Chapter 1 Cold Snow on Green Waters, Deep-Seated Hatred...
The Great Way is impartial, yet it follows the law of cause and effect.
In the fourteenth year of Tianchen, a heavy snow fell in winter in Qingshui City, Danzhou, in the south.
In the still of the night, amidst a heavy snowfall, the city streets were deserted, with only the distant sound of the ocean waves adding to the desolation.
Suddenly, several figures darted across the street, chasing after Nanfang.
"The ruthless path cannot be achieved through slaughter; you hypocrites!"
The girl, dressed in crimson, sneered. She held a plum blossom branch in her hand, the branch already covered in blood. Her face was pale, but her eyes shone brightly, filled with hostility as she looked at the five white-robed cultivators in front of her.
The cultivators remained silent, obeying orders to kill the demons; the pursuit had already taken up too much of their time.
In a few breaths, the girl was forced to retreat. The snow wind rose, and the cold pierced to the bone. Using the wind to form a formation, Hua Fan formed a hand seal with one hand, blocking the two cultivators closest to her, and then turned to flee towards the sea outside the city.
As darkness descended and the snow began to freeze, it was the coldest time of year in Qingshui City. Hua Fanqiang pressed her chest, suppressing the black blood that was about to burst from her mouth, and ran away into the distance without looking back. She couldn't stop now, she absolutely couldn't stop.
The girl moved swiftly, stepping over houses and lightly touching stone slabs, while the cultivators behind her followed closely. The cold wind was like a blade, but it did nothing to stop them.
"You witch do have some skill, but unfortunately you're at your wit's end. Stop struggling and just accept your death!"
"Girl, you are poisoned by the cold snow. In this icy and snowy place, the poison is just taking effect. Why struggle?"
The white-robed cultivators pressed on relentlessly. They had to admit that the demoness before them was extremely powerful. They had been chasing her all the way from Danzhou to Qingshui, and had lost most of their men. Not to mention that the current winter was the perfect time to trigger the Snow Poison within the demoness's body.
After a short chase, the group arrived at the seaside. Hua Fan stopped, looked at the cultivators in front of her, and mocked them mercilessly: "It's a wonder you think so highly of me, poisoning me and chasing me, and now you still want to persuade me to obediently accept my death."
The cold wind was merciless, and snowflakes fell in scattered drops. The salty, damp air was like the sea and blood. At this moment, the girl stood tall with her back straight, dressed in scarlet. The sea breeze lifted her skirt, making her seem like the only touch of spring in the world.
She curled her lips into a deep smile, her eyes bright and fierce, and spoke directly to the cultivator in front of her.
"I killed most of your people, and you're clearly furious, yet you still haven't managed to kill me. You're still pretending to be sympathetic here. You're truly insidious, despicable, and utterly hypocritical!"
"Extremely arrogant!"
"How dare a mere demon speak so arrogantly!"
"You vixen, you will die today!"
The white-robed cultivators seemed to have been hit where it hurt. This demoness had been chased all the way and seized every opportunity to mock and scorn them. Her blunt and disdainful tone really angered them!
They have now pursued her all the way to the South China Sea. This demoness is doomed. Amidst the cursing, the group attacked together. Snowflakes gathered, and the blue sword intent seemed to sweep away the clouds with the force of a whirlwind, rushing straight towards Hua Fan.
Hua Fan took a few steps back. The sea breeze was chilling, and snowflakes dampened her long eyelashes. The cold sword intent of the cultivator from Youzhou Jianxue continued to assault her. Not far behind her was the surging sea. It was truly a matter of life and death.
She gritted her teeth, twirled the flower branch in her hand, and flipped over to unleash an array seal. The leading cultivator swung his sword to resist the attack. Hua Fan seemed about to attack again, forcefully swinging the flower branch forward. The leading cultivator scoffed, "It'll be the same no matter what!"
At that moment, Hua Fan suddenly stepped back. The cultivator at the front saw her lips curl up sharply, revealing an extremely bright and even somewhat cynical smile. Seeing the direction of the flower branch, he was shocked. Oh no!
Flowers bloomed and swayed on the branches. A disdainful glint flashed in her eyes. You bastard, I'm not going to kill you, what's the rush?
In the blink of an eye, Hua Fan flung out her branches and flew diagonally to the left rear!
