Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 115: Fake

The Northwest was arid and sandy. Not long after venturing out, Xu Jingming quickly grew reluctant. Fine wine and delicious food here inevitably came with a hint of sand as an ingredient. The Prince of Rong almost broke a tooth, and the wind-filled sand roughened his fair complexion considerably.

“Qu Duanyun, I don’t understand. Are you trying to avoid the Shirou or what? Dealing with the Chigou Sect wasn’t enough, why detour so far?” Xu Jingming moisturized his hands with some fine cream inside his palanquin. These days, they had been constantly traveling through sandy plains, and he felt restless.

“Your Highness, it’s good to see the scenery of the northwest while you’re here. Once we approach the Northwest Great Prohibition, it will become lively.” Qu Duanyun, pulling on his horse’s reins, replied, somewhat evasively.

“I don’t have time for scenery. I just want to get the Shirou as soon as possible and present it to my Emperor Brother.” Xu Jingming wasn’t swayed by him.

The Emperor had always detested the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage and consequently showed little interest in the immortals. Xu Jingming, having grown up in the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence, feared that his brother would despise him by association. The Imperial Preceptor’s Residence hadn’t done anything wrong, but if the Emperor could appreciate the abilities of the immortals, the tension might ease.

“My Emperor Brother is always concerned about the wellbeing of the kingdom, and his complexion worsens daily. Even if the Shirou doesn’t grant immortality, it must be a divine tonic. The sooner we get it, the less he’ll suffer.”

The more Xu Jingming spoke, the more convinced he was that he was doing something beneficial. His tone even carried a hint of pride.

Qu Duanyun was silent for a moment, then without turning back, he said, “A fast horse and light agility make the journey easier. Your Highness’ convoy is not suited for these paths. Only near the Northwest Great Prohibition is there a major trade route, so…”

The implication was clear: If not for the prince’s slow entourage, they would’ve arrived long ago.

Pretending to misunderstand, Xu Jingming changed the subject. “The Northwest Great Prohibition sounds daunting. How did it become a bustling place?”

“The area here is dry and lacks rain, often plagued by sandstorms. Sandstorms from the west are particularly troublesome. Initially, the place was uninhabitable. When the kingdom was established, the Great Prohibition was put up here by the Saint. It blocked the sandstorms, allowing people to live here.”

Qu Duanyun finally turned around.

Using a fan to shield his face, Xu Jingming frowned. “I’ve heard that formations need materials to sustain them. How has such a huge barrier been maintained for three hundred years? I haven’t heard of any mystical materials produced in Shafu.”

“The Saint have their own secrets,” Qu Duanyun replied dismissively.

Retreating to his sedan chair, Xu Jingming muttered, “…If the barrier was so effective, why did we end up eating so much sand?”

Unbeknownst to him, his casual complaint was prophetic.

The market at the barrier wasn’t as lively as Xu Jingming had described. While the sandstorms weren’t as devastating, a lot had slipped through from the west. Fresh fruits placed on stalls were quickly covered in dust. Passersby wore light scarves to protect their faces, looking like wrapped dumplings in the warm wind.

Thankfully, there was an inn for them to rest. With walls on all sides, Xu Jingming felt a bit rejuvenated. He donned his dashing young master’s attire and began mingling in the dining hall.

Qu Duanyun had already left the inn early to communicate with someone. With no outsiders around, Xu Jingming felt quite relaxed.

Within an hour, he was chatting with a young waitress at the inn. Given his lavish attire, it was clear he was no ordinary person. The waitress, hoping for a generous tip, played along.

“My grandmother says the sandstorms have been getting worse. This used to be a big market, but now fewer people come. Our inn doesn’t make much money anymore.”

The waitress poured wine for Xu Jingming, her accent bearing hints of Shafu.

“Sir, look at the decorations in this room. Do you like them? In my grandmother’s time, they were gilded with gold leaf. Now, they’re all worn away. If the sandstorms get any worse, my family will move back to Shafu.”

Tapping his fan against his palm, Xu Jingming parroted, “This barrier was set up by a Saint using a secret method. How could it fail?”

