Realms In The Firmament

Master Xiao’s pretty face was pale. He looked at Ye Xiao, who was talking to him, as if Ye Xiao was a horrible monster. Suddenly, he murmured like a madman. “This is not real… This can’t be real… You are weak… It is impossible that you can become this powerful all of a sudden… This can’t be true… It is impossible…

“They are the Mountain and Ocean brothers… The Mountain and Ocean! The legend of the Human Realm Upon Heavens…”

“Nothing is impossible in this world.” Ye Xiao said, “What you have seen here may seem to be impossible to you. Well, for us… It is something certain.

“Why do you think they died? How do you think we won?”

Ye Xiao smiled and said, “Master Xiao, you need more days to strengthen your mind. Well, your days are numbered. Your time is up!”

Master Xiao was scared, but he suddenly realized something. His heart was full of anger.

‘Anybody could scold me, not you! Not Ye Xiao!’

‘It can’t be you, Ye Xiao!’

He almost lost control. He turned around and took out a vertical bamboo flute and held it in his hand. As he swung it, the vertical bamboo flute made some mumbling sound. He pointed at Ye Xiao and said with a red face, “Ye Xiao, we have a deal! There should be five fights. I lost four of them, but I still have the right to fight you as the last fight! You and me, let’s put an end to this!”

Ye Xiao half-closed his eyes and blandly smiled. “Oh, Master Xiao. You are good at schemes. You know you are going to die, so you are thinking about killing me beforehand? Well, I almost forgot. You are not only good at blowing but also good at martial arts. I would love to see whether you are good at your blowing job or practical martial arts!”

Master Xiao angrily said, “Ye Xiao, stop pretending like you are more dignified than me! You don’t get to judge me! You don’t get to scold me! Who do you think you are!? Pah!”

Ye Xiao smiled and said, “Well, would you look at that. The decent man, Master Xiao, noble-born, finally talked filthy words! However, you have mistaken me. I am worried about you. In fact, it is a pity that after this fight, there won’t be a man who is so good at his blowing job. People who have enjoyed your splendid mouth work must feel sad for such a great loss!”

Master Xiao was furious. He made three steps forward and waved his robe. He said, “Ye Xiao! My men are dead, but it only proves that your men are better! You are the one who has to face my challenge! Do you think you can kill me?”

Ye Xiao slowly walked to the battle and said, “I would love to say yes, but you won’t believe it. Even though you do believe it in your heart, you won’t admit it. Let the truth speak. I think what is going to happen will speak much louder than us!”

Master Xiao fiercely nodded and said loudly, “Okay! Let’s do it! Let the fight start!”

He looked around and couldn’t see anybody on his side. All he could see were a lot of men who were in the Monarch’s Hall. He had to face the Monarch’s Hall on his own. Suddenly, his heart shook. He laughed out of no reason and then said, “I don’t fear you, Ye Xiao, even though I have to face your Monarch’s Hall on my own!”

Ye Xiao softly said, “I know what you feel. I understand that you want to say something to encourage yourself. That is nothing. I don’t care how many people you brought with you, four or four thousand, you won’t be able to change the result.

“In other words, you will have the chance to face the Monarch’s Hall on your own in the end.

“Whoever followed you to the Monarch’s Hall will eventually die. That is for sure.”

Ye Xiao gently reached out one of his hands and said, “Master Xiao, why don’t you stop nagging? Just show me how you do your blowing job rather than your mouth work. Oh… I think this is improper… Your blowing job is exactly a mouth work after all. Anyway… Never mind… Let’s just get started. I can’t wait!”

“Hah hah hah…”

Everybody else was laughing. They were amused by what their Great Chief had just said to humiliate the enemy.

It was frankly abusive… All men knew what it meant!

“Ye Xiao, you must be careful. I dare you to have the guts to listen to my special song, the Sky Rhythm of Life!” Master Xiao’s eyes were filled with anger.

“Oh, I haven’t had the honor to enjoy your performance. It will be my pleasure to have it. I wonder if I will be delighted or disappointed.” Ye Xiao stood up and smiled casually as if he had everything under control.

Master Xiao took a deep breath and then flew up in the sky. He put his vertical bamboo flute near his mouth. The music started to ring everywhere. It sounded like something from the heavens.

Master Xiao was flying over the sky like he was dancing along with the music. The music from his vertical bamboo flute wasn’t loud, but it gave some special feeling to everybody’s heart.

People seemed to recollect their memory of their childhood because of the beautiful music… They kept thinking of their parents, families, and friends, who had passed away…

The sound of the vertical bamboo flute was resounding among the crowd. It seemed the music was telling stories of their own.

Many people of the Monarch’s Hall became teary-eyed as they listened to the song.

Ye Xiao stood there, listening to Master Xiao’s performance. Images of the memory that he buried deep in his heart were displayed in his head.

As a beggar when he was a child, he got beaten by men, by dogs… Shuang and Han, the two little girls who were following him. They were trying to survive… Three kids…

They had been through many days of freezing weather. The three of them squeezed together to keep each other warm. He could never forget the day when his legs were broken. The two girls kept holding his arms to keep him warm… The three kids demonstrated true love in their lives by supporting each other…

That was not all. He started to think of the days he had to leave the two sisters, and the days he worked so hard to be a disciple and become a great man… He had eventually become the monarch that people all knew about…

He had been through so much life and death… He had survived so many dangers that could have killed him… He had traveled a lot in the Qing-Yun Realm…