Chapter 88 All the Beauties Have Faded (Revised) Only a solitary light shines brightly, leaving all the beauties to their fate…
Wei Chang tilted the umbrella handle slightly in his hand, and the yellow talisman on the umbrella surface emitted a faint light, illuminating his dark eyes.
He glanced sideways and saw Lin Feiran's eyes were bloodshot. Her originally loose hair was slightly dampened by the splashing raindrops, and her lips were tightly pressed together, like a porcelain vase about to shatter, or a red-hot, cold sword, just waiting to deliver the final blow.
Those eyes burned with anger, but even more so with endless sorrow and grief.
"..."
He watched silently, his heart echoing with the same sorrowful cry as hers, so intense and real that it made him swallow all his words.
In the bleak rain, something suddenly fell from the hand she had stopped. He turned to look and saw a conspicuous drop of water on the back of her slightly pale hand, but it was burning hot.
This is not rain.
He was born unable to shed tears, and in the ten years he had known Lin Feiran, he had never seen her shed a single tear.
What does it feel like to cry?
He was curious, but at this moment he didn't want to see Lin Feiran in her eyes. She could be resilient and unwilling to admit defeat, but she couldn't be so sorrowful.
He looked closely into her eyes. As the cold, damp wind blew, he suddenly moved closer, as if he could feel the heat emanating from the corners of her eyes.
"If you don't want to kill, you don't have to force yourself."
The sky was still falling, and one-third of the four pillars of heaven had been crushed. The bright moon hung high overhead, as large as an upside-down green mountain, pressing down heavily.
There was only flowing water in the streets and alleys, but no pedestrians. Not far away, Li Changfeng moved from his basket to the eaves. He was awake, but he did not look in this direction. Instead, he looked down at the water in the city that was deep enough to submerge people up to their waists, lost in thought.
The sky was about to collapse and a flood was about to strike. Lin Feiran and the other two stood on the roof ridge, and she slowly drew her long sword.
While remaining on guard, Xunfang glanced at Wei Changzai with eyes like lightning, inwardly cursing, but slowly took two steps back and said in a cold voice, "What are you doing here!"
Wei Changzai slightly raised the edge of the umbrella, revealing his eyebrows and eyes, and said with his usual coldness, "I have been following my master all the way here."
Knowing that Xunfang had been searching for Lin Feiran and wanted to take her life, he approached Xunfang first. He originally wanted to make his move in advance, but the sky was about to fall in Chuncheng and unexpected events occurred, so he missed his chance and couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
He picked out a peony from the collection of flowers, its beautiful petals blooming, and was about to cover Lin Feiran when she pressed it down again.
"No need. Today's battle is a fight to the death!"
In the past, if it were a two-on-one situation, Xunfang would definitely have found a chance to escape. But now, in Chuncheng, in front of the heartbroken Lin Feiran, she couldn't bear to. She wanted Lin Feiran to be defeated by her when she first heard the news of his death and her heart was broken.
Because she herself was defeated in the pain of losing her son, and was picked up by her master like a stray dog, she wanted Lin Feiran to suffer the same fate!
Rainy night, layered clouds, giant moon, tiled eaves, rushing water... The two faced each other, everything around them vanished, leaving only the person in front of them and the sword in their hand!
With a clang, Xunfang threw away the scorpion-tail dagger in her hand. There were still many petals left from the peach branch she had pulled out earlier. She picked all the petals, turned them into yellow talismans, and wrapped them around her arm. Then, two streaks of light passed through her palms.
That was her most prized skill in folding flowers.
Ironically, although their master was skilled with a sword, none of the five of them, including their fellow disciples, had majored in swordsmanship. Even Zhang Chunhe was better at drawing a bow. Her swordsmanship was not good to begin with, and after her husband passed away due to illness, she devoted herself to studying medicine. As of today, it would be even more impossible for her to compete with Lin Feiran in swordsmanship.
Time was of the essence, so she immediately rushed forward, took the Flowing Cloud Step, and arrived in front of Lin Feiran in an instant. Her palm strike was as sharp as a spring breeze, cutting flowers and trimming leaves, cold and ruthless.
