Chapter 241 – Before the Ceremony Three (1/2)

She placed the sword on the marble table in the courtyard. The westward sun turned the sea of clouds into a blazing ocean, which reflected on the long blade. It suddenly added a glorious splash of colour to the ordinary sword.

Yu Zijian squinted her eyes and crouched by the table, staring straight at the sword.

The sword laid there quietly, without moving at all.

Clang~

Yu Zijian suddenly stood up. The sound clearly seemed to originate by her ear, but it also seemed to come from the bottom of her heart. She stood up and opened the door, stepping onto the small path covered in verdant grass.

She was in a daze, as if she was in a dream. She was unable to control herself, as if something was calling for her in her heart.

The small path twisted a few times before suddenly opening up. Presented before her were a series of dilapidated walls, like the ruins of an ancient city.

The stone pillars that once held up the hall laid in the wild grass. The hall had already collapsed, while the statues had been weathered to a point where they were disfigured. However, she could still vaguely see their former glory.

Since when was there a place like this on the Green Vine mountain?

A question flashed through Yu Zijian’s head, which vanished in a split second.

The setting sun added a splash of bright red to these ruins. No matter how unsophisticated or vulgar a person could be, they would still sigh involuntarily and in emotion at this sight.

As she strolled through these ruins that had almost been swallowed by the green grass, she felt like she had returned home, like she was an exiled princess and this was her home country.

After passing the white stone path covered in vines, she suddenly stopped.

A tiny pond sat in the embrace of verdant trees. The setting sunlight from the west reflected in the water, dyeing it in a beautiful colour.

A man in green robes sat on a round rock by the pond with his legs crossed. His young, thin face was stubbly, like he was sighing. He gave off agedness and weariness that only seemed to appear on old people who had seen and understood everything the world had to offer. He was like a lone king sitting on his collapsed throne, reminiscing his former glory and lamenting over the state of his current empire.

He was fishing, but he did not use a fishing pole. He used a sword. He held the hilt with both hands as a thread dangled straight down from the end of the sheathe into the mirror-like pond.

Yu Zijian’s eyes were not set on this sight, or this person, but the sword. She seemed to be drawn in for no reason. She was confident that the graceful thrum from earlier originated from this sword.

“Have you seen this sword before?” The man in green turned around and looked at her in some surprise.

At a closer glance, while he did wear green, it differed greatly from the uniform of the Green Vine mountain. It seemed extremely worn-out, just like the sword in his hand.

The man in green said, “I’m not. Are you?”

Yu Zijian said, “I’m not either. You must be a guest invited to the mountain. You’re not allowed to fish on the mountain!”

“Since you’re not a disciple of the Green Vine mountain, why do you care?”

“I… Forget it. Fish. I’m going back. I’m not going to disturb your fishing.” It was slightly inappropriate for a man and woman to be alone here. However, her gaze remained fixed on the sword. The familiar feeling was just like when she first met Niu Juxia.

The man in green said, “Do you want to take a look?”

“Can I?” Before Yu Zijian had even finished talking, the sword landed in her hands. It was weighty, and the thread automatically retreated into the sheath.

The sheath was an inky green, due to a combination of its original colour and the marks left behind with time. The material seemed like jade, yet also like wood. There was a fine image engraved on there, like the silhouette of a city, but it was incomplete and damaged.

“What is this sword called?”

“Green Ruins.”

Clang~

Yu Zijian gripped the hilt and drew the sword. The familiar thrum rang out by her ear, just as expected, lingering for quite some time. It did not glow at all, but the shine of the sword was withdrawn like light through clear, autumn water.

“It’s a fine sword!”

The man in green’s expression revealed even more surprise than when he first saw Yu Zijian. He was shocked as a matter of fact.

“I’m done. I need to go,” Yu Zijian sheathed the sword and tossed it back to the man reluctantly.

The man stood up. “Can you wait for me here?”

At this moment, the afterglow in the horizon began to subside.

“I can’t. I’m busy.” Yu Zijian skipped into the distance as she thought, Who are you? I don’t even know you, yet you want me to wait for you. What a weirdo!

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Yu Zijian,” Yu Zijian said without looking back.

“I- I’m Fu Qingjin,” Yu Zijian had already left the ruins and vanished into the thicket, so Fu Qingjin’s voice tailed off, like he was talking to himself.

She could easily walk out of the Green Ruins Illusion, and she could draw the Green Ruins sword. The Divining Elder was right…

The first star lit up on the horizon. His gaze shone like a star’s.

The scenery around him suddenly twisted like a mirage before vanishing. Only the pond remained, reflecting the black shade of the embracing trees.

Fu Qingjin’s gaze passed through the vegetation and landed on the main hall at the top of the mountain.