Chapter 2047: L ripples

"How incredible, truly incredible."

In Hua Caiqili's eyes, Yun Che had merely perceived her Heaven Smiting Sword Intent and recreated it within a mere dozen breaths. This was far beyond what could be described as "amazing" or "genius"; even the word "miracle" felt inadequate. Having stood at the apex of the world since childhood, she had rarely encountered "praise" or "admiration" in her life. Yet, at this moment, she could find no words or demeanor to match her feelings. Even the divine sons and daughters of the various God Kingdoms had never elicited such words or gaze from her.

"My master is incredible," Yun Che said humbly.

Hua Caiqili's face was filled with longing. "Young Master Yun's master must be an extraordinary individual, beyond imagination. I sense his attainment in the Way of the Sword... is even greater than Auntie's."

Hua Qingying showed no surprise at this remark. Moreover, Yun Che's "master" clearly wasn't solely specialized in the Way of the Sword. What kind of extraordinary person could he be...? Her primary reason for suggesting Hua Caiqili and Yun Che travel together was to gradually discover the true origins of Yun Che's "master." Half a month had passed, and now, she was somewhat hesitant to touch upon that vague answer. She couldn't help but consider a possibility too elusive, the least likely of all: The Primordial Creator God Soul, mentioned in ancient records as the one who controlled the elemental order.

Hua Caiqili stepped closer to Yun Che and, with deep anticipation, said, "Young Master Yun, I simply cannot understand how you manifested that wisp of sword intent just now. Could you teach me... Ah, it's perfectly fine if you can't; I've asked too much again." The Heaven Smiting lineage was entirely composed of sword fanatics. In her eagerness, she had blurted out such a forbidden question. Realizing her impropriety, she quickly stopped speaking, annoyed with herself.

"Well..." Yun Che looked troubled and deliberated before saying, "It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just..."

"It's alright, it's alright," Hua Caiqili said, her face flushed with embarrassment, "I shouldn't have..."

"Sister Qu," Yun Che said gently, softly easing Hua Caiqili's self-reproach. "If it could benefit your cultivation, I would be absolutely willing, without the slightest hesitation."

Yun Che's gaze and words caused Hua Caiqili's heart to first slow, then inexplicably quicken a little. "However, the sword art I cultivate is formless and without specific techniques. It relies entirely on enlightenment and an seamless integration of myself with the sword, making it impossible to describe in words." At this point, he seemed to suddenly think of something, his eyes lighting up. "But... when Master taught me sword cultivation, he would guide the sword intent to circulate around my body, allowing me to perceive and comprehend it on my own, achieving understanding without even realizing it." He raised the Heaven Smiting Sword horizontally again. "I will perform that sword intent several more times. Sister Qu can perceive and comprehend it from there. If it can help Sister Qu... even a tiny bit, it would be my honor." Having spoken, and without waiting for Hua Caiqili's reply, he closed his eyes, and sword intent circulated around his body.

Hua Caiqili immediately focused and calmed herself, her gaze and spiritual sense fixed intently on Yun Che. A thread of sword might pierced through the air, yet it merely sliced the ground beneath his feet... It was still an extremely weak Heaven Smiting Sword Intent, but subtly a few points stronger than before. His sword body turned, pointing directly at the sky. As the sword trembled, it drew a crimson arc in the air, but behind him, seven feet away, a fleeting sword mark appeared. The sword stance changed again, and just as he was about to demonstrate it for the third time... Hua Caiqili's soft, weak voice, tinged with unusual trepidation, reached his ear: "Young Master Yun, I... I..." Her lips were unconsciously bitten tight, only relaxing after a while. Her beautiful eyes darted away evasively. "May I place my hand on your arm?" She was not Yun Che; she could not, as he claimed, simply perceive another's sword intent and recreate it from her own sword heart and body, transcending sword basics and techniques. Therefore, she wanted to touch Yun Che's body to truly sense the circulation of sword intent within him.

