Xue Nu wanted to leave the Feixue Pavilion, but how could the pavilion, which treated her as a money tree, possibly let her go? Moreover, to operate such a massive gold-sinking den in Jiyang City, the power behind the Feixue Pavilion was imaginable.
And that power was none other than the Yan royal family—serving both to eavesdrop on the officials and to harness its enormous money-making potential. As Yan's officials, even knowing it was run by the royals, they had no choice but to obediently throw money in. Every so often, they'd visit the Feixue Pavilion to deliver funds and hand over some minor leverage to the royals—after all, who would trust someone without a single flaw?
So, Xue Nu had no way to leave, and she couldn't invoke the Daoist sect's name, as they had already announced the sealing of their mountain. Thus, Xue Nu was placed under house arrest by the Feixue Pavilion. Since she could no longer be used to earn money, they might as well gift her to the soon-returning Yan Chun Jun. The pavilion also served as a supplier of playthings for the royals.
Xue Nu sat alone in the Feixue Pavilion, with guards stationed at her door, forbidding any contact with the outside. Meals were delivered to her. She tried to have a maid pass a message, only for the maid to be executed outright. No word could escape.
"Senior Brother, when do you think Xue Nu will come?" Xiao Meng asked.
At such moments, as a man, one should never give a direct answer—because a woman's question like this isn't about the answer at all, but about gauging your attitude toward another woman.
Li Haimo broke into a cold sweat, frantically searching his mind for the right words to navigate this deadly trap.
"Yan Chun Jun is coming back!" Unable to think of a response, Li Haimo dodged, shifting the focus.
"Then shouldn't we leave too?" Xiao Meng heard this and forgot her question. After all, they'd "borrowed" from Yan Chun Jun's mansion twice already. With the creditor returning, it was time to grease their heels and run—not because they couldn't fight, but to avoid exposing their identities.
"Let's meet him. The world says Yan Chun Jun is arrogant, extravagant, and debauched, but to hold the position of Yan's prime minister, he must have some talent. Plus, his discord with Yan Dan is known to all, so I want to see what this man who has kept Yan Dan suppressed really looks like," Li Haimo said.
History often vilified Yan Chun Jun, much like Guo Kai in Zhao. Guo Kai in Zhao had stifled great generals like Lian Po and Li Mu, leading to Zhao's repeated defeats, yet he thrived—even transforming into a Qin official after Zhao's fall. Yan Dan's abilities weren't low either, yet Yan Chun Jun suppressed him until his death. Mere arrogance and debauchery couldn't secure the prime minister's seat.
"Moreover, the actual controller behind the Feixue Pavilion is Yan Chun Jun," Li Haimo added.
"You mean Xue Nu can't leave the Feixue Pavilion?" Xiao Meng realized, saying it with concern.
"She can definitely leave; we just can't let her kill Yan Chun Jun," Li Haimo replied.
"She could kill Yan Chun Jun?" Xiao Meng was somewhat surprised. Xue Nu's martial skills weren't high—even at the lower end of second-rate. How could she kill someone protected by experts?
"Sometimes a woman's body is the best weapon. Yan Chun Jun can't have experts guarding him at all times," Li Haimo explained.
In Qin Moon, Xue Nu had indeed entered Yan Chun Jun's mansion and killed him afterward. Then, she fled to the ends of the earth with Gao Jianli, jumping off a cliff—only to be saved by the Mohist leader Six-Fingered Black Hero, who had been passing by or perhaps waiting there. He brought them back to the Mohist Mechanism City for training, leading to Gao Jianli wielding the sixth-ranked Shui Han sword and Xue Nu becoming a commander.
"But she's your sword attendant now. Are you just going to leave her to fend for herself?" Xiao Meng asked curiously, wondering what plan her senior brother had in mind.
"I want to help, but right now, my heart is willing, yet my strength falls short," Li Haimo admitted helplessly. The Daoist Scripture he'd been cultivating recently refused to manifest no matter what. So, they could only take it step by step. Of course, they could save her—with Xiao Meng there, Xue Nu wouldn't fall into mortal danger. At worst, they'd cause a ruckus in Jiyang City and flee. Unless the Mohists intervened, no one in the entire city could stop Xiao Meng. But that would expose their identities.
The grand army crossed the Yi River, then garrisoned at the border. Yan Chun Jun returned to Jiyang City with only a few hundred guards, handing back the military tallies and seals.
At this point, Yan Chun Jun's mansion was in utter panic from top to bottom. Robbed twice, without even a glimpse of the culprits—how to explain that to Yan Chun Jun? The army had already crossed the Yi River; in three to five days, Yan Chun Jun would be back in Jiyang City. And such a major incident couldn't be hidden. The most frustrating part was that Xue Nu, whom he'd specifically named before departing, was now trying to defect from the Feixue Pavilion.
"Any word from the Mohists?" the mansion's steward asked.
