During the Qin Dynasty, he was in charge of the net.

The next morning, the gate to the courtyard where Li Ji's guest room was located was opened.

A woman dressed in a magnificent long embroidered dress, with a face as smooth as jade, a clear forehead, and an unparalleled beauty, stood in the courtyard.

She was surrounded by faint, bright golden flames, and her brows revealed an innate aloofness and nobility.

It was none other than Dongjun of the Yin-Yang School, Yanfei.

Upon seeing Li Ji emerge, she cut to the chase:

"Your Excellency Donghuang sent me to see you, but I don't think there's anything to talk about between us."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji immediately stopped in his tracks, looked at Yan Fei standing by the door frame, and said in a calm tone:

"Your Excellency Dongjun, please speak frankly."

"I heard that you broke through the protective formation of my Yin Yang School yesterday."

From this perspective, you are very strong and highly talented.

Li Ji heard no praise in the other person's words, but rather a condescending judgment hidden in their tone.

So he remained silent, believing that what the other person truly wanted to say was what followed.

Sure enough, Yanfei then changed the subject.

"But you can only hide in the darkness your whole life, and be a knife hidden in the shadows of the net."

People like you can never stand in the sunlight.

They will never understand the arts of Yin and Yang, or the great principles of Heaven and Earth.

Li Ji fell silent upon hearing this.

Her words revealed her disdain for his being caught in a web of intrigue and her contempt for his identity as an assassin.

Different road non-phase plan.

Li Ji, with a calm expression, looked at Yan Fei, who was a foot away, and said:

"Perhaps you are right."

But Your Highness should know that after dawn, darkness will always return.

There is no eternal daylight in this world; only those who adapt to the darkness can walk into the next dawn.

Yan Fei frowned slightly. The other party's composure surprised her and displeased her. What right did he have to want to walk until the next dawn?

She wanted to refute it, but didn't know where to begin.

If you don't see eye to eye, even half a sentence is too much.

Yan Fei didn't say another word and simply turned and left.

A meeting that started out of nowhere ended badly.

As soon as Yanfei stepped out of the courtyard, she encountered the Right Protector of the Yin-Yang School, the Moon Goddess, at the corner.

The moon goddess has long, light purple hair, her eyes are covered by a white veil, and a moon-white aura surrounds her.

She watched Yan Fei walk out and said calmly:

"Your Highness Dongjun is still so arrogant, only seeing the sun overhead, but forgetting that what supports the sun is the originally dark sky."

Yan Fei paused abruptly, then looked at the Moon Goddess and said coldly:

"You have no right to interfere in my affairs."

A hint of annoyance flashed in the Moon Goddess's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She ignored Yan Fei and walked towards Li Ji in the courtyard.

Upon reaching Li Ji, the Moon Goddess bowed slightly in greeting:

"Your Excellency Duan Shui, Sister Yan Fei is not usually like this, please don't take offense."

Li Ji had already turned to leave when he saw a woman whose temperament and appearance were no less than those of Yan Fei.

From the woman's words, Li Ji instantly knew her identity.

"Guardian Moon Goddess, there's no need for an apology. Princess Yanfei's words are not without reason, and besides, I didn't take them to heart."

The moon goddess nodded, then smiled gently:

"Lord Duan Shui, won't you invite me in for a seat?"

Li Ji was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, guessing that perhaps she had something to discuss.

So he immediately stepped aside and greeted her, saying, "Please, Moon Goddess Protector."

The two then entered the courtyard.

Yan Fei, who was some distance away, caught a glimpse of Yue Shen and Li Ji disappearing from sight and let out a barely audible cold snort.

That's all the Moon Goddess is good for; she'll always just pick up things she doesn't want.

Li Ji and the Moon Goddess sat down under the pavilion.

After taking their seats, Li Ji personally poured a cup of tea for the Moon Goddess.

The moon goddess gently sipped her tea, her gaze softly falling on Li Ji.

Li Ji didn't urge him, poured himself a cup of tea, and slowly began to observe the other person.

The other person had a pale, jade-like complexion, a refined and otherworldly beauty, and long, slanted eyebrows like purple smoke, exuding an air of otherworldly grace.

Her eyes were covered by a thin veil, making it impossible to see the expression in them.

Right now, she is just sitting quietly sipping tea, but every move she makes exudes a noble and otherworldly aura, like a cold shadow in the moon, making her unforgettable at first glance.

For a moment, the two silently observed each other, neither of them speaking.

But the atmosphere in the air wasn't awkward.

The moon goddess sipped her tea slowly and deliberately, exuding a serene and contented air. To onlookers, it was simply a beautiful scene.

