Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 46 Ye Qinghuang

Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Ye Qinghuang

In the evening, smoke rose on the mountain.

By the cliffside, Li Fan was tending a fire. The aroma was intoxicating; it was the smell of roasting meat, with juices sizzling as they dripped onto the flames.

Liu Ji stood to the side, a youth who was frivolous at the foot of the mountain yet quite well-behaved here.

"Come here," a voice called out. Liu Ji turned her head towards the edge of the cliff where Ye Qinghuang stood.

"Your senior sister is calling you," Li Fan looked back and said to Liu Ji.

"Me?"

"Yes." Li Fan nodded. Liu Ji was puzzled but still walked towards the cliff’s edge. In front of her, clouds billowed. She looked at Ye Qinghuang, who stood with the wind blowing through her long hair, the setting sun illuminating her profile like an immortal from the world of mortals.

Standing beside her, Liu Ji felt an invisible pressure. She didn’t know where it came from.

"Demon has never set foot on this mountain," Ye Qinghuang spoke, her voice devoid of any emotion. Liu Ji’s heart tightened. She wanted to say something but didn’t know what.

"You are the first," Ye Qinghuang continued, "Since you were brought by my junior, I shall make an exception once."

Liu Ji breathed a sigh of relief.

Ye Qinghuang’s gaze shifted; her beautiful eyes, like the full moon, focused on her and asked, "What is your relationship with that Jiao Long?"

"I’ve followed my master since childhood," Liu Ji thought of Yu Qing. Her heart stirred with emotion, and her eyes met Ye Qinghuang’s as if there was a grievance in her heart.

Li Mountain, her master was imprisoned by Li Mountain and died because of it.

"I remember, his name was Yu Qing?" Ye Qinghuang asked.

"Yes," Liu Ji replied.

"What a pity," Ye Qinghuang softened her voice, "In the past war between human cultivators and demons, Da Li suffered greatly. His father, being a Beihai Great Demon, ultimately took the wrong path by standing against human cultivators."

"Yu Qing’s mother was also human, of extraordinary background. If only his father could have remained uninvolved back then, he wouldn’t have been implicated. Yu Qing, in his youthful arrogance, made mistakes. That one wrong step made it impossible to turn back. The court sought to capture and execute his entire family, but Li Mountain saved him from the court’s hands, considering his young age."

Liu Ji was taken aback, looking at Ye Qinghuang in surprise.

"But he still made a mistake," Ye Qinghuang sighed, "Since you followed my junior to come here, it must be Yu Qing’s doing. He treats you well."

Thinking of her master, Liu Ji’s eyes reddened slightly.

"What’s your name?" Ye Qinghuang asked gently.

"Liu Ji," Liu Ji replied.

Ye Qinghuang nodded, "Liu Ji, I hope you don’t repeat Yu Qing’s mistakes. Now that you are alone, having followed my junior, you are considered one of us. I hope you can treat Xiao Fan like family and take good care of him. My junior will not mistreat you."

Liu Ji looked at Ye Qinghuang in shock but nodded slightly.

"Go ahead," Ye Qinghuang said with a smile. Liu Ji turned and walked back, feeling a bit strange.

Why was she so obedient?

There seemed to be an peculiar charm about the woman, making one involuntarily obey her words. When Ye Qinghuang finished speaking, she even felt a bit grateful?

Back by Li Fan’s side, seeing the young man earnestly roast meat, a lingering obsession in her heart seemed to dissolve somewhat.

"What did senior sister talk to you about?" Li Fan turned his gaze to Liu Ji and asked.

"Nothing much." Liu Ji shook her head.

"Would you like to try?" Li Fan placed a skewer of roasted meat in front of Liu Ji; the aroma was enticing, and Liu Ji avoided it.

"I won’t eat."

She didn’t know what kind of demon’s meat it was, lest it be a fellow.

"It’s poultry raised in the village," Li Fan said.

Liu Ji looked at the meat brought to her mouth and took a bite.

It was truly delicious!

The two sat there eating. After a moment, Li Fan looked up, somewhat surprised to see Liu Ji taking bite after bite; her bewitching lips were smeared with oil, her tongue licking her lips.

Noticing his gaze, she looked at Li Fan, "What are you looking at?"

"Is that how you eat meat?" Li Fan replied, "Oh, I forgot, you’re a snake spirit."

"What, want to try?" Liu Ji looked at Li Fan with a charming smile.

"Hiss..." Li Fan drew in a sharp breath; this demoness disturbed my focus.

"I’ll go check on senior sister." Li Fan stood and walked away. Liu Ji watched his back with a smile, then was startled. What was happening to her?

"What did you say to her, senior sister?" Li Fan asked curiously. After returning, Liu Ji had reverted to her usual demeanor. Along the way, she hadn’t smiled like this before.

"Told her to take good care of you from now on," Ye Qinghuang replied with a smile.

"Not used to being served, I still want to stay on the mountain serving senior sister," Li Fan said.

"You’ll grow up and have to venture out someday. This trip down the mountain is to get accustomed early. You can’t always be with senior sister," Ye Qinghuang said, gazing at the sea of clouds in the distance. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to life on the mountain.

If this could continue forever, wouldn’t it be nice?

"I wish..." Li Fan murmured. If he could stay with senior sister forever, he would be willing.

