"Ada apa?"
Li Mo bingung.
Ketika menatap wajah Jiang Chulong yang sedikit terangkat, matanya yang pucat berkaca-kaca oleh air mata.
Dia menangis?
Tiba-tiba teringat sesuatu yang menyedihkan?
Namun sudut bibir pucatnya yang tipis melengkung ke atas, dan senyum samar itu tampak lebih terang daripada sinar matahari.
Dia berdiri di sana dengan canggung, seperti bunga kecil berwarna putih yang baru mekar, menyambut tetesan embun pertamanya.
Li Mo ingin menggambarnya, tapi rasanya kurang pantas...
"Aku... aku hanya... senang..."
Jiang Chulong dengan canggung mengusap air matanya.
"Selama kamu senang."
Li Mo menghela lega sambil tersenyum. "Kalau suka, coba saja."
"Mm!"
Jiang Chulong mengangguk semangat.
Ketika tangkai bunga persik jatuh ke tangannya, tangkai itu memancarkan getaran lembut, seolah gembira telah menemukan tuan baru.
Tanpa kilau pedang, tanpa aura pedang.
Dia dengan sederhana dan rendah hati mulai mempraktikkan semua yang telah dipelajarinya, dimulai dari teknik pedang menengah yang paling dasar lalu berlanjut ke tingkat berikutnya.
Sesekali, dia melirik ke belakang dengan gugup untuk menatap Kakak Li.
"Sudah lama, tapi Chulong sudah sekuat ini."
"Kalau dia pergi ke KTT Bela Diri, bahkan pendekar pedang Kota Pedang Hengyun akan tercengang."
Li Mo bertepuk semangat, seolah melihat Jiang Chulong memegang pedang untuk pertama kalinya.
Penguasa Langit Purba? Siapa tuh?
Belum pernah dengar.
"Kakak Li... apakah... kamu akan berpergian?"
Jiang Chulong membeku sesaat, namun bahkan dalam kekagetannya, dia tetap melancarkan teknik pedang tingkat lanjut tanpa cela.
"Ya."
"Sayang sekali kamu baru di Ranah Napas Dalam. Sebagian besar kultivator di sana mungkin sudah berada di tingkat Ranah Pengamatan Dewa."
"Tapi kalau kamu lulus ujian pedang, kamu bisa ikut denganku."
Li Mo teringat bahwa Kota Pedang Hengyun tidak melarang kultivator biasa ikut serta.
Hanya saja, bagi kebanyakan orang, pergi ke sana hanya buang waktu.
Bahkan Sekte Qingyuan hanya mengirim murid terbaik dari setiap puncak—sisanya tidak akan mendapat apa pun dari acara itu.
"Bersama... Kakak Li?"
Pupil Jiang Chulong bergetar. Dia menggigit bibirnya, dan tangan kecilnya yang mencengkeram tangkai bunga persik mengetat sedikit.
"Sedang di pantai, tak lengkap tanpa ini..."
Dengan kata itu, Li Mo mengeluarkan dua botol cola dan beberapa es lilin.
Dia membuka tutup cola dan hendak menyeruput ketika Pedang Chixiao di pinggangnya bergetar pelan.
Pedang itu seolah tak bisa menahan kegembiraannya, seperti rindu untuk terbang ke suatu tempat...
Li Mo mengerjapkan mata karena kaget lalu mendongak.
Tak jauh dari sana, di tempat yang seharusnya sebuah pantai, kini tampak samar-samar hutan bunga persik muncul dari udara tipis, tumbuh liar dalam sekejap hingga menjadi pemandangan yang memukau.
Sosoknya tampak bertumpuk dengan sosok lain—pendekar pedang yang dulu memetik tangkai bunga persik dan mengubahnya menjadi Senjata Terkenal.
Sisa kehendak di dalam Senjata Terkenal itu telah mewujud karena Jiang Chulong.
Pendekar berjubah hijau itu berdiri di sana, alisnya sedikit berkerut penuh keluh kesah. Namun ketika melihat Jiang Chulong dan Li Mo, dia mengangguk pelan, seolah akhirnya merasa tenteram.
Cahaya cemerlang meledak.
