Chapter Twenty-Four: A Beauty Has an Appointment

  Jade snow ponders for half a day, ties up her waist and heads out on time to meet her appointment.

  Summer days and moonlit nights, the grassland is a vast expanse of silvery haze. The clear wind blows through the long grass with a soft whooshing sound. In the distance, the night cries of the skylark can be heard, their clear and melodious voices rising and falling in a gentle, soothing cadence that stirs the heart to wander.

  The jade snow gently unfolded, her heart's mirror, her body's shadow, seemed to merge into the boundless moonlight, quietly flowing towards a small river outside. Hearing the sound of water, she slowed down and saw a tall figure standing behind her. It was Kublai Khan. She blinked and moved to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the flowing water.

  Kublai suddenly felt a strange movement and turned his head to see Yuxue standing beside him. He knew that his speculation had been confirmed, and Yuxue and the others indeed possessed martial arts skills. With this silent and stealthy arrival, their abilities were not ordinary. He looked at Yuxue with an inquiring expression for a moment, seeing only calmness on her beautiful face as she quietly gazed at the flowing water without saying a word. He knew he had lost the first round. Yuxue deliberately let him know that she was not an ordinary woman, and he could no longer treat her as usual.

  After a while, Genghis Khan slowly said:

  "Do you know a hero's dream?"

  Jade Snow shook her head. Genghis Khan gazed out at the grasslands and said in a low voice:

  "The person I respect the most is my grandfather Genghis Khan. He once said that a hero's dream is to make all the places under the blue sky our Mongolian pasture! This sentence has a lofty ideal and it is also my dream!"

  Jade Snow Flutters to the Ground with a Smile. Suddenly, Kublai Khan Angerly Said:

  "What? You don't believe me?"

  Jade Snow laughed and said:

  "It's not that I don't believe, it's just impossible!"

  "Why? What's impossible? We Mongols have conquered so many places, and the Southern Song is on the brink of collapse. Why can't we?" Kublai Khan was not convinced.

  Jade Snow shakes her head:

  "If it were just a matter of annexing territory, I would have nothing to say. But the world is vast and there are many ethnic groups, each with their own culture and customs. We Mongolians are a nomadic people, accustomed to following water and grass to graze our cattle and sheep. Think about those Han Chinese in the Central Plains, who are used to men farming and women weaving, reading the classics. If we were to take over their land but not plant crops, instead turning it into pastures for grazing, wouldn't that be laughable? That's why I say it's impossible!"

  Kublai Khan was blocked. At this time, many lands in the Central Plains had been occupied by Mongolia and divided among meritorious ministers. Many nobles indeed looked down on good land that did not raise cattle and sheep but grew grain that could not be eaten, ordering it to be converted into pastures. This is because Mongolians have always taken beef and mutton as their staple food, occasionally adding some fried rice to milk tea, making them take rice and flour as their staple food, which is more unbearable than killing them.

  Kublai Khan felt reasonable but this national policy can only be said:

  "We are not talking about habits, we are discussing heroes. As a descendant of the great Genghis Khan, I admire his lofty ideals. If we can unify the Central Plains and make his words a reality, then that is true heroism!"

  Jade Snow is Serious

  "One man's glory is built on the bones of thousands! Even with your great wisdom, you must conquer and slaughter, causing rivers of blood to flow. This heroism is founded upon the tears of countless orphans and widows, the corpses of countless Mongolian warriors, and the ruin of countless Chinese families. I refuse to condone this! As a warrior, I pursue the martial way, but I am not indifferent to the fate of the world. I have no right to comment on your dreams, but I hope you will always retain a compassionate heart and use your power to bring good governance to the common people. Only then will our discussion of heroism today be worthwhile!"

  She turned and left with a flourish. As she walked away, a figure appeared in the distance. Kublai Khan asked: "How is her martial arts?"

  "That person respectfully said: 'Too profound to be measured! I am far from being a match!' Kublai Khan remained silent for a long time."

  Kublai Khan visited Amur every other day, with a friendly and respectful attitude. Amur was surprised by the favor. As for his probing questions about Jade Snow, he didn't know what to say and could only mumble incoherently. In his heart, he understood that Kublai Khan had taken an interest in Jade Snow. He didn't dare offend Kublai Khan, this favored young king, but he knew that Jade Snow's determination to cultivate her spiritual path was firm and she wouldn't discuss marriage at present. Moreover, which of these nobles didn't have three wives and four concubines? Even if she were to become the primary wife, it would be a demotion for Jade Snow, and Amur couldn't bear it. For now, he could only use words to placate Kublai Khan. Kublai Khan saw that he couldn't get any information out of him and didn't get angry, still politely taking his leave. As he was about to depart, he asked Amur to pass on a message, wanting to see Jade Snow again.

