Swish! Swish! Swish!
Figures as graceful as divine maidens from the Moon Palace danced through the grand hall.
The numerous disciples of the Mohist School, who had been preparing to attack, suddenly seemed to fall into a trance.
They stood frozen, unmoving.
If not for Xue Nu still holding onto a trace of past sentiment, these people would have already fallen dead to the ground.
"So this is the Snow Dance Immortal Exercise ranked 7th on the Cultivation Technique Ranking?"
The Mohist School Giant's eyes lit up with greed.
Xue Nu had yet to reach the Heavenly Human Realm. She shouldn't be a match for the entire Mohist School.
She must be brought under control.
In the past, Xue Nu often secretly traveled to Hundred Yue City. He had long been displeased by this.
He had even begun to question her loyalty.
But he hadn't found the right opportunity to deal with her.
Now, the timing was perfect.
Whether Xue Nu harbored ill intent toward the Mohist School, he didn't care anymore.
She was a valuable chess piece.
She definitely still carried bigger secrets.
Coincidentally, the plan involving that person from Chu Kingdom had reached its final stage.
In this final feast of power and blood, Yan Kingdom and the Mohist School must secure their share of benefits.
Thinking this, the Mohist School Giant drew his sword "Non-Aggression" and lunged at Xue Nu with confidence in his eyes.
So what if she cultivated a Heavenly Human-Grade Cultivation Technique?
So what if she had immense potential?
For now, she was still no match for him, the Mohist School Giant.
Whoosh!
Sword energy sliced through the air as Xue Nu's figure flickered.
A series of afterimages shimmered, graceful and otherworldly.
No matter how fiercely the Mohist School Giant attacked with his Sword Techniques, he couldn't touch Xue Nu at all.
"How is this possible?"
The Mohist School Giant was stunned.
Did he just fail?
Impossible!
Boom!
Before he could react, a delicate hand struck his chest.
Blood spurted from his mouth.
The Mohist School Giant was seriously injured on the spot.
"From this moment on, I have nothing more to do with the Mohist School. If you continue to pursue me, I won't hold back next time."
Xue Nu looked coldly at the Giant before her and spoke indifferently.
Having spent much time with women like Yan Lingji, she had come to know secrets that most wouldn't.
The man before her was far from being the righteous and noble figure he appeared to be.
Once she truly understood him, she realized he was nothing more than a hypocrite.
His heart was filled with schemes, ambition, and deception.
What's more, it was clear now that he harbored ill intentions.
Naturally, she would not sit still and await her fate.
Not long ago, she received a secret message from Hundred Yue City.
The remaining forces of the Six Kingdoms, in order to pressure Hundred Yue City into joining the Anti-Qin Alliance, had secretly conspired with the Mohist School Giant to target both her and Hundred Yue City.
This crossed the bottom line in her heart.
She could no longer tolerate the Mohist School Giant.
She had far more important things to accomplish.
How could she fall into the trap of a petty villain?
In her eyes, the Mohist School Giant's actions were no different from those of a clown.
If she had known things would come to this, she would have left the Mohist School long ago and focused solely on her cultivation.
She wouldn't have wasted so many years.
Otherwise, by now, she might have reached the Land Immortal Realm just like Yan Lingji, Zi Nu, and the others.
"Giant!"
"How dare you, Xue Nu! To harm the Giant is an unforgivable crime!"
"Seize her!"
The senior members of the Mohist School were outraged.
To them, Xue Nu had completely betrayed the Mohist School and deserved the harshest punishment.
She was a traitor.
Some even believed that she played a role in the recent forced retreat of Mohist School Mechanical City.
There was no trace of any camaraderie from years of working together.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Snowy afterimages flashed again and again.
Anyone who got close was sent flying.
They crashed heavily into the ground, forming craters with their bodies.
Finally, Xue Nu swept a cold gaze across everyone.
There was no hesitation or attachment.
She left without a trace of worldly concern.
Soon, she vanished from their sight.
"Hurry, Xiao Gao, stop her! We absolutely cannot let her get away!"
"If she escapes, it will severely jeopardize our future plans!"
The Mohist School Giant panicked.
Xue Nu was a key piece in drawing Hundred Yue City into their scheme.
She could not be lost.
Gao Jianli nodded and immediately gave chase.
Outside the Headquarters.
"You want to stop me too? Are you just like the others in the Mohist School?"
"Do you also see me as a traitor?"
Xue Nu watched Gao Jianli warily as he caught up.
To be honest, she knew full well how much Gao Jianli had cared for her over the years.
Unfortunately, her heart had long been tied to that scumbag, and she could no longer feel anything for anyone else.
