Chapter 52: An Achievement Built on Ten Thousand Lives

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 52: An Achievement Built on Ten Thousand Lives

Not far from the exploded tower, under a persimmon tree in a dark alley, stood a black carriage with its window curtains drawn. A masked man in a black robes sat inside.

However, unlike his companions who appeared in other places, this masked man had pale gray hair and was clearly much older.

His forehead was smooth, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were deep and sharp. His eyes were extremely aged. So, even though most of his face was covered, anyone who thought of him would involuntarily think of the weather and hardships outside the forts, the smoke over the desert, and the battlefield with vultures hovering above.

This old cultivator also saw Wang Taixu, who had flown into the air the instant the tower exploded.

Seeing Wang Taixu disappear into the sky like a bat, the wrinkles at the corners of this old cultivator's eyes deepened.

When Wang Taixu destroyed Jinlintang with a single blow, the people on the streets of Changling thought Wang Taixu had advanced a level. However, this old cultivator knew that any low-level cultivator, no matter how high they rose, was still too low in the eyes of the truly powerful in Changling.

In their eyes, Wang Taixu was too weak. But if Wang Taixu managed to survive, they probably would not survive the night.

The old cultivator's eyes were slightly bitter. He shook his head, and the black carriage began to slowly drive along the straight streets.

In an alley near the eastern district of Changling, another ordinary carriage passed by the black carriage.

The two did not stop, but a cold voice with indescribable cruelty penetrated the two curtains of the ordinary carriage into the old cultivator's ears.

“Wang Taixu must die within three days. If Wang Taixu doesn't die, you know what to do.”

The old cultivator said nothing. His eyes were closed as if he were asleep. However, as the carriage left Changling and began to enter the highway outside the city, he sighed, “An achievement built on ten thousand lives, it has always been that way.”

 

That Night was a very difficult night for many people in Changling.

Wang Taixu landed like a bat in an ordinary residence.

However, he was an injured bat.

That cultivator, who had killed a dozen of his guards in a few breaths, had thrown a copper ball at the end, a talisman tactic used by Chu Dynasty cultivators.

Although he managed to escape using his preparations, dozens of glowing golden seals had pierced his body.

At this time, there were several horrific wounds on his legs and waist, the most severe even exposing his internal organs.

But he had experienced this countless times during his ascent from the lower levels of Changling. Having been injured countless times, he knew how to treat his wounds.

He quickly removed his tattered outer robe and the strange bat robe that had several rips in it. He remained naked in the cold autumn air and slowly used his vital energy to remove all the metal fragments from his body. Then, he took out two bottles of medicinal powder from the outer robe he had removed and bandaged his wounds.

The pain and blood loss from his wounds made him feel dizzy. But he realized that if an enemy of such a terrifying level existed, then the other hidden places in Changling would not be safe and could hide him.

He hesitated. He reached out his cold hand, quietly took some clothes from the bamboo pole used for drying clothes, and put them on.

Then, under cover of darkness, he jumped over several walls and entered a side room at the back of a restaurant.

A slightly plump chef was in this room, sound asleep. He was clearly not a cultivator. Wang Taixu walked in front of him and nudged him several times before he woke up.

However, upon seeing Wang Taixu's pale face, the slightly plump chef seemed to have found the most important command in his life. A strange light appeared on his face.

He bowed deeply to Wang Taixu with great respect and asked, “What do you need me to do?”

Wang Taixu looked at him and whispered, “Ask for some news for me. I must reach a completely safe place before sunrise.”

 

Mo Qinggong was annoyed.

Anyone who had only slept for an hour and was woken up would undoubtedly be annoyed. Most importantly, someone like him did not have much time to rest.

He rubbed his slightly aching head and threw the file the young man in front of him had carefully given him into the fire basin. “Don't waste your energy investigating this person. Focus all your efforts on the cultivator who used the seal and had his head cut off! Order the Divinity Whip Team to investigate thoroughly!”

The handsome young man in front of him looked at the fire in the basin with shock.

He did not understand why the files he had managed to compile in such a short time were simply burned. He did not understand. Why not investigate the young man?

“Mister…” He could not help speak.

