Martial Cultivator

Now that the scholar had gone quiet, Song Mian was not quite used to it. After thinking for a bit, he tried to start a new topic. “How many students have you had in your life? Don’t tell me I’m the only one?”

The scholar replied flatly, “If that were the case, I’d go find a rope and hang myself right now.”

Song Mian clicked his tongue. “With your personality, I bet even if you have had students, not many liked you.”

The scholar did not respond. But thinking it over, his students probably still respected him, where was there any liking him or not?

Just as Song Mian opened his mouth to say more, the scholar cut him off and started shooing him away. “Didn’t even bring alcohol, what did you come here for? Get lost. Don’t come again without it.”

Song Mian spat on the ground and rolled his eyes, this guy was so practical.

But as he limped to the door, he suddenly turned around and said, “Hey, do you know what my dream is?”

The scholar glanced at him but still played along, asking, “What?”

“To become a Confucian general like Gao Xuan! So what if I can’t cultivate? I’ll still make the demons piss themselves and run!”

Song Mian lifted his head high. In that moment, the boy seemed to shine with a light that could not be dimmed.

Unfortunately, the scholar did not respond at all.

Song Mian pushed open the door and left.

Only then, did he grimace in pain.

The scholar remained lying on the chair, unmoving, eyes narrowed slightly as though he were about to fall asleep.

It was not until footsteps sounded again at the door that he opened his eyes slightly.

A tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man stepped into the courtyard.

The scholar sat up and looked at the uninvited guest, saying indifferently, “Lord Warden Commander? Or is it Great General of the Northern Frontier now? With such an honored guest, I’m afraid my little courtyard might collapse.”

The visitor was naturally the former Lord Warden Commander and current Great General of the Northern Frontier, Ning Ping.

Ning Ping smiled. “The Lord Warden Commander of Great Liang now isn’t me. Calling me that is rather inappropriate, don’t you think, Dean?”

His words referred to that young Lord Warden Commander. The Dean had no interest in responding; his most valued final disciple had been conned by that stinking brat just like that. He was not in a good mood.

Ning Ping chuckled. “We’re far up here in the north. The imperial court relies entirely on that kid to hold things together. Honestly, he’s done a decent job. Even the Infatuation Daoist Temple doesn’t dare make a move now. Even if His Majesty were here, I doubt he’d do better, right?”

The Dean replied calmly, “Merits that overshadow the ruler, do you think that’s a good omen?”

The Lord Warden Commander did not continue on that topic, instead changing the subject. “I heard that Dean has taken in a student here, but after all this time, only one? Still holding to your usual high standards? Is he a cultivation prodigy on par with Sword Immortal Liu?”

“Just an in-name disciple. In my life, I said I would only take in seventy-two students, and seventy-two it shall be, no exceptions. But that boy is awfully insolent. I must admit, it’s a different flavor.”

Even the most unruly students he had taken in before, upon hearing he was the Dean of the academy, dared not act so brashly. Only that brat treated him like this, ignorant of his status, spouting whatever came to mind.

It was a different experience.

The Lord Warden Commander chuckled. “No matter what, when that boy finds out who you really are, he’s likely to have his jaw drop to the floor.”

The Dean replied rather impatiently, “Ning Ping, you’re wrapped up in military affairs day and night. Did you really come all the way out here just to talk nonsense with me? If that’s all it takes, I could be the Great General of the Northern Frontier myself.”

The Lord Warden Commander brushed off the words with a smile.

After a moment of silence, the Lord Warden Commander suddenly said with a smile, “This time, I came to invite Dean back to the Divine Capital.”

The Dean looked at him, puzzled.

The Lord Warden Commander said, “That forbidden zone in the desolate north is showing signs of weakening. It looks like the barrier will disappear before long. Earlier, the optimistic estimate had been that it would hold for over a decade. But now, it seemed it might fully vanish within just a few years.”

The Dean raised an eyebrow. “And then?”

“When war breaks out again, it’ll no longer be suitable for Dean to remain here.”

The Lord Warden Commander said calmly, “A scholar like Dean shouldn’t die in the Northern Frontier.”

The Dean clicked his tongue. “So you, Ning Ping, are afraid I’ll die up here in the north, and you won’t be able to explain it to the academy?”

The Lord Warden Commander said nothing, but that was indeed what he meant.

If the Dean were to die in the Northern Frontier, it would no doubt be a heavy blow to the scholars of the entire Great Liang.

“Even if there are still a few years left, so what? Even if war breaks out tomorrow, am I not allowed to stand atop the walls and slay the enemy?”

The Dean let out a cold snort, his expression ugly.

The Lord Warden Commander said softly, “I understand why Dean came here. But in truth, there was no need. The Wei Family is guilty. Though Mr Wei is a descendant of the Wei Family, the imperial court has already passed its verdict, it has nothing to do with him. Why trouble yourself so over this?”

The Dean shot the Warden a cold glare.

The Warden could only give a bitter smile.

“Ning Ping, you martial artists are allowed to die atop these city walls, but why can’t we scholars die here too?”

The Dean took a deep breath and said calmly, “Don’t give me that nonsense. Even if I die in this place, no one will curse you for it. Instead, more scholars will follow in my footsteps, laying down their lives on this very spot.”

The Lord Warden Commander wanted to speak, but swallowed the words back.

The Dean sneered. “There’s no such thing as ’what’s only natural’, no such thing as some divine order that says you lot hold the walls while we bury our heads in books. Are we not all Liang people? Who decided how things ought to be?”

This time, the Lord Warden Commander was silent for a long while. Then he smiled and asked, “How about we team up, head to the desolate north, and hunt down that Demon Emperor? We’ll join forces and take him out.”

The Dean narrowed his eyes and spat two words: “Piss off!”

The Lord Warden Commander burst into laughter.

——

Great Liang, Divine Capital.

The first snowfall of the year had come a bit too quickly and heavily. In no time at all, the bamboo building was blanketed in pure white.

Two young boys had been given special permission by their Mistress today: only half a day of cultivation, with the other half free to play. Naturally, they started a snowball fight in front of the bamboo building.

Still youthful at heart, although the two boys were fellow disciples, they had no intention of going easy on each other. Their throws were sharp and precise. Caught off guard, each of them took a snowball - one to the forehead, the other to the eye.

Yet even in pain, neither of them minded. After they got tired from playing, they exchanged a glance, then ran outside to wander around.

The young woman sitting beneath the eaves, a small brazier warming her hands, did not stop them. Only after they had gone did she begin flipping through the report that had just been delivered.

The year’s end was fast approaching. Overall, this year had been relatively peaceful for the Great Liang. Though a few incidents had occurred earlier, none had shaken the broader state of affairs.

After reading the report, she took out a map marked with the numerous sects in the foreign lands. The Sword Sect and Sword Qi Mountain had long since been circled in red.

Later, she had marked half a circle around the Infatuation Daoist Temple.

Now, her gaze fell on the Myriad Heaven Palace and Deercry Monastery.

Though there were many major sects in the foreign lands, in the end, only a few truly held sway over matters of the world.

If war with the demon race were to break out now, the current strength would be sufficient. But to utterly exterminate the demon race, a feat of that scale would require unity above all else.

Xie Nandu narrowed her eyes slightly, silent. In the end, her hands were placed on the brazier, soaking in its warmth.

——

A woman kept moving southward, weaving her way through the mountains and forests.

But every demon in her path chose to evade upon sensing the woman’s aura.

She was born with snow-white eyes. Her beauty could not quite be called peerless, but it was not far from it.

She was heading south for one reason only: to kill.