Chapter 32: Do not Pass Time in Vain

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 32: Do not Pass Time in Vain

Zhang Yi’s gaze was very gentle, a kind that easily attracted people’s trust.

He almost never stared at one person, yet he seemed to be looking at everyone. This way, no one felt they were ignored.

Just like this moment, when Ding Ning's gaze had just landed on him, Zhang Yi noticed him and nodded gently at him.

A mere White Goat Cave actually had someone like this?

Ding Ning felt the other’s presence and was truly shocked.

“I understand. I know I can't compare to Eldest Sect Brother in any aspect, but I also understand one truth. No matter what White Goat Cave is like now, or what it will be like in the future, our White Goat Cave has never had any trash, and we have never been a disgrace.” The young man called Shen Bai took a deep breath. Due to his excitement, his hands unconsciously twisted together. “Since Eldest Sect Brother has said this, we won't vent our anger on him. However, if he wants to join, he should at least make us feel that he is qualified by passing some of our entrance tests.”

Zhang Yi’s gaze once again landed on Ding Ning. Seeing the young man who had been calm and relaxed from the beginning until now, his gaze revealed a new light.

“The entrance tests are not that important. You know that even if someone passes the tests, the final decision still rests with the sect master. Since the sect master has already agreed, he is a young disciple of our White Goat Cave. You lack manners and camaraderie by blocking the way here,” Zhang Yi said gently. “And I can guarantee that this youngest sect brother will definitely have great accomplishments in the future.”

“Who can easily predict the future? I don't care about the future, only the present.” Just as the gazes of the disciples in front slowly calmed under Zhang Yi's gentle words, a cold voice came from the mountain path behind them.

This voice caused the gray-robed swordsman who had been waiting anxiously in front of the carriage to tremble. From the cold tone, he sensed a strong threat.

Initially, he only felt that Ding Ning would encounter some trouble after joining. Now it seemed that even entering wouldn't be as easy as he imagined.

“Second Sect Brother Su Qin!”

The faces of many of these young people, including Shen Bai, were beaming. Judging by their eager and respectful expressions, it seemed this person held a higher status in their eyes than Zhang Yi.

The person who emerged from the mist was also elegant and handsome. Even if he were thrown onto the most prosperous street in Changling, people would immediately notice him.

“If I don't see it for myself, how can I be sure?

“If this gets out, people will think that our White Goat Cave has no rules, that anyone can enter, and that it's a place for storing trash.”

This person was handsome, but his gaze and intonation were filled with a sharpness like a sharp blades.

Young people would easily be obsessed with such a presence.

“The White Goat Cave has so many extraordinary cultivators?”

Ding Ning did not pay attention to the words themselves, but he sensed the presence of the handsome young man carrying a sword on his back. His eyes flashed with surprise once again.

Zhang Yi’s expression changed slightly.

He was confident he could persuade all the students here but he could not persuade Su Qin.

Especially when Su Qin’s words seemed like a dagger hidden in his sleeve.

“Don't try to persuade me.” Su Qin’s words did not stop. Like a dagger hidden in his sleeve, they inevitably emerged. His sharp gaze fixed on Zhang Yi. “You should know. When we felt injustice… especially when we are being merged into the Green Vine Sword School, many things will happen.”

Hearing these words, Zhang Yi could not help but frown. Ding Ning raised his head slightly and was about to speak.

At this time, a cold and disdainful female voice came from behind the carriage of the gray-robed swordsman. “No wonder White Goat Cave has undergone such a change. They only know how to fight amongst themselves.”

The gray-robed swordsman paused and turned around. Then he discovered that many disciples dressed in purple robes had appeared behind the carriage. The leader was a petite and beautiful young woman.

Besides Zhang Yi and Su Qin, all the disciples of White Goat Cave changed their expressions.

Shen Bai immediately became angry when he saw the color and pattern of the others' robes. He shouted, “Who do you think you are!”

Ding Ning turned around and saw these unwelcome guests in purple robes, especially the beautiful young woman in front. He sighed.

