Severing the Past

“Who is Ruo Shui?”

As Xiao Chen calmly asked this question, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. A crystalline statue, shimmering with dreamlike radiance, shattered into fragments in the deepest recesses of his heart, dissolving into dim, sorrowful light—fading, vanishing.

At the same time, he seemed to see the innermost depths of his own being: a blood-drenched heart, scarred and torn, ripped apart and then reassembled in an instant. The heart was still the same heart, yet it seemed to have gained a layer of coldness—and something else.

An indelible shadow had been utterly erased from his soul.

Chen Fang was furious. He could not understand how Xiao Chen could have become like this. How could he be so heartless? How could he forget so easily? How could such words leave his mouth?

“You…” Chen Fang trembled as he pointed at Xiao Chen. “What cruel indifference! I misjudged you! If I had known you would turn out like this, I would never have chosen to leave so long ago. I would have fought you to the end!”

Xiao Chen looked slightly confused, a trace of bewilderment in his expression. “Chen Fang, what are you talking about? I… don’t understand.”

“Do you still need to pretend, even now?” Chen Fang’s body shook with rage, as if he were ready to fight Xiao Chen to the death.

“I… truly don’t know what you mean.” Xiao Chen paused, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. “I seem to remember something, but in those images, I always feel that someone is missing.”

“You… fine!” Chen Fang laughed bitterly in fury. “After disappearing for eight whole years, you come back and brush it all aside with a simple ‘I forgot.’ Today, I challenge you to a duel!”

Beside them, a woman with three eyes—not conventionally beautiful but radiating a calm that could soothe the soul—spoke up. Her vertical eye emitted a soft, gentle light as she stopped Chen Fang. “Do not blame him. He is not lying.”

“Fairy Qingyun… what are you saying?” Chen Fang suppressed his anger with difficulty. “You don’t know his past… How could he do this?!”

“Please trust my Heart-Penetrating Art. This divine ability does not deceive me. Although this man is very strong and I cannot peer into the depths of his soul, I can tell that he is not lying. I vaguely perceive that he has just cut away a shadow from his heart—perhaps the one you call Ruo Shui. But the one who was wounded was his own bleeding heart.”

“Fairy Qingyun, what are you talking about? I do not understand.” Chen Fang stared at the woman in astonishment, then turned his furious gaze back to Xiao Chen.

“I mean that your friend may have a difficult reason he cannot share. He has used an unimaginable force of will to cut away certain people and events from the past, right from his heart.” Qingyun studied Xiao Chen carefully.

“Why would you do this? You actually cut Ruo Shui out of your heart?” Chen Fang looked incredulously at Xiao Chen, then shouted, “How can you be so cruel! So heartless!”

“Did I really do that?” Xiao Chen wore a contemplative expression.

“You did! You bastard!” Chen Fang grabbed Xiao Chen by the collar.

Qingyun and the other young men and women quickly stepped in, separating them and forcing Chen Fang back into his seat.

Chen Fang stared out the window, refusing to look at Xiao Chen. The others felt awkward saying anything, and a long silence settled over them. After a long while, Xiao Chen spoke to Chen Fang. “Tell me about her and me.”

“Since you have chosen to cut away the past, why bother asking?” Chen Fang replied coldly.

“Yes, you are right. I should not ask.” Xiao Chen nodded seriously.

“You…” Chen Fang wanted to punch him, but in the end, he slowly and reluctantly lowered his fist and began to speak.

“She was never skilled at needlework, but for a certain bastard, she pricked her fingers countless times with silver needles. In the end, all the finely made clothes on that bastard were sewn by her hands.”

“She was an exceptionally intelligent woman, but once she did something foolish. That bastard was gravely wounded and near death. She foolishly used a forbidden art to pour her own life essence into him. He recovered like a dragon refreshed, but she almost withered like a flower…” Each sentence was brief, yet it painted the portrait of such a girl.

“She was a very lively girl, but after that bastard disappeared, she grew silent and withdrawn, grieving day after day. She never laughed again. Stubbornly, she waited for many years.”

Having said this, Chen Fang fell silent.

“She really was a good girl… I am moved.” The story itself did not touch Xiao Chen, but something deep in his heart stirred inexplicably. A glistening shone at the corners of his eyes. He wiped them and said, “A strange feeling. It actually made me cry. Rare indeed.”

