Chapter 53: Exiting and Entering the Mountain

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 53: Exiting and Entering the Mountain

“No.” Lu Siche lifted his head to look at Prince Li Ling and made a sincere request. “Let’s wait a little longer..”

Prince Li Ling hesitated for a long time before brushing his hair and nodding. He knew that Lu Siche was right.

Even that woman with boundless power would be drawn into his plans, or perhaps she had been waiting for him to make some request. However, he was well aware that this woman, often adored and showered with praise by the people of Changling, also possessed a coldness and decisiveness that no ordinary person could match. If he made too many concessions, even if he could return to the Chu Dynasty, even if he could finally sit on the most beautiful throne in the world, the Chu Dynasty would no longer be the Chu Dynasty it once was.

But how much longer would he have to wait?

He turned and looked out the window at the night. He found that every night in the capital of Changling was incredibly long, yet he did not have enough time.

As he turned, Lu Siche’s heart suddenly pounded, and his breathing stopped. Because he had just caught a glimpse of Prince Li Ling's hair, graying at the roots.

 

At dawn, a red light flashed in the highest temple on the White Goat Cave.

Inside the small temple, sitting on a meditation mat, Xue Wangxu slowly opened his eyes and looked at Li Daoji, who was standing amidst the last vestiges of darkness. He cleared his throat and asked softly, “Is that young man's cultivation progressing well?”

Li Daoji nodded firmly and said, “He's the cultivator with the smoothest progress I've ever seen. A few days ago, his energy sank into the jade palace, and his cultivation reached realm two second class. After that, he hasn't encountered any difficulties in his progress. All the obstacles and barriers that cultivators encounter, seem to be nonexistent to him.”

Xue Wangxu's calm eyes flashed with a hint of excitement. He looked at Li Daoji and asked solemnly, “Do you think he can reach realm two before the Sword Trial Festival?”

“That will depend on his progress. Breakthroughs aren't like the usual barriers in cultivation. If there aren’t many obstacles, then he would become a freak who has mastered Energy Refinement in just a month,” Li Daoji added in a colder voice. “However, last night, he was almost killed.”

Xue Wangxu stilled.

He was under the impression that Li Daoji had come to see him to discuss Ding Ning's cultivation.

Li Daoji glanced at Xue Wangxu coldly and continued without waiting for him to speak. “Some unknown individuals, but the leader is a Vital Energy Realm cultivator and possesses many seals. The Bureau of Divinity is investigating this matter.”

Xue Wangxu's brows furrowed, but he remained silent.

Li Daoji looked at him and said, “Ding Ning suffered two broken ribs and was slightly injured. However, he did his best and managed to kill that Vital Energy Realm cultivator with an Energy Refinement gangster.”

Xue Wangxu's brows immediately relaxed, his eyes sparkling. He praised softly. “This young man truly brings honor to the White Goat Cave.”

Now, it was Li Daoji’s turn to frown.

In his opinion, from any perspective, this was not something to be thankful for.

Xue Wangxu’s eyes grew even brighter, and his wrinkled face began to glow.

He took a moment, and then stood up.

“Stay here today, and don't go anywhere,” he said with a smile, seemingly in a good mood.

Li Daoji's breathing stopped slightly. He seemed to sense something and looked directly at Xue Wangxu. Slowly, he said, “Since the Bureau of Divinity is conducting an investigation, they will naturally return safely to the mountain. You don't need to go.”

“That’s not the same.” Xue Wangxu shook his head. His usually indifferent eyes were now filled with a rare kind of pride. This attitude was similar to Du Qingjiao's when he was leaving the White Goat Cave.

“For so many years, the White Goat Cave hasn’t had much to make me happy or proud. We finally have a disciple who mastered Profound Understanding in half a day and might even reach Energy Refinement in a month, and he’s also someone my eldest sect brother left for me when he left. But last night, he was almost killed. Of course I know that Bureau of Divinity will let him return safely to the White Goat Cave, but I haven’t left the White Goat Cave for a long time. If I don’t go out… even if I’m alive, other people will think I’m dead.”

“Do you know what kind of people are the most terrifying person in the world is? Not someone who doesn’t fear death, but someone who is about to die soon, and doesn’t worry about whether they will die or not. I’m too old, near death, but before my end, I need to remind people of this.”

Xue Wangxu’s voice still echoed in the small Daoist temple, but his figure was nowhere to be seen.

He disappeared before Li Daoji, into the white clouds that enveloped the temple.

 

As the first rays of light entered falling parasol, Ding Ning woke up as usual.