Li Ji sat opposite him, just like someone appreciating a painting.

He neither disturbed the other person nor harbored any covetous thoughts; he simply admired the other person's appearance and demeanor.

After finishing my cup of tea.

In the end, it was the Moon Goddess who spoke first.

"Lord Duan Shui is indeed extraordinary."

The moon goddess also admired his composure, and also what lay hidden beneath it.

Li Ji smiled faintly, placed the teacup on the table, and said:

"I have long admired the name of the Moon Goddess Protector, and now that I have met her, I am truly amazed by her divine beauty."

But I had no idea why the Moon Goddess had summoned me.

The Moon Goddess also put down her teacup and replied:

"I have nothing important to say, I just want to get to know the style of Lord Duanshui, who crippled the leader of the Mo family, Xu Fuzi, with a single sword strike."

Li Ji's eyes sharpened instantly, his gaze falling on the other person's light blue veil:

"Oh? It's that simple?"

"I think this is not simple."

The sword that crippled Master Xu was no ordinary weapon.

The person who defeated him was no ordinary person either.

Li Ji's gaze returned to its usual calm. He rose and poured another cup of tea for the Moon Goddess, then asked:

"Where does the Moon Goddess think Master Xu was defeated?"

"Nowadays, people probably all think that Master Xu was defeated by his sword."

I believe, however, that Master Xu's downfall lay in his own mindset.

The moon goddess spoke slowly, her tone revealing a subtle self-confidence.

"Master Xu has forged countless swords, and possesses nine divine weapons. He is known as the most revered swordsman. Why then does the Moon Goddess Protector say that he was defeated by his own heart?"

The Moon Goddess took a leisurely sip of tea, then slowly said:

"The swordsmith is trapped by the sword's grip; this is a defeat."

Those who uphold the Way are bound by their own minds; this is the second defeat.

Those who cherish their skills are defeated by their fear of those skills; this is the third defeat.

Master Xu suffered these three defeats, while Lord Duanshui possessed no attachments, no constraints, and no fear, thus achieving these three victories. Therefore, his victory was inevitable.

Li Ji gave the Moon Goddess a complicated look. He hadn't expected anyone to analyze him from this perspective.

Then Li Ji heard the Moon Goddess say:

"I would like to borrow Lord Duan Shui's sword for a look, would that be permissible?"

Li Ji's sword was naturally the Yue King's Eight Swords That Cut Through Water.

Swordsmen in the martial arts world never easily show their swords to others, let alone to Luo Wang, who regards swords as life itself.

"The Sword of Cutting Water has an eight-character restriction: it cannot be drawn without breath and cannot be released without intention. If it is not wielded by its master, it will suffer a backlash."

Therefore, I cannot hand over the severed water to the Moon Goddess for her to see.

Li Ji shook his head slightly, indicating that it was not that he was unwilling, but that he simply could not.

A hint of disappointment appeared in the moon goddess's eyes:

"I see. I was being presumptuous."

However, just when the Moon Goddess thought Li Ji had refused, she heard:

"Although I cannot hand over the Broken Water Sword to the Moon Goddess, I can show it to you. Please come forward and take a look."

The disappointment in the moon goddess's eyes quickly disappeared, replaced by a hint of curiosity.

What exactly is the legendary "Broken Water Sword" that is currently being talked about in the martial arts world?

She gently rose from the wooden chair and then moved to Li Ji's side.

A cool, delicate fragrance of orchids wafted into Li Ji's nostrils. He held the Broken Water Sword horizontally in front of his chest and slowly drew it out.

The first thing to appear was the jagged, cracked edge of the sword, followed by the blade engraved with the small seal script character "八" (eight), and finally the sword tip, which gleamed with a cold light.

"It is indeed a terrifying sword. I think no one would want to be an enemy of such a sword."

The Moon Goddess stood to Li Ji's right, the two no more than three feet apart. Li Ji could feel her slightly warm breath on the back of his hand.

"I don't know about the others, but I feel that the tip of this sword is not pointing at the Moon Goddess Protector."

Li Ji sheathed the Broken Water Sword, just as he met the gaze of the Moon Goddess.

The two exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding unspoken.

Afterwards, the Moon Goddess took her leave, and Li Ji escorted her to the door.

Li Ji returned to his guest room and had just sat down when a cup of tea was silently placed on his table.

He looked up and saw that Tian Yi was standing in the spot where the Moon Goddess had just been sitting.

Li Ji didn't mind; he took a sip of tea.

Slightly cool, a bit dry, it's a cup of cold tea.

He looked up at Tian Yi again and realized that she had put on a mask again.