Chapter Fifty-Eight: Two Ministers
writer:
无罪 update:2022-07-21 15:26
At those words, scorn tinged the corners of the Baili Suxue’s mouth. This scorn was not directed at Prime Minister Yan, but someone else.
“Some people always like to keep something up their sleeves.” He looked at Minister Yan and said, “Yuanwu is not here. The only person who has a thing up their sleeves more than you two can only be her.”
Prime Minister Yan immediately understood the meaning of his words and sneered as well. “You think that she will come?”
“Regardless of whether she will or will not, at least up to now, she still does not dare.” Baili Suxue said coldly and in disdain, “She always likes to hide behind people and benefit. That is the conduct of thieves, and cannot get on the stage. But she always wants to get on stage, so she forever cannot.”
Prime Minister Yan frowned deeply, his eyes narrowing into lines. The great scorn from a person of such status as Baili Suxue was even more irrefutable.
At this time, Prime Minister Li who had been listening all this time said, “One can only get on stage when they live long enough.”
Baili Suxue shook his head. “There is no meaning in living long. A person’s life only has meaning depending on how high they can stand.”
He stood very tall. He seemed to be standing high in the void. From the location of the two ministers, looking at him, he appeared to be standing in the sky.
The two ministers were silent. Because in their hearts, they had to admit, based on their trajectory, in their lifetime, they could not reach the heights of Baili Suxue and some other people.
“Today, you will be the first to die.” Baili Suxue’s gaze landed on Minister Li. “While you appear a gentleman on the surface, in order to get to your not-so-high position today, you could even betray your closest family members. You were clearly in charge of the Li Family creating the laws. But to quell the anger of the old nobility, you pushed it all away, and sacrificed the entire Li Family. A person like you, in any story, is a beast.”
At the words “the first to die,” Prime Minister Li’s eyes flashed violently. But then his face returned to normal. He patiently listened to Baili Suxue finish and then said, “At least, the Li Family still has me left. At least, I can do what I want to do. Otherwise? Be like the Shang Family? Those who do great things will not bother about trifles.”
“Like the Shang Family, at least, I will help the people left of the Shang Family and not kill her.” Baili Suxue attacked after saying this.
This was Min Mountain Sword Sect, this was the world that belonged to him. He could attack when he wished, just following his own thoughts. When his mind reached its best state, when his sword essence was the most perfect and he was the strongest.
His body did not move, but the ice path between his, the two ministers, Marquis Duanmu and Marquis Dugu cracked in sections. The presence was very natural, like a pond of spring water, holding in lots of soft rain until water overflowed the stairs on the side of the pond. Other than him, no one was able to attack in this part of the world.
Because even in the perception of the two ministers, Baili Suxue seemed to flicker through the sky, on the verge of disappearing in the next moment. If their attack would miss, then there was no meaning in attacking. At this time, on the peak of Min Mountain, it seemed like this place was Baili Suxue’s world.
Prime Minister Yan was very nervous, but he still found it very ridiculous.
Spirit Void Sword Sect and Min Mountain Sword Sect had always been ranked together, and were thought of as the two strongest sword using sects in the world. But at this time, Spirit Void Sword Sect seemed like a joke. Because what Baili Suxue used first was not a powerful secret sword from Min Mountain Sword Sect, but a secret sword of Spirit Void Sword Sect!
His body seemed to be hidden in the void, but his sword essence still could not be caught. Such a secret sword was the ultimate method of the Spirit Void Sword Sect. But as someone from Min Mountain Sword Sect, Baili Suxue could not have gotten the inheritance of Spirit Void Sword Sect, but he could easily use this powerful method of Spirit Void Sword Sect.
Looking at the four people who were very nervous but could only be on their guard and unable to move, Baili Suxue naturally reached with his hand. His movements were very clear. His right hand turned, palm up. There was no killing intent targeting anyone among the four. Just the cracking ice path surged with cold energy visible to the naked eye, and flying in flakes towards the sky. The cold energy did not make the two ministers and the two marquises feel cold, but they formed crystal lattices in the surrounding.
This became an absolute domain. Almost all of the primal energies cultivators felt were blocked outside. This became Baili Suxue’s world.
Prime Minister Yan’s expression turned ugly, and many complicated sounds came from his lips. This was a very profound breathing method to create vibrations. Its greatest ability was to instant activate the potential of the organs to their limit.
