"You're saying Wuchenzi and Xiaomeng knocked me out?"
In the forbidden grounds of Taiyi Mountain, Beimingzi stirred from his slumber, rubbing his temples. I was at the Human Sect, wasn't I? How did I end up back here? Was it a dream?
"Not exactly knocked out," Chishongzi said cautiously, poised to flee at any moment. "Junior Brother Wuchenzi used Feng Hou's Qimen, Heaven's End alongside Heaven and Earth Discoloration to drain the world's vital energy, causing you to collapse from exhaustion, Master."
"Feng Hou's Qimen, Heaven's End paired with Discoloration? That could do it," Beimingzi mused, nodding. But something nagged at him. He slapped his forehead, realization dawning. "You're telling me Wuchenzi has mastered his cultivation and power?"
Chishongzi froze, piecing it together. Now that I think about it, it did seem like he had full control.
"We've been played," Beimingzi said, his tone laced with malice. "That kid's been in control all along, pretending otherwise to get close to our little cabbage and roam freely between the Heaven and Human Sects."
"No way, really?" Chishongzi hesitated. Who'd have the gall to use Harmonizing with the Light to sneak into the Heaven Sect's women's quarters and get caught red-handed?
"He dared to steal our cabbage—think there's anything he wouldn't do?" Beimingzi shot back.
Chishongzi pondered, then nodded. "Fair point." Still, it seemed far-fetched. "The Human Sect sent Xueji as a betrothal gift to wed Xiaomeng. What do you think, Master?"
"Xueji as a gift?" Beimingzi's face darkened. "Are you daft? Xueji is ours—Heaven Sect's! Since when was it theirs? If they marry Xiaomeng, Qiuli becomes a dowry, and that kid ends up with Xueji anyway. What a stingy proposal!"
"Tell them: two swords from the Sword Registry, or they can forget it. Where they get them is their problem," Beimingzi declared, indirectly acknowledging the match. Across the Daoist Sect, that kid's the only one worthy of Xiaomeng. Her aloof nature hinders her cultivation. Reaching the peak of the martial world is one thing, but Heaven-Man Unity? That requires balance—both heaven and humanity.
Chishongzi returned to the Human Sect's stronghold and relayed the message to Xiaoyaozi. "Master says Xueji belongs to the Heaven Sect. Want it? Challenge us openly in a Heaven-Man Pact. You can marry Xiaomeng, but only with two swords from the Sword Registry as the betrothal gift."
"Two swords from the Sword Registry? Why don't you just rob us blind?" Xiaoyaozi fumed. "I don't even have one myself!"
"I am robbing you," Chishongzi retorted with a smirk. "If you've got the skill, Why don't you marry her." With that, he swaggered off.
In the Human Sect's grand hall, Xiaoyaozi and the five elders exchanged helpless glances. Wuchenzi must marry her, but where to find such swords?
"Sect Leader, the Mohist Giant, along with Master Ban and Master Xu, requests an audience at the gate," a disciple reported.
"The Mohist Giant?" Baiyunzi blinked, surprised. The Daoists in Qin and the Mohists in Yan rarely crossed paths. Why the sudden visit?
Xiaoyaozi's eyes lit up. "The sword-bearers have arrived!" Who has the most famed swords? The Mohists, of course. Their swordsmith lineage, especially Master Xu's family, has crafted countless legendary blades.
Xiaoyaozi personally greeted the visitors at the gate, only to freeze upon seeing Lord Dong of the Yin-Yang School. Composing himself, he welcomed both parties, hosting the Mohist Giant, Six-Fingered Black Hero, in a side hall while delegating Baiyunzi to receive Lord Dong, respecting their differing statuses.
"What brings the Mohist Giant to our humble Human Sect?" Xiaoyaozi asked, ushering Six-Fingered Black Hero inside.
