The Ten-Move Challenge

At dawn, the world seemed to be covered by a veil.

It was hazy, filled with a mysterious air.

The firmament had not yet succumbed to complete darkness, still cradling a sliver of faint light.

The veil of night had not fully withdrawn, yet the nascent glow of dawn already eagerly permeated the world.

The first golden ray, akin to a honed blade with its edge fully revealed, thrust directly into the twilight gloom at the horizon.

The pockets of darkness, like specters driven by this piercing light, scattered in frantic retreat, and with them, the pervasive gloom slowly dissipated.

A delicate mist permeated the Sword-Challenging Arena of the Xuantian Dao Sect.

It seemed to drape the entire arena in a dreamlike, ethereal cloak.

A woman stood gracefully amidst the mist, resembling an ice lotus unfurling in the chill of night—serene, cold, and utterly aloof.

She slowly opened her eyes, which gleamed like distant, frigid stars.

“You’ve arrived?”

The woman did not turn; her voice, clear and cold, echoed softly through the tranquil arena.

There was no need for her to turn; the familiar rhythm of footsteps alone revealed the identity of her visitor.

Throughout this past year and beyond, irrespective of the wildest winds and rains or the most scorching sun, he had never once failed to appear.

“I have, Immortal Maiden.”

A clear voice emanated from behind her, imbued with a distinct blend of resolve and persistence.

“Miss Bai Qingxue,” the voice continued, “I, Wang, have come… to challenge you to a sword duel.”

The man’s figure was imposing and erect, standing well over eight feet tall, his spine as straight as an ancient pine, rooted and unyielding.

Though his features were unremarkable, his face possessed a striking, chiseled quality, as if sculpted by a blade and axe.

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingxue slowly, silently turned.

Her eyes, like a tranquil pool of autumn water, were both clear and profoundly deep.

Bai Qingxue’s countenance remained as frigid as ancient ice, a glacier untouched by millennia, yet a faint dimpled smile, one she hadn’t possessed a year prior, blossomed quietly at the corner of her lips.

In a flash, the woman moved with lightning speed, heralded only by the dragon-like cry of her sword.

Before his eyes could even register her movement, she had already drawn her sword.

The man’s reaction was swift; he instinctively drew his sword from its sheath.

In that very instant, a sharp, piercing hum reverberated through the air.

He held his three-foot green blade horizontally before him, and with a resounding “clang,” the clash of metal echoed throughout the arena.

He successfully blocked Bai Qingxue’s sword.

“Miss Bai is truly the dark horse of the Sword Dao Sect,” the man chuckled, “Your strikes are fiercely swift; I, Wang, was almost unable to defend.”

“Hmph!”

Bai Qingxue offered no words, only a soft ‘hmph’, before swiftly retracting her blade.

The next moment, a deluge of thrusts descended upon him, like a sudden, furious storm.

A dizzying array of overlapping sword shadows flickered, mesmerizing and disorienting.

The man swiftly weaved and dodged, his figure flitting between the myriad sword shadows.

Though appearing somewhat disheveled, he nonetheless managed to parry the onslaught.

Not to be outdone, the man unleashed his own offensive.

His sword techniques were remarkably peculiar, starkly contrasting Bai Qingxue’s sharp and formidable Sword Dao.

He relied more on an elusive footwork, his form flickering like a phantom, unpredictable and fleeting.

He consistently launched his attacks from unexpected angles, striking when his opponent was least prepared.

More than a year prior, a man named Wang had sought out Bai Qingxue at the Sword Dao Sect.

At that time, his eyes brimming with ardent passion and sincerity, he confessed his affection for her, hoping she would reciprocate his feelings.

But who was Bai Qingxue?

Her serene yet frigid beauty and icy disposition were renowned throughout the Xuantian Sword Dao Sect.

Prior to Wang, numerous suitors had vied to declare their affections for her.

However, their only reply was invariably Bai Qingxue’s cold, unyielding sword.

“A Dao companion who desires to walk hand-in-hand with me, Bai Qingxue, must never be a person of mediocrity.”

“Should one wish to prove they are not ordinary, they must best my sword. Whoever can endure ten of my sword strikes shall earn my acknowledgment.”

