People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

Only Cao Ze's sixteen-character official motto became the most resonant words.

So much so that some Confucian disciples suggested including this official admonition in the Book of Songs, so that Confucian disciples serving as officials in the seven states could learn and practice it regularly.

Ultimately, the project was abandoned for various reasons.

Inside the study of the Prime Minister's residence.

With one hand behind his back, Lü Buwei gazed at the lush greenery outside the window and slowly recited: "You eat your salary, you take the people's blood and sweat; the common people are easy to oppress, but Heaven is hard to deceive."

"This Cao Ze has truly impressed me."

He disdains to hide how much wealth he has.

All his money was earned legally and legitimately through his family business. There was nothing he wouldn't dare to use, eat, or show to others.

In Cao Ze's view, these sixteen-character official motto were nothing more than veiled criticism.

However, he had to admit that this short sixteen-character official motto truly demonstrated Cao Ze's exceptional talent.

Old Master Zheng bowed and said, "Prime Minister Lü, all money and goods have been sent to the palace treasury."

He hesitated and said, "Prime Minister Lü, are we just going to let Cheng Jiao and Cao Ze go like this?"

This isn't a few hundred or a few thousand gold coins, but nearly one hundred thousand gold coins.

This is enough wealth to buy several cities and wage a national war involving 100,000 people.

Even the Lü family couldn't possibly lose so much wealth for no reason.

Nearly 100,000 gold coins would be enough to cripple them.

Lü Buwei said calmly, "Has Xuan Jian regained control?!"

Old Zheng revealed a barely perceptible look of fear.

"They're under control and are being escorted to Xianyang by three members of the Killer-level Luo Wang (Net of Heaven)."

In the process of capturing the fugitive and insane Xuan Jian, the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) lost two "Kill" level assassins, six "Earth" level assassins, and thirty-three "Absolute" level assassins, not to mention countless wounded.

When he saw the casualty figures, he was shocked.

The losses were even greater than those in the pursuit of the Nameless Sword Saint back then.

If it weren't for the fact that Luo Wang had a secret method to control Xuan Jian, he would never have allowed Xuan Jian to come to Prime Minister Lü's place.

He's a madman.

However, he could tell that Xuan Jian, who had completely gone mad and lost his mind, was much stronger than before, possessing at least the combat power of a peak Grandmaster.

Although he didn't know why Xuan Jian had become stronger again, it wasn't a bad thing for him.

This time, he will personally take control of Xuan Jian as the mastermind, using him for their purposes.

Lu Buwei calmly said, "Put Xuan Jian's name on the Luo Wang kill list, listing his crimes such as assassinating Cao Ze, assassinating Cheng Jiao, and assassinating the king, and inform the entire Luo Wang, as well as all underground organizations in the seven kingdoms."

"Once Xuan Jian returns to Xianyang, let him die along with Cao Ze and Cheng Jiao."

In his view, this was one of Xuan Jian's few remaining values.

The reason he decided to kill Cheng Jiao and Cao Ze now was not because he feared them, but simply because these two little guys were jumping around in front of him and annoyed him.

Old Master Zheng replied with delight, "Yes, Prime Minister Lü."

This is what he wanted to do, but it wasn't as thorough as what Prime Minister Lü had suggested.

At the Cao residence, Cao Ze sat on the pavilion by Cuiwei Lake, which had just been renovated, listening to Cheng Jiao's indignant words.

"What are you pretending for, Lü Buwei? Do you really think you earned that money yourself? If he weren't the prime minister, do you think he could have kept such a large fortune?"

When Cheng Jiao got angry, he slammed his fist on the table.

Cao Ze strongly agreed with Cheng Jiao's statement.

It is true that Lü Buwei was talented in business. Perhaps Lü Buwei did not intend to profit from his reputation, but his subordinates would inevitably boast about it, and his competitors would inevitably consider whether it was worth offending Lü Buwei for it.

"Brother Cao, why aren't you in a hurry?"

Cheng Jiao said with a look of utter frustration.

Cao Ze took a small sip of tea and smiled, "What's the rush?"

“I remember Brother Han, oh no, I should call him King Han now, once said that in this world, sometimes what seems like a win is actually a loss, and what seems like a loss is actually a win.”

Cheng Jiao frowned and asked, "What do you mean? We won?"

Cao Ze pushed a cup of tea towards Cheng Jiao. "Initially, my goal with the King was simply to get the money promised by Lü Buwei into the national treasury as quickly as possible and secure it. As for causing trouble for Lü Buwei, that was just a side effect. Whether we win or lose is not important. As long as our goal is achieved, we have won."

Cheng Jiao nodded thoughtfully, "This is what Brother Cao meant when he said that we can lose tactically as long as we can win strategically. Although Lü Buwei gained fame, he paid the money outright."

Cao Ze shook his head and said like a charlatan, "Indeed, this child is teachable."

Nearly 100,000 gold coins is no small sum.

In his later years, he had seen too many "charitable donations," each one boasting louder than the last, donating tens or hundreds of millions without batting an eye, but in reality, they were just a pretext for something else, either money laundering or tax evasion.

