Chapter Fifty-One: Intentions
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
Under the noon sun, inside an alley in Changling, a door was slowly opening outside.
This door was very large and heavy, giving people the feeling it was like a mountain. It was more than half as big as the gates of other courtyards. The reason for this was that this was the gate for a marquessate establishment in Changling, and also because the master of the place was very large.
The figure of Hengshan Marquis Xu appeared behind the opening door. His body was like a moving mountain, and when he walked, each piece of meat seemed to be shaking.
But no one would find this funny. One was because his identity naturally gave him a dignified presence. Second, many cultivators knew that the “fat” of Marquis Xu was actually related to his cultivation method.
The amount of vital energy and primal energies of the universe stored in a cultivator’s body came from how much their energy sea and meridian points could hold. Any cultivation method had the effect of nourishing the body, strengthening life, and changing the cultivator’s body. The greater the cultivation, the more vital energy and primal energy a cultivator could hold. The more vital energy and primal energy a cultivator can hold, the longer a cultivator could fight, and endure more expenditure, using more powerful moves.
The vital energy cultivation method of Marquis Xu was simple and brutal. Such a method was not like the Donghu monk who made his body even more concentrated and stronger. Instead, he made his body bigger.
When the meridians and blood vessels were larger, they could naturally hold more vital energy. So his body was large as it was related to his cultivation.
Compared to many years ago, his body was many times larger. As his cultivation grew, his body would keep on growing. More importantly, for some unknown reason, his body was suddenly much larger than usual as he came out of his home.
So this door that had been changed last year appeared a bit small to his figure right now. Maybe because he felt it was inconvenient to enter and exit, and other than this door, there were many other things that had to be changed, this person had some worry on his face.
In the alley here were the homes of the soldiers who had followed him and fought for many years. Among the thirteen marquises of the Qin Dynasty, the soldiers who followed him were blessed. Most had become high ranking officials of the Warden’s Office. Some were stationed in the nearby cities, and their families were in Changling.
So this door that had been changed last year appeared a bit small to his figure right now. With years of peaceful life, he had the patience to take care of some plants. So to Changling, this alley was full of flowers and trees. Many courtyards had plants that had been transplanted from nearby mountains, some brought plants from their homeland, and some others were hundreds of years old.
When Marquis Xu put a foot outside his door threshold, under the shade of an old tree in the alley, there was a woman waiting for him. No one had noticed when she had arrived, like when the marquis appeared, she appeared.
She was petite, and looked very unbalanced compared to Marquis Xu’s figure. But there was a similar presence from the two of them. Everyone in the alley knew the identity of this woman. Because she usually wore white robes, she always did not fit with the main black and grey colors of the city.
She was Ye Celeng, the bureau chief of the Astrology Bureau.
When Marquis Xu stepped out of the courtyard, sunlight came down on his head. His figure was very straight, but he was still an enormous ball. In the mountainous shadow, he saw many ants crawling about. He could not help but shake his head.
His figure was large, but compared to the enormous turrets, it was still too small. So he felt that in such a city, no matter if it was him or Ye Celeng, they were as small as ants.
“You suffered so many years in Changling, and now you will state your intentions?”
As he shook his head with feeling, he said to Ye Celeng who was blocking his way, “Your sword, after enduring for so many years, will finally be used?”
Before Ye Celeng responded, he looked up straight at her and said seriously with a strange expression, “It is not too early?”
Ye Celeng sneered. Her smile looked about the same as when she came back to Changling and saw Zhao Zhan. “You feel it is early. Then how long did you think I will wait?”
“At least until Ba Mountain Sword Field formally rises and rebels. Then, you would still hold a high position in Changling, and can work with them from the inside. Then you will be of the greatest effect.” Marquis Xu did not smile and said seriously, “At least, that is what the art of war says…… No strategy will have people seek death.”
