The Voyage In The Blizzard - Chapter 70

From the moment Yun Qi appeared in the icy world, time began to pass faster than before. As if it was wishing that the day would come soon when the curse would be lifted.

Everyone immersed in their own affairs and gradually beginning to forget about what happened to Xing Fu and On, the warriors continued to fight for the right to live, and the stars continued to dance in an invisible dance when the frosty night fell.

Everything went on as usual, but only for those who have long obediently bowed their heads before fate.

In such careless days at first glance, there was still a catch. Namely, peace always comes at a high price.

For the second hour in a row, Longwei listened to the flood of words coming out of Sun’s mouth and tried to look as cold as possible for 120 minutes. But with each passing minute he succeeded with more difficulty. Remembering in his head the conversation with Lei that had been in the morning, he knew that a little more and all this would end. He knew that he needed to be careful in words and actions, be peaceful and look like a real beast. And now, in practice, testing his lack of involvement, he looked into Sun’s snake eyes and stuck his nails into the handle of a leather chair..

“Please try this dish. It is made from the meat of the Snowballs. You will not believe it, but it is very tasty. And why did everyone think these creatures were not edible!” said Sun, moving a large plate of enticing aroma.

“Did you invite me to talk about beautiful scenery and food?” Longwei asked two hours later.

Laughing but immediately stopping, Sun looked sad and said, “I invited you because. Although I think you know why.”

“I don’t know. Tell me.”

“I wanted to apologize. For everything.” suddenly he said deceitfully filling his eyes with deceitful tears.

“Well you are late.”

“No really.” Moving closer, Sun putting his icy hand on Longwei’s hand with a lowered gaze paused for a while and then said, “I want to apologize for everything I have done. But I did a lot of bad things. I have done nothing good in my entire life. But you must try to understand me. Longwei, you know what kind of world we live in. Here, you need to be able to survive. So I just did everything to survive. Yes, there is a lot of blood on my hands. I now realize it. I realize everything that I did. And I am ashamed. I am very ashamed.” Having let down a few tears, he approached Longwei and at that moment when Longwei was about to hit him, he suddenly fell to the floor at Longwei’s feet.

Bending down to him, Longwei whispered cautiously, “No apology will save you. You have looked into the eyes of monsters for too long and nothing will change the fact that you have become one of them. Also, you should not ask me for forgiveness. Beg Xing Fu, beg everyone who was on your way. And even begging will not save your poisonous essence.”

Patting him on the shoulder, Longwei stood up and wanted to leave, but wrapping his arms around his leg, Sun lifted his tear-stained face. “I’m really sorry.”

“Why are you asking me for forgiveness? What have you done to me personally?”

Behaving more dramatically, Sun said loudly, “Longwei, let me find salvation for my poisonous soul in friendship with you.”

“In friendship?”

“Let me start over. Longwei, let’s change this world together.”

“Together?! Brother Sun, can you even hear yourself? Or is this your new trick?”

Grabbing both of his hands, Sun said pleadingly, “Please.”

Remembering Zhang Sun who had cast a curse on the entire world, Longwei thought, “Surely Sun looks exactly like him.”

With a sneer on his face, Longwei looking at him and then at the beautifully decorated hall in which everything was like an important guests were expected here, slightly pushing him away from himself and whispered, “Don’t try to change the monster that is in you.”

Rushing towards the exit and finally when he left the cave of the monster, Longwei, hitting the ground with both hands, cried out loudly. So loud that his scream was heard all around.

Grabbing the sword, he saw two beasts in the forest and without hesitation he rushed at them. With rage he confidently and with dexterity thrust his sword into the beast’s chest. The creature, letting out a heartbreaking cry, fell into a deep snowdrift.

Slowly turning towards another beast, who was looking at him through a blizzard that eroded his long and thin figure, Longwei straightened both hands on both sides and closed his eyes.

Sensing the approach of the beast, he, without opening his eyes, jumped and thrust his sword directly into the throat of the monster.

Throwing the dead beast directly at the other, he looked at them and said, “See you soon.”

With the passing of days, all Three Mountains plunged into dead silence. Losing warriors, creating new ones, everything continued to be.

