Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

It should be noted that Xu Qing had already stepped one foot into the third-tier swordsmith level, lacking only a little experience.

The most important thing right now is to fill up the experience bar and complete the advancement.

Crossing desolate borders, passing through bustling markets teeming with merchants, and stepping into vast, desolate mountains where no one is to be seen, Xu Qing measured the landscape with his own footsteps, finding joy in this solitary journey.

On this day, as the sun began to set in the west, a mouthwatering aroma of roasted fruit suddenly wafted on the wind as we traveled to a bend in the official road.

Xu Qing was slightly taken aback. Because of the Snow Woman, Xu Qing had tried to buy some seasonings to carry with him so that his outdoor barbecue in the mountains wouldn't be completely tasteless. However, compared to his own grilled food, Xu Qing preferred ready-made food.

He really didn't want to waste time looking for and preparing food.

Following the enticing aroma and walking a little faster, a small, solitary shop standing by the roadside came into view.

The shop was simple, but what amazed them was the "barbecue grill" placed at the entrance. Although it seemed a bit out of place, considering that in the original novel, there was a move called "Kung Pao Chicken" in the butcher's knife skills, it didn't seem so hard to accept.

Xu Qing was not the only customer in the shop. A young man dressed in luxurious brocade clothes had already approached the somewhat buck-toothed shop owner.

He showed little interest in the sizzling, oily fish on the grill; his gaze was fixed on the two jars of wine the stall owner brought out, his face filled with greed.

However, when he reached into his pocket to pay for the drinks, his movements suddenly froze, and his expression abruptly changed from greed to extreme embarrassment, simply because his pockets were empty.

Perhaps tempted by the drinks, he didn't want to leave in such a sorry state, so he started explaining to the stall owner that he had accidentally fallen into the water while fishing, caught a cold, and was now chilled to the bone, desperately needing strong liquor to warm himself up. He pleaded with the stall owner to have some compassion...

The answer is obvious: with a small business to make ends meet, where would he find the heart to do good deeds? He shook his head, his face blank.

The young man's face was ashen, but he frantically searched his brocade pouch at his waist and finally pulled out a necklace with a pendant inlaid with a huge, dazzling gemstone that was anything but ordinary.

His facial muscles twitched, clearly showing his regret and reluctance, but his throat bobbed, and he finally succumbed to the allure of alcohol, reluctantly raising the chain to pawn it here.

Just then.

A tiny golden bead, tinkling softly, landed precisely on the low table in front of him.

"Put these two jars of wine on my tab," a clear, calm voice said.

Both the stall owner and the young man were taken aback and looked in the direction of the sound.

Not far away, a young man in simple blue clothes and cloth shoes walked leisurely closer. Although his clothes were simple, he had a transcendent air about him and walked with ease, as if he were walking on a gentle breeze.

"Brother..." The young man in brocade hurriedly straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, bowed deeply, and expressed his gratitude.

Xu Qing smiled slightly: "Seeing your appearance, brother, you have to pawn such valuable ornaments for two jars of wine. Consider this wine a small token of our friendship since we met by chance."

His gaze did not sweep over the magnificent gemstones, but instead fell upon the young man, a hint of something indescribable flickering in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, the young man's eyes lit up, and he was so excited that he was almost incoherent: "Thank you so much, brother! I will never forget your kindness!"

That necklace was a gift from his sister when he went away to study. He had carried it with him all these years, and if he could, he certainly wouldn't want to pawn it.

The two sat down at the simple table and drank together.

The shopkeeper cleverly served a perfectly grilled fat fish, and Xu Qing gestured for a few more side dishes to go with the drinks. The strong liquor the shopkeeper mentioned was not very strong for Xu Qing, but for the young man, the liquor made him feel warm all over.

"My name is Xu Qing," Xu Qing said, setting down his cup after a round of drinks. "May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

"I am Han Fei!" the young man replied readily, finishing his drink.

Clearly, Xu Qing had encountered another important figure with a name and identity.

However, Xu Qing was already used to this kind of thing.

He acted very naturally.

"Brother Han, where do you come from? And where are you going?" Xu Qing raised his cup again and asked casually.

"Brother Xu, since you ask, I dare not lie to you." Han Fei also raised his cup in return. "Han Fei has returned from studying in Sanghai, Qi, and is about to return to his homeland, Han."

