Chapter 32: A Contest on a Stormy Night

"Are you certain?" Liu Li smiled softly, running his hand over his Waterlike Meteor Sword. "Miss, you don't seem adept at swordplay. Are you sure you wish to compete with me? If you lose, wouldn't that be an unworthy victory for me?"

Xuezhe chuckled quietly, touched the veil upon her face, and replied calmly, "Though I seldom wield sword or saber, I know a few moves. Why do you belittle me so? Rather, it is you—this Meteor Sword is fine indeed, but not your usual weapon. By that logic, neither of us excels in swordsmanship. How can you speak so of me?"

"Since you know this, why have you come to the Lone Peak Pavilion?" Liu Li gazed at Xuezhe with keen interest, growing ever more puzzled. This woman was most peculiar; she did not have the air of one from the jianghu. Why had she come here? She seemed naïve, yet she knew he rarely used sword or saber—had they met before?

"And you, sir? You are not here for yourself either—so why come to the Lone Peak Pavilion?" Xuezhe studied Liu Li, sighing inwardly: This man was elegant and upright; what business had he, intruding here by night? He even felt like a guardian here, making her feel more the intruder. Could it be that he was a disciple taken in by her father?

Liu Li smiled serenely. "Naturally, I too have come for the treasures, though my purpose differs from yours. What I seek is not the Canon of Swordsmanship. If you feel our skills too far apart, or would disdain to yield, then let us part ways."

"Wait!" Xuezhe stepped closer to Liu Li, asking softly, "Are there other treasures here? Who… who told you that?"

"It seems you are unfamiliar with Kunlun. This place is famed as a repository of books, and naturally there are many fine scrolls. As you said, my skill in swordsmanship is not deep; I have come to seek other things. The Canon of Swordsmanship is the desire of most Kunlun disciples, but it is useless in your hands, so I will not help you find it."

Xuezhe was taken aback, glaring at Liu Li in displeasure. "How could you be like this? I thought well of you, and yet you go back on your word! Did you not say that if I defeated you, I could have it?"

Liu Li smiled gently and glanced at Xuezhe. "We have only just met, exchanged a few moves, and you already think well of me? That is… well, never mind. In any case, you cannot defeat me, so I will not break my promise."

"Fine then!" Xuezhe snorted coldly, weighing the Long Tune Sword in her hand, thinking to herself: So he surpasses me in martial arts? But I am quicker—let him try to win! After so long at Kunlun, I have learned a few tricks; dealing with someone who doesn't even use sword or saber should not be hard!

Liu Li's hand trembled slightly; the thin blade of the Meteor Sword quivered for some time, a faint vibrating tone burrowing into the ear. The Waterlike Meteor Sword's edge was exceedingly thin, able to bend, fold, twist in the wind, and when met with hardness, it would rebound unbroken or strike with sudden force. Its flexibility and strength lay in the hand of the wielder; its worth and harm, in a single thought.

This sword was well known to Xuezhe—the trembling sound alone filled her with dread, for it ranked among the top three weapons of Kunlun. She had once seen Yu Qianye wield it, his presence and prowess most admirable. She wondered if Liu Li could master it.

Naturally, Xuezhe did not believe he could, for in her eyes, he was but a gentle, scholarly man.

"If I defeat you, you must tell me the origin of this sword!" With that, Xuezhe stepped close before Liu Li could reply, her Long Tune Sword slicing the air, aimed straight for his throat.

Though the Long Tune Sword could not match the Waterlike Meteor Sword in shifting between supple and rigid, it was light and resolute, and wielded well, could even produce melodious tones.

Liu Li stepped back, dodging to the side, and sighed softly, "A direct strike to the throat—are you not too hasty, Miss?"

"I do not have as much time as you!"

Xuezhe swept the sword with a flick of her hand, advancing two steps, the blade flashing past Liu Li's brow, each gust of cold wind sending his hair flying and his steps faltering.

Liu Li sprang up, leaping into the air and landing behind Xuezhe. She blinked, spun her sword backward, and felt the blade meet with weighty resistance.

Turning, Xuezhe struck the sword hilt with her palm, causing the blade to slip free from Liu Li's grip and fly forward. She darted after it, about to reclaim her sword, but Liu Li pulled her down with one hand.

Xuezhe snorted, summoned the sword back with a spell, and drove her elbow straight at Liu Li's chest. He turned slightly, one hand blocking her elbow, the other gripping her sword hand, and said softly, "You are too weak for close combat."

"Oh? You truly underestimate me!" Xuezhe withdrew her elbow, switched the sword to her other hand, and in a blur of motion, the blade darted toward Liu Li's midsection, so swift only a gleam of steel could be seen.

