Chapter 241: Wind! The Wind is Coming !
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Mistress Yang placidly uttered: "Since half a year ago, I had already arranged for Xuan‘er and Yang Qin to go to his grandfather’s house. You asked before, even miles of the journey won’t be considered as far, but why isn’t he coming back yet?"
"Now, I am able to answer your question. Qin'er won’t be coming back anymore; he did not go to his grandfather’s house. Instead, he went to worship under a sect, and became the sect’s disciple; this was my arrangement. I was afraid that you might not agree then, hence I did not spell out the truth. I only hoped that one day, when Qin'er’s cultivation base was accomplished, he will come back and explain it to you himself. However, for now, it seems like...everything has succeeded by a lucky stroke, and it also leaves Yang’s family with a little trace of the bloodline."
"This can be considered as, being a Yang family’s daughter-in-law, a bit of contribution to the family, I suppose."
Yang Botao let out a long sigh, as if he had managed to unburden a heavy weight in his heart, extremely grateful and uttered, "Thank you, my virtuous wife!"
Mistress Yang cast a sly glance at Yang Botao, and said, "Even until now, you still aren’t willing to tell me the reason, are you?"
Yang Botao took a deep breath, he seemed to have something to say, yet the speech he nearly blurted out was swallowed once again, and he replied, "For this part, there is no need for my lady to know. You can just imagine as if Yang Botao’s heart had been broiled and possessed.
His eyes were filled with the color of deep grief, and he moaned, " Me, in my entire life as Yang Botao, managed to disappoint the Nine Supremes and also disappoint you, my lady."
He stood up, with both of his eyes fixed on his wife, he knelt down and uttered, "My lady, I am sorry that I have let you down!"
Mistress Yang forcefully held onto her tears but to no avail. Her tears gushed out like a raging river.
In spite of everything, he was still unwilling to speak secrets, even in this tender moment.
Yang Botao stood up slowly and left without looking back.
Yang Botao knew his path was one of no return and had known for some time already.
Mistress Yang’s tears streamed down; after a long while, she whispered, "Never mind, let bygones be bygones. To say it will be death, and to not say it, it will still be death too. There is nothing bad about being a muddled ghost. As humans, we can't expect to know everything, can we?"
She held up a glass of wine, drank it slowly, and murmured, "Initially, I intended to poison this wine and to allow death to end all the problems, but yet, in the end, my heart wasn’t unfeeling enough to do it."
"It is of no importance. We shall wait until the day of the public trial, and we then we’ll head to the nine springs together ..."
...
The dim light of the night remained grave and staid, the wind whistled across the horizon, the blowing of the wind seemed to grow stronger and stronger.
The chilled wind whizzed through half of the sky, inadvertently stirring a high-pitched sound; as if there were ten thousand spirits rushing through simultaneously. It was eerie enough to cause a person's hair stand on end.
For the whole of Tiantang City, countless people were waiting for dawn.
Perhaps when the sky shone, it would be the time when the whole truth was revealed.
Tie Zheng, however, was an exception. He had gone to bed early, snoring deafeningly and sleeping exceptionally soundly, like a log. However, when it passed three in the morning, he sat up all at once, causing his wife to break out into goosebumps.
"Why so early?"
"There will be a big event today! I'm up early to preserve the spirit, and to get make early preparations."
Tie Zheng was shirtless. He galloped down onto the ground swiftly as a chilly wind blew across his exposed chest, hitting him on his face, immediately causing him to quiver. The only remaining bit of exhaustion vanished within a split second, disappearing without a trace.
Tie Zheng used the icy chilled well water to wash his face. He wore his gown quickly and tidily. Whilst wiping his face roughly, he uttered, "My lady, I am going to work now."
He didn’t wait for his wife to answer. Without leave, he moved a big step forward, and strode out quickly.
His wife draped a gown around herself and leaned against the door; she somehow sensed something peculiar about Tie Zheng today. It is only a normal day of attending the court’s affairs…..he doesn’t need to be in such a valiant and vigoros manner, as if he was marching into some decisive battle, does he?"
Yes, that’s right, to attend to the court’s affairs!
However, Tie Zheng had his sword on this waist. Hung on his chest was a breast protector. Wholly armored, his army was helping him to carry his large saber…. How was this about going to attend to the court affairs?
