Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 110 Meeting the King of Qin, Discussing the Young Man's Strategies

Who exactly are you?

In the peach grove, Mo Ya looked at the calm-looking young man before him, his eyes seemingly filled with a sense of relief.

Becoming the killer of the night was an unavoidable choice in his destiny; with just a simple glance, his opponent could see his yearning to soar freely in the sky.

So he came back again, which sounds a bit crazy, but for some people, an answer can sometimes be enough to drive them crazy.

"Didn't you already know?"

Xiu Yuan didn't turn around. He sat under a peach tree, gazing up at the azure sky.

"Is that you behind the girl named Nongyu?"

Mo Ya watched the other person's back and cautiously probed.

"Some things, the more you know, the more dangerous they become, so don't be a curious cat, because it can kill you."

Mo Ya was taken aback. He leaned against a peach tree and chuckled softly, "What do you mean by that, young master?"

Xiu Yuan gently shook his head.

"It is said that cats have nine lives, but because they are very curious, they want to see what is going on no matter what the wind blows or the grass rustles, but they forget that danger is always present, and excessive curiosity can lead to danger."

As if remembering something, Mo Ya shrugged.

"That seems to be the case, but I'm not curious about everything. Since you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask."

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a fragrance, and Mo Ya spoke again.

"However, there is one thing I would like to ask for your help, young master."

Xiu Yuan raised his hand, and the petals in his hand scattered in the wind. His gaze became distant.

"Though in darkness, your heart yearns for light. Are you asking how to break free from the shackles of fate?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Ya's expression turned serious, and he thought to himself, "Just as I thought."

"Young master indeed knew what I wanted."

Xiu Yuan slowly exhaled.

"You're coming back again just to get an answer? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Hearing these casual words, Mo Ya's heart tightened, but he did not show it on his face.

"Actually, I had no choice when the young master spoke up. Didn't I?"

Xiu Yuan nodded.

"My name is Xiuyuan. Fate is a mysterious thing. Some people, even if they are separated by thousands of miles, seem to have known each other for a long time, while others, even if they meet, may pass each other by."

"And you're right, the moment you set your sights on me today, our fate was already sealed, though you may not like it."

Mo Ya raised an eyebrow.

“If I want to kill you, it won’t matter how fast you run, because birds eventually need to land.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Ya suddenly laughed.

"Does the young master mean that if I want to leave now, you can't stop me?"

Xiu Yuan smiled faintly. The Hundred Birds Organization in the night specialized in speed, and Mo Ya and Bai Feng were among the best in speed, so he was very confident in his own speed.

Xiu Yuan sat still, making no move, seemingly not worried at all that the other party would escape.

"I'll give you a chance, you can give it a try."

Mo Ya's eyes flashed, and the next moment he leaped into the air to escape.

But at that moment, Mo Ya suddenly found that everything around him had been stripped of its color, leaving only black and white. And that wasn't the most terrifying thing. The most terrifying thing was that everything nearby seemed to have been stripped of its ability to move. Even he himself was suspended in mid-air.

The world was completely silent. Such a terrifying power made his pupils shrink sharply. He could hardly believe that what he was seeing was real.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the boy, who was still sitting there, playing with the flower petals in his hand.

"Compared to others, you have actually come to know part of the truth. As a pawn in the power struggle, you can never escape the fate of being controlled. As an assassin, your hands are stained with blood. True freedom has become unattainable in your eyes."

The voice came over, but he realized that in this space, it seemed that only the boy could speak.

Upon hearing the other party's analysis, Mo Ya was speechless.

These were also his thoughts and feelings. He didn't know why the other person understood him so well, but what he wanted most was the answer.

"The tragedy of a chess piece is that it can only gain true freedom when it becomes a discarded piece. Is that what you think?"

At this point, Xiu Yuan raised his head, his aura becoming increasingly ethereal.

“If the heart is trapped, then all one can see is the sky in front of one’s eyes. The world is very big. Besides South Korea, there are six other countries that you are familiar with, and there are other countries beyond the seven countries.”

"Your eyes only see the night, only Xinzheng, only Korea, and you can't see any bigger places, so you can never find a way out."

"In this world, everyone is a pawn in the grand scheme of things. Even Ji Wuye in your eyes is the same, and even the king of this country is a pawn. It's just that the game they are in is different from that of ordinary people!"

"Because of their different positions, each person is given a different mission. Some people are peripheral and have little impact on the outcome of the game, while others are the key players who can decide the outcome of the game."

"But that doesn't mean that the position of every piece is fixed, and the battle on the battlefield is never fixed. Many times, the battlefield will move from one place to another, and a piece that seems insignificant at first may become the key to deciding the outcome of the game."

