Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

What good is strength if you're a member of the martial arts world?

Under the barrage of countless arrows that blot out the sky, flesh and blood are ultimately as fragile as paper. You might be able to defeat a hundred, but what about a thousand or ten thousand? That is an insurmountable chasm for mortals.

The only good news is that Jingni is not facing thousands or tens of thousands of people, but only a few dozen.

Even though these dozens of people were all elites, the leaders were even top-tier assassins.

The Net has already shown its high regard for her, who is ranked first among the Heavenly Ones.

But perhaps because she was a newly promoted first-class Heaven-ranked assassin, Luo Wang did not value her as much as they had imagined. They thought that a few first-class Killers, along with some Earth-ranked and Absolute-ranked assassins, would be enough to defeat her and bring her back to Luo Wang. Even if Jing Ni resisted to the death, they could still kill her if necessary.

In the end, Luo Wang underestimated Jing Ni's strength.

This underestimation stemmed not only from Jingni holding back during the battle, but also from the fact that her potential and growth rate exceeded everyone's expectations.

Her swordsmanship talent was exceptional. After Nameless's death, the trajectory of his sword and the ineffable essence of his swordsmanship would often replay and unfold in her mind. Although she had never seen the relevant manuals, she managed to glimpse some of their true meaning through this image imprinted deep in her consciousness.

This profound understanding, originating from the depths of the soul, led to an inevitable outcome.

When faced with these pursuers in a net-like situation, it turned into a near-one-sided massacre.

That's exactly how it should be. In the original story, Jing Ni was in dire straits when she defected from Luo Wang, mainly because she was about to give birth and her unstable pregnancy was taking its toll, leaving her at her limit. But now, without any burdens, she is in a peak condition she has never been before, and defeating these pursuers is just a matter of course.

Having dealt with her pursuers, and having already begun destroying numerous traces and pieces of information that could have revealed her whereabouts when she decided to escape the clutches of the enemy...

Next, she only needs to remain anonymous and keep a low profile. Given enough time, the tentacles of the net will find it difficult to accurately locate her.

This was the moment that Jingni had longed for.

But at this moment, a new sense of confusion quietly arises.

Nameless took a gamble with his life, and in his final moments, he poured all his energy into creating a dream that touched Jingni's heart, forcing her to confront her repressed true self and thus break free from the mental shackles called "Sword Slave".

He won his bet.

Jing Ni, the former assassin tasked with hunting him down, has awakened her soul and is no longer willing to be a puppet of the Luo Wang organization's killing spree.

This means that the long-standing grudges that had plagued his bloodline, and the various feuds and entanglements with the Net, were finally resolved in his generation, and the next generation would no longer have to bear this heavy darkness.

Since that dream, Jingni has been meticulously planning to escape from the net.

However, her mind seemed to be entirely focused on "how to leave".

Where should we go after we leave?

She was completely clueless about this fundamental question.

Large raindrops pounded on the ground, their cold sound echoing in the silent forest.

A figure suddenly appeared clearly in her chaotic thoughts.

Perhaps... I should go see him; there are some things he should know.

Suddenly, Jingni felt as if she had found her direction and was no longer confused.

……

Another scene.

Xu Qing's actions were quite similar to those of "Fang Tangjing" in the movie, who repeatedly jumped back and forth in front of the yamen, leisurely moving in and out of the border between the Qin and Zhao states.

He ventured deep into the heart of Tunliu from the state of Zhao, then turned back and circled back into Zhao territory.

Interestingly, despite the tense standoff between the two countries, no one dared to cause him any trouble.

It's worth mentioning that Tunliu was not far from Handan, the capital of Zhao; in modern terms, it would be about 200 kilometers by car. This area once belonged to Shangdang Commandery of Zhao, serving as Zhao's most important outpost and choke point against Qin's eastward expansion. If the Qin army occupied Tunliu, they could directly cross the treacherous Fukou Pass and advance on the Handan Plain, leaving Zhao virtually defenseless.

Unfortunately, after the disastrous defeat at Changping, this place ultimately fell into the hands of the Qin state.

Therefore, since then, an elite army has been stationed year-round in the border area of ​​Zhao near Tunliu, in order to guard against possible surprise attacks by Qin and protect the gateway to Handan.

When Qin launched its massive attack on Zhao, by the time Cheng Jiao led the remaining troops to the front lines, Zhao was already on high alert, ready to face a fierce battle at any moment.

Unexpectedly, the earth-shattering battle that had been anticipated did not erupt; instead, chaos broke out within the Qin army.

Despite the false alarm, the State of Zhao dared not be careless in the slightest. The border remained heavily fortified, and the army was ready for battle.

As Xu Qing quietly slipped across the border of Zhao, he keenly sensed the heavy military atmosphere.

He naturally wouldn't provoke Zhao Jun, but carefully concealed his whereabouts. After several detours, he stepped into that legendary place that was famous throughout the world—Handan!

Handan's illustrious reputation in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods needs no further explanation.

The city boasts an astonishingly rich collection of idioms and historical allusions: "Learning to walk like someone from Handan," "Bearing thorns to plead guilty," "Stealing the tally to rescue Zhao," "Upholding the law and obeying public duty," "Protracted and protracted," "Returning the jade intact to Zhao," "Overbearing and arrogant," "Sparing no effort"... Many of these directly contain the word "Handan" or refer to important events that occurred in this city. Even the current King Ying Zheng of Qin, and Prince Dan of Yan, who was then in the state of Yan, were once held hostage in this city and suffered considerable humiliation.

This city is truly filled with legendary chapters.