His current cultivation was relatively low, so he had not noticed these people walking along the path, blocked by the carriage.

But he recognized this beautiful young woman.

So he understood why Shen Bai was so angry. Now it seemed that entering this simple sect had become even more complicated.

“I am not a thing.”

The young woman’s expression had been frosty to begin with. Hearing Shen Bai’s angry words, her eyes grew even colder and filled with contempt. “I am Nangong Caishu, a disciple of the Green Vine Sword School. My father is Nangong Pocheng. If I'm not mistaken, you are the younger disciple of the White Goat Cave, Shen Bai. Your father should be Shen Feijing. He should be one of my father's subordinates.”

Shen Bai's face paled, and he trembled uncontrollably.

He knew the other was a disciple of the Green Vine Sword School, but he had not expected the other to possess such status.

The sense of class structure in the military was stronger than in other places.

Subordinates deeply respected their generals who promoted them. Most battles were led by high-ranking generals. Subordinates followed their orders in battle, and their lives were in the hands of high-ranking generals. If they could survive the battle and receive consecutive rewards, this demonstrated the generals' wisdom in leadership and outstanding strategy. Of course, the high-ranking generals' merits were partly due to the soldiers' rewards. They should remember this favor.

Nangong Caishu was someone even his father had to respect. Yet, he had insulted her.

“If our headmaster agreed for someone joining Green Vine Sword School to study, we won't block the gates to prevent them from entering. Regarding your claim that you can't see his current abilities, I only want to tell you one thing. One of Prince Li Ling's cultivators humiliated me, Xu Heshan, and Xie Changsheng. Yet he humiliated Prince Li Ling. You can imagine the difference between White Goat Cave and Prince Li Ling’s establishment. If he had chosen, he would already be an honored guest at Prince Li Ling’s establishment.”

Nangong Caishu continued sarcastically, “He chose the White Goat Cave, but you are turning your backs on him and trying to block him?”

Everyone was shocked.

The disciples of the White Goat Cave stared at Ding Ning in disbelief.

Prince Li Ling was a hostage, but through his rapid rise over the years, Prince Li Ling’s establishment had surpassed the statistics of other cultivation places.

The events on the street had clearly not yet reached the White Goat Cave. They could not believe Ding Ning, an ordinary young man, could humiliate Prince Li Ling.

Amidst this commotion, Su Qin raised his eyebrows. A cold light flashed across his handsome face. His lips moved slightly.

A calm voice rang out. “It's just a simple entrance. Why does it have to be so complicated?”

A sudden silence fell before the gate.

Everyone stared at Ding Ning in a daze. They finally remembered the true focus of this drama. The person at the center of the conflict had finally expressed his own opinion for the first time.

Simple?

This was a simple matter?

Su Qin’s sharp gaze grew colder, and his brow furrowed.

But Ding Ning did not give him the chance to speak. From how Su Qin appeared, he could see that Su Qin held higher authority in White Goat Cave than Zhang Yi. He also saw that Su Qin was a talented orator.

He was grateful to Nangong Caishu for speaking on his behalf, but he did not want to waste any more time here.

“Since there are tests, then test me. This way, no one will have any objections.” Ding Ning maintained a calm expression as he looked solemnly at the pale Shen Bai, then the worried Zhang Yi, and then the cold Su Qin.

“Really?” Su Qin’s eyebrows rose even higher as he finally spoke.

Zhang Yi and Nangong Caishu’s expression changed.

However, Ding Ning, unwilling to waste time, nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Silence fell once more.

Everyone's gazes were filled with confusion and doubt. They thought that this ordinary young man was filled with excessive arrogance. He did not know that the entrance tests of all cultivation sects were difficult to pass. Or did he possess extraordinary talent and absolute self-confidence?

“Come,” Ding Ning smiled slightly and said.

Su Qin's breathing suddenly stopped. His eyes narrowed slightly, then he smiled, revealing a few snow-white teeth. “Alright, let him try.”

Notes:

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

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