Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 128 The Arrival of Young Master Jia at the Heavenly Sect
"Lord Xiangguo!"

In Handan, at the Prime Minister's residence, Mu Xue knelt on one knee.

On an extremely luxurious long bench, the owner of this prime minister's residence, Guo Kai, was surrounded by beautiful women.

A life of debauchery and indulging in sensual pleasures seemed to have become the prevailing trend in the State of Zhao. The powerful minister before them, who gained the King of Zhao's favor by presenting beautiful women, was a master of this art.

Upon hearing Mu Xue's voice, Guo Kai did not open his eyes, but simply hummed in response.

"How's the investigation going?"

The girls serving nearby continued their work as if they hadn't heard anything. Most of them were girls from poor families who had been sold to brothels and dance halls by their parents to make a living. After training, they were spotted by Guo Kai and brought here.

To this powerful prime minister, they were nominally maids, but in reality, they were less than the cats and dogs in his mansion, and could be discarded at will.

Therefore, they dare not hear, or rather, cannot hear, most of the time.

Because you heard things you shouldn't have heard, there's only one outcome: the more you know, the faster you die.

Upon hearing Guo Kai's words, Mu Xue respectfully replied, "The person who killed Black Stone had extremely high internal strength. As far as Zhao State is concerned, apart from that General Li Mu, I can't think of anyone else."

"But according to the eldest son and Li Sikou's recollections, General Li Mu left Handan yesterday, and Heishi was killed at noon today. I suspect that a powerful figure recently came to Handan, and Heishi may have offended him."

Mu Xue didn't hide anything and told the whole story, even revealing her own guesses.

Upon hearing this answer, Guo Kai did not speak immediately, but continued to rest with his eyes closed on the bench. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The girls serving nearby seemed to sense something was wrong. They moved even more gently and even breathed less, as if they were afraid of accidentally causing an undeserved disaster.

After a while, Guo Kai's voice came through again.

"An expert??"

"I'd really like to know what kind of expert dares to run wild on my territory!!"

"What did the eldest young master say?"

Mu Xue's gaze was calm as she said softly, "When Li Sikou was leaving, he mentioned the ten-day agreement, and the eldest young master did not refuse!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Kai gently opened his eyes. A strange glint flashed in the depths of his cloudy eyes; it was an answer that surprised him somewhat.

The murderer is a master, a very difficult problem for anyone. He was curious about what the young master was thinking, or if the other party already knew who the murderer was.
With this thought in mind, Guo Kai slowly sat up with the help of his maid, and then asked in a deep voice, "Have there been any new faces of unknown origin in Handan recently?"

Mu Xue thought for a while and then gently shook her head.

Its all-encompassing reach has already extended to every corner of Handan City. If an outsider of unknown origin appears in Handan City, there is no way to hide even if one wants to.

Then, as if remembering something, he said softly, "There is one person, however, whom I think might be a problem."

Upon hearing this, Guo Kai's gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Mu Xue.

"who?"

Mu Xue replied again, "Miss Ni Chang, the most beautiful courtesan of Zui Meng Lou, seemed to have seen someone yesterday. Wang Shan went to Zui Meng Lou because of this person, and Young Master Jia also mentioned this person."

Upon hearing the words "Ni Chang," Guo Kai's face darkened. Mu Xue might not be aware of the intricacies of the situation, but he himself was fully aware of it.

Ni Chang has an extraordinary relationship with Luo Wang. Even Jing Ni, the top-ranking assassin of Luo Wang, has secretly warned her not to make any moves against her.

He was still very wary of this behemoth hidden in the shadows. His three subordinates, Mu Xue, Hu Po, and Hei Shi, once said that even if the three of them joined forces, they would not be a match for Jing Ni. Otherwise, given his personality, such a charming beauty would have been obtained by him long ago or sent to the palace.

After a moment of silence, Guo Kai said quietly, "You don't need to worry about Ni Chang's matter."

Mu Xue nodded, without saying anything more.

As a competent subordinate, not asking questions you shouldn't ask is the only rule for survival.

"You go down first!"

