Chapter 1: Emperor Ai

Near midnight, two people in the National Uncle’s residence still hadn’t slept. One was “Master Yufeng” Fu Yuanying, and the other was…

“Ying.” Fu Yuanying sat across from his martial nephew, frowning as he spoke: “Lift your head and look at your martial uncle.” Su Ying naturally didn’t look at his martial uncle; he only silently examined the little creature on the ground without a word.

“Growl… growl…” The little creature was only three months old but already quite fierce. It crouched on the ground, baring its white fangs with low growls, seemingly very displeased with Su Ying.

The little black puppy was very angry. It wanted to avenge its master now. Who told that “Big-Eyed Cat” to lose his dignity tonight, not only kicking it but also uttering that “cheap” word? If the little black puppy didn’t loyally bite hard for its master’s sake, wouldn’t all of Qiong Fang’s feeding these past few days have been in vain?

“Growl… growl…” As the little black puppy prepared for revenge, Fu Yuanying also began his cold lecture: “Ying, honestly tell your martial uncle why you had such a temper tonight?” Su Ying said nothing. He picked up his sleeping pillow and began testing it against the little black puppy’s head. With a “woof” and strange roar, the little black puppy charged forward with claws extended, but the pillow drifted left and right, causing it to bite at empty air.

“Ying, look at your martial uncle.” The little black puppy leaped up and down, extremely fierce. Poor Fu Yuanying spoke earnestly but was met with such a scene upon his return. He suppressed his temper and urged: “Speak up, why were you so cruel to Qiong Fang tonight?”

Suddenly hearing a loud “growl,” the little black puppy seized the opportunity to roar and pounce, biting the pillow as if it were a meat bone.

From beginning to end, Su Ying never made a sound, refusing to say what had happened between him and Qiong Fang. Even so, Fu Yuanying could vaguely guess some of the details. He knew that Qiong Fang must have said something unpleasant tonight, which led to this irreconcilable quarrel.

Though Su Ying was young, he rarely lost his temper, yet tonight he had gone mad. This indicated that Qiong Fang’s words must have been very harsh. Fu Yuanying lowered his head to drink bitter tea, chewing the bitter tea leaves like mulch, knowing his martial nephew would never reveal the details. He could only say: “Very well, if you won’t speak, your martial uncle won’t ask. But your martial uncle must ask you about this thing…” He picked up a wedding invitation from the table, shaking his head: “What do you intend to do with this?”

“Whine… growl…” Su Ying stared blankly as he lifted the sleeping pillow, with the little black puppy still biting it stubbornly, dangling like a string of meat.

What Fu Yuanying held was a wedding invitation that clearly stated Su and Qiong’s betrothal on the first day of the second month and marriage on the seventeenth. For this joyous occasion, the National Uncle had already invited guests far and wide, waiting only for universal celebration. Who would have thought that tonight, first the groom spoke harsh words and roared in anger, then the bride cried and made a scene before running away in a huff? Looking at this young couple who had both fled, how could this wedding proceed? Could they possibly invite the Twin Monsters of Mount Hua to bow in the wedding hall to entertain the relatives?

“Ying…” Fu Yuanying began his persuasion: “A man must learn to be magnanimous. Come, go with your martial uncle to find her. You can apologize to her face to face, and I’ll find a way to persuade her to return. Don’t let this situation become too strained, understand?”

He who ties the bell must untie it. Since Su Ying had driven Qiong Fang away in anger, he must go and apologize with humble remorse. Right now, there was no need to determine who was right or wrong. With their wedding so close, could they continue this nonsense?

Mount Hua had an ancient teaching: “When the enemy doesn’t move, I don’t move; when the enemy moves, I move first.” After hearing these words, Su Ying seemed to employ the “Wisdom Sword” mental technique, maintaining a wooden expression as he sat there in a daze. Meanwhile, the little black puppy took advantage of the enemy’s inattention. Hearing its “woof” and strange roar, it seized the opportunity to carry off the sleeping pillow, riding it like a hobbyhorse.

The little dog was ahead of the game, the young sect master was ahead of his time, and Fu Yuanying was about to lose his mind. Seeing that today was already the fifteenth of the first month, with the formal betrothal ceremony just ten days away, how could Su Ying remain so absent-minded? He sighed and slowly sat beside his martial nephew: “Ying, tell your martial uncle, how long have you and Qiong Fang known each other?”

“Woof.” The little black puppy bit the pillow and barked randomly without reason. Fu Yuanying found this greatly annoying and could only ask and answer himself: “She’s known you since she was thirteen. Isn’t that right?” Su Ying remained woodenly silent. Fu Yuanying softly continued: “You understand her too. Much of the time, Qiong Fang is still just a little girl. What she thinks, what she wants – even she herself doesn’t understand… Ying, no matter what harsh words she said to you tonight, don’t take them to heart, understand?”

