5 I Do Not Know How to Use a Sword

Moved?
Sheng Ningyu said she didn’t dare to move at all.

The so-called “seeming to feel something” was merely because the young man’s arrogant and proud demeanor bore a striking resemblance to Chu Chang’an from years ago, which made her momentarily lost in thought.

Chu Chang’an—her former fiancé.

The marriage arrangement with the Chu family had been set by Sheng Ningyu’s master, the previous Sword Sovereign Ning Guihai.

As for Sheng Ningyu herself, she harbored no romantic feelings toward Chu Chang’an.

Strangely enough, Sheng Ningyu originally thought she should deeply like her fiancé, but after several correspondences and meetings, her feelings only grew more indifferent.

She was certain she did not love Chu Chang’an.

Yet, since he was her fiancé and younger than her, Sheng Ningyu indulged and doted on him as if he were a junior disciple, almost granting him whatever he desired, driven by a sense of guilt.

It wasn’t until just before her sealing that she faintly heard rumors: her junior brother Chu Chang’an had always admired the junior sister Ning Jiaojiao.

She had unwittingly become the “thorn in the heart.”

At that time, Sheng Ningyu was somewhat bewildered, but more so saddened that those close to her had kept this from her. She quickly wrote a letter to send via messenger, but before she could receive a reply, she was sealed inside a coffin.

So, at present, Sheng Ningyu faced three questions:

First, why had Chu Chang’an not married Ning Jiaojiao but instead rumors spread that he was “deeply infatuated” with her? What hidden conspiracy was behind this?

Second, related to the first, was her being sealed in the coffin back then connected to Chu Chang’an in any way?

Third—

She gritted her teeth. Why hadn’t the Sea Moon Tower been torn down yet?!

……

In the Eastern Sea,

The blue waves gently rippled, sunlight glittering like gold.

Among the surging tides stood a pagoda-like tall building, ethereal as a mirage, resembling a jade palace or a celestial realm.

The sea shattered the sky, embracing the bright moon; the goddess ascended to the intoxicating Jade Pool.

Every upward-curving eave of this tower hung lanterns burning with mermaid candles, said never to extinguish. Around the surrounding terraces, fist-sized luminous pearls were embedded, so that from above, the entire building resembled a moon reflected on the sea.

Lights burned day and night, indifferent to dawn or dusk.

This was the “Sea Moon Tower.”

Its master, Chu Chang’an—or rather, Chu Jiye—sat atop the high platform, playing with a wine cup in hand, his expression deeply focused.

Chu Qingcang, the steward, showed a trace of a sigh on his aged face but quickly suppressed it. He approached and respectfully refilled the wine pot.

“Master, this batch of sword cultivators has arrived.”

Chu Jiye’s slender fingers paused. He raised his head and spoke evenly, as calm and flat as the Eastern Sea itself, without a trace of emotion:

“All here?”

Chu Qing lowered his head further.

“Yes.”

Below stood sword cultivators summoned from outside by the Chu family, mostly women with some men. Each had pleasing appearances; their swordsmanship was not extraordinary but each had their own merits.

Especially as these cultivators strained to display their skills and flatter their superiors, garments fluttered and sword shadows danced amid falling petals, creating a scene like a fairyland.

Yet none was the one Chu Jiye sought.

With a crisp clang, the white porcelain wine cup shattered, spiderweb cracks spreading across its surface.

Immediately, all present bowed deeply. Chu Qingshan broke out in cold sweat that ran down his spine but still forced himself to step forward and bend lower.

Chu Jiye’s tone finally rippled—not as cold as before, but not angry either.

The dignified head of the Chu family, the foremost figure in the Eastern Sea, now spoke with a childlike innocence and confusion.

He said something utterly unrelated to swordplay.

“Uncle Chu, why are they so strange? Why don’t they pick up the flowers?”

At once, everyone around broke into cold sweat.

Chu Jiye had said similar things before.

No one failed to guess his intent—the entire world knew the Chu family head deeply loved the Moonlight Sword Sovereign.

Thus, those sword cultivators tried every trick, searching records for any trace of the Moonlight Sword Sovereign.

But whether they gently offered flowers to Chu Jiye or coldly tried to maintain composure while doing so, anyone who attempted this gesture would provoke Chu Jiye’s furious wrath.

Those sword cultivators would then be severely punished for angering the Chu family head.

Though fortune favors the bold, who wanted to lose their life for no reason?

Thoughts raced through Chu Qing’s mind; he nearly anticipated what would happen next, a shiver running down his scalp.

……

Before Chu Qing could intervene, Chu Jiye gripped the white porcelain on the table tightly with his sword-wielding right hand. The shattered porcelain pierced his flesh, scraping with a chilling sound as blood flowed freely.

His dazed eyes cleared instantly. Chu Jiye clenched the broken porcelain, the blood drained from his face, and his voice became flat again.

He lowered his gaze to his right hand and murmured,

“She refuses to see me—not yet returned—she cannot not come to see me…!”

Crimson blood dripped onto the table and clothes, quickly drawing a winding trail.

“Master!”

Chu Qing rushed forward to stop him but dared not act rashly. In his haste, he said something reckless:

“It’s only a prophecy, true or false, not worth your—”

His words were swallowed by Chu Jiye’s lifeless eyes as they raised to meet his.

All attendants around fell into fearful silence, not daring to breathe heavily.

“Chu Qing,” Chu Jiye said calmly, “go and receive your punishment.”

“...Yes.”

Chu Qing sighed inwardly.

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