When Le Yuxin saw the white hair of Yin Yinyin, he immediately understood that the Combat Technique he was cultivating was the legendary Hidden Sword Technique.
In this world, 'legendary' is not always a positive term, especially when it comes to technology: ancient technology inevitably lags behind current technology, much like how Windows XP can't compare to Windows 10; technology is constantly being refined.
Over the past two thousand years in Hui Yao, countless heroes have created countless Combat Techniques, yet only a few dozen have been passed down to this day. The vast majority have become fleeting 'legendary' techniques, seen only in obscure books and historical records for their brilliance.
These 'legendary Combat Techniques' often vanished from history due to factors like learning barriers and overall power, or they were integrated into other techniques with only the essence retained, leaving the name behind.
However, there are a few Combat Techniques that, although the state doesn't inherit them and military academies don't teach them, it doesn't mean they aren't learned, it's just that few people study them.
But precisely because there is a small group of people practicing 'legendary Combat Techniques,' students at military schools like Qian Yu Flow must learn how to deal with 'legendary Combat Techniques,' so that when they encounter these practitioners, they can at least... die without confusion.
The Hidden Sword Technique is one such 'legendary Combat Technique.' Le Yuxin is unclear about the specific cultivation process, but he knows that the key is to hide the light within the body.
However, humans are not plants; cells lack chloroplasts, and molecular structures can't block light, so how can 'light' be hidden inside the body? Despite having received nine years of compulsory education, Le Yuxin remains puzzled, yet the Hidden Sword Technique indeed achieves this.
But the price of 'hiding light' is that the cultivator's lifespan is drastically shortened.
Light is like a sword, not only granting practitioners greater destructive power but also constantly damaging their bodies.
The flaws of the Hidden Sword Technique are more than just a shortened lifespan. According to military academy teachings, the Hidden Sword Technique isn't as strong in technique as current popular techniques, and it might even be weaker. If everyone competes fairly under the sunlight, the Hidden Sword Technique would undoubtedly be crushed by other techniques.
Given its low attack power and life-shortening effect, why is the Hidden Sword Technique deemed a 'must-know' legendary technique by the military academy?
The mystery lies in the 'light hiding' ability of the Hidden Sword Technique.
All Awakener must exert their Combat Technique power in an environment with a light source. In a dark environment, Awakeners are almost indistinguishable from ordinary people, at most only excelling in combat skills. Without a light source, their Spiritual Power can't affect reality.
However, Sword Concealers have light sources within their bodies, so darkness counts for almost nothing as a weakening factor for them. They can not only see in the dark but also maintain a full-strength state as if it were noon!
This is like a group of Mages affected by a magic-debuff, suddenly having one Mage who can cast spells normally.
Thus, in a no-light environment, a Sword Concealer can single-handedly slaughter a group of Awakeners—darkness brings not only a disparity in combat power but also blindness, fear, screaming, and chaos, all of which infinitely amplify the combat power of Sword Concealers.
The Hidden Sword Technique, anciently known as the 'Dark Walk Technique' or 'Assassin Technique,' is a legendary Combat Technique feared for its stealth killing despite lacking power!
Many assassination events in Hui Yao's history bear traces of Sword Concealers.
Therefore, it's completely normal for Le Yuxin to be beaten up by Yin Yinyin in the small dark room. In that situation, not just Le Yuxin, even Blue Flame would have to kneel.
But Sword Concealers aren't without flaws. Due to the rapid depletion of life, Sword Concealers tend to have prematurely gray hair. Thus, when Le Yuxin saw Yin Yinyin's white hair, he instantly knew he was a Sword Concealer.
Practicing the Hidden Sword Technique is explicitly forbidden by law. Once discovered, a Sword Concealer is as good as dead, with official praise for their immediate elimination. Only in areas like Eighteen Streets can Yin Yinyin possibly live low-profile with his hair covered.
"Only three more years to live..." Le Yuxin looked at Yin Yinyin's white hair and asked, "Is it worth it?"
"If I didn't cultivate the Hidden Sword Technique, I wouldn't have lived until now." Yin Yinyin said calmly, "You can see each Sword Concealer is fighting with all they have to live...this is common knowledge too."
"I know this."
Who would practice the Hidden Sword Technique if they had other options?
Such lifespan-cutting techniques must be immensely painful during cultivation.
