212: Chapter 80: On Lotus Peak, the Sword Qi Resonates Long (End of Volume)_2 212: Chapter 80: On Lotus Peak, the Sword Qi Resonates Long (End of Volume)_2 Law Enforcement fell into silence, and after a long while, his voice rasped, “Being too prominent is not a good thing…
Junior Sister died that way.”
Lotus Venerate perished on the battlefield of the Northern Border.
In the great battle of the Jiazi year, Mo Zhen led the elite forces of the Demon Country, putting in their utmost effort, to attack the Northern Border frontline—
The Dachu Dynasty nearly exhausted everything to compete against the Demon Country.
At first, the battle ebbed and flowed, but after the master of Xuanshui Cave Heaven, “Lotus Venerate”, joined the battlefield, the scale of victory began to tilt.
Despite the top forces being nearly equal, Lotus Venerate, with an unbeatable presence, successively slain ten venerates of the Demon Country, puncturing through the entire northwest corner of the Northern Border Great Wall…
It was precisely because he was too dazzling that the Demon Country’s Great Venerates resolved, at a painful and heavy cost, to have him assassinated.
Eventually
Carrying the Xuanshui Cave Heaven, Lotus Venerate fell on the Northern Border battlefield, and the Sword Palace’s fortunes also began to collapse.
This battle brought Sword Palace lessons that were far too painful.
The scars it left on Law Enforcement were lifelong and incurable.
“Xie Zhen…
is stronger than Xie Xuanyi.”
Law Enforcement took a deep breath, a complex look of self-deprecation on his face.
He did not ask.
What had happened in these ten years.
It no longer mattered…
When the Island Master of Wangyou Island came to visit, he said he had changed a lot.
Indeed.
Law Enforcement knew he was a very stubborn person; over the years, he rigidly enforced the laws, practiced the Sword Dao meticulously…
but the past incidents constantly surfaced in the Heart Lake, the death of Junior Sister Lotus and the fall of Xie Xuanyi made him ponder whether the “Way of Concealing Sharpness” he adhered to was indeed correct.
Should the deaths of Lotus Venerate and Xie Xuanyi really be blamed on their insufficient concealment?
“This message, it was Xuanyi who asked me to tell you.”
Zhao Chunyang sighed lightly, seeing the complex emotions in his junior brother, and gently said, “This youngster, he thinks more delicately than you imagine.
Because of ‘Lotus Venerate’, after he took over Xuanshui Cave Heaven, he never rang the bell for himself…
These years, Xuanyi has done a lot for Sword Palace, and he has always wanted your recognition.”
Unfortunately.
Both were stubborn people.
Law Enforcement pressed Xie Xuanyi with the laws of Sword Palace.
Xie Xuanyi ignored the rules and did as he pleased.
The two of them competed both openly and secretly, with Zhao Chunyang stuck in between “suffering”, only able to continuously mediate.
“I…”
Law Enforcement faltered.
He was silent for a long while, finally spoke harshly, “According to the rules, since he has taken over Xuanshui Cave Heaven, he can perceive the Dao at any time…
Why bother considering my thoughts, could it be I would violate the laws and take back his Xuanshui Cave Heaven?”
Stubborn.
Still stubborn.
Zhao Chunyang had nothing to say, only shook his head.
The two of them just sat stiffly in this pavilion, Zhao Chunyang neither initiated conversation nor left.
A long, long time later.
Law Enforcement finally could not hold back: “I heard that Junior Sister left a strand of Divine Thought in the cave heaven, is it true or not?”
“Heh…”
Zhao Chunyang sneered with a laugh: “As expected, you do care about it.”
A Jiazi had passed.
An entire Jiazi, and Xuanshui Cave Heaven had not opened; Law Enforcement hoped more than anyone that this cave heaven could welcome a new master.
Every master of Xuanshui Cave Heaven left a strand of Divine Thought within the cave heaven.
It was a legacy.
There would naturally be a “handover”.
If a new master surfaced, then…
it would also mean that Law Enforcement had a chance to meet “Lotus Venerate’s” Divine Thought one more time.
“…
I was just curious, that’s all.”
Law Enforcement gritted his teeth, reluctantly said, “When does Xie Xuanyi plan to refine Xuanshui Cave Heaven?”
“Maybe a year, two years, maybe even ten years.”
Zhao Chunyang said indifferently, “Perhaps…
if you are willing to relent, lower your head, he would step into Xuanshui Cave Heaven today.”
Zhao Tongtian was stunned.
He gritted his teeth and glared at his elder brother: “How do I relent?”
“Simple.”
Zhao Chunyang narrowed his eyes, a soft smile playing on his lips, “Promise me, on the days I am in seclusion, you’ll take good care of him…
don’t be like ten years ago.”
Tongtian, in that moment, didn’t know what to say.
“This world, in the end, will belong to the young.”
Zhao Chunyang said sentimentally, “You hand over Law Enforcement to Qi Lie, and I yield Sect Leadership to Xuanyi, it’s fair.”
“…It is indeed fair.”
Law Enforcement sighed deeply, softly said, “I promise you, I’ll take good care of him.”
…
…
Jiang Huang slept hazily, opened her eyes, and saw someone had added another layer of quilt for her.
Outside, heavy snow swirled, filled with howling sounds.
Inside, the firewood burned, radiating warmth.
The person, in a thin black garment, silent, after adding a layer of quilt, pushed the door and left…
Xie Xuanyi walked alone in the ice and snow.
Snow blanketed the sky, occasionally crossed by streaks of sword light.
He walked in the “hometown” he knew, every grass and tree in Sword Palace was as in his memories, the cranes from True Hidden Peak cried out brightly in the sky, this time without the crowds of tourists, only countless snowflakes howling past.
Xie Xuanyi wandered within the territory of Sword Palace for a long time, a better part of the day, finally returning to Lotus Peak.
In the crevices of the ice-bound rocks.
Xie Xuanyi saw a tiny, pitifully white, frozen grass leaf.
On a bitterly cold day, all things are silent.
But still, plants grow.
Seeing one grass leaf in the rock crevices means there are millions more hidden in the mountains.
Next year, when the ice melts and the snow thaws, wildflowers will cover the mountains across Sword Palace.
…
…
Xie Xuanyi walked through the environs of Sword Palace for a long time.
Many people, too, watched him for a long time.