Song of Adolescence

Chapter 73 A Sword to Challenge Qingcheng

On an ancient road following the west wind, two men riding horses were making their way towards the light of the setting sun.

Lei Wujie suddenly remembered something and asked Xiao Se, “Xiao Se, why do you know so much about every little thing in the martial world? If there was really some history between my sisterand Zhao Yuzhen, why don’t other martial arts people know about it?”

Xiao Se snorted. “People in the martial world don’t even know your sister is a woman, how would they know about her and Zhao Yuzhen?”

Lei Wujie frowned. “Then, how did you know about it?”

Xiao Se stared at him. “My shifu told me.”

Lei Wujie had a sudden realisation. “Third shizun? Of course he would know.”

Xiao Se shook his head. “No, it wasn’t the Spear Immortal who told me. It was my previous shifu. He and your sister, and also Zhao Yuzhen, used to be quite close.” When Xiao Se said those words, he unconsciously touched the Wuji staff on his waist.

Lei Wujie made an “Oh” sound and didn’t continue asking. Whenever Xiao Se talked about himself, it was always in bits and pieces. He would only touch on a point, and never gave any details. After a while, Lei Wujie had slowly gotten used to it.

Xiao Se suddenly asked, “Why did we suddenly detour to Qingcheng Mountain? Zhao Yuzhen has never left the mountain in over thirty years. Do you really think you can convince him to leave?”

Lei Wujie stared ahead, his eyes determined. “I just thought, my shifu, my sister and that Daoist priest on Qingcheng Mountain, they’ve spent so many years trapped by themselves. Actually, they’re just waiting for each other to see who would make the first step. Since my sister has left her mountain, it’s time to break this deadlock.”

Xiao Se shook his head. “It’s not that simple. The reason Zhao Yuzhen has never in thirty years taken one step down from the mountain was rumoured to be because of the forewarning Lü Suzhen left behind. He said that if Zhao Yuzhen came down from the mountain, it would shake the world, and possibly affect the one in that position in Heavenly Revelations City. That’s why, about 30 miles outside of Qingcheng Mountain, there is a garrison of three thousand cavalry, because they’re afraid of Zhao Yuzhen coming down from the mountain. But, it’s a fool’s dream to think that those three thousand men could stop Zhao Yuzhen, so they’re really just there to watch the door and report.”

Lei Wujie laughed a little. “Whether I can convince him or not, I won’t know until I try.”

Xiao Se looked at the two swords on Lei Wujie’s back. “How do you intend to try?”

Lei Wujie raised his head with a lofty expression, and made an impassioned declaration. “Naturally, with a sword to challenge Qingcheng.”

A sword to challenge Qingcheng.

Over ten years ago, there was also someone who came with a sword to challenge Qingcheng.

That was a winter day. Zhao Yuzhen was sitting in his own courtyard, his eyes full of longing as he watched the premature peach blossom tree. That year, he had just become the youngest Celestial Master in the history of Qingcheng Mountain, causing a furor in the martial world. Yet, he was still a youth at heart, so he took the peach wood sword that had been infused with pure yang energy and buried it in the courtyard soil, causing all the snow in the courtyard to melt in an instant, leaving only that peach blossom tree to instantly transform into a splendid full bloom.

“Hurry up, hurry up, once all the peach blossoms fall, I will be able to eat the peaches.” Zhao Yuzhen licked his lips, waiting obsessively.

But, suddenly, a gust of wind blew past. Zhao Yuzhen turned around and realised that on the tall wall surrounding the courtyard, stood a person dressed in white with a grey veil hiding their face.

Zhao Yuzhen was startled for a moment and asked, “Lady, who are you?”

Back then, Li Hanyi had always dressed as a man with a grey veil to hide her face, and even purposely changed her voice. She immediately became angry. “How did you know I’m a lady?”

For someone who had mastered the Divination Arts, Zhao Yuzhen observed one’s qi before their appearance. He shook his head dumbly. “But, you are a lady.”

Li Hanyi did not care to continue the subject. She simply stared at the rather foolish Daoist priest with bewilderment and asked, “You are Zhao Yuzhen?”

Zhao Yuzhen nodded. “That’s right, I am Zhao Yuzhen. Would you like to come down and take a seat? There will be peaches to eat in a moment.”

“Peaches?” Li Hanyi did not understand.

Zhao Yuzhen smiled brightly. “That’s right. I have just infused the Heart of Fire Array Mantra into my peach wood sword, and buried it under the tree. I timed it just right. In another hour, the peaches should start growing.”

