Chapter 70 Snow-Covered Plum Mountain, Friends Gathering Across the Nine Provinces
The snow began to fall gently in the afternoon, and by midnight it had become increasingly dense and rapid.
The wind gently lifted a corner of the snow veil, revealing a scene of dazzling beauty in the hazy darkness—plum trees stretched wildly across the mountains, their branches intertwined, their fiery red blossoms bearing layers of snow, dazzling and captivating.
That is the snow-covered Meishan Mountain, at the border of Hebei and Youzhou, a vast expanse with the beauty of red and white under the cold sun.
At this moment, in the cold, snowy night, among the bright plum branches, several red plum blossoms, having endured wind and frost, are weighed down by the heavy snow. Each blossom shivers in the wind, its petals clearly soaked by snowmelt, yet they bloom freely.
Gently, the only sound seemed to be the soft rustling of wind and snow. The plum tree branches trembled slightly in the cold wind, and the snow fell down in a soft rustling sound.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a snowflake fell from above, hitting the fiery petals with a "thud," the stark contrast of red and white creating ripples in the deathly still snowy night!
Unbeknownst to her, a crimson sword light pierced the wind. The woman deftly dodged it by brushing aside a plum branch, and with a light laugh, she startled the revelation of their meeting at Plum Mountain that night—
Qingyu used an array to meet the incoming killing intent head-on. Amidst the vast white snow, the crimson array spun rapidly in front of the woman, flipping in an instant and breaking the sword. The crimson array exuded a chilling killing intent!
Unbeknownst to them, the wind and snow intensified.
Snowflakes fluttered among the blossoms, a sword rested beneath the plum blossoms, and a lone girl in red stood, her voice soft yet resolute.
"You lost."
"Hahahahahaha," a young man's loud laughter came from not far away, and he admitted his inferiority in the wind and snow.
"Yuwen Yuan, the swordsman from Liangzhou, concedes defeat. With such skill and the Wen Gu sword sheath, young lady, may your future be bright. Do not waste your talent!"
Having said that, he gracefully drew his sword and departed; before the snow could fall, another gust of wind swept through the air—
"Zhu Mengfeng, a swordsman from Danzhou, humbly requests your guidance, young lady."
Upon hearing this, Qingyu smiled. The girl lightly raised the flower branch in her hand, and the fiery red plum blossoms shook off the white snow, each petal landing and transforming into the foundation of the formation. She laughed in the cold wind, "The Demon-Suppressing Pavilion of Danzhou, Demon-Suppressing Envoy Zhu Mengfeng?"
A gentle breeze carries the sword's intent, a tender heart flows like water; the youth uses the wind to express his feelings, his sword tip caressing the flowers, his raised eyes revealing a gentle and affectionate smile.
"Unfortunately, when you all arrived in Danzhou, it was my Demon Suppression Pavilion that treated you poorly."
His words were polite, but his sword intent was ruthless. Not far away, Zhang Xuan shouted, "The misty rain in Danzhou is beautiful, but the journey is long. The Demon Suppression Envoy should return as soon as possible!"
"Hey kid! You're trying to fight me while you're chatting?"
As Cai Danglu of Xuzhou ruthlessly attacked with a flash of blade, Zhang Xuan leaped onto a tree and swung his blade in a swift motion.
In the snowy plum grove, the young man complained, "Cai Danglu, they're only taking the scabbard, why are you, Yidaoxiu, getting involved!"
Upon hearing this, Cai Danglu immediately burst into laughter, "You're so young, yet you already possess such skill with two swords. The weather is fine today, and I'm sparring with you to sharpen my swords especially for you. How can you not be grateful!"
With that one sentence, a flash of light appeared. Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. What he said sounded nice, but every step he took with his sword was a deadly move. There was no guarantee that he didn't intend to kill him and take his sword!
The frosty moon was cool, the blood moon eerie; Zhang Xuan, wielding his blade, stirred a bloodthirsty spirit. Snow fell on his long eyelashes, and the young man smiled strangely.
"Very well, Cai Danglu of Xuzhou is sharpening my knife for me, how could I possibly let such kindness go to waste!"
The three swords clashed, scattering cold light. Their eyes locked, and the outcome was uncertain, their fates hanging in the balance.
...
Crimson plum blossoms drifted down, and the scholar in blue opened his fan, jokingly addressing the refined young man, "Brother Wang, what brings you here to join the fun?"
Wang Chengmo smiled, “Spring is my beloved wife’s birthday. I traveled all the way from Jiaozhou to Jizhou to buy her a gift—she is a sword cultivator, and I want to make a painting of Wen Gu sword sheath for her.”
It means "I want to," not "I think about."
This is truly a difficult situation. Even the foremost painter of our time, the master of literature and cultivation, has taken an interest in this sword sheath.
Qin Tianshu waved his fan, and in the darkness, it seemed as if a blue scroll was slowly unfurling behind him. The young man sighed, "Brother Wang's marriage is blissful; I, your younger brother, should certainly learn from him."