In others’ eyes, Qiong Fang appeared precociously mature, seeming like a little adult despite her young age. But in Fu Yuanying’s eyes, the “Young Pavilion Master” hadn’t grown up at all. She lost her father at ten, and overnight was forced to shoulder her father’s heavy burden, growing up to become an adult woman. But it was also that night when her life came to a standstill. For over ten years, she had remained trapped in that evening, still the little girl who had lost her father and wept bitterly.

Little girls are very willful. What they think and want can sometimes be very irresponsible. The trouble was that while Qiong Fang had the temperament of a child, what about Su Ying? Was he any easier to handle?

At sixteen, he took over as Mount Hua’s sect master, becoming the heir to “Number One Under Heaven.” Su Ying achieved success at a young age, and it could be said he could have whatever he wanted – wind when he wanted wind, rain when he wanted rain. But his price was also too high. He couldn’t lose, couldn’t surrender. Until death, he had to uphold the golden reputation his master had left behind. Given his state of mind, asking him to humble himself and beg Qiong Fang to return was a fool’s dream.

The golden boy and jade girl stubbornly deadlocked, neither yielding to the other. But no matter how willful they both were, someone had to bow their head first. Otherwise… once February seventeenth passed and the wedding date was missed, both parties’ fate together would be finished.

The room fell completely silent. Poor martial uncle spoke earnestly while the sect master remained expressionless. Fu Yuanying, vexed and troubled, simply deployed his trump card: “Enough, enough. Whatever you want to do, your martial uncle can’t control you. Come, just clearly state once and for all whether you want this marriage or not…” As he spoke, he produced a sheet of white paper along with a cinnabar ink pad for pressing thumbprints.

Pressing a thumbprint meant signing a pledge. Fu Yuanying was laying his cards on the table, wanting Su Ying to state himself whether he wanted to “break off the engagement.”

Marriage was no child’s play. If Su Ying no longer wanted Qiong Fang, he would have to press his thumbprint, after which Fu Yuanying would write a formal document for him to report the broken engagement to the National Uncle. From then on, Su and Qiong would each be free. As for whether Qiong Wuchuan would fly into a rage, that was a matter for later.

“A man’s word is his bond.” Fu Yuanying said coolly: “Speak up, Ying. Do you want to break off the engagement? Just give the word.”

The cinnabar ink pad was already prepared. With just a thumbprint seal, Su and Qiong would from then on marry and wed separately, having nothing to do with each other. Fu Yuanying pressed urgently, but the “Heir of the Three Achievements” didn’t respond. In the complete silence, they could only see him raise his right hand to cover his face, while his back rose and fell restlessly.

It was clear that Su Ying was actually very sad; he simply couldn’t bear to give up this relationship. Fu Yuanying’s heart leaped with joy, knowing the situation had taken a turn for the better. Just as he was about to deploy his silver tongue to great effect, he suddenly saw Su Ying reach across to press on the ink pad, and immediately a thumbprint appeared on the white paper.

Unexpectedly, the “Heir of the Three Achievements” wanted to break off the engagement. Fu Yuanying cried out, only then remembering the sect master’s nickname, and in his shock couldn’t help but wail bitterly.

Su Ying’s nickname was none other than “Big-Eyed Cat.” As a cat, he could normally be amusing, pouncing and leaping about in delightful antics. But no matter how cute he made himself appear, his nature would never change. He was a cat – cats were cousins to tigers, and he would never be a dog.

Cats were prideful creatures. They could sit on rooftops all day playing by themselves, eating by themselves, ignoring everyone. Su Ying was the same. He often sat alone on mountain peaks, gazing up at floating white clouds. Solitude was a necessary path in his life. He would certainly endure days without Qiong Fang.

Poor Fu Yuanying had come to play peacemaker but only obtained a divorce decree. What was to be done? He knew he had miscalculated but couldn’t lose everything. He had to swallow his pride once more and earnestly persuade: “Ying, one should think thrice before acting to avoid regret. Think for yourself – if you treat Qiong Fang this way today, will she still remember you in the future? When she marries someone else later, bears children, and becomes the mother her children call ‘mama,’ won’t it pain you to see this?”

Su Ying remained silently wordless, hiding all joy and anger. Meanwhile, the little black puppy barked noisily, seeming quite happy. Fu Yuanying’s anger rose from his heart. He first grabbed the beast’s neck, then gave its rear end a good beating. After it lowered its head in submission, he said: “Child, don’t think this marriage concerns only you two. Tell me yourself – if you really ruin this wedding, whose heart will you break?”

