"So many traps? Blow them apart."
Standing at the foot of the mountain, Daniel Davis observed the mist-shrouded Mohist Mechanical City perched atop the peak. With a wave of his hand, he commanded the Hundred-Battle Shenji Ballistae to fire.
A barrage of explosive arrows rained down, triggering continuous explosions that shook the ground. The painstakingly arranged traps, laid by the Mohists over decades, were obliterated in moments. Hidden Mechanical White Tigers, concealed within the forest, were caught in the blast before they could even engage.
While the ballistae wreaked havoc, another battle erupted. Members of the Yin-Yang Clan, Six Doors, and the Qin army clashed with elite anti-Qin fighters attempting a covert assault. Though the rebels believed their ambush was well-hidden, they underestimated Daniel's sensory prowess. With his advanced Observation Haki, their movements were as conspicuous as fireflies in the dark.
Yan Dan and his allies, even with plans for retreat, refused to abandon the city without a fight. The Mohist City was their stronghold, and they still had a trump card hidden within.
"Peijia Sect's Mei Sanniang… such a pity," Daniel muttered, watching the battle.
Peijia Sect specialized in external martial arts, techniques emphasizing physical resilience. Women rarely practiced these due to societal norms and the physical changes the techniques caused—muscle tightening and a bulkier appearance, unappealing by conventional standards.
Mei Sanniang was an exception. Despite the limitations of her gender, she had mastered Peijia Gong to an impressive level, maintaining her figure while achieving formidable defenses. Yet compared to experts like Dianqing, who could resist legendary swords like Ganjiang and Moye, she fell short.
Mei Sanniang charged ahead with several others, but her path was soon blocked by the Yin-Yang Clan's Grand Commandant. After exchanging a few moves, it became evident she was outmatched. Peijia Gong offered no defense against the Grand Commandant's Skull Blood Palm, infused with fiery toxins.
After briefly assessing the battlefield, Daniel entrusted command to Meng Yu and headed into the Mohist City. Though many rebel leaders had retreated, figures like Yan Dan and Zhang Liang remained.
"Who goes there?"
As Daniel approached the city gates, ten Mohist disciples rushed to confront him. He stood still, making no move as the disciples closed in. When they reached within three meters, a cold sword light flashed among them.
Moments later, the ten disciples collapsed in pools of blood. Standing amidst the corpses was a figure in ordinary Qin soldier armor, her face obscured by a black mask. She saluted Daniel.
"Grandmaster," the figure said softly.
"Good work," Daniel replied with a nod. The figure was none other than Jingni, one of the Yue King's Eight Swords.
"They suspected you. So, it was Zhang Liang after all," Daniel remarked after Tian Yan relayed the events inside the city through a secret sound-transmitting technique.
He marveled at Zhang Liang's insight. Despite lacking concrete evidence, Zhang Liang had accurately targeted Tian Yan. However, Tian Yan's own cunning rivaled Zhang Liang's. Realizing she was under suspicion, she decisively left the city, feigning innocence.
Zhang Liang's test was sound—he believed a spy would remain to ensure the city's fall. But he underestimated Tian Yan's adaptability and overestimated her importance to the siege. Her departure did not hinder Daniel's plans, and her martial skills meant she could re-enter at will.
The city was eerily empty. Due to the effects of Zhenyu Qianye, most of the Mohist disciples and allied forces capable of action were outside, defending against Qin's assault. The poison had thoroughly disrupted Yan Dan's strategy of holding the city as a stronghold.
Reaching the main hall, Daniel found Yan Dan, Zhang Liang, and several others waiting.
"You haven't left? I must admit, I'm surprised. Aren't you worried about implicating the Confucian School?" Daniel said, directing his gaze at Zhang Liang.
"If the Empire intends to act against the Confucians, my presence or absence makes no difference," Zhang Liang replied, meeting Daniel's gaze.
Through his observations of Han, Zhao, and Wei, Zhang Liang had realized the truth: the window of opportunity to resist Qin was rapidly closing. He remained in the city not out of loyalty but to seize what might be their last chance.
"The Empire will not move against the Confucians," Daniel said calmly. "But time will erode your influence. The Confucian School will decline, not because of suppression, but because of irrelevance."
Zhang Liang's expression darkened. Unlike others, he could foresee the implications of the Empire's reforms. The rise of institutions like schools, coupled with the spread of literacy, meant the days of Confucians dominating cultural thought were numbered.
The reshuffling of the Hundred Schools was already underway. While Daoism's transcendental ideals ensured its continued relevance, others were less fortunate. The rapid rise of the Medical and Logical Schools was particularly notable.
The Medical School, once considered minor, now rivaled the great schools of Daoism, Confucianism, Mohism, and Agriculture. This sparked envy and resentment among the traditional elites. Meanwhile, the Logical School, bolstered by the Empire's propaganda efforts, gained unprecedented recognition.
"Ying Zheng is a tyrant! Cruel, extravagant, oppressive, a scourge upon the people!" Xiaoyao Zi interrupted, stepping forward with righteous indignation. "And you, claiming to be a Daoist of the Heavenly Sect, are nothing more than a lackey of this despot! Have you forgotten the suffering of the common people? The people have long endured Qin's tyranny. Ying Zheng will meet his end!"
Daniel's laughter rang out, interrupting Xiaoyao Zi's tirade.
"Endured Qin's tyranny? Let me ask you—are you truly fighting for the people?"
"For the people," Xiaoyao Zi affirmed solemnly.
"For the people? That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. I've never seen such shameless hypocrisy."
Daniel's demeanor shifted, his voice sharp and scornful.
"Which of you here can claim to be one of the people? Yan Dan, Crown Prince of Yan. Xiaoyao Zi, a noble scion of Zhao. Wei Zhuang, a Korean aristocrat. Zhang Liang, of the Zhang family—five generations as Han's Prime Ministers.
"You're all merely clinging to lost power, masquerading as saviors of the people. If you want to restore your thrones, just admit it. Don't hide behind this façade of righteousness!"
"You—!"
Yan Dan, enraged, stepped forward, but Daniel cut him off.
"Me what? Can you swear before heaven that you had no hand in Six-Fingered Black Hero's death? His remains lie within this very city!"
Yan Dan paled, his lips moving soundlessly as the weight of Daniel's words silenced him.
"Shameless hypocrisy," Daniel continued. "Even Luo Wang's assassins would balk at such falsehoods. And you claim to fight for justice?"
From behind Daniel, Tian Yan, disguised as a young man, added mockingly, "It seems Yan and Zhao's famed heroes are less honorable than Luo Wang's assassins. What a revelation."
The jibe nearly caused Xiaoyao Zi and the others to cough blood in fury.
"You twist the truth!" Xiaoyao Zi exclaimed.
"Twist the truth? The world already knows. The novelists are writing tales of Yan Dan's treachery as we speak. Soon, your so-called heroism will be exposed for the farce it is."
Yan Dan trembled, blood spurting from his lips in rage.
"Attack!" Xiaoyao Zi commanded, his patience spent.
Yan Dan and Wei Zhuang charged Daniel from both sides, swords flashing. Xiaoyao Zi retreated slightly, summoning his technique Snow After Clear Skies.
With a loud bang, Yan Dan and Wei Zhuang were sent flying before their strikes could land. In an instant, Daniel appeared before Xiaoyao Zi, snatching the Snow Scepter Sword from his grasp. With a single thrust, he drove the blade through Xiaoyao Zi's chest, piercing his heart.
Xiaoyao Zi froze, his expression one of disbelief. Moments later, he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
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American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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