Chapter 331: Chapter 54 Knocking
The following day, on the fifth of September, in the year of 1995, Renxu Month, Gengxu Day, it was auspicious for travel.
On a mild and beautiful morning, a spacious Wenliang carriage halted in front of the mansion. Shortly after, Jiang Li, seated in a wheelchair, was pushed out from within by a maid dressed in white.
The Wenliang carriage, drawn by four horses, was roomy enough to act as a small bedroom—it perfectly accommodated Jiang Li in his wheelchair. The maid pushed him, and together they entered from the rear of the carriage, without any attempt to conceal his movements, allowing all those watching the mansion to observe Jiang Li’s movements.
With Jiang Li’s abilities, he could have visited in secret, but he chose to reveal his movements openly, intending to make them known.
The carriage rolled out from the Upper City, transitioning from a quiet to a bustling surroundings, capturing increasing attention as it proceeded.
Inhabited by high officials and noblemen, the Upper City fostered few passersby, but upon reaching the Inner City, the number of onlookers multiplied. By the time they arrived at the Outer City, it was normal to see crowds coming and going, and spies thrived like fish in water, rapidly multiplying.
According to Jiang Li’s perception, the count of spying eyes on him nearly reached a hundred.
Even through the carriage, Jiang Li could sense the myriad thoughts directed at the carriage.
Jiang Li even suspected that the street might have more spies than pedestrians at this point.
Under the watchful eyes of many, the carriage strutted past Divine Capital and headed straight towards the Imperial College.
Outside Divine Capital flowed the Nine Heavens River, encircling the city like nine dragons converging at Dragon Abyss Lake. The riverbanks were lined with densely packed houses, and the numerous workshops rivaled the prosperity of some major cities in the south.
The carriage followed the road towards Dragon Abyss Lake, entering the first workshop immediately.
"Strange, why is Mingde Square empty today?" The coachman muttered, eyeing the deserted street.
Just then, sounds of metal clashing against metal could be heard.
Clang, clang, clang...
With every beat rhythmically in place, it seemed someone was forging iron.
Along with the metallic sounds, a stern voice rang out, "Chang Luo, as you learn sword casting, you should understand the virtues of a sword. The sword, being the king of all weapons, is unbending and upright, signifying righteousness; it is flexible but unyielding, showing measured action; it conceals its sharpness when not in use, representing humility; it unsheathes to stop evil when necessary, embodying chivalry; and it protects its master, signifying loyalty and courage."
"A person should be like a sword; do not stray from these virtues, becoming dishonest, unrighteous, arrogant, unkind, unjust, or disloyal."
With each word spoken, a hammer struck, resounding with clinks and clangs, stirring Jiang Li’s Qi Mechanism and causing ripples in his True Qi.
By the time the words ’dishonest’ and ’unstraightforward’ were pronounced, the sound was like Heavenly Thunder, deafening, and when the final word ’disloyal’ dropped, it particularly shocked his soul, causing his emotions to surge wildly, his plain clothes whipping about and his hair fluttering chaotically.
The coachman and horses, as if struck by Thunder Strike, bled from their ears while the horses became restless and almost bolted. At that moment, gusts of Primordial Qi emanated from the carriage, seeping into both coachman and horses, stabilizing their injuries and resisting the Thunder Sound.
"Kui Drum Thunder Sound."
The maid behind Jiang Li suddenly spoke up, her voice clear despite the thrum of thunder, "It’s someone from the Ji Family."
According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas·Great Wilderness: In the middle of the East Sea lies Liu Bo Mountain, seven thousand li deep into the sea. There resides a beast resembling a cow, gray and hornless, possessing a single leg. Whenever it enters or exits the water, storms brew, its glow rivaling the sun and moon, its roar like thunder—this creature is called Kui. The Yellow Emperor acquired it and made a drum from its hide and mallet from the bones of a thunder beast, its sound carrying for five hundred li, imposing over all under heaven.
Such is the origin of the Kui Drum.
It was said that the Yellow Emperor was able to defeat the army of Chi You with the help of Qimen Dunjia and the Kui Drum.
And the Form Tomb is the Derivation of All Forms, with Kui Niu also among these forms, and "Kui Drum Thunder Sound" is a magic derived from this form.
Being knowledgeable in Kui Drum Thunder Sound, the speaker was doubtlessly from the Ji Family, even mentioning disloyalty...
"This is a direct hit at me," Jiang Li whispered.
Isn’t the sound of forging iron exactly that—a hammering?
Though it struck iron, the resonance targeted a person.
Perhaps seeing Jiang Li still daring to resist, the sound of the hammer intensified, with more thunderous roars following closely.
"Loyalty!"
Clang!
"Loyalty!"
Clang!
...
Each word paired with a strike, sounding like heavenly drums, thunder crashing, which made Jiang Li’s Qi Mechanism increasingly agitated.
Yet, at the same time, a sudden harsh wind arose outside, whirling violently, its howl merging with the thunder, the two fierce sound waves fiercely colliding.
Boom!
Vast Qi waves surged in all directions, intertwining Qi veins formed layers upon layers of Array Maps with the carriage at the center, expanding outward from inside.
