To fear the disapproval of others is to condemn oneself to inaction.
Mount Daqing boasted a truly beautiful landscape, a fact reflected in the ‘Qing’ (green) character embedded within its very name.
Director Ji and his entourage traversed the mountain path, their gazes often sweeping over the magnificent, picturesque streams winding through the distant peaks, then settling upon the vibrant, verdant flora lining their immediate route.
With Polaris’s objectives now laid bare, there was no longer any need for pretense or restraint; a more relaxed demeanor, coupled with an appreciation for the surrounding scenery as they walked, seemed an excellent approach—at least, in Director Ji’s estimation.
Given this rare chance to visit, why approach it with the rigid tension of a mission when they could instead embrace it as a lighthearted excursion, a chance to clear their minds?
As the expedition leader to East Bamboo, he held authority over every participant, all of whom were subject to his command as the Director of the Martial Arts Office. It certainly sounded both prestigious and commanding.
Yet, the reality was starkly different: while the figures trailing him were draped in black cloaks that concealed most of their distinguishing features, these garments did little to alter their true identities. Beneath each cloak resided a celebrated master from the Eastern Continent.
Even now, serving Polaris, they were not truly subordinates to be commanded at will.
Consequently, the role—be it Director of the Martial Arts Office or Manager of the Military Establishment—demanded an individual whose prowess and reputation could command these formidable martial artists, and whose intellect and foresight were equally respected within the Academy of Sciences.
Much like himself and Ren Du…
The mountain itself was not particularly steep, yet its path ascended so gradually that it felt remarkably lengthy.
Villages, whose dwellings ascended with the terrain, dotted the landscape along the mountain path. Director Ji mused that while the East Bamboo Immortal was certainly revered by the locals, she was not feared; otherwise, such close proximity between them would be unfathomable. Conventional mountain folk would likely have long since relocated, seeking to avoid entanglements with players that could ultimately bring misfortune upon themselves.
This village, however, presented an ideal location for an ambush. Should attackers suddenly emerge from its confines, even on this gentle incline, his team could be swiftly cleaved in two, leaving the vanguard and rearguard unable to support each other.
As the mountain peak loomed directly ahead, Director Ji’s eyes narrowed to mere slits.
“Ren Du, how many people did you bring?”
“What’s the matter? Are you feeling uncertain, perhaps considering retreating?”
Ren Du, trailing behind, let out a scoffing laugh. Due to the mountain’s gentle slope, he had begun to walk on level ground. Director Ji’s contingent, however, harbored a noticeable animosity towards him, maintaining a deliberate distance, while Director Ji himself remained quite close.
“Why do you always assume I’d retreat? I’m not one to rely on bluster and fanfare like you.”
Director Ji cast a brief glance at Ren Du, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“It was simply that this village made me realize its potential as an excellent ambush site. If you had brought sufficient numbers, your forces could surge from within, swiftly dividing us into two segments, front and back. And with me standing right beside you, a sudden assault would almost certainly see me subdued instantly.”
“My thoughts weren’t so elaborate. The villagers here are simple and kind. If I were to stage a surprise attack from within their village, even if successful, Polaris—to salvage its reputation and its standing with the various martial factions present—would undoubtedly dispatch forces to level East Bamboo. That would only bring harm to these innocent people.”
Ren Du turned his gaze sideways to Director Ji, his expression unusually grave.
Director Ji, for his part, observed Ren Du’s expression and couldn’t suppress a laugh.
“Were I in your position, I would certainly set an ambush here.”
“That merely exposes Polaris’s true nature: resorting to any means necessary to achieve its objectives… utterly heedless of cost or consequence… believing that victory justifies everything, even the slaughter of an entire city’s populace.”
A tremor of anger and abhorrence laced Ren Du’s voice; he had personally witnessed Polaris’s wartime atrocities during the Academy of Sciences World War over a decade prior.
The tactics were horrific… the devastation unspeakable…
Yet, Director Ji, who had similarly borne witness to Polaris’s wartime brutalities, displayed neither guilt nor resignation, maintaining his placid smile. This demeanor deeply suppressed and enraged Ren Du… akin to a momentarily extinguished flame, its embers still harboring an irrepressible urge to rekindle.
“You and I both understand that in war, only one type of individual is absolved of fault and culpability.”
As one foot touched the mountaintop, Director Ji surveyed the blood-red sunset painting the sky and the young woman seated serenely on a rock, bathed in its fading glow. With a sigh, he finally shifted his gaze back to Ren Du’s face.
“The victors.”
Ren Du’s lips twisted into a sneer of disdain, his eyes fixed coldly on Director Ji. Unconcerned by the scrutiny, Director Ji turned and approached the quietly meditating young woman.
“In the world war of over a decade ago, Polaris emerged victorious.”
“Nandou Star was also a victor.”
The gazes converging upon the young woman emanated not solely from Director Ji, but also from the cohort of black-cloaked figures behind him.
The girl appeared to be merely twenty years old, not significantly older than Yin Cunxin, their guide. It was challenging to reconcile her youthful appearance with the legendary East Bamboo Immortal, who had, for over two centuries, thwarted the Heavenly Kingdom Army and myriad other forces.
She was clad in traditional Eastern Continent attire, though many intricate design details had been streamlined into a minimalist, practical style, presumably to facilitate movement.
Her waist-length hair was simply secured at the back with an ornament, and lightweight gauntlets adorned her hands, attesting to her reputation as a player skilled in unarmed combat.
Director Ji’s focus, however, extended beyond these superficial observations. From the outset, the East Bamboo Immortal remained seated with her eyes closed, radiating not a single wisp of aura. She resembled a lifeless statue, yet an undeniable sense of her living presence permeated the air.
