CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 107: NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ASSASSINS BETTER THAN ME

"You’re... a Hidden Sword Assassin?"

When Qian Yuya spoke, her gaze never left Wei Weiwei’s hair. Wei Weiwei touched his own head and chuckled, "Looks like you know quite a bit about the Hidden Sword Technique."

"I’ve read a few random books in the library, so I know a little," Qian Yuya said.

"Good, the Royal Academy’s library is definitely worth frequenting—over two thousand years of brilliance and culture are collected there. Even a single odd book could turn out to be invaluable when you least expect it," Wei Weiwei urged like a teacher, then explained, "You find my hair color strange, not fitting the characteristics of a Sword Concealer, right?"

Qian Yuya nodded. According to various martial artists’ journals, unofficial accounts, and even the official line, Sword Concealers always had a head of pale white hair—the only difference was the length. But Wei Weiwei’s hair, though gray-black, leaned more black than gray; it was nowhere near "pale." At most, it looked like premature aging, not nearly Sword Concealer material.

Of course, if Wei Weiwei’s Sword Concealer traits were so obvious that even Qian Yuya could tell, he would’ve been strung up in the market long ago—there’d be no way he would still be teaching at the Royal Academy.

"The Hidden Sword Technique’s effect on hair color isn’t irreversible," Wei Weiwei said, "When there is light in a Sword Concealer’s body, that brilliance constantly ravages the Sword Concealer, so to keep balance between body and fighting strength, they choose to hide the radiance in some unimportant part—the hair is the most cost-effective body tissue Sword Concealers have found."

"As long as they maintain their Sword Concealer identity, white hair is nearly inevitable."

Qian Yuya immediately understood, "You... gave up the Hidden Sword Technique?"

Giving up a combat technique, put simply, just meant not using it.

But unlike other techniques—for example, Qian Yuliu’s Biting Battle Technique could make his hand hurt so much he couldn’t concentrate on artbooks at night, so he might give up on it, but if danger struck, he could still use Desolate Bite to smash an enemy’s head in.

But not so for the Hidden Sword Technique. If a Sword Concealer depleted all the light in their body, they totally lost their ability to fight in darkness—their combat capability would then be worse than other martial artists at the same level.

Qian Yuya didn’t know exactly how much time it took for a Sword Concealer to replenish the radiance, but guessed it was anything but short—it could even be drawn out. "Assassins aren’t idiots; if the Hidden Sword Technique was ’charge and go,’ they would just drain all the light normally and only reload when things got desperate."

"Yes, I gave up the Hidden Sword Technique," Wei Weiwei noticed Qian Yuya’s expression and laughed, "You don’t really think I sacrificed something precious, do you? Honestly, the Hidden Sword Technique is useless to normal people. Other than assassins, who would want to live in darkness?"

"Even among us assassins, we’ve always wanted to climb up to the light."

"A basket full of gold is not as valuable as teaching your children a single classic."

Wei Weiwei picked up a pebble and tossed it into Falling Star Lake, making a dozen skips on the water.

"That’s why White Night arranged for me to teach at the Royal Academy," he chuckled, "All I want this life is to just be an ordinary teacher."

Qian Yuya didn’t get distracted by his tangent. Her beautiful eyes were calm and unruffled, "So, you plan to trust Yinyin Yin again?"

"No, I didn’t say that, and besides, it’s not my call to make," Wei Weiwei said, smiling, "I’m just an ordinary teacher. When it comes to big decisions for White Night, I don’t get to weigh in."

"Then why are you talking about this with me?" Qian Yuya frowned, "Are you testing me? Watching me? Putting me to the test?"

Wei Weiwei rubbed his temples and sighed, "Oh, dear! Why are you so clever, so candid, so insightful—makes me feel insignificant."

He clapped gently and grinned, "Alright, you caught me—about the decisions in Dongyang District, I do get a tiny say after all."

"And..."

Wei Weiwei’s smile faded.

"I am indeed testing you, watching you, putting you to the test."

