Chapter 9: An Old Man's Youthful Folly

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 9: An Old Man's Youthful Folly

Zhushan District in Ba Commandery was a very special place. It even had another name: City of the Zheng People.

In the past, when the Qin Dynasty fought against the Han, Zhao, and Wei Dynasties, the first country it conquered was the then-small country, the Country of Zheng.

The territory of Zheng was only the size of one of the commanderies of the current Qin Dynasty. Zheng was a weak country, located at a strategic crossroads. Although the monarch of the Zheng opened its gates wide and allowed the armies of the Qin Dynasty to pass through unhindered, the Qin Dynasty still found an excuse to conquer the country, because the movements of the Qin armies were too easily tracked and it was inconvenient to station armies there.

Most of the young and strong laborers from the Country of Zheng were forced to do hard labor. They were sent to build water reservoirs and irrigation for farmland. When the Qin Dynasty established Ba Commandery, most of the Zheng people were ordered to settle in the remote mountains and clear land in Ba Commandery.

Most of the Zheng people who survived the hardships of the conquest of their country, the hardship of hard labour, the dangers of crossing mountains and rivers and the poisonous snakes and insects of the Ba Mountains, had grown old and many had died. Their descendants settled in Ba Commandery. Most of the residents of Zhushan District in Ba Commandery were descendants of the Zheng people.

With the passing of a generation, these descendants of the Zheng people had long accepted their fate and become Qin people, but they still retained many of the original customs of the Country of Zheng.

Perhaps it was the reality of living under the shadow of several great powers that made the anxious Zheng people deeply believe in ghosts and gods. Every year, they paid homage to ghosts and gods by holding various ceremonies and temple festivals. The popular temple festival that Xue Wangxu mentioned to Ding Ning was originally the Kitchen Fire Temple Festival to worship the Kitchen God.

However, the Feng Family of Ba Commandery in Zhushan District was not of the Zheng people.

When Emperor Yuanwu ascended the throne and required the people of the Ba Mountain Sword Field to demonstrate their loyalty, all disciples of the Ba Mountain Sword Field who demonstrated their absolute loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor through their actions were spared, regardless of whether they were of high cultivation or were outer sect disciples with mediocre abilities.

In the past, Feng Qianzhuo of the Feng family was an ordinary disciple of the Ba Mountain Sword Field. The reason why the Feng Family was able to live a prosperous life in Ba Commandery, and even resembled minor marquessate, was because of a fact that many people were reluctant and did not dare to mention.

The most noble woman of the Qin Dynasty, Her Majesty the Empress, was a Zheng from Zheng Country. Just like the lady of the Xie Family in Guanzhong, Empress Zheng Xiu's family was a thriving nobility family in Changling. Zheng Xiu was born, raised, studied, and cultivated in Changling.

In the end, a Zheng person was still a Zheng person. Although she ascended the throne as empress, no one knew how much blood and turmoil it took to achieve this position.

In the bloodiest years before Emperor Yuanwu's accession to the throne, everything she showed made people believe that she was a true Qin Dynasty person. She had no particular sympathy for the Zheng people. But when the situation in Changling was completely stabilized and she became the reigning empress, many people were surprised to find that she, who was so cruel and merciless in many ways, still had some tenderness towards the people of her home country. Officials who were more lenient in their treatment of the Zheng people would receive preferential treatment.

When the Zheng people were forced to move to Ba Commandery to clear and settle in the mountains, the Feng family treated them extremely well. Coupled with the Feng family's actions when the Ba Mountain Sword Field was destroyed, the Feng family became the most prestigious aristocratic family in the Zhushan District soon after Emperor Yuanwu ascended the throne. They not only had the power to manage the nearby copper and tin mines but also earned the respect of the Zheng people around Zhushan District.

“What exactly is the medicine you mentioned in Ba Commandery that can cure me?” Ding Ning asked Xue Wangxu amidst the monotonous sound of carriage wheels pressing on the thin ice-covered road.

“It’s an Appearance Enhancing Pearl.”

Since there was sufficient time, Xue Wangxu was not in a hurry. He spoke slowly, as if telling a story. “The Appearance Enhancing Pearl that I'm referring to is certainly not the cheap fragrant pills made from pollen and honey that the fragrant and powder shops in Changling make. This is a genuine ancient elixir pearl with extraordinary properties for maintaining the appearance.”

“After His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne, stopped the war, and no longer restricted immigrants from moving and settling in Changling, Changling has now become the world's largest city in the world. Although the Ba Mountains region has become a commandery, it remains a region of dangerous mountains and treacherous waters compared to Changling. You may not be aware, but many years ago, many cultivation sects were located in the Ba Mountains.”

“The Ba Mountains of the past possessed many spirit veins far stronger than the ones we, White Goat Cave, possess today. Numerous sects were formed and flourished there. Even today, although the spirit veins have dried up, there are still the remains of many sects in the Ba Mountains.”

“In the second year after His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne, my eldest sect brother was traveling in the Ba Mountains when the ruins of an ancient sect were discovered. Many cultivators rushed there, searching for treasures. My eldest sect brother found an Appearance Enhancing Pearl.”

