Wind Rises

The old man suddenly raised his head, his voice hoarse. "Speak!"

"There are rumors in the martial world that Gu Yuanqing, the Gu Family's illegitimate son whose noble rank was reduced by one grade, obtained a Secret Sword in North Spring Mountain. Your grandson initially believed it was nothing but hearsay, but later, someone from Vast Sea Valley confirmed that some time ago, a longsword flew through the air in North Spring Mountain, its cry echoing through the mountains. It seemed to be the legendary art of sword control."

"The art of sword control?"

"That is correct. After receiving the news, your grandson went to Silver Moon Pavilion."

"What did Silver Moon Pavilion say?"

"They confirmed that the art of sword control appearing in North Spring Mountain was real, and that Gu Yuanqing, the Gu Family's illegitimate son, was in North Spring Mountain and had been an Origin Scholar a year ago. But whether he had obtained the North Spring Sword Sect's Secret Sword could not be verified. However, they gave your grandson another piece of news. Half a year ago, Lingxu Sect Elder Qin Tianhan brought his grandson Qin Baijun on a nighttime visit to North Spring Mountain. A Grandmaster was suspected to have intervened. Qin Baijun was at the Profound Martial Seventh Layer, yet Gu Yuanqing severed his arm."

"What do you think?"

"This news spread through the martial world far too quickly, reaching every corner of the land in just a few days. Your grandson suspects it may be an Imperial Court scheme to lure out enemies. But this matter is of great importance, so your grandson believes it should still be reported to the ancestor."

The old man slowly said, "Send a letter to that old fellow from the Heavenly Fiend Sect. I'll dictate. You write!"

One day later.

Deep within the Longbei Long Ridge Mountains.

A short old man, his eyes still bleary with sleep, looked at the information in his hand. He poured a mouthful of strong liquor down his throat and chuckled. "That old thing Jiang Hongguang has been tempted. But... he does not have many years left to live. I ought to take a look, see what exactly lies beyond Grandmaster."

In the Imperial Study of the Great Gan Dynasty.

Bang!

The inkstone on the desk smashed into the head of Yu Yijie, a Heavenly Catcher of the Heavenly Policy Mansion kneeling before it. Ink splattered over his body, while blood seeped from his forehead.

"A pack of useless fools! What use is there in the Imperial Court spending money to support you? News of the North Spring Mountain Secret Sword has spread throughout Great Gan, yet you people, tasked with monitoring the martial world, only discovered something was amiss after so long!" Li Haotian flew into a rage. What truly angered him was not the news of the North Spring Secret Sword, but that someone had made Gu Yuanqing known to the entire world.

He had imprisoned Gu Yuanqing in North Spring Mountain precisely because he did not want anyone to know. Yet now, someone had pushed him onto the crest of the storm.

There were no walls in the world without cracks for the wind to pass through. If someone investigated Gu Yuanqing, it would not be difficult to uncover certain traces. This concerned the Imperial Family's dignity, Great Gan's dignity. How could he not be furious?

"This minister has neglected his duties. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!" Yu Yijie knocked his head against the ground, not daring to raise it.

Xu Lianying stood to one side with his head lowered, not daring to interrupt.

"Punish you? Fine, then I grant you death!"

Yu Yijie's body stiffened slightly, but then he resolutely said, "This minister accepts the decree!" As he spoke, he raised his hand to strike his own forehead.

Li Haotian snorted coldly and sent a palm strike toward him. Yu Yijie tumbled across the ground like a rolling gourd.

"Investigate. Investigate this matter to the very bottom. Someone within my court must be involved. Within three days, I want to know exactly who it is. Otherwise, take off your own head and present it to me!"

Yu Yijie climbed to his feet and kowtowed. "Within three days, this minister will surely get to the bottom of it."

Imperial Capital, Qi Family.

The Qi Family was not a family of officials, but one of their number had become a prodigy and entered under a Grandmaster's tutelage. From then on, the family had risen with the tide, no different from the nobility within the royal capital.

In the Qi Family's rear courtyard, Qi Daojie wiped down the longsword in his hand.

"Young Master Qi, are you satisfied with what our Eight Treasures Merchant Guild has done this time?" A pot-bellied middle-aged man bent at the waist, smiling ingratiatingly.

