No one would believe it, right?
"Sword Venerable..."
"Just call Ah Xue, I’m used to hearing you call that." Xue Qianbai quickly interrupted Qinyang.
"So... Ah Xue, did you co to find today just to tell this?" Qinyang looked seriously at the man in front of her.
"Sort of." Xue Qianbai wanted to say that there was sothing more important to tell her, but before he could, Qinyang earnestly said, "Ah Xue, you are the Thousand Snow Sword Venerable. I’ve heard about your deeds at the Mountain of Ten Thousand Tribulations. I wonder if I could ask you for a favor."
"Go on."
Since Qinyang asked, Xue Qianbai certainly didn’t mind lending a hand.
Qinyang’s expression was a bit troubled. She lowered her head and fell silent for a mont, then said, "Originally, I wanted to ask Ming Divine Palace for help, but as soon as I learned you were the Thousand Snow Sword Venerable, I turned to you. I feel like a bit of a sycophant."
Qinyang said self-deprecatingly.
"I know, Qinyang, if it wasn’t incredibly important, you wouldn’t ask lightly." In this regard, Xue Qianbai understood Qinyang well.
Xue Qianbai was quite happy because Qinyang asking him was like giving him an opportunity.
Helping her, and then confessing his feelings, wouldn’t that be a natural progression?
"Ah Xue, do you rember, I told you about soone before." Qinyang blinked, "His na is Feng Wulin. He grew up with and later beca a young general."
"Yes." Xue Qianbai naturally rembered. This was the person whom Qinyang always kept in her heart. She once said that Xue Qianbai’s sword dancing resembled Feng Wulin, which was why she invited him to perform sword dances for her every year.
Xue Qianbai knew well that Qinyang was watching his sword dance but thinking of Feng Wulin.
Moreover, Feng Wulin had ventured into the depths of the Cloud Wasteland and never returned, with no news for all these years. Rumors said he had died there long ago. Xue Qianbai intended to tell Qinyang that Feng Wulin wouldn’t co back, but he, Xue Qianbai, would always be there.
He was willing to protect Qinyang.
But before he could say it, Qinyang suddenly brought up Feng Wulin. What did she want?
"I recently received unexpected news." Qinyang was visibly emotional, looking at Xue Qianbai: "Feng Wulin isn’t dead. He didn’t disappear in the Cloud Wasteland. There’s word that he was trapped in the Black and White Forbidden Area and might still be alive!"
"The Black and White Forbidden Area!"
Xue Qianbai furrowed his brows. The Black and White Forbidden Area in the Cloud Wasteland was perilous, a place of danger and opportunity. Many entered it with the resolve to either perish or be reborn, but only a handful survived, and those who ventured deeper were never heard from again.
Three of the Four Saints of the Human Race had perished there.
Yet if one didn’t go too deep, there was a chance of surviving. Every ti the Forbidden Area reopened, so would erge alive.
"The Black and White Forbidden Area is about to open again. Wulin is sure to co out of it this ti." Qinyang’s chest heaved with excitent, her eyes glimring with hope, leaving Xue Qianbai montarily speechless.
"Congratulations." After a pause, Xue Qianbai could only offer a bitter smile and blessing.
"However, I also know that many who have stayed in places like the Black and White Forbidden Area have done terrifying things upon their return. Every reopening brings a massacre, and many tragically die. I initially reached out to Ming Divine Palace to protect Wulin’s life..." Qinyang looked expectantly at Xue Qianbai.
The implication was obvious.
"Don’t worry. I’ll accompany you then. If Feng Wulin is truly inside, I’ll help you protect him." Xue Qianbai took a deep breath, feeling emotionally conflicted.
How did things turn out this way?
"You’re so good, Ah Xue!" Qinyang smiled.
Xue Qianbai could only muster a rather forced smile.
"By the way, Ah Xue, you said you had sothing else to tell when you ca today." Qinyang asked.
"It’s nothing." Xue Qianbai no longer knew what to say.
"Oh, is that so?" Qinyang pondered for a mont, then said, "I’ll have a feast prepared. I want to properly toast to you, Ah Xue."
"No need, I just ca by and have so other matters to attend to. I might be leaving soon." Xue Qianbai declined her offer.
"Alright, then." Qinyang didn’t insist. After all, Xue Qianbai was the Thousand Snow Sword Venerable, not a wandering Sword Dancer, so she didn’t push him to stay.
Xue Qianbai descended from the Rain Tower, feeling burdened. Events had not played out as he had anticipated.
Just as Xue Qianbai reached the bottom of the tower, Qinyang’s voice called out: "Ah Xue."
Upon hearing her voice, Xue Qianbai looked up and saw Qinyang leaning against the railing, looking down at him. She then offered a gentle smile and said, "No matter if you’re the Thousand Snow Sword Venerable or soone else, you’re always my Ah Xue, my best friend."
"Yeah."
After a simple response, Xue Qianbai left the Qinyang Royal Dynasty.
Seeing Xue Qianbai stepping into the void, disappearing like a shooting star, the smile on Qinyang’s face gradually turned lancholic, lost in thought.
"Eldest Princess."
The maid behind her approached, watching Xue Qianbai’s departing figure, and sighed lightly, "Doesn’t the Eldest Princess realize that the Thousand Snow Sword Venerable has feelings for her? He’s the renowned Thousand Snow Sword Venerable, yet he cos to perform sword dances for you every year. His actions today prove his true feelings for you."
"Of course, I can see it." Qinyang replied calmly.
"If the Thousand Snow Sword Venerable were with you, the status of our Qinyang Royal Dynasty would change forever. No one would dare covet the throne, even in the Southern Wilderness. The Thousand Snow Sword Venerable holds such affection for the Eldest Princess; why not accept him?" The maid was puzzled.
"In the past, had Ah Xue confessed, I might have agreed... but..."
"Upon learning of Wulin’s news, I couldn’t control my heart." Qinyang shook her head helplessly. "I had once promised Wulin that I would wait for his return, and I still am waiting."
Seven days later.
Beihan Country.
Xue Qianbai didn’t ride a snow sculpture; he traveled using body technique from the Southern Wilderness to Beihan Country. Li Changqing had just finished his class at the Qing Mansion and ca ho to find Xue Qianbai waiting in the courtyard.
"Oh, weren’t you at the Qinyang Royal Dynasty? Back so soon?" Li Changqing asked curiously as he approached.
"How did you know?" Xue Qianbai was surprised, as he hadn’t ntioned going to Qinyang to Li Changqing.
"My Evergreen Comrce Association’s intelligence departnt isn’t idle; how could they not know?" Li Changqing laughed, "Ming Divine Palace’s Mo Hong was terrified by you. Ming Divine Palace was on high alert, afraid you’d destroy them."
"Did you need sothing from ?"
Li Changqing asked inquisitively.
"To drink with you." Xue Qianbai said plainly.
"Drink?" Li Changqing raised an eyebrow, understanding what it ant, then smiled and said, "Alright, I’ll join you. Whatever’s bothering you, drink it away. I have good wine here; let’s drink in my place."
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