Chapter Thirty: Desperation
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无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
Shock, fear, disbelief…… Many extreme emotions came from most of those present. From a certain point of view, the lives of all of them here in the train of carriages could not compare in importance to this young person in the carriage.
Because this person was Fu Su, the heir to the Qin Dynasty.
Only now did most among them understand why Ding Ning and Zhangsun Qianxue wanted to deal with Sima Cuo first. Because Sima Cuo was akin to Fu Su’s protection.
But being able to take Fu Su hostage from so many grandmasters working together was a miracle in itself.
When the world here calmed down, when the wind and snow quieted because Zhangsun Qianxue’s power was used up, thinking back to those perfect sword essences, all the cultivators could not help but feel waves of coldness.
Looking at Ding Ning who still had his face covered, they seemed to glimpse
person from the past. But right now, Ding Ning was stronger than
person when he first walked into Changling, and was even younger.
Back then,
person’s sword essence had only been perfected after the wars against the Zhao, Wei and Han. But his heir was so young, and his sword essence showed sighing of surpassing.
Many of the people in this train carriage were of high status. Originally, in their hearts, even if
person had left behind an heir, then he was just more important as a symbol and as a call to summons.
person’s heir may cause many rebels to start planning again. But now, they clearly realized that the other was not just a symbol, but had grown up into a terrifying existence.
Many flakes of black snow fell on Fu Su. His body suddenly froze, a thin layer of ice appeared. His vital energy could not flow in his body, he could not even move his tongue at all.
Ding Ning coughed softly, coughing up some small blood clots. Then he looked up at Emperor Yuanwu.
Time seemed to pass slowly at this time. Everyone was waiting for Emperor Yuanwu’s decision. But Emperor Yuanwu was silent for a long time. People felt they were suffocating.
“When Wang Jingmeng had just entered Changling, he had been fighting with some gangsters, and this Lonely One coincidentally met him……”
When he started to speak, many people were shocked.
Before this, even whenever Emperor Yuanwu mentioned Wang Jingmeng, he would just use “that person” to refer to him. But this time, he mentioned Wang Jingmeng’s name.
“So I know better than anyone everything about him, his talent, his cultivation tactics, and his comprehension of sword essences.”
Emperor Yuanwu looked deeply at Ding Ning’s face. His tone was calm but his expression grew strange. “His talent was very good, and could be called the best in the world. But everyone in the world felt that he was invincible because of his innate talent. But that is absurd. Because I know, other than talent, he was very hard working on his cultivation.”
“Something like a dual, when you are far stronger than your opponent, if this occurs once every few days, it is like a rest. You can relax and at the same time, enjoy countless clear and admiring gazes, as well as fame to establish yourself in Changling. But if you fight frequently, it is a tiring thing, especially when you are confident of the victory.”
Emperor Yuanwu was silent for a moment and then said, “When you are not confident, you have to study the other’s cultivation tactics and their weak points, and also spend a lot of energy on predicting how to win. He used this method to force himself. Sometimes, he would not rest for many days because of studying a sword move. Sometimes, to study a normal sword move, he would repeat it countless times each day, regardless of how dull it was.”
“It is because this Lonely One knows his cultivation path, and how he grew, so this Lonely One is certain that even if people can surpass his talent, they cannot surpass his efforts manifold over. So no one can be many times faster than him in terms of comprehension of the sword path.”
Emperor Yuanwu took a deep breath. He looked at Ding Ning who had been listening quietly and said, “Even if you started to cultivate from birth, at such an age, you have finished the path he took a life to walk. Your skill in the sword path surpasses him when he died in battle, how could you be so manifold? Methods and sword manuals can be passed down, but the skill in the sword path and comprehension, that kind of sword sense that is created through practicing countless times cannot be passed down.”
“So you should not be his heir, you should be him reborn.”
When Emperor Yuanwu’s words sounded, uncontrolled gasps rose in a wave. That endless shock and great disbelief caused many people to freeze as stiff as Fu Su was right now. If someone was going to attack with a sword right now, many among them may be assassinated by someone of far lower cultivation because they were so dazed. Such words were too stunning.
Ding Ning frowned deeply. He looked directly at Emperor Yuanwu in the eyes and said with slight scorn, “Is there something like rebirth in the world?”
Emperor Yuanwu said coldly, “Then maybe it is living by another method.”
Before Ding Ning spoke again, his gaze landed on Zhangsun Qianxue and the Donghu monk. Then he said, “Their emotions cannot be disguised. This Lonely One has said such things…… then it means that this Lonely One’s words are not incorrect. To this Lonely One, regardless of the method of rebirth, even if it is because of the Nine Death Silkworm, you have inherited his memory, his cultivation experience, and even his comprehension of the sword, then you are him reborn. The method may be different, but the result is the same.”
Countless people stopped breathing. Other than the sound of the wind and the snow, the sound of the heart beats were so clear. Many people could not help but think, if such a speculation spread, if such information spread, what a shock would this cause in the world?
Ding Ning did not admit nor refute. He looked at Yuanwu and sneered.
