Ladder to the Azure Clouds, Part One (Complete)

A story that seemed to have taken twenty thousand words just to get started. But I've recently decided to update it. Story outline: Once, there was a wager: If Young Master Yun Shu could brave all thirteen trials of the Azure Cloud Steps alone and leave safely, then as long as he never returned to Heartless Cliff in this life, Emperor Zhao would give up his desire to possess him and treat the previous Emperor Shao well. If he failed, he would have to willingly remain by Emperor Zhao's side for the rest of his life, never harboring any intention of betrayal. So Young Master Yun Shu took his Weakened Blade and descended the Azure Cloud Steps alone. He defeated all thirteen masters who guarded the steps. After that, he withdrew from the martial world and took no further interest in its affairs. Some busybodies claimed that they had once seen him boating with a man in blue robes on the banks of West Lake in Jiangnan, the two of them drinking wine, playing the zither, and chatting merrily. Others said that he rode a blue-black steed, Weakened Blade at his waist, appearing at famous mountains and historic sites across the land. In truth, they were all just rumors. Theme: