Chapter 1045 - 283: Cold Blade Bids Farewell, Distant Clouds on the Path, Faded Crimson Weeps Blood as the Moon Soul Departs

Her hands gently explored Shi Feiyang’s body, afraid of missing any wounds.

At this moment, Xue Qiuchun also walked gracefully, slowly approaching.

Her complexion was pale as snow, her beautiful eyes filled with complex emotions, including heartache, jealousy, and an indescribable sense of loss.

She looked at the two embracing, a sharp pain in her heart, fingernails deeply embedded in her palm, yet she forced herself to endure the bitterness inside, speaking softly, "Young Master Shi, it’s good that... you’re alright."

Guo Xiangyu raised her head, provocatively casting a glance at Xue Qiuchun, then buried her face into Shi Feiyang’s chest, coquettishly saying, "Master belongs to Xiangyu, no one can take him away. Xiangyu will stay by Master’s side forever, bind his wounds, prepare medicine, and listen to those thrilling stories of Jianghu..."

Her words were full of dependency and playfulness. Shi Feiyang gently caressed Guo Xiangyu’s long hair, a tender smile on his lips, eyes filled with indulgence: "Silly girl, with you by my side, I can fight any dangerous battles."

His voice was deep and warm, like a stream of warmth flowing through Guo Xiangyu’s heart.

Xue Qiuchun watched the scene, jealousy burning like a fierce fire within her.

But she resisted the tears, forcing a slight smile: "Young Master Shi, if needed, Qiuchun is also willing to go through fire and water for you..."

Her words carried a hint of humility and hope, willing to do anything as long as she could stay beside Shi Feiyang.

The last rays of the sunset gradually disappeared, and the night slowly descended.

On this eerie and terrifying salt field, the shadows of three people stretched long and far.

The complex and intense emotions between them were also like the night, profound and captivating.

Fine salt wrapped in a fishy wind surged between the three, as if silently recounting the grievances and vendettas of Jianghu.

Xue Qiuchun’s fingertips were slightly pale from holding the jade medicine bottle, the fresh fragrance of the Celestial Snow Lotus Ointment within it was interwoven with the surrounding bloody stench, painting a poetic image of melancholy.

Shi Feiyang looked at the impending flood of tears in her eyes, recalling the phrase, "In this world, there are countless masters of painting, yet a piece of heartache cannot be drawn."

He gently pushed the medicine bottle back, the black cloak flapping in the wind, the Celestial Frost Blade obliquely inserted in the salt pile behind him reflecting the sunset like "rouge tears, leave drunken, when to reunite"—a poignant ink painting: "Miss Xue’s deep affection, I will always remember. Yet this Jianghu path, swords and sabers are like dreams, as I hold this blade, it’s like Taibai said, ’after finishing, wipe the clothes and leave, deep concealment of body and name,’ with the world unfulfilled, how dare I covet the tenderness of ’envy only for mandarin ducks, not immortals’?"

Guo Xiangyu raised her face, the jasmine stained with blood on her temples appearing even more delicate and touching, she tightly clenched Shi Feiyang’s sleeve, her crimson lips slightly parting with a bright smile: "Master’s heart is like a rock, holding the vow of ’when the mountains are barren, river runs dry.’ Though Miss Xue’s snow lotus has ’emerged from mud untarnished’ purity, I fear it cannot shake Master’s ’willing to have one heart, to never part till old age’ commitment."

Xue Qiuchun suddenly laughed softly, the laughter filled with "the past is gone, tears flow before speaking" sadness: "Master, does one know, snow lotus grows in the extreme cold, never failing for a millennium, like under Yishan’s pen ’spring silkworms to death spin life’s thread, wax torch to ash tears shed’ dedication. This medicine bottle once contained my mother’s blood, her life’s vigil, just like Yi’an’s verse ’this love can’t be resolved, brows just eased, heart recoiled’ helplessness."

Shi Feiyang’s expression shifted slightly, the story of Madam Xue from Jianghu came to mind.

He sighed softly, his tone full of ’what is love on this world, causing life and death to swear’ longing: "Miss Xue, why be trapped in obsession? Jianghu is vast, why not follow Mojie’s ’walk to the water’s end, sit and watch the clouds rise,’ seeking a tranquil haven?"