“Why are you saying so much?” He sneered and then said, “You have said so much, and made such a speculation, you are not speaking to me, you are speaking for Zheng Xiu to hear. You just need to create a reason that you must kill me now. Only such a reason, even if Fu Su was to be sacrificed, she will be able to accept it.”
“So, what you need right now is a reason to sacrifice Fu Su,” Ding Ning said slowly, emphasizing each word.
**
An enormous sound rang out in the sky. It was like thunder breaking the sky.
Emperor Yuanwu narrowed his eyes, and his lips pressed together slightly.
“Even now, when you have become who the people call the best emperor in the history of the Qin, you still have to rely on her power, still have to endure her, still fear that you will anger her into splitting with you.” Ding Ning was even calmer. He looked at the other man and asked, “Then have you ever thought, if I am like you say, him reborn, and I have advanced even further, then what do you feel right now, facing me? Yuanwu, you are so good at enduring.”
Emperor Yuanwu’s lips curved up slightly, like he was proud, but his lips minutely trembled. He looked up, far into the distance, but did not make a sound.
But the roars in the sky grew louder. Everyone present knew that his decision could not be changed, and his killing intent was set.
Translator Ramblings: We are here! While us readers all “know” the truth, now everyone in the “story” can learn the truth.
Volume 3 31 - Disguise
Mo Shoucheng’s eyes emanated a strange light.
He was the wisest old person in Changling. He knew that Forefather Zhou did not have the strength to destroy the formation like this.
So this change was unexpected.
The mist quickly dissipated, the moisture moving upwards and outwards, and even into the ground below. As the damp vapours faded, with formation now destroyed, the solar true fire accumulated in the mountains started to discharge.
All the trees and bushes started to burn fiercely.
The entire mountain valley was wrapped in a golden flame that bloomed like sunflowers.
A blue structure appeared at the center of the burning mountain valley.
The king of Chu’s brows furrowed even deeper.
He had entered this formation before Forefather Zhou ever had, and been into the blue structure. Compared to Mo Shoucheng and Pan Ruoye, the beauty in palace attire, he had a better understanding.
Why would a cage like this be destroyed?
He did not even care about the flesh bodhi, and pondered over this conundrum.
In the span of a few breaths, the golden flames disappeared, what remained within the mountain valley was ash. The foundation of the blue structure had been burnt red. As steam rose, the cool mountain wind in the surroundings flooded in. A strong wind formed in the mountain valley, and the ashes were blown into the sky.
With the rapid rush of cold, from the top to the bottom, the blue structure gave off cracking sounds. The cracks stretched from the bottom upwards, like vines. The entire structure appeared as though it would collapse completely. At this time, two figures that appeared extremely thin and small compared to the blue structure helped each other out of one of the arches.
Pan Ruoye’s eyes immediately lit up.
She should be rejoicing, but for some reason, she felt no joy. Perhaps, it was because she knew all too well, that the two, under normal circumstances, should have died.
A faint smile made its way to the corners of Mo Shoucheng’s lips.
“This is destiny.”
He turned and looked at the king of Chu, saying sincerely and emotionally, “We have won the present and the future.”
The king of Chu showed no anger in his eyes. He focused on Ding Ning and Fu Su, like stars were flashing in his gaze.
He sensed Ding Ning and Fu Su’s presence. He thought back to all the memories related to the blue structure. A strange expression appeared at the corner of his mouth. “This is an impossibility.”
He seemed to respond to Mo Shoucheng, but also spoke to himself as he shook his head gently.
“Yet, this impossibility has become possible.”
He then continued, and smiled. “When an absolute impossibility becomes possible, there definitely is a possibility within.”
“I thought of a possibility.”
He smiled and turned to look at Mo Shoucheng, saying, “Victory is not determined at one moment.”
Mo Shoucheng frowned slightly.
He did not understand the king of Chu’s riddle-like words. But the other did not appear very sad or disappointed at his scheme and waiting of decades turning to naught. He could not understand this, and felt slightly anxious.
“Where is Forefather Zhou?”
The king of Chu asked Ding Ning and Fu Su, moving his gaze away to focus on Ding Ning and Fu Su.
He was one of the longest ruling monarchs in the world. So, while he was speaking calmly, he carried an unimaginable authority.
Ding Ning coughed softly.
His injuries were considerable. He was discomforted by the mountain wind that blew over him, the hot ground, and the thick ash filling his nose …… but all of these discomforts paled before the discomfort caused by the trinity standing before him.
He knew all of them, the king of Chu who had ruled the longest, the teacher of the Qin monarch Mo Shoucheng, and Pan Ruoye, the master of Endless Palace, a sect that the empress had nurtured.
The change in the king of Chu’s gaze caused coldness to rise within him.
“You do not have to answer.”
Mou Shoucheng spoke at this time.
His eyes had absolute confidence. While he could not kill the king of Chu or stop him from leaving here, he was certain he and Pan Ruoye would be able to take Ding Ning and Fu Su away.
Ding Ning lowered his head slightly and maintained his silence.
The king of Chu’s expression calmed. He said nothing else and walked out, his hands behind his back.
