"No… not quite."
Xiao Se shrugged, lifted his hand, and used Crane Control, Dragon Capture.
The two plump peaches dangling from the branches trembled—
then floated down on their own, gently hovering between the two of them.
"Brother Zhao, please."
Xiao Se gestured with a lazy smile, grabbed one peach for himself, conjured clean water using the Ice Dragon King's cryo-ability, rinsed it, and took a bite.
Not bad. Really not bad.
Seeing one strange power after another, Zhao Yuzhen was dazed for a moment. He accepted his peach, and suddenly thought of something.
"Since Brother Xiao provided the peaches, then I should host you properly.
Allow me to serve Qingcheng Mountain's Cloud Mist Tea."
He flashed a warm smile.
"Please wait a moment—I'll return soon."
And without waiting for Xiao Se's agreement, Zhao Yuzhen simply drifted away, peach in hand, disappearing with a few effortless steps.
"…What an oddball."
Xiao Se rolled his eyes and pulled a reclining chair out of his storage ring.
"Came ten years early… what a pity. Would've liked to meet the main cast. Especially that monk-and-prince duo, Wu Xin and Xiao—wait no, Li fans call it a 'brotherly bond,' right? And Lei Wujie, that hyperactive chicken nugget."
He kicked back on the chair.
Not long after, Xiao Se's brow lifted.
Unnoticed by any normal person, the courtyard had gained a silent visitor—a graceful figure wearing a bamboo hat, a pale mask, and a white cloak.
At a glance, the silhouette was androgynous, but Xiao Se instantly recognized her.
Snow Moon City's sword immortal—Li Hanyi.
"You're here for Zhao Yuzhen, aren't you? He went to make tea.
Just wait a bit."
Li Hanyi didn't respond.
She simply stared at him.
After a long, chilly pause, she spoke.
"I am Li Hanyi of Snow Moon City.
I am here to challenge you to a sword duel."
Xiao Se blinked.
…Ah.
So she misunderstood.
"I'm Xiao Se, not Zhao Yuzhen. He's genuinely off brewing tea. I helped him grow the peaches, so now he insists on treating me. Look—would peaches this big grow in this season normally?"
Li Hanyi coldly snapped:
"No need for nonsense. Draw your sword."
"…This little mare is feistier than I remembered," Xiao Se muttered inwardly.
Right as he opened his mouth, Li Hanyi unsheathed her sword and lunged straight at him.
Xiao Se sighed and dodged using footwork alone.
The two figures flickered across the courtyard—
Li Hanyi attacking with storm-like precision,
Xiao Se evading without even ruffling his sleeve.
"Zhao Yuzhen—what is this bizarre movement technique? I came to test your sword, not your footwork!"
"I already said I'm not Zhao Yuzhen. What do I have to do for you to believe me?!"
"Receive one sword from me," Li Hanyi declared solemnly.
"…Fine.
But I should warn you—I'm not a pure swordsman. I've only trained with a sword for two years."
"Less talking. Draw!"
Xiao Se glanced at Zhao Yuzhen's sword resting under the peach tree.
He lifted his hand—
and the red-glowing blade flew into his palm.
He twirled it lazily once.
Decent build. Good balance.
Not magical by his standards, but respectable for this world.
"I'll hold back.
Come."
"Hmph. Don't look down on me."
Li Hanyi's toes tapped the ground, her body spinning beautifully as she thrust toward him.
Xiao Se didn't counterattack.
He simply raised his blade and parried, sparks scattering as steel scraped steel.
Her faint fragrance washed over him as they crossed paths, the closeness stirring a moment of distraction even in him.
Li Hanyi wheeled her wrist and unleashed a sweeping slash—
a pale-white crescent of sword qi shot toward him.
Xiao Se casually flicked his wrist.
Before her sword qi even reached him, the pressure of his Dou Qi blew it apart.
Li Hanyi froze.
"Miss, there's no point continuing," Xiao Se said helplessly.
"As a swordswoman, your skill exceeds mine.
But the gap between our realms is… astronomical.
Your swordsmanship is exquisite—but my dynamic vision alone is enough to see through every move you make."
"Miss?"
Li Hanyi's fingers tightened around her sword.
"So in your eyes… no matter what, I can't win?"
"Yes."
Xiao Se nodded calmly.
Li Hanyi's aura chilled.
She turned sharply and slashed—
cutting the peach tree clean in two.
Her voice trembled with frustration.
"Then let me see—your sword."
Xiao Se exhaled.
"Alright.
Brace yourself."
He shifted his stance.
Right foot lifted—
then stomped.
His body vanished in an explosive burst, faster than Li Hanyi's eyes could track.
Her heart jolted—
but she wasn't a novice. Years of tempering had honed her instincts razor sharp.
She gathered every shred of sword comprehension she possessed—
peach blossoms scattered across the courtyard rose into a spiraling vortex around her—
and she struck.
The two crossed paths like lightning.
A metallic clang.
A tearing rip.
Li Hanyi's mask split.
Her bamboo hat split.
Her long sword split.
All in one motion.
She stood frozen.
"What… sword technique was that?"
Her eyes trembled as she stared into the distance.
"Across the Eight Directions.
The strongest form of the Horizontal Sword Art."
Xiao Se lowered the blade and tossed it back toward the broken peach tree.
"On its own, it isn't the world's strongest sword.
But backed by my speed and strength, you simply can't block it.
Like I said—I'm not a swordsman.
In pure swordsmanship, you surpass me."
Li Hanyi slowly turned.
Maybe because she lost…
Maybe because her sword shattered…
Her lashes glistened faintly.
Xiao Se finally saw her face clearly.
…She really was beautiful.
Among all the stunning women he had met, she stood among the top—
if Bibidong was holy seduction,
and Queen Medusa a temptress with lethal allure,
then Li Hanyi was pure winter snow—
flawless, pristine, quietly breathtaking.
The words slipped out before he could stop them:
"…So beautiful."
(End of Chapter)
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