Of course, the most common method is to buy fame and hype. If you actually make him spend real money, it's like cutting off his flesh.

In contrast to the bright sunshine in Xianyang, Daliang in the Wei Kingdom was shrouded in continuous rain.

The drizzle fell on the eaves of the bamboo house, making a soft "shush-shush" sound.

Inside the bamboo house, there was a straw mat woven from thin, greenish-yellow rattan, and a small stove was placed beside it.

A young man dressed in white robes, with an extraordinary air, knelt upright. He leaned slightly forward, grabbed his right sleeve with his left hand, picked up the purple clay teapot on the stove, and poured the contents into the ear cup on the lacquer tray.

Boiling water poured into the cup, making a pleasant, soft sound.

As the tea leaves unfurled in the boiling water, they shimmered with a vibrant green color in the porcelain cup.

Lord Xinling raised his hand and said, "Please."

A handsome and refined man picked up his teacup, gently blew on it, and took a sip.

"Fragrant and smooth, pure and sweet, a fine tea. What's the name of this tea?"

Lord Xinling laughed and said, "Just as you have no name, so too does this tea. It is a variety newly discovered by tea farmers."

The nameless swordsman paused slightly, put down his teacup, and said, "You are as considerate to your friends as ever."

After being forced to leave Niushou Village in the State of Zhao, he traveled to many places and eventually arrived in the State of Wei, to the home of his former friend, Lord Xinling.

There are not many people in the world whom he can trust, but Lord Xinling is one of them.

Lord Xinling drank a cup of wine and said, “Although I have many retainers and friends in my life, I have few true confidants. You are one of them, so I should treat you with care, just as I did when we first met.”

The nameless swordsman listened quietly to the sound of rain outside the bamboo hut curtain. "Is something going on today?"

Lord Xinling said, "As expected, nothing can hide from your eyes."

The nameless swordsman said, "I sensed it with my heart."

Lord Xinling sighed, "Lord Longyang and the others have already arrived in Xianyang. Last night I received a letter from Consort Ya, and the situation is not optimistic."

The nameless swordsman said slowly, "Xianyang is a place where dragons and tigers hide, and there are many experts. Now, Donghuang Taiyi is also in Xianyang. Once Qin discovers this, Lord Longyang and the others will be in danger."

Lord Xinling nodded slightly.

"That's right, so I came to you for help. Go to Xianyang and bring them back safely afterwards."

He originally planned to have Dian Qing and Mei San Niang take the elite disciples of the Armored Sect on a trip, but considering the need for secrecy, he had to give up and instead went to find Wuming.

The nameless swordsman said, "I agree. Please keep watch over the road for me."

Lord Xinling smiled and said, "I knew you would agree."

Wuming said calmly, "After being hunted down by the Luo Wang for so long, it's time to settle accounts."

Although his sword doesn't kill, it doesn't mean he won't fight back.

Lord Xinling, witnessing Wuming reveal a hint of brilliance, said leisurely, "Perhaps when you kill someone, that will be the time when you attain enlightenment and become a grandmaster."

As an old friend of the Nameless Sword Saint, he was well aware of his friend's obsession and persistence.

Not killing is a shackle that Wuming willingly put on himself.

He always felt that Wuming was different from himself.

His talent was already enough to reach the level of a Grandmaster, but Wuming believed that the Grandmaster level was just the beginning for him, and that he had the potential to reach the legendary realm of the celestial beings.

Wuming remained silent, yet how could he not know where his own constraints lay?

However, he went too far down the wrong path, and the problems had become too deep to turn back.

It can be said that his success stemmed from his ability to conceal his brilliance and formlessness, and his downfall also stemmed from the same principle of concealing his brilliance and formlessness, and his ability to forget himself and his mind.

If he weren't hindered by the road, he might choose to take a gamble.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs"...

Xianyang City.

Just as Cheng Jiao left Cao Ze's residence, an elderly man with white hair and beard, and a tall and upright figure, knocked on the door.

When Gongsun Long saw the peerless ghost who opened the door for him, his eyelids twitched slightly.

What a giant! What a gatekeeper!

"Haha, what a rare guest!"

Cao Ze walked over quickly and was very happy to see Gongsun Long.

Gongsun Long smiled and said, "Young friend Cao Ze, it's been a long time."

Cao Ze warmly invited Gongsun Long to the front hall, saying, "Before leaving Zhao, you were in seclusion, and I never had the chance to say goodbye, which is truly regrettable."

"Oh, by the way, may I ask what brings you to Xianyang, senior?"

It's like someone brings you a pillow when you're sleepy.

Cao Ze was overjoyed.

Although Gongsun Long is known for his argumentative and trolling style, his actual strength is absolutely top-notch.

If two or three more Gongsun Longs came, he might just take Jingni and go to Lü Buwei's place to confiscate his property.

Gongsun Long coughed lightly. The older he got, the more shrewd he became; his acting skills were always on point.

"Having just consolidated his breakthrough after a period of seclusion, and finding himself with plenty of free time, I left the State of Zhao, intending to travel and lecture in the State of Qin for a while."