Chapter 95: All Ungrateful and Heartless Men Can Be Killed

Chapter 95: All the Heartless and Unfaithful Deserve Death

Tang Wanzhuang watched Zhao Changhe’s ingratiating smile, thinking to herself that this fellow had always been unruly and lawless—when had he ever worn such a fawning expression?

Because of Xia Chichi?

If he truly became infatuated with a demon cult enchantress in his current identity, that would be troublesome… but in any case, at the start of their cooperation, she must not do anything to create a rift between them. Any schemes could wait until later.

She had no intention of stirring up trouble, and slowly began on the main topic: “The Four Symbols Sect has come this time undoubtedly for the sword in Ancient Sword Lake. They’ve performed many rituals here before, and I reckon they’ve indeed found some clues—they might actually be able to summon the ancient sword… they may even have deduced some of its habits.”

Zhao Changhe refilled her tea: “And then?”

Tang Wanzhuang found his demeanor somewhat amusing and said leisurely, “The court does not take this sword, and for good reason. At the collapse of the last era, the cosmos was thrown into chaos, forming many spatial rifts—or dimensional fragments—scattered everywhere. Through these rifts, there might be a scene from the past, drifting alone in the void; or there might only be violent turbulence, utterly uninhabitable.”

Zhao Changhe understood intuitively: “So the bottom of Ancient Sword Lake actually leads to a dimensional fragment, existing outside this world. No wonder it’s never been found all these years.”

“Right.” Tang Wanzhuang was pleased with his erudition; otherwise, explaining what a dimensional fragment was to an ordinary person would be no easy task: “If we say that all under heaven is the king’s land, does this other-dimensional space count? His Majesty’s intent is not to force it, but to leave it to fate. These places often hold ancient secrets, and they are also opportunities for people—we must not cut off the path of those who seek the heavens.”

Zhao Changhe was startled: “This is the thinking of an emperor? That shouldn’t be… Shouldn’t he be monopolizing resources instead?”

Tang Wanzhuang glanced at him but said nothing.

Indeed, this was hardly the thinking of an emperor. She admired His Majesty’s magnanimity, but perhaps it wasn’t entirely a good thing. With chaos everywhere these days, Xia Longyuan’s grand generosity might even bear some of the blame.

She was not in a position to discuss His Majesty, so she merely said, “In any case, this is His Majesty’s goodwill toward his subjects, without any falsehood. Though there are certainly many dangers, heroes will inevitably rise from those dangers—Yue Hongling is one such example. What she relies on now is hardly the inheritance of that third-rate Luoxia Manor.”

Zhao Changhe nodded: “Understood. Please continue.”

“Ancient Sword Lake is the same. We all know there is a dimensional space inside, and indeed a divine sword is hidden there. The court hasn’t deliberately taken it, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t explored it. If anyone thinks the court didn’t take it because they didn’t know how, they’d be wrong. We know how to take it, but we found it too troublesome and didn’t act.”

“So what’s the trouble?”

“It was originally the sword of a pair of lovers from ancient times. Before the era collapsed, the man likely betrayed her, and the woman, heartbroken, took her own life here. Just then the era collapsed, and the sword, having a spirit, exerted all its power to protect its master’s corpse, sealing off the dimension and hiding beneath the lake. The time now turns to summer, which likely matches the man’s cultivation. If someone uses some spiritual method at this time, the sword might manifest.”

Zhao Changhe understood: “And the reason it manifests is essentially because it thinks the faithless man has come—it wants to kill the betrayer for its master, so it will be very fierce, killing anyone it sees?”

“Not exactly. You have Longque now, so you should know that a sword spirit is not truly a self-aware life, but merely an intent. The master’s intense hatred for the faithless man was infused into it at death. If it doesn’t sense that kind of heartless, unfaithful aura, it may not actively kill. But if it does detect it, it will certainly kill—including those who break promises, as its judgment is similar.” Tang Wanzhuang sighed: “But how many people in this world can claim they wouldn’t provoke its killing intent? So every time it manifests, someone dies.”

Zhao Changhe tucked his hands into his sleeves and sat obediently.

He felt that if he went, he might be chopped into mincemeat.

That deceitful demoness Chichi, who rarely spoke a true word, was probably also in danger…

Tang Wanzhuang said, “The Four Symbols Sect is formidable; they may have uncovered these clues as well. But since they operate in secret, it’s unlikely they’ve investigated as thoroughly as we have. They might know the what but not the why. So either they give up, or if they still go ahead, what do you think they’ll do?”

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment: “Perhaps they’ll rely on their martial strength, thinking that once someone braves the killing intent and stabilizes the sword, it can be controlled. So they might find a righteous gentleman to retrieve the sword for them, then snatch it.”

