The Name of Eternity.

Chapter 100 The Ultimate Sword Art, the Sword of God!
The next few days.

Li Hao walked out of the General's Mansion and strolled around Qingzhou City with Bian Ruxue.

Take her to eat delicious food, watch operas, and listen to storytelling.

He also went to the nearby lake outside the city to catch dragonflies and butterflies for her. He used the hinges of a sword manual to make specimens of the butterflies and put them in between to give to her.

Both of them are extraordinary people, but they still have smiles on their faces when doing these little things that ordinary people do.

While outing in the wild, Li Hao brought paper, pen and paintbrush, and drew one picture after another for Bian Ruxue, with different backgrounds and angles. There were hundreds of them, and he had almost no experience left in drawing.

But Li Hao didn't paint for her for experience.

Outside the city, it was not the Black Water Demon Lake that the Second Master Li Muxiu took Li Hao to, but another small Demon Lake.

Li Hao took his fishing rod to go fishing, and Bian Ruxue sat beside him. The white fox Xiaorou lay in the girl's arms and played with her.

When she was tired of playing, the girl supported her chin with her two little hands and watched Li Hao fishing quietly.

Seeing the young man concentrating on the fishing float, his seriousness, just like when he was a child, made her smile slightly.

The courtyard of her childhood seemed to appear in front of Bian Ruxue's eyes.

In that courtyard, when I was practicing swordplay, I would hear that young and ageless voice coming from the pavilion not far away:
"Oops, Uncle Lin, you're in the wrong position again!"

"The chess piece didn't fall in the frame, it fell on the cross seam!"

"Uncle Lin, you lose again!"

Every time she felt tired from practicing sword, she would look up at the pavilion, and when she saw the boy, she would feel particularly at ease.

The cheerful laughter seems to have happened yesterday, and it is still vividly echoing in my ears at this moment.

The boy stared at the fishing float in the lake, while the girl stared at the boy's profile, and they both seemed to be in a trance.

Suddenly, the float moved.

The young man pulled the fishing rod hard, as if he was lifting a bow and drawing it to its full length. Soon, a fish monster in the Tongli realm was pulled up.

For monsters below the Soul Realm, fishing can be done with fishing rods and special fishing lines made from these tough metals.

"Brother Hao is awesome!"

The trance-like girl came back to her senses and clapped her hands and cheered.

Li Hao smiled, shot the fish monster to death from a distance and threw it to the back. Seeing that it was getting late, he put away his fishing rod and fished out the fish basket from the bottom of the water. There were a few ordinary fish in it.

He released it casually.

Then he put away the fishing stool, called the little white fox, and said to Bian Ruxue, "Let's go home."

"it is good."

Bian Ruxue smiled and nodded. Li Hao carried all the things. She put her hands behind her back, took cheerful steps, and walked and skipped behind Li Hao.

Smoke is rising from the mountains, and a couple is returning to the lakeside.

I walked home slowly, passing by the fields outside the village, and there was a melon field.

There was only a local dog guarding outside the melon field. Li Hao smiled and asked the little white fox to attract the dog's attention while he stole a watermelon from another place.

He held the watermelon in his arms and ran. When he ran far away, he threw two taels of silver into the watermelon pit.

Going to the distant hillside, Li Hao cracked open the big melon, revealing the bright red flesh. He handed it to the girl, each taking half.

Li Hao didn't care about that and just buried his head in it and started eating it, with juice overflowing.

But Bian Ruxue was much more elegant and ladylike. She lightly touched the hilt of the sword with her finger, and the sword came out of the sheath. With a flash of silver light, the watermelon was cut into several crescent-shaped pieces.

She handed a piece to Li Hao, and Li Hao took it and started eating.

"Days like this are so comfortable..." Li Hao sat on the hillside, supporting himself with his hands, looking at the setting sun in the distance, the afterglow illuminating the world.

When Bian Ruxue heard what Li Hao said, she paused for a moment while eating melons, then smiled and said, "Yes."

Li Hao smiled, picked up his half and ate it, while Bian Ruxue gave two pieces to the two little white foxes. After they finished eating everything, they went home together.