"Pfft—" In the blink of an eye, a young cultivator on the left rear fell to the ground. That attack had consumed most of Hua Fan's strength at this moment, and he was sure to die!
The biting snow wind swept over everyone, and not a single cultivator's heart was warm. The leader's pupils dilated as the stench of blood wafted over from behind him, and he trembled slightly—the dead man was his own younger brother.
"Ha ha ha ha--"
Hua Fan laughed loudly, her clear laughter revealing a strong sense of unruliness and mockery. She had long suspected that the old man in the lead was connected to the idiot behind her on the left, and now it seemed that she hadn't made a mistake in killing him.
"Ill-stricken by the cold poison, and relentlessly pursued, I thought you were all hypocritical and treacherous. Little did I know that the title of 'Number One Swordsman Under Heaven' was nothing but empty boasting! Hahahaha!"
"What do you mean by 'the best sword under heaven' and 'the ruthless Dao'? Look at your clothes, all white, what are you pretending for?!"
"I think it's for the convenience of sending himself to his funeral!"
At this moment, Hua Fan laughed heartily and arrogantly, as if tears were dripping from the corners of her eyes. The sea breeze made her dress flutter loudly. She was covered in wounds, arrogant and domineering, as if she had realized something, yet refused to accept her fate.
In short, today's troubles stem from two reasons: first, Hua Fan was blinded by love and failed to recognize true character; second, Wen Gu was ruthless and ungrateful.
Today, on the shores of the South China Sea, at her wits' end, what do I care about feelings? I'll fight to the death and kill as many as I can, so that my life won't have been in vain!
"Utterly despicable!"
"Witch, I'll kill you!"
Finally, the white-robed cultivators attacked together, especially the leader, whose eyes turned red, and whose originally blue sword energy was now faintly emanating black energy!
Witch, no matter how you struggle and act arrogantly, the cold poison has already entered your heart! At this moment, the waves are behind you, the snow is falling, it is the heavens that want you dead!
The killing intent was overwhelming. A blood-red array hung high in the cold wind, and the merciless sword intent pursued the blade. Hua Fan was ultimately no match for it and had to retreat repeatedly. At this moment, the girl had countless sword wounds on her body, her hair was disheveled, and her body was filled with a bloody smell. The suppressed cold poison finally took effect in such a cold and bloody environment.
"puff--"
Hua Fan spat out a mouthful of black blood.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at the gray-white snow with resentment and pain. At this moment, the cold poison had spread to her heart, and the girl's skin was turning bluish-white. Her heart was clenching, but beating slowly.
That's a potent poison.
If it weren't for this poison, she could have escaped... What a pity, what a pity...
"A single thought... awakens a spirit!"
Hua Fan gritted her teeth, exerted all her strength, and moved her hands continuously, making intricate hand gestures in an instant. The black halo cracked with ancient patterns, forming a unique scene in the snow-white world. Blood flowed out, Hua Fan put her hands together, unified the demonic energy, and pushed out the array seal.
The spiritual energy was clamorous, and snowflakes fell on her skin. Her heart clenched, and her life force was gone. On the other side, the miserable cries of the white-robed cultivators were endless, and the spreading blood energy was constantly stimulating Hua Fan's demon bloodline.
Amidst the howling winds, the girl in red gazed one last time northward, her eyes calm yet filled with tearful words, her killing intent echoing across the heavens and sea—
"The cycle of karma is real, and blood debts must be repaid in blood. Seeing that Xue Wen has betrayed my life-saving grace, she is now using insidious means to coerce me and is being hunted down in the South China Sea—"
"Today, I will etch this hatred into my very bones!"
"Tomorrow, I will personally go to Youzhou and take his life—Wen Gu's life!"
After speaking, Hua Fan turned around without looking back at the cultivators behind her or looking down to ease her own injuries. She ran forward, facing the black sea breeze, skimming over the white and gray reefs, and kept moving forward.
She ran, dragging herself forward on the rugged, cold rocks.
She suddenly felt lost and wronged.
I saved you, yet you not only fail to repay me but also try to kill me.
Wen Gu, Wen Gu, the name of the number one swordsman in the world. We've been together for three years, yet I never knew it.
When I first saved you, I never intended to kill you. Even if you wanted to leave, we could have parted amicably. So why did you kill me?
