Chapter 114. You're not allowed to give it to him; it's mine.
In an instant, Li Xunhuan's thoughts were drawn back to that afternoon when the air was filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms, and he remembered how he had taught her time and time again what it meant to "see no evil, speak no evil, do no evil."
The hand on his hand where she had bitten him was still burning. He pinched it with a touch of longing, disregarding all morality, and said dejectedly, "I came here to take the knife from you. Can't I even look at you?"
He lowered his head, his back slightly hunched, and his voice was barely audible: "...You're only cruel to me."
Her fingertips burned from his gaze, and Nian Nian suddenly curled her hands, defiantly retorting, "Don't you know what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame are?"
Before these words could even be uttered and before Li Xunhuan could respond, someone laughed and said, "No wonder he's known as the Romantic Scholar. No wonder he gave up his fiancée to his good brother ten years ago. It turns out that Scholar Li's hobby is other people's fiancées!"
The self-proclaimed senior martial arts master couldn't help but reprimand, "Nonsense! This is still an innocent and naive young girl. How can you harbor such wicked intentions?"
This sharp cry was like the first bamboo shoot breaking through the soil, and the crowd followed suit, launching a concerted attack.
"A man who is not romantic in his youth is not a true man, but Li Xunhuan is already an elder, yet he dares to lay his hands on a junior, which is despicable."
"If you ask me, it was Master Xi who generously gifted the sword today. Li Xunhuan's arrogant behavior, disregarding the code of the martial world, is truly a disgrace to the name of chivalry."
"Li Xunhuan has put Master Xi in an unjust position in front of everyone. In my opinion, we must not let him try a second time."
......
These people, making baseless accusations, were indignant in their condemnation of Li Xunhuan. If uninformed people were to come, they would think he had committed some heinous crime.
But he just wanted to see his beloved girl a few more times.
The harsh realities of the world are laid bare before their eyes. So-called "江湖道义" (jianghu code of honor), "侠者风范" (chivalrous demeanor), and "道德伦理" (moral ethics) are nothing but empty rhetoric. What are they after, really "侠义"?
It was simply to teach how to prevent the precious sword from falling into the hands of Little Li's Flying Dagger.
As long as he's Li Xunhuan, whatever he does will be criticized. And which of these people truly deserves the title of 'chivalrous'?
Li Xunhuan sighed deeply, offering no rebuttal, but instead gazing at her with his calm green eyes—despite the condemnation of the world.
He was right about one thing: Lingxing was indeed narrow-minded and vindictive by nature. She had long anticipated that these hypocrites would be eager to eliminate Li Xunhuan, their formidable enemy, which was why she had spoken so frankly. If they didn't suffer a little, how would they know her goodness in the future?
But why is he just silently enduring it all? Usually, isn't he the most outspoken and blunt, showing no mercy? Even at Xingyun Manor, though he was being controlled, he still managed to deliver a satisfying satire. Why is he acting like he's had his teeth pulled today?
He's so stupid and foolish, he just lets others bully him for no reason. Did he end up eating his own knife?
Niannian gritted her teeth, and before anything had even happened, her eyes turned red with anger.
If it really comes down to bullying him, only I in the world can do it. How dare these good-for-nothings?
Her face was grim, and she tried her best to suppress her killing intent. She said coldly, "Don't keep my senior brother waiting. Please, everyone."
Seeing that she had no intention of pursuing the matter, the twenty-odd people hurriedly said, "Li Xunhuan slandered the young lady's reputation in public. He has ulterior motives. We will definitely seek justice for the young lady."
“Justice resides in the hearts of the people; why seek it?” Nian Nian stretched out her hand, gesturing for everyone to ascend the steps: “Please.”
With Little Li the Divine Blade present, the chances of disarming him were considerably lower. One of the thin, elderly men narrowed his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "Miss Lingxing, you're actually going to protect a wild man who's ruining your reputation? Could it be that you really have some kind of affair with this shameless scoundrel?"
"Don't try to provoke me."
She gave a low shout, and in the blink of an eye, two red lines, like snakes, attacked those two cloudy eyes.