As the profound sounds appeared, the sky above the ice peak darkened. A black long sword appeared in his hand, and then it slashed towards the ice path ahead!
Black and gray were the main colors of Changling. After the iron of Changling was smelted, they would turn blacked. A black long sword was very normal in Changling. But his black long sword was like bamboo, split up in sections.
Also, there were gaps between each section which were filled with his purest vital energy. As he slashed out, the air ahead had a string of explosions.
The air was squeezed by his sword energy like it was a solid, but in the next moment, it made a sound like oil dropping on a hot metal plate. Countless indigo wisps of smoke spread from where his sword energy traveled.
These wisps of indigo smoke were like snakes spitting poisonous energy, corroding and using up the primal energies of the universe in this part of the world. This was using poison against poison.
The two ministers lived up to their status. When they attacked, they used extraordinary methods.
Baili Suxue was going to use absolute cold to seal the primal energies from the outside world, then he was going to make it so that Baili Suxue could not use the energies in here. His lifebond sword contained great poison, and at this time, these numerous snake-like indigo wisps of smoke could immediately fill mountain peaks with poison.
A gold light appeared in Minister Li’s hand. To be able to walk side by side with Minister Yan, and come to this mountain peak to kill Baili Suxue, he naturally would not be weaker than Minister Yan.
But what appeared with the light was not sword essence, but a seal essence.
The gold light in his hand was a golden piece of paper. The characters on the paper were actually seal scripts. When his vital energy surged into these scripts, they started to shine with light. Then the golden light shot into the sky, and left ancient seal scripts on the crystal lattice that Baili Suxue had created. Within the golden scripts, snowy white ice thorns formed.
Minister Li’s body slowly sank down. The hard stone ground under his feet seemed to turn into soft soil. His movements became burdened, but he seemed to be able to turn some of Baili Suxue for his own use.
Marquis Duanmu and Marquis Dugu were unable to fight now. This was a realm which they seemed unable to interfere.
So the two people naturally moved to the side of the two ministers, like they were two attendants.
Volume 5 58 - Blade Mountain
The night wind stopped suddenly. All those present could feel the confidence and pride in Gu Huai’s words. They could understand his confidence and pride.
Looking at his back, Ding Ning sensed his presence. Upon hearing the words, he worried that Zhangsun Qianxue, in the distance, would not be able to resist acting because of Gu Huai’s words.
“Laughable.”
Tang Xin shook his head at Gu Huai’s words. A faint scornful smile appeared on his lips.
Gu Huai immediately frowned and said, “How so?”
“I have seen many people of Ba Mountain Sword Field fight.” Tang Xin did not argue at all and was calmly stating the truth. “Including that person …… I saw that person wield the sword and felt that I was no match. I also did not like the monarch of Zhongshan and those people, so I even had thoughts of joining Ba Mountain Sword Field out of admiration.”
“Back then, Ba Mountain Sword Field was truly a place for enemies to admire.” Tang Xin’s smile grew wider as he spoke. “But what was admirable was not just power but their quick and happy conduct. But in the end, during Changling’s change, I discovered the soul of Ba Mountain Sword Field was just in the minority of people.”
” That person died in battle, Yan Xinlan died in battle, Ba Mountain Sword Field was destroyed. The remainder either were those who feared death, seeking life, or they fought for power and were traitors who ignored friendships. Ba Mountain Sword Field was long gone. If you speak of the people of Ba Mountain Sword Field, I fear only the few like Lin Zhujiu who escaped the water prison qualify to say so. Your heart is not straight, and your essence can never be as powerful as that person. You think you can win against me using Ba Mountain Sword Field’s techniques?” Tang Xin’s voice echoed.
His words were not polite and did not give Gu Huai any face at all. A cultivator like him who could fight his enemies because of his own preferences usually would not care about anyone else’s feelings.
“In reality, you do notn’t understand.” Gu Huai shook his head as though he wanted to explain but found there was no need.
Tang Xi’s vital energy was at its most perfect, so he did not want to talk more.
“Please!” He attacked.
His left hand reached out first and a blinding bolt of lightning appeared in his hand. The pillar of lightning seemed to stretch from his hand into the endless sky. No one could see if the lightning had surged out of his hand or had fallen from the clouds to gather in his hand.
