Chapter 130: To Kill, Wield a Long Saber
Chapter 130: To Kill, Wield a Long Saber
Liu Huaizhang was grinning. He didn’t care at all, like he had no hearts or lungs—he wasn’t faking it; he genuinely didn’t worry about his own life.
Maybe for him, living this life for a lifetime was more than enough.
Liu Huaizhang asked, “Can’t I smile?”
Chen Changsheng looked at him, momentarily at a loss for words.
Such an official, not seeking power nor profit, his heart concerned solely with the common people and the state… such a person was incredibly foolish. Yet no one could find fault in him.
Even Chen Changsheng himself felt there was nothing he could criticize him about.
Chen Changsheng said, “There are few people I can speak with, even fewer I’d consider familiar. If you truly breathed your last, I reckon I’d find it a pity too.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Huaizhang replied, “I’m grateful for your esteem. Liu here merely did what any official should do.”
“I don’t admire your talent for being an official,” Chen Changsheng remarked.
Liu Huaizhang gave another giddy laugh, just like before. He understood what Chen Changsheng meant, but simply didn’t know how to answer.
He was stubborn. All the reasoning in the world wouldn’t sway him; he only did what he believed was right.
Seeing this, Chen Changsheng pressed no further and instead asked, “Will you still go to the teahouse tomorrow?”
Liu Huaizhang paused upon hearing this, thought for a moment, then answered, “Yes.”
“Perfect.”
Chen Changsheng acknowledged his answer and then stood up. “Don’t truly breathe your last, alright?”
Liu Huaizhang nodded with a smile. “I haven’t finished listening to the stories yet. The scriptures haven’t been retrieved. I’m still reluctant to die.”
Chen Changsheng nodded silently, turned around, and stepped out of the room.
Liu Huaizhang rose and escorted him, seeing Chen Changsheng all the way out of the courtyard.
Watching Chen Changsheng’s departing figure, Liu Huaizhang suddenly smiled again.
Probably finding it strange.
Or perhaps, finding him different from others.
Liu Huaizhang pondered a little but couldn’t reach a conclusion. Shaking his head, he returned to his room and lay down.
But after lying down for only a short while, he sat up again.
He took out some paper and spread it on his slightly tilting table. He carefully ground the ink, picked up his brush, and began writing on the paper.
Who knows how long he wrote for…
…
As he walked away, Chen Changsheng recalled Liu Huaizhang’s giddy laughter.
He felt Liu Huaizhang ought to be an exceptionally brilliant man, yet also terribly foolish. He possessed both traits together.
Chen Changsheng dismissed the thought. There wasn’t much else he could do, but ensuring Liu Huaizhang lived a few more days was certainly possible—at least long enough to see this farce through.
Dusk approached, and Shangjing City suddenly felt more somber and dangerous.
Especially on the streets outside the Imperial City, soldiers guarded every ten paces. People in the Civic District were curious about what had happened but couldn’t get answers no matter who they asked.
Of course, some surely knew.
It was simply that too many people had fled Shangjing the previous night. The Son of Heaven was furious, hence the heightened security.
“Those who should leave have left. What’s the point of tightening defenses now?”
Chen Changsheng shook his head and sighed. He tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, then slowly walked back to the Chang Residence.
He hadn’t expected Chang Shan to be home so early today.
The cook had prepared a huge table laden with delicious dishes. Yet only Chen Changsheng and Chang Shan sat at the table. Xian Yue was also present, but as a wandering spirit, she couldn’t eat.
Chen Changsheng asked, “Why the feast today?”
“A farewell meal,” Chang Shan replied.
Chen Changsheng asked, “Where are you going?”
Chang Shan said, “The garrison commander originally assigned to Jingbei fled last night with his wife and children. This morning, His Imperial Majesty summoned me to the palace. He ordered me to lead reinforcements to Jingbei.”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng paused briefly. He suddenly remembered the noticeably fewer maids and servants in the Chang Residence during his walk home; he’d only passed a handful.
Perhaps Chang Shan had already dismissed them all.
Xian Yue sat beside them. Looking at Junior Minister Chang, an unsettling feeling washed over her.
This felt so sudden. Why did something like this fall upon the Junior Minister?
Xian Yue asked, “Why Junior Minister Chang? Could it not be someone else? There are plenty of commanders in the army. Why must it be you?”
Chang Shan answered, “Too many fled last night. His Imperial Majesty is naturally uneasy, so he sent me to lead the relief force.”
Xian Yue’s heart lurched upon hearing this. She found herself briefly unable to speak.
Chen Changsheng knew Chang Shan’s mind was made up. Had it not been, he wouldn’t have dismissed the servants so early.
He didn’t try to dissuade him.
Instead, he posed a question.
Chen Changsheng asked, “What if you don’t… come back?”
Chang Shan was momentarily silent upon hearing this. Then he answered, “Then… I won’t come back.”
Chen Changsheng fell silent for a while.
Recovering his thoughts, he reached for the wine jug placed on the table.
Chang Shan suddenly spoke: “Can Chang Shan have a taste of the wine from your gourd? Ever since being on the mountain, I’ve heard Master often talk about it. I’ve been wanting to try a sip.”
Chen Changsheng paused, then set the jug down. He untied the wine gourd from his waist and placed it on the table.
“Drink your fill,” Chen Changsheng said.
Chang Shan smiled. “Thank you, sir.”
The Sir told him to drink to his satisfaction, but in the end, he only drank one cup.
Because after that one cup, he stood up to don his armor.
The sturdy horse…
…had been waiting outside the Chang Residence for quite some time.
Xian Yue accompanied the Sir to the entrance to see Junior Minister Chang off.
Armored, Chang Shan looked fiercer, more imposing. Seated atop the powerful horse, he resembled a true general.
For a fleeting moment, Xian Yue even thought Junior Minister Chang should be a general. Serving as Junior Minister felt like a waste of him.
Chen Changsheng gave him a look and asked, “Since you’ve armored yourself, why bear no weapon?”
Chang Shan paused before answering, “The army will supply them when I arrive.”
Chen Changsheng asked, “Saber, spear, sword, halberd… which do you wield best?”
Chang Shan’s lips parted slightly. He then replied, “To kill, wield a long saber.”
Chen Changsheng lifted his hand and pointed at a green willow tree within the courtyard.
A willow switch snapped off and flew into his grasp.
He plucked a strand of hair. With a flick of his wrist, the hair merged into the willow stalk.
His long sleeves swept the air. Infused with his magical power…
…the willow switch in his hand transformed into a long saber.
Chang Shan stared in awe. Hurriedly bending at the waist, he held out both hands to receive the long saber.
He examined the saber born from the willow. It gleamed with a cool metallic glow, clearly no ordinary blade.
“Thank you, Sir, for the blade!!”
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “If you can return… go back to the Taoist Temple and light some incense for your Master. In his lifetime, he cared most deeply about the four of you—his senior and junior disciples. Let him know you’re safe.”
Chang Shan stood up. Storing the blade, he met the Sir’s gaze and nodded deeply.
He swung onto the horse and gathered the reins.
Chang Shan looked back at the Sir. “Mr. Chen… May Chang Shan ask one thing of you?”
“Mm?”
“If I truly don’t return… if you ever make it back to the Taoist Temple, could you… could you tell Master for me? Just say…”
Chang Shan’s words faltered. He suddenly smiled. “…say Chang Shan found comfort in the mortal world…”
“…and wasn’t too keen on coming back.”
Chen Changsheng looked at him and once again fell silent.
That figure in green robes closed his eyes. With helpless resignation, he gave a light nod.
“Alright.”