Chapter 604: Exposed

Bam!

Two blue light swords clashed in the air, producing a loud thud, their collision flashing brilliant light.

Luke gripped the hilt with both hands, panting heavily, sweat streaming down his forehead as he struggled desperately; opposite him, Master Yoda moved with far greater ease.

“Your training is nearly complete, though you haven’t reached the goal I expected,” Master Yoda said with regret. “But your father has arrived—you likely have no heart left for further training. So go.”

“I…” Luke opened his mouth to say he could still continue, but recalling his own performance, his face flushed red.

“Go.” Yoda had hoped Luke would refuse, giving him an excuse to let him keep training—but now he felt only disappointment. Yet after that disappointment came relief: Luke hadn’t spoken words he didn’t mean.

Even Yoda himself felt contradictory: he wanted Luke to lie and stay, yet he didn’t want Luke to lie, because lying meant he’d misjudged Luke all along. These two conflicting thoughts ensured he would remain tormented no matter what Luke chose.

“I’m leaving,” Luke bowed deeply to Master Yoda, then turned and walked away without looking back.

“Another one gone,” Yoda sighed. “Peace will return here again. Perhaps it’s time for me to go out and see the world.”

Yoda sheathed his light sword, using the hilt as a cane to support himself as he slowly departed.

In the forest, as Luke moved toward the direction he’d seen earlier, Ye Nan suddenly blocked his path.

“Ye Nan, how are you? You volunteered to deal with Black Baron—I was worried sick about you.”

Seeing Ye Nan appear, Luke brightened immediately. He realized it had been three days since they last met, and during those days he’d been anxious and afraid—after all, Ye Nan’s opponent was Black Baron.

“No need to worry,” Ye Nan appeared like a ghost before Luke, his palm striking Luke’s skull with lightning speed, his powerful mental force instantly invading Luke’s mind.

“You—” Luke’s eyes widened, ready to demand why Ye Nan had done this—but growing exhaustion rendered him speechless. He slowly closed his eyes, all his questions buried deep within.

“Indeed, this old man poured all his training and knowledge into Luke within just three days. A fine teacher.” Ye Nan sighed as he carefully extracted knowledge from Luke’s mind, marveling at how tightly Yoda had guarded everything from him, like a thief.

“If I hadn’t had a few tricks up my sleeve, I’d have left empty-handed.”

“You won’t leave empty-handed—but your head will be separated from your body.” Master Yoda’s voice suddenly rang out. His light sword extended, brimming with killing intent.

“Ah, Master Yoda.” Ye Nan didn’t look surprised at his arrival—only smiled faintly. “Don’t come closer. If you do, I can’t guarantee Luke won’t become a Bai Chi.”

It was only natural Yoda would come this close—especially since Ye Nan had already detected his presence long ago.

“You’d treat your own disciple so ruthlessly? You’re truly sinister and cruel,” Master Yoda snarled, yet hesitated to act, fearing for Luke’s safety.

“How am I sinister and cruel?” Ye Nan spread his hands helplessly. “I slowed down deliberately to avoid destroying his memories. But if you strike, I’ll extract his knowledge at full speed—then whether he survives or becomes a Bai Chi won’t be up to me.”

“You—” Master Yoda nearly exploded in rage, but bit back his words. “Very well. I’ll give you time. Cherish your final moments—repent your sins.”

“Sins? What sins do I have?” Ye Nan feigned ignorance. “Tell me.”

“You’re a Sith Lord’s agent—a deceiver,” Master Yoda said coldly. “I foresaw you long ago. I thought dark side interference had distorted the vision, so I didn’t kill you on first sight. Later, your bond with Luke made me doubt my vision. But now I see—I was right. You’re a wolf with a heart of ambition.”

“A wolf with a heart of ambition?” Ye Nan smirked. “And what if I am?”

