Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Ying Zheng nodded to himself upon hearing these words.

According to Qin's internal plans, it would take about five to ten years to destroy the remaining four states.

The fact that the person before me could see all this is enough to show that he is not just a pure martial artist, but also has a remarkable understanding of the general trend of the world.

Then, he heard Xu Qing's tone change, his words tinged with a sigh: "However, unification is easy, but maintaining it is difficult. If Your Majesty cannot resolve the old grievances between the various states and appease the people after the world is unified, there will be endless troubles in the future!"

Ying Zheng's gaze suddenly sharpened. He remained silent for a moment before saying frankly, "What you say, sir, is also what I have been thinking about!"

He then outlined his proposed strategy: "After unifying the world, I intend to abolish the feudal system, implement the prefecture-county system, standardize the written language, the width of carts, and the weights and measures. When the people of the six former states all use the script and weights and measures of Qin, becoming citizens of Qin, then the enmity can naturally be resolved..."

"Your Majesty is indeed far-sighted, but there will be considerable resistance to implementing this policy! In particular, abolishing the feudal system and establishing prefectures and counties is something that some people find difficult to accept."

Xu Qing's words contained a profound meaning.

Ying Zheng naturally recognized who Xu Qing was referring to, and he also knew what the so-called obstacles were.

But he was fearless.

To create an unprecedented dynasty and establish an unprecedented great undertaking, these are the difficulties that will be encountered in the process.

No matter how difficult or obstructive the obstacles are, they can all be overcome at once.

Ying Zheng did not continue on this topic, but instead turned to Xu Qing and said something else, "With your talent and swordsmanship, why do you not serve the Qin Dynasty? I am willing to treat you with high office and generous salary, and let you and Master Gai assist me to create an everlasting dynasty."

Xu Qing said, "I'm used to living a carefree life. Over the years, I've traveled to all seven kingdoms. As for serving Qin, we'll talk about that later."

"However, now that I have met the King of Qin, I have some troublesome matters to resolve for me."

"Oh?"

This was the first time Ying Zheng had ever met someone like Xu Qing.

They were unwilling to put in any effort, yet they made demands directly.

However, considering that Xu Qing had not directly refused to serve the Qin state, and that he had promised Xu Qing high-ranking positions and generous salaries, he naturally did not mind listening to what Xu Qing had to say.

"What's the trouble?"

Xu Qing didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Your Qin's net has been targeting me. Years ago, because I made quite a name for myself in Yan, they have been relentlessly pursuing me."

"Your Majesty must know perfectly well what kind of organization Luo Wang is. Of course, I would never join Luo Wang and become an assassin."

"However, as far as I know, Zhao Gao, who is currently in charge of the Luo Wang, is a vindictive person. In his eyes, anyone who rejects the Luo Wang's goodwill is an enemy..."

"But I don't want to join the Luo Wang, nor do I want to become an enemy of Qin!"

"Your Majesty, what should I do?"

Ying Zheng's eyes flickered. He was very surprised when Xu Qing mentioned the Luo Wang and Zhao Gao, because he really did not know that Zhao Gao had done such a thing.

He was aware that Luo Wang was ruthless.

As for more details...

He paid no attention to it. After all, he was the King of Qin and needed to focus more on politics. Of course, he couldn't possibly pay attention to a hidden assassin organization. He left all the affairs of the Luo Wang organization to Zhao Gao.

If what Xu Qing said is true, then Luo Wang seems to have some problems!

However, these things still need to be determined later.

"Sir, you are certainly not an enemy of my Qin state!"

Ying Zheng didn't say much; this one sentence was enough.

Ultimately, Zhao Gao's apparent power was based on the authority granted to him by Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng could easily reclaim that authority and take back control of the Luo Wang organization at any time if he so desired.

Historically, Zhao Gao only dared to wield power after Ying Zheng's death.

As long as Ying Zheng is alive, he can only keep all his little tricks hidden in the dark. If he were to bring them into the open, Ying Zheng could easily kill him without a burial place.

"With Your Majesty's words, I feel much more at ease."

Xu Qing spoke calmly, then asked Ying Zheng another question, "I've heard that once you enter the net, you're trapped in it for life, and you can never escape it?"

"Sir, you really care about the Net!" Ying Zheng sighed with emotion upon hearing Xu Qing mention the Net again.

