Martial Cultivator

Since Yu Xiyi had received instructions from Chen Chao, the young sword immortal naturally took the matter to heart. He headed north, bypassing the Divine Capital, and soon arrived several dozen miles from the Green Algae Sect’s mountain pass gates.

But he quickly realized that despite his haste, he was still a little too late; battle had already broken out at the Green Algae Sect. Officials from the Great Liang brought along retainers and had already launched the assault. The surrounding mountains and wilderness echoed with cries of killing.

Yu Xiyi rode his sword into the sky and looked down. He saw that the Great Liang held the clear advantage. To his surprise, Chen Chao had even dispatched a martial artist at the Nepenthe Realm to take the field in person. Yu Xiyi recognized the man, it should be Song Lian, the current Right Guard Commander. Though that was his title, the authority he now wielded was that of the Lord Warden Commander.

Yu Xiyi found it a bit baffling. Was Chen Chao being overly cautious? The Green Algae Sect’s strongest cultivator was only their sect master who had just recently broken into the Nepenthe Realm. But now that even the sect master had been slain by Chen Chao, what powerhouse could possibly remain?

He shook his head and swept the mountain with his divine sense, soon detecting a faint trace of sword intent. Yu Xiyi frowned, surprised.

He actually ran into an old acquaintance here of all places.

......

......

In the rear mountain of the Green Algae Sect, there was a secluded cave residence with a deep pond out front - its depths unfathomable, bone-piercingly cold all year round. Now, all of a sudden, a figure burst out from the pond, stirring a surge of overwhelming sword intent.

Yet just as that figure and his sword intent surged toward the sky, an even more domineering sword intent descended and crushed down. The figure was blasted backward by the pressure, and the residual shockwaves of sword qi even blasted the surface of the cold pond into roaring waves.

The figure half-knelt at the edge of the pond. Only after countless water droplets had fallen did his true appearance come into view.

A gaunt young sword cultivator, not exactly handsome, dressed in black, with a long sword pure white from hilt to tip in his hand.

”Falling Snow Sword, it’s been a long time since I last saw it.”

Yu Xiyi descended from the sky and landed before the figure, hands clasped behind his back.

The young sword cultivator glanced at Yu Xiyi, surprised. ”Yu Xiyi? When did you break through and become a sword immortal?”

He had spent all these years cultivating deep within the cold pool, knowing little of worldly matters. He had no idea that this young sword cultivator, with whom he had only crossed paths once and traveled alongside for a time, had already stepped into this realm.

Yu Xiyi glanced at the young sword cultivator and said with a smile, ”You remember my name, but I don’t remember yours.”

Whether he said it on purpose or simply did not remember, once the words were out, the young sword cultivator’s expression turned a little uncertain.

But, when facing this young sword immortal, disregarding all else, just his identify as a sword cultivator alone demanded respect.

”Many thanks to Sword Immortal Yu for your assistance. This great kindness, the Green Algae Sect will never forget.”

The young sword cultivator clasped his hands in salute, as if he had already forgotten how he had just leaped into action only to be stopped by Yu Xiyi.

Perhaps he took it as the sword immortal showing care for a junior, unwilling to let him rush to his death. After all, as a sword cultivator only at the peak of the Bitter Sea Realm, if he had truly charged out, he would likely have been killed by that martial artist in no time.

Yu Xiyi looked puzzled. ”When did I ever say I was here to assist your Green Algae Sect?”

The young sword cultivator was taken aback, then gave a bitter smile. ”Then, many thanks to Sword Immortal Yu for showing concern for a junior.”

Yu Xiyi sneered. ”Your shamelessness is still the same as back then. Honestly, you’re a few years older than me. So how is it now you’re suddenly a junior?”

The young sword cultivator frowned slightly. At this point, he truly could not make sense of what this sword immortal meant.

Yu Xiyi said bluntly, ”Right now, I also have another identify - a retainer of the Great Liang.”

The young sword cultivator widened his eyes. So, it was true what they said: Time does not flow on the mountain, while a thousand have passed in the world. He had been in seclusion during this period and knew nothing of the outside world. But he nevered imagined that Yu Xiyi, a disciple of the Sword Sect, would actually pledge allegiance to Great Liang.

”Yu Xiyi! You, a sword cultivator of the Sword Sect, acting like this, aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?! I must’ve been blind to consider you a friend!”

Today, the Green Algae Sect had been struck by calamity, and he was already burning with anxiety. Now, upon hearing this, he finally could not hold back any longer.

Yu Xiyi remained unconcerned and just said calmly, ”You really thought we were friends? After we parted back then, I later revisited that place, only to discover my name had been dragged through the mud. I asked around, and it turned out that was all your handiwork. What? Jealous because your sword talent was beneath mine? No wonder you’re still stuck in the Bitter Sea Realm.”

As for what had happened back then, Yu Xiyi could not be bothered to say more. He casually said, ”If you can withstand a single strike from me, I’ll spare your life.”

The young sword cultivator’s face turned ugly. It was true, he had done those things back then. But he never thought Yu Xiyi not only found out, but had remembered it for so long.

”Don’t even think about begging for mercy. I actually want to see you act tough, begging would just be boring.”

