Chapter 123– The Return of Su Ling (Part 3)

Just as Su Ling retreated, another long sword lying flat on the stone table—its entire form a vivid crimson with a broad and weighty blade—suddenly sprang into the air. It flew in front of Su Ling, shielding him. The dazzling red light, as vivid as cinnabar, collided midair with the icy white glow of the other sword, sparking a violent clash. The resulting surge of force stirred a tempest, akin to the explosive shockwave of five kilograms of dynamite. While Su Ling managed to remain steady, Gu Yun was forced to stumble a step backward.

As the blinding light faded, two swords—one red, one white—hovered midair, locked in a tense standoff, each defending its rightful master. For a moment, Gu Yun was entranced by the fantastical scene before her. Slowly regaining her composure, she wondered in awe—could this be what they call a divine weapon? Blades that possess a soul, like the fabled Gan Jiang and Mo Xie?

Even as Gu Yun speculated, the crimson blade sensed Su Ling's call and soared into his palm. A heartbeat later, the icy sword withdrew into Gu Yun's hand as if responding to an invisible summons. Gu Yun had wielded many advanced weapons in her life, but never before had she held a blade that seemed to possess a will of its own. Her heart surged with a mix of awe and exhilaration. Iceblade, too, seemed to stir with long-dormant energy—Gu Yun could feel its excitement resonate through her fingertips. In that instant, it felt as though their hearts were beating as one.

Gripping Iceblade tightly, a sudden urge flared within her—a desire to truly test herself against Su Ling. The sword's choice carried weight, and Su Ling knew that well. Fury roared in his chest—how dare the sword recognize another master without his consent! Iceblade was a weapon of extreme frost; even if it chose this woman, without the strength to wield it, she would only be harmed by its cold. Su Ling was determined to see if this woman was worthy.

He struck first. With a simple sweep of his blade's tail, an otherwise ordinary move erupted into a blazing assault, infused with his formidable inner force and Redblood's fierce heat. The strike hurtled forward like a fireball. The scorching wave forced Gu Yun to retreat several steps. Iceblade quivered in her hand, erupting with a radiant white glow that enveloped her, a breeze of icy clarity washing from her fingertips to her core, calming the agitation in her chest.

The stone table behind Gu Yun wasn't so fortunate. The heat scorched it in an instant, leaving it charred and blackened. A clash of titans—only the brave would prevail.

Su Ling moved with lethal precision, confident in his victory. If Gu Yun showed even the slightest hesitation, she would be doomed. Yet with Iceblade protecting her so fiercely, how could she bear to disappoint it?

Clasping the sword with both hands, Gu Yun leapt forward to meet the strike. She brought her blade down with all her might, slicing toward the ground in a decisive arc. She poured every ounce of strength and courage into this blow—Iceblade's first true battle in years. The force behind it was like a glacier crashing down from the heavens.

Su Ling had never seen Iceblade's full power. For a moment, he was caught off guard. Though he didn't understand Iceblade's energy, Redblood—its twin companion for a thousand years—understood it intimately. Redblood's already vivid crimson now blazed like open flame. For the first time, Su Ling felt it brace itself with utmost seriousness. He dared not take this clash lightly.

As frost met flame, red and white clashed again with a deafening metallic shriek. The battle of ice and fire—neither side yielding. But Gu Yun's stamina was no match for Su Ling's. Her coordination with Iceblade lacked the seasoned synergy Su Ling shared with Redblood after years on the battlefield.

Soon, fatigue crept into Gu Yun's limbs. Yet resilience was among her few unwavering virtues. Even as cold sweat beaded on her brow, she refused to concede. Su Ling fared no better—the opposing energies ravaged his body, his heart racing with exertion.

As if sensing their masters' struggle, the twin blades suddenly flashed with light. A powerful force flung both fighters backward, and at last, they were forced apart.

Leaning on her sword for support, Gu Yun gasped for air. Damn it… Only a few exchanges in, and she was already this exhausted. Iceblade was harder to control than she had imagined!

Su Ling, too, was nearly spent. His face remained stoic, but only he knew how much that single clash had cost him. If this was her first time wielding Iceblade and she could already unleash such power—should she ever reach true unity with it—only Redblood and he would stand a chance against her.

Both were nearly drained, yet neither would lower their gaze. Their eyes locked in cold defiance, neither willing to yield.

Until the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted them, drawing their attention outward. Gu Yun glanced around the courtyard—and nearly laughed aloud. What in the world had just happened? Had they really only exchanged a few blows?

The once-lush pines flanking the yard were now a ruin—those near her, scorched into dry husks; those near Su Ling, frozen solid into glistening ice sculptures. Even the stone bench and table had been blackened and fractured by the aftermath of their clash—now nothing more than charred rubble. This was insane.

Noticing Su Ling's expression shift from cold to dark, then to livid green, Gu Yun couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. How satisfying!

The footsteps grew closer. Suddenly, Su Ling barked, "No one is to enter!"

He couldn't let Ren Heyu discover Iceblade's choice—not yet. If the elders caught wind of this, it would stir unwanted trouble.

At the threshold, Su Yu halted abruptly. "Brother, what happened in there?" he called anxiously. The piercing clang that had just resounded from Lingyun Pavilion had shaken not only the general's estate—likely half the city had heard it!

Behind him, Su Ren stood in contemplative silence. He didn't seem too worried—Su Ling's powerful shout just now had proved he was unhurt.

Within the courtyard, Gu Yun lowered her eyes to the now-serene blade in her hand—still icy, yet no longer resisting her. "Why did the sword…" she began, only to be cut off by Su Ling's cold retort.

"It does not belong to you. You have no need to know."

Gu Yun's brows knit in anger. She sheathed the sword and slammed it down on the scorched stone beside her with a snort. "Who cares?" she scoffed. So what if she liked the sword? She never claimed it as hers, nor had she asked for it. He was the one acting petty and suspicious.

She turned to leave, but the blade suddenly shot forward again, blocking her path. It stabbed into the ground at her feet, silent yet filled with stubborn attachment.

Kneeling slightly, Gu Yun gently patted the hilt. She said nothing, stood up smoothly, and walked away without sparing Su Ling a glance—her usual, unbothered grace undiminished.

She opened the gate and stepped out, running right into Su Yu, who had been waiting anxiously. "Qingmo? What are you doing here?"

Qingmo didn't respond. She quietly walked toward the rear garden, leaving Su Yu utterly confused.

Back inside, Su Ling approached Iceblade, intending to pull it from the earth. But no matter how he tried, it refused to budge. It was sulking, perhaps—angry that he had driven its chosen master away.

After several failed attempts, Su Ling lost his temper. "So you've made up your mind to choose her, haven't you?!"

Iceblade shimmered in defiance, as if answering: Yes, I have. What are you going to do about it?

Fine. Very well!

Grabbing Redblood, Su Ling turned and stormed off, leaving behind a battlefield strewn with pride and frost.

Flames of fury crackling around him, he stepped outside. Before Su Yu could speak, he snapped coldly, "When I return, I expect everything to look exactly as it did before."

With that, his figure vanished into the distance.

Su Yu blinked in bewilderment. "What's that supposed to mean? Did something happen to Lingyun Pavilion?"

A glint of understanding flashed in Su Ren's eyes. He chuckled faintly. "Let's go see for ourselves."

As the group entered the courtyard, a wave of scorched air mixed with freezing chill met them. The contrast was stunning. They looked around—then stood frozen in awe.

The entire courtyard was a ruin of blackened trunks and glittering frost, a silent testament to the clash of two godlike swords.