Before anyone present could react, the gust of wind and force generated by the hanging ribbon ripped his eyes open.
He cried out in pain, and as he raised his hand to cover his injured eye, blood welled up between his fingers.
Niannian scoffed and laughed, "I'm not as good-tempered as my senior brother. Anyone who dares to gossip about me, I'll take their life. No one in the world is better at seeking justice than me, so you don't need to worry about it."
Before the words had even finished, a deep, resonant bell tolled from the mountaintop, its sound like silent ripples reverberating through everyone's hearts. Those who were not skilled in internal energy turned pale even before they ascended the steps.
At that moment, no one cared about Li Xunhuan; they all used their lightness skills to rush up the mountain steps.
Even the old man with the injured eye gritted his teeth, lifted his leg and followed, determined not to fall behind.
Those present were all martial artists; it would be too uncouth for them to wait patiently at the foot of the mountain. Once one person took the lead, the rest of them, without saying a word, skimmed the snow with their toes and leaped up the long steps like swallows returning to their nests.
Snowflakes scattered everywhere, and the mountain steps were covered with countless footprints that snaked their way into the clouds.
In just a few breaths, only two people remained in front of the steps.
Niannian turned her head slightly, and seeing out of the corner of her eye that he was still standing there motionless, she couldn't contain her impatience and said impatiently, "What are you standing there for? Did someone not only twist your tongue, but also your leg? I didn't tell you to..."
Li Xunhuan hugged her tightly from behind and whispered, "Even if you're strangled, it's alright. Nian Nian will protect me."
Only you can do that.
He rested his head in the crook of her neck, his spine protruding outwards like a fallen, withered tree, trying to merge everything into the seedling before him—this was the last glimmer of life.
Niannian snorted coldly and pushed him away: "Stop being so presumptuous! If you dare touch me again! Do you really want to make it seem like we're having an affair?"
Li Xunhuan's lips parted slightly, and he pursed them, saying, "We have always had feelings for each other."
He seemed to have thought of something, and before she could object, he whispered, "If I win first place, could I...?"
Niannian was still seething with anger, and glared at him: "If you dare not win, I'll skin you alive."
He looked at the cat's eyes rippling with water and found them adorable. Suddenly, he laughed and said, "I'll punish you however you want."
After saying that, he suddenly bent down and placed a cool kiss on the corner of her lips.
He smiled and said, "I'll take the reward now."
Before he could straighten up, those delicate little hands gripped his wrists tightly.
This is certainly not an attempt to retain them; rather, it's an attempt to catch them red-handed.
Niannian remained silent, pulled out a brocade pouch that was peeking out from his sleeve, and glared at him coldly.
Li Xunhuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he pursed his lips as he snatched the brocade pouch, which was overflowing with the fragrance of honey. He said with restraint, "It's mine, you can't give it to him."
He took out a candied fruit, rolled it between his lips and teeth, and relying on the sweetness on the tip of his tongue, he leaped up without looking back. With a light touch of his toes, his figure faded into the clouds.
Niannian stood still, then slowly raised her hand to her chest, a faint blush rising to her ears. She said resentfully, "How can you be so good-looking?"
The rush of blood to her head lasted only a few breaths before she quickly rolled up her sleeves, pouted, and said, "You didn't even bother to give me one."
Li Xunhuan's "Dragonfly Skimming the Water Three Times" was known for its lightness and speed. Even if he started slowly, catching up with his predecessors was easy. If he didn't have such confidence, he wouldn't have stayed to chat with Nian Nian.
Whether Xi Rao did it intentionally or unintentionally, he deliberately placed the written test as the first hurdle, which seemed to be giving him a helping hand.
As he lowered his eyes in deep thought, his robes billowed as he swept past the frost-covered cypress trees, and without even looking up, he leaped past the panting martial artist who had collapsed on the steps.
With more than half the journey over, the latecomers surged ahead, and Li Xunhuan leaped to the top. Although everyone coveted the empty title of champion, this stage ultimately depended on the depth of one's internal strength, so no one resorted to violence because of it.
