Chapter 38: Cultivators of the Qi Dynasty

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 38: Cultivators of the Qi Dynasty

With a strange buzz, a thin, light green flying sword shaped like a bamboo leaf flew out of the short-haired, blue-robed cultivator's sleeve. The Flying Sword circled around him, creating countless sword shadows, as if countless bamboo leaves were constantly falling.

His face was slightly pale. He stared intently at the small crimson sword that flickered faintly within the shadows. Based on the skill of concealing this small crimson sword within the ice, preventing him and his companion from detecting it, it meant the other party's cultivation realm was higher than his.

If he had been the first to attack, he would have been dead by now.

The sound of hurried footsteps reached his and Ding Ning's ears.

Shen Yi, his face even paler and his forehead covered in sweat from nervousness, carried sword shop owner in his back and arrived before the short-haired, blue-robed cultivator and Ding Ning.

Seeing Ding Ning standing unharmed and the two corpses lying on the ice, Shen Yi felt both elated and relieved. Then he turned to look at the sword shop owner on his back.

It was only then that he finally understood that his thoughts were incorrect. Having no legs did not mean he was slow.

The short-haired, blue-robed cultivator took a deep breath. He suddenly let out a sharp cry. The ice beneath his feet shattered into pieces, and he was thrown to the side.

Clang, clang, clang, clang…

Terrifying sounds of clashing metal rang out around him. Countless sword shadows exploded into tiny, yet bright sparks around his body.

Shen Yi's breathing completely stopped. He felt the vital energy of the sword shop owner he was carrying surge and release rapidly.

The presence of the small crimson sword flickering in the darkness had completely changed. From initially hiding silently, the sword now turned into a fast and powerful slash!

The small crimson sword surrounded this short-haired, blue-robed cultivator who was trying to escape, and wove an impenetrable net. The Flying Sword of the short-haired, blue-robed cultivator was thrown several feet away from him. He was forced to a complete stop.

“You can't run now.” The sword shop owner smiled faintly and said coldly, “Even if you win against me today, you won't be able to escape. Moreover, you can't even defeat me.”

As he spoke, the small crimson sword suddenly withdrew and flickered erratically in the shadows.

During this brief battle, the clothes of the short-haired, blue-robed cultivator were completely soaked with sweat.

“I might not need to run,” he said, looking at the sword shop owner.

Just as he spoke, the ice beneath his feet suddenly split apart.

His sword-like body pierced the ice beneath him and sank into the bone-chillingly cold, dirty water.

The bamboo leaf sword circling around him followed closely, plunging into the water with a hiss.

“Elder Sect Brother Ding Ning! Be careful!” Shen Yi suddenly reacted and cried out in alarm.

The sticky, murky water obscured most of this person's presence, and the Flying Swords created even more turbulence beneath the ice. The short-haired, blue-robed cultivator clearly did not want to leave. He was like a giant python snaking through the water to kill Ding Ning.

But Ding Ning remained incredibly calm, saying in an incredibly sincere tone, “I want him alive. This is good for the Fish Market.”

Shen Yi was stunned.

Strange vibrations formed on the surface of the black and dirty ice.

Numerous streams of cold energy appeared on the ice, but the ice remained undamaged.

In the next moment, he saw countless black bamboo stalks growing on the ice, swaying despite the lack of wind.

A vast and terrifying dark presence caused this area to turn into a veritable ghost town. All sound disappeared, and the water beneath grew darker, as if an invisible hand had gripped the giant python.

It all happened quickly but felt like it lasted forever.

The small crimson sword that flickered in the shadows returned to the sword shop owner's sleeve. The ice not far in front of Ding Ning rose strangely as if there were bamboo stalks growing from the mud beneath it.

Crack crack crack.

This silent area finally started to make sounds.

Shards of ice flew up and fell back down.

A dark, murky torrent of water emerged like a monster and crashed onto the surrounding ice.

The muddy water spread across the ice surface like black oil, revealing the short-haired, blue-robed cultivator within. At this moment, his body was dyed black by the muddy water, and he lay motionless. The black bamboo swaying on the ice surface disappeared silently, as if it had never existed.

A sharp hiss of inhalation was heard.

It was only then that Shen Yi managed to regain his breath. He breathed heavily. He finally understood what kind of place the Fish Market was.

A hunchbacked old man with a black bamboo staff walked slowly along the wooden path.

Shen Yi's heart pounded as if it were about to leap out of his throat.

This was clearly a grandmaster cultivator in realm seven. More importantly, this cultivator used the Yin Ghost Path, a method rarely seen in the Qin Dynasty.

Although there was no distinction between orthodox and unorthodox cultivation methods, the records of his cultivation were clear. Cultivators who focused on the Yin Ghost Path would have a much harder time advancing after reaching realm seven compared to ordinary cultivators.

