I had no intention of entering the martial world.

Chapter 34 Cloud Sea 5 Styles

Inside the bamboo house, Lu Chenzhou opened his eyes.

He had just finished a session of internal energy cultivation, and his "Ice Heart Technique" had reached a minor level of mastery. The Azure Sword Qi was suppressed deep within his dantian and would not erupt for the time being.

He felt...good.

It's not about physical well-being, but about mental well-being.

The feeling of being torn apart and swallowed up had lessened considerably. Although the emotions were still faint, at least he could feel that they had become "faded".

Instead of being completely empty as before.

He got up, walked to the window, and looked at the sea of ​​clouds outside.

The sea of ​​clouds was magnificent, like a white ocean, shimmering with gold edges in the sunlight.

Very beautiful.

He tried to feel "beauty".

It's very difficult, like looking through a thick fog.

But at least... he can now recognize the existence of "beauty".

This is already progress.

Just then, the door opened.

Chu Xueya walked in, carrying a tray with a bowl of porridge and several side dishes on it.

"It's time to eat," she said.

Lu Chenzhou turned around and looked at her.

I hadn't seen her for three days. She had lost some weight and looked a little pale, but her eyes were bright, like stars washed by rain.

"Thank you," he said.

Chu Xueya placed the tray on the table, sat down opposite him, and watched him eat.

Lu Chenzhou picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and put it in his mouth.

It still has no flavor.

But he could feel the temperature and the softness of the rice grains.

This is already progress.

"How's your practice of the Ice Heart Manual going?" Chu Xueya asked.

"You've mastered it," Lu Chenzhou said. "You've suppressed the sword energy."

"That's good." Chu Xueya breathed a sigh of relief. "Next, we need to find the other two swords."

Lu Chenzhou looked up: "Do you know where it is?"

"I don't know," Chu Xueya shook her head, "but I know someone does."

"Who?"

"The Sword Inquiry Pavilion," Chu Xueya said, "is the largest intelligence organization in the martial arts world. It's said there's nothing they don't know. As long as you can afford the price, they can tell you any secret."

Ask the Sword Pavilion.

Lu Chenzhou had heard of it. Shen Xingyao had mentioned the name when they were in Jiangling.

"Is it expensive?" he asked.

"It's very expensive," Chu Xueya said, "but the Emei Sect can afford it."

Lu Chenzhou looked at her: "Why did you help me?"

Chu Xueya was silent for a moment, then said:

"Because we are comrades-in-arms. And also because... I don't want to see you die."

Lu Chenzhou remained silent.

He just stared at her for a long time.

Then he said:

"Alright. Then let's go ask the Sword Pavilion."

"No rush," Chu Xueya said. "You should focus on healing your injuries first and mastering the Ice Heart Technique. At the very least... you need to be able to control the Azure Nether Sword Qi and prevent yourself from going berserk."

Lu Chenzhou nodded.

He does need time.

It takes time to become stronger, it takes time... to adapt to this new version of myself.

A version of myself that is slowly dying, but not quite dead yet.

"Xueya," he suddenly called out.

"Um?"

"If...if I really lose control in the end, will you kill me?"

Chu Xueya looked at him, her eyes calm:

"Yes. But I hope that day never comes."

Lu Chenzhou smiled.

The smile was faint, but genuine.

"I hope so too."

He said.

Then, he lowered his head and continued drinking his porridge.

Outside the window, the sea of ​​clouds rolls and the pines rustle in the wind.

Like an ancient song, it tells a story about life and death, love and hate, and destiny.

But for the two people in the story, it's only just begun.

---

The morning mist, like a veil, enveloped Tingtao Xiaozhu.

Lu Chenzhou sat cross-legged on the platform outside the bamboo house, closed his eyes and concentrated, circulating the "Ice Heart Technique". With each breath, white vapor overflowed from his mouth and nose, condensing into tiny water droplets in the cool morning light.

He has been sitting here for three hours.

From midnight to dawn, from moonset to sunrise.

The restless Azure Sword Qi within his body gradually subsided under the suppression of the Ice Heart Technique, like a tamed beast temporarily dormant deep within his dantian. But this calm was merely an appearance—Lu Chenzhou could feel that each pulse of the sword qi was stronger than the day before.

It is growing.

Like a seed buried in the soil, it is frantically absorbing nutrients, waiting for the moment to break through the soil.

All he could do was use the Ice Heart Technique to build a thin dam, delaying the arrival of that day.

"A pure heart remains unperturbed even when the sky falls..."

Silently reciting the incantation, Lu Chenzhou slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.

It was already daylight.

As dawn broke in the eastern sky, the sea of ​​clouds was tinged with a pale gold, resembling a burning ocean. In the distance, the peaks of Mount Emei appeared and disappeared in the mist, like islands inhabited by immortals in legend.