No sooner had these words been uttered than a multitude flocked to accept the challenge.

All believed that defeating Bai Qingxue was an insurmountable task, but surviving ten moves beneath her blade offered a faint glimmer of hope.

Bai Qingxue possessed an innate Enlightened Sword Heart (TL Note: A rare talent in cultivation where one naturally comprehends the essence of the sword, developing sword intent and sword heart without deliberate meditation.).

It was rumored that individuals of this talent harbored an extraordinary, innate affinity for the sword.

Along their cultivation journey, Sword Intent and Sword Heart would spontaneously manifest, requiring no deliberate meditation or enlightenment.

Even in the Qi Condensation Stage, Bai Qingxue had already demonstrated the immense talent of her Enlightened Sword Heart.

Upon her initial entry into the sect, she defeated a senior disciple at the late Qi Condensation Stage within the Sword Dao Sect, a feat that instantly propelled her to widespread renown.

To earn the admiration and favor of this aloof Immortal Maiden, many senior disciples from the Foundation Establishment Stage came forward in succession, each suppressing their cultivation to compete solely on sword techniques.

Yet, even the most skilled among them could only endure five moves beneath Bai Qingxue’s blade.

Bai Qingxue’s sword was simply too difficult to defend against.

Now, a year had elapsed. For a long time, no one had dared to challenge Bai Qingxue, finding it pointless. There remained only one peculiar individual—Wang.

“Miss Bai, behold my next move.”

No sooner had the man spoken than he executed a feint, a move designed to ‘make a sound in the east but strike in the west’.

His figure shifted with blinding speed, his sword techniques a baffling blend of illusion and reality, nearly breaching Bai Qingxue’s defenses.

Then, his figure leaped, once again assailing Bai Qingxue’s blind spot.

“Unorthodox tricks!”

A flicker of displeasure crossed Bai Qingxue’s eyes as a hint of anger stirred within her.

This man’s sword techniques were incredibly strange; though he wielded a blade, his footwork was ghostly, and he seldom engaged her directly.

This fact filled her with considerable dissatisfaction.

“Immortal Maiden, that marks seven moves already,” the man said with a light smile, “If you don’t unleash your full power, I, Wang, truly believe I shall succeed.”

Bai Qingxue froze momentarily, a surge of quiet surprise stirring within her.

The exchange had clearly only spanned five moves; when had it suddenly become seven? She had counted with absolute clarity.

Seizing Bai Qingxue’s momentary distraction, the man’s sword took an unorthodox path, assailing her once more.

Bai Qingxue hastily parried, and after a few more exchanges, the man spoke again.

“Heh heh, Immortal Maiden, this time, you’ve truly endured seven moves.”

“You actually tricked me?”

Bai Qingxue’s heart lurched.

Recalling the man’s earlier words, she instantly understood, and a surge of indignation flared within her.

“Despicable scoundrel, shameful conduct!”

“Miss Bai,” the man retorted, “You never stipulated that such a move was forbidden.”

“Success is simply defined as enduring ten of your sword strikes with a blade. Could it be that the renowned Enlightened Sword Heart is so easily unsettled by my antics?”

The man spoke unhurriedly.

Bai Qingxue fell silent, her offensive transforming into a surging, tempestuous tide, brimming with palpable killing intent.

The man ceased holding back, employing every ounce of his skill to parry, fighting while steadily retreating.

“Immortal Maiden, that’s eight moves now.”

“Scoundrel, why do you retreat?”

“Come back and fight me head-on!”

Bai Qingxue couldn’t help but grow tense, the perpetual coolness on her face wavering, replaced by a flicker of panic.

She had never once conceived that she would find herself in such a predicament during this contest.

“Miss Bai, you misunderstand.”

“You possess your fighting style, and I, my footwork. As long as I can continue to parry your sword strikes, we may proceed.”

The man taunted her while deftly evading Bai Qingxue’s attacks.

“Nine moves, Immortal Maiden!”

The man continued to needle Bai Qingxue with his taunts.

This tactic, surprisingly, proved effective.

Ultimately, Bai Qingxue remained a proud and arrogant genius, one who had never known defeat.

For her, verbal provocation was, in fact, the most potent form of offense.

Bai Qingxue’s gaze darkened, and intense killing intent flared within her eyes.

