Chapter 704: The Story of a City and a Blade (Part 2)
A thin layer of snow covered the street, with a clear line of footprints left upon it.
Chen Changsheng had already reached the end of the street. Turning right, he would enter the Northern Military Command Alley.
About a dozen zhang away, a courtyard wall could be seen, and behind that wall lay the courtyard.
No sound had come from behind him.
No sound of blades or battle.
But his mind remained undisturbed.
Because he trusted Wang Po.
As long as Wang Po was behind him, even if he faced a legendary powerhouse like Iron Tree, he only needed to focus on what lay ahead.
That courtyard wall, and the courtyard beyond it.
The sound of wind arose, howling, somewhat piercing.
The thin snow on the street was swept up, and snow from the eaves on both sides fell.
The sound of breaking wind rang out, chaotic and erratic, quite ordinary.
A figure burst through the snow.
A sword burst through the figure, thrusting toward his brow.
Even from several zhang away, Chen Changsheng could feel the sharpness and the aura of death clinging to that sword.
His eyes narrowed slightly, not because of the sword, but because of the figure itself.
Flying snow splashed from the fluttering robes, with some bright specks of light flickering faintly within.
This assassin, who had been hidden in the snow for some time, seemed not to be within the flying snow, but rather in another world.
That was because this assassin possessed his own world, and those bright specks of light were proof.
The first enemy Chen Changsheng encountered today was an assassin at the Star Gathering realm.
A cultivator at the Star Gathering realm could be a great master in any province or an elder in any sect. Who would still be willing to be a shadowy assassin?
Assassins of this level were extremely rare.
Even the Ministry of Rites wouldn’t have many.
Across the entire continent, only one place had a large number.
That was a very obscure assassin organization, of which Su Li had once been a member.
No one knew the origins or location of that assassin organization.
But Chen Changsheng knew.
This assassin organization actually belonged to the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.
The moment he saw the Star Gathering realm assassin and recognized that familiar assassination style, he confirmed their origin.
—The court had indeed successfully subdued the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.
Chen Changsheng wasn’t surprised; instead, he began to worry about Liu Qing.
Then, he focused his mind, sharpened his gaze, and stepped back.
With just a simple retreat, the icy sword hidden in the wind and snow missed its mark.
As his boot soles crushed the thin snow, with a clang, the Stainless Sword left its sheath, no longer hiding its edge.
Wind and snow filled his eyes; he couldn’t clearly see where the assassin was.
But his gaze remained fixed on one spot in the wind and snow, without a moment’s hesitation.
The sword intent of the Stainless Sword followed his gaze, pressing forward.
With a soft hiss.
A stream of blood shot out from the chaotic snow.
The assassin’s figure was forced out by his sword intent, retreating rapidly until it finally slammed heavily into the courtyard wall.
The snow on the wall top fell in a rustling cascade, landing on the assassin’s face, then washed away by the surging blood.
A deep, bloody hole had appeared in the assassin’s throat.
His eyes were filled with bewilderment and despair.
He couldn’t understand how Chen Changsheng had seen his position.
Even if he could, how could his sword so easily break through his star domain?
Of course Chen Changsheng could break through the assassin’s star domain.
Because he used the Wisdom Sword and possessed discerning eyes.
Now, his true essence was as vast as a mountain, his divine sense as gentle as a sea, and his sword technique was supremely refined.
Compared to true experts, his current cultivation might still be lacking, but in terms of insight and the level of his sword path, he had already reached a certain height.
To some extent, he could face all opponents of the same realm with a condescending attitude.
This assassin was also at the Star Gathering realm, but his cultivation was inferior, and his assassination techniques were inherited from the lineage of Su Li and Liu Qing… How could he block Chen Changsheng’s sword?
Blood melted into the snow, forming a disgusting slurry. The assassin slid down from the wall and died sitting there.
Chen Changsheng continued walking forward.
His steps remained steady and calm, his expression still peaceful, showing great caution.
Killing a powerful enemy with one sword had still cost him considerable mental energy. More importantly, he knew the battle had only just begun.
The court had subdued the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, so the courtyard before him would surely contain more experts than he had calculated.
He was not Zhou Dufu, nor Su Li. He could barely see Wang Po’s back now; he was far from invincible.
That night, he had managed to break into that courtyard and scatter Zhou Tong’s soul by catching him off guard. Today, it wouldn’t be so simple.