Li Hanyi knitted her brows. “The Heart of Fire Array Mantra? Isn’t that a preeminent Daoist cultivation method? And you’re using it to grow peaches?”

Zhao Yuzhen appeared puzzled, and replied softly. “Otherwise, what use is there for practicing it?”

Li Hanyi decided she’s had enough of dealing with Zhao Yuzhen, and finally stated the reason she came. “I am Li Hanyi of Snow Moon City. I heard that you are the youngest Celestial Master in the history of Qingcheng Mountain, and cultivated both the Daoism arts and the sword arts. I would like to challenge your sword.”

Zhao Yuzhen gathered his sleeves. “Snow Moon City, Li Hanyi. When you put these six words together, they sound a bit cold. I hope it doesn’t interfere with my growing peaches.”

Li Hanyi had finally exhausted her patience and she drew the Rainfall sword on her waist. She jumped up suddenly and came at Zhao Yuzhen with her raised sword.

Zhao Yuzhen retreated hurriedly, raised a finger to his mouth and bit lightly. Then, he drew an incantation in mid air in front of him. As he finished drawing the incantation, there seemed to be a lion’s roar.

“Taiyi Lion Arts?” Li Hanyi snorted coldly and, with one swing, slashed the incantation into dust. “I’m here to challenge your sword. Don’t use these Daoist tricks on me!”

Zhao Yuzhen didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. “Why are you like that? I can’t use my sword right now!”

“Why?” Li Hanyi asked.

Zhao Yuzhen’s expression was full of indignation. “My sword is under the tree, right? If I pull it out, I won’t get to eat my peaches!”

Li Hanyi suddenly withdrew her sword’s energy. She probably thought for a long time before she understood Zhao Yuzhen’s logic. Then, she sheathed her sword and released a deep sigh.

Zhao Yuzhen thought that Li Hanyi understood what he meant, and sighed as well. “Let’s talk it over, let’s talk it over.”

Li Hanyi raised her head, looking at that radiant and beautiful peach blossom tree, and asked thinly, “Eat peaches?”

Zhao Yuzhen nodded vigorously. “Eat peaches!”

Once again, Li Hanyi drew her Rainfall sword fiercely with a surge of sword energy, and all of the peach blossoms on the tree fell at once. Li Hanyi leaped up with a light step, and the peach blossoms flew up and surrounded her sword, while her white robes swayed gently in the wind. Leisurely, she raised her long sword, and the blade was suddenly shining with moonlight.

The fragrance of the flowers with the shadow of the moon, each complemented the other perfectly.

That is the instantaneous effect created by her sword move, Moonlit Night and Flowering Dawn.

It could be called a magnificence that was unmatched in this generation.

Zhao Yuzhen looked stunned by it. In all his sixteen years, he’d cultivated Daoism in mind and spirit. This was the first time he felt overwhelmed by his emotions.

However, her next words were like a bucket of cold water dumped on his head.

“Eat peaches? I’m going to make you eat fart!” Li Hanyi turned her sword and gathered the peach blossoms into a little ball. Then, she kicked it viciously and the fallen peach blossoms covered the entire courtyard.

Zhao Yuzhen finally reached the end of his patience. He shouted angrily, “Sword, rise!”

That bright red peach wood sword flew upwards sharply from the ground. Zhao Yuzhen took one step forward, grabbed a hold of the sword, and swung the sword downwards. Li Hanyi didn’t expect this Daoist priest would start fighting just like that. She had just expended her sword’s power, and couldn’t pull out a second sword move in time. She could only retreat hurriedly, yet she didn’t retreat enough. The grey veil on her face was torn into two by Zhao Yuzhen’s sword, and the two pieces floated to the ground.

“Like I said, you are a lady.” Zhao Yuzhen said with a smile.

Except in the next instant, Zhao Yuzhen got a clear look at his opponent’s face and was stunned. After a thought, he said, “No, I was wrong. You’re not a lady… you’re an angel?”

Li Hanyi turned around quickly, a note of indignance in her voice. “Three months from now, I’ll be back to challenge your sword again!” When she finished her words, she jumped over the wall and was gone.

All that’s left was that young Daoist priest who became a Celestial Master at the age of sixteen, staring at the nameless peach wood sword in his hand for a long time. Then, he slowly broke into a smile, and tossed the peach wood sword high into the air. It fell and pierced into the ground under the slowly withering peach blossom tree in the courtyard.

In an instant, the peach blossom tree flourished brightly again.

“From today, you shall be called the Peach Blossom sword.” If Zhao Yuzhen had a mirror at that moment, he would probably have seen that he looked as if a spring wind had arrived, and his face bloomed like a peach blossom.