"Allow me to say a fair word..."

Watching Qin Le Yin's brilliant performance, Zou could hardly contain her laughter.

Only those who don't act won't be discovered. Qin Le Yin believed his plan to be flawless, not realizing it was completely exposed. Zou had been recording his every move from the side, yet Qin Le Yin remained utterly oblivious.

Compared to the experienced Zou, the companion beside her, Ning, was already shocked: "No way, no way, he's obviously lying, will others still believe him?"

Zou: "Since it costs nothing, people will surely believe a little. That's just the way of the world. Humans often choose to believe the truth they want to believe, even if it's a truth they fantasize about."

Ning: "But Qin Le Yin is obviously doing this for self-preservation!"

Zou: "That's his brilliance. Everyone knows it's for self-preservation, yet they also believe he's doing it for their own good. It's like how children know parents raise them for future rewards, but they also believe it comes from genuine care. Besides, Qin Le Yin never claimed to be a good person, so as long as he shows a bit of kindness, it appears even rarer and more precious."

Ning: "Zou, you know so much! How did you learn it?"

Zou: "Knowledge isn't something you learn. You think you're pursuing knowledge, but in fact, knowledge pursues you. You're still young. As long as you live long enough, you'll become accustomed to people's scheming and plotting... Shh, he's about to perform."

Qin Le Yin's voice overshadowed the forest winds, shaking the leaves: "...The world is split into nine divisions, Yanjing is exhausted. This is indeed a critical time of life and death. Yet the guards do not slacken within, and the loyal forget themselves outside, all in pursuit of the rare recognition and to repay it in the future..."

Ning: "I don't understand. Is this some grand principle?"

Zou: "That's just how they are. They like to present their selfishness as selflessness, their desires as everyone's desires, to hide their ugliness and filth and to resonate with others... This is called giving an excuse, so even if they suffer losses, they can comfort themselves by saying it's for 'the greater good,' making it easier to feel at peace."

Ning: "It's so complicated. Why be so bothersome? Isn't it just the victors being kings, losers being bandits?"

Zou: "That's politics. It's said to be the game of civilized people, but actually, it's no different from the law of the jungle."

"...I was a commoner, farming in Dongyang, striving to preserve my life amidst the chaotic times, not seeking fame among the lords. Who knew that Jing Zhengwei, arrogant and unreasonable, colluded with officials, lawlessly seized my mansion and fields... Later, in Yanjing, I was tasked with seeking the Sword, ordered amidst danger, this was truly not my wish."

Qin Le Yin clasped his hands and said: "Hongle only seeks a straw hut, a plot of land, a billion dollars, wishing for a lifetime of peace and happiness, at peace with poverty."

Ning: "Qin Le Yin sounds like he truly has no great ambitions."

Zou: "To be fair, he doesn't."

"If the Eye of Omniscience is nearing its end, the struggle is already meaningless. Who dares guarantee they can laugh till the end? Who dares guarantee they won't be the king's vanguard?" Qin Le Yin's voice grew louder: "Let's not mention the Thousand-Faced Sword Sheath, the Moon Banquet Palace's subordinate behind me who can disguise and transform, and control beasts with ears and eyes throughout Yanjing. Even here, there's the elusive Instant Extinction Sword Sheath watching like a hawk."

"Niruo's blade, Mie Tang's gun, Cai Nu's twin swords, Hongle's sharp claws, are also not without effectiveness."

"Who dares to make a move will have to face the attacks of others. Who dares claim victory, who can avoid defeat?"

"Hongle is unskilled, but once fantasized about controlling the situation, defeating you all, and indeed, by luck, achieved some victories through surprise attacks when unnoticed." Qin Le Yin clasped his hands: "However, even now that you are all wounded, I have no confidence in defeating you alone, let alone solving all the Sword Sheaths..."

"I once thought I could, when you were in a bad state, reap your lives like a scythe."

"Alas, I lack that capability."

Qin Le Yin glanced around: "And neither do you."

Ning: "Qin Le Yin is so arrogant. If it were me, I'd shout for everyone to go over and beat him out of his wits."

Zou: "You don't understand. You have to combine his previous words to judge. He previously said he has no ambition or capability, now he says you, like me, also have no capability. He's actually complaining about his allies suppressing him. Qin Le Yin's real meaning is 'I've done so much, yet you can't even handle the last bit,' the others would be too guilty to resent Qin Le Yin. If he shouted 'All Sword Sheaths are useless,' the others would likely not react."

Ning: "Why would they feel guilty when he's clearly insulting them?"

Zou: "Because everyone thinks Qin Le Yin has contributed a lot. It's like how a wife chastises her husband for lacking ability, the husband will feel guilty."

"I just unexpectedly 'chanced' to meet the lost Moon Banquet Palace in the forest. I'm planning to take her to find her Thousand-Faced Sword Sheath, and by the way, get to know it, for it is indeed a Sword Sheath capable of a myriad of transformations. Maybe when we're all dead, it could easily assist the Moon Banquet Palace in achieving the final victory. I hope it will lend a hand in the future..."

Qin Le Yin spoke softly yet sharply, spreading his hands: "If you still want to fight, forgive Hongle for not accompanying you. If you want to attack me, feel free, but I hope that when you make your move, no one takes the opportunity to attack your back."

Niruo and the others simultaneously looked at the Ming Yueyan, Cai Nu's heart moved, and she spoke from a distance: "Why not..."

"No way!" Both Niruo and Mie Tang Ya shouted sharply.

