Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

"I see." Xu Qing nodded.

Changing the subject, a glint flashed in Xu Qing's eyes as he asked, "Speaking of which, Senior Six Fingers' trip to Yan this time is probably not just for chivalrous deeds, is it?"

Six-Fingered Black Knight's expression hardened, and he solemnly said, "There is indeed one person who needs to be tested."

"This person must be no ordinary person?" Xu Qing probed again.

“Exactly,” Six-Fingered Black Knight readily admitted.

Upon receiving this response, a figure instantly flashed through Xu Qing's mind.

Even in the Yan Kingdom, that person's status was extremely high. But he didn't point it out, instead asking about something else that mattered more to him.

"Then, senior, when will the promised exchange with the Mo family's swordsmiths be arranged?"

Having shared hardships and forged friendships along the way, Six-Fingered Black Knight had long regarded Xu Qing as a close friend despite their age difference. Upon hearing this, he pondered for a moment: "I don't know how long this trip to Yan Kingdom will take. How about this..."

He removed his leather pouch and took out a small, antique-looking token and a piece of plain silk. "I give you a letter, and this token serves as proof. Once this token is issued, the Mohist disciples will naturally relay the message back to the Mechanized City. At that time, you can follow this..."

He whispered a location.

Xu Qing was surprised to hear this.

The location of the Mo Family's Mechanical City has always been shrouded in mystery. Since the Six-Fingered Black Knight has specifically mentioned this place, it is clearly the location of its entrance, or it is not far away.

"Excellent!" Xu Qing gladly accepted the token and letter.

He had no intention of going to the capital of Yan, nor did he have any interest in the future successor. But it was Six-Fingered Black Knight's own choice, and Xu Qing could not comment.

The two parted ways on the banks of the Yi River.

Xu Qing then wandered around the border between Yan and Zhao.

The Yi River flows swiftly, separating the two countries.

The land of Yan and Zhao is home to many generous and tragic heroes, and chivalrous figures abound.

Here, Xu Qing indeed "sent" many swords into the hands of wandering knights. These blood-drinking weapons brought him considerable prestige as soon as they changed hands.

After all, chivalrous people are brave and fierce, and competing with each other is commonplace. And whenever there is a fight, bloodshed is inevitable.

This day.

On the murky banks of the Yi River, Xu Qing spotted a group of shadowy figures.

"The Net!"

This organization is like a maggot clinging to a bone, hidden in the dust, yet waiting for its chance to strike. Moreover, it is incredibly resilient and difficult to eradicate. Looking around the world, countless assassins from this network lurk in the shadows.

Even Xu Qing himself is considered a member of the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven).

However, because he hadn't been with the Luo Wang organization for very long, and his superior was Jing Ni, he was able to have some free time since Jing Ni didn't assign him any tasks. This is why he wandered around the world and traveled extensively.

The appearance of the Net here aroused Xu Qing's curiosity.

He concealed himself and followed quietly.

Soon, he saw the group of assassins from the Net chasing after someone.

The man, dressed in white, was originally elegant and refined, but now he was at his last gasp and in a sorry state. He tightly gripped a strangely shaped longsword covered in serrated edges, the blade already chipped, and his white clothes were soaked in blood, revealing more than a dozen gruesome wounds.

"Ha, what a pair of dutiful sworn brothers..."

Witnessing this scene, Xu Qing couldn't help but recall the old image of Jing Ke fleeing for his life with Gongsun Liji.

This person was also a victim of the snare, and suffered the same tragic fate.

Xu Qing has always disliked this kind of thing.

Even though he himself was half a part of the net.

At this time, he upheld the principles of a chivalrous person who would help those in need.

He immediately flipped his wrist and drew a sharp, gleaming blade.

"Young hero, take this sword!"

The white-clad man's broken sword was almost unusable. Hearing the sound, he was greatly alarmed. He saw a bright, cold light pierce through the air and shoot towards his feet like a startled swan. In his haste, he had no time to think. He forcefully deflected the sword thrusting in front of him. As he leaped into the air, he resolutely discarded the serrated, broken sword in his hand and reached out to pull out the gleaming longsword that was deeply embedded in the soil.

In an instant, the sword energy resounded!

With a cold blade in hand, the white-clad man's figure swelled, once again engulfing the black tide of swords. The sword flashed, forcing back two powerful enemies who were close at hand.

Then, wielding his sharp blade, he continued to fight against the net.

Finally, several members of the Luowang organization were killed here.

After all the assassins from the Luo Wang organization were dealt with.

Only then did the man in white have the mind to look at the person who gave him the sword.

Not far away, a young boy dressed in coarse cloth clothes stood with a gentle expression.

"Thank you for your help, brother!"

The man in white wasn't very old either, appearing to be about the same age as Jing Ke. In later generations, he would undoubtedly be considered a young man, but in this era, no one would shelter him in a greenhouse, and he had to face all kinds of dangers alone.

Chapter 22 Young Companions, A New Famous Sword

"To help those in need is a virtue that we, the people of the martial arts world, should uphold."

Xu Qing walked slowly closer, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable power.

His gaze swept over the other man's gruesome wounds, and he reminded him, "We can talk about this later; treating the injuries is the priority."

