I started on a deserted island and encountered Ying Zheng, who insisted I was an immortal.

Half a month is enough time for a lot to happen.

Wang Ruoshu's foot injury has healed completely, and she has fully adapted to life on the island, even learning to stir-fry wild vegetables with lard.

Meng Yi, the high-ranking official of the Qin Dynasty, after half a month of tireless research and countless weighings and calculations, finally came to a conclusion.

He found Zhang Ying fishing by the sea, holding a bamboo scroll covered with charcoal scribbles.

"Sir, Yi understands!"

Meng Yi's expression was one of sudden enlightenment, a mixture of fervor and piety.

"This island is a blessed land of immortals, surrounded by celestial energy."

"The reason flour can gain weight is because it absorbs the untamed essence of heaven and earth during the steaming and cooking process!"

"Water vapor is merely a medium; ethereal energy is the essence!"

The grass root that Zhang Ying was holding in her mouth fell into the sea.

He looked at Meng Yi's face, which seemed to say "I finally understand," and remained silent for a long time.

It's incredibly magical.

Why don't you mention that the island has Wi-Fi coverage?

There's absolutely no way to communicate with these ancient people.

He gave up on explaining and waved his hand, saying, "You're right."

Entertainment options on the island have also become more abundant.

Besides mahjong, Zhang Ying also made them a deck of cards using harder tree bark.

"Three to three."

"I can't afford it."

"Four twos, bomb!"

"A royal flush!"

Zhang Ying slammed the last two cards onto the stone table, then expertly stretched out her hand.

"Give me the money, give me the money."

Ying Zheng, Wang Ben, and Meng Yi stared at each other blankly.

We lost again.

Since they learned how to play Dou Dizhu and Zha Jin Hua, they haven't won a single game.

They couldn't understand why the man always got such good cards.

"Sir, something's not right," Wang Ben said in a muffled voice, touching his empty money pouch (a small, sewn-together animal hide pouch). "Why do you always get such a lucky start?"

Zhang Ying glanced at him sideways: "Good luck, there's nothing you can do about it. It's commonly known as 'constant good character'."

"I didn't bring any money today." Ying Zheng was quite straightforward; he shrugged and said, "Put it in the account first."

"Keep accounts again? Old Ying, your account book is cleaner than my face," Zhang Ying complained.

Ying Zheng didn't take it seriously. He picked up the potato liquor in the bamboo tube and took a sip.

"How about this?"

"I will grant you a fiefdom as payment for your gambling debts over the past few days, how about it?"

"Cough cough cough!"

Meng Yi choked on a mouthful of wine, coughing until his face turned red.

Wang Ben suddenly exerted force with his hand gripping the stone bench, and with a "crack," a piece of the hard stone was crushed off.

manor!

Since the implementation of the prefecture-county system, when has the Qin Dynasty ever had any new fiefdoms?

That was an honor reserved only for the founding fathers and ancestors of the Wang and Meng families!

His Majesty actually wants to use a fiefdom to pay off the debt lost in gambling?

Zhang Ying picked at her ear.

"A fiefdom? How big is it? Does it have a toilet? Does it have running water and electricity?"

He didn't take it seriously at all, assuming the guy was just having another episode of delusions.

"Okay, okay, then draw me a property certificate later."

Seeing Zhang Ying's nonchalant attitude, Ying Zheng and the other two fell silent once again.

They don't even care about fiefdoms.

This gentleman's background is truly unfathomable.

night.

The crackling campfire dispelled the chill of late autumn.

The regular evening program was Zhang Ying's storytelling time.

Today, he is talking about "Journey to the West".

"...That monkey was incredibly powerful; even 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals couldn't subdue him. In the end, it was the Buddha of the Western Paradise who turned his palm into the Five Elements Mountain, with the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, which pinned the mischievous monkey down under the mountain, rendering him unable to move."

Zhang Ying added a piece of firewood to the fire, the firelight casting flickering shadows on his face.

"Five hundred years."

