There’s No Such Thing as Love in a Swordsman’s Heart

Chapter 9 – Love Rival Alliance 2.0

Kill that little Mu surnamed tramp!

Zhang Wenxue froze for a long time. Finally, he understood Jiang Su’s meaning.

Jiang Su wanted Mu Yichuan to participate in the sword trials and cut a striking figure in the Jianghu, so that Lin Fengnan could understand that his child was not the disgrace of his life, but rather its glory.

But Mu Yichuan was not a disciple of the Still Water Sword Sect. How could he take Jiang Su’s place?

Zhang Wenxue didn’t actually support Jiang Su in this endeavor; he wanted to dissuade him, but he also knew that once Jiang Su set his mind on something, he would never once waver.

He felt utterly helpless. After thinking for some time, he murmured to Jiang Su, “You really don’t know why we want to prevent Mu Yichuan from going to the Wulin Assembly, do you?”

Jiang Su frowned and said, “You just said…”

Zhang Wenxue sighed and answered the question he had just asked himself, “Yes, how could you possibly know?”

Jiang Su: “…”

Zhang Wenxue then said, “You really like him.”

This sentence was not a question; he already had the answer in his heart. Jiang Su listened to him, paused for a moment, then actually nodded, saying, “After so many years, I finally managed to meet a confidant who I can have heart to heart talks with.”

Zhang Wenxue’s lips opened slightly. For a moment, he felt a lump in his throat; thousands and thousands of words came to mind, but he couldn’t say any of them. Finally, he took a deep breath and whispered, “I have been your shixiong for many years, but I can’t even be considered a confidant.”

“Shixiong is shixiong, which is naturally different.” Jiang Su didn’t realize Zhang Wenxue’s mood was completely different from his, and he replied earnestly, “I admire Shixiong, but now Shixiong can no longer help me with my swordsmanship.”

He had been stuck at a bottleneck for a long time, and he could not make any progress despite his painstaking efforts. Zhang Wenxue’s swordsmanship was far inferior to his, and it was hard for him to delve into deep swordsmanship discussions and study with him. With Mu Yichuan, it was different. People with similar levels of martial arts walked together, and if they discussed more things together every day, they would definitely gain something from it. 

Zhang Wenxue could count as understanding now. 

Jiang Su didn’t understand anything; Mu Yichuan was good at martial arts and had a personality to his tastes, so Jiang Su regarded him as his best friend, regardless of his origins. He also didn’t care about anything like first come, first serve; Zhang Wenxue had stayed at Jiang Su’s side for so many years, but it was only today that he saw through to the heart of this truth.

No matter how tenderly he took care of Jiang Su, it was all useless.

Jiang Su liked only those who could stand beside him, were equal to him in power, and could compete with him.

If he wanted Jiang Su to respond to him, he should shoulder the responsibility of the sect lord of the Still Water Sword Sect, cultivate his swordsmanship to the highest level, and with Jiang Su…stand shoulder to shoulder with him in the Jianghu. 

“You’re right.” Zhang Wenxue said with a wry laugh, “Over the years, I have been lax in practicing martial arts. As the sect lord, that is a great fault. I should not do this, and I will work harder in the future.”

Jiang Su was really overjoyed to hear what Zhang Wenxue said. He immediately stepped forward, took Zhang Wenxue’s hand, and earnestly suggested to Zhang Wenxue, “I think that the reason why Shixiong hasn’t made any progress in martial arts these years is that there are too many external things interfering with you. Shixiong, you should keep in mind that Shifu once told us that the first thing we need to learn when cultivating this Still Water Sword technique is to break off all emotions.”

Zhang Wenxue: “Break off all emotions…”

“Emotion is the most useless word in swordsmanship.” Jiang Su said. “The most important thing to keep away from as a swordsman is emotion.”

……

Jiang Su returned to the crowd, took Mu Yichuan aside, called someone to prepare a carriage, and said to Mu Yichuan, “I have already talked things over with my shixiong.”

Mu Yichuan bowed his head and said, “Sir Jiang, I definitely cannot go to the Wulin Assembly.”

Jiang Su completely ignored his refusal and directly told him about the results of his discussion with his shixiong, “I have already told my shixiong that you will fight on my behalf during the Wulin Assembly Sword Trials.”

Mu Yichuan’s eyes went wide, completely shocked. After a while, he said, “My identity–“

Jiang Su asked in response, “What about your identity?”

“You and I are from very different worlds. My appearance at the Wulin Assembly will only cause trouble for you guys.” Mu Yichuan said hurriedly, “You and Sect Leader Zhang have been so kind to me, I can’t drag you guys down.”