The man was severely injured; after all, his expertise lay in the refined arts of playing the zither and lute, not in life-or-death combat. In the "story" Xu Qing knew, this man had only managed a narrow victory against the Luo Wang assassin, Jueying, through a desperate burst of energy. The name "Jueying" sounded like a "Jue"-level assassin from Luo Wang, but given his ability to closely protect the prominent Yan Kingdom figure, Yan Chunjun, his true level might be at least "Di"-level or even "Sha"-level.

In any case, it could never be at the top level.

"Thank you." The man thanked him again, his breath unsteady, and forced himself to treat his wounds.

His white clothes were soaked with blood, and his movements were trembling with the shock of surviving a disaster. Only after the bandages were hastily finished did he have the strength to speak.

Exchanging names is only the first step.

"Xu Qing."

"Gao Jianli," the white-robed youth replied softly.

This is another familiar face.

This is also why Xu Qing felt a sense of wonder when she saw the other person.

Fate is a truly wondrous thing.

In a short period of time, Xu Qing had already met many of the most famous characters from the original work.

Jing Ke, Gongsun Liji, Gai Nie, Wei Zhuang, Jing Ni, the Six-Fingered Black Knight, and Gao Jianli in front of us—some exist only in the background, while others play extremely important roles in the original work.

"So, why are most of them men?"

Thinking of this, Xu Qing couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Why are you being hunted down by the Luo Wang?" Xu Qing asked again.

The Gao Jianli before us is still green and inexperienced, far from the sharp and shrewd leader of the Mohist school he will become in the future.

"The Net?" Gao Jianli's eyes were filled with confusion.

“Those who are hunting you down come from an organization called ‘The Net’,” Xu Qing explained.

Gao Jianli's expression darkened, and he began to speak in a low voice.

From a young age, he lived in seclusion in the deep mountains of Yan with his master, learning music and playing the zither, oblivious to worldly affairs. However, some time ago, a group of mysterious people suddenly appeared, intercepted and killed his master, seemingly wanting to seize something, but they found nothing. Subsequently, he became the next target. Fighting and fleeing all the way, he arrived at the banks of the Yi River. If it weren't for Xu Qing throwing his sword to help him, he would probably have lost his life.

"I see." Xu Qing nodded.

Feuds and murders, the usual tricks of the Luo Wang (a secret police organization), though clichéd, are enough to explain everything. Who was Gao Jianli's master? What did he once hold in his hands? Xu Qing had no intention of delving into these mysteries. The Luo Wang had been stained with countless blood; adding or subtracting a stroke made no difference.

"The Luo Wang henchmen you killed today were nothing but insignificant pawns. Now that you have turned the tables, you have thoroughly offended Luo Wang. From now on, even stronger and more cunning assassins will follow. Have you thought about how to deal with them?" Xu Qing's sharp eyes revealed the danger.

“This…” Gao Jianli frowned.

The peaceful days spent in the deep mountains and valleys, accompanied by the sound of the zither, seemed like a distant memory. The sudden bloodshed and pursuit caught him off guard.

"I wonder if you have any guidance, brother?" He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with a helpless expectation, as he looked at Xu Qing.

"Ask me?" Xu Qingwei was slightly surprised.

"Brother, I will never forget your kindness in saving my life. I have lived in the mountains for a long time and am ignorant of the ways of the world. I even learned the name 'Net' from you. I beg you to show me a way to survive." Gao Jianli spoke earnestly, with the simplicity and trust of a young man just entering the martial world.

“In that case, I will show you the way.” Xu Qing no longer refused and went straight to the point: “The Mohist School!”

"The Mohist school is a prominent school of thought in this world, with numerous disciples and widespread influence. If you join them and gain their protection, even the most powerful forces will find it difficult to harm you. Coincidentally, I am just about to visit the Mohist school. If you are willing, you can accompany me."

Although in the original novel, Gao Jianli liked to show off.

In terms of character alone, this person is quite reliable.

In terms of personal impressions, Xu Qing's impression of him was much better than that of Yan Dan.

Thinking about what Gao Jianli went through in the original story, Xu Qing didn't mind letting Gao Jianli avoid some detours and let him join the Mo family directly.

After all, Gao Jianli at this moment was still a novice, carrying a sense of simplicity and innocence.

"I'm willing!" Gao Jianli said almost without hesitation.

Thus, after losing Six-Fingered Black Knight as a companion, Xu Qing gained another one.

He led the inexperienced Gao Jianli across the border between Yan and Zhao, and finally arrived in the State of Yan.

However, he had no intention of going to Jicheng.

Instead, he took Gao Jianli and crossed the Yan state, heading towards another state, the Qi state.

The Mohist school was located within the territory of the State of Qi.

Or rather, it was in the area on the border between the states of Yan and Qi.

This also explains why the Mohists were on good terms with the State of Yan, and why the Six-Fingered Black Knight recruited Prince Yan Dan of Yan into the Mohists and chose him as his successor. It was simply because the Mohists were located very close to the State of Yan.

During the journey, Xu Qing also asked Gao Jianli some questions.

For example, what kind of swords they like, what their requirements are for the appearance of the sword, and so on.

Gao Jianli was puzzled and assumed it was just Mr. Xu's professional habit.