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

After the tavern closed, Ye Yun did not kick people out.

Qian Shouxin stayed in the corner, saying he wanted to have another drink. In fact, there was no wine in the glass. He just held the empty glass in his hand, turning it over and over, as if he could see something in the bottom of the glass.

Ning Yao didn't leave either. She sat by the window, took off "White Rainbow" and placed it on the table. Her fingers gently stroked the patterns on the scabbard, lost in thought.

Ye Yun walked out from behind the counter, carrying two jugs of wine.

"Drink it."

Qian Shouxin immediately pushed the empty cup over, his eyes sparkling.

Ye Yun filled his glass, and he took a big gulp, squinting his eyes with an expression of extreme enjoyment. "Boss Ye's wine is still the best. What kind of rubbish does that new tavern in the east of the city sell? It tastes like horse piss."

Ning Yao also picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and said nothing.

She was quiet today, remaining silent ever since returning from the sparring session outside the city. Ye Yun didn't ask her why, but simply poured her some wine.

After a few rounds of drinks, Qian Shouxin started talking more. He had a habit of rambling when he was drunk.

He slumped over the table, twirling an empty glass in his hand, his eyes unfocused. "Do you think people can really come back to life after they die?"

The tavern fell silent for a moment.

Ning Yao paused slightly in her hand holding the wine glass, looked up at Ye Yun, who remained silent for a moment before finishing the wine in his glass and putting it down.

"I don't know, but I'll give it a try."

Qian Shouxin chuckled twice, whether from drunkenness or something else, it was hard to tell.

"What if we fail?"

Ye Yun poured another glass of wine, held it in his hand, and looked at the swirling liquid inside.

"Then let's try again."

As the alcohol took effect, Qian Shouxin pressed on, asking, "What if you fail a hundred times?"

Ye Yun raised her head and looked at him.

Qian Shouxin's face was flushed, but his eyes were brighter than those of a drunk person. When he asked the question, there was no teasing or joking in his tone, but rather something very serious.

Ye Yun suddenly remembered that Qian Shouxin's father died on the battlefield, and his remains were never recovered.

"Then let's try it a thousand times," Ye Yun said.

Qian Shouxin was stunned. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but nothing came out.

"Boss Ye, you're a madman."

Ye Yun laughed too: "What's the difference between a madman and a fool?"

Ning Yao suddenly spoke up: "Yes."

She put down her wine glass, looked at Ye Yun, her eyes clear.

"A madman doesn't know why he's mad, but a fool knows why he's foolish."

Ye Yun looked at her, paused for a moment, and then raised his wine glass.

"Respect the idiot."

Ning Yao also raised her glass, and Qian Shouxin hurriedly filled his empty glass and raised it as well. The three glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

The three of them finished their drinks. Qian Shouxin poured himself another glass, took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and suddenly asked, "Boss Ye, if you really can revive her, then what?"

Ye Yun was stunned.

He had never thought about this question before. He sat there with an empty cup in his hand, thinking for a long time.

He said softly, "Take her to see the best scenery in the world, drink the best wine in the world, and be husband and wife with her."

Qian Shouxin's eyes widened.

"It's that simple?"

Ye Yun nodded: "It's that simple."

Qian Shouxin scratched his head, seemingly finding the answer too ordinary.

The Ye Yun he imagined should be the kind of person who would do something earth-shattering. After resurrecting his deceased wife, he would either travel the world together or live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, not just "enjoy the scenery and drink wine".

But Ning Yao didn't say anything.

She just stared at Ye Yun for a long time, then lowered her head, a smile appearing on her lips.

She seemed to understand.

Qian Shouxin was slumped over the table, fast asleep. His glass had tipped over, and the last drop of wine was dripping onto the floor along the edge of the table with a soft sound.

His breathing was deep and even, and he still had that carefree smile on his face.

Ning Yao stood up, hung her longsword back at her waist, and straightened her clothes. She walked to the door, pushed it open, and the night wind rushed in, making her clothes flutter.

She stood at the doorway and glanced back at Ye Yun.

"Boss Ye, I'm leaving now."

Ye Yun nodded.

Ning Yao walked out the door, her footsteps gradually fading at the end of the long street. Only Ye Yun and Qian Shouxin, who was snoring and slumped over the table, remained in the tavern.

Ye Yun stood up, walked behind the counter, and took out a portrait from the drawer.

The portrait is old; the edges are frayed, and the paper is yellowed.

He unfolded the portrait and carefully laid it on the counter. The portrait depicted a woman, dressed in white as snow, with long, flowing hair, standing atop a mountain, turning back with a smile.

Her eyes and brows were gentle, and a mischievous smile played at the corners of her lips.

Nangong Pushe.

Ye Yun looked at the portrait, his fingers gently tracing the somewhat blurred lines on the paper.

"Park She," he said softly, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of waking something.

"Once I find you, we'll go see the most beautiful scenery in the world. In Beiju Luzhou, there's a snow-capped mountain with snow all year round. At sunrise, the summit turns golden, which is very beautiful. In Baoping Zhou, there's a bamboo forest where the wind blows like ocean waves. It's said that if you drink there, you can taste the flavor of bamboo leaves."

"And the moon over the Sword Qi Great Wall is very round and bright, illuminating the sword marks and names on the wall. Old Dong said that Mei Ruoxue loves to look at the moon from the wall. You'll like it too."

Outside the window, the moon was round and bright. Moonlight streamed through the window paper, falling on the portrait and on the smiling face of the woman. Ye Yun looked at the portrait, a smile appearing on his lips.

He put the portrait away and carefully placed it back in the drawer. Then he walked over to Qian Shouxin and patted him on the shoulder.

"Let's go, I'm going back to sleep."

Qian Shouxin groggily raised his head, rubbed his eyes, mumbled something, and stood up, staggering as he walked out.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Ye Yun with blurry, drunken eyes.

"Boss Ye, you will definitely find her. You are such a good person, God will not let you down."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out, disappearing into the night.

Ye Yun stood at the door, gazing in the direction he had gone. She stood there for a long time as the night wind blew in, carrying the unique chill of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

He smiled, closed the door, walked back to the counter, and sat down.

The oil lamp was still burning, illuminating the empty tables and chairs, and the few wine glasses on the counter that hadn't been cleared away yet.

He picked it up and gently raised it towards the moon outside the window.

Park Seol, goodnight.

Outside the window, the moon was round and bright. Moonlight shone on the Great Wall of Swords, on the dense sword marks on the city walls, on the unmarked graves at the foot of the walls, and into this small tavern.

Ye Yun finished the wine in his glass, placed the empty glass on the counter, and turned off the light.

The tavern darkened, with only moonlight streaming in through the windows, casting a silvery glow on the floor. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. All he could hear was the wind outside, the distant clanging of swords from the city walls, the faint sounds of Dong Bude turning over in the stone house, Qian Shouxin's staggering footsteps as he walked back to the barracks, and Ning Yao's rustling sound as she wiped her sword by the inn's window.

These voices blended together, weaving a net that enveloped him. He stayed in this net for six years, growing from a stranger to a familiar face, from a passerby to a returning traveler.

The Great Wall of Sword Qi is no longer just a stop on his path to resurrection, but his home. These people are his friends, his brothers, and the people he is willing to protect with his sword.