“It must be the Chigou digging everywhere, damaging the formation,” the waitress whispered conspiratorially. “I’ve also heard that when the Saint set up the barrier, there were tomb robbers stealing things.”

Xu Jingming wasn’t surprised. Such rumors were common in Great Yun. “Impressive, stealing right under the Saint’s nose.”

Meanwhile, near Shafu.

Shi Jingzhi remarked, “Steal from under He Cheng’an’s nose?”

He Cheng’an was the name of the first Imperial Preceptor. Out of resentment towards the Immortal Assembly, Sect Master Shi refused to use the title “Saint” for him.

The yard was filled with an incessant stench and noise that kept people from sleeping. Everywhere he looked, there were eyes watching. Shi Jingzhi felt uncomfortable being too intimate with his disciple, so he decided to strike up a conversation with Yin Ci about Hua Jingchun.

As a recruiter of the Hua Clan, “Su Zhi” naturally knew more—the Hua family specialized in making tools for tomb exploration, and these techniques were passed down only within the family. Hua Jingchun was in charge of repairing and creating these tools within the sect, making a living off this expertise.

…However, when it came to stealing from the first Imperial Preceptor, the Hua Clan’s ancestors were truly exceptional. No wonder “Su Zhi” wanted to recruit members from the Hua Clan. Shi Jingzhi took several deep breaths in succession.

Yin Ci seemed unimpressed. “Indeed, they stole right under his nose. It’s said that the Hua ancestors infiltrated the construction crew of the formation, took advantage of the ‘Awakening Formation’ moment, and stole several buckets of mercury from it. The anti-poison mouthpiece and water bags made by the Hua Clan are still in use by the Chigou Sect.”

He sighed regretfully after saying this.

“When the ‘Awakening Formation’ was activated, the surroundings were filled with toxic mercury vapor. Nothing grew, and there were no living beings, not even insects. I am quite curious about the techniques of the Hua ancestors.”

Shi Jingzhi leaned close to Yin Ci, humming softly. After a tumultuous day, he was already exhausted. Yin Ci’s voice was gentle and pleasing, and it seemed to shield them from the surrounding noise. Listening to tales from a hundred years ago, Shi Jingzhi finally felt sleepy.

Noticing the slight movement of Shi Jingzhi’s head, Yin Ci gently pressed it onto his shoulder, lowering his voice. “Sleep.”

“Say something, anything,” Shi Jingzhi mumbled. “As long as you’re talking, I won’t hear the noise.”

Yin Ci paused, then chuckled. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell you some ghost stories?”

“I’m so tired, and you definitely won’t,” Shi Jingzhi declared decisively. “You can’t scare me…”

He figured out Yin Ci’s ways. Normally, Yin Ci would tease him with spooky tales, but now that he wanted to sleep, Yin Ci wouldn’t dare wake him with such stories.

Strangely, despite the dilapidated environment and their casual conversation, Shi Jingzhi had never felt this content. It was like a starving man finally getting a full meal or someone stepping on soft satin after walking on needles.

Shi Jingzhi’s voice faded, becoming a murmur.

Confirming that Shi Jingzhi was asleep, Yin Ci adjusted his position and leaned against the wall. The moment his gaze left the man beside him, it turned cold as ice.

A hundred years ago, he had decided to give up the search for answers about his unique constitution and instead seek a way to die, which led him to join the Chigou Sect.

Back then, the Chigou Sect was just a small sect scavenging for ancient weapons from old battlefields. Its followers were poor locals struggling to make ends meet. Although they were involved in morally questionable activities, few among them were truly evil.

Yin Ci, in his “mad” state, had wandered the desert for a long time and had vague memories of various battle relics. He led a group to each site, and they sold the good weapons to the government and melted down the rest to make agricultural tools. With a larger workforce, Yin Ci led his people to raid several tombs of the nobles in the Western Regions, bringing wealth to the Chigou Sect.

Unlike other sects, the Chigou Sect had a mutually beneficial relationship with the local community. The rise of Chigou brought a shade of gray to the clearly defined good and evil of the martial world in Great Yun.

