Chapter 55: Living with Integrity

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 55: Living with Integrity

Most of the people present had no idea what was happening. They did not understand why the distant mountain range had suddenly become clear.

But Duan Zhiqiu and the bald official from the Bureau of Divinity understood what was happening.

This was the Mountain Moving Realm!

The distant mountain could only become clear in an instant by extracting all the primal energies of the universe from that distant place and moving it here. However, suddenly drawing such a large amount of the primal energies of the universe here would form an invisible mountain above everyone's heads.

Amidst the panic, Xue Wangxu gripped the small white jade sword at his side with satisfaction.

The invisible mountain above everyone’s heads suddenly disappeared, but a powerful force emerged from the small white jade sword, which was like a decoration that rose from the ground.

Pew pew pew pew…

Duan Zhiqiu let out a low cry. Dust that had accumulated over the years scattered from his metal armor. He could not hold it in and floated upwards until his body was several meters off the ground.

Buzz!

All the chariots parked nearby seemed to sense mortal danger, emitting terrifying vibrations. The Taotie Seals on the chariots lit up and shimmered with blinding light.

Countless greedy and bloodthirsty monsters were on high alert, as if they would charge out of the chariots' surfaces at any moment and slaughter the people.

Even more astonishing was that, in the next moment, the armored chariots, pulled by four horses, were lifted into the air by a powerful force. They soared higher and faster above the pavilions along the paths.

This was a scene hard to describe.

The armored chariots flew through the air, the ferocious monsters on them growling, but unable to resist.

Even the armored soldiers of the Gate Guards were silent. But the shocked official of the Bureau of Divinity official suddenly reacted and said, “Don’t!”

The seal chariots were difficult to craft, each one a product of painstaking craftsmanship and a valuable asset of the Qin Dynasty. According to Qin Dynasty law, cultivators who intentionally damaged a chariot would be immediately executed.

However, his worries seemed unfounded.

With a hiss, all the strangeness in the air suddenly vanished.

Pew pew…

Duan Zhiqiu’s body landed on the ground, his feet creating two puffs of dust.

All the armored chariots landed soundlessly on the ground, supported by a gentle force.

The snarling monsters on the chariots quickly disappeared as if frightened.

Xue Wangxu put away his small white jade sword and looked at the pale Duan Zhiqiu proudly.

Countless cries of surprise rang out.

Only now did everyone realize that the White Goat Cave carriage, which had been behind Duan Zhiqiu, was now standing on the path behind Xue Wangxu.

Xue Wangxu looked at the still trembling Duan Zhiqiu and shook his head. He was not interested in saying another word.

He floated like a weightless cloud back to the carriage. He sat next to the driver and casually said, “Return to the mountain.”

The mountains in the distance were hazy. No one else dared to stop the carriage.

 

In an ordinary small courtyard, in the eastern part of Changling, there was an old-eyed cultivator, who once lamented “an achievement is built on ten thousand lives”, sitting on a bamboo chair under a wintersweet tree.

Currently, he was not wearing a mask.

His face was as smooth as his forehead, but his beard was slightly gray, adding signs of age to his features.

A mighty eagle, sparsely feathered, glided over and perched on his outstretched arm. He took a scroll of parchment from a hollow tube tied to its leg. As he read its contents, he let out a long sigh.

He closed his anxious eyes and leaned back in the cool bamboo chair. Many scenes flashed through his mind.

Among them, the headless corpse of a seal master kneeling in a dark alley, Wang Taixu flying into the sky and quickly disappearing, a fat chef drinking poison and dying in a small restaurant, and an invisible mountain landing on a distant path.

Of all the battles he had faced, this seemed to be the one with the greatest chance of success.

But who would have thought that this seal master, usually powerful and wise, cultivated both in seals and swords, would fall at the hands of a young man?

Who would have thought that so many people would be willing to sacrifice their lives rather than sacrifice Wang Taixu?

Who would have thought that the most mediocare and unremarkable sect master of an ordinary and insignificant sect, nearly forgotten by most people of Changling, would actually be a Mountain Moving Realm cultivator?