Qin Le Yin was slightly stunned, then immediately had a smile brimming with joy: "Hongle is by no means that kind of person. Once I see the Thousand-Faced Sword Sheath, I will return it to the Moon Banquet Palace and certainly won't do anything unnecessary."

Ferocious: "What kind of riddle are they playing? I don't understand."

Sabo: "Didn't you see the Sword Master of the Moon Banquet behind Le Yin Qin? That sheath named Cai Nu plans to have Le Yin Qin take the Sword Master of the Moon Banquet hostage to threaten her sheath, hoping to eliminate a sheath directly. However, both Le Yin Qin and Niruo Mettangya immediately vetoed this proposal—they cannot accept such despicable tactics."

Ferocious: "Despicable? But aren't they secretly forming alliances and ambush attacks? Isn't that despicable?"

Sabo: "This might be related to 'talent'. The ability to contact other allies and secretly ambush is considered one's own talent; like Cai Nu and that Gunman, they hardly engage in direct combat, mostly in stealth attacks, but it's the talent they've learned. Le Yin Qin can deceive so many people, that's his talent. Being assassinated or deceived can't be blamed as others being despicable, it's just your own incompetence."

"However, using bullying to force the strong to submit is different. It doesn't require talent; anyone with a will can do it, which is why they can't accept it. Because they have family and friends too, and if one day they die on the battlefield, they won't complain, but they fear their family or friends becoming hostages."

"Even in a fight to the death, there is a 'morality' they must adhere to."

Ferocious: "But clearly using despicable means could yield better results; why bind yourself with 'morality'…"

Sabo: "But haven't you noticed, there are more opponents than supporters here? These sheaths all enroll in this game with great ambition; their bottom line is much lower than normal people's, yet they still uphold the last bit of morality, proving that once behavior crosses the lowest moral bottom line, the results can be harmful instead."

Ferocious: "Then why does Cai Nu dare to cross the line?"

Sabo: "The gap between people is bigger than between people and dogs, it's normal. Plus, one's baseline often relates to their parents, but many don't have parents."

Suddenly, a cold voice nearby said: "The first sheath to exit will surely be the one with the lowest baseline—Cai Nu."

The speaker was their third companion, Huang.

Unlike Sabo and Ferocious, who were showing a new companion the world, Huang was not talkative, living without virtue, enjoying the knife-edge battles, unfriendly to the weak, submissive to the strong... Yet, although Huang doesn't like observing, his insight is precise; when he speaks, he's never wrong.

Their discussion, naturally, was unheard by others. Le Yin Qin scanned the surroundings and stepped forward.

"Now, I will take her away. Everyone, excuse me."

He led Ming Yue Banquet, stepping through the forest. As he passed by Niruo, Niruo grasped his long knife; passing by Mettangya, Mettangya lifted his long gun.

But Niruo wasn't looking at Le Yin Qin; his gaze was on Mettangya;

Mettangya wasn't looking at Le Yin Qin, he was staring at Niruo.

They locked eyes, sparks flying, filled with sharp killing intent.

Yet no one made a move; everyone watched Le Yin Qin and Ming Yue Banquet's departure, then exchanged a glance, each dispersing in different directions.

Ferocious was surprised: "They really didn't fight?"

Sabo: "This is why Le Yin Qin wanted to take the lead in leaving. They had just sparked true anger; if they were to retreat and cease fighting now, it would be a loss of face, and they'd worry whether others might seize the moment to pursue. Because once you retreat, you appear weak, and once you show weakness, it's akin to putting a target on your back."

"The law of the universe is survival of the fittest; the weak on the battlefield are always the first to die."

"Only when Le Yin Qin is the first to leave and makes everyone understand that they all share the thought of a ceasefire retreat will they simultaneously choose to abandon. Were it not for Le Yin Qin's confidence that no one would attack him, otherwise, his move would be quite risky—such as if Niruo and Mettangya both launched at the same time, he'd be finished."

"However, Niruo wants to protect him, Mettangya wants to protect him—all have reached a delicate balance, so Le Yin Qin can maintain that delicate balance, even after fulfilling the agreement, everyone will still consider him an ally, allowing him to leave safely."

Ferocious: "I've seen a type of bird before, where the female only stays in the nest, and different males bring her food every day…"

Sabo: "Yes, your understanding of Le Yin Qin is quite accurate. Birds seek reproduction, while sheaths hope to continue collaborating with Le Yin Qin—even though they gained nothing from this cooperation, they saw Le Yin Qin's sincerity and naturally hope for future collaboration."

"Recently there's a new term called 'sunk cost'. Despite putting in so much for Le Yin Qin, unless he blatantly betrays—even if he does, yet immediately repents—they would choose to forgive Le Yin Qin for the sake of previous 'sunk costs'."

"Though we all know, this time Le Yin Qin was the biggest beneficiary, others might have suffered a beating but didn't have substantial loss. Just like the hopeful male bird, before they recover their investment from Le Yin Qin, they will definitely maintain this alliance."

"And that's Le Yin Qin's purpose—he wishes to be that female bird who, staying in the nest, continuously has males serving her!"

Ferocious: "Sabo, you're amazing! You understand so well!"

Sabo: "Besides tasks, you should spend more time around the Imperial Academy too. Le Yin Qin's lessons are quite interesting, worth attending."

During their conversation, Le Yin Qin walking ahead clearly sighed in relief, and just then, an unfamiliar person suddenly ran up.

"Teacher Hongle!" she said in a hurried tone: "Someone—or possibly a sheath—is trying to kill me!"

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