Although Yin Ci wasn’t deeply attached to the Chigou sect, he wasn’t heartless. Over the last hundred years, the sect had prospered, adhering to his initial rules. Now, it was about to be broken by the Immortal Assembly, which made him slightly anxious.

It was a good time.

No matter the motives of the Immortal Assembly, they only needed to derail the situation—disrupt the ascension ceremony and capture the fake Patriarch. Both Chigou and Taiheng had people present, so they wouldn’t have trouble finding members of the Immortal Assembly.

But appearing directly was risky. Fortunately, they had a perfect “shield”.

The next day.

“You want to help me?” Hua Jingchun laughed. “Do you even know the situation, and yet you offer assistance?”

Her injured leg was healing, but the wound was still open, making it impossible to fit a prosthetic. She found a bench to sit on, still exuding a fresh scent of blood.

Yin Ci said, “Of course we know. You’re hiding here, trying to gather villagers who are dissatisfied with the Chigou Sect, to disrupt the ascension ceremony of the new Patriarch.”

Hua Jingchun merely responded with an “oh”, neither confirming nor denying. “How can you tell?”

“The few around you are members of the Chigou sect. They look different from ordinary villagers, and the calluses on their hands aren’t from farm tools,” Yin Ci said with a slight smile.

“Interesting. But this unsolicited help feels suspicious.”

“We both are from Shafu. Who doesn’t have a relative in Chigou there? We just returned from Qizhou and only then learned about the current state of Chigou,” Shi Jingzhi said in a perfect Shafu accent. “Protector Hua, with your leg injured like this, you mustn’t have a good doctor nearby, right?”

After a long silence, Hua Jingchun revealed a smile. “Fine, we are so short on hands right now, we could even use a dog.”

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci: “…….”

“You two wait for me in the woodshed. We usually discuss things there. I’ll be there after getting some sun.” She then subtly signaled one of her subordinates.

Yin Ci noticed but remained silent with a smile.

The woodshed was cramped, filled with stacks of dry firewood and hay bundles. The master and disciple waited inside for the duration of an incense stick. Soon enough, Hua Jingchun, limping, approached with several subordinates and stopped at the entrance.

She smirked maliciously at them and made a gesture. Shen Zhu exclaimed in surprise as one of the followers of the Chigou Sect threatened her with a knife, making her shiver as she entered the woodshed.

“Offering unwarranted help implies deceit or thievery, especially from those afraid to show their true face,” she scoffed. “This is the ‘Miss Sun’ you’ve been escorting. This lady is frail and often ill, needing medical attention… I’ve had someone examine her condition just now. You can repeat the diagnosis. If it matches, we can talk. If not, don’t blame me for not acknowledging past favors.”

“…Truly the characteristics of a demonic sect.” Shi Jingzhi murmured. “A’Ci, they’re harder to deal with than Taiheng.”

Even if they sold Protector Hua a hundred favors, even if she was down on her luck, she wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate. Yin Ci nodded with a strange sense of satisfaction on his face.

“The more challenging, the better.”

If Protector Hua was someone who mindlessly agreed to everything, it would be hard for them to act. They had been waiting for this moment.

Before he could finish, Yin Ci utilized his qinggong, instantly appearing behind Protector Hua and pressing two fingers against a fatal acupoint on her neck. Shen Zhu sighed, deftly dodging the person trying to capture her. Sparrows descended from the sky, aiming for the eyes of her attacker. Startled, the man dropped his knife.

The long knife fell, but no sound was heard when it hit the ground.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t signal, instead stepping forward and catching the knife by its handle. He then held the gleaming blade against the neck of another person; the one who had been close to Protector Hua the previous night and talked a lot.

A last surge of vital qi was released, the door of the woodshed slammed shut, followed by a cloud of dust settling.

“Can we talk now?” The smile on Sect Master Shi’s face was hidden behind a mask, but it lingered in his tone.

From the beginning, the master and disciple didn’t expect Hua Jingchun to agree.

Protector Hua had chosen a good spot. This remote woodshed seemed well prepared by her, with no bandits in sight, making it an ideal place to take action. To persuade someone from a demonic sect, mere words and favors weren’t enough. Strength was the key.

