Chapter 42

As old people like to say, if a weapon has shed too much blood, it will inevitably become bloodthirsty. The bloodthirsty weapon causes numerous sufferings, therefore it’ll inevitably haunted by hatred.

There are thousands of bloodthirsty weapons in the world, each of them has its own terrible history. However, none of them has the dubious honour of bearing the “Sword of Terrible Death” title that everyone remembers.

In the second that Shuang Ren touches blood, although Cheng Qian hasn’t concentrated his mind on the blade, he is already stunned by the terrible emotions from a distant past that surrounds it. At the same time, this sword consumes far more spiritual energy than a wooden sword, in return for its superior power. Holding Shuang Ren, Cheng Qian, for the first time since he started learning swordplay, has the feeling that his body doesn’t obey his mind.

The masked figures didn’t expect such a young brat could be so tough. They stop for a moment and make signs outsiders don’t understand. Then they ignore everyone else and surround Cheng Qian.

Cheng Qian slowly breathes out, feeling that his breath has become white fog. The frost of Shuang Ren has apparently seeped into his body, making everything inside him cold.

Several layers of sword energy aim at him at the same time. Knowing that trying to fighting all of them upfront is courting death, Cheng Qian turns into a shade that moves between the openings of his enemies’ sword energy like a fish swimming in water. Thanks to Zhang Dasen and his gangs who pursued him for one thing or another day after day, he is exceptionally skilled in dodging attacks.

While he dodges, Cheng Qian even intentionally leads these masked figures away from Puddle and the others. However, just as he seems to be full of energy, he suddenly stumbles as if he were hit. A ray of sword energy from one of his pursuers catches up to him, and turns his left shoulder into a mess of blood and flesh.

However, Cheng Qian doesn’t even feel the pain. He is only aware of the ‘bong’ in his head. That comes from the puppet charm he gifted Xue Qing. He can feel clearly that the spiritual energy in the charm just disappears. Puppet charm is one of great seven visible charm; the spiritual energy contained in it doesn’t disperse easily. It must be that Xue Qing has just been in a life-threatening situation.

Then is he… is he alive?

He is only a lowly cultivator’s servant who travelled alone. He doesn’t have much money; his personality is calm and polite. Who would want to harm him?

Is this an accident? Or is he caught up in an ambush?

If this is a conspiracy, then the letter Cheng Qian’s most senior brother asked Yu-er to bring home doesn’t have a reply, because it hasn’t arrived. Or…?

What about Fuyao Mountain?

At that moment, no matter how Cheng Qian tries, he can’t suppress the panic. The many unfortunate events overwhelm his heart at this unlucky moment. He is hurt because of the puppet charm, then he is besieged by the emergencies. His eyes blur and his legs wobble. Before he is aware what’s going on, a mouthful of blood rises from his chest.

“Xiao-Qian!”

It seems that Li Yun calls his name. Startled, Cheng Qian avoids the sword of a masked figure with difficulty.

At this point, Cheng Qian’s back is soaked with cold sweat. The sound of metal clashing rings by his ears; he looks up and sees his most senior brother in the air. With just a glance, Cheng Qian knows Yan Zhengming is struggling. Ants can bring down an elephant, and these enemies aren’t weak at all. Yan Zhengming hasn’t reached the level of concentrating the mind for a long time. For him to being able to ride the sword so calmly, it is likely an extraordinary effort forced by the dangerous situation.

The shades made from his mind are destroyed by the masked figures repeatedly. Each gain Yan Zhengming makes is countered by a loss. When a shade is destroyed, his face whitens. Furthermore, he still has to watch out for the safety of his disciple brothers and sister. A pity that he can’t grow a hundred extra pairs of arms and eyes.

Cheng Qian doesn’t want to distract him, so he recklessly forces the blood that has risen to his throat down.

It isn’t a pleasant sensation. Cheng Qian’s face immediately loses its colour and he nearly drops the sword. As if it could sense that his heart isn’t firm, Shuang Ren immediately chooses that moment to create a backlash.

Cheng Qian is surprised. He has the illusion of standing alone in front of the endless waves of an eternal sea. The water in the sea seems to come from the mournful darkness of Beiming, giving off a chill that seeps to the bone. Silence reigns. Inexplicable anger and sorrow rise in his heart. Why does such a divine weapon have to bear the mockery of the world? Why does a great talent have to bear terrible words spoken both behind his back and to his face?

Suddenly, a childish voice screeches behind him. “Stab that bad guy! Don’t you dare hurt my Third Brother!”

