Flowers Bloom and Fade, Part Three
The clash between sword and shield did not occur as expected.
Before Liu Mengde's sword could strike, He Zi'an's shield crumbled. However, Liu Mengde's sword did not fall.
Liu Mengde stood before He Zi'an, his face contorted in pain. His feet sank into the yellow sand, blood slowly seeping up. Sharp, crystalline spikes, hidden in the sand, pierced his soles.
"When was this trap set?" Liu Mengde gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain as he asked, "Was this your goal from the beginning?"
“At first I was just gambling. It wasn’t until I touched the crystal under the yellow sand that I confirmed her thoughts.” He Zi’an’s face was pale, but he smiled smugly and said, “You’re the one who couldn’t keep your composure! This is where the giant’s arm fell. If I were you, I would never have set foot here.”
"That's enough." Lee Na-kyung, who was in the distance, also stood up unsteadily.
More than a hundred sharp spikes shot out from the yellow sand, heading straight for Liu Mengde.
"You underestimate me!" Liu Mengde conjured a water wall once more. One by one, the sharp crystal spikes embedded themselves into the water wall, spinning continuously, but unable to advance any further. "No matter how many times this attack is launched, the result will be the same."
"It's not over yet!"
A hundred crystals exploded simultaneously, creating a brief breach in the water wall. Among these numerous crystals, a few contained bloodstained shards of blade at their center.
The crystal shattered, sending sharp blades flying out. The water wall quickly closed, but two blades still managed to break through the encirclement and flew straight towards Liu Mengde's neck.
Liu Mengde abandoned his sword and stretched out his hands to catch the only two broken blades.
The shattered blade paused for a moment, just an inch from Liu Mengde's palm. Liu Mengde's palm split open, the crack spreading to the back of his hand. Blood splattered. Then the blade shattered into even smaller fragments, only these fragments managing to pass through Liu Mengde's palm.
"You have truly surprised me, and I now acknowledge you!" Liu Mengde shouted excitedly. "You have driven me to this point; you can die with honor!"
He Zi'an felt a tightness in his chest and coughed up scarlet blood. In the last moment before he collapsed, he looked at Li Najiong.
The determination in her eyes seemed familiar.
"You did a great job, Zi'an." Lee Na-kyung sincerely acknowledged her comrade-in-arms, who had fought alongside her. Although He Zi'an couldn't hear her, she still said softly, "Leave the rest to me."
Those seemingly harmless fragments that had passed through Liu Mengde's palm were connected by blood. A ring of annihilation contracted towards Liu Mengde's neck.
"I wasn't mistaken, you really do possess Xuanyuan's sword heart!" Liu Mengde exclaimed in surprise.
Seventy years later, he experienced death once again.
*
In the heart of the Central Plains, Xiangyu's rebel army is locked in a stalemate with the imperial army in the north, and they have been facing each other across the river for more than half a month.
Inside the rebel army camp, in the tent of Commander Xiangyu.
Xiangyu had already dismissed everyone, leaving only himself and the monk Wuwei, who had traveled a long way, in the tent. After Wuwei had finished his tea, Xiangyu respectfully asked, "Master, what is the particularly important thing you mentioned?"
Just moments ago, Xiangyu, who had been busy all night, was about to take a nap when Mu Xiongzhen came to report that Master Wuwei of Xinyuan Temple had something important to entrust to him. So, suppressing his drowsiness, he quickly welcomed Wuwei into the tent.
"Chief Xiang, I've heard about what you did on Black Mountain." Monk Wuwei looked at you with approval: "You defeated the Blood Palace assassins who intended to disrupt the Sword Trial Tournament, and you also led everyone to fight against the imperial court's ambush. It's true that heroes emerge from among the young."
"Master, you flatter me. These achievements are not solely due to my own efforts," Xiang Wu said modestly. "It is only because everyone is so kind to me that they are willing to mention my name."
"Your character is a blessing to the martial arts world," Wuwei praised again. "With this, I can entrust the item to you with peace of mind."
"I wonder what object the master is referring to."
"With the news of Emperor Yongqing's death, uprisings have broken out in various places. If this continues, the people will surely suffer and the country will fall apart." Wuwei paused slightly and said, "At this time, I think it is time to find the late emperor's crown prince to take charge of the overall situation."
"The late emperor's crown prince?" Xiang Yu glanced at the locked deerskin box in the corner, where the imperial edict and the imperial seal he had obtained from Xieyue Mountain were kept.
According to Xiangyu's plan, he would reveal his true identity at the foot of the imperial city. Then, in one fell swoop, he would ascend the throne and seize the young emperor. Xiangyu felt that it was not the right time for him to step forward now, and that it might backfire and cause other "loyal armies" to secretly sabotage him.
"Yes, the late emperor's crown prince."
"Does the master know the whereabouts of this exiled prince?" Xiangyu asked tentatively.
Wuwei did not answer the question. Instead, he walked to the map in the tent, pointed to a location, and asked, "Is Xieyue Mountain currently within the control of the Elephant Gang Leader's army?"
“Xieyue Mountain?” Xiang Yu was taken aback, but he calmly walked to the map in the tent, pondered for a moment, and nodded, saying, “This place is indeed under our control.”
“The late emperor left behind two edicts,” Wuwei replied. “One is in my possession, and the other was taken to Xieyue Mountain by General Huo. The young crown prince was with him.”
"This General Huo..."