Therefore, upon arriving in the State of Zhao, Xu Qing couldn't resist personally going to Handan to witness its splendor.

Despite the calamities it had endured, including the near-severing of the Zhao state in the Battle of Changping, Handan still displayed the tenacious prosperity befitting a capital city of a great power. For a long time, Handan was the undisputed "trendsetter" of the era, and even the gait of ordinary people in the city was imitated by people from all directions.

Because this was the capital of the Zhao state, Xu Qing unusually restrained himself and became exceptionally low-key.

He could no longer engage in the ostentatious act of setting up a stall to sell swords atop Xinling City. This time, he was simply traveling with the intention of exploring. If he were to meet someone he clicked with, he wouldn't mind casually gifting them a sharp weapon.

Unexpectedly, not long after entering Handan, he encountered an "old friend".

"Sir! Is it really you?!"

"???" Xu Qing looked at the middle-aged man in fancy clothes who suddenly blocked his way, completely bewildered.

Hey, who are you? Not only did he have an unremarkable face, but more importantly, he had absolutely no recollection of this person.

"In Ningyi City, you generously gifted me a precious sword..." Seeing Xu Qing's puzzled expression, the middle-aged man hurriedly explained, speaking rapidly, as if afraid that this only clue would be lost, "I have never dared to forget it!"

"Oh..." Xu Qing pretended to realize something, finally matching the name to one of his former "clients".

With this thought in mind, a very faint smile appeared on his face. "Is the sword still working well?"

"The sword you forged, sir, is unparalleled in its sharpness; it can truly be called a divine weapon." The middle-aged man's expression was excited, with a hint of pride. "It is all thanks to the precious sword you gifted me that I am now a guest of honor in Handan City. This opportunity is entirely due to your kindness that day." He seemed to remember the purpose of his trip and hurriedly asked, "I wonder if you... still forge swords now?"

“Of course we’ll continue casting,” Xu Qing replied calmly.

"Excellent!" The middle-aged man was overjoyed, lowering his voice as if he were delivering a major deal. "My master is also an avid collector of famous swords. I wonder if you could craft a sword for him that is both noble and magnificent? My master wishes to present it as a great gift to another esteemed benefactor."

He looked at Xu Qing with eager eyes.

"Oh? May I ask who your esteemed guest is?" Xu Qing asked casually, as was customary.

The middle-aged man straightened his back, his face beaming with pride, and uttered a name that held great importance in Handan and even throughout the entire Zhao state.

"It is none other than the current Prime Minister, Lord Jianxin—Lord Guo Kai!"

Chapter 38: Private Customization, Very Expensive

There's a reason why the middle-aged man showed such an expression.

He once thought himself highly skilled in martial arts and went to Xinling, hoping to seek refuge with Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji, and become his retainer.

However, the other party didn't like him.

He was also given the comment, "Pragmatism corrupts the mind."

After that, he left Xinling and came to the State of Zhao. In the city of Handan, he found a great man who was willing to give him an important position.

That is Lord Jianxin, the Prime Minister Guo Kai.

What about Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji? He said he wasn't familiar with him.

Even if someone was once famous, isn't he now just a skeleton in a tomb? On the contrary, Lord Jianxin is at the height of his power in the State of Zhao. In addition to being the prime minister, he is also the tutor of the crown prince and is highly valued by the King of Zhao and the crown prince.

Handan is bustling and dazzling.

During his time under the patronage of Lord Jianxin, Guo Kai, the man experienced a life of extravagance because of Guo Kai. Now, he only knows that everything he has is given to him by Lord Guo Kai, and all he needs to do is try his best to please Lord Guo Kai.

Recently, the Crown Prince's birthday is approaching.

Lord Guo Kai is pondering what gift to give the Crown Prince to please him.

As retainers, they naturally had to share the burdens of their lord.

Various suggestions were put forward.

For suggestions such as unparalleled beauties, rare treasures, and magnificent swords, Lord Guo Kai's idea was to prepare everything.

That's why middle-aged men are wandering the streets of Handan, looking for suitable gifts.

When I first saw Xu Qing.

He thought he was seeing things.

After all, this is not Ningyi, but Handan.

After looking at him several times, he finally confirmed that the young man in front of him was the swordsmith who had sold his blades in Ningyi.

This gave him an idea.

Perhaps instead of painstakingly searching for a magnificent sword, one can simply have the person before them forge one.

He had spent a considerable amount of time in Ningyi and even obtained a sharp blade from Xu Qing, so he had some understanding of Xu Qing.

This young swordsmith liked to give away the swords he forged for free. He seemed to forge swords very quickly, and more importantly, the quality of the swords was also very good.

The only problem now is whether the other party is willing to help him forge the sword.

The middle-aged man looked at Xu Qing expectantly, thinking that if he mentioned the name of Jianxin Jun, the other party would immediately bow down.

However, Xu Qing's brows furrowed slightly.

He seemed to be deep in thought.

Xu Qing was quite surprised.

Guo Kai!

Of course he knew that the renowned Qin war god, the fifth-ranked general of the Warring States period, was even more prestigious than his title. After all, he deserved the greatest credit for Qin's easy annihilation of Zhao.

What he never expected was that he had only come to Handan City for sightseeing and had no intention of selling his sword, yet he had run into Guo Kai's retainer who had taken the initiative to ask him for the sword.

Xu Qing didn't really care whether the person he sought the sword from was good or bad, a loyal minister or a treacherous minister.

"If you ask me to forge a sword, the price won't be low."

After a moment's thought, Xu Qing spoke to the middle-aged man.

"Although I'm selling swords with the intention of making friends, and they're not expensive, you should know that a private custom order is still different."