Yun Che was currently using the Mu Che's Apple of Eden in Mulan's courtyard, projecting a detailed map of the beach where the Wu Clan was planning to launch their attack.
As everyone prepared for supper, Mulan suddenly approached him.
"Che'er?"
Yun Che looked up from the tactical display.
"What is it, Mulan?"
Mulan hesitated.
"Mu Che..."
Her expression became thoughtful.
"In the memories he projected through the Apple of Eden, he called you an... Assassin."
The room immediately became quiet.
Yun Che stared at her.
"...Man, that guy talks a lot."
Retsu's eyes narrowed.
"Assassin?"
She turned toward him.
"You never told us about that, Yuu-kun."
Nemu quietly nodded.
"Indeed. This is previously undisclosed information."
Mio puffed out her cheeks.
"No fair, Danna-sama! You never told us."
Lin Yueru grins.
"Yeah! You told us about the Pieces of Eden and all sorts of crazy things. But you never mentioned being an Assassin!"
Yun Che sighed.
"I didn't think it was necessary. Plus, I didn't recall doing any Assassin work at all."
Cang Yue folded her arms.
"Still..."
She looked at him seriously.
"It's part of who you are."
"Don't you think we deserve to know?"
Xue Ling and Xue Yin exchanged glances.
Lin Yueru stared at him curiously.
Even Qingyue and Little Fairy, who already knew his real name, looked surprised.
Chu Yueli was simply curious.
This was apparently another secret Yun Che had never bothered to mention.
Yun Che looked around the room.
Everyone was waiting.
"...Fine."
He sighed.
"Mu Che wasn't part of it."
He leaned against the table.
"He simply helped them back in the Dead Spirit Realm."
Retsu tilted her head.
"Helped who?"
Yun Che's expression became more serious.
"I was..."
He paused.
"...a member of the ancient Brotherhood of Assassins."
The room became completely silent.
"The Brotherhood existed within the Dead Spirit Realm."
With Dead Spirit Realm refers to Earth to those who understood the real him.
Mio blinked.
"An actual Assassin Brotherhood?"
"Yes."
Yun Che nodded.
"Our purpose wasn't simply to kill people."
He looked toward the Pieces of Eden displayed nearby.
"You've all seen what these things can do."
The Apple of Eden emitted a faint golden glow.
"Imagine if someone with malicious intentions obtained one."
Everyone became quiet.
"They could control minds."
"Create illusions."
"Manipulate entire groups of people."
"Possibly even enslave entire nations."
Yun Che's eyes hardened.
"The Brotherhood existed to prevent that."
Qingyue frowned.
"But you're still assassins."
"Yes."
She looked at him.
"Then aren't you simply killers?"
Yun Che shook his head.
"There's a difference."
"A common assassin kills for money."
"Guilty or innocent. They just get paid to kill without so much even consider the target's background."
"Another might kill for political power."
"Some kill simply because they enjoy it."
He looked directly at Qingyue.
"The Brotherhood doesn't kill without purpose."
"We operate according to principles."
"Three Tenets."
Retsu's expression became interested.
"Three Tenets?"
Yun Che nodded.
"First: Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent."
"The Brotherhood does not kill civilians simply because they happen to be nearby."
"Second: Hide in plain sight."
"An Assassin's greatest advantage isn't strength."
"It's the fact that nobody knows they're there."
"And third..."
His expression became solemn.
"Never compromise the Brotherhood."
Qingyue listened carefully.
"So you kill people who threaten the free will of others?"
"That's the general idea."
Yun Che glanced toward the map of Jin Province.
"In the world I came from, the Brotherhood fought organizations that wanted absolute control."
"The Templars."
"They believed humanity needed someone to guide it."
"To control it."
"To decide what people should believe, where they should go, and what they should do."
Yun Che's eyes moved toward Cang Yue.
"Sound familiar?"
Cang Yue's expression darkened.
"Xiao Sect."
"The Burning Heaven Clan."
"The Heavenly Sword Villa."
Yun Che nodded.
"And there are others."
He gestured toward the map.
"Look at this empire."
"Cang Wanhe is the Emperor."
"Yet how much authority does he truly possess?"
Nobody answered.
"Powerful sects and clans influence the throne."
"Political factions manipulate the imperial court."
"People can be poisoned, imprisoned, manipulated, or forced into submission simply because someone stronger decides they should."
Qingyue's expression became complicated.
Yun Che continued.
"In my world, the Order of the Assassins existed because people needed someone willing to stand between absolute power and ordinary people."
He looked toward her.
"Here... on this continent of cultivators. Where treasures, artifacts, arts and cultivation that are worse than Pieces of Eden existed."
His gaze traveled across the room.
"...the Order doesn't exist."
"Not yet."
"Are you planning to establish one?"
Cang Yue's question was quiet.
Yun Che looked toward her.
"The Order of the Assassins."
She gestured toward the map.
"Are you actually planning to establish one here?"
Yun Che smiled.
"Already did."
Everyone froze.
"...Already?"
Cang Yue stared at him.
"I already have my first Assassin."
Retsu's eyes widened.
"Wait..."
Nemu adjusted her glasses.
"You recruited someone already?"
"Who?"
Mio leaned forward.
"Are they among us?"
"No."
Yun Che shook his head.
"She's not here."
He paused.
"She's the one who helped sabotage Ling Tianni's formation."
Little Fairy's expression changed.
"The formation..."
"The one designed to extract Cang Yue's mind."
Cang Yue's eyes widened.
"That was her?"
Yun Che nodded.
"She worked from the shadows to ensure our plan successful back then."
Little Fairy slowly remembered.
"Then..."
Her eyes widened.
"Xuanyuan Yufeng?"
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
"The Villa Mistress of the Heavenly Sword Villa."
Cang Yue stared at Yun Che.
"Her?"
Yun Che nodded.
"She's my first Assassin recruit."
Little Fairy looked genuinely surprised.
"Why her?"
"Originally?"
Yun Che folded his arms.
"I intended to make her a pawn."
"A pawn?"
"Someone who could sabotage the Heavenly Sword Villa from within. I know what I would do is no different than controlling her mind to do my bidding."
He glanced toward the distant direction of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region.
"Eventually, I intended to use her against the Sacred Ground itself."
Mulan's expression became complicated.
Yun Che continued.
"But when I infiltrated her mind, I discovered something far more sinister."
"The Eternal Love Potion."
Everyone became quiet.
"Xuanyuan Yufeng wasn't simply a cruel woman."
"She had been controlled."
"The potion trapped her mind."
"It froze the girl she had been twenty-three years ago and forced her consciousness to revolve around an artificial obsession."
Several girls gasped. Except those who knew the existence of Eternal Love Potion.
Even Mulan looked shocked.
Cang Yue's expression hardened.
"So everything she did..."
"Wasn't entirely her own."
Yun Che nodded.
"The moment I broke the potion's influence, the woman underneath it resurfaced."
"The real Xuanyuan Yufeng."
"Intelligent."
"Resourceful."
"Extremely powerful."
"And furious after discovering that twenty-three years of her life had been taken from her."
"Imagine an 18-year old girl woken up in an unfamiliar environment, in a body of a 32-year old woman who had two children and a husband she once turned down."
Little Fairy's expression became thoughtful.
"I listened to her that night. She came to me and I offered her comfort. I thought she was exaggerating if I didn't know the effects of the potion."
Yun Che sighs.
"Now you girls know the effects of such potion. Used to control pious women and turn them into obsessive freaks.
"However..."
"She already possesses the qualities of an Assassin."
"She knows the Heavenly Sword Villa from the inside."
"She has personal knowledge of how powerful factions manipulate people."
"And now..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...she has a reason to fight against it."
Mio smiled.