Seeing that Li Hao and Bian Ruxue came back late, and their boots and trouser legs were covered with mud, Li Tiangang said to Li Hao:

"Take Xue'er to a better place to play, not to those messy and dirty places. And what about your fishing rod? If you go fishing, what about Xue'er? Will she be bored? You should think more about others."

Li Hao listened to it expressionlessly, seemed to smile, nodded, said "hmm", and turned and left.

Bian Ruxue quickly said to Li Tiangang: "Uncle, it was actually me who suggested watching Brother Hao fishing. He is very good at fishing and he likes fishing very much. I can see that."

Li Tiangang loves and likes this daughter-in-law who has not yet married into the family. He said with a gentle look in his eyes:
"Of course I know he likes it, but it's rare for you to come back, so you can't always give in to him and accompany him. If I'm gone one day, it will be very hard for you to be so soft-tempered."

"Uncle, don't say that. You will be fine." Bian Ruxue said quickly.

Li Tiangang smiled and said, "Good Xue'er, don't worry about me, you should think more about yourself."

Bian Ruxue was slightly startled, then nodded, "I will."

A few more days.

Li Hao accompanied Bian Ruxue for a tour in the city. There happened to be a temple fair in the west of the city. Upon hearing the news, the two went there to watch the sparkling silver trees, the mortal arts acrobatics, and the shadow play.

The temple fair was about to end, but the two were still a little unsatisfied.

Li Hao was holding a lot of purchased things in his arms. He did not bring any attendants or guards to wait by his side to avoid making him and Xue'er feel uncomfortable.

"happy?"

Sitting on a stone on the street, the two of them stood side by side, looking at the sunset outside the city wall, and Li Hao smiled.

"happy."

Bian Ruxue's eyes were full of smiles.

Li Hao turned his head and stared at her profile. He had to admit that she still had some of her childhood features, but there had been some changes. After all, she had grown up and matured.

It is also more beautiful and dazzling.

However, although brilliance is beautiful, it comes at a price.

Just like a shooting star, so brilliant, but fleeting, burning up all life.

Li Hao watched quietly, and the two of them just sat there quietly.

After a moment, Li Hao said, "Do you want to continue living like this?"

Bian Ruxue was slightly startled, turned her head and looked at Li Hao.

The two looked at each other, and there were many things hidden in each other's eyes.

Bian Ruxue slowly turned her head, a relaxed smile appeared on her face, and said, "Of course I want to."

"Really?" Li Hao asked, but his eyes glanced at the sword in her hand.

inseparable.

Bian Ruxue's smile faded slightly. At this moment, she seemed to understand that Li Hao had noticed something.

She couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

"Brother Hao, I might be sorry for you."

Bian Ruxue turned her head and stared at Li Hao again, but the relaxed smile on her face was gone. Her brows were slightly furrowed, with a bit of sadness and helplessness.

Li Hao was silent for a moment, and the glimmer of hope in his heart slowly sank with these words.

Seeing Li Hao's silence, Bian Ruxue suddenly opened her mouth. After sighing, she lowered her head and said to herself:
"I know, Brother Hao, you are very good to me. I have no way to repay your kindness to me."

"It's just that I want to go and have a look, give it a try, see the scenery at the pinnacle of swordsmanship, and see if I can reach the top."

When the girl spoke of the sword, her voice, though soft and low, contained a hint of unshakable tenacity.

Li Hao's lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything.

He just watched the girl quietly with her eyebrows lowered. At this moment, in addition to the familiar outline on her face, Li Hao also saw another familiar thing.

That is the look in the eyes of countless geniuses who are pursuing fame and fortune, chasing it with their lives like moths to a flame.

"In fact, when you see that scenery, you will know that an ordinary life like ours now is the happiest." Li Hao said softly, as if sighing.

Is the joy of playing these days still no match for that sword heart?

Bian Ruxue looked up at the setting sun and said, "Maybe. However, if I don't take a look, I'm afraid I will never be satisfied. I want to see the ultimate of swordsmanship. I also want to see the ultimate of swordsmanship that Master talked about, the power of the Divine Sword!"

