World's First Traitor System (413)

Chapter 413 - My Name is Han Yue

Han Yue? Their savior? Even Fan Li hadn’t anticipated that. He remembered her promise: Do whatever you need to do. I will assist you with all my power.

“Fan Li, let’s go,” Han Yue’s voice that emanated from the shimmering blade was calm and steady with a rare hint of warmth. The sword itself pulsed with a brilliant white light, sharp enough to sever anything.

“Master, let’s go.” Wu Gang transformed into her dragon form and lifted Fan Li and the others onto her back.

Leave? Just like that? Fan Li frowned, glancing back at Han Yue’s sword with concern. “Will you… be alright?” He knew she intended to stay and fight.

“Go,” she replied with quiet confidence. It was enough to quell Fan Li’s unease.

“Alright. Take care.” Then, remembering something, he added, “You promised me three favors. This is the first. Do your best, but don’t risk your life.”

A faint tremor in the blade was her only response.

“Damn it!” The mechanical beasts were resilient. Though battered and scarred by Han Yue’s attack, they rose to their feet. True living creatures would have been dead.

“You cannot escape!” Pulao roared, Shi Jingtang’s voice filled with rage.

But Wu Gang was pushing herself to the limit, and flew towards Peng City.

Han Yue’s sword, radiating a cold, moon-like glow, blocked their path.

“A sword cultivator?” Shi Jingtang was laced with fury.

“Impossible! Mortal swordsmanship has its limits. You cannot have reached this level without ascending! Perhaps… you, too, are a celestial being?”

“I am not a celestial being, nor have I ever been to the immortal realm,” Han Yue’s calm reply came from the sword.

“Lies! Do you think I am a child? I know a celestial sword when I see one!” Shi Jingtang scoffed. Not everyone who wielded a sword understood the Dao of the Sword. His reference to a “celestial sword” implied mastery of the highest order. He had seen such swords, but never faced one.

A brief silence, then, “I do not lie.”

“Hmph!” Shi Jingtang’s disdain was evident. “Sword cultivator, you are strong. But I was unprepared. You caught me off guard.”

The six dragon sons with broken creaking and groaning bodies, moved closer, as if preparing a combined attack.

“Stand down. If you abandon this pursuit, I will withdraw.” Han Yue’s offer of peace wasn’t due to weakness. She had sensed Wu Gang’s compassion for the dragon sons and didn’t wish to harm their souls.

“Peace?” Pulao’s voice took on a strange, almost mocking tone.

Suddenly, the six mechanical beasts began to disassemble, their parts floated in the air before reforming into a single, colossal entity.

Lightning flashed, wind howled. A monstrous, terrifying dragon that was scarred and broken, yet larger than all six dragon sons combined, filled the sky.

“To force me to this… Sword cultivator, you are worthy of knowing my name.” Shi Jingtang’s voice, emanating from the giant dragon, was filled with confidence. This combined form wasn’t complete; only six of the nine had merged. Yet, he was certain no mortal could defeat it.

“Size does not equate to strength,” Han Yue’s calm reply cut through the air. “A mountain is larger than I, yet I can cleave it with a single stroke. A river is mightier than I, yet I can sever its flow.” She paused, a flicker of… something… in her voice. Hesitation? Shyness? Pride?

“I rise from the ashes of shattered faith, reborn from the depths of despair. I am Han Yue, Han Yue of the Brahma Sound Pure Land, Han Yue who will forever remain in Fan Li’s heart.”

Her declaration hung in the air, then, sword pointed at the dragon, “Prepare yourself.”

“Insolent! I am the Emperor of Great Jin, I command the power to create dragons! My dragon has achieved great victories in the immortal realm. I have…”

His boasting was cut short. A line, a single, vertical line, appeared in the sky. A thread connecting heaven and earth, impossible to create with mortal hands. Yet, there it was, clearly visible through the dragon's mechanical eyes. Then, understanding dawned. It wasn't a line, but a sword stroke, severing the dragon from head to tail. The dragon, standing upright like a pillar, was cleaved in two.

After completing its task, he sword flew away.

…

Within Xiongzhou City, Shi Jingtang raged. “My Dragon God! Undefeated in the immortal realm, yet defeated in its first battle here? How?!” The destiny of Xiongzhou, still not fully merged with his own, dissipated amidst his fury. All his efforts wasted.

“No! My Dragon God is not defeated! It wasn’t complete, not at its full strength! It is powerful enough to conquer this mortal realm!” Then, a flicker of hope. The dragon souls! That ignorant sword cultivator’s attack had missed them!

“HAHAHAHA! As long as the souls remain, I can rebuild my dragon!” He cast a spell, reaching out to retrieve the souls.

On the desolate plain, six orbs of light, the souls of the dragon sons, emerged from the fallen dragon. Like lost children, they drifted aimlessly, then, as if drawn by an unseen force, floated towards Peng City. But a hundred meters out, they shuddered violently before turning back towards Xiongzhou.

…

Within the Pure Land, in a small cottage built by the sword cultivators for Han Yue, Xiang Ning paced anxiously. She had been the sole witness to the battle, her heart pounding with fear and excitement. She had cheered when Han Yue’s sword cleaved the dragon, but then, remembering her words – Han Yue who will forever remain in Fan Li’s heart – a blush crept up her cheeks. So bold! So shameless! How could she say such things with such calm indifference? Xiang Ning’s emotions were a tangled mess of jealousy, excitement, and a strange, forbidden thrill. Could I ever say such things?, she wondered. Never!

“Xiang Ning.”

“Hmm?”

“Try confessing.” Han Yue’s voice was soft, almost strained.

Xiang Ning jumped as if startled. “No! Never! Fan Li and I? Impossible! He’s a treacherous minister, and I… I am the Emperor! There’s a difference! Don’t you understand?” She buried her face in Han Yue’s embrace, her ears burning.

A drop of something warm landed on her neck.

“Han Yue, that tickles! Stop dripping water on me!”

No response. Another drop. Is she playing a prank? So childish!, Xiang Ning thought, annoyed. She looked up to scold her, and froze. A trickle of blood stained Han Yue’s lips.

“Han Yue! You’re bleeding! You’re injured! But Shi Jingtang didn't even attack, how…?” Panic set in. She knew the sword cultivators lived in poverty; they barely possessed anything beyond their swords. Even if Han Yue needed medicine, she wouldn’t have any!

“I’ll contact Fan Li!” She retrieved the Dust Destiny Necklace, but Han Yue stopped her.

“Don’t… tell him…”

“But…?” Xiang Ning stared in disbelief as a strand of Han Yue’s hair turned white, a sign of fading life force.

“A sword cultivator carries a sword because she cannot control it remotely. To control a sword from afar… is a celestial ability.” Han Yue coughed, blood staining her robes. “I forced myself today… there’s… a price.”

Xiang Ning stamped her foot. “A price? This isn’t just ‘a price’! Han Yue, I forbid you from ever doing that again! If you do, I forbid Fan Li from marrying you! I am the Emperor! My word is law! Unless he rebels, he will obey! Do you hear me? Never again!”