“Don't think I'm muddle-headed because I lack rest.” Just as he spoke, Mo Qinggong smirked coldly and interrupted him. “I know what you want to ask. I didn't ask you to investigate that young man from the wine shop, not because I have any special opinions, but because he's already been investigated twice. Whether he joined the White Goat Cave or not, whether he reached Profound Understanding in half a day, there's no problem with his birth and history. Investigating all of that would be a waste of energy. It was Qin Huaishu who did this. You merely assumed his position, so it's natural that you don't know.”

So this young man had been under the surveillance of the Bureau of Divinity for a long time, and judging from Mister Mo’s tone, he seemed familiar with this young man, and even seemed to have a deep understanding of him?

This handsome young official of the Bureau of Divinity hesitated, his expression slightly stiff. However, he still said quietly, “Mister did right by giving me a lecture… This subordinate will ask more people while working and not waste his energy. But must we really let the Divinity Whip Team go investigate?”

Hearing the young official’s words, Mo Qinggong’s eyes filled with a trace of coldness.

He stared at the young official from the Bureau of Divinity and said with unusual coldness, “Those who hold positions in the Qin bureaus, especially in the Bureau of Divinity, should understand that minding their own business is far more important than minding the affairs of others.”

Seeing the young man who seemed even more nervous but still did not understand, he sneered and said, “With the Qin Dynasty’s current state, they doesn’t fear any lone cultivator or cultivation place. His Majesty and the two ministers wouldn’t consider a sect’s cultivation manual to be fatal to the Qin Dynasty. They care about our absolute loyalty and whether every subject works according to their decrees. They don’t wish to see the horses pulling the Qin Dynasty’s chariot not moving in unison. Using public weapons for personal purposes is something they care even more about.”

“The Bureau of Divinity handles the internal affairs of our dynasty and the affairs of our own people. Since you've reached this position in the Bureau of Divinity, you should already know that the Divinity Whip Team is investigating the Cloud Water Palace. Since you feel that tonight's events in Changling are related to the use of public weapons for private use and report it to me so urgently, then why can't you take a step forward and consider your own duties?”

Sweat soaked the young official's hair and dripped down his face.

“If you want to survive in Changling, you must side with His Majesty's intentions. Murong Chen’s cultivation talent far superior to Qin Huaishu's, and he looked much more handsome and pleasing to the eye. However, his corpse is probably already rotting, and Qin Huaishu has already been recommended to study at the Spirit Void Sword Sect.”

Mo Qinggong coldly glanced at the young official who could not satisfy him and said, “Pay close attention to Qin Huaishu's character and understand your position. I won't repeat the words I've said today. I only hope you can see clearly in the future.”

“Thank you, Mister, for your reminder!” The young official bowed deeply and respectfully.

“Go! I want to know which personage was so unfortunate that they made such a mistake against these gangsters.” Mo Qinggong’s expression softened slightly. Gesturing for the young official to leave, he reminded him, “Pay attention and focus on your work, use your energy on the important matters. You should have heard that those who reach this position under me usually rise through the ranks if there are no accidents.”

The young official, now drenched in sweat, immediately felt his eyes burning. He bowed respectfully again, then withdrew eagerly.

 

Almost at the same time.

In Prince Li Ling’s establishment, Prince Li Ling, who looked ordinary but made everyone who saw him consider him the most handsome man in the world due to his unique presence, looked at his most important advisor, Lu Siche, and frowned.

“We didn’t do this.” Lu Siche looked at Prince Li Ling, who was still awake and said, “I certainly wouldn't use such a crude and insidious tactic.”

Prince Li Ling nodded and said softly and elegantly, “If it were you, you wouldn't have left a trace. But I really wonder who else in Changling, besides myself, dislikes him. After this incident, perhaps that personage needs a friend?”

Lu Siche smiled slightly. “An ambitious personage would definitely not refuse a friend like Your Highness.”

Prince Li Ling suddenly became worried. He looked deeply at Lu Siche and said, “I've been considering a matter recently. Do you think I should request an audience with Zheng Xiu?”

Lu Siche's expression changed drastically, his hands trembling involuntarily.

Because, this Zheng Xiu that Prince Li Ling spoke of had a more noble name—Empress.

 

Notes:

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

Previously

Next