“They are going to take down Min Mountain Sword Sect, they are overturning the world, and I will still not move?” Ye Celeng looked at him with disdain and said, “But I admire Zheng Xiu. Do nothing, or do something great. She forced everyone’s intentions out. This is not attacking the Chu but people’s hearts.”
“What are you saying? Min Mountain……” Marquis Xu was shocked, and his flesh seemed to jump.
Ye Celeng sneered in mockery and said, “Otherwise, why do you think you are coming out? For you to taste the food of the sword schools? Is it not for you to suppress those sword schools, and also deal with the Chen Country Lady Ji Qingqing?”
Marquis Xu frowned slightly. His expression turned slightly frosty, and he was silent.
“These years, everyone was guessing about my intentions, but I was curious about yours.”
Ye Celeng said in scorn, “I want to ask, back then, among all of us, you were the one who admired and respected the Ba Mountain Sword Field people the most, but how did you make Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu trust you so much? Also, other than you tolerating everyone, you did not do anything. If you like to fight for power like the other marquises, then it is fine. But I understand you very much. Back then, you were one who liked to eat and wait for death.”
Marquis Xu exhaled slowly, looked at her, and then at the sky. “I am unambitious, but respect and favor are different things. You know, back then, Yuanwu blocked an attack for me. Also, back then, if he did not lead an army for three days and nights without rest, our city would have been taken a long time ago, and my family would have died there.”
“Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu trusted me not because I have no goals, not because I have sympathy for the Ba Mountain Sword Field,” Marquis Xu slowly said, “but because they know I remember this favor, and will repay them.”
Ye Celeng stopped talking. Looking at the fat man, she knew that both were clear about their intentions and there was nothing to talk about.
“Time to decide life and death?” Marquis Xu looked at her and asked.
At this time, he had recovered his usual majestic presence, and gave off a fierce presence. In the past, his presence even suppressed Ye Celeng.
But today, it did not.
Ye Celeng calmly shook her head, and said with some pride, “No need. Back then, you slashed me. Today, I will return the blow, and just stop you from going out the door.”
Volume 5 51 - Dead Man Sword
As the black mist scattered clearing the view.
One Imperial Guard Army swordsman suddenly found a Wuzhi cultivator dressed in wolfskin robes at his side. He stabbed across almost instinctively. With a pop, when this sword pierced through the Wuzhi cultivator’s left side and came out his right abdomen, this Wuzhi cultivator suddenly tensed and screamed. This Imperial Guard Army swordsman suddenly realized that he had wounded an extremely powerful cultivator with one blow so easily.
A black hiltless sword fell to the ground with a whimper from the air.
The cultivators deep into the enemy formation had countless things that could kill them around them. When they were facing fatal threats, any sudden change could decide their life and death.
For the overall battle, the deaths of some people were only to achieve an important goal.
Just like this moment. This Wuzhi cultivator was pierced through the stomach with one blow. His intestines would undoubtedly spill out. Yet in the last moments of his death, he did not mount a fatal attack towards the ordinary swordsman who had killed him, instead pouring his last power into the falling hiltless black sword.
The black sword almost seemed to be revived, furiously flying up and knocking away a crimson flying sword. This red flying sword fell towards the back of a falling Wuzhi cultivator.
Time seemed to have almost stopped at this moment. The black mist dissipated, and the last lights of dusk had disappeared. But under the illumination of the lights given off by numerous swords on the battlefield, a bright rainbow appeared in the mist.
The Wuzhi cultivator seemed to fly by stepping on the rainbow and falling towards Ding Ning on the rock.
Unlike ordinary Wuzhi cultivators, this one wore a grey cotton robe and looked much lighter. His hair was a natural grey and untied. As he looked up aloofly at Ding Ning above, he inwardly thought-
A person who can possess such a palpitating presence is not pretending to be the commander of the army. So many people died to get near you, so you should die.
**
“Water Cloud Gauze!”
Ding Ning looked at the Wuzhi cultivator descending from the formation and smiled self-deprecatingly as he spoke to Nangong Caishu.
