Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 399: The Power of One Man and a Group of Women

Upon entering the inner hall, Yang Jingxiu could not help but twitch a little at the sight of the crowded room.

He had originally believed that he would select a reliable doctor among those who came to secretly discuss the matter of the divine sword. He thought that he would, at most, select two or three doctors to discuss the matter with. But no matter how he thought it would turn out, he never expected to be faced with a scene such as this, with a large group of people present as bystanders.

However, Yang Jingxiu did not bother to dwell on it because these people were all significant figures. For instance, the Cui Clan and Wang Clan were likely facing similar issues. It was just that they were all reluctant to mention anything about it in the past, staying silent about it. But now, it seemed that there was nothing left to hide.

As for Tang Wanzhuang and Huangfu Qing, one was the head of the Demon Suppression Bureau, and the other was the imperial noble consort. They probably knew better than anyone what the emperor had done, so there was nothing to hide from them. Logically speaking, they should be trying to prevent the revival of the divine swords, but it did not matter; under the watchful eyes of the public, they could not openly do so.

In this regard, Yang Jingxiu was clearly mistaken. These two really had no idea that there was a problem with the divine artifacts, and even now that they did, they had no intention of preventing them from recovering.

If, in the past, Tang Wanzhuang would have agreed to policies that would weaken and suppress the aristocratic families, that was no longer the case in the present. It was a time of vying for influence and maintaining stability amidst troubled times, so the choice was clear.

Yang Jingxiu no longer hesitated and said directly, “Everyone here is well aware of what’s going on, so there’s no point in speaking deceitfully and making a fool of ourselves. The fact is, there’s a problem with the sword spirit of the Lianshan Sword. After years of investigation, we believe that methods used to treat human souls can also be applied to treating the sword spirit. At the very least, we believe the principles behind the treatment to be similar. Therefore, we’ve collected various soul-healing medicines and, combined with our medical knowledge, managed to elicit a slight reaction from the sword spirit, proving that our approach has some merit.”

Wang Daozhong said, “Brother Yang, that’s indeed a wonderful and unique idea. Using methods for treating human souls to heal a sword spirit is something our Wang Clan never thought of.”

Yang Jingxiu said, “But didn’t the Wang Clan manage to solve the problem with the Zhenhai Sword?”

Wang Daozhong smiled slightly and did not answer.

Yang Jingxiu did not press any further and continued, “Unfortunately, our medical expertise is lacking. We could only provoke a slight reaction from the sword spirit and we have no clue on how to proceed further. If we were to start training our own doctors, it would likely take too long.”

He then glanced at Zhao Changhe, hesitated for a moment, and then continued, “It just so happened that my birthday was approaching, so I took the opportunity to invite renowned doctors to my birthday banquet to see if anyone could offer any good solutions. Now that both divine doctors Cai and Lu, as well as Young Master Zhao, noticed the problem and proposed helpful suggestions, I hope we can be open and discuss a truly feasible plan.”

Wang Daozhong signaled the doctor from his clan, Doctor Lu, who then sneered and said, “What insights could Young Master Zhao possibly have? He probably just heard about the sword spirit’s condition from the Cui Clan and guessed that your divine sword was experiencing the same problem. If you don’t believe me, then why don’t we have him explain why he came up with such a conclusion earlier and see if he has any substantial medical insights?”

Wang Daozhong really did not want Zhao Changhe to step in and solve the problem. This miraculous young man always managed to accomplish things that were beyond comprehension. At this point, one could say that no one in the world overestimated Zhao Changhe more than Wang Daozhong did. He was genuinely afraid that once Zhao Changhe took action, he would resolve everything in an instant, completely bypassing his careful arrangements. This was why he felt the need to act first.

As long as he could settle the matter first, Zhao Changhe would be forced to stand by and watch.

Zhao Changhe roughly guessed what Wang Daozhong was thinking and smiled slightly. “I never had much confidence to begin with, just a few ideas... I was planning to sit outside and watch everyone discuss, hoping to gather some insights for myself. After all, when it comes to treating an illness, the more heads, the better. Who knows, maybe I could contribute some thoughts? But then, I don’t know which auntie it was that forced me to step up, not allowing everyone to brainstorm openly. I can’t tell if they’re here to deal with the problem or just to mess with me. Old Wang, you don’t like me, do you? But why must you keep acting like some proud little girl constantly trying to attract men’s attention?”

Wang Daozhong: “...”

Cui Yuanyang giggled as she held Zhao Changhe’s hand and whispered in his ear, “Big brother Zhao, are you fond of such girls? The next time I...”

“You’re not allowed to.” Zhao Changhe pinched her cheeks and pulled them to the sides. “Your job is just to be cute.”

Cui Yuanyang was momentarily stunned, then smiled and glanced at Tang Wanzhuang without saying a word.

Tang Wanzhuang sighed inwardly. Cui Yuanyang was not content with just being a mascot. But in reality, Zhao Changhe did not need anything else. He really just wanted her to stay sweet and cute like she was now.

They had their own plans, but in truth, they both cared deeply for each other.