  That night, Yuexue still kept the appointment. When she arrived at the riverbank, she saw that Hubilie had an extra person beside him. This person was dressed in Mongolian attire but had fair skin and a refined demeanor. He held a three-foot-long sword in his hand, and it was clear that he was a martial artist from the Central Plains with impressive skills. The last time Yuexue met Hubilie, she noticed that there were many skilled martial artists protecting him, among whom one person's kung fu was the strongest, with breathing so fine it was almost imperceptible. As a cultivator, Yuexue was naturally far superior to these ordinary people and didn't take them seriously.

  He smiled and introduced: "This is my subordinate's number one master. Known as the 'Central Plains First Sword Guest' Ye Fenghan, he has been undefeated in the Central Plains. I heard that you are a master of curved knives and want to exchange skills with you. Although it's a beautiful day, there's a risk of burning the zither and cooking the crane, but a princess who loves martial arts will certainly not decline." This speech was spoken in Chinese, with fluent vocabulary, obviously proficient in Chinese.

  The snow jade knew that he was testing his martial arts skills, and it seemed that if he didn't reveal some of his abilities, it would be hard to dispel his intentions. However, he did not know that Kublai Khan had a broad and ambitious mind, with the intention of having both fish and bear's paw at the same time. In the past two days, he had sent people everywhere to gather information about Zhebe's tribe, but there was no important news, except that apart from Snow Jade and her sister Hei Ri, even the eight followers were all capable of taking on a hundred men. Moreover, the horses that came with them were extraordinary, and the groom who took care of them couldn't even touch their edges, so he could only throw grass at them to get by. This was a mistake on Snow Jade's part. In his opinion, such a mysterious tribe must have possessed great power, and if they could be used for himself, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. His ambition suddenly swelled in his heart. Snow Jade was also beautiful and intelligent, and marrying her would be a perfect combination of talent and beauty, truly a wonderful thing in life. However, judging from the situation, Snow Jade was not someone who could be easily manipulated, so he set up this scheme to test whether she could be controlled by him.

  Yu Xue smiled and replied: "Your Highness has given an order, how dare I not obey!" She also spoke in Chinese. After speaking, she did not draw her sword but pulled out a short flute from her waist: "As long as Ye Jianke can disrupt the rhythm when I play the flute, I will admit defeat." She had been prepared early on.

  Ye Feng's face turned cold and serious, originally he thought he was no match for her, but seeing Yu Xue treating him with such disdain, he knew he had met a formidable opponent in his life. But Kublai Khan had given orders, so he could only fight to the end. He said: "Princess be careful!" His long sword flashed out first.

  Jade snow figure followed the sword momentum, lightly and effortlessly moving backwards, bringing the flute to her mouth. A clear sound, a flute sound had begun. The tune was "Pastoral Flute". The flute sound was cheerful, crisp, bright and melodious.

  Ye Fenghan's life was a display of absolute mastery, his moves like the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers rushing forward with unstoppable momentum. Each move was swift and decisive, a continuous attack like flowing water. Jade Snow's slender hands danced across the flute, her movements ethereal and carefree, as if floating on air. The sword tip seemed to be dancing in tandem, yet Ye Fenghan couldn't even touch a corner of his robe.

  As soon as the music ended, Yu Xue laughed and said:

  "No need to compare anymore!"

  She floated out slowly, her lightness skill so exquisite that Ye Fenghan was shocked. He didn't know that this wasn't actually a typical internal martial art or body technique, but rather a Daoist skill.

  Kublai shook his head:

  "You're relying on your superior agility and footwork, making this match unfair to Ye Fenghan. You should draw your curved knife and let him concede willingly."

  Jade Snow: "If I draw my sword, he won't even be able to withstand a single move! Fine, let me show you all my self-created sword technique."

  As soon as the dragon's roar was heard, the round moon and autumn water knife had already been unsheathed. Under the moonlight, Jade Snow held a knife in each hand, unfolding her Heart Mirror Body Technique, unleashing the Four Symbol Knife Method. She intentionally slowed down her knife movements to avoid being too shocking, yet it was still like snowflakes swirling around. All around, countless shadows of Jade Snow appeared, with numerous knives shining like autumn water. The gentle and soft knife wind was like a warm embrace that made the long grass dance in all directions, cutting holes in the clothes of Genghis Khan and his companion.

