Chapter 699: Commendation

"Ah?" Che Lin was stunned by Tang Zhao's question.

Sword Intent is not just some ordinary thing; it concerns privacy and is not to be revealed to outsiders at will. Even asking about it is considered a taboo.

Tang Zhao was, without a doubt, an outsider.

If they were colleagues from the same region who got along well—like the relationship between Chi Qianli and Tang Zhao—then for the sake of the bigger picture, it might be possible to reveal a thing or two. But the two were not even from the same region, and they could hardly be said to have a personal friendship; they were currently in a purely professional partnership. Che Lin could righteously refuse such a question.

Tang Zhao naturally would not let him misunderstand, so he explained: "I suspect the Demon Cave is targeting you because your Sword Intent is special. They need to disrupt your composure and keep you from appearing at the Demon Cave site, which is why I specifically asked. You don't have to answer; just keep it in mind."

Che Lin lowered his head and pondered in silence, then said: "I don't feel like I have anything special. And I'm not that kind of Ouroboros Sword. I'll release my Sword Image for you to see."

He would not directly answer what his exact Sword Intent was, but by releasing his Sword Image, he could let Tang Zhao guess for himself.

Tang Zhao said: "That works too."

Then he put on his Glasses.

Forcing others to reveal their Sword Image would be presumptuous, but looking at it himself was fine.

Che Lin had no idea that "three-tomoe" were about to grow in Tang Zhao's eyes. He gave a light wave, and a pillar appeared before them.

"Oh—"

"A Dinghai Divine Needle?"

"What?"

"Nothing—"

Tang Zhao eliminated an impossible option. Looking closely at this pillar, he discovered that this exquisitely crafted pillar, carved with dragons and phoenixes, was actually made of wood.

A wooden pillar? And it had patterns carved on it?

A totem?

No, the style was too strange. After all, a Sword Guest's Sword Image is limited by the Sword Guest's own knowledge and preferences. If it were a Liangzhou Sword Guest, they might have such exotic tastes, but a Youzhou Sword Guest would not. After all, Youzhou is closer to the essence of Central Plains culture than Yunzhou, and it considers itself orthodox, so such anomalies are rare.

Then he had to consider...

Better to just look at the answer.

Tang Zhao calmly glanced at the Glasses; they were still scrolling. Now there was only one lens; a single core just doesn't cut it.

"Is the beast shape on this pillar a lion... Ah, it's a Chaotian Hou. Could this pillar be a ceremonial column?"

Tang Zhao finally gave the answer, having guessed it. Che Lin was a bit surprised and praised: "Exactly, Tang Commander has great knowledge."

Compared to a classic ceremonial column, this wooden pillar was quite deformed, somewhere between a wooden stake and a ceremonial column, especially the Chaotian Hou on top, which was quite distorted and looked like nothing more than a four-legged beast with blurred features; otherwise, Tang Zhao would have easily associated it.

Making a ceremonial column for oneself...

"Town Guardian Che has great audacity."

Although there is no rule that Ornamental Columns are exclusive to the Imperial family—even temples can erect them—it is still more closely associated with palaces, isn't it?

Nowadays, it can be considered an era where rites and music have collapsed. As long as a powerful person doesn't openly ascend the throne, generally no one cares. But aren't you a Town Guardian of the Imperial Court? Shouldn't you be a bit more cautious?

Youzhou is not like Yunzhou. Although both are territories of feudal lords, the one in charge of Youzhou is Shun Wang, who is also of the Great Jin Imperial clan and has a place in the line of succession. He values orthodoxy highly. Gaoyuan Marquis is called a Royalist Party member, but Shun Wang is the Imperial family itself. The styles of the government offices differ significantly. Che Lin is truly committing a taboo.

Che Lin understood what Tang Zhao meant. He gave a bitter smile and said: "If I had that much audacity, this Marquis of Chaotian wouldn't have become such a monstrosity. It's just that when I was young, I saw an Ornamental Column before going to the Prince Shun Mansion with my father. My father said it was for recording great achievements. I thought that one day I would record my own merits, so I erected a pillar for myself. Sword Intent and Sword Image are truly hard to control."

Tang Zhao suddenly understood and pressed on: "Doesn't this match up a bit? This pillar is used for recording. If I'm not mistaken, even if you forget past events, the pillar can still retain them. Perhaps on some day in the past, you saw some secret of the Demon Cult and recorded it on there. Now it has become a major flaw in their plan, so they are coming to trouble you?"

Che Lin thought for a moment, shook his head, and said: "While that is possible, it's not quite right. Because my pillar doesn't record external things; it only records my own battle achievements. Its function is mainly..."

He hesitated for a moment: "To commend myself."

Tang Zhao said: "Commend yourself?"

Isn't that a bit... thick-skinned?

He immediately reacted: "Can you gain benefits from commending yourself? For example... does it help with cultivation?"

Che Lin hummed and said: "The more I reflect on it, the more benefits I get."

This is a sword that can provide feedback.

This kind of sword is rare. After all, when ordinary people hold a sword, they think of killing enemies. Cultivation is of course important, but who doesn't cultivate? Using the sword is already a form of cultivation, and one still has to set aside time to cultivate Sword Essence and comprehend the Sword Heart; these are all required tasks. To use the sword to directly add a buff to one's own cultivation, even delaying the development of Sword Art—an ordinary person might think it's redundant.

Tang Zhao immediately thought of a key point and asked: "Are the battle achievements on this thing subjective or objective?"

"Furthermore, is it the past battle achievements that bring you benefits, or is it your commendation of yourself?"

These two questions were independent, yet they were also interconnected.

If it were objective—meaning it records whenever he performs a meritorious deed in battle—then the root of the benefits he receives should be the merit in battle; the more distinguished the service, the more the rewards accumulate. Then this Ornamental Column would be very much like some kind of traditional golden finger.

But if it were subjective—meaning it is recorded only when he believes he has achieved merit—then the benefits likely come from the process of commending himself, which is his confidence and sense of glory. One could even say that the more he firmly believes in his own great achievements, the stronger he becomes.

Tang Zhao leaned toward the latter. The reason? The sword is inherently idealistic. This subjective standard is actually easier to manipulate.

Che Lin thought for a moment and said: "It is subjective. Whatever battle achievements I am convinced of will be recorded."

Tang Zhao said: "In other words, the recorded achievements can be erased by destroying your confidence?"

Che Lin's expression changed. Tang Zhao continued: "And can one also completely destroy your Spirit Pillar, causing the Ornamental Column to collapse? Which is almost equivalent to crippling you?" No wonder Tang Zhao noticed that Che Lin's vitality declined after being accused at the banquet; it turned out it really was his Sword Intent acting up.

Che Lin actually thought of this key point as well. Reflecting on today's events from this perspective, he realized the sinister intentions of the other party even more. Using reputation to frame him is just a matter of face for other Sword Guests, but for him, it is a matter of cultivation, and one could even say a matter of survival. He couldn't help but grit his teeth and say: "Bastards, to dare to ruin me like this!"

"Son of a bitch, damn Demon Cult!"

In his great rage, he kicked the only table hard. With a *crack*, the table fell apart. Tang Zhao was quick-handed and gathered everything on the table.

Only then did Che Lin remember that this was Tang Zhao's place and the furniture was Tang Zhao's property. Although it wasn't worth much, it shouldn't be destroyed at will. He hurriedly said: "Sorry..."

With this turn of events, he calmed down again and said: "This is also my fault. My fault for giving others an opportunity, my fault for not acting carefully before..." As he said this, the Ornamental Column wavered, and it seemed as if wood shavings were about to fall off.

Che Lin hurriedly stopped speaking, feeling dejected for a moment.

Even though he had already wavered, his sword would not allow him to waver. If he were to ignore the things he did wrong in the past and try to commend himself with full confidence again, it would be truly difficult to do.

This is dangerous, as it is a precursor to the collapse of the Sword Heart.

At this moment, Tang Zhao glanced sideways at the state of the Glasses:

Sword Manual recording complete.

Sword: Eternal Ambition Sword.

This was indeed a sword used for recording, but the method of recording did not actually suit Che Lin. He only enjoyed glory and reputation; he was not the kind of person who could say from the bottom of his heart: "My heart and my actions are as clear as a mirror, and all that I do is for justice."

Tang Zhao reminded him: "Town Guardian Che, I think you should consider the source of the ornamental columns..."

Just then, a scout returned from outside and reported: "We have captured a tongue from the Demonic Cult."

Hm?

So easily?

Tang Zhao was a bit surprised; he remembered that the Demonic Cult was full of religious fanatics, which was very abnormal. It would be one thing if their tracks were discovered, and it would be normal to kill them, but how could they be captured alive so easily?

Che Lin did not find it strange; Tang Zhao had simply seen too little. He had served in the Land Inspection Division for many years and had often tangled with the Demonic Cult. He had long known that the Demonic Cult was a mixed bag—there were fanatics who did not value their lives, gamblers chasing fame and fortune, and loafers just trying to fish in troubled waters. Perhaps they had just caught a loafer?

A Deputy Envoy of the Land Inspection Division of Kuan Cheng dragged in a net, inside which a person was trapped. At first glance, there was nothing unusual, but upon closer inspection, one could see the person had wolf ears.

"A variant? A modification?" Tang Zhao was very puzzled. He had seen members of the Demonic Cult transform, but he had never seen one who had only transformed two ears.

The person had wolf ears, and because the person's appearance was quite ugly, it looked even more strange and unsightly.

The Deputy Envoy, who was a Spirit Official scout sent out by Youzhou, stepped forward and said: "My subordinate encountered a small team of three. I intended to track them to their base camp, but I was discovered halfway. They all tried to transform; two of them succeeded and turned into crazed beasts, so I killed them as I felt they were useless. This one probably had a problem with the transformation drug he took, so he only transformed halfway. He ended up being terrified himself, so I captured him as a prisoner."

Tang Zhao nodded. The people of the Demonic Cult were crazy, and half the reason was their ability to transform. Once they transformed, their reason weakened and only beastly nature remained, so naturally, they were fierce and unafraid of death. But once a transformation failed, there was a possibility they would turn cowardly.

But to encounter a failed transformation? That should be one in a thousand, right?

That is some good luck.

Tang Zhao touched the brocade pouch he was wearing, wondering if it was the power of his Senior Sister protecting him.

Che Lin glanced at Tang Zhao, and Tang Zhao said: "Please, Town Guardian, conduct the interrogation."

Che Lin nodded, walked up, gave him a kick, and said: "What is your name?"

The Demonic Cult member's face twitched, and Che Lin said: "Your companions are all dead, and you have a hundred ways to die for your cult. Since you aren't dead, it means you want to live, right? Coincidentally, I also want you to live, and I can even let you live openly and honestly in the future. So we both have good intentions; don't ruin things. Don't say I didn't give you a chance. What is your name?"

The man actually said: "You... you won't kill me, and you're willing to let me go straight?"

Che Lin said: "I am a Town Guardian; I will not lie to you. If you cooperate honestly, I will grant you a wealthy and peaceful second half of your life. This is the best opportunity you have ever had in your life."

The man gritted his teeth and said: "Fine, I will talk."

Che Lin asked straight to the point: "First, tell me, what is that strange grass pinned to your chest?"