First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 209 – A Dark Undercurrent

“It’s been so long, but you still haven’t tidied everything up?” Su Yi’s faintly displeased voice emanated from outside the pavilion.

Cha Jin froze, then hurried outside.

When she saw Su Yi lying in his wicker chair, she felt inexplicably embarrassed.
She lowered her head and said, “Young Lord, last night….

Su Yi glanced at her.
“Hurry up and buy us some breakfast.”

“…..” Cha Jin’s bashfulness and joy both grew wings and flew away.
Her brow furrowed into dark lines. So, this guy was just thinking about breakfast?

“Mm.” Cha Jin nodded, then turned to leave.

When he saw this, Su Yi was stunned to realize that as she moved, there was something unnatural about her gait; she was waddling about a bit like a duck.

A moment later, Su Yi couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter.

When Cha Jin heard this, she was initially confused, but she quickly understood, then left, covering her face.

……

The Imperial Prefectural Capital, the Yu Family.

Provincial Governor Xiang Tianqiu paid them a personal visit first thing that morning.

“Brother Yu, I heard that you and the Sixth Prince are at an impasse?” Xiang Tianqiu got straight to the point as soon as they were inside and seated.

Yu Baiting smiled.
“That’s right.
That’s the outcome you hoped for, isn’t it, Brother Xiang?”

Xiang Tianqiu couldn’t hold back laughter.
“Well, how about it? Brother Yu, are you willing to join His Second Highness’s camp?”

Yu Baiting raised his teacup to his lips, took a sip, then sighed.
“I won’t lie to you, Brother Xiang.
I’m currently focused on finding a way to deal with Su Yi, and I currently have no plans of contemplating any other matters.”

Xiang Tianqiu pondered for a moment, then said, “I once said that even if the sixth prince refuses to eliminate the little whelp, I, Xiang Tianqiu, won’t refuse!”

Yu Baiting sighed.
“Brother Xiang, Su Yi isn’t as simple as you imagine.
If you ask me, you’d be better off not getting involved.”

Xiang Tianqiu was momentarily stunned.
Then, he burst into laughter.
“Brother Yu, you needn’t rely on ridicule to goad me into action.
I already said it, so I naturally won’t go back on my word.
Besides, Su Yi is still just a young man.
Even if he were stronger, how could he possibly contend with us old-timers?”

Yu Baiting said solemnly, “Brother Xiang, I’m not looking down on you.
I meant every word: Su Yi might look young, but he’s far from comparable to an ordinary youth.”

He then went on to reveal how Su Yi killed Elder Wen.

When Xiang Tianqiu heard the entire story, his expression changed erratically.

Elder Wen was one of Yu Baiting’s strongest supporters, and a second-level Grandmaster at that, yet Su Yi had killed him!

That was completely beyond Xiang Tianqiu’s expectations.

A little while later, he extended a finger at Yu Baiting and scolded him in jest.
“You old fox! Why didn’t you say so earlier? Telling me that now means it’s too late for me to take back my earlier promise!”

Yu Baiting couldn’t help but laugh too.
“The way I see it, you aren’t the type to regret your words, nor will Su Yi be enough to intimidate you.

He paused, then said solemnly, “Let’s put it this way: it’s precisely because the boy is so strong that the sixth prince attaches such importance to him.
If you’re willing to help me eliminate him, I, Yu Baiting, will lend you a hand during the upcoming Tea Party!”

Xiang Tianqiu’s eyes lit up.
“Wonderful! I refuse to believe that there’s a problem we can’t resolve in the Imperatorial Province!” 

Yu Baiting then changed the subject, sounding calm and unhurried.
“Brother Xiang, it seems His Sixth Highness is fully confident about the upcoming Tea Party.
How are preparations on your end?”

Xiang Tianqiu flashed him a confident grin.
“Let’s put it like this: even if some unexpected variables appear, the sixth prince cannot possibly turn this situation in his favor!”

“Oh?” Yu Baiting said thoughtfully.
“It seems you have some cards up your sleeves that I don’t know about.”

“Only by preparing sufficient cards can you adapt to all possible eventualities,” laughed the provincial governor.
“This Tea Party will determine my replacement, and it will affect the struggle for power between the second and sixth princes.
I dare not get the least bit complacent.”

With that, he rose and bade Yu Baiting farewell.

Yu Baiting personally saw him to the door, then went back, leaned into his chair, and sank into thought.

The upcoming tea Party would determine the next provincial governor.

Currently, of the Imperatorial Provincial Capital’s five peak level clans, the Zhao Family, the Bai Family, the Yu Family, and Provincial Governor Xiang Tianqiu had all decided to side with the second prince.

The Zheng and Xue Families, meanwhile, stood with the Sixth Prince.

The Cloudlight Marquis, Shen Jiusong, and his Redscale Army had always maintained a neutral stance.
They couldn’t possibly intervene in this struggle between imperial princes.

The difference in support was readily apparent, and the sixth prince had long since found himself at a disadvantage.

But Yu Baiting was certain that Zhou Zhili had tricks up his sleeve.

The only thing he couldn’t fathom was what gave Xiang Tianqiu such absolute, unwavering confidence in his ultimate victory.
Just what cards had he prepared?

Yu Baiting sighed.
“I’ll just have to wait for the Tea Party to begin.
Perhaps then, all will become clear.”

……

The provincial governor’s estate.

As soon as he returned, Xiang Tianqiu sank into silent contemplation too.

“Su Yi….
Why is that name familiar?” Xiang Tianqiu pondered, then suddenly recalled—isn’t that Wen Lingzhao girl, the one my son is head over heels for, married to a young man by that very same name?

“Is Ming’er home?” asked Xiang Tianqiu.