As the lightning appeared, the air in front of him split violently. This was a blade essence, the lightning in his left hand was his blade. His right hand hung by his side all this time, yet all the wind of the steppes seemed to have gathered in his hand.
An indigo sword appeared in his left hand. Black sand and indigo winds surged within the sword itself, like countless sandstorms were brewing.
Using the wind and lightning of the world was something from the legends. Yet inexplicably, when the blade essence was attacking Gu Huai, his serious face wore a slight disapproval.
Before the lightning, a black dot appeared in the sky and rapidly expanded in everyone’s sight.
All the Wuzhi soldiers who had retreated afar, including the numerous cultivators who had come with Ding Ning, did not dare to believe their eyes.
This was a mountain. A sword-shaped mountain.
Following Gu Huai’s desire, what appeared in the sky was a real, and sword-shaped mountain! The body gave off the shine of black iron, yet unlike normal iron, the light the surface of the mountain gave off were hexagonal lights.
All of the lights seemed to be calmly exuded, and were not sharp edges. Only metal from extraterrestrial meteors could give such a glow.
This was a mountain made out of celestial metal. More accurately, this was a sword made completely of celestial metal!
This was Gu Huai’s sword. This was the lifebond sword he had finished in Ba Mountain Sword Field, Sword Mountain Sword!
No one knew what kind of sword manual he had comprehended to produce unique primal energies of the universe to create this sword, yet everyone could sense the strong lifebond presence and …… its heaviness!
The sword essence his sword gave off now was heaviness!
Crack!
This sword fell down and easily broke through Tang Xin’s attack, the heavy sword essence moved towards him.
Yet in this moment, Gu Huai shouted in shock and anger.
Tang Xin attacked now. His indigo sword ignored everything else, and thrust directly towards Gu Huai’s body.
Pang pang pang pang ……
Multiple small holes appeared on Tang Xin’s left side. His entire left arm was bloodied, and a mist of blood sprayed out. There was also a cracking sound next to Gu Huai. A sword mark appeared on his chest, and in the split skin, black energy, like black sand, stabbed into his body.
Boom!
The world shook. Everyone, including the horses, were shaken off the ground.
The heavy sword mountain smashed onto the ground, turning into a true mountain between Tang Xin and Gu Huai, their bodies were caught up in the wind and flew backwards.
Tang Xin’s left arm fell powerlessly. His arm was crippled.
Gu Huai coughed, blood and black sand coming out with each cough. Shen Xuan’s body was also sent flying backwards.
Another madman. He cursed inwardly as he grunted.
At this moment, Tang Xin attacked again. The indigo longsword directly hit the sword mountain ahead of him.
Crack!
His indigo sword was snapped. The heavy Sword Mountain Sword was sent flying by this blow and flew into the sky.
The shadow of the flying sword mountain enveloped Gu Huai who was still coughing and he lost his calm. He could not help but shout harshly, “Each attack is in search of death where both sides suffer. How can there be a style like yours!”
“We are not competing in sword techniques but life and death.” A mocking smile appeared on the corners of Tang Xin’s mouth. He felt that it was laughable for Gu Huai, the master of Spirit Void Sword Sect, to say such things at this time.
Then he threw the snapped indigo longsword in his hand hard towards Gu Huai. With this throw, the snapped longsword became hard indigo winds. An indigo dragon seemed to charge towards him. He did not consider himself with this attack. He still used a way of fighting where both sides would suffer.
The Sword Mountain Sword dropped slightly, like it was going to fall on Gu Huai.
Gu Huai’s face grew even darker in the shadow, he looked up.
When he looked up, his eyes were full of an indescribable meaning. His primal energies of the universe surged out madly. the heavy Sword Mountain Sword rose as he lifted his head, accelerating and flying at unbelievable speed until it became a black spot into the sky.
This was a scene hard to imagine. All the Wuzhi cavalry shuddered.
An enormous shock sounded in the sky. It was like a god’s hammer hit the endless sky. The black night sky suddenly became white.
The black Sword Mountain Sword turned white. Then this sword, the heaviest and largest sword in the world, fell at terrifying speed. It grew bigger in everyone’s eyes which contracted involuntarily.
The celestial metal mountain was covered by white star fire. The proud and cold flows of white flame sprinted down the surface of the mountain, and took the celestial mountain along to hit the head of the indigo dragon. The indigo dragon wind and the sword mountain covered in white flames met in the night sky.