“The Galactic Empire will be overthrown by the Rebel Alliance—and you will die without a grave,” Master Yoda declared firmly. “The Sith Lord oppresses the people, sparking rebellion everywhere. This proves his cruelty. Cruelty will always fall—that is an eternal truth.”

“What does his downfall have to do with me?” Ye Nan found it amusing. This Yoda had mistaken him for a Sith Lord’s lackey—but he was wrong, and he meant to correct him.

“I have only an equal relationship with the Sith Lord.”

“An equal relationship?” Master Yoda stared, incredulous. “You’re from another civilization.”

In the Galactic Empire, no one dared claim equality with the Sith Lord—only those from other civilizations would dare such a thing.

The universe was vast, countless civilizations existed. Though powerful, the Galactic Empire was not among the top tier.

“Otherwise, how could I have negotiated directly with Black Baron and asked him to wait four days?” Ye Nan smiled. Since he’d decided to leave, there was no need to conceal his identity anymore—some truths could now be spoken openly.

“Negotiated with Black Baron?” Master Yoda was stunned again.

If Ye Nan had claimed from the start that he’d negotiated with Black Baron, Yoda wouldn’t have been surprised—he’d assumed Ye Nan was a Sith agent, so such a meeting made perfect sense.

But now, after Ye Nan declared he wasn’t a Sith lackey, and instead claimed to be from another civilization, then revealed he’d negotiated with Black Baron—it was a dangerous signal. It implied an alliance between two civilizations.

“Must kill him. Destroy the alliance. Even force the two civilizations to turn against each other—trap the Sith Lord between two enemies.”

Instantly, Master Yoda made his decision. Though he’d lived in seclusion, seemingly detached from the outside world, he still cared deeply for the Rebel Alliance. Though crushed by the Empire, they’d won a few battles, lifting morale. If another civilization allied with the Galactic Empire, it would be a catastrophe for the Rebels.

“Kill him. Crush the alliance. Let the two civilizations turn on each other. Let the Sith Lord be caught between them.”

Master Yoda made his choice. He swung his light sword and lunged at Ye Nan.

“You’re willing to abandon your own disciple?” Ye Nan raised his left hand toward Master Yoda. Dark Force surged instantly, seizing Yoda and hurling him backward with brute force.

“Dark Force?” Master Yoda’s eyes widened in shock. “You can’t sense the Force at all!”

“I can’t sense the Force—but inability to sense doesn’t mean I can’t use it,” Ye Nan explained with a smile. “Whether the Dark Force favors me and willingly exchanges with me, or I forcibly seize it with my mental power—I can still manipulate enough of it.”

He didn’t say: using mental power to extract Force drains too much.

Now that he possessed all the techniques, he understood what the Force truly was.

Simple: the Force was a power existing throughout the universe—a fusion of magnetic fields emitted by living and non-living things. He didn’t know why it split into Light and Dark Force.

But since it was real power, Ye Nan had ways to control it. He first used his mental power to sense the Force’s traces, then stripped it from living and non-living matter to use for himself.

The advantage: Force could be summoned at will. The disadvantage: it drained immense mental energy. If he were his true body, it wouldn’t matter—but he was only a clone, one separated from his true self by unimaginable distance.

“The Dark Force favors you.” Master Yoda’s eyes bulged like a bull’s. “I’ve never heard of the Force favoring any person.”

The Force could tempt, leading Jedi to fall—but for it to favor someone, to willingly exchange with them and let them control it? That was impossible. In Jedi history, it had never happened.

“It hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it can’t happen now. Just as the first Jedi were doubted when they claimed their power—I imagine people back then thought as foolishly as you do.”

Ye Nan smiled at Master Yoda, goading him further. “History always repeats itself. Though the causes change, the stupidity of life itself blinds them to their own folly—and they proudly boast of history.”

“What did you say?” Master Yoda had never been insulted like this. He bristled. “Boy, today you’ll learn what true elder wisdom means.” (To be continued.)