An elderly servant said softly, “The young master went back to Heaven’s Origin Academy two days ago.
He hasn’t been back since.”

“Oh,” said Xiang Tianqiu.
“Tell me, if you were the sixth prince, would you throw away the Yu Family’s support for the sake of a single young man?”

The servant paused, then said, “It depends on whether or not he was worth it.”

“The boy is called Su Yi,” said Xiang Tianqiu.
“He possesses power sufficient to slay a second-level Grandmaster.
His potential is undoubtedly terrifying.”

The servant pondered, “But if it’s just a matter of his impressive individual strength, he couldn’t possibly be as important as the support of the entire Yu Family.
Were I the sixth prince, I think I’d rather sacrifice Su Yi and win the Yu Family’s allegiance.”

Xiang Tianqiu nodded.
“I feel the same, yet the sixth prince has stubbornly insisted on throwing away the Yu Family’s support to protect Su Yi.
There’s something strange afoot here.”

The servant said gravely, “Your Excellency, the boy is surnamed ‘Su’.
Might he have some connection to the Jade Capital’s Su Family?”

Xiang Tianqiu’s pupils furiously constricted, and he sat upright, his expression grave.
“If Su Yi really is a member of the Su Family….
Then this really is trouble….”

The Jade Capital’s Su Family!

A massive faction that stood at the peak of the Great Zhou, with enough influence to alter the course of the entire empire!

Their foundations and accumulated knowledge were terrifying beyond imagination!

“Your Excellency, I remember that twenty years ago, the head of the Su Family made an agreement with the current emperor not to intervene in the struggle for imperial power.
The Su Family has kept their end of the bargain for twenty years now.
They’ve never once expressed support for any of the princes.”

The elderly servant continued in a low voice, “Way I see it, if Su Yi were really a scion of the Su Family, how could he possibly pledge himself to the sixth prince?”

Xiang Tianqiu’s eyes flashed.
“The Su Family is vast.
Their disciples number in the thousands, and their subordinate factions extend throughout the Great Zhou.

“Of the nine non-Zhou kings, three hail from the Su Family, and they account for five of the eighteen non-Zhou marquis.

“The sheer weight of their authority is sufficient to affect the nation as a whole!” 

However, after saying all this, Xiang Tianqiu’s eyes flashed.
“But that doesn’t mean their ranks don’t include the odd brainless fool.
What if Su Yi really is a son of the Su Family?”

The servant fell silent for a moment.
“Your Excellency, how about your servant investigates his origins?”  

“That won’t do.
Just a few days ago, Yu Baiting’s old monster Wen tried to do just that, ending in his death.
I certainly don’t want to see you follow in his footsteps.” Xiang Tianqiu thought it over, then made his decision.
“Forget it.
I’ll personally write a letter to inform the second prince.
He’ll send his people to the Su Family to investigate on our behalf.
Then, we’ll know the truth.”

……

After eating the meal Cha Jin brought back with her, Su Yi resumed spending his time on his cultivation, just as he had before.

It seemed that even after everything that happened last night, nothing had changed for him.

Cha Jin was initially bashful and uncertain, but when she saw Su Yi acting as if none of this had anything to do with him, she simultaneously relaxed and felt a bit despondent.

Is this guy really going to pretend last night never happened?

Or does he just not care about me at all?

Cha Jin spent all day agonizing over this frustrating problem, leaving her a bit out of it.

It was only when night fell that she suddenly realized a certain problem. 

If Su Yi suddenly started speaking with tender concern and whispering honeyed words, how would it feel?

It’d be no different from seeing a ghost!

Upon reaching this conclusion, Cha Jin laughed.
She found it funny, but also a bit frustrating. Su Yi is both lazy and proud.
How could he possibly change into the type to coax and soothe a girl overnight?

Just yesterday, he left Miss Lingxue in tears, yet he remained unmoved, and he made no attempt to smooth things over.
Now that I think about it, it’s obvious: this guy would never do anything that sappy or corny.
He’s not the type to whisper sweet nothings.

If he really became that kind of glib smooth-talker, I’d actually be rather disappointed….
On the contrary, the prouder and ruder he is, the more real he seems.
This is good too.
At the very least, I don’t need to worry about him becoming a liar or a hypocrite….

As soon as she realized this, Cha Jin felt much more relaxed.

That night, after dinner.

Cha Jin drew a bath and prepared a change of clean clothes for Su Yi, but just as she was about to leave, Su Yi said offhandedly, “Come to my room later.”

Cha Jin’s pretty face instantly flushed red, and even her ears felt hot.
She muttered at a bit of a loss, “Young Lord, I….
My body still needs time to recover….”

Su Yi glanced at her irritably.
“What are you thinking? Can you understand the Nine Profundities of Perceiving Chaos Sutra’s subtleties on your own?”

“Uh…..” Cha Jin was stunned, then she asked in a daze, “Young Lord, you plan to instruct my cultivation?”

“What do you think?” asked Su Yi.

Cha Jin was instantly embarrassed.
She longed for nothing more than a hole to hide herself in.

It was only after Su Yi finished his bath that she knocked on his door and walked inside.

“Come here.” Su Yi was sprawled out across his bed.
“We’ll start with the first part of the Nine Profundities of Perceiving Chaos Sutra’s first page.
Listen carefully—I’ll only explain this once.”

Cha Jin hurried forward, cast aside her scattered thoughts, and listened with rapt attention.

Time flew by, and soon, the skies were dark as ink.

As the light of the sun rose over the horizon, Cha Jin awoke in a daze.
When she saw the unfamiliar sheets and unfamiliar blanket, she was unwittingly stunned.

Only then did she recall that, although she didn’t know why, for some unclear reason, she’d spent the night in Su Yi’s chambers.