Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 130: Entering the Fight

Xu Jingming walked all the way to the teahouse without escaping Jiang Youyue’s fleeting glance.

Not only was he made a fool of regarding the matter of looking for the Shirou, but his years of accumulated sense of security were also shattered. Seeing Xu Jingxing in a yellow robe, his grievances found a place to settle. Xu Jingming hurriedly ran to his Emperor Brother’s side, stuffing several tea snacks into his mouth to cover the bitterness.

High Highness The Prince of Rong’s behavior was too unruly. Eunuch Lu Fu was about to remind him but was stopped by the Emperor with a hand.

Xu Jingxing had passed the age of thirty and was very tolerant of his younger brother. Lu Fu immediately shut his mouth, respectfully stepped aside, and continued to watch the Prince of Rong, who wore a bitter expression.

The snacks in the palace tasted much better than those from the Prince of Rong’s mansion. Although the desserts were sweet, Xu Jingming always felt they burned his heart. He poured a cup of fine tea and only then freed up his mouth, intending to have a good chat with his Emperor Brother—

However, he was taken aback by Xu Jingxing’s appearance.

Compared to their last meeting, the emperor had lost considerable weight. There were slight dark circles around his eyes, and although his complexion wasn’t pale, it lacked any rosiness, making him look unwell. The tea snacks were light and fragrant, but the Emperor only took a small bite before frowning and asking for them to be removed.

Xu Jingming quickly swallowed the idle chatter he was about to share. “Emperor Brother, your complexion…”

“The war in Luojiu is not settled. I haven’t slept well.” The Emperor shook his head. “The war has dragged on, and the dead and injured are my people. I initially thought it was a minor conflict, but as time passed, there’s no good news.”

“A bunch of useless men! Those generals are paid by our Great Yun, yet they can’t even defeat uncivilized barbarians!” Xu Jingming quickly agreed with his Emperor Brother’s sentiment.

However, hearing this, a bitter look appeared on the Emperor’s face.

“At first, I thought the same. Jingming, I’ve recently studied the war reports closely, and these barbarians are extraordinary. Their ‘Divine Saint’ is a strategic genius, reminding me of…”

Stopping there, Xu Jingxing seemed to hesitate, ultimately sighing.

Of course, Xu Jingming knew whom his Emperor Brother was referring to. “Why not bring Shi Jingzhi back to address the urgent matters of Great Yun? Dying for the nation is a worthy cause.”

“By now, his health is on its last leg. If we forcibly summon him back now, how can he willingly serve Great Yun?”

His younger brother’s presumptions always made the emperor smile wryly. He coughed lightly, sipping his tea to quell the dry cough.

Xu Jingming looked melancholic. “I just mentioned it. Emperor Brother, you’ve been too lenient with Shi Jingzhi. If it weren’t for Emperor Father’s decree—”

The emperor’s lips twitched. “So you’ve always thought that way… It was Emperor Father who wanted to kill him.”

“Was it at the Imperial Preceptor’s instigation? I heard the current Imperial Preceptor say that Shi Jingzhi is a national calamity.”

“But he made a bet with Emperor Father, which saved him. Throwing a three-year-old child into the Juyi Valley for a month should have meant certain death. Yet fate allowed him to survive, and Emperor Father had to admit defeat.”

Xu Jingming was baffled. “Emperor Brother, you’ve never been kind to the lineage of the Imperial Preceptor. Wouldn’t it have been better to kill him early on?”

“It would’ve been a waste to kill him too soon. First, he’s a genius who can serve me. Second… Consort Jin is expecting, and her belly is getting noticeable.”

Xu Jingming was puzzled. He knew his Brother Emperor had few heirs, but what did this have to do with Shi Jingzhi?

The emperor sighed deeply.

“For many generations of emperors in Great Yun, each one had a brilliant but short-lived child. I wanted to give Shi Jingzhi a chance to see if he could pave a way to survival, so I could learn from it… Lu Fu reminded me of this. If it works, my child might be saved. If not, at least he’d gain some merit.”

“…”

Indeed. Even with Shi Jingzhi’s reputation as a “national calamity”, his priority was survival. He couldn’t influence the vast land within half a year.

But he was almost like a demon. Simply letting him go was—

During Xu Jingming’s silence, Xu Jingxing looked at his slightly thin hands and asked without raising his head.

“Do you think I’m too compassionate, Jingming?”

“Emperor Brother…”

“I’m tired of war and have no ambition. Rather than expanding territories, I just want a prosperous treasury, peaceful citizens, and to pass on this thriving land to future generations. Now with the impending war and rising disasters, the people think I lack virtue… Maybe I should have heeded the Imperial Preceptor’s advice and attacked Luojiu earlier. If I had, we wouldn’t face this calamity now.”

Xu Jingming didn’t know what to say.

