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Chapter Fifty: Great Means
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  The Wei River went through all of Changling. When Fang Xiang was taking his last breath, outside Changling, beside a branch of the Wei River, there was a patch of wildflowers in bloom.

  These flowers were a natural deep purple, and very interesting when blooming in the sunlight. It was even possible to see the tender petals slowly open. The buds were very small, but had an enchanting fragrance, and during their blooming process, the pollen kept on spreading. The fine pollen was a crystal silver color in the sunlight, causing the blooming flours to look like silver powder that flashed with mysterious light under the sunlight.

  These were the magnolias, unique to Changling, but very rare. They could not be transplanted, and they would only bloom for a few minutes

  One middle-aged man was silently standing in front of this patch of flowers, and watching them bloom.

  When these flowers finally opened, he bent down to pick up the brightest. His face was very handsome. He had a strong nose, and his features were clear and fine like they were carved by a knife. His figure was up right. His light gold armor was slim and he appeared even more handsome. His fingers were covered by light gold metal armor. The coldness of the metal contrasted with the deep purple flowers.

  He had an inexplicable presence.

  Not far behind him, there was a marching camp.

  In the black camp, all the soldiers were wearing pitch black metal armor. Most of these soldiers were standing straight and not moving, like they were metal puppets. Not far behind him, there was also a cultivator in yellow robes waiting for him.

  “If I wanted to enter Changling, I would have done it long ago, why bother to do it now?”


  The cultivator dressed in the special dirt yellow robes represented Jiaodong Commandery in the Qin Dynasty. Around Changling, this color represented the mistress of the imperial palace. However, this middle aged man in the flowers did not even look at him, just saying coldly, “I have trained armies for the Qin Dynasty outside for many years. This Nether Armor Army has followed me north and south for many years, and I trained them up myself. I rarely participate in the struggle for power in Changling. Even if my son Li Xixing made a mistake when young, I exiled him to the border. But he is my son and has done very well at the borders, even making me a bit proud.”


  This middle aged man was naturally one the of thirteen marquises of the Qin,Marquis Li. He paused, turned around, and looked at the yellow robed cultivator with narrowed eyes. Then he put the flower into his mouth and chewed it. Drops of purple fluid fell from his lips, leaving behind a faint purple track on his white skin, even more startling to see than blood, and gave a strange feeling.

  “I want to train him, but not for him to die. But she set up a trap at the Wuzhi border. My son has disappeared. Based on the military intelligence, he is likely dead. Now, she wants me to lead an army back to Changling. Does she not need to give me an explanation?”


  Hearing his cold and scornful tone, the yellow-robed cultivator bowed his head deeply, appearing more suspectful. But his response was in a slow and calm voice. “The empress thinks that people like you care the most about what is left behind in the history books. She thinks that you are a person for great things and will not care about the minor things. For the great accomplishments of the dynasty, you will not care too much about these things.”


  “Really?” Marquis Li could not help but laugh.

  “Also, she has given you an explanation as well. If a sacrifice for the dynasty is needed.” The yellow-robed cultivator felt killing intent and shrank slightly, quickly saying, “She has made the same sacrifice as you.”


  Marquis Li stilled and then understood. “Fu Su?”


  The yellow-robed cultivator nodded.

  The killing intent in Marquis Li’s eyes slowly faded. But when he turned to look at the black camp, his eyebrows rose again.

  “General Bai’s God Killing Army has been killed.”


  But before he could speak, the yellow-robed cultivator continued on. “So your Nether Armor Army is the strongest army of the Qin Dynasty right now. Also, your way of making the nether armor comes from the past You dynasty, and is the best to deal with cultivators. The empress knows that this is not enough to explain to you, so she told me to tell you, after the Min Mountain Sword Sect is defeated, you can choose some of the sword manuals or the swords first. Also, she tells you that the God Killing Army and General Bai were killed when going to Donghu to get a legendary sword of Spirit Void Sword Sect. That legendary sword is likely the strongest sword in the world right now, and was fallen in the hands of the heir of the Nine Death Silkworm. If the Nine Death Silkworm heir is killed this time, then that sword will be yours.”