"You're turning the Villa Mistress into a Master Assassin."
"Eventually."
Yun Che nodded.
"She still needs training."
"She needs to understand the Creed."
"She needs to learn the difference between revenge and justice."
"And she needs to learn when not to draw her blade or act on revenge."
Cang Yue remained silent.
Then she asked:
"Will she be the only one?"
"No."
Yun Che's answer came immediately.
Cang Yue looked at him.
"You intend to recruit more."
"Many more."
He pointed toward her.
"Your faction is filled with extraordinary women."
Cang Yue blinked.
"The girls who were discarded by their families for being impure?"
"Yes."
Yun Che nodded.
"Many of them were treated as worthless because they were considered impure after being captured by the Yin Devouring Sect."
His voice became colder.
"Some families abandoned their own daughters, mothers and wives."
"Some were treated as burdens."
"Some were simply forgotten."
Retsu's expression softened.
"They deserve better."
"They do."
Yun Che looked toward Cang Yue.
"And that's where you come in."
"Me?"
"Your faction already gives them a place to belong."
"You give them protection."
"You gives them a future."
"Those girls they cast aside are all Heavenly Yin geniuses. They throw away gems... and you pick them up."
He tapped the apple.
"I give them another path."
"A path where their circumstances become an advantage."
Cang Yue slowly understood.
"You intend to train them."
"Yes."
"Once their cultivation reaches the Emperor Profound Realm, I intend to begin their Assassin training."
Little Fairy's eyes widened.
"That many?"
"Eventually."
Yun Che's expression became serious.
"I don't want a handful of assassins."
"I want an organization."
"A brotherhood."
He paused.
"Or, considering the people involved..."
He glanced toward Retsu, Mio, Nemu, Cang Yue and the others.
"...a sisterhood."
Lin Yueru's eyes brightened.
"The Blue Wind Brotherhood of Assassins."
Yun Che nodded.
"Or the Blue Wind Sisterhood of Assassins."
Cang Yue remained thoughtful.
"Thousands?"
"Technically, we have around three thousand plus members of Cang Yue's new faction."
Yun Che looked toward the horizon.
"Imagine thousands of properly trained Master Assassins operating throughout the Blue Wind Empire."
The room became quiet.
"Not an army."
"Not soldiers."
"Not another sect."
"People who can disappear into the population."
"Gather intelligence."
"Protect vulnerable people."
"Stop threats before they become wars."
"And eliminate individuals who attempt to destroy the balance of the empire."
Qingyue frowned slightly.
"But wouldn't that make them another powerful faction?"
"It could."
Yun Che nodded.
"That's why the Creed matters."
"The Brotherhood cannot become another Sacred Ground."
"They cannot become another Xiao Sect."
"They cannot decide that everyone beneath them is worthless."
"They cannot use their strength to rule."
He looked toward Cang Yue.
"They exist to prevent others from doing exactly that."
Cang Yue slowly nodded.
"But why do we need them?"
Yun Che's expression became unusually serious.
"Because you can't rely on armies forever."
Cang Yue's expression changed.
"Little Yue..."
Yun Che spoke gently.
"We've already seen what happens when the empire is divided."
"The uprising between those supporting your brothers and those supporting your father."
"The political factions."
"The sects manipulating from within."
"The families."
"The struggle of distant provinces."
"Everyone has their own interests."
"Sometimes the empire cannot move quickly enough."
"Sometimes sending an army would cause more destruction than the problem itself."
"And sometimes..."
He looked toward her.
"...you simply won't be there."
Cang Yue became silent.
Mulan lowered her eyes.
Little Fairy's expression also became solemn.
Yun Che continued.
"Neither will I."
Retsu's smile disappeared.
"We won't?"
"No."
Yun Che shook his head.
"Not forever."
He looked at everyone.
"Right now, we're still here."
"We can protect the Jin Family."
"We can protect our families."
"We can intervene whenever something threatens the people we care about."
"But eventually..."
He pointed upward.
"...we will reach Level 100."
Silence.
"And when that happens, we'll ascend."
"Maybe we'll enter another realm."
"Maybe we'll discover another world."
"Maybe we'll never return."
Nobody interrupted him.
"We don't know."
Yun Che lowered his hand.
"But what we do know is that we cannot remain the permanent guardians of this continent."
Cang Yue looked down.
Mulan's expression became sorrowful.
Qingyue quietly clenched her hands.
Even Little Fairy and Chu Yueli understood the implication.
Their strength was temporary protection.
Their presence was temporary stability.
One day, they would leave.
And when that day came...
Who would protect the people they had spent years helping?
Yun Che looked toward Cang Yue.
"That's why we need successors."
"Not successors to our power."
"Successors to our responsibilities."
Cang Yue slowly raised her eyes.
"The Order."
"Exactly."
Yun Che smiled.
"We train them."
"We teach them."
"We give them the tools."
"Then, when we are gone..."
He looked toward the distant city.
"...they protect the people."
Mio nodded slowly.
"Even if we ascend."
"Even if we're gone for centuries."
"Even if the next generation never meets us."
Retsu smiled.
"They'll still know what we stood for."
Nemu nodded.
"And they'll continue the work."
Cang Yue remained silent for several seconds.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Perhaps..."
She looked toward the people around her.
"...that's the kind of future we should build."
Yun Che smiled.
"Exactly."
Chu Yuechan, Chu Yueli, and Qingyue widened their eyes.
They had understood the implications.
If Yun Che truly followed through with this plan...
The Brotherhood of Assassins could eventually become the strongest organization in the world.
Not necessarily because it possessed the most territory.
Not because it commanded the largest army.
But because nobody would know where its members were.
A Master Assassin personally trained by Yun Che could infiltrate sects, gather intelligence, sabotage formations, eliminate key targets, and disappear without leaving a trace.
And if there were thousands of them...
The Brotherhood could potentially surpass even the Frozen Cloud Asgard.
Worse...
Whoever controlled the Brotherhood could theoretically control the entire continent from the shadows.
Chu Yuechan's expression became serious.
"Rascal..."
Yun Che looked toward her.
"You understand what you've just described, don't you?"
"Of course."
"Then you realize that if the Brotherhood becomes too powerful, whoever controls it could eventually control the continent."
Yun Che nodded.
"That's precisely why the Brotherhood cannot be controlled by one person."
Qingyue looked at him.
"Then who controls it?"
"The Creed."
Yun Che's answer was immediate.
"The Mentor doesn't rule the Brotherhood."
"The Mentor guides it."
"There's a difference."
Chu Yuechan narrowed her eyes.
"And if a Mentor becomes corrupt?"
"Then the Brotherhood removes them."
Little Fairy raised an eyebrow.
"Removes them?"
"From leadership."
Yun Che glanced toward her.
"The Brotherhood exists to protect free will. A Mentor who attempts to turn it into a personal army has violated the very principles the organization was created to uphold."
Chu Yueli slowly nodded.
"So even the highest-ranking member is bound by the Creed."
"Exactly."
Retsu puffed out her cheeks.
"You've been planning all this without telling us, haven't you, Yuu-kun?"
Yun Che gave her an apologetic smile.
"I've been considering it."
"That's not what we asked."
Mio puffed out her cheeks as well.
"Danna-sama, you really kept this one hidden."
Nemu remained stoic, although the slight movement of her eyes betrayed her curiosity.
"You have never mentioned possessing Assassin heritage."
"I didn't think it mattered."
"It clearly matters."
Nemu looked toward the others.
"You are establishing an organization based upon your former discipline."
Yun Che sighed.
"Fine. Yes. I should have told you."
Retsu folded her arms.
"We'll let you off this time."
Mio nodded.
"Maybe."
Yun Che stared at them.
"...Maybe?"
