Chapter 24: Parting the Mist

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 24: Parting the Mist

“what are you thinking?” Seeing Ding Ning's lost in thought, Wang Taixu said calmly, “Do you doubt my words?”

“Nothing.” Ding Ning shook his head, thought for a moment, and asked, “Is there any connection between the Fish Market business, your Two Level Tower or Jinlintang?”

Wang Taixu was slightly speechless. He did not understand why Ding Ning suddenly mentioned the Fish Market, but he still answered seriously, “No, it's truly a top-tier business. Low-level people like us can't run such a large business.”

Ding Ning looked at Wang Taixu disdainfully and said, “The person who supposedly has the majority of the gambling places and brothels is a low-level person?”

Wang Taixu shook his head. “It’s not that exaggerated. We only have a small share of this business. Besides, the upper and lower levels I’m referring to have to do with the people we do business with. We do business with ordinary people, and people on the streets. The Fish Market business is connected to the major sects, the royal court, rebels, and warlords. It’s dangerous for us to deal with people at that level. Only those with great intelligence, courage, and ability can conduct such a large business where a dragon might pass by at any time. It depends on one’s foundation, but it has nothing to do with whether one has money or powerful cultivators.”

“Dragons have their dragon paths, snakes have their snake paths. Serpents naturally associate with other serpents. Even if a snake one day transforms into a serpent, if they don’t accumulate enough in the beginning, they can’t join the pond of serpents. This is one’s foundation. So the noble youths and the common youths of Changling usually usually can’t mix together,” Ding Ning said seriously. “I’ve heard that those who can do business like that are at least people of that level of birth.”

Wang Taixu said patiently, “Those who can connect with the major sects and the people of court are naturally not ordinary people. The other gangs in Changling won’t touch the Fish Market’s business and wouldn’t even dare to eavesdrop. The Fish Market’s rules are set by Eldest Miss Shang. I only know that she’s a woman, and an extraordinary one at that. However, I don’t know her origins or how she got to her position.”

“As long as Jinlintang and the Fish Market have no connection,” Ding Ning said calmly.

“It seems you really can help me.” Wang Taixu misunderstood. He thought Ding Ning was considering the Fish Market relationship as part of his considerations. His eyes shone with an unusual light as he said, “Jinlintang’s primary business are horse caravans and transportation. They also have business dealings in the waters and with the military. In terms of wealth and foundation, they can’t compare to Two Level Tower. Perhaps you don’t understand… gang businesses have no laws, but many unwritten rules. Their actions this time violate those rules. We’ve been in Changling for many years, and our relationships with other gangs can be considered harmonious. After thorough investigation, we can only think of two possibilities.”

Ding Ning's eyebrows raised slightly and he motioned for Wang Taixu to continue.

“The first possibility is that a dragon has suddenly arrived, and Jinlintang has powerful cultivators. This has happened before. Previously, the battle at Fengshui Pier in the north of the city occurred because Flying Fish Hall suddenly had several people from their hometown visit. One of them happened to have the surname Feng and was a very powerful cultivator who hadn't yet made a name for himself. In the end, Flying Fish Hall slaughtered enough of the Apricot Forest Garden members, causing them to lose their courage.”

Wang Taixu coughed repeatedly. He waited for his breathing to calm down before saying, “With such an example in front of me, I thought of a way to deliberately give them a chance to assassinate me.”

“So you've become so fragile.” Ding Ning smiled slightly and said, “This is a good method… fights between street gangs are not like fights between cultivators. There are many ways to kill a lone, powerful cultivator. For example, crossbow, poison, formations, or assassinating the elderly and children. Right now, you're fragile but still alive. What answer did you obtain from your test?”

“Besides the few cultivators we've prepared for this, not a single dragon has appeared as I feared,” Wang Taixu’s brow furrowed again. “So I guess there's only one possibility left. Someone in the court wants to take over our business.”

“This is very possible. Based on what you said, Jinlintang's business is related to water transportation.” Ding Ning’s brow furrowed. “If that's the case, it's not that bad. We can fight.”

“I'd like to hear your opinion.” Wang Taixu looked at Ding Ning without any surprise.

“In Changling, only Minister Li and Minister Yan don't need to consider His Majesty's thoughts. But they shouldn't have the leisure to fight over a piece of meat like this. According to the stories about them… if they do this, your family will either be suddenly executed or they will send someone to do this.” Ding Ning looked at him and said seriously, “All other nobles must consider the opinions of the two ministers and His Majesty. The court cultivators are truly His Majesty's personal property. Using the power of the court and the cultivators for personal gain has always been taboo. Commoners are still citizens of the Qin Dynasty. If someone uses the power of the court, and the cultivators who are His Majesty's personal property, to fight, even if one is killed, these noble may not be able to bear the responsibility. So if this important person from the court wants this piece of meat, it's not a terrible matter; you can still can fight for it. The power they can exert directly is limited, and they are limited by what they can do.”

“As expected, I didn't misjudge you.” Wang Taixu’s eyes grew brighter. “What else do you need to know?”

Ding Ning asked, “I want to know about the test that made you so fragile. What price did you pay to Jinlintang, and what actions did Jinlintang take that you don’t understand?”

“They left behind fifty-three corpses. Among them, six were cultivators. Of the three from Jinlingtang, only Tang Que didn’t appear. We killed Xu Jin and Lin Qingdie.”

“So Jinlingtang is the name of those three people?”

“Three brothers unrelated by blood. They came from the rural areas of the north together to live on the streets. Jinlingtang has no other cultivators stronger than them. When they tried to assassinate me, no stronger cultivators appeared.”

Ding Ning listened to matters concerning low-level street gangs that were usually untouchable and difficult to understand. He asked, “What were the cultivation levels of the Xu Jin and Lin Qingdie you killed? What about Tang Que?”

Wang Taixu said, “Xu Jin was realm four first class. Lin Qingdie is realm five third class. As for Tang Que, he should be realm four first class.”

“Are you confident in Tang Que's cultivation? There won't be any surprises?” Ding Ning said.

Wang Taixu shook his head confidently. “I'm sure. The reason he wasn't present was because he happened to be outside Changling and couldn't make it in time. He didn't have a higher cultivation or status than the other two.”

Ding Ning nodded. “What about your losses?”

Wang Taixu looked at him. “We didn't suffer much loss.”

Ding Ning said, “Then what did they do next?”

“Tang Que managed to persuade Fat Zhang of Thunder Rain Hall to negotiate with us,” Wang Taixu sighed and said, “This is what puzzles me the most. If it were me, I would have taken my remaining men and fled Changling, or made a final attack by inviting some unknown forces. Thunder Rain Hall is usually at odds with us and want to get some business out of our hands, but they usually abide by the rules. The negotiation location is on our territory. We also have strict demands on their people. If they don't meet our requirements, I won't show up.”

Ding Ning was silent for a long time and then said, “At least, you have the advantage of location and numbers, if not the advantage of heaven. Asking the other gang leaders to plead for peace seems like asking for your mercy and not killing them all. Then, do they have any special demands on your people coming?”

Wang Taixu shook his head. “No.”

Ding Ning laughed. “They don’t care how many people you bring?”

Wang Taixu looked at him. “Since this is on our territory, we are the ones who set the location for the negotiations.”

“That’s the problem.” Ding Ning looked at him seriously and said calmly, “I think I know the reason.”

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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