Yun Che's expression froze at precisely the right moment... and inwardly, he was surprised: *She actually took the bait so quickly. I was originally prepared to demonstrate for three to five days through various methods. Was her obsession with the Way of the Sword too strong, or did my "setup" earlier work too well, making the invisible distance between us close to this extent?* "Uh... I..." Young Master Yun, usually calm to the point of indifference, was now somewhat flustered in his words and actions. "If... if Sister Qu doesn't mind, of course, I... can." His rare display of awkwardness actually lessened Hua Caiqili's panic and apprehension, replacing it with a touch more surprise and curiosity.

"Then I'll continue," Yun Che said, quickly closing his eyes again and concentrating the Heaven Smiting Sword Intent once more. Hua Caiqili stepped forward, raising her fair hand. Her slender fingers and snow-white skin glowed with a pure, divine jade light amidst the dim, murky mist sea. Her movements were slow. As Yun Che tilted his sword, her jade-white, slender fingers finally touched Yun Che's arm. But what she felt through her fingertips was not the plain black outer garment, but... the touch of skin. Yun Che's outer robe had been damaged in countless battles within the mist sea. Hua Caiqili's jade hand "coincidentally" grasped a torn section. In reality... Lisha clearly saw that the moment Hua Caiqili's fingers landed, the part of the outer robe they touched silently disintegrated... Hidden by the Abyss Dust, it was completely imperceptible to both Hua Caiqili and the distant Hua Qingying.

The warm sensation instantly startled Hua Caiqili. A completely unfamiliar tingling rapidly spread from her five fingers, coursing through her entire body and soul. Her beautiful eyes trembled intensely. After a moment of blankness, she finally regained her senses. Just as she frantically tried to withdraw her hand, a strange sword intent suddenly circulated within Yun Che, then transmitted through her seamlessly touching fingers into her mind. Her mind was instantly drawn in, suppressing all distracting thoughts. She quickly focused, her sword heart acting as her eyes, striving to perceive every wisp of sword energy and sword intent circulating within Yun Che... as well as the so-called "integration" of sword with body and mind.

Hum—

The Heaven Smiting Sword Intent Yun Che could barely release was only a tiny wisp. It was impossible for him to make it as silent and formless as Hua Caiqili's, so each time it produced a different clang of the sword. After four swords, Yun Che suddenly stopped and let out a long breath. He glanced at Hua Caiqili, then quickly averted his gaze, saying somewhat unnaturally, "Sister Qu, has this... been of any gain?" Hua Caiqili slowly opened her eyes, her sword heart still focused, her gaze seemingly veiled by a thin mist. She murmured, "No, yet it seems like... Ah!" She let out a cry of surprise, hastily withdrawing her fingers from Yun Che's arm. Even though she had removed her hand, that unusual warmth lingered on her fingertips... It was on her fingertips, yet it seemed to scorch her soul, making her heart beat inexplicably faster and faster. *Auntie said males are Yang, so is that why it feels so hot...?* she thought in confusion... *But Father's palm certainly wasn't like this...*

Her reply, however, made Yun Che's eyes light up. "Really? As expected of Sister Qu. This 'present yet absent' feeling took me many years to grasp, yet Sister Qu understood it instantly."

"Eh?" Hua Caiqili was visibly startled.

Yun Che spoke earnestly, "Master said: 'To exist as if not, to not exist as if existing; sword intent is no intent, no intent is sword intent.' To understand this is the beginning of enlightenment. Sister Qu's attainment in the Way of the Sword is truly astonishing."

"Is... that so?" Hua Caiqili doubted herself. She looked up and suddenly noticed Yun Che's visibly abnormal complexion. She asked, "Young Master Yun, why is your aura so erratic?"

"Uh... *cough*." A blush Hua Caiqili had never seen instantly flooded Yun Che's face, and he even somewhat awkwardly avoided her gaze. Not meeting her beautiful eyes, he seemed to calm down a little. "I... actually... it's my first time being touched by a woman, so I'm a bit... at a loss..."

Lisha: ????

"Ah... huh?" Hua Caiqili uttered two sounds of surprise, looking at Yun Che with an unprecedentedly strange gaze. "You've been to so many places, had so many experiences, how could you... never have been touched by a woman?" "For example... like Princess Helian of the Lin Abyss Realm?" She inexplicably thought of this person and subconsciously blurted out the question.