"There is no absolute freedom in this world, only relative freedom. A Confucian sage once said, 'Follow your heart's desires without transgressing the rules.' And there is a Taoist saying, 'Be in harmony with the light and the dust,' which reveals the secret of heaven."

"The various ideas of the secular world are all kinds of rules. It is almost impossible for a person to completely get rid of these things. But how to live better in the way he wants under these rules is what most people seek in their lives."

"The reason you are confused is because your ideals conflict with those of Nightfall. It is not a suitable place for you, or rather, no assassin organization is a good place to go."

"Our meeting today is a matter of fate. I will give you two choices. First, I will kill you and free you from the clutches of the night. Second, I will help you escape the control of the night, and you will serve me for ten years."

"I'll give you thirty breaths to consider, then tell me your choice."

Upon hearing this, Mo Ya's eyes flickered uncertainly. He had to admit that the conditions offered by the other party were very tempting. Being able to escape the Nightfall was an opportunity that would come once in a lifetime for him. As for whether it would work or not, he didn't really care that much. At least the person in front of him didn't seem to him as greedy, insatiable, fierce, and violent as Ji Wuye.

Thirty breaths passed in the blink of an eye. Looking at the world before him, now restored to its colors, Mo Ya was filled with mixed emotions. He had guessed correctly; if he hadn't turned back earlier, death would have been his only fate.

"I choose the second one."

The young man nodded.

"Can I bring one more person with me?"

Mo Ya hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

Xiu Yuan's eyes flickered slightly, guessing Mo Ya's plan. It seemed he was still worried about the boy.

"Bai Feng?"

Mo Ya was taken aback. He hadn't expected the other party to know about Bai Feng, since this was their first time dealing with each other. However, he didn't hesitate and nodded honestly.

"Yes."

After a moment of silence, Xiu Yuan spoke softly.

"He also has his own mission. A fledgling bird can only grow up when it leaves the protection of its parent bird. If it stays by your side all the time, it may die. In this chaotic world, you can only rely on yourself."

Mo Ya's eyes flickered, and finally he sighed softly. What the other party said was right; a person's growth requires going through trials and tribulations.

"How does the young master intend to get me out of the Nightfall?"

After standing there for a while, Mo Ya suddenly heard a voice from the bottom of his heart.

"A big shot has arrived from Qin. I'm sure Nightfall has received the news. Luo Wang has also sent a top-tier assassin. I will handle this matter. You should find a suitable opportunity to fake your death and escape. Afterwards, wait for me in the north of the city."

Upon hearing this, Mo Ya looked quite surprised. He had only just received word of such highly confidential information from Ji Wuye today, and he hadn't expected that this young man in front of him would also know about it.

"According to Ji Wuye, the top-tier assassins of the Luo Wang were once renowned figures in the martial arts world, possessing immense strength. Most of them had even reached the Grandmaster realm, making them extremely troublesome. Even the entire Nightfall organization probably couldn't find anyone who could rival them."

At this point, Mo Ya couldn't help but look at the person in front of him again, only to see that the other person was leaning against the tree and pretending to sleep. He couldn't help but shake his head again.

Although he had never witnessed how troublesome a master-level expert could be, it didn't seem to be a big deal for the other party.

If he wasn't mistaken, the person before him was very likely the one who had fought against the Blood-Clad Marquis. To be able to make Bai Yifei back down, his strength was probably beyond his imagination, except that the other party was so young.
And those words the other person said earlier, it's hard to imagine coming from a teenager. He doesn't know if his choice is right or wrong, but he knows he has no other choice.

Suddenly, Mo Ya narrowed his eyes and saw the boy's figure grow fainter and fainter until it disappeared from the spot.

"This"

Such a bizarre scene made Mo Ya rub his eyes again, but the place was still empty.

"Let's go!"

Suddenly, another voice came from under the peach tree. Mo Ya's eyes twitched twice. A sense of fear suddenly rose in his heart. Such a method, which was almost in harmony with nature, was unimaginable unless one had seen it.

Mo Ya bowed and clasped his hands in a solemn gesture, then took a step and headed back into the city. This time, however, his steps were lighter, as if a bird had finally escaped its cage, and he flew freely.

On the other side, in a charming little courtyard in Xinzheng.

Led by Gai Nie, Han Fei met a person who shouldn't have been there.

A tall, slender man stood in the courtyard, the bamboo swaying by the wall, its leaves falling in disarray. "Were you waiting for me?"

Although it was an unexpected meeting, Han Fei remained calm and greeted the other person with a smile.

Yes, I'm waiting for you.

