Volume One: The Celestial Cloud Palace Chapter Thirty-One: The Contrast Between Ice and Fire

Chapter Thirty-One: The Contrast of Ice and Fire

"Su Qing, what... what are you trying to do?"

Cheng Bing stared at the woman in white before him, her sword raised in his direction, and shouted angrily.

"Elder Cheng, I have no intentions other than to speak a word of fairness," Su Qing replied, her delicate face cool and emotionless. Behind her stood Yu Nan, her expression stormy with anger.

"A word of fairness? Are you implying I wrongly accused a disciple of being late?" Cheng Bing sneered.

"Elder Cheng, I am merely addressing the issue itself. Zhou Hao was indeed late, but according to the rules of Cloud Veil Immortal Palace—late disciples must practice swordsmanship for three extra hours on the plaza stage. Nowhere does it state that elders may punish late disciples physically..." Su Qing paused to glance at Cheng Bing. "Elder Cheng, I understand your concern for the disciples’ growth, but as this is Zhou Hao’s first offense, I hope you might show leniency."

Cheng Bing pondered her words for a moment before lowering his hand and ceasing his confrontation with Su Qing.

"The death penalty may be avoided, but punishment cannot. Zhou Hao, you will practice swordsmanship for six extra hours—three for lateness, three for wasting the time of the elders and fellow disciples," Cheng Bing said coldly, looking down at the prone Zhou Hao before walking away.

Immediately, Yu Nan rushed to Zhou Hao's side, lifting his blood-stained upper body. Her eyes were swollen, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Zhou Hao, are you alright? Where are you hurt?"

*Cough, cough... Thank you... cough, thank you for... standing up for me!" Zhou Hao forced a smile at Yu Nan.

"Silly, I don't need your thanks. I like you, so of course I can't watch you get hurt!" Yu Nan gently wiped the blood from Zhou Hao’s lips, her voice trembling with emotion.

Already a crowd had gathered around, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor. They still could not process what had happened.

This pair's relationship is developing too quickly! In just two days, they've gone from mutual animosity to mutual affection—the most improbable transformation!

What baffled the spectators most was this: What exactly is the relationship between Goddess Su Qing and the new disciple Zhou Hao? Why does she always intervene when he’s in trouble?

Many admired Zhou Hao—a new disciple who, in just twenty years, had defeated several outstanding peers. That’s no ordinary feat, yet he accomplished it! To have both Cloud Veil’s ice and fire beauties notice him—that too is extraordinary! Such talent and fortune cannot be learned.

"Senior Sister Su, thank you for your help!"

Supported by Yu Nan, Zhou Hao looked at Su Qing and smiled faintly, surrounded by the crowd and her unparalleled beauty.

"Rest well after your sword practice. Don’t be late again," Su Qing said, and even allowed a slight smile to cross her face.

Though fleeting, everyone saw it. The crowd erupted again, male disciples’ eyes nearly popping out, and even the female disciples were enthralled by her smile, feeling inferior.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. I will remember!"

Sword practice resumed, but after such an interruption, no one could focus. Everyone guessed at Zhou Hao’s relationship with the two goddesses of ice and fire—the gossip spirit possessed every disciple.

"Zhou Hao is truly remarkable. Our Immortal Palace has produced a genius—not only powerful, but able to win over both ice and fire goddesses. We’re no match!"

"One is an iceberg, one a sea of flames—Zhou Hao is amazing, he conquers both!"

"I think the day both goddesses accompany Zhou Hao as his wives isn’t far off. Ah! My goddesses, how can you so heartlessly shatter my fragile heart…"

"How can Yu Nan, whose temperament is so fiery, change so quickly? She’s so gentle with Zhou Hao—yesterday she brought him medicine, today she openly confessed. Such a fierce goddess is truly beyond us ordinary girls!"

...

Elsewhere, Zhou Hao endured the pain in his chest, his right hand moving tirelessly. Yu Nan and Cao Shuang watched him with concern.

"That old fox Cheng Bing is shameless, blatantly bullying my brother. I’ll tell my father to teach him a lesson," Cao Shuang protested.

"Yes, Cheng Bing is too much. He’s clearly venting for Cheng Yan. Zhou Hao, I’ll help you get revenge!" Yu Nan, dazzling and beautiful, clenched her jade-like hand, making a crisp sound.