  “Do you know a saying among the Wuzhi tribes on the border?”


  Marquis Li coolly said, “The meat in your mouth is meth. Otherwise, even if it is meat that has been put on your plate, it does not count as meat.”


  “You do not have to go on the Min Mountain Sword Sect.” The yellow robed cultivator seemed to have predicted he would say this. Or rather, the mistress of Changling knew that Marquis Li would say this. He just faithfully described, “You just have to send the army to surround half of Min Mountain, and stop some people from leaving the mountain. Other people naturally will go up to Min Mountain Sword Sect.”


  Marquis Li’s eyes flashed and he said, “Who will go up the mountain? Who will lead the army up to surround Min Mountain Sword Sect?”


  “Marquis Dugu will be with you at the base of the mountain,” The yellow-robed cultivator said respectfully. “As to going up the mountain……I do not know, but the empress just has made arrangements.”


  Marquis Li took a deep breath and his brows furrowed deeply. He had thought of many possibilities, but not that the Dugu Marquessate establishment would take such a role at this time.

  He was silent for many breaths and then asked, “What will the Dugu Marquessate Establishment gain?”


  The yellow-robed cultivator did not hesitate and quickly answered in a soft voice, “Half of Guanzhong.”


  “Half of Guanzhong” were three simple words but caused Marquis Li’s hands to tremble imperceptibly.

  Marquis Li could not help but inhale deeply again and then said, “Such great means.”


  But when he heard his own words in the air, he thought back to each step the Jiaodong woman had taken. All of them seemed to be shocking, and each one was stunning in their greatness.

  He stopped speaking, and waved his hand impatiently at the yellow-robed cultivator. Then he walked to the black camp.

  **

  On the other end of Changling, an army was moving.

  This army was unlike the dark and black army in his sight. These were all in bright robes and had spirited horses. This army was rapidly moving to Min Mountain Sword Sect and were all dressed in bright red armor. The armor was not made from metal, but a unique kind of leather armor. There were unique seal scripts on the armor with flames and bright flowers flowing within.

  There was a carriage in the middle of the army, pulled by a dozen strange beasts.

  Sitting inside was a general dressed in red armor. His face was sickly pale, his figure thin. But he carried many swords on his back outside his armor. These swords were lined up neatly on his back like a peacock’s tail.

  Volume 5 50 - Attack The General

  As the military orders were sounded and the soldiers in the ditch jumped up, an even shriller sound erupted from the front of the Wuzhi cavalry.

  A thin crimson sword flew from the back of a carriage, immediately accelerating until it was too fast to see, and fell towards the giant man who had just fired an arrow. A thin rider next to the giant ride shouted in fury. Another sword flew and knocked away the crimson sword with a clink.

  At the same time, there was a soft thud from underneath the giant rider. The stomach of the horse he was riding was penetrated like a hot water bottle. A dull earthy sword maliciously burrowed out of the soil, piercing through the horse’s stomach, then the saddle, and finally his body.

  The giant rider howled furious and reacted instantly. His enormous body jumped up, and he twisted with his azure bow. He managed to tangle up the small sword coming up from below.

  The leather armguards of this rider exploded, and energy moved on his arms in waves. The flying sword containing vital energy above realm five vibrated on his bowstring unable to break free.

  Yet at this time, an almost invisible sword light fell from the air behind the giant rider. As he sensed something and turned his head abruptly, the sword light sliced across his neck. A red line emergred on his neck, and then his head shot up with a fountain of blood.

  Countless gasps sounded.

  What had appeared in that instant were not just three flying swords. Dozens of sword energies gathered the primal energies of the universe as they sliced into the forefront of this Wuzhi cavalry.

  The Imperial Guard Army soldiers who had jumped leapt up saw the sword lights and figures who appeared from inside and behind the carriages. They were so shocked they could not believe their eyes.

  The foremost Wuzhi dozen riders of the cavalry were all powerful cultivators, even several hundred soldiers would not be able to stop their charge. Yet nearly a hundred cultivators were now in front of them!

