The Sword Fanatic
1361 Words
The surroundings were the vast, silent, and cool Tai Chi Plaza, the jade-white stone tiles spotless and dust-free.
A light breeze rose, stirring Chu Ran's black hair. A few strands fell before his eyes, obscuring his vision.
Yunhua, standing before him, frowned upon seeing this. He immediately reached out a hand, wanting to brush away the hair on his forehead.
*Slap—*
A crisp sound rang out. Chu Ran unhesitatingly raised his hand and slapped away Yunhua's approaching fingers.
At this moment, Yunhua also realized his behavior was inappropriate. He immediately said to Chu Ran with a face full of apology, "My apologies."
Chu Ran raised his eyes, his elegant, dark gaze scrutinizing Yunhua's face, trying to find any clues.
This man's intentions to get close were too obvious, utterly unconcealed.
*What is he scheming?*
*What does he want from me?*
↑ *He just thinks you look nice and wants to get close to you, that's all.*
# *Chu Ran, Who Always Thinks the Worst of People* #
Yunhua also realized that his sudden gesture of goodwill had alerted the youth before him. He couldn't help but inwardly sigh bitterly. *He had been too impatient.* However, he truly couldn't contain himself upon finding a kindred spirit.
Especially when this youth stood suspended in the air, drew a long sword from his sleeve, and blocked the sky full of lightning tribulation.
*A single sword frosts fourteen provinces!*
The gloomy sky was instantly illuminated by that desolate, beautiful sword light, like moonlight.
At that moment, the amazement in Yunhua's eyes almost burst forth.
His gaze was completely captivated by that youth standing with sword in hand, resisting the lightning tribulation. The sword was ordinary, not even reaching spiritual artifact grade, crudely made and commonly found everywhere. Even though it was forged from Seal Thunder Stone, a sword is a weapon of s*******r, an inanimate object. What is truly powerful is the person wielding the sword.
Yunhua dared say that even if he gave the Seal Thunder Sword in that youth's hand to anyone else on the immortal stairs, none would dare, like this youth, to resist the lightning tribulation alone with a single sword.
In that instant, he was utterly impressed by this youth's courage, boldness, and cultivation in the sword path.
Therefore, when this youth stepped onto the Tai Chi Plaza, he couldn't wait to approach and strike up a conversation, to get close.
↑ *The living image of a brainless fanatic.*
*Reckless.* Yunhua sighed inwardly. *Counterproductive.*
Facing Chu Ran's vigilance, Yunhua attempted to explain himself. He said, "Junior Brother, this older brother sincerely wishes to befriend you."
"..." Chu Ran.
The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. *What can he even say to that?*
*I am not your junior brother!*
*You're calling me junior brother quite smoothly, one mouthful after another.*
Chu Ran felt quite displeased inwardly, his wariness towards this overly familiar Golden Core True Person growing heavier.
*Hmph!*
*An offering of kindness without cause is either treachery or theft!*
Without hesitation, Chu Ran metaphorically struck Yunhua True Person dead with a single blow.
*Just blanket prejudice, so willful!*
*****, bite me!*
Thus—
The willful and unreasonable Chu Ran raised his eyes, his dark, cool gaze looking at the sincere, handsome man before him. His elegant face was expressionless, showing no courtesy as he coldly said, "I am not your junior brother. Don't call me that randomly."
Yunhua True Person truly had low emotional intelligence, rendered foolish by cultivating the Dao.
Hearing this, he wasn't annoyed. Instead, he smiled genially at Chu Ran, his voice gentle as he said, "I rather wish you were my junior brother. That way—"
His voice suddenly halted, not continuing.
Chu Ran frowned, somewhat bothered by his half-finished sentence.
*He hated people who only spoke half of what they meant!*
*That way, you and I could be together day and night, sparring and discussing the sword path in the future.*
—Yunhua envisioned such a beautiful prospect in his heart.
Yunhua True Person's master had accepted three disciples in total. The first two both cultivated the orthodox Daoist *Purple Mist Heart Sutra*. Only Yunhua True Person was this oddity, cultivating the Daoist heart sutra halfway before running off to also cultivate the sword path.
His master was so angry at the time, he nearly didn't beat him to death with a horsetail whisk.
*Three Daoist cultivators in one school, yet this one oddity cultivating both sword and Dao emerged.* Zixia Peak was also full of Daoist cultivator disciples. Yunhua True Person couldn't find like-minded companions day after day, feeling utterly desolate and lonely.
Now that he had seen Chu Ran, a thought suddenly arose in his heart.
*If this person were my junior brother...*
Once this thought arose, it could not be erased.
Yunhua True Person looked towards Chu Ran, the light in his eyes frighteningly bright.
"..." Chu Ran.
*Holy crap!*
*What are you looking at me like that for?*
*As if looking at chickens and ducks ready for slaughter.*
*What do you want to do?*
It was said sword cultivators had peculiar minds, but a Daoist cultivator who practiced the sword path couldn't be described merely as having a clear and focused mind.
Yunhua had just made a decision. He wanted to... *accept a disciple on behalf of his master!*
"..." Crane Return True Lord, far away on Zixia Peak.
*You accept a disciple on my behalf? Did you ask for my opinion, your master?*
Yunhua True Person, who was sick but refused medicine and thought himself adorable, instantly changed his expression towards Chu Ran.
Just moments ago, he was as gentle as a spring breeze. Now, he was as cold and aloof as winter.
His face was like still water, his gaze stern as he stared at Chu Ran, saying ruthlessly, "*Draw your sword!*"
"..." Chu Ran.
*Holy crap?*
*What the hell kind of divine development is this?*
*I don't understand at all!*
Completely unaware of what had happened that required him to draw his sword, Chu Ran wore a completely bewildered expression, looking at the cold and merciless Yunhua True Person before him.
**Before the Jade Purity Hall, ahead of the Tai Chi Plaza**
Immortal Lord Yueci and the disciples behind him, watching this scene from afar, wore expressions of unbearable horror, the corners of their mouths twitching uncontrollably.
"This really is..." Immortal Lord Yueci raised a hand to cover his forehead, his face full of helplessness.
Yunhua True Person's fanatical nature towards the sword path was famous throughout the Shangqing Sect.
He was originally the successor Crane Return True Lord had placed high hopes on. But then... this carefully cultivated, highly anticipated successor took a stroll to the neighboring Hidden Sword Peak and returned crying and making a scene, wanting to cultivate the sword path.
Crane Return True Lord was utterly dumbfounded at the time, thinking True Lord Cui Jing of Hidden Sword Peak had done something to his precious disciple, and went to his door with horsetail whisk in hand... for a 'discussion.'
As a result—
The two peak lords disagreed, came to blows, and split half of the neighboring Qilian Peak's mountain.
"..." The peak lord of Qilian Peak, who was shot while lying down.
In the end, unable to withstand his precious disciple's persistent pestering, Crane Return Peak Lord had no choice but to agree to his determination to cultivate the sword path.
Yunhua True Person thus earned the nickname Sword Fanatic, obsessed and intoxicated, single-mindedly seeking the Path.
*Hearing the Path in the morning, one could die content in the evening.*
*Alright! Enough said.* Immortal Lord Yueci looked at the stern-faced Yunhua True Person ahead and thought, *The Sword Fanatic's obsessive fit is acting up again.*
He sighed inwardly, feeling several years older instantly. *You have these obsessive fits, so be it. It's not the first or second time anyway. But... can you be a little more reliable?*
*Open your eyes wide and look!*
*This youth before you...*
*Is only at the Qi Refinement level!*
—And Yunhua was a bona fide Golden Core True Person.
- Writer
