Fallen
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🕑 Added 2025-09-20 23:32:05 +0000 UTCChapter 5 Part 1: Political Intrigue and Schemes
Although Li Si came from Xunzi's Confucian school, by Confucian etiquette, he should have first visited Xunzi. But Xunzi would never acknowledge having such a disciple, and Li Si considered himself a Legalist, always putting public duty before private matters.
Thus, though he had arrived in Sanghai, he only formally visited the Little Sage Manor today.
For both public and private reasons, he needed to visit this Confucian giant.
However, Xunzi, angry at his heartlessness and betrayal in killing his fellow disciples, had a servant turn him away.
"Teacher still holds it against me. When my junior brother angered His Majesty and brought death upon himself, it wasn't that I wouldn't save him I was simply powerless."
"Master Uncle is old and has lost a beloved disciple, so naturally he's upset. Prime Minister, don't take it to heart. Sincerity can resolve anything."
"Let's hope for such a day."
"Prime Minister, this way please."
They toured the Little Sage Manor for a long while. As dusk approached, Li Si finally took his leave.
When Li Si returned to Sanghai, he encountered Butcher carrying a food box back to the Youjian Inn, so he stopped his carriage to call him over.
"Shopkeeper Ding, what good work you've done."
Cold sweat broke out on Butcher's forehead, his heart pounding had his Mohist identity been exposed?
"What does the Prime Minister mean..." Butcher bowed, looking at Li Si expectantly.
Seeing Butcher's fearful state, Li Si's anger from being rejected by the Confucians dissipated somewhat.
"Shopkeeper Ding exclusively handles the Little Sage Manor's meals and is highly valued there. Does only the Little Sage Manor catch Shopkeeper Ding's eye in all of Sanghai?"
Butcher's heart eased so he wanted to be served.
"I've long wanted to visit the Prime Minister, but as a lowly commoner, I truly had no connections. Since the Prime Minister summons me, I'll certainly comply with everything."
"Am I someone who indulges in gluttony? I stopped you because there's a fortune for you. Do you know who is most precious in Sanghai now?"
"Naturally, the Prime Minister is most precious."
Li Si gestured toward heaven.
"Most precious is Prince Fusu. The Prince will arrive in Sanghai soon. Shopkeeper Ding, you're Sanghai's renowned chef seize this opportunity well, and future success will be within reach."
After speaking, Li Si lowered his carriage curtain and left.
Only then did Butcher wipe his sweat. "Scholars' hearts are truly dirty taking advantage of me while making me grateful."
When Li Si returned to his residence and dismissed others, he asked:
"Did you find it?"
A figure appeared from thin air one of the Six Sword Slaves, who shook his head at Li Si.
"Back then, Han Fei was investigating the secret of the Azure Dragon constellation, which brought him death. I've always suspected Xunzi told him this secret."
"Whether the Yinyang School got anything from Han Fei, we don't know, but His Majesty has always been suspicious. We must find out, no matter what."
"What power does the Azure Dragon constellation hide that could change the world?"
"Go back. Tell Lord Zhao to keep watching the Confucians. Without my orders, no one may act rashly."
After the other left, Li Si's room fell silent as he contemplated alone.
"Prime Minister Li just mentioned the Yinyang School got something from Han Fei what could it be?"
Cold sweat broke out on Li Si this was Wei Zhuang's voice. He'd been hiding so close without being detected.
"Wei Zhuang, what do you want? To be an enemy of the Empire?"
"Enemy? If you hadn't mentioned Han Fei just now, you'd already be dead. You should know my relationship with Han Fei."
Worthy of being a nation's prime minister, Li Si quickly calmed down.
"Junior Brother Han Fei's death is truly heartbreaking, but it had nothing to do me. He angered His Majesty by advising against attacking Han, so he was imprisoned. He was secretly poisoned by the Yinyang School and died unjustly in prison."