"No need. I’ll take care of my own revenge. Cheng Bing is an elder—if he dared treat me like this today, it shows he no longer cares about the Palace Master," Zhou Hao said as he practiced swordsmanship.

Cao Shuang and Yu Nan were both startled; it seemed the matter of lateness was not so simple.

"What are you saying? Did you sense something?" Yu Nan whispered.

"No, but I can guess. My master told me some secrets about the palace. If it comes to a struggle, my master and the Palace Master are prepared. Don’t worry, at the Immortal Palace tournament in ten years, I’ll show that old fox what ‘a gentleman’s revenge may wait ten years’ truly means," Zhou Hao said calmly.

Cao Shuang and Yu Nan understood, though nothing was said aloud. All three glanced at the magnificent palace behind them—Cloud Veil Immortal Palace!

The game of power cannot be played without strength!

Soon, sword practice ended. Most disciples had left the plaza, and only five or six remained, sparring half-heartedly, their eyes drifting to the distant pair.

"Why aren’t you leaving?" Zhou Hao asked Yu Nan with a half-smile.

"I’m your Dao companion. Of course I must share your hardships!" Yu Nan beamed.

Zhou Hao said nothing, gazing at the enchanting woman before him. Her beautiful eyes were more intoxicating than spring water. Though Su Qing possessed an ethereal grace, Yu Nan’s allure surpassed her.

Ice draws exploration; fire ignites passion!

Zhou Hao shook his head, thinking Yu Nan was a little demon—she could steal a man’s soul. Yet, as a former emperor, he’d seen his share of beauties and could maintain his composure.

"Senior Sister, thank you!"

"I told you, there’s no need for such courtesy between us!"

"Alright, no more words. Teach me swordsmanship!"

"Mhm!"

Punished for six hours, Zhou Hao and Yu Nan practiced from midday until midnight. He was tired, but the pain had eased; for Yu Nan, happiness overflowed. She watched Zhou Hao, always smiling, never seeing enough.

"Wow, the moon is so round tonight! Zhou Hao, look, look—the moonlight is beautiful!" Yu Nan stopped her sword and pointed skyward.

Twelve jade-like moons hung in the dark heavens, bright and pure, their gentle light draping the immortal land in a soft veil.

"Yes, I see it. It’s really beautiful. Senior Sister, do you know? In my world, when the moon is this full and bright, we call it the Mid-Autumn Festival," Zhou Hao said, gazing at the moon.

"Mid-Autumn Festival?" Yu Nan was puzzled.

"Yes, on that day, the moon is the brightest and fullest. Every household comes out to admire the moon!"

"Admire... the moon. That must be romantic!"

Yu Nan’s eyes sparkled like little stars. Zhou Hao smiled, took her hand, and soared into the sky. The moon seemed larger and brighter.

Resting upon a cloud, Zhou Hao and Yu Nan sat together, their left hands entwined, their right hands pointing to the twelve full moons as Zhou Hao told the story of Mid-Autumn.

"There’s a legend in the mortal world: once, ten suns appeared in the sky, tormenting people. Then a young man named Hou Yi arose, and with his bow and arrows, he shot down nine suns, bringing peace. He was hailed as a hero. Later, the Queen Mother of the West gave Hou Yi an elixir of immortality. But his disciple, Feng Meng, tried to steal it. Hou Yi’s wife, Chang’e, ate the elixir herself so Feng Meng couldn’t become immortal. Chang’e then flew to the moon, leaving Hou Yi in anguish. The day she ascended became the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon is always the brightest and fullest." Zhou Hao recited the tale, recalling how his foster mother told it to him and Qing Qing as children.

"What a tragic story. Hou Yi is so pitiful, and Chang’e even more so—for her, immortality must be more terrifying than life and death!" Yu Nan wiped her eyes, deeply moved.

"Yes, the greatest sorrow is when lovers cannot be together," Zhou Hao said.

"Mhm, I will be with you, always!" Suddenly, Yu Nan hugged Zhou Hao.

Zhou Hao was stunned, but quickly recovered. Though Yu Nan was revered as a goddess, no man had ever entered her heart—until now, when she confessed. With such a beautiful night, it was understandable she was moved.

"Damn, why did I have to be so reckless? I don’t even like her—should’ve just refused. Now look, holding hands while admiring the moon... How will I handle this?" Zhou Hao muttered, worried that trouble was brewing.