He knew that today he would inevitably face an opponent he couldn’t defeat—that was the true meaning of this trial.
He was still too young, having cultivated for less than three years. There were many experts in the world who could crush him with sheer realm and power, rendering his insight and sword path useless.
For example, Zhou Tong, who would no longer underestimate him and would allow no accidents.
For example, the powerful men at the top of the Carefree List.
For example, Xiao De, who now appeared before him.
Fifth on the Carefree List, the strongest of the younger generation among the demon race, Xiao De.
Watching him walk through the snow, a trace of respect flickered in Xiao De’s eyes, unlike the disdain and contempt of their first meeting at Cold Mountain.
“Today, I will see you off properly.”
Chen Changsheng knew that during the incident at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, Xiao De and Xiao Zhang had played very important roles in the palace battle. He shouldn’t be surprised that Xiao De would act against him at the court’s request, but at this moment, he was indeed somewhat surprised. The White Emperor City’s envoy was still in the capital. From any perspective, Xiao De wouldn’t act unless…
He suddenly felt the cold in the wind and snow more keenly.
Still, no sound came from the street—no sound of blades or battle. Wang Po had not yet drawn his blade.
Countless figures appeared in the wind and snow, all experts, and he believed more assassins and killers were hidden in the shadows.
Chen Changsheng looked at the courtyard so close before him and fell silent.
Because he understood.
The courtyard was so near, yet today, he might not be able to enter.
At this moment, he could only see some scenes within the courtyard, like the wall top as thin as a white line and the crabapple tree reaching over it.
The crabapple tree had long shed its leaves, its bare branches bearing snow, looking desolate and bleak.
A dead silence.
…
…
When Second Master Xue smiled silently, it looked somewhat comical.
But to his opponent, his face at that moment was actually terrifying.
When Second Master Xue stopped smiling and showed no expression, he was at his most sinister, like a corpse.
Wang Po looked at this face—handsome, comical, terrifying, sinister, ugly—one he hadn’t seen in years but couldn’t forget, and suddenly felt a strong urge.
Back when he was an accountant in Wenshui City, he often felt this urge, but because of those four words, he had always held back.
“Favor as heavy as a mountain”—that was indeed four words.
The Tang family of Wenshui had shown him a favor as heavy as a mountain.
When that mountain fell toward you, what could you do?
Wang Po had never thought about this question.
His blade was straight, and his view of the world was also straight.
Revenge for grievances, repay kindness—such simple matters didn’t require thought.
Until today, when he heard Second Master Xue say those words.
—You are not allowed to draw your blade.
His brows drooped, looking troubled, and he asked, “Whose intention is this?”
Second Master Xue understood his meaning and said, “Of course, it’s the old master’s intention.”
Wang Po looked at him without speaking.
Second Master Xue said with a hint of mockery, “If it were my intention, why would I stop your blade? I would be very happy to watch you die at Iron Tree’s hands.”
Wang Po thought for a moment and said, “True.”
Second Master Xue said, “But the old master likes you like a grandson. He doesn’t want you to die, so he sent me to say this.”
Wang Po fell silent again.
“Just now, you must have thought the Tang family was trying to use our favor to coerce you, and you looked down on us.” Second Master Xue stared into his eyes with undisguised malice. “Now you find out that the Tang family actually wants to save your life. You can’t despise us merchants anymore. Isn’t that painful?”
Wang Po looked at him calmly and said, “Since you want me dead, you can pretend you never said that today.”
“Although I want you dead, I don’t want you to die like this, dying without value.”
Second Master Xue looked at him with a faint sneer. “I don’t care what the old master thinks. I only know that my Tang family has paid a heavy price for you. You are a piece of goods of my Tang family, a business investment. Even if you have to die, you should earn enough silver for my Tang family first. How can you die for such a ridiculous reason?”
Where were the heroes and champions, the righteous path of the world?
Truly ridiculous.
If you were to die, you should die with value. How could you go on a reckless adventure with that kid?
So, what was valuable?
Wang Po understood.
The position of the Pope was the most valuable thing in the world.
Round and round, bit by bit, in the end, it came back to this matter.
On this first snowy day in the capital, many people saw it as the day he and Chen Changsheng killed Zhou Tong.
But in some people’s eyes, it was the day Chen Changsheng would die.