A great boom!
Ding Ning’s eyes narrowed slightly, and felt colder inside.
The fire suddenly disappeared from the sky, the sword mountain fell to the ground.
A wave of air spread outwards like a tsunami. With this mountain as the center, a layer of the ground had been scraped off, and an enormous hole appeared.
Tang Xin’s figure had disappeared. No one knew if he had dissipated in the dust wave or was crushed under the sword mountain.
Gu Huai bowed his head, and coughed up blood again. He was alive now. This meant he had won this battle. But he had no pride in his eyes.
He knew better than anyone else where the power to defeat Tang Xin’s last blow had come from.
Volume 3 58
“Senior Sect Brother, what are you searching for?”
Shen Yi couldn’t help but ask softly as he looked at Ding Ning who had bent down to closely look at the marks of the broken tiles and even scenting them.
Ever since the Zhou Garden, he knew that his senior sect brother who came from the commoners could not be judged ordinarily. Maybe, at the start, he had entered Li Lingjun’s establishment to search for clues connected to cultivation. With the Min Mountain Sword Trials close at hand, everything Ding Ning did, in his view, was for the Min Mountain Sword Trials.
Yet, after coming to Li Lingjun’s establishment multiple times in these days, and staying for a long time each day, Shen Yi increasingly felt that what Ding Ning was doing had nothing to do with cultivation. Ding Ning’s actions at this moment seemed more like an investigation.
Ding Ning frowned deeply. He did not immediately respond to Shen Yi’s question. He had some powder stuck on his fingers that he carefully rubbed. Then he stood up among the broken tiles. He looked at Shen Yi and said, “You are from a wealthy family in Guanzhong and should know more about the expenses of a mansion like this better than I do. In these days, you have followed me and seen Li Lingjun’s establishment multiple times. How much do you think a place like this, with all its retainers, will cost each day?”
Shen Yi stilled and responded, “Based on the construction of this building and so many people, the expenses are so great I have to carefully calculate. Senior Sect Brother, why are you asking this?”
Ding Ning still did not answer his question and said, “Li Lingjun came to Changling in the third year of Yuanwu as a hostage from the Chu. While this establishment continued to expand and build in the last nine years, it formed something like this.”
“Senior Sect Brother, you mean that Li Lingjun’s wealth is too bizarre?” Shen Yi finally realized.
There were more luxurious and large compounds than Li Lingjun’s establishment in Changling. However, those compounds had accumulated through many years, or the people who had built their compounds had been in Changling before starting construction. Yet, if they exchanged the previous Li Lingjun Establishment into gold and silver, the gold and silver were a matter of years.
Thinking of the items he had seen in these last days that were not especially beautiful but made from valuable materials, Shen Yi couldn’t help but think how big of a gold and silver mountain would be created if it was exchanged for the compound.
“Previously, not many were able to enter this Chu hostage’s compound. Even if they did, they could not come deep. But now, I see clearly. Some wealthy families will fake it, spending easily in public to obtain their reputation of wealth. However, they would be extremely frugal at home. The places in plain view would be new, but those hidden would be saved as much as possible.” Ding Ning glanced at Shen Yi and said, “Li Lingjun was famed for being wealthy and treating his retainers well. But you and I have moved through this establishment for many days, and seen that he is the same in private as in public. Simply said, he really has money.”
“The emperor of Chu could not have given him so much wealth to take along. If he would have beared to do such a thing, the emperor of Chu would not have let him be a hostage.” Pausing, Ding Ning looked at Shen Yi and deepened his voice, “If he received the help of a wealthy family …… no family would be able to endure taking out such a huge sum at once.”
Shen Yi took a deep breath, he was shocked. He said, “Yes, even the Xie Family could not take out such a large sum over many years. Unless they touch their ancestral wealth. But if it were not a year of calamity and one were unsustainable, who would touch one’s ancestral wealth?”
Ding Ning said, “There is a kind of person who would use their ancestral wealth. For example, if they suffered great calamity and their family no longer exists.”
“Suffered a great calamity and their family no longer exists?” Shen Yi’s eyes unconsciously widened. “You refer to the old aristocracy?”
Ding Ning nodded.
Shen Yi looked at him in shock. “Which family can take out such a huge sum?”
Ding Ning reached out in front of him, his thumb and forefinger apart and facing up.