Yu Xiyi stood with hands behind his back, looking at the young sword cultivator. In truth, the gap between their realms was far too wide. If word of this got out, everyone would say Yu Xiyi used his cultivation to oppress someone weaker, but he did not really care.

He had not thought much of the Green Algae Sect before. But now that he had seen this young sword cultivator again, he truly felt that this sect was nothing good.

The young sword cultivator gripped the flying sword in his hand tightly.

Several minutes later, a flash of sword light streaked by.

The young sword cultivator fell into the cold pool, while Yu Xiyi picked up the flying sword called Falling Snow, shaking his head, ”Such a fine sword, it’s truly a waste in your hands.”

If Yu Xiyi remembered correctly, this flying sword was also obtained from Sword Qi Mountain.

Holding Falling Snow, the flying sword did not struggle much, which was rather surprising, since a sword cultivator and their flying sword were supposed to be of one mind.

Yu Xiyi wiped away the traces left by the young sword cultivator. The flying sword trembled slightly, seeming a little aggrieved. Yu Xiyi smiled and said, ”Don’t be upset. I’ll find you a better master.”

Leaving the place, Yu Xiyi rode his sword through the air. Looking down at the Green Algae Sect below, he saw that the battle was nearing its end; the sect was almost certainly destroyed.

Yu Xiyi sighed and said, ”One who stays near vermilion turns red; one who stays near Chen Chao turns black. I’m really becoming more and more like that punk.”

But after rubbing his head, the young sword immortal suddenly grinned, ”But it feels pretty good.”

......

......

The news of the destruction of the Green Algae Sect quickly reached the Divine Capital. Chen Chao sent a memorial to His Highness the Crown prince, who was acting as regent. Though the latter felt this was somewhat improper, in the end, after thinking about it, he still nodded and permitted it.

However, after the news reached the Divine Capital, it still sparked endless criticism. The civil officials, although they had almost accepted Chen Chao’s position, still felt that the young martial artist was a bit too overbearing when it came to matters like this.

The relationship between the foreign lands and Great Liang had always been tense. The actions of this young military official would sooner or later lead Great Liang into a state of isolation and helplessness.

Based on this, snowflake-like reports were sent to His Highness the Crown Prince’s desk.

The young eunuch was busy in the Imperial Study, carrying a bundle of reports away from the Crown Prince’s desk and placing them in a corner. These reports were all the same, stating that Chen Chao was somewhat authoritarian and needed His Highness the Crown Prince to issue a decree to reprimand him.

His Highness the Crown Prince did not want to do this sort of thing, but he could not ignore it, so he had no choice but to leave it. At this moment, he hoped that the veteran officials, who were all older than him, would not go back to the palace gates to stand guard again.

He did not have the same resolve as his imperial father, who could ignore such things. If he were to do that, he would surely end up overwhelmed.

”Your Highness, we can hardly fit any more here; we’ll need to find another place to store them.”

Actually, both the Crown Prince and Li Shou, the disciple of the Chief Eunuch Li Heng, would be very surprised if they knew that, back when the two of them were in the Imperial Study, they would often burn these reports from the officials.

The Crown Prince glanced at Li Shou, but did not mention this. Instead, he asked, ”Does your master still refuse to come here to serve? I really have many questions I’d like to consult him.”

The Great Liang Emperor’s children were all born in the prince’s manor, and Li Heng was the head steward at the time. Both princes and the princess had spent some time in the prince’s manor, but this third prince was born not long before he came to the Divine Capital with the Great Liang Emperor. Therefore, the relationship between him and Li Heng was not as close as that of his older brothers and sister.

However, during this period, the Crown Prince had been very respectful toward Li Heng and had not slighted him. But he did not know why, after the death of Daoist Zhen Ye in the Divine Capital, Li Heng gradually stopped involving himself in matters of the imperial harem, and did not wish to appear in public anymore.

Although he was now the crown prince, he could not force things.

Li Shou glanced at the Crown Prince. He thought about some things, but in the end, he did not say them.

The Crown Prince noticed his unusual behavior and said calmly, “If there’s something you want to say, just say it. Are there really so many things between us that can’t be spoken?”

Hearing this, Li Shou gritted his teeth and said, “Master said he would guard Her Majesty the Empress’ tomb and doesn’t want to step into the palace again, unless it was absolutely necessary.”

The Crown Prince seemed to have expected this outcome and only gave a bitter smile before remaining silent.

“Your Highness... are you really not going to do anything?” Li Shou asked, looking at the report in front of him, wondering how did His Majesty handled such matters?

His master had taught him many things, but there were still many things he had not been taught.

For example, his master never mentioned anything about the relationship between himself and the Emperor.

The Crown Prince shook his head, ”There are still many people in court watching me, wondering what I truly think. If I take a step back, they will push further. If that happens, Elder Brother’s situation will only become more difficult. Imperial Father has already placed such a heavy burden on him, and I have no great abilities. I can only do what little I can.”

Li Shou was somewhat confused.

Is this how the Emperor should act?

Though he was not emperor, should the Crown Prince really act this way?

The Crown Prince did not offer an explanation but suddenly gritted his teeth and said, “If they really stand guard outside the palace gates tomorrow, have someone drive them away with a beating!”