“The medicinal energy emitted by the Appearance Enhancing Pearl nourishes the five organs and maintains one's appearance. However, when my eldest sect brother found this Appearance Enhancing Pearl, he encountered another cultivator who tried to seize it.”

“That cultivator was Feng Qianzhuo of the Feng Family in the Zhushan District of Ba Commandery. My eldest sect brother tried to fight, but because they were evenly matched, he defeated my eldest sect brother, and the Appearance Enhancing Pearl was taken by Feng Qianzhuo.”

Hearing these words, Ding Ning involuntarily shook his head. His gaze fell on the Last Flower Sword. He could not help but recall Zhangsun Qianxue's words to him when he intended to join the White Goat Cave.

Changling was a place where countless favors and grudges gathered.

For example, right now. This remnant sword originally had no connection to the White Goat Cave or Xue Wangxu. However, without realizing it, it had become mysteriously entangled with many events from the past.

“Back then, my cultivation wasn't much higher than my eldest sect brother. The opponent my eldest sect brother couldn't defeat was most likely also an opponent I couldn't defeat.”

Xue Wangxu glanced at Ding Ning and said calmly. “Moreover, that Appearance Enhancing Pearl can be refined. My eldest sect brother and I naturally thought that after he seized the pearl, he would definitely refine it. Coupled with the Feng Family's relationship with the Empress's family, we could only accept this outcome and not think about it any further.”

“But then you discovered that he hadn't refined this Appearance Enhancing Pearl?” Something in his eyes made Ding Ning ask.

Xue Wangxu shook his head mockingly. “A few years ago, I heard that Feng Qianzhuo had a penchant for beautiful women, so he gave his Appearance Enhancing Pearl to his concubine for use.”

Ding Ning frowned, not hiding his disdain. “Then he can be considered a very loyal person. Most people who love beauty, no matter how beautiful a face is, will get bored looking at the same face for a very long time.”

Xue Wangxu laughed. “He also gets bored easily, so he gave this Appearance Enhancing Pearl to three concubines in turn. This way, before he gets bored with them, at least the concubines he favors can maintain their beauty.”

Ding Ning laughed coldly. “Such a good idea. It's a shame he didn't use it for his cultivation.”

“In reality, when one cultivates for a long time, they will ponder its purpose.”

Xue Wangxu looked at Ding Ning as he spoke very seriously. “When one feels there is no possibility of progressing forward and does not want to achieve any career or go to the battlefield to fight, one will inevitably feel there is no point in furthering one's cultivation. It would be better to spend the rest of one's life surrounded by fine wine and beautiful concubines.”

Ding Ning fell silent. He knew Xue Wangxu was telling the truth. But Feng Qianzhuo owed him a debt of gratitude. So, in his opinion, even if Feng Qianzhuo felt it was pointless to cultivate, he did no't deserve to live a life of luxury with a bunch of concubines.

“For you, cultivation certainly has meaning.” Xue Wangxu looked at the silent Ding Ning and smiled faintly. “For me, after living my life in peace, having a final moment of glory would make me feel better than a hundred beautiful concubines. Don't feel like you owe me anything. Besides, you have to compete in the Min Mountain Sword Trials. Even if you say I'm obsessed, even if my White Goat Cave no longer exists, if a disciple from the White Goat Cave could place in the top three in the Min Mountain Sword Trials, I would be happier than anything else. Just thinking about that possibility now, and thinking about the various expressions of those nobles, makes me incredibly happy.”

Ding Ning saw the joy and smile on Xue Wangxu's face. He could not help but imagine that scenario as well. He felt that he was happy too. He could not help but smile and said, “I don't think you're obsessed. Although to many people, the White Goat Cave is just a name, to you, it's your entire life. However, I heard that the Min Mountain Sword Trials won't be the same as sword trial festival of the Green Vine Sword School. There's a difference in ranking between the top three. So, being in the top three isn't the happiest thing; if I'm going to compete, of course I have to compete for first place.”

Xue Wangxu paused slightly. He saw the absolute confidence in Ding Ning's smile and calm gaze. His hand almost pulled out a few strands of his white beard again.

“You want to compete for first place? Even though I've said so much to you, you still possess such confidence?”

Xue Wangxu shook his head, but then he sighed and laughed again. “If you really can take first place, this old man will act like a young man, stripping off his clothes and running around the sword river in front of Min Mountain Sword Sect.”

“I'll take first place.” Ding Ning said confidently. Then he looked at Xue Wangxu with a strange expression. “In your youth, did you like to strip and run around? Did you have any strange habits like that?”

Xue Wangxu laughed heartily, his hands patting the seat as if he had truly returned to his youth.

“Youthful and frivolous, singing loudly and drinking freely. Who knows what reckless things I've done? But so much time has passed, so many mistakes have been made, so many people have left. But there's no turning back, and there's no chance to do it again.”

Hearing Xue Wangxu's words, Ding Ning closed his eyes and thought to himself. “Old man, although you're in your twilight, since I've followed you, I will definitely bring you true glory.”

 

Notes:

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

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