“Right. That’s what I guessed too, and it fits demon cult methods… but that would be disastrous.” Tang Wanzhuang said, “Suppose the sword is willing to be held by a righteous gentleman—that means it has accepted a new master. If that new master is killed within moments, ask Longque what it would think.”

Longque: “…”

Zhao Changhe broke out in a cold sweat.

Given Longque’s narcissistic and tsundere nature, if it could move on its own, it would definitely go berserk and slaughter everyone present. And that hate-filled sword would be even worse—it already judged everyone around as heartless, unfaithful, and treacherous, and now a good new master had been killed—how could it not go mad!

Tang Wanzhuang said, “We haven’t been able to determine how many experts the Four Symbols Sect has brought; they’re hiding deep. But for a mere treasure hunt for a sword unrelated to their faith, they certainly wouldn’t dispatch top experts like Zhuque from the Earth Ranking—at most, Human Ranking. And they might not be able to control a maddened sword…”

“Yes.” Zhao Changhe nodded: “After all, a sword is not human. It doesn’t feel pain, isn’t afraid of injury, and is light and sharp—very hard to restrain. We don’t know how many wonders that ancient sword possesses. If it has even more spirit than Longque and can fly around killing on its own, that would be extremely troublesome.”

Tang Wanzhuang nodded: “Exactly. And given its ancient power, it’s very likely the sword can actively kill. If it escapes the Four Symbols Sect’s restraints and runs amok, Sword Lake City could be slaughtered. We cannot allow that. That is the detail of your mission.”

Zhao Changhe asked, “Where are the Four Symbols Sect people? Does the Demon Suppression Bureau have any leads? I might be able to talk to Chichi directly.”

“They’re cautious. When they noticed the Bureau strengthening its forces, they moved, and we haven’t found their new location in a short time. This task is given to you partly for that reason—you might be able to communicate with Xia Chichi. If you can persuade her to abandon this task, good. If not, you must absolutely not use that method.”

Zhao Changhe was worried about Xia Chichi and had no mind for further talk. He stood and cupped his hands: “Understood. I’ll handle this well. I’ll take my leave now.”

Zhao Changhe left the bamboo building with a heavy heart. Tang Wanzhuang slowly walked to the railing, leaning against it as she watched his retreating figure stride away. A light breeze brushed past, and she coughed softly a few times.

Finally, a maidservant appeared from somewhere and draped a cloak over her: “Miss, since you’ve come in person, you could simply guard the lake and prevent the Four Symbols Sect from acting. Why let him handle this? He’s only at the fourth level of the Xuan Pass—neither the protectors of the Four Symbols Sect nor the ancient sword itself are things he can handle.”

Tang Wanzhuang shook her head slightly: “I will secretly protect him and won’t let anything happen to him. This task is merely a reason for him to integrate into the Demon Suppression Bureau. Otherwise, why would I be so lenient with the Four Symbols Sect, only stopping their actions?”

“Ah?” The maidservant was even more confused: “He… since he won’t be a prince, what use is integrating into the Demon Suppression Bureau?”

“He is integrating into an official identity, not just the Bureau. And it also lets onlookers see my judgment—he is the prince.” Tang Wanzhuang coughed again, then said in a low voice: “When everyone believes he is the prince, then he naturally becomes the prince. His own denial no longer matters.”

The maidservant stammered: “Miss, isn’t this… isn’t this tricking him? You said you wouldn’t interfere with his identity, but you can’t control others—so this was your plan all along…”

“If making him emperor is called tricking… cough… then I suppose it is.” Tang Wanzhuang spread her palm and looked at the blood from her cough: “After all, my time… has only a few years left.”

While Zhao Changhe met with Tang Wanzhuang in the bamboo building, Han Wubing was also meeting with the Four Symbols Sect.

“Young Master Han wants a good sword?”

“Yes. Do you have one?”

“I don’t, but there is one in Ancient Sword Lake.”

“That legend is false.”

“No, it’s true. And we have a sure way to make it appear. Young Master Han might as well come see. If it’s there, take it; if not, leave.”

“Who do you want me to kill?” Han Wubing’s first thought was that they wanted to hire an assassin—why else would someone give you a sword for free?

“Zhang Balfo of the Maitreya Sect. You should have heard of him.”

“Him…” Han Wubing pondered a moment: “That’s very difficult. I’ll need to see the sword first before I decide. When?”

“On the day of the Start of Summer.”

“I have an appointment that day. Pick another.”

“If Young Master Han’s appointment is a duel, it can be in the evening. The sword can be taken during the day. No conflict.”

Han Wubing weighed it for a long time, but ultimately the desire for a good sword won out. He nodded: “Fine. Start of Summer it is. How do I find you?”

“Come to the lakeside that day, and you’ll know.” The man spoke earnestly, then slowly retreated and vanished.