Chapter Fifty-Five: Proud
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
When Baili Suxue looked away from Changling, his body gave off a thread of lifebond energy.
This lifebond energy was very condensed. It was fundamentally different from the vital energy flowing into the ice path below his feet. It had a special presence, like a part of his life and cultivation was gathered into his lifebond energy.
This condensed lifebond energy flowed along the ice path, from the pure colorlessness at the start and turning into an indigo flow like it was infected by the colors in the path. It then seemed to draw out some of the power in the path’s formation, and then flowed like water into an ice room below the ice path.
The door to this ice room was covered in spider web cracks. In the next instant, this ice door cracked into sharp pieces that sprayed out.
Inside the ice room was Xie Rou cultivating in seclusion. She had originally been wrapped up by glowing ice like she was asleep, but at this time, she opened her eyes.
Shadow and light flashed in her energy sea. In her senses, it was like she suddenly reached the sea, and saw a giant mirage. But she could not see clearly. In the next moment, she seemed to see a sword shadow, but she could not touch it.
She was very shocked. She could not understand the profound changes in this, but she was certain that something stunning had happened.
“Do you know why among all these students, in the end, I only chose you and Jing Liuli as my own?”
Baili Suxue stood at the end of the ice path and looked at her, like he was standing in the clouds, among the winds, his figure enormous.
“I do not know,” Xie Rou said nervously. The answer that first appeared in her mind was because she was the eldest daughter of the Guanzhong Xie Family, and the Xie Family was richer than a country. But her subconscious told her that this was not the right answer.
“Jing Liuli undoubtedly possesses the best talent among the youngest cultivators of Changling, but from a certain viewpoint, your personality is more like mine.” Baili Suxue looked at Xie Rou who did not dare to stand up and said simply. “So she can receive Min Mountain Sword Sect’s inheritance, but you can receive mine.”
Xie Rou was very frightened, and instinctively said, “Do you not represent Min Mountain Sword Sect?”
Baili Suxue said matter-of-factly, “Of course I can represent the Min Mountain Sword Sect, but Min Mountain Sword Sect cannot represent me.”
Xie Rou looked at his cold and proud face under the light, and finally understood his meaning.
People like him possessed some special things long ago to have been able to become the master of Min Mountain Sword Sect. Some things that Min Mountain Sword Sect could not teach him. For a sect, this was a true grandmaster.
“I have taught you all I should.”
Baili Suxue glanced at her and then turned around, not looking at her. “But before you truly understand, do not let other people learn your identity.”
Xie Rou was stunned. She did not understand these words.
What about her identity?
Baili Suxue’s lips curved up proudly. He did not explain because he knew that after today, she would naturally understand.
“Go out the gates, someone will take you away.” He brushed his sleeve, and an indigo light flashed.
Indigo light appeared in front of Xie Rou’s eyes. In the next moment, the scenery in front of her had completely changed. She was no longer on the mountain peak, but in a valley without Baili Suxue in sight.
There was a sea of brambles here, one of the obstacles from the Min Mountain Sword Trials.
**
The ice room where she had been cultivating disappeared in that indigo light, the ice turned to powder and was blown away by the wind, without a trace in the world.
Baili Suxue stood at the end of the ice path with his hands behind his back, the empty space in front of him.
The cliff returned to quiet once again. After a long time, there was some commotion coming from different parts of Min Mountain Sword Sect, and then quickly, quiet was restored.
Suddenly, on the indigo jade path to the peak, a bright ball of red appeared near the middle. It was like in a cramped world, many blooming bright flowers were suddenly shoved in.
Baili Suxue seemed to not sense it at all, and just stood there silently.
After a long time, there were clear footsteps coming from below the ice path, and then the white ice and snow slowly turned red.
A general dressed in bright red armor and carrying many swords on his back squeezed into this unmoving world and appeared on this mountain peak.
