Radiant Blade of the Wilderness

Chapter 228: Upheaval in the Fire-Wielding School

Shit. One wrong answer could get me killed! Ding Songyan cursed inwardly.

His first impulse was to answer, ”The sentient jade is a born flirt. Naturally, he’d choose all three.” That would suggest he was the same sort of man, unlikely to be bound by love. Little Sister need not worry.

But on second thought, the answer felt too much like a dodge. The Sage-Severing Way’s leader would see through such an obvious lie.

Their show of sibling affection had been an act, but a play could delight an audience that knew perfectly well it was acted. As long as the performance was convincing enough to keep her immersed, all would be well. If he lied so blatantly that his sister stepped out of their devoted-siblings act, the ending might be far from pleasant.

Ding Songyan met Ji Hanyi’s bright, lively eyes and sighed.

”I haven’t decided whom he’ll choose. I’ll know when I reach that part of the story.

”If I had to decide now, I think the sentient jade would choose the scarlet grass of Jade Pool.”

”Why?” Ji Hanyi’s smile became a little more pronounced.

Ding Songyan said earnestly, ”Their lives have been entwined for three lifetimes. They grew together. They love each other, but there’s family affection and friendship between them too. They’re lovers, family, and friends all at once. That’s the hardest bond to break.”

Ji Hanyi hummed her agreement, still smiling.

”Then I’ll wait for you to write the rest of the story, Second Brother.”

She lay back down, clutching the quilt, and said brightly, ”Time for bed!”

Ding Songyan pushed several stools together into a makeshift bed, lay down, and closed his eyes in the deep darkness.

Suddenly, a voice touched with amusement came from the bed.

”Second Brother, I’ve thought about what you said. Your Senior Sister Zheng seems to fit that description too.”

Ding Songyan tensed, a chill rising within him.

He was about to explain himself when the room suddenly seemed to fall silent. The bed felt empty.

Little Sister left? His thoughts raced. He opened his mouth and said, ”She fits? That never even occurred to me...”

His voice drifted softly through the room. No one answered.

Ding Songyan let out a slow breath and rose from the makeshift bed. Candlelight and stars appeared in his eyes as he looked toward the quilt.

She was indeed gone.

What is that demoness thinking? She didn’t even stay to hear my explanation. Or does she not care about the answer and only wanted to warn me? Troubled by the thought, Ding Songyan took off his outer robe and climbed back into bed.

Heat and cold could not trouble him, but on an early winter night, a warm quilt was still more comfortable.

Warmth lingered beneath the quilt, and the delicate, faintly sweet scent filled his nose at once.

After a while, Ding Songyan sighed helplessly.

That demoness won’t let me rest even after she’s gone!

How am I supposed to sleep now?

...

Elsewhere in the quiet night, someone else could not sleep.

That evening, Liu Cheng had heard that a woman wearing a Jade Maiden mask had killed Altar-Cleansing Dragon King Huo Minglou of the Returning Abyss Order. Surprised and baffled, he wondered where such a formidable Jade Maiden had come from.

That night, word reached him from within the Sea-Treading Gang that his adoptive father had been attacked by a man in a Jade Maiden mask and had nearly died.

Liu Cheng was utterly bewildered. The more he tried to make sense of it, the deeper into a maze he seemed to wander.

Lying awake beneath the gauze canopy, he began to question an earlier suspicion.

Could it be that Brother Ding wasn’t the Golden Boy who killed Evil Beyond Measure Sun Feiyang?

There are no women around him except Twelfth Madam Luo, who runs that wine shop. And she doesn’t seem capable of killing Altar-Cleansing Dragon King Huo Minglou. She can’t even deal with street ruffians. She has a temper, but clearly no real martial skill...

Should I have someone test Twelfth Madam Luo? No. If she’s not the Jade Maiden, fine. But if she is, I’d be inviting disaster. If she could kill Huo Minglou, she could certainly kill me. And I’d anger Brother Ding too. They say he visits the Cheap Wine Shop every day...

Better not to know. Better not to know...

Then who was the male Jade Maiden who attacked my adoptive father? Is the Sea-Treading Gang cursed? Apart from that gambling-house affair, we haven’t offended anyone lately...

Maybe this Golden Boy and Jade Maiden business truly has nothing to do with Brother Ding. There’s clearly more to it than I know, and it looks complicated...

As Liu Cheng ruminated over the matter, his old worries rose again.

A disreputable gang like ours has no firm foundation. It could collapse without warning any day...

Our lives are spent on a blade’s edge. Death could come at any time...

Filled with worry, Liu Cheng tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

...

The next morning.

Yawning, Ding Songyan came out of his room and lifted the lid from a food box on the stone table.

”Brother Ding, did you sleep badly last night?” Fan Chunlin asked with concern.

Ding Songyan nodded gravely.

”Yes. I didn’t fall asleep until the fifth watch, and now I’m up again.”

After the demoness’s visit, he had discovered that, however mature his mind, his body was still young and hot-blooded, its blood vitality brimming. Only by centering himself and quieting his thoughts had he gradually calmed down enough to sleep.

Wu Mo glanced at him.

”Weren’t you back before midnight? Why didn’t you sleep until the fifth watch?”

