Azure Lotus Sword Song Second Style—Two Forms! Ye Lingling Comes Calling, Li

Azure Lotus Sword Song Second Style—Two Forms! Ye Lingling Comes Calling, Li Zhixian Accepts the Challenge

That night.

The cold pool reflected the moon, while the hot spring steamed into clouds.

The mist above the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye intertwined and rose beneath the starlight, distinct yet seamlessly united.

The white-robed swordsman arrived beneath the moon, his toes scattering the stars reflected in the pool.

Li Zhixian drifted down into the center of the spring.

His thoughts were clear, his gaze sharp as lightning and soul-stirring.

Sensing its master's Sword Heart Clarity, the Azure Lotus Sword let out a clear, resonant cry.

Sword in hand, Li Zhixian shifted slightly.

The blade passed from the fire spring to the cold spring, sending ripples spreading across the water.

"Ice for the blade, fire for the edge. Only the balance of hardness and softness reveals the true essence of the sword."

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

A sudden wind rose, as though answering him.

The three-foot-six-inch blade was clear and pristine as jade.

Its ridge split down the middle. One side was crimson, like surging lava; the other was icy blue, like the cold gleam of the polar regions.

"Yang is blazing. When the sword strikes, it is like the great sun descending upon the world!"

Li Zhixian flicked his wrist, and scarlet flames exploded from the blade.

Every slash carried the force of a falling meteor. Wherever the scorching waves passed, the air twisted like transparent serpents and pythons.

"Yin is frost. When the sword withdraws, it seals the land like eternal night!"

Li Zhixian's sword momentum abruptly shifted, and deep-blue frost condensed on the blade.

Where the sword aura swept, frost patterns spread like spiderwebs. Grass and trees froze crystalline in an instant, shattering into powder at the touch of the wind.

Boom—!!!

Twin streams of ice and fire sword aura intertwined as they shot into the sky, violently tearing apart the night.

Li Zhixian leaped into the air.

When he landed, the ground within thirty feet around him had split into two halves. The soil on the left was scorched black and cracked, while the right was covered in an inch-thick layer of ice.

It was as if a taiji diagram of Two Forms had appeared with him at its center.

The blade trembled lightly. The icy and fiery phenomena faded from its surface, returning it to its cool jade hue.

Li Zhixian ran two fingers along the newly formed yin-yang fish pattern on the sword ridge. After pondering it for a while, he smiled.

"The Azure Lotus Sword Song Second Style shall be called..."

"Two Forms."

"This Two Forms style is divided into the Blazing Sword and the Frost Sword."

"There are three realms of the sword: the lesser sword slays others, the middle sword slays oneself, and the greater sword slays the night."

"If..."

"The Azure Lotus Sword Song First Style—Shaking Light—is a wisp of starlight I stole, its blade taking lives and stealing heaven's radiance..."

"Then the Azure Lotus Sword Song Second Style—Two Forms—is a thread of yin and yang I intercepted. It shall sever life and death, and glimpse the workings of creation."

"Hah..."

Li Zhixian slowly exhaled the stale breath in his chest, then tipped his head back and took a deep draught of wine.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

"The Azure Lotus Sword Song Second Style is complete!"

"I, Li Zhixian, have finally emerged from seclusion!"

The next day.

Dawn had only begun to brighten.

Li Zhixian returned to his little courtyard.

From a distance, he spotted a slender figure standing quietly before the gate, carrying several large and small bundles.

It was Ye Lingling.

Li Zhixian walked over and saw that the girl had yet to notice him.

A mischievous urge rose within him.

He leaned close to her ear.

Then let out a loud howl.

"Ah—!"

Ye Lingling shuddered in fright.

Everything in her hands fell to the ground.

She said nothing, merely tightening her cool little face as she bent down to pick them up.

Li Zhixian curled his lips. With a flick of his fingertip, a strand of supple sword aura swept up the items from the ground and steadily delivered them into Ye Lingling's arms.

"Ye Lingling, what are you doing at my house?"

Ye Lingling pressed her lips together. Her azure eyes darted quickly toward Li Zhixian before lowering again. She held out the things in her hands, her voice clear and cool as an icy spring.

"For you."

Li Zhixian did not take them. Instead, he looked Ye Lingling over from head to toe, his eyes settling on her long blue hair dampened by morning dew.

"Did your mother send you?"

Ye Lingling remained silent.

Li Zhixian understood and asked again.

"Are you coming every morning?"

Still no answer.

"Ah..."

Li Zhixian sighed softly and unlocked the gate before pushing it open.

