Chapter 13: Observing the Paintings in Silence

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 13: Observing the Paintings in Silence

The nobles and important figures of Zhushan District arrived one after another in front of the Fire Virtue Hall and took their seats on either side of the table, filled with incense and offerings. However, the first row on both sides remained empty.

Just as in previous years, these seats were reserved for Old Master Feng and his children. For most residents of Zhushan District, their land would only prosper if the Feng Family prospered.

Feng Qinghan was young. So, although he was very famous in Zhushan District, he did not need to interfere in these affairs. After greeting the important people who had arrived, he simply stood quietly to the side and waited.

The streets were bustling, and people moved like a tidal wave. They would only part to make way when the procession carrying the kitchen god or the shamans was passing through, and then gather together once they had passed.

The journey to the Fire Virtue Hall was a long one for those who lived far away.

Feng Qinghan's eyes suddenly narrowed slightly. A glimmer of murderous intent appeared on his young face.

He looked up at the distant rooftops and saw a white cloud of energy shooting past at an astonishing speed.

When the crowd in front of the Fire Virtue Hall witnessed this strange sight, gasps of surprise rang out.

Two figures could be vaguely seen within the white cloud of energy. This brought to life the legends of immortal swordsmen who could ride clouds and mist.

Feng Futang took a deep breath. As the most effective and competent steward of the Feng family, he was calmer than Feng Qinghan. He did not share Feng Qinghan's excitement. He was just slightly anxious.

Xue Wangxu landed at the venue.

Among the nobles and important figures seated, there were naturally many cultivators. They all sensed the presence of the vast primal energies of the universe contained within the cloud.

This presence, compared to their own cultivation realms, was like the difference between heaven and earth. Everyone's hearts trembled, and therefore, no one dared to speak. Complete silence enveloped the venue.

This silence spread outward. Even the crowd surrounding the Fire Virtue Hall became much quieter, no longer noisy.

Feng Qinghan knew the cultivation realm this white-haired and bearded old man had reached. However, he did not feel the slightest fear; instead, a dark smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

His gaze instead fell on Ding Ning, who was behind Xue Wangxu.

Ding Ning stood calmly as usual behind Xue Wangxu. He could perceptively sense Feng Qinghan's malicious gaze. Although he did not know Feng Qinghan's status, he had already suspected certain possibilities.

He did not even look at Feng Qinghan, but subconsciously shook his head slightly.

Feng Futang stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Xue Wangxu. He said, “Sect Master Xue Wangxu, why did you change your mind today and come to watch the ceremony?”

Xue Wangxu turned to Ding Ning and then to Feng Futang. He smiled faintly and said, “Yesterday, he called me a hypocrite. So today, you and I should be less hypocritical.”

Feng Futang’s expression froze slightly. He said quietly, “Today, there is calligraphy and painting by Her Majesty the Empress to be worshipped. On an occasion like this… I’m afraid this isn’t very appropriate, is it?”

“After paying respect to Her Majesty the Empress’s calligraphy and painting, I will naturally participate in the festival held by the people of Zhushan District.” Xue Wangxu said calmly.

Feng Futang took a deep breath. He said nothing more and made a gesture of invitation. He said, “Then, Sect Master Xue, please take a seat.”

“I’ve been sitting for quite some time. I’ll remain standing.” Xue Wangxu said calmly.

Feng Futang retreated respectfully, in silence.

 

Since there was no need to be hypocritical anymore, everyone no longer paid attention to Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning.

Through Xue Wangxu's attitude towards Feng Futang, those nobles in Zhushan District who had been sitting, vaguely realized that Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning had not come to cheer. They had come to take revenge. Disgust flashed in their eyes.

In their view, the Feng Family would never be afraid of trouble. All they needed to do was observe how these two strangers would end up.

The statue of the Kitchen God that had been paraded around was the first to be seated… Then the parade of jumping shamans danced even more energetically around the statue of the Kitchen God, and various offerings were placed on the offering table.

By the time all the offerings were placed, the crowd outside burst into cheers. A palanquin led the procession, covered with curtains embroidered with clusters of flowers, looking very luxurious. But there was no one sitting in the palanquin. In the center there was only a tablet of jade and a painting scroll with a silk surface.

The Feng family members walked behind this palanquin. Feng Qianzhuo, dressed in simple, clean robes, walked at the front.

The people on both sides of the street were clearly in awe of Feng Qianzhuo. Many even knelt down and kowtowed to him along the way.

Beholding the scene, Ding Ning's face remained remarkably calm, like a rock amidst the waves.

Xue Wangxu could not help but shake his head. “It seems he's indeed kind to the Zheng people here.”

