Wei Bainian gingerly held out the black lacquered wooden box and placed it on a square of brocade. Then, he rubbed his hands together, and a faint yellow light rose between his palms, gradually expanding into a one-meter-square protective barrier enveloping the box.
“Wei explains, “The item inside must be kept away from moisture and light to preserve it well. Therefore, we need to use primal force to isolate it when examining it. I hope Qian Ye doesn’t mind.”
Qian Ye sensed slightly and indeed, the barrier was isolating both inside and outside. He felt a slight jolt; every attack from a Battle Commander has some effect in their domain, and Wei Bainian’s creation of such a barrier clearly showed his mastery over primal force control.
At that moment, Wei Bainian’s full attention was focused on the small box before him, completely disregarding Qian Ye’s examination. With a solemn expression as if he were performing an extremely important task, he gently lifted the lid with a tender touch.
Inside the lacquer box, there was a jade stand. Occasionally, a faint light of primal force flickered at its four corners, obviously indicating a primal force array. On top of the stand lay a bright yellow satin, and right at the center, there sat a piece of ink. It was a half-used remnant of an ancient ink block, and on the remaining half were three elegant and slender characters: Ji Shi Zhi (Made by Hand of Ji).
Holding his breath, Wei Bainian bent down, peering closely at the half-block of ink, his eyes unmoving as he scrutinized it.
Though Qian Ye had known beforehand that it was an ancient and valuable piece of ink, he was still surprised to see a half-used relic. However, seeing Wei Bainian’s earnest and enthusiastic demeanor, Qian Ye wisely suppressed any doubts.
After a long while, Wei Bainian finally straightened up, closed the lacquer box, and breathed a sigh of relief. “Top-grade Cloud Smoke! And it’s the leftover used by King Ji. I never thought I’d actually see such a treasure in person! Do you know the marvel of this Cloud Smoke?”
Even though Qian Ye had read the item description, he knew better than to show off in front of an expert like Wei Bainian. So, he simply smiled without answering.
Wei Bainian didn’t seem to expect a response; his question was merely a prelude to his long-winded exposition. “This piece of Cloud Smoke has the patterns of a thousand-mile landscape. It should be one of the thirteen pieces of Cloud Smoke made by King Ji. Its value lies in…”
Wei Bainian spoke for nearly half an hour. Qian Ye only grasped that King Ji was a royal lineage and a renowned scholar-artist from the previous dynasty, famous for calligraphy and painting. The ink and brushes he made were mere pastimes, minor hobbies, yet even a half-block of this relic was worth a fortune. The price was one thing, but more importantly, it was priceless, as all of King Ji’s art tools had long been collected and cherished by the royal family and high noble clans, leaving no chance for them to appear publicly.
Qian Ye maintained a listening posture, still unable to fathom why such a relic would cause Wei Bainian, a man of such status, to behave so uncharacteristically.
To Qian Ye, ink was just ink. The intricate designs were impractical on the battlefield. In times of urgency, a few simple lines sufficed; clarity and precision were key. What mattered the texture or appearance of the ink marks?
Only someone like Wei Bainian, born into a high nobility, could indulge in such luxuries.
Wei Bainian finally concluded, looking at Qian Ye with a different gleam. “Qian Ye, you are truly a kindred spirit.”
Qian Ye felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. “I really don’t know much about these things…”
Wei Bainian waved his hand dismissively. “There’s no need to be so humble, Qian Ye. Just the fact that you brought this half-block of Cloud Smoke shows your sincerity. Many young people haven’t even heard of such treasures.”
Feeling extremely embarrassed, Qian Ye’s expression stiffened. Wei Bainian, now in the mood for a discussion, began to share his insights and preferences on the various calligraphers and painters throughout the history of the Great Qin Dynasty, not just limited to King Ji, but also covering many other notable figures.
Clearly, Wei Bainian was obsessed with calligraphy and painting. Despite Qian Ye’s minimal participation, he continued talking until lunchtime. Enthusiastically, he prepared a four-dish meal and a pot of fine wine, inviting Qian Ye to dine with him.
During the meal, Wei Bainian steered the conversation to tales of battles against the dark races, returning to a familiar topic for Qian Ye. A Battle Commander’s experience was invaluable, and Qian Ye’s unique insights added to a lively and enjoyable conversation.
However, Qian Ye noticed that the wooden box remained on the table, which weighed heavily on his mind.
Noticing Qian Ye’s gaze, Wei Bainian smiled faintly and asked, “If I refuse the position, what do you plan to do next?”
