Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 325 - 62: Light at the End of the Tunnel

February 11, 2018

Shen City, the morning after a snowy night, everywhere revealed the stirrings of early spring.

Perhaps it’s the harsh environment of Shen City that causes the living beings here to exude more vitality than elsewhere, blooming with color even in the bitter cold.

Behind high walls, a green branch cradled a few snow-capped buds peeking out, swaying gently in the morning breeze like little welcoming hands.

Amidst the waving branches, a tall man in black walked silently, his face as white as jade, matching the silver-clad world without losing grace, his flowing long hair slightly swaying with his steps, exuding an extraordinary elegance.

Even searching throughout Shen City’s Inner City, people with such remarkable charisma were rare. Upon seeing him, several maids blushed and instinctively lowered their heads.

Only after the man had walked far did they discuss with some lingering trepidation.

"Why does the Deputy City Lord seem even more handsome?"

"It seems like he changed his hairstyle, I only caught a glimpse, didn’t dare to look clearly."

"I mustered the courage to take another look, not sure if I was mistaken, but it seemed like the Deputy City Lord was smiling."

"You must be mistaken; when have you ever seen the Deputy City Lord walk around casually smiling?"

"True, but I really saw him smiling just now..."

——

The servants’ discussions never really escaped Shen Jinghai’s ears.

As a top-tier cultivator of the Mountain-Overturning Realm, every meridian had been refined by True Essence, making him incredibly astute and perceptive. Even the finest cosmetic surgery couldn’t escape his discerning eyes, let alone the servants’ gossip.

However, Shen Jinghai was currently in high spirits, completely unconcerned with the servants’ chatter.

A moment later, Shen Jinghai traversed several arrays along the Inner City’s paths and stood once more before the entrance of the City Lord’s Cave Mansion. Feeling the increasingly dense aura of anxiety at the entrance, he sighed slightly.

The City Lord’s mood was evident from the traceable True Essence dispersing in the air, and serving the City Lord for twenty years, such a bad mood was rare.

If it were a day ago, he might have been baffled, but in a single day, Shen Jinghai felt a sudden clarity of thought, as if the mist shrouding him had suddenly lifted.

In the next moment, Shen Jinghai gathered his True Essence and stepped forward.

Crackle.

A slight collision sound of True Essence echoed by his ears, and before him, the invisible barrier was breached by an external brute force as Shen Jinghai forcibly entered the City Lord’s Cave Mansion with the Brute Force of the Mountain-Overturning Realm.

In the next instant, the scenery changed, directly bypassing the quiet corridor to reach the oval-shaped dark hall.

The fluorescent crystal stones in the center of the hall had gone out, leaving only a few glimmers of faint light, casting the place into a semblance of the Netherworld abyss. Shen Ruoshi still sat sideways on the throne, but in the dim hall, he seemed to merge with the throne, appearing eerie and terrifying.

"I told you not to come back."

Shen Jinghai bowed respectfully and then explained, "Lord City Lord, your command yesterday was not to return until resolving lifelong matters. Now that my lifelong matter is settled, I should duly return to duty."

The next moment, the fluorescent light in the center of the hall unexpectedly lit up, as if the City Lord on the throne opened his eyes, casting a sharp gaze.

Shen Jinghai faced this scrutinizing gaze calmly, without a hint of unease.

"Oh, it’s actually broken..." The voice on the throne was somewhat surprised and then unsure, "Jinghai, you wouldn’t have just found some woman to deal with my words and offered up..."

Shen Jinghai said, "Lord City Lord, when it comes to lifelong matters, how could I be so frivolous? It’s just that, thanks to technological advancements, the recovery time after some major surgeries has improved significantly."

"What?"

Shen Jinghai smiled, "Trivial matters are not worth mentioning. I’m here today to report something important to the City Lord."

Shen Ruoshi was silent for a while and then nodded, "Speak."

"I wish to promptly invite the Li Family’s delegation, specifically Miss Qingming and her group, to attend your centennial birthday banquet."

"Hmph!" A contemptuous snort came, unsurprisingly, from the throne.

"Invite them to a banquet? What a joke. After what the Li Family did in Shen City back then, now I should invite them to my centennial banquet? Since when did the Shen Family’s dignity become so cheap!?"

Shen Jinghai smiled slightly, "Naturally, it wouldn’t be a direct invitation."

The figure on the throne shifted slightly. Shen Ruoshi leaned forward slightly and asked, "Then how should it be done?"

