Chapter 5

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

Observing in secret

Huo Linfeng couldn’t help but laugh quietly. The scimitar part was true, as he did have a decent pair of scimitars. But he decided to toot his own horn and added on a cringey “jade-face” in front.

On the other hand, “Little God of Wealth” was quite interesting. What does it mean? Could the other party be from a rich family?

Only after stating his string of titles did he finally say his birth name. Huo Linfeng thought in his hiding spot, is everyone in Jianghu this pompous? When his Huo Clan goes to battle, they would announce their family name to intimidate the enemy. They had no need to say something like “Iron-Face Cold Sword Huo Jinghai” or “Handsome-Face Divine Sword Huo Linfeng.”

He couldn’t stop laughing and had to conceal his snickering using his dantian [1]. He continued to sit leisurely in his tree to watch the fight.

Beneath the tree, Lu Zhun raised his hand after revealing his identity and rested the two blades on his shoulders. It looked quite comical, yet it also gave off an indistinct air of a bandit. “Wow! Those carriages are quite lavish.” He smiled sweetly, getting excited, “There must be a ton of silver and valuables in there. I really want to see it for myself.”

The leader of the Imperial Vanguards announced: “We are the officials and soldiers sent from Chang’an. I am the imperial court’s Imperial Vanguard. How presumptuous of you!” The remaining nineteen guards gathered again, forming a formation to prepare to fight.

Lu Zhun snorted: “Laozi [2] isn’t blind, can’t I see your official uniforms?” He took three steps forward, closing in the distance between him and the Imperial Vanguards so they were only an arm’s length apart. “Listen here, so what if you are the Imperial Vanguards from Chang’an? Even if the celestial army descended from Heaven, they would still have to worship I, the Little God of Wealth. Everything under the skies is mine. There is nothing that can stop me.”

While talking, Lu Zhun brandished his scimitars. The group of Imperial Vanguards panicked, moving about clumsily. Huo Linfeng was examining Lu Zhun, but at this moment, he narrowed his eyes at the guards and felt a sudden pang of disgust.

On the battlefield, there are only two types of battle formations: defensive and offensive. A good formation can tear through the enemy’s troops while also having the ability to withstand an army of thousands. The present formation that the Imperial Vanguards had formed was both stiff and unstable, absolutely terrible. Huo Linfeng looked on in disdain. If the armies of the imperial court were all like this, then it was no wonder that the emperor was afraid of Saibei’s well-trained army.

The leaves rustled and Lu Zhun became a mere blur the color of green jade. The scimitars flashed out in a glowing arc. The formation broke in an instant, scattering the Imperial Vanguards. There was a “swoosh” and the deep green official uniforms were slashed in half at the waist. The white inner garments were no longer white as red blossomed. The Imperial Vanguards were cut in half by Lu Zhun’s blade so quickly that their cries of horror were still stuck in their throats.

Lu Zhun was extremely fond of this vicious move. In one go, he had sliced through seven or eight people.

Huo Linfeng was still watching calmly. Suddenly, on a neighboring branch, a gray, beady-eyed sparrow landed with a green bug held in its beak. Huo Linfeng watched the grass down below gently sway as the fight continued before turning to watch the sparrow delicately eating its meal. After switching between observing the bird and the battle a few times more, merely three Imperial Vanguards were left.

“Consider yourselves lucky.” Lu Zhun’s sea-green robes were stained with specks of blood, appearing like blooming plum blossoms, “I’m going to take a small breather and allow you three to take some time to consider your last words.”

The Imperial Vanguards looked at each other. The odds of surviving were close to none. At this moment of desperation, they finally remembered…

Seeing this, Huo Linfeng gave the sparrow a hard pinch. The gray sparrow let out a cry and quickly flew out of the trees in panic. The “General Huo” that they wanted to call was stuck in their throats, as Lu Zhun finally lost his patience. The scimitars rose once again.

In an instant, two Imperial Vanguards felt their necks go cold before warming up again. A thin red line appeared, dribbling several drops of blood. Lu Zhun’s eyebrows lifted as he let out a chuckle. He clamped his blades under his arm and lifted his hand, letting out a crisp snap of his fingers. Immediately, blood spurted out of the two Imperial Vanguards’ necks as they fell to the ground, lifeless.

The last person fell to the ground in fright, lifting his face: “Save me, Huo—”

Lu Zhun lifted his hand and his blade fell. He said, satisfied: “Heh, they’re all dead.”

Twenty Imperial Vanguards still remain in this world, yet they have also left.

