Ch54 - Long and Short

Chen Ziqi caught the little red bird that was feigning ignorance and flipped him over on his back so that he was belly-up on his palm. He poked that soft little tummy with a finger.

Old Second’s letter had said that he should preserve his good relationship with the Cloud Palace, and that he hoped that Chen Ziqi would introduce him to Dan Yi when spring came round. 

Introduce him… Chen Ziqi chuckled as he fed the letter to the candle flame, burning it to ashes. It was not as if the Second Prince hadn’t met Dan Yi before. What sort of “introduction” could he give in the circumstances? What Old Second really wanted was to use Chen Ziqi’s friendship with Dan Yi to get Dan Yi to do some things for him.

“If you didn’t make use of my name and reputation, I’d actually be offended then!” The words Dan Yi said previously rang in Chen Ziqi’s mind.

Everyone coveted Dan Yi’s power and influence, and was trying to find ways and means to suck up to him, but Dan Yi had unconditionally offered to let Chen Ziqi make use of him.

“Tweet!” The little red bird squirmed on his palm, wanting to go down and play. 

Chen Ziqi put it down and let it hop around on the table. The weather was becoming colder and colder, and the little red bird only had a thin layer of down feathers covering it. The stone table was very cold, and the little bird’s feet started feeling rather frozen. It jumped on the rice paper on the table and tried to lift up one foot, but its body was too round and its legs were too short, so when it retracted one foot, the other couldn’t balance its weight, and it swayed a few times before falling over.

Chen Ziqi reached out to pick up the little fluffball again, then pulled gently at its skinny little bird feet. He couldn’t help feeling some pity for it – it was just a little chick after all…

Wu Bujian appeared at the door. “Wang ye, the Lushan Sect people are here,” he reported.

Chen Ziqi put the little red bird into the front of his clothes, then pushed open the door and walked out. The little creature was very pleased now that it was warm again, and it burrowed around excitedly in his clothes.

“Don’t move so much, or you might break your tail feather,” Chen Ziqi said, patting the little fluffball through his clothes.

“Tweet!” The little red bird suddenly remembered its precious tail, and immediately stopped wriggling about. It nestled into its usual sleeping place, arranged its tail carefully, and didn’t move after that.

Now that Chen Ziqi had dealt with the little bird, he arranged his clothes neatly, then walked imperiously into the main hall. Today was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. If the previous years were anything to go by, the Changjian Sect and the Duanjian Sect, which were situated near Jianyang, would have a great battle in the city today. To ensure that their fight didn’t cause the destruction of the entire street, Chen Ziqi had to get ready to intervene now.

“Shishu!” the Lushan Sect disciples greeted Chen Ziqi. They were all neatly attired in the Lushan Sect’s uniform. 

Chen Ziqi smiled and returned their greeting. He took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and gave everyone a hundred taels. “Come, take this,” he said.

“Shishu, we can’t accept this,” a few disciples said staunchly.

“I’m putting you to trouble on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, so Shishu has to give you some hongbao,” Chen Ziqi said, waving a hand and looking every bit the part of an elder. He was only fourteen though, and it was hilarious to see someone with such a fresh, young face saying something old-fashioned like this.

A few of the disciples repressed their urge to laugh, exchanged looks with each other, then accepted the silver notes. 

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

The large sects were very rich, but this money wasn’t usually given to their disciples to spend. The core disciples had a monthly allowance, and this was around ten taels of silver per month for the second generation of disciples. As such, a hongbao of a hundred taels was considered a very generous gift to them. Any residual misgivings about being asked to keep the peace in Jianyang immediately disappeared, and they were filled with a great enthusiasm for the job.

“Shishu, whom are we fighting with today?” one of the fat little disciples asked excitedly.

“Qf’gf cba olutalcu jcsbcf. Tbe pera cffv ab rajcv yftlcv wf jcv ibbx wfcjmlcu,” Jtfc Ildl rjlv, kjnlcu jc jgw ygbjvis. Lf ifv atf ilaaif ugbeq bo sbecu vlrmlqifr bea, jcv atflg ilaaif fcabegjuf kjixfv ugjcvis abkjgv atf Qfrafgc Vagffa bo atf mlas.

Cii atf rtbqr rlaejafv bc atf Qfrafgc Vagffa tjv jii mibrfv atflg vbbgr. Ktf ragffa kjr fwqas, rjnf obg akb ugbeqr bo qfbqif uijglcu olfgmfis ja fjmt batfg. 