Seeing Fu Yuanying holding the wedding invitation and speaking endlessly, Su Ying silently turned his head to look at the bride’s family head written on the invitation: “Bearing Heaven’s Mandate, Marshal of Established Military Merit.” Su Ying was a sensible person. He knew that if he truly broke off the engagement, it would surely break Qiong Wuchuan’s heart. Seeing that the old man’s days were numbered, his only hope in his remaining years was to see his granddaughter married. If the wedding fell through, he would surely be heartbroken to death.

Uncle and nephew were both intelligent. In their exchange of glances, Fu Yuanying also discerned his martial nephew’s thoughts. He shook his head: “Wrong, wrong. Don’t overestimate your own worth. If you break off the engagement, what would the National Uncle have to be sad about? He’s descended from meritorious officials, imperial relatives, with disciples and old friends spread throughout the realm. If you don’t value being his grandson-in-law, would he worry about finding someone? The young talents from Beijing’s wealthy families would compete to come forward. Only the purple-roofed pavilion’s doors would be worn down by visitors. Would he worry about Qiong Fang finding no one to marry?”

These words were indeed correct. Qiong Wuchuan held high position and great power. In recent years, those waiting to establish kinship ties with him were countless. If he truly intended to arrange a marriage for Qiong Fang, all of Beijing’s noble families and talented youth would naturally compete to come forward. Only the doors of the Purple Cloud Pavilion would be trampled to pieces – would they worry about Qiong Fang finding no husband? Su Ying listened with bowed head, not knowing his own feelings. Fu Yuanying sighed: “Child, your martial uncle has received three generations of favor from the Qiong family. By rights, I shouldn’t speak ill behind their backs. But this matter concerns Qiong Fang’s entire life, so I must speak.” He gripped his martial nephew’s hand tightly and whispered: “Child, the National Uncle is naturally generous and not really a bad person, but he’s also not exactly a good person. He’s a court official, so his whole life he must rely on scheming and calculation to survive. Ying, if you break off the engagement today, you’re essentially handing Qiong Fang over to him. Can you bear it?”

Past events serve as teachers for future ones. Fu Yuanying’s words hit the mark. Years ago, to secure a position at court, Qiong Wuchuan didn’t hesitate to send his beloved daughter into the deep palace to marry a man twenty years her senior, trading her for the position of National Uncle. Given such an iron heart, how could he soften toward his granddaughter in his old age? Without question, if Qiong Fang’s marriage were arranged entirely by his hand, she would have no hope of happiness in this life.

Tonight the National Uncle had flown into a rage and beaten Qiong Fang nearly to death – Su Ying had witnessed this himself and should understand Fu Yuanying’s concerns. But hearing these words, his expression remained calm, as if it didn’t concern him at all. Could this child really be so callous and heartless? The more Fu Yuanying looked, the angrier he became. His temper suddenly flared up as he raged: “Ying! Are you truly so ungrateful? If you’re so willful and reckless as to ruin this marriage, tell me whose heart you’ll break!”

Hearing these words, Su Ying couldn’t help but feel moved. He stared blankly as he raised his head to look at Master Fu before him, finally understanding his martial uncle’s meaning.

In this world, the one who truly cared about Su and Qiong was neither the power-drunk National Uncle Qiong nor the elusive Ning Bufan, but this ordinary Master Fu before him. Since his master’s departure, Master Fu had always devoted his heart and energy to caring for the “Heir of the Three Achievements” as he grew up. He was not only Su Ying’s martial uncle but also Qiong Fang’s sword instructor. If tonight the young man and woman disregarded everything and scattered in anger, it would inevitably break his heart.

Uncle and nephew’s gazes met. Seeing his martial nephew lower his head with a hint of remorse on his face, Fu Yuanying shook his head: “Ying, by seniority I am your martial uncle, but by authority you are this mountain’s sect master. Much of the time, your martial uncle can’t control you and doesn’t really want to control you. If you insist on breaking up with Qiong Fang tonight, your martial uncle will absolutely not be sad for you or feel sorry for you, because this is the path you’ve chosen for yourself – no one can help you.”

Su and Qiong were no longer children. If they truly wanted to break off their engagement, Fu Yuanying could only sigh helplessly. After all, they were both exceptional people, unmatched in appearance and family background. Even if they had no fate today, they could find their respective partners tomorrow. As for whether they’d be happy after marriage, that was their own business – why should anyone else worry about it?

For over ten years, Fu Yuanying had always protected the golden boy and jade girl without asking for anything in return.

Now even he had given up on this destined marriage. Who else in the world would care? The Big-Eyed Cat slowly lowered his head to face the little black puppy, as if quietly asking it: “What about you? Do you care?”