For some unknown reason, Lin Feiran suddenly spun his sword and plunged it into the eaves beneath his feet, raising his hand to parry.
Her movements suddenly became graceful. She lifted her right leg, clasped her hands together, and leaned out to the side. In one motion, she pushed back the biting cold wind, but what followed was an even more desolate and tragic autumn atmosphere!
And this move was the last dance she had seen in her memory. Thinking about it carefully, the movement and stillness under the setting sun were not entirely gentle. Just like the falling leaves, they were graceful yet resolute. Every movement, every gesture, was a unique and powerful one.
Her mother was clearly teaching her.
It was as if the autumn wind was suppressing the spring wind. Xunfang suddenly took a half step back, but the next moment, she stepped forward again. Her palm and arm were like cold snakes coiling around her, making it impossible for anyone to escape. With a slash, she broke off a lock of long hair on Lin Feiran's cheek. Strands of hair fluttered and were caught in the palm of the person holding the umbrella behind her.
The snake's mouth swallowed flowers, dripping with venomous saliva. Wherever the heel of her palm passed, decay followed. Lin Feiran, who was already injured, was suddenly shaken by this attack and immediately kicked her away.
But the next moment, she immediately followed closely. As her black robes opened and closed, she clenched her fists and struck with extreme ferocity and coldness. It was late autumn, and the dead of winter was approaching. Even the footless insects were about to perish!
Lin Feiran was extremely fast. His first punch was aimed at her heart, but Xun Fang deflected it with her soft palm. His second punch was aimed at her heart, but she stepped back and raised her knee to block it. His third punch was aimed at her heart, but she turned her palm into a blade and cleaved away the attack!
When her mother swept her palm across the room, her right hand moving up and down, using her waist to generate power to block the east wind, she did the same. On the sixth punch, her technique suddenly changed, and Xunfang was unable to cope for a moment. She took the punch head-on, and as her heart trembled, she swallowed a sweet, metallic taste.
She spat out a mouthful of blood and hissed, "Good, good!"
Xunfang stepped forward and faced off against Lin Feiran. Their speed increased rapidly, and they could unleash ten punches in a single breath. Their momentum was like the east wind, extinguishing the fleeting beauty of youth!
Lin Feiran's fists were inferior to his sword, and he had been injured earlier, so he was naturally no match for it. After a few moves, his movements slowed down, and Xunfang seized the opportunity to strike with her palm. Even though he dodged to the side, his waist was still cut by Xunfang's hand blade.
"Again!" Lin Feiran stomped his foot to use the momentum, shaking up several water droplets from the roof tiles. His fist strike broke through the air, creating a powerful gust of wind!
Lin Feiran threw a punch at Xunfang's side of the neck. As Xunfang ducked to dodge, Lin Feiran bent his long leg slightly and kicked out. Xunfang immediately raised her arm to block, but the incoming leg suddenly lifted up and slammed down on her shoulder like a small mountain collapsing, instantly pressing her to her knees.
This is still the movement technique used by the mother. If she knew about the dance, she would know that this is the "Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow" move commonly used in dance.
He leaped high into the air, slamming Xunfang to the ground. He threw a punch, but his men dodged abruptly. The bricks and tiles beneath his fist shattered, the crashing sound almost inaudible in the rainy night.
Xunfang didn't stop either. She dodged the attack and then threw out both fists, striking hard at Lin Feiran's neck as he approached!
The two exchanged blows without holding back, each punch landing squarely, creating a whistling sound as they shattered numerous falling needles.
"Again!"
"Again!"
"Again!"
The wind howled, carrying Lin Feiran's screams. She had almost never spoken in such a voice before; it was a cry she had never uttered in her past!
Wei Changzai watched silently, his gaze fixed on one person. His hand slowly touched his heart, his brows furrowed slightly. Her anger, her pain, her confusion, and her regret were all conveyed to him. He had almost never experienced such surging emotions.
Fortunately, he was able to shoulder half of the burden for her.
The two fought for a while, then were separated by a powerful blow from the other.
