Meng Sheng closed the door, "Quick, pack up our things."
Jiang Chao Ge analysed: "He spent more than two months and only searched to Hu An City now. This proves that he is not certain that we are here at all, and only searched all the way here. Let’s not panic first. He may not be able to find us."
Meng Sheng shook his head, "Although Hu An City has a lot of outsiders, there are few with Dark grade spirit weapons. As far as I know, there are no more than ten. This sword of mine has been seen by quite a few nobles in the city. If they investigate following this clue, Prince Shu will come to our door sooner or later."
"Then should we leave the city now?"
Meng Sheng shook his head again, "Since Prince Shu has already come to Hu An City, he will definitely close off the water routes and land routes out of the city. It is not quite possible for us to escape. We can only find place to hide."
Jiang Chao Ge frowned, "This town is not small, but it is not big. Where do we hide?"
Meng Sheng thought for a bit, "Let’s put Zhi Xuan Sword in the hidden chamber, then go to an inn."
Zhi Xuan gave a soft snort, chin propped on his palm, and looked at them. It was obvious that he wasn’t very happy they were going to hide his horn away.
Jiang Chao Ge said with surprise: "There is a hidden chamber here?"
"Follow me."
Jiang Chao Ge picked up the sword and entered Meng Sheng's room.
Meng Sheng moved the bed away and removed the old floor tiles one by one. Sure enough, a door appeared underneath. He pulled the door open with force. The old musty smell of mould immediately filled the air. Thick clouds of dust accompanied it. Meng Sheng said: "You put the sword in there."
Jiang Chao Ge glared at him, "A basement is a basement. Why call it a secret chamber ah?" He looked at that pitch black basement. He could even imagine the dirty and anaerobic environment in there. He didn’t want to go down there at all.
"Don’t speak nonsense. Go down there quickly."
Jiang Chao Ge had no choice but to summon the courage to jump down. Why was he the only one who could hold the sword?
After hiding the sword, the left with simple luggage.
The arrival of Yu Ren Shu made the whole of Hu An City seethe with excitement. The people here have probably never received a visit from nobles, especially the distinguished, handsome and honourable Third Prince. They surrounded the street until not even a drop of water could get through, just to catch a glimpse of the elegance of the Third Prince.
Meng Sheng said confusedly: "Why does he have to arrive with such great fanfare? Isn’t he afraid of us escaping?"
Jiang Chao Ge said: "This is in order to make an empty show of strength. He is trying to force us to expose ourselves. The more confidence we lack, the more likely we will behave irrationally." Before, when he was still mixing in different paths, they also often used this trick. It’s able to quickly defeat the enemy's psychological barrier. Once someone is in a state of panic, their IQ will decrease sharply. "It seems that the water route and land route will definitely be sealed off. It’ll be very hard for us to leave Hu An…. If we don’t take the sword, maybe we can deceive our way out of the city?"
Zhi Xuan slapped his neck with the palm of his hand, "Ignorant fools, I can’t be separated too far from my horn!"
Meng Sheng nodded, "It’s ok if it’s just moving about in town. It’s not ok if the beast spirit and the spirit weapon are seperated too far."
Jiang Chao Ge thought, wouldn’t it be fine if they just sent him back into the spirit weapon? but he did not dare say it. He decided he had better look at the course of events. If they had no choice but to do it, he still wouldn’t leave Zhi Xuan Sword here. It is his only hope of returning after all.
The three struggled forward in the crowd, wanting to go to a hotel at the north of the city. When they arrived at the most prosperous morning market street, they just happened to run into Yu Ren Shu bringing his forces into the city. There was loud clamour on the streets and everyone was excited. You could even hear the loud screams of young woman in the distance.
"This situation…. Why is it similar to when they welcome a celebrity?" Jiang Chao Ge mocked.
Meng Sheng said: "Emperor Sheng has five sons, three daughters. The crown prince Xian De Gao, is honest and kind hearted but he is not very talented. He didn’t become a spirit weapon user but rather is cultivating on the path of a spirit weapon master. This is seldom seen in the successive dynasties of Emperor Sheng; Second Prince Kui is said to have a bright and colourful appearance like that of a woman. He is extremely intelligent and crafty and is doted on the most by Emperor Sheng. Actually, his cultivation of spiritual power is about the same as Prince Shu, but he has yet to find a Heaven grade spirit weapon; Third Prince Shu is soldierly and brace, noble and virtuous and also has the support of a Heaven grade spirit weapon. Right now, strength is in the limelight of Tian Ling continent. Isn’t that just like a celebrity? Before I even saw Prince Shu, I’d already heard people describe him as beautiful without comparison. A Tian Rong Jian can be used to command awe inspiring authority everywhere. It really wins the hearts of people. If he sets his mind on the throne, at the moment, it seems that both Crown Prince Xiao and Prince Kui, won’t be his opponent."
