1. An itinerant envoy, you say?
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2. Indeed. To ensure the Emperor's wishes
are fulfilled throughout the land,
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3. I travel across it to verify
the state of affairs.
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4. While it might sound impressive,
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5. Sir Magistrate, in essence I'm as
much of an outsider here as you are.
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6. But Sir Guǐ Niǎo, you are familiar with
the man known as Shāng Bù Huàn?
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7. Indeed. I'm sure you're aware of
the infamous Xuán Guǐ Zōng,
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8. the villainous sect that has
gone to ground in recent times.
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9. Whispers on the wind imply this individual
is a key figure in their disappearance.
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10. Then he's not wanted as a criminal?
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11. But according to Sir Magistrate, he is
apparently a fearsome criminal in Xī Yōu.
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12. Yes.
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13. He is wanted for having stolen countless
treasures from His Imperial Majesty,
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14. murdering countless government officials,
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15. and pilfering many treasured swords.
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16. Well, now... he certainly
sounds like a fierce brigand.
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17. And if he's carried out such villainy,
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18. there can surely be no
defense for what he's done.
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19. But as to whether or not Dōng Li will
readily assist you in this manhunt...
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20. Indeed. Though our nations
may share a common origin,
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21. it has been two hundred years since
Dōng Li and Xī Yōu were separated.
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22. There are now two separate imperial courts,
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23. each with their own national
affairs to deal with.
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24. It's hard to say certain whether
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25. Dōng Li as a nation will lend Xī Yōu
its strength in this regard.
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26. No matter the nation,
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27. the imperial throne is a sacred institution,
the keystone of a inviolable authority.
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28. Wouldn't any evil that flaunts that
authority be considered a crime
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29. worth punishment, regardless
of the specifics of governance?
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30. The question is whether or not others
will agree with your logic.
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31. Well, regardless, I have a considerable
interest in this Shāng Bù Huàn myself.
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32. And if he does wield the kind of strength
that would let him crush the Xuán Guǐ Zōng,
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33. I would be derelict in my duty not
to confirm what type of individual he is.
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34. We should discuss this further.
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35. What do you think? Putting aside aiding
you as an agent of Dōng Li's government,
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36. I could accompany you as a simple
guide for the time being.
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37. Oh, what a wonderful offer.
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38. That way the good magistrate from
Xī Yōu can conduct his investigation
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39. under my supervision,
so as not to arouse any ire.
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40. Well, if Sir Guǐ Niǎo the
itinerant envoy is in favor,
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41. I'm in no position to question the proposal.
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42. This is bad.
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43. What the hell? It's totally blank.
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44. Yeah, this isn't the Sorcerous Sword Index
anymore. It's just a bit of paper.
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45. How's that work?
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46. The Sorcerous Sword Index
isn't a physical object.
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47. It's supposed to be some
kind of universe unto itself.
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48. The thing that looks like a scroll is a way
to let someone who has no clue about magic,
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49. like me, use it as a tool.
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50. And now that the form of the scroll
is broken, it's lost that function.
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51. Meaning I can't use the Index anymore.
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52. If I want to be able to use it again,
then it needs to be fixed.
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53. What about the busted piece
that Xiē Yīngluò took?
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54. Well, we're talking about one of
Huò Shì Míng Huáng's people,
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55. so she's bound to be an
old hand at dark magic.
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56. She'd be able to access the portion of the
Index that's covered in the piece she has.
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57. I'd say that means she has access
to one, maybe two pieces.
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58. So, what'd she get? The stuff
on the end of the scroll?
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59. No, the Index is sorted differently
every time you open it.
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60. I don't really know the
logic behind how it works,
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61. but the only way to check
is to patch the scroll up.
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62. And you're handy enough to fix it up?
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63. Well, if I'm not,
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64. then I'll just have to make up for it
by taking as much time as I have to.
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65. We need paper, paste, a cord...
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66. and a place where I can
hunker down and work on it.
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67. Might have to head into a town.
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68. Man, you've been in Dōng Li
a while now, right?
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69. Don't you know anyone who
could handle this for you?
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70. Someone with a knack for crafts...
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71. I can think of one guy,
but that'd be a terrible idea!
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72. We'd be better off letting
Huò Shì Míng Huáng have it.
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73. Good to know you still keep
the company of total lunatics!
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74. That's rich, coming from you two.
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75. They don't come much more dangerous.
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76. The Night of Mourning, eh?
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77. I certainly ended up with an odd one.
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78. It lacks somewhat in power...
but it certainly has its uses.
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79. And if I'm to face Shāng Bù Huàn,
the indirect approach is the wisest.
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80. It seems I have another. How fortuitous!
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81. Is this...
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82. Could it truly be...?
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83. Fear not...
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84. I will grant you my strength.
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85. Once you wield me, I will make you into
the greatest conqueror under the sun.
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86. Now, let us drink the sweet
wine of victory together.
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87. That was far too dangerous!
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88. This one is a bit much for even me to handle.
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89. I should leave it sealed away in its
scabbard until I hand it to His Eminence.
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90. With the right strategy, a single
magical blade will more than suffice.
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91. Now I simply need the right
place and the right time.
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92. It's hard to believe...
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93. the famous Xiān Zhèn Fortress,
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94. taking such heavy casualties
from a single intruder.
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95. I have no excuse.
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96. If it had not been for that traveler,
things would have been worse still.
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97. And he gave the name Shāng Bù Huàn?
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98. When he spoke of coming
from distant Xī Yōu,
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99. we were unsure whether or not to believe him,
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100. but with skills such as his,
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101. crossing the Wasteland of Spirits
would indeed be possible.
