It was night.
The stars were like shattered silver, adorning the night sky.
The Milky Way, like a jade belt, stretched across the night sky.
Li Dixian sat on the courtyard steps, from afternoon until evening.
His Azure Lotus Sword rested across his lap, its blade reflecting the starlight, as if immersed in the Milky Way.
"Hoo…"
Li Dixian looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with the star river.
"Sword…"
"What is a sword?"
"First answer, the Sword of Instrument!"
"A sword is a weapon of malice. A sword is cold iron with a double edge, born to kill!"
Li Dixian gripped the hilt of his sword with a backhand.
Sword light suddenly flashed in the courtyard.
The cold sword light reflected his even colder eyes.
A mosquito in the air was cut in two.
"Second answer, the Sword of Heart!"
"The sword is me, and I am the sword. The sword is not an iron instrument; it is an extension of will. Where the sword points, there my heart goes!"
Li Dixian placed his Azure Lotus Sword across his lap again.
Accompanying his breathing, the Azure Lotus Sword also flickered with a rhythmic glow.
He breathed with the Azure Lotus Sword, and the sword became his flesh and blood.
"Third answer, the Sword of Heaven!"
"The sword cuts the heavenly light, and man steals the heavenly secrets. The sword has three realms: the lower sword slays men, the middle sword slays oneself, and the upper sword slays the night. A brilliant swordsman uses the sword as a brush, heaven and earth as silk; with one sword strike, the star river hangs upside down, with one sword sheathed, all sounds fall silent!"
"So what is this sword move of mine…"
Li Dixian stood up, holding his sword.
He slowly closed his eyes, the cool starlight surged through his veins, and delicate frost flowers condensed on the sword's spine.
The hand holding the sword trembled!
Not terror!
But a tremor of something about to break through the earth!
His arm extended like a bow, the sword moved like a rainbow. Li Dixian raised his sword, instantly shattering three zhang of night around him.
The sword marks carried starlight, and where it passed, the air shrieked, and fine, snow-like stardust rustled down.
"This sword move…"
"Is a wisp of heavenly will I stole."
Li Dixian withdrew his stance, stroking his sword and whispering:
"The first sword of my self-created Azure Lotus Sword Song is called 'yao guang,' which takes lives and steals heavenly light."
"It's a pity it's only half a move."
Looking at the grass leaves within ten paces, all covered with a layer of sparkling star frost, Li Dixian exhaled and said:
"The yao guang brew has not yet entered my stomach."
"Ultimately, I cannot taste the flavor of starlight."
"Therefore, there is still room for improvement in this move of mine, 'yao guang.'"
"When I drink the yao guang brew, it will be the time for my Wine Spirit to evolve and for me to complete the first sword move."
The night passed without a word.
In his dream, Li Dixian dreamt that he drank the yao guang brew.
He drank wildly under the starlight, sweeping out with a single sword, and the stars all swayed.
After waking up.
Li Dixian went out to find a way to drink the yao guang brew.
He lingered back and forth in front of the imperial palace gates eight times, and the patrolling guards looked at him differently.
"Alas…"
"Let's plan for the long term. Fine wine also depends on fate; such things cannot be rushed."
Li Dixian was a free-spirited person.
He immediately bought a set of fishing gear, along with flint and tinder, preparing to find a place to fish.
It wasn't that he didn't want to eat at a restaurant.
Mainly, he had rented a courtyard and spent too much on his journey to Star Dou City.
Now his money pouch was empty.
"Just thinking about fishing makes my hands itch."
Immediately.
Li Dixian went to the river in Heaven Dou City.
But only after arriving did he realize.
It was not suitable for fishing at all.
One pleasure boat after another competed for attention in the river, scaring all the fish away.
Li Dixian carried his fishing gear.
He searched and searched, walking out of Heaven Dou City.
He then passed through a lush peach blossom forest.
As a cool, moist breeze brushed his face, a clear lake came into view.
