Sun Xuechen opened eyes and sat up. The only difference between him and a beggar was perhaps those empty, indifferent eyes.
The young attendant had seen too many strange things today, so when he heard that the idle man was the greatest swordsman, he merely reacted
"Hahaha, where is Sun Xuechen, who once vowed to eradicate demon sect?"
"I can no longer wield a sword, nor do I have the heart to."
"That is not up to you. Only by cutting you down with my Frostcleave Blade can I console my brother's spirit!"
Sun Xuechen, unable to defend, sidestepped to avoid it.
The young attendant was knocked over by the blade's hilt, spitting out blood.
As Frostcleave Blade brushed past him, Sun Xuechen heard the demon sect woman's curse you shall lose kin and friends, doomed to a life of solitude.
In a daze, he took a solid hit.
"How boring. You probably can't even lift a sword now?"
Yuwen Ci kicked the two previously dazed swordsmen and said, "I kept these two to serve as witnesses, but it seems unnecessary."
He whistled through his fingers, and outside, responding whistles echoed. Then came voices, dogs barking, cries, shouts, and the crackling of burning wood.
"Leave no one alive."
As Frostcleave Blade approached Sun Xuechen, his limbs felt as if they were bound.
He closed his eyes, memories of decades spent with the sword surfacing in his mind. Back then, it was still divine sword Snowfold, untainted by curse, not yet Trisunder that severed humanity.
In his youth, he wielded Snowfold, his friend wielded Frostcleave, fighting side by side. Suddenly, his lover was killed, his friend defected to the demon sect, and he was unable to draw the divine sword again.
Frostcleave did not fall.
The young attendant overturned the table, "Hero Sun run!"
Frostcleave embedded in the table.
From the young attendant, Sun Xuechen caught a glimpse of old friend's figure. He forgot all his moves, as old friend's questioning echoed within him
Sun Xuechen, why do you wield the sword?
Outside, the flames roared, turning the world into a mortal hell. He hated the demon sect's cruelty and his own powerlessness. Though the sword would bring bloodshed, if he did not, he would be like fish on a chopping block, let alone protect others.
Why do you wield the sword?
All hesitations, loves, hates, and inner demons became bygones, as Sun Xuechen walked towards the self that fled in defeat years ago. The greatest sword was not a curse, but a mission.
To wield the sword is to protect. In that instant, he understood, as if awakening from a slumber, emerging from a grand dream.