dance. The force of their swords swept up a blanket of fallen petals, only to be tossed back up again just as they were about to land. Amidst a crowd of heroes, their elegance remained undimmed.

One person is fast, the other is slow; one person advances, the other goes against, which shows the tacit understanding between the two.

Many people gathered around and cheered. Lian Qiang took a closer look and was amused. One of the sword dancers looked very familiar to her.

She was about to take a closer look when Chi Xingji pulled her sleeve.

He lowered his head and asked softly in the crowd, "Have you ever carried a sword before?"

Lian Qiang froze for a moment. She had been a sword cultivator, so naturally she had a sword. That sword, like Chi Xingji's, was a gift from Xi Wenji.

She couldn't remember the sword's name, but she could vaguely recall the excitement she felt when she was given the sword.

However, later, demonic energy took over her, and she abandoned the sword for a long time. When she tried to pick it up again, the sword that had clearly shed its blood and recognized its master no longer recognized her. By then, Lian Qiang had already lost all hope, so she didn't get angry. Instead, Chi Xingji disposed of the sword overnight, and when she woke up the next day, there was no trace of it.

She asked Chi Xingji, and at that time he just said that it was something that betrayed its owner, so it didn't matter if she didn't have it.

Lian Qiang didn't say anything, but judging by her expression, she said everything. Chi Xingji knew that he had spoken out of turn and stopped bothering her. When the two of them stopped, Lian Qiang stepped forward and said softly, "Miss Jiang."

Jiang Ruzhen's sword had just stopped, her breathing still stagnant, when she heard someone calling her. Seeing it was Lian Qiang, a hint of surprise crossed her face: "Miss Lian."

"Junior sister, this is..." Another person pushed through the crowd and walked towards Jiang Ruzhen. It was a young man. Chi Xingji had also arrived at this time. Jiang Ruzhen hurriedly introduced: "This is Miss Lian. The one behind her is Senior Brother Chi, the one you wanted to see that day but didn't get to see."

When she mentioned Chi Xingji, she deliberately passed it over. Hearing this, the young man's eyes lit up and he bowed hurriedly, saying, "Junior disciple Fu Yiran greets senior brother."

"No need to be so polite." Chi Xingji pretended to be polite.

Fu Yiran seemed to admire him extremely. His eyes were originally glued to Jiang Ruzhen, but now he was staring straight at Chi Xingji. The sword in his hand moved to his left hand and then back to his right hand. He couldn't even hold the sword.

Jiang Ruzhen was well aware of his mood swings, and a hint of helplessness appeared on her face. After the crowd had dispersed a little, she hesitated and said, "I do have an unreasonable request."

She said to Lian Qiang, but she was actually looking at Chi Xingji. Chi Xingji said, "Just say it."

"My senior brother is deeply fascinated by swordsmanship, and I've long heard of the Immortal Lord's great name. That day, the Immortal Lord returned to the Sword Sect, and he happened to be out, which was a pity. Meeting him today is truly fate, and I'd like to ask if you could offer me some guidance."

Jiang Ruzhen's words were concise and to the point. She had previously guided the two of them, and Chi Xingji was happy to return the favor. She simply looked at Lian Qiang, waiting for her consent.

Lian Qiang was suddenly surrounded by several gazes and was startled for a moment. Then she said, "It's my duty to guide my fellow disciples."

Fu Yiran was overjoyed to have such an opportunity and wanted to drag Jiang Ruzhen along, but Jiang Ruzhen shook his head and motioned for him to go alone. So, Fu Yiran led Chi Xingji to the side.

Lian Qiang was too lazy to listen to the two people's swordsmanship lessons, so she invited Jiang Ruzhen: "Why don't we go for a walk?"

"Okay." Jiang Ruzhen accepted it happily.

The two of them walked hand in hand towards the depths of the forest. Lian Qiang asked, "Fu Yiran, is this the senior brother you mentioned earlier?"

