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

"Well, never mind then."

Cao Ze changed the subject, saying, "From what I just saw, it seems that you have a slight advantage. I wonder what the background of this Donghuang Taiyi is?"

Wuming shook his head slightly: "It's not that I had a slight advantage, but that he used some of his strength to protect his clothes in order to conceal his true appearance, which is why I was able to gain the upper hand."

Cao Ze secretly thought it was a pity; if only Donghuang Taiyi were a true coat hanger who was all bark and no bite.

If we ever fall out, we'll just go head-to-head and tear him apart.

"As for his background, his strength and realm are indeed undoubtedly at the peak of the Grandmaster level, but..."

Cao Ze asked with concern, "But what?"

Wuming frowned slightly. "He seems to have internal injuries, and they're not minor. He may even have some old wounds that haven't healed yet... I don't know if it's true or not, or maybe it's just my imagination."

Cao Ze was slightly taken aback, "Internal injury... an old injury..."

He muttered to himself.

Wuming chuckled and said, "Do you have a grudge against him? Or do you want to kill him?"

In his view, as long as Donghuang Taiyi did not leave Xianyang City, even with his help, the numerous Yin-Yang masters of Luosheng Hall would still be unable to kill Donghuang Taiyi.

Cao Ze smiled sheepishly, "A little bit. I always felt like this guy had ill intentions towards me."

Wuming said, "Then you need to be careful."

"Among those in the world, only two people can rival Donghuang Taiyi's divination and deduction skills."

Cao Ze quickly asked, "Which two people are they?"

He first ruled out Yan Fei, and then thought that even the Moon Goddess didn't have that ability. Anyone who could make Wuming aware of this must be no ordinary being.

If you don't seize the opportunity to ask this knowledgeable expert now, you'll find it hard to find another chance to ask him anything later.

"The Duke of Chu in the south, the Daoist Master of the Northern Darkness."

The nameless man said earnestly, "If you encounter these two people in the future, do not offend them easily."

Cao Ze suddenly realized that Wuming had a very high level of affection for him, treating him like a nephew or niece, which was completely different from when he asked Zi Nu to persuade him in Niushou Village.

Could it be that his personal charm has suddenly increased?

Cao Ze banished this absurd thought from his mind.

"Senior, I've heard that Master Chu Nan is also a member of the Yin-Yang School. Is that true?"

The nameless man said, "It is true, but it is not true."

"Chu Nan Gong has always been detached from worldly affairs and his whereabouts are uncertain. It is only rumored that he is close to the Yin Yang School and once joined forces with Donghuang Taiyi to deduce something, thus becoming a guest elder of the Yin Yang School. As for whether it is true or not, I don't know. You can ask your friend Dongjun Yanfei in private."

Cao Ze smiled sheepishly.

It seems that Ya Fei and Zi Nu have thoroughly investigated my information.

I just don't know if she knows about my little affair with Zhao Ji. If she does, then I'm in big trouble.

Wuming tucked the Han Guang sword behind his back and said, "This matter is over. Although we owe each other nothing, if you are willing, you can always contact me as a friend."

Cao Ze was stunned for a moment, not expecting Wuming to say such a thing.

It should be known that someone like Wuming is a man of his word.

The fact that he was able to protect the road because of a friend, and that he was able to enter Qin at the request of his friend Lord Xinling, shows how much he valued the word "friend".

But by the time he wanted to say something, Wuming had already left, leaving him with a sense of regret.

"Let's go too."

Cao Ze said to Jing Ni, "We should take action tomorrow night. You and I will secretly go to the banks of the Wei River together."

He wanted to personally watch Lü Buwei have his hair combed by Wei Zhuang, so that no accident would occur and no one would be there to remedy it.

Jingni didn't ask why the plan was changed; she simply nodded to indicate that she understood.

……

The moon hides behind the shining stars.

A gust of wind blew by, and the tree canopies rustled to the left and right.

In the study of the Prime Minister's residence, Lü Buwei was intently reading a piece of intelligence.

The Yin-Yang School was attacked at night, and Donghuang Taiyi fought back. The enemy was suspected to be the Sword Saint Wuming.

He felt a vague unease.

Why did Wuming launch a night raid on the Yin-Yang School? What ulterior motive did he have?

Lü Buwei muttered to himself twice, then suddenly said, "It must have been Cao Ze who instigated this!"

Old Master Zheng wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "I also think it's that brat Cao Ze!"

Lü Buwei frowned and said, "But if Cao Ze instigated Wuming, what is his purpose?"

