Chapter 33: How to Resolve Worries

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 33: How to Resolve Worries

“Resolve my worries?”

Prince Li Ling stared at Su Qin, his murderous intent burning even more intensely.

At this moment, Su Qin was covered in the stench of horse dung, his hands extremely rough, looking no different from any other ordinary servant. Although his left hand was no longer bleeding and the wound had dried, the flesh on his fingers and his entire arm were crooked and covered in scars, looking extremely hideous.

Su Qin did not care about his current appearance, but Prince Li Ling cared deeply about the gray hair at his temples. Having white hair in the prime of his life meant that his worries were severe enough to affect his energy and blood. It would also undoubtedly have a significant impact on his future cultivation progress.

Over the years, Prince Li Ling had given others the impression of being meticulous, personally taking care of everything, with energy as powerful as the sun, and at the peak of his powers. Especially now, he could not let the outside world know of his weakness.

“Although I don't know how you managed to evade the sight and hearing of those outside to approach my study, based on your current appearance, don't blame me if I think you can't resolve my worries in any way.” Due to the overwhelming murderous intent he felt, his words now lost their usual gentleness and were filled with contempt.

“Your study may have many retainers stronger than me, but I can appear before you today because I have been here for several days and have accurately observed their habits and ways. This is due to my ability, but it is also an opportunity you have given me by allowing me to stay in this residence.”

Su Qin looked at his shoes, which had been stained with the manure from the horse stables with mixed feelings. Then he looked up at Prince Li Ling, who was staring at his left arm in disgust. “To be honest, you know that most of what Ding Ning said is true,” he said calmly.

Prince Li Ling's brows instinctively furrowed upon hearing that name, and the coldness in his eyes deepened.

Su Qin seemed completely oblivious to this. He smiled as he usually did in the White Goat Cave and said, “You demand too much perfection in your affairs. However, there are not many perfect things in this world. For example, your path back home… why do you need the approval of your father-emperor and Consort Zhao Xiang?”

Prince Li Ling's eyes narrowed slightly. In a cold tone, he said, “What do you mean?”

Su Qin looked at him and said indifferently, “Have you ever thought about getting either your father-emperor or Consort Zhao Xiang to have strong positive feelings for you or to know your essence? Perhaps, that would be more beneficial than having both of them have positive feelings for you?”

Prince Li Ling was no ordinary person, after all, so when he heard Su Qin's words, his facial expression softened and his brows furrowed. “Continue.”

“Your Father-Emperor's relationship with Consort Zhao Xiang is most likely stronger than that between any of the Chu nobility. If one of them acknowledges you, the others will make concessions.” Su Qin now became increasingly calm and confident. Despite wearing the stench of a servant's robe, he shone as if he were wearing the most luxurious clothes in the world. He looked at Prince Li Ling and said, “So, you don't need to hesitate or consider other possibilities. You only need to persuade one of them.”

Prince Li Ling took a deep breath. He raised his head, his expression returning to a kind and gentle expression. “You've endured this long in my residence just to get the chance to stand before me. So, you already have some confidence?”

“I said I could help resolve your worries.” Su Qin bowed again in respect and slowly said, “I'm willing to be your envoy to the Chu capital and persuade Consort Zhao Xiang.”

Prince Li Ling looked at him with admiration and said, “You came to join me. I deliberately sent you to the stables. Yet you don't hold a grudge or hate me, and now you want to help me?”

Su Qin smiled faintly and said, “People in high positions don't consider past grudges; they only care about their own interests.”

Prince Li Ling stood up and slowly bowed in respect. He asked, “What do you need?”

The change in tone signaled a change in status.

Su Qin knew that he had officially taken his first step towards a higher position, so he smiled even brighter. ““If you become an emperor, I will be a minister, an appointment with a status below one person but above millions.”

“If you can help me return to my country and ascend the throne, this request is not excessive.” Prince Li Ling unhesitatingly looked at Su Qin and said, “When you do want to travel?”

Su Qin said calmly, “There is no time to waste. Today.”

 

What motivated people to move forward was not just ambition, but sometimes also an unwillingness to accept defeat.

In a military tent in the Northern Camp of the Tiger-Wolf Army, General Liang Lian stared coldly at the middle-aged man in front of him.

The middle-aged man before him was wearing the clothes and armor of his personal guard, but from his body radiated a presence full of arrogance and savagery that ordinary personal guards did not have.

Such a haughty presence and disdain for the world could only be possessed by a great rebel who dared to become an enemy of an entire dynasty. There was a saying: A person's worth is determined by what they hold dear in their heart, and their standing relative to the enemy they face. This saying was not wrong.

The bold and arrogant middle-aged man staring directly at Liang Lian was one of the direct disciples of the Cloud Water Palace, Fan Zhuo.

“I’ve used this kind of method to give you a warning, you are still unwilling?”

