Chapter Four: Old Dreams Amid Red Leaves

I. Journey Into Western Sichuan

Shen Qingyuan set out alone on his journey to the "Valley of Red Leaves."He carried the broken blade of the Soul Severing Knife on his back, concealed the Three Nether Bone Fires and the Soul Breath Record within his robes, and gripped a letter and a piece of dark jade slip given to him by Bai Jingyi before his departure."Before meeting her, observe the jade slip first," was Bai Jingyi's final instruction.

Heading west, Shen Qingyuan crossed the towering Qinling Mountains and entered the treacherous Bashan region. The terrain of western Sichuan was perilous, with ridges stretching endlessly and perpetual clouds enshrouding the peaks. Legends spoke of the "Valley of Red Leaves" hidden among the "Three Peril Peaks," ruled by the "Lady of Red Leaves," a sorceress famed for her eternal youth and eccentric temperament. Few who entered the valley ever returned.

At dusk on the fifth day, Shen Qingyuan stood before the Three Peril Peaks. The mountains rose like walls, crimson leaves drifting in the air like rain. A narrow wooden plank walkway snaked along the cliffs like a dragon.

As he advanced slowly along the plank path, a strange fragrance drifted toward him—neither floral nor bloody, yet bearing hints of both.Suddenly, a soft female voice emerged from the mist:"Who dares trespass into the forbidden grounds of the Red Leaf?"

Before the words even faded, three crimson sword beams pierced the fog, hurtling toward him!Reacting instantly, Shen Qingyuan propelled himself off the cliff wall to dodge two of the attacks; the third grazed his shoulder, tearing his outer robe and drawing blood.

Out of the mist, a figure stepped lightly onto the leaves—clad in red garments, her face veiled lightly. She was none other than "Falling Fragrance Slave," one of the guardians of the Valley of Red Leaves.

"Who are you?" she frowned slightly, sensing a strange familiarity about the young man.

Without a word, Shen Qingyuan drew out the jade slip from his robes and crushed it.

With a crisp snap, the jade shattered, releasing a beam of azure light that slowly formed three characters in the air:"Shen Zhongren."

The guardian's expression changed drastically, and she muttered under her breath:"He… he has descendants..."

II. The Lady of Red Leaves

Shen Qingyuan was led into the Valley of Red Leaves.The valley was filled with crimson maples and swirling mists. A clear stream meandered through, creating a dreamlike scene. Yet beneath this beauty lurked countless hidden dangers—venomous "Corpse Flower Vines," "Mist Shadow Foxes," and "Red Armored Mantises," all deadly to the unwary.

Falling Fragrance Slave brought Shen Qingyuan to the "Heart Reflection Terrace," where the valley master resided.Inside the hall, floral shadows danced. On a desk sat an ancient incense burner, a jade zither, and a worn scripture.Behind a gauzy curtain, a graceful silhouette stood silently.

"The son of Shen Zhongren..." a soft voice spoke, heavy with unspoken emotion.Shen Qingyuan saluted respectfully:"I am Shen Qingyuan, sent by Bai Jingyi of the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion to retrieve the second fragment of the Soul Severing Knife."

The figure behind the curtain trembled slightly before letting out a sigh.

"Zhongren… entrusted it to you."Slowly, the curtain parted, revealing a woman in red garments, her face half-covered by a light veil. Her steps were light, her bearing like a lotus floating on water. Although half-concealed, her features were beautiful, her eyes carrying an indescribable weight.

"I am Lin Yuan, master of the Valley of Red Leaves."Shen Qingyuan stared at her, a strange sense of familiarity stirring in his heart.

"You resemble him... yet not entirely," Lin Yuan murmured.

Seating herself, she retrieved an old letter from the desk, caressing it for a long moment before speaking:"You came for the blade fragment, but do you know why I have guarded it for twenty years?"

Shen Qingyuan shook his head.

Lin Yuan spoke softly:"Because he... entrusted me to guard you."

"Guard me?"

Lin Yuan nodded, revealing a shocking truth:"Your mother… was once a member of the Valley of Red Leaves."

III. Old Dreams Revisited

Lin Yuan recounted the tale of the past.Twenty-three years ago, Shen Zhongren, on a mission from the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion, entered the valley to seek a sacred flame. He accidentally wandered into a forbidden area and was wounded by the Corpse Flower Vine. Lin Yuan herself saved him.

They came to know, trust, and eventually fall in love with each other.At the time, Lin Yuan was still the deputy master of the valley, young and carefree, while Shen Zhongren, despite bearing the Soul Severing Knife, longed to leave the turbulent martial world behind and find peace.

