The Mole, Another Mole

When Le Yu saw Yin Yinyin's white hair, he immediately understood that the combat art it practiced was the legendary Hidden Sword Combat Arts.

In this world, "legendary" isn't always a compliment, especially concerning technology. Ancient technology is inevitably inferior to modern technology, just as Windows XP can't compare to Windows 10; technology constantly improves.

Over two millennia, countless heroes in Huiyao created innumerable combat arts. However, only a few dozen have survived to this day. Most combat arts have become "legendary" techniques that appeared fleetingly, their brilliance seen at most in miscellaneous books and unofficial histories.

These "legendary combat arts" often disappeared from history due to various reasons like high learning thresholds or overall power, or they were integrated and learned by other combat arts, taking only the essence and leaving no name.

Yet, there are a few combat arts that, while not officially passed down by the state or taught in the Military Academy, are still learned by a very small number of people.

But precisely because there exists this small group of people who practice "legendary combat arts," Military Academy students like Qian Yuliu must learn how to deal with them. That way, when they encounter these practitioners of legendary combat arts, they can at least... die understanding why.

Hidden Sword Combat Arts is one such "legendary combat art." Le Yu wasn't clear on the specific training process; he only knew that the key to practicing Hidden Sword Combat Arts was to conceal light within one's body.

But humans aren't plants, their cells don't have chlorophyll, and their molecular structure can't block light. How could "light" be hidden within the body? Le Yu, having completed nine years of compulsory education, was utterly baffled, yet Hidden Sword Combat Arts could indeed achieve this.

However, the price of "hiding light" was a drastic shortening of the practitioner's lifespan.

Light, like a sword, not only grants the practitioner greater destructive power but also constantly damages their body.

The flaws of Hidden Sword Combat Arts weren't limited to a shortened lifespan. According to the Military Academy's teachings, from a technical standpoint, Hidden Sword Combat Arts was no stronger than currently popular combat arts; it was even a notch weaker. If everyone competed fairly under the sun, Hidden Sword Combat Arts would undoubtedly be utterly crushed by other combat arts.

Yet, why was Hidden Sword Combat Arts—which had low offensive power and even damaged one's lifespan—considered a "legendary combat art" that the Military Academy deemed essential to understand?

The secret lay in the "light-hiding" ability of Hidden Sword Combat Arts.

All Awakened must be in an environment with a light source to unleash the full power of their combat arts. In dark, lightless environments, Awakened are virtually no different from ordinary people, at most having slightly superior combat skills. But because they lack a light source, their mental power cannot affect reality at all.

However, Sword Hiders contain a light source within their bodies, so dark environments have almost no weakening effect on them. They can not only see in the dark but also maintain themselves in a peak state, as if it were broad daylight!

This is akin to a group of mages being subjected to a magic-disabling debuff, and suddenly one mage can cast spells normally.

Therefore, in a lightless state, a Sword Hider can single-handedly slaughter a group of Awakened. The darkness brings not just a power disparity, but also blinding, fear, screaming, and chaos, all of which infinitely amplify the Sword Hider's combat power.

Hidden Sword Combat Arts, anciently known as "Dark Path Combat Arts" or "Assassin Combat Arts," is a legendary combat art that, even if not powerful, could instill fear in countless people simply by its ability to kill in the dark!

Many assassination incidents throughout Huiyao's history have involved Sword Hiders.

So, it was perfectly normal for Le Yu to be utterly beaten by Yin Yinyin in that dark room. In that situation, let alone Le Yu, even Lan Yan would have to kneel.

However, Sword Hiders were not without flaws. Due to the rapid depletion of their life force, Sword Hiders often developed premature white hair. That's why the moment Le Yu saw Yin Yinyin's white hair, he instantly knew it was a Sword Hider.

Practicing Hidden Sword Combat Arts was explicitly illegal. Once discovered, a Sword Hider faced certain death, and killing one would even earn official commendation. It was only in areas like Eighteen Streets that Yin Yinyin could possibly live discreetly, covering its head and face.

"Only three more years to live..." Le Yu looked at Yin Yinyin's white hair and asked, "Is it worth it?"

"If I hadn't practiced Hidden Sword, I wouldn't be alive now," Yin Yinyin said calmly. "It's common knowledge that every Sword Hider you see is living with all their might..."

"I know that."

If given a choice, who would practice a combat art like Hidden Sword?

For combat arts that shorten one's lifespan, the training must be excruciatingly painful.

Hidden Sword, Hidden Sword—it means hiding a sword within one's body, piercing the internal organs, and making it a part of oneself. Sword Hiders who can endure such pain and continue training must have an extreme will to live.