Qian Yuya wasn’t shaken by his words, she just watched him quietly. The Lakefront Pavilion fell silent, until Wei Weiwei suddenly burst out laughing,

"Don’t get me wrong, I’m not just testing and watching you—I’m testing and watching all the students in the Academy. Sure, every White Night Walker gets to make recommendations, but since I’m here at the Royal Academy with not much to do, I can screen more good candidates for White Night."

"Don’t be conceited, don’t be self-abasing. Even though we haven’t known each other long, I do think you’re truly an outstanding woman, Qian Yuya. I brought up Dongyang because I wanted to hear your thoughts, but also because that’s White Night’s intention."

"White Night is choosing you, but you’re also choosing White Night. We’re not arrogant enough to think our revolutionary group can just recruit whoever we want. Telling you about Yinyin Yin is White Night’s good faith; we think you deserve to know, perhaps even advise us. If that helps White Night score points in your eyes, so much the better."

Wei Weiwei said seriously, "Even if you thought we could cooperate with Yinyin Yin, we might not agree. If you were dead set against working with him, we might suddenly want to seize the opportunity instead."

"Don’t feel pressured; you’re an outsider—your opinion can’t shake White Night’s decisions. But I will take your advice into consideration."

Faced with Wei Weiwei’s sincere gaze, Qian Yuya fell silent for a moment, then replied, "I need to know more about Dongyang District."

Wei Weiwei was ready, pulling another file from his briefcase. "This is a partial reconnaissance report from an Imperial Court agent in Dongyang from a year ago. I borrowed it from the library as a teacher, so handle it with care," he reminded her.

"It’s not like I can snap my fingers and burn the documents like you..." Qian Yuya flipped through the report. It only covered conclusions and summary over a few pages—she finished skimming it in minutes.

After reading, Qian Yuya handed the file back to Wei Weiwei, stood, and looked at Falling Star Lake, biting her hand lightly between her lips.

Wei Weiwei wasn’t in a hurry either. Out of courtesy, he didn’t look at Qian Yuya’s back, instead continuing to skip pebbles across the lake.

"Emotionally, I still don’t believe someone like Yinyin Yin would overthrow a behemoth like the Silver Blood Association out of sympathy. That’s at least as hard as toppling the Imperial Court."

Qian Yuya suddenly said, "And I don’t believe Yinyin Yin has what it takes to bring down Silver Blood. After all, he’s just another assassin who relies on brute force."

"A reasonable judgment," Wei Weiwei said, skipping the stone twenty-three times this go-round.

Qian Yuya continued, "But rationally, I think Yinyin Yin is going to turn Xuanzhu County upside down."

"He’s a trickster—he fooled my older brother, fooled the White Night branch in Star Engraving County, and ruined everything there singlehandedly. Yinyin Yin might not be good for achieving things, but he’s much more than enough to destroy them."

"And," Qian Yuya gripped the pavilion railing with both hands, eyes fixed on her own reflection in the lake as if looking at someone far away, "as long as he lives, I’ll have my chance for revenge one day."

"Brilliant analysis," Wei Weiwei tossed five pebbles at once into the lake, not caring about the results, then turned to Qian Yuya, "Is that your answer sheet?"

"Did I pass?"

"Personally, I want to give you full marks, but my word doesn’t count here." Wei Weiwei shrugged, "What about White Night? The White Night in your mind—does it pass?"

Qian Yuya said calmly, "That depends on whether you’re really the ’White Night in my mind’—or just the ’White Night I see with my own eyes.’"

"Alright, looks like Qing Ni and the others still have a long way to go," Wei Weiwei said, shrugging. "Discussion’s over. Don’t you have a second class to get to? Off you go."

But Qian Yuya didn’t hurry off. She asked, "And what about you, Mr. Wei? You want to work with Yinyin Yin, right? Because you’re from the same background?"

Wei Weiwei blinked and smiled, "No, actually, I’m the one in White Night who most wants to catch Yinyin Yin."

