"You deserve to die!"
A proud person,
an exceedingly proud person,
an exceedingly proud woman.
Moreover, she was a woman who detested men, and detested men who spoke without restraint even more.
Who knew how many people had already died at her hands? There were so many that even she could no longer remember.
There was only ever one reason for their deaths: a beautiful woman was a source of calamity.
Without exception, those who died beneath her sword had admired her beauty and either spoken insolently or harassed her.
Both she and her sword were cold, so cold that even a glance would be frozen by that ice.
Take the young master of Emerging Cloud Mountain Manor. All he had said was, "I want you to be my sixth concubine." She had crippled both his legs with Cold Ice Palm, then used the sword in her hand to sever the root of trouble between his thighs.
She had three reasons for wanting to kill Zhang Qingyuan.
First, he was a detestable man.
Second, he was also a man who had harassed her.
Third, he had seen through her heart.
Just as Zhang Qingyuan had said, Li Qiuran was indeed exceedingly fragile deep inside, so fragile that she had no choice but to wrap herself in an icy exterior.
But how could a woman like her, an exceedingly proud woman, allow a man who had seen through her to keep living in this world?
Her cool eyes brimmed with killing intent, and her furious shout laid bare the rage born of her humiliation.
Cold Ice Palm!
White Qi gathered in her left palm. Her slender fingers were like the venomous fangs of a green bamboo pit viper, as though a single bite would send someone to the Yellow Springs.
She raised the treasured sword in her right hand overhead and swung it down.
"Hm?"
Zhang Qingyuan reacted the instant Li Qiuran struck with her palm. Slapping his horse's back, he darted backward, and the force gathered in her Cold Ice Palm swept past the tip of his nose.
It was a hair's breadth away. His whole face felt as though he had washed it in an icy river in the dead of winter, the cold piercing to the bone.
Bang!
The force of Cold Ice Palm struck the wild grass several zhang away. The grass within three feet seemed to have entered late autumn, every blade coated in frost.
Having dodged Cold Ice Palm, he faced the sharp treasured sword overhead as it chopped down at his head like a guillotine blade.
Zhang Qingyuan hooked his right hand, and his treasured sword was instantly in his grasp. The two swords collided with a clear ring.
Clang!
What was going on?
After blocking that overhead strike, Zhang Qingyuan was full of bewilderment. He had clearly found his way into her heart, so why had she lost her temper?
Unable to make sense of it, Zhang Qingyuan never even considered that what had provoked Li Qiuran was precisely his self-satisfied interpretation of her.
Seeing her killing move blocked, Li Qiuran was slightly surprised. She had not expected this little Daoist's martial arts to be so good.
The next moment, Li Qiuran slapped her horse's back and soared into the air. Her yellow Daoist robes fluttered in the wind, and her sword swept toward Zhang Qingyuan again like wind and snow.
Seeing her ferocious approach, as though she meant to fight to the death, Zhang Qingyuan dared not be careless. He hurriedly employed Jade Purity Golden Immortal Swordsmanship, withholding its killing moves and only defending.
The two rose lightly into the air, leaping from horseback to the ground.
Li Qiuran swung her sword. Its gleam was sharp, its movement swift. This thrust was fast to the extreme, swifter than the wind, and pierced the air with a whistle.
Zhang Qingyuan showed no fear whatsoever. He calmly raised his sword and defended with Jade Purity Golden Immortal Swordsmanship.
Seeing her sword move broken, Li Qiuran unleashed the second and third forms in succession. Every move was like the ice of the far north, making one shudder without feeling cold.
Jade Purity Golden Immortal Sword was like an immortal descending. Combined with its unique footwork, it held freedom within its elegance; a banished immortal alighted on earth, startling even divine swords.
Sword light flashed and Sword Qi crisscrossed, its streaks cutting through wild grass and snapping branches.
Li Qiuran's swordsmanship grew ever fiercer, and now and then she mixed in soft, insidious palm strikes to launch surprise attacks alongside her sword.
After thirty exchanges, Li Qiuran grew increasingly astonished, for she discovered that no matter how tricky her swordsmanship or how incisive her palm techniques, that damned little Daoist seemed unaffected.