  How did nearly a hundred cultivators come here?

  While they were too shocked to even think, Ding Ning’s upturned hand turned into a fist and reached out.

  This young figure stretched out his fist. In the eyes of all the Wuzhi soldiers and the Qin soldiers on the distant towers, the scene had a presence of blood and steel. The numerous messengers were also infected by this powerful and indescribable air. They felt their blood start to boil.

  “Fire!”


  Dozens of steely orders erupted from the mouths in unison.

  The Imperial Guard Army started to shoot.

  At this moment, many people in the army were not reacting consistently. Some archers and soldiers in charge of ordnance had not managed to keep up with orders, but this order did not require them to be in unison. The order was for them to shoot at will, to throw everything they could into the air towards the opposing cavalry!

  Currently, the charging Wuzhi cavalry had advanced three hundred paces! From this mountain slope, most of the Qin arrows, including some heavy ordnance, would perfectly land in the Wuzhi cavalry! Even more importantly, the Wuzhi cavalry’s advance was being halted by the sudden appearance of these cultivators!

  To enjoy and do at will usually meant fast! Especially in such an air of blood and steel.

  One Imperial Guard Army archer did not even sense his fingers becoming numb. Nor had he noticed the many arrows he had shot in a span of a few moments. Only now did he discover, through the abandonment of some carriages and the obstruction of baggage, these cavalry naturally took the path of the gentlest slope and the density of horses and riders were astounding.

  The sound of horses wailing in pain mixed with the explosion of flesh and blood. Bloody mist sprayed from the Wuzhi cavalry that had been giving off an unstoppable presence a few moments before.

  Horses and riders constantly fell and died, colliding with each other. Even the best rider could not control their steed in such circumstances. Victory was in the blink of an eye. Seeing this cavalry about to be destroyed instantly due to the sudden appearance of cultivators, a Wuzhi rider among the front riders dressed like a shaman gave off cryptic howls.

  These dozens of riders were at the front, and faced the swords of numerous cultivators. The arrows and seal weapons coming from above also drowned them, yet these riders incurred the least fatalities.

  As this shaman-like cultivator shouted, thick black mist spread in the air around him and these dozens of riders. This obscured the view from above, and even the arrows slowed down.

  At the same time, the other dozens of riders around this shaman suddenly accelerated, and passed through the black mist like lightning. Immediately, the sound of hoofbeats cut into the front of the Imperial Guard Army.

  “What kind of tactic is this?” Nangong Caishu could not help but ask in shock at seeing this scene.

  “Some of the shamans of Wuzhi are cultivators able to change local weather using spirit bones. The reason is that the bones of some powerful beasts on the steppes can naturally accumulate spirit energy. These cultivators can use the powdered crystal bones of these beasts with their own vital energy to create unique attacks. These Wuzhi shamans, at the start, were not cultivators who killed. They were just herders on the plains who wanted to change extreme weather. Then the herders who comprehended these tactics became shamans protecting tribes, and their methods were passed down.”


  Ding Ning explained calmly and slowly.

  As he talked in a low voice, the foremost dozen horses had turned into the sound of heavy impacts on the ground. Clearly, they had been killed by the Imperial Guard Army and the cultivators near the front. Yet the sound of howling and metal as well as flesh being cut constantly sounded. The black mist already spread to the entire Imperial Guard Army and the sounds were very close to them.

  Guo Feng stood on Ding Ning’s other side with an unusually ugly expression. These Wuzhi cultivators clearly were targeting the latter.

  Ding Ning was the true commander of the battle and became the only weakness at this time. If he were killed, he had no confidence he could win this battle.

  A heavy explosion sounded. The black mist ahead suddenly separated. What appeared was not a cultivator but a heavy esal chariot.

  Seeing this chariot vibrating after being thrown by a great force, Guo Feng’s expression grew more solemn. Yet Ding Ning’s eyes just narrowed slightly. He did not focus on the incoming heavy chariot, and turned to say to Nangong Caishu, “Just use the sword moves I told you previously.”