Hidden Sword, the meaning is to hide the sword into the body, piercing the five viscera and six bowels, becoming part of the body. Sword Concealers who endure this pain to continue cultivating have survival instincts pushed to the extreme.
Although military academies don't teach it, according to Qian Yu Flow's analysis, the Hidden Sword Technique likely possesses a 'quick-learning' hidden feature. Otherwise, given the high difficulty and learning threshold, it would've already faded away in the long river of history without a time-shortening method.
"Alright, I can't waste my valuable three remaining years of life discussing such unproductive topics with you." Yin Yinyin took out a notebook from his pocket, "Let's get to work."
"With your optimistic attitude, I suspect you're lying to gain my pity." Le Yuxin scoffed.
"Death is not what should be feared, what truly terrifies is hopelessness."
Yin Yinyin looked at Le Yuxin, hinting, "That's why you're alive, and 'Stargazer' is dead. He chose death to preserve you as hope...I heard you personally killed him?"
"Yes."
"Well done, you protected both of us and the White Night intelligence network in Star Engraving County." Yin Yinyin poked his notebook with a pen, "Tell me everything that happened that night."
Le Yuxin truthfully recounted the battle between Rich Jie and Kui Zhao, Blue Flame's attack, and Lin Jinyao's outburst. Yin Yinyin recorded while asking, "If you were to fight Blue Flame, what are your chances?"
Le Yuxin shook his head, "Not even ten percent—if Blue Flame was alone, even with others helping me, I still don't think we could hold him, unless we eliminate all light sources and you help."
The Blue Flame of that rainy night left a deep impression on Le Yuxin. Perhaps the term invincible is an exaggeration, but one man forming an army seems fitting—a powerhouse capable of taking bullet storms head-on is worthy of utmost respect.
"Someone like Blue Flame would never tread into a dim light area at night, and he'd likely carry Luminous Stones himself."
Yin Yinyin poked the notebook, "This is common sense, don't bother thanking me."
"Then what about Kui Zhao, in a one-on-one situation can you beat him?"
Le Yuxin thought carefully, "Maybe seventy-thirty, him seventy me thirty. If I find his weakness, perhaps I could increase my odds by ten percent."
This is Le Yuxin's most optimistic assessment—his thirty percent chance includes a gamble on Kui Zhao's desire to save himself whereas he can risk his own life.
"You don't need to emphasize, I won't believe you have a seventy percent chance."
The ink strokes slithered like dragons and snakes, and after recording the intelligence, he said, "Now the Statistical Department is arresting people everywhere based on 'Astrologer's' family's letters. 'Astrologer' is cautious and hasn't exposed any contact with the White Night Walkers, but many of those arrested are seeds we planned to develop..."
Le Yu: "Do we need to find a way to save them?"
The ink stroke figure shook his head: "No need to try anything. Just stick to your duties. Compared to those seeds, you're more important as a linchpin; absolutely cannot act rashly. Soon enough, half of those without much threat will be released."
He paused: "Did you know, 'Astrologer's' family and students have already been released."
"So soon?" Le Yu was shocked. Lin Jinyao's family and students were just taken last night, and released today... not even 24 hours of detention!
The ink stroke figure chuckled lightly: "Your arrest of Mu Feihong at the military academy today had too many onlookers and caused too much of a stir. The military academy students filed a joint petition at noon protesting to Ding Yi. For Ding Yi, these students are his future enforcers, so he had to act, and urged Blue Flame to make a statement, to first release 'Astrologer's' unrelated family and students."
Le Yu thought for a moment and understood the intricacies: the military academy students know appealing to the Statistical Department is pointless, as they're shameless lackeys, so they directly approached Ding Yi, the Governor of Star Engraving— Ding Yi, who cares for his reputation. And with Blue Flame having played the villain, Ding Yi naturally seizes the opportunity to play the hero and win hearts.
"Well." Le Yu breathed a sigh of relief: "Avoiding implicating the family, Mr. Lin has given so much, his family and disciples are innocent..."
At this moment, the ink stroke figure suddenly said ominously: "Innocent? Do you really think so?"
"What do you mean?"
"Let me help you sort out the timeline." The ink stroke figure flips the notebook: "A month ago, 'Astrologer' contacted Mu Feihong, Feng Kawagawa, and other acquaintances, testing their attitudes towards White Night."