Shen Jinghai said, "Currently, there are several plans. The first is for me to send out the invitation privately, then allow them to enter quietly from the back door of the courtyard, through an unnoticeable place. After entering, they would be arranged at the servants’ table, not with the esteemed guests. When the banquet is about to end, you, Lord City Lord, would coincidentally pass by..."

City Lord Shen Ruoshi immediately questioned, "Why should I specifically happen to pass by their table!?"

Shen Jinghai replied, "Of course, to display Lord City Lord’s concern for the servants and affable image. As for any conversation that might occur with the Li Family, it would be a purely coincidental event, absolutely not intentional."

Before Shen Jinghai finished speaking, there was a cracking sound as Shen Ruoshi directly crushed the armrest of the throne and tossed it over.

"Self-deception, do you take me for an idiot!?"

Shen Jinghai slightly bowed his head, skillfully avoiding the fragment of the armrest flying like a meteor: "Please calm down, Lord City Lord. This plan indeed has flaws, so it’s merely a backup. I have another plan for your consideration."

"If there is a better one, say it first!"

"Yes." Shen Jinghai said, "I think we might as well take advantage of tomorrow’s banquet rehearsal to arrange a martial competition in the Outer Courtyard."

"A martial competition?"

"Exactly. Through a competition of comprehensive skills, we can determine a certain number of winners to receive invitations to the banquet. In previous years, during Lord City Lord’s birthday banquets, the members of the Shen Family, regardless of age and status, were directly invited. However, this year the scale of your centennial banquet is larger, and more people are invited, even City Lord Zhao from Golden Jade City has specially sent a delegation. Our venue is actually a bit crowded, so we might take out some banquet invitations as rewards, allowing only the outstanding individuals from the Outer Courtyard to have the qualification to participate in this grand event."

Shen Ruoshi pondered for a while, "This is a good method to motivate the Outer Courtyard disciples but what does it have to do with Qingming?"

"Previously, I sent Qingming and the others to the Outer Courtyard. Although they later overcame difficulties and walked out of the Outer Courtyard, they are, strictly speaking, still considered part of the Outer Courtyard, and are equally qualified to participate in this competition. Based on the Li Family’s previously demonstrated strength, their quota is undoubtedly secure."

Shen Ruoshi snorted coldly, "Are you using the Outer Courtyard disciples’ pride as a stepping stone for the Li Family?"

Shen Jinghai said, "In my view, fair competition should be the focus. If skills are inferior, there’s nothing to say. The Shen Family was like this twenty years ago, and it should remain so twenty years later."

Shen Ruoshi laughed heartily, "Well said, fair competition, if inferior, it’s fine too. Let those youngsters experience some humiliation; it’s not a bad thing. Twenty years ago, Li Fengyun ran rampant in Shen City, though it momentarily disgraced the Shen Family, the next twenty years have been ones of courage born from shame and rapid progress. Compared to others, the youngsters in the Outer Courtyard indeed have been a bit too comfortable."

Shen Jinghai said, "I feel the same way. Though the training in the Shen Family Outer Courtyard is rigorous, in terms of motivational effect, it can’t compare to the stimulation brought by external forces."

Shen Ruoshi contemplated for a while and then raised another question, "However, for those children who lose in the competition, are they really not going to be allowed to attend the banquet?"

Shen Jinghai said, "I have also considered this issue. Currently, the plan is, after the Outer Courtyard disciples lose the competition, I will still privately issue an invitation. They can quietly enter through the courtyard’s back door, into an unobtrusive place. Once inside, they would be arranged at the servants’ table, separate from the esteemed guests, and wait until the banquet is nearly over, when you, Lord City Lord, would coincidentally pass by..."

This ingenious plan left Shen Ruoshi in a long silence.

Just as Shen Jinghai began to feel uneasy, the City Lord on the throne spoke, "...Jinghai, having not seen you for a day, your transformation is considerable."

Shen Jinghai sincerely said, "After leaving the City Lord’s Cave Mansion yesterday, I had the fortune of encountering an opportunity that enlightened me in many ways. Previously, I was too fixated on trivial superficial factors, but now I understand how to delve deeply into the essence of things and grasp the core points. Therefore, both my way of thinking and methods of doing things have changed."

Shen Ruoshi was silent again for a long while and finally spoke softly, "Then cherish your opportunity well. Such opportunities likely come only once in a lifetime."

Shen Jinghai earnestly replied, "I will surely treasure this opportunity greatly."

"Then go on your way."

And as Shen Jinghai was about to leave the hall, the City Lord’s voice came once more from the throne.

"This is my gift to you, receive it."

Shen Jinghai was surprised to see a book suddenly appear in his hand.

"My gratitude is beyond words!"