Chapter 26: Searching for Medicine

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 26: Searching for Medicine

The wind and snow raged. This blizzard had been falling in Changling for days.

Many cultivators in Changling believed that this prolonged snowfall was related to the primal energies of the universe that Xue Wangxu and Liang Lian had stirred up during their battle.

The movement of such a large amount of primal energies of the universe could affect the weather for a short period of time. In the memories of many older cultivators, after the battle in which Emperor Yuanwu destroyed the Ba Mountain Sword Field, the astonishing movement of primal energies of the universe caused continuous rain in the Ba Mountains for three months.

The battle between Xue Wangxu and Liang Lian once again proved that cultivators above realm seven were extraordinary existences.

Compared to the fact that Liang Lian, the general of the Northern Camp of the Tiger-Wolf Army, was above realm seven, Xue Wangxu's displayed strength shocked many cultivators in Changling.

But in this downpour of wind and snow, many other surprising things happened.

An enormous fleet of iron-armored ships unique to the Qin Dynasty sailed out of the Wei River Port outside Changling amidst the wind and snow.

A carriage parked near a high hill outside the city was hidden in the wind and snow.

The driver of this carriage was a deaf and mute old servant. The man wearing a red robe and sitting inside the carriage was undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in Changling, Bureau Chief Chen of the Bureau of Divinity.

He still looked dispirited. He lifted the curtain and looked at the fleet of iron-armored ships sailing out of the port.

A black dot appeared on the snowy path behind the carriage.

The black dot slowly enlarged, revealing a black umbrella.

The woman under the black umbrella was dressed in a white dress. Her waist was shapely and she was extremely beautiful.

The woman holding the black umbrella of the Bureau of Astrology and remaining calm and composed as she approached Bureau Chief Chen, naturally exuding a presence that rivaled his was undoubtedly the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Astrology, Ye Celeng.

Without any opening words, Bureau Chief Chen spoke slowly, surveying the fleet, “The leader of the fleet is Bureau Chief Xu of the Bureau of Ceremonies.”

In many stories of Changling, the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Astrology and the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Divinity were absolute enemies. In the eyes of those closest to them, these two important figures were fighting both openly and secretly. It was unknown how many times they had crossed swords and slashed each other over the years.

But at this moment, Ye Celeng, who had reached the carriage with her black umbrella, showed no enmity or murderous intent in her eyes.

She frowned silently as she gazed at the cold and majestic armored fleet advancing through the waves amidst the wind and snow.

“The search for medicines overseas has been going on since the time of the previous emperor. This is why the Qin Dynasty possessed such enormous armored warships that no other dynasty possessed.” Bureau Chief Chen looked at her and said, “However, ever since His Majesty broke through to realm seven, his desire to search for medicinal herbs overseas has become increasingly intense and urgent. He ordered you to conquer the surrounding island countries, and establish many new sea routes. This is unprecedented. His order to Bureau Chief Xu to lead an army at sea is truly incomprehensible.”

Ye Celeng stared for a moment and said with a frown, “Those ships that sailed out appeared low in the water and must have been carrying a large amount of supplies. Even with thousands of disciples and armored soldiers, they wouldn’t be able to finish them in a short time.”

Bureau Chief Chen’s eyebrows rose. He said grimly, “If that’s the case, this fleet won’t be returning anytime soon.”

Ye Celeng slowly nodded and said, “Bureau Chief Xu is one of His Majesty’s most trusted people.”

Bureau Chief Chen took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He said softly, “You mean, something has happened to His Majesty’s cultivation, making his desire for Spirit Medicines even more urgent.”

Ye Celeng shook her head. “The Deer Mountain Conference is about to take place. He has already surpassed realm seven and reached realm eight. This is enough for the three dynasties to continue their alliance. Before the Deer Mountain Conference, he will only use the safest cultivation methods; he will never take any risks. Therefore, there can't be any problems with his cultivation.”

Bureau Chief Chen thought to himself as he lowered his head. His eyes slowly lit up with a strange light.

“You said there are no problems with his cultivation. This only means that there is nothing wrong with his current cultivation realm and physical health.” He raised his head and looked at Ye Celeng. “Then he must have felt there was a problem with the next realm.”

Ye Celeng's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. “Then that's the biggest problem.”

Other people might only know that Emperor Yuanwu was powerful, but they did not know exactly how powerful Emperor Yuanwu truly was. She and Bureau Chief Chen were among the few people in Changling who understood Emperor Yuanwu best.

Therefore, she was certain that Emperor Yuanwu had already reached realm eight.

For such powerful individuals, facing difficult obstacles during their cultivation was not the biggest problem. For people like him, who possessed the power of a dynasty, even the highest mountain could be climbed slowly.

The biggest problem was the inability to see that high mountain.

The inability to sense the next realm at all, or more precisely, the path to reach it, was the biggest problem.

Above realm eight was Immortal, the legendary realm nine.