Liu Li released Xuezhe and met her blade with the Meteor Sword. With supple force, he wielded the sword as fluidly as water, its entwined movements like a white ribbon, and in an instant, her sword was bound.

Xuezhe glared at Liu Li, straining with all her might yet unable to break free, and grew angry. "If we are to compete, let us do so fairly—why seal my blade?"

Liu Li looked at her and laughed softly, "You are impatient but lack strength; your temper will race to your head, your anger cloud your mind. I dare not spar with you like this!"

"Are you belittling me?" Xuezhe snorted, withdrew her hand, and in a flash, appeared before Liu Li, sealing his acupoint with a single move. "I could have subdued you in one blow, but I considered your dignity and chose to spar properly. Yet you persist in underestimating me—well, is this the outcome you wanted?"

Liu Li gave a gentle cough; both swords fell from his hand, his fingers still able to move slightly. "Miss, it seems your acupoint-sealing technique is not quite up to standard!"

"What?" Xuezhe exclaimed, looking at Liu Li, and was about to cast a spell to immobilize him when a peal of thunder sounded. "What—why is there thunder all of a sudden?"

Liu Li observed her, catching all her panic. "Do you fear thunder, Miss? Is it a guilty conscience?"

Xuezhe was too angry to reply, going to the window where a gust of cold wind tangled her hair. Her vision blurred, but the sound grew ever louder, the thunder like a dragon soaring through the sky. "Oh dear, the Thunder Lord is angry again, but I have done nothing wrong! Let us leave, quickly, quickly!"

Liu Li was momentarily stunned, channeled his inner force to break free, and stared at Xuezhe. "What did you say? Thunder Lord? You—?"

"None of your business!" Xuezhe pushed him away. "If we are not to compete in swordplay, how about a free-form contest?"

Liu Li shook his head. "No need. Answer me—what did you say about the thunder?"

"Tch, nothing much! Someone once told me that thunder is the Thunder Lord's wrath, punishing wrongdoers, so whenever it thunders, I dare not hurt anyone. Just now—if there had been no thunder, I would have..." Xuezhe trailed off, seeing Liu Li's strange expression, and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Who was it who told you this?"

"Why do you have so many questions?"

Liu Li pondered, gazing at Xuezhe in disbelief, unable to sense anything familiar. "Did an old friend once say this to you as advice?"

"Yes, that's right! It's absurd, but I've believed it for years, and can't change it now!" Xuezhe's expression softened; she touched her hair, plucked a strand, tied it in a knot, and let it scatter in the wind. "He was a childhood friend, whom I met a few times. Twice during thunderstorms—once he urged me not to lose my temper, once not to cry or grieve. It seemed thunder could punish all negative things. Tonight's thunder reminds me of our parting, and I..."

"So, you knot your hair for him as well?"

Xuezhe paused, looking at Liu Li in confusion. "How did you know?"

"I..." Liu Li was silent for a long time, unsettled, his thoughts in turmoil. She... could she be Xue'er? He had met her at Kunlun, parted from her on a stormy night...

Years ago, on a stormy night, Xue'er and Baishan, who had met only a few times, parted at the Lotus Pond in Kunlun, each with their own path. The days they had spent together were pure and beautiful, the only solace for their lonely young hearts.

Liu Li still remembered the little girl plucking a hair, saying, "If we never meet again, let the wind accompany you! I will scatter my hair in the breeze, wishing you peace and happiness for the rest of your days!"

Xuezhe coughed, patted Liu Li on the shoulder, and said awkwardly, "Hey, stop daydreaming, I'm pressed for time!"

"Oh, then—you...?" Liu Li hesitated, unable to find words before the woman before him.

"I'm not a bad person. Can you tell me where the book is?"

Liu Li thought for a while, then shook his head. "How can I know you are not a bad person?"

"Fine then!" Xuezhe turned away, took a deep breath, and with a spell, reverted to her true form. "Now, are you convinced?"

Liu Li looked up, astonished, staring at her in disbelief. "You—it's you!"

"Yes, I am Xue... Xueyan! We met outside Apricot Blossom Village. Thank you for your guidance back then! Now, I have important business here—not for any evil purpose or ill intent. Could you, sir, help me once more?"

"Xue... Xueyan?" Liu Li was filled with doubt and wonder, his mind adrift under Xuezhe's gaze.

The young woman before him, gentle and open, her features clear and delicate, truly resembled Xue'er. Liu Li's heart brimmed with delight and joy.

"Will you help me?" Xuezhe looked at Liu Li with hopeful eyes. Seeing his hesitation, she simply removed her veil and said candidly, "Sir, it really is me—I truly mean no harm!"

Liu Li nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "I know."