"I killed Lord and Lady Xiang," Six-Fingered Black Hero said bluntly. "Thank you for covering for us." He gestured to Master Xu, who presented a box. "A small token of gratitude. Please accept it."
Xiaoyaozi's mind reeled. The Mohists took out two of the Yin-Yang School's five elders, just like that? And when did we cover for them? We don't have that kind of strength! "Excuse me a moment," he said, offering a Daoist salute before stepping out as Six-Fingered Black Hero returned the gesture.
Baiyunzi appeared at the door. "Senior Brother, you need to hear this."
"What's going on?" Xiaoyaozi asked.
"They've misunderstood," Baiyunzi whispered. "They think Six-Fingered Black Hero, Lord Xiang, and Lady Xiang invaded our forbidden grounds. The Giant escaped, but the Xiangs were killed on the spot."
"When did this happen? How am I unaware?" Xiaoyaozi was baffled. Who started this rumor, and why do they believe it? Then he recalled Six-Fingered Black Hero's words, and it clicked. The Yin-Yang School knew the Xiangs were dead but not that the Mohists were responsible. Rumors claimed Beimingzi and the Human Sect had slain the invaders, so the Yin-Yang School assumed the Xiangs had acted recklessly and came to apologize. Meanwhile, the Mohists, having actually killed the Xiangs, thought the Human Sect was shielding them and came to give thanks.
"Indeed, it was our Human Sect that slew the treasure-seeking Lord and Lady Xiang within our grounds!" Xiaoyaozi declared, seizing the opportunity.
"What did the Yin-Yang School bring?" he asked Baiyunzi.
"Sword Registry's sixteenth-ranked Jianjia and Bailu," Baiyunzi replied.
"Jianjia and Bailu from the Book of Songs Three Hundred Swords?" Xiaoyaozi was stunned. Everyone knows Lord Changping of Qin is collecting those swords, yet the top-ranked pair was with the Yin-Yang School?
"Yes, plus a heap of gifts and gold," Baiyunzi added.
"Entertain them well. See if you can get Tianzhao from them too," Xiaoyaozi said, returning to Six-Fingered Black Hero. The box from Master Xu likely held another sword.
"My apologies for the wait," Xiaoyaozi said courteously.
"We understand your intentions, and we'll take the blame for you," he continued with a smile.
"We're deeply indebted," Six-Fingered Black Hero said. "If you ever need aid, bring my Mohist Giant Token to our Mechanical City, and we'll assist with all our might." He handed over a dark wooden token.
"Well, there is a tricky matter at hand," Xiaoyaozi said after a pause.
"Speak, Sect Leader Xiaoyaozi. If the Mohists can help, we will," Six-Fingered Black Hero vowed.
"It's a bit embarrassing," Xiaoyaozi admitted. "The Human Sect wishes to propose to the Heaven Sect, but Uncle Beimingzi demands two Sword Registry blades as the betrothal gift. We don't have a single one."
The Mohists exchanged glances, stunned. The mighty Human Sect lacks even one famed sword?
"Well, we have some," Xiaoyaozi clarified. "But for a proposal, we need suitable Sword Registry blades. We secured Jianjia and Bailu, ranked sixteenth, but the Heaven Sect counts them as one. We need another pair."
"That's tough," Master Xu said. "Besides Jianjia and Bailu, perhaps only Lord Changping's Guanju fits. Ganjiang and Moye are a pair, but they're ill-omened." And the Human Sect already has Jianjia and Bailu? Impressive.
"Who from your sect is marrying whom from the Heaven Sect, requiring such a gift?" Six-Fingered Black Hero asked.
"Our next Sect Leader, my Junior Brother Wuchenzi, to wed the Heaven Sect's next leader, Xiaomeng," Xiaoyaozi replied.
The Mohists froze. What are the Daoists planning? Merging the Heaven and Human Sects? Separately, each could dominate weaker schools. Together, no one—Confucians, Legalists, Mohists, Yin-Yang, Military, or Guigu—could stand against them.
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