Chapter 74: A Spell to Stir Up Fires

Jiang Shuangke was a unique character. It is said that among her fellow disciples, she was the latest to achieve enlightenment. While others had already ventured down the mountain with their swords to travel through Six Prefectures, she was still using a wooden sword to stir mud. At that time, her Shifu, Jiang Sigu, was still alive and dragged her in front of her to practice swordsmanship. She was inconsistent in her efforts, which irritated Jiang Sigu so much that she even chased her out of bed to watch her practice. It took her six or seven years of this sporadic training, but she finally managed to master the second form of the Posuo Sect's Hellfire Sword technique. 

This second form was called "Indifference".(1)

Jiang Shuangke only mastered "Indifference." She couldn't grasp other techniques like "Pull to the Forefront " or "Woundless." The strange thing about her was that she managed to become the head of the Posuo Sect relying solely on this one technique. Initially, nobody called her "Sanhai-jun; everyone just called her "Yishi Niang”,(2) which was a humorous nickname. She didn't mind and even used it to refer to herself until several decades ago when a single event changed everything.

At that time, below Dongzhao Mountain, there was a city, the largest within Dongzhao Mountain's territory. The city was constantly bustling with carriages and horses, and it was home to a deity named Shezui who was supposed to absolve sins.(3) However, due to a mistake in the sacrificial ritual or some other reason, Shezui became corrupted and began causing chaos and killing people in the city.

As the protectors of this region, the Kuwu clan naturally had to take responsibility for this crisis. They sent over a dozen disciples, one after another, but none could resolve the situation. Finally, the chief of Kuwu Cheng, Lin Changming, descended the mountain himself but returned defeated. With the city's populace on the verge of disaster, a lone figure entered the city and used the "Indifference" technique to slay Shezui.

That person was Jiang Shuangke.

She was drunk and boldly confronted Lin Changming, the chief of the Lin clan, explaining to him that she had come on a mission to annul her engagement. Everyone present was dumbfounded. After returning the token of engagement, she left the city alone and returned to North Heron Mountain.

From that day on, the nickname changed from a joke to a mark of respect.

Everyone knew that Yishi Niang only knew one technique. Regardless of the strength of her opponents, she always used that singular technique. Yet, despite countless heroes and formidable opponents throughout the world, no one had been able to defeat her style.

Ming Zhuo glanced back into the hall where Jiang Shuangke was still kneeling, her head almost bowing down to the table. After reciting the sect rules three times, Jiang Xueqing said, "Good Shifu, as long as you remember them."

Jiang Shuangke said, "No, no, no, just remembering is not enough. Shifu will copy them for you!"

She searched in her sleeve for a long time and actually pulled out a pen. The pen was already worn out, but she didn't mind. She dipped it in tea water and started copying on the ground. The lines were all twisted and turned, just like her, with not a single one being straight.

"It's Sanhai-jun," Luo Xu loosened the curtain of the hall and stood behind Ming Zhuo, "If you don't believe me, call her once and see if she answers."

The entrance was so wide that even as Luo Xu came in, the two were standing shoulder to chest as if they needed to squeeze together. Ming Zhuo usually looked at everyone with an "uninterested" expression. Now, encountering Jiang Shuangke, he seemed somewhat hesitant.

It was not like Yongze.

"You were so fierce outside," Luo Xu's tone was loose, and he said in a very low voice, "But you don’t even dare call a name after coming inside?"

As long as one added the word "dare" to anything, Ming Zhuo would respond. Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Ming Zhuo glanced at him, his eyes full of "what don’t I dare".

Ming Zhuo held the paper figure and called out, "Sanhai-jun."

Jiang Shuangke lifted her sleeve with one hand and wrote swiftly with the other. Hearing the call, she didn't even lift her head, responding rapidly like a burst of cannon fire, "Yes, yes, it's me! If it's nothing urgent, please wait a moment —Xueqing, Shifu has finished transcribing, take a look!" 

She knelt on the ground, hearing someone enter, and feeling no embarrassment, her spirit still lively. But Jiang Xueqing's eyes were injured; how could she see?

Jiang Xueqing took it in stride, calmly standing up and bowing at the door, "Lord, Imperial Lord." 

"I know this is only transcription," Luo Xu walked in, sidestepping Ming Zhuo, "but to those who don't, it might seem like a scolding." 

