Volume One: The King's Edict Chapter Nine: The Noisy Little Monk

“What did you do to warrant the intervention of the Imperial Censor?” In the end, even Jingkong could not escape; the long halberd swayed a few times, and the little monk obediently followed back to Banner City.

Liu Xiaoyi was in poor spirits. First, he had been rescued by a girl, and then the little monk tried to exonerate him. Shame weighed heavily upon him.

The temporary site for the Censor’s investigation was set up on the open ground before the gates of the two families. Two tables arranged with writing implements, several clerks busily sorting files and documents. Names struck out in red ink on the roster belonged to the family members whose identities had already been verified.

Three hundred and fifteen souls remained—only two young ladies had escaped. With Yu Wenwan brought back, it meant Xue Yiran had been taken to the Sanctuary Palace.

“You’re the martial instructor newly hired by the Xue family? Such a young age, are you sure you’re not boasting? High Censor, this seems questionable.” The clerk responsible for the records set down his pen and called the Censor over. “Is it possible for a martial instructor to be so young? He can’t be more than fifteen.”

“Would you dare to exchange a few moves with me?”

“That’s precisely what I had in mind.” Liu Xiaoyi drew his iron sword, stepped forward with his right foot, and surged ahead, sword leading his body. The High Censor swung his halberd horizontally, executing the sweeping maneuver of ‘Cleaving a Thousand Armies.’ The halberd was extremely heavy; when the iron sword intersected the cross-shaped halberd, Liu Xiaoyi instantly regretted his choice.

It was far too heavy! The High Censor had been waiting for him to take it head-on, twisting the halberd shaft with both hands. The difference in their stature now became an advantage. Realizing he couldn’t match him in strength, Liu Xiaoyi rolled sideways, slapped the ground with one hand to spring up, his sword tip trembling and scattering icy light onto the Censor’s garment, tearing several holes in the tough fabric.

He rose, raised his sword, gathered his breath, dodged another thrust from the halberd, slipped close to seize the Censor’s shoulder, flicked his wrist, and sent the chill of the Sky Frost Sword Technique through the blade onto the man’s back.

The High Censor moved with astonishing speed; the halberd’s weight seemed like a toy in his hands. Seeing he could not evade in time, he shifted his body, hiding behind the halberd, and Liu Xiaoyi’s sword struck it full on, shattering entirely.

The force behind the move was evident. The icy energy clung to the outer garment and soft armor; the High Censor shuddered, and shards of ice scattered to the ground.

“Sky Frost Sword Technique? What is your relation to Xia Liang?” The High Censor halted, suddenly mentioning Xia Liang.

“I don’t know him.”

“Release him.” Seeing Liu Xiaoyi unwilling to speak, the Censor asked no more, instructing the clerk to add an extra note: “Martial instructor of the Xue family, did not act that night, due to timidity.”

Liu Xiaoyi read the line clearly, wanted to protest, but was pushed and dragged away by Jingkong, who pulled him in the opposite direction. As they walked, the little monk muttered, “Benefactor Liu, I may not know what happened that night, but you are certainly not so timid as they say. Your skills just now are enough to make you an instructor in the army—how could you stand by and do nothing…”

“You’re a chatterbox, monk. Am I really just someone who stands by in the face of death?” Liu Xiaoyi, irritated by the monk’s constant talking, shook him off and walked ahead, while Jingkong trailed behind, asking, “Even if you didn’t act, I think there’s something you’re not telling us. Well, let it be…” He sighed as he spoke, making Liu Xiaoyi even more restless.

Watching the two depart, a fair-skinned scholar emerged from the ruins. A glance revealed pride between his brows. “Gao Yingkui, you just let him go? He surely knows what happened.”

“The Sanctuary Palace has long harbored treasonous intentions. Sending a child into danger isn’t worth it.” Gao Yingkui loosened his belt, exhausted from the day’s events.

Though he hadn’t used full strength earlier, that last move surprised him. He recognized the Sky Frost Sword Technique very well.

Back in their days at the military camp, he and Xia Liang had been comrades sharing a tent. When the sword technique reached mastery, it could condense cold energy to enhance the blade’s power. Such skill would be considered the mark of a swordsman in the martial world.

The fair scholar saw what he was thinking and laughed, “Xia Liang had a disciple—you wouldn’t have the heart to push him into the fire, would you?”

“Xia Hou, your tongue grows sharper once you leave the capital. If you anger me, I’ll let you taste the halberd.”

This journey from the capital wasn’t merely for handling local family disputes—those matters didn’t call for the Censor’s involvement. He had come for news of the Sanctuary Palace’s rebellion, bringing many experts with him, and this incident provided the perfect excuse.

Near the Han Pass, a protracted tug-of-war had been raging for years. Recently, the fires of war were fierce. The Great Wilderness stretched for hundreds of miles; though the Sanctuary Palace was within the pass, its location backed onto a waterfall, with the wilderness just behind.

Any sudden action would signal they were ready to confront Banner Mountain. Xue Yiran’s uncle was the second elder of Banner Mountain—moving against the Xue family amounted to a declaration of war.

The fair scholar’s name was Xia Hou Chi, known in the martial world as “Iron Fence.” Whatever he undertook was watertight; several major cases had passed through his hands without a single misstep.

That night, he led a team to raid several Sanctuary Palace strongholds nearby, interrogating suspects through the night. The information yielded was clear: the eldest Xue daughters were held at White Robe Hall, twenty miles outside Three Mountain City.

This message was written on paper and dispatched by a soldier to a guesthouse at the edge of Banner City, delivered to Liu Xiaoyi.

Jingkong meditated all night. At dawn, he took out a wooden fish and began chanting sutras.

Liu Xiaoyi held the letter, sleep eluding him. The meaning was clear—if he did not go, his sword heart would be shamed, and he would never advance.

“You haven’t slept all night, are you alright? Should I fetch a physician?” After his recitation, Jingkong returned to himself, concerned for Liu Xiaoyi.

“Why don’t we eat first? Yesterday I saw a good spot—I’ll treat you. A full stomach might help.”

When the vegetarian noodles were served, Liu Xiaoyi took a few bites and suddenly smiled, startling Jingkong. “What’s gotten into you? Is the noodle that good? I find it ordinary.”

“You’re already late, so what’s two more days? Stay with me one more day, and I’ll accompany you to Central Plains,” Liu Xiaoyi asked suddenly.

“Amitabha, as long as you’re alright, I can stay two days. Benefactor Liu, I still think it’s best to leave here soon and let you meet my master—he’s very good at enlightening people…” Once Jingkong started talking, he never stopped. This time, Liu Xiaoyi was in no hurry, ate three bowls in succession, and went back to sleep.

Jingkong, meanwhile, was busy. He first found a clinic to have his head wound bandaged. Though he carried some herbs, after waking he still felt pain and the injury had not improved, which made him anxious. While waiting in line, he muttered about needing to learn more medical arts from his uncles.

He walked around the streets near the Xue family, found they were still blocked off by soldiers, with more than ten sentry posts—he’d never seen such a display in Heavenly Pool City.

Returning to his room, he could hear snoring through the door. Shaking his head, Jingkong entered, muttering to himself, “I wonder what Benefactor Liu intends to do. If we leave for Central Plains sooner, maybe my master won’t blame me.”

“I think you should lie down and sleep for a bit. Stop talking—there’s work to be done tonight.”

“Benefactor Liu, are you going to White Robe Hall?”

“Yes.”