  Once battle started, Nangong Caishu became Ding Ning’s attendant. She knew that Ding Ning, who had killed Palace Attendant Rong, could not be measured by cultivation alone. From his soft and calm voice, she sensed that the power that had thrown the chariot was far beyond realm five. She had no confidence she could match such a level of strength. Yet she stayed beside Ding Ning and chose to listen to him.

  She attacked at full power. Her sword was not as ferocious as it usually was. A glowing flow of water appeared around her, and flew ahead like a glowing serpent.

  This was Cloud Water Palace’s sword essence.

  The Cloud Water Palace’s sword essence was extremely soft. The flow of water did not meet the flying chariot head on, and spun around it. There was a bang. No enemy was seen but this chariot gave off a toll like a bell and the crystal flow of water was scattered into droplets.

  “Wu Mountain Rain.” Ding Ning smiled slightly as he spoke.

  Nangong Caishu attacked again without hesitation and used the sword essence Ding Ning desired.

  The scattered water droplets did not fall and gently flowed upwards into the sky to fall as rain. The rain was not as sharp as the sword essence Zhang Yi had comprehended in Ink Garden. They seemed weak, but like washing dust- easily washed away the black mist in the air.

  The black mist dissipated and there was clarity.

  Volume 3 50 - Emperor Assassination

  “This Lonely One wants that mountain. This Lonely One wants that mountain.”


  Emperor Yuanwu’s voice was very calm, but as his voice echoed through the mountains, carried by the wild wind, it seemed to roar in everyone’s souls.

  That mountain, to the Qin lands, was behind Deer Mountain. He wanted that mountain, naturally it included Deer Mountain as well.

  Deer Mountain was to the side of Wu Mountain, a point of intersection to the various dynasties. If this place were to belong to the Qin, this was akin to the Qin expanding a hundred miles on this side of the border. Even the Wu Mountain area would land under the control of the Qin Dynasty.

  Especially when this place was an immanent strategic point. As such, if a garrison were deployed on the mountains, they could attack or retreat at will, like a dagger that could stab into the other territories at any moment.

  Yet, few on the peak of Deer Mountain had time to ponder over Emperor Yuanwu’s ambitions and the profound significance if this place were to belong to the Qin. For their eyes were still fixed on the flattened mountain, reeling in the aftermath of the power they had just witnessed.

  At times, one person’s cultivation and strength was insufficient to determine several things, yet, when one person’s cultivation and power was strong to a certain degree, all schemes were rendered meaningless.

  How far was Emperor Yuanwu from the Emperor You of the past?

  How many realm sevens were needed to kill him?

  This was what many around Deer Mountain were considering at this time. And Ding Ning was one such.

  With a pale face, he fixated on the flattened mountain. His cultivation was far lesser than the majority of cultivators near Deer Mountain. He could not perceive some of the weaker energy vibrations during battle. But Emperor Yuanwu’s last blow was to the extreme, so he had felt it clearly.

  In his eyes, Emperor Yuanwu’s cultivation was no surprise, albeit only a minor level higher than he had expected.

  So he had not just entered realm eight, but was already realm eight second class!

  Realm eight second class was invincible cultivation.

  Your cultivation and the power of that strike does not completely come from you. Since you have chosen a path as such to cultivate such a sword, then there exists a possibility that I can defeat you in the future. Looking at the mountain flattened by one sword swing, Ding Ning thought within.

  There were no more lights falling from the sky. The dragon eyes on Emperor Yuanwu’s dragon robe were dim.

  The sky also dimmed. After being twisted by the terrifying primal energies, the clouds turned grey-black and then rain started to fall.

  Cries sounded.

  These sorrowful cries came from the Qi spectators.

  While Emperor Chen of Han had completely disappeared, he did not originally belong to the Chu Dynasty. So the Chu people did not have many feelings towards him. Yan Ying was different. He usually was not present, but he had been the strongest grandmaster of the Qi Dynasty. The cultivators who knew of him and his deeds respected him greatly.

  The power in his body had been taken away by Emperor Yuanwu’s blow, and his body had been bisected, unable to even move. But his perception had not dissipated. This saddened the people of Qi even further.

