The Reticent Blade-Chapter 70 - Sword Sovereign of the World (Part Two)

Baili Gucheng touched the hilt of his sword at his waist, frowning slightly in contemplation.

"And what does this legend have to do with the Ghostbane Association?"

"I'm getting to that," Alluring Elegy said, "At that time, the jianghu was in chaos. Countless prominent sects were dragged into the Ghostbane Association affair and wiped out overnight. So many lineages were completely erased.

"And that's not even mentioning the countless martial artists that also met their end. The Sword Sovereign, He Wenxian, had a sense of duty towards the jianghu. Unwilling to see the legacies of so many people cut short, he raised his banner and threw himself into the vortex of the Ghostbane Association."

Yang Lu's eyes shone brightly as if she longed to experience that era.

"He Wenxian's faction grew stronger, as more and more people rallied to his side. However, this also drew the attention of those behind the Ghostbane Association, the imperial court.

"By then, the Ghostbane Association was already mostly under the court's control, so He Wenxian’s faction was besieged by nearly all the forces of the Ghostbane Association."

"And then? Did He Wenxian... succeed?" Baili Gucheng asked hopefully, before he immediately shut his mouth, realizing it was an obvious question.

Sure enough, Alluring Elegy rolled her eyes at him and sarcastically asked, "If he had succeeded, would the Ghostbane Association still exist today?

"The tug-of-war between He Wenxian’s faction and Ghostbane Association lasted several years. During that time, He Wenxian contacted those within the Ghostbane Association who still opposed the court’s interference... people like my master. Their goal was to dismantle the Ghostbane Association from within...

"But ultimately, they failed."

"Oh? What happened?"

Yang Lu's lips curled into a bitter smile. "He Wenxian's martial arts were flawless but there was one thing he didn't account for... human nature.

"On the final day, He Wenxian led the heroes of the jianghu to storm the Ghostbane Association's main stronghold on the East Sea. What he didn't know was that there was a traitor among them. Unfortunately, he had no idea that the Ghostbane Association had been informed of their every move.

"That day, nearly every inch of ground in the Ghostbane Association's main stronghold was stained with blood. It's said that it was the first and last time the Sword Sovereign unsheathed his sword..."

Yang Lu took a breath.

"The exact details are unclear to me... my master never spoke of it. The records left behind don't mention the battle either. The records say that the sword killed all who witnessed it. The only thing that remains is the name of the ultimate sword stroke."

"...Seeking Immortality,"[1] Baili Gucheng whispered.

Alluring Elegy whirled around in surprise and yelped, "How do you know about that?!"

"I..." Baili Gucheng turned to face the woman on horseback. Swallowing hard, he said, "I have studied it... It's part of the Concealed Sword Art."

"That's impossible. He Wenxian created that sword technique himself, and he died that day..."

Yang Lu's lips parted slightly, while she paused as if remembering something.

"That's right... some survived that fateful day... like my master... and Guo Tianfeng."

Yang Lu furrowed her delicate brows, deep in thought.

"So, someone witnessed that sword. Guo Tianfeng disappeared after that day, later heading to the northern border, where he took you in as his disciple.

"Having served at He Wenxian’s side for many years, he must have had some understanding of the Concealed Sword Art. With that, it just might be possible for him to record Seeking Immortality based on what he saw that day... Yes, that explains it."

"But I always thought Seeking Immortality didn't exist," Baili Gucheng rubbed his forehead, overwhelmed by all the new information. "I’ve tried to learn that move before, but... it's too unbelievable. Using a mortal's strength to command the forces of heaven and earth... how is that possible?"

The two rode on, talking as they went. By now, they had left the city behind for quite some time. All around them were endless fields, hardly any people were in sight.

"But you've said so much." Baili Gucheng shook his head slightly and asked, "How does all this relate to why you want to kill Qi Zongbi?"

The woman on the horse pursed her lips and, after a long pause, silently nodded.

"Yes... after the battle at the Ghostbane Association's stronghold, my master narrowly escaped with her life. Severely injured, she went into hiding and took on four disciples over the next few years. I was her last and youngest disciple.

"But the Ghostbane Association didn’t let up. Without He Wenxian there as the greatest obstacle, the court gained full control of the Ghostbane Association not long after and began to hunt down all those who had refused to join them."

"Then your master..." Baili Gucheng closed his mouth, seeming to realize something.

Alluring Elegy narrowed her eyes and nodded, her whole body exuding killing intent,.

"Yes... on the day He Wenxian fell, my master received injuries she never fully recovered from, and her martial arts were never the same. Whenever the Ghostbane Association's assassins chased her down, she could only flee with us, her four disciples.

"We were on the run for ten years... During that time, two of my elder brothers were killed before they even came of age... And just a year ago, my master too..."

"... Was it the Ghostbane Association?" Baili Gucheng silently held his hand out, as if to pat the shoulder of the woman beside him in consolation, but after some hesitation, he pulled it back.

"Hah... this is the most absurd part," Yang Lu took a breath and raised her head, looking at the distant sky.

"My master spent her entire life wandering around with her four disciples, never settling down or marrying. But guess what? She didn’t die at the hands of the Ghostbane Association... her most skilled disciple killed her!"

"Hm?" Baili Gucheng was also shocked, never expecting this. "...Who was it?"

"Her third disciple, my third brother," Yang Lu spat through gritted teeth, "I wish I could tear him to pieces!"

"Why would he do that?" Baili Gucheng lowered his head, pondering for a while.

"Hah... for the sake of joining the Ghostbane Association."

Yang Lu sneered as if mocking herself.

"The Ghostbane Association demanded that he bring my master’s head as proof of his loyalty. Hah, only the Ghostbane Association could think of something like that.

"They would never let those who opposed them live in peace... After my master died, I hid my identity and found a way to infiltrate the Ghostbane Association, all in the hope that one day I could find that beast... and avenge my master."

"Are you saying that the court orchestrated the purge of those who resisted the Ghostbane Association back then?" Baili Gucheng asked with a frown.

"Exactly... When the court decided to assimilate the Ghostbane Association, the plan was devised by Li Xun, Qi Zongbi’s teacher.

"Li Xun was already the Prime Minister of the Ruen Dynasty at the time, with immense power, and known as the Unerring Machinator.

"He was a master of vicious schemes. Qi Zongbi was his student, hah, and indeed he learned well from him."

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By now, Yang Lu had regained her composure, returning to her usual calm demeanor.

"After Li Xun’s death, Qi Zongbi inherited his mantle, continuing Li Xun’s unfinished work... eradicating those from the past."

Yang Lu turned to look at Baili Gucheng and smiled slightly.

"Now do you understand?"

Impending Sword silently nodded.

"There’s still one thing I don’t understand." Baili Gucheng mused for a moment. "Why was the court so determined to secretly control the Ghostbane Association?"

"Hah, what kind of question is that?"

Yang Lu turned her head toward the horizon, where a brilliant sunset burned the tranquil sky.

"The Ghostbane Association held too much influence in the jianghu. Controlling the Ghostbane Association is like gripping the entire jianghu by the throat.

"At that point, the so-called jianghu would be nothing more than a toy in the court's hands, to be manipulated as they see fit."

Yang Lu's gaze deepened, the fiery clouds painting her face a beautiful red.

"The court needs an obedient jianghu it can control, not a jianghu that could be stirred up into a massive storm at any moment."

1. This dao brother so badass his ultimate move is the exact same characters as his name 问仙... is he seeking immortality or seeking himself!? ☜