The coliseum had long since emptied.The banners of the Grand Tournament fluttered in the distance like faded memories, while the scent of crushed petals still lingered in the morning air.
The Empire had already declared its verdict: The Falling Sword Sect once mocked as a bunch of broom-wielding nobodies and now a recognized Level Eight sect.
Shen Liang sat on the cracked marble railing, broom resting against his shoulder, a blade of grass in his mouth.He squinted at the sky as if it owed him a nap.
"Ah," he sighed, "victory smells like... unpaid overtime."
Below the grand steps, his disciples were busy celebrating their newfound fame.One of them, the excitable Lin Mei, yelled, "Master! We did it! The Empire actually recognizes us!"
Shen Liang waved lazily. "Good job, everyone. Remember fame doesn't clean floors. Back to morning sweeping tomorrow."
The disciples froze, eyes wide. "T-Tomorrow? But Master, we just..."
"Victory or not," Shen Liang interrupted, hopping down lightly, "dust doesn't respect holidays."
A collective groan echoed across the courtyard.
The Sword Maiden Returns
From the upper garden steps, Luo Yan appeared in her imperial crimson robe, her long hair fluttering like a river of fire under the pale sun.
The moment Shen Liang saw her, he smirked. "Ah, the Empire's favorite sword maiden. Here to check if I've mopped Heaven properly?"
She gave a faint smile but her eyes were softer than usual, almost wistful. "No. I came to say farewell."
"Farewell?" Shen Liang twirled his broom. "Already? The Empire can't spare you for one tea break?"
"My duty calls," she said quietly. "The Emperor has summoned me back to the capital. There are… matters of succession. And politics."
He whistled. "Ah yes, politics...the art of arguing for hours and accomplishing nothing. Truly a high cultivation path."
Her lips twitched despite herself. "You really can't be serious, can you?"
"Seriousness," Shen Liang declared, resting the broom on his shoulder, "is a disease caused by excessive importance. I prefer laughter, it's cheaper and cures more headaches."
The Petal of Promise
They walked through the courtyard garden together, where the tournament's cherry trees had begun shedding their last petals. The air shimmered with drifting pink light, each one carrying faint Sword Qi.
Luo Yan stopped beneath the largest tree and turned to him. "When I first met you," she said softly, "I thought you were mocking cultivation itself. A man who swept floors and called it a Dao."
"And now?" he asked, leaning against the tree trunk.
"Now…" She looked down, her fingers brushing against a falling petal. "Now I'm afraid you might be right."
He grinned. "Don't be afraid. Most people take centuries to admit I'm right. You're just talented."
Her laugh came out quietly, a sound halfway between amusement and sorrow. "You really can't stop joking, can you?"
"Only when Heaven stops spinning," he replied. "And even then, I'd probably ask it to spin the other way for fun."
Then she held out her hand. A single cherry blossom petal floated above her palm, glowing with pure silver Sword Qi.
"This," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "is a promise. When your sect rises again—truly rises—I'll return. Whether it takes years or lifetimes."
The petal hovered before Shen Liang, humming faintly like a caged spirit. He looked at it for a long while, expression unreadable.
Finally, he plucked it gently out of the air and tucked it behind his ear like a mischievous child.
"Then I'll keep it safe," he said. "Though I warn you, if someone mistakes it for dandruff, that's not my fault."
She exhaled a laugh...half exasperation, half relief. "You really are impossible."
"Mm," Shen Liang said, pretending to inspect the petal. "But you'll remember me anyway. Heaven's terrible at cleaning up memories."
The Moment Between Words
The silence that followed was heavy but not cold. The wind stirred the falling petals, making them swirl around the two of them like drifting stars.
Luo Yan's gaze lingered on his face. "You could come with me, you know. The Emperor would welcome you. You've already gained Imperial Favor, there's a place for you in the capital."
Shen Liang chuckled, eyes half-lidded. "And who would clean the Falling Sword Sect then? The broom union hasn't formed yet."
"I'm serious, Shen Liang."
"I know."
He met her eyes, and for a rare heartbeat, the humor faded. There was warmth there...deep, steady, and utterly human.
"My path's still on the ground," he said finally. "Yours points to the stars. When Heaven gets dusty again, maybe we'll meet halfway."
She looked down, hiding the shimmer in her eyes. "Then sweep fast."
"I always do."
Farewell Beneath the Falling Petals
When the carriage finally arrived, the air was already thick with drifting blossoms. Luo Yan stepped inside but hesitated at the door.
"Shen Liang," she said softly, "thank you. For showing me what strength really looks like."
He waved dismissively. "Bah, I didn't show you strength. I showed you how to clean properly. Strength was just a side effect."
She laughed... bright, real laughter that lingered even as the carriage began to roll away.
He called out after her, cupping his hands around his mouth:
"Don't forget to oil your sword! Rust is the number one enemy of romance!"
Her voice floated back through the petals, light and teasing:"And brooms break if you don't respect them, Shen Liang!"
He grinned wide enough to rival the sunrise. "Then I'll keep sweeping till Heaven squeaks!"
System Notification
As her carriage vanished beyond the horizon, a golden screen flickered in front of him.
Quest Completed: "Farewell Beneath the Falling Petals."Reward: Sword Petal of Promise (Bound).Hidden Affinity Gained: Luo Yan +40 (Sword-Heart Resonance).Emotional Status: Bittersweet, masked by sarcasm.
Shen Liang sighed, staring at the petal behind his ear."System, you don't need to announce my feelings. I'm trying to look cool here."
System: Acknowledged. Attempt failed. You look sentimental.
He groaned. "Even Heaven's UI is roasting me now."
Epilogue Moment
He turned to his disciples, who stood awkwardly nearby. Lin Mei whispered, "Master… are you okay?"
Shen Liang stretched, yawned, and smiled that same ridiculous smile that somehow comforted them all.
"Of course I'm fine," he said. "She's just going to the capital. Not ascending to Heaven. Yet."
"Then why are you still looking at the road?"
He blinked. "Oh, I was… checking if she dropped anything. Like… a second promise or maybe lunch."
They laughed, the mood lifting instantly. Shen Liang twirled his broom and said, "Alright everyone, the Empire's cleaned up. Time to head home. Heaven's still dusty."
And as the petals fell around him like starlight, Shen Liang walked away whistling, carefree, bright, and quietly hiding a heart that beat a little faster than before.