Until now, being in the farmhouse, Longwei and Lei, having long forgotten about their duties as a warrior, continued to observe Yun Qi every day while she grew every second, at a rate not typical for ordinary children. Trying to do everything so that no one understands her uniqueness, their lives finally have another meaning other than monatonic survival.

Plunging into a deep sleep, Longwei only now forgetting about Sun’s words finally began to dream, but feeling someone’s strong hands which were shaking him, he opened his eyes and saw Yun Qi through the darkness.

“I want to take a walk.” she said as she pulled him out from under the covers.

Looking at Lei who was sleeping peacefully in the other corner of the room, he took his cloak without question and followed Yun Qi’s quick steps.

Passing the house in which the old farmer lived, Longwei glanced slightly into his window and, making sure that he did not wake up, quickly went to the side of the barn.

“What’s wrong? Why are you walking alone in the middle of the night?” Longwei asked as he covered her with a cloak.

Having already turned out to be taller than before, Yun Qi, walking next to him, took his hand as she always does and, looking ahead, replied, “I cannot sleep. I wanted fresh air.”

Walking in unison towards the abandoned houses where beasts were rarely seen, they were both silent. And in everyone’s silence there was a strong excess of thoughts and unsaid words.

“Yun Qi, do you already know your destiny in this world?” Longwei asked suddenly.

Looking at him through the white wind, Yun Qi replied, “Lei told me everything a long time ago. While you were sleeping, he told me about the legend.”

“And you weren’t scared? I mean, you’re not scared now? You’re keeping in yourself the whole power that is able to destroy the curse. And you are different from everyone and for now you must hide it. I think everyone, if they were in your shoes, would be scared.”

“There is nothing scary. The only thing that worries me is that you will leave me someday.” squeezing his hand tighter, Yun Qi stopped.

“Why do you think so? I will never leave you.”

“Yes, but they left everyone. The guys who study with me and with whom I have to share a room, they say that almost all of their fathers left them. Some have never even seen them. Now I am scared. What if one day it will be hard for you to look me in the eye because of shame. Because of shame that you had to create me and release me into this terrible world. ”

Pinching her by the tip of her nose, Longwei adjusted her hood and said, “Your thoughts are heavier than you yourself.”

“How can I trust you? Why are you saying so confidently that you will never leave me?” she asked forcefully.

Continuing to walk aimlessly among the abandoned, broken houses in which the ancient warriors once lived, Longwei put his arm around her shoulders. “Someday I still have to leave you. After all, nothing exists forever. But until then, I will always be with you. And I am sure of this. I will definitely bring you to a better life, I will definitely bring you to a better world and I will do everything to be with you as long as possible. But you must trust me, believe me that I will never leave you on purpose.”

Looking thoughtfully at him with her shining eyes, Yun Qi buried her nose in his waistcoat as she did when she was a child. “I will do everything so that you are always with me dad.”

Lifting his head to the sky to hide the sadness in his eyes, Longwei only made a sound of agreement.

“Yun Qi! Can you really fight with a sword? If so, show me.”

“Yes, we want to see.”

After a long lesson, which was, as always, about the death and life of a warrior and that there is no place for happiness or hope until you learn to accept your hard fate, gathering in the training room where usually pupils played and spent their free time, several young soldiers holding a wooden swords pretended to be holding a real silver swords.

“Come on!” Running straight at her, the son of Baofeng-Xue Xing Fu swung his sword, but only he wanted to strike his trademark blow as Yun Qi stretched her foot right in front of his feet and he fell to the floor.

“It’s not fair!”

“The fight is never fair.” she said, leaning over his face.

“You are cunning, which means that you will live long. Maybe.”

Holding out her hand, Yun Qi said, “And you are clumsy and lazy, you will also live long. Maybe.”

Breaking into laughter, both of them began to run after each other.

Sitting on a large log, Xiaoli’s son Longwei, drawing little men on the wooden surface, gave them a quick and tired look. Having inherited all the features of his father, he was a complete mystery. Showing no interest in battle, he liked to sit in complete solitude, all by himself. But unable to withstand the fun games that filled the entire hall with their loudness, he jumped down and joined them.

“Longwei, why is your name like my father’s name?” Yun Qi asked, twirling a wooden sword in her hand and aiming it at Xing Fu.

“Probably because my dad is a good friend of your dad.” Longwei answered with a shrug.