"It's not that I care about the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven), it's just that someone is using the Luo Wang's name to commit horrific acts!" Xu Qing said calmly. "I have a friend who used to be a member of the Luo Wang and made many contributions to it. Now, tired of killing, he wants to live a peaceful life..."

"But the Net of Law will not let her go!"

Ying Zheng understood the implied meaning in the song and immediately replied, "As someone who has rendered meritorious service, it is certainly permissible for him to live a peaceful life."

"In that case, I thank Your Majesty on her behalf." Although he said thank you, there was no real gratitude in Xu Qing's tone.

Ying Zheng nodded slightly without saying much. His gaze fell on Qujiang Pool to the side. A gentle breeze blew, swirling crabapple petals everywhere, some of which even landed in the pavilion.

Xu Qing then looked at Ying Zheng and said, "Since Your Majesty has relieved me of these two troubles, I should naturally repay you in kind."

His tone remained calm, yet carried a solemnity that drew attention: "Previously in the State of Qi, I studied maritime matters with alchemists and heard some secrets unknown to ordinary people."

Ying Zheng was already curious about Xu Qing's background, and upon hearing this, his eyes immediately lit up with interest. He leaned forward slightly and said, "Oh? The teachings of alchemists are mostly unfounded. Is what you say really true?"

Gai Nie stood to the side, his expression still calm, but he couldn't help but turn his gaze to Xu Qing, clearly also paying some attention to this "secret".

Xu Qing chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Among alchemists, there are indeed those who feign supernatural powers, but there are also many who are knowledgeable and have a strong memory. I once saw a fragment of a scroll left by Zou Yan, on which is recorded the theory of the Great Nine Provinces. Has Your Majesty heard of it?"

Ying Zheng frowned slightly and pondered, "I do know the name Zou Yan. I've heard that he advocated for a vast Nine Provinces, saying that the Nine Provinces of China are just a corner of the world?"

Although he was focused on unifying the six states, he was also well-read. However, Zou Yan's theories were too shocking and none of the Qin kings in history took them seriously. Nevertheless, the Yin-Yang School was indeed serving the Qin state.

“What Your Majesty says is not wrong, but you only know one side of the story.” Xu Qing slowly explained, “The nine provinces mentioned by Zou Yan are Ji Province, Yan Province, Qing Province, Xu Province, Yang Province, Jing Province, Yu Province, Liang Province, and Yong Province. These are the nine provinces of the Divine Land of the Red County. According to the surviving scroll, this Divine Land of the Red County is just a continent surrounded by a huge sea called the Great Ying Sea.”

He raised his hand and gestured as if sketching a vast map: "Beyond the Great Sea, there are nine continents comparable to the Divine Land of China. Each continent also has nine provinces, collectively known as the Great Nine Provinces. Between these continents lies an even more expansive ocean, where not only giant whales surge and waves crash, but also immortal mountains float, covered with lush vegetation and strange birds and beasts, beyond anything my Central Plains can imagine."

Ying Zheng's breath hitched slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

His lifelong pursuit was to unify the nine provinces of China, which he considered the ultimate goal.

But what Xu Qing said was that there were nine provinces, as well as an even wider ocean and continent, which completely overturned his understanding of the world.

"Is what you say...truly true, sir?"

Ying Zheng's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement. As a monarch who aspired to rule the world, nothing could touch his heartstrings more than the knowledge that there was an even wider world to explore.

“I once went to sea with a Taoist priest for three months. Although we did not reach beyond the Great Sea, we did see strange islands in the sea. The language and clothing of the inhabitants were different from those in the Central Plains, which shows that what Zou Yan said was true.” Xu Qing said with certainty, and added, “Perhaps the theory of the Great Nine Provinces is not entirely correct, but there is indeed a wider world beyond the sea.”

"Besides, if we can cross the vast desert, we can also reach a completely new continent!"

Xu Qing spoke eloquently, recounting many of the sights and wonders of overseas to Ying Zheng.

He spoke with remarkable realism; compared to the fabrications of some sorcerers, Xu Qing's account was far more authentic, as if such a world truly existed.

Even though Ying Zheng knew that it would be very difficult to reach those new continents at present.

After all, the Central Plains had not yet been unified.

However, this did not stop him from having some wild ideas.

