Chapter 11: Before White Bone Pass, the National Preceptor Blocks the Way

White Bone Pass, the foremost stronghold of the Northern Border.

This pass originally belonged to Great Yin; twenty years ago it was seized by the Northern Barbarians, becoming ever since their bridgehead for advancing south.

The pass wall is built of Black Stone, and outside the wall lie piles of white bones.

Some belong to Great Yin soldiers, others to Northern Barbarian slaves.

Hence the name White Bone Pass.

When Jiang Che arrived with his remnants, the pass was already bristling with Wolf Flags.

The pass gate stood shut, and on the ramparts stood an old man draped in a black robe.

The Northern Barbarian National Preceptor, Wu Gu.

Rumor held that he cultivated not the martial arts but the Ghost and God Technique, able to commune with divine beings from beyond the sky.

Beside him stood a man in golden robes.

That man's face was youthful, a vertical mark between his brows, his gaze as indifferent as a celestial immortal.

Xie Tingxue's expression grew grave: "A Heavenly Gate Envoy."

Jiang Che looked toward the pass.

The man in golden robes was also looking at him.

"Jiang Che."

His voice was not loud, yet it came through clearly.

"Hand over the Green Bamboo Sword, kneel and receive investiture. The Heavenly Gate can grant you a century of wealth and honor."

Jiang Che smiled: "Do all your Heavenly Gate people so love making others kneel?"

The man in golden robes said indifferently: "When mortals behold Heaven, they ought to kneel."

Jiang Che drew the Green Bamboo Sword.

"Then come down."

"I will teach you to speak while standing."

The Northern Barbarian soldiers on the ramparts burst into laughter.

National Preceptor Wu Gu did not laugh.

He stared at the Green Bamboo Sword in Jiang Che's hand, his eyes full of greed.

"The Sword Vein Key is indeed upon you."

Jiang Che's heart stirred.

The Sword Spirit said: "Do not listen to their nonsense; beneath White Bone Pass there should be a tributary of the Sword Vein."

Jiang Che asked: "How do we take it?"

"Fight your way in."

Chen Shanhe looked at the towering pass wall and said in a deep voice: "Young Master, we have only one thousand nine hundred men left; assaulting the pass is too difficult."

Jiang Che said: "Who said we would assault the pass?"

Chen Shanhe was stunned.

Jiang Che flipped off his horse and walked alone toward White Bone Pass.

Xie Tingxue frowned: "What are you going to do?"

Jiang Che said: "Knock on the door."

He walked to a hundred zhang before the pass and stopped.

Arrows rained down from the pass.

Jiang Che raised his sword.

The Green Bamboo Sword left its scabbard for the first time.

The sword light was clear, like spring wind blowing over a snowfield.

The sky-full of arrow rain halted in midair.

In the next instant, the arrows reversed course and flew back toward the ramparts.

Wails of agony rose on all sides.

The golden-robed Envoy snorted coldly, raised a hand and pressed down; all the arrows turned to dust.

Jiang Che looked at him: "Is that all?"

The golden-robed Envoy's gaze turned icy.

"Wu Gu, kill him."

National Preceptor Wu Gu waved his Bone Staff.

Outside White Bone Pass, those piles of bones as high as mountains suddenly trembled.

One by one, the white bones rose, and ghostly green flames ignited in their hollow eye sockets.

Tens of thousands of bone soldiers surged toward Jiang Che in a dense mass.

Xie Tingxue drew her sword and was about to advance, but Jiang Che raised a hand to stop her.

"I will do it."

The Sword Spirit laughed: "Just got a new sword, and already want to show off?"

Jiang Che said: "Testing the sword."

He closed his eyes and sensed the qi within the Green Bamboo Sword.

It was not killing intent.

It was the pulse of life.

Like grass roots beneath snow, like the first spring wind after a harsh winter.

Jiang Che opened his eyes and slashed out with one sword strike.

Cyan sword qi swept across the sea of white bones.

There was no explosion.

There was no roar.

Yet wherever the sword qi passed, the ghostly fires in the eyes of the white bones were entirely extinguished.

Skeleton after skeleton scattered upon the ground, as if finally granted rest.

Wu Gu's expression changed drastically: "This is impossible! How could you break my Ten Thousand Soul Array?"

Jiang Che said, "Because what you detained were wandering souls."

"And my sword sends them home."

The Green Bamboo Sword chimed softly.

Outside White Bone Pass, amidst the wind and snow, countless sighs of relief were faintly heard.

Chen Shanhe knelt on the ground, his eyes rimmed red.

Among those white bones were too many former soldiers of Great Yin.

Jiang Che raised his sword, pointing it at the pass gate.

"Northern Garrison Army."

"Escort the heroic souls home."

Chen Shanhe roared, "Charge!"

One thousand nine hundred riders launched their charge.

Jiang Che stood at the very front, extending the Green Bamboo Sword forward.

This single strike thrust straight toward the gate of White Bone Pass.

Boom!

The heavy gate exploded open.

Shards of stone flew in all directions, and dust filled the sky.

The envoy in the golden robe finally rose to his feet.

He looked at Jiang Che and slowly spoke:

"Mortal, you have made me somewhat displeased."

Jiang Che stepped through the gate.

"What a coincidence."

"I find you equally unpleasant to look at."