Radiant Blade of the Wilderness

Chapter 59: Beauty Terminated Before Reaching Its Natural Conclusion

On the way to Chengyu Lane, Ding Songyan gave Su Qingli a condensed account of the predicament he’d been in, Yan Changqing’s deception, the abnormalities of the Ding household members, and Ding Qingyan’s true identity. He only mentioned the key points. Su Qingli listened in repeated astonishment.

”Wait, your little sister is the Nine-Evils Demoness, Ji Hanyi?” The girl was utterly shocked. ”Every night when I came over to pester you into writing Legend of the White Snake and chat with you, she was sleeping in the inner room behind the screen, close enough to hear her breathing? No wonder I kept inexplicably forgetting those important things—I thought it was because of the ambush on the road!”

Even now, Ding Songyan still felt as though it had all been a dream.

He echoed a few times, then moved on to the events of the day, likewise omitting his acquisition of the small piece of Chaos remains and his uniqueness that Ji Hanyi had pointed out.

”Wow!” Su Qingli exclaimed in amazement. ”You really killed Yan Yong! An ordinary man killed the Sage-Severing Way’s most promising Supreme Master, a candidate at reaching the Spirit Platform in nearly a century! If word gets out, that’s an absolute top-tier jianghu legend—the kind that endures for a hundred years!”

What flattering praise... In hindsight, Ding Songyan did feel he’d been through a tough ordeal, so he accepted Xiao Qing’s freely offered emotional validation and let the corners of his mouth turn upward.

He gazed at the azure sky and bright sunlight that differed from North Water Street and thought sincerely, All that fighting and killing, surviving by a hair’s breadth, the mystery of Kunlun and the Celestial Thearch’s palace—how can any of it compare to the simple pleasure of hanging out with disreputable companions?

......

Inside Riverwaves Hall, two of the great pillars had already snapped. The place was a wreck.

Every punch and kick from Zhen Qianfan carried the surging force of a vast current, as though some colossal creature had emerged from the depths of the sea. But Su Chongxiao refused to meet him head-on, alternating between feints and substance, reality and illusion, occasionally counterattacking with the Celestial Maiden’s Invisible Whip. This left his opponent’s blows forever landing on empty air, unable to catch his target. It was utterly stifling.

In the suffocating ”deep sea” environment, Dai Shen of the Capsized Vessel Sect was already looking for a chance to flee.

He and Ma Hanjiang of the Small Boat Gang had planned today to exploit the gathering of True Spirit Sect and Celestial Maiden Sect powerhouses alongside the Zhen family members, fully leveraging the Heart-Confounding, Mind-Disrupting Grand Art’s unique properties. First drive their enemies to turn on one another, then strike amid the chaos to eliminate key figures like Zhen Qianfan, and finally withdraw from North Water Street before the authorities could react.

To their surprise, Magistrate Lin Hansheng of Dingjiang Prefecture arrived so quickly, as though he’d been prepared all along? And that Ma Hanjiang’s temperament would prove so unstable that he’d lose control entirely, chasing after the True Spirit Sect disciple Ren Youyang, allowing that cultivator of the Useless Divine Art, a newcomer to the Orchid Fresh List, to leap to the rank of Grandmaster and join the fray against them?

Pinned between Lin Hansheng and Ren Youyang on his left and right, Dai Shen didn’t dare press his luck. Retreat was on his mind.

As for the operation’s incomplete success exposing the Small Boat Gang’s collusion with the Capsized Vessel Sect—a grim prospect for the gang—he didn’t much care. He could quietly prop up another such proxy in due time.

Radiance flared again in the void around Dai Shen, once more outlining that white-headed, red-beaked, black-spotted great eagle whose murderous intent seemed almost corporeal.

The Capsized Vessel Sect’s demon poured everything into the Heart-Confounding, Mind-Disrupting Grand Art, aiming to intensify Lin Hansheng’s aggression until the magistrate turned on Ren Youyang of the True Spirit Sect. That would create the opening he needed to escape.

As for Ren Youyang, he now had golden armor manifesting over his body as he wore a solemn expression. The Grand Art’s influence on him was minimal. His eyes held a detached clarity.

The instant the white-headed, red-beaked eagle phantom materialized, a warm, twilight-yellow sword beam shot in from outside Riverwaves Hall like lightning. It illuminated this dark space veiled in illusory waves, illuminated the hearts clouded by aggression.

The blood-lust in Zhen Qianfan’s eyes receded swiftly. The true fury and aggression that Su Chongxiao had built up from the sustained assault extinguished alongside it.

Lin Hansheng recovered his reason just in time. His right fist drove upward from his waist, rising like a flood dragon bursting from the water, raising surging ”waves” in its wake.