Zhi Xuan said curiously: "What is a celebrity?"
Jiang Chao Ge explained: "Celebrities are something from our world. Usually, their appearance is outstanding. Many people like them, worship them."
Zhi Xuan stroked his chin, "Then I am also a celebrity?"
Jiang Chao Ge laughed in spite of himself: "Where did you get that idea?"
Zhi Xuan gave him a scornful glance, "Ignorant fools like you should all kneel and worship me when you see me."
Jiang Chao Ge stroked his grimy little face, "You are a Zuzong, much more noble than a celebrity."
Zhi Xuan heard it and was quite accepting of it, the corners of his mouth pulled into a light smile.
Very quickly, Prince Shu rode a white spirit weapon horse and neared them.
Jiang Chao Ge looked at Yu Ren Shu on the horse from afar. He stared at that head of long, dazzling, pure silver hair, heart filled with all sorts of emotions. Almost three months had already passed since he transmigrated to this world. Sometimes, when thinking back to everything that happened in those days, it really seemed like a dream.
Meng Sheng dragged him into a corner, bumped him lightly on the shoulder and whispered: "Did you see? That is Tian Rong Jian. With it, Prince Shu is truly like a tiger that has grown wings."
On his back, Yu Ren Shu carried a light amber Jian, about a metre long and as thick as an arm. The body was like the sections of a whip, full of ridges. Jiang Chao Ge has never touched a Jian before but he can imagine. Such a truncheon with solid ridges, even if separated by armour, it’s still able to blow out someone’s internal organs.
At that time, when he was kidnapping Yu Ren Shu, his head was a complete mess and he didn’t pay attention to the weapon at all. Thinking about it now, if it were not for the fact that Yu Ren Shu wanted to monopolise Zhi Xuan Sword, if he used this Tian Rong Jian to casually whip him, he’d be crippled.
Zhi Xuan curled his lip, "So it’s a Zheng. Not even anything alarming."
Jiang Chao Ge said surprised: "How did you know?"
"Smelt the scent of Zheng from a long way away."
Meng Sheng's expression changed, "Can that Zheng smell your scent?"
"How am I supposed to know if the one I ate was this one? I’ve lived for so long and ate too many things."
Meng Sheng: "Lets go quickly while it’s still safe."
Jiang Chao Ge hurriedly glanced at Yu Ren Shu, and followed Meng Sheng through the crowd.
After arriving at the hotel, Meng Sheng gave a long sigh, "At that time, Yu Ren Shu actually pretended to listen to you coercion and throw away his weapons. Seems like he is quite strongly attached to Zhi Xuan sword."
"Luckily I ran into you."
Meng Sheng waved his hand, "I still have lingering fear when I think back. That Tian Rong Jian, its imposing just by looking at it. This is my first time looking at a Heaven grade spirit weapon up close."
Jiang Chao Ge nodded, also having lingering fears, "If I had known earlier that it such a powerful weapon, I also wouldn’t have kidnapped him so rashly."
Zhi Xuan’s tone was somewhat bad, "Its only a Zheng, for you to go as far as to be this scared."
Jiang Chao Ge couldn’t help but say: "Little Zuzong, for you it’s only a Zheng. For us it’s a Heaven grade spirit weapon."
Zhi Xuan said loudly: "If you want to be my spirit weapon user, then you’re not allowed to praise other weapons!"
Jiang Chao Ge raised his eyebrows, "There’s also such a rule?"
"Yes." Zhi Xuan said boldly and confidently, "Who allowed you to call him powerful? I am much more powerful than him. If it wasn’t for you trash, I wouldn’t be in this form!"
Jiang Chao Ge said hurriedly: "My fault, my fault. Only Sir Zhi Xuan is the most powerful."
Zhi Xuan’s bright golden pupils burned with rage and turned away after glaring furiously at him, back turned towards him becoming sulky.
Jiang Chao Ge reached out a finger and gently poked at his backbone, "Zuzong? Angry?"
Zhi Xuan said angrily: "Get lost."
Jiang Chao Ge lifted a strand of his hair, twisting it around his finger, using a reasoning tone to say: "Look, don’t you also use me to compare to other spirit weapon users everyday? I’m not even angry."
"You are originally trash compared to them." Zhi Xuan turned his head and glared at him, "But those spirit weapons can’t even compare to me."
