Chapter 72: Fair-Faced Servant

"I am indeed," Ming Zhuo smiled. "The Lord has tasked me with staying here, and I was just bored. Your arrival is timely. If you don't mind, shall I escort you to the reception hall?"

Jiang Xueqing had been lingering in the snow for a long time. Hearing his pleasant voice and sensing he wasn't a bad person, she gratefully replied, "Many thanks. Only, won't this delay your duties?"

"Not at all," Ming Zhuo reassured her. "It's just a few steps from here to the reception hall. Moreover, as a distinguished disciple of Sanhai-Jun, you are an honoured guest. We cannot afford any neglect toward our esteemed guests."

Jiang Xueqing thanked him again and followed Ming Zhuo out of the cave entrance. As they walked through the snow, Ming Zhuo asked, "Your eyes are injured..."

Jiang Xueqing shook her head. "I am not alone. I came with my Shifu, but she tends to forget when she gets drunk, so..."

This unexpected response amused Ming Zhuo. "Interesting. It's quite remarkable that there's someone under heaven whose Shifu forgets her disciples because of drinking."

Jiang Xueqing explained, "In terms of cultivation, our North Heron Mountain may not be at the forefront, but when it comes to drinking, few can match us in the world."

Ming Zhuo remarked, "Did your Shifu say that?"

Jiang Xueqing nodded. "Yes, it was passed down from my Shifu’s Shifu to her, and then to me."

Ming Zhuo chuckled again. "While others cultivate to dominate and conquer, it seems like at North Heron Mountain, it's all for the sake of a sip of wine?"

Jiang Xueqing said, "Is that bad? My Shifu often says, if cultivating divine powers is for those things, it's better to just drink."

Ming Zhuo asked, "Oh? If your Shifu isn't cultivating divine powers for those things, then what is she doing it for? Drinking?"

Jiang Xueqing replied, "Yes, for drinking. My Shifu is a strange person. She often says there are too many unreasonable things in this world that she can't sort out or save, so she might as well drink, drink, and drink some more."

Ming Zhuo brushed away a few snowflakes and said, "So she drinks to drown her sorrows. It seems among those who love to drink in this world, few are truly happy. There was someone who used to tell me about North Heron Mountain, and I thought those with the surname Jiang were the most carefree in the world."

Jiang Xueqing said, "That is also not entirely wrong."

Ming Zhuo prodded, "Ng? Is that so?"

Jiang Xueqing tilted her head slightly and looked at Ming Zhuo, "Look at my Shifu. When others fight, she drinks; when there's chaos, she drinks. If one day the sky falls, she might still be drinking. Isn't that carefree?"

Ming Zhuo slowed his pace, "She were truly carefree, she wouldn't have come here."

As they talked, they walked and unknowingly arrived near the reception hall. There were several sets of scattered footprints on the cobblestone path, and a few people were gathered outside, talking.

"Send a Fly-Delivery Seal back and let everyone discuss it..."

"I think the Wanzhou Assembly should start now. If it's delayed further, it will only cause bigger trouble!"

"Yongze is really hateful... I don't know what kind of magic he used to make the Lord protect him like this. Although we have many people, we can't get through, ah."

The youth in the centre had a pale face and dishevelled clothes as if just dragged out. He originally clenched his fists, wanting to say something, when suddenly his attention was caught by two figures walking through the snow.

"Xueqing Xiao-Shimei!" He pushed past the crowd and walked up to her in a few strides. "You're here too? Why didn't you send word to me? With such heavy snow, I could have picked you up!"

Hearing his voice, Jiang Xueqing politely replied, "Cui Shixiong, what a coincidence."

Cui Changting saw her and was initially somewhat excited, but then noticed a man standing beside her. He couldn't help but size him up. This man was tall and outstanding, with a pair of amber eyes that seemed to hold a smile, almost intimidating to look directly at.

"This...," Cui Changting almost bit his tongue, "this Xiongdi is?"

Jiang Xueqing explained, "This Da-ge is an Imperial Gaurd. I got lost halfway, and he escorted me here."

Cui Changting recognised Ming Zhuo in his black formal attire, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to recall where he had seen him. Just recently driven out, he harboured no good feelings towards the Heavenly Sea Guards, but with Jiang Xueqing present, he couldn't easily confront them. He could only reluctantly nod, "Many thanks to this Xiongdi. Xueqing Xiao-Shimei, has your Shifu arrived?"

Jiang Xueqing was puzzled, "She arrived early. Didn't you all run into her?"

Cui Changting sighed, intending to lead Jiang Xueqing away for a few steps, but Ming Zhuo stood firm in his place, staring at him. He could only say, "We didn't run into her. Ai, this matter is also a misunderstanding..."

