Chapter 135: Holy Mother Wields the Sword, Three-Body Changes Face Instantly, Cheng Xin: I Can't Press the Deterrence Button!

Three-Body Universe, PIA Outer Street.

Cheng Xin watched as her name appeared on the sky-screen, lifted by golden subtitles, her coffee cup almost slipping from her hand.

"It's me……"

She took a deep breath, her gaze falling on the last line on the sky-screen——

【New Swordbearer Candidate: Cheng Xin】.

A complex emotion welled up.

There was excitement, there was anxiety.

But more than that, it was a sense of mission chosen by fate.

"Luo Ji is too old."

She said softly,

"That kind of mutually assured destruction deterrence is ultimately not a long-term plan."

She lifted her head, her eyes clear and resolute.

"If I take over…… perhaps, between the two civilizations, we can truly find another way."

PIA Building, top-floor office.

Wade's cigar fell onto the carpet, the burnt smell quickly spreading.

He didn't bother to pick it up.

"Cheng Xin?"

He repeated the name, his voice sounding as if squeezed from his throat.

"The fate of all humanity entrusted to a naive holy mother woman?"

He jumped to his feet, hands braced on the desk.

"This is courting destruction!"

His secretary stood at the doorway, not daring to enter.

Wade turned around, facing the city skyline illuminated by neon lights outside the window. His back was rigid.

"Luo Ji isn't perfect, but at least he dares to press that button."

"Replace him with Cheng Xin, and she doesn't even dare to look at the direction of that button."

Luo Ji's Manor.

In the living room, Luo Ji watched as his name on the sky-screen was replaced by the words 'handover', and he let out a long breath.

"It's fine to be replaced."

His tone was as flat as if he were commenting that the weather was nice today.

"Fifty-four years."

He looked at the back of his hand, "Enough."

Shi Qiang won't stand for it.

"Enough my ass!"

He jumped up from the sofa, the cigarette in his hand jabbing straight into the ashtray with such force that the ashtray shook.

"Luo Lao-di, you've guarded those guys for fifty-four years!"

"Fifty-four years!"

"Your wife left, your child is gone, the whole world has cursed you for half a century."

"In the end, not even a thank-you, just a vote to kick you out?"

Shi Qiang's voice grew louder as he spoke.

"What is this? This is 'unloading the mill and killing the donkey'! This is 'tearing down the bridge after crossing the river'! This is……"

"Da Shi."

Luo Ji interrupted him, "Don't curse."

"What right do I have not to curse?!"

"Because cursing does no good."

Luo Ji leaned back against the sofa, closed his eyes,

"It's time to change, so let's change."

"Maybe this new Swordbearer called Cheng Xin…… she could do better than me."

Shi Qiang looked at him, his lips moving a few times, finally plopping back onto the sofa without uttering a word.

The sky-screen continued to advance.

The scene switched to the sixty-first year of the Deterrence Era.

A rapidly edited clip unfolded across the sky-screen.

Cheng Xin's résumé.

Doctor of aerospace propulsion.

She had discovered the planetary star system designated DX3906.

Gentle, intelligent, with extremely strong affinity.

Whenever she appeared in the major media, she always carried a smile that made people feel like they were basking in a spring breeze.

Polls showed her support rating surging from twelve percent to sixty-seven percent in just three months.

Her opponent was another name.

Thomas Wade.

Wade's information flashed across the sky-screen.

His hard, stern face, eyes permanently half-narrowed, mouth turning down when he spoke. His intimidation assessment report shockingly stated it was nearly one hundred percent, with almost no fluctuation.

His intimidation exceeded Luo Ji's.

Weide said only one sentence in his campaign speech: 'Forward! Forward! Forward by any means!'

Then, the screen suddenly shifted.

A segment of surveillance footage was broadcast on the sky curtain.

The assassin sent by Weide fired at Cheng Xin.

Cheng Xin fell in a pool of blood. Fortunately, the bullet deviated by two centimeters, and she survived.

Weide was arrested by the Federation.

Subtitles appeared on the sky curtain.

【Weide believed that someone like Cheng Xin could not serve as Swordholder; this would be a disaster for humanity】

【Thus Weide planned to assassinate Cheng Xin, but the attempt failed.】

【Finally Weide was arrested and imprisoned.】

【This incident aroused sympathy for Cheng Xin among all humanity. Her approval rating surged to over ninety percent.】

Immediately after, the screen cut to another scene.

A woman in a white long dress appeared at a public occasion of the United Nations.

Her features were so exquisite they seemed non-human, because she indeed was not human.

The Wisdom Child's biomimetic human form.

The Wisdom Child faced several hundred cameras, speaking in a tone almost gentle:

"Ms. Cheng Xin is an awe-inspiring candidate. Her kindness and compassion make the Trisolaran world feel… how to put it?"

"That is a deep unease."

