Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Every time Honglian saw An Qisheng speak to Xu Qing with the respect due to a peer, she couldn't help but find it amusing, but she never dared to show it in the slightest.

After all, she is now living under someone else's roof and has long since learned to restrain her temper.

But upon hearing that Xu Qing was looking for an island so that martial artists could travel to the East China Sea to seek swords, she could no longer suppress her curiosity.

Would someone like Xu Qing, who can turn the world upside down with a flick of his wrist, really tire of the hustle and bustle of the world and choose to distance himself from it?

Xu Qing looked up at An Qisheng, his tone calm and even: "Master An Qisheng once sold medicine in the East Sea and became famous in the region. I am not good at making medicine, but I am proficient in sword forging. However, it would be too hasty to give away a sword I have forged myself to a martial artist. Only by making them go through eighty-one tribulations and travel to the islands of the East Sea can their sincerity in seeking the sword be shown, and only then can I feel at ease handing the sword over to them."

“Mr. Qing has quite the leisure!” Upon hearing this, An Qisheng suddenly realized, and the surprise in his eyes turned into a knowing smile.

He had thought that Xu Qing was tired of the world's troubles and wanted to escape from it, but now he realized that the other party just wanted to find some fun to pass the time.

As for whether Xu Qingzhu's sword was worth the effort of those in the martial arts world, An Qisheng knew better than anyone.

He and several close Taoist priests had all received swords from Xu Qing.

Those swords not only had shimmering, iridescent blades, but also emitted the roar of a dragon when drawn from their sheaths. Cutting iron like mud was merely their most basic ability; they could even protect the wielder's mind in times of crisis, making them truly divine artifacts.

In the art of sword forging, this previously unknown "Master Qing" has long since transcended the ordinary and stands at the pinnacle of his time.

Those swordsmiths who could only forge one or two famous swords in their entire lives were nothing more than fireflies compared to the bright moon in front of him.

“I will help you keep an eye out and find an island with scenery and terrain that suits your taste!” An Qisheng nodded in agreement, his tone filled with certainty.

"Thank you." Xu Qing nodded slightly, his tone still calm, as if he had just settled a trivial matter.

……

Creating a force from scratch is no easy task, but fortunately, Xu Qing was not in a hurry to achieve quick results and planned to take it slowly.

The uproar in the martial arts world caused by the Heavenly Wrath Sword and the Maiden Sword allowed him to rediscover the joy he initially found in forging swords. Watching the swords he had crafted create waves in the world, and seeing people persistently pursue a sword, this feeling was far more interesting than living in seclusion.

In the days that followed, every so often, a sword unlike any previously heard of would appear in various parts of the land. Each appearance would attract countless martial artists who would fight tooth and nail to seize it, sometimes even resulting in bloodshed.

As these swords appeared, there were always "all-knowing" passersby in teahouses and taverns recounting their origins: "This Frost-Flowing Sword is the legacy of a master swordsmith from a hundred years ago. Its blade can display frost patterns as the temperature changes. Not only can it cut through iron like mud, but it can also withstand both cold and heat..."

"The legendary Stone-Splitting Sword was once the divine weapon of a remarkable person hundreds of years ago. When wielded, it could stir up air currents, making it impossible for ordinary martial arts masters to get close to it..."

These popular science-like explanations have made more people aware of the extraordinary nature of these swords, and have also made the competition even more intense.

Of course, not everyone was convinced of the authenticity of these swords. Some questioned, "These swords have never been recorded before. Even if they are obscure, surely so many martial arts masters would know about them? Could it be that someone deliberately forged famous swords to set up a scam?"

However, this doubt was quickly dispelled by those who personally found the swords. Everyone who obtained the swords verified the truth of these rumors through actual use, and these concrete achievements made all doubts disappear.