According to the calculations of the Grand Commandant, the Prime Minister, and others, the Qin state could unify the world in five to ten years. At that time, the Qin state was at its peak. Now, Ying Zheng has begun to plan for what will happen after unification. Now that he knows about a wider world, he naturally has his own ideas.

If one day one can unify the world, will one be able to set sail and bring those unknown continents under one's control?

Gai Nie was also shaken. He had traveled the world for many years and had seen many strange people and events, but he had never imagined that the world was so vast.

The disciples of Guiguzi have always viewed the world as a chessboard. If what Mr. Xu said is true, then their game of chess doesn't seem to be that big.

Seeing that Ying Zheng was still upset, Xu Qing continued, "Besides the Great Nine Provinces, the alchemists had another, more important purpose in going to sea: to seek the elixir of immortality."

"An elixir of immortality?" Ying Zheng suddenly snapped back to reality, his eyes flashing with a sharp light as he stared intently at Xu Qing. "Sir, is what you say true? Is there really a way to achieve immortality in this world?"

Since ancient times, emperors and generals have sought immortality, and Qin Shi Huang was no exception. Although he was in his prime, he longed to rule the world for a long time and complete his grand ambitions. If he could live forever, it would mean that he would have unlimited time to conquer more lands and establish an immortal foundation.

"Whether there really is an elixir of immortality, I dare not say for sure," Xu Qing said truthfully. "According to those alchemists, such a thing may exist overseas, or it may not."

"However, what I want to say is that the path to immortality does not necessarily have to be sought overseas!"

"Sir, are you referring to... the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon?" Ying Zheng thought of what the Yin-Yang School people had said when they divined for him.

The Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon have been passed down through the world for thousands of years, containing extremely powerful secrets.

As the King of Qin, Ying Zheng had naturally heard of this thing. The Yin-Yang School had mentioned it to him many times. To be honest, Ying Zheng was not very interested in it. Even though it was rumored that if one controlled the power of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon, one could control the world.

But the problem now is that even without the Azure Dragon constellation, the Qin state has already destroyed two other states and is not far from unifying the world.

Perhaps that's why.

When the Yin-Yang masters told him about the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon, they confidently claimed that the secret of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon was related to the elixir of immortality.

Ying Zheng was skeptical of this explanation.

However, in the process of unifying the world, he still did not mind letting the Yin-Yang School search for one or two of the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon.

"I have also studied the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions. It does indeed hold a very deep secret, but its secret is not necessarily immortality. So, if anyone tells Your Majesty that it is about immortality and makes such a swearing statement, I urge Your Majesty to be cautious." Xu Qing's opening remarks were yet another statement that surprised Ying Zheng.

He hadn't expected that Xu Qing had actually studied the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon.

Then, Xu Qing said, "Immortality is hard to come by, but prolonging life and strengthening the body are not difficult."

"I cannot do the former, but I can do the latter with ease!"

He then asked Ying Zheng another question, "Has Your Majesty ever heard of the Xuanpu Sword?"

Chapter 272 Sword Asks for Immortality, Hatred of the Net

"The Xuanpu Sword that caused the death of Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie?"

Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow and recounted a past event, clearly indicating that he had heard of the Xuanpu Sword.

Although the Nine Swords of Heavenly Inquiry have not been around for long and cannot compare with ancient famous swords such as Tai'a and Juque, the things that have happened to them are too mysterious. First, Song Yu personally wrote "Ode to the Sword" for them, and then they were sold for a sky-high price of ten thousand gold at auction.

If that were all, it wouldn't be worth saying anything. After all, there are many treasures in the world. It can only be said that those swords are just another kind of treasure pursued by the rich and powerful.

What truly made the world take notice of the Nine Swords of Heavenly Inquiry was the death of Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie.

The Four Lords of the Warring States Period.

He was a leading figure of the previous era.

Looking across the seven kingdoms, these four individuals truly embodied the essence of romance and elegance.

After the deaths of Lord Mengchang, Lord Pingyuan, and Lord Xinling, Lord Chunshen Huang Xie of Chu became the only remaining heir.

As a result, this sole heir perished at the hands of Li Yuan.

The whole thing started with a sword, the "Xuanpu Sword," which was said to grant immortality. At that time, the King of Chu was seriously ill, and Huang Xie, under the pretext of curing the King's illness and prolonging his life, found the Xuanpu Sword. However, because of the sword's peculiarities, he kept it for himself and did not present it to the King of Chu immediately, which led to the King's death.