01
He Huan died, but not all the way. He was reborn as a mighty sword.
After changing hands several times, he ended up with his mortal enemy, Chu Wang.
Sword-life was long, and the end seemed nowhere in sight.
But He Huan found ways to amuse himself, like making trouble for Chu Wang.
When Chu Wang used him to kill assassins, He Huan would veer an inch off course and miss their vital spots, making the ever-unerring General Chu fail and endure the ridicule of his fellow officers.
When Chu Wang used him to intimidate foreign powers, He Huan thought of every sorrow he had ever known, and tears brought rust spots across his blade, humiliating General Chu.
When Chu Wang used him to execute condemned prisoners, He Huan couldn’t stand the foul blood and gore. He would cut halfway through a head, then double over and vomit, leaving his blade notched on the spot.
Chu Wang: This sword is useless and spoiled. What good is it?
Just as he was about to be discarded, the sword He Huan, smoke rising from his head, transformed into a sword spirit and entered Chu Wang’s dreams. “A treasured sword has a spirit and must not be abandoned. It must be carefully tended and nourished, so that its heart may be won over.”
Luckily, Chu Wang was young and easy to fool. He Huan promised him a few benefits and laid down quite a few conditions.
So the dignified General Chu bathed and burned incense every day, reverently polishing his sword and praying for its edge to stay sharp and for it to stop causing trouble.
They spent a year like that.
At night, as usual, He Huan would wait until General Chu was asleep, then sneak under his covers to draw in his yang energy and nourish his sword body.
A large hand reached over and pulled him into an embrace. “He Huan, I’ve caught you.”
He Huan made a show of struggling. “This is a little uncomfortable.”
With his cheek rubbing against the sword hilt, General Chu’s voice turned deep and low.
“What position would you like to try instead, hmm?”
He Huan knew Chu Wang would never turn his back on him. He rattled the scabbard in frustration, then fell asleep in Chu Wang’s arms.
02
Rumor had it that after returning to the capital, Young General Chu had gone mad.
Not only was he never without his sword, he had become increasingly fond of dressing up, changing outfits as often as twice a day.
As he walked down the street, he would suddenly look down and smile.
He would even hold his sword in his hands in front of everyone, kissing and nibbling it as he called it his wife.
His fellow officer, Qi Fusheng, declared: “This is downright scandalous! Where are his humanity, ethics, and morals? Can someone really marry a sword and make it his wife?”
One day, rebels attacked, and the treasured sword took a deadly blow for Chu Wang. The sword broke, and its soul scattered. Chu Wang went completely mad.
He searched everywhere, praying to gods and questioning ghosts, but the nine provinces were vast and there was no word to be found.
Chu Wang’s heart gradually turned to ash.
Another spring arrived, and yet another new emperor ascended the throne.
This time was different. The new emperor was benevolent, peace reigned across the land, and the nation prospered.
But none of the celebrations outside had anything to do with him. Chu Wang turned away and rode off to the frontier.
In just three months, Chu Wang led his troops to sweep away the southern barbarians and pacify the southern frontier.
With nothing else to do, he simply opened up wasteland and farmed in the south.
All the while, he reminisced about those years with He Huan, when they had fought and loved each other to the point of death.
General Chu had rendered tremendous service, yet refused all honors. Rumors spread among the people, and the new emperor grew suspicious.
Only when the emperor lost patience and issued twelve edicts in a row, and a friend offered the lure of news about He Huan, did General Chu finally agree to return to court.
The moment he pushed open the palace doors, Chu Wang, travel-worn and impatient, hurried to ask about his beloved, heedless of the proper decorum between ruler and subject.
When he suddenly met that pair of eyes, smiling yet not quite, he knew he didn’t need to keep searching.
As the saying goes: Dare to dream, dare to yearn. If you never forget, your longing will surely be answered.
03
Extra scenes
① Diary of a treasured sword:
Today was another day of being taken, clutched, held, and gripped by him...
My whole body aches. Do not disturb.
② In the northern frontier, Chu and He were famed as a pair of prodigies, both skilled with the Chu family spear, though He was slightly better. One day, during a sparring match, Chu lost. He pointed his spear at him and said, “Call me husband and you win.” Chu refused to accept defeat, secretly making He drop his spear. Then he wrapped an arm around He and pinned him against an old tree, waiting for his knees to go weak. He kissed his forehead and whispered, “Who’s calling whom husband now?”
Reading guide:
1. Childhood sweethearts, mutual secret crushes, and saving each other.
2. I originally meant to write a sweet little story, but then realized the sweetness only reaches seven out of ten. Readers who want nothing but sweetness should be cautious.
3. Blurb set on 2026-02-18.
Theme: True feelings do not change with the passage of time
Very nice and big! Come on!