"According to the intelligence from Luo Wang, Dong Jun of the Yin Yang School and Cao Ze have a good relationship, so it seems that Cao Ze has no reason to suddenly pull such a move."

"If I were him..."

Lü Buwei pondered, "They're trying to mislead me, feign an attack on the Yin-Yang School, while actually intending to harm me..."

The more he analyzed it, the more uneasy he became.

The Grandmaster's power truly exceeded his expectations.

If the nameless assassin were to kill him, his life would be in danger.

Old Master Zheng immediately said, "Prime Minister Lü, why don't I appear in your guise for the time being, while you remain hidden behind the scenes? That way, even if someone tries to assassinate me, they will only target me."

"If things go wrong, you can use the secret passage to escape Xianyang and take refuge on the Wei River, so that you can settle scores later."

Lü Buwei did not try to save face. Back when he helped Ying Yiren leave Handan, it was the old man who disguised himself as him to confuse the audience and thus escape unscathed.

"That's fine then."

……

The next day, the sky was clear and the weather was exceptionally good.

Cao Ze avoided being seen and went to Ganquan Palace alone.

Seeing that Cao Ze was looking for him so discreetly, Zhao Gao already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

Cao Ze said calmly, "It's the third watch tonight."

Zhao Gao nodded slightly and said, "I understand. At midnight, I will meet with the Six Sword Slaves as promised. I hope you will not forget what you promised me."

Cao Ze said, "Don't worry, I've always been an honest and trustworthy person."

Zhao Gao's expression brightened slightly, as if he had remembered something, and he said, "The Empress Dowager gave those two sword slaves to you as servants, and now only four of the six sword slaves remain. I haven't found suitable replacements for them yet..."

How could Cao Ze not understand Zhao Gao's implied meaning?

Even if Zhao Gao didn't say it, he wouldn't forget this incident; the combat power of the Four Sword Slaves and the Six Sword Slaves was simply not on the same level.

"I will inform Zhuanpo Miehun tomorrow night, and let them be under your command for the time being."

Zhao Gao breathed a slight sigh of relief.

With all six sword slaves present, his safety is increased, and his chances of killing Lü Buwei are also greater.

Cao Ze arrived at Zhangtai Palace.

Eliminating Lü Buwei is a major event, especially since they recently sneaked into the Prime Minister's residence, resulting in the number of city guards outside the residence increasing several times over, and they are now patrolling almost day and night.

This portion of the city guards needs to be transferred.

Chengjiao did not have this privilege.

In the entire city of Xianyang, apart from Lü Buwei, only King Ying Zheng of Qin could directly command the city guards by royal decree.

"Sir, is your visit to me so discreetly planned?"

Gai Nie led Cao Ze into the study, and Ying Zheng said with some interest.

Cao Ze cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I intend to assassinate Lü Buwei tonight."

"What?!" Ying Zheng suddenly stood up.

"Tonight? You?"

"No! If you kill Lü Buwei with your own hands, you will be in endless trouble. Even I cannot guarantee your survival!"

Gai Nie looked at Cao Ze with concern, puzzled as to why Cao Ze was so careless in his work.

Cao Ze remained calm and said, "I will not do it myself. Someone else will do it, and the whole world will know that Lü Buwei was assassinated by an enemy state."

Ying Zheng asked, "Who is this person?"

Cao Ze said, "Your Majesty has met Wei Zhuang, the current Right Sima of Han."

Gai Nie couldn't help but blurt out, "Xiao Zhuang? Has he gone mad?"

He didn't understand why Xiao Zhuang would agree to Cao Ze's request to kill Lü Buwei himself.

Ying Zheng asked in surprise, "Isn't he afraid of Qin's retaliation?"

The reason why the state of Han was able to exist was not because the Qin state could not destroy it, but because there was no need for it to.

Cao Ze said, "Of course I'm afraid. It's precisely because I'm afraid that I'm cooperating with you."

Ying Zheng said, "Tell me, what kind of cooperation?"

"The Qin state will not wage war against the Han state for the next five years."

Cao Ze said slowly, believing that Ying Zheng would not refuse.

Even if the conditions proposed were different, Qin would not easily wage war against Han within five years; it would continue to stockpile grain, prepare weapons, and construct the Zheng Guo Canal...

"Five years..." Ying Zheng hadn't expected this condition.

He immediately declared, "I can agree to this condition!"

His original plan was to take power and then spend five to ten years working hard to develop the Qin state.

Once the mission is accomplished, then, as Cao Ze suggested, we will first attack the state of Han, and gradually annex the other six states, destroying all the feudal lords.

Cao Ze said, "There is one more thing Your Majesty needs to do."