Li Ping'an let out a heavy breath.
Under Liu Yun's guidance, he used his qi to draw the written character "cleave" into the blade.
The Staff-Sword instantly seemed to bear a thousand-pound burden, its cold gleam dazzling.
Li Ping'an held the Staff-Sword, now several times heavier, and felt waves of chill coming from its sheath.
A sense of surprise rose within him.
The Staff-Sword, originally bright as ice, had now turned dull and lightless.
It resembled a shattered bronze mirror, covered in cracks.
It also seemed to have some powerful force sealed within it.
He swung the blade.
The stroke made not the slightest sound of slicing air; everything around him remained utterly silent.
It was as though the blade had absorbed all the air and wind, gathering the overwhelming momentum of Mount Tai crashing down.
Within half a breath, on the distant lake where the blade pointed,
a curtain of water erupted with a splash.
Countless droplets turned into a wisp of pale smoke and dispersed into the air.
"Truly marvelous," Li Ping'an said.
Liu Yun smiled in satisfaction. "As long as you like it."
Having said that, she glanced at Li Ping'an.
Then she looked at the lone boat beside them.
She hesitated before speaking softly.
"...It's still early. Why don't we take the boat out on the lake? I haven't been here in ages. I've rather missed it."
"All right."
Holding up her skirt to keep it dry, Liu Yun carefully boarded the boat.
She straightened her clothes and looked out over the lake.
She gazed absently at the water.
The deep blue moonlight shone on her face, lending her cheeks a faint blush.
There was a dreamlike haziness to her.
Whether it was because she had drunk a little too much tonight or for some other