The little black puppy lazily stretched out its front paws, turned in circles, and lay down on the pillow, seeming quite unconcerned. Su Ying couldn’t help but smile. “There are fragrant grasses everywhere under heaven – why must one love only a single flower”… wasn’t that the saying? It seemed this marriage was destined for its outcome. The National Uncle didn’t care, the martial uncle wouldn’t force it, and even the bride had already run away from home. Why should he compromise himself? He smiled and was about to close his eyes when he heard Fu Yuanying say: “Ying, have you heard of Yu Ying?”

At the mention of “Yu Ying,” the little black puppy rolled over on the pillow, ending up with all four paws in the air, apparently not very familiar with this person. Fu Yuanying sighed again: “Yu Ying is Qiong Fang’s aunt, the National Uncle’s beloved daughter. I think if you two really separate this time, she might be the only one in this world who would shed tears for you both.” Upon hearing this, even the little black puppy seemed to understand that this “Yu Ying” was none other than the former Consort Qiong, now the Empress. But why would she be the one who truly valued this marriage?

Fu Yuanying covered his face and sighed again: “Ying, in you young people’s eyes, everything seems natural and right. Class prejudice, differences in background – all seem like absurd jokes to you. But your martial uncle must remind you that your ability to reach this point with Qiong Fang today didn’t fall from heaven, and those heavy obstacles and barriers didn’t grow legs and walk away by themselves. Rather, predecessors shed all their tears and blood, advancing inch by inch to pave the way for you two.”

Su Ying was extremely intelligent. Hearing the hidden meaning in his martial uncle’s words, his heart stirred slightly. Indeed, when he first pursued Qiong Fang, he was only a youth barely twenty. As a commoner trying to reach for Qiong Fang, this descendant of meritorious officials, their social positions didn’t match. But somehow, not only did friends and relatives show no class prejudice, they often went out of their way to help them. At the time, he thought the National Uncle appreciated his character, which opened this path for him. But now it seemed there were other hidden circumstances. His heart secretly calculated, knowing this matter must have some connection to Qiong Fang’s aunt.

Fu Yuanying sighed again: “Child, if not for trying to please Yu Ying years ago, the National Uncle would never have let you meet Qiong Fang, much less allowed you two to fall in love. All of this was something predecessors begged for but couldn’t obtain, yet you trample it like dirt. Think for yourself – if you’re so willful, can you face those… those…” As he spoke, he merely waved his hand and sighed.

Fu Yuanying seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty. In his hesitation, he swallowed back all the remaining words. Su Ying listened silently nearby, and in his confusion, his thoughts turned to that “Yu Ying.”

Though Su Ying was familiar with everyone in the Qiong household, he had never met Qiong Fang’s aunt. He had only heard Qiong Fang mention that she and this aunt looked extremely similar – both had large round eyes and high-bridged noses. If they met suddenly, one might mistake them for each other. At the time, he’d heard it and forgotten, never asking more. He hadn’t expected that as the two were about to separate, he would hear her name again. His heart stirred slightly, wanting to learn more about her deeds, but as the words reached his lips, this thought abruptly stopped.

Who cared… Whether she was the Empress or imperial relative, once he and Qiong Fang separated, wouldn’t she just be a stranger? If he called her “aunt” so affectionately now, wouldn’t it be laughably awkward if they met face to face later?

Forget it. From now on, there would be no such person as Qiong Fang in his life. Su Ying thought blankly. Suddenly, someone in the distance set off firecrackers, and in that instant, Qiong Fang’s smiling face floated before his eyes. Su Ying’s heart suddenly ached. He quickly raised his sleeve to cover his face, then took paper and brush from the table. Slowly, more circles appeared on the paper – one circle, two circles, the entire paper covered with circles. Seeing Su Ying return to his old habit, Fu Yuanying couldn’t help but sigh toward heaven, knowing that tonight’s earnest persuasion had all been like playing music to a cow.

“Transform circles into squares – the way of the benevolent.” The only thing Su Ying cared about now was contained in those four words: “Supreme Sword Way.”

As a swordsman, Su Ying revered and was obsessed with the sword way. Before that four-foot-long sword, all lovesickness at the fifth watch, all marriages lasting seven lifetimes were utterly boring worldly matters. Only the sword was his way.

Fu Yuanying sighed softly, knowing that until the mystery of the Benevolent Sword was solved, his martial nephew would never find release. He shook his head again: “Ying, did Qiong Fang give you the note? The note taken from inside the mud pill.”

Those familiar with Mount Hua all understood that when Ning Bufan retired, he left behind a mud pill, stating that if his disciple encountered difficulties in the future, he should simply crush it to find a solution. Indeed, hearing “mud pill,” Su Ying raised his head. Fu Yuanying said: “Ying, I know the note is in your hands. Have you read it?”

