Radiant Blade of the Wilderness

Chapter 66: Confession

Thief Leader Zhang Rui? Is that not Xu Chang’an’s master? Did Master know about my relationship with Xu Chang’an and specifically request this manual? Ding Songyan saw no reason to stand on ceremony. He thanked Tao Wenshu and accepted both prizes.

Giving them a quick look, he found that the property deed described a full three-courtyard compound, and the manual was titled the Ten Bodies, Hundred Hands, Blameless Profound Art.

Sounds pretty impressive. Ding Songyan leafed through the manual with keen interest.

He noted that the Great Proliferation Realm section was divided into three Chapters: the first on ”aperture forging,” the second on ”meridian condensation,” and the third on ”viscera installation.”

Pretty much what I expected. After creating heterogeneous apertures, one must condense the qi meridians to connect them. For apertures that have no physical anchor, non-human organs derived from divine creatures and strange beasts must be transplanted in. That step is apparently called ”viscera installation,” the same term used in the crafting of idols, though with a different meaning. Actually, come to think of it, the two share an underlying principle. Is cultivating the martial path not the act of sculpting one’s own divine form, of sculpting a god for the living world? Drawing on his own condition, Ding Songyan now had a firm grasp of what the Great Proliferation Realm entailed.

Turning to the end, he found that the Ten Bodies, Hundred Hands, Blameless Profound Art had no Dharma Realm section, only the heading ”Stealing Heaven’s Secrets” and a few sparse lines of text.

Immediately disinterested, he tossed the manual to Xu Chang’an.

”Your master’s legacy. It suits you rather well.”

The palm techniques, movement arts, methods for stealing fortune and Heaven’s Secrets, and the descriptions of gaining extra lives—all of it was perfectly suited to a great thief.

”I... Brother Ding... This...” Xu Chang’an caught the manual but could not string a complete sentence together.

When Sect Master Tao mentioned ”Thief Leader Zhang Rui,” he had already known this manual was the wondrous art his master had spoken of, one that could encompass all he had already learned. To say he felt no longing for it would have been a lie. But he had never once imagined that Brother Ding would simply give something so precious to him.

Ding Songyan glanced at him.

”If I’m giving it to you, take it. It belonged to your master to begin with.

”What you need to think about now is whether to cultivate this art or wait for a chance to join a major sect. Once you begin aperture refinement, there’s no going back.”

For Ding Songyan, possessing the Chaos traits and having reached the Grandmaster realm, he had little regard for a manual that lacked even a Dharma Realm section. If he ever truly wanted to derive techniques from it later, would Xu Chang’an really dare refuse him a look once he had fully mastered his own power?

Of course, part of his easy generosity came from how effortlessly the manual had fallen into his hands. It felt entirely unreal and intangible. It wasn’t even worth as much as the forty-odd taels of silver he had painstakingly scraped together. He found himself in the mood of thinking: ”gold squandered will return again.”

Witnessing Ding Songyan’s loyalty and generosity, Tao Wenshu gave an almost imperceptible nod. Zheng Zhuxi’s regard for him deepened as well.

Hearing Brother Ding’s words, Xu Chang’an’s attention shifted from whether to accept the gift to whether to cultivate the art.

On one side lay a martial art within reach and perfectly suited to him; on the other, a hope of joining a major sect, one that was possible but uncertain. A few breaths was all it took for him to decide.

Overcome with gratitude, he said to Ding Songyan, ”A master for a day is a father for life. I want to cultivate this art. But Brother Ding, I... I have no way to repay you right now.”

This was no longer a matter of money.

”Consider it a debt noted,” Ding Songyan replied offhandedly.

At this moment, Tao Wenshu said, ”Songyan, will you stay in the prefecture city a few more days to settle your affairs and return with your senior sister, or will you pack today and come back to Alpine Lake Mountain with me?”

Ding Songyan clasped his hands without a moment’s hesitation.

”Master, I would gladly return to the sect with you.”

Catching the looks from both Tao Wenshu and Zheng Zhuxi, he grinned.

”I can’t wait to start training, Master!”

”An admirable spirit.” Tao Wenshu smiled and nodded. ”But you must remember: in martial cultivation, haste makes waste. A weak foundation makes progression difficult in the future. Zhen Qianfan and the many Grandmasters forcefully initiated by their sects stand as cautionary examples.”

Ding Songyan acknowledged her and returned to his room, pulling out a pack to sling on his back. He placed clothing, books, and silver inside, including his copy of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas.

He had already searched the room the previous day and found that the personal belongings of the Demoness Ji, his nominal mother, Qiu Chen, and Li Zhi were all gone. Whether destroyed or moved in advance, he couldn’t say.

It served as a reminder that this world’s martial path held wonders he had barely imagined. Secret arts capable of tracking a person across a thousands of miles by scent alone almost certainly existed, and there were sorcery and curse techniques. Personal belongings used over a long period must never be carelessly discarded.

Done packing and carrying a wooden frame on his back, Ding Songyan returned to the main room and pressed the deed for the Baoping Lane courtyard into Xu Chang’an’s hands.

”Help me take possession of the courtyard, arrange for the servants to clean it regularly, and pay their monthly wages. I’ll need a place to stay when I come back to the prefecture city.

”If you’re short on money, dismiss the servants and do the cleaning yourself.”

The Brightnight Sect assisted with patrol duties in the prefecture city and several county seats, and Ding Songyan was certain to return often. Having his own place to stay would be far more comfortable than lodging in the yamen guestroom.

”Of course, Brother Ding.” Xu Chang’an had been worrying over how to repay him.

Ding Songyan pointed to the square table.

”You can write, yes? Remember to copy out The Legend of the White Snake for me and sell it to the book guild. Keep the original at home. I’ll come back for it.