"The Mohist leader sent word that no Mohists have been active in Jiyang City recently. With the great battle at Hangu Pass, nearly all top experts under heaven were drawn there, so it's unlikely who acted in Jiyang City."
"If even the Mohists can't find out, what can we do?" The steward sighed. When jianghu folks were involved and even the Mohists couldn't handle it, what could a mere steward like him accomplish?
"What about Xue Nu? She must perform before Yan Chun Jun returns. Tell the Feixue Pavilion manager: if it can't be done, there's no need to continue," the steward said ruthlessly.
Inside the Feixue Pavilion, chaos reigned like chickens scattering and dogs leaping. It had been the tenth day, but Xue Nu's refusal to perform had sparked dissatisfaction among many princes and ministers. Threats, intimidation, gentle persuasion—nothing worked; Xue Nu simply wouldn't take the stage. They couldn't beat her either—who would perform if she was injured? So, they begged and pleaded like supplicants to grandparents.
But Xue Nu's only tie to the Feixue Pavilion had been her master, who was now dead, leaving her with no attachments.
However, because of Xue Nu's refusal to perform, Gao Jianli sensed something amiss. That night, he sneaked into the Feixue Pavilion, but seeing guards at Xue Nu's room, he could only retreat.
"Whether you perform or not, Yan Chun Jun named you specifically before leaving. So, for the Feixue Pavilion, the outcome is the same either way," the pavilion manager gave up persuading. At worst, when Yan Chun Jun returned, they'd just deliver her to the mansion and be done. The rest wasn't his concern—just the loss of a money tree.
"I can perform!" Xue Nu had no choice; she could only take the stage and wait for her master and Leader Xiao Meng to help.
"If Miss Xue Nu wants to leave, Gao Jianli can assist you," Gao Jianli found a chance to tell her.
Xue Nu glanced at him, somewhat surprised, but shook her head. Before the Daoist leaders had taken her in, if someone offered help, she might have gambled everything. But now, with the two Daoist leaders here, there was no need to drag others in.
"With Yan Chun Jun returning to court, Jiyang City is about to stir with waves again," in Jiyang City, Six-Fingered Black Hero and Master Ban said as they watched Yan Chun Jun's procession enter under the starry night.
For now, their focus was on Gao Jianli, this qin master with a chivalrous reputation in the jianghu. Saving Xue Nu would just be incidental. They had no choice—the Mohists were short-handed now. They'd been clashing with the Yin-Yang school ever since Zou Yan founded it in Yan, sparking endless friction between the two, both based in Yan. In the great Dao struggle, it was life or death. Now, the Yin-Yang school had lost nearly all its experts except Donghuang Taiyi and Chu Nangong—Xing Hun was gravely wounded by Six-Fingered Black Hero's sword, unlikely to survive. They'd already killed Lord Xiang and Lady Xiang before, and now Greater and Lesser Siming—one dead, one injured—leaving only the alchemist Yun Zhong Jun.
As for Dong Jun and Yue Shen, they hadn't grown yet, so the Yin-Yang school's power had plummeted to rock bottom. Of course, the Mohists fared no better—nearly all commanders dead, leaving only the martially weak Master Ban, Xu Fuzi, and the ever-low-key Pao Ding. So, whether Yin-Yang or Mohist, both needed to cease hostilities and cultivate the next generation, lest other schools exploit their weakness.
Thus, the Mohists had their eyes on Jing Ke and Gao Jianli, with Jing Ke as the priority. Six-Fingered Black Hero had even gone to Wuguan to guide Jing Ke's martial arts, without revealing his identity.
As for Gao Jianli, truthfully, Six-Fingered Black Hero wasn't too impressed—hesitant and indecisive. Young people could be impulsive and headstrong, like Jing Ke: charging forward relentlessly, living freely, letting go of burdens, with clear goals. But Gao Jianli dove in headfirst, only to waver afterward, lacking the resolute chivalrous heart.
The Mohists could train people easily, but worthy candidates were rare. Mohist martial arts were hailed as the world's best, with plenty of top-tier techniques. For instance, Jing Ke's swift sword, the Startling Heaven Thirteen Swords—in Mohist eyes, it fell short, so Six-Fingered Black Hero taught him the Life-Seizing Eighteen Swords and Ten Steps One Kill.
Originally, upon seeing High Mountains and Flowing Waters, they considered passing the Shui Han sword to Gao Jianli. But his actions upon returning to Jiyang City made the Mohists hesitate. He'd actually become a qin master for a dancer. So, the Mohists were disappointed.
If Gao Jianli had pursued establishing a school after Kuang Xiu, the Mohists would have unhesitatingly taken him in and helped complete Kuang Xiu's path. But upon returning to Jiyang City, he fell under a woman's spell, disappointing them. Thus, they trained Dao Zhi instead, and the Wei Wuzu survivor from the Hangu Pass battle—Da Tie Chui.
_
If you want to support me and read advanced 70+ chapters and also other stories: patreon.com/Caluem