Flood Dragon Metamorphosis Scripture, Fifth Metamorphosis—River-Overturning Metamorphosis!

The illusory waters shuddered, waves towering to the sky, wrenching Dai Shen’s body left and right until he could barely keep his footing.

This forced Dai Shen to concentrate fully, striking at Lin Hansheng’s fist with everything he had, his taloned palm radiating frost radiance.

On the other side, Ren Youyang, whose golden sword had been deflected, took a single step and vanished within Riverwaves Hall.

In the blink of an eye, he emerged from the darkness, from behind Dai Shen, thrusting his sword at the enemy’s spine.

Dai Shen was thrown into a frantic scramble, releasing his ultimate techniques just to avoid being critically wounded.

This left him spent. Before his eyes, a blazing, resplendent sword beam flared, its killing intent bone-cold.

The sword beam flashed past and appeared behind Dai Shen, resolving into the iron-crowned figure of Tao Wenshu.

Dai Shen stood frozen in place, his throat completely pierced through, sword intent ravaging his skull.

Blood erupted in a torrent as he crashed to the ground.

Northern Dipper Killing Sword!

Tao Wenshu directed her gaze toward Zhen Qianfan, who had ceased fighting, and said gravely, ”Zhen Qianfan. Your allegiance to the Sage-Severing Way has been uncovered. Do you have anything to say?”

This was a deduction drawn from Ji Hanyi’s scattered remarks and the fact that Zhen Qianfan had kept Yan Yong imprisoned. Tao Wenshu wanted to hear how he would defend himself.

Zhen Qianfan’s complexion turned ashen in an instant. His body swayed once. He raised his right hand and smiled bitterly.

”Nothing. I gambled and I lost.”

He hadn’t expected that after all his scheming, he’d fail at the very first step—having his mind influenced and ending up fighting the very ”ally” he’d specially invited. He hadn’t even pursued Yan Changqing’s escape.

This made him abruptly recall what Yan Changqing had often told him ten or twenty years ago: ”Mind and spirit must not be neglected, lest you be defeated by this very weakness.” and ”Your foundation is unstable—not only because your art is incomplete, but because your mental state is lacking.”

Just as Zhen Qianfan was about to take his own life on the spot, Tao Wenshu spoke, ”Wait. I have questions for you. If you answer honestly, I can promise that your children and grandchildren who are uninvolved in the Sage-Severing Way’s affairs will be allowed to take a portion of the family wealth and return to their ancestral home as country squires.”

Lin Hansheng listened with mild surprise, since by all rights and propriety, these words should have come from him.

However, Tao Wenshu’s reputation preceded her. He knew full well what kind of person she was. Her overstepping must carry deeper meaning, and this wasn’t the moment to press for details. Best to cooperate first.

Once the magistrate gave his confirmation, Zhen Qianfan’s expression shifted several times before he let out a self-mocking laugh.

”If anyone else made such a promise, I wouldn’t believe them. But since it’s you, Sect Master Tao, saying it, I believe you. What do you want to ask?”

Tao Wenshu didn’t ask immediately. She directed her gaze toward Su Chongxiao.

”Mister Chongxiao, perhaps you might return to Tianyang Hall first?”

Su Chongxiao surveyed the room, his gaze landing on the wooden box that had been knocked deep into the recesses of Riverwaves Hall earlier. He asked in a low voice, ”Who gets the huai fruit?”

Ren Youyang, having already dispelled his golden armor, said in his deep voice, ”Miss Qingli aided me repeatedly just now. This huai fruit should rightfully go to her.

”To me, it is no longer of any use.”

”Much obliged.” Su Chongxiao cupped his fists in thanks, then without the slightest ceremony employed his movement technique to retrieve the wooden box and opened it for a look.

Once he had left Riverwaves Hall, Tao Wenshu turned back to Zhen Qianfan.

”How did you learn that Yan Yong had found the lost Kunlun, entered the Celestial Thearch’s palace, and obtained something of value?”

The lost Kunlun? Ren Youyang’s slightly oversized canine ears twitched.

What exactly have I gotten myself involved in?

Having become divine after death, his body seemed to have undergone some changes as well. Brown animal-fur was visible in many places, and around his ears, two phantom little green snakes slithered in and out, forming what looked like earrings.

Hearing Tao Wenshu’s words, Lin Hansheng’s expression turned grave at once.

So it’s confirmed that Yan Yong entered Kunlun?

Zhen Qianfan smiled bitterly.

”I received a letter one day. It said that Yan Changqing had found Kunlun, entered the Celestial Thearch’s palace, and obtained Chaos remains among other things. I was skeptical, but following the letter’s guidance, I tested Yan Changqing, who had come to me seeking refuge, and ultimately confirmed the matter. Greed took hold of me. So, have the Chaos remains been found?”