"Don’t you want to know the truth of those years?" Ye Qinghuang asked, "You’ve endured so much suffering these years. Don’t you want to find out the truth?"

Li Fan’s heart trembled, his fists clenched.

Over a decade ago, if not for his master and senior sister, he would have been long gone.

A demon was nurtured inside him, turning him into a vessel for the demon.

It was his master and senior sister who pulled him back from the gates of hell.

He certainly remembered how he lived these years. He needed to constantly nurture the demon inside him; only now has he managed to control it, even using its power for himself.

Yet, even so, he still feared he might be backlashed any day.

Because of this, he cherished every day.

"What are you thinking?" Ye Qinghuang asked, seeing Li Fan’s silence.

"Thinking about the day I might not see senior sister again," Li Fan said.

"Silly boy, senior sister won’t let anything happen to you," Ye Qinghuang said softly, but her gaze was serious.

"The world is unpredictable; who knows what the future holds." The young man sighed sorrowfully, "Senior sister, can you drink a few cups with me?"

"Hmm?" Ye Qinghuang turned slightly, her bright eyes falling on Li Fan, smiling, "Wine?"

"Senior sister, I’ve heard wine can ease sorrow," Li Fan spoke wistfully.

"Trying to take advantage of senior sister?" Ye Qinghuang’s smile grew more brilliant. Li Fan shrank his head, sensing something ominous.

"Once you become a Great Sword Cultivator, senior sister will drink a few cups with you," Ye Qinghuang’s smile gradually disappeared, her gaze turning icy like frost, "Tonight, practice here, cultivate your sword, no resting."

"..." Li Fan sighed internally, "Yes, senior sister."

Alas!

Miserable.

Senior sister is too clever; I can’t deceive her!

Who knows when I can turn the tables.

The night was deep as water, and Liu Ji stayed on the mountain to rest.

Li Fan, however, was practicing before the cliff; this was his home. After being brought up the mountain as a child, he had followed his master and senior sister. Though the Old Blind Man was elusive in his movements.

On the mountain, his senior sister took him along.

To the wilderness, his senior brother led him.

Li Fan sat cross-legged on the precipice, closing his eyes in practice, entering a state of visualization.

In the sea of his consciousness, a small sword floated there, and Li Fan’s awareness fully immersed into the sword, merging with it.

His mind released, nothing existed beyond, only the single sword.

Li Fan’s consciousness moved with the sword; he seemed to become that sword, entering a state of no-self.

In the silent night sky, everything was still; this sword wandered between heaven and earth as if seeing all things.

The mountain wind brushed against the sword. The vegetation of Li Mountain emitted spiritual energy. Above the sky, starlight rained down, also landing on the sword.

The sword roamed the valley, and Li Fan saw the vegetation and witnessed fireflies, absorbing the essence of the vegetation, bathing in the light of the moon and stars.

Nurturing the sword, nurturing the spirit!

Li Fan’s consciousness rose, wishing to venture higher and farther, but then he felt a pressure.

Perhaps his state was not yet sufficient, after all.

Not far behind Li Fan, Liu Ji stood quietly. She saw the Sword Intent flow around Li Fan, light rotating, as if shrouded in the light of the stars and moon.

The morning light fell upon him, the sun rose, and the rolling sea of clouds turned golden, breathtakingly beautiful.

Li Fan awoke from his practice, feeling refreshed and revitalized.

He turned back for a glance and saw Liu Ji seated there, kindling a fire to cook.

Li Fan revealed a peculiar expression, this demon was so obedient now?

"Where’s senior sister?" Li Fan asked.

"She left," Liu Ji replied.

"So early," Li Fan murmured, his gaze looking out at the distant sea of clouds.

...

Li Mountain Sword Peak.

This place was situated among the peaks, the main peak of Li Mountain, like a sharp sword piercing the clouds.

The various cultivators on Li Mountain were present, with Sword Cultivators being the majority.

Around Sword Peak, some maneuvered with sword control, some cranes traversed, and golden eagles flew, creating a scene of an immortal realm.

If Liu Ji saw this scene, she would understand that Li Mountain not only had her as a demon.

Of course, if Ye Qinghuang only spoke of that mountain, whether she referred to a specific mountain or the entire Li Mountain, therein lies ambiguity.

At the top of Sword Peak, stood an ancient hall, worn and simple, with many Li Mountain Disciples outside.

They looked up and saw a magnificent scene; someone was coming atop the clouds.

"Ye Qinghuang."

The Li Mountain Disciples’ gazes turned that way and saw a white-clad figure standing proudly on the clouds, with flowing hair, like a celestial maiden.

Several female disciples were enthralled, somewhat envious; after all, it was Ye Qinghuang.

And the male disciples admired her, suppressing a sliver of longing in their hearts. Ye Qinghuang, who dared to covet her?

Ye Qinghuang landed at the peak of Sword Peak, on the ancient and worn steps, heading towards the ancient hall.

"She hasn’t come to Sword Peak in a while, has she?"

"Why has she come to Sword Peak this time?"

"Ever since the junior disciple appeared, Ye Qinghuang comes to Sword Peak, and it’s always for him," one disciple said, somewhat jealous, "This time, it naturally won’t be an exception."

They couldn’t help but envision the image of a young boy in their minds.

Yes, every time Ye Qinghuang came, wasn’t it always for him?

Indeed, it was enough to arouse jealousy in their hearts.