Though Fu Yuanying himself couldn’t understand the note, he hoped his martial nephew could find some clues from it – at least stop being so muddled. But though he asked several times, Su Ying only stared at him with wide eyes for a long time without saying a word. Fu Yuanying understood his mood and could only sigh: “Ying, it’s time to crush the mud pill. Stop torturing yourself.”

Su Ying’s eyes were wide open, his expression seeming to ask his martial uncle: “Why?”

From taking over as sect master at sixteen until now at twenty-eight, Su Ying had never crushed that mud pill. This wasn’t because his life had been smooth sailing – on the contrary, he had endured countless storms and hardships, but he had never considered using the mud pill. This wasn’t just because there was only one mud pill that would be gone once crushed, but because of Su Ying’s decision. Very early on, he knew when would be the right time to crush the mud pill. He also understood that until that day came, he absolutely wouldn’t act, even if his life depended on it.

That day… that day… The room grew quiet. Su Ying sat with reddened eyes, drawing circles on paper while wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. Fu Yuanying looked at his martial nephew and couldn’t help but feel secretly sorry for him.

The Su Ying before him looked more than twenty-eight years old – he seemed even older than Fu Yuanying himself.

As the disciple of the world’s greatest swordsman, he was actually more hardworking than others. His master had left too early, making his situation like that of an orphan. Yet his master’s reputation was too great, inevitably making the disciple appear as a wastrel in the world’s eyes. But no matter what, this was unavoidable, because “Number One Under Heaven” was destined to have an heir, and this heir was destined to be unworthy. In the end, it all came down to one sentence… because his master was the greatest in all the world.

Seeing Su Ying bury his head in the pile of papers, apparently planning to spend another whole night like this, Fu Yuanying sighed. He slowly sat beside his martial nephew and said gently: “Ying, have you ever wondered why I wanted to find your master and bring him back?”

Su Ying bit his teeth and kept his head down, frantically drawing circles. Fu Yuanying continued softly: “You’ve been ill for a long time, and everyone was very worried about you. Before you went south to Guizhou, Master Lu specially sent me a message, asking me to find your master to help you break through this barrier. But I wrote back telling him that this trip to find your master wasn’t to have him teach you swordsmanship…”

Fu Yuanying’s face was full of compassion as he gazed at his martial nephew and said gently: “There are some things your martial uncle can’t conveniently say, so I can only ask your master to come tell you…” He put his arm around Su Ying’s shoulder and said softly: “Enough, stop practicing. If you continue practicing, you’ll only destroy yourself.”

With a thud, Su Ying’s brush fell. He stared at Fu Yuanying in shock, never expecting him to say such words. The room fell silent. Fu Yuanying stroked his martial nephew’s cheek and sighed softly: “Ying, don’t be like this. Your martial uncle wants you to tell me yourself – why exactly do you practice swordsmanship?” Hearing these words, Su Ying slowly opened his mouth, looking at his martial uncle with apparent surprise.

Yes? This really was a good question. Why did he practice swordsmanship? Back then, he could have studied for examinations or learned to do business, so why did he gamble everything on the sword?

Why? Why? Was it for romance, brotherhood, or for official rank, wealth, estates, and filial piety…

Su Ying stared blankly at the roof beams. The past was like clouds of smoke passing before his eyes. He saw so much, yet couldn’t answer.

“Don’t panic… don’t panic…” Fu Yuanying patted his back and said softly: “If you’ve forgotten, then forget it… it doesn’t matter. Come, your martial uncle will ask you another question… What’s most important in our sword practice? Is it innate talent or acquired effort?”

Different martial arts schools had different principles. Some emphasized talent, some emphasized comprehension, and most stressed acquired effort, as the saying went: “One part cleverness, two parts luck, seven parts hard work and effort.”

But these words were mostly empty talk. After all, among the millions in the martial world, some had good talent, some had excellent cultivation, but how many in the world could truly reach the pinnacle?

“Ying…” Fu Yuanying said quietly again: “To practice swordsmanship well, both talent and effort are indispensable. If you can add some fortuitous encounters, you can create a first-class master. But child, your martial uncle must remind you – if you want to become a true grandmaster of a generation, you cannot lack those two words.” He looked into his martial nephew’s eyes and said gently: “Ying… do you still find sword practice joyful?”

There were cracking sounds from beside the bed. The little black puppy was startled. It looked up at the Big-Eyed Cat, seeing him with his mouth open, trembling. Several times he tried to clench his teeth but couldn’t muster the strength. His appearance wasn’t just uncomfortable – it was pure agony.

Was sword practice joyful? If Juan’er were here to answer, she’d definitely roar: “It’s torture!” Then throw down her sword, clap her hands, and run off to play. But the one answering now was Su Ying – a man who had entrusted his life to the sword. How could he answer?