"A thousand havens, none compares to half a step beside Master." Xue Qiuchun stepped forward, her tears sparkling like ’the moon over the vast sea shines with pearl’s tears,’ her voice carrying ’holding hands and gazing at tearful eyes, speech lost, silence choked’ sobbing, "Earlier danger, Master’s one ’Miss Xue’s safety, I cannot sit idle,’ made me mistake ’diligent last night’s midnight rain, another life’s day’s chill’ for eternity, now must taste ’flower drifts and water flows, a type of longing, two places’ idle sorrow’ bitterness?"

Cold wind howled, kicking up salt granules like sand.

Guo Xiangyu unconsciously nestled in Shi Feiyang’s embrace, seeming to draw warmth and a sense of security.

Shi Feiyang untied the jade pendant at his waist, the character "侠" on it weathered by time, engraved scars mottled, like ’ten years long apart from life and death, not thinking, still hard to forget’s vicissitudinary imprint: "This jade accompanied me through seven hundred seventy-seven battles, now gifted to miss. If future difficulties arise, bring the jade to Heroic Sakura Association, I shall fulfill the promise of ’the wind sharpens, Yi Shui turns cold, the warrior goes never to return.’"

Xue Qiuchun trembled as she took the jade pendant, her tears falling on it, blossoming into crystal: "It turns out in Master’s heart, I am after all the ’return to you bright pearls twin tears shed, regret we didn’t meet before wedding’s time’ regret." She tightly grasped the jade pendant, turned around, the pearls beside her temples falling, dropping into the blood-stained salt pile, like ’flower fades flower flies flower fills the sky, who pities when fragrance disappears crimson vanished’ achingly beautiful.

Shi Feiyang gently pushed Guo Xiangyu away, cupping his fists in salute to Xue Qiuchun with a slight bow, then held Guo Xiangyu’s hand and turned away, walking a few steps before wrapping his arm around Guo Xiangyu, displaying "Traveling a thousand miles without leaving a trace" Supreme Lightness Technique, swiftly blending into the air, leaving the salt field.

Xie Wen hurriedly lifted Shi Xiong, displaying "Feixu Qingyan Technique," following Shi Feiyang, flying back together to Heroic Sakura Association’s Ningxia Sub-Branch, joining the association’s elders, "Long Arm Fist" Liao Pei, "Heaven and Earth Saber" Lie Quan, "Iron Palm" Wu Zhong, and the various Incense Hall Masters "Mandarin Duck Saber" Xiao Lingling, "Divine Archer" Miao Menlong, "Plum Blossom Darts" Shan Zhi, riding to the stone chamber in the cave of Helan Mountain.

Dusk deepened, the afterglow of the waning sun bathed Xue Qiuchun in a layer of poignant light. She wore a moon-white soft satin long dress, embroidered with elegant begonias on the skirt hem, now covered with salt grains and dust, looking somewhat disheveled.

Her black hair, like a waterfall, blown messily by the wind, strands clinging to her snow-pale cheeks, the original exquisite pearl step-shake on her temple missing parts, only scattered pearls swaying in the wind, as if narrating her shattered thoughts.

Her brows and eyes were exceptionally beautiful, willow-leaf shaped brows slightly knitted, full of unsolvable sorrow; a pair of water-shearing autumn eyes now brimming with tears, shining like water, reflecting the direction of Shi Feiyang’s departure, the deep affection and longing almost overflowing from the eyes. Her small exquisite nose moved slightly, carrying a trembling after crying, the rosy lips lost their color, bitten to pale, still trembling while she murmured.

Her slender shoulders trembled lightly in the chilly wind, a thin gauze dress unable to fend off the piercing cold, yet seemingly feeling no cold.

Her figure was already slender, now standing there disheartened, appearing even more pitiful, as if a gust of wind could topple her.

The hands holding the jade pendant, fair and delicate, nails marked by crescent indentations in the palm, fingertips slightly chilled, yet gripping the jade pendant tightly, as if clutching onto the last hope.

She occasionally raised her misty teary eyes, gazing at the heavens where Shi Feiyang vanished, her eyes full of yearning; occasionally lowered her head, staring at the jade pendant in her hands, the corner of her lips lifting into a bitter yet gentle smile, tears sliding down her cheeks, dripping on the jade pendant, into her battered heart.

She seemed to have her soul drawn out, only an empty shell was left, performing the most woeful monologue on this silent and bloody salt field.