Chapter 268: Twin Sword Intents

The Frost Descent brought a biting cold, and thin ice spread over the clear waters.

In a single night, a white veil covered the ground. Flying snow, like willow catkins, drifted into the Mortal World. Pushing the door open, one saw Heaven and Earth merged into a single hue, bright as fresh paper.

Chen Changsheng let out a puff of white mist, and cold winds brushed his face.

He left the valley alone.

Between the forested mountains and the level land, snowy white piled up above his ankles, hiding all loneliness. Plum blossoms bloomed by the mountain stream, like tiny red lips dotted with color.

At that moment, all sounds fell silent.

Chen Changsheng stood rooted in the mountains. After countless years, he reunited with the flying snow.

“Even a summer insect could speak of ice, even a summer insect could speak of ice…”

Chen Changsheng suddenly burst into loud laughter.

That happy laugh echoed down the mountain stream. Across the endless white, his green-robed figure seemed to take center stage.

Chen Changsheng took down his Wine Gourd and gulped a big swallow of Autumn Moon Brew.

This snowfall was like an old friend to Chen Changsheng, one of life’s great joys.

Chen Changsheng danced with his sword in the snow.

That day, his Sword Intent felt ever-changing. It held memories, a freeing joy, and finally shed the years of solitude.

As Sword Qi swept out, it raised the snowy flakes of the mountain stream, following the sway of his sword.

Snow weighed down the branches. Heaven and Earth sighed.

Bai Ziqiu, wrapped in a thick coat, walked out of the valley. At first sight, he spotted Chen Changsheng dancing with his sword in the snow.

He froze for a second, muttering to himself.

“Sword Intent, is this Sword Intent?!”

Bai Ziqiu parted his lips slightly, whispering: “Why is it so different from his earlier Sword Intent?”

The sword moves lightly lifted, carrying Chen Changsheng’s decades of hope and longing.

This sword strike mixed with the chill of drifting snow.

One sword brought winter snowflakes, freezing yet breathtaking.

Bai Ziqiu grew a little spellbound. He had practiced for over three thousand years, but he’d never seen such a beautiful sword cut.

Snowflakes fluttered like blossoms across the mountain stream. Heaven and Earth stirred with odd signs. All living things raised their heads toward the spot, awed by the vast spread of Sword Qi.

Even all creatures seemed dazzled at that moment.

As the sword fell, it felt like nothing had happened. The snow calmed in an eyeblink, and all faded away at that instant.

Chen Changsheng let out a heavy breath.

Sheathing his sword, he raised a hand to catch snow on his palm. It melted to water and trickled through his fingers.

Bai Ziqiu slowly stepped forward. His face flushed, and he caught his breath before asking: “Does this sword have a name?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, then smiled and answered: “Cold Mountain Snow. How about that?”

Bai Ziqiu heard this and shook his head, saying: “This sword is too beautiful. Cold Mountain Snow sounds too harsh?”

Chen Changsheng laughed: “Doesn’t matter. The sword comes from my hands—if I’m happy with it, that’s enough.”

Bai Ziqiu heard this and smiled weakly: “If this sword appeared in the Cultivation World, you’d surely gain huge fame.”

“What need have I for fame?”

Chen Changsheng stated: “This sword arose just because my heart felt joyful.”

Bai Ziqiu looked at him, feeling envy. He wondered: What sort of strange man was Chen Changsheng? The Mortal World was full of bitterness, yet he’d somehow cast aside all harsh times.

He snapped out of it and questioned: “Speaking of, that Sword Intent wasn’t like before. Did you rebuild your Sword Intent?”

Chen Changsheng heard this and shook his head: “No. Why do you ask?”

“No?!” Bai Ziqiu paused, then said: “But your Years Sword Intent…”

Chen Changsheng raised two fingers. A thin swirl of Sword Qi gathered at his fingertip. Its Sword Intent faded, steeped in lonely years.

Then he lifted his left hand. Two fingers brought forth another strand of Sword Qi. This too held Sword Intent—free-spirited and easy.

Bai Ziqiu instantly understood. He stared blankly. After a long look, he was silent.

Seeing him dazed, Chen Changsheng inquired: “What’s wrong?”

Bai Ziqiu came back to himself, frowning and muttering: “Strange, strange…”

Chen Changsheng watched him, puzzled.

Bai Ziqiu lifted his head. He’d practiced the sword for many years, yet he’d never met anyone like this.

“How can one hold two Sword Intents at once…”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng hesitated: “Why not hold two?”

Bai Ziqiu replied earnestly: “Sword Intent is like cultivation arts—only one exists. Sword and Intent link closely: as the mind feels, the sword moves. If two Intents stay within, they won’t blend well. At worst, it leads to Qi Deviation.”

Chen Changsheng checked inside himself, then said: “But I feel no such trouble.”

Bai Ziqiu also found it odd; Chen Changsheng had shocked him too many times.

Plus this current Sword Intent.

He couldn’t grasp how one snowfall sparked such Sword Intent in Chen Changsheng. But those two Intents truly stunned him deeply.

So much that Bai Ziqiu pondered for ten more days, finding no answer.

…

At the mountaintop,

A person sat cross-legged. Snow had buried him into a drift, but inside, he hadn’t moved.

Near the snowy spot, a white fox lay curled on the ground, dozing with shut eyes.

After a long time, the snow pile shifted slightly.

The white fox opened its eyes and took two steps back.

The pile tumbled down. That figure stood up from the snow, peered into the distance, and sighed long.

A fox cry sounded. The white fox leaped up and landed on his shoulder.

Suddenly, the white fox spoke aloud: “The Demon Realm has grown unsteady lately. You should leave sooner.”

Gou’er paused a moment. He glanced at the fox, shook his head, and answered: “I must stay here.”

The white fox sighed: “Humans who enter the Demon Realm meet bad ends. Just don’t get it.”

Gou’er stayed quiet a beat. He sighed but didn’t explain.

Seeing his silence, the white fox added: “I saved you before because of my bond with that Li. If you hold firm, I’ll have to kill you myself.”

Gou’er paused: “But you still won’t say why you killed him.”

The white fox hesitated: “I’ve said it often—I’m a demon, he’s a human. Many things can’t be helped.”

Gou’er asked no more. He merely stated: “Half a year passed—maybe I can beat you now. If I win this time, let me forge ahead.”

“You’re set on dying.”

“Mmm…”

Gou’er nodded: “When I left, I prayed for safety. But deep down, I knew I likely wouldn’t return alive.”

The white fox grew still. It jumped off his shoulder, backed away, and squared off from Gou’er.

“Humankind, truly dumb as stones.”

As the fox spoke, waves of Demonic Qi surged out.

That simple-looking white fox had Eighth Realm power!

A crushing pressure bore down.

Gou’er’s face paled at once.

Even knowing it was futile, he stood firm against the weight, refusing to yield.