Was sword practice joyful? If someone could guarantee that through day and night hard practice and diligent effort, they could become “Number One Under Heaven,” thereafter enjoying beautiful wives and concubines in supreme glory, then no matter how bitter and difficult sword practice was, who wouldn’t rush to do it? Conversely, if sword practice required abandoning wife and children, giving up everything, and after investing a lifetime’s effort might still come to nothing, then no matter how fun sword practice was, no one would want to do it.

As the head of Mount Hua’s school, Su Ying had long forgotten why he originally practiced swordsmanship. The sword to him was no longer about love or hate. The sword was his everything.

All around was silent. Su Ying’s eyes grew wet, his throat choked up. He hung his head wordlessly, unable to speak for a long time. Fu Yuanying said softly: “Is sword practice joyful? Child, it’s hard to answer, isn’t it? Because sword practice is very, very bitter… Being a winner is certainly glorious, but becoming a loser is very, very tragic… especially for those…” He patted Su Ying’s back and said with pity: “Those who truly tried their best and still lost…”

Suddenly, Su Ying could bear it no longer. Tears rolled straight down his cheeks. Fu Yuanying sighed. He looked at his pitiful martial nephew. He knew he wanted to comfort him, but he couldn’t do so. Tonight, at this moment, he had to speak all the words that Ning Bufan should have said.

“Ying… you should understand in your heart that among the eighteen martial arts – swords, spears, staffs, halberds, bows, crossbows, axes, and spears – every one can be learned through forced effort. Only one thing cannot be forced. Ying, please tell your martial uncle what that thing is called.”

Su Ying lowered his head sobbing, his shoulders trembling, unable to say anything. But Fu Yuanying had no intention of stopping. He put his arm around his martial nephew’s shoulder and continued: “Don’t run away… really, you definitely know those words. Be good… say them quickly. I used to hear you say them all the time…” No, no. Su Ying was frightened. He covered his mouth and ears. He didn’t want to speak and didn’t want to listen. He knew that if he heard those words, he would collapse… No…

He wouldn’t collapse. He would die… he would die…

“Child, if you won’t say it, then your martial uncle can only say it for you…” This moment had finally come. Su Ying raised his face, breathing heavily, his whole body shaking. He felt his hand being gripped tightly by his martial uncle, then heard in his ears those words he’d known since childhood, that were as familiar as his own heartbeat: “The sword…” Fu Yuanying’s voice was so soft, yet like thunder and lightning: “Is the martial way of genius!”

It came. Su Ying burst into loud weeping, like countless swordsmen of past centuries and millennia, all arriving at their own limits, seeing their own destiny. Now it was finally his turn.

In this merciless moment, Su Ying wept bitterly. He tightly embraced the Three Achievements Sword manual in his arms and fell to his knees.

The only thing in the world that cannot be forced is the sword. The sword requires those two words more than any other weapon – talent, talent. How cruel those two words were… Even someone as intelligent as Su Ying had to bow his head before these merciless two words. Fu Yuanying slowly reached over to take the Three Achievements Sword manual from his martial nephew’s arms, saying softly: “Ying, come, let go. Return the sword manual to your martial uncle. You’ve done your best…”

No, no… Su Ying wept and struggled. He held the Three Achievements Sword tightly, refusing to let go even unto death.

“Let go, Ying… open your hands… really… if you continue practicing, you’ll die… let go, quickly let go…”

He couldn’t let go, really couldn’t let go… Tonight, at this moment, Su Ying cried so sadly. He was truly so sad. For sword practice, he had given up more than anyone, but decades of dawn and dusk bitter practice had now come to nothing… all because “the sword” was “the martial way of genius!”

This merciless destiny had struck everyone in Mount Hua. Seeing his martial nephew heartbroken to the extreme, Fu Yuanying’s tears also couldn’t help but burst forth. He naturally understood Su Ying’s pain, because he himself had experienced every drop of blood and tears here.

“Number One Under Heaven,” “Number One Under Heaven” – everyone in Mount Hua who practiced swordsmanship wanted to achieve “Number One Under Heaven.” Ning Bufan, Gu Mengxiang, Lu Ruolin – everyone followed one after another, pursuing this beautiful dream. Fu Yuanying was no exception. He too wanted to master invincible swordsmanship and become the universally revered “Number One Under Heaven.” And he understood that the only shortcut to achieving this dream lay in those three phrases: “Wisdom Sword pacifies all directions, Benevolent Sword’s reputation spreads far, Courageous Sword cuts through the heavenly constellation” – this was Mount Hua’s supreme treasure: “The Secret of the Three Achievements.”

The first day he was permitted to read the sword manual, Fu Yuanying was only twenty-eight years old. When he learned he could finally cultivate the Three Achievements, he nearly wept with joy. He abandoned all worldly affairs, rushed from Purple Cloud Pavilion back to the mountain, and began his arduous cultivation life.