"Depends on what else you've been hiding."
"I am not answering that."
Mulan, Xue Ling, Xue Yin, and Lin Yueru had also understood the significance.
Mulan looked toward Cang Yue.
Her faction was already growing.
Those women who had been discarded by their families were gathering under Cang Yue's protection.
They were cultivating.
Learning.
Becoming stronger.
And Yun Che was already training them.
In a few years, some of them could reach the Emperor Profound Realm.
Then...
They could begin their true training.
As Assassins.
Mulan finally understood.
"And one day, when Yue'er reaches the Sovereign Profound Realm under your guidance..."
Cang Yue smiled faintly.
"...the people protecting her won't simply be palace guards."
Yun Che nodded.
"They'll be everywhere."
Lin Yueru's eyes widened.
"That sounds terrifying."
"It should."
Yun Che's expression became serious.
"To anyone who intends to harm innocent people."
"But not to ordinary citizens."
He looked toward Cang Yue.
"In the eyes of the world, they're simply girls belonging to Cang Yue's faction."
"They train."
"They work."
"They serve the empire."
"They protect their princess."
"Nobody needs to know that some of them belong to an ancient order operating from the shadows."
Cang Yue slowly nodded.
"The Blue Wind Brotherhood of Assassins."
"I kind of like it."
Little Fairy suddenly raised her hand.
"Then can Asgardians join?"
Chu Yueli immediately turned toward her sister.
"Nee-san..."
Little Fairy ignored her.
"I'm serious."
She looked toward Yun Che.
"If your students are going to become powerful Master Assassins, then wouldn't it be beneficial for the Frozen Cloud Asgard to have some of them?"
Chu Yueli considered it.
"We can't deny that."
She looked toward Yun Che.
"Anyone trained by you is going to become considerably stronger."
Little Fairy smiled.
"Exactly."
"Imagine having Master Assassins protecting the Asgard."
"They could operate without anyone knowing."
"Mother wouldn't even need to know."
Qingyue's expression became thoughtful.
"It would provide the Asgard with protection without forcing us to mobilize our entire sect."
Yun Che listened quietly.
Chu Yueli continued.
"It could establish an early relationship between the Frozen Cloud Asgard and the Brotherhood."
"If one day our enemies attempt to infiltrate us..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"...we would have our own people capable of responding."
Yun Che nodded slowly.
"A tempting offer."
Little Fairy smiled.
"But?"
"Right now, the Brotherhood doesn't even formally exist."
Everyone became quiet.
"Cang Yue's faction is still undergoing training."
"I haven't inducted them yet."
"The Creed hasn't been formally taught. Only one person knew about it."
"The hierarchy hasn't been established."
"And I haven't even appointed a Mentor."
Chu Yueli frowned.
"Yet you already have a recruit."
"Xuanyuan Yufeng."
"Yes."
Yun Che nodded.
"She's the first."
"But that's different from establishing an entire branch."
Little Fairy understood.
"What would it take?"
Yun Che looked toward her.
"Someone capable of becoming a Mentor."
"The highest rank within the Brotherhood surpassed the rank of Master Assassin."
Chu Yueli's eyes widened.
"Mentor..."
"Only a Mentor can establish a regional Brotherhood."
Yun Che folded his arms.
"That person must understand the Creed completely."
"They must possess the strength to defend the Brotherhood. In this continent, I rather give that one to Monarchs."
"They must be capable of training new Assassins."
"And most importantly..."
He looked directly at Chu Yueli.
"They must understand that the Brotherhood does not exist to serve their personal ambitions."
Chu Yueli became quiet.
Yun Che continued.
"So no, Yueli."
"You can't establish a Frozen Cloud branch simply because you know about the Assassins."
Chu Yueli frowned.
"I understand."
"You were planning to establish your own Assassin branch already, weren't you?"
Yun Che shook his shoulders.
"I was considering it."
"That's basically the same thing."
Chu Yueli sighed.
Yun Che shook his head.
"The Brotherhood is driven by the Creed and its Tenets."
"If people misunderstand them, they'll think the Brotherhood of Assassins is simply a collection of killers."
His voice became firm.
"They aren't."
"A hired killer accepts wealth."
"An Assassin accepts responsibility."
"There's a difference."
Qingyue nodded slowly.
"And if that distinction is lost..."
"The Brotherhood becomes a dark sect."
"Exactly."
Yun Che looked around the room.
"That's why I won't allow the Brotherhood to expand recklessly."
"Every branch needs a Mentor."
"Every Mentor answers to the Creed."
"Every Assassin is taught that power does not give them authority over ordinary people."
"And every recruit must understand that the Brotherhood exists to protect free will, not control it."
Chu Yuechan finally spoke.
"Then perhaps an Asgardian branch isn't impossible."
Yun Che looked toward her.
"Not impossible."
"Just not yet."
Little Fairy nodded.
"We would need someone worthy of becoming a Mentor."
She smiled faintly.
"Then perhaps one day..."
"...the Frozen Cloud Asgard will have its own Sisterhood."
Yun Che smiled.
"Perhaps."
"Then..."
Qingyue suddenly spoke.
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked directly at Yun Che.
"...you could train us."
Yun Che blinked.
"What?"
Qingyue stood straight.
"Since you are the Mentor of the Dead Spirit Realm Assassins..."
She looked toward the others.
"...you could train us to become Assassins."
Yun Che stared at her.
"No."
Qingyue's expression fell slightly.
"I didn't plan—"
"Yuu-kun."
Retsu stepped forward.
"We want to become Assassins."
Yun Che looked at her.
"Retsu..."
Retsu smiled.
"We already follow you everywhere."
"We fight beside you."
"We've learned your techniques."
"We've heard what the Assassins means to you."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"I want to understand it properly."
Mio immediately raised her hand.
"Me too!"
She puffed out her cheeks.
"Train us to become Assassins!"
Yun Che looked between them.
"Girls..."
Nemu quietly nodded.
"I agree."
Yun Che stared at her.
"Even you?"
"Yes, Yuu-sama"
Her expression remained stoic, but her eyes were unmistakably determined.
"We are already among the people closest to you."
"We have learned your combat techniques, Haki, technological knowledge, and various disciplines."
"If the Assassins is another discipline you possess, then I would like to understand it."
She adjusted her glasses.
"Perhaps I could eventually become a Master Assassin as well."
Yun Che rubbed his forehead.
"This is getting out of hand."
Cang Yue smiled.
"Perhaps."
She looked around at the others.
"But they're right."
Yun Che looked toward her.
"Our little group is already a collection of powerful experts whom you've personally trained."
"We're your closest companions."
"We've followed you into battles, ruins, laboratories, and even other worlds once we're ready."
She smiled.
"If you intend to establish an Assassins here, why shouldn't we be part of it?"
Yun Che remained silent.
Cang Yue continued.
"Think of us as the highest members of your flock."
"Not merely cultivators you've trained."
"But people who understand what you are fighting for."
She looked toward Retsu, Mio, Nemu, Qingyue, Little Fairy, Chu Yueli, Xue Yin, Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Mulan.
"We're already part of your inner circle."
"Why can't we become Assassins as well?"
Retsu nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly!"
"Muu..."
Mio puffed her cheeks and cutely wiggle her fists.
"Danna-sama, no fair!"
"But I—"
Yun Che tried to interrupt.
Mulan stepped forward.
"Che'er."
Yun Che looked at her.
"If Assassins truly exist to protect people from those who abuse their power..."
She glanced toward the Jin Province map.
"...then Jin Province is proof that they are necessary."
Yun Che became quiet.
"The Jin Family was nearly destroyed."
"Mu Che was hunted and killed."
"The Wu Clan treated ordinary people as expendable."
