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Yi Huawei pointed out the flaws in Dugu Feng's sword technique one by one, reviewing all thirty-seven moves and explaining even the slightest mistakes clearly.

At first, Dugu Feng was unconvinced, but the more she listened, the more alarmed she became. In the end, her face turned pale and she was drenched in cold sweat. She herself had not noticed these flaws, but the other party saw through them at a glance.

"The 'Azure Sky and Mortal Dust Sword Technique' emphasizes unpredictability, but you are too focused on perfecting the moves."

Yi Huawei continued, "You must know that techniques are static, but people are dynamic. The highest realm of swordsmanship is to have no techniques at all."

Dugu Feng murmured, "No moves are better than moves..."

"You mastered the ninth level at the age of ten because you were free of distractions and your sword moved with your will."

Yi Huawei's eyes were sharp: "Now you are pursuing perfection in form too much, and you have lost the true meaning of swordsmanship."

He casually took the longsword from Dugu Feng's hand and swung it around. This sword strike was completely unpredictable, resembling both a slash and a thrust, unlike any known sword technique.

However, Dugu Feng's pupils constricted sharply. This sword strike, seemingly simple, had sealed off all her paths of advance and retreat. In actual combat, she had no idea how to deal with it.

“This is…” Dugu Feng’s voice trembled slightly.

"The Realm of No Moves"

Yi Huawei sheathed his sword: "The essence of swordsmanship lies in the heart, not in its form. Only by letting go of attachment to techniques can one truly comprehend the profound meaning of the 'Azure Sky and Mortal Dust Sword Technique'."

Dugu Feng took the longsword in a daze, seemingly lost in thought.

Xu Shiji and Cheng Yaojin watched in stunned silence. Although they were not experts in swordsmanship, they could see that Yi Huawei's casual sword strike was far more exquisite than Dugu Feng's sword techniques, which he had practiced diligently for many years.

Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but mutter, "Goodness, if I were hit like that on the battlefield, I, Old Cheng, would probably be meeting the King of Hell by now."

Dugu Feng's fingertips trembled slightly as she stared at Yi Huawei's calm and collected face, her mind racing through various rumors circulating in the martial arts world and the imperial court.

Recalling the terrifying mental pressure, the unfathomable martial arts skills, and the insightful understanding of the world's affairs.
Dugu Feng's breathing suddenly quickened, her grip on the sword tightened and then loosened, and an incredulous light flashed in her eyes. She abruptly looked up, her voice trembling slightly:
"Senior, could you be the leader of the Southern Heavenly Dao Alliance... Nameless?"

The private room was completely silent.

Xu Shiji and Cheng Yaojin were both shocked upon hearing this, and they both looked at Yi Huawei with surprise and doubt in their eyes.

Yi Huawei slowly walked back to the window, put his hands behind his back, and looked out at the night view of Luoyang. After a long while, he turned around and calmly swept his gaze over the three people.

"Indeed, I am Nameless."

The voice was calm, yet it stirred up a storm in the hearts of the three.

Cheng Yaojin suddenly stood up, his chair tipping backward with a loud thud: "What? You're the Heavenly Alliance Leader who pacified Jingling in one night and subdued Jiangnan in three months?"

Xu Shiji hurriedly grabbed Cheng Yaojin, but his own hand was trembling slightly. He took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm: "No wonder...no wonder you're so powerful, senior."

Although Dugu Feng had already guessed, the confirmation still shocked her. She subconsciously took a half-step back, gripping her sword hilt tightly: "Why have you come to Luoyang, sir? Does the Heavenly Alliance intend to advance eastward?"

Yi Huawei smiled slightly and sat down again: "If I said I just came to see the scenery of Luoyang, would Miss Dugu believe me?"

Dugu Feng pursed her lips and did not answer.

Yi Huawei picked up the teapot and poured tea again: "The Heavenly Alliance is currently focused on the south, reorganizing internal affairs and developing people's livelihoods, and has no intention of advancing north for the time being."

Xu Shiji cautiously asked, "Then what brings the Alliance Leader here today?"

"Firstly, to check on the situation in Luoyang; secondly, to recruit talent for the Heavenly Alliance." Yi Huawei's gaze swept over Cheng Yaojin and Xu Shiji: "Have either of you considered serving a wise ruler?"

Cheng Yaojin and Xu Shiji exchanged a glance, but neither answered immediately.

Yi Huawei continued, "General Cheng is exceptionally brave and skilled, and Mr. Xu is resourceful and wise; both are rare talents. However, Wagang is not a place to stay for long. Although Li Mi is capable, he is narrow-minded and unlikely to achieve great things."

