Chapter 36: The Key to Destiny

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 36: The Key to Destiny

Ding Ning and Shen Yi walked side by side.

In front of them there were many huts lined up. This was the Fish Market.

“Actually, you won’t see much while wandering around the Fish Market now.” Ding Ning turned to Shen Yi and said matter-of-factly, “There aren’t many underground businesses open during the New Year.”

Shen Yi said, “It doesn't matter. Serenity has its own beauty, just as hustle and bustle has its own beauty.”

Ding Ning turned his head, slightly puzzled. He looked at this young man from Guanzhong and said, “This doesn’t seem like something someone with your personality would say.”

Shen Yi laughed and said, “Elder Sect Brother is indeed very perceptive. These aren’t my words, but a famous saying of my little uncle. There are a few more sayings: If one wants to see the scenery of a place, they must observe not only when it’s quiet or bustling, but also throughout the four seasons. To truly see a friend, one must observe not only when that friend is at their most successful, but also when they are most unsuccessful, lacking, and in danger.”

The speaker must have been quite famous to have a famous saying. So Ding Ning asked once they had entered the Fish Market, “Who's your little uncle?”

Shen Yi said, “My little uncle is Shen Huai.”

Ding Ning was slightly surprised. “One of the Five Swordsmen of Guanzhong?”

Shen Yi nodded.

Ding Ning glanced at him. “I didn't expect him to be your little uncle. Why don't you learn the sword from him?”

Guanzhong was an area eight hundred miles wide, consisting of plains and mountains. It was home to many great swordsmen. To be recognized as one of the five strongest swordsmen, Shen Huai was certainly famous.

Shen Yi said in a low and embarrassed tone, “My swordsmanship was actually taught directly by him.”

Ding Ning was surprised and said, “I apologize.”

Shen Yi shook his head and said, “The same sword manual will create different cultivators. My little uncle told me that the key to cultivation lies in the path one chooses.”

Ding Ning nodded and said, “He's right. Sometimes, a person's insight will determine their height.”

“I should have come to Changling earlier. Otherwise, how would I have known such a unique place existed in the world?” Shen Yi had followed Ding Ning to the Fish Market and looked at the surrounding dark streets and alleys, which looked like a ghost town. He looked at the dim lanterns burning like ghost fires and asked quietly with curiosity, “Are all kinds of goods really traded here, including prohibited items? Can someone like me buy them?”

Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “You can buy, but you have to use some intermediaries here.”

Knowing that there were many things involved, Shen Yi asked with even greater curiosity, “Then, can I attend things like underground auctions?”

“Of course.” Ding Ning said, “However, you have to gain the trust of those intermediaries. With your status as a wealthy member of Guanzhong, you should have no problem attending. But once you’re certain you want to buy a particular item, the intermediary will name the price. Otherwise, many people will know where the item ended up and bring disaster upon you.”

Shen Yi said sincerely, “I really want to see if I get a chance. Maybe I'll find some useful items.”

The lamb butcher shop in the west corner sold lamb on the outside, but inside, they were human traffickers selling children brought from faraway places and even other dynasties. The tailor shop in the east specialized in selling Chu Dynasty seal artifacts. The three-room stilt building near the lower lake was a base for foreign bandits. If one wanted to attend an underground auction for cultivator items, they had to look for Pockmarked Xue, who sold tung oil, or Old Zhou, who sold salted fish.

Ding Ning led Shen Yi towards the deepest part of Fish Market, which was also the lowest part, while slowly explaining the various paths in a low voice to him.

Shen Yi listened intently, but failed to notice that Ding Ning's speech was becoming slower and slower.

“Next, whatever you hear from me, don't change your expression. Pretend you're just having a casual talk with me, and don't let anyone sense anything unusual.” Suddenly, Ding Ning's words reached his ears.

Because the words were spoken slowly, Shen Yi had enough time to react. He suddenly trembled, but he controlled his emotions perfectly and asked softly, “What's wrong?”

Today, Ding Ning had come to the Fish Market only to visit the lonely old woman to wish her a happy new year and chat with her for a while. But just now, he sensed an unusual and dangerous presence.

“Someone wants to assassinate me. Those who dare to do that in the Fish Market are true outlaws. And now, even you've been dragged into this matter,” Ding Ning said slowly and calmly. “Although I don’t know who they are, my life and yours are in your hands now. You must listen carefully and remember what I’m about to say next. You must not make any mistakes.”

Shen Yi, who saw the unusually quiet alleys and felt no murderous intent, became even more shocked. However, the seriousness contained in Ding Ning’s calm words convinced him that this was no joke.

“Speak, I’ll do it,” he nodded and said softly.