The lake was about three or four mu in circumference, with delicate lotus flowers growing along its banks, and occasionally fish would leap out to snatch a lotus petal.
Li Dixian's eyes lit up.
He scanned around and only saw a white-clothed figure sitting on the bank, fishing.
So he hurried over.
Found a good fishing spot.
He plopped down on his folding stool.
Chumming, baiting, casting the hook, all in one smooth motion.
The fishing rod was propped on the ground.
Li Dixian then began to set up his stove.
The elegant young master in white, three to five meters away, looked over at him curiously.
Li Dixian set up his stove and smiled at the white-clothed young master:
"How's the catch?"
"Why don't you lend me two for now? I'll return them when I catch more later."
Xue Qinghe shook her head.
"I haven't caught any yet."
Li Dixian raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, a blank-angler, huh."
Xue Qinghe's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Blank-angler?
What did that mean?
It didn't sound like a compliment.
In the reed forest dozens of meters from the lake.
Seeing the white-shirted youth who suddenly intruded, Porcupinefish Douluo, dressed as a prince's guard, wanted to go forward and drive him away.
Snake Lance Douluo reached out and stopped him.
"That's enough, don't go."
Porcupinefish Douluo frowned and said:
"But the young master said she didn't want to be disturbed."
Snake Lance Douluo looked at the white-shirted youth who was fishing and setting up a pot, as if he was settling down for life, and pouted:
"Did you hear what the young master said?"
"Hmm?!"
A tugging force came from the fishing rod in his hand.
Li Dixian's eyes lit up, and he suddenly lifted the rod.
Splash—!
A palm-sized silver-tailed fish was pulled out of the water. He reeled in the rod, unhooked the fish.
He removed the head, gutted it, cleaned it, and tossed it into the pot.
The entire process was as smooth as flowing water.
It left Xue Qinghe beside him stunned.
Li Dixian cast another line, smiling:
"The taste is all about freshness."
"Blank-angler, if you want to eat, wait until I catch a few more and I'll share some with you."
Caring for blank-anglers is everyone's responsibility.
Xue Qinghe turned her head back.
"No need, I'll catch my own."
Every week, she would come to this Lotus Lake to fish.
She wasn't there for the fish; she just wanted to clear her mind and cast aside those troublesome matters.
But today, the white-shirted youth who abruptly intruded upon the Lotus Lake.
Had ignited her competitive spirit.
"Heh…"
Xue Qinghe sneered inwardly.
If I don't show off a bit, do you think I really can't catch any fish?!
A few minutes later… "Fish on!"
Li Dixian lifted his rod again.
Xue Qinghe pursed her lips, looking at the calm water in front of her.
A few more minutes later… "Another fish on!"
Li Dixian's eyes crinkled with a smile.
Xue Qinghe's expression was calm, her hand gripping the motionless fishing rod tightly.
A few more minutes later… "Heh heh!"
Li Dixian smiled more brightly than the lotus flowers.
Xue Qinghe reeled in her fishing rod, stood up, and walked away.
"Hey, why are you competing with me?"
Li Dixian called out to him from behind.
"It's just a few fish, they're not worth much money. Meeting is friendship."
"Come over, let's eat fish together."
Xue Qinghe did not turn around.
"I'm not eating."
—
—
Half an hour later.
Xue Qinghe slowly chewed the fish in her mouth, nodding:
"Very fragrant."
Li Dixian took a sip of wine, then a bite of fish, enjoying the cool breeze with narrowed eyes.
"Comfortable."
Glancing at the white-shirted youth whose fringe was blown by the breeze, giving him a free-spirited demeanor.
Xue Qinghe asked:
"Are you from outside the city?"
Li Dixian raised his sword-like eyebrows and said:
"How did you know?"
Xue Qinghe lowered her head to eat the fish, not speaking.
How did I know?
If he were from Heaven Dou City.
How could he not recognize me, the Heaven Dou Prince…