Chapter 294: A Pair Of Contradictory Fools

Mathematics is something you either understand or you don’t. Even if ten teachers give you personal attention, if you don’t get it, you just don’t get it.

But Chu Ge gets it.

As long as he doesn’t get distracted by “Jin Ping Mei” or searching for underlines, as long as he doesn’t get wrapped up in writing, and instead focuses on his cultivation, Chu Ge’s progress could put even the most accomplished masters to shame.

After all, this is a world he created, and he provided the best possible interpretation for the phrase “tailored to fit.”

He had only been in the Sword Trial Cave for one night, but the next day he challenged the third level again with determination, staying an extra hour compared to the previous day.

The Sword Trial Cave was not meant for directly advancing one’s cultivation; it was for practicing the sword techniques left by predecessors and comprehending various residual sword intents. It aimed to broaden one’s knowledge of sword techniques, deepen one’s understanding of various skills, and gain practical combat experience. This accumulation was essential for disciples of the Cloud Horizon Sect.

Even Qiu Wuji and the elders occasionally came here to comprehend various sword intents in order to gain more insights.

In Chu Ge’s created world, simple leveling up didn’t hold much meaning. It would only make him a target for others to challenge, and this worldview was honestly reflected in the Cloud Horizon Sect’s training settings. Every aspect of accumulation had to complement the cultivation.

In one sense, it seemed like he had dug a pit for himself, preventing rapid advancement of his cultivation. But from another perspective, this was the meticulous process of understanding what his created world should entail as a creator. It was no different from getting acquainted with and recognizing Xie Jiuxiao and the others.

Every sword intent, every sword technique, embodied the intentions of countless predecessors from the Cloud Horizon Sect. Each person had their own unique understanding of the same sword technique. Even each sword scar told a story.

The deeper he went, the more this became evident.

Chu Ge could almost see the images of the predecessors passing by, leaving behind fleeting traces.

An old man built his hermitage between the mountains, sitting and gazing at the opposite peak. He allowed the wind, frost, and swords to carve into his body over thousands of years without moving an inch. Suddenly, as if clapping his hands in delight one night, he said, “I understand.”

Within a thatched cottage, the sword rose like a dragon, piercing the heavens. Countless sword marks and blades fell from the sky and were collected in the Sword Trial Cave, engraving this thousand-year-old sword’s story.

This was the sword of dedication.

An old man sat by the side of a tombstone, offering sacrifices day after day. He gently touched the gravestone, his eyes filled with sorrow. One day, a fierce wind blew, the demonic wave surged, and someone came to report that a long-standing enemy was coming out of seclusion. The tipsy old man turned and looked back, grabbing the rusty sword abandoned beside the tombstone for a hundred years.

In that moment, the brilliance of the sword shone brightly, shaking the world, and both life and death were bound together. Under the Cloud Horizon Sect’s guidance, the sword was placed here to honor the ancestors.

This was the sword of vengeance.

A person wielded a sword alone, singing and drinking wildly, traversing a hundred thousand miles of mountains and rivers. Chu Ge could almost hear the voices echoing from ancient times: “Cloud Horizon’s Sword Madman accepts the Heavenly Gorge Sword!” “Cloud Horizon’s Sword Madman accepts the Sea God Sword!” The exclamation of “joy” reverberated in his ears. Over a thousand sword wounds converged, forming insights and scriptures in the Scrolls Tower, gradually filling the continuous towers and halls, forming mountain ranges like swords, guarding the sect’s entrance.

This was the sword of madness.

Chu Ge even saw Qiu Wuji.

It was something she hadn’t written about in great detail in her autobiography. Every era had its own theme, and at the rise of Qiu Wuji, the conflict between righteousness and evil was already one of the major themes. So, when she was crafting her story, she simply knew that she wanted to write a story about “female protagonist slaying demons and vanquishing evil.”

Conquering the world, slaying demons, practicing martial arts, and upholding justice – it was both cultivation and chivalry. She didn’t know how many evil spirits and cultists she had killed, how many righteous causes she had supported, and when she looked back, she saw a multitude of tombstones, friends and foes alike. Suddenly, she found herself standing at the pinnacle of the strongest sect, and as humanity grew distant, beyond the immortal mountains, she raised her sword and questioned the heavens.

This was the sword of righteousness.

For thousands of years, the sect had produced countless heroes, embodying the essence of the sword and the heart of humanity.

One after another, the sword scars represented the backbone of the sect and the soul of its legacy.

The depth of a world like that of a renowned sect transcended the scope of a simple narrative.

What about a whole world?

It was far from enough…

Qiu Wuji had spent almost half a year familiarizing herself with the modern world, and even so, she wasn’t entirely accustomed to it and was still making up for the gaps in her knowledge.

In Chu Ge’s created world, even though he was the creator, how long would it take for him to truly become familiar with it?

In any case, these back-and-forth visits were not enough.

As they talked about it before, little by little, every blade of grass and every tree becomes increasingly real in the heart.

For this purpose, pure leveling up was the least valuable thing he needed. He didn’t need to level up.

