Chapter 412: with translation of chapter title

The drizzle continued to fall.

Translation: "The fine rain continued to fall."

The whole long street lay in ruins, with broken walls scattered, debris littered the ground, and sparks flickered here and there.

Translation: "The entire street was now in ruins, broken walls scattered, debris littered the ground, and sparks flickered here and there."

Note: 'broken walls' perhaps means remnants of broken walls; we'll keep it as 'broken walls scattered'. 'Debris littered the ground'. 'Sparks flickered here and there'.

Although the three Yuan Dan middle-stage experts' corpses were dead, their formidable spiritual energy, honed over decades or nearly a century of relentless cultivation, still lingered in a mighty swirl, forming three vortices that could be clearly seen.

Translation: "Although the three corpses of Golden Core Middle Stage experts were already dead, their powerful spiritual power, cultivated over decades or nearly a century, still lingered in a mighty swirl, forming three visible vortices."

We need to keep the meaning: 'still lingered in a mighty swirl, forming three vortices that could be clearly seen.' => 'still lingered in a mighty swirl, forming three vortices that could be clearly seen.'

Let's craft: "Although the three corpses of Golden Core Middle Stage experts were already dead, their powerful spiritual power, cultivated over decades or nearly a century, still lingered in a mighty swirl, forming three vortices that could be clearly seen."

It's precisely because we can see it clearly that the fragmented sight is all the more shocking!

Translation: "It was precisely because they were clearly visible that their mutilated appearance was all the more shocking!"

"Boom..."

Translation: "\"Boom—\""

In the distance, troops from the Five City Military Command and the Imperial City Guard arrived one after another.

Translation: "In the distance, troops of the Five City Military Command and the Imperial City Guard arrived one after another."

A sea of black-clad citizens of the capital watched from afar.

Translation: "The masses of the capital's populace watched from afar."

Above the long street, the experts of the Divine Martial Court and the Ministry of Justice remained somewhat silent.

Translation: "Meanwhile, above the street, the experts of the Shénwǔ Sī and the Dàlǐ Sì remained somewhat silent."

At that moment, a middle-aged man from the Divine Martial Court clasped his fists and announced, 'I am Xiao Xun, the Investigations Commander of the Divine Martial Court!'

Translation: "At this moment, a middle-aged man from the Shénwǔ Sī clasped his fists and said, \"I am Xiao Xun, the Investigation Commander of the Shénwǔ Sī! \"

One person from the Ministry of Justice also clasped his fists and said, 'I am Heng Qiu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice!'

Translation: "One person from the Dàlǐ Sì also clasped his fists and said, \"I am Heng Qiu, the Vice Minister of the Dàlǐ Sì! \"

After introducing themselves, Xiao Xun, eyes wide with astonishment, pointed at the sword qi still swirling around Heng Xian—though it had contracted, it remained terrifying—and said, 'Master Heng, could you first sheath these sword energies before we speak?'

Translation: "After stating their names, Xiao Xun pointed in astonishment at the lingering, though contracted, terrifying sword qi surrounding Heng Xian and said, \"Young Master Heng, could you first withdraw these sword qi before we speak? \""

Heng Xian had been riding high lately, and they naturally knew that!

Translation: "Heng Xian had been riding high lately, and they naturally knew that!"

Heng Xian steadied his mind, calmed his rampant spiritual energy, and the aura of his sword qi gradually faded away.

Translation: "Heng Xian steadied his mind, calmed his rampaging spiritual power, and the sword qi aura gradually faded away."

Only then did the people from the Divine Martial Court and the Ministry of Justice slowly approach.

Translation: "Only then did the people from the Shénwǔ Sī and the Dàlǐ Sì slowly approach."

Xiao Xun said, 'Master Heng...'

Translation: "Xiao Xun said, \"Young Master Heng... \""

After glancing at Heng Xian's official robe, he changed his address: 'Lord Heng, were you assassinated here?'

Translation: "Glancing at Heng Xian's official robe, he changed his form of address: \"Sir Heng, were you assassinated here? \""

Heng Xian replied, 'Yes! I just came out of the palace and was ambushed here. You shouldn't be interrogating me now; instead, you should investigate the identities of those three corpses and pursue the fleeing attacker!'

