Sword Dynasty
Volume 1: Great Rebel
Chapter 35: Special Case, Special Treatment
The scene of an elder sect brother and a younger sect
brother greeting each other and the sect welcoming a newcomer was incredibly
touching.
This scene caused the gray-robed swordsman to feel deeply
shocked.
He knew this young man from the wine shop was no ordinary
person, but he had not expected the other to use such a stunning performance in
the face of the abuse he was receiving to resolve the problem.
Su Qin watched this scene silently, his thoughts hidden.
The dozens of disciples who had been blocking the gate, led
by Shen Bai, had expressions as if they had been slapped. Many disciples, who
were less extreme in their views and had appeared later, went up to
congratulate Ding Ning.
However, no one expected Ding Ning to bring even more
surprises today.
A figure slowly appeared on the mountain path within the
White Goat Cave.
This was a middle-aged man with his hair in a bun. His
expression was stern yet cold. His face was outlined with cold, sharp lines
that seemed to cut through his skin.
The sword at his waist was long and narrow, its sheath made
of green bamboo about two fingers wide. However, the length of his sword
surpassed ordinary swords, and even when hanging at an angle, the tip of the
sheath almost touched the ground.
The hilt of the sword was longer than an ordinary sword and
appeared to be made of red coral from the sea. The entire sword was crossed in
front of his body, the sword hanging in his left hand, and the hilt directly in
front of his right hand.
“Younger Sect Uncle Daoji.”
Seeing this cold, middle-aged man walk over, all the White
Goat Cave disciples gathered in front of the gate felt a chill. They bowed to
him.
Li Daoji was one of the most powerful figures in the White
Goat Cave and wielded a punishment sword. If disciples violated the White Goat
Cave's rules, he would determine the punishment.
“Why are you all lingering here?”
Li Daoji's gaze did not fall on anyone else, only focused on
Zhang Yi as he said unhappily, “Have you even forgotten what the sect master
ordered you to do?”
Zhang Yi paused, then immediately reacted. He looked
apologetically at Nangong Caishu and the other Green Vine Sword School
disciples next to Ding Ning. “I did forget. I came with orders to take you to
the Library Cave of White Goat Cave to study.”
To the Library Cave to study?
When the disciples of White Goat Cave learned the reason
Nangong Caishu and the others had come, they felt helpless and humiliated.
His Majesty’s decree had been passed down. The White Goat
Cave would merge with the Green Vine Sword School. The Green Vine Sword School
disciples now had the opportunity to enter the Library Cave of the White Goat
Cave to study. Nangong Caishu and the other disciples were the first to enter.
Li Daoji turned and left. He seemed to have only come to
remind Zhang Yi of this, but moments later, he turned around and said coldly,
“Sect Master has orders for Ding Ning to also enter the Library Cave to select
records to study.”
Several sharp intakes of breath were heard.
These words caused all the White Goat Cave disciples in
front of the gate to be plunged into confusion and shock.
Li Daoji seemed to think the shock was not great enough. He
added, “Unlimited.”
The surroundings were deathly silent.
Besides some secret arts of the sect passed down orally, the
Library Cave of the White Goat Cave contained all the scriptures that the White
Goat Cave possessed, including the understandings of many White Goat Cave
cultivators.
Even sect disciples would only have one chance to enter and
study after half a year of prior study.
The Library Cave was divided into an outer and an inner
section.
The methods in the outer cave were relatively easy to
understand and did not pose any major limitations to their cultivation. Any
disciple could read and study them. The records in the inner cave were more
in-depth, especially when the predecessors were not completely confident in
their understanding of the method. One had to test it for themselves.
Therefore, only disciples who met certain requirements and had meritorious
service to the sect were permitted entry.
“Why?”
A loud shout filled with mixed emotions shattered the
silence. It was Shen Bai who shouted. He felt this was unjust. He himself had
never been granted permission to study in the inner cave. So, even though he
might have been able to endure Younger Sect Uncle Li Daoji's severe punishment,
he could not accept this.
But Li Daoji did not even turn around, only saying softly,
“Special case, special treatment.”
Shen Bai was stunned.
He was speechless.
The surrounding White Goat Cave disciples were almost numb
from the shock, but when they heard Li Daoji's words, they felt it made sense.
Ding Ning's performance had led them to believe that Ding
Ning's entry into White Goat Cave was due to the sect master's recognition of
Ding Ning's unique talent, and not through some secret arrangement.
