A City Swept by Wind and Snow GL - Chapter 33

◎The only Holy Lang Flower in the world, I give it to you. Will you forgive me for stabbing you with a hairpin?◎

Xue Qianxun had been isolated on the mountaintop with two mute old women for twelve years. She was actually a child who hadn’t had the chance to grow up, and her body harbored a power more terrifying than anyone else’s. As Xue Qianxun’s proxy, no one knew this better than Xi Feng.

Many years ago, when the Susha clan was still a prosperous and influential family, Xi Feng was born as the only daughter of the patriarch, Susha Xingjian. In her thirteenth year, Susha Fortress welcomed the first matchmaker to propose marriage to the eldest daughter—Emperor He Qirui, on an incognito tour of the South.

The young Emperor pointed at the four handsome youths seated below him and asked Susha Xingjian, “Which one does the Martial Arts Alliance Leader intend to choose as his son-in-law?”

Susha Xingjian hurriedly bowed respectfully: “This humble subject is overwhelmed with fear. It is entirely up to Your Majesty’s decree.”

In the history of the Susha family, Xi Feng—then “Susha Qianxun”—was not the first to be chosen by the imperial family. There were even ancestors who were engaged to a princess at the age of seven. However, it was unprecedented for the Emperor to personally visit and present four candidates, including his own brother, He Qiya. Susha Xingjian was truly terrified.

It was late autumn then, with withered grass stretching across the plains and bare trees.

He Qirui, under the royal canopy, smiled faintly at Susha Xingjian, pointed to the mountain peak east of Susha Fortress, and said gracefully, “Holy Lang Peak, bordered by the Nether Sea to the east and the Other Shore Hill to the south. In the late autumn, the Other Shore Flowers have all withered, which is regrettable. But I heard there is a wondrous tree on Holy Lang Peak, blooming with beautiful, abundant flowers all year round. How about we let these four youths compete? Whoever is the first to climb Holy Lang Peak and pick a Holy Lang Flower to present to your esteemed daughter will become the Alliance Leader’s son-in-law.”

“This… Your Majesty, Holy Lang Peak is rarely visited, and the mountain paths are very perilous…”

“I know,” He Qirui gently interrupted Susha Xingjian, saying, “The former Emperor issued an edict that no one, except for members of the Susha family, is permitted to climb Holy Lang Peak. Ha, for many years, the mysterious Holy Lang Flower has been greatly envied by the world.”

Susha Xingjian immediately knelt down on both knees, saying, “This humble subject did not mean that! The dynasty has changed now, and that ban has long been broken.”

He Qirui personally helped Susha Xingjian up: “Alliance Leader, you are too courteous. I am simply curious about the Holy Lang Flower and hope they can pick one so that I, too, can feast my eyes.”

When the four youths set off, Xi Feng also quietly retreated. She was, of course, not shy, but because her father had told her one thing: “Don’t let them find her.”

Susha Xingjian was quite certain that this “Susha Qianxun” would reach Holy Lang Peak earlier than anyone else. However, he was wrong.

When Xi Feng breathlessly rushed to the Seaview Pavilion, only a stump was left of the Holy Lang Tree. The porcelain doll who was always hidden in the inner chambers was holding a large broom, sweeping the scattered jade-like petals and branches from the ground.

“Qianxun! Where is the Holy Lang Tree?”

“I threw it into the sea.”

“…”

“He said he really liked you, and he wanted to pick the Holy Lang Flower as an engagement gift for you.” The porcelain doll pointed with her small, cold, red hand to the corpse in the corner, whose face was intact but whose body was fragmented.

—He Qiya, the Emperor’s younger brother, a sixteen-year-old youth who had reached Holy Lang Peak faster than Xi Feng, had died peacefully, clutching a single, exquisitely beautiful Holy Lang Flower.

Xue Qianxun bent down, pulled the Holy Lang Flower from He Qiya’s hand, and offered it to Xi Feng: “The most beautiful flower on the whole tree, the only Holy Lang Flower in the world, I give it to you. Will you forgive me for stabbing you with a hairpin?”

“Qianxun… what exactly are you doing…”

“Xue Qianxun, what are you doing?”

Suddenly, someone gently patted her shoulder. Xue Qianxun stopped drawing with the branch on the ground, turned around in surprise, but found no one.

“Don’t look, you can’t see me.” A young man’s voice came again from behind Xue Qianxun.

“Who are you?”

“…” The other party seemed to chuckle, his breathing fluctuating slightly.