"No, no, absolutely not." Yun Che denied without any hesitation. "Master instructed me that the affection between a man and a woman is the most beautiful painting in the world, but also the most hurtful blade. He told me that as a man, I must never harm a woman's heart, especially... if I cannot offer a lifelong promise of protection, I must never touch her body." "These past years, since entering the world, I have always kept Master's words in mind, maintaining distance from women at all times. Although I stayed with the Helian Imperial Family, I never had any physical contact with that formidable Eldest Princess... not even a strand of her hair." Hua Caiqili genuinely tried to recall what she had witnessed at the Lin God's Assembly... at least in the memories she could recall, there was no close contact between Yun Che and that Eldest Princess Helian.

"Pfft..."

She couldn't help but let out a giggle, then immediately felt rude and quickly covered her lips. Meeting Yun Che's expression, which had clearly become even more awkward due to her laughter, she quickly tried to console him in the best way she could think of: "Actually, it's also my first time touching a man. So... does that mean we're even now?" *Father God... shouldn't count, right?*

Hua Caiqili's words made Yun Che look back in surprise. Their gazes met, and after a long silence, they both laughed simultaneously.

"Then from now on, can I often try to perceive your sword intent like I just did?"

As she spoke, her heart was filled more with anticipation, along with a slight flutter, shyness, and a chaotic beat, finding no trace of resistance.

"Of course," Yun Che nodded earnestly.

The mist sea was dim and windless, utterly lifeless. Yet, ripples quietly began to spread.

High in the distant sky, Hua Qingying sometimes frowned, sometimes relaxed, and finally let out a soft sigh. Hua Caiqili had just begun to achieve something with her Heaven Smiting Sword Intent, yet under an irresistible attraction, she wanted to try and comprehend the strange Way of the Sword cultivated by Yun Che. This was undoubtedly a major taboo in sword cultivation. However, Yun Che had far too many eccentricities. Perhaps... if Caiqili truly had an epiphany, it could be an immense opportunity? As her silent protector, she would not interfere... so everything would be left to Caiqili's decision.

In the Abyss, within the Divine Kingdom of Owl Butterfly.

A man slowly approached. He was tall and slender, with hair as dark as ink. He wore a loose black robe, inscribed all over with the most noble and supreme dark demonic patterns of the current age. His face was cold and resolute, his features carved like a demonic blade, and his black eyes seemed to contain countless layers of night. His steps were slow, but with each stride, the entire sky seemed to sink a little. For his bearing carried the majesty of a god! He was the God Venerable of the Divine Kingdom of Owl Butterfly — God Venerable Qi Heng, Pan Yusheng. Behind him followed a gaunt middle-aged man, also with black hair and a similar robe, radiating world-shaking dark demonic might.

Where their gazes fell, beside the temple gate ahead, a young man was sprawled there like a lump of mud. His face was flushed red, his eyes dark and hazy. He clutched a large wine jar, and his body and hair were drenched in alcohol. From afar, one could smell an extremely potent, sharp scent of wine. This was rumored to be the strongest wine, named "Thousand Dreams of No Return." However, for those at their cultivation level, even wine a thousand times stronger would not cause an ounce of intoxication with just a slight effort to dispel it. But this young man was clearly allowing the strongest wine he could find to numb his mind, as if he simply wished to remain eternally drunk in a dream, unwilling to awaken.

Pan Yusheng's brows furrowed, and the sudden chill of his aura made the man behind him halt his steps. But immediately, he averted his gaze, as if he hadn't seen the young man, and walked past him with heavy steps. Suddenly, he stopped, sharply turned his head, and roared, "You scoundrel! Do you intend to abandon yourself to death like this?!" The roar of a god made heaven and earth tremble in fear. Yet, the young man merely raised his head slightly, his murky eyes squinting at God Venerable Qi Heng for a while, as if only then barely recognizing him. He then displayed a wanton, drunken smile and mumbled: "Oh, it's Father God... *hic*!" He let out a long belch of wine fumes, his voice weak and soft, showing not a shred of reverence for a God Venerable or his own father. "Why does Father God have time to bother with a good-for-nothing like me today... *hic*..."