“Damn it! You are the bastard in that story! It’s about you two!” Chen Fang was enraged.

“Oh, I forgot. This is not a story. It is a true memory.” After saying this, Xiao Chen nodded calmly, then shook his head.

“You are truly cold-blooded and heartless.” Chen Fang clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared at Xiao Chen. “If only I had competed to the end back then! Even if I could not surpass you, I should have driven you away. You do not deserve Ruo Shui!”

“Ah, I remember now. It seems we did compete over something,” Xiao Chen said with a nod. “In the end, you left in disappointment, but our friendship was not ruined.”

“You know that well enough!” Chen Fang’s fists were white-knuckled, veins bulging.

Another long silence filled the room. At last, Chen Fang spoke again, his voice serious and weighty. “Why did you do it?”

Xiao Chen was silent for a long time, thinking deeply. “A hundred people have a hundred different flavors of joy and sorrow. Everyone has their own helplessness. There is no turning back on the road of life. We must move forward, not dwell on the past. Since the mistake has already been made, why sink into old memories? Cutting away the past and beginning anew—the cruelty of that instant is the best choice for myself and for her.”

“You are so calm it is almost cruel. The you from before… was not like this.”

“That was then, and this is now. She… should have a new beginning. Otherwise, I probably would not have made this choice.”

“She has already left. To start a new life, no one has seen her since.” Chen Fang gripped his hair in pain. “Why did I not stay by her side every moment?!”

“Oh, I see. Then we only need to silently wish her well from afar and not disturb her new life. If we truly meet again, and if she needs our help, we will do everything we can.”

“Your calm… frightens me.” Chen Fang stared at Xiao Chen. “If I had your will and ability, I would cut you out of my heart. I do not want a friend like you!”

Xiao Chen smiled lightly. “Do not say that in anger. We were friends then, we are friends now, and we will be friends in the future. Forever friends.” He raised his cup to Chen Fang. “To our reunion, cheers!”

The others at the table also raised their cups, helping to smooth over the earlier tension. Chen Fang clinked his cup hard against Xiao Chen’s and drank it down in one gulp. He fixed his gaze on Xiao Chen. “Now that you have cut away Ruo Shui, will you one day cut away us—your friends, or even your family? Will you sever all seven emotions and six desires?”

“No. I am a man of flesh and blood. I will not cut away all emotions. I have only excised a former lover.”

“As a friend, I hope you will not walk a path of no return, a demon’s road.” Chen Fang looked at Xiao Chen earnestly.

“I will not.”

Qingyun spoke from the side. “That momentary cruelty may not have been his true heart. In that instant, I truly saw a bleeding heart. Even if it later reformed and healed and turned cold, I still believe he has not become utterly emotionless.”

Xiao Chen was very calm. He smiled but said nothing more.

Let go.

Renounce.

Over these past months, he had undergone a transformation. His Martial Body had grown even stronger. Now, even without displaying supernatural powers, his strength was formidable. The “martial” had fully caught up with his mystical abilities. He longed to become stronger.

The others skillfully changed the subject. Chen Fang introduced the young men and women at the table. Aside from outstanding figures of the younger generation of the Nine Provinces, Fairy Qingyun and two others were actually overseas cultivators—recluses from beyond the seas.

Legend said that deep in the ocean beyond the Nine Provinces, islands were scattered like stars, and some immortal recluses lived on those misty isles in the vast azure waves. Their strength was immense. In history, many supreme experts of the Nine Provinces, after defeating all challengers under heaven, would choose to go overseas to meet these immortals.

“An honor indeed. I had no idea I was in the presence of such formidable overseas experts.” Xiao Chen cupped his hands toward Qingyun and the others with a smile.

“We are hardly worthy of the title ‘overseas experts.’ If you were speaking of our masters’ generation, that would be another matter.” Qingyun smiled. “Compared to Brother Xiao, we are nothing. Your strength is truly unfathomable.”

“Xiao Chen, where have you been all these years?” Chen Fang had always been troubled by this question.

“It is a long story…” Xiao Chen sighed with deep emotion. He had not yet told anyone about the World of Immortality—it was too bizarre even for his parents to know.

“You can speak freely. These friends are not outsiders,” Chen Fang urged.

