Before setting out, Xu Yuan listened to Bai Zhao’s report. The entire ceremony for the Sword Surrender Sect would last about an hour, but the process wasn’t really complex. In the first half, the senior members of the Sword Sect presented tokens to express their allegiance. In the second half, the Imperial Court made promises, issuing announcements to calm the Sword Sect’s people.

Therefore,

after the Sword Masters of each peak in Tianyuan presented their own tokens to him, Xu Yuan left the peak of the main peak, entrusting Bai Zhao with the task of continuing to preside over the ceremony.

In the past, the Sword Sect’s propaganda line against the Imperial Court was always adversarial. Especially against their Prime Minister’s Mansion, saying they used every trick in the book would not be an overstatement.

Now that the Sword Sect had submitted, this tone must immediately change, starting from this ceremony of submission. However, how it should be adjusted was yet another test for Bai Zhao from Xu Yuan.

Leaving the hustle and bustle of the main peak plaza, Xu Yuan did not rush back to the cold Mystic Eagle Palace but walked with Ran Qingmo toward the back mountain.

That was the starting point of her years, an unchanged, lush, emerald green bamboo forest.

Walking side by side, neither of them spoke to break the silence. The warm sun filtered through the interlaced bamboo leaves, creating a mottled and fragmented golden shadow, gently spread over the winding cobblestone path. A breeze blew past, and amidst the rustling sound of the leaves, a clear, distant sword hum was faintly discernible.

Initially, Xu Yuan thought it was an illusion—like the sound of the wind sweeping through the bamboo treetops—but as his Spiritual Vision slowly spread, a gentle curve appeared at the corners of his lips.

That was Sword Intent.

Similar to the sword intent atop Tianmen Mountain,

though weaker, still sharp and aggressive, it held a softness that had settled over time.

Yet it slowly unraveled before his eyes into a corridor of time about her.

Outlined by the Sword Intent, Xu Yuan saw a vague, burly silhouette.

It was a man holding a heavy sword, dancing with a baby girl in his arms.

The bamboo leaves flew with his Sword Qi, and the air seemed to echo with hearty laughter, filled with paternal love and joy.

With each step forward, the illusion drawn by the Sword Intent evolved rapidly.

The once solitary burly figure quietly gained a small, awkward silhouette beside him.

She mimicked the man’s movements, clumsily holding a simple little wooden sword in her tiny hands, swinging it in the air with determination and earnestness, one stroke after another.

As they moved further, the scene became clearer.

It was countless sessions of sparring through the changes of seasons.

Xu Yuan watched the skinny girl repeatedly knocked to the ground by the burly man, saw her smattered with dirt, yet stubbornly biting her lip, supporting herself with the sword, to stand up again.

Time seemed to fall into fast forward.

Among the rustling falling leaves in the bamboo forest and numerous sparring sessions, the skinny girl gradually grew taller, shedding her childishness, becoming gracefully mature, her gaze becoming increasingly icy and distinct.

A thousand-meter pathway,

He had walked through her entire life...

...and reached the low grave mound....

....

Xu Yuan took a deep breath, feeling the slightly cool air in the forest seeping into his lungs, looking at the man who had also loved Ran Qingmo all his life.

A love letter written over twenty years....

Thinking about how this old man was quite romantic,

yet wondering how Big Ice Lump would cry when she saw it.

But still,

Thank you...

As if sensing the change in the man’s emotions beside her, Ran Qingmo turned to look:

"What’s wrong, Xu Yuan?"

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then smiled gently:

"Nothing, I just discovered there’s a gift here for you."

Ran Qingmo instinctively glanced around, puzzled:

"A gift?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, choosing to be a riddle-maker, saying nothing more:

"You’ll know in the future, a very thoughtful gift."

Ran Qingmo blinked, seeming to understand slightly, and murmured:

"Oh.... That’s my master, Xu Yuan."

For some reason, Ran Qingmo added this sentence.

Xu Yuan nodded: "I know."

With those words, the whole bamboo forest was silent except for the wind.

Xu Yuan knew he should say something now.

To Ran Jianli.

After all, this was supposed to be his first official meeting with the family?

The last time they met, the other party didn’t have a good impression of him. According to common sense, he should offer some assurances, at least enough to entrust Big Ice Lump to him.

But Xu Yuan really didn’t know what to say, not even knowing what tone to use.

As the living speaking to the deceased?

As a junior to a senior?

Or perhaps.... as sovereign to subject?

Xu Yuan was unsure, so he chose to remain silent.

