1. Even a storm that could ruin an umbrellaCopy !req
2. is not enough to halt a man's journey.Copy !req
3. Tread through wind and rain and you're
bound to encounter a muddy stream.Copy !req
4. And if it must be crossed,
it is best to do so unclad.Copy !req
5. Halt!Copy !req
6. This is Xiān Zhèn Fortress, right?Copy !req
7. I'm here to speak to Bó Yáng Hóu.Copy !req
8. If you know that this is
a Hù Yìn Shī fortress,Copy !req
9. then you should know it's
not open to just anyone.Copy !req
10. Who are you supposed to be?Copy !req
11. This should tell you who I am.Copy !req
12. What?Copy !req
13. This is...Copy !req
14. Open the gate!Copy !req
15. I'll have Lord Bó Yáng Hóu
notified at once. Proceed inside.Copy !req
16. Hey, are you sure about this?Copy !req
17. That's for Lord Bó Yáng Hóu to decide.Copy !req
18. If he has a letter of introduction,
it's our duty to let him pass through.Copy !req
19. The Dān Clan are indeed renowned
among the Hù Yìn Shī.Copy !req
20. If they have spoken for your character,
then I have no choice but to trust you.Copy !req
21. I appreciate it.Copy !req
22. But I must say...Copy !req
23. I know this letter to
be from Lady Dān Fěi,Copy !req
24. but its contents are hard to believe.Copy !req
25. This Sorcerous Sword Index that you carry...Copy !req
26. Is it truly a collection of weapons that
are comparable to the Shén Huì Mó Xiè?Copy !req
27. Yeah, and the real problem is that
they're more than just holy swords.Copy !req
28. Even if you put aside their raw power,Copy !req
29. some are cursed blades that could
bring the human world to ruin.Copy !req
30. And you have thirty-five of them?Copy !req
31. I must say... I've never
heard anything like it.Copy !req
32. Well, how could you folks in Dōng
Li know what's going on in Xī Yōu?Copy !req
33. That's why I had to flee to this country
by crossing the Wasteland of Spirits.Copy !req
34. Carrying the Index around back home made
it hard to even find a safe place to sleep at night.Copy !req
35. That's another thing that
strains credulity, I must say.Copy !req
36. Crossing the Wasteland of Spirits
on your own...Copy !req
37. That is remarkable.Copy !req
38. Well, I figured it'd be hard to believe,Copy !req
39. so I had the nice Dān Clan
lady vouch for me in writing.Copy !req
40. You're both Hù Yìn Shī, so you're not
just gonna blow her letter off, right?Copy !req
41. And that's exactly why I'm at
a loss, given the situation.Copy !req
42. If what this letter says,
and what you tell me, is all true...Copy !req
43. Then I must act with great caution.Copy !req
44. There were a bunch of real nasty
characters after this in Xī Yōu.Copy !req
45. If they find out I'm in Dōng Li,
they'll come right after me.Copy !req
46. Which is why I wanted to find someplace
safe to hide it as quickly as possible.Copy !req
47. And that's that's how I
heard about this place.Copy !req
48. There are a few Hù Yìn Shī
fortresses around Dōng Li,Copy !req
49. and this place is supposed
to be one of the most secure.Copy !req
50. Indeed.Copy !req
51. It was built to withstand the return
of forces from the demon realm...Copy !req
52. An impregnable fortress.Copy !req
53. There's no more apt description
for Xiān Zhèn Fortress.Copy !req
54. With that kind of security on the table,
I need to ask you for something.Copy !req
55. Would you folks be willing
to look after the Index?Copy !req
56. Before I agree to anything,
I need to have an expert examineCopy !req
57. this Sorcerous Sword Index
and ensure that it is authentic.Copy !req
58. Look... keeping this thing a secret
is the best way to keep it safe.Copy !req
59. The fewer people who know
about the Index, the better.Copy !req
60. Are you suggesting that you cannot trustCopy !req
61. we of Xiān Zhèn Fortress
to keep it safe? Is that it?Copy !req
62. I realize how rude it sounds.Copy !req
63. But the guys after this thing
are as tricky as they are nasty.Copy !req
64. There's more to security
than just thick walls.Copy !req
65. Do you get what I'm trying to say?Copy !req
66. I'm willing to take responsibility
for this Index of yours.Copy !req
67. But as long as it is secure,
we are free to do with as it we please.Copy !req
68. It is not a matter on which
you can give us direction.Copy !req
69. All right, then.Copy !req
70. In that case...Copy !req
71. Hold.Copy !req
72. If everything you say is true,
we can hardly let this issue go.Copy !req
73. Weapons possessing strength on the