Pada saat yang sama, sebuah pemberitahuan bergema di telinga Li Mo:
[Selamat, Tuan. Anda telah berinvestasi pada 'Jiang Chulong'—Tangkai Bunga Persik Pedang Giok—membantu dia memahami Niat Pedang Angin Semi dan mengangkat 'Kitab Pedang Rumput Liar' menjadi seni bela diri tingkat lanjut.]
[Hadiah investasi belum Anda klaim.]
Li Mo menatap kosong, bahkan tak sempat memeriksa hadiahnya.
Apa-apaan ini...
Putri kecil Jiangku...
Dia benar-benar memahami niat pedang dari Senjata Terkenal?
Tidak ada keadilan? Tidak ada aturan?!
Dia mengira setelah mencapai Ranah Pengamatan Dewa, pemahamannya tentang teknik bela diri akan menjadi lebih cermat, dan bakat pedangnya pasti membaik sedikit.
Tapi dia tetap tak bisa memahami bagaimana Jiang Chulong melakukannya.
Bahkan bongkahan es pun takkan mampu seperti ini, kan?
Tidak lama kemudian, niat pedang itu hilang.
Jiang Chulong memeluk tangkai bunga persik, menundukkan kepala dengan gugup sambil bertanya:
"Kakak Li... apakah... aku sekarang bisa ikut denganmu?"
Li Mo: "..."
Ya sudah, boleh.
Kalau kita abaikan berapa banyak pendekar pedang di Kota Pedang Hengyun yang mungkin hati Dao-nya remuk.
"Ya, boleh." kata Li Mo.
Jiang Chulong terkikik malu-malu, tersipu oleh pujian itu:
"Chulong... takkan... mempermalukan Kakak Li..."
"Aku tidak ragu soal itu."
Little Li, yang telah menghabiskan berabad-abad merenungkan wawasan bela diri tanpa pernah menangkap niat pedang, mengangguk serius.
Mempermalukannya?
Kalau bukan karena kulit tebal, dia sudah wajahnya tertimbun pasir sekarang!
Kata "percaya
"What's wrong?"
Li Mo was puzzled.
When he looked at Jiang Chulong's slightly raised face, he saw her pale eyes blurred by tears.
Was she crying?
Had she suddenly remembered something sad?
Yet the corners of her slightly pale lips curled upward, and that faint smile seemed brighter than sunlight.
She stood there timidly, like a little white flower just blooming, greeting its first drop of dew.
Young Li wanted to sketch her, but it felt a bit inappropriate...
"I... I'm just... happy..."
Jiang Chulong clumsily wiped her tears away.
"As long as you're happy."
Li Mo sighed in relief and smiled. "If you like it, give it a try."
"Mm!"
Jiang Chulong nodded vigorously.
As the peach blossom branch entered her hand, it emitted a soft resonance, as if delighted to have found a new master.
No sword gleam, no sword aura.
She simply and humbly began practicing everything she had learned, starting from the most basic intermediate sword techniques and progressing onward.
From time to time, she would timidly glance back at Big Brother Li.
"It’s been a while, but Chulong has grown so strong."
"If she went to the Martial Arts Summit, even the swordsmen of Hengyun Sword City would be stunned."
Li Mo clapped enthusiastically, as if seeing Jiang Chulong wield a sword for the first time.
Primordial Heavenly Lord? Who’s that?
Never heard of him.
"Big Brother Li... are you... going on a journey?"
Jiang Chulong froze for a moment, yet even in her daze, she flawlessly executed an advanced sword technique.
"Yeah."
"Too bad you’re only in the Inner Breath Realm. Most of the warriors there will likely be at the Observing Divinity level."
"But if you pass the sword trial, you can come with me."
Li Mo recalled that Hengyun Sword City didn’t forbid ordinary martial artists from participating.
It’s just that, for most, going would be a wasted trip.
Even the Qingyuan Sect only sent the most outstanding disciples from each peak—everyone else would gain nothing from attending.
"With... Big Brother Li?"
Jiang Chulong’s pupils trembled. She bit her lip, and her small hand gripping the peach blossom branch tightened slightly.
"Since we're at the beach, we can’t be without these..."
With that, Li Mo pulled out two bottles of cola and a few popsicles.
He popped open a cola and was about to take a sip when the Chixiao sword at his waist trembled faintly.
It seemed unable to contain its excitement, as if yearning to fly somewhere...