To control one’s emitted aura with such meticulous precision was a feat beyond all but the most profound masters. Little wonder, then, that those who ventured into the mountains seeking her presence were never seen again.
Director Ji’s understanding of the East Bamboo Immortal’s power deepened considerably. In other words, the difficulty of their current operation had just escalated.
As Director Ji advanced, he deliberately released his *xingqi*, or ‘form-qi,’ subtly attempting to challenge the East Bamboo Immortal’s presence with his own aura.
Having discussed the East Bamboo Immortal at length throughout their journey, the time had come to witness her extraordinary capabilities firsthand.
With each step he took forward, a subtle wind began to stir across the mountaintop.
The surrounding bamboo leaves swayed faintly, and hair and cloak hems fluttered in the breeze. This wind, gentle and natural, wasn’t strong; any currents from beyond the peak would instantly merge with this localized phenomenon, whose reach extended only across the mountaintop.
Witnessing this, the black-cloaked figures present found themselves marveling. While they, too, could project their *xingqi*, none could achieve the serene, natural subtlety of Director Ji’s wind.
Yet, as the wind swept towards the East Bamboo Immortal, neither her hair nor the edges of her garments stirred in the slightest. If the entire mountaintop had, at that moment, become Director Ji’s ‘qi field,’ then the space immediately surrounding her rock was her own distinct ‘qi field’ existing within his.
‘What remarkable skill…’
‘An impressive feat,’ Director Ji silently lauded. ‘To counter the currents generated by my projected *xingqi* wouldn’t be inherently difficult; one merely needs to resist with full force.’
However, the East Bamboo Immortal neither resisted nor yielded. Instead, much like Director Ji, she had subtly manifested another ‘qi field’ without any overt movement.
The East Bamboo Immortal’s ‘qi field’ seemed to meld seamlessly with its environment, rendering its presence almost imperceptible. Director Ji’s *xingqi* was thus blocked outside her domain, forcing him to maneuver his own *xingqi* around her, probing for a weakness. His control over *xingqi* was, in fact, inferior to hers. Yet, even this was not what concerned Director Ji most.
With every step he advanced towards the East Bamboo Immortal, the *xingqi*-generated airflow intensified slightly. While others might perceive no significant change in the wind’s force, the East Bamboo Immortal, at the very heart of the ‘qi field,’ could not possibly remain oblivious.
Yet, Director Ji distinctly perceived that the East Bamboo Immortal’s control over her projected *xingqi* remained utterly consistent from start to finish.
To offer a common analogy: when a tightly shut wooden door is buffeted by wind, the person on the opposing side invariably exerts force to brace it, preventing it from being flung open.
The more ferocious the attacking gale, the greater the strength required to hold the door steady.
The East Bamboo Immortal, however, was an exception. Regardless of the intensity of the encroaching *xingqi*, she consistently met it with the exact same level of *xingqi* control.
The East Bamboo Immortal seemed to acknowledge Director Ji’s approach. As he stopped before her, she slowly opened her eyes. In that precise moment, her ‘qi field’ instantly vanished, and Director Ji’s *xingqi*, which had grown increasingly potent due to being obstructed outside her domain, surged forward like a breaching floodwall.
Director Ji understood that the East Bamboo Immortal had purposefully dissolved her ‘qi field’ as a gesture of goodwill. His *xingqi* was intended merely to assert dominance through sheer presence; therefore, even if it now surged forward with overwhelming might, it would amount to little more than a powerful gust, inflicting no actual harm upon the East Bamboo Immortal.
Yet, from another vantage point, this very moment represented the East Bamboo Immortal’s most vulnerable state. Her deliberate retraction of *xingqi* was clearly not an act of hostility, but what if he were to transmute his *xingqi* from ‘imposing presence’ into ‘killing intent’ right now, seizing the opportune moment to strike? Could the East Bamboo Immortal truly withstand such an assault?
Nandou Star had already arrived, placing him at a distinct disadvantage.
If he were to successfully ambush her here, severely wounding the East Bamboo Immortal, he could not only overturn the disadvantage Nandou Star had created but also directly seize control of East Bamboo itself.
While he had conceived numerous plans for victory previously, none seemed as effortlessly attainable as this one, now within arm’s reach.
Despite his yearning for triumph, Director Ji did not allow himself to be blinded by it. Caution was paramount when dealing with anyone; he could not succumb to rash impulse merely for the sake of immediate victory.
Ultimately, he did not strike. Instead, he allowed the currents of *xingqi* to sweep over the East Bamboo Immortal.
Her clothes fluttered at the hem, yet she remained utterly still on the rock, like a statue, her gaze fixed on Director Ji, uttering not a word.
Director Ji met the East Bamboo Immortal’s eyes, hoping to discern her intentions through their depths.
His earlier doubts from their silent confrontation dissolved instantly as their gazes locked.
He finally comprehended why the East Bamboo Immortal had dispelled her ‘qi field’ as a gesture of ‘goodwill.’
It was no gesture of amicability at all… but a trap, designed to lure an enemy.
Had he truly transformed his ‘imposing presence’ into ‘killing intent’ and launched a surprise attack as the *xingqi* currents swept over her, she would have undoubtedly countered with her own *xingqi* with equal force. In that scenario, he alone would have suffered severe injury.
She had deliberately exposed a weakness to provoke him into action.
Had he refrained from striking, it would have demonstrated his friendliness and sincerity.
‘What a cunning mind!’
‘How many others, I wonder, have fallen victim here before?’
However…
Director Ji’s smile faltered. He recalled the previous challengers.
If he had acted just now…
It wouldn’t have been just him who suffered. To prevent any leaks of information, she would have spared no one present.
After all, as the rumors claimed… the East Bamboo Immortal left no one alive under her fists.
Her true strength, he suspected, was even greater than this.