To win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the pinnacle of skill; to subdue the enemy without fighting is the true pinnacle.
The night had deepened, yet the grand courtyard remained bustling with activity.
The martial arts experts brought by Director Ji showed no signs of resting, instead staring at each other, none willing to be the first to seek slumber.
Director Ji stood at the courtyard gate, leaning against a wooden post once used for tethering livestock, his arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted back as he gazed upwards at everything from his vantage point.
East Bamboo was an excellent place for self-cultivation, and had he not been burdened with a mission, he would never have wished to disturb its tranquility.
This place was a strategic stronghold; though inconspicuous in peacetime, its importance would immediately become paramount once war erupted.
Just as Polaris could grasp this, so too could the Southern Dipper Star, for both factions shared the same understanding on this matter: what cannot be controlled must be destroyed.
To secure Polaris’s interests, disturbing this tranquility was the only recourse.
If the local populace cooperated with Polaris’s takeover, it would be considered their contribution to the future unification of the continent.
“You’re back.”
Mr. Yu lifted his head slightly, his gaze meeting Director Ji’s as the latter turned. Both men shared a faint smile before looking towards the distant mountains.
A figure, leaping and bounding like an ape, appeared, executing more than a dozen effortlessly agile and graceful ascents and descents before arriving at the courtyard gate in the blink of an eye. It was none other than Zhu Peiqi, the ‘Cloud-Soaring Constable’ from the Tongtian Qu Sect.
“Old Zhu’s back!”
“Wonderful! Simply wonderful!”
The crowd was astonished by his divine遁甲神行步 (Dun Jia Shen Xing Bu, a type of movement technique), marveling at how the Mountain Sea Pavilion, renowned alongside the Primordial Alliance and the Nine Heavens Palace as one of the three great sects of the Eastern Continent, truly possessed extraordinary prowess.
“This old Zhu has not disappointed; I’ve returned safely.”
Zhu Peiqi chortled softly, bowing his hands in greeting to the crowd. However, their minds were elsewhere; they merely offered a perfunctory return bow before clamoring to ask their questions.
“How many people did Ren Du bring?”
“Who is the most formidable among them?”
“Has Yuan Datong, the ‘Misplaced Sword,’ arrived?”
“Tai Shigong and King Weichi haven’t come, then?”
“Which of the master刀-wielders are here?”
Zhu Peiqi cast an awkward smile at Director Ji, finding himself momentarily bewildered amidst the barrage of questions, unsure which to answer first.
“Quiet! Quiet!”
Tian Qi pushed his way to the front of the crowd, raising his hands to signal for silence.
“Let Director Ji ask first; we will remain quiet!”
At these words, the crowd fell into a sudden, profound silence. As Director Ji was leading this expedition, all matters naturally had to prioritize him. How could anyone usurp his authority? Several sensible individuals quickly stepped aside, clearing a space between Director Ji and Zhu Peiqi.
“Brother Zhu, how many people did Ren Du bring?”
“I wouldn’t dare, you flatter me too much! Director Ji, you are on equal footing with my Grand Master Shenxingzi; how could I presume to call you ‘Brother’? If you don’t mind, you can just call me Little Zhu or Peiqi.”
Noticing that Zhu Peiqi’s words had strayed from the main point, several short-tempered individuals were on the verge of erupting. However, a glance at Director Ji immediately quelled such inappropriate thoughts, and they could only hope Zhu Peiqi would quickly get to the crucial details.
Zhu Peiqi also sensed the shift in atmosphere and cleared his throat.
“From what I observed, Ren Du brought only six people.”
“Only six people, yet they’re so unyielding?”
“Director Ji, why don’t we act tonight, eliminate a few of them, and extinguish East Bamboo Immortal’s notion of siding with the Southern Dipper Star!”
The crowd immediately erupted into a cacophony of voices, discussing the matter. Director Ji, however, merely smiled without speaking. Only after the others noticed his expression and quieted down did he finally speak.
“Fenghu and Yunlong are among these six, correct!”
“Indeed. The Two Elders of Wind and Cloud follow Ren Du’s side like door gods, never leaving him.”
Upon hearing this, the crowd exchanged glances. In particular, Mr. Yu and several other prominent experts nodded to each other, seemingly reaching a silent understanding.
‘When winds stir and clouds gather, only tigers and dragons can truly soar’… The Two Elders of Wind and Cloud, as the sect leaders of the ‘Dragon-Tiger Gate,’ were widely known. During the chaos of the Mortal Realm, these two were already renowned masters of the Southern martial world. In terms of seniority, reputation, or skill, most of those present privately admitted they could not measure up to them. The previous talk of ‘eliminating them’ was now uttered by no one, and those who had spoken such words earlier offered nothing but silent agreement.
“What about the other four?”
Sensing the slight awkwardness in the atmosphere, Chi Yiheng, the scholarly man, gently fanned himself, breaking the silence.
“The first is Wan Ren.”
Upon hearing that name, the black-cloaked figure, who had been clutching their sword, stiffened and involuntarily raised their head to ask.
“Wan Ren, the ‘Cloud-Top Sword Immortal’?”
“Precisely.”
After confirming the answer, the black-cloaked figure’s demeanor quickly returned to normal, and they spoke no further.
This individual possessed a peculiar temperament. While everyone else had removed their cloaks and no longer concealed their identities, they insisted on wearing theirs, never quite fitting in with the group. They had not uttered a single word throughout the journey, yet hearing the name ‘Wan Ren’ had prompted a question, marking the first time anyone had heard them speak on the entire trip.
Most astonishingly, among the assembled martial arts experts, none could say who this black-cloaked figure was. Some only realized such a person was even part of the group after they spoke.
