Chapter 2290: 1046. Are moral principles and emotional ties both shackles that bind the path of the sword?
Chapter 2290: 1046. Are moral principles and emotional ties both shackles that bind the path of the sword?
“`
This sword embryo, isn’t it the one that Han Muye refined in that illusion?
Could the sword embryo be taken out of the illusion?
Turning his head to look around, Zhang Yuan’s face showed a smile.
This was still an illusion, but not the one from before.
Which meant, the sword embryo was real.
Clasping the sword embryo, faint sword intent seeped in, and memories surfaced.
This sword embryo was indeed the one he had forged by hand.
The Eternal Sword Platform, interesting…
The sword divides into two edges, just as justice serves two causes.
Between reality and illusion, to reach such levels is clearly creation!
Only the power of the Realm of the Creator, even its highest levels, could materialize objects from the illusion out of thin air.
Holding the sword embryo, Han Muye walked straight ahead.
“General!”
“General!”
Shouts of the soldiers came one after another.
Looking down, he saw his clothes had transformed into black armor.
“General, the young and old of the Qiu Family have been brought to the city gate.”
“General, Qiu Qi still refuses to surrender. Do we really have to execute the people of the Qiu Family?”
Several generals approached with solemn expressions.
“After all, Elder Master Qiu is your mentor. You cannot bear the infamy of patricide…”
Murdering his mentor?
Han Muye strode forward, towards a city wall five zhang high.
The city wall was mottled, with disorganized soldiers stationed atop.
Below the city wall were military formations.
In front of the formations, seven or eight people in cloth robes were bound and guarded by the soldiers.
Were these the people of the Qiu Family?
Walking quickly, Han Muye reached out and grabbed the hilt of a three-foot-long sword from the waist of a general beside him.
“Clang—”
The three-foot-long sword was drawn from its sheath.
Faint sword intent flowed into the sword body, and memories of this illusionary realm filled Han Muye’s mind.
At this moment, he should be the leader of the Red Forest Army in this realm.
The Red Forest Army was considered a rebel army, yet not quite so.
The Crown Prince, whom the Red Forest Army was loyal to, was imprisoned by the emperor in the Heavenly Prison. The emperor hadn’t sentenced the Crown Prince before he suddenly died of illness.
The Third Prince, who controlled half of the country’s military power, wanted to become the new emperor. He led his army from the frontier, intending to reach the Imperial Capital.
Xue Yu’an, who was also from the Guardian Land and now Han Muye’s identity, had to reach the Imperial Capital before the Third Prince to rescue the Crown Prince and help him ascend the throne.
Essentially, whether it was the Third Prince or Xue Yu’an, whoever reached the Imperial Capital first could decide the fate of the throne.
But now, the Red Forest Army was blocked by Mingyu City, two hundred li away from the Imperial Capital.
The commanding officer of Mingyu City was named Qiu Qi, Xue Yu’an’s fellow disciple.
Xue Yu’an had once practiced under Qiu Qi’s father, Qiu Changlin.
After failing to take Mingyu City in three days, Xue Yu’an had all members of the Qiu Family brought to the city gates.
If Qiu Qi did not open the gates, all members of the Qiu Family would be executed.
“General, even if you must kill the Qiu Family, you cannot do it with your own hands!”
The general whose sword had been taken changed his expression and spoke in a hushed tone.
The other generals, following Han Muye, also showed changing expressions.
Han Muye’s expression remained unchanged as he walked to the white-haired, hoary old man in front of him, bowing slightly.
“Master.”
The old man turned his head to look at Han Muye.
“Do you still recognize your master?” On the other side, a member of the Qiu Family with bound hands showed anger, “If you recognize your master, you should release my big brother.”
“Right, Qiu Qi has already occupied Mingyu City. If you submit, once the Third Prince sits on the throne, you could also be in charge of a region,” another elderly member of the Qiu Family spoke out.
“Xue Yu’an, you learned your skills at the Qiu Family for three years. Without the Qiu Family giving you the opportunity, how could you possibly lead the Red Forest Army? It’s time for you to repay your debt.”
From behind, another member of the Qiu Family shouted.
Han Muye remained silent, looking up at the city wall ahead.
“Master, what should I do?”
