Nightfall.
The cold spring reflected the moon, while steam from the hot spring rose into the clouds.
Mist from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well twisted together beneath the starlight — distinct yet unified, as if nature itself followed the Tai Chi principle.
A swordsman in white walked across the moonlight, his footfalls scattering stars upon the surface of the water.
Li Zhexian descended lightly to the center of the spring.
His thoughts were clear, his gaze sharp as lightning, enough to pierce the soul.
Sensing the clarity in its master's sword heart, the Qinglian Sword let out a crisp, resonant hum.
Sword in hand, Li Zhexian moved with subtle grace.
He swept the blade through both the fiery and frozen halves of the spring, sending ripples across the surface.
"Ice tempers the edge, fire sharpens the blade —
Only through the harmony of hard and soft can the true essence of swordsmanship be revealed."
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
A sudden wind rose as if responding to his intent.
The three-foot-six-inch Qinglian Sword gleamed with clarity like jade.
Down the center of its spine, it split into two sides — one burning crimson like surging magma, the other gleaming blue like a glacial shard.
"The Yang aspect blazes — when the sword strikes, it is as if the blazing sun descends!"
With a flick of his wrist, the blade erupted in searing crimson flame.
Each swing fell with the force of meteors, the scorching heat distorting the air like translucent serpents.
"The Yin aspect freezes — when the sword is sheathed, it is like eternal night sealing the realm!"
His stance shifted — a sudden chill condensed into piercing blue frost along the edge.
Wherever the sword light passed, frost patterns bloomed like spiderwebs, freezing grass and trees into crystalline statues that shattered with the breeze.
BOOM—!!!
A beam of red and blue sword qi shot skyward, tearing through the night.
Li Zhexian leapt.
When he landed, the ten-zhang radius around him was split in half — the left scorched and cracked, the right sheathed in an inch-thick layer of ice.
It was as though a perfect Tai Chi diagram had appeared around him.
With a slight tremor of the blade, the phenomena of fire and frost on the sword faded, its surface returning to a calm jade-like hue.
Li Zhexian traced his fingers along the newly formed Yin-Yang fish pattern on the spine of the sword, and after a thoughtful pause, he chuckled.
"The second move of the Qinglian Sword Song shall be called—"
"Two Forms." (Liang Yi)
"This technique contains both the Sword of Flame and the Sword of Frost."
"There are three realms in swordsmanship:
The lower sword slays the body.
The middle sword slays the self.
The upper sword… slays the night."
"If the first move of the Qinglian Sword Song — Yaoguang —
was the stolen radiance of a star, a sword that took lives and stole the light of the heavens…"
"Then the second move — Two Forms —
is a thread of Yin and Yang I've intercepted — to sever fate and glimpse the weave of destiny itself."
He exhaled a long breath from his chest and tilted his head back for a deep swig of wine.
"Ha! Wonderful!"
"Qinglian Sword Song: Second move— complete!"
"Li Zhexian has finally emerged from seclusion!"
...
The next morning.
As dawn began to break, Li Zhexian returned to his courtyard.
From a distance, he spotted a slender figure standing quietly at the gate, arms full of bags and bundles.
It was Ye Lingling.
As he approached, he saw that she hadn't noticed him yet.
A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes.
He leaned in close and suddenly shouted into her ear—
"AHH—!"
Startled, Ye Lingling jumped.
Everything in her hands spilled to the ground.
She didn't say a word, only kept her cold, delicate face tight and bent down to pick her things up.
Li Zhexian clicked his tongue and flicked his finger.
A thread of gentle sword qi swept up the scattered items and neatly deposited them back into her arms.
"Ye Lingling, what are you doing at my place?"
She pursed her lips and shot him a quick glance with her deep blue eyes before lowering them again. Her voice was as clear as icy spring water:
"For you."
Li Zhexian didn't take the items. Instead, he looked her over.
Her long blue hair was damp with morning dew.
"Did your mother send you?"
Ye Lingling stayed silent.
Li Zhexian nodded as if that confirmed it.
"You've been coming every morning?"
Still no reply.
"Sigh…"
He exhaled, unlocked the door, and let himself in.
"Tell your mother—
I have zero interest in any old grudges between the Ye Clan's Nine-Hearted Begonia and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
With that, he stepped into the courtyard.