This was a very handsome middle-aged man, thin, and his face was slightly pale. Numerous swords of different colors were on his back like the spread tail of a peacock, grander than any cape.
“I did not think coming up here would be so easy.”
“Baili Suxue, you are too proud.”
This middle-aged man looked at Baili Suxue’s bright and blurry figure into the light. His words were very simple, but to people like him and Baili Suxue, they contained many strong emotions and intentions.
Baili Suxue still did not look back at him and said coolly, “Then do you dare to attack me?”
This middle-aged man suddenly stopped breathing, an unnatural redness appearing on his pale face. In the next moment, his breathing grew heavy.
He had purposefully provoked Baili Suxue, but he received the other’s direct dismissal. Of course, he was furious. But he could not act.
Baili Suxue was just standing there motionlessly with his hands behind his back, but he could not catch the other’s presence. The other seemed to have merged into one with this mountain and this world. He could exist everywhere. Even though he could use many swords instantly, he could not lock on onto the other’s presence, and his sword could not truly make contact with Baili Suxue.
Everyone knew that Baili Suxue was very proud. But just by standing there, he could make a Qin marquis furious but unable to attack. This was enough for him to be proud.
Furious but the inability to act led to helplessness and discouragement. The bright light on the middle-aged man’s armor and swords faded, like a blooming flower withering.
His pale face grew dark. He understood why the mistress of the imperial palace did not want him to come here from the start, and wanted him and Marquis Li to stay below the mountain together.
Not letting him onto the mountain was not just because she did not want him to get more of the benefits, but because she was certain from the start he was too far from Baili Suxue, and could not force him to fight.
At this time, the mountain wind at the peak seemed to be suddenly drawn away, and the sounds of the wind abruptly disappeared.
Even the flowing clouds above his head seemed to have been cut off. An unusual light fell, landing on him, and illuminating his gray face.
Volume 5 55 - Blood Robe
Above realm seven meant a grandmaster. The reason that Changling was the center of changes in the world was because it had the most cultivation places. Yet there were differences among realm seven. While Changling had many realm sevens, there were not many that could rival great rebels such as Zhao Sword Furnace’s Zhao Si and Bai Shanshui of Cloud Water Palace.
As for Ye Celeng, who had been summoned back to kill Zhao Zhan for the stability of Deer Mountain Conference, she had to prepare in advance to kill these great rebels. In the setups that Zheng Xiu made in the past, Shen Xuan had been one of those who could match the great rebels.
This rider knew the Qin Dynasty would not let this youth who won the Min Mountain Sword Trials die so easily. Yet he did not know that Ding Ning had the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art that Zheng Xiu desired. So, he could not have expected her to send someone like Shen Xuan.
He wanted to try killing this youth. And now the youth had used a tactic of coming to his own death to defeat this situation and make him fall into a mortal situation.
This rider could sense hot blood flowing from his neck, a bitterness emerged at the corners of his mouth.
Dozens of cavalry flew into the sky, their bodies torn to pieces, yet the other Wuzhi riders behind them shouted fearlessly in more anger. The largest Wuzhi commander’s entire body expanded violently as he shouted wildly. His power poured into the long blade he held with both hands. He slashed forward, and forcibly split the incoming grey energy. Multiple Wuzhi cultivators followed behind him and charged into the bisected grey ball of energy.
But in this moment, this largest Wuzhi cultivator and the cultivators behind him became uncontrollably stiff and cold. Their pupils contracted.
In front of the tip of his blade, there stood a one-armed man in a grey robe. The tip of the blade he wielded was falling down, almost against the nose of the one-armed man.
This one-armed man stretched out his arm and patted the long blade. The movement was very gentle and slow. Yet he could not dodge. He seemed to feel an unimaginably large and heavy ocean of blood fall onto his blade.
The thick blade cracked yet the Wuzhi cultivator did not sense his blade cracking because at the same moment, his body started to split apart.