"That's not what I heard. Prime Minister Li contributed quite a bit to Han Fei's imprisonment."
"My junior brother and I had political differences, so naturally we had disputes. Besides, His Majesty doted on Junior Brother Han so much how could I have driven a wedge between them?"
Wei Zhuang was silent for a moment, then believed him. He asked again: "I heard that when Han Fei died, his blood vessels were exposed, red threads covering his body. Is this true?"
"Indeed. I examined the body on orders. The imperial physician diagnosed that he contracted a disease in prison and suddenly died."
"I've seen such wounds before." With that, he vanished.
Li Si looked at the slightly swaying window, sighing inwardly such a terrifying person. Having someone like this as the Empire's enemy was truly disturbing.
While Li Si visited the Little Sage Manor, another major event occurred. After days of investigation, Meng Tian had checked many suspicious places and finally found where the Mohists were hiding.
Joining with the Yinyang School and Gongshu family, he led a thousand Golden Armored soldiers to eliminate the Mohists.
Yinyang School experts quickly cleared out Mohist sentries, keeping close watch on their hiding place while Golden Armored soldiers rushed over.
Inside the house, everyone was discussing when Master Ban suddenly said: "Not good the sentries haven't reported on time. Something's wrong."
Present were Daoist Xiaoyaozi, Ge Nie, Xiang Liang, and various Mohists all experienced people who naturally guarded against surprise attacks.
Xiang Liang pressed his ear to the ground less than five li away. "We retreat according to plan." When they emerged from the house, they saw Xinghun and Da Shaosiming waiting for them.
"Where are you all going?"
"Xiao Gao, take them away first. Ge and I will hold them off."
"I'll stay with you."
Xiaoyaozi held him back, shaking his head. Xiao Gao understood.
"Be careful, both of you." He led everyone away.
Xinghun didn't interfere, letting them go. He spoke to Ge Nie: "We both served the same court. I've long heard of the Sword Saint's fame but never had the chance to spar. Today I can finally fulfill this wish."
Ge Nie flashed toward him. Xinghun gathered sword qi in both hands and charged. They passed each other; Xinghun looked at his torn sleeve.
"Worthy of the Sword Saint. If you had Yuan Hong, I'd have lost this hand."
"If it were Yuan Hong, would you have caught my sword barehanded?"
"Underestimating the Sword Saint indeed requires paying a price. Again."
They charged each other again. This time Xinghun continuously sent out sword qi, no longer directly blocking Ge Nie's wooden sword.
Using invisible sword qi against Ge Nie's fragile wooden sword, which couldn't withstand direct impact so skill overcame force. In an instant, they exchanged dozens of moves.
Meanwhile, Xiaoyaozi and Da Shaosiming fought differently. Da Siming used the Yinyang Harmony technique, striking from a distance, while Shao Siming used Ten Thousand Leaves Flying Flowers from the side. Together, their fierce energy attacked Xiaoyaozi.
But Xiaoyaozi held the famous Daoist sword Xue Ji in one hand while drawing talismans in the air with the other, invisible energy flowing from his fingertips, creating layers of defense.
Their attacks couldn't get near him.
Last time, Da Siming was easily defeated by Xiaoyaozi. Seeing him still so dismissive, using only one hand, she grew angry and her methods became more vicious.
Though fighting two opponents, Xiaoyaozi still had energy to observe Ge Nie and Xinghun's battle. He secretly compared with his own disciples, sighing inwardly Xinghun, so young yet with cultivation no less than several Daoist elders. Within the Human Sect, fewer than five could definitively defeat him, and those were already ancient.
In all of Daoism, only that genius junior sister of the Heaven Sect could surpass this person.
Looking at Da Shaosiming, her cultivation also far exceeded Daoist disciples of the same generation. Currently, Daoism might still suppress the Yinyang School through years of accumulation, but in twenty years, the Yinyang School would likely completely surpass Daoism. Donghuang Taiyi was truly remarkable.