One of his disciples interjected, "What misunderstanding? I've figured it out. This is what they mean by a tiger falling into a peaceful place and being bullied by dogs. Before Immortal Masters Ruiquan and Ruishan passed away, who dared to treat us like this in the Six Prefectures? Now that they're gone, it's given others a chance."

Ming Zhuo found it amusing, "You say a tiger fallen into a peaceful place being bullied by dogs. Ng, so your Qiankun Sect is the tiger and that... Lord is the dog?"

He asked so bluntly, but who would dare to give a real answer? The disciple evaded and equivocated, "I was just giving an analogy, not saying the Lord is..."

Cui Changting, though displeased, knew whose territory he was in and cut in, "The Lord was misled by Yongze's bewitching words and misunderstands us. This is all temporary and there's nothing to discuss. Xueqing Xiao-Shimei, could you take me to see your Shifu? I have important matters to discuss with her."

Jiang Xueqing replied, "My Shifu came here today to discuss important matters with the Lord too, so I'm afraid..."

Another disciple interjected, "The most important issue in the Six Prefectures right now is to kill Yongze! Xueqing Xiao-Shimei, everyone else talks about 'the four mountains are one body, sharing the same boat,' but why does your Posuo Sect always have other major matters?"

Cui Changting said sternly, "Mind your manners! It's well-known that Sanhai-Jun has been in seclusion frequently in recent years. There's no need to harp on about it. Xueqing Xiao-Shimei, please don't take his words to heart. He's just anxious, which makes him speak without restraint."

He sighed again, his face full of worry. After a while, he suddenly burst into tears, "Have you seen me dressed in mourning clothes? It's because of my Shifu... Our Qiankun Sect has lost two leaders in succession, and now we're truly at the end of our road. It would have been enough for our Qiankun Sect to suffer, but don't you know? All the disciples who went to meet with the sects this time have died."

Another person added, "Yongze has gone mad, killing those who entered the capital, and then killing those who didn't. The streets of Peidu are flowing with blood now, and the Lord still wants to protect him. How can this not chill one's heart?"

Ming Zhuo had been patient, watching one person play with a red face and another play with a white face, but his patience was wearing thin.(1) His eyelids twitched slightly as he remarked, "Even if tens of thousands of sect disciples went, Yongze would still want to kill. In one night, he couldn't finish the killing."

Someone else remarked, "Yongze has Baiwei warriors, how could he not finish? When he gave the order, no one escaped!"

Another person added, "Except for the Lord, there's only the leader of Shenzhou Sect still alive. He ran out of Peidu and saw the Baiwei warriors killing people outside the city!"

Snowflakes fell into their collars, melting instantly. Ming Zhuo squinted his eyes, "Baiwei warriors?"

The Baiwei warriors had been eliminated since the era of Ming Han. Ming Zhuo used only the puppet replicas made of paper figures. He wasn't even in Peidu last night, so how could he control Baiwei warriors to kill?

Cui Changting said, "The leader of Shenzhou Sect is named Fu Zheng, a close friend of my Shifu. If he didn't see it with his own eyes, how could I dare come to the Heavenly Sea and ask the Lord for people? Xueqing Xiao-Shimei, this matter is of great importance. I must have a serious talk with your Shifu, Sanhai-Jun."

Several people chimed in, "Now more than a dozen sects are stationed at the peak of South Emperor Mountain, hoping for some resolution."

"Yongze's sudden madness may have other motives. He refused to hand over the body of Immortal Master Ruiquan back then. Could it be because he knew about our Qiankun Sect's spirit-summoning secret technique?"

"I think he did use our secret technique. Otherwise, with his spiritual roots, how could he kill so many people?"

"According to Fu Zheng, Yongze even raised a leopard and made it a prime minister. It's truly absurd..."

The group became increasingly agitated, their hearts filled with indignation, when suddenly they noticed a leopard sticking close to Ming Zhuo's waist. The leopard's tail was slightly curled, cat-like, without making a sound.

“You manage the heavens and the earth,” Ming Zhuo's hand hung down, his two fingers lightly tracing over the patterns on Prime Minister Hua's head, "and even manage whether a leopard can become a prime minister?"

The crowd was stunned, unsure who took two steps back, shouting in confusion, "You, you are—"

Cui Changting's face had changed colour already. He paid no attention to Jiang Xueqing, taking several steps back, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword, and said sharply, "Yongze!"

The wind moved the Fire Fish lantern in Jiang Xueqing's hand, causing her to furrow her brows slightly, "Who?"

The blade was already drawn, gleaming with cold light. The swirling snowflakes in the sky suddenly spun like flying blades of willow leaves, driven by the wind, all rushing towards Ming Zhuo!

