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

Yin Xu had served on the northern border and had personally witnessed how a pack of starving wolves could tear an entire patrol team to shreds.

But now, Mr. Zhang is holding this wolf in his arms.

There was no struggle, no biting, only intimate cuddling.

Yin Xu felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.

He recalled the legends of immortals and spirits, those extraordinary beings who could command tigers and leopards and order all beasts.

His lips trembled, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth.

"This wolf...is intelligent."

The Xuanwu Guards behind her all took a step back in unison, their gazes towards Zhang Ying now filled with a deep-seated awe.

Zhang Ying ignored the group's fuss and, carrying the little white wolf, headed straight for the shore.

As he stepped out of the forest, the sight before him made him stop in his tracks.

Night has fallen.

The entire coastline was illuminated as brightly as day by countless torches.

Hundreds of enormous ships, like moving mountains, are quietly moored in the bay.

The moonlight shone on the dark hull, reflecting a cold light.

At the top of each ship's mast hung a large black flag, embroidered with a black bird totem in gold thread, which fluttered in the sea breeze.

Ying Zheng stood on the deck of the flagship in the very center.

Behind him was a dark mass of people.

Zhang Ying, carrying the wolf, walked step by step down the beach.

"The Marquis of Hanzhong has arrived!"

Yin Xu took a deep breath and let out a loud, clear voice.

"Whoosh!"

On the shore and on the deck, tens of thousands of soldiers moved in perfect unison, all standing upright.

"Welcome, Marquis of Hanzhong!"

A roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami surged into the sky, shaking the entire sea surface.

"Waaah—waaah—"

A desolate yet powerful bugle call emanated from the flagship, resounding through the sky.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The deep, thunderous sound of war drums echoed in response, each beat seemingly striking the hearts of everyone present.

This is the highest honor bestowed by the Qin army to welcome a victorious commander.

Zhang Ying was a little confused by this scene.

But he did not stop.

Holding the little white wolf in his arms, he stepped onto the sturdy wooden pier, walking step by step toward the flagship that resembled a behemoth.

The moment his feet touched the deck.

"set sail!"

Ying Zheng's voice pierced through the chorus of drums and horns.

The massive anchor was slowly pulled up, and the sails billowed in response.

Hundreds of large ships, laden with hope and the future, turned their bows and, bathed in moonlight, sailed towards the mainland, cutting through the waves.

Zhang Ying turned around and looked at the deserted island that was shrinking in her field of vision.

The island that allowed him to live for three years.

He suddenly released his grip on the wolf, faced the direction of the island, and bowed deeply.

thank you.

Bye now.

"gentlemen."

A steady voice sounded from behind.

Zhang Ying straightened up and turned her head.

Ying Zheng had somehow walked up behind him.

He changed into an elaborate black dragon robe, wore a twelve-tassel crown, and had a beaded curtain hanging down, obscuring his expression, leaving only an aura of supreme majesty.

"Upon returning to Xianyang, I will formally confer upon you the title of Marquis of Hanzhong in the imperial court, and bestow upon you a seal and insignia."

Ying Zheng's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable power.

"I will also send people to search the whole country for your relatives and give you an explanation."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ying gave a wry smile and shook her head.

It can't be found.

They are no longer in this world.

Meng Yi immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, disciples of the immortals have long since severed their ties with the mortal world. How could their relatives remain in the mortal realm?"

Ying Zheng nodded slowly, looking as if he understood.

Li Si watched this scene from the corner.

Disciple of immortals?

Li Si didn't believe a single word of it.

Zhang Ying had no interest in explaining the parallel universe theory to them; he picked up a wine cup from the table next to him.

He walked to the ship's side and slowly poured the clear, cool liquor from his glass into the dark seawater.

Dad, Mom.

My son is unfilial; I can't go back.

Take care, everyone.

He looked up at the bright moon in the sky, which seemed no different from the moon in his hometown.

A nameless melancholy welled up in his heart, and he casually recited:

"The Yellow River flows eastward for 30,000 miles to the sea, and the mountain rises five thousand feet to the sky."

Meng Yi's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the bamboo slip in his hand. He quickly grabbed a charcoal pencil and wrote down the poem.

"A river stretching for thirty thousand miles...a mountain rising five thousand fathoms..."

Li Si's body trembled violently. He suddenly looked up at Zhang Ying's back.

What a grand vision!

In just fourteen characters, the magnificence of the mountains and rivers and the grandeur of the world are vividly depicted!

Such skill, such magnanimity... even Li Si himself was ashamed of his inferiority.

Although Wang Ben, a rough man, couldn't appreciate the subtlety of the poem, he still found it quite captivating. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "What a wonderful poem! Sir, you are indeed a great talent! Your previous poem was also incredibly powerful!"

Ying Zheng looked at Li Si: "Prime Minister Li, have you ever heard of another of your great works, sir?"

Li Si shook his head blankly.

"Meng Qing, read it to Prime Minister Li."

"promise."

Meng Yi cleared his throat, straightened his body, and began to recite the text word by word with an unprecedentedly solemn tone.

"The King of Qin swept across the six kingdoms; how majestic was his tiger-like gaze!"

"With a wave of his sword, he dispels the floating clouds, and all the feudal lords come from the west."

boom!

Li Si's mind went blank.

He felt as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt from the heavens, completely piercing him from head to toe.

He knew better than anyone the weight of the words "sweep away the six directions".

That was him, and the achievement forged by countless Qin people with their blood and lives!

But now, Zhang Ying, whom they considered "outside the secular world," uses such powerful and domineering verses to depict this achievement in such a breathtaking way.

Meng Yi's voice continued.

"His clear judgment is divinely inspired, and his strategic vision surpasses that of all others."

"The troops are withdrawn to cast bronze statues, and the Hangu Pass is opened to the east."

Li Si's face turned deathly pale, inch by inch.

"Commemorate our achievements at Kuaiji Ridge, and gaze upon Langya Terrace."

"..."

When the last word was uttered, the entire deck fell into a deathly silence.

Li Si was dumbfounded.

He looked at the young figure standing at the bow of the boat, teasing the white wolf in his arms.

he knows.

The heavens of the Great Qin are about to change.

......

The ship, despite its massive size, sailed with remarkable stability as it cut through the waves.

Even the most stable ship cannot withstand the scorching sun that shines brightly over the sea.

The soldiers, clad in armor, stood ramrod straight on the deck, sweat streaming down their foreheads and soaking their collars.

Many people have chapped lips and sunken eye sockets.

Seasickness, coupled with the sweltering heat, left many northern men who were going to sea for the first time feeling listless and dispirited.

The cabin door creaked open.

Zhang Ying came out carrying a huge ceramic basin.

The bowl contained neatly arranged red berries, sprinkled with a layer of sparkling crushed ice, and drizzled with golden wild honey.