"Powerful cultivators have repeatedly decided that weaker people have no right to resist them."
Mulan lowered her eyes.
"If an Assassins had existed here before..."
"Perhaps the Jin Family would not have suffered so much."
Her voice became quieter.
"Not everyone lives happily beneath the protection of powerful sects."
"Some people simply live in fear of them."
Cang Yue nodded.
"She's right."
She looked toward Yun Che.
"We don't want the Assassins to oppress people."
"We want it to prevent others from doing so."
"People like Mai and Mei..."
Her expression softened.
"They lived in fear until we found them."
"What happens when we're no longer here?"
Yun Che didn't answer.
"What happens when we're away?"
"What happens when we're adventuring in another realm?"
"What happens when we're fighting somewhere thousands of kilometers away?"
"Who would look after them?"
"Who would look after father?"
Cang Yue looked around the room.
"What happens when ordinary people need help and none of us are there?"
Her eyes returned to Yun Che.
"That's why we need the Assassins."
"Not because we want power."
"But because we need people capable of protecting those who cannot protect themselves when we're gone."
Yun Che remained silent.
Little Fairy finally spoke.
"You don't have to agree immediately."
Everyone looked toward her.
"But I understand why they want this."
She folded her arms.
"The Frozen Cloud Asgard has survived for hundreds of years."
"We have powerful cultivators."
"We have traditions."
"We have techniques."
"And yet..."
Her expression became solemn.
"We've repeatedly been unable to protect everyone."
"And soon, the thousand-year calamity alone will prove that."
Qingyue lowered her gaze.
Little Fairy continued.
"You have shown us a different possibility."
"An organization that doesn't fight openly."
"One that protects from the shadows."
"One that can continue operating even when the strongest cultivators aren't present."
"We have to follow and abide the rules set by the Asgard whether its against us or not. However, you just give us a way for us to do what it takes not as an Asgardian but, as Assassins."
She looked directly at Yun Che.
"If you don't want to train us, that's your choice."
"But at least allow us to help train the people who will protect our homes even from the shadows."
Chu Yueli nodded.
"Exactly."
"Imagine having Master Assassins protecting the Asgard from the shadows."
"Enemies wouldn't even know they were being watched."
She looked toward Yun Che.
"And if we eventually establish a proper branch..."
Yun Che immediately raised a finger.
"Not yet."
Chu Yueli sighed.
"I know."
"You're still not a Mentor."
"Exactly."
Yun Che nodded.
"And neither of you understands the Creed well enough to establish a branch."
Chu Yueli accepted the answer.
"Then teach us."
Yun Che blinked.
"What?"
"Teach us the Creed."
She looked toward her sister.
"Teach us what an Assassin truly is."
"Then, if we prove ourselves worthy..."
She looked back toward Yun Che.
"...perhaps one day we can establish a branch ourselves."
Yun Che was quiet.
Qingyue stepped forward again.
"That's what I want as well."
She looked at Yun Che with unusual determination.
"I don't want to become an Assassin simply because it sounds impressive."
"I want to understand why you became one."
"I want to understand what you are fighting for in the shadows compared to what you did in the open."
She paused.
"Then, if one day you aren't here..."
Her voice became softer.
"...I can continue it."
Yun Che's expression changed.
Xue Ling and Xue Yin exchanged glances.
The room fell silent.
Retsu smiled.
"Yuu-kun..."
She stepped closer.
"You already train us in so many things."
"Haki."
"Swordsmanship."
"Ki."
"Waterbending."
"Technology."
"Combat."
"Why not this?"
Mio nodded vigorously.
"That's right, Danna-sama! We want to be part of your life."
Qingyue smiled.
"At least let us understand what you are fighting for."
Cang Yue looked toward Yun Che.
"Let us earn it."
Yun Che looked around the room.
Every person was watching him.
There was no greed in their expressions.
No desire for political power.
No desire to become feared.
They simply wanted to understand.
To learn.
To protect.
To carry something forward.
Yun Che finally sighed.
"You girls really don't know when to give up, do you?"
The others nodded.
Yun Che shook his head.
"Fine."
Everyone's eyes widened.
"But..."
He raised a finger.
"This doesn't mean you're automatically Assassins."
His expression became serious.
"And most importantly..."
He looked at every one of them.
"...you will learn restraint."
"Being strong enough to kill someone isn't what makes you an Assassin."
"Knowing that you can kill someone and choosing not to when killing isn't necessary..."
"...that's part of the discipline."
Qingyue nodded.
"I understand."
Yun Che continued.
"And there will be no favoritism."
Mio's expression became serious.
"Even for us?"
"Especially you."
Retsu laughed.
"Fair."
"You'll train as cultivators."
"You'll train as warriors."
"And you'll train as Assassins."
He looked toward Cang Yue.
"If you eventually become Mentors yourselves, you'll have to prove that you understand the Assassins better than anyone else."
Cang Yue smiled.
"And if we fail?"
"Then you don't become Mentors."
Simple.
Direct.
Absolute.
Mulan smiled faintly.
"Then..."
She straightened.
"...we'll simply have to make sure we don't fail."
Yun Che looked at the group.
For the first time, he realized what was happening.
He had originally imagined the Assassins as an organization he would create after solving the immediate problems of the empire.
Instead...
Other than Xuanyuan Yufeng....
Its first generation was already standing in front of him.
The people closest to him.
The ones who had followed him through every strange adventure.
The ones who had seen the world beyond the limits of the Profound Sky Continent.
The ones who understood that one day, he might leave.
And now they wanted to inherit his Creed.
Yun Che smiled.
"Very well."
Yun Che looked around the room.
"You girls really wanted to be Assassins, huh?"
The girls nodded.
Even Qingyue.
She remained quiet, but beneath her calm expression was a simple desire: she wanted to become part of his life.
Yun Che had never planned for any of them to become Assassins.
But now that he looked at them...
He understood.
None of them actually wanted attention.
They wanted to become adventurers.
To travel.
To discover strange places.
To experience things beyond the confines of their sects, families, and kingdoms.
They wanted to see the world with him.
They weren't seeking fame.
They weren't seeking worship.
They simply wanted to live their lives.
And yet, they possessed tremendous power.
Power that came with responsibility.
Perhaps...
The Order could give that power a direction.
They could become heroes nobody knew about.
Yun Che finally spoke.
"Becoming an Assassin isn't simply becoming part of an order."
"It's accepting a responsibility."
The girls listened carefully.
"Sure, we can live normally."
"You can be famous cultivators."
"People can know your names."
"They can know your sects."
"They can know your accomplishments."
"But the moment you become an Assassin..."
His expression became serious.
"Nobody can know."
Retsu nodded.
Yun Che continued.
"Assassins are heroes no one knows about."
"That's the nature of the Order."
"You work in the dark so that others can live in the light."
"The people you save might never know your name."
"The people whose lives you change might never know you existed."
"You might prevent a war, expose corruption, eliminate a tyrant, rescue someone from a powerful faction..."
"And the world may never know who did it."
He smiled faintly.
"That's the point."
"You don't become an Assassin for recognition."
"You become one because you're willing to accept responsibility without receiving praise."
He looked toward the others.
"You can still live your normal lives."
"You can be famous cultivators."
"You can represent your sects."
"You can be Princess Cang Yue."
"You can be guardians of the Blue Wind Royal Family."
"You can be disciples of the Frozen Cloud Asgard."
"You can be adventurers."
"But nobody can know that you're Assassins."
His expression hardened.
"Because if the world discovers that the Brotherhood exists..."
"...then the name 'Assassin' becomes something even the Sacred Grounds should fear."
"Fear tends to lead to destruction of the Order."
The room became quiet.
Yun Che raised three fingers.
