Chapter 32: The Lord of White Cloud City

  All banquets under heaven will eventually disperse.

  Yao Guang returned with the bill and saw Ye Gu Cheng still sitting at the table with a wine cup in hand, looking thoughtful. He couldn't help but laugh: "Lord Ye wants to drink a few more cups?"

  At this moment, the table was in disarray, and there were no longer any noble guests by the table. Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou had already bid farewell.

  Ye Gu Cheng turned his head, his expression calm and serene, shaking his head slightly.

  "I wonder what Sima Yi's sword looks like now."

  "The ruthless swordsman's sword is heartless and unmatched in sharpness, its appearance is nothing but cold and unfeeling."

  Yao Guang looked at Ye Gu Cheng's right hand and smiled meaningfully: "Three months without holding a sword, Lord Ye is itching for action?"

  Ye Gu Cheng quietly looked at Yao Guang for a while, his mouth slightly raised, and surprisingly didn't deny it, lightly nodding.

  "Today I saw A Qi's sword moves and was delighted. It seems that A Qi's sword skills have improved again."

  It stands to reason that being praised by Ye Gucheng, a swordsman of this caliber, for one's swordsmanship is the highest honor in the world. The person being praised should feel proud, even if they don't feel arrogant.

  Yao Guang furrowed his brow and slowly shook his head.

  "For months, I have been observing the sea and contemplating the momentum of water, seemingly making progress. Today, I put it to the test, but it's not like that... The mountains and waters are interdependent, with hardness and softness complementing each other, yin and yang transforming and giving birth to each other. It should be a seamless connection and natural transformation, yet my sword has hard and soft aspects standing in stark contrast, making it seem awkward."

  Ye Gu Cheng thought for a moment, imagining if he were there himself, how would he respond.

  At that time, A Qi's sword was like flowing water, its momentum was lingering, but it only defended and did not attack. The true attacking sword momentum towards the opponent was still like thunder and lightning, and there were indeed gaps to drill in between, but grabbing that gap was not so easy.

  He sighed and said in a low voice: "It's not easy to destroy and then establish. Ah Qi gave up his own strengths and sought another way, I am ashamed of being inferior."

  Yao Guang couldn't help but pause, smiling: "Ye Daren can delve deep into the city... I'm just sighing that I'm not as good as opening a aircraft carrier to resist Japan's latest chapter. We don't need to flatter each other here. It's been several months since I last moved my sword, and I'm also curious about what kind of state 'Ye Gucheng's' sword is in now."

  Ye Gucheng was taken aback for a moment before curling up the corners of his mouth and responding, "Oh? So now I can go back to being the 'Master of White Cloud Castle' instead of just Ye Family's Eldest Young Master?"

  Because the two had an agreement beforehand, several times someone came to provoke them, Ye Gu Cheng did not move his hand, and it was all Yao Guang who took action. Also because Yao Guang was still pondering the true meaning of the Two Forms Sword Method, when she took action, it wasn't that sharp, even though she won in the end, many people with low eyesight just thought she was lucky. After several times, Yao Guang also became impatient with these people, if they came for fame and fortune, she would not be polite at all. A swordsman who has dealings with other swordsmen must have the awareness of dying under the sword. Just like today, Yao Guang used one sword to eliminate future troubles.

  Yao Guang couldn't help but laugh.

  "Yecheng master, why must you use me as a joke? The last few times I didn't let you make a move was because I was afraid you hadn't gained anything yet. Today you mentioned Ximen Chui Xue, it seems like you're aware of having made some breakthrough and are curious about my current situation. Why not let me take a look... Now, which path is Yecheng walking on, what sword is he using?"

  Ye Gu Cheng stood up, with a sword-like brow and starry eyes, calmness hiding an air of pride.

  "That's exactly what I mean."

  Ye Gu Cheng and Yao Guang this time duel without audience or referee, the two used not their own swords but two broken tree branches.

  No swords were used because the two men were only sparring and not fighting for their lives.

  Neither of them had the advantage of weapons, and they were simply competing with each other in sword moves.

  Yao Guang had not used his unique aura, and Ye Gu Cheng did not use that one move of absolute killing, Tian Wai Fei Xian. If a second or third-rate swordsman were to watch this battle, they might even think the two were just fellow disciples practicing together, each move slow and deliberate, as if afraid of not fully understanding the other's moves before switching to the next one. But for an observer who had already reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, he would probably be unable to utter a single mocking word.

  These two people were indeed slowly unfolding their moves, and the moves they used were not mysterious, but the sword energy on the "sword" and the sword intent in the sword moves had far exceeded the realm that ordinary Jianghu masters could reach.

