Chapter One, Seventeen Years Later

Yan Jingchen gazed deeply at her, his tone sounding somewhat strange, "Fuyao, I actually hope that the title 'Pearl and Jade Twin Swords' refers to you and me."

She made a solemn vow that she cannot violate

Meng Fuyao listened carefully to the sound of the clash, raising her eyebrows with a smile

His tone was淡淡 as he spoke these words, with the setting sun beyond the distant mountains casting pale yellow spots of light from the tips of the leaves, falling upon Yan Jingchen, who stood backlit. This made him appear mottled and distant, his expression vague.

Yan Jingchen fixed his gaze upon her for a long time, then slowly exhaled a long breath. Upon hearing this response, the tension and disappointment in his eyes suddenly faded, giving rise to a faint sense of resignation as if the dust had finally settled.

Meng Fuyao took a deep breath, lifted her long, dense eyelashes, and her eyes, bright and clear, shone into Yan Jingchen's gaze, which had begun to show a hint of disappointment after a long wait.

Meng Fuyao's fingers gently brushed over the prominent edges, revealing a hint of an enigmatic smile. She tossed the black talisman in her palm and whistled.

The "Zhenwu" Grand Tournament will be held in the city of Pandu, Tian Sha, one year from now. It will gather the noble warriors from the Seven Harmonies and the *Tushu* Kingdom, to assess martial skills, military strategies, and tactics, competing for the top seven positions in the world. The victors will gain control over the military power of their respective nations. My master has stated that the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect will be represented by me and my junior sister Pei Yuan. Tomorrow, I will return home early to prepare for the competition.

The sunset descends rapidly, and the sky, which was just moments ago a vibrant tapestry of deep purple and rosy hues, now holds only a thin layer of red. This light filters through the lush green leaves, casting a reflection on Yan Jingchen, who has remained at a distance of three feet, his figure somewhat ethereal.

The master's parting words still echo in my ears: "You must never reveal your true martial arts skills in any sect."

Standing upright at random, she turned back and saw the approaching person. A smile spread across her lips, her eyes sparkling and bright, revealing a hint of uncontainable joy and concern.

How could she not wish for it? No matter how magnanimous a woman may be, she would not want the person she likes to be compared with another woman, nor to be regarded by everyone as a perfect match of talent and beauty.

Meng Fuyao smiled even more forcedly

Startled dust

Meng Fuyao smiled nonchalantly, casually brushing her hair aside and saying, "It's nothing, losing is losing; I've gotten used to it."

Meng Fuyao felt a stir in her heart and raised her eyes to look into Yan Jingchen's gaze. The hesitation, unease, and faint pain deep within his eyes caused a slight ache in her heart as well. She recalled that recently, this kind of disappointed expression from Jingchen seemed to be becoming increasingly common.

Once the seven national passes are gathered, one can ... ...

The third

Fuyou, Yan Jingchen stared at her for a long while, and finally couldn't help but take a step forward, whispering, "Can't you put in a little more effort to learn martial arts properly? In our Five Continents, strength is paramount. A person who makes no progress in martial arts will find it extremely difficult to navigate the world in the future, facing cold eyes everywhere. Have you... never thought about improving your current situation?"

After a pause, he added, "Even if it is just for me?"

The most outstanding disciple of the Xuantian Sword Sect, a noble young master from the prestigious Yan Jing family, Yan Jingchen, is the most admired by the female disciples in the sect

Meng Fuyao stepped on the chest of the person beneath her, resting her elbow on her knee, slightly leaning forward. Bathed in the sunlight filtering through the lush green leaves of the dense forest, she examined the object in her hand with great interest

"Jingchen, I have already done my best..."

Meng Fuyao opened her mouth, and in almost an instant, she wanted to reveal the secret she had deeply concealed in her heart

He suddenly changed the subject

The sound of footsteps approaching through the flowers and leaves came from behind. Meng Fuyao squinted her eyes, flicked her fingers to seal the acupoint of the person beneath her, and kicked them into the thicket ahead.

She casually repeated the usual exchanges between the two, not noticing the contradictions and hesitations in Yan Jingchen's eyes today, nor did she realize that after hearing such a response, Yan Jingchen's expression darkened slightly.

Jing Chen is loyal to her sect and obsessed with martial arts. If she reveals the truth to him, the master of Xuan Yuan Sect will eventually find out.

Even if it is just for me

Her lifted chin carved a graceful arc in the golden sunlight, extending the exquisitely proportioned lines of her entire face. On her fair forehead, two elegantly arched brows spread out comfortably, further accentuating the pair of dark, piercing eyes beneath them, which shone with an unrestrained brilliance, like the sharp blade of a renowned sword waiting to be drawn.

Meng Fuyao clapped her hands and casually stuffed the black talisman into her bosom. As she did so, a faint crisp sound reminiscent of gold and jade clashing could be heard. There, she already possessed two similar talismans, differing only slightly in shape, each representing a different country.

Fuyou

I want to tell him that I am not incapable of mastering martial arts; I want to tell him that the reason I am unwilling to practice the Xuan Yuan internal skill is that it conflicts with our school's "Breaking the Nine Heavens" technique. I also want to tell him that if given a little more time, there will come a day when I will make you proud and smile for me, rather than the current situation where I am ridiculed and humiliated, causing you to suffer a loss of dignity and feel awkward.

Only ... ... cannot.

Meng Fuyao's heart trembled slightly, and she forced a smile, saying, "You are the most outstanding pair of disciples in the Sword Sect. Even the Lord of Taiyuan has bestowed upon you the title of 'Pearl and Jade Twin Swords.' If the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect does not send you, then who else could they send"

Hey, the pass of the Celestial Dynasty! Good luck!

It was a black hexagonal object, adorned with ancient patterns, made of a material that was neither metal nor jade. The lower right corner, in contrast to the other corners, was slightly larger and particularly sharpened, resembling a dark blue tusk, glistening ominously in the sunlight

Fuyou, I want to tell you. Yan Jingchen suddenly interrupted her, speaking quickly as if afraid that if he slowed down even a little, he would no longer be able to say it. The family has sent me a letter, and they have already sought a marriage proposal from the Pei family. The Pei family has accepted the betrothal gifts, and after the Zhenwu Conference, I... will be marrying Pei Yuan.

"You are playing again on the back mountain," Yan Jingchen stood three feet away from Meng Fuyiao, a gentle yet reproachful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "If you don't practice properly, you'll be last in tomorrow's competition again. Do you enjoy the taste of being scolded?"

A sudden wave of inexplicable panic surged within Meng Fuyao, her pulse racing in fits and starts. The intense unease made her feel that some words must be spoken now; otherwise... perhaps there would never be another opportunity.

"Jingchen, I want to tell you..."

The young man in a green robe approached, tall and handsome, with a fair complexion. His attire and demeanor clearly indicated a privileged background. Especially with the slight smile at the corner of his mouth, he exuded warmth and friendliness, making one feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze