Chapter 406: A Sword in Hand – Do. Not. Speak!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
He had killed a man with sword energy at the slightest hint of a disagreement!
From the intense murderous intent and suppressed hostility, it was obvious that Jun Moyan had been entertaining this thought for a long while.
When this official had provoked him, it had finally given him a reason to kill!
Truth be told, the official deserved to die.
Jun Moyan finally had the opportunity to vent his fury. At least his rage had dissipated slightly and was no longer bubbling at boiling point.
Lan Wuxin sighed and said aloud, "Senior Jun, despite the inappropriate tone this person used earlier, his reasoning is sound. How could you just kill him like this? You are truly being too brutal!"
Jun Moyan lifted his head slowly.
Yun Yang finally saw the perfect face that was akin to a marble sculpture.
Unfortunately, the perfection was marred by br.i.m.m.i.n.g resentment and anger; there was no other emotion on his face.
His voice could be heard softly as if it was being m.u.f.fled forcefully, as he said, "Do you actually think that I’m from the Empire of Ziyou too?"
Jun Moyan was a man of few words. Rumours in the martial world had it that Jun Moyan looked cold and was cold, treasuring his words like gold.
He was like a moving glacier – a sword, a mountain.
From what had just been witnessed of his character traits, it was evident that the rumors were true.
His fury seemed to have opened a valve, which shocked Yun Yang. Jun Moyan’s words had been as calm and controlled as humanly possible, but it still made everyone feel like a volcano was about to erupt.
"Your intentions for world hegemony and sacrificing lives are irrelevant to me. The existence of an empire is to keep its people safe and defend itself against the enemy. Just this point alone renders all that you’ve done reasonable. Whether it’s a person from the Empire of Ziyou or not, they have no right to point fingers!"
"You want to seize the a.s.sa.s.sin because he has killed imperial officials; that makes sense. If you capture him, interrogate him, or even kill him on the spot, I’d have nothing to say – our relations.h.i.+p is personal after all. What you are doing is what the empire’s law dictates; when both cases stand against each other, the country will always come first."
"Even if I seek revenge for my friend because of this, it’s also a matter of course! It"s nothing personal, and absolutely unrelated to our current circ.u.mstances."
"This is my understanding and also my stance!"
"However, what you all should not have ever done was to forcefully pin the ma.s.sive hat of Empire of Ziyou on my head! Pointing at me for being Ziyou’s man all along, then using this mockery of justice to utilize me in completing your conspiracy!"
There seemed to be bubbling lava under Jun Moyan’s calm gaze.
"All personal grudges should give way to the justice of the country – I have no qualms about this, but your subsequent actions infuriated me. Dissatisfied, you fellows wished to manipulate me further!"
"Using me to subdue my friend for a moment of confusion to search his soul! When it didn"t work, you used my fame to relay the information, to set up your trap and lure his family here."
"Lan Wuxin, Great Chancellor Lan, would you like to tell me the truth? Let"s talk about the truth. The truth is that you all have used the relations.h.i.+p between my friend and I to execute a tasteless plot!"
"As a man of Ziyou, one has to prioritize the nation and m.u.f.fle my emotions. Principles should be adhered to – I don’t need you to teach me this! I’ve done all that I should. Are you fellows coercing me to do what I shouldn’t? What do you have to say about manipulating right and wrong?"
Jun Moyan’s gaze was like an illusory sword light of a long sword that crisscrossed in the air, chuckling mockingly and saying, "What do you take me, Jun Moyan, as?"
"Up until now, do you all still want to pressure me in the name of the nation’s justice?"
Jun Moyan laughed bitterly.
"I don’t know if you’ve regarded yourself too highly or looked down on me! There’s no doubt that I’m from Ziyou, but my loyalty is limited to this country and its people, not to you bunch of bureaucrats!"
"You’ve been stifling me with justice for this country, keeping me immobile here, watching my old friend, my savior, being tormented and have his soul searched, being set as a trap to tackle his family – and I – I have to be part of this farce. Who would want me, Jun Moyan, to stand in the martial world and in this world after this? If I didn’t stop myself, the target of my sword would have been you, Great Chancellor Lan!"
Jun Moyan’s vehement words took Lan Wuxin aback.
Had they truly gone over the line?
A Ziyou official said, enraged, "Senior Jun, we respect you as a senior and expert and have never been cross; we believe that we have not erred on the side of courtesy as well. This official thinks that there’s only the choice of stance for the country. Despite some losses and minor slights, we have done no wrong; there’s no need to be petty about it. This official can"t understand where Senior Jun’s resentment comes from."
Jun Moyan chuckled strangely and said, "What is your name? How old are you this year?"