In a tone similar to Zhangsun Qianxue's usual indifferent tone, Ding Ning said, “If he were truly kind to others, when the Ba Mountain Sword Field was destroyed by the Qin army, he should have died with the other elder sect brothers.”

Xue Wangxu looked at him worriedly and said, “It's not good to know too many stories.”

Ding Ning said, “Regardless of whether they're stories or current events, some truths remain unchanged. This is why I like Eldest Sect Brother Zhang Yi and dislike Elder Sect Brother Su Qin.”

Xue Wangxu paused slightly and expressed his admiration. “It makes sense. Although Zhang Yi is very sentimental and fussy, he does care about his fellow sect brothers… sometimes, it's hard to tell what's right and wrong, but one must consider one's moral integrity first.”

 

Feng Qianzhuo walked to the incense table.

Throughout the procession, he did not even glance at Xue Wangxu. Despite being surrounded by the respectful cheers of the mountain people around him, he did not show the slightest hint of arrogance. He always displayed absolute humility, as if the palanquin in front of him was not only carrying a scroll painting of Her Majesty the Empress, but rather the Empress herself sitting there.

He was the first to light incense and then began to speak. Unlike in previous years, the focus of his speech today was, of course, the painting scroll of the Empress.

He spoke of the Empress's generosity, her great concern for Zhushan District, and how she had created a painting scroll with auspicious meaning for the Kitchen God Festival to pray on behalf of all the people of Zhushan District.

The repeated repetition of the words “Her Majesty” and “Empress” caused Ding Ning's originally calm and composed face to turn icy cold.

He refrained from expressing his thoughts to avoid unduly alarming Xue Wangxu.

If the noblest woman of the Qin Empire was truly so generous and truly compassionate towards the Zheng people, why did not she stand up and say a word when the Zheng Country was destroyed back then and many Zheng people died in the forced labor of canal building and forced migration?

In contrast back then, she appeared to be more ruthless than the Qin people simply because she did not want others to unnecessarily associate her with the Zheng people.

If this was her repentance and atonement for her past coldness and cruelty, when she thought back to other past events, and her outrageous cruelty, would she also feel regret?

 

The temple festival quickly reached its peak.

As the people of Zhushan District thunderously shouted “Long live Her Majesty the Empress!” Qianzhuo solemnly bowed to the scroll and then took it. He walked over to the statue of the Kitchen God and untied the golden thread holding the scroll closed.

All sounds quickly disappeared and the venue quickly became silent. Everyone waited with bated breath to see what the empress herself had painted.

Ding Ning also wanted to know. So he took a deep breath and slowly raised his head.

Feng Qianzhuo's hand was very steady as the scroll slowly unfolded in his hand.

Gasps of disbelief rang out.

Many people of Zhushan District began to tremble with fear and some were even so scared that they were on the verge of tears.

Because the painting scroll Feng Qianzhuo unfolded was completely blank—just a white canvas. The unusual white exuded a chill that was hard to describe, making people think of a piercingly cold snowfield.

The Empress had given him a painting, but the scroll was blank, leaving only the impression of a piercing chill. What did this mean?

Had Zhushan District done something wrong, and the Empress was warning them with this painting?

But in an instant, many people's eyes widened involuntarily.

A majestic and vast presence suddenly poured out from the empty and extremely cold scroll.

Suddenly, many streams of primal energies of the universe that only cultivators could sense appeared in the world in front of this scroll. They were seal lines formed with mental power.

Threads of red seeped out from the blank scroll.

As the bright red appeared on the bone-chilling snowfield, everyone saw that it was a beautiful red plum blossom in full bloom.

As the red plum blossom fully appeared on the scroll, threads of red flame energy appeared in the air in front of the scroll. The flames rose slowly, forming countless red flowers in the air. These flowers warmed the air throughout the Fire Virtue Hall.

“The bone-chilling cold is gone, the red plum blossoms are in full bloom… This is the end of bitterness and the beginning of sweetness!” someone shouted from within the crowd.

The fear and anxiety of the residents of Zhushan District completely vanished. They gazed at the flame flowers with reverence and gratitude.

This kind of scene and magnificence were a miracle to them.

“The Empress has a higher cultivation realm than I do.”

Feeling the invisible seal lines that had suddenly formed and the gentle primal energies of the universe in the air, Xue Wangxu said with solemnity and respect, “I feel that she is only one step away from experiencing realm eight breakthrough.”

Ding Ning's face was slightly pale. Under the reflection of the bright red flowers floating like scattered celestial flowers, his face looked a little pale and reddish.

Only then did Feng Qianzhuo's gaze truly focus on Xue Wangxu.

At such an age, what could not he understand? Did he still want to harbor anger after seeing the painting today?

He did not understand Xue Wangxu's way of thinking and shook his head.

 

Notes:

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

Previously

Next