Hawks

Heavenly Sword was somewhat at a loss for words at Lianshan Xin's outrage. "I know your lineage needs to involve itself in the succession struggle, but at the very least, scrounge up some solid evidence for me. Otherwise, when something happens to you, don't count on me to protect you." Lianshan Xin's eyes lit up at his words. He had always been someone who knew how to seize on the crucial point. From Heavenly Sword's warning, Lianshan Xin heard only one meaning: *As long as you have evidence, I will protect you.* With that, Lianshan Xin grew excited. "Rest assured, my lord. There will definitely be evidence!" Heavenly Sword was not so easily reassured. "I need ironclad proof, the kind you had against the Qu household." The Heaven's Chosen lineage might like dancing on graves, but the Heavenly Sword lineage had no need for such madness. Heavenly Sword had blinded the princess back then for a justifiable reason; he had no hobby of making enemies of the imperial family. Lianshan Xin nodded repeatedly. "Understood. Thank you for the guidance, my lord." Heavenly Sword: "..." He had a lingering feeling that his guidance had been completely misconstrued. "My lord, forgive this student for presuming to ask your esteemed full name, so that I may pray and wish blessings upon you in my heart every day." Not even knowing his immediate superior's name this late in the game was a serious problem. People from Shandong had always understood the importance of falling in line behind leadership. Heavenly Sword was his highest superior in Jiangzhou. Whatever could be learned about the leader's circumstances—especially his personal preferences—had to be grasped. Yet when Lianshan Xin had asked Du Jiu and Qi Wenbin about Heavenly Sword's name, neither of them had known it. Heavenly Sword stared at Lianshan Xin in silence, giving Xin a sudden, ominous premonition. Only after watching Lianshan Xin squirm uncomfortably did Heavenly Sword speak slowly: "This question is indeed quite presumptuous." This time, Lianshan Xin genuinely failed to understand. "This student does not comprehend." "My origins were even humbler than yours. As a child, I herded cattle in the countryside." Lianshan Xin was sincerely impressed. "Humble origins are no disgrace. That you could rise from a cowherd to become one of the Nine Heavens makes you a true role model in this student's heart." This was the honest truth. Rising from the son of the Jiangzhou Prefect to become the Heavenly Sword was a world apart from rising from a cowherd to become the Heavenly Sword; anyone with common sense knew the sheer gulf in difficulty between the two. In that moment, Lianshan Xin gained a completely new appreciation for Heavenly Sword's talent. In his eyes, Qi Shiyun was already a genius among geniuses, yet hailing from a distinguished military family, she had only placed as tanhua. Heavenly Sword, rising from a mere cowherd, had claimed the top of the Hidden Dragon Rankings and swept across the Nineteen Provinces, truly thrashing an entire generation of his peers. *A real man should be like this.* Pausing, Lianshan Xin added, "My father actually herded sheep in the countryside as a child as well. Seeing you, my lord, is just like seeing my own father." Heavenly Sword retorted bluntly, "I wouldn't dare claim one of you madmen from Heaven's Chosen as a son. Don't go trying to force a family connection." Lianshan Xin felt a twinge of disappointment. *Heavenly Sword, you just passed up a prime opportunity to become my adoptive father.* "It wasn't as destitute as you think. I had decent luck," Heavenly Sword continued. "When I was six and out herding cattle, I came across two martial artists fighting each other until both were mortally wounded. Before dying, they passed their sword techniques down to me. At the time, I couldn't read a single character, but fortunately there were illustrations. After practicing according to the pictures for two days, I somehow stepped into Body Tempering." Lianshan Xin had nothing to say. The gap when comparing innate talent was often far wider than the gap when comparing fathers. Talent was innate from birth; if you weren't born with it, you were unlikely ever to have it. Heavenly Sword's background was the pure, unadulterated archetype of a protagonist. Still, Lianshan Xin noticed that Heavenly Sword was dodging the question. "So, what is your name, my lord?" "Zhang Aniu." "*Pfft.