Many people thought that the battle at Xiling Mountain was the first time Liu Qishuang and Yu Zhanmei met.
In fact, they knew each other long ago, even before they started practicing. To this day, almost no one knows about this.
The Sword Saint kidnapped Jun Yu outside the school gate and took Yan Xing in after a fight in the tavern. In comparison, Liu Qishuang's initiation was quite serious and formal. At least there was a serious and formal conversation.
At that time, Jun Yu's sword intent was a little bit accomplished, and the Sword Saint went down the mountain to explore the Meteorite Abyss for the first time. When passing by the snowy plain, he met two little girls, who looked only seven or eight years old, who had just killed a lone gray wolf together. When they saw him coming, they looked very alert, but they had no strength left. This scene reminded him of the time when he was young and he and Li Tugen ventured into the East Continent.
Liu Qishuang always remembered that day when the master came out of the snow and wind, as if he appeared out of thin air. The scene in his memory was magical and fairy-like.
"Would you like to become my disciple and learn my Taoism?"
Liu Qishuang thought about it and nodded, then heard someone next to him ask,
"How long will it take for me to be as strong as you if I learn your Taoism?"
Even though no one taught her, Yu Zhanmei was incredibly precocious.
"You have excellent aptitude and comprehension, and you will be able to enter the Mahayana stage in 500 years."
"Five hundred years is too slow." She said to Liu Qishuang, "You go ahead. I still need to go and worship the twelve zodiac signs."
The Sword Master frowned slightly, "It's not good to cultivate magic, it's easy to die, and it hurts."
Yu Zhanmei was very determined, "Once I start practicing, I will enter the world of cultivation. I will either kill or be killed. If I want to learn, I will learn the technique that will lead to the fastest progress and the strongest power."
"Practice is not for killing people, but for enlightenment."
Yu Zhan raised his eyebrows and asked back, "Isn't killing a kind of enlightenment? Only between life and death can one gain great enlightenment."
The Sword Saint did not comment, but just smiled and said, "As expected, people with different ideologies cannot work together."
Yu Zhanmei pushed Liu Qishuang over and said impatiently, "Don't act like you're reluctant to let go. We are just casual acquaintances who have traveled together for a long time... You should practice well, and I will come to see you when I am free."
"You lied to me." Liu Qishuang shook her head, "You can't tell north from south, you can't find the way at all."
When they still didn't understand the great truth that Taoism and the devil couldn't coexist, they had already vaguely understood that this was probably a permanent separation. Even if they met again, they couldn't walk together anymore.
Sure enough, many years later, they met on Mount Xiling. As expected, they attacked without any hesitation.
In the desolate suburbs of Tai'an City, snow clouds obscured the starlight that night, and the long-abandoned stone bridge collapsed in half. The lake water froze into a solid ice surface, and the shivering willows danced in the wind and snow.
The woman in the jade-colored gauze dress stood barefoot on the bridge, expressionless, and beyond human beauty.
Liu Qishuang stood under the bridge, just three feet away.
Perhaps it was because now was not a good time to officially start a war, and the Lord of the Golden Palace still had concerns; perhaps he was not absolutely sure of being able to kill the other party, and it would be unwise to act rashly.
Maybe it’s just because this snowy night seems familiar.
No one went any further, either on or under the bridge, so naturally no fight broke out.
"You appear in front of me now, do you think I won't kill you?"
Yu Zhanmei's voice was not as cold and stubborn as it was on the snowy plains in the past. Instead, because of the cultivation method she had practiced, no matter what she said, her tone was as gentle as the spring breeze blowing over the willows. Even when she was talking about life and death.
She was used to such voices, but Liu Qishuang was not.
"No." Liu Qishuang wanted to frown unconsciously, and her eyes passed over the stone bridge and fell on a place not far away.
Because of her state of mind, she could see it very clearly if she wanted to.
Yu Zhanmei followed her gaze.
Not far away were several farmhouses on the outskirts of the city. With Cangya's protection, the flames of war had not yet reached here. Warm yellow lights shone through the window lattices, illuminating the snow on the ground and dyeing the white snow into warm yellow.
I could vaguely hear a woman soothing a crying child. The aroma of rice wine wafted from somewhere, floating in the cold air.
The snow was blowing, the wine was warm, the lights were dim. There is no greater warmth in the world than this.
Liu Qishuang didn't say anything else, but Yu Zhanmei already knew what she was thinking.
With a slightly sarcastic look on her face, she seemed to be asking the other person, but also seemed to be asking herself,
"How ridiculous! Since I have chosen this path, how can I be greedy for worldly happiness?!"
As if to prove this, her wide sleeves trembled slightly, and the thin snow that had fallen a moment ago could no longer get close to her. An invisible barrier split the space around her, and the flying snowflakes were cut into even finer fragments.
Accompanied by a subtle and harsh "crack" sound, countless cracks extended from the stone bridge to the ice surface, all the way to an inch under Liu Qishuang's feet.
Liu Qishuang felt the sudden murderous intent between heaven and earth, like a sharp edge on her back, or a sword on her forehead. Almost instinctively, she pushed her true energy to the extreme, and the snow fell on her body, evaporated instantly, and a thin mist rose.
They were all in a state where they could attack at any time, but once again chose not to.
Liu Qishuang didn't know what to say. It seemed that anything she said would be redundant and just nonsense.
The conversation on the snowy night came to an end.
"Go now. The next time we meet, it will be a matter of life or death."
Yu Zhanmei's figure swayed slightly, and in an instant he flew across the icy lake and returned to the large sedan chair that was as tall as a building in the distance. The sedan chair was lifted up and drove quickly to the east.
Liu Qishuang thought it was like this again. You said let me go, but you left first.