Translation: "Heng Xian replied, \"Yes! I just left the palace when I was ambushed here. You shouldn't be interrogating me now; you should instead investigate the identities of those three corpses and pursue the fleeing attacker! \"

Was he really assassinated?

Translation: "Was he really assassinated?"

Xiao Xun, Heng Qiu, and the others looked down at the ruined street and the three gruesome corpses of the Yuan Dan experts, yet still felt a bit embarrassed.

Translation: "Xiao Xun, Heng Qiu, and the others looked down at the ruined street and the three horrific Golden Core expert corpses, still feeling a bit embarrassed."

The assassin had already met a gruesome death!

Translation: "The assassin had already met a gruesome death!"

The supposed victim was leisurely chatting here.

Translation: "The supposed victim was leisurely speaking here."

What kind of assassination is this?!

Translation: "What kind of assassination is this?!"

"We will handle this according to the law!", Xiao Xun declared.

Translation: "\"We will handle this according to the law! \", said Xiao Xun."

Heng Xian frowned and said, 'I'm feeling unwell; may I leave?'

Translation: "Heng Xian frowned and said, \"I'm feeling unwell; may I leave? \""

After a moment's thought, Xiao Xun stepped back with his men and said, 'Of course! However, Lord Heng would be best staying at the Princess's residence and not going out, ready for our inquiries at any time.'

Translation: "Xiao Xun thought for a moment, stepped back with his men, and said, \"Of course! But Sir Heng had best stay at the Princess's Residence and not go out, ready for our inquiries at any time. \"

Heng Xian involuntarily frowned and rebuked, 'In the capital of the Great Zhou, right under the emperor's feet, I was just attacked by experts upon leaving the palace; you aren't pursuing the assassin to give me justice, yet you want to restrict my movements?'

Translation: "Heng Xian involuntarily frowned and rebuked, \"In the Great Zhou Capital, right under the emperor's feet, I was struck down by an expert just after leaving the palace. You don't pursue the assassin to give me justice, yet you want to restrict my movements? \""

Xiao Xun's expression remained unchanged: 'Lord Heng, don't be upset; I am handling this publicly, also for your protection, and will naturally give you an explanation in due time—please cooperate.'

Translation: "Xiao Xun's expression remained unchanged: \"Sir Heng, don't be upset; I am handling this impartially, also for your protection. I will naturally give you an explanation in due time—please cooperate. \"

Heng Xian flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Translation: "Heng Xian flicked his sleeve and turned to leave."

Watching his retreating back, a group from the Divine Martial Court and the Ministry of Justice still felt it was absurd:

Translation: "Watching his retreating back, a group of Shénwǔ Sī and Dàlǐ Sì personnel still found it absurd:"

"He was supposedly assassinated, yet not a single hair was harmed!"

Translation: "\"He was assassinated, yet not a single hair was harmed! \"

"The key point is that he killed three experts, yet still demands justice?"

Translation: "\"The key point is that he killed three experts, yet still demands justice? \"

"Shut up! Don't you see who he is? The princess's consort, the emperor's son-in-law, a royal relative!"

Translation: "\"Shut up! Don't you see what status he holds? Princess's consort, the emperor's son-in-law, a member of the imperial clan! \"

"Please have the coroner examine the bodies! Then pursue the fleeing attacker!"

Translation: "\"Have the coroner examine the bodies! Then pursue the fleeing person! \"

"Yes!"

Translation: "\"Understood! \"

……

Translation: "……"

"The 'Poetry Sage', the emperor's approved son-in-law Heng Xian's assassination, quickly caused a great uproar in the capital!"

Translation: "\"The Shī Shèng\", the emperor's approved son-in-law Heng Xian being assassinated, quickly caused a great uproar in the capital!"

The emperor flew into a rage, ordering the Ministry of Justice and the Divine Martial Court to solve the case immediately, and even the mysterious Bureau of Heavenly Observance was blamed for incompetence.

Translation: "The emperor flew into a rage, ordering the Dàlǐ Sì and Shénwǔ Sī to solve the case immediately, and even the mysterious Fèngtiān Jiàn was blamed for incompetence."

The three bureaus rushed about, conducting a thorough investigation of the entire capital!

Translation: "The three offices scrambled, conducting a thorough search of the entire capital!"

Immediately, Princess Tai Ping flew into a rage, leading the Black Cavalry and the Brave Cavalry, whose iron hooves nearly shattered Qi Jing!

Translation: "Immediately, Princess Taiping flew into a rage, leading the Black Cavalry and the Xiāoqí Wèi, whose iron hooves nearly shattered Qi Capital!"

Thereafter, the Censorate, the Nine Senior Ministers, and the Nine Junior Ministers all submitted memorials demanding a thorough investigation of the assassin!

Translation: "Afterward, the Yùshǐ TáI, the Senior Nine Ministers, and the Junior Nine Ministers all submitted memorials, demanding a thorough investigation of the assassin!"

The next morning, it was the holiday!

Translation: "Early the next morning, it was the holiday!"

However, the scholars of the State Academy who had benefited from Heng Xian's favor, along with the capital's literati, began to stir up trouble!

Translation: "However, the State and Ancestral Academy, which had benefited from Heng Xian's favor, and the literati of the entire capital began to stir!"

"What does this mean? Are we scholars not considered human? On what grounds do they assassinate the 'Poetry Sage'?"

Translation: "What does this mean? Are we scholars not to be treated as human? On what grounds do they assassinate the \"Shī Shèng\"?"

For a moment, the capital on New Year's Eve descended into utter chaos.

Translation: "For a time, the capital on New Year's Eve fell into utter chaos."

Even the festive atmosphere of the holiday was somewhat diluted!

Translation: "Even the holiday atmosphere was somewhat diluted!"

However, behind the assassination incident, many discovered that the 'Poetry Sage' was actually an expert of extraordinarily high cultivation and remarkably skillful methods!

Translation: "Yet behind the assassination incident, many discovered that the \"Shī Shèng\" was actually an expert of extraordinarily high cultivation and formidable skill!"

All three assassins were middle-stage Yuan Dan experts, yet he cleanly and swiftly turned the tables on them!

Translation: "The three assassins were all Golden Core Middle Stage experts, yet he cleanly and swiftly counter‑killed them!"

Many who went to see the street found it reduced to a wreck, showing how fierce the battle had been!

Translation: "Many who went to see that street found it utterly ruined, showing how fierce the battle had been!"

What does this indication??

Translation: "What does this show??"

"The 'Poetry Sage' is very strong!"

Translation: "\"The Shī Shèng\" is very strong!"

"He possesses talent as vast as eight dou and cultivation that is transcendent!"

Translation: "He is supremely talented and his cultivation is transcendent!!"

"He excels in both literary and martial arts!"

Translation: "He excels in both literary and martial arts!"

"No wonder the princess chose him!"

Translation: "No wonder the princess chose him!"

"The Eastern Palace."

Translation: "The Eastern Palace."

Inside a room filled with weapons and arcane devices, Crown Prince Ji Qian, barefoot and disheveled, desperately beat a drum, his eyes slightly reddened.

Translation: "Inside a room filled with weapons and arcane implements, the Crown Prince Ji Gan, barefoot and disheveled, frantically beat a drum, his eyes slightly red."

The drumbeat rumbled, growing ever more urgent.

Translation: "The drumbeats rumbled, growing ever more urgent."

Behind him stood three elders with an aura as deep as an abyss, and two beautiful courtesans.

Translation: "Behind him stood three elders with an aura like deep pools and two beautiful attendants."

At that moment, a black-clad courtesan, unwilling to approach, gently patted the crown prince's back, saying, 'Your Highness, please calm your anger...'

Translation: "At that moment, a black‑clad attendant, unwilling to approach, gently patted the Crown Prince's back, saying, \"Your Highness, please calm your anger…\""

"Get out!"

Translation: "\"Get lost! \"

Ji Qian slapped Mei Ji away with one palm, put down the drum mallet, turned his head to look at the crowd and said: "The mid-stage of the Little Five Elements Primordial Elixir is extremely adept at killing, and he also joined forces with others—how could he have died? Ah? How could that be? Could Heng Xian possibly be a great perfection cultivator of the Primordial Elixir?"

A purple-clad old man said: "I have investigated the situation on the main street; I can confirm that Heng Xian is at the Yuan Dan Initial Realm!"

Ji Qian stepped forward, looking at the old man: "How could Xiao Wu have died? Ah? I raised him for ten years, spent so many resources on him, I even gave him my favorite concubine, and yet the first time I sent him out, he died!"

A black-clothed old man said: "Your Highness, please calm your anger; Xiao Wu did his utmost. I have exhausted my efforts, saw his corpse—his lower body shattered, his dantian exploded, he died by a natal treasure, a clean death, one strike certain kill!"

His natal treasure was also shattered, showing that Heng Xian has a move capable of killing him; the two are not even on the same level!

Ji Qian calmed down a bit: "I just want to know how Heng Xian managed to instantly kill three Yuan Dan Intermediate Realm experts by surpassing his level!"

The last old man, who had remained silent, slowly said: "A friend of mine sent word: Heng Xian is the top disciple of the Tianyuan Sect's earth ranking, an outstanding sect genius, and a few hundred years ago the disciple of the wicked Southern Palace Old Ghost whose sins were fully repaid!"

Ji Qian fell silent.

Purple Phoenix Palace.

Four youthful and beautiful palace maids lifted the sedan chair, proceeding steadily.

The woman on the sedan chair had a straight back and waist, her black hair fell like a waterfall, she slightly closed her eyes, her features were exquisite, and her brow bore a hint of dignity.

Along the way, palace maids and eunuchs all bowed, calling out: "Officer Xu Wen Shi!"

Upon reaching the inner depths of the palace, the sedan chair stopped; the woman limped down, walked straight to the window of a pavilion, knelt on a mat, and smiled: "Greetings, Empress of Heaven, happy New Year!"

"'Hn!' came the weathered voice from the attic, 'Your mood is off; something's up!'"

Xu Lulu said: "Indeed, nothing can be hidden from the Empress of Heaven; yesterday Heng Xian entered the palace at the Emperor's invitation, seemingly to have a heart-to-heart, but was assassinated upon leaving for Bowls Street!"

The three assassins were all at the Yuan Dan Intermediate Realm cultivation level, while Heng Xian was at the Yuan Dan Initial Realm!

In the end, all three died, and Heng Xian emerged unscathed!

The weathered voice from the attic chuckled lightly: "Interesting; what means does Heng Xian possess? He actually managed to turn the tables and kill three opponents above his level!"

Xu Lulu replied: "The sword, likely an ancient artifact, and his natal treasure, also an ancient artifact, each weighs over a hundred thousand catties, fierce and deadly—ordinary people cannot approach them!"

Having mastered the great perfection of the sword intent of benevolence and the great perfection of the sword intent of malevolence, one can be considered the Sword Sect!

The weathered voice asked: "Is that all of his hidden depths?"

Xu Lulu shook her head: "Hard to say! However, his sword aura is tremendously fearsome; even a reincarnated legendary Sword Saint might not be stronger than him!"

The weathered voice fell silent for a moment, then asked: "He is not a reincarnated Sword Saint! I can sense that!"

Xu Lulu gave a slight nod.

The weathered voice asked again: "Who were the assassins?"

Xu Lulu replied: "One can be confirmed to come from the Eastern Palace; another is the flanking general He Guming of the Xiaoqi Wei; the third's identity remains unknown for now. The one who finally escaped was the Central Commandant Ye Xingruo of the Xiaoqi Wei."

The weathered voice remained silent for a long time, then said: "Can you capture Heng Xian?"

Xu Lulu chuckled lightly: "I can! However, this child is extremely clever, his thoughts very meticulous!"

The weathered voice laughed: "To be praised by you for one's cleverness is no easy feat; skilled in literature, skilled in swordsmanship, and clever—Taiping girl has found a fine lad!"

"'Indeed!' Xu Lulu laughed and asked: 'How will this ultimately turn out? Please show us your will, Empress of Heaven!'"

"'Before noon, it will fade; the New Year has arrived!'"

"'Understood!'"

"(End of chapter)"