Lu Zhun sheathed his blades and carried them crisscrossed on his back. He climbed into the carriages in search of valuables. “Yo, these are definitely from Chang’an.” He pulled out a piece of brocade cloth and picked out everything that caught his interest. By the time he was done, his bosom was spilling with goods.

Before he could leave, there was a rustle in the thickets and a shout came from afar.

Huo Linfeng followed the voice. In the distance, Du Zheng hid in the grass, trembling nonstop. That dimwit! He scolded in his head but prepared to make a swift rescue. Unexpectedly, that Little God of Wealth said cheerfully: “Your Excellency need not be afraid, I’m already tired! I’ll let you go unscathed today. Once you take up your post, let us meet again if fate would have it!” With that, he swaggered off.

The forest returned to silence. Du Zheng crawled out with a full water canteen [3], almost scared witless. He crouched down next to the carriage. “Young, Young…” He squinted his eyes and looked around with difficulty, “Young Master, where are you…”

Huo Linfeng jumped down, feeling parched to the extreme. He picked up the canteen made of leather and gulped a few mouthfuls. He wiped the water dripping down his chin and ordered: “Go check how much money is left.”

Du Zheng searched and found that there was not a penny left. He wanted to cry but had no tears. Suddenly, his sorrow disappeared to be replaced by joy. He burrowed under the carriage and retrieved the hidden official seal and documents. The important items were not lost. Once they arrive at Xiqian Ridge to take up the government post, being penniless would no longer be an issue!

Huo Linfeng refused to comment. From a bundle, he pulled out a set of soft inner clothes. He dipped it into water and stuffed it in Du Zheng’s arms: “Wipe their faces clean.”

Du Zheng looked distracted: “The Imperial Vanguards?”

Huo Linfeng gave a light “yes.” He took out his Jueming Sword and cut out a patch of grass. He rolled his sleeves back to personally dig the dirt. The imperial court had both suspected and feared him, sending him twenty Imperial Vanguards as a precaution. Thus, he decided not to save them. He had not intended to put them to use once he took up his post, but because of the unfortunate turn of events, it had cost them their life. He can only hope that after they were buried and at peace, they would re-enter the cycle of reincarnation.

Du Zheng squatted between the corpses. The water he had fetched was not used for drinking but for cleaning bodies instead. He stole a glance at Huo Linfeng. His master pursed his lips as he put his all in digging the grave, with not a hint of joy. “Young Master, I understand now.” He murmured, “This is like massacring a city. Lives after lives are lost, dying an unjust death. Both are for the better in the long run and done for political means.”

The year he was saved, the Göktürks had slaughtered his whole village. Only a few younger people were left alive to be taken captive as slaves. Life was the most precious, yet sometimes, it can be even lowlier than blades of grass.

These words poked at Huo Linfeng’s heart. He said, feeling troubled: “Don’t think so much and focus on your task.”

After the pit was dug, the twenty Imperial Vanguards were buried one by one. On top of the tomb, he stuck a branch. The two, master and servant, abandoned the carriages and hastened on their journey on horses. Du Zheng suddenly asked out of curiosity: “Young Master, that Little God of Wealth helped you get rid of the Imperial Vanguards, but why didn’t you show yourself after?”

Huo Linfeng answered: “My person hasn’t even arrived at Xiqian Ridge, yet he already knew a new official will be coming to take office.” It was clear that Lu Zhun resided in Xiqian Ridge in addition to being well-informed. Huo Linfeng himself wasn’t familiar with the nooks and crannies of life yet, so how can he just recklessly expose himself?

The Art of War has a saying: Know yourself and know your enemy.

Huo Linfeng clutched his reins and glanced at the distant gates and stone walls of Xiqian Ridge. The numerous wars he has fought honed his mentality. He will first explore and scout out this “Jianghu” and find out its true nature.

— Entering the city.

The scenery and the beauty of nature in Mount Lengsang were captivating. Within Xiqian Ridge was the liveliness of the secular world. Moist, cold green rocks littered around the water as a few children ran about playing, giving the scene a warm touch. In the Long River [4], an ebony boat flitted across its icy surface. Several women sat at the shore, washing clothes and joking. The elderly man rowing the boat heard them and laughed along.

The activities inside the city filled their view. Huo Linfeng walked his horse, quietly observing the bustling liveliness around him. He saw Du Zheng give him a naive look. “Young Master, hehe.” Du Zheng laughed foolishly, “I thought it would be all barren mountains and turbulent rivers, but who knew it would be this prosperous.”

It really was. The eaves of the houses were all connected and the buildings stood tall and sturdy, embellished with silk. The two arrived in front of an inn and decided to settle down and rest first.

They had not a cent on them but boldly asked for the inn’s finest room. The room had tall, elaborately carved windows and embroidered bedding with soft pillows. Two thick red candles rested beside the mirror. Huo Linfeng undressed behind the screen: “Dimwit, fetch me some water for bathing.”

After trekking for more than a thousand li, Saibei was now even more out of reach. Soaking in hot water, the weariness from the journey slowly washed away. Huo Linfeng leaned comfortably against the side of the tub with a towel covering his face and unexpectedly fell asleep.

The next day, he put on a set of plain silk robes and boots. He left his sword behind and shook open a landscape folding fan [5] as he ventured out. The long street was buzzing with people of all shapes and sizes. At the end of the street, he picked a rundown alley and continued walking. He looked in distaste at the multiple gambling dens he passed.

Huo Linfeng finally reached the barracks at the south of the city. The hanging banner was coated in a layer of black dirt. Inside the barracks, the weeds grew wildly as no one bothered to remove them. The weapon rack laid askew and there was not a single soldier in sight training.

Laughing and swearing greeted his ears. He looked towards the distant tent, in which were intoxicated soldiers playing a game of gambling. A shout can be heard: “Bet big, bet small!”

Huo Linfeng was angered to the extreme, his killing intent rising. They say that eradicating the evil tyrant was a difficult task, but with this group of soldiers, what tasks can they complete?! He turned furiously to leave. He plucked out his fan and shook it open. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it slicing through the air.

Someone in the tent let out a scream. Their arm had been cut open along with the table and cup of dice. A broken bamboo fan laid covering the two scattered dice. Everyone scrambled out in a panic, only to see that there was nothing more than a gale of cool breeze.

General Huo, who was as fast as wind, was already far away. He made his way towards the east, pondering how he was to bring his subordinates under control in the future. Unknowingly, he had already walked more than seven or eight li. He looked at the scenery in front of him and caught a glimpse of a towering wall made of gray stones under Mount Lengsang.

The dense trees concealed it well, making it hard to spot. The road in front was covered in overlapping hoof prints, forming a small ditch. The structure gave off the air of rigidness. Its gates were wide, made with black iron and copper nails. On top, two words were written in thick, black ink — Extraordinary Palace.

Huo Linfeng watched from a distance for a long time before leaving quietly. He wondered, could this be the lair of “Jianghu’s evil tyrant”? He had already entered the swamp when he thought of the thirteenth rule from the Thirty-Six Stratagems [6] : Be cautious when investigating and do not alert the enemy by all means.

General Huo had paid a secret visit in Xiqian Ridge and by the time he returned to the inn, the horizon was already covered in the colors of the sunset. With his features handsome, high ponytail neat, and his imposing aura of a general replaced with something gentler, he looked just like an idling young master who refuses to go home.

After eating dinner and changing his clothes, Huo Linfeng laid on a small couch with a robe loosely draped around his shoulders. The night deepened and the wind blew gently. He raised a corner of the book he had in his hands before smoothing it out again, caressing it like his precious treasure. He bowed his head to read. Its title, Mirrors of Retribution, seemed strong and bold, yet its author, Tang Zhen, sounded weak and reserved.

In this book was recorded various techniques and troop formations that are both wondrous and effective. Huo Zhao had studied this book and still found it quite useful after all these years. Before they parted, Huo Zhao had passed this book to Huo Linfeng. He thought mournfully, it seems like Huo Linfeng won’t have an opportunity on the battlefield in this life. He gave him this book, Mirrors of Retribution, as a form of consolation.

When the book was opened, the small note was still there. Huo Linfeng picked it up, his lips moving slightly as he read the tiny words. A rainy night, a gift for my little son. His finger covered the end of the letter, and when he shifted it away, it revealed a drop of faded blood.

In these seventeen years, the red blood had turned black, coloring the words “my little son.”

Huo Linfeng couldn’t help but think about Tang Zhen’s youngest son, who had probably already reincarnated. Resentment was hard to forgive. He himself had sinned greatly for claiming so many lives, and these sins will never wash clean. After he dies, he will definitely go to hell…

There’s no harm in sending a blessing to that child: once he gets reborn, may he live a happy life with no worries.

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

Notes

Click on the bolded words to locate it in the chapter.

Like this:Like Loading...