“And I was named after the fallen hero and the head of the First Clan Xing Fu. Dad said it is a great honor to bear his name.” Xing Fu added as he began to climb up the rope.

“Why were you called Yun Qi? Why were you called luck?” asked Xing Fu.

“This is the first thing that came to my father’s mind.” she answered.

“Hey Yun Qi! So will you show us your skills that you always speak with pride about or are you afraid to lose?” Again an annoying voice was heard from the very end of the hall in which a bunch of students crowded.

“This Wei is everywhere.” Longwei muttered displeasedly.

Clutching a wooden sword in her hand, Yun Qi stood in the very center of the hall in which a circle was drawn. Taking the right pose that Lei had taught her, she lazily glanced at a tall boy who had one eye of a completely different color. And because of this he was nicknamed “Day and Night” and all because his right eye was black, and his left was light brown.

“Well? Are you ready or not?” she asked focusing on her sword.

Having grinned, Wei, throwing off his vest stopped right in front. Smiling, he said, “I hope you fail.”

“I hope you win.” surprising her opponent, Yun Qi said.

Touching the tips of their swords, they both looked into each other’s eyes for the last time before the fight, and as if knowing that she was a girl, Wei let her strike first.

With dexterity and grace, taking a step forward, she struck Wei’s sword. Under the strong pressure of her powers, Wei staggered back a bit but immediately fought back.

Yun Qi, remembering Lei’s words, deliberately stepping back gave Wei the ability to strike after blow. By pretending that he was clearly winning, Yun Qi with attention observed his every movement.

And at that moment when Wei wanted to strike his last blow before the victory, Yun Qi like a bird jumped up and struck him with a strong blow. Kicking him in the chest, she took away his sword right from his hands.

Stumbling over Xing Fu’s outstretched leg, Wei fell to the floor with a crash.

Leaning over him, Yun Qi, throwing his sword at him, said, “It was too easy and fast. Hopefully next time you will wave your arms less and look your opponent in the eyes more.”

Instead of anger, laughing, Wei continued to lie and said in response, “You at least know that being cunning leads to death.”

“Did you come up with this yourself? If yes, then I will remember your words, and next time I will pronounce them to my enemy.”

“And you are weak Day and Night! I thought that you were full of strength. But you lost so quickly!” someone shouted from the crowd.

Surrounding Yun Qi, everyone started asking her about the wisdom of fighting until she raised her sword and asked, “Who’s next?!”

Taking her challenge with interest, everyone took the wooden swords and took the necessary warrior pose.

Choosing Xing Fu first, she whispered before striking, “I’ll be softer with you.”

And so, to the sounds of wooden swords, to the sounds of laughter and blazing cries of delight, under the eternally pale sky, the arrows of time swept between flying swords and hands, changing days and months.

To the sounds of wooden swords banging against each other, to the sounds of real silver swords, time rushed ahead, leaving behind a long train of memories of a fleeting childhood.

“So who’s next? You, father? Or Lei?” with the changed voice of a teenage girl, Yun Qi asked.

In a matter of months, having turned into a 17-year-old girl, Yun Qi, having completely changed in appearance and mind, now became a real warrior who was famous not only for her impossible strength, but also for the sharpest mind that could be on the Three Mountains.

Looking at Longwei with large black eyes full of glitter of stars, she raised one eyebrow and stretched her swan neck, straightened her shoulders, which were dressed in a fur cape. Putting her right foot forward, she brushed the naughty lock of hair from her face and pinned it with an iron barrette and asked, “So who’s next? Or are you afraid?”

“You better straighten your vest and tie your laces.” Longwei said.

“My vest is okay. Only it is a little bit big. I told you to make it a little smaller.” said Yun Qi while tying the lace.

“I got you a vest. But you don’t want to wear that. And why are you constantly wearing that heavy leather vest that looks like dragon skin?” Straightening her tangled hair, Longwei asked with obvious displeasure in his voice.

“I don’t like that vest. What’s wrong with this one? It’s beautiful and I love that it really feels like dragon skin.”

“I’ll be next.” interrupting them said Lei taking out his sword.

Leaving Longwei behind, Yun Qi approached him and also taking out her silver sword with a serrated blade, said, “Well, let’s start.”