Ding Ning lowered his voice, and lowered his head so that his lips were in the shadow. “In a moment, I’ll take you past several shops. The owners of those shops are no ordinary people, and they all have connections with the ruler of this underground Fish Market. But I don’t know which shops are open now. You will enter any shop that is open. Once you enter, you must start counting the time. After fifty breaths, you must inform the shop owner as quickly as possible that someone is going to commit murder in the Fish Market and the location is the Ghost Worry Pier.”

Shen Yi naturally did not understand why Ding Ning had asked him to count the time, but he still memorized every word. He replied simply and gently, “Enter the shop, count the time, fifty breaths, ask for help, Ghost Worry Pier.”

Ding Ning nodded calmly and said, “Just remember that. What I'm going to say next is just casual small talk.”

Shen Yi glanced at him and said, “I understand.”

 

Ding Ning continued to lead the way towards the tower where the old woman lived.

He continued to talk about the workings of this Fish Market, but his mind was filled with indescribable anger and cold emotions.

Just as he had told Zhangsun Qianxue, he did not want to drag that miss of the Shang Family into trouble because of past matters. And he also did not want to use any of her power. But today, just as he was making a casual visit to an old woman, on New Year's Day, someone was forcing him to borrow the power of the Fish Market.

Who exactly was that person?

His thoughts grew colder and angrier, but his thoughts became more vivid. He increasingly considered the consequences.

Most of the water pond in the lowest part of the Fish Market was covered by the roofs of the many huts, so not much snow had fallen. The ice on the surface of the water was only two finger knuckles thick.

Ding Ning's calm eyes suddenly lit up with a mysterious fire. His gaze once again fell on the Last Flower Remnant Sword at his waist.

At this moment, he and Shen Yi were near the shops he had mentioned to Shen Yi.

Of the many shops, only one shop is open at this time. Inside was the light of fire and the presence of a person.

Ding Ning knew that the shop owner was in the weapons business. The pillared tower has many fine swords.

The Last Flower Remnant Sword that Li Daoji had purchased also came from there.

People who had originally had no connection with him seemed to be connected to this remnant sword. It was as if countless favors and grudges had intertwined a destiny. And this remnant sword seemed to be the key to unlocking that destiny, which had been sealed here, waiting for him for many years.

“This shop sells swords. If you come in alone, you don’t need an intermediary. The shop owner has many fine swords, even better than those found in many cultivation places in Changling. You can look around while you wait for me there. I’ll meet you here after I visit someone and wish her a happy new year,” Ding Ning pointed to the shop, raised his head, and looked at Shen Yi calmly as he spoke.

Shen Yi naturally understood that Ding Ning’s words were just casual conversation. Of course, he wouldn’t wait for Ding Ning to return to meet him here. So he nodded heavily and said, “Alright, since this is the only shop open, I’ll just look around inside this one.”

Ding Ning smiled faintly, left Shen Yi there, and continued on his way.

Shen Yi looked at him with even deeper respect. Ding Ning was able to show such a smile at this dangerous moment—while he himself could not. He was truly inferior.

 

Ding Ning’s brow imperceptibly furrowed. The Ghost Worry Pier in front of him lay beneath several stilt houses filled with firewood. There were no shops nearby, and his view was obstructed. This was the best assassination spot along this route. If the positions were reversed and he was the one who was going to assassinate someone, then he would choose to act at this location.

At this moment, he sensed a presence moving toward this location. This proved that these people were coming for him, not Shen Yi.

He took a deep breath. The numerous "little silkworms" in his body seemed to awaken with his breathing and silently moved within him.

 

Shen Yi tried his best to remain calm, but after pushing open the door and entering the shop, his breathing suddenly became rapid and uncontrollable.

“Hm?”

The long, loose-haired man lying on a mat inside the shop seemed to immediately detect Shen Yi's strangeness and snorted softly.

Shen Yi remembered Ding Ning's warning. Remembering that he could not speak prematurely, he took a deep breath and began calculating the time in his mind as he said, “I'm from the Shen family of Guanzhong. I hear you have many fine swords here.”

The long, loose-haired man, his features obscured in the darkness, looked coldly at him. However, the man did not say anything and moved backwards.

Then, the blanket covering his body was lifted. As the blanket revealed the black sword case beneath, Shen Yi also saw that the man had no legs.

His legs had been severed at the knees!

Seeing this scene, Shen Yi could not control his emotions and instinctively exclaimed, “Your legs are cut off, you can't move easily… What should I do?”

Lacking legs had nothing to do with selling swords. Shen Yi's exclamation at this time was very sudden. The long, loose-haired man’s gaze flickered, and he lowered his voice, “Is something going on?”

 

Notes:

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

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