Chapter 19: October Sword Assembly: Heroes Enter the City

On the first day of the tenth month, the first heavy snow fell on Han Zhou.

The city gates swung wide open.

From early morning, martial world travelers streamed into the city without pause.

Some carried long swords on their backs, some hauled greatswords, some wore twin swords at their waists, and others brought only a bamboo staff.

The wine houses and teahouses were packed full.

Along the long streets, the clatter of sword scabbards could be heard everywhere.

The common folk of Han Zhou were nervous at first, but later discovered that these usually unruly martial world swordsmen, once inside the city, were surprisingly well-behaved.

Because a stele had been erected at the city gate.

On the stele were three lines carved by Jiang Che's own hand:

"Those who enter Han Zhou must not disturb the people."

"Asking with the Sword is permitted; bullying the weak brings death."

"If you are not convinced, come to Jiang Manor."

Beside the stele lingered a wisp of Sword Qi left behind by the Green Bamboo Sword.

Three days earlier, an out-of-town swordsman had gotten drunk and caused trouble, boasting that even a small city on the Northern Border dared to set rules.

He swung his sword at the stele.

Before the blade could fall, his whole body was blasted thirty zhang away by the Sword Qi within the stele.

From then on, no one dared to try.

At noon, the Sword Assembly officially began.

The venue was not within the Jiang Family's manor, but at the old parade ground north of the city.

That place had once been where the Northern Garrison Army mustered its troops.

Now, viewing platforms for watching the swords had been erected all around, with a hundred-zhang open space left in the center.

Jiang Che wore a black robe, with the Green Bamboo Sword at his waist, and sat in the seat of honor.

To his left sat Xie Tingxue.

To his right sat Chen Shanhe.

At the sight of Jiang Che, murmurs of discussion rose through the crowd.

"That is Jiang Che?"

"Far too young, isn't he?"

"I heard he shattered the Heavenly Gate with a single sword—true or false?"

"The Heavenly Gate may be shattered, but who knows if it didn't already have cracks to begin with?"

"Shh, keep your voice down—this is Han Zhou."

Jiang Che acted as if he hadn't heard.

Soon, the first challenger stepped onto the field.

He was a bare-chested man carrying a broadsword on his back, from the Northern River Sword Gang.

He cupped his fist toward Jiang Che: "I am Shi Heng of the Iron Sword Sect, and I wish to ask Young Master Jiang a single sword."

Jiang Che said, "Ask me?"

Shi Heng nodded: "The world calls you the foremost in Sword Dao of the Human Realm, but I do not believe it."

Jiang Che smiled.

"The foremost in Sword Dao of the Human Realm—I cannot bear that title."

Shi Heng bared his teeth: "Then do you dare to accept?"

Jiang Che rose to his feet.

Xie Tingxue suddenly said, "Your wounds have not yet healed."

Jiang Che said, "I will only receive one sword."

Shi Heng's face darkened: "Does Young Master Jiang look down on me?"

Jiang Che shook his head.

"It is not that I look down on you."

"It is that too many swords have come to Han Zhou today—I cannot spend all my strength on you."

An uproar swept through the crowd.

Shi Heng flew into a rage; his broadsword left its sheath, and his whole body charged forward like a fierce tiger.

His sword momentum was heavy, and when he landed, the impact sent packed snow flying.

Jiang Che did not draw his sword.

He merely extended two fingers.

When the broadsword came chopping down to within three inches of his head, he caught it between those two fingers.

Shi Heng's pupils contracted sharply; he exerted every ounce of strength, yet the sword would not budge an inch.

Jiang Che flicked a finger.

Clang!

The broadsword flew from his grip and stabbed into the snow ten zhang away.

Shi Heng retreated several steps in a row, his face flushing red.

Jiang Che said, "Your sword has strength, but no heart. Go back and train for three years, then come again."

Shi Heng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly cupped his fist.

"I have learned my lesson."

After he withdrew, the arena grew considerably quieter.

Next, seven more people asked with the Sword.

Jiang Che either broke their moves with a single finger, awakened them with a single sword thrust, or simply let Xie Tingxue strike on his behalf.

Until dusk, a middle-aged man in a green robe walked into the training ground.

He held no sword, but a bronze bell hung at his waist.

Xie Tingxue's expression shifted slightly.

"Nanyue Sword Sect, Liu Qianqiu."

Jiang Che asked, "Very strong?"

"One of the foremost Sword Dao masters of the South, and also a man of the Prince of Nanyue."

Liu Qianqiu walked into the arena and smiled, "Young Master Jiang, long heard of you."

Jiang Che looked at him.

"Asking with the Sword?"

Liu Qianqiu shook his head.

"Questioning the Crime."

The entire arena fell instantly silent.

Liu Qianqiu's voice spread across the training ground:

"Jiang Che privately killed a Prince, destroyed an Imperial Edict, amassed troops for his own power, and intends to rebel."

"I, the Nanyue Sword Sect, acting on the Prince of Nanyue's order, ask you a question on behalf of the court."

"Does Han Zhou still belong to Great Yin?"

Jiang Che rose.

Snow fell upon his shoulder.

"Han Zhou belongs to the Human Realm."

Liu Qianqiu narrowed his eyes.

"A fine 'belongs to the Human Realm'. Then, Young Master Jiang, receive my three swords."

Jiang Che placed his hand on the Green Bamboo Sword.

"Receive."

Liu Qianqiu smiled.

The bronze bell at his waist suddenly rang.

Ding-ling.

At the first ring of the bell, a hundred swordsmen in the training ground turned pale simultaneously.

Xie Tingxue said in a cold voice, "Be careful, it is the Soul-Seizing Sword Sound."

Killing intent suddenly appeared in Liu Qianqiu's eyes.

"First Sword, Sever the Heart!"

Invisible sword sound stabbed toward Jiang Che's brow.

Yet Jiang Che stood where he was, motionless.

The bell sound fell into his heart-lake.

There, waves should have risen.

But in Jiang Che's heart-lake, there was the shattered Heavenly Gate, the shadow of his father, the heroic souls of the Northern Garrison Army, and the Sword Qi of ten thousand humans who would not kneel.

How could mere sword sound sever the heart?

Jiang Che drew his sword.

A clear ring drowned out the bronze bell.

Liu Qianqiu's expression shifted slightly.

Jiang Che said indifferently, "First Sword, you have lost."