”As for the pots and pans, wash what’s worth keeping, sell the rest, and if they don’t sell, move them to the new courtyard. After that, let the landlord know the lease won’t be renewed when it expires.”

”Ah...” Xu Chang’an looked a little lost.

Ding Songyan laughed.

”Did you think the Ten Bodies, Hundred Hands, Blameless Profound Art came for free? You should know it’s worth at least...”

Lacking any point of reference, Ding Songyan could not come up with a suitable figure.

”At least ten thousand taels of silver,” Zheng Zhuxi helpfully answered.

Ten... ten thousand taels? Ding Songyan went blank.

He had worked so hard for so long and only scraped together forty-two taels and eight qian of silver, plus six hundred and twelve copper coins. Most of the windfall came from Xu Chang’an, and of what remained, roughly nine-tenths had come as tips from young Miss Xiao Qing.

And from the idle chatter he had overheard at the lane entrance, he knew that the three-courtyard compound on Baoping Lane was worth a hundred and fifty taels at most.

Zheng Zhuxi explained earnestly, ”That manual contains aperture forging methods. Cultivated to a sufficient level, it’s enough to found a sect anywhere outside the prefectural cities. And at the perfected Great Proliferation Realm alone it grants the cultivator nine lives. Even without the Dharma Realm section or how it falls short of ten lives, it’s more than enough. Countless people covet it.

”Ten thousand taels is actually an underestimate. Manuals of this caliber are priceless—there’s no market for them.”

Stop, stop, my heart aches... Senior Sister, you are an upright and principled swordswoman, why must you be so expert at twisting the knife. You didn’t even mean to... Ding Songyan worked hard to keep his smile looking natural.

”No, Brother Ding, I’m happy to help with these errands,” Xu Chang’an hurried to explain. ”I was just surprised. You’re not coming back to Chengyu Lane anymore?”

He had no idea whether he would ever see ten thousand taels in his lifetime.

Ding Songyan chuckled.

”What would be the point?”

It couldn’t be the case of ”ten days of playing house, a lifetime of feelings for the Ding family,” right?

”Alright. Is there anything else you need me to do?” Xu Chang’an asked.

”Nothing for now.” Ding Songyan shouldered his pack and walked toward the courtyard. ”We’ll see when I’m back in the city.”

”Before aperture refinement begins, you’re allowed home for three days each season. After it begins, those three days still apply, but you’ll also spend half a month each season assisting with patrol duties, though not necessarily in the prefecture city.” Zheng Zhuxi briefed her junior brother on the basics while tucking a small blue cloth bundle into his pack.

”What’s this?” Ding Songyan asked, curious.

Zheng Zhuxi smiled.

”Secret manuals collected from the Zhen manor—the Water Ape Divine Art, the Northern Sea Fish-Spine Scripture, the Three Secret Chapters of the Wind Earl. None have aperture forging sections, so they’ll go into the scripture repository for fellow disciples to consult and familiarize themselves with the techniques and forms of other sects.”

”The yamen didn’t take them?” Only now did Ding Songyan realize the resources of major sects might be even greater than he had imagined.

”They made copies of everything, and they took the aperture forging sections from the Water Ape Divine Art and the Northern Sea Fish-Spine Scripture as well.” Zheng Zhuxi stepped back with the faint delight of being a senior sister for the first time. ”Junior Brother Ding, once I finish my patrol duties, I’ll return to the mountain and guide your training.”

Her mother was occupied with sect affairs and had taken on only a few disciples. After Zheng Zhuxi herself began aperture refinement and received her sect ranking, her mother had taken none at all. Now, at last, she had finally gotten one of her own to teach.

”Thank you, Senior Sister Zheng.” Ding Songyan was quite happy to cultivate a good relationship with his master’s own daughter.

After bidding farewell to Xu Chang’an, Zheng Zhuxi accompanied her mother and junior brother all the way to the western city gate.

Brightnight Sect disciples on watch there brought out two proud, somewhat unruly horses.

”Do you ride?” Tao Wenshu looked at her new disciple. ”If not, I’ll have a senior brother share a horse with you.”

Ding Songyan had visited an equestrian club during social engagements in his past life, but he had only managed to ride with an instructor guiding him the whole time. Unwilling to boast, he approached the horse while citing his Soul Departure Sickness as an excuse.

”I’m not sure, Master...”

He had not yet actually touched the tawny horse when it gave a sudden shudder, its wild, unruly gaze instantly becoming clear and placid.

He reached out and found the horse remarkably docile. He tried mounting, took hold of the reins, and walked it in a circle nearby.

Seeing how well the tawny horse cooperated, Ding Songyan let out a breath and smiled at his master.

”It seems I can ride after all, Master.”

Tao Wenshu gave a gentle nod, swung onto her black horse, and led Ding Songyan westward at a measured pace. An hour later they turned south.

Reaching a river, both of them slowed their horses to cross the bridge.

Ding Songyan glanced left and right, saw no one nearby, and pulled his reins to bring himself alongside Tao Wenshu.

He spoke in a low voice.

”Master, I have something else to report.”

”What is it?” Tao Wenshu turned to look at him.

Ding Songyan deliberated his choice of words.

”Yesterday, I did in fact obtain a piece of Chaos remains. Using my ability to commune with the netherworld, I hid it there, which is how it escaped Demoness Ji’s notice. After returning home yesterday, I consumed it.”

He was following his own earlier logic. Before a master who would regularly instruct him in the martial arts, his cultivation level and unusual nature could not possibly be concealed forever. It was better to confess at once. And if his master accepted it, with the sect master’s help in keeping it quiet, the other disciples would be hard-pressed to find out.

And if his master did not accept it, this remote stretch of wilderness was perfectly suited for making a swift escape.