Jiang Ruzhen was slightly embarrassed, but admitted generously: "Yes. Our wedding date is set for the fifteenth of next month. If you don't mind, you are welcome to come and have a drink."

Lian Qiang was about to agree, but suddenly remembered that on the fifteenth of next month, she might have already fulfilled her wish and parted ways with Chi Xingji, so she might not be qualified to attend the ceremony. So she didn't say anything empty-handed: "If I have time, I will definitely go."

She didn't say anything, and Jiang Ruzhen didn't force it. Lian Qiang shifted her gaze downwards and noticed that Jiang Ruzhen had changed her clothes today, but the sleeves were still in the red plum pattern. Curiously, she asked, "Miss Jiang, you seem to like red plums very much? I saw you wearing the same pattern on a piece of clothing before."

"Ah," Jiang Ruzhen followed her gaze, smiled and shook his head, "No. It's just that a friend of mine used to love white snow and red plum blossoms. He always said that red plum blossoms complement the red mole under my eye, and insisted that I wear them that way. Over time, I got used to wearing red plum blossom clothes."

At this point, she blushed a little, "I wanted to change it, but my senior brother said that plum blossoms are noble and pure, so there's no need to force it."

Lian Qiang was moved. If it was that person, perhaps he could really do such a thing... But she said nothing, just smiled and said: "Maybe Miss Jiang likes plum blossoms."

Jiang Ruzhen didn't hear the hidden meaning in her words and smiled, "Perhaps. But my enthusiasm usually fades very quickly. The beautiful scenery before me is so precious, and I think I love peach blossoms even more."

"The peach tree is young and tender, its flowers are dazzling. The son is getting married, and he is a good match for the family." Lian Qiang recited, "It's a very good omen, and it suits your situation."

The two smiled at each other and were about to go deeper when something unexpected happened. In a flash, all the peach blossoms on the mountain withered and fell!

In just a blink of an eye, the beauty of the mountain has faded and lost its luster.

"There is a demonic aura!" Smelling something strange, Jiang Ruzhen held the sword in front of Lian Qiang without hesitation. Lian Qiang was about to say that she didn't need to do so, but Chi Xingji appeared in front of her the next moment.

"Is there anything wrong?" he asked with a frown. Lian Qiang shook her head: "Nothing happened."

Fu Yiran also hurried over: "I'm afraid there are more than just monks visiting the mountain today. Although I thought it was strange that the peach blossoms were blooming against their season, I never thought there was a demon at work..."

He was quite upset: "I have lived here for a long time and I was so careless that I didn't notice it. It's my fault!"

"This demon concealed its demonic aura earlier. It must have lived in the mountains for a long time and become one with them," Chi Xingji said soothingly. "It's normal for us to be unaware of it for a while. Don't blame yourself."

After being persuaded by him, Fu Yiran's expression softened considerably. He exchanged a glance with Jiang Ruzhen and then clasped his fists towards the two of them. "Thank you very much for your guidance today, Senior. However, this incident came so suddenly that I'm afraid I can't continue to ask for your advice. We would like to go ahead and investigate the cause first. With this, I bid you farewell."

Lian Qiang remembered clearly that this place didn't belong to the Wuji Sword Sect. Fu Yiran's action was probably motivated by justice. She instinctively looked at Chi Xingji, and he was looking back at her. Understanding each other's thoughts, Lian Qiang said, "There's no need to say goodbye. Since we can't enjoy the scenery anymore, why don't we go with you?"

Fu Yiran was overjoyed to be able to travel with Chi Xingji again, but his eyes moved between Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji. He didn't understand why she could make the decision for Chi Xingji. Jiang Ruzhen twisted his arm in an angry manner, and he gasped in pain and hurriedly apologized.

Jiang Ruzhen stepped in to smooth things over and said, "There's no time to lose. Let's head into the mountains."

Without further ado, they set off immediately.