Chapter 1049 - 284: Helan Snow Blade Reflects True Heart, Jade Shadow and Cold Edge Bury in the Nether (Part 4)

The dark cloak of Shi Feiyang fluttered in the wind, resembling the most vigorous brush strokes in an ink wash painting, yet his gaze towards Guo Xiangyu was gentler and more tender than the spring waters of March in Jiangnan, as if intending to drown her in that pool of deep affection.

The newly inserted red plum blossom beside Guo Xiangyu’s hair appeared vibrant and dripping with dew against the snowy backdrop, much like her blushing cheeks at this moment, unable to hide the rampant shyness and joy.

Looking at the person before him, Shi Feiyang immediately composed a poem for Guo Xiangyu, his voice clear and filled with deep emotion, "The skirt collects all Jianghu’s snow, jade bones and icy skin reflect moonlight. Spring hides in the sleeves to heal chaos, the blade tips condense dew to protect the ends of the earth."

Every word seemed to carry a scorching warmth, gently landing on Guo Xiangyu’s heart, stirring it up like waves.

The sound of the poem startled the birds resting by the cliff, in the fluttering of wings, the distant winding qin stream flowed quietly like a silver dragon. Yet no scenery, however beautiful, could compare to Guo Xiangyu’s heart beating out of rhythm at this moment.

She lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting a fan-shaped shadow, her delicate hand unconsciously caressing the bamboo knife, as if comforting a frightened kitten. The blade of the bamboo knife reflected a gentle luster, just like her feelings for Shi Feiyang, seemingly slender and fragile, yet resilient enough to cross thousands of mountains and rivers.

"Master today seems like a sour scholar," Guo Xiangyu’s voice was so soft it seemed it could drip water, when she raised her head, her eyes filled with gleaming laughter, as if holding countless celestial stars, "But the poem praising Xiangyu... makes one terribly embarrassed."

As she spoke, she stepped lightly like a lotus, her skirt brushing over the snow on the ground, leaving a series of shallow footprints, marking her steadfast following of Shi Feiyang, step by step.

"Xiangyu isn’t as wonderful as the master says," she gently bit her lower lip, her lashes trembling like butterfly wings, her eyes full of sincerity and deep emotion, "Xiangyu’s whole life is just to stay by the master’s side, to shield the master from all the storms. The master’s Celestial Frost Blade wields for all living beings, then Xiangyu’s bamboo knife is sheathed solely for the master. No matter whether the path ahead is a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, or an abyss of ten thousand feet, Xiangyu is willing to flatten it for the master."

With that, she stood on tiptoe, reaching out to gently brush the snow off Shi Feiyang’s shoulder, her fingertips lingering briefly on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body. Guo Xiangyu’s gaze locked tightly on him, whispering softly, "As long as I can see the master safe and joyful, Xiangyu would willingly be shattered to pieces. Everything in this world can be abandoned, only the master is Xiangyu’s lifelong obsession."

Not far away, disciples of the Nine Flags Gang, weapons in hand, glared menacingly. Yet their existence, in the world of Shi Feiyang and Guo Xiangyu, seemed transparent. At this moment between heaven and earth, all that remained was their deeply loving gaze, love spreading in the wind and snow, more steadfast than any oath, more eternal than any promise.

The north wind whirled broken snow around heaven and earth, yet silently paused beside Shi Feiyang and Guo Xiangyu.

Shi Feiyang reached out to clasp Guo Xiangyu’s wrist, pressing her warm palm firmly against his chest, through the dark fabric, feeling the pulsation of their intertwined bloodlines. "Does Xiangyu know, you are purer than this Helan Snow, more vibrant than that red plum."

His voice sounded like it was soaked in honey, low and scorching, as he gently hooked her chin with his finger, his fingertip brushing over her delicate skin, causing Guo Xiangyu to shiver involuntarily.

Guo Xiangyu was so warmed by his burning gaze that her whole body heated up, wanting to dodge, yet reluctant to look away, she could only lower her lashes, the butterfly-wing-like lashes casting a fan-shaped shadow under her eyes. "Master is coaxing me again..." Before the last note faded, Shi Feiyang suddenly embraced her tightly.

His arms, like iron hoops, tightly wrapped around her waist, embedding her whole person into his embrace, with his chin resting on top of her head, deeply inhaling the medicinal fragrance mixed in her hair, intending to knead all this tenderness into his bones and blood. "All I seek in this life is to protect you completely. Once Jianghu affairs are settled, I will surely find a utopia with you, to paint your eyebrows and pin flowers every day, to listen to you recite poems and play the qin."

Guo Xiangyu’s fingertips sank into the fabric on his back, her jade hand clearly feeling his strong heartbeat. She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled, but filled with unwavering affection, "Xiangyu doesn’t envy utopias, only wishes to always be the master’s shadow."

Speaking to the emotional point, she lifted her moist eyes, moonlight illuminating them, brighter than Helan Snow, "If the master wants to wander across Jianghu, Xiangyu will accompany you to roam the ends of the earth; if the master wants to serve the country, Xiangyu will hold the lantern for you through the night."

Shi Feiyang let out a sigh, his arms unconsciously tightening, as if wanting to merge her into his body.

He lowered his head to place a kiss on her forehead, his warm breath grazing her flushed cheeks. "Silly girl, don’t say such silly things in the future." His thumb caressed the stray hair on the back of her neck, his voice becoming increasingly low and gentle, "You are not my shadow, but the light that illuminates my life."

Guo Xiangyu suddenly stood on tiptoe, her fingers gently tracing his eyebrows and eyes, brushing away the snowflakes on his lashes.

Her gaze was focused and deep, as if she were painting the most precious scroll in this world.

"Master," she softly murmured, as their breaths mingled, carrying an intoxicating sweetness, "Look at this Helan Snow, so much like the snow when we first met." Saying this, she buried her face again in his embrace, listening to his powerful heartbeat, "Xiangyu wants to lean on the master like this, listening to the wind, watching the snow, until the end of time."

In the distance, the shouts of the Nine Flags Gang disciples faintly echoed, yet they were isolated outside the world of their embrace.