"Go back and tell your mother that I have no interest whatsoever in the old grudge between the Nine Star Begonia and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

With that, he stepped into the courtyard.

Ye Lingling followed closely behind him.

Bang—!

The courtyard gate slammed shut in an instant.

It nearly struck the tip of her pert nose.

The girl lowered her lashes. Her slender figure stood stubbornly where it was, still clutching the gifts her mother had sent her to deliver.

There was little expression on that peerlessly lovely face.

She was cool and ethereal, yet like a small beast abandoned amid wind and rain.

Lost, helpless, and utterly alone.

Li Zhixian put the Ye Family's affairs out of his mind.

He had not returned for several days.

A thick layer of dust had already accumulated inside the house.

He held two fingers together like a sword and swept them through the air. A fierce wind rose within the room, scattering dust everywhere.

With another sweep of his sleeve, the wind subsided, gathering the dust into a ball that he casually flicked outside.

After tidying the corners and arranging his clothes, half an hour had passed.

Looking at the refreshed little house, Li Zhixian nodded in satisfaction.

Next, it was time to tend to the courtyard.

Li Zhixian pushed open the door and stepped into the small courtyard.

At that moment, he frowned and looked toward the gate. That faint presence outside was still there.

"Still not leaving?"

Li Zhixian stepped forward and pulled open the courtyard gate.

With a creak, Ye Lingling's cool yet delicate face appeared before him again.

"For you."

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she offered the gifts to Li Zhixian.

"Ye Lingling, are you really this stubborn?"

Li Zhixian's brows were tightly furrowed, leaving no room for negotiation in his voice.

"I will never accept anything from the Ye Family."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ye Lingling's gaze fell upon the Clear Spring Wine Gourd hanging at his waist. She blinked her blue eyes and suddenly spoke.

"There is... aged wine inside, from my mother."

—

The air froze for a moment.

Li Zhixian abruptly turned around, a warm, springlike smile blooming across his handsome face.

"Oh, isn't this Ye Lingling!"

"You came all this way, and you even brought gifts. You really shouldn't have."

Ye Lingling parted her red lips slightly, staring blankly at the white-robed youth's change of heart.

Li Zhixian picked through the pile of heavenly treasures, eventually selecting a small wine flask before happily heading into the courtyard.

This time, however, the gate was not closed.

Ye Lingling silently followed him inside.

Seeing the dust-covered courtyard, she quietly rolled up her sleeves and began cleaning.

Li Zhixian did not stop her. He sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, pulled the stopper from the flask, and happily took a sip.

He smacked his lips.

"Mm, not bad. It has a hint of floral wine's lingering flavor."

"Unfortunately, it still falls a little short of being worthy of entering my Clear Spring Wine Gourd."

Watching Ye Lingling clumsily but earnestly wield the broom, Li Zhixian casually traced a line with his fingertip. An invisible strand of sword aura swept across the courtyard, gathering all the dust into the corner.

Ye Lingling sat across from him, lowering her eyes without speaking.

"Can you drink?"

Li Zhixian pushed the wine flask toward her.

"After all, you brought it."

Ye Lingling took the flask and tipped back her head, gulping down a large mouthful.

"Cough, cough!"

"Cough, cough!"

The fiery wine rushed straight into her lungs. She covered her mouth and coughed, a rosy flush rising on her cheeks as a shimmering mist clouded her blue eyes.

Li Zhixian took back the flask and frowned.

"If you can't drink, then don't."

"I was asking you just now, not forcing you."

Ye Lingling wiped the wine from the corner of her lips. Her voice held a faint, almost imperceptible breathlessness.

"Mother told me to listen to you."

"Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do."

Li Zhixian's frown deepened.

"What about you? Is there nothing you want to do for yourself?"

Looking at the girl's delicate face, which was less cool than drained of all vitality, leaving only numb obedience, Li Zhixian waved a hand.

"Forget it. Let's not talk about this."

"Right, has anything interesting happened in Heaven Dou City lately?"

Ye Lingling thought for a moment.

"Yes."

"A fat man calling himself the Evil Fire Phoenix came to the imperial city. He has won nearly fifty consecutive matches at the Soul Fighting Arena."

"He declared that he would challenge Sword Wine."

She paused and looked at Li Zhixian.

"He said he would break Sword Wine's sword and kick over Sword Wine's wine."

Li Zhixian paused slightly as he raised the flask. Then, as if nothing had happened, he brought the wine to his lips.

Clack—

The wine flask landed on the stone table.

He rose to his full height.

Ye Lingling rose as well.

"Where are you going?"

"The Soul Fighting Arena."

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