Nangong Caishu was confused but did not hesitate. Her longsword drew out numerous glowing lines against the incoming cold wind.
Layers of watery mist appeared in the sky. The water mist was like a gauze, reflecting the light of the battlefield and formed rainbows. This Wuzhi cultivator danced through the air, and his body was level with the rock Ding Ning was standing on.
Motionlessly, hands behind his back, Ding Ning calmly eyed the Wuzhi cultivator through the air.
This Wuzhi cultivator looked at Ding Ning. His vital energy wildly came through his skin. An arc-shaped grey light appeared in front of him like a crescent moon and continued to expand.
Guo Feng, behind Ding Ning, sensed the power within. He could not understand why Ding Ning would have Nangong Caishu use such an attack, and Ding Ning did not act himself to stop this. If no one stopped this, Ding Ning and Nangong Caishu would be killed in the next moment. So he had to act.
A black sword three feet broadsword flew from his waist. With a boom, it headed towards the descending Wuzhi cultivator with a direct path that Changling cultivators liked the most.
The incoming Wuzhi cultivator looked coldly at the black broadsword. The grey arc in front of him suddenly bloomed.
Another explosion rang through the air.
With this Wuzhi cultivator as the center, the exploding energy formed a round sphere to protect him. In front of him, a visible wave exploded forward.
Guo Feng grunted and he was thrown backwards with the black broadsword. Ding Ning and Nangong Caishu’s bodies were blown by the strong winds until they swayed.
This Wuzhi cultivator did not retreat. His feet landed firmly on the ground, the tips of his feet on the stone.
“Yes?”
Having thrown back the Imperial Guard Army’s commander with one blow, this Wuzhi cultivator appeared extremely powerful in everyone’s eyes. Yet when his feet landed on the ground, the cultivator made a slight sound of surprise. He felt that his attack just now was enough to kill Guo Feng, not just throwing him back and injuring him.
“Water Cloud Gauze.” Ding Ning repeated.
Nangong Caishu attacked.
This Wuzhi cultivator coldly raised his head slightly. When he saw the patches of watery cloud out of the corner of his eyes, he understood why his attack had been weakened so much. He wanted to ask that strangely calm youth with his hands behind his back how he knew this sword essence would influence the primal energies of the universe he had gathered so greatly. But now he had something more important to do …… he must kill this strange youth immediately.
Taking a deep breath, right hand hanging from his side, he trembled violently. His fingers quickly tapped through the air, and dotted the vital energy flowing out from his fingertips. The primal energies of the universe in the air gathered rapidly, colliding and creating powerful but odd power. Dozens of grey vortexes appeared in front of him like numerous spinning grey spears.
Ding Ning was still standing with his hands behind his back. The Last Flower remnant sword strangely and silently flew out from a patch of cloud behind the Wuzhi cultivator, and maliciously and gently fell towards the neck of the Wuzhi cultivator.
This Wuzhi cultivator showed slight disdain with a curve of his lips. He did not turn, his right fingers quickly tapped more quickly.
With a hiss, one of the vortexes in front of him flew backwards, and accurately hit the Last Flower remnant sword. In the Wuzhi cultivator’s imagination, this attack was enough to make Ding Ning lose control of his flying sword. His powerful strength would also seriously injure Ding Ning.
Unexpectedly, his attack seemed to have missed. The Last Flower remnant sword was sent flying by his grey vortex as though it had no power, and turned into a dim meteor. In his sight, Ding Ning did not change at all and he was not affected. But there seemed to be minute air currents drifting to the sides in the surrounding wind. The only possibility was that Ding Ning abandoned his sword just now, cutting off his connection to this flying sword.
Abandonment of his sword meant that this sword was only a lure to attract his attention. Then where was the killing move?