  Martial arts enter the realm of harmony, all plants and trees become swords.

  The sword energy of the two men was attached to the branches, and when they clashed, their sword energy crisscrossed, leaving deep marks on the bluestone bricks beside them. Is this not already the best swordsmanship in the world?

  How many people can turn their vital energy into sword energy and use it to injure their enemies?

  With rapt attention, it seemed as if the two people inside were both present and absent. One was like a white cloud drifting freely, coming and going at will; the other was like flowing water with waves surging, circulating back and forth. The intensity of their sword intent had almost solidified into substance, causing people to hallucinate, unable to clearly see the two opponents standing in the arena. The more they focused on looking, the more it seemed that the two figures were shrouded in mist, indistinct and unclear.

  It seems that the two people in the field are not a middle-aged man in coarse linen clothes and a young girl in silk embroidered skirt, but a white-clothed swordsman and a Taoist priest with a clear heart. The yellow, brown, red, and purple colors only serve as blue and white, and only this blue sky and white cloud color can survive, deeply engraved in people's hearts.

  This battle didn't last long. The masters exchanged moves, and the outcome was often decided in just a moment. Once weakness was revealed, it was hard to recover.

  Yao Guang suddenly changed moves on the ninth move, switching from Er Yi Jian Fa to San Cai Jian Fa. A killing move, three consecutive styles, Ye Gu Cheng's branch was knocked flying, and her own branch was left with only half remaining.

  Ye Gu Cheng lost half a move.

  Yao Guang stared at the half branch in her hand for a while, then smiled and threw it away.

  "Congratulations to Ye Cheng for finding his way back. White clouds are carefree, it's a joyous occasion."

  Ye Gu Cheng didn't become disheartened because of the branch falling off, instead he followed the momentum and looked up at the sky, his line of sight chasing after the white clouds drifting in the air. He watched for a while before turning back to Yao Guang, his expression calm and gentle, just like the white clouds in the clear sky being covered with a warm layer of light under the sun's rays.

  "These days are indeed laborious and troublesome; Qingxu Daozhang has been sealed by the left hand. I don't know what plans he has?"

  Yao Guang thought for a moment and replied: "I still want to watch the sea."

  She found that her two-sword style was insufficient to defeat her enemy and had to switch back to her three-talent sword style, which fully exposed her inadequacy.

  Softness cannot last; strength cannot win.

  Similarly, Ye Gucheng, who had not practiced swordsmanship for many years, did not have this problem. His swordsmanship had quietly changed, becoming smooth and untraceable, clear because of the "Tao", moving because of the "Tao". From his former swift and deadly strikes to today's carefree wandering in the white clouds, only he himself could explain the subtleties involved.

  Ye Gu Cheng heard this and was slightly stunned for a moment, then smiled faintly.

  "In that case, I dare not continue to trouble Daozhang... A year later, I will return to White Cloud City myself. Within this year, White Cloud City will entrust Daozhang to take care of it slightly."

  Rely on each other like city walls?

  Yao Guang came back to her senses after a brief daze and couldn't help but laugh: "Master Ye, entrusting White Cloud City to a guest is not quite right."

  Not to mention absconding with funds and so on, what if she is either careless in management or deliberately making a mess?

  Or what if she has the heart but lacks the strength?

  How heartbreaking it would be if such a city, which had been built with great effort and dedication, were to be destroyed by her hands?

  She had known Ye Gu Cheng for only a few months, and at first, they would meet but not speak, silently waiting. With such entrustment, how could it not stir one's emotions?

  Ye Gu Cheng's eyes, like cold stars, flashed with a hint of a smile. He went back into the house and soon came out again, this time holding a long, narrow black wooden box in both hands.

  Yao Guang asked with her eyes what this meant.

  Ye Gu Cheng held up the black wooden box with both hands and presented it to Yao Guang, saying in a loud voice: "On the night of the full moon several months ago, I entrusted this sword to Dao Zhang... Now I entrust it to you again. Dao Zhang has great kindness towards me, this sword is the token of the master of White Cloud Castle. In White Cloud Castle, if anyone disobeys orders, Dao Zhang will behead them with this."

  Ye Gu Cheng's last sentence was full of murderous intent.

  Yao Guang's gaze shifted from the box to Ye Gu Cheng's face, and they exchanged a brief glance. In those eyes, she saw only clarity and brightness, without any hint of darkness or obscurity, but instead filled with sincerity and trust. She couldn't help but smile, her right hand grasping the ebony box as she said, "You treat me with sincerity, I will not betray you."