After a while, Guo Kai waved his hand, dismissing Mu Xue, and then dismissed all the maids who were serving him, and began to consider the matter alone.

Actually, the matter is not complicated. Blackstone was killed, whether it was premeditated or he unintentionally offended a master, the result is the same.

However, he felt that the former was more likely. After all, Blackstone wasn't stupid. He should know better than him what kind of people he could mess with and what kind of people he couldn't.

Guo Kai's thinking was correct, and Heishi was indeed not the kind of reckless fool. However, there was one thing that Heishi might never have anticipated: the courtesan of Zuimenglou was a master, and the young man who came to find her was an even greater master, a master who was not afraid of the sun-covering barrier.

With songs and dances, and the sounds of flutes and pipes, the night drew to a close, and the rising sun once again shone brightly on the earth.

On the fifth floor of the Drunken Dream Pavilion, Ni Chang slowly opened her eyes. For some reason, she slept exceptionally well tonight. Looking up at the young man sitting cross-legged not far away, a smile inexplicably appeared in the corner of her eyes.

Often, a person's feelings towards another can change in an instant. Before, she felt more fear towards that boy, but now she finds that he is not as frightening as she imagined, but rather captivating.

She was afraid because of the other party's unpredictable methods and indiscriminate nature. She knew that the other party would not show mercy just because she was a pretty girl, nor would they stop in their tracks just because the other party was a powerful figure in the court.

However, if she doesn't position herself as an adversary, then all the terrifying pressure from the other party will disappear.

She tried to change this relationship; when enemies became friends and objects of emulation, everything changed.

Although she felt a little jealous of the three girls, she also felt at ease. Yao Yi and Xiao Lin were old acquaintances of his, and he had traveled a long distance to Handan to rescue them, which showed that they were not the kind of cold-hearted people.

At least for his friends, he wouldn't stand idly by. Putting himself in their shoes, he wouldn't be abandoned if he were in danger in the future.

Although some people say that to achieve great things, one must be ruthless and cold-blooded, if the lord one follows is really that kind of person, will the subordinate truly be happy?

People always like to follow the crowd, but when something really happens to them, who wouldn't want their master to come and save them instead of leaving them to fend for themselves?
Regardless of what others think, she certainly doesn't.

Just like the Net, life and death are left to fate. As long as people don't die, the mission must continue. She's become numb to this kind of life. Perhaps for most people in the Net, this kind of dark and gloomy life is also torture.

Humans are not machines after all. Humans have seven emotions and six desires, joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, greed, anger, ignorance and hatred. Therefore, a person's final destination will never be a hopeless killer organization.

"I wish he were a little older."

Suddenly, an idea popped into Ni Chang's mind, and the next moment, a faint blush appeared on the face of this top-tier assassin from the Luo Wang organization.

"Ah~~"

Stretching, Ni Chang gently raised her arms, revealing her curvaceous figure beneath the thin veil, so alluring that it was impossible to look away. Ni Chang then turned to look at the young man, who was sitting there motionless, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

She then turned and went to the dressing table. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the beauty in the bronze mirror, and she nodded with great satisfaction.

"Young master, could you do me a favor?"

Xiu Yuan entered a meditative state and circulated his energy throughout his body. Although he rested in the latter half of the night, he was very light-sleepy and woke up while Ni Chang was moving around.

Hearing Ni Chang's words, he gently looked up.

This girl really doesn't treat herself like an outsider. Xiu Yuan didn't deliberately avoid the topic. Since this girl isn't shy, why should he be shy for her?

Seeing Xiuyuan looking over, Ni Chang reached out and handed her a brush.

"Young master, do you think my eyebrows are a little light?"

Xiu Yuan looked at the girl in front of the dressing table, who looked pitiful. His lips twitched. The hand that once held a sword now held a brush, and its destructive power was quite great. However, he had no interest in drawing eyebrows. Then he closed his eyes again.

Seeing the other party's attitude, Ni Chang wasn't angry. She hadn't expected the other party to agree anyway, but she had already achieved her goal. Recalling the way the other party had looked at her earlier, a smile appeared on her pretty face.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away on Mount Taiyi, Nongyu also successfully met Chisongzi.