"The Sword of God..."

Li Hao shook his head and smiled. There are countless swordsmen in the world, and this saying has been circulating since who knows how many years ago.

There are thousands of sword techniques in the world, various schools, and various sword styles, which have been developed to the extreme.

But, these are not the ultimate in kendo!

The ultimate in kendo is called the Sword of God!
No one knows how the sword was drawn, and no one knows how the sword was chopped or stabbed.

No one knows whether that sword really exists.

However, countless people have spread the rumor that if one could comprehend such a sword.

You can kill gods, kill ghosts, slay monsters, suppress devils, kill everything in the world, break the sun and the moon into pieces, and fill the ocean!
Such a sword is the ultimate pursuit and goal of swordsmen in the world.

Li Hao looked through the deeds of many masters in Tingyu Tower, and even some deeds of sword saints in the past. There were records of them, and they had learned from each other, fought with each other, and communicated with each other in order to comprehend this sword technique!
The rumors about the Sword of God were most widely circulated eight hundred years ago. That was also the time when sword cultivators were most obsessed with it and went crazy about it!

But later on, the voice gradually died down, because no one has figured it out until now, so it was regarded as a legend.

Plus, if a topic has been discussed for hundreds of years, people will get tired of hearing about it and no one will argue or discuss it anymore.

I didn't expect that the girl in front of me would have such thoughts and wishes.

Was it that old man who instilled this in you?
Li Hao thought of the old man who rejected him. Originally, he had neither good nor bad feelings towards him, but at this moment, he felt a hint of anger.

"Did your master teach you all this?" Li Hao asked.

Noticing the slightly more serious tone in the boy's words, Bian Ruxue's face changed slightly. She glanced at Li Hao and then shook her head:
"No, Master just mentioned it casually. This is what Master pursues, but he never forced us. This is just the path I want to explore on my own."

"Is it."

Li Hao's anger subsided and he said, "If you want to practice swordplay, I can accompany you, and I can teach you."

Bian Ruxue couldn't help but think of what happened in the courtyard when she was a child.

She sighed secretly, today was different from the past.

"The Divine Sword has no rules and no records. It is just a legend and cannot be taught. Perhaps when someone actually uses that sword, the grace of that sword will become concrete."

Bian Ruxue said softly: "I know you can use a sword, but this sword is already an entry level skill. Even my master can't teach you. Only by spending your entire life to comprehend and explore, can you have a chance to get a glimpse of it."

Li Hao was silent.

Indeed, the other party has a sword saint as his teacher, so he can't use himself to teach sword.

He looked at the girl, staring at her: "Are you serious? Have you given your heart to the sword?"

When kendo enters your heart, you will become obsessed with it, but there is still a distance between obsession and madness.

This will only happen if you truly love swords.

Bian Ruxue met Li Hao's gaze and did not dodge this time. It seemed that since the sword was involved, she didn't want to dodge or escape.

"Yes, so I want to go and see it."

“But what if you can’t see it?” “So I want to try.”

"Countless swordsmen have pursued it in vain. This is just a legend. No one can do it. Are you going to give up the happiness that is within your reach for such an illusory legend?"

Li Hao looked at the girl in front of him, somewhat unable to understand. He had mastered many arts, but had never been so crazy about her.

Bian Ruxue was silent for a moment before she said, "If I don't try hard to climb this once, I might regret it for the rest of my life!"

Li Hao couldn't help but smile and sigh.

Aren’t the countless love and hatreds and grudges of infatuated men and resentful women in the world all due to this kind of unwillingness to give up?

It’s just that flowers may bloom again, but people can never be young again…

Li Hao sighed and said, "What was your original plan?"

Bian Ruxue saw Li Hao sighing non-stop, with a hint of pity in her eyes, but she still bit her lip and said:

"In my sect, there are two choices, the mortal world and the sword. In fact, the two choices can be chosen in parallel, and both can be taken into consideration, but in that case, it is actually considered to be the mortal world."