He sensed the cold murderousness behind him, the source was a crimson flying sword……
From the intelligence passed out of Guyu Pass, he knew that the master of this flying sword was one of the masters of a merchant caravan who had come here from behind Yin Mountain. This master came from the Liang Mountain Sword School and was one of the strongest cultivators of Guyu Pass at the moment. This cultivator, and the other hundred cultivators who were stopping them from their charge had originally been inside Guyu Pass.
**
Many thoughts flashed through his mind in this moment, but he had no time to think. He only knew that while this flying sword was strong and fast, it could not stop him from killing the youth.
Then, was the youth daring enough to use his life as bait?
He could not understand. The fingers on his right hand did not stop moving. Numerous grey vortexes formed and charged out. without paying attention to his feet, he stepped on hard mountain earth. There were no vital energy vibrations, however, he failed to sense the fine cracks in the hard mountain earth. These cracks could only allow one sword to pass through.
At this time, an extremely steady sword which did not create any friction within the crack stabbed out from below. As this sword stabbed through the sole of his shoes and into his flesh, there were no vital energy vibrations. There was no heat or life signs in the rock below that he could sense either. This sword was like one that a dead man had stabbed.
The moment the blade pierced his flesh and the pain passed into his mind, as he realized what was happening, sharp and cold sword essence and killing intent erupted along with vital energy. With a puff, the blade moved up. This powerful Wuzhi cultivator only heard strange sounds coming from inside his body.
He instinctively wanted to shout, and kill the cultivator who had hid in the rock below and assassinated him. Yet he immediately lost consciousness.
He instantly died!
This attack crisply pierced through multiple vital blood vessels and caused instant death.
This was the Dead Man Sword of Shao Sharen of Min Mountain Sword Sect.
The sharp blade erupted out of the body of the Wuzhi cultivator, appearing slightly green and emotional. This Wuzhi cultivator fell forward. The numerous grey sword lights turning into loose energy dozens of feet away from Ding Ning and causing his clothes to flat.
Bang!
This Wuzhi cultivator fell in front of Ding Ning.
The fiercely fighting armies below paused. Time seemed to have stopped.
Volume 3 51 - Pill Feeding
When that sword light brighter than lightning appeared, the emperor of Chu’s face turned a peculiar red. This peculiar flush brightened his old age marks, they now seemed just like blooming plum blossoms.
After the Yan was the first to attack and Li Caitian was killed, he had discerned there was a great conspiracy in the background. Even so, he had not expected the situation to be so great that even the top grandmaster of the Qi Dynasty, Yan Ying, would sacrifice himself to pave the way.
The emperor of Qi’s eyes were also suffused with genuine shock.
All this time, he had heeded Yan Ying’s words, silently watching the spectacle. He had not expected such a big spectacle at the end. He could clearly sense that it was a peach tree that had created this sword light brighter than lightning.
There had been an old peach tree in the Ba Mountain that had not perished even after being repeatedly struck by lightning. In the end, the core of the peach tree had naturally formed seal-like patterns that were suitable for absorbing the presence of lightning. The wood had been turned into a peachwood sword by the swordsmen of the Ba Mountain Sword Field.
Ding Ning looked at the three waves of murderous intent rising from the surrounding mountain peaks, his pupils contracted.
The master of this peachwood tree was Ye Xinhe of the Ba Mountain Sword Field, while the one flying through the air and attracting millions of rain droplets like an immortal of rain was naturally Song Chaosheng.The third one was naturally the mad grandmaster Guo Dongjiang from Blue Jade Island, who gave off the strong oceanic smell and had a hint of madness within his murderousness.
These three people were not unfamiliar to him.
The Ba Mountain Sword Field had hoarded swords for thousands of years. A few decades ago, it had produced many talents, the best of that time. The dynasties at the time had all gasped at the astounding fortune the Ba Mountain Sword Field possessed.
Ye Xinhe had been able to possess the Peach Divine Sword, one of the Ba Mountain Sword Field’s greatest weapons, at its peak. He had been one of the top.
