Chapter 57: What I Care About

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 57: What I Care About

As the yellow leaves fell to the ground, the bright sun shone down on the stone path in Changling's inner palace.

A man in yellow official robes embroidered with serpents slowly walked toward the study at the end of the stone path. This man appeared to be in his thirties, with a radiant face, a broad forehead, and thick lips. Despite his ordinary build, he exuded a strange aura of strength, an aura of great perseverance. As he walked slowly, his limbs seemed as strong as iron.

Several large and powerful copper puppets lined both sides of the path. These puppets were ready for battle and could be deployed at any moment. At the other end, in the study, sat the empress of the Qin Dynasty, the most beautiful and powerful woman.

Anyone summoned by this woman would undoubtedly be nervous and fearful. But this man seemed to feel little of these emotions. His gaze remained fixed forward, and his steps were steady.

The empress sat on the phoenix throne in the study. The spring in front of her continued to radiate milky-white spirit energy. Strands of spirit energy wrapped around that spirit lotuses that were as perfect as her.

When this man slowly entered the study, she gently raised her head.

On days like this, her beauty was even more radiant, her eyes even more majestic.

The yellow official-robed man stopped twenty paces away from her and bowed slightly in greeting.

Being able to enter her study and stand twenty paces away from her was an honor for any official in the Qin Dynasty.

This man held such honor because he was one of the strongest generals in the dynasty's military. He was one who was nearing completion of his military service and the general of the North Tiger-Wolf Army with the highest potential to become a marquis, Liang Lian.

“I've warned you before. Even if you want to snatch a piece of meat off the street, you can't use such simple and crude tactics. You must be more gentle and careful.”

Without saying anything else, the empress looked at Liang Lian and said, “You have greatly disappointed me.”

Liang Lian apologized. “It was an accident.”

A hint of coldness appeared on the empress's flawless face. “It wasn’t an accident, but your choice. If you hadn’t intended to kill a young man from a wine shop who has some connection to Wang Taixu, you wouldn't have bothered Xue Wangxu. Had you not killed that gangster immediately, he definitely wouldn't have been able to survive in the end.”

“If Xue Wangxu and Du Qingjiao were really that weak, they would have disappeared from Changling long ago. Should the White Goat Cave be merged into the Green Vine Sword School?”

The Empress looked at the silent Liang Lian and with some disdain said, “Your desire to cut and uproot grass is so great that it leads you to utter failure.”

Liang Lian’s brow furrowed slightly. “One cuts grass to uproot them,” he said, solemnly.

“That's where the problem lies.”

The Empress looked at him indifferently. “You only care about the affairs in front of you. You don't consider any Changling cultivator to be a treasure for our dynasty. I heard that young man reached Profound Understanding in half a day and might reach Energy Refinement in a month… a young man like this might prove to be a great asset for the country in the future,” she said slowly and icily.

“Many people don't care whether you want that piece of meat. You want to become a marquis, build enough power to become one; everyone understands this.”

“However, the way you handled this matter was extremely barbaric. All of this can't remain a secret forever; even if Zhou Jianlin and the others are dead, and there's no evidence implicating you, the impression you left on them means they don't need proof. In the eyes of the rulers, anyone can influence your future, and Zhou Jianlin and that young man are no different. They are all cultivators of our dynasty. Even if they die, they should die on the battlefield, and not in a plot like this.”

The Empress shook her head and then spoke in a rather common language. “Changling is so large… The Qin Dynasty has such a vast territory. The Qin Dynasty is not afraid of people fighting over meat. There is so much meat. Even if a few more people join the battle, they won’t be able to finish it all. We only fear our people killing each other. Your attitude in dealing with your subordinates, your cruelty, will chill many hearts, making them fear and be wary of you. You must understand that many people have deeper doubts about you.”

“Perhaps, I’m wrong. But most of the time, I work for you and your family.” Liang Lian looked at her calmly. “Will I have a chance in the future?” he asked softly.

The Empress had already averted her gaze from him. She stared at the spirit lotuses in the spring in front of her and nodded slightly. “Of course, there will be a chance. For example, the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard, or that Nine Death Silkworm.”

Liang Lian said nothing more. He bowed respectfully and took his leave.

 

“Mother Empress.”

As Liang Lian’s figure disappeared from the hallway outside, a young imperial son, about Ding Ning’s age, emerged from behind the curtain behind the empress. His features were strikingly similar to the empress’s; very delicate, almost androgynous. He seemed overly gentle. However, his eyes were very agile, as if he were curious about everything.

“That young man from the wine shop, who had never cultivated before, reached Profound Understanding in half a day, and even managed to kill a military cultivator with a higher cultivation than him. Is there a problem with his identity?” This imperial son who appeared behind the empress appeared very excited.

