Follow the path of Dao from infancy - Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Chapter 99: The Ultimate Swordsmanship, The Sword of God!_2
 

“Happy.”

Bian Ruxue’s eyes brimmed with laughter.

Li Hao turned his head, gazing at her profile, and had to admit that traces of her childhood features were still there, only they had changed somewhat, ultimately because she had grown up and matured.

And she had become even more beautiful and splendid.

But as beautiful as brilliance is, it comes at a cost.

Like a meteor, so splendid, yet it vanishes in an instant, burning up its entire life.

Li Hao watched quietly, and the two of them simply sat there in peaceful silence.

A moment later, Li Hao said, “Do you want days like this to continue forever?”

Bian Ruxue was startled, turned her head, and looked at Li Hao.

Their eyes met, and in each other’s gaze, there lingered many unsaid things.

Bian Ruxue slowly turned her head back, a relaxed smile on her face, and said, “Of course, I do.”

“Really?” Li Hao asked, his eyes briefly flickering to the sword in her hand.

Inseparable companions.

Bian Ruxue’s smile slightly faded, and at that moment, she seemed to understand that Li Hao had noticed something.

She couldn’t help but sigh deeply in her heart.

“Brother Hao, I might let you down.”

Bian Ruxue turned her head, once again fixing her gaze on Li Hao, the easy smile gone from her face, replaced by lightly furrowed brows, a touch of sorrow and helplessness evident.

Li Hao fell silent, the flicker of hope in his heart slowly sinking with her words.

Seeing Li Hao silent, Bian Ruxue’s floodgates of speech seemed to suddenly open. After a sigh, she lowered her head and spoke to herself,

“I know you’ve been so good to me, Brother Hao. There’s no way I can repay your kindness to me.”

“But I want to see for myself, to try for myself; I want to see the view from the pinnacle of swordsmanship, to see if I can reach the summit.”

As the girl spoke of the sword, her somewhat subdued, soft voice contained an unwavering firmness.

Li Hao’s lips moved slightly, but he didn’t speak.

He just watched the girl bow her head silently. At this moment, beyond the familiar contours of her face, Li Hao also saw something else that was familiar.

That was the gaze of countless geniuses rushing for glory, eyes that chased after their pursuit like moths to a flame.

“Actually, once you’ve seen that view, you’ll realize that an ordinary life like what we have now is the happiest,” Li Hao said softly, as if sighing.

Was the joy of these past few days not enough to compete with that sword-obsessed heart?

Bian Ruxue looked up at the setting sun and said, “Maybe, but if I don’t look, I fear I’ll never be content. I want to see the ultimate in swordsmanship. I also want to see, the ultimate sword technique that Master spoke of, the mighty power of the ‘Sword of the Gods’!”

“Sword of the Gods, huh…”

Li Hao shook his head and smiled. Countless swordsmen have existed in the world, and for many years, there has been such a legend.

There are myriad forms of swordsmanship, a plethora of schools and sword movements, which have evolved to extreme complexity.

But these are not the zenith of swordsmanship!

The ultimate in swordsmanship is known as the Sword of the Gods!

No one knows the stance in which that sword is drawn, no one knows how that sword cleaves or thrusts.

Nor does anyone know if that sword truly exists.

But it is widely believed that if one can comprehend such a sword,

One can slay gods, sever spirits, vanquish demons, suppress devils, cut down all in this world, shatter sun and moon, and fill the seas!

Such a sword is the ultimate pursuit, the ultimate goal of all swordsmen in the world.

Li Hao, while at Listening Rain Tower, had read through many grandmasters’ deeds, even those of past Sword Saints, and saw records showing that they sparred, fought, and exchanged views to comprehend this sword technique!

Stories of the Sword of the Gods were most widespread and fervent eight hundred years ago, a time when sword cultivators were most obsessed and crazed!

But later, the talk gradually died down, since to this day no one has understood it, and so, it became mere legend.

After a topic has been talked about for hundreds of years, people will grow tired of it, and nobody is discussing or exploring it anymore.

Unexpectedly, the girl before him actually harbored such a thought, such a wish.

Was it instilled by that wretched old man?

Li Hao thought of the old man who had rebuffed him. Initially, he had felt neither fondness nor aversion toward him, but now, he felt a twinge of anger.

“Is this what your master taught you?” Li Hao asked.

Noticing the slight emphasis in the young man’s tone, Bian Ruxue’s expression changed subtly. She glanced at Li Hao, then shook her head:

“No, master just mentioned it in passing. It is what he pursues, but he never forced us. It’s merely the path I want to seek for myself.”

“Is that so.”

Li Hao’s anger subsided, and he said, “If you practice swordsmanship, I can accompany you. Moreover, I can teach you.”

Bian Ruxue couldn’t help but think of the days in the courtyard when they were younger.

She sighed inwardly; today was no longer like the past.

“The Sword of the Gods has no patterns, no records, it’s just legend, impossible to teach. Maybe when someone truly wields that sword, then its form will become clear.” Bian Ruxue said softly, “I know you also wield a sword, but this swordsmanship is a path; even my master cannot teach it. Only by spending one’s life to comprehend and explore might one glimpse a fraction of it.”

Li Hao was silent.

Indeed, with a Sword Saint as her master, he needn’t offer to teach her.

He looked at the girl, locking eyes with her: “Have you truly given your heart entirely to the sword?”

Swordsmanship can become an obsession, but there is still some distance between obsession and madness.

Only those who truly love the sword could go so far.

Bian Ruxue met Li Hao’s gaze without flinching, her heart unwilling to hide or run away when it came to the sword.