Under the sunlight, Shen Yi could see a faint layer of fluorescence on the fingerpads. Ordinary people could not see what kind of light this was, but Shen Yi knew.
This was the light of pearls.
Gold and silver took up too much room and they were too heavy. If they were transported by wagons, they could easily be distinguished. So, the wealthy of Qin liked to change their gold and silver into pearls and precious stones.
A first-class pearl would be worth ten thousand gold and it would be insignificant in weight. The Changling noblewomen liked to crush the pearls into powder to maintain their beauty while the cultivators valued the powder for its nourishing effect.
So the powers of Changling especially liked pearls.
The families who were so wealthy they could rival countries would not have gold and silver piled up in their family treasuries, but pearls. Only pearls, when they reached a certain amount and rubbed against each other as they were moved, would leave fine powder behind on other objects and the ground when they were being transported.
“The Lu Family!”
Shen Yi learned the answer and looked in shock at Ding Ning.
Among the old powers of Changling, only the Lu Family had such astounding wealth.
“When the Lu Family was seized, they confiscated astounding wealth, but the legendary ancestral treasury did not appear.” Ding Ning looked at Shen Yi and nodded.
Shen Yi struggled to swallow and murmured, “So it was because of the Lu Family’s support …… Senior Sect Brother, you spent so much energy just to find Li Lingjun’s secret supporter?”
Ding Ning was silent for a moment. Then he said, “This will be of great importance in the future.”
Shen Yi could not understand. In his view, even if the Lu Family and Li Lingjun were in cahoots, Li Lingjun had returned to the Chu Dynasty. In the future, Li Lingjun would become the emperor of the Chu. Even if there was any importance, it would be of importance to the Holy One and the marquises. What did it have to do with Ding Ning?
“Someone is coming.”
Ding Ning did not explain but turned and looked behind him.
Shen Yi originally did not care. Li Lingjun’s establishment had become a place for the numerous surrounding families to take materials. There were an unknown amount of people who came and left each day. He could imagine that in the future, many of Changling’s houses and even walls would have the wood and stone materials from Li Lingjun’s establishment.
Yet, when his gaze followed Ding Ning’s gaze, his body instinctively shook.
He saw a young person. This young person’s robes and body looked unusually clean, but felt exceptionally dusty. Also, he was certain that this young person was a cultivator, and a cultivator who was many times stronger than him and Ding Ning. This young person’s demeanour was especially calm and solemn.
Seeing Ding Ning and Shen Yi looking at him, this young person bowed deeply to Ding Ning but did not speak.
Ding Ning’s eyebrows rose slightly. He had seen many solemn expressions like his, so he immediately sensed the special meaning from this young person.
“You recognize me?” he asked, looking at this young person.
The young person slowly stood up and said respectfully, “White Goat Cave’s Ding Ning.”
Ding Ning looked at him and asked, “Why have you come to find me?”
The young person said, still respectful, “I was asked by someone. Could I talk to you alone?”
Ding Ning frowned slightly but did not say anything. He nodded simply and said, “Alright.”
Then he walked towards a secluded damaged building.
This young person was Li Yunrui. Seeing Ding Ning’s presence, his gaze flashed with an unusual light. As he followed Ding Ning into the deserted building, he took something out of his sleeve and handed it to Ding Ning.
Ding Ning’s frown deepened further.
He looked at the cube-shaped object in Li Yunrui’s hand that was wrapped up in ordinary rough cloth. He said, “What is this?”
Li Yunrui looked at this Changling common youth’s clean and serious brows. He shook his head and said, “I do not know what this is. I just have to give this item to you…… Also, only you and I know of this in the world. Only I know that this item has reached your hands.”
Ding Ning thought for a moment. He did not immediately accept the object from Li Yunrui’s hand. His perception gently permeated into the cloth and onto what was inside.
In the next moment, his gaze became extremely serious.
“You do not know what is inside?” Looking up at Li Yunrui, he asked seriously.
Li Yunrui shook his head.
“Alright.”
Ding Ning nodded. He accepted the clothed parcel and held it in his hand.
Li Yunrui made a deep bow and turned to leave without a word.
Ding Ning looked at the back of this young man, genuine respect suffusing his eyes.
He knew this young person came from the Chu.