Atop the city wall, a young man dressed in black armor stood there, his expression full of grief and anger.
“What did I tell you on the first day of your sword cultivation when you joined my tutelage?”
The white-haired elder beside Han Muye asked softly.
What was said on the first day?
Han Muye did not know.
“`
He looked down at the sword in his hand.
The three-foot-long sword’s edge was clear and bright.
“Master, you knew what choice I would make, didn’t you?” Han Muye retorted.
His words brought a smile to the old man’s face.
However, the faces of the other Qiu Family members behind the old man changed.
“As the commander of the Red Forest Army, you should do what you must.”
“Swords, they break easily.”
“With a sword in hand, one must never falter.”
The white-haired elder laughed heartily, his eyes bursting with vitality.
“Putting aside that the crown prince is benevolent and has treated you kindly, elevating you from obscurity, by the law of primogeniture alone, the throne belongs to the crown prince.”
“The Third Prince flaunts his martial prowess and acts recklessly; if he were to become the emperor, I fear the people would suffer immensely.”
The elder sighed lightly as he too looked up at the young figure on top of the city wall.
“Qi’er is a son I had in my old age, and I’ve indulged him too much. I let him follow the Third Prince hoping it would temper him, but I never expected him to become entangled in a struggle for power.”
“Xue Yu’an won’t surrender even if you kill the rest of us.”
“Let me go, and I’ll take him down.”
The elder’s words stunned the Qiu Family members behind him.
“Big brother, that’s your own son!”
“Big brother, with Qiu Qi’s contributions to the dragon, our Qiu Family could become a noble and aristocratic family!”
“Patriarch, have you lost your senses?”
Shocked exclamations rose from behind Qiu Changlin.
Qiu Changlin looked steadily at Han Muye.
Han Muye raised his arm, and his three-foot-long sword slashed down on the ropes binding Qiu Changlin’s arms.
The ropes broke.
“Clang—”p>
Han Muye tossed the three-foot-long sword in front of Qiu Changlin.
Qiu Changlin, holding the sword, let out a long laugh and strode forward.
When he reached the foot of the city wall, he gripped the sword and looked up at the figure on the wall.
“Father!”
The green-armored young man atop the city wall called out loudly.
Qiu Changlin slowly raised his sword in hand: “Qi’er, you shouldn’t have blocked the Red Forest Army from entering the city.”
“I’ve already promised Yu’an to come into the city and take you away.”
His words made everyone on the city wall freeze.
On top of the city wall, the young man’s expression changed as he gripped a bow tightly, the arrow pointed at Qiu Changlin.
“Father, are you truly here on Xue Yu’an’s behalf to capture me?”
Qiu Changlin burst out laughing as he swiftly ascended thirty feet.
“Back in the day, I, Qiu Changlin, was a force to be reckoned with in the martial world, where a single sword could slash through a thousand suits of armor!”
As he reached the top of the city wall, Qiu Changlin’s voice echoed.
Above the city wall, the green-armored young man clenched his teeth, and the bowstring of his large bow was released.
“Thump—”
The long arrow flew out.
The arrow, aimed at the sword-wielding Qiu Changlin, shot straight for his chest.
Qiu Changlin’s face still wore a smile as the sword in his hand stopped.
“Thud—”
The long arrow pierced through his chest, carrying Qiu Changlin’s body, which fell more than ten yards away, raising a cloud of dust.
“Clang—”
The sword in Qiu Changlin’s hand dropped.
Han Muye watched the falling figure, his face betraying a complex expression.
“What good is a sharp sword edge?”
“If one hesitates to strike, it’s all in vain.”
“When the sword in hand is razor-sharp but cannot strike, it can only wound oneself…”
With a light sigh, he raised his hand, pointing towards the city wall before him.
“All forces, storm the city!”
…
As if detached from it all, Han Muye watched as the army overran the city walls, watched as the green-armored young man wept bitterly before him, begging for mercy.
The army advanced, taking over the imperial city, and the crown prince ascended to the throne.
In his hand, he now held the sword that had fallen from Qiu Changlin’s hands.
“Are righteousness and loyalty but shackles to the way of the sword?”
Han Muye whispered to himself as the illusion before him slowly dissipated.