"What a coincidence." Xu Qing smiled slightly. "I'm also going to South Korea."

"Oh?" Han Fei's surprise deepened. "May I ask what brings Brother Xu to Han?"

"To visit an old friend," Xu Qing replied succinctly. "An old friend is over there, so I'm going to visit him while I'm at it."

Visiting friends is a perfectly legitimate reason, and it saves you from a lot of questioning.

Chapter 48 A Fool's Dream, The Sword's Words of Reverse Scale

Han Fei naturally wouldn't mind traveling with Xu Qing.

They met by chance, yet the other party generously helped him by saving the necklace his sister had given him and also shared food and drink with him. In Han Fei's heart, this person was already a friend.

However, he only had one horse.

Xu Qing, all alone, wandered the world on foot.

"Should we... ride together?" Han Fei pondered to himself, but hesitated.

Is it too much to ask this old friend who has accompanied me on my long journey to carry the two of us? Besides, it seems a bit abrupt to be so close to him on our first meeting.

Xu Qing was incredibly perceptive; he immediately noticed Han Fei's predicament.

"Brother Han, are you worried about the convenience of traveling?" His gaze swept over Han Fei's white horse, then fell on the pile of firewood behind the shop, where an old cart covered in dust and mud leaned against the side, obviously used by the shopkeeper to transport firewood on a daily basis.

"Shopkeeper," Xu Qing called out loudly, pointing to the cart, "would you be willing to part with this?"

A moment later, a small gold nugget was exchanged for the creaking old cart.

Xu Qing personally removed the original saddle and bridle from the white horse and carefully tied the crossbar at the front of the cart to the buckle behind the saddle with thick hemp rope. Thus, behind the magnificent white horse, there was a bare and unprotected "cart." It was pitifully simple, with neither a carriage to shelter from the wind and rain nor a cushion to cushion the bumps, consisting only of a few rough wooden planks pieced together.

"It must be hard on it." Xu Qing looked at the white horse pulling the carriage. Originally, this white horse only needed to carry Han Fei, but now it was different. In addition to pulling the carriage, it also had to carry the weight of an extra person.

"No problem!" Han Fei waved his hand casually, stepped onto the cart first, and patted the wooden plank next to him. "This fool has been stealing quite a bit of Brother Xu's wine just now, so it's only right that he puts in some extra effort!"

He glanced at the white horse with a smile, and the horse seemed to understand, snorting loudly, which made the two of them smile at each other.

Xu Qing flicked the reins, and the peculiar combination rumbled along the official road.

The bustling town was gradually left behind. The traces of war on both sides of the road were increasingly shocking. Broken walls and ruins were like hideous wounds on the earth, charred beams pointed to the gray sky, and weeds grew rampant among the abandoned fields. Occasionally, one could catch a glimpse of a few emaciated figures searching aimlessly among the ruins, or children huddled under dilapidated eaves, their empty eyes following the strange carriage as it passed by.

A deep, desolate atmosphere, like a cold tide, silently permeated Han Fei's mind.

His grip on the wine jug tightened slightly. The dilapidated scene before him was strikingly similar to the weak and crumbling homeland of his memory, surrounded by powerful neighbors. Qin was like a tiger crouching in the west, while Zhao, Wei, and Chu were like wolves lurking around. The country was small, and powerful neighbors pressed in… Were the people of Han also struggling daily in this fear of uncertainty?

"It's still because we're not strong enough..." Han Fei whispered, his voice almost crushed by the sound of wheels.

The root cause of the weakness of our nation is precisely its declining national power.

He gripped the wine jug tightly, his knuckles turning white, and the spark of conviction in his chest burned even more fiercely after witnessing the devastation.

Even if the road ahead is uncertain, he will do everything in his power to fight for a strong future for South Korea!

The wheels rolled over the gravel, causing a bumpy ride.

Ahead, beside a half-collapsed earthen wall, a thin man and a woman were futilely rummaging through the rubble, as if searching for something to fill their stomachs. Their small faces were covered in mud and ash, and only their large eyes were filled with helpless anxiety.

Han Fei barely hesitated before signaling Xu Qing to stop, nimbly jumping off the cart, and quickly stepping forward to stuff all the dry rations he was carrying into the two children's cold little hands.

The two children were stunned, staring blankly at the well-dressed stranger, then at the food that had fallen from the sky into their hands. Their eyes lit up with disbelief, and they hugged it tightly, turned and ran away, as if afraid that this precious gift would disappear.