Qian Ye sighed inwardly. While appealing to his interests wasn’t wrong, Wei Bainian, as a Battle Commander, had the resolve to remain unaffected by external temptations. It seemed Wei Bainian was likely accompanying Duke Wei on a tour of the Evernight Continent, making a gesture to take Wei Po Tian back. As for a third-rate defense zone, the Wei family wasn’t too concerned.
Wei Bainian’s question hadn’t entirely shut the door, but at that moment, Qian Ye, who wasn’t good with words, couldn’t think of a way to sway him. Should he continue to guess and cater to Wei Bainian’s preferences, hoping for a slim chance?
Suddenly, Qian Ye realized this wasn’t his nature. He had nothing to say about calligraphy and painting, but he had his own answer to Wei Bainian’s question.
Lifting his head, Qian Ye said with clear and honest eyes, “I will still form a mercenary group and try to hold Blackflow City.”
Wei Bainian chuckled, “With what? Just a few hundred soldiers?” His words carried a gentle mockery, like a veteran facing a green recruit.
Unfazed by Wei Bainian’s blunt tone, Qian Ye replied, “We won’t know unless we try. This is a city of tens of thousands. We can’t let the dark races take it easily. I don’t think I can change the war’s outcome, but since it started with me, I have a responsibility to fulfill.”
Wei Bainian’s eyes sparkled. “Are you… planning to fight to the death with Blackflow City?”
Qian Ye shook his head. “Of course not. I’ll fight until it’s hopeless, then break through. Only the living can kill more enemies. I will grow stronger, and one day, return to reclaim everything taken by the dark races.”
“Not bound by temporary gains and losses, viewing the broader picture, fighting where necessary, and advancing or retreating with purpose—this is the true style of a great commander!” Wei Bainian’s sudden praise left Qian Ye momentarily stunned.
Wei Bainian patted Qian Ye’s shoulder. “Let’s see how this war turns out!”
It took Qian Ye a moment to realize, “General Wei, are you staying?”
“War happens everywhere. There’s no difference here or elsewhere. I hear the situation here is quite serious, attracting many influential figures. I’m curious to see what surprises lie ahead.”
With that, Wei Bainian picked up the wooden box with the half-block of Cloud Smoke, carefully stowing it away. “Though this little item isn’t enough to change my mind, it certainly adds something. Since you went to such lengths to find it, I’ll gladly accept it!”
“Of course,” Qian Ye finally felt a weight lift off his chest, knowing that by accepting the gift, Wei Bainian had formally agreed.
Leaving Wei Bainian’s residence, Qian Ye walked the streets of Blackflow City. He stayed on the main roads, observing the bustling life.
Like in Darkblood City, the increasing tension in the wilderness had drawn more people to the city. Though the shadow of the recent incident with Wu Zhengnan still lingered, and the presence of armed soldiers created a tense atmosphere, the ordinary people were forgetful. To them, the city rulers were abstract, and as long as taxes remained unchanged and order was maintained, the identity of the ruler was irrelevant.
The tension in the wilderness affected the city, and poorly run taverns were more crowded than usual. By early afternoon, there were already staggeringly drunk men on the streets.
Yet, to Qian Ye, this wasn’t the true atmosphere of impending war. Everyone knew that Three Rivers County, where Blackflow City was located, and Rock Territory, home to Darkblood City, might soon face conflict. But most had no real experience with war.
In the abandoned land of the Qin Empire, the Evernight Continent was seen as barren by the dark races of the Upperland. Life here was harsh, resources scarce, and major battles rare. Fighting a real war in the Evernight might not justify the cost. The true frontline between the Empire and the dark races lay on other continents.
What is a real war?
In Qian Ye’s brief military career, he had indirectly experienced it once. As a rookie, he was not allowed on the battlefield and was assigned to a military base near the front. This base was a stopover for high-ranking officers to prepare before entering the forward combat zones.
In just one week, Qian Ye saw three batches of seventeen Battle Commanders assemble and head to the front, with less than a third returning. And this was just one of many such bases.
Through this, Qian Ye first understood the cruelty of the war against the dark races, a rite of passage for every rookie.
In fact, Qian Ye also noticed that both Wei Po Tian and Song Zining treated the upcoming war on the Evernight Continent with grave seriousness. He felt the same from Wei Bainian’s final words.
As Qian Ye watched the bustling crowd, he wondered: if the storm was inevitable, how much of this chaotic yet orderly scene would remain after it passed?
War is like a furnace, and geniuses are like ore. Countless pieces of ore are thrown in, but only a few are refined into gold. The rest become slag, discarded and forgotten.
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