Her carefully concealed thoughts exposed, Wu Yufei's pretty face flushed. She mumbled, "You're about to face a major battle, I know you're very nervous. I just wanted to help you relax... Hmph, good intentions repaid with ingratitude!"
Chen Xiao was taken aback. "Even you know I'm about to face a major battle?"
Chen Xiao didn't object to the phrase 'major battle.' After all, his opponent was the number one术法 master in Hong Kong. While he didn't know the exact extent of their strength, they likely wouldn't be weak. However, he couldn't fathom where the word 'nervous' came from.
"Of course, I know. Brother Hua told me, your opponent is Hong Kong's top figure, very formidable! But I believe in you, you can definitely defeat him!" Wu Yufei declared with conviction. Clearly, she knew some details but not the full picture, otherwise, she wouldn't have referred to Hong Kong's top 术法 master as simply Hong Kong's top figure. However, given Hong Kong's reverence for 术法 masters, calling Tu Junhou Hong Kong's top figure wasn't entirely wrong.
"Since you don't appreciate it, I'll be going..."
As the saying goes, a scholar dies for his confidant, and a woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her. Wu Yufei had dressed up meticulously before meeting Chen Xiao, yet he showed no particular reaction. She felt a pang of disappointment. She had anticipated this outcome, but its actual occurrence still made Wu Yufei feel a little sad.
"Am I really getting old?" At twenty-eight, Wu Yufei doubted her own charm for the first time in her life.
Seeing her dispirited state, Chen Xiao felt a twinge of sympathy. He smiled slightly and suddenly asked, "Wait a moment, do you want to go for a ride?"
"Sure! Where are we going?" Wu Yufei immediately perked up, her dejection vanishing.
"You'll know when we get there," Chen Xiao said with a mysterious smile. "But you'll need to change your clothes first. It might get quite cold later."
Wu Yufei looked puzzled, thinking, *The weather outside is so hot, why would it get cold?* Nevertheless, she followed Chen Xiao's advice and returned to her room to change, this time wrapping herself up thoroughly.
"Let's go."
Chen Xiao led Wu Yufei out of the villa and into a secluded, uninhabited clearing in the mountains.
"Didn't you say you were taking me for a ride? Why aren't you even starting the car?" Wu Yufei was utterly bewildered. But then, as if a realization dawned, her face turned shy. *He's bringing me to a place like this, is he trying to do... that? But I'm not ready yet. How much longer will it take! I didn't expect he'd be into that kind of thing! Hmph, such a hypocrite!*
As Wu Yufei's mind wandered, Chen Xiao suddenly said, "Who says a ride has to be in a car?"
Immediately after, he produced the Xuanhuang Jade Sword and casually tossed it into the air. The scene that followed was unforgettable for Wu Yufei. With a thought from Chen Xiao, the Xuanhuang Jade Sword grew in size, elongating and widening with the wind! In moments, a massive jade sword, four to five meters long and over two meters wide, appeared before Wu Yufei's astonished eyes.
"This, this, this... Chen Xiao, this, what is this..." Wu Yufei stammered, speechless and bewildered, looking at the jade sword floating in the air.
Chen Xiao leaped onto the sword and extended a hand to Wu Yufei. "Come up, I'll take you for a ride!"
"Will I fall off...?" Wu Yufei grabbed Chen Xiao's hand. Before she could react, she felt Chen Xiao pull her up with force, startling her into screams of fright. By the time she regained her senses, she was safely seated on the jade sword.
"Hold my hand tight, let's go!" Chen Xiao warned, then with a thought, began his first sword flight on Earth! The jade sword ascended, rising higher and higher. Wu Yufei trembled, her legs shaking uncontrollably. Her heart pounded, a mix of nervousness, fear, and an irrepressible thrill!
Amidst this tension and excitement, the jade sword soared to an altitude of ten thousand meters. The entire Hong Kong was spread out below, a breathtaking panorama of countless lights, so brilliant! Stars and the full moon vied for attention, seeming within reach. A surge of exhilaration welled up in Chen Xiao's chest. *With a flying sword beneath my feet, I can command the heavens and pluck the sun, moon, and stars!*
As the jade sword flew smoothly, Wu Yufei's nervousness and unease gradually subsided. She now understood why Chen Xiao had told her to wear more clothes – it was indeed freezing up here! This was even with Chen Xiao controlling the sword to release heat; at such an altitude, Wu Yufei would have frozen solid otherwise! Wu Yufei never imagined she would be stargazing with Chen Xiao in such a manner.
Trembling, she asked, "Chen Xiao, are you an immortal?"
"An immortal?" Chen Xiao chuckled. "Immortals aren't as free and unfettered as I am."
Wu Yufei blinked, thinking to herself, *Could it be he knows real immortals?* She dared not imagine what might happen next, but she suddenly understood why her beauty held no sway over Chen Xiao.
"What's this sword called? It's so amazing!" Wu Yufei asked with exaggerated awe. Truly an actress, she was skilled at playing the innocent and naive.
"I haven't thought about naming it yet," Chen Xiao said, pondering for a moment. "Let's call it the Heaven-Slaying Sword!"
Wu Yufei pouted. "Do you have to be so perfunctory? Such a powerful sword, and you give it a second-hand name?"
Chen Xiao smiled. "Compared to that one, my flying sword is more worthy of the name 'Heaven-Slaying Sword'!"
Wu Yufei puffed her cheeks, thinking, *That's true.* She used to think things in martial arts novels were too exaggerated, but she never expected the real world to be even more so! Chen Xiao's purpose in taking Wu Yufei for a ride was to test the Heaven-Slaying Sword's aerial capabilities. After the test, Chen Xiao was quite satisfied.
After flying for a while longer, Chen Xiao guided the Heaven-Slaying Sword to descend slowly back to the ground.
"So, are you happy?" Chen Xiao asked Wu Yufei with a triumphant grin.
Wu Yufei let out a chuckle, finding Chen Xiao's expression akin to a child showing off a new toy. *Indeed, men are boys until they die!* Wu Yufei finally understood the meaning of that saying.
"I'm very happy, thank you, Chen Xiao." Wu Yufei suddenly turned serious. The events of the night had dissolved all the accumulated grievances she had held in her heart for years. If Heaven's ultimate purpose was merely to arrange her meeting with Chen Xiao, then all the hardships and injustices she had endured were worthwhile! This night, Chen Xiao merely held her hand, yet he gave her the most beautiful imagination of love.
And while Wu Yufei believed she had found love, Chen Xiao was thinking that with the Heaven-Slaying Sword complete, Tu Junhou stood no chance of defeating him. Now, everything was in place, awaiting the dawn...