Xu Qing sat on the carriage shaft, quietly watching this scene. Only after Han Fei sat back down beside him did he speak in an almost playful tone: "Brother Han, you really are a... good person."

"Is he a good person?"

Han Fei shook his head, denying this claim.

"I just hope there won't be so much war in the world."

“Then you should go to the Qin state!” Xu Qing suggested.

Han Fei raised his eyebrows slightly.

"The Qin army is the most powerful in the world. With your great talent, Brother Han, if you are given an important position by the King of Qin and help him unify the six kingdoms, wouldn't the flames of war naturally end when the world is at peace? This is a strategy to eliminate the root of the problem."

Han Fei's heart skipped a beat. Xu Qing's argument was so cunning that he had never heard of it before.

He pondered for a moment, a sharp glint in his eyes, and asked in return, "Brother Xu, how can you be so certain that Han Fei possesses the talent to stir up storms? Could it be that you can truly predict the future?"

"It's just a feeling," Xu Qing said with a nonchalant smile, as if he were just saying it casually. "Like observing the stars and the aura, I can tell that Brother Han has an extraordinary demeanor and is full of talent."

"Feel……"

Han Fei repeated it in a low voice, but the vague yet unforgettable dream surfaced in his mind, along with the cold tear stains on his pillow and the lingering sorrow and determination after waking up.

It was that dream that solidified his resolve to return to South Korea.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes blazing with an almost obstinate light: "Brother Xu's path to unification may be feasible. But why can't it be our Han state that ends the chaos and establishes order?"

Xu Qing was clearly stunned upon hearing this.

He turned his head and examined Han Fei so intently for the first time.

The afterglow of the setting sun outlined Han Fei's handsome yet resolute profile, his eyes burning with a fervent determination to do what he knew was impossible.

After a long while, Xu Qing slowly turned his head, looked at the dusty official road ahead, and softly said, "Brother Han... whatever makes you happy."

There's no need to say anything more.

All I can say is that being able to have sweet dreams is a really good thing.

Then, the two changed the subject.

As a time traveler, Xu Qing possessed vast knowledge, effortlessly traversing the world, from ancient times to the rise and fall of dynasties, from military strategy to the mysteries of music. His pronouncements, often seemingly unconventional at first glance, often revealed profound meaning upon closer examination. Han Fei, already a man of exceptional talent and quick wit, found himself even more eloquent with this companion. The two, on the bumpy cart, engaged in a lively and engaging discussion, almost like a philosophical debate.

"Brother Xu is truly an extraordinary person!" Han Fei exclaimed sincerely, raising his wine jug to clink with Xu Qingxu's.

Xu Qing smiled without saying a word, but her gaze fell on the long, narrow wooden box that was always by Han Fei's side.

The time was ripe, and he asked, "Brother Han, this sword case has an ancient and simple design and has accompanied you all the way. It must contain something extraordinary. I am not very talented, but I have always enjoyed appraising famous swords. I wonder if Brother Han would be willing to take a look and fulfill my wish as a sword lover?"

Han Fei was slightly taken aback.

The sword hidden in the sword box was something he acquired by chance. His teacher seemed to recognize the sword, gave it a comment, and then told him to treasure it. Upon returning to his country, he carried it with him, both for self-defense and because he was fascinated by the mysterious properties it contained.

After a brief hesitation, he smiled frankly: "Brother Xu has been kind to me all the way. My humble request to watch the swordplay is nothing."

He held the sword case in both hands and solemnly handed it to Xu Qing.

"However, Brother Xu, you may be disappointed. This sword... is not a divine weapon, but a broken artifact."

Xu Qing took the sword box; it felt slightly heavy in his hand, and the wood was cool to the touch.

He lightly opened the clasp with his fingertips and slowly lifted the lid of the box.

The box did not contain the gleaming, divine blade that one might have imagined.

A broken, almost grotesque ancient sword lay quietly on a velvet backing. The blade was a dark, bluish-black color, as if it had been soaked in a thousand years of war and blood rust. The black iron-like texture was covered with dense, spiderweb-like cracks. The sword seemed to have been shattered into several pieces by some enormous force, but it was forcibly pieced back together by an invisible force, maintaining its strange overall shape, just like a bronze ritual vessel full of cracks that could collapse at any moment.