The pieces of the blade and flesh blew onto the cultivators behind with the wind. These numerous cultivators were frozen still in this strong wind like strange stones.
Then, Shen Xuan walked through among them.
When his figure appeared in the sight of the rider, the frozen Wuzhi cultivators gave off muffled explosions that sounded like they were crushed by something heavy and enormous. Their bodies shortened, and collapsed onto the ground.
The wildly charging cavalry suddenly stopped. This was one of the most elite Wuzhi cavalry, yet at this time, there was the sound of multiple horses crashing with each other.
Only now, when they saw this one-armed man coming out of the sea of blood did these strong Wuzhi cultivators finally have terror in their eyes. They finally realized the terrifying aspect of the Qin Dynasty.
One powerful cultivator could match an army, and even massacre a city. This was no legend. In these years, even Lin Zhujiu and Ding Ning had never underestimated Shen Xuan.
That rider, so different from these Wuzhi soldiers, stopped completely. Two items slid from the depths of his left and right sleeve into his palms. Then his vital energy surged through the item in his left palm first.
His fingers were shocked away from the item, and his fingernails bled. An impact wave visible to the naked eye charged out of his palm and spread out.
When the impact spread to his body, he grunted and was thrown backwards. He spat out blood, and his black face cloth was torn to pieces.
A world seemed to form. Even he, who released such power, could not contend with it.
Shen Xuan’s composed eyes finally showed a hint of shock. He looked up. In his perception, there were countless flying seal lines in the quickly expanding impact wave. They whipped towards the air in all directions towards the distance.
“Heaven Sealing Seal!” He immediately realized what this was in the next moment and said with true shock.
The nearest dozen Wuzhi soldiers to the rider and their horses flew in all directions. No one had time to see the true face of the rider before a glowing layer of light appeared in front of Shen Xuan.
Dozens of soldiers were right where the layer of light formed, and their bodies were cleaved in two. Blood from both sides splashed on this layer of light making it appear extraordinarily thin.
Underneath the shattered black cloth was the face of a young and delicate-looking man. His face was a standard seed shape, his chin was thinner than many women. While his face was covered in blood, he still appeared eerily beautiful.
He did not look at Shen Xuan behind the layer of light, but the youth who was dozens of feet away from him. He felt indescribable emotions.
In his view, Ding Ning could not have sensed the great power of that seal. The power was enough to obstruct Shen Xuan for a long time. Yet Ding Ning still had a calm expression and looked at him like he was just looking at a landscape.
He could understand Ding Ning’s intentions. But he could not understand how the other did not change expression when he went from “going to die” to truly “dying”.
But this did not mean his movements would slow. Without any hesitation, his vital energy surged into the item in his right hand just like how it previously activated the strongest seal of Celestial Seal Sect. The flesh of his right fingers quickly withered and fell to the ground as black sand. A blade mark started to appear in the air and on the ground in front of him and stretched towards Ding Ning.
As his fingers turned to sand, Ding Ning grunted. He could not withstand the vibration and density of the primal energies of the universe in front of him. He bled from his nose and mouth. But he did not move at all. He unconcernedly looked at Shen Xuan behind the layer of light.
He and Shen Xuan gazed at each other from a distance. Shen Xuan’s eyes were burning madly in anger.
Shen Xuan’s grey robe suddenly turned red, his robe soaked in blood.
The cultivator’s breathing suddenly stopped. He could not sense how Shen Xuan managed to expel the enormous vital energy and primal energies of the universe inside his body out. The process seemed to have been omitted. Right now, a spinning red cloud appeared around Shen Xuan.
The red clouds were like red silks folded together and sprayed outwards like a fountain. Blinding lights shone high in the sky. Those lines of light did not shoot outwards in straight directions, but wound and twisted like seal scripts.
A red pillar of light appeared in front of Ding Ning and faced that blade mark.
The sharp-chinned cultivator’s fingers were cut off from his hand, and a brown metal piece, that looked like a snapped blade edge, fell from his hand to the ground. The cultivator pressed his lips together tightly but the blood still rushed out of his mouth like hot porridge.
