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

Cao Ze stood with his hands behind his back, shaking his head in silence.

He's having such a tough time...

"Mr. Cao Ze, are you done with your work?"

Zhao Gao, pale-faced and resembling the White Impermanence, emerged from some unknown corner.

He still had a somewhat forced smile on his face, which, in Cao Ze's opinion, was not as good as that dead face, at least the dead face looked more normal.

"It's Brother Zhao. Is there something you need, Brother Zhao?"

Cao Ze said calmly.

When he first failed to win over Zhao Ji and she didn't listen to him, Zhao Gao clearly remembered Zhao Gao's repeated pleas that he dared not deceive the Empress Dowager for her sake.

Otherwise, how would Zhao Ji know that there were vixens in his mansion, or how many women he had?

Zhao Gao felt a slight unease; he could sense that Cao Ze harbored some dissatisfaction towards him.

It seems that asking Cao Ze to help him get into Zhangtai Palace will be a bit troublesome.

"Hehe, Mr. Cao Ze, you misunderstand. I'm just reminding you that although the Luo Wang has removed its hidden agents, you still can't let your guard down."

Cao Ze paused for a moment and then asked, "What do you mean?"

Seeing that Cao Ze showed interest, Zhao Gao felt a little relieved; it seemed things weren't as bad as he had thought.

"That's right. Since Xianyang is the headquarters of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven), if too many assassins are killed or wounded, other assassins will be transferred from all over Qin to replenish the ranks."

Zhao Gao paused for a moment, then said, "I received some information that the seven leaders of the Luo Wang organization, all of whom are at the 'Kill' level, will be coming to Xianyang together."

"Seven?" Cao Ze frowned slightly.

The Luo Wang (a powerful online organization) has a clear hierarchy, and a strict requirement for becoming a "Kill"-level assassin is that one's strength cannot be lower than that of a first-rate martial arts master.

This is not something that the Earth-level assassin I killed that night could possibly pull off.

After all, a level-one assassin can level up as long as they accumulate enough missions.

Their strength ranges from second-rate to those who haven't even opened their eight extraordinary meridians.

"Yes, they will all come to Xianyang."

Zhao Gao flattered, "If you need manpower, sir, my brother Zhao Cheng and I, and even those sword slaves, can all lend a hand."

Cao Ze nodded slightly and said, "Thank you very much, Brother Zhao."

"I wonder when those people will arrive in Xianyang?"

Zhao Gao pondered for a moment and said, "Local leaders generally cannot leave easily. The fact that they are all returning to Xianyang at the same time must be an order personally given by Lü Buwei."

"However, I feel that Lü Buwei did not issue this order to deal with you, sir."

Cao Ze let out a soft "Eh?" and asked, "Who is that for?"

"It could be the renowned sect leader Gongsun Long, or it could be an unknown sword saint... Of course, you must be careful, sir."

Zhao Gao said, "It's perfectly normal for Lü Buwei to send high-level assassins back to Xianyang after two Grandmasters have infiltrated there. Perhaps, we and the Six Sword Slaves will also make a move."

"Even if the king knows, he won't say anything."

Cao Ze narrowed his eyes; this seemed to be a good thing for him.

If this is true, Lü Buwei is pushing Gongsun Long and the Nameless Sword Saint to his side, thus increasing the original 20% success rate to 60%.

With two Grandmasters at their peak and Donghuang Taiyi standing idly by, once Lü Buwei took the bait, he would almost certainly face certain death.

But why did Lü Buwei want to kill Gongsun Long and the Nameless Sword Saint...?

Could it be that Lü Buwei believed Gongsun Long and the Nameless Sword Saint were in cahoots with him?

Cao Ze thought about this and found it both funny and absurd.

Given Lü Buwei's intelligence capabilities, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to uncover the past between Gongsun Long and the Nameless Sword Saint.

Adding to this, the nameless swordsman intervened to help Old Man Zheng that night when Gongsun Long was chasing him... Lu Buwei was getting anxious.

If he were Lü Buwei, without any real strength, knowing that there were two Grandmasters at the peak on the enemy's side, and that his own Grandmasters weren't helping him, he would probably be restless and unable to eat or sleep.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao. I appreciate your kindness."

Since Zhao Gao was so sensible, he couldn't press the matter further.

Furthermore, Zhao Gao's news was quite timely, giving him more confidence in dealing with Lü Buwei.

Now it remains to be seen whether they can persuade Gongsun Long and the Nameless Sword Saint.

Cao Ze returned to his residence.

After much deliberation, he concluded that Gongsun Long was a potential successor, but the Nameless Sword Saint was a bit of a problem.

