Chapter 78: A Frightened Elder Sect Brother

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 78: A Frightened Elder Sect Brother

Di Qingmei was no ordinary person. However, Xue Wangxu's words gave him, who had been stuck at the doorway to realm seven for several years, a profound understanding.

His hands continued to tremble. In a low, disbelieving voice, he asked, “Why do you say such things to me?”

“Don't forget that the White Goat Cave and the Green Vine Sword School first belonged to the Qin Dynasty. Regardless of our status and identity, we are first and foremost Qin people.” Xue Wangxu glanced at Di Qingmei and continued calmly. “His Majesty and the empress can tolerate my eldest sect brother and me because they know that we consider ourselves first and foremost Qin people. If necessary, our swords will target the enemies of the Qin Dynasty. As for cultivation, when you reach my age, you won't be afraid of others catching up or surpassing you. My only enemies are myself and my age.”

Di Qingmei’s hands trembled even more violently.

He felt so small under his clothes. He could feel that the very distant mountains that Xue Wangxu was looking at and the sky above him, had merged into one, seeming infinitely vast.

When his hands stopped trembling, he lowered her head. “Xue Wangxu, I’m not as good as you,” he whispered.

“That may not be the case.” Xue Wangxu said calmly. “My path is almost at the end, but yours is still long. Only the path you choose can determine your future.”

 

In the sword trial valley, after accepting his defeat, Shi Xia removed the token hanging from her waist and was about to give it to Ding Ning.

“So appetizing.” Ding Ning sniffed and said, “Do you smell it?”

Shi Xia stilled. He took a deep breath and concentrated for a moment before he seemed to smell the faint aroma of roasted meat. This was definitely not the half-burnt skylark he had just eaten, but the type of meat that has enough fat to remove the aroma when cooked.

“Would you like to go and take a look?”

Seeing Ding Ning's expression, Shi Xia could not help but offer a well-intentioned warning. “It could be a trap. You've already won against me today. You just need to reach the designated area to pass.”

Ding Ning laughed and said, “Although I ate some wild oranges, my empty stomach still feels sour after eating something sour I feel uncomfortable. I need to eat enough food to fill my stomach so I have enough energy.”

From the start, Shi Xia had categorized Ding Ning and himself as weaklings. He never expected Ding Ning to choose to smell the fragrance and actively seek out an opponent. Thinking that Ding Ning would soon face another tough battle, and the subtle sword moves Ding Ning had just displayed, his gaze suddenly heated up. Shi Xia said loudly, “Younger Sect Brother Ding Ning, ay I accompany you to watch?”

Ding Ning glanced at him and said with a smile, “I don’t mind. I just don’t know if the masters of the Green Vine Sword School will mind. The trial rules prohibit two people from traveling together.”

As if waking from a dream, Shi Xia handed Ding Ning a token and said, “If I admit defeat, then I can't be said to be traveling with you. If a master wants to order me to leave the valley immediately, I will ask him to give me more time. After that, I will need more time to return to the observation platform, and I might miss out on many things.”

Ding Ning smiled faintly. He said nothing more and began walking towards the source of the aroma.

Shi Xia was worried that people would say he was affecting the trial if he got too close to Ding Ning, so he followed Ding Ning from a distance. After passing through many vine walls, he was even more surprised, as his sense of smell finally caught a distinct aroma that wafted over him.

Apparently, Ding Ning’s sense of smell was several times more sensitive than his.

Several bright orange hues appeared before Ding Ning. These were not wild, withered oranges that were past their prime. These were wild persimmon trees.

Seeing the ripe persimmons on the trees with white frost still clinging to their surfaces, Ding Ning laughed with satisfaction. He nodded in greeting to the person under the tree and said, “In Changling, they say that persimmons with frost are as sweet as honey. I've always preferred persimmons like this. Elder Sect Brother Ye Ming has found a good place.”

The person sitting under the persimmon tree was dressed in the robes of the White Goat Cave. He appeared to be five years older than Ding Ning. This was the same person who had waited for Ding Ning at the gate of the White Goat Cave when he first entered: Ye Ming.

At this very moment, he was sitting on a rock under a wild persimmon tree, roasting a wild boar's trotter. Beside the fire was a black boar with its trotter cut off.

This was a relaxed scene, with abundant food and clothing.

However, when Ye Ming heard Ding Ning's words, his expression showed worry. He appeared uneasy and speechless.

Walking closer and seeing this expression, Ding Ning laughed. “Were you also forced by Elder Sect Brother Su Qin to deliberately wait here for me?”

Ye Ming was surprised. “Youngest Sect Brother Ding Ning, how did you know?”

Ding Ning pointed at the thin mist behind him. “Because there's a precedent.”

Ye Ming could vaguely make out a disciple of the Green Vine Sword School within the mist, and he stilled.

