Chapter 3: Before the Snow Falls

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 3: Before the Snow Falls

In Changling, an official from the Bureau of Ceremonies walked nervously along a stone path flanked by tall pine trees on both sides.

In front of him, an elderly imperial censor wearing gray official robes stood in the middle of the stone path.

The closer he got to the imperial censor, the more sweat poured down his back.

“Official Li.” The official of the Bureau of Ceremonies’s thick robes were now soaked in the back as he walked in front of the imperial censor and bowed.

“There is no need for this.”

Imperial Censor Li calmly glanced at him and slowly said, “You know my duty is to convey His Majesty’s decrees, regarding the promotion or demotion of officials. You should already know that you will be demoted because I wanted to see you and you haven’t performed services worthy of promotion. This matter is final. You don’t need to be so nervous and worried.”

Listening to these words amidst the cold wind, the official of the Bureau of Ceremonies could not calm down. He felt the wind getting colder and colder, and he began to tremble.

“Your previous military service rewards have been forfeited. You must serve in the border army for five years. If you want to live a prosperous life for yourself and your family in Changling, accumulate more military service in these five years,” Imperial Censor Li continued expressionlessly.

The official of the Bureau of Ceremonies looked up, his expression grim. “Official Li, I know I was demoted because I was in Bai Shanshui’s path that day. But I believe there were many other officials in the same path. Why was I severely punished?”

“Do you think you’re the only one being severely punished?” Imperial Censor Li shook his head with the same impassiveness as before. “I have already met five people before you. Including you, there are seventeen Changling cultivators that may have delayed Bai Shanshui when he killed his way out of the city. Eight of them acted and were killed by Bai Shanshui’s sword. If the nine of you had acted too, the seal chariots of the Tiger-Wolf Army might have been able to set up a formation and stop Bai Shanshui. Of you nine, seven were officials in court. All seven will be demoted.”

The official of the Bureau of Ceremonies' expression grew graver, but he could not speak.

However, Imperial Censor Li continued.

“You cherished your life so much that you didn't dare fight back at that time. Have you ever realized how shameful this was? Bai Shanshui managed to clear a path for escape by killing so many people. Our Qin Dynasty has so many powerful armies, so many cultivators, all in the capital city of Changling. And when there was no war on the border and Changling wasn't empty, he managed to escape. As a Qin person, you might have been able to stop him and kill him. But you let him sing and brandish his sword as if he were invincible. This is even more shameful than letting him get away with killing so many people!”

“His Majesty ordered me to meet you here in Brave Garden to allow you to reflect. The Qin Dynasty's prestige and our glorious past were bought with the lives of countless Qin citizens who rest here in this Brave Garden.”

“Have you ever thought about how many Tiger-Wolf Army will die because of your cowardice? How will other countries view us, and how many soldiers and cultivators will die? How many commoners will suffer disaster?”

“His Majesty hopes you can change your way of thinking. Loving ease and hating work, wanting to protect your small family instead of the people is something that is not allowed in Changling. Personally, for me, the humiliation of demotion is worse than lying here in the Brave Garden.”

 

In the dark of the Bureau of Divinity, Mo Qinggong stood with his head bowed before a thin man wearing a crimson brocade robe and a scruffy beard.

This man, who appeared listless and lacked any powerful aura, was the chief of the Bureau of Divinity, Bureau Chief Chen.

“This is no coincidence.” Mo Qinggong said coldly. “The Changling Guards were lured to the Jiujiang Commandery Assembly Hall because of stolen items from the imperial tombs. The person who tipped off the tomb artifacts was an unemployed man with no wife or parents. Strangely, he has since passed away, and even our investigation has stalled.”

Hearing Mo Qinggong's report, Bureau Chief Chen's clenched fists trembled slightly as if he had considered many things in an instant.

He looked up, the bright and crimson robes he wore and his haggard appearance creating a strong contrast. However, this contrast made him exceptionally attractive.

“You don't need to follow this dead end. Someone capable of such a feat is someone our Bureau of Divinity might not be able to find even with all our might.”

His dark eyes were slightly reddened by his robes. He stared at Mo Qinggong's dark expression and lectured in a flat tone. “Change direction, investigate those who might know about Bai Shanshui and the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard, and investigate the whereabouts of their trusted aides these past few days. They must have entrusted this matter to their closest aides.”