In the past wars against the Han, Zhao, and Wei dynasties, he had played the role of the assassin that penetrated into foreign territories. When the armies were waging battles, he would be in cities of enemy dynasties looking for opportunities to assassinate important people or cultivators.
Just like how great rebels like Zhao Yi and Bai Shanshui disliked going into Changling, many cities were like an urn to cultivators. It was easy to enter, and hard to leave. Going deep into the enemy dynasty was much more dangerous than fighting in the battlefield.
Ye Xinhe had moved through the various dynasties. His ability to hide and evade pursuit was something no other grandmaster could rival. It was rumored that he had died in the battle after Ba Mountain Sword Field was destroyed. In the last few decades, there had been no trace of him. Ding Ning had thought he had died, and didn’t expect him to appear here.
Gazing at the sword light, it appeared that the other’s Nine Heaven Lightning Sword had reached its peak. Disregarding cultivation, even the famed people of Ba Mountain Sword Field in the past might not be able to show such perfection.
The Wei Dynasty’s Song Chaosheng, who hailed from the prestigious Song Family,had been one of its strongest grandmasters during its time. He had been one of the leaders of the opposition to the emperor of Wei’s plan to build a spirit canal and the monopoly of the Cloud Water Palace. But just like how the old prestigious families of the Qin Dynasty had been destroyed in the reformation, the prestigious Song Family had been wiped out by the emperor of Wei and Cloud Water Palace.
In the end, the Wei Dynasty’s capital was conquered by the Qin army. When the Wei Dynasty was destroyed, someone had seen him sing sorrowfully and cry a thousand tears. Each drop of his tears had turned into a tide, causing that unfinished Wei spirit canal to rise three feet. Then he had disappeared and never reappeared.
As for Guo Dongjiang, people rarely knew that this mad overseas cultivator had been a friend of the master of the Last Flower sword Ding Ning carried.
The Qin Dynasty’s ocean routes had not been pioneered just by the metal ships, but by the swords of many.
During the Qin Dynasty’s reformation, amidst the sea of changes, many became foes with the swordsmen of the Ba Mountain Sword Field, yet others had turned friends after fighting one another.
Ding Ning should feel joy that these three people were assassinating Emperor Yuanwu right now.
If he had followed Forefather Zhou here, perhaps, he would have felt joy. But here he was, with Pan Ruoye and Mo Shoucheng. Everything he had seen thus far was a caveat, that today’s eventualities were well within Emperor Yuanwu’s scope of expectations.
So what he wanted to do the most right now was shout, make this trinity of grandmasters change their minds.
But even if he shouted, and the trio heard, would they listen to him?
If these three knew his true identity, who among the three would listen, and who would not?
After Emperor Chen of Han and Yan Ying’s battle against Emperor Yuanwu, he respected them, he had learned all of Emperor Yuanwu’s secrets, raising his respect, and even gaining his gratitude. But those two grandmasters did not have a direct connection to him, like the people attacking now.
So the coldness he felt inside grew stronger.
Even if he was repeatedly telling himself to be calm, and he could only see more clearly if he was calm, his hands uncontrollably trembled.
“Long Wind!”
“Fire!”
Shrill military orders sounded upon Deer Mountain.
The emperors of Chu, Yan, and Qi had easily accepted Emperor Yuanwu’s conditions in order so they could move to the side and express their stance- that they had nothing to do with what was happening now, so no one could say that the cultivators of the three dynasties had used the agreement to lure Emperor Yuanwu here.
Under such an unspoken agreement, the armies of the three dynasties naturally could not move, and were even more silent than usual. But the elite and experienced army of the Qin Dynasty naturally would not allow the assassins to kill their beloved Holy One.
Some unique military orders were to tell cultivators to activate their seal weapons. When the millions of raindrops gathered towards Song Chaosheng on top of Deer Mountain, a terrifying energy tide exploded from the side of Deer Mountain.
Pillars of wind rose, flashing with blue light. Those were blue arrows.