The layer of light in front of Shen Xuan gradually disappeared. All the Wuzhi cavalry unconsciously retreated in fright. Other than his blood-soaked grey robe, Shen Xuan did not appear to have changed.
But then Shen Xuan looked at Ding Ning and said harshly, “If I die, can you live?”
Volume 3 55 - Life and Death Is Fated
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.”
He had gone to Deer Mountain?
And returned by this time?
Had he flown, and flown faster than the carrier pigeons and hawks that carried messages?
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.
Were Qin people like him untolerated by the world?
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.
Volume 2 55 - Wax and Wane
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
"Accept his favor?"
Zhangsun Qianxue glanced at him and said coldly, "This is a very intangible thing that could be major or minor. "
"So he is having me choose."
Ding Ning looked at the jade pendant. A long moment of silence later, he said, "So he did not make any requests."
Zhangsun Qianxue suddenly felt this was amusing and said with mockery, "What can you do?"
"At least, I can grow stronger more quickly and have a higher chance of entering Min Mountain Sword Sect." He took a moment before adding. "Upon his death, his empire holds no meaning to him. Perhaps, he just wants us to treat his people better."
Zhangsun Qianxue said with ridicule, "If the Chu Dynasty is gone?"
Ding Ning looked at her and said, "We can be better to the people of the Chu lands."
Zhangsun Qianxue looked at him, her face full of disapproval. Yet, Ding Ning nodded and said, "Of course, such words, right now, have no meaning."
Zhangsun Qianxue asked coldly, "What can you get?"
Her words were so simple that others could not easily understand what she was actually asking. But Ding Ning responded, "Realm three first-class."
Zhangsun Qianxue was asking about Ding Ning’s cultivation at the start of the Min Mountain Sword Trials. Ding Ning had never been wrong about matters of cultivation. If he said he would reach realm three first-class before the Min Mountain Sword Trials, then Zhangsun Qianxue knew that his cultivation would definitely reach realm three first-class.
The highest ranking of the Book of Talents, Lie Yinghong, had realm four second-class cultivation. So, in Zhangsun Qianxue’s view, Ding Ning reaching realm three first-class was enough.
She glanced at Ding Ning but said nothing.
In the world of this peculiar pair, this denoted the end of the conversation.
Ding Ning did not speak either. He took off his shoes and sat down on his own bed.
He entered internal vision at an incomprehensible speed. Almost at the moment he closed his eyes, he seemed to be standing at the center of the energy sea, looking at the magical world where physical energy and vital energy flowed.
Threads of primal energies of the universe floated in from all around and fell onto his body.
Shock appeared in Ding Ning’s consciousness.
He instantly understood what kind of object the legendary Human Sovereign Jade Annulus really was.
Other than his energy sea world, the meridians, and the vast endless world outside, he also "saw" light radiating from the palm of his right hand.
Sparks of light flew. These sparks, usually invisible to the naked eye, emitted countless unseen pathways. These sparks looked small, but they seemed to be separated by vast distances.
These paths were producing primal energies of the universe out of nothing. Some of the lines he was familiar with, while others surpassed his understanding. Thus, this was not a seal weapon that a cultivator could create.
This was a completely independent world.
A piece of a star, a star nucleus, or the pith of a star …… in the world of cultivators, there were countless ways to define this item. Many of the precious stones and unique metals in the world came from fragments such as this.
Yet, of the countless pieces produced by fallen stars, only a rare few could merge with the energy of this world, much less naturally produce energy that was compatible with the world like this Human Sovereign Jade Annulus.
With just a few breaths, as he felt the primal energies that threaded into his body, Ding Ning confirmed this item was like the ones he had heard of. This was enough to speed up his cultivation by twenty to thirty percent. But to him, the meaning of this object was not limited to just this.
"What is this?"