If we were to start a fight now, we would only waste our internal energy. Wouldn't that be like the snipe and the clam fighting while the fisherman benefits?
The cold wind howled from the mountaintop, as if it would scrape the skin off their faces. Having climbed this far, no one could use their lightness skill while ascending the steps, and soon the group had caught up with each other.
Each heavy chime of the bell struck like a fist or palm, snapping the frost-covered cypress trees beside the steps in half with its force. The sound pierced eardrums and pounded heavily on skulls.
The few people who were still climbing the mountain were swept away by this force, and blood flowed from all seven orifices.
Li Xunhuan's internal strength wasn't top-tier. The reason he could stand tall in the martial world with just a throwing knife was more due to his skill, experience, and composure. Those who rely on skill to overcome strength usually don't have very deep internal strength.
But who taught him that he had already won the prize?
He gritted his teeth, ignoring the blood gushing from the corner of his mouth, and forced himself to perform his light-footed skill.
The rest of the group frowned and scoffed, "So Li Xunhuan is just another show-off."
The sound of the bells echoing through the mountains grew stronger with each wave. If one were to remain suspended in the air and be struck down by the force, even one's internal organs would likely be shattered.
How could these people not sense that his inner strength was almost exhausted? Yet he was willing to risk his life for the empty title of champion.
Another person chimed in, his face grim, "So what if he's Li Xunhuan? What he's done today will be the laughingstock of all the heroes of the world tomorrow."
He watched with a sinister gaze as the dragonfly's wings were broken, and with a muffled thud, it fell heavily to the ground, its bones shattered and its flesh mangled.
He finally let out a sigh of relief and wiped away the blood flowing from his eyes with a satisfying gusto.
So what if he's Li Xunhuan? You've been outside the Great Wall for ten years, why did you come back? Isn't "Little Li's Flying Dagger, never missing its mark" enough? Why did you have to come and steal the dagger?
How could all the good things in the world be yours? Just thinking about this made the resentment and jealousy in his heart almost flow out along with his thick blood.
His breathing became increasingly labored, his nasal cavity was blocked by blood and he could only stagger along, supporting himself on his knees amidst the hazy red light.
His knees ached terribly, as if a million knives were digging into his bones and prying at them. If he didn't tense up for even a moment, his bones would give way and he would kneel down.
But he cannot kneel. If he kneels today, he will be ridiculed by the entire martial arts world tomorrow.
He strained his eyes wide, staring intently at his trembling kneecap, his eyes almost bursting open. If he could obtain this treasured sword, he would become famous throughout the martial world tomorrow.
Glory, fame, status... all within easy reach.
He looked up amidst the blood-red scene, and a gust of cold wind, carrying a new force, slashed into his eyes, causing his teeth to chatter in pain. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
His chest heaved violently, but his mind suddenly stopped for a moment. He stood still, coldly watching the dragonfly with its broken wings prop itself up, dig its ten fingers into the cracks of the mountain steps, and push off the ground with its right leg, dragging its broken left leg as it struggled to climb up.
He was truly crawling, completely losing the composure and glory of a great hero. Instead, he resembled a wild dog with a broken spine, crawling on the ground, someone anyone could kick hard.
The rough stone surface chafed his face, and cold sweat and blood flowed down the wound, freezing into ice crystals in the blink of an eye, dirtier than the filth on the street.
Li Xunhuan chewed on his bloodied lower lip, his nails digging into the thick snow, his waist and abdomen tensed, and he suddenly flipped over. In the instant that his shattered leg bone pierced into his muscle, he finally climbed the last step of the mountain.
He lay sprawled in the snow, gasping for breath and coughing incessantly. Tears and blood gushed out in a frenzy, and his limbs were numb with pain. Blood stained the ground.
Snowflakes were falling from the mountaintop, each one hitting his eyes. His chest rose and fell slightly as he exhaled a breath of stale air, finally feeling at ease.
The blood overflowing from his eyes was tinged crimson by hot tears. He opened his eyes wide, his gaze dull and lifeless, yet his eyes and brows were full of calm and tenderness.
He thought, it's just like the festive silks that filled the hall when they got married.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com