Li Mo blinked in surprise and looked up.
Not far away, on what should have been a beach, he now faintly saw a peach blossom grove materializing out of thin air, growing wildly in an instant until it became breathtakingly beautiful.
Her figure seemed to overlap with another presence—the swordsman who had once plucked the peach blossom branch and turned it into a famed weapon.
The lingering will within the famed weapon had manifested because of Jiang Chulong.
The green-robed swordsman stood there, his brow faintly furrowed with melancholy. Yet upon seeing Jiang Chulong and Li Mo, he gave a slight nod, as if finally at peace.
A brilliant light erupted.
At the same time, a notification echoed in Li Mo’s ears:
[Congratulations, Host. You have invested in ‘Jiang Chulong’—the Jade Sword Peach Blossom Branch—assisting her in comprehending the Spring Breeze Sword Intent and elevating the "Wild Grass Sword Scripture" to an advanced martial art.]
[You have unclaimed investment rewards.]
Li Mo stared blankly, not even bothering to check the rewards.
What the—
My little Princess Jiang...
She actually comprehended sword intent from a famed weapon?
Is there no justice? No rules?!
He had thought that after reaching the Observing Divinity Realm, his understanding of martial techniques would become meticulous, and his sword talent would have improved somewhat.
But he still couldn’t fathom how Jiang Chulong had done it.
Even an ice block couldn’t manage this, right?
Before long, the sword intent dissipated.
Jiang Chulong hugged the peach blossom branch, lowering her head nervously as she asked:
"Big Brother Li... can I... go with you now?"
Li Mo: "..."
Well, sure.
If we ignore how many swordsmen in Hengyun Sword City might have their Dao hearts shattered.
"Yeah, you can." Li Mo said.
Jiang Chulong giggled shyly, bashful from the praise:
"Chulong... won’t... embarrass Big Brother Li..."
"I have no doubt about that."
Little Li, who had spent centuries on martial insights without grasping sword intent, nodded solemnly.
Embarrass him?
If not for his thick skin, he’d be burying his face in the sand by now!
The word "believe" struck Jiang Chulong like a hammer.
Her head spun dizzily—nothing like the clarity of sword comprehension.
Fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, unsure how to respond, she was interrupted when—
"Here."
A popsicle was handed to her.
"I made it myself. Try it." Li Mo settled into a lounge chair.
Jiang Chulong took a bite, only to shiver from the cold, squeezing her eyes shut.
So sweet... but so freezing...
Too scared to bite again, she resorted to kitten-like licks instead.
And so, the two sat by the shore, bathed in the salty sea breeze, sheltered from the sun’s heat under an umbrella, enjoying cold treats and cola.
Jiang Chulong was in bliss.
This was the happiest day of her life. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up...
"Big Brother Li... is amazing."
"He can... make things like this."
"Not like me... who can’t... do anything."
"..."
After a brief silence, Li Mo suddenly spoke with utmost seriousness:
"Chulong, promise me one thing."
"I promise!"
"But I haven’t said what it is yet."
"What... is it?"
Looking at the innocent, adorably earnest Princess Jiang, Li Mo cleared his throat:
"If you ever surpass me in swordsmanship... you still have to let me pat your head."
Well, for all he knew, "ever" might already be "now."
......
After spending a night in the World Seed and arranging for Princess Jiang to meet him upon his descent, Li Mo finally returned to Autumn Water Pavilion.
"Oh right, I still haven’t claimed the rewards."
"Wonder what it is..."
Only now did Li Mo have the time to check the system logs.
[Investment Reward: "Nine Swords of Dugu"]
["Nine Swords of Dugu": Created by Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, its principles are derived from the "Book of Changes," encompassing the myriad phenomena of the world. This martial art has no fixed grade—it evolves with one’s martial comprehension, ultimately reaching the pinnacle where skill approaches the Dao.]
"!!"
Li Mo jolted awake.
Even those who’d never read wuxia novels knew of this!
It was legendary.
Moreover, the path of "skill approaching the Dao" was one he had been treading blindly.
This martial art directly illuminated the essence of that path—undoubtedly a guiding beacon for his swordsmanship!
"Claim, claim!"
Little Li rubbed his hands excitedly.
As before, there was no manual.
The moment he accepted it, the knowledge of the sword art flooded his mind.
......
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