  The emperor of Qi had a snow-white face. Looking at Yan Ying’s figure, his thoughts drifted back to Yan Ying’s words on their way here. He took a deep breath, about to order people to preserve Yan Ying’s body well, so it could be transported back to the Qi.

  But at this time, a faint thread of black smoke floated out of Yan Ying’s body.

  All the people on the peak of Deer Mountain stopped breathing.

  While they did not understand Yan Ying’s secret arts, everybody could sense that when this black smoke floated out of Yan Ying’s body, the last thread of humanity left Yan Ying’s body which seemed to have become two pieces of cold and hard dead wood.

  Was the last bit of *yin energy formed by Yan Ying’s perception?*

  Was this the last move the Qi grandmaster left behind in the world? What did he want to do?

  All those present looked closely at this faint thread of smoke, afraid of missing any detail.

  But this thread of black smoke did not dissipate. It went along the wild wind and floated towards the flattened mountain peak. Even before it reached that mountain peak, this black smoke took shape a small black infant, and an even thinner stream of smoke floated out of its lower half.

  From a distance, it looked like a small black infant peeing on the flattened peak.

  Everybody stilled.

  For a long moment, the plaintive voices of the people of Qi remained silent, and almost every face from the Qin side evinced anger.

  That had all comprehended Yan Ying’s meaning.

  What was the use in being so strong?

  I still am fearless and look down upon you.

  A thread of anger also appeared in Emperor Yuanwu’s eyes, but in the next moment, his gaze became absolutely cold and emotionless.

  That black infant dissipated in the wind.

  Li Caitian had died.

  Emperor Chen of Han had died.

  Yan Ying had died.

  The world lost three grandmasters.

  The three who could threaten him, had all died.

  “If you want nine more years of peace, then agree to this Lonely One’s request.” Emperor Yuanwu turned coldly to look first at the emperor of Chu and spoke coldly.

  At this time, the Qin had tens of thousands of troops stationed in Yangshan Commandery. They could invade the Chu lands at any moment, conquering the Chu capital. So, he asked the emperor of Chu first.

  There were several more wrinkles on the emperor of Chu’s face. Unexpectedly, he did not look at Emperor Yuanwu with much anger. “Exchanging this place for nine years of peace is not an outrageous request.”


  Li Lingjun stared in disbelief at the emperor of Chu. He felt that the emperor of Chu would at least consider the Qi and Yan. He had not expected for him to immediately agree.

  He had stayed in Changling for a long time. He knew the great humiliation the brave Qin had felt after Yangshan Commandery had been wrested from their grasp, and how much they valued the land. For the Qin, it was easy to give them such a place. But it would not be as simple to claim it back.

  The emperor of Yan narrowed his eyes and looked towards the emperor of Qi at his side.

  The emperor of Qi was silent for a moment and said, “I have no objections. You decide.”


  The emperor of Yan lowered his eyes slightly and said, “If so, then we will meet again on that mountain in nine years.”


  This was confirmed?

  Other than these four emperors, all those on the mountain almost shook in unison.

  They all understood the emperor of Yan’s meaning. They had made an agreement to not invade for nine years. They would have a conference in nine years, but the location of the conference would not be Deer Mountain, but that flattened mountain. None of them had imagined that the three emperors would be so brisk and their opinions so similar.

  This conference was ending so simply?

  With this pact, the Qin reclaimed Yangshan Commandery, as well as pocketed the area around Wu Mountain. They had established a tactical fortress that could, at any instance, marshal troops towards the three dynasties and infiltrate a hundred miles into the foreign lands.

  The Wu Mountain area was equivalent to building an enormous and steep wall for the Qin Dynasty. The benefits of this unprecedented conference were such that not even the blood of millions of Qin swordsmen could deliver such a finale.

  Despite his opponents’ concurrence, Emperor Yuanwu did not show much joy. An imperceptible hint of disdain appeared at the corner of his lips. To him, these were just material things.

  Since ancient times, the power of agreements stemmed from reputation and trust, and not military force.