The melodious sound of reading aloud filled the air, seemingly capable of bewitching the soul. Wang Chengmo caught a plum blossom-shaped snowflake drifting down from the sky, and in a daze, he began to recite...
"What a beautiful first snow in Jizhou, a magnificent scene of plum blossoms. It is truly a painting, with the moonlight as a blanket, the wind and snow as ink, and the plum blossoms as an inkstone. Please, come and join me in this painting."
A gentle breeze stirred, the red plum blossoms swayed under the moon, the sound of reading mingled with the fragrance of ink, and several cultivators stood beside them, lost in their own world, either entering the illusions within the books or the celestial realms within the paintings.
Amidst the wind and snow, scholars chatted and laughed.
"Brother Wang, you're going on such a long journey, aren't you taking your wife with you?"
"I didn't want to go out, but I had no choice but to leave because of my family responsibilities."
"Yunzhou Auction: Jizhou's three-cash sesame cakes are famous. Brother Wang, you should definitely try them."
"The students at Wenxian Academy were mischievous; I wonder how they studied those heavenly books back then."
The air was filled with the fragrance of ink and the sound of reading. The scholar lured him to turn the pages of the book, while the artist led him into the painting. They chatted and laughed, avoiding each other's topics, subtly exchanging barbs, and testing each other's skills.
...
High up in the plum tree, A-Ling watched the chaotic battle with bated breath, exclaiming to her brother A-Gu, "They're amazing! They're amazing! How can they be so good!"
She said that Meishan tonight would definitely be spectacular!
Agu: "...Those who cultivate the Tao are different, so don't belittle yourselves."
A-Ling pouted, "You're just being stubborn. Our Gu poisons are all underhanded tricks. Just run away when you encounter a situation like this."
Little Dao Xiu was only halfway through a fight with Cai Danglu from Xuzhou. That beautiful girl in red was even more impressive, having knocked down countless enemies along the way. The Demon Suppression Envoy even came out. Oh, and there were those two pretentious scholars. I didn't understand what they were saying, but I knew that all the cultivators nearby had fallen!
Agu choked, turned away from her, and noticed the snowstorm seemed to be intensifying in their direction. The man blinked, suddenly feeling a chill. Focusing again, he saw that not far away, some had already perished on Meishan Mountain—
"puff--"
In the snow-covered plum grove, blood spurted from the cultivator's neck, and almost instantly, red plum blossoms covered the ground.
They struggled in the snow, their eyes wide with fear as they stared at the gentle young man before them. The wind and snow blew, blinding them, and the cold air left behind a trail of flowing blood.
Wen Chuan strolled leisurely through the plum grove, holding Cai Cai in his arms. His relaxed demeanor even made the wind and snow give way to him.
"I said, we'll do it one by one. Even if we're going to attack in groups, we should do it fair and square."
"If you're planning a sneak attack, don't blame me for striking first."
His voice was leisurely, and the cultivators who were watching the show nearby were all terrified and dared not move.
Wen Chuan didn't care about them. After speaking, he turned around and smiled gently, "If Doctor Lin doesn't come out and persuade Zhang Xuan, he might lose his knife."
Upon hearing this, Lin Fanxiang slowly stepped out from behind the tree. Under the moonlight, the girl was aloof and stunningly beautiful. The wind and snow brought plum blossoms, but she only looked at the stars and chuckled as she spoke, "Ah Xuan has just acquired Frosty Moon, so he must enjoy himself to the fullest."
"And I will help him."
Zhang Xuan wouldn't have lost, but the frost moon was eerie and cold, shrouded in ghostly energy. He was overjoyed at first, and his soul would surely be injured by the second half. At that time, Cai Danglu would take aim and strike, and Zhang Xuan would definitely lose. But if she were there, the outcome would be uncertain.
The sound of footsteps echoed as Lin Fanxiang gradually walked away into the depths of fallen flowers. Not far from the girl, swords clashed, but she remained calm and composed, quietly observing the battle under the starlight.
...
Wen Chuan, holding Cai Cai, admired the plum blossoms. Red plum blossoms brushed against his shoulders, and white snow fell on his hair. The gentle and refined young man smiled as he leaned against a tree, watching Qing Yu and Zhu Mengfeng's battle.
As the Demon Suppressor of Danzhou, Zhu Mengfeng's strength was indeed remarkable. Although he could not compare to Wuqing in Shengjing, he was about the same as Wuming.
What's even more ingenious is that the young man uses the wind to transform his sword, showing tenderness for flowers and snow. His sword intent is both affectionate and ruthless, like slowly boiling water, drawing people in without them even realizing it.
Qingyu smiled, "Your swordsmanship is quite remarkable."
Zhu Mengfeng also laughed, "If you were truly exceptional, you wouldn't have been holding back until now."
As the words fell, a gust of wind arose, the sword's edge, carrying a passionate yet deadly intent, aimed directly at Qingyu's heart. Qingyu used the wind to retreat, step by step, bending backward until her waist seemed parallel to the ground—
Until red plum blossoms and white snow danced in his eyes, until all formations disappeared and boundless fighting spirit was buried, until there was nowhere to retreat and nowhere to avoid!
