Radiant Blade of the Wilderness

Chapter 178: Each Finds Their Place

Seeing Xu Chang’an freeze, Ding Songyan asked with a smile, "Then why are you here?"

Xu Chang’an remembered one of his reasons for coming and hurriedly said, "Yang Shiduo is leaving for the Flame Capital. He came to see me two hours ago and treated me to a drink."

"The Flame Capital is good. He should go." Ding Songyan nodded lightly and sighed.

Xu Chang’an looked utterly confused.

"What do you mean...?"

"Yang Shiduo already came to say goodbye." Ding Songyan could not be bothered to explain.

Realization dawned on Xu Chang’an. Then he rubbed his hands together with a sly grin.

"Brother Ding, I have perfected the Human Realm Chapter of the Blameless Profound Art. The Lesser Limitless Art may take another year."

"You may as well speak plainly." Ding Songyan saw at once that the fellow wanted something else.

Xu Chang’an chuckled.

"I have gathered both materials for my first alien aperture, Ghost Mound. Yang Shiduo and I found the Corpse Shade Grass in the mass graves, while I bought the Nine-Thread Soil.

"Brother Ding, don’t you know Divine Physician Shao? Could you ask him to forge the aperture for me?"

"Why look elsewhere when I am right here? I can forge it for you without exposing the aperture-forging method." Ding Songyan sounded eager to try.

Xu Chang’an froze. Clearly troubled, he forced out a smile.

"Don’t you... lack experience? Besides, you do not have any of the necessary instruments.

"You need not worry about the aperture-forging method. I will not have every aperture forged by Divine Physician Shao."

He had no desire to become Brother Ding’s practice subject. Divine Physician Shao was safer. This was the crucial first step into the Great Proliferation Realm, the beginning of his complete transformation.

"Fine." Ding Songyan did not insist. "Have the silver ready."

He picked up Frostshade and headed out of the front hall. Xu Chang’an followed quickly, unable to hide his delight.

As soon as they reached the Life Extending Clinic on Longxing Street, Ding Songyan saw Divine Physician Shao, whom he had not met in a long time.

The physician’s eyes were tinged with white, as before. Now his mouth had also turned somewhat white and protruded slightly, while his yellowish skin carried a green cast.

"Congratulations on advancing another step, Senior." Ding Songyan smiled and saluted with cupped hands.

He had clearly installed one or perhaps even two additional alien viscera.

At the same time, the corresponding passage from the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas surfaced in Ding Songyan’s mind.

Qinggeng, shaped like a magpie, with an azure body, white beak, white eyes, and white tail. The result of consuming it? Devour carriers of disease and ward off pestilential qi.

Divine Physician Shao shook his head with a smile.

"It is better than nothing. At my age, I will consider it a little extra lifespan. You, on the other hand, have been in the Brightnight Sect for only a year and a half, Songyan, yet you are already fifth-rank Profound Discerned. Your future is limitless."

Since cultivating the Candlelit Nocturne Sutra to the perfected Dharma Realm, Ding Songyan had maintained this state in daily life. He displayed the obvious abnormality of double pupils, reducing his reliance on the Celestial Heart imprint.

After exchanging pleasantries, he casually examined everyone present with the Candle-Star Pupils, then made his request. Divine Physician Shao readily agreed and charged only three taels as a consultation fee.

While waiting for Xu Chang’an’s aperture forging, Ding Songyan sat on a chair to one side of the first floor and recalled several past events.

I met Divine Physician Shao through my undeserved cousin Qin Nuansheng. I wonder where that disciple of the Sage-Severing Way is deceiving people now...

The Zhen household affair owed much to the Small Boat Gang and the Capsized Vessel School. The only unfortunate part was that Divine Physician Shao lost a source of stipend...

The Capsized Vessel School... Right, did they not intend to send Tang Du, who cultivated the Accumulating Waters Divine Art, to the Flame Capital? Could they also be preparing for the consort selection?