level of the Shén Huì Mó XièCopy !req
74. cannot be entrusted to some mere traveler.Copy !req
75. So you're saying I have no choice
but to put my faith in you guys.Copy !req
76. Granted, that was part of asking you
to handle it in the first place.Copy !req
77. Just make sure this expert of
yours is someone you really trust.Copy !req
78. Because all hell could
break loose, otherwise.Copy !req
79. You can rest easy.Copy !req
80. Thank you for coming
so far, Shāng Bù Huàn.Copy !req
81. The storm's passed.Copy !req
82. I hope that's a good sign.Copy !req
83. We meet again.Copy !req
84. Làng Wū Yáo?Copy !req
85. Hey, Shāng Bù Huàn. You look
like a shaggy mess, as usual.Copy !req
86. What are you...Copy !req
87. Wait, how'd you get to Dōng Li?Copy !req
88. What was your answer when
people asked you that?Copy !req
89. Let me guess, "on my own two legs"?Copy !req
90. Well, I don't actually have those!Copy !req
91. But this guy's got as
rugged a pair as you do.Copy !req
92. Ain't that right, Làng?Copy !req
93. I guess it makes sense that you and
Líng Yá would be able to pull it off.Copy !req
94. But no, how's not the right question. Why?Copy !req
95. Isn't it obvious? He's been lonely
since you left him behind!Copy !req
96. Easy! Easy, man, it was just a joke!Copy !req
97. But isn't it true that you're a bit
pissed off at the vagabond hereCopy !req
98. for wandering off without a word?Copy !req
99. Why not give him a piece of your mind?Copy !req
100. Look, the thing is...Copy !req
101. I honestly didn't know what to
say at the time. So, y'know...Copy !req
102. I'm sorry.Copy !req
103. See, there you go!Copy !req
104. This is where you humans hug and celebrate
your reunion in tears, right?Copy !req
105. Why don't you be honest and—Copy !req
106. There's something you need to know.Copy !req
107. Aw, come on, man!
Leave the bad news for later!Copy !req
108. Wait... This is so important you came
all the way to Dōng Li to tell me?Copy !req
109. Oh, the thing is,Copy !req
110. that bastard Huò Shì Míng Huáng
seems to have figured out where you are.Copy !req
111. The Princess of Cruelty is supposed to have
already crossed the Wasteland of Spirits.Copy !req
112. So we high-tailed it after her.Copy !req
113. A-Are you serious?Copy !req
114. She probably got here before we did.Copy !req
115. I figure you should assume she's been
watching you these last few days.Copy !req
116. You're a careful guy, though,Copy !req
117. so I doubt you were dumb enough to leave the
Sorcerous Sword Index lying around anywhere.Copy !req
118. And off he goes!Copy !req
119. What a rude bastard!Copy !req
120. Hey, stop! Don't!Copy !req
121. Not that, just, anything but that!Copy !req
122. Augh, my body!Copy !req
123. Damn it all! Did it have to be
Xiē Yīngluò, the Princess of Cruelty?Copy !req
124. She's an expert at subterfuge and poisoning!Copy !req
125. Hey, let me through! I've gotta
tell Bó Yáng Hóu something!Copy !req
126. The Master is taking his rest.Copy !req
127. Come back again tomorrow.Copy !req
128. It's an emergency!
There's an enemy incoming!Copy !req
129. She could attack tonight!Copy !req
130. Whether it be an enemy or a rude guest,Copy !req
131. we shall guard this place with our lives.Copy !req
132. You hardheaded idiots!Copy !req
133. An intruder!Copy !req
134. Get out here, quickly!Copy !req
135. Hey! Doesn't this strike you as weird?Copy !req
136. All this commotion at the gate,
but nobody's coming out?Copy !req
137. See what's going on inside.Copy !req
138. If nothing has happened, fine.Copy !req
139. I'll wait here quietly until morning.Copy !req
140. Come on, you can guess why he's
taking so long, can't you?Copy !req
141. But still...Copy !req
142. H-Hey!Copy !req
143. Hey!Copy !req
144. Wh-What are you...Copy !req
145. It's a scorpion that was
raised on a special diet.Copy !req
146. Its venom makes your body freeze up
instead of causing pain,Copy !req
147. and you die looking like you're still alive.Copy !req
148. Everyone who came by thinking there
was a dead body was stung.Copy !req
149. An entire fortress,
done in by a single insect.Copy !req
150. Hell, an entire town.Copy !req
151. The Princess of Cruelty's favorite trick.Copy !req
152. Do you really have time to waste
on that old fool, I wonder.Copy !req
153. To think that the ever-so-cautious
Shāng Bù HuànCopy !req
154. would leave the Sorcerous Sword Index
in some dusty mountain fortress.Copy !req
155. Have your peaceful days under