Xu Shiji pondered for a moment and asked, "Why is the Alliance Leader so certain?"

"Li Mi killed Zhai Rang, which caused him to lose the support of the people; he relied heavily on his confidants and excluded dissidents; he was impatient for quick success and lacked foresight."

Yi Huawei said calmly, "Mr. Xu should see these things more clearly than I do."

Xu Shiji remained silent, his eyes flickering.

Cheng Yaojin scratched his head: "I, Cheng, am a rough man and don't understand those complicated matters. But since Lord Mi has treated me poorly, I cannot break my promise."

"It's a good thing to be loyal and affectionate."

Yi Huawei nodded: "But you also need to see the situation clearly. At most, Li Mi can give you a fierce general who can charge into battle. But in the Heavenly Alliance, you can become a true commander who leads an army."

Cheng Yaojin's eyes lit up, but he immediately shook his head: "That sounds nice, but who knows if it's true or not."

Yi Huawei didn't take it seriously and turned to Xu Shiji: "Mr. Xu, do you know how much tax the people pay in the areas currently governed by the Heavenly Alliance?"

Xu Shiji pondered for a moment: "I've heard that it's less than 30% of the Sui Dynasty's level."

"Two and a half percent."

Yi Huawei said, "There are no miscellaneous taxes or corvée labor. Farmers can rent government-made farm tools for only half the market price; merchants can travel between cities with just a document; and students, regardless of their background, can participate in the imperial examinations to enter officialdom."

A look of surprise flashed in Xu Shiji's eyes: "Really?"

“If Mr. Xu is interested, he can come south at any time to see for himself.” Yi Huawei said in a calm tone: “The Heavenly Dao Alliance is eager for talent, and it is especially lacking in talents like Mr. Xu who are familiar with the situation in the North.”

Xu Shiji fell into deep thought, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

Dugu Feng suddenly spoke up: "The Alliance Leader is recruiting talent right in front of me. Aren't you afraid that I will report today's events to the Clan Head?"

Yi Huawei smiled at her: "Miss Dugu is a smart woman, she should know the general trend of the world. The Dugu clan is holding Luoyang, caught between Li Mi, Wang Shichong and the Li clan, how long can it hold out?"

Dugu Feng's expression changed slightly, but she did not refute him.

“Moreover,” Yi Huawei continued, “when I pointed out the problems in your swordsmanship, was there a single falsehood in my statement?”

Dugu Feng bit her lower lip and slowly shook her head.

"If you are willing to come to the Heavenly Dao Alliance, I can help you break through to the tenth level."

Yi Huawei spoke calmly, yet he offered a tempting offer that made Dugu Feng's heart race.

Dugu Feng's hand holding the sword trembled slightly. As a sword prodigy, nothing excited her more than breaking through the bottleneck of martial arts.

Xu Shiji suddenly stood up, bowed, and said, "Xu Shiji is willing to serve the Heavenly Dao Alliance. I hope the Alliance Leader will accept me!"

Cheng Yaojin was taken aback, then realized what was happening and scratched his head, saying, "I, Old Cheng, am willing too! But I have to go back and explain to Master Mi that I can't just sneak away."

Yi Huawei nodded: "That's how it should be. You two can return to Wagang first. If you change your minds, you can come to Xiangyang to find me at any time."

He took out two jade tokens and handed them to the two men: "Take these tokens to any territory under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and someone will come to meet you."

Xu Shiji solemnly accepted the token, and Cheng Yaojin carefully put it away.

Dugu Feng stood to the side, her expression complex. After a long while, she suddenly asked, "Does what the Alliance Leader said just now still stand?"

Yi Huawei smiled and said, "Of course it counts. Miss Dugu is welcome to come to the Heavenly Dao Alliance anytime."

Dugu Feng took a deep breath: "I need time to think about it."

“It’s alright.” Yi Huawei stood up. “Let’s call it a day.” He looked at Shan Wanjing and nodded slightly. Shan Wanjing understood and stepped forward to lead the way for the three of them.

As they reached the top of the stairs, Yi Huawei suddenly turned around and said, "By the way, Miss Dugu."

Dugu Feng stopped and turned around.

"Go back and tell Dugu Feng,"

Yi Huawei said calmly, "If you want to leave a way out for the Dugu clan, I'll be waiting for him at the Tianjin Bridge three days from now at noon."

Dugu Feng's pupils contracted slightly, and he nodded solemnly: "I will certainly convey your message."

The three of them went downstairs and left, and the private room returned to silence.

Shan Wanjing said softly, "Does Master think they will come?"

Yi Huawei looked out the window at the night view of Luoyang and smiled slightly: "A smart person will always choose the right path."

As night deepened, the lights of Luoyang city twinkled outside the window, and the fishing lights on the boats on the Luo River resembled a flowing galaxy.

Shan Wanjing brewed another pot of tea and gently pushed the full teacup in front of Yi Huawei, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry: "Master, when you were instructing Dugu Feng on the sword technique, were you intending to form an alliance with the Dugu clan?"

Yi Huawei nodded slightly, then shook his head gently: "Only half right. Dugu Feng is indeed a rare talent, but more importantly, she is one of the most outstanding successors of the Dugu clan in this generation."

He took a sip of tea and continued, "The Dugu clan originated from the Xianbei and were core members of the Guanzhong military aristocracy. Did you know that Dugu Xin's three daughters married Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou, Emperor Wen of Sui (Yang Jian), and Duke of Tang (Li Bing) respectively?"

Shan Wanjing nodded: "I have heard a little about it. The Dugu clan has formed kinship ties with the royal families of the Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties through marriage alliances."

"Exactly."

Yi Huawei put down his teacup. "This family was one of the Eight Pillars of State during the Western Wei Dynasty. They have been through the Northern Zhou and Sui Dynasties and still have a huge influence in Luoyang today. Their foundation is far deeper than it appears on the surface."

He stood up, walked slowly to the window, and pointed to the faint outline of the imperial palace in the distance: "After Emperor Yang of Sui died, the world was in chaos, but the power of the aristocratic families was never truly weakened. Li Yuan raised an army in Taiyuan with the support of the Guanlong Group; Wang Shichong was able to control Luoyang, which was also inseparable from the tacit approval of the local aristocratic families."

Shan Wanjing seemed to understand: "Master wants to establish contact with the Guanlong Group through Dugu Feng?"

"not only that."

Yi Huawei turned around, his gaze deep: "I want to break the centuries-old monopoly of power by powerful clans. But to do this, I cannot rely solely on military conquest; I need to dismantle their alliance from within. To end this chaotic world, military conquest alone is far from enough. Even if I sweep across the world by force, without governance, I will be nothing more than another Emperor Yang of Sui."

Yi Huawei put down his teacup: "Dugu Feng is the most outstanding member of the Dugu clan in this generation. She has extremely high martial arts talent and holds a special position in the clan. I am instructing her in swordsmanship so that she can understand that the Heavenly Alliance not only has the strength to conquer the world, but also the magnanimity to embrace the world."

He paused slightly, then continued, "More importantly, she conveys a message to the Dugu Clan: the Heavenly Dao Alliance does not intend to destroy the clans, but rather to cooperate with them to build a new order."

Shan Wanjing frowned slightly: "But Master has always disliked powerful families monopolizing the government and oppressing the people."

Yi Huawei sighed softly: "Governing the world is not a matter of black and white. Powerful families control talent, resources, and knowledge. If we completely deny them, the world will surely descend into chaos."

"The Guanlong Group originated in the Northern Wei Dynasty, integrating Xianbei military nobles and Han powerful families, and controlled the military lifeline of the Fubing system. Although the Shandong gentry such as Cui, Lu, Li, and Zheng were not as powerful as the Guanlong Group in the court, they were deeply rooted in the local areas and controlled the economic lifeline and cultural discourse power."

Shan Wanjing listened attentively and poured Yi Huawei more hot tea.

"Li Yuan was able to quickly raise an army in Taiyuan because of the support of the Guanlong Group; Li Mi was able to expand the Wagang Army because of the alliance with the powerful clans in Henan. To pacify the world, one must first understand these intricate relationships and then make use of them."

Shan Wanjing suddenly realized: "So, Master recruited Cheng Yaojin and Xu Shiji for this reason?"

Yi Huwei nodded: "Cheng Yaojin came from the Cheng family of Dong'e, a local powerful family, while Xu Shiji came from the Xu family of Gaopingbei, a true Shandong gentry. The two held special positions in the Wagang Army, able to connect with powerful Shandong families and influence the old Wagang troops."

"Li Mi's killing of Zhai Rang has already alienated the people. The Wagang Army is riddled with factions, with Shan Xiongxin, Wang Bodang, Bing Yuanzhen, and others each harboring their own agendas. If we can gain the support of Cheng Yaojin and Xu Shiji, it will be much easier to subdue the old Wagang troops in the future."

After a moment's thought, Shan Wanjing said, "But Li Mi was, after all, a powerful and ruthless leader, and the Wagang Army still possesses considerable strength."

"Li Mi was indeed a man of great talent, but his shortcomings were also very obvious."

Yi Huawei smiled and said, "He is narrow-minded and intolerant; he is impatient for quick success and lacks foresight; he favors his cronies and excludes those who disagree with him. These shortcomings are not obvious in good times, but once adversity comes, he will be deserted by his followers. Therefore, the Wagang Army may seem powerful, but it is actually fraught with danger. It will inevitably fall into internal strife within a year."

A look of admiration flashed in Shan Wanjing's eyes: "Master is far-sighted, Wanjing admires you."

Yi Huawei shook his head slightly: "This is not far-sighted planning, but simply standing on the shoulders of predecessors. The way to govern a country is to balance the forces of all parties, rather than simply suppressing them."

"The Heavenly Alliance is not trying to establish a simple change of dynasty, but a completely new order. But this new order cannot be established out of thin air; it must be based on reality."

Shan Wanjing seemed to understand: "So even though Master dislikes powerful families, he still wants to cooperate with them?"

"It's not cooperation, it's utilization and transformation."

Yi Huawei corrected, "Use their resources and influence to quickly pacify the country, and then gradually transform them, break the monopoly of powerful clans, and allow children from poor families to have a chance to rise up."

He pointed to the tea set on the table: "Just like this pot of tea, different tea leaves need the right water temperature and time to brew a good tea. Governing a country is the same; it requires balancing the interests of all parties and mastering the timing and timing."

After pondering for a long time, Shan Wanjing suddenly said, "But powerful and influential families are deeply entrenched. Aren't you afraid of raising a tiger that will eventually become your enemy?"

Yi Huawei smiled slightly: "Therefore, I will simultaneously implement the imperial examination system to select talents from humble backgrounds; establish martial arts academies to train commoner generals; promote new agricultural tools to increase farmers' income; and encourage industry and commerce to create new sources of wealth."

“When children from poor families can enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, commoners can rise through military merit, farmers can have enough to eat and wear, and merchants can operate freely, the monopoly of powerful families will naturally be broken.”

Shan Wanjing's eyes lit up: "So there's a deeper meaning behind Master's implementation of these new policies."

Yi Huawei nodded: "Governing a country is like controlling water; it's better to dredge than to block. Directly suppressing powerful clans will inevitably cause a strong backlash. But if we create new upward mobility channels, allowing more people to share power and wealth, the influence of powerful clans will naturally diminish."

He looked out the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through the night to see the distant future: "This will take time, perhaps decades, or even centuries. But it is the only way forward."

Following his gaze, Shan Wanjing said softly, "So, Master's taking in Cheng Yaojin and Xu Shiji, and guiding Dugu Feng, were all preparations for this long-term plan?"

"Exactly."

Yi Huawei withdrew his gaze. "Cheng Yaojin and Xu Shiji represent the powerful clans and gentry of Shandong, while Dugu Feng represents the Guanlong Group. If we can establish contact with these forces through them, the pacification of the north will be much smoother in the future."

His tone turned cold: "Of course, if they don't know what's good for them, I have plenty of ways to deal with them."

Shan Wanjing sensed the determination in her master's words and couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

Yi Huawei suddenly smiled, and the atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed: "However, tonight's harvest was not bad, and they should make the right choice. The Dugu clan is in a difficult situation in Luoyang, caught between Wang Shichong, Li Mi, and the Li clan, and they need a way out. I am giving them this opportunity, and Dugu Feng will understand."

Shan Wanjing came to his side: "Master, you have arranged to meet Dugu Feng at Tianjin Bridge in three days. Do you already have plans?"

Yi Huawei's gaze was far-reaching: "It depends on the sincerity of the Dugu Clan. If they are truly loyal, the Heavenly Dao Alliance can help them out of their predicament; if they are wavering..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Shan Wanjing already understood.

Outside the window, a bright moon rose high in the sky, its clear light bathing Luoyang City. Yi Huawei stood quietly, his white robes seemingly edged with silver in the moonlight.

Dan Wanjing stood quietly behind him, watching her master's back. Suddenly, she realized that while seizing the world might not be difficult for her master, establishing a new order that would last for a long time was a long and arduous task.

After a long silence, Yi Huawei said softly, "Wanjing, you must remember, martial arts can conquer the world, but only wisdom can govern it."

Shan Wanjing solemnly replied, "Wanjing will keep Master's teachings in mind."

Yi Huawei turned around and smiled slightly: "Alright, it's getting late, we should go back. We have important matters to attend to tomorrow."

Shan Wanjing nodded and followed Yi Huawei out of the private room. (End of Chapter)