It seems the Accumulated Evil Way is not alone in targeting the consort selection. The Capsized Vessel School wants a hand in it too, and they may not be the only ones. I wonder whether these heretics will collude with one another...

The Flame Capital is good. I must go there.

Ding Songyan’s thoughts wandered until Xu Chang’an opened the wooden door separating the inner and outer rooms and emerged while offering his thanks.

This was only his first aperture forging, and he remained at the early Great Proliferation Realm, so no physical abnormalities were yet apparent.

After leaving the Life Extending Clinic, Xu Chang’an walked as though the wind carried his steps.

The smile never left his face. When Ding Songyan said nothing, he could not help speaking.

"Brother Ding, two years ago, I never imagined I could enter the Great Proliferation Realm and become a chief thief like my master. I would have awakened laughing from such a dream. Only because I met you could I reach where I am today."

"Do not neglect the Lesser Limitless Art," Ding Songyan replied, unmoved. "You can now sell the body-tempering, qi-cultivation, and aperture-refining Chapters of the Blameless Profound Art to your senior brothers. They cannot perfect them in less than a year. By then, you will have forged several more alien apertures and can handle them easily."

Feeling the changes in his body after the aperture forging, Xu Chang’an answered with considerable confidence, "I no longer fear them. Naturally, saving enough money for aperture forging comes first."

Upon returning to Baoping Lane, Xu Chang’an said to Ding Songyan, unable to conceal his joy, "Brother Ding, I must go to my eldest uncle’s home for the New Year. This is where we part."

"Don’t you usually go just before New Year’s Eve?" Ding Songyan asked casually.

Xu Chang’an coughed softly and said with some discomfort, "Well, I have entered the Great Proliferation Realm now."

Before reaching the Great Proliferation Realm, anyone other than the direct heir of a sect or great clan could only scrape out a living in the jianghu. Upon reaching it, one became a genuine martial artist. In a place like Dingjiang Prefecture, that would certainly earn greater respect.

"I understand." Ding Songyan waved, dismissing Xu Chang’an.

Naturally, he wanted to show his success back home.

After seeing Xu Chang’an off, Ding Songyan sat for a while in the deserted courtyard. Since it was still early, he collected his horse from the western gate and returned to Alpine Lake Mountain.

By the time he reached Alpine Lake Town, the snow had grown heavier and the sky was dark and leaden. The town, however, was decorated with lanterns and streamers. Gongs, drums, and firecrackers sounded from time to time.

After watching the lively scene for a moment, Ding Songyan was about to enter when he saw Pan Yunzhou emerge from town. Dressed in fitted black clothes, he carried a travel pack, wore a saber at his hip, and led a horse.

"Where are you going?" Ding Songyan asked with a smile.

Knowing Junior Brother Ding’s circumstances, Pan Yunzhou kept his joy subdued.

"I am going home for the New Year.

"I have not spent the New Year at home in several years. I returned last year, but only in a hurry."

During Tao Wenshu’s lying-in-state, Pan Yunzhou had kept vigil to repay Sect Master Tao’s kindness. But he was skilled at reading the room. He did not crowd around Ding Songyan and the other personal disciples. After expressing his condolences, he quietly withdrew to an unnoticed corner instead of talking endlessly.

"One should return home for the New Year." Ding Songyan nodded lightly.

He thought and said, "Senior Brother Pan, if I remember correctly, only the Black Turtle remains to be installed, right?"

Pan Yunzhou had traveled the jianghu for years and passed his trial. His resolve was clear: he was willing to trade his life for the Pan family’s future. His state of mind was already sufficient, and he had completed three viscera installations this year.

"I have also forged all the alien apertures surrounding the Black Turtle. When I return to the mountain in early spring, I can complete its viscera installation. Then I will travel the jianghu again and seek the Dharma Realm." Compared with the worried and gloomy man who had first arrived at the Brightnight Sect, Pan Yunzhou now looked radiant and unconsciously carried greater confidence. "The hope may be slim, but I still have to try."

