Chapter One: One Sword Pierces Heart
Orginal Translation by Kara
Sword aura roams for 30 000 li
Light of a sword sends shivers throughout 19 provinces
Late autumn.
Wind swept leaves under the setting sun. Among the wind swept leaves, a figure seems to be one with the earth. He is too quiet and the earth is too cold.
Weariness and loneliness that seeped through every bone of his body carried an unimaginable killing aura. He was weary probably because he had already killed too many people, some whom he originally should not kill. He killed only because he never have a choice.
His hand held a sword.
A longsword in black crocodile skin sheath. Golden sheath mouth set with thirteen large pearls. In jiang hu (martial world), few did not know this sword and few did not know this figure.
Since 17, the figure and sword had made a name for themselves. He was now near middle age and could no longer put down this sword. Others would also not permit him to do so. When he put down his sword, his life will come to an end. Fame at times is like a piece of luggage, a piece of luggage that can never be put down.
"Late Evening, 19th of the nineth month.
Beside the ancient road outside Luoyang, under the anicent tree.
Wash your throat and bring your sword."
Late evening.
Autumn leaves flutter in the wind.
On the ancient road, a person approached in big strides. His clothes were exquisite, his face pale and his sword tucked behind his shoulder. Dagger-like pupils staring at the sword under the tree. His steps were steady and he walked very fast, stopping only about seven feet away from the figure under the tree.
“Yan ShiShan(Yan the Thirteen)?” He suddenly asked.
“Yes.”
“Is your [Seizing Lives 13 Swordplay] really invincible?”
“Not necessarily.”
The person laughed mockingly. “I am Gao Tong, One Sword Pierces Heart Gao Tong”
“I know.”
“Did you ask me to come out here?”
“I know you are looking for me.”
“Precisely. I am looking for you so that I could kill you.”
Yan Shishan said coldly, “You're not the only one who wants to kill me.”
“It's because you are too famous. If I kill you I can become renowned instantly.” Sneering, “It's not easy to be famous in the jiang hu. To be famous quickly, this is the easiest method.”
“Very good.” Yan Shishan answered.
“Now I am here, I have brought a sword that will wash your throat.”
“Very good.”
“Where is your heart?”
“My heart is dead.”
“Then I will let it die one more time.”
A flash of light as the sword was drawn from its sheath. It moved towards Yan Shishan's heart as fast as lightning.
One sword pierces heart.
Using this sword, he had pierced an uncountable number of hearts. This was his ultimate killing technique. However, he could not pierce Yan Shishan's heart. As he thrusted his sword forward, he felt a flash of coldness by his throat. Yan Shishan's sword had already pierced his throat. 1.3 inches deep inside his throat.
Gao Tong's sword fell from his hands, but he was not dead yet.
“I hope you know that to become famous is not an enjoyable thing.”
Gao Tong stared at him, his pupils protruding.
“Therefore it’s better that you should die.”
He drew back his sword, slowly very slowly so that the blood did not touch him. He knew that it was very hard to clean blood stained clothes. -- It was even harder to clean the streak of blood upon his hands.
The night grew darker.
The blood on the sword had been washed clean. The sword had been returned to the sheath. In twilight, four people appeared. Four people, four swords! All four were dressed exquisitely and they all had arrogant faces. The eldest's hair had already turned white while the youngest is a mere adolescent. Yan Shishan did not recognize these people, but he knew exactly who they were.
The oldest had been famous for 40 years. Staying in the border regions (guan wai) all his life , he dominated the region with his self developed [13 Flying Eagle Stances]. This time he had entered the pass to look for Yan Shishan. He did not believe that his [13 Flying Eagle Stances] could be less than Yan Shishan’s [Seizing Lives 13 Swordplay]
The youngest was a person whom had recently risen to fame in the jiang hu. He is also the best student of the Dian Cang Sect. He is talented and works hard. His heart is also ruthless. He had roamed the jiang hu world for a just a year before he earned the nickname of "Heartless Youngster" Cao Bing.
The other two people were of course, also highly skilled pugilists. Qing Feng Jian(Wind Swordsman)'s swordplay was light and lively, as fast as wind. Iron Sword Zhen SanSan' swordplay was steady and vigorous, his sword alone weighed 30 catties. Yan Shishan knew who they were for he had invited them here. All eyes are on Yan Shishan, no one even glanced at the corpse near him. No one wanted to have their confidence shaken by the person who lay dead on the ground. No matter who it is on the ground it didn’t matter to them. As long as they were alive, whoever was dead or alive was no concern of theirs.
Yan Shishan' smile was very tired. “So you all came.”
Guanwai Feiying(Flying Eagle of the Borders) said coldly “I thought you only invited me.”
Yan Shishan said lightly “If I can solve this all at once then why not.”
Cao Bing interrupted “Four people have arrived, so who goes first?”
He is very impatient, impatient to become famous, impatient to kill Yan Shishan.
Iron Sword Zhen SanSan :“We may play a finger guessing game to decide who goes first.”
Yan Shishan :“No need.”
Iron Sword Zhen SanSan :“Yes there is the need.”
Yan Shishan :“You can all come at once.”
“What kind of people do you think we are, to use so many against only one?” roared Guanwai Feiying.
Yan Shishan :“You are not willing”
Guanwai Feiying :"Certainly not willing"
Yan Shishan :"But I am willing!"
