Legend of Fu Yao

Zong Yue calmly asked, “Why? Have lice?”

Meng Fuyao laughed. “Yes, lice in my eyes — one in my left eye, one in my right. It makes me feel like a sinner, a third wheel to be stuck here. This Mongolian doctor, how about changing place with me?”

Without lifting his head, he took her pulse and said, “If you spew less nonsense, perhaps you can live longer.” He added, “Open your mouth.”

Meng Fuyao opened her mouth obediently. Zong Yue tossed a pill into her mouth. “Initially, wasn’t going to come here. But I heard a certain someone had such a stroke of bad luck to draw that person. I could only make a trip here. Let me tell you, you better take care.”

After he was done, Zong Yue left without hesitation. That pure white back view of his, those slow yet determined steps of his felt as though he was a snowflake fluttering down the horizon of a snowy scenery, cold and distant.

Meng Fuyao turned around subconsciously. Indeed, she saw that shy, green-eyed Xuanyuan Yun staring.

“Ah…” Meng Fuyao supported her head with her palm and sighed. ‘Damn it, what a small world…’

Guo Pingrong and Yan Jingchen was the third match. Coincidentally, neither of them were in their best state. Even though Guo Pingrong did not lose his inner energy, he was not as quick-witted as he was in the past. On the other hand, though Yan Jingchen was injured, three days of recovery were quite enough. His foundation was not as strong as Guo Pingrong’s, but he made for what he lacked in the talent he possessed — his attacks were quick and swift. His posture was elegant in contrast to the “clumsy” Guo Pingrong. The fight came to a standstill. It was only at the 300th move that Yan Jingchen won by a close call.

During Yan Jingchen’s match, Pei Yuan sat below the stage. Even though the couple was known as “Pearl Jade Double Swords”, they could not fight together in individual matches. Princess Pei Yuan sat in an upright position with both her hands placed on her knees. Compared to a certain someone who obviously abandoned her image while sitting or standing, Pei Yuan’s temperament was ten folds better. That certain someone gobbled down her snacks as she glanced as Pei Yuan’s veil. Her gaze traced down from Pei Yuan’s veil, ribs, and waist. Then, a sly smile crept onto Fuyao’s face.

The sixth battle was between Yun Hen and Huayan. That young prince from Xuanji, whose birth was a secret, was unlike from Gu Lingfeng, Guo Pingrong and Yan Jingchen who came from famous sects. Even so, he had a strong foundation of inner energy and excelled at the use of the spear. This dignified man that stood across Yun Hen brought on cheers for the audience.

Meng Fuyao jumped on the chair excitedly and dramatically swung her hands in the air, screaming, “Ah Hen, you can do it! You can do it!”

Lord Yuan Bao in her sleeve was flung around. The world around it spun as it crawled out of the sleeve fuming mad, baring its “fangs” at Meng Fuyao. She quickly apologized and placed Lord Yuan Bao on her palm to show affection.

Yun Hen looked at her in annoyance, casually waved his hand and told Huayan, “Please!”

“Please!”

The moment the word ‘please’ left his mouth, Huayan rushed up instantaneously like a storm, wielding his spear. Exploding sounds filled the air continuously with the impact of the blast leaving the hairs at the back of Yun Hen’s neck standing.

Meng Fuyao was stupefied as she tightened her grip. “That fellow is attacking with such ferocity…” She gripped tighter and tighter, forgetting that Lord Yuan Bao was still in her palm…

Yun Hen kept a calm face and growled, “Good!” and pounced forward. The two entangled with each other.

It was a battle that put power in the limelight. This was unlike the previous battle where Yan Jingchen had won by a close call with clumsy techniques — this was a battle which focused on true strength, moves, inner energy, foundation, and technique. It was an exhibition of the strength of the elites where one resembled a tiger with his strength, and the other resembled a dragon with his agility. The golden spear and the green sword hue that entangled together as they sliced, chopped, cut, pierced brought on cheers from the audience.

Meng Fuyao’s heart, unlike the passionate audience, sank. She realized that even though Huayan might not last till the 500th move given his aggressive use of inner energy, Yun Hen was not only new to the sword technique but also had a lack of foundation. Compared to Huayan’s large amount of inner energy, Yun Hen was clearly at a disadvantage. Even though it might look like the two were on par, it would be tough for Yun Hen to last till the 500th move.

She tightened her clutch, thinking of how to comfort the defeated Yun Hen.

At the 400th move, Yun Hen had shown no signs of losing still, however. Despite color draining off his face, his sword was as powerful as before and his determination to fight remained. His sword swept across like the waves on the roaring seas with no inkling of weakening. This was his battlefield, and it was something he refused to compromise!

Yun Hen refused to compromise.

The moment he compromised he would be giving up his pride and persistence.

Yun Hen was already very exhausted. Exhausted to the point of almost collapsing, to the point where his heart was thumping hard against his chest. Huayan’s reversed Gait of the Seven Stars had really made him see stars due to his exhaustion. His breath was caught by the eager spear weaving the air around him. He felt as though his blood was slowly freezing and with every strike he made, the frozen blood was about to fall off in cubes.