“I was wondering why I was suddenly captured.” Shen Zhu touched her neck. “There are bandits outside, so I couldn’t move. Who would’ve thought there would be such excitement here.”

Seeing that the other party still wanted to negotiate, Hua Jingchun wasn’t in a hurry. She looked over the three members of the Kushan Sect and snorted. “It seems that even though I’m used to hunting geese, there are times I’m pecked in the eye by them*. Which warriors are you? Care to introduce yourselves?”

*(终日打雁，叫雁啄了眼) Proverb referring to a person who has subdued a certain person or thing all his life has been subdued by the very person/thing.

“Well…”

“As for the matters of the Chigou Sect, it should be resolved by its own people,” Hua Jingchun said coldly, showing no sign of weakness. “If outsiders take advantage of us, I would be too ashamed to face our Patriarch Su in the afterlife.”

Yin Ci: “…” It was a pity he wasn’t in the afterlife.

Shi Jingzhi was also taken aback. This Protector Hua was really good at turning conversations awkward. Knowing Hua Jingchun’s predicament, he realized she would not easily back down. They weren’t intentionally hiding their identities, but the Kushan Sect had deeply offended Matron Wuxue before. Compared to the reputable sects hunting them outside, the Chigou Sect might dislike them even more.

The situation was a bit complicated; they needed to come up with another story.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise.

As Sect Master Shi was racking his brain for a response, the fragile door of the woodshed was thrown open. A silhouette rushed in, illuminated by the morning light. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were worn, but the aura was very familiar to those present.

Shi Zhongyu walked in hastily, almost colliding with Shen Zhu, who was guarding the door. She glanced around and let out a sigh of relief. “It’s good that nothing happened.”

Shi Jingzhi seized the opportunity. “Miss Shi, your arrival is timely.”

Yin Ci stepped back, releasing the still weak Protector Hua.

“What do you mean by ‘nothing happened’?” Hua Jingchun shifted her focus. “Sister, what do you mean by that?”

Shi Zhongyu replied, “I heard you brought them to the woodshed, so I knew there would be a fight. Sister Hua, they are… Well, you’re no match for them.”

Being away for days, she was still as blunt as ever.

Hua Jingchun wasn’t offended by Shi Zhongyu’s words, instead asking urgently, “From what you’re saying, do you recognize them? Who are these three?”

Having witnessed Matron Wuxue’s disdain for the Kushan Sect, Shi Zhongyu understood the situation. She struggled to find the right words, neither lying nor revealing the truth.

“Sister Hua, it’s not convenient for me to say.” She shook her head. “But I’ve known these people for several months, and each of them is a highly skilled warrior. I can vouch for that.”

Hua Jingchun’s expression darkened. She leaned against the stacked wood, lost in thought. Her aura stabilized somewhat, no longer emanating the same level of hostility and murderous intent as before.

“Miss Shi, do you also intend to intervene in the ascension ceremony?” Shi Jingzhi asked in surprise.

“No, this is an internal matter of Chigou. Other major sects should avoid involvement.” Shi Zhongyu shook her head. “Even if I leave Taiheng, if I act rashly, it will tarnish Taiheng’s reputation. Instead, I can only help Protector Hua… That Young Patriarch truly treats lives like grass; he shouldn’t lead Chigou.”

Only her eyes remained clear on her face. She gazed at Shi Jingzhi with an extremely sincere expression.

Shi Jingzhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He was delighted to have demonstrated his strength first. With Shi Zhongyu’s endorsement following, Hua Jingchun, who was devoted to Chigou, would no longer refuse their help. He felt a bit sad… Shi Zhongyu’s intention was clear: No matter how much the Kushan Sect caused chaos, there wasn’t much reputation left to tarnish.

“So, you all are not from the major sects.” Hua Jingchun finally sighed in relief. “In light of Miss Shi’s endorsement, I can discuss matters with you.”

“Protector Hua, let me ask once more. To my knowledge, that Young Patriarch has the Bone Sweeping Sword as a token, insiders to vouch for him, and even the lineage of the Su Clan. Protector Hua, with your devotion to Chigou, are you also willing to break the rules?”