With the wind sending them off, the blue arrows created long blue streaks. They seemed to break free of gravity and increased in speed until the tips of the arrows started to burn.
The wind wrapped around the multiple flames. The entire sky seemed to be burning.
The power of an army, especially one that was in formation, was not something that a single cultivator could fight against.
This was like how an enormous elephant could be killed by ants.
In the bloody storm three years before Emperor Yuanwu’s ascension, many of Ba Mountain Sword Field’s strongest had been worn to death by armies or by large numbers of cultivators who had much lower cultivation.
Looking at the burning sky, many Yan, Chu, and Qi cultivators had gazes filled with helplessness and grief.
They understood very well that the Qin Dynasty was this powerful now because of the past reformation. The might of the nation was too great. Many students joined cultivation places each year which eventually strengthened the armies.
But the flying Song Chaosheng seemed to not care about the burning sky. His body did not even make any special movements. Or rather, he had predicted such an occurrence.
The millions of raindrops attracted to him started to fall. Each droplet of rain was very weak and powerless as it fell. However, when each drop fell at the same time, the friction with the primal energies of the universe caused the vibrations to resonate at the same frequency.
In nature, it was not possible for two exactly same raindrops to occur. Yet, here in the sky, the raindrops were all identical.
These raindrops formed a terrifying tide.
With a loud boom, the arrow fires were extinguished.
All of the raindrops turned into powdery mist, but that terrifying tide’s power still fell from the sky into the Qin army’s camp.
An even deeper explosion sounded halfway up Deer Mountain.
Then came the sound of metal hitting the ground and flesh flying.
Many bodies, mutilated bodies and military armaments, jumped off the ground and flew outwards.
This ferocious attack was only to open the path for the sword light that was stronger than lightning.
Song Chaosheng had only flown halfway and was situated between two mountains when the Peach Divine Sword of Ba Mountain Sword Field reached the peak of Deer Mountain.
Emperor Yuanwu was almost out of vital energy, but facing such a blow, he shook his head proudly at Marquis Xu next to him.
Then, he held out his hands towards Huang Zhenwei.
Huang Zhenwei moved to stand beside him.
As Emperor Yuanwu reached out his hand, Huang Zhenwei suddenly became extremely weak. He reached out his hand to Emperor Yuanwu as well.
A pure white lotus first appeared in his hand. Then, all of his vital energy, and even his physical energies, flooded out of his palm and into this pure white lotus.
Immediately, countless layers of yellow scripts appeared on the surface of this pure white lotus which transformed into a yellow pill.
The presence this bright yellow pill gave off was very similar to the presence that Emperor Yuanwu emanated.
This yellow pill landed in Emperor Yuanwu’s hand.
Then Emperor Yuanwu gave an even prouder smile, swallowed this pill, and swung his sword again.
Translator Ramblings: Remember that Mo Shoucheng is teacher to both Yuan Wu and Huang Zhengwei so they are sect brothers.
Volume 2 51 - The Opportunity Today
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
The first glimmer of early dawn saw a hawksbill suddenly pull its wings in and drop down like a rock from the sky. Once at a certain height, it suddenly spread its wings again, and glided at astounding speed. It seemed to brush against yellow roofs as it flew deep into the Changling imperial palace.
There were naturally not many hawksbills that would fly in such a terrifying manner. The Qin imperial palace was a place difficult for birds to enter. The cultivators guarding the imperial palace would not allow the avians to do as they pleased above the palace.
Yet, the feathers of this hawksbill were vermillion red, a color that would not occur naturally.
Every cultivator of the Qin imperial palace knew that this hawksbill came from the emperor’s personal attendant.
In the Grand Secretariat, four old members of the secretariat waited with excitement and anxiousness.
Three days ago, the Deer Mountain Conference came to a close. These three days, news concerning the event had constantly streamed into the imperial palace. Adding on that Mo Shoucheng and Pan Ruoye had returned, the elders of the Secretariat, a position just below the two ministers, knew of the Qin Dynasty’s glorious victory at the Deer Mountain Conference.