Thus, Yun Hen bit his tongue and held the blood in his mouth. That sharp pain and the metallic blood stench kept him conscious as the golden spear transformed into Meng Fuyao’s sword — the one he had seen on Xuanji Mountain that year. Her moves were swift and precise, and her black pupils were as bright as ice. She was like a flower in the wild, alone yet filled with pride — a pride that would not be corrupted or broken by the ways of the world.

Yun Hen vividly recalled that pair of eyes. When he had met her once again in Taiyuan palace, he did not manage to recognize her in a rush. Yet, as he went back and thought about it, the gaze of her would always be in his memory.

He remembered the fresh blood that flowed out when she had stabbed herself with the dagger, her schemes, and her composure that one would find hard to achieve.

He remembered a proud yet undisciplined, sly yet aloof girl.

‘Fuyao.’

‘I can lose to you, but I definitely cannot lose to someone else in front of you!’

The 500th move!

Huayan started to pant. His golden spear was too heavy. Even though it was powerful, but once he overused it, it would be harmful to himself. Before he came, his teacher had especially reminded him that he could only use this method if he were to face the Scarless Sword Technique or match up with Yan Jingchen or Ya Lanzhu. But if he were to fight someone with the same inner strength like Gu Lingfeng or Guo Pingrong, he would not be able to last.

When he drew Yun Hen, he was secretly pleased and boldly used this method. What he did not expect was that this Yun Hen that did not have the same inner strength could actually last for 500 moves.

Once the spear lost its strength, the impact would be halved.

Yun Hen took a deep breath, bearing the immense pain in his chest, and continued attacking.

With a strike like a fluttering butterfly on the 587th move, Yun Hen hit the long spear out of Huayan’s hands.

Huayan, too, was an honorable man. With his weapon out of his hands, he did not continue to fight but admitted defeat without rancor.

With a clear gaze, he stepped forward and told Yun Hen, “My respects.”

The admiration was for his strong resolution and his persistence. His refusal to give up in such adversity showed that he had a real man’s courage and strength, one that was unbeatable.

With his upright posture, Yun Hen returned the courtesy politely and respectively. As the audience looked upon him with admiration and showered him with compliments, he walked over to Meng Fuyao. He looked at her and smiled.

Meng Fuyao hugged her knees and watched him. She sighed and silently passed him a handkerchief.

Yun Hen received the handkerchief and covered his mouth, coughing slightly. Gently, she said, “I don’t want you to refuse to spit out your blood in front of me. If that’s so, I will not appear in front of you again.”

Yun Hen smiled as he sat down. Meng Fuyao took out some medicine and shoved it in his hands. She stood up to do some light stretching. With a slight smile, she announced, “It’s my turn.”

Yun Hen tugged her hand which caused her to turn back. His gaze was a stark contrast to his cold expression — filled with passion and worry. His gaze caught her by surprise. It was as though his eyes could speak a thousand words.

With a burst of unrestrained laughter, Meng Fuyao said, “Relax, I am not like you. If I were to lose, I would lose. Definitely will not secretly swallow my own blood.”

Under the watchful eyes of the audience, some filled with kindness while others mockery, Meng Fuyao strode towards the stage. From her seat, she had to pass by Yan Jingchen and his wife, who sat in the first row to get onto the stage. Of course, she could have walked around them, but she refused. Meng Fuyao walked straight over.

As the place was a little narrow, the couple had to stand up to let her pass. Watching her walk over, Yan Jingchen felt as though his entire body stiffened as he stood up awkwardly. But Meng Fuyao did not even bother sparing him a glance. With a smile plastered on her face, she passed Yan Jingchen and made her way to Pei Yuan. Suddenly, Meng Fuyao tilted her body and turned her feet.

Initially, Pei Yuan did not bother paying much attention to Meng Fuyao, but suddenly, she felt a huge force rushing up to her legs and throwing her backward. She subconsciously reached out her hands to grab onto something, and Meng Fuyao immediately stretched her hand over, loudly asking, “Are you okay, Mrs. Yan?”

Amidst her scream, Meng Fuyao grabbed onto Pei Yuan and spun her. With a stagger, Pei Yuan turned to face the audience as her veil flew away due to the force of the spin.

An ‘Oh—’ filled the arena.

Pei Yuan shrieked. Before she even realized what had happened, she saw her veil in the air. The hidden face that even her family had not seen was now exposed to everyone.

On that face, the cross scar had completely healed though not gone, showing a bit of redness. While the scar was not absolutely disgusting, it was a stark contrast to the delicate features and pale skin on her face.

Yan Jingchen turned around and stared blankly at Pei Yuan — all these while she had been finding excuses like ‘she had skin ulcer’ or ‘she needs it to train’. Plus, the couple in name had always been sleeping separately, so he had actually not seen her face ever since she had put on her veil.

So her face was already ruined…

He closed his eyes and then turned to Meng Fuyao. That lady dressed like a man, with her eyes that sparkled like jewels, skin that glowed despite the disguise and a small tiny face made one apprehensive — her beauty had made one fear.