To her, Gao Jianli was just a friend.
Nothing more.
Now, she truly didn't want to become enemies with him.
"A Xue, I'll help you leave."
Gao Jianli was silent for a moment before he said calmly.
"A Xue, if you ever have the chance, you should leave the Qin Dynasty and head to the Ming Dynasty to find him."
"Even Hundred Yue City won't be safe in the future."
"In the end, no matter who wins between the Six Kingdoms and Qin Dynasty, neither side will tolerate the existence of Hundred Yue City."
"That place is destined to become a land of strife."
"I understand. But Hundred Yue City is far stronger than you think. Come with me."
Xue Nu looked at Gao Jianli in surprise.
She didn't expect him to see things so clearly.
However, he still underestimated Hundred Yue City's capabilities.
Gao Jianli shook his head and gave her one last, complicated look before silently turning back.
From this moment on, the bond between them was truly severed.
In the future, they likely would never meet again.
==========
"Come out!"
After leaving the Mohist School Headquarters, Xue Nu didn't hesitate in the slightest and flew swiftly toward Hundred Yue City.
However, halfway there, she suddenly stopped.
With a sharp shout, she called out.
In the next moment, two figures appeared.
One was a middle-aged man dressed in elegant purple robes.
The other was an old man in coarse linen clothing.
Both of them gave off extraordinary auras.
When Xue Nu saw the old man in linen, her eyes narrowed.
"You are..."
"You're Tian Guang, the Hero Chief of the Agricultural School!"
"You're still alive?!"
She then turned her gaze to the man in purple robes.
Images of people flashed through her mind.
A name surfaced in her memory.
"So it's you. You're not dead either?"
"Now I finally understand what's really going on!"
"No wonder the Mohist School Giant broke ties with me without asking anything. So it was all part of your scheme!"
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The man in purple robes slowly clapped his hands, a look of admiration on his face.
"As expected of the remarkable woman who created a Heavenly Human-Grade Cultivation Technique. Truly impressive."
"Why not submit to me?"
"In the future, once I destroy Ying Zheng and bring down the Qin Dynasty, you will be one of the most noble women in the world."
"What do you say?"
Xue Nu's tone turned icy as she replied.
"Just you? You think you're worthy?"
"It's true that I don't particularly like Ying Zheng either, but at the very least, he's a powerful Emperor, one of the Emperors of the Nine Provinces."
"You, on the other hand, are nothing more than a rat hiding underground, always scheming from the shadows."
"Destroy Ying Zheng? Defeat the Qin Dynasty? What a ridiculous dream."
"You might not even survive an encounter with Bai Qi!"
"If Ying Zheng learns that you're still alive, your death will be extremely miserable!"
Her words were merciless, tearing down the man in purple without restraint.
"How dare you speak to the Lord like that! You must be tired of living!"
The old man in linen roared in fury, his voice sharp and angry.
Xue Nu didn't even glance at Tian Guang.
"If you refuse to cooperate, then I'll just have to do it myself."
"Come back with me. This is not the time for you to appear."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the man in purple lunged forward, intending to capture Xue Nu.
She was merely a Great Grandmaster. How could she possibly resist him?
Xue Nu's expression turned serious. Her right hand clenched tightly at a necklace around her neck.
"Is today the day I have to use the life-saving gift he left me?"
She felt a bit unwilling.
That scumbag hadn't given her many things.
Once used, one less remained.
She had wanted to keep them as mementos.
"Buddha Wrath Fire Lotus, go!"
At that moment, a gentle voice rang out from the distance.
In the next instant, a blazing lotus flower radiating brilliant light flew toward the man in purple and the old man.
Sensing a deadly threat, both of them quickly moved back.
Boom!
A massive explosion echoed through the air.
A terrifying shockwave blasted out in all directions.
Xue Nu seized the moment and retreated without lingering.
She darted away toward the distance.
The man in purple was just about to pursue when another flaming lotus flew at him.
Helpless, he had to retreat again.
He had completely lost his chance to chase her.
"Eastern Monarch Yan Fei!"
The man in purple clenched his teeth in fury.
He muttered the name with hatred.
At such a crucial moment, someone had ruined his plan.
It seemed Hundred Yue City had been on guard against him all along.
Despicable.
So ungrateful.
One day, he would make sure Hundred Yue City was utterly destroyed.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
List of Characters:
Qin's Moon ( 秦时明月 )
・Yan Dan ( 燕丹 ) — Master of Mohist School
・Xue Nu ( 雪女 ) — Commander of Mohist School
・Gao Jianli ( 高渐离 ) — Commander of Mohist School
・Tian Guang ( 田光 ) — Master of Agricultural School