  When one of the parties to an agreement had outstanding power and could easily break the agreement, it would still lead to many unpredictable consequences. Reputation and trust seemed intangible and ethereal at ordinary times, but sometimes, in a battle, it could be the deciding factor.

  For instance the battles between small tribes; oft-times those that were united against their enemy won.

  In the world of cultivators, the result of ignoring reputation and trust would make enemies that one could not imagine.

  Emperor Yuanwu was well aware of this. His stance was not because he felt he could ignore the agreement, but in disdain for the hypocritical actions of these three emperors.

  Rain descended in a strange rhythm. The three emperors were starting to leave after the agreement was made, and there were ceremonial officials who were responsible for the dignified and complicated procedures that were to follow.

  Emperor Yuanwu stood motionlessly. He looked with slight disdain across Deer Mountain. The armies and cultivators of the Yan, Chu and Qi were still unmoving.

  Having used his own strategy and peerless cultivation to force the three dynasties into such an agreement, Emperor Yuanwu was at the strongest point in his life. But he had used up all of his vital energy, and this was also his weakest moment.

  The disdain in his eyes grew, turning into an unspeakable pride and mirth.

  As his mirth spread, he looked at the surrounding mountains and shouted scornfully. “Since you have come at this time to kill me, why hide! When have the people of Ba Mountain Sword Field been so cowardly!”


  As he shouted, many at the peak of Deer Mountain shook. They sensed something and turned to look at a mountain.

  The rain falling through the air suddenly grew heavier. Emperor Yuanwu’s golden dragons on his robe looked dimmer.

  Woosh!

  An exceptionally sharp and enormous presence charged into the air from the mountain everyone was looking at.

  A bolt of lightning lit up the sky.

  This lightning did not go from the sky to the ground, but from the ground to the sky. When they discovered the abnormality, many at the peak of Deer Mountain realized that this was a sword light.

  Ba Mountain Sword Field!

  These four words that Emperor Yuanwu hollered and the sword light caused many people’s blood to freeze. Their ears even rang out.

  Boom!

  But the surprises did not stop. An exceptionally violent presence exploded from another mountain, a figure flew up, off the mountain, and dove towards Emperor Yuanwu with the presence of a meteor. All of the raindrops in the sky were attracted to this person, as though this was the immortal who caused the rains in legend!

  Two grandmasters who had taken over two different peaks revealed their killing intent at the same time, their target the weak Emperor Yuanwu.

  Some people’s hearts beat like drums. They finally understood why the three emperors had reached an agreement so easily, and that Emperor Chen of Han and Yan Ying were just the prelude to this astounding assassination.

  But this was not the end!

  The moment that figure flew into the air, another sky-piercing presence rose terrifyingly from another mountain.

  A mad, and almost oceanic killing intent swept towards Emperor Yuanwu!

  Translator Ramblings: Yan Ying might be the most amusing character in the story up until now.

  Also, courtesy of larkspur motivating me, there’s now a table of contents page.

  Volume 2 50 - Painting Remnant Scroll

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

  In the morning, as the smoke started to burn, a small wind blew at the door curtain.

  In the Falling Parasol wine shop, Zhangsun Qianxue had just started to cook the porridge. Suddenly, her beautiful and cold brows furrowed. Then she walked out of the inner courtyard towards the front hall.

  Soon after, the half-open shop door creaked. Seeing that person, covered in dew, push open the door with familiarity, Zhangsun Qianxue asked, "How come it was so quick?"

  Her tone was neutral, but compared to her usual treatment of people, this kind of tone was rare.

  The only person who could casually push open the door and evoke such a tone from her was Ding Ning.

  "I came back on Pan Ruoye’s fish-bird."

  Ding Ning took a dry cloth to wipe his face and body as he responded.

  Zhangsun Qianxue had not seen him for a long time, and was not certain if they would meet again. But when she looked at his damp long hair, and pale features, she did not say much and simply asked, "How was it?"