  Kublai Khan felt a pang in his heart, knowing that he couldn't control Yuxue. With her martial arts skills already surpassing those of the world's top masters, she didn't need to bother with him. Over the years, he had tried to win over many skilled warriors with courtesy and humility, but none of them had skills as high as hers; instead, they had to speak in a low voice and show respect in order to be summoned by her. Yuxue's gentle words and soft tone were probably just for the sake of her clansmen, not wanting to offend his royal identity. Thinking of this, he forced a smile:

  "Unexpectedly, Princess Yuxue's martial arts are so powerful. I've underestimated her. Which school did she learn from?"

  How could Yu Xue tell him! She only said that she had no school and learned by herself, then bid farewell and left. Today, her purpose has been achieved and her heart is light. Suddenly, Kublai Khan saw her figure flash and the person was already gone. He and Ye Fenghan looked at each other in surprise for a moment, and just as they took a step, they suddenly felt a chill on their bodies. The two of them had their clothes fluttering like butterflies, leaving only their underwear intact. This move was just right, with the outer clothes torn to pieces and the underwear undamaged. Ye Fenghan really knew this time that there are mountains outside the mountain, and people outside the person! He feared that for the rest of his life, he would be hard-pressed to recover from the blow. Kublai Khan's face turned pale. He knew that Yu Xue was warning him, but he was not a person who gave up easily. He thought that since she had a weakness, he would take advantage of it; even if he couldn't marry her, at least he would leave a good impression on her and let her not be his enemy in the future.

  For several days in a row, although Kublai Khan did not come himself, he frequently sent people to send gifts and ask about their well-being. The news gradually spread, and everyone knew that Kublai Khan was interested in the daughter of a small tribe's leader from the Zhebu department. Even Hulagu also seemed to be colluding with his brother, often coming to get close to Hei Rui and sending many fine wines. Hei Rui did not refuse any visitors and accepted all the gifts. When this was heard by the Hongji La department, Chen Er was furious again. He had long intended to marry another daughter and niece to Kublai Khan's brothers, who were young and powerful with high positions. Hearing that a small tribe dared to compete with him, even as a concubine, made him uncomfortable. However, he was afraid of offending Kublai Khan, so he endured it silently. Behind the scenes, however, he hinted at other tribal princesses to go to Yu Xue's sisters and cause trouble. As a result, the two women's reputations gradually spread, reaching the ears of the Crown Prince. Seeing that things were not going well, Kublai Khan hurriedly used other words to smooth things over. That evening, he again invited Yu Xue to meet with him.

  Yu Xue has been restless for the past few days, eager to return home early, but he didn't dare to choose a consort before leaving. He decided to explain the situation to Kublai Khan that night.

  Yu Xue still met with Kublai Khan by the riverbank.

  Khubilai gazed at her for a long time before speaking slowly:

  "You should know that Mr. Chen has intended to marry his daughter to me; but in these days, you should also understand my feelings for you if you are willing..."

  Before she could finish speaking, Yu Xue interrupted her:

  "I have long decided to devote my life to the pursuit of martial arts. Now, at a young age, my skills are still immature and I plan to return home, close myself off, and meditate for ten years. Your Highness's kind intentions have touched my heart like jade snow. If Your Highness does not mind my humble origins, I am willing to acknowledge you as my elder brother. In the future, if there is anything I can do for you, just call upon me."

  Kublai listened silently to Yuxue's response, feeling relieved that she would help him; but at the same time, he was extremely disappointed that she refused his proposal. This had nothing to do with his ambition, but rather a deep-seated pain in his heart for Yuxue as a person. His pride and intelligence did not allow him to humbly beg Yuxue to accept. After a moment, he forced a smile and said:

  "Alright, I'll acknowledge you as my sister."

  He deliberately omitted the word "justice". Jade snow filled the air as she bowed down. Kublai Khan hastily helped her up:

  "From now on, we don't need to be formal with each other. You can treat me as your brother, no need to treat me as a prince. If you need anything, I'll go through fire and water for you without hesitation."

  After finishing speaking, he took out a gold token from his bosom with the Wang Fu's emblem on it and handed it to Yu Xue.

  "If you have something urgent, send someone to bring this gold medal to Lin and find me. No matter big or small, I will definitely help with all my might."

  Jade Snow thanked and accepted the gold medal, then expressed her intention to leave. Kublai Khan nodded:

  "Your sisters have caught the prince's attention. I said a lot today to dispel his thoughts. To avoid long nights and many dreams, you should leave tonight. Don't worry about anything else, I'll take care of it."

  That night, Kublai Khan stood on the hillside and saw off Yu Xue and his party as they disappeared into the distance. The next day he proposed to Princess Chenchun's father.