Breaking the rules to save the sect wasn’t a new concept. However, seeing Protector Hua’s composed demeanor, it didn’t seem like she would “abandon rules for righteousness”.

Hua Jingchun looked at Shi Zhongyu again. Seeing no reaction from Shi Zhongyu, she slowly said, “That Bone Sweeping Sword is fake. My family has always been responsible for repairing antiques; I can tell at a glance.”

Yin Ci raised an eyebrow—the claims about his lineage were false, and the sword he carried was also fake; he wondered where the Young Patriarch got his confidence.

“It’s all about intuition. Wu Huai won’t hand over the sword, so I can’t get definitive evidence,” Hua Jingchun’s tone grew heavy. “Wu Huai knows I can see through it. Shortly after joining the sect, he found an excuse to throw me off Three Provinces Cliff… This leg of mine was a result of that fall.”

Shi Jingzhi asked, “Where is the real Bone Sweeping Sword? Shouldn’t it be in the sect? That imposter can’t have destroyed the real thing just to disguise his identity…”

‘That’s A’Ci’s sword,’ he thought displeased.

Hua Jingchun’s expression darkened. “It’s embarrassing to say, but Patriarch Su’s Bone Sweeping Sword was stolen at some point, and we still haven’t found it. This time, to stop Wu Huai from ascending, we can only fight.”

“I don’t know why you’re helping, but this fight won’t be easy. That pesky Prince of Rong just had to come at this time, so the security in Shafu tightened. Taiheng’s Qu Duanyun is also here. Without evidence, he’ll treat us as bandits causing disorder. If you’re hoping to gain from this battle, I don’t think there’s much to be gained… Even if you want a reward, I don’t have much to give.”

“No problem.” Sect Master Shi handed over the knife he was holding. “For me, I only ask for two things—hand over Wu Huai to us, how about it?”

“Do as you please. We have no use for that bastard. What’s the second?”

“In Chigou’s warehouse, there should be a mud statue made personally by Lady Sun. After the chaos in Chigou subsides, Protector Hua can hand it over to us.”

Hua Jingchun frowned. “That thing isn’t very valuable. It’s more of a keepsake, but it’s not impossible to give…”

“That’ll do.”

On the other side of the courtyard, Su Si and Yan Qing were unaware of the chaos. Under the rule of the sand bandits, many in the courtyard had injuries. The bandits were normally lazy, but now they had a few able-bodied men. Yan Qing was currently busy helping distribute porridge and pastries to the people, extremely preoccupied.

Su Si didn’t want to serve strangers. He chose the coolest corner to sit and roasted a bird—they only had thin porridge and pastries here. Yan Qing practiced daily, so they needed to add some meat.

He played with his butcher knife, humming a discordant tune. The crude wooden handle had new blood on it, making it shiny. Su Si added a small iron ring to the base of the handle, with the ghost coin gifted by Yan Qing tied to it. The crude knife, combined with this pendant, had a certain rustic charm.

After Yan Qing finished his work, the meat was roasted. Su Si tore the meat into pieces and threw it into the porridge. “You eat first. I’ll roast another.”

“Thank you.” Yan Qing took the bowl with both hands, smiling very warmly.

“It’s not as delicious as what Senior Yin makes. Don’t complain.” Su Si sneezed and wiped his nose. “But this damned place stinks so much that even delicacies would be tasteless.”

“It’s delicious.”

“San Zi, if you’re playing dumb, then just play dumb. Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t I know my own skills?”

Yan Qing just smiled and looked at Su Si cleaning the bird. “That knife of yours is really good. We’ve been out for so long, and I’ve never seen you sharpen it.”

Su Si flicked the blood off the knife, looked left and right, and his smile became mischievous.

“Of course, I made it myself,” he winked at Yan Qing. “This knife may look ugly, but it’s made of the best material.”

“Where did you get the material?”

The knife blade swept through the air, cutting thin bones as if slicing through butter. Su Si looked at the courtyard full of people and put on a mysterious expression. “Hmm… I’ll tell you when I’m in a good mood.”

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The author has something to say:

Su Si: Hee hee (?

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