Ch15 - An Unfortunate Accident

The ‘Zhanyun sword’ below became one of the prizes of the Sword Conference.

The Sword Viewing Scroll only listed spiritual weapons whose locations were currently known. For example, the Jimie sword wielded by the Xuehe Demon Lord a thousand years ago was not recorded in it. There were even fewer weapons that were available to the younger generation.

Tong Guiyu held his chin and gestured for one of his servants to bring a chess set over. He mused, “Do you think it can enter the top five?”

He was referring to the reforged founding treasure. Jiang Yinghe thought about it before replying, “Why ask when you know the answer?”

Tong Guiyu laughed heartily, “Didn’t you come to find a sword for your disciple? Are there no good ones left in Jiang Xianjun’s personal collection?”

Jiang Yinghe shot a glance at him. “None of them are suitable for my youngest disciple. Rather……”

He paused and slightly furrowed his brows. “The Hongyan sword in Tong Xianjun’s hands is a good match.”

Tong Guiyu suddenly choked and almost coughed his lungs out before grabbing onto Jiang Yinghe’s snowy white sleeve. “It’s true that Hongyan likes beauties and that youngest disciple of yours fits the bill, but this is a dual cultivation sword! What wisdom can a thousand-year bachelor like you possibly impart about this subject?”

At first Jiang Yinghe was able to listen with a straight face, but the words ‘thousand-year bachelor’ reminded him of the fact that he’s never had a girlfriend before. Even the cranes in his front yard were all male. His face immediately turned black and he shot back, “Does my decision to remain abstinent concern you? Let go.”

Just when Tong Guiyu wanted to say more, a stinging pain ran up the hand that held Jiang Yinghe’s sleeve. He retracted his arm reflexively and looked up to see Qin Jun who was listening in from the side retrieve the snow white sleeve with a smile.

……His expression made him uncomfortable for some reason.

Everyone in the cultivation world was sure that someone with a tragic backstory like Qin Jun wouldn’t live long, but everyone that met him felt like they would probably die first by meeting someone like him.

Qin Jun’s steel-gray eyes looked at everything with a lazy and bored expression. But when his interest was aroused, people started to fear for their lives. The only exception was towards his Shizun.

Tong Guiyu was very experienced. He immediately understood what was going on after that exchange. He continued, “Abstinence is fine and all, but have you heard of a story like this?”

Jiang Yinghe raised his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

Tong Guiyu glanced at Qin Jun and saw this gray-haired man who supposedly had a ‘weak constitution’ place his hand lightly on Jiang Yinghe’s shoulder. His gaze was fixated on his Shizun’s white neck like it was a delicacy he was saving for later.

Tong Guiyu considered his words carefully. “I heard that sword cultivators that are as pure as you are especially at risk of being taken advantage of by someone of the younger generation. Disciples, for example……”

“Impossible.” Jiang Yinghe replied without hesitation.

His certainty surprised not only Tong Guiyu but also Qin Jun, who waited with baited breath for his next words.

“It is impossible for disciples raised in an environment like Peng Lai to disrespect their teacher and elders.” Jiang Yinghe said with conviction. “If someone like that appeared, this master would be first to strike them down.”

Tong Guiyu: “……I feel like we’re not talking about the same type of disrespect.”

Jiang Yinghe paused, “There’s another type?”

Tong Guiyu looked at Qin Jun, then at the nearby Li Huanhan and Chang Ye. He tried to explain. “Yeah…more like the type in He Huan……”

He was interrupted by a shrill voice filled with resentment that was amplified by a sound technique from below. It even drowned out Protector He who was explaining the rules of the Sword Conference.

“Protector He, the bias of this Sword Viewing Scroll of yours is too obvious. This junior has heard that Xuan Wei Xianjun’s weapon Wangchen was forged from ice. How can something like that be considered a sword?!”

Tong Guiyu’s voice trailed off as he glanced downwards.

The Wangchen sword was sometimes just referred to as the ‘Snow Sword’ by some. It was ranked number two in the Sword Viewing Scroll. It was true that the body of the sword was made from ice, and it was more cold than it was sharp. After a millennia of cultivation with Jiang Yinghe, the sword took on the characteristics of its wielder and became more clear and restrained instead of its initial jagged appearance.

The voice continued.

“And those supposed heroes from the Hundred Year Ranking that Protector He mentioned, that Li Huanhan and the one surnamed Qin, how are they worthy of the honour? One has the heavenly demon physique and the other was corrupted by countless ghosts. Jiang Xianjun has probably been feeding them some miraculous pills to forcefully raise their cultivation!

Shame on Peng Lai for claiming to be the foremost righteous sect while wasting resources on these pieces of trash instead of raising those with true talents. Are you not afraid of alienating others by turning a blind eye to this for the sake of reputation?!”