He knew that in the future, it would be difficult to see this young person from the Chu……
After leaving Li Lingjun’s establishment, Li Yunrui slowly walked towards the Wei River along the quiet streets. On the shore of the Wei River, he looked in the direction of Deer Mountain and Chu. Then he calmly stepped into the slightly cold water.
When the river water drowned his body, he released all of the vital energy and primal energies of the universe gently out of his body. Then, he thought of the flowers blooming on the streets of the Chu capital as he closed his eyes and threw himself into darkness.
Translator Ramblings: I’m very conflicted on how to call these “old powers.” I think I’ve used aristocracy and powers interchangeably because I’m not sure these “old aristocracy” had any titles. Also, “powers” imply a more general class of people than the aristocracy.
Volume 2 58 - Unwilling To Be Alone
This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.
Standing by a window on the second-floor of an inn gazing silently at the distant Falling Parasol was Bai Shanshui. She was watching Ding and Zhangsun Qianxue.
Li Yunrui followed her.
Previously, on the Wei River, she was dressed in white robes. At this moment, here in Changling, she wore plain satin clothes like the ordinary Changling women did and stood by the window of this ordinary inn. Li Yunrui could only see the black room and the tall mugwort plants swaying gently in the wind. The more he looked at her back, the more he felt that she would step onto the wind and fly away, and the black room would turn into a black ocean.
’"I have some relation to this wine shop youth."
Bai Shanshui did not look back. She slowly put her hands behind her, and said, "I had a senior sect brother who wanted to kill him, but his bones are buried in Changling."
Li Yunrui’s hands clenched. He was silent for a moment before saying, "I have a guess who you are."
"Previously, at the battle of Fish Market, Zhao Si lost her lifebond sword, and I suffered great injuries. Emperor solved the problem of Changling, and then flattened a mountain, and many people’s confidence at the same time." Bai Shanshui slowly turned around. She continued, looking at Li Yunrui. "I previously wandered the Wei River, wanting to watch Changling from nearby, but had no need to enter Changling. I thought even if I wanted some things, I would not be a match for Emperor Yuanwu."
"Since I let you follow, I have no thoughts of keeping my identity secret. It is not hard to guess who I am, on the contrary, the one hard to guess is you." Bai Shanshui paused, and then said in an especially calm voice, "Your cultivation is only peak realm six. You will need some time if you want to reach realm seven. Yet, the vital energy you release caused the river to cry out like the entire river became a seal weapon. That was how I sensed you. How many like you would a dynasty have? Yet, a person like you is willing to peacefully embrace death for this wineshop youth. Then, this wineshop youth is filled with possibility in my eyes. This wineshop youth and you are the keys to opening the door of Changling for me. As such, I should thank you."
Li Yunrui looked at her, a hint of conflict in his eyes.
"What did I say when I was unconscious?" he hesitated and asked.
"You just shouted his name multiple times."
Bai Shanshui looked at him with slight disdain and said, "Only people such as yourself, that treat a matter as more important than your life, would remind yourself to not forget even when you are unconscious."
Li Yunrui was silent.
"What’s your name?" Bai Shanshui asked lightly.
Li Yunrui frowned slightly, but remained silent.
Bai Shanshui remained calm but her tone grew hard. "You must tell me."
Li Yunrui lowered his head, his hands trembling, but he still did not speak.
"That wineshop youth is very interesting. Just now, I saw him and made a decision." Bai Shanshui pressed her lips together and showed a strange smile. "You do not tell me …… then I will go kill him immediately."
Li Yunrui abruptly looked up. Fire seemed to burn in his eyes.
"Do not say to me this is a matter of life and death." Bai Shanshui’s lips curled upward. She could see what he was thinking at this moment. She said with slight mockery, "You should know that people like me do not care about life and death. Even though I will undoubtedly die here if I fight, I will still do it. Also, even though I am seriously injured, I am still a thread stronger than you. So you followed me all this way rather than kill me directly."
"Compared to us great rebels, you are too hesitant. Now that I have seen this youth, you have no opportunity to refuse."
Bai Shanshui narrowed her eyes proudly.
A drop of white glowing water suddenly appeared and vibrated in front of her as she narrowed her eyes.
"I will give you three breaths to consider. Then I will attack …… even if I die, this Ding Ning will also die. You are willing to die for him. I believe you do not want to see him dead."