"The Brotherhood lives by three Tenets."
First Tenet — Stay Your Blade From the Flesh of an Innocent
"An Assassin must never kill someone who isn't involved in the struggle against tyranny, corruption, or those who abuse their power."
He lowered one finger.
"This keeps us from becoming murderers."
"Before you execute a target, you investigate."
"You confirm what they have done."
"You understand who they have harmed."
"You determine whether removing them will actually benefit the people."
"You don't kill simply because someone offers you money."
"You don't kill because someone offend you."
"You don't kill because you're angry."
"You don't kill because you're stronger."
His eyes became cold.
"We are Assassins."
"Not hired killers."
Mulan quietly nodded.
Yun Che continued.
"Sometimes the correct decision is to kill."
"Sometimes the correct decision is to expose them."
"Sometimes the correct decision is to rescue their victims."
"And sometimes..."
"...the correct decision is to walk away."
"An Assassin must have the judgment to know the difference."
Second Tenet — Hide in Plain Sight
Yun Che raised his second finger.
"An Assassin must disappear into ordinary life."
"Blend into crowds."
"Use the environment."
"Become someone nobody remembers."
He gestured around the room.
"Just like we're doing right now."
Everyone looked around.
"Look at us."
"Frozen Cloud Asgardians."
"Members of the Jin Family."
"Princess Cang Yue's faction."
"Powerful cultivators."
"Adventurers."
"Friends."
"Nobody looking at us would think we're Assassins."
Retsu smiled.
"That's the fun part."
"Exactly."
Yun Che nodded.
"You can become famous for your accomplishments."
"But never for being an Assassin."
"Your enemies can know your name."
"They can know your cultivation."
"They can know your swordsmanship."
"They can know what sect you belong to."
"But they must never know the other identity."
"Because once the world knows who the Assassins are..."
"...the entire Brotherhood becomes vulnerable."
Third Tenet — Never Compromise the Brotherhood
Yun Che raised his third finger.
"This one is perhaps the most important."
"An Assassin's actions must never directly or indirectly endanger the Brotherhood."
"If you're being pursued..."
"Don't lead them to a safehouse."
"If you're captured..."
"Don't reveal the identities of your brothers and sisters."
"If you complete an operation..."
"Don't leave evidence that points toward the Brotherhood."
"If someone discovers your identity..."
"Protect the Brotherhood before yourself."
His voice became solemn.
"If you did the deed..."
"...make sure nobody knows the Assassins did it."
"In the eyes of the world..."
He paused.
"We don't exist."
The girls remained silent.
Yun Che lowered his hand.
"That's the burden."
"You can save thousands of lives and receive nothing."
"You can prevent a war and have nobody know."
"You can eliminate someone who would have murdered thousands..."
"...and history may never remember your name."
He smiled faintly.
"But that's what makes an Assassin different."
"You don't do it for recognition."
"You don't do it for glory."
"You don't do it for power."
"You do it because somebody has to."
Cang Yue slowly nodded.
"So we can still live normally."
"Yes."
Yun Che looked toward her.
"You can be Princess Cang Yue."
"You can attend ceremonies."
"You can govern."
"You can cultivate."
"You can travel."
"You can become famous."
"But nobody can know that Princess Cang Yue is also an Assassin."
Cang Yue smiled.
"That would certainly make things interesting."
Little Fairy laughed.
"Imagine the rumors."
"The princess secretly assassinating corrupt officials at night."
Yun Che shook his head.
"No."
Little Fairy blinked.
"No?"
"That's exactly what we don't want."
He pointed at her.
"If people start telling stories about Princess Cang Yue being an Assassin, you've already compromised the Brotherhood."
Little Fairy nodded.
"Right."
Yun Che looked toward Retsu and Mio.
"Same for you."
"You can be known for your strength."
"You can be known for your swordsmanship."
"You can be known as my companions."
"But never advertise the Brotherhood."
Nemu nodded.
"Maintain separate identities."
"Exactly."
He looked toward Qingyue.
"Your identity as an Asgardian is your public identity."
"Your identity as an Assassin is private."
Then toward Mulan.
"You are a member of the Jin Family."
"Not an Assassin."
Then Xue Yin.
"You're Cang Yue's guardian."
"Not an Assassin."
And finally Lin Yueru.
"You're an archer and adventurer."
"Not an Assassin."
Lin Yueru smiled.
"That's surprisingly easy."
Yun Che shook his head.
"It's easy until you forget."
His expression became serious again.
"Remember this."
"The Brotherhood survives because nobody knows it exists."
"You can be a hero."
"You can save people."
"You can change the world."
"But you don't need anyone to know you did it."
He looked at all of them.
"Live your lives normally."
"Love."
"Travel."
"Study."
"Fight."
"Become stronger."
"Have your adventures."
"Become famous if you want."
"But when you put on the hood..."
His eyes sharpened.
"...you become something the world isn't supposed to see."
Retsu smiled.
"Heroes no one knows about."
"Exactly."
Mio nodded.
"I like that."
Qingyue quietly smiled.
"So do I."
Yun Che looked toward the group.
"Then remember the Creed."
"Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent."
"Hide in plain sight."
"Never compromise the Brotherhood."
He paused.
"Those aren't just rules."
"They're what separates an Assassin from a murderer."
"And if you're willing to carry them..."
His expression softened.
"...then I'll teach you."
Yun Che paused.
"There is one more thing you need to understand before you truly call yourself an Assassin."
The girls looked toward him.
"The Creed."
He raised his eyes.
"Nothing is True."
"Everything is Permitted."
Qingyue frowned slightly.
"That sounds... dangerous."
"It can be."
Yun Che nodded.
"That's why you need to understand what it actually means."
He looked toward the others.
"A famous Assassin once explained it this way."
"To say that nothing is true is to recognize that the foundations of society are fragile."
"Kings."
"Sects."
"Empires."
"Traditions."
"Even the beliefs people consider absolute."
"All of them are constructed by people."
"That doesn't mean they're meaningless."
"It means you should never blindly accept something simply because someone powerful tells you that it is true."
Qingyue listened carefully.
Yun Che continued.
"And everything is permitted doesn't mean you should do whatever you want."
"It means that you possess the freedom to make your own choices."
"Nobody is going to descend from the heavens and physically stop you every time you make the wrong decision."
He looked toward the sky.
"God is watching."
"But God doesn't necessarily stop you."
"You have free will and the ability to make choices."
"You can believe a lie or the truth."
"You can save or hurt someone."
"You can forgive or kill."
"You can build or destroy."
"The choice is yours."
His expression became serious.
"But so are the consequences."
Retsu's smile faded slightly.
"So 'everything is permitted' is actually a warning."
"Exactly."
Yun Che nodded.
"Freedom without responsibility is just another form of chaos."
"Even if you can doesn't mean you should."
"Nothing is true means you should question."
"Everything is permitted means you have the freedom to act."
"Together, they mean..."
He paused.
"...be very careful about what you believe and what you do."
"Because once you exercise that freedom..."
"You have to live with the consequences."
"Sometimes those consequences are glorious."
"Sometimes they're tragic."
Mulan lowered her eyes.
"Like Mu Che."
Yun Che became silent for a moment.
"Yes."
"He made choices."
"He accepted the consequences."
"He protected his family."
"He protected the Jin Family."
"And ultimately..."
"He died for those choices."
Mulan quietly nodded.
Yun Che continued.
"That's why the Creed isn't an excuse."
"It's a responsibility."
Qingyue suddenly spoke.
"But how does that apply to this world?"
Yun Che looked toward her.
"Very easily."
He pointed toward the map of the Profound Sky Continent.
"Take the world we're living in."
"Someone offends a powerful cultivator."
"That person calls his father."