Fan Zhuo glanced at Liang Lian indifferently, and casually used a small knife to cut a piece of meat from the leg of lamb on the table in front of him. While chewing, he said, “Perhaps Zheng Xiu feels you're the one behind the scenes manipulating the Changling Guards to warn us. Cold-hearted people like her don't need any evidence to act.”

“I wasn't unwilling until recently,” Liang Lian said calmly, “Otherwise, why would I have sent you a message? I could have watched you be killed by Ye Celeng and the Tiger-Wolf Army. At the same time, I might have taken the opportunity to kill Ye Celeng to make the Empress more satisfied with me.”

Fan Zhuo looked at him with interest and continued slicing and eating the meat. “What do you want us to do for you?”

Liang Lian said, “Help me kill Xue Wangxu and the young man who always accompanies him.”

Fan Zhuo immediately laughed coldly. “Even if you’re unwilling to resign yourself, don’t give up on yourself. Is this necessary?”

“Of course it’s necessary!” Liang Liang said.

“After the Warden’s Office and those gangsters negotiated, two of my trusted subordinates were killed. I can ignore the injuries the empress inflicted on me, but I cannot ignore the deaths of my subordinates. Otherwise, if I don’t care about their lives, no one will be willing to risk theirs for me. We’ve been at war for so long, and we know we won’t always win. We know that people will die when we lose. But if I can’t even deal with a gangster, my subordinates will doubt my abilities,” Liang Lian continued expressionlessly.

“I’m not a lone cultivator; I’m a general with an army.” Liang Lian looked at Fan Zhuo, who narrowed his eyes. He continued, “After all, an army doesn’t have a fixed formation; it’s like water, adapting to the enemy. When weak, pretend to be strong. When strong, pretend to be weak. Now, everyone won’t think that I’m still going to deal with Xue Wangxu and that young man. If they’re killed, people might even feel that someone else is trying to frame me and challenge the empress’s authority. You can help me do this.”

“And are you afraid that I won't accept defeat, afraid that I will attack blindly like a wounded wolf?”

A cold, mocking expression appeared on Liang Lian’s usually expressionless face. “The more I am like this, the closer I am to you, the stronger our alliance will be, and you will also feel that I am safer.”

Fan Zhuo sneered without concealing it, saying, “What you said isn’t wrong, however, you must understand that we’re only doing this because we want the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard. We can’t take any risks for this matter.”

Liang Lian said coldly, “You know more of the true outlaws, those unrelated to the nobility and important figures in Changling, better than I do. Since I arranged for you to enter the city, I’ve never asked about the secret of the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard or what you’re seeking in Changling. What’s the meaning of our alliance if you’re unwilling to do these small things for me?”

Fan Zhuo thought for a moment. He decided that the more chaos Changling became, the more benefits they would gain.

Liang Lian glanced at him and continued. “That gangster has already gathered some of the factions I want to possess. Other than Fish Market, he's already the leader of those gangsters. If we can control him, it will be easier for you to pursue what you want in the future. In the long run, I'll be in the open, while you'll be in the dark, each of us controlling one side. Perhaps we won't have to face defeat as hard as we do now.”

Fan Zhuo laughed arrogantly. He felt he had not eaten to his heart's content, so he threw away his knife and held the lamb in his hand. He said, “Those people's prices aren't cheap, especially when they're fighting for their lives in Changling.”

Liang Lian looked at him and slowly said, “To buy a life, no price is too high.”

 

The carriages delivering gifts gradually dwindled and began to disappear in the afternoon.

All the families in Falling Parasol felt that someone extraordinary had appeared here and were all very proud, but Ding Ning was no different from any other day.

Since he had not gone to the White Goat Cave to cultivate, and the wine shop had closed a few days ago, Ding Ning only flipped through some notes Xue Wangxu had written over the past few days that night and witnessed Zhang Yi playing chess with Xue Wangxu.

Xue Wangxu had great cultivation in the past, but his ability in chess was inferior to Zhang Yi. After losing several games in a row, he became furious with shame. He slapped the chessboard and said, “Do you know how to respect your elders? You won several games, but you didn't know to deliberately make a few wrong moves so your master could win once!”

Seeing Xue Wangxu's angry state, Zhang Yi felt both ashamed and confused. He lowered his head and frantically said, “Sect Master, the books say…”

“Books!” Xue Xue Wangxu was so angry he almost lashed out, but for some reason, he suddenly felt extremely worried. In the end, he sighed and looked at Zhang Yi seriously and warned. “You have a kind personality and a gentlemanly demeanor. But I'm afraid you're too kind and will be exploited by villains. So I want you to remember these words. Every book is written by humans, every law is made by humans… etiquette and favors, you can decide for yourself which is more important.”

Ding Ning stared at Xue Wangxu, who was teaching intently, and his eyes grew even more respectful. However, at this moment, his body suddenly froze.

Out of the corner of his eye, a serene woman dressed in red was staring directly at him.

 

Notes:

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

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