I Have A Sword

Jun Qin sensed Qin Yun's gaze upon him. He turned around, only to realize that Ye Guan was there as well. He frowned slightly. He couldn't recognize him, as he had never seen Ye Guan before.

Jun Qin narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

Ye Guan ignored him. He walked slowly across the hall until he stood before Qin Yun, a man who appeared to have aged centuries.

Ye Guan smiled gently. "Elder Qin, we meet again."

Qin Yun stared in disbelief. He trembled as he struggled to his feet and said in a quavering voice, "I-Is it really you?"

Ye Guan chuckled, "Of course."

Tears streaked down Qin Yun's face instantly. He choked with emotion and knelt to the ground. "I, Qin Yun... pay my respects to the Academy Master..."

Before his knees could fully touch the floor, a soft force lifted him gently back up.

"We are family. There's no need for such formality." Ye Guan smiled warmly.

"Academy Master!" Qin Yun exclaimed.

Jun Qin raised an eyebrow. He glared at Ye Guan, asking, "Academy Master?"

Ye Guan turned his head and smiled. "The Academy Master of the Guanxuan Academy, of course."

Jun Qin's expression darkened. Then, his pupils constricted to needle points.

"Y-y-y-you're Ye Guan!!" he shrieked in horror.

Ye Guan nodded. "That's right."

Jun Qin recoiled as if he'd seen a ghost. Stumbling backward, he stammered, "Y-you're still alive?"

Ye Guan waved his hand.

Two golden-armored guards appeared inside the grand hall.

Jun Qin's face drained of color. Clearly, he recognized them. "T-the Imperial Guards? You've surrendered to Ye Guan? This is treason! Are you not afraid of bringing annihilation upon your entire clan?"

One of the guards stepped forward and slapped him across the face.

Smack!

Jun Qin was sent sprawling to the floor.

The guard spoke with icy disdain, saying, "From now on, Lord Ye is the master of the Empire."

Jun Qin looked as if he'd been struck by lightning. At that moment, everything became clear.

The Empire had fallen!

It was over.

Tears welled up again in Qin Yun's eyes, pouring down his face like a flood breaking through a dam.

The guards dragged Jun Qin away as if he were a dog. Just as he was being taken out, Jun Qin suddenly shouted, "Academy Master Ye! I-I have something to report!"

Ye Guan turned to look at him.

Jun Qin scrambled to speak. "I want to report my father! It was all his doing! I'm innocent...!"

"How filial of you." Ye Guan responded coldly.

Jun Qin frantically kowtowed. "Academy Master Ye, I'm willing to join the Guanxuan Academy. Please give me a chance to redeem myself..."

Ye Guan waved his hand again, as the guards dragged him out without another word.

Ye Guan turned back to Qin Yun and smiled. "Now, tell me about the Academy."

Qin Yun hurriedly took out a thick stack of documents. He opened them and began his report in earnest. "The Academy spans 3.6 million acres, houses 6,720 various grand halls, and contains 3,600 residential halls for teachers. Each is located on a separate peak, complete with all supporting facilities..."

"I believe the Academy must treat its teachers generously. Only when the treatment is excellent can we attract the best talent. And only with enough talented teachers can we draw in students..."

He looked at Ye Guan for affirmation.

Ye Guan nodded. "You're right."

Qin Yun heaved a silent sigh of relief and went on. "My initial plan is to recruit teachers from across the world. Strength is an important trait, but so is character. Of course, this will require significant funding..."

"Don't worry about the money." Ye Guan commented.

Qin Yun nodded as he continued. "Lord Ye, there's something else. We need someone with real prestige."

Ye Guan looked at him as the latter went on. "The Empire is vast, and its population exceeds billions. My Qin Clan, to be honest, does not have much influence, not even here in Yongrong City. If I take charge, I'll face enormous resistance, and few will respond to me.

"However, if someone with authority and influence leads this effort, the powerful clans and sects will support it. We'll achieve twice the results with half the effort."

He understood that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both himself and the Qin Clan, but he also understood his limits. He wasn't capable of managing an entire empire. Even governing just Yongrong City would exhaust him.

Better to speak up now, while goodwill remained, than to be quietly replaced later due to incompetence.

He believed it was crucial for a man to know his limits. To not take on what one couldn't handle.