"The father calls his clan."
"The clan calls its sect."
"The sect calls its Sacred Ground."
"All to deal with you."
He tapped the map repeatedly.
"And suddenly..."
"One idiot's personal grudge becomes a conflict involving thousands of people."
Lin Yueru grimaced.
"That happens far too often."
"Exactly."
Yun Che folded his arms.
"Someone can decide to mess with you because they think you're weaker."
"You defend yourself."
"They lose."
"Then they call their father."
"You defeat the father."
"Then the clan comes."
"You defeat the clan."
"Then their sect comes."
"And eventually..."
He looked toward Cang Yue.
"...a Sacred Ground decides that your existence is an inconvenience."
Cang Yue sighed.
"That is unfortunately how the continent works."
Yun Che nodded.
Xue Yin listened quietly. She understood this all too well—when a Sacred Ground sought to possess Enchantresses like her and her sister. They refused, and their entire kingdom became the victim. Now, they lived knowing they carried the very power those Sacred Grounds desired.
"That's why you need to be strong."
"Not because strength gives you the right to oppress others."
"But because strength gives you the ability to protect yourself from those who would oppress you."
He looked toward Qingyue.
"If someone stronger tries to crush you simply because they can..."
"You don't have to kneel."
"You don't have to accept it."
"You don't have to surrender your freedom."
"You can resist."
"But..."
His eyes sharpened.
"Don't let anger turn you into the same kind of person you're fighting."
Qingyue nodded slowly.
"So an Assassin doesn't s eek conflict."
"No."
"An Assassin seeks to prevent conflict from becoming something worse."
Yun Che smiled.
"Exactly."
Mulan looked thoughtful.
"But what happens when someone has too much power?"
Yun Che's expression became colder.
"Then you don't fight them directly unless you have to."
"You investigate."
"You learn their weaknesses."
"You understand their organization."
"You identify the people supporting them."
"You find the source of their power."
"And then..."
He tapped the table.
"...you decide what action produces the least harm."
Retsu smiled.
"That's where the Assassin comes in."
"Yes."
Yun Che nodded.
"You might be a powerful cultivator in public."
"But perhaps you don't need to confront that person as a cultivator."
"You can confront the problem as an Assassin."
Mio tilted her head.
"Meaning?"
"Imagine a powerful sect elder who spends decades abusing ordinary people."
"He has hundreds of disciples protecting him."
"Thousands of soldiers serving him."
"A direct assault would cause a massacre."
Mio's eyes narrowed.
"So instead..."
"Instead, you investigate."
"Find evidence."
"Find the people he has harmed."
"Find the people he controls."
"Find the formation protecting his residence."
"Find his habits."
"Find his weaknesses."
"And if his death is genuinely necessary..."
Yun Che's eyes sharpened.
"...one Assassin can accomplish what an army cannot."
The room became silent.
"That's why the Brotherhood exists."
"Not to prove that we're stronger."
"But to make sure strength doesn't become absolute authority."
Cang Yue looked toward him.
"So if someone threatens the empire..."
"We investigate."
"If someone threatens innocent people..."
"We intervene."
"If someone merely insults us..."
"We ignore them."
Lin Yueru smiled.
"Even if they're annoying?"
"Especially if they're annoying."
"But a few well-placed pranks here and there would be enough to make them think twice about coming near us." He grinned.
Mio giggled.
Yun Che continued.
"If someone attacks you because of a personal grudge..."
"You defend yourself."
"If they escalate..."
"You determine whether they're genuinely a threat."
"If they bring their clan..."
"You deal with the clan if necessary."
"If they bring their sect..."
"You determine whether the sect itself is responsible."
"And if the entire organization becomes a threat to innocent people..."
His expression hardened.
"Then the Brotherhood acts."
Qingyue nodded.
"Not because we hate them."
"Because their actions have consequences."
"Exactly."
Yun Che smiled faintly.
"That is the difference."
"You don't kill because you are angry."
"You don't kill because you were insulted."
"You don't kill because someone is weaker."
"You kill only when the circumstances justify it."
"And if you can solve the problem without killing..."
"Then you should."
Mulan nodded.
"Justice without restraint becomes revenge."
"Yes."
"And revenge without judgment becomes another form of tyranny."
"Exactly."
Yun Che looked around at the group.
"Remember this."
"An Assassin has more freedom than most people."
"But that freedom comes with greater responsibility."
"You have the freedom to choose."
"You have the freedom to act."
"You have the freedom to walk away."
"And you have the freedom to refuse an order."
"But once you choose..."
His voice became firm.
"...you own the consequences."
He lowered his hand.
"That's what Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted means."
"It isn't an invitation to abandon morality."
"It is a reminder that morality means nothing if you surrender your ability to choose."
"The Creed gives you principles."
"Your judgment gives those principles meaning."
"And your actions determine whether you become a protector..."
He paused.
"...or simply another tyrant hiding behind a different name."
The girls fell silent.
Then Retsu smiled.
"Yuu-kun..."
"Hm?"
"That's a lot more complicated than I expected."
Yun Che laughed softly.
"Welcome to the Brotherhood."
Mio puffed her cheeks.
"I thought we were just going to learn how to jump off buildings."
"You'll learn that too."
"Good!"
Everyone laughed.
Even Qingyue smiled.
For the first time, she understood.
The Assassins weren't simply people who killed from the shadows.
They were people entrusted with freedom precisely because they understood how dangerous freedom could become.
And perhaps that was the greatest lesson Yun Che could teach them.
Yun Che looked around the room.
"Then there's one condition."
The girls became attentive.
"If you agree to this..."
He paused.
"...I will personally guide all of you as your Mentor."
Retsu's eyes lit up.
Mio immediately smiled.
Qingyue remained quiet, but her eyes brightened.
Nemu simply nodded.
Yun Che raised a finger.
"But don't misunderstand."
"Your current cultivation doesn't matter."
"Your martial knowledge doesn't matter."
"Your achievements don't matter."
"Even your status doesn't matter."
"Once you enter the Brotherhood..."
His expression became serious.
"...you start as Novices."
Mio blinked.
"Even us?"
"Especially you."
"But I'm already a Throne."
"You're still a Novice."
Mio puffed out her cheeks.
"That's unfair."
"It's necessary."
Yun Che smiled faintly.
"The Brotherhood isn't a cultivation sect."
"It doesn't care whether you're a Sovereign Profound Realm cultivator or a beginner who has never held a weapon."
"Your cultivation is your own discipline."
"The Assassin's path is another."
"You can continue cultivating."
"You can continue practicing your martial arts."
"You can continue learning Haki."
"You can continue using your profound arts."
"But at the same time..."
"I'll teach you the ways of the Order."
"And most importantly..."
He looked at every one of them.
"...judgment."
The room became quiet.
"But before any of that..."
"I want each of you to make your own decision."
Qingyue looked toward him.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want anyone joining because Retsu joined."
He glanced toward Retsu.
"Or because Mio joined."
Mio looked offended.
"Why are you using me as an example?"
"Because you're very cute."
Mio blushed.
"I am?"
"Unfortunately."
Mio puffed her cheeks.
Yun Che continued.
"I don't want anyone joining because they want to stay close to me."
His eyes briefly settled on Qingyue.
She immediately looked away.
"I don't want anyone joining because they think the Brotherhood is powerful."
"I don't want anyone joining because becoming a Master Assassin sounds impressive."
"And I absolutely don't want anyone joining because they think the Brotherhood can be used to advance their own family, sect, kingdom, or personal ambitions."
His voice hardened.
"If you become an Assassin..."
"...you must want it because you believe in it."
"Not because someone else does."
Cang Yue slowly nodded.
"I understand."
For Cang Yue, the decision was complicated.