  Ding Ning glanced at her and said, "Li Caitian is dead, Fang Xiang is crippled. Emperor Chen of Han is dead. Yan Ying is dead. Song Chaosheng is dead. Guo Dongjiang is dead. Ye Xinhe is still alive, and seriously wounded. Minister Li has successfully cultivated the Yearning Sword. Yuanwu is fine, realm eight second class."

  Zhangsun Qianxue fell silent.

  While she was usually too lazy to consider matters outside of cultivation, she was the most intelligent of people. Only she could speak to Ding Ning in such a manner. Also, the two of them were used to conversing like this.

  "Ye Xinhe should die," she said after a long silence.

  She understood these people of the former Ba Mountain Sword Field. So, while Ding Ning spoke simply, she had discerned the truth from these simple words.

  If Ye Xinhe had not been on Yuanwu’s side, then he would not be seriously injured and would have died along with those people.

  Ding Ning put down the damp cloth in his hand and glanced at her. Her exquisitely stunning features had not changed much, but she was very angry.

  "You do not need to be angry."

  Ding Ning looked down and started to find shoes to change. He said softly, "It is not just one or two that betrayed. After seeing enough, one becomes numb. It is not worthwhile to be angry."

  Zhangsun Qianxue did not answer him. She said after a moment of silence, "So many people, and they could not kill him?"

  Ding Ning said gently, "That’s alright, we can wait."

  Zhangsun Qianxue’s anger started to suffuse her face. She felt that Ding Ning’s admonishment was hypocritical.

  But Ding Ning had expected her to be like this. He lifted his head and said, "He and Zheng Xiu are people who understand how to use power and the cultivators of Qin the best. If we want to kill him, we must first take care of some people around him."

  "Previously, I said you were shameless, but he and Zheng Xiu are the most shameless."

  Zhangsun Qianxue took a deep breath. The frost on her face slowly disappeared but her tone became icier. "I take back what I said before. To deal with the most shameless people, one has to use some shameful tactics."

  Ding Ning looked at her and nodded. He did not immediately speak.

  Given the habits of this pair, the matters concerning Deer Mountain had drawn to a close.

  "Do you want to wash?" Zhangsun Qianxue saw Ding Ning looking chilled and asked.

  She could guess that he had been in the cold wind at high altitude for too long. Based on this, she could guess the person in control of the spirit beast wanted to hurry back to Changling as fast as possible. Also, that person had expended a great amount of vital energy and primal energies of the universe, so they were unable to waste more to deflect the wind and cold in the sky.

  After successfully returning alive, a hot water bath that he would usually have once every few days due to Zhangsun Qianxue’s sense of cleanliness became something he had missed greatly and would enjoy. Ding Ning smiled warmly but shook his head. He said, "I am hungry …… I will go see Cave Master, and eat noodles with them."

  Zhangsun Qianxue did not say anything else, and turned to walk into the inner courtyard.

  Ding Ning seemed to have suddenly thought of something and softly added. "Forefather Zhou is dead. The Zhou Family is finished."

  Zhangsun Qianxue did not even turn her head. Her cool voice passed over. "Will Changling even have the old nobility left? Who would care about this? Do you feel that I would feel any sympathy?"

  Zhang Yi walked out of the door with a hot heater.

  The wind was strong in the alley, and easier to create fire. If one added a crude metal funnel on top of the heater pipe, one did not even need to fan away the smoke and smell.

  One should not use firewood that had dew on the surface. There did not need to be much dry grass to start the fire …… Zhang Yi had memorized these details and they became a habit. As he came out of the door with the heater, he immediately looked down, wanting to take some of the firewood he had piled by the door.

  But out of the corners of his eyes, he saw someone looking at him in amusement.

  "Little Sect Brother?"

  His eyes suddenly widened, and he instinctively called out.

  When he looked up directly at Ding Ning, he reacted to his mistake. He shouted in joyful surprise. "Junior Brother Ding Ning!"

  "Junior Brother Ding Ning has returned!"

  "Little Sect Brother Shen Yi, quick, come out!"

  This was undoubtedly a heartwarming matter. Hearing Zhang Yi’s shout, Ding Ning smiled, and shouted, "Bring my bowl as well. I am hungry."