“Though Wan Ren’s swordsmanship is formidable, the title ‘Sword Immortal’ is unfitting. No matter how powerful his swordsmanship, he cannot rival the other person named Wan, so how can he presume to call himself an Immortal?”
The speaker was the arrogant youth leaning by the door. This individual had made one strange remark after another throughout the journey, much to the displeasure of the others. However, out of respect for Director Ji, no one had bothered to argue with them.
“That’s incorrect! So-called ‘Immortals’ are merely given nicknames by others based on their reputation. Sometimes, these nicknames are truly beyond one’s control! Just like I don’t want to be called ‘That’s incorrect,’ yet people always call me that.”
The dwarf beside Mr. Yu chuckled heartily, then earnestly offered a counter-argument. He delighted in arguing for argument’s sake, but his arguments often contained truth. It was simply that others found him irritating and preferred not to contend with him, which meant that despite his formidable strength, he was not well-regarded within the group.
Seeing the logical progression of his argument, the others couldn’t help but find it amusing. Who would argue to such an extent? Perhaps Xiao Zhang held some grudge against Wan Ren and had merely spoken casually to mock him, only for Le Sishu to seriously defend him, as if he had too much time on his hands.
As for ‘the other person named Wan’ mentioned by Xiao Zhang, everyone present knew who he referred to: who else but Sword God Wanzai Chuan?
Observing how the valuable intelligence exchange had veered off course, Chi Yiheng shook his head repeatedly, preparing to continue his questions. Yet, before he could speak, Zhu Peiqi had already blurted out the next name.
“The second is Zhu Jifeng.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Wusheng smiled faintly. Rumors had long circulated that Zhu Jifeng had pledged allegiance to the Southern Dipper Star, and to encounter him here today was truly a testament to how small the world was!
“What a pity!”
“For Zhu Jifeng to be dug out of his peaceful seclusion by the Southern Dipper Star, this is truly…”
“Why would Old Master Zhu do this?”
Zhu Jifeng seemed to be well-liked, or perhaps there was nothing to mock about him. The crowd merely offered scattered remarks, feeling that he shouldn’t have come here, or even served the Southern Dipper Star.
“As for the third person, I truly cannot say who they are.”
Hearing Zhu Peiqi say this, the crowd’s interest was piqued. People sometimes enjoyed speculating on such tantalizing topics.
“It’s a young woman in a yellow gown. Although I haven’t seen her before, she carries the ‘Pardon’ and ‘Slay Heart’ swords on her back.”
“Sword Stand Manor?”
“Do they have no one else?”
“Sending a mere slip of a girl?”
“A disciple of Cheng Lixue?”
Upon hearing that the third person was a girl, the crowd immediately erupted. It was as if they were all grandmasters and leaders of the martial world, and no matter how few people the opposing side sent, they had to be individuals of a similar caliber in terms of identity and reputation.
Fenghu and Yunlong were naturally impressive, and Wan Ren and Zhu Jifeng were also convincing. However, even if Cheng Lixue from Sword Stand Manor could not come personally, they should have sent someone else. What was the meaning of sending an unknown junior here? Were they looking down on all these martial arts experts?
Yu Wusheng and the others secretly scoffed at their own group of so-called martial experts. The fact that Sword Stand Manor would send a junior here precisely indicated their profound confidence in this junior.
“And the last person?”
Seeing the conversation once again drifting off course, Chi Yiheng had no choice but to bring the topic back. He glanced at Director Ji, noticing that Director Ji seemed neither inclined to maintain order nor to continue questioning, instead standing there with a silent smile. He couldn’t help but wonder what Director Ji intended to do. Was he watching this group underestimate their opponents and grow complacent?
“This fourth person was completely shrouded from head to toe. I couldn’t tell who they were either.”
“Oh?”
Yu Wusheng grew interested. If the person did not reveal their true appearance, it was either due to an unpleasant appearance or an unwillingness to expose their identity. Yu Wusheng leaned towards the latter.
“Did they have any distinguishing features?”
“None.”
“Ren Du’s trump card?”
Yu Wusheng looked at Director Ji, who also had no explanation.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s incorrect! ‘Trump card’ is an overstatement. This contest is a confrontation between us and East Bamboo Immortal. The Southern Dipper Star bringing people here is, at most, to lend support to East Bamboo Immortal. Will they personally intervene on behalf of East Bamboo Immortal? If they don’t personally intervene, what kind of ‘trump card’ could there be? Could it be that if this person’s identity is revealed, we would flee in disarray? Did the Southern Dipper Star invite Wanzai Chuan?”
As Le Sishu uttered that last sentence, the crowd couldn’t help but laugh. Sword God Wanzai Chuan had been missing for so many years; not only was he impossible to find, but even if he were, how could Ren Du of the Southern Dipper Star possibly persuade him?
“Are you certain Ren Du only brought six people?”
Chi Yiheng still felt that Ren Du had brought too few people, suspecting some hidden scheme.
“Absolutely certain. I just traversed a thirty-li radius and found no ambushes. Ren Du truly brought only six people.”
“Quality, not quantity, defines an army.”
Director Ji nodded slightly at Chi Yiheng and continued.
“Ren Du should be meeting East Bamboo Immortal right now…”
“Director Ji, do you mean we should…” One person drew a hand across their throat, making a cutting gesture.
“There’s no need. East Bamboo Immortal already has a poor impression of Polaris. Killing Ren Du would not help the contest in any way; it would only make East Bamboo Immortal detest Polaris even more.”
Director Ji gazed at the moonlight, his expression serene.
“Our objective this time is East Bamboo’s territory, not Ren Du’s life.”