King of Hundred Victories Saber

The early autumn gale enveloped the remnants of Kunlun snow with its chilling cold, sweeping like countless ice needles across the dark attire of the three thousand disciples of the Heroic Sakura Association.

On the mountain path, the red maple trees were just touched by color, seemingly ignited by the rolling Fire Cloud on the horizon, turning the mountains into a blood-stained canvas.

Dead leaves swirled and swept past the iron staff on Liao Pei’s shoulder, only to be shattered by the forceful draw of Divine Archer Miao Menlong’s bowstring, falling and condensing into minute ice crystals in the air.

Inside the ornate carriage, the soft curtain of Jiao silk hung down. Guo Xiangyu was almost curled up in Shi Feiyang’s embrace, her fingertips brushing over the frost pattern on the Celestial Frost Blade, as if touching a thrilling past: ”See how quiet it is, but on that day in Kunlun, it drank deeply of the blood of the wicked.”

Her eyelashes slightly trembled as she buried her face in his chest, ”But I only hope it remains this peaceful, never letting you risk danger again.”

Shi Feiyang held her slender waist, his warm breath brushing her ear: ”Once we’re past Bozhou, it will only cut down injustice in the mortal world, guarding this land and rivers, guarding you, year after year.”

Guo Xiangyu suddenly took out rouge from a brocade box, and as she stood on tiptoes, the jasmine scent in her hair mixed with her warm breath: ”Jianghu says that the Grand Squad Leader is fiercely daunting, but I insist on showing the world that the hero who dares to stand against the Demon God will also adorn my brows and lips.”

Shi Feiyang smiled and clasped her fair wrist, the rosy hue of the rouge staining their fingertips.

But Guo Xiangyu took the opportunity to clasp his neck, her eyes brimming with spring water: ”Feiyang, do you know what I’m most afraid of on this journey? It’s not mountain bandits, nor is it pirates, it’s not seeing you tomorrow.”

She placed her face against his heart, ”I count your heartbeats more meticulously than counting stars.” When they reached the inn to rest, Guo Xiangyu brought a copper basin inside, and in the steam of the hot water, she knelt to remove his dusty boots: ”Let me see, are your feet weary?”

Shi Feiyang wanted to take the cloth and wipe by himself, but she avoided him: ”Don’t move! You protect the world on the battlefield, now let me protect you.” Her fingertips brushed the calloused skin on his soles, her nose suddenly turning red, ”These wounds are borne for others, but they are my heartache as well.”

When setting off the next day, Guo Xiangyu somehow found fresh osmanthus and scattered them inside Shi Feiyang’s cloak: ”This way you’ll have a sweet scent all over you, making even the fiercest enemy soft-hearted.”

She tilted her head and smiled, ”But only I can see your gentle side.”

Then suddenly stretched her hand to cover his eyes, ”Don’t look at the road! Today you’re my ’blind hero,’ and I’ll lead you forward.”

Passing by a small bridge, Guo Xiangyu suddenly stopped. She lifted her skirt and stepped onto the railing, in Shi Feiyang’s alarmed exclamation spread her arms: ”Look! Do I look like a swallow ready to fly?” Shi Feiyang hurriedly held her waist, but she laughed, turned around, and encircled his neck: ”Even if I were to really fly, it would have to be with you. If I fall, you must accompany me in pain.”

As dusk fell, Guo Xiangyu magically pulled out a newly made dark cape from the bundle. Though the stitches were not fine, it was embroidered with sakura: ”I’m clumsy, it took me seven days to finish it.”

She bit her lip, ”Yet every stitch was made thinking of you, thinking of sewing my heart into it.”

Shi Feiyang was about to put it on, but she stopped him: ”Wait!” She said, taking off her silk handkerchief to tie it to the collar of the cloak, ”This way, I can be with you always.” It was midnight when Shi Feiyang was awakened by a faint rustling sound.

In the hazy moonlight, Guo Xiangyu was kneeling by the bed, holding his damaged clothes from earlier that day.

The candlelight flickered, her shadow gently swaying on the wall: ”You were busy during the day and didn’t notice, but now it has to be mended.”

She didn’t lift her head, ”You always say you want to protect the world, but your clothes must be protected by me.”

A torrential rain suddenly came, trapping the carriage in the muddy water.

Shi Feiyang wanted to get out to check, but Guo Xiangyu suddenly rushed into his arms: ”Don’t go! The wind and rain are too strong outside!”

She clung to Shi Feiyang’s clothing and wouldn’t let go, ”If you get soaked, I’ll be even more heartbroken. Maybe we’ll stay here, waiting for the rain to stop, until the end of time.” Seeing Shi Feiyang was determined to go, she hurriedly got an oil paper umbrella, stood on tiptoe to hold it over him while half her body remained exposed to the rain.

Reaching the mountainside, Guo Xiangyu suddenly pointed at the Fire Cloud in the sky: ”Look! Doesn’t that cloud look like the one we saw in Kunlun?”

She clasped Shi Feiyang’s hand, ”That day you fought bloody on the battlefield, and I thought how wonderful it would be to hold your hand and watch clouds like this.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder, ”Feiyang, no matter where we go in the future, I want to watch clouds with you, see every last cloud in the world.”

As dusk shadowed the land like ink, dyeing the jagged peaks of Guizhou into silhouettes of blue-black, the three thousand disciples of the Heroic Sakura Association shattered the sunset between the mountains with the sound of their hooves, their dark attire sounding like a turbulent black cloud pressing down the Chishui River. Guo Xiangyu leaned against Shi Feiyang’s side, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the bamboo knife at her waist, suddenly shivering: ”The smell of this river water...is heavier than during the battle in Kunlun.”

As night fell, the Chishui River was shrouded in steam like a white python slithering.

On the opposite bank stood an abrupt figure in gray, a Cyan Bamboo Flute placed at his lips, none other than ”Snake King” Qu San Geng.

A sinister smile curled at his lip, with the flute sound emerging like the cries of Nine Netherworld ghosts. In an instant, thousands of venomous snakes broke through the water, the black snake swarm surging like waves, carrying a bone-chilling cold, directly towards the Heroic Sakura Association’s members on the ferry.

”Cease your impudence!” Guo Xiangyu shouted, drawing her bamboo knife.

The blade light whirled like a silver wheel, wielding the ”Hundred Victories Qimen Sancai Saber Technique,” each stroke subtly harmonizing with the wonders of heaven, earth, and humanity.

Where the blade swept, snake bodies and blood flew, their foul blood splashing onto her snow-white silk skirt, blooming into bizarre red plum flowers. Seeing this, Qu San Geng’s flute sound suddenly shifted, piercingly harsh like a death knell.