“I went to the World of Immortality.”

“What?”

“What!”

Several exclamations rang out. The young men and women all looked incredulous.

As Xiao Chen slowly recounted his tale, the listeners were stunned into silence.

Dragon Island, the City of the Dead, the Forbidden Sea, the Southern Wastes, Heavenly Emperor City, the boundless kingdoms, the Demon Plain, the Ancient God Wasteland…

And the Dragon Clan, the Phoenix Clan, the Barbarian Tribes, the War Clans…

Everything was as incredible as a dream.

It felt like a dream. The little snow-white beast Keke, the Little Defiant Dragon, the three skeletons, Qingqing… seemed to be right before his eyes. He did not know if he would ever see them again. Though Xiao Chen had only spoken briefly—for some things could only be buried in the heart—after hearing it, the group remained silent for a long time, too shocked to speak.

Finally, Qingyun broke the silence. “Brother Xiao, are you at the Sky-Mastery realm?”

“How do you know the realm classification of the World of Immortality?”

“Because legend says that the realm classification of us overseas cultivators is the same as that of the World of Immortality.”

Xiao Chen looked at her doubtfully. “Could it be that some people have successfully returned from the World of Immortality and now live in seclusion overseas?”

It was conceivable that the overseas cultivators were formidable enough—perhaps no weaker than those of the World of Immortality.

“I do not know the specifics, but it is true that many powerful cultivators live overseas.” Qingyun nodded. “The spiritual energy of the Nine Provinces has nearly dried up. It is very difficult for cultivators to achieve much here. But overseas is different. Many immortal mountains and divine veins still gather abundant spiritual energy, making them sacred grounds for cultivation.”

Speaking of this, Qingyun sighed with emotion. “One must say, some people truly deserve to be called peerless talents through the ages. The Divine Maiden Lan Nuo, in such a harsh environment as the Nine Provinces, was still able to shatter the void and ascend. It is truly admirable. If she had been overseas, I think she could have broken the void by the time she was a teenager!”

Chen Fang was also deeply moved. He used to be not far behind Xiao Chen, but now… the gap was growing wider and wider.

Chen Fang, Qingyun, and the others had gathered for a common purpose: to attend a grand gathering at Hua Mountain—the Hua Mountain Sword Debate.

In recent days, cultivators of the Mortal World had been greatly stirred. First, mysterious figures had battled Daoist cultivators on the banks of the Yellow River, burning down the Ancestral Dragon Platform and the Heaven-Reaching Death Bridge. Then overseas cultivators had entered the Nine Provinces, finally giving the suppressed mortal cultivators a glimmer of hope.

“I will go with you.” Xiao Chen decided to attend the Hua Mountain Sword Debate. It was an ancient gathering of cultivators, a meeting of peak powerhouses in the distant past. But now… were there any peak powerhouses left in the mortal world?

With ample time, they did not rush. It was not until twenty-odd days later that they arrived at the foot of Hua Mountain.

Hua Mountain was majestic, perilous, and steep, with towering cliffs and soaring peaks. Known for its precipitous beauty, it had always been called the “Most Perilous Mountain Under Heaven” and the “Number One Perilous Mountain Under Heaven.”

With the gathering date approaching, many people had already arrived at the mountain’s base, and many more had brought their own provisions and climbed up ahead of time.

Qingyun remarked, “The Daoist cultivators are so dominant. Now that mortal cultivators are holding the Sword Debate at Hua Mountain, it seems the Nine Provinces truly has some extraordinary experts emerging. This may be the first major clash between Daoist cultivators and mortal cultivators.”

Both Chen Fang and Xiao Chen agreed.

It had to be said that some businessmen were very sharp. They hired agile climbers to carry food, water, tents, and other daily necessities steadily up Hua Mountain. This allowed many cultivators to start climbing early.

When Xiao Chen and his party reached the top, they found Hua Mountain already bustling with activity. Not only were there many cultivators, but there were also many vendors hawking their wares.

The mountain was covered with people. At the very peak, a large banner had been raised, inscribed with four characters: “Hua Mountain Sword Debate.”

Those four characters alone were enough to stir the hearts of mortal cultivators. In the distant past, those words represented something extraordinary—the ultimate gathering of invincible peak powerhouses.

But now… being suppressed by the Daoist cultivators, just thinking about it was humiliating.