They made a vow under a crimson maple tree outside the valley, swearing eternal devotion by the moon.But their happiness was short-lived. As the master of the Soul Severing Knife, Shen Zhongren was relentlessly hunted by rival sects.

Later, during the "Battle of the Phantom Moon," Lin Yuan was grievously wounded protecting Shen Zhongren. To save her, he was forced to surrender the second fragment of the Soul Severing Knife and secretly left the valley.

"By then, I had already been poisoned by the Coldbone Venom," Lin Yuan said."Your mother stayed behind and gave birth to you near West Rock Hermitage, then vanished, leaving only a shard of the broken blade with me."

"Is my mother... still alive?" Shen Qingyuan asked.

Lin Yuan shook her head sadly:"She left the valley and was never heard from again."

After a long silence, Shen Qingyuan finally spoke:"In that case, Senior, may I now have the blade fragment?"

Without a word, Lin Yuan retrieved a jade box from beneath the table and slowly opened it.Inside lay a half segment of a blade, black as lacquer, faint threads of blood-like veins pulsing through it as if breathing.

As Shen Qingyuan approached, the Soul Severing Blade fragment at his life gate began to tremble in resonance.

Lin Yuan sighed softly:"It recognizes you."

IV. First Steps in the Three Techniques

Shen Qingyuan, clutching the second blade fragment, began training at the "Clear Reflection Pool."

According to the "Soul Breath Record," the second stage of the Soul Severing Knife, "Concealed Edge," required sealing one's blade aura with inner breath and sheathing it within one's spirit. Once mastered, the blade aura could remain undetectable, striking invisibly at the critical moment.

At first, training was perilous—Shen Qingyuan narrowly avoided mental collapse several times.Lin Yuan personally guided him, calming his spirit and even gifting him a "Cold Spring Elixir" to aid his stability.

After seven days, under the night sky, he finally succeeded. The blade aura within him could now retract and unleash at will, invisible to the naked eye.

Watching the young man in the pool, Lin Yuan's eyes shimmered with complex emotions.

"Do you truly wish to bear this blade's destiny?" she asked.

Shen Qingyuan opened his eyes, his voice firm:"If I do not bear it, others will. If this world must be drenched in blood, I would rather it be upon my hands."

Lin Yuan gazed at him for a long time before murmuring:"That is exactly what he said back then."

V. Shadows Stir Once More

On the night Shen Qingyuan was about to leave, turmoil erupted outside the Valley of Red Leaves.Beyond the hundred-zhang gorge, plumes of smoke rose, and a squad of black-clad men approached stealthily, their banners marked with the symbol—"Cloud Wraith Sect."

The Cloud Wraith Sect was one of the remnants of the former Shadow Sect, long hunted by the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion. Their master, "Ghost Hawk," was infamous for his soul-capturing techniques.

Standing at the valley entrance, Lin Yuan's eyes grew cold:"It seems they have come for the Soul Severing Knife."

Shen Qingyuan stepped forward:"Since the blade is mine, its pursuers are mine to face as well."

Without a word, Lin Yuan draped a crimson cloak over him:"Wear this; our valley's secret formations will not harm you."

Under the shroud of night, Shen Qingyuan fought side by side with the defenders of the valley.For the first time, he unleashed the full power of the Concealed Edge Technique. His blade aura moved silently within his body, his steps light as the wind.In a flash assault, he slit an enemy's throat without ever drawing his blade—the man died never seeing the weapon that killed him.

Lin Yuan, too, danced through the battlefield with her "Thirteen Falling Petal Strikes," her sword weaving through the enemy ranks, scattering blood like rain.

Eventually, Ghost Hawk fled grievously wounded, and the Cloud Wraith Sect retreated.

Yet Shen Qingyuan spent the entire night sitting silently under the crimson maple tree—the very tree where his father had once pledged eternal love.

VI. Departure From the Valley

As dawn broke, Lin Yuan stood once more at the valley entrance.

"You have the blade fragment. I will not keep you. Think carefully about the road ahead."

Shen Qingyuan bowed deeply:"If you hear any news of my mother in the future, please inform me."

Lin Yuan nodded.As she turned to leave, her voice, soft as the mist, drifted back:"Her name is... Bai Wanyi."

Shen Qingyuan was stunned:"Bai Wanyi... could it be..."

But Lin Yuan had already disappeared into the mist, leaving no more answers.

He gazed after the receding red figure, a thousand emotions swirling within him.

"Farewell, Valley of Red Leaves. I may never return to this place of dreams again."

He sheathed the two fragments of the Soul Severing Knife and set off on his journey once more.In the distance, the mist billowed endlessly, as if blurring the line between dreams and reality.

Chapter Four - End