The Wisdom Child slightly lowered her head, making an expression akin to fear.

"We sincerely hope… humanity does not choose her."

On the multiversal public screen, a bullet comment slowly floated up.

【Naruto World—Uchiha Madara】: Counter-espionage scheme.

There was no second sentence.

But the weight of these two words outweighs thousands of words.

The sky curtain's subtitles coldly gave an explanation.

【The Trisolaran civilization's reverse psychological warfare.】

【The more the Wisdom Child shows fear of someone, the more humanity must choose that person.】

【The more the Wisdom Child shows fondness for someone, the less humanity dares to choose that person.】

【Cheng Xin, personally placed upon the Swordholder's throne by the Trisolaran civilization.】

Trisolaran universe, Luo Ji's Manor.

Luo Ji's hand hovered in midair.

His expression was very complicated.

Not anger, nor could it be called despair.

It was a weariness after seeing through the game, unable to change the course of play.

"Counter-espionage…" he whispered, "The Trisolarans have learned true quickly; they have actually mastered the power of lies, while humanity remains stagnant, even retreating."

Shi Qiang looked on, his scalp tingling: 'Damn, this is too dark!'

"Acting in front of several hundred cameras? The Trisolarans' speed at learning to lie is faster than our bureau's oldest detective!"

He turned his head to look at Luo Ji, lowering his voice: 'Luo Junior, your future… you know this is a scheme, right?'

Luo Ji did not answer.

In the center of the living room, the Wisdom Child's point of light suddenly twitched, condensing into a line of text.

【Mr. Luo Ji, please do not misunderstand because of this. The sky curtain is broadcasting the original future trajectory.】

【The Trisolaran civilization now regards Ultraman as its chief deity; the situation will not repeat past mistakes.】

The Wisdom Child's subtitles paused for a second, then added another line.

【We Trisolarans now greatly respect human civilization. Really.】

Shi Qiang stared at that line of text, silent for a long time. Then he turned his head to look at Luo Ji: '…Do you believe it?'

Luo Ji lifted his eyelids: 'You tell me.'

PIA outer street.

Cheng Xin saw the full process on the sky curtain of Weide's assassination attempt, the Wisdom Child's acting, and her own approval rating surging; she first froze, then the corners of her mouth rose.

She turned her body, her gaze directed toward the top floor of the PIA building.

"Weide."

"I knew I was right."

"Did you see it?"

"The Swordholder is me, not you."

"Your cold-blooded, ruthless theory is ultimately not what humanity wants."

She slightly raised her chin, her tone hinting at a touch of pride.

"Humanity has chosen kindness. This is the meaning of civilization."

PIA top-floor office.

Weide turned off the display before him.

He didn't smash anything, nor did he get angry.

He just stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the brightly lit city outside.

"Humanity."

"Just self-destruction."

Sai Bo Tan Planet.

Qing Tian Zhu gazed at Cheng Xin's data and the footage of the failed assassination on the sky screen, his blue optical sensors flickering a few times.

"Wei De's approach……is too extreme."

He said in a deep voice,

"But his judgment may not be wrong."

He turned his head, looking at Megatron leaning against the wall not far away.

"Cheng Xin's personality seems not quite suited to wield that sword."

Megatron let out a cold snort.

"Not quite suited?"

He straightened up, his scarlet optical sensors fixed on the sky screen.

"Think it over with your Mother‑of‑All processor, Optimus."

"What does a Sword‑Bearer do?"

"It's not about shaking hands with the enemy; it's about being ready to perish together at any moment."

He spoke, word by word.

"What a Sword‑Bearer needs is someone like Weyland— a devil who can watch two civilizations vanish together without blinking."

"That Cheng Xin?"

Megatron's voice was ice‑cold.

"She can't even press a button. She'll destroy everything."

Star People Human Federation, fourth fleet flagship.

Grand Marshal Sidney leaned back in the command chair, arms crossed.

She looked at the sophon‑simulacrum on the sky screen, dressed in white, smiling and saying, "I hope humanity doesn't choose her," and gave a cold laugh.

"Nice move."

She typed on the public screen.

【Star People's Federation—Grand Marshal Sidney】: Cheng Xin. This woman perfectly fits humanity's image of a harmless, warm, harmless‑to‑anyone deity. So they pushed her forward.

【Star People's Federation—Grand Marshal Sidney】: They just forgot one thing. Her harmlessness isn't only toward humans; toward Trisolarans she is equally harmless.

【Star People's Federation—Grand Marshal Sidney】: A sword that doesn't hurt anyone isn't a sword; it's an ornament.

Dragon Ball world, King Kai's planet.

Goku scratched his head, his expression troubled.

"Something feels off."

"Hmm."

Piccolo replied briefly.

"That Cheng Xin, I admit she's a good person."

"But being a good person doesn't necessarily mean she can do this job well, right?"

Goku looked at Cheng Xin's smiling face on the sky screen, his brows furrowing.