"Three weeks ago, 'Astrologer' secretly contacted progressive students after classes, testing their attitudes towards the Counter-light. From then on, they began secret gatherings, studying advanced White Night programs."
"Three days ago, 'Astrologer' finally received permission from White Night headquarters to establish a Star Engraving branch, with the ability to develop reserve White Night Walkers."
"Then, the Statistical Department's arrest of Lin Jinyao occurred."
The ink stroke figure closed the notebook: "Don't you find this timeline somewhat suspicious?"
"Maybe Mr. Lin was too ostentatious in developing new members, which caught the Statistical Department's attention?" Le Yu speculated.
"It's no surprise 'Astrologer' caught the Statistical Department's attention, even his eventual arrest was inevitable." The ink stroke figure reopened the notebook, said casually: "He was always a 'bait'."
Le Yu opened his eyes wide, as various pieces of intelligence collided in his mind to form a new conclusion. He asked urgently: "What do you mean?"
"You must've already reached the answer, yet you still seek my confirmation?"
The ink stroke figure's voice was cold, as if discussing a stranger: "To develop new members in Star Engraving, White Night first needed a respected figure to approach potential progressives. However, respected figures are often key targets of the Statistical Department's observation... From the start, 'Astrologer's' arrest wasn't a matter of if but when."
"From accepting this task, 'Astrologer' was doomed to not outlive me. He was a bait released by White Night; when the Statistical Department took this bait, it signaled our White Night Walkers' operations entering the second phase."
Le Yu took a deep breath: "From the beginning... Mr. Lin was destined to die an unnatural death?"
Thinking this way, Lin Jinyao's instructions to Chiyu Fu weren't baseless worries but prescient delegations. He knew he'd meet death at the hands of the Statistical Department, so he chose Chiyu Fu as his executioner— his death becoming the strongest credential, completely erasing all 'stains' from Chiyu Fu.
"Ha."
The ink stroke figure didn't answer Le Yu's question, "Do you still have the heart to mourn the dead? It's us who are in danger now."
Le Yu was somewhat puzzled: "Mr. Lin is already dead, what danger do we face?"
"Did I not just say, while 'Astrologer' was destined to die sooner or later, the timing of his arrest is suspicious." The ink stroke figure pointed the pen at the notebook: "Right before the White Night branch was about to be established."
"Now 'Astrologer' is dead, but the seed members planted by him are still there, White Night can't abandon these new members, they can only select one from Star Engraving's reserve walkers to lead the White Night branch. And at this time, 'Astrologer's' family and disciples were safely released..."
The ink stroke figure spoke labyrinthedly; Le Yu took a long time to grasp the meaning: "Are you saying someone deliberately reported Mr. Lin to seize victory of the White Night branch's establishment?"
"Can't imagine you being so naive, speaking like a child snitching to parents to snatch toys." The ink stroke figure spoke sarcastically: "Please, in the adult world, there's no fairy tale."
"But you got one point right, someone indeed seized the victory fruit of the White Night branch. After grasping it, surely he doesn't intend to help White Night build a better society, does he? What might he do to convert White Night's resources into his own?"
Le Yu pondered: The White Night branch's resources... what are they?
They are member lists.
These members are mobilizable counter-revolutionary Counter-light elements!
Le Yu suddenly realized: "He wants to sell the new Star Engraving members developed by Mr. Lin to the Statistical Department!"
"A teachable child indeed." The ink stroke figure wore an 'well-done child' expression, laughed: "You can think even deeper."
"'Astrologer' was captured at the verge of establishing a branch, then the Statistical Department sends you to round up suspects the next day, provokes public outcry, pressuring Ding Yi, who in turn has Blue Flame release some prisoners, and these prisoners, due to their experiences, will earn White Night's favor..."
Le Yu inhaled sharply: "So, you mean..."
The ink stroke figure's pale face showed a sickly red, with a slightly excited tone, said coldly:
"From the start, there was a Statistical Department's mole around 'Astrologer'!"
"The Statistical Department waited until now to strike because the timing was ripe, progressives with Counter-light hearts were all lured out by 'Astrologer'. Not only did we regard 'Astrologer' as bait, the Statistical Department also saw him as bait, one luring out rebels!"
"They assisted the mole in removing the obstacles to advancement, embellishing the mole's credentials, just to let the mole obtain White Night branch's complete list."
"After obtaining the list, what happens next is common knowledge: they can easily uproot all latent rebels completely!"