Even now he couldn’t let go of that divine substance which could encompass everything he’d learned, mend his foundation, and help him perfect his Dharma Realm in one stroke.

”Ji Hanyi took them,” Tao Wenshu said simply.

Zhen Qianfan’s expression went adrift.

”Just like that? They were hidden nearby?”

Tao Wenshu did not answer his question, asking instead, ”What about the letter?”

Zhen Qianfan let out a chuckle.

”Would you believe me if I said it simply vanished one day?”

”I would.” Tao Wenshu nodded slightly.

If Yan Changqing’s remnant soul could be silenced, a mere letter was nothing.

Zhen Qianfan said seriously, ”I believe whoever wrote that letter also had designs on the Celestial Thearch’s palace. I’d originally hoped that during this ’releasing the tiger back to the mountain’ gambit, that person or their people would also appear, becoming a variable in my favor. But from start to finish, no one fitting the description showed up.”

Tao Wenshu asked about several other matters before finally saying to Zhen Qianfan, ”What I’ve promised you, I will see done.”

”I trust you.” Zhen Qianfan raised his right palm high.

He surveyed the ruined Riverwaves Hall, as though savoring the bustle and clamor of days past, savoring the scenes where his word alone could decide life and death, savoring the ordinary contentment of children and grandchildren gathered around his knees.

”Sigh...”

Zhen Qianfan heaved a long sigh, then slammed his palm down on the crown of his own head.

His skull cracked apart with a crunch, blood and matter erupting simultaneously.

......

”Ding Songyan, do you think the demoness actually sees you as her older brother? She’s clearly older than you!” Su Qingli said with great relish, looking at the well at the entrance to Chengyu Lane.

I’m actually over thirty... Ding Songyan shook his head with a wry smile.

”Who knows? In any case, she let me go.”

”Spend time with someone day after day and some feelings are bound to develop. Besides, you pose no threat to her interests.” Su Qingli pointed toward Chengyu Lane. ”I should go meet up with my second uncle. I’ll come by this evening to say goodbye.”

Without waiting for Ding Songyan’s response, she said beaming, ”I never expected that this trip into the jianghu to broaden my horizons would involve something this thrilling, with implications this far-reaching. It’s more exciting than everything my eldest brother encountered in years of wandering combined!

”Ding Songyan, let’s keep this up when we travel the jianghu together in the future!”

”I’d rather not encounter anything this dangerous again,” Ding Songyan replied with a smile, watching as Xiao Qing and her maidservant Yuyao headed back toward North Water Street with a slight spring in their step.

He felt the small lump of Chaos remains clenched in his palm and turned his gaze toward the lane entrance in the afternoon light.

No neighbors were gathered at the moment. They were either out attending to business or occupied at home.

Ding Songyan walked through the empty lane, where only cicadas sang, step by step toward the Ding family courtyard.

Along the way, he spotted the yellow dog Ahua, saw old Uncle Ren tidying firewood in his yard, and passed a few elderly neighbors, exchanging brief greetings.

Arriving at the gate of the Ding family courtyard, he gave it a gentle push and found it unlatched. It swung open with a creak.

Inside the yard, the elm tree, the woodpile, and the coal were all the same as ever. The mosquitoes and moths had decreased considerably. Through the open door of the main room, the table, chairs, and wooden chests were tidied neatly, but the place was devoid of people.

The cold stillness stood in stark contrast to the chaos, blood, and scheming of before.

A sense of deflation settled over Ding Songyan, as though he’d been busy for ages, crossing mountains and valleys, only to find himself alone at the end of it all.

The place remained, but the people were gone.

He sighed softly and mocked himself inwardly, Everyone was acting all along. Now it’s only fitting that the play has ended and the audience dispersed.

Just then, a voice called out from behind him, ”Brother Ding! Brother Ding!”

Ding Songyan turned quickly and saw the shifty-eyed Xu Chang’an stepping through the courtyard gate.

The fellow asked with a broad grin, ”I saw you come back early. I don’t need to report to the authorities, right?”

Ding Songyan was stunned for a moment before he chuckled softly.

”No need.”

He’d barely finished speaking when another figure appeared at the gate—Zheng Zhuxi, wearing black fitted clothes and carrying her long sword.

Zheng Zhuxi smiled, her expression bright and warm.

”I spotted you leaving North Water Street from the watchtower and figured you’d be heading home, so I came to check on you.

”Glad you’re all right.”

Seeing Zheng Zhuxi’s smile, seeing Xu Chang’an gaping in shock as his gaze darted between the girl and Ding Songyan, Ding Songyan suddenly closed his eyes and opened them again.

The sky seemed to have grown a little brighter.