To be honest, this scene arrived far too abruptly, leaving everyone utterly bewildered.
Just moments before, the images had shown the two of them nestled close, traversing planets across the cosmos, leaving behind countless tales. Yet in the very next instant, as the scene shifted, it had warped into this.
The white veil that suppressed the Mara had vanished. Jingliu's consciousness had once again sunk into chaos. And Bai Heng, left with no other choice, had summoned his longsword, forced to face her in combat using the very techniques his beloved had taught him.
But confusion aside, given the intensely tense situation before them, everyone could only push their questions to the back of their minds and focus on the screen.
Those cinnabar-red eyes seemed even more crimson than usual. Amid the swirling wind and snow, Jingliu gripped her sword with one hand, dragging it gouged into the ground. Wherever the blade passed, ice crystals erupted, the cold air biting.
Then, without any warning, Jingliu's figure vanished.
Naturally, Bai Heng couldn't see this. But he heard it.
Amid the mournful howl of the wind and snow, a distinct, alien sound drifted. It was the hum of a blade slicing through the air.
With the utmost speed, Bai Heng brought Moonblade up to guard. Although he managed to block the strike, the tremendous force transmitted through the sword still sent him flying back. He tumbled several times in the air before finally stabbing his sword into the ground to steady himself.
But before he could make another move, as the sound of a blade cutting the air rang out again, countless icy crescent moons, like a terrifying multitude of rivers, had already surrounded him.
Kafka's analysis had been correct. Mara suppressed for fifteen years was far more terrifying than the first onset. Whether it was the devouring bloodlust or the slashes of sword light, it all made Bai Heng feel as if his life would be extinguished in the very next second.
Yet, unlike fifteen years ago, after daily instruction in the martial arts from his beloved, Bai Heng was no longer that helpless physician.
He swung Moonblade, countless points of cold light wrapped in sword gleam, shattering each and every crescent moon one by one. The next moment, Bai Heng stepped forward on the shattered ice debris, taking the initiative to attack!
Jingliu, of course, did not retreat. The word 'retreat' simply did not exist in her swordsmanship.
Without a doubt, this was a battle that left every viewer in the livestream breathless with amazement.
Within the storm of wind and snow, countless sword lights flashed back and forth. Two figures darted at speeds difficult for the naked eye to follow. Each time they collided, the resulting sound was deafening.
It was hard to imagine that after just fifteen years of swordsmanship training, Bai Heng had already reached a level where he could fight head-on with Jingliu, the former Sword Champion of the Luofu.
But... it still wasn't enough.
More and more wounds appeared on Bai Heng's body. While not fatal, they were slowly grinding down his stamina. In contrast, Jingliu showed not a single wound; her breathing wasn't even slightly labored. Her face, already frosty, gained an extra layer of coldness accentuated by the snowstorm.
After another collision, Bai Heng landed. He took a deep breath, the aura around him swelling with each inhalation, as if he was gathering all his strength. He was staking the outcome of this battle on his next strike.
As if sensing his intent, even in her Mara-struck state, Jingliu responded in kind.
A coldness more terrifying than before radiated from her, the very air around her freezing solid. Everyone watched the pivotal moment with taut nerves, understanding that this blow would decide the victor.
The next instant, like two shooting stars, they launched themselves forward.
But just as they were about to collide, the unthinkable happened.
On the screen, Bai Heng, whose momentum had been overwhelming, suddenly released his grip on his sword. A faint smile played on his lips.
That expression was exactly the same as the one he wore that night on Salsotto fifteen years ago. Back then, he had also greeted the Mara-Struck Jingliu, and the blade that pierced his body, with that same gentle smile.
But this time, it was different.
For on the other side, as Bai Heng let go of his sword, the seemingly frenzied Jingliu now wore a panicked expression on her face. She forced her body to twist, retracting her sword technique and releasing her grip on her sword.
The result was her tumbling directly into Bai Heng's waiting arms.
The two rolled together in the snow and ice, their clothes covered in white.
After a long moment, Bai Heng, lying in the snow, rubbed his sore chest and grinned. "Seems like your acting skills still need some work~"
His response was a light punch to the chest from the figure in his arms, and a softly gritted whisper: "You fool..."
Yes, Bai Heng had figured it out.
Although each of Jingliu's strikes was overwhelmingly fierce, brimming with killing intent, the wounds she inflicted on him were merely superficial, nothing life-threatening. This was definitely not the restraint of someone truly lost to the Mara.
She was using the pretense of the Mara... to drive him away.
Meanwhile, watching the two embrace in the snowstorm, the audience outside the screen was dumbfounded, completely in the dark about what was happening.
--+--
Stelle: 「Huh???? We were here worrying our heads off, and you two just end up hugging it out? Makes us worriers look like total clowns!」
Kiana: 「So... why did Miss Jingliu suddenly snap out of it? And what did Mr. Bai Heng mean by that?」
Black Swan: 「Hmm... Rather than suddenly snapping out of it, it's more that Jingliu wasn't truly lost to the Mara just now. She was only pretending to be in that state. As for Mr. Bai Heng's meaning, it's quite clear he discovered this~」
Lumine: 「Pretending to be Mara-struck??? Are these two's games already that elaborate? I really don't get it!」
Paimon: 「There must be a reason, hey! What's going on in that head of yours!」
Black Swan: 「As for the reason behind this... I'm not entirely sure either. Let's just keep watching~」
--+--
Prompted by Black Swan, everyone turned their attention back to the screen.
And now, Bai Heng in the livestream spoke up.
He helped the person in his arms to her feet, his tone as teasing as ever. "So, tell me. What's the reason you felt the need to send me away~"
His answer was a single, icy tear falling from Jingliu's red eyes, and her slightly hoarse voice.
She said:
"I just... didn't want you to continue like this any longer..."
Amid the wind and snow, Jingliu, as she spoke these words, seemed more vulnerable than ever before.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.