Chapter Seventy-Three: The Mastermind Behind the Curtain, An Encounter by the Wayside

At that moment, amidst the crowd, a few onlookers seemed to recall something and whispered, “It sounds like the attendant from the Zhang residence.” These people had spent years working in the alleys near the Zhang household, carrying water or selling vegetables. After more than a decade of such labor, they had grown thoroughly familiar with the guests frequenting the Zhang residence, as well as its guards and servants. Though the attendant surnamed Liu seldom showed his face, many had seen him over the years; his two long beards made him easily recognizable. So, as soon as they heard the description, they immediately remembered this attendant.

Though these commoners discussed quietly among themselves, everyone present was a martial arts expert with exceptional hearing, so their whispers were caught by all. Faces changed instantly, and a flicker of murderous intent toward the Lord of Jinhua emerged in their hearts. Could it be that the mere Lord of Jinhua dared to scheme against so many grandmasters?

The elder’s expression tightened, and he immediately summoned the few commoners. After comparing their accounts with what Su Mu had said, the impostor pretending to be the Taoist Jade Serenity was identified as Liu, the attendant of the Zhang family.

With the truth revealed, a glint of killing intent flashed in Zhang Yuanyi’s eyes. Before the elder could give any orders, his figure vanished from sight. Moments later, he returned, his face somewhat grim, and addressed the elder: “The Zhang family vacated their residence the day before!”

The elder’s face darkened with anger at these words. No wonder Zhang Zongcheng had claimed illness and stayed out of sight two days prior—it was all premeditated! Su Mu, upon hearing this, understood at last: he and these refugees from Jiangzhou were nothing but pawns for those high-ranking figures. This realization filled him with despair. His people had traveled hundreds of miles, losing countless lives along the way, only to discover that the so-called rescue by the Red Pine Palace was a sham.

The elder listened to the cries of the suffering masses, and his heart grew heavy with sorrow. He hurriedly asked Qingyang, “Does the Master Jade Morning have any more jade talismans left?”

Qingyang shook his head and replied, “The jade talismans given by our grandmaster are all used up. However, the Palace Master is already on the way, bringing along the bitter apricots cultivated by Master Jade Morning to drive out the plague!”

The elder’s spirit was immediately lifted. For ordinary diseases, the many physicians present could easily diagnose and treat them. But this plague was extraordinary—even martial grandmasters succumbed. If not for the jade talismans Qingyang brought, even slaying the plague demon would have left few survivors.

“How much longer until the Taoist masters arrive?” the elder asked.

Qingyang glanced at the sky and answered, “If all goes well, about half a quarter of an hour.”

“Very good!” The elder felt his heart settle.

…

On the mountain path, disciples of the Palace hurriedly drove a train of mules toward Jinhua. The mules carried over ten thousand bitter apricots. Jiang Liunian and two martial grandmasters carefully guarded this precious cargo, for the lives of tens of thousands depended on it.

Unbeknownst to them, not far away on the mountain road, someone else was making his way toward the Red Pine Palace. It was none other than the Lord of Jinhua, Zhang Zongcheng, who had disappeared from the city.

He had exchanged his scarlet official robes for the martial attire he had not worn in years. In his hand, the ancient sword of Yellow Springs murmured with excitement, as if sensing his murderous resolve.

Now, stripped of his official robes, Zhang Zongcheng felt as though a shackle had been lifted from his heart. He gazed toward the direction of Red Pine Mountain, silent for a long time.

Years ago, the Prince of Wei Ling had placed him in Jinhua as a covert agent, promising him a noble title and instructing him to prepare for future upheaval. For over a decade, he had managed affairs with painstaking care, raising his family to the status of a powerful clan.

But since the matter of the Red Pine Palace, his fortune had turned. Forced to kill some of his own covert agents, even his nephew ended up crippled. Just moments ago, he lured refugees into the city, intending to use the chaos to assassinate Lord Guo Yi, clearing the way for the uprising of Wei Ling.

Yet he had not anticipated that the swordsman at his side would break through his shackles and become the second grandmaster of swordsmanship in the realm. The sword that had slain the plague demon had also severed all his plans, rendering everything he had done void.

But in doing so, it also shattered the chains in his heart. Now he had pierced the veil of confusion and rediscovered his martial spirit. Even if he held sway over the world, in the face of a grandmaster of swordsmanship, he was insignificant—for strength was the foundation of all.

With this realization, he set aside his former misgivings and resolved to break through the final barrier of martial arts.

He caressed his sword and sighed, “Yellow Springs, oh Yellow Springs! Today I finally understand that morality and virtue, fame and fortune, are nothing but fleeting illusions. If I truly become a grandmaster, what matter if I am called the Sword Demon?”

The evil sword of Yellow Springs had been his acquisition in youth. His current peak mastery was thanks to the sword’s return of power after every killing. The reason he abandoned it later was the change he sensed in his temperament, growing increasingly bloodthirsty; his mind almost enslaved to the sword, he put it away.

Now, thinking back, he found his former self almost laughable. But it was not too late—he had found his path, the Way of the Killing Sword.

Now, he needed only to slay dozens of martial grandmasters of equal rank, or a single great grandmaster, to gain the power needed to break through the final barrier.

Ten years honing a sword, its frosty edge never revealed!

Now, he would use the Red Pine Palace as the first sacrifice for his Killing Sword Way.

Whenever he recalled how he had been frightened away by that sword mark in the valley days ago, his anger surged. He had thought Songhe still lived, but after Zhang Yuanyi’s recent display, he realized it was this very man who had struck that day!

Understanding this, he immediately turned and rushed toward the Red Pine Palace, determined to slaughter its members to the last.

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard the rumble of carriages ahead. Raising his eyes, he met the gaze of Jiang Liunian at the head of the convoy.

Jiang Liunian’s pupils contracted sharply—he recognized Zhang Zongcheng’s murderous eyes, and the evil sword that had wounded him so grievously before.

“Be careful! It’s Zhang Zongcheng!” he shouted, scattering a handful of paper talisman soldiers.

Jade Serenity and Jade Yin, startled by his warning, quickly moved to stand by him, preparing to confront the enemy.

Zhang Zongcheng’s eyes gleamed with scorn and malice. Seeing the paper soldiers, he immediately recognized Jiang Liunian’s identity and, enraged, burst into a mocking laugh.

“Good, good, good! So it’s you! Heaven surely favors me! Today, I shall settle all old scores at once!”

He hated Jiang Liunian, the stranger, with particular fervor. Without another word, his ancient sword of Yellow Springs sang as he shredded the paper soldiers before him to dust.

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