"Because kendo is pure and unique."

“Only the one can reach perfection!”

She said quietly, "I have already made up my mind when I came down the mountain this time. I plan to stay with you first, and then continue to hone my sword skills!"

"Wait until the future..."

When she said this, her tone softened, her cheeks suddenly turned slightly red, and she secretly glanced at Li Hao. Seeing that Li Hao was also looking at her, she couldn't help but turn her head away:
"When you want to start a family in the future, Brother Hao, I will come back and marry you and have children."

When Li Hao heard this, he could only sigh in his heart, because he knew that the other party had not finished speaking.

"And then?" he asked.

"Then, I will continue to pursue my sword path." Bian Ruxue said this, the redness on her cheeks gradually faded, and she said seriously.

Li Hao understood her plan and said, "But getting married and having children will delay your time for a year. In this case, it can't be considered the utmost of your wholehearted love."

Bian Ruxue nodded. She knew this very well.

If one really wants to pursue it to the extreme, the best way is to completely cut off ties with Li Hao.

From then on, only the sword accompanied him.

However, everything about her childhood made it impossible for her to break away from it.

That kindness is too great and heavy.

She understood that without Li Hao's help, she might not even have the chance to pursue the way of the sword, let alone become a disciple of the Sword Saint.

The Li family used the best foundation-building medicine and the best exotic blood to shape her bones and muscles. Li Hao also used the most precious blood extracted from the three thousand year old demon corpse that Li Tiangang killed at the border to dissolve her blood.

Only in this way can one create the supreme ninth level of talent!
This gave her the opportunity to pursue the sword path.

How can I forget this kindness?
If she forgets, her heart will be incomplete, and her sword will be incomplete too.

How can one reach the top and become the most ultimate swordsman in this way?

Therefore, even if there are defects and it takes a year to delay it, she is willing to do so.

Giving birth to a child for Li Hao was what she wanted in her heart and the only way she could repay Li Hao.

"Have you decided?" Li Hao looked at her.

"It's decided." Bian Ruxue said seriously.

Li Hao's mouth twitched slightly, knowing that persuasion was useless.

The other party has already given his entire heart to the sword.

He couldn't help but sigh and felt a little ridiculous.

In that courtyard, four years of being accompanied by wind and snow were not as good as her eight years of being accompanied by the sword.

Yes, maybe in terms of time, I only have half.

How can one catch up with that?

But, I am alive, but the sword is not.

He thought of the dark night in the courtyard and the bright stars in the darkness.

I thought of the first time I saw that crying little girl, and how I comforted her wounded heart after losing her father.

He thought of the promise made by two little hands in the courtyard on that warm sunny day:
"You have to be obedient and stay here. I will come back no matter where I go."

"Hook."

"Don't change. You said that whoever changes is a puppy."

"Go, go, go."

Who could have expected that the child who doted on her and said casually to her that day would actually give her true heart.

The letters that flew from the Southern Sword Pavilion were like ellipsis after the oath, to be continued.

However, the people in the courtyard are still waiting for the arrival of spring breeze, while the girl, nine thousand miles away, has already given her heart to the sword.

Li Hao never expected that the little girl who followed her master that day would really go far away.

Maybe I was too happy that day and mistook the goodbye for a promise...

Li Hao thought back to the time when he went fishing by the lake a few years ago. Second Master Li Muxiu saw that the young man had unparalleled talent and could not help but pass on his unique skills to him.

"Half-Step Invincible Fist".

After teaching, the old man asked, "Do you know why my boxing style is only called half-step?"

The boy guessed: "Could it be that you only created half of it?"

The old man smiled and shook his head: "Everyone in the world thinks so, but it is not true. This half step is the complete version."

The boy asked: "Why is it called half a step?"

The old man said: "Because only half a step can make you invincible."

The boy didn’t understand.

The old man went on to say, "Because if a person takes all the steps, it is easy to lose control. Once the enemy dodges, he will fall into trouble... Life is the same, don't take it too seriously, otherwise it is easy to lose control."

Don't take it too seriously, or you'll lose your focus...

Li Hao just came to his senses at this moment. It turns out that half a step is a artistic conception, not a real half a step.

The same is true for boxing and for life.

Otherwise, it will be a failure...

Li Hao looked up at the afterglow of the sunset and finally let out a long sigh.

When Bian Ruxue heard Li Hao's sigh, her heart trembled slightly, as if she felt that something was lost.

She clenched the sword in her hand slightly, and finally let it go. Perhaps this was a result she had expected. Why should she be sad at this moment?

She calmed down, looked up at the young man in front of her who was as bright as the stars and the moon, and asked with a casual smile, "When did you realize it?"

Li Hao slowly retracted his gaze and looked at the girl's smile on her cheeks, which was as beautiful as the sunset glow. However, his eyes were smiling and he did not stop to stare at her. He said:
"Maybe from a long, long time ago."

"A long time ago..." Bian Ruxue was stunned, and then looked at Li Hao in confusion: "Why?"

Li Hao smiled and didn't explain.

The content of the letter and the frequency of sending letters are enough to explain something: humans are emotional animals and are naturally sensitive to emotions.

Including this time when the other party came down the mountain, they did not go straight to Li’s Mansion, but tried to conquer the Mu River first.

Since the Mu River has been infiltrated and the villages have been destroyed, civilians trapped in the Mu River will die. It makes no difference whether it is conquered sooner or later, it just depends on the mood at the time.

"This time when you come back home, I will take you around Qingzhou. Are you really happy?" Li Hao asked.

Bian Ruxue nodded slightly: "Happy!"

"That's good."

Li Hao also nodded and smiled, but there was something missing in this smile.

I am really happy, but I still can't bring back the heart that has already rushed out.

Half a step, half a step... Why did I take a few more steps...

Li Hao shook his head and smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" asked Bian Ruxue.

Li Hao's eyes fell on the sunset and he said, "I think this scenery is beautiful, but unfortunately people are so busy and busy, and people on the street are rushing to and fro. Who has the leisure time to stop and look up?"

Bian Ruxue was silent for a moment. She knew that Li Hao was not talking about passers-by, but about her.

So she spoke for the “pedestrians”: “Maybe they have to work hard for their lives, for their ideals… The word ideal was taught to me by you, Brother Hao.”

Li Hao couldn't help but burst into laughter, and suddenly stood up with great pride: "You're right!"

But then he added: "However, if you really want to, you can still squeeze it out by just raising your head for a moment. It depends on whether you are willing."

"What's the point?"

"Of course it has meaning. Isn't the purpose of life to be able to look up at that moment?"

It seemed like they were both serious with each other for a while, and then they all fell silent.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

Li Hao's face was clear of all emotions, and he looked a little tired. He said, "I'm a little tired from shopping today. You should go back first."

Bian Ruxue was silent for a moment, nodded gently, and stood up and said, "It's getting late, it's time to have dinner in the courtyard, you should come back as soon as possible, don't keep uncle waiting for too long."

Li Hao's mouth curled up slightly:

"I've waited for him for fourteen years. What's the harm if he waits for me a little longer?"

Bian Ruxue was slightly stunned, opened her lips slightly, and wanted to say something, but found that there was nothing to say.

She suddenly felt an inexplicable pain and sadness in her heart.

This has never happened before when practicing sword.

She was pure when she practiced sword, but she is not pure now.

Bian Ruxue left first, and Li Hao sat back down, holding an armful of snacks and juggling toys he had bought from the temple fair.

Looking at the things in her hand, the girl did not take anything away, so Li Hao couldn't help but smile.

If you really like it, why wouldn't you take it away?

She just picked up the sword, and left like a breeze.

Is the sword really so attractive?
Li Hao looked up and thought to himself, this is the pinnacle of swordsmanship. If he has the chance in the future, he will definitely climb up and take a look.

Look at how many sword-fighting corpses are buried under that cliff.

And on top of that peak, is there really that divine sword?
The sunset glowed red, like an orange peel weeping blood. Today’s sun is about to set…

(End of this chapter)