The girl gently patted the snow, her gaze sharpening. Amidst the swirling fallen petals, she leaped up. The rich fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air, and even the frost and snow could not mask the crimson hue.
Countless snowflakes and falling petals swirl and converge—finally forming the shape of a sword.
Dressed in red, Qingyu's skirt fluttered in the snow and wind as she finally grasped a wooden sword, her eyes unrestrained and arrogant.
At that moment, the swirling snow was nothing compared to the woman's cry.
"Come."
The gentle breeze seemed to smile, yet it was ruthless beneath its softness. Qingyu drew her sword and flipped over, the blood-red plum blossoms like cold blades, resisting the endless breeze.
In their next exchange, Qingyu lightly touched a plum branch, stood on a high place, and raised her sword, the blade pointing directly at Zhu Mengfeng!
She smiled, her sword intent chilling yet imbued with the spirit of heaven and earth. Amidst the swirling snowflakes, she borrowed the endless falling petals to unleash a terrifying sword intent that shook the entire plum grove.
She wanted this sword to sever the gentle breeze!
"puff!"
Zhu Mengfeng used his sword as a shield, and as he knelt on one knee, he spat out blood. The moon shone on the plum grove, and the young man watched as the blood melted in the snow, turning into red flowers all over the sky. It seemed that in an instant, the world's gentle breeze was gone, leaving only blood flowers.
He was stunned for a moment, then smiled at the wind and snow, raised his head and said loudly, "Thank you for your guidance, young lady. Zhu Mengfeng, the swordsman from Danzhou, concedes defeat!"
"The breeze is endless, yet it draws upon heaven and earth. Zhu Mengfeng should continue to refine his sword intent, and one day, he will fight the young lady again!"
Qingyu stood in the snow, holding a wooden sword, and smiled, "Okay."
"Hahahaha," Zhu Mengfeng laughed loudly, and the young man spoke again.
"All cultivators were present during the battle at the plum grove on that snowy night. On behalf of everyone, Zhu Mengfeng would like to ask for your name, young lady!"
A young prodigy, full of vigor and ambition, fought a fierce battle on a deep snowy night, making a name for himself—in the vast land of Kyushu, where friends gathered on cloud boats, not a single person knew the origins of this woman.
Qingyu smiled upon hearing this, a deep smile playing on her lips. Amidst the swirling snow, her voice was loud yet calm.
"Tonight, the snow-covered Meishan Mountain is a gathering place for friends from all over the country."
"Qishan, Qingyu, has received instruction."
Qishan! That demonic mountain in Yizhou!
With a "plop," a large clump of snow fell in the distance. Agu sat on the ground, grimacing and rubbing his bottom, glaring angrily at Aling in the tree. Just as he was about to speak, Aling cried out, "Wah!"
"You're a demon! A demon from Qishan! How could you possibly be a demon!"
Yundi Miao Village is right next to Qishan Mountain, and the Miao people know best about the hordes of monsters in Qishan!
"Witch!"
Suddenly, a blade of energy pierced the air, followed by a sharp clang. The two blades clashed violently, their cold light illuminating the boy's eyes. Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth and said...
"Your opponent is me!"
Cai Danglu looked at the fierce young swordsman in front of him and said in a deep voice, "Are you crazy? She's a monster!"
In an instant, the aloof girl not far away formed hand seals, using the colors of wind, snow, moon, and stars to illuminate Zhang Xuan, and the pure white spiritual energy finally shone upon him.
A soothing, warm spiritual energy instantly flowed through his meridians, comforting his soul. Zhang Xuan suddenly grinned, revealing red teeth and gums, an eerie yet bloody aura.
"If you can't even sharpen my knife properly, don't even think about monsters."
Clad in black with twin swords, the young man charged straight at Cai Danglu, his eerie aura and bloodthirsty demonic energy intertwined under the moonlight. The three swords rang out with a clang, and another surge of spiritual energy filled the air, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
...
Zhu Mengfeng looked at the girl before him, and the young man took a deep breath. "Are you really a demon?"
Qingyu looked up. Plum blossoms danced in the air, and snowflakes fell like snowflakes in the wind. She raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly, "So what if it is?"
“The young lady has such cultivation at such a young age, we cultivators naturally admire her. It doesn’t matter whether she is a demon or a human. But how can the new owner of the thousand-year-old Wen Gu sword scabbard be a demon?”
A calm yet terrifyingly powerful voice came from not far away. All the cultivators present unconsciously searched for the source of the voice, but found nothing in the Meishan night.
What an amazing person! We only hear their voice, but never see them in person.
Qingyu tilted her head slightly, smiling as she heard this, "Who told you that I am the new master of the Wen Gu sword sheath?"
A single word stirred up ripples in the wind and snow. As petals danced in the air, Wen Chuan gently stepped on the snow and reached out to catch a fallen flower.
The boy chuckled softly without making a sound.
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