Looking at his trembling eyelashes, Zhangsun Qianxue spoke up.
"An independent world."
Ding Ning slowly opened his eyes, looking at her as he said, "I can use this to comprehend the energy of stars which do not belong to this world."
This was unlike the conversation that ordinary cultivators would have. Zhangsun Qianxue could hear the meaning, but she looked at Ding Ning and said in a straightforward and brutish way, "Can you comprehend a method to defeat Zheng Xiu’s Starfire Sword?"
Ding Ning frowned slightly. "Perhaps."
"If possible," Zhangsun Qianxue considered and then said, "I will accept his favor."
Ding Ning laughed.
After being used to complexity and intrigue, this simplicity evoked warmth and joy.
"Someone is coming."
Yet, Zhangsun Qianxue turned frosty, speaking with distaste. "It is the cultivation method of Endless Palace. Should be someone of Zheng Xiu."
There was a woman who was dressed simply. But this could not wash away the nobleness of the palace. Even her hair seemed to be especially clean and shining. She walked into Falling Parasol and the nameless wine shop.
This woman did not hide her status as a palace attendant and walked in the same manner she did in the palace.
She looked around the unkempt wine shop, then at Ding Ning, who was calmly examining her and raised her eyebrows with slight displeasure. "It is really too shabby."
Ding Ning sensed this woman’s presence and was sure that this woman’s status was just under Pan Ruoye in Endless Palace.
He held his silence and waited for this palace attendant to continue.
"This has been bestowed upon you."
The palace attendant took a certificate out of her sleeve and put it on the table in front of Ding Ning. Then she indicated for Ding Ning to read immediately.
Ding Ning opened the certificate and his brow immediately furrowed.
The palace attendant looked coldly at him and said, "What?"
Ding Ning looked up at her and said, "This is a land deed."
"Anyone who is literate can see this is a land deed."
"But this is the deed to the Zhou Family Ink Garden."
When the palace attendant replied, her tone was laced with slight mockery. "The Ink Garden is the Ink Garden, but it does not belong to the Zhou Family now …… starting today, there is no Zhou Family in Changling."
Ding Ning lowered his head slightly, looking at the certificate he said, "This reward is too great."
The palace attendant’s expression darkened. "Since it was given to you, it means you deserve this reward."
Ding Ning nodded and put away the land deed.
With that the palace attendant’s expression eased slightly. She said, "Today, you will move to Ink Garden."
Ding Ning knew that this kind of decree did not leave any room for discussion. So he did not speak and calmly agreed.
"Do not mention anything about Wu Mountain, especially that you saved him."
This authoritative palace attendant left with satisfaction. But before she stepped out of the wine shop, she said coldly, "Starting today, he is the crown prince of the Qin Dynasty."
The moment the authoritative palace attendant disappeared from Ding Ning’s sight, Zhangsun Qianxue appeared from behind.
"She is pretty good to you. Such a great reward."
Zhangsun Qianxue looked icily at where the palace attendant had disappeared, her face shrouded in indescribable murderousness. "She gave the Zhou Family compound to you."
Ding Ning understood her dislike of Zheng Xiu. He shook his head, his eyes cold. "This is not a great gift."
Zhangsun Qianxue put away her murderousness, but was still very angry so she did not speak.
"Deer Mountain Conference has finished, the foreign matters are settled. When she is cleaning Changling of people she does not want to see, she will not be restrained." Ding Ning glanced at her and said, "The Zhou Family is finished. We took over Ink Garden …… the Zhou Family is wiped out because I followed Forefather Zhou to Wu Mountain. In the eyes of the old powers, I am on the empress’ side."
"Even if they do not dare to act against me in public, if there is a suitable opportunity, the old powers would not pass on stabbing me."
Ding Ning paused, and then said coldly, "So, this is not a great gift, just borrowing a knife to kill."
Hearing such words, Zhangsun Qianxue’s expression grew much better. "Why?"
