Chapter 12: The Three Replies of the Sword, First Form of the Azure Lotus Sword Song, A Fortuitous Encounter with the Heavenly Duel Prince, Xue Qinghe
That night.
The stars scattered across the sky like fragments of silver.
The Milky Way stretched across the night like a jade belt.
Li Zexian sat on the steps of the courtyard, from afternoon until nightfall.
A green lotus sword lay across his knees, its blade reflecting starlight as if immersed in the galaxy.
“Hmm...” Li Zexian looked up at the heavens, his eyes filled with the starry river.
“The sword...”
“What is a sword?”
“The first answer: a sword is a weapon!”
“The sword is a fierce weapon. It is a cold iron blade with double edges, born to kill!”
Li Zexian gripped the sword’s hilt with his other hand.
Suddenly, the sword’s gleam flashed through the courtyard.
The cold light of the blade reflected the even colder gaze in his eyes.
A mosquito flying by was cut in two.
“The second answer: a sword of the heart!”
“The sword is myself, and I am the sword. The sword is not merely an iron tool; it is the extension of will. Wherever the blade points, there lies the heart’s intent!”
Li Zexian placed the green lotus sword back across his knees.
With his breathing, the sword’s faint light flickered rhythmically.
He breathed together with the sword, which had become part of his very blood and bone.
“The third answer: a sword of the heavens!”
“The sword cuts the light of heaven; man steals the secrets of the skies. The sword has three realms: the lower sword slays others, the middle sword slays oneself, the upper sword cleaves the night. A master swordsman wields the sword as a brush, the world as silk; one stroke sends the stars spinning upside down, one stroke withdrawn silences all sound!”
“So, what is this sword technique of mine...”
Li Zexian rose, holding the sword.
He slowly closed his eyes; icy starlight surged through his veins, frost crystals forming along the blade’s spine.
His hand gripping the sword trembled!
Not from fear—
But from a shiver about to break forth like new life!
His arm stretched like a bow, the sword moved like a rainbow; Li Zexian raised the blade, and in an instant shattered three zhang of surrounding night.
The sword’s trace carried starlight; the air whistled where it passed, and star dust fell like fine snow.
“This sword technique...”
“Is a sliver of heaven’s will I have stolen.”
Li Zexian sheathed the sword and whispered to it:
“The first stroke I created for the Green Lotus Sword Song is called ‘Shaking Light’—it takes life and steals the light of heaven.”
“Alas, it is only half-formed.”
Looking at the grass and leaves within ten steps covered with a gleaming frost of stars, Li Zexian exhaled deeply:
“The Shaking Light brew has yet to enter my body.”
“I still cannot taste the flavor of starlight.”
“Therefore, my ‘Shaking Light’ technique still has room to grow.”
“When I drink the Shaking Light brew, it will be the evolution of my martial soul of wine and the completion of the first sword technique.”
...
The night passed without incident.
In his dreams, Li Zexian imagined drinking the Shaking Light brew.
Beneath the starlight, he drank wildly; one sword sweep made the stars sway.
Upon waking,
Li Zexian set out to find a way to drink the Shaking Light brew.
He paced back and forth before the palace gates eight times; even the patrolling guards began to look at him differently.
“Sigh...”
“Better to plan long-term. Fine wine depends on fate; such matters cannot be rushed.”
Li Zexian was a carefree soul.
He immediately bought a set of fishing gear, flint, and fire starters, preparing to find a place to fish.
---
He did not dislike dining at inns.
But he had rented a courtyard and spent lavishly on his journey to Starry City.
Now his purse was empty.
“The thought of fishing makes my hands itch.”
So,
Li Zexian went to the river within Starry City.
But upon arrival, he discovered
It was not suitable for fishing at all.
Painted boats raced and competed on the river, frightening all the fish away.
Li Zexian carried his fishing gear,
Searching and wandering out of Starry City.
He passed through a dense peach orchard,
And was greeted by a clear lake shimmering in the cool, moist breeze.
The lake spanned about three to four acres, its edges lined with blooming lotus flowers, fish occasionally leaping to snatch a petal.
Li Zexian’s eyes brightened.
He glanced around and saw only one figure: a young man in white sitting by the shore, fishing.
He quickly approached,
Found a good fishing spot,
Sat down on a folding stool,
Set bait, cast his hook—all in one smooth motion.
The fishing rod stood planted in the ground.
Li Zexian began tending to his small stove.
A few meters away, the young man in white cast a curious glance at him.
Li Zexian set up his stove, smiling at the youth:
“How’s your catch?”
“Why don’t you lend me two fish first? I’ll return them when I catch some.”
Xue Qinghe shook his head.
“I haven’t caught any yet.”
Li Zexian raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, an empty-handed fisherman, huh?”
Xue Qinghe’s brow twitched barely perceptibly.
Empty-handed fisherman?
What does that mean?
It didn’t sound complimentary.
In the reeds some tens of meters away from the lake,
A spiny porcupine Douluo dressed as a prince’s guard saw the suddenly appearing white-clad youth and wanted to drive him away.
A snake spear Douluo stopped him.
“Enough, don’t go.”
The porcupine Douluo frowned.
“But the young master said he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
The snake spear Douluo looked at the youth fishing and cooking as if preparing for everyday life, sneered:
“Did you hear the young master say anything?”
...
“Huh?!”
The fishing rod in Li Zexian’s hand suddenly tugged.
His eyes lit up; he jerked the rod upward.
Splash!
A silver-tailed fish, about the size of a palm, was pulled out of the water.
He reeled in the rod, removed the fish.
Head off, guts removed, cleaned, and tossed into the pot.
The whole process flowed smoothly like water.
Xue Qinghe watched, stunned.
---
Li Zexian cast his line again, smiling:
“The secret is freshness.”
“Empty-handed fisherman, if you want some, I’ll share once I catch more.”
Caring for empty-handed fishermen is everyone’s duty.
Xue Qinghe turned his head.
“No need. I can fish myself.”
Every week, he came to this lotus lake to fish.
Not for the fish, but to clear his mind and forget troublesome matters.
But today, the sudden intrusion of the white-clad youth
Awakened his competitive spirit.
“Heh...”
Xue Qinghe sneered inwardly.
You think I can’t catch fish without showing a trick or two?
Minutes later...
“Got one!”
Li Zexian pulled up his rod again.
Xue Qinghe pursed his lips, staring at the calm water before him.
Several minutes later...
“Got another!”
Li Zexian’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
Xue Qinghe remained expressionless, clutching his unmoving rod tightly.
After several more minutes...
“Hey hey!”
Li Zexian’s smile outshone the lotus flowers.
Xue Qinghe put away his rod and stood to leave.
“Hey, why’re you so serious with me?”
Li Zexian called out from behind.
“It’s just a few fish, not worth much. When we meet, we’re friends.”
“Come, eat fish together.”
Xue Qinghe did not turn.
“No.”
——
Half an hour later.
Xue Qinghe chewed slowly, nodding:
“Quite tasty.”
Li Zexian sipped wine, took a bite of fish, blew the cool breeze, and enjoyed the moment with narrowed eyes.
“Comfortable.”
Glancing at the white-clad youth, whose tousled hair fluttered in the breeze, exuding an effortless charm,
Xue Qinghe asked:
“Are you from outside the city?”
Li Zexian raised a sword-like brow.
“How do you know?”
Xue Qinghe lowered his head to eat, silent.
How did he know?
If he were from Starry City,
How could he not recognize their own Prince of Starry City...