She seemed surprised to find that Xiu Yuan was actually Chi Songzi's junior brother, given the significant age difference between the two.

Chisongzi looked at the token in his hand with a strange expression. The last time he came, the person holding this token was a girl, but of course, not the one in front of him. And now it was a girl again.

Although Taoism does not prohibit marriage, isn't Qingxu being a bit too unconventional? However, his first impression of this girl was much better than that of Yan Lingji.

Her appropriate attire and tranquil nature make her very pleasant to behold at first glance.

"Nongyu greets the senior."

Chisongzi nodded.

"Your name is Nongyu?"

"Did Qingxu send you?"

Nongyu nodded slightly.

"Madam Hu and Li Kai, who came before, are Nongyu's parents. This time, Qingxu arranged for Nongyu to help them."

Upon hearing this, Chisongzi immediately understood. He stroked his beard, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

He already knew about what Madam Hu and Li Kai had done, since the two of them had told him about it when they first arrived.

There were also disciples of the Heavenly Sect guarding the area, so there were no problems. Even if Nongyu went there, she wouldn't be of much help.

After thinking for a moment, Chishongzi spoke again.

"Things over there aren't urgent. Besides your parents, there are also disciples of the Heavenly Sect guarding the area, so nothing will go wrong. I see that you have a good character. Would you be willing to form a good relationship with the Taoists?"

Nongyu was taken aback.

She hadn't been in contact with many martial arts sects, and Tianzong was the first. Now, Chisongzi's words seemed to indicate that he intended to take her in.

"What do you mean, senior?"

Chisongzi chuckled.

"When the Heavenly Sect accepts disciples, it looks at their aptitude and fate. The fact that you have traveled all the way from Korea to come here shows that you have a predestined connection with the Heavenly Sect. Secondly, your character is good and compatible with the Heavenly Sect. If you are willing, I can let you join the Heavenly Sect."

Upon hearing this, Nongyu looked troubled. Although it was a good opportunity, she was afraid that it would bring some gossip to Xiuyuan.

Xiu Yuan holds a very high position in the Heavenly Sect. He is Chi Songzi's junior brother. If she were to join the Heavenly Sect, she would definitely not receive such treatment. If she were to become Xiu Yuan's junior brother, wouldn't her infatuation become nothing but empty talk?

Chisongzi stood to one side, seemingly discerning Nongyu's thoughts, and then he sighed softly.

"That's it!"

“Since you have someone you love, I can’t be a bad guy. I see you haven’t practiced internal energy cultivation yet. Here’s a basic introductory guide to the Heavenly Sect. Take it and practice it. If you have any questions, you can ask me. Once you’ve mastered the guide to the basics, I’ll arrange for you to go back to your parents’ side.” Hearing this, Nongyu bowed and thanked him again.

"Thank you, senior."

Chisongzi nodded, then looked at the other person beside him—Moya.

As a master, he could see through Mo Ya's background with just one glance.

"When you're in the martial world, you're not always in control of your own destiny. You might have no choice but to hurt someone. But let me give you a piece of advice: those who do many evil deeds will surely perish."

Mo Ya gave a wry smile. Everyone said that the people of Tianzong were all immortals. Seeing them today, he was indeed extraordinary. He hadn't said a word when he arrived here, but Chi Songzi had already noticed something about him.

"Junior Mo Ya pays respects to Master Chi Songzi. Previously, I served under General Ji Wuye of the Korean Kingdom. I had no choice in many things. Fortunately, Master Qingxu saved me and I was able to escape from this sea of ​​suffering."

Seeing Mo Ya's respect, Chi Songzi added another sentence.

"Understanding one's true nature is a process. Many people don't know why they wield their swords. The more swords you draw, the greater the impact on your mind and nature. You need to find your reasons for drawing your swords, otherwise you will only be stuck there in the future."

Enlightenment and seeing one's true nature?
Mo Ya was taken aback. Chi Songzi's words were like a wake-up call, making him realize something. He bowed again in gratitude.

"Master Qingxu wants me to go find him after I deliver Miss Nongyu to the Heavenly Sect. If there is nothing else for you, Master, I will take my leave."