“Heh, even if I ask, you won’t answer,” Xue Qianxun scoffed.

“Are you drawing a musical score? You seem to have run into difficulty.”

Xue Qianxun ignored him, but asked, “Are you here to kill me?”

“I’m here to help you.”

“You can’t help me.”

“I can help you right now. For example, by helping you complete the unfinished Thirteen Forms.”

“How do you know I’m studying the score for the Thirteen Forms?” Xue Qianxun was greatly surprised.

“Not only that, I also know the score for the puppetry technique Ode to the Sobbing of Gods and Demons that you once read. You remember it incompletely and vaguely, which is why you created the Thirteen Forms yourself.”

“Who exactly are you?” Xue Qianxun asked involuntarily again.

The man chuckled softly: “You know I won’t tell you. Furthermore, instead of dwelling on such trivial matters, you should worry about your own situation. If Fifth Mei knew you were pursuing her, she might genuinely try to kill you.”

Xi Feng couldn’t find Xue Qianxun, but unexpectedly found the little fox, perched on the head of the undying elder.

After the undying elder appeared, the articulate parrot also quickly showed up and asked Xi Feng clearly, “Do you intend to become Xue Qianxun’s puppet to participate in the battle?”

Xi Feng said, “You said the rules’ loophole is open to anyone.”

“I also said, those with the ability should exploit it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Xue Qianxun is not a true Puppeteer. She doesn’t have the qualification to exploit this loophole.”

“Just because you say she isn’t, she isn’t?” Xi Feng sneered.

“Exactly. If I say she is, she is. If I say she isn’t, she isn’t.” The parrot spoke in a sarcastic and comical, teasing tone. It flapped its wings twice and continued, “Those who practice dark martial arts must be recognized by an authoritative dark martial arts senior to call themselves a Beast Tamer, Puppeteer, or Corpse Witch.”

Xi Feng seemed to understand: “It seems your testimony confirmed Jin Se’s status as a Beast Tamer.”

The parrot said, “Jin Se is a genius. She was already very strong when she first became a Beast Tamer. It’s her current performance that disappoints me a little, unless—she is intentionally concealing her strength.”

Xi Feng smiled faintly: “It’s possible. She has surprised me many times.” She continued, “Xue Qianxun is also a genius. I hope Senior Nan Gong can also be a witness to her upgrade to a Puppeteer.”

“That would be difficult. I saw her just now, and she is still very weak.”

Xi Feng was startled: “Did she run into Fifth Mei? How is she now?”

“Don’t worry, she’s fine. I only reminded her not to be miserably defeated by Fifth Mei in an instant again. It’s very embarrassing. So, she should be studying her puppetry in some corner now.”

Xi Feng breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, “Thank you, Senior Nan Gong.”

“Xi Feng, did you forget something?” At this point, the undying elder raised his right hand, holding a new stick of incense upright in his palm. The parrot said, “You don’t have time to worry about others. The third round of the Martial Debate has begun.” After saying that, it flapped its wings and flew away. The undying elder stood by like a wooden statue.

A person appeared behind her. Xi Feng knew it was the swordsman Yin Nu. His killing intent instantly filled the space they occupied, ready to erupt.

Xi Feng turned around, and the blade slashed toward her. Although they were face-to-face, Xi Feng could barely see Yin Nu’s face. Both he and his blade were incredibly fast; Tang Ran, in comparison, was merely juggling.

“Xi Feng, I didn’t expect you to easily kill Tang Ran and the undying elder. But how will you deal with their master and grandmaster?…”

A white rainbow sliced through the void, and the stirred up fēngrèn (wind blade) kicked up a splash of bl00d. Yin Nu’s rapidly moving body was stopped by an invisible qì wall. His aging face was contorted in space and he could no longer utter a word.

The snow-white Ice Soul Silk, like a coiling dragon, retracted into Xi Feng’s hand, unstained by bl00d. Xi Feng casually took Yin Nu’s name plaque and said flatly, “First Tang Ran, then Tang Fei, then the undying elder, and finally you—Yin Nu. The martial arts system of your four people is the same. Perhaps you think you are a hundred times stronger than them, but to me, there is no difference between you and them.”

Yin Nu gnashed his teeth, filled with shame and hatred: “I witnessed your duel with Tang Fei, and I had already figured out how to counter the move you used to kill the undying elder. I didn’t expect…”

Xi Feng abandoned him and bent down to pick up a bloody object from the ground, murmuring, “I wonder if this arm will be to Tang Fei’s liking.”