A flicker of comfort eased Yan Shouyi’s heart as he witnessed the demise of the Ghost Kings Shi Jing and Yu Jinhong. Having found himself entangled with two such formidable beings, while not a guaranteed death sentence, the lingering unease of their attention was palpable.
His thoughts then drifted to the storyteller Yin Tang from Qiantang, who had seemingly “betrayed” him. Yin Tang had divulged his intention to travel to Chang’an to Yu Jinhong, which directly led to the ambush orchestrated by Yu Jinhong and other ghost kings within the ghost market. Back then, Yin Tang had proclaimed this as his opportunity, even claiming to be helping him.
Could it be that this very moment was what Yin Tang had foreseen? Without the two ghost kings presenting themselves as targets, even if General Qing Jiang had awoken, he might have been powerless against Huo Ban. In that light, Yin Tang’s words held a certain truth.
However, if Yin Tang had planned this from the outset, the implications were chilling. It suggested Yin Tang had anticipated this outcome. But by what means could he have predicted such events? Storytellers merely possessed more information than others; they did not possess the ability to foresee the future. Thus, as Yan Shouyi pondered this, an unsettling strangeness washed over him, a profound curiosity about the true depth of Yin Tang’s machinations.
“My strength has recovered seventy to eighty percent, but my energy is limited and cannot be sustained for long.”
General Qing Jiang’s voice jolted Yan Shouyi back from his reverie. Qing Jiang, controlling Yan Shouyi’s body, cast a glance at the lingering spectral energy coiled within the bronze coffin and stated gravely, “Huo Ban, whom you mentioned, was stronger than I in life, but after two millennia of depletion, he is no longer at his peak.”
Yan Shouyi inquired, “Then, in our confrontation with him…”
“We are evenly matched,” General Qing Jiang could only reply.
Yan Shouyi understood, refraining from despair at not holding the upper hand. “General, the rest is up to you,” Yan Shouyi implored. With General Qing Jiang at the helm, Yan Shouyi felt ready to simply let go and rely on him.
Unexpectedly, General Qing Jiang withdrew his control over Yan Shouyi’s body. Yan Shouyi, regaining control, stumbled and nearly fell. From a distance, Lin Zhitong, witnessing this, couldn’t help but stare in confusion. Her young master had just exuded an aura of supreme dominance; how could he suddenly falter? Had he employed some secret technique whose effects had now dissipated, revealing its side effects?
Yan Shouyi, fearing something had gone wrong with General Qing Jiang, quickly queried in his mind, “General, are you alright?”
General Qing Jiang’s voice remained remarkably calm. “I am fine. It is simply that I can no longer control your body.”
“Why is that?”
“My residual soul’s power is finite; every bit I use diminishes what remains. If I were to maintain control of your body for this entire battle, my residual soul would likely be utterly consumed… I wish to preserve it, to see her one last time.”
General Qing Jiang’s tone carried a hint of apology, as if he felt guilty for not being able to fully assist Yan Shouyi. Yet, his request was perfectly reasonable, and Yan Shouyi would never blame him for it.
“Then, my body…”
Yan Shouyi straightened, clenching his fists, feeling an immense, alien power surge through him.
General Qing Jiang explained, “While I have relinquished control, my power can still be channeled through you. This way, you will possess the means to protect yourself, while preventing my soul from dissipating entirely.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Shouyi clenched his fists, his eyes devoid of fear. “Very well. If that is the case, then I shall face Huo Ban myself!” After all, both were descendants of Lu Ban, and this confrontation, spanning two millennia, stirred a fierce passion within him.
General Qing Jiang expressed his admiration for Yan Shouyi’s newfound courage. However, he remained uneasy about letting Yan Shouyi face Huo Ban alone. Suddenly, a wealth of memories materialized within Yan Shouyi’s mind.
He saw a youth tirelessly practicing sword strikes against a wooden post. He witnessed a young man, knocked down repeatedly by a strict instructor, yet always rising again! He saw a soldier clad in armor, fighting valiantly amidst a sea of blood with a long sword! He saw a general, cloaked and riding triumphantly after battle…
These were General Qing Jiang’s memories!
“I have infused many of my memories into your mind, predominantly those of my sword practice. By internalizing these memories, you will be able to comprehend my sword intent,” General Qing Jiang declared with a resonant voice. “I began practicing the sword at seven, joined the army at thirteen, and participated in over a hundred battles, personally slaying one hundred thousand enemy soldiers! My contributions were immense; I rose to the rank of Marshal and lived a life of constant warfare, never knowing fear! Those memories, I can never forget. Thus, after my death, I comprehended a sword art! The sword art is named ‘One Sword Questions Heaven’! It possesses no superfluous moves, no extraneous thoughts. This sword has but one strike, a strike that encapsulates my insights from over a decade of warfare on the battlefield. With this single strike, I dare to question the heavens!”
As General Qing Jiang’s impassioned narration filled his ears, and countless memories of him flooded his mind, Yan Shouyi, in a daze, felt as though he too had lived through General Qing Jiang’s life, experiencing over a decade of military service. General Qing Jiang was, after all, Yan Shouyi’s past life; their souls were connected, their memories intertwined. Yan Shouyi grasped the essence of “One Sword Questions Heaven” with remarkable ease, as if he had spent years practicing against a wooden post.
“Yan Shouyi, by grasping my ‘One Sword Questions Heaven,’ coupled with the sixty years of sword intent I bestowed upon you at Mount Longhu, defeating Huo Ban is not an impossible feat!” General Qing Jiang continued. “Though you wield a saber, sabers and swords are fundamentally alike. As long as you are clever enough, even with a saber in hand, you can unleash the power of the sword!”
Under General Qing Jiang’s tutelage, Yan Shouyi slowly closed his eyes. When he reopened them, a silver light flashed within his pupils, as if a flying sword had shot forth from his gaze! It was sword intent! Sixty years of sword intent!
“General, I have comprehended it,” Yan Shouyi said softly. “Please, watch from within my body. I will defeat Huo Ban and then find Princess Yushu’s soul for you!”
General Qing Jiang slowly uttered two words: “Go forth.”
*Bang—*
Yan Shouyi vanished from his original position instantly, completely forgetting his promise to Professor Liang Yinqiu not to damage the imperial mausoleum before entering the city. The ground where he had stood was shattered, not a single tile remaining intact!
The next moment, Yan Shouyi appeared beside Lin Zhitong. Lin Zhitong glanced at him and immediately recognized that Yan Shouyi, not General Qing Jiang, was currently controlling the body.
“You silly girl,” he said, “wait for me by the riverbank. I’m going to deal with Huo Ban.”
“…Alright.” Lin Zhitong rubbed her swollen temples; her condition was quite poor.
“I’m leaving.” With those words, Yan Shouyi strode towards the Mercury River. Upon the Mercury River, within the bronze coffin, Huo Ban’s soul was gradually taking shape…