Sword and Dragon, Part Two

"Xuewu, since we hit it off so well, let's make a vow here on Snow God Mountain. Let Snow God Mountain and Xiao Lingzhan bear witness for us. We'll surely grow old together!" Hu Xi said happily.

Leng Xuewu froze for a moment. Everything before her felt familiar, yet different. Still, without any resistance, she nodded and said, "Since Brother Hu wishes it, then let us make our vows and have this weathered Snow God Mountain witness our union and our love. Please, Mr. Xiao, bear witness as well."

Seeing this, Xiao Lingzhan grinned broadly and burst into laughter. "Good, good, good! I'll bear witness too!"

As soon as Xiao Lingzhan finished speaking, Hu Xi and Leng Xuewu knelt together toward the summit of Snow God Mountain. With their hands clasped in salute, they said sincerely, "Heaven above, Snow God Mountain before us, Xiao Lingzhan at our side. Let heaven, earth, and man bear witness: I, Leng Xuewu (Hu Xi), make this vow! We will protect one another for a lifetime, love one another for a lifetime, and remain faithful until death. Should either of us break this oath, our martial soul shall fall into darkness forever!"

After hearing their vow, Xiao Lingzhan paused in surprise. "That's a serious oath! Aren't you just getting engaged? Why make such a grave vow?"

"You wouldn't understand! When you see someone you love, don't let her slip from your grasp." Having won his beauty's heart, Hu Xi laughed heartily.

"My mother once said that if a man is willing to swear a solemn oath on his martial soul for you, then he must truly love you. I can't let Hu Xi bear it alone either." Leng Xuewu's gaze was exceptionally resolute.

"Then let's settle down on Snow God Mountain! After all these years of war, I'm tired too. Commander Xiao, go back and report that I was assassinated. Let me live in seclusion here on Snow God Mountain. Xuewu, are you willing to live in seclusion here with me? We can be like drifting clouds and wild cranes, far from the clamor of the mortal world." Hu Xi looked at Leng Xuewu sincerely.

Leng Xuewu found herself increasingly drawn to such a life, yet something in her heart felt more and more strange. The familiarity Hu Xi gave her was so real, as though they had known each other for several lifetimes and she had always belonged to him. Leng Xuewu did not resist the feeling in her heart and nodded.

Thus, Hu Xi and Leng Xuewu settled down on Snow God Mountain. Xiao Lingzhan, meanwhile, returned to the Cangyun Empire and falsely reported that Hu Xi had been successfully assassinated.

One day, for some unknown reason, Leng Xuewu stood gazing at Snow God Mountain.

Hu Xi walked to her side and asked with concern, "Xuewu, what's wrong? Feeling stifled? Do you want to return to the mortal world?"

Leng Xuewu brushed back her hair, shook her head, then nodded again. "I don't know why, but I always feel that our lives shouldn't be like this."

Hu Xi's eyes lit up. "Oh... then what do you think they should be like?"

"I don't know. Lately, I've been having the same dream over and over. In it, you become the Cangyun Empire's Grand General who guards the nation, as well as supreme commander of its armies. With your wisdom alone, you keep Star Luo, Minghun, and the Kingdom Alliance outside the gates of the Cangyun Empire. The people throughout the land adore you, and the king even grants you the title of Overlord War God." Leng Xuewu wore a nostalgic expression. "And I stay home with the children, worrying about you every day."

"Do you long for that kind of life?" Hu Xi asked.

Leng Xuewu sank into deep thought. After a long while, she said, "I don't know. I like our current life very much. It's peaceful and comfortable. But deep down, I know I don't belong here. This life doesn't belong to me."

Hu Xi snorted coldly. "You want to betray our oath!"

Leng Xuewu looked silently at Hu Xi and said slowly, "You are so real, yet you do not exist... This life is what I longed for in the depths of my heart, and yet you found an opening to exploit it..."

"Since you insist on leaving, then even if I have to use force, I'll make you stay!" Hu Xi suddenly turned hostile. "Come forth! Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"

"Do you know? Whenever Hu Xi fought me, he never won. It wasn't because he let me win. He simply wasn't stronger than me." Leng Xuewu spoke with complete confidence. "Come forth! Ice Lotus Snow Dance Sword! Let us shatter this illusion together!"

"Stay. Otherwise, I'll hurt you." Hu Xi made one final attempt to persuade her.

"I haven't seen Hu Xi in quite a long time either. Thank you for creating such a realistic illusion." Leng Xuewu smiled faintly and immediately entered a fighting stance. "Come on! Stop dithering. Hu Xi is a very decisive person. Fourth Soul Skill, Ice Princess Rose."

Leng Xuewu's Ice Lotus Snow Dance Sword plunged into the ground, summoning an ice wall. In an instant, thorn after thorn shot from the wall toward Hu Xi.

"Since you insist on leaving, then don't blame me for showing no mercy!" Hu Xi said angrily. "Take this! Thunder Dragon Armor! Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Wings!"

Hu Xi instantly covered himself in the dragon armor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, enhancing his attack power. Then he activated his Fourth Soul Skill, Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Wings. He dodged left and right, while the wings behind him continuously slashed apart the thorns shooting toward him. Ice Princess Rose had very little effect on him.

"Not bad. Keep going! Second Soul Skill, Ice Lotus Break!" Leng Xuewu immediately unleashed her Second Soul Skill. Ice lotuses flew from her Ice Lotus Snow Dance Sword. Before long, countless ice lotuses formed an ice lotus soul formation. Seizing the opportunity, Leng Xuewu shouted, "Explode! Endure the wrath of Snow God Mountain!"

The ice lotuses exploded one after another. Hu Xi raised both hands to shield his head, but it was useless.

As the ice lotuses detonated one after another, the illusion collapsed as well.

Looking at the Rainbow Bridge that had reappeared, the disappointment in Leng Xuewu's eyes was once again replaced by radiant light. "I'd like to see what other trials this Rainbow Bridge has waiting for me!"

"Congratulations on passing the first trial, the Rainbow Road. Your reward is pure spiritual power. You will now enter the second trial: Rainbow Purgatory." A voice came from all directions, as though answering Leng Xuewu's words.

Before Leng Xuewu could fully grasp what the reward of spiritual power meant, tremendous changes occurred in her mind. An ancient, profound, pure spiritual power surged into her consciousness and gradually merged with her original spiritual power. Her spiritual power rose at an astonishing speed. Leng Xuewu immediately sat cross-legged and entered meditation, absorbing the spiritual power coming from the outside world more quickly and efficiently.

Half an hour later, Leng Xuewu opened her eyes. Her gaze had become sharper than before, but her bearing had become more unadorned.

Leng Xuewu looked around and found that she had been transported before a small lake. The lake emitted seven-colored light, along with a startling chill.

"Endure the lake for one hour, and you will have passed the trial." The voice reached Leng Xuewu's ears from all directions, telling her how to complete the test.

Leng Xuewu took a deep breath and resolutely walked into the small lake to undergo the trial of Rainbow Purgatory.