"This subordinate is Huang Weishan. I am twenty-five years old. I am only a minor official in the Board of Punishment! Naturally, I would mean nothing in senior’s eyes." Huang Weishan said pa.s.sionately with his chin up and chest puffed out; justice filled him as he spoke righteously. He looked the part of a judge indeed!
Jun Moyan said faintly, "Huang Weishan, since you’re so loyal to the country, I guess you wouldn"t care much about personal sentiments regarding patriotism, would you?"
Huang Weishan spoke formally, "Of course. Nothing comes before the greater good!"
Jun Moyan"s expression was stoic as he said, "Great. Then go home now and kill your parents, wife, and children!"
Huang Weishan’s face flushed as he retorted angrily, "What are you saying?"
Jun Moyan replied nonchalantly, "This is my condition. As long as you kill your family immediately and show me your determination for patriotism, I’ll move away from the room’s door at once. Killing your parents, wife, and children will showcase your responsibility as Ziyou’s official for the greater good of Ziyou! I believe both Chancellor Lan here or Ziyou’s emperor himself, who’s not here, will record this great merit of yours!"
Huang Weishan fumed, "That is absurd! How ridiculous!"
Jun Moyan taunted, "Absurd? Weren’t you the one who was speaking so righteously, filled with pa.s.sion for the country’s greater good? Shouldn’t your family give way to the justice for the nation? Where’s your stance? A mere Board of Punishment’s minor official who doesn’t want to kill your family; but here you are forcing me, the Unrivaled Swordsman, to sacrifice my friend and brother? Hypocrite, shameless – holier-than-thou. How dare you! Huang Weishan, until your next life, don’t forget your name – you’re hypocritical, not Weishan1!"
The sword light flashed. The official called Huang Weishan was instantly decapitated, heading the same path as the unfortunate official earlier.
Lan Wuxin was struck with heartache. "Senior Jun, you!"
Jun Moyan said scornfully, "Great Chancellor Lan, I think you only seem to remember that Jun Moyan is from the Empire of Ziyou but have forgotten a line about him."
Lan Wuxin shook his head and asked warily, "What line would that be?"
Jun Moyan’s eyes glinted dangerously as he said, "It goes like this… A man roams the world; a sword in hand - do not speak2!"
He said solemnly, "It means that when I hold a sword in my hand, everyone should stay silent! Otherwise, die."
Not only did Lan Wuxin tremble, everyone in the area felt their heart give a slight lurch.
The martial world saying was like a sharp sword hovering at their throat; everyone could distinctly tell the br.i.m.m.i.n.g killing intent that could kill them with a single strike!
An aged but clear voice tinged with smiles resounded amiably, "Jun Moyan is Jun Moyan indeed, how domineering! This old and useless one has lived for a very long time, but it’s still my first time seeing this!"
A sharp sword intent flashed across Jun Moyan’s eyes. "Who are you? Tell me your name!"
Yun Yang’s green silhouette stepped forward confidently and said, "I am the person they have called upon to recover your friend’s soul!"
Jun Moyan questioned, "Are you capable enough to do so?"
Yun Yang smiled. "Do you think I can fight you?"
Jun Moyan’s gaze was sharp as a blade as it scanned Yun Yang; he finally said with a smirk, "You aren"t weak, but you are not my opponent yet. A strike is enough to take your life."
Yun Yang chortled. "How easy that would be! If I can’t heal him, just kill me then. There"s no need for more words!"
Lan Wuxin was startled. "Old Forefather!"
Yun Yang waved his hand dismissively. "It’s decided. Trust my judgment!"
Jun Moyan stared at him for a good while before suddenly guffawing loudly. "If so, come in! The rest of you, stay outside!"
There was a sharp gleam in his gaze when he uttered the last three words, "Do – not – enter!"
Yun Yang smiled and nodded at Lan Wuxin before strolling in.
The Four Seasons Tower’s experts who were present were all dumbfounded.
Wasn"t it agreed that we would watch? Now you’ve gone in on your own… without even a greeting. What does that mean?
We have followed you here and there, trekking everywhere; what was all that for?
A circus?
We almost got Jun Moyan, did we not?
Translator Note:
1 You’re hypocritical, not Weishan! (你叫伪善,而不是为善nǐ jiào wèi shàn, ér bù shì wéi shàn): Author has used a word play on the official’s name. The character’s name 为善 (wéi shàn) means to be kind but the other character, Jun Moyan, has mocked him by calling him 伪善(wèi shàn) instead, which means to be hypocritical.
2 Do not speak (君莫言jūn mò yán): Author has used another word play on character Jun Moyan’s name. The name can also literally mean "do not speak".