1110 Bright Moon In The Night III (2/2)
A swan was perched on the tallest part of the water mill, like an arrogant commander. An elderly bull could be seen on the slope of a mountain further away. It seemed to be aimlessly staring into the distance.
The Butcher let out another resounding howl, lifting his knife for another slash.
A sudden rush of Blunt Intent flooded towards him from the west. A metal bat was brought onto the battlefield.
The Blade Intent that was already restrained by multiple layers of arrays dispersed into nothingness after an attack by the force of the Blunt Intent from the bat.
Chen Pipi, flanked by Tang Xiaotang, started to approach them from the direction of the town.
He was wearing a divine gown, complemented by a sacred crown that nestled on his head. His face was appropriately solemn, corresponding to the situation.
He commanded thirteen disciples of the New Stream, thus he had the power of faith on his side.
The Butcher fell silent. He lowered his head, then raised it again in defiance.
He lifted his butcher knife, slashing out for the fifth time.
This time, he still could not harm anyone. This was due to a rock appearing in front of his knife, quelling the force of his strike. The rocks and boulders that littered the mountainside seemed to gain a life of their own, before seemingly dying off again, trapping him between them. He was trapped, trapped in this barrier array.
Mo Shanshan, in a white dress and donning her royal crown, silently observed the mess of rocks and debris that covered the mountain.
The barrier array was her handywork. It was almost three quarters as powerful as the Daming Lake in front of the Front Gate of Devil's Doctrine.
That year, even Youngest Uncle took quite some time to break the array. The Butcher was definitely no exception. He finally lowered his knife. The Butcher glanced at the various individually powerful, yet interdependent arrays on the mountain, speechless. He had expected that everyone from the Academy would appear here. However, for his opponent to move the entire Academy here went far beyond his expectations!
...
The melody of the flute and zither started up once more, lively and delighted, exuding just the slightest trace of smugness.
Yu Lian did not even spare a last glance for the Butcher. She tucked her hands behind her back and turned to walk away.
Everyone else from the Academy retreated after that, including Mo Shanshan. She was originally one of the two people who were invited by the Academy to enter the Back Hill. She was already used to thinking of herself as part of the Academy, while the Academy was also used to treating her as one of their own.
Jun Mo did not leave, instead he sat crossed-legged in the snow. Silently, he observed the Butcher who was trapped in the multitude of arrays.
Many years ago, when Ning Que killed Xia Hou, he spent an entire night sitting on the snowy bridge, barring passage for the Subjugation General of Great Tang as well as the strongest Yulin Royal Guards. They could not cross the bridge at all.
Tonight, he sat in the snow again, expressing his determination.
The Butcher looked at him. ”I can break these arrays, given sufficient time,” he warned.
”Time is the only thing we need. If you can break these arrays, then it would come down to me to keep you here. If the time comes, I will see if I am able to parry your strikes,” answered Jun Mo.
”You can't,” said the Butcher decisively.
Jun Mo shrugged. ”Perhaps.”
The Butcher fell silent. ”All of you had dawdled around for more than ten days but still refuse to ascend the Peach Mountain, why? If Taoism falls, Haotian will weaken exponentially, even die.”
Jun Mo remained silent for a moment, before replying, ”It's probably because the Haotian in your eyes, to all of us at the Academy, is our friend, a mere girl who cooks delicious dishes for us. If she can stay alive, then she better stay alive.”
”Then why did all of you decide to climb the Peach Mountain tonight?” asked the Butcher.
”Because she had returned to Chang'an,” was Jun Mo's answer.
Chang'an, such a beautiful name. A mythical city, a guardian capable of protecting many ordinary humans. Now, it had begun to protect Haotian as well.
”You give your all for your friends, I give my all for my people. It's enough to just give our all,” continued Jun Mo.
The Butcher did not attempt to continue the conversation for a long time. Finally, he spoke up, ”As expected, Jun Mo is as sensible as always.”
He raised the knife in his hands. Its Blade Intent could not break the arrays, but it resonated with the remnants of Blade Intent that lingered between sky and earth.
The snow clouds in the night sky, which already had a fissure in them, started to break apart even further. The snow that fell ceased, the clouds dispersed, exposing the bright moon in the night sky.
Jun Mo lifted his head and admired the ethereal beauty of the moon.
...
Between the valleys leading up to the Peach Mountain, the members of the Academy forged ahead in silence. Most of them were shouldering their belongings, leading their cows, carrying their swans and necessities in their arms. They had traversed the Verdant Canyon before, while this time was the West-Hill. Like before, dust and sand plagued the mountain roads.
Yu Lian glimpsed something from the corner of her eyes, and lifted her head to stare at the night sky. She too saw the bright moon.
”Teacher, we will win,” Chen Pipi said with a slight smile as he looked up at the moon.
Many years ago, the Headmaster had hiked up Peach Mountain before, and slashed to pieces all of the cherry blossom petals that had covered the mountain.
Tonight, the bright moon shone down at them from the night sky. This time, his students were here.