“Wu Nian,” Wu Wei said. “He used the alias Wu Nian, shaved his head to become a monk, and hid in Senluo Temple on Xieyue Mountain. Before the New Year, perhaps something happened, and we haven’t heard from him since. We have been searching for him in vain these past few days.”
"What does the master mean?"
“He once told me that he hid the imperial edict in a secluded place in the mountains.” Wuwei said with certainty, “Now that the world is in chaos, he will definitely try to go back and retrieve the late emperor’s edict. Prince Yun may also go with him.”
"Prince Yun?"
Wuwei walked to the table, took out the imperial edict from the monk's robe, and slowly unfolded it.
"I have received the Mandate of Heaven for eleven years, and with a heart full of worries and anxieties, I have worked diligently day and night to benefit the people. But alas, calamity has arisen from within the palace walls, and the people are suffering terribly. The eldest prince, Shi; the second prince, Shuang; and the third prince, Wang, have perished on the battlefield, and the great cause is lost. The fourth prince, Yun, is still young and has been entrusted to General Huo Jin. He has been living in seclusion in the countryside for ten years, enduring hardship and humiliation. If the heir is capable, assist him; if he is incompetent, Your Majesty may take the throne yourself, so that the state may be restored to order."
With just a single word difference, a complete upheaval occurred. Xiang Yu was shocked: "Such a thing actually happened! It turns out that Emperor Yongqing's pacification campaign was a ruse, and his usurpation was the real purpose."
"That's right, the rumors circulating among the people are not unfounded."
"We need more like-minded people to join us; only then can we set things right." Xiangyu looked earnestly at Wuwei. "I wonder which other heroes you've spoken to about this, Master? Please rest in the army for a few days, and I'll instruct my men to find the other heroes who know about this. Then we can discuss our next steps together. I personally believe that we must find the Crown Prince, but now is not the best time to reveal his identity. Exposing him too early might make him a target of public criticism, which would be detrimental to the Crown Prince."
“What you said, Chief Xiang, makes sense.” Wuwei pondered for a moment and said, “This is a matter of great importance, and I have not yet spoken of it to anyone.”
"Master, do you have a trustworthy person? I will send someone to invite him immediately." Xiangyu carefully rolled up the edict and handed it back to Wuwei. He clasped his hands towards the sky and said, "I would gladly die for the late Emperor and Crown Prince. However, I believe it is safer for this edict to be kept in your hands, Master."
"The Xiang Gang Leader is very thoughtful." Wuwei retrieved the will and said, "Speaking of trustworthy people, I am ashamed to say that I have been out of the world for many years and there are very few people in the martial world I know. The only ones I can remember are Master Li of Canghai Sword Manor and Bai Jie, the young master of the Bai family in Wenqu City."
Xiang Yu sighed, “Master, you may not know this, but the two great heroes, Sword Immortal and Sword Madman, have been missing for some time now. We used to think that the Glazed Palace was behind it, but looking back after Black Mountain, perhaps the imperial court was involved. Eliminating our leader, plunging the Central Plains martial arts world into chaos, and reaping the benefits was that prime minister’s goal.”
At this point, Wuwei couldn't help but frown. Xiangyu took a deep breath and said, "This matter needs to be considered carefully. Master has traveled a long way to get here, so why don't I take you to find a place to rest first? There should still be some tents left in this camp."
"Alright." Wuwei rubbed his temples and, at Xiangwu's signal, walked toward the entrance of the camp.
Just then, he felt a strong gust of wind coming from behind him. Although he hadn't fought for many years, the memories etched into his body from his youth still made him react instinctively.
Xiang Yu slapped Wu Wei's back with his palm, producing a sound as loud as a bell.
“Elephant Gang Leader, you!” Wuwei turned around immediately. His entire body was bronze-yellow, and he raised his left hand to meet Xiang Yu’s palm.
This palm strike shattered Xiangyu's right hand metacarpal and wrist bones. The powerful aftershock traveled along his arm, breaking his ulna and humerus in succession. Sweat beaded on Xiangyu's forehead as he gritted his teeth and swung his left fist, striking Wuwei directly two and a half inches below his armpit.
Wuwei's eyes widened. The bronze coating covering his entire body peeled away, and his face turned purplish-black in an instant.
"Who exactly are you?"
"I'm sorry, Master, I also know the Medicine Master's Golden Body technique. So I know where the weakness is." Xiang Yu's right arm hung limply at his side. He staggered backward and finally leaned against the table.
Wuwei was no longer responding to him. Black blood slowly flowed from Wuwei's nostrils and ears.
"Whether the will is real or fake is no longer important." Xiang Yu lowered his head, his eyes looking at the dusty box in the corner, and said breathlessly, "I can't let you take your copy out."
Soon, the clanging of armor echoed outside the tent. "Chief, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Xiang Yu said, forcing himself to speak loudly, "Call Elder Mu over."
"Yes!" the soldiers replied in unison.
*
Liu Mengde fell face down, with a blood-red cross-shaped brand around his neck.
Lee Na-kyung helped the unconscious He Zi-an up, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked around and quickly spotted Li Letian lying on his back, half-buried in the yellow sand.
"He doesn't look that strong, how come he's so heavy?" Lee Na-kyung complained to the unconscious He Zi'an. She staggered, dragging He Zi'an forward with each step. "But since you've tried so hard, I'll let you off easy this time."
"You did very well, you were able to utilize Xuanyuan's sword heart to this extent." An old, hoarse voice came from behind Lee Na-kyung.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"As a reward, I'll show you the true use of the Xuanyuan Sword Heart," Liu Mengde said.
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