If someone like Emperor Yuanwu was confused about his future path and doubted this realm nine, then who in the world could reach realm nine?

Ye Celeng and Bureau Chief Chen both sank into deep thought.

A long time later, when the majestic and mighty armored ships had completely disappeared in the wind and snow, Bureau Chief Chen spoke first, “On the day Xue Wangxu and Liang Lian fought, a cultivator died in the winter forest by the river ten miles away from the Northern Camp of the Tiger-Wolf Army. He was Nangong Shang of the Bureau of Palace Scribes.”

Ye Celeng's brow furrowed deeply.

“I know you were also near the Northern Camp of the Tiger-Wolf Army at the time. The reason you didn't detect this is because the one who killed him was the one who possessed the Nine Hell King Sword,” Bureau Chief Chen said, glancing at her.

Ye Celeng was startled. A strange, emotion-filled look appeared in her eyes. “So she has even appeared in Changling. She is now capable of using the power of the Nine Hell King Sword? No wonder she was able to kill someone like Nangong Shang without being detected by my Bureau of Astrology.”

Bureau Chief Chen lowered his head and looked at his slightly yellowed fingernails. He said softly, “Has the Bureau of Astrology found any clues related to that person's heir?”

Ye Celeng turned around. Looking at him, she said a little coldly, “If there was, I would have told you already… Why are you asking this?”

“This is different from the past.”

Bureau Chief Chen looked up and met her gaze. He said, slightly hoarse, “In the past, in the eyes of everyone in Changling, including the emperor and the empress, the two of us were irreconcilable enemies. If we let them think that way, they would feel that we were easier to control and deal with, allowing us to live better in Changling. But this time, it’s completely different… because this time, it’s related to That Person. I understand you better than anyone else, so even I have no confidence in you.”

“Are you afraid I’ll do something stupid and drag you down with me?” Ye Celeng looked at him and said with slight coldness, “You don’t need to worry at all. Everything is so far in the past. This is the eleventh year of Yuanwu in the Qin Dynasty.”

Then she turned and quickly disappeared into the wind and snow without saying another word.

Bureau Chief Chen looked at the footprints she left in the snow as they gradually faded. His expression grew increasingly lonely and dispirited. He shook his head slowly and sighed, “I understand what you mean. That person died over a decade ago. In theory, everything is already established. Many of the past principles of the previous dynasty can’t be applied now. But everyone knows that many things still exist here. I’m just worried that you’ll use things from the past dynasty to deal with current matters.”

 

Snow fell heavily and piled up in front of the homes of the people in Changling. In the alleys around Falling Parasol, every household was clearing the snow in front of their doors.

One of them was Ding Ning, who was holding a shovel.

“You don’t even care about this wine shop’s business, so why waste your energy like that?” Xue Wangxu could not help but remark as he stared at Ding Ning as he diligently shoveled the snow. He sat by the stove, looking rather ridiculous in his thick cotton-padded jacket and sable fur hat.

Hearing his words, Ding Ning straightened and said, “That’s not the same. Everyone is sweeping the snow. If I don’t, when the snow stops falling and more carriages and horses pass by, the dirty water from the melted snow will flow into other people’s doors. I’m sweeping the snow now because everyone else is sweeping the snow now.”

Xue Wangxu immediately stilled.

“I don’t understand such a simple principle.” he said emotionally after a while, “No wonder these cultivators all want to cultivate in the mortal world. The small details in the mortal world often contain great principles.”

After the battle with Liang Lian, Ding Ning stubbornly refused to allow him to return to White Goat Cave, and asked Wang Taixu to help him rent a courtyard in Falling Parasol to settle down.

He increasingly felt that Ding Ning's actions were correct. Since he had returned to being an ordinary old man, he naturally had to live like an ordinary old man, and experience a life he had never experienced before.

“Sect Master!”

A shout, clearly laced with tears, broke the atmosphere.

A tall figure dashed through the side alley like the wind and sat down in front of him with a thump, his hands resting on his knees.

“Sect Master, why don't you think twice and duel with a renowned general? What should we do now, with you like this?”

The person who had just arrived was full of tears, and his expression was very open and friendly. This was the eldest sect brother of the White Goat Cave, Zhang Yi.

Xue Wangxu did not know whether to laugh or cry. Looking at this sincere disciple, he finally sighed. “It's not like I'm dead. Why are you crying? Get up quickly!”

Zhang Yi stood up, but after hearing this, he still could not hold back his sobs. He thought to himself, how could he not cry? A few days ago, he was a sect master who had reached realm seven, but now he was just an ordinary old man nearing the end of his life, unable to even withstand the cold.

At this moment, a proud young man appeared at the entrance of the alley Zhang Yi had just came through.

This young man was from Guanzhong, carrying a purple sword on his back. Behind him was a slightly plump middle-aged merchant with a friendly and pleasant face.

This young man from Guanzhong walked straight towards Ding Ning with brisk steps.

 

Notes:

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

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