She woke up from her memories, and in front of her was the same quiet room that had remained unchanged for a hundred years. Her thoughts were sorted out, and she began to meditate.
In fact, Master said it clearly hundreds of years ago: People with different beliefs cannot work together.
*****
Yin Biyue and Luo Mingchuan hurried on their way, and within three days they arrived at Yunyang City in the Central Continent. The demon cultivators were still crossing the sea, and everywhere they looked like the world was about to fall into chaos.
The noble families in the city got the news early and moved their families to Lianjian. Those who could afford to cross the sea took a boat to Beilu, and the boat price was sky-high. They knew that the terrain in the Central Continent was flat, and if the demon cultivators marched straight in, they could take Yunyang City in no time.
In the shocking battle on Hengduan Mountain, the gentleman from the academy was seriously injured. The news had already spread quietly in the cultivation world.
Ordinary people didn’t think about these things. They just heard the news, sold their property and fled the city in a hurry.
Yin Biyue and Luo Mingchuan went against the flow of people and had extraordinary bearings, so they were very conspicuous.
The streets were littered with debris that had not been taken away in time, and the doors of the shops and teahouses on both sides were wide open, empty with nothing left.
Yin Biyue heard the child in the woman's arms ask, "Why don't we stay and fight the demon cultivators?"
The child's father, carrying a large bag on his back, said, "Don't talk nonsense. Demonic cultivators eat people."
The woman also looked worried, "Will it be safe to go to Lianjian?"
"...It will be better. Most of the people in the academy are scholars. How can they fight a war?"
Many people think this way. If there is no other choice, who would be willing to leave their hometown?
Yin Biyue originally thought that the academy had suspended classes, and most of the students from all sides began to find their own way out. The academy should be in chaos, so he took Luo Mingchuan through the back door of a remote alley, "This is where my master took me, and it leads directly to the courtyard of the dean."
The master knew they were coming, and the door opened without waiting for them to knock. The two men stood outside the door, bowed, and walked in.
The once lush locust leaves have all fallen, and the courtyard is filled with cold dead branches and withered vines.
The headmaster with gray hair on his temples leaned back in a rattan chair, seemingly listening to the sound of reading coming from outside the courtyard wall.
Yin Biyue soon discovered that life at the academy was no different from usual.
The students continued to study and the teachers continued to teach. The only difference was that some of the servants were out of the house, so the students began to do things on their own, sweeping the courtyard, lighting fires and cooking.
A city in chaos and an institution as solid as a mountain.
"Come on, sit down. It seems we haven't talked before."
There was no sound of fatigue in the gentleman's voice and his expression was very calm, making it difficult to tell how serious his injuries were.
The second half of the sentence was directed to Luo Mingchuan.
Luo Mingchuan and Yin Biyue bowed and sat down, saying, "Thank you for your help, sir, on Hengduan Mountain."
The gentleman didn't answer, but just looked at him.
Li Tugen had mixed feelings about Luo Mingchuan. He wanted him dead, but he also wanted him alive. He couldn't figure out the fate of the two, and he didn't know whether his current situation was a blessing or a curse.
Yin Biyue said, "According to my and my senior brother's estimation, Rong Zhuo's demon army will arrive in Donglu in two days at the earliest."
The gentleman nodded, but did not mention the imminent event. Instead, he smiled and said, "You two seem to be very close."
Being teased by elders was completely different from being teased by fellow disciples. Yin Bi felt a little embarrassed.
Luo Mingchuan replied,
"Junior brother wants to spend this life with me."
Yin Biyue nodded silently.
"You know, 'Two stars appear in the world, living and dying together', it was originally referring to the two of you."
"I guessed it."
"Are you determined to fight against the heavens?"
The teacher asked Luo Mingchuan. Yin Biyue also wanted to hear his senior brother's answer.
What would my senior brother say?
Luo Mingchuan also smiled, with a gentle yet somewhat helpless look.
"My junior brother and I live a peaceful life. If possible, who would want to go against the heaven? But it can't accommodate us, so I have to fight for it. 'One of them survives' is not enough. I have to fight for both of us to die together, and to be together in life and death."
There is no lofty sentiment to curse the heavens and the earth, nor any ambition to swear or swear.
It was clearly the most common language, but Yin Biyue's eyes almost sore after hearing it.
This is his senior brother. Only his senior brother would say that.
The gentleman was silent. There was no conversation in the courtyard for a long time.
The wind was cold and the sky darkened before anyone noticed, and lights were lit in the school's library.
"I didn't expect it to be like this."
The two of them were supposed to have conflicting fortunes, but their fates changed quietly at some point, leading to completely different endings.
Li Tugen suddenly felt very frustrated.
I have read thousands of classics in my life, but I don't believe in true love. I have calculated thousands of plans, but I still can't figure out people's hearts.
Then he laughed, "When Wei Jingfeng comes back, I will tell him that he is right."
Yin Biyue felt that the dean was in high spirits, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes were smoothed out, just like the scholar in a tall hat and wide belt when he first met him.
Chatting and laughing, with a unique style,
"Whether you win or lose, blood will flow for thousands of miles and lives will be lost. The balance of life and death between heaven and earth has been broken, and the violence of Meteorite Abyss will only grow stronger. It is unknown whether the second heavenly calamity will befall."
"You shouldn't have come to the East Continent to resist the demon cultivators. You should go to the Meteorite Abyss. Only there can you put an end to the root of the evil and put an end to it all ahead of time."
"There are only a hundred practitioners in the academy, but I and the academy can hold out for seven days."
"Lianjian and Qinglu Sword Sect can hold out for nine days. If Wuwang's Jiekong Temple enters the world, you will have at most ten days."
"I'll give you these ten days to decide the future of the world."
"If you can't do it, no one can."
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