But the news had yet to reach most of Changling. They were still waiting for news of the Deer Mountain Conference.
However, the ’when to announce the news’ and ’how to announce the news’ were awaiting decision from the Holy One.
What would Changling be like once the news promulgated?
They had learned that Minister Li had followed the Holy One to Deer Mountain. The empress and Minister Yan had gone to Yangshan Commandery. At this time, they should be on their way back. From a certain perspective, Changling was an empty city at this time.
Word of the outcome had finally reached these few who had been waiting excitedly and anxiously. Not long after the hawksbill flew into the imperial palace, an official of the rites came in with a bright yellow brocade cloth.
The four elder secretariats started to write furiously. Orders constantly left the imperial palace.
Loud calls echoed through the deep palace.
Waves of joyful surprise and cheers sounded. Changling started to boil over.
As the astounding news was proclaimed, the weight pressing down on Changling was completely swept away.
The hoe of a farmer hit his foot, the knife of a chef cut his finger, the laborer on the board fell into the river between two ships …… almost being in Changling was in chaos. Almost everybody put down what they were doing, and started to flood the streets, cheering ’Long Live the Emperor."
The powerful Qin army had taken back Yangshan Commandery. Not just Yangshan Commandery, even the Wu and Deer mountains that were between the Qin and the Chu now belonged to the Qin. This was truly a cheer that the entire country turned out for.
Even the addicted gamblers of Changling’s underground casinos left the dim secret casinos. As they saw the light of day, their eyes tearing up from the pain, they heard the news. Excited, their minds grew slightly clearer. When they thought of what they had lost recently in the casinos and what they had done, these gamblers started to cry.
For once, these underground gambling dens were remarkably deserted and peaceful.
In a certain quiet room, deep in one of the secret casinos, Zhao Si, still dressed like a man, listened to the cheers. Hearing the cries of the gamblers on the streets outside, she could not help but think of her master. The person who had created the Zhao Sword Furnace with his own power, and stopped the Qin from entering the city just by himself.
At this time, she felt exceedingly helpless.
Even during the new year, there were never loud sounds such as this cheer. Perhaps, such a thing had never occurred in the history of Qin.
The resonating cheers shook the dust off the eaves. They passed into many quiet places, even the streets and the water of the Wei River trembled slightly.
Inside a cell of the well-guarded Great Floating Water Prison, some black chains were locked around a person who did not look like a person. The water, up to his chest, was black but emitted a strange silver light. The black chains grew haphazardly like seagrass, passing through the water around his body, but never making contact at any point.
Yet these black chains were powerful seal scripts, securely locking down this space. The great power could even change the substance of the water here.
The water was so cold it pierced the bones. His hair was twisted together like rags that had not been washed for years. It was so long it covered half of his body and stretched into the water. His skin, that was occasionally exposed out of the water, was covered in all kinds of rashes. It was not possible to see any flesh and blood, as though there was only bone underneath the skin.
This kind of appearance was not like a human. But he made people feel he was human because his presence was human.
Some people, regardless of how they changed in looks, even if their features were blurry, their presence was enough to make people feel he was more human than most humans.
"I do not understand. What are you waiting for?"
Shen Xuan was standing on one of the stepping stones beside the water. He looked down at the stones by his feet, and slowly said, "Waiting for today for such a result. Are you satisfied?"
No news could enter this cell. Shen Xuan had not mentioned any news concerning Deer Mountain Conference to this person, but he knew, just based on some sounds and vibrations, this person would know what had happened. Because this person was publicly accepted as the top strategist of the world, the smartest person in the world.
He was Lin Zhujiu.
"Come closer. I will tell you if I am satisfied today."
A teasing voice sounded from the water and entered Shen Xuan’s ears.
Shen Xuan’s brows rose slightly. He looked up slightly at the person in the water, but did not step forward on the stepping stone.
