Sword Dynasty
Volume 1: Great Rebel
Chapter 41: Qingmei’s Intentions
Falling Parasol was very quiet, only the occasional barking
of a dog echoed through the alley.
Ding Ning pushed open the wooden door to the wine shop and
entered the dark shop.
The furnishings in the wine shop were the same as usual, but Ding Ning's brow immediately furrowed deeply. His heart felt cold.
Previously, when he and Zhangsun Qianxue were talking and
cultivating here, they seemed to be on guard most of the time. This was because
he knew that in Changling, except for a few people, Zhangsun Qianxue would
sense the presence of anyone who entered the alley.
And if those few rare people entered this alley, then
whether they were on guard or not. it wouldnot make any difference.
But Zhangsun Qianxue did not come out of the backyard this
time. He could not sense Zhangsun Qianxue's presence either… Zhangsun Qianxue
was not in the wine shop.
The reason he had to return was because he was afraid that
something would happen to Zhangsun Qianxue.
Over the past few years, he and Zhangsun Qianxue had grown
accustomed to each other's presence.
Zhangsun Qianxue’s cultivation was enough to kill many
people of equal strength with him, but this was Changling. Even the strongest
cultivators had a high chance of being killed.
She knew absolutely nothing about how to live and move in
Changling, like a piece of white paper.
Ding Ning lifted the cloth and headed to the back of the
courtyard. His heart felt increasingly cold.
Zhangsun Qianxue was not inside. Where had she gone?
Ding Ning stood motionless in the backyard. After a few
dozen breaths, he quietly walked to the side kitchen and began cooking noodles.
When the water began to boil and the noodles were added,
Ding Ning noticed his hands trembling slightly.
He could not see his own expression, but he was certain that
even under the warmth of the fire, his face was pale.
He knew that right now in Changling, he had a weakness.
Zhangsun Qianxue was his greatest weakness.
Nothing could happen to her.
So he lit a fire, hoping that in the darkness, Zhangsun
Qianxue would see the sparks rising from the smoke and understand that he had
returned.
The white noodles floated in the boiling water.
He did not add any seasoning. He scooped the noodles into
his large, coarse porcelain bowl and began to eat.
Although he ate noodles in soup with thick soy sauce every
morning in front of the shop, he was most accustomed to the taste of noodles
without any seasoning.
The noodle soup was hot, but listening to the clear sound of
the wind on the street, his heart grew colder.
If Zhangsun Qianxue left now, how much time would he have to
spend before he could be by her side again?
His features looked so young amidst the steam rising from
the bowl, but his expression was filled with endless sorrow.
Suddenly, the steam rising from the bowl swirled.
Ding Ning abruptly raised his head.
Zhangsun Qianxue seemed to appear out of thin air before
him.
“You…” Ding Ning stood up. He thought he could not help but
scream, but when he saw Zhangsun’s calm and clear eyes, his heart immediately
softened. He said in a hoarse voice, “You… where did you go?”
Zhangsun Qianxue frowned slightly.
She could see Ding Ning’s concern for her in his eyes. But
there were some emotions other than concern that she did not like.
Ding Ning took a deep breath and quickly calmed himself. He
looked at her and said, “You promised me you wouldn’t…”
“It was just an accident.” before he could finish speaking,
Zhangsun Qianxue interrupted him.
She glanced at him and said, “You said that the people of
the Cloud Water Palace people might have obtained important clues about the
Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard.”
Ding Ning's body suddenly tensed and he became nervous. “Did
you find the people of the Cloud Water Palace?”
Zhangsun Qianxue said calmly, “Should be.”
Ding Ning was more nervous and asked, “Did you fight?”
Zhangsun Qianxue said, “I only noted down that person’s
presence and appearance.”
Ding Ning immediately breathed a sigh of relief, his body
relaxing.
Every dynasty always had several great sects within their
vast territories, and several great figures.
The Cloud Water Palace of the Wei Dynasty had fallen decades
ago, but it was still remembered by everyone in the Qin Dynasty. Greatness
could be used to describe this sect.
While the Cloud Water Palace did not produce as many
terrifying individuals at the grandmaster level as the Zhao Sword Furnace, the
Cloud Water Palace had produced the mysterious and powerful Bai Shanshui.
Cultivators from the major dynasties believed that Bai
Shanshui of Cloud Water Palace had surpassed realm six and become a cultivator
of realm seven during the Wei Dynasty's defeat.
Decades had passed, but no one had heard of Bai Shanshui
achieving such a feat as the Sword Furnace disciples who had slaughtered a city
with a single blow. However, everyone knew that he was still alive.