Although not taught by the Military Academy, according to Qian Yuliu's analysis, Hidden Sword Combat Arts likely possessed a hidden "quick mastery" characteristic. Otherwise, given the immense difficulty of practicing Hidden Sword Combat Arts and its high learning threshold, if there were no way to shorten the learning time, it would surely have been lost to the annals of history long ago.

"Alright, I can't waste these precious three years of my life chatting about meaningless things with you," Yin Yinyin pulled out a notebook from its pocket. "Let's get to work."

"Your optimistic attitude makes me suspect you're lying to gain my sympathy," Le Yu quipped.

"Death isn't to be feared; what's truly terrifying is the lack of hope."

Yin Yinyin looked at Le Yu, hinting, "That's why you're alive, and Stargazer is dead. He preferred death to preserving you as hope... I heard you killed him yourself?"

"Yes."

"Well done. You protected both of us, and you protected the White Night intelligence network in Star Engraving Prefecture." Yin Yinyin poked the notebook with its pen. "Tell me everything that happened that night."

Le Yu truthfully recounted Li Shijie's and Kui Zhao's battle, Lan Yan's intervention, and Lin Jinyao's sudden outburst. Yin Yinyin recorded notes while asking, "If you fought Lan Yan, what's your chance of winning?"

Le Yu shook his head. "None at all—even if Lan Yan was alone, and I had others helping, I don't think I could keep him, unless all light sources were extinguished and you came to help."

Lan Yan from that rainy night left a deep impression on Le Yu. Perhaps "invincible" was an exaggeration, but "a one-man army" was fitting. Such a powerful individual who could withstand a storm of bullets could not be overestimated.

"Someone like Lan Yan would absolutely never enter any dimly lit place at night, and he'd even carry a Radiant Stone with him."

Yin Yinyin poked the notebook. "That's also common knowledge, no need to thank me."

"What about Kui Zhao then? In a one-on-one fight, could you beat him?"

Le Yu thought carefully. "Roughly 70-30, him seven, me three. If I could find his weakness, maybe I could increase my chances by another 10%."

This was Le Yu's most optimistic estimate. Within his 30% chance of winning, a portion of it relied on the gamble that Kui Zhao would value his life while Le Yu would not.

"You don't need to emphasize; I won't think you have a 70% chance of winning."

Yin Yinyin's pen flew across the page, recording the information. "Right now, the Statistics Department is arresting people everywhere based on letters found at Stargazer's home. Stargazer was cautious and didn't expose any connections with White Night Walkers, but many of the people arrested are seeds we were preparing to cultivate..."

Le Yu: "Do we need to find a way to save them?"

Yin Yinyin shook its head. "You don't need to find a way; just handle things officially. Compared to those seeds, you, as this nail, are more important. You absolutely cannot act rashly. I estimate that soon, half of those who aren't much of a threat will be released."

It paused. "Do you know? Stargazer's family and students have already been released."

"That fast?" Le Yu was shocked. Lin Jinyao's family and students were arrested last night, and they were released today... less than 24 hours of detention!

Yin Yinyin chuckled softly. "You went to the Military Academy today to arrest Mu Feihong, and too many people watched, causing a very bad impression. Military Academy students collectively petitioned Ding Yi at noon in protest. For Ding Yi, these students are his future enforcers, so Ding Yi couldn't ignore it. He urged Lan Yan to make a statement and first release Stargazer's family and students who weren't closely related."

Le Yu had a sudden realization about the hidden dynamics at play: the Military Academy students knew approaching the Statistics Department was useless because they were nothing more than shameless lackeys. So, they went directly to Ding Yi, the Prefect of Star Engraving Prefecture, who still had some integrity. Besides, Lan Yan had already played the villain, so it was only natural for Ding Yi to seize the opportunity to play the hero and win over public sentiment.

"That's good," Le Yu sighed in relief. "Misfortune shouldn't extend to families. Mr. Lin has sacrificed too much; his family and disciples are innocent…"

At this point, Yin Yinyin suddenly spoke in a sinister tone, "Innocent? Do you really think so?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let me help you organize the timeline." Yin Yinyin flipped through a notebook. "A month ago, 'Stargazer' contacted acquaintances like Mu Feihong and Feng Chuanliu, testing their attitudes towards White Night."

"Three weeks ago, 'Stargazer' secretly approached progressive students after class, testing their attitudes toward Counter-Illumination. From then on, they began holding secret meetings, studying White Night's advanced principles."

"Three days ago, 'Stargazer' finally received permission from White Night headquarters to establish a Star Engraving branch, allowing them to develop White Night Walkers in reserve."

"And then, the Statistics Department arrested Lin Jinyao."

Yin Yinyin closed the notebook. "Don't you think this timeline is a bit strange?"

"Perhaps Mr. Lin was too high-profile when recruiting new members, which drew the attention of the Statistics Department?" Le Yu guessed.

"I'm not surprised that 'Stargazer' was noticed by the Statistics Department, and it's perfectly normal for 'Stargazer' to be arrested at some point," Yin Yinyin said dismissively, opening the notebook. "He was always a 'bait'."

Le Yu's eyes widened. Many pieces of information collided in his mind, forming new conclusions. He asked urgently, "What do you mean?"

"You've already figured out the answer, yet you still want me to confirm it?"

Yin Yinyin's tone was cold, as if speaking of a stranger's affairs. "To recruit new members in Star Engraving Prefecture, White Night must first have a respected individual actively approach potential progressives. However, respected individuals are often key targets for the Statistics Department's observation… From the beginning, 'Stargazer's' arrest wasn't a question of if, but when."

"After 'Stargazer' took on this task, there was no way he would live longer than me. He was bait released by White Night. When the Statistics Department took the bait, it meant our White Night Walker operation was entering its second phase."

Le Yu took a deep breath. "Mr. Lin… was destined to die a violent death from the very beginning?"

Thinking this way, Lin Jinyao's instructions to Qian Yuliu were not baseless worries but a prescient entrustment. He had known he would die at the hands of the Statistics Department, so he chose Qian Yuliu as his executioner—his death would become the most powerful credential, completely erasing all 'stains' from Qian Yuliu.

"Heh."

Yin Yinyin didn't answer Le Yu's question. "Do you still have the heart to mourn the dead? The danger now is to us."

Le Yu was a little confused. "Mr. Lin is dead. What danger is there for us?"

"Didn't I just say? Although 'Stargazer' was bound to die sooner or later, his arrest at that specific time was too strange," Yin Yinyin poked the notebook with a pen. "It happened just before the White Night branch was about to be established."

"Now 'Stargazer' is dead, but the seed members 'Stargazer' planted remain. White Night can't abandon these new members, so they can only choose one person from the Star Engraving Prefecture's reserve White Night Walkers to lead the White Night branch. And just then, 'Stargazer's' family and disciples were safely released…"

Yin Yinyin's words were vague, and it took Le Yu a while to understand his meaning. "Are you saying that someone deliberately reported Mr. Lin to get him arrested, in order to seize the fruits of the White Night branch's establishment?"

"I didn't realize you were so innocent. What you're saying sounds like a child tattling to their parents to get a toy," Yin Yinyin said sarcastically. "Please, there are no fairy tales in the adult world."

"But you got one thing right: someone is indeed trying to seize the fruits of the White Night branch. So, this person, who is so cunning and unscrupulous, after gaining control of the White Night branch, surely won't be thinking of helping White Night build a better society, right? How would they monetize White Night's resources for their own benefit?"

Le Yu fell into thought: What are the White Night branch's resources?

They are the member list.

These members are all Anti-Light Rebels who could be immediately taken to the firing squad!

Le Yu suddenly understood. "He wants to sell the new Star Engraving Prefecture members Mr. Lin recruited to the Statistics Department!"

"A teachable pupil," Yin Yinyin said with a look of 'my son did well,' smiling. "You can think even deeper."

"'Stargazer' was arrested just as he was about to establish the branch. Then, the very next day, the Statistics Department sent you all to make widespread arrests of suspects, causing public outcry and putting pressure on Ding Yi. Ding Yi then took the opportunity to have Lan Yan release some prisoners, and these prisoners will gain White Night's favor because of their experiences…"

Le Yu gasped. "So that means…"

A morbid flush appeared on Yin Yinyin's fair face, and his voice held a hint of excitement as he said coldly:

"From the very beginning, there was an informant from the Statistics Department by 'Stargazer's' side!"

"The reason the Statistics Department waited until now to make their move is because the time was ripe; all the progressives with rebellious hearts were lured out by 'Stargazer'. Not only did we use 'Stargazer' as bait, but the Statistics Department also saw 'Stargazer' as bait—bait to catch rebels!"

"They helped the informant remove obstacles to their ascent and added embellishments to their resume, all to allow the informant to obtain the complete list of the White Night branch members."

"Once the Statistics Department gets the list, what happens next is common knowledge: they can easily and effortlessly root out every single hidden rebel!"

PS: Discovered an old book, Evil Superstar, and got completely engrossed, almost forgot to update.