Jiang Shuangke remained seated, not getting up, and laughed, "What's wrong with a scolding? Is there a rule that a Shifu cannot be scolded by their disciple? Oh, is this the Lord? You've grown so much since I last saw you..."

Ming Zhuo had always been in the Divine Palace and had never seen her before. Hearing her words, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "You saw me before?" 

Jiang Shuangke scratched her head with the pen, slapping her thigh, "In Changcheng, right? Back then, you were still a young lad, with your Meimei..." 

"That was Ming Han," Ming Zhuo corrected her.

Jiang Xueqing lightly kicked her Shifu, and Jiang Shuang Ke apologised, "My apologies, truly, my apologies. I've been in seclusion these past few years and can't quite remember dates and times. Please don’t be offended." 

"It doesn’t matter," Ming Zhuo said, "just don't make the same mistake in the future." 

"Certainly, certainly," Jiang Shuangke said warmly, "now that you're here, please have a seat and don't be shy. It's so cold outside, let's all have a cup of hot tea." 

Luo Xu picked an empty chair and lifted his teacup, "This is my first time visiting your home, thanks for the tea."

Jiang Shuangke weighed her pen and said to Jiang Xueqing, "Listen to the Imperial Lord’s words, he's complaining that I took the initiative to welcome him."

Ming Zhuo glanced around at Luo Xu and nudged him. Luo Xu remained expressionless, didn't drink the tea, and kept stirring the foam, avoiding this topic. Just then, Mu Chao returned with freshly brewed tea, and everyone took their seats.

It was then that Luo Xu spoke, "Now that everyone's here, could you tell us what your visit is about?"

When your father was around, important matters had to wait until after three rounds of drinking," Jiang Shuangke tossed aside her pen, "You’re such an open door, I'm really not used to it.”(4)

Luo Xu gestured towards the door, "Then feel free to get up, and go left after leaving this door, where you'll find my father's tablet. You can finish your drink with him and then come back." 

Jiang Shuangke, who had just copied down the sect rules, was being watched by her disciple and couldn't really go for a drink. She leaned on her knees, saying, "Forget it, I’ll speak bluntly, ba. I came here originally for one thing, but now it's become two. First, who called the Baiwei Warriors outside Peidu?"

"This question should be asked to the Imperial Lord. Everyone else is occupied, but he's free. He knows the situation best,” Ming Zhuo deflected as if passing the ball, "he's the most informed about the matter.” 

"When I left Peidu, I didn't see any Baiwei Warriors," Luo Xu said, "it was still light, and none of the people outside the city were dead."

Jiang Shuangke remarked, "That's strange then. If it wasn't you, who else could have mobilised the Baiwei Warriors? Moreover, the disciples from various sects who gathered at the gate of Peidu last night were there to show strength. Now, with people inexplicably dead, no sect will let this go easily."

Ming Zhuo added, "Whether it was indeed the Baiwei Warriors is still up for debate. Throughout this discussion, we've only relied on the testimony of Fu Zheng from Shenzhou Sect."

Fu Zheng had never been to Peidu before, and his Shenzhou Sect was just one of the many minor sects in the Southern Two Provinces. Ming Zhuo had spared him that day because they had no personal enmity. But now, with this incident, no personal enmity had become a serious one.

"It's not merely one-sided testimony," Luo Xu put down his teacup, "the major sects aren't fools. They'll conduct autopsies when people die, checking for knife wounds, cuts, and traces of curses. These can't be faked. Since they dared to confront the Heavenly Sea directly, it must be because they have all the evidence."

The Baiwei Warriors were the front guards of the Ming family. Their swords were custom-made to specific dimensions, and any deviation in length, even by a fraction of a cun, was impermissible, making their wounds easily identifiable.(5) But if it truly was the Baiwei Warriors, the situation became even more bizarre.

Because in this world, aside from Ming Zhuo, there were no more Ming family members left. No matter what, this incident was now attributed to Ming Zhuo.

"If they were framing someone, killing a few people would suffice," Ming Zhuo pondered for a moment, "but they killed everyone."

"If the other party isn't a heartless madman, there must be a reason for their actions. You see, killing a few people isn't difficult, but wiping out everyone in a limited time is challenging. During this period, if someone manages to escape or sends out a distress signal, it could expose them."

"That's exactly what concerns me," Jiang Shuangke said, "killing so many people doesn't seem like mere framing; it feels more like enticing the divine beings into corruption."