For almost a century, Great Yun had been living in harmony with neighboring countries. But now, under his generation, the long-settled turmoil returned. Speaking of war, he certainly didn’t want to wage it, but…

“Previously, Luoju had a close relationship with Great Yun, and their relationship was good. Attacking another country without any reason isn’t a righteous act.” After a moment’s hesitation, the Prince of Rong sincerely said, “Emperor Brother, no, elder brother, don’t blame yourself too much. It’ll harm your health.”

Xu Jingxing remained silent for a long time. After a while, he changed the topic. “Speaking of these things makes my heart restless. Jingming, I heard you watched a grand play in Shafu. Come, tell me about it—”

Before he could finish, the emperor suddenly wavered and weakly slumped over the tea table. His sleeve brushed the teacups and saucers off the table, shattering them on the ground.

“Emperor Brother? Call the royal physician, quickly!”

“It’s okay, don’t panic,” the emperor murmured as if in a daze before gradually regaining his composure. “I’m just… a bit tired.”

Looking at the increasingly haggard face of his Emperor Brother, Xu Jingming stood frozen in place. For some reason, the chill he felt when meeting Jiang Youyue had returned. He was far from the sandy storms of Shafu and the bloody battles of the frontier. The capital city was warm and peaceful in spring, and he was in the presumably safe palace.

Yet he had never felt such fear.

No, as a prince of Great Yun, he shouldn’t be this vulnerable. Half a month had passed, and given the circumstances, Shi Jingzhi should be faring even worse. Maybe once the “calamity” dies on its own, all misfortunes would also vanish.

On one side, Xu Jingming was trembling; on the other, Shi Jingzhi appeared emotionless.

…But he was holding on.

Before descending the mountain, Shi Jingzhi ate voraciously, vowing to try all his favorite dishes. He did so at a great cost. Currently, his face was pale without any need for makeup. As porters climbed the mountain with his luggage, he sat weakly on a wooden chair, looking as if his end was near.

‘Maybe that’s better,’ Yin Ci thought indifferently. At least it would save him the trouble of acting.

“Why is this young master attending the martial arts conference in such a condition? He should seek Taiheng. Perhaps they can give him some the ‘Shirou’.” The man with a face like a shoe, having become acquainted with Su Si, spoke without much courtesy.

“You know about the Shirou?” Su Si asked curiously.

“Of course, it’s a magical item that many seek. We’ve made a good amount of money helping transport it. Recently, not many people have been seeking it, saying Taiheng has got it.”

“They probably found it but couldn’t obtain it,” Su Si said cryptically. “To retrieve it, you need the key!”

“So what’s the plan, a fifty-fifty split? What if there’s a dispute?”

“That’s why they’re hosting the martial arts conference. After everyone competes, they might as well select a leader to settle the matter.”

Shoe Face was astonished. “What, you guys want to be the leader too? Isn’t this position almost guaranteed for Taiheng? It’s like trying to catch a turtle in a jar—pretty much a sure thing.”

Su Si just smiled mysteriously without answering. The man just assumed they were crazy and didn’t press further.

The martial arts conference was set in a nameless town to the north of Qizhou, near the heart of Great Yun, making it convenient for everyone. The Kushan Sect traveled on foot for four to five days, and by the time they arrived, there were no seats left. They settled for a dilapidated house with a roof.

The long-lost Kushan Sect’s sudden appearance stirred a lot of attention. They were nonchalant about it, eating, drinking, and waiting for rumors to spread.

As expected, the next day, Jin Lan paid them a visit.

Taiheng had rented the best courtyard in town. Compared to that, the house the Kushan Sect occupied was no better than a stable, seemingly on the brink of collapse. Jin Lan cautiously opened the wooden door, afraid it might fall apart.

Inside, after it was cleaned up by the Kushan Sect, it was surprisingly neat. There was even a faint aroma of rice—

Shi Jingzhi’s disciple was feeding porridge to his master. The flag of the sect leader was hanging limply behind a wooden chair, and he himself looked frail with disheveled hair and a pale face while eating the porridge.

There were bits of brown-red stuff in the porridge. Jin Lan first thought it was minced meat, but upon closer look, it was chopped hawthorn. Given the frailty of Shi Jingzhi, the bleak atmosphere intensified.

Jin Lan took a step back, glancing around. The servants were nowhere to be seen. They must be busy, leaving even such tasks to the senior disciple.

Was the Kushan Sect in such a pitiable state?

Seeing Shi Jingzhi in this condition, Jin Lan had mixed feelings. After a deep sigh, he began. “Rumors said that Sect Master Shi was attacked and robbed of the ‘Shirou’ key. It seems to be true. The common saying is to not flaunt wealth. Even my Taiheng would be cautious. Why did you expose such a secret in Chigou… Haa.”

Shi Jingzhi didn’t respond, just snuggling deeper into his fur coat.

Yin Ci put down his spoon, responding calmly, “Brother Jin has come in person, and I presume it’s not to enjoy a joke. Perhaps you’re here to confirm the whereabouts of the ‘key’? …It seems that without the key, Taiheng cannot get the Shirou.”

Jin Lan, being an old acquaintance, was the most suitable candidate sent for investigation. They had anticipated Qu Duanyun’s straightforward move.