“Your father hid you so well that no one should recognize you at the Wulin Assembly.” Jiang Su said, “With your father looking down on you so much, don’t you want to have a chance to make him look at you squarely?”

Mu Yichuan: “I…”

“Just listen to me.” Jiang Su raised his eyebrows. “It’s not like I’ll hurt you.”

Mu Yichuan still wanted to say more, but the horses and carriage were ready, and Jiang Su urged him to get in the carriage. He thought, he had only been away from the order four times so far. The first three times, the Protector of the Left had always accompanied him, and they had left no one alive. This time, he had run into the landslide at Lingxi Mountain, and no one had survived except him. Indeed, no one of the righteous dao could recognize his face.

He wanted to go to the Wulin Assembly and have a good look at the Jianghu with his own eyes.

He had also already planned that if his identity was revealed, he would say that he had tricked Jiang Su. Anyway, he really had tricked Jiang Su in the beginning. 

Mu Yichuan finally nodded and said, “Okay.”

Jiang Su smiled.

He was really good-looking, and when his eyes and eyebrows curved, it was like looking at the shining Milky Way. Mu Yichuan’s heart beat sped up a little, and he felt awkward, not knowing what to do. Jiang Su already had pushed him up into the carriage, and as soon as the carriage’s curtain came down, Jiang Su didn’t follow him inside. Mu Yichuan was alone in the carriage, and he raised his hand and pressed it against his chest. After a while, he let out a slight breath, frowned and murmured. He was very confused.

What he had hurt was…his right shoulder, right?

….

In the end, the Wulin Alliance was not too far away from the Still Water Sword Sect, and by dusk, their group had arrived outside the city of Luoshui. When the carriage stopped, they saw the Wulin Alliance Leader, Sheng Hechen, come out to meet them.

Jiang Su rode in front and raised his hand to salute Sheng Hechen. Sheng Hechen couldn’t help smiling when he saw him. He couldn’t wait to meet him and said, “Su’er, I heard that you were coming. I have been waiting here since afternoon–”

“We didn’t set out until late afternoon, so we couldn’t arrive until the evening.” Jiang Su frowned. “You have this much free time, wouldn’t it be better to go train with your sword?”

Sheng Hechen: “…”

Zhang Wenxue also got out of the carriage and said, “We were delayed today and left late. We didn’t know that we made Alliance Leader Sheng wait so long.”

“No harm done.” Sheng Hechen smiled, “Since I was waiting for Su’er, it doesn’t matter if I waited longer.”

The conversation between them seemed polite, but it was obvious that there was an undercurrent of tension.

A moment later, Sheng Hechen reached out to pull Jiang Su’s arm, as if he wanted to bring Jiang Su over to his side, but his hand had not yet touched Jiang Su’s sleeve before Zhang Wenxue had already flashed between them, reached out to hold Jiang Su’s hand, and said with a mild smile, “Shidi, you just had to ride the horse outside. It’s so cold, you must be frozen?”

Jiang Su: “What kind of martial artist would get cold so easily?”

Sheng Hechen waved to the attendants at the side, and someone immediately handed over the fox fur coat. He reached out and took it, detoured to the other side of Jiang Su, and then made to drape the fox fur coat on Jiang Su. He said, “Your shixiong is right. Be careful, don’t freeze.”

Jiang Su leaned aside, raised an eyebrow, and said, “I’ve said several times now that this kind of clothes is inconvenient to move in. How is anyone in the Jianghu so particular.”

Sheng Hechen’s hands were frozen in the air. It was an embarrassing moment, but Jiang Su had looked back and saw that Mu Yichuan had also gotten off the carriage, but he was discreetly hiding behind the carriage. Jiang Su’s heart moved. He remembered that Mu Yichuan was injured, and he was the one who should pay the most attention to keeping warm.

“Sheng-xiong.” Jiang Su reached out to take the fox fur and said, “Let me borrow your fox fur coat.”

Sheng Hechen’s smile grew deeper, and he said, “Su’er can take whatever he wants.”

But before he finished speaking, Jiang Su had already turned and walked back, pulled Mu Yichuan out from behind the carriage, and threw the fox fur coat directly over his head. Not caring how crookedly the coat had settled on him, he raised his eyebrow and said, “Put it on.”

Mu Yichuan struggled to fit his head through the fox fur coat. “I’m not cold.”

“You are injured, so you need to wear it even if you’re not cold.” Jiang Su said, “Alliance Leader Sheng is kind, so hurry up and put it on.”

Mu Yichuan: “…Oh.”

Zhang Wenxue: “….”

Sheng Hechen: “….”

