"Tonight's fireworks are even more brilliant than the night the former emperor was assassinated."

In the girls' dormitory room, Ming Yueyan suddenly blurted out such a rebellious statement. No one responded to her; all the Palace Masters were watching the night sky outside—fireworks signaling for help blossomed one after another under the moon, as lively as a New Year celebration.

The Imperial Academy had entered an emergency state. All the teachers residing at the academy had gathered; some went to guard the Platinum Tower, and others remained below the student dormitory. Just moments ago, teachers came to the student dormitory to take a headcount and instructed the students not to leave the dormitory, assuring them that the teachers would protect them.

Ming Shuangli glanced at the teachers whispering downstairs, then suddenly returned to close the dormitory door and calmly said, "Something has happened."

Everyone looked at her, but no one spoke. Ming Shuangli said, "Not seeing the Extinguisher downstairs is normal; she's considered a student and should be confined to the dormitory. Not seeing Teacher Qin is also normal; his duty is to guard the Platinum Tower. But not seeing Niruo is absolutely abnormal!"

"Chaos has been unfolding outside for half an hour, and Niruo still hasn't come to protect me. This can only mean he has lost his ability to act." Ming Shuangli looked at Ming Chaoyan: "Chaoyan, can you contact your sword sheath?"

Everyone was well aware of Ming Chaoyan's ability to communicate remotely with her sword sheath. Even though she hid it well, the dormitory wasn't large, and her voice would be heard even slightly louder, not to mention her frequent sleep-talking...

Ming Chaoyan fell silent for a moment: "She... hasn't responded to me. At this time, she couldn't be taking a bath or sleeping, and she always carries a communicator, so she could respond to my inquiries even if severely injured, unless..." Her voice broke a little.

"Unless she's already unconscious," Ming Qingyun reminded. "Don't forget, our marks and the sword sheath's marks are paired. If the sword sheath died, we would sense it."

Ming Shuiyun also said, "I can't get in touch either."

Looking at Ming Shuiyun, whose strong facade couldn't hide her anxiety, they didn't ask how she tried to contact her; instead, a sinking feeling settled in their hearts—after months of clashes, they all recognized that Qin Leyin had the strongest comprehensive strength among the sword sheaths. Yet, even Qin Leyin had met with disaster; what about the others?

"They might be close to death," Ming Shuangli paced around the small open space. "The chaos outside is extraordinary, and the fact that the principal hasn't returned means he's also been held up... Even Martial Column has plans against them; the conspirator's ambitions are vast, and their likeliest target is naturally the Holy Sword's radiance!"

"But the fact that we can sit here unharmed means that the sword sheaths became their targets instead. With Niruo and Teacher Qin both missing, perhaps all seven sword sheaths have been captured."

"We can't just stay here and do nothing!"

Ming Yueyan shook her head, "Sister Shuangli, don't rush. Not mentioning where you want to go, even if the sword sheaths are in danger, what can we do to help? Waiting in a safe place for their return is our greatest responsibility to them."

Ming Dailan and others nodded in agreement. While they may not have been able to offer much assistance, they had the basic decency not to be a burden.

"Waiting is not a virtue, just as kindness does not represent justice."

But the usually clever Ming Shuangli vehemently shook her head, "It's not just one or two sword sheaths that were harmed—it's seven! Forces capable of silently trapping all seven sword sheaths at once are not something they can contend with alone. If we continue to wait here, we'll only see their corpses tomorrow, ultimately leaving them to greet the Grand Ancestor ahead of time on our behalf!"

Bang!

Ming Shuangli punched the wall without using any combat technique, cracking the wall but also causing her fist to bleed. Her anxiety abated slightly, but she still muttered in a low voice, "Absolutely must not... must not..."

"Shuangli, everyone's really worried now, but there's nothing to be gained by rushing," Ming Dailan spoke, sounding both like comfort and prayer. "Besides, the sword sheaths are all very capable individuals. Extinguisher from my household is a god general of the Summer Twilight District; they're sure to turn misfortune into fortune..."

"No!"

Ming Shuangli slammed her fist against the wall again, gritting her teeth, "I heard it... Didn't you hear it?"

Ming Qingyun was puzzled, "Heard what?"

"I heard Niruo's body bleeding, bones breaking, teeth shattering!" Ming Shuangli sat against the wall, clutching her head in pain, her voice filled with sobs: "He's in agony... He's calling for me to save him!"

Ming Qingyun obviously did not believe it. But before she could say anything, Ming Chaoyan on the other side nodded, "I also feel that way..."

Ming Yueyan was surprised, "You're involved with Niruo too?"

"I was talking about my sword sheath!" Ming Chaoyan, with tears in her eyes, wiped them and said, "I don't know why, but I feel incredibly sad inside, as if filled with lead, unable to breathe... For no reason, I think she must be suffering, and I wish to save her."