A young man who had cultivated for less than a month possessed such combat power.

A mere Changling gangster had so many loyal, death warriors by his side.

An old Mountain Moving Realm grandmaster had even come out of the mountains this time…

So, his loss in this battle was not due to injustice.

Unfortunately, if he lost the battle in the past, there might still have been a chance to turn the tide. However, defeat in this battle, the outcome was set.

To defeat a cultivator above realm six, one needed to send several realm six cultivators, and even realm seven cultivators. To defeat a realm seven cultivator, one needed to use realm seven cultivators.

The disparity between the number of cultivators in the world and ordinary martial artists was vast, but Changling always had many cultivators. However, while cultivators of realm five and below were easy to find, realm six was a dividing line.

So, when Xue Wangxu displayed his realm seven strength, there was no significant difference between one day and three days.

This worn old cultivator, his face clouded with worry, closed his eyes for the last time. His vital energy flowed through his body like a storm and destroyed his vitality.

Blood flowed from his mouth and seeped onto the clothes on his chest, like numerous roses.

 

The carriage carrying the four people struggled up the mountain paths.

Wang Taixu straightened up in the cabin and faced Xue Wangxu, whose back was to the carriage door. He bowed solemnly, “Thank you, Sect Master Xue, for saving my life.”

“If you need to thank, don't thank me.” Xue Wangxu looked at Ding Ning with a satisfied look.

Ding Ning also looked at him with a satisfied look.

At Wang Taixu’s words of gratitude, Xue Wangxu pointed at Ding Ning. “Thank him and your subordinates who saved him. If he hadn't mastered Profound Understanding in half a day, and done something that made me proud last night, I wouldn't have left the mountain today.”

Wang Taixu said respectfully, “It's all the same.”

“There are many honest people on the streets. And there's also more honor among the common people than in the court.” Xue Wangxu looked at Wang Taixu seriously and slowly said, “But I still want to give you some advice. Where there's a chance of mistake, you should show some mercy and consideration. The nobles in the court will probably give you an explanation for the deaths of your brothers last night. But if your next actions fail to satisfy them, and you drag in some people who shouldn't be dragged in, you and more of your people will be implicated.”

Wang Taixu looked solemn. He nodded and said, “This junior understands.”

“You are very good.” Xue Wangxu's gaze returned to Ding Ning. Although his entire face showed satisfaction, he still could not help but say, “I'm very satisfied.”

Ding Ning smiled respectfully and calmly. “I'm also very satisfied with you.”

Xue Wangxu smiled slightly and said, “My satisfaction with you isn't solely due to your cultivation progress, but rather to how you interact with these gangsters. I like cultivators who have emotions, not those who cut themselves off from all feelings for the sake of advancing their cultivation.”

Ding Ning looked at him and said, “I'm satisfied with you not because you're very strong… but because I thought Sect Uncle Li Daoji would come and interfere, and never expected you to come yourself.”

Xue Wangxu did not hide his satisfaction as he looked at Ding Ning. He said, “Your injuries are severe. But there aren't many days left until the sword trial festival of the Green Vine Sword School.”

Ding Ning nodded. “So you must give me some good medicine… otherwise, I won't last until the end and obtain that spirit vein.”

Xue Wangxu laughed heartily, his laughter echoing through the forest.

He then looked at Wang Taixu calmly and said, “You and my eldest sect brother have some connection. You can stay in the White Goat Cave for a few days.”

Wang Taixu solemnly thanked him again.

The sunlight cast a golden glow over the carriage.

Ding Ning narrowed his eyes. He leaned back on the cushion and softly asked Wang Taixu, “Do you sometimes feel that all the ‘you kill others’, and ‘others kill you’ is something very boring?”

Wang Taixu nodded. “Very boring… but people have scales in their hearts. If the scales are out of balance, they will not feel at ease.”

Ding Ning softly said, “Is this what is called 'people live by their integrity, trees live by their bark'?”

 

Notes:

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

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