Ding Ning said, "Mo Shoucheng is suspicious of me, so naturally, she is too."
"For people like her, if she is suspicious of someone, the best way is to make that person disappear from Changling." Zhangsun Qianxue understood and sneered. "So you saved her son. But if you want to attend the Min Mountain Sword Trials, she would not help you."
"Maybe some would feel that she is silently allowing me to win the Min Mountain Sword Trials, but you and I know that her intentions are to not let me win the Min Mountain Sword Trials," Ding Ning looked at her and said calmly and coldly.
He, Zhangsun Qianxue, and even Xue Wangxu and the others would move to the Zhou Gardens today. In the eyes of most people in Changling, this was a common youth suddenly being favored by fate through his own efforts and opportunities to obtain such astounding wealth. This was something that many would be inspired by and admire.
And yet, the truth of this story was not very pleasant.
Zhangsun Qianxue looked at his cold expression and asked, "Then what do you prepare to do?"
"Without preparations, I do not know what to do," Ding Ning said softly. "This concerns my life. So, I will do everything possible to displease her.
Translator Ramblings: Zheng Xiu repays the rescue of her son with a great gift in a Trojan Horse.
Volume 4 55 - Wedding Wine
Shen Xuan stood up and followed right behind Ding Ning.
“You say such things to me, do you not fear Gu Huai hearing it?” His eyes no longer flashed with any killing intent, just some intimidation and viciousness.
“With his present wounds, any realm seven that comes can kill him. Your life is not as important as the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art so you must protect me but his life is more important than the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art. At least, that’s his view. So he will go immediately far away to heal.” Ding Ning did not look back as he snorted. “Even if I die, even if the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art is buried with me, Zheng Xiu will not kill him, but you will not be as lucky.”
Amidst the sound of snapping grass, Shen Xuan slowly said, “How do you know she wants the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art?”
Ding Ning turned to glance at him. “Because I have comprehended the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art, I know what the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art means to her.”
Shen Xuan was silent for a moment then said, “Why do you have to kill Gu Huai?”
Ding Ning glanced at the night sky and said softly, “My teacher Cave Master Xue is no longer in Changling, my sect uncle Li Daoji is not in Changling, my eldest sect brother is not in Changling, Wang Taixu is not in Changling. Even most of my friends are not in Changling. Since Changling does not like me, why should I return to Changling?” He continued after a pause. “Wuzhi and Donghu are places she cannot penetrate deeply, and if I truly want to escape her sight, I must kill Gu Huai.”
Shen Xuan considered for a moment. “What benefit is there for me?”
Ding Ning stopped walking and turned to him. “Unless you also do not want to return to Changling, if you do not, then you must also want to kill Gu Huai to escape his sight. For someone like you, if you do not want to return to Changling, you would not have immediately asked me what benefits there are.”
“For someone like me?” Shen Xuan laughed coldly. “Even I do not know what kind of person I am.”
Ding Ning laughed along. “It is not important to know what kind of person you are, the key is that you are not reconciled. Why should you, a cultivator like the others, receive inferior treatment? If you are able to return to Changling, you will have endless possibilities.”
Shen Xuan’s smile disappeared completely. He looked at Ding Ning and said in a cold voice, “You are too smart.”
The scorn on Ding Ning’s face grew. “Do you not want to work with smart people?”
Shen Xuan did not grow angry and instead said, “How can we kill him?”
“From here to Donghu, I will look for a chance.” Ding Ning nodded and said nothing else, turning and returning to Guyu Pass.
This time, Shen Xuan did not follow. His figure simply disappeared into the night.
“Thank you.”
Ding Ning did not talk after learning of the situation from the celebrating Guyu Pass army and Imperial Guard Army after returning to the slope where the Imperial Guard Army set up camp. He walked straight into Zhangsun Qianxue’s carriage to thank her.
