Chapter 23: 22 Carrying a Sharp Weapon, the Killing Intent Awakens of Its Own Accord

22 Carrying a Sharp Weapon, the Killing Intent Awakens of Its Own Accord

Lord Xing was also stunned for a moment, then immediately said with a smile, "This Town Guardian is a dignified fifth-rank Town Guardian of the Imperial Court, guarding a thousand miles of Heavenly Demon Yin Sha in a prefecture, protecting the common people; would I hide in the grass to shoot cold arrows?"

Tang Zhao said without ceremony, "If it were any other lord, I would never guess so, but you, my lord... it was you, right?"

Lord Xing chuckled, "Even if it were me, do you think this Town Guardian would admit it?"

Tang Zhao could only marvel; the bottom line of this fifth-rank official was truly low.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"You are a dignified fifth-rank official, why were you lurking in the grass?"

Lord Xing laughed, "Didn't you just say that this wasn't strange?"

Tang Zhao said, "I meant that you are capable of doing such things, but there must be some reason, right? Just like how you disguised yourself as someone from the Black Spider Villa today; that was also done with a specific purpose, wasn't it?"

Lord Xing laughed, "Take a guess? Since you thought it was me, you should have figured out the cause and effect by now, right?"

Tang Zhao said helplessly, "Didn't you tell me to ask? In the end, you still want me to guess? I guess it was for... for expulsion?"

Lord Xing nodded and said, "That's right, I patrol the Ginkgo Forest specifically to expel the idiots, unlucky fools, and nuisances who break in."

Tang Zhao pointed at himself, and Lord Xing said, "You are an unlucky fool, which is quite rare, so I let you off. The other two types are more common."

Tang Zhao frowned and said, "Yang Yishi..."

Lord Xing said dismissively, "He is a fool. If he had made some preparations beforehand and inquired in the county town, he would have known that the Imperial Court had issued an official document regarding the transfer of the Exchange List, and that Xue Fu could no longer be used for exchanges; going there would be useless. If he had been even slightly cautious, seeing that all the bridges on the river were broken—and cut by human hands—he should have guessed that there was a change on the other side and should have retreated, instead of brazenly cutting down trees to build a bridge? He did none of these things, which shows he is a heartless and mindless person. Therefore, he is also a nuisance."

Tang Zhao said weakly, "Yang Yishi is a traveler from afar, having come a long way..."

Lord Xing said, "Doesn't that make him even more stupid? Coming all this way without any preparation? If he were a child, that would be one thing, but he looks to be of a fair age. Besides being stupid, he has no other merits. For instance, the courage to engage in a Death Struggle when facing a threat? The capacity to bend and stretch? The calmness to analyze a problem? Even if he had just charged at me while facing the arrows, I would have let him go and perhaps even given him some benefits, just like I did for you. It is a pity that he is truly mediocre and boring, knowing nothing. If it weren't for your sake, I would have let him jump into the ditch with that stupid Donkey."

Tang Zhao said incredulously, "You just said he was a fool, and now you say you hoped he would charge at you regardless of his life?"

Lord Xing laughed, "At least that would be different, right? I hope to see people who exceed the ordinary, people who can do what others cannot. Even if it is an extraordinary stupidity, great stupidity is akin to courage. If it were true, well-considered, and reckless courage, it would be especially precious. I would particularly like such a person." He stared at Tang Zhao.

Tang Zhao could understand his implication, but he still found it hard to accept and said, "Are you saying that you deliberately humiliated a righteous person, forcing him to the brink of suicide, because you personally look down on him?"

Lord Xing was stunned, his eyebrows raised slightly.

Tang Zhao continued, "You are highly skilled in martial arts; you can dislike those who don't charge and humiliate them to your heart's content. You can also dislike those who do charge and kill them for being too stupid. Isn't this all based on a single whim? I know that strong people in the Jianghu can do as they please. But aren't you an Imperial Court official? And isn't he a righteous person of the Imperial Court who truly performed righteous deeds?"

"As a righteous person, shouldn't he receive a little respect from the Imperial Court? As an official, shouldn't you give him a little respect? Even if it were just a casual 'This road is blocked'?"

"Is there no reason to be spoken of even between an Imperial Court official and an Imperial Court righteous person? I... I really feel that what you are doing—is wrong."

As soon as he finished speaking, the power within him that had been gradually calming down began to boil again.

A snowy white sword blade flashed with an arc, and a sense of chilling dread grew intense.

That cold light flickered, ready to burst forth!

In an instant, a surge of emotion welled up in Tang Zhao's heart, close to righteous indignation, extremely impulsive, and he was about to swing the sword—

Xing Ji stood half-upright, his hands gripped tightly on the table like a leopard ready to pounce, yet in the midst of his busyness, he still glanced at the Sword Sheath.

The silver, single-horned divine beast on the Sword Sheath was lifelike, its eyes growing brighter, the silver almost dazzling, its wide-open eyes looking like a furious glare!

Clang—

Tang Zhao threw the sword into the Sword Box and stood in place, panting heavily.

With the long sword out of his hand, the power was instantly withdrawn, and that uncontrollable anger gradually subsided.

Xing Ji stared at him and said, "Since you were filled with righteous indignation, why didn't you strike? Didn't you feel it just now? You had the power to strike."

Tang Zhao panted and said, "Does having power mean I can strike? That was not my power, and it was... not just my anger."

He would feel anger and impulse, but in that burst of rage just now, there was an emotion that had never appeared in him before—

Killing intent!

The killing intent was like a taut string, connecting his heart to the sword in his hand.

Once the killing intent moved, it meant killing someone!

"What kind of thing is this? I just said that killing based on likes and dislikes is wrong!"

He had just liked that handsome and imposing sword, but it seemed the sword provided more than just power; it struck directly at his inner self.

Was it distortion?

No, what it said was what he himself thought, only magnified, like pouring oil on a fire.

Is this a proper sword?

Isn't it the evil sword mentioned in stories that fosters killing intent and controls people's hearts?

Lord Xing was silent, his eyes looking at the sky, seemingly sad, perhaps a bit disappointed, but most of all, he seemed to be reminiscing, saying, "You don't want to kill me, but you still think I am wrong."

Tang Zhao nodded.

Leaving the power behind, a portion of his courage seemed to have been withdrawn as well. He no longer seemed to dare to lecture a high-ranking official and strong person at length. But he was not yet willing to deny his own heart.

Lord Xing glanced at the Sword Sheath; the gaze of the divine beast had already dimmed, and he said, "You think I am wrong. The sword also thinks I am wrong. Then... I suppose I must be wrong."

Tang Zhao was puzzled: Can a sword judge right from wrong? Doesn't it follow my judgment? Does it have an independent mind?

Could it be that just now, when he said Lord Xing was wrong, the sword didn't think so, and therefore the killing intent wouldn't have been generated? And the power wouldn't have surged?

Then it isn't inciting killing intent, but punishing the wicked and promoting the good?

Wait...

Single horn, furious glare, right and wrong...

Isn't that...

Lord Xing said, "Pick up the sword. It won't incite you to kill anymore. Actually, think about it yourself; even with the sword's power, could you have killed me?"

Tang Zhao shook his head and said, "I don't know. Just now, I really felt I was invincible. Are you even more powerful, my lord?"

Lord Xing said, "No matter how powerful a sword is, it cannot win against a sword and a Sword Guest." He pointed to his waist, where a sword hung, "Besides, this sword is sealed. Don't look at how powerful you felt just now; in reality, I might have been unscathed even if you had struck at me."

Hearing him say this, Tang Zhao felt disappointed instead. Just now, he really felt that with the sword in hand, he was peerless. Was it just an illusion?

Half-doubting, he picked up the sword again; the power returned, but this time it did not burn like a raging flame, instead feeling like a silent lake, calm and tranquil yet unfathomable.

Was such power still sealed? If it were unleashed, what kind of miracle would that be?

Lord Xing said: "Alright, do you have anything else you want to ask? You can only ask questions while holding the sword, and time is running out."

Tang Zhao clearly felt fatigue; that burst of power had a price, and while the power within his body remained formidable, his mind and body felt exhausted. He figured there was a time limit to wielding such power, and it had been greatly shortened by that last surge. He asked the second urgent question he had: "Have I... met Xue Daxia?"

Lord Xing's expression did not change, and he said nonchalantly: "Hm, didn't you see him at the entrance of the Xue Clan that day?"

As expected... that old man was indeed Xue Daxia.

Tang Zhao had long suspected it, yet he still felt a sense of bewilderment, whispering: "He is much older than I imagined... Chen Zong did not look this old when he passed away."

Chen Zong even called Xue Daxia 'younger brother'.

Lord Xing said: "Two months ago, he did not look like this." There was a subtle sigh in his tone.

Tang Zhao asked again: "Why would a dignified Great Hero of a county come to open the door himself?"

Lord Xing said: "There is no one else in the manor; if he doesn't open the door, who will? Don't I patrol personally as well?"

Tang Zhao said: "Did you encounter some major trouble that forced you to evacuate everyone else? Leaving only two lone commanders?"

Lord Xing said simply: "Yes."

"Could it be..." Tang Zhao asked immediately, "the Yin Calamity?"

Lord Xing said: "The Yin Calamity... according to the general understanding of people, you could say that."

Tang Zhao said: "Is the Land Inspection Bureau here to save him? Is there still hope for him?"

The wording in that letter was clearly a final arrangement of affairs, but Tang Zhao saw the Land Inspection Bureau acting so imposingly, arresting people and requisitioning land—it didn't look like there was no hope at all.

He truly hoped it could be salvaged; there were not many people in this world who were good to him, and they were always withering away.

Lord Xing said: "Since you are clever, I will not hide it from you. The Land Inspection Bureau chases after the Yin Calamity. If you say we are infallible, where do those displaced refugees in the countryside come from? If you say we are useless, we have truly saved thousands upon thousands of common people. This time is the same; we, including Xue Daxia, have prepared for the worst, but we have not given up our efforts. As the saying goes, do what is humanly possible, and listen to..."

Speaking to this point, he sneered, "How can one say 'listen to the will of Heaven'? We are here to act against the will of Heaven."

He looked Tang Zhao in the eye and said: "Are you willing to join us?"