Hearing footsteps behind him, the man nodded slightly and then said, "I've heard people say that a frog at the bottom of a well can only see a small part of the sky. I'm curious, how can one write an article about strategizing for the world in such a dilapidated courtyard?"

Han Fei had already guessed Gai Nie's identity when he saw him. Even though there was a mask covering his face, he still knew who the person in front of him was.

After thinking for a moment, Han Fei picked up a fallen leaf from the ground and said softly, "Some people have never seen the ocean, so they think that rivers are the most magnificent, while others see the whole autumn through a single fallen leaf."

The newcomer chuckled softly.

Han Fei's answer was indeed unexpected; he felt that he hadn't made a mistake in coming here.

As the conversation unfolded, the two discussed the most fundamental issue. Han Fei spoke eloquently about a problem he encountered during his studies.

Is there truly a power beyond mortals in this world, controlling destiny in the unseen realm?

Perhaps this is why the person came looking for Han Fei; he was also searching for the answer.

In the courtyard, Gai Nie stood on the rooftop while Wei Zhuang guarded the gate, acting as protectors, but neither of them showed any displeasure.

Han Fei looked at the sky and seemed to see himself at the end of time; his voice became somewhat ethereal.

"High mountains become deep valleys, oceans turn into mulberry fields, the withering and flourishing of summer and winter, the rise and fall of nations, and the life and death of people are truly mysterious and unpredictable."

The newcomer frowned, as if he had guessed something.

Then he heard Han Fei's words come over again.

"Ten years can witness the passing of spring and autumn, a hundred years can witness birth, aging, sickness and death, a thousand years can witness the rise and fall of dynasties, and ten thousand years can witness the shifting of stars and constellations. If mortals use the perspective of a single day to peer into the vastness of millions of years of history, are they not like frogs at the bottom of a well?"

Time and years are like a knife that can carve the whole world, so Han Fei's answer was not wrong.

The wind blew through the courtyard without leaving a trace. The visitor sighed softly. It was a remarkable answer; at least until now, he had not heard a similar response from anyone else.

"Mr. Han Fei."

Han Fei turned to the side and bowed deeply.

"Han Fei pays his respects to the King of Qin!"

At the same time, Gai Nie seemed to sense something, and his brows furrowed.

Then he looked at Wei Zhuang.

"Besides Ye Mu, are there other experts in Xinzheng City?"

Wei Zhuang raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"What does 'senior brother' mean?"

Gai Nie tightened his grip on his longsword, then said, "Just now, two auras flashed by. One was violent and ruthless, with overwhelming killing intent, while the other was ethereal and elusive, yet filled with trepidation."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang frowned.

He had focused most of his attention on Ying Zheng and Han Fei, and his perception of the outside world was not as good as Gai Nie's, so he did not perceive what Gai Nie said earlier.

"We received information earlier that the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) has dispatched the Eight Linglong (a type of magical creature). If I'm not mistaken, the aura you sensed should be theirs, but there should be eight of them, not just one."

Upon hearing Wei Zhuang's explanation, Gai Nie narrowed his eyes. He was extremely perceptive about changes in aura, and he could distinguish between one and eight auras. However, he knew Wei Zhuang's temperament and that he would never lie about such matters. Therefore, he suspected that there was something fishy going on.

"What about the other one?"

Gai Nie then asked about the target of the Luo Wang. He already had some guesses in his mind, but what intrigued him even more was another one. Although it only flashed by, the sense of oppression it exerted was clearly greater than that of the first one.

Wei Zhuang frowned. The aura that could capture Gai Nie's attention was definitely not that of an ordinary person. His combat strength was among the top in Xinzheng. If it were a one-on-one fight, no one could guarantee that they could defeat him.

Then a strange look flashed in Wei Zhuang's eyes, as if he had thought of something.

“There is a person, or rather a boy, whose exact origins are uncertain. He has been in Xinzheng for two or three months, but his behavior is very strange. Apart from going out a few times, he spends most of his time reading books.”

"The last time he made a move, his opponent was Blood-Clad Marquis Bai Yifei. His moves were also extremely strange. He could condense sword energy in mid-air to injure his enemy, like a barrage of arrows, with great power."

Gai Nie was taken aback upon hearing this answer.

After leaving Ghost Valley, he traveled the martial world for a long time and witnessed many sects' unique skills, but he had never heard of the methods that Wei Zhuang mentioned.

Even their hobbies and interests are very unique.

"Reading books? He's a Confucian disciple??"

Wei Zhuang shook his head.

"His insight was extraordinary, and he had unique perspectives on the situation in Korea and the Seven Kingdoms. However, he was rather indifferent. If you say he was a Confucian, I think he was more like a Taoist."