Mo Qinggong's eyes lit up. He softly agreed. “This subordinate understands.”

Bureau Chief Chen frowned. He thought for a moment and said, “Put more pressure on the Warden's Office. They are the closest to this matter. They must provide an explanation. It will be easier for us if we use some of their power.”

Seeing that Bureau Chief Chen's thoughts were the same as his, he felt a surge of warmth, and his tense body relaxed.

He bid farewell and turned to leave.

As he walked out of the building, he unconsciously paused slightly.

The sky had been bright earlier, but now it was covered in black clouds. A cold wave descended from the sky and it looked like it would snow before the winter solstice began.

 

Outside Changling, on a section of the Wei River, a small, black-roofed boat slowly floated on the waves beneath the dark clouds.

A small fishing boat approached, and then a ray of light flashed. A man dressed as a fisherman landed steadily on the bow of the black-roofed boat, which did not even sway.

This man dressed as a fisherman was one of the direct disciples of the Cloud Water Palace, Fan Zhuo, who had disguised himself as a carriage driver a few days ago at the Jiujiang Commandery Assembly Hall.

He gazed at the distant outline of Changling with a faint smirk on his face. He spoke to the black-cloth-covered boat cabin in front of him. “Are you the one who sent me the letter a few days ago? Who is your master, another important person in Changling?”

The black-cloth was supported by thin bamboo stick on either side.

The gray-haired, black-robed advisor made an inviting gesture from his seat inside the cabin. He said, “The one who told you to go was General Liang.”

“The General Liang who is waiting to be elevated to marquis?”

Fan Zhuo, still exuding an unmatched rebellious aura even in his fisherman’s attire, showed no intention of entering the cabin. “What's with this rebellion from within the nest?” he said mockingly.

“When a fish is trapped in a fishbowl, and wants to jump out, it won’t be able to enter the great river to swim freely and will die on the ground if it doesn’t get help.” The black-robed advisor smiled indifferently. He pointed at the vast outline of Changling and said, “To you, Changling is a fishbowl. You will be in danger if you enter. So General Liang feels that you need some friends.”

Fan Zhuo smiled coldly. “We can’t be friends with the Qin people.”

The black-robed advisor casually said, “If we can’t be friends, at least we can benefit each other. You owe us a favor now. If it weren’t for the letter I sent, you would have been completely unaware that you were already targeted by the Bureau of Divinity. When they closed their net, you and even Bai Shanshui wouldn’t have been able to escape Changling.”

“Although I don’t know how many secrets about the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard you possess, you’ve spent too much time in Changling. Anyone can guess that there’s something in Changling related to the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard. Is it the secret key? Or more clues?”

Without waiting for Fan Zhuo to speak, the black-robed advisor looked Fan Zhuo in the eye and said, “But you left Changling in such a hurry. You definitely didn’t get what you wanted. You must have wanted to enter Changling again, so you accepted the advice in my letter and met with me today.”

“You’re right.”

Fan Zhuo smiled coldly and said, “I must admit that your Bureau of Divinity and nobility have some ability to track us, and even guessed some of our intentions. I came here because I wanted to see if there were any powerful nobles who could benefit from our cooperation. But General Liang… forget it. In the bloody storm before Emperor Yuanwu’s ascension to the throne, General Liang walked over the corpses of his brothers and friends to reach his position. How can we trust him?”

“There are no eternal friendships, only mutual benefits.”

The black-robed advisor’s expression remained unchanged. His gaze grew stern. “With General Liang’s status, cooperating with you would involve his life. Nothing is more important than one’s life, so you have nothing to worry about.”

These words elicited a sardonic laugh from Fan Zhuo.

His laughter was so loud that it spread across the river like countless fish slapping the surface with their tails.

“There are many things more important than life. But for people like you and General Liang, your own survival is most important.”

“It doesn't matter how you think of us, as long as we respect each other,” said the black-robed advisor with a smile.

Fan Zhuo's smile slowly faded. He looked at the black-robed advisor and said, “What do you want? Help you be elevated to marquis?”

“We won't ask about your whereabouts in Changling; we will guarantee that your movements will be kept secret and that you will be safe within Changling. We only need something that will help General Liang advance in his cultivation, whether it's the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard or secret skills from the Cloud Water Palace.” The black-robed advisor shook his head and said, “No official position is more important than true strength.”

 

Notes:

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

Previously

Next