Meng Sheng lowered his head, eyeballs shifting continuously. Zhi Xuan’s words made him feel heavy hearted.
"Ok, don’t be angry anymore. I know you are the most powerful spirit weapon user. It’s because my spiritual power is too weak that I cannot allow you to exhibit it. I’ll buy you teriyaki chicken leg tonight ok?" Even when Jiang Chao Ge was beating his lackeys to death his face would be full of calm. Even he admired himself for this point.
"No, I don’t even need to eat."
"Then I’ll buy you some good alcohol?"
Zhi Xuan gave a snort, and was noncommittal.
Jiang Chao Ge smiled, and scratched his lower back, "Don’t be angry anymore ok?" Faced with this appearance of a three year old child, Jiang Chao Ge found that his own patience grew with every passing day.
Meng Sheng said: "Don’t go out of your room today. I’m going to go out to ask about the news and see if there’s a way to leave the city."
"Old Meng, are we still buying my spirit medicine?"
"For the time being, let’s not buy it. It can easily attract the attention of others if we buy such an expensive spirit medicine."
"Ok, we'll listen to you."
After Meng Sheng left, Jiang Chao Ge immediately began to cultivate. At first, he couldn’t settle down. He thought about how Prince Shu was in this city, searching for him everywhere. It really made one extremely worried and troubled. But throughout the course of his growth, he had also experienced many winds and waves and so he very quickly calmed down and began to concentrate on cultivating.
It was only until the late hours of the night did Meng Sheng quietly return.
Jiang Chao Ge naturally couldn’t sleep, and whispered: "What’s it like outside?"
"The whole city is under curfew." Meng Sheng said worriedly: "It seems like Prince Shu won’t leave in a short period of time, unless he searches all of Hu An City from top to bottom."
"If according to what you say, Prince Shu will investigate based on Dark grade spirit weapons. Then sooner or later he will find you. If he asks around and finds that a man like me was seen coming in and out of your house and then also discovers that you are missing, wouldn’t that make him more suspicious?"
Meng Sheng nodded heavily, "So we must find a way to escape."
"But how do we leave….."
Meng Sheng glanced at Zhi Xuan, "Sir Zhi Xuan, is it possible to inconvenience you to return to the weapon for a period of time, we….."
Zhi Xuan glared at him furiously, "You dare."
"Old Meng, you want to leave the sword here?"
"It’s even harder for us to leave the city with the sword."
Zhi Xuan clashed with Jiang Chao Ge and said angrily: "You dare put me in that basement, I’ll definitely eat you when I come out!"
Jiang Chao Ge was also indecisive for a moment. He knew that by bringing that shining big sword, there was practically no chance of them slipping through. But if he really left the sword here, what would he do if the sword was found the Third Prince?
Zhi Xuan Sword was his only bargaining chip.
Meng Sheng said: "I understand your misgivings. If the sword falls into the hands of the Third Prince, then we will fail everything for something small. So I am also very hesitant……"
Zhi Xuan grabbed Jiang Chao Ge’s collar and shook it forcefully, "You talk to me! You are not allowed to leave me in the basement!"
Jiang Chao Ge grabbed his small fists and stared into his eyes, eyes like blazing torches.
Zhi Xuan was dumbfounded. This was the first time Jiang Chao Ge looked at him with such a serious expression.
"I won’t abandon you." Jiang Chao Ge said one word at a time: "You are my only trump card. You are my destined spirit weapon. I will take you wherever I go unless I die." If he wanted to keep on living easily and comfortably in this world, he could very well take the gold coins and escape to faraway places. But that was not what he wanted. What he wanted, was to return to the world he belonged in. From the moment he made a firm resolution, he was already prepared to die. Since his goal was greater than his life, then he absolutely won’t abandon his only hope.
Zhi Xuan stared blankly at Jiang Chao Ge, a pink blush suddenly appeared on his small fair cheeks. The hand that clutched to Jiang Chao Ge’s collar changed instead to holding to those half long hair ends. He muttered quietly: "That’s how it should be."
Jiang Chao Ge patted his back, "Relax." He said towards Meng Sheng: "Old Meng, I can’t give up the sword for anyone."
Meng Sheng sighed, "In that case, we should find a way to escape Hu An City."
Jian/锏- an ancient Chinese weapon that’s somewhat of a mix between a stick like thing and a sword. It has these ridges that cover it that make it all the more painful if you’re stabbed with it. Think of it almost like… teeth on a chainsaw. I’ll include a picture for your convenience.
Translator’s Corner
Zhi Xuan’s first blush! Is this the beginning of romance I see?
Hope you enjoy the chapter!