Most frightening of all, she was actually being drawn gradually into his rhythm.
Another ten exchanges passed. The surrounding grass and trees had all been destroyed by Sword Qi, leaving the ground riddled with devastation.
The little Daoist seemed to have entered some sort of state. He did not attack, but instead drew every sword move she made into his own forms.
A faint smile hung at the corner of his lips, as though he were enjoying himself...
"Ah!"
Li Qiuran finally understood. She roared, "You dare use me to practice your swordsmanship!"
Indeed, Zhang Qingyuan was using the swordsmanship of this Bamboo Green Fairy, Li Qiuran, to hone his own.
Zhang Qingyuan gave a wickedly charming smile and shifted his feet lightly.
"This humble Daoist has only just entered the martial world and has yet to spar with an established expert. Seeing you so enthusiastic today, Fairy, how could I possibly refuse?"
Li Qiuran flew into a thunderous rage. She felt humiliated.
The swordsmanship she relied upon was actually nothing more than a means of sparring in his eyes.
Unforgivable!
Her sword was like a gale, her moves like lightning.
Her Sword Qi swept through like a charging rhinoceros, yet it still could not harm Zhang Qingyuan in the slightest.
This was also Li Qiuran's first time encountering such a formidable opponent. Every move and form of hers seemed like mud sinking into the sea, unable to stir the slightest ripple.
After several more exchanges, Li Qiuran could find no opening in her opponent. She swiftly retreated several steps, putting distance between herself and Zhang Qingyuan, her falcon-like eyes searching for a flaw.
Unlike the furious Li Qiuran, Zhang Qingyuan seemed to have entered a state of profound mystery. He stood there without moving.
His swordsmanship and martial arts seemed to have merged into his soul. This state was understanding, enlightenment, the attainment of a deeper realm.
Such was a genius: no matter the circumstances, he could improve.
Li Qiuran froze. Seeing Zhang Qingyuan suddenly stand motionless filled her with bewilderment.
She took a tentative step forward, but Zhang Qingyuan still did not move.
She advanced again, and Zhang Qingyuan remained motionless.
Her brows knitted tightly as she slowly thrust her treasured sword forward.
When the sword tip rested against Zhang Qingyuan's throat, his eyes remained closed, his mind wandering beyond the heavens.
Li Qiuran sneered. Although she did not know what had happened to him, she could not let such an opportunity slip by.
The next moment, she thrust her sword forward hard. As it shot forward, Zhang Qingyuan suddenly opened his eyes and turned slightly sideways, letting the blade sweep past his neck.
Zhang Qingyuan cried in alarm, "You dare murder your own husband!"
Li Qiuran was startled and was just about to withdraw her sword, but before she could move, Zhang Qingyuan slid forward.
A light breeze swept past. Using his fingers as a sword, Zhang Qingyuan leaned forward, his fingers touching her face. It was smooth and fine, soft and delicate.
Stars and moon kept them company, the mountain forest like a painting.
What beautiful scenery,
what a beauty.
Li Qiuran felt the gentle touch of his fingers against her cheek, yet her heart felt as though it had been struck by lightning.
As far as she remembered, this seemed to be the first time someone of the opposite sex had touched her.
A trace of panic flashed across her face.
The next moment,
the volcano erupted.
Zhang Qingyuan hurriedly retreated. A girl like this truly was far too difficult to win over.
Li Qiuran gritted her teeth. Unable to beat him in a fight, she glared at Zhang Qingyuan and said, "Since you come from a Daoist sect, why are you so shameless?"
Yes, Li Qiuran felt that this Daoist was harassing her again and again.
"Ah." Zhang Qingyuan sighed.
Li Qiuran was somewhat surprised, not knowing why he had sighed.
Then Zhang Qingyuan said, "My apologies. It was only because you are so beautiful, Fairy, that this humble Daoist thought you a celestial being. I could not bear to see sorrow in your heart and only wished to make you smile. I never imagined I would anger you instead. This humble Daoist was too forward."
Li Qiuran was even more surprised. She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
Just then, several sounds came whistling through the air.
Zhang Qingyuan sprang forward and wrapped an arm around Li Qiuran's waist.
"Watch out!"