Li Yunrui thought. After just a breath, he looked up at Bai Shanshui and said, "You cannot kill him. Also, you and I should stay away."
Bai Shanshui’s eyelashes flickered. That droplet of water containing murderous intent dissipated in front of her. Her expression grew colder.
"Why?"
"Because I am of the Chu."
Li Yunrui gazed at her eyes and slowly said, "My emperor ordered me to give something to him before his passing. Even Consort Zhao Xiang and the new monarch do not know of this."
He described this matter simply, but Bai Shanshui could understand the weight within.
"What is it?" She frowned deeply.
Li Yunrui looked at her and shook his head calmly.
Bai Shanshui took a deep breath. She did not ask any more questions. She closed her eyes and started to think as though Li Yunrui was not in front of her.
She took a deep breath again and shook her head. She said seriously to Li Yunrui, "I had not thought that the Nine Death Silkworm …… will be here."
Li Yunrui’s clenched hands relaxed.
He understood the emperor of Chu best, so he could easily think of this kind of answer. Previously, he did not want to think. Though Bai Shanshui had explicitly stated it, his expression remained unchanged.
"So you cannot kill him.
"If your guess is correct …… he is the only possibility my emperor thinks can defeat Emperor Yuanwu.
"I can die, but you must protect him."
Li Yunrui continued calmly looking at Bai Shanshui. "After my death, no one will connect him to the Chu Dynasty. But just like how you found out, if someone finds that we have such a connection, they could easily guess his identity."
After saying this, Li Yunrui bowed deeply to Bai Shanshui.
Bai Shanshui sneered and shook her head. The corners of her lips rose. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She said, "Do not speak as though this matter is set in stone. Changling is a city filled with countless possibilities. No one knows what will happen next. That person helped Emperor Yuanwu destroy three dynasties. Who knows what his heir will do? Also, how do you know what I will do?"
"I will not allow you to die." She paused and then cast Li Yunrui a confident gaze. "I will teach you the spells of Cloud Water Palace. You will follow me. No one will feel you are from the Chu."
Li Yunrui was silent.
Silence often meant tacit consent.
"I usually do not like putting my hopes on other people, especially not an immature silkworm. In the emperor of Chu’s eyes, he’s the only possibility. But the appearance of you and him has caused many possibilities to appear in my sight."
Bai Shanshui became truly happy, her eyes curving as she smiled.
"What is that youth doing?"
"He is moving all of Falling Parasol over …… he even tore down a large part of Ink Garden’s walls and built some shops to give them to do business for free."
"Who spent the money? Wang Taixu, or the family of the Shen youth with him?"
"His own money …… The wine shop seemed to have good business previously and accumulated a lot of money. He also doesn’t seem to care about money."
In a silent study where bright sunlight fell through the carved window lattices, the beautiful palace attendant who had gone to Falling Parasol previously had changed into palace robes, and was now sitting under the bright light.
Hearing the report from the middle-aged man in black robes, her glowing expression grew dark, even amidst the bright sunlight.
"He is using this to express his dissatisfaction. He is very dissatisfied." She thought for a moment before saying so.
With his head held low, the middle-aged official in black robes was standing motionless. A hint of disdain flashed through his eyes. He thought,
"He should know whose intentions these are. Since he knows whose decree this is, and he still dares to express his dissatisfaction like this …… he will need to pay a price."
"Only those who bend their heads will bear coronets. As a subject, he first needs to understand respect and obedience. I hope he will understand after this matter."
The beautiful palace attendant’s expression grew colder. Looking at the middle-aged man in black robes, she said slowly, "His confidence must come from his quick cultivation speed. He must think that he will have a great breakthrough before the Min Mountain Sword Trials. Since this is the case, I will not give him much time …… go to Min Mountain Sword Sect for me, and tell them to hold the Min Mountain Sword Trials in ten days."
The middle-aged official took a deep breath and nodded. Inside, there was another person shaking his head and grimacing.
He was filled with sympathy towards the wine shop youth’s future.
"The crown prince’s ceremony will be held ten days from now, at the Min Mountain Sword Trials."
The beautiful palace attendant still seemed dissatisfied. She looked coldly at the middle-aged official in black robes and said, "By then, he will understand even better that some things are things he cannot think even about or do."
Translator Ramblings: Poor Li Yunrui. He is completely outmatched.
Volume 4 58 - I Challenge You
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