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Chapter One: Fate
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  The spring weather changed quickly, alternating between warm and cold. It was easy to catch an illness in such a season, and this was a nightmare for these people being sent away.

  The “Chu refugees” that were being driven by the Qin army to travel each day had a worse time than normal refugees. They had no medicine or food, and did not get enough rest at all. After a few deaths, as many people became infected with illness, high fatalities could not be avoided.

  From the start when the order to drive out all the Chu people out of Yangshan Commandery was issued, this was fated to be a cruel massacre. In a certain point of view, using such means to kill these ordinary people was more cruel than ordering the slaughter of an entire city. This cruel order came from the Changling imperial palace, from Empress Zheng Xiu.

  In the deep Changling imperial palace, on the long path outside the empress’s study, there were many officials kneeling. These officials had come to ask the empress to take back her order. In their view, no matter the dynasty in history, a rule too cruel would cause premature destruction. Even if these were tactics used against enemies, the cruel reputation would make their dynasty’s people anxious.

  But these officials understood Empress Zheng Xiu too well. They knew they could not persuade her with words, so they used a silent fast.

  Zheng Xiu was sitting calmly at the table. The door to her study was tightly shut. She could not see the expressions of these officials directly, but her powerful perception meant that she knew the state of every official kneeling outside.

  On her perfect face with a porcelain light, there was a hint of cold scorn. The coldness and scorn was not because she did not care for these people’s thoughts and dismissed them, but because these people could not understand her intentions, and know that some things were just some of her little tricks.

  From the start of the Min Mountain Sword Trials, in the view of the outsiders, she seemed to have suffered many defeats, losing her halo of invincibility. But everything had proceeded according to her intentions. If she could reach her final goal, the process was not important.

  Just like two people playing chess. One seemed to have lost many pieces, but the situation had been set up. From killing those three people from her family and completely taking control of Jiaodong Commandery, she finally started to play. These Chu people driven away from Yangshan Commandery were one of her pieces, the start of her counterattack. The order would be withdrawn, but there was technique in the timing. At a suitable time, this could be a killing move.

  Even more importantly was the heart. Each person had emotions. Were not all attacks, in the end, an attack of emotions? Using soldiers was the inferior path, attacking the heart was the superior one.

  The officials outside the study had been kneeling a day and night. Some of the older officials were near their limits. To her, if she walked out at this time, she would give them the result they wanted in exchange for their gratefulness. At the same time, they would feel more reverence towards her, and know that they had to pay a sufficient price in order to obtain her agreement. If they encountered such things in the future, they had to do so as well.

  She stood up, the scorn disappearing from her face. She expressionlessly passed the spirit spring, and pushed open the study door.

  “I can withdraw the order but I have a request.”


  There were no extra words as she looked at the officials kneeling on the ground, her voice calm, powerful, and full of authority.

  All the officials looked up.

  She then said, “Help me spread through Changling …… If they do not want me to exile the Chu people out of Yangshan Commandery, I want a Chu person of sufficient importance in exchange. In other words, if they want to save those Chu people, they need to trade the life of an important Chu person.”


  These officials had first felt joy, but in the next moment, because of the cruelness in her words, they felt cold all over. Many people, because they were at their physical limits, felt iced over.

  “What if no one important enough comes out?” the leading official could not help but ask in a trembling voice.

  “Then it is a matter of the Chu for themselves.” Zheng Xiu shook her head and looked at the speaker. “If even the Chu can sit by and watch, what does it have to do with us Qin?”


  This official immediately stilled and could not speak.

  “Should we first have these Chu people stop,” one official took a deep breath and asked Zheng Xiu. He knew that there were no important Chu people near Changling, but the present situation was that each day many in the troop would die.

  “That is also something for the Chu to consider.” Zheng Xiu said coolly, “If they come a day late, more people will die. So I hope that the person who will trade their lives will not hesitate.”


  Hearing her tone, the officials kneeling here felt fury again, but they had nothing to say because this was a tactic she was used to using. Many years ago, she had used such means more than once. Shameless, but effective.

  This decree quickly spread. No one questioned the veracity of her decree. For this was her promise to these officials, unless she could afford to lose all these officials.

  When such a decree spread through Changling, all the cultivators on Changling’s turrets were on high guard, fearing missing a detail. Even if fated to die, such a Chu person of importance may do mad things.

  But they did not get to see a Chu person walk out of an alley. This person came from deep within the imperial palace.

  Deep in the palace, there were many streams close to the outside. The source of the streams were some wells. There was a lot of laundry waiting to be washed by the wells.

  When such a decree was spread to here, a very old woman let go of the dirty clothes she was washing and slowly stood up. No one noticed her abnormality. When she walked out of the gates of this courtyard in a direction she usually would not go, someone suddenly realized.

  There were many shouts, but she did not respond. The people shouting at her, including cultivators in the palace who saw her, started to realize she might be related to the empress’s decree.

  A shrill alarm sounded in the palace.

  The palace woman’s clothing was very dirty and gave off a bad smell. Her hair was a mess. Her eyes were bright now, looking like she was forty, but her face was at least in her fifties.

  When the warnings were useless, a flying sword appeared in front of her, turning into a cold flame heading for her heart.

  The palace woman smiled. She simply ruffled her hair.

  During her “spare time” ruffling her hair, she caught this flying sword with her fingers and then flicked it out like she had pulled a loose hair out of her hair. But this casual move caused the flying sword to cut through the hearts of multiple guards along the way, and then cut off the head of its master.

  “Since you have come to your fate, why kill more people? You do not fear I will find another excuse?”


  When the head rolled off, a cruel and authoritative voice sounded at the end of the path the palace woman was on.

  This was the voice of Empress Zheng Xiu.

  “If I do not kill people, how can I let you understand I have enough importance?” This palace woman looked up at Zheng Xiu who was coming quickly and smiled. “But you, you are in such a hurry to speak with me, do you fear I will die too quickly?”


  Translator Ramblings: We are one volume seven now, the penultimate volume (which doesn’t mean that much considering the last volume is super long). If the entire story is one of revenge, and Ding Ning has been making trying to get onto the world stage, now it’s time for him to make his way onto the board openly. At the same time, a story wouldn’t be fun if the protagonist won all the time, and now it’s time for Ding Ning’s enemies to take him seriously.

  Volume 3 1 - Schemes

  This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.

  The people of Min Mountain Sword Sect were very honest and never deceitful. So without Geng Ren needing to put it in words, this octet knew that the next trial would be within this green palace.

  "What is inside?"

  As he looked at the green palace, Xie Changsheng felt the skin on his stomach turn cold, as though a blade had been thrust in. He gritted his teeth and turned to Geng Ren.

  Geng Ren shook his head and said, "I cannot say beforehand what is inside. All I can say is just know that you will be very tired, maybe injured and stabbed many times after you enter. So, you have the right to give up right now."

  Xie Changsheng was furious. "Give up my ass! We struggled to get here, and you are having us give up? Do you know how much silver I spent to get this spot?"

  Zhang Yi looked helplessly at Xie Changsheng and said softly, "Teacher has good intentions."

  Geng Ren smiled, not angry at all. "No matter. You spent money to get this spot. You got here to eat a bowl of my food. It really was not easy."

  Geng Ren looked at his bulging stomach, shook his head, and said, "Then be careful to not get stabbed. Otherwise, when the food spills to the ground, I fear you will not have an appetite in the future."

  Xie Changsheng’s chest moved violently. "As an elder, is not trying to frighten others boring?"

  "This is the sincere suggestion of an elder." Geng Ren looked at him in all seriousness and slowly said ,"Some cultivators truly have had experiences of being stabbed in the abdomen after they finally managed to get a full stomach…… That kind of scene, even if you do not fear death, will greatly affect your appetite. Even after a dozen years, when you unconsciously think of that kind of scene when eating, especially when your food does not look very palatable and seems to have flowed out of your abdomen."

  Xie Changsheng suddenly froze. Although Geng Ren’s tone was flat, he could hear a deeper meaning.

  Someone who had not seen a scene like this in person could not describe it in such a calm and sincere tone. Regardless of who it was, being able to kill the enemy and survive after getting stabbed through the stomach was a great person.

  After being stiff all over for a long time, Xie Changsheng took a deep breath, bowed to Geng Ren and solemnly said, "I admire you."

  Geng Ren glanced at him and felt that him saying such a thing was really unnecessary.

  "Teacher." Though his voice carried some hesitation, Zhang Yi’s eyes held much more respect.

  Geng Ren looked at him. "Yes?"

  Zhang Yi pointed at the green palace and asked, "When can we enter that palace? Are there any requirements to enter?"

  "Honestly, I do not know what is inside that palace." Then, Geng Ren’s gaze upon Zhang Yi turned gentle as he slowly and clearly said, "I am just responsible for sending each of you in, but I can guarantee that what is inside is absolutely fair to each of you. As to the time of entry, it is fifteen minutes after you eat my food. So you do not have much time to prepare now."

  "If it is as Teacher says, and we are seriously injured after entering, we still have to wait for the people behind to enter, will it be far?" Zhang Yi hesitated and then asked.

  "Maybe you will bleed for longer, or you will win more time to take care of your wounds." Geng Ren said calmly, "The details will depend on one’s individual abilities."

  The words were clear enough. Zhang Yi had a feeling- if Geng Ren did not admire Ding Ning enough, he would not have spoken in such detail.

  "Advance and retreat are difficult choices, but when to enter and when to withdraw requires good thought." Geng Ren looked at Ding Ning and said.

  Ding Ning looked at him and calmly said, "I choose to advance."

  Geng Ren said nothing else and looked quietly at the path that Ding Ning and the others had come from.

  The valley was quiet. The sound of footsteps came. A moment later, a white figure appeared in everyone’s sight.

  Ye Haoran had been the next to select his sword and follow Ding Ning and the others.

  Ding Ning looked calmly at Ye Haoran who was slowly walking over. Ye Haoran still held the Cold Serpent Sword, he appeared to have no other swords. He had not spent a long time in the Sword Valley, so whatever sword he had picked would definitely be a small and short sword.

  Geng Ren lifted his head slightly and waved his hand at Ding Ning and the others. "Go."

  The time to enter had arrived. Ding Ning stood up, but unlike before, he looked at everyone before starting off. He said seriously, "Take care."

  "Junior Sect Brother, Teacher Geng says that we should know when to advance and retreat. If it is not possible, do not force it." Zhang Yi suddenly grew nervous. He hesitated and said, "You have to leave alive."

  "Any good cultivator is a treasure for the Holy One. This trial is not the final one-on-one battle. Even if we cannot avoid injury, Min Mountain Sword Sect would not let us die easily."

  Ding Ning shook his head. "I only want to have you all remember you are struck with the Seven Leaf Powder. You have to remember to only use seventy percent of your power. Even if you do not want to give up, pay attention to your wounds and do not let them affect your future cultivation."

  Zhang Yi wanted to say the same to Ding Ning, but looking at Ding Ning’s speckled hair roots and the gleaming light under Ding Ning’s skin, he could not say the words.

  Ding Ning turned and walked towards the green palace.

  What he really wanted to say at this time was,

  Yet, he knew very well, sometimes, friends would not think if their help was of meaning, but just wanted to help. Just like how in the bloody storm three years before Emperor Yuanwu’s ascension, some people knew what they did had no meaning, but still did it.

  At a time like this, the best was to accept and not refuse.

  Ding Ning and the others came in front of the green palace in a short time.

  Dozens of stone stairs connected to the tightly closed green doors. The stone steps and doors were covered in thick moss.

  When Ding Ning stepped onto the first stair, the green stone doors, as tall as two people, slowly opened.

  A wave of mist surged out and moistened Ding Ning’s skin.

  The chaotic sounds inside suddenly grew clear. There seemed to be a waterfall colliding with stones and plants of different elevations. It was pitch black and the mist was so heavy that one could not see clearly inside.

  Ding Ning did not linger and calmly walked to the doors.

  There seemed to be a very long passageway with water dripping down.

  "Since we cannot sense, we have to go in to know what is inside. I am going in first."

  Ding Ning turned to say softly to Xie Changsheng and the others. Then he walked into the darkness ahead.

  Xie Changsheng opened his mouth. Before he could speak, Ding Ning’s figure had disappeared from his sight.

  "I will be the second."

  Xie Changsheng did not feel comfortable. While his stomach had felt cold since he heard Geng Ren’s explanation of the green palace, he still went ahead and entered the mist before Zhang Yi and Shen Yi.

  "I ……!"

  He was thinking the ground ahead would be wet and he would just have to be careful. But unexpectedly, when he stepped, his body lost balance and he fell down!

  It was empty under his feet. The passageway that appeared to exist did not exist at all.

  Water droplets and sound attacked his body. The howling wind seemed to slice across his skin. His blood seemed to rush into his head in waves as though they were going to pop open his celestial aperture.

  All these feelings were reminding Xie Changsheng that he was falling from the top of a waterfall towards the deep waters below.

  If there were deep waters below, who could guarantee hitting some stones if they were unlucky or dying of serious injury if they were more unfortunate?

  Xie Changsheng wanted to shout furiously after the initial second which freak had set up this kind of trial. Yet, he was unable to shout a word.

  He had fallen into a patch of something hard. The pain and the rush of blood caused him to almost vomit.

  He felt his body was like a sticky little fish that was quickly sliding along this hard thing. The sound of water was close, but he did not crash into the water.

  "Ah!"

  His fury finally could not be restrained by his terror and he shouted in shock. As he was shouting, a blinding light appeared in his sight.

  He felt he was flying along a wave of energy and mist from the light.

  In the next moment, his sight was filled with blinding light. With another bang, he fell onto solid ground. His vision darkened momentarily and he almost fainted.

  The sunlight fell through the brambles by the stream. The dark red brambles were waist-high and moved slowly in waves.

  Xie Changsheng coughed and inhaled as he struggled out of the undergrowth.

  After many breaths, Xie Changsheng finally saw the environment he was in. Having been stabbed many times by the bramble’s thorns, he shouted in absolute fury. "Who was the freak to set this up!"

  Translator Ramblings: Poor Xie Changsheng.

  Volume 6 1 - New Life

  From the horsemanship, the charging speed, and the fearless presence of the four thousand cavalry, Ji Xingbai was certain that the troop was one of the most elite cavalry troops of the Chu Dynasty. Such a troop, based on their usual armament and not dressed without armor like this, was far stronger than tens of thousands of ordinary people. Even if they could not kill seventy thousand, there was no problem in the cavalry crushing them.

  But in terms of pure power, the old palace woman who had killed herself in the distant Changling alone was more important than these seventy thousand people. Some things could not be measured simply like this.

  Ji Xingbai looked at the bloody lake. He saw many of the young people who had gotten on shore back into the water. He did not speak yet but these young people started to pull out the remains of the cavalry soldiers.

  More and more people went into the water, including those many who had been crying before out of despair. The remains of the soldiers were dragged from the other side of the lake to the shore on this side. Then the food and the horses. This was a difficult journey that crossed most of the lake, but no one seemed to feel tired in this night.

  Previously, Ji Xingbai had done everything he could so these people would follow him to the lake. However this night, he did not need to speak. He just stood there and watched, like he were a statue.

  Many women were washing the remains of these soldiers. Other than taking care of the food, medicines, and horses at the beginning, many started to put on the weapons these soldiers had carried, including the arrows and other sharp items that had pierced into the soldiers. There were still suppressed crying in the group, but a great power was spreading through the crowd.

  Ji Xingbai knew that after tonight, such power would not just spread among these people by the shore, but many places on the Chu border.

  **

  “Tang Zhefeng, the mountains are black at night. You cannot see a thing, is this not boring?”


  “Running out in the night, but you cannot see anything clearly is boring. It is not just boring to watch the mountains.”


  “You are right. It is boring, so it is better to keep a brother company in the wind.”


  On the Yin Mountain battlefield very far from Yang Mountain Commandery, there were countless Chu tents in the night. On a hill among the tents, there were seven figures standing silently. Six of them did not talk, but one person was very bored, and speaking to himself.

  The people around him were used to his strange habit of talking to himself when he was excited. Having been in seclusion with Tang Mei for many years, they knew each other well.

  Like tonight. Even though the advisors and strategists around them did not sense the meaning in Tang Mei’s orders, the people standing around Tang Mei could tell just from minute changes in expression what he was going to do next without even deeply analyzing his orders.

  “Will it be too dangerous?”


  The cold long haired Zhao Sword Furnace Zhao Ce ignored Tang Zhefeng’s words, and turned to look at Tang Mei. As he spoke, his presence suddenly grew hot, and even his skin turned red. This meant that his emotions were not like usual, and turbulent beneath the calm surface.

  “Everyone thinks that I am too conservative when leading the army, not only the enemies, but also our own people.” Tang Mei smiled. He was very relaxed once that key decision had been made, then he put down the mental burden.

  He smiled as he looked at the distant fires that were visible on faraway slopes. He said, “But for leading an army and fighting a war, going against common sense and making the enemy misjudge will bring chances of victory.”


  “Previously, you moved so many soldiers, and all the battles caused me to feel that you would keep on being conservative. so you were pretending for Sima Cuo.” This time, Tang Zhefeng was not speaking to himself but Tang Mei.

  Tang Mei smiled faintly and said, “The key is that Ba Mountain Sword Field judged that I will fight slow, and when even they think that, Sima Cuo and Wei Wujiu will think so too. No one will think that I will start fighting immediately. But in reality, there are not very many choices. While nothing happened to our supply lines luckily, only I and the empress dowager know that some of the unopened granaries were empty during the time of the previous emperor.”


  “But even if we win on this side, the key to the victory is in Yangshan Commandery. Your plan has a fatal hole.” A low voice sounded.

  The one who spoke was the most stoic one among Tang Mei’s people. In Tang Mei’s seclusion place, he just ploughed the soil all the time. But he was Jin Liufeng, one of the best strategists of the Chu military.

  “Even if we win on this side, even if we swallow thirty thousand Qin soldiers, the key is if Yangshan Commandery’s side can fend off the Qin army or not.”


  He looked down at the soil and said slowly, “If we start the fighting, they will quickly realize that you have moved most of the forces here. The Qin army on Yangshan Commandery’s side is prepared to attack. if the army enters Chu from Yangshan Commandery, the dozens of cities and commanderies along the way will be lost, and there will be no way to fight the war.”


  “You are right. Once I start the fighting between armies at Yin Mountain, then the Qin army over in Yangshan Commandery will attack at full power. But Yangshan Commandery will definitely fend off the Qin army’s attacks,” Tang Mei slowly said.

  He did not explain why. While the words were domineering and rude, since Jin Liufeng said there was a weakness, then the disparity in power definitely existed.

  But these people familiar with Tang Mei heard something unusual from his words.

  **

  On the same night, deep in the Chu imperial palace, Li Lingjun could not sleep. As a cultivator, he sweated heavily each night, and because he was so nervous, his sweat soaked the blankets. And because he had not slept well for a long time, his eyes were sunken deeply, and even appeared black, while his face was very pale.

  He knew that Consort Zhao Xiang was not in the palace. Because the true Consort Zhao Xiang had not had relations with him for many days, he did not know where she had gone, but he did not tell anyone the news. He strictly guarded this secret.

  So he knew that Zheng Xiu’s hidden pawn was not him.

  Since he could not guess, he was in inexplicable terror everyday.

  On the same night, there was also a man who rarely slept walking on a mountain ridge in the Yin Mountain battlefield. He looked down at the Chu and Qin camps like an eagle from the sky.

  Volume 2 1 - The Impossible Possibility

  This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.

  A burst of rain silently poured down, shrouding all of the Wu Mountain in an even thicker mist, as though it were a heavenly realm.

  The carriages waited silently on the mountain paths that were turning muddy. Lu Siche stood next to one of the carriages and looked nervously in the direction Fan Wugou and Li Lingjun had departed.

  As the sound of familiar footsteps came through the darkness, Lu Siche’s expression eased slightly.

  Li Lingjun walked out of the forest without Fan Wugou, but his body felt clear as a crystal. The fatigue and dust of his long travels seemed to have been cleansed away leaving an unusual presence emanating from him.

  In Changling, Li Lingjun had shown admirable abilities in many areas and a presence that people would follow. Yet, he had to carefully seek survival. But in this moment, in the eyes of the people in the caravan, Li Lingjun’s caution seemed to have greatly disappeared and his figure seemed to have grown larger.

  With this change in presence many realized something, they became excited.

  Li Lingjun knew what his faithful retainers needed at this moment so he coughed softly and spoke in a warm and clear voice. "We do not need to hurry to Cheng City. We are going to the Deer Mountains."

  Everybody stilled. Before most people could mull over the true meaning in the words, Li Lingjun continued slowly. "At Deer Mountains, before the start of the conference, Father-King will make me the crown prince."

  The Wu Mountains had yet to reach the period of spring storms, but Li Lingjun’s words exploded by their ears like thunder.

  The Deer Mountains was a junction for multiple dynasties. Being dubbed the crown prince at Deer Mountains …… Li Lingjun had yet to formally returned to the capital of the Chu Dynasty; for decades now, the position of the Chu Dynasty crown prince had been vacant …… from every angle, this matter seemed unreasonable.

  Yet, everybody in the caravan knew of Li Lingjun’s speech and conduct. They noticed that Li Lingjun had not added the words "if there are no accidents."

  He did not even say such words. This meant that the crown prince had already been decided and there would be no accidents.

  Everybody in the world knew that the King of Chu was getting on in years and Li Lingjun was set to become the crown prince. This meant that soon, he would be the unrivalled master of the Chu Dynasty.

  The lord they followed would become the king of a dynasty. Then what glory would come to the people that followed him?

  This was the sweet coming after the bitter.

  Most of the people in the caravan were so excited they knelt on the ground.

  Only Li Lingjun was not completely overjoyed. He walked next to Lu Siche and said in an icy tone by his ear, "Kill Su Qin …… no matter the cost. Do not let him leave Chu alive."

  Lu Siche’s brow furrowed deeply. He did not know at this moment why Su Qin had to be killed, but he could sense Li Lingjun’s unparalleled violent and poisonous emotions.

  After evening time, Falling Parasol quickly grew quiet.

  There were no customers in the wine shop. Ding Ning cleaned up the tables and prepared to close the shop.

  Right at this time, Fu Su walked into the wine shop.

  Seeing Ding Ning busy, he casually picked up a towel and started to help by wiping down tables.

  "Since business is good, why not hire a few more people? This way, you can spend more time cultivating." Fu Su said with a warm smile as he looked at Ding Ning who had not refused his help.

  Ding Ning glanced at him and said calmly, "In many people’s view, the most important part of cultivation is time. It feels as though if they are born with a few centuries of life, they will definitely reach realm seven or eight. But in my view, they do not actually understand cultivation. If one purely wants to use time in order to have a breakthrough,often, they will not have a breakthrough. Many cultivators like this would be white-haired by realm five or six. At that time, they would feel that the heavens are unfair to not let them live five centuries."

  Fu Su frowned slightly. Inexplicably, he felt that Ding Ning’s words contained many useful principles.

  "Then what do you feel is most important about cultivation?" he asked humbly, after a moment’s thought.

  Ding Ning looked at him and said, "Naturally, it is the mental state."

  "When one is pleased, one feels anything one does is correct and has meaning. One would not suspect that what one does is useless and a waste of time. When one has no hesitation, one will naturally progress rapidly." He paused, looked at Fu Su who was deep in thought, and continued. "In reality, even if one is crossing the river during the night, there are countless paths. But those that are unable to cross, usually suspect they are mistaken- walking halfway and stopping or retreating to set off on another path. They take detours but feel that they are still correct and will continue further than the cultivators ahead of them."

  Fu Su carefully considered the words and found that they were in complete concurrence with the words of his teachers; he couldn’t help but feel solemn respect and said, "No wonder they say that your comprehension can equal those freaks from Min Mountain Sword Sect and Spirit Void Sword Sect."

  "Why have you come so late?" After finishing the clean-up, Ding Ning moved over a basin of clean water for him and Fu Su to wash their hands. "You should not have come just to flatter me."

  Fu Su smiled and took out a blue jade wine pot from his sleeve, saying, "Last time, you invited me to drink wine. This time, it is my turn."

  The wine inside the blue jade pot was also blue. When it was poured into the cup, it formed a line that glowed with light.

  After he drank a cup, he felt each droplet of the wine explode like those ocean fish roes the elite of court liked to eat,carrying a slightly fishy presence. The fishy presences went deep into his internal organs like flowers blooming. Many of the parts of his organs that had dried up due to an overabundance of

  energy seemed to be covered with a film of water.

  He took a deep breath, looked at Fu Su and said, "This wine is slightly special."

  Fu Su smiled and said, "This is good wine, and it is not sold. The family has kept it for a long time. After you finish this pot, there is no more, so drink more."

  "He treats you special." Deep at night, seeing Ding Ning return after helping Fu Su to the entrance of the alley, Zhangsun Qianxue said with cold sarcasm. "He even brought you life-saving wine made from seven-heart flower. This is something priceless. In ten years, Fish Market might not be able to harvest enough seven-heart flower from the ocean to make this much wine."

  "It can give me three years of time. I will use these three years to trade for cultivation."

  Ding Ning sensed the warm medicinal power that were nurturing the dry places in his body. He calmly spoke of cultivation to her. "This will let me get closer to realm three first class before the Min Mountain Sword Trials starts."

  Zhangsun Qianxue looked at him with displeasure and said, "He treats you so, but you use him. Do you not feel guilty?"

  "Do not care too much about the process, just the results." Ding Ning looked at her and said, "Even the best process, if everyone dies, is useless."

  "Do not always mention those old events to me."

  Zhangsun Qianxue’s expression turned frosty and she said slowly, "You say such things because you think that many things he did in the past were mistakes?"

  Ding Ning nodded and said, "Naturally, he has many mistakes."

  Zhangsun Qianxue did not like to argue, so while these words would be the start for many people, it was a finish to her.

  She turned and walked into the courtyard.

  Ding Ning said nothing else. Just like usual, he washed up with hot water and got into bed.

  The countless little silkworms in his body started to wake up and furiously consume the energies in the wine.

  The places in his body that had been nourished became dry again but at the same time, astounding energy formed in his body.

  The vital energy in his body grew stronger rapidly at a speed that ordinary cultivators could not imagine.

  —


  It was a waning moon now. The moon had become a small crescent line in the sky.

  In Forefather Zhou’s eternally springtime room situated in the Zhou Family Ink Garden, Zhou Susang stood respectfully with her head held low in front of Forefather Zhou.

  Looking at this young woman, Forefather Zhou’s eyes were filled with complicated emotions. He narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in as harmonious tone as he could. "Your period has finished. What have you felt?"

  Zhou Susang knew that Forefather Zhou asked only out of concern for the progress of the secret art he cultivated, but she still couldn’t help but blush and said embarrassed, "Forefather, I have not felt anything special."

  Forefather Zhou’s eyes flashed with light. Before she could react, his withered hands landed on her hands and moved up along her arms.

  Her body shook slightly, and goosebumps instinctively rose on her skin. But she stopped breathing and didn’t dare to move.

  Forefather Zhou"s vital energy slowly moved along the two paths in her body and carefully sensed the changes in hier body.

  Yet, his expression grew uncontrollably dark.

  She had not sensed any changes. He also did not sense any changes.

  In this moment, just like Li Lingjun, his heart filled with violent and malicious emotions.

  Translator Ramblings: Ding Ning’s lie is quickly discovered. Also, as a commenter pointed out, Wu Zejian, the first empress regnant of China, was a concubine of the father before becoming empress consort of the son.

  Volume 5 2 - Meaning

  “You are more injured than I am.”


  A cold and confident voice sounded among the shrill scream.

  Shen Xuan found it hard to believe that he had managed to survive the kill trap just now. But he was really alive. And he knew the biggest reason he was alive was not Zhan Moke, but because of Ding Ning’s attacks. He was alive now, but from when he entered the ancestral lands until now, he felt he had died many times.

  Coming back from the dead gave him unimaginable confidence. He had no hesitation. He attacked.

  His lifebond sword of gray and red disappeared into the air as he slashed. But in this moment, a gray layer appeared on the pieces of the shattered crescent blade. It looked like gray moss growing on damp tiles, but there was some red on the gray moss, like red cores growing out of the moss.

  Shen Xuan was seriously injured, yet because he had great confidence, the sword essence of this attack became the most perfect attack after he became the master of the Great Floating Water Prison.

  The gray moss contained endless darkness, but also a soaring and unrestrained essence. These two different presences, in the moment of Zhan Moke’s lifebond item’s destruction, before it had cut off its connection with him, it hit Zhan Moke.

  Zhan Moke swiped with his finger, and as he screamed, a sharp blade essence flew from his abdomen, and the thin primal energies of the universe in his meridians were squeezed out.

  The broken pieces of blade seemed to burn, shining with gold light, and burning away the moss-like gray marks.

  But at the same time, Zhan Moke gave a louder cry. His eyes showed a layer of gray. Like thick gray moss had covered his eyes.

  His eyes went blind. In this space where one’s perception may not be accurate, the loss of sight in both eyes meant losing sense of the outside world completely, especially when Zhan Moke had used up almost all of his vital energy and primal energies of the universe.

  At this moment, Ding Ning who had struggled to sit up also shouted. He created a sword essence with his hand and said, “Eclipse!”


  This was Shen Xuan’s strongest sword move. When he used it, it would definitely affect his wounds, and create more damage to his body. Yet sensing the direction of Ding Ning’s sword essence, Shen Xuan did not hesitate. With a low shout, his lifebond sword reappeared in the air and flew straight following Ding Ning’s sword essence.

  The red and gray blade suddenly showed uneven mottled marks like time had corroded the sword. With a soft pop, a visible ring of energy spread from before his sword. First was white energy, and then it became a gold circle of light.

  Li Xixing and Hu Jingjing raised their heads with difficulty. They watched in shock, before the gold light, in the air that seemed to have nothing in it, something was falling.

  That was the mouth of a well, the one under the giant tree that had already disappeared. It was shining with gold light, like the legendary magic weapons used by Buddhas to suppress demons. It had a vast and unstoppable presence.

  There was no sound.

  Shen Xuan’s lifebond sword passed through the center of the well, and the two did not seem to touch.

  Yet as the sword tip passed through the upper well mouth, the mottled marks on the blade seemed to fade in segments. It seemed to have been cleansed, the entire blade looking like new as it vibrated countless times in one second.

  The mouth of the well fell, the gold light quickly faded to gray like moss.

  Shen Xuan’s body fell back. He sprayed a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, unable to keep standing.

  The attack, which had been slowly moving through the air, fell to the ground in this moment, right where the spring had disappeared. With a great loud sound, all of the fine white sand at the bottom of the spring and the pieces of the crescent blade swept out in waves. The wave spread until it was just several meters away from them before losing power and falling to the ground.

  Shen Xuan coughed violently. Blood foam came out with each cough through his lips but he laughed when he saw Zhan Moke at the bottom of the gold tower.

  Each person could hear the meaning in Shen Xuan’s laugh. Scornful, but also rejoiceful.

  In this space, other than Shen Xuan’s laughter, there was no other sound and it suddenly became quiet.

  Zhan Moke did not look at Shen Xuan. He leaned back against the gold tower, unable to stand, and looked oddly at Ding Ning like he was seeing a freak. He suddenly said, “What are you?”


  In the next moment, he suddenly laughed wildly, louder and louder.

  Ding Ning did not respond.

  Zhan Moke was at the end of his rope now. He was not able to even swing his sword, but Ding Ning sensed danger from his laugh.

  He unconsciously frowned. The Last Flower remnant sword lying powerlessly by his side struggled to create fine white flowers, trembling and wavering as it flew up towards Zhan Moke like a dragonfly. No matter the meaning in Zhan Moke’s laugh, he wanted to kill the other immediately.

  “Defeat the Peerless Wind and Rain Sword …… Separate Zheng Xiu’s energy from the Sword Mountain Sword, use the restrictions here to seal the mountain…… Kill Gu Huai and then destroy the shortcut the Wuzhi left behind……then displaying Wang Jingmeng’s sword essence …… Is Wang Jingmeng’s heir so strong, stronger than all of Tianliang?”


  Looking at the remnant sword flying towards him, the madness in Zhan Moke’s eyes did not change. He laughed madly, looking at Ding Ning. “But you think that you can really win like this …… Since I am done and cannot get the elixir of life, then let’s die together!”


  When the Last Flower remnant sword was a feet away from him, his energy sea suddenly made a cracking sound. The last wave of his destructive power charged out his back, snapping his spine and taking along his flesh and bone to hit the gold tower behind him.

  There was a vibration.

  A hole appeared on the gold tower he was leaning on.

  Volume 4 2 - Celestial Fire

  The morning light rose again.

  A familiar presence appeared in Ding Ning’s perception. He was confused.

  The door was pushed open. He sensed a gaze landing on him.

  He looked towards the gaze and saw Ye Celeng still in her white dress. However, her white dress today inexplicably seemed brighter.

  He and Ye Celeng were not meeting for the first time, but she looked at him very differently than she usually did.

  “Wen Houling is dead,” Ye Celeng said gently to him. She did not appear to be in a hurry to leave. She closed the door, sat down at the table in front of him and observed his reaction.

  Ding Ning stilled slightly. This was something he had not expected. He was familiar with Wen Houling. He knew not many in Changling could kill him.

  Ye Celeng looked at his furrowed brows and confused but serene state. This expression was far different than a certain person in her memories, but inexplicably, her heart beat faster. “Ye Xiao acted.”


  “Ye Xiao was able to kill him?” Ding Ning’s expression grave. But when he thought of Bureau Chief Chen, he laughed self-deprecatingly. “Changling is full of hidden dragons. It appears many people are too good at concealing themselves. Some people are much stronger than I imagined.”


  “When Liang Lian was killed by the Nine Death Silkworm, everyone in Changling knew you were here. So in everyone’s view, you cannot be related to the Nine Death Silkworm. Even the marquises in Changling are speculating he had a student long ago and that student would be of considerable age. Otherwise, comprehension of One Line Heaven is not possible.” Ye Celeng looked deeply at Ding Ning. “But I know who you are. So, who are you really?

  These two phrases were in conflict but Ding Ning’s expression could not remain calm.

  A drop of water fell from Ye Celeng’s face. This was not a product of energy, but a teardrop.

  In the world, the greatest power was still the greatest of emotions between people. Ding Ning’s heart was attacked by this greatest power. He grew silent and hung his head.

  “Is there any meaning?”


  He was silent for a long time and then responded without answering Ye Celeng’s question.

  Ye Celeng smiled sorrowfully as she looked at him. “You know why I had to stay in Changling. You know why I stayed in Changling, why I did so many things I was not willing to do. You feel there is any meaning in asking me this?”


  Ding Ning said, “You know that he’s dead.”


  “I thought so too originally.” Ye Celeng also looked down. She was like a child who was cold in the winter and needed warmth. “I just want to know if he left behind an heir and what they wanted to do until I met you.”


  “You are too young. I know Shen Xuan would not be wrong in quantifying your bone age. You were born three years after his death. Your actual cultivation is only realm five. Then how do you know all these things, know so many people, and have the One Line Heaven sword essence?”


  Ye Celeng still did not look up but her voice became hurried. “No one knows the One Line Heaven sword essence better than I. I do not believe anyone can comprehend this sword essence without being taught by him personally.”


  “His body turned to ash. He left nothing behind. How could he be brought back to life?” Ding Ning also smiled sadly. “You believe in resurrection?”


  Ye Celeng looked at him in all solemnity. “I hope that something like resurrection happened.”


  “There is still no meaning.” Ding Ning’s face turned cold as he slowly said, “Even if there is a resurrection, I am not the person you are familiar with.”


  Ye Celeng suddenly laughed. The sadness in her eyes faded and she smiled like a true child.

  “Some things will change, some people will not change.” She looked at Ding Ning and said slowly, “There is no meaning in arguing about this. I came here to tell you something important. The people for the prison break are all gathered.”


  Ding Ning seemed to grow nervous like he had a premonition and asked, “Who is it?”


  Ye Celeng glanced at him and said, “Fish Market, the eldest miss of the Shang family.”


  Ding Ning coughed in pain. This was the last thing he wanted to hear, but it happened to be the same as his premonition.

  “It appears you do not wish for her to participate in this matter.” Ye Celeng smiled brightly and even with some flirtatiousness. “But this is her choice, just like my stay in Changling is my choice in the end, and has nothing to do with you.”


  Ding Ning stilled.

  “From many years ago, Zheng Xiu never suffered a defeat since she entered Changling. But she has suffered too many defeats these few days. Now that Wen Houling is dead …… she will do some other things.”


  Ye Celeng looked at Ding Ning and said, “Ye Xiao, the person who is most reluctant to leave Changling has left. People like me are tired for Changling. If you really worry for our safety, then be quick in rescuing Lin Zhujiu, and stop hesitating.”


  Ding Ning nodded slowly and said, “Tomorrow.”


  Ye Celeng walked out of the medical clinic and boarded the carriage waiting for her outside. The carriage started to move. She did not put down the curtain and looked at the walls and roofs along the way.

  The sun was rising. The faint yet golden sunlight shone on the grey walls and black roofs, reflecting a solemn light.

  Her gaze turned to the distance, to those turrets that soared like giants. A faint mocking smile appeared on her lips. “These former arrangements have now become means to limit oneself ……”


  A moment later, she sighed emotionally. “Changling …… is really majestic. No matter what, the person who created this magnificent city is amazing.”


  When that person had achieved his fame, she had been a young girl. When she first fell in love, those people had died.

  She always felt she was a beat too slow. Now, everything was different but not too late.

  She patted gently on the windowsill. The carriage moved through the streets and headed towards an old bridge.

  This was an old bridge that did not allow carriages to pass through, and was only preserved for the convenient access to surrounding shops. Even the bridge hole was damaged. There was a pomegranate tree growing from a pier on one side, and this tree was already very old.

  There was a sesame oil shop on a side of the bridge, and then a tofu shop next to the oil shop. Inside the narrow alley between the two shops was a blind fortune teller on the bamboo chair.

  The blind fortune teller was not old, just in his thirties, and looked clean and white like a scholar. He did not have any mystical airs so he appeared to not have much business.

  She walked directly towards the blind fortune teller, moving by his side until she was behind him. She said, “Where is your stringless zither?”


  The blind fortune teller did not respond.

  She turned back until she was in front of the blind fortune teller. Then she looked directly into his eyes and smiled. “As expected, you are faking your blindness and are truly deaf.”


  The blind fortune teller looked at her and suddenly started to tremble.

  “Do not make any special reactions.” Ye Celeng took a deep breath and quickly repeated, “Where is your stringless zither?”


  “Come with me.”


  The blind fortune teller did not hesitate at all, standing up, and heading into the alley.

  There was a small crude courtyard in the alley. They stepped in and entered the only bedroom.

  This blind fortune teller’s body finally seemed to get released and trembled violently. His eyes shone with light. He looked at Ye Celeng’s lips so seriously it was almost perverse.

  “Nine Death Silkworm.”


  Ye Celeng said simply. “I need you to tell Lin Zhujiu we are rescuing him tomorrow. I need you to find a way to get someone into the Great Floating Water Prison.”