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102. You seem to think that Shāng Bù Huàn was
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103. your savior in this incident,
but that's hardly the case.
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104. The man is a criminal who has fled
from Xī Yōu to spread his evildoing.
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105. What?
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106. Consider the situation.
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107. This woman who attacked you using poison...
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108. How could she have snuck into such
a secure fortress by herself?
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109. I'm sure Shāng Bù Huàn aided her.
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110. He likely prepared the way for her
when he entered this place as a guest.
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111. But he risked his life to battle her.
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112. It was a farce, of course.
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113. He feigned enmity, so you would
not discover the nature of his plot.
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114. To what end?
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115. You would ask why?
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116. Are you not the master of a fortress
which contains many Shén Huì Mó Xiè?
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117. He clearly intended to infiltrate this place
as preparation for pilfering its valuables.
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118. And now that so many of your men have died,
weakening your overall security,
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119. we can be certain he has achieved his goal.
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120. It can't be...
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121. I'm sure his next attack will
where he realizes his true goal.
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122. You should gather aid
from nearby Hù Yìn Shī
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123. to tighten your defenses as soon as possible.
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124. But... Shāng Bù Huàn had
a letter of introduction.
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125. One directly from a Duàn Jiàn Cí
guardian, Lady Dān Fěi...
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126. Pardon me, but I had heard that Duàn Jiàn Cí
was guarded by a Sir Dān Héng?
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127. Lady Dān Fěi is his younger sister.
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128. Sir Dān Héng unfortunately passed
away recently, so she has inherited his duty.
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129. And have you met this
Lady Dān Fěi in person?
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130. I was introduced to her by her brother
during a ritual five years ago.
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131. She was still just a girl at the time.
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132. And with only five years
having passed, she is still young.
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133. Not only that, but with her predecessor
meeting an unfortunate fate,
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134. who can say if she was truly ready to
inherit the responsibilities of a Hù Yìn Shī?
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135. No matter how noble her clan may be,
she is still an inexperienced, naïve maiden.
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136. It would not be out of the
question for her to be deceived
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137. by a rogue with a mastery of deceit.
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138. The more I think about it,
the more it seems true!
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139. I am disgusted with how
careless I have been!
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140. Those foul miscreants have
entirely gotten the better of me!
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141. Such fierce feelings will
agitate your wounds, sir.
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142. You should focus on recovering as quickly
as possible and preparing your next step.
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143. You can leave the hunt for these
menaces to us magistrates.
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144. You have my thanks.
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145. That was masterful assistance...
I am deeply in your debt.
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146. Oh, it was nothing.
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147. I must ask, Sir Guǐ Niǎo, what is
your interest in Shāng Bù Huàn?
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148. I hadn't thought that he had made an
enemy of the law in Dōng Li yet.
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149. Well, crime and rumors go hand in hand.
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150. Even we with judicial authority had nearly
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151. given up on eliminating the Xuán Guǐ Zōng,
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152. but to hear that some vagabond with no
authority at all has eliminated them...
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153. Even rumors of such a thing could
potentially damage the law's authority.
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154. I see.
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155. And if this person truly has
done something that remarkable,
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156. ideally he'd accept an official appointment
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157. in some remote location
so he can be contained,
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158. or if that isn't possible, he can be charged
with some kind of crime and locked away.
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159. And of course, if a magistrate from Xī Yōu
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160. were to apprehend him and
remove him from our borders,
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161. that, too, would be a delightfully
clean resolution.
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162. You, sir, I find incredibly agreeable.
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163. I look forward to working with you.
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164. Oh, yes, the feeling is mutual.
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165. There... that ought to do it.
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166. Hey, looks like the patch job is done.
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167. Hurry! We need to get out of town fast!
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168. Whoa! What the hell's going on?
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169. It's the two swords Xiē Yīngluò
managed to steal!
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170. They both have the ability
to control people's minds!
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171. You mean to tell me...
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172. We should avoid causing
any unnecessary casualties.
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173. The kind that are inevitable in a settlement.
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174. Yeah, you've got it.
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175. The worst case scenario would be getting
caught and attacked in a big crowd.
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176. From the look of that grimace,
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177. it seems you have some idea regarding
which of the swords I've obtained.
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178. Not good...
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179. I must give you my thanks for leading us
to the perfect stage to display the power
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180. of my new sword, the Night of Mourning.
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181. Now, let the curtain fall on this tragedy!
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182. Wh-What the hell?
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183. The Night of Mourning can't cut flesh
or bone, but it takes control of minds.
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184. They're now the puppets of whoever wields it,
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185. and they'll follow her
commands until they die!
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186. This is splendid! They're all moving
according to my whims, like toys!
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187. You have any way we can get through
a crowd like this in one piece?
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188. Not without hurting a lot of people, no.
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189. Considering how much you worry about that
sort of thing, this must really suck for you.
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190. Damn it, fighting someone who
doesn't deserve a beating...
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191. is harder than taking on most masters!
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192. But there are techniques that
wouldn't be effective against
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193. a master that will come in handy here!
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194. Curse you!
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195. Nice one! Not having to worry about
weapons makes this that much easier!
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196. Look out!
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197. Wait, Shāng!
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198. Wha—?
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199. Tricking you is such child's play!
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200. What happened to all your
arrogance from last night?
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201. The clashing of swords to determine
who is fastest or strongest
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202. is comical in its pretension.
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203. A drop of poison on the tip of a needle
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204. is the art of death's purest expression.
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205. Crap! Xiē Yīngluò's nails
are dipped in deadly poison!
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