Xunfang turned around and walked away, panting heavily, her expression growing increasingly serious. Lin Feiran's fist technique was strange, something she had never seen before, yet her opponent knew her Flower-Breaking Hand technique. This was already at a disadvantage for her. Furthermore, with Lin Feiran's reckless fighting style, if the fight dragged on for too long, she would only be defeated!
Lin Feiran has already left the mountain. If this opportunity is missed, we will lose her trail and never have another chance to extract her spiritual veins for our own use!
We have no choice but to resort to this last resort!
Xunfang immediately took several steps back, her spiritual pressure surging as she opened and closed her hands. The rain around her froze into ice, and the night wind was biting. She stepped forward, and the rubble and water beneath her feet were covered with a layer of white frost. In an instant, the wind and rain seemed to be under her control, obeying her commands, and attacking Lin Feiran along with her.
How to fold flowers?
Rather than the clash of swords and the roar of battle, let them be swept away by countless storms and winds!
In an instant, everything fell silent, except for the howling wind and rain, the falling leaves, and the millions of raindrops that condensed and became sharp as swords. Countless gusts of night wind gathered together, as cold as steel knives. At the critical moment, Lin Feiran closed his eyes.
Even if the memory is false, the blood-red sunset and the figure nestled on the eaves are not fake.
That figure dancing beneath the withered leaves is so deeply etched in my memory.
My mother said the sunset was just right.
As the sun set, she rolled up her sleeves, bent down, finished her dance, turned back to look at them, and smiled radiantly.
In an instant, the longsword hummed as it was drawn from its sheath and into her palm. Lin Feiran stepped onto the eaves and leaped into the air. The enormous moon loomed behind her, like a god descending to earth.
Xunfang sensed something was wrong and hurriedly retreated. The surrounding rain and wind all rushed out, and with such power, almost instantly destroyed most of the roof ridge beneath their feet. The high walls collapsed into the water, still splashing up countless dust particles!
The only thing in the world that can dispel wind and rain is the rising sun!
With all his might, he slashed through the wind and rain, which suddenly vanished. Xunfang was unable to dodge in time and was struck by the sword light. She fell heavily to the ground, crashing through a pile of roof tiles and stopping at the edge. A bloody gash ran from her left shoulder to her right abdomen.
Lin Feiran stood in front, sword in hand, her figure strikingly similar to that person's. Suddenly, she too coughed up blood, her body went limp, and she knelt on the ground, supporting herself with her sword.
He had just set off when Lin Feiran raised his sword again: "I said I would do it myself."
Whenever a cultivator kills someone, a bloodstain will appear on the jade token hanging under the Book of Beauties. Since the jade token has no divine consciousness, where does this bloodstain come from?
Just as my master had said before, the bloodstains appeared because they were "seen".
Seeing it brings flowers to bloom, seeing it brings the sunset; seeing it in your heart brings murder, and you kill.
With a deafening roar, it was impossible to tell whether it was thunder, the collapse of a pillar of heaven, or a shock in his heart. Lin Feiran struggled to his feet and, almost instantly, was in front of Xunfang.
The once dignified woman now had her hair disheveled, her eyes filled with resentment and fear. She looked at Lin Feiran, whose black clothes were torn and revealed many wounds. But at this moment, she suddenly remembered how Lin Feiran looked when he first joined the Daohe Palace.
The little girl walked behind Ji Changying, being led by him. She was very well-behaved. Although she was somewhat silent at that time, she would still smile and say "Hello, teachers" in a clear voice when facing many elders.
At first, Xunfang did not know her identity. Even though Zhang Chunhe had the intention to take her bones, he did not tell her. She only thought she was a pitiful disciple who had come up the mountain.
Because Taihui and Qingyu valued her highly, Ji Changying often took her on trips. Xunfang, with a desire to please her, also showed her a lot of care.
Lin Feiran is a very grateful person. If someone is kind to her, she will repay them double. They did have a harmonious time, but this harmony collapsed suddenly after she learned that she was Lin Lang's daughter, which lasted no more than three months.