Chisongzi's eyes flickered slightly. He knew that Qingxu had gone to South Korea. Half a year had passed and Qingxu still hadn't returned, which made him more worried.

Where did Qingxu go?

Mo Ya thought for a moment, and since it didn't seem like something he couldn't say about Xiu Yuan going to Zhao to rescue people, he said, "Master Qingxu received a letter in Dai City, it seemed to be from a girl from his hometown, and then he went to Handan."

Upon hearing this, Chisongzi looked somewhat surprised.

Tianzong had previously investigated Qingxu's background, and he still remembered those two young girls.

"Are they Yao Yi and Xiao Lin?"

Mo Ya and Nong Yu exchanged a glance, seemingly surprised that Chi Song Zi also knew about these two girls.

"It's Miss Yao Yi."

After a moment of silence, Mo Ya spoke again.

Chisongzi looked up into the distance. Of the village annihilation that year, only three people survived.

It is not difficult to understand why Qingxu would do this.

Handan in the State of Zhao was a place of great turmoil, with powerful ministers in power and authority slipping away. Given the nature of Handan, his junior brother's trip there was likely to bring him more trouble than good.

"Mo Ya, tell Qing Xu that there is a Grandmaster in Zhao, so tell him to be careful."

Mo Ya nodded.

Watching the other person's departing figure, Chishongzi sighed softly.

"What a troubled time!"

Standing to the side, Nongyu tightened her grip on her lower abdomen upon hearing this.

"Does the senior mean he's in danger?"

Chisongzi shook his head.

“Everything is dangerous, but this time the danger is greater. Li Mu comes from a military family and is quite strong. He also has the ability to command troops. Even a Grandmaster would have to give way to the army he personally leads.”

Nongyu didn't understand the division of realms. Xiuyuan always gave her the feeling that he was omnipotent. She didn't know if Xiuyuan had reached the Grandmaster realm, but according to Chisongzi, Handan seemed to be much more dangerous than Xinzheng, which made her feel uneasy.

"The Tao is inherently impermanent; whether it brings fortune or misfortune depends entirely on the will of Heaven. If it is meant to be a blessing, it will not be a curse; if it is meant to be a curse, there is no escaping it. Perhaps only through this experience can Qingxu emerge from this cycle of cause and effect..."

On the other side, on an official road in the State of Zhao, a dignified-looking general looked at the intelligence report in his hand, his thick eyebrows furrowed.

"Possibly a Grandmaster-level expert?"

He put down the secret letter, his gaze darkening. A Grandmaster-level expert—in the martial arts world, realms are generally divided by internal energy cultivation. There aren't many Grandmasters in the Seven Kingdoms; such people are either leaders of sects or chivalrous heroes of the martial arts world.

Normally, these people don't get too involved with the imperial court, unless some foolish person provokes them.

"Black Stone."

Recalling a name from the secret letter, he snorted softly. Those people who blotted out the sun were used to bullying men and women. If he had more time, he would have wiped them out one by one long ago.

"General, shall we continue our journey?"

A deputy general beside him said in a low voice.

“Send someone back and tell him what I mean. Tell the young master to calm down. Every Grandmaster has their own path and will not kill innocent people indiscriminately. Black Stone must have provoked them to have encountered this situation.”

"If Biri doesn't learn his lesson, that person will definitely make another move. Let him just wait and see!"

The lieutenant clasped his hands in agreement, called out a person from the ranks, gave him a few detailed instructions, and then dismissed him.

"General, everything has been arranged."

Upon hearing the deputy general's words, the man nodded, then turned to look north, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

Let's set off!

After saying this, the man leaped onto his horse, and the cavalry behind him moved in perfect unison, their hooves flying and their iron armor flashing with a cold light, like a blue dragon heading straight for the northern lands.

The banners fluttered in the wind, and the character "Li" on them shone brightly at this moment.

This person was none other than Li Mu, the great general of the Zhao state.

"Xiongnu".

In the Jade Flower Pavilion, Yao Yi, with a slight smile on her face, slowly walked in with graceful steps.