Ming Zhuo lifted an eyebrow slightly, finding this speculation highly plausible. Everyone assumed the lunar deity Hui Mang was still in Peidu, so setting up this scheme could achieve two aims at once.

"If Hui Mang falls into corruption," Luo Xu adjusted the lid of his teacup, "that would be disastrous."

"Not bad. If not for this concern, I wouldn't have included it in the main issue. I'm sure everyone remembers when the Sun God dispersed, causing a Calamity of Great Famine in Changcheng. I'm worried someone might be using their personal grudge against you to turn Peidu into a similar disaster."

A Calamity of Great Famine would lead to barren lands and no new gods to succeed the old. Unfortunately, that person didn't know that Hui Mang was no longer the same as before; he was now with Ming Zhuo.

"I see," Luo Xu said, "that's the first issue. What's the second?"

Jiang Shuangke rolled up her sleeves, showing the Fire Fish pattern hanging below her knees. She hesitated, "As for the second matter... I would like to borrow the Imperial Lord’s 'manji' fire incantation. A few days ago, there was a fire at home while I was in seclusion, and it burned the sacred tree. You also know that this sacred tree is used to enshrine the Red Gold Fire Fish and the name plaque of the Jiao Mother. Even though it's usually not needed, it must never be lacking."

The sacred tree had absorbed the aura of the Jiao Mother, and to restore it, they could only rely on the healing "manji" fire incantation through prayers. However, her explanation was brief, but this matter was actually quite urgent.

"North Heron Mountain is guarded by the Fire Fish. Your home wouldn't catch fire for no reason," Luo Xu said, "did you happen to disturb the Fire Fish?"

The four mountains that supported the Heaven's Sea relied on the Jiao Mother’s secret treasures. These four “Jiao Mother” secret treasures, all named "Red Gold," had similar properties and equal spiritual energy. They were enshrined at the peaks of the four mountains and were not to be touched unless absolutely necessary.

Jiang Shuangke scratched her ear and cheeks, "How can I say this...?"

Behind her, Jiang Xueqing softly said, "Imperial Lord, it was me who disturbed it."

She turned slightly, touching the white cloth in front of her eyes.

"A few days ago, there was a strange sound where the Fire Fish are enshrined. I went in to investigate, breaking through the sealing spell of the Fire Fish’s barrier. As a result, my eyes were injured, and I found nothing." 

"The disturbance of the Fire Fish was due to turbulence in the Heavenly Sea," Luo Xu said thoughtfully, "you should thank your Shifu for arriving promptly. If it had been a few days later, even the 'manji' fire curse wouldn't have saved your eyes. Mu Chao, give the incantation charm to Sanhai-jun."

Taking the charm, he promptly escorted them out, showing no regard for appearances. Fortunately, Jiang Shuangke was eager to return to repair the sacred tree. She grabbed her disciple and started to leave, but before departing, she reminded them, "If there's any progress on the Peidu murders, please send a Fly-Delivery Seal to me."

Jiang Xueqing added, "Many thanks—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Shuangke had already left with her entourage. Luo Xu lifted the hall curtain and, after waiting a while without seeing Ming Zhuo come over, turned back and asked, "You..."

Ming Zhuo hadn't spoken much since he got up. Leaning back in his chair, he was undoing his collar with one hand. Hearing the voice, he lifted his chin slightly, his ears turning red. The loosened collar revealed a glimpse of his neck. His long fingers were tucked into his side collar, alongside his ring, touching his pulse as if cooling down. He had become like this because he had drunk two sips of tea, and the Blood Shackle Curse on his chest seemed to have caught fire, itching and tingling.

"Your clothes," Ming Zhuo furrowed his brows slightly, speaking slowly, "… you also put a spell on them, right?”

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Thanks for reading w

Foot Notes

1. 不为 (buwei) was first mentioned in volume 1, which I totally blanked on. It's explained in the Bujing Sword Arc why the move is called "Indifference". 

2. 一式娘 (Yī shì niáng) means “One Form Lady”, as in she only uses that one sword style.

3. 赦罪 (Shè Zuì) means “Forgive Sin”.

4. She actually uses an idiom here: 开门见山 (kāiménjiánshān), which literally translates as “to open the door and see the mountain,” which means “straightforward” or “direct”.

5. A "寸" (cùn) is approximately 3 cm or 1 inch.