As its name suggested, the Changjian Sect was one that used a longsword in its martial arts, and everyone from that sect carried a four-foot long sword on their backs. Their leader, Zhan Yuan, was known as the “Heaven-Shattering Swordsman” in the martial arts world.

The Duanjian Sect used short swords with two-foot blades, and they were known for their nimble, lightning-fast swordwork. Their leader, Wang Jing, was nicknamed the “Flying Feather Swordsman”.

“Every year, on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Changjian and Duanjian Sects will have a mighty duel in Jianyang City,” Zhan Yuan said. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his thirties, and was full of confidence as he started hurling battle taunts. “One day, the world will know that the Changjian Sect is the home of true swordsmanship.”

“Pah! There’s no martial art under the heavens that cannot be defeated by speed. As long as we’re fast enough, our short swords can defeat a thousand martial arts!” Wang Jing said, smiling coldly. “Zhan Yuan, you should stop blowing your trumpet. Last month, you just lost to  me, and you still dare to talk big today. Aren’t you afraid lightning will strike your tongue?” 

“Shing!” The Changjian Sect people unsheathed their swords, and the two sects started battling in earnest.

“Alright!” A bright young voice rang out. Everyone turned their heads in unison to see Chen Ziqi dressed in the daily-wear robes of a King, sitting on a rooftop and clapping languidly as he looked on with great interest.

“Who are you?” Zhan Yuan asked, frowning. He pointed his sword at Chen Ziqi.

“I am Chen Ziqi, and I’m the King of Jianyang City,” Chen Ziqi said, leaping off the roof gracefully. The ten people wearing Lushan Sect uniforms suddenly came forward and stood behind him in a single row. 

Wang Jing got a shock when he saw the Lushan Sect people appear. He’d heard that this King had a relationship with the Lushan Sect, but he hadn’t thought it was good enough to get so many Lushan Sect disciples to come to Jianyang City. He sheathed his sword, then clasped his fists in Chen Ziqi’s direction. “Greetings to Wang ye. I am the Duanjian Sect’s leader, Wang Jing.”

“My name is Zhan Yuan!” the Changjian Sect leader said. He didn’t want to lose out and introduced himself as well.

“I have been looking forward to meeting you both,” Chen Ziqi said, returning a martial artist’s greeting to both of them with a smile. “I only recently arrived in Jianyang, and this is my first time meeting the two of you. It is my honour to do so.”

They made polite conversation for a short while. The two sect leaders weren’t sure what exactly Chen Ziqi had come here to do. The Changjian Sect thought that Chen Ziqi was friendly with the Governor, and was probably here to help the Duanjian Sect; conversely, the Duanjian Sect remembered what the Governor had told them – that Chen Ziqi had said he was close to an important disciple in the Changjian Sect, and thought he might be here to help the Changjian Sect. 

The three of them all looked at each other guardedly.

“Why don’t the Changjian Sect and the Duanjian Sect go to Changduan Hill to duel?” Chen Ziqi asked, a curious look on his face.

“Changduan Hill?” Zhan Yuan and Wang Jing exchanged a confused look. They had never heard of this Changduan Hill in all their years of existence.

“I’ve looked at the map of Jianyang, and there’s a small hill named Changduan Hill five li outside the city, where the ancestors of your two sects used to have their duels. I originally thought you two would have it out there. I never thought you’d use the Western Street of Jianyang instead,” Chen Ziqi said, giving them a sympathetic look, as if they were missing out on something amazing. 

“Why haven’t I heard of this before?” Wang Jing asked suspiciously.

“Ah, that’s right – Changduan Hill is in the Lushan Sect’s village, and ordinarily, you wouldn’t have been able to go there,” Chen Ziqi said in a regretful tone, pretending to have only just remembered this detail. He indicated that he could bring them there to have a look.

There really was a little village five li away from the city which was in the Lushan Sect’s territory. The soil in Jianyang City had a high sand content, and it was not very good for growing food crops, but beans and yellow ginger could be grown in this kind of soil. There was a small, sandy slope there that was very eye-catching.

Wu Bujian walked forward and brushed away some sand at the base of the hill, revealing a stone tablet with words carved on it. The words looked to have been eroded by the passage of time, and the stone tablet had also fallen over and become buried in the sand. The words “Changduan Hill” could be faintly seen inscribed on the stone. 