Jin Lan was indeed candid. “It’s not that we can’t get it. I’ve seen where the Shirou is stored. It can be forcibly accessed, but it would take a very long time, perhaps a century.”

A century would pass and those who should be dead would have died. It was said that Shirou was a substance that granted longevity and immortality. No one wanted to plant a tree only for others to enjoy its shade. Taiheng’s participation in this martial arts conference was probably to acquire the key as well.

“You’ve seen where the Shirou is stored?” Yin Ci feigned surprise.

“Can’t help it. That place requires manual digging… Ah, don’t try to trick me! I’m not Senior Sister, and I don’t trust you at all.”

“If we find out, can we snatch it from Taiheng?” Yin Ci asked calmly, sitting on a broken stool. “I’m just curious about what the Shirou looks like.”

Jin Lan hesitated for a moment, then said with a hint of sympathy, “I only caught a glimpse of it, but I knew it was a treasure at first sight. It’s emerald green, shaped like a peach, growing on jade-like vines, and has a mesmerizing fragrance. I don’t know who named it ‘Shirou’, but it clearly looks more like a celestial fruit.”

Yin Ci responded meaningfully, “Thank you for letting me know, Brother Jin.”

“You should give up on the idea. Brother Qu, or rather, Sect Master Qu, is acting as if he’s sure to win. After all…”

Jin Lan didn’t finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.

Considering the long-term closure of the Jianchen Temple, no masters would be sent. With rumors of demonic sect disturbances and the Ling sect being completely wiped out, plus the declining reputation of the Chigou Sect and no recent news of a new Patriarch being selected, if Taiheng didn’t emerge as the leader among the four major sects, it would be a huge joke.

However, these logical considerations couldn’t suppress everyone’s desire to try their luck.

What if there was an unexpected upset? What if they could get the key to the Shirou by luck? Even if they fail, at worst, Qu Duanyun would become the leader and rightfully obtain the key to the Shirou. Once Sect Master Qu got the Shirou, he would surely compensate the attendees. It was a win-win situation.

While the two were silent, Shi Jingzhi let out a loud cough. Yin Ci quickly fed him some porridge, then resumed, “If Brother Jin has no other business…”

Jin Lan tactfully bowed and turned to leave. Just as he approached the broken door, he heard a weak voice from behind.

Shi Jingzhi, after swallowing his porridge, said, “Jin Lan, have you seen Miss Shi recently? If you do, please send my regards.”

Jin Lan didn’t turn around.

“It’s been a long time since I saw Senior Sister.” His voice sounded a bit lonely. “Ever since she left Yidu, I’ve not heard any news about her. Maybe she’ll show up at this martial arts conference… Senior Sister?!”

The dilapidated door was abruptly opened, nearly falling to the ground. Shi Zhongyu, dressed as a bandit, stood at the entrance, staring at Jin Lan expressionlessly.

“So there are people here.” Her gaze went past Jin Lan to Shi Jingzhi sitting on a wooden chair, showing just a hint of surprise.

Jin Lan was familiar with the elegant, white-clothed senior sister, but he had never seen Shi Zhongyu in such a wild outfit. He stood there, speechless, before finally stuttering, “Are… Are you really Senior Sister?”

“Jin Lan.” Shi Zhongyu nodded slightly towards Jin Lan and then turned to Yin Ci. “I apologize for disturbing you both. Seeing the dilapidated state of this house, I thought it was empty… I’ll find another place.”

Jin Lan, still in shock, said, “Senior Sister, there’s still space in Taiheng’s courtyard. If you talk to Sect Master Qu, he will definitely accommodate you—”

“No need. I don’t belong to Taiheng and won’t accept their favors. This time, I’ll return to Taiheng in my own way.”

“But…”

“Besides, I have my own sect, and it’s inappropriate to impose.”

With that, she dragged someone inside. The man trembled like a leaf, missing a front tooth, and kept muttering things like “Great Warrior have mercy” for a while, then “I know I was wrong”, before finally just stuttering “Master, please stop”.

Upon closely looking, Yin Ci recognized him—it was none other than the bandit leader from Shafu, Ma Shili. The man appeared rather pale, as if he had been beaten badly, clearly brought in just to make up the numbers.

…This scene seemed somewhat familiar, yet Yin Ci remained silent.

Shi Zhongyu seemed unperturbed. “Our Yangsha Sect is now registered at the Yueshui Pavilion. We will also participate in this martial arts conference… Speaking of which, each sect has two spots. What does Kushan intend to do?”

Upon hearing this, Jin Lan was shocked, but he also eagerly listened in.

“Shizun is severely ill and cannot go on stage.” Yin Ci said with a faint smile, “This time, both Yan Qing and I will fight. That’ll be enough.”

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The author has something to say:

Sect Master Shi: Hehe, didn’t expect that, did you, Qu Duanyun? I’m not participating.

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Kinky Thoughts:

Shi Zhongyu picking up the bad influences of the Kushan Sect.

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