Chapter Fifty-five: That Father and Son!

The approaching figure drew nearer, his stride steady and powerful; each step was identical to the last, never quickening or slowing, unfazed even by the frigid, biting cold of the two blossoms of ice. His progress was entirely unaffected. His face bore no expression, an ancient indifference etched upon it, unmoved even as his own son attacked him.

The spring wind that swept across the grassland was tinged with chill, stirring the garments of the three figures standing there before racing away into the distance.

Swordless Willow halted ten meters from Zhou Yu and Willow Bright Moon, his gaze seemingly fixed on Zhou Yu, on Willow Bright Moon, or perhaps on no one at all.

Zhou Yu felt uneasy. No matter how things stood, the man before him and the youth at his side were father and son. Were they truly to fight to the death, with no hope for reconciliation? Moreover, as Willow Bright Moon had said, there were great doubts surrounding the destruction of the Sword Sect. Swordless Willow did not appear to be a bloodthirsty killer; he was merely cold.

Yet Zhou Yu, due to his own experiences and temporary lack of strength, could not comprehend that a cold, powerful man could disregard the lives of others so completely, as Swordless Willow did.

Swordless Willow’s sword at his waist emitted a quiet hum, yet there was not the slightest disturbance in the air. He extended a finger.

An invisible blade of sword energy pierced Willow Bright Moon’s chest before the pain could spread through the air.

Willow Bright Moon grunted, stepping back half a pace.

Zhou Yu looked at him and saw a blooming crimson flower at Willow Bright Moon’s chest. Only then did he believe that the man before him was truly a cold-hearted father, his heart as icy as winter.

The chill within Willow Bright Moon’s body quickly froze the wound, so no more blood flowed; thus the flower ceased to bloom. He took a deep breath, resolute, and said, “This sword repays your kindness in raising me. From this moment, we are no longer father and son. Only mortal enmity remains.”

Swordless Willow replied without expression, “Oh? Then this is indeed a matter worth celebrating. Let’s see how many of my strikes you can endure.”

Willow Bright Moon said, “I’d like to see just how strong you really are.”

Zhou Yu’s head spun. These two were absurd—by rights, Willow Bright Moon should have asked why, and Swordless Willow should have offered some explanation or excuse, but neither inquired nor replied. They met only to duel to the death.

“Wait…” Zhou Yu began, but the gazes of Willow Bright Moon and Swordless Willow silenced him; the pressure exerted by such powerful presences made him close his mouth involuntarily.

He bit his tongue, forcing himself to resist the turmoil inside, and said, “Since it’s so rare for you to meet, why not sit down and talk, reminisce?”

Swordless Willow withdrew his gaze from Zhou Yu, paused in silence, and said, “No need for words.”

A fleeting sadness flashed in Willow Bright Moon’s eyes; without hesitation, he thrust his sword forward.

A torrent of icy energy erupted from the sword’s tip, crossing the ten meters before the surrounding air had time to cool, striking toward Swordless Willow.

Since merging with the power of the Sacred Qilin, and wielding one of the top three sword techniques in the world—the Proud Cold Sword Art—Willow Bright Moon’s attack was powerful enough to make even the greatest masters retreat.

But Swordless Willow was not just any man. He did not retreat; he merely extended a finger. A thread-thin, invisible sword energy shot forth.

Upon contact with the icy energy, the invisible sword energy penetrated it without hindrance, striking at Willow Bright Moon.

Willow Bright Moon’s pupils contracted; he could distinctly sense the needle-like, razor-sharp, unstoppable sword energy slicing through the cold energy he had unleashed.

Suddenly, a crisp “ding” sounded as a snow-white ice crystal shattered before Willow Bright Moon.

As the host of the Sacred Qilin, Willow Bright Moon was naturally protected. The first strike had been deliberate, but now he allowed the Sacred Qilin to shield him. The moment the invisible sword energy reached him, a crystal of pure frozen essence formed and blocked it; both shattered upon contact.

---

The icy energy Willow Bright Moon sent toward Swordless Willow seemed blocked, dispersing and forming a mirror of ice before him.

“You’ve improved,” Swordless Willow said calmly.

Without words, unwilling to reply, Willow Bright Moon saw his own energy become a mirror before Swordless Willow. He rapidly moved to Swordless Willow’s side and struck again.

Swordless Willow was momentarily surprised, but then his own sword intent surged forth, shielding him. The cold energy flowed along the shield, spreading and forming another ice mirror.

Willow Bright Moon shifted his position once more, apparently unaffected by the initial strike. His eyes glimmered with cold murderous intent.

The same attack from different angles—almost instantly, Willow Bright Moon unleashed four strikes.

Each was powerful enough to force the world’s greatest swordsmen to retreat, yet Swordless Willow did not move a single step. His sword intent absorbed them effortlessly.

Now, ice mirrors surrounded Swordless Willow, leaving no opening for attack, but Willow Bright Moon’s lips curled into a faint smile. As the last mirror formed, he flashed forward, crossing the ten meters in a blink, closing in on Swordless Willow.