The old man with the black bamboo staff put away his intimidating presence and asked Ding Ning flatly, “What do you want to do?”

Ding Ning bowed to him and the sword shop owner. He said, “The Bureau of Divinity must be very interested in him. I know an official named Mo Qinggong.”

The old man with the black bamboo staff shook his head slightly. “You and Wang Taixu are too close. You should know that matters in the shadows must be resolved in the shadows. If you link him to the imperial court, it will cause a great calamity.”

“I understand this.” Ding Ning looked at him and said seriously, “But the point is, those people who tried to deal with me should be people from the imperial court, and their status isn't low. I'll still come to the Fish Market in the future. They ignored the Fish Market's rules this time, so if the people behind them don't back down this time, the market will no longer have any rules.”

He paused and looked at this old man with the black bamboo staff. He added sincerely, “Besides, if anything untoward happens, Two Level Tower will be on the front lines.”

The old man with the black bamboo staff thought for a moment and said, “I'll have someone take him out of the Fish Market and deliver him to Wang Taixu.”

Ding Ning had been calm before, but after hearing the old man's agreement and considering the possibilities, his heart began to pound uncontrollably.

He bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude to this old man with the black bamboo staff.

“You deliberately gave them an opportunity to attack and borrow the Fish Market's strength. Next time, it would be best if this doesn't happen again.” The old man with the black bamboo staff did not return the bow and said coldly with a glance, “No one likes to be taken advantage of.”

Ding Ning did not defend himself and said respectfully, “It won't happen again next time.”

After the hunchbacked old man with the black bamboo staff turned away without another word, the sword shop owner looked at Ding Ning coldly and asked, “Did you already know that I was strong enough to defeat these cultivators?”

“I wasn’t sure, but I was sure you had connections to the people in charge of this place.” Ding Ning looked at him and said, “Besides, I gave Shen Yi enough time so that even if you felt incapable, there was still time for others to come here.”

The sword shop owner's gaze swept over the two corpses of the cultivators Ding Ning had killed and said, “People who have been on the spirit path for many years probably don't have your decisiveness and consideration. No wonder Wang Taixu values you so much.”

Ding Ning said, “Mister’s Flying Sword is also very powerful.”

The sword shop owner did not answer. He said to Shen Yi, “You've carried me on your back all the way here. Are you tired?”

Shen Yi was surprised and said, “Not tired.”

The sword shop owner said, “If you're not tired, may I trouble you to carry me home?”

Shen Yi was surprised again, then said, “Of course.”

Ding Ning smiled slightly and said, “I'll go back with you first.”

Shen Yi looked hesitantly at the two cultivator corpses lying on the ice and the cultivator who looked almost dead. He said quietly, “Shall we just ignore them?”

Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “Since the people from the Fish Market have already said so, aren't you at ease?”

Shen Yi breathed a sigh of relief. But when he thought about what had just happened, he could not help but whisper in admiration as he walked, “Elder Sect Brother Ding Ning, I am not as good as you.”

Ding Ning understood the straightforward personality of this young man from Guanzhong well. He knew that no matter how much he protested, the other would still think this, so he did not respond at all.

Shen Yi could not help but ask the sword shop owner. “Mister, you have such a powerful cultivation base. Who could have severed your legs?”

Ding Ning immediately showed an awkward expression.

This was like rubbing salt in the wound. He clearly knew that Shen Yi was grateful to the sword shop owner for his help and was asking with the intention of helping the other.

But did the sword shop owner understand Shen Yi's personality?

The sword shop owner said coldly, “It was because my younger sect brother was jealous of me, and he plotted against me.”

Ding Ning was shocked. Shen Yi's expression immediately became extremely awkward, and he said, “Although I admire Elder Sect Brother Ding Ning, I am not jealous of him.”

The sword shop owner sneered and remained silent.

Shen Yi’s righteousness resurfaced. He asked, “How could there be such a wicked younger sect brother? Have you already taken revenge?”

Hearing such childish words, the sword shop owner frowned and said, “If I had already taken revenge, I wouldn't have had to flee to Changling.”

Shen Yi became angry and said, “Who is that person, and where is he now?”

The sword shop owner seemed to find this young man from Guanzhong very interesting and said with a hint of sarcasm, “That person is called Gongzi Bai. He is in Yingqiu.”

“Yingqiu?” Shen Yi immediately froze. “Mister, are you a cultivator from the Qi Dynasty?”

Hearing this, a strange light flashed across Ding Ning's eyes. He could not help but glance at the sword shop owner. “Marquis Gongzi Bai of the Ji Country?”

Shen Yi was stunned. He clearly did not know who Gongzi Bai was.

The sword shop owner smiled mockingly, nodded and said, “My younger sect brother has been elevated to marquis. I won't be able to take revenge unless the Qin Dynasty successfully destroys the Qi Dynasty.”

 

Notes:

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

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