Ye Lingling followed behind him silently.
Bang—!
The courtyard door slammed shut.
It almost hit her nose.
The girl stood silently, lashes lowered, her slim figure unmoving. Her hands still tightly clutched the gift her mother had asked her to deliver.
That delicate and stunning face showed no expression.
She was cold and aloof—yet looked just like a small, abandoned creature left out in the wind and rain.
Lost. Helpless. Utterly alone.
Li Zhexian pushed aside all thoughts of the Ye Clan.
He hadn't returned in days.
Dust had piled up thick inside his house.
He raised two fingers like a sword and swept through the air. A surge of wind scattered the dust into a swirling storm.
Then with a wave of his sleeve, the dust gathered into a clump, which he casually flicked out the window.
He tidied the corners and organized his belongings — it took half an hour in total.
Looking around the now spotless house, Li Zhexian nodded in satisfaction.
Next, the courtyard.
Just as he stepped outside, his brows furrowed.
He turned toward the gate — that faint presence outside was still there.
"You're still here?"
Li Zhexian opened the gate.
Creaaak—
Ye Lingling's cold yet fragile face appeared once again.
"For you."
Sweat beaded on her brow as she extended the gift again.
"Ye Lingling, you're really this stubborn?"
His frown deepened. His voice held no trace of compromise.
"I'm not accepting anything from the Ye Clan."
He turned to leave.
Ye Lingling's eyes flicked toward the Clear Spring Wine Gourd hanging at his waist. She blinked, then suddenly said:
"Inside… is an aged brew my mother made for you."
—
The air fell silent.
Li Zhexian abruptly turned back, a warm smile blooming on his face like spring sunlight.
"Ohhh! Isn't this Ye Lingling?"
"You didn't need to bring anything, just visiting is enough!"
Ye Lingling stared blankly, her red lips slightly parted, stunned by the sudden shift.
Li Zhexian rummaged through the pile of herbs and items, finally pulling out a small wine gourd and joyfully skipping into the courtyard.
This time, he didn't shut the door.
Ye Lingling followed him in quietly.
Seeing the dusty yard, she rolled up her sleeves and began cleaning.
Li Zhexian didn't stop her.
He simply sat on a stone bench and popped open the wine gourd, taking a satisfied sip.
He smacked his lips.
"Hmm, not bad. There's a faint floral aftertaste."
"Pity… it's not quite good enough to earn a spot in my Clear Spring Gourd."
Watching her awkward but earnest sweeping, he casually traced a line with his finger.
A wave of invisible sword qi swept through the courtyard, pushing all the dust into one corner.
Ye Lingling sat opposite him, eyes downcast, silent.
"Can you drink?"
Li Zhexian pushed the gourd toward her.
"You brought it, after all."
Ye Lingling took the gourd and tilted her head back for a long swig.
Cough!
Cough!
The spicy heat rushed straight to her lungs. She covered her mouth, coughing, cheeks flushed with a rosy glow. Her blue eyes shimmered with a light mist.
Li Zhexian took the gourd back, frowning.
"If you can't drink, then don't.
I asked you — I wasn't forcing you."
Ye Lingling wiped the corner of her mouth and spoke, her voice faintly breathless:
"Mother told me to listen to you."
"Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it."
Li Zhexian's frown deepened.
"And what about you?
Don't you have anything you want to do?"
Looking at her pale, emotionless face — not so much cold as completely emptied, dulled by obedience — he waved his hand dismissively.
"Forget it. Let's not talk about this."
"So—what's new in Heaven Dou City these days?"
Ye Lingling thought for a moment.
"There is something."
"A fat guy calling himself the Evil Fire Phoenix has shown up at the Imperial Spirit Arena. He's won almost fifty matches in a row."
"He says he wants to challenge Sword Wine."
She paused and glanced at Li Zhexian.
"He says he's going to break Sword Wine's sword…
and knock over his wine."
Li Zhexian's hand holding the wine gourd paused briefly—
Then he calmly brought it to his mouth and took another sip.
Clink—
He placed the gourd on the stone table.
Then stood up.
Ye Lingling rose as well.
"Where are you going?"
"To the Spirit Arena."