Ink Blade Chapter 45 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver
Chapter 45 Instigate (part 1)
The next day was clear, with not a cloud in sight.
Chu Yan had been waiting for news from the Shuijing Tower, but even as the time approached noon, there was still no result.
“Forget it, it seems there’s no rush,” Chu Yan shook his head, taking from Qiu Jin’s hands the long robe of black brocade with flowing clouds and golden patterns that he hadn’t worn in a long time, and draped it over himself.
As expected, Bai Hua really did come by the room and circled around twice yesterday, pretending to listen unintentionally for a while before leaving. In the evening, Chu Yan, despite Mo Ren’s objections, went to look for Bai Hua again and once more smelled the increased amount of the intoxicating fragrance of ‘Drunken Life, Dreamy Death’.
The palace master did not show any signs of weakness, enduring the invasion of the poison and sharing the bed with Bai Hua until midnight. It was only when dawn was breaking that he quietly got up, found a secluded place to force his energy and spit out several mouthfuls of poisoned blood, which made Mo Ren very distressed.
However… such dark schemes and conspiracies would come to an end today.
At noon today, various martial arts forces would gather at Shuijing Tower, with the Alliance Leader Mansion overseeing the thorough investigation of this case. Bai Hua, the Southern Border Wuxian Sect, the Alliance Leader Mansion, Jiuzhong Palace, Shuijing Tower, Xuyang Sword Sect…
If one wanted to uncover the relationships among them, this would be the best opportunity.
Since he had accepted the invitation as the Jiuzhong Palace Master, he couldn’t lose face. The Jiuzhong Palace Master changed out of the low-key dark cyan long shirt, donning a black robe with a jade belt, his black hair cascading down. He truly looked dignified and luxurious, with an awe-inspiring presence that was not to be trifled with.
Qiu Jin brought over a bronze mirror, her smile brimming as she said, “Master, with your celestial appearance, I wonder how many maidens of the martial world will lose their souls after today.”
“…Hmm.” The celestial-looking Palace Master Chu’s eyes suddenly flickered, and he stealthily turned his head to look at the person behind him.
Mo Ren was already neatly dressed, and at that moment, he was bending down, seriously straightening Chu Yan’s robe, showing no reaction to Qiu Jin’s words, which left the palace master feeling somewhat disappointed.
His black hair was tied up high, with a black hairband inlaid with vermilion jade, and two strands of red tassels hanging down by the side, swaying by his fair neck, irresistibly enticing.
Mo Ren, with his enduring and low-key nature, always dressed in black like an ordinary shadow guard. But today, he couldn’t resist Chu Yan’s insistence and changed into a whole new outfit.
His long hair was tied up high, and his tight-fitting attire of black with silver patterns accentuated his tall and slender figure. The neckline and cuffs, edged with silver threads, made his exposed skin appear even more pale and porcelain-like. A narrow black belt cinched his waist, and the sheathed dark sword hanging from it hinted a subtle chill.
This set of clothes was not only made of the finest material, but the patterns embroidered on it were identical to those of the Jiuzhong Palace Master. When Miss Qiu Jin first saw this outfit, she was genuinely startled.
The same fabric, the same patterns, even the colors of the threads subtly matched those of the palace master…
The profound implication was clear to anyone with a bit of thought.
Initially, Mo Ren refused to wear it, arguing that it would disrupt the hierarchy of respect. But after being half-forced and half-coaxed by the palace master for most of the day, he finally relented.
The man, already handsome by nature, was so striking in the new outfit that the palace master couldn’t take his eyes off him.
Noticing Chu Yan’s gaze, Mo Ren looked up. The guard could never imagine that his palace master was smitten. He only thought that Chu Yan found the outfit awkward and that’s why he kept staring at him. In a low voice, he asked, “Master, do you find it inappropriate? Should I change out of this outfit?”
“Don’t! You mustn’t…”
Chu Yan quickly restrained him with a swift move, slowly placing his hand over Mo Ren’s black hair, smoothing it down from top to bottom, “Ah Ren, you look very handsome…this Master likes it, likes it very much.”
Qiu Jin quickly averted her eyes, her heart pounding, feeling her own face burning hot.
She bit her lip and thought: The Palace Master has already…already made it quite obvious, hasn’t he? Especially considering the words Elder Brother Mo asked her the other day…
It seems the Palace Master truly harbors “that kind of feeling” for Elder Brother Mo.
But why doesn’t the Palace Master just say it outright? Could it be embarrassment? Or could it be, perhaps, fear of forcing Elder Brother Mo?
But then…Qiu Jin’s eyes flickered mischievously.
Master ah Master, if you’re waiting for Elder Brother Mo to come to his senses on his own, you might have to wait forever…
****
The venue set up by the Alliance Leader Mansion was on the high platform in front of the Shuijing Tower, the very place where Ying Yu was besieged by the disciples of the Xuyang Sword Sect.
Changqing City’s people value martial arts, and this platform was originally built for martial contests decades ago, stretching wide and long for dozens of feet. But today, for some unknown reason, the Alliance Leader Mansion did not use the perfectly good guest hall of the Shuijing Tower, preferring this place where one could fight at any moment, where a disagreement could lead to a battle.
Now, the platform was filled with seats, with the main seat in the north unapologetically occupied by Qi Qian from the Alliance Leader Mansion. The rest of the seats were arranged in two rows to the left and right, stretching from north to south, but… the servants who were supposed to guide the guests to their seats were nowhere to be seen.
As noon approached, groups of people gradually gathered. Looking at the long rows of empty seats, everyone exchanged glances, and those who were sensitive had a bad premonition rising in their hearts.
Eventually, someone couldn’t hold back and asked loudly, “Envoy Qi! There’s no explanation for these seats, how should we decide where to sit according to what rules?”
Qi Qian, born tall and thin with a sinister look, was surrounded by a group of knife-wielding attendants from the Alliance Leader Mansion, standing in front of the main seat. Dressed in a yellow robe with a golden crown and jade rings on his fingers, he revealed a set of white teeth and smiled, greeting everyone with a salute.