“He's Shi Xia, a disciple of the Green Vine Sword School. I won against him, and he followed me to watch.” Ding Ning said frankly. Then he rubbed his stomach. He glanced at the golden roasted boar’s trotters in Ye Ming's hand. “My stomach's uncomfortable. Would Elder Sect Brother Ye Ming invite me to eat?” he asked seriously.

The shock in Ye Ming's eyes grew even more intense. But he hesitated.

“Is Elder Sect Brother Su Qin also the one who hunted this? It's fine. It doesn't matter whether I win or you win, will he be merciful to the winner in the next trial?” Ding Ning pursed his lips and spoke as if he could read Ye Ming's mind. “Then what's the problem if I eat his boar trotters?”

Ye Ming was silent for a moment. “It's quite reasonable. Please have some, Youngest Sect Brother Ding Ning.”

“The wild boar meat on the mountain is truly fragrant. Elder Sect Brother is very good at roasting meat. It's a shame you don't have any salt and only used persimmons to season this.”

“One is hot and oily, the other is raw, cool, fresh, and sweet. Be careful, don't suffer from indigestion from eating both together.”

“It's fine, He Zhaoxi ate a lot of raw meat just now and didn't get diarrhea. His experience has shown me that intense exercise will increase intestinal energy. I have to fight Elder Sect Brother later, so this is perfect.”

“He Zhaoxi? Have you seen He Zhaoxi?”

“Yes, he lost to me. Didn’t Elder Sect Brother Su Qin tell you?”

“…” Ye Ming’s brows furrowed slowly. He looked at Ding Ning, who had already cut off most of the boar’s trotters. His expression became stern. He could not help but say, “Youngest Sect Brother Ding Ning, I know that you have extraordinary talent, but one must be honest. You’re still so young, why make up stories to scare me? Do you think this will scare me?”

Ding Ning looked up. His gaze shifted from the half-eaten persimmon in his hand to the stern-faced Ye Ming. “Elder Sect Brother Ye Ming, I'm speaking the truth.” he said helplessly.

“You still haven't repented.” Ye Ming's expression turned even uglier. He put down the boar bone in his hand and slowly stood up. “If that's the case, then let me see how powerful Youngest Sect Brother’s sword is.”

Ding Ning looked at him seriously and said, “I'm not full yet.”

Ye Ming took a deep breath and said, “It's not good to overeat. Besides, from what you said, someone is waiting to see your fight.”

Ding Ning wiped his hands and seemed to remember something. He said, “Elder Sect Brother Ye Ming, I’m actually wearing He Zhaoxi’s robe right now.”

“I don't know where you got the Green Vine Sword School uniform, but you think you can scare me like this?” Unexpectedly by Ding Ning, Ye Ming became even more furious after hearing this. He shouted, “Do you think I can believe you defeated He Zhaoxi and pulled off his robe?”

That scene was so beautiful, Ding Ning did not dare imagine it.

So he reluctantly stood up and walked to an empty spot to the side. Helplessly, he drew his Last Flower Remnant Sword and said, “Elder Sect Brother Ye Ming, please.”

Ye Ming drew the longsword he carried on his back with a dark expression. He did not say anything because he knew that Ding Ning cultivated the Wildfire Sword, which primarily focused on defense. He leaped, his hand centered, and stabbed upwards at Ding Ning's chest.

This move was very simple, and the sword was also an ordinary Qin Dynasty black metal straight sword. There was only a seal inscription that ran along the blade on the back of the sword. This seal inscription allowed the channeled physical energy to enter the sword, which then exited through the tip. The sword was not as striking as other swords.

However, at this moment, his sword perfectly matched his sword essence.

A few feet from Ding Ning's chest, a white sword energy shot out from the tip of the sword with a hiss. Like a white goat's horn suddenly extending, the sword curved as it moved upwards and towards Ding Ning's chin.

Ye Ming had cultivated the orthodox the White Goat Sword Manual from the White Goat Cave.

This move was the renowned White Goat Hanging Horn.

Ding Ning took a moment. He considered the surest move to defeat Ye Ming as quickly as possible.

So at this moment, he took a step back. Then, he poured all his strength and physical energy into the Last Flower Remnant Sword in his hand. A hissing sound emanated from the inky green sword, which was filled with fine cracks as tiny white flowers completely enveloped it.

Then, he swung his sword to meet the white goat horn.

Watching from afar, Shi Xia's breath stopped. He sensed something was wrong, but he did not have time to consider it before Ding Ning's sword and the emerging white goat horn collided.

There was a loud explosion.

Ding Ning clearly could not stand it and took a step back.

Ye Ming’s longsword froze in midair. He was slightly dazed. But when he sensed the presence of the white flower that had been sprayed and the surging power in his longsword, he finally understood.

Just a few seconds ago, he had said that Ding Ning was using He Zhaoxi to scare him and that he would not be afraid. But now, he seemed to have seen something terrifying. He cried out in confusion. “What's going on? Energy Refinement second-class cultivation! Why is your cultivation approaching Energy Refinement first class?”

 

Notes:

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

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