  The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water; a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold.

  Ye Gu Cheng entrusted him with a city, and Yao Guang gladly accepted it, no more words were needed.

  The two parted ways, Ye Gucheng packed his luggage and headed to the next town, while Yao Guang took a car and boat back to White Cloud City.

  It's just that last time Yao Guang went to White Cloud City, he was only a "noble guest", but now Yao Guang is back in White Cloud City and is already considered half the master.

  Perhaps it was because Ye Gu Cheng had always treated Yao Guang with special care, and the people in the city had long revered "Qing Xu Dao Chang" as a celestial being. This time, when she took out Ye Gu Cheng's long sword and said she wanted to take over Bai Yun City, there wasn't a single dissenting voice in the city, not even from Ye Gu Cheng's most loyal subordinates.

  Inside the White Cloud City, all matters that required the city master's decision were piled up on Yao Guang's desk. She stared at the stack of documents and account books for a while.

  Ye Gu Cheng left Bai Yun City just a few months ago, why are there so many things piled up in this room? Could it be that there's some old debt here that hasn't been settled yet?

  Undertake a task for someone and complete it with loyalty.

  Yao Guang didn't intend to shirk responsibility, so she first took the account book and roughly flipped through it. She immediately understood why there were so many things here.

  The account book of White Cloud City is checked every half a year. In other words, she just happened to catch the second half of this trip...

  In the past, Rui managed many things in the Pure Yang, and Yao Guang followed behind her master, naturally also learning a lot by ear and eye. However, she didn't spend much effort on this, and after checking accounts for less than half a moment, Yao Guang's head was splitting, so she opened the door and called out to the maid outside who was disguised as a mechanical armor master.

  "Fly Ink, get Accountant Mr. to come over."

  The lovely young girl responded softly, then gently reminded: "Seventh Girl, in previous years when checking accounts, there were always several accountants who came together to verify, and the study is now filled with account books..."

  Yao Guang lived in the guest room, although there was also a small study, after all, the space was limited, and now it was still full of account books. Yao Guang had a place to sit, but visitors probably didn't even have a place to stand.

  Yao Guang glanced around and immediately understood, casually asking: "Where did you usually check accounts in the past?"

  Fei Mo smiled faintly and replied in a low voice: "The study of the city master."

  "Then let's move everything over there. Let them wait on that side."

  Yao Guang finished speaking and saw the maid standing there motionless, with a hint of hesitation between her eyebrows, looking like she wanted to say something but stopped herself, so Yao Guang couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

  Fei Mo said cautiously: "Seventh Young Lady, from the city master's study to here, it takes a total of two quarters to go back and forth. It's quite tiring to rush back and forth...and it's not very suitable for all the adults to come to the guest room to ask for your instructions..."

  Yao Guang smiled and said: "If you want to say something, just say it."

  Fei Mo was startled for a moment, then pursed his lips and said timidly: "Not far from the city master's study, there is another empty place to live, and the housekeeper also wants to invite you to move over."

  Yao Guang suddenly lost his smile.

  "It was for this all along. Since it's empty, if you don't mind the trouble, then move. I'll go to the seaside first and come back to notify you once everything is ready."

  Fei Mo let out a big sigh of relief and ran away happily.

  The steward was a middle-aged man whose family had served the master of White Cloud City for generations, and he followed his master's surname Ye. In the past, Ye Gu Cheng also called him Ye Bo.

  The middle-aged man praised her a few words after getting the reward from Fei Mo, and immediately ordered everyone to help Yao Guang move house.

  "How can Seventh Sister possibly stay in a guest room now..."

  Ye Bo stroked his beard and smiled with deep meaning.

  The castle owner entrusted all the swords to her. Now she can be said to be half the master of White Cloud Castle, where is the reason for living in a guest room?

  Author's note: System notification: Yao Guang obtained Ye Gu Cheng's sword.

  System Prompt: Yao Guang has obtained half of the ownership of White Cloud City.

  Yao Guang's reputation in White Cloud City turned into respect.

  The correct way to get to Baishan City

  (non-reproducible...)

  。

  Thank you for the loving votes from everyone, muah!

  Little Yellow Chicken threw a grenade at Water Questioner Time: 2013-11-26 23:51:11

  Mo Jun threw a grenade Throw time: 2013-11-26 21:27:35

  Jun Chen threw a grenade Throwing time: 2013-11-24 22:54:03

  Ling Chuan threw a grenade Throwing time: 2013-11-24 13:32:48

  This chapter is Chapter 32 White Cloud City. If you think this chapter is not bad, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends on QQ group and Weibo!