A Man in the Snow: Starting with a Sword Challenge to the Northern Liang Prince's Palace

The next day.

Ye Yun arrived at the private school as promised.

The private school was small, consisting of a few tiled houses and a courtyard with several old locust trees.

Unlike the dilapidated Niping Lane, this place, though simple, is kept clean and tidy. The bluestone floor is spotless, new paper is pasted on the window frames, and a pot of tea and two cups are placed on the stone table in the corner of the courtyard.

Qi Jingchun sat at the stone table, a book in his hand, which he was reading. Seeing Ye Yun enter, he closed the book and smiled.

"You're here, have a seat."

Ye Yun sat down opposite him.

Qi Jingchun poured him a cup of tea and pushed it towards him, saying, "Try it, this year's new tea."

Ye Yun picked up her teacup and took a sip. The tea was excellent, with a fragrant aroma and a sweet aftertaste.

But his mind wasn't on the tea at that moment.

"Mr. Qi said yesterday that he had something to say to me."

Ye Yun put down his teacup and looked at Qi Jingchun.

Qi Jingchun nodded, not rushing to speak, but instead picking up his teacup and slowly taking a sip. Sunlight filtered through the locust tree leaves, casting dappled shadows on his face.

He put down his teacup: "Yesterday in Mud Bottle Alley, you almost made a move."

Ye Yun did not deny it: "Yes."

Why wasn't it released?

Ye Yun was silent for a moment, then said truthfully, "Because you are here."

Qi Jingchun smiled: "What if I'm not here?"

Ye Yun thought for a moment, then said softly, "Then I will take action. Chen Ping'an cannot die."

Qi Jingchun looked at him, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

"Young Master Ye, I would like to ask you to do something."

Ye Yun looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Qi Jingchun said, "I would like to ask you to be Chen Ping'an's protector."

Ye Yun was stunned.

Protector of the Way?

He, an outsider, an outsider who isn't even considered a human in this world, became Chen Ping'an's protector.

Why did he trust him so much?

Ye Yun shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I'm not suitable. The cause and effect between him and me is the final battle."

Qi Jingchun asked without surprise, "Why must we fight?"

Ye Yun thought for a moment and said truthfully, "With Mr. Qi's cultivation level, he can figure this out by doing some deduction."

Qi Jingchun nodded and said, "I understand."

He looked at Ye Yun, his eyes calm and profound: "But a protector doesn't necessarily have to stay by your side all the time. You only need to lend a hand when he needs it most. As for your karma, it won't matter."

Ye Yun remained silent.

Qi Jingchun continued, "His path is not easy, but I believe in him. In exchange, I can help you with what you want."

Ye Yun remained silent.

He remembered the blood-covered boy from yesterday, his stubborn eyes, and the resolute way he stabbed Fu Nanhua with a shard of porcelain.

Chen Ping'an is indeed capable of going further.

Ye Yun suddenly asked, "Mr. Qi, why didn't you protect him yourself?"

Qi Jingchun remained silent for a moment.

He gazed at the distant sky, his eyes deep, as if looking at a very, very far place.

"Because I can't protect you for long," he said softly.

Ye Yun's heart skipped a beat.

Qi Jingchun withdrew her gaze, looked at Ye Yun, and smiled slightly: "You figured it out, didn't you?"

Ye Yun remained silent.

He definitely noticed it.

From the first time he met Qi Jingchun, he sensed an extremely subtle death aura emanating from this saint. The death aura was so faint that ordinary cultivators could not detect it at all, but Ye Yun's Samsara Sword Intent was most sensitive to matters of life and death.

"Mr. Qi, is it worth it?"

Qi Jingchun didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Is it worth it to resurrect that person?"

Ye Yun was stunned.

Qi Jingchun smiled and said, "Some things have to be done by someone. Just like you want to resurrect that person, even knowing you might fail, you still have to do it. I protect this town, I protect these people, even knowing I might die, I still have to protect them."

"This isn't a question of whether it's worth it or not, it's a question of whether you're willing to do it."

Ye Yun lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

Perhaps, just as he thought, even knowing that the road ahead leads to death and that the outcome is defeat, he still doesn't turn back.

Because they are willing, because they feel that some things are more important than living.

"Mr. Qi, what do you want me to do?"

Qi Jingchun looked at him, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

"Protecting him is not about shielding him from disaster, but about helping him when he is desperate, allowing him to survive, grow up, and complete the path he is meant to walk."

Ye Yun was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."

Qi Jingchun smiled.

He stood up, walked to Ye Yun, took out a jade slip from his sleeve, and handed it to him.

"This is the method of the integration of the three teachings and the method of condensing one's natal character. In exchange, I will give it to you. You were originally a sword cultivator and obtained the original law of that senior. My lineage may be of some help to you. My path has actually been severed."

Qi Jingchun had already guessed the outcome.

His path overlapped with that of the Dao Ancestor's chief disciple.

Ye Yun accepted the jade slip. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and a righteous aura emanated from it. He did not refuse it because he knew he needed these methods.

If he wants to advance his swordsmanship further, he needs to integrate more paths.

"Thank you, Mr. Qi," he said solemnly.

Qi Jingchun waved her hand: "No need to thank me, this is a transaction, and also a entrustment."

"I watched him grow up. He suffered a lot, more than anyone else, but he never complained, never accepted his fate, and his eyes were always full of hope for the world."

Ye Yun stood behind him, watching the back of the scholar in the blue robe.

The sunlight shone on him, gilding him with a golden edge. His back looked somewhat thin, yet exceptionally resolute.

"Mr. Qi, has anyone ever told you that you're stupid?"

Qi Jingchun was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

"have."

Qi Jingchun said with a smile, "That scoundrel A Liang said that I'm the dumbest scholar he's ever met."

Ye Yun was stunned, then smiled.

The two stood in the academy, smiling at each other, like two friends who had known each other for a long time.

After laughing enough, Qi Jingchun patted Ye Yun on the shoulder.

Go! Don't worry about me.

Ye Yun nodded and turned to walk out.

When he reached the gate of the courtyard, he suddenly stopped and looked back.

Qi Jingchun had already sat back down at the stone table, picked up the scroll again, and the sunlight shone on him. He lowered his head and turned the pages, his expression serene, like the most ordinary scholar in the world.

But Ye Yun knew that this seemingly ordinary scholar carried the weight of a small town, the lives of six thousand people, and the safety of this land in his heart.

He said softly, "Mr. Qi, take care."

Qi Jingchun didn't look up, she just waved her hand.

Ye Yun turned around and strode away.

The sound of turning pages came from the academy behind me, a soft rustling sound like the wind blowing through locust tree leaves.

Ye Yun walked out of the academy, across the long bluestone street, past the bustling crowds. He stopped at the entrance of Mud Bottle Alley.

Chen Ping'an woke up.

Ye Yun didn't go in; he just stood at the alley entrance and watched from afar.

The boy sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at his hands, which were still wrapped in strips of cloth, seeping blood. He stared at them for a long time, then looked up at the sunlight streaming through the window.

The sunlight shone on his face, revealing the scars on his face, and also revealing the light in his eyes.

It's still lit up.

Looking at the light, Ye Yun suddenly remembered Qi Jingchun's words: "I hope he can live a good life and become a good person."

He withdrew his gaze, turned, and left.

As he walked out of the alley, he stopped and lightly drew a sword mark on the wall.

The sword mark was very shallow, almost invisible. But it contained a wisp of sword intent, which would protect Chen Ping'an from disaster when he needed it most.

That's all he can do.

Ye Yun withdrew his finger and strode away.