Unable to hold back any longer, she took a decisive step back, gathering her strength and focusing her mind. Her hands tightened around her sword hilt, poised to unleash a finishing move to conclude the bout.

Unexpectedly, just as Bai Qingxue was building her momentum, an oddly shaped object came flying towards her.

Bai Qingxue was momentarily taken aback, only reacting when the projectile was nearly upon her.

It was, in fact, a sword.

This fellow had actually thrown his sword.

Helpless, Bai Qingxue could only halt her charged killing technique.

The sword narrowly grazed her cheek, its whistling passage echoing in her ears.

By the time she turned, a sword was already poised against her fair, slender neck.

“Immortal Maiden, ten moves have passed. Will you now fulfill your promise?”

Though he was far from as handsome as Pan An (TL Note: A historical figure often used as a benchmark for male beauty in Chinese culture), his confident and persistent demeanor was nonetheless irresistibly compelling.

“For a Sword Cultivator, the sword is the very foundation of all, an extension of the hand, and even the core of the heart. Yet you actually threw your sword.”

“Moreover, why do you possess another sword?” Bai Qingxue demanded with a hint of indignation.

“Miss Bai, further words are futile,” the man said with a smile, neatly sidestepping her questions. “Simply tell me if my flying sword was accurate or not. Furthermore, who says a Sword Cultivator can only wield one sword? Have you never heard of Dual-Wielding Cultivators?”

Bai Qingxue remained silent, gazing intently at the man before her, her mind awash with countless thoughts.

The two stood in a momentary stalemate, time itself seemingly frozen.

As he met her eyes, as clear and cool as water, a sudden smile blossomed on the woman’s face.

That smile was like a profusion of peach blossoms in spring, enchanting and radiant, illuminating the entire world in that instant.

“Very well, a promise made is a debt unpaid.”

“I grant you this: from today forward, you shall be the husband personally chosen by me, Bai Qingxue. My husband shall be second to none, above all others. Can you achieve this?”

“Yes, I can certainly achieve it!”

The man accepted without hesitation.

His task was, after all, complete; he cared little for what came next.

Spirit stones secured, no further responsibilities!

“Take this item.”

Bai Qingxue leaned slightly forward, gently taking the man’s hand and placing a cool object into his palm.

Her hand was cold as jade, carrying the chill of snow-capped mountains.

The man withdrew his hand and looked: it was a miniature model of a longsword.

“This item was meticulously carved by me in my leisure time,” she said.

“Though it serves no great purpose, it will ensure your peace year after year. As one with an Enlightened Sword Heart, to perceive this sword… is to perceive me.”

Bai Qingxue’s voice was soft yet resolute, as if uttering an ancient vow.

“Very well, thank you for your kind intention, Miss Bai.”

“Call me A’Xue.”

“Uh, thank you, A’Xue.”

The man conversed with Bai Qingxue for a moment, agreed upon their next meeting, then bid his farewell and departed.

Watching the man’s retreating back, Bai Qingxue’s normally placid eyes concealed a discerning spiritual sense and profound serenity.

“Senior Sister, is this truly appropriate?”

From behind a large tree trunk in the distance emerged a young girl, her face etched with doubt and worry.

“That last flying sword—you clearly could have dodged it. Why didn’t you?”

“If you had dodged, he wouldn’t have had a chance.”

Bai Qingxue gently shook her head, tenderly stroking the girl’s soft, raven hair that cascaded like a waterfall.

“It is enough. Others who challenged me did so out of fleeting interest. He is different; he persisted for over a year—five hundred days, to be precise.”

“For those five hundred days, be it scorching sun, invading wind and rain, or raging thunder, he always kept his appointment to challenge me to a sword duel, never once slacking. This mindset, this persistence, is more than enough!”

“Senior Sister, have you truly fallen for him?”

The girl tilted her head, unable to believe that her renowned Sword Dao Senior Sister had been captivated by an unknown young man.

It felt like the sky had fallen, utterly beyond her comprehension.

“Love is not found in appearance. What I value is character and disposition. From his sword, I sensed not the fleeting emotions of romance, but solely a profound persistence.”

Bai Qingxue’s gaze drifted into the distance, her heart having already found its answer.