*" "Is that very funny?" Lianshan Xin swiftly reined in his smile and smoothly shifted the topic as well. "My lord, if Tanhua Qi breaks through, can she take first place on the Hidden Dragon Rankings?" Zhang Aniu gave Lianshan Xin a warning glare, then went along with the subject change. "The Hidden Dragon Rankings only record experts below the Domain realm. Once Shiyun breaks through, she will step into the Domain realm and condense her own martial arts domain. From then on, she will no longer be a hidden dragon, but one that has soared straight into the heavens. Her next step will be charging toward Great Grandmaster." In other words, charging toward Zhang Aniu's realm. "Tanhua Qi is advancing that quickly?" Zhang Aniu nodded slightly. "Fast indeed. Reaching the Domain realm at twenty-four, with hopes of achieving a dharma idol before thirty—only slightly behind me in my youth." Lianshan Xin: "???" *Would it kill you not to brag?* Yet when the boss wanted to boast, Lianshan Xin could only play the dutiful straight man. "When did you enter the Domain realm, my lord?" The corner of Zhang Aniu's mouth curved upward. "Twenty-three." Lianshan Xin sighed with feeling. "Even with all her hard work, Tanhua Qi can only catch sight of your back." "That is already plenty. Countless people in this world cannot even see my back." Zhang Aniu was speaking the truth. Yet ever since learning that Heavenly Sword's name was Zhang Aniu, Lianshan Xin felt that Heavenly Sword's aura of supreme might had automatically dimmed by thirty percent. When making a name in the world, one's moniker was truly important. He had to thank the divine doctor from years ago who changed his father's name from Lianshan Tiezhu to Lianshan Jingcheng. Splitting his attention, Lianshan Xin mused, "It seems a princess's pair of eyes is worth less than a twenty-three-year-old Domain realm expert." Zhang Aniu shook his head. "Wrong. It is worth less than a Domain realm expert who subdued an entire generation before turning twenty-three. In the face of absolute strength, martial records, and sheer talent, even imperial bloodlines yield. And not one of those three can be missing." "This student is enlightened." One had to accomplish something earth-shattering to forge enough strategic value worth courting. Coincidentally, Lianshan Xin had thought so all along. The problem was that Zhang Aniu had merely taken a princess's eyes. Xin had taken a princess's life. Therefore, he had to work even harder. "As long as you understand... hm?" Zhang Aniu suddenly glanced at Lianshan Xin once more. "How did you stabilize your Qi Condensation realm so quickly?" Lianshan Xin breathed an internal sigh of relief. He had thought Zhang Aniu had noticed he was already on the verge of breaking through Qi Condensation. During his seclusion at home just now, he had already mastered the Dragon Slaying True Intent within his body. Ninety percent of its edge had been retracted inside him, leaving only ten percent released outward to deter the blind fools looking for trouble. No matter how strong Heavenly Sword was, he couldn't possibly possess an x-ray cheat like Xin's. "This disciple's foundation is solid, so is it any wonder my realm stabilized quickly?" Lianshan Xin boasted. Zhang Aniu was too weary to bother roasting him properly. "Eighteen years without breaking through the Body Tempering realm—your foundation is solid indeed. I only spent a single month in Body Tempering, so I'm far beneath you." "This student takes his leave." Lianshan Xin was done playing the straight man. This fellow Zhang Aniu gave off far too heavy an air of pretension; he didn't care for it. "Wait, let me tell you one more thing." Lianshan Xin halted his steps. Zhang Aniu's tone turned somewhat inscrutable. "Word of my failure has reached Shenjing. The imperial court is incensed, and the Nine Heavens are incensed as well. Therefore, additional hands are being dispatched to support me." Lianshan Xin didn't quite grasp what that had to do with him. "Most of the newcomers, like Shiyun, are young masters or prospective heirs of the various lineages. These people share two traits. First, they are young. Second, they are aggressive. Lianshan Xin, the time left for you might not be much."