Since his entry was also an exception, as it did not occur
during the annual test, what was the problem if he was allowed to be special
again and enter the library cave to cultivate?
Looking at Li Daoji’s back, Ding Ning’s eyes were also
filled with unusual emotion.
Empress…
He once again thought of this appellation, which felt so
distant due to the difference in status.
Then he remembered the white-haired old man with the
goat-horned sword.
Someone who could offend the empress, coupled with these
surprises now… This White Goat Cave didn't seem as ordinary as most people
outside thought.
Special case, special treatment. Ding Ning followed Zhang Yi
past the stone. Everything was in order. No one stopped them.
The gray-robed swordsman was still filled with shock. As he
rode away in the carriage, he decided to tell Wang Taixu everything that had
happened here.
Zhang Yi was a considerate person. Since it was already past
noon, he even ordered people to prepare some rice rolls to be delivered to Ding
Ning, Nangong Caishu, and the others who had come through the gate.
“Food is not allowed inside the library cave. During
mealtimes, people will deliver the food outside the cave. According to the sect
master’s orders, each group of the Green Vine Sword School can study for one
day. As for Youngest Sect Brother Ding… the sect master has no orders. Younger
Sect Uncle Li Daoji didn’t have any specific orders just now either. In that
case, I suppose your time is unlimited. You can stay inside until you want to
come out and rest.”
“I'll help you arrange your accommodation. Don't worry… as
to the cultivation classes. You entered the sect at a different time than the
other disciples. Since the sect master said you'll receive special treatment,
I'll go ask the sect master's opinion.”
Zhang Yi led the way and explained. Ding Ning chewed on the
rice rolls mixed with wild vegetables and unknown meat while observing the
actual appearance of this cultivation place.
During the Qin Dynasty, the first-rate sects were the Min
Mountain Sword Sect and the Spirit Void Sword Sect. These two sects had
thousands of inner sect disciples, and tens of thousands of outer sect
disciples and part-time disciples. The thousands of inner sect disciples they
had accumulated over the decades came from all over the Qin Dynasty, even from
the countries under its control.
No other sect could compare to them in terms of status.
Besides these two great sects, there were more than a dozen
first-rate sects in the Qin Dynasty. Among them, sects like the Crossing
Mountain Sword School thrived due to the support of the local noble. Some of
them, like the Black Void Sword Gorge and the Orthodox Unity School, had strong
foundations.
The White Goat Cave only accepts a few dozen disciples with
cultivation potential each year. Of those who graduated, there were only a few
that could achieve above realm four first class.
White Goat Cave never had the opportunity to participate in
the Min Mountain Sword Trials. They lacked the opportunity granted by His Majesty to go to the great sects to study. Before joining the Green Vine Sword
School, the White Goat Cave was a third-rate sect and could not compare to
sects of the Min Mountain Sword Sect's stature.
However, older cultivation places would always possess
unique scenery.
After truly entering the gates of this White Goat Cave, Ding
Ning saw that all the buildings in White Goat Cave were built into the steep
cliffs of the gorge and supported by pillars.
Almost all the stone steps were hand-carved into the cliffs,
and some buildings were connected by rope bridges.
Most of the buildings were simply large doors, with caves
within them.
The trees and water at the bottom of the gorge showed no
signs of human activity. There were no buildings, and the place retained its
original appearance.
Evidently, the earliest group of cultivators at the White Goat Cave had lived in the caves
on the cliffs of the gorge.
“Our cultivation buildings and residences are all located in
caves on the cliffs. The caves are warm in winter and cool in summer.
Furthermore, the caves in White Goat Gorge have a special type of limestone
that absorbs moisture, so it's not too wet. However, the wind can be strong at
times. Youngest Sect Brother, you're thin and unfamiliar with the path. If
you're walking alone, be careful. The stone steps lead to places only inner
sect disciples like us can go. All the rope bridges lead to places that require
special permission…” Zhang Yi explained and described the matters in the White
Goat Cave.
Hearing this, Ding Ning suddenly added, “Eldest Sect
Brother, since I'm receiving special treatment, can I come back to Falling
Parasol for a few nights to sleep? My aunt is alone at the Falling Parasol Wine
Shop. I can go back and help her her with some things.”
Zhang Yi paused and then replied, “If it were anyone else,
it definitely wouldn't be allowed. But Youngest Sect Brother… I'll have someone
ask younger sect uncle Daoji or our sect master.”
Notes:
This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a
Chinese web novel written by
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