Zi Nu stood by the door with her arms crossed, smiling at Cao Ze, and said, "You seem to have something on your mind?"

Cao Ze shrugged and said, "Yeah, thinking about how to persuade people."

Zi Nu's eyes flickered slightly, and she asked softly, "Who is it?"

Cao Ze said, "Do you remember when I said I would force Lü Buwei out of Xianyang so that Brother Wei Zhuang could take action?"

"Of course I remember," Zi Nu said with a smile. "The person who could force Lü Buwei to leave Xianyang must be extraordinary. I wonder if it was Senior Gongsun Long from that night, or the Nameless Sword Saint?"

Cao Ze laughed and said, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

"To be precise, not one, but both of them."

Zi Nu smiled inexplicably, "That doesn't seem to be so simple."

After waiting for two days, Cao Ze was finally about to take her bait.

Cao Ze looked at Wushuang Gui, who was swinging a boulder to train his strength in the distance, and thought that it would be great if everyone was as simple-minded as Wushuang Gui.

“I know. I’m 60% confident I can persuade Gongsun, but what about the Nameless Sword Saint…”

Cao Ze shook his head. He really didn't know where to begin with someone who was so detached from worldly desires and had never even killed anyone.

After all, he had no connection with the Nameless Sword Saint. After much thought, he could only persuade Gongsun Long and then ask Gongsun Long to go and persuade the Nameless Sword Saint.

Cao Ze's eyelid twitched slightly at Gongsun Long's argumentative and foul mouth. Gongsun Long was good at spewing insults, but when it came to persuasion...

"Let me help you."

Zi Nu's smile was gentle and charming, and her voice was sweet and melodious, like glistening jade beads dancing between her lips and teeth, indescribably soft and beautiful.

Cao Ze asked in surprise, "How can I help?"

"Of course, I'll help you persuade the Nameless Sword Saint."

Zi Nu seemed to be talking about something trivial.

But to Cao Ze, it sounded a little ridiculous, yet he couldn't laugh because he noticed that Zi Nu's expression was serious.

"You know... Nameless?"

Cao Ze was genuinely surprised. Zi Nu, who had kept a low profile, actually knew Wu Ming.

"I'd say we know each other."

Zi Nu's purple eyes were gentle and warm. She smiled and said, "Let's make it clear first, it might not work out."

Cao Ze said, "If it can be accomplished, then it will be accomplished; if it cannot be accomplished, then so be it."

Based on his understanding of Zi Nu, he knew that Zi Nu wouldn't speak easily if she wasn't confident.

Indeed—the only way to relieve worries is with one's wife.

Old Master Gongsun is still unreliable.

Zi Nu gracefully left Cao Ze's residence.

After nightfall, she arrived at a secluded inn.

"What did that kid say?" Ya Fei's glossy black hair was styled into a bun, and she wore a smart, tight-fitting outfit that accentuated her shapely figure.

Zi Nu chuckled and said, "He's taken the bait. I've agreed to help him persuade the Nameless Sword Saint to help him deal with Lü Buwei."

Ya Fei seemed to have expected this, and was not surprised at all.

"He met Wuming in Niushou Village, Handan, so he wouldn't give up contacting Wuming now."

Zi Nu pondered for a moment and asked, "Your Highness, what do you plan to do next?"

Consort Ya said, "Go to the Prime Minister's residence and see Lü Buwei."

Her voice was calm, like a white cloud floating in a windless, clear sky, without stirring up a wisp of smoke.

"Go see Lü Buwei?"

Zi Nu asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Ya Fei smiled faintly, "Let's show our sincerity in 'overestimating our abilities'."

Zi Nu pondered for a moment, then seemed to realize, "I see. Is it just Your Highness alone?"

"And me too."

Lord Longyang emerged from the shadows, dressed in black with a hood over his head, concealing his originally incomparably handsome face, a face that could make men commit crimes and women fall silent.

But that soft, magnetic voice still evokes a lot of fantasies.

Consort Ya asked, "Lord Longyang, how is Wuming doing?"

Lord Longyang said with a faint smile, "Since Wuming has promised Lord Xinling, he will not refuse to cooperate with us."

"That's good..." After pondering for a moment and making sure nothing was overlooked, Ya Fei said, "Let's go."

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, its watery moonlight pouring down upon the world, casting a dazzling silver frost.

Cao Ze sat quietly in the courtyard.

He wasn't practicing cultivation; instead, he was meditating on recent events.

For some reason, he always had an inexplicable sense of unease.

It was as if someone he didn't know was secretly involved in this matter, and this person must know him very well, which was why he hadn't noticed it until now.

Is it just my imagination...?

Cao Ze looked at the full moon in the sky with a slightly blank expression.