"I am loyal to the Court as much as to our own Jiang family, known as a True Inheritor from Dinghu, my loyalty is as clear as the sun and the sky. How dare you question my loyalty?"
From within the carriage came a stern and fierce reprimand. The Array Plate revolved, transforming thunder into wind, ignoring the mutual restraint of wind and thunder, and borrowing the other’s power to create momentum. "I do not know who you are, but just by your attempt to sow discord between our family and the Court, I dare say you have ill intentions and must be a rebel. If not for my injuries, I would have beheaded you by now."
The sound summoned the wind and thunder, further harnessing the power of heaven and earth, like the loud ringing of a grand bell, shaking the spirit. Waves of Qi swept across all directions, wrapping the sound of thunder in the motion of the wind, sending back the continuous thunder sound.
Even the sound of Heavenly Thunder needed a medium to travel; at least, at that moment, the thunder sound Jiang Li heard hadn’t reached the point of existing without air.
Boom!
Qi waves lifted rooftops and the rumbling thunder shattered walls like devastating waves crashing back toward a nearby blacksmith shop.
Crackling and popping sounds ensued, as the blacksmith shop was flattened, leaving only the upper and lower iron furnaces and felt, along with an old man and a young man beside them.
The elder, dressed in simple cloth but still exuding extraordinary demeanor, glared furiously. The Qi waves and thunder sound seemed blocked by an invisible barrier, unable to get any closer to him.
"He dares to use the Wind Queen’s Strange Gate against me!"
With a face full of rage, he said, "How audacious! This Jiang family child even dares to call me a rebel. Inverting right and wrong, black and white—the Jiang family brat is indeed a born scourge. I better..."
The hammer in his hand continued to clink and clank, rapidly shaping the Sword Embryo.
Hiss—
The elder thrust the sword blade into a bucket of water beside him, immediately causing steam to rise, and a restrained sharp edge appeared on the dark blade.
Without even sharpening it, he attached a handle to the long sword and handed it to the young man next to him, saying, "Chang Luo, take this sword and teach that Jiang family child a lesson."
"Such a minor Jiang descendant cannot possibly comprehend the profound mysteries of Ji Family’s Divine Skill. Just now with the hammer’s sound, I guided his Qi Mechanism and also forged this sword with the Qi Mechanism. Take this sword and stab him with one move, inflict a severe injury on him."
The elder said coldly, "Since that boy dared to severely injure the Prince, causing his death, he should be paid back in kind."
"Grand Ancestor, can this really be done?" The young Ji Changluo questioned skeptically.
The opponent was Jiang Li, who had directly defeated Yuan Zhen and caused a fifth-rank’s death. Could this sword really severely injure him?
"Of course, it can," the elder replied. "Currently, his Qi Mechanism is unstable and floating, clearly indicating unresolved injuries. With this sword in your hand, it’s as if I am making the move through you. How can it not work? It’s just that I cannot patronize due to status; otherwise, there’s no need for you to take action. Go."
He pushed the Iron Sword into the young man’s hands and waved him off.
...
...
"That was the Sect Master from the Nine Ministers."
Inside the carriage, a soft, melodious voice calmly revealed the other’s identity, explaining, "This elder ranks the Ji Family first, doesn’t hesitate to resort to underhanded tactics for them, and particularly despises the Jiang Clan. If not for having support in Divine Capital, he would probably disregard his own dignity and personally attack, patronizing the young."
"His action just now was no different from patronizing the young," Jiang Li said, shaking his head.
Only he could handle it; any other person would have received a lesson.
Moreover, if this matter gets out, the other party can claim it was a test for the young, teaching them a sense of proportion.
It’s a typical method old seniors use to bully people, Jiang Li could casually come up with dozens of different schemes.
The Ji Family’s Sect Master is shameless enough; if he cared a little for his dignity, he would have thrown himself in front of the carriage pretending to be an ordinary citizen or blocked the way throwing shoes, fully adopting the pose of testing the young. That would hardly give grounds for criticism.
"This move of his will surely be followed by others," Jiang Li said calmly.
He didn’t need the Jade Ruyi’s reminder to sense a subtle sharp Qi approaching.
Jiang Li not only returned the Thunder Sound but also saved the face of that Ji Family Sect Master. If he indeed detested people of Jiang family so deeply, he would definitely take further action.
"Speed up."
Jiang Li spoke, "Within a quarter of an hour, I need to be at the Imperial College."
His Qi Mechanism circulated, and Innate Qi sensed the gentle breeze, receiving the wind’s fluctuations like a bat, clearly sensing a figure emerging from the workshop district.
That subtle sharp Qi was on this person.
’Limited by status, the Ji family can’t deal a lethal blow to me, or the backlash from breaking the oath alone would cost them dearly. I am the same; even if I could kill without consequence, it’s not right to take a life. However, that doesn’t mean it’s unmanageable.’
Jiang Li pondered his strategy, his thoughts stirring the breeze, continuously powering the carriage.
The carriage sped through the streets, swiftly arriving near Dragon Abyss Lake.