  Zhang Yi could not be bothered with lighting the fire and heating water now that the junior sect brother he had missed the most had peacefully returned from Deer Mountain. In large strides, he welcomed Ding Ning into the courtyard and then took him to Xue Wangxu, helping the master, who had woken up long ago, with Shen Yi’s help.

  "How come you returned so quickly? You did not go to Deer Mountain?" Xue Wangxu asked the moment he saw Ding Ning.

  It had just been a day and night. At this time, the news about Deer Mountain Conference would not have passed back to Changling. Normally, if Ding Ning had been to Deer Mountain, he could not have returned to Changling this quickly.

  "I did."

  Ding Ning did not add to the chaos. Watching as Zhang Yi and Shen Yi helped Xue Wangxu dress, he stood beside the bed and said, "However, it is a long story how I returned so quickly."

  Xue Wangxu stilled but laughed. He said, "Fortunately, I have enough time. No rush. It is good you returned."

  Zhang Yi and Shen Yi could not understand, but their breathing sped up.

  Of course, Ding Ning knew what he and all of Changling wanted to know. He thought, and said directly, "Our dynasty won."

  While he had not given out any details, the word "won" caused Zhang Yi and Shen Yi to be immersed in indescribable excitement.

  Their eyes filled with unusual light, lips and hands trembling.

  This represented the mood of Changling and all ordinary people of the Qin Dynasty.

  A thread of disdain appeared at the corners of Ding Ning’s lips.

  Then, looking at Zhang Yi and Shen Yi, he added, "Our dynasty won significantly. Emperor Yuanwu is already realm eight second class."

  Zhang Yi and Shen Yi failed to notice that Ding Ning did not address Emperor Yuanwu as ’the Holy One’ like they did. Just this news was enough to make them lose all sense of judgement.

  "This is really great ……"

  Zhang Yi expended great effort to say in a trembling voice.

  "But I still want to eat noodles, I am still very hungry." Ding Ning looked at him and then said seriously to Xue Wangxu, "Let’s go eat noodles."

  "You are right, we will go eat noodles."

  Xue Wangxu also laughed as well.

  But even he could not completely understand Ding Ning’s emotions at the moment.

  Ding Ning did not deliberately say such words to calm Zhang Yi and Shen Yi. His words contained mainly helplessness and endurance. Since there was such a disparity, there was no meaning in considering those matters.

  Upon returning to Changling, his identity was of an ordinary White Goat Cave student. What he needed to consider was the upcoming Min Mountain Sword Trials, and to obtain the cultivation method, so he could live.

  When one was unable to obtain some things, the best recourse was to temporarily forget them.

  "Shop Owner, one bowl of Pickled Intestine Soup, add some bean sprouts, one poached egg, extra noodles."

  "Ding Ning? You returned?"

  "So long no see. Where did you go?"

  "I wonder how the Holy One is doing at Deer Mountain."

  "…… ……"

  After some friendly greetings, Ding Ning picked up his noodle bowl. He ate boisterously with unusual gusto.

  In reality, a place like Falling Parasol was very good. It was enough for him to settle his mind deeply. Even if these people speculated, they could not connect him to Deer Mountain and those on Deer Mountain.

  "What, you have matters on your mind?"

  Looking at Ding Ning who had buried his head in the bowl, Xue Wangxu asked as he put down his chopsticks.

  Ding Ning paused slightly.

  Lifting his head up from the large bowl, he looked at Xue Wangxu, and asked softly, "If …… I say if, if you can continue to live, but have to maintain such aging without any change, would you choose to live?"

  Xue Wangxu stilled slightly.

  Then he tapped his chopsticks on the edge of the bowl and said, "Is not that a waste of words? A good death is naturally not as good as a wretched life."

  At this time, he still did not understand Ding Ning’s true meaning. After tapping the edge of the bowl, he moved his chopsticks to eat and said at the same time, "Life and death are fated. Do not worry too much about my health. If Min Mountain Sword Trials reaches expectations …… that should be enough."

  Translator Ramblings: Ding Ning gets along very well with his neighbours.