He drew his sword and flashed it like lightning across the four faces of his opponents. Now they had no choice but to attack him all at once. Four swords were drawn from their sheaths. Cao Bing attacked the fastest, the most ruthlessly and with the most killing intent. Guanwai Feiying had leapt into the air and was striking from above. [13 Flying Eagle Stance] was based on martial arts of QiQin Sect (Seven Fowl Sect) that followed the principle of ‘up’ to overcome ‘down’ and ‘hard’ to overcome ‘soft’.
Unfortunately, his opponent was far too strong.
In a flash, Cao Bing had initiated 9 sword strikes. He did not pay attention to anyone else except for Yan Shishan, striking with the singleminded wish to kill Yan Shishan. Alas..all his strikes hit empty space. Yan Shishan who was before him had disappeared. He stood still and suddenly realized something very frightening. On the ground there were three more corpses. All of them with a hole in their throats. In a blink of an eye, all three topclass pugilists, Guanwai Feiying, Qing Feng Jian, Iron Sword Zhen Sansan had all died under Yan Shishan' sword .
Cao Bing's hands turned cold. He lifted his head. Yan Shishan was already standing far away under the ancient tree. The killing sword had returned to its sheath.
Cao Bing grasped his hands tightly. “You…”
Yan Shishan interrupted him. “I don't want to kill you yet.”
Cao Bing :“Why?”
Yan Shishan :“Because I want to give you another chance to kill me.”
The green veins on Cao Bing's hands rose and sweat formed on his forehead. This was a humiliating insult. But he could not forgo the opportunity.
Yan Shishan :“Go back and train for three years. Then come and kill me again”
Cao Bing bit back his anger.
Yan ShiShan: “Dian Cang Swordplay is actually very powerful. If you practice hard, you will have a chance.”
Cao Bing suddenly asked :“What if someone else kills you in these three years?”
Yan Shishan laughed. “Then you can go and kill the person who killed me.”
“Well, then you should take care. It's be best if you don’t die.” Cao Bing said.
Yan Shishan:“I also hope that that would be the case.”
The night got even darker. Darkness had swallowed the earth.
Yan Shishan slowly turned around and faced the darkest part of the night.
“Are you well?”
After a long while, a voice came from the darkness.
“I am not well.”
It was a cold voice, a dry voice. A person stepped from the shadows slowly: black clothes, black hair, black sword and on his black face there seemed to be the colour of death. However, his eyes shone very brightly. He walked very slowly and his two feet seemed to not even touch the ground like a ghost in the shadows of the night.
Yan Shihan's body seemed to shrink a bit and he asked suddenly. “Black Raven?”
“Yes.”
Yan Shishan sighed. “So I still managed to meet you in the end.”
Black Raven repiled :“Seeing me is not a good thing.”
That is probably the case. Black ravens are not auspicious birds, no one likes to see these birds. From the ancient times, there were legends -- black ravens bring disaster whenever they go. So what kind of disaster has it brought this time? It could be that it is Black Raven himself, is the calamity, an unavoidable calamity.
If one knows that it is unavoidable then there is no point worrying about it. Yan Shishan was calm once again.
Black Raven was looking at him, looking at his sword.
“That's a good sword.” He said.
Yan Shishan :“Do you like swords?”
Black Raven :“I only like swords. You not only have good swordplay but also a good sword.”
Yan ShiShan :“You want my sword?”
Black Raven :“Yes.”
The answer was short and straightforward. Yan Shishan laughed. This time his laughter was free from any tiredness it only had a killing aura. He knew that this time he had finally met a formidable opponent.
Black Raven :“Other birds bring joy but black ravens only bring disaster and misfortune.”
Yan Shishan :“You brought disaster here?”
Black Raven :“Yes.”
Yan Shishan :“Disaster is visiting me?”
Black Raven :“Yes.”
Yan Shishan :“Are you that disaster?”
Black Raven :“No.”
Yan Shishan :“If it is not you, then what?”
Black Raven :“It is your sword.”
The woodsman was innocent but to carry jade within himself is a crime. Yan Shishan knew this principle very well. His fame and his sword were like the sweet smell of muskrat and the antlers of deer.
Black Raven :“I have collected 17 good swords.”
Yan Shishan :“Impressive.”
Black Raven :“17 famous swords.”
Yan Shishan :“Seems like you've killed quite a few famous people.”
Black Raven :“I want the swords of Gao Tong and Flying Eagle.”
Yan Shishan :“If you bury them, you can have the four swords.”
Black Raven :“I only want the swords, not the dead bodies.”
Yan Shishan :“But you only want the swords of dead bodies.”
Black Raven :“That's right.”
Yan Shishan :“If you kill me then you can have my sword.”
Black Raven :“Of course.”
Yan Shishan :“Very good.”
Black Raven :“No, it's not good.”
Yan Shishan :“Why not?”
~~~end of chapter 1~~~
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Firstly, I must stress that I do this on a boring day so I almost certainly wouldn't be doing another chapter. It can simply served as an introduction. Hopefully, it might inspired the more talented to come forward.
Secondly, I think some of my translation is a little too literal, although Kara's draft is a little rough, it is kinda of more interesting to read. I wish I could do something about the formating too, some of the conversations would do with some touch up. I made a poor editor and this being my first attempt, probly have some grammer and spelling mistakes so apologises !