During those days, Fu Yuanying maintained his normal routine – going down the mountain to help with affairs, sweeping courtyards and kitchens as usual. But though he appeared clear-headed, his soul had long since left his body. Whether eating, drinking, walking, or carrying water, his mind was fixed only on the sword techniques in the manual. He knew he had to get ahead, completing the Three Achievements before his martial brothers and sisters. Only then could he possibly become “Number One Under Heaven.”

One day, Fu Yuanying smiled. He had broken through the thirteenth page and completed his life’s ultimate technique, “Flying Crimson Shadow Escape.” He excitedly went to find his martial brothers and sisters to spar, but when he suddenly looked back, he was shocked to discover that Gu Mengxiang had already left, Lu Ruolin had also abandoned the sword for politics, and he himself had transformed from a twenty-eight-year-old youth into a forty-one-year-old middle-aged man.

Thirteen years had passed. Mount Hua had already found their true master, and the world had found their Number One. But Fu Yuanying had already grown old. The elders met with him and asked if he had any intention of continuing to practice.

Fu Yuanying didn’t answer, because there were still eighty-six pages below. How many more sets of thirteen years could he squander?

So Fu Yuanying closed the sword manual, resolutely bid farewell to the mountain, and thereafter married, had children, and taught swordsmanship, becoming the mediocre “Master Fu” in everyone’s eyes.

Tonight, suddenly looking back, when Fu Yuanying saw that “Three Achievements Sword” manual again, he couldn’t help but want to question his own heart once more. Had he chosen wrongly? If he could do it over, would he continue to endure bitterly, gambling his entire life? Or rather, would he pray to heaven that he would never encounter the “Three Achievements” in this life?

He didn’t know. Decades had passed, and Fu Yuanying still couldn’t find the answer. In that dim candlelight, the “Three Achievements” was still the “Three Achievements,” but the youth was no longer a youth. The only difference was understanding one’s “destiny from heaven.”

Before this merciless destiny, uncle and nephew faced each other wordlessly. Su Ying wept profusely while Fu Yuanying sighed endlessly. Though he wanted to comfort his martial nephew, he couldn’t say even a single word… Perhaps… this was why he wanted to find Ning Bufan back. He hoped Ning Bufan himself would tell his disciple to give up, because “the sword” was the martial way of genius!

For a long, long time, Fu Yuanying finally composed himself. He wiped away his martial nephew’s tears and said softly: “Ying, don’t be sad. Though you seem to have lost some things, you’ve actually gained back much more. Life isn’t only about the sword. There are many, many other precious things waiting for you to cherish, understand?”

Seeing Su Ying lying on the ground, his body slightly convulsing, not listening to his words at all, Fu Yuanying knew he was playing music to a cow and could only sigh: “You rest quietly first. Your martial uncle will go find Qiong Fang and bring her back. When the time comes, you two mustn’t quarrel anymore, understand?” He spoke for a long time, seeing his martial nephew lying like a corpse, and could only pat his back comfortingly: “Cherish the present… Ying, as long as you cherish the present, you can keep everything.”

All around was silent. Fu Yuanying left, but Su Ying still clutched that Three Achievements Sword manual tightly, not knowing whether he was dead or alive.

The situation before him was clear. Master Fu had pointed out a way to live, called “cherish the present.” As long as he understood how to cherish, though he couldn’t master the “Benevolent Sword,” he could still keep the “Wisdom Sword.” With the great power of “Wisdom Sword Pacifies All Directions,” though he wasn’t Number One Under Heaven, he was still a notable figure in the martial world. The matter of feelings was the same. Qiong Fang had already said that though she had fallen for another man, she hadn’t fooled around with him, nor had she abandoned Su Ying because of it. As long as he opened his heart with a carefree smile, the two could still grow old together, hand in hand through life.

Cherish the present… cherish everything already possessed…

“Haha! Haha! Haha!” Suddenly, Su Ying threw back his head in wild laughter. He rushed straight to the table and threw all the papers into the air, watching them flutter down.

Sheet after sheet of white paper was covered with countless circles – some large, some small, but all like the full moon in the sky, perfectly round and precise to the finest detail. Su Ying looked up at his entire life and couldn’t help but weep like rain.

Long, long ago, there was a loveable little thief called Su Ying. He could sing and dance, read and write, and could also fight with a stick. One day he met someone called Ning Bufan. He learned things he shouldn’t have learned, touched a woman he shouldn’t have touched, and finally…

He laughed heartily, clutching his stomach as he slowly rolled and fell to the ground, lying together with the little black puppy, motionless.

The little black puppy was very kind. It stood up and licked the “Big-Eyed Cat’s” face a few times as comfort.