"It's like… letting Chi‑Chi fight Frieza. Chi‑Chi is a nice person, but she can't pull it off."

Piccolo, unusually, didn't mock him.

"Humanity's move this time was wrong."

Super Beast world.

The voice of the Underworld Lord echoed like a sound from an ancient well.

"Humans have always been such foolish creatures."

His finger lightly tapped the armrest.

"Throw away the only shield that can protect yourself, and replace it with a flower."

"Then expect the enemy to be moved by its fragrance."

The sky screen continued to advance.

【Era of Deterrence, Year 62. Handover Day.】

The view cut back to the United Nations headquarters building.

A round white room, with a pedestal placed in the center of the floor.

Fixed on the pedestal was a red button terminal, no bigger than a palm.

The whole device weighed less than ten kilograms.

This is the deterrence control terminal.

Something capable of destroying two civilizations still weighs less than a baby.

Luo Ji stood to the right of the control terminal.

He wore a dark‑gray old coat, his hair completely white, his back slightly bent.

The weight of fifty‑four years was etched into every wrinkle on his face.

Cheng Xin stood to the left of the control terminal.

She wore a well‑tailored beige suit, her long hair neatly tied back.

Young, clean, full of vigor.

Between the two people was that red button.

The whole venue was silent.

Luo Ji glanced at Cheng Xin.

His lips moved, as if he wanted to say many things.

But in the end he only said one sentence.

"Child, your future work will be much harder than this."

Then he let go of his hand.

He turned around.

He walked toward the exit with a staggering gait.

No one applauded.

No one saw him off.

He walked down the long corridor, past the security checkpoint, and out of the building.

Sunlight fell on him, and he slightly narrowed his eyes.

The door behind him slowly closed.

The sky screen displayed only one line.

【Sword Bearer Luo Ji, relieved of duty.】

PIA Outer Street.

Cheng Xin saw on the sky screen the image of herself receiving the button, took a deep breath, and her eyes flashed with excited light.

"I did it."

She murmured.

Pirate King World, Ten-Thousand-Li Sunshine.

Suo Long leaned against the mast, three swords resting across his knees. He watched Luo Ji's retreating back on the sky screen and remained silent for a long time.

"Idiots rule the day."

He said softly.

"You've driven away the true hero."

Super Beast Armor World, the Xuanwu.

Huo Linfei punched the metal bulkhead, hurting his hand.

"Pulling up the plank after crossing the river! What the hell!"

"They've guarded for fifty-four years! Fifty-four years!"

"In the end, they didn't even have a proper farewell ceremony, just casually dismissed like that."

Miaotiao Jun handed over a tissue from the side: "Don't smash, don't smash, the bulkhead is public property..."

Naruto World, the Uchiha's hidden chamber.

Yuzhibo Ban sat on the stone platform, his purple Rinnegan eyes slowly turning.

He only looked at two people the whole time.

Luo Ji, and Wei De.

"The people of that world," Ban's voice was calm to the point of near indifference, "except Luo Ji and Wei De, almost everyone are idiots."

"The woman named Cheng Xin will lead this bunch of idiots to their doom."

He closed his eyes.

"If the Infinite Tsukuyomi were to shroud that world, it would actually be a mercy."

The sky screen suddenly changed color.

The hue in the image shifted from warm white to blood red within three seconds.

【After the deterrence handover, it was only the tenth minute.】

The alarm shattered the image.

The monitoring feed returned from outside the solar system: nine water drops, accelerating simultaneously.

They rushed out from their hiding spots at unimaginable speed, their trajectories pointing directly at Earth's three gravitational-wave transmission bases.

Inside the command center, officers screamed frenziedly.

"Water drops accelerating! Quantity nine! Target, the gravitational-wave transmission platform!"

"Impact countdown, twelve minutes!"

"Report to the Sword Bearer! Please have the Sword Bearer issue orders!"

The image switched to Cheng Xin.

She stood in that white circular room, the red button right beside her hand.

Her hand hovered above the button.

Distance, five centimeters.

The sky screen enlarged the close-up of her finger to fill the entire image.

That hand was trembling.

Trembling violently.

Text appeared silently on the sky screen.

【Press the button: Three-Body coordinates exposed, Three-Body civilization destroyed.】

【But Earth's coordinates were simultaneously exposed, humanity will face an unknown dark forest strike.】

【Not pressing the button: the gravitational wave transmission tower is destroyed, deterrence completely collapses, humanity becomes a vassal of the Three-Body.】

Cheng Xin's brain was operating at high speed.

She simulated countless times in her mind. She told herself she would press it. She would definitely press it.

But when that hand truly hovered above the button.

What she saw was not the button.

She saw a mother from the Three-Body world holding a child.

She saw the destruction of a civilization.

Because of one of her fingers.

Her finger retracted.

She,

Couldn't press it!