foreign skies made you careless?Copy !req
156. What a wonderful country
this Dōng Li must be!Copy !req
157. Hey there, Xiē Yīngluò.
Good to see you again.Copy !req
158. Don't turn on the charm now, handsome.Copy !req
159. Do you think that sweet talk
will earn you some mercy?Copy !req
160. Nah, I'm just telling the truth.Copy !req
161. If you had just taken the Index and run off,
I would've never been able to reach you.Copy !req
162. But instead...Copy !req
163. You grabbed the Index, but were so
greedy you had to try and kill me.Copy !req
164. Bad choice, Princess of Cruelty.Copy !req
165. Curse your arrogance!Copy !req
166. Besides, Dōng Li isn't as
great you make it sound.Copy !req
167. The bad guys are even more
twisted than in Xī Yōu.Copy !req
168. The ones who use illusions
are particularly bad.Copy !req
169. Took me for a hell of a ride!Copy !req
170. But I did learn a lot.Copy !req
171. See, the best trickstersCopy !req
172. make it hard to understand where they came
from and what they're even trying to do.Copy !req
173. When it's clear what you're after,Copy !req
174. you create a situation where only an
idiot would fall for your obvious trap,Copy !req
175. Xiē Yīngluò!Copy !req
176. What's the commotion?Copy !req
177. Master!Copy !req
178. Curse you, intruder!Copy !req
179. Get them.Copy !req
180. Whoa there!Copy !req
181. You're not getting away!Copy !req
182. You can't believe you can beat
me in a straight fight, right?Copy !req
183. If you leave the Index and scuttle off,
I won't chase you down.Copy !req
184. I'm under orders from His Eminence,
Lord Míng Huáng himself,Copy !req
185. yet you continue to underestimate me,
Shāng Bù Huàn!Copy !req
186. Y-You...Copy !req
187. You know how to open the
Sorcerous Sword Index?Copy !req
188. When it comes to magic, I have
more experience than you, fool!Copy !req
189. No.Copy !req
190. The fool here...Copy !req
191. is the idiot acting like hot stuff out
in the open, where anyone could find you!Copy !req
192. And of course, this is what you're after!Copy !req
193. What?Copy !req
194. The obvious choice here is to
retreat and regroup, of course.Copy !req
195. Remind me, who thought knowing his foe's aimCopy !req
196. would prevent him from being deceived, again?Copy !req
197. It's only a portion, for now,
but it's a suitable enough start.Copy !req
198. I'll be able to take my time in coming
up with a means of tearing you apart.Copy !req
199. Damn it, what a mess.Copy !req
200. To think I'd screw up
the most important part.Copy !req
201. I see. You came all the way from Xī Yōu...Copy !req
202. That's quite the harsh journey.Copy !req
203. Yes.Copy !req
204. We set out to cross the Wasteland of Spirits
with fifty elite warriors,Copy !req
205. but when we arrived in Dōng Li,
less than half of them were still alive.Copy !req
206. When I think of how we
had to abandon the bodiesCopy !req
207. of my men in our desperation to survive,Copy !req
208. the heart of I, Xiào Kuáng Juàn,
is filled with such grief.Copy !req
209. Pursuing a criminal from Xī Yōu
across the Wasteland of Spirits...Copy !req
210. I must say, you are a
model officer of the law.Copy !req
211. But who is this rogue that you'd go
to such great lengths to pursue?Copy !req
212. We are hunting a vile, wicked villain that
was born only to wreak havoc upon the world.Copy !req
213. Even if he has crossed the border, it's
unimaginable that a menace of his caliberCopy !req
214. would simply lay low and live quietly.Copy !req
215. For the sake of Dōng Li's peace,
we beg your government's cooperation.Copy !req
216. And just who is this villain?Copy !req
217. Sir, he is a lawless cur who goes
by the name of Shāng Bù Huàn.Copy !req
218. And he is as cruel and calculating
as he is vicious and bloodthirsty,Copy !req
219. a criminal in a class unto himself.Copy !req
220. Well, well, now that certainly
sounds interesting.Copy !req
221. Who is this gentleman?Copy !req
222. Oh, this is an inspector who was
sent from the central office.Copy !req
223. My name is Guǐ Niǎo, and I'm
a traveling government agent.Copy !req
224. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.Copy !req
225. Scheming in the darkness can
not be called real subterfuge.Copy !req
226. True strength is being able to mislead
the eye under the light of day.Copy !req
227. Fact and fiction are opposite
sides of the same sheet of paper.Copy !req
228. Who can see beneath the surface
and glimpse my true nature?Copy !req