Hua Mountain was packed with thousands of cultivators, the noise of the crowd like a boiling cauldron.

Just then, the sound of tearing air came from the distance. Six figures flew in on flying swords, laughing loudly from far away. “How ridiculous! Do you really think this is still the golden age of the Five Peerless Masters? The fallen Mortal World holding such a gathering can only be a laughingstock.”

“The real day is three days away, but so many have already come. Are you here to hope, or to reminisce about the past?”

With flashes of light, six figures appeared on the summit of Hua Mountain. They swept their contemptuous gazes over the crowd and said, “I advise you to disperse early. Otherwise, not only the people here, but the entire Hua Mountain may be shattered.”

“Get lost! You are not welcome here!”

Facing the Daoist cultivators, many mortal cultivators began to shout.

“Oh, was it you who told us to get lost?” One of the Daoist cultivators pointed at the crowd. Seeing some shrink back, he burst into laughter. But then his face darkened, because a slightly immature youth stepped forward and said loudly, “Get lost! You are not welcome here!”

The people around him looked ashamed and then all stepped forward.

“Some courage,” the Daoist cultivator said darkly. “But I wonder if you have the strength to match it?” As he spoke, a sword-light shot from his mouth, like a sky-spanning rainbow, slashing toward the crowd. The first target was that immature youth. The blood-colored sword-light flew like a bolt of silk, about to touch the youth’s neck—it seemed as if blood was about to spray.

“Ahem!”

But just then, a heavy cough sounded. Nearby, a slovenly, ragged old madman rose from the hillside and spat out a mouthful of thick phlegm. With a loud “clang,” it struck the blood-colored flying sword squarely, sending it crashing to the ground.

The Daoist cultivator looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He spat blood, his face turning pale. With difficulty, he retrieved his flying sword and inspected it—then stood dumbfounded.

The palm-long blood-red flying sword now had a shocking hole in it. An indestructible flying sword had been pierced by a lump of phlegm! What kind of power was that?

The six Daoist cultivators immediately surrounded the slovenly old man with his disheveled hair and patched clothes.

“Bravo!”

“Well done, old hero!”

Everyone’s spirits were lifted. They knew this was definitely a hidden master of unimaginable strength.

“Who are you?” The six Daoist cultivators stared at the old madman as if facing a great enemy.

“I forgot… hehe…” The old madman let out a foolish laugh, his muddy old eyes staring at the bright clothes of the six men with envy. Then, utterly bored, he began to pick lice from his own filthy garments.

“Attack!” one of the six commanded.

Instantly, six flying swords flashed like lightning, like six rays of starlight tearing through the sky, their momentum overwhelming!

To everyone’s astonishment, the old madman did not dodge. Instead, he rolled a bit of grime from his blackened body, rubbed it into a ball, and flicked it outward.

“Clang, clang, clang…” The sound of metal rang through the air. All six flying swords were shattered.

A ball of dirt flicked from the old madman’s body had broken six flying swords!

“Bravo! Well done, old hero!”

“A divine skill! Well struck!”

The onlookers cheered loudly.

“I remember now. When my great-great-great-grandfather came to the Hua Mountain Sword Debate, he met an old madman like this. Could it be the same person?”

“Then how old would he be by now?”

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Ashen-faced, the six Daoist cultivators could not accept what they had just seen.

Just then, from a row of food stalls nearby, a fair-skinned child of about eight or nine, chewing on a stick of candied hawthorns, walked over. He frowned at the old madman and said, “You just had to cause trouble.”

To everyone’s shock, the slovenly old madman immediately knelt down and cried out, “Master, I was wrong!” Then he jumped up and ran away.

The whole mountain erupted in uproar.

Pale and silent, the six Daoist cultivators shot into the sky and fled.

Only when they were dozens of li away did they stop, speaking with lingering fear:

“Can you be sure… we are still in the Mortal World?”

“I strongly suspect we just had a hallucination.”

Just then, they heard a sneeze from below. Immediately, a gale-force wind struck them, carrying the smell of bad breath, and they were blown away. Vaguely, they saw a roguish young man down below muttering something about having caught a cold again.

Furious and terrified, the six Daoist cultivators said nothing. They were utterly frightened. Dejectedly, they fled into the distance.