Cool and aloof swordswoman x charming playboy
Whenever people in the martial world discuss lightness skills, two women always come up. Later generations would give them the shared title "Moonlight and Splendor."
Nineteen years ago, the Maiden of Frost, Sheyue, slew twenty-four villains with a single string, making her name known throughout the martial world.
It is said that frost fell across the land that night, and rivers of blood flowed.
The Maiden of Frost, Sheyue, crossed the blood without leaving a ripple, like the bright moon in the sky, its pure light illuminating the night.
Sixteen years ago, the great beauty Shi Heng, daughter of a prominent family, married the young lord of Wucheng. The whole world knew of it.
On the wedding day, heroes from across the martial world gathered. Shi Heng wore golden bells around her feet, yet every step was silent. She crossed fallen leaves without disturbing them, and walked over incense ash without leaving a trace.
A bright moon, a fleeting moment of splendor: peerless lightness skills, coming and going without a trace.
Both women vanished from the martial world like flowers that bloom only briefly, never to appear again. Yet they left a mark on one person's heart that could never be erased.
·
Bu Shufeng is peerlessly handsome, amorous and faithless.
They say that any woman who lays eyes on him will fall ill with lovesickness. Of the thirty-three heavens, the Heaven of Separation is the highest; of the four hundred and four ailments, lovesickness is the most painful.
So the martial world calls him Young Master Lovesick.
But people in the martial world don't know that even Young Master Lovesick has tasted the bitterness of longing.
·
Scene One:
The young lord of Wucheng comes of age, and heroes from across the martial world gather to offer their congratulations. In a teahouse, a blind beggar plays the zither and recalls the past: "I once knew a great beauty who wore golden bells around her feet, yet every step was silent. She crossed fallen leaves without disturbing them, and walked over incense ash without leaving a trace. But that was sixteen years ago."
"The way you describe her, she sounds less like a great beauty and more like... a swordswoman with peerless lightness skills."
"She was indeed a swordswoman."
The beggar chuckles softly and lowers his head to pluck a string.
Someone with a sharp eye asks curiously, "Why does your zither have only one string?"
"That, too, happened sixteen years ago."
Scene Two:
"The wedding procession will be back soon. Don't let anyone see that you've met me, or your reputation will suffer."
"How could my reputation suffer?"
"Any young woman who's spoken to me ends up with a ruined reputation."
"Every single one?"
"...There was one exception."
"Who was it?"
Bu Shufeng doesn't answer Shi Heng. He only smiles as he strokes the string in his hand, then gazes helplessly at the moon above.
Scene Three:
Bu Shufeng: "This string of mine has quite a history."
Passerby A: "How so?"
Bu Shufeng: "It's from Kunlun."
Passerby B: "Did you make it yourself?"
Bu Shufeng: "Someone gave it to me."
Passerby C: "Who?"
A jade cup is pushed in front of them. The wine inside is green, its foam floating like ants.
Passerby A: "A Cold Jade Cup?"
Passerby B: "Green Ant Wine..."
Passerby C: "Frost Sees the Moon!"
A, B, and C cry out together: "It was the Maiden of Frost, Sheyue!"
A moment later, A, B, and C scoff: "Stop making things up! Let's drink."
Note: Sheyue and Shi Heng are the same person.
#A bright moon shines, a fleeting splendor fades#
#One sorrowful string, one arrow ends the longing#
Theme: Love and trust.