Pan Ruoye immediately became nervous.
The king of Chu was walking towards Ding Ning and Fu Su.
“Do monarchs joke?” Knowing what she was nervous about, the king of Chu said disdainfully as he walked.
He seemed to be walking slowly, but in a breath, he had walked past Ding Ning and Fu Su towards the ruins of the blue structure.
Mo Shoucheng’s eyebrows rose slightly. High above him in the sky, many silver dots of light appeared.
The king of Chu slowly released a faint but powerful presence. He did not look back and continued to advance. A faint layer of purple light appeared in the air around him.
The silver lights in the sky grew brighter, as if there were dozens of silver stars floating there.
But the king of Chu’s expression was still unusually calm.
When he walked to the center of the ruins to where the flesh bodhi had originally been, a crimson Buddhist bead appeared in his palm; his brow furrowed slightly as though he was in slight pain.
The crimson Buddhist bead suddenly disappeared from his hand. At the same time, a terrifying presence spread from his palm.The faint purple light around him suddenly grew bright and an enormous purple lotus platform appeared before everybody’s sight.
Without a sound, the pieces of the blue structure instantly turned to powder and scattered.
The enormous blue wave was dozens of meters tall, like a tide that spread over the entire mountain valley.
Pan Ruoye, the beauty in palace attire, gave a furious shout. A small white sword flew in front of her, landing between the dust wave and Ding Ning and Fu Su. However, her face turned pale as these waves were not very powerful.
When the enormous waves of dust touched the sword light coming off the small sword, they exploded to the side.
“No need to worry. The king of Chu has already left.”
Mou Shoucheng turned around and whispered to her. At the same time, his body seemed to produce invisible threads as the light of the stars above him quickly disappeared.
Pan Ruoye remained silent. The snowy white sword spun around Ding Ning and Fu Su, flying back to her and melting away.
The sharp sword energy formed a vortex that absorbed all the dust around Ding Ning and Fu Su.
Ding Ning took a deep breath.
The clean air around him finally made his breathing easier, but the feeling of discomfort within did not abate, instead grew stronger.
He turned around, and looked towards the center of the expanding wave of dust.
When the king of Chu left, the power that had destroyed the ruins had been astounding. The dust had spread outwards from the center, so right now, the center was the clearest part.
Ding Ning narrowed his eyes. All of the traces he had seen had disappeared. The place where the blue structure had originally been, had sunken down into a crater.
Mo Shoucheng calmly watched the dust spread. He thought for a long time. Then, looking at Ding Ning and Fu Su, he asked the same question as the king of Chu, “Where is Forefather Zhou?”
Fu Su was amazed at the scene in front of him, but also felt joy at escaping the disaster. But even more, he was dazed.
He instinctively shook his head and looked at Ding Ning.
“Killed by the blind dragon.” Ding Ning slowly answered. “There was a blind dragon inside.”
Mo Shoucheng looked at him and continued to ask, “Other than the blind dragon?”
“There was the flesh bodhi,” Fu Su answered first.
“Forefather Zhou refined the flesh bodhi but was still killed by the blind dragon.” Ding Ning continued to speak.
Mo Shoucheng looked warmly at him and said, “The blind dragon was able to kill Forefather Zhou. Why did it not kill you? How was the formation here destroyed?”
“That blind dragon was very hungry.”
Ding Ning’s feeling of discomfort grew, causing his body to tremble but he still spoke in a calm tone. “This structure was a giant cage to it. I told it I might be able to help it obtain freedom.”
Hearing the words, Mo Shoucheng frowned. Even Pan Ruoye couldn’t help but voice her disbelief. “How is that possible? Why would a starving blind dragon listen to you?”
“Because I comprehended some secrets of the formation, and touched some of the seal scripts.” Ding Ning coughed softly and said, “It chose to believe me.”
Mo Shoucheng focused on him and asked, “I want to know the details of Forefather Zhou’s death.”
Ding Ning took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Then he shook his head and said, “I do not know. Before Forefather Zhou was killed, Gongzi Su and I were rendered unconscious by his power.”
“So the fight between him and the blind dragon caused the destruction of this formation?” Mo Shoucheng turned around to look at the enormous crater. “You are only speculating and haven’t witnessed the death of Forefather Zhou with your eyes. Then, what is the king of Chu concealing by destroying everything here?”
Ding Ning grew silent.
He did not answer.
He did not know how to answer. Given the circumstances here, anyone would harbour suspicions much less the wisest old person in Changling.
“Eat this medicinal pill.”
Pan Ruoye’s hand moved slightly. Two milky white pills floated in front of Ding Ning and Fu Su.
“Perhaps, he did not want us to see any of the seal scripts in the remains, and hid the tracks of the blind dragon’s escape,” she said, with a frosty expression.
Mo Shoucheng nodded. “Perhaps.”
Translator Ramblings: The Warring States Period occurred between ~475BC and ~221BC which is a pretty long time. If the author had more time to expand on history, I would love to know how the cultivator-kings, with their long lives, affected the state of the continent since the story starts pretty much with the Spring and Autumn period occurring exactly as they seemed to have in history.
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