He coughed softly. The pain from two broken ribs was nothing to him, but the ache throughout his body, something he had not felt in a long time, still made him feel uncomfortable.

As usual, Zhangsun Qianxue was sitting by the window and brushing her long hair.

“The carriage from the White Goat Cave is waiting outside the door.” She did not turn around and said coldly. “But, unbeknownst to the driver, there’s another person in the carriage. It should be a realm five cultivator, but wounded, most likely Wang Taixu.”

Ding Ning knew that her perception would not have any problems at this distance. His eyes filled with excitement.

“Today is special. I'll be returning to White Goat Cave early and won't be able to cook you porridge.” he apologized to Zhangsun Qianxue, then quickly washed his body.

Zhangsun Qianxue fell silent.

She wanted to retaliate, but then she felt that after so many years of living in this shabby alley, as her cultivation progress exceeded her expectations. She had also gotten used to Ding Ning always doing so much for her.

Like this moment, when he told her that he could not cook porridge for her. For a few moment, she did not think that it would not be a problem if she missed a meal, but instead, she thought that if she did not have porridge to eat, would she have to go out to buy something to eat?

Or perhaps she could just go buy a bowl of noodles like he usually did?

 

In front of the carriage, by the door of the wine shop, a middle-aged driver with an honest face waited worriedly.

He also knew about what had happened last night and that Ding Ning had suffered quite serious injuries. But based on his understanding of Ding Ning, from driving him every day for the past half a month, he knew that even if Ding Ning could not return to the White Goat Cave today, he would still notify him.

He first saw the door of the wine shop suddenly open, and then Ding Ning, whose face was deathly pale. The driver immediately showed joy, but at the same time, guilt appeared in his eyes.

“How are your injuries? Are you going back to the White Goat Cave today?”

“Yes, even for healing, the White Goat Cave would be better than the doctors on the neighborhood.”

“Yesterday, I made a mistake… an official came to inspect my carriage afterward. Before entering Changling, the axel had been split by a sharp weapon. Someone had set up a trap on the road. As long as you are a disciple of the White Goat Cave, the teachers of the White Goat Cave… and even the officials will give you special treatment. I really didn’t expect someone to attack you.”

“This was just an accident, and you aren’t a cultivator. If you had noticed it too soon, you might have died.”

After exchanging a few words with the driver, Ding Ning deftly lifted a corner of the curtain and climbed in as the driver regained control of the horses and moved forward.

Seeing the figure curled up quietly on the cushion, Ding Ning first paused, signaling for silence, then coughed and addressed the driver. “Today, I’m afraid you’ll have to drive faster than usual. If the carriage can handle it, please drive faster.”

This carriage driver, who was usually favored by the White Goat Cave, thought Ding Ning was in a hurry to return to recuperate. He said simply, “I’ve put plenty of cushions and blankets inside. When the road is bumpy, you have to be careful.”

Then the driver whipped the horse, and the carriage began to move swiftly.

Amidst the sound of hurried hooves and the churning wheels, Ding Ning looked at Wang Taixu, who was curled up beside him, his face looking deathly pale and several sizes smaller. “This is really terrible… you have to escape to the White Goat Cave with this?” he asked softly.

Wang Taixu weakly looked at Ding Ning, who seemed to have long since noticed his presence, and revealed a faint smile.

“Indeed, it’s really terrible. The brothers who fought by my side, and who could support the Two Level Tower after my death, all died yesterday. In order to obtain information and board your carriage, two more people sacrificed their lives for me. I must admit, you are the biggest surprise to me. Regarding the assassination attempt last night, you and I are the only ones who survived.”

Hearing these words, Ding Ning was not too surprised. He thought for a moment. “It seems the person behind Jinlintang is dissatisfied?”

“If I can survive these few days, I will make him pay,” Wang Taixu said softly, suppressing his cough.

Ding Ning shook his head. He did not answer Wang Taixu’s word. He only muttered. “The White Goat Cave won't ignore me, right? At least, Li Daoji should have come to get me…”

The speeding carriage traveled along the highway outside Changling.

Normally, on a wider path, the carriage should have moved faster. But inside the carriage cabin, Ding Ning and Wang Taixu could feel the carriage slowing down.

A dozen chariots, gleaming with copper, had already taken up half the path. Dozens of armored soldiers were inspecting all the carriages and people passing by.

When Ding Ning lifted a corner of the curtain, he saw the scaled armor of the soldiers and the cold reflections of their swords.

 

Notes:

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

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