She would be joining an organization whose existence her father could never know.
Publicly, she would remain Princess Cang Yue.
She would continue governing.
Continue cultivating.
Continue representing the Blue Wind Royal Family.
But secretly...
She would become one of the people protecting it from the shadows.
And one day, when she reached the rank of Master Assassin, she could potentially lead her own regional Brotherhood.
Not as a princess.
Not as an imperial authority.
But as a Mentor.
Someone responsible for protecting the Order and the people beneath its protection.
It was an entirely different kind of authority.
And perhaps that was precisely why she wanted it.
Cang Yue smiled.
"I'll join."
Yun Che looked at her.
"You're certain?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"I don't want to become an Assassin because I'm Princess Cang Yue."
"I want to become one because I believe people deserve to live without constantly fearing those stronger than them."
Yun Che smiled.
"Good."
Qingyue crossed her arms lightly.
She had already made her decision.
The Frozen Cloud Asgard had existed for generations.
It was one of the strongest sects in the continent.
Yet even the Asgard couldn't protect everyone.
If the Brotherhood eventually became stronger than the Asgard...
Then perhaps the Asgard didn't need to fear it.
It could cooperate with it.
Perhaps one day, the Frozen Cloud Asgard could even have its own hidden branch.
A group of women trained in the Assassin's Creed.
Cultivators by day.
Assassins by night.
Guardians nobody knew existed.
Qingyue smiled.
"I'm joining."
Chu Yueli glanced toward her.
"You decided rather quickly."
"I've already thought about it."
Qingyue looked toward Yun Che.
"If one day the Brotherhood becomes powerful enough to surpass the Asgard..."
She smiled faintly.
"...I'd rather have the Asgard standing beside it than against it."
Chu Yueli became thoughtful.
She understood her sister's reasoning.
The Brotherhood could become the strongest organization in the world.
Not because it possessed territory.
Not because it had armies.
But because it could operate where ordinary sects could not.
An alliance with such an organization would be invaluable.
Especially if it remained hidden.
Chu Yueli remained silent for several seconds.
Her reasoning was different.
She didn't care about surpassing the Asgard.
She didn't care about political influence.
She simply wanted another skill set.
For most of her life, her strength had revolved around the Frozen Cloud Arts.
They were powerful.
Elegant.
Refined.
But they were still one path.
Yun Che had shown her an entirely different approach to combat.
Haki.
Swordsmanship without relying entirely on named techniques.
Waterbending.
Observation Haki.
Armament Haki.
Eagle Vision.
And now...
The Assassin's art.
Chu Yueli finally nodded.
"I'll join."
Yun Che smiled.
"Why?"
"I need to broaden my abilities."
She looked toward Chu Yuechan.
"I've spent most of my life mastering the Frozen Cloud Arts."
"But the world is larger than the Asgard."
"I would be foolish to refuse another path simply because it is unfamiliar."
She looked toward Yun Che.
"And becoming a guardian from the shadows isn't a bad responsibility."
Qingyue smiled.
"See? Sister Yueli understands."
Chu Yueli sighed.
"I understand enough."
Qingyue had been quiet the entire time.
Yun Che looked toward her.
"And you?"
Qingyue met his eyes.
She already knew her answer.
She wanted to become an Assassin partly because she wanted to understand him.
Yuuki.
Yun Che.
The man from another world.
The man whose life contained secrets she had only begun to uncover.
She wanted to understand his world.
His Creed.
His experiences.
His reasons for becoming who he was.
And perhaps...
She wanted to understand the part of him that existed beyond Yun Che.
She wanted to understand Yuuki.
She smiled softly.
"I'll join."
"Why?"
Qingyue hesitated.
"Because I want to understand."
"Understand what?"
"Your world."
She looked toward him.
"Your way of thinking."
"Your Creed."
"The Order."
"And..."
She paused.
"...the person you were before I met you."
Yun Che stared at her.
Qingyue's cheeks became slightly red.
"I know that's not the only reason."
She looked down.
"But it is one of them."
Yun Che smiled.
"At least you're honest."
Qingyue nodded.
"And I want to become someone capable of protecting others from the shadows."
She looked toward Cang Yue.
"Not everyone needs to know who protected them."
"Sometimes..."
"...it's enough that they're safe."
Xue Yin didn't need much convincing either.
She looked toward Xue Ling.
"If I can eventually become strong enough to lead Assassins..."
She smiled faintly.
"Perhaps one day they could help reclaim Gesun Kingdom."
Xue Ling's expression became serious.
"You mean the Sun Moon Divine Hall."
"Yes."
Xue Yin's eyes hardened.
"I may never personally become the savior of my kingdom."
"But that doesn't mean I have to accept the Sun Moon Divine Hall controlling it forever."
She looked toward Yun Che.
"If the Brotherhood can weaken those who oppress Gesun Kingdom without sacrificing thousands of soldiers..."
"...then I want to learn."
"Right now, saving the kingdom directly would place me in a position I never truly wanted. I admit, if I did it myself, I would be seen as a guardian—but why should I bear that burden alone?"
"Instead... I can send Assassins to deal with them."
"The kingdom would still be saved, but I wouldn't have to stand as its sole protector, carrying that weight openly, knowing there are others in the shadows ensuring its safety."
She took a slow breath.
"Yes... I'll join your Order."
Yun Che nodded.
"That's acceptable."
"But remember."
"Your goal cannot become revenge."
Xue Yin nodded.
"I understand."
"I want my people free."
"Not dead."
Yun Che smiled.
"Good."
Xue Ling shrugged, then leaned slightly closer and whispered,
"You're joining because you want to get close to him, right?"
Xue Yueli's lips curved faintly.
"Shh… part of it," she admitted without much shame. "But not only that. Becoming an Assassin is… interesting. It's a life completely different from what I imagined for myself."
She glanced toward Yun Che for a brief moment before continuing.
"Besides, I never really wanted to be the sole guardian of my kingdom. I'd rather stay by our princess's side and protect her directly. And if I ever become a Mentor…" her eyes narrowed playfully, "then I can simply send Assassins to handle whatever needs dealing with."
Xue Ling let out a soft giggle. "So that's your grand plan."
Xue Yueli shrugged. "If my sister is joining, then I'm joining too."
Xue Yin looked at her with a helpless expression.
"That's not the answer he wants."
"I know."
Xue Ling smiled.
"But I already believe in what he's building."
She looked toward Cang Yue.
"I'll protect Yue'er."
"Whether I do it openly or from the shadows doesn't matter."
Yun Che nodded.
"Then you'll have to prove that you're capable of doing both."
Xue Ling grinned.
"Fair enough."
Lin Yueru raised her hand.
"I'm joining too."
Yun Che looked at her.
"Any particular reason?"
"Because everyone else is joining."
Yun Che stared.
"That's exactly what I told you not to do."
Lin Yueru laughed.
"Fine, fine."
She became serious.
"I want to become stronger."
"I want to see the world."
"And if I'm going to travel with all of you..."
She smiled.
"...I might as well learn how to protect everyone from the shadows too."
Yun Che nodded.
"That's a better answer."
Mulan was the last.
She had been silent for a long time.
Her thoughts went toward Mu Che.
His memories.
His final moments.
The things he left behind.
The Brotherhood was another part of the world he had once belonged to.
And now...
Yun Che was offering her a chance to understand it.
Mulan slowly nodded.
"I'll join."
Yun Che looked toward her.
"Why?"
"Because I want to protect Jin Province."
She looked toward the Jin Family.
"My father will govern."
"My mother can help rebuild."
"But someone needs to watch what happens beyond the walls."
She paused.
"And perhaps..."
Her eyes became determined.
"...I can eventually bring my mother into the Order as well."
Yun Che raised an eyebrow.