“Die!” With a wild shout, Willow Bright Moon thrust his sword into the ice mirror. The blade slipped in as if cutting through water, piercing the mirror and driving toward Swordless Willow within.

More than half the blade penetrated Swordless Willow’s body.

“From the beginning, you planned to use these ice mirrors to trap me?” Swordless Willow glanced at the sword embedded in his body, touching the ice mirror as he spoke.

“You’re too strong; no one can strike you. But your pride is your weakness. Because you are powerful and proud, you refuse to retreat, which gave me the chance to trap you. Once trapped, your frail body stands no chance against this ice sword,” Willow Bright Moon’s eyes burned with madness and delight. His hands trembled on the sword’s hilt, intensifying the pain for the one impaled. The greater his pain, the more exhilarated Willow Bright Moon felt, and so he trembled even more...

“But since you know I am so strong, why would you hope to strike me?”

The voice sounded from behind. Willow Bright Moon’s hands suddenly steadied, then slowly released the sword, for he knew he had lost.

As the sword fell, the ice-bound Swordless Willow burst apart, dissipating without a trace.

“I told you, you are too weak, unfit to wield a sword. Even now you have not grasped the true meaning of the blade. What purpose does a useless life like yours serve?”

Swordless Willow stood behind Willow Bright Moon, hands clasped behind his back, still expressionless. “You treat the sword as a mere tool, a weapon, so you will never touch me. I understand the sword better than you; every strike you make reveals your intent. I know because the sword’s spirit confides in me.”

The impaled, ice-bound figure was not Swordless Willow’s true body, but a duplicate formed of sword energy.

Not even Willow Bright Moon, nor Zhou Yu who had stood by, could discern when Swordless Willow had conjured the sword avatar—such was the gulf in their abilities.

“You wanted to kill me, so why waste so many words?” Willow Bright Moon turned, roaring at Swordless Willow, his face flushed with rage, arteries bulging, blood surging, the wound at his chest splitting open and spraying blood.

Swordless Willow frowned, pinching the blood jet between two fingers, sighing in disappointment. “I didn’t expect you to stoop to such low tricks to kill me.”

Zhou Yu looked carefully and saw that between Swordless Willow’s right index and middle finger was a crimson sword, formed of blood and icy energy!

Willow Bright Moon clutched his chest, coughing violently, blood bubbling from his wounded lungs.

“You kill your own father—why would I bother with proper methods against a beast like you?” Willow Bright Moon gritted his teeth, suppressing the cough, and spoke to Swordless Willow.

Standing nearby, Zhou Yu noticed Swordless Willow’s lips twitch slightly after hearing this.

---

“When brute force fails, you resort to sneak attacks; when those fail, you use words? How could Swordless Willow have such a useless son?” Swordless Willow’s voice regained its composure.

“You may leave,” Swordless Willow said suddenly.

“If you wish to kill me, then do it! Why pretend?” Willow Bright Moon clutched his chest, agitated, but soon calmed.

“Why kill you? Isn’t it better to let you live in endless hatred and sorrow? Weaklings like you always curse fate, blame heaven for injustice. But why should heaven be fair to you? Why show pity or grant blessings? Heaven favors only the strong!” Swordless Willow spoke as he turned to leave.

He walked slowly, his words equally measured, yet Zhou Yu felt utterly powerless. What strength this man possessed!

After ten steps, Swordless Willow sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Zhou Yu, carrying Abu Li, approached Willow Bright Moon. He looked at the youth, whose defeated face was full of frustration and unwillingness.

Zhou Yu wanted to speak several times, but the words never left his lips.

After a long while, Zhou Yu gently touched Willow Bright Moon, signaling him to leave.

Willow Bright Moon looked at Zhou Yu, shook his head slowly and resolutely, then bent down to pick up the sword—once ordinary, now refined into a blade of ice by the Sacred Qilin.

He gazed at the sword for a long time, closed his eyes, and felt the blade in his hands.

Suddenly, Willow Bright Moon pointed his sword at Swordless Willow and said, “Again.”

Swordless Willow opened his eyes, shook his head slightly, and spoke softly: “You’re forcing me to kill you. Do you think I would waste my time practicing swords with you? The reason I do not kill you is simply because I do not wish to. If, in the next moment, I decide to kill you, you will die.”

“I am not practicing. I am here to kill you.”

With those words, Willow Bright Moon struck, unleashing a blade of sword energy.

This sword energy was more refined, purer, its murderous intent and resolve even stronger.

Swordless Willow watched the incoming sword energy without expression, indifferently saying, “I told you—this is suicide.”

With that single phrase, Willow Bright Moon’s sword energy dissipated.

Swordless Willow’s gaze, almost tangible, pierced through the shattered icy sword energy, fixing upon Willow Bright Moon.

Standing beside Willow Bright Moon, Zhou Yu suddenly felt his face flush with heat, as if scalding liquid drenched him. The scent of blood filled his nostrils.

PS: These two are crucial characters in the story. The outline for chapters two, three, and four runs to two thousand words, with a detailed outline of twenty thousand, ensuring the plot remains on track and is not abandoned. Thank you all for reading!