"There are two schools of Taoism: the Heavenly School and the Human School. The Heavenly School does not concern itself with worldly affairs and focuses on cultivating the Tao. As for the Human School, they follow their own desires and emphasize worldly cultivation. However, those people act according to their own will and have little in-depth research on the overall situation of the country. Therefore, I still cannot determine which school the other party belongs to."

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie's eyes also flickered.

"A person's character is influenced by both innate qualities and the environment. If the person is young, they will not be greatly affected by the environment of their sect. Therefore, the method of inferring a sect's character from its members is uncertain."

"As for the insights into the situation of the seven kingdoms, only a powerful force and a famous teacher can produce such insights. The other party's background is likely not simple. He is either the descendant of a famous person from each country or comes from a powerful force. The Taoists are not interested in these things. In their view, the rise and fall of families and countries are natural changes. There is no right or wrong. Therefore, it is unlikely that he comes from the Taoists."

As for Confucianism...

When the topic of Confucianism came up, Gai Nie's eyes showed a hint of hesitation. As one of the two prominent schools of thought in the world, alongside Mohism, the young master Han Fei came from the Confucian school. If the other party was indeed a Confucian, given Han Fei's seniority, the other party would definitely not be negligent. After all, Confucianism emphasizes propriety and will not back down in such matters.

"Could I meet this person?"

After a moment of silence, Gai Nie looked at Wei Zhuang.

His primary task upon arriving in Xinzheng was to ensure Ying Zheng's safety.

"He has a good relationship with Liu Sha, so he shouldn't be an enemy."

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie let out a soft exclamation, then looked at Wei Zhuang.

"Oh?"

Wei Zhuang's eyes flickered uncertainly. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke again and explained, "His strength is not bad. If he had any ill intentions before, Han Fei and the others would already be dead. Moreover, he didn't know that the King of Qin was coming."

Gai Nie thought for a moment and nodded again.

"Besides my doubts, I'd like to see this young man for myself. There aren't many people you can praise."

A breeze blew through the courtyard, and Wei Zhuang's lips curled into a slight smile. Gai Nie's answer pleased him greatly.

"can."

Thinking of the young man living in the Purple Orchid Pavilion, Wei Zhuang's thoughts drifted away. Han Fei had once said that the young man's talent was extremely terrifying, and if other countries obtained this little guy, they might rise to power in a short period of time.

Before knowing the other party's skill level, he was not very optimistic about this conclusion, but after learning about the other party's skill level, he had to admit that Han Fei's judgment was sharp.

A person with almost no weaknesses will be a sharp sword for this era, a sword that can cut through the turbid world and rebuild a new order.

He even considered other options, but ultimately gave up.

"I got a somewhat crazy answer from him."

Gai Nie looked over. In his heart, Wei Zhuang was a crazy person, but he heard the word "crazy" from the other person's mouth.

"Xiao Zhuang??"

Wei Zhuang tightened his grip on the Shark Tooth sword, his gaze becoming serious. In this world, there were not many people he could actively communicate with. In the state of Han, there were only Han Fei and Zi Nu, and today Gai Nie could be considered one of them.

"I once spoke with Han Fei, and he pointed out the disadvantages of the state of Han and proposed several countermeasures. Some of them sounded far-fetched, but they were still possible. Others were extremely crazy and even went against the times."

Gai Nie could sense Wei Zhuang's thoughts, and he was naturally curious as to why Wei Zhuang reacted this way. He then asked, "What is it?"

"This young man once said that if South Korea wants to stand out from the seven kingdoms, the first step is to kill the current King of Han."

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie frowned and his eyes sharpened. Indeed, it was somewhat crazy. Such an outcome would be a huge shock to Han Fei, Wei Zhuang, and anyone else.

Of the seven kingdoms today, no school of thought has uttered such treasonous words.

"Indeed insane. If this person is not insane, then he is a genius, a genius who transcends the entire era. That is why no one can understand his decisions."

Wei Zhuang sighed softly.

"Han Fei once said something similar."

Recalling what had been said before, Gai Nie finally understood why Wei Zhuang had reached that conclusion; the path he had taken was fundamentally different from that of Confucianism.

"Such rebellious words are indeed not the style of Confucianism. Confucianism emphasizes loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, and does not advocate such principles."

Wei Zhuang nodded.

“I have carefully analyzed what he said. If it succeeds, it will indeed bring huge benefits, but it also carries huge risks. If there is no other way out, I might choose to do it, but it doesn’t seem that we have reached that point yet.”

(End of this chapter)