Yet the Moon Envoy could no longer discern which shadow belonged to the weapon she had wielded since joining Han Shui Palace.
–– The irony that even she, the master of Everlasting Longing, could no longer recognize her own blade.
Zhan Ri Fei remained airborne, and Everlasting Longing, like a majestic celestial dragon, silently darted toward the Moon Envoy.
Although he didn’t know the technique Entwining Softness, the internal energy he infused into Everlasting Longing rivaled hers. His strikes mirrored her previous moves precisely.
The Moon Envoy couldn’t see clearly.
Not only that—she couldn’t hear clearly either.
All she could do was summon her energy, surrounding herself with a dense shield of Entwining Softness, her palm’s shadows interwoven to guard against the blurred images of Everlasting Longing spiraling around her.
It was as though she could hear the mockery of fate:
The master of Everlasting Longing now forced to experience its fearsome offensive firsthand.
After several exchanges, she began to feel suffocated, her breath labored.
–– She couldn’t tell whether it was the relentless onslaught of Everlasting Longing’s strikes or the incessant drizzle weighing down on her lungs.
Finally, she understood why Zhan Ri Fei hadn’t hesitated to risk injury, choosing to seize her weapon at all costs.
His only hope lay in using Everlasting Longing to overwhelm her.
She relied on the finesse of Entwining Softness, her technique flowing like liquid mercury, to halt the weapon’s relentless advance.
But no matter how soft or intricate Entwining Softness was, it still had form. And Everlasting Longing—formless and shadowy—remained Han Shui Palace’s most lethal weapon.
Somehow, the venomous weapon, as ruthless as a viper, finally breached her defenses.
In a flash, the Moon Envoy staggered back several steps, her chest struck as though by a heavy blow.
But for some inexplicable reason, when Everlasting Longing hit her, it seemed to hesitate—a brief pause.
In that fleeting moment, the peerless weapon, once formless, became visible. Seizing the opportunity, Entwining Softness enveloped Everlasting Longing with the fluid speed of liquid mercury, locking it in place.
Zhan Ri Fei immediately let go of the whip and retreated swiftly, placing himself once more in front of the boy.
Collapsing into the arms of the green-clad man, the Moon Envoy still didn’t understand what had just happened.
Zhan Ri Fei should not have hesitated in that moment. He should not have made such a basic mistake.
–– Even with Entwining Softness entangling his grip on Everlasting Longing, he should not have let it go so easily. The treasure he had fought so hard to seize—how could he relinquish it without a fight?
–– With his resourcefulness and quick thinking, he should have been able to prevent such a lapse.
But as the realization flashed through her mind, the Moon Envoy finally understood.
Her face darkened, her expression becoming grim. She didn’t want to believe it was true.
“You––you’ve already––”
She struggled to finish her words, but she couldn’t summon enough breath to speak.
Her lips curled into the familiar, soft smile that was uniquely hers. Yet in this moment, that smile carried an unspeakable venom.
* * *
The gaze of the Sun Envoy, clad in green, remained as lifeless as ever, devoid of any trace of human emotion.
His eyes weren’t cold, yet they sent chills down the spine of anyone who met them.
“Impressive technique!”
Like a fleeting flash of light, his round blade was already unsheathed.
–– Han Shui Palace’s Chang Hong Guan Ri (Long Rainbow Piercing the Sun).
A strip of white silk brushed gently over the blade before being discarded onto the ground.
“My blade is never wiped clean unless it has tasted blood. Today, I make an exception for you.”
“To cross swords with you makes my journey to the Central Plains worthwhile. For Chang Hong Guan Ri to face your Zhan Lu is an honor befitting its legendary renown.”
He had stood silently to the side, yet he had already recognized the sword in Zhan Ri Fei’s hand.
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