If you want to kill me, why don't you fight me yourself!
They bullied and humiliated me; today, snow falls heavily; the South China Sea threatens to kill me.
Did she do something wrong? Did she deserve to die in this freezing cold? Why did she have to die like this?
In an instant, a gust of wind stung her eyes, gray snow dampened her cheeks, and the sound of the waves numbed her senses, but she didn't wipe it away, only running forward, towards the endless abyss of the deep sea—
No, no, that was never her problem.
She was not virtuous, but she had never harmed an innocent person. Saving him was an act of kindness she had shown him.
He repaid kindness with enmity, insulted her heart and cultivation, and intended to use her death to achieve a heartless morality. This was his mistake, and he was despicable!
Three years of companionship and mutual support, only to be met with this snow and wind.
The sword of Wen Gu, the poison of Han Xue, today's grudge will be tomorrow's debt.
The girl's figure was slender, the wind was biting, she seemed very light, as if she could be swallowed up at any moment. Snowflakes fell, her dress rustled, and blood emanated from her, she seemed to possess a unique beauty, she was incomparably dazzling.
The sky and sea are serene, the night is dark and snowflakes fall, leaving only an empty coastline.
Whether it's fate or human error, the great way is ruthless, but follows the law of cause and effect.
Since you've killed me, then I will definitely—
Go back and fight them.
A biting wind swept across the coast, its roar drowning out the crashing waves.
The poison of Youzhou's cold snow penetrates the body, and the snow falling on the skin feels like needles pricking the heart, eventually freezing the body.
The snow started falling again, and it was falling heavier and heavier.
She simply couldn't escape this winter in Qingshui City.
...
The continuous snowfall damaged many things. Wen Chuan opened the door carrying a stack of seaweed. This winter in Qingshui was particularly cold, and his only chicken, Cai Cai, had been squawking from the cold these past two nights. Laying a layer of seaweed inside the chicken coop could help keep it warm.
The boy had a handsome face, wore coarse cloth clothes, a felt hat, and a raincoat. He looked no different from an ordinary fisherman, but he had a gentle temperament and a tall and upright figure, which made him seem extraordinary.
He took off his raincoat, went into the kitchen, got some dried fish, and casually fed the chickens while leaning against the wall.
"Coo coo coo!"
Cai Cai called out anxiously, as if she was somewhat dissatisfied.
"I ate vegetables just two days ago, and today I'm eating dried fish to fatten myself up."
"Gougou gugu gu!"
Wen Chuan scattered the dried fish in his hand, "Stop yelling, I'll lay down some grass for you later."
He clapped his hands, turned around and looked at the sky. The leaden sky merged with the sea, and the vast snow curtain was cold and desolate.
Wen Chuan blinked. This winter was too cold, and a lot had happened outside. There was a strong smell of blood in the air, and last night there was a lot of noise, as if people were calling "his" name.
It's cold, so cold.
He's going to stay home for the winter.
The boy turned and went into the house. In the distance, the waves, carrying foam, kept crashing against the shore. The white-gray snow covered the dull reefs, and from a distance, everything looked like hibernating giant beasts, quietly lying dormant.
The sky and sea seemed to darken, with a few seagulls circling low overhead before disappearing into the gray sea.
Everything awaits the arrival of spring.
...
In the fifteenth year of Tianchen, on a clear day at the beginning of spring, the sun shone brightly.
My master took the new fishing net and I, and we boarded the boat and went out to sea.
The waves swayed.
It seemed as if a claw was gripping the fishing net from under the boat, slapping against the boat's sides, refusing to let go.
The owner wanted to take the net, but couldn't overpower it.
"..."
I flapped my wings forward and heard the thumping sound of mysterious claws hitting the ship's planks.
I wasn't interested, so I quickly retreated behind my master.
"Rip—" The fishing net tore, and white blood seeped into the waves.
The sunlight shone down, revealing such large, white claws.
Swelling accompanied by seaweed, blood vessels visible through the dark aura.
The owner smiled.
"Where did these fish come from? They ruined my net."
Blood claws extended, entangled the fishing net, and slapped it wildly.
The master remained silent.
He reached out and grabbed her.
—CaiCai's Diary, the first day of the masters' love.
A note from the author:
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