While the young man and woman were playfully bantering, filled with their own thoughts, Yang Jingxiu could not be bothered with them. Seeing that Zhao Changhe seemed to acknowledge his own lack of skill, he said to Doctor Lu, “Then Doctor Lu, would you please examine the sword first?”

Swoosh!

The ancient and imposing Lianshan Sword was placed horizontally in the hall. Even with its spirit lacking, it exuded an overwhelming, suffocating pressure.

This was a top-tier divine sword passed down from the previous era, on par with Dragon Bird, possibly even slightly superior. To this day, Zhao Changhe still felt that if he were to fight against Dragon Bird, he would not stand a chance. If such a divine weapon was willing to recognize someone, many would be more than willing to become not a master or a companion, but even a servant, allowing the weapon to fight the majority of the world’s experts on its own.

Moreover, the spirits of such weapons, such as the sword spirit of the Lianshan Sword, carried the knowledge of countless techniques and intents. The disappearance of the sword spirit was thus an unbearable blow to the Yang Clan’s heritage. To people like Cui Wenjing and Yang Jingxiu, reviving the sword spirit was more important than their own lives. If they could exchange their lives for the sword spirits of their respective clans’ divine swords, they probably would not even bat an eye in making that exchange.

Anyone who dared to obstruct such a matter would become their entire clans’ mortal enemy. On the other hand, anyone who could help them would be doing them an enormous favor, enough to influence the strategic inclination of their clans.

Doctor Lu took a deep breath, sat cross-legged in front of the Lianshan Sword, and lightly touched it with his hand.

In this situation, medical skills were less important than cultivation. No matter how skilled you were in medicine, could you give a sword acupuncture or prescribe it medicine? He had a way to stimulate the sword spirit to awaken, but cultivation alone could not achieve this, so he had to act as a forerunner. He performed the same operation carried out by the Wang Clan, leaving the follow-up to Cai Wenque. By separating the tasks, he could avoid being implicated if anything went wrong.

Doctor Lu pretended to examine the sword for a moment, then took out a lump of multicolored marine clay.

Unlike the marine clay that slightly improved Zhao Changhe’s constitution, this lump of marine clay made even Yang Jingxiu react with surprise. “Mysterious Radiant Sequestered Soil[1]?”

“Indeed,” Wang Daozhong stroked his beard and smiled. “It’s the Wang Clan’s treasured soul-nourishing substance. My elder brother benefited greatly from this when breaking through to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries.”

“Yes, yes,” Yang Jingxiu, despite his usual composure, could not help but betray a bit of a tremor in his voice. This favor from the Wang Clan was enormous. If each clan’s divine sword encountered a problem and only the Wang Clan resolved it, it was likely due to the assistance of this extraordinary material. With this substance, combined with certain soul-healing techniques, there was indeed a great chance of solving the issue.

Zhao Changhe watched coldly as Doctor Lu applied the marine clay to the sword.

The marine clay previously used on his body was detected by the Heavenly Tome to contain traces of the Sea Tribe’s aura, which might subtly alter or infiltrate something over time... This so-called “Mysterious Radiant Sequestered Soil” directly targets the soul. Can it be used to control the sword?

However, after careful investigation, Zhao Changhe did not find the same peculiar aura in this marine clay.

It was understandable; if there was something strange about it, it would be difficult to hide it from Yang Jingxiu, whose cultivation was far from ordinary.

Doctor Lu applied the marine clay carefully for a while, but in the end, he regretfully informed Yang Jingxiu, “Please forgive me. Although I have the Wang Clan’s miraculous medicine, my cultivation is insufficient to fully penetrate and guide its medicinal power... A more powerful doctor skilled in soul-guiding techniques is needed to better apply the power of the marine clay. Only then might there be a chance...”

Cai Wenque nodded and said, “I can give it a try.”

Yang Jingxiu was overjoyed, “Of course, please.”

Cai Wenque sat cross-legged in front of the Lianshan Sword, and he also took out some medicinal mud of his own. “I need to combine it with my own medicine... If Mister Yang is concerned, feel free to examine it.”

Yang Jingxiu carefully inspected the medicine, confirming that Cai Wenque’s medicine was also soul-nourishing and restorative in nature, with no issues. He smiled and said, “Of course, I trust you.”

Cai Wenque nodded and, with a slightly trembling hand, began applying the medicine to the sword.

His hands were trembling slightly.

The marine clay was fine, and the medicinal mud was fine too, but once combined, they posed a problem.

The mixture would produce a unique yin qi belonging to the Sea Tribe, which would subtly infiltrate the sword and influence its spirit without anyone noticing.

The sword spirit would definitely be stimulated to wake up, but whether it would still be the original sword spirit afterward was uncertain. It might appear to be the same on the surface, but in reality, it would never recognize the Yang Clan as its master again and might instead acknowledge someone else.

This was a blatant theft of the divine sword right in front of the clan leader of the Yang Clan, the figure ranked tenth on the Ranking of Earth, and he would even have to thank them for snatching his divine sword.