As for why so many swords appeared in such a short period of time, a new explanation quickly emerged in the martial arts world: "These swords were previously hidden in the treasury of the Korean royal palace. The Korean royal family kept it a secret to prevent the swords from leaving the country. Now that the Korean kingdom has fallen, the royal palace treasury has been looted by rebel soldiers, and these swords have been able to fall into the hands of the common people."

To make this claim more credible, Xu Qing even contacted the Farmers and borrowed their Qianlong Hall, which had branches all over the world. This allowed some of the swords to appear at the auction house, as well as some treasures of the Korean royal family, to corroborate the claim that the "treasury was robbed".

It was during the process of contacting the farmers that Xu Qing learned that his former "good brother" Situ Wanli had officially become the head of the Farmers' Four Mountains Hall.

For Situ Wanli, this was a significant promotion.

After learning that Xu Qing was in Qi and had even borrowed the power of the Hidden Dragon Hall, Situ Wanli personally came to Qi and met with Xu Qing.

This can be considered as the two meeting again after a long time.

"Congratulations, Brother Situ!"

Xu Qing and Situ Wanli met at a restaurant in Linzi.

Inside the private room on the top floor of the restaurant, the finest dishes were laid out on the table, along with exquisite wines.

However, neither Xu Qing, who had revealed his true form, nor Situ Wanli, who had come here, were in a hurry to enjoy the fine wine and delicacies. Rather, it was their reunion that was more poignant.

Hearing Xu Qing's polite words, Situ Wanli's smile became even more genuine. He picked up the wine glass in front of him, but did not drink it. He just gently swirled the wine in the glass: "After so long, to be able to see Brother Xu again is more gratifying to me than being promoted to the position of hall master."

After Xu Qing left the Hidden Dragon Hall of Chu, he completely disappeared, which left Situ Wanli feeling quite reluctant to let him go.

After all, during the time he collaborated with Xu Qing, he made a fortune from the swords Xu Qing forged. He still cherishes those memories. Whether it was the success of running an auction house in South Korea or their conspiracy with Tian Ze to ultimately swallow up all of Fei Cui Hu's assets, it was an unforgettable past.

Later, he heard some things about Xu Qing, such as his fame in the Yan Kingdom and his reputation as a sword maniac.

Among those events, it seems that the figure of a chivalrous leader was also present.

Because it involved the leader of the Xia clan, he found it difficult to delve into the details of those events.

He could only show some goodwill when he saw Big Hammer, after all, Big Hammer was Xu Qing's friend, and he naturally had to take care of people related to Xu Qing.

In Situ Wanli's heart, Xu Qing was always the "benefactor" he valued most.

Upon learning that Xu Qing had contacted the Qi Kingdom's Qianlong Hall and helped it auction off treasures and make a fortune, he did not hesitate to personally come to Qi Kingdom. Qianlong Hall making money meant that the Four Mountains Hall behind it made money, and he, as the newly appointed hall master, had made a contribution.

More importantly, he wanted to take this opportunity to re-establish his relationship with Xu Qing. After all, it was not easy to find a friend like Xu Qing who could both help him make money and was trustworthy.

Before coming, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to see Xu Qing, and he was somewhat uneasy. Fortunately, he was lucky and soon after arriving in Linzi, he received an invitation from Xu Qing, which put his mind at ease.

After a few pleasantries, Situ Wanli looked out the window at the street scene and said with a hint of curiosity, "I didn't expect that you, Brother Xu, would be hiding in the State of Qi."

“This world is inherently unstable. Qi is far from war and its people are peaceful. Settling here can help avoid a lot of unnecessary troubles,” Xu Qing said calmly, taking a sip of his wine.

Situ Wanli thought about the things that had happened in the Yan Kingdom that he had heard about, and he gradually came to understand why Xu Qing would say such a thing.

"That's definitely true."

Situ Wanli nodded in agreement, then changed his tone, "Alright, enough of that. It's been a long time since we parted ways in Chu. Today, we've reunited on the summit of Linzi. Let's have a good drink and leave all our worries behind."

He has always been a perceptive person, well-versed in the nuances of interpersonal relationships.

