Chapter 65: The Heavenly Patrol Makes Another Move; an Old Friend Falls to Demon Taint

The Human Assembly Hall had just been established, and the world seemed to be gradually stabilizing.

But Jiang Che knew the Upper Realm would not stop.

After the Sky Patrol Edict of Wrath, the Young Emperor and the Drought Demon were both defeated, and the East Sea Water Gate and the Southern Border Demon Well were shattered.

But this was only the visible move.

The true danger often hides deepest within the human heart.

On Winter Solstice, an urgent report came from Tian Duan Cliff.

The Sword Vein had stirred abnormally.

It was not an external enemy attacking.

Rather, Demon Taint had appeared within the Sword Vein itself.

Jiang Che immediately returned north.

At this time, his injuries had healed seven-tenths, and the Green Bamboo Sword had regrown half its length of green radiance.

Xie Tingxue accompanied him.

When they arrived at Tian Duan Cliff, Xie Wuya's face was more grim than ever before.

"Sword Master, the Demon Taint originates from the Sword Cultivators' heart lakes."

Jiang Che frowned: "What do you mean?"

Xie Wuya led him to the base of the cliff beside the Sword Vein.

Dozens of Sword Cultivators were sealed within the Clear Snow Array.

Their eyes were black, their lips murmuring:

"Ascension…"

"As long as we kill Jiang Che…"

"The Upper Realm holds Longevity…"

These were the Sword Cultivators who had survived the battle at Tian Duan Cliff.

They had once bled in resistance against Heaven.

Yet now, the temptation of Ascension in the Sky Patrol Edict of Wrath had corroded their minds.

Xie Tingxue's face was icy: "Demon Luo Dao."

Xie Wuya nodded: "The Upper Realm's Demon Luo Dao excels at Heart Demons. The Sky Patrol Envoys have allied with Demon Luo Dao."

Jiang Che stared at the Sword Cultivators writhing in agony, saying nothing at first.

Some could fear not death.

But few could fear not aging.

Not poverty.

Not being forgotten.

Not spending a lifetime cultivating the sword, only to turn to dust in the end.

Ascension, Longevity, Becoming Immortal.

These temptations were harder to resist than the Thunder Tribulation.

At that moment, one sealed Sword Cultivator suddenly lifted his head, fixing his gaze on Jiang Che.

"Sword Master…"

His voice was hoarse.

Jiang Che recognized him.

His name was Zhou Buqi, an early Sword Cultivator of the Green Blade Camp, who had once taken an arrow meant for Jiang Che during the defense of Han Zhou, and had survived the battle at Tian Duan Cliff.

Jiang Che stepped forward to the edge of the array.

Xie Tingxue warned: "Be careful."

Zhou Buqi wept uncontrollably.

"Sword Master, I don't want this."

"But when I close my eyes, I hear voices."

"They say my battlefield merits aren't enough—that the Council Hall won't remember me."

"They say I'll be forgotten when I grow old."

"They say after Ascension, I can bring my dead brothers back to life…"

Jiang Che's gaze darkened slightly.

Demon Luo Dao did not simply tempt.

It understood the softest places in the human heart.

Jiang Che asked: "Do you believe them?"

Zhou Buqi clutched his head in agony.

"I don't know!"

"I know they're lying, but I still want to hear them."

"Sword Master, am I worthless?"

Jiang Che shook his head.

"No."

Zhou Buqi froze.

Jiang Che said: "To be tempted is not a sin."

"To raise your sword against your own is."

The moment he finished speaking, black qi surged violently in Zhou Buqi's eyes.

He suddenly broke free of half the sealing, his sword thrusting straight at Jiang Che.

Xie Tingxue's sword light stirred to move.

Jiang Che raised a hand to stop her.

The sword tip halted one inch from Jiang Che's chest.

Zhou Buqi trembled all over, his facial veins bulging.

"Sword Master… kill me…"

Jiang Che looked at him.

He did not draw his sword.

Instead, he reached out and gripped the blade.

Fresh blood dripped from his palm.

Jiang Che spoke, word by word:

"Zhou Buqi."

"Look at me."

Zhou Buqi struggled to lift his eyes.

Jiang Che said: "Your name is on the Tian Duan Cliff Register."

"Your battlefield merits are carved on the Han Zhou city wall monument."

"If you grow old, the children of the Human Orphanage will learn of the cities you defended."

"If you die, the History Camp will record where you fell."

"You do not need Ascension to be remembered."

Black qi churned violently in Zhou Buqi's eyes.

Jiang Che continued:

"The dead cannot be revived by Demon Luo Dao."

"But they have not vanished."

"As long as we remember."

"As long as those who come after remember."

"They remain."

Zhou Buqi burst into sobs.

His sword clattered to the ground.

A wisp of black qi was forced from his brow, taking the form of a cold, mocking laugh.

"Jiang Che."

"You can save one—can you save them all?"

The black qi coalesced into a blurred human face.

Not a Heavenly Patrol.

It was Hei Xuan of the Upper Realm, Demon Luo Dao.

Jiang Che lifted his head, his gaze icy.

Hei Xuan smiled:

"The Human Realm's New System fears forgetting most."

"It fears injustice most."

"It fears that those who bleed will still be abandoned."

"I do not need to defeat you."

"I only need them to doubt whether your Human Realm will not become a new Dragon Throne."

Jiang Che fell silent for a moment, then said: "You are right."

Hei Xuan froze.

Jiang Che said: "The Human Realm will forget. It will be unjust. It will grow new Dragon Thrones."

"That is why we must keep asking."

"Ask the Council Hall."

"Ask the rulers."

"Ask me."

He drew the Green Bamboo Sword.

"But you have no right to ask for them."

The sword light slashed down.

Before the black qi dispersed, Hei Xuan chuckled lowly:

"Then wait."

"I have planted Three Thousand Heart Demons in the Human Realm."

"See if your sword can cut them all down."

The black qi vanished.

The wind and snow atop Tian Duan Cliff turned suddenly colder.

Jiang Che looked at the Sword Cultivators tainted by Demon Taint.

He knew the coming battle would not be fought in cities, at Heavenly Gate, or in Demon Well or Demon Abyss.

But it lies in the human heart.

Xie Tingxue asked softly, "What should we do?"

Jiang Che gripped the Green Bamboo Sword tight.

"Open Wenxin Hall."

"Let everyone know that having a Heart Demon is not shameful."

"Hiding it is what will cost a life."