How could this not make someone feel anxious?

Just as the two medicines were about to come into contact, spring water swept across, nearly slicing off half of Cai Wenque’s hand.

Tang Wanzhuang had been observing for a long time and, now certain of her judgment, finally intervened to stop it.

Wang Daozhong, who had been watching everything intently, moved to block her the moment she made a move. He shouted, “As Xia Longyuan’s number one lackey, how could you be willing to let our divine sword be revived? Brother Yang, you actually listened to that little bastard’s words and allowed someone from the Tang Clan in here! See this?!”

These words struck directly at Yang Jingxiu’s own underlying fears, and indeed, they were extremely persuasive. Instinctively, he reached out to block Tang Wanzhuang. “First Seat Tang, please remain calm...”

Tang Wanzhuang originally had something to say, but being simultaneously attacked by two Ranking of Earth experts while also trying to prevent another Ranking of Earth expert from applying the medicine took all of her focus, and she could not utter a single word.

Yet, she was completely unafraid. Her spring water-like energy filled the room with a bright glow, and she alone fought against three Ranking of Earth experts, forcing Cai Wenque, who was only mere cun away from the Lianshan Sword, to retreat and be unable to apply the medicine.

At that moment, a blood-red saber light suddenly erupted.

A violent and overwhelming blood-drenched saber qi slashed toward Wang Daozhong. “It’s time to prove your worth as a sockpuppet! Take my saber!”

Damn it!

Wang Daozhong did not even care about Tang Wanzhuang anymore. He turned around and thrust his sword straight at Zhao Changhe’s chest. “Die!”

This strike truly carried the force of wind and lightning, with a thunderous clap that seemed to shatter the void. It was filled with the accumulated resentment of a Ranking of Earth expert, swifter than anything the Thunderbolt Sword could muster.

But the fierce Zhao Changhe did not charge forward as expected. Instead, his body seemed to defy the laws of physics, floating backward in mid-air as he made a quick retreat.

Wang Daozhong’s sword stabbed into empty air, and he realized that something was wrong.

Sure enough, with just this minor distraction, Tang Wanzhuang had already forced Cai Wenque several chi away from the Lianshan Sword, causing the medicinal mud in his hand to spill onto the ground.

Now that she finally had some leeway, she said, “As someone who has been sick for a long time, I’ve learned a fair bit about medicine. Grand Commandant Yang, in your haste, have you perhaps forgotten to check what happens when these two medicinal muds are combined?”

A small figure quietly crept up to the side of the Lianshan Sword, reaching out to take the medicinal mud from the ground. She then pulled out a small knife and scraped off some of the Sequestered Soil that had been applied to the sword. With a loud smack, she kneaded the two lumps of mud together like she was a little child molding clay.

It was Cui Yuanyang.

Yang Jingxiu heard Tang Wanzhuang’s words. He had the energy to stop Cui Yuanyang’s actions, but something stirred within him, and he did not interfere, allowing the young girl to conduct the experiment.

As the lumps were pressed together, a sudden wave of yin qi surged through the air, like the vengeful spirits of the deep sea, seeping into everyone’s hearts. Everyone present froze for a moment. Even Tang Wanzhuang, who had been prepared, could not help but shiver and almost started coughing.

In that split second when everyone was frozen, the yin qi seemed to laugh eerily as it rushed toward the Lianshan Sword.

“No!” Yang Jingxiu’s expression changed drastically as he sent a fierce palm strike, but it was too late.

Just as the yin qi was about to enter the sword, a delicate hand as white as snow, reached out, and casually grabbed the strand of yin qi. With a light squeeze, it dissipated into nothingness.

Huangfu Qing clapped her hands and looked around the room. “Why is everyone staring at me? That yin qi was unpleasant to look at, so I simply crushed it... Did you all really think I only serve others with my beauty? You should know who to rely on when it matters.”

Wang Daozhong was dumbfounded.

It’s over.

Huangfu Qing’s identity as the Fire Serpent of Yi had never been publicly disclosed. On the surface, she appeared to be in fierce opposition to Empress Wang as the imperial noble consort, and Wang Daozhong had no idea that this imperial noble consort, a member of the Four Idols Cult, would openly help outsiders.

Aren’t you and Tang Wanzhuang sworn enemies? How can you two cooperate so seamlessly?

Roar!

The sound of a saber being swung resounded.

Zhao Changhe leaped forward again, slashing down at Wang Daozhong’s head with another powerful strike. “You got away last time! Take another of my strikes, and let me see just how impressive the Wang Clan’s Zhenhai Sword really is!”

Wang Daozhong stood dumbfounded in the middle of the hall, watching Zhao Changhe’s strike come down at him while hostile gazes were directed at him from around the room. At this moment, it felt as though he was not just facing Zhao Changhe alone, but was up against the entire world.

Is this a man wielding the power of all his women?

1. What I translated here as sequestered soil (幽壤) can also refer to the underworld or hell. In this case, however, the word “壤” is clearly referring to earth or soil as it’s referring to the marine clay. ☜