On the surface, this meeting was about catching up, but in reality, it also concealed the intention of maintaining the relationship. After all, every time Xu Qing made a move, he could bring enormous wealth to the Qianlong Hall, and the profits of the Qianlong Hall were directly related to the foundation of the Siyue Hall. Whether he could sit securely in his position as the newly appointed hall master depended on his relationship with Xu Qing.

But he knew very well that this was not the time to talk business. Only by renewing old friendships could future cooperation proceed more smoothly.

Xu Qing naturally understood his intention and did not refuse, raising his hand to pick up the wine cup.

Outside the window, the hustle and bustle of the city could be heard, but inside the private room, only the soft crackling of the candlelight and the crisp sound of the two clinking glasses could be heard.

As they savored the delicacies on the table, they chatted about their experiences over the years. After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up, and the initial awkwardness disappeared.

Xu Qing briefly mentioned his experiences over the years, saying that after traveling among various countries, he finally chose the State of Qi as his place of residence, and did not say anything more.

Situ Wanli, on the other hand, let out a sigh.

“Brother, to be honest, it seems you made the right choice not to join our farm family back then.”

These words made Xu Qing raise an eyebrow slightly, his wine cup hovering in mid-air. His eyes flickered with a hint of inquiry as he glanced at Situ Wanli, his tone calm yet carrying a deeper meaning: "Brother Situ, why did you suddenly express such sentiments? Could it be that something has happened to the peasant family recently?"

Situ Wanli put down his wine cup, his smile gradually fading, replaced by a solemn expression. He said in a deep voice, "That's right. In recent years, the Farmer's Clan has appeared calm on the surface, growing stronger under the leadership of the Heroic Leader. But the internal turmoil is more complex than the conflicts in the martial arts world. Before, I only managed the business and knew very little about these things. But since becoming the head of the Four Mountains Hall, I've barely entered the upper echelons of the Farmer's Clan. Only then did I realize how many unsavory things there were that I didn't know before. Every day I have to deal with all sorts of open and covert struggles, which is really upsetting."

Perhaps it was because he had shared hardships with Xu Qing in the past, or perhaps it was because he had drunk some alcohol and spoke the truth while intoxicated.

Situ Wanli began to express his frustrations to Xu Qing.

Of course, whether Xu Qing believes it or not is another matter entirely.

But this did not stop Xu Qing from listening quietly to Situ Wanli's story.

"Under the leadership of the chivalrous leader, the peasant family appears to be thriving, but in reality, there is no shortage of internal strife... The struggle between the Tian family and those from other families is more intense than imagined..."

Situ Wanli's words revealed a family that held immense influence within the farming community.

The Tian family.

It is unclear when exactly this clan began to gain influence among the farmers.

Since then, in the six halls of the farmer's family, the other party has occupied more than half of the seats when there are many people.

At the very least, there are two seats.

Today, the Lieshan and Chiyou halls of the peasant family are managed by the Tian clan.

However, according to Situ Wanli's words, the Tian family's ambitions were far from that.

It might be because the Xia Kui was also a member of the Tian clan.

They possessed a natural sense of superiority; the more powerful the farming family became, the greater the chivalrous leader's contribution, and the greater the ambition of the Tian clan.

After Situ Wanli became the head of the Four Mountains Hall, Tian Meng, the old head of the Farmer's Hall, found him.

It may involve coercion or bribery.

He probably hoped that Situ Wanli would stand on his side.

Situ Wanli made some polite remarks on the surface, but in his heart, he naturally didn't buy into Tian Meng's act.

He is a businessman.

If Tian Meng could offer tangible benefits, he might consider it, but Tian Meng didn't offer anything in return, only making empty promises.

It is likely that the current leader of the knights is a member of their Tian clan.

When the leader of the knights abdicates, he will become the new leader.

Situ Wanli has only recently become the head of the hall, and his foundation in the peasant family is not yet stable. The peasant family is a place where the waters run deep.