Ye Guan was a little surprised by the honesty. He glanced at Qin Yun and smiled. "My plan is to establish academies in every province across the Empire. A central academy will be founded in the capital, not exactly a 'headquarters,' but more like the Empire's academic hub.

"An Inner Committee will oversee the network. I'll reserve a seat for you there."

Qin Yun did not decline. He immediately knelt. "Thank you, Academy Master!"

Ye Guan helped him up. "Do you have anyone to recommend?"

Qin Yun replied solemnly, "City Governor Sang Han!"

Ye Guan narrowed his eyes slightly. Back in the Celestial World, she was absent. He later learned that she had left the empire.

After a moment's silence, he replied, "I'll handle the personnel myself. Yongrong City's academy is our very first academy, so we must do it right."

As he spoke, he opened his palm. A glowing book floated out in front of Qin Yun. "This book contains the Guanxuan Laws, the core teachings of our Academy.

"Once the Academy is built, it must be implemented immediately. I know many issues will arise in the early stages, and some... will require force to handle."

He gestured again, and twelve golden-armored guards appeared before them.

Ye Guan calmly said, "From this moment on, they're under your command."

Qin Yun bowed deeply. "Understood!"

Ye Guan nodded and left.

Qin Yun smiled softly, but his smile quickly vanished, replaced by tears.

The Governor's Mansion of Yongrong City was eerily quiet. Everyone was dismissed by Sang Han. Sang Han was sitting alone in her courtyard, reading an ancient book.

Just then, she heard footsteps in the distance.

"You came, after all." Sang Han said, closing her book gently.

The visitor was none other than Ye Guan.

He sat not far from her and smiled. "Lady Sang, we meet again."

Sang Han's expression was complex. She could hardly believe that the boy who was once a shackled prisoner was now the ruler of the empire.

Her information network far surpassed the Qin Clan and the Jun Clan. When Ye Guan returned, she instantly deduced what had happened, so Ye Guan's arrival didn't surprise her at all.

"Lady Sang, I want to establish academies throughout the Empire and create a new Order."

Sang Han stared at him without speaking.

"I need someone respected to lead this effort. It will save me a lot of trouble."

"I have one condition," Sang Han finally said.

"Name it," said Ye Guan.

"Do not massacre the imperial family."

She knew all too well what fate awaited those of the former dynasty when a new regime took power.

Ye Guan nodded without hesitation. "Alright."

She was surprised, clearly not expecting such an easy answer.

Ye Guan added, "To me, whether the royals live or die is irrelevant. But as of now, all assets of the Empire belong to the Academy. If they wish to remain in the Empire, I will allow it. But if they cause trouble, they die. If you want to protect them, you must act as their guarantor and their supervisor. How's that?"

Sang Han nodded. "No problem."

Ye Guan nodded back. "The Empire is huge. Establishing a new order won't be smooth sailing, but it's necessary. I've already contacted my people. They'll come to take over, and you'll assist them."

He would not hand over the Empire to Sang Han alone, as she lacked the capacity to handle it. He had already summoned Sui Gujin. In due time, she and her team would arrive to assume control.

Only someone like her could manage something this vast.

Sang Han nodded, "Understood."

Ye Guan rose to leave. Then, he paused and looked back as if he had just thought of something. "Lady Sang, the imperial family is likely still unwilling to accept reality. You know what that means?"

"Don't worry. If they still refuse to see the truth, then they deserve to die."

Ye Guan nodded once more and vanished.

Sang Han sat in silence, her heart heavy. The Empire she had served her entire life... would vanish today.

If only the Empire had chosen Ye Guan back then...

Regretfully, life offered no second chances.

***

With Ye Guan's return, everyone finally understood what happened. The Empire lost the war.

The Empire was no more!

Panic swept across the land; some grieved while others celebrated.

The once-abandoned Qin Clan estate bustled with life. Relatives who fled came rushing back.

In mere days, the Qin Clan went from being the black sheep of the city to the most powerful clan across the Empire. Each day, countless ancient sects and clans arrived at their doorstep, desperate to establish ties.

However, Qin Yun refused every visitor. He had more important matters to attend to, the Academy. To him, there was only one mission now—build the future.

Just then, a soft voice came from the entrance. "Grandfather..."

Qin Yun looked up and saw Qin Xue.

She entered with her head lowered, not daring to speak.

Qin Yun was silent for a long moment, and then he suddenly smiled. He was a cultivator. Who would stop him from having another one?