The Empress seemed very fond of him and showed a rarely seen smile. Her voice became very gentle. “If there were, Fang Xiumu and the Bureau of Divinity would have revealed it long ago. Besides, regardless of whether there is or not, you don’t need to think about someone like him.”

“Because you are not like others, Fu Su. You are my son, the future crown prince of the Qin Dynasty,” she said softly with a smile. “You don't need to get involved in small matters. Even if he can reach Energy Refinement in a month, to Changling and those in your position, he's just a tiny ant. You just need to look at the bigger picture, pay attention and observe those who are already high enough in status. If you can understand how to interact with people of high status in Changling, you will be able to establish yourself.”

“Just like that Prince Li Ling.” A sinister smile appeared on his perfect face. “He’s accomplished, and holds quite a high position. Yet he always has to do everything himself. Of course, with his abilities, if he oversees every detail, things will be handled more efficiently. But a person’s energy is limited. And if one is tired, one cannot handle everything easily and smoothly.”

“Thank you, Mother Empress, for the reminder. This son will ponder these words after he returns.”

This imperial son laughed. “But if this person really reaches Energy Refinement Realm in a month, and in a place like the White Goat Cave, this son will submit,” he said childishly.

“Sometimes, it’s better to submit.” The empress’s smile disappeared from her face, and she spoke seriously. “I'm afraid that he will be like Liang Lian, who is unable to submit, and has an obsession.”

Hearing this, the imperial son became serious. “General Liang is talented. Mother Empress, if you have time, remind him a few times so he won’t make mistakes.”

The empress looked into his lively, innocent eyes. She smiled faintly.

Among the many imperial sons, only Fu Su, with his kind personality, would say something like this. However, being too kind was the greatest weakness for most people. But for the future ruler of the Qin Dynasty, and the future Changling, kindness is the greatest virtue.

But being too generous was simply being soft-hearted.

“You should listen to Minister Yan’s lectures more often. He will teach you more about how to interact with others,” she said, seriously.

 

“Ha…”

On the mountain path outside the Green Vine Sword School, many voices were giving orders to the horses.

Several carriages had already arrived from various paths. If they did not avoid each other, some would even be pushed off the paths. As these carriages arrived, more appeared on the distant paths.

Perhaps, because they found it difficult to avoid each other, some got off the carriage and continued their journey on foot towards the gate of the Green Vine Sword School.

The people who came were disciples from cultivation places in Changling who had good relations with the Green Vine Sword School. Naturally, they were here to witness the annual sword trial festival.

For schools that had good relationships with each other, this opportunity to appreciate each other was a great opportunity to observe and learn. However, the number of people who could benefit from this opportunity was limited. Only the most outstanding disciples from these schools were eligible.

Because there were few opportunities to meet each year, and some even had personal friendships, the moment the disciples entered the usually quiet gates of the Green Vine Sword School, it became bustling with activity…

Xu Heshan of the Pine Sword Academy and Xie Changsheng of the White Cloud Monastery were among the attendees.

However, among the talents from various places, the most outstanding was Gu Xichun of the Shadow Mountain Sword Cave.

The Shadow Mountain Sword Cave and the Green Vine Sword School were relatively strong among these cultivation places. Gu Xichun was known as the disciple who had advanced the fastest in the past few decades at the Shadow Mountain Sword Cave. He had reached Profound Understanding in a month, and realm two, Energy Refinement Realm, in three months.

Even if we ignore those rare freaks, such speed, in all of Changling, was truly shocking.

At this time, the star disciple of the Shadow Mountain Sword Cave was dressed in a neat green brocade robe. He had sharp, defined eyebrows, thin lips, and a straight nose. Standing among the crowd, as he spoke, his posture alone made him look like a crane among chickens.

The more outstanding a young man, the more proud he usually was.

Hearing his good friends talking about how the White Goat Cave and the Green Vine Sword School had merged so that the former would attend the sword trial festival tomorrow, and the young man who had reached Profound Understanding in half a day and could reach Energy Refinement in one month, he smiled indifferently and said, “Profound Understanding in half a day, perhaps he had detected the presence of his energy sea by sheer luck. But from realm one to realm two, understanding the method of energy refinement has no shortcuts. It can't be said that if someone has reached Profound Understanding quickly, they will also reach realm two quickly. They say that he might have a breakthrough in a month, but rumors of that breakthrough haven't reached yet. This proves that it can't be that fast. This is simply a beautiful dream from the White Goat Cave.”

Hearing him speak, someone half-jokingly said, “Gu Xichun, do you feel this young man from wine shop can't do it just because you can't?”

“You think I'm jealous?” Gu Xichun's smile immediately disappeared. However, he was not angry. “I don't care about these things. I only care about the great trial of the Min Mountain Sword Sect,” he said seriously.

 

Notes:

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

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