Being able to survive so well while being chased by the Qin
troops and cultivators meant he was stronger than before.
Bai Shanshui was not an enemy that he and Zhangsun Qianxue
could face right now.
“Ignore this matter. I will investigate it.” Ding Ning
thought for a moment, drank the remaining soup, and said seriously as he washed
the bowls, “The Bureau of Astrology and the Bureau of Divinity will mobilize
their full strength to pursue the Cloud Water Palace’s people because this
matter concerns the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard. Before Bai Shanshui finally
appears, our best course of action is to observe this matter discreetly.
Otherwise, if we get dragged into it, we won't benefit at all.”
“I'll describe that person to you.”
Zhangsun Qianxue thought for a moment and nodded in
agreement with Ding Ning's words. Then she turned and headed for the bedroom.
“"I'll wait for you on bed.”
Her ambiguous words were still as cold as ever, even
containing a hint of murderous intent. However, Ding Ning's body finally began
to warm as he stared at her back.
It was a cold night in the mountains.
A cluster of green buildings sat on a hill not far from
White Goat Gorge.
These buildings were originally constructed of gray stone.
However, due to the green vines that have wrapped around their exteriors over
the years, the buildings appear green in the darkness.
The densest green buildings, covered in countless sword
scars, and the luxurious carpets woven from the finest wool, gave the entire
building a warm, inviting feel amidst the chill of autumn.
A tall and thin old man, his gray and white hair curled up
with a green jade hairpin, looked immaculately clean. Even his fingernails were
well-groomed.
His eyebrows were slightly greenish, his eyes half-closed,
and his expression calm yet dignified.
He was the headmaster of the Green Vine Sword School, Di
Qingmei.
At this moment, he was looking at a note in his hand, a cold
and disdainful smile at the corner of his mouth.
“Du Qingjiao and Xue Wangxu of the White Goat Cave are
muddle-headed, and have been stubborn all this time. Even after seeing the
bloody events of the first year of Yuanwu, they still don’t know how to repent
and change. Now that they’ve joined our Green Vine Sword School, that old fool
Xue Wangxu has come up with such a move. Since the two sects have merged, the
disciples of the Green Vine Sword School and those of White Goat Cave are
equal. Thus, the disciples of the White Goat Cave can attend our sword trials festival.
They are plotting to obtain our green jade amber.”
Di Qingmei sat opposite a middle-aged man in green robes
carrying two swords on his back.
This middle-aged man in green robes was his longtime true
disciple, Duanmu Lian.
Hearing the dignified old man's sneer, Duanmu Lian's brows
furrowed slightly. He said, “Then, Master, will you agree to his request?”
“Of course I will.”
The dignified old man sneered, “If I don't agree to such a
request from him, how can I turn the tables and plan to obtain his spirit
veins?”
“Spirit vein?” A glint flashed across Duanmu Lian's eyes.
“Du Qingjiao and Xue Wangxu are two fools. Before the
empress could express her intention, they destroyed the White Goat spirit vein
and divided it into three. They think they can protect their own spirit vein
like that?
Di Qingmei smiled coldly. “The empress finally managed to
find the fault there and gave the White Goat Cave to us. If we let them keep
the three spirit veins, will the empress be pleased with us?”
“Xue Wangxu wants to leave the three spirit veins for the
people of the White Goat Cave. We can't let him do this.”
Di Qingmei looked at Duanmu Lian and said slowly, “Respond
to Xue Wangxu for me. Tell him I will grant his request. However, the three
spirit springs will be shared by the Green Vine Sword Sect and White Goat Cave.
Only those who are qualified may use them. Therefore, they will also be the
prize for the sacrificial sword trials, and will be used by the winners of the
sword trial festival.”
Duanmu Lian thought for a moment and said, “Master's plan is
sound. However, Zhang Yi and Su Qin of the White Goat Cave, his disciples, are
not to be underestimated. Both in terms of their entry time and age, they are
qualified to participate in the sword trial festival.”
“Since you’re worried that our core disciples can’t defeat
them, think of a way to make them one of us.” Di Qingmei glanced at him and
said, “I heard that Zhang Yi is very conservative and rigid, but Su Qin is a
talented individual and at odds with Zhang Yi.”
Duanmu Lian’s eyes lit up slightly. He stood up and bowed to
this dignified old man who possessed the power of the Green Vine Sword School.
He said, “This disciple understands.”
Notes:
This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a
Chinese web novel written by
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