Apparently this was the preparation for close combat!
Whilst thinking about it, she couldn’t help but to hold her tiny mouth in terror. Wanting to chase after him to ask further, Tie Zheng’s silhouette had already vanished around the corner.
...
At this moment, Tiantang Square had been filled with masses of people.
A pole sporting a towering, giant banner, could be seen standing upright at the center. This banner was at least twenty ten feet tall, with a blood-red flag face, raised high into the sky.
Under the flag, there was a large arena.
This arena was the main court for the public trial!
However, for this time’s public trial, all the high-positioned officers knew that it was nothing but a pretense.
Regardless of whether it was Yutang’s high-positioned officers or that of the Four Seasons Tower’s, everyone was waiting for one person to emerge.
Whether the offense was real or not, it did not rest on evidence. However, that person’s figure still had not appeared!
If Supreme Wind had appeared, then Yang Botao would be guilty, his offense would be heinous, and unforgivable!
If Supreme Wind did not appear, then Yang BoTao would not be guilty, all the offenses would have faded away, and he would remain safe and sound!
There was nothing to do with any documentary or oral evidence, these were all not counted!
The sun had since risen three poles high, sunshine illuminating the whole area.
For this moment, all of the five judges had arrived, and the party involved , Yang Botao, had emerged to wait for judgment.
Yang Botao did not bring many people alongside his journey this time. There were barely thirty people in totality.
But despite the fact that they were all clad in military uniforms, their aura was unique enough to cause Qiu Jianhan and the others to catch glimpses of them.
The tyrannical aura of this group of people, which was entirely different from that of the military personnel, was clear in everyone’s eyes. It was apparent that this group of people was not pure, and this was not a simple matter, to begin with.
Old marshal Qiu snorted: "Marshal Yang, the masters in your own armies aren’t less, are they? All of them were competent and capable, making me uncertain of whether I should admire or to feel envious about it when I see them!"
Yag Botao’s face was as pale as chalk as if he wasn’t being attentive. In response to Old Marshal Qiu’s words that were laced with innuendo, he did nothing but barked out an "en", as if he did not hear clearly what had been said, without uttering any explanatory or debatable words.
To everyone’s surprise, the original pine-like backbone had finally stooped.
Tie Zheng had observed all that had been done and said by Yang Botao ever since his arrival. All of a sudden, his heart shuttered; It seemed like it was only a fortnight but this Yang Botao had grown old as if twenty years had passed. Was there any unforeseen event that had happened in between?
Tie Zheng heard old Qiu’s seemingly positive, suggestive words, making him more attentive to Yang Botao’s actions. Initially, he thought that Yang Botao would defend himself unceasingly and unyieldingly, like a marshal with his lifetime military horse, with a loyal and brave heart, and to command masses of patriots’ help. That wouldn’t be weird at all. If Yang Botao did say so, Tie Zheng would definitely rush over. Even if he did not fight with him, he would have spit on him. However, Yang Botao’s actions were too peculiar for now, making Tie Zheng uncertain of what to do, except to sit down quietly.
Not only were Old Marshal Qiu and Tie Zheng's glances focused on Yang Botao, all the people were put on the spot as well. All of them had cast their stares on him. Faced with sword-like glances all around him, Yang Botao lowered his eyelids; he did not move or speak, his expression was blank, as if he had been crafted out of wood and mud.
Within the group of people who shadowed him, there were two people who would always follow behind him at each of his sides, whereas the others were quietly without any trail amongst the crowd. They appeared as they were moving randomly, but were in fact forming a surrounding net, a large, round circle.
Yang Botao closed his eyes while sitting there, his expression was solemn like submerged ice, while his heart was being awakened by a long-recollected word: "Why?"
That was the word of his wife, a question filled with doubts and suspicions.
Why?
Yang Botao heart was also asking this question!
Yet his face had but a bitter grin; there was nothing to be said, and he had no heart to face it.
Today as he stood here, he had but to wait for a result; If Supreme Wind appeared, then this case shall be closed like a coffin and deemed final. Regardless of how he argued, or how much more perfect evidence was tendered, it would be of no help.
If Supreme Wind still did not appear...
If he did not appear...
Yang Botao couldn’t think of any single reason why Supreme Feng would not appear.