“No need to thank me.” Zhangsun Qianxue looked at him and said coldly, “I did not know it was Gu Huai. Had I known before, since he is able to work with Zheng Xiu, I would not be able to kill him, and would have no time after he was seriously injured.”
Ding Ning was used to her way of speaking. He nodded. “I will try to kill him, but you cannot act.”
Zhangsun Qianxue looked up, her bright lips trembling in the darkness. “You want to kill Shen Xuan as well, or do you want Shen Xuan to take the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art back to Zheng Xiu?”
Ding Ning’s expression was indescribable. He thought for a moment and said, “This is my decision after seeing Gu Huai’s last blow.”
His words were difficult for people to respond to but Zhangsun Qianxue could understand. He had given a positive answer. He really wanted Shen Xuan to take the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art back to Changling ……to Zheng Xiu’s hands!
“Why?” she asked.
“I found that she is stronger than we imagined …… strong enough to threaten Yuanwu.” Ding Ning met her gaze and said seriously. “If the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art is in her hands, if she becomes stronger than Yuanwu, what would it be like?”
Zhangsun Qianxue started to frown but did not speak.
“I do not think that Yuanwu will rest assured. I want to see what she will do.” Ding Ning looked at Zhangsun Qianxue and said, “I want to see what will happen between them in the end.”
“Just an adulterous couple.” Zhangsun Qianxue sneered and said, “But if she is unable to surpass Yuanwu in the end, maybe the two of them will be like now, still observe a certain limit in tacit agreement?”
“Even if she obtains the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art, I will be stronger than her.” Ding Ning whispered confidently. “If given enough time.”
Zhangsun Qianxue glanced at him and said nothing else. Ding Ning too fell silent, hanging his head deep in thought.
How, in a situation where Zhangsun Qianxue could not act, could he lure out Gu Huai again and kill him?
The three thousand elite cavalry retreated, and even the outstanding general hidden within had been killed. The soldiers of Guyu Pass and the Imperial Guard Army were temporarily safe. Yet, in the deep night, there were countless Qin people at the border of death in the steppes.
Li Xixing carried Hu Jingjing, crouching as he sprinted on the grass, his hands occasionally touching the ground like a true wolf.
“Put me down-”
Hu Jingjing had fainted countless times. While she was conscious now, her mind was growing muddled. She started to feel she was growing colder, so cold that Li Xixing could no longer warm her. She knew this was the start of her life slipping away so she wanted to get off Li Xixing.
Li Xixing did not speak. He alternated his hands, one hand constantly securing her on his back.
Hu Jingjing unconsciously started to struggle. “It’s useless.”
Li Xixing gave a soft cold laugh. “You think if I put you down and disregard your life, I can successfully escape?”
Hu Jingjing’s body froze slightly. But the vague sounds squeezed out of her throat expressed her stubbornness.
“You have been unconscious too many times, and do not know enough about surviving on the plains like this. Even more importantly, you are too weak, too injured, so you cannot sense many things.”
Li Xixing’s eyes narrowed into a line as he kept looking at the ground. His voice reached Hu Jingjing’s ears coldly but clearly. “That person has constantly been behind us, and I cannot break free. If he wants to catch up, he would have done so before. He is just deliberately herding us towards a certain place.”
Hu Jingjing made several more indistinct sounds from her throat. But Li Xixing understood her and said, “I do not know what he wants to do.”
“Why …… why are you still-” Hu Jingjing finally managed to make some clear words.
“I pretend to be ignorant …… because I want to wear him down.” Li Xixing panted and struggled to speak. “Cultivators stronger than me will grow tired and run out of energy.”
“Then -” Hu Jingjing’s body inexplicably froze. Even though her consciousness was not clear now, she felt something like endurance was in conflict with him carrying her.
“Loneliness, despair, helplessness …… these are emotions that will make people crumble and use more energy,” Li Xixing said, “I need a companion like you.”
Hu Jingjing did not consider whether his words were true or not.
She had lost consciousness again.
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