Chapter 891: Ling'er, Ling'er (Part 1)

Originally, it was just an ordinary sword, the only one his master had given him while they traveled as healers on the Azure Cloud Continent. He used it solely for self-defense, slaying only profound beasts and never a human.

Later, when his master was forced to his death, consumed by hatred, he unleashed the Sky Poison Pearl's potent venom, killing countless individuals. Under the influence of that same venom, the sword itself transformed into a blade of poison.

Yun Che renamed it the Sky Poison Sword.

When he fell from the Cliff of Absolute Cloud all those years ago, he was still holding the Sky Poison Sword. He vaguely recalled that the very last thing he did before his consciousness completely faded, after his descent began, was to use every last bit of his remaining strength to hurl the Sky Poison Sword away.

This Sky Poison Sword was unique in the world; there couldn't possibly be another.

Yun Che gently grasped the sword's body, applied a slight pressure, and with a faint hum, pulled it completely free from the mountain wall. Its blade, hilt, color, and aura were utterly identical to the Sky Poison Sword that had accompanied him for over a decade, a weapon as familiar to him as his own body.

But hadn't the causality of this world been corrected by the Samsara Mirror when he crossed into reincarnation? This world no longer contained him, nor the Sky Poison Pearl, so why would this Sky Poison Sword, which was born from his presence, still exist?

Furthermore, the most astonishing consequence of the Samsara Mirror's journey through reincarnation was the disruption of the Azure Cloud Continent's timeline. Everything had reverted to more than a decade prior. Based on the current timeline of the Azure Cloud Continent, even if a version of himself still existed in this world and everything unfolded precisely as it once had, at this very moment, he wouldn't have even leaped from the Cliff of Absolute Cloud.

The Sky Poison Sword wouldn't have even manifested yet, and he would have only just met Su Ling'er for the first time.

Could it be that the timeline alteration caused by the Samsara Mirror's journey through reincarnation wasn't a pure time reversal, but rather, to some extent or due to specific factors, it preserved things that had existed or occurred in the "future"?

Yun Che carefully lifted the Sky Poison Sword, a surge of emotion washing over him. Its existence was unexplainable and, at that moment, not particularly important; rediscovering it was a divine surprise. While its power was nowhere near comparable to the Heaven Punishing Devil Sword that Hong'er had transformed into, and it wasn't even a practical weapon, it was a gift from his master.

He had regained possession of the Sky Poison Sword, and at last, he held a relic left behind by his master.

His fingers gently traced the sword's body, then moved to the hilt. Just as he was about to put it away, his fingers unexpectedly brushed against a few strands of something remarkably tough yet slightly soft at the hilt's very end.

Yun Che applied a bit more pressure with his fingers, finally pulling it free from the sword.

At first glance, the object in his hand appeared to be a few torn, thin metallic flakes with a distinct luster. Yet, their twisted and tangled nature, along with an aura completely unlike metal, clearly indicated they were no ordinary alloy.

Yun Che stared intently for a moment, then suddenly recognized it…

These were… dragon scales!?

How could torn dragon scales be attached to the Sky Poison Sword's hilt?

No sooner had this question flashed through Yun Che's mind than his entire body trembled as if struck by lightning.

These dragon scales…

Wait… could it be…?

Yun Che's memory, in a hazy surge, rewound to the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament at Heavenly Sword Villa all those years ago… back to that dreamlike encounter with Su Ling'er.

These dragon scales…

The Dragon Scale Battle Armor!!

The Dragon Scale Battle Armor, the first-place prize from the Profound Wind Ranking Tournament!

The Dragon Scale Battle Armor he had given to Su Ling'er years ago!

These torn dragon scales were unmistakably identical to those on the Dragon Scale Battle Armor!

The same color, the same aura!

Could it be… could it be…?

Something burning hot erupted in Yun Che's chest. He gripped the shattered dragon scales in his hand tightly, his heart pounding wildly, his entire body trembling uncontrollably. "Ling'er… it's Ling'er… it has to be Ling'er…"

He quickly spun around, gasping for breath, and let out an excited roar into the deathly abyss. "Ling'er!! Ling'er! Where are you?! Ling'er—"

His voice echoed heavily through the abyss, dislodging bits of falling sand and stone. Yun Che shouted repeatedly, but he was so overcome with emotion that after only a dozen cries, he felt completely drained of strength, unable to utter another sound.

"Brother Yun Che… is that you?"

A clear, dreamlike voice, like a gentle breeze in an empty valley, softly drifted to Yun Che's side.

Yun Che's entire body suddenly stiffened, as if he had abruptly fallen into a dream. He stood utterly motionless, unable to believe the world he found himself in. He slowly lifted his head, his movements rigid and deliberate, like a puppet on strings.

High above on the towering mountain wall, a dark, rounded stone protruded. On its edge stood a slender figure clad in emerald green, possessing a face of exquisite grace and eyes that dimmed the very stars.

Tiny droplets of water fell silently from those beautiful eyes, tracing long, glistening trails in the air as they plummeted into the unknown depths of the abyss below.

Under the illumination of the Phoenix Flames, their gazes met across the vast expanse. The scene remained frozen for a long moment, the entire world falling silent, until Yun Che's single call shattered the stillness.

"Ling… 'er…" Yun Che stretched out his hand with effort. Everything before him was more beautiful than any illusion, making him momentarily hesitant to approach or touch, fearing it was merely a mirage that would shatter upon contact.

The Ling'er in his sight was more gracefully poised than six years prior, and more youthfully tender than in his previous life. Yet, she was undeniably his Ling'er; he would never, could never, mistake her.

"Brother Yun Che…" Su Ling'er murmured as if in a dream. Her hands and entire body seemed propelled by an unseen force, moving involuntarily closer to Yun Che… then her feet lost purchase, she slipped from the rounded stone, and began to fall towards him.