"You do not even dare to take a step forward. You worry about falling for a scheme of mine, but still want to use this opportunity to disturb my mind." Lin Zhujiu, who did not appear like a person but a weed growing in the water yet felt like a person, laughed. "Do you not find this amusing?"
Shen Xuan thought for a moment and said, "It is amusing, but I am on the stone, and you are in the water."
Lin Zhujiu smiled and said, "That was then, this is now. Maybe one day, you will be in the water, and I will be looking at you from above."
Shen Xuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Is that possible?"
Lin Zhujiu nodded seriously and said, "It should be very soon."
Shen Xuan’s pupils contracted slightly and he did not make any noise.
"I’ve only heard prisoners being frightened by their guards, and never the other way round." Lin Zhujiu laughed again. "But today, I am in a good mood, and can tell you some things."
Shen Xuan looked with an ugly expression at Lin Zhujiu. He had been in Great Floating Water Prison for so many years and understood Lin Zhujiu well. Of course, he would not think that Lin Zhujiu would tell him anything useful.
Yet, Lin Zhujiu spoke, "Li Lingjun’s establishment is finished."
Shen Xuan’s breathing suddenly stopped. His eyes immediately shone with unusual light.
"If you send an army to protect Li Lingjun’s establishment, it may be in time. Otherwise, Li Lingjun’s establishment will completely disappear from Changling today." Lin Zhujiu continued slowly. "No matter what kind of victory Yuanwu obtained at Deer Mountain, the establishment of a Chu hostage cannot be destroyed at a word. They just made the agreement. One has to give the three dynasties face."
Shen Xuan’s eyes narrowed into a line. He said coldly, "Who would destroy Li Lingjun’s establishment at this time?"
Lin Zhujiu moved slightly, glancing at Shen Xuan and said, "Yangshan Commandery, for most people of Changling, is not just a humiliation, but also great hatred. You should not have forgotten that most of the Qin soldiers that died in that battle came from Changling and Guanzhong."
"What victory brings is venting."
Lin Zhujiu laughed after a brief pause continued. "When one feels they are not as strong as their opponent, their venting will be restrained. But when they feel their opponent is defeated, this kind of venting will be out of control."
Shen Xuan thought carefully about the words, and felt his back turn cold. But he still shook his head. "This has nothing to do with my duties."
"How come?"
Lin Zhujiu’s voice was filled with amusement. "From the start, I diverted your thoughts …… you were led by me. You heard me say that Li Lingjun’s establishment will be destroyed, yet you do not think as such. I have been imprisoned here before Li Lingjun’s establishment was created. I may not even know of the Chu hostage. How could I know of Li Lingjun’s establishment?"
Shen Xuan’s body suddenly shook, his face paling abruptly.
In these years, no one had been able to meet Lin Zhujiu except for a rare few. He had been almost present at all those meetings with those few people. They could not have mentioned Li Lingjun.
"I can read minds."
There was a splash. Lin Zhujiu raised his head, his tangled hair creating waves. "I am able to read what people hide through their eyes. It is the same with you. So this is the secret to why I was able to always win and predict the enemy in the past."
Shen Xuan sank into great astonishment. But many seconds later, he became furious.
"How can there be a mind-reading art in the world!"
"You want to attack my heart!"
"You think that I will be affected by your words!"
His furious voice echoed through the water prison.
Lin Zhujiu looked at him with a small smile and said, "Of course, mind reading does not exist, but you think you will have a good end? You really think that everything is within Yuanwu’s grasp as he thinks?"
Just like usual, Shen Xuan’s heart filled with inexplicable terror.
Lin Zhujiu’s words were slightly absurd, but his following words pierced one’s heart like a needle of ice. Even more importantly, in the past years, many of the things Lin Zhujiu said all became reality.
Shen Xuan, just like usual, did not say a word as he decisively left the cell.
Translator Ramblings: Zhujiu means "to boil wine."
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