Sure enough, the next moment, Yu Nan—already deeply moved by the story of Hou Yi and Chang’e—awakened to her feelings.

Yu Nan’s warm lips, fragrant and intoxicating, pressed against Zhou Hao’s. He meant to push her away, but the consequences seemed uncontrollable, so he let it be. In the end, his hands embraced her soft figure.

Under the night sky, beneath the bright moon, two figures embraced and kissed, their words blurred by emotion.

"Zhou Hao, I don’t want to be your senior sister. I just want to be your lover, alright?" Yu Nan kissed Zhou Hao’s face and lips, her passion unleashed.

"Sen..." Zhou Hao began, but Yu Nan’s cherry lips silenced him.

"Don’t call me senior sister—call me Nan Nan. My father and brother call me that... hee hee." She released his lips, her breath fragrant, her beautiful eyes blinking at the handsome youth.

Such a seductive posture, such a stunning woman—though Zhou Hao had been an emperor, even he felt overwhelmed.

Desire can corrode the bones; passion can unbalance the heart!

"Nan... Nan Nan, um, I... I want to..." Zhou Hao licked his lips, feeling dry and hot.

"Hehe, what do you want to do?" Yu Nan loosened the ornament holding her hair.

Instantly, three thousand strands fell like a waterfall down her back, silky and fragrant. Even immortals would be stunned by such beauty.

Zhou Hao was dumbfounded. If her intimate words threatened his composure, the sight of her hair cascading was a shock to his soul!

"Well, it’s getting late. We’ve admired the moon enough—why don’t we... wash up and sleep? Besides, I’m still injured and need to rest. Did you forget?" Zhou Hao finally withdrew his embrace.

"Huh? That... makes sense. You suffered so much today and haven’t rested. Sorry, I didn’t think of that. Go back and sleep well," Yu Nan urged him.

"Mhm, let’s both go back. See you tomorrow!" Zhou Hao waved goodbye.

Splash!

A figure fell from the sky into the blue lake, water flying everywhere.

After a while, Zhou Hao surfaced, breathing deeply. "Nearly burned by desire—thank goodness I ran fast! No, flew fast!"

On another immortal mountain, Rainbow Bridge and towers painted a picturesque scene—this was the Dao field of Su Qing’s master, Li Qionghua.

In a quiet, elegant pavilion, the round moon-shaped door was pushed open by a short-haired woman holding a jade bottle. She glanced at the shadow within, shaking her head.

"Senior Sister, I don’t understand—what about Zhou Hao attracts you so much that you’d risk injury to defend him?" Wen Yuan said angrily.

Inside, the shadow sat cross-legged, her face pale and lifeless. Her lips, once rosy, were now dull—clearly, her injuries were severe.

Su Qing spoke slowly, "Wen Yuan, do you think... I’ve truly fallen for Zhou Hao?"

"You! Today you used all your immortal strength to block Cheng Bing’s Golden Immortal strike with your sword. If not for the sword’s protection, you’d... Do you really like Zhou Hao that much? Such recklessness, even risking your life—and you ended up saving Yu Nan! I don’t know what to say to you," Wen Yuan scolded.

"I can see Yu Nan truly loves Zhou Hao. What she did for him today moved me. Perhaps the two of them are more suited," Su Qing whispered.

Wen Yuan moved before Su Qing, opening the jade bottle and pouring out a blue pill.

"Qingfu Pill—I managed to steal one from my father. He only has two, and treasures them. Luckily he’s in seclusion now, or I’d never get it," Wen Yuan said.

"Wen Yuan, I can’t accept this—I’m afraid your father..."

"It’s fine, I’m his daughter. Even a tiger won’t eat its cub. Take it—your immortal strength is depleted. If you don’t recover, your injuries will drain your cultivation, and you’ll never regain peak status within ten years. The Qingfu Pill’s effects are unmatched—it restores your immortal power in seven days, heals your injuries, no need for tedious cultivation!"

"If it’s so precious, you should return it. I can... cough..." Su Qing tried to speak, but a surge of blood stopped her.

A vivid crimson spread across her white robe, her lips twitching, then she fainted. Wen Yuan nearly cried out, hastily helping her swallow the pill.

"A Golden Immortal strike truly cannot be withstood by a lower immortal. Senior Sister, was it really worth it for Zhou Hao? He doesn’t even know you suffered such grave wounds for him," Wen Yuan muttered, shaking her head at Su Qing’s unconscious form.