Qi Daojie was tall and slender, dressed in a brocade robe with a jade belt at his waist. Every gesture exuded an air of nobility. He smiled faintly. "It will do."

The middle-aged man said, "Then, regarding the matter I mentioned last time, could Young Master Qi help build a bridge for me? Rest assured, I understand the rules. Sixty percent of the profits will be our Eight Treasures Merchant Guild's tribute to you, Young Master."

Qi Daojie sheathed his longsword, removed a jade pendant from his waist, and tossed it over. "Worldly wealth is but an external thing. I have never cared for it. But if I do not accept it, I imagine you will not feel at ease. Take this jade pendant to the Ministry of Personnel and find Assistant Minister of Personnel Yu Rulin."

"Many thanks, Young Master Qi. I shall go to the Ministry of Personnel at once." The middle-aged man caught the jade pendant with both hands, his face beaming with delight.

Qi Daojie waved a hand indifferently.

The middle-aged man bowed again and again before quickly leaving.

A cold smile appeared on Qi Daojie's face as he murmured in a low voice, "Gu Yuanqing, since you did what you should not have done, you must pay the price." His eyes were filled with killing intent.

At the foot of North Spring Mountain.

The soldiers guarding the Mountain Gate sat somewhat lazily beneath a shade canopy, chatting.

"Old Zhang, have you felt that North Spring Mountain is a little different this year from previous years?"

"Different? What's different?"

"It is different, anyway. I cannot say exactly how."

"You are thinking too much. Instead of letting your imagination run wild here, you might as well rest properly. Perhaps before long, we will have work to do again."

"We'll have work to do again? Why do you say that?"

"Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"You really do not know? It is being spread everywhere now. They say that noble young master up on North Spring Mountain obtained the North Spring Sword Sect's legendary Secret Sword, and that this Secret Sword points directly toward the realm beyond Grandmaster."

"He obtained the North Spring Secret Sword? Is that true?"

"Who knows whether it is true? But once rumors like this spread, how could North Spring Mountain not become lively? What cultivator would not flock to it like ducks to a pond? Tell me, won't we have work to do?"

"This is a Great Gan Forbidden Ground! Do those martial world people not value their lives?" a young Imperial Guard beside them could not help interjecting.

"Heh, Forbidden Ground. If people of the martial world truly cared about Forbidden Grounds, so many would not have died some time ago. If they could obtain the path of cultivation beyond Grandmaster, then what if they offended the Imperial Court?

Let alone beyond Grandmaster—even if one merely became a Grandmaster, one would be enshrined by the court and answer only to imperial commands.

People of the martial world live with blood on their blades. They are different from us. They will not let such an opportunity pass."

Gu Yuanqing quietly listened to the discussions below the mountain. After a long while, he frowned slightly. "So it has spread in the end? But from what they said, the news has spread everywhere throughout the martial world. That is far too exaggerated, unless someone is fanning the flames from within."

Gu Yuanqing believed that the Great Gan Imperial Family would not do this. They could not hide him fast enough; how could they possibly push him onto the crest of the storm?

"Someone clearly wants to muddy the waters. It seems I still underestimated the impact the North Spring Mountain Secret Sword would bring. Otherwise, I would not have acted so conspicuously back then."

"But if they intend to come to North Spring Mountain and cause me trouble, they have chosen wrong!" At that thought, Gu Yuanqing's sharp edge emerged in full force. Even the air around him began to congeal, and every insect cry vanished.

In his previous life, he had struggled for a living, his sharp corners worn away by society. In this life, he had lived under the roof of the royal residence. Its hierarchy was strict; as an illegitimate son with no one to rely on, it would not be an exaggeration to say he had lived with his tail between his legs.

But now, he was at the Profound Martial Ninth Layer. Within North Spring Mountain, he could contend against a Grandmaster. With the system upon him, his future was boundless.

Yet aside from the few who knew, everyone else knew nothing. It was like walking in brocade clothes at night; there was inevitably some unwillingness in his heart.

Now that someone had come knocking at his door, how could he not feel stirred, his emotions surging?

Please vote—anything will do, I'm not picky~(*￣︶￣)