Sheng Hechen’s heart hurt. 

Nursing some anger in his stomach, he turned to Zhang Wenxue. “Sect Lord Zhang, this is…”

Zhang Wenxue did not expect that Sheng Hechen would not recognize Lin Fengnan’s son. He was a little surprised, but fortunately, he remembered his agreement with Jiang Su. Naturally, he would not reveal Mu Yichuan’s identity, so he just smiled and said, “This is a new disciple of our sect, surnamed Mu.”

Sheng Hechen considered this. 

Zhang Wenxue then said, “Alliance Leader Sheng, my shidi doesn’t understand things, and he can not tell that that was a gift carefully prepared by Alliance Leader Sheng.”

Sheng Hechen just smiled and seemed unconcerned, saying, “It doesn’t matter, as long as Su’er is happy.”

Jiang Su was still standing beside Mu Yichuan and wanted to draw him forward. Mu Yichuan seemed afraid of Sheng Hechen and didn’t want to appear in front of Sheng Hechen. He looked extremely nervous and whispered to Jiang Su, “Sir Jiang, this is not good.”

Jiang Su raised his eyebrows. “What’s not good?”

Mu Yichuan: “If he recognizes me, that will get you and Sect Lord Zhang into trouble.”

Jiang Su dragged his arm forward and said, “What are you afraid of? I just want him to recognize you.”

Mu Yichuan: “!!!”

Mu Yichuan grabbed Jiang Su and refused to go any further. Jiang Su simply dragged him forward and murmured to him, “Don’t you think your father looks down on you? This is a good opportunity to earn face for your father.”

Mu Yichuan only felt that Jiang Su meant that he wanted him to assassinate Sheng Hechen at the Wulin Assembly. He was astounded; even if Xie Wu were to reappear in the world, he probably also wouldn’t dare to do this. He had to cling to Jiang Su’s arm and say, “I will die in the Wulin Assembly.”

“What die in the Wulin Assembly?” Jiang Su raised his eyebrows. “Which of them can match you?”

Mu Yichuan: “But they have more people ah!”

Jiang Su: “Nonsense, at most you’ll be assigned to ten rounds.”

Mu Yichuan finally paused and asked, “Sir Jiang, what you’re talking about is—”

“The sword trials ah” Jiang Su was puzzled. “You’ll make a name for yourself, Sheng Hechen will recognize who you are, and then won’t you have given your father face?”

Mu Yichuan: “…”

Mu Yichuan looked down and saw his position of pulling at Jiang Su like an octopus at the moment, and felt a bit awkward. 

He hurriedly released his hand and wanted to immediately back away, but Jiang Su was still grabbing his arm and pulling at him with the fox fur coat in his hand. The strength used by both of them was not too small and with the struggle, Mu Yichuan heard the light sound of cloth tearing very clearly – he immediately froze in place and wanted to look down, but Jiang Su suddenly pulled him, raised his eyebrow, and said, “Why are you hiding? Come with me, I’ll take you to see Alliance Leader Sheng first.”

Before he finished talking, the fur coat ripped, revealing the white fox fur inside. It flew along the cold wind, and they were silent for a moment, and then Jiang Su just coughed. As if nothing had happened, he let go and said guiltily, “It’s fine, Alliance Leader Sheng gives me one every year. He should have a lot of fox fur coats.”

Mu Yichuan: “…”

When Jiang Su finished saying this, he just had to look back and smile at Sheng Hechen and Zhang Wenxue who were not far away. He knew that the fox fur coat must be extremely expensive, and what was more, he had just asked Sheng Hechen if he could borrow it, and Sheng Hechen hadn’t actually given it to him. He even felt his money bag nervously — he didn’t bring much money with him this time. If it wasn’t enough, he might have borrow a sum from his shixiong.

Mu Yichuan was also nervous and whispered, “Sir Jiang, I don’t have any money…”

“If you admit your faults and smile, no one can hit you.” Jiang Su pulled him to his side and smiled stiffly. “Just smile with me.”

Mu Yichuan reluctantly grinned at Sheng Hechen.

….

Sheng Hechen gritted his teeth and said to Zhang Wenxue, “Your new disciple seems to have a good relationship with Su’er”

Zhang Wenxue laughed bitterly. “It’s not just good.”

After a pause, Sheng Heshen seems to have sensed something from Zhang Wenxue’s brief words. They looked at each other and in an instant, they seemed to have an agreement.

As love rivals, what old or new grievances, these could all be discussed later. 

First they had to kill off this little tramp!

—

Juurensha: Poor Mu Yichuan hahahah

Opal: MYC is just collecting enemies everywhere he goes…

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