"What about Li Bing?"
"Her as well. Plus, her sister is with Xuanyuan Yufeng, and as you mentioned, she will soon become an Assassin as well. Why not train her too?"
"She's already learning Haki."
"Exactly."
Mulan smiled.
"My father can govern openly."
"My mother can protect the family from the shadows."
"Li Bing and I can serve Yue'er."
"And eventually..."
She looked toward Cang Yue.
"...we can have a Master Assassin protecting Jin Province."
Cang Yue smiled.
"That would be useful."
Mulan nodded.
"Not to control the province."
"To protect it."
Yun Che smiled.
"Then remember that distinction."
"I will."
Yun Che looked around the room.
One by one...
They had made their choices.
Cang Yue.
Qingyue.
Chu Yuechan.
Chu Yueli.
Xue Yin.
Xue Ling.
Lin Yueru.
Mulan.
Retsu.
Mio.
Nemu.
But they would not become Assassins because Yun Che commanded them to.
They would become Assassins because they had chosen the Creed themselves.
Yun Che finally nodded.
"Then I accept your decision."
The atmosphere changed.
Everyone straightened.
"But remember this."
"You may be my companions."
"You may be my students."
"You may be powerful cultivators."
"But once you enter the Order..."
He looked at them with the seriousness of a Mentor.
"...I will treat you as Novices."
Retsu smiled.
"Understood."
Mio nodded.
Nemu bowed slightly.
Qingyue followed.
One after another, the others did the same.
Yun Che smiled.
For the first time, the future members of the Order of Assassins understood that their second lives had begun.
By day, they would remain cultivators.
Princesses.
Disciples.
Guardians.
Members of their families.
Adventurers.
Friends.
But when the hood came down...
They would become something else.
Something the world would never know existed.
The first generation of the Order of Assassins.
Yun Che looked over the group once more.
All of them were looking at him with different expressions.
Some were excited.
Some were serious.
Some were curious.
But none of them looked afraid.
Yun Che couldn't help but smile.
He hadn't expected this.
Not at all.
Originally, he had only intended for them to remain part of his flock.
His companions.
His friends.
The people who traveled with him.
People who could live their lives without being burdened by another identity.
But apparently...
Fate had other plans.
Especially the three standing closest to him.
Retsu.
Mio.
Nemu.
They weren't joining because they wanted political power.
They weren't joining because they wanted to command people.
They weren't even joining because they wanted to become famous.
They wanted to understand him.
His world.
His past.
His way of thinking.
His Order.
Retsu already had her own secrets as a Shinigami.
Mio had her own identity and origins as the Spider of Calamity.
Nemu possessed technological knowledge that would be incomprehensible to the continent.
All three already lived with secrets that the outside world couldn't know.
Becoming Assassins would simply become another secret.
Another layer of their lives that belonged only to them.
And perhaps that was exactly why they were so comfortable with it.
Yun Che quietly chuckled.
These girls really are something.
He had originally wanted to protect them from unnecessary attention.
Instead...
They had volunteered to become people who operated specifically without attention.
It was almost ironic.
He looked toward Retsu.
She was smiling.
Not the playful smile she usually wore.
Not the mischievous expression she used when teasing him.
This one was sincere.
She wanted to understand him.
Not merely as Yun Che.
But as Yukihira Yuuki.
As her beloved fiancée.
The man behind the identity.
The Assassin.
The Mentor.
The person who had lived in a world she knew almost nothing about.
Mio was similar.
She had always been curious about the things Yuuki kept hidden.
His technology.
His abilities.
His history.
Now she wanted to understand another part of him.
And Nemu...
Nemu simply wanted to learn.
For her, the Brotherhood was another discipline.
Another field to master.
Another system to understand.
But beneath that stoic expression, Yun Che could tell she was genuinely excited.
Three secretive girls becoming secretive Assassins.
He almost laughed.
What could possibly go wrong?
Then his gaze moved toward Qingyue.
His smile faded slightly.
Qingyue was different.
He had never planned for her to become an Assassin.
Not even remotely.
In the original plan, she was simply someone who would accompany them.
Someone learning Haki.
Someone learning new sword techniques.
Someone gradually becoming stronger.
But now...
She was standing there because she wanted to understand him.
The real him.
Not Yun Che.
Not the person everyone in the Profound Sky Continent knew.
But Yukihira Yuuki.
The man from another world.
The Assassin.
The Mentor.
The person whose history was buried beneath layers of secrets.
She wanted to know why he believed what he believed.
Why he fought the way he fought.
Why he protected people from the shadows.
Why he valued freedom.
Why he distrusted absolute power.
Why he refused to become another tyrant despite possessing enough strength to become one.
Qingyue wanted to understand all of it.
And now...
She was going to become part of it.
That wasn't in the books.
Yun Che almost smiled at the thought.
The Xia Qingyue he remembered from the original story had been distant.
Cold.
Focused.
Driven by her own path.
But this Qingyue?
She had traveled with him.
Fought beside him.
Learned from him.
Seen worlds beyond the limits of the Profound Sky Continent.
And now she had willingly stepped into another part of his life.
You're much more eager than the Xia Qingyue I remember.
He shook his head slightly.
Maybe this was another example of how much the timeline had changed.
And perhaps...
He didn't mind.
Then Yun Che's thoughts turned toward another woman.
Xuanyuan Yufeng.
His actual first Assassin.
Unlike the women standing before him...
Yufeng had never been given a choice at first.
She had been a victim.
Her mind had been imprisoned for twenty-three years by the Eternal Love Potion.
When Yun Che broke the illusion, he hadn't merely freed her.
He had given her something else.
Knowledge.
Experience.
A perspective from another Assassin.
Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.
Yun Che had already transferred portions of Altaïr's memories through the system.
Not to overwrite Yufeng's personality.
Not to turn her into Altaïr.
But to give her the foundation.
The experiences of a Mentor.
The wisdom gained from decades of mistakes.
The knowledge of the Brotherhood.
The wisdom to understand that an Assassin wasn't simply someone who killed people.
Yufeng would have to grow into her own Assassin.
Her own Mentor.
Her own person.
But Altaïr's experiences could shorten the road.
Yun Che needed her to become strong.
Not merely physically.
Mentally.
Strategically.
Wisely.
Because if the Brotherhood was ever going to expand beyond the Blue Wind Empire...
He would need Mentors.
And if he eventually wanted to strike the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region from within...
He needed someone capable of establishing an Assassin network without his constant supervision.
Yufeng could become that person.
His first true Assassin.
The first Master Assassin of the Profound Sky Continent.
The woman who could eventually train another generation.
And then another.
Until the Brotherhood no longer depended entirely upon him.
That was the long-term plan.
Yun Che didn't intend to personally train every Assassin forever.
He couldn't.
Eventually, he would ascend.
Eventually, Retsu would ascend.
Mio.
Nemu.
Qingyue.
Cang Yue.
All of them.
One day, they would leave this world.
Perhaps they would travel to another realm.
Perhaps they would never return.
That was precisely why the Order needed to survive without them.
An Assassin Order that depends entirely on one Mentor isn't an Order.
It's a flock.
I need to build something that can survive its shepherd.
His gaze returned to the girls.
And suddenly...
He understood why they wanted to join.
They weren't merely asking to become stronger.
They were asking to inherit something.
Something that could remain behind after they were gone.
They had already accepted the burden.
He couldn't help but feel proud.
I really did surround myself with troublesome women.
Then he smiled.
But they're my troublesome women.
No matter how powerful they already were.
And one day...
They would become the first generation of Masters of the Order of the Assassins.
A Brotherhood that the world didn't know existed.
A Brotherhood that would work from the shadows...
...so that everyone else could live in the light.