This rant sparked murmured discussions in the audience. The Peng Lai disciples present were all infuriated. Their leader was even pacing around and gesturing at that person with disgust. “Son of a bitch is even using a Nascent Soul level technique to make his voice louder. Fucker’s not even good enough to touch the sole of Li-shixiong’s shoes!

I doubt he can back up those baseless accusations. What foundation being built up by pills?! Our Shixiong can even topple mountains in a simple dispute!”

Although the Peng Lai disciples were itching to teach this braggart a lesson, they did not dare to do so because Jiang Yinghe was watching from above.

As the surrounding conversations grew louder, a Nascent Soul cultivator stepped out of the crowd. His true age was hard to discern from his still youthful appearance. He saluted arrogantly in the direction of where Jiang Yinghe was seated. “This junior Lu Zhifeng urges Jiang Xianjun to accept at least one promising disciple. Those wastrels……”

Jiang Yinghe only showed a reaction to the last few words. A pale blue wave of subzero cold pressure slammed down on Lu Zhifeng, forcing both his knees deep into the ground.

The audience gasped and looked up to see the person originally conversing pleasantly with Hun Yuan Xianjun lift a hand to part the curtain of He Huan Tower.

That hand was whiter than frost, with long and well-defined fingers. The embroidery on his sleeve shone slightly in the sunlight, but his voice was chilling enough to send shivers down everyone’s spine.

“The path to forming a nascent soul is not easy.” He said lightly. “You should place more value on your life.”

Seeing that the person below showed no intention to retreat, Jiang Yinghe withdrew his hand. His eyes met Li Huanhan’s gaze.

There was no need for words between the two of them, Jiang Yinghe understood his intentions. He also thought his first disciple was more gentle than his second. Although he was angry, he believed that Li Huanhan would show restraint. No matter the circumstance, it would be a shame to lose a Nascent Soul cultivator.

After Jiang Yinghe inclined his head in acceptance, Li Huanhan leaped down onto the center of the circular arena. A blood red longsword emerged from his hand, and he saluted Lu Zhifeng in a manner used by sword practitioners to show their intention for a bout.

There was suddenly a hot breath at his ear. Qin Jun approached and asked, “Shizun, why didn’t you send me?”

Jiang Yinghe felt his ears become itchy and reached up to rub it. “Your Shixiong is known for his even temperament. Just look at how respectfully he saluted just now. If it was you, you would probably reach for your sword at the slightest provocation. How can I bear to send you?”

The only reason Qin Jun wanted to draw his sword was because his Shizun had been insulted.

“This disciple is just……” Qin Jun couldn’t take it anymore. His hand went to brush back the hair at Jiang Yinghe’s nape. He was intercepted by a familiar figure that dove into his Shizun’s lap once again.

Chang Ye stared up with watery eyes. “Shizun, Li-shixiong can beat that guy right? Is it true that Shizun only accepted me out of pity?”

Jiang Yinghe did not anticipate this little ancestor of his had so many thoughts running through his head. He stroked his hair and said, “I chose all of you based on your exceptional aptitudes.”

Chang Ye acted cute for a while before surreptitiously knocking off his Qin-shixiong’s hand from Shizun’s shoulder. He continued in a wronged voice, “Shizun, Li-shixiong wouldn’t hurt him too badly right? Although he’s strict with me, I know that’s because I’m his shidi. But if he treats others that way……”

It was out of consideration for this that Jiang Yinghe sent Li Huanhan. He held his youngest disciple and spoke a few more words of comfort. “Your shixiong may not say much, but he’s a very easygoing person. Truly……”

An intense burst of sword energy interrupted his words. A deathly silence descended on the originally lively stage below.

Tong Guiyu took a long swig of wine as if he was building up his courage. He carefully said, “Comrade Jiang……”

“En?”

“Your disciple, he’s..…. He’s shattered his opponent’s core.”

Jiang Yinghe: “……What?”

He was genuinely speechless for a second. He turned to see his disciple standing quietly where he was before with not a speck of blood on his sword, as if it was freshly unsheathed. But that cultivator called Lu Zhifeng had already collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

While Jiang Yinghe was in a stupor, Chang Ye pulled slightly on his sleeve. “This person disrespected Shizun so it’s natural for Shixong to get a bit mad.”

“Right.” Even Qin Jun spoke up for Li Huanhan. “Swords have no eyes. This was an accident because Shixiong was trying too hard to spare his life.”

Jiang Yinghe: “……Was it like that?”

Qin Jun and Chang Ye: “Yep!”

Tong Guiyu who saw the whole thing go down: “……”

That’s quite an accident!

Author’s Corner

It was only after your Shizun was misled like this by you guys many times that he realized you were bullying him. When I was writing this I remembered a post I saw once. The OP asked: What should I do if I accidentally become a pig? And the first answer was: That’s quite an accident! Hahahaha.