Jiang Xueqing, dressed thinly, her hands already red from the cold, instinctively pressed down on the sword hilt as the wind blew fiercely. "Cui Shixiong, wait—"

She felt a weight on her shoulder as a large cloak fell over her, covering her completely. Ming Zhuo twirled his ring between his fingers, his black hair fluttering in the wind, leisurely saying, "Didn't they say 'united as one, sharing the same boat'? How come when fear strikes, even this Xiao-Shimei is abandoned?"

Seeing the snowflakes couldn't harm him, Cui Changting couldn't help but shout, "Take him down!"

The wind howled around them, and in an instant, the swirling snow transformed into countless thin blades, swiftly attacking. This time, everyone united, flashing a row of blade lights before Ming Zhuo.

Amidst the swirling snow and dust, a paper person rose with the wind. Ming Zhuo snapped his fingers, and the paper person instantly transformed into a fair-faced official servant. As soon as the fair-faced official servant landed, he drew two knives from his sides.

The words fell slowly, but the fierce swords collided fast, creating a wave of wind and snow.”

Hū——

Cui Changting, disregarding the wind and snow, pressed forward with everyone: "This is a rare opportunity, his qi is insufficient!"

The fair-faced servant stood alone against the swords of the others, his arms trembling slightly. Every time the crowd pressed forward, he slid back a bit. Indeed, Cui Changting had some skills. Ming Zhuo was restrained by the "manji" symbol chain, and his spiritual energy was not sufficient to move much.

However, what Ming Zhuo hated most was being pressured, and his expression did not change as he snapped his fingers and his eyes were cold: "Who said that their qi is insufficient?"

The snow and wind suddenly dispersed, as if being crushed by someone. The fair-face official's arms stabilised, suddenly twisting back to cut off all the swords of the crowd. Broken blades fell to the ground one after another, and everyone was stunned. The fair-face official didn't care about this much. With a twist of his twin swords, he aimed for Cui Changting's head!

Cui Changting reacted quickly: "Arrow Sings!"

"Arrow Sings" is a wind technique, also a commonly used spell in the Qiankun Sect. It controls the wind like arrows, and when powerful, it can even break through a hundred enemies. Unfortunately, the fair-face official, like Ming Zhuo's left and right arms, couldn't stop his twin swords with Arrow Sings. The blade was already approaching Cui Changting's neck, and it seemed he was about to die—

Qiāng!

A sword blocked the fair-face official's path. Jiang Xueqing's white satin fluttered, her shoulders draped with Ming Zhuo's outer robe. Though only half of her face was visible, one could already catch a glimpse of her future peerless elegance. She tilted her head as if listening to the wind's voice.

"Lord," she said, "we cannot kill here."

Cui Changting sat down with a "pūtōng", cold sweat streaming down. He narrowly escaped death, his sword broken, his voice trembling, "What's there to discuss with him? Xueqing, quickly kill him!"

Jiang Xueqing looked gentle, yet resolute. Standing in the middle, she was somewhat casual, "Cui Shixiong, I can't beat him.”

Cui Changting said, "Call your Shifu, call... ah!"

The fair-faced official moved again, frightening him into a shout. Jiang Xueqing's sword tilted slightly, blocking several times in the snow. She was indeed a prodigy, even her vision impairment, she could still show off her swordsmanship to this extent.

However, Ming Zhuo was truly formidable. The fair-face official was like the force of breaking bamboo, pushing Jiang Xueqing to retreat. As she stepped back, the others followed suit, a group of grown men hiding behind a young girl, which was a scene that was quite comical.

Jiang Xueqing had already retreated to the doorway when suddenly, the curtain inside the hall lifted. She tossed the Fire Fish lantern and commanded, "Shifu!"

This statement carried great momentum, sounding almost like an incantation.

Unfortunately, instead of her Shifu, Jiang Shuangke, it was the Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord who appeared. Lou Xu lifted the curtain, with the blades swirling before him. He remained calm, waiting for the blade to strike.

As the wind eased, snowflakes drifted down.

But what came was not a blade, but a paper figure. The paper figure swayed with the wind and collided with his chest. He deftly caught it with his long fingers and lifted the paper figure, which swung its arm and cut his chin with a “kā”, as if venting frustration.

Lou Xu's gaze pierced through the crowd towards the doorway. Snow continued to fall, while Ming Zhuo exhaled a warm breath, paying him no attention.

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Foot Notes

1. This "red face" and "white face" is a reference to the Beijing opera where traditionally, the hero's face would be painted red and the villain's face white. The say is similar to "good cop, bad cop" in English.