“There really is such a place!” Zhan Yuan and Wang Jing were beside themselves with emotion. They both honoured their sect ancestors greatly, and were very pleased to have found the place where their ancestors had their duels.

They were only following the usual practice they knew when they dueled in Jianyang. Today, they discovered that the “Jianyang” their ancestors spoke of was actually this small hill outside Jianyang City. For the Changjian and Duanjian Sects to duel on Changduan Hill – nothing could be more apt or appropriate.

“I have already spoken with the Lushan Sect leader, who is also my benefactor, and I have bought this village from the Sect. This Changduan Hill now belongs to me,” Chen Ziqi said, lifting his chin slightly in an arrogant manner.

Zhan Yuan frowned. “Now that we have found this place, our sects will have all our duels here moving forward. Wang ye, if you have any conditions for our usage of this place, please state what they are,” he said. 

Wang Jing narrowed his eyes but didn’t speak. He waited for Zhan Yuan and Chen Ziqi to bargain with each other.

“Haha, since I’m getting along so well with you two Sect Leaders, why don’t we become sworn brothers? If we do that, what’s mine is yours, and your sects can come here anytime to have your duels,” Chen Ziqi said, smiling. “I may be young, but I am also a disciple of the Lushan Sect, and my master is the Lushan Sect Leader. I trust that becoming sworn brothers with me will not sully your good names.”

Eh? The two sect leaders were stunned. They looked at the group of Lushan Sect disciples lined up behind Chen Ziqi, then at the long-disused Changduan Hill. The word on the street was that the Lushan Sect Leader held this new disciple in very high regard, and that the genius swordsman Li Yuhan was also his relative. Chen Ziqi himself was an Imperial Prince, and there were many benefits to becoming sworn brothers with him.

“Dear brother, we both are willing, so long as you do not disdain us,” Wang Jing said, quickly recognising Chen Ziqi as his brother before Zhan Yuan could object. 

The Western Street was thus saved. They lopped off a chicken head, burnt yellow paper, and performed the ritual to become sworn brothers. From this day forward, Jianyang City would be at peace, and he could start building up the City’s capabilities.

“Tweet!” The little red bird stuck its head out and chirped in dissatisfaction. How could Qiqi just randomly make sworn brothers everywhere?!

“Yo, why is this chick red?” Zhan Yuan asked in surprise, moving in for a closer look. He heard that Chen Ziqi intended to open a chicken farm in this small village, and both he and Wang Jing heartily approved of this plan.

Currently, there were many people who practiced martial arts, but very few who planted crops and reared livestock. Even though they both were sect leaders, they weren’t able to eat meat on a regular basis. 

“This is a good idea. Food is in short supply right now,” Wang Jing said, sighing. “There are some large sects that are rearing chickens though, and if you suddenly barge in on their business, they might take offence.”

There were rules to rearing chickens?! Chen Ziqi pursed his lips disapprovingly. The Jingang Sect’s chicken farm seemed to operate fine, and even sold its chickens to commoners – how could it possibly be that serious?

It was the middle of winter right now, and it wasn’t too late even if he bought chicks at the start of spring. Chen Ziqi gave Changduan Hill over to the two Sect Leaders, telling them to use it at will before the New Year. If they dueled a bit more, they’d even help to loosen the soil in the area, the better to open his chicken farm.

“What a great coincidence that there’s a hill there called ‘Changduan Hill’,” Ah Mu said curiously to Chang Er. 

Chang Er rapped her younger son’s head. “You silly wooden block,” she said.

Ever since Chen Ziqi heard about the annual duel between the two sects, he immediately spared no effort to buy over this village. He had then commissioned a stone carver to inscribe the stone and bury it near the hill.

Since there wasn’t actually a Changduan Hill, Chen Ziqi simply made one.

The author has something to say: Mini-theatre 

Birdie Gong: We can also discuss swords on Changduan Hill

Qiqi: What about swords would we be discussing?

Birdie Gong: We can discuss how long and short the swords are, and the speed of the swords… for example, my long sword right here

Qiqi: Why do you need to take off your pants to show me your sword? _(:з」∠*)_ 

Birdie Gong: My sword is hidden in my crotch. It’s coming at you now

Qiqi: Mm… it’s too deep _(:з」∠o)_

Birdie Gong: It can’t be helped, my sword is long

Qiqi: Then what other types of swords do you have? 

Birdie Gong: There’s a faster sword, a slower sword, and seven swords in one night!

Qiqi: ?(? ???ω??? ?)?