Forty years ago, a great figure rose from nowhere in the martial world. He revived Mount Hua, his might shook the world, and he was called “Number One Under Heaven.” Forty years later, his disciple lay on the ground, utterly defeated, because he understood in his heart that after him, Mount Hua’s lineage would decline, and future martial generations would therefore bestow upon him a title…

“Last Emperor” Su Ying… It was said that Mount Hua’s treasure was lost in this fool’s hands…

His heart was dead, his sword was broken. Ten years of sword grinding had come to this. Su Ying silently wept and lay motionless. At this lowest point of his life, he truly didn’t know how to stand up again.

In his dazed confusion, suddenly low sounds came from outside the window, calling to the Last Emperor.

“Lord Su… quickly get up…” The little black puppy was greatly startled and hurriedly ran to the window, whimpering and growling softly. The voice outside the window continued calling: “Don’t be afraid… come, quickly push open the window and look outside…”

Who was it? Who was calling him? Su Ying was in a trance. He blankly got up and came to the window. Suddenly, the fierce north wind forcefully blew open the window shutters. Cold wind and mist struck his face, but also let Su Ying see the vast world outside the window.

Tonight snow clouds filled the sky. In the distance, tree tops carried ape calls – it was a desolate human world. Su Ying shivered as he gazed blankly toward the horizon, searching for the source of the voice. Suddenly he opened his eyes wide, because he saw that person again!

The man in black! In the distance, pine waves were like an ocean. Someone stood proudly on pine branches, dressed in black clothes with a black hood – it was the man in black! His figure rose and fell with the tree waves – what incredible lightness skill!

He had come… they met again… His fall to such desolation in this life was all because of this person’s harm. With the great enemy before him, Su Ying gritted his teeth. Remembering the battle at the Imperial Medical Academy, his whole body burned with boiling blood. Just as he was about to turn back to find his long sword, he saw the man in black on the pine tree raise his right palm with fingers pointing toward heaven, actually making a long-distance signal to him.

One was inside the room, one outside the window. Su Ying could see clearly – the man in black had his left leg bent at the knee, his right arm raised high, his index finger pointing straight up. That was the character “one.”

“One”? Su Ying gripped his sword hilt. In his shock, he actually forgot his full heart of grief and anger, only standing in a daze pondering the other party’s meaning.

What did the man in black want to say? Was this “one” character a show of force? A provocation? Could it be he wanted to proclaim to all living beings that he was about to “unify the martial world and soar to heaven”? Or was he secretly mocking that the Three Achievements heir was “at his wit’s end” and might as well “end it all with death”?

One… what exactly did he want to say? Was this “the beginning of all things, the renewal of all phenomena”? Or “kill two birds with one stone, suffer complete defeat”…

“Number One Under Heaven”!

The Three Achievements heir cried out in shock, struck as if by thunder, finally understanding the other party’s meaning. The man in black nodded, as if greatly approving. His left hand held up heaven, his right palm touched earth. Suddenly purple lightning shot from his palm. A paper ball flew from his palm with fierce momentum, like a throwing knife.

With a hiss, Su Ying caught the paper ball but was forcibly shaken back three steps. He crashed into the table. Breathing heavily, he hastily unfolded the paper ball and saw he held a theater ticket. The front was printed with two lines: “In Wanfu Tower, plays are like life.” Below in the program section was blank space, with only a few characters hastily written in charcoal: “Emperor Ai is not mournful, the song ends but people don’t scatter.”

Su Ying’s heart awakened. He knew the man in black had made an appointment with him. Looking at this place, it was clearly a music and theater house. The “song ends but people don’t scatter” definitely meant he should keep the appointment and wait, never leaving without meeting. But what did “Emperor Ai is not mournful” mean?

Emperor Ai… Emperor Ai… The Last Emperor lowered his head in deep thought. Suddenly his whole body trembled and he fell to his knees.

“No…” Su Ying tightly embraced the Three Achievements Sword manual, saying in panic: “No… I’m not… I’m not Emperor Ai…” In his fear and terror, he seemed to be pleading with something, only kneeling and sobbing. Suddenly he forcefully raised his head and cried out in grief and anger: “Master! Tell me! Why did you choose me to be sect master? Why? Why?”

“Woo woo woo woo!” Mount Hua’s Last Emperor clenched his fists and wailed with abandon toward the distant horizon.

In the dark night sky, no one answered him. The man in black had left, and even the little black puppy was frightened into hiding under the bed. Su Ying held his head, panting. Suddenly he clenched his teeth, grabbed the “Three Achievements Sword Manual,” and forcefully stuffed it into his traveling pack, then leaped out through the window.

Tonight, at this moment, Su Ying chose the path of no return. With the little black puppy as witness, the “Big-Eyed Cat” threw himself into the vast, angry sea, never to look back…