"Actually," Ming Dailan raised her hand, "I also feel like Dou Ding is going through something bad..."

Ming Shuiyun also testified, "When Teacher Qin was attacked at the Platinum Tower earlier, I had the same feeling..."

"This is just an illusion you all have from fear, worry, and anxiety," Ming Yueyan advised, "Just take a bath and go to bed. Believe in your sword sheaths; they'll appear before you by morning..."

"Yueyan." From the bed, holding a stuffed toy, Ming Taolang suddenly spoke, "Teacher Wei once said a phrase: The Saint says a person is in a comfortable state when the lumbar spine is upright when standing. Stop saying chilly remarks."

"What chilly remarks!" Ming Yueyan loudly retorted, "But am I making no sense!?"

"Who doesn't know your sword sheath Thousand Faces can transform into others?" Ming Dailan couldn't help saying, "If anyone hasn't been caught, it has to be your Thousand Faces sword sheath! Stop saying he'd be caught; no one even knows what he looks like at this moment!"

Ming Yueyan's expression showed a hint of embarrassment, but soon returned to normal, clicking her tongue, "Anyway, I was just kindly reminding you all—"

Just as she finished speaking, Ming Yueyan suddenly felt as if she was crushed by a mountain. Her limbs were broken, her chest shattered, with bones wailing miserably, and blood fled along the cracks... But when she lifted her head, the excruciating pain vanished without a trace, as if it had been an illusion.

However, Ming Yueyan was acutely aware this was no illusion—Thousand Faces was in distress!

Ming Shuangli noticed the change in Ming Yueyan's expression, without sarcasm, "Looks like even Thousand Faces didn't escape disaster."

Ming Dailan suddenly jumped down from the bed, asking, "Sister Shuangli, do you have a plan?"

Ming Chaoyan sorrowfully said, "We don't even know where they are..."

"Don't forget, we ourselves are the biggest bargaining chip."

Ming Shuangli pulled a dagger from under her pillow, making everyone's eyebrows rise—life in this dorm was truly filled with hidden dangers—but Ming Shuangli didn't aim it at others; she aimed it at her own neck!

"Shuangli!?"

"Sister Shuangli, what are you doing?"

Ming Shuangli used the blade to draw blood, looking up at the balcony outside, and shouted loudly, "Sword Holder, I request a conversation with you! I know you're protecting us, you must hear my voice!"

"I am not trying to threaten you with suicide, just expressing my resolve! Sword Holder, please listen to our voices."

Half a minute passed with no response, causing everyone's faces to display disappointment. However, Ming Shuangli's expression became even more determined. She placed her right hand on the wall and stabbed the Holy Sword mark on her left hand with force—

"Alas."

A heavy sigh echoed in the dormitory, and Ming Shuangli's short knife was directly blown away by the sound. Ming Shuangli looked around in surprise and delight: "Sword Holder!?"

"Go to sleep, once dawn breaks, the dust will settle. This is something you cannot be involved in."

"No problem!" Ming Shuangli said loudly, "But I need a promise—I need you to ensure the sword sheaths are not in any life-threatening danger!"

"Impossible." The Sword Holder rejected firmly, "I neither have the ability nor the obligation. Sword sheaths are consumables by nature, the rules don't protect them."

Ming Shuiyun was surprised and said, "You don't have the ability? But you clearly—"

"You underestimate others and overestimate me. I'm merely a mediocre person who hides behind the glory of the Holy Sword, pretending to be powerful."

"If you can't ensure their survival," Ming Shuangli said, "then I need you to tell me where Niruo is!"

"And the Thousand Faces!" Ming Yueyan stood up and said.

"And my little Douding."

"And I..."

"Didn't you all have good self-awareness before?" The Sword Holder seemed to smile, "Do you think the sword sheaths need your cheering? Or your tactical guidance? Apart from being a burden, do you have any other roles on the battlefield? Go to sleep, children."

"But this time is different." Ming Shuangli shook her head, "They are in very dangerous circumstances now, so dangerous that even you don't dare to promise their safety!"

"No wonder you asked the first question, waiting for me here. But this does not change your weakness; your existence cannot add any weight to the scales of their victory or defeat, it will only put you yourself into peril."

"I don't know what others think!" Ming Shuangli said decisively, "But I, Ming Shuangli! Absolutely cannot! Watch Niruo die where I cannot see! Absolutely! Cannot!"

"I promised him! This was his only request! He said he couldn't enter the Northern Hall of Heroes, a coward like him could only be in eternal chaos with the last enemy he saw in his life unless the last he saw was family! He just hoped to see me in that last moment, to gain the key to the Northern Hall of Heroes!"