After that, there is a buzzing sound that passes by Cheng Qian’s ear. With a sharp clang, a Soul Seeking Needle flies towards a masked figure as if it had its own mind. That one’s sword wind has ripped the fabric on Cheng Qian’s chest. However, pursued by the nasty Soul Seeking Needle, that masked figure has to withdraw the sword and take a defensive stance, before a scratch appears on Cheng Qian’s skin.

Cheng Qian immediately becomes awake again, and takes a few urgent breaths. He discovers that the spiritual energy in his body has been emptied by the backlash from Shuang Ren. The big problem is, he can’t throw this sword away, because the masked figures don’t let them go, but keep coming more and more.

Not looking back, Cheng Qian reaches back with high precision and pats Puddle’s head. He gently says, “Shh, don’t cry. It’s nothing. Try not to use your Soul Seeking Needles.”

We can’t use the boat. If there is no other way, Cheng Qian looks up at Yan Zhengming, who is running out of strength, and thinks, Let’s have our most senior brother take Puddle on his sword and do everything to break out of the siege.

It’s not that easy for Yan Zhengming to take Puddle along with him. Then what should be done about the rest of them?

Before Cheng Qian can come up with something, Li Yun gives out a terrified shout.

Yan Zhengming finally reaches his limit, as he rides the sword while sending out the shades made from his mind, and suddenly falls down. Li Yun hastily makes the hand sign. A transparent net rises from the ground, stopping their sect leader and most senior brother from smashing the face into the dirt.

Yan Zhengming half kneels on the ground, wobbling a little. In that moment, he doesn’t even have the strength to stand up.

Having no other choice than to push himself once more, Cheng Qian steps on Han Yuan’s shoulder and rises to the air. The sword Shuang Ren arrogantly sketches a sharp arc in the air. Using the infernally cold energy of this legendary bloodthirsty weapon, he forces a group of masked figures to step back. His body feels like it’s being pierced by needles all over, like the times his energy reserve runs out. Cheng Qian knows very well his meridians can’t take it anymore.

However, in a time like this, even if he can’t bear it, how can he retreat?

Cheng Qian’s mouth is full of the stench of rust. He plants Shuang Ren on the ground without hesitation, sparing no regard for the honour of this famous sword. Shuang Ren makes a screech, and he rises to the air once more. Cheng Qian deals out a move purely on instinct. However, he runs out of strength before he can complete it. The sword wind around him dissipates; numerous blades press on Shuang Ren, seemingly about to tear him apart.

There is no time for someone else to save him.

At this point, someone suddenly shouts, “Insolent!”

After that, a wave of powerful but gentle energy sweep by. It effortlessly destroys the sword wind that is aiming at Cheng Qian, but doesn’t hurt him at all.

Cheng Qian suddenly feels light all over. He falls down like a rock, but is caught by Yan Zhengming.

Yan Zhengming really doesn’t know how he can still rush forward. When those blades were about to come down on Cheng Qian, his heart was going to drop and smash the rest of his organs to pieces.

Cheng Qian loses consciousness, but fortunately not for long. As his eyes can focus again, he realises that the masked figures that were all over the dock have been all swept away. Some of them are crawling on the ground and groaning; some have fallen into the sea.

At the same time, he realises that his hand is still clutching Shuang Ren. It’s really that he doesn’t give up even when he is about.

As Cheng Qian tries to get up, an arm that allows no negotiation keeps him down. Even without listening carefully, Yan Zhengming’s wild heartbeats can be heard. He half-kneels on the ground and holds Cheng Qian close, his arms shaking. It’s not until Cheng Qian opens his eyes that he breathes out in relief and whispers, “Don’t move!”

Tang Wanqiu is standing on the other side. It seems that she couldn’t defeat Zhou Hanzheng. Her face is pale; it’s likely that she is injured too.

Even so, she doesn’t seem to be happy to see the reinforcement. On the contrary, she seems even more worried and says with a low voice, “My lord.”

Zhou Hanzheng coldly glances at Tang Wanqiu, as if to take note of the debt with this madwoman. When he turns away, his face totally changes, taking on a carefree expression. Waving the fan elegantly, he clasps his hands and greets the lord of Azure Dragon Island, who is standing on a large rock. “Greetings to you, my lord.”

The lord of the island doesn’t bother to pay attention to him. He looks at Tang Wanqiu and says, “Wanqiu, take the children over here. I didn’t think it through.”

Tang Wanqiu says nothing. She tiredly turns her head and signals ‘follow me’ to Yan Zhengming with her eyes. Then she walks along a series of small steps after the large rock.