She said in a gentle tone, "Sister Xue Nu, Young Master Jia has arrived!"

As the eldest prince of Zhao, Gongzi Jia was humble and polite, and coupled with his status, he had always had an excellent reputation in Handan.

Even with the girls in the Jade Flower Pavilion, he never forced anyone, so Yao Yi naturally had a very good impression of him.

"Please let him in..."

Snow Maiden's gaze was deep and she sighed inwardly. Young Master Jia often came here, and each time he would bring some rare trinkets. How could she not guess his intentions? But at this moment, her heart was tightly locked, and she dared not accept anyone's affection.

"Yao Yi, how is Miss Xue Nu doing these days?"

Upon hearing this, Yao Yi smiled and replied, "It's alright, it's alright."

Gongzi Jia nodded. Xue Nu was cold and rarely smiled, yet she was extremely beautiful. This aloofness made the young men of Handan even more enamored with her.

Even he himself was no exception. Taking advantage of his proximity to the water, he was able to visit often, while others had to wait until the Snow Maiden performed her dance to catch a glimpse of her beauty. For this reason, many people in Handan envied him!
"Snow Maiden!"

The Snow Maiden rose to greet him and replied softly, "Young Master Jia!"

"Miss Snow Woman is still so polite. I already told you, there's no need for such formalities."

At this point, Gongzi Jia couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.

The Snow Woman frowned, her face still displaying that aloof expression.

"Young master is too kind; propriety must not be disregarded."

The main schools of thought used in the Zhao state were Confucianism and Legalism. Xunzi was originally from the Zhao state, but later went to Xiaoshengxianzhuang. Therefore, Confucianism had a great influence in the Zhao state.

Confucianism emphasizes propriety, a concept that has long been deeply ingrained in people's minds. As the eldest son of the King of Zhao, Prince Jia is of noble status, and now that he has condescended to come to the Jade Flower Pavilion, the Snow Maiden will naturally not be impolite.

"Black Stone died on the second floor yesterday. Mu Xue said the person who attacked him was a master. Is everything alright here?"

The Snow Woman gently shook her head. She was on the fifth floor, which was relatively far from the second floor, so she hadn't really noticed the commotion on the second floor.

However, the news brought by Gongzi Jia also made her feel a bit strange. A master, for some reason, a figure flashed through her mind.

If she didn't know that boy, she probably would never have thought of him, but ever since she learned about him, she has been wondering if he might be a master.

Although she sometimes found such thoughts laughable, they seemed to be rooted in her mind. Now, when she heard Gongzi Jia mention the Black Stone, she subconsciously thought of that boy.

"What is the Snow Woman thinking?"

Seeing that Xue Nu seemed a little distracted, Gongzi Jia, who was standing to the side, had a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

Seemingly aware that she had been somewhat rude, Xue Nu replied softly, "It's nothing. I was just thinking that ever since Hei Shi joined Bi Ri, he has been bullying men and women and acting like a tyrant. Such a person truly deserves to die."

Upon hearing this, Gongzi Jia first smiled, then said in a somewhat heavy tone, "This is the first time I've seen Miss Xue Nu like this. However, Miss Xue Nu is right, Hei Shi truly deserved to die. Unfortunately, Guo Kai's power is overwhelming, so we have no choice but to compromise and help him investigate this matter to find the real culprit."

When the powerful minister was mentioned, Gongzi Jia's eyes turned cold.

The Snow Maiden gently comforted him, "It won't always be like this. When the young master inherits the throne in the future, he will surely be able to turn the tide and eradicate this cancer..."

"Turning the tide?"

“Will there ever be such a day?”

Gongzi Jia's eyes flickered uncertainly, and his tone was somewhat sorrowful.

The Snow Woman sighed softly.

"Young master, there's no need to be so pessimistic. I once heard a saying: 'The heart is like a flower or tree, blooming towards the sun.' Everything will be alright..."

"The heart is like a flower or tree, blooming towards the sun..."

Upon hearing this, a strange glint flashed in Gongzi Jia's eyes.

"May I ask where Miss Snow Maiden heard this from?"

"..."

(End of this chapter)