"I promised him, wherever he dies, I will watch that place!"

Though everyone vaguely anticipated it, they couldn't help but be surprised when Ming Shuangli admitted it—Niruo was actually a Skyrim Person!

"As a sovereign, you should use the lives of billions as chess pieces, millions of Martial Artists as soldiers, view the people as weeds, and your ministers as enemies, only then can you rule a vast land alone." The Sword Holder said, "To undervalue oneself because of personal feelings proves you inadequate as a sovereign. A mere sword sheath, Niruo, is not worth your life and death together."

"If the price of becoming a sovereign is to lose everything, what's so worth yearning for?" Ming Shuangli raised her right fist, revealing the twin koi mark on the back of her hand, "I can withdraw from the quest for the sword, but you must let me find Niruo!"

"Furthermore, Niruo isn't just a mere sword sheath..." she said through gritted teeth, "He is also my only family!"

The Sword Holder did not respond, and Ming Shuangli showed a look of despair. At this moment, Ming Chaoyan suddenly said, "As far as I know, the line of Sword Holders values rules above all, right? To violate rules is something you cannot tolerate."

"Within the rules of the sword quest, you promised to protect our safety." Ming Chaoyan took a dagger from a drawer, tremblingly placed it against her neck, and said, "If, if you don't want me to break the rules, then, then you must go save my cousin, even if you force me to withdraw afterward..."

Cousin?

Those who were slightly familiar with Ming Chaoyan's family tree quickly guessed who her sword sheath was.

"I, I am the same!" Ming Dailan rummaged through her drawer, finding only an eyebrow pencil that could barely be considered a weapon, and with both hands against the wall, she assumed a posture to hit the wall, stammering, "If you don't save my little Douding, I will also break the rules you've set!"

Even the most timid and beauty-loving Ming Dailan expressed herself this way, others no longer hesitated, "Me too!" "I am willing!"

Ming Qingyun and Ming Shuiyun hesitated for a moment, but also nodded, "Shuangli and Chaoyan's attitude is our attitude too!"

"Is this a threat?" The Sword Holder seemed a bit angry, "For the sake of a few outsiders, you're willing to sacrifice your future to threaten me, who has been protecting you this whole time. Truly, talents emerge in every generation, stronger than the last..."

"Sword Holder, I know you actually care for us." Ming Shuangli suddenly said, "You are also a member of the Imperial Family, right?"

"Not only did you set the sword quest at the Royal Academy, but you also assigned us absolutely loyal sword sheaths, let our sisters live together, and forbade anyone from harming us, not even allowing private fights; Principal Cha Huan would also look after us... Although this dormitory is hardly livable for people, these months at the Imperial Academy have been the most peaceful nights I've had all year."

"You simply used the name of the sword quest to pull us away from external power struggles, allowing us to live carefree as students at the Imperial Academy for some time."

Upon hearing Ming Shuangli's words, some people showed a look of sudden realization, while others remained calm, having known all along. Ming Shuangli took a deep breath and sincerely pleaded, "Let us be a bit spoiled just once more, since you have taken care of us so much, can you not let us be willful once?"

There was no sound in the dormitory, everyone held their breath, waiting for the Sword Holder's final verdict. In fact, even if the Sword Holder were unwilling, they couldn't really commit suicide, and besides, suicide wasn't easy since the teachers at the Imperial Academy were right below, ready to save them with just a breath.

"It seems my enchantment has gone wrong; clearly it was a one-way loyalty, so why are even you involved now?"

Ming Shuangli was relieved and laughed, "Feelings are not one-way, sincerity will be reciprocated."

"Actually, the method has always been in your hands. As a monarch, command your subjects to guide the direction."

Ming Shuangli was stunned, but then realized something, clenching her right fist, she loudly said, "In the name of Ming Shuangli, Niruo, guide me to where you are!"

Others also said, "In the name of Ming Shuiyun..."

"In the name of Ming Dailan..."

"In the name of Ming Chaoyan..."

As the command was executed, the marks on the back of their hands faded somewhat, but at the same time, a peculiar coordinate appeared in their minds, making them clearly aware of the location of the sword sheaths.

Ming Shuangli bowed deeply, "Thank you for your permission."

"Although everything outside has almost been cleared, there's still a chance for survivors to be lurking; once you leave the Imperial Academy, I can no longer protect you. As for how you leave the Academy, I won't interfere."

"Don't worry, I have a way to avoid the teachers and get out." Ming Shuangli said, looking experienced.

"Go if you wish to go, youthful willfulness is a right; I wish you luck, as you'll need it on your journey. However, there might also be places that require your presence."

Ming Shuiyun asked, "What kind of place needs us?"

"To fetch someone, or collect a body."

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