The two remained silent,

until a faint door-opening sound came from the bamboo building in the distance.

A slightly haggard and graceful silhouette appeared in front of the bamboo building, her gentle voice reaching them before her sight:

"Qingmo, since you’re here, come in...."

But as she spoke halfway, she suddenly stopped, for the woman saw the man standing beside her daughter.

In the perception of her will-spirit, she couldn’t sense any presence of him.

Instinctively,

Luo Wei immediately bowed her head and cupped her hands:

"Han King...."

Watching this scene, Xu Yuan felt inexplicably uncomfortable because of the girl beside him.

The ruler and the minister,

seemed like a chasm tearing apart their relationship.

Even if Xu Yuan didn’t mind, each time the person by his side saluted him, it kept pulling her down.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan spoke softly:

"Aunt Luo, there’s no need for formalities in private, just call me Changtian."

Luo Wei was taken aback, instinctively looking up. After meeting that sincere gaze, she was silent for a bit and changed her address:

"Yes, Third Young Master."

Xu Yuan felt a bit helpless, but he also knew that saying more would be useless, so he nodded and said:

"These days must have been hard on you, Aunt Luo."

Luo Wei came closer to them, looking at the grave of her husband, and said softly:

"These are things a guilty woman should do, but I have troubled you. Thank you for preserving the Sword Sect relatively intact."

"This is just the beginning."

Xu Yuan shook his head and said in a low voice, "From today, Qingmo will be the leader of the Sword Sect, but she will still need your assistance."

This was one of his purposes for coming here today.

At his position, it only takes a moment to see through people’s hearts.

Luo Wei, as the former power holder of the Sword Sect, did not appear at this surrender ceremony, staying alone in this quiet bamboo forest, indicating her intention to retreat from power to a large extent.

Her husband died in battle, and she personally ruined the Sword Sect army, turning them into captives. As a woman, she has experienced too much during this period.

But Xu Yuan couldn’t let her retreat.

Ran Qingmo could not yet fulfill the role of Sword Sect Leader; she needed someone with prestige and capability within the Sword Sect to assist her.

In the short term, Xu Yuan could not find such a person within the Sword Sect, so the only one he could trust was Luo Wei.

This Big Ice Lump in name was a master’s wife, in action a mother.

Upon hearing these words, Luo Wei clearly hesitated, after some thought, she said softly:

"Qingmo, go back to your room first."

Ran Qingmo knew what the two of them wanted to say,

She wasn’t stupid,

so, she instinctively spoke:

"Xu Yuan, no need to trouble Master’s wife, I can do it myself....."

"Qingmo, go back to your room first."

Xu Yuan interrupted her with a smile, his voice gentle but indisputable.

Ran Qingmo stood there for a long time before leaving reluctantly with her head down.

Watching the door of the bamboo house close,

Luo Wei turned her gaze back to Xu Yuan, and then to the grave mound in front of her, softly saying:

"He and I protected Qingmo too well. It was hard to let her go out for training, but she ended up encountering you. I... chose to retreat to allow Qingmo to grow faster."

Xu Yuan was silent for a moment, then whispered:

"I can understand you, but not now."

Luo Wei took a deep breath and asked:

"Don’t you feel that since you met Qingmo, she has been standing still? Do you really want her to remain like this?"

Xu Yuan did not immediately answer the question.

Has the Big Ice Lump grown?

This answer doesn’t need to be spoken; both of them knew the answer in their hearts.

Compared to Li Qingyan and Tianyan, only the Big Ice Lump remained as she was initially.

Because he always protected her carefully.

With all his might.

He selfishly did not want to see her pristine and pure nature stained by the filth of the world.

Previously, there was Ran Jianli, there was Luo Wei, in the future there will be him, Xu Yuan.

Ran Qingmo’s life was under everyone’s protection, but Luo Wei’s words seemed to have pushed her to a crossroads.

Silence.

After thinking for a long time, Xu Yuan gently exhaled:

"I... will respect her own decision."

Luo Wei frowned, forgetting about the ruler and minister for the moment as the topic involved Ran Qingmo:

"What do you mean by her own decision?"

Xu Yuan looked at the woman’s weary and beautiful face, earnestly saying:

"If she wants to lead the Sword Sect, I will arrange for her training, giving her leeway for mistakes. If she only wishes to cultivate with a clear mind, then I, Xu Yuan, promise to protect her all her life."

In the stillness,

The breeze swept through the bamboo forest,

bringing the echoes of the main peak calling out the name of the Han King.

And let his promise drift into the ears of the eavesdropping girl.