"Why?"

"If you know about the Hidden Sword Technique, then you know no Sword Concealer lives long," Wei Weiwei said quietly, "The reason Yinyin Yin betrayed us in Star Engraving County was because he wanted an Extreme Divine Weapon—it could restore life to us Sword Concealers, even extend our lives."

"If we catch Yinyin Yin, that weapon would belong to White Night—and that means it would belong to me. I could live a little longer..."

Qian Yuya asked, "If Yinyin Yin didn’t betray you, would you benefit too?"

"Yes," Wei Weiwei nodded, "So it’s a real pity... I had no idea Yinyin Yin was so rigid—even on the verge of the final battle, he wouldn’t open the reward first. If he had, maybe..."

"What are you talking about?" Qian Yuya couldn’t follow his muttering.

"Nothing," Wei Weiwei shook his head, "But, you’re not wrong either. I do want to catch Yinyin Yin, but at the same time, I want to work with him."

"Because people like us—once we’ve seen the light, we really can’t crawl back into the darkness."

With that, Wei Weiwei picked up his briefcase and left.

At this, Qian Yuya remembered Li Ying’s instructions, stepped forward, and asked, "The damage from the Hidden Sword Technique is irreversible, right? Mr. Wei, how much longer can you live?"

"It’s said there was once a hundred-year-old man in a northern village. When he passed, the folks from ten miles around all came to mourn him, but afterward, nobody remembered him; no deeds, no heirs, not even his name recorded in history—he died as light as a feather. There was also a fierce general under the Glorious Patriarch—he swept the northern barbarians while still young and died campaigning at thirty. The Patriarch wept for him, and history recorded his deeds for ages—he died as heavy as a mountain. As long as I do some great thing before I die, what does it matter when I die?"

Wei Weiwei held up three fingers and smiled, "I’ve got three years left till I’m thirty. Remember to burn some incense for me at my funeral, Qian Yuya." With that, he strode away, light on his feet.

Li Ying, your taste in men is just the worst... Qian Yuya thought.

...

...

Outside Xuanzhu County, Jing Mansion.

"Doesn’t hurt anymore?"

"Doesn’t hurt anymore!" Qing Lan looked at Leyi, delighted, "You know the Scenic Battle Technique too, Young Master? So amazing!"

Leyi laughed it off, pulling his hand away from Qing Lan’s stomach and fiddling with the "Saint’s Relic" bracelet. "This life force is really versatile—even cures period cramps," he thought.

Qing Lan had looked pale since morning, and when Leyi asked if she was sick, she hemmed and hawed for ages before admitting it was menstrual pain. Leyi had been about to call the Medical Officer, but then remembered his "Saint’s Relic—Soul Purification Devil Sword" had been idle for a while, so he tried channeling some life energy to Qing Lan.

He hadn’t expected it to work, which shocked him.

"If Yinyin Yin could see me using an Extreme Divine Weapon to treat period cramps from nine springs under, he’d probably jump up and smack my knee... Not that I don’t want to make the most of it, but I’m not a Sword Concealer anymore."

"What’s a lifesaving talisman for others is just a heat pack for period cramps in my hands—life really is that bizarre."

"Nobody ever gets what they want."

"Heading out, Young Master?" Qing Lan went to get the car keys by reflex, but Leyi waved a hand, "You don’t have to drive today. I’m just going out for a wander."

"Huh?" Qing Lan looked a little deflated, "Then what should I do?"

"Read, relax. No sense running around with cramps."

Leyi paused at the door, "I’ll probably pass by Stone Street at the main gate—anything you want me to pick up?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Qing Lan instantly perked up, "Osmanthus sugar, pork fish sausage, shrimp dumplings, pan-fried buns, claypot rice cake... so many things! I’ll write them all down!"

By the time Qing Lan finished her list, she looked up to find Leyi was long gone. Pouting, she flopped onto the bed to sulk, but before long, she was hugging the blanket and giggling to herself over who knows what.