But she neither screamed from the sudden accident nor showed a trace of fear. In her watery eyes, there was only an exquisite, poignant wistfulness.

"Ling'er!!"

Yun Che let out a sharp cry, finally awakening from his daze. He soared forward, firmly embracing Su Ling'er as she fell towards him. As he truly held her soft, slender body, an boundless warmth and sense of fulfillment spread throughout his entire being.

Because at this moment, he could finally be certain that this was not an illusory dream.

He held Su Ling'er tightly, soaring skyward from beneath the broken cliff. Su Ling'er lay quietly against his chest, a faint smile on her lips, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears. In her heart, there was no longer a trace of fear or hesitation, only an overwhelming sense of happiness, peace, and contentment.

Su Ling'er was safe and alive. After the loss of years past, the "illusion" six years ago, and yet another "loss" he'd endured, he could finally hold her securely in his arms.

Everything felt like a dream.

By now, he understood that after Su Ling'er had leaped from the Cliff of Absolute Cloud, it was the Sky Poison Sword and the Dragon Scale Battle Armor that had saved her life.

During her descent, the Dragon Scale Battle Armor she wore happened to snag on the hilt of the Sky Poison Sword.

Had it been anything else—trees, or even protruding rocks—they couldn't have stopped Su Ling'er. But the Sky Poison Sword, which Yun Che had hurled with all his might towards the cliff in desperation, had pierced deeply. Inherently tough due to the Sky Poison Pearl's venomous power, it was impossible for the sword to break from the impact force generated by a fall of several thousand feet.

Conversely, if ordinary clothing had snagged on the Sky Poison Sword, the immense falling force would have simply torn the fabric; it certainly wouldn't have held. However, the Dragon Scale Battle Armor Yun Che had given Su Ling'er was a Heavenly Profound-grade armor, woven from genuine dragon scales. When worn, it could withstand a significant degree of force, even from a Heaven Profound Realm practitioner. The impact from a fall of several thousand feet was simply insufficient to completely tear the Dragon Scale Battle Armor.

And so, the Sky Poison Sword, which he had inadvertently thrown in his previous life and which should no longer have existed…

Along with the Dragon Scale Battle Armor he had given her in this life, during what he believed was a non-existent "dream"…

Miraculously, together they had saved Su Ling'er's life.

As if by telepathy, neither spoke. Though their hearts surged like tsunamis, in their tight embrace, both became extraordinarily quiet, and even the normally sharp whistling wind seemed incredibly gentle.

Unaware of the passage of time, bright light began to filter down from above, and the oppressive air began to lift. Yun Che tightened his embrace slightly, spun in mid-air, and instantly ascended from the depths of the abyss, gently landing with Su Ling'er on the edge of the Cliff of Absolute Cloud.

The mountain wind was cool, and there was none of the faint scent of blood Yun Che had anticipated. Even the bloodstains that had previously covered the ground had vanished, perhaps cleaned by the Fusang Nation's sects out of fear, or perhaps by the later disciples of the Seven Star Divine Palace.

But at least for now, only the two of them stood on the entire Cliff of Absolute Cloud, making it a world exclusively their own.

Gently cupping Su Ling'er's face, Yun Che gazed at her in silence, then softly said, "Ling'er… you've grown up. These past few years…"

Yun Che's voice caught in his throat. He didn't know what words could explain the six long years she had endured waiting, managing only to say, rather feebly, "…It was my fault for making you wait so long."

Su Ling'er gently shook her head, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears, and smiled faintly. Then she embraced him once more, resting quietly in his arms, her voice like a dream. "Brother Yun Che, I'm certainly not dreaming, am I…"

"Perhaps it truly is a dream," Yun Che smiled, "but one from which we'll never awaken."

Six years prior, Ling'er had been like a lively, innocent sprite, quick to giggle and to weep. But in those six years, which hadn't been terribly long, she had transformed into someone exceptionally serene… with the tranquil grace of a secluded orchid.

Instead, she resembled even more… the Su Ling'er he had so painfully lost all those years ago.

And back then, beyond the tranquil grace of a secluded orchid, Ling'er also carried a melancholic sorrow that seemed as if it could never dissipate.

The two of them remained bathed in the mountain wind for a very long time, holding each other tightly, as if they wished to meld into one another.

It wasn't until the mountain wind subtly shifted its direction that their figures finally, gently, separated.

"Ling'er, aren't you going to ask me… why I never came back for you all these years?" Yun Che asked, his voice tinged with guilt.

Su Ling'er gently shook her head, her misty, tear-filled eyes gazing at him intently. "Because I knew, Brother Yun Che must have had an unavoidable reason, and that he didn't abandon Ling'er or forget her."

…Yun Che's eyes welled up, too moved to speak.

In his previous life, she had indulged him endlessly, cherished him boundlessly, and given him everything…

In this life, she was still the same…

This was his Ling'er.

"After I jumped from the Cliff of Absolute Cloud, I initially thought I would never see you again in this life," Su Ling'er said. She reached out, gently caressing Yun Che's cheek, her beautiful eyes misty and dazed. "I never expected that Brother Yun Che's Sky Poison Sword, and the Dragon Scale Battle Armor you gave me, would save me. I believe it must be because you were always thinking of me and worrying about me that such a miracle occurred, allowing me to see you again."

Yun Che shook his head slightly, his heart still gripped by profound lingering fear. "Ling'er, you're so foolish. Why did you jump? When I found out you—"

Yun Che's voice abruptly cut off. He stared blankly at Su Ling'er, his voice becoming unusually stiff. "Ling'er… you… you… why do you know… the Sky Poison Sword?"