Very beautiful.

Lu Chenzhou tried to feel this beauty—just like Master Qingwei taught him, to see with his eyes, hear with his ears, feel the wind with his skin, and smell the scent of pine needles and morning dew in the air.

Then, mentally label these feelings:

"The sea of ​​clouds is magnificent and awe-inspiring."

"The morning breeze is cool and refreshing."

"The sound of pine trees rustling in the wind creates a sense of tranquility."

This is another method that Master Qingwei taught him—when emotions begin to fade, record, analyze, and reconstruct them rationally. Like learning arithmetic, break down those vague feelings into clear words, and then piece them back together logically.

It's clumsy, but it works.

At least now, he can "know" that he is "feeling," instead of feeling nothing.

"Young Master Lu."

Chu Xueya's voice came from behind.

Lu Chenzhou turned around.

Chu Xueya stood at the entrance of the bamboo house, still dressed in a plain white Taoist robe, her hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, holding a tray in her hand. The morning light shone from behind her, gilding her with a layer of gold, like a jade statue suddenly gaining warmth.

"It's time for breakfast." She came over and placed the tray on the bamboo table.

It was still porridge, with a few side dishes, very light.

Lu Chenzhou sat down at the table, picked up a spoon, scooped a spoonful of porridge, and put it in his mouth.

It has no taste, but it has warmth and texture.

He ate slowly, while Chu Xueya sat down opposite him, not eating, but just watching him.

"How are you feeling today?" she asked.

"It's better," Lu Chenzhou said. "The sword energy has been suppressed for the time being."

"That's good." Chu Xueya paused. "Master said you can start practicing swordsmanship today."

Practicing swordsmanship?

Lu Chenzhou was taken aback.

Since the Azure Sword Qi awakened, he hasn't touched a sword again—not because he didn't want to, but because he dared not. He feared that if he grasped the sword, that power would go out of control, and he would become a monster that only knew how to kill, just like in Jiangling.

"Don't worry, it's not about practicing the Azure Destiny Sword." Chu Xueya saw his concern. "It's about practicing basic sword techniques. The Emei Sect's introductory sword techniques emphasize foundations, which will help you stabilize your mind and control your power."

She stood up, walked to the center of the platform, and drew the sword from her back.

The sword was ordinary, forged from blue steel, its blade gleaming with a cold, eerie light. But in her hands, it seemed to come alive.

"Watch closely."

Chu Xueya made her move, the tip of her sword trembling slightly as it drew an elegant arc.

"First move, Clouds Rise."

The sword moves like a cloud, light and graceful, seemingly slow, but actually full of hidden changes.

"Second move, wind movement."

The sword technique changed, from slow to fast, the sword light was like the wind, omnipresent.

"The third move, rain falls."

The sword light suddenly intensified, like a torrential downpour; each strike was precise, each strike was deadly.

"Fourth move, Thunderclap."

The sword technique changed again, from skillful to clumsy, and the sword was slashed out with the force of a thunderbolt.

"Fifth move, lightning."

The final move was incredibly fast, so fast that the sword light flashed and disappeared in an instant, leaving only the sound of it cutting through the air.

After performing the five moves, Chu Xueya sheathed her sword and looked at Lu Chenzhou:

"This is the 'Five Forms of Cloud Sea,' the foundation of the Emei Sword Technique. It doesn't emphasize killing, but rather the artistic conception and control. By practicing this, you can become familiar with the nature of the sword without triggering the Azure Nether Sword Qi."

Lu Chenzhou stared at her for a long time.

Then he asked a question:

Why are you so good to me?

Chu Xueya was stunned.

A morning breeze blew by, lifting a few stray hairs from her temples. Her eyelashes were long, casting delicate shadows in the morning light.

"Because..." She remained silent for a long time, and finally said softly, "Because we are the same kind of people."

"similar?"

"Yes." Chu Xueya nodded. "We are all carrying burdens we shouldn't bear, and walking paths we shouldn't be on. If even we don't help each other, then no one in this world can help us."

She spoke calmly, but beneath that calm lay a profound loneliness.

Lu Chenzhou suddenly remembered what Lu Jinghong had said when they were in Zhongnan Mountain:

"That girl, Chu Xueya, looks aloof, but she's warmer than anyone else inside. But she's so lonely, like an iceberg, hard on the outside but full of cracks inside."

Now he understands.

Chu Xueya's loneliness, like her Ice Marrow Sword Bone, was innate, etched into her very bones.

Just like his hatred, and the Azure Sword Qi, it was destined, and he could not escape it.

"Okay." Lu Chenzhou stood up, walked to the center of the platform, and said, "Teach me."

Chu Xueya smiled.

Her smile was faint, but beautiful.

Like a flower suddenly blooming on an iceberg.