Cheng Qian grits his teeth, intending to use his most senior brother’s arm to stand up, but he is pressed down by Yan Zhengming again.

He suddenly feels light all over. His most senior brother has lifted him up.

Cheng Qian’s blurry mind becomes awake in a second out of fear. Like a puppy that falls from height, he panics and waves his arms about, then nervously clings to Yan Zhengming. He is worried that his ‘delicate’ disciple brother will drop him. It isn’t high enough for him to die from falling down, but how he will land is a problem.

Yan Zhengming was just scared to death because of Cheng Qian. His face hasn’t even changed yet. Anger burning in his heart, he says coldly, “Lie still!”

Cheng Qian quiets down and becomes still as a rock, letting Yan Zhengming move him about.

The lord of island’s solemn gaze softens. He looks at Yan Zhengming, then stops at Cheng Qian’s sword.

The eyes of the lord of the island widens. He stares fixedly at the bloody frost, then turns around and sweeps his glance aimlessly at all directions, as if to search for someone. However, except for the sky and water of the same colour and the treacherous rocks in the sea, he can’t find anything.

The lord of the island withdraws his gaze and sighs softly. The oppressive aura of a powerful cultivator disappears, and the usual sorrowful looks of a poor scholar returns. He turns and says, “Let’s go back.”

Some of the masked figures want to pursue but are stopped by Zhou Hanzheng.

Zhou Hanzheng is smiling as he watches the back of the lord of Azure Dragon Island. The words that come out of his mouth are chilly. “Don’t you know who Gu Yanxue is? Are you trying to get killed?”

Tang Wanqiu hasn’t gone far. Hearing this line, she looks back with hatred and asks, “My lord, why do you leave that Zhou scum alive? You should kill him and be done with it!”

The lord of the island doesn’t look back; his skeletal form keeps moving at the front. Hearing her, he only laughs quietly without any comment.

Cultivators in the Nine Provinces1 may not know the Emperor and his officials, but everyone has heard of Azure Dragon Island. The great sects grudge even their old brooms; many wandering rogue cultivators seeking the Way get their breakthrough from the Lecture Hall of Azure Dragon Island. The lord of the island doesn’t only have extraordinary cultivation level, he is also regarded as the “teacher of the world.”

Mortals pay great respect to “heaven, earth, the Emperor, family, teacher.” However, cultivators usually have very long life, causing their familial affection to fade with time. Therefore they no longer have “family.” They also don’t accept being a subject of the mortal’s Emperor, so there is no “Emperor.” Out of the five great pillars of society, the three “heaven, earth, teacher” remain. The cultivators regard their sect even higher than their family, which shows the weight of the “teacher of the world” title.

Who would believe that the highly regarded lord of Azure Dragon Island, Chief of the Four Sages, Gu Yanxue has such a miserable appearance?

Among the Four Sages, the lord of Azure Dragon Island isn’t necessarily the most powerful, but he is still implicitly considered the Chief, certainly because of this reputation.

They go straight to the great dock of Azure Dragon Island, where a great fight is going on.

As it turns out, the night patrol and the internal disciples who seem to disappear all gather here, and they are fighting another group.

The once-a-decade celestial market of Azure Dragon Island is a great event of the cultivators. Even if they are powerful and from a great sect, who would fail to pay respects when coming here? However, those who are coming don’t seem to be friendly. Strong wind has risen from the sea. The shadows of the great boats form a wall under the dark sea sky; the flares from the swords of riders in the air are like stars. The great waves seem to reach the sky.

Upon closer look, it turns out that the rumour of those gossipy cultivators is true. There is a show of a sea dragon swimming around!

It’s relatively safer to be close to the lord of Azure Dragon Island; Li Yun has finally calmed down from the panic. Having read many books, he says, “That’s not the Azure Dragon. The Azure Dragon is a divine beast in legend, how can it show up in the human realm? That’s just a monster water snake. That’s strange. Doesn’t only the Western Palace have a monster sea snake? Why is it here in the Easter Sea?”

Han Yuan says, “Maybe it was stolen by a demonic cultivator and brought here.”

Li Yun falls silent. He concentrates his spiritual energy in his eyes and look with all his mind, then says in surprise, “Dragon flag. That boat over there has the dragon flag of the Western Palace! But why does the Western Palace…”

Both Azure Dragon Island and Western Palace belong to the ten great sects. They occupy distant locations, and promote isolation from the world to concentrate on cultivation. They don’t stick their nose in anyone’s affair, and it’s unheard of that they wish to get on someone’s bad side. Why would they cross the sea from so far away to pick a fight with Azure Dragon Island?