After spending one night, Chu Ge felt he had reached his limit. If he stayed any longer, he would be chopped into pieces by the chaotic swords. So, he slowly left the third level.

The guard disciples looked at him as if he were a deity.

What kind of miracle was this junior uncle? He crawled out covered in injuries just yesterday, and today he stayed even longer, but now he only has minor injuries, walking out like nothing happened…

It all depended on your comprehension, understanding, and mastery of the sword techniques. It couldn’t be achieved through cultivation. Even if the Sect Master bestowed enlightenment through cultivation, it wouldn’t be effective. How could you increase your understanding of the sword techniques so drastically in just one day?

“Um…” one disciple asked with difficulty, “Could we please ask junior martial uncle how you managed to grasp so many sword intents and make so much progress in just one day on the third level?”

“Well, for this…” Chu Ge looked up at the moon and patted the disciple on the shoulder, “find a master who rewards you.”

Guard Disciple: ?

Our master also rewards us, you know…

Chu Ge looked at the sky, and since Qiu Wuji hadn’t come to pick him up, he shook his head and wearily returned to the main peak on his own.

Wuwuwu. You didn’t even come to pick me up. Even though I’m not injured today, I’m still very tired… I even rode my electric bike to pick you up when you went out…

As he flew closer to the main peak, he heard the sound of a zither coming from the mountain’s summit.

Chu Ge was stunned for a moment and slowly landed on the cliff’s edge.

In front of him, Qiu Wuji sat in a pavilion, playing the zither.

She wasn’t wearing the robes commonly seen in the sect, nor the practical sword attire she wore in her daily life.

She was still in the same delicate long dress she wore yesterday, woven from light-colored clouds, soft and fresh, like a beautiful older sister.

The melody she played was different from her usual vigorous and intense tunes that soared into the sky like a sword. It was now serene and melodious, with the warmth of spring.

Chu Ge felt that even his injuries didn’t hurt anymore. It was as if this music had a healing effect, gently soothing and seeping into his skin.

But in reality, he knew it wasn’t the case. Qiu Wuji’s zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all mere skills and not immortal arts.

It was just that the artistic conception brought by her zither playing was so powerful. The ten thousand-year-old ancient lady had reached the pinnacle of human skills in these areas, just like her drawings were incredibly overpowered. They could make someone like Chu Ge, who only had a slight understanding of the flute, easily feel the emotions conveyed in her music.

Tenderness, kindness, affection, approval.

And… that trace of affection, hidden in various attitudes as a teacher and assistant, quietly expressed itself, like the budding stamen of a winter jasmine waiting to bloom.

And so, the night became gentle.

Chu Ge reached out his hand, and a jade flute appeared, held against his lips.

A wisp of flute music quietly blended into the zither melody, as if a butterfly was silently dancing around a flower, occasionally picking up some pollen, exploring and lingering.

Qiu Wuji’s cheeks gradually turned slightly red, and she gently bit her lower lip while giving him a sideways glance.

In Chu Ge’s eyes, she was full of charm.

“Ding!” The zither music suddenly stopped.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Qiu Wuji sighed helplessly. “You, pretending to harmonize but actually coming here to cause trouble. The mood was perfectly set, and you ruined it.”

Chu Ge approached with a smile. “Flowers always bloom.”

“Stop it,” Qiu Wuji said, “You did well today. I can sense that you’ve truly immersed yourself in the sword intent, no longer responding to sword techniques as rigidly as before.”

“Hmm,” Chu Ge replied softly. “I suddenly feel a bit apprehensive.”

“Why?”

“The weight of an entire world, it’s beyond my grasp.”

Qiu Wuji’s hand rested on the zither strings, and she contemplated, saying, “In an ordinary world, perhaps, but this is your world, and everything is an extension of your intentions. You should have the confidence in yourself.”

Chu Ge said, “Even practicing like this won’t be a long-term solution. It will shorten my stay. I need to balance work and rest.”

Qiu Wuji gave him a sly look. “Are you trying to get encouragement?”

Chu Ge smiled but didn’t respond.

Qiu Wuji gracefully stood up and pressed him against one of the pavilion’s pillars. “Do I look good like this?”

“V-very good.”

“I’m only dressing like this for you,” Qiu Wuji said, using her signature move to lightly trace his lips with her jade-like fingers. She spoke softly, “Actually… have you realized that your process of cultivation is also a process of mastering the world?”

“Hmm…”

“So, have you thought about it… Once, you taught me about understanding your world, essentially helping me detach from you. But now, as I guide you in your cultivation, it’s essentially helping you control me,” Qiu Wuji said softly, “Chu Ge, are we two… a pair of contradictory fools?”

“No,” Chu Ge held her finger, and under the moonlight, his eyes shone brightly. “I just feel that there’s no love more touching than this.”

Qiu Wuji leaned in, her breath like orchids as she whispered gently in his ear, “Who said I love you?”

Chu Ge fell silent.

Qiu Wuji’s lips slowly brushed against his cheek and then landed on his lips. “You talk too much… This is your reward.”