"You should." Ding Songyan glanced around. "We have no wine today. When you return to the mountain and prepare to reenter the jianghu, we will drink our fill."

"All right." Pan Yunzhou mounted his horse and saluted in farewell.

As hoofbeats echoed and heavy snow fell in great flakes, his figure was quickly obscured and vanished into the distance.

Ding Songyan walked into Alpine Lake Town beneath the falling snow. Some passersby had opened umbrellas, others paid it no mind, and still others took the opportunity to play in it.

New door charms, new couplets, and new clothes filled the town with signs of the approaching New Year.

As Ding Songyan wandered idly, he suddenly spotted two somewhat familiar faces.

The Lü siblings? Puzzled, he approached them.

Before he could speak, the delicate-featured Lü Huaijin exclaimed in delight,"Young Hero Ding."

"Young Hero Ding!" The young but sharp-featured Lü Woyu was visibly excited.

Their father had been killed by Chen Jindong during the Huangliang Sect affair, which was how they met Ding Songyan and Zheng Zhuxi.

"Aren’t you... Aren’t you from Guangning Prefecture? What brought you to Alpine Lake Town?" Ding Songyan asked in amusement.

Lü Huaijin’s eyes shone.

"We want to join the Brightnight Sect. I want to become someone like Heroine Zheng!"

"I want to become someone like you, Young Hero Ding!" Lü Woyu said, gazing at Ding Songyan in his fitted black clothes, his hair tied simply with a strip of cloth.

Ding Songyan paused.

"You did not pass recruitment?"

He had examined every recently admitted disciple with the Candle-Star Pupils and had not seen the Lü siblings among them.

At that thought, Ding Songyan secretly activated the Candle-Star Pupils.

"No." Lü Huaijin looked somewhat dejected. "They said my talent was ordinary and I had no foundation, while Woyu is too young at only fourteen. We plan to live in Alpine Lake Town for a year and practice some martial arts, then try again next year. If we still fail, we will give up."

When Ding Songyan remained silent, the girl hurriedly added, "We have enough money. Marshal Zhong gave us a considerable share of Chen Jindong’s property."

Ding Songyan was considering something else. After some thought, he asked, "One branch of the Brightnight Sect still needs disciples. You would not cultivate the Celestial Stars Scripture or Candlelit Nocturne Sutra, but two different arts that likewise lead directly to the Dharma Realm. Would you be interested in joining?"

"We would not need to pass the recruitment examination?" Lü Huaijin asked doubtfully.

Had Young Hero Ding not been standing before her, she would have suspected a scam.

"No. This branch has only just been established and urgently needs people. However, the two arts you cultivate may have certain problems. Your progress could be excessively slow or even stall entirely. Those problems can be adjusted, though. As long as you honestly report your condition, they can be resolved quickly." Ding Songyan did not conceal the possible consequences.

These words sounded perfectly normal to the uninformed. Any martial artist with some knowledge, however, would have been horrified.

What did the martial arts possibly having problems but could be corrected quickly mean?

What kind of founding patriarch was he?

Ding Songyan continued, "If you join, you will be treated like every other new Brightnight Sect disciple. You will live in the same small buildings, wear the same clothes, eat in the same dining hall, and use the same training grounds.

"The only difference is that I will be chiefly responsible for teaching and guiding you."

Ding Songyan certainly would not handle every aspect personally. Condensing his external apertures remained his most important task.

He planned to have Sect Master Sun, Master Uncle Yan, and Master Granduncle Wang take turns helping him instruct them.

Lü Huaijin hesitated.

She considered the Brightnight Sect’s reputation and the fact that this branch would still place them within the sect. Then she asked tentatively, "Young Hero Ding, which arts would we primarily cultivate?"