Judging by the way the Nine Supreme did things, there weren't that much of taboos that need to be worried about, but only the should and shouldn’t s.
In the past, Yutang's war affairs often encountered risks, there were countless war affairs that were pretty worrisome. However, no matter how critical the war affairs were, so long as they were managed to catch up, one of the persons in Nine Supremes would definitely rush to the rescue. They never care about the so-called danger, but only should and shouldn’t s!
In fact, even if Supreme Wind did not arrive, what change would it bring? My act of betrayal with the enemies has already become a settled case in the hearts of the high-positioned officers in Yutang. Regardless of whether Supreme Wind would appear or not, the separation with my wife this morning would be the eternal parting in this lifetime!
My wife would not have wait for my return again.
To think at this juncture, Yang Botao felt a twitching ache in his heart.
The four sides surrounding the tower were all scattered with fully armored soldiers, protecting the tower’s peace and security. Even further, arrays of tall and majestically positioned armies could be seen, forming the second line of defense; and only then would you find the common people who came to watch in a circle.
Unfortunately, the persons who came to watch was exceptionally humongous, crowded like an ocean. The end was out of view.
On the spot, everyone was waiting.
Inside the palace, the King was waiting. In the Residence of Great Commandant, the Great Old Commandant was waiting. Across the vast sky, there were other existences who were waiting...Yang Botao and his other master guards.
"According to the decree of the King, this case is about one of the Nine Supremes, Supreme Wind is suing the marshal of Tang Bei’s army, Yang Botao, alleging him to have collaborated with the enemy and to entrap, and was being heard as a public trial."
Leng Daoyin’s voice was as sonorous as gold and steel: "This matter affects the fate of the country, it shouldn’t be done without the witnesses of the realm, nor to be done without unjust and connive practices. everyone should not let wise spirit, keeping its vengeance in the nine springs….."
In the towering arena, only Yang Botao was standing alone.
There was nothing in front of him, it was completely void of items and spacious.
Everyone was waiting.
If Supreme Wind were to appear and testify, it must be now.
All the persons who were aware would know, this was a trap.
It was not aimed against Yang Botao, but Supreme Wind or maybe any one of the luckily survived Nine Supremes!
If Supreme Wind appeared, that means, Yang Botao would be found guilty of confirmed death!
No other way to go around it, it was absolute!
However, Supreme Wind was about to bear the greatest danger. Besides Yutang, the entire realm had viewed the Nine Supremes as the root of the realm’s disaster, all would like to eliminate them immediately and happily!
But if Supreme Wind did not appear, the case which he had intended to aim at Yang Botao would have its direction changed. There would be countless witnesses to prove that he was being wronged. The fact that an honored chancellor who was being wronged would, in a same vein, not to be accepted by the masses. The former would have the turning events of the high-positioned officers coming. If the accusation were to be reversed today, Yang Botao’s reputation and power in Yu Tang would go up a ladder from today onwards. Regardless of the views of the high-positioned officers’, no action would be taken against him within the short period!
Amidst the attention of the crowd, everyone was waiting quietly. They were waiting for Supreme Wind to confront them with this two-faced difficult situation, as well as to decide.
Had it appeared to destroy the betrayer’s mask, or to face the unpredictable danger directly?
Or to reserve his useful body, and to wait until the other day to appear!?
The time was ticking, but Supreme Wind did not appear.
Gradually, around the arena, bits of indistinct whispers echoed.
Tie Zheng, fully dressed in martial attire, holding a sword on his left, while grasping his gigantic saber on his right, was staring at the tower, fiercely like a tiger.
However, so long as there was no commotion at the other side, the bottom of Tie Zheng’s heart was drumming sturdily...
He strongly believed in what Supreme Wind had said; Yang Botao must have been a betrayer, must be the person who sold out the Nine Supremes. But for this matter, his mere belief would be out of the question. In order to try the case in front of the public, one must have had sufficient public confidence. And for this point, only Supreme Wind could fix the capital;, the others were merely floating clouds!
Looking upon the towering arena, the old marshal Qiu Jianhan gazed into the distance with a pensive expression.
Would you come, or not?
A few moments later, someone exclaimed in excitement: "The wind, it comes! "
" The wind, it’s getting stronger!"