After spending three months together, Lin Feiran was able to go down the mountain to find the medicinal ingredient when she heard that he didn't have it.
What a kind, yet foolish person she was; it's just a pity she wouldn't accept such kindness!
Xunfang gasped for breath, trying to raise her hand to stop the bleeding, but the wound on her chest was too long to stop it at all. She then asked in a trembling voice, "Do you want to know what happened to your mother before we kidnapped and killed her?"
"Do you want to know who your mother is? That's right, you don't know her real name yet. There are very few people in the world who know it."
"Do you want to know why she was killed?"
Lin Feiran didn't speak, but simply held his long sword and quietly watched her, then raised his hand to wipe the blood from his lips.
"I won't tell you," Xunfang grinned, then roared, "I want you to suffer in agony every day!"
Lin Feiran raised his sword and suddenly smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes: "What can you tell me? You clearly know nothing. If you had known you were going to ambush and kill her, why would you have been so frantic when you saw her appear in the dense forest?"
Xunfang's smile vanished abruptly. She hadn't expected that Lin Feiran could still maintain a semblance of composure even at this point. Was she the only one who was unwilling to accept it? Why should she be the only one who was unwilling to accept it!
She suddenly said hatefully, "If it weren't for your strange boxing technique just now, how could you have defeated me today!"
Lin Feiran's eyes remained silent, and his lips parted slightly: "This was just the last dance my mother ever performed. You didn't lose to me today; you still lost to her."
A flash of hatred appeared in Xunfang's eyes. A moment later, she threw her head back and laughed loudly, her voice filled with sorrow: "It's her again, it's her again!"
The rain poured down, and raindrops fell like needles, soaking Lin Feiran's black clothes and hair. The next moment, a paper umbrella was placed over her head, but she did not turn around.
She recalled the ten years of wind and snow on Mount Sanqing, the sword she had drawn repeatedly to save people, and the heart full of joy she had when she first stepped into Kunming.
Finally, everything faded away, leaving only a blank space before her eyes, and she saw herself.
Six, nine, thirteen, and fifteen years old, they emerged from a clear sea of mind, drawing their swords—wooden swords, broken iron swords, and blunted disciple swords—pointing downwards, and presented them all before her eyes.
"I will vanquish evil spirits!"
"I have broken free from delusion!"
"I am who I am!"
"I am who I am!"
The three sword shadows merged into one, forming the broken sword in her hand. As they clasped hands, they suddenly saw a rain of flowers falling. They all turned around and saw their mother's figure appear before them again.
She stood under the flowering tree, her hair not styled, her face ethereal, dressed in a purple robe. She reached out her hand, gently looking at each of Lin Feiran's faces, before finally landing on the nineteen-year-old girl, taking her hand that held the sword, her voice so genuine.
"All things in the world are simply a matter of following one's own mind."
Lin Feiran slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the rainy night and the setting moon that was almost within reach. A clear blade flashed in her hand, like the first light of dawn, before disappearing into the night.
The surroundings suddenly fell silent, with only her rising and falling breaths remaining. She gazed vaguely at the moonlight, then sighed. In the cold, rainy night, the warm breath she exhaled quickly dissipated.
A sudden burst of warm water splashed onto her side, soaking her black clothes and staining her cheeks red. Drops slid down her cheeks and then instantly faded into the coldness of the rain.
She sheathed the broken sword, turned and left, her steps slow yet incredibly firm.
The vibrant stamens plunged down, layer upon layer, burying people within them in moments. A panorama of flowers suddenly appeared, and the branches were scattered, breaking into petals in the torrential rain, falling into the vast emptiness.
Suddenly, the eastern pillar of heaven collapsed, the night sky fell, and floodwaters rushed through the city, destroying many houses. The once quiet spring city was suddenly filled with cries for help.
Lin Feiran, carrying the broken sword, silently walked towards the crowd shouting in the west city. The moonlight shone around him, its clear light filling his sleeves, but he was alone and full of light, letting all the flowers fall.
Author's Note: The next chapter will conclude the Flying Flowers Festival.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