His voice carried a hint of desolation that he himself was unaware of.

"They were battered by wind and rain, fed iron pellets when hungry, and drunk molten copper when thirsty. They were trapped on a mountain, unable to call out to heaven or earth."

He looked up and gazed at the starry sky framed by the cave entrance.

"Isn't this island also my Five Elements Mountain?"

The cave was completely silent.

Ying Zheng and Meng Yi seemed to be deep in thought.

Sir, are you homesick?

Wang Ruoshu sat in the corner, hugging her knees, quietly watching Zhang Ying's profile.

She saw that the man, who was usually lazy and indifferent, had a deep loneliness on his face that she had never seen before.

It turns out that even immortals have troubles.

It turns out that he didn't want to leave; he was simply trapped here.

Her small hands clenched quietly at her sides.

Sir, don't worry.

When we return to Qin, I will definitely, absolutely, ask my father, brothers, and His Majesty to mobilize the entire nation to find your way home.

……

Under the same starry sky.

On the boundless sea, a massive fleet of ships, like a series of moving mountain ranges, slowly sailed forward.

The warships of the central army were brightly lit.

Li Si stood before the geomantic map, his brow furrowed.

"Prime Minister."

A soft, feminine voice sounded from behind.

Zhao Duan carried in a bowl of ginseng soup.

"Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and will surely be safe and sound. The Prime Minister has been working hard every day and should also take care of his health."

Li Si didn't turn around, his voice hoarse: "Is there any news of His Majesty?"

Zhao Gao placed the ginseng soup on the table and said slowly, "The scouts have searched the surrounding hundred-mile sea area several times, but found nothing."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Prime Minister, there are undercurrents in Xianyang right now, and the young masters are keeping a close eye on things."

"If something were to happen to His Majesty..."

"It's hard to say what will become of your lineage, and that young master Fusu who is far away in the north."

Li Si's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

Zhao Gao's words were like a venomous snake, precisely biting his most vulnerable spot.

He clenched his fist in his sleeve.

Just then.

On the deck, a series of hurried footsteps and suppressed gasps could be heard.

"Ahead! There's an island ahead!"

"There's smoke! There's smoke on the island!"

Li Si suddenly turned around and rushed out of the cabin.

He gripped the gunwale and strained to look ahead.

In the distant horizon, in that inky darkness.

The outline of a blurry island gradually became clear.

And on that island.

A wisp of white smoke, barely visible, rose straight into the sky.

There's smoke!

That means there are people here!

The presence of someone means that His Majesty may still be alive!

"Haha...hahaha!"

Li Si, as if possessed, pointed at the wisp of smoke that had saved his life and burst into wild laughter.

"Beat the drums!"

"Change course!"

"Full speed ahead!"

His voice, sharp and hoarse from extreme excitement, was filled with undeniable authority.

Zhao Gao followed, and when he saw the wisp of white smoke, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

The color drained from his face in an instant.

He recalled the words he had just spoken to Li Si.

Those instigations, those hints, those treasonous words about the succession to the throne.

If His Majesty is really on that island…

Zhao Gao's legs went weak, and he slumped onto the cold deck, his eyes filled with endless despair.

It’s over.

It's all over.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The dull sound of war drums broke the silence of the night and echoed far across the sea.

The massive fleet began to struggle to change course, braving headwinds and towering waves, and sailed toward the island that brought hope.

The boat was moving very slowly.

Against the wind and waves, a sixty-mile sea journey would take at least two hours.

Zhao Gao scrambled to Li Si's feet, grabbed his leg, and his voice trembled uncontrollably.

"Prime Minister...Prime Minister, save me!"

"Gao...Gao was just confused for a moment and spoke nonsense. Gao's loyalty to His Majesty is as clear as day!"

Li Si didn't even glance at him.

His entire focus was on that small island in the distance.

As long as His Majesty is still alive.

The sky over the Great Qin Dynasty will never fall down.

Anyone who covets imperial power, anyone who dares to stir up trouble in the shadows, will be crushed to pieces.