Situ Wanli may not be able to handle it.

Of course, Situ Wanli brought up the undercurrents within the Farmer's Clan in front of Xu Qing today not only because Tian Meng had approached him.

Although Tian Meng's words carried a sense of pressure, Situ Wanli was not afraid of him.

After all, he was the head of the Four Peaks Hall. Even though he was relatively inexperienced, his status was equal to that of Tian Meng. In addition, he was wealthy enough that the Four Peaks Hall was thriving under his management.

Situ Wanli brought up these matters.

It's because some of these people were involved with Xu Qing.

"Earlier, a scandal occurred in the Kuiwei Hall, one of the six halls. The hall master, Chen Sheng, actually made improper advances towards the steward's wife and even attempted to forcibly defile her, but was caught in the act by the steward. Enraged, Chen Sheng actually killed the steward on the spot. This incident caused a huge uproar within the peasant clan. Chen Sheng was later sentenced to death, but for some reason, he miraculously escaped death and even broke out of prison. His whereabouts remain unknown to this day. Since then, the position of Kuiwei Hall master has remained vacant."

Situ Wanli took a sip of wine and continued, "After joining the Farmer's Clan, the Great Swordsman entered the Kuiwei Hall. After the Kuiwei Hall lost its general manager and hall master, he was given an extraordinary mission by the Heroic Leader. He completed several dangerous missions and his strength was recognized by the disciples of the Kuiwei Hall. Without a doubt, the Heroic Leader intends to make Great Iron Hammer the new hall master of the Kuiwei Hall."

Hearing this, Xu Qing remained expressionless and asked calmly, "You're telling me all this on purpose, so it must be that Big Iron Hammer is having trouble taking over as the hall master?"

Upon hearing this, Situ Wanli immediately understood.

It seems the rumors are true; Xu Qing's relationship with that great swordsman is indeed extraordinary. I made the right move by deliberately mentioning the trouble the great swordsman encountered in front of Brother Xu.

Since Brother Xu cares so much about the Great Swordsman, if I were to express my willingness to help him, I would definitely win Brother Xu's favor even further.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Situ Wanli nodded hurriedly, his tone becoming more urgent: "That's right! The problem lies with the wife of the head steward of Kuiwei Hall, Tian Mi. Logically speaking, she is the victim of this scandal and should receive sympathy, but who would have thought that she would also be eyeing the position of head of Kuiwei Hall? These days, she has been frequently in contact with the Tian brothers, Tian Meng and Tian Hu, becoming extremely close to them, and is also secretly trying to win over the middle-level disciples of Kuiwei Hall. Many people have been bribed by her."

"Although Big Iron Hammer's prestige is growing, he has only been a member of the Farmer's Clan for a short time and his foundation is weak. Moreover, he is straightforward and does not know how to scheme or plot. In addition, he is not a member of the Tian clan, so he is easily ostracized within the Farmer's Clan. It is easy to imagine how difficult it will be for him to compete with Tian Mi for the position of hall master."

Situ Wanli's tone carried a hint of worry, "Even if Xia Kui is supporting him from behind, you know that Xia Kui is ultimately a member of the Tian clan, and Tian Meng and Tian Hu are his relatives. When it comes to kinship, Xia Kui will inevitably favor them. When it really comes down to it, no one can say for sure whether Xia Kui can stand on Da Tiechui's side."

Recalling his understanding of the Tian brothers, Tian Meng and Tian Hu, he added, "Although I haven't had much contact with them, after years of navigating the business world, I've developed a pretty good eye for people. These two brothers seem outwardly generous, but they're actually quite cunning. Tian Mi's association with them suggests she's not simple-minded either. To vie for the position of hall master, they might resort to underhanded tactics against Da Tiechui. Even with his immense abilities, Da Tiechui might struggle to cope."

Since it involved the upper echelons of the peasant family, Situ Wanli didn't say too many bad things about the Tian Meng brothers.