Before he can finish his speech, the lord of Azure Dragon Island makes a long shout. Hearing that, the seemingly unstoppable great water snake fall into the water. The resulting waves cause three boats to capsize. Silence suddenly falls in all directions. Even the sea wind and sea tide that have been on the rise calm down.

The two fighters can’t help it and stop the battle. The crowd part to give way to the lord of the island to walk forward, who raises his voice. “Esteemed fellow cultivators from Western Palace, you take the trouble of visiting me in the middle of the night, and in such numbers. May I ask what guidance you wish to grant us?”

There is the sound of a horn. The many great boats on the sea split into two sides. A large dragon boat appears, seemingly rising from the dark abyss of the sea. An old man whose hair and beard are completely white stands on the front of the boat. That man looks so old he is about to die, but that doesn’t diminish his powerful aura. His gaze, sharp to the point of being seemingly palpable, sweeps through the crowd. He says, “Gu Yanxue, hundreds of years no see. Your charisma as the lord of Azure Dragon Island is still the same as ever.”

The lord of the island frowns. He clasps his hands and says, “You flatter me, Bai Ji Daoyu.”

Yan Zhengming is the sort of free range sect leader. Except for the few chronicles of the island he read when they newly arrived at Azure Dragon Island, he doesn’t pay attention to anything else. Hearing that, he asks in a low voice, “Who is Bai Ji?”

Li Yun leans into him and whispers. “Lord of the Western Palace. It’s rumoured that he’s nearly a thousand years old. Before, it was said that he would be the next person to ascend and become an immortal in the Nine Provinces. If he doesn’t manage to ascend, it’s likely that his life span is about to run out.”

Having had some rest, Cheng Qian recovers a little. He pushes Yan Zhengming out and stands up himself. Hearing that, he asks in surprise, “Second brother, how come do you know everything?”

“Shut up, none of your business,” Yan Zhengming immediately forgets to hear what kind of god Bai Ji is. Frowning, he checks Cheng Qian’s pulse to determine how serious the injury is.

The back and forth between the two contemporary great cultivators causes a sensation among the crowd. Not minding being seen as insolent in Lecture Hall, the curious rogue cultivators climb on the surrounding trees and rocks, watching and commenting.

The lord of the island calmly inquires, “Friends from Western Palace, why didn’t you send a notice that you would come? Although my island is just a backwater area, we do know how to treat visitors. Lord Bai, what’s your intention for leading your people here out of nowhere?”

In a blink of the eye, the great dragon boat has arrived. Bai Ji says, “Of course I’m not here for my amusement. Five years ago, my useless grandson went travelling. Hearing that there were many things to see at the celestial market on your esteemed island, he came here with the cultivators he befriended. Afterwards, he sent a letter back home, saying that, seeing your Lecture Hall here, he wished to expand his knowledge and joined Lecture Hall as a rogue cultivator. We haven’t heard anything from him since then, and think that he cultivated on your island. However, a few days ago, the lamp indicating his life in our Palace suddenly went out. I tried to summon his soul but it didn’t work. That’s how I know he…, he…”

At this point, Bai Ji doesn’t talk anymore, as if unable to continue because of the tears.

Hearing this, Han Yuan frowns. Unlike his disciple brothers who don’t pay attention to the outside, he is the type that has to know everything that is going on. All rumours, no matter how trivial, have to pass by his ears at least once. Yet he has never heard that someone who attends Lecture Hall loses their life.

The lord of the island waves his hand. A disciple comes to his side, bringing a list. He asks Bai Ji, “May I ask what the name of your esteemed grandson is?”

Suppressing his pains, Bai Ji says in a shaking voice. “The first part is Yan, the second part is Li.”

The lord of the island throws the list into the air and mutters something. The thick list turns its own pages from the beginning to the end without stopping. Then, with the spine up, the volume falls down.

The disciple next to him says, “My lord, there is no one named Bai Yanli enrolling in the Lecture Hall.”

At a short distance from there, someone says, “Maybe he used a false name.”

Tang Wanqiu, who has been waiting on the lord of the island, replies. “Insolent! What do you think Azure Dragon Island is? How can the criminal types who hide under false names be allowed to get in? If the name isn’t real, it won’t appear in the list!”

As soon as she opens her mouth, the people nearby instinctively feel that something bad is about to happen. Just as expected, Bai Ji goes into a rage. He asks, all of his hackles raised, “What do you mean?”

*******

1. Nine Provinces: Referring to the territories of the Han people in China.