At that, Fan Chunlin fell silent.

Where Brother Ding had been before midnight needed no explanation.

”I had something on my mind,” Ding Songyan answered earnestly.

He picked up a bowl of rice porridge with lean pork and ate, blowing on each spoonful.

”What was it?” Though his spirits had sunk, Fan Chunlin still hoped he might help Brother Ding with whatever troubled him.

Ding Songyan looked up at them, his expression perfectly serious.

”Last night I was wondering: if I could marry anyone listed in Peerless Beauties of the Jianghu, whom would I choose? I thought about it for ages and still couldn’t decide. They each have their own charms. How could I sleep?”

Wu Mo and Fan Chunlin were left speechless.

We shouldn’t have bothered worrying about him!

After the two went back to their rooms for a short rest, Li Baima returned from outside the side courtyard.

”Where have you been?” Ding Songyan had meant to tease him about where he had spent the night, but one look at Li Baima’s face made him change the question.

Li Baima sat at the stone table and spoke quietly, his expression grave.

”The head of our school has died.”

Their head is dead? Wasn’t he the Fire-Wielding School’s only Grandmaster...? Taken aback, Ding Songyan asked, ”How did it happen so suddenly?”

In all their conversations, Li Baima had never said the school’s head was elderly or had suffered an injury that damaged his foundations.

”He was injured while carrying out a task for His Highness, and died of his wounds.” Grief weighed on Li Baima’s voice.

”What task?” Ding Songyan pressed.

”I don’t know.” Li Baima shook his head blankly.

”You don’t know... Why would they send your school’s head on a secret assignment?” Ding Songyan grew more puzzled.

He had discussed the estate’s hierarchy of trust with Li Baima and the others. The prince relied most on fighters he had trained himself, then long-serving retainers, then outside recruits who had pledged themselves to him. Small sects and schools affiliated with the estate came last. The Brightnight Sect was a partner rather than a retainer, and only Tao Wenshu’s ties to the prince made its people count as insiders.

That was why he, Li Baima, and the others had never been given important assignments. They guarded the corner gate and patrolled places of little consequence. Only when a task called for a special art such as the Candle-Star Pupils or Scripture of Dormancy were they sent out.

What task would call for the head of the affiliated Fire-Wielding School?

And a secret assignment at that...

Did they need his power to steal kindled flames or command a hundred fires?

Li Baima answered, confused and afraid, ”I don’t know.”

The Fire-Wielding School had been thriving. How had it come to this so suddenly?

In a few more years, the school should have produced a second Grandmaster. Its position and power would have become secure. Instead, it has suddenly fallen back to having none at all...

And that means...

Li Baima did not dare think any further.

Ding Songyan set his questions aside and asked, ”Brother Li, I’m sorry for your loss. Do you need to take some leave and return to your school?”

From Li Baima’s remarks, he knew that the late head had not been his fellow guard’s master, but he had been the pillar supporting the entire Fire-Wielding School. Its disciples regarded him with something between filial affection and reverence.

Li Baima fell silent for a moment.

”No. I can’t let it interfere with my duties here.

”The estate has given us... given us generous compensation.”

Only by holding fast to the prince’s estate could the Fire-Wielding School avoid slipping backward and losing what it had gained. If it could hold on for three years with the estate’s name behind it, its fortunes might turn around!

Until then, they must not fall out of favor. He had to give his work everything he had!

Ding Songyan understood Li Baima’s thinking. He patted his shoulder and said, ”That’s understandable.

”But you’re too shaken to stand guard today. The three of us will cover the corner gate. If any eunuch or steward asks, tell them you’re grieving and need a couple of days to recover.

”They’re people too. Would you trust a man who felt nothing when the head of his school died? As long as the gate is covered, the eunuchs and stewards will see that you care deeply for your people—and that you’re a man they can rely on.”

Li Baima’s expression changed several times. He breathed out heavily and said, ”Thank you, Brother Ding.”

It seemed he had understood a great deal at once.

Ding Songyan watched Li Baima walk hesitantly back to his room and sighed without a sound.

He had never thought Li Baima had much chance of becoming a Grandmaster, but today he had seen something change in him.

If Li Baima could step forward, shoulder the burden, and avoid being crushed by it, the Dharma Realm might yet be within his reach.

Only life’s trials can bring about such a transformation... Ding Songyan set the thought aside and tried to work out what task Prince Kang’s estate had given the head of the Fire-Wielding School.

He lacked enough information to make a useful guess.

While guarding the corner gate, he continued turning the matter over, searching the faces of passing attendants, servants, guards, soldiers, older women, and maids for some clue.

He had barely returned to the side courtyard and eaten lunch when Steward Peng Jushan arrived in person, his rooster-like face ruddy as ever.

Wu Mo, Fan Chunlin, and Li Baima hurried to their feet and greeted him respectfully.

Peng Jushan nodded and motioned for the three to return to their rooms, leaving Ding Songyan alone with him in the courtyard.

”Ding Songyan, I hear...” Steward Peng glanced around and lowered his voice. ”I hear you were born with the yin eyes and can spirit channel?”

”Yes.” Ding Songyan nodded openly.

Peng Jushan smiled.

”There’s something we need you to do.”