Chapter 214: Clouds Leave No Trace (Seven)

"Dan Heng, you will never be able to escape Yin Yue, because he is your starting point; the sins he has committed will constantly accompany your path, like a shadow, until your extinction."

"\"Ren... \" Jing Liu slowly shifted her gaze, her voice colder than falling snow, \"a good name. In an endless remaining life, you can only wander between killing and being killed, seeking your own burial ground. If not, you cannot dispel Ying Xing's remorse."

"\"In the end, it's me. \" Jing Liu slowly walked past Jing Yuan, \"I will face the Alliance's decree, bearing an eternal punishment. And after that... an even heavier price awaits me."

Jing Liu quietly gazed at the distant clouds, the sunset's afterglow spilling onto the side of her face, yet bringing no warmth.

"Five Braves of the Clouds... it's time for us to part."

Jing Liu asked Jing Yuan to escort her to Void Ridge, but the destination was suddenly changed to the Jade Gate Celestial Vessel. After Jing Yuan reported this to the Marshal, General Rongtao of the Jade Gate took great interest, unexpectedly blocked the road, and set up the Ten Directions Light-Reflecting Dharma Realm, intending to meet Jing Liu and the Rakshasa first.

In response, Jing Liu indeed sneered, snorting coldly, "... Jing Yuan, you're still the same, always trying to struggle against others' designs. Whether you or the Cloud Riders... you're all just pieces in the gods' game of chess."

She didn't mind walking a bit longer with Jing Yuan, but as they were about to depart, Ren suddenly lunged out from the side, blocking the two.

"Wait! Jing Liu, before you leave, you still owe me a payment."

Jing Liu turned to look at him, calmly shaking her head, "I've tried; beyond leaving more wounds on you, I can't help you further. Your immortal body is not something that can be dismissed so easily. Killing the flesh of an undead divine envoy with a mortal sword—this, the Slave of Fate should have told you, right?"

"Moreover, I already said it when I taught you the sword. I don't act against those who have no zest for life, who thrust their necks forward to kill—"

"Only an opponent can make you draw your sword."

Ren's fingers unconsciously brushed the hilt of the Fragmented Sword, the cold feel calming his restless blood a little. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"Jing Liu, I come to repay the sword lesson you gave me."

——

Valkyrie of the End.

"Oh? It's finally about to begin."

In the human side's lounge, Brunhilde let out a long sigh. That the two human swordsmen could witness the battle between Jing Liu and Ren was an unexpected delight before the official fight officially began.

She knew little about swordsmanship and couldn't discern much of its subtleties, but Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang and Chongtian Zongsi would surely gain something.

However, when he reached Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang's side, he found the silent swordsman already drenched in sweat, trembling all over. He stared fixedly at Jing Liu, his breathing becoming rapid and uneasy.

She glanced slightly aside, speaking with interest, "What's wrong, why so suddenly nervous?"

"Because I've already died 76 times," Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang exhaled slowly, leaning on his hilt and sitting down, "Just now in my mind, I fought her at least 76 times, each ending with my being beheaded."

"Huh?" Brunhilde's mind was a bit dazed, completely unable to grasp the situation, furrowing her brows in doubt, "She hasn't drawn her sword yet..."

……

Meanwhile, in the divine side's VIP lounge.

"Hey hey, are you really okay with this? Not even brandishing a sword? That Ren is about to point the Fragmented Sword at her nose, you know?"

Seated in a luxurious seat, Shiva was idly watching the light screen with the other gods; as the god of destruction and creation, he opened his five eyes wide, yet still could not discern any change in Jing Liu.

"I recall that a swordsman, when facing an opponent, must assume a 'stance', right?" Shiva said, digging his ear while puzzled, "Does that mean she is quite confident in her own speed?"

"For an ordinary swordsman, that is certainly necessary."

From behind came Susanoo's voice; he crossed his arms, his eyes excitedly fixed on Jing Liu in the light screen, "But a stance can be abandoned; discarding a stylized stance allows one to embrace the 'formless', thereby countering any enemy tactics."

"Formless... sounds so esoteric? You didn't make that up, did you, Little Whiskers?" Shakra popped a cola-flavored lollipop into his mouth.

Susanoo's forehead bulged with two blue veins, and he lazily ignored the two, "Hmph, you'll see if you keep watching."

——

"Seven hundred years ago, we were also like this here..."

"Laughing and chatting, sparring... full of vigor, dreaming of the future."

The crimson-black Fragmented Sword was smeared with a scarlet hue by Ren, but in the next instant, a line of cold light flashed across his throat—Clang!!

The two neither dodged nor evaded; a blue and a red sound collided, sending swirling dust, and a sharp "thud" rang as the blades crossed, exploding countless specks of fire within the smoke.

After this clash, their silhouettes intertwined dozens of times in an instant, emitting thousands of sharp sounds in succession, like popping beans. Their weapons, in a blink, had struck each other countless times, the blades buzzing and trembling as if they were a single steel wire, buzzing into everyone's ears.

Her sword sliced through the smoke, thrusting straight at Ren's throat.

—Seven hundred years ago, the same sword form stopped half an inch before his neck.

"The sight of those at that time still lingers before my eyes, as if it were a dream from last night."

"I once thought such happy days could last as long as the lifespan of Celestial Vessel people, day after day, an endless cycle."

"But... dreams..."

In reality, the Fragmented Sword slashed upward, tearing away the black veil over Jing Liu's eyes; amid the soaring, rippling sword aura, Jing Liu finally saw—within the aura striking her, the old shadows were reflected as well.

"... In the end we will awaken, like clouds dispersing."

The final sword crossed. As blood spurted from the wound piercing Ren's chest, time seemed to freeze.

—As if the sea breeze from seven hundred years ago brushed the face.

She saw Bai Heng standing beneath the Dragon Lord's statue, laughing and chatting with the group; fox ears trembled lightly from the laughter. She seemed to sense something; when she looked back at herself, her eyes curved into crescents.

——

Zero Zone.

"Sister Fox Hsi is just too beautiful... oh wait, there are no Fox Hsi on the Celestial Vessel."

In the Void Sixth Division's office, Qian Yu stared in astonishment at the fox woman flashing across the light screen.

That smile was just too gentle, completely a different type from Chief Ya.

Youzhen muttered softly, "Sigh, if I could form a lifelong Five Braves of the Clouds with her, I'd gladly take a day off every day..."

"Youzhen, what are you saying?!" From afar, Yuecheng Liu, seated amid a mountain of documents, suddenly looked up and adjusted his glasses